Monthly Reads: May 2011

15th is a good day to post the Monthly Reads post, right? Well at least, it's earlier than last month which is good :) This time, I went about it in a different way. Instead of writing the synopsis first, I wrote my impressions of the books... I almost didn't write synopsis. Ames told me not to bother... but it's not my style ^_^; However, I did try and I think I succeeded at keeping everything a bit shorter :)

Enjoy!


1) Hounded by Kevin Hearne: B


2) Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison: B
Upcoming Review.

3) Lady Amelia's Secret Lover by Victoria Alexander: C+

Amelia and Robert Hathaway have been married for 6 years and it seems the passion in their relationship has faded away. Afraid that Robert is given his attention to someone else, Amelia comes up with a plot to reclaim her husband: make him jealous by taking a lover... and she has the perfect man in mind! However, Robert is unto Amelia and concocts a plot of his own... and he also has the perfect candidate in mind :)

This is a novella I've been wanting to read for a long time because I love Ms Alexander's writing :) I thought this was a very cute story, it proves that marriage takes work from both parties and that you cannot be too complacent. I like that both Amelia and Robert wanted to save their marriage and LOL at the plans they came up to. It was hilarious actually that both enlisted the help of Robert's twin LOL. All in all, a very cute novella :)

4) Swept Aside by Sharon Sala: D+

Swept Aside is the last book in Ms Sala's Storm Front trilogy. While the characters are not connected, the three stories have been taking place at the same time. So when Swept Aside starts, we all know that among those four prisoners who have escaped jail, one is actually an undercover DEA agent: Nick Aroyo. He and the other three convicts take refuge at Amalie Pope's house, "kidnapping" her in the process. So throughout the story, Nick has to protect Amalie while maintaining his cover. As for Amalie, she has just survived a shooting at her previous job. She was in a coma for a few weeks and when she woke up, she learned that her grandmother has passed away upon hearing the news of Amalie being shot. All Amalie wants now is to go home to heal physically and emotionally... but the last thing she expected was her house to be under siege by four on-the-run criminals and to have to fend against them. And while Nick has been protecting her... how much can she trust him?

Hmmm, this one is a tough one for me. I think one factor that wasn't in favor for Swept Aside is that I've read the book just after re-reading Angel Falls by Nora Roberts. In both books, the heroines were shot and while they survived, others died. When comparing the two heroines, I think Ms Roberts did a much better job at describing the trauma and how hard it is to survive. In Amalie's case, she has just recovered a couple weeks ago, then learned that her grandmother has died... and now, coming home, she's taken hostage and almost raped and that's the extent of her reaction? If I've been in Amalie's position, I would have been catatonic ^_^; There was one scene where Amalie totally freaked out and that made sense, but afterwards... it's as if what she's been through was pushed aside. Personally, I think the whole story was too much for Amalie to handle so soon after what she's been through... There's strong and tough and then, there's unbelievable ^_^; Also, looking at the big picture, I think the storyline was just too far-stretched for me and ultimately, it affected the romance as well.  I mean I liked Amalie and Nick's characters and under another undercover plot, it would have worked for me... but in this case? Nope. So not the best ending to a very average trilogy.

5) Gobsmacked by L.B. Gregg: C

Mark Meehan came home early from his shift to the hospital... to find his boyfriend in bed with their landlord. Shocked, Mark retreated without a word... However, later that day, he can't stand the betrayal anymore and assault his boyfriend... in church... with a bible. In a small town like Smithfield, it doesn't take long for everyone to find out what happened. Soon though, Mark realizes the real extent of his boyfriend's betrayal... and Mark is not about to go down quietly. And to complicate the situation, Mark's long-time crush, cop Tony Gervase, finally makes a move...

I bought this book during the literary signing at RT last year in Columbus.. and I figured I should read it before meeting Lisabea again this year at RWA! LOL. I heard a lot of good about the Men of Smithfied series and was looking forward to read Gobsmacked. I love the opening scene where Mark hits his boyfriend with a bible... LOL, for the longest time, I actually thought the book was titled Godsmacked LOL. However, Ames set me straight :) I still think it would have fit LOL.

Overall, I enjoyed Gobsmacked. I liked the characters; there was an honest quality about them. They were also genuine. I like that neither Mark or Tony were perfect. They had needs, they made mistakes, they act rashly. As a result, I liked their relationship and thought it was very realistic. What didn't work as well for me was the ex-boyfriend's storyline and Mark sleuthing around, "investigating" on his own. I don't know, I thought it didn't mesh together ^_^; Still, it was a nice book and now, I'm looking forward to the next book :) Which I'm going to get at RWA LOL.


6) Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning: B-


7) First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh: C+
Upcoming Review.


8) Baby, Drive South by Stephanie Bond: D+


9) The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan: C
Upcoming Review.


10) At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh: C
Upcoming Review.


11) Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh: D+
Upcoming Review.

12) Master of None by Sonya Bateman: C-

Gavyn Donatti might be skilled at what he does, unfortunately, it doesn't change the fact that he is the world unluckiest thief. Proof? His latest job. How could he lose what he was hired to steal?!? This puts him in the worst of situation because Trevor is not known to be understanding... and it puts his ex-girlfriend and a son he wasn't aware of in danger. Lucky for Gavyn, Ian, a djinn aka genie, appears to save the day... Is it really luck though? It's clear the anti-social djinn has an agenda of his own... and Gavyn soon finds out how it links to him...

So I've been very curious about this urban fantasy series. First, because it's an urban fantasy series published by Simon & Schuster and they've had some winners lately (Elemental Assassin and Dark Descendants) and also, because this book features a genie. Unfortunately for me, I didn't get into it as much as I had hoped. For me, the biggest problem was the world building. I felt the information was coming in a trickle and when I finally got the complete image, it was a bit too late. I mean, nobody enjoys the overload of information usually associated with world buildings, but at least, you know what's happening, what to expect. In this case, I was as lost as Gavyn and it wasn't very enjoyable ^_^; Also, I don't think Ian was the best person to deliver it. Of course, it made the most sense, since it's his world... but not a very amiable character ^_^; I really felt sorry for Gavyn, LOL.

Gavyn was a nice character, but I wonder if he is really hero material ^_^; The other characters were interesting and I guess have potential, but we'll have to find out in future books. As for the story, I enjoyed the paranormal side of it. However, I didn't care much about Trevor - Gavyn's "boss." I know that part is necessary for the whole book to make sense, but I wonder if Ms Bateman could have found a different way...

In the end, I'm not sure I'll pick up the next book...


13) The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane: C


14) Playing Dirty by Susan Andersen: B
Upcoming Review.

15) Love is a Four-Legged Word by Kandy Shepherd: D+

Madeline Cartwright is a chef and a cooking magazine editor and has just learned, through the lawyer, that her old, sweet and cheap landlord happened to be rich... Not only doesn't Maddy need to find a new place to live, but she is now the guardian of Brutus Stoddard, the mutt who inherited it all - if he survives the next three weeks. Tom O'Brian, the lawyer, is the one in charge of executing the will and make sure that Brutus survives... at the end of which, the law firm will get a hefty bonus, insuring him of making partner to his law firm, right on schedule to his 5-years plan. However, not everyone is happy about the will... and someone really doesn't want to see a dog getting loads of money.

