Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Recent Reads - the OK's and the Goods

I’m so far behind on the books I’ve read lately, and I’ve read a lot, I’m going to just do some quick mini reviews.

The Irish Devil by Diane Whiteside
This one is OK.
Viola Ross has landed herself in trouble. She’s penniless and needs a way to earn some money. She approaches William Donavan, a local businessman and offers to be his mistress for 3 months. William has had the hots for Viola for a while now and after a token resistance, takes her up on her offer.
What I liked: It’s a western and I love Westerns. And I really like the cover.

What I didn’t like: I found it a bit unbelievable that Viola would “take” to the role so quickly. One thing that drove me nuts was when he kept calling her a ‘filly”. It might be just me but I wouldn’t be really taking it as a compliment to be constantly referred to as a horse. Also I didn’t really connect to either the hero or the heroine

Conclusion: This book is hotter than my normal read and it took a bit of getting used to. This falls into the OK category and since I think it might be Ms. Whiteside’s first book I’m more than willing to give her another try. I just happen to have The River Devil (thanks to Renee) so I’m looking forward to reading it and seeing how it reads
Grade 3 out of 5


Angel in my Bed by Melody Thomas
This one is OK
From Amazon: On one final mission for the Crown, David Donally is hunting for a missing treasure. His only clue is a dazzling, gem-encrusted earring, and it is leading him to the most desirable woman he has ever known...an enchanting thief he once seduced and betrayed in the name of duty...an exquisite lover he'd believed was dead...his wife!
Meg Faraday thought her former life was behind her -- until the night the treacherous husband she'd eluded suddenly appeared. By rights she should despise the handsome spy who had captured her heart, then shattered it. But the fire between them still burns, and what was once an irresistible passion has now become a dangerous game of betrayal...

What I liked: I really liked Meg. I thought she made a great heroine. I admired how, after she “died” she really changed her life around and made herself a better person. And Ms. Thomas didn’t make her too nicey, nice.

What I didn’t like: I did not like David. At all. Well, I liked his name. I can’t admire a hero who deliberately misleads the heroine (the same problem I had with the hero in Hide in Plain Sight). While he eventually comes around, still I don’t think he ever really “got” what he did to Meg. I thought he was deliberately cruel to her a number of times. And it's a dreadful cover.

Conclusion: I don’t think I liked this one as much as Where’s My Hero (sorry). I don’t know if it would have made a difference if I had read the previous two in the series like she said I should or not. I’ll try Ms Thomas again if I see her books in a UBS, but I don’t think I’ll seek her out.
Grade 3 out of 5



The Dark One by Ronda Thompson
This one is good
This is the first in the Wild Wulfs of London. Rosalind Rutherford seeks out the mysterious Armond Wulf in order to have him destroy her reputation so she won’t be forced into marriage with the repulsive gentleman her step brother has chosen for her. But Armond won’t go along with her plan.

What I liked: I thought Armond made a very good hero. Shunned by society for the mysterious deaths of his parents and suspected of murdering a young prostitute, he is an honourable man. I liked the werewolf spin on this one. The Wulfs are cursed but it doesn’t take effect until they fall in love. Unlike some other werewolf stories, Armond resists the animal in him. I’ve said before – and I know it’s weird – that while I don’t really like vampire romance, I like a good werewolf story. And this is a good one. And I like the cover.

What I didn’t like: Rosalind ventured into TSTL territory a few times starting with her ‘done to death’ plan to ruin herself. I’m more heroine-centric but a better than normal hero can offset that. That’s how I felt about this one. Armond made this book. Also the villains were a bit too over the top.

Conclusion: This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I already have the next book in the series and I think I’ll be reading it very soon. Also she has a pretty descent backlist and I’ve already ordered one of them. I think I’m going to like this author
Grade: 4 out of 5

More book reviews to follow

‘til later

9 comments:

CindyS said...

Kristie - I won't be able to finish the book until tomorrow so if your ears are ringing or you have a headache it's me turning the air blue with frustration.

You know which book.

All I can say is you better have a list of books to replace this obvious keeper in my stack!!!

Sorry hon, I'm wigging out - you can go to my blog to see why but I thought I would let you know that another has fallen from your list. Not quite done yet but I will do everything in my power to finish this book the minute I wake up. It's the only time I have set an alarm so that I have enough time to finish reading a book before I have company.

Derek *sigh*

Valeen said...

I keep meaning to read a Ronda Thompson but I'm never able to get around to picking one up. I may have to try harder. LOL

Tara Marie said...

Love the "what I liked... what I didn't like" great idea for reviewing.

I saw a wonderful review of the Thomas somewhere, but kind of knew it wouldn't be for me, your review clinched it.

And, now I have to look for the Thompson

Thanks, Tara

Wendy said...

Re: The Irish Devil. I had totally blocked out the "filly" thing. LOL - that was hideously awful.

My main problem with it was the schizophrenic heroine. One minute she's kick ass, the next she's meely-mouthed and wimpy calling the hero "sir" all the time, then she goes back to kick ass. Geez. I got a serious case of whiplash reading it.

And Whiteside had written for the ebook market - but I *think* The Irish Devil was her first Big NY House Print Book.

Anonymous said...

One thing that drove me nuts was when he kept calling her a ‘filly”. It might be just me but I wouldn’t be really taking it as a compliment to be constantly referred to as a horse.

Especially when another word lurks just behind that word -- "break" as in 'to break' a young horse in the 'training' process. Hate that word for horses and hate filly for girls or women. Mostly, I'm not fond of animal words for people (although I did like it when Sophie called Phin "Bear" in Welcome to Temptation).

Nikki said...

I felt the same way about The Irish Devil. After reading that I decided that I wouldn't be buying anymore of her books. I was just a flat okay. "filly"--Pleeeeze!! He treated her like she was a child. I hate that!

I have been wondering about The Dark One. I'll see about picking it up now.

Thanks for the reviews!

Nikki

erika said...

I almost picked up the Thompson book awhile ago but she was new to me and I wanted to read other opines first. So far the opines have been positve so the next time I see it I will get it!

ReneeW said...

Yup, that's pretty much how I felt about The Irish Devil. I hate silly names for the heroine (aka E. Lowell). I think I have a Thompson hiding in my TBR. I should go see what it is.

Anonymous said...

Where did you find it? Interesting read paintballing weponds Perfumes ysl Problems fluoxetine hydrochloride zyban advantage plan isuzu aftermarket accesories http://www.weight-loss-pills-5.info/dennis-livingston-football-coach-south-carolina.html shemales fucking other girls Didrex overnigt Lamictal increase decrease dopamine buspirone drugs lesbian porn sample videosinterracial lesbian sex stories Color well log plotter Water bed products lowest prices at dealtime nikki sanderson- panty upskirt shot from down below us dental plans directory Penis regeneration Discount machines automatic public blood pressure monitor Info on phendimetrazine 35mgs 105 mgs Phendimetrazine cheap deals Pharmacia adderall