Review - What Happens in London

Title: What Happens in London
Author: Julia Quinn
Publishing Date: June 2009
Genre: Historical
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

I have to admit I wasn't going to read this story. I am not one for spy plots in romance (Joanna Bourne being the exception) and plus I had already had over 10 books on my wishlist for June when this book was released. Then I started noticing all the positive reviews around the blogosphere and I couldn't resist adding it to the pile. While not being my favorite read of 2009, I was still happy to have picked it up. I couldn't help but be charmed by Harry.

Over tea with her friends, Olivia Bevelstoke discovers that her neighbor to the South, Sir Harry Valentine is rumored to have murdered his fiancé. Now, Olivia doesn't quite believe the hype, but she can't resist the lure of spying on him from her bedroom window. Harry notices the pretty young Miss watching him and can't make heads or tails of it. Eventually, he is given and assignment and he is supposed to watch her, or actually the Russian Prince who has shown an interest in Olivia.

The best thing I enjoyed about What Happens in London was the clever and witty conversation between Harry and Olivia. At first, the two do not like each other. They fence with words, often trying to outdo the other. Harry thinks Olivia is cold and aloof, but once he gets to know her he wonders how he could have ever thought her cold. She is very fun after she develops a friendship with Harry. Harry is more of a Beta hero, except in his interaction with the Russian Prince. I got a kick out of their interaction. It was like watching the male animal perform a territory ritual - quite amusing.

This book is loosely related to The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Carver. I didn't read that book and I never felt lost in this one although there was a very small reference to it.

Here is what others had to say:

Babbling About Books, and More!
Alpha Reader
The Book Binge
Books, Books and More Books
Love Romances and More
Tracy's Place
Outlandish Dreaming
You Gotta Read Reviews
Bookishly Attentive
My Reading Addiction
The Book Girl
All About Me
Randi Romance Reader
Dear Author
The Book Smugglers
Janicu's Book Blog
Smexy Books

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Sadly, My Vacation is Over - December Summary

This evening marks the last remaining moments of my two week hiatus from work. Even though I wasn't working it seemed like I was much busier over the holiday than a typical work week. I was unable to accomplish all I wanted to this vacation with the exception of my reading. It's glaringly obvious where my priorities lay. As I write this, my house is in shambles. Dirty dishes and moldy shower curtains have been neglected, yet I did manage to read a total of 15 books this December. Whooo hooo!!!

I have some exciting things planned for next week. I have been working on my top ten list for 2009. I've been getting my book stats for the year all worked up. I will be making graphs and stuff. I also am working on setting new goals for reading and this blog. Be looking out for that sometime in the next few days.

1. Dying Scream, Burton (Rom. Suspense) Rating: C
2. Hotter After Midnight, Eden (Paranormal) Rating: C+
3. Black Silk, Ivory (Historical) Rating: B-
4. Sweet Restraint, Kerry (Contemporary/Erotic) Rating: C
5. Too Good to be True, Higgins (Comteporary) Rating: B
6. Guardian, Delacroix (Paranormal) Rating: B
7. Joe's Wife, St. John (Western) Rating: B+
8. Midnight Run, Rice (Rom. Suspense) Rating: C
9. Full Moon Rising, Arthur (Urban Fantasy) Rating: B-
10. What Happens in London, Quinn (Historical) Rating: B
11. Ten Big Ones, Evanovich (Mystery) Rating: A
12. Vision in White, Roberts (Contemporary) Rating: B+
13. Earth Guys are Easy, Kelley (Contemporary) Rating: C+
14. Ice Howard (Rom. Suspense) Rating: B-
15. Taking Care of Business, Hart and Dane (Contemporary/Erotic) Rating: B

Review - Full Moon Rising

Title: Full Moon Rising
Author: Keri Arthur
Publishing Date: 2006
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Full Moon Rising is the first book in Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson Guardian series. Riley Jenson narrates the story from first person point of view. She is half werewolf, half vampire and considered an anomaly amongst the supernatural kind. The setting is futuristic, but I am not sure exactly what year the story takes place. She also has a twin brother Rhoan, who is a guardian and has gone missing. Guardians are supernatural police and Rhoan was working on a mission when he is abducted. Riley teams up with the Guardians to get him back. As she becomes more involved in the case she discovers that Rhoan wasn't the only target. She too, is in danger.

