Book Universe

Time Off for Good Behavior by Lani Diane Rich

2010-04-19T21:17:00.005-04:00

"I want to sue the city of Hastings, Hastings General Hospital, and Channel 8. Oh, and my ex-husband."

Walter's eyebrows lifted. "Your ex-husband? What did he do?"

"He's alive. I want you to sue him for not being dead yet."

Walter sat back, his white dress shirt sticking a bit to his skin. It's possible the Fireside had been named for the fact that it was always hot as hell in there. "You can't sue for that."

"Why not? He's supposed to be dead by now. Doctor's orders."

Walter laughed, a cue for me to join in and say I was joking. I kept quiet. He stopped laughing. "You can't sue a guy for not being dead."

"Can we sue the doctor who told me he'd croak, then?"

He stared at me for a moment, sizing me up, an unsure smile tugging at his face. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious."

***

Wanda Lane has had a string of bad luck! Loses touch with her parents when she got married to an abusive man, divorced him and now lives in Alaska, but he finds time to call her up to either profess his undying love for her or threatens her life...

After striking an obnoxious 'pencil faced' lawyer, Wanda ends up with a head injury and in a coma. What else could go wrong? Well, in the result of the accident, she's now hearing this phantom music in her head which comes and goes as it pleases and loses her job!

Wanda is the type of woman who does not think before she opens her mouth, she curses like a sailor, and drinks bottles of Chivas Regal which she names 'Albert.'

After meeting a sexy attorney, Walter Briggs, she also meets a therapist friend who insists that she covers her walls with sticky notes listing ways to become a brand-new Wanda.

**

I absolutely loved this book. It's short; I think I must have read it in a day, but it was entertaining the whole way through and I laughed out loud a few times, which is a plus. The author created a fun book with lots of humor. I loved how Wanda's character is very flawed - every character can't be perfect!

I'd recommend it!

5 stars for the humor
5 stars for the touching moments
5 stars for the tough, edgy, and hilarious main character
and 5 stars for the novel being unique.

The Perfect Family by Carla Cassidy

2010-04-14T16:38:00.003-04:00

Marissa's husband, a fireman, was killed...and not in the line of duty. It's been about a year and for the first time, she feels like everything will be all right. And when a high school flame moves back into town, she even begins to think that maybe she can find happiness again.

But, someone has other plans. He wants Marissa for himself. She would be the perfect wife. And her small children would be his perfect son and daughter. Since he's been watching them for quite some time now, he knows everything there is to know about them. They were the family he was supposed to have, the family he deserved. And it was only a matter of time before he claimed them as his own.

***

I was very pleased with this romantic-suspense book. Every page was interesting and felt real...it wasn't a load of crap spilled onto paper. You could feel the emotion and the heartbreak, the desire. All the characters had likable factors, including the kids :-).

The ending made is seem like there would be a sequel...Bring on the second book! If it's not out already...I'm clueless. But if there isn't, oh well... I can only imagine how that one would be. But, back to the ending, I liked it. It showed how sometimes the 'bad' guys are just plain insane and nothing will ever change that... Sooo maybe there isn't a second.....

5 stars :-)

No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

2010-04-11T23:44:00.005-04:00

Cynthia Bigge, a rebellious fourteen-year-old, wakes up one morning to find that her entire family has vanished without a trace.

What do you do when there is no evidence, no note left behind, no witnesses?

All Cynthia wants is some closure.

Twenty-five years later, she'll finally learn the truth...

Throughout the book, there are strange things that begin to happen. Phone calls, notes, e-mails...information that leads to so many more questions than answers.

**

Great book. This is another author I would like to keep following. It's a great suspense story that you can't help but get caught up in it. So many twists and turns, it'll have you on the edge of your seat...well, for me it did. I couldn't put it down.

I loved how it was written. He did a nice job at building the background of each character. From the devastating situation that Cynthia had to go through as a child, you can definitely understand why she does the things she does. For example, being extra cautious when it comes to her daughter because she is aware that the world is sometimes a cruel place.

Her husband understands her frustrations and is by her side 100%, but later starts to wonder if she's having a nervous breakdown after all those years.

I personally loved the ending of the book; I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Tough Luck by Jason Starr

2010-04-05T17:47:00.004-04:00

Mickey Prada is a guy who lacks confidence and self-esteem. He's a smart kid, but hangs out with the wrong people, and eventually makes all the wrong choices and they all have consequences.

He works at a seafood market in Brooklyn and has delayed college to help take care of his sick father instead of putting him into a 'home.'

His life seems normal, until he meets, Angelo Santoro, at the market. Angelo keeps asking Mickey to place bets for him and because he's a nice kid, he agrees. The problem is, Angelo is losing every single time and Mickey's life seems to get complicated.

Mickey is reluctant and furious when he needs to dip into his savings account because Angelo won't pay up. He's in dire need of money, so when his best friend, asks to join him in a can't-lose plan, he goes along.

But it backfires and everything else seems to be going wrong.

**

Well, I was disappointed in the book. Did I expect it to be good?? I think I was hoping it would...but it was a waste of time. I could have easily put it down, but it got me curious as to what would happen and how it would end. I thought it would get better.

I can't even begin to tell you what was wrong with it, because I'm not exactly sure. It just was awful.

I'm definitely not reading this author again.

The Watermark by Travis Thrasher

2010-03-28T23:16:00.002-04:00

Sheridan Blake has made his share of mistakes. Seven years ago he ruined his life and destroyed so many others. He is haunted by his past and wishes he can forget, but it's impossible. Especially when everyone around him brings it up.

When Sheridan meets Genevie Dayton, he wants so badly to open up about his past, but fails because he's afraid of what she'll think.

It's a story about having hope and getting forgiveness. Sometimes turning to prayer and God helps ease the pain and helps a person to move forward and look at life in a different way.

My goal was to start reading new authors rather than my normal ones, and I saw this book on the shelf of the public library. It's very different from anything I've ever read and I have to say, I was very pleased.

It took sooo long to actually know the whole 'mistake' that he had done, but at the end of the book, I realized it had to be that way. It was to show the agony Sheridan was going through. In order to believe it and feel the emotion, the reader couldn't know exactly what happened in the beginning.

I just loved the story as a whole, the characters, the concept, everything. Yes, it was religious, but you didn't get overwhelmed and it was in the right places. The ending was good too which is always a plus.

Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

2010-03-25T21:00:00.003-04:00

Adrienne Willis' husband left her for another woman and now she is a single mother of three.

Her daughter, Amanda, is struggling with the loss of her husband, and in hopes of trying to help Amanda cope with it, Adrienne takes a trip down memory lane to a place and time where she met Paul Flanner and fell in love.

They were two last souls who spent a weekend in Rodanthe, North Carolina. Adrienne was still trying to deal with the fact that she was on her own and needed to try her best in supporting herself and her kids. Paul's wife asked for a divorce because he had no time for his family; his career seemed to be everything to him.

It's a story about two people who turn to each other for comfort. It's about finding love at anytime - anywhere - and at any age.

This is definitely emotional - but not more emotional than "Message in a Bottle," in my opinion. I didn't get teary-eyed with this one. The characters were likable and you could sympathize with the problems each one faced.

In the beginning there was a lot of flashbacks so it was a bit tough to get into and follow, but once it was over, it was an easy read.

A Taste Of Liberty by Lisa Pietsch

2010-03-18T14:30:00.004-04:00

Sarah Stevens is back! Man, it feels so good to finally say that.

A Taste Of Liberty is the sequel to Lisa Pietsch's The Path To Freedom. If you read my review for The Path To Freedom you know that this a great freaking series and that I love Sarah Stevens and all her hunky friends.

This book picks up a few months after the end of the first. Sarah and the rest of the gang have a new assignment and a new bad guy. Vince has new competition as an old character makes a re-appearance in Sarah's life.

This book has it all, action, adventure, romance, humor, hot guys, hot girls, and guns. Come on, people! Doesn't get better than that. The bad guys are bad to the bone, the good guys are hot as hell, and the chemistry between Sarah and Vince sizzles through the virtual pages.

I'm telling you guys, go buy this book - www.SapphireBluePublishing.com you will not be disappointed. Lisa Pietsch has a knack for creating entertaining stories and characters so real you'll forget you're reading a book.

And isn't the cover gorgeous?

5 stars for Task 125.

5 stars for all the butt kicking.

5 stars for Vince, cuz he's yummy!

And 5 stars for Vince & Sarah cuz they're the perfect couple and we the readers want them together.

Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

2010-03-16T23:48:00.004-04:00

Teresa Osborne came across a bottle on the beach. Inside was a letter to "Catherine" and was signed by the name "Garrett." It left such an impression on her that she decided to do some research.

What she finds are more letters...addressed to the same woman, and signed by the same man. Theresa is intrigued by them. They are letters of love and tenderness and sorrow.

She's on the mission to find this "Garrett" and when she does, she likes what she sees. They are one in the same really; both never thought they'd fall in love ever again. It's a beautifully written love story about strength and fragility.

This book is emotional and a very easy, breezy read. I loved how REAL the emotion felt. You could definitely understand and feel Garrett's heartbreak; it was a nice touch with the flashbacks because it told their history and without it, I don't know if the book would have been that great.

The ending was a bit of a shocker. But I like shockers :-)

I absolutely give this book 5 stars.