All right, as you can see, from the grade, this book didn't really work for me ^_^; I think the main problem I had with Love is a Four-Legged Word is that Ms Shepherd takes a fairly typical storyline: young woman inheriting a fortune from an elderly man, and doesn't do anything more/different with it. As a result, the storyline is predictable and a bit uninteresting :(

Something else that didn't work too well for me was Maddy, the heroine. She was a bit contradictory in my opinion. When she's first introduced, Maddy comes across as someone competent, career-focused... However, her actions didn't reflect those first impressions and as the story went, Maddy turned into a klutzy and a bit of an air-headed heroine. It's not that I don't like klutzy heroines, I do actually, but instead of being charming with Maddy, it bothered me instead. As for Tom, I thought it was cute how he had a 5-years plan LOL. Also, I liked how smart he was and the ending of the case? That was great, that was a twist I didn't see coming and good for Tom. On a whole though, I'm not sure about their chemistry and their romance. I usually like happy-go-lucky heroine thawing out stuffy hero storylines, but Love is a Four-Legged Word just didn't do it for me. It was an okay read.

16) Collision Course by K.A. Mitchell: B-

Joey Miller and Aaron Chase are complete opposite. Joey is a social worker who believes in his work and he's already fallen in love 10 times in his life. Aaron is a paramedic who abhors social workers and foster care because of his past and who prefers to have no-string attached hook-ups. However, in this case, Joey knows that Aaron is THE one... and Aaron knows that his relationship with Joey is different... Can they work this out?

Ames has really jumped on the M/M bandwagon and one of her favorite authors happens to be K.A. Mitchell. So when Collision Course was offered free as an ebook on Borders, I got it :) It's been sitting in the TBR pile for a while and when I didn't know what to read, I decided this would do nicely :)

All in all, I enjoyed Collision Course. I think it was a very nice story and I like the romance between Joey and Aaron. It's always enjoyable to see someone reluctant to get involved, being drawn in a relationship :) There is such sweetness in it and it really makes me feel warm inside :) I also really enjoyed Joey's interactions with Aaron's family. Aaron had had such a difficult past and despite his rough behavior, it's clear that he loves his siblings... I like that Joey was not put off with Aaron's attitude towards his job :)

While I enjoyed the romance, I think as a whole, the story was lacking a little bit of omfph. Also, while I liked Joey, I don't think I fully understood him. Perhaps it's because I haven't read the first book in the series... Which I guess I should do :) Actually though, I'm more interested in the third book... :P


17) Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn: B

18) Demon Kissed by Patti O'Shea: B-

I'm copy/pasting the blurb of the book because I think it's an excellent summary for once :) And I don't think I can do better ^_^;

Demon slayer Bree Molina has always felt an attraction for fellow hunter Andras. She knew he was handsome and brave...but she's shocked to discover that Andras is a demon, too! That's just the first revelation Andras has in store for Bree. The demon world has put a price on her head--and the only way Andras can save Bree is by making her his mate....

Ms O'Shea is one of my favorite author and so, this was a novella I've been wanting to read for a while :) While Demon Kissed was very short, it was still a satisfying story and romance. I liked both Bree and Andras and they had chemistry :) My only issue with Demon Kissed however is that it reminded me a lot of Through A Crimson Veil, one of Ms O'Shea earlier works. In this case, Bree is the reluctant demon who needs to embrace her nature to survive... Sounds familiar? That is the only reason why Demon Kissed is not getting a B+ instead. Also, Ms O'Shea has created an interesting world inhabited by vampires and demons... I wouldn't mind reading a full-length novel set in it :) Actually, I'm hoping!


19) A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh: C
Upcoming Review.

20) Drawn in Blood by Andrea Kane: C+

Last time they were together, Sloane Burbank and Derek Parker were too stubborn to compromise and therefore, their relationship ended. This time, they're determined not to make the same mistakes because the truth is, they love each other and want to be together... However, their determination is tested when the FBI is investigating the origin of a painting and Sloane's father and his partners are persons of interest.Then,  Sloane's mother is attacked, their apartment robbed and Sloane's father tells her what really went on with the painting... So Sloane is keeping secrets from Derek, Derek has to work around Sloane... but neither realize the depth and complexity of the case they're working...

It's been a while since I read the book that precedes Drawn in Blood, Twisted, but I caught up really fast. I think Drawn in Blood's strongest element was its plot - the case. I thought it was very interesting, very suspenseful and also very original that it involved Sloane's father and his partners. The fact that it had to do with her father and men she considers her uncles added another layers in my opinion. In any case, very complex case with multiple layers... All I have to say is that the mafia can be scary... and never, never, never get into their bad side. Oh and revenge is indeed a dish best served cold ^_^; One thing that actually bothered me though with the whole Chinese mafia is the mix of Cantonese and Mandarin. If these people are from Hong Kong, then they speak Cantonese... Contrarily to popular belief, not every Hong Kong person is fluent in Mandarin... actually, they aren't. Anyway, just a very small detail considering how good of a job Ms Kane did.

I wouldn't say that Drawn in Blood is a romantic suspense novel. To me, it felt more like mystery/thriller book with a strong romance thread. Yeah, very slim difference, but it is there. The thing is Sloane and Derek are a couple now and are taking steps to move in together, build a life together. So it's not a matter of falling in love, but more working out the kinks of their relationship... and considering that Derek is part of the FBI and Sloane is a free agent and the case involves her father, there are many kinks. I did enjoy how the relationship progressed though, it's nice to see them work it through :)

By the way, I realized that I'm not much for investigations without rules. Guess I've watched too many cops shows and read too many books with cops, FBI and so on... Too used to procedures LOL. Anyway, Drawn in Blood was a solid book :) But I don't think everyone would enjoy it given the little romance there is and also, the storyline.


Books bought: +7
Books read: -20
TBR pile: -13

OMG, seriously?!? I can't believe it!! Woooohooo!! LOL, I know there were a lot of books from the TBR pile... and most of the Mary Balogh were from a friend or the library... but wow, I'm a happy camper! LOL. I think this is the best I've ever done since I started keeping track LOL. Too bad I know that June won't be as good ^_^;  Now, I just need to start working on those reviews! :)

Review: Blood Ties by Sharon Sala

Diclaimer: I've received Blood Ties as an eARC from Netgalley

Blood Ties by Sharon Sala
published by Mira (Harlequin) in May 2011

The truth will set you free... if it doesn't get you killed

Savannah Slade is not the person she thought she was. The reading of her "father's" will has led her to a world-shattering revelation: her sisters are not her blood kin—and she may be the heiress to a massive fortune. Her not-quite-fiance Judd doesn't if it doesn't care where she came from—he only wants her by his side. But the primal need to uncover her past wins out, and Savannah trades the Montana ranges for Miami's moneyed oceanside enclaves.

The wealthy and powerful Stoss family is less than overjoyed to find that Gerald Stoss's daughter has emerged from the past. But theirs is a clan seldom troubled by…inconveniences. They've always had the means to eradicate any blemish on their perfect lives. One more won't make a difference.

Genre: Contemporary romance, romantic suspense
Series: The Searchers, Book #2

The Story: After the death of their father, the Slade girls - Hannah, Maria and Savannah - discover through his will that they are not related by blood. Instead, all three girls were taken in by Andrew Slade under unusual circumstances. Andrew kept a journal for each of his daughter relating the circumstances and adding as many information as possible so if they decide to, the girls could explore their past.

