Temporary Hiatus

Besides my husband, I honestly can’t think of one thing I love more than reading and sharing my love of books.

That being said, life sometimes creeps up and bites you in the behind when you least expect it, and for me, life has been chipping away at me for awhile. So, starting today I’m going to be putting Books, According to Nicole on a temporary hiatus. You’ll still be able to follow my reviews over at The Book Pushers and chat with me about books on Twitter and Goodreads.

Review - Hunting Human by Amanda Alvarez

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 3/28/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past, and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she's ready to move on...with Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present.

But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries—and despite the instant connection he feels with Beth, Braden isn't sure which side of the war she's on.

With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good. Can Beth accept the wolf within—and love a man who embodies everything she fears?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Carina Press has been a little hot or miss for me, with many of their books being absolutely amazing and incredible, and some not so much, But I have to say, Hunting Human was one of the better stories I’ve read from them this year.

Beth has been on the run for some time now. She is settling in Oregon, wanting more than anything to make it her home. She has a job she loves, a home she likes, and a city that appeals to her human and forest that appeals to her wolf. When she starts becoming romantically involved with Braden, she wishes and hopes that she can find a way to make it her permanent home.

But she is still being chased, and Markko is not one to let bygones be bygones, and he wants blood. When he tracks Beth down, she finds herself in an even more precarious situation. Markko and Braden’s families have been at war forever, but suspicions run high in Braden’s family and they have their reservations about Beth’s loyalty. But once she proves just how horribly Markko ruined her life, they will do everything in their power to help her get out from under his threats.

I really enjoyed the world building of this one, and I hope that Alvarez continues to write in this world. I loved the way Alvarez was also able to weave such a well done suspense plot into it as well. I was constantly on my toes about what Markko’s next move would be, how Braden’s family would retaliate and so on. It was very well done.

The characters were great as well. I loved the way Beth was able to survive even after all the horrible and awful things that had happened to her. Her display of strength was incredible, and I loved that she didn’t back down on anything. Although I really enjoyed Braden at first, he kinda got on my nerves when he was so quick to jump to assumptions about Beth. I really wanted him to have a little more faith in her.

That being said, I was glad to see that Beth really made him work to make it up to her. It was refreshing to have a lead female character who was strong and yet no insecure in herself as well. The fact that she really stood up to Braden, forced him to prove how much he wanted her in his life, just made her all the more believable to me.

I thought the secondary characters were great as well. All of Braden’s family was so fun. The dynamic between them was full of love and craziness and fierce protection of one another. Braden’s sister was one of my favorites, and I really hope that if Alvarez continues writing in this world, that she gets a chance at her HEA.

I was happy with the resolution with the Markko saga. I loved the way that Alvarez compared him and Braden, showing how the insanity of being a shifter could really go one way or the other, but how destructive it can be to let the wolf take charge. It was a great contrast.

All in all, I give Hunting Human 4 out of 5 wolf stalkers!

JIll Myles new book deal

A fabulous and talented author friend of mine, Jill Myles, announced on her blog yesterday that she signed a new book deal! You can find her post about it here.

To sum it up for you, Jill signed a two book deal to write for Berkley Heat under a pen name Jessica Clare. The first book in the series, When Sparks Fly is a contemporary romance set in a small Texas town called Bluebonnet. Jill sums up the first book:

Miranda Hill is the local librarian, with a naughty, unjustly deserved reputation for being the town slut. It’s left her with a few hangups, you see, and she can’t get past the moment that her reputation was destroyed. So when the man that destroyed it returns to town, she decides to get her revenge on him…but finds herself falling for him instead.

I can't wait to read these. Jill has such a fun voice, and her writing is always face paced and full of sexiness. The first book should be coming out summer of 2012.

Congratulations again and again Jill!!

Review - My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: 3/29/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic. Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting -- just around the bend.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Higgins and I have an ongoing love/hate relationship. Some of her books are absolutely incredible and I can’t stop thinking about them for days and days after I’ve finished it. Others made me want to scream and wish I could erase part of my brain. I’ve found it very hit or miss with her. I have to say though, My One and Only was an absolute HIT for me!!

