June 20, 2011 · 1:58 pm

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.

I did not mean to like this book.  It is a National Book Award Winner and nominated for the Georgia Book Award and therefore, to me, it is important literature.  Which must mean, I will not like it.  I rarely like things that win awards.

However, this book is an exception.  It is written in first person by an eleven years old girl with Aspergers syndrome.  She is trying to make sense of a world in which her beloved older brother has just died and her father is falling apart.  Fortunately, she has a wonderful counselor in her school to work with her.

Although there are no laugh out loud moments, there are scenes that make you smile . . . and there are scenes that bring tears to your eyes.

I cannot say why, but I really did like this book . . . even if I didn’t mean to.

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Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Young Adult

June 20, 2011 · 6:33 am

Dangerous Desire by Diane Escalera

Title:   Dangerous Desire*
Author:   Diane Escalera
Series:  Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romace
Publisher:  Lyrical Press, Inc.
Format:  ebook
Date/Year:  July 2011

*This book was (provided to me by the publisher for review)

Summary from the publisher:

Sometimes you have to lose one thing to find another.

Sienna Diaz is desperate to find her missing Beagle, no matter what it costs. She hires Cruz
Santino, the best—and hottest—in the business. He’s an ex cop, dangerous on many levels, which comes in handy when all evidence indicates her beloved pet was snatched to use in a dogfighting ring.

Cruz will do whatever it takes to find Sienna’s lost pet, but he also wants results from the
smokin’ hot attraction between them—and he isn’t above breaking his own hands-off-clients rule
to get there. However, until he brings her beloved Beagle home safely, he won’t have Sienna’s
undivided attention…and affection.

Content Warning: Strong language, caliente sex, violence, and a dangerously hot rescue.

My Musings:

When I first started this book, I was concerned I would not be able to finish it.  I am an animal lover and dog fighting is part of the plot line.  Fortunately, it is not too graphic in that area and definitely represents the evils of the “sport.”

The sex, however, is graphic . . . and hot.  There is a plot to the story, so it is not just one sex scene after another.  I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Sienna tries to check Cruz out without him noticing.  It never seemed to work.  Whenever, she looked at him, she caught him looking at her.  He was most definitely an ass man while she drooled over his chest and abs.  I have to say, they way they were described, I would be drooling too.

What I did not like is the fact that they immediately fell in bed with each other.  Sienna has just lost her dog that she considers her child.  She is distraught and heartbroken.  There are several scenes where she breaks down in tears.  I completely understand her emotions.  Then a few scenes later, she is laughing and partying with her friends or making out with Cruz.  I just didn’t find it believable.

I liked the book well enough that I would probably read a sequel.  The ending of the book hinted at one.  I did not like it enough to add this author to my autobuy list.

Ratings:

Overall:  3

Sensuality level:  4

For a complete understanding and definition of the ratings at Seductive Musings, click here

CROSSPOSTED FROM SEDUCTIVE MUSINGS

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic, Romance

June 19, 2011 · 11:10 am

Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5) by Ilona Andrews

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . .

I just finished this book and my immediate reaction is “when’s the next one?”  I made the point of re-reading the entire series which included the new short story “Magic Dreams” in the Hexed anthology.  I am really glad I did.  Not only did it help me keep the storyline straight, I remember how much I really love these books.  I think it helps that I know where so many of the Atlanta landmarks that she refers to are located in “our” world.

Kate’s and Curran’s relationship is getting stronger, just as Kate’s magic is getting stronger.  Not that the two have anything to do with each other, except I think Kate has more faith in herself and is willing to take risks that she did not before.

My only issue with this book is that I miss Raphael.  I want him back.  Curran really needs someone to pull his chain.

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Filed under Paranormal, Romance

June 12, 2011 · 6:25 am

Exclusively Yours (Kowalski Family, #1) by Shannon Stacey

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 and Joe 2gether 4ever.

I keep telling myself I am not a straight contemporary romance reader AND I keep proving myself wrong.  There are no murders, vampires, mysteries, etc. in this book.  There is just a wonderful group of people that really love each other and need to remember/discover that.

I loved them all and have already downloaded the next two books in the series.

Thank you Smart Bitches, Trashy Books for telling me about them.