Moonlit Watcher by Crystal-Rain Love

2010-02-17T01:55:00.005-05:00

Finally! A new Crystal-Rain Love book. Moonlit Watcher is the sequel to Moonlit Dream.

Derek Kingston is a badass werewolf. He needs nothing from no one, except a good fuck every once in a while. And he never fucks humans.

Until he meets Juliana Van Alder, delicate ballerina. The last thing Derek needs is a delicate creature like her. He likes his women tough. He likes to be rough, surely he would break this prim and proper dancer in half. Unfortunately faith has decided that Juliana is Derek's soul mate and the full moon is approaching. No werewolf has ever been able to ignore the pull of the full moon to give a moon vow to his soul mate. But Derek is damn determined to beat it.

Maybe he shouldn't have slept with her then? I swear, men always thinking with their penises. When will they learn that once is never enough?

Derek and Juliana get closer, even when Derek fights against it. In the end her learns not to fight with destiny. And he also learns that Juliana is more than just a delicate ballerina.

Duuuuuude, I was just gonna read the first five pages and go to bed, but I ended up just reading the whole thing. It's a short read, but a great story. If you've read my previous reviews, you know I'm a huge fan of Crystal-Rain Love. She has such an amazing gift for storytelling, I'm quite envious and damn proud to be able to call her my friend. Her words flow so easily from the page. Even though the story is short you feel completely full at the end, yet you're left wanting more.

But when Crystal-Rain Love writes, you're always gonna want more. She's definitely one of my top five favorite authors of all time.

Oh, and another great thing about Moonlit Watcher is that it's part of 28 Days of Heart. Exclusively on Allromance.com and Omnilit.com, the money made on this book will go to the American Heart Association.

5 Big Giant Stars!

What Legends Are Made Of by Heather Beck

2010-02-15T23:41:00.004-05:00

What Legends Are Made Of by Heather Beck is a paranormal anthology with four Goosebumps-like stories with a romantic twist.

The first story, Sir Tristan’s Estate, is by far my favorite of the four. It’s about a young photographer named Skye Huntington who is on an assignment for the magazine she works for. She arrives at Sir Tristan’s Estate in the middle of a small local scandal. The estate, which belonged to the state of Virginia after Sir Tristan’s death has fallen into the rightful owner’s hands. Sir Tristan was thought to have left no heir, but a small boy on tour of the estate, found the birth certificate of a daughter. Shortly after that, the heir appeared and took over the estate. The new owner closes the tours of the estate, but allows Skye to continue with her assignment, since she was hired before his/her arrival.

Skye is allowed to tour the estate. She meets up with the local historian and sparks instantly fly. Romance is in the air.

Unfortunately, that’s all I can reveal, because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone interested in reading. But I will say this story has love, ghosts on meds, and a twist of an ending. Sir Tristan’s Estate is definitely a five star kind of story!

The second story, Blue Water, is less “scary” and more romantic. Two individuals of different social classes find a lot in common and a lot to admire in one another. Surrounding this story is shark attacks, mermaids, and the origin of the mermaids. A love-conquers-all type of story. Sweet.

Four stars for Blue Water.

Freaky Frank is the third story in this anthology. I found this story pleasing and amusing. It’s about a girl named Brittany Addams and her summer job at the carnival. Now, you know whenever there’s a carnival involved that the story is going to be interesting.

On her first day of training, Brittany meets Frank. It’s love at first sight. Frank, who is much older than Brittany, runs his own freak show. Stanford’s Freaky Shrieks Freak Show is Franks own business with real extraordinary creatures. Educated fish, unicorns with wings, and the main attraction, Frank himself.

Again, this one was more romantic than scary, but a lovely story. Frank reveals his freak show and himself to Brittany and offers her something that would change her life forever. Brittany must decide whether or not the love she feels for Frank is strong enough to conquer her fears and his “freaky” tendencies. (Ha ha)

Four stars for Freaky Frank.

The last story in Heather Beck’s anthology is One Stop Horror Shop. Newlyweds Karyn and Max Shields’ dream has always been to own their own magic shop. The dream seems to be coming true, as Max meets a man named Quentin who wants to sell his magic shop.

Karyn is hesitant at first, but after a little coercing she agrees. Soon, the Shield’s are the owners of their own magic shop. Things, however, seem to get strange from the moment they sign the papers. First, Quentin is struck with a weird illness. He seems to be in perfect health, yet is in a zombie-like state. Then, upon cleaning out a closet in the magic shop, Max and Karyn find a very real looking skeleton which Karyn names Boney and sets up on their display window.

A few days after the Shields’ grand opening, they being to suspect that Quentin might have forged his bookkeeping, since the only customers they had were a brother and sister that wanted to start their own magic show business.

Over on that end, brother and sister Mitchell and Jodie use the tricks they bought from the magic shop. Everything goes wrong. From wrong to worse, actually, as their burrowed rabbit ends up furless, the handcuffs don’t open, the squirting flower squirts out blood, and Mitchell disappears into thin air. Really disappears.

The Shields have inadvertently bought a cursed magic shop. The origin of the curse involves murder, and that’s all I can say about that. One Stop Horror Shop, also a four star story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. I liked all the stories, although I must admit that after reading the first one, I was a little disappointed to read the rest. I kept waiting for another twist ending like the first, and I didn’t really get that. It’s kind of as if the story lost a bit of momentum. Maybe if they would have left Sir Tristan’s Estate for last I wouldn’t be left feeling this way.

Still, What Legends Are Made Of is a really good book. And I will be sure to add Heather Beck to my list of authors.

Friends In Deed by T.M. Hunter

2010-02-08T01:12:00.004-05:00

Friends In Deed by T.M. Hunter is the sequel to Heroes Die Young, from the Aston West series. For those who haven’t read the first part (you really should, it’s a great story), Aston West is a scavenger space pirate who tends to get into a lot of trouble considering his line of work is supposed to be of the humdrum variety.

In this installment, Aston finds himself reunited with his old friend, Elijah, and his twin brother Lars. The chance encounter, however, is not merely a coincidence. Elijah wants Aston to join “The Brotherhood”, a group of space pirates – led by the twins – that go around the galaxies stealing money and killing innocent people. This is too much action for Aston. Too much blood on his hands for comfort. He refuses the offer extended to him by his old friend.

Unfortunately, Elijah blackmails Aston into assisting on one mission. Just one. Then he’s free to leave.

But if you know Aston West, you know his life is never that easy.

Aw, man! What a story! Again, I’m not usually a sci-fi person, but I love Aston West. I love the adventures he goes on. I love that he tries to live a quiet life, yet is constantly thrust into danger. I love that even after years of cynicism, he’s still a good and honorable guy. And of course, I especially love the little romance that T.M. Hunter throws into the mix. Keep doing it, it works!

Friends In Deed by T.M. Hunter. Read it! But read it AFTER you read Heroes Die Young. Why? No reason, just really want you guys to read both of them.

Off to Toris with Aston!

My Tall Dark Greek Boss by Anna Cleary

2010-01-18T18:59:00.022-05:00

Samos Stilakos, successful businessman is bored with his life and career. He has a new proposition from a bank in serious need of his business savvy. Taking the reins of the sinking bank and turning it into a success is just the type of project he would have enjoyed at one point in his life.

Not anymore.

He's fed up. After he's invited to an employee party thrown by the bank to convince Sam of why he should save this company, he knows without a shadow of a doubt that nothing could make him take this offer.

Until he stumbles across and ethereal looking woman in a dark balcony.

Ellie O'Dea isn't the type of woman to do crazy things, but the combination of the evening, the gorgeous Greek man, and the mask keeping her face hidden, had Ellie acting completely out of character. When Sam invites her up to his hotel room she accepts. And when he propositions her, she also accepts. With the condition that she's allowed to keep her face hidden.

Ellie may not be acting like herself, but she still has enough sense to make sure she doesn't expose herself to her potential future boss.

Four months later, after Sam and Ellie's passionate night, Ellie is working as Sam's personal assistant. She's appalled by the fact that he doesn't seem to recognize her, even though she did dye her hair, she never did take off her mask that night, and she did tell him if he ever recognized her to pretend like he didn't...

But still...how could he not recognize her, right? ;-)

Well, what Ellie doesn't know (yet) is that Sam did recognize her, and he's determined to make her his again. After all, he is a very successful businessman. He's used to always getting what he wants. Why else would he have bought the bank?

I started reading this book around 5 a.m. I needed to read a little bit before going to sleep (I'm a night person who works nights, hence the 5 a.m. bedtime). I had planned to read a chapter, maybe two depending on the length. I ended up staying up all morning. I didn't put the book down until I finished reading it in its entirety. It was a great story, with great characters. I love how Sam and Ellie butt heads. They're both hardheaded individuals, both used to doing things their way. It's a true testament of their feelings for one another when one would bend for the other. Of course things always ended up going even worse when someone would give in. They would both assume things instead of just asking the other. And you know what happens when you assume:

You make an ASS out of U and ME.

When I finally finished reading this book, I was sad. I never wanted it to end! And as I read the last few chapters- and wiped the tears from my face -I kept thinking, 'I hope someday I write as beautiful and moving as Anna Cleary'.

Most definitely going on my keeper shelf!

