Night Shadow - Cherry Adair - 2008

Night Shadow - Cherry Adair

I bought this book because I have read Cherry Adair's White Heat and enjoyed the story about the T-FLAC missions.  This book I DID NOT LIKE.

It is based on T-FLAC also.  The main characters are Lexi Stone and Alex Stone.  Alex Stone is some kind of paranormal warlock or something of that sort.  Lexi Stone is a new agent and they are working together.  Somehow they are after a terrorist cell and the cell is actually clones of Alex Stone and a few other warlocks. Lots of 'crazy monkey sex' which doesn't make sense.  Lust very quickly leads to love and then Lexi must save Alex.

Crazy plot, made no sense - basically ridiculous.

Rating - 2

I wish I didn't buy this book.  It was a waste of time and money. Cherry Adair was at the top of my list of paranormal writers.  She is now at the bottom.  

A Highlander's Destiny - Melissa Mayhue - 2009

A Highlander's Destiny - Melissa Mayhue

Review Forthcoming

Proof of Seduction - Courtney Milan - 2010

Proof of Seduction - Courtney Milan

This book was SO GOOD that I have to go back to it and reread some parts.  It was so good that I do not have words yet to describe it.  Review will be coming soon!

Moonlight Warrior - Janet Chapman2009

Moonlight Warrior - Janet Chapman

The main characters in this story are Eve Anderson and Kenzie Gregor.  Eve lives with her mother who is suffering from some type of early dementia.  Eve also just recently was betrayed by her husband and divorced and struggling to stay afloat while supporting her mother.  Kenzie once was an immortal Highland warrior who was cursed to live as a panther for centuries.  He was first introduced in one of Janet Chapman's Highlander series.  Kenzie purchases the property that Eve and her mother have resided on.  Kenzie hired Eve, along with her mother as  caretakers of his property.

Of course the plot will thicken.  Kenzie is caught in a terrible storm and Eve is sent out to rescue him.  They make mad passionate love on a cliff during a fierce storm.  Eve becomes pregnant and Kenzie doesn't remember the event except as in a dream.  

As far as a fantasy and paranormal read, this book was lovely.  I, found some parts, funny and entertaining.  It was cute and a nice story line.  Because I read the book that introduced Kenzie as a panther I knew more of the background story.   I wish that she did not bring in the story line where Eve gets pregnant during a raging storm on the side of a cliff.  I mean, first the wind and water are so fierce she is battered and beaten.  She finds Kenzie hurt and fighting the same storm.  There are eerie lights, he insists she take off her clothes.  They get under his plaid, make love and spend the night there?  It didn't make sense.  It didn't fit where everything else in the story did. Other than that, the book was a nice read.

Rating - 6

I bought the book.  I enjoyed the book and like the Highlander series.  Really, who doesn't like a story about a handsome Scottish Highlander?

Enjoy

Susan

Immortals - The Awakening - Joy Nash - 2007

 Immortals - The Awakening - Joy Nash

The heroine in the story, Christine, is a 'good' water witch. She is working with the Coven of Light to find one of the Immortal warriors, Kalen, so that he could help them save mankind.  The whole good vs evil - light vs dark battle.  

Kalen has been a reclused for over 700 years.  She calls to him and finds him in the arms of a evil half-sidhe in a castle in Scotland.  Kalen has been involved with the evil half-sidhe because he falsely believes her to be his muse in his artistic endeavors.

Of course the sparks fly with instant and combustible lust.  Kalen finds that Christine is his true emotional muse and is determine to keep her with him forever.  Christine refused to stop working with the Coven of Light to save mankind. The plot thickens from there and the fight between good and evil ensues.

This is the first book that I read by Joy Nash.  I, personally, try not to read anything related to magic. The first few pages describe Christina naked and calling upon her magic.  I was ready to put the book down right then because it was too bizarre for my taste.  I forged ahead and continued on and the book moved past the bizarre to fantasy. It was because of the added paranormal and fantasy that I kept reading.  There was a little to much of a 'little bit of everything' in the book. There were vampires, fairies, ghoulies, Unseelie hordes, and Gods all thrown together.  To me, in fantasy, vampires and fairies really don't seem right together in the same story.

