Hot Ice

Rich, gorgeous Whitney MacAllister likes fast cars, vintage movies, and dangerous men. But even this jaded, high-living Manhattan socialite is taken by surprise when a stranger in black leather hijacks her Mercedes--just before the bullets start flying. International jewel thief Douglas Lord is used to living life on the run--part of the lure of his chosen profession is the thrill of the chase. But he has one iron-clad rule: he always works alone. Until now.Wounded and in desperate need of cash for what could be the glittering crown of his dazzling career, Doug reluctantly accepts the wealthy, well-connected Whitney as his new partner in crime. With the papers screaming headlines about the missing New York heiress, and a gang of cunning criminals in hot pursuit, Doug and Whitney take off for the sultry wilds of Madagascar in search of a fabulous treasure dating back to the French Revolution.For Whitney, what began as a high-speed adventure becomes a race between life and death as she tries to outmaneuver a pack of merciless killers who coolly eliminate anyone in their way. For Doug, who has been betrayed one time too many, it’s a chance to capture the elusive pot of gold and perhaps one final shot at redemption. For both of them, it’s an exotic quest for meaning--and a surrender to an irresistible passion worth any risk--as a deadly high-stakes game is played out to its terrifying conclusion, one that may have no winners or losers. Or survivors. With Hot Ice Nora Roberts reveals once again why she is the reigning master of sensually charged intrigue and high-voltage suspense.

I like this book. I've only tried to read one other of Nora Roberts suspense/romances and had bad luck. I couldn't even finish it. I was nervous about this one, but found that I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed her humor and the fast pace. I'd give it a 3.5-4 stars!

Book Snobs!

Have you ever gone to the bookstore and while browsing the romance section, found yourself being watched by Snooty Book Person X? You know the one, you're scanning the covers with all those glorious pectoral muscles and he/she/them walk by with some large hard cover about some political agenda or some a dry biography about someone really old and crusty! They see what aisle you're in and roll their eyes!

Or worse yet, You meet someone there you know. Someone from church or work, or the PTA! (dun dun dun!) "Oh look! Fancy meeting you here!" "What are you reading? Oh!(eyes widen, look away! ) Isn't that kinda...smutty/trashy/shallow? " Or you meet the Preacher's wife, and she's got some "Raising Kids God's Way" kinda book, or something, and you find your self hiding your paperback with the six-pack cover behind your sweater, or under the magazine!

I get that! I tend to carry a book with me in my purse everywhere I go, and sometimes I forget to take it out when I go to church. (I'll not be doing any reading for fun in there, as that's not what I'm there for...but there my book comes tumbling out of my purse right in front of "Sister (fill in the blank)" I can then feel her sniff, and I can almost hear her lips pursing and her eyebrows rising the her hairline! (You'd think, I just opened up a dime bag, and offered the kindergarten class a joint!) (Which, for the record, I have never done! Just so you know!)

We all have those people. Your's might be a mother-in-law, or Coworker, or even Husband/boyfriend/significant other. So for all of us out there, who read romance. Who insist upon our Happily Ever After, with a little eye candy on the cover. Who don't mind a little nookie described in our books, cuz well, we just do. I offer you the following quiz. Think Cosmo quizes. It is offered to you by Dear Author! For my purposes, I've substituted answer #4, with Mind Your Own Business and you'll see why. It's just my preference and if you don't like it....Mind Your Own Business. (Ha!) Enjoy!!

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/11/25/the-romance-apologia-scale/

Circle of Gold

Circle of Gold! by Diana Palmer!

Back Cover:
Sparks flew the moment Kasie Mayfield arrived at Gil Callister's sprawling Montana ranch to temporarily care for his two adorable daughters. Yet never in her wildest dreams did the innocent young woman imagine that her formidable new boss would sweep her off her feet with his potent charm. Before long, she was in love so deeply that it made her heart ache. But how did HE feel? The enigmatic rancher was so difficult to read. Still, she couldn't imagine spending her days--or nights--with anyone else but Gil. Could Kasie convince the hard-edged widower that a circle of gold... belonged on her finger?

My Thoughts:
I liked this book. It was typical Diana Palmer, but toned down a bit. He was less cruel than her normal heroes. She was less, um... fragile than most heroines. She came back at him with her words, Yay! She did have her DP issues, but they were more realistic. I had more sympathy for her than I usually do her other heroines. It was pretty good!

Tall, Dark and Hungry

Tall, Dark and Hungry by Lynsay Sands

Spooky title

rate 4

Back Cover:
It bit: New York hotels cost an arm and a leg, and Terri had flown from England to help plan her cousin's wedding. The new in-laws offered lodging. But they were a weird bunch. There was the sometimes-chipper-sometimes-brooding Lucern, and the wacky stage-actor, Vincent. (She couldn't imagine Broadway casting a hungrier singing-and-dancing Dracula.). And then there was Bastien. Just looking into his eyes, Terri had to admit she was falling for him - someone even taller, darker and hungrier than the other two. She was feeling a mite peckish herself. And if she stayed with him, those bloodsucking hotel owners wouldn't get her!

