Review @ Book Binge

I've got a review up over at Book Binge. This one pushed lots of my buttons, unfortunately, since it's an author I normally really enjoy.

Go check it out!

The Spy Who Loved Her by Melissa Schroeder

Lady Anna was once considered the catch of the season. Now, three years after she fell for a man who tried to murder her cousin, she eases her guilt with charity work at an orphanage. Until her mother insists she do her duty.

Attending her cousin’s ball is irritating enough. It’s her one dance with Daniel, the unscrupulous Earl of Bridgerton, that rubs her nerves raw. And oddly leaves her senses on the edge of arousal.

The ton sees Daniel as a scoundrel. In truth, like centuries of Bridgertons before him, he leads a vast network of spies, protecting England from her worst enemies. His resolve never to marry means the one woman he’s always wanted—Lady Anna—is off limits. Especially now that his father’s murderer is coming after him as well.

At first, Anna wonders if Daniel was put on this earth just to annoy her. It’s only when she finds him injured that his mask begins to fall away—and so do the barriers between them. But their flaring passion puts her right where Daniel didn’t want her. Next on a killer’s list.

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Thank you to Melissa Schroeder for supplying an ARC for this book. I've been bugging her for it since the last book was released. I so adored The Accidental Countess and Lessons in Seduction. I was so happy to finally read Anna and Daniel's story. It was a long damn wait. The danced around each other a whole lot in the first two books, and when I finished Lessons in Seduction, my first question was, "OMG, when do we get Daniel and Anna?!"

Anna has done a lot of growing up since book 2, and has resigned herself that she won't ever marry. She is working at and supporting an orphanage, much to the chagrin of her brother, Sebastian (hero of book 1). He has resigned himself to it, and instead of forbidding it, assigns servants to watch over her. So Anna has become quite independent, although it all stems from guilt over her part in her cousin Cecily's attack a few years back. (read Lessons in Seduction for that story)

Daniel was an interesting character to me. His family is a group of spies, including his mother and aunt. So these women are quite independent and self-sufficient. Yet, he becomes very chauvinistic when it comes to allowing Anna to do her charitable work in the orphanage, saying basically that women shouldn't be doing that sort of work, it's in a dangerous part of town, and that she should be dancing in a ballroom and looking pretty with no worries. (paraphrasing, but that's the gist of it). So I thought that was an interesting dichotomy. And wondered how he reconciled that within himself, although it came across as a gut reaction, Daniel just trying to protect Anna and keep her from harm.

Watching Daniel try to manage Anna was pretty amusing. He just couldn't fathom why she would want to go out and work in the orphanage rather than simply donate her money. She, in turn, insisted on maintaining her independence. He had to slowly come around, while at the same time trying to solve the mystery of who killed his father and was now threatening him. I loved watching Daniel and Anna try to deny their feelings, while at the same time acknowledging the crazy feelings swirling inside.

I really enjoyed the character of Joanna, Daniel's aunt by marriage, with whom everyone assumes he had an affair. In truth, they are very close, but just family. I thought it realistic how Anna didn't believe this at first but slowly came around to it, and just couldn't help liking Joanna.

I did guess the whodunnit very early on, but it didn't impede my enjoyment of the journey at all. I loved reading about Daniel's spy family (unlikely as it was), and revisiting the couples from the previous 2 books.

While I would say that this could be read as a stand-alone, it makes much more sense if you read it as a part of the series. And if you have read the series, I recommend a reread of at least book 2 before hopping into this one. I had some memory refreshing to do.

I'm hopeful that Joanna, Daniel's widowed aunt, will get her own story next.

4.5/5 stars on Goodreads

Maybe This Time by Kathryn Shay

MAYBE THIS TIME features Delaney Dawson, a good teacher who has just been transferred to the high school. Her lessons are innovative, she participates in school activities and her students love her. But when she hooks up with the Gage Grayson, the father of a girl she has in class, a myriad of problems occur. First, the two adults didn’t know of their connection through Stephanie. And Stephanie hates her father, which jeopardizes the troubled teen’s burgeoning relationship with her teacher. But when they learn that Steph is being lured in by a bad crowd with a proclivity towards school violence, all three must work together to prevent deadly consequences.
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Last one for a while, I think. This is the 3rd and final book in The Educators series.

Yet again, Shay confronts a tough issue, with a teenager totally disengaging from society, her parents, and her school. She gets involved with a crowd of girls with a vendetta against a teacher, and has to decide how to handle it.

Stephanie's favorite teacher, Delaney, met her dad on a trip to Atlanta, although they each didn't know who the other was. After an amazing one night stand, they exchanged info, still only using first names. They couldn't wait to carry forward. Imagine their surprise when they met at a conference in the principal's office about Gage's daughter Stephanie. Once they realized their relationship to the other, they knew they couldn't continue the relationship.

As Gage and Delaney try to keep their one night stand secret, they cannot deny the growing feelings between them as they try to do the right and ethical thing for all involved.

Meanwhile, as Stephanie tries to deal with her hurt feelings stemming from a mentally ill and therefore seemingly uncaring mother, her perceived disciplinarian father, and her parent's divorce, she has to decide whether to accept her dad's overtures of love and healing while also trying to decide if she should tell an adult what she has learned about her schoolmates, and what they have forced her to participate in.

Shay addresses teacher/parent relationships, school violence, and, teenage disenfranchisement in this short novel, and as always does it with grace and spot-on characterization. As a parent of high-schooler, this series has made me sit up and thank the heavens for my two happy, healthy, well-adjusted children.

Someone Like You by Kathryn Shay

Teacher Brie Gorman and Coach Nick Corelli have been at odds for years. She never liked the sexy jock himself, and hates how the school tends to coddle athletes. But when one of Brie's students, the star quarterback of the football team, goes into a downward spiral, she and Nick must work together to help him. Unexpectedly, a fiery passion they can't ignore erupts between them, even when they clash over the best way to save the boy's life.
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I liked this book, but not quite as much as the first, Still The One. I think that has more to do with me connecting better with the h/h of the first book, although Brie and Nick are both likeable. As always, there are hot issues of the day to address; in this book it is the son of the mayor. He's the star football player, but so desperately unhappy following the death of his mother and he has no outlet for all that pain and anger. He's also a cutter.

Nick was the best friend of Brie's husband. He passed away, leaving her heartbroken. Nick and Brie never really got along, even while Jared was still alive. They disagreed on a lot of things, one of which  was how to deal with Matt. Nick is trying to do his best for Matt on the down low, while Brie thinks that it should be reported so that Matt can get more help and have everything documented.

Through their interactions with Matt, Brie and Nick come to realize there is a huge attraction between them. Brie learns to like Nick. A lot. And what's not to like? He is handsome, smart, thoughtful, and really, truly wants to do the best he can for his students.

I thought Brie came across as a bit abrasive, but not unlikable. She jumped to conclusions and acted sometimes without thinking of the consequences. Having said that, she learns through the course of the book that her way may not always be the best way, and really comes to appreciate Nick for who he is.

I thought the love story happened a little quickly, but there was a long history between Brie and Nick, so although there was the 'getting to know the real you' issue, they already were well acquainted and both in a position to have a new start to their relationship.

The story surrounding Matt is heartbreaking; one I'm sure is not unique at all. (in fact, I know it's not - students like Matt are the ones my husband teaches every day) His father ignores him, speaking to him only to criticize or to talk about football. He's stuck playing a sport he doesn't even want to play, and he's tied in knots trying to come to terms with his mother's death.

Matt's father almost made the transition into sympathetic, but fell short. He comes across as a hard, unforgiving man, unable and unwilling to connect with his son because he represents a loss he doesn't want to think about.

As with the last book, there was only one plausible way that the resolution to Matt's situation could happen, and it was because he turned 18, and was able to make some decisions for himself.

I really like these books because they also give a look into the other side of education - what goes on in the teacher's lounge, in the principal's office, and in general, the politics that go along with working in education. 

Another solid read from Shay. Really looking forward to the next book, which I just got my hands on.

If you missed them, there's a review of Still the One and an interview with Shay as well.

