Book Binge

Judith's review of Lone Defender by Shirlee McCoy.

When private investigator Skylar Grady finds herself abandoned in the Arizona desert, she knows two things. First, her "simple" case tracking a deadbeat dad has someone spooked. Second—that someone will kill to keep her off the trail. So even when her rescuer, former patrol agent Jonas Sampson, wants her to leave, Skylar knows she's staying. No one gets rid of her that easily. If Jonas wants her safe, then he'll have to stick by her side. But her new partner is a mystery, too—one Skylar will risk her heart to solve.
From time to time I am pleased to encounter a novel that is not about sex per se but is really about relationships that grow out of the harsh realities of living and the push/pull of friendship.  As a part of the Heroes for Hire series, Harlequin, under their Love Inspired imprint, have given romance fans just such a novel.  It is a story of two people who have encountered perhaps the worst that life could throw at them, and yet in the midst of all the pain and regret, they discover depths of character in themselves and each other.

After finishing the novel, I came to believe that the entire initial scenario in the Arizona desert was really a kind of metaphor for the kind of life Skylar and Jonas had individually endured.  Finding oneself alone without water or resources in an alien environment like the Arizona desert, knowing that death was there, just around the next boulder or ridge, had to have seemed familiar to both these people who were living out an emotional desert existence within themselves.  That they survived was a mute testimony to the determination that had brought each of them to this time in their life, not expecting much of anything different in the months and years ahead.  Just get through one more day -- a mantra that seems to have supported both Skylar and Jonas.

Yet throughout their story is woven their individual and collective struggle to see beyond the devastation.  Each had to come face to face with their need to trust again, their need to face their own fears of the future and especially of emotional involvement that would leave them once again vulnerable, and to face fully the claims their faith had upon them.  While this story is not "religious" in nature, it doesn't back away from the fact that both these people had lost a part of their faith when they lost a part of themselves in the past.  As a part of their life picture, faith was important to them.  Whether or not that may be true in the reader's frame of reference, it is still true for many people whose lives mirror the challenges these characters faced.  Regaining that lost sense of purpose in life meant regaining the robust nature of that lost faith.

I have not previously read any of Ms  McCoy's work, but I was impressed with her storytelling abilities, with her excellent use of language, the consistent flow of the story, and the up-front inclusion of the faith factor in her story.  Yet these two people struggled mightily with their own issues even while trying to sort out their relationship with one another.  Wounds as deep as theirs just don't heal overnight.  Both were so fearful of being vulnerable in the future that they almost lost their ability to love.  Ms McCoy seems determined to be realistic, open in crafting her characters, not backing away from the pain but not allowing it to overcome the story either.  Certainly this novel reveals a significant writing talent.

This novel could never be classified as erotic, but don't think for one minute that the human emotions that permeate these pages are light weight and facile.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It is a book filled with real people and readers will find that there are aspects of these characters they recognize, if not in themselves, then in people close to them.  I would be proud to have people like Skylar and Jonas in my real world.

I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr. J's Book Place




This book is available from Love Inspired. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Tracy’s review of The Comforts of Home (Harmony #3) by Jodi Thomas

In Harmony, Texas, twenty-year-old Reagan Truman has found her place, and found her family. But with her uncle taken ill and her friend Noah lost and disheartened with his life, Reagan is afraid of ending up alone again, and she's not the only one. When a terrible storms threatens the town, the residents of Harmony are forced to think about what they really want. Because making the connections they so desperately desire means putting their hearts at risk...

This third installment of the Harmony series really is a mix of old and new characters and situations. We got to see some of the characters that we’ve grown to know and love and we were introduced to new ones that I’m sure (and hope) that we’ll see in future books.

Reagan Truman played a huge part in books 1 & 2 but in this one things were distributed differently. There was romance in the entire book but it really didn’t focus on one couple.

The story told us of Ronelle Logan who was raised by a mother who is pretty darned close to crazy. Ronelle was home schooled and is painfully shy. She lives with her mother and works at the post office in town. One day she’s asked to take a special delivery to a new resident that’s within walking distance of the post office and she meets Marty Winslow. Marty is in a wheelchair and is apparently mad at the world. They have words but eventually become friends and more. This story didn’t turn out like I would have liked – not by a long shot – but it did show us Ronelle coming into her own and growing into the person she thought she could be.

Reagan Truman is taking online classes and taking care of her “uncle” Jeremiah. He’s recovering from a heart attack and she’s taking care of the farm. This story always warms my heart and has from the first book. The fact that Jeremiah, the crotchety old coot, takes Reagan in and makes her his own is just so wonderful. We also get a story of Reagan and Noah. Noah is on the bull riding circuit and gets hurt. His recovery allows him to realize some truths about his life and his future. There wasn’t really a conclusion to this story so I can only assume we’ll read more in future books.

Tyler Wright, the Funeral Home Director, is still pining over Kate and not knowing what to do. She acts like Harmony is now home but really, where does he stand in all of it. He doesn’t have a clue and Kate’s not really very forthcoming. Tyler gets some surprises in his life with a new housekeeper and the trouble that comes with that. But his new housekeeper also allows Tyler to move further in his relationship with Kate, in a roundabout way.

