The Reading Spot

Surf's Up anthology by Janelle Denison, MaryJanice Davidson and Nina Bangs

I liked this anthology. It was a nice combination of stories. A contemp and two paranormals (ghost and vamp). The first story was a very good contemp, nice story though predictable. The second story was nice in its not often used storyline of the heroine is a ghost. I liked that idea and it was a great story. Though I think you need to have read Men at Work anthology to truly appreciate the story. The third story is a Sparkle stardust story. Since I have not yet read all the books in this series I am holding off on reading it until later. I did skim it though and it looked good, so I will only give characters for the summary so I know for later reference.

Hot and Bothered by Janelle Denison

Recently divorced, Claire Reissing has relocated to the beach house she got in the settlement to pursue her dream to be a full time jewelry designer. One of her neighbors is Shea O'Brien. Unknown to the two of them they have been lusting after each other for a while but haven't done anything about it. Then one day Claire gets caught in a riptide and Shea saves her.

Paradised Bossed by MJ Davidson

Nikki is in the Caymans with Jack and Cathy (from "The Fixer-Upper") and gets stung by a stingray and drowns. As a ghost she is stuck on the island and is bored. Cathy and Jack hire a psychic to come in and find out what happened to Nikki. Enter Tom. Tom is tired of his life and ghosts in general, until he meets Nikki and is fascinated by her.

Hot Summer Bites by Nina Bangs

Sparkle Stardust story - Taurin and Kristin

Labels: ghost, paranormal, vampires

The Runaway Duke by Julie Anne Long

This was a great book. It is a Regency Historical. And I loved the characters. The hero was honorable but had human faults and was not overbearing like most historical heroes you see. The heroine was strong but not stubborn in that everything had to be done her way. She had spirit and wasn't helpless but knew when to back off and just watch because she was out of her league. I love action/suspense romances but so many of the heroines irritate me because they have to do it their way and have to be up front and part of the fighting when they have no experience with it. (If they are trained then it is another story) But so many historical heroines always rush off to do it their way when a good plan many times has already been made. Okay I will get off my soapbox now. This was a great book, it was Ms. Long's debut and I am headed out to find the rest of her books (I think she just released her fourth or fifth book.).

In the story Roarke Blackburne heir to the Duke of Treymore is mixed up with another soldier and pronounced dead. Roarke returns to England under a different name and finally gets to get out from his father's thumb and be free. He changes his name to Connor Riordon and gets a job as a groom for Sir Henry. Sir Henry's youngest daughter, Rebecca, becomes fast friends with Connor. Five years pass and Rebecca gets into a compromising position with Tony, Baron of Edgewood. Sir Henry announces that they will marry and Rebecca resolves herself to it. As the wedding approaches, Rebecca makes her misgivings known to Connor. Connor cannot turn down a damsel in distress and knows that a marriage to Edgewood would kill Rebecca's spirit, so he devises a way to get Rebecca away before the wedding. Now that there away, will Connor tell Rebecca his secret?

Labels: historical

The Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton

I am re-reading this series in between other books because it has been a while since I read the whole thing and to get read for the next book Danse Macabre that comes out I think tomorrow. I am getting it from the library and buy it when it comes out in paperback. But I love this series and if you like dark paranormals and I have not read this, you are missing out. If you want the complete reading list you can check it out here or at Ms Hamilton's website. I will write about Danse Macabre after I read it though. Just not going to write about the other 13.

Long, Tall Texans by Diana Palmer

Long, Tall Texans is actually her first three books of the series in one book, Calhoun, Justin and Tyler. A friend gave me this because I had never read Diana Palmer before and wanted to try her. They were good, but to me they were typical Harlequin books. All three had virgin brides and almost seemed to be the same book, with a couple of differences. It was not a bad book, just not my style. Here is a summary of the books.

Calhoun is in trouble, he is attracted to his ward. But the good thing is Abby likes him too, but he is too stubborn to know that she is good for him and old enough to know her own mind.

Justin has been carrying a grudge against her family ever since Shelby broke off their engagement 6 years ago saying that he was not wealthy enough. Now fortunes are reversed and she is destitute and has no where to go, so to help her out he marries her in a marriage of convenience. But how convenient will it get?

Tyler is now in Arizona working for the niece of his employer as the forman for her dude ranch. Nell is very skittish of men because something that happened to her when she was a teen. But Tyler is just the man to bring her out of her shell, if he doesn't screw it up first.

