Library Run....

Found these at the Dallas Public Library 10/26/2011

Split Second by Catherine Coulter
The Good Stuff by Michelle Stimpson
The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Connie Brockway
A Creed Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller
How Sweet the Sound by Jacquelin Thomas, Francis Ray, Felicia Mason

Deadly Double by Adrianne Byrd


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Finished with my re-read of Deadly Double. That bitch was crazy...Yeah I said it.


Josephine Farrell has a twin. An evil twin with some very calculated ideas about how she plans to take over her sister's life. Michelle Andrews was the child that was left to chance and she wants to have her chance at the good life and is willing to kill Josephine to get it. I love reading Adrianne Byrd's books and re-reading this book was a treat. I actually purchased it for my Kindle before I realized that I had already read the book. Of course, I requested a refund and then found my copy. With this book, Byrd combines a good mystery with a timeless love story of Josephine and William's youthful summer love affair.

This time around though, I found a few gaps in the story (or maybe I skipped over some parts). But I would have loved to have learned more about what happened to Michelle to make her into a deranged killer and her mental similarities to her twin. This was one of the first books that I read by Adriane Byrd and, in hindsight; I liked the book better this time than the last. Worth a second glance.






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The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I wish I could give this book 3.5 stars. I liked this book a lot......However, there were just too many issues with the family to make this a true winner for me.


1. Family curse says that husbands will die young. So when Lucy's husband dies after eight months of marriage, she is destined to be a lifelong widow. Her sister Corrine is so obsessed with the curse that she drives her husband crazy. Lucy's worship at her dead husband's altar was getting on my nerves. At some point I just wanted her to stop and smell the red roses and yellow chrysanthemums (you'll understand) and get over herself.


2. Lucy's notion that she find a new man whom she would not love but be able to have a family with. Really? I am a lover of all things romantic but this was a bit much, even for me. The whole martyr thing was wearing on my nerve (I only have the one) half way through this book. And the whole time, Ethan (dead husband’s brother is right there waiting for her to notice is feelings for her. Which leads to issue #3…


3. Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. Usually when there is a weaker heroine, the hero is there to counter her. Not so with Ethan; he was worse than Lucy with the whole martyr thing. Only this time, he is the martyr. The second son thing was getting old as well. JUST GET OVER IT ALREADY! Now, I know this does not move the literary vehicle along, but Ethan and Lucy were killing me. I thought that maybe he should just move on, find a new love, and establish a life out from the shadow of his brother and HEA.


The redeeming factor in this book was the supporting cast of characters: The Black Widows, Parker and Nicky and Ethan’s parents. They made this story into something enjoyable because without them, I would have stopped reading a long time ago. The idea of the story was good, it just took too much floundering? to get to the good part. Very entertaining and humorous, as is Higgans trademark, but not the best one I have read by her.






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Guilty Pleasure: Top Gear

 Every Monday night, I look forward to two events: Monday Night Football and Top Gear on BBC.  I have been an NFL junkie since I was a little girl but this fascination with British dudes and cars is something fairly new. My affair with Jeremy, James and Richard came about while watching old episodes of Torchwood and Keeping Up Appearances. Somehow these three enthusiasts have convinced car companies to give them access to concept cars, million dollar dream machines, and luxurious coaches. They take them through their paces on obstacle courses and race tracks for the sole purpose of seeing how they work and if they are as cool to drive as they look.  I am madly in love with this show: the right combination of engine oil and British-accented humor is enough to keep me coming back week after week.

Silence by Shusaku Endo



Be ready to be tested. This is a novel that addresses the complexities of faith, culture, and power. If you have ever wondered what happens to culture during religious converion this book will answer those questions. You will need your Bible, a journal  and some serious thinking time to get you through this one. Definetly a permanent place on my shelves.




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Reye's Gold by Ruthie Robinson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


One of the best IR I have read in a long time. Realy good story about the heartbreak of being in an IR relationship.




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A Light at Winter's End by Julia London


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I met Wyatt Clark in Summer of Two Wishes and although I sympathized with him, I wasn't that big a fan of the guy in the end. Truth be told, he received the worst smelling end of the stick when his wife left him for her first husband. Wyatt was destined to come out the loser; he couln't possibly fight against a war hero coming back to claim his bride. And now, after to years, Wyatt has come home and made himself into a hermit---only coming to town to sign checks and pick up his daughter.