Interview: Kathryn Shay

OK, so I make no bones about the fact that I'm a Kathryn Shay fangirl. She writes deep, insightful romance with characters that always touch me deeply. Her books have made my Best of the Year and almost never fail to make my gut clench at some point in the reading.(Best of the Year: The Perfect Family and Trust in Me.)

She has a new series out called The Educators, written about a group of teachers and administrators in a small town, which I'm loving. And she just released a whole host of her backlist. Both of these things, she's self-publishing - a trend that has been fascinating to me as I see more and more of the authors that I read dip their toes into it. Please welcome Kathryn Shay:

IJFR: Your books are always more than what one would expect. By that, I mean that you always take on some issue that forces a deeper look, whether it’s a societal taboo or a hot topic of the day. Do you approach the books with the message in mind already that you want to speak about, or does it evolve for you as the book goes on?

KS: Great question that gave me pause. I’d have to say that I mostly know what “issues” I want to deal with before I start a book. For instance, in my firefighter series, I knew I wanted to show the real lives of today’s firefighters. I wanted to show how their jobs affect their personality, or vice versa. Once I get into the book, though, I discover other things about the character and themes. For example, I knew I wanted NOTHING MORE TO LOSE to be about a man who lost the use of his legs in 9/11 but I didn’t know he’d be lured back into firefighting by teaching at the fire academy and in the process find meaning in his life again. In PROMISES TO KEEP, I knew the book would be about Secret Service agents going under cover in a modern high school to ferret out potential violence, but I didn’t know the dynamics of the students, that one of the heroes would have such a tortured background, that the younger agent would fall for his “teacher.” In the end, I’d say yes, I probably know the issue, but not how it will work out.

IJFR: I thought The Perfect Family was a fantastic, realistic, painful, and uplifting story of family dynamics when a teen comes out about his homosexuality. What inspired you to write a book like this, so different from your traditional romances?

KS: As most people know by now, I have a gay son. When Ben came out, my family went through some life changes. Since I had a writing background, I thought, “Oh, I could write a book about this.” The story is not autobiographical, but it has some elements of what happened to us in it. What I’m saying is I knew I could do a good job with this kind of story. (It had all the earmarks of a Kathryn Shay book.) When I was finished, I realized that I wished I had a book like THE PERFECT FAMILY to read when my son came out. That might sound arrogant, but no one told me about the ambushes that might occur—a problem at school crops up unexpectedly, a neighbor reacts badly, people pull through that you don’t expect to, and the constant worry about your child. Of course, things get better after a while, having a gay child becomes a fact of life, as I say in the book, but initially, I had no idea what to expect—a lot like Maggie and Mike in the story.

And I very much enjoyed going out of my genre and expect to do so again. There is romance in the book, but the novel is more in the women’s fiction and young adult genre, so I’ve been working in the vein a bit, too.


IJFR: Tell us about your new Educators series.

KS: I love stories about high school teachers and kids, and most that I read don’t quite capture the feel of the building, the interaction between adults and students, the real way kids behave. So since I had my backlist up already, I thought, “Well, this would be fun. I’ll write school stories and see how new work does.” (It’s doing well, btw.)

The premise is another one of those issues we talked about above—troubled teens are helped (or hindered) by the teachers they have in school, or by their parents at home. I like creating kids who need adults to care, mostly because I always believed that was my role as a teacher. I also had teachers when I was in high school who helped me with a pretty dysfunctional home life. So I know the need for good teachers from both ends. And I’m VERY tired of people criticizing teachers for their time off, or their short day or for tenure. I found teaching to be one of the most exhausting things I’ve ever done in my life, physically, psychologically and emotionally. The average person doesn’t really know how a good teacher (and I emphasize good) invests everything in her job and her kids.

IJFR: Why did you choose to move away from your traditional publishers in order to tell both The Perfect Family and The Educators series?

KS: This is a very complicated issue for me. First let me say, I’d like to go back to a major house at some time, but for now, what I’ve done is working for me. I published THE PERFECT FAMILY with Bold Strokes Books because they’re primarily an LGBT press and I believed the story would get the treatment it deserved. I was right. But another factor was that my agent at the time didn’t really “like” the last version. (This was after working on it together for five years, in between other contracts.) So we parted ways, at my initiation, and instead of going through the process of getting another agent or seeking out a bigger press, I decided to go with my heart--and Bold Strokes. It was a good decision!

As for the other houses, I left Harlequin in 2010 because of artistic differences. I felt bad about it because they were my first publisher, but the line I wrote for was going in a different direction, a place I didn’t want to go, nor do I think I could have gone. So we parted ways amicably. But I’d write for the company in a second if I could write how and what I wanted, as I’d done for 15 years. At this point in my career, after 40 books, I want to choose my stories carefully and tell them as I see fit and I can do that online. Again, I’m thinking hard about women’s fiction, and have a book that I wrote after the HQ breakup that I’m going to self-pub which is in that genre. And I’m thinking about getting another agent.

IJFR: You recently gained rights to your backlist, and decided to rerelease them all yourself rather than through your traditional publishing house. Why?

KS: Well, that’s an easy answer. Money. I’m making over two dollars per book and selling hundreds. I’m not sure a print version of my backlist could compete.

IJFR: What’s coming next that we should be looking for?

KS: More backlist books, since I’m getting rights back for early Harlequins. Second, I have two women’s fiction stories that I haven’t sold to print publishers yet (one is mentioned above). I love both of them and want readers to see them, too. And—back by popular demand because I get requests for this every day—I’m writing about firefighters again. [ETA: Squee!!!!]  This time I thought I’d try 6 short stories (around 12K words each) about other fire fighters at the Hidden Cove Fire Department, with cameos of those who appeared in the Berkley firefighter trilogy. I expect it will be a month or so before I finish. Meanwhile, look for the two new bigger books and my backlist from Harlequin.

Thanks a lot for letting me share my work and ideas with readers. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this.

Thank you, Kathy, for sharing your thoughts with us!

You can buy her latest releases here:
The Perfect Family: Amazon (paper/Kindle), Bold Strokes (ebook/print)
Still the One (book 1 in The Educators): Kindle/Smashwords
Someone Like You (book 2 in The Educators): Kindle/Smashwords
Maybe This Time (book 3 in The Educators): Kindle/Smashwords

Still the One by Kathryn Shay

Annie Jacobs has made something of herself after a rough adolescence. She’s the mother of twin boys, a respected and well-liked English teacher and has good friends. But when her former high school teacher, Dylan Kane, comes back to town, Annie’s carefully created world starts to crumble. She and Dylan have a past, one which almost destroyed her. Now, he wants to be the next principal of her school. Annie’s afraid their previous relationship will endanger the job she loves. She’s even more fearful that her feelings for Dylan will rekindle, or worse, never died.
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At the root of this book is a very controversial idea - a high school student and teacher falling in love. And while many (including myself) view this as completely taboo, I can appreciate that most teachers are in their early to mid twenties when they start, and high school kids can be 18. That's not a huge age difference. (In a TMI aside, I became great friends w/ a new teacher at my high school in my senior year, and he was HOT. He wasn't my teacher, and I definitely wouldn't have minded something happening, although it never did. As far as I know, it was completely one-sided on my part).

Annie was an 18 year old senior when she fell in love with her English teacher, 24 year old Dylan. He returned the emotion, but refused to act on it. When Annie pushed him to act, he left his job and moved away in order to keep his integrity intact. The story takes place 20 years later, when they meet again. Dylan is interviewing for the high school principal position, and Annie is now the English teacher. Dylan is unaware of what his leaving did to Annie, and she is too scared to take the risk of loving him again, having lost him once, and having lost her husband in Iraq. Plus, she has twin 8 year old sons to look after.

Kathryn Shay never shies away from tough or controversial subject matter. I thought all the issues in this book were handled with care, and ably so. She made both characters immensely appealing, so I was really rooting for them to make it work. It was as difficult for the reader to find a way out of their predicament as it was for Annie and Dylan. But Shay comes up with the perfect (and only, IMO) solution available to them.

