Thrifty Reader

review at the Book Scoop

2012-02-17T05:43:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of John Green's latest book, The Fault In Our Stars, up at the Book Scoop.

You can read my review here.

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Book Review: The Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long

2012-02-16T09:54:00.000-06:00

The Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long
Published by Avon in 2008
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Pennyroyal Green #1

A rescued rogue . . .

Scandal has rocked the city of London. Colin Eversea, a handsome, reckless unapologetic rogue is sentenced to hang for murder and, inconveniently for him, the only witness to the crime disappears. Then again, throughout history, the Everseas have always managed to cheat fate in style: Colin is snatched from the gallows by a beautiful, clever mercenary.

A captivating captor. . .

Cool-headed, daring Madeleine Greenway is immune to Colin's vaunted charm. Her mission is not to rescue Colin but to kidnap him, and to be paid handsomely for it. But when it becomes clear that whoever wants Colin alive wants Madeline dead, the two become uneasy allies in a deadly race for truth. Together, they'll face great danger—and a passion neither can resist.

I first read this book a few years ago and buddy reviewed it with Holly here. I've always been wanting to catch up with the series so I thought I'd go back and start from the beginning. I'm glad I did because Perils of Pleasure was as much fun to read the second time around.

Since I can't seem to form coherent sentences, please bear with me while I muddle through my thoughts. LOL

Since the time of William the Conqueror (1066AD), the Everseas and the Redmonds have been at odds. Some say it started with a pig, but no matter what, these two families are cursed to hurt each other at least once a generation. And who but the Redmonds can be at fault for Colin Eversea ending up in prison and set to hang? And the lone witness to attest to his innocence vanished in the dead of night - who can it be but a Redmond's fault?

Colin Eversea is the youngest son of his family. He's a charming man, always quick to get himself into and out of trouble. But this time trouble has caught up to him. And even when he's rescued at the last minute (as he's walking up to the gallows) trouble is still following him...and now his rescuer.

Madeleine was hired to rescue Colin from hanging. She did that. And instead of receiving payment, she gets a bullet for her troubles. Luckily for her, Colin knocked her down and saved her life. Now these two decidedly different people from different walks of life are on the hunt together - to find out who's trying to kill her, who hired her to save Colin and where did the witness to Colin's innocence go?

Perils of Pleasure worked for me on many different levels. First of all, despite the fact that Colin is a wanted man and these two are scrabbling around all over London in disguise, I found the whole thing very light-hearted. Part of that is Colin's charm and general outlook on life. Which is directly opposite Madeleine's. She's been through some hard stuff and she's done what she's had to to survive. She's not hard but she is practical and she hasn't had much room in her life for fun. With those two different personalities, the only thing keeping them together is the search for the truth. I liked that these two were uneasy allies at first. But the more that bad things happened to them, the more they learned they could rely on the other. And I loved that Colin saw Madeleine as a challenge. He's used to being able to charm his way out of everything and Madeleine doesn't cave to his wiles like other women do. But we the reader know how hard Madeleine is fighting to keep Colin at a distance. So delicious!

Now there are a few obstacles to these two ever being together. First, Madeleine is set to go to America. She wants to start a new life for herself and the fee she would get for Colin's escape was the last bit of moolah she needed to get away. Second, she is not from the ton. And third, Colin is in love with a woman who is days away from marrying his brother. So there's a time limit to them finding the truth and him getting home in time to stop the wedding. With these kind of impediments, a romance between Colin and Madeleine seems impossible. And that's what makes me love it! Despite all those problems, Colin and Madeleine fall for each other and they both fought it until they couldn't fight it anymore. *sigh*

The Perils of Pleasure gets a B+ from me. I highly recommend it.

Pennyroyal Green Series order:
The Perils of Pleasure
Like No Other Lover
Since the Surrender
I Kissed an Earl
What I Did for a Duke
A Notorious Countess Confesses (coming November 2012)

M/M Lightning Reviews: Part Sieben

2012-02-15T12:58:00.000-06:00

I haven't done these in a while so I figured today would be a good day.

A Lie I Can Live With by Eden Winters
Published by Torquere Press in November 2011

I came across this book at Omnilit and the blurb sounded really cute.

With a few extra pounds and a geek reputation, Otis Tucker despairs of ever finding someone to share his life with. When the GLBT dating service GetaDate.com matches him with handsome hunk Garret, he thinks it's some kind of joke. But the more he learns of Garret, the more he realizes that even gorgeous people can be taken at face value and that Mr. Perfects come in many different sizes.

I guess I was in the mood for a 'real' character - someone not physically perfect. And Otis is like anyone and everyone, a bit on the heavy side (thick-boned his mom said) and low self-esteem. But he's a nice, intelligent guy. He's the guy you fall in love with once you've known him a while. Also, he's a great cook. And he does love his video games. But after a few disastrous dates (he did use a fake photo for his online profile) a friend hijacks his profile and puts the real Otis online. Over the next few days, he gets a lot of hits but the matches all say 'not interested.' And then he sees Garret is a match for him and even though he thinks it's a joke, he's interested. Because Garret is the physically perfect kind of guy that we're all attracted to.

This one works for me because Garret and Otis get to know each other first. It takes a few dates before they get into bed together. And Garret was just as sweet as Otis. He's also tired of being judged on his looks and he wants someone to see the real him, not just the outer package. B+ This was sweet, fun and touching.

**

Out of the Woods by Syd McGinley
Published by Torquere Press in March 2011
Series: Tarin's World #1

Wild boy Tarin is determined not to be captured by the men who live in the decaying Before Times buildings on the other side of Tarin's woodland home, but he's just as determined to protect the younger boys in the woods.No one remembers being a child or knows where all the women have gone or how society crumbled, but for as long as they can remember, boys have lived in the woods and are hunted by the men each Fall. Some boys believe in a mysterious Lady who protects them, while others think the men are magic. Tarin knows better - he's met a man, and escaped by stabbing him.Hunted through the woods as he tries to protect the weaker Cory, Tarin is trapped and claimed by the very man he knifed. All Tarin wants is to stay in the woods and not have to get 'civilized, ' but he's carried off into a different world of rules and discipline. Will he be able to survive now that he is Out of the Woods?

I think the blurb does an excellent job of explaining the world Tarin lives in. There are no women, boys appear in the forest around 10 years old, and when they're 17 and 18, they're captured by Men who live in the village near the forest where they live. The boys are wild and the Men 'tame' them, bring them back to civilization really. This is definitely post-something (there's no mention of an apocalyptic event, just a vague Before Times) and it was interesting to see how things from this time were incorporated into the society of the Men.

Tarin is special though. In the Woods, he was not afraid to venture past certain points. This is where he ran into a Man, and in the resulting tussle, Tarin stabbed Beak-Face and escaped. So guess who has a bit of an interest in capturing Tarin in the fall? Beak-Face, aka Garrick. This is where things get really interesting. Tarin is extremely intelligent and stubborn. He really doesn't like being caught and he fights his captors whenever he can. He tries to outsmart them (I laughed every time the Men would notice his thinking face) and he really is wild.

I loved Tarin. His way of speaking is very simplistic and hilarious. He really gets his point across. I'm glad I decided to give this book a chance. B+

m/m lightning reviews: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six

Week in Review: 12/02/12

2012-02-12T16:38:00.000-06:00

I have to say, I had a pretty good week. Work was crazy busy but sometimes you need that. I went to a book sale on Friday night after work. The book sale was for the Children's Hospital so it was for a good cuase. A coworker came with me and I had a blast giving her recommendations. In case you're wondering, I only picked up 3 books. I know right, where did this restraint come from? And then yesterday was my 6 year blogiversary. I took advantage of a 60% off code at fictionwise (there goes my restraint!) and then in the evening I went to see some bullriding with my grandpa. I really enjoy that and it gets me amped up for the rodeo in the summer. :P

Ok here's what I've read, reviewed and accumulated. hehe

Books Read

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I got this one from the library. I think I might need to get my own copy so I can lend it out to everyone. LOL I knew going into this book that I would probably cry and I was right. I sobbed. But I also laughed and it was really good stuff. I highly recommend this one and I have a review coming soon to the Book Scoop.

Tempted By Her Innocent Kiss by Maya Banks

I received this one for Netgalley and will have it reviewed over at Book Binge. But I want to say a bit about it - I LOVE stories where the hero acts like a real asshat and Devon, the hero, definitely fits the bill with this book. You know in Lord of Scoundrels in the last half when Jess changes to give Dain what he thinks he wants because he's a stubborn ass? That's what Ashley does in this book and I thought it was great how awful the hero felt. B+

Sea Change by Darlene Marshall

This was a re-read. Remember, Sea Change was one of my top reads in 2011. I love this book and that did not change with a second read. There were quite a few good scenes that cracked me up and I love that David freaks when he feels he's becoming attracted to a man. If you're interested in more cross-dressing heroines, my other two favorites are Duchess by Eloisa James and The Lady's Secret by Joanna Chambers. Read all 3! And then come tell me what you think.

The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries

The last book in the Hallstead Hellions series came out recently and I realized I have all the books but haven't even read the first one! LOL This is such an ames thing to do. I need to work on that. But yeah, so I decided to read this one because it was taunting me. I'm glad I did, I really enjoyed it! Oliver's grandmother is sick of her grandchildren's scandalous ways - so she tells all 5 of them they have a year to marry or they will be cut off (she has mucho moolah). Oliver thinks if he pretends he's going to marry a totally inappropriate woman, his grandmother will change her mind. Oliver at first is going to hire a lady of the night but then he meets Maria, an American looking for her missing fiance, and he changes his mind. I like how Maria shakes Oliver's world up. B+

10 Ways to Steal Your Lover by Dee Tenorio

I read this one for Book Binge. Review to come. I really enjoyed it!!

Reviews Posted

Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow at Book Binge
Don't Tell by Karen Rose at Breezing Through
I Just Play One on TV by AL Turner

New Additions

Bought

Swish by Joel Derfner
State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
Take a Chance on Me by Susan Donovan (replace my old copy)

Library

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Downloaded

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Won

Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel

Book Fairy

About That Night by Julie James

Happy Blogiversary...

2012-02-11T15:14:00.001-06:00

...to me!!

It's been six years since I started this wacky journey. LOL I first started blogging so I could discuss my love of romance novels with like minded individuals. And I never would have thought in a kajillion years that I would get to be so close with all my blog buds. I've traveled all over to visit some of you, I've sent books to several (as far away as Hawaii!) and I'm just grateful that I've met such a wonderful group of people. Thanks to everyone who shares their love of reading and books with mel. And for thinking I have the cutest dogs in the world (ooh ok, at least in Canada!).

Now I'm going to go buy some books to celebrate!

E-Book Review: I Just Play One on TV

2012-02-10T10:29:00.000-06:00

I Just Play One on TV by A.L. Turner
Published by Torquere Press in August 2011
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Series: n/a

After an intense and emotional audition, Vincent Cantivespri impulsively falls into bed with Alex Gallegos… who refuses to even kiss him, and who immediately flees out of Vince’s apartment and back into the closet afterward. Vince barely realized men like Alex actually existed, and he writes the encounter off as a one-time mistake. Then he and Alex end up costars. Things get complicated as they play a deep, subtextual romantic attraction between their characters on screen and become close friends in real life. When Alex finally admits his attraction to Vince, and his fear of it, Vince becomes determined to fight the forces that are working against them: in Hollywood, in Alex, and in Vince himself.

I read a review for this one over at Dear Author and the subject matter definitely appealed to me. Two actors, one out, one closeted. Hit sci-fi show. Score score score. And my reaction at the end of this book? Awwww. I actually even said that out loud. LOL

Vince and Alex audition for different roles on the same show. They have to read through a scene together and with others auditioning. But their audition crackled. With sexual tension. After the audition, Alex and Vince have a hot one-night stand. Vince believes he's never going to see Alex again. But lo and behold, both he and Alex got the parts! And what parts! Vince plays James, a psychic (remember, it's a sci-fi show) and Alex will play Matt, the FBI guy watching over James. The two decide to play it up like James and Matt are in love with each other. Not overtly - in fact it's stated that it's enough for people who are looking for it will see it but if they're not looking for it, it will go unnoticed by others. And what do you, the show takes off! Vince realizes that Alex is extremely repressed and even though he falls more in love with him, they're just friends. That only lasts so long until Alex gives into his lust for Vince. And then things pick up for them. As time goes on, Vince starts to realize Matt and James need some validation - their love needs to be out there...and the same goes for Alex and James' love. But Alex is adamant against coming out - for himself and their characters.

A lot of this has to do with Alex' background. Basically - everyone pushes him away because he's gay (his family, his 'friends' and his mentor). So he's glued to that closet wall now. Vince didn't have the same experience. It wasn't all puppies and rainbows but he's out and supported by his family. He's never hidden who he was. So when he's in a relationship with another man, his family is understandably worried about the fact that he's in that closet with Alex.

I really enjoyed this book. It's told from Vince's POV and he's definitely a fun character. He's funny, sensitive, and he cares about stuff. Like he sees acting as a way of making art. He has some standards about the roles he's playing - and that's something that comes back to bite him on the ass when he asks the producer of the show to remain true to the characters of Matt and James. Alex' character - although we only see it from Vince's pov - was one that I definitely felt sympathy for. He was stubborn, sexy as hell and vulnerable. He'd been hurt by people who were close to him and his barriers are way up. The conflict between him and Vince was believable. And yeah, Alex is the reason why I went "awww" when I finished this book. :P

I feel like I'm not doing this book justice but know that I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and the writing. It was definitely a sweet romance. A-

review at Breezing Through!!

2012-02-09T08:51:00.000-06:00

Mark your calendars!! We have a buddy review posted at Breezing Through! The last review was posted in May 2011! LOL Thanks to Zeek for the buddy review.

Check out our thoughts on Don't Tell by Karen Rose here. :P

It was a desperate plan. But Mary Grace Winters knew the only way to save herself and her child from her abusive cop husband was to stage their own death. Now all that remains of their former life is at the bottom of a lake. Armed with a new identity in a new town, she and her son have found refuge hundreds of miles away. As Caroline Stewart, she has almost forgotten the nightmare she left behind nine years ago. She is even taking a chance on love with Max Hunter, a man with wounds of his own. But her past is about to collide with the present when her husband uncovers her trail and threatens her hard-won peace. Step by step, he's closing in on her- and everything and everyone she loves.

review at Book Binge

2012-02-08T09:03:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of Heather Snow's debut novel, Sweet Enemy, up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

Geoffrey Wentworth, a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty—take up the responsibility for his family’s estates. His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word—heirs. When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford. But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart.

Liliana Claremont, a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a Countess. If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge. However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball gowns and gladly takes on the guise of husband hunter—for the chance to uncover what the Earl had to do with the murder of her father.

Liliana believes the best way to get the answers she needs is to keep her enemy close, though romance is not part of her formula. But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can't control...

Week in Review: 05/02/12

2012-02-05T15:32:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it's February already. *sigh* But hey, I had a good reading week!

Books Read

Out of the Woods by Syd McGinley

I saw this book mentioned on quite a few best of lists and I was intrigued by the premise. In this post-apocalyptic world, Men live in villages and boys from ages 10 to 18 run wild in the woods. Every fall, the Men come to the woods to capture the oldest boys (17 and 18). From what I gathered, the boys are raised by the Mothers until they're left to fend for themselves in the woods. Once captured, the boys are tamed - basically - taught to eat properly, wear clothing, talk properly, etc. Tarin had a run in Garrick out in the woods and escaped. But Garrick catches him again and I loved Tarin's experience. He's stubbornly sticking to his wild ways and everyone teased Garrick for Tarin's nature. Ends abruptly but I'm going to read the sequel soon. B+ This book had me cracking up!