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2010-01-18T02:05:00.009-05:00

A book filled with Magic, Love, and Suspense…

While Ethan Wate is counting down the days until he can escape from the small town of Gatlin, South Carolina, new girl Lena Duchannes is counting down the days until her fate is decided.

Once Lena arrives, everyone in town shuns her away immediately.

Ethan is dealing with a death in the family and is having a difficult time accepting the fact that his father has secluded himself from the world.

Lena is a mysterious girl who is struggling to deal with her ‘abilities.’

But no matter how different, these two teenagers are drawn to each other like magnets.

Ethan is determined to find out why. In the process, there are plenty of secrets and a lot of paranormal chaos…it’s anything but easy.

***

It’s a very short review, but if you’ve read the back of the book, you’ll understand why. I don’t want to give away details without spoiling the ending to such a great book!

So, I came across this novel by accident. I bought if intentionally for my little cousin… and lucky me, decided to order it online; therefore, leaving me to either return it, or keep it for myself and read it!

Guess what I did? Lol.

And I have to say, I am super happy about keeping the book; I loved it because it held my attention from the first page to the very last… even though there’s a lot of reference to the Civil War – it was needed.

It is a thick book, but don’t let that prevent you from reading it; the pages fly by.

I felt that it was well written, the characters were likable, everything in it was there for a reason, and all the mysteries were unraveled in the end.

If you like urban fantasy and YA Paranormal Romance…you’ll enjoy this.

Secret Santa 4 U by Paisley Scott

2010-01-17T15:51:00.014-05:00

It's Christmas time again, the time of year that makes 33 year-old librarian Sophie Mulligan feel the loneliest. The holidays are a constant reminder that no matter what, she can never say the right thing to men.

After a little coercing from her neighbor and friend, Brody, Sophie joins a dating site. At first her luck does not seem to be going well, but after she has a talk with Brody who insists she change her screen name from LibraryLass to HotLibrarian, her luck changes.

Moments after entering the 30-Somethings chat room, Sophie spots a person under the moniker SecretSanta4U. Amused, she messages him. Sophie is instantly deflated as the conversation heads in the same direction it always does, sex. But she heeds her friend's words from earlier and decides to loosen up and have a little fun.

The end result: One steamy cyber session.

Sophie is instantly hooked. She's attracted to this man whom she has never met, and is having the most sex she has had in a long time. It all seems perfect, except for the fact that it's all cyber. But that all changes on Christmas Eve when a blizzard brings SecretSanta4U to her door.

What can I say about this story? It's short, about 39 pages. And in my opinion, every page is freaking gold! I didn't know that a story that short could be so filling, so gratifying. It felt like a full length novel, with enough character information to really see them in your mind's eye and enough...well...enough everything. Not a word was wasted.

Paisley Scott, remember that name, she's gonna be big!

Hex In High Heels by Linda Wisdom

2010-01-15T00:41:00.004-05:00

Hex in High Heels is the 4th book from the Hex Series. It stars Blair Fitzpatrick, Stasi's best friend and roommate. We know Blair from Linda's previous books as having an in-your-face type attitude and an overall temperament similar to Jazz's.

At the end of the previous book, Wicked by Any Other Name, Blair finds out that Jake Harrison, the hot carpenter she has been crushing on, and the border collie that hangs around her residence, are one and the same. She knows Jake likes her just as much as she likes him, but he's resistant of her advances.

Not that that's gonna stop Blair.

In between trying to seduce Jake, Blair and Jake have to come together and protect the town and lake from the new residents, Jake's old pack. The pack of werewolves is led by Jake's brother, who wants to steal the land away from Blair and Stasi and wants to see Jake dead.

A lot of alpha energy pushing and shoving between Jake, his brother, their mother and Blair. But Blair is one powerful witch, with powerful witch friends, and she's one formidable opponent. She will do everything to save her town, and save the man she loves from his crazy family. Jake is part of her pack now, and her pack is a much better one to be in.

What a great story! So many things happen all at once. I love that. Between the pack drama there's foul smelling elves, and problems with Fluff and Puff (love those guys). Blair is a lot like Jazz, as I said before, but she's still a different character from Jazz. Overall it was a beautiful and well told tale, and all the characters (good and bad) really spoke to me.

Though I must admit the character I liked the most was Jake's ex fiance. A sexy werewolf named- you ready for this? -Jennifer Santiago.

That's me, you guys! I'm biased, I'll admit it. I won a fanfiction contest last year and Linda Wisdom put me in her book. I was most excited to see myself- and my name -in one of her books. I'm a big fan of this series, if you haven't noticed.

Anyway, for a dramatic and hilarious fun time, read Hex in High Heels. You will love it!

Can't wait till the next book!

Wicked By Any Other Name by Linda Wisdom

2009-09-10T19:46:00.005-04:00

Anastasia 'Stasi' Romanov, is the good, well-behaved, well-mannered witch of the group who runs a little side business within her lingerie shop. Love charms. You see, Stasi is all about love. She gives Cupid a run for his money. When a disgruntled customer accuses Stasi of ruining her marriage with her magic, she serves her papers. Stasi is being sued in Wizard's Court. If she loses the case, she may lose her magic.

That's where Trevor Barnes comes into play. He's the attorney- and wizard -in charge of bringing justice to the mortal women. When Trevor and Stasi meet, sparks fly. All sorts! A lot of them good. But everyone knows wizards and witches just don't mix.

It's up to Stasi to clear her name, protect her heart, and save her town and the townspeople from unseen evil forces. Because she knows there's something else going on besides the lunar eclipse and Mercury retrograde.

And it's up to Trevor to find out the truth behind the lawsuit, because he suspects his client isn't as innocent as she first appeared. Trevor hates bullies. He'll also help Stasi figure out the mysteries that are in town, as well as convince her that the attraction they feel for eachother is not just a result of Cupid's practical joke.

Now I must admit that I love Jazz Tremaine, so far she's my favorite witch from this series. But Stasi stole my heart. She's sweet, kind, and caring. And she has much more inner strangth than anyone- including herself -thought she had. I like that she's the complete opposite of Jazz; quiet and subdued.

I really enjoyed this part of Linda's Hex series. I like how each girl is unique and has their own special talents and quirks. Stasi's hiccups are adorable! I also enjoyed Horace, the perverted gargoyle. He's funny. And I was very happy when Jazz dropped by with Fluff and Puff and Irma. I was missing them. Trevor Barnes is hot! And I approve! LOL I feel like the other witches, being overprotective of Stasi. She really stole my heart. :)

Can't wait for the next book! (Which I believe comes out next month)

A Match Made In Hell by Terri Garey

2009-09-10T18:51:00.003-04:00

This is the sequel to Dead Girls Are Easy. It continues shortly after Nicki Styx puts Caprice's spirit to rest. Nicki can still see dead people and is trying to cope with her new ability. Sexy doctor Joe Bascombe is still sticking it out with her.

Things become more complicated for Nicki when a ghost enters her store asking for help. Spoiler Alert: Nicki finds her long lost twin sister. She isn't long lost to Nicki, since up until recently she didn't even know about her existence. But she is Joe's long lost wife.

Nicki is stuck between emotions. On one hand, she's kind of intrigued, even a little happy, to meet and get to know her sister. On the other hand, she's Joe's wife and it looks like she might still have feelings for him.

If that wasn't enough of a complication; because of her kind heart (don't let her catch you saying that) she lets her sister move in with her. Fun, eh? Especially when Nicki and Joe are in the next room bumping uglies.

You want more conflict? Well, here you go! Long lost relatives begin to appear and a family house with many skeletons, not only in the closet, but in the pantry as well. And Nicki has a feeling that the man her sister has been speaking with may be a ghost. Talk about family resemblance!

Did I mention the devil is trying to seduce her as well?

Do you need any more reasons to read this book? I don't think so!!!

A Match Made In Hell by Terri Garey. Buy it!

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey

2009-07-27T17:31:00.005-04:00

I found a new series to read! What an awesome concept. The Sixth Sense with a sexy female spin.

Nicki Styx, a sexy, edgy, independent woman has a heart attack and dies. She goes up to what she believes is heaven and is told it's not her time and gets sent back to earth. But this death experience has not left her with more of a wise cosmic grasp, instead she's stuck seeing dead people. It sounds cool, but the dead can be very demanding. They ask Nicki to do all sorts of things for them before they cross to the other side, and one ghost in particular, that of a friend of hers, makes Nicki her bitch.

(How was she supposed to know her friend did Voodoo in the back of her store?)

On top of that, she starts seeing the doctor that saved her life. Kind of hard to develop a relationship when you keep telling the guy you're seeing that dead people are talking to you and telling you to do things. Not to mention that her new preppy looking boy toy isn't what he appears to be. He has a few secrets of his own, and they affect Nicki's life more than she could ever imagine.

I'm so glad I picked this up and bought it. It has everything I like in a book: Comedy, sex, dead people, magic (in voodoo form), and a gay best friend! If that doesn't scream BUY ME, I don't know what does!

Betraying the Prince by Debra Kayn

2009-07-09T21:47:00.008-04:00

Celina, the eldest daughter of the Prince of Antakia has been sent away to the United States (California). The order comes from her father, who wants Celina to become the American woman she was meant to be, just like her mother. She is sent to live with Charles Randall in his home. Due to a series of misunderstandings, Celina believes she is to marry the much older man, but soon discovers her mistake. She is especially relieved when she sets eyes on Charles Randall’s son, Drake.

