ARC Review: Tall, Dark, and Wolfish

Tall, Dark, and Wolfish
Lydia Dare
Historical Paranormal Romance/1816
Werewolf series/Book 2
Sourcebooks/May 2010
ARC from publisher

From the author's website ~

He's lost the most important part of himself...

Lord Benjamin Westfield is a powerful werewolf - until one full moon he doesn't change and his life is shattered. He rushes off to Scotland in search of the healer who can restore his inner beast, only to find she's not at all what he expected...

She would make him whole, if she could...

Young, beautiful witch Elspeth Campbell will give her all to help anyone who calls upon her healing arts. Until Lord Benjamin shows up, and she suddenly discovers she may need him even more than he needs her...

A werewolf in Scotland! After reading the first book, A Certain Wolfish Charm, I still knew very little about the youngest Westfield brother, Lord Benjamin, and I was curious. All I knew is that he was in Scotland and hadn't been in touch with his family for some time. It turns out Ben is in serious trouble and needs help from one very special healer. When he sets off on his journey he doesn't know how special she really is.

Lord Benjamin Westfield is a werewolf who has lost his ability to change. This is a critical part of who he is. In his search for help he is sent to a healer. She is supposed to be in Edinburgh and that's also where Ben's friend, Alec MacQuarrie lives. So Ben drops in on his friend and begins to socialize with some of the locals. That's when he meets Elspeth Campbell. He's immediately drawn to her and can't resist an opportunity to spend time with her.

Elspeth is a sweet, kind and gentle woman who is also a witch. She is an orphan who didn't have an easy childhood. She now lives and takes care of her ailing grandfather. I liked her immediately for her honesty and integrity. Her loyalty to her friends and fellow witches makes this more than just a romance. The five young women of the Còig have a variety of cool powers. I really thought the women added another facet to Elspeth and I loved their bonds of friendship that made them more like sisters. I also completely enjoyed their interaction with Ben. They are suspicious of Ben and his growing relationship with El and they use their magic in very creative ways when they think he is getting too close to their beloved El.

As Ben and Elspeth grow closer Ben's problem becomes a focal point of their relationship. Elspeth is certain she can heal him, Ben is afraid he will hurt her if she does. I liked that Ben being a werewolf was a large part of the story. El, being a witch, didn't run screaming from him, she's too practical for that. (I liked that about her too!) What she does is research his problem as she gets to know him and yes, fall in love with him. The way their love story is written, you can see how they both have reasons for not wanting to fall in love. Ben is a Lord from a powerful family. He lives in a grand house in London while El lives in a small cottage and calls Edinburgh home. She is also burdened with being born out of wedlock. She never knew her father and wishes to find him if only to know why he got her mother pregnant and then left her. The identity of El's father is a secondary story line that adds some mystery.

I'm not a big fan of witches. Witches alone will not grab my interest in a book. This time though, I thoroughly adored the witches of Edinburgh. They are smart, funny and devoted to their sister witches. I delighted in their antics when trying to discourage Ben's attention to El. I do hope we see more of them in future books.

Another thing I liked about Tall, Dark and Wolfish was Will. He captured my attention in book one, A Certain Wolfish Charm and he was back at it, "helping" Ben while stirring up a little trouble in Edinburgh. Will is the middle brother of the Westfield trio and his book, The Wolf Next Door, is out next month! I can't wait to read his book.

As a couple, Ben and El had much to overcome. They went through a lot of difficulties and had to work for their Happily Ever After. There were times when my heart broke for El and Ben. They had to go through so much and were two genuinely deserving people. I so wanted them to get to that HEA. I think having them really work out their problems helped make the ending that much sweeter. Overall, the writing duo that is Lydia Dare has added a well written werewolf historical romance to the mix.

Rating: A-

My review of book one, A Certain Wolfish Charm

Review: Wolf Signs

Wolf Signs
Vivian Arend
Paranormal Romance
Granite Lake Wolves/Book 1
B&N Free In-Store Read

From the author's website ~

Robyn Maxwell doesn’t care that her brother has to cancel out on their back country ski trip. She can do it alone. The fact she’s deaf doesn’t make her survival skills any weaker. The chance to get away from it all and relax in the Yukon wilderness is just what she’s been craving.