Harper is a divorce attorney, jaded with relationships and stuck headed out to a wedding for her younger sister and her ex brother-in-law! Taking her boyfriend along for the ride doesn’t help, especially since she keeps running into her ex-husband Nick. After a disastrous weekend, her boyfriend heads home as no longer her boyfriend and Harper is stuck in a car, road tripping across the country with Nick. Being stuck in a car together runs havoc on their relationship, but will they be able to admit that maybe they were wrong going their separate ways all those years ago?

One of my biggest beefs with Higgins’ romance books are that many times it feels as if the romance is so rushed. Many times Higgins focuses on the character development of the heroine, and when there is finally a HEA, it feels forced and rushed. With My One and Only, Harper and Nick have lots and lots of screen time together, and I love the progression of their relationship from enemies to friends to lovers.

There were times in this book when Harper got on my nerves. She as always so pessimistic and down, although Nick was able to lighten her outlook, there were times I felt like she was just too much of a Debbie Downer. I wanted to poke her to get her to smile at times. I’ve always been a fan of Higgins’ heroes, and Nick was no exception. I loved that he knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. He was a good old boy, old fashioned respectful and yet just so male. Every time he came onto the page I was engrossed in everything about him. For me, Nick really made this story come to life.

Harper’s relationship with Dennis, the sexy firefighter and boyfriend was a little weird to me. As someone who dealt with divorce on an every day basis, why she even wanted to get married to anyone was beyond me. There are times I cringe at the situations that Higgins’ heroines get themselves into, and Harper and Dennis’ relationship just happen to be one of those things. I enjoyed Dennis as a side character, but saw his relationship with Harper as something that just didn’t completely add up.

One of the things I love about Higgins’s stories is her ability to realistically portray families, in all their craziness. Harper’s family had me laughing and cracking up, and falling in love with them every moment. Her stepmom and stepsister were so funny, providing a light comedic undertone. And Harper’s father was great as well, reminding me of my grandpa who struggled to show emotion, but you knew instinctually just how much he loved you.


All in all, I give My One and Only 3.5 out of 5 cross-country road trips!

Review - Already Home by Susan Mallery

Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: March 29, 2011
How I got this book: NetGalley

After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store.

Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’ve come to count on Susan Mallery as being one of my favorite romance authors, but when I ready the blurb for Already Home, I was both intrigued and scared. I can always count on Mallery to provide a fabulous read full of romance. This blurb read to me like it was going to be more Chick Lit, and while I was somewhat nervous to try it, knew that Mallery wouldn’t let me down. I have to say, I was pretty surprised.

Jenna is recently divorced and her self-confidence has taken a nose dive. She returns home and buys a retail space on a whim. Determined to open her own cooking supply store, Jenna throws herself into her business. She hires Violet, a wild child but savvy store manager to help with everything. Once getting settled into her new life, her birth parents show up at the front door, wanting to have a relationship.

Jenna is suddenly being pulled in every direction imaginable. Her birth parents, adoptive parents, new friends, two brothers and new boyfriend are all vying for her time. But as time wears on and things get more and more hectic, Jenna will learn that just because there are more people in her life, doesn’t mean she doesn’t have enough love for all of them.

For fans of chick lit and family fiction, this read is a MUST BUY for you! Jenna’s journey of growth and self discovery are so well done. Plus, I loved watching her struggle with building her business. Makes me want to open a cooking store. (and I hate cooking!) While I don’t usually love these kinds of reads, Mallery does such an amazing job of pulling the reader into her world and character’s lives, I felt like I was a part of their world. Along with Jenna, Violet also gets the chance to really grow as well, having to experience a hardship that kills her faith in men. But with an unexpected friendship in Jenna’s newly discovered brother Dragon, she is able to regain that confidence.

The appearance of Jenna’s birth parents was great as well. I loved how hippyish Serenity and Tom were, they brought some crazy antics to the story line. Having known a few people who were adopted, the ever changing relationship between Jenna and her birth parents and adoptive parents was so interesting and well done. Mallery did an amazing job of capturing everyone’s emotions as they changed and evolved on a daily basis.

The tragedy that struck towards the end of the book had me in tears, and wishing that I could change the ending to make it a fairy tale. But, I understand why it had to happen, and could appreciate the way it really tied up everything.

All in all, I give Already Home 3.5 out of 5 cooking supply stores!