Labels: contemporary

Hide and Seek by Cherry Adair

This is the third book in the T-FLAC series (The Mercenary (out-of-print) and Kiss and Tell are the other two). I loved Kiss and Tell, this one was not as good to me, because the heroine annoyed me. It was good and I was glad I read it, but it would not be one that I read over and over.

The story was Dr. Kyle Wright (Marnie from Kiss and Tell's brother). He has been working for 4 years to bring down Ramon Montero, terrorist and drug lord. Delanie is a kindergarten teacher who has put herself undercover as Montero's "girl" to try to find her sister, Lauren, who was last seen with him. Unbeknownst to both of them they had met before four years ago in a hotel where they had a weekend of passion (and Delanie lost her virginity). Now reunited, Kyle has to figure out a way to keep her safe as Montero is taken down at the end of the week.

Labels: contemporary, suspense

The Manolo Matrix by Julie Kenner

This book was awesome. I loved it. It is the second in the series. The first one was called The Givenchy Code and was excellent as well. This one had a musical theater theme, so that to me was awesome because I love musical theater. (The Givenchy Code was a code breaking/encryption theme). The premise of these books is an online game called Play-Survive-Win which is a survival game set in Manhattan that some wacko has brought into real life. This series is great and I cannot wait for the next one.

Aspiring actress Jennifer Crane knows all about games -- the games girls play to get a guy; the games actresses play to land a part; and the good old game of credit-card roulette. (How else is a girl supposed to afford her shoes?) But she never expected to be playing a game with life-or-death consequences. Unable to successfully score an acting gig, she has, instead, been cast in the role of reluctant bodyguard to a real-life assassin's target -- a dashing FBI agent of all people! -- and must embark with him upon a scavenger hunt across Manhattan in search of the ultimate prize: survival. Before this, Jenn's definition of fighting dirty has been elbowing her way to the front of the line at a Manolo sample sale. Now, if she wants to stay alive, she's going to have to learn a few new uses for her stilettos. . . and they ain't pretty.

Labels: contemporary, suspense

The Pleasure Seekers by Melanie George

This is the first in the series followed by Naughty or Nice (Lucien/Renegade and Fancy) and then The Highlander's Stolen Bride (Derek/Heathen and Rosalyn). All are in the group they have dubbed, The Pleasure Seekers. It was good. I have enjoyed reading the series.

This book has that nice plot twist that instead of the girl being titled and poor, the hero is. His name is Cain (Vice) Ballinger, the Earl of Hartland and is surviving and, in his mind, keeping a hold on his past by being the companion (male mistress?) of Olivia Hamilton, the unscrupulous woman who now owns his ancestral home. If he does something she does not like, she burns a family portrait or gets rid of an heirloom to keep him in check. Enter Bliss Ashton who just happens to be the daughter of the man he blames for all his troubles, the Earl of Exmoor. Cain decides to seduce her and break her heart to get revenge on the Earl. She intrigues him and they fall in love with one another. Olivia tells her of his plot for revenge and Bliss flees to Paris. Will he follow, would she forgive him even if he did?

Labels: historical

The Highlander's Stolen Bride by Melanie George

Good story, but I think the title is misleading, there was not a bride stolen in the book. She went willingly, she was not engaged to someone else, he did not steal her. She went with him to escape her step brother's machinations and they did not get married til the end of the book. This is the latest in the series, the others are The Pleasure Seekers and Naughty or Nice

In Naughty or Nice we got a first look at Rosalyn and her story now we get its conclusion...

Lady Rosalyn Carmichael is on the run from her evil stepbrother, who will do anything to gain her inheritance. When Derek (Heathen) Hardwicke rescues her from an attempted kidnapping in London, she gratefully accepts the protection of his remote Scottish castle. And though Derek's devilishly handsome looks inspire scandalous fantasies, a secret from her past means those fantasies must forever remain dreams....

A Highland laird, Derek intends to marry his childhood friend Megan MacPherson, since only a Scottish wife will satisfy his clan. But beautiful Rosalyn awakens feelings he never dreamed he'd have. And while he has promised to keep her safe, the attraction between them burns too hot to deny. Now, with danger inching ever closer, he must choose between his allegiance to his clan and a passion like he's never known....

Labels: historical

The Cinderella Rules by Donna Kauffman

This was a great book and I cannot wait to read the rest of the Glass Slipper books.

