The Weekly Read 4/14: Ten Second Reviews

Ebooks rule. They fit my multitasking personality so well. Especially since I had to rip out half the blanket I’m working on. Sadly, I discovered www.ebooks.com this week. Yes, you can get many print books here in electronic format, but not at a discount. JMo talked me into reading Howling at the Moon, and since I didn’t want to go to the bookstore, I looked it up and found it electronically. And while I was looking around I found a few more interesting looking titles, so, off to the races, this is what I read this past week:



Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney. Jmo is right, this book was a pleasure to devour and I’m howling because book two won’t be out until NOVEMBER. Grrrr. I don’t read were books easily. I like Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Doreen Orsini got me to read her vampires, but I’m very reluctant to pick up a vampire or were-type book. I’m so glad JMo pushed me on this one. From the first sentence I loved her voice. Fresh, fun, lighthearted and insightful, if you’re reluctant about the shifters like me, you may very well like this one. So the paragraph below bears repeating from last week. Find this book. It went into a second printing before its release just a couple months ago. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear it was in a third printing by now.




Sophie Garou is your normal everyday auditor, well if you think werewolves are your normal everyday definition of auditors. When her mom is arrested for murder, Sophie goes into Nancy Drew mode to find the real killer. Things would be easier if the full moon wasn’t days away, her boyfriend knew she was a werewolf and if the sexiest werewolf she’s even seen would just co-operate and let her find the killer.

Next, I picked up a Lori Foster Bundle. Four books in one, these are the stories of four brothers who live in Buckhorn County. Three different fathers, these four men, and one nephew, stick together and are considered upstanding citizens in their small town. Doctor, sheriff, vet, and handyman, they live in the family home, each one doing their best to avoid matrimony. And of course, they all get caught. First up is Sawyer, already disillusioned by one failed marriage, he’s the doctor raising his son with the help of his brothers. A car careening through the fence he’s mending and into the lake brings his country doctor instincts to life, and the sick and injured female inside awakens those slumbering feelings of protectiveness. Of course the brothers love her and harass him. I love the closeness of the brothers. Next is Morgan’s story, followed by Gabe, the youngest. Last of all is Jordan the vet. I loved these books and feel four was about all I could handle in a couple days. Casey, Sawyer’s son, is due up for his story and I’ll look for it as soon as I pay off the AMEX bill.



Pride and a Pregnancy Secret by Tessa Radley, published by Silhouette Desire. I didn’t mean to buy this one (be careful about what you store in the cart or the wish list), but found it enjoyable all the same. I’m not big on the line romances in general and feel you read nine mediocre ones to find the one gem, but when you find it, it makes up for the others. This one falls somewhere in between. Love the Australian setting. Some of the twists were a bit squicky, but I won’t reveal them here to spoil the surprise. A little heavy on the Peyton Place everybody sleeping around theme. I did enjoy the chemistry between the two leads. Fine for a Saturday afternoon when you don’t want to think too much.


If you’re into trilogies, I’m two thirds through one and am itching, just dying, to get to the third book. By JoAnn Ross, set in SW Louisiana, Blue Bayou is the first book of the Callahan Brothers series. What is it with those groups of brothers? Sigh. Love the men. I always get into the men more. My husband likes that… most of the time. Anyhow, young love is interrupted and lovers are torn apart by scheming parents. Thirteen years later, and a whole lot of heartache in between, the two return to their small home town and reconnect. Jack, the middle brother, is now a writer and Danielle, the former belle of the county, is a discarded and humiliated congressman’s widow. Love that the bastard died when his lover’s piano dropped on his head. Bet that one felt good to write. Again, I won’t spoil the ending, but the heartache doesn’t end when they meet again. They have thirteen long years of secrets and deceit to work through. Not the least of which, Jack is living in and renovating her former home, the antebellum mansion Beau Soliel while she contends with the burned out apartment over the library she was supposed to move into upon arrival.


