Review: The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson

I finished reading this book on Saturday and have been recommending it left and right ever since :P I thought it'd be nice to review it, so people know why I've been pushing it on them :)


The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson
published by St. Martin's Griffin in May 2016

Trixie Watson has two very important goals for senior year: to finally save enough to buy the set of Doctor Who figurines at the local comic books store, and to place third in her class and knock Ben West--and his horrendous new mustache that he spent all summer growing—down to number four.

Trixie will do anything to get her name ranked over Ben's, including give up sleep and comic books—well, maybe not comic books—but definitely sleep. After all, the war of Watson v. West is as vicious as the Doctor v. Daleks and Browncoats v. Alliance combined, and it goes all the way back to the infamous monkey bars incident in the first grade. Over a decade later, it's time to declare a champion once and for all.

The war is Trixie's for the winning, until her best friend starts dating Ben's best friend and the two are unceremoniously dumped together and told to play nice. Finding common ground is odious and tooth-pullingly-painful, but Trixie and Ben's cautious truce slowly transforms into a fandom-based tentative friendship. When Trixie's best friend gets expelled for cheating and Trixie cries foul play, however, they have to choose who to believe and which side they're on—and they might not pick the same side.

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Series: None

The Story: Trixie Watson and her two best friends, Harper and Meg, are seniors at Messina Academy for the Gifted - Mess for short - basically a high school for genius. The entrance exam is 3 hours long, there is a gag rule about disclosing their IQ numbers, they take courses such as "History of the American Immigrant" and "Economics of the Third World," they all willingly take on assignments for extra credits... and on the first day of each month, an updated ranking list is posted. Trixie's goal this year is to graduate third, thereby putting an end to her Rank Tango with her arch nemesis Ben West and beating him once for all. That means, between school work, comic books and sleep, Trixie will have time for little else... and she's dumbfound to find out her best friends have a different plan for their senior year - they want some interaction with the opposite sex! When Harper starts dating Cornell, the two groups of friends become one, bringing Trixie and Ben together without them having a say. The more they spend time together, the more Trixie and Ben realize that perhaps there is more to their bickering than the monkey bars episode when they were 8 years old... While they figure out their relationship, they also need to find out what's happening with the rank list.

My Opinion: I've been in a contemporary YA kick lately and picked up The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You on a whim after the cover caught my eye (I was wondering if this book was from a traditional publisher or self-published ^_^;)... and I am sooo glad I did because it was such a great, fun read!! You know when you go into a book without any expectations at all and it turns out to be a gem? Well, that was The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You :)

One of the reasons why I enjoyed The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You is because the Mess wasn't a regular high school. Every student was a genius and so, as Harper pointed out, they were all nerds. It effectively took out the usual cool vs. geek conflict and just like that, The Only Thing Worse Than Me is You wasn't your usual contemporary YA. Obviously, they were not all friends, but it did feel like the characters were all on equal footing. Also, it was refreshing to actually see all the students care about their studies and their grades. The atmosphere was also different because of the pressure these kids were under, their motivation and ambition... and I enjoyed the camaraderie that resulted from it. To some extent, the setting reminded me a lot of the one in Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg - another book which I loved - where the characters were attending a performing arts high school.

I also really liked all the characters. While they were nerds, they were not one-dimensional. They had hobbies, they had likes and dislikes beyond studying. Obviously, it goes without saying that they were very smart and more mature than most teens... but at the end of the day, they were still young adults and act so at certain times. Ms Anderson did a great job balancing everything :) I have to say, I very much enjoyed Trixie and Ben and their chemistry. I loved their verbal duels... both of them were witty and quick-minded and it gave rise to some interesting conversations. I thought their romance was believable as well... because for two persons to snipe at each other the way Trixie and Ben did, there must be some attraction somewhere. Yes, it was really hidden deep, but it had to be there :) I thought the romance was sweet and the reveal at the end, so funny LOL. I loved their circle of friends. I enjoyed their dynamics and it was a lot of fun seeing the guys and girls interact and integrate the bigger group. Their loyalty to one another was admirable... particularly between Trixie, Meg and Harper. It's always nice to have someone at your back who believes in you. I also appreciate that there was no purposely unpleasant character.

There was no emotional conflict in this book. Instead, there was a mystery and I have to say, it was quite unusual! It was very well-done, interesting and definitively pulled me in. My only complaint would be the resolution of it was a bit rushed and hard to follow at times. Still, very refreshing.

Finally, I have to commend Ms Anderson's writing. This was her debut novel and it was very well executed. I really enjoyed Ms Anderson's voice. There was a snappy rhythm to it and Ms Anderson has great timing and is quick-witted. Personally, I never thought that discussions on a club's quorum would make me laugh... but it did in The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You :)

As much as I loved The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You, I don't think it'll reach everyone unfortunately. I feel that for maximal enjoyment of this book, the readers have to have an inner geek. There is a lot of references to "geeky" pop culture such as Doctor Who, Marvel comics, Joss Whedon, etc. If you don't have some background info on these topics, you'll miss some jokes and references and that could lessen your enjoyment. The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You has a definite Big Bang Theory vibe to it. If you enjoy that show, then you should be fine! :) I'd still give it a chance regardless, but like I said, it'll be a lot more fun and enjoyable if you catch everything :)

My Grade: A-.  I smiled and laughed throughout The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You. It truly was a fun read for me and I'll definitively be checking out Ms Anderson's next book :)

Review: Fourth Grave Beneath my Feet by Darynda Jones

Finally a review!! My first review of the year and my first review in a long while!! LOL. Now that I've managed to write it, I hope it means I'll be getting back into a routine and the next one will be easier to write. It's awful when you fall of the bandwagon and try to get back on it ^_^;

Enjoy!!

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

published by St. Martin's Press in October 2012

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans.

Genre: Mystery/Thriller with paranormal elements
Series: Charley Davidson, Book #4

The Story: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet picks up two months after the events of Third Grave Dead Ahead in which Charley was used as bait by her love interest, Reyes, and ended up being tortured, almost killed. Thanks to her powers, Charley has recovered physically from her injuries, but mentally, it's another story. She hasn't stepped out of her apartment building in the two months and had no contact with Reyes or her father. However, her best friend and receptionist, Cookie, puts an end to Charley's seclusion as Charley is the heart of their PI business and they need to earn a living. Immediately, Charley is thrown back into action. First, she catches a case about a woman who swears she's being stalked and that someone wants to kill her, but nobody believes her. Then, there's been a series of bank robberies by a four-man team nicknamed the Gentlemen Thieves by the media and Charley can't help but feel there's something familiar about them. Finally, there's Reyes who's been dealing with the demons that are after Charley and him both...

My Opinion: I've enjoyed this series a lot so far - I like Charley, the goofy cast of secondary characters, her sexual tension with Reyes and the premises of the series. However, there's always a lot going on mystery-wise and it sometimes feels too much. On the other hand, the development of the overall story has been slow and I've been wondering in which direction the series was going... And as a result, the honeymoon phase of the series is over ^_^;  Still, while I wasn't anxiously looking forward to Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet as I did for the previous installments, there was no doubt in my mind that I would pick up the book. And I'm glad I did because Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet turned out to be a good, solid installment and a nice follow-up to Third Grave Dead Ahead :)

What I enjoyed most about Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet was the focus on Charley. In previous installments, we got to know Charley through the investigations and action, but it was mostly glimpses, especially since Charley has a tendency to hide her depth behind her big and eccentric personality :P In this book though, I feel we saw more of her true personality as readers were shown how Charley was coping with the aftermath of the events of Third Grave Dead Ahead. It was more focused on Charley's feelings and therefore it seemed like there was more development. This also meant the different cases weren't as convoluted and that wasn't a bad thing in my opinion. As a result, the story-telling in Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet was smoother, easier to follow and less rushed in my opinion :)

