COLTERS' WOMAN

Colters' Woman

by

Maya Banks

8/12/2009

Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren’t looking for women. They’re looking for a woman. One woman to share their lives and their beds. They don’t want a casual romp in the hay, they want the woman who will complete them and they’re losing hope of finding her. That is until Adam finds Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin. He knows she’s different the minute he holds her in his arms. But before Adam gets his hopes up, he knows he has to gauge his brothers reactions. Soon its evident that she’s the one. There are a few problems, however, convincing her she belongs with them and keeping her safe from the man who wants her dead.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, menage a quatre, violence.
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*** ½ (Three and a half stars) Lot’s of readers on the various lists I am on suggest this as a must-read book. So I ordered it off of PBS and held on to it for awhile. I finally picked it up a couple days ago. It’s sex. Pure sex. From beginning to end. In fact, there is a line used in this book a couple times…..”F*** a duck”. I think a more appropriate term would be “F*** Like Bunnies”.

Three brothers. One woman. They all feel it’s their destiny to become her husband and share her as a wife, just like their mother did with their dads, and their grandmother did with their grandfathers. Sounds like a dream world for any woman (hey—I wouldn’t think twice about the suggestion! LOL) However, really, now. How can it actually work? Of course this is fiction. So it’s meant to be fun. Heck—even I am a huge fan of TV’s “Big Love”….but there is something about this story that bugged me. Maybe it’s the young men on the cover that look more like they belong on a gay book cover to me than as they were described in the book as all being over six foot tall and muscle bound. Hmmm…I hate generic covers.

I think what would make this more interesting is if this was part of a series, sort of like Lora Leigh’s August brothers (which this book does not hold a candle to, by the way). Let’s go back in time and see the stories of the parents and grandparents, too. In fact, I would love to see this story in a wild west setting, come to think of it.

DARK WARRIOR UNLEASHED

Dark Warrior Unleashed

by

Alexis Morgan

8/9/09

(First in "The Talions" series)

The rough and rugged Talions, sexy warriors who stop
at nothing to deliver justice, star in this steamy new
paranormal series from Alexis Morgan.

He's on a mission to annihilate the enemy.

A Talion enforcer, Ranulf Thorsen has served his people for a thousand years, delivering the eye-for-an-eye justice by which his kinsmen live. Weary of the centuries-long fight, the fierce warrior with icy blue eyes has secluded himself on a mountain far from the chaos of the modern world below. Now he's been summoned to face the most dangerous battle of his life -- and the fate of his people is on the line.

But when he meets the beautiful woman
he has sworn to defend...

Ranulf and his bitter rival, fellow Talion Sandor Kearn, must find the rogue Kyth who set a violent fire in a nightclub. The near-deadly blaze's unlikely heroine, Kerry Logan, is also a Kyth, possessing the ancient Nordic people's unique ability to manipulate human energy. She just doesn't know it yet.

...who will protect his heart?

Kerry finds more than comfort in her warrior's embrace, and Ranulf hungers to both defend and claim the petite powerhouse for his own. But with time ticking away and their lives on the line, will Kerry believe the wild tale he's telling her, and master her powers...before it's too late?
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*** ½ Three and a half stars. I hated giving this book three and a half stars. I really adore this author, and so far, have really loved her Paladin series. However, this is the first of a new series, The Talions, and I was kind of having a hard time following the plot.

I got the basic plot of the story, of course. A young woman comes into her own as having supernatural and ancient powers that she had no idea she possessed. In steps the warriors of an millennia-old dynasty that is dying out and she is there new hope to lead them. She falls in love with the biggest and baddest Viking of all time—and I mean all-time (he is over 1,000 years old) and she begins to learn about her destiny as she changes his black heart (that is marshmallow inside) with her love.

What I had a problem with, was the use of, energizing of, and depletion of their “special gifts”. I didn’t really get a grasp of how or why they used them until ¾’s of the way through the book. At times, I felt like I was reading a video game…albeit, a romantic one. Book two in the series comes out in a couple weeks and, of course, I will read it because I love this author. But I hope the next book in this series makes more sense to me.

TIED UP, TIED DOWN

Tied Up, Tied Down

by

Lorelei James

8/6/09

(Fourth in the "Rough Riders" series)

...The strongest bonds are the ones unseen.

Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy—and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk—wasn’t in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone.

Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he’s the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in and plays house by her rules to prove he’s a man in for the long haul.

Despite Skylar’s insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as a brush fire, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she’s leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart.

Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren’t a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her…forever?

(~Ha! Once again this has me giggling!! -->) Warning: this book contains: no holes barred kinky sex scenes, wicked rope play, blunt language, and yowza! lots of hot cowboy nekkidness.
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*****5 Stars. Yup. Did it again. My rare five star grade. I had to because I thought this book was better than the last (Cowgirl Up and Ride). I think I am madly in love with Kade and at times I wanted to knock Skyler upside the head for her stupidity, even though I knew she needed to find her own way to Kade’s heart (and eventually—unbeknownst with the help of her sister—leave her stamp there forever.) Sigh. This book makes me want to move to Wyoming. Then again, there is a reason Miz. James probably writes most of the stories in summer…Wyoming has those notorious cold ten month winters. LOL. Then again, if there were hot, delicious cowboys like the McKays and Wests to keep things toasty…it might not be so bad.