Drake Randall knows the secret of Celina’s past, one even she doesn’t know. He tries to keep his distance from this smart yet innocent coquette, but when Celina begins to entice him with her vast knowledge of the Kama Sutra, Drake’s resolve begins to waver. Can Drake hold off long enough for Celina to find the truth about her mother, or will he give in to his desires?

Wow, what can I say about this book? It was a wonderful story. Debra Kayn creates an interesting island with interesting customs. It’s great to see Celina slowly adapt to American culture while wrestling with her Antakian beliefs. I love the fact that the Antakian women were taught - since they hit puberty - Kama Sutra. I think that’s something they should consider here as well!

I really liked Drake’s character, too. Boyish, young, but strong and manly enough to fight for the woman he loves. Understated manliness, I like it! Rather refreshing from all the kind-hearted brutes I’m used to reading.

A funny, enticing and exciting story!

Guys and Dogs by Elaine Fox

2009-07-05T21:26:00.005-04:00

Small-town veterinarian Megan Rose doesn't usually wake up next to strangers. But this morning she finds one sleeping in her bed. Unfortunately, "Baywatch," a stray puppy, doesn't belong at the address on her tags, either: the mansion of Sutter Foley, millionaire software mogul and six fabulous feet of gorgeous, eligible male.

Megan talks Sutter into keeping the pup, even though he doesn't like dogs. Between the dog's playful ways and Megan's honest and down to earth nature, "The Vault" finds a little piece of humanity left from his humble upbringing and discovers that not all people are out to do him harm.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Elaine Fox. I read one of her books about 2 years ago and it stuck to me in such a way that when I went to the bookstore and found this book, I bought it! Along with all of the titles they carried by her. She writes everyday stories, that's what I like. That they're things that could actually happen to two people. And she writes them in such a captivating way. I loved every minute of this book, and you guys should go out and get this book--or any other title for that matter.

Sucker for Love by Kimberly Raye

2009-07-05T18:59:00.009-04:00

Sucker for Love by Kimberly Raye is the 5th installment in the Dead-End Dating series. It stars Countess Lilliana Arrabella Guinevere de Marchette--Lil for short--a 500 year old born vampire. She runs a dating service in Manhattan for born and made vampires, weres, humans, and others.

A mountain of unpaid bills lead her into throwing a meet-and-greet of sorts for her clients. It's invitation only, unless you have lots of money. Unfortunately for Lil, an 800 year old warlock gets into the party and kidnaps her client--and friend--Esther Crutch. Now it's up to Lil to save Esther from a deadly ritual before it's too late; something that will be hard for her to do when she also has to keep her mother from slipping birth control pills into her mortal daughter-in-law's food, continue to run her business, keep her mortal assistant from finding out about their world, and keep her boyfriend from finding out she's even left NYC.

Wow, what an adventure that was! I'm a huge fan of both this series and its author. Kimberly Raye delivers a hilarious story, full of action, love and laughs. I love Lil, she's the opposite of what we're used to seeing in vampires. She loves clothes, loves to shop, and pink is her favorite color. She even turns into a pink bat! She's a born vampire but doesn't ask like it; she's not stuck up, she cares about all creatures (that includes mortals) and she wants love, something she's trying to get with her made vamp boyfriend, Ty.

A great series, a great book. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Heroes Die Young by T.M. Hunter

2009-06-24T16:34:00.004-04:00

While on a standard cargo run, space pirate Aston West comes upon a derelict freighter, fresh out of a recent battle. He can't fight the urge to pilfer a valuable cache of highly illegal weapons. While on board, however, one last stowaway attempts to kill Aston, thinking him part of an earlier boarding crew. Attack craft return to finish the ship off and Aston has no choice but to save her from certain destruction.

That's when all the trouble begins for Aston. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of a Torian War, a place where he does not want to be. He never gets involved, that's his motto, but with every blind turn, he gets himself more tangled up in this mess. And when he finds out that the cargo he was hired to deliver was used against Torian freedom fighters in the war, all bets are off.

I usually don't read sci-fi/space age type books, but I must admit that this book piqued my interest. Even then, I thought that once I began to read it I would get bored or not understand what T.M. Hunter was talking about. I was completely wrong! This book is awesome. I love Aston West, he's a very realistic hero, I think, because at first he didn't want to get involved. He has this "sucks to be you but it's not my problem and I value my life" attitude but he's still a good guy with a conscience and the more he gets involved, the more personal things become until he feels he needs to help. And isn't that how real heroes are? Nobody walks around looking for people in need of rescuing.

On top of that, the book is pretty damn funny. It's one of those books where you don't see it coming and next thing you know you find yourself laughing your ass off.

Heroes Die Young is a great book. A great story with great characters in a great setting (then again, I'm a sucker for talks of planets, galaxies, and binary stars). I really enjoyed myself and wish I would have read it slower. I'll definitely re-read it at some point when my TBR pile isn't so large.

I gladly give you my stars! 5 for T.M. Hunter and 5 for Aston West.

The Girls-Only Dirty Joke Book by Karen S Smith

2009-06-21T20:55:00.005-04:00

The Girls-Only Dirty Joke Book is a funny little read. It's full sexual jokes (my favorite kind of humor) and they can get pretty crude at times. I had a blast reading them, I laughed my ass off. So if you like jokes about blondes, penis sizes, comparisons, pick-up lines, funny stories, and one-liners, then you should pick this book up.

Four nuns die and go to Heaven. At the Pearly Gates, Saint Peter stops them. "Before you enter Heaven, you must be completely pure," he says. "Sister Mary, have you ever had the slightest contact with a man's penis?" "I must confess that I have," says Sister Mary, "I once saw a man's penis." "Wash your eyes out with holy water and pass into Heaven," says Saint Peter. "Now, Sister Martha, have you ever had the slightest contact with a man's penis?" "I must confess that I have," says Sister Martha, "I once stroked a man's penis with my hand." "Wash your hand in this holy water and pass into Heaven," says Saint Peter. But before he can get any further, the other two nuns have started pushing and shoving. "Sisters!" says Saint Peter sternly, "There is room for all in the Kingdom of God-what is the meaning of this unseemly scuffling?" "If I'm going to have to gargle with that holy water," says the fourth nun, "I want to get to it before Sister Catherine sticks her fat ass in it."

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox

2009-06-21T16:41:00.005-04:00

Demon slayer Lizzie Brown is back in the sequel to The Accidental Demon Slayer. No time to rest or train, Lizzie, Dimitri, Pirate and the Red Skulls head to Vegas to rescue her fairy godfather from the clutches of a succubus named Serena. But before she can even enter Las Vegas she must take her demon slayer license test, something she didn’t even know existed. And if that weren’t enough, she’s about to walk right in the middle of a succubus invasion. With 25 succubi in the area and Dimitri slowly being eaten alive (Dimitri may have forgotten to mention that griffin happens to be a favorite among succubi), Lizzie must rely on her new demon slayer powers and whatever help she can find to rescue the people she has begun to see as family.

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers is just as great as the first part. I love the characters Angie Fox created, they are so unique! I absolutely love the relationship between Lizzie and Dimitri, it’s so beautiful, especially towards the end of the book. I cried! I’m still a big fan of the coven, those are some crazy ladies! I’m glad I got to see more of her grandma since she was stuck in hell for a big portion of the first book, but I missed Ant Eater, I think she’s my favorite biker witch. I also loved Phil and I cried my eyes out in the end. Such a great character, I think everytime I pass a Cinnabon I’ll think of him. LOL.

Angie Fox has great ideas and I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with. So go out and buy The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers and if you haven’t yet, buy The Accidental Demon Slayer (click here for my thoughts on the first book).

The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall by L.J. Smith

2009-06-13T15:56:00.011-04:00

Eighteen years after Dark Reunion, L.J. Smith returns to Fells Church and her characters to bring us the first in a new trilogy within the original Vampire Diaries saga. The Return: Nightfall continues the story a week after Elena comes back from the dead. She is no longer a spirit, nor a vampire, but not quite human either; with powers unlike anyone or anything has ever seen.

The only thing I can say to describe this book is that it's intense. So many things are happening at once, obviously since it's the first in a new trilogy not everything gets resolved in this book. Which makes Smith a tease. The best kind of tease there is! This book revolves more around Damon and we get to see parts of him that are new to us.

I've been having an ongoing discussion with my roommate about Damon v.s Stefan. The roommate prefers Damon, and she wants Elena to choose him (after I told her she couldn't choose herself). I want Elena to end up with Stefan. That being said, I LOVE Damon. (Something I realized this week: L.J. Smith has this tendency of creating villains that I love and root for, something I usually never do). And I want badly for Damon and Bonnie to get together. Which of course is difficult because this series is supposed to be about two brothers fighting for the same woman...but...I think Smith could slowly move away from that and have Damon fall for Bonnie. Just saying. :D

Sorry Mutt, but you get nobody!

I can't wait to see what happens next. Seeing as (SPOILER ALERT!!!) Elena takes off with Matt and Damon to rescue Stefan from the Shi no Shi. And I really want to know if things between Bonnie and Damon progress because the kiss, and that whole bathtub scene was great! And that free read over on her site, Bonnie and Damon After Hours, didn't help my obsession.