Deep In the Valley by Robyn Carr

I read Virgin River years ago and have been buying all the books in the series as they've come out. But I haven't read any of them (this is a well documented sickness of mine). So I decided that since I'm reading a bunch of series this year, I might as well start the Virgin River one again. I know these Grace Valley books are only connected to the VR series but I thought I'd start there. And despite the lack of romance, I really enjoyed Deep in the Valley. I liked June's character and the whole town really. Nath assured me that for the three books overall the romance is there. I'm taking her word for it. LOL B+

Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

Since I've somehow stumbled into going back to series, I decided to finish the Georgina Kincaid Succubus series by Richelle Mead. This has been one of my favorite series for the last couple of years and I was really not wanting to finish it. But I had to know how things were going to end for Georgie. Solid A. Review to come.

Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow

I read this one for Book Binge. Review to come.

I Just Play One on TV by AL Turner

I saw a good review for this one at Dear Author and I finally had time to read it. I really enjoyed it. In fact when I finished it, I just went "Awwww." LOL Told from Vince's POV, this is the story of Vince and closeted Alex, co-stars on a new sci-fi show. I highly recommend this one. B+

Reviews Posted

Both posted at Book Binge
Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore
Mask of the Gladiator by Georgie Lee

New Additions

Bought:

Twice Fallen by Emma Wildes
How to Dance with a Duke by Manda Collins

Downloaded:

Detours by Jeffrey Ricker
Princess Charming by Nicole Jordan

Thrift Store:

Thin Air by Rachel Caine
The Rules for Hearts by Sara Ryan

Furball Friday

2012-02-03T09:30:00.000-06:00

I took this with a camera app on my android phone. I was reshelving some books and She-Ra wanted some attention. So she got in my face. LOL

review at Book Binge

2012-02-02T09:04:00.000-06:00

I've got Georgie Lee's Mask of the Gladiator reviewed at Book Binge.

Read my review here.

Rome, 41 AD

Livia Duronius is driven to seek out a gladiator after watching him triumph in the Colosseum. His touch arouses a sense of hope she hasn't felt since Rome fell under the tyrannical rule of Caligula—and her late husband betrayed her. Though in danger of losing more than her heart, she vows to see him again, even after she learns her uncle has arranged her marriage to a senator.

Senator Titus Marius cannot resist indulging in a passionate encounter with the veiled woman who waits for him after the games, though he faces execution if his true identity is discovered. Bound by honor to wed another, and embroiled in a plot to free Rome from madness, he never expects to see the mystery woman again.

When the fates reunite them in the marriage bed, Titus vows to protect Livia at all costs—even from the lecherous eyes of the emperor...

February New Releases

2012-02-01T09:56:00.001-06:00

Nath and I have the February new releases post up at Breezing Through.

I noticed there's a lot of historical romances coming out this month.

review at Book Binge

2012-02-01T09:50:00.000-06:00

I've got a review up at Book Binge of Jennifer Haymore's Secrets of an Accidental Duchess.

You can read my review here.

With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess...

It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn't resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he'd fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.

Week In Review: 29/01/12

2012-01-29T16:06:00.001-06:00

This past week has been good. I felt like I got a lot done, especially this weekend. I re-shelved my books yesterday. And yet again I'm struck by the fact that I have a ton of books and I need to work on reducing my tbr pile. Big time. LOL And then Max and She-Ra had to go through a dreaded nail cutting. Bwahaha! Poor puppies, but it needs to get done.

Books Read

The Colonel's Lady by Patricia Oliver

This book surprised me. Regina is the daughter of a duke but she's fallen in love with the younger brother of a baronet. Her father would never approve the match, but she's in love! After waiting two years for her secret fiancé to write her (he was away fighting Napoleon) she decides to take her fate into her own hands and goes to see him. The beginning of this book was slow but it definitely picks up once our lady goes to Belgium. Things don't quite go the way she wants once she makes it to Brussels and yeah, it was good. Review to come. B+

Don't Tell by Karen Rose

This is almost another series challenge for myself. I love love love Karen's writing but I didn't even read anything by her last year! So I decided that this year I'm going to read as many of her books as I have in my tbr pile (all of them). Haha! Review to come. :P

Plus Ones by Hank Edwards

I haven't read a lot of m/m this month and I was in the mood for something fluffy after reading Don't Tell. This one definitely fit the bill. Evan is sick of dating and wants to find Mr. Right. He thinks he might have met a potential man but fate seems to be acting against him. After a series of run ins at different weddings Evan can't get Paul out of his mind though. But Paul keeps showing up at the weddings with a different guy...but then so does Evan. LOL I laughed at the different situations these guys fell into on their path to true happiness. B

Reviews Posted

Yay I got one review posted! The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters.

Recent Additions

Bought

A Lady Never Surrenders by Sabrina Jeffries

For Review

Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow

Library

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

And that was my week! How about yours?

review at the Book Scoop

2012-01-27T11:41:00.001-06:00

OMG I finally have a review posted!

I've got The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters on the hot plate over at the Book Scoop.

You can read my review here.

Katie likes to believe she's invisible. It seems much safer than being exposed as she is--shy, poor, awkward. So getting up on stage in the school production of The Taming of the Shrew should be complete torture. But as Katie tells it, something totally unexpected happened when she stepped on stage: "My head exploded. I loved it. Acting hit me like a sucker punch and I loved, loved, loved it! . . . Invisible Katie became visible Katharina."

Evan Cooper is, as they say, another story. He knows just what it takes to get noticed, and he uses every one of the skills he's honed after years of being the new kid. Like tossing the keys to his father's high-end Audi to a kid he's never met, first day of school. "I have insurance for car theft," he explains to a shocked Danny. "And there's a full tank." An abuse of the power that comes with privilege and money? Sure.

But more dangerously, is his romance with Katie another version of the same thing? Or is it the real thing?

Best of 2011 - part II

2012-01-25T09:03:00.000-06:00

Nath and I have part II of our best of 2011 up at Breezing Through.

Week in Review: 22/1/12

2012-01-22T14:39:00.003-06:00

Books Read

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Dart was a re-read for me. I challenged myself this year to reading the whole series. And reviewing it. I've read the first five books but have never reviewed them. Kushiel's Dart was also the only book I've re-read more than once. So review to come. And just to tide you over, yes this book is still awesome, even the third time around. :P

Mask of the Gladiator by Georgie Lee

I read this one for Netgalley. Review to come.

Dry Bones by Lucius Parhelion

I was in the mood for a quick read after finishing Kushiel's Dart and this one fit the bill. It's about two ranch hands in the West who are hired by an Eastener to pick up some dinosaur bones. Ox and Joss. Joss quickly realizes that Ox knows the man who hired them, and that he's been hiding out from his past. And Joss is jealous of the past Ox and the Eastener seem to have. I enjoyed this one. Joss had some funny ideas about 'self-abuse' and Ox' predilections stir some desires inside of him. I thought his character was on the innocent side and I liked how he came around to realizing he wanted Ox. B+

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore

Another read for Netgalley. Review to come.

Gemini by Chris Owen

I really enjoy Chris Owen's writing but I'd always overlooked this one - not sure why. Well it recently hit my radar and so I decided to try it out. It is about twins Paul and Jamie who invite Gent, a tattoo artist, into their relationship. I thought the twins reasons for being together were interesting and I liked the dynamic of all 3 men together. Like other work of Chris', this book was uber hot. But I didn't feel like there was any conflict. As much as I enjoyed it, I felt let down by that. B-

Reviews Posted

No reviews posted this week (yikes!) but Nath and I have part 1 of our Best of 2011 up at Breezing Through.
I have also posted my numbers for 2011 here.

Recent Additions

Thrift Store
The Beleaguered Earl by Allison Lane
Fortune's Lady by Evelyn Richardson
A Debt to Delia by Barbara Metzger
A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh
Engaged in Sin by Sharon Page
Season for Temptation by Theresa Romain
Stranger in My Arms by Lisa Kleypas
Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham
The House of Gaian by Anne Bishop
Shades of Dark by Linnea Sinclair
It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Kindle Freebies
Ice Man by KyAnn Waters
Northern Exposure by Mari Carr and Jayne Rylon
Seducing Miss Dunaway by Kate Rothwell
Lord Scandal by Kalen Hughes *no longer free
With This Kiss by Victoria Lynne
To Seduce an Earl by Lori Brighton *no longer free

I am so proud of myself for the amount I read this week. Kushiel's Dart is 900 pages long!

2011 in numbers

2012-01-19T14:12:00.000-06:00

source

Since Nath and I posted our top 2011 reads over at Breezing Through, I thought this would be a good time to post my numbers for 2011. I read 267 novels, novellas and short stories overall. I'm very pleased with that number, even if it was less than 2010.

All right, onto the good stuff.

Genres

M/M Romance: 128
Historical Romance: 45
Young Adult: 32
Contemporary Romance: 16
Paranormal Romance: 12
Fantasy: 8
Historical Fiction: 8
Mystery: 4
Romantic Suspense: 4
Contemporary Erotica: 4
General Fiction: 2
Sci-fi Romance: 2
Graphic Novel: 1
Non-fiction: 1

No big surprises there. M/M is my favorite genre and that is not going to change anytime soon. I also read more m/m this year than last year (101). I was surprised to see that I didn't read that much contemporary romance (16 compared to 41 last year). Another genre that decreased significantly was erotica (4 compared to 30 last year). My young adult and historical romance numbers were pretty close to last years. I thought I'd read more YA though. I thought wrong. Hopefully this year I can read even more. There were a lot of titles in 2011 that I was looking forward to that I didn't have a chance to read yet.

Grades

30 As – A (11), A- (20) I’m surprised I didn’t grade any books with an A+.
170 Bs – B+ (79 ), B (75), B- (16 )
47 Cs – C+ (31), C (14), C- (12)
D – 7
DNF - 2

It's kind of funny, but my two DNFs were romantic suspense titles...I know I'm not a fan of that genre but I still try it out now and then. I counted my re-reads among my numbers so I know a few As were re-reads. The rest were mostly m/m and young adult. When it comes to buying and reading m/m, the majority of what I read is carefully selected from various recommendations. Despite the 30 As, I feel like 2011 was a bit mediocre. I think part of that is me not reading all those titles I was anticipating for 2011. I have a thing where if I am really looking forward to a book, I'll put off reading it. I don't know if that's so I don't feel disappointed or if I'm just giving myself time to forget the buzz surrounding a book. Whatever it is, I need to get over it. LOL

I did give less As compared to last year (52). Similar amount of Bs and less Cs (62).

Formats

One thing I wanted to work on in 2011 was reading more from my tbr pile. I didn't really do that. So that'll be my goal for 2012! haha

E-Book: 171
Print: 58 <- that's all I read from my tbr pile *pout*
Library: 37 print, 1 e-book

I'm not really surprised by these numbers. With all the m/m I read...and those were all e-books.

Which is a nice segue to the publishing numbers:

E-publishers: 135
Traditional print publishers: 124
Self-published: 7

I think I'll see a shift in years to come towards more epublishers b/c the top 6 are pissing me off with their ebook pricing and geographic restrictions. Bastards. Most of my print books I either get second hand or at Walmart. I boycotted Chapters and their outrageous prices (seriously, Walmart was consistently $2 or $3 cheaper than them). I only went to chapters when they had good deals.

Year Published

2012 – 1
2011 – 97
2010 – 84
2009 – 29
2008 – 10
2007 – 13
2006 – 2000 – 22
1999 + earlier - 10

Again, not really surprised by these numbers.

Looking back, I am very happy with what I read and my numbers. But for this year, I am for real going to work on reading more from my tbr pile. Buying less, reading more. There are some series I want to catch up on. I want to read all those books I just couldn't wait to get my hands on in 2011 but still let collect dust once I had them. Here's hoping...

Best of 2011 at Breezing Through

2012-01-18T16:35:00.002-06:00

Nath and I have put together a list of our top 2011 reads up at Breezing Through. Check it out!
This is part 1 of two posts. :P

Week in Review: 15/1/12

2012-01-15T22:27:00.000-06:00

Well we finally got some snow. This has been one funked up winter so far. I think this is Mother Nature's way of apologizing for all the flooding that's been going on. So we get just a little bit of snow, warm temperatures and a few super cold days thrown in. Crazy but good. LOL Reading wise, this past week was good too!

Books Read

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

When I picked this book up, I kind of got freaked out by the number of pages. That's when I know I'm reading too many novellas. Books like this were nothing for me back in the day. It was over 400 trade size pages of small print. Eeek. Fortunately, I found it very readable so even though it was a slow reading week for me, I eventually finished it. Unfortunately, I was kind of over Eloise's aspect of the book. For those who don't know what I'm referring to - the historical story is kind of wrapped up in a contemporary one. Eloise is the contemporary grad student hoping to unmask these spies from the Napoleonic wars. I definitely prefer the historical aspect. However, even though I preferred it, I kind of found it...like the main characters stumbled upon the things they did, rather than discovered information through any skill of theirs. LOL C+
I will be continuing on with the series, I figure this is just a bit of sophomore slump.

Barging In by Josephine Myles

I knew I was in for a good read with this one. Lots of blogger buzz and I am glad to say I agree with the majority on this one. The setting was contemporary Bath - the canals more than the city itself. I thought that was so different and I loved the boating culture that Myles introduces us to. I also love that the hero crashes his boat into some hot eye candy's and that's starts these two hotties off on the wrong foot. But they quickly find their way and OMG that was hot hot hot. And then when they think they're both in it for the short-term no strings attached---ooh so wrong! Definitely sweet and with more depth than I thought there would be. I highly recommend this one. B+

The Taming by Teresa Toten & Eric Walters

I read this one for Netgalley. It took an unexpected turn (that the blurb didn't warn me about) but I found it very compelling and I couldn't put it down. I was suckered in just like the main character. Solid B.

Dating the Delaneys by Anne Brooke

I forgot that this one was released and thanks to Tracy for reminding me! As always, I finished this story definitely wanting more. After the last short story, Liam and the twins, Johnny and Mark, are going to try dating for 6 weeks. I loved how Johnny had to keep reminding Mark that they were on a date. I really enjoy Liam's character too. He's cheeky. :P B

Camwolf by J.L. Merrow

I was looking forward to this one despite not really wanting to read paranormals right now (yes, even in m/m). So I think that was my problem. I wasn't in the mood for that and so I need to say that it was me, not the book. C

See, good week!

Reviews Posted

Meh. Bad week review-wise! Only one. :(

Striker by KyAnn Waters

Recent Additions

Nothing! Go me!

Personal Challenge: Kushiel's Legacy Series

2012-01-14T13:40:00.000-06:00

I first discovered this series back in 2001. I loooved Kushiel's Dart. Since then, I have only re-read it once and yesterday, when wondering what to read I was struck with an idea. I am challenging myself to read the entire Kushiel's Legacy series this year. I have read the first five out of 9 books but never reviewed them. I am going to read and review them and that's my challenge. LOL Wish me luck!

1. Kushiel's Dart
2. Kushiel's Chosen
3. Kushiel's Avatar
4. Kushiel's Scion
5. Kushiel's Justice
6. Kushiel's Mercy
7. Naamah's Kiss
8. Naamah's Curse
9. Naamah's Blessing

Furball Friday

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-06:00

She-Ra thinks she spotted my reviewing mojo in the distance. LOL

E-book Review: Striker by KyAnn Waters

2012-01-09T07:46:00.000-06:00

Striker by KyAnn Waters
Published by Carina Press
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Series: n/a
Goodreads|Books on Board|Omnilit

Sports writer Max Myers just discovered he lives next door to the hottest soccer player to hit the field. If he scores a coveted interview with the reclusive striker for the Denver Blaze, he could take himself from sports blogger to mainstream sports authority.

