Just when the Olympics end and I figure life will get back to normal, I get the afternoon shift. Screws up my day at both ends - not enough time in the am and too tired in the pm.
I had another Kristie moment the other day. When I got into my car that night and turned it on, the dashboard lights were very dim. As I was driving home, I was trying everything to get them brighter; flipping the switch up and down, turning them off altogether and back on, turning on the inside car light, nothing worked! And I was thinking 'oh ma-an, somehow the car must be loosing power. Now I'm going to have to take it in since I don't want to go on my big adventure with a car loosing power. Good thing I have a car guy now'. Then it dawned on me. When I drove to work, it was sunny and I wore my shades - prescription sunglasses. To make sure I didn't forget them at work, I put them on before I left the building. The reason the lights were so dim was because: I wear my sunglasses at night.
I made a huge decision the other night!! I was tweeting up a storm and one of the other twitterers (or is that tweeters?) twitted (or is that tweeted) about the upcoming Australian RWA conference. And then someone else mentioned about the Readers convention in 2011. And I started pondering........ I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Australia - for as long as I can remember. Since the first time I heard Waltzing Matilda and it made me want to cry - even though the lyrics made absolutely not sense. They still make absolutely no sense, yet it still makes me want to cry.
Ever since I saw pictures of kangaroos, kwoala bears and duckbill platypuses. I mean how cool is that animal!! Imagine if you were to cross one with the Canadian Beaver - wouldn't that be an interesting animal!?!
When I realized when we had summer and they had winter I wanted to visit.
When I got older and started having lustful thoughts about a young Mel Gibson before he turned 'odd' I wanted to visit Australia.
When I realized they were a lot like us - only upside down and with an awesome accent (though I'm sure they will deny they have one) I've wanted to visit Australia. There was a coworker a couple of years ago - a young gorgeous coworker who I tried to set up with Ryan and failed miserably - last time I ever tried matchmaking with my sons - who went to school there for a year. When I heard about her plans, I whimpered that I wasn't that adventurous when I was young. Well - damn it all!! I'm adventurous now and I decided that
I AM GOING TO GO TO AUSTRALIA IN 2011!
Now unless I find a a traveling partner, I'm going to have to do a lot of preparation! A LOT!!
Quit smoking!
Exercise!
Loose weight!
Dye my hair!
Start doing more things on my own like going to movies and out to restaurants - not just the food court at the mall.
All kinds of stuff!!!
Now New Zealand was a country I also wanted to visit - not with the longing I had for Australia - at least not until Lord of the Rings came out. Then I really wanted to visit. To walk the same ground that Frodo and his friends, Aragorn and Boromir and Legolas did.
So I figured since I would be on that side of the globe, I would also stop off and visit New Zealand Nalini Singh lives there. I'm pretty sure my newest author find, Karina Bliss lives there. Orannialives there, as well as other wonderful bloggers I'm sure. So, now I have *drum roll* A GOAL!!
I'm late - I'm very late - at the book giveaway - I haven't forgotten - but due to Olympic mania I haven't had time to look for doubles yet - but I do have 2 so far. Somehow I got two ARC of Ravishing in Red so that will be one. And I know I have at least two copies of Beloved Warrior, a book by Patricia Potter I loved. I will look for 2 more as soon as I can and announce the winner.
And finally - now that it's March - I got to turn my calendar at work. And this is March's pic I get to look at for the next 27 days!
I’ve been a bit scarce lately and I haven’t really meant to be but I’ve been reading some great books lately and since it’s been quite a while since my reading mojo has been this strong, I’ve just been going with it.Normally my ‘thought’s are longer then these, but I’m behind so I’m going to have to do my best to be succinct – and I’m sure failing miserably!
Why this one:I’ve really enjoyed this series and it was a given that I would read the next book when it came out
Steam Level:Best have a glass of COLD water with you when you read this one!
Blurb: When a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped, DarkRiver sentinel Mercy, a cat, and SnowDancer lieutenant Riley, a wolf, must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire.
My Thoughts:You can tell a book has hold of me when I go to the lengths I went to, to read Branded by Fire.I took it to WashingtonDC with me.I was hoping it would keep my mind busy during the terror of flying.It didn’t work during the take off and landing; I don’t think anything can do that.But I was quite content during the flight while reading it.I kept it in my purse at all times and took it out whenever I had a spare moment to read.I was reading it when a rather nice man came up to me while I was sitting outside the hotel and only reluctantly put it down.And this for a guy – talking to me!!I had it with me when Wendy, Rosie and I finally made it to the Library of Congress after a very long walk *g* and decided I would rather sit outside – where it was hot – and I don’t like hot – and read Branded by Fire then walk even more whilst touring the Library.I read it while waiting for the airbus at the airport and was almost disappointed when the bus showed up.And I finished it that night despite wanting to do nothing more then head for bed.