The only things that keep this from being a 5 star read for me are the overtly jealous and almost evil former classmate of Annie's, and wondering why Annie was so adamant about staying in a town where she was faced with such animosity from some folks. I think had the book been a little longer, this may have been addressed, but a revelation on why it was so important to her would have helped me to understand.

Plus, there is that uncomfortable feeling of reading about a taboo subject and finding yourself feeling ok about it. That was very strange. It was only that Dylan refused to acknowledge his feelings for Annie to her back in the day and left town in order to keep from acting on those feelings that give credibility to the plot. It was handled in about the only way Shay could have to make it acceptable. And she does, amazingly.

Shay is self-publishing this series via Smashwords. I gave this book 4.5/5 stars on Goodreads.

Turn it Up: Turner Twins Book 2 by Vivian Arend

She wants it. He’s got it…and a whole lot more.


Maxwell Turner considers his stubborn and resourceful attitude a plus. After all, it usually gets him what he wants—except for Natasha Bellingham. The long-time family friend may be ten years older than he, but so what? He’s plenty old enough to know they belong together. Now all he has to do is convince her.


Over the past few years Natasha’s love life has degenerated into a series of bad clichés. Her biological clock is ticking—loudly. As a proven architect with her own house-design company, she’s financially ready for a baby. Who says she needs a permanent man in her life for that? She just needs a “donation”.


When Max discovers Natasha’s future plans include artificial insemination, he’s outraged. She wants to get pregnant? No problem. He’s more than willing to volunteer—no turkey basters involved.


But there’s one non-negotiable clause: He wants forever. And he intends to do everything in his power—fair and unfair—to make it happen.

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Older woman/younger man is one of my least favorite tropes. In general, I hate it with a thousand passions. Because the woman is always freaking out about how the man is too young for her. Ugh.

So, worried as I was, I was thrilled to see that that wasn't the case with Turn It Up. Tasha had issues, oh yes she did, but they stemmed from abandonment issues rather than age issues. And it thrilled me to see that she consciously tried to open herself up to Max. Usually the women are trying to come up with excuses to keep themselves closed off, and while she did a tiny bit of that, more often she was convincing herself to let him in, to open up, to experience life with him.

And Max. Ahhh, what a gem he was. Smart, funny, workaholic but willing to make time for his woman, and hot. Believe me, he had to be super hot if I could overcome the name Max. Totally committed to Tasha and their baby and their life together. And so patient, too.

If you've ever been pregnant, you appreciate the accuracy of the descriptions and feelings of being pregnant described. The push and pull of a schizophrenic sex drive - there one minute and soooo not there the next. Of nesting. Of awkward positions in sex. And I loved the scene where they had the ultrasound, and while wanting so badly to share the warm fuzzies with Max, Tasha simply said hang on and ran off to pee.

To me, it was very odd that this book came 2nd in the series, as it takes place before book 1 and also serves to put Maxy's (max's sister - don't ask) innocence and situation into some perspective. Still, if I hadn't read book 1 first, I never would have had any issues. I highly recommend reading these two books out of order. I liked them both, but this one especially.

February at half-time...

What She Needs by Anne Calhoun
This was a WOW read for me. Tightly written--really, the writing was flawless. Flawless like Megan Hart flawless. Written with an economy that only heightened its emotion. Intense. Palpable. It was also very clever--the reveal packed a punch--despite the well-placed clues and even despite the fact that this is an extremely popular storyline in erotic romance. I absolutely loved this book.


Under His Hand by Anne Calhoun
And this title was the reason I purchased What She Needs. Blogger buzz for Under His Hand hooked me and when I went to purchase it, I grabbed What She Needs too. Read that one, absolutely loved it. Under His Hand was a huge disappointment by comparison. The premise, its characters, the emotional ride. All there. Except, I think they forgot to edit this one. Typos throughout and no where near the economy of the first. I had to wade through run-ons--sentences and internal thoughts/backstory--and step over typos. Seriously, it was as if this entire manuscript had not been edited. So disappointing.


Lessons From A Scarlet Lady by Emma Wildes
All three of my historical reads this month (so far) featured less-than-alpha heroes. Not a bad thing, mind you. Just noticeable coming off a month that featured Stephanie Laurens, LOL. In this one, I have to say I enjoyed watching the heroine undo her man. He wasn't the brightest bulb, but he was honorable enough. Their humor was more of the dork variety--no witty (read knowing) sarcasms here--just fun at the expense of their collective naivete. The secondary storyline was equally entertaining and the sequel baiting effective (I'm thinking the third brother may be significantly smarter than these two.)


Proof By Seduction by Courtney Milan
It might not be fair to call Gareth "less-than-alpha." He was dark, intense--extremely alpha I suppose, if you consider how tightly controlled his demeanor and actions. A powerful read (thinking back on it now). Words fail me, but yes, one of best I've read in awhile.


Prelude To A Scandal by Delilah Marvelle
I adore the covers Marvelle received for this series. Just gorgeous. I didn't much adore this first installment though. Read it completely through and remained unconvinced the entire way. I didn't buy his "addiction." Didn't appreciate the startling dark stuff (without the seriousness in character to support it). And I didn't care for the handling of same-sex relationships because, again, it lacked the seriousness it deserved in this setting. I dunno, maybe Marvelle was actually going for a dark, serious telling. If she was, her efforts were completely undermined by her H/H. Radcliff was embarrassingly dramatic--a blazing idiot--and Justine was as naive as they come.


Call Me Irristible by SEP
I wish I could remember how to write a full-fledged review, cuz this one deserves it. In true SEP fashion, Call Me Irristible features a down-trodden heroine and a hero intent on humiliating her until low and behold, they fall madly for one another. And as with every other SEP title in recent memory, I was slow to accept the premise, but unable to turn away. In the end, I fell hard for Teddy and Meg. And I was reminded of how clever SEP really is. We cheer for Meg because unlike everyone else, she knows Teddy. At least we think she knows him. Right up until SEP clobbers us all with Teddy's point of view. By which time it's too late. Because we're all in love and hurting. Every moment worth it, because that last scene? Sigh-worthy. Really, really sigh-worthy. I re-read those last three pages again and again. Almost didn't want to give the book back to my library.

There was also plenty of the absurd and just the right amount of the past in this one. I don't think I'll ever recapture the magic of Kiss An Angel, but I know I can keep counting on SEP to deliver that falling-in-love sensation--warts and all.


Tongue In Chic by Christina Dodd
Thinking about starting a "retro" challenge. Granted, this title is only 5 years old, but it felt long lost to me. Probably because my blog reader yields dozens of new must-reads every month. Going back 5 years feels like quite a stretch. At any rate, I'm really enjoying Dodd's older contemporaries. This one was fun and sexy. A light, quick read with good humor and a not-too-overwhelming suspense line. I'm going for Thigh High next and am also browsing Rachel Gibson's backlist. Quirky and sexy is my favorite flavor right now.


Beyond The Night by Joss Ware
Blogger buzz put this series on my TBR list quite some time ago. Unfortunately, I'm not so thrilled by sci-fi or urban or whatever this particular setting is called. It was so bleak. And disturbing. I read it through--appreciating Ware's voice and characterization very much. I just don't think I'll go on in the series given the impact their hopelessness has on the HEA.

January re-cap - Jennifer

Haven't mentioned it here yet, but I'm officially OUTTA the 8 to 5 grind, laid off again. Nervous about the no paycheck thing, yes. But happy to be the only boss of me again. And WOW am I reading more. In 2010, I didn't read 50 books. In 2011, I've already read 18 books.

Here is a recap of January's reads:

What A Rogue Desires by Caroline Linden
I am literally years behind on some of the trilogies, series, etc. I wanted to finish or catch up. Linden's follow up to What A Gentleman Wants is one I've had on my list forever. So glad I didn't just move on. I really enjoyed the relationship between David and Vivian--forged while he holds her imprisoned in his home. And I was pleasantly reminded of how much I like Linden's voice. Not a word wasted. Drawing us helplessly into the romance while all the while subjecting us to the tension wrought by their circumstances. I love survivor heroines, less than perfect heroes and impossible odds. Even more so when the author uses humor--that dry, dry wit--to make it all more bearable.