I love this new-to-me author!

Bring on the cowboys. Yee-Haw!

COWGIRL UP AND RIDE

Cowgirl Up and Ride

by

Lorelei James

8/3/09

(Third in Rough Riders series)

...Ridin’ the edge of lust is fun—until someone falls in love.

Goody-two boots AJ Foster has waited her entire life for her dream cowboy Cord McKay to see her as more than the neighbor girl in pigtails. Now that she’s old enough to stake her claim on him, she’s pulling out all the sexual stops and riding hell-bent for leather—straight for his libido.

Divorced rancher Cord has sworn off all women…until innocent AJ suggests he teach her how to ride bareback—and he realizes she doesn’t mean horses or bulls. Between his responsibilities running his massive ranch, missing his young son and dealing with the sexual shenanigans of his brother and cousins, Cord is more than willing to take AJ up on her offer. On a trial basis.

The fun and games tie them both up in knots. AJ isn’t willing to settle for less than the whole shootin’ match with her western knight. But for Cord, even though the sexy cowgirl sets his blood ablaze, he’s determined to resist her efforts to lasso his battered heart.

Sweet, determined AJ has the power to heal—or heel—the gruff cowboy…unless Cord’s pride keeps him from admitting their relationship is more than a simple roll in the hay.

(This just cracked me up-->)Warning: this book contains: raunchy sex scenes that’ll work you into a lather faster than a winded horse, graphic language, resourceful use of baling twine, ménage a trois, ménage a quatage, and yippee! hot nekkid lovin'.

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***** 5 Stars. I rarely give out 5 stars. The book has to really grab me, keep me hooked from beginning to end to the point that I don’t want to set it down to do anything, and this book made the grade. I love the contemporary cowboy theme in this book (and series). I loved the prose and rhythm to Ms. James’ writing, and I loved that her characters are not afraid to hold back in any way, shape, or form. Some romantic (erotica) stories are just one sex scene after the other, strung together by pages and no story, however, that is not true of this one. The characters have real personalities, faults, characteristics, and situations that are believable and far from boring. Cord was dreamy (lol) and even though he was demanding, I found myself intrigued to see what he would do next. AJ, or Amy Jo, made me smile at her sometimes naiveté and gutsy sides rolled in to one.

Full steamy ahead on this series!

REAL MEN LAST ALL NIGHT (Anthology)

Real Men Last All Night

by

Lora Leigh

Lori Foster

Cheyenne McCray

Heidi Betts

7/31/09

Today’s top erotic romance writers come together for a steamy read of four sexy stories about women who discover that real men last all night...

Cooper’s Fall by Lora Leigh

Former ranger turned bar owner Ethan Cooper never expected to get an eyeful of prim Miss Sarah Fox from his attic window one hot summer afternoon. But now his blood is on fire for the delicious little minx.

Luring Lucy by Lori Foster

All Lucy was looking for when she went to her vacation home was in innocent fling to quell the yearning she had felt since her husband died four years ago. She never expected her longtime friend Bram to lure her into a love affair so hot.

The Edge of Sin by Cheyenne McCray

Zane Steele lives a life of extraordinary danger as a government agent and has never let anyone get too close. Then he sees the one woman who changes his life forever.

Wanted: A Real Man by Heidi Betts

Claire left her high school sweetheart Linc, in search of a better life. Ten years later she needs his help as a U.S. Marshal to find her missing daughter…Linc's daughter. Reeling with the knowledge of a daughter he’s never known, Linc sets out to claim what’s his.

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****4 Stars. I picked up this book specifically for the Lora Leigh story, “Cooper’s Fall”, and it didn’t disappoint. I think this story was supposed to be loosely related to her other special op stories, but I have a feeling she is opening a whole new can of worms (or hotties) with this little novella. Cooper is one bartender I’d like to order a long, tall drink from.

As for the Lori Foster story, I haven’t read many of her stories after her Harlequin/Silhouette work. I enjoyed a lot of them back in the day. I have picked up a few of her current offerings and read the covers, but I didn’t care for the whole ultimate fighting story lines. This was a sweet (and hot) little story which reminded me somewhat of those old Silhouette books.

Cheyenne McCray is one of my favorite authors. Whether it’s witches, fairies, serial killers, or erotic adventures. She never seems to disappoint me. I want to read more about the REDS and the Steele series.

Heidi Betts is a new author to me. I enjoyed her story a lot and will look for more by her in the future.

DARKNESS UNKNOWN

Darkness Unknown

by

Alexis Morgan

7/26/2009

(Fifth in "Paladin" series)

Alexis Morgan's seductive Paladin series continues with a red-hot romance between a powerful warrior sworn to secrecy and the irresistible woman who makes him lose control....

Gwen Mosely's life changes forever when she stumbles across a handsome stranger, bleeding and left for dead in the woods behind her farm. But the real shock is how his wounds heal overnight -- a trait he shares with Gwen's teenaged half-brother Chase.

Jarvis Donahue can't keep his eyes -- or his hands -- off the sexy redhead who rescued him. Gwen's warm smile and lust-filled eyes are impossible to resist...but Jarvis immediately recognizes Chase as a fellow Paladin, a warrior born to defend mankind in the relentless battle against the Others. Although Gwen may hate Jarvis for it, he is duty-bound to introduce Chase to the Paladins' dangerous lifestyle.