What I enjoyed about this one is it’s a changeling/changeling match so we didn’t get too much into the Phys net storyline.I still find that confusing even after all these books.I really liked the fact that Mercy was such a strong heroine.While I still enjoyed them quite a bit, in a couple of the previous books the somewhat physical helplessness of the heroines got to me a bit.But in this one Mercy is more then capable of holding her own against Riley.
I’m loving this series and this one is no exception.I think it’s my favourite so far!!
Why this one:I adored her first book, The Duke of Shadows.When I read it, I knew it was special and this is an author who I want to read more of.She was on my list of books to get in DC and get it I did!
Blurb: Silver-tongued Viscount Sanburne is London’s favorite scapegrace. Alas, Lydia Boyce has no interest in being charmed. When his latest escapade exposes a plot to ruin her family, she vows to handle it herself. Certainly she requires no help from a too-handsome dilettante whose main achievement is being scandalous. But Sanburne’s golden charisma masks a sharper mind and darker history than she realizes. He shocks Lydia by breaking past her prim facade to the woman beneath . . . and the hidden fire no man has ever recognized. But as she follows him into a world of intrigue, she will learn that the greatest danger
Steam Level:*blinks eyes* I can’t remember – how can that be?But I do know the whole book was very satisfying so it must have been a good temperature
My Thoughts: It took me a while to get to her first book, The Duke of Shadows.I’d had it on the TBR pile and when I finally read it, wondered why I took so long!
I didn’t wait with this one.
Though Bound By Your Touch didn’t have quite the angst level of Duke of Shadows, I still enjoyed it immensely.Lydia was a prickly kind of heroine and as long as they aren’t overdone, I really enjoy a bristly heroine.After a brief and aborted shot at love when the man she had loved asked her for her sisters hand in marriage, Lydia pretty much dedicated herself to her father’s work.He was an Egyptologist who spent most of his time abroad while Lydia managed his affairs at home.However this is all threatened when she is giving a lecture of his work and is rudely interrupted when Sanburne breaks into the meeting and takes over with his own agenda.He has, to put it mildly, a strained relationship with his father.These two are brought together when he lords it over his father that he has a true piece of history and Lydia exposes it as a fake.
I love the relationship between these two characters.Sanburne is almost an Adonis and Lydia is described as only fair in looks, especially next to her more beautiful sisters, but to Sanburne, looks are unimportant.He finds her beautiful and that’s that.
They are a case of opposites attract.Lydia refuses to hear anything bad about her father, even when the evidences starts coming in that he might not be the ethical person she’s always believed him to be.Sanburne, on the other hand, hates his father and has made it his life’s work to become an embarrassment to the family name.If he had a few too many ‘woe is me’ moments, well, that just made him more interesting and one of the final scenes more interesting.
The dialogue between them is wonderful; I love a book with well written banter between hero and heroine and if you do too, this is one to get!
What stands out for me about Ms. Duran’s books is her writing.It’s almost lyrical in nature and follows in the mode of some of my favourite authors, Laura Kinsale, Jo Goodman.I don’t know how to put it other then she writes ‘rich’.And richly written books are too far and few between these days!I had barely finished when I knew I’d have to add her next one, Written on Your Skin to my pile and read it soon!
Why this one: I received an ARC and it just ‘called’ to me. After the success of Branded by Fire, I was in the mood for another Paranormal.
Steam Level: Can a book be considered steamy when there is no “love” scene? Why, in this case I think it can.
Blurb: Long ago, shape-shifters were plentiful, soaring through the sky as crows, racing across African veldts as cheetahs, raging furious as dragons atop the Himalayas. Like gods, they reigned supreme. But even gods have laws, and those laws, when broken, destroy.
Zoufalstv. Eptoivo. Asa. Three words in three very different languages, and yet Soria understands. Like all members of Dirk & Steele, she has a gift, and hers is communication: That was why she was chosen to address the stranger. Strong as a lion, quick as a serpent, Karr is his name, and in his day he was king. But he is a son of strife, a creature of tragedy. As fire consumed all he loved, so an icy sleep has been his atonement. Now, against his will, he has awoken. Zoufalstv. Eptoivo. Asa. In English, the word is despair. But Soria knows the words for love.
My Thoughts: I read the first book in Marjorie M Liu’s Dirk and Steel series, Tiger Eye and loved it and didn’t read any more of the series. Now I’m wondering why on earth not???
I was curious going into this book how it would work since it’s book 7 in the series and the only previous one I had read was the first. I have a few minor questions, but overall, I had no trouble following the story.