Book two of the series, River Road, takes a fun flip when eldest brother Finn is suspended from the FBI. With nowhere else to go, he heads back to Blue Bayou and is talked into playing body guard to the star of a Hollywood soap opera. Younger brother Nate is mayor of the town and he doesn’t have a sheriff, so Finn reluctantly steps into protect the bad girl of the show, Julia. Their backgrounds couldn’t have been more different and yet they share a love of James Bond. In fact, Julia is the next Bond Girl and only has to get through filming the season finale of the show River Road. But someone is threatening her and the serial killer Finn caught gets loose. The two butt heads until they tire of fighting. A crazy every changing script keeps them all on their toes until the very last shooting. Fun, funny, sexy and, well, just plain fun. I’m looking forward to book three, Magnolia Moon which I’ll start reading just as soon as I finish writing a blog entry and critting some work. (You can read the blog entry this Wednesday over at http://midnightseductionsauthors.blogspot.com/)


Jmo, your turn, what did you get into this past week?

Sorry, but I'm forcing my way through Dune. Between that and nasty pollen, I haven't been able to read anything without falling to sleep five seconds after I start. Feel free to shoot me, or do something about the yellow stuff falling like snow outside my door.


As for Dune, ‘cause MorganO is making me say something, it’s a fantastic book, a treasured old reread that brings back memories of a youth spent hiding in my room imagining new worlds just a transmat beam away.

The Weekly Read 4/8: Ten Second Reviews

One week until Tax Day and yes, I finally got the paperwork to my accountant. Now I have to steal – uh, I mean borrow, yeah, that’s it – borrow a bunch of money from the kid to pay what we owe. Fortunately, he’s getting a nice refund and we’re getting a good chunk back in May so his savings will rebound nicely.

Ebooks still led the charge as I’m working on crocheting another blanket. This one for Jmo. He’ll love it. Already I have to keep the window open and ceiling fan on while working on it or I get too warm. Anyhow, ebooks. Last time it was Samhain, this time I went shopping at Cobblestone. Easy ordering there, love the cover art and some of my favorite e-authors can be found there.

Incognito: Pursuing Penelope by Madison Layle and Anna Leigh Keaton. The previous book in the series, Conquering Connie, ended with a fire and a to-be-continued line. I really hate those, but Penelope picked up immediately with the woman suspected of setting the fire being rescued by two hunky firemen. What made this particularly intriguing, was not 24 hours after finishing this book, in which the heroine had come from an obscure polygamist religious group, I read about the 400 children being liberated from a similar situation in Texas. It underscored the book and how sex and marriage can be twisted into something evil or good. It also made me wonder about those women and children rescued in Texas.

Sweetest Desires by Anna Leigh Keaton. Apparently I’m in a Valentine’s frame of mind. After reading this one, and Meghan’s Submission, I went back and bought another Valentine’s story that I’ll get to next week. In this one, hotel maid is given a box of special truffles to share with someone special. Only she has no one. After falling asleep by mistake in the suite of a hotel guest, she is awakened by his return. He eats one of her truffles then invites her to dinner. He’s a lonely widower, far out of touch with the dating scene, particularly with a woman nearly twenty years younger than he is. They fumble, hit, miss, misunderstand, part badly then come together again six months later. Funnily enough, there’s a fire in this book too. I love Anna Leigh Keaton’s writing anyway. I have several of her other books which involve more hot and hunky firemen and a police officer, the To Serve and Protect series. Good writing, Anna. Keep ‘em coming!

Risking it All by Anna Leigh Keaton. Yup, another ALK book. Ex-supermodel, injured and hurting returns to the ranch of her teenage crush to serve as his housekeeper and nanny. A bit of a stretch, but a poignant and touching story. Again, fabulous writing. And yes, there was a fire in this one too. In the past and the source of the injuries to the heroine. Hmm, is ALK a closet pyro? Or is she married to a fireman? Hot hero, good book.