I know this wasn't much of a review, as it was me squealing rather girlishly, but it's hard to talk about this book when I don't want to spoil the first four parts for people that haven't read it yet. I will say that this book has a new villain and many minions. And a lot of twists that will have you second guessing yourself. Oh! and Caroline is a BITCH! Just thought I'd reinforce that statement. You'll know why as soon as you finish reading this book.

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

2009-06-10T22:16:00.006-04:00

Elena Gilbert, Queen of Robert E. Lee High is back from her summer in France. The last year of high school begins and Elena feels a weird energy in the air. Something is going to happen, something bad...but exciting. Maybe it's that elusive thing she's been searching for. Because though Elena has everything, she is not satisfied. She does not feel like the other girls her age, she feels she's meant to do or be something else...

A cryptic premonition from her best friend comes true, and when Elena sees the dark and mysterious Stefan Salvatore, something inside her screams. She needs to have him, he's what she's been looking for and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants. She always gets what she wants.

But when the quiet town of Fells Church becomes a dangerous place full of random attacks, mysterious shadows, and weird animals, the people of Fells Church point their fingers at Stefan. Now it's up to Elena and her friends to convince the town of Stefan’s innocence…the problem is, he’s not as innocent as they want him to be…he’s a creature of the night. A vampire. (Dum Dum DUM)

Sorry I had to throw the Dums in there. Moving on…

The Vampire Diaries trilogy is an old read for me. I read the original four books (don't ask me why it's still called a trilogy if it has four books, I'm not smart.) about ten years ago, and even back then they were already a bit old. Lisa Jane Smith is the person responsible for my book obsession and I read this series towards the beginning of said obsession. I think she’s one of the best writers, the best storytellers I have ever read. I have always loved the worlds and the characters she creates. Mainly because she writes real people in paranormal circumstances. Elena Gilbert is not this perfect little high school student. She’s a selfish bitch, using her friends to get what she wants and never appreciating them for anything. At least that’s how she starts. As the series progress, she begins to grow, to see the kind of person she is, and to tweak it. That’s what I like most about her characters, their realness and the different types of personalities she throws together to make and unstoppable team.

I’ve been recommending L.J. Smith’s books to just about everyone I’ve ever met since I read The Forbidden Game trilogy ten years ago, and I’ve never stopped.

I was always disappointed because she seemed to just fall off the face of the earth. She didn’t write anything new, and the book in her Dark World series that was supposed to come out never did. I don’t know how many times I tried searching for her on the internet, and all I found was fan sites with the same information I had, nothing.

But she’s back! She has her own website and even has a myspace page. I couldn’t be happier. And she has returned to this wonderful series. The first book in a new trilogy within the original trilogy (which I will review after this and is the reason why I’m reviewing all four books in this one review) came out this February.

And if that weren’t enough, due to the Twilight phenomena, the CW has picked up The Vampire Diaries and will be a series this coming fall. Thursdays at 8 p.m. from what I hear.

So if you love vampires, romance, sibling rivalry, the paranormal, or if you just like to read good stories, The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith is the series for you!

Book order: The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury, The Dark Reunion.

Five Stars for each book.

Last Look by Mariah Stewart

2009-06-07T21:53:00.007-04:00

When a body of a prostitute is found murdered, she is identified as Shannon Randall. This particular news stuns the FBI, mainly Special Agent Dorsey Collins. Why? Because twenty-four years ago, Eric Beale was convicted and later executed for Shannon’s murder. The agent in charge of that investigation was Dorsey’s father.

Now, there are two cases that need to be solved: what happened on the night of 1983 and who killed her and why.

FBI Special Agent Andrew Shields is questioning everyone, filling in missing pieces, and connecting the dots. But it won’t be easy; especially after all these years. Dorsey shadows Andrew’s every move and together they unravel a mystery that will shock everyone.

Okay, so that’s the short version of this story. I loved it. There was so many twists and it just got better and better. It’s actually really frightening because this particular situation where an innocent person is executed happens in everyday life.

I liked the characters – there were a lot of them! But, they all had a purpose. I was almost tempted to write down every character to keep track. All my questions were answered; I enjoyed it!

Guilty by Karen Robards

2009-06-05T16:50:00.005-04:00

Can you honestly ever escape your past?

Kat Kominski was fifteen years old and in foster care when she decided to sneak out of the house and join her friends for a late night drive.

While in the bathroom, she heard gunshots and rushed out. Her friends were running back to the car, a friend, holding the gun. A guy lay on the ground in a pool of blood. Everyone fled the scene and no one was caught.

Thirteen years later, Kate White, once Kat, has come a long way: single mom with a nine-year-old son and works as a prosecutor.

When shots are fired in the courtroom of where Kate is, she is taken hostage and she comes into contact with one of her old friends from that terrible night. He is demanding something from her… or else he will confront authorities about that particular night long ago.

She is now in a predicament. If the truth gets out, she can lose everything’s she’s ever worked for, including her son. But how can she possibly do what he has asked?

Threats, blackmailing, and terrorizing her, Kate knows not only is her life in danger, but also her son’s. She must turn to Detective Tom Braga, the one taking the lead of the courtroom investigation, for protection. But, he suspects her of something. And when he beings to search through her background… “Kat” has a lot of explaining to do.

I really liked the whole idea of this story: Teenage girl witnesses and keeps her mouth shut about a murder, she ends up being a prosecutor, and a long time friend comes along and screws up her life.

But I have to say, it wasn’t what I expected. It took me forever to read, and I guess it was because of the way the author wrote. I’m not totally sure though. There were too many characters that come into play and I forgot who was who – so that might be the reason why the “bad guys” confused me. I couldn't keep up with names. I was just lost.

I'm still trying to figure out if I liked the main character. She lies too much, lol... and I mean, she had to, but at some point it was getting a little ridiculous; it was like, enough with the lying!! You're caught out, admit it.

I have another book by this author that I read a few years back so I can’t remember it – I might want to read it again to see if this author is worth reading again.

City of the Sun by David Levien

2009-05-24T20:39:00.003-04:00

Twelve-year-old Jamie Gabriel gets on his bike and delivers newspapers in his neighborhood. One morning, somewhere en route, he disappears without a trace.

It is fourteen months later, and for his parents, Paul and Carol, the tragic situation has become unbearable. With the frustration of dead ends and the police force that cannot (or will not) find Jamie, they are on the verge of giving up all hope they’ve ever had. And on top of it all, their marriage has fallen apart.

The Gabriels are finally given a name of a private detective who may be their last chance to find answers.

When Frank Behr is asked for their help, he refuses. But Paul and Carol need closure and Paul pleads. He gives in, but there aren’t any promises to a good result. He works on the case and later has Paul’s partnership – but between it all, Behr is haunted by memories in his past and he can’t possibly ignore them.

They are on a mission to find out the truth about that very morning Jamie vanished. Finding out the truth just might kill them…

I happened to see this book in the library just sitting on a desk and it was screaming, “pick me, pick me.” (Okay, maybe not literally.) This is a new author for me, and I was impressed. It held my attention from page 1 to page 452. (LOL…it was large print). It was emotional, suspenseful, and just plain great.

It’s fast-paced, and I read it in a day. I liked the plot, the way the author wrote, the characters, etc. No complaints! Read it.

Guardian by John Saul

2009-05-24T20:31:00.006-04:00

MaryAnne Carpenter is dealing with a separation from her husband, Ted. Because of her two children, Logan and Alison, she is finding it difficult to stay away from him. When she gets a phone call informing her that her friends the Wilkensons are dead, she must pack up to care for their child, MaryAnne’s godchild. Questions begin to rise: were her friend’s deaths tragic accidents or murder?

When taking her children to relocate in Idaho with her godchild, she finds her troubles multiplied when they all become prey to an evil force stalking the wilderness. Someone or something is murdering people in the community one by one.

If no one is familiar with John Saul’s books, his books are stories of supernatural, technological, or psychological terror. I’ve read a few books by him already in the past couple of years, and “Guardian” was yet another book I enjoyed. It takes some time to read because of his writing style, his details, but it makes you want to get to the end to see how everything turns out.

There are a lot of gory killings–yay. I liked the characters a lot.

Ted is a sweet-talker who has a temper and is just plain rude! He surely doesn’t change at the end of the book.

MaryAnne is a curious, kind-hearted individual. All she wants to do it protect her children as best as she can.

Logan is a curious ten-year-old who loves to have fun.

Alison is a teenager who gets scared a lot, but goes a long with things so she doesn’t get called a “chicken.” Throughout the book, she tries to act her age by being the ‘grownup’ in certain situations.

Joey Wilkenson is a shy and silent teenager. He’s trying to deal with his new environment and trying to figure out who he is…or what he is.

The Beach House by James Patterson & Peter de Jonge

2009-05-21T12:38:00.004-04:00

Jack Mullen is a student of the law. His brother, Peter, younger by seven years, parks cars for rich people in Hampton.

When Peter’s body is found on the beach, Jack is certain that the so-called drowning was no accident, but it was murder.

This story shows you how someone’s power and money can buy cops, people, and even the system.

Jack is not satisfied with how this crime is being taken care of, so he begins an investigation on his own and someone is pretty pissed off about it. This murder mystery will have you entertained until the very last page!