The Other Side (Antho), specifically J.D. Robb's Possession In Death
Really, really good one. Highlight? When Roarke points out the tatoo to Eve. Priceless.

A Lady Of Persuasion by Tessa Dare
Finished up this trilogy and am very happy to add Dare to my list of go-to authors. I particularly like Dare's heroes--commanding men really, once you get beyond their good intentions and hilarious humor.

Shoulda Been A Cowboy by Lorelei James
Jumped into this series out of order, but enjoyed myself anyway. Loved Cam--every single thing about him.

Skin Tight by Ava Gray
Catch-up mode again. Unfortunately, I didn't love this one as much as I did Skin Game. It was tightly-written and Gray's characters were pretty unapologetic--which I like. But I was less sure of the plotline (the evil scientific experiments stuff) and the heroine's role overall. Those pieces didn't fit as seamlessly as I wanted. It was almost as if the characters came together again and then just lingered, not doing much of anything to propel the story forward. Dunno. I was captivated here and there--it just didn't grip like the first book. Not giving up on this series though--that first book was just too good.

Precious And Fragile Things by Megan Hart
Compelling. Extraordinary. Almost didn't read this one because the idea of being torn from my child is not one I can stomach. I turned the first page however and was instantly immersed. And while I couldn't relate to this woman (as much as I feared or hoped), I could see life through her eyes. It felt a very honest telling of a hard-to-hear story. One I would recommend to anyone.

Captain Jack's Woman by Stephanie Laurens
In addition to catching up on my TBR list, I also organized my walk-in--where my actual TBR pile lives. Too many books in there, LOL. Don't know why I grabbed this one, but I did and enjoyed myself very much. So much that I promptly reviewed my reading logs, determined where I'd left off on her Bastion Club books and got to catching up.

Mastered By Love by Stephanie Laurens
There. All caught up on this series. When the urge strikes, I can now move on to Laurens new bride series.

Breathless by Anne Stuart
Too much. In the end, Stuart's typically dark hero goes too far, subjecting the heroine to just too much, violating her in a way I thought unforgivable. She had me right up until that point--very near the end of the book. I finished it, despite my unease, and can honestly say that if it weren't for that single disturbing scene, that one step too far, the book could have been a great read. As it was, that scene turned everything--sharply--and the HEA never recovered. Unfortunate given how much I enjoyed Ruthless (the first in this trilogy).

Last Night's Scandal by Loretta Chase
I think Chase may be on my historical podium, right up there with Joanna Bourne and Jo Goodman. I laughed my way through this one and fell in love with both of these crazy kids.

Hot Pursuit by Christina Skye
DNF'd this one. Couldn't figure out why this woman involved herself to this degree in the life of her beyond-stupid, rock-climbing instructor/neighbor. I hung in to the halfway point before donating this one to my library.

Right Here, Right Now by HelenKay Dimon
Also in my TBR pile. Lots and lots and lots and lots of banter in this one. A light, fun read.

Almost Like Being In Love by Christina Dodd
The fourth! book out of my TBR pile in one month--that space is getting downright tidy. And wow, this book packed a punch. It has this light, airy cover that made me think light, airy love story. Not so. The hero is Special Forces and the heroine is on the run from a ruthless killer. And this couple has a dark past together. Sexy, intense stuff. I enjoyed having a book at hand that I couldn't wait to get back to every night--after dinner, bath, bedtime, etc. Now that's why I read romance, LOL.

What She Wants by Anne Rainey
A blogger rec I think and a pretty good read. Short but solid.

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Screwed around with book cover images until I was good and fed up. Next time, promise.

This is me

Check out this pic of the States taken by NASA from space.

Stay safe, everyone!! It's crazy out there!

Author pseudonyms: helpful or harmful? Just wondering...

Warning: a long and rambling post ahead... but honestly. I'm really curious about this.

I've been thinking a lot about this, because I see it happening more and more often. It always bothers me when an author takes on a pseudonym to publish a book in or outside their usual genre. I feel cheated, because sometimes I’ll miss a book by a favorite author. Without the name recognition, I don’t always pick up books by new authors. I admit it. I only have a limited amount of money to spend, and the majority of my book-buying money goes to tried and true authors rather than first-timers, even though I do also buy and read new and new-to-me authors. I commented in my Overview of 2010 post about how sad I was that Leslie Parrish was having so much difficulty getting her books sold because they seriously rock the house, and I wondered if the pseudonym was hurting her because she lost out on the name recognition (she’s also well-known Harlequin author Leslie Kelly). The answer I’ve heard from many authors is that their publisher recommends/requests/requires the name change when branching out to a new genre – even if it’s still within romance. Something about reader expectations, blah blah blah.

I have to wonder if this is a smart move. We are living in an age where publishers will drop an author immediately if their first book doesn’t sell well. I would think that they would want to take advantage of any name recognition they can. When you send an established author out into the world with a new name, not only are they a new name, but they are a new author with a first book. It does nothing to increase their credibility.

Many romance readers are incredibly savvy. We read the OBC blurbs. We follow our favorite authors on Facebook, and twitter, and we read their websites and blogs. Not only are authors allowed to have more than one type of voice speak to them, they usually have no say in the matter, LOL, and as consumers, we should be able to understand that. On the other hand, many romance readers are also impossibly old-fashioned (GASP – S.E.Ecks? Nooooo! Say it isn’t so!!). They like what they like, who they like, and the way they write it. These folks are disappointed when an author changes genres, and whine to the high heavens about the immorality of sex in romances today (because real people don’t ever have sex with the door open, or before they get married, or in any way other than missionary). And there are many who fall somewhere in between. Just like in any other area of life, you can’t pigeonhole romance readers into a type. So why cater to only one portion of readers (the please don’t ever ever change a thing portion)? If those folks aren’t going to follow an author into a new genre anyway? Why not cater to those who will, and get the extra name recognition and sales out of it?

Here are some examples of pseudonyms I've been thinking about:
Sylvia Day/ SJ Day/ Livia Dare: I adore her historicals. I’m not a fan of urban fantasy, so didn’t read the SJ Days or the Livia Dares, but if she wrote those as Sylvia Day I wouldn’t hold it against her. In fact, I noted in my review of her latest historical that I simply (ok, impatiently, LOL) waited out the UFs knowing this book was coming. Not sure why the UF had to be released under not one, but two pseudonyms.

Leslie Parrish: This is the pseudonym for bestselling Harlequin author Leslie Kelly. A Kelly category is pretty much guaranteed to be a success, cause well, she rocks. But as Parrish, she had a really tough time breaking into romantic suspense, which sucked cause, well, the books rocked. Was it because Parrish was a “new” author with a "first" book? As a reader, I’m more likely to take a chance on a known author spreading her wings than an unknown newbie (although I read plenty of those as well). Personally, I think sending her out into the romantic suspense world as a new author hurt her sales, where her name recognition could have helped them. Sure, some readers would have read the first one and decided to stick with her categories (those "No, don't ever ever change a thing" folks  - and indeed, some did and needless to say were NOT happy). But how many more would have picked up that suspense book, simply because Leslie Kelly wrote it, and loved it – and then bought the rest?

Beth Williamson/Emma Lang: I really don’t understand the reason for the pseudonym here at all (Emma Lang), also requested by her publisher as I understand it. Emma Lang writes western historicals. Beth Williamson? Yup. Western historicals (although she has several hawt contemporaries out there as well). So here, this seems to be a perfect opportunity to take advantage of an author’s name in a genre where she’s already known. Why wouldn’t a publisher want to capitalize on that?

Toni Blake/Lacey Alexander: A successful dual genre, dual-named author. Her Toni Blake contemporaries are wonderful. Her Lacey Alexander erotic romances are also terrific. She’s also one who was able to keep her dual identity secret for a long time. I’m not sure if her print or her e-books came first, but it’s definitely easier, IMO, to break in as a new author into the digital world.