Waiting on... The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

I love Molly Harper. I have yet to read anything by her that I didn't immediately fall in love with, and the naked Werewolf Series is no exception. I feel in love with the folks from Alaska, and can't wait to see just how fun and crazy Maggie can really be. If you are a fan of Harper's Jane vampire books, you will definitely love these as well! The second book in the series, The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf releases March 29th. It's a definite MUST READ in my book!

Baring It All

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With interpack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous. . . .
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Review - Friendly Fire by Megan Hart

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 3/21/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

DEA Agent Kendall Frasier doesn't want to see the man who shot and killed her partner. Zane Vincent wants to forget about the bust gone bad and the man he killed. When both officers arrive at the same tropical island for a department-regulated vacation, more heats up than just the sand and sun. Will they let their past prejudices keep them from giving in to their mutual attraction, or will Zane and Kendall both succumb to a little Friendly Fire?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

This is only the second book I’ve read by Megan Hart, but I have to say I actually found myself enjoying this book despite a few initial reservations I had.

Kendall Frasier is a DEA agent dealing with the loss of her partner. She is having to work through her issues of guilt and anger and confusion, and was given the choice between going to an island on the department or dealing with her issues at home. Wanting the beach and sun, she chooses to head to the island. But unfortunately for her, Zane Vincent the man who killed her partner in a round of friendly fire is also there during that time.

While Kendall is instantly attracted to Zane, she honestly doesn’t want anything to do with him. The guilt and anger over her partner are eating her up inside, and a relationship with the man who caused all her grief is the last thing she wants. But as she deals with everything that happened, she realizes that Zane might be able to provide for her in ways she never imagined.

My initial impression of this story was a little weary. This short 53 page story doesn’t have any chapters, and that quite honestly threw me for a loop. But I was quickly pulled into Kendall and Zane’s story. The issues that Kendall had to deal with in regards to losing her partner were very real and Hart portrayed them in a way that was easy to relate to.

I know that Hart is known for her very sexy and steamy erotic novels, but a part of me felt as if Kendall and Zane jumped into something physical in order to escape the emotional turmoil within. While that isn’t something new, it was also somewhat hard for me to believe in their HEA. To me, something that starts off like that is rarely able to last on a significant level, and parts of me just couldn’t buy it.

That being said, I also thought that both Kendall and Zane were able to provide a lot for each other, and did a great job of really helping each other deal with their trauma. While an incident of losing someone is never easy, they were both able to really guide each other into acceptance, and that spoke to me.

The physical relationship between the two was very smoking, and although I’ve only read a few of Hart’s books, I know that I can count on her to provide a steamy hero and heroine who click on so many levels.

All in all, I give Friendly Fire 3 out of 5 island getaways!

Review - Management Skills by January Rowe

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 3/7/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

When CEO Grant Edmonds meets with his new production manager, he immediately recognizes her as Silver, an exotic dancer who once mesmerized him at an exclusive fetish club. Though he was forbidden from pursuing her back then, there's nothing standing in his way now. He's not looking for an after-hours fling—he wants to own her. In every way.

As much as Allie Fairfax tries to deny her past, and the way her body responds to Grant, she soon finds herself having mind-blowing sex with the boss. Despite her own desire to surrender to Grant's sexual authority, she's not willing to risk her career. After all, she's been owned before, and it ended badly.

It's all or nothing for Grant. If Allie wants more of the fiercest orgasms she's ever experienced, she must consent to his rules...
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Management Skills is a short and quick novella that really didn’t do anything for me. Grant is CEO of his own company, and when he works on the lighting for a fetish club, he sees a woman who has more pull on him than he can remember. When he doesn’t get the chance to meet her, he thinks his chance is gone forever. Later, when meeting with his newest employee, he realizes that Allie is the woman he fantasized about.

Grant wants nothing more than to have Allie in every way possible. But she is weary of Grant and all that he wants from her. Although their bodies connect of a level she never thought possible, Allie isn’t looking to become involved as deeply as Grant wants. But as her body wins over more than her mind, will she allow herself to let go and let him take charge?

I’ve been known to read (and very much so enjoy) my far share of smutty books. But Rowe’s Management Skills really didn’t click for me. Allie and Grant share a night of passion early on in the story, but they soon dance away from each other, not really ready and willing to move forward. I thought that their relationship was forced, and awkward. I never really bought into the chemistry or the passion between the two.