It’s a story filled with sex, money, deception, and revenge. How much better can it get?

This is my 3^rd book from Patterson and I was definitely pleased with the entire book. It’s a very fast-paced book. Don’t get intimidated by the number of chapters because they are very short, about 1-2 pages long.

Many characters are brought in, so it may be hard to keep track of who’s who. But, every character has a purpose and I liked that a lot.

I don’t know what else to say, other than it kept my full attention because it was interesting and not predictable.

Blind Curve by Annie Solomon

2009-05-21T12:32:00.002-04:00

Danny Sinofsky is a detective and an independent person who never needed anyone’s help-but, there’s a first time for everything, right?

In the middle of a weapon’s bust, Danny goes blind. Doctor’s say it’s serious, but he refuses to listen to them.

Unable to take care of himself, Danny needs to learn life skills all over again. This is where his mobility instructor, Martha Crowe steps in. When she comes face to face with Danny, she is positive he does not remember her-the plain, no-so-good-looking girl from his high school.

Things get more interesting when Danny is attacked inside his home and Martha is a witness. They are both thrown into a safe house. Together, they need to figure out who is behind it all. They sort out all clues and by using his razor-sharp instincts and Martha’s eyes. And through it all, they fall in love, but they both are being stalked and it will not stop until someone dies!

I have to say, I was a little disappointed with this book. I was expecting a bit more.

Let’s start with the things that just weren’t my cup of tea.

I felt it was difficult to keep focused on what was happening-either it was the way the author wrote-or maybe it was me.

I thought the “sex scenes” were in the wrong places. It didn’t feel real enough. The characters are supposed to be scared out of their minds, trying to figure out the attacker and instead, they are getting hot and heavy everywhere. There was a couple times where the scenes were one after another… I didn’t like the fact that it was written that way.

Okay, now for the good things.

I loved how the characters are written: Danny is shown as this tough guy and throughout the book you can see how stubborn he is, but finally at the end, he broke out of it and stopped being so “macho.” He began living with the fact that his blindness was something that he was going to have to get used to and had to make the best out of it.

Martha has issues of her own-doesn’t have self-confidence and puts herself down a bit, even though Danny is blind and can’t see her appearance! She ends up breaking out of that habit also and realizes that meeting Danny was the best thing for her.

Also, a character is talked about a few times throughout the story and at the end of the book; there is new information about this character. I did enjoy that, but that particular situation was never resolved. So, maybe there’s a sequel that I’m unaware of.

Remembering Ashby by Heather Long

2009-05-07T16:06:00.009-04:00

Melanie is chosen as one of five maidens that will represent the Goddess in the rituals of Beltane to bless the peace talk between several clans. She is to be but a mere vessel to the Goddess, never taking her hooded cloak off or fraternizing with any of the clan members. But then she locks her gaze upon Adam...his eyes, blue ringed with violet are an instant pull for Melanie and she finds herself disobeying more and more orders as they get closer to one another.

But she is to give her maidenhood in the name of the Goddess during the festival, something she was prepared to do until she got to know Adam. And until she overhears a disturbing conversation between the Sorcerer and an unknown person about the maiden with the white feathered mask...her mask....

What a lovely story. I’m still chocked up as I write this, a goofy love induced grin on my face that I can’t seem to get rid of. It’s a short story but it’s so beautiful, and it fills me with hope and reminds me of what I am waiting for in life. True love. A love so pure and powerful it can overcome anything if you believe in it and risk all you know to find it. It’s a simple story, yet it is different, unique, creative and I loved every word of every page. Thank you Heather for writing such a marvelous tale and for writing such unique individuals. I feel like I know every single one of your characters.

Oh and the cover is beautiful! Almost forgot to mention it, hehe.

I should also mention that Heather Long is hosting a contest. Looks like it’s really good. Click here to check it out!

The Path to Freedom by Lisa Pietsch

2009-05-06T23:00:00.008-04:00

Talk about having a bad day! Within hours, Sarah Stevens, is let go from the military because of the extra sixty-five pounds she has gained and she walks into her boyfriend’s apartment to find him cheating on her – with a man! What is a girl to do when she’s lost not only her job, but also the only one who should have been by her side?

Her Commander gives her a number to call for a boot camp that specializes in weight loss. So, she calls and it turns out that it was the thing she needed to turn her life around.

Sarah doesn’t know many details about this camp, only that it’s free and it could help her in ways she never thought possible. The only thing she has to do is continually lose weight each week to stay in the program. But something’s a little off, there has to be some sort of catch.

Throughout her time at the boot camp, Sarah loses all the weight she’s gained and more! Not only does she become a total hot bombshell, she gains self-confidence she never thought she had. And, it turns out this ‘fat camp’ was actually training her to become a Black Ops agent!

That’s just the beginning …

Bring on the men, weapons, and sex scenes… ha ha.

This book was great. I usually don’t read military novels, but this one definitely caught my attention and I learned a lot from it. The author did an excellent job at giving lots of information without making me feel lost. It wasn’t just thrown in there; it had purpose and it flowed well.

I loved how all the characters responded towards each other; it felt like they really were friends, trying to get along, trying to cope with one another … it was awesome.

The Accidental Human by Dakota Cassidy

2009-05-05T20:58:00.006-04:00

Wanda Schwartz is having a good year, not to mention a bizarre one. Not only did her two best friends find love and get married, they were also bitten by their husbands beforehand and turned into paranormals (one is a werewolf the other is a vampire). On top of that, Wanda’s career at Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics is on the rise, she is the best at recruiting new saleswomen for the company. But when she’s diagnosed with a terminal illness and a mysterious, hunky piece of man answers her Bobbie-Sue ad on the paper; things get a little out of control for this list-making-OCD gal.

The Accidental Human is last installment in the Accidental Friends series. I’m a little sad to see it end, but hopefully Dakota Cassidy has more stories under her sleeve. She’s one funny storyteller! I fell in love with all three girls for different reasons, they’re so different from one another and I love that, I love that they can be best friends despite their differences. You guys really need to read all three books they’re such gems. I’m so glad that I bought The Accidental Werewolf all those months ago, because I had never heard of her, but the cover caught my attention (what can I say it was shiny!) and I’m glad it did! The series has a strong beginning and a strong finish, you wont believe how this book ends!

Bravo!

All Fall Down by Erica Spindler

2009-05-05T12:26:00.010-04:00

“The system falls down. They all fall down!”

Through an abusive childhood, triplets Melanie, Mia, and Ashley stood by each other and tried their best to get through it all. Now, as adults, Mia’s married to a physically abusive doctor; Ashley has an abundance of bitterness towards men; and Melanie is a small-town divorced cop fighting for custody of her son, Casey.

It is when men start to unexpectedly die in their town that Melanie begins to think that these “accidental deaths” are actually murder. Every waking moment she has, her attention is on this case to prove she is right.

When Melanie meets Connor Parks, an FBI profiler with ‘obsessions’ of his own, they try to put the pieces together to find out the person behind it all. He comes up with a profile of the killer and Melanie realizes that it sounds all too familiar… sounds like someone she knows personally.

As she gets closer to discovering the killer, she and Connor fall in love. But a happy ending isn’t what the killer has in store for them. Melanie is set up to take the fall for the murders that took place, and it puts everyone she knows in danger.

This book is awesome. When reading, the question that’s lingering in the back of your mind is: is it justice or is it murder? It’s suspenseful and, of course, there’s a twist at the end! Murder scenes are great, but when you involve a bit of kinky sex, whoa, it gets better. I really like how the characters develop throughout the story; you get a sense of their personality, their flaws, likes and dislikes.

Yay for a great book.

The Fire Still Burns by Crystal-Rain Love

2009-05-01T19:38:00.004-04:00

The last place Brynn Harlow wanted to step foot in was Black Bear Gorge. She hated the town as much as they hated her, but she had no choice. She needed money and was hired as a P.I. to investigate the string of arson attacks and possible murder of one of their citizens. Zeek Goods murder to be exact. The man who convinced the town she was a whore, which led to her leaving thirteen years ago. The man she detested most in the world. The man who kept her away from her only love, his brother, Adam Good. Now it was up to Brynn and Adam to put their mixed, unresolved feelings aside and catch the arsonist. Brynn just hopes she can do it quick before Adam realizes that all he thought he knew of what transpired thirteen years ago was a lie, and before he saw that Brynn’s son looked an awful lot like him.

WOW! Rain has been bugging me to read her debut novel, The Fire Still Burns for a while now. I’ve had it in my computer for months, but just got around to reading it now. I knew it was going to be good, I read her second novel, Moonlit Dream, and I thought it was awesome (Read the review here). But damn, if I knew it was going to be THIS good, I would have read it the moment I got it! I don’t really know what to say, everything sounds cliché and doesn’t feel like it’ll do her book justice. All I can say is that Crystal-Rain Love has a great talent for storytelling. She creates great stories with conflicts, twists and turns, and honest characters with flaws. She paints a clear picture of the characters and their surroundings, immersing one into her fictional world in a way that makes you feel part of the story. In this case, I felt like part the town of Black Bear Gorge, eavesdropping and gossiping with the best of them, gawking at Brynn and Adams' displays of affection. But unlike the rest of the town, we are privy to their intimate moments too, with eachother and by themselves; we hear their every thought, their hopes, dreams, and fears.