Denver Sims is a friend of Gabe Leary’s – you may remember him from the previous book. He’s got a thing for Claire – the artist who paints the horrid scenes of men dying – and he is in love and confused. Denver wants to be with Claire but he’s not sure she’s gotten over her hatred of all men enough to accept him in a relationship. This story was good but I really wanted more of it in the end.

We also got to see some stuff from Gabe and Liz and Alex and Hank as well as some other townspeople that we’ve come to know. I really liked all of the stories but I really wanted more from all of them in the end! Lol I guess that’s a good thing, right? The story is so good that I just want it to be longer? Yeah, that’s a good thing.

Anyway, a lovely book with lots of great stories about the people of Harmony. If you’ve been reading the series this is definitely not one to be missed.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place


This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Holly's review of Seduction of a Highland Lass (McCabe Trilogy, Book 2) by Maya Banks

A warrior is caught between family loyalty and forbidden love in book two of bestselling author Maya Banks’s sensual new trilogy featuring three indomitable Highlanders.

Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright. Now he is prepared to wed for duty, as well. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, daughter of a neighboring chieftain, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel, a courageous beauty who will put to the test his fealty to his clan, his honor, and his deepest desires.

An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric’s keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?

Where the first book in the series had more external conflict, this one has a lot more internal conflict.

Alaric MacCabeis on his way to a neighboring clan to formally offer marriage to the Laird's daughter, Rionna MacDonald, to secure an alliance, when he's attacked. All of his men are killed and he's gravely wounded. He manages to make it to Keeley MacDonald's cabin on the outskirts of the clan. She's a skilled healer and is able to save his life. When his bothers, Ewan and Caelen, show up, they decide to keep Keeley since they need a healer in their clan. Not only is Keeley charged with caring for Alaric, but Ewan wants her to attend the birth of his first child.

Keeley was cast out of her clan as a young girl after the Laird made unwanted advances and his wife cried her a whore. She's been living alone ever since. The idea of being accepted as a healer in a new clan is appealing, but she's not happy to have been snatched from her home with no choice. The deciding factor in her not fighting her situation is Alaric. They formed a deep bond while Keeley was caring for him.

The problem is Alaric promised to marry Rionna MacDonald. The MacDonald land lies between the McCabe keep and the new land Ewan McCabe (the laird) inherited when he married his new wife. Without the alliance the clan will be divided, not to mention the other alliances they're working on might be jeopardized. Alaric knows his duty. As much as he wants Keeley, he knows he can't have her. Not permanently.

Although Duncan Cameron, the villain from the first book, is still a threat in this novel, but the focus is on the internal conflict of Alaric and Keeley being in love but unable to marry. The story could have become bogged down with angst, but Banks managed a good balance between sexy-times, humor and conflict.

Keeley was a practical woman. Her clan threw her out, but she isn't so hung up on it she's willing to cut off her nose to spite her face. When Ewan offers her a place with the McCabe clan, she takes it. Her practicality and levelheadedness worked well with the conflict, too. Yes, she wanted Alaric, but she understood what was at stake and what would happen if they risked everything. Alaric also knew his duty, but my heart broke for him. He knew right away that he wanted Keeley and no other, but he also knew he didn't have a choice.

I think too often in historical novels the main characters throw convention and duty out the window to the detriment of the story. Yes, it happened, but it was rare. I think for a couple to focus more on duty than on love brought a touch of realism.

The story isn't perfect. There were times when it was bogged down with useless info. The dialogue ran toward cheesy now and again. I also found myself struggling to connect to Keeley in the beginning. Thankfully that didn't last long. 

Overall this was a satisfying read. I enjoyed the characters and the conflict. Banks has penned a strong second novel for this series.

4 out of 5

The series:



This book is available from Ballantine Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Judith's review of The Sheriff's Daughter by Kay Stockholm.

Wow . . . a cop story and a cowboy/ranching story all rolled into one, and it's a Super Romance, to boot.  What's not to like?  I always seem to find something to like--in fact, lots to like in the Super Romances from Harlequin.  They just seem to be stories that give more and allow both writer and reader to enjoy the story a bit longer.

Certainly these characters are fascinating in and of themselves.  Three brothers--the oldest being Liam--who aren't really blood relatives but who are three young men who were on their way to destructive lives until they were taken in by their foster father, a man whose name they all took when they reached their majority.  With his kindness, respect for them, and his tough work ethic, they have all become men who are productive citizens and who have a much better chance for a good future.  Liam is a sheriff's deputy, and Carly is the sheriff's daughter.  She won't date cops--she has had some significant negative experiences because of her dad's involvement as a law enforcement officer--and Liam won't date Carly because she is the boss's daughter.  Mutual attraction between them seems not to be caring much about their dating rules.  Liam is a man who has gotten this far in life because he has learned to live within an intractable set of boundaries.  Carly makes mincemeat out of anyone's rules, often in the name of caring.  Liam doesn't feel he can afford her impulsive, emotion-laden kind of living.  Yet he is drawn inexorably to her will-of-the-wisp personality, to her warmth and genuine caring spirit, and her delicious curves.