After reading Third Grave Dead Ahead, I admit I was a bit concerned about where the romance was going in the series ^_^; With the introduction of the biker, Donovan, I was worried we were heading into the dreaded love triangle. One of the things I love the most about this series is Charley's relationship with Reyes. It's really not clear-cut given Reyes' character, actions and background, but there's such a connection between Charley and Reyes... and after everything that Reyes has gone through, well I just can't help but root for them to be together. So I'm happy that in Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, Charley and Reyes finally had real sex instead of dream sex LOL. It just seems to cement their relationship more. By the way, just putting it out there, but Reyes continues to be sexy as hell! LOL. Anyway, what I didn't like as much though is how Ms Jones dealt with Donovan's character. It kind of makes his character superfluous and I can't help but wonder why he was introduced in the first place. In addition, I wonder if this was Ms Jones' intentions all along or something pushed her to change her plans for the character. I guess I'll find out as the series continues on. And speaking of relationship, I wonder if Garrett and Gemma will hook up. I think that would be an interesting pairing :)

Story-wise, I have to say the mystery in Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet wasn't as strong as in previous installments. The case about the woman who is being stalked had a very good twist to it, but that was pretty much it. I didn't feel like Charley did a lot of investigation, but then again, she knew something we - the reader - didn't know :) The case about the bank robberies had a purpose, but otherwise, I really could have done without it. What worked for me though was I felt there was development to the overall story of the series. First, Reyes and Charley were moving forward and we also got more glimpses at Reyes which were interesting. Then, you had Charley actually dealing with demons and that's what made the story advanced in my opinion. The whole demon possession of clairvoyants was also very interesting and so was the new secondary character, Quentin :) The only thing I found unfortunate is that Quentin was relegated to the background after being introduced, but I'm guessing Ms Jones is setting it up for the next books. While there was development to the series, I admit that I'm still wondering where the whole series is heading to and I think it's time that Ms Jones starts dealing with that and gives her readers bigger clues.

My Grade: B. As I mentioned above, Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet was another solid installment in the series and I enjoyed it more than Third Grave Dead Ahead. However, it gets the same grade because while I was happy the book focused more on Charley and the overall story, the mystery was on the weaker side and I can't help but question some of the characters and elements pertinence ^_^; Still, I recommend this series to everyone who wants LOL moments :)

Review: Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex

Hi everyone!! How are you doing? I'm doing okay, except I'm in a dreaded reading slump T_T I haven't read anything so far this week and it just sucks!! I guess it's the combination of the New Bride with White Hair and curling that got me revved up. I've been so excited for the TV series that it took up all my energy and then, when I finally calmed down, curling took my time. Speaking of curling, I'll have a post with pictures up this week-end :) In the meantime though, I don't know what to read, nothing appeals to me. I'm hoping next week with the new releases, I'll get back into a rhythm. Sigh.

Luckily, I'm behind in my reviews LOL. So I can at least still write them! Hopefully, I'll start reading more before I catch up, because reading slump and blogging blues, that'd be hell! Anyway, today is a buddy review over at Breezing Through. Ames and I are discussing Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex, a book that we discovered while looking for new releases :) You can find out how much we enjoyed it here.


Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex
published by St. Martin's in July 2012

Bold, brazen, and beautiful, the Reckless Brides refuse to play by society’s rules of courtship. But—come hell or high water—they always get their man..

For generations, the Kents have served proudly with the British Royal Navy. So when her younger brother refuses to report for duty, Sally Kent slips into a uniform and takes his place—at least until he comes to his senses. Boldly climbing aboard the Audacious, Sally is as able-bodied as any sailor there. But one man is making her feel tantalizingly aware of the full-bodied woman beneath her navy blues...

Dedicated to his ship, sworn to his duty—and distractingly gorgeous—Lieutenant David Colyear sees through Sally’s charade, and he’s furious. But he must admit she’s the best midshipman on board—and a woman who tempts him like no other. With his own secrets to hide and his career at stake, Col agrees to keep her on. But can the passion they hide survive the perils of a battle at sea? Soon, their love and devotion will be put to the test...

Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Reckless Brides, Book #1

Week-End's Minis XXV: Fool for Love by Beth Ciotta

Fool for Love by Beth Ciotta

published by St. Martin's Press in August 2012

SHE’S CRAVING A SWEET NEW LIFE...

Call her a fool, but chef-in-training Chloe Madison wants to have her cake and eat it too. So when her boyfriend dumps her for some French tart, she decides to start over from scratch—with a new life and job in Sugar Creek, Vermont. What could be sweeter than cooking for an eccentric lady who’s crazy for desserts? What could be more tempting than joining a club called the Cupcake Lovers? Just one thing: local business-hunk Devlin Monroe...

AND HE’S THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE

Although he’s the grandson of Chloe’s fun-loving boss, Devlin Monroe is all work and no play. Micro-managing the family business, he doesn’t have time to indulge in life’s sweetest pleasures—until he meets Chloe. How can he resist such a vibrant, beautiful woman who brings so much passion to the table? But when old grudges and secrets threaten to destroy the Cupcake Lovers, Devlin must decide if his feelings for Chloe are a recipe for disaster—or a sinfully delicious ever-after...

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Cupcake Lover, Book #1

What do you  need to know? Chloe Madison has had many interests in her life, but none that she was able to pursue and turn into a career... until cooking. As she graduates from the Culinary Arts Institute with honors, Chloe finally feels like she has achieved something, until her boyfriend rains on her parade and dumps her for another woman. In a moment of weakness, her best friend convinces Chloe to move to Sugar Creek, Vermont, and become Daisy Monroe's gourmet chef, companion and driver. It's not exactly what Chloe was looking for for a job, but it'll give her time to get back on her feet, so she accepts.

As soon as she arrives into town, Chloe runs into Devlin Monroe, Daisy's grandson, and finds herself attracted to him. Too bad she has swore off men and sweets! Unfortunately for Chloe, there's no way around Devlin... nor Sugar Creek's cupcake club. As for Devlin, he's shocked that the first woman he's been attracted to in ages turns out to be his grandmother's new companion. Having taken a look at her background, he doesn't find Chloe very reliable and is not sure she's the right person for the job. Plus, he has no time for women when the family business' survival is in jeopardy because of the arrival of a Walmart super center.

Why this book? I saw the cover and it caught my attention. Sooo pretty! Then, when I read the blurb, I knew I had to get the book. Cooking shows are the new trend on TV and therefore, chef, cupcakes and cooking have made their way to books :) I've not escaped this new trend and have been looking for books with chefs as main characters :) Fool for Love sounded perfect.

What didn't work? My biggest problem with Fool for Love was I didn't find the book engrossing ^_^; The story simply didn't grab me and neither did the main characters :( Everything in Chloe's past indicates that she was a flake and while she finally found something she really wanted to do, her life still lacked direction. I don't mind heroines who are flakes as long as they are fun, but it was not the case with Chloe... The whole book, she was so uncertain... it just got a bit tedious to read. As for Devlin, he was overbearing with his micro-managing manners. He wants what is best for everyone and that's admirable, but the way he went about it was just annoying. As a whole, Chloe and Devlin were not bad characters, just not ones I'd like to hang out with. As for their relationship, it was annoying how both kept reminding themselves to keep their distances... and I really disliked how Devlin went in the situation having prejudices against Chloe because of her past.

Something else that bothered me is that Daisy is surrounded by family and friends, but none of them noticed her strange behavior. None of them questioned the reasons why she started living so outrageously. I thought it was quite obvious and it bothered me that of course, Chloe was the one to pick up all the signs. I understand she's a newcomer and therefore has a fresh view on things... but as I said, it was quite obvious.

Finally, I feel something was off with Fool for Love. Perhaps it was the pacing of the book, quite uneven throughout the book, or perhaps it's because a lot of things happened. Either way, the result is that the romance was very rushed at the end and while I wasn't exactly rooting for Devlin and Chloe, I still found that dissatisfying.

What did I like? Fool for Love had quite a few weaknesses, but there were some strengths as well. The writing and the setting were solid. The cupcake club's subplot was kind of nice. However, what got my attention and interest were the secondary characters. I enjoyed the Monroes, thought they were an interesting lot :)

My Grade? C-. Fool for Love just didn't do it for me and half-way through, I skimmed through till the end... and that's unfortunate because I was really looking forward to reading this book.

WEM XVII: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis and If the Slipper Fits by Olivia Drake

Hello everyone! How are you doing?