Riley Grayson has no interest in interviews or in outing his private life to the public. He wants to be known for the scoring he does on the field and not in the sack. But Max is a temptation he can't resist. Taking a chance, Riley and Max discover they have more in common than passion for soccer and hot sex between the sheets.

Just as they begin to trust each other outside the bedroom, Max is put in a no-win situation: write an article about Riley exposing accusations of drug use, or risk destroying his own credibility. If he does, he'll lose Riley. If he doesn't, he'll lose everything he's worked hard to achieve.

I really enjoy athletes in my m/m romance and Striker definitely fits the bill!

Max is a sports blogger who's taken an opportunity to promote himself and maybe one day become a televised sports commentator. That opportunity has brought him to Colorado...and right next door to Riley Grayson, an extremely private soccer player.

Riley is drawn to Max right from the get go but he does so like his privacy and he needs some assurances that things will remain between the two of them if they're going to go beyond being friendly neighbours who share a beer every now and then. Max agrees (I don't blame him!) and these two are quickly off to a red hot start. But soon after their relationship starts, Max is told to write a story about Riley's latest positive drug test. Will Max put his new career on the line or his new relationship?

I really enjoyed Striker! For it's length (~16, 000 words), Waters really packs a punch. I didn't feel like their relationship was rushed at all. I found it believable and the conflicts were realistic also. Max knows Riley's test is a false positive but Riley still doesn't want him to do the article. And he gives Max an ultimatum. I am definitely on Max' side and I liked how this story was resolved. There's also the fact that Riley is in the closet and he fears how coming out will affect his career and his teammates.

I did think the teammates' reaction to Riley's coming out was a bit of wishful thinking, but I didn't care. I found Striker to be both sexy and touching and highly recommend it. B+

This book goes on sale today at Carina Press. You can find out more here.

Week in Review: 8/1/12

2012-01-08T08:01:00.000-06:00

Well as much as I enjoyed this week off and sleeping in every day, I am super disappointed in myself. I barely read. :( I wanted to read my butt off this week to jumpstart my reading mojo for 2012! WAAAAH.

Books Read

Goldilocks and His Three Bears by AM Riley
This was a re-read for me. I love it. B+

I started The Masque of the Black Tulip and as much as I'm enjoying it, it's sloooow going.

Reviews Posted

I had one review posted this week. Boo!

Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman up at Book Binge

Recent Additions

Bought

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
The Pleasure of Your Kiss by Teresa Medeiros

Thrift Store

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

All About Seduction by Katy Madison
The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall

Used Book Store

Dragon Actually by GA Aiken
About a Dragon by GA Aiken

How was your week?

Furball Friday

2012-01-06T15:35:00.004-06:00

Today I bring to you, My Precious.

review at Book Binge

2012-01-05T10:56:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of Jo Goodman's Kissing Comfort up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

Bode DeLong knows that his playboy brother Bram isn't really in love with Miss Comfort Kennedy, even though it's clear that she's enamored with him. With Bram's motives for the engagement suspect, Bode figures the safest place for Comfort to be is in his arms. Now, Bode just needs to convince Comfort that the childhood fancy she has for his brother is no match for the incredible desire that sparks between them every time they touch.

The month that was December...

2012-01-04T14:43:00.000-06:00

This cute boy pictured above is my coworker's daughter's Yorkie/Chihuahua mix. He's really small, but the short arm on the couch makes him look bigger than he is. We were making a donation at her daughter's work and she had her pup with her that day. He was so friendly and outgoing, perfect office dog. And I got some cuddles in. Of course Max and She-Ra were all over me and the different dog smell I had on my clothes when I got home that night.

Ok, here's what I read during the month of December.

1. Follow My Lead by Kate Noble: A-
I read this one for Book Binge. Review to come.

2. No Quarter by Christine d'Abo: C+
I read and enjoyed the heck out of No Remedy, the sequel to this novella. I loved No Remedy. Unfortunately, the ending to No Quarter didn't match the flow for the rest of the story and lessened my enjoyment. It was good, but that ending...

3. As You Desire by Connie Brockway: B+
You can read my review at Book Binge here.

4. Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman: B
Another review for Book Binge. It's not up yet.

5. Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning: C+
I got this one as a kindle freebie and it was hot hot hot. I liked that. I didn't like how a professor of human sexuality has hang-ups about sex - and even that was consistent. She heard her ex calling her a whore in her head over certain sexual acts...and yet at one point close to the beginning of the story she walks naked in front of the whole band? Then there were some jealousy issues on the heroes part that bugged me. But OMG so hot!

6. Lessons in Seduction by Sandra Hyatt: B
I reviewed this one over at Book Binge. You can read my review here.

7. Galen and the Forest Lord by Eden Winters: C
Tracy enjoyed this one but maybe I just wasn't in the mood. It was fun but not enough.

8. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn: B+
This one was a re-read. I love that Daphne and Simon start out as friends and he's blown away by his attraction to her. I gobble that up. However, since the last time I had read it, I had totally exaggerated the bad thing Daphne does. Yeah it's bad and it shows you how she's going to do whatever the hell she wants to do - but since things don't really work out for her by doing what she did anyway, it didn't bother me too much this time around.

9. Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz: B
I reviewed this one over at the Book Scoop.

10. Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare: B+
You can read my review at Book Binge.

11. Bad Company by KA Mitchell: B-
I liked this one. I know the whole 'you need to pretend to be my boyfriend even though I'm straight' is as cornball as it can get, but I didn't care. I went into this one looking for a good, fun read and that's what I got. Yeah the ending got messy and complicated and rushed, but I didn't care. I also thought it was hot as hell. :P

12. Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis: B
Jill writes such cute, fun books. She never lets me down. Although the heroine did get on my nerves a wee bit.

13. Out of Bounds by Viki Lynn: D
Ugh

14. The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway: A
Review to come at Book Binge.

15. Sno Ho by Ethan Day: B+
Re-read. Love Ethan's humor and Boone is a character I really enjoy.

16. The English Heiress by Roberta Gellis: B
Another amazon freebie. And Roberta Gellis is a name that you hear bandied about and her books are hard to come by. I read one of her re-printed books earlier this year and enjoyed it. So I'm glad I had the chance to read this one. Some things didn't jive but I enjoyed this story overall that I overlooked them. I think I'll review this one to go into some more.

17. Striker by Kyann Waters: B
Read this one for Netgalley. Review to come.

18. Out of Focus by LA Witt: A-
This woman writes the very best kissing scenes. I love them. All of her books have great kissing scenes. I was in the mood for some m/m/m and this one fit the bill. It was also had a depth to it that I found surprising. The characters really struggled with their feelings and the obstacles they'd face to become a triangle. I liked that. It also set up some great tension because you weren't sure which way one of the characters was going to go.

19. Lord Will and Her Grace by Sophia Nash: C
This one started off an a high note. The heroine thought the hero was gay. I loved that. He knew it too and he used it. But then I felt like he fell in love too quickly and then things went downhill from there. But it was entertaining for all of that.

Formats:
Print - 5
E-book - 13
Library - 1

Genre:
Contemporary - 3
Historical - 8
Young Adult - 1
M/M - 7

Grades:
A - 3
B - 11
C - 4
D - 1

Now that's I've done my monthly recap, I need to start my yearly recap. That'll be fun.

January New Releases

2012-01-02T23:04:00.000-06:00

Monroe, Nath and I have our monthly new releases post up at Breezing Through. So if you have any resolutions to cut down on book buying, don't go check it out HERE. LOL

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T15:46:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!!

Here's to a wonderful year for all my blog buds and their loved ones.

Week in Review: 1/1/12

2012-01-01T15:43:00.000-06:00

Yay! I have the coming week off. I don't mind working between Christmas and New Years because I know a lot of people take it off then and so it'll be quiet for me. There is a method to my madness. Also, the holiday craziness is over with and I can just relax this week.

Books Read

Striker by Kyann Waters
I read this one for Netgalley. Review to come. :P

Out of Focus by LA Witt
I love this author's writing. And you know me and m/m/m. Truly good stuff!

Lord Will and Her Grace by Sophia Nash
This one started off good - the heroine thought the hero was gay. And then things went downhill a bit. C

Reviews Posted

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare
As You Desire by Connie Brockway

New Books

Bought
Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr

Thrift Store
Lord Will and Her Grace by Sophia Nash
Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin
An Affair of Honor by Candice Hern
Lord Harry's Daughter by Evelyn Richardson
Cupboard Kisses by Barbara Metzger

Downloaded
How the Marquess was Won by Julie Anne Long
A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant
Pulled Long by Christine d'Abo

Freebies
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
A Limited Engagement by Josh Lanyon
Clouds and Rain by Zahra Owens

November Monthly Recap

2011-12-28T21:53:00.000-06:00

Ok, I'm trying to play catch up with my monthly reads so here's November. December will be coming soon as it's almost the END OF THE YEAR. EEEP!

Monroe and I at Rock City, Lookout Mountain.

November was a good month for me. I started it off with a visit to my favorite Georgia gal, Monroe. That's always a good time.

1. The Zero Knot by KZ Snow: B+
I’ve only ever read a free short story by this author before, so when I saw this one on Netgalley I requested it. It paid off, I really enjoy this type of theme – coming of age, coming out. You can read my review here.

2. By Honor Betrayed by Alex Beecroft: A-
I really enjoy Alex’ writing and this one was no exception. Here’s my review.

3. The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott: B+
Sometimes I’m just in the mood for a historical fiction book. This one totally fit the bill. Read my review at Book Binge.

4. In Bed with the Boss by Susan Napier: B
I saw a review for this one at Dear Author. With Harlequin digitizing all those old romances, sometimes it’s hard which one to choose. I’m glad I read this one. Although I thought the hero’s attitude was stuck in the iron age, I enjoyed it. LOL

5. No Apologies by Tibby Armstrong: B+
This book made me cry. It starts off with the couple in the present day...and they're in a rocky situation. Then the book moves into a fictionalized account of how these two men got together in high school (for a movie). It was very good.

6. Venus in Blue Jeans by Meg Benjamin: B
Samhain had a sale and I saw it mentioned somewhere that this was an interesting series. I read the first one to see how it was. I enjoyed it so much I went out and bought the rest of the series (via a different Samhain sale). See how thrifty I am! Read my review here.

7. The Sergeant's Lady by Susanna Fraser: B+
Review to come!

8. The Art of the Delaneys by Anne Brooke: B
I really enjoy these short stories of Anne’s. Liam is a cute character with a big mouth that gets him into trouble. But the brand of discipline the Delaney twins mete out is just the right stuff. I just wish each story was longer and came out faster.

9. The Lovers by Eden Bradley: B
I was in the mood for f/f/m instead of m/f/m or m/m/f and this one had been sitting in my e-tbr pile for a while. You can read my review at Book Binge.

10. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: A-
Monroe forced me to read this one on my home from visiting her at the beginning of the month (yes, I read almost 10 books while visiting her. LOL). I was really interested in reading it anyway after I saw the trailer. Dunno if I’m going to review this one or not…should I?

11. Junction X by Erastes: A
Erastes is another author whose writing I really enjoy – even if it takes me somewhere I wasn’t prepared to go. In my review at Book Binge, I know I mention this was heartbreaking quite a bit – because it was!! Someone tell me they’ve read this so we can discuss.

12. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally: A-
I know I loved this one a lot more than some others I know, but you don’t realize how much I love true tomboy heroines!! Read my squee review here.

13. A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare: B
You can read my review at Book Binge.

14. The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh: A-
This was a re-read for me. It works so well because the hero undergoes a lot of growth and I really sympathize with his character. I felt the heroine held out against him a bit too long but overall, so good.

15. The Prayer Waltz by KZ Snow: B
This was a quick read and enjoyable. A man goes to his lover's old hometown to answer some questions and meets a local...who may be able to answer some of those questions.

16. Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison: A
*sigh* I've read this book twice now and I love it. Read my review here.

17. With a Little Help From My Friends: B-
Never read anything by this author before but I liked this one. Short and sweet with minimal conflict.

18. She's Got Balls by Mia Watts: C
I read a favorable for this one and in the end, I was disappointed. I liked the premise but the execution left a bit to be desired.

Grades:
A - 6
B - 11
C - 1

Genres:
M/M - 8
Historical Romance - 3
Contemporary Romance -3
Young Adult - 2
Historical Fiction - 1
Paranormal Romance - 1

Formats:
Ebook - 14
Print - 4

November was a good month for me. Six As?? That's unheard of! LOL

Week in Review: 26/12/11

2011-12-26T10:53:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Christmas and I went out of town so that's why this post is coming a day later. And today is going to be crazy. All the boxing day sales! Harlequin, Carina Press, Dreamspinner Press, Omnilit are all having some good deals right now. Today is the day to spoil yourself. LOL And we all know I'm good at that.

BOOKS READ

Out of Bounds by Viki Lyn
E-book. I have to admit that this one was a disappointment. The writing was definitely not to my taste and the characters...well the one character who didn't stand behind his lover really pissed me off. D

The English Heiress by Roberta Gellis
E-book. I really enjoyed this one. There were some issues with it, but overall my enjoyment made me overlook them. Solid B. Also, this is currently free at Amazon.

The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway
E-book. This one I received for review for Book Binge. I thought it was cute and better than As You Desire. Review to come.

Sno Ho by Ethan Day
E-book. I wanted to re-read a good m/m after Out of Bounds and this one was the right choice. I like Ethan's humour and Boone is a delightful character. Wade is flat out hot stuff. B+

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
Print. I just bought the latest in the Lucky Harbor series and I figured I needed to read the first. LOL I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed this one. Review to come.

REVIEWS POSTED

Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz at The Book Scoop
Lessons in Seduction by Sandra Hyatt at Book Binge
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund at the Book Scoop

RECENT ADDITIONS

Bought

Alien Proliferation

Library

The Sweetheart of Prosper County|The King's Favorite|The Hunter|Palimpsest|Saint's Astray

Review

The Taming|me@you.com|Secrets of an Accidental Duchess|Mask of the Gladiator|Striker

Downloaded
Let me just say, there was a 55% off coupon at Fictionwise and I did not deny myself. hehe

I go back to work on Wednesday but I did take the first week of January off. Can't wait to read some of these books then. One week of pure laziness. LOL

Hope everyone is continuing to have wonderful holidays!!

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

Max, She-Ra and I would like to wish everyone Merry Christmas!! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday with your family and loved ones.

p.s. She-Ra's outfit says Mrs. Claus on it. hehe

.

review at Book Binge

2011-12-22T08:40:00.000-06:00

I have a review of Sandra Hyatt's last book, Lessons in Seduction, up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

A prince on a quest to find the perfect wife doesn't have time to trifle with a commoner. But Adam Marconi's longtime friend and sometime driver, Danielle St. Claire, has him contemplating a change in plans. Why can't the royal have a little fun before finally settling down? Then their supposedly quick affair suddenly turns serious. And Prince Adam finds himself in a quandary. Say goodbye to the one woman who sets his heart and body on fire, or defy all of the rules and cause the scandal of the century.

review at the Book Scoop

2011-12-21T08:45:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of Diana Peterfreund's Rampant up at the Book Scoop.

You can read my review here.

Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns...

Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. Fortunately, they've been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to—perhaps most dangerously of all—her growing attraction to a handsome art student ... an attraction that could jeopardize everything.

review at the Book Scoop

2011-12-20T08:47:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of Alexandra Diaz' Of All The Stupid Things up at the Book Scoop.

You can read my review here.

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara's boyfriend Brent has been sleeping with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn't just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara's training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment after being deserted by her father. Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave this beauty to look for meaning in all the wrong places. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she's never stopped missing. This friendship that promised to last forever is starting to break under the pressure of the girls' differences.