In the case of Savannah, her mother was dying of cancer and had contacted Savannah's father so he would acknowledge his daughter. He did agree to take in and take care of Savannah, but was unfortunately killed. Then, Savannah's mother received a call threatening Savannah's safety. At wit's ends, she decided to entrust her daughter to the evangelical preacher doing revivals.

Another shock for Savannah is finding out that she is actually the legitimate heir to the Stoss' empire - a familial business which the first-born and only first-born inherit, and this most probably is what got her father killed. After such revelations, Savannah needs to know who she is, to find out about her birth parents, but also claim justice for her father's death. Her high school sweetheart Judd is not thrilled about Savannah leaving for Miami on her own. He's not sure if their relationship can survive the distance... and if Savannah really turns out to be the heir to the Stoss empire, would she be willing to come back to Montana to a rancher?

However, there are bigger problems than Judd being unhappy... such as people being unhappy at Savannah's reappearance in their lives...

My Opinion: Let's dive in directly, shall we? I'll start with the complaints I have about this book first, then will get to what I enjoyed :)

Basically, I had two issues with Blood Ties. The first is the sense of déjà-vu. Not only does Blood Ties take place in parallel to Blood Stains, but it also has a similar storyline: heroine posing a threat and people wanting to get rid of her. If you've been a long-time fan of Ms Sala, you'll realize that it's a trope that she uses often (Out of the Dark, When You Call My Name). I usually don't mind authors using such writing strategies, especially when they're good at it... and Ms Sala is good with this trope - Out of the Dark is one of the most poignant book I've read. Unfortunately, I don't think it was a good idea to use the same story trope in two books in a row, especially as they are part of the same series ^_^; Worst, I have a feeling Blood Trails will also follow the same pattern ^_^; I think I know what Ms Sala is trying to accomplish - trying to add some suspense to these books, but I think there is a different way than hired thugs.

My other issue with Blood Ties is that some of the elements/events of the book definitively felt over-the-top ^_^;  I know this is fiction and some things should be taken lightly, but I couldn't help but going "Huh? Really?" and I think that's never good.

Putting aside those two issues, Blood Ties was quite an enjoyable read. Savannah was a good heroine - nice, realistic and smart - and you couldn't help but root for her. I like that she already had her hero and they were already involved; it made for a different romance. I thought Judd was the perfect match for Savannah and it was cute to see him worry. His worries all made sense and showed that he cared about Savannah. All in all, I thought Savannah and Judd made a sweet couple and while the romance wasn't the focus, I was okay with it :)

Other good elements of the book were the secondary characters, especially Savannah's lawyer. I liked his personality and how he looked out for Savannah :) The story was pretty interesting as well. There were some twists to the storyline I didn't see coming, one that was really sad :( Also, I liked that Ms Sala tried to throw the readers off LOL. Finally, the constant: Ms Sala's writing :) Still enjoying it :)

Out of the three sisters, it was Savannah's storyline I was looking forward to the most because it involved her family. I guess I was expecting a typical story where they'd welcome her ungraciously, try to win her and plot against her in her back. What Ms Sala offers us is definitively different which would have been a good thing if not for Blood Ties echoing her previous books.

My Grade: C. All in all, I liked Blood Ties :)

Review: Blood Stains by Sharon Sala

Decided to take a day off to go to the doctor today. Hopefully, they'll find out something or perhaps, just as usual, it'll all go away once I start doing some tests :P Either way, I think this is the best decision, because I don't know how I feel. Not well, that's for sure... but the rest... Anyway, I just hate it... This past year has been really rough health-wise. Of course, all these are minor-ish, compared to cancer or other diseases... but it just sucks not feeling well :(

Now, let see if I have the strength to write a review :P


Blood Stains by Sharon Sala

published by Mira in February 2011

At the reading of her father's will, Maria Slade receives shocking news—as a four-year-old, she'd witnessed her prostitute mother's murder and been taken into hiding by the well-meaning preacher who'd raised her as his own.

Maria remembers none of that. But now she's determined to flush her mother's killer out of hiding and discover the identity of her birth father. She heads to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she meets Detective Bodie Scott.

Empathizing with this beautiful woman looking to find out who she really is, he opens the decades-old case file. Their investigation leads them down a dangerous path, where no one is what they seem. Where a father does not want to be found. And a murderer has "like mother, like daughter" in mind for Maria.

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: The Searchers trilogy, Book #1

The Story: At the reading of their father's will, Maria and her two sisters discover they are not their parents' children nor biological sisters, that each of them were taken in by their evangelical preacher father while he was preaching and doing revivals. Each of the sister came to him under different circumstances, delicate situations. At his death, Andrew Slade left a journal for each daughter with all the information he knew in the eventuality they would want to know their pasts and roots.

This brings Maria Slade - Mary Blake at birth - back to Tulsa. It seems that at the age of 4 years old, Maria witnessed the murder of her mother who was an escort. Fearing for Maria's life, her mother entrusted Maria's safety to Andrew who was renting the room next door in the boarding house. While Maria has no memories of her mother or her death, she still wants justice and therefore goes to the police station in order to re-open the case... and that's how she meets Detective Bodie Scott.

My Opinion: I really like Ms Sala's writing and some of her books are on my keeper shelf, having really, really touched me and that is why I read Ms Sala books :P Recently though, her books have been okay to good... I've only read Blown Away in her last trilogy, Storm Front, and it was okay. To me, it felt the whole trilogy was a bit off, so that's why I still haven't read the two other books. Instead, I decided to look ahead and wait for this one, which is why I had higher hopes :P Is it making sense? :P

In any case, I ended up enjoying Blood Stains :) The story is pretty straight-forward, Maria goes back to Tulsa to find out about her mother and her murder. She digs around, trying to remember things, goes to the police to re-open the case, meets people from her past... and becomes a target. The problem is that if you are familiar with Ms Sala's work, you are also familiar with this storyline as the author uses it often... very often ^_^; It works; however, it does take away a bit of the suspense. Also, how can these people find mercenaries so easily?

In any case, I think the strength of the book was the characters, from Maria, to Bodie, to Maria's mother's pimp, etc. Ms Sala has a knack at writing characters that you connect with, sympathize with. I really liked Maria, she was strong and level-headed.  After the initial shock of discovering that her father is not her father, her mother was murdered and was a hooker, she went back to find the truth and was solid. Of course, it did bother her that she could not remember some things, but she didn't lose patience, wasn't rude to others. Bodie was great hero material by being a good guy and knowing how to do his job. The romance did happen a bit quickly, but it was okay with me, because Maria and Bodie had chemistry.

My favorite scenes were Maria finding out about her past after visiting her mother's pimp and his sister who used to babysit Maria. You wouldn't think a pimp would be a likable character, but this one was :) He cared about Maria's mother, cared for Maria and after her death, really turned his life around. Also, Maria's mother was a great woman. She was illiterate and did what she could to survive and most important of all, she loved Maria.

My Grade: C+. While Blood Stains didn't wow me, I liked it a lot. It wasn't the emotional read that I know Ms Sala can produce and at times, it felt like the characters were just going through the motion as the storyline was so familiar... Still, in the end, I enjoyed it and that what matters :) Looking forward to Blood Ties :)

Monthly Reads: November 2010

Do you ever wonder why it's so hard to catch up once you fall behind? Or why is it so easy to fall behind? LOL. Or more accurately, ugh ^_^; So here I am, trying to wrap up 2010 - reading/blogging-wise... and I'm determined to do it :) Okay, so ideally, I should have done it during my time off... but seems my brain really needed a break. Now that it is rested, I'm back in the game!! Woohoo!!

