TBR Challenge Review: One Cowboy, One Christmas

One Cowboy, One Christmas
Kathleen Eagle
Double D Ranch/Book 2
Silhouette/December 1, 2009

From Goodreads ~

Stranded and half-frozen in a South Dakota snowstorm, bull rider Zach Beaudry reached out for help at the nearest house he could find. And the beautiful rancher-schoolteacher who answered the door was a vision. Zach thanked his lucky stars for the kindness of strangers. But to Ann Drexler, this man was no stranger.

Zach didn't seem to remember their shared night of passion all those years ago—but how could Ann forget? Seeing Zach on her doorstep was as shocking as seeing the ghost of Christmas past. And though running her family's wild mustang ranch gave Ann a thing for strays, she tried to keep her distance. Yet as Zach regained his strength and became indispensable with the horses, Ann had to wonder—was a second chance with this cowboy in her Christmas future?

The first book In Care of Sam Beaudry, which I read, was about Zach's older brother. And while the books are about brothers, the stories are set in different states so the characters may be related but the stories are written as stand alones. Both books are contemporary westerns complete with cowboys and ranch hands and at times a little heavy on the cowboy vernacular.

The life a rodeo cowboy takes it's toll on the body and for Zach Beaudry his body is about to give out, just like his truck does, leaving him stranded. This guy is banged up and in need of some tender care. In walks Ann Drexler who just happens to find the cowboy passed out on her doorstep. Ann and her sister Sally take in Zach and bring him back to life. Zach agrees to help out on the ranch in return for his truck is being fixed.

Ann and Zach have an almost immediate attraction even thought Zach isn't at his best when he shows up at Ann's home. Ann does have an advantage - she remembers Zach and the night they spent together eight years ago. Zach - no clue. They've both changed in those eight years, most notably is Ann's weight loss and increased self confidence. Zach is still himself, only older and we hope, wiser. He has slowed down his partying and given his current circumstances, that isn't going to change.

The romance is kinda sweet, kinda cute but I didn't fall into it like I had hoped. It came across as more of Ann's crush on Zach bearing fruit. I'm not sure why Zach fell for Ann. She's a nice person but would he have fallen for her if they hadn't been so isolated? Not sure. I think this is one romance that could have used more time to develop rather than the week or so that it took for Ann and Zach to fall head over heels.

Rating: C

Double D Ranch Series ~

In Care of Sam Beaudry
One Cowboy, One Christmas
Cool Hand Hank
Once a Father

TBR Challenge Review: A Cold Day for Murder

A Cold Day for Murder
Dana Stabenow
Mystery
Kate Shugak/Book 1
Berkley/June 1992

From the back cover ~

She's a savvy investigator with the cool toughness of Sam Spade - and a smile that could melt a block of ice. Once the star of the Anchorage D.A.'s office, she's gone back to her roots in the far Alaska north. But Kate's taken her talent for detection along...and trouble knows where to find her.

The Dead of Winter

When a young national park ranger disappears during the long Alaskan winter, everyone assumes the cold got him. But when an investigator goes in after him, and never comes out, the weather may not be all that's killing. Or so thinks Kate Shugak. With her Husky-breed, Mutt, as an ally, she's hunting for answers among the pipeliners, Aleuts, and hardy eccentrics of the rugged American North. But she's heading for thin ice between lies and loyalties...between justice served and the cold face of murder.

This month's suggested theme is "other genre besides romance". Not an easy task when 90% of the TBR pile is romance but I did manage to find a mystery in there among the rakes and rogues, mistresses and kick-ass chicks. I could have gone with Urban Fantasy but I do read those fairly often. So instead I decide to go in a direction that I rarely travel without at least some shades of romance. And low and behold there was a little smidge of romance in this one. More of a bad break-up with a glimmer of a reunion kind of romance.

This is Stabenow's first mystery novel but not her first published. That was the science fiction novel, Second Star. Then came the mysteries, garnering the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original for A Cold Day for Murder. The book ended up in my TBR pile not because of the award but because of the location. I've always wanted to go to Alaska. It's the wild far north with a history I've always found fascinating. As it turns out, the location was my favorite part of the novel.