Darby Landon is a rancher in Montana and perfectly happy with that. Then she gets roped into helping her sister, Pepper (Penelope), out. She has to now go Washington DC and escort some bigwig around town until her father gets there three days later. But Darby is a cogirl to the nth degree and does not do the social scene, she needs help. ortunately Pepper has already thought of that an signed Darby up for treatmens/lessons at Glass Slipper, Inc. A company run by three quirky older ladies that will make you over and teach you how to be a modern day princess. On her way there she runs into Shane Morgan who has just inheirited a legacy and a company he does not want. The two of them hit it off famously. Enter Prince Charming number two. The big wig Darby is suposed to show entertain is a Nordic god in the flesh. Which will she choose?

Labels: contemporary

Don't Open Till Christmas by Leslie Kelly (Blaze #222)

There are two other books that go along with this one (same family, the Santoris), but I have not read them yet. They are "There Goes the Groom" (Luke and Rachel's story) in the That's Amore anthology and "Sheer Delights" (Tony and Gloria's story) in the Behind the Red Doors anthology. This one was cute. I don't think it is one I am going to run out and buy, but a decent read. Here is a summary:

One day in a store dressing room a man and woman have a nameless encounter. Noelle Bradenton runs a women's shelter and a someone dressed up as a Santa Claus came in and stole all the money they had set aside for Christmas for the kids that stay there. Detective Mark Santori is in charge of the investigation of this rash of robberies being committed by Santas. She never though she would see him again.

Labels: contemporary

Wild Fire by Debra Cowen (Silhouette Intimate Moments #1404)

Good Intimate Moments book. I liked the plot of two friends discovering each other.

Shelby Fox is a firefighter and one night she hears a scream coming from the neighbor's house and goes to investigate. When she is found a half an hour later, she is unconscious, the house is burning down and the lady that lived there is dead. She has no memory of what happened. Her best friend, Clay Jessup, is a cop and is assigned to the case to find out who killed her neighbor. During the course of the investigation feelings are revealed between Clay and Shelby, now they hae to find a killer and figure out how not to hurt their friendship.

Labels: contemporary, suspense

Kiss and Tell by Cherry Adair

I loved this book and it reminded me of why I love Ms Adair. I have read her before, just not this book, so after I read Hot Ice I decided to go back and reread all of the T-FLAC books (this is the second one, T-FLAC is Terrorist Force Logistical Assault Commandand and is a private antiterrorist group). I just found out that there is another T-FLAC book before this one called The Mercenary (Harlequin Temptation #492), it was written in 1994 and was her debut book and I have not found it yet. I should get the next book, Hide and Seek, from the library tomorrow.

Marnie Wright is an artist looking for a quiet relaxing weekend alone (except for her great dane, Duchess) at her grandmother's mountain cabin before her brothers tear it down. Marnie is evaluating her life and resolved to start living it for herself instead of living underneath the very large thumbs of her protective dad and four very protective older brothers. Little does she know that also on the mountain is Jake Dolan (T-FLAC member). He is there also to think but he is thinking about who is setting him up as a mole in T-FLAC. After a tree crashes onto her house during a storm that also washes out the bridge to get back, Marnie stays the night at Jake's cabin. She attemps to leave the next day planning on walking the couple of miles to the next bridge, but she encounters men dressed in black suits (not the kind you wear to the office) with a lot of weapons on them. She makes her way back to Jake and now they will try to survive to get off the mountain.

Labels: contemporary, suspense

Shadow of the Moon by Rebecca York

This is a great werewolf series and book is no exception. I loved it and was glad to add it to the others. This one does add an interesting aspect because "The Castle" that they are trying to gain entrance into is an S&M club. So if you are squimish about that stuff then you might not like a couple scenes. But they are not any more descrpitive than her other books, just in a different setting with a slightly different spin. I enjoyed it a lot. Other books in the series, Killing Moon, Edge of the Moon, Witching Moon, Cravings anthology story "Burning Moon", Crimson Moon.

Lance Marshall has a nose for great news stories-not surprising, since he's aided by his werewolf abilities. Now he's prowling outside an ultra-exclusive Washington, D.C. nightclub-"The Castle." But he is not alone. Savannah Carpenter wants to know how her sister ended up in a coma, and she knows that The Castle has something to do with it. But when Lance and Savannah pretend to be lovers to gain entrance, they learn that deception and unbridled lust can be a dangerous combination.

