Saturday, December 02, 2006

Recent Reads

Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard

Well - after waiting impatiently for this one, I finally got a chance to read it. I just finished it - for the first time - today. Yup, I'm going to be reading this one all over again.

Blair and Wyatt are back as good as ever the second time around. In fact in this one, Blair's self confidence, one of the things I love about her is a bit shaken. This scene just made her seem a bit more human than ever.

Starting at the beginning and trying not to give to much away, Blair is busy making her wedding plans when she is almost run over in a mall parking lot. Right away, she is suspicious that it was deliberate but has a bit of a tough time getting Wyatt to see this. Well, Blair being Blair doesn't take this lying down. On top of this she is trying to get Sally and Jazz back together again. You remember Sally who tried to run down Jazz when he redid their bedroom.
There are so many funny moments in this book that just like the last one that one reading isn't nearly enough. This one is much sexier too. One of the few things missing in To Die For was the hot sex scenes that Ms. Howard does so very well. Happily, they are back in this one! I started laughing at this one on almost the first page and kept it up for the whole book. This one is another real winner!! One thing I should add though is if you are looking for a good suspence than this probably won't work. I guessed right off who was the culprit and why she was doing it.

Grade 5 out of 5

Born in Death by JD Robb

This one is another book I was anxiously waiting for. It's another great entry into the series. While not one of the better ones, I still enjoyed it immensely. There is just something so appealing about Eve, Roarke and the rest of them that every time I read a new one, it's like revisiting old friends.
In this one Eve is trying to solve the murder of a young couple who both work in a prestigious accounting firm. Roarke of course, helps her out although they are both very angered and hurt when Roarke ethics are called into question. At the same time Eve has been asked by Mavis to try and find a missing friend. Eve and Roarke are also preparing to be birth coaches for Mavis - and dreading it. As with DDG, there are many fine and funny moments in this book. Now after reading it, I'm again on the countdown for the next one!

Grade: 4 out of 5

'til later

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Kristie! :)

I still can't remember if I've read To Die For yet or not. *sigh* If I did, it was a long time ago. Maybe I'll reread it. :)

As for Born In Death, I agree. It was good, but not one of my favorites. It didn't make anywhere near as much sense as some of the others. I think the way the mystery was solved was a bit bizarre. *sigh*

I did love the end with Mavis, et. al. That was sweet. :)

Anonymous said...

Okay, JMC didn't care for Drop Dead Gorgeous and you loved it - I'm going to read it and see how I do. I just need to relax as I think I'm just being spazzy lately and not able to focus. Bob's has to go on business from Tuesday to Friday so maybe I'll take a day and just sit in *his* chair and read ;) (his Lazy Boy that has wonderous heat and vibration - but it's ugly)

CindyS

nath said...

Hey kristie,

glad you liked Drop Dead Gorgeous. Got it in my TBR pile... Although I didn't care much for To Die For, I hope this one will be more enjoyable to me.

As for Born in Death, I think everyone thinks the same: good, but not the best. Let see the next one... I'm glad it's coming out in February.

ReneeW said...

I also didn't care for TDF but figured I wasn't in the right mood. But since I'm such a huge LH fan I better at least try DDG. But it seems like this book has been hit or miss with everyone. I'm anxiously awaiting Born in Death. Got the book on tape on hold at the library.

Kristie (J) said...

Renee: I think the key with DDg is if you like Blair to begin with. she's still the same in this one so my thinking is if you love her in TDF, you'll lover her in this one. and I think the mood can be important too. Ames didn't really care for TDF the first reading but loved it the second time.

Nath: I can hardly wait for the next In Death book too! Is it coming out in February? That's not long to wait at all - all things considered :)

Cindy: I'll be looking forward to seeing what you think of DDG. I know it's gotten mixed reviews but I'm firmly in the loved it camp.

Kaitlin: hi back at you! Imy not so humble opinion, To Die For can't be read enough! I think I've read it 4 times or something like that. And as for BID - it's not one of the best, but I still love the series as a whole and I'm not at all bothered that some aren't quite as good as others. Taken as a whole - the series rates an A+ from me!

Anonymous said...