Kate Shugak is hiding out and has been for over a year. Her isolation is about to end when an old friend comes calling with a request she can't refuse. When we first meet Kate, she is far from welcoming to her guests and makes it clear in her actions and words that she is not happy for the company. Kate is not an easy person to like or get to know. Which is why I felt distant from her - watching what happens but not completely engaged in her story. If this had been a movie on TV, I would definitely be doing something else while watching.

Kate may not have engaged my interest but the landscape and culture of the Alaska of her world did. I loved the feel of freedom and danger coming off the pages. It's a world so foreign to what I'm accustomed to and I soaked it up! The mystery and characters paled by comparison and took a backseat to the scenery.

The missing men and their fate is what drives Kate to discover the truth. As she tracks their last days before their disappearances, the tracks eventually lead back to the one place Kate doesn't want to go. The mystery and clues leading to the big reveal are sufficient to bring the reader and Kate to the end of a not so surprising finish. All in all, I might read the next book in the series, still on the fence about that. It's a quick read, only 199 pages, worth the short time to read but nothing to really pull me into the next book.

Rating: C+

Books in this series ~

1. A Cold Day for Murder
2. A Fatal Thaw
3. Dead in the Water
4. A Cold-blooded Business
5. Play With Fire
6. Blood Will Tell
7. Breakup
8. Killing Grounds
9. Hunter's Moon
10. Midnight Come Again
11. The Singing of the Dead
12. A Fine and Bitter Snow
13. A Grave Denied
14. A Taint in the Blood
15. A Deeper Sleep
16. Whisper to the Blood
17. A Night Too Dark
18. Though Not Dead
19. Restless in the Grave

TBR Challenge Review: Frostfire

Frostfire
Lynn Viehl
Paranormal Romance
Kyndred/Book 3
Signet/January 4, 2011

From the back cover ~

As one of the genetically enhanced Kyndred, Lilah can read and control the minds of animals. Rescuing a group of kids form a wayward bear brings her to the attention of GenHance, the shadowy biotech company willing to murder to acquire superhuman DNA. After being drugged and abducted, Lilah wakes up handcuffed to a half-dead man in a refrigerated truck.

Walker, a soldier critically wounded in Afghanistan, is brought back to life by Lilah's warmth and determination, and resolves to do anything he can to free and protect her. But as the two struggle to escape their grim fate, they stumble upon a remote town hiding a dark secret, and learn that Lilah is also being hunted by someone she never expected to fear: A Kyndred friend.

It's a day late and probably more than a dollar short once you factor in inflation but I finally got my TBR Challenge review up. I won't go in to details but let's just say I've been... distracted. :)

Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series is a favorite of mine so when she began the spin-off series of the Kyndred, I knew I had to read it. With the next and last book of the series due out 1 November, I decided to get ready for release day by reading the third book in the series.

Lilah Devereaux has a way with animals. Unfortunately, it didn't come naturally but through genetic enhancement done when she was a baby. Now those that experimented on her want her and those like her back. Lilah is a survivor and that is never more evident than when she is kidnapped and forced to work with a stranger to stay alive. Lilah is a tough heroine, she was the driving force behind her and Walker escaping and surviving. Walker did it more for Lilah where as Lilah did it for both of them.

Walker Kimball is a contradiction. He is soldier who was thought to be dead but in reality he is more than human and much harder to kill. When he and Lilah are kidnapped, he is protective of her, then his more baser nature comes out and he can't decide if he wants to rip out her throat or have sex with her. I have to say, there were times when Walker confused me. But, all is not lost because in the end his actions made sense. I just wish it would have made sense a little sooner.

The romance happens very fast. And it's not very romantic since Lilah and Walker are in danger for most of the book. They do find some alone time to let loose but the falling in love didn't feel right. It felt too rushed and not believable.

There is a lot going on that isn't necessarily spelled out but inferred through the actions and reactions of the characters. Sometimes I found myself re-reading certain passages to make sure I understood what was going on. It's a complex plot with a number of secondary characters having a large impact on Lilah and Walker's lives. I did enjoy the tie in of the Darkyn characters - Nick and Gabriel. Since I preferred that series over this one, it was good to see some familiar faces of the Darkyn.