Karr was a creature from thousands of years ago. A Chimera, a result of two different kinds of shape shifters whose kind had been hunted and killed. But they fought back and Karr was a Warlord of the Chimera who had asked to be killed when he did something unforgiveable. But instead of dying, he was in some kind of suspended animation, coming back to life when his tomb was uncovered. The leader of Dirk and Steele sends our heroine, Soria, to where he is being held as she has a knack of speaking every language out there and is probably the only one who can communicate with this person from centuries past.But it seems that while there might be any Chimera left on earth, there are still shape shifters and they have more then a passing interest in Karr.He and Soria must outrun them to hope to keep Karr alive.
I really enjoyed this book! It didn’t bother me not having read the intervening books. I do have some of them and you can bet I’ll be tracking them down.
Karr is my favourite kind of hero. Tortured, noble, alone; he has awakened in a time he knows nothing about and is truly a lost soul. But as a Warlord of his former tribe, he is strong and nicely alpha/
And I found the character of Sonia to be quite interesting.She had wounds of her own – physically as well as emotionally.She is still adjusting to the fact that she lost her arm from almost the shoulder down.I don’t know if this was brought up in a previous novel or not, but it’s finally explained how she lost it.She is still feeling quite a few phantom pains from it and dealing with everyone reactions to her.But Karr is probably the only person she feels safe with.
I mentioned earlier that there is no real love scenes between these two but there is A Lot of chemistry and I didn’t feel the lack of a consummated love scene.They came pretty close a few times and it was still pretty steamy.
Why this one: I read Nath's review and it intrigued me enough and it's been while since I've read Loretta Chase and she is one of my auto buy authors that I moved this one up.
Blurb: Spunky English girl overcomes impossible odds and outsmarts heathen villains.
That's the headline when Zoe Lexham returns to England. After twelve years in the exotic east, she's shockingly adept in the sensual arts. She knows everything a young lady shouldn't and nothing she ought to know. She's a walking scandal, with no hope of a future . . . unless someone can civilize her.
Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont, is no knight in shining armor. He's cynical, easily bored, and dangerous to women. He charms, seduces, and leaves them--with parting gifts of expensive jewelry to dry their tears. But good looks, combined with money and rank, makes him welcome everywhere. The most popular bachelor in the Beau Monde can easily save Zoe's risque reputation . . . if the wayward beauty doesn't lead him into temptation, and a passion that could ruin them both.
My Thoughts: Oh My Goodness!! I LOVED this book. I thought I'd come out right off the bat and let everyone know this. This book has it all!
Lucien, after seeing everyone he loved die in his youth, the final straw being Zoe's disappearance, has decided that he won't feel anything. He's lost too much and as a result has become cold and aloof, a master of whit and everything one would detest in a hero. But the reader knows that's not his real character. He is dragged kicking back into feeling when Zoe returns to the bosom of her family and needs help in becoming a part of society again. He's wildly attracted to her and her innocent yet very seductive ways.
And Zoe - what a wonderful character she is!! She's a mix of innocence and sensuality. She knows what she wants - Lucien - and goes after him even though she's not quite sure she is ready to head back into a cage of 'marriage' after living so long in a harem.
There were many moments in this book that had me smiling and chuckling and when I close the cover, I couldn't help but think "Well Done Ms. Chase!!" While not quite up to the same level as my all time favourite by her, Lord of Scoundrels, this one comes very, very close! This one gets a real thumbs up from this satisfied reader!
Grade: 5 out of 5
And A Movie
I ordered a number of old movies from Amazon (real old *g*).I watched the first of the list just the other day.
Lady Chatterley with Jolie Richardson and Sean Bean
Why this one: I've been curious to see it for a while now
Steam Level: OK - *right, gulp* yup!!
Blurb: Those who believe British miniseries to be too proper and corseted may want to make an exception for Ken Russell's 1992, four-hour BBC adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's scandalous novel. Between the full frontal female nudity and empowering shed-rocking sex scenes, this is something for everyone to have a randy good time. To save you the bother of fast-forwarding, episodes two and three contain the very naughtiest bits involving the illicit affair between "loyal wife, good companion" Constance Chatterly (Joely Richardson) and Oliver Mellors (Sean Bean), gamekeeper to Constance's embittered, paralyzed husband (James Wilby). When he insists his wife take a lover and produce an heir to his fortune, he didn't have the lowly "wild man of the woods" in mind. Neither did Constance, but soon enough the woods are alive with the sound of heavy panting and frantic gropings up against trees. The production is impeccably mounted--no pun intended--and the performances (particularly by the daring Ms. Richardson) impassioned. Save for one dream sequence involving a black horse (a symbol of passion, one character helpfully explains), and the, at times, overheated musical score that threatens to overwhelm the lovers, Russell (Tommy, Altered States) holds his tendencies toward excess in check.