Meeting wilderness guide Keil at the cabin starts cravings of another kind. Keil’s one hot hunk of ripped, tasty male. Now she has to deal with raging hormones as well as strange questions about wolves and mates and challenges to the death.

Keil was trying for a nice reflective retreat before challenging for the Alpha position of his Alaskan pack. He wasn’t planning on meeting the woman destined to be his mate, or finding out she’s not aware she has the genes of a wolf.

Between dealing with his accident-prone younger brother, a deaf mate with an attitude and an impending duel to the death, his week—and his bed—is suddenly full.

Far from the relaxing getaway any of them had in mind…

Warning: Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘talking with your hands.’ Includes dangerous use of sarcasm and hot nookie in a remote wilderness sauna.

If you noticed the info at the top, this was a free in-store read for my nook™. One of the latest upgrades for the nook™ was one hour of free in-store reading per day. The selection is varied from NY Times bestsellers to shorter, sub-genres like erotica. I picked Arend's because I'd heard good things about her writing. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to try it.

One of the first things that's different is the heroine is deaf. I'm always curious as to how an author will portray someone with a disability. Will they play up the disability and make it the focal point of the character? Or will they downplay it and make the character more than her disability? In this case Robyn Maxwell doesn't let her deafness slow her down. Nor does she let it define her. I really liked that about her. She doesn't take shit from anyone either. And she is far from helpless. Sure, she has to deal with situations differently because of her deafness but it doesn't deter her from doing what she wants to. Which is why she goes on the skiing trip alone.

Keil and his brother TJ are not as surprised at having company at the cabin as they are that their company is a woman alone. Good thing for Robyn that these two brothers are gentlemen, sort of. They are in fact werewolves. When Keil realizes Robyn is his mate he has to figure out how to tell her without totally freaking her out. It takes some doing and convincing but eventually they come to an understanding. It must have been the pheromones or the short length of the story but, Robyn and Keil got hot and heavy pretty quick.

TJ is like the Scooby-Doo of the werewolves. He's cute, he's lovable and he's a bit of a goof. His skiing ability is more of an attacking the slopes and barreling down the mountain as opposed to actually skiing down. He's lost three pairs of skis this season much to his brother's embarrassment. I thought it was cute to have a werewolf that was not an over-the-top alpha. He was formidable while in his wolf form but a bit of a klutz in human form.

The romance between Robyn and Keil is there but again, happens fairly quickly. Robyn was a little too trusting of Keil and TJ. I mean, good grief, they're werewolves! She's alone in an isolated cabin with them. How does she really know what they'll do to her? She questions them about their "werewolfness" but pretty much takes them at their word regarding her safety with them. Robyn and Keil connect fast and fall into lust fast. Everything happens pretty quickly.

Overall, a decent werewolf meets mate story. There seemed to be too much going on for such a short story. I would have preferred the story concentrate on the romance and not so much on the pack drama. I do plan to read book 2, Wolf Flight. The e-books are inexpensive and quick reads.

Rating: B-

Review: Getting Rid of Bradley

Getting Rid of Bradley
Jennifer Crusie
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin Temptation #480/February 1994
Reissued/Harlequin/December 2008
Library ebook

From the author's website ~

Lucy Savage is finally getting rid of Bradley—and his hideous green recliner. Bradley is out of her life for good. Or so she thinks. Turns out Officer Zack Warren wants to arrest the very same Bradley for embezzlement and figures the lovely Lucy can lead him straight to his target.

Good thing there’s a cop around. Because someone shoots at Lucy and then blows up her car. Zack insists she needs twenty-four-hour protection. What does he think her three dogs and attack cat are for? Still, he insists on moving right in to Lucy’s house.

