The Reason for this Blog

I am a school librarian and have a separate blog for Young Adult book reviews.  I want a place to keep track of the books I read for my own enjoyment.  The posts will not really be reviews, but  more of a reading journal.  I will include the reviews I write on YA books, but will not limit myself to those.

9/11/2011 For the time being, I will only be listed the books I read.  Hopefully, at some point in the future, I will start reviewing again.

Classic Double Challenge: 2012

Melissa, over at One Librarian’s Book Reviews, has started a challenge where you pair a classic with a related modern book.

This is her description: “Essentially, the Classic Double Challenge will encourage you to read one older book (classic) and a newer book that relates to the older one in some way.”

I am going to sign up for the Medium level which is four books or two pairs of related books.

I am definitely starting with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Jane by April Lindner.

The Winston Brothers (Winston, 1-3) by Lori Foster

Lori Foster enchanted legions of romance readers with her seductive novellas featuring the Winston brothers. Now, these tantalizing tales are available for the first time in one volume.

This book includes the stories for Cole, Chase, and Mack which were originally published in separate anthologies.  I loved this series the first time I read it, but I am not as impressed now.  Maybe it’s just not what I am in the mood to read.

Hearts and Swords (Celta novellas) by Robin D. Owens

Award-winning author Robin D. Owens returns to the futuristic world of Celta with four original romantic fantasies as four different couples find their HeartMates and their destinies on Celta.

This was a wonderful addition to the series.  My favorites were the first story of the ships before landing on Celta and the last one about the Clovers.

I think I would have liked the others better if I had recently read the books they were spun-off from.

New York to Dallas (in Death, #33) by J. D. Robb

Isaac McQueen is a savage pedophile who just can’t quit. Now that he’s escaped from New York’s Riker Island, he has only three goals: Stay free; continue his perverted attacks; and wreak revenge on the cop who brought him down: Eve Dallas. J.D. Robb’s 33rd futuristic In Death novel promises to take readers deep into the mind and heart of Eve Dallas than ever before.

Heart Search (Celta, #10) by Robin D. Owens

Laev T’Hawthorn — one of the highest nobles in the land — must rebuild his life after a devastating mistake.  He married a woman he believed was his HeartMate, only to learn she was a greedy social climber.  She callously used him, stealing his family heirlooms.  He is determined to reclaim all that he has lost — beginning with his self-respect.

Abandoned at fifteen, Camellia Darjeeling values her independence above all.  She’s fought to establish her own businesses — elegant tearooms — only to have her father and uncle re-enter her life.  They emotionally scourge her and extort money.  Trusting men, even her HeartMate, is too risky.

When Laev and Camellia meet, they refuse to acknowledge that they are true HeartMates.  After her shady relatives are implicated in the theft of Laev’s property, Camellia and Laev’s lives become ever more entangled bringing each to the brink of despair and passion…and a destiny they can no longer avoid.

In Bed With a Highlander (Highlander, #1) by Maya Banks

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

Must Love Vampires by Heidi Betts

Title:  Must Love Vampires*

Author: Heidi Betts
Series: N/A
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Format: Paperback & e-book
Date/Year: September 27, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review

Summary from the publisher:

LOVE AT FIRST BITE

Nightclub dancer Chloe Lamoureaux just met the man of her dreams:  Aidan Raines is charming, considerate, rich, and hot.  Of course, he’s a little mysterious about his age.  And his favorite drink.  And he’s not much for sunlight.  But he’s asked her to marry him, and she’s ready to do it. Sure, she has a few secrets too—but they’ll have plenty of time to work things out while they’re living happily ever after.  Right?

Her identical twin sister, Chuck, isn’t so sure.  Maybe reporting for the local Bigfoot-sighting tabloid doesn’t make her an expert, but to Chuck, Aidan and his brother Sebastian look like honest-to-Dracula vampires.  Especially Sebastian:  beguiling, seductive, and just a hint of dangerous.  Maybe she wouldn’t mind him taking a little taste.  But with Chloe’s life in the balance, she has to know—do they want hot love or hot blood?  Or maybe…a little of both?

 

My Musings:

This book is actually two novels in one with interacting characters.  The first, Vampnapped, focuses on Charlotte “Chuck” Lamoreaux and Sebastian Raines.  The second, Married . . . with Fangs” centers around Chuck’s identical twin sister Chloe and Sebastian’s brother Aidan.  I told you they were interwoven.