This is, in every sense of the word, a romance.  It is filled with the passion, questions, struggles, disappointments and making up that romance involves.  Ms Stockholm has crafted a story that doesn't feel contrived, that pulls the reader forward from page to page, that keeps the imagination hopping, and tantalizes the mind with enough twists and turns to make for a captivating tale.  This is one of those warm and fuzzy romances that keep the heart satisfied and is the stuff that makes romance fans searching for the next warm and fuzzy story.  There's enough of the not-so-good stuff in this novel to make the reader wonder if it can ever be a "happily ever after" ending.  Neither Liam or Carly make it easy to form any kind of friendship or relationship.  There's too much history, both individually and as school pals going back years.  Add in the protective attitude and actions of the sheriff as he treats his 27 year old daughter like she is a 6th grader, and there are moments when the reader experiences many of the frustrations the characters must deal with.

Romance fans will find this to be a very satisfying read.  It is not fluff and nonsense--many romances really are just that.  This is about people with genuine issues, different ways of looking at life and its challenges, and some personal history that seems to get in the way a lot of the time.  It really is a worthwhile read and one that lovers of a good love story really shouldn't miss.

I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J's Book Place.


This book is available from Harlequin. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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Ames' review of The Countess and the King by Susan Holloway Scott.

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.

I am all about women bucking convention and Katherine Sedley definitely fits the bill!

Katherine was raised unconventionally by her father. He was a favourite of King Charles II, well known for his wit. He also had some rapscallion friends and rubbed shoulders with the King's mistress. When Katherine was 10, he started to bring her along when he'd mingle at court. Katherine's mother was mad, believe she was the queen, and was quietly moved to a convent during that time.

So Katherine's education was more witty repartee than ladylike behaviour. She definitely preferred the company of men to other women (unless they were bold ladies like herself). Her wit and bold personality also make her stand out, because as we're told, Katherine was no great beauty.

Because of her upbringing, Katherine has seen very clearly how mistresses are treated compared to wives. Wives are shuttled off to the country to beget heirs. Katherine does not want this for herself. Although she never explicitly thought that she wanted to be a mistress, she for sure didn't want to be a wife! Her father also told her while she was growing up to marry for love, and he always kept true to that. He never forced her to marry although he did ask her to think about it a few times. He was disappointed when she caught the eye of the Duke of York, King Charles' younger brother. It was not the future he had set out for her. But Katherine was a woman of means and this was the path she chose, and it was not an easy one.

I loved Katherine's independence. She was extremely smart and she had a close relationship with her father and he always looked out for her. He gave her great advice for dealing with the court. Although I believe he came to regret how he brought her up, he loved her and supported her, even when they took opposing stances over certain things.

One of the biggest conflicts in this book, and indeed the time period, was religion. King Charles and the majority of England were Protestant. They looked upon Roman Catholics (referred to as Jesuits) with suspicion and fear. James, the Duke of York, was Catholic. His enemies in the court used this to their advantage to lesson his favour among the people. When he married an Italian princess, they feared him even more. The last thing they wanted was a Catholic on the throne (any children from James' marriage would inherit the throne as Charles' own wife only gave him daughters). Many were pleased when he took Katherine as his mistress, as she was a good Protestant woman who could whisper sweet Protestant nothings in his ear. LOL

I really enjoyed The Countess and the King. The history was interesting and Katherine was an extremely interesting character for her time period. Any fans of historical fiction would definitely enjoy this book. 4.25 out of 5.

This book is available from NAL Trade. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

You can read more from ~ames~ at Thrifty Reader.
 

Ames' review of Double Shot by Christine d'Abo.

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?

I have only read one book by Christine d'Abo previously and I really enjoyed it. I was really looking forward to this contemporary romance of her's and it did not disappoint.

Sadie is the baker at her family owned coffee shop and she wants to build the catering side of their business. When her friend Paul asks her to cater an anniversary event for his sex club, she jumps at the chance. She also looks forward to spending time with Paul because even though they are really good friends, they haven't spent a lot of time together recently.

Paul is also looking forward to spending more time with Sadie. He's been attracted to her for a long time and the stars have aligned, they are both single and he's ready to let his intentions be known.

Double Shot, although of a shorter length than I prefer, worked for me on several levels. First, Sadie and Paul are friends and that's a favorite theme of mine. It also means that these two have a history and so the love scene doesn't feel rushed. Paul is also friends and work partners with Josh, so they have a history as well. Even though Sadie doesn't know Josh, she's comfortable with him for the most part because Paul knows him. I also enjoyed Double Shot because of Sadie's family dynamic. She runs the coffee shop with her brother and sister and we see enough interaction between them to give their characters depth and to look forward to their stories (as this is a trilogy).

I really enjoy Christine's writing and Double Shot was no exception. I am really impressed with how much she packed into this novella. If you are looking for a well written but steamy story, Double Shot is the way to go. I am looking forward to Paige's story.  4 out of 5

This book is available from Carina Press. You can buy it here in e-format.

You can read more from ~ames~ at Thrifty Reader.

Judith's review of Summer's Indiscretion (Divine Creek Ranch #7) by Heather Rainier

This book is available from Siren Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Mary's review of Making Waves by Tawna Fenske

When Alex Bradshaw's unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb after 20 faithful years as an executive with the world's largest shipping company, he sets out to reclaim his dignity and his pension. Assembling a team of fellow corporate castoffs, he sails to the Caribbean to intercept an illegal diamond shipment. None of them counted on quirky blonde stowaway Juli Flynn, who has a perplexing array of talents, a few big secrets, and an intoxicating romantic chemistry with Alex...

