Surf's Up by Nina Bangs, MaryJanice Davidson, and Janelle Denison

First story in this anthology is Janelle Denison's Hot and Bothered. It has recent-divorcee Reissing lusting after bar owner Shea O'Brien. She's now got a nice house on the beach as part of her divorce settlement and is a budding jewelry designer. Shea's been attracted to her ever since he saw her with her jackass husband when they used to visit his bar together. Now she's free, whoopie!

Bleh. This story was rather boring. Was more of a short Blaze than anything and the way you could see the conflict coming a mile away was highly annoying and rather silly. It was just a bland story and rather forgettable and unremarkable.

Second story is by MaryJanice Davidson and is called Paradise Bossed. It stars characters from a previous anthology, Cathy and Jack. Well, the main character is Nikki, who dies in a freak snorkeling accident when she is inadvertently scared a stingray and it stings her and she ends up drowning. Well, she's vacationing with Cathy and Jack and they feel awful about not knowing how she died or what and stay on the island, hoping her body will be found. So Jack knows a psychic (from his previous tale, apparently) and brings that psychic to the island. The psychic is Tom and basically Tom and Nikki (she's a ghost now) fall in love. Only he's supposed to be helping her pass on, not getting it on while spirit walking.

Fun story, rather humorous and much better than the Denison one. It's still nothing special, but after the first story....

Third story is Hot Summer Bites by Nina Bangs. And quite frankly, I don't feel like reading it. It's another Sparkle Stardust story and something about an investigative reporter getting together with a vampire. But, I'm not really in the mood for a Nina Bangs story. I need to be in the mood to read her brand of humor and tonight's not it. Oh well.

books, days off, sickness, what next?

Well, had two days off in a row. Yay! Except Nick got really really sick last night and then stayed home from work today. He looks much better than he did last night, so I'm happy. And happy that I don't seem to have whatever it is that he has. Poor guy.

Went to Barnes and Noble this morning to buy Inda (and run to SuperTarget for 7-Up and Gatorade, etc for Nick) , but didn't buy the book since it was almost $26! So instead I bought Playing With Fire by Gena Showalter and The Gladiator's Honor by Michelle Styles. Erk, I'd told myself that I was only going to buy the Showalter as an ebook, but I guess I jumped the gun when I saw it out early. Oh, and I bought Inda from Amazon. $17 something was much nicer than $26.

And I started PWF today. Read a bit. Set it down. Read a bit. Set it down. And so on and so on. Frankly, it's a bit boring! It has such a great premise, but it just doesn't quite deliver. It's a huge disappointment. I think because the heroine is kinda a ditz. I think I'm going to finish the book, but I'm not in a huge hurry. I've had it all day and I'm only about halfway through it.

I did start to read Medalon by Jennifer Fallon and so far I really like it. I've really been into reading more fantasy than romance lately. Then when it was lights out I read In Fury Born by Weber some more.

Now I should head back to bed. I work 9 to 5 tomorrow, so can't sleep in. Just having a bit of trouble sleeping. Just not tired. Probably from that nap I had this afternoon.

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill-prepared, which threatens the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, in peacetime. Meliara is summoned to live at the royal palace, where friends and enemies look alike, and intrigue fills the dance halls and the drawing rooms. If she is to survive, Meliara must learn a whole new way of fighting-with wits and words and secret alliances.

In war, at least, she knew in whom she could trust. Now she can trust no one.

What can I say about this book? I loved it. It's told in first person from Meliara's point of view and that works perfectly for the story. You're never quite sure what's really going on, just as Mel has the same problems. This is a YA novel, but it doesn't really feel young. Or at least it feels almost timeless. There's magic, action, a bit of romance (you can see it coming, but Mel certainly doesn't!) and it all combines into a fabulous fantasy novel.

There's a lot of intrigue going on, and because it's told from Mel's POV and she's not well-versed in those matters, you often have to wonder who to trust. And quite frankly, I liked that. It kept me turning the pages for more clues as to what Mel should do. And well, for more Shevraeth. :-) I loved her encounters with him.

The first half of the book is about Mel and her brother Bran's revolt against the king. The second half deals with the aftermath as Mel ends up at court. And there's a cute short story at the end dealing with a birthday surprise.