And then new-girl Riley arrives in school with her long black hair, athletic body, and her blasé attitude, and suddenly Tara starts to feel things she's never felt before for a girl--and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay--or does she just love Riley? And can her deepest friendships survive when all of the rules have changed?

Week in Review: 18/12/11

2011-12-18T19:28:00.000-06:00

Time is just flying towards Christmas! This past week went by in a blur and that's all well and good because I can't wait until those few days I get off. I really need a break.

Books Read

Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
Review to come at the Book Scoop.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
This was a re-read for me. I quite enjoyed it - I think I built up what Daphne did too big in my head and was really dreading it. I forced myself to read it and yeah it bugged me still, but not as much.

Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare
Review to come. I really enjoyed this one, more so than the first book in the Spindle Cove series.

Bad Company by KA Mitchell
I've been craving m/m! I noticed I've been reading more print books these days and so that means less m/m. I liked this one but thought the ending was a bit rushed. Review to come? We'll see.

Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning
Got this as a freebie from amazon. It's hot. But a few things bugged me. I think I'll be reviewing this one.

I honestly didn't think I'd read that much!

Reviews Posted

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare posted at Book Binge

Although I only posted one review, I did write a few. :P

New Additions

Bought:
Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

Thrift Store:
Gone by Michael Grant
Stranger by Zoe Archer
The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley

Downloaded:
Omnilit's having their annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. I've been taking advantage. Have you?
Also Harlequin has daily deals.

Furball Friday

2011-12-16T10:53:00.000-06:00

I haven't done one of these in a while.

I like this picture of She-Ra. Something about the shape of her head and her bulging eyes. LOL

And here's me goofing around with a camera app on my phone.

October Monthly Recap

2011-12-13T07:33:00.000-06:00

I know this one is late but hey, I'm getting it done!

An October Sunset

October, October. Well, the only big thing that comes to mind from October was the fact that I fell down the stairs and hurt my elbow. I wore a big clunky cast for a week. Just long enough to have to cancel my trip to see Nath. :( Fortunately, I didn't break my elbow like it was originally thought. Whew.

So here's what I read back in October. I'm very pleased with the amount of reviews.

1. Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles: B
Review to come.

2. Exploring Limits by Ariel Tachna: B-
This one was ok. Thought the ending was left too open (which is intentional I believe as this is a big series. It is m/m/m but I felt that one of the characters was overlooked a bit. Hot stuff though!

3. Goldilocks and His Three Bears by AM Riley: B+
This one was super hot and I really enjoyed the dynamics between the 4, yes FOUR, men. :P

4. Physical Therapy by ZA Maxfield: B+
Read my lightning review here.

5. Jacob’s Ladder by ZA Maxfield: B
Read my lightning review here.

6. In Bed With a Highlander by Maya Banks: B-
My review at Book Binge here.

7. The Book of Daniel by ZA Maxfield: B
Read my lightning review here.

8. Defiant by Kris Kennedy: A-
Read my squee review here.

9. Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis: B
Review to come.

10. My Not So Still Life by Liz Gallagher: C
I read and enjoyed Liz's book, The Opposite of Invisible, so I kind of went into this with a few expectations...and this book did not deliver, imo. What I enjoyed about TOOI was the main character's voice. Told from first person pov, that's very important. MNSSL is also from first person pov and the heroine was annoying. Her voice didn't work for me.

11. Gobsmacked by LB Gregg: B+
This was a re-read for me. There were a few scenes in this book that I kept wanting to go back and re-read so I figured I'd just read the whole book all over again. You can read my original review here. Tony's dominance still really works for me. YUM. And the scene I wanted to re-read? It's Tony marking Mark's neck up with a whole load of hickeys.

12. The Compass Rose by Gail Dayton: B+
I've had this one in my tbr pile for a while and I couldn't resist the urge to read it anymore. What had me interested in the first place were the mentions in various reviews I've read about polyamory. So that got me in the door, but the story kept me there. Don't think this is a free for all type of deal, it's not. Review to come.

13. Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson: B+
Another re-read. I guess when faced with what new book to read I make the easy decision to go back and re-read something I really enjoyed. LOL I gave this book a B+ last year (my original review) and I still stick by that grade. I really enjoyed this book and it's one of the better m/m/m books I've read to date. Give it a try!

14. Double Shot by Christine d’Abo: B+
Read my review at Book Binge.

15. Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh: B+
Another re-read. I only read the first two books in the Guild Hunters series and since it's been a while, I thought I'd re-read the first two to get things fresh in my mind before I continued on with the series. You can read my original review here. That was a fun triple buddy review with Nath and Chantal. I still feel the same way about the story. I love Raphael's possessiveness. I think Elena is kick-ass.

16. Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray: B+
My review. at Book Binge.

17. Drawn Together by ZA Maxfield: C+
I read quite a few ZAMs this month and I think it doesn't compare as well to the St. Nachos books. I did enjoy this one, but not as much as I thought I would. It was an interesting set up but felt something was missing.

Grades:
A – 1
B – 14
C – 2

Genres:
M/M – 8
Fantasy – 2
Young Adult – 2
Historical Romance– 2
Contemporary – 2
Historical Fiction – 1

Formats:
Ebook –9
Print –5
Library – 3

I'm pleased with the amount I've reviewed and the different genres I read. M/M still dominated the pack, but that's ok with me. :P

review at Book Binge

2011-12-12T08:45:00.000-06:00

I have a review of Tessa Dare's A Night to Surrender up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

Welcome to Spindle Cove, where the ladies with delicate constitutions come for the sea air, and men in their prime are... nowhere to be found. Or are they?

Spindle Cove is the destination of choice for certain types of well-bred young ladies: the painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men; it is a haven for those who live there.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn't belong here. So far as he can tell, there's nothing in this place but spinsters... and sheep. But he has no choice, he has orders to gather a militia. It's a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna Finch—a woman who is determined to save her personal utopia from the invasion of Bram's makeshift army.

Susanna has no use for aggravating men; Bram has sworn off interfering women. The scene is set for an epic battle... but who can be named the winner when both have so much to lose?

Week in Review: Birthday Edition!

2011-12-11T11:29:00.001-06:00

It's mah burfday! So I refuse to feel guilty for buying books this week. LOL

Books Read

As You Desire by Connie Brockway
Print. I received the Other Guy's Bride for review so I thought I'd read this one beforehand. I know TOGB can be read as a stand-alone, but I'm anal that way. Gotta read connected books whenever I can. LOL Review to come. B+

Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman
Print. I picked this one up because I've been wanting to read Jo Goodman for a while. I've read one of hers a few years ago and I know people liked this one. Review to come. B

Galen and the Forest Lord by Eden Winters
E-book. This one was interesting. Taking place in a small village, Galen is found guilty of desiring a man and he's banished. He's chased into the woods where the villagers hope he's eaten by wolves. But there is a legend that if you take a babe into the woods, the wolves will spare your life. And Galen has such a babe. LOL And once Galen makes it to the Forest Lord's castle, things get interesting for him. C

Lessons in Seduction by Sandra Hyatt
E-book. Review to come. B

Reviews Posted

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally at the Book Scoop
Junction X by Erastes at Book Binge

Yikes! I'm starting to slack on the reviews again!

New Additions

Bought:
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Devil's Kiss by Zoe Archer
Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

Downloaded:
Men Under the Mistletoe anthology by Josh Lanyon, KA Mitchell, Ava March and Harper Fox
Winning the Wallflower by Eloisa James
The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
Bad Boyfriend by KA Mitchell
Head Rush by Carolyn Crane
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
The Perfect Family by Kathryn Shay
Something Like Summer by Jay Bell

Kindle Freebies:
First Frost by Jennifer Estep
The English Heiress by Roberta Gellis

Library:
Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel

Book Fairy:
Katherine by Anya Seton (I was eyeballing this one at Chapters and found it at the thrift store and someone bought it for me-sweet!)

No guilt! LOL

review at Book Binge

2011-12-10T11:14:00.000-06:00

I have a review of Erastes' Junction X up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

Set in the very English suburbia of 1962 where everyone has tidy front gardens and lace curtains, Junction X is the story of Edward Johnson, who ostensibly has the perfect life: A beautiful house, a great job, an attractive wife and two well-mannered children. The trouble is he’s been lying to himself all of his life. And first love, when it does come, hits him and hits him hard. Who is the object of his passion? The teenaged son of the new neighbours.

Edward’s world is about to go to hell.

Let's talk about...Series, part deux

2011-12-08T10:20:00.000-06:00

Back in May, I posted a list of series that I was mostly caught up on, wanted to start, and had just started. Here’s my progress report.

Series I was mostly caught up on:

(in May)
Sookie Stackhouse
Troubleshooters
Georgina Kincaid Succubus
Mercy Thompson
Guild Hunter
House of Night
Anita Blake
Black Dagger Brotherhood

Now the only ones I can say I’m caught up on are Sookie Stackhouse (Charlaine Harris) and Troubleshooters (Suzanne Brockmann). Yikes. But I can add one more!

Sookie Stackhouse
Troubleshooters
Lady Julia Grey

Ugh, out of all the series I'm reading, I can say I'm mostly caught up on THREE?

So the rest of the series I can add to this category:

Need to Catch Up

Georgina Kincaid Succubus
Mercy Thompson
Guild Hunter
House of Night
Anita Blake
Black Dagger Brotherhood
KMM’s Fever Series
Lara Adrian’s Breeds
Nalini Singh's Psy Changeling
Meljean Brook’s The Guardians
Keri Arthur’s Riley Jensen
Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels
Sara Douglas’ Darkglass Mountains
Robin D. Owen’s Celta (Heart)
Robyn Carr’s VIRGIN RIVER
Rachel Caine’s Weather Wardens
Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel Legacy
Kresley Cole’s Immortals after Dark
Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation
Julia Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson
JD Robb's In Death
Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax

Can we say scary? LOL

BUT I have some good news for this category:

Want to Start

(as of May)
Kate Daniels
Vampire Academy
Hunger Games
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Blue Bloods

To add:
Lucky Harbor (Jill Shalvis)
The Disillusionists (Carolyn Crane)

I’ve started 3 series from this group. Yay! Kate Daniels, Vampire Academy and The Hunger Games. Go me.

That means I’ve added to this category:

Series Just Begun

Elder Races
Kate Daniels
Vampire Academy
Hunger Games
Clare Fergusson
In Death
Sirantha Jax
Katherine “Kitty” Kat (Gini Koch)

There are a few other series that I’ve started where there’s only one book out so far so I’m not going to worry about listing them.

So what about you? Did you make any progress on the series you’ve started? Did you finish any series? What new series have you started that you can’t wait to read the next installment?

review at The Book Scoop

2011-12-06T13:36:00.000-06:00

I've got a review up at The Book Scoop.

You can read my discombobulated thoughts on Miranda Kenneally's Catching Jordan here.

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

Week in Review - 04/12/11

2011-12-04T08:30:00.000-06:00

This past week was bad. I'm not going to lie. Work-wise, it was rotten. I couldn't wait for Friday afternoon. LOL Here's hoping this coming week is good!

Books Read

She's Got Balls by Mia Watts
E-book. I read a favorable for this one and in the end, I was disappointed. I liked the premise but the execution left a bit to be desired. C

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Print. This was a re-read. Link for my review below. A

Follow my Lead by Kate Noble
Print. This one was a review for Book Binge. So review to come.

No Quarter by Christine d'Abo
I read and loooved No Remedy last year and this is the book before that one. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book but things fell apart towards the end. Not horribly, but there was a definite change at the end. C+

Reviews Posted

The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott at Book Binge
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray at Book Binge
The Lovers by Eden Bradley at Book Binge

New Additions

Bought
*so Chapters had a buy 3 get the 4th free thing last weekend. I couldn't resist!*
Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook
Kingdom of Gods by NK Jemisin
Midnight by Ellen Connor
Mesmerized by Lauren Dane

Thrift Store
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
Jane by April Lindner
An Unwilling Bride by Jo Beverley

Downloaded
Marry Me by Jo Goodman *freebie for Kindle*
Forever Mine by Elizabeth Reyes *freebie for Kindle*
The French Maid by Sabrina Jeffries *freebie at BoB*
Lessons in Seduction by Sandra Hyatt

review at Book Binge

2011-12-03T18:44:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of The Lovers by Eden Bradley up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

It seemed ideal —two months at a charming writers' retreat, surrounded by kindred souls. But Bettina Boothe wasn't prepared for just how long eight weeks truly was. Or that in the process, she would have to open up and reveal the most secret places in her body and soul.

Fortunately, her fellow authors do not share Bettina's self-consciousness and begin to draw her out of her self-imposed shell. One in particular—Audrey LeClaire—seems to ooze confidence and self-assuredness. Dark and petite, Audrey's potent sensuality draws the men and women in the workshop to her like flies to honey. Bettina is just as vulnerable, finding herself overwhelmed by a very unexpected attraction to Audrey who makes Bettina her special project.

But when Jack Curran arrives at the retreat, everything changes. Jack is tall, beautiful, masculine. A writer of dark thrillers, he is as mysterious and alluring as his books. He and Audrey are obviously an item, but they eagerly welcome Bettina into their bed. Suddenly Bettina finds herself swept up in a maelstrom of lust, obsession and jealousy, torn between her need for two very different people in a love triangle where she will either be cherished…or consumed.

review at Book Binge

2011-12-01T22:30:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, it falls to Princess Selene to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...

In the aftermath of Alexandria’s tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she’s ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she’s put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene’s captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor’s sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans...

Now trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can’t hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined honor her mother’s lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. But can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die?

It's that time again - New Release time!

2011-12-01T13:50:00.001-06:00

Go see what Nath, Monroe and I are looking forward to this month. Our new releases post is up at Breezing Through!

Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

2011-11-29T11:05:00.000-06:00

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Published by Berkley Sensation in May 2011
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Elder Races #1

Half-human and half-Wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the Wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful—and passionate—of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of the Wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in each other.

Pia knows she must repay Dragos for her trespass, but refuses to become his slave—although she cannot deny wanting him, body and soul.

Holly first brought this book to my attention and even though she raved about it, it wasn't until I actually visited her and she shoved the book in my hands and told me to read it did I do so. I mean, she didn't give me much of a choice. LOL

That was back in September and I loooved the book, but I was on vacation so I didn't review it. I re-read it yesterday and since I know this book is going to be in my top reads of 2011, I was determined to review it.

Pia Giovanni is screwed. She has just stolen from a dragon. Not just any dragon, but Dragos, the most powerful Wyr in the world. And she knows all she can do is run, but that eventually he will find her, and probably kill her.

Dragos is furious when he realizes that one of his hoards has been found and something of his is stolen. But on the heels of his fury there is curiosity. Who is this thief? You see, Pia left behind a note apologizing for the theft. And Dragos is intrigued by her scent left behind on the note. And the more he gets to know Pia (for he finds her eventually) the more possessive he becomes. She is his thief. She is his mystery to unravel.

Awww, you guys, I totally loved Pia and Dragos! Pia is the kind of heroine I like. Her mouth gets her into trouble, she's definitely a smart-ass. She can kick ass but smart enough to run when that's the better option. She's vulnerable, afraid to spill her secrets, but at the core she just wants to belong somewhere and love. And Dragos, he's the kind of hero I love. He's like uber alpha hero of the century. He's old as time, he's used to getting his own and he's a freaking dragon, so he likes the shiny and he's possessive as hell. He's not used to human emotions but he's not afraid to learn. And did I mention possessive?

Dragos' uber alpha-ness works because Pia can take it and dish it out too. She's no doormat for him to walk all over. And that's why Pia and Dragos are one of my favorite couples of all time. (Also in the ranks are Jess and Dain from Lord of Scoundrels and Mia and Reed from Karen Rose's Count to Ten.) Every bit of dialog between these two were witty gems and I've dog-eared practically the whole book. This is the kind of book that you can't just re-read certain parts, you have to re-read the whole book.