Now there’s danger lurking outside and in her own kitchen, bathroom—and bedroom. Or maybe Zack is just what Lucy needs.…

I picked this one up, really downloaded it, because Nath said she liked it. If Nath says she likes a book, there's a good chance it's a very good book. In the case of Getting Rid of Bradley she was spot on!

The story opens with Lucy and her sister Tina at the courthouse waiting for Lucy's now ex-husband to show up. It was the day her divorce was finalized and Bradley was suppose to be there. He doesn't show so they head over to a diner where Lucy said Bradley might show up. It's at the diner things get crazy. There's bad food, poor service and a couple of hot guys that turn out to be cops. Which is a good thing since it turns out Lucy needs the police.

After getting shot at and grabbed by what she thought was a drug dealer, Lucy finally goes home to her three pound puppies. I absolutely loved the personalities Crusie gives to these adorable dogs. Heisenberg, Maxwell and Einstein are unique characters that add so much flavor to the story. The roles they play in Lucy's life is so important that I can't imagine her falling in love with someone who doesn't love her dogs. Or at the very least like them.

Detective Zack Warren is in for a surprise when the crazy woman from the diner turns out to be linked to a big case he's been working on. He tracks her to her home and after assuring her that he is indeed a cop, he gets down to questioning her. Lucy isn't at all what Zack expected to find after their first encounter. She sexy and sweet and yes, a bit crazy but there is a definite attraction between these two. Zack is not what I would call likable until you get to know him, especially after Lucy's positive influence takes hold. It's not that he's mean or a jerk, he's just gruff, grumpy and unapproachable. Both in looks and manner. But underneath all that he's a real sweetheart.

The more time Zack spends with Lucy and her dogs the more she, and the dogs, drive him crazy but in a good way. :) Crusie had me laughing a lot at the comedic situations Lucy, Zack and yes, the dogs, find themselves in. In between all the witty and sharp dialogue is the threat of pain and possible death as Lucy's life becomes more complicated as the search for Bradley continues. Zack has moved in to Lucy's house, offering protection and the very willing use of his very sexy body. Lucy isn't a pushover and makes Zach work for it. She truly drives him crazy. It's great!

When Lucy divorces Bradley she also decides it's time for a change. She's tired of playing it safe and wants to make her own mistakes and not have her sister Tina bail her out. This makes her more open to Zach and his idea that oh, he can watch over her better from say, her bed. LOL I really liked these two together. The dynamics of their relationship had both of them changing. Sort of a meeting in the middle type of situation. With Zach softening up and Lucy becoming more independent.

The mystery surrounding where Bradley is and what trouble he's gotten into was fun to try and figure out. Even the criminals got in on some of the comedic scenes. This was truly a cute, funny and sweet romance. Definitely a favorite Crusie.

Rating: A-

ARC Review: Uncertain Magic

Uncertain Magic
Laura Kinsale
Historical Romance/1797/England/Ireland
Sourcebooks/May 2010
Reprint/1st Published by Avon/1987
ARC for Review

From the back cover ~

A man damned by suspicion and innuendo

Dreadful rumors swirl around the impoverished Irish lord known as "The Devil Earl." But Faelan Savigar hides a dark secret, for even he doesn't know what dreadful deeds he may be capable of...

A woman cursed by the gift of "sight"

Roderica Delamore fears no man will ever want a wife who can read his every thought and emotion, until she encounters Faelan. As the two find their way to each other against all odds, Roddy becomes determined to save Faelen from his terrifying and mysterious ailment. But will their love end up saving him...or destroying her? A breathtaking historical romance filled with poignancy, darkness, love, and an unexpected twist of Gaelic magic...

A classic tale from Laura Kinsale. I remember reading this years ago when it was first released. I'm so happy that Sourcebooks will be releasing Ms. Kinsale's backlist so that new readers can enjoy her unique characters and settings.

I immediately liked Roderica or Roddy as she's called. She's extremely wealthy but is kept fairly secluded by her family. It's because of her gift or curse, depending on who you are and how you view it. Roddy can read minds by hearing people's thoughts. So being in a crowded environment can become overwhelming for her. She does feel a special affinity for animals which is what brings her into contact with The Devil Earl.