So I definitely definitely recommend this book. It's just so darn good. All of it. Already bought Inda from Amazon and it's on its way here.

That good book feeling

You know, that one that has you staring at the cover of the book in hand and sighing at how good it was? That's how I felt when I finished Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith tonight. Just loved the book. Loved it.

I think I'm going to go find Inda tomorrow. Seriously, I loved Crown Duel. And Inda is supposed to be set in the same world. I want. I will get.

The Matchmaker by Jamie Denton

YOU CAN RUN FROM YOUR PAST

The dead always have a story to tell. All he has to do is wait for the truth to be revealed to him. The living trust him with their grief - and their dirty little secrets. Only then is he able to ensure that the dead are given the happy ending they'd been deprived of in life. Only then can he set about playing matchmaker, uniting the dead with their true soul mates ... for all eternity ...

BUT IT WILL CATCH UP TO YOU

Exhuming a body over a contested will is the last thing former FBI profiler Greer Lomax wants to do. Just the thought of it brings on the panic attacks she's fought for two years. Now, as deputy sheriff, Greer Lomax is going to have to face her darkest fears. Becaue the body she's exhumed isn't alone. He's joined by a young woman whose name is on a missing person's list.

WITH A VENGEANCE

The one person Greer can call for help is FBI agent Ash Keller. Ash hasn't forgotten the hot blonde with the too-sexy smile - the one who spend many sizzling nights in his bed - and he hasn't forgiven her for leaving him behind when she quit the Bureau. But he's not about to let her go solo on this one, not after last time. Working the case sparks the fiery attraction they've tried to deny for too long and unleashes a passion they can't control - one that could blind them to the most dangerous mistakes of the past ...

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of The Matchmaker from Jamie at Deadline Hellions.

I really enjoyed this book. It's got suspense, but it's also got a good dose of romance to go along with that suspense. Greer has come home after a FBI operation went bad while dealing with a nasty serial killer. She doesn't really want to have anything to do with law enforcement, but it's a small town and she was suckered into "temporarily" taking a sheriff's job. Nothing much happens in the town, so she figures she's safe from the things that bring on her panic attacks.

When a body has to be exhumed to be tested (family thinks wife poisoned husband, lots of money hinges on finding), it turns out that there's another body with dead guy. This happens in the second chapter, so I'm not really spoiling anything. Well, now Greer has to figure out who the second body is and of course, after some things go on, it turns out there's a serial killer on the loose.

We actually know who the bad guy is from the very beginning. The story really deals with is how Greer finds him and how she deals with Ash when he comes on the scene. She's got a past with Ash (and I won't tell you since the blurb doesn't and I was kinda surprised). I liked how that aspect of the story was handled, though at the end I thought things were patched up a little too pat, except that it also worked in that one couldn't really expect her to be back to normal so soon after the end of the action. So I suppose the story does really end in the right place.

I really liked it. Greer and Ash really have some things to work through in order to get together. Greer's definitely messed up, but it's shown in a way that you really think that she's getting the help she needs from all around her. Ash is a great hero and they work well together.

Thanks, Jamie. And I'm glad you finally get to see this book on the shelf after all that you've gone through.

A Dream of Stone and Shadow by Marjorie M. Liu

A DREAM OF STONE & SHADOW
There are those who do terrible things in this world, and those who simply watch. Charlie would do neither. Imprisoned, his only release is through his own destruction—or through Aggie Durand. Sweet as a kiss or a rescued child, she is the one dream he does not dare desire. As an agent of Dirk & Steele, she could be his salvation. Today, Charlie's dream is waking.

A Dream of Stone and Shadow by Marjorie M. Liu is the second book in Dark Dreamers, but it's the only one I really plan to read. Not a Feehan fan at all.

I don't remember Aggie from any of the previous books, but Roland does make an appearance (via phone) to tie things together. It also seems that this one takes place during the events of the previous book.

The book deals with a rather horrific topic (child porn and slavery), but doesn't dwell too much on it, which is nice. It's there, but not in your face.