And it's not just the main characters that I enjoyed so much. The rest of the cast were great too. There's Tricks and all of Dragos' men, Aryal the harpy (I love harpies). Loved them all. And the world-building was well done too.

I'm not going to include any quotes or passages from the book because then I'd be including practically the whole book. LOL Just head on over to Goodreads and see what quotes are there. I loved Pia's attitude and Dragos' patience with her. I just loved Dragos. He was willing to change to make his woman happy. Awwww. And she loved him just the way he was.

Enough gushing. I'm giving Dragon Bound a solid A and now that I've re-read it and reviewed it, I can move onto the second book. Finally. LOL

review at Book Binge

2011-11-28T08:47:00.000-06:00

I have a review of Susan Holloway Scott's The Countess and the King up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

Katherine Sedley lived by her own rules and loved who she pleased- until she became the infamous mistress of King James II...

London, 1675: Born to wealth and privilege, Katherine is introduced to the decadent court of King Charles II, and quickly becomes a favorite from the palace to the bawdy playhouses. She gleefully snubs respectable marriage to become the Duke of York's mistress.

But Katherine's life of carefree pleasure ends when Charles II dies, and her lover becomes King James II. Suddenly she is cast into a tangle of political intrigue, religious dissent, and ever-shifting alliances, where a wrong step can mean treason, exile, or death at the executioner's block. As the risks rise, Katherine is forced to make the most perilous of choices: to remain loyal to the king, or to England.

Week in Review: 27/11/11

2011-11-27T18:18:00.000-06:00

I have nothing to say about this week. It was slow...but felt like it went by fast. I hate when time is freaky like that. We had some snow last week and some cold cold temperatures and then this week we were in the pluses again that melted all the snow...but then we got some snow on Friday night to cover the ground again. This is good snow too - thick and wet, perfect for snowmen and snowballs. Max loved it.

Anywho, onto the book stuff.

Reviews Posted

So Much Closer - Susane Colasanti
Venus in Blue Jeans - Meg Benjamin
Playing Hurt - Holly Schindler
Double Shot - Christine d'Abo

Books Read

The Notorious Rake - Mary Balogh
Re-read. Still enjoyable.

Prayer Waltz - KZ Snow
E-book. After reading the Zero Knot, I decided to read more from this author's backlist. I liked this one. B

A Night to Remember - Tessa Dare
Print. Review to come.

Catching Jordan - Miranda Kenneally
E-book. Got this one from Netgalley. Review to come.

With a Little Help From My Friends - JP Bowie
E-book. Never read anything by this author before but I liked this one. Short and sweet with minimal conflict. B-

New Additions

Bought
To Wed a Wild Lord - Sabrina Jeffries

Thrift Store
A Lily Among Thorns - Rose Lerner
Romancing the Countess - Ashley March
Too Wild to Wed - Cara Elliott

Downloaded
The Closer You Get - LA Witt
Wedding Bell Blues - Meg Benjamin
Long Time Gone - Meg Benjamin
Be My Baby - Meg Benjamin
Brand New Me - Meg Benjamin

I really need to stop buying books. LOL

review at Book Binge

2011-11-27T18:03:00.000-06:00

I have a review of Christine d'Abo's Double Shot up over at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

Coffee shop owner Sadie Long has been lusting after her good friend Paul Williams for years. So she's more than a little intrigued when he invites her to a business meeting at Mavericks, the sex club where he works. While catering an event at the club is not quite the proposition she was hoping for, her business could use the boost. And she can't resist the chance to work closely with Paul in such a sexually charged atmosphere. Enter the club's hot owner, Josh, and suddenly Sadie's fantasizing about being part of a threesome.

Paul has always wanted Sadie, but never thought she'd see him as anything more than a friend. On the night of the party, he and Josh tempt Sadie to reveal her deepest desire—a desire both men are eager to help fulfill.

Giving in to her sensual side, Sadie enjoys a night of mind-blowing sex. But in the light of day, will she lose Paul as a friend, or gain him as a lover?

review at the Book Scoop

2011-11-24T07:24:00.000-06:00

I have a review of Holly Schindler's Playing Hurt up at the Book Scoop.

You can read my review here.

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college-and everyone's admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.As a graduation present, Chelsea's dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she's immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who's haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain-or finally heal their heartbreak?

review at Book Binge

2011-11-23T08:43:00.000-06:00

I have a review of Meg Benjamin's Venus in Blue Jeans up at Book Binge.

You can read my review here.

A guy. A girl. A Chihuahua. Two of them will find the love of their lives.

Coming off a broken engagement to a lying charmer, all bookstore owner Docia Kent wants is a fling, not a long-term romance. And for her fabulously wealthy and fabulously nosy parents to butt out of her life for a while. The Texas Hill Country town of Konigsburg looks like the perfect place to get both. Especially when she gets a look at long, tall country vet Cal Toleffson.

Cal has other plans for Docia. One glance at the six-foot version of Botticelli'ss Venus, and he knows he's looking at the woman of his dreams. Now if he can just fend off the eccentric characters of Konigsburg long enough to convince her romance isn't such a bad idea.

One night of mind-blowing sex isn't the only thing that leaves them both stunned. With Docia's bookstore under attack, Konigsburg suddenly doesn't seem so welcoming. Once again she finds her trust tested-and is left wondering if she was ever meant to have a happily ever, after all.

review at the Book Scoop

2011-11-22T08:54:00.000-06:00

I've got a review of Susane Colasanti's So Much Closer up at the Book Scoop.

You can read my review here.

When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

Week in Review: 20/11/11

2011-11-21T22:41:00.000-06:00

Sorry this is a bit late-I had a good/crazy weekend and then I was go-go-go today. Now that it's bed time, I have a few minutes to put this together. So I went to my grandpa's on Saturday for a baby shower for my cousin. I just have to share this Max story. In his younger years, Max could go all day at my gramps - I'd have to chase him into the house to go to sleep at night. WELL. On Saturday, Max maybe ran around for 3 hours and then came in the house and crashed. At one point he even fell asleep sitting up! Poor guy. So I put him in his kennel for the ride back and once we were home, he still hadn't recovered, he wouldn't get out of his kennel! I just put him to sleep on my bed and figured he'd be back to normal in the morning. He got back to normal at 5:45 am! He woke me up to go potty and then he ran around in the snow for a little bit. Crazy dog. But yeah, it makes me sad to think he can't go all day like he used to.

Reviews Posted

I think I can safely say that my blogging rut is over. I've wrote a whole crapload of reviews for Book Binge, so watch out for those posts. And I also managed to get some reviews done for this here little blog of mine and a couple for the Book Scoop. Yay.

The Zero Knot by KZ Snow
By Honor Betrayed by Alex Beecroft

Read

The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott
Print. I read this one for Book Binge. I really enjoyed it and I'm going to be looking for this author's backlist. Review to come.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Print. Monroe has been after me to read these books forever ago and watching the trailer inspired me. I really enjoyed it. A-

Junction X by Erastes
E-book. This was another one for Book Binge. And it was heartbreaking. I'm still debating how I'm going to review this. So yeah, review to come.

New Additions

Bought:
The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Used Book Store:
The Famous Heroine & The Plumed Bonnet by Mary Balogh
In Pursuit of Miss Eliza Cynster

Downloaded:
Lessons in Indiscretion by Karen Erickson
Her Christmas Pleasure by Karen Erickson
The Lady's Secret by Joanna Chambers
A Shot in the Dark by Christine d'Abo
White Dawn by Susan Edwards

Free Kindle Downloads:
Cool Shade by Theresa Weir (Kristie J recommended this one to me ages ago)
Clever John by Elizabeth Hoyt
All's Fair by Suzie Quint
Spoil of War by Phoenix Sullivan (this one...has been talked about lol)
Triad by Lauren Dane

Furball Friday

2011-11-18T07:15:00.001-06:00

I did it! I caught them on the bed together!

E-book Review: By Honor Betrayed by Alex Beecroft

2011-11-16T06:50:00.000-06:00

By Honor Betrayed by Alex Beecroft
Published by Carina Press in November 2011
Genre: M/M Romance, Historical Fiction
Series: n/a

1748

Lieutenant Conrad Herriot and Seaman Tom Cotton have been master and servant for over a decade, and friends for almost as long. When Tom is injured during a skirmish, Conrad forgets himself and rushes to Tom's side, arousing suspicion about the true nature of their relationship.

All Tom wants is the chance to consummate their love and embark on a new life together, outside the law that condemns them. Yet he fears Conrad won't risk his career and his honor to become Tom's lover.

Conrad believes his lust for Tom will damn his soul. There's also their difference in class-a gentleman doesn't socialize with a common tar. As Conrad struggles to refute the gossip on the ship, he must decide whether to commit the crime the crew's already convicted them of, or part from Tom for good to save both their necks...

I have high expectations for Alex Beecroft's work and By Honor Betrayed was no exception. I was surprised though by how much I truly enjoyed this story. I shouldn't be, but I was!

First of all, Alex really packs a punch for such a small word count (25,000 words). Conrad and Tom are two men on the edge. They've been master and servant but most importantly friends for over 10 years. Conrad wants Tom but fears that any overture he makes would be construed by Tom as a demand, and so Tom wouldn't be able to say no. Conrad also fears that any invitation he reads in Tom's eyes is something he wants so badly that he's imagining it. You could say Conrad has some angst. Which is increased when his commanding officer begins to suspect the relationship he has with Tom. And everything Tom and Conrad do to try and stem the suspicions, even amongst the crew, just feeds the flames.

Conrad has a hard decision to make when he realizes that Tom does indeed want him. Sacrifice it all for love or try to deny his feelings and stay safe? And what happens when that decision is torn out of his hands?

By Honor Betrayed was delicious. That's the only way to put it. The desire between Tom and Conrad can almost be felt. Everyday touches between master and servant take on a whole new meaning. This was heady stuff.

Without giving too much away, at one point I actually covered my mouth and gasped at something that happened. It was so surprising and heartbreaking and that's how caught up I was. That's how captivating Alex' writing is, it grabs hold of you and doesn't let you go. Even when I finished, I was still smiling over what I had just read.

The setting is also very richly portrayed in Alex' writing. I can see the ship and even the coastal towns very clearly. If you enjoy seafaring adventures, naval officers and pirates, I highly recommend By Honor Betrayed. A-

E-book Review: The Zero Knot by KZ Snow

2011-11-14T15:30:00.001-06:00

*Look at this! A review! Let's hope I can keep the momentum up.*

The Zero Knot by KZ Snow
Published by Dreamspinner Press in October 2011
Genre: M/M Romance
Series: n/a

Eighteen-year-old Jess Bonner is casting off pretense—and, with it, some friends from his past who aren’t particularly trustworthy. In just a few months he’ll be starting college, and it’s time for him to admit the truth: he’s gay, not bi, and only one of his childhood buddies holds any kind of real interest for him. When Dylan Finch, aka Mig, follows his lead and puts some distance between himself and the old crowd, he and Jess give in to a mutual attraction that’s been building for years.

But navigating a fledgling relationship isn’t easy for beginners, and forces they can’t seem to control keep tripping them up: sexual appetite, personal insecurities, fear of discovery, and more. They need clarity. They need courage. Just as they’re on the verge of finding both, a vindictive act of jealousy sends one of them to jail. All their hard-won victories are in danger of falling to dust. The only way to save what they have is to recognize it for what it is . . . and fight for its integrity.

K.Z. Snow is an author I've always wanted to read and I finally got around to it with The Zero Knot. After reading this, I am definitely going to be reading more of this author's backlist.

Jess Bonner and Dylan 'Mig' Finch are part of the Domino Club, a group of friends who get together from time to time. What draws them all together? They're bisexual. But Jess realizes that he is tired of the face he puts on for the club, he's not being true to himself and he decides to cut ties to the other members. Except Dylan. He can see that Dylan is feeling the same way and after discussing how he feels with Dylan, Jess realizes that Dylan is smoking hot in a subtle way - at least Jess has never really noticed it before!

Jess is all gung-ho to start something with Dylan, but Dylan has a few concerns. First, there's Jess' past with one of the other members of the club (a past that rears it's ugly head soon into their romance). There's also the fact that Jess is going away to college in a few months. And neither man is out - so they would have to be very careful, especially Dylan who comes from a very conservative background.

I enjoy these kind of romances - the blush of first love, especially poignant during that time period between walking away from your childhood and entering into adulthood. There are so many conflicts inherent in this time frame as well, especially when it comes to your character. Do two young men want to embark on a serious relationship before they've really experienced anything? There's also the coming out factor, moving away to college...KZ Snow does a good job of bringing it all together as well as crafting a truly enjoyable romance.

I thought the doubts and fears that Jess and Dylan had were realistic. The experience of coming out for each boy was drastically different and I thought Dylan's character was a bit more mature compared to Jess', he had a more practical perspective on the world. Jess was a fun character that definitely embodied a young, care-free man who has his eyes opened to the ways of the world. Jess and Dylan defnitely balanced each other out. Jess' younger brother was a nice comic touch as well.

The Zero Knot was a solidly written tale about a young man finding himself and falling in love for the first time. I definitely recommend this title. B+

p.s. I love the cover!

Week in Review - 6/11/11 - 13/11/11

2011-11-13T11:49:00.000-06:00

I'm baaaack!

That's right - I'm back ~~in the land of Oz~~ at home. I had a blast visiting Monroe over the last week, but that's a post for another day. I know you guys are itching to know what I brought home...but first, my weekly reads. :P

I'm actually going to be going over two weeks worth of weekly reads because I didn't do one last Sunday, since I was in Georgia.

Weekly Reads

Drawn Together by ZA Maxfield
E-book. I really enjoy Maxfield's writing and I found this quirky book good. C+

The Zero Knot by KZ Snow
E-book. Review to come.

By Honor Betrayed by Alex Beecroft
E-book. Review to come.

In Bed With the Boss by Susan Napier
E-book. I read a review for this on Dear Author and there was a sale at Harlequin (see below) and thought I'd give it a shot. I enjoyed it. B

No Apologies by Tibby Armstrong
E-book. This book made me cry. It starts off with the couple in the present day...and they're in a rocky situation. Then the book moves into how these two men got together in high school. It was very good. B+

Venus in Blue Jeans by Meg Benjamin
E-book. This is the first in the Konigsburg series and I am definitely going to be buying the other 4 that are currently out. The ending was a bit meh, but everything else was fun. B

The Sergeant's Lady by Susanna Fraser
E-book. I've had this in my e-tbr pile forever and finally picked it up. So good! Glad I have Susanna's second book. B+

The Art of the Delaneys by Anne Brooke
E-book. This is the third in a series of short stories featuring the Delaney twins and their new friend, Liam. I like these stories and can't wait to read more. B

The Lovers by Eden Bradley
E-book. Here's another one I've had in my e-tbr pile for a while. I felt the heroine indulged in navel-gazing a bit too much but everything else worked for me. B

New Additions

Downloads:

*there were sales at two different publishers, I couldn't resist!*
The Sheriff's Daughter by Kay Stockham
In Bed with the Boss by Susan Napier
Abby and the Bachelor Cop by Marion Lennox
Misty and the Single Dad by Marion Lennox
All They Need by Sarah Mayberry
Wanted by her Lost Love by Maya Banks
Venus in Blue Jeans by Meg Benjamin
Moon Run by Joely Skye
Come Unto These Yellow Sands by Josh Lanyon
Mummy Dearest by Josh Lanyon
The Pharaoh's Concubine by ZA Maxfield
AJ's Angel by LA Witt
Str8te Boys by Evangeline Anderson
Bad Company by KA Mitchell
Camwolf by JL Merrow
Barging In by Josephine Myles
Fortune's Son by Emery Lee

Bought:

Destined by PC & Kristin Cast
If You Give a Girl a Viscount by Kieran Kramer
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne
Heart of Darkness by Lauren Dane
I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming

I feel like a crazy person.