Meghan’s Submission by Cassandra Moore. A Valentine’s night to remember. Meghan, a bank teller by day, finds a yellow rose with a note attached. She follows the instructions and finds herself in a penthouse suite with a sweet cook. He’s set up the suite for another couple, but when one falls ill and plans are canceled, what’s a guy to do? He watches Meghan put the flower in the vase and since dinner is already cooked, and the room paid for, why let it all to waste? A tasty treat to keep your sweet tooth sharpened for next Valentine’s.

Fallen Angels by Lori Foster. Because reading print books in one setting can be difficult these days, the separation of three books in one binding is nice. Three stories all intertwined by the characters involved. Lori writes strong alpha males and clever heroines with witty banter and smart plots. Two PIs, one secretary, three hot stories.

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. This is one case where I’d love it if the publishing house would list the order in which books should be read inside the cover. I know I’ve read two books that chronologically come after this one, but since I read them out of order, my mind is a little twisted. Drives me nuts. Overall, as a stand-alone, an entertaining historical. She goes into a few details I’ve not seen in other historical, though I am NOT a Regency or Victorian expert by any means. I do feel as if I learned a little history, the deeper day to day details history books don’t provide. Well written and loveable characters I’m happy to see pop up in other books.

Morning Light by Catherine Anderson. This one stymied me a little. Love the message – paranormal and deep religious faith are not mutually exclusive. You can believe in ESP and God at the same time. Where it hung me up was the writing and a tendency to get preachy. Catholic guilt. Got it. Don’t need to keep going on. Stilted dialogue and somewhat stiff prose didn’t help much, but great plot. Used intelligence to work the hero around to accepting clairvoyance as being a divine gift and not a parlor trick. Better writing would have made the book more enjoyable, instead, it was a bit painful at times and the stiff dialogue, along with long sermons, slowed things down and broke my concentration. Overall, worth reading, just be prepared.

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. JUST finished this one. Have been dying to read it ever since I finished Match Me if You Can and nearly screamed for joy when I found the HB edition marked down to $5.95 at Borders. Love, love, love this book. Had to set it down at 4 am and get some sleep, but then woke up to dive right back into it. Get the list from SEP’s website and read them in order. Do not stop until you get to the end of this one. You can’t help but fall in love with the professional athletes and possibly even football as well. As soon as pre-season starts up again I’m picking up the books at the beginning and reading them again. Could become a yearly tradition.

Jmo, what did you get into this past week?

What did Jmo read?

Well, I only managed to finish one book this week. Don’t ask me how many I have started. My weekly trip to the retail version of hell produced one heck of a read. I rarely go out on a limb and try a new writer without a bucket-load of recommendations to make me plop my hard earned money done. The minute I thumbed to the first page of Howl at the Moon I was hooked. The first line got me!

Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney was more than a surprise it was the highlight of my month. This book was a pleasure to devour. That’s the only way I can describe it. Howl at the Moon is a perfect blend of mystery, romance and comedy. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this book.

Sophie Garou is your normal everyday auditor, well if you think werewolves are your normal everyday definition of auditors. When her mom is arrested for murder, Sophie goes into Nancy Drew mode to find the real killer. Things would be easier if the full moon wasn’t days away, her boyfriend knew she was a werewolf and if the sexiest werewolf she’s even seen would just co-operate and let her find the killer.

That’s my read for the week. What’s sitting in my pile? Small Favors by Jim Butcher. Now if my wife can hurry up and finish it, I can get my greedy hands on it. think she’ll notice if I spiked her iced tea and just took it? Don’t answer that.