The romance happens fairly quickly, but it is a short story, after all. For awhile, I really wondered how Charlie and Aggie would get together. And I kinda wished this had been a full length story because I think it had the potential to be one. But I still liked what it was. Liu's definitely created a fun world and ADoSaS just shows how much stuff we haven't seen in the previous books.

Oh, I can't wait for Eye of Heaven! December can't come soon enough.

The blahs and damn it's hard to buy ebooks

Day off today.

I don't know what it is with days off, but I tend to get depressed by the time it's the evening. Which is...rather depressing.

So I'm surfing along blogland and run into Cheryl St. John's post about eHarlequin's new Ebook Boutique. Oooh, I think. I should buy some books!

Er...hmmm....how come a regularly 5.99 book is now 6.30? *scratches head in wonderment* How come we can order a print book for the upcoming month, but can only pre-order it in ebook form?

I found all of this rather depressing. I mean, I like ebooks. I was so happy that maybe I could free up space on my shelves and stop the impulse buying at the store of those category romances. But not when the ebook form is going to be just as much, if not more in some case, as the print book. It just doesn't make economical sense to me. Whose bright idea was it to not offer discounts and instead even raise the prices of some of the books? And how come we can't get those upcoming books? Hmph.

But then, if I couldn't bring myself to buy from there, why not check out something cheaper. Like elibron.com. Nope, didnt find a thing I wanted there (but they do have some recent Brava titles for only 5.99). Maybe SimonSays or Kensington has something interesting. Nope. Fictionwise? nope. Ereader? Nope, I'm still mad that no matter how many times I sign up for their newsletter, I never get it. Thus I never get the damn e-coupon for reduced prices.

*growl* So I'm working myself into a dither. Or at least a state of extreme blah and general dislike of the world.

I mean, come on. I have my credit card out here on the desk all waiting to spend money on books. I've already been feeling like my bookshelves are a bit full and so I have been putting off a trip to the stores. I mean, I even decided to not spend my work bonus on books. The shelves, they really are full.

Well, Nick took me out on a short walk and that helped. So I came back and looked online at what my library may have added to its catalog. I see In Fury Born by David Weber and it looks rather interesting. Hmmm, I think. Maybe that's available in ebook form. Baen book. Aha! Found it at their site for a measly 6 dollars. For a book that's only out in hardback. Sweet. So I've got that. Although sadly, that's ALL I got.

I did finish The Matchmaker by Jamie Denton and really liked it, though. That was good. And got to start the new Stephanie Rowe book. Oooh...I actually kinda like that little book video at the beginning.

Playing With Fire by Gena Showalter

Playing With Fire by Gena Showalter

Earth, Wind and Fire aren’t just a band anymore…

Used to be my greatest achievement was holding a job more than three days. Now suddenly I can shoot fireballs, chill your drink, or blow-dry your hair at fifty paces with a blink of my eye!

It all started when this crazy scientist dropped something in my grande mocha latte. Of course I got wicked sick. Next morning I’m waking up with this total hottie bending over me. He tells me 1) his name’s Rome Masters, 2) he’s a government agent and 3) I can control the four elements with a thought.

He seems even less pleased by my (apparently irreversible) transformation that I am. . . because now he’s supposed to kill me. The only good news: I didn’t make this bed of trouble, but Rome sure seems to want me to lie in it. With him.

Read an excerpt

Order your copy from Barnes and Noble or Amazon or Books A Million

And if you’d like a chance to win signed copies of *all* Gena Showalter’s books, all you have to do is post this entry, too. Post the cover, the blurb, the links, and this contest announcement, then head over to Gena’s blog (http://www.genashowalter.blogspot.com ) and let her know you posted the material. A name will be randomly selected on September 3rd from those who do!!

New, used, or library?

Okay, I've read a few places (okay, this really is just in response to the 2BRead post) in blogland about readers buying books used or getting them from the library and rather than chiming in there, I'm posting it here. So there.

I buy a lot of books new each month. Anywhere from $30 to $100 (which I know is far less than some people, but is a lot to me and I feel fairly comfortable off, financially). But that's still not enough to buy all the books I'm interested in. Would you, the author, rather I didn't read the books at all rather than have me pick them up used or from the library?