Rating - 6

I bought the book online.  If I were buying it in the bookstore, I would not have bought it.  I would have put it down after perusing the first few pages. I did not like the part of her calling her magic in her nakedness.  Too freaky for me. 

Enjoy

Susan

Christmas Knight - Christina Skye - 2009

Christmas Knight - Christina Skye

Let me start by saying that there has NOT been one book by Christina Skye that I have read and been disappointed in. They are all fabulous. I started with Overboard, then all her CODENAME books. Then "Bound by Dreams."

I picked up Christmas Knight/Moonrise today because I knew I was going to be at the beauty parlor for 2 to 3 hours straight. I could not put it down. I had to finish it. It was one of the best books that I have read in a long time.

The story begins with Hope O'Hara. Hope after the death of her uncle purchased a castle of sorts in Glenbrae and renovated it as a Bed and Breakfast. Hope is loved by all in the village and her friends. Hope will need a miracle to keep her Bed and Breakfast running. That miracle begins with the meddling of 3 old women. They cast a spell to bring Ronan McLeod into the future. Ronan comes into the future from the year 1298. He was the first owner of the castle. He was a Knight of the Crusade under King Edward known as the King's Wolf. He first appears to rescue Hope while she is on top of the thatch roof trying to repair it during a storm.

The book is part of the Draycott series so we have appearances by Adrain and his cat, both ghosts. Pulling in those characters from that series could not have been an easy task but Christina Skye did it flawlessly. All the character's lives in this story are interwoven and in the end you see it all clearly.

The character of Hope is not sexy nor breathtakingly beautiful. She is hardly described in the book except that she has short brown hair. She came across to me as ordinary as we all are. She could be any one of us. She had the same problems; IRS, bills, worries and past hurts and pains. Ronan is a the man that every man should aspire to be - honorable, courageous, brave and true. He did not waiver in his character. You are humbled by his honor and his call to duty. Not much different than our modern day soldiers.

I want to share with you some sections from the book that pulled at my heart:

"Honor held him still. Honor made his hands fist as snow hissed over the heavy thatch. Hope needed a miracle on the night he had been brought here. She needed someone to share the burdens of this beautiful demanding house....What she had was McLeod....Meanwhile, flawed or not, he was the only warrior she had."

"Forget all else but how we fit together, mo run."

"McLeod stood bare-chested. "No matter, I will find her". He dug his fingers into the dirt, then tracked dark lines over his chest, a token of battle, first to the right,then to the left. He did the same to his cheeks. "If I fail, let me be cut down with her. Give me no breath to draw if hers should fail first." Slowly he dropped the dirt back to the floor. "It is our way".... "It is done......"My heart will bring me all the heat I need tonight."

"Read my heart", McLeod said in silence to the abbey's imposing guardian ghost. "She will be my home and my time. Her friends will be my friends and her joys, my joys." She is all the dream I need."

This book was a romance, pure and simple. The characters were real and believable. The story touched my heart and ignited a spark of belief that there are men out there, even in this time, like our Crusader Knight, Ronan. A man of honor who sees a woman's beauty in her heart.

Thank you Christina Skye for such a lovely story. I had tears in my eyes in some parts. The story will linger in my head and heart for a while. That kind of lingering story is the best kind.

Rating - 10+++
I bought it, will keep it and read it again before dementia sets in.
I know, I need to get a life!

Enjoy this one,

Susan

Reviews coming tomorrow

Reviews coming tomorrow:

A Highlander's Destiny - Melissa Mayhue
Moonlight Warrior - Janet Chapman

Smooth Talking Stranger - Lisa Kleypas 2009

Smooth Talking Stranger - Lisa Kleypas

This is the 3rd book in the Travis Family Series.