Jessica Bird/JR Ward: Does this one even count? I only ask because there seems to be no more Jessica Bird. JR Ward reigns in that relationship, and I guess given her success, rightfully so. Once the BDB came out, Jessica simply disappeared. But here's an example of a pretty successful category romance author breaking out into paranormal, and hitting a home run with a new identity. Would it have happened anyway, had they been released as Jessica Bird? I tend to think so, but at this point, who can tell?

Nora Roberts/JD Robb: Perhaps the most successful dual-named author of them all. I read on her site that the In Death series was originally only supposed to be a trilogy. I wonder if that was why she originally went with a pseudonym for the futuristic suspense books, either in case they weren't successful, or out of fear that her readers wouldn't accept a new genre. Was it her choice, or her publisher's decision? Nora? You out there? It would be very interesting to hear more about this. And once the books were successful, then I assume she was stuck. She even has a different author photo on her Robb books that looks much more appropriate for a suspense/thriller/futuristic author than a romance author (I'm sure that amazingly awesome leather coat is the same one that Eve wears). I think the NR/JD Robb brand is what every pub house is after when they ask their author to use a pseudonym. But really, how likely is that to happen again, where a highly successful author continues to write in both genres under both names? There's only one Roarke, people. (I'm sure there are other success stories, so if you know of any more, please share!)

Megan Hart: Here’s an author who is successful in romance. And yet, she hasn’t changed her name for any of her latest releases, some of which are not really romances. She made no bones about it to her readers – I recall her saying over and over – “Hey, this isn’t a romance – but I’d love for you to take a chance on it.” IMO, this hasn’t hurt her brand as a romance author in the slightest. When she does write a true romance, her romance audience will read it, even if they skip the speculative fiction. (If you write it, they will come.)

Many other authors have also successfully changed genres without changing their name. Coming to mind immediately are Tami Hoag, Lisa Jackson, Sandra Brown, Catherine Coulter, Heather Graham, Linda Howard, Iris Johansen, Mariah Stewart, and Karen Robards (can you tell I read thrillers - a lot?). Interestingly, they all switched from romance to suspense - and Graham dabbles with the paranormal (in its truest definition). And yet, Kelly wasn’t given the same opportunity. Interesting to me.

James Patterson and John Grisham both wrote books for YA readers (my boys both enjoyed them – youngest really enjoys the Maximum Ride series). Nobody asked them to change their names (I assume).

As a reader, I pick and choose which books I buy, even when an author releases a book in the same genre as she usually writes. I appreciate being given the benefit of the doubt for my own intelligence. Oftentimes, a book just doesn’t sound all that interesting to me, so I skip it. Doesn’t mean I don’t go back to that author next time. I eat up Teresa Medeiros’ and Kathryn Smith’s historicals, but after I read the first vampire historical from each of them, I passed on the rest. But when they each released another straight historical, I was the first to go buy it (I think I actually squeed aloud when Kathryn Smith told me about her latest series at the RWA Literacy signing in SF). Take Anne Stuart – she writes contemporaries, suspense and historicals. Just because her ‘genre’ changed, her writing remains constant. Dark, morally ambiguous heroes and almost TSTL heroines that make you want to smack some sense into them.

I look at authors like Lauren Dane, who writes contemporaries, futuristics, and paranormals concurrently. Or Shiloh Walker, who also switches from contemporary to paranormal. Or NJ Walters, who switches between vampires, shifters, and contemporaries easily. Common denominator: all these folks got their start in digital publishing, and continue to publish there. (And someone please tell me why NJ isn't a huge star in the NY scene? Huh?) Wonder if that’s the key here. Are digital readers more willing to follow authors and move between genres than their print counterparts?

What do you think? Does it help or hurt an author to use more than one name, whether they are switching genres or not?

Restless Heart by Emma Lang

Blurb via emmalang.com:
Angels don’t always have halos…

Angeline Hunter ran from a horrific marriage, to start her life again in a small town in Wyoming, away from the Mormon life she had escaped in Utah. She didn’t want to fall in love, or even fall in like, with a man like Samuel Carver. He was too nice, too normal, and far out of the reach for a woman who lived each day in a lie.

Sam Carver had hair the color of midnight and eyes darker than pitch—the eyes of a man who’d seen too much. But he couldn’t get enough of the mysterious, ethereal beauty who had turned up in his little Wyoming town, working at the Blue Plate, keeping to herself.

He knew Angeline Hunter was running scared, pursued by a fanatic who threatened her life. But no matter what it took, Sam would convince his angel to put her trust in him, to put the painful past behind her and learn just how pleasurable the present could be….
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This is the sequel to Ruthless Heart, which I enjoyed. Angeline is the sister to Eliza, the heroine of that book.

What a fabulous book, with two really likable characters. This is, at its heart, a tender love story of two lost souls finding and healing one another. A Civil War soldier, Sam saw far too much death. He still dreams about it every night. He’s got a father with dementia and struggles to overcome the “half-breed” stigma. He feels as though he is just treading water – not sure of where to go, what to do, or how to improve on his life as it now exists.

Angeline was always the good, obedient daughter. So obedient, that she never put up a fuss when her father arranged for her marriage to a Mormon church elder, one who was far older than her and abusive to boot. We only find out exactly how abusive late in the book. Angeline’s family is Mormon, and she is to be one of three wives to her husband. Her one defiant act was to run away when the abuse got too bad. Her husband is out looking for her, having already hired someone to kill her and failing at that (see Ruthless Heart). Angeline is meek, out of fear, but as the book goes on, Sam’s quiet, understated demeanor, love, and support help her gain her footing and she becomes more self-confident. The scenes where she realizes that she has the power to bring a man to his knees simply by undressing for him were enlightening for Angeline and very well done. To see her grow and gain her confidence back was lovely.

Oh, how I loved Sam. It was unexpected to read a Lang (Williamson) book with such a beautiful beta hero. He’s soft spoken, he isn’t afraid to show his love for Angeline or for his father. He runs around helping folks and trying to make everyone happy. But he’s no pushover, and when he needs to, he steps up and protects his woman. He empowers Angeline simply by being gentle and showing Angeline what she means to him. The character growth in both Sam and Angeline was terrific, but even moreso in Angeline. She became her own woman; one who people turned to for help. As she grows, we see her take on the tough situations in order to support Sam, as he goes through difficult times.

Their courtship was heartbreakingly simple and beautiful. Over the course of a month, Sam brings her little gifts and slowly gains her trust before he ever even asks her out. (As an aside, I loved that the first gift he gave her was Sense and Sensibility!) Enough trust was built that it is Angeline who initiates their final step into lovemaking after a bit of official courting. They each have their scars, both physical and emotional. But like in any successful relationship, they make each other stronger, lift each other up, and show each other their worth.

The secondary characters are also strong and well-drawn, without removing the focus from Sam and Angeline. Each one of them adds layers of richness to the story. The real “action” happens after Sam and Angeline get married. Heartbreaking events force them to look inside themselves and to step up and be strong and support each other.

Oh wow, how I enjoyed this book. It was a tender, gentle love story set against a time of changes in our post-Civil War history. My complaint about Ruthless Heart had to do with the strongly negative picture painted of the Mormon church as well as the heroine's unorthodox views of the church. Here, we see Angeline reject the Mormon church, but she still has a strong faith. We see the women being valued and their opinions seen as important. (Given that Wyoming, where the book takes place, was the first to grant women the right to vote, this makes sense historically – the story takes place in 1873). I also liked the historical accuracies as they related to Sam, his war experiences, and his Indian heritage.

Those looking for a great conflict between the hero and heroine won't find it here. But the external issues lend an air of tension to the gentle love story. And the ending lines bring the two books full circle perfectly.




And oh, as an aside, one of the most gorgeous covers I've seen in a while. Man-titty, but understated. The focus more on the man himself than his chest.  (And his pose actually reflects an exact pose described in the book.) Sighworthy cover.

WTF, Borders?

No wonder you're going out of business soon. If you offend everyone the way you just did me...

ARC: Pride and Pleasure by Sylvia Day

Hot damn. I've been waiting forever for Day's next historical. While I adore her writing, urban fantasy isn't my thing, and so have been (im)patiently waiting out her last several releases. Waiting for MY book *g*. And here it is, thanks to an ARC provided by the author.