Ouf, it's still Saturday! Was planning to get this done this morning, but didn't have time before I had to rush out and meet my friends for Snow White and the Huntsman ^_^; Ahhh, I'm so glad it's the week-end :) This week was quite long, tiring and I was so out of it ^_^; So I really hope to enjoy my week-end and so far so good! Of course, it helped that I started my week-end by rewarding myself with some cannoli and Italian cookies :) I've been craving it for weeks now and finally, I went to the Italian bakery.... so much traffic, but worth it!

As promised, this week's WEM is a double-feature! And you guys have spoken: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis and If the Slipper Fits by Olivia Drake :) You ask, you get LOL. Enjoy!!


Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

published by Grand Central Publishing

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all... anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Lucky Harbor series, Book #4

What do you need to know? Well with all the reviews out there, you probably know what happens in this book LOL. But here's my take.

The book opens up with a freak snowstorm in spring and Mallory Quinn, Amy Michaels and Grace Brooks find themselves stuck in the diner, bonding over chocolate cake while Amy is trying to sell Mallory the merits of walking on the wrong side of the line and dating Mr. Wrong. A tree falls in, they hit a guy and somehow, they end up in Mallory's car, tending to Mysterious Cute Guy and waiting for the ambulance... and on impulse, Mallory asks Mysterious Cute Guy out for the week-end's auction. This event is important to Mallory because a portion of the proceeds of that soirée will go towards her pet project, the Health Services Clinic. She wants to open such a clinic in memory of her sister Karen who probably wouldn't have died if she had access to such services.

Mysterious Cute Guy is Ty Garrison, a former Navy SEAL trauma medic, but was honorably discharged after a plane crash in which his team and best friends all died. In the process, he almost lost his leg and now, has re-injured it in one of his most recent assignments - private contracts to accompany and/or rescue dignitaries in war zones. So Ty has chosen Lucky Harbor as his haven to recover... and has been dubbed as the Mysterious Cute Guy on Facebook by the community.

On the auction night, one thing leads to another and Mallory and Ty end up having hot sex. Mallory has always been the "reliable" child in her family - the one that never acted out and whom her mother never had to worry about, while her siblings ran loose. After tasting a bit of wild, Mallory decides to throw caution aside and starts a temporary fling with Ty...

Why this book? I told myself I wasn't going to pick up Lucky in Love, but got swayed by all the good reviews LOL. Yes, I'm that easy. It's not that I don't enjoy Ms Shalvis books, I do... just not as much as everyone else seems to and that's why I think she and I don't click. There's something everyone else is seeing/feeling and I don't ^_^;

Any Issues? I'm going to start with the issues I had with this book, because I think it makes for a more coherent review. Basically, my issue with Lucky in Love is that it was a typical contemporary romance, like so many that are being published nowadays. Goodie-two-shoes heroine, former SEAL hero with PTSD and a romance that starts out as a fling with neither party looking for commitment or long-run... but you know they'll fall in love and you know either the H/H will walk away, realize his/her mistake and come back. If you're looking for something original and refreshing, Lucky in Love is not it ^_^; To her credit, Ms Shalvis has tried to add some depth to the story through Mallory and Ty's backgrounds/sad pasts. It works to an extent, but again, it's not very original... and I have to say, I found the weight Mallory and Ty had on their shoulder, a big draggy.

What I liked? At the end of the day though, Lucky in Love was still an enjoyable book thanks to Ms Shalvis' execution. She has two nice and likable characters as H/H, has also set up the stage for her new set of heroes and heroines well and has not looked back too much on the previous trilogy. Also, I think everyone liked the idea of the Chocoholics - CA :) And it's nice that Mallory, Amy and Grace have such good chemistry together. While the friendship is very new, there is honesty and support in there which makes for a very promising relationship. Finally, Ms Shalvis added the right touch of humor through the quirky characters in the community :) So really, it was a typical contemporary romance, but at least a solid and well-written one.

My Grade: B.

If the Slipper Fits by Olivia Drake
published by St. Martin's Press in May 2012

Will she have her happily ever after?

Is This Love Real?

Raised in a girls’ school, Annabelle Quinn longs for the world outside the walls of the academy. When she’s hired as the governess to an orphaned duke, Annabelle never expects the child’s breathtakingly handsome guardian to capture her imagination—or her heart.

Or Are They Living In a Fairytale?

Falling for his young nephew’s governess is an irksome complication in Lord Simon Westbury’s orderly life, but Annabelle’s quiet beauty and wry intellect are too much to resist. Meanwhile, a mysterious danger looms over the remote Cornwall estate. Will their newfound desire stand the test of time? Or are some happy endings just too good to come true?

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Cinderella Sisterhood, Book #1

What do you need to know? Annabelle Quinn was raised in a girls' school in Yorkshire and has remained at the school, but not by choice. Without any means and family, she doesn't have many prospects... but that doesn't stop her from longing for the outside world. When the opportunity arises for an interview to become the governess to the young, orphaned Duke of Kevern, she's determined not to miss it.

When Annabelle arrives at the Cornwall estate, she quickly realizes two things: Lord Simon Westbury, guardian of the duke, did not expect her presence and is really unhappy with it... and he has neglected his charge, leaving him to the care of the staff and the very rigid and boring vicar. Well Annabelle will have none of that...

It turns out that Simon was in love with the duchess and she reciprocated his feeling, but in the end, did not choose the younger son. When his brother announced their engagement, Simon left and enrolled in the Army and has never returned to Cornwall... and therefore, has never met his nephew. Simon was about to embark on an epic voyage to the continent when he got words of his brother's death and his new responsibilities as guardian... All this years, he has not let go of his anger against his brother and sister-in-law and that has translated to a minimum of interactions with his nephew since his return... But with the noisy and pretty governess, this is about to change.

Why this book? The cover of If the Slipper Fits really caught my eyes and I thought the book sounded interesting after reading the blurb.

What I liked? Unfortunately, If the Slipper Fits did not really meet my expectations ^_^; and I have a lot of issues with it, but there was still some positive. Overall, I did like Annabelle's character. I liked that she was persistent. Given her situation at the girls' school, it would have been so easy to give up and be depressed... but she still dreamed and when she saw an opportunity to change her life, she gave her best. She was also very genuine and definitively to give the duke a better life, a better childhood. She had guts going against Simon and standing for what she believed. My favorite part of the book was definitively the bond between Annabelle and the young duke and how Annabelle roped in Simon to care more about his nephew. I simply like seeing adults and children develop a relationship together, to see the trust that is being established... Also, I find children keep adults honest and down-to-earth :) So that part was well done. And while I wasn't impressed by Simon's behavior, I thought Ms Drake did a good job with his character and establishing the motives for his neglect. In addition, this was my first time reading Ms Drake and I did like her writing. Another good thing was the lack of sequel baiting... I have to admit it's a bit weird, because I'm not even sure we were introduced to the future characters, but I'll take it :) Unfortunately, all this wasn't enough to negate my issues.

Any issues?  As I mentioned, I have a few. The most important one is that I didn't care for the romance in If the Slipper Fits. I think that Simon and Annabelle didn't have any chemistry together and I dislike how Simon takes one look at Annabelle and desires her... At the same time, he makes no efforts to get to know her or try to establish a relationship, since he is too busy looking for a wife. Ugh. Also, I just don't see why Annabelle succumbed to his charms and when was the moment lust turned into love for both of them? Oh and Simon's proposal was just way premature. In every aspect, the romance just didn't work for me :(

The other main issue was the big reveal at the end about Annabelle's identity. It came out from absolutely no-where in my opinion and was really far-fetched. Really, I thought it was totally superfluous and once again, did not care about this twist. I guess it was to tie in the Cinderella theme, but meh. It might have worked with a bit more shadowing and if it had a bigger impact on the storyline... Speaking of Cinderella, I'm not a big fan of fairy tales retellings and Cinderella sure is not a favorite... but when the series is named Cinderella Sisterhood, you have some expectations... and really, the link between If the Slipper Fits and Cinderella is very tenuous. I guess depending on the reader, this can be a good or bad thing.

My Grade: C-. At this point, I'm not sure I'll be picking up the next book...