So here is what I read back in November - seems so far away already ^_^;

1) His Sinful Secret by Emma Wildes: B+


2) Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts: B
Upcoming review.


3) Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath: A

4) Rules of Engagement by Suzanne Enoch: C

Bradshaw Carroway is growing restless on land and can't wait to receive his next assignment. Before he leaves, the Duke of Sommerset asks Bradshaw a favor: to return a token to a friend in Tahiti before a certain date or else, a curse might be invoked. In exchange, the duke will offer a safe haven - the Adventurers' Club - to Bradshaw once he returns. Of course, Bradshaw accepts... Eleven months later, Bradshaw is very close to the deadline; unfortunately, Bradshaw is not in commend of his destination. He is supposed to accompany Sir Joseph Ponsley, a famous botanist, and his daughter, Miss Zephyr Ponsley, in his quest for new botanical and zoological discoveries... and of course, adding to Bradshaw's headache is a bunch of aristocratic tourists aboard his boat...

Lately, Ms Enoch's books have been a bit of a miss for me. I enjoy her writing; however, the stories and characters have failed to grab me... So much that I didn't even realized that she had a new release coming out till Lori mentioned it, and you know how out of character that is for me LOL. However, once I learned about this book, I knew I was getting it because it was loosely connected to England's Perfect Hero.

I was glad to read Bradshaw's book; however, Rules of Engagement was not really what I expected. First and foremost was the fact that the storyline took place out on the sea, in Bradshaw's ship. When I read historicals, I expect them to take place in London or in England... I'm actually not a fan of historicals taking place in other countries or during travels or at least, I like to know it beforehand so I can re-program my brain LOL. Something else that bothered me was the timeline of the story. Rules of Engagement actually takes place one or two years before the other books in this series, The Adventurers' Club... They're not real problems, but stuff that the mind has to re-adjust to in order to enjoy the book in my opinion.

Overall though, I had the same problem with Rules of Engagement that I had with the last two books... The adventure aspect of the story didn't really appeal to me and I wasn't drawn to the characters much. The internal conflicts of Bradshaw and Zephyr had potential, both being tired of all the travels and considering settling down... but it was not developed enough to be interesting ^_^; Plus, the romance took time to develop. It remained lust for too long and the chemistry was really just so-so. In the end, I pretty much just skimmed through Rules of Engagement ^_^; I just wished the story would have taken place in London and would have loved to see Bradshaw interact more with his brothers.

5) Our Little Secret by Starr Ambrose: C

When Lauren Sutherland learns of her twin's marriage to the aging, handsome and playboy Senator Creighton, she rushes to Washington to talk some sense into her sister... Only to be mistaken for Megan by the Senator none-too-happy, very-grown-up's son, Drew, and to discover that her twin and her new husband are missing. However, Drew is not the only one to mistake Lauren for Megan and soon, Lauren and Drew find themselves enlisted to solve a blackmail scheme...

I bought Our Little Secret last year, because I enjoyed Ms Ambrose's debut novel, Lie to Me. Then, I thought it'd be a good thing to read the book before her new release, Thieves Like Us, came out. In that regard, mission accomplished LOL. Also, what I realized after reading Our Little Secret is that I know myself and my reading tastes well and so, should trust my instinct more... What I mean is that I knew this book would probably not work too well for me because I don't like politicians in my romance, but yet I still bought it... just because maybe, I'd be wrong. Unfortunately, I wasn't or not too far off. Oh, Our Little Secret isn't too bad, because neither Lauren or Drew is a politician, but the storyline definitively takes place in the politic ring.

Actually, to be fair, the blackmail scheme was rather interesting... except that it took place in the political circle of Washington, where it is expected. That's the problem with the political scene - corruption, secret, scandal, bribery... You know it's there and you know where it's going to lead. Also, I didn't really get why Senator Creighton and Meg felt the need to disappear. It didn't really make sense to me, since they were the ones to volunteer... and instead of working it out with the agents, they just disappeared. As for the characters, I wished Drew was a bit more developed. I would have wanted to know and understand him better. Lauren on the other hand was a bit too much of a stereotype. The good girl, the one who thinks of her career, do everything right and gets engaged to the guy that seemed perfect but who turns out to be boring and not very open-minded. I think the problem is because she was such a stereotype, her character was not really engaging and as a result, I wasn't really drawn to her. As for the romance, there was tension between Lauren and Drew, but unfortunately, no real chemistry. That could be due to the disastrous first encounter they had or perhaps the fact that theoretically, Lauren is Drew's new step-aunt. Yeah, not really cool ^_^; In the end though, I guess I just wished the book has been funnier and there'd be more banter - the reasons I thought this book would overcome my aversion to politics.

6) Untraceable by Laura Griffin: C

Alex Lowell is a PI which usually consists of investigations for insurance claims and background checks... However, once in a while, she'll also help a client drop off the radar and start a new life. When one such client does not get back to Alex, she starts to worry that something happened... and seek the help of Austin PD detective, Nathan Deveraux. However, no body means no case and Nathan can't do much, even if he's willing to help... and Alex is definitively unwilling to give up. Then, there's Alex and Nathan's relationship... when the two first met, there was definitively a spark between Alex and Nathan... but ever since Alex was attacked in connection to one of Nathan's case, he's been blaming himself... and thus, the spark is hanging between them and their relationship is in limbo...

Okay, I thought the story started out well - it was intriguing, suspenseful and interesting... but it started losing steam when Ms Griffin incorporated the romance for me. Part of the reasons I think is that I haven't read Whisper of Warning in which Nathan and Alex met and obviously, there was something between the two. So I felt like I was thrown into their relationship and it really took a while in my opinion for the author to clarify what's been going on. I think that threw off the romance part for me a little and then, there was the lack of intensity. For most of the book, Nathan and Alex didn't seem to be a couple for me. Instead, they were more like two persons trying to figure out their relationship... which is fine in some books, but not in this one. I didn't feel like they work it out or actually talked about it and yet, they somehow are together at the end? Also, there was this disconnection between the characters and me. I don't know if it's because they were introduced in the previous book and so I was missing something about their personality, but I wasn't engaged by their personality... I didn't even understand them. For example, Alex isn't the settling type and some obscure reason was given, but it was never developed, never really integrated in who Alex was. I guess what I mean is that there was a lot of "empty words." There were facts about the characters, romance and storyline that I read, but never seem to be reflected or impact... it was as if it was fact just to fill the pages ^_^;

Finally, I think what saves this book was the intrigue/suspense aspect. I didn't expect the people involved and really, corruption is always interesting in the police force... interesting and scary ^_^; Also, there was the introduction for the Tracers... which is an expert unit/system that tries to accelerate procedures and analysis and who are not really the law. While I think the subject was expanded on a lot, it did set-up the future books well.


7) Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman by Lorraine Heath: B+


8) Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb: B-

9) Waiting for Nick by Nora Roberts: B

Frederica Kimball has been in love with Nicholas LeBeck ever since Nick's stepbrother married Freddie's aunt and brought Nick into the family's folds some 10 years ago. At 24, Freddie decides it's time for Nick to realize she's grown into a woman. First she moves to New York City and then, convinces him she's the lyricist he needs for his music. However, it'll take some more efforts to convince Nick that she's the perfect person to share his life...