Although this book is supposed to be about a D/s relationship, it took awhile to develop. After their first vanilla night together, Allie avoided Grant like the plague. When they did finally come together like that, it felt off and odd to me. It didn’t seem like there was any real fire or heat between the two.

All in all, I give Management Skills 1.5 out of 5 former strippers.

Over at The Book Pushers with a Giveaway!

I'm over at The Book Pushers today with a giveaway and recap from Day Two at the Tucson Festival of Books. Day Two was pretty much ROMANCE day! See my post here to find out who all I schmoozed with! Here's a hint:

Waiting on... The Chase by Erin McCarthy

Most of you should know by know that I am slightly obsessed with Sports Romances. I love everything about them. And while I don't consider NASCAR a sport (sorry for the racing fans, I just don't get it...) I do happen to love the very sexy Fast Track Series by Erin McCarthy. Book four in the series, The Chase, releases April 5th and I for one can't wait to find out more about the super sexy Evan!

Kendall Holbrook is determined to make it to the top, even with the challenge of being a woman on the male-dominated racing circuit. She doesn't have time for romance-especially not with racing rival Evan Monroe, the man who nearly crushed her dream years ago. Tricked into meeting him, Kendall is experiencing all those old feelings again-and she can't deny that they still have enough chemistry to set fire to the track.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Tucson Festival of Books Recap - DAY ONE!

I am so incredibly lucky to live in a city that takes books and reading very seriously. Our library system rocks really hard, and the Tucson Festival of Books has become the 4th largest book festival in the United States, in only 3 short years!

My bestest girlfriend T (AKA 3girlmum) decided to come out for the weekend from LA, and the two of us crammed in as much as we possibly could in the two short days. First off, we talked a forum friend of ours, Wycked, into coming down from Phoenix with us on Saturday. We spent what seemed like a half hour or so trying to park, but finally made our way over the University of Arizona mall area— the almost half a mile long strip of grass at the center of campus.



We walked around, touring all the hundreds of booths that were set up. Everything from the ereader experience, to the library foundation, to the CSPAN bus, to book retailers were set up in tents, giving away swag, bags, and anything else you can imagine. We met up with Gini Koch, my dear friend for her first signing of the day, then headed over to have lunch with her.

After lunch I was able to get my first book at the event signed, my copy of Jennifer Ashley’s Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage. Jennifer was super great, chatting and signing books with fans over at the Tucson chapter of RWA booth. I also got the chance to run into the great Diana Gabaldon, getting my picture with her as she was surprisingly NOT busy. I even admitted that I feel like I stalk her, since I go see her every time she is in town!!



One of the big things Wyched was looking forward to was the signing by Kim Harrison. We knew the line would be crazy long, so headed over early to stake out a place in line. Whie waiting, we talked briefly with husband and wife authors Weston Ochse and Yvonne Navarro. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them both before, and actually got Yvonne to sign a book for me this go around. I’m looking forward to reading her new UF book, Highborn, first in the Dark Redemption Series.

While Wycked and 3girlmom waited in line for Kim (HOLY HUGE LINE!!), I branched off to meet up with Lorelei Brown before her first panel about epublishing. We found other epublished author Ginny Glass and got the chance to chat with her a few.




By then it was almost time for the only panel we went to on Saturday, talking about the Zombieacopolypse with Weston Ochse, Yvanne Navarro and Jeff Mariotte. Since I’ve met these three before, I knew we would be in for a great time, and they did not disappoint. I laughed so hard my side hurt by the end of the panel. It was great fun!

By the time the panel was over and we chatted a bit after, we were all starving. 3girlmom, Wycked, Gini and I all went out to dinner at the fabulous El Charro, a wonderful Mexican restaurant here in town. The food was great, the drinks were flowing, and the laughs wouldn’t stop. It was a fabulous, fabulous day!

But that was just Day One!! For a recap of Day Two, head over to The BookPushers later this week to find out which great historical romance authors I met, and enter for a chance to win my Tucson Festival of Books contest. It’ll include free signed books, bookmarks, swag, a Kim Harrison nametag and so much more!!

Review - Hidden Away by Maya Banks

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: 3/1/11
How I got this book: Purchased

A man who shoots first and asks questions later…

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother—and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it…

…and the ultimate moving target.