Week-End's Minis X: Cheri on Top and I Want Candy by Susan Donovan

Last week, I didn't put a poll on the sidebar for the Week-End's Minis for two reasons: 1) I knew what I wanted to review and 2) I haven't been reading as fast lately, so didn't have enough options for a poll ^_^; I thought my reading had picked up last week-end, but I only managed to read one book this week! Ugh. At least, I'm blogging, so small blessing :)

So this week-end, I'm reviewing Cheri on Top and I Want Candy by Susan Donovan. I read I Want Candy last week and knew it'd be a mini-review... Although I might have rambled quite a bit and the review might not fit "mini-review" anymore LOL. Anyway, I wanted to take this opportunity to also review Cheri on Top since it's the first book in the series which I have read when it was released and had slipped  though the cracks.

Enjoy and have a nice  week-end!


Cheri on Top by Susan Donovan

published by St. Martin's Press in August 2011

Sun-drenched beaches, designer-label clothes, drop-dead-gorgeous boy-toys... all paid for with a series of high-risk real estate deals. That’s the lifestyle Cherise Newberry and her BFF Candy enjoy after leaving rural North Carolina for Tampa—until the market tanks and they lose everything. Cheri is surviving on Ramen Noodles and temp jobs when she gets a call from home to come back and run the family’s small-town newspaper. Just one catch: She’ll become the boss of her high school crush—and former brother-in-law—who might have the power to crush her all over again...

But Cheri is surprised to see how “bad boy” J.J. DeCourcy has grown into the hard-working and principled managing editor of The Bigler Bugle. Still, according to Cheri’s bitter sister, he’s not to be trusted. If Cheri’s going to co-exist at the with this sexier-than-ever man from her past, she needs to stay professional—and keep her distance —even though he sets her on fire. When they’re handed the biggest news story in the town’s history, Cheri must trust J.J., even it means putting her life in danger... and her heart on the line.

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Book #1

What do you need to know? I think the paragraph of the synopsis is pretty accurate. However, what's misleading is that J.J. was a lot more than Cheri's high school crush. They were in fact a couple back in high school. The two of them along with Candy and Turner - now the town's sheriff - were like the 4 musketeers. However, Cheri and Candy were determined to leave Bigler and spread their wings... And when J.J. went after Cheri, she was on top of the world. That is until her sister, Tanyalee, called J.J. informing him she was pregnant and he was the father. The next thing Cheri knew, J.J. was marrying Tanyalee. Cheri and her sister never had a good relationship and let just say this just made it worst.

Now, coming back to Bigler and the family business is a big blow to Cheri's pride... and living with her great-aunt Viv is a trial. It doesn't take long for Cheri to take refuge at the family lake's house, her childhood home. Another trial is working with J.J. who's a reporter for the Bugle and on the trails of a very hot story when a car and a corpse, both decades old, are dragged out of the lake. Murders, embezzlement and mayhem ensued.

Why this book? Now that I think about it, I have a weird relationship with Ms Donovan. Whenever Ms Donovan has a new release out, I'll be on the look-out for it... Yet, a lot of her books are hit and miss and I'm starting to wonder why she is an auto-buy author for me ^_^; Why am I not more selective about her books like I am for other readers? Reputation? Peer influence? Hmmmmm.

Anyway, I picked Cheri on Top because it sounded fun :)

My thoughts? Well, I thought that Cheri on Top was not the best book I've read, but not the worst either. I think one of the reasons I felt that way was the characters. At best, I could say my feelings towards them were neutral. I think one of difficulty is the situation both found themselves in. On one hand, you have Cheri who appears to be very materialistic, proud and to a certain extent, selfish. I understand that Cheri has attained such high and to drop so low, well you don't want everyone to know... and that's understandable. However, I got annoyed with the front she put, the whole "Oh, my grandfather begged me to come back" and so on. I also don't understand why she didn't confide in her grandfather - he's the kind who cares and is concerned for her well-being. Another thing that bugged me is the lack of family sense... Tanyalee and Cheri have a bad relationship and given the circumstances, that's okay. Her great-aunt Viv is not the easiest person to live with and that's fine too... But still, her great-aunt Viv and her grandfather are getting older... Isn't Cheri concerned for them? Then, on the other hand, you have J.J. Everyone makes mistake, but J.J.' s was big and a bit hard to overlook. Confessing your love to Cheri and being interrupted by a phone call from her sister announcing she's pregnant and you're the father? Ouch. The whole fact that 1) he slept with someone else and 2) Cheri's sister... Even if Tanyalee instigated it and all, still ouch. I do admit though that mistake aside, J.J. turned out to be a good guy. However, sometimes, first impressions are hard to overcome ^_^;

The romance between the two is as you'd expect. Basically, Cheri and J.J. still have feelings for each other and once in close proximity, despite their past, they have difficulty keeping each other at arm's length. Actually, they have difficulty keeping their hands off each other LOL. So there was plenty of sexual tension and the chemistry was there. I liked that they worked things out, especially concerning their past. That was the big obstacle to their relationship... although I kind if wished they'd also talk more about the present. What they wanted now.

I'd have to say, if it was for the characters and the romance only, this book wouldn't have scored high points with  me... but surprisingly, the mystery was pretty interesting :) Ms Donovan did a good job with it as well as integrating it to the romance. Plus, there was some very funny parts - pregnant squirrel comes to mind :) And that made me enjoy the book more.

My Grade? C+. In the end, I found Cheri on Top was a quirky read and had a good time.

I Want Candy by Susan Donovan
published by St. Martin's Press in February 2012

Candace Carmichael was just getting used to the lavish life when everything went sour. Now the down-on-her-luck real estate agent is back in Bigler, North Carolina, jobless and illegally rooming with her her mother in a swank retirement community. All this makes her wonder why she ever considered her BFF Cheri’s invitation to move back home. Life in this small mountain town may not be as glamorous as the one she had in Tampa, but she knows a girl can’t be too choosy in this market. Besides, everyone’s happy to welcome Candy back—especially one handsome widower named Turner...

Turner has grown up to be one fine-looking piece of man candy—and looks even tastier in his sheriff’s uniform. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t resist kissing him when he pulled her over for a traffic violation. Even if a relationship was part of Candy’s business plan, Turner would be off limits—he still wears his wedding ring, four years after his wife died. If falling in love too fast is a crime, Candy is soon guilty as charged and ready to be fingerprinted. But is she ready to lock away her dreams and hand Turner the keys to her heart?

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Book #2

What do you need to know? Well eventually, Candy followed Cheri home to Bigler, but she's still totally broke. Candy's plan is to find a job, make a bit of money and as soon as she can, she'll leave the town and start over. Eventually, she gets a cashier job at the diner... and while she's trying to scrape money together to rent an apartment, she is rooming with her mother at the retirement community - not something she ever expected, especially given their relationship. Then, the night clerk starts developing an unhealthy crush on her and Candy finds herself unknowingly tangled in a joint task force investigation for a drug bust.

Ever since their high school days, Turner had a crush on Candy... However, it was clear they had no future together since her father would never approve of Turner because of his skin color. But now, the planets seem to have aligned themselves: her father's death, Turner is a widower and Candy seems to have finally realized what a hunk Turner is...

Why this book? Same reason as to why I bought Cheri on Top,  although I have to say, I was curious about Candy's story :)

My thoughts? Hmmmmm, it's hard to describe how I feel about I Want Candy. On one hand, there was a lot going on at the same time with some inconsistencies and questions... but at the same time, I don't know, it works LOL. I found myself continuing reading and that's something given my current reading mood. So kudos to Ms Donovan LOL.