My Thoughts: First off - I didn't realize it was a four part mini-series from BBC so it was four hours long.I had a girlfriend from work over watching it with me and after the first love scene we looked at each other and thought his technique needed a bit of work - it was rather 'slam bang, thank you mam'ish.And then the second one - against a tree - well my girlfriend didn't think she'd ever want to try that.As for me - I'll keep it under consideration.
But he did seem to improve with time.And the frolicking in the rain scene was everything I promised her to entice her to come watch it with me.
All jocularity aside - it was a pretty good movie - mind you - no North and South - but I think I'll watch it again - only to further study the 'against the tree' scene (damn it - I couldn't put jocularity aside after all)
I thought Sean Bean did a good job of portraying the somewhat rough hewn Mellors and Jolie Richardson did a wonderful job of playing the sexually frustrated Lady Chatterley.
There was one scene that really 'got' to me - when Chatterley was describing how the lower class were - lower - and their soul purpose was to be on hand for the 'upper' class.He went on and on, meanwhile the servants were standing right there as if they didn't have any feelings of their own.He really was a grade A jerk and it made the ending even better after that.
I've only read the 'naughty' bits of the novel by D.H. Lawrence and that was when I was a very young and impressionable and 'exploring' the stuff that goes on between men and women.
And let’s face it – a movie with Sean Bean running nekkid through a field just has to get good marks for that alone!
One thing that kept it from getting higher marks - the music!! Normally I like the musical scores in movies, but in this one, the music was too loud and to overly dramatic and too distracting!
In my blog hopping I noticed Nalini Singh is holding a contest. How fortuitous since I just picked up Hostage to Pleasure earlier today when I picked up a SECOND copy of Cry Wolf.
Here's how it works:
What do you have to do to enter?
(a) Do a post on your blog, livejournal, myspace, facebook or website etc, where you answer at least one of the questions below. You can do all three questions if you like!
* Which fictional hero (from books, tv, movies...) would you most like to hold hostage?
* Which fictional hero would you most like to be held hostage by?
* Which fictional world would you most like to be held hostage in?
(b) link back to this post & mention the contest (c) post the cover of Hostage to Pleasure if possible; and (d) leave a comment here with a link to where you've posted your entry
I think my answers will be pretty much a given since she's allowing us to use fictional characters from TV, Movies - and I have been accused of being a bit - well - obsessed.
* Which fictional hero (from books, tv, movies...) would you most like to hold hostage? John Thornton of North and South. Then again maybe it might be Guy of Gisborne so I could have my wicked way with him.
* Which fictional hero would you most like to be held hostage by? John Thornton of North and South. Then again maybe it might be Guy of Gisborne so he could have my wicked way with me. Tough decisions both of them. * Which fictional world would you most like to be held hostage in? OK - this one takes a bit more thought. I think the answer might be the Starship Enterprise so I could explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.” Of course if I were being held hostage I might not get a chance to do those exciting things.
PS - Did I mention that I got a chance to meet her again this year in San Francisco?? Sadly I didn't get much of a chance to talk to her this time round - but I did meet her - AND she remembered me!
I am just going to get this out of the way right now and say that Nalini Singh continues to astound me with her storytelling skills. Her Psy/Changeling books are one of the best fictional series, romance or otherwise being published. Earlier this year, Mine to Possessblew me away and now with Hostage to Pleasure, Nalini has done it again. If you are not reading Nalini Singh, you are seriously lacking in your reading material. Hostage to Pleasure is a near perfect book and is going down in my top 10 must read books for 2008.
Hostage to Pleasure is all about one of Nalini's most beloved characters, Dorian Christensen. He is DarkRiver’s best sniper, a changeling leopard who has one fault, he can’t shift into his leopard form. Even though he can’t change like his pack members can, Dorian is strong enough, more so than some of those who can shift at a moment’s notice. Dorian has some inner turmoil, mainly because his sister, Kylie was visciously murdered by a Psy serial killer. Dorian did get his revenge by gutting the Psy and watching him die. But it wasn’t enough, and Dorian blames himself over his sister’s death. He is entering into a dark place that he may not come back from and everyone who cares for him is worried. For the moment, Dorian wants to do the right thing and that is because of a four year old Psy child called Keenan. Dorian rescues Keenan because his mother, Ashaya Aleine was able to save some children who were being used in experiments by Psy scientists (this is all explained in Mine to Possess). Ashaya aided in the fight alongside the changelings and because of that she called in her IOU in order for them to save her son. Now that Keenan is free and able to break through his bonds of Silence. Ashaya will break free also, which in her mind means death.
