Review: Criminal Instincts

Criminal Instincts
Kelly Lynn Parra
Romantic Suspense
Carina Press/June 2010
Received from NetGalley/Publisher

From the author's website ~

Five years in prison or five years working as an undercover agent?

Not the easiest choice for Ana Moreno, who has a history of B and E convictions and a problem with authority. But it's a decision she and four other felons are willing to make to stay out of a jail cell.

When a deadly shipment of Ecstasy heads for San Francisco, Ana's team is sent to stop it. Ana's task: get close to the handsome and dangerous Jonas Saven, right-hand man of a suspected drug dealer with a deadly agenda. As Ana uncovers a web of secrets, betrayal and revenge, her heated attraction to Saven grows.

But with time running out to stop the dangerous drug lord, Ana must complete her mission—even if it costs her everything...

What got my attention real quick is that the heroine is a criminal. A thief. It's not a case of mistaken identity or anything like that, she really did steal and was caught. Like any criminal she had her reasons but nothing is sugar-coated, it is what it is. The hero is possibly a criminal too. He's believed to be involved in drug trafficking. I liked this darker side of the hero/heroine right away. They're not the big bad of the story but they do bend and sometimes break the law for their own sense of justice.

Ana Morena is a street punk. At least that's what some see when they look at her. She was moved around from one foster home to another with no real sense of security or family. She doesn't know much about her parents. Her mother was white and her father was Mexican and Ana doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere. She's had problems all her life with her Mexican heritage. It's obvious in her looks but she knows nothing about her father or his background. The fact that she doesn't speak Spanish is a sore spot with her. When we first meet Ana she's in bad shape, having been beaten and is now waiting to go to jail. It's then that she's given the choice - jail or undercover law enforcement. So undercover she goes. Her treatment is better than what she would find in jail but not by much. She's still looked down on and is constantly having to prove herself to her boss.

Jonas Saven is Ana's target. She's to get close to him and Raymond Brooks. Jonas manages art galleries, clubs and a variety of business for Brooks. Jonas also deals with some pretty unsavory characters in the drug world. It's there that he meets Ana. She not at all is usual type but he's drawn to her anyway. Jonas is very alpha to the point that Ana is sometimes afraid of him. He uses his money, power and influence to get what he wants and he wants answers from Ana. I didn't care for Jonas much. It took a lot for me to get to the point where I liked him enough to care what happened to him and what his motivation was. He's got a bunch of secrets and he's not easy to trust.

Ana is wary of Jonas Saven. She knows what his reputation is in the underground and she's not about to fall for his good looks or sex appeal. Ana is all about doing the job and not getting kicked off the team and sent to prison. Because if she's off the team then it's prison for her, no chance of freedom in sight. When she does start to question Jonas' guilt and his motives it causes her to question her loyalty to the team. I did like how Ana's loyalty was tested and how she had to battle her growing attraction to a man she thought was out of her legal, plus a possible suspected drug dealer. She gets a lot of conflicting information that she has to sort out and because of her criminal background, she isn't exactly considered trustworthy by her boss. She is street smart though and uses that knowledge when deciding who to trust.

Ana and Jonas have a strong attraction from early on. Neither one of them wants to be attracted to the other. Ana for obvious reasons and Jonas because he doesn't know who Ana really is and he doesn't trust her. He's not sure if she has ties to drug dealers or if she's just a user or if there's something else going on with her. Lots of questions for both Ana and Jonas. This was not a straight forward romance. They had a whole lot of circumstances to work through and major trust issues on both sides.

Ana and Jonas aren't the only ones who want information about the big Ecstasy shipment. Ana works with a team of misfit criminals that adds to the overall feel of a crime novel. They all have there area of expertise and I hope that we'll see more of them in future releases.

Ana has a major problem with her Mexican heritage. She lets this get in the way of developing any close relationships. Between her defensiveness concerning her heritage and her lack of experience with relationships, Ana had a hard time showing any kind of affection. When she did she was uncomfortable with it. I think Jonas helped her learn to show that she cared about people. Jonas learned to put his personal relationships ahead of his business and need for revenge.

The romance doesn't take center stage. It's there but it must share the spotlight with the suspense and cast of characters. Ana and Jonas do have some steamy scenes but neither is thinking too far into the future regarding their relationship. I do wish Ana hadn't dwelt on being half Mexican so much. It tended to get tedious. The final confrontation with the drug dealers and Jonas and Ana was a bit over the top with a few too many soap opera type scenarios used to tie up the various story lines. A solid read with a HEA and the possibility for more books in the same world.