Overall, I liked both Candy and Turner's characters. Turner was just a good buy all around and while he was a widower, he wasn't too hung up on his dead wife. Yes, he wanted to find out the truth behind her death for closure and J.J. and his brother thought he was a bit obsessed with it, that he should resign himself. However, his behavior didn't come across as obsessive, mainly because he had healthy fantasies about Candy, LOL, but also because there was so much going on that Ms Donovan did not focus too much attention on that aspect ^_^; As for Candy, I like that knew she was materialistic. She has difficulty giving up her previous life, but she was still a pretty good girl... and she was brave to want to pick up the broken pieces and want to start over. What bothered me though with her character is that Candy kept saying she couldn't stay in Bigler. It was okay for Cheri, but for her, being Candace Carmichael, it was not an option to stay... and that part, I didn't really get. The way Candy talked, it was as if she really had a bad past or her family had a bad reputation in Bigler and everyone would be out throwing stones at her... But it really wasn't the case. Also, there were parts where it seemed Candy was traumatized in her past, but when it came to light, in the scheme of all things, it didn't feel that bad. I know this is subjective and it varies from person to person... but I guess reading so much fiction and listening to news, there are so many horror stories out there that it made me immune and insensitive...? I just found that there were characters I've read who had worst and seemed to cope better than Candy ^_^;

Once again, the romance between Candy and Turner was pretty hot and heavy. I like the chemistry between the two and I think it helps that they had an history. I liked that Turner didn't want to make Candy obliged to stay, that he wanted her to stay in Bigler not just because of him, but for herself as well. Once again though, I wished there was a bit more development... a push as to why the two of them would jump each other now besides attraction and lust. Also, Ms Donovan touched lightly on the racial aspect... I don't know how I feel about that. I'm sad that it is still a current problem in our society and good for Ms Donovan for addressing it. At the same time, I kind of have a problem with the way she did it... Because there was so much going on, Ms Donovan didn't dwell on it very long and as a result, it felt superficial and superfluous ^_^; It seems to me, if Ms Donovan really wanted to tackle this issue, she should have devoted more of the book to it. Otherwise, she should simply not have brought it up. As it is, the in-between does not do much.

Also, I thought the mystery in Cheri on Top was well done... but not so much in I Want Candy. I think it again comes back to too much going on. The whole drug investigation was a good idea as another storyline, but it was muggled with the whole night clerk's - who's a part of the drug lab organization - delusion that Candy was his girlfriend. The way this story thread was resolved was a bit unrealistic and anti-climatic.

One last inconsistency that bothered me was about Candy's mother, Jacinda. She did such a 180 degrees in behavior that it was hard to believe. I mean, in the beginning of the book, when Candy visits her mother to let her know what happened to the money she lent her, the reaction you get was that Jacinda didn't expect to see the money back because she knew Candy would fail... Then at the end, you find out everything that Jacinda has done for Candy. Don't mistake me, I'm glad that her mother turned out to be a better woman and Candy will probably have a better relationship with her... but it seems like a bit of bad characterization, because it's hard to believe ^_^;

So it seemed like I had a lot of issues with I Want Candy and I guess I did... but as I said earlier, there was just something about this book that was compelling and made me continue reading it and at the end, I had a good time :)

My Grade? C+ as well. Once again, not the best nor the worst book, but an enjoyable one :) I have no idea if Ms Donovan plans any other books in Bigler, but I wouldn't be against it :)

Review: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

Hi everyone!

So how was the long week-end? Hope you enjoyed it! I had a really nice time reading, blogging and watching TV. Really my kind of week-end :) I did go out on Monday to buy a wedge pillow. I've been having vertigo again since last Thursday and I figured it was time for me to invest in such a pillow. See, previously, the doctor has told me I shouldn't sleep flat anymore. As a result, I've been trying to achieve 45 degrees sleeping by piling up my pillows, but it was really uncomfortable for my neck, shoulders and back. I'd wake up several times a night to re-situate myself... and I developed the habit of sleeping on my stomach. So instead of 45 degree, it was more like 90 degrees ^_^; I figured there was something out there that should be able to help me and ended up with a wedge pillow. So far so good, had two great nights of sleep and when I wake up, I feel okay :) I think it will really help with the vertigo... just hope this spell doesn't last too long.

Okay, enough about me and my pillow :) Instead, let's talk books! I finally got into a reading rhythm over the week-end. Lately, I've been reading steadily... but also very slowly ^_^; Dunno why. I've been averaging 2 books a week? Maybe it was because of TV and curling, hmmmm. In any case, I read 4 books in the past 4 days, yay! Now, I just need to keep the rhythm and still do everything else LOL. So to start things off, a review :)

Last week, I reviewed Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas. I told you I wanted to have my review up because Ames and I wanted to buddy review Rainshadow Road. Well guess what? Yep, it's up over at Breezing Through! You can read it here and find out how much we enjoyed the book :)

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
published by St. Martin's Press in February 2012

Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington, with a boyfriend, Kevin, who she believes is her soul mate. She has always had a magical side - a gift that finds its way into the breathtaking glasswork she creates - and she struggles to keep it contained. But when Lucy is blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal, she questions many of her choices. Her boyfriend leaves her and his new lover is none other than Lucy's own sister. Lucy's bitterness over this devastation is multiplied buy the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life.

Meanwhile, facing the severe disapproval of Lucy's family, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on the San Juan Island, to "romance" Lucy so that she can more easily move on. But when Sam and Lucy begin to feel real sparks between them, Lucy must ask herself if she can easily risk her heart again.

As Lucy questions her beliefs about love, loyalty, and old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings, she explores the possibility that some things in life - even after are being broken - can be re-made into something beautiful. And that is the only by discovering who you really are that you can find the one who truly deserves you.

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Friday Harbor series, Book #2

Review: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

How's everyone? Seems to me the week and blogland have been quiet. Is everyone getting ready for the long week-end? I'm one of those who gets both Friday and Monday off, so this will be an extra long week-end :) I'm planning to relax and rest. I started having vertigo again yesterday... Hopefully, it'll pass soon. By the way, guess what I'm doing tomorrow with friends? Going to watch The Hunger Games! Crossing my fingers that I'll enjoy it :)

Ames recently reviewed Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor and urged me to read the Friday Harbor series. And because it was Ames, I did :) We're now planning a buddy review of Rainshadow Road for next week over at Breezing Through. As a result, I really wanted to review Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor beforehand... and yay, I did it! Enjoy :)


Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
published by St. Martin's Press in December 2010

One little girl needs a family
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

One single man needs a wife
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

Sometimes it takes a little magic...
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

...to make dreams come true
Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home...

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Friday Harbor series, Book #1

The Story: The blurb is pretty accurate. Basically, Holly's mother died and Mark, the oldest Nolan brother, was named as guardian. He never anticipated this situation, never expected to have his own family and has no knowledge of children. Actually, given their experience, he doesn't believe that any Nolan should marry... However, there's no way he'll let Holly end up in foster care and so Mark is determined to do his best. His first move is to move in with his brother Sam, so he'll have support. To their surprise, Mark and Sam fall in love with Holly and she gains their instant devotion. As such, they are concerned that she hasn't spoken a word in six months since her mother's death... That is until she steps into Maggie Conroy's toy store in Friday Harbor.

When Mark finds out Holly's Christmas wish is to have a new mother, he intends to make her wish come true by taking the next step with his girlfriend, Shelby... but despite his best intentions, he finds himself attracted to Maggie. And while Maggie is also attracted to Mark, she has no intention to embark into another relationship. A widow of two years, Maggie lost her husband to cancer... and she never wants to love and feel as much again.

My Opinion: Hmmm, I was quite hesitant to read Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. One reason is I didn't know what to expect and another was the length of the novel; it is quite short. However, after reading Ames' review, I decided to give it a try... and I'm really glad I did.

Basically, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was a very cute and touching contemporary romance with nice characters. I simply loved Holly! She was such a great kid. Once she started talking again, she was very sweet and happy... and I loved how Mark and Sam fell under her charm and how she brought them together. I have the feeling that this 6 years old girl made them better persons :) Their interactions were very cute, warmed my heart and left me smiling. Especially the scene where Holly says her first word in 6 months to Sam! (p34)

Leaning down, Mark murmured to Holly, "Go ask him what's for dinner."
The child obeyed, going to Sam's side and putting her mouth close to his ear. She whispered something and retreated a few steps.
Mark saw Sam go very still.
"You're talking," Sam said, turning slowly to look at the little girl. A questioning note had tipped his husky voice.
Holly shook her head, looking grave.
"Yes, you are, you just said something."
"No I didn't." A titter escaped her as she saw Sam's expression.
"You did it again, by God! Say my name. Say it."
"Uncle Herbert."
Sam let out a breathless laugh and grabbed her, pulling her against his chest. "Herbert? Oh now it's going t to be chicken lips and lizard feet for dinner."