The Weekly Read: Ten Second Reviews

Last week when we blogged, I was just starting Got Your Number by Stephanie Bond. I was also sick as a dog and using the excuse to read as it takes my mind away from my miseries. Well, I finished not only that book, but I dug into some of the older books on my shelf. The story behind these books is they’ve been stuffed into boxes through four moves in five and a half years. Yup, they’ve done some miles and have been hidden for a long time. I felt like honoring them for their patience. So, here’s what I read while I got better (sneezes are all gone, now I just need to get my voice back – thank you for asking):

Got Your Number by Stephanie Bond. Fast paced, witty, clever and touching. If you love women on the run with hunky cops after them, then this is a fun one. A twist near the end caught me by surprise. Have to admit that doesn’t always happen, so I loved it.

Blame it on Chocolate by Jennifer Greene. Another winner! Then again, when it comes to chocolate, how can anyone go wrong? Cocoa botanist and chocolate lover extraordinaire teams up for one night of madness with the boss. A little truffle in the oven complicates things before the wacky cast of extras get involved. Very fun. Loved it. Had to buy chocolate ice cream to go with.

Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich. Another of her reprinted “birthday cake romances” it is yet another very entertaining read. My favorite remains Manhunt set in Fairbanks, Alaska, but each one provides the reader with a light, uplifting feeling. Quick easy reads, they hit the sweet spot just right. When I want to lighten my own writing, a couple hours with one of these books gives me the right mindset to move forward. I want more of these!

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. Not my first Crusie book, but is the first written solely by her. (Loved Don’t Look Down with Bob Mayer). This one is another winner. Great hero. Just loved him. Such a guy. Bold brassy heroine. Loved her and her shoe fetish. Even better, the hero picked up on the shoe fetish. I’ll have to try out a few more Crusie books.

Simon Says by Lori Foster. Okay, I’m cheating here. Didn’t really read it this past week, but did read it recently. Accidentally left it off last week’s list. Another one of her Harmony, Kentucky novels centered around the modern gladiator hunks of the SBC. Follow on novel to Causing Havoc. Simon, is, well, wow. The trainer to the stars of the sport. An inside look at what it takes to train for such fighting events. A woman gets an intimate look into the gym and the men. Even learns a few things and overcomes two users from her past. Great novel about woman power triumphing and still being soft enough to love a man.

The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux. One of my first Jude reads, I still love this one. Set in early England, knights and peasants roam the landscape. The head hopping was a little disconcerting, but that was the style of the day. Writers today are strongly cautioned against such POV switching. Still, Jude does it with style. The mix up in communication between the two leads was a bit frustrating, but if you want a historical historical, well, this is truly a classic from the past. I do have to wonder what the story would look like if Jude re-wrote it today…

Say You Love Me by Johanna Lindsey. Okay, call me deprived, but this is the first JL that I remember reading. In fact, it was one of several bodice ripper type novels my FIL bought ages and ages ago at a Sr. Center book sale. When he finished with them, he passed them on to me. This was before I started reading romances seriously, so it sat for eight years or more, buried in one of those boxes. Obviously it was a later book in a series, the Malory Dynasty, if I got it right. I’ll have to go back and find them all then read them in order to pick up on all the inside jokes. Still, they didn’t detract too much from the overall experience. I’d love to hear what other have to say about Johanna. I know her name comes up quite often as one of the staple authors of the Romance genre.

Courting Cassidy by Stephanie Bartlett. Set in Oregon 1897/1898, this was a fabulous change from Regency England. Americana with a feminist heroine. Another old one with a bodice ripper cover, I really enjoyed getting into the Pacific Northwest logging community. The history “felt” authentic to me. I enjoyed it very much. I’ll be keeping and eye out as I hunt in the used book stores for more by this author.

And so, that is what I read last week. Currently in hand, another bodice ripper, Second Chance by Lori Handeland. I think I read this one years ago. Civil War widow saves the life of convicted bank robber. But is he really a criminal? More to come next week.

