Review - Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 1/31/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.

Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won't lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she's as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?
Blurb from Goodreads

John Murphy has just moved into a new home and come to find out his next door neighbor is a sexy little number that he would love nothing more than to seduce for a few nights. But Livvy isn't looking for some short term fling, she wants the white picket fence and a happily ever after. But the attraction between them won't stop burning her up, and she gives into his passion and short time terms.

But as the two spend their summer together, learning about themselves and each other, the realize that there is so much more between them between heat and a fling. But John is scared to reveal his true self, and as Livvy begins learning all of his secretes, he becomes more and more worried about where exactly their relationship will lead.


I was so amazed by this book. I've come to expect some smokin' hot erotica from Kelley, and while the fire between them burns extra hot, Kelley also provides so much more: romance, tears, depth and so much more. This is Kelley's longest and most developed book to date, and if she continues on this path, will quickly cement herself as one of my favorites in the contemporary romance genre.

There were times that John drove me a little crazy. The things he had to endure as a child were heartbreaking, and his journey to adulthood and maturity was captured beautifully. I loved that there was so much he had to do to grow up, to become an adult, but at the same time, he seemed to almost refuse to face anything that could help him move forward with his life, which at times he seemed desperate to do with Livvy.

John was scared to open up, lying to himself about his feelings and acted like a little bit of a jerk to Livvy at times. While I knew that she was it for him, there were times that I worried he pushed too hard and too far for Livvy to be able to forgive. She was a strong written character, filled with her own insecurities, difficulties in life but desire to have exactly what she wants in life. I was so happy with the way Kelley ended the story, staying true to both John and Livvy throughout.

The emotional turmoil that John relives throughout the story frequently had tears steaming down my face. Anyone who is overly sensitive to extremely emotional subplots might want to have an extra box of tissues or two out and ready. The one thing that I found really broke up the heavy emotions were the snippets from John's young adult novel. It was sweet to see the parallel of his history and his present, and how he used his writing to express emotions that he otherwise would be unable to do.

To the Kelley fans out there, beware that this is not her typical story. The plot is extremely in-depth, the emotions and romance between John and Livvy as the focal and the smexing not as frequent. While it is still blazing across the pages, there is more focus on the telling of their love, their emotions and not so much the communication between their bodies.


All in all, I give Sweet as Sin 4.5 out of 5 neighbors become lovers!

Waiting on... River Marked

Patricia Briggs was one of the first Urban Fantasy authors I picked up, and she lured me into the genre like you couldn't believe. With the Mercy Thompson Series, I became hooked on strong female heroines, sexy alpha heroes, and all things supernatural. Mercy has always been, and will always be one of my favorite heroines of all time (*NERD ALERT* I named my level 80 Death Knight in World of Warcraft after her! *NERD ALERT*)

River Marked, the 6th installment of the Mercy Thompson Series releases on March 1st. Who else has already pre-ordered their own copy??

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Trailer Tuesday - Magic Slays??

About a week ago, Ilona Andrews posted a hilarious parody of a book trailer for their summer release Magic Slays. Some authors think that book trailers can be somewhat of moot marketing point, but I love them all the same.

Check out this HYSTERICAL trailer that Ilona put together. TOO FUNNY.

Review - No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: Pima County Public Library

Live fast, fight hard and, if you have to die, then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power--one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’ve read all the Dark, Were and Dream-Hunter books by Kenyon, and while the books can sometimes be very predictable, they are still enjoyable.

Bear shifter Dev recently lost his parents in the fight of their lives, and the guilt of their loss and his past has been eating away at him. When Dark-Hunter Samia comes strolling into his bar, Sanctuary, one night, things seem to come back alive for him. The two are instantly attracted to each other, and although there are rules against their kind becoming involved, they can’t seem to help themselves.

Sam is tough, regardless of how life has beat her down. Now that she has been dispatched to New Orleans to help protect Nick, she finds herself in the middle of a war. When the daimons leader realizes what kind of power she has, he will try just about anything to get her under his command. But neither Sam nor Dev is willing to let that happen. But just how far are they each willing to go to save the other?

While this wasn’t my favorite book in the series to date, it was still very enjoyable. I fell in love with Del long ago, and had been anxiously awaiting to see what kind of woman could take on his crazy sense of humor, total devotion to his crazy family and risky job as Sanctuary bouncer. I have to say, I was impressed with Sam. I immediately liked her snarky attitude, her love of Del’s humor and her kick ass ways.