I discovered Tawna Fenske via her blog, which is absolutely hilarious and very ribald (Oh, go on. Visit her blog HERE. You know you want to.). Tawna's the kind of girl I'd like to hang out with. We could ogle hot guys, chat about writing, and drink some yummy adult beverages. (Do I have a little girl crush on her? Maybe. But she'd understand and be totally cool with it.) Anyway, when she announced her first romance was coming out (back in August--yes, this post is just a little late), I immediately went out and pre-ordered it.

MAKING WAVES is hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the crazy fixes Juli and Alex get themselves into. The plot is completely over-the-top, which I adore when it's done right (and this is done right). Alex and his merry band of corporate castoffs go rogue, with a wildly ridiculous plan to become pirates and rob (re-rob?) their boss of some precious cargo so they can retire in peace and prosperity, like they planned before said boss completely screwed them over.

Having just quit yet another job, Juli's in town to fulfill her Uncle Frank's last wish and dump his ashes in this particular area of the Caribbean. Alex and Juli meet at a bar and, before they can even finish their first drinks together, they're playing an island version of The Newlywed Game. Yes, really.

Then there's the scene when Juli takes her anti-seasick pills and it makes her completely loopy. And, of course, instead of getting on the charter boat that is to take her to dump Uncle Frank, she climbs into a window and accidentally stows away on Alex's boat. Alex and his makeshift pirates are none-too-pleased with that turn of events. But she stays, causing trouble and making sparks with Alex. The interplay between the two of them is hot-hot-hot!

If Alex and Juli aren't entertaining enough on their own, there's the eclectic crew on board the ship. There's the big dude, Cody, who insists on being called Cookie (since he's taken over the galley); there's Phyllis, who doesn't know how to be girlie but doesn't mind some lessons so she can seduce a special guy; and Jake, who's just crabby about the whole thing. While Cookie's my favorite, each one of the secondary character adds his/her own flavor to the story.

And then there's the infamous cheese doodle scene. I won't say too much about it except that I had to read it over because I laughed so much the first time, I was practically crying. I'll leave you with this quote: "Oh, baby! I want to rub your cheese doodle 'til my hands turn orange." p.277 Oh, yes. She went there.

Anyone who likes a lot of humor and a wild plotline in their romance should pick up MAKING WAVES.

Rating: 4.75/5.0

This book is available from Sourcebooks Casablanca. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Judith's review of Last Chance Cowboy by Cathy McDavid.


The Powell Ranch is not the expansive spread it used to be. With a good part of its land sold off to developers, Gabe Powell is struggling to save his disappearing way of life. He has a legacy to leave his daughter, and starting a stud farm would give him financial stability. But first he must capture the wild horse he's spotted in nearby Mustang Valley.

Sage Navarre is in Arizona on an urgent domestic matter that will secure her young child's future. And as a government field agent, she's been ordered to help Gabe track down an escaped mustang while she's here. Working with the cowboy is an incredible experience—and Sage finds herself wildly attracted to him.

But what will Gabe say when she dashes his dreams for his ranch? Because he's not the only one who wants that mustang.

This is another short novel from Harlequin that continues the tradition of nice short reads that fit into the busy American way of life. It is also a story that is reminiscent of the Zane Grey cowboys who lived tough lives, struggled against difficult circumstances that were often caused by the evil or disinterest of others, who had to dig down deep into themselves to find the determination and ingenuity that would make a solution possible. So it is with both the hero and heroine of this novel. Bring in the wild mustang, a daughter who is finding it difficult to adjust to life with a dad long estranged, a family in disarray due to illness and financial stress, and you have a story that almost any reader can relate to in some way or on some level.

And perhaps that is why many people still love the cowboys of the modern West, those seeming "left-overs" from a time long gone, who personify the attitudes of fortitude and determination that have become the stuff of legend. Certainly this hero had trouble in bags and barrels. So did the heroine and they were brought together by that most illusive of wild things: the American Mustang. The recent movie success Hidalgo made the American Mustang a household word and revealed their marvelous qualities to many who had previously been ignorant of them. They have long been looked down upon by the premier horse breeders of the world, yet they embody some of the finest qualities anyone would seek in a horse. That is exactly why the characters in this story wanted this particular stallion. And the story hinges on that fact.

There's lots going on in this short work and it certainly isn't the 5-inch thick, complicated story some readers love. It is a novel that doesn't bore, involves people who could just as easily be one's neighbors, yet it is a love story and a family story all wrapped into one. It will fill a quiet afternoon, or be the kind of book you can read for a bit before going to sleep. It won't keep you awake with its horror or its unsolved mysteries. But all the same, it is a satisfying read and one that gives the reader lots of insight into the mustang and its place in American folklore. This book will please those who love horses anyway. It's the kind of read that we all need in our library--something that is a bit more substantive than a "snack" but which won't cause the reader to lose the appetite for heavier fare.

I give it a 3.75 out of 5


You can read more from Judith at Dr J's Book Place.


This book is available from Harlequin. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

If you haven't started the Harmony series by Jodi Thomas...why not?  It's a great contemporary series about a wonderful town, interesting people and of course it has a great dose of romance. Here's the book trailer for Jodi's latest release from that series, The Comforts of Home.

Ames' review of Venus in Blue Jeans by Meg Benjamin.

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.