Chuck is the down to earth sister, an investigative reporter for the Sin City Tattler, while her sister is a show girl in a Las Vegas casino.  Chuck is determined to write an important expose which will get her a job with a reputable newspaper.  Unfortunately, she decides that Sebastian is the perfect subject of her expose because, after all, she believes he is a vampire.

Sebastian also happens to be the owner of the casino where Chloe works.  Chuck convinces her sister to let her impersonate Chloe so she can follow Sebastian.  Sebastian thinks Chloe is a gold digger who is out to trick his brother Aidan into marriage. So he kidnaps Chuck thinking she is Chloe.

Confused yet?

Meanwhile, Chloe really is a gold digger, but only for the best reasons.  She has a three-years-old son and she wants to make sure he has financial security.  Chloe and Aidan have been dating for several weeks and the sex is magnificent.  They haven’t talked a lot because, hey, the SEX is magnificent!

Aidan does want to marry Chloe and while Chuck is being kidnapped, they run off to a Las Vegas wedding chapel and get married.  Unfortunately, Aidan neglects to tell Chloe he is a vampire until after the wedding.  There is that little matter of him biting her on their wedding night.  Of course, she hasn’t told him she’s a mother either.

I absolutely loved this book.  I knew I was going to before I had read ten pages.  The characters are likable and the dialogue is funny.  The author can make the most insane situations seem reasonable.

Although the books tell separate stories, the last chapter brings them all together again.  The ending is satisfying with no loose ends making you wonder if there is going to be a sequel.

I have not read any of Heidi Betts’ books before, but I certainly will in the future.  I was delighted to find that she has an extensive backlist.  I imagine she will be added to my autobuy list and I am very particular about who goes on that list.

Again, a wonderful, enjoyable book which I highly recommend to anyone wanting a fun read.

FOLLOWUP:  After stating that the book does not need a sequel, I found out that the author has written an epilogue titled One Last Bite and is free at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.  Although it does not really add anything to the story, I enjoyed visiting Chuck and Sebastian and Chloe and Aidan one more time.

Actually, if the author was going to write an epilogue, I would have preferred it to address the women’s decision on whether or not to stay human.  That is the only area where I felt the reader was left hanging.

Either way, it does not matter.  Read the sequel.  It is just as enjoyable as the book.

(originally posted at Seductive Musings)

Brightwing by Sullivan Lee

from author

Title: Brightwing*
Author: Sullivan Lee
Series: Standalone
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Self Published
Format: e-book
Date/Year: July 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Summary from the publisher:

A Criminal Love Story

Edgar and Mallory Battle are on the run after a spectacularly violent escape. Now, with a trail of bodies behind them, they need a hostage against the inevitable standoff with the police. Their first doesn’t last long, thanks to sociopathic Mallory. Edgar has been hiding his brother’s crimes since they were kids. Now he’s torn between loyalty and self-preservation.

They carjack Lucy Brightwing, a criminal fresh from her own heist, with a fortune of uncut gems hidden in her vehicle. She could escape — but she won’t abandon her millions. She could kill the Battle brothers, but she has to be careful. For one thing, if the law investigates, they’ll find her ill-gotten loot. For another, her own life is sacred. She’s the last member of a Florida paleoindian tribe thought to be extinct — the Tequesta. With her share of the money she plans to buy, bribe and blackmail her way into her own ancestral tribal lands in the heart of the Everglades, a Tequesta nation.

Lucy leads them into her beloved swamp, determined to kill them. But when she falls for Edgar she must decide whether to risk her heritage and the future of her tribe to save the doomed brothers.

My Musings:

Brightwing focuses on the interactions of three characters. Edgar and Mallory are brothers who are on the run from the law and Lucy, who is the last of a Floridian Native American tribe.

Mallory has broken Edgar out of a prison transport in New England and they have left a trail of murder behind them on their way down the coast. Lucy has just finished a jewel heist and has the misfortune of being kidnapped and taken as a hostage by the brothers in Florida.

Obviously, none of these characters are what you would call upstanding citizens. Although Edgar is the brother who was on his way to prison, Mallory is the real danger to those around him.

Mallory is a serial rapist and murderer. He does not limit his murders to the women he attacks either. He kills indiscriminately, even when it would be in his best interest to keep a low profile.

Edgar has spent his entire life covering up for Mallory. You have to feel sorry for him because he really wishes Mallory was dead. He just can’t bring himself to kill his own brother.

And that is the problem I had with Edgar. Nothing is his fault. He just lets Mallory and circumstances control him. He comes off as weak in almost every scene.