So instead of wasting your time reading this review, you should go buy her e-book! Why are you still reading this!? GO GET THE FIRE STILL BURNS BY CRYSTAL-RAIN LOVE (don’t you love her name???)

Today’s lesson: When Rain tells you to read her book, READ IT, like, YESTERDAY.

A Sure Thing by Brit Blaise

2009-04-17T17:49:00.005-04:00

Cara Thomas, voluptuous redhead needs to get laid. When her best friend arranges “a sure thing” with her cooking instructor, Chef Mike Nichols, Cara decides to go for it even though she has to take a cooking class and can’t cook worth a damn. Things quickly get hot and not necessarily in the kitchen, though food is involved, as they both realize that just maybe, this is more than A Sure Thing.

If I would have known this book was going to be this good I would have read it sooner! It’s such a cute story. I love Cara, I love that she can’t cook, I love that she’s a size 16, and especially that she’s a redhead (I find redheads exotic).

Chef Mike, is yummy with a capitol YUMMY. He sounds like my dream guy. A bit of a man’s man, but with a soft mushy heart. Sexually adventurous with no qualms about using his precious food as foreplay. Where can I get me one of those!?

A love-at-first-sight novel that warms your heart, and steams your glasses (for those who wear glasses). LOVED IT!

Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom

2009-04-14T18:43:00.007-04:00

Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom is the the sequel to 50 Ways To Hex Your Lover. It continues Jazz's story; a 719 year-old witch living in the mortal world trying to live her life as normal as a witch can live it. It picks up a few months after Jazz and Nick (her on again off again vampire boyfriend) destroy Clive Reeves (the bad guy in 50 Ways...) Jazz is trying to make her relationship with Nick work, while trying to adjust to the additions in her household.

Irma, her ghostly friend which haunted her T-bird convertible for the last fifty years, who--thanks to Jazz--was free of the passenger side of the car, moves into the carriage house where she demands more and more luxuries by the day, and even ends up with her own pet. A ghost dog that slobbers ectoplasmic drool. Jazz also gets a new pair of hexy shoes, a pair of crocodile stilettos named Croc and Delilah who have an affinity to cosmetics. Her mortal roommate, Krebs, starts dating his vampire client, and Fluff and Puff (her hexy bunny slippers) have been accused of eating a wereweasel and Jazz has no choice but to lock them up until she can prove their innocence. If that isn't enough, she begins to have awful nightmares, and certain enemies from her past reappear in her life. And all she wants to do is get hot and heavy with her man.

I love this series! All the characters, even the secondary characters and villains are awesome. They've very detailed, they're very original and I love what Linda does. Kudos for creating such a fun world. So many things happen to poor Jazz, one on top of the other, yet she stays strong (cept for that one time she woke up a mortal...) through it all. She never gives up, and she always ends up on top. Even if her sentence on earth keeps getting longer... She's a kick-ass heroine I would love to channel.

FIVE HEXY STARS!

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

2009-02-17T21:38:00.007-05:00

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox is about, well an accidental demon slayer, of course. Lizzie Brown opens her front door on her thirtieth birthday to see her birth grandmother (who she has never met) at her doorstep. She looks nothing like a grandmother should look and pushes her way into Lizzie's house and her life. Along with her bossy attitude and her Kiss My Asphalt T-shirt, she seems to have brought along all sorts of crazy unusual things. One of them being the demon that comes out of Lizzie's toilet. After defeating the demon, Lizzie is dragged out of her home and her normal life, along with her (now) talking dog, and pulled into an unusual adventure. One filled with demons, imps, and sexy griffins. An adventure she wont soon forget.

I finally finished this book! I've been trying to read this book for months, but I kept having to put it down to review books that authors had asked me to read (not that it was bad, because if you've read my other reviews, they were all good), but I'm glad I was able to finally give this book the time it deserved. I loved it. I think it was brilliantly written, all the characters are quirky in their own unique way, and I love that. They're all fresh and unlike anything I've read in a loooong time. Lizzie is hilarious with her refusal to curse. I love her. And Gertie, and Ant Eater! I love them all. And of course, Dimitri too. He's an alpha male (yummy) but with a beautiful soft side...does that make him a gamma? Well whatever he is, he's yummy! Can't wait to read the next installment in this hot new series. Oh yeah, I love Pirate too! :D

Ok, I was going to end it there, but I have more things I loved. Like all the random spells (like the giggle spell, or the macarena spell, or how about the lost keys spell, and many many more), and all the roadkill (hehe poor Lizzie), the Smuckers jar was brilliant. The things Lizzie can do are very original too, and Angie set up such a strong world that I believe all the things Lizzie does. Ok, I'm done now. Take my stars Angie, you deserve them all!

Mari's Men by Stormy Glenn

2009-02-08T23:10:00.008-05:00

Mari's Men is the latest e-book by author Stormy Glenn. The story (which comes out tomorrow, Monday Feb. 9th) is about a woman (Mari) who is kidnapped by a Russian mobster while hiking. She is rescued by, not one, but two of the sexiest men she has ever seen. Brothers Cole and Bear have a special bond, unlike any brother out there. Besides being twins, they can talk telepathically and feel what the other is feeling. So it's no surprise that when Cole sees Mari and falls head over heels, that Bear does too. Knowing they were going to have to eventually share a woman, both brothers were prepared for it. But can Mari grasp the concept and be able to satisfy both sexually driven men?

Wow, this book was crazy. And I mean that in a good way. Every time I read one of Stormy's books, I think that she can't possibly fit any more sex into it than the last, and then she does! She had me blushing through half of the novel, and had me taking a few cold showers. The book is steamy hot! And the storyline is just as good as the sex, with interesting twists when you least expect it. A roller coaster ride worth taking!

The Kandy Shoppe by Debora Dennis

2009-02-01T21:06:00.003-05:00

If you're looking for a hot steamy quick read, then The Kandy Shoppe is the e-book for you. Kandace "Kandy" Parker is fed up with with her freezer. It keeps breaking down, melting her supply of ice cream, and it keeps bringing hunky repairman Jason Chapman. The man from her fantasies, the man that humiliated her years ago, and the man that was determined to make her life difficult. With the freezer on the fritz once again, Jason offers Kandy a new one for her shop. But what exactly does Kandy have to do to get that freezer?

I don't know what to say about this story, except it's all good. It's cute, it's romantic, it's steamy, and it has ice cream. What more can you ask for? And have you seen the cover? Awesome! It's like a book full of my tried and true secret fantasies. :)

The Path to Freedom by Lisa Pietsch

2009-01-31T13:54:00.005-05:00

The Path to Freedom by Lisa Pietsch is about a washed up military cop named Sarah Stevens who is having a really bad day. First, she reports to the Security Forces building where she thinks she's beginning her out processing for her deployment to Kuwait. She's forced to weigh in, and slowly realizes that she was set up. She's being let go because of the extra sixty-five pounds she's gained. If that isn't enough, she heads over to her boyfriend's house and walks in on him and another MAN. To add insult to injury, he tells her he thought they could work out an arrangement since she's let herself go and no man would want her anyway.

With no job, no money, and no one by her side, Sarah feels she's hit rock bottom. She doesn't know what to do, or where to go from this point on. Then she remembers the card she received from her Commander before she left. A boot camp specializing in weight loss, Sarah has nothing else to lose and signs up. The camp turns out to be a secret training camp where Sarah looses all her weight (and then some) and becomes a drop dead gorgeous beauty, and is then offered a position as a Black Ops agent. She accepts and that's when all the fun and adventure begin...

I loved this e-book more than anybody will ever know. It has been a while since I read a book with a military storyline, honestly, because they had become predictable and boring. The Path to Freedom is anything but predictable and boring. I loved all of the characters, and loved how important she made each and every one of them. I love the heroine, who is tough and can kick ass just as good, if not better, than the guys. The whole story was an awesome adventure into a different world, where anything was possible and nothing seemed far-fetched. I love a book that can do that. I also love a book that makes me learn, and this book did that a lot, without confusing me which is an extra plus in my book.

Overall this book kicks ass, and I'm so glad I read it. And even happier that I went to the author's website and found out that there's another book coming out soon featuring Sarah Stevens, since I was going to suggest she make this into a series. ;)

5 Ass-Kicking Stars

A Midnight Infatuation by Christie Silvers

2009-01-28T23:18:00.010-05:00

A Midnight Infatuation is the first book in the Alex & Fiona series. The story is about a 150 year-old vampire named Alex, who falls madly in love (at first sight) with a human named Fiona. He begins to follow her around, and finds out that she's no ordinary human, but a werewolf (which explains the scent of wet dog he kept smelling).

Fiona does not know of Alex's existence, or that he was stalking her. All she knew was that she sometimes smelled a weird scent, kind of like something dead. Either way, she has no time to worry about it because she finds out that the councilmen from her pack have decided to force upon her the wed or die law; where a female were who refuses to wed and mate with the were chosen to her, must fight to the death for her freedom. Fiona is 30, way past time she mated, and thus the rule is forced upon her. Needless to say, things don't go too well for Fiona, and Alex has no choice but to turn her. Thus turning her into a vampire-were hybrid, the first of their kind. Can Fiona adjust to her new life? Will those in her pack tolerate it? And can Alex help his beloved through this strange transition into vampire-werewolf existence?