Rating: B

June Reads...

June is gone but where the heck did it go? Last month's reading got off to a slow start for me. The family vacation to Disneyland and California Adventure cut into my reading time. I did some reading on the drive there and back but while we were there most of my down time was spent sleeping on the non-sleep number bed or complaining about my aching feet. :) (Yes, I missed my sleep number bed. *sob* Loves that bed!)

No DNFs this month that I remember. I did have one in May. (missed posting the May reads) It was an erotic romance. The heroes were aliens and their hair came alive, among other things. And since it's erotic, the hair got really friendly with the heroine. ICK! I had other problems with the book like the old alien forced seduction. Luckily, I don't have too many DNFs and I think it's due to the fact that the majority of books I read are either from favorite authors or because of good reviews from you guys. :)

The final count is 11 books read. Not bad but I hope to read more of my personal and library TBR piles this month. Yep, I even have a library TBR pile. The city library allows 99 renewals so as long as no one requests the book, I keep renewing, having faith that I'll get to it. :)

I'll also get my challenges read for this month. *shakes fist in air* I totally flaked on every single one last month so I plan to start early, like this weekend. :D

Countdown/Michelle Maddox/Futuristic/B+
The Making of a Duchess/Shana Galen/Historical/B-
I'm Watching You/Karen Rose/Romantic Suspense/B+
Tied Up, Tied Down/Lorelei James/Erotic Romance/Review to follow
Kiss Me If You Can/Carly Phillips/Contemporary/B+
Beyond the Night/Joss Ware/PNR/B
The Iron Daughter/Julie Kagawa/YA/Review to follow
Beauty's Beasts/Teal Ceagh/Erotic Romance/B+
Embrace the Night Eternal/Joss Ware/PNR/B
Chimera/Rob Thurman/SCIFI/Review to follow
Criminal Instinct/Kelly Lynn Parra/Romantic Suspense/Review to follow

The breakdown ~

Contemporary ~ 1
Erotic ~ 2
Futuristic ~ 1
Historical ~ 1
PNR ~ 2
Romantic Suspense ~ 2
SCIFI ~ 1
YA ~ 1

The reading was definitely mixed - a little here, a little there. I suppose the Futuristic, PNR and SCIFI could all be lumped together but there's really no stand out genre. I think it all has to do with mood. I'm a very moody reader. ;)

Review: Beauty's Beasts

Beauty's Beasts
Teal Ceagh
Erotic Paranormal Romance (M/M/F)
Guardian Bonds/Book 2
Ellora's Cave/June 2010
Author Requested Review

From the author's website ~

Riley Carson Connors is yanked out of Pittsburgh and coaxed to New York by two tall, sexy strangers. Nicholas Sherwood and Damian are the only people in the world who know anything about her parents, and what they know is terrifying. She must face a powerful enemy who killed both her parents, who were the best at what they did.

But while the truth about Riley’s family history is a powerful magnet, Damian and Nicholas prove to be even more compelling. Former lovers and brought together only because they gave their word to her mother, the two powerful vampires play erotic mind games with Riley, each with a hidden sexual agenda that Riley can’t begin to guess, but seems to involve driving her out of her mind with the sort of pleasure only a centuries-old lover would know how to give.

When Teal Ceagh aka Tracy Cooper-Posey, asked me if I would be interested in reviewing her latest release, Beauty's Beasts, I wasn't sure, not having read anything by the author. Then I read the excerpt she sent and that's when I knew I had to read about Riley and her two vampires. I was intrigued by all three characters and although I've been a bit "off" vampires, I found myself wondering what their story was. What I found was a highly erotic, well written, unconventional love story.

Riley Carson Connors is unaware of her family background or her heritage. She grew up in the foster care system and has learned to rely on herself. When she is approached by two very sexy, very dangerous men she's not about to go with them. Until they tell her they knew her parents. It's the one thing she desperately wants to know. She agrees to go to New York City with them even while wondering what she's gotten herself into. Riley is a heroine that you can't help but feel compassion for. Growing up with no real family, Riley has been on her own for most of her life. She's very no-nonsense and tells you what she thinks even to a powerful vampire that could snap her neck in a heartbeat. I liked Riley for standing up for herself. She went through some life altering experiences but stayed true to her beliefs.