Frostfire was a whirlwind story with a number of sub-plots all tying in to the two main characters and their story. While I enjoyed the action and suspense, I do wish there had been more time devoted to the romance and not felt that it was rushed for the sake of the overall world building.

Rating: B

Books in this series ~

Shadowlight
Dreamveil
Frostfire
Nightshine

TBR Challenge Review: Doubleblind

Doubleblind
Ann Aguirre
Romantic Science Fiction
Sirantha Jax/Book 3
ACE/September 29, 2009

*Spoilers for Previous Books
*Highly recommend reading in order

From the back cover ~

Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.

And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.

But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope.

Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job…

I've had this book since its release nearly two years ago. I do remember starting it then putting it down. It had to do with the slower pace and lack of fight scenes. I had become accustomed to Jax, March and the gang getting into some serious trouble and fighting their way out of it. I'm thankful I gave Doubleblind another try because it was certainly worth it. This time, the fighting is there but on a mental level that tests Jax's abilities just as much, if not more, than jumping through grimspace and kicking ass.

Time for another road trip, this time to Bugland, home of the creatures of Ithiss-Tor. Bugs. But these are not bugs from our world. These bugs are highly intelligent, dangerous and real snobs when it comes to humans. They think humans are savages, beneath them. So it's up to Jax to form an alliance which is odd in itself since Jax isn't what you would call diplomatic. She's really out of her element which I think made her try that much harder. I loved seeing this side of Jax. Not only her ability to think quickly but she was also dealing with the fallout of March's breakdown and subsequently emotional shut down. Jax is walking a thin line between the two, giving the story the tension I craved.

The relationships in Jax's world are complex. None more so than her's and Vel's. Vel is one of the Bugs but he left Ithiss-Tor in disgrace many turns ago. He's different than others from his home planet. He doesn't look down on humans, not choosing to limit his small circle of associates. Vel is one of the very few Jax trusts and that's saying a lot since they first met when he was a bounty hunter and she was his prey. They've come a long way and I'm glad Aguirre didn't limit Jax to only the one important male relationship with March but gave her this deep friendship with Vel.

As the story progressed, I became quite interested in the outcome of Jax's diplomatic mission. You couldn't tell which way it would turn out since someone was committed to sabotaging the mission and it would go from looking positive to possible imprisonment for the gang. The relationship of Jax and March mirrored the diplomatic mission, with Jax making progress with March only to suffer a setback. I loved how Jax refused to give up on March. If their roles had been reversed, he would have done the same.

The ending of Doublind I will say left me relieved that Killbox, the next book in the series is sitting on my TBR pile. I have a feeling there will be more than enough action waiting for me in the next installment of this uniquely entertaining series.

Rating: B+

Books in this series ~

Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame (September 2012)

TBR Challenge Review: Midnight Man

Midnight Man
Lisa Marie Rice
Erotic Romance
Midnight/Book 1
Ellora's Cave/October 2004

*Some mild spoilers*

From the back cover ~

Interior decorator Suzanne Barron's new tenant is the most dangerously sexy man she's ever met. Navy Commander John Huntington, a former SEAL (aka 'Midnight Man') works best under cover of darkness. Within hours of meeting him, Suzanne has wild, no-holds barred sex with John, then panics at the depth of her passionate response to such a powerful and dangerous warrior. Suzanne doesn't do sex like that. John is definitely someone she needs to avoid for her own peace of mind. But when killers come for her, Suzanne knows she can turn to only one man. John will guard and protect her body. But who will guard and protect her body against John?

When I saw that this month's suggested theme was erotic romance I dug into my hidden stash of "dirty books" and after some tough decisions, settled on Lisa Marie Rice's romantic suspense. The Midnight trilogy has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while now but for some reason I hadn't picked it up. I had read good things about her steamy romantic suspense and have read one of her Elizabeth Jennings novels, I had yet to give her LMR books a go. While I'm not crazy about the cover with the computer generated hero and the heroine's face imprinted with the hands of a clock (WTH), I was willing to over look the cover and discover what was inside. (There is an updated cover that is more appealing. The one above just happens to be the one I own.)