But Garrett hadn’t counted on falling for Sarah. He’d considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah’s dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe—even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn’t know exactly who, or what, Sarah’s running from, but whatever it is, she’s running for her life…
*Blurb from author’s site*

Maya Banks is back with the third installment of the KGI Series, one of my favorite romantic suspense series of all time. Garrett, the somewhat quiet and surly Kelly brother is still recovering from his gun shot wound, but when the opportunity comes up to take out the man who ambushed and killed many of his men so long ago, he jumps at the chance, regardless of the mission. But it’s simple, all Garrett has to do is keep an eye on Larrimer’s sister Sarah.

After witnessing her brother commit murder, Sarah runs as fast as she can, trying to hide herself from the world. She ends up on a small island, and when her handsome neighbor starts making small talk, she learns to trust in another human once again. When someone finds her, Sarah runs again. Garrett tracks her down again, and forces her to accept his help, regardless of the little white lie between them.

When I first started reading the KGI series, I was instantly hooked by the Kelly brothers. They are all these total alpha heroes, with bad boy streaks a mile wide. I feel in love. The stories are all really fast paced, full of action and romance, and portray the Kelly family in such a great light (faults and all) that I find myself wishing I could be taken in as one of them as well.

Garrett has always been one of my favorites, and I found myself falling more and more in love with him throughout his story. I liked him as the strong and silent type, but seeing him come out of his shell and tease and flirt with Sarah was great. I enjoyed getting more in depth with him, and wish that we could have actually had a little bit more information about his history. There were times I did and didn’t like Sarah. In this series, it seems as if Banks always makes her female leads have some kind of traumatic past. I was disheartened with Sarah’s past trauma, but also glad with the way that Banks gave the character this incredible inner strength to be able to come out of her shell and really deal with it, regardless of her fears. There were times when Sarah seemed so strong, like she was really moving on, and then she would seem to take steps backward in her progress. It was realistically frustrating to read.

Again, the Kelly family just shines through with all their awesomeness. One of my favorite characters, Rusty goes through a really hard experience (read – traumatic event) and the way that Sean and the Kelly brothers stood up to protect her almost brought tears to my eyes. I just love the way families come together, and Banks has a way of showing us time and time again just how tightly knit this family is to one another. I LOVE that.

The plot in this book started out somewhat slow and lazy with Garrett heading to the island and getting the chance to get to know Sarah. About half way through it really picked up and began moving quickly and Banks started packing in the action left and right. We get a chance to see the other KGI employees come through for Garrett, and really take over parts of the story. I liked getting an insider look at Rio, and hope that his story will be coming up quickly. I did however think the conflict between Garrett and Sarah’s brother Marcus ended somewhat abruptly and in a way I wasn’t completely satisfied with, but that’s just me.

All in all, I give Hidden Away 4.5 out of 5 island getaways!

Review - Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Hachette
Publish Date: 2/22/11
How I got this book: Pima County Library

She wants to hide the past…

FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn’t fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the truth…

One night isn’t enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable—until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn’t who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of blood-thirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real.
*Blurb from author’s site*

Cynthia Eden has quickly cemented herself as one of my new favorite authors. I’ve recently gobbled up her paranormal series, Night Watch, and her Deadly suspense series within the past few months. In just a few books, she has become an auto buy for me, and a guaranteed great read.

The third book in the Deadly Series (and I HOPE not the last!) focuses on Agent Samantha Kennedy, one of my favorites from Deadly Fear. Samantha is still plagued with nightmares and fears from the killer who kidnapped and tortured her. Looking for any chance to hold onto life and the present she shares one very steamy night with Max, a sexy stranger she met in a bar.

But when Max and Samantha meet again, and let their passion spark yet another fire, Samantha’s work and private life catch up to one another. Max’s brother gets abducted by a serial kidnapper and murderer, the same one who has been alluding Sam’s elite FBI team. She worms her way into Max’s everyday life, pretending to be his girlfriend, so that she can remain close to the family, and have insider information that may finally crack open their case.

In the entire Deadly Series, Eden has created some of the creepiest and craziest villains I’ve ever read, and this story is no exception. I was completely stumped as to who the kidnapper could be up until the very end. Eden is very, very sneaky like that. And, in my opinion, it just makes for a better and stronger story. I was amazed at who it turned out to be, and have to say blown away by whole it changed so much of the story for me. Fabulous!