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Realistic, Romance

June 10, 2011 · 7:26 pm

Ice Shards (Sisters of the Moon, #9.5) by Yasmine Galenorn (Hexed anthology)

This is Iris’ story where she attempts to get the curse lifted from her.

It has been several months since I read any of this series.  The author did an excellent job of reminding me what was going on without beating me over the head with information.  I do not know how much sense the story would have made if I wasn’t a fan of the series however.

This was a good side story.  It solved some problems in the main storyline and set up possible plot lines.  I think Iris will be able to help even more in the battles with the demons now.

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal

June 10, 2011 · 9:42 am

Nightshade (Nightshade, #1) by Andrea Cremer

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she’ll be the mate of alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers.

But when she violates her masters’ laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

This book has been nominated for YALSA’s Teens Top Ten list as well as Georgia’s Teen Peach Award, so my expectations were high.  Unfortunately, I was not all that impressed.  I had difficulty keeping the characters straight.  There were two wolf packs (soon to be three), the Keepers, the Guardians (another name for the wolf packs), and the Searchers.  The wolves answer to their alphas, who answer to their Masters, who are Keepers . . . I think.

Actually, the book did begin to work for me after the first hundred pages, but I hate to have to keep flipping back to see who the different characters are.  The storyline is unique and I can see a lot of twists and turns coming.

There is a love triangle (Twilight, anyone?  Vampire Academy?  House of Night?) which I find tiresome.  That just means there is no way everyone is going to have a happy ending.

And speaking of the ending, there’s not one.  The sequel, Wolfsbane, is due out on July 26, 2011.  Will I read it?  I am sure I will one day, but I am in no rush.  I will probably wait for the next two or three in the series to be released and read them all at once.

I am really tired of cliffhangers!

 

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

June 8, 2011 · 10:37 am

Sizzling Sixteen (Stephanie Plum, #16) by Janet Evanovich

Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . .

BAD LUCK:

Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.

GOOD LUCK:

Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.

BAD LUCK:

Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up Mooner’s vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger’s apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics.

GOOD LUCK:

Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, Mooner’s Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business, and Vinnie, from ruin.

BAD LUCK:

Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.

GOOD LUCK:

The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky—the only question is . . . with whom?

I read this the first time when it was released last year.  Since the new book is coming out this month, I decided it was time for a re-read.

All of the great characters are here:  Grandma Mazur, Joe, Ranger, Lula, and even Mooner.  Mooner makes some great cookies.

I think my favorite quote is “You know what your problem is? You got too many scruples. One or two scruples is okay, but you get too many of them, and it clogs everything up.” (Lula, p. 157)

This book ends not with a cliffhanger, but definitely so that you know it is about to go in a different direction.  I can’t wait for #17.

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Mystery, Realistic, Romance

June 8, 2011 · 7:47 am

Hit List (Anita Blake, #20) by Laurell K. Hamilton

A serial killer is hunting the Pacific Northwest, murdering victims in a gruesome and spectacular way. The local police suspect “monsters” are involved, and have called in Anita Blake and Edward, US Marshals who really know their monsters, to catch the killer.

But some monsters are very real. The Harlequin have been the bogeymen of the vampire world for more than a thousand years; they are a secret so dark that even to speak their name can earn you a death sentence. Now they are here in America, hunting weretigers…and human police.

The Harlequin serve the Mother of All Darkness, the first vampire. She was supposed to be dead, but only her body was destroyed. Now she needs a new one, and she’s decided that Anita Blake’s is the body she wants. Edward thinks the serial killings are a trap to lure Anita closer to the most dangerous vampire they’ve ever hunted. The vampires call Edward “Death,” and Anita the “Executioner,” but Mommy Darkest is coming to kill one and possess the other, and she doesn’t care how many others have to die along the way.

It is a really good thing that I re-read Bullit last week or I would have been totally lost in this book.  I have decided that there are not actually twenty Anita Blake books, but one really, really long book.  It’s not that there are cliff hangers, it’s just the storyline keeps flowing.

This was one of the books that had very little of Anita’s men in it.  She is on a hunt with Edward.  Unfortunately, Olaf is brought into the hunt as well and he totally creeps me out.  It’s ironic that with all the “monsters” in these books, it is one of the humans who bothers me the most.  I am always afraid he is about to slip his chain.