For many many people, the choice isn't to buy new or used/library, but to read it or not. Face it, life's expensive. And we're not going to be thinking about someone else's when we make the budget for the month. I mean, I think about it more because I read so many author blogs, but readers in blogland are probably a minuscule amount of the buyers. The average romance reader isn't thinking that the author needs to make money, they're thinking they need to save money.

Perhaps there are just too many choices each month and the collective money that people have to spend on romances is just stretched too thin. Not that I'm suggesting that we have less choice, but it's just not possible for people to buy every single book they think looks good new. It just plain isn't.

I suppose all I can suggest is to write the best damn book you can, get the name out there where readers will see or hear it. And get a good cover. I'm a sucker for a good cover and that has led me to many new authors (okay, so this one is just one of my pet loves). And well, hope that publishers start better advertising. Other than that, I don't know.

But for now, I'm still going to take advantage of my library and used bookstores. And I'll still buy books new. Until authors can find a way to give me more money each month, I'm still going to be buying from the used bookstore and checking things out from the library.

I've finally updated my sidebar

I finally found the time to update my sidebar with what I'm currently reading and have just read. Yay! Now to keep up with it again.

I have work in an hour, but I get tomorrow off. my first Saturday off in awhile. Going to probably do lots of nothing.

I do need to update my links list, though. I use Kinja to keep track of my blogs, so if you want to know where I tend to go, click on that.

and he's home!

Poor Nick. He had some issues getting home involving people of a certain descent taken off a plane and thus holding it up for 45 minutes, then airline NOT holding next flight even though they were supposed to, then all flights into our town were full for the day, so they had to go to another airport and rent a car to get home. AND luggage not going with them and instead made it's way on the original flight and ending up in the airport here in town. Er, I think I got all the stuff right. Anyways, a hassle and he got home much later than he was hoping. But still before I got home from work at 5.

And grrr...my library's online catalog is down, so I can't search to see if they have a copy of Suskind's Perfume. I've been wanting to read it for awhile and Lilith's post reminded me of the book again today. Work didn't have it. :-(

Congrats to Dee Tenorio for getting an 86 from Mrs. Giggles. I liked the book.

I got an ARC copy of The Matchmaker by Jamie Denton. Aren't you jealous? I can't wait to get into it.

Reading Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison. Loving it. I'll probably hit her story in the Dates from Hell antho next (er, I think she has a story in that anthology. Too lazy to check). Don't know what'll be after that. I have a large library stash right now, so probably something from there.

I'm going to head off to bed now. My head hurts like the dickens and I'm feeling tired. And it's not quite nine yet! Ooph.

Missing husbands

Well, only one missing. Mine. he's in Florida until tomorrow and has been there since Monday. *pout* You know, after sleeping next to someone for months on end, the bed gets very lonely when there's only one in it. I even let Gambit in Monday night (he's usually not allowed in the bedroom at all). He slept on the edge of the bed and woke me up by nibbling on my toes. Was quite an interesting way to wake up. And I *gasp* had to use my alarm clock. I never need my alarm clock because Nick wakes up before I do and then wakes me up when I need to be up. It's a very nice way to wake up.

I had yesterday off and spent it here at the apartment with a friend. She left in right before supper and I spent the rest of the evening watching Battlestar Galactica (the newer one). It's actually rather good. I watched the first episode tonight and hope to finish out more later. Also still been reading Kim Harrison. Starting the last book today.

Gonna go now and spend some time with Gambit. he sounds lonely, too.

September 2006 RT Bookreviews - beware, 'tis long

So...finally got my Sept. RT. Let's see if there's anything interesting.

Cover: Texas Bad Boys. Sybil has had posts up about this and the authors on her blog

Hmm...apparently Lori Foster has another book coming out called Murphy's Law. I haven't really gotten into her books, so I'll pass on this one.

Mailbag: Someone doesn't like first person romances and wishes they would die a painful death (my wording, not hers). Eh, I like them. :-)

Bigass ad for Stephanie Laurens and it looks like many of her books are getting new covers.

Article on Texas Bad Boys(page 10). I'm not really one for Texas stuff, so I really didn't read the article. Sorry.