Damian and Nicholas Sherwood, while both distinct individuals, you really can't have one without the other. These two just fit together even if they didn't believe it anymore. They are centuries old vampires (read: stubborn) that have a promise to fulfill. Both are sexy and dangerous but in different ways. Damian is very smooth with a type of European flare and the more approachable of the the two. Nick is the dark and brooding type. He's got a chip on his shoulder and dares anyone to try and knock it off. Damian and Nick were lovers years ago and you can feel that sexual tension between the two. I found myself liking both men, Damian because he's so damn sexy and charismatic. Nick because his closed off, brusque manner made me want to know him better - want to know what the heck made this guy tick.

The men tell Riley that she must train before she can fight the gargoyle Lirgon. The gargoyle clan gave an intriguing slant to the plot. These gargoyles come to life at night, attacking people. It was creepy when Riley was viewing the gargoyles during the day, looking at them and knowing that at sundown they would come alive. Reminds me of a wax museum - I always thought the figures came to life at night.

The training session were intense, sweaty and hot - in a very good way. There was already sexual tension between the men, adding Riley just ramped it up. I loved how the three of them interacted. Damian befriending Riley and making her feel comfortable in the bizarre situation she's been thrown into. Nick on the other hand, tried to keep his distance and maintain a teacher/student relationship. Nick's sense of honor kept him from acting on his need and desire for Riley. Both men have goals in mind for Riley but they go about reaching them in different ways.

The book is fairly short, coming in at 163 pages. The pacing was quick and surprised me how much story the author was able to pack into that length. The love story of Riley, Damian and Nicholas took a different turn that what I had expected but I did like how it all played out. I would have liked more back story on Damian and Nicholas and their history together. Riley's parents story can be found in Book 1 of the series but you don't need to read it before reading Beauty's Beasts. There is a short scene at the end that left me wanting to know what happens with Riley best friend and roommate, Sabrina. That will have to wait until book 3, Sabrina's Clan comes out.

Rating: B+

My Quick Trip to Louisiana...

HBO was free this past weekend so I decided to give the very popular True Blood another try. I did see the very first episode but I wasn't impressed. Didn't care for any of the characters except maybe Sookie's boss at the restaurant. Sookie, I didn't care for. Her accent got on my nerves and listening to the voices in her head got irritating.

But I kept hearing about the show on blogs, twitter and of course the ads on TV. So I thought I'd give it another try cause I'm all about the free. :)

Free is not always good.

My first clue of how gross things could get started out with this sulky teenager watching TV with his dad. Sounds harmless enough right? The scary part is the dad is only wearing tighty-whities and those suckers were anything but white! And the camera stayed on the dad as he got up to holler for ma. My eyes, my eyes! But little did I know there was something even more disgusting in store.

I was expecting blood and guts because it's cable and I was fine to a point. That point being when Sookie's vampire boyfriend/fiance fucks another vampire and literally twists her head while doing it. Yes, her head twisted, her neck looking like Silly Putty, no quick snap, just twisting round until she was facing backwards. I found myself reaching out blindly for the remote while desperately trying to pull my eyes away from the screen. Bill, the vampire of the twisting head fetish, was mad as hell with Lorena, receiver of twisted head, but holy crap talk about over the top.

My conclusion - I'll read the books.

Thanks to twitter I did find a link for a recap of the episode which I enjoyed far more than the show.

TRUE BLOOD: LIKE FETISH PORN, ONLY WORSE

I'm Not Here, I'm There...

Today is my first post at Access Romance's Readers Gab.

Come on over and talk about names in romance. Names you like, don't like. Gotta a character name you wish authors would use? Or maybe stop using? I'm talking about character names at Access Romance.

Review: Embrace the Night Eternal

Embrace the Night Eternal
Joss Ware
Futuristic Paranormal Romance
Envy Chronicles/Book 2
Avon/February 2010
Library book

*Some Spoilers for Book 1*

From the author's website ~

From the raging fires, five men emerge with extraordinary new powers. They must learn how to survive this dark, ravaged world ... but they cannot do it alone.

Simon Japp will never forget his violent past. But when civilization is all but destroyed, he sees his chance for redemption. Blessed with a strange "gift," he's determined to help the resistance against the Strangers, the mysterious force that stalks them at every turn. He can't afford to get distracted, even by the stunning, soft-spoken woman fighting by his side...