Labels: paranormal, werewolves

Undead and Unpopular by Mary Janice Davidson

The next episode of Betsy the vampire queen. I love these books but to me they read more like a sitcom. It is an ongoing story. This episode lacked a little story (and the zombie threw me and left me going, Huh?), but was a good installment, I am tempted to wait for them all to come out and then just read them all at one time, but I really don't think I have the patience or the willpower for that.

The series is: Undead and Unwed, Undead and Unemployed, Undead and Unappreciated, Cravings anthology, Bite anthology, Undead and Unreturnable, Undead and Loving it, Undead and Unpopular

In this episode was: Betsy's birthday is coming up, European dignitaries come to pay their respects to the queen (by taking so long they are questioning her authority), but Betsy is in no mood to play politics (not that she is ever in the mood to play politics) because Jessica (the best friend) drops the bomb that she has cancer (will she want to be turned?), Sophie (from the Bite anthology) is reunited with her sire (does not go well) and there is a zombie in the attic.

Labels: paranormal, vampires

Bad Boys of Summer by Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy and Amy Garvey

All three were great stories and I have to look to see if any of them go with other books.

Luscious (Lori Foster) - great story as always.

Bethany Churchill is visiting her identical twin for a few days to do some soul searching. The only thing about staying with her sis is her sis's landlord, Lucius Ryder (called Lusious by his tenants). Lucius is a SWAT officer and also owns this small apartment building that he has inavertantly rented all to women who had fallen on hard times. Bethany is attracted to him, but she is used to everyone liking her sister instead of her, but Lucius has other desires.

It's About Time (Erin McCarthy) - not my favorite by her, but good nonetheless

Trish Jones is a lawyer and Caleb Vancouver is a construction worker/owner. They meet in a bar as he is trying to celebrate the fact that his ex is getting married the next day and she is accepting the fact that she had been stood up. They comiserate together and end up learning alot about each other.

Wish you were here (Amy Garvey) - trying to think if I have read her or not.

Mackenzie Pruitt is a photographer and Leo Dawson is a handyman/carpenter hired to renovate her shed into a phoography studio/workplace that she just inherited. But Leo has a secret that he does not want anyone to find out, can Mackenzie handle it?

Labels: contemporary

Trading Places by Fern Michaels

I was not sure about this book when I got it, sometimes Fern Michaels is hit or miss with me. This one was pretty good, but not a keeper for me. The ending was appropriate but to me it dragged and I was getting tired of waiting for my HEA (happily ever after).

The story was about a set of twins, Aggie and Lizzie Jade. Aggie is a cop and is recovering from being shot and watching her partner get shot and killed. She wants to find out what happened, but she knows that she is in no condition to pursue the killer(s). So she calls her identical twin sis who is a professional gambler in Vegas. The twins are totally opposite in personality and style. Aggie is subtle and conservative and Lizzie is a true Vegas girl who loves the glitz and glamour. Aggie wants Lizzie to pretend to be her and help her figure out what happened. Enter Nathan Hawke, investigative reporter also wanting to know what happened. He also is wondering about his friend "Aggie" who seems to be a totally different person who intrigues him very much. Lizzie and Nathan join forces to figure out who is trying to kill Aggie.

Labels: contemporary, suspense

A Distant Tomorrow by Bertrice Small

This is the second book in her new fantasy world of Hetar. The first book is Lara, Book One of the World of Hetar. This is the continuation of her story. Bertrice Small's books seem to me like epic sagas of women. I am used to one book for each couple. That is not the way she writes alot of her stuff. She writes about the journey of the heroine. Not all of the men that the heroine has relations with is The Hero. A lot of her books just revolve around the heroine, the hero is inconsequential. In this book however the hero is consequential to the plot and to the heroine, the romance is not the main focus, though. If you like the Skye O'Malley series then you will probably like this one. It has that same epic drama heroine story.

This story takes 5 years after her marriage to Vartan. They now have two children and all is well, until Vartan is assassinated by his younger brother. Then Lara feels the call that she has to leave. So she leaves her children, (so could not do that) and wanders a little until she figures out where she is supposed to go. She ends up in the Coastal Kingdoms and learns that there is another country across the water called Terah, so she goes there and meets Magnus Hauk, the Dominus (King) of Terah. She presents herself as an equal and entrances him. So continues the next installment of the destiny of Hetar and Lara's role in it.