Cal is Konigsburg's latest transplant. He has signed on with the local veterinarian as a partner. And as the newest piece of man-meat, the women in town are finding any little reason to bring Fluffy into to see him. But Cal is not interested in anyone until he sees her, his dream woman.

Docia Kent is in need of a margarita. And the only place to get one is the local watering hole. There she catches Cal's eye, and he catches hers. But Docia leaves before introductions can be made.

A few days later, Docia comes home to find her cat has been shot. He's still alive so she takes him to the vet, where she finally meets Cal. Cal saves her cat, and these two decide to test out their chemistry.

But Docia has been burned in the past and Cal doesn't want anything serious. What are two commitment-phobe adults to do?

LOL I thought Venus in Blue Jeans was a fun book. At the centre of it all is the small, charming Texas town of Konigsburg. There is quite the cast of characters to this little town. And they all had some depth, even the couple of villains that were floating around.

Docia has a very well known family and wants to do something all on her own, thus her bookstore.  But Docia is having a bit of difficulty getting the locals to warm up to her, to see her as a true Konigsburgian.  She won't give up though!  She's tenacious.  And she isn't totally without friends.  There's her assistant, the gay couple who own the local winery and her friend who owns a bakery.  I liked Docia's friends.

Cal...Cal is a guy.  LOL  He comes from a nice, mid-western family and he's just looking for a good time.  He's also incredibly hot (as all vet's must be).  I really liked Docia and Cal together.  They meshed well.

But I did have a few quibbles with this book.  I felt like there was too much going on at the end - there was the wrap up of the mystery and then Cal and Docia were at odds.  I would have preferred if it was one or the other, because the mystery bit kept the conflict between these two characters going on too long.  But that's just my opinion.  It wasn't a major issue, just would have preferred the ending to be tighter.  That's my only complaint though.

I thought this was a solid, light-hearted read.  Great characters and some humour.  All good stuff.  So I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.  3.75 out of 5.

This book is available from Samhain.  You can buy it here in e-format.

You can read more from ~ames~ at Thrifty Reader.

Mary's review of Shadow Walker by Allyson James

Racing her motorcycle down a lonely winter highway, Stormwalker Janet Begay feels the ground collapse beneath her feet. After tumbling two hundred feet into an underground cavern, she manages to escape with help from her sexy dragon-shifter boyfriend, Mick—but not before they disturb some dark forces.

As Janet contends with a hotel inspector intent on putting her out of business, as well as her grandmother, who's taken up residence, Mick's behavior becomes strange and erratic, until he is a clear danger to Janet and her friends. Janet's drag-queen, attitude-ridden magic mirror insists that Mick has been touched by shadows, and the Stormwalker realizes that someone is out to enslave her dragon. Now she must free Mick before he kills her…

Completely drool-worthy, Mick is such a fabulous alpha male and a dragon to boot. Too bad he's struggling with these shadows that are trying to possess and control him. After he helps out Janet and Nash escape from the skeleton-hand-filled sinkhole (holy cow, I'd have nightmares for ages if I fell into a hole and there were skeletal hands coming after me. *shudder*), Mick emerges from the sinkhole a completely different dragon, one who snaps and snarls at his lover, one who makes Janet's Magic Mirror scream bloody murder.

The third book in the Stormwalker series, SHADOW WALKER finds Janet on the verge of losing her hotel, her sassy grandmother moving in and putting Janet in her place, and Janet with the mystery of who's enslaving her boyfriend. On the positive side, Janet' learning how to combine her Beneath powers with her Stormwalker powers in a way that harnesses the Beneath power so it doesn't overwhelm her and so Mick and Coyote don't have to make good on their promise to kill her.

Each Stormwalker book brings new characters and I'm kind of hoping there won't be too many more added in book four. Right now, there are just enough for an interesting plot without muddying the waters too much. Too many characters can really get confusing. We got to learn a bit more back-story on some of my favorites, namely Coyote and Nash. While I wasn't a bit fan of Nash in the first book, he really grew on me in the second and, now that I know about his PTSD and experiences in Iraq, I like him even more. And Coyote, he's just a fabulous character. Who wouldn't like him?

But back to Mick and Janet. At first, I thought Mick was just being pissy and showing his moody side. But the author had other plans for Mick, slowly enveloping him in shadows until he was completely enthralled to the evil witch. There's such an amazing connection between Janet and Mick, even when one of them has turned to the dark side. And, of course, the sex between the two of them is H.O.T.

SHADOW WALKER brings the Stormwalker series to another level of awesomeness.

Rating 4.25/5.0

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Rowena's review of Head Over Heels (Lucky Harbor Series, Book 3) by Jill Shalvis.

Hero: Sawyer Thompson
Heroine: Chloe Traeger

Breaking rules and breaking hearts Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble--and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

The last of the sisters gets her happy ending. Out of all of the sisters, Chloe's story was probably the story that I was most looking forward to because of the fireworks that popped off in the previous books every time her and the town Sheriff were in the same room together. Chloe is such a firecracker and Sawyer is so laid back, they had that whole opposites attract thing and I totally dug the whole thing.

Chloe Traeger has led a colorful life, not colorful in the sense that she's a criminal or anything but she was homeschooled by her mother and they flitted from one town to the next, living like gypsies do and Chloe grew up, not wanting to be tied down. She came and went as she pleased and she liked her life that way. She's got crazy asthma that makes it difficult to have a sex life but she's used to it so she just kind of deals. When we first meet Chloe in Simply Irresistible, she comes off as bratty. She doesn't do well with connecting with other people, her sisters mainly and she gets herself into trouble all over the place that keeps Sawyer on his toes. In this book, we see what Chloe is up to and why she does what she does. She's kind of klutzy but she's got a good head on her shoulders and she has a big heart.