When her story was revealed of how she became a Dark-Hunter, my heart broke a little for her. There have been times when I didn’t really connect with the story behind why each of the Dark-Hunters chose their path, but with Sam it did, Kenyon did a great job on her back story in my opinion. I was so glad that she was finally able to move past the pain and suffering and admit that she needed someone in her life. Likewise, Del always came across to me as this fun-loving, non serious kinda guy. But once we got a closer look into his history as well, I really felt for him. The things he had to endure with his mother and sister, the pains he took from his family… It just made me love him all the more.

The struggle Sam had to go through with her gift, and the way that Del was able to somewhat offset her powers was really neat. I enjoyed the way that these two were able to keep each other sane and grounded. They fit together great as a couple, even while running away from each other. They two of them had some of the best dialogue, joking and teasing each other in ways that had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions.

I am excited to get the stories on some of the other Peltier clan boys. A lot more was revealed about the other brothers, and I have to say they all really hold a special place in my heart. Right up there with Savitar.

I didn’t feel as if Kenyon moved the overall story arc any further along though, and to me the Dark-Hunter series has begun to really drag it’s knuckles that way. It seems with each and every new book in the series, we don’t learn much more about what is really going on. That is one of my biggest pet peeves with long standing series like this. It seems to me as if things take FOREVER to get resolved. I wish that wasn’t the case, but what can you do? I can only hope that going forward, the series starts to pick up and answer some of the questions that have been left hanging.


All in all, I give No Mercy 3.5 out of 5 sexy bear shifting bouncers!

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: Pima County Library

ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother, Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC . . .
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

. . . TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home. . . .
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Kleypas is one of my favorite historical authors, and her only other contemporary series, The Travises was one I enjoyed. But for me, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor just wasn’t up to par with her normal stuff.

Mark Nolan is a certified bachelor, but when his sister dies in a car accident, he finds out that he is now the guardian of his six year old niece. He and Holly move in with his brother Sam, and the three of them struggle to move on.

Maggie moved to Friday Harbor to start over. When she and Holly click instantly, and Maggie helps her start talking again, Mark takes notice. Although the holidays are tough for all of them, someone the magic of the holidays brings them all together.

I really liked the premise of the story, but somehow the execution just fell short for me. This was definitely now what I’ve come to expect from Kleypas. First off, this short 200 page book was released in hardcover, and had I purchased it instead of checking it out from the library, I think I would be a little upset. I felt as if this was more of a Harlequin series book, missing the real substance we’ve come to expect from a Kleypas romance.

That being said, I did enjoy the story. Being able to watch Mark transition from this bona fide bachelor to loving father and want to be husband. I’ve always been a fan of romance stories where the man knows exactly what he wants, and isn’t afraid to go after it. Although it takes Mark most of the book to get there, he eventually does.

I also really enjoyed Maggie. Although she was a widow, she didn’t let that rule her whole life. She still believed in a little bit of magic, and loved showing it to other people. I really felt a connection with her, because she became such a real character to me in a very short time.

One of the things I struggled with while reading this is that although Mark had feelings for Maggie since the first moment he met her, he had another girlfriend throughout most of the book. Although he never acted like a jerk, it still just somewhat rubbed me the wrong way. I’ve never enjoyed books that have an element to cheating in them, and this started to toe that line a little too much for my comfort.

All in all, I give Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor 2.5 out of 5 Christmas miracles.

Waiting on... This Side of the Grave

One of my all time favorite series would have to be The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost, featuring the super fabulous broody hero Bones and the kick ass takes no prisoners heroine Cat. The fifth installment, This Side of the Grave releases on February 22nd, and I can not wait!

Having just really gotten into the paranormal romance genre within the past few years Cat & Bones were one of my first introductions into the genre that I am now slightly obsessed with. The cover is amazing, and I'm sure the book will be as well!

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Trailer Tuesday - Enclave

I have to say, when Ann Aguirre posted the link for the book trailer to her new YA novel, I immediately went to watch it. I love book trailers. I have to say though, I think that this might very well be the BEST I've ever seen.

I love the way she grabs her arm around her scars, I love the way they kiss, I love that she grabs his hand at the end and moves it further onto her shoulder. I'm not usually a fan of YA books, for some reason I can never really get into them, but this is probably one of my most anticipated books on 2011!