As the barrier between the two worlds weakens, the threat grows perilously close to Gwen's farm. Jarvis is determined to protect his lover -- but if he reveals his identity, he not only betrays his people's secret, he risks losing her forever....
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*** (3 ½ Stars) Oh, I hate it when a good series hits a bump in the road and starts to drag, and this was the book that did it in the Paladin series, for me. I recall reading the first 4 books in this series and tearing through them really fast. I loved the world created by Ms. Morgan, and the idea that two worlds could live in parallel to each other. I am not sure if it was the fact that this book takes place in a different location than the others, with a different group of characters, or that I waited too long to find this book after reading the others (and didn’t recall all the details and how this one tied in).

That aside, this wasn’t a bad story. Not by far. But it was a lot tamer than the others. Jarvis was OK….but he didn’t seem to command the story the way I remember Trahern, Barak, or Devlin doing in the other stories. He and Gwen make a good couple…but Jarvis has such a bleak outlook on how many lives he may have left, that I wonder how he and Gwen will make it. Oh well…I guess I will have to leave this story in “the moment” and accept the characters for who they are. I think Jake and Chase’s stories (should they get one) will probably be better. Jake seems like he has more fun to me.

By the way…this series gets the award for having THE BEST covers in my opinion. I would buy these books just to gaze at the covers.

DEATH ANGEL

Death Angel

by

Linda Howard

7/18/2009

In Linda Howard’s gifted hands, second chances, unexpected romance, and unrelenting action combine into a riveting new novel of suspense. In Death Angel, bad girls can wake up and trust their hearts, bad guys can fight for what’s right . . . and dying just might be the only way to change one’s life.

A striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men, Drea Rousseau is more than content to be arm candy for Rafael Salinas, a notorious crime lord who deals with betrayal through quick and treacherous means: a bullet to the back of the head, a blade across the neck, an incendiary device beneath a car. Eager to break with Rafael, Drea makes a fateful decision and a desperate move, stealing a mountain of cash from the malicious killer. After all, an escape needs to be financed.

Though Drea runs, Salinas knows she can’t hide–and he dispatches a cold-blooded assassin in hot pursuit, resulting in a tragic turn of events. Or does it?

Left for dead, Drea miraculously returns to the realm of the living a changed woman. She’s no longer shallow and selfish, no longer steals or cheats or sells herself short. Both humbled and thrilled with this unexpected second chance, Drea embraces her new life. But in order to feel safe and sound–and stop nervously looking over her shoulder–she will need to take down those who marked her for death.

Joining forces with the FBI, supplying vital inside information that only she can provide, Drea finds herself working with the most dangerous man she’s ever known. Yet the closer they get to danger, the more intense their feelings for each other become, and the more Drea realizes that the cost of her new life may be her life itself–as well as her heart.
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**** (4 Stars) Though she doesn’t seem to write like she used to, I thought this was a better-than-average Linda Howard book. In fact, at times I thought I was reading an Anne Stuart book. I liked the twist on the story being told from the other side “the bad guys’ point-of-view). With this story, Ms. Howard wants us to know that there are levels of bad, and some are justifiable. I bought it for the duration of the story.

In the beginning, I couldn’t put my finger on either Drea or Simon. Was someone undercover? Were they just both bad and tired of it? How do I sympathize with them? The first few pages start out with a red-hot sex scene on a balcony (reminded me a little of “Kill and Tell” (also by Howard), and then the sex dries up for many, many chapters but the time in between is spent learning the characters and what makes them tick. I found out when the book was over, that I could sympathize with both characters (not that I know what it is like to be as assassin or arm candy. LOL.)

THE WARRIOR

The Warrior

by

Sharon Sala

7/16/2009

John Nightwalker is a strong, rugged Native American soldier who has seen many battles. While hunting down an old enemy, he crosses paths with Alicia Ponte. On the run from her father—a powerful arms manufacturer—Alicia seeks to expose her father's traitorous crimes of selling weapons to our enemies in Iraq. But Richard Ponte will do anything to stay below the radar…even if it means killing his own daughter.

Drawn to the mystery that surrounds Alicia, John feels compelled to protect her. Together they travel through the beautiful yet brutal Arizona desert to uncover deadly truths and bring her father to justice. But their journey is about to take an unexpected turn…one that goes deep into the past.
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**** (4 Stars) Ahhhh…there is something about a Sharon Sala book that simply pulls at my heartstrings. This one was no exception to the rule. Though the premise of this book is not really new…man vows revenge on his enemy for killing his family and with the help of his ancient Native American spirits he roams the Earth for many, many years (ok….centuries) until he finds his enemy and kills him. In the meantime, his nemesis dies and is reincarnated many times over, always making similar mistakes in life as he waits out his final death.

What is different about this book is the way Sharon tells the story, of course. 500 years after the murder of Nightwalker’s beloved mate, Whitedove, he finally finds the woman Alicia he can love, and maybe even possibly trust in telling his story to, only to find that she is not only the daughter of his enemy (in his most recent life) but that she, is also the reincarnation of Whitedove. Nightwalker must kill her father if he is to fulfill his destiny and avenge his family and, meanwhile, Alicia’s discovered horrific secrets about her father and he is trying to kill her. Nightwalker must keep Alicia safe, kill the father, and explain how he is 529 years old.