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book! I liked it because there was very little about the "changing" and more about the relationship. I love that cool efficient Bastien, became forgetful and distracted. I love that he got kinda silly! I like that Terri was fun and open! I just enjoyed th begeezes out of this book!
4 stars

Love and Mayhem

Love and Mayhem by Nicole Cody

Reviewed in Summer Reading Challenge

Rated 3

Back Cover:

Try getting married when your betrothe can wield an iron pot with deadly accuracy, her mad uncle thinks he's William Wallace, and her two maiden aunts can't finish a sentence-or a thought-on their own...

Such are Sir Iain Armstrong's travails when he sets out to wed Lady Marion, a convent-raised spitfire. All Iain wants is to fulfill their fathers' wishes, appease two royal courts, and do what is best for the future of Scotland by putting an end to the troubles in his part of the Borders. All Lady Marion has to do is agree to marry him, which is the last thing on her mind when Iain arrives at the convent. She won't be taken without a fight. And even when she realizes that Iain is a man of courage, intelligence, and seductively powerful shoulders, will her eccentric family succeed where her temper tantrums, willful ways, and pride have so far failed--and drive him away forever?

I liked this book ok. I didn't love it, but I didn't hat it either. It was not a story where I had a hard time putting it down. It was kinda slow going for me! I liked the aunts well, and the way the author wrote the chaos, was good. She also wrote these two women, who spoke over each other, and finished each others sentences and talked in complete circles, well enough that you could follow what was going on. If you like Arsenic and Old Lace, you'll like this rendition.

Ms Cody is not an auto buy yet, but I may give her another try! It was ok!

Serial Readers Challenge 2009

Serial Readers Challenge 2009

As many of you know, I love to read books in a series. (not so much the Harlequins or Silhouettes, but that’s just me.) I love trilogies, series, or even just related books by an author. I enjoy the continuity, and getting glimpses of the "Happily Ever Afters" from the previous title. So, in this spirit, I offer you the Serial Readers Challenge 2009. It’s really simple! And for the purpose of this challenge a series is defined as at least 3 related books. I typically read romance but for this challenge any genre is welcome. So this can be done in conjunction with any other challenge. AllAboutRomance.com and Fantasticfiction.com are good resources for finding series!

1. Read books in series/trilogies/related by author. (Julie Garwood’s Lion’s Lady, Castles, The Gift are related.) For a series to count you must read each book in that series during this calendar year. (Rereads and audio books welcome!) If you previously started a series and do not wish to re-read, then only the titles read after 01/01/09 will count towards your total books read. You will not however get "credit" for total series read. Only series started and finished in 09 will count toward the prize for # of series read. For example I started Lynsay Sands Argeneau series this fall. For me to get credit for all 9 books I will need to re-read the first 3 sometime in 09. The series does not have to be read in order, or in succession to "count"! (so if I read #4-9 this spring and next fall re-read #1-3 then I get full credit. Otherwise ...I only get credit for the 5 books read, but not for reading the entire series.) I think I just made that about as clear as mud.
2. The Challenge will begin January 1st and last until December 31st 2009.
3. Post your list on your blog and link it back to this post. Please comment to this post when your link is up. Your list is not something, you need to decide in advance. Please add as you go!
4. Please rate and review each title on your blog. When you do so, please label it SRC or Serial Readers Challenge so we can all read your reviews and maybe be inspired to try a new series for ourselves.
5. There will be prizes! Woo Hoo! Some of the prizes may be simple online trophies, and some will be book give-aways. (Titles to be determined) Prizes will be given for most books read, most # series read, most pages read, and some maybe at random! (my favorite kind!! Yay!)
6. To wrap up the challenge next winter, comment to this post linking your wrap-up post by December 31! Prizes will be awarded January 2010!

Sign up early and spread the word!

Readers of Romance Winter Challenge LIst 08

It's that time again, Woo Hoo! The list for the Winter Challenge is released and I'm getting excited. I have my current draft here. The challenge for those of you who may not know, goes from Dec 1 to Feb 29. I'm committing to all 15 titles. I'll be rating and reviewing them here and on the Readers of Romance Book blog. For more information click on the "Winter Challenge" here.