And Sawyer is one of very few people that see Chloe's big heart in the things that she does. She drives him crazy but she always keeps things interesting and he wants to bang her.

Watching Sawyer and Chloe get closer and closer together was very entertaining. Seeing Sawyer through his own thoughts was entertaining as well. I mean, in the other books he came off kind of tongue twisted and was always getting teased by Ford and Jax but getting to know him was a lot of fun. I loved the friendship that he had with Ford and Jax, they grew up together and their friendship stuck and I liked it.

As much as I liked their relationship, my favorite bond was the female bond between the three sisters. They were silly, they were cute and you saw just how far they each came from the first book. They were all pretty much thrown together in the first book, some of them didn't want to be there but they made a home for themselves in Lucky Harbor and they planted roots. It made for great reading.

Of all of the heroes in this series, I think Sawyer is my favorite. The stuff that he went through for Chloe, to understand Chloe and to help her had me sighing all over the dang place. With her asthma and her need to save the world, one dog at a time, he had a lot on his plate with her but none of that scared him away. She was good and stuck with him and I really enjoyed seeing it all come to life through this story.

Overall, this story was another great addition to Jill Shalvis' back list. It had all of the good stuff in it, a steamy romance with great characters and a small town that you'll fall in love with. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of Jill Shalvis and contemporary romance.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

Reading Order:



This book is available from Forever. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Tracy’s review of Heartbreak Creek (Runaway Brides #1) by Kaki Warner

Edwina Ladoux hoped becoming a mail-order bride would be her way out of the war- torn South and into a better life, but as soon as she arrives in Heartbreak Creek, Colorado, and meets her hulking, taciturn groom, she realizes she's made a terrible mistake.

Declan Brodie already had one flighty wife who ran off with a gambler before being killed by Indians. He's hoping this new one will be a practical, sturdy farm woman who can help with chores and corral his four rambunctious children. Instead, he gets a skinny Southern princess who doesn't even know how to cook.

Luckily, Edwina and Declan agreed on a three-month courtship period, which should give them time to get the proxy marriage annulled. Except that as the weeks pass, thoughts of annulment turn into hopes for a real marriage-until Declan's first wife returns after being held captive for the last four years. Now an honorable man must choose between duty and desire, and a woman who's never had to fight for anything must do battle for the family she's grown to love...

Edwina’s life in Louisiana has come to an end. The war and her father’s death has forced her to sign her childhood home over to the bank and she has answered an ad. She is now officially a mail-order bride. Her half-sister, Prudence, is shocked but goes along with Edwina to Colorado. Along the way the sisters meet two other women, Lucinda and Maddie who end up in Heartbreak Creek as well.

Edwina starts having doubts about the marriage but doesn’t have a choice but to head off with the man to meet his four children. They don’t get along at all at first with him thinking she’s just a prissy southern miss and her thinking he’s a big bump on a log with not a brain in his head…but soon they realize there’s more to each than meets the eye.

It’s a struggle to keep house and children going with Edwina’s rules but she is helped considerably by her sister. There are problems though. The kids don’t like her, she can’t seem to get along with her husband, Declan, there’s a renegade Indian warrior after Declan and all he holds dear and that’s all a worry before Edwina has to find out that she’s not really married to Declan!

There are struggles and problems aplenty but Edwina makes the best of it and soon becomes a good mother and loving wife. What will happen with Ed and Declan’s future when someone unexpected shows up?

This is my first read by Warner and I don’t think it will be my last. I was sucked in by her writing, her characterizations and wonderful descriptions of the countryside (although not enough to be thought overly descriptive). I really liked the family and town aspect that the book portrayed and realistic view of life in the old west. It wasn’t easy and the book shows us that fact in many different ways.

Warner doesn’t write sex scenes I’ve found. She gives us enough to make it somewhat sexual and definitely sensual and that seemed to be enough for the story (although if she chose to write a smoking hot sex scene I’m sure it would rock).

Overall a very good book that I enjoyed reading. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place


This book is available from Berkley Trade. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

I have to admit, I'm mighty curious about the NOOK Tablet vs the Kindle Fire. I haven't decided yet which, if any, I'll buy..but I'm kind of leaning toward this one. - Holly

New York, New York – November 7, 2011 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today expanded its portfolio of bestselling NOOK® devices with the introduction of NOOK Tablet, the company’s fastest and lightest tablet with the best in HD entertainment. NOOK Tablet offers access to popular movies, TV shows, music and more through the top entertainment services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and others, plus a collection of high-quality apps, fast Web browsing and email. NOOK Tablet features Barnes & Noble’s award-winning color reading experience, with access to the world’s largest digital bookstore via Wi-Fi®. Now available for pre-order at www.nook.com and at Barnes & Noble stores for just $249, NOOK Tablet will be in stores and in homes on or about November 17. Find NOOK Tablet in the newly announced NOOK Digital Shops™, which feature the full portfolio of NOOK digital devices and FREE NOOK Reading Apps™ at neighborhood Barnes & Noble stores.