This was a fast-paced enjoyable read. Just as I expected it to be.

McKETTRICK'S LUCK

McKettrick's Luck

by

Linda Lael Miller

7/12/2009

Like his celebrated ancestors who tamed the wilds of Arizona, Jesse McKettrick's Indian Rock ties run deep. The Triple M Ranch is in his blood, along with the thrill of risk. But with his land at stake, Jesse won't get involved in Cheyenne Bridges's scheme-- despite the temptation she brings.

Cheyenne grew up in Indian Rock and left its painful memories behind to become a self-made woman. Now her job is to convince Jesse to sell his property. Jesse's not the kind of man Cheyenne could ever forget, but he's too wild and dangerous for a woman committed to playing it safe. Yet sparks of attraction fly, tempting Cheyenne to lay it all on the line for the passion she sees in Jesse's eyes.

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*** (3 Stars) I had high hopes for this book/series, especially after just having read the “Montana Creeds” trilogy. However, I thought this book just didn’t measure up (it was written 2 years before the Creed series). I don’t know if it was because the basis of the story takes place around the corporate world (which I have no interest in) or if it was missing the sarcasm and snappy humor (not to mention the smokin’ hot love scenes) of the Creed boys….er…men, but I finished the book feeling like something was missing. The story, if judged by itself, was pretty good.

I did the two-day read and felt things moved along quickly, but I think I can honestly say that I didn’t really even like the two main character all that much. Jesse McKettrick is wealthy, lazy, and spends most of his time at a poker table. He doesn’t even WANT a job, for pete’s sake! And Cheyenne, the heroine of the story, is deceitful and weak. I don’t often say this, but I think if we were able to check in with these characters on down the road…say in 5 years, they will be divorced and much happier apart. Ha! I am in no hurry to read books two and three in this series…and that just bums me out.

MONTANA CREEDS: TYLER

Montana Creeds: Tyler

by

Linda Lael Miller

7/9/2009

(Third story in Montana Creeds trilogy)

Whether winning championship belt buckles or dealing with Hollywood types for endorsement deals, former rodeo star Tyler Creed can handle anything. Except standing on the same patch of land as his estranged brothers. Yet here they are in Stillwater Springs, barely talking but trying to restore the old Creed ranch—and family.

Lily Kenyon knows all about family estrangements and secrets. The single mom has come home to set things right, to put down roots for her daughter. What she doesn't expect is Tyler Creed, whom she's loved since childhood. Now the handsome, stubborn cowboy who left home to seek his fortune just might find it was always under the Montana sky.…
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****(4 Stars) Ahhhhh…..there is nothing like a good book that makes you laugh, tear up a bit, and give a deep, satisfying sigh when it is over. Tyler’s story was one of these books. In fact, the whole trilogy was one of the most enjoyable series I ever read.

Ms. Miller really stepped up the steam on this book. Tyler and Lily like it hard, fast, and often—but it was done in such a way that it was more charming and fun, then crude and profane. Their relationship started in their high school years, much like Dylan and Kristy, but whereas Dylan and Kristy had been intimate as teens, Lily and Tyler had been platonic.

The romance aside, this story has a great family story. Tyler is the last to give in and make up with his brothers, and, he has the saddest story of the three boys. His parents both committed suicide (at different times) and he was really a lost boy trying to find his way. In addition, he learns he has a 13 year old son he fathered when he was fifteen (via a generous older woman who was busy teaching him the “ropes” at night, after teenage Tyler dropped virginal Lily off at home after their dates.) The relationships that Tyler builds with his son, develops with Lily’s daughter, and mends with his brothers were so well written that I actually teared up. I am sad to see the series end—but happily adding them to my Linda Lael Miller Keeper Shelf”.

MONTANA CREEDS: DYLAN

Montana Creeds: Dylan

by

Linda Lael Miller

7/7/2009

(Second in the Montana Creeds trilogy)

Hailed as "rodeo's bad boy" for his talent at taming bulls and women, Dylan Creed likes life in the fast lane. But when the daughter he rarely sees is abandoned by her mother, Dylan heads home to Stillwater Springs ranch. Somehow the champion bull rider has to turn into a champion father—and fast.

Town librarian Kristy Madison is uncharacteristically speechless when Dylan Creed turns up for story time with a toddler in tow. The man who'd left a trail of broken hearts—including her own—is back…and this time Kristy's determined to tame his wild ways once and for all.
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**** (4 Stars) This is the second book of the Montana Creed trilogy and I was just as glued to Dylan’s story as I was to Logan’s. I started falling in love with Dylan in the first book, and I still love him after this book. Ha! He is a little bit “bad boy” and a little bit “boy next door”.

In the first book, Dylan made several appearances in Stillwater, his hometown, though he didn’t really want to be there. You have to wonder why, since he never sold his share of the family homestead and had even brought in a retired championship rodeo bull as somewhat of a pet. Soon he finds himself in temporary custody of his two year old daughter Bonnie and in the presence of his high school sweetheart, Kristy. Kristy and Dylan rekindle their relationship (and Ms. Miller steamed up the story a bit!) and Kristy formed an attachment to Bonnie.

Yes, this story, like the first one, was Harlequin formulaic. But there was also a little bit of suspense and some good old fashioned romance (I want someone to fill the bathtub with rose petals for me! –sigh--). The relationships between all family members and indeed, all characters in the story, seem real and believable. I very much enjoyed the story and already have Tyler’s (the youngest brother and last story) sitting on my desk.