Holly Fischer also comes home after her mother dies and her older sister drops her nephew at her doorstep and makes a run for it. Holly hasn't been on tea drinking terms with her family in ages and is placed in an impossible situation. She gives up what little life she has to go home and raise her year old nephew until her sister comes back. Only thing is, she falls in love: with he baby and Wyatt.


You can tell that this is going to end up badly for a few people when the book opens itself up. However, since it is wonderfully and emotionally written, the cliche doesn't even matter. You really begin to feel for this man who had everything that money could buy but lost his family. Wyatt and Holly slowly fall for one another and build a relationship when they both can see that things are destined to fall apart. Great story but I would have liked for the end to be a bit tidier. This is a one hanky book, unlike Summer of Two Wishes which rivaled a Nicholas Sparks book for tear factor.




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Chocolate Goodies by Jacquelin Thomas


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The story of Ransom and Coco has to be one of the best of the Kimani Romances that I have read. Romantic, sensual and endearing. The fact that Coco was able to give Ransom the one thing he longed for was awesome. She completed everything for him. Their relationship seemed real and not as melodramtic as some other romances can be. And Ransom sticking to his guns as a Christian man really showed what he was about. Loved every moment of it.




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Penumbra by Carolyn Haines


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read this book several years ago as an Advanced Reader's Copy. I loved it from the very beginning to the end. I had never read anything by this author before and I hear that this book was actually a step away from her usual fare; I only wish that people had caught on to this one. I wanted there to be a sequel so bad that I kept looking for a follow-up for years. I hope that Haines does produce another book like this one.

If you liked The Help, you will love this book.



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Waking Up With the Duke by Lorraine Heath


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sooooo loved this book. I adore historicals where the hero has a conscience and Ainsley is definitely that guy. He is asked by his best friend to commit the unspeakable and guilt will not let Ainsley deny him. This is just a damned good historical novel about a few people and doesn’t involve any political intrigue to cloud the story. If you're looking for a good, Victorian novel this is the one to read. Since I read this one out of order, I will be returning for the others to books in the series.




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Merciless by Diana Palmer

I have been reading about Long, Tall Texas and Jacobsville, Texas for a long time and this is the first time, in a long time, that I was pleased to be travelling back in the direction. Diana Palmer's books are like a lode stone: you can't stay away from them. As a fan, you already know the structure of the story and pretty much how everything goes down but you just keep on coming back. I picked up Merciless from the local library and thought "WTH?" I had been waiting to find out what was going on with Jon Blackhawk and Joceline for a long time. Palmer manages to create these larger than life men in her books that make you always come back for more. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was surprised that I liked the book so much. Jon Blackhawk and his administrative assistant Joceline have been verbal sparring partners for several years and they would be lost without one another. They have been dancing around each other for a long time and a killer on the loose is going to finally bring them together.




Joceline has been working as Jon Blackhawk's case cracking, non-coffee-making paralegal for five years and Jon still doesn't know very much about her. She keeps her life away from the office private and he has never met her young son. He can't seem to figure her out or his attraction to her. For Joceline, Jon is the ultimate untouchable man: he's handsome, rich and powerful. And he's her boss. She knows she can't have him in her life, so she keeps her feelings well hidden behind her insults and know-it-all attitude. I love the easy chemistry that these two have; nothing seems forced and they seem more like equals that someone Palmer's other characters. There are the economic differences but Joceline is no victim, as I felt some of Palmer's other female characters have been. When a man who Jon convicted is released from prison and threatens their lives, Joceline doesn’t t take this lying down. No curling up in a corner to cry, she tries to solve the crime. She makes a wonderful hero.

In true Diana Palmer fashion, the romance is grand and the sensuality milder than most modern romances. However, it is always a satisfying and appropriate. The last book I read by Palmer was Dangerous and I didn’t even finish it. It just seemed like too much of the same but I’m coming to realize that her formula works and works very well. This book was a nice change from my current reading trend of paranormals and super steamy novels.

Re-read of the week....Chesapeake Bay Saga 1-4

 Ok. So I've read these books a few times over the years but for some reason I was drawn into reading them again.  And they are just as good the 11th time through. I just love a Nora Roberts series. Something about the uber masculine, yet wounded, warrirors of her heroes.  So, here's another round to Cameron, Ethan, Phillip and Seth. And Happy birthday Nora.