Ugh, I'm really bad with synopsis today ^_^; Anyway, Waiting for Nick is part of la Nora's Stanislaski series and one of her earlier category romances. What I like about picking up a Nora Roberts to read is you know exactly what you'll get :) Great writing and a solid romance. Seriously, I was in the mood for a contemporary romance and nothing would do... but once I picked up this book, it was perfect. It's her writing style, there's just something about it that hits the right spot :)

Okay, more about the book itself. I read this because Monroe convinced Ames to read it and Ames enjoyed it so much. It's a friends to lovers theme and very well done. First, the characters are very likable and easy to relate. Freddie is a fun girl and radiates her joie de vivre. She's confident and that comes from this huge family of hers and knowing that she is loved. At 24, she's flying out of the nest, making her way in life and she knows that she wants Nick. What I like about her is that she's self-assured, but without being cocky about it. She's simply comfortable in her skin :) As for Nick, he was a nice hero. It was fun to see him realized that his Freddie has grown up and to realize his feelings. He's a guy, guy - grumpy when he wakes up, happy when he's fed, frustrated when he's stuck in his work, charming when he's at the bar... and his past give him the depth necessary to be more :) And then, these two characters come together and you get a very satisfying romance. I also loved all the family interactions and seeing the O'Hurleys :P

10) Considering Kate by Nora Roberts: B+

Kate Stanislaski Kimball had a great and satisfying career as a ballerina, but has decided to move on. She's returned home and has purchased the building she's always dreamed about to open a dance school. However, it requires some work before it can be ready and that's where Brody O'Connell comes in. Brody is a single father and has moved back to his hometown so his parents could help him with Jack who is 6... Soon, Brody finds himself attracted to Kate, but reluctant to start a new relationship because his priority is Jack, but also because Kate comes from a wealthy family, like his deceased wife. While he loved his wife, they did have their share of difficulties and he's not sure he can go through them again with Kate. As for Kate, she is known to go after what she wants and in this case, it's Brody and Jack.

To my biggest surprise - and I don't know why - I ended up enjoying Considering Kate even more than Waiting for Nick. Both books share a lot of common elements: the great writing, the perfect narrative tone, lovable characters, engaging romance and fun interactions, especially when Kate's family is in the picture. Still, I was able to narrow what makes this book stand out and it's Jack :) First, Jack was the adorable but realistic 6 years old boy and I simply loved seeing Brody and Kate interact with him. Even more, I liked how he was an integral part of the romance. I also enjoyed the relationship between Brody and Kate; I liked the fact that the relationship was gradual and there was no real conflict between the two. Yes, Brody was hesitant to start something with Kate, but that was it and seriously, it was indicative of how good a father he was. I really enjoyed the glimpse of Kate's old life and the fact that she had no regrets starting a new one. I also admire Kate a lot; she was confident, very determined and who is always looking forward. I liked how she knew what she wanted and went after it... As for Brody, he was just such a sweetheart. Determined in his own way, stubborn and nice :P So yes, Considering Kate was definitively a book I enjoyed a lot :)

11) The Fiercest Heart by Sharon Sala: B+

Haley and Mack were high school sweethearts, despite the feud going on between their families, who had their whole life in front of them. Unfortunately, on Haley's graduation night, Haley and Mack got into a car accident involving Haley's older brother and resulting into his death. Then, due to some misunderstandings, Haley and Mack each went their own way. Ten years later, Haley learns of her father's death and decides to attend his funeral... and meets with Mack again. The spark and chemistry are still there and soon, Haley and Mack are together again... against someone's will...

 I love Ms Sala's writing and really, The Fiercest Heart is a testament to her talent. I mean, this was a very short story, about a 100 pages, but it packed quite a punch, so much that I shed some tears while reading it...and I was at the bookstore!! LOL. Not only was it an emotional read, but it also had a very convoluted story! All I can say is I really enjoyed this story and even if Haley and Mack got back together really quick, I was fine with it because it just seems natural. Haley and Mack had such chemistry and clearly, they were meant to be together... and so it's just heart-warming to see them grab this second chance and make the best of it. Unfortunately, I couldn't help but notice two errors... one that I actually forgot about, so I guess it wasn't so annoying... but the other has to do with blood types. Basically, someone had a particular blood type and given the parents blood types, it was impossible. I also noticed that Ms Sala did a similar error in When You Call My Name - universal donor and universal recipient. Anyway, it's not something major, but since it's kind of in my field, it did pop up bigger than it was and it did bother me ^_^; Otherwise, The Fiercest Heart is one of the best short stories I've read :)

12) Hallowed Circle by Linda Robertson: C+

Okay, skipping the synopsis, because I don't think I can do the book justice. Basically, Persephone has to participate in a contest to select the next High Priestess of the Cleveland, Ohio, coven. Persephone is definitively not interested in the position, especially since she has a hand in the previous High Priestess' disappearance... at the same time, she does not think that the strongest candidate, Hunter Hopewell, has the right personality to assume the position. Of course, other stuff are going on... such as the fey targeting Persephone and her beloved - her grandmother and foster daughter... her complicated relationship with Johnny the werewolf and lead singer of a popular band, her bond with vampire Menessos and the fact that she's The Lustrata - something to do with Lady of Justice.

So yeah, this series is not really shaping up like I'd like it to. Basically, I picked up this series because I wanted to read something with witches and sorcery... and in the end, there's just too much stuff going on. My favorite part of the book was Persephone competing for the position of High Priestess and really, I would have loved for this part to be more, to be the only plot of Hallowed Circle. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I didn't mind the growing relationship between Persephone and Johnny - I actually like Johnny. But I feel like it's coming along really slowly and that Persephone is really confused. She doesn't know her mind and is wavering from one side to another and I don't know, I just don't feel like there's real chemistry or connection between the two, although I'm still rooting for Johnny and glad that at the end, she does accept him. One relationship that I'm liking is Persephone and her grandmother, the growing understanding between them. That's nice and rewarding.

What I didn't like is the part involving Menessos. Part of it is I skimmed a bit through Vicious Circle and obviously, missed some stuff... another part is I'm just not interested in it ^_^; I do feel like this is the weakest part of the series so far. Then, there's Persephone being the Lustrata... At this point, I'm still not sure what is the Lustrata and I'm not sure Persephone knows more. So I feel that aspect is dragging a little bit... My last problem would be the writing style. I really have a hard time getting into Ms Robertson's books and I think it's because her writing is just not engaging me. Not the right voice for me :(

13) Water Bound by Christine Feehan: --

Okay, for a synopsis, I'm going to refer you to Holly's review and Kristie's review - they're the ones who convinced me to buy the book :) Once again, this was a book I had a lot of difficulty getting into and quite frankly, at this point, I wasn't really sure if it was the book or my reading mood ^_^; I think part of it was my expectations, especially of Rikki's autism. She certainly had her quirks and they were endearing, but I guess I thought her autism would be more severe... The romance was so-so.

Quite frankly, I really don't know what to say about this book. I read it two months ago and truthfully, skimmed through most of it. I just wasn't engaged and perhaps it was my reading mood as I mentioned earlier or perhaps it's just that I'm not clicking with Ms Feehan's writing, which quite frankly, I'm not surprised ^_^; At this point, I don't remember much of the storyline and as such, I don't feel comfortable grading this book.