Ooh...article about Tess Gerritsen and the new book, The Mephisto Club. Can't wait to read it as it looks awesome. Also looks like her next book is going to be "a historical mystery set in the 1830s Boston." Going to deal with grave-robbing and "child bed fever". Sounds fascinating and I'm sure I'll want to read it.

Warner Forever ad. I really want to read Make Me a Match by Diana Holquist.

Fan Forum (page 15): Talks about Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. At least one person at work has read it and really loved it. I keep meaning to read it, but probably won't for awhile. But it's well-recommended.

Also in the Fan Forum *page 18) is mention about Harlequin partnering with Vocel to put serialized novels on cell phones. I think I'll pass on this. But there will be entries by Maggie Shayne, Tina Leonard, and Kylie Brandt.

Page 20 is a Great Authors We Miss thing. Number 1 is Laura London aka Tom and Sharon Curtis) AND on the opposite page is an article about them! Seems Sharon is working on a new historical romance. Bet there will be some people happy to hear that.

Apge 22 has an article on Dennis Lehane. Haven't read him, but may in the future.

Page 24 has an article on group author blogs. Then a blog roll call. Unfortunately (or fortunately), the only new one to me was Title Wave that has the contestants of the American Title competition.

RT Clubhouse (page 27) has article on Jo-Ann Powers. Never read anything by her. Next page has writeup on Michele Bardsley and her book, I'm the Vampire, That's Why. I want to read it. :-) Same page has inset about J.R. Ward, but doesn't really say anything new. Next page has info about Diana Holquist's new book and Gypsies. And then a writeup about Shana Galen. Very cute little piece that includes how she met her husband. And then on the next page has a thing about a historical author turning to inspirationals (eh) and then a writeup about two books dealing with purgatory. They're Sex and the Single Ghost by Tawny Taylor and Retrieval by Jeanie London. I definitely want to get the London book, and want to read the Taylor one.

Ad for a writing book by Janet Evanovich. Eh. Then Pros on Prose, which I usually skip. :-)

Then an article about Stephanie Laurens and her new book, To Distraction. I've sorta lost interest in her books, so her tidbits about future books doens't really fire me up.

And page 38. Romance News. Looks like Brenda Joyce is going paranormal with her new series. "time-traveling medieval Highland warriors". Oh please, not more of them!
Oooh..looks like The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory is going to be made into a movie and may star Natalie Portman and Eric Bana.

Alright, time for reviews and what books I personally think look interesting.

Up first is historicals:

The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn. Got a Top Pick. But a whole helluva lot of books this month got Top Picks, so I think I'm going to take that rating with a grain of salt. Still want to read the book, though.

No Man's Bride by Shana Galen. 4 stars. Looks to be the first in a series called Misadventures in Matrimony.

The Gladiator's Honor by Michelle Styles. Got 3 stars, but hey, it's set in Rome so I at least need to support authors and pubs who do something new and different.

Now for Mainstream Fiction:

Another Cedar Cove book by Macomber. At work, Macomber is one of the authors who sells the best. I'm always stocking up her area. Not personally going to read her book, but thought it worth mention.

We're skipping the inspirational section. My blog, my decision. So there.

Big two page ad for HQN. They have some awesome covers.

Science Fiction/Fantasy reviews:

Benighted by Kit Whitfield looks interesting. Werewolf book.

Hounding the Moon by P.R. Frost sounds interesting from the blurb, but the two star review doesn't make it sound promising.

Oooh....Dead Man Rising by Lilith Saintcrow for a Top Pick. Congrats Lilith!

Armageddon's Children by Terry Brooks looks interesting. New series, but looks to maybe be related to the Knights of the Word series. I most likely won't read it for a long while, but...interesting.

Romantic Suspense reviews up next:

Okay, that's sad. Nothing really catches my eye.

Mystery, Suspense & Thriller review section:

Aha, a review of The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen. Top Pick. I'm already on the list at the library for when it comes out.

The Trouble With Witches by Shirley Damsgaard. Got 4 stars. I've had an ARC that I got at work for awhile, but need to read the previous book first. I did like the first book in this series.

Pale Immortal by Anne Frasier. I've enjoyed all the books of hers that I've read, so I'm going to be getting this one.