The story starts with John and Suzanne meeting to discuss John renting space in Suzanne's building. John has recently returned from a job which involved killing two men. He's still pumped up on the adrenaline rush and as any man in the spec ops world knows, that means he's horny. At least this is what John thinks. So while they are conducting this interview and Suzanne is showing him around the building, John is thinking about how hot she is and how he will have sex with her. No doubt in his mind. But he decides he needs to take it slow and not scare her off. What a guy. It turns out John's idea of slow and mine are very different. *see blurb*

Suzanne Barron inherited a building that she has since renovated. She set up her living and office space in the building but still has space to rent out. In walks John Huntington and he's just oozing sex and animal attraction. Suzanne is immediately attracted to him but tries to keep her business-like demeanor. Suzanne assures herself that she doesn't date dangerous looking guys and how John could only mean trouble but then BOOM! she has sex with him the same day she meets him. And then she freaks after and slams the door in his face. LOL I think I would have liked her better if she'd held out a little longer. Or maybe not freaked out after.

John is in the business of keeping people safe and he proves this when he rescues Suzanne from an intruder. Which sounds great except for the fact that he kills the intruder. John is able to sneak up on the guy, cut his throat without the guy ever knowing John was there. As a former SEAL you would think he could subdue the intruder so that maybe the police could question him, right? But John goes all caveman and must kill anyone that threats "his woman". It turns out that a good friend of both John and Suzanne is a detective with the Portland police so no real problems for John killing this guy. Reality this is not.

John continues his protection of Suzanne placing them together 24/7. These two have no problem finding something to do, burning up the pages while John turns on his badass alpha charm and Suzanne discovers she likes dangerous men. The ending was wrapped up fairly quickly and lucky for Suzanne she had John on her side to make it all better. In the end I could have done with less of John's overbearing personality. I love alpha heroes but he just rubbed me the wrong way. Suzanne was okay but I would have liked to know what aside from his hotness, drew her to John.

The writing is fine and the steam is pouring off Suzanne and John in waves but the suspense could have used a heavy does of reality. I do have the next two books in the trilogy and will read them eventually. If I didn't, reading Midnight Man would not have made me run out and buy them.

Rating: C

Books in this trilogy ~

Midnight Man
Midnight Run
Midnight Angel

TBR Challenge Review: A Kiss at Midnight

A Kiss at Midnight
Eloisa James
Historical Romance
Happily Ever After/Book 1
Avon/August 1, 2010

From Goodreads ~

Miss Kate Daltry doesn't believe in fairy tales . . . or happily ever after.

Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince . . . and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancée, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble . . .

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune . . .

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

After reading and loving my first Eloisa James novel, Beauty Tamed the Beast, I was looking forward to read the first book in the series. Fate smiled on me with the suggested theme for this month challenge as Fairy Tales. Perfect since A Kiss at Midnight has the Cinderella theme.

Miss Katherine Daltry aka Kate is likely to be mistaken for a servant rather than a family member. She has taken over the duties of running the manor ever since her father died and looking like a lady is the last thing on her mind. The first impression one might have of Kate is that she lets her stepmother push her around. But that's not completely accurate. Kate works as hard as she does because she cares for the staff and the tenants of the estate. Her stepmother would like to do away with most of them, and has let quite a few go already. I liked that Kate is not portrayed as a pushover. She's certainly not meek but when she goes to the Prince's castle, she out of her element. Maybe that's why she gave in to him so easily. She knew he was engaged and no marriage proposal was possible but she felt this was her one chance at love, if only for a night.

Prince Gabriel gives a first impression of being a bit bookish. He's an archaeologist and would rather be working a dig than residing over a castle. His attraction to Kate is due in part because of her lack of knowledge of the proper etiquette when in the presence of royalty. She has a tendency to say what's on her mind and Gabriel finds her refreshing and a challenge. But he must marry for money and is engaged to a Princess. Here's where I started having problems. Gabriel's princess is due to arrive any day. It's an arranged marriage, they haven't met but Gabriel is determined to do "his duty". But he still seduces Kate, knowing she's a virgin he assures her he won't take her virginity. Nope, he'll just get her, and himself naked. But no sex. *rolls eyes*. Yeah, how long do you think that lasted? He even got to where he was begging Kate for sex (this is after they had sex, but only for that one special night) because he just had to have her. This is after his fiancé had arrived at the castle and he's met her and she's nice!