When Roddy meets Faelen Savigar she is stunned, not by the fact that he is exceedingly handsome in a devilish way, but because she can not hear his thoughts. Nothing. It's an amazing treat for Roddy to be near someone and not be bombarded by their thoughts. She does have ways of toning down the volume but in crowds it can be too much. Or with people she is close to, hearing their most intimate thoughts can be embarrassing. With Faelen, she has none of that. Of course, there are times when Roddy wishes she could hear his thoughts. LOL She is fascinated by him and thinks he is her chance to have a normal life. A life with a husband and children. It's something that she thought was out of her reach because of her curse. Now, there's a chance she can have that.

It seems The Devil Earl is low on funds and needs money to repair his estate in Ireland. When Roddy encourages his attention, letting him know that she wants marriage, he thinks this is the answer to his problems. He proceeds to court her, quickly, since he is also short on time. They marry with some speculation from the gossip mill.

The Devil Earl isn't an innocent and his more recent mistress makes an appearance, putting Roddy on the defense. The woman makes it clear to Roddy what her relationship with Roddy's husband is and there is also Roddy's ability to hear the woman's thoughts. I felt sorry for Roddy when she finds herself doubting her place in Faelan's life. She worried that he would go back to his mistress even after he showed Roddy how much he wanted her. Thankfully, Faelan doesn't prove to be an ass and he really is coming to care very much for Roddy. They spend some time in London but Faelan must get back to Ireland and see to his estate.

Before they head to Ireland, Faelan's mother, Lady Iveragh descends on the newlyweds. She is a real piece of work. You know she's up to trouble and seeing her interactions with Faelan helped me get to know his past better and perhaps why he is so standoffish. Lady Iveragh is adminant that Faelan and Roddy not go to Ireland. She hates it there and is certain that it's no place for Roddy. Another unexpected guest pays a visit. He is Geoffrey, Lord Cashel. He is friends with Faelan but also neighbor to Roddy. She has known him forever and also has a secret crush on him. But he is married to a perfect lady, not one that can hear his every thought. Roddy knew if Geoffrey had ever found out what she could do it would ruin their relationship.

There is a bit of a love triangle going on with Roddy, Faelan and Geoffrey. It's because Faelan suspects his wife is secretly in love with his friend Geoffrey so it creates some tension when the two men are together. The things that Faelan is accused of and whispered about also creates great tension. Geoffrey may consider Faelan his friend but that doesn't mean he thinks Faelan is good enough for Roddy. Or that Roddy is safe with Faelan. Everyone, except Roddy, thinks Faelan is dangerous. The problem is that Faelan suffers memory loss so he can't be sure he didn't commit the things he's accused of.

The magic in the story comes from Ireland and it's history. There are a number of things happening when Roddy and Faelan arrive in Ireland. There is a revolution brewing and while Faelan is trying to stay out of the crossfire, it becomes very difficult to do that. He would rather spend his time getting his estate repaired and building a home for his new wife. During this time strange things start happening to Roddy. She begins to lose time. I found myself fascinated by what might be causing her loss of time. It was very dramatic and Faelan goes into a tailspin when he can't find her. He is falling in love with her and she with him. I found liked them as a couple even with the drama that they couldn't seem to escape.

There is a point where the plot became a bit heavy with the political drama. The danger that Roddy was exposed to because of Faelan's involvement and the subsequent terror they go through, for me went on a bit too long. It does have it's dark moments and I wouldn't consider it a light read. I did enjoy it for it's different setting (Ireland) and the mystical feel of Roddy's ability and the overall magical feel of Ireland. If you're looking for a well written story of love, magic and romance then Uncertain Magic could be the story for you.