The main characters are Ella, Jack and Luke. Ella,a columnist living with her modern 'hippy' type boyfriend get a call from her dysfunctional mother. Ella's sister just dropped off a baby that she just gave birth to and left him with Ella's mother. Ella goes to her mother and Mom says "Take the baby, he is cramping my style." Ella is the responsible one in this crazy family so takes the baby, Luke, and sets off to find the father. She calls her cousin who tells her that her sister spent the night with a number of men but one she knew for sure was Jack Travis.

Jack Travis is a millionaire. The fact that he is a millionaire has no bearing on Ella's decision to talk to him because all she wants is to find the father and get back to her very boring life with her very boring boyfriend. I get the feeling that Ella is just mad about her mother and sister dumping on her and her anger is fueling her decision to confront Jack Travis. Since I have certainly been angry enough to act out impulsively, I can understand this action on Ella's part. It took a lot of gumption to just confront a man in this situation, let alone a famous millionaire.

So, Ella, still mad at being stuck with a baby, takes Luke and shows up at Jack's office and confronts him. Jack emphatically denies that he is the father but humors her. He comes by later to the hotel she and Luke are staying at. Somehow, very quickly but subtly, sparks are flying. Jack is very accommodating to her quest though which led me to believe he was attracted to her 'nerve' very early on. Since Jack is a hunk, an alpha male and very rich, I bought into this setting. If only we were all that lucky to just 'catch' a guy that quickly, that lust at first sight becomes love at first sight and it last forever.

I love Lisa Kleypas and everything that she writes. I read "Blue Eyed Devil" before this and was hooked on her contemporary romances. The alpa male in Blue Eyed Devil was more than hot, he was too good to be true! Both he and Jack are men after my own heart. You start to imagine yourself as part of the story and wonder can this be me? I want it to be me!

I also love her historical romances and learn a lot of historical information from them.

The thing I like about Lisa's stories and characters is that they seem very real. There is depth in her characters and she links them by love, lust, and past histories. It is the depth of her characters that has me hooked on her writings.

Rating - 8
I got the book from the library. I would buy any Lisa Kleypas.
It was not as good as "Blue Eyed Devil", but was worth the read. It was a nice followup to the 2nd book in the series, the "Blue Eyed Devil".

Tiger Eye - Marjorie M. Liu - 2005

Tiger Eye - Marjorie Liu

The book is the first in the series of the Dirk and Steele series. Dirk and Steele are an Arcane society consisting of people with para normal abilities. The story is about
Delilah, whose paranormal abilities are related to metal and control of it. While in China, Delilah was sold a strange wooden box by a lady. When she plays with the box, out comes a geni, Hari, who is built like and looks like a God. He has been entrapped in the box for 2000 years and has been used in unspeakable ways by his previous masters. Delilah is kind at heart and after many adventures, convinces him that she cares about him as a person and would not misuse him. They fall in love. Delilah's life is in danger for 2 reasons. The Magi that cursed Hari wants Delilah dead and another person unrelated to Hari is trying to kill her.

I really got into this book. I just love a man that agreeably becomes slave-like to a woman. His only concern is her wants and needs and let me tell you, that is HOT! Plus he is like an Adonis and is breath-takingly handsome. Whew! I was ready to dream about Hari! I had it all planned out - the dreams that is.

Then Marjorie had to ruin it. Delilah and Hari finally have time to consummate their relationship and he turns into a tiger. Ok, I am cool with the whole shape-shifting fantasy. Come on - I couldn't get enough of the Twilight series. But, ewwwwwwww, they have sex when he is a tiger. GROSS - Is this not called beastiality? Gross.
The story was ruined for me. Ruined I tell you. My dreams of Hari the geni became those of a nightmare. Yuck!

Marjorie, you crossed the line with this one. The book was great. I even loved some of Delilah's lines. They were touching. For instance, when Hari talked of staying a Geni, Delilah said no.... That option was unthinkable. Loved that.

Marjorie, Why did you ruin it for me?

Rating - from 9 down to 5
I bought the book and I will give it away.

I would like to read more by her but don't want my reading experiences ruined. Should I take a chance?