Wealth has its dangers…

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

…so do certain men

Thief-taker Jasper Bond is entirely too large, too handsome, and too dangerous. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But the combination of her stubbornness and the mystery makes the case one Jasper can’t resist. Client satisfaction is a point of pride and it’s his pleasure to prove he’s just the man she needs after all…
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I adored Jasper and Eliza. Flat out loved it. Because although there is an element of mild suspense, most of the focus is strictly on them. And while I expected Jasper to be a badass, he really is all about feeling the love for Eliza, which amazes him (and her) no end, but he runs with it.

Eliza is an incredibly intelligent woman, one who chafes at the bit at the lack of feminine standing in the world. Yet she is not your typical bluestocking. Yes, she has difficulty making socially inane conversation, but she can do it. And she is a strong woman, too, which I love.

I also loved that Eliza and her uncle had a loving relationship, and that she didn't resent looking after him. They had a special bond.

The mystery was fairly easy to solve, but I loved the journey there. Jasper and Eliza's love grew slowly, even though the attraction was there immediately. Day gave them the time to get to know each other, and I loved that. As a result, Jasper wasn't at all the alpha jerk that I expected. He was sweet, kind, and loving with Eliza. She loved that for once someone was taking her at her word. And I loved that when certain things come to light at the end of the book, she doesn't jump to conclusions. She gives Jasper the benefit of the doubt because she knows this man. As well as she knows herself.

All in all, a much more character focused book than many of her historicals, with a bit of mystery/suspense built in. If you are a Day fan, you won't want to miss this. Releases January 25.

ALS, music, and hope

This is a very personal post for me. My sister-in-law has been sick for the past couple years, and she and my brother have been visiting doctors non-stop trying to get a diagnosis. She was finally definitively diagnosed a couple months ago with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), which is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. It is progressive and always fatal.

My brother and his wife have been together since the early 80s. Married in 1989. Neither of them have really had any other boyfriend or girlfriend. Only each other. We used to joke that if they came to dinner, you only needed one chair, because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Obviously, over the years, that has mellowed, but they are still very much in love. I worry for my brother.

They have two beautiful daughters – one is a junior in college who just got back from a semester abroad in London. The other is a high school senior, who has her heart set on going to BU. Now that SIL is no longer working, I hope that they can work something out so that she can still go. And yet, I hate that if she goes, she won’t be able to spend the last bits of true quality time that she can with her mother. My heart breaks for all of them, and for our entire family. We have no way of knowing how fast the disease will progress for SIL, but there is no doubt that it will. She is already in a wheelchair, because she doesn’t have the strength in her feet and ankles to support her body.

I don’t know what decisions they will make as they move forward. Whatever they decide will be the best they can for their family.

As most of you know, I am a huge supporter of the ACS and cancer research. Each year, I nag beg ask you to support my Relay for Life walk. This year, and moving forward, I am going to branch out and find different ways to support the ALS as well as the ACS. There is a ton of research going on for both diseases, and much of it surrounds stem cell research. Since the ruling that reversed President Obama’s 2009 executive order that widened the opportunities for federal funding, there is even a greater need for donations and funding of research for all diseases, but especially those that are fatal where research could make such a difference literally between life and death. I definitely don’t want to turn this into a discussion of the rights or wrongs of embryonic stem cell research – just making a point that funds are needed in order to conduct research – of any kind. There are several organizations out there conducting research for a cure for ALS; one is the ALS Association, another is Project ALS. Both are doing wonderful work not only on the research front, but in providing support to ALS patients and their families.

This morning on the radio, I heard an ad for a CD from an artist who is donating 100% of the proceeds to Project ALS. This is such a simple and easy way to support ALS research and get something completely enjoyable out of it. The artist is Peter Gusmano, and his website is Guitar for a Cure. From there, you can read his story, or link off and purchase his CD, A Flickering Light, which is really great. The CD is available at Amazon and iTunes, among other places. Music Therapy is such a great thing, and I hope that ALS patients, their families, or really anyone who hears this beautiful CD can derive even more pleasure knowing that every dollar spent on that music is going to work to save the lives of ALS patients.

I promise not to flood you with requests for money, but will definitely be participating in the Walk to Defeat ALS and looking for other similar opportunities so that I can support funding the ALS cure research. I hope that, if you don't have your own personal pet cause, that you'll consider looking into supporting a cure for ALS or cancer.

Romance Novel: 2011 edition

Usually, delete email I get from my mom, but I loved this one, and remarkable, hadn't seen it anywhere else yet.
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He grasped me firmly but gently just above my elbow and guided me into a room, his room. Then he quietly shut the door and we were alone. He approached me soundlessly, from behind, and spoke in a low, reassuring voice close to my ear. "Just relax."

Without warning he reached down and I felt his strong, calloused hands start at my ankles, gently probing, and moving upward along my calves slowly but steadily.

My breath caught in my throat. I knew I should be afraid, but somehow I didn't care. His touch was so experienced, so sure.

When his hands moved up onto my thighs, I gave a slight shudder, and partly closed my eyes. My pulse was pounding. I felt his knowing fingers caress my abdomen, my ribcage. And then, as he cupped my firm, full breasts in his hands, I inhaled sharply. Probing, searching, knowing what he wanted, he brought his hands to my shoulders, slid them down my tingling spine and into my panties.



Although I knew nothing about this man, I felt oddly trusting and expectant. This is a man, I thought. A man used to taking charge. A man not used to taking 'no' for an answer. A man who would tell me what he wanted.

A man who would look into my soul and say ...

"Okay, ma'am," said a voice. "All done"

My eyes snapped open and he was standing in front of me, smiling, holding out my purse.

"You can board your flight now."

Lori's 2010 reading year, part 2: favorite books

So... in 2010 I read 301 books (revised from previous post). Here's the breakdown:

Historical: 96
Contemporary: 130
Romantic Suspense: 50
Futuristic: 16
Nonfiction: 1
Paranormal: 7
Thriller: 4
M/M: 7
(total is > 301 because some books were placed in more than once category)

I think the contemporary is so high because I read a lot of category romance. I didn't read a ton of single title contemporaries. Plus, often if a book is a RS, it also gets categorized in my contemporary shelf. But it definitely confirms that my two favorite subgenres are historical and RS. Hmm... wonder if I can stick to just one category per book for next year. Not likely.

So what books did I absolutely love? I had 24 5-star reads. That's 8% of my total. I'm not going to list them all; you can find them on my Goodreads account (link to my 5-star shelf is at the right). Of those, several were rereads, and I won't include them here. I only had one 1 rating in there (Sexy as Hell, which I reviewed for Book Binge - I just don't like reading about cheaters and assholes, what can I say?).

Here are the ones that stood out to me so greatly that I would pimp them to you and nag until you read them. In no particular order.

Captain's Surrender: Alex Beecroft (m/m)
A sweeping epic historical showing a wonderful, sweet love set against the harsh life of the Royal Navy.

Shaken: Dee Tenorio (contemporary)
I've never ever included a novella before, but this was soooo good! A married couple tries to put their life back together after the death of their daughter.

The Darkest Hour: Maya Banks (romantic suspense)
Another married couple. Wife comes "back from the dead" with serious addiction issues and fear. Wonderful family, too.

The Perfect Family: Kathryn Shay (comtemporary, m/m)
Not a romance, but a wonderfully relevant look at a family dealing with the coming out of the youngest child.

Duke of Shadows: Meredith Duran (historical)
I cannot believe I waited so long to read this. Simply fantastic.

Song of Seduction: Carrie Lofty (historical)
A gorgeous portrayal of 18th century Europe, the music industry, and obsessive love.

The Dark Tide: Josh Lanyon (m/m)
I've always been a Jake fan, and I simply adored the end of this series.

Visions in Death: JD Robb (futuristic, R/S)
A welcome relationship-focused issue in this series following the very intense and tense Divided in Death.

Loyalty in Death: JD Robb (futuristic, R/S)
A spooky foreshadowing of 9/11. A terrific suspense portion and a wonderful relationship aspect as well.