Samantha went through a horrific even in the first book, and I was glad to see that Eden didn’t have her instantly fixed. The struggle that Sam and Max went through to really face her fears, come to grips with the assault from Deadly Fear, it was a great journey. Both difficult and sweet to watch. When Sam was once again thrust back into the water, my heart almost stopped along with hers. Very emotional and well done.

I loved Max. It was easy to tell that he honestly cared for Samantha, regardless of her fears and flaws. He was this total caring and sensitive bad boy who could go from loving and sweet one moment to a savvy and dirty business man the next. I love that he wanted to be able to help and protect Sam with the investigation, especially once his brother went missing. I melted into a puddle of goo when he took care of Sam after the water incident, and took care of all her fears and needs. Their romance was quick to flame, and their love scenes were smokin’ hot. But at the same time they also had an awkward and beautiful courtship, dealing with so many things at once, and realizing they wanted to deal with it all by each other’s side.

All in all, I give Deadly Lies 5 out of 5 kidnapping psychos!

Review - River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: 3/1/11
How I got this book: Purchased

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*

The Mercy Thompson Series was my first introduction into the wonderful world of Urban Fantasy, and let me just say: Patricia Briggs, I heart you. Mercy and Adam will always have a special place in my heart, and to see the book in the series where they finally get a chance to really focus on their relationship is so amazing. I’ve been waiting a long time for this, and Briggs didn’t disappoint.

Mercy and Adam are getting ready to plan their wedding, but things just aren’t going the way Mercy expected. But a surprise wedding takes away all that stress, and leaves Mercy and Adam free to go on their honeymoon. The RV park Adam takes her to is only open to them, and a peaceful retreat.

But when mysterious things start stirring in the river, Mercy gets the chance to meet her past: face-to-face. Through meeting some of the local Native American’s in the area, Mercy finally meets her father, learns a little more about her walker heritage and once again saves the day.

When I heard this book was going to focus more on Mercy’s walker heritage and her relationship with Adam, I was ecstatic to say the least. The mystery and endless questions surrounding Mercy’s Native American half have been burning since day one, and for the chance to finally get an answer to our questions was amazing, and really threw me for a loop. I’m not really one for endless amounts of speculations, but this twist definitely took me by surprise. I never in a million years would have guessed who Mercy’s father turned out to be, and what exactly that all meant.

I’ve always been a fan of Mercy and Adam together, and to finally get an inside glimpse into what their life is like day in and day out seriously rocked. I love my heroes to be total alphas, and the one of the things that makes Adam stand out from the rest is his trust and faith in Mercy. I love that he wants nothing more than to protect and take care of her, but at the same time supports her every decision. Briggs is one of the few authors who I think can write an incredible and sustaining relationship that has the foundation and strength to last and be completely solid.

I have to admit, I will probably have nightmares about water snakes and serpents for the rest of my life though after reading this. Briggs is so incredibly descriptive in her writing, and the pictures that flashed through my mind of the River Monster will forever go down in history as one of the scariest things I’ve ever read or seen! (Right behind the movie Arachnophobia, I don’t do spiders OR snakes very well!) When Mercy finally delivered the killing blow, I have to say I did a little happy dance, not only because Mercy won, but because the thing finally stopped haunting my thoughts.

I’m interested to see where the series will go from here. According to Twitter and some friends, Briggs has rearranged her schedule to write only one book per year. And if I remember correctly, next up is an Alpha & Omega novel, so that puts the Mercy Series on the back burner until at least 2012, if not 2013. *CRY*

All in all, I give River Marked 4.5 out of 5 scary river snakes!!

Waiting on... The Darkest Secret

I love Gena Showalter's The Lords of the Underworld Series, and the next installment is coming on March 29th!! While, like everyone else, I'm most excited to read about Paris, I've always been intrigued by Amun as well! Can't wait for this one!