Ashaya is a very interesting Psy because she does feel emotion and pretends to embrace the Silence that is forced upon the Psy when they become teenagers. Ashaya must keep all emotions at bay, not because of what she is, but because of her twin sister, Amara who becomes more enraged and twisted whenever Ashaya feels deep emotion. Amara has no moral compass. She doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, she is an empty soul and it is up to Ashaya to keep her under control. If that isn’t enough responsibility, Ashaya has the final answer for bringing the Psy Silence to the rest of humanity.
Dorian’s inner leopard wants Ashaya badly. So much so, he wants to bite her and claim her as his mate. But Dorian is at odds with his beast because his human side can’t stand the fact that Ashaya is a Psy, the same type of being that killed his precious sister. Dorian saves Ashaya and as they come to terms with one another, Dorian comes to the conclusion that there is more than meets the eye with this cold scientist. She doesn’t hold back her emotions because of what she was made into, but rather it is to protect the ones she loves, which is her son, her amoral, unfeeling sister and eventually Dorian. Dorian wants Ashaya to let go and finally feel because she deserves it and owes it to Keenan. But again, Ashaya is all about sacrificing herself and she does this so everyone can be safe from the one person she connects with, and that is Amara. Amara is a ticking time bomb and if Ashaya can’t control her sister, the outbreak of the Silence will be the least of their problems.
Hostage to Pleasure is a major turning point in this series. The Psy culture we were first introduced in Slave to Sensation is breaking down. They are no longer the all powerful beings of the world. There was one such speech Amara gives Dorian that caught me eye:
“It’s the great irony of our race. Psy cling so hard to Silence because at the bottom of it all, they’re terrified, afraid that if they let go, the monsters inside their heads will start crawling out, reducing them to the level of you animals once again.”
And because of this fear and the eventual breakdown of the Psy, there will be an even more powerful enemy on the horizon where both Psy and Changeling may have to work together to stop them before they go too far. Former enemies will have to stand side by side together in the oncoming war that may change the world much like the Psy did when they founded Silence.
Dorian and Ashaya’s relationship is on equal footing with the other couples in Nalini’s past novels. These are two characters who suffer through their own personal hells. Dorian is on the cusp of becoming a renegade, a killer, because he can’t get over his sister’s death. Ashaya is a martyr because of her love for her family and of Dorian who wants to be a part of that. Their love is steamy and emotional; everything you would expect.
Nalini also gives us a small hint of things to come such as Hawke’s possible mate. Something also caught my eye about Kaleb. Maybe because I am a big fan of the mysterious Psy, Kaleb, I may be looking too much into one small scene in this book, but it did make me happy because I believe Kaleb has someone out there for him. (wouldn’t it be great if her name is Kate? :D)
What more can I say about Hostage to Pleasure that hasn’t already been said before? The proof is in the writing along with the wonderful characters that you find yourself talking about months, even years after you finish reading. Hostage to Pleasure has met all my expectations and Nalini has a fan and supporter of her books for life.
4 ½ stars out of 5 stars
Carolyn Jean from The Trillionth Page has something very exciting planned for this week. If you are a fan of Nancy Drew, make sure to stop by CJ's blog and check out NANCY DREW WEEK! There will be contests, giveaways, some surprise interviews and wonderful posts such as this one! *wink wink*
The third book for 2008 that has me so excited is Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh. I was a bit disappointed by her 2007 release, Caressed by Ice and wasn’t sure what to expect with her February release. Nalini has again proven why she is romance’s shining star and Mine to Possess comes in a close second to my favorite book, Slave to Sensation in this incredible sci-fi romance series. I am calling it- Mine to Possess will be on everyone’s top ten for 2008 and one the most anticipated books of the year.
If you haven’t had the chance to read any of Nalini’s Psy/ Changeling books, I recommend you start with Slave to Sensation and move on from there. Mine to Possess is best savored when you understand this world and the characters that live within it. Nalini has come up with another great couple in that of Clay, the shift-changing leopard and Talin, a human woman. Clay was once an angry young boy and lived with his human mother who wanted him to hide his leopard side. He lived in near poverty and would have become another statistic to the streets. But his one joy in life was a human girl, Talin, his “Tally”. This young boy and girl bonded and became soul mates, that is until Talin was taken from Clay because of a violent act he did to protect her. Clay was lead to believe that Talin was dead and instead of committing suicide because of the loss of his other half; he grew up and embraced his changeling side and that culture. Now, twenty years later he is stable and has love with a great adopted family and friends. But Clay is in for quite a shock because Talin has risen from the dead.