Barnes & Noble also announced enhancements and incredibly new low prices for NOOK Color, the first-ever Reader’s Tablet™, and NOOK Simple Touch, the first breakthrough touch E Ink® device. The critically acclaimed NOOK Color will be even better next month, with more than 100 feature enhancements, access to top video and music services, popular apps, comics and more – and an even better value at today’s new incredibly low price of $199. The new and improved NOOK Simple Touch features the world’s fastest page turns and longest battery life, and an amazing new price of $99 – with no annoying ads.

“In NOOK Tablet, we’ve created the best wireless media tablet in the portable 7-inch class. NOOK Tablet’s VividView display has been designed to be the world’s finest screen for readability and viewing content. We’ve utilized that breakthrough display technology to bring consumers the largest digital catalog of color and interactive books, magazines, children’s books and high-quality apps through our NOOK Store. Additionally, we’ve seamlessly integrated today’s top entertainment services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Pandora in a product that’s powerful, easy-to-use, under a pound, and a tremendous value at only $249,” said William Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Barnes & Noble. “We’re also excited to announce that we’ve lowered the price of our award-winning and recently improved NOOK Simple Touch to just $99, ad-free. Lastly, our incredibly popular NOOK Color has a new low price of only $199, giving customers the ability to enjoy its unparalleled reading experience, apps, Web and email. These three products, at these super-low prices, represent the highest-quality portfolio of reading and entertainment products on the market at the best value. We welcome customers to learn more about our bestselling NOOK product line from our friendly and well-trained NOOKsellers at our new NOOK Digital Shops at their neighborhood Barnes & Noble.”

NOOK Tablet: Built for Speed … and Beauty
NOOK Tablet was designed for customers who want to read and be entertained with a variety of apps and media. Barnes & Noble designed the device for power, speed and responsiveness using the latest and most advanced technology. With a highly tuned 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, there’s plenty of memory to stream HD videos smoothly, browse the Web, and switch between books, magazines, videos and apps effortlessly. Barnes & Noble developed revolutionary battery life with NOOK Tablet, enabling 11.5 hours of reading time or nine hours of video viewing – the equivalent of five full-length movies. Everything looks stunning on NOOK Tablet, which features the world’s most advanced VividView™ display for viewing content, with 16 million colors and a resolution purity that’s simply gorgeous. Barnes & Noble invested in full IPS lamination to reduce reflection and glare and offer extra-wide viewing angles – perfect for sharing.

Best in Entertainment
NOOK Tablet gives customers the best names in entertainment so they can choose the TV shows and movies they love from leading services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, both pre-loaded on NOOK Tablet and offering free trials. Customers can instantly stream brilliant HD-quality videos. Also coming soon to NOOK Tablet: Flixster with UltraViolet™, for newly released movies and TV shows from Warner Bros. and other leading studios. NOOK Tablet owners can listen to millions of songs using the hottest music services, including Pandora, pre-loaded on NOOK Tablet, as well as Rhapsody®, Grooveshark and MOG, all available with a free 14-day trial. NOOK Tablet owners can also listen to their own songs wherever they go with the built-in music player.


Your Reading and Entertainment Content – Anywhere
A powerful HD entertainment machine designed for maximum portability, NOOK Tablet is well under a pound (14.1 oz.), making it one-third lighter than the leading tablet and 10 percent lighter than the award-winning NOOK Color. Sleek and thin with a soft touch back design, NOOK Tablet can be held comfortably for extended periods with just one hand and slips easily into a pocket or purse for reading and entertainment on-the-go. And with 16GB of storage – double the space of some other tablets – plus expandable memory, customers have ample space for their reading and entertainment content, regardless of Wi-Fi availability.

Customers can also access their personal NOOK Library™ through the free, stable and secure NOOK Cloud™ service, which also powers the seamless integration and synchronization between devices, as well as NOOK’s best-in-class shopping experience and social features.


Thousands of Must-Have Apps, Web & Email
Barnes & Noble offers NOOK Tablet customers a wide array of top-rated NOOK Apps™ to play, learn, organize and explore with must-haves like Angry Birds Rio and Seasons, SCRABBLE, Epicurious, My Cast Weather, Taptu, Style.com, Spanish for Dummies, Bejeweled® 2, Ms. Pac Man and more. There are hundreds of popular apps for kids, including Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, Drawing Pad and Pop Up Peter Rabbit. All NOOK Apps are the best, highest-quality versions available, optimized for NOOK Tablet’s beautiful and ultra-responsive 7-inch color touchscreen. By the holidays, Barnes & Noble will offer thousands of high-quality NOOK Apps from leading third-party developers and content providers that can be enjoyed on NOOK Tablet, as well as NOOK Color.

NOOK Tablet also features lightning-fast Web browsing so customers can surf their favorite sites, from Facebook to YouTube, and stream brilliant HD videos. NOOK Tablet’s built-in email also makes it easy to stay connected with friends and family.

Barnes & Noble’s Award-Winning Reading Experience
NOOK Tablet customers can shop the world’s largest bookstore, featuring more than 2.5 million books, enhanced books, interactive magazines, newspapers, comic books and children’s books. Content downloads lightning-fast, usually in less than 10 seconds over Wi-Fi.