Deadlock by Moira Rogers

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: eARC from author

Carmen Mendoza's shapeshifter father abandoned her. Raised by her psychic mother, Carmen ignored her paternal family's political machinations--until the day they decided to use her in their bid for power. Trapped between two worlds and snared by a vicious spell meant to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Born a pureblood wolf, Alec Jacobson lives as a rebel, the black sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from wolf politics. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen. Staking a claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground, unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules--and start making them.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

The Moira Rogers duo strikes again with the third installment of the Southern Arcana Series, and my favorite story so far! Alec is the pureblood werewolf living in New Orleans that does his best to keep the peace, train new wolves, provide sanctuary to those who need it, and defy rules every chance he gets. When Carmen, the newest doctor in the supernatural hospital in the city gets kidnapped and roughed up, Alec takes it hard.

Carmen’s family has been one of the political heavy weights for some time now, and when she gets kidnapped and has her inner wolf ramped up, she has to turn to Alec for both protection and help getting under control. But things with Alec are passionate and hot, and the heat turns up in more ways than one. But when push comes to shove, are these two going to be able to protect each other, and the other supernatural’s in New Orleans?

I’ve been loving on Alec ever since he first walked onto the page, and he really shines in this one. I always knew that Alec the bad boy, constant rule breaker, and all around bad ass would be somewhat of a softy when push comes to shove. And I just loved that he proved me right. I love the fact that he was a complete sucker for Carmen, wanting to be a better man for her, I love that he wanted the best for all the supernatural’s in New Orleans, proving that although he gave up wolf politics long ago, he still has a knack for it.

I was really excited that Rogers gave us a better look into the social structure and political structure of the wolves in their world. While I can’t usually stand any and all talk about politics, I enjoyed how thorough, well thought out, and extensively they imagined their world to be. Plus, the way that Alec was able to come in and totally dominate the council… *swoon* So perfect!

Although Carmen and the Mendoza brothers are new characters, I really felt connected with them right off the bat. Carmen is an amazing character, and really is the perfect fit with Alec: the calm to his storm, the foundation to his plans. Likewise, her brothers Miguel and Julio really jumped off the page at me, capturing my attention and demanding we love them. I have to say, I can’t wait for these two to get their stories!!

I felt like this book really moved the series along as well. I can see where Rogers is taking the story, and am really liking the direction we are headed! Andrew and Kat get plenty of page time, and the foundation to their story (Cipher, releases Sep 2011) was laid out in a way that has me anxious for fall!


All in all, I give Deadlock 5 out of 5 werewolf council take overs!

Cover Love... Midnight

I have to admit, although I really do love my covers, they don't always play a huge role in determining if I purchase a book or not. However, many times it does determine if I purchase the book in print or ebook. Sometimes the cover art is just to pretty to stare at on my black and white nook screen.

Ellen Connor, the writing duo also known as Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty, released the cover art for their 2nd Dark Age Dawning Novel Midnight. *whistles* IT. IS. AMAZING. Midnight isn't set to release until September of this year, but I am already anxiously awaiting it's release.

Their desire destroys her defenses.
Their love gives him a reason to live.

Three years of wandering the post-apocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of humanity and hope. He’s a dangerous man now, full of dark energy and yen for violence. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn’t stopped moving since. Grim and sardonic, he never found anything worth sticking around for–until now.

Rosa Cortez runs Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders directly from her–the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing she needs is a feral loner upsetting the town’s tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets the sexy doctor stay. He evokes a delicious new longing, but she won’t submit to any man.

Tension rises as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, bent on possessing Valle and its resources. Together Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past–and build a future in this brutal Dark Age…
*Blurb from author's website*

When I asked Ann, she informed me the cover artist is Gene Mollica. You should definitely check out his work here.

Hungry for You by Lynsay Sands

Release Date: November 20, 2010
Publisher: Avon
How I got this book: Local Pima County Library

This vampire has been alone for far too long . . .

As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie . . .

Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body . . .

Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen . . . and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’ve been a long time fan of the Argeneau Series by Lynsay Sands. Her writing is so wonderful: going from sweet romance, to smoking hot passion, to hysterical laughs all within the course of a few pages. The newest installment of the Argeneau Series is no exception.