Indecisive,

Susan

His Every Kiss - Laura Lee Guhrke - 2004

His Every Kiss - Laura Lee Guhrke

This is the first time I read anything by this author.

The story is about a destitute woman, Grace Cheval, who is a musician. While cleaning a opera hall, a very famous composer shows up and is ready to kill himself. The musician, Dylan Moore does not want to live anymore because he was hurt and cannot compose anymore. She convinces him that he should live. Another five years go by and they meet again. He follows her and sees the poverty she lives in and convinces her to become the governess of his daughter. From there the story becomes more interesting and the plot thickens.

I liked the book. Grace was a brave woman who went after what she wanted regardless of what standards other set. Dylan was selfish, self-centered and egotistical. In other words, a typical male. He changed though so he grew on me.

Rating - 6
I would get it from the library. I did enjoy the book but would not buy it.

Enjoy,

Susan

Slightly Wicked - Mary Balogh - 2003

Slightly Wicked - 2003

This book was the first book I read by Mary Balogh and I became interested in her writing. The story is of Judith Law, a young woman on her way to the service of her richer aunt and uncle. The daughter of a pastor, she has never had fun in her life. She realizes that once she gets to her aunt's house she would have to be more like a servant that a relative to them and decides rather impulsively to go off for a night with a strange man. She decided to spend the evening with him and they have no-holds barred sex. They part the next day. She goes on to her relative's house and as she presumed, they treat her horribly. Later, her cousin has her sights set on a very eligible bachelor and when he shows up, Judith is shocked to find out it is the same gentleman that she spent the night with. After that, the plot thickens.

I enjoyed this book. I really like when the female character's take what they want and don't let their future be determined by other's standards. The bachelor, Rannulf adds to the interest in the book. It is a lovely love story.

Rating - 9
I bought it. Will keep if for 5 years or so. Dementia should have set in by then and I would have forgotten the story and it will feel like a new book!

Giggles and Smirks,

Susan

Wild for Him - Janelle Denson 2008

This book is in a series about the Wilde's. There are about 6 other books on some relations within the Wilde Family. The book is about Joel Wilde's best friend Ben. Ben is an ex marine and works in a security firm. His latest job is to protect the daughter of a gubernatorial candidate. He has to spend 24/7 with Christy Delacroix for the next few weeks. Well, as we know...sparks start to fly. Ben and Christy try to fight the attraction but eventually they begin to have a sexual relationship. Christy's life is in danger and Ben must figure out who is trying to hurt her. They fall in love of course.

Rating - 5
I bought the book but wish that I spent my money on something else.
I won't say it was a bad book but not one that would be memorable.
I like the books that leave me thinking about the characters days later. Those characters have substance.

I was skipping pages to get to the end.

Enjoy,

Susan

To Beguile a Beast - Elizabeth Hoyt - 2009

This is book three of the "Legend of the Four Soldier Series."

Sir Alistair Munroe has hidden in his castle ever since returning from the Colonies. In the colonies he was tortured and lost an eye and scarred horribly. When people first see him, they would either faint or run screaming in fear. Hence, the reclusiveness.


After Jasper and Melisande visited Sir Munroe, Melisande hatches a plan to send the run away Helen Fitzwilliam and her children to Sir Munroe. Helen was not aware that Alister was not expecting her as his housekeeper. . She shows up on his door step of the castle unaware of this and with her 2 children. She is running away from her lover who kept her as his mistress from the time she was 17.

Alister does not want her there but she is one determined woman. She not only decides to stay as his housekeeper but also hires a staff for the castle. The more Alister sees of her courage, the more the sparks fly. Both are attracted to each other. He is also very kind to her children and loves his old and faithful dog. Who doesn't love a man who loves his dog?

They seem to be falling in love and starting to heal but Helen's lover comes and kidnaps their children. Alister fights for Helen and helps her get back her children.