2011-11-11T08:21:00.001-06:00

going on a trip...

2011-11-04T10:07:00.004-05:00

more LOLdogs

It's that time of year again - I'm making my way south to go visit Monroe in Georgia! See you in the funny pages. :)

review at Book Binge

2011-11-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

I've got a review of Touch of Crimson by Sylvia Day up at Book Binge.

You can read my review HERE.

Can a love that transcends death survive a war between angels, vampires, and lycans?

An angel with immense power and insatiable desire, Adrian Mitchell leads an elite Special Ops unit of the seraphim. His task is to punish the Fallen--angels who have become vampires--and command a restless pack of indentured lycans.

But Adrian has suffered his own punishment for becoming involved with mortals--losing the woman he loves again and again. Now, after nearly two hundred years, he has found her: Shadoe, her soul once more inhabiting a new body that doesn’t remember him. This time he won't let her go.

With no memory of her past as Shadoe, Lindsay Gibson knows only that she can't help being fiercely attracted to the smoldering, seductive male who crosses her path. Swept into a dangerous world of tumultuous passion and preternatural conflict, Lindsay is soon caught between her angel lover, her vampire father, and a full-blown lycan revolt. There’s more at stake than her love and her life--she could lose her very soul...

November New Releases

2011-11-01T11:29:00.002-05:00

It's that time of the month! LOL Not that time, but our new releases post time. :P Nath, Monroe and I have our post up Breezing Through. Go see how we can help empty your wallet.

Week in Review - 30/10/11

2011-10-30T20:14:00.000-05:00

I've made a decision - I'm going to blog even though I'm not feeling it so that I get into the habit of it again. Things will eventually get back to normal. Hopefully. LOL

On the elbow front - I'm almost back to 100%. Yay, just in time for my trip to Georgia! That's right, I'm going again. I leave on Friday and it'll be a week of fun times.

Weekly Reads

I'm going over what I've read in the last two weeks, just to catch up.

My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher

Library book. I read and enjoyed Liz's book, The Opposite of Invisible, so I kind of went into this with a few expectations...and this book did not deliver, imo. What I enjoyed about TOOI was the main character's voice. Told from first person pov, that's very important. MNSSL is also from first person pov and the heroine was annoying. Her voice didn't work for me. C

Gobsmacked by LB Gregg

E-book. This is a re-read for me. There were a few scenes in this book that I kept wanting to go back and re-read so I figured I'd just read the whole book all over again. You can read my original review here. Tony's dominance still really works for me. YUM. And the scene I wanted to re-read? It's Tony marking Mark's neck up with a whole load of hickeys. LOL B+

The Compass Rose by Gail Dayton

Print. I've had this one in my tbr pile for a while and I couldn't resist the urge to read it anymore. What had me interested in the first place were the mentions in various reviews I've read about polyamory. So that got me in the door, but the story kept me there. Don't think this is a free for all type of deal, it's not. Review to come. B+

Double Shot by Christine d'Abo

E-book. I got this one from Netgalley. Review to come. B+

Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh

Print. Another re-read. I only read the first two books in the Guild Hunters series and since it's been a while, I thought I'd re-read the first two to get things fresh in my mind before I continued on with the series. You can read my original review here. That was a fun triple buddy review with Nath and Chantal. I still feel the same way about the story. I love Raphael's possessiveness. I think Elena is kick-ass. B+

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

Print. Review to come. I read this one for Book Binge. B+

Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson

E-book. My third re-read in the last two weeks. I guess when faced with what new book to read I make the easy decision to go back and re-read something I really enjoyed. LOL I gave this book a B+ last year (my original review) and I still stick by that grade. I really enjoyed this book and it's one of the better m/m/m books I've read to date. Give it a try!

TBR Pile Additions

Bought:
Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks
Destined by PC & Kristin Cast

Thrift Store:
Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
The Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa

I had so many books out from the library it was giving me a bit of stress, I was always leaving them to the last minute and I didn't feel like I was reading what I truly wanted to read at any given time. So I've returned all library books and canceled all but one of my requests. Those books aren't going anywhere and I can always re-request them. But for now, I'm going to focus on my TBR pile.

review at Book Binge

2011-10-26T16:22:00.001-05:00

I have a review up at Book Binge for Molly Harper's The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf.

You can read my review HERE.

(I wrote this review a while back, the rut still continues...)

Baring It All

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With interpack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous. . . .

i am...

2011-10-23T19:48:00.002-05:00

...in a blogging rut. That is all.

review at Book Binge

2011-10-21T07:20:00.000-05:00

I've got a review up at Book Binge.

You can read my review of How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf HERE.

Northern Exposure

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .

Book Review: Defiant by Kris Kennedy

2011-10-20T12:57:00.001-05:00

Defiant by Kris Kennedy
Published by Pocket Books in April 2011
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: n/a

A warrior with questionable intentions...

Jamie Lost is the king’s most renowned commander, a fearless lieutenant ordered to kidnap an exiled priest before rebel forces close in. The mission is simple—until he meets a mysterious thief who will steal his quarry and then his heart.

A lady of remarkable courage . . .

Beautiful Eva is also seeking Father Peter, but she intends to protect him from a secret that could cost him his life. She senses that she, too, should fear Jamie—not just for his wickedly sharp sword and dangerously muscular body, but for the powerful longing he ignites within her.

A secret that could overthrow the king.

When a band of mercenaries abducts the priest, Jamie and Eva must form a volatile alliance. As civil war unfolds around them, they embark on an epic journey that betrays the truth about their hidden identities, their unexpected loyalties, and the simmering attraction that could seal their fates forever.

A while back, Holly told me to read the Conqueror by Kris Kennedy. She said it was really good. I never got around to that book (although I did buy it!) but I did pick up Defiant as it was Kris' most recent release. I'm ever so glad I did.

One thing I really love in historical romances are strong heroines, and Eva is the epitome of kick ass. Another thing I really enjoyed was this was a medieval. I haven't read a regency-set romance in a while, I think I'm a bit burnt out, and Defiant was just the historical setting I was craving.

Jamie Lost is the king's most trusted man. And he's been asked to fetch a well known priest who has just returned to England. This priest, who is known for his illuminated texts, has been in hiding in France after the king killed a few noblemen eight years ago. He left England with two heirs...heirs that could potentially create trouble for the king, who is facing disension from his nobles. On his hunt, Jamie realizes there is someone else after his priest.

Eva is after the priest because he is like a father to her. She ran away with him eight years ago to get a young boy, Roger, to safety from the King. When Father Peter was summoned to England to help with negotiations, she knew it was a trap, and she was right. So when she realizes Jamie is the lesser of a few evils chasing after Father Peter, they strike an alliance to recapture Father Peter.

Defiant was almost like a medieval road trip novel. They're running all over the English countryside chasing after a few villains and trying to save Father Peter. Eva has Roger, the young boy she helped save. But Roger is now a young man, and Jamie and his friend take Roger under their wing. She hates to see how Roger is slowly becoming the warrior he was meant to be. She raised him and she wants to see him stay innocent. Also, she can't fully trust Jamie and is only using him to find and save Father Peter. There is no way she is going to let Jamie hand Peter over to the King. But until that happens, they're working together in a tentative truce.

Despite her distrust of Jamie, he makes her feel safe, and that's something she hasn't been able to feel since she was 15. Right from the beginning with these two meeting, I loved their back and forth. Here's a good example of how their relationship starts out:

He looked over his shoulder and scowled when he saw she had not "come"' was not "over there."
"Sit," he growled. "And stay."
She narrowed her eyes and, very softly, barked.
He froze.

LOL That's a good example of Eva's character too. I don't want to say she's fearless, because there's a lot she's afraid of and with good reason, but she is brave. She does what needs to be done and she's sacrificed a lot to keep Roger safe. I liked her character. And I like the little twist on her background.

Jamie is this big brute of a warrior who has lots of secrets and knows many things. He was the King's right-hand man and even though a lot of people are against the king, he's a loyal guy. But he's not stupid and he can see how things with the King are. He has a few secrets in his past as well. And even though he can't trust Eva, there's just something about her that draws him. Her spirit, her bravery. She's unlike any woman he's met and he knows he's going to have to walk away from her after their adventure is over. I like how Eva got under his skin even though he didn't mean for it to happen.

He dragged his eyes away from the ribbons and back to Eva, where she now stood, much closer to the burly jeweler with the appreciative eyes. She was very near him, smiling up at him...laughing. She was laughing with him. She touched his arm.
Jamie heard Gog say dimly, as if from a distance, "Eva doesn't wear ribbons, sir," and he heard himself say, "I'll take five."

Eva and Jamie really made this novel, but there was more going on than just the developing relationship between the two of them. And it was all so very good. I highly recommend Defiant and am looking forward to reading Kris' other books. A-

geographic restrictions can suck it

2011-10-18T07:58:00.000-05:00

Today's rant is focusing on geographic restrictions. Why? Because I hate them.

Every so often, Dear Author has this wonderful post of bargain deals for books under $2.99. Well when I feel like buying one of those cheap e-books and I click on the link, most of the time, those books are full price for me. Sometimes, and this I love, those books aren't even available to me in e-format.

If I can walk down to the store to buy the print copy of the book, why can't I download it? I just don't understand the reason behind this restriction on e-books. If I wanted to go down to my bookstore and buy it, I would have. Except right now I'm boycotting Chapters, so that doesn't leave me with any other bookstores (except this one - and they are not exactly romance friendly).

Whatever. Book Depository is reaping the benefits of your short-sightedness. Whoever YOU are, setter of geographic restrictions.

Jerk.

Week in Review - 16/10/11

2011-10-16T20:25:00.000-05:00

Today's post is a little bit late because I knew I was going to hit the bookstore this afternoon and I wanted to capture my latest buys. Yes people, I lifted my embargo on Chapters to take advantage of their 20% off sale this weekend. I am weak...but overall I am thrifty and I couldn't turn that deal down! LOL

On the elbow front, my cast was removed on Tuesday morning. There is still fluid around the joint, but no break. So yay! However, my arm is still really stiff. I have graduated to washing my own hair (somewhat painfully) but fixing it still requires a dexterity I can't manage. But everyday I feel like I have more range of motion. :P I'll see about physiotherapy if things don't get better soon.

Reviews Posted this week:

St. Nacho's series by ZA Maxfield
In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks (Book Binge)

Weekly Reads:

I didn't read as much as I would have liked. I'm so greedy.

The Book of Daniel by ZA Maxfield
Defiant by Kris Kennedy
Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis

Bought:

And the recent additions to my tbr pile.

The Beginner's Guide to Rakes by Suzanne Enoch
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
Flawless by Carrie Lofty
The Chase by Erin McCarthy
Slow Ride by Erin McCarthy
Demon Marked by Meljean Brook
Angels of Darkness anthology

Downloaded:

Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day

Library:

Aftermath by Ann Aguirre

Ok, now I can't buy anymore until I go to Georgia at the beginning of November. I'm cut off! haha

review at Book Binge

2011-10-16T16:40:00.000-05:00

I have a review of In Bed With a Highlander by Maya Banks up at Book Binge.

You can read my review HERE.

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

Furball Friday

2011-10-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

That new dog bed I bought for Max is making the rounds. LOL She-Ra got comfy on it last night while we ate supper.

And Precious likes it too!

September Monthly Recap

2011-10-13T08:43:00.000-05:00

September came and went so freaking fast! So fast I barely read anything. This has been the slowest month reading wise. :( But first, I was in California visiting Holly at the beginning of the month. Yay! Of course that means I met up with some of the SoCal bloggers. Nikki couldn't make it on the day we met. Next time Nikki!

7 SoCal bloggers + 1 Canuck blogger = Shenanigans

Judith, Wena, Tracy, Lori, Wendy, Holly, Renee and yours truly :)

It's always a blast visiting Holly. I'm so thankful she extended the invitation to visit. Thanks sweetie.

Now onto the books. I'm too lazy (and hurt, my poor elbow) to summarize my thoughts on each book.

1. Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison: A
2. More by Sloan Parker: B+
3. Picking Daisies by Julia Talbot: B
4. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley: B+
5. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead: B+
6. Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler: B+
7. The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper: B
8. Mind Fuck by Manna Francis: C+
9. St. Nacho's by ZA Maxfield: B
10. Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski: B+
11. The Gladiator's Master by Fae Sutherland and Marguerite Labbe: B
12. Stay by Allie Larkin: B-
13. Leave Me Breathless by HelenKay Dimon: B
14. Touch of Crimson by Sylvia Day: B

Genres:
M/M - 5
Young Adult - 3
Contemporary Romance - 2
Paranormal Romance - 2
Historical Romance - 1
Fantasy - 1

Grades:
A - 1
B - 12
C - 1

Formats:
Print - 4
Ebook - 6
Library - 4

This was a good month genre-wise. But only 4 from my tbr pile? *sigh* I need to work on that.

How was your September?

lightning reviews - ZA Maxfield edition

2011-10-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

St. Nacho's
published by Loose Id in December 2008
Series: St. Nachos #1

Cooper has spent the last three years running away from his past. He's been riding his bike around the country, never settling down in one place for very long. He stops in Santo Ignacio for a breather and ends up working for room and board at St. Nacho's bar. He's doing food prep in the kitchen and he plays his violin for tips for the dinner crowd as well. Cooper also catches the eye of fellow employee Shawn. Cooper thinks Shawn is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen and he doesn't resist when Shawn makes his intentions known. *g* Things work at a different pace in St. Nacho's and the usually restless Cooper finds himself contemplating staying for a while when his past catches up to him. He's also learning sign language so he can communicate better with Shawn, who is deaf.

First of all, I LOVED the relationship between Shawn and Cooper. Shawn is such a naughty, dirty talker and I love that. He also dominates the hell out of Cooper.

He kissed my neck, where my ink was, and licked it lightly. “Got the night off?” he asked.
“Yep.” I nodded. Inside I was smiling already, but I thought I ought to make him work for it a little.
“You going to make me ask?”
“Ask what?” I found myself miming my words. I hoped that would go away soon.
“If your ass belongs to me or not,” he said roughly in my ear.
“It does.” I nodded.
“Bring it.”

Things quickly detour into WTF-land when Cooper's ex, who has just gotten out of jail, calls him up and asks him to come home. Seriously, WTF? I did not like the way things went down with Jordan and I thought Cooper was a fool for even going back in the first place. Luckily, Shawn shows up and sets Cooper right. Yay Shawn.

I have to deduct points for the second half of the book but I'm giving St. Nacho's a B overall because I loved everything else about it.

Physical Therapy
Published by Loose Id in May 2009
Series: St. Nacho's #2

I have to be honest and admit that I dreaded reading this book. I really did not like Jordan's character in St. Nacho's and I just couldn't imagine anyway for his character getting redeemed. ZA Maxfield proved me wrong and I ended up liking Jordan's character.

Physical Therapy begins with Jordan coming to Santo Ignacio. He's afraid to let Shawn and Cooper know he's in town because of the way things ended in book 1. But he was drawn to the town because of how much Cooper loved it and he thought he could make a life for himself there. He has finished his bachelor's degree and became a certified massage therapist. He applies for a job at the local gym and the aura-sensing owner hires him on the spot. His first day on the job, he massages Ken Ashton - a man who was injured due to a drunk driver. Ken refers to himself as a 'motor moron' because his motor skills were affected in the car accident. Ken was on his way to becoming a big baseball star when the accident derailed his whole life. What's left is a very bitter young man. But when Jordan and Ken meet, it's like...woah.