Keeper of the demon of Secrets, Amun can manipulate the darkest thoughts of anyone nearby. But when new demons possess him, the immortal warrior must be chained and isolated to protect those he loves. Death is his only hope of release—until he meets Haidee, a fellow prisoner whose beauty and hidden vulnerability draw him into a reckless test of his loyalty…

Haidee is an infamous demon assassin, raised to despise Amun’s kind. Yet how can she hate the man whose touch sets her aflame? But to save him, she must give herself body and soul…and face the wrath of a powerful adversary sworn to destroy her.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Review- How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Publisher: Pocket
Publish Date: 2/22/11
How I got this book: Purchased

Northern Exposure

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Harper is one of my favorite authors, always able to provide a bowl full of laughs along with a great story. The first in the Naked Werewolf Series is no exception. Mo moves to Alaska to get away from the stuffing and overbearing parents for the opportunity to make it on her own. She ends up in the quaint town of Grundy, Alaska. She gets a job working in a local diner, and starts making friends with the locals right away. Except for Cooper.

Cooper is the local grumpy old man, only he’s young and smokin’ hot. He’s trying to keep his werewolf status under wraps, but with a series of wolf attacks in the area are making that harder and harder. While trying to figure out if he is the cause behind the mayhem, he can’t seem to find a way to stay away from Mo. Will these two be able to figure out what is going on in town, and be able to make a budding new relationship work?

I have to start out by saying that I was somewhat disappointed we didn’t get to the naked bear trap until almost 100 pages in. Because of that, I found the first part of the story to be somewhat slow and seemed to be a lot of background information. (Maybe because most blurbs give a little history to what is happening at the beginning of the story?) That aside, I adored this story.

Harper constantly comes through with hilarious jokes and funny characters in each and every one of her books. I loved Mo, adored her somewhat hippy and anti-hippy ways. The jokes she made about her family and herself, she was just a super lovable character. I can’t imagine what he life was like growing up, but the stories were great. I didn’t like Cooper right off the bat like I did Mo, but he grew on me more and more as the story progressed. He was a completely surly, grumpy, angry guy in the beginning. Once we got more info on his back story though, I found myself liking him more and more, especially whenever he dealt with his sister. I really liked the core set of secondary characters as well. Harper does a great job of really bringing them to life throughout the story, and I really enjoyed each and every one of them.

The mystery subplot was done really well too. It took me awhile to catch onto what exactly was going on, who could possibly be behind the wolf attacks, and when Harper wrapped it all up, I thought it was done really well. The villain wasn’t too obvious, but at the same time was difficult to figure out. I love when authors can present a story that way. It makes for a fabulous read.

Fans of the Jane Jamison Series will definitely love the Naked Werewolf books. While each book will focus on a different couple, I’m anxiously awaiting to hear more about Cooper’s sister and the pack life in their tiny town.

All in all, I give How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf 4 out of 5 hippy communes.

Review - Badlands by Seleste deLaney

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 2/28/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

After a brutal Civil War, America is a land divided. As commander of her nation's border guards, Ever is a warrior sworn to protect her country and her queen. When an airship attacks and kills the monarch, Ever must infiltrate enemy territory to bring home the heir to the throne, and the dirigible Dark Hawk is her fastest way to the Union.

Captain Spencer Pierce just wants to pay off the debt he owes on the Dark Hawk and make a life for himself trading across the border. When the queen's assassination puts the shipping routes at risk, he finds himself Ever's reluctant ally.

As they fly into danger, Ever and Spencer must battle not only the enemy but also their growing attraction. She refuses to place her heart before duty, and he has always put the needs of his ship and crew above his own desires. Once the princess is rescued, perhaps they can find love in the Badlands— if death doesn't find them first…
*Blurb from Goodreads*

DeLaney creates a new and completely different steampunk like world than anything I’ve read before. Ever is a warrior woman who protects the area known as the Badlands. She’s fierce and will do anything to protect her lands and queen. When an attack takes them by surprise and kills their queen, it is up to Ever to find the princess and bring her home to lead her people.

Captain Spencer is reluctant to take on Ever, but wants to help her in any way he can. The two set off to find the princess, and are thrown up against multiple attempts to stop then, regardless of the costs. But once they have the princess on board, will they make it to the Badlands in time to save the country?

I really enjoyed this story, it was different and unique in the world building, something I had never read before. It was fresh and enjoyable to dive into the story where the main character is from a country ruled by women, and protected by women. While I found Ever to be a refreshing strong female lead, she also rankled on my nerves a bit with her inability to recognize her own feelings towards Spencer. It almost felt like she was too much of a warrior to be a woman, if that makes any sense.