Alex Willan’s two sisters have both become life mates to immortal men, and have been trying to pair her up with every single immortal they can come up with. After starting to get a complex that maybe she wont find anyone and the stress of opening her newest restaurant, Alex begins to refuse to meet anymore of their dates. When Cale shows up under the direction of Marguerite (the family matchmaker) and Alex refuses to make time for him, her sister tries to pass him off as a top rated chef, willing to help with her new restaurant.

The only problem with that is that Cale can’t cook, doesn’t even like food. But he soon discovers that Alex could be a potential life mate, and hilarity ensues. When he manages to convince Alex to let him take over the business end while she runs things in the kitchen, he realizes that the few problems she has been having with her restaurant might not be coincidences. With Cale’s business expertise and Alex’s amazing cooking, they two might just be able to pull the opening off, and find out who is trying to sabotage her.

Again, I absolutely adore Sands’ work and am always looking forward to the next book surrounding these immortals. With the other Willan’s sisters married off, I was just waiting for Alex to finally get her forever kinda guy. I thought Alex’s character was so fun. She was completely focused on her career, somewhat down in the dumps about all the guys her sisters have thrown at her who turned her down. Then walks in Cale and POW, everything changes for her. I thought the way she handled everything was perfectly in character with everything we’ve learned about her. I’ve loved all the Wilan sisters, and enjoyed Sam’s constant nagging of Alex to meet all her friends. The two of them had some great snarky and funny dialogue, I definitely think that is one of the things that Sands’ does best.

Most of the Argeneau heroes have been favorites of mine. I love when my alpha hero men fall hard and deeply in love. Cale is no exception. He comes out with the expectation of being let down, but a little excited at the same time, having lived long enough on his own. When he realizes that Alex could be his one, he jumps at the chance to learn everything he can about her, her loves in life, and what he can do to make her happy. When he tries to take over the cooking for her, even though he hates the smell of food alone, I just adore that.

One of my favorite aspects of Sands writing is the spin she puts on her relationships Each couple has the potential to be in a perfectly fated relationship, if they want it. It’s not that they are thrown together and HAVE to be with each other, they have the choice as to whether or not they think they could love each other for eternity. I also love that in most cases, the males are the immortals, and are somewhat oblivious to women. It makes for some fabulous comedy!

The mystery surrounding who is trying to sabotage Alex’s restaurant is well done as well. I like that Sands really kept the reader in the dark about who it could potentially be till the very end. It kept the suspense exciting for me.


All in all, I give Hungry for You 4 out of 5 horrible Immortal chefs.

Waiting on... The Perfect Play

I've recently discovered the awesomeness that is Jaci Burton. She had a great little novella in the Carina Press Contemporary Christmas Anthology this year (review here), and I've since read a few other stories of her's that I just adore.

This year she is working on a new series called Play by Play, and it's based on sports stars! Now, as most of you should know, I absolutely adore anything having to do with sports (especially football). So when I heard about this new series I was totally stoked. Then I saw the cover... and I was sold!

The first in the series, The Perfect Play, releases February 1st. It's already on my To Purchase and Drool Over list!

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara’s not interested in getting to know football’s most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara’s life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Rachel Vincent Announcement

Rachel Vincent, author of the adult Shifter Series and the YA Soul Screamers Series has been holding off on announcing the big news regarding her new adult series. Finally yesterday she released some information regarding the new books. You can find her blog post regarding it here. Vincent also is taking questions on her Facebook page here. Here is a quick summary:

1. The new series is called "Unbound" and the first book will be titled BLOOD BOUND and is set to release on September 1, 2011.

2. The series is going to be paranormal romance geared for adults. Vincent said that these books are "dark and gritty, violent, and tense, but with some humor."

3. She has some really interesting world building ideas, mainly center around a man's word being taken literally and to the absolute t, written word being absolute, and other really interesting concepts.

4. Vincent also gave us a run down on the characters: Olivia and Cam, but it is unclear as to if the characters will be followed throughout the series like Faythe and Marc were, or if the characters will change with each book like other romance series.

Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: 12/28/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Abandoned at the altar…

Lady Beatrix Danbury has always known she would marry William Mallory. She’d loved him forever, and she’d never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together and his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter, and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke…

Will has no illusions that Beatrix will welcome him back with open arms, but six years has not diminished his love or his desire for her. The only problem is that she’s about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable… the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?
*Blurb form Goodreads*

I must say I was expecting this to be another fabulous Regency Romance, but was surprised to find that we were actually in the 20th century, as the opening scene has Beatrix driving a car, almost plowing over our reluctant hero. Although I had to shift my expectations, I found myself liking the book as we went on.