14) Our Wicked Mistake by Emma Wildes: B

15) Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey: B

Keri Daniels and Joe Kowalski were high school sweethearts, but life took them in different direction and when Keri left, Joe took it really hard. Years later, Joe has become a bestseller author who really values his privacy while Keri is an editor in LA for a magazine. In order to keep her job, Keri needs to shine a light on Joe's life... and Joe is willing to give Keri the interview she needs, but in exchange, she has to accompany the Kowalski on their annual camping trip.

This was really a cute and fun story. There was a lot going on in addition to the romance between Keri and Joe, such as his twin sister and brother marital problems, but overall it was very well balanced. The Kowalski clan is a big and noisy family who are not afraid to get down and dirty and know how to enjoy themselves. I like the whole family and their interactions, it was a great backdrop for the story to take place. Add in the camping and it was just fun. When I first start Exclusively Yours, I wasn't sure how I would like Keri, because I don't like reporters, but Keri turned out fine. I like how realistic the relationship between Keri and Joe was, when they were high school sweethearts but also in the present. Yes, it's unfortunate that their couple didn't last when they were younger, but it was just a matter of two people wanting different things... and there's nothing wrong about that. If they had compromised, they would not be the person they are now. The obvious attraction between them did bother me a little... I just wished they've gotten to know the new "them" without being distracted by lust. Still, I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to reading more of Ms Stacey's in the future :)


16) The Accidental Wedding by Anne Gracie: B+
Upcoming review.


17) Changes by Jim Butcher: B
Upcoming review.


18) A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh: B
Upcoming review.

19) The Husband List by Victoria Alexander: B-

Lady Gillian Marley is a widow. While she loved her husband dearly and it devastated her when he passed away, the reality is that he died before inheriting his title; therefore she was left with nothing and has become the "poor" relation of her her family, the Effingtons. Lady Gillian yearns for independence which is within reach when her great-uncle from America makes her the sole heiress of his will. Unfortunately, in order to inherit, Gillian must marry by her next birthday, which leaves her only 2 months. Deciding on a marriage of convenience, Gillian asks her two best friends to write a list of eligible bachelors... but only one name among the list seems suitable: Richard Shelton, Earl of Shelbrooke. The Earl of Shelbrooke is in a financial bind, his art an inconsistent source of income and thus, marriage to Lady Gillian would be the perfect solution to his problem... However, Richard quickly realizes that he wants more than a marriage of convenience with Gillian...

Ms Alexander is a comfort author and I'm slowly reading through her backlist :) The Husband List was not her best work, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. I liked the characters and their maturity. I liked that Gillian thought long and hard before considering a marriage of convenience and that ultimately, the lure of independence was irresistible. It's no secret that it was hard to be a woman in those time and therefore wanting to be independent is totally understandable. As for Richard, I liked how he figured so quickly that he wanted a real marriage with Gillian. I also admire Richard a lot for the way he stepped up after his father's death, dealing with the debts, his four younger sisters... I liked that he thought outside the box and worked, even though anonymously, to come up with income. Something else I enjoyed was Richard's friendship with Gillian's brother and Gillian's friendship with her two childhood friends. It's just fun to see characters interact with their friends :P

I thought the romance was okay. I enjoyed it, but hoped for more. I think it's unfortunate that Ms Alexander had to resort to a "secret identity" to move the romance along. I just wished the characters would have interacted more as themselves and work through their issues. However, like I said, an enjoyable read :)

Books bought: +18
Books read: -19
TBR pile: -1


Wooohooo!!! I'm finally done writing my minis, which now that I'm looking at them, are not really minis ^_^; I know, I know, I just can't seem to keep it short. Never have been able to and I don't think it will ever happen ^_^; See, that's why I was dreading writing this post LOL. Hallelujah that I did wait though, because I did end up reviewing a few of them in December. Phew!! Otherwise, it'd probably take me another day to write this post... as it is, it took me two days... Okay, enough complaining LOL.

Wooohooo!!! There's a negative in my TBR pile! LOL, how rare is that?!? :) I'm cheating a bit though because really, The Fiercest Heart should really count for 0.5, not 1... but shhhh LOL. November was my most productive month of 2010 with 19 books read :) It's really no surprise though when you consider the fact that my boss was gone the whole month :P Overall, I'm really happy with my reads... a lot of Cs, but that's because I'm trying to be tougher LOL. I usually give away a lot of Bs when the books are really Cs for me...

Okay, that's it for this post... time to go to sleep :P

Re-Read: When You Call My Name by Sharon Sala

LOL, I'm trying to sneak in a review for my re-read. I actually re-read quite a few books in November/December... The problem though is that some, I've already reviewed as re-read ^_^; and others, well I've re-read and reviewed other books by the same authors. I'm trying to vary here, but yeah... there's just something about comfort reads and re-reads, ya know... In the end, I finally chose When You Call My Name by Sharon Sala.


When You Call My Name by Sharon Sala
published by Harlequin (Silhouette) in January 1996

Whenever you need me...

She had given him the most precious gift of all -- the gift of life. But something more than a mere blood transfusion linked Wyatt Hatfield to the stranger who had saved him. Something that allowed her to call out to him for help in the stillness of the night -- without ever speaking a word....

And now it was his turn to give. For the connection that linked Wyatt to Glory Dixon was the only hope he had of saving her from danger. And he had to try -- because without ever trying, Glory had become more precious to him than his own life.

Genre: category romance, contemporary romance, psychics
Series: none

The Story: Hmmm, where to start? Actually, the story is quite simple. Glory Dixon has "the sight" and have been sheltered from the normal world by her father and her brother throughout her life. One night, she wakes them up during a blizzard because she needs to be at the hospital... and that is how Wyatt Hatfield survived his injuries from a car accident. Without the blood from a stranger, he would have died.

Fast-forward a year and Wyatt is hearing a voice in his head, asking for help. Thinking that perhaps the voice is due to some brain damage caused by the car accident, Wyatt returns to the little town... where he discovers the voice actually belongs to Glory. He also finds out that Glory's father and brother have been murdered and that Glory is in danger as she was the target... and that someone won't stop till Glory is forever silent.

My Opinion:  I first discovered Ms Sala with Out of the Dark, which was an impulse buy, and became an instant fan. Out of the Dark was such an emotional, gripping read - my heart ached throughout it and I cried so much you cannot imagine. Since then, I've been trying to get my hands on every books with the name of Sharon Sala or Dinah McCall on it... So it's only natural (at least for me) that I got When You Call My Name when it was re-released a few years ago in an omnibus along with Rider on Fire. I remember thinking it was a cute story, but seriously, it didn't leave a deep impression in my mind, because I forgot that I've read it ^_^;

A few weeks ago, I read My Fiercest Heart by Sharon Sala. I was waiting for my sister and I've managed to finish the novella at the bookstore. I really enjoyed it, but because the story was half a category romance book in length,  I didn't buy it. Instead, I went to look online if I couldn't buy an e-version of it... and I came across When You Call My Name. The blurb sounded so interesting that I was really tempted! Lucky for me I don't buy ebooks as fast as I buy print books LOL, because I realized that I actually already owned and read When You Call My Name!! Since I couldn't remember anything of it though, I decided to re-read it.