Sage Corrigan has learned to be careful where she places her trust. But she sees something good in Simon, even if he can't see it in himself. Posing as lovers to infiltrate a group key to their fight, they find that their staged affection soon develops into a desire that will leave them fighting for their lives in the night eternal...

Book two picks up where Beyond the Night (book 1) left off. The settlement of Envy (New Vegas or NV) is where Simon Japp and his four companions have taken up residency. The five men were kept in some type of stasis or coma in the caves of Sedona for the past 50 years. During that time things have changed dramatically and the world they knew is gone. Now the men are helping the residents fight the Strangers who are trying to enslave the remaining humans.

Simon Japp is a hero with a dark past. He's trying to get away from that past of lawlessness and start fresh. The chance to redeem himself happens when he meets up with a group of people that are trying to form a rebellion against the Strangers. Simon is willing to use his special ability to help with setting up a computer network and searching for Remington Truth, the man who might have the answers about what happened 50 years ago. Simon also finds himself attracted to Sage Corrigan, computer wiz and resident of Envy. Sage works with Theo and Lou Waxnicki, twin brothers who were alive when the Change happened. They're computer geniuses and are working on setting up a new Internet for this new world.

Sage Corrigan came to Envy from the settlement of Falling Creek. What we find out about Falling Creek isn't good. It's basically a polygamist settlement with men having multiple wives and the main focus for women is procreation. It really gave me an icky feeling when Sage tells of her numerous siblings and the plans that the council elders had very Sage before she got out. Sage is now twenty-eight and has established herself in Envy, developing strong friendships with Jade (heroine of book 1) Theo and Lou. Sage was certainly likable and definitely a survivor.

The search for Remington Truth sends Simon and Sage to Falling Creek. There they learn more about each other while Simon's trying to curb his growing attraction to Sage. I did like the developing relationship between these two I just wish Simon had stopped with his "I'm not good enough for you" mantra. He really needed to just get past his, well past, and realize that the times have changed and this is his chance to make a profound change in his life. Sage was intrigued by her attraction to Simon but also torn because there was someone else that she knew had strong feelings for her.

Once again I found myself fascinated by the post-apocalyptic world Ware has created. It's weird reading about a place I've been to many times (Vegas), and having it described in such different terms. No bright lights or the sound of slot machines filling the air. Instead there is a community of people who live, work and relax all within the secured city of Envy. Most of them live in what's left of the hotel, New York, New York and they all work together to keep the city running with everyone helping out in whatever capacity they can. I liked reading about the workings and politics of the city. How things have evolved from the disasters of 50 years ago when people were in shock and just trying to survive to having working, self-sustaining communities.

I did like book 2 a bit more than the first book. With both, my interest was still more focused on the world and the rebellion than the romance. There are still a number of characters I want to read about, one is a bad guy who is possibility reformed but then maybe not. I don't know but after reading Embrace the Night Eternal I know I'll be reading his book, if he gets one. So, still interested in this series but I don't think the romance is the strongest part of the book. It's more the world building and the cast of characters that I enjoy reading about.

Rating: B

Beyond the Night (book 1)

ARC Review: The Making of a Duchess

The Making of a Duchess
Shanna Galen
Historical Romance (1801)
Sons of the Revolution/Book 1
Sourcebooks/June 2010
ARC from Publisher

From the publisher's website ~

A very dangerous attraction…

Julien Harcourt, duc de Valère, is more than willing to marry the lovely young lady his mother has chosen. Little does he know, she’s been sent to prove him a spy and a traitor…

And an even more dangerous secret…

Sarah Smith’s mission is to find out whether the Duc’s trips to the Continent are as innocent as he claims, but the way he looks at her is far from innocent…

Their risky game of cat and mouse propels them from the ballrooms of London to the prisons of Paris, and into a fragile love that may not survive their deceptions…

The story opens with a young boy running for his life and leaving nearly everything and everyone he loves behind. It's a brutal look at what happens when the mob mentality strikes and both the guilty and the innocent are caught up in the violence. I was quickly swept up in the story of what happened after that young boy becomes a man. What happens when the same young boy who ran for his life is now a wealthy and powerful man.