Beatrix has been in love with William her whole life, and just before their wedding, he decides that he needs to live his life the way he has always wanted: off exploring the tombs of Egypt. After Beatrix turns down his offer to go with, he leaves her behind. Fast forwarded and we are at a point where Beatrix has somewhat moved on, and has plans to remarry.

William is now back, hoping to find financial assistance for his expeditions. When he finagles an invite to an old friends home for a few weeks, he finds himself stuck with Beatrix, her new fiancé, and her two cousins. As Beatrix and William find themselves together throughout the weeks, will they be able to deny the passion that exists between them, or will they have a second chance at the altar?


Once I got over the fact that I was in a different era than expected, I really started to enjoy Beatrix. She was a total free spirit: not caring that she wore pants like a man, drove a car, smoked cigarettes, and got a little wild. I liked that about her. Although she did care what people thought of her at times, she was almost always true to herself, doing as she pleased when she pleased. She is the kind of strong heroine that I enjoy reading about.

William on the other hand drove me absolutely batty. For those of you who know my reading loves, I tend to enjoy my fictional heroes to be a little on the caveman side. William just doesn’t live up to that. He is somewhat nerdy, his first love being his archeological digs. He is also somewhat self absorbed, not thinking about what it was like for Beatrix when he left her standing at the altar. While he does somewhat redeem himself towards the end with what I thought to be his only selfless act in quite possibly his whole life, I just couldn’t really connect to his character at all.

With that in mind, I also had a hard time believing why Beatrix would fall in love with a man like William. At times the two seemed like polar opposites, and their romance while very sweet and endearing, didn’t always seem real to me. I loved the little challenges and dates that William planned for the two of them, but again it seemed as if he was doing them to prove his point, not win her love.

The real highlight of this book for me was Beatrix’s cousin Julia, another free spirit, anything goes kind of woman who provided many laughs for me though out. I am excited to see where her story takes us, especially since it seems as if she will end up with Beatrix’s jilted fiancé, Aiden.


All in all, I give Wedding of the Season 3 out of 5 new motor cars.

Cover Love... Just Like Heaven UK Style

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not usually a big fan of UK covers. I don’t know why, but they always seem to be missing that certain something that really appeals to me.

Last night as I was looking around for a great cover to feature today, I ran across the UK cover for Julia Quinn’s next release Just Like Heaven. Now, Quinn is by far my favorite historical romance author, and I personally an sooo excited to read the Smythe-Smith Quartet books. I’ve loved reading about the Smythe-Smith girls since I picked up my first Quinn novel about a year ago. Since then, I’ve read every book she has written and crave her books like no other!

Anyway, check out this UK Cover:




I totally love it!! It’s simplistic in nature, yet still tells a story which I can only hope accurately represents this book. I love the long flowing pink dress, the violin in hand, and the woman’s presence on stage. Likewise, the gentleman in the back is great, with this look on his face that says he’s just a little bit weary and intrigued all at the same time. I can’t wait for the US version of this cover to be released. I for one have my fingers crossed for a pink dress!!

Like Clockwork by Bonnie Dee

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 12/13/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Victoria's work with automatons has gained her renown and changed the face of London. But her concern that the clockworks are taking too many jobs away from humans, creating social unrest, is ignored. Given the ugly mood of the underclass, she fears more outbreaks of violence similar to the murder spree of the notorious Southwark Slasher.

Dash, unemployed thanks to the clockworks, has pledged fealty to The Brotherhood, a group determined to bring about the downfall of the automatons by any means necessary. His plan to kidnap Victoria goes awry when the unorthodox scientist pledges her assistance to their cause.

Despite their opposite social classes, a bond grows between them, and Victoria begins to feel emotions she never expected for the passionate Dash. But when the Slasher strikes close to home, Dash and Victoria realize that the boundaries of polite society are far from the only threat to their happiness...
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I was super excited to get this book from NetGalley, as most Steampunk Romance I’ve read as of late has been super awesome, but this one just fell short for me. The story itself was only novella length, and those who do not like short stories should probably steer clear of this one.