Talin was never dead and has kept herself hidden, especially from Clay. She has found him for a purpose and needs his help. She helps young human children, but a serial killer is murdering them. She expects Clay to get over her lies and help her. But Clay is one angry cat! He feels betrayed by what Talin has done, but since he still has a bond with her and knows that she is his mate, he will help her and not allow her to leave him again. He wants to claim her as his woman, and not even Tally will be able to stop him.
Nalini can sure write some alpha males! If you thought her other past heroes of Lucas, Vaughn or Judd were the ultimate alphas, watch out, because Clay puts them all to shame. His love and devotion for this human woman is all consuming and oh so good! Talin, on the other hand, is so scarred and very tortured. She has been abused and because of this she abuses herself even more. She feels she is not worthy of Clay and is afraid of him. Clay keeps his violent nature barely under wraps and because Talin has always been around violence, she is not sure if she can be around Clay. But the thing is, Clay completes her body and soul. The same goes for Clay. When these two come together in the more intimate sense, their love for each other is loud and clear. The passion between these two is more embedded deep within their souls and not just because of lust and attraction.
Another thing I love with these books is the importance of family and a society who care and protect their own. The changeling community cares about every member, be it old or young. It is very telling how Nalini shows that humans and the Psy culture (a culture who doesn’t believe in emotion) can be very cruel and violent, where as the changeling society only becomes violent when they are being threatened or the need to protect their land and what is theirs. The same goes for Clay and Talin. Clay protects Talin and Talin protects the small children she has come to care about and in her charge.
Not many authors can continue to surprise me with their books and storytelling skills, but Nalini Singh is one I have come to count on to “deliver the goods” and she has done it yet again with Mine to Possess.
Why this one: Well, I love me Colonials and there are so few being written, that when I see one, it’s a no brainer that I’ll get it.
Back Cover blurb: Last of the Duncans
Leaving behind the Highlands for the New World at the tender age of ten, Connor Duncan quickly learned that only the fit and the fortunate survive.He was both, becoming a scout and an expert marksman… a man to be reckoned with.He knew his way through the backwoods as well as any Shawnee, but he was far less comfortable in the drawing rooms of Williamsburg.
What was a rough-hewn frontiersman like he to do with a sheltered beauty like the governor’s niece?
But there seemed to be no way to avoid the “Virgin Widow.”Neither capture, nor torture, nor the violent birth pangs of a young nation could keep them apart of stop the founding of a brand new dynasty of Duncans.
Level of Steam: tepid
My Thoughts.Hmmm, this one is a difficult one to do sort of.Mostly I liked it.I adored Connor.Though he had every right to be bitter, his father was killed at Culloden on the day he was born and his mother was raped and hung in front of him when he was ten, he was amazingly well-adjusted.He was sent as a bond servant to the colonies when his mother was killed and after serving his time, has fashioned a relatively good life for himself.And while he has every reason to hate the British, he doesn’t and judges them on the person rather than the nationality.
I also liked Carrie, the heroine.She was a klutz.Being a klutz myself, I could relate to that part of her.She was adventuresome but not in a TSTL way although she did manage to get herself into trouble and Connor rescued her.It wasn’t so much her own actions as just being in the wrong time at the wrong moment.And when she needed to be, she was a very strong woman.
So why, ultimately why won’t I give this one a higher grade.It’s hard to say.Part of it may be that it doesn’t come close to my favourite colonial – Ride The Fire or another very good one, Surrender, both by Pamela Clare.I suppose it’s not really fair comparing them different authors altogether.But still, it’s hard not to.
Then there is the issue of one particular scene.It’s a torture scene. Now I always turn my eyes away whenever I see anything the least bit squeamish on TV so I don’t have to watch it.That’s harder to do when reading.And although I can read those kinds of scenes in the In Death books, in this book, it particularly bothered me for some reason.It really was quite gruesome.I know, I know you’re thinking, there was that opening scene in Ride the Fire that was difficult.But since it was the hero it happened to, we know he survived.When I first read the book, I skimmed real fast over it and when re-reading, I skip it entirely.The scene in question in Rising Wind was in the middle and I wasn’t prepared for it.
Another thing that kind of disappointed me in this one was the love scenes.There were only two and they weren’t very hot.There’s a good review for this book at AAR and I can see why the reviewer graded this one higher than I did.
If you don’t mind a lack of steam and the odd torture scene thrown in, this is quite good.There will be another one coming out with Carrie’s brother and I do plan on getting it too – because I liked this enough to read the next and also if only to support a genre that has far too few entries.
Grade: 3.5 out of 5
Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh
Why this one: After I met her in Dallas, even if I hadn’t read any books by her. I would have picked this one up, just because she’s such a delightful person.Luckily, I’ve read the first two in this series and enjoyed them (although all that carrying did get to me after a while in the second book)
Back Blurb: As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Laren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people.Now he is a defector, and his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins – cold, pitiless, unfeeling.Until he meets Brenna….