I'm really glad that I finally had the time to finish this book. It was a really good story, with a few unexpected twists. The author's voice was very different than what I'm used to, a first person POV unlike any other I've read before. Thank you Christie, for sharing your story with me.

Forbidden Desires by Stormy Glenn

2009-01-22T00:49:00.016-05:00

Forbidden Desires is book two of the Tri-Omega series, which came out last month. We're re-introduced to Gregory and Ryland, who were both in Secret Desires, and we're also introduced to new characters and a new pack.

We know that Gregory and Ryland are mates but because of Rylands' age, Gregory has not claimed him yet. This is the story of what happens when Gregory finally does claim Ryland, and finds out that, like Leyland, Ryland is a tri-omega. Can Gregory deal with sharing his mate? And can they find his second mate before it's too late for Ryland?

What to say about this installment. Well, it's HOT! I don't know if it's my imagination, but there was a lot more sex going on in book two than book one. I didn't even think that was possible. I loved the way the beginning of the book was tied to the first one. Stormy had scenes from her previous book, but from Gregory and Ryland's point of view. I LOVE it when author's do that! This e-book also had a lot of memorable quotes like, "I’m horny. Fix it!” and "Maybe you should think about publishing a fucking how-to manual." The banter between the 3 men was great, again. I'm so glad I found this author, these are truly some good, hot, love stories.

Secret Desires by Stormy Glenn

2008-12-15T00:24:00.015-05:00

If you haven't noticed by the cover, this is not only an erotic love story (meaning no person under 18 should read this), but it's also a M/M/M (Male on Male ON Male). But you're all smart cookies and saw the Menage Amour at the top.

Anyway, this story is about when an alpha male (Jake), the leader of a gay werewolf pack stumbles upon his mate. Being gay, Jake wasn't aware that he still had a mate out in the world somewhere and was extremely surprised when he found Leyland-an omega.

There was one small problem, for the last ten years Jake had been involved with his right hand man (no pun intended...maybe) Lucas, who he was in love with. Now these two lovers had to call a quits to their affair because they both knew what having a mate meant.

Come to find out that not only is Leyland Jake's mate, but turns out he's also Lucas' (a beta) mate. Can Jake and Lucas learn to share, or is one of them doomed to lose both their mate and the man they love? Can Leyland become part of these men's life or will he just be a third wheel, afterall, Jake and Lucas love eachother, why would they want Leyland.

Well let me just say that this is my first time reading a gay romance, and it's also my first time reading an erotic gay romance, and obviously a M/M/M as well. I couldn't have picked a better book to read! It's a quick read, a little over 100 pages. The story is extremely fascinating, and the characters are great. Besides loving each of the characters for what they each brought to the story, I especially liked the dialogue during the sex scenes. Never have I had so much fun reading a sex scene! They were cute, sweet, erotic, and funny as hell! They also made me blush a little, hehe. So I say, get this e-book and indulge in a little Brokeback Mountain fantasy.

5 Steamy Stars

Second Chances by Christle Gray

2008-12-03T17:15:00.008-05:00

This is the story of two people who fall madly in love-at first sight. Kristin, a widow for the last 3 years, is reluctant to start any relationship. Especially one with David McDougal, actor, [supposedly] engaged to London's sweetheart Sophie Miller. Can Kristin overcome her life long insecurities? Can David get his life in order without forever ruining his career? Will love conquer all?

A great e-book, one I will put on my virtual keeper shelf! After finishing it, all I wanted to do was read it over. The story is beautiful, the characters are described so well that you can easily see them in your mind's eye. And anyone who read this book will want a Scottsman of their own. I know I do. So I say, get your butts in gear and buy Second Chances!

I also want to take the time to announce that the cover for Second Chances has been nominated for best cover over at The Author's Lounge. Before I read the book I thought it was a very nice cover, and after reading it I find I love the cover even more! Personally, I hate book covers that don't really have anything to do with the story. There has even been a few times where the female on the cover has had a different hair color than the heroine in the story (eek!). Not this cover. I wouldn't be surprised if the artist, Shirley Burnett, read the book beforehand, it goes that well with the story.

Whether Shirley Burnett read it, or Christle Gray just did a bang-up job describing it to her, this cover deserves to win. You could...should vote for this here.

Moonlit Dream by Crystal-Rain Love

2008-11-25T13:46:00.005-05:00

The first thing I'm going to say about this e-book is that you HAVE HAVE HAVE to buy it! It is a beautiful romance story, you instantly fall in love with the characters.

It's the story of two soul mates, one is a werewolf, the other is human. They must jump over numerous hurdles to be together...their past, their future, other werewolves, the pack leader, certain insecurities. It's all there, and they must deal with it all before the end of the full moon.

Crystal-Rain Love did a great job incorporating the werewolves into the story, it doesn't seem forced, or far-fetched. The story had a nice flow to it, and last 10 pages picks up the momentum taking you along for an extraordinary ride. I'll admit it, I cried. A moving story, so glad I read this ASAP...you should too. Read it, you will NOT regret it!

There are not enough stars for this e-book, I would give it another 5 easily.

Meet Me In Fantasyland by Mary Martinez

2008-11-20T16:11:00.010-05:00

If you want a cute, funny and charming story, this is the story for you! Also if you want a quick read, this is also the story for you. Meet Me In Fantasyland is the story of-shall we say-two people destined to be together. Rissa and Rob were childhood friends, best friends, until Rob moved away the summer before they went off to college. Rob had always been in love with Rissa, but Rissa was oblivious of his feelings.

Now, almost 25 years later, Rissa is going through a divorce, and in the middle of clearing out her soon to be, ex-husband's possessions, she stumbles across her old diary. A diary that stated Rissa and Rob were to meet 25 years later at the bridge leading to Cinderella's Castle in Disney World.

Should Rissa go? will Rob show up? Will he have a family? Those were the questions Rissa asked her herself as she made her mind up.

Did he show up? Was he still in love with her? Did she finally see him the way he saw her all those years ago? I guess you'll have to buy this e-book and find out for yourself. A cutesy story...

...lost half a star because I felt it moved a little bit too quick.

Death Perception by Victoria Laurie

2008-10-30T15:39:00.007-04:00

This is the 6th book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series which follows the life of Abigail Cooper, a professional psychic with her own business. This book tells the story of Abby going to Vegas with her FBI boyfriend Dutch in search of Dutch's cousin Chase who was kidnapped along with the man Chase was body guarding. Once Abby and Dutch arrive in sin city, all sorts of chaos ensues; from Dutch getting-what everyone thought was-food poisoning, to Dutch's sudden disappearance, to Abby becoming a fugitive of the FBI.

The book also features some of our favorite secondary characters (Abby's sister Cat, and Abby's PI friend and suitemate Candace). Although I feel that Cat's character was slightly altered in personality from previous books, she still has an annoying quality to her that makes her endearing.

Death Perception, though the 6th book in the series, can also be read as a stand alone. Of course you'll be missing some of the background info on the characters, and you may not have as deep a connection with them as someone whose read the other books, but they aren't imperative to the story. Be forewarned, the first 50 pages are a bit hard to get through, they are a bit boring, and I admit I may have put the book aside but didn't because I've invested a lot in these characters and I hoped it would get better.

And I was not wrong, once you get passed the 50 page mark things get out of control-in a good way. You'll eventually refuse to put the book down and will find yourself hooked. With more than one twist to the story, and the back to back action, you will be more than happy you stuck through.

Overall a great book! I can't wait till the next installment.

Up in Smoke by Katie MacAlister

2008-10-21T19:42:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to take a few minutes of my time and write about Up in Smoke by Katie MacAlister. It's the second book in her Silver Dragon series (which I guess stems from the Aisling Grey/Green Dragon series). It came out about 2 weeks ago, and I finished reading it a few days ago, and I want to burst! It left me in suspense, and I don't know how long till the next part comes out.

Anyway, if you haven't read this series (or the Aisling Grey) you really should. It's got your paranormals (Dragons, Guardians, Demons, Imps, Doppelgangers, etc.), it's got romance (really yummy sex scenes too, hehe). The books are just great, I also like the way she communicates with the readers. She writes in first person, and talks to us, not as if she were telling a story that already happened, but more as if we were there, and she's just making comments about what's going on, and what she's thinking.

Here's a little bit about Up in Smoke (I wont spoil anything I promise)

It continues about 6 months after May (a doppelganger and a wyvern's mate to Gabriel, wyvern of the silver dragons) sacrifices herself for Gabriel and the sept, and ends up stuck in Abaddon becoming a consort to the demon she was bound to when she was first created. So May and Gabriel have to figure out how to get her out of Abaddon without releasing the demon to the mortal world. Of course in between all of this there's a whole bunch of drama involving dragon politics. With the Black dragon trying to make their sept official again, and fighting with the Silver dragons (because there's some history between both septs, which I wont talk about), the Blue dragons are in the middle of a civil war with eachother, the leader of the Red dragons is stuck somewhere in Abaddon (I won't say how she got there, but I will say it happened in the Aisling Grey series), and so on and so forth. It sounds a bit overwhelming, but trust me, it's all laid out neatly.

So come on folks, hop to it, buy the book, read it. Support this great author, who wants her book to do well.