Kristie, what did you think of the way Wyatt responded to Blair's crisis of confidence? I wanted to slap him upside the head, but then I feel that way about most Howard heroes. Blair was still refreshingly fun for me this time around.

Anyone make the Krispy Kreme bread pudding yet? And the big question: fruit cocktail or milk (I'm thinking cocktail because of her promise that it cuts the sweet, even though I don't usually like fruit in my bread pudding)?

Kristie (J) said...

Robin: I found that scene very interesting and very poignant from Blair's perspective. Up until that point she has always exuded almost mythical self-confidence. I love that about her but when we get to see an uncertain side of her it makes her see much more human. I know Wyatt was a jerk to her, but if he wasn't, we wouldn't have seen her vulnerable side so I think it was important. And he did apologize very nicely to her. And I also thought it showed a bit of imperfection with him too, that yes every once in a while he can get impatient with her. And then later he goes on to say he loves everything about her and wouldn't change a thing, so for me he kind of made up for his earlier very boorish behaviour :)
I've never minded her ultra alpha heroes. In real life - yea I don't think I'd go near one, but in the world of romance they are kind of interesting.

Kristie (J) said...

And I've never tried the Krispy Kreme bread pudding either. Sadly :( they don't sell them here anymore. But I think it would be very expensive - 2 dozen worth of donuts. And very hard to buy 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and not eat at least one or two. But if I were to make them - it would be milk for me. The thought of fruit cocktail just seems kind of weird somehow.

Anonymous said...

Our local Krispy Kreme store closed last year, but we can still buy the donuts at Chevron gas stations(!) and local grocery stores, despite their expense (about 10 bucks for two dozen). It's the sweetened condensed milk that has me a little squicked out. Maybe I'll just make my old Silver Palate bread pudding recipe and pretend. It's almost as bad as reading a Stephanie Plum book -- OMG there is so much FOOD in those books, and I'm very suggestible in that area!

As for Blair and Wyatt, I was glad he apologized so straightforwardly, but I was still irritated with him. One of my favorite Howard books is Midnight Rainbow, and I love that Grant respects Jane as much as he lusts after and loves her. Some of those scenes are pretty funny with them, especially when he's actually afraid of how sharp she is and how effectively she can track him (like in Diamond Bay when she shows up unexpectedly). I haven't gotten quite that sense of respectful reverence from Wyatt, but then again, Blair is higher maintenance than Jane, so maybe it's a wash.

One thing I did really like, though, was that both characters so enjoyed the jockeying for position thing, and that Blair could safely exercise her competitive side with Wyatt and not run him over. I love that they're equals in that. NOW, though, I want to see Siana unleashed on some poor (not) helpless male!

Kristie (J) said...

Robin: You know this is killing me to say, but I don't think I've read Midnight Rainbow or Diamond Bay - me who if I were to ever go fan girl squirrly over it would be Linda Howard - hasn't read from what I've heard, are some of her better books. I really must get on over to Amazon and rectify that!
I really enjoyed the jockying too! It's obvious that they are both overwhelmingly alpha, but they are working to make it work.
I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of Blair & Wyatt yet, but Sianna would be fun too!

Anonymous said...

I loved Midnight Rainbow, and I think Diamond Bay might be my favorite Howard book next to TDF. HATED HATED HATED Heartbreaker, and haven't yet read White Lies, which is apparently connected to MR and DB, but only tenuously (like Heartbreaker).

As a Howard fan, you HAVE to read MR and DB -- IMO Kell and Grant are true alphas in that they are natural leaders but not constant bullies.

As for Siana's story, do you really think Blair won't be riding shotgun on that story?! I don't usually enjoy the whole baby thing in Romance, but I think Blair pregnant would be a major hoot!

Kristie (J) said...

Robin: Oh - she's be there all right *chuckle* but it wouldn't be from her rather unique perspective :) And I imagine a pregnant Blair would really be a force to be reckoned with *g*

Even I've tried the old "they cut me open for you" with both my sons (C-section both of them) but it didn't really work. They kind of look at me and say "it was your idea to have us" but I imagine Blair would really have some good lines *LOL at the thought*