1. Reader's Choice - Pink Jinx by Sandra Hill~~~Done~~3.5 stars

2. Book read and reviewed in the Fall Challenge- The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt~~~Done~~~4.5 stars

3. Read a book that has a "D" word in it for December-The Corset Diaries by Katie MacAlister~~Done~~4.5 rating

4. Read a book that has an arranged marriage/marriage of convenience-The Gift by Julie Garwood~~~DONE~~~4.5 STARS

5. For Valentines Day, read a book that has love, kiss, or heart-This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips~~~Done~~4 stars

6. Read a book by Lisa Kleypas: Blue Eyed Devil (ok, Hardy here's your shot!)~~~Done ~~~4.5 stars

7. A book that makes you think of Christmas-A) Christmas Wishes by Debbie Macomber or B) Lone Star Christmas by Pamela Griffen et al. C) A Stone Creek Christmas by Linda Lael Miller~~~DONE~~~ rate 3.5

8. A title that has 4 words in it.- Only For a Knight by Sue Ellen Welfonder~~~DONE~~2.5 STARS or Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros (probably SLIW)

9. Read a story that has a military/civil servant in it-Come the Spring by Julie Garwood~~~DONE~~~4 STARS

10. Read a book that has a Viking/Pirate in it-Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood~~~DONE~~~4 STARS

11. Pick a book that was first published in 2008-How to Knit a Wild Bikini by Christie Ridgeway~~~DONE~~~3.5 STARS

12. Read a series book: Duncan's Bride by Linda Howard~~~DONE~~~4 stars

13. Read a book that has an author with 3 names-Dream a Little Dream by SEP~~~DONE~~~4-ish stars

14. For the New Year-pick a book that has been in your TBR pile for a long time-Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber~~~DONE~~~3.5 STARS

15. Read a book that has a "W" word for Winter-When I Fall in Love by Lynn Kurland~~~DONE~~~5 STARS

Yay!!

Accidentally Yours

Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery

#13 New (to me) author

Rated 5 stars

Back Cover

Single mom seeks billionaire's pocketbook to fund dying son's research cure. Will seduce if necessary. Blackmail is not out of the question. Miracles welcome.

Cynical billionaire seeks working mom with a heart of gold for PR campaign to improve his standing in the community. Must to willing to attend social events. Anyone looking for love, need not apply.

It seemed like the perfect match...until the unthinkable happened.

My Opinion

I really loved this story. I loved that Kerri was willing to go to these extremes to help her son. I loved that even in times of struggle, she was able to give her son as normal a life as possible. I also felt like her guilt at being attracted to Nathan was there. I think I would have felt the same thing. If I'd prayed that prayer, and felt like I was supposed to sacrifice my happiness for my child, then when I was a'lustin over luscious Nathan, and something bad happens to my child...You better believe I'd feel to blame. Is it rational....Nope! Is it what I'd feel...Yep! I think that's SO realistic. I LOVED Tim and Lance! I loved the romance also between Abram and Linda.

Nathan was a true tortured hero. It's impossible to imagine how he felt in letting his son "go". The guilt he felt at working so much, and losing his own child. His only coping mechanism was to drown in work, and distance himself from human connection. It's safer that way! I understand why he would feel that. I love the transition for Nathan, in his own personal growth, and in his relationship with Frankie. In my mind's eye Frankie gets well, and hooks up with Grant! Yeeeaa!

Susan Mallery reminds me of Nora Roberts in all the ways that I love! Her ability to touch my heart and make me giggle. I love a heroine who is driven, but is able to maintain a healthy heart. I love a hero and heroine who can be sarcastic with one another. I adore a story with humor, and wit. This was that kind of story for me! LOVE IT!!

Nobody's Baby But Mine

Fall Reading Challenge #5 Title with "N" Word

by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Rate 4.5 stars

Back Cover
The Plan
Genius physics professor Dr. Jane Darlington desperately wants a baby. But finding a father won't be easy. Jane's super-intelligence made her feel like a freak when she was growing up, and she's determined to spare her own child that suffering. Which means she must find someone very special to father her child. Someone very…well…stupid.
The Target
Cal Bonner, the Chicago Stars legendary quarterback, seems like the perfect choice. But his champion good looks and down-home ways are deceiving. Dr. Jane learns too late that this good ol' boy is a lot smarter than he lets on -- and he's not about to be used and abandoned by a brainy, baby-mad schemer.
The Explosion
A brilliant, lonely woman who dreams only of motherhood…A take-no-prisoners tough guy who'll settle for nothing less than surrender…Can passion and physical attraction propel two strong-willed yet vulnerable people to a totally unexpected love?

My Thoughts

I really liked this book! I enjoy Susan Elizabeth Phillips a lot! She writes the funnest, flawed people. Her characters have flaws, and insecurities as well as humor and integrity. I enjoyed the banter between Jane and Cal regarding the various ways they were going to murder each other. I got a kick out of the Lucky Charms and totally cringed when she finally decided to let him see her naked. Annie was fun, but I think I like Tanta Lulu (from Sandra Hill's Cajun Series) better. I liked the side story about Jim and Lynn as well. I will enjoy reading more, and I think some of these characters show up in later books. I dig Kevin Tucker! Hubba Hubba!!

I give it a 4.5 stars cuz I couldn't decide between a 4 and 5!