Rating: B+

Review: Savor the Moment

Savor the Moment
Nora Roberts
Contemporary Romance
Bride Quartet/Book 3
Berkley Publishing/May 2010

From the inside cover ~

Laurel McBane has always relied on her friends for support, especially when her dream of attending culinary school was almost ruined by her parents' financial problems. Now Laurel is repaying the kindness of her friends by creating extravagantly luscious tiers of cakes and other confectionery delights that add the perfect touch to their clients' weddings.

As for romance, Laurel believes in it - in theory. But she's too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that other women seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker's older brother, Delaney Brown, on whom Laurel has had a mega crush since childhood.

But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her-or so she thinks. When Laurel's quicksilver moods get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, all-together mind-blowing kiss with Del-she'll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever...

I'm not a huge Nora Roberts fan. What I mean by that is that I haven't read a lot of her romances. I've read all of the J. D. Robb books (Love them!) but the Roberts back list for me remains mostly untouched. The Bride Quartet I started reading after hearing good reviews and I liked the idea of four girls growing up together, not only staying friends but becoming business partners. And you can't get more romantic than a full service wedding business.

I feel like I've been waiting forever for Laurel and Del's story. Okay, not that long but it seemed like it. I really liked Laurel, I think it's because she wasn't as approachable as the other three women of Vows. She's a bit prickly and quick to say what's on her mind, even when it's not the most tactful thing to say. But I liked her! I could totally see being friends with someone like her in RL. She, in fact, reminds me of a friend of mine. So there was definitely a connection before reading Savor the Moment.

Hmmm... Delaney Brown is an alpha male for sure but he's a 21st century alpha. He uses his intellect and business sense to help and protect those he loves. Delaney had a lot of responsibility laid on him early on when his parents died. He took charge of the family fortune and household. He also helped his sister Parker and her three best friends when they decided to open their wedding business. Yep, that's Delaney - responsible, respectable, and an all around nice guy. His problem is that he doesn't see what's been right in front of him. I did like Delaney but boy could he be dense sometimes.

Laurel and Del made for a sweet couple. They had already been friends forever and now they were venturing into new territory. They decide to take it slow with going out on dates. I liked seeing this side of them as a couple. How they interact with each other took on a different feel. They still had that friendship at the core but now they allowed and acknowledge the attraction they felt. And they not only acknowledge it, they acted on it.

I loved seeing the rest of the gang who now include; Carter, hero of 1st book, fiance' of Mac and Jack, hero of 2nd book, fiance' of Emma. They are now part of the clan. I loved the morning interactions of this lively and sometimes not so lively group. Mac is not a morning person, just saying. :) They would all meet at he main kitchen of the Brown mansion, getting ready to start their day with Mrs. G's delicious cooking. Mrs. G has been with the Brown's for years and has known all of the women since they were little. She is wonderful, imparting her wisdom along with her comfort foods.

The main problem I had with Savor the Moment is that I would have liked more Laurel and Del and less of the almost step-by-step instructions of cake decorating. I get that it was Laurel's passion but honestly, it just didn't interest me that much. More Laurel and Del time and more romance. The ending also felt, rushed maybe? It just wrapped up too quickly. Laurel and Del fight, then make up with little inbetween. I almost found myself wishing I had waited and read Savor the Moment right before Happy Ever After (book 4) comes out in November.

Even with those problems I still enjoyed the story and practically devored it. It was hard to put down but part of that was that I kept hoping for a little more Laurel and Del. But I do love the friendships of the four women. That remains my favorite part of the quartet. :)

Rating: B+

Catching Up...

Hey, hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was busy but good. Friday night was Abby's awards/end of year dinner for both marching and concert band. It was fun and they had a great slide show put together with pictures of the various march band festivals and the different concerts.