Brena Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted – and her mind violated – by a serial killer.Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself.Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them.Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives.
Level of Steam:This one doesn’t need to go in the microwave to heat it up more
My thoughts: Good news!!This is my favourite of a good series so far.For those of you who read the first book, you will remember at the end Brenna, a member of the wolf clan was in real rough shape.She had been tortured physically, emotionally and mentally by a psycho from the Psy race.Somewhat off scene her healing has been helped along by Judd, a member of the Psy race who along with his family dropped out of sight and off of the Psy net.As the book opens, Brianna is on her way to healing although she does have a ways to go.She feels comfortable with Judd and his lack of emotions – much more so than her over-emotional wolf pack, including her two over-protective brothers.Used to being a strong person with a life of her own, she feels herself trapped by the damage done to her and the following protectiveness.She is also strongly attracted to Judd and if he allowed himself, he was also strongly attracted to Brianna.But the very nature of his race is the Silence, a way to eradicate all emotions.But it doesn’t really work – holding them in.Judd, in his previous life with the Pys was one of their strongest warriors and although he doesn’t acknowledge it, deep down, way past the emotionless barrier, he does feel.He feels guilt, he feels worthless, he feels loyalty to his family, and he feels a great deal of attraction to Brianna.But to give in to his emotions, particularly physical attraction causes him harm.
But Brianna doesn’t know this for quite some time and despite the flak she receives from her brothers, she goes after Judd full throttle.
I love a cool on the outside, seething on the inside kind of hero and Judd fits the bill deliciously.I really liked how Judd thought he was undeserving of any kind of respect even though we all know what a hero he really is.And I loved his possessiveness and protectiveness of Brianna.Although he is both, he realizes more than her own pack how important it is for her to get her life back.
And I really liked Brianna too.She wasn’t about to let a little torture slow her down.She’s determined to get over it.She’s strong and a really great heroine.
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
Exposure by Susan Andersen
Why this one:One of the neat things for me about having this little 'guess that book' contest is revisiting old favourites.Twice now, when I’ve picked a book, I’ve gone back and read it again myself.The first one was Lady of Desire and this is the second one.I loved it the first time I read it years ago.I loved it when I read it a couple of years ago and I loved it when I closed the last page just the other day.
Back Cover Blurb: A tragic childhood and a doomed marriage have forced Emma Sands to do what she does best - run. Now, she and her young daughter have arrived in Washington State's Port Flannery, a remote fishing village where no one knows who she is...or where she is going
Big-city cop turned small-town sheriff Elvis Donnely is six and a half feet of bruising muscle and solid hurt. The victim of a violent boyhood and a brutal bomb blast, all he wants is to forget the past...until it suddenly comes calling.
Level of Steam: Ahhhhhh – perfect
My thoughts: I love this book. I could stop there – but then that wouldn’t be very fun since I love discussing why I love books.There were two main characters that really stuck out and grabbed my imagination in this one.Elvis, the hero is one of them.He truly is droolworthy.He grew up as the son of the town whore.It was a small town so everyone knew everything and he developed a real chip on his shoulder.Still he managed to make a good life for himself and became a cop.Then his world fell apart when he was seriously injured in an explosion.He came back to Port Flannery and became the sheriff.Although the townspeople accepted him as sheriff, they never really accepted him as a person.
Because of the way he has grown up and because of the damage the explosion did to him; he has a hook instead of a hand and a big scar on his face, at first he can’t believe that Emma, the heroine can really be attracted to him.Of course me makes a complete mess of things.
The other character who really stands out for me in this one is Gracie, Emma’s precocious daughter.She plays a very big role in this book and normally I’d be wanting to gouge out my eyeballs with such a child in a romance book.But Susan Andersen REALLY makes her work.She’s very realistic; at times adorable, at times a real brat, just like any ordinary kid.And the way Elvis reacts to ‘Baby Beans’ is just adorable.He’s completely smitten with her.
And Emma is great too.She’s been through a lot and is a bit skittish and wants to keep running, but finally she realizes that Elvis really can help her.She doesn’t take shit from anyone and I love that in a heroine.I know a lot of others have read and loved this one.For those who haven’t, it gets a hearty thumbs up from me
Surprisingly, even despite being almost brain dead for an hour after I got home from work this week, I did manage to get some reading in. First up
Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh
Type: Paranormal
Hotness Level: Hot
Amazon blurb: Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous-aching need...exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her. Changeling Vaughn D'Angelo can take either man or jaguar form, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar's instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith's sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced-and keep her from Vaughn...