Exclusively Yours: Shannon Stacey (contemporary)
Proof that writing what you know pays off. A fantastic family story that features reunited lovers and loads of mud and teenagers. (It works, trust me!)

Cold Sight: Leslie Parrish (romantic suspense)
Parrish writes like Karen Rose, and her books are sufficiently creepy to keep me happy and contain the perfect amount of romance to balance it out. Plus, no TSTL heroines!

I Can See You: Karen Rose (romantic suspense)
Loveloveloved Noah and Eve. Both so damaged, but so perfect for one another.


Honorable Mentions go to:
Slow Heat: Jill Shalvis
Silent Scream: Karen Rose
Marry Me: Jo Goodman
Coming Undone: Lauren Dane (which was a Jan release, but I technically read it in Dec 09)
Something About You: Julie James

What were your favorites this year?

Lori's 2010 reading year, part 1

2010 was the year that I was determined to track my reads all year. In the past, I've tried doing it via an excel spreadsheet and the longest I ever made it was through March. Much as I adore Excel (I think it's the best thing Bill Gates ever did, LOL), I couldn't access it to record my books immediately. This year, thanks to Goodreads and my iPhone, I was able to track my reads. Once the Goodreads app came out, it was easy. I didn't have to remember anything - I always had my phone with me and could record when I finished a book immediately. I was also able to jot down some initial thoughts that helped my memory when I went to review. However, I also realized I have tons of typos when I write on my iPhone, LOL! So all those typos on my monthly roundups are because I copied and pasted from Goodreads. And apparently, I suck at proofreading when I type on the phone. Also, I wonder if there was some bug in December, because Goodreads ate a ton of my reviews for that month. Which sucks, cause my memory aint what it used to be.

Here are some thoughts about 2010...

The good: I made it all year with tracking my books! Go me! As I said, noting them right away in Goodreads made it easier to write reviews.

The bad: I was really lazy and rarely brought over my thoughts on Goodreads to this blog. Something to work on in 2011. Also realized that I might want to post weekly rather than monthly wrapups. There were so many books to note that it made for long, unwieldy posts.
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The good: The In Death challenge. I've put off reading this series for a really long time. First, I generally don't enjoy books about the same couple, but Robb makes it work so well! I just finished book 21, and plan to hit the library tomorrow for Memory In Death.

The bad: I think I burned out on the books, and stopped reading them for a period of about 4 (5?) months. But thankfully, I picked the next one up and started it Thanksgiving weekend, and am now back in the saddle.
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The good: I read 295 books in 2010 (and actually, I think it's likely closer to 300 because I read some small ebooks in December that I never recorded. There were 24 5-star reads in that bunch, so, close to 10%. Not bad. And a ton of 4 stars. So I read a bunch of great books this year.

The bad: I hardly read anything that wasn't romance. While I did read some thrillers, I usually read several non-fictions each year, but not so this year. On my list, Jimmy Carter's White House Diary, Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier (saw the author interviewed on the Colbert Report), War by Sebastian Junger (saw author interviewed on the Daily Show), Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories by Anna Baltzer (also a Daily Show find). Must get to these at a minimum.
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The good: Carina Press - 2 of my favorite books of the year come from them. Why that surprises me, I don't know. Quality authors seem to follow Angela James wherever she goes.

The bad: Harlequin's gain is Samhain's loss. I've noticed a decrease in editing quality with some Samhain books since Angie's departure. No terribly edited books, but just not as top-notch as before. However, I still love many of the authors that write for Samhain, so will continue to buy those authors as their books come out.
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The good: Some really great authors put out some amazing books.

The bad: Pub houses don't seem to be supporting some genres as much as they previously did. This makes me sad. The big names still do well, thank goodness, but new-to-the-genre authors who wrote amazing books are unable to continue selling the books that speak to them. Thinking specifically of Leslie Parrish here, whose Cold Sight romantic suspense was one of my favorite books this year. And I have to wonder if she'd written them as Leslie Kelly if she might have been more successful. Others have made the leap successfully using the same name - Stephanie Tyler comes immediately to mind (although she does also write as Sydney Croft in partnership with Larissa Ione). Either way, I think Parrish has a wonderful voice, and am disappointed to see that her pub house isn't supporting her as much as she deserves. OTOH, some authors made the leap the other way: HelenKay Dimon, who has much success with single title contemps, made the leap over to Harlequin Intrigue to find a home for her RS voice. And I'm digging her books there in a line I tend to avoid. And again, wondering if her name recognition has helped folks to try those books when they otherwise might not have (raising hand).
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The good: I spent more face time online, discovering Facebook, twitter, continuing my own personal blog, and in general raising hell.

The bad: All that online time meant that I became less productive at work (must stop doing romancelandia at work!), and was glued to either a computer, phone, or book at home. Thank goodness my kids are rarely home anymore. OTOH, JenniferB is so busy being a mom that she hasn't had much time to read or to write those amazing reviews of hers. I sure hope that she'll be able to do more in 2011. I can totally relate, though, as I'm sure anyone with a young, active child can. The homework, the sports, the family trips, and on and on... There were a couple years where I barely posted anything over here.
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The good: Many authors are self-publishing via Smashwords, making books that might otherwise be unavailable out there for us all to enjoy. For me, this year I purchased and enjoyed books from Shiloh Walker (Beg Me), Kathryn Shay (Still the One, plus many of her backlist), Marie Force (True North - still reading it). I'm sure there are some amazing ones I've missed. I think this gives authors tremendous power over their work.

The bad: While giving authors some control over their works, I wonder if it's becoming too difficult to deal with pub houses, if a book may be less well edited (although Shiloh blogged about this extensively)
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The good: Rereading some amazing series. (Hearts of the South and Devils on Horseback)

The bad: There's a bad to rereading awesome books? Huh, who knew.

There are a ton more thoughts running through my head, but I think I'll leave it here. Coming soon, my list of best reads of the year.

Lori's December reads

In December I read 26 books, bringing my total up to 295 for the year. It was tough to track my books all year, but I did it!!

Some good books this month, including 4 In Death books! Also read an inordinate amount of category - most of it super good.

One really bad thing this month: I noticed that several reviews I wrote on Goodreads via my iPhone never saved to my account. I don't know if there was a bug that was resolved or what the cause was, but bottom line is that I lost close to 10 reviews of really good books.

I didn't get around to posting many reviews here this month, but most of these have something written over at my Goodreads account.

Marry Me (Reidsville, #2) by Jo Goodman. Goodreads rating: 5.
Cole was perfect for Rhyne. I loved seeing her come out of her shell and learn to embrace herself as a woman. Also loved the secondary characters, as I did in Never Love a Lawman. Cole's sister was a wonderful addition. Must read.

Visions in Death (In Death, #19) by J.D. Robb. Goodreads rating: 5.
Despite the drama in this one, the levity and love between Eve and Roarke and the little discoveries Eve makes about friendship make this a stellar entry to the series. Especially since Divided was so tense with no light relief from all that tension. Where this one truly shined was the character arcs and Robb knowing that after all the upheaval in the previous book, we needed to see a united and together Eve and Roarke. Full review to come on the blog.

An Amish Christmas by Patricia Davids. Goodreads rating: 4.5.
Beautiful, respectful story of falling in love slowly in an Amish community. Loved it.

Christmas with Her Boss (Harlequin Romance #4205) by Marion Lennox. Goodreads rating: 4.5.
Read this because of Shannon Stacey's review. I think she was dead on. I really enjoyed this book. Loved all the characters, but had to won...more4.5 stars. Read this because of Shannon Stacey's review. I think she was dead on. I really enjoyed this book. Loved all the characters, but had to wonder why the heroine felt she had to resign her position, especially given how infrequently she saw her boss.

Love Me (Take Me, #2) by Bella Andre. Goodreads rating: 4.5.
I didn't read book 1, but didn't feel like I was missing too much (although I will be going back to read it now!). Andre did a fabulous job with the themes of rising above your past, feeling worthy of accepting love and wanting it. A very sexy romance and quite emotional.