Beach Lane by Sherryl Woods


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book tugged at my heart strings but, surprisingly, did not make me cry. Another endearing story from Woods, but did not give me the same emotion as Will and Jess' story. I just though that after reading about Mack and Susie for so long that their story would be a bit more.....more. Adding in the siren song of Kristen was nice but she seemed like she was being used as an extra rather than someone who could have really been a serious threat. And Mack being totally clueless about her? Not buying it. I did like the forbidden romance of Laila and Matthew and will enjoy reading about them soon.




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Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Simply one of the best historicals I've read in a long time. That's all.




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Call Me by Lena Matthews


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Pretty good read about best friends who don't realize how much they really mean to one another. I got this as a free read from Amazon, so I am quite pleased with the purchase. :) I would very much like to read about Chris and Eliza. Now that story seems like it's gonna be a very good read.




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Review: Too Good To Be True by Kristn Higgins

OK. I liked it. I really did. However, I was so lost in Grace's first person musings that I almost stopped reading the book. I am normally so charmed by the quirkiness of Higgins' female characters that this shouldn't have bothered me but it just seemed to be too much. Let me say that I did find the book to be funny and it tugged at my heart strings a few (appropriate times) but COME ON!

*****I usually don't do spoilers but this deserves it*****

Grace is a jilted woman. Three weeks before her weddings her fiancé announces that the relationship is no longer working for him; this is after he meets her Cinderella look-a-like younger sister, Natalie. Having noticed that Natalie and Andrew shared an instant attraction and being the loving sister that she is, Grace gives the green light for them to have a relationship. Are you kidding me? Who in the h&ll does this? I would choke my sister with a reinforced piano wire if she would even think of dating the fiancé that just left me holding the invitations and catering bill. But in Grace’s eyes Natalie can never do anything wrong and always has the best of intentions. I think this is what bothers me most: Natalie never seems to get the fact that she is a truly selfish biotch and Grace is feels it’s okay to continue to protect her. Ok done with the tirade.

Other than Grace acting like a martyr all the time, the book was actually quote good. Callahan was too good of a man for her. He was honest and hot and knew he way around a hammer pretty well. I mean there was the whole ex-convict thing but it was a white collar crime, so no need to hide the silver. There was some serious unresolved issues with family in this book. Did I say I liked it? Well I do---and all because Natalie gets left at the altar too.

#nowreading: Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins

 About to start on this book, borrowed digitally from the Dallas Public Library.   Just noticed that several new titles had been added to the digital library and I am so glad of it. Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite authors for contemporary, romantic comedy. Her stories are sexy, funny and tug at the heart.

Updated TBR

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pozsch, Lee Chadeayne (Kindle)

Blue Velvet by Iris Johansen (Kindle)

Maid to Match by Deena Gist (Kindle)

Silent Run by Barbara Freethy (Kindle)

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn (Paperback)
Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs (Paperback

In the Doctor's Bed by Brenda Jackson


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Not the usual Brenda Jackson fare but still a solid story. I would like to give it 3.5 stars.....only because with a longer book, the peripheral characters could have been explored more. It was like Lucien and Jaclyn were the only two people in the book and that didn't work for me. Maybe I've gotten too used to the Westmoreland and Madaris clans. Great start to this multi author series.




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Dark Side of Dreaming by Ann Bruce


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have one complaint about this book....where are the other four or five chapters? I felt this book could have been a five it was just longer. A cat burglar comes out of retirement for one last job and it set up by the man she's set to rob. And the man? Sasha Michaels is this rugged Russian guy (I picture one on the Klitchko's) with too much money and time on his hands who wants Cleo find the mate to the statue that she wants to steal from him. Complicated relationship? Yeah. There is also this other guy who has some serious delusions of grandeur who is chasing Cleo and the statue. Really creepy.


As much as I liked this story, it goes back to it not being long enough. I think with some added length this would have been a great caper. The relationship that develops between Cleo and Sasha is wonderful and uber sexy but I just think that there could have been MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! And what about Elena? Is there another story out there for her? I felt as it everything ended too abruptly; so much so that I wanted to shake my Kindle to see if there were more pages. I hope there is more about Cleo and Sasha soon.






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