Julien Harcourt is a man with a life mission. He desperately wants to find his brothers. He has to believe that they are still alive and that he has not worked so hard in vain. He will do whatever it takes to find them even if that means placing his trust in a woman whose allegiance he finds questionable. He needs her help and he's willing to use her to get what he wants. I liked that Julien never gave up hope of finding his brothers alive. It's been years since he fled from the Revolution in France and now that he has established himself in England he hasn't forgotten his brothers. He uses his connections and wealth to continue looking for them and following any lead.

When Julien's mother tells him the daughter of an old family friend will be visiting he knows his mother hopes there will be a marriage between Julien and Serafina. Julien accepts the fact that it is time for him to start thinking of marriage and heirs. When he sees Serafina aka governess Sarah Smith, he is a bit surprised. She isn't at all what he was expecting. Their first meeting is certainly memorable with Sarah leaving a distinct impression on Julien. Sarah is a nervous wreck and totally unfit for her role as spy.

Governess Sarah Smith is in shock when told she must act as a French noblewoman to uncover a spy and traitor to the crown. She may speak French but she is far from nobility. She works for the nobility but acting the part puts her out of her element. This is where I had problems with the story. Sarah was so unbelievable in her role as Serafina Artois, noblewoman. She was young, (20ish) so she didn't even have any real maturity or much life experience to fall back on. The reader had to really stretch reality to believe that this young woman was able to continue in her deception of Julien. She kept making one bad decision after another. Her inexperience when dealing with stressful situations and drama was obvious. I think it would have worked better had she been a bit older and more assure of herself. It would have made her character more believable in her role as a would be spy and her deception of Julien.

Julien was a fascinating character whose past shaped him into the man he had become. He could be ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted but he still held enough compassion for those in desperate situations like Sarah was. I did like how Julien treated Sarah, trying to keep her safe while still searching for his brothers. He was terribly attracted to her but didn't completely trust her which made for some interesting sexual tension. And he found that he was not only attracted to her but he liked her. Which took him by surprise. Love when that happens. I enjoyed his honesty and his honor even when he had no reason to trust.

The plot of this French exile doing well in England while still maintaining ties to France was interesting. I liked the way the politics of the time period were woven into the story but didn't overwhelm the characters or the romance. The romance between these two seemingly opposites started out as a business transaction, much like many marriage proposals between aristocrats of that time. In the end they of course, fall madly in love and will do just about anything for each other.

Unfortunately, what started out well didn't hold together as well. It all kept coming back to the character of Sarah and the fact that she just didn't fit. I get that she wasn't suppose to fit the role of spy, since she didn't have any experience and only three days of training but it was more than that. It was the fact that she kept going with the role and began to believe in what she was doing, that she could play the spy when she kept screwing everything up. It was out of character for her and made that aspect of the plot unbelievable.

The next book in the series, The Making of a Gentleman, is due out in October. I will admit that I am curious about it and will probably read it due to who the hero is. As long as the heroine isn't another Sarah, I'm willing to give it a try.


Rating: B-

Review: Kiss Me If You Can

Kiss Me If You Can
Carly Phillips
Contemporary Romance
Most Eligible Bachelor/Book 1
Harlequin/July 2010
ARC/NetGalley

From the publisher's website ~

Sam Cooper ('Coop' ) has just become the most eligible bachelor in New York City. Now that he has foiled a jewelry-store robbery and has been rewarded with the ring of his choice, single women all over the city are fawning over the crime reporter. But Coop isn't interested in the admirers sending racy underwear his way. His attention is centered solely on Lexie Davis, the only woman in the city who claims not to be interested in his bachelor status.

Instead, free-spirited Lexie is interested in Coop's antique ring, and its - potentially scandalous - history in her family. But Coop is quickly becoming more than just her route to the ring. When his investigation starts to uncover the truth, will she trust her heart - and her family secrets - to this most eligible bachelor?

The first book in a new series about the sexy and handsome bachelors of New York City and the women they fall. After reading Kiss Me If You Can, I say bring on the Bachelors! Phillips is off to a good start with a heroine who loves to travel the world and a hero who turns out to be a real hero when he stops a robbery. Coop and Lexie were an odd couple with Coop looking for a long term relationship and Lexie only sticking around until the travel bug bit her again. They just go to prove that opposites attract.