MONTANA CREEDS: LOGAN

Montana Creeds: Logan

by

Linda Lael Miller

7/5/2009

(First in "Montana Creeds" trilogy)

Descendants of the legendary McKettrick family, the Creeds are renowned in Stillwater Springs, Montana—for raising hell…

After years of wandering, Logan Creed, a cowboy with a dusty law degree, has returned home. To put down roots, to restore his family's neglected ranch…to have kids of his own proudly bearing the Creed name.

Divorced mom Briana Grant has heard the stories about her gorgeous neighbor. So Logan's kindness with her young boys is a welcome surprise, especially when her ex reappears. And when an unknown enemy vandalizes her home, Logan shows Briana—and the folks of Big Sky country—just what he's made of.
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**** (4 Stars) I haven't read a Linda Lael Miller book in several years--even longer still from a McKettrick/Creed series, but I am sure glad I did. This was a really great start to a new spin-off trilogy about the Creed family. Logan, the oldest brother of the three, starts off the series...he's successful, yet has failed in many ways and he returns to his roots to find himself and forgiveness, and in the process finds Briana, the love of his life.

I love the way that Ms. Miller developed the characters in this story. Younger brother Dylan made some appearances (and I think I am already in love with him) and our main characters Logan, Briana, and her two boys Alec and Josh, are believable and loveable. Even Vance, Briana's ex-husband makes a good character in the story (I have known a few Vance's in my time!) You can tell this is a Harlequin extended story--it has most of the basic formula there, but it was really enjoyable and feel-good at the end. Now...on to book two. Dylan!!!

DORP DEAD

Dorp Dead

by

Julie Cunningham

7/1/09

From http://www.amazon.com/

Gilly hides his brilliance so he will fit in and not attract attention at the orphanage. One day he discovers that he has been apprenticed to the town ladder maker. His excitement at finally having a home soon turns to horror. Will he be able to escape the terror that Kobalt, the ladder maker, plans for him?

A reissue of the novel that dramatically changed children’s literature in the 20th century.

Julia Cunningham’s ground-breaking novel, first published in 1965 and unavailable in any edition for a decade, is reissued for a whole new generation of readers to call their own. “Here . . . is the story of a boy who discovers himself, who basically comes to grips with that most contemporary of problems, the isolation of the individual. It is told within the near-classic framework of the story of the orphan who survives and escapes maltreatment to find love, but it is told in frank, literate terms in the lingo of today’s youngsters. And it has, as an additional dimension, a touch of the Gothic tale, a tinge of terror and a shade of romanticism.” (The New York Herald Tribune)
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**** (4 Stars) I waited for this book for two years on Paperbackswap.com and it was well worth the wait. I first encountered this book in 1977 when I was in 6th grade. Ms. P, my teacher at the time, used the book as a read-aloud. Though I only remembered two elements of this story (the cage being built for the boy and the words “Dorp Dead” being written on the cottage door), it must have left a big impact on me at the time because I never had never forgotten it.

Gilly, the highly intelligent young man in the story, is orphaned at the age of 10 with the passing of his grandmother. He is placed in the village orphanage where he never quite fits in (and purposely chooses not to). On a walk through the woods, he finds a special place he can go to for solitude and one day encounters The Hunter, a mysterious stranger. Upon returning to the orphanage one afternoon, the head mistress informs Gilly that he is being fostered out to the town ladder maker and shall live and work as his apprentice. Gilly is hopeful to have a purpose in life and makes a new friend through Mash, the dog, who lives in the home too. But soon, Gilly learns that the man he lives with is sinister. He is building a cage to keep Gilly in. Gilly escapes the cottage by climbing one of the ladders up through the chimney and hides in his secret place in the forest. The ladder maker comes after him, however, Gilly is saved by The Hunter and Mash, the dog.

What makes this 90 page book so wonderful is the emotion and style the author, Ms. Cunningham, uses to covey the story. This book could easily be a fairy tale or a gothic horror story. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Gilly had run into Red Rose or Snow White in the forest where he hid. This is a MUST READ for anyone who loves classic children’s stories. Good luck finding it….after 32 years I am not letting this book go.

BAD PENNY

Bad Penny

by
Sharon Sala (Dinah McCall)

6/29/09

(Third in "Cat Dupree" series)

Cat Dupree would love nothing more than to settle down and build a life with fellow bounty hunter Wilson McKay. But Soloman Tutuola—the man who murdered her father and slashed her throat when she was thirteen—haunts her even from the grave.

An investigator from Mexico is tracking down the person who is responsible for Tutuola's death—and the trail leads directly to Cat. To add to her bad luck, a junkie with a vendetta is stalking Wilson and is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of his revenge.

Desperate to start their future together, Cat and Wilson turn the manhunt around—vowing to do whatever it takes to find freedom from the past and the scars that have damaged them both.
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**** (4 Stars) Another terrific book by Sharon Sala. “Bad Penny” is the third and final (I think) installment in the Cat Dupree series about a female bounty hunter who tracks the two separate murderers of both her best friend and the man who was responsible for killing her father and slit her throat when she was 13 years old and left her for dead (Tutuola).