Also on the table beside me to be read this coming week, One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus. Not, not a romance, it’s one of those books my friends in book groups recommended to me. We’ll get a little literary next week if I can focus on something with true depth. I still haven’t managed to read The Poisonwood Bible, but I did read Where the Heart Is, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Middlesex, all recommended by the same literary minded friend and all good. Funny I never got invited to join a book group. Wonder why? Oh well, never mind, I’m in one now with my local critique group. Couldn’t keep up with one for real right now anyway. Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be reading for this week’s meeting… guess Second Chance and the White Women will have to wait a few days…

So, Jmo, what did you get into this past week? Besides edits, I mean.

Not as much as you, it would seem.

My first book of the week is one close to my heart.

The Wolf’s Heart by Jenna Leigh. Yes, you smell nepotism, but this is truly a fantastic book. Elaine Westbrook is an investigative reporter on the trail of the story of her career. It leads her straight into the arms of the man she once loved, Marcus Bei. Marcus and her once shared a magical relationship until something happened, a secret so dark she can’t remember. As Elaine delves into the mystery of Jacob Caulder and a string of missing woman, she uncovers more than she bargained for. There’s a connection between the missing women and that dark moment long ago when her world was torn apart.

The Wolf’s Heart, kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book and left me wanting more when the last page was over. Unlike you I can hound the author for the next book mercilessly. Of course she just tells me to leave her alone so she can finish writing it.


Sherilynn Kenyon’s Lords of Avalon: The Marvel Comic, Issue 1

I’m a big fan of comics and Sheri. I’m even a fan of Manga, but this first issue didn’t do it for me. Sheri’s books are so vivid and full of details, that the comic just came up short with me. I wanted to see something more realistic, I guess. That’s one of the problems when you go from one medium to another. Your mind already has an ideal set in your mind, and this version just wasn’t it for me.

My last book is Divine by Blood by P.C. Cast. I’ve been a big fan of this series since Goddess by Mistake. The third book in the trilogy didn’t disappoint. Ms. Cast delivers a story as rich and complex as her first. I’m not ashamed to admit, she is one of the few authors who has made me fight back a sniffle or two.

Divine by Blood tells the story of Morrigan, the daughter of the baddie from the first two books. Raised in our world, she feels the call of Partholon and finds herself thrust into it after stumbling into a cave in Oklahoma. Unlike Shannon from book 1, Morrigan is not Epona’s chosen, but that of another goddess. Morrigan finds herself fighting the same evil that consumed her mother. The book takes you on a rollercoaster of a ride that never takes you down the path you think you’re heading. I wish I could tell you more about the book, but I hate giving away anything. This is one book you definitely want to read for yourself. It can stand as a read alone but to really appreciate the richness of Cast’s world, I urge you to find Divine by Mistake, the re-release of Goddess by Mistake and Divine by Choice and read them first.

Now to my TBR pile. Man when did it get this big? Okay I’ll just hit the top three. Vampire Interrupted by Lynsay Sands. Dead Over Heels by Mary Janice Davidson and finally Heroes Adrift by Moira J. Moore. Expect to see them up for a Ten Second Review next week.

We Read What We Write: Ten Second Reviews

I'm sure the big question bugging y'all is what the heck do we read when we aren't writing and chatting and generally living life.

Okay, so you may be too busy to comtemplate such burning questions, however, we're going to tell you anyway. And maybe, just maybe, I can slow down this obsession of mine just a little. If my husband ever finds out how much I read he may disown me. My brand new bookcases are already groaning with books from my past and the many new additions I've made to the collection in the last year or so.

So here goes. Sitting in the just read pile beside MorganO's chair you will find:

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn. My first JQ book and I loved it. A fun read. I believe in fun, so this is a very high compliment from me.

First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I adore SEP and this book was no exception. I stayed up all night to finish it.

Just Imagine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. A fabulous look at the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. Have I mentioned I love SEP? I'm saving the football books for next August to read again.