It all starts with a ring. Sam Cooper aka Coop, is a writer who works the crime beat for the city's paper. He comes from a family of cops so crime is something he's familiar with. One day his life changed when he goes from crime reporter to superhero, stopping a robber with his quick thinking. Oh, I liked Coop a whole bunch. He's sweet, funny, smart, sexy and has this way of putting people at ease and making them open up to him. He comes from a family of cops but an injury kept him off the police force. So he covers the crime beat while writing novels in his spare time. He's published one novel but is having a hard time getting his butt in gear and getting that second novel written. The gaudy ring he is given in reward for stopping the jewelry store thief gets Coop's imagination rolling and a story starts to take shape.

Lexie Davis is a web designer. She has great vision and is quickly building a name for company. She also loves to travel which is why she lives with her grandmother when she's in the city. Lexie comes from a family of conservatives who hold more traditional jobs. They view her work and travels as eccentric and don't give her much encouragement so it's not surprising that she doesn't have a good, close relationship with her parents. Lexie does have a great relationship with her grandmother, Charlotte. Charlotte Davis is a feisty lady pushing 80 who has got the attitude of someone much younger. She's funny and goes after what she wants. After meeting Coop, Charlotte just knows he's the one for Lexie. Lexie definitely thinks Coop is hot and is wildly attracted to him but he wants a relationship and Lexie doesn't do long term. She lives in the here and now and needs to be on the move which is why she doesn't have her own place. She's a nomad while Coop is firmly entrenched with work, family and friends in New York City.

Coop and Lexie meet up at a dumpster. Not the best start to a romance but they get past the dumpster and Lexie and Coop soon find themselves working together researching the ring and its history. Lexie wants the ring for her grandmother but Coop isn't ready to give it up just yet. He's got this story he wants to write and he wants to keep Lexie around. I liked how Phillips had the hero as the "homebody" and the heroine as the world travel. A bit of a twist on the more traditional characterization. And the way Coop dealt with Lexie's mobile lifestyle was that he tried to be understanding but at the same time he's continuing to fall for her and he doesn't want to lose her. Lexie is stubborn and doesn't want to give up her nomadic lifestyle, especially for a man. She's been burned before and isn't going to let it happen again.

Lexie was a character that while I liked her, she held back. She kept herself at a distance from people. Her lifestyle doesn't permit long term relationships but Coop wants to change that. The byplay between Lexie and Coop is realistic without being overdone. They both have issues with where their relationship is going. Lexie sees it as having a great time until she leaves for wherever. Coop wants Lexie to stay in the city and build a life with him. Two opposites are going to have to make compromises. It's how they come to that compromise that made this such a sweet love story. I liked how neither character made a complete 180 but learned to bend because it felt right not because they felt forced to make changes.

The secondary story lines dealing with the Bachelor Blog and Lexie's grandmother's connection to Coop's ring added an air of mystery and comedy. I loved the way Charlotte and her best bud Sylvia worked behind the scenes to get Lexie and Coop together. Very much a Lucy and Ethel feel to them only far more competent. The Bachelor Blog made Coop even more popular with the public, the women in particular went crazy over him. But Coop only wants one woman.

Overall, a fun contemporary romance and a good start to a new series.

Rating: B+

Review: Beyond the Night

Beyond the Night
Joss Ware
Futuristic Paranormal Romance
Envy Chronicles/Book 1
Avon/January 2010
Library e-book

From the author's website ~

A man with no future...

When Dr. Elliott Drake wakes from a mysterious fifty-year sleep, the world as he knew it is gone. Cities are now desolate, and civilization is controlled by deadly immortals. Stranger still is Elliott's extraordinary new "gift" – he has the power to heal, but it comes with fatal consequences.

A woman with a past...

Jade barely escaped the immortals and is now hell-bent on revenge. She trusts no one... until Elliott. His piercing gaze and tempting touch shatter her defenses, but the handsome doctor seems to have dangerous secrets of his own. Is it safe to trust him with her heart? If they are to survive in this dark new world, Jade and Elliott must work together to fight the forces that takes them beyond danger.

Beyond desire. Beyond the night.

A new post-apocalyptic series by Joss Ware aka Colleen Gleason grabbed my interest when Kristie reviewed the three current releases (Books 1 & 2, Book 3). I loved the premise of these present day guys going into a cave in Sedona, Arizona no less (my neck of the woods) and waking up to find the world is vastly changed and fifty years have past. It made me think of the Planet of the Apes movie. (One of dh's favorites). The first one where Charlton Heston is an astronaut and crashes on what he thinks is this strange planet where apes rule. Only in Joss Ware's world it's the Strangers and their crazy humanoid, zombie like creatures, gangas, who terrorize the few humans that are struggling to survive.