Why this one: I read her first book and while I had a few issues, I certainly liked it enough to try her again
My Thoughts: *sigh* I wondered if a time would come when I wasn't that set on a book and it arrived with this one. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as most people seemed to. I had the same issues once again with the gobbledy gook phy net stuff as I did with the first one. In addition, there were things about this one that just annoyed me. For example, Vaughn always seemed to be carrying Faith. "He carried her to the bed". "He carried her from the car." "He carried her to the couch." Enough carrying already. But the one carrying that really had me scratching my head was when he was in leopard form and he carried her for miles on his back. He wasn't a horse for pete's sake! I was trying to picture this in my mind. I'm not sure about the exact size of leopards, but I don't think they are that tall. Wouldn't her feet have been hitting the ground? Or if she was laying on him, wouldn't she be trailing off the end of him? Another thing that annoyed me was how lovey dovey touchy feely that were in the company of others after they mated. She's sitting on his lap, he's kissing her, rubbing his hand on her. Struck me as that annoyingly juvenile thing very young people in luuurrrvvveeee do to each other. Blech! I just didn't feel this one the same as Slave to Sensation. I know I'm in the minority on this, but it just didn't work all that well for me. I'll try her next one and see how it goes before I give up.
Grade: 3.5 out of 5
Next up
One Real Cowboy byJanette Kenny
Type: Western
Hotness Level: Warm
Amazon blurb: Cord Tanner has a very simple plan: get paid to be Beatrix Northroupe's husband for a month so the prim, but very sexy, Englishwoman can gain rightful ownership to her family's stud farm. Money in hand, he's going to get as far away from Revolt, Kansas, as a fast horse can take him.
But Cord soon finds that he admires his Trixie's reckless courage--not to mention she's one great kisser. Maybe he's crazy to hope for a real future with her instead of heading for the hills, but now that someone's staking a dangerous claim to her farm, Cord's decided to stick around as long as the lady needs protecting. That wedding ring he put on her finger means her reputation is safe--and he's determined to win her heart. Cord Tanner may not be the most refined man on the frontier, but he sure is the lovingest.
Why this one: It's a new author. It's a Western. It was on for a good price. A trifecta!
My Thoughts: Well, I'm giving the author some leeway because she's new. And the book did have potential. But overall, it wasn't that great. It was good enough that I finished reading it, but there were some things that I thought needed tightening up. The villian for one thing was way over the top. The author even had him drooling. He was completely and totally repulsive, yet noone figured out he was the bad guy. It made them all seem kind of clueless. Also Beatrix, the heroine was one of those hot and cold kind of heroines. She didn't want to feel anything for the hero. But she did. But she didn't want to. I don't really care for dithering heroines. Cord was the best part of the book. But, it wasn't a bad book. And it's very nice to see a Western. If you aren't a Western reader and thinking of giving them a try, I would say this probably isn't one of the better ones to start with, but if you do like Westerns and the price is right, it's not a bad read. I'll give her another chance too.
Grade: 3 out of 5
And finally
Arousing Suspicions by Marianne Stillings
Type: Romanctic Suspense
Hotness Level: Warm to Hot
Amazon blurb: Detective Nate Darling has put up with a lot of weird things since he's moved back to San Francisco—healing crystals, free range tofu, the SF Giants. But he's drawing the line at psychic dream interpretations.
Tabitha March claims she can see other people's dreams. In fact, she insists she "saw" a murder, and even provides Nate with explicit details of the crime. There's no doubt the curvaceous blue-eyed blonde knows something, but how is she involved? Is she the murderer? Because there's just no way that Tabitha can really "see" the killer's dream.
Then another body is discovered, just the way Tabitha described it would be. Now evidence suggests she may be the next victim. And Nate has to reconsider his beliefs or risk losing the woman he has fallen in love with . . . forever.
Why this one: Well, I tried her first book and was bitterly disappointed. While it started off just great, very very funny, but then the author lost me when she added murder to the plot in what struck me as a very jarring note. Still, the first part of the book had me thinking that she had great potential. I skipped her next few and then decided to try her again with Arousing Suspicions
My Thoughts: Sometimes I do it right!! I adored this book and for me Ms. Stillings more than lived up to the potential she showed in her first book. I found myself staying up late last night reading this one and then picking it back up first thing on waking this morning. Both Tabitha and Nate were charming characters. They're banter back and forth was delightful and one scene in particular - on their first date in a French restaurant, had me laughing out loud. One thing I really enjoyed in this one was Nate was ready to commit and confess his love before Tabbie. He was pretty gone for her and I always like that in a romance. Tabbie was more reluctant but it was well explained why she had her issues. I started reading another book, but I know that this one is going to get a reread - and soon! This one gets a happy thumbs up from me.
Canadian Beaver - wouldn't that be an interesting animal!?!