I will leave the summary at that. I liked this book. I am a sucker for a brave, courageous and honorable soldier (even though he wasn't a soldier but a naturalist) and I found a liking to the character of Alister. You just wanted to make everything right for him. He had suffered terribly. I liked Helen and also found her to be courageous and strong willed. I wanted them to find 'happily ever after'. I wanted her children to have a kind and gentle man to be their father.

I always learn something new from the historical novels. I learned from this book that they would take a 1/2 a lemon and use it as a sponge for birth control. That led me to run to the internet to research all the methods of birth control used through the centuries. I am now more educated from reading this book so there was an added benefit. Go figure!

Rating - 9

I did buy the book, will keep it and will probably read it again in a few 5 years or so. By that time dementia would have set in and it will be like reading a new book!!!

Enjoy!

Susan

To Seduce a Sinner - Elizabeth Hoyt - 2008

Jasper Renshaw, the Viscount Vale, needs to marry and produce an heir to his title. His fiance cancels the wedding at the last minute.

Melisande Flemming has loved Jasper for years and on the day that his wedding is canceled, she boldly approaches him and asks him to marry her. Jasper says yes because all he is concerned with is providing a heir. Melisande is consider plain and quiet like a mouse and in the beginning Jasper is not very impressed by her.

Jasper was tortured along with a number of other men by the French and Indians in the Colonies and he is traumatized at night by the memories. Melisande is not aware of this in the beginning. He blames himself for all the deaths and torture.

Melisande, because of her love for Jasper is rather forward and ends up becoming the seducer in the relationship. Of course, no man would complain about that and Jasper slowly falls in love with her. There is a back story line and Elizabeth Hoyt follows 4 soldiers in 4 books. This is the 2nd in the series.

I read the 3rd book, To Beguile a Beast, before this book so I was familiar with the characters, Jasper and Melisande.

The story was interesting in that the women are bold and go for what they want. The men have suffered tragically and suffer from modern day PTSD. It was any easy read and I am interested in reading the first and last book in the series.

Rating - 7
I would not buy but will get it from the library.

Enjoy,

Susan

If looks could Chill - Nina Bruhns

If looks could Chill - Nina Bruhns 2009

Breathe In, Breath Out! Exhale Big! That is what I had to tell myself after salivating over the cover of the book! I am just not that immune!

The story is about a female Louisiana state trooper (Tara Reeves) who is investigating some questionable deaths in the bayou. She looks for a guide (Marc Lafayette) and he is secretly hiding the fact that he is a covert special ops agent (who grew up in the area). He pretends to be a guide and she employs him. Well, at first meeting the sparks are flying and after a few lovely tours through the bayou, they are quicky having crazy monkey sex in the bayou in the middle of the day on a run down boat.

After the hot, crazy monkey sex, they encounter some cop/special ops action where Tara learns that Marc is not all that he says he is. She figures out he is more than a scruffy hot guide and the truth comes out about the special ops status. She is pissed, he saves her life in one incident which reveals the truth of his special ops status and then they have more crazy monkey sex.

In between all this, we learn about some of Marc's other special ops partners and learn about their crazy monkey sex. We also learn about the crazy monkey sex between a female FBI agent (investigating the abduction of a female scientist)and the Agent In Charge who is also hot and the ex-fiance of the abducted scientist. We also learn that the mysterious deaths are caused by some biological weapons that a abducted female scientist is forced to create. The plot thickens from there. Love is in the air (between the hot crazy monkey sex.)

I like all the hot, alpha special ops guys so I read the whole book. The crazy monkey sex scenes should have helped but they just irritated me. I have learned through the years that lust does not make for love. Love is not instantaneous or cumbustable. It is real, long lasting and enduring. So, in my opinion this was a just a lust-filled book with a plausible plot. The plot was realistic, plausible and a believable scenario in this day and age.

I so love stories about special ops, Navy Seals, CIA, FBI, and any other kind of military or law enforcement guys. In my eyes these men are brave, courageous, chivalrous, honorable and true to their character so any books where these guys are love interest definitely catch my attention.

Rating - 6
A good read because of the believable plot.
I bought it but won't keep it. I can't give it to the library so I have to find someone else who enjoys reading about 'crazy monkey sex' and special ops guys.