Dr. Elliott Drake isn't in Kansas any more. Actually he's from Chicago but he's so far from the ER where he practiced medicine that it's crazy. He still treats the injured but now it's more on-the-go treatments with just the very basic supplies. It's only been six months since he and his friends woke up and the reality of the world he is now in is still sinking in. There's that little ray of hope that somehow, somewhere, the world isn't as totally fucked up as it is in Elliott's little slice of hell. I use the f-word because there was what at first seemed to be a lot of it. Elliott lets it fly quite frequently and I thought it was overused but then I got to thinking that the world he's now in is really fucked up and why shouldn't he use that word?

The story starts off with characters in peril. Right away the reader is thrown into this foreign yet familiar world. Some teens are about to walk into serious trouble and need their asses saved. Good thing the hero and heroine are there to save them. I loved that the women of this world are just as badass as the men. It makes sense that the women, at least some of them, have learned to take care of themselves to the extent that they can kick some major ass. Due to the decimation of the world population one of the more common views on women is that their main purpose should be to repopulate the world. Of course not everyone is fanatical about this but it does make sense. The world needs more people if they are to have any chance of not being killed off or enslaved by the Strangers and their gangas.

I want to mention the gangas. They are some nasty ass bastards that just gave me the creeps. And they say the same thing over and over as the drag/lurch towards their prey. They're slow and not very smart and only come out at night. So with a half-way decent weapon, you can kill them. The problem comes when there are a bunch of them and they basically overwhelm their prey and then tear and claw it apart. Very nasty with a high creep factor. Don't go out at night or the gangas will literally eat you alive!

The "town" of Envy is one of the larger settlements and that's where Jade lives. She and the other townsfolk... hehe, never thought I'd get to use that word in a PNR. For some reason I just love that word. So, the townsfolk have created this fortified oasis out in the middle of nowhere because basically everything is out in the middle of nowhere in this new world. Elliott and his friends go with Jade to Envy and here's where they, and us, get to find out more of what really happened 50 years ago. I liked the way it all came together with the supernatural aspects of the story along with the mythology thrown in. Everyone has their theories of what really happened to cause all the natural and possibly not so natural disasters.

The romance between Elliott and Jade didn't exactly draw me in. I was more interested in the survival/fighting for our lives/when is the real bad guy going to show up plot of the story. I did like both Elliott and Jade and they definitely had some sparks going but I found myself just as curious about some of the secondary characters and the obvious sequel bait. Some of the romance was a bit over the top with the likes of "Oh no, I'm going to die and I never got the chance to tell her/him that I love her/him" scenes. But I did think they made a good couple. Jade is emotionally and physically scared and Elliott is a healer. Jade grew up in this bizarre world and Elliott needs help understand how it all works.

That's not to say I didn't have a few other problems with this book. One thing that got on my nerves real quick was the mentioning of the 50 years that had pasted for the men. It was usually mentioned in regards to sex. Like they haven't had sex in 50 years which really wasn't true since they were in some sort of deep freeze so it's not like the possibility to have sex was there. But Elliott thinks about this a lot, mentions it often enough that I was just like, alright Elliott, we get it. You're really horny because you haven't gotten laid in 50 years. Now go after Jade already!

Speaking of Jade... if Jade thinks she might have a bounty hunter on her trail why would she be singing and putting herself out in the public like that? There are so few people and settlements left that you would think news of a good singer would travel fast. It seems like she would have tried to keep a lower profile than singing in a bar. That bugged me.

One other thing. Note to hero and heroine: Having sex in a room that has the smell of "blood and death lingering," because of the dead woman in the bathroom is not sexy. Please don't.

But even after those problems I was still completely caught up in this new world that Ware has created. The characters are well developed with enough other characters crying out for their stories to be told. There are a bunch of secondary characters that I want need to read their stories. A bunch. I can see this series continuing for some time. So far there are three books in print with a fourth due out next January. I know, unless the series takes a serious dive, I will continue to read the Envy Chronicles.

Rating: B

Review: I'm Watching You

I'm Watching You
Karen Rose
Romantic Suspense
Warner Books/October 2004
Library book

From the back cover ~

I KNOW THEIR CRIMES.

