Review - Twelve Sharp

Title: Twelve Sharp
Author: Janet Evanovich
Publishing Date: 2006
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Subtle
Book Disclosure: I recieved a free copy from a friend.

Twelve Sharp is part of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mystery series. For those of you who are not familiar with this series, Stephanie is a bounty hunter who doesn't go looking for trouble but trouble always seems to find her. Somehow through dumb luck and zany hilarity Stephanie always manages to get the bad guy. In Twelve Sharp Stephanie gets quite a shock when Ranger's wife shows up on her doorstep. Ranger is a man of mystery. He is a bounty hunter and owns his own security business. Stephanie is quite shocked to learn that Ranger has a wife. The situation escalates when Ranger's daughter is kidnapped and Stephanie teams up with Ranger to get her back.

Twelve Sharp is another fun ride with Stephanie and her gang of crazy sidekicks. More is at stake in this book when Ranger's daughter is kidnapped. The tension is ratcheted up a notch from previous books. It's still funny and the characters are still doing crazy things, but more is at stake. As for the romance, I think things get a little bit clearer as for which man is right for Stephanie. Stephanie will eventually have to make a decision but she clearly isn't ready. I think the choice is obvious, but I know there is plenty of debate over Joe vs. Ranger.

This is just awful...

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo. I am halfway through the month of September and I have only posted 5 times, 6 if you count this one. And the last time I posted was four days ago. I have never gone this long between posts. This is just not like me.

Interestingly enough, I have been reading the same as usual. This past Sunday I read Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt in one day. I can’t remember the last time I read a book in a day. Ahhh the start of football season does have its advantages. Since my husband doesn't want to do anything but watch football all weekend, I can curl up with a book almost uninterrupted.

I just hope I can get my blogging mojo back. For over 2 1/2 years I have been a very steady blogger and have reviewed every single book I read in that time. I really want to continue to do that. It's a point of pride for me to be able to say that but recently I feel myself slipping.

I need some encouragement!

Review - Ruthless

Title: Ruthless
Author: Anne Stuart
Publishing Date: August 2010
Genre: Historical
Rating: B
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I received a copy from Paperbackswap.com

Ruthless is the first in a new series by Anne Stuart, The House of Rohan. Viscount Rohan, Francis Alistair has been the leader of the Heavenly Host which is a society dedicated to the deviant pleasures, the vices of life. He is bored and jaded until Elinor Harriman walks into his life. Elinor Hartman is a lady by birth, but her circumstances have left her and her sister in dire straits. She comes to his chateau looking for her mother before she gambles the last of their money away. Rohan toys with her and finds her quite the thing to eliminate his boredom. He is intrigued by her situation and he can't seem to keep her out of his mind. Somehow he finds himself being her protector.

I found Ruthless to be a very entertaining tale albeit a little over the top. It reads very dramatic. The characters swing either very bad or very virtuous. However, you easily know where everyone stands. By far the most interesting character was Lord Rohan. He is definitely the bad boy and jaded hero. He has no qualms looking out for his own interests. Yet after meeting the virtuous Elinor, he finds himself acting completely out of character. Actually what really is happening is that Elinor has brought out a part of himself that he has kept hidden.

What kept Ruthless from getting a higher grade from me (although a B is still quite a good grade) is the abrupt ending. I really felt like thing were wrapped up all too quickly. The romance between Elinor and Rohan for most of the story was divided by the bad boy falling for the good girl. There was not enough focus at the ending to wrap up all the details. All of the sudden Rohan and Elinor come together in this big crashing way yet the major issues holding them back earlier in the story were either not resolved or dealt with in a sentence or two. Everything was resolved much too quickly for my tastes. However, for those fans of Stuart who love her bad boy heroes, they are going to enjoy Rohan's personality. It’s a fun book, but it’s not without slight problems.

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Review - Eternal Kiss of Darkness

Title: Eternal Kiss of Darkness
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publishing Date: August 2010
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.

Eternal Kiss of Darkness is a standalone spin-off from Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Mencheres is a centuries old vampire who is ready for his true death. After passing his power to his second in command, Bones he longs to see the sun. Kira Graceling, a former police officer has always lived by the code that one must try to save a life. She stumbles upon Mencheres being beaten by a group of thugs. Little does Kira know her life is about to change forever. Kira mistakenly discovers the existence of vampires by coming to Mencheres’s rescue. He must take her into custody while she has knowledge of his kind.

I don't know what it is about this spin-off series but I don't like it nearly as much as I do the actual Night Huntress series. Every couple compared to Kat and Bones just pales in comparison. Where is the humor, the sarcasm, the feistiness? It's all just too bland. These other characters just can't compete.

Kira is a decent character. She is brave and smart. She takes in this whole other world of supernatural creatures like a champ. She listens to Mencheres and shows caution when it's needed and initiative when it's needed. Really, she is a gem of a heroine. But damn it all to hell, she is no Cat. I know it really is unfair to judge like this, but when it's all said and done, I can't help but compare.

I am sort of torn in my recommendation. First off, for those of you who haven't tried Jeaniene Frost this book could easily be a standalone and be a good place to start. Unfortunately, I don't like this book nearly as much as I do her other books. But maybe having not read the other books, Eternal Kiss of Darkness might not look so bad in comparison. Fans of Frost are going to pick up this book anyway because if you’re like me you will want to read anything she writes in the hopes of getting your fix. Do what you will, readers. Do what you will.