Triple Threat by Jan Coffey. Goodreads rating: 4.5.
Really liked the hero and heroine. Interesting plot, too. One that was really intriguing to think about. Must now go look for its predecessor, Ted's story.


Still The One by Kathryn Shay. Goodreads rating: 4.5.
Review to be posted later this month (it's already up in part at Goodreads if you want a sneak peek) - Kathy Shay will be a guest over here, and we'll talk about this one. It's available on Smashwords - I highly recommend you read it!


Survivor In Death (In Death, #20) by J.D. Robb. Goodreads rating: 4.5. I actually cried big fat tears in one scene. Some truly heartwrenching stuff going on in this one.

A Soldier's Redemption (Silhouette Romantic Suspense #1635) by Rachel Lee. Goodreads rating: 4.
What I enjoy in the RS line (formerly SIM) is the relationship that develops between the characters under trying circumstances. Often I could take or leave the suspense portion. In this one, the suspense was rooted in a believable story. And I loved the way that Wade was portrayed as having such difficulty adjustimg to civilian life. Liked watching Cory slowly come out if her shell, only to jump back into it the moment she felt threatened either physically or emotionally. It seemed realistic. Loved that Wade and Cory actually *talked* to each other about their thoughts and feelings.

All of You by Dee Tenorio. Goodreads rating: 4.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Tenorio excels at bringing out the best in her characters' emotions and making them seem so very real. This is book 1 in a two-parter about 2 twin brothers who switch dates. I thought this one was more focused on the heroine's issues, but it didn't detract at all. In fact, Kyle's easy acceptance helped bring her along.

All or Nothing by Dee Tenorio. Goodreads rating: 4.
This is the 2nd book. Here, again, the focus is more on the heroine's issues, but again, it's because the twins had a good, happy homelife growing up. However, Lucas is far more intense than his brother, making for an intense love story. Loved it.

Divided in Death (In Death, #18) by J.D. Robb. Goodreads rating: 4.
 This was a very uncomfortable book, in that Roarke and Eve are again fighting over that which together makes them strong - most especially Roarke's immense love for Eve and his desire to make everything in her world perfect. Which he already does by simply existing, but when he gets a glimpse into her past and learns something rather horrifying (but frankly, not that surprising if we're talking about governments), he is determined to make it right for Eve. Which would involve illegal activity on his part, including murder. He sees no problem with it, but Eve's innate sense of justice won't allow her to sanction it. They spend the entire book at odds, and it's very uncomfortable to read. But uncomfortable does not equal bad, and so I thought this was another excellent and believable entry in the series.

Explosive by Beth Kery. Goodreads rating: 4.
Really enjoyed this one. Review upcoming for Book Binge.

Guns and the Girl Next Door by HelenKay Dimon. Goodreads rating: 4.
In general, Intrigues aren't my favorite . But I like the way that Dimon writes them. Her Intrigue heroes are always flawed, and always learn to rely on the strength of their heroines. This book was as much about a team working together and dealing with strengths and weaknesses of their own and each other, as it was about the romance.

Her Private Avenger by Elle Kennedy. Goodreads rating: 4.
I really liked both the hero & heroine. Loved how sensitive Quinn was and how he acknowledged both to himself and to Morgan how mych he'd loved her. A...moreI really liked both the hero & heroine. Loved how sensitive Quinn was and how he acknowledged both to himself and to Morgan how mych he'd loved her. Also liked that they both remembered the good times as well as the end.

Here Comes the Groom by Karina Bliss. Goodreads rating: 4.
Terrific book. Friends to lovers story along with some PTSD from an Afghanistan vet hero.

Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham. Goodreads rating: 4.
Loved the backdrop of the Revolutionary war for this time travel. Although it was odd that Jake so readily accepted what had happened to him. But truly liked all the characters.

How to Wed a Baron by Kasey Michaels. Goodreads rating: 4.
I liked this one a lot. Another "I'm no good" hero who is quite simply bowled over by the heroine. And goes with it, for the most part.

Never a Bride by Amelia Grey. Goodreads rating: 4.
I must have liked it because I gave it a 4, but to tell the truth, I can't remember a thing about this one.

Origin in Death (In Death, #21) by J.D. Robb. Goodreads rating: 4.
Wonderful book, yet again. Great social commentary again here, along with Eve & Roarke settling back down after a volatile couple of books. 

Rescued by His Christmas Angel by Cara Colter. Goodreads rating: 4.
Here's one that was deleted by GR. I read this one on the rec of someone (can't remember now, damn it). I was glad I did. A wonderful story about a single father and the elementary school teacher that changes his life.

The Cruelest Cut by Rick Reed. Goodreads rating: 4.
I think I would have given it 5 stars but for the bumbling, corrupt police chief. Otherwise I loved it. Loved the teamwork and actual work the team did. Can't wait for the next Jack Murphy.

The Dangerous Viscount (The Burgundy Club #2) by Miranda Neville. Goodreads rating: 4.
Here's another where the review was wiped. Sigh.This was a great story of the bookish Sebastian and the beauty Diana. It was such a great juxtaposition of the usual regency trope of a young, plain woman coming out of her shell.  Only here, it was the hero, and because of his anger at the heroine. Loved it.

How To Tame a Lady by Kasey Michaels. Goodreads rating: 3.5.
Splitting the middle between a 4 for the hero and story and a 3- for the heroine. Nuff said.

The Pursuit of Pleasure by Elizabeth Essex. Goodreads rating: 3.
I found there were frequent phrases that were totally overused, such as describing the heroine's brow as "her marmalade brow" so often I wondered seriously about the editing. Plus, marmalade made me think of jam every time I read it. Then, as quickly as it began, her brow was never mentioned again after about p 50. And the author found a new phrase to repeat. The smuggling story was average, but got better as it went which is what raised this up to a 3.

Trust Me (Lassiter Group, #1) by Sydney Somers. Goodreads rating: 3.
I really wanted to like this RS book. Really. But it just didn't work for me too well. And I'm not sure why (another Goodreads eaten review).

Guns and the Girl Next Door by HelenKay Dimon

Agent Holden Price didn't have to go far to find his next case—it crashed right into his living room! Not only had the beautiful blonde lost control of her car, but if she was telling the truth, someone was also trying to kill her. As a recovery agent, he had an obligation to investigate. And he couldn't deny that Mia Landers interested him more than she should.

Nothing made sense to Mia—especially not the attempt on her life. All she could do was trust Holden, the tall, dark and devastating agent who discovered that he and Mia had a common enemy…and a fierce attraction. But in order to act on it, they'd first have to come face-to-face with their darkest fears and a deadly revelation that might put their newfound love on the line.
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Thank you to HelenKay Dimon, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this book (although I admit that it didn't convert well at all, so I went ahead and bought a copy). Guns and the Girl Next Door is related to her earlier Intrigue, Under the Gun.

In general, Intrigues aren't my favorite.It's too hard to get a believable romance into such a short page count when there is, at the heart of the book, a fast-moving suspense. But I like the way that Dimon writes them. Her Intrigue heroes are always flawed, and always learn to rely on the strength of their heroines. This book was as much about a team working together and dealing with strengths and weaknesses of their own and each other, as it was about the romance.

Having said that, both Holden and Mia come to rely on each other and it grows slowly from a sexual to a very intimate thing. Although Mia began the sexual relationship with the emotional need to feel clean, they were both surprised with the intensity of feeling that struck. They were torn between embracing it and fighting it, since it brought out both their vulnerabilities.

Their HEA was an assured thing - after all this is a Harlequin, but I liked that Dimon went out of her way to show how safe and good Mia made Holden feel as well as the other way around. It built more believability into their quick fall into love.

I found it hard to believe that there would be no fallout from the death at the end, and so assume that Trevor will make an appearance in the next book as the team continues their hunt for their boss. This is a series, and has an overarcing plotline. We saw the couple from Under the Gun making a big appearance in this one, and it helps to seal their HEA, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of Holden and Mia in the next one, Gunning for Trouble, in Feb.

Another strong book from Dimon, with a messy hero and the heroine he relies on for so much.