There were so many good things going on with Ken and Jordan. Jordan feels all kinds of guilt for the mistakes he's made in the past. And even though he's done his time, he still carries that guilt around with him. He knows once he tells Ken about his past that Ken will probably never want to talk to him again. But Ken surprises Jordan. Heck, Ken surprises everyone he knows. He comes out of the closet and he starts to come back to life. And Jordan was the one to bring these changes about. Not everyone is pleased with the changes, especially Ken's family. And Jordan feels enough guilt, he doesn't need a bunch of what-ifs thrown his way in regards to Ken. Plus he's kept himself emotionally distant from anyone since he went to prison.

So, ZAM totally redeemed Jordan in my eyes. He grew up. In St. Nacho's he was still trying to point the finger and lay the blame at everyone else's feet. He was a big old screw up but he got his head back on straight and now he's making smart decisions. I liked his character's growth. Same for Ken. Ken was one hot tamale! A big brawny athlete who liked to dominate? I don't know what it is, but I like my doms. LOL The only niggle I had with this book was the random act of violence that Jordan faces. I know what Ken does really proves to Jordan how he feels, but it felt forced a bit to me. Not too much though, because Physical Therapy is getting a B+ from me! Definitely definitely read this one if you read St. Nacho's and were kind of hesitant about Jordan's character. You'll come around in the end. :P

Jacob's Ladder
Published by Loose Id in 2010
Series: St. Nacho's #3

I read this last year when it came out but never reviewed it. Jake Livingston's life is not going so well. He catches his boyfriend cheating on him when he gets sent home early from work for being sick. His boyfriend proceeds to beat the crap out of him and then when he takes the bus to go see his brother, he gets kicked off in a little nowhere town. The nowhere town? St. Nacho's of course. And one thing we know about St. Nacho's is that if she wants to be found, she will. And once you find her, she gets her hooks into you and then you don't want to leave. Or you get even more sick and you need to stick around town to recuperate. But once Jake is up and about, he starts to fall under the lure of St. Nacho's. It doesn't hurt that there's a hot firefighter throwing out flirtatious vibes. It does hurt that an extremely closeted EMT keeps making the moves and then leaving in the dead of night.

My love for this series just keeps growing. I love all the characters that are introduced and most especially the female secondary characters. They're not hateful - they're very empathetic and welcoming. Jake's EMT hooks him up with a domestic violence support group (which he runs away from) but that turns into a job and friendship with Mary Catherine, who was introduced in Physical Therapy. Like small towns, everyone knows each other and they're connected in some way. I liked Cam's character as well. I was very glad to see he gets a book too. :P

As for the romance - I liked how Jake and JT were Jewish and that JT struggled with being gay and Jewish. I wish there was more insight into JT's struggle with coming out and his decision to come out when he did. But all in all, I liked each character's growth. Solid B.

The Book of Daniel
Published by Loose Id in 2011
Series: St. Nacho's #4

Daniel is Jake's brother and he was introduced in the previous book. Cam is a firefighter that flirted with Jake in the previous book as well but they realized they would rather be friends. Now, Cam is this massive guy who likes to work out and some might look at him and think that's all there is to him, a pretty face with no personality behind it. But Cam is more than that and Daniel likes him. But Cam and Daniel are at odds. Daniel's work (in real estate) makes Cam leery because St. Nacho's is a gem of a town and if developers move in, say goodbye to that hidden jewel. Daniel is also a very accomplished liar and Cam is really put off by that aspect of his personality. Cam is this really great character that has hidden depths and real integrity. He's the perfect foible for Dan's fluid morals. LOL And does Dan ever want him! I love how these two guys get together and Cam draws the honesty out of Dan. And even though Dan is treated like the boogeyman by some of St. Nacho's finest, he was not that bad. He was just trying to protect the people he loved and take care of them. Sometimes he made mistakes doing that but he always tried to make up for it. This book was all about Cam and Daniel and it was very enjoyable. I didn't really care for the development deal that turned everyone against him at the end. And then how the heck can he disappear for 4 months and Cam not mention it at all? That just seemed a bit off for me. But I got the HEA I wanted with these two so I don't care about the details. LOL Another solid B.

And chew on this:

"Because just being around you makes me so fucking happy, you airhead. I like you. I want you. I see my unborn children in your eyes-okay scratch that one. I swear to fuck I'm not being flip here." I sighed. "What my heart does whenever you're near isn't just about chemistry, Cam. It's like...stargazing. I feel insignificant and dazzled. Hopeful yet completely unprepared."

Week in Review - Gobble Gobble edition

2011-10-10T23:10:00.000-05:00

This week's week in review post is a day late because it's Thanksgiving. And that's just how I roll. LOL Also, I was out of town on Sunday.

So Tuesday is the day when I go in for my x-rays for my elbow. All I can say is I hope hope hope I don't have to wear a cast because this thing has been an albatross around my neck. I want to be able to do things! Like wash the left side of my body! LOL Anyway, wish me luck that I don't need another cast. :P

Reviews posted last week:

The Gladiator's Master

Here's what I read in the last week:

- Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
- Exploring Limits by Ariel Tachna
- Goldilocks and his Three Bears by AM Riley
- St. Nacho's by ZA Maxfield
- Physical Therapy by ZA Maxfield
- Jacob's Ladder by ZA Maxfield
- In Bed with the Highlander by Maya Banks

Being off work really agrees with me.

Here are the additions to my tbr pile:

- Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves
- Geek Magnet by Kieran Scott
- A Tangled Web by Amanda McCabe
- Seduced by the Highlander by Julianne Maclean
- The Sharing Knife: Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold

And that's my week! Now I'm off, I'm going to fall into a food coma now.

Furball Friday

2011-10-07T12:37:00.000-05:00

Max got a new dog bed to lay his weary old man bones in. He loves it.

E-Book Review: The Gladiator's Master by Fae Sutherland and Marguerite Labbe

2011-10-06T14:13:00.002-05:00

The Gladiator's Master by Fae Sutherland and Marguerite Labbe
Published by Carina Press in September 2011
Genre: Historical M/M Romance
Series: n/a

When Roman politician Caelius inherits a stable of gladiators, there is one who captures his attention above the others...one whose eyes gleam with hate, pride and desire.

Forced into slavery by Roman greed, Gaidres can barely conceal his contempt toward his new Dominus. Gaidres has a plan: kill Caelius and end the lineage of the Roman family that enslaved him. For his plan to succeed, he must make a show of respect and obedience—even when called on to service his master's desires.

Gaidres is shocked to learn that in the confines of his quarters, Caelius doesn't want to dominate his slave, but to be taken by him. The sex is explosive as they break society's taboos and, to Gaidres's dismay, they form a tenuous relationship. Even when Caelius learns of Gaidres's plans for revenge, he knows he can't live without his perfect lover. Is he willing to risk it all to tame his gladiator's heart?

I received my copy of the Gladiator's Master from Netgalley for review.

I have been waiting for a book like the Gladiator's Master for a while. I mean, hello! Gladiators!

Caelius has just inherited his uncle's property, including his ludus (gladiator school). Caelius' uncle was not the most empathetic of men and his ludus is in pretty bad shape. The gladiators are starving and ill. Caelius has never been interested in the fighting games but he knows to rise politically, he'll need to make a name for himself. So he sets out to restore the gladiators.

Gaidres is one of the gladiators and from the get go he catches Caelius' eye. Gaidres is out to seek revenge on every last member of the Laranii family (of which Caelius is the last) for what was done to him and those he loved. Gaidres was not born a slave, he was abducted and forced to fight. And he hates the Romans. Caelius is no exception. And when Caelius lets his attraction to him known, Gaidres will use it as a means to get close to his enemy. But Caelius is unlike any Roman Gaidres knows and eventually Gaidres softens in his attitude towards Caelius.

I enjoyed The Gladiator's Master even though I found a few parts dry at times. First of all there's Gaidres' hatred and wanting to kill Caelius. He even tells Caelius about wanting to kill him. I must be sick in the head because I liked it whenever he'd promise Caelius not to kill him that evening. Awwww. haha I liked Gaidres' character and the conflict he experienced. His lover was killed during the raid on their town and eventually as the relationship develops between Caelius and Gaidres, Caelius overtakes Gaidres' dreams of his former lover. And Gaidres feels guilty for this seeming betrayal. There was also the class difference between Gaidres and Caelius that needed to be overcome...and Gaidres had internalized the Roman belief that he was less because he was a slave.

I liked Caelius' character as well. He respected every man and didn't like the gladiators fighting. He hated to think of the men dying for entertainment. He respected his servants and slaves and they respected him in turn. He was also a dreamer and believed the best of people. He was very idyllic which was a nice balance to Gaidres' cynicism. And when these two men get together? Sparks were flyin'!

What didn't work so much for me was all the detail about their day-to-day life. It was probably all historically accurate but I felt that all the detail drew the focus away from the main characters at times. It wasn't enough to derail my enjoyment, but I did want to hurry up and get back to the men.

I am giving the Gladiator's Master a solid B. Character driven with a rich setting.

derailment

2011-10-05T07:08:00.000-05:00

Soooo...I kinda broke my elbow on Monday. How? I fell down the steps at work. :( I didn't think anything bad happened right after the fall so I continued on with work. And then slowly but surely my arm started to hurt more and more. Not fun. So I went to emerg and they gave me a nice temporary cast. I go back on Tuesday to get the cast removed and another x-ray to see exactly what's going on.

And I'm right handed. I find it incredibly difficult to do anything with my left hand. I'm totally milking this at home. LOL

Unfortunately, I am not going to visit Nath this weekend. :( As much as it would be fun hanging out, I don't think Nath would want to wash and fix my hair and cut my food up for me. ^_^ That would be interesting to see though. lol

Nath was also keen enough to notice that this is now the 2nd time something happened to me before I go on a trip. Right before I went to California I got rear-ended and had whiplash. Maybe I shouldn't go to Georgia, because who know what'll happen!

Week in Review - 2/10/11

2011-10-02T13:48:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it's October already! September seemed so short. Mind you, I spent the first week in California, but still, even coming back to work went by fast. Being away for half of this past week really sucked the energy out of me. I didn't have time to blog or even barely read. It was another week where I felt like I read one book. Another time-suck is all the new pilots on tv these last two weeks. I've started quite a few new shows so it's time to start thinking about dropping a few. But we'll give them another week at least.

On a positive note, I'm going to visit Nath this week! I leave on Thursday and will visit her for 4 days. It's been two years (or three?) since I've seen her so this trip is very overdue. :P

Anyway, here's what I read in the past week.

- Leave Me Breathless by HelenKay Dimon
- Touch of Crimson by Sylvia Day

Wow. So I guess I wasn't too off the mark feeling like this week was especially slow. *sigh*

Here are the new additions to my tbr pile:

Bought:
Tinker by Wen Spencer
Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh
Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks

Library:
The Gilded Shroud by Elizabeth Bailey
Secrets of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst (this is the sequel to this book)

Used Book Store:
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty
Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves
Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore

I think I need to accept the fact that I will never reduce my tbr pile. LOL

October New Releases

2011-10-01T08:58:00.003-05:00

It's that time again. Nath, Monroe and I have our new releases post up at Breezing Through. Go check it out and add to your TBB list. :P

Furball Friday

2011-09-30T07:44:00.000-05:00

OMG I can't believe I didn't post at all this week. I'm blaming work. It has been an energy worm-hole. :(

But hopefully this cute picture of She-Ra will ease the way to forgiveness. LOL

She's just so cute.

Week in Review: 25/09/11

2011-09-25T12:04:00.003-05:00

Another week has gone by. And it was a slow week for me. I feel like I read one book. :( But upon reflection, it was just one book that took me a week to read. I managed a few others in there in one day.

This coming week is going to be a bit crazy. I have my work's annual retreat Wednesday through Friday. I opted to drive home every day (I hate being away from my pups!). But that always cuts into my reading time. So even though I wanted to try and start posting more regularly, it may have to wait a while.

So here's what I read:

Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski

You can read my review over at the Book Scoop. I enjoyed this one.

Mind Fuck by Manna Francis

This was an e-book. You can actually get it free on the author's website. I liked this one but definitely had some issues with it. The last bit when all the clues started to come together got me excited, but everything else was very...detailed and I kinda forced myself to keep reading it. I really enjoyed the MCs and any scene between them. The world-building was interesting. I think I'll keep reading more of this series.

The Gladiator's Master by Fae Sutherland and Marguerite Labbe

Also an e-book. I got this one from Netgalley and it took me forever to read. This isn't because of the book but just the fact that I didn't have time to read during the week! I love gladiators and this book was very enjoyable. Review to come.

Stay by Allie Larkin

This was a cute book. I don't want to say too much so review to come!

Here are reviews that went up this week:

Ten Things We Did at the Book Scoop
Mere Mortals by Erastes at Book Binge

In My Mailbox:

And since I've gotten quite a few books this last week, I'm just listing them, no covers. Deal with it. LOL

Left over books I got from my trip to California:

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins (already read this but didn't own a copy)
Sweetest Little Sin by Christine Wells
Improper Ladies by Amanda McCabe
Some Like It Kilted by Allie Mackay
Siren's Call by Devyn Quinn
The Grimrose Path by Rob Thurman
Return to Sullivans Island by Dorothea Benton Frank
Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor
Unbridled by Beth Williamson
Fire by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson
Our Red Hot Romance is Leaving Me Blue by Dixie Cash
Path of the Sun by Violette Malan
Death's Excellent Vacation edited by Charlaine Harris

Bought:

Enticed by His Forgotten Lover by Maya Banks
Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman

UBS:

Burning Up by Susan Andersen
The Irish Warrior by Kris Kennedy

Library:

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway

Thriftstore:

Someone to Love by Kate Rothwell (I'm UBER stoked about this one b/c I've been looking for it for a while - and yeah, I do know it's available as an ebook but I have the first one in print and I wanted it in print too lol)

Yeahhh...my tbr pile just blew up. LOL

review at the Book Scoop

2011-09-23T11:41:00.000-05:00

I've got a review of Sarah Mlynowski's Ten Things We Did up at the Book Scoop.

You can read my review here.

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

August Monthly Recap

2011-09-21T23:18:00.000-05:00

So looks like it's another week where I told myself I'd try to review and then I didn't. Ugh. I need some motivation. Someone sends me girl scout cookies for reviews I write. Please. *plink plink* Anyway, here's my August monthly recap.

~ ~ ~

August. Wonderful, psychotic August. Why psychotic? WELL - my unit has 7 people, including the supervisor. So my supervisor was covering for 3 people as well as herself. One of whom does on-call work with me. So there was only two of us doing on-call for the month and out of 30 days in August, I was on call for 20 of them. I did not feel guilty about taking my vacation (even though doing so cut another coworker's vacation short). Dem's da breaks. I was also rear ended a few days before I went on vacation. I tell you, psycho. But what a vacation! I went to visit Holly! So August ended on a high note.

My monthly picture is an update to May's monthly picture. Go look at it. So obviously the road was flooding, someone even hit a fish. This picture shows how the road has been built up because the water did not recede. They don't think the water will recede for over a year! So yeah, built up with gravel. Fun times.

Here's what I read in the month of August:

1. Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler: B+
I bought this because it was on sale and Carolyn Crane recommended it. Review to come.

2. Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James: A-
Imogen drove me absolutely crazy in Annabel's book. Eloisa totally redeemed her. Read my review if you don't believe me.

3. Swept Away by Sloan Parker: B+
This was a free short story on the author’s site. It’s about two men who are getting ready to celebrate their 15th anniversary. I thought this was a cute, touching story. The back story about how these guys met was hot!

4. Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James: B+
Josie is the youngest Essex sister and this is her book. I didn’t enjoy as much as I enjoyed Imogen’s book, but it was still pretty dang good. Review to come.