NOTE: Crazy monkey sex = I came up with the term one day when my adult son came home one day, took off his shirt and on his back were about 20 skin breaking bites - teeth marks and all. In my shock, I said, "Oh my God, it looks like a crazy monkey had sex on your back." The scenes in this book reminded me of that because they were out of place and and didn't make sense to me in relation to the real story. ;-}

So if you see the term, 'crazy monkey sex' in my reviews it is because the sex scenes were bizarre, out of place, and didn't make sense. Unfortunately, those are the scenes that are there to sell books not for the depth and breath of the story.

Rating = 5
So, Any takers? For the book, I mean!

Thanks Nina Bruhns!

Giggles and Smirks,

Susan

The Secret Pearl - Mary Balogh

The Secret Pearl - Mary Balogh - 1991

The story is about a young girl who is forced to sell her body to live. She had not eaten for 2 days. She is taken by a man who sees her standing outside of a theatre. He is horribly scarred and she is a virgin. He is a Duke, married with a child and feels guilty about taking her virginity. He secretly offers her a job as a governess for his daughter. She does not know the job is for him and is shocked of finding out that it was he who hired her. She believes he hired her to be his mistress as well as governess. He is married to a woman who is ill and she hates him. She always loved his brother. They never consummated their marriage and as the weeks go by the Duke slowly falls in love with the governess. Fluer, the governess is actually running away from a terrible secret and lives in fear all the time that her secret will be revealed.

It is a lovely story and a nice love story. I found the character lacking in emotion. They both had suffered earlier in their life and trusting and love were difficult for them. It was just hum-drum and I was waiting for something exciting to happen. There was mystery and the plot did thicken but I was not sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for it to be revealed. I was waiting for the story to just end so I could go to sleep.

I love Mary Balogh and was introduced to her writing with Slightly Wicked. That heroine was not afraid to take what she wanted.

Rating - 7
A good read but would not buy.

Enjoy

The Fraser Bride - Lois Greiman

The Fraser Bride - Lois Greiman - 2001

I picked up The Fraser Bride from my local library. It is set in 1534 in Scotland.

A young woman runs away and is chased by a mysterious warrior in armour. She is knocked down from her horse and faints. Three or four brothers find her and take her home to her castle. She lies to them and has an urgent need to go home. It is quite mysterious. The oldest brother, sees through her lies and ends up taking her back to her castle. On arrival, another Scottish Highlander greets them as her betrothed. There is mystery surrounding the arrangement and it begins to unravel.

The book would not be my first choice in reading. I almost put it down to pick up another book. I would not say that it was a bad book, but not all the questions that gather in your head were answered or if they were, they were out of order.

I am not disappointed in the book and I did finish it. It was not a bad book to read and I found some enjoyment in it. I am glad that I didn't buy it though.

Rating - 5

- Take it or Leave It

- Get it from the library

Enjoy if you can

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon -1991

After reading many reviews on the writing of Diana Gabaldon, I decided to start with her Outlander series. The first book, Outlander, was written in 1991. I did not buy the book but got

it from the local library. The book starts in 1945 with a married woman and nurse, Claire, who accidentally travels through time back to 1743. She arrives right in the middle of a fight between the English and Scottish Highlanders. She treats one of the scotsmen, James Fraser. She is taken in by the Scottish Highlanders and works as a healer in one of their castles. In order to protect her from the English, she is forced to marry James Fraser. The marriage becomes a love between two people that transcends time. They are forced to fight for their very survival time after time. Claire is a heroine. James is a man of honor in a time where chivalry was not dead. The more you learn of the character of James, the more you love him. Claire is a force to be reckoned with and her bravery is beyond admirable.

I could not put the book down and cannot wait to read the next in the series.

Diane Gabaldon is a true novelist and a consummate e story-teller. Her writing is rare, impassioned, poignant and compelling.

Rating = 10

-A MUST READ

-A DEFINITE BUY

Enjoy,

Susan