Cattery Row by Clea Simon. 3 stars, but it's a cat mystery! And I liked the first book in the series. It's also up soon in my online cat mystery book club.

Killer Insight by Victoria Laurie. Ouch, two stars. But I'll probably at least read it since I've liked the series so far.

Okay, Contemporary Romance reviews up next:

Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Kasey Michaels looks cute and got a Top Pick.

Okay, what the heck is the difference between 4 and a half stars and a Top Pick? The reviews certainly don't tell me.

Make Me a Match by Diana Holquist for 4 1/2 stars, but no Top Pick. Hmmm....still gonna get the book.

Out of This World by Jill Shalvis got 3 stars, but I'll still definitely be getting this one.

Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts. First in the new Circle trilogy and look interesting. It'll be the first of her trilogies that I'll be picking up. :-)

True Blood by Patricia Waddell. a futuristic romance! Yay! Looks good. I'll definitely be getting it.

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh. been getting interesting buzz, so I think I'll have to get it. I don't like the cover though.

Dark Dreamers by Marjorie M. Liu and Christine Feehan. I'd get this just for the Liu story. I don't care for Feehan at all.

Heart Quest by Robin D. Owens. I'll also be getting this one since I've liked all the others in the series.

Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye. 4 stars. Humorous vampire story.

Playing With Fire by Gena Showalter. 4 stars. Love the cover. I have several Showalter books on teh shelf and haven't been able to get into any of them, but I think I'll still grab this one since it sounds so intriguing.

ANOTHER ad for AvonFanLit.com

Series Romance reviews:

After all the Blazes I bought this month (august), it's a good thing nothing looks interesting for September.

Bombshell: Getaway Girl by Michele Hauf looks good. As does Dark Revelations by Lorna Tedder (Madonna Key book).

Erotica reviews:

High School Reunion by Kimberly Dean looks good. I think I have the book somewhere around here. Got it at work.

Dakotah's Reading by Jory Strong. I really wnat to try one of Strong's books, but am still iffy about them. Bah, I need to win one so I can try one.

Sinderella by Jan Springer has a cool cover.

Whole lot of three star reviews in this section. And oh, a two star one for Mona Lisa Awakening by Sunny. Looks like the reviewer didn't like the resemblance between MLA and Bishop's Black Jewels series and found MLA the one to be lacking.

Well, that's it for reviews. Just the Nov. 2006 Publishers Previews pages and I'm not going to rehash all that. You can probably find all that info online anyways.

And that's it for the issue. I always skip the classifieds anyways.

And now I'm going to work.

Invisible Touch by Summer Devon

Never fear, I really have been reading lots, just not writing about them. I do have a list!

Up here is an ebook that I won from Summer in a chat.

When Bonnie spurns the sexual advances of a real creep, she suddenly finds herself invisible to any man she finds attractive. She soon learns that the creepy man she turned down is also an amateur sorcerer who has placed an invisibility curse on her. Now he's threatening to make it permanent unless she agrees to spy on his boss, a man Bonnie finds irresistible. She just can't keep her hands from exploring his sexy body!

At first Jared thinks he's going crazy. He knows he's embracing a delicious female but he doesn't know if the invisible being is an actual woman or ghost. When things heat up between Jared and Bonnie, they find a way to communicate. Now they have to figure out how to thwart Jared's enemy or Jared will never get a good look at the woman he's felt…all over.

Now, I liked the story. It's cute and is also quick and easy to read. Unfortunately, when I think about it more after reading it, it sorta falls apart. The magic part of it is accepted a bit too easily. So does that mean magic is an accepted part of the world in the story? I never understood how that really worked. And we never really learn much about Bonnie and Jared other than that they lust after each other. I never got that these two had lives outside what was written on the page. I know it's a short story, but I like to have a sense that the characters are well-rounded. I suppose I felt that things were also wrapped up a little too neatly in the end.

So while I liked Invisible Touch while I was reading it, I ended up with more questions than answers to really enjoy it further.

Ellora's Cave says that it's the first in a series, but no clue how there will be spinoffs, unless it deals more with magic. Perhaps future stories will explain the worldbuilding more. I just didn't get enough to be satisfied. I really liked Perfection, another story by Summer, so I will read her again. And I liked her first book written as Kate Rothwell. So for now, I'm just going to think of this one as a fluke that just didn't work for me.