The overall story and the writing are well done but I had a hard time with Gabriel's motives and I just didn't like him. I get that he was conflicted with his duty to his family and people and his feelings for Kate but it felt too much like he used her. When he drags Kate into the maze to have sex, after just dancing with his fiancé, that was the final straw for me. As far as I was concerned, this was no prince charming.

On the brighter side, I did like Kate's fairy godmother Henry, short for Henrietta. She was a hoot! She said what was on her mind and helped guide Kate through her venture into society. I did like the story but would have enjoyed it far more had Gabriel behaved more like a gentleman rather than a scoundrel. If you can overlook his behavior, then this fairy tale might be for you.

Rating: C+

Book in this series ~

A Kiss at Midnight
When Beauty Tamed the Beast
This Duke of Mine (2012)

TBR Challenge Review: Exclusively Yours

Exclusive Yours
Shannon Stacey
Contemporary Romance
Kowalski Family/Book 1
Carina Press/June 7, 2010

From Goodreads ~

When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town — and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan — for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri
Joe 2gether 4ever.

This one hasn't been on my tbr pile for long but I will confess that I got caught up in the mass of positive reviews for book 3 in this series, Yours to Keep, so I had to start this series! And it is a contemporary so I could justify bumping it up the list since it fits in with this month's category. See how that works? We readers can justify nearly anything when it comes to books. :)

A book that starts with the mention sex in the backseat of my first car* not only brings back memories, it makes me glad I didn't have that car for long. Lord, that car was ugly! Although, Joe's car is brown and my was blue, still... ugly car.

Keri and Joe were high school sweethearts who thought they had everything planned out, then Keri went and changed the plans. It's almost 20 years later and Keri is put in a position where she must go back home to and see Joe again. Her job is on the line and since her job is the Most Important Thing In Her Life, she's willing to do anything to get the story.

I felt sorry for Keri, for putting so much into her career that she had so little left to give to any other part of her life. Sure, she had friends and other interests but they held such a small part of her time. The vast majority was given to her job. And she was okay with that. I think she had become use to her life centered around her job. Then, when she goes to interview Joe she begins to see what has been missing from her life - family.

Joe *deep sigh* I adored, lusted and just plain wanted Joe. Yeah, I know, he's fictional. So what? Isn't that kinda the point? LOL Joe is this immensely popular author whose career has brought him fame and fortune but not much happiness in the romance department. He is very close with his family and Stacey does a fantastic job not only showing but explaining that bond that the Kowalski siblings have. They argue, fight, tease and torment like pros but their loyalty and love always comes through. Even with all his fame, Joe is very down to earth. He doesn't embrace his celebrity but rather hides from it. He just wants to be left alone to write and enjoy time with his family. He's easy to like and easy to get to know, kind of an open book. :) With Keri, we see his vulnerable side. We see how much her leaving hurt him. I liked seeing that in the hero. Who says they have to be strong and stoic all the time? Let them show us how they're feeling and how deep they feel. Stacey does that and does it well with Joe.

There are certainly lighter and very humorous scenes throughout Exclusively Yours brought to you by the Krazy Kowalski family. The whole camping/ATV vacation that Keri is forced to go on is an adventure in endurance, patience and fortitude with a healthy dash of irritation thrown in. She also experiences that close bond the family has and can't help getting caught up in the their wild antics. I loved how she surprised herself by actually enjoying the trip

Joe's instructions to Keri as to what to bring on the camping trip ~

BRING: Bug spray; jeans; T-shirts; several sweatshirts, at least one with a hood; one flannel shirt (mandatory); pajamas (optional); underwear (also optional); bathing suit (preferably skimpy); more bug spray; sneakers; waterproof boots; good socks; sunscreen; two rolls of quarters.