Labels: fantasy

Naughty or Nice by Melanie George

I picked this up from the library for some light reading between books that are in a series and was surprised to discover that, one, it was a historical and two, that I had read it before. But I did not remember much of it, so I read it again. The cover does not make me think,"historical". I also realized that I had read her before in a two-in-one book with Christine Feehan. The book was called A Very Gothic Christmas and her story was called "Lady of the Locket". It was a good time travel novella. And she wrote in Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down with a bunch of other authors I love. Anyway, I liked this one and am curious to read the one that comes before it, The Pleasure Seekers, and after it, The Highlander's Stolen Bride. I have requested them from the library. I will read them, but I do not yet think they are ones I would buy.

After her brother dies, Fancy (Francine) Fitz Hugh does not want to be saddled with a guardian. Especially one that keeps sending her governesses for her to run off. After the third one leaves, Lucien Kendall decides to go take the chit in hand. He gets there and mistakes Fancy for a servant because she is dressed in trousers and very outspoken. She goes along with it and poses her best friend Rosalyn as herself. (Rosalyn is staying with Fancy because her odious stepbrother is trying to force her to marry him to get her money. Her book is the next one, The Highlander's Stolen Bride.) After Lucien discovers her deceit, he hies her off to London to find her a husband to settle her down. The problem is, he wants her himself but does not think that he is good enough. (Side note: he has an opium addiction that she helps him overcome)

Labels: historical

Public Displays of Affection by Susan Donovan

Great book. I cannot believe it took me so long to find her books. I have loved them so far (He Loves Lucy, Knock Me Off My Feet) and I am getting Take a Chance on Me from the library so I will write about that one later.

Thirteen years ago Charlotte met Joe and they had wild passionate sex at a rest stop without even exchanging names. Neither of them ever forgot it. Now a widow (last name Trasker) and the epitome of baseball mom, a new neighbor moves in next door and low and behold it is Joe. For DEA agent Joe Bellacera, the timing of their unexpected reunion couldn't be worse. He is in hiding from a bad drug lord he and his now assassinated partner took down and has a million dollar bounty on his head (literally, they want him dead). She has never forgotten Joe, especially as her deceased husband was not a very passionate man and for an outlet to all the passion she writes erotic poetry. Ah, the mom has depths. he last thing Joe can afford right now is to get involved with someone but he just cannot get her out of his mind and can't stay away.

Labels: contemporary

Ready, Willing, and Able by Lucy Monroe

Three wonderful books by Lucy Monroe. I am using the back of the book descriptions for each one because they described the books very well. You see the characers in all three books so that was very nice to see the couples in the subsequent books. Definitely have to get these.

Ready -

As a writer, Lise Barton is used to coming up with wild scenarios for her characters, but the one that’s playing out for her right now is no fiction—it’s frighteningly real. Someone is stalking her, someone who knows where she lives and what she does. Someone who has even threatened her family—her brother, his wife, and their precious baby girl. Lise isn’t about to let someone hurt them, so she packs up and leaves Texas for the anonymity of Seattle. And then the threats start again…

Joshua (Wolf) Watt’s mission is simple: Go to Seattle and bring Lise home for Thanksgiving or he’ll never hear the end of it from his sister. It’s not like "Aunt Lise" to stay away from their adorable niece, and Joshua’s pretty sure he’s the reason for it. He’s spent months trying to forget the taste of her lips, the feel of her soft hair in his fingers. Yeah, okay, he wants her—badly—but family comes first. But the minute he sees the fear in Lise’s eyes, his survival instincts kick in. The former Army Ranger isn’t about to let some creep terrorize an innocent woman—not on his watch. He’s going to do what it takes to protect Lise and try to keep his personal feelings out of it. Because if there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s that sex and work don’t mix. Not ever. So far…

Willing -

Josie McCall has been raised to be a soldier, and she could be the best—if she wanted it. Instead, she left her dad’s mercenary school behind for a normal job in computers. But now that someone has torched the school and her dad is MIA from the hospital, Josie’s going to use every bit of her merc training to find him and hunt down the culprits who took him. Josie knows a lot about explosives, hand-to-hand combat, and tracking. What she doesn’t know about is sex. She has no idea what to do with the volcanic attraction she feels for her dad’s new partner, Daniel (Nitro) Black Eagle. And that feels more dangerous than any bomb…