Isn't it sweet? And what I loved best was that Holly teased Sam! I think it shows how well she has adapted, how comfortable she was with her uncles... to be able to tease them, even when it's the first time she talks to him. And Mark and Sam were doing an awesome job :)

Overall, I thought all the characters were quite nice and likable. I wished we'd have a bit more background information on the Nolan brothers, especially Mark. He kept saying stuff about how bad a father and husband he'd be, how they didn't know how to be a family, etc. It obviously alluded to their childhood/experience and their parents, but no details were given and therefore, it was hard to understand his fears and worries, to believe his certitude. I also liked Maggie. She was a very nice and caring woman.Although her behavior and decisions were understandable given the circumstances, I still found her wishy-washy attitude tiresome at times and I thought it was a bit cowardly of her to use Shelby as a shield, a reason why she couldn't be with Mark ^_^; I wished she'd have been more honest to herself. Lucky for her, Mark didn't take no for an answer. Plus, given all her reticence, I thought the timeline of their courtship at the end was very fast! Although with the pacing of the story, it didn't feel that fast...

Finally, I'm going to say that I'm really glad I got Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor as an e-book for 2.99$. The reality is that Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is a novella, not a full-length novel. Had I paid full-price for this book when it came out in hardcover, I would be fuming at the mouth ^_^; And it would definitively have ruined my enjoyment of this book. As it is, I was surprised when the book ended, because I was expecting more and it turned out to be the excerpt ^_^;

My Grade: B-. Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was not a perfect novella, but it left me feeling good and smiling :)

Review: Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones

Ouf, I'm finally done with the big experiment! And it worked! Yay! But really, the best part about big experiments is the down-time needed after to analyze the data LOL. As a result, I should have more free time to blog and review, I hope! I'll need it since my reading has picked up and I've also been obsessed with a new chinese TV series about doctors :) This week is the final week and I've been watching the episodes raw, i.e. in Cantonese. I can catch a word or two here and there LOL. Luckily, there was a nice person on the forum that translated some detailed summaries, so I can kind of follow :) Can't wait for the subbed episodes though.

Anyway, I'll make a bigger effort to review, because I have a few books I want to talk about! The first one is Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones! Enjoy!

By the way, last day to vote for the Week-End's Minis!! Poll is on the sidebar :)


***Warning: There are spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk!***

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones

published by St. Martin's Press in January 2012

Charley Davidson—grim reaper extraordinaire, private investigator . . . meh—is practicing her profession under the influence, caffeine and copious amounts of it, due to an extreme desire to induce insomnia. Every time she closes her eyes, Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan, is there. Only thing is, he’s a tad peeved. She did bind him for all eternity, so it’s hard blame him. But 13 days without a wink is bound to bring out the crazy in a girl. So, when a man hires her to find his wife, Charley accepts the job with one goal in mind: Put the man behind bars, and not the wet kind. She can sense the guilt waft off him and vows to find the woman’s body and prove he’s a murderer.

In the meantime, Reyes is back in prison and none too happy about it . . . so Charley thinks, until she is carjacked by the dark-haired rake, who swears the very man he went to prison for killing is not only alive, but close by. And he wants Charley to find him.

While a visit to her old friend Rocket sheds no light on Reyes’s situation, Charley finds out the man’s wife is still alive and time is running out. Finding her before she dies would be a miracle, but she has to try. Together with the help of a fashion-impaired receptionist named Cookie, Charley sets out to bring the bad guys to justice. She just hopes Reyes is not one of them. And that she’s not hallucinating from her self-induced bout with insomnia.

Genre: Mystery with paranormal elements
Series: Charley Davidson series, Book #3

The Story: It's been almost 2 weeks since the events of Second Grave on the Left and Charley has barely slept a wink, thanks to coffee. The reason is every time she falls asleep, Reyes appears to her and they have sex... It should be a good thing, but not when he's angry at her. However, 2 weeks without sleep is definitively starting to take a toll on Charley. And suddenly, the cases start piling up.

First, there's a doctor claiming his wife has disappeared...However, with her superpowers, Charley senses foul play. The wife has disappeared all right, but she is sure the doctor is involved somehow. Second, there's Reyes who suddenly escapes prison! It turns out that while being tortured by demons in Second Grave on the Left, he learned that "his" mortal father faked his death all these years ago and is actually alive. Reyes always knew he was innocent of the crime, but this is taking it to a different level... and this time around, he's determined to find the SOB and clear his name. Finally, there's Charley's father... Charley's anger at her father has not passed and their relationship is on the rocks... but now, he wants her to change career?!?

Yep, just another week in the regular life of the Grim Reaper :)

My Opinion: The Charley Davidson series is one I've enjoyed a lot in 2011 and so, I've really been looking forward to the next installment, simply because the books are so much fun :) Seriously, I wonder how Ms Jones writes a character like Charley. LOL, the stuff that comes out of her mouth? Priceless! With the cliff-hang-ish end of Second Grave to the Left, I simply couldn't wait to get my hands on Third Grave Dead Ahead to find out what would happen next :) Overall, I did enjoy Third Grave Dead Ahead... but at the same time, I had some mixed feelings ^_^; Most probably because I'm a bit wary of the ending and the direction the series is taking.

First thing first though, what did I enjoy most in Third Grave Dead Ahead? The characters. They are the strength of this series in my opinion :) I like Charley because she's fun and despite all the things that happen, she has a positive outlook on life. I find it refreshing :) I also enjoyed how she finds herself in some ridiculous situations. Plus, her and Cookie provide a lot of LOL moments :) My description makes her sound like an airhead, but she is definitively not. As I said in my previous reviews, there is depth to Charley. She is a lot smarter than she lets on and also a competent PI. Taken all together, I find Charley to be a refreshing heroine :) It's nice that while she has unusual powers as the Grim Reaper, she's not a kick-ass heroine like we find so many in UF. Aside from Charley, we're also treated to a nice supporting cast which balance out Charley's quirkiness. Oh and I really liked the new characters introduced :) A nun that can hear angels talking? Charley's guardian? They fit right in and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the future. I hope they'll have a more dominant role LOL.

Another good element of Third Grave Dead Ahead is the progress in some of the relationships and the story. While not prominent, I liked that Charley's sister was in the picture and the sisters' relationship is on the mend :) I also liked that we finally find out why Officer Vaughn has been such a pain in the ass to Charley throughout the series. It's really been bothering me and I'm happy that we finally got some closure. I'm also happy to know that Officer Vaughn will probably not turn into a psycho and attack Charley in her sleep ^_^; I also thought the scene at the hospital at the end was very interesting. Charley's entourage definitively know more than they let on. It's a good thing given how much powerful she seems to become lately. As for Charley's relationship with her father... It really saddened me how fast it is degrading. I understand her father feels guilty and therefore, wants Charley to be safe... but he really took the wrong decisions. It is not the right way to make their relationship right again. I hope it can be mended :(

I thought Third Grave Dead Ahead was a very consistent book when it came to the characters and the writing; however, I found that the mystery wasn't as suspenseful as usual and as tight as usual. Perhaps it's because I'm getting used to her style so there are less surprises and instead, there is a pattern ^_^; However, I think another reason is the case Charley took this time around was very similar to the one she caught in Second Grave on the Left as both were about wives who have disappeared. Finally, I thought there were major flaws in the case involving Reyes' non-dead father and that's why I felt the mystery wasn't as tight. Some things in it just didn't make sense to me. Let say Earl Walker had really faked his death 8 years ago... Would he really hang around Albuquerque and risk discovery? Even if he followed news involving Reyes - to return and threaten Charley just didn't make sense to me. Also, it was an easy way to wrap the mystery ^_^; Also, the fact that Reyes used Charley as bait, that was a definite no-no. So stupid of him!! Especially after the events in Second Grave on the Left. Once again, you see some echoes from Third Grave Dead Ahead in Second Grave on the Left. Too many similarities in my opinion that didn't help make this book more enjoyable.