Lucy Brightwing, however, is definitely an Alpha. She is determined to reestablish her tribe on her own lands in the Everglades. She is smart, a fighter, and has the backbone to accomplish whatever she sets out to do. Kidnapping her is the luckiest thing that ever happened to Edgar and Mallory because now they have someone to lead them.

I really liked Lucy, but I thought she could do so much better than Edgar. I can’t see such a strong female falling in love with him. Although there is a scene where Edgar chooses Lucy over Mallory, I never felt certain he would protect her from him every time.

Is this book a romance? Yes, but it has the most unusual group of characters I have ever seen. I really liked Lucy, but Edgar is weak and Mallory scares me to death.

If you want something out of the ordinary to read, I recommend this book. If you want to read about characters you can love, this is not the book for you.

One thing I have to say though, this is one of the most well written books I have ever read. My dislike of the book is strictly based on the characters. Sullivan Lee’s writing is marvelous. I would certainly be willing to try another book written by this author.

Ratings:

Overall: 2 stars
Sensuality level: 2 (one attempted rape scene)

For a complete understanding and definition of the ratings at Seductive Musings, click here

(cross posted from Seductive Musings)

Martyr (John Shakespeare, #1) by Rory Clements

Library

In this ingenious debut, Rory Clements introduces John Shakespeare, Elizabethan England’s most remarkable investigator, and delivers a tale of murder and conspiracy that succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and a crime thriller.

In a burnt-out house, one of Queen Elizabeth’s aristocratic cousins is found murdered, her young flesh marked with profane symbols. At the same time, a plot to assassinate Sir Francis Drake, England’s most famous sea warrior, is discovered—a plot which, if successful, could leave the country utterly defenseless against a Spanish invasion. It’s 1587, the Queen’s reign is in jeopardy, and one man is charged with the desperate task of solving both cases: John Shakespeare. With the Spanish Armada poised to strike, Mary Queen of Scots awaiting execution, and the pikes above London Bridge decorated with the grim evidence of treachery, the country is in peril of being overwhelmed by fear and chaos. Following a trail of illicit passions and family secrets, Shakespeare travels through an underworld of spies, sorcerers, whores, and theater people, among whom is his own younger brother, the struggling playwright, Will. Shadowed by his rival, the Queen’s chief torturer, who employs his own methods of terror, Shakespeare begins to piece together a complex and breathtaking conspiracy whose implications are almost too horrific to contemplate. For a zealous and cunning killer is stalking England’s streets. And as Shakespeare threatens to reveal a madman’s shocking identity, he and the beautiful woman he desires come ever closer to becoming the next martyrs to a passion for murder and conspiracy whose terrifying consequences might still be felt today…(from Amazon)

I have really got to stop reading book reviews and recommendations.  I keep finding books that sound interesting, but are complete different from my normal reading fare.  To make matters worse, most of them are good books too.

Martyr is definitely one of those good books.  The book was engrossing, but not something I could read for hours at a time.  There was just too much going on.  That is my only complaint.  There were so many different characters and so many plots and subplots that I had difficulty keeping track of the storyline.

I have categorized this book under romance, although it is primarily a historical mystery.  The romance is very minor and definitely just a side note.

Two more books in the series have been published:  Revenger and Prince.  I may read them some day, but I am not certain.  They are definitely not next on my list.

The Bride (Lairds’ Fiancees, #1) by Julie Garwood

By edict of the King, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice was Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison . . . a feisty, violet-eyed beauty. Alec ached to touch her, to tame her, to possess her. . . forever. But Jamie vowed never to surrender to this Highland barbarian.

He was everything her heart warned against–an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks spoke of savage pleasures. And though Kincaid’s scorching kisses fired her blood, she brazenly resisted him… until one rapturous moment quelled their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatened to conquer her senses…

This is the first book I ever read by Julie Garwood back when it was originally published in 1989.  I reread it every year or so and it is still my favorite of all her books.  And I have them all.  She has been on autobuy since I read The Bride.

The publisher’s blurb does not do this book justice.  The best parts of the book are the funny scenes which come constantly.  The Kincaid knows how a wife is supposed to behave and Jaime (the fact that she has a man’s name is a running joke) does not follow his preconceptions.  She thinks his ideas are crazy and he knows hers are.

Shoot, I may have to pick it up and read it all over again!

All of Julie Garwood’s early historicals are wonderful.  I don’t like her contemporary suspense books as much, although I do still read them.  I keep hoping she’ll pick up her old style.