While re-reading the book, details of the story came back to me. Overall, I thought that the premises had potential. I really liked the idea of two people being able to telepathically communicate after the exchange of blood and the blurb really drew my attention. However, it misled me a little bit. For some reasons, I thought the story would be more about Wyatt looking for the voice, finding Glory. Still, I was okay once I realized it wasn't... I was still engaged by the premises... In the end though, I was disappointed by When You Call My Name. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is about the book that didn't work for me. I can try to guess... one of the reasons that pops up in my mind right away is that it simply didn't measure up to some other of Ms Sala's books. It didn't have the impact, the poignancy that other works of hers have. Emotionally, it really didn't reach me and this is what Ms Sala is good at.

Also, I felt like the book was a bit superficial. Lots of things happened, some related to the murder and some not, but it never went deep inside the characters or the storyline. It's like one thing happened after another to keep the story going, keep the story rolling to the conclusion so Ms Sala didn't have to develop the romance or the characters. Perhaps it's because this was a category romance... I don't know. I thought Ms Sala had some really interesting elements such as Glory being a psychic and all; however, she didn't exploit those elements. Plus, the driving force of the plot, the reason for the murder was a bit far-fetched. Yes, I can understand it... but you still had to suspend disbelief a little.

It's really unfortunate because I liked the characters. Wyatt and Glory were so different and complement each other. The whole romance was very sweet and it was nice to see the two fall for each other. Still, at the end, I don't feel like I really knew or understood Wyatt and Glory :(

My Grade: C-. It pains me to give such a grade,but this was definitively not Ms Sala's best.

Monthly Reads: May 2010

Phew, what a day today. It was my sister's convocation today :) She's finally getting her diploma for her bachelor!! Woohoo!! The ceremony started at 10am, but the students had to show up approximately one hour early to get ready...We left home at 7.20am and usually, that's plenty of time to make it... but the traffic was horrible!!! I only got on the island 10 minutes before 10am and I dropped her on the campus on the dot. All this because the road work they were doing ran late and they didn't put those stupid metal sheets over the holes ^_^; During the whole drive, my sister and I were: "Why today of all day?!?" Luckily, we didn't miss anything. Phew.

Okay, onto my monthly reads list now :) May was a good month, but somehow, I still wished I've read more...

1) The Truth about Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries: B

Years ago, Oliver Sharpe's parents died under mysterious circumstances that gave rise to a scandal. Ever since, Oliver and his 4 siblings have been defying Society's rules without regards. Their maternal grandmother has had enough of their behaviors and wants grandchildren. Thus, she decrees that all 5 have to be married within the year or she'll disinherit them all. In an attempt to thwart his grandmother's plan, Oliver makes a deal with Maria Butterfield, an American semi-heiress (her father has died, but she has yet inherited the money because of the conditions). She'll pose as his totally improper fiancée and in exchange, he'll look for her "real" fiancé.

I picked up this book to read because of the reading Ms Jeffries did during the Regency Bingo session she hosted at the RT. The excerpt she read was really great, unfortunately, I don't think the rest of the book lived up to it :( However, it was still an enjoyable read :)  While the writing and characters were solid, I felt the story was a tad predictable. I didn't buy the whole relationship and chemistry between Mary and Oliver.

I did like all the characters though from Freddy, Mary's cousin, to Oliver's multitude of siblings. They were fun and added a nice touch to the story. I also liked Oliver's characterization and bought his motives and the reasons he didn't want marriage.

All in all, I enjoyed The Truth about Lord Stoneville enough to look forward to the second book in the series, A Hellion in Her Bed, coming out in September. I do think Ms Jeffries has a good premises for the series. Plus, the blurb sounds pretty good :)


2) Nothing but Trouble by Rachel Gibson: C+



3) Something About You by Julie James: B+
Upcoming review.

4) Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery: C+

Charity Jones has always wanted to put down roots and that's what she expects to accomplish when she accepts the position of city planner in Fool's Gold, a scenic small Californian town. Her job is to bring more business - and men - into town. Indeed, for some mysterious reasons, women far out-number the men... And in order to do so, Charity will have to work with Fool's Gold dearest son, Josh Golden, a former world-class cyclist who retired for reasons unknown.

Loved the small town, the situation and everything... but couldn't stand the H/H. The characters were actually okay, perhaps a bit on the dull side. The biggest issues was that Charity and Josh had no chemistry whatsoever. Worst, they didn't even understand each other. Take out the physical attraction and I don't get what they liked from each other. Also, I really dislike it when the H/H just assume things about each other... about their personality, their life, but also about how they will react. Communication is important, but also listening to what the other have to say.

In addition, I think Ms Mallery has to be careful about her plots... This is the third trilogies where you get an unplanned pregnancy in the first book. I think it's best when authors don't develop patterns in their trilogies - if not, they become way too predictable.


5) The Wish List by Gabi Stevens: B-
Upcoming review.

6) A Taste of Magic by Tracy Madison: C

Elizabeth Steven, a baker, is turning 35 and instead of a birthday cake, she is baking a wedding cake for her ex-husband. During the last year, Elizabeth has been unable to move on and has become a bit bitter. To help her out, her grandmother gives her the family "gift" - magic. Elizabeth quickly discovers that she is able to put spells onto the food she bakes and uses her new gift to help herself and the people around her... But magic never really turns out the way we want...

A Taste of Magic is a book I've been wanting to read for a while, but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it. I finally decided to give it a try, because I wanted a funny, light romance. It didn't turn out to be what I expected and I'm not totally sure if it was the book or the mood I was in when I read it. I ended up thinking the book was meh.

Somehow, I feel A Taste of Magic is more Elizabeth's journey of re-discovering herself with the help of magic than a romance story. I wished there would have been more interactions between Elizabeth and Nate... I didn't like it when Elizabeth was in limbo, kind of dating Nate and her trainer at the same time. When you're not sure of your situation, the best way to clear things is to ask. Communication, folks!! Also, I'm tired of assumptions and characters jumping to conclusions. They always think the worst, they are so many characters out there who are the "half-empty glass" type... it's getting tiring.

It was also a book that I had difficulty to get into, as a result, I was never fully engaged by the characters or the storyline :( I have Book #2 and #3... we'll see if it gets better.

7) To Sin with a Scoundrel by Cara Elliot: C

Life has been hard for Lady Ciara Sheffield since her husband's death. Not that she misses the brutal drunk, but she could do without the rumors that she poisoned him... or the investigation that her in-laws have instigated to take her out of the picture. As her in-laws continue to spread nasty lies about her, Ciara risks losing custody of her son. As a result, she needs to leave her hermit ways behind and step back into Society... and be accepted. The best way is of course to fake an engagement... but is Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley, a rakehell rogue notorious for his devil-may-care antics, the best choice?

This is Ms Elliot's debut novel and I was lucky to pick it up at the RT's goodies room. I was looking forward to this book, because the H/H are so different from each other. Our heroine is a scientist, so very logical and methodical, and our hero is a rogue... I thought it'd be opposite attracts each other and it was, to some extent. I just don't feel Ms Elliot exploited her characters to the maximum. Ms Elliot had a lot going on plot-wise and I think it was too much and it detracted from the focus. I liked Lucas' changes, but I'm not sure it was real growth... that it had to do with Ciara. Again, I think there was a lack of chemistry... especially since I felt Ciara was a bit snobby. She's a scientist and I feel that in many instances, she looked down on Lucas or just didn't believe he was smart enough. It was as if she was surprised that Lucas had some strengths whatsoever ^_^;

Also, a group of women referring themselves as "Sinners" because they are scientists, that's really cheesy. I mean, it is cheesy for men, but it's worst for women. I know that at that time, people considered that women and sciences should not mix together, but that was a bit too much.


8) Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews: A
Buddy review coming up with Tabitha at Breezing Through


9) Silent Scream by Karen Rose: B+/A-
Upcoming review.

10) Blown Away by Sharon Sala: C-

While out walking, Cari North comes across her ex-fiancé, Lance Morgan, burying a body. She rushes home to call the authorities, but before she can do so, a tornado destroys her house, kills her parents and cousin and leaves Cari with a blow to the head. After regaining consciousness,  Cari knows that Lance is not stupid and will have move the body. With no proof, it will be her words against Lance's and people are not likely to believe her because of her head injury and how their relationship ended. Thus, Cari decides to take her cousin's identity, flee Bordelaise and run to Baton Rouge... but she is determined to come back to unravel the mystery... with the help of Michael Boudreaux, her cousin's boss, who has taken her under his wing.

Hmmm, I usually love Ms Sala's work, but Blown Away simply didn't work for me. Once again, I'm not totally sure if it was me or the book... probably a bit of both. The idea/premise actually wasn't bad if you can suspend disbelief, which I can :) and I do think it could have worked out. I actually thought Ms Sala had a good villain... the kind of man that never assumes responsibilities, whose mistakes were always corrected or taken care by his family. A spoiled man  that didn't learn to control himself, indulges and let his emotions run loose. Not evil to the core, which is pretty interesting.

Unfortunately, I felt there was no depth to the characters and the story, that Ms Sala only scratched the surface. There was no layers, no reading in-between the lines... This is what happened, this is what he/she though and said, etc. This made for a dull read. Plus, it felt a bit like Ms Sala was trying a little bit too hard. For example, some of Cari's actions/reactions were supposed to show how brave and strong she was, but because it was so implausible, it didn't come across. It just made the whole thing a bit too cheesy, especially since the hero was so in awe with her courage.

There were also a couple of other little issues such as timeline... I think I picked up one or two mistakes. Plus, Mike kept saying "Cher" to Cari... which I don't mind, but it's "Chère" given she's a woman. One or two times, I can overlook it... but when it's said over and over again, it just becomes increasingly annoying ^_^;

So Blown Away was definitively not Ms Sala's best work... the good news though is that the books in the Storm trilogy are individual stories, so I will be looking for Torn Apart, the second book... and we'll see from there :)


11) Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery: B+
Upcoming review. (Book obtained from Net Galley)


12) Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas: B/B+
Upcoming review.


Re-read: Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose: B

Hmmm, it's actually 12.75 books read, LOL. I read Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong while coming back from Columbus. Tales of the Otherworld is the second compilation of her online novellas. I've actually already read all of the stories in it, except for the new Eve and Kristoff story, which I loved!! So in the end, I did re-read most of it, except for The Case of El Chupacabra... For some reasons, I've never been able to get into it. So that accounts for 0.25... and my other 0.5 is that I skimmed through Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber. Bought the book on Kobo website and didn't realize it was the format to read on the computer, not the epub for the Kobo e-reader ^_^; Hannah's List has about 4 POV and I read the one that interested me... so 0.5 :P

Books bought: +12
Books read: -12.75
TBR pile: -0.75

Well it's a negative number, so I'm happy, especially given the number of new releases last week! However, it seems like the reading has not been fluid this year. I haven't been able to read continuously... There's always a few days where I just can't seem to read and it annoys me :(  Hopefully, that won't be a problem this summer :)

Re-Read: Sweet Baby by Sharon Sala

I had a great reading month for July... or should I say, great 3 weeks :P Then, it dwindled down, but that's another story :P Anyway, I was able to re-read 3 books... First was Sweet Baby by Sharon Sala, which was my intended entry for the Re-Read Challenge. Then, Angels Fall by Nora Roberts, prompted by Jill's TBR review. Finally, last week-end, I brought some manga with me on my way to Quebec City. I like bringing manga on a trip because it requires less focus (which is a good thing in a car), but highly enjoyable :P So I brought with me Eyeshield21... Eyeshield21 is one of my favorite manga and has recently ended :( So I felt nostalgic...

So yes, I've been debating whether to review Sweet Baby or Angels Fall. Of course, I could do both... but I'm in a lazy mood. I enjoyed my re-read of Angels Fall better, but I've already reviewed a Nora Roberts for the challenge... Hmmm, LOL, I guess maybe another time, I'll review it again since it deserves a proper review...


Sweet Baby by Sharon Sala
published by Mira in January 1998

Little Girl Lost...

It all happened a long time ago, so long ago that Tory Lancaster no longer remembers being a little girl who came home to an empty house. Tory is a woman now, trying to leave behind a legacy of abandonment and sorrow, desperate to love but forever afraid to trust. Only in Brett Hooker's arms does she find peace, but there's something Brett doesn't know, something even she doesn't know.

A Woman Found...

Tory is about to come face-to-face with her past, a past haunted by a mysterious tattooed man and the doll that was her only friend. With Brett's help she can meet the past head-on - if it doesn't drive them apart. So many secrets, so little time, and all for the love of ... Sweet Baby.

Genre: contemporary romance
Series: none

The Story: I think that the blurb tried to sound too mysterious. It's also a bit misleading, although the basis is correct. When she was 6 years old, Tory came back home to an abandoned house. No trace of her mother or the man they lived with. The little girl waited and waited and waited...

Fast-forward to the present, Tory is now a woman and a photograph. She has repressed those long ago memories. Although she doesn't remember, those events still have repercussions on her life. Tory is involved with Brett Hooker, a wonderful man... but she can't help testing him, leaving for long stretches of time and see if he will be there when she returns. In the meantime, Brett feels insecure. If Tory loved him, she wouldn't keep leaving him behind... A tragic incident will bring Tory and Brett together, making their relationship stronger than ever... Till Tory ups and leaves again... and this time, Brett won't be there when she returns. Having decided Tory needed time to figure things out, Brett moves out to give her some space... Returning to an empty apartment and the picture of a tattooed man will make Tory remember and want to find out what happened all those years ago.

My Opinion: Okay, not the best summary, but you get the gist of the storyline... What made me loved this book years ago was the poignancy of the storyline. Can you imagine coming home to nothing? The abandonment feeling that Tory must have felt? Then to discover what happened... it was just so sad...

I still love the characters in this book. Tory and Brett are good together and good for each other. And Tory definitively loves Brett, there's no doubt about it. There's an incident that happens in the book that I don't want to give away, but Brett gets injured from it. Tory's determination to stay with him. The lady is strong. I also love Brett. I liked the fact that he was so considerate. That's a trait I find appealing in Ms Sala's heroes. They know when to push and when to retreat. I also liked the fact that neither are perfect.

Sweet Baby was an enjoyable book with a poignant storyline. There is a slow build-up to the climax which allows the readers to get to know the characters better and their relationship. I thought all the events were quite interesting and I liked the ending, when Tory returns to her hometown to find out the truth. The epilogue was also very cute :P

What I like about Ms Sala is the book is almost more than what the back blurb is about. In many of her books, there are events that are not linked to the main storyline... but it puts things into prospective and gives better insight on the characters. I guess it's part of her writing style and something I like about her :) Sweet Baby is no exception.

My only complaint about this re-read is that knowing the events and what was happened, it didn't impact me the way it the first did.

My Grade: B.