DO NOT BRING: cell phone; Blackberry; laptop; camera, either still or video; alarm clock; voice recorder; any other kind of electronic anything.

She had no clue what it meant, other than Joe wanting her half-naked and unable to text for help.

Love Shannon Stacey's humor that's splashed throughout the story. I found myself laughing out loud so much and sometimes thankful that I wasn't in Keri's shoes, which were often dirty, wet, muddy and/or stinky. :)

Keri and Joe do have a history and that history also includes Joe's twin sister Terry. There is a boatload of tension between these former BFFs and while Joe tries to keep from getting stuck in the middle, he doesn't always succeed. I thought having that secondary relationship between Keri and Terry explored, it made the overall story more realistic to have Keri tied to this family not only by Joe but by Terry.

If there was one thing that bothered me just a little it was the time spent on Terry's problems with her marriage. While I felt it was important to show how she was feeling and what she was going through, if only to explain her reaction to Keri and Joe, I did feel it took a little too much of the story away from Keri and Joe's story. And there is also some drama with Joe's other brother and his wife. So lots of drama in the Kowalski camp.

After reading Exclusively Yours I went and bought Undeniably Yours and saw Netgalley had Yours to Keep for request and was lucky enough to get that too. Knowing I have more hours of reading pleasure from the Kowalski brothers makes me one happy camper!

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Exclusively Yours
Undeniably Yours
Yours to Keep

*1978 Ford Granada. Mine was dark blue.

TBR Challenge Review: Mustang Wild

Mustang Wild
Stacey Kayne
Historical Western Romance
American West/1880
Harlequin/March 1, 2007

From the back cover ~

No smooth-talking man is going to outwit her!

With the deed to her land and a kid brother to protect, mustanger Skylar Daines shouldn't have tangled with the likes of Tucker Morgan. But his stolen kiss scatters her senses and, quicker than a whirling dust devil, they're wed!

To her relief, Tucker's keen to fix the marital slipup—and then he tells her the deed she holds belongs to him, and him alone. Maybe she shouldn't rush to have their marriage annulled. No man, no matter how good-looking, is going to swindle Skylar out of the one thing she yearns for most—a home.

This month's challenge category is westerns - either historical or contemporary. My TBR pile has plenty of westerns to choose from but they majority are from the Harlequin Historical line. I have a number of books from Stacey Kayne and decided it was about time I gave her a try. Mustang Wild is not only the first book in Kayne's Wild series, it's also her debut novel. While this is a historical, the cover looks more contemporary to me with the pearl snaps on the shirt and the jeans that look far more fashionable than an old pair of Levis.

The story begins with Skylar and her younger brother Garret looking for the man who was her father's partner instead she finds his drunken twin brother. Then before she could blink, they're married. What?! A bunch of drunks and a bet was involved and Skylar learned that she should always read what she signs. Right from the start it's obvious who the more mature, serious person is in this relationship. Skylar is nineteen but has been weighed down by a lot of responsibility early on. Now, with her father dead, she has her thirteen year old brother to take care of. Plus, she has to get her horses to Wyoming, to the home that she thinks is hers.

Tucker Morgan may be a twin but he's nothing like his brother Chance. Tucker is quick to smile, friendly, outgoing and just enjoys life. He didn't want to get married but once he gets to know his new bride, he begins to see the positive side of being married to Skylar. He also has a hard time thinking of her as just another one of the hands on the trail drive. He really seemed to enjoyed bringing out her feminine side and I liked that about him. That he took the time to see past her serious, somewhat rough exterior to the woman underneath.

The story got off to a bit of a slow start - I felt like I was ready but was left waiting for everyone else to get ready to go. It picked up once they got on the trail, heading to Wyoming. With everyone working hard to keep the horses moving and protected, you wouldn't think there would be time for romance. Tucker and Skylar managed to find some time, but still say they want an annulment. Aside from the hasty marriage, Skylar must overcome her distrust of men before she and Tucker have any chance of a HEA. She doesn't want to rely on any man, certainly not her husband but Tucker continues to prove he is there for her and she learns that all men are not alike. I was just happy she didn't suddenly fall for his pretty face.