Storming, books, cats, oh my!

it's storming here. Woke up at 5 this morning to lightning and thunder. Went to the bathroom and heard this crinkling of plastic to see Gambit making a run for the bedroom from his hiding place under the couch. So I was nice and let him in. He shot under the bed and has been there ever since. And someone's car alarm has been set off. Very annoying.

I have started reading Kim Harrison! I read Dead Witch Walking night before last and started the second book last night. I bought the second and third at work yesterday since I liked the first one so much.

Also read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs and need to do a review. Bad me. And get up my fantasy post. It was seriously cool to read it since I grew up in the area. Like Mercy meets someone in Howard Amon Park. I got married there. :-) And Hanford and the talk about the alphabet houses, so I was able to picture the homes quite well. As well as her mention of the affluent homes that are up on the hills. Yup, I can picture that. Maybe I'll find a picture that I have of some of the hills. It's definitely not what people think of when they think of Washington.
Think not green. Think shades of brown.

Today is another day off, but I close Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday at work. :-( Not fun.

I did buy shoes at Zappos. Have I mentioned how cool Zappos is? You get free shipping and they ship things out FAST. And if it doesn't fit (and it's hard to get the right fit the first time with shoes), you can print out a return complete with UPS label and just drop off the box at the nearest UPS place. And then they will refund your money. Pretty quickly, too. I definitely recommend them. I've got these annoying wide feet and it is SO hard to find shoes that fit. So I picked up a pair of the cutest Naturalizers. Only problem was that they're a half size too big, so I'm returning them and getting the half-size smaller. But my goodness, my foot wasn't being squeezed! Yay. I also bought these. Hopefully they will work out.

Anyone else have such a hard time finding shoes? I'm so jealous of those who can just go into a shoe store and find something that fits in almost every brand.

Now on to a shower and writing my upcoming fantasy stuff post.

Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands

Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands (her website is so out of date I'm not even going to link to it)

He’s been warned that Lady Clarissa Crambray is dangerous. Stomping on toes and burning piffles, the chestnut-haired beauty is clearly a force with which to be reckoned. But for Adrian Montfort, Earl of Mowbray, this is just the challenge he needs. He can handle one woman and her “unfortunate past.” Can any woman handle him?

Lady Clarissa Crambray wants a husband, but maybe not as much as her stepmother wants one for her. Doffing her spectacles might make a girl prettier, but how will she see? Yet, as all other suitors seem to shy away in terror, there comes a man to lead her to the dance floor. A dark, handsome blur of a man.

Oh, this was a delightful book. It's sweet and funny and cute and even rather hot in places. Clarissa's stepmother thinks that the spectacles Clarissa needs will harm her chances of a match, and so takes them away. After a number of mishaps, Clarissa has been relegated to a chair at events. No dancing, no eating, just sit and look demure.

What I liked best about this book is that Clarissa and Adrian are definitely meant for each other.

*sigh* I just found the book to be so sweet. But since my face hurts and I want to go to bed, I'm going to end this little piece. But really, go get the book. It's a good one. And I even like the cover. It's pretty.

Make the bugs go away!!!!!

My goodness, I'm so sick of these damn noisy bugs. How do people deal with all the noise? I've got the office window open so Gambit can lounge (porch is a no-no to open right now due to the wasp that somehow got in and Nick needs to kill it). But oh, the noise is incredible! I still think of myself from Eastern Washington where the bugs are not this....open. And not this noisy at 11 in the morning!

*scream*

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts



So…my first Nora Roberts book. And yes, I did enjoy it. Wasn’t my all-time favorite book and doesn’t have me running out immediately for more of her books, but I did enjoy it and will read more of her books. I’m really looking forward to her new trilogy anyways. Looks interesting with its fantasy aspects.

On to the book.

Reece Gilmore has come a long way to see the stunning view below her. As the sole survivor of a brutal crime back East, she has been on the run, desperately fighting the nightmares and panic attacks that haunt her. Reece settles in Angel's Fist, Wyoming - temporarily, at least-and takes a job at a local diner. And now she's hiked this mountain all by herself. It was glorious, she thought, as she peered through her binoculars at the Snake River churning below.