Star prosecutor Kristen Mayhew has a dangerous secret admirer. He seems to know her every thought, her every move. He sends her letters. And he kills the criminals she herself is powerless to stop.

I HUNT DOWN THE GUILTY.

This avenger even knows Kristen's deepest secret - the one that has kept her from surrendering her heart to Abe Reagan, the police detective sworn to protect her. Like Kristen, Reagan is haunted by the loss of something precious that can never be regained. But in the shadow of a calculating serial killer, the two turn to each other and dare to rediscover passion... even as the messages and vicious murders continue. Even as the killer's thirst for retribution makes Kristen a target for murder.

Rose takes the reader back to Chicago where an Assistant States Attorney and a Chicago Police detective are about to find themselves in the middle of a series of vigilante killings. The suspense was kept high this time around with no one knowing who would be the next victim. There is a connection with all the victims, they all faced Kristen Mayhew in court. Other than that, it's random with only the killer knowing who his next target might be.

Abe Reagan has come out of hiding. He was working deep undercover in the narcotics department of the Chicago PD. He's recently switch to Homicide and his first case puts him in contact with Kristen Mayhew when she proves to be an important link to the murder. Abe was recently widowed but his situation is different from most since he was undercover for years. As he's coming out from undercover work and from mourning, he's beginning to think about women and relationships and can't help but notice Kristen. She's smart, kind and very attractive. She's also tenacious when it comes to the law and going after the criminals in court, something that Abe understands. Abe was easy to like. He's had some tough times in recent years and is finally ready to start the next phase of his life. It's pretty obvious that he's attracted to Kristen and would like things to go beyond a work relationship. I liked Abe for the fact that he was upfront with his feelings even when he was unsure of how to handle them. He's still working through some issues with his wife's death and they play a role in how he moves forward in his relationship with Kristen.

Kristen Mayhew is one heck of a prosecutor. She's got a great record for putting the criminals away. Even so, there are those that go free, or plea bargain and do very little, if any time. It's those that Kristen finds herself trying to protect. What a screwed up world she's in. She's also in fear for her own safety when it becomes known that the killer is very aware of Kristen and her personal life. Majorly high creep factor. Then there's the victims friends and associates. They're not crazy about Kristen and they are very dangerous. Kristen agrees to work with the police in trying to figure out who the next victim might be. This puts her and Abe together a lot. And then when Abe appoints himself her personal bodyguard they get even closer.

The way Rose portrayed the killer was that he sees the killings as doing something good for the community. He's getting rid of the scum that the system didn't. The rapist, murders and child abusers that got away with their crimes. Doesn't that make it kind of okay since he's not really killing innocent people? I liked the way it played out with the cops and everyone working the case questioning what this guy was really doing. They know it's wrong, that they can't simply let the vigilante continue murdering people but at the same time... these "victims" are the dregs of society, the criminals the cops want off the streets. So how do they justify stopping this guy from getting rid of the very criminals they go after? It was hard to feel sorry for the murder victims when you know the horrible things they did that brought them to the attention of the vigilante.

Abe and Kristen are kept very busy with both of them working long hours on the case. They have tons of paperwork to go through to find any link the victims may have. Add to that the threats Kristen receives and they are both under a lot of stress. So when to find time for the romance? Actually there isn't a lot of romance going on. Through much of the story it's a more subtle type of romance with a look here, a glance there. A touch here, a kiss there. They find themselves attracted to each other but they've got so very much going on that it's hard to take that attraction to the next level.

The romance does pick up toward the latter half of the book and that was okay with me. I really enjoyed seeing how Kristen got to know not only Abe but his team. They all had different views of Kristen and how much help she might be to their case. She surprised them with her efficiency and her hard work. You could see how the characters changed as they got to work together and get to know each other. They came to care about each other as colleagues and as friends. I thought Rose did a good job on showing the development of those work relationships and how some turned to friendships or had the potential for friendship. Abe and Kristen did get together and it made for some sweet, tender and very sexy love scenes. There just seemed to be less than what I usually expect from a romantic suspense.

The killer wasn't revealed until near the end but I had a pretty good idea who it was before the reveal. Even with knowing that, the suspense of how it would all play out kept me interested in the murder mystery. Rose does a good job keeping all the different storylines from unraveling and made everything come together in the end. Another very solid and satisfy read from Karen Rose.

Rating: B+