Daniel knows exactly what he’d like to do about that attraction. The brooding explosives expert can’t get within five feet of Josie without wanting to touch, taste, and protect her—even if he’s sure she would happily drop-kick him if she knew one sizzling moment of his fantasies. But he’ll save it for later. Right now, he’s got his hands full figuring out who set that bomb and took Josie’s dad. Daniel’s sure of one thing, though—he’s not letting Josie McCall out of his sight for a single second. Convincing the cutest, most desirable trained soldier he’s ever met that she needs a bodyguard isn’t going to be easy. But if she’ll let him, he’ll show her he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe, and along the way, he’ll make her feel every inch a woman…

and Able -

Claire Sharp trusts few people and relies on no one. But after her life is threatened, ex-mercenary Brett (Hotwire) Adams blows into her self-contained world, full of southern charm, rugged good looks, and enough sexual experience to write a how-to manual...experience he makes it clear he'd like to use on Claire. She wants help fighting the bad guys, but she's not about to fall into Brett's bed. For one thing, the guy has a no-commitment clause better than most big shot attorneys and for another, despite her response to his too sensual kisses, in her experience sex isn't exactly fireworks and brass bands. Definitely not worth getting all excited over...

Brett plans to prove her wrong. He’s never felt such a powerful combination of lust and friendship with a woman. He'll give her a white-hot pleasure like nothing she’s ever known and she'll realize that some things in life are worth taking the risk for. When the threat to Claire grows dangerously close, pitting them against deadly odds, Brett will do whatever it takes to save her. Because Claire Sharp has just found herself a man who’s ready to bring it on, willing to do what it takes, and able to go the distance…

Labels: contemporary, suspense

Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon

All I can say is wow. This books is very important in where the series is going. Lots of hints and info revealed about the characters and squires in general. This is the fourteenth book/story in the series. The series needs to be read in order to appreciate it. The first book is Fantasy Lover and for the rest of the books look here. Off the subject, but Sherrilyn Kenyon's website is awesome, check it out if you have not. This book does not pull at your heartstrings the way some of the others do and is a little darker than the others, but I think that is because of where she is going with the books. This book is setting the series up for a lot of stuff in the future.

This installment leaves New Orleans and takes place in Seattle with Dark-Hunter Ravyn Contis (who is also a were-panther, the only Dark-Hunter who was a were-hunter, so far anyway) and tabloid journalist Susan Michaels. She aquires a cat from her friend at the animal shelter that she does not really want (because she just hapens to be allergic to cats (I thought that was a nice touch)), who just happens to be Ravyn in one of his cat forms. The Daimons who put him in the animal shelter want him back and will kill anyone in their way, including Susan. Ravyn mistakes her for a Squire and brings her home with him. Now she either has to become a squire or be killed, which will she choose? Ravyn and Susan have to figure out what the Daimons are up to now. Many characters are brought back in this book including Nick, Otto, and Acheron.

Labels: paranormal, vampires

Master of Darkness by Susan Sizemore

Good book in the series, the change in titles from the rest of the series through me at first. The other books in the series are I Burn for You, I Thirst for You, I Hunger for You.

When vampire hunter Eden Faveau mistakes Laurent, a renegade vampire of Tribe Manticore, for her new partner, he's not about to correct her. He's stolen a laptop full of sensitive files from the Tribe leader, Justinian, and needs help cracking the encryption. At first he wants sexy and intelligent Eden only for her computer wizardry -- but soon he wants her for much, much more. Working by night and growing closer every day, Laurent and Eden struggle with the passion that threatens to overwhelm them. But when Justinian captures Eden, and Laurent proves his loyalty to his Tribe in the most shocking of ways, Eden vows to kill Laurent for his deception. Can he find a way to prove his love for her before a full-on war breaks out between vampires and humans?

The only thing I don't like about this description from the back of the book is the fact that she vows to kill him for about 10 seconds then kisses him.

Labels: paranormal, vampires

I Hunger for You by Susan Sizemore

The other books in the series are I Burn for You, I Thirst for You, this one, then Master of Darkness. Excellent vampire series.

Mia Luchese comes from a long line of vampire hunters but has never believed in the supernatural. When she's attacked by vampires, though, Mia must accept her family's dark legacy. What she doesn't know is that sexy SWAT team leader Colin Foxe (mentioned in I Thirst for You), her rescuer and former lover, is also a vampire. Colin doesn't want to mate with a mere mortal, but his attraction to Mia is blistering. To get to the bottom of the attack on her, he is forced to reveal his true identity -- and Mia hers. But a generations-old battle that should rip them apart cannot break the bond that has their souls hungering for an eternity of ecstasy in each other's arms. . . .