Saturday was busy as usual but the big thing is that... we finally bought a new TV! I mentioned months ago that we were ready to upgrade from our clunky, old 27 inch TV to a flat screen. It took us long enough to decide but we finally got one last night. It's a 47 inch and compared to the old one it's really big! LOL We had to move the furniture around and now we have this empty area on one wall. You guys know what I want to put there right? *grins* I can't help it. I see an empty wall and I think - bookcase. :)

Today was Mother's Day here in the states. Did I sleep in? Nope. I stayed up late Saturday, until about 1:00 and then woke up around 6:00 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. Ugh! So I treated myself to an Entenmann's chocolate donut and got some reading in. Finished Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie. Very funny comedic romance. Then we went out to brunch with my mom and my brother and his wife, who drove down from Las Vegas. I had the most delicious chocolate chip/peanut butter muffin. Next time I make muffin I'm adding peanut butter. I have a friend who adds peanut butter to her rice crispy treats. It's very good that way.

After brunch we hung out at my mom's and then home where I dozed off while reading on the couch. So a very nice and relaxing day.

How was everyone's weekend? Read any good books lately?

Review: Stolen Seduction

Stolen Seduction
Elisabeth Naughton
Romantic Suspense
Stolen Trilogy/Book 3
Love Spell/January 2010
Library book

From the back cover ~

The individual who collects all six statues and deciphers the code locked within will be awarded controlling interest in Roarke Resorts.

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS ENDEAVOR IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

Hailey Roarke was never interested in her family’s fortune. That’s why she became a cop. But with her father and now her cousin dead, she’s suddenly on the wrong side of a police interrogation. The only way to clear her name is to solve the riddle before the real killer. Without getting killed herself.

Detective Shane Maxwell can’t deny the spark of lust he feels every time Hailey is near. But the woman is clearly hiding something. Trusting his gut—and the heat in her eyes—he joins her on an elaborate global treasure hunt staged by her late father. Caught between a sizzling seduction and a maniacal murderer, for Hailey and Shane the biggest reward of all will be making it out alive.

The last book in the trilogy features a hero and heroine that were first introduced in Stolen Fury, book one. Hailey Roarke is the ex-wife of Rafe, hero of book one. Shane Maxwell is the brother of Lisa Maxwell, heroine from book one. So we have already met both h/h in previous books. Hailey is a character I liked from the first time she appeared in Stolen Fury. Shane, eh, a bit on the overprotective side and very bossy. But he grew on me.

Hailey Roarke wanted nothing to do with her family's hotel empire. She gets pulled back in when her father dies and leaves a few interesting stipulations in his will. She tells herself her stint in the family business is only temporary, just until she gets the terms of the will cleared up. She's really a cop in Florida but... she admits she's not really good at that either. Her career life is in a bit of turmoil. And her personal life isn't much better. She is friends with her ex-husband, so that's always good. And there was this guy she met a few months ago but nothing really came from that. Then Hailey finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her cousin, a real ass, is found dead and the police have some questions for Hailey. One of the detectives is especially interested in Hailey. And he just happens to be "that" guy.

There's a bit of a soap-opera feel with all the different character connections but it's not a bad feeling just a lot of coincidences of how all their lives are intertwined. Shane Maxwell, brother to Dr. Lisa Maxwell who is married to Rafe Sullivan, Hailey's ex. Shane is, of course, the Chicago police detective with a special interest in Hailey. They've met before and while there were some sparks, neither made the move to take things all the way. Now they're both involved in the murder investigation of Hailey's cousin. And what the heck is with her father's crazy will? According to the will, Hailey going to have to jump through some hoops to keep the company out of the wrong hands. She's not happy about it but it willing to search for the treasure her father wanted/hoped she'd find.

The relationship between Hailey and Shane is very volatile. They don't trust each other and under the circumstances, don't always like each other. But that spark is still there and the more time they spend together the stronger it gets. There was a surprising amount of animosity between the two, I had to wonder how they would get past it. But they did and Naughton made it work. Shane is a natural protector and now he's into protecting Hailey while he's also trying to sort things out and get to the truth of what happened. He knows Hailey is lying to him, hiding something, and being a good detective he's determined to find out. Hailey is used to looking out for herself and resents Shane's intrusion. It becomes a situation where they have to work together to resolve both of their problems.

The murder mystery coupled with a treasure hunt made for an exciting ride. I liked how Naughton incorporated the police crime solving and the treasure hunting to make a cohesive story line that had both facets of mystery and adventure. We also got to revisit with characters from the two previous books which was fun. A quick read and a good end for the trilogy.