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Review - The Next Best Thing

Title: The Next Best Thing
Author: Kristan Higgins
Publishing Date: February 2010
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: I received a used copy from paperbackswap.com

Lucy Lang was only married for 8 months before she joined her Mother and Aunts as a Black Widow. It has been five years since Jimmy died in a car accident. Lucy finally feels it is time for her to move on with her life and maybe start dating again. Lucy does have a small problem. She has been sleeping with her best friend Ethan who also just happens to be Jimmy's little brother. Lucy and Ethan have kept their physical relationship a secret from their friends and family for some time now. Mostly this is Lucy's idea because she is afraid of how everyone will react to the news. Things get complicated when Lucy tells Ethan that she wants to end their "friends with benefits" back to just "friends".

The Next Best Thing is my second book by Kristan Higgins. I find that I really enjoy her writing style. Lucy narrates the story in first person from her point of view. This gives the book a more Woman's Lit vibe than typical romance novels. Lucy has major issues to work through with the death of her husband, wanting to move on with her life and start dating again. Plus she has this pesky little problem with her best friend Ethan that she doesn't know quite how to deal with. The Next Best Thing is not just Lucy figuring out her relationship with Ethan but she has to figure out her life too.

This book is very touching and runs the reader through a whole slew of emotions. I laughed. I cried. I was happy for Lucy and Ethan. Yet at other times I was angry at Lucy for her treatment of Ethan and then at Ethan for not communicating better with Lucy. I was definitely emotionally invested in these characters. I thought Lucy's journey was very entertaining, but some readers are going to be frustrated with Lucy. She has a lot of baggage that she has to work through before she can commit to her new life and it takes time. I really liked that Jimmy's image is never vilified to make it easier for Lucy to move on. The author definitely doesn't take any easy paths, but luckily for the reader, humor is always in the forefront. This book parallels real life and that is what makes it a winner in my mind.

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August Wrap Up

Life is treating me good. Reading is treating me good. This is my theme for the month of August. I am on a historcal romance kick. I am feeling the historcal. It seems I can't pick up a bad one. Unfortunately, paranormal romance is on the outs. I am enjoying urban fantasy much more (who would of thought).

On a personal note, I am in the process of fixing the house up to put it on the market to sell. This week alone we have repaired the walls in the den and spare bathroom, painted and installed new carpet. OMG!! It is so nice and cushy. I am loving my new house. I don't know if I want to sell it, it's so nice now, LOL! Just kidding, we have to sell because my daughter and son are sharing a room (we live in a two bedroom and have aspirations to move to a three bedroom.)

What I am trying to say is that once again real life seems to be intruding into my reading time. The catch 22 is that I am wanting to read the wonderful historcals in my TBR, yet can't find the time. It's all a balancing act a this point.

Here is what I managed to read in August, along with the ratings. Links to follow shortly.

1. Seduced into a Paper Marriage, Maureen Child, Contemporary, B
2. The Irish Warrior, Kris Kennedy, Medieval, B+
3. Succubi Like it Hot, Jill Myles, Paranormal, B-
4. His at Night, Sherry Thomas, Historical, A-
5. Crazy for Love, Victoria Dahl, Contemporary, B
6. Nine Rules to Break..., Sarah MacLean, Historical, B+
7. Anywhere She Runs, Debra Webb, Romantic Suspense, C
8. A Kiss at Midnight, Eloisa James, Historical, A
9. The Next Best Thing, Kristan Higgins, Contemporary, B+
10. Eternal Kiss of Darkness, Jeanienne Frost, Paranormal, B-

Review - A Kiss at Midnight

Title: A Kiss at Midnight
Author: Eloisa James
Publishing Date: August 2010
Genre: Historical
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Purchased a new copy.

A Kiss at Midnight is the first book in a new series by Eloisa James. Ever since Kate's father died and left everything to her Stepmother, Kate has been relegated to rooms in the attic. Her status is more representative of a servant than that of the actual Lady she is. Her stepsister Victoria is bitten on the lip by her little dog rendering her usual pretty face less than picturesque. Not wanting anything to impede her matchmaking ambitions, Kate's stepmother insists that Kate take Victoria's place at the ball Prince Gabriel is hosting. This meeting with the Prince will ensure Victoria's marriage to his nephew. Although to Kate's distress, the Prince turns his eye to her.

A Kiss at Midnight parallels the popular fairy tale Cinderella. Kate is the dutiful daughter who is tormented by her vain Stepmother and Stepsister. She attends a ball wearing glass slippers, dances with a prince and has a Godmother to make all her dreams come true. It might seem like this book could be farcical and too over the top, but that is not the case at all. It is a beautiful story with tenderness, heart-break, humor and a touching ending.

Eloisa James' writing is clever and poignant. Her characters are all full of verve. Kate never pities her situation and decides to take matters into her own hands to secure a better future for herself. Marianna the infamous Stepmother, while vain and selfish is not eeevil. Victoria is good natured if simple-minded. Gabriel is strong and willful but needs a kick in the pants when it comes to Kate. His half-brother Wick is just the person to do it. Finally, Kate's Godmother Henry is eccentric but not ridiculous. A Kiss at Midnight is a perfectly balanced and wonderful read. Don't miss this book!

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