Riley has more werewolf characteristics than vampire. This means that during a full moon she is a slave to her body's impulses. She craves sex like a fat kid craves cake. If she doesn't get it or lets the craving go unsated for too long then she will turn into a raving beast, literally. She becomes overwhelmed by blood lust. This behavior is perfectly acceptable amongst the wolves. It's their nature. While Riley's sexuality is a large part of this book, it's not overly graphic. Most of the scenes were closed door, except for a few to show relationship development between Riley and Quinn, a very old, very powerful vampire.

Riley was a little difficult to connect to. Her personality is very direct, and not necessarily very friendly. She is an interesting mix of girly and street tough. She likes to wear feminine clothes and show off her body. She doesn’t like violence, but will do what she has to in order to protect herself or those she loves. She is smart and I was a little surprised at how she had the wool pulled over her eyes by two people who were close to her. Really, I thought she would have had more of a clue.

The world building is good, as is the characterization. I feel this series has potential and am curious enough to read another book in this series. Hopefully, after another book I will warm up to Riley a little more. Quinn already has peaked my interest and hopefully he will appear in future books.

Here is what others had to say:

Love Romance Passion
Royal Reviews
Riley's Reviews
My Kingdom for a Book

This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Anticipating 2010 New Releases

I don't know about you, but I already have a sizable list going, detailing all the books I am looking forward to next year. I keep a spreadsheet on Google Documents to keep track of new releases. Especially when blog hopping, as lots of times they will inform me of new releases and I jot them down so I don't forget. Am I just super anal, or does anybody else keep track too?

So far my list is pretty managable. I am only wishing for 39 books thus far. Of course, here we are at the end of 2009 and therefor I am positive my list is not complete. But hey, I have room for it to grow by about 30 (100) books!

JANUARY
1. Shattered - Joan Johnston (Romantic Suspense)
2. Sleep No More - Susan Crandall (Romantic Suspense)
3. Switch - Megan Hart (Contemporary/Erotic)

FEBRUARY
4. Truly, Madly - Heather Webber (Paranormal)
5. Lessons in French - Laura Kinsale (Historical)
6. Ravishing in Red - Madeline Hunter (Historical)
7. Pleasure of a Dark Prince - Kresley Cole (Paranomal)
8. First Drop of Crimson - Jeaniene Frost (Urban Fantasy)
9. Pride Mates - Jennifer Ashley (Paranormal)
10. The Next Best Thing - Kristin Higgins (Contemporary)

MARCH
11. Provocative in Pearls - Madeline Hunter (Historical)
12. Naked Edge - Pamela Clare (Romantic Suspense)
13. Something About You - Julie James (Contemporary)
14. Wild Ride - Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (Romantic Suspense)
15. SEALed with a Ring - Mary Margaret Daughtridge (Contemporary)

APRIL
16. Silver Bourne - Patrcia Briggs (Urban Fantasy)
17. Mind Games - Carolyn Crane (Urban Fantasy)
18. Tales of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong (Urban Fantasy)
19. Demonkeepers - Jessica Andersen (Paranormal)
20. Patience - Lisa Valdez (Historical)

MAY
21. Lover Mine - J.R. Ward (Paranormal)
22. Vampire Mistress - Joey W. Hill (Paranormal/Erotic)
23. Sinful - Charlotte Featherstone (Historical/Erotic)
24. Savor the Moment - Nora Roberts (Contemporary)

JUNE
25. Forbidden Rose - Joanna Bourne (Historical)
26. Ten Things I love About You - Julia Quinn (Historical)
27. Married by Morning - Lisa Kleypas (Historical)
28. The Stars Below - Marjorie M. Liu (Paranormal)

JULY
29. Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage - Jennifer Ashley (Historical)
30. Demon Blood - Meljean Brook (Paranormal)

AUGUST
31. Infamous - Suzanne Brockmann (Romantic Suspense)
32. Demon After Dark - Kresley Cole (Paranormal)
33. Hot Finish - Erin McCarthy (Contemporary)
34. Last Night's Scandal - Loretta Chase (Historical)
35. Waking the Witch - Kelley Armstrong (Urban Fantasy)

SEPTEMBER
36. Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning (Urban Fantasy)

NOVEMBER
37. Happy Ever After - Nora Roberts (Contemporary)

UNKNOWN RELEASE DATE
38. Love in the Afternoon - Lisa Kleypas (Historical)
39. Veil of Night - Linda Howard

For the most part these are all books from my favorite authors who have on going series. I am familiar with their writing and they they hardly ever let me down. I have also included two authors I have never read before, Charlotte Featherstone and Heather Webber. This is because someone pimped their books and they sounded good to me.