Rating: B+

Stolen Fury
Stolen Heat

Ryan Reynolds and My Biggest Fear...

Aside from something happening to my family, my biggest fear is being buried alive. It goes back to when I was a kid and saw this movie where this girl was kidnapped and buried alive with enough oxygen and electricity to keep her alive for a specific amount of time. It stayed with me to the point where I'm afraid I'll die but won't really be dead but medical personal will think I am. Crazy I know but...

So what does the ultra hot Ryan Reynolds have to do with this? He's living out my worst nightmare. In a movie.







Here's the description ~ Paul Conroy is not ready to die. But when he wakes up 6 feet underground with no idea of who put him there or why, life for the truck driver and family man instantly becomes a hellish struggle for survival. Buried with only a cell phone and a lighter, his contact with the outside world and ability to piece together clues that could help him discover his location are maddeningly limited.

It was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January and is due for nation wide release this October. I don't know if I'll see this in the theater. If I do, dh is definitely coming with me. That man can make me laugh at the oddest times and with this movie, I might need that.

So what's your biggest fear and would you see a movie based on it?

April Reads...

*Pics like this make me wish I wasn't allergic to cats. I just want to cuddle him and let him sleep on my lap. So cute!*


Silver Borne ~ Patricia Briggs ~ Urban Fantasy ~ A-
A Certain Wolfish Charm ~ Lydia Dare ~ Historical PNR ~ B
Something About You ~ Julie James ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B
A Delicious Taboo ~ Jennifer Cole ~ Erotica ~ C+ ~ Review to follow
Her Best Friend ~ Sarah Mayberry ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B+
One for the Team ~ Jet Mykles ~ Erotic Romance ~ Review to follow
A Delicious Taboo Plus Two ~ Jennifer Cole ~ Erotica ~ C ~ Review to follow
Stolen Heat ~ Elisabeth Naughton ~ Romantic Suspense ~ B
Long Hard Ride ~ Lorelei James ~ Erotic Romance ~ B+
Blue-Eyed Devil ~ Lisa Kleypas ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B+
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet ~ Lorelei James ~ Erotic Romance ~ Review to follow
Stolen Seduction ~ Elisabeth Naughton ~ Romantic Suspense ~ Review to follow
Hope's Folly ~ Linnea Sinclair ~ Science Fiction Romance ~ A
Anything for You ~ Sarah Mayberry ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B+
Her Vampire Husband ~ Michele Hauf ~ Paranormal Romance ~ B
Lisa's Gift ~ Mackenzie McKade ~ Erotica ~ Review to follow
The Man Must Marry ~ Janet Chapman ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B
Glory in Death ~ J. D. Robb ~ Futuristic Suspense ~ B+
Mind Games ~ Carolyn Crane ~ Urban Fantasy ~ Review to follow
Uncertain Magic ~ Laura Kinsale ~ Historical Romance ~ Review to follow

April was a really good month for reading. Most of that is due to the nook™ that I was lucky enough to win from The Book Binge. I went a little crazy on the erotica, didn't even list a few shorter e-books I read. I hope to have a post/review of the nook™ up soon. There's a lot I want to say about it and I need to get my thoughts together on it. I also need to catch up on my reviews. :)

The breakdown by genre ~

Erotica ~ 6
Contemporary ~ 5
Romantic Suspense ~ 3 (includes Robb)
Historical ~ 2 (includes Paranormal Historical)
Urban Fantasy ~ 2
Paranormal Romance ~ 1
Science Fiction Romance ~ 1

Total read ~ 20

So the majority were Contemporaries and Erotics and the Erotics were Contemporaries. I see a trend here. :) There were a few that, while not DNF yet, just didn't grab me so got set aside for now. I think this month I'll try for more variety. I've got some Urban Fantasies and some PNR I've been wanting to read so I hope to get to those this month. Overall, some very good reads and a few okay ones but no real duds. No surprise that Silver Borne and Hope's Folly were my favorites. And I've got a new series to follow in Lorelei James' Rough Riders. If you haven't started those series you really should give them a try.