This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Holly: I went on a Garwood binge this last week. I re-read Saving Grace, The Bride, The Prize and The Secret. I adore those books. I was going to continue on with The Lion's Lady, but I decided to pick up Son of the Morning by Linda Howard instead. The last time Tracy was over Rowena and I chastised her for not reading LH. One of the books we recommended was SotM. I've been thinking about it ever since. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm enjoying it.

Rowena: I haven’t read too much this week, that damn reading slump is still kicking my ass but I’m trying to read Catching Jordan by Miranda Kinneally and Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. So far, both are good but I’m just not in the mood to read. Sucks to be me.

What are you reading?

Rowena's review of SEAL of My Dreams by a variety of authors.

Coming Veteran's Day - 11/11/11

All proceeds pledged to the Veterans Research Corporation a non-profit foundation supporting veterans medical research

SEAL of My Dreams is now available digitally at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as in print from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bell Bridge Books. Additional buy links coming soon.

I'm a sucker for a Navy SEAL. I absolutely LOVED the Troubleshooters and Tall, Dark and Deadly series by Suzanne Brockmann, I dragged all of my friends to the movie theater to see Tears of the Sun back in the day and one of my all time favorite romance novel heroes is Sam Starrett from the Troubleshooters series (Shut up Holly! Haha) so when I saw that this book came up for review on NetGalley, I just had to have it, naturally.

There were quite a few authors in this band of stories that I've never read before but I enjoyed reading their stories. I haven't read very many military romances in a while and in the course of a couple of weeks, I've read a whole lot of short stories featuring military heroes, Navy SEAL heroes and I absolutely adored getting to know them all.

We'd be here for a very long time if I reviewed every single short story in this book so I'm just going to review the band of stories all together. There is a lot to read in this book. Lots of stories that will touch your heart, stories that you'll want to be fleshed out because you're greedy for more and stories that you'll want to hold close to your heart because they're just so sweet. There are stories that I enjoyed more than others but as a whole, I thought this book was filled with a whole lot of sexy.

I'm one of those romance readers that loves me some studly heroes and there are plenty of heroes to love in this series of stories. It's hard to pinpoint a favorite hero of the bunch because I loved so many of them but there you go. Yeah, I'm easy like that.

This book is filled with a whole lot of goodness and I'm sure that anyone in the mood for a sexy Navy SEAL will definitely enjoy this book. There's a lot to love and what's even better is that when you purchase a copy of this book, the proceeds go to the Veterans Research Corporation which funds research for veteran's medical research. How cool is that? This purchase will go toward a good cause and along with some fantastic stories, you get to do some good. I say you give it a go because there are stories from some of the best romance authors out there right now. I mean, look at that line up:


Lots of goodness, I promise. I enjoyed the stories and I enjoyed getting to know the characters and even though I wished for more with each story, I still enjoyed them and am definitely going to purchase my own copy of this book. It's for a good cause and you get a lot of goodness. I definitely recommend.

This book is available from Belle Books. You can buy it here and here in e-format.

Tracy’s review of Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliché: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again – this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

FBI agents Ty Grady – a brash and harsh man who doesn’t give a shit about anything but getting his many and Zane Garrett – a man who has made himself into the perfect agent in order to keep his life on the straight and narrow - are paired on a criminal case to try and find a serial killer. Ty is good with puzzles as is Zane and together the FBI hopes that they will find their killer.

Ty is not pleased to, say the least, to be partnered with a man who has a stick so far up his ass he can hardly turn his head but he soon learns that there’s much more to SA Garrett than he originally thought. Garrett can’t believe his crap luck in getting Ty for a partner but he also finds that there’s more behind the gruff exterior than her first believed. The problem with Garrett is that he’s incredibly interested in Ty in a way that he doesn’t want to be and that’s physically.

The men struggle to find out who is behind the killings – especially when they start to believe that it’s an actual fellow FBI agent that is the killer. They are trying to solve the case, running from the killer and starting a relationship that neither one of them knows how to handle.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I opened this book but it soon had me turning pages faster and faster. I really loved Ty and Zane and their characters. I knew that there were more layers to them than we first saw and I couldn’t wait until they got peeled away and when those layers did get stripped it was well worth the wait.

Ty, as I said, was very harsh and wasn’t afraid to tell anyone, including Zane exactly what he thought of him. But after a while and some serious shit that went down he mellowed. Zane on the other hand was a real structured, dare I say, completely anal guy. He was a by-the-book agent at first but when we got to know him we realized that this was a defense mechanism for him and something he did to keep his anger issues as well as his addictions in check. Once that man let loose he was hell on wheels.

The relationship in this book was fantastic. It really ran the gambit from hate to like to something stronger but the men truly weren’t sure what to do with it and how to handle it. The myriad of emotions that the authors showed us were truly mind-boggling and I was highly impressed with how it was all handled. The indecision, the awkwardness, the tenderness and of course the very hot sexin between Ty and Zane was exquisite and I soaked up every word.

The killer was another mystery and that plot was also well thought out. I wasn’t exactly sure until the end who the killer was even though I had my suspicions.

My one niggle with the story was the head hopping that was constant throughout the book.  It didn't ruin my enjoyment too too much but it did get a bit annoying at times.

This book has definitely made me want to read more in this series and learn more about Ty and Zane and what’s in store for them in the future. If you’ve been thinking about reading this one but wasn’t sold, you should be – it’s well worth the read.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This book is available from Dreamspinner Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format.