For me, the story line itself was really interesting: robots or “automatons” have been developed to work for humans in high-risk settings (i.e. factories) but have become mainstream and started taking over jobs all across the city. Bartenders, nannies, butlers, etc have all been kicked to the curb for the new cheap labor of automatons. To me the concept of artificial intelligence and robots is so exciting, but the controversy that could arise is also something to think about.

From that aspect, I really enjoyed this story. The steampunk elements of advanced technology in the Victorian era is spot on, and I loved the way Dee hit some of the ways that social class structures can create chaos in that kind of situation. It was great seeing a female heroine struggle with the constraints of the time frame, but also be independent enough to have a profession.

However, the romance fan in me found the story somewhat lacking. I didn’t really find the romance between Dash and Victoria to be believable. While Victoria seemed to be completely devoted to a potential relationship, it seemed as if Dash was only half heartedly committed to her. It could have just been the way that Dee portrayed Dash’s feelings regarding their differences in social class, but I just had a hard time connecting to the two as a couple.

Although I didn’t relate to the two as a couple, I did enjoy both Victoria and Dash’s characters separately. I loved that Victoria was this amazingly strong and smart woman who found a way to make a name for herself in the field that she loved. I was also partial to the fact that although Victoria had some emotional struggles in her past, she was not hard emotionally. From a totally different end of the spectrum, I did like the way that Dash’s character was still somewhat honorable regardless of his upbringing. For a street kid, it was nice to see that he made a way for himself, and still wanted to fight for the lower class, even after the automatons took all of their jobs.

The mystery element surrounding the Southwark Slasher was great, and I was actually surprised with how it ended up playing out. I was glad to see it resolved the way it was. It gave the plot a “real” element to me, and proved that nothing as is it seems, even in this crazy alternate past.


All in all, I give Like Clockwork 2.5 out of 5 mysterious automatons.

Waiting on... A Lot Like Love

I discovered Julie James last year when she did a interview at Nalini Singh's blog. Her book sounded awesome: Jason Bourne does romance, so I went out and bought it. The next day I bought her other two back list books. I absolutely love her writing style!

Her next book, A Lot Like Love, comes out March 1st, and I can not wait!! Check out the cover (she has some AWESOME covers!!) and blurb below.

THE FBI WANTS HER COOPERATION.

As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city’s top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there’s only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother’s release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.


AGENT McCALL JUST WANTS HER.

As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This “date” with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment—one they’re both determined to pull off even if they can’t be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick’s investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they’re a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more. . .
*Blurb from author's website*

Taken by Desire by Lavina Kent

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: 12/1/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Can a single kiss change a life?

Strong and Independent, Anna Steele has dreamed of him in secret.

Fierce, yet world-weary, Alexander Struthers has always desired her.

Neither has ever considered marriage an option.

But when a single kiss has unforeseen consequences, and wedding bells follow, they’ll both learn the power of passion.

Desire can change everything.
*Blurb from author’s website*

I’ve read Kent’s work before, and have always been happy with the stories; Taken by Desire is no exception! While the cover leaves much to be desired, Kent creates a wonderful book with two incredibly headstrong characters, a sweet and wonderful courtship, and a side plot that was well woven in.

Anna and Struthers are married very early in the story, against both their better judgments. I thought it was great that although the two married, they didn’t really behave like typical married couples do. Anna still stayed at her home, in her bed, managed her large fortune, and went wherever she pleased. Likewise, Struthers stayed in his home, took care of his fortune, and did whatever he pleased. It was comical to see how separate their lives really were.

I really felt bad for Anna though, because she really was independent for her time, and the thought of marriage really did scare her to death. She was so worried about her money and whether or not Sturthers would allow her the kind of indulgences that she was accustomed to. It’s hard enough for Anna to trust anyone, but when it comes to her money, she is even more hesitant.

I really enjoyed the side plot where Anna’s cousins from the US come to London in hopes of stealing her fortune. The way that she and Struthers are somewhat forced to trust in each other to get through the ordeal together is great, plus the way that Anna ends up solving the problem completely put a smile on my face.

I also really enjoyed the way Anna and Struthers found a way to come together. I loved that Anna tried to show him all the ways that women of that time period had it so difficult, especially when she took him to the “insane asylum”. It was great to see that Struthers really made an effort to understand exactly what she was scared of, and the different constraints Anna had against her because of being female. While the sexual tension and passion always was there between the two, it was fun to watch their minds and hearts follow.