I discovered Sharon Sala about 4 or 5 years ago and have been gobbling up her books whenever I can get my hands on them. She is the most consistent writer out there in the romantic suspense genre, I believe. Her characters are always believable and I find myself quickly falling into the story and attaching myself to the characters before the first two chapters are read. Sala writes from a realistic point of view, and the people she writes about act like you think they should.

In this story, Wilson McKay, a fellow bounty hunter and long-time lover of Cat Dupree, recuperates at home on his family’s ranch from multiple gunshot wounds while Cat sits by his side and finally admits she loves him and can’t live without him. It took getting to the third book for her to admit what Wilson knew all along from the first few pages of the first book. Under the shelter of Wilson’s love, Cat flourishes and learns that she is no longer alone, is capable of loving back, and is enfolded into the arms of a large southern family. In the meantime, Cat and Wilson are being stalked by the very man who shot and tried to kill Wilson.

FINGER LICKIN' FIFTEEN

Finger Lickin' Fifteen

by

Janet Evanovich

6/26/2009

(Fifteenth in series--not including the in-between novels)

UNBUCKLE YOUR BELT AND PULL UP A CHAIR. IT'S THE SPICIEST, SAUCIEST, MOST RIB-STICKING PLUM YET.

Recipe for disaster:

Celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle comes to Trenton to participate in a barbecue cook-off and loses his head --literally.

Throw in some spice:

Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she’ll talk to is Trenton cop, Joe Morelli.

Pump up the heat:

Chipotle’s sponsor is offering a million dollar reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of the killers.

Stir the pot:

Lula recruits bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to help her find the killers and collect the moolah.

Add a secret ingredient:

Stephanie Plum’s Grandma Mazur. Enough said.

Bring to a boil:

Stephanie Plum is working overtime tracking felons for the bonds office at night and snooping for security expert Carlos Manoso, A.K.A. Ranger, during the day. Can Stephanie hunt down two killers, a traitor, five skips, keep her grandmother out of the sauce, solve Ranger’s problems and not jump his bones?

Warning:

Habanero hot. So good you’ll want seconds.
_____________________________

***(3 1/2 Stars) I've read them all....from number one, to the in-between books, the mini "Last Peep", and now "Finger Lickin' Fifteen". I've listened to them all on audio, stood for hours in line to meet Ms, Evanovich a couple years ago, and even have a, "I (heart) Ranger" bumper sticker on my car.

I have really enjoyed the series from beginning to end. Yes, the characters are getting too predictable and the laugh-out-loud moments are way fewer than they used to be, but like a good light hour-long comedy on TV, these books are fun to read and picking up this book was like stopping by an old friend's house for coffee and a sweet roll.

The book was silly at times (c'mon--a hot dog outfit? I was seeing Justin Timberlake from "Saturday Night Live" when I read that part of the book). The death of two Porshe Cayennes, a Ford Focus, the infamous Firebird, and Stephanie's couch (once again) was expected, and Ms. Evanovich did not disappoint with the outlandish behaviors of Lula and Grandma Mazur.

Was this her best in the series? Nope. But it was better than "Fearless Fourteen". Is the series waning? Probably. But I don't care. I will keep picking up the Plum books until Janet stops writing them. Why? Because in all honesty I am waiting for Ranger to finally get another shot. We almost had Stephanie this time. ((sigh))

THE MAN MUST MARRY

The Man Must Marry

by

Janet Chapman

6/19/2009

(First in the Sinclair Brothers Trilogy)

Trying to escape marriage, they are snared by love.

When Sam Sinclair's self-made millionaire grandfather sends Willa Kent, a woman none of the three Sinclair brothers have even heard of, as his proxy to an ultra-important meeting of the Sinclair shipping company, most people would think the old man had lost his marbles. But Sam knows his grandfather too well. For some reason, the wily old man has decided that one of his three grandsons should marry Willa, and this is his way of trying to force the issue....

So Willa and Sam team up on what seems like a wild-goose chase to find some loophole in Grandfather Sinclair's crazy notion. But as Sam crews Willa's yacht en route to Maine, he finds to his surprise that his grandfather's offbeat scheme is growing more attractive by the moment. Willa is smart, beautiful...and has a wild streak that sends them soaring together above the clouds.

But Willa isn't about to let Sam fly away with her heart until she knows his true motives. If the man wants to marry for money, then the woman in her says that first he must fall in love.

*** (4 Stars) I LOVED this book. But then again, I love all of Janet Chapman books. They are sweet romances with lots of humor (without being slapstick) and I fall in love with every one of her heroes. I actually didn't like Sam the fist couple of chapters, but he sure grew on me fast. He's a keeper. Willa should be very happy with him--and if he doesn't work out--there ARE two more brothers to choose from. ;-) Though I know Ms. Chapman has big plans for those good-looking hunks, too.

ASHES OF MIDNIGHT

Ashes of Midnight

by

Lara Adrian

6/17/09

(Sixth in "The Midnight Breed" series)

A woman driven by blood. A man thirsting for vengeance.A place where darkness and desire meet...

As night falls, Claire Roth flees, driven from her home by a fiery threat that seems to come from hell itself. Then, from out of the flames and ash, a vampire warrior emerges. He is Andreas Reichen, her onetime lover, now a stranger consumed by vengeance. Caught in the cross fire, Claire cannot escape his savage fury—or the hunger that plunges her into his world of eternal darkness and unending pleasure.