The Other Woman by Brenda Novak. Book #7 of her Dundee Idaho series, I liked it as much as the first one I read (A Husband of Her Own). Interestingly enough, the only book I haven't read in the series was the first one (A Baby of Her Own). I still need to find it. Good thing we have a used book store with an extensive HQ section. I just discovered there's a book #8. Oh honeyyyy...

Unexpected by Lori Foster. Another author I personally just discovered. I'm hooked on Lori Foster and enjoyed this little break from her SBC series and the Wild/Winston Brothers. All good choices.

Lip Service by Lori Foster and Julie Elizabeth Leto. A nice collaberation but not Lori's finest work. Still, both stories were enjoyable.

That Camden Summer by LaVyrle Spencer. In this past year I've rediscovered LaVryle. She's one of those authors you just have to read. Very detailed with her historical facts, I prefer her historicals to her contemporaries, but that doesn't mean her contemps are bad.

You've Got Male by Elizabeth Bevarly. I MUST get more of her books. Loved it. Computer geeks and ubersecret spies, what's not to love? I can truly identify with a woman who works in her jammies.

And last but not least, in my hands as I edit and type, Got Your Number by Stephanie Bond. I picked this one up based on how much I loved her book Whole Lotta Trouble. I'm not that far into it, but already I can tell it will be just as good.

Now that's a whole lotta books in the past week or so. Why? Well, when I can't sleep because my cold keeps me from breathing, the books take me away and I forget all about feeling crummy. Not even movies will take me away like just settling down to read. Later, when the cold is gone, I won't read so much, but for now the books work better than Dayquil for keeping me going. That and my box of Puffs.

So what has Jmo been reading?

Well you know me. I’ve been neck deep in comedies. Strangely enough all of them are vampires.

First up:

The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands:

This is the one series I can’t wait to read with each new book. Sands take on vamps is original and her comedic timing is spot on.

Evi Black isn’t a vampire by choice. She doesn’t even know how she became one. She just knows her trip to Mexico got her more than Montezuma’s Revenge to show for her troubles. When her best friend puts an ad in the personals looking for her a mate, the trouble really starts. Victor Argeneau shows up along with other vamps willing to take a chance on finding true love. Now Victor has to somehow discover the secret of Evi’s transformation and win her heart before someone kills her.

By the end of the book I couldn’t wait for the next. This series has been fantastic since book 1 and this installment was no exception.

And lucky I only had to wait a couple weeks for

Vampires are Forever, Book 8.

I must say this one I’ve been waiting for. Thomas Argeneau is the perfect example of what a vampire shouldn’t be. He isn’t dark and brooding. If anything, he’s the life of the party. When his cousins entrust finding their wayward mother to him, no one is more surprised than him. Inez Urso works for the Argeneau family and isn’t happy when her boss calls and tells her, she has to baby-sit Thomas while he searches for their mother. The surprises keep coming when Thomas discovers Inez is the lifemate he’s been looking for. Now, he must try to keep her alive as the man responsible for his aunt’s disappearance decides Inez is too close to finding the missing Marguerite Argeneau.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. the only problem I had with it was the last page left me hanging and drooling for the next book. Marguerite’s story!

And the last on my just read list

The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks

I fell in love with the first book in this series, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire. This series just keeps getting better.

In this volume we finally get the story of Jean-Luc Escharpe, vampire, swordsman, coven leader, fashion designer. Heather Westfield has always wanted to become a fashion designer but a bad marriage kept her dreams just that dreams. Meeting Jean Luc gave her a chance at making them come true until a killer from Jean’s past comes back with murder on his mind, hers. Now, Jean must battle his mortal enemy and his own heart, as falling in love is the last thing he wants and the very thing he needs.

This book was fast paced and drew me in from the get-go. Sparks brings her characters to live with such vibrancy you can’t help but fall in love with them.

Well those are my books for this week. I hope you all take the time to check them out. If not I’m coming to your house and sucking your blood. Blah! Blah!