They are hunting for the killers of clanless weretigers.  Anita’s group knows it is the Harlequin (and how weird is it that I have a hard time typing there name?), but the regular Marshals do not.  What I can’t remember is why they are being slaughtered.

And yes, I loved the Harry Potter reference.

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance

June 7, 2011 · 8:10 am

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, #1) by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris

Purchased

Evil is most assuredly afoot—and Britain’s fate rests in the hands of an alluring renegade . . . and a librarian.

These are dark days indeed in Victoria’s England. Londoners are vanishing, then reappearing, washing up as corpses on the banks of the Thames, drained of blood and bone. Yet the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences—the Crown’s clandestine organization whose bailiwick is the strange and unsettling—will not allow its agents to investigate. Fearless and exceedingly lovely Eliza D. Braun, however, with her bulletproof corset and a disturbing fondness for dynamite, refuses to let the matter rest . . . and she’s prepared to drag her timorous new partner, Wellington Books, along with her into the perilous fray.

For a malevolent brotherhood is operating in the deepening London shadows, intent upon the enslavement of all Britons. And Books and Braun—he with his encyclopedic brain and she with her remarkable devices—must get to the twisted roots of a most nefarious plot . . . or see England fall to the Phoenix!

I love the idea of steampunk, although I have not read that much of it. Mostly, I’m hooked on Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series.

In this book, which is the beginning of a new series, there is a division of England’s secret service that investigates “peculiar occurrences.” Welly is the Archivist, not librarian he is quick to remind you, and Eliza is a field agent. Due to a few less than quiet activities she has been involved in, she is reassigned to work in the archives with Welly.

I love the fact that a good bit of the book takes place in the archives cataloging the cases. I love that Eliza is the physically dangerous partner, although Welly has secret strengths. I love the fact that the villains are villains without any shades of gray.

As a matter of fact, I love this entire book.

And there is something about the Archives that reminds me of the television show Warehouse 13 which I also love.

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Filed under Historical, Mystery, Steampunk

June 5, 2011 · 8:16 am

The Kiss by Emma C. Shortt

Title:  The Kiss*
Author: Emma C. Shortt
Series: N/A
Genre:  Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Format: digital e-book
Date/Year:  May 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author for review

Summary from the publisher:

When Eva Diakou is offered a job on the Winterwood estate, she expects nothing but four months of back breaking work. Jobless and lonely, she has little choice but to accept. But things on the Winterwood estate are nothing like Eva was led to believe. Why has she been given one of the plushest rooms? Why is there nothing to do? And why is she so captivated by the strange statues adorning the estate?Adam Winterwood is paying for a crime he never committed. Trapped for so many years, he is waiting for the one person who can keep him alive…or set him free. When Adam and Eva meet, sparks fly. Yet, neither realizes the sacrifice they will both have to make.

And it will all be decided by The Kiss.

My Musings:

I have a policy of not reading book blurbs because I have been burned with spoilers before.  This is, of course, only for books I know I am going to read regardless of the blurb.Anyway, I had no idea this book had a fantasy element to it.  The fact that it does makes it just that much better to me.  I was a little confused at first because the book switches from present day to the 1800s with no explanation.  Although I was able to figure out what was going on after a couple of chapters, I think that aspect could have been handled better.

At the beginning of the book, I really felt that Eva was going to be one of those TSTL (too stupid to live)  heroines.  She agrees to take a job on a distant estate where she will have no contact with the outside world for four months.  The interviewer questions her on whether there is any family or friends who will miss her or need to contact her while she is gone . . . and she tells her NO!  Fortunately, it does work out for the best.

Adam and Eva (I cannot believe that allusion) are in lust with each other from their first meeting.  The sex scenes are hot, but pretty vanilla.  Adam definitely has a romantic side as well.  If anything, Eva is the one being ruled by her hormones.

There is a witch’s curse and true love is the only way to break it.  Maybe I should have classified this book as a fairy tale more than fantasy.

Either way, I really enjoyed it.  The plot line was unique, the sex was hot, and the hero was built like a god.

What’s not to like?

Ratings:

Overall: 4 stars
Sensuality level: 4

(crossposted from Seductive Musings)

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Fantasy, Historical, Regency, Romance