And then, there's the romance. I was really happy when I first read that Reyes' father might not be dead... because that meant somehow, Reyes would be exonerated right? It's one thing to know that Reyes didn't commit the crime, but another having a hero who's in jail ^_^; Let just say it's not easy to root for romance in such conditions LOL. Also, ever since I've started this series, I was wondering how Ms Jones would take care of this issue. And she did an okay job about it. In any case, Reyes out of prison would be yay!! Except I'm unhappy at Charley and Reyes' relationship state at the end of Third Grave Dead Ahead and also the fact that Ms Jones seemed to have introduce a love rival. Ugh!! I really hate love triangle and I hope this is not the direction Ms Jones is taking. I don't wish for the Charley Davidson series to become a series where whenever there's hope for the H/H to be together, more obstacles will be thrown in to prevent them :( I mean, it was finally clear that Garrett didn't have a chance and then comes in Donovan? And let say this was not the road that Ms Jones decide to go down with. Let say Reyes is the love of Charley's life - which I'm a firm believer of, I still wonder if/how their relationship can work out. I definitively hope that Ms Jones has it planned out. I know I said Charley reminded me of Stephanie Plum in my previous reviews... but the last thing I want is for Charley's romantic life to be like Stephanie's!! And so that's why I'm wary, sigh.

My Grade: B. I enjoyed Third Grave Dead Ahead and I thought it was a solid installment, but not as good as the two previous books when it came to the mystery side of it. Also, it left me with an uneasy feeling because I'm anxious to know what is going to happen. The good news is I'm definitively going to pick up Fourth Grave Beneath my Feet to find out and I hope Ms Jones will be choosing the direction I'm rooting for :)

Review: Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke

Ugh, the past two days have been brutal. It's really gotten cold and I've been having headaches and feeling nauseous. I'm knocking on wood it's not a BPPV relapse. Instead, I'm blaming the cold... In any case, I cannot afford getting sick as I'm going to the conference this week-end. Hmmmm, now that I think about it, it could be the conference is stressing me up. I mean, we're leaving Sunday and I have just booked the bus tickets today. It's soo annoying because my boss is indecisive about everything and so it doubles the planning time ^_^; Also, my labmate is really starting to panic as he and our boss each has a poster presentation... but we have not started on the posters yet!! Yeah... guess what I've been drafted to help with?

On the review front, I'm trying to catch up on books from this summer ^_^; I'm so behind, it's not funny. To try to avoid this situation in two months, I've been mixing it up, old and new... If there are any books that I was supposed to review and I haven't yet and you'd like me to, please let me know! LOL. In the meantime, enjoy this one!


Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke
published by St. Martin's Press in June 2011

When the Ministry of Marriage arranges a match, all that matters is power, wealth and prestige. In the business of marriage, there is no room for love. But even the most prudent plans can go awry...

Jane, Lady Roxdale, has endured one marriage of convenience decreed by the Ministry of Marriage. While she deeply regrets her late husband’s death, she is relieved to be free at last. But when a dissolute rake threatens everything Jane holds dear, she must contemplate marrying a second time...

Disgraced libertine Constantine Black inherits his cousin Roxdale’s land and title—while Roxdale’s prim widow is left all the wealth. Constantine is not a marrying man, but wedding Jane is the only way to save the estate from ruin. Jane resists the smoldering heat between them, desperate not to fall in love with an unrepentant rake. But for the first time ever, Constantine wants more than seduction. He wants all of her—body, heart, and soul...

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Ministry of Marriage series, Book #1

The Story: Through ironic circumstances, the Duke of Montford, a confirmed bachelor, found himself the guardian of 5 children - 3 girls, all heiresses, and 2 boys, titled and landed. He did his best raising them and ensuring their futures which means making sure their fortunes grew and in the case of the ladies, that they'd also marry well. As a member of the Ministry of Marriage, Montford had his pick for the best matches...

Jane, Lady Roxdale, was one of Montford's ward and was married off to Frederick Black, Baron Roxdale, at the age of 17. While she had liked him during their courtship, marriage did not turn out as she expected... and as a result, Jane is content to be free again. All she wants is to live peacefully and to take care of her 6 years old nephew and Frederick's ward, Luke Black. She knows that soon, Montford will plot to get her married again, but this time, she intends to remain independent. Unfortunately, Frederick's will have taken away that option...

Constantine Black is the defunct Lord Roxdale's cousin and heir. Years ago, Constantine refused to marry a young lady that he had compromised and as a result, he's been estranged with his family and has become persona non grata to the ton. And of course, he's gotten a reputation that he hasn't earned. Now that he's inherited the title though, Constantine wants to forget the past, start anew and prove to everyone they were wrong about him... However, it won't be as easy as he thinks...

Indeed, in his iron-clad will, Frederick Black stipulated that all his funds would go to his widow and Luke's guardianship was transferred to Constantine. Each has what the other wants as Constantine now has no funds to maintain the estate... and therefore, there is really only one solution: a marriage of convenience between the two!

My Opinion: This book caught my attention earlier this summer when I was going through the list of authors attending RWA. Back then, I was binging on historical romance and this definitively seemed to be right up my alley :) I was determined to get a copy at RWA... and I'm glad I did!! :)

The premise of Heiress in Love is not really original - it's a marriage of convenience after all. Constantine needs the funds to maintain his estate and Jane wants to remain close to Luke. However, Ms Brooke did a great job with it and it's all due to her interesting characters :) I have to say, I really liked the hero of this book. Despite his reputation, Constantine was really an honorable man. I liked that he accepted the consequences of his decision and they were quite dire. He didn't blame anyone, didn't whine and wasn't  angry at the whole world. He stood by his principles and wouldn't be coerced into a marriage and it took guts. With Jane, while he didn't have many options, to marry her was still his choice. I also liked that he bonded with Luke - I love men getting along with kids in books :) It shows a different side of them. I also liked that he was hard-working and cared for his tenants. As I said, a great hero and he totally stole the spotlight in this book. I'm not saying that Jane was a bad heroine. She was likable, but paled a little bit in comparison to Constantine. She wasn't as self-assured as Constantine and was a bit the ice maiden. She did feel, but it felt to me she didn't know how to communicate her feelings. The only persons she let close to her were her childhood friends and Luke. Still, at the end, you have to admire her love for Luke.

The romance in the book was okay. I think the fact that bothered the most to me was the fact that Jane didn't enjoy the conjugal act with her late husband and therefore she finally finds passion with Constantine. It's just so common whenever you have widow heroines ^_^; Although I guess it's all a question of chemistry. In any case, I'm happy the two of them didn't jump right in the marriage and in bed together. Actually, both had reservation about it and were trying to find other options. I thought that was realistic. It also gave them time to get to know each other better and develop their feelings. In that aspect, the romance worked for me :) All in all, the romance was there and it was nice, but it lacked a bit of omphf to it making it only okay.

The overall storyline of Heiress in Love was interesting :) Surprisingly, there was a lot going on and Ms Brooke did a great job balancing everything. The most interesting part for me was Constantine's past :) The weakest part for me was the Ministry of Marriage. It seems to be consisted of three persons: Montford, Lady Arden and Lord DeVere and together, they seemed to be related to everyone in Society LOL. As it is the basis of this series, I wished there'd have been more explanations about the Ministry of Marriage. Why did they form, who has given them the power, what is their purpose. Obviously, it is to make match... but there must be more to it, right? So I hope Ms Brooke clarifies that in the future. I also wish for more interactions between Montford and Jane, just so she understands that Montford really did care for them all.

In the end, I was really pleasantly surprised by Heiress in Love. I think Ms Brooke has a nice writing style that flows well and is easy to read.  Heiress in Love was definitively a solid debut, its flaws minor, and I am looking forward to Mad About the Earl, the next book in this series :)

My Grade: B-.

Review: Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

published by St. Martin's Press in August 2011

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven... well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

Genre: Mystery with paranormal elements,
Series: Charley Davidson series, Book #2

The Story: There's never a dull moment in Charley's life. Everything starts when Charley is rudely awakened by her neighbor/secretary/best friend Cookie. Cookie's friend, Mimi, who has disappeared 5 days earlier, has just contacted Cookie to meet at a coffee shop. However, when Charley and Cookie arrive at the coffee shop, there is no sign of Mimi... Instead, there's only a name. Charley agrees to help Cookie out and investigate on Mimi's disappearance. She quickly realizes that Mimi is in trouble when she discovers that Mimi's high school entourage has been dropping dead one after another. The fake FBI agents who paid a visit to Charley were also a pretty obvious clue.