Nothing will stop Andreas from destroying the vampire responsible for slaughtering his Breed brethren . . . even if he must use his former lover as a pawn in his deadly mission. Blood-bonded to his treacherous adversary, Claire can lead Andreas to the enemy he seeks, but it is a journey fraught with danger—and deep, unbidden desires. For Claire is the one woman Andreas should not crave, and the only one he’s ever loved. A dangerous seduction begins—one that blurs the lines between predator and prey, and stokes the flames of a white-hot passion that may consume all in its path. . . .

***(4 1/2 Stars) OK. What's the deal? This is the sixth book in the series and each one just gets better and better. I will be so depressed when (hopefully never!) this series ends. When Andreas was first introduced several books ago, I wasn't sure I liked his character very much and really wasn't sure he could be trusted. Andreas is scary and fascinating all at once. And sexy as hell. I love how Ms. Adrian's "Breeds" exist in a normal world fighting the good fight (which of course is against the evil Dragos who is out to rule the world). I will miss Adrian as he moves back to Germany with Claire, but hopefully, he will make frequent appearances in Kane's and Brock's stories. One great thing about the way Ms, Adrian writes her stories: she is not afraid to bring all her characters back into the fold and keep their stories rolling right along with the new ones, too.

DEAD UNTIL DARK

Dead Until Dark

by

Charlaine Harris

6/6/2009

(First in the "True Blood"/ "Southern Vampire" novels)

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

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My Opinion: 3 1/2 stars. I liked the story but it took me two weeks to get through it--even with only about 280 pages. I am not a huge fan of books written in first-person format. I am glad I saw the series on HBO before reading the book (which is a first for me--usually I like to read before I see)....do I dare say--I liked the TV series better? YIKES! I do want to read the rest of the series....just not this month.

LOVER AVENGED

Lover Avenged

by

J.R. Ward

5/11/2009

(Seventh in the "Black Dagger Brotherhood" series)

“The king must die.”

So begins J.R. Ward’s darkly seductive Lover Avenged—the latest book in her blistering Black Dagger Brotherhood series—as the vampire warriors fight to defend their race from enemies seen and unseen…and one mixed-blood male’s loyalty is tested beyond endurance.

Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It's also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and owner of a notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he's approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood.

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he's a symphath—able to read and manipulate other people’s emotions—his identity is a secret, the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll on Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world— -- Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him…and the only one standing between him and eternal destruction.

VEIL OF MIDNIGHT

Veil of Midnight

by

Lara Adrian

4/30/2009

(Fifth of "Midnight Breeds" series)

Bound by blood, addicted to danger, they'll enter the darkest—and most erotic—place of all.

A warrior trained in bullets and blades, Renata cannot be bested by any man—vampire or mortal. But her most powerful weapon is her extraordinary psychic ability—a gift both rare and deadly. Now a stranger threatens her hard-won independence—a golden-haired vampire who lures her into a realm of darkness…and pleasure beyond imagining.

A combat-loving adrenaline junkie, Nikolai dispenses his own justice to enemies of the Breed—and his latest quarry is a ruthless assassin. One woman stands in his way: the seductive, cool-as-ice bodyguard, Renata. But Renata’s powers are put to the test when a loved one, a child, is threatened and she’s forced to turn to Niko for help. As the two join forces, as desire fans the flames of a deeper hunger, Renata’s life is under siege by a man who offers the exquisite pleasure of a blood bond—and a passion that could save or doom them both forever.…

MIDNIGHT RISING

Midnight Rising

by

Lara Adrian

4/12/2009

(Fourth in "Midnight Breeds" series)

In a world of shadows and dark, consuming hungers, desire is the deadliest weapon...

For journalist Dylan Alexander, it began with the discovery of a hidden tomb, thrusting her into the center of a gathering storm of violence and secrets. But nothing is as dangerous as the scarred, lethally seductive man who rises from the shadows to draw her into his world of dark desire and endless night.

Fueled by pain and rage over a shattering betrayal, the warrior Rio has pledged his life to the war against the Rogues. He will let nothing stand in his way—least of all a mortal woman with the power to expose the entire vampire race. For an ancient evil has been awakened, and a stunning darkness is on the rise. Suddenly Dylan is powerless to resist Rio’s touch, even as she uncovers a shocking link to her own past. And now she must choose: Leave Rio’s midnight realm, or risk it all for the man who has shown her true passion and the infinite pleasures of the heart. . .

MAVERICK

Maverick

by

Lora Leigh

4/5/2009

(Second in Special Ops series)

-Loosely related to Navy Seals series-

Micah Sloane knows almost everything there is to know about Risa Clay, including the vicious betrayal she endured years ago and the distrust she’s harbored ever since. The only way for the Elite Ops agent to uncover an assassin—and banish the ghosts of his own dark past—is to use Risa as bait. But nothing has prepared him for her disarming blend of innocence and sensuality, or for his overwhelming need to protect her…

Risa has spent six years rebuilding her life. And now, to save it, she must pose as Micah’s lover and draw a killer into the open. It’s a risky plan—especially with a man as powerfully seductive as Micah. But, as their charade becomes reality, Risa realizes the greatest danger may lie in losing her heart forever…

MIDNIGHT AWAKENING

Midnight Awakening

by

Lara Adrian

3/29/2009

(Third in "Midnight Breeds" series)

With a dagger in her hand and vengeance on her mind, Darkhaven beauty Elise Chase prowls Boston’s streets in search of retribution against the Rogue vampires who took from her everything she cherished. Using an extraordinary psychic gift, she tracks her prey, well aware that the power she possesses is destroying her. She must learn to harness this gift, and for that she can turn to only one man—the deadliest of the Breed warriors, Tegan.