Re-read Challenge: Blue Eyed Devil

Blue Eyed Devil
Lisa Kleypas
Contemporary Romance
Travis series/Book 2
St. Martin's Press/March 2008
Purchased

From the inside cover ~

MEET THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL

His name is Hardy Cates. He's a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He's made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston's oil industry. He's got hot blood in his veins. And vengeance on his mind.

MEET THE HEIRESS

She's Haven Travis. despite her family's money, she refuses to set out on the path they've chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course. Two years later, Haven comes home, determined to guard her heart. And Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her door or setting her soul on fire.

WATCH THE SPARKS FLY...

The first time I read Blue Eyed Devil I had been looking forward to reading Hardy's story. We were first introduced to Hardy in Sugar Daddy, the first book in the series. I liked Hardy a bunch and couldn't wait to read his story because I knew he had to have a story. Well, he does get a story and a HEA but it wasn't what I was expecting. I was a little disappointed that Hardy wasn't featured more in the story. If this were a movie, IMO, Hardy's name would be below the title, with only Haven's name above it. I think this time around I enjoyed it more because I knew what to expect. I knew that it was more Haven's story than Hardy's. I knew that Haven was featured more prominently than Hardy. I knew that it was told in Haven's POV. Knowing all of that changed my expectations this time around.

The second novel in Lisa Kleypas' contemporary series is not exactly a typical contemporary romance. First off it's only told in the heroine's POV. We usually get at the least, the hero and heroine's POV and sometimes secondary characters as well. This time it's just Haven's voice we hear. First time reading it, I wasn't crazy about it. This time I was fine with it. I also liked Haven more this time. The first time she bugged the heck out of me, the way she put up with the horrible treatment from her boss. I wanted so badly for her to stand up for herself. But this time, I found myself more tolerant of her actions, or lack of actions as it was.

Haven is in a really terrible marriage that she is finally able to break free from. Her ex-husband did some serious damage to her self esteem, grinding her into the ground and making her doubt herself. She comes from a family of strong, opinionated men and going home to those men isn't easy. That's why it takes her so long to make that final step. She doesn't want to believe she made such a bad choice so she keeps making excuses for her husband. Then the breaking point happens and she leaves.

Let me just say that Kleypas is an amazing writer. The grief and despair that Haven feels when she's leaving her husband and calling for help comes through so strong. Kleypas does a wonderful job making Haven's feelings and actions in her situation realistic. I couldn't help but worry about Haven and want her to be safe. I was so relieved when she finally got to Gage and felt that she was finally safe from her rat bastard husband.

Haven slowly gets her life moving forward by getting a job and her own place. She does accept the help of her brother Jack, she goes to work for him and takes an apartment in his building. She does have to work hard, she doesn't want any special treatment because the boss is her brother. I get why she feels like that but I do still think she put up with way too much crap from her immediate boss.

Hardy Cates and Haven meet early on but that's more of an "oops" meeting in a wine cellar. Then a few years later they meet up again when Haven is starting out her new life after leaving her abusive husband. Haven knows Hardy is not a person her family trusts or wants her associating with but she finds herself intrigued by him. She's attracted to him and what really surprises her is that she's not completely afraid to be around him. He's a big, well muscled guy from working on the oil rigs and yet Haven isn't afraid of him.

I liked the way Haven and Hardy got to know each other away from the Travis family. Hardy learns quickly not to pressure Haven and he suspects something had happened with her ex but he wasn't sure what exactly it was. The way he treated her and showed her he respected her went so far in helping Haven learn to trust him. I really liked Hardy and wished there had been more of him in the story. They made such a wonderful couple, with their diverse backgrounds they still had much in common.

So this read was better than the last. I didn't review it the first time but I would have rated it a B/B-. The re-read I liked it better. Still wish there had been more Hardy. :)

Rating: B+