5. Mere Mortals by Erastes: B
I enjoy Erastes' writing and this one was no exception. Review to come at Book Binge.

6. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper: B+
One way ticket to Alaska, please! Review to come.

7. Paris A to Z by Marie Sexton: A
I put off reading this book for a while because I did not want to say goodbye to the men of Coda. I really enjoyed the conclusion to this series and look forward to the re-reads I know will happen. Zach and Angelo are still my favorite couple. Rowr.

8. The Inventor's Companion by Ariel Tachna: C+
I enjoyed this steampunk novel but it didn't wow me. It was solid. Solid writing, world-building and characters.

9. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell: A-
I will be the first to admit that I give A grades more on how they make me feel than technical merit. If the writing is bad though, that will affect my grade. I know the reviews vary on this book but something about it just tickled me. I loved it. Here's my review.

10. A Lily Among Thorns by Rose Lerner: B
This was a book binge review. Read that here.

11. Where the Heart Is by Jenny Urban and Elizabeth Silver: C+
I have been craving m/m/m for quite some time and this book had been on my radar. First of all, gorgeous cover! Second of all, enjoyable story but with a qualifier, the dialog did not work for me. What did work - the relationship between the three men. Chris, Jason and Steve. These guys grew up together and were always there for each other. But Steve cannot take just being a friend anymore but he's afraid to ruin the dynamic (a fear all 3 men share) so he decides he's going to take a job in a different town. This throws Chris and Jason for a loop and forces them to confront how they feel about the others. But the dialog was too snarky for me. It was like they were always trying to one up each other. And I know men can be like that but this just seemed like too much. Still a good read for when you're looking for some extra hot loving.

12. Paradise Found by Hunter Raines: B+
Thanks to Tracy for bringing this one to my attention. :P It's another m/m/m romance and again, enjoyable but there was one thing that really got on my nerves. Phillip has just graduated law school and he's gone on an exotic getaway with a few classmates. Cameron and Mark are in the same place looking to reconnect. Their relationship is a bit stagnant and they're hoping inviting someone to join them will spice things up and get them back on track. But Phillip captivates both men and it's not just about Mark and Cameron, their focus has shifted to Phillip. Phillip breaks through Cameron's self-control and he indulges something with him that he hasn't ever done with Mark. Despite all the men enjoying each other, the threesome does not work on making things better, for any of them. I really enjoyed this (more that Where the Heart Is). I would have graded higher but I had to knock it down a bit because of the lack of communication on Cameron's part. So annoying.

13. Just Desserts by Scarlet Blackwell: C+
This book has been on my wishlist for a while and I was so glad when it was a kindle freebie. Just Desserts is a quick read about Luc, a hot-headed chef and Daniel, the English food critic that has been giving Luc some bad reviews. When Daniel takes up Luc's challenge to come eat in his restaurant, Luc is blown away by how handsome Daniel is. He seduces him but then Daniel leaves him after their encounter and Luc realizes he wants more. He sets out to win and woo Daniel, who has returned to England (from France, where Luc's restaurant is located). Sounds good right? Well....I found Luc's character to be grossly exaggerated. Whenever it came to Luc's internal dialog you know who I heard in my head? Pepe le Pew. Not good. Also, Daniel is referred to as 'the critic' a LOT. Even during the love scenes. It was just used too much.

14. Accidentally in Love by Jane Deavitt and Alexa Snow: B-
Cal is a photographer who needs to find a new place to live. Tom is a web designer who needs a roommate. The men meet at a party at a mutual acquaintances where they are actually set up with different men. Tom is a very shy and dresses in unflattering clothes. Cal sees the hidden appeal, but he's at the party to hook up, and Tom is not his intended date. But Cal can't stop thinking about Tom and he phones him to ask about the apartment. Once he's moved in, he starts to draw Tom out of his shell and he really likes the results. He does not like the attention Tom is getting from other men. (I love when guys get jealous too LOL) Tom is all about having sex mean something and Cal is the epitome of random, meaningless hook-ups. Can Tom believe that Cal has really changed when he asks him to take a chance on them? I thought this book was cute. The conflict these guys had to face was very believable.

15. Fool for Love by Eloisa James: B
I'm slowly making my way through Eloisa James' backlist and I'm having so much fun doing so. Fool for Love is the 2nd book in her Duchess Quartet. Henrietta is the eldest daughter of an earl (and his heiress) but she's resigned to a marriage-less and child-less fate. She inherited her mother's disfigured hip, a hip that caused complications during Henrietta's birth and resulted in the death of her mother. Despite being very beautiful and personable, she can't marry. But a ray of hope comes to the small town of Limpley-Stoke in the form of Simon Darby. He's come to town to make sure his stepmother, the Infamous Esme, is actually pregnant. Because if she is, her child, if born a male, will disinherit him. So he needs to marry an heiress. I liked this one, but something was missing for me. I can't quite put my finger on it.

16. Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl: B+
Victoria Dahl is the queen of contemporary romance and she's written another winner with Good Girls Don't. Tessa is the kind of heroine I wouldn't like in a lesser writer's hands but Victoria makes her work for me. Review to come on this one.

17. Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt: B
Review to come. :P

18. A Wild Pursuit by Eloisa James: B
This is the third book in the Duchess Quartet. I enjoyed this one a bit more than the 2nd. We have an unconventional heroine (she's ruined!) and the strait-laced man who can't resist her. Also, the secondary romance between Esme and Bonnington continues...and I felt that it detracted a bit from my enjoyment of this book. I was annoyed with Esme.

19. Muscling Through by JL Merrow: B+
This is the third Merrow title I've read and I have to say, this author is really talented! Muscling Through is told from Al's POV. And Al is is a big bruiser of a guy with a sinister smile (he has a scar on his face from his days as a bouncer). He scares the shit out of Art professor Larry one night in the alley. This confusion eventually leads to the two men going out for a drink...and more. Al is a simple sort of fellow, he tells it like it is, he doesn't prevaricate and he makes Larry happy. He's also an extremely talented artist. There's some miscommunication that stems from their personalities but I totally loved this book. Al was such a great character and his voice is very engaging. I recommend this one!

20. Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern: B+
A road-trip YA novel. Total win. Read my Book Scoop review here.

21. Paradise by Jill Alexander: A-
This book was a pleasant surprise, even with the WTF? ending! Read my review here at the Book Scoop.

22. Somebody Wonderful by Kate Rothwell: B+
This one was a re-read for me. You can read my original review here and I'll give you time to read it....all right so how did it stand up to a re-read? I still really enjoyed it but I knew what was coming. I wasn't surprised by how much I loved the characters, because I still loved them. LOL If that makes sense. Still really good, highly recommend you read it if you haven't. Also, it's available as a kindle ebook for $2.58. Go on and buy it! I had been looking for Timona's brother's book for a few years and I'm also pleased to note you can buy it as well as an ebook for less than $4!

23. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews: B+
I've been wanting to read this series for a while now and thought it would be a perfect read for my plane ride down to California. I was right. It was different enough that I was totally drawn in. I'm really curious as to what Kate is exactly. Review to come.

Genres:
M/M - 9
Historical - 6
Young Adult - 3
Contemporary - 2
Fantasy - 2
PNR - 1

Grades:
A - 4
B - 16
C - 3

Formats:
E-book - 17
Print - 2
Library - 4

I read a lot of 'B' reads this month. And a lot of e-books! Not a lot of variety in my genres either. M/M is still dominating my reading choices. If y'all think I'm just going through a phase, I'm sorry to say I'm not. M/M is here to stay. However, I really need to work on my print books. No wonder my tbr pile doesn't shrink when I read so many ebooks!

Week in Review - 18/09/11

2011-09-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

I decided to change things up. I'm going to merge my IMM and Weekly Reads posts into one. Feedback is appreciated. :P

This past week was all about getting back into the swing of things. There's been a big change at work. My first day back was on Monday and it was quiet. I had moved into a new office space two years ago and there was only 3 of us in the new location. This past October, my old office flooded all almost 40 staff came into my empty building. They finally moved out while I was on vacation. So yeah, going from 40+ people down to 5, big difference! I also shared an office with someone but now I'm back on my own. The other desk is still there but it will be moved soon. Now I can finally fix my office up the way I wanted. I have some artwork I'd like to put on the walls and I'm debating on getting a small couch with a coffee table for beside my desk or a round work table with extra chairs. What do you think?

Getting back into the swing of things also meant I blogged and read less. Here's what I read in the past week.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

I had started this one in California but since it was Holly's copy I couldn't exactly bring it home with me. LOL So I picked up my copy once I got home. I picked this up for two reasons. One, Cam's book just came out and two, I completely forgot what happened in Isabella's book so I thought why not re-read the first two books before I tackle Cam's? Third, I really love Ian and Beth. He's such an interesting character and I love his intensity and Beth is the kind of heroine I enjoy - her character is very strong and pragmatic. My kinda gal.

The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

This was a library book and it was due back so I read it before it had to be returned. I really enjoyed How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf and I liked this one but not as much as the first. Maggie is one of those stubborn heroines who has the potential to get on your nerves, although that's not what bothered me. I felt that the attraction between Maggie and Nick happened too quickly but once they got together I got over that feeling. Just felt like the author took a short-cut to them realizing their attraction.

St. Nacho's by ZA Maxfield

This was another re-read for me. The fourth book in this series has recently been released and I wanted to reacquaint myself with the other books (one and three at least, I haven't read the second one yet) before tackling the fourth. I enjoy the MCs developing relationship in this book but the second half of the book goes a bit into WTF-ville and that lessened my enjoyment. I will be reviewing all the books in this series so keep an eye out for that.

That's what I read. Unfortunately, despite having the most insane urge to buy books (you saw what I came home with, right?) I was a good girl and didn't buy anything. I did however pick up two books from the library.

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
Taking the Lead by Sarah Monk

And that was my week!

July Monthly Recap

2011-09-17T13:10:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness is this post ever overdue!! It's the middle of September already! I really slacked off over the summer but now that fall is here and things are settling down it seems, hopefully I can get back into the swing of things. :P

What happened in July? Well I started off the month in Georgia, visiting Monroe. My sister from another mister. LOL It's crazy to think that I'm going to be seeing her in less than two months again! The rest of the month was busy with work and family stuff. Oh! I also took my grandfather to a rodeo! Lots of fun, even the rain couldn't get us down. And we saw the most amazing double rainbow. LOL

Yes that's a man in a blue body suit being pulled by a horse. LOL

All right. Now to the important stuff. Here are the books I read for July.

1. Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh: A-
I read this one while in Georgia. Then Nath got me an autograhed copy from RWA. Score! Review to come. :P

2. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs: A-
I ate this one up! Now I'm only one behind in this series. Review to come.

3. Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott: C-
This one was one of many in a long line of YAs I read that had an obsessed heroine. In this book, the heroine was obsessed with her older sister, who is in a coma. The angst! It only picked up for me in the last 1/3rd of the story. Review to come.

4. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming: B
This is the third Clare Fergusson book and the weakest of the ones I've read so far. I still enjoyed it though! My review.

5. One Whisper Away by Emma Wildes: B
This one I reviewed for Book Binge. See my review here.

6. Crazy for You by Jennifer Crusie: A
This is a book that I can re-read over and over again and still love everything about it. Yeah the stalker bit was not totally well done but everything else about this story makes up for it. I love Tess and Nick and the little dog that changed so many lives.

7. I'll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip. by John Donovan: B
Umm...as a classic, I'm sure it was revolutionary back in the day (40 years ago)...but for my contemporary frame of mind, it was an ok read. I enjoyed Fred but I thought the ending was abrupt.

8. Shattered Glass by AC Katt: D
So I had some issues with this one. First of all, Liam, one of our main characters, goes through a whole shitload of pain and I felt like he forgave the other main character too easily for his part in the events leading up to that shitstorm. There were a few leaps in logic, the dialog was very unrealistic. There was a good story hidden in this book but the writing got in the way.

9. Dear Mister President by Adam Fitzroy: C+
This one...this was the book that I could not buy. For the longest time I couldn't get it from the publisher due to the paypal function not working and then once it became available at Rainbow Ebooks I was all over it. I think the thrill of the chase led me to a big disappointment. This book was good but the ending was abrupt. I think my expectations were too high.

10. Much Ado About You by Eloisa James: B
This was a re-read for me. I wanted to read the second book in the Essex sisters series and I was kind of lost when I started Kiss Me, Annabel. So I went back to this one and I have to say, I enjoyed it more the second time around! Tess is the oldest of four sisters who have just come under the care of Rafe, a dissolute duke. I really love Tess and Lucius, the hero of this book. And I absolutely LOVE the relationship between the four sisters.

11. Deadly Heat by Cynthia Eden: DNF
I've read CE before (a paranormal) and I enjoyed her writing. But this book...ugh. It annoyed me. I read over 100 pages and I just couldn't take it anymore. Lots of definitive statements and superfluous descriptions. Meh.

12. Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith: B-
This one was from the library (seriously, why are YA books all in hard covers? UGH) and reviewed it for the Book Scoop. My review.

13. To Darkness and to Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming: B+
I am loving this series! Check out my review.

14. Prove It by Chris Owen: B+
A total winner by Chris Owen. I love this author's writing. My review.

15. A Proper Companion by Candice Hern: B+
Candice is self-publishing her older novels. I really enjoy Candice's writing so I'm really glad for this. I recommend it. The hero made me laugh, unintentionally, at the end, but overall, I liked Emily and Robert. :P Review to come.

16. So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti: B
I was worried we'd have another obsessive (read psycho) heroine but Brooke was not! I enjoyed this one, review to come.

17. Awakenings by Scarlet Hyacinth: C
I had seen a few favorable reviews of this one but I have to say, I just thought it was ok. The writing was very simplistic but I do have to say that it was interesting to read about mermen. Different.

18. Kiss Me, Annabel by Eloisa James: B
This is the second Essex sisters book (out of 4) and it features Annabel, the second oldest Essex sister. Back when the girls' father was alive and they lived in London, Annabel kept the books. She was the one who scrimped and saved and faced their father's wrath when she'd rather hold back money for food instead of the horses. Annabel's one goal this season is to marry a rich Englishman who doesn't like horses. Instead, she is drawn again and again to a seemingly penniless Scotsman who knows a thing or two about racehorses. At first she thinks it's the worst thing that could happen to her, but things aren't always what they seem. I enjoyed this tale that focuses on Annabel. I was a bit over Imogen and her bad attitude, really I didn't feel any pity for the little fool. And I got a bit bored on the voyage to Scotland. But overall a good solid read.

19. Sea Change by Darlene Marshall: A
This one was read for Book Binge. You can read my review here. Also, this is going to be one of my top reads for 2011. I loved it that much. :P

20. The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly: A
I got this one from netgalley and posted my review at Book Binge. You can read it here.

Genres:
Historical - 6 (5 Romance, 1 Fiction)
M/M - 4
Young Adult - 4
Mystery - 2
Fantasy - 1
Romantic Suspense - 1
Paranormal Romance - 1
Contemporary Romance - 1

Grades:
A - 5
B - 10
C - 3
D - 1
DNF - 1

Formats:
E-book - 12
Print - 3
Library - 5

And that's my July. I was all over the place with grades and genres. Which is a good thing. Variety and all that jazz.

Furball Friday

2011-09-16T07:32:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. You know how it is after vacation - your whole schedule is outta whack. Hopefully things will get back to normal over the weekend. In the meantime, TGIF!!

I posted this on Facebook earlier in the week. I call this his "please don't leave me" face. LOL

And She-Ra doing her favorite thing, burrowing in the blanket and napping. Speaking of burrowing - it's cold here (already!!) and over the summer She-Ra had taken to sleeping on top of the blankets. Not this week. She was back under the blankets with me. Awww, that's how I know summer is coming to a close.