I enjoyed Spencer’s character. While he was a force to be reckoned with all on his own, he didn’t overshadow ever in any way. I enjoyed that he was focused enough on his own mission, that he didn’t try and overrun Ever’s. The way they came together and danced apart throughout the book was really well done and fun to watch (except I cringed with Ever’s little interlude with Zeke).

Although it’s fairly short (only 100 pages or so), deLaney does a good job of keeping things moving, interesting and fun. Steampunk fans out there will enjoy the fact that most of this book takes place on an airship, which I thought was totally awesome.

All in all, I give Badlands 4 out of 5 airship battles!

Waiting on... Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

I love, love all things Larissa Ione. I think that everything she touches turns to gold. When she announced her spin off series: Lords of Deliverance, I was so psyched. The first book in the series, Eternal Rider comes out on April 1st, 2011.

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.
*Blurb from author's site*

Review - Seducing the Governess by Margo Maguire

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: February 22, 2011
How I got this book: NetGalley

A Proper Governess Should Never. . .

Assist a handsome stranger, alone on an unfamiliar road . . . unless the rake happens to be her new employer.

Take a position in a crumbling manor . . . especially if the household staff has been replaced by unruly former soldiers.

Allow her young charge entree to her heart . . . for once done, it will be impossible to maintain proper distance.

Permit her charge's uncle a breathtaking kiss under a star-lit sky . . . henceforth she will most certainly lose composure whenever he is near.

And above all, she should never, ever fall completely, irreversibly in love with her employer . . . for nothing good can possibly come of it.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’m a big fan of Regency era Historical Romances, so the premise of this one sounded great to me, a woman struggling to survive after the death of her parents takes on the role of serving as governess to the new Earl’s young niece. Having never served as a governess before, Mercy is unsure of proper protocol, but is fairly sure that the Earl and his merry men of former soldiers are not doing things correctly.

The Earl, Nash, was horribly injured at Waterloo, and the burn disfiguration on his face has led him to be somewhat cynical. But the fire and passion in his new governess awakens feelings he didn’t know he could possess. With the failing state of his lands and home, the Earl has some hard decisions to make. Does he pursue the beautiful governess, or take a wife who can provide a large dowry and save him home?

I really wanted to like this book, but when I say that I’m just glad I was able to finish it, it’s disappointing. The beginning held promise. An old Duke is on his deathbed, looking for the grandchildren that he disowned years ago. We then cut to Mercy, daughter of a vicar and his wife who have just died. She is on her way to her new potential home, working as the governess to the young Emmy. I liked Mercy at first. She was just the right mix of strong will and innocence. But as the story progressed, she drove me more and more crazy. As the vicar’s daughter she had never been kissed, and only courted twice. But suddenly she is letting Nash steal kisses, flirt inappropriately, and even make love before even determining if he likes her. What happened to that strong will? She just fizzled out as a character for me.

Nash on the other hand started off poorly, and while his character was a little more agreeable for me, I still wasn’t completely sold on him. As a war vet, he was in many a battle, and was injured horrifically. His scars make him angry and bitter, and he lets that bleed over into his whole life. While he wants Mercy with something fierce, he also wants to make sure his home succeeds, and to do so would mean courting and marrying a rich neighbor’s daughter. I hated that Nash was still planning on courting the heiress, even as he was ruining Mercy’s future.

Even the romance between the two seemed off. I thought Mercy was going to remain strong in her values to be a good vicar’s daughter and marry properly. But she became more of a swooning impressionable heroine that was irrevocably changed into a wanton with only one kiss. I just couldn’t believe that. Likewise Nash wanted to pursue Mercy, to the point that he even mentioned wanting to be with her if his financial situation was different. However, at the same time seemed completely amicable with the thought of marrying another. It was hard for me to be on board with that.

The only thing I enjoyed about this book was the mystery surrounding the mysterious death of Nash’s two older brothers, and the ongoing investigation of the dying Duke’s granddaughters. Those two plot lines kept the story moving more than the romance between Nash and Mercy, and were (in my opinion) the only believable parts to the story.

All in all, I give Seducing the Governess 2 out of 5 fallen governesses!