Meanwhile, Charley is heading an investigation of her own. She's looking for Reyes Alexander Farrow's body. Reyes is the entity that has been haunting her and looking over her. Reyes is also her sort-of-boyfriend and Satan's son and his physical shell is being tortured by demons who want to know her whereabouts. Soon, he won't be able to take it anymore so he's decided to let his body die... To say that Charley is not thrilled with this idea is an understatement and thus, she's determined to find him. Unfortunately, there's the slight problem that Reyes is a fugitive and therefore, Charley can not openly ask for Uncle Bob's help... And as if all this was not enough, Charley's father is acting weird. Should she worry about it?

Yep, never a dull moment.

My Opinion: Well, Second Grave on the Left was another winner for me :) I'm really liking this series so far and am happy that 1) there is little wait between the books and 2) there is going to be more than three books in this series.

Basically, everything that I enjoyed in First Grave on the Right, I found in Second Grave on the Left :) Charley is still a fun heroine, but more importantly, she's interesting and intriguing. I like that there's a lot more to Charley than meets the eyes. As I mentioned in First Grave on the Right, my first impressions of Charley was that she reminded me of Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich. Mainly because she is quite a klutz and finds herself in preposterous situations :) However, as it turns out, Charley does know what she's doing. Actually, I find Charley to be smart, savvy and competent... but she hides herself behind a veil of absurdity that makes her hilarious. Mostly, I think it's her way of protecting herself. She's different and therefore, often misunderstood and feared. She's definitively been hurt in the past - by her own stepmother and sister, but also friends... and so she maintains a distance. So that's Charley as a human... but Charley is also the grim reaper. I liked the fact that when we met Charley, she already had a handle on her abilities and her functions as the grim reaper and that she's been learning as she grew up. I like that the powers weren't just foisted on her one day. Instead, she's had a lifetime to learn and adapt. Then again, I also like the fact that Charley has a lot more power than she thought and she is slowly uncovering it. To me, it makes sense that as she learns more about the world, she learns more about her abilities and her true nature :)

Along with Charley, we have a yummy hero, Reyes :) Reyes is another interesting character and he's still quite a mystery. I find Reyes' character to be refreshing. I like how dark and ruthless and how kind he can be. He's a very ambiguous character. Good or bad? Does it really matter? What matters is that he's willing to sacrifice himself to protect Charley and that Charley loves him. I do admit I'm anxious about the romance. Is there really a way for Charley and Reyes to be together at the end? I sure hope so!! I definitively don't want a love triangle somewhere in the future... However, I have to say Charley and Reyes are quite devoted to each other so perhaps we'll be spared. It feels to me that their romance is transcending, it's been thousand of years in the making... at the same time, it is so fragile, because when it comes down to it, Charley doesn't know Reyes. She is getting to know him though and she is dealing with what she learns... LOL, as you can see, Ms Jones has me invested in this romance! Don't need to tell you this is a good thing, right? LOL.

Finally, I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book. The case about Mimi was interesting and quite suspenseful. I also liked that Charley is delving more into Reyes' past, finding out more about him and meeting his best friends. Most interesting is Ms Jones's good use of Charley's informants and aides which of course, are from the ghostly nature :) It gives her some leeway when it comes to the mystery because Charley gets information that usually wouldn't be available to her. At the same time, Charley actually does some investigating of her own, gets information the old fashion way. For me it works, because the ghosts are involved in both Charley's professions - PI and grim reaper - and let's face it, they make for great secondary characters :) With everything going on, Second Grave on the Left is full of action and very fast-paced; I couldn't turn the pages fast enough :) I do admit that at time, there was perhaps a bit too much going on and I was confused a little... but overall, I think Ms Jones did a great job at balancing everything and keeping the readers at the edge of their seats :)

My Grade: A-. I really enjoyed and loved Second Grave on the Left. It was a great book and my issue with it was pretty minor and will probably clear up once I re-read it at a slower pace. All in all, I'm really happy I gave this series a go and it's probably my "find" of the year so far :)

Review: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Yay, a review!! LOL, I'm most likely going to be late for work this morning... but who cares? I have  a review up!! and hopefully, I'll be able to pump out a few today :) In the meantime, how is everyone doing? Pretty quiet lately on blogland. I'm still feeling kind of so-so. I had a blood test done yesterday and going to see the results today. Hopefully, that gives me a little peace of mind.

My sister cooked yesterday - she made vegetarian lasagna... which meant I ate much later than usual LOL. Yeah, I shouldn't be complaining since I didn't have to cook... and it was yummy :) We watched the newest episode of Rizzoli & Isles and also started a new tv show, Suits. So far, it's okay. Lots of blablabla though. Now, today, I need to start making my grocery list for our annual BBQ this Saturday :) Fun times ahead! Hopefully, for everyone else as well! In the meantime, enjoy my review! :)


First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
published by St. Martin's Press in February 2011

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

Genre: Mystery with paranormal elements
Series: Charley Davidson series, Book #1

The Story: Hmmmm, how to describe the story? Charley is not an ordinary woman. She has powers that allows her to see ghosts. However, she's not a simple medium... instead, she's a grim reaper. Actually, she's THE grim reaper and her job is to guide them towards the light. In addition to being able to see ghosts, she has some quirky abilities such as understanding every languages that have driven a wedge between her and some members of her family.

By day, Charley is a private investigator - yes, seeing ghosts and having their help definitively give her an edge :) She also helps her uncle, a detective, with useful tips. In First Gave on the Right, Charley is embroiled in an investigation about the murders of three lawyers who had gotten new evidence to get their client acquitted from murder. At the same time, she is being "haunted" in her sleep by a being... and she has no idea what's going on. Then, when she discovers that the being might be the guy of her dreams - a bad boy she's met as a teenager - she's determined to find out who, why and how he is haunting her. Especially  if he's the really "bad thing" that has protected her throughout her life.

My Opinion:  All right, LOL. Not the best synopsis, but let just say there is a lot going on in First Gave on the Right and it's not easy to explain... but as a very good author, Ms Jones makes it all work - proof of her talent, imagination and writing skills :)

So I really, really enjoyed First Grave on the Right. I first picked it up, because of the gorgeous cover, but also because despite the subject - grim reaper, seeing ghosts - the book sounded very funny... and it was :) Charley is a great heroine. A very complex character, she can come off a bit as a klutz, getting in all those kind of scrapes; however, at the same time, she's very competent as a grim reaper and that's what I liked about her. I liked that she knew herself and her powers and were comfortable with them, not afraid to use it. I liked that she actually knew what she was doing instead of muddling it through. She also has an humorous side which makes it fun to follow her in her adventures :)

As for the situation with Reyes, that was very interesting. Of course, I have a weakness for "love at first sight" and the kind of "romance" Reyes and Charley are having LOL. It's the kind where both parties involved know they are meant for each other and are trying to find their ways back to each other. Although with Reyes and Charley, it might be more complicated than most. I'm really looking forward to see how it will turn out. At the same time, I am concerned... with Reyes' identity. I mean, it's obvious that Reyes and Charley have very strong feelings for each other, even though they don't really know each other. However, with Reyes being Reyes... the romance might be near-impossible. So I just hope that Ms Jones doesn't add a third party to it ^_^; Someone more approachable, more possible. I know, I know, I'm worrying ahead... but hey, we've all seen it right? So I'm crossing my fingers it won't in this series.

The overall mystery in First Grave on the Right was well-done and well-written. I have to admit though, I was a bit confused at times, because there was so much going on. Still, for a debut novel, it's really good and enjoyable, and as a result, can be forgiven :)

In any case, let me repeat once more that I've really enjoyed this book. The series shows a lot of potential and Ms Jones has indicated that the series will go beyond 3 books, so that's great news for her and us, readers :) I'm interesting to see how the Reyes situation will turn out, but also see if something will be done with the family situation. However, in the end, the most important will be simply reading more of Charley, because she's a great heroine :)

My Grade: B+. I don't know if the following is good or bad, but anyway, that's how I felt LOL. After reading First Grave on the Right, the vibe I got about Charley was a bit of Stephanie Plum - klutzy and funny. So if you enjoy the Stephanie Plum series and paranormal elements, you want to give the Charley Davidson series a try :)