Labels: paranormal, vampires

Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

Great addition to the series. I loved this book. Still working on getting all of the books though so I can read it all the way through the series. I think the last four are the ones that interest me the most. This is one that I will buy later when I get the money. There was a post one the RT message boards that summed up the books well:

"The first 3 book were written a very long time ago and don't really have anything to do with the storyline now as its going.
1st book-Beyond the Highland Mist - the heroine is a real B*** but its still worth reading especially as it introduces Adam Black who's a very important character later on.
2nd -To Tame a Highland Warrior -Its about Hawk's(from BHM) friend and really hasn't anything to do with the storyline, its mostly reading Candy.
3rd - Highlanders Touch - good book, Adam Black appears and something important is revealed.
4th - Kiss of the Highlander -Drustan McKeltar - this is really where the current storyline begins.
5th -The Dark Highlander - Daegus Mckeltar - this book is the best-IMO, its very dark and compelling.
6th - The Immortal Highlander -This book is about Adam Black and continues the storyline.
7th - Spell of the highlander - Cian Mckeltar - you finally find out what this whole series is really about and KMM gives you an idea of where she's taking it.
8th - Dark Fever - This book is a bit of a spin off from the series and more about the Fey, but still conected somehow. Its out in Oct."

The story is about grad student Jessi St. James who accepts a package for the professor that she works for and has to visually confirm the material in the package. It is an ancient mirror at first glance, but from her studies she knows that this mirror predates mirrors in general. Then she sees a man in the mirror, talk about getting freaked out. Then anther man bursts in and threatens to kill her for the mirror. The man in the mirror tells her to say some strange words, she does and he comes out of the mirror and kills the bad guy. He says his name is Cian MacKelter and he is 2,000 years old and has been stuck in that mirror for about that long and that the "owner" of the mirror will kill her to get it back, but the bad guy getting it back is a bad thing. This is just not a good week for Jessi.

Labels: magic, paranormal

Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle

Good addition to the Harmony series, though it has been too long since I read them. The others are Bridal Jitters (released as mini book separately and in the anthology Charmed), After Dark and After Glow then Ghost Hunter. Because it had been so long it took me a little while to get reacquainted with the world of Harmony. But I still really enjoyed the book. I did not buy it because I don't have the rest of the books and don't forsee getting them, but I was glad I read it.

The story is about Guild boss and ghost hunter Cooper Boone and botonist, Elly St. Clair. They live in Aurora Springs and Elly is engaged to marry Cooper until she finds out that he and her father (a very influential ghost hunter in the guild) are keeping secrets from her. And the secrets have to do with why they got engaged. Upset and feeling betrayed she moves to Cadence City to start a new life there. Six months later Cooper comes looking for her and finds her in need of a ghost hunter. He is determined to get her back and does not want her hurt or asking anyone else so he quickly volunteers planning to keep her safe and out of trouble by doing this. Then her finds out there is more to her problems than her expected.

Labels: fantasy, paranormal, psychic

After the Night by Linda Howard

I love Linda Howard's books and after a post on a message board that I read about favorite books and many people listed this one, I knew that I had to read it. I was not disappointed.

It is a contemporary with a little suspense set in a little town called Prescott, Louisiana. Faith Devlin has always been attracted to rich bad boy, Gray Rouillard. The problem is that her family is considered trash, her mother is/was Gray's father's mistress, and Gray thinks that Faith's mother ran off with his dad. Not a good way to start a relationship. Faith and her family are run out of town by Gray because of their parents' relationship and now 12 years later she is back in town. Gray feels a unshakable attraction to Faith (who unfortunately is the spitting image of her mother and that does not go over well with the townspeople or Gray's family) and cannot stop thinking about her. Faith is now a successful owner of a travel agency and has learned to hold her own. But Gray wants Faith out of town and Faith wants to find out what really happened 12 years ago.

Labels: contemporary

Well, I was on vacation this week and got a lot of reading done now I just have to find time to write about them. Upcoming blogs of books I read ths week are: After the Night by Linda Howard, Ghost Hunter by Jayne Castle, Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning, Trading Places by Fern Michaels, Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon, I Hunger for You by Susan Sizemore, Master of Darkness by Susan Sizemore and I am starting the trilogy Ready, Willing, and Able by Lucy Monroe this weekend.

Labels: misc