Although this isn’t my favorite Kent book, I liked the way she tackled some of the harsh realities for women of the time frame. I thought she did an excellent job portraying what it must have been like for a woman in Anna’s situation. To me, that really stood out as a focal point in the book, even more so than the romance.

All in all, I give Taken by Desire 4 out of 5 wealthy regency heroines!

2010 Wrap Up

In my opinion, 2010 was an AMAZING year!! I was able to accomplish so many things, discover so many new authors and bloggers, meet some fabulous people, and have a fun time while doing so.

In 2010, I decided to start this blog, and I have had so much fun doing so. I really love sharing with all of you my love of reading. As my friends and family can attest to, I would and could go on and on about things I love and didn’t love in each and every book I read. My poor husband probably tunes me out most days!!

This year I was also asked to join the fabulous girls over at The Book Pushers, and I have so enjoyed being a part of the review team there. Lou, Has, E, and Ying have been so welcoming with me. I can honestly say that doing joint reviews with those ladies is some of the most fun I’ve had this past year. These women are not only great reviewers, but I’m so happy to be able to call them all great friends!

In addition to those great ladies, I’ve also had the chance to get to know other bloggers on a more personal note. For those who follow me regularly, you know how obsessed I am with Twitter. Because of that, I’ve had the chance to get to know Mandi from Smexy Books, Sophia from Fiction Vixen, Pearl from Pearl’s World of Romance, and so many others on a more personal note. I love talking books with them, and would be lost most days without them to chat with. Twitter had also given me the chance to make friends with some of the authors I love to read, specifically the Moira Rogers duo Bree and Donna, Liz Fichera, Alisha Rai, and the always funny Keith Melton.

This past year I really broadened my reading horizons and read new authors, genres and stories I never would have thought to pick up. The Sci-Fi Romance Reading Challenge was so fun, and I discovered a new love for all things romance space operas (I absolutely fell in love with Linnea Sinclair!) I also picked up a lot more romantic suspense books this year than ever before, and I have Maya Banks to thank for that new obsession. Her new KGI books fueled my library rampage where I checked out about 5 different romantic suspense authors to test out.

In 2010, I had quite a few opportunities to meet some fabulous authors in person, and it was so incredible! Here’s a recap:

April – Went to the Tucson Festival of Books with my dear friend E from BookPushers. We got to meet some great authors that I loved before, and have since come to love so much more after meeting them. We met Rachel Gibson, Terry Brooks, JA Jance and Julia Quinn. We had such a great time, and I can’t wait to go to the festival in 2011!

In April I also got to meet up with Lorelie Brown. She is one of my favorite lunch buddies, and we've run into each other around town as well!

July – Met Diana Gabaldon when she did a reading/talk/signing for the Pima County Library. She is so nice, and I try and go hear her every time she is in Tucson.


September – I went to Phoenix for CopperCon, to finally my bestest girlfriend from the Ilona Andrews forum. We had the chance to meet up with fellow IA forum buddy SylviaSybil and meet some great Sci-Fi authors like Gini Koch, Lynn Crain, Marsheila Rockwell, Weston Ochse, Yavonne Navarro and Stephen Donaldson. I had such a great time, and really enjoyed hanging out with Gini and Lynn the whole weekend.


October – I attended the first ever gaming conference in Tucson, RinCon. They invited some great authors to that, and was able to spend some time talking with Jeff Mariotte, Sam Sykes and Michael Stackpole. It was fabulous!

November – Some BIG names were invited to TusCon this year, namely Jim Butcher and Shannon K Butcher, and I had a great time hearing them speak. They are both so nice and accommodating to their fans. I had a wonderful time meeting them.

December – The end of the year was a huge SQUEE month for me. I got to have lunch with Vivian Arend who was traveling through the state with her family. We had a great time chatting, and I loved being able to meet her. I also took a trip to the Portland area to visit my in-laws this Christmas. While I was there, I had the chance to meet a few of my all time favorite authors. First up was Ilona and Gordon Andrews. When they agreed to meet with me, I almost had a little panic attack! I have yet to read something they write that wasn’t pure gold for me. It was a total dream come true to sit and have coffee with the two of them. Next up was the amazing Meljean Brook. I have to say, I have a total girl crush on her. She was so fun to sit and chat with, and we got along so well. It was one of the best days of my whole year!


I would have to say that 2010 was probably one of the best years I’ve had in a REALLY long time. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that 2011 will be just as fabulous!