Then Reece saw the man and woman on the opposite bank. Arguing. Fighting. And suddenly, the man was on top of the woman, his hands around her throat . . .

Enjoying a moment of solitude a bit farther down the trail is a gruff loner named Brody. But by the time Reece reaches him and brings him to the scene, the pair has vanished. When authorities comb the area where she saw the attack, they find nothing.No signs of struggle. No freshly turned earth. Not even a tire track.

And no one in Angel's Fist seems to believe her. After all, she's a newcomer in town, with a reputation for being jumpy and jittery-maybe even a little fragile. Maybe it's time to run again, to move on . . .

Reece Gilmore knows there's a killer in Angel's Fist, even if Brody, despite his seeming impatience and desire to keep her at arm's length, is the only one willing to believe her. When a series of menacing events makes it clear that someone wants her out of the way, Reece must put her trust in Brody-and herself-to find out if there is a killer in Angel's Fist before it's too late.

Angels Fall is a rather slow-paced book. It has some suspense, but it's not one that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book is definitely about Reece healing and finding love. And it does a pretty good job of that. Reece has gone through a horrific experience and that has deeply scarred her. She doesn't trust herself and has good reasons for doing so. But she gains her footing in the story and really comes to grips with how her life has changed and how she's going to move on.

I liked how the relationship between Reece and Brody developed. Slowly, yet surely. And the rest of the cast of characters were also wonderfully drawn. Lots of people, yet none of them overshadowed the main story.

Hmm...what am I forgetting? Don't know. It's been about a week since I read the book, so I can't quite remember everything I wanted to say. Sorry. Just been busy with things.

I wasn't completely wowed by the book, but I definitely can see why people say Nora writes such great characters. So I'll be trying some more. I'm really looking forward to the new trilogy since it looks so different.

So I don't forget

I will put up reviews of:

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston
Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands
Psychic Academy Vol. 1 by Katsu Aki
The King's Own by Lorna Freeman (okay, not quite finished with it, prolonging the enjoyment)
Shadowland by Meg Cabot
When Lightning Strikes by Meg Cabot

on Sunday. Or whenever. But this is just so I don't forget what I've read. I stopped my wonderful spreadsheet, so I haven't been keeping track. It kinda sucks. Maybe I'll start it again sometime soon.

I hate coming up with post titles.

I know, I promised a review of Angels Fall. I'll get it up soon. Just not today. Just not in the mood.

But on other book fronts...finished Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands and absolutely loved it. So sweet and cute, yet surprisingly hot in places. Definitely recommended and it sent me in a mini-book funk as I tried to find something to live up to it afterwards. But I then decided to read Scandal in Spring by Kleypas and so far I'm really enjoying it. I've avoided any hints of spoilers around the web, but I got the impression that some were disappointed in the book. So far that isn't the case for me. Also reading Pack Challenge by Laurenston on my iPaq. I've read it before when it came out from Triskelion and really loved it, but since I heard it had been revised, I had to get it. So far I really like it just as much as I did before.

I also read an interesting manga, From Far Away by Kyoko Hikawa. I just got the first volume, but it hooked me enough to want to read more. Hopefully they will turn up at work or on PBS. The first book has a hint of the romance that I hope will be in future books.

I also read a bit of Sins of Midnight by Kimberly Logan, but put it back on the shelf. It just wasn't working for me. I'll try to try it again sometime before really deciding to do away with it. Also started reading Something From the Nightside by Simon R. Green. And read the first page of Eternal Nights by Patti O'Shea before deciding I wasn't in the mood for futuristic tonight. It started out good and looks to be a friends-to-lovers story, so I'm still looking forward to reading it! Also read the first page or so of Your Planet Or Mine? by Susan Grant, but wasn't in the mood for that either. And also started a bit of Viva Las Bad Boys by HelenKay. Still reading King's Own by Freeman, but slowly since I really don't want it to end since I know that the third book isn't going to be out for awhile. *cry*

Let's see....what else? Not sure what else. Today was my day off, so I mostly sat around and read. :-)