What books are you looking forward to?

Review - Joe's Wife

Title: Joe's Wife
Author: Cheryl St. John
Publishing Date: 1999
Genre: Western
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Received a used copy from Paperbackswap.

Meg Telford's husband died while fighting in the Civil War. She refuses to give up their farm. Knowing that she has no hope of keeping it unless she marries, she proposes to Ty Hatcher. Ty recently returned to Aspen Grove after fighting in the War. He was always ostracized by the townsfolk because he never knew his father. One of the only citizens who were ever nice to him was Meg. She always had a smile for him even though others shunned him and now she is asking him to marry her. It was a dream come true, until he realized he would be filling a dead man's shoes.

Joe's Wife was an absolute treat to read. It is one of those stories where the reader easily gets lost in the characters. Meg is grieving the loss of her husband and doesn't want to give up his dream - which was to make a success of their farm. Joe wants to prove to the townsfolk that he is worthy of their respect even though he is technically a bastard. Meg and Joe start off their marriage as one of convenience but eventually come to love one another. It is a beautiful journey between two people learning to come to terms with who they are and their new life together.

Leslie has written a really wonderful review, which influenced me to read this book. I just would like to point out one thing in addition to what Leslie said. I really appreciate that the love scenes are integral to the development of Meg and Joe's relationship. They are sensual, yet they are pivotal in moving the relationship forward. I love how Meg and Ty work through their problems. Even though the sex is great, they eventually have to talk about it! If you are in the mood for a wonderful Western or Marriage of Convenience, don't miss this one!

Leslie's Psyche
Impressions of a Reader

This book can be purchased in print format from Amazon

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Review - Midnight Run

Title: Midnight Run
Author: Lisa Marie Rice
Publishing Date: 2004
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: C
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Received a used copy from Paperbackswap. Read it for Keishon's TBR Challenge but didn't quite make the date!

Midnight Run is the first book in Lisa Marie Rice's Midnight Trilogy. Lieutenant Tyler "Bud" Morrison is hanging out in a seedy bar undercover. While there Claire Parks catches his eye, mainly because she stands out like a pristine flower among tainted weeds. The person he was supposed to meet never shows. Claire is practically attacked by a persistent suitor and Bud comes to her rescue. He takes her home and they spend an unforgettable weekend together and the start of a new relationship.

Lisa Marie Rice is one of the first authors I read when I started reading romance and I really loved her sweet heroines and protective heroes. When I picked up Midnight Run, I knew exactly what to expect. It would be like settling in with an old friend. Only this time, I have realized my old friend and I have grown apart. We no longer have anything in common.

Midnight Run unfortunately is full of romance clichés. We have the sweeter than sugar heroine, who is a virgin who can't believe the sensations her man can give her vagina. We have the cop hero who rescues the heroine from danger and can still manage to give her an orgasm. All right, I admit I am being a little harsh, seeing as I really used to enjoy this stuff. But when I read this... how was I NOT supposed to role my eyes!!?

No, wait... he held her more tightly, slanted his mouth over hers, licked his tongue deep into her and she felt... she felt a flutter in her vagina!

I did enjoy the second half of the book better than the first part because finally there is conflict between Bud and Claire. Claire grows a backbone and becomes feisty and Bud in his over-protectiveness stifles Claire. Also, the heady internal dialogue diminishes to a tolerant level. This was a quick, pleasant read - if eye-roll inducing in the beginning.

Here is what others had to say:

I Just Finished Reading
J. Kaye's Book Blog

This book can be purchased in print and kindle format from Amazon.

A Little of This... A Little of That

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

My family and I have just finished opening up our Christmas presents. My daughter is happily playing with her new toys. Hubby is hooking up his latest electronics. My son is over-dosing on candy canes (I think he has eaten 3 in the past hour). And I am blogging about the books I just got, lol!

Technically, I had an idea of the book I was getting because my husband called while he was out shopping. Our conversation went a little something like this:

Hubby: The bookstore is closing and all the books are 40% off. Do you want anything?

Me: Ummmm... YEAH!!

Hubby: Okay, what do you want?

Me: Hold on, I need to consult my list.

Hubby: (Sigh)

Basically, I ended up asking for 5 books. He was looking and told me he couldn't find any but one. Well, the sly little devil fooled me because I got 4 in my stocking this morning.

What did you get for Christmas?