The trail is dangerous, with the terrain and the horse thieves trying their best to stop Skylar and Tucker from making it to Wyoming. The plot was fairly typical of a western. I wasn't surprised by any twists or turns the story took, rather, I found myself along for the ride, knowing where I would end up. I'd say Mustang Wild was a pleasing read with a strong heroine, a likable hero and a couple secondary characters waiting in the wings for their stories to be told.

Rating: B

Books in this series ~

Mustang Wild
Maverick Wild
Mountain Wild

TBR Challenge Review: Kitty and the Midnight Hour

Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Carrie Vaughn
Urban Fantasy
Kitty Norville/Book 1
Warner/November 1, 2005

From the back cover ~

VAMPIRES. WEREWOLVES. TALK RADIO.

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station--and a werewolf in the closet. Sick of lame song requests, she accidentally starts "The Midnight Hour," a late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged.

After desperate vampires, werewolves, and witches across the country begin calling in to share their woes, her new show is a raging success. But it's Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew…

No clue how long this, and a few others from this series, have been sitting on the TBR pile. If I had to guess I'd say a few years. I haven't read anything of Vaughn's before so this fits in nicely with this month's theme of New To Me Author. It also fits nicely with time constraints I found myself in, coming in at just under 260 pages. I didn't start reading until Monday night which I'll blame on playing with my new cell phone - ie. learning how to use the darn thing.

The premise is an interesting one. Kitty Norville is getting by with her night time radio gig when a call and a threat changes everything. She's a werewolf and now everyone knows. Here's where I had the first problem. Kitty's radio show not only outs werewolves but vampires as well. Kitty's alpha, Asshat Carl, tells her to stop doing the show, she doesn't, and... nothing. He threatens her but nothing comes of it. Then there's Arturo, the local Master vampire. He didn't like Kitty before the show and now likes her even less. He wants her to stop the show too. She doesn't, Arturo threatens, actually follows through. Pack politics also affect Kitty's life, threatening her and her venture into talk radio semi-stardom, leaving Kitty wondering who to trust.

The pack dynamics are pretty much what you would expect with an alpha ruling and a hierarchy that puts Kitty near the bottom. She starts out very submissive, really kind of wimpy for a werewolf but we do see her slowly evolve and begin to stand up for herself. That I did like. She wasn't this kick-ass chick, telling all the alphas off but she did stop hanging her head so often. One thing I didn't like about the pack was Carl. What a total ass! He has a mate but one of the perks of being an alpha is having sex with whomever he want - that included Kitty whether she wanted to or not. Was it rape? Yes and no. We get both Kitty and her Wolf's reaction to Carl with Kitty wanting to run and Wolf wanting to please Carl and be loved by Carl. Then both Kitty and her Wolf wanting to be loved and taken care of by Carl. However you read it, that aspect didn't appeal to me at all.

Kitty's life continues with more turmoil and mayhem. Not all of this is from outside sources. Kitty doesn't always apply common sense and gets herself into some of the less than favorable situations. She disregards advice from friends, packmates and even her lawyer. She may be growing more of a backbone but she's not there yet which is why it's so frustrating when she continues to put herself into these situations.

None of the male characters stood out for me. There's TJ, Kitty's packmate and close friend. He's okay but too much of a follower of Carl, whom I detested. Then there's Cormac the bounty hunter. We don't learn much about him which made it hard to connect with him. There's Carl - I've pretty much made my feelings known about him. The little bit we saw of Arturo was kind of interesting. I'd say vampire Rick was the most interesting. The feeling is that he's a powerful vampire but doesn't like to show off. He's sort of a friend of Kitty's, maybe ally is a better term. I could see him becoming a more vital part of the series.

In the end, I'm left with some curiosity for Kitty and her world and will most likely read the next installment, if only to get it off the TBR pile.

Rating: C

Books in this series ~

Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Kitty Goes to Washington
Kitty Takes a Holiday
Kitty and the Silver Bullet
Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
Kitty Raises Hell
Kitty's House of Horrors
Kitty Goes to War
Kitty's Big Trouble