No stranger to loss, Tegan knows Elise’s pain. He knows fury, but when he slays his enemies it is with ice in his veins. He is perfect in his self-control, until Elise seeks his aid in her personal war. An unholy alliance is forged—a bond that will link them by blood and vow—and plunge them into a tempest of danger, desire, and the darkest passions of the heart. . . .

KISS OF CRIMSON

Kiss of Crimson

by

Lara Adrian

3/21/2009

(Second in "Midnight Breeds" series)

He comes to her more dead than alive, a towering black-clad stranger riddled with bullets and rapidly losing blood. As she struggles to save him, veterinarian Tess Culver is unaware that the man calling himself Dante is no man at all, but one of the Breed, vampire warriors engaged in a desperate battle. In a single erotically charged moment Tess is plunged into his world—a shifting, shadowed place where bands of Rogue vampires stalk the night, cutting a swath of terror.

Haunted by visions of a dark future, Dante lives and fights like there is no tomorrow. Tess is a complication he does not need—but now, with his brethren under attack, he must shield Tess from a growing threat that includes Dante himself. For with one reckless, irresistible kiss, she has become an inextricable part of his underworld realm…and his touch awakens her to hidden gifts, desires, and hungers she never knew she possessed. Bonded by blood, Dante and Tess must work together to thwart deadly enemies, even as they discover a passion that transcends the boundaries of life itself….

KISS OF MIDNIGHT

Kiss of Midnight

by

Lara Adrian

3/13/2009

(First in "Midnight Breeds" series)

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . .

ANNIE AND THE OUTLAW

Annie and the Outlaw

by

Sharon Sala

3/1/2009

OUTLAW ANGEL

Harley-riding hellion Gabriel Donner had broken every rule, sinning enough for at least two lifetimes. And it would take just as long to right all his wrongs and earn his way to heaven. But his time was running out...

Then Gabriel rode to the rescue of an old-fashioned damsel in distress. Sweet Annie O'Brien desperately needed a guardian angel, and in her innocent eyes, his biker shades and outlaw leather shone like a halo and wings. Clearly Annie offered him salvation. Or did she? Loving her would be heaven, losing her, pure hell. And lose her he must. Unless time somehow stood still, erasing his past...and rewriting Annie's future.

PLUM SPOOKY

Plum Spooky

by

Janet Evanovich

2/19/2009

(In-between story in the "Stephanie Plum" series)

The First Full Length Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers Novel from #1 Bestselling Author Janet Evanovich.

Turn on all the lights and check under your bed. Things are about to get spooky in Trenton, New Jersey. According to legend, the Jersey Devil prowls the Pine Barrens and soars above the treetops in the dark of night. As eerie as this might seem, there are things in the Barrens that are even more frightening and dangerous. And there are monkeys. Lots of monkeys. Wulf Grimoire is a world wanderer and an opportunist who can kill without remorse and disappear like smoke. He’s chosen Martin Munch, boy genius, as his new business partner, and he’s chosen the Barrens as his new playground. Munch received his doctorate degree in quantum physics when he was twenty-two. He’s now twenty-four, and while his brain is large, his body hasn’t made it out of the boys’ department at Macy’s. Anyone who says good things come in small packages hasn’t met Munch. Wulf Grimoire is looking for world domination. Martin Munch would be happy if he could just get a woman naked and tied to a tree.

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has Munch on her most-wanted list for failure to appear in court. Plum is the all-American girl stuck in an uncomfortable job, succeeding on luck and tenacity. Usually she gets her man. This time she gets a monkey. She also gets a big guy named Diesel.

Diesel pops in and out of Plum’s life like birthday cake – delicious to look at and taste, not especially healthy as a steady diet, gone by the end of the week if not sooner. He’s an über bounty hunter with special skills when it comes to tracking men and pleasing women. He’s after Grimoire, and now he’s also after Munch. And if truth were told, he wouldn’t mind setting Stephanie Plum in his crosshairs. Diesel and Plum hunt down Munch and Grimoire, following them into the Barrens, surviving cranberry bogs, the Jersey Devil, a hair-raising experience, sand in their underwear, and, of course . . . monkeys.

PROMISES REVEAL

Promises Reveal

by

Sarah McCarty

2/5/2009

(Fourth in "Promises" series)

Dedicated artist Evie Washington isn’t the marrying kind. But when she admitted that her faceless portrait of a naked man was modeled on the devilishly handsome Reverend Brad Swanson, her family vowed to save her reputation? Even if it meant taking away her hard-won freedom. Little do they realize that the preacher isn’t exactly what he seems...

MY IMMORTAL

My Immortal

by

Erin McCarthy

1/31/2009

In the late eighteenth century, plantation owner Damien du Bourg struck an unholy bargain with a fallen angel: an eternity of inspiring lust in others for the gift of immortality. But when Marley Turner stumbles upon Damien's plantation searching for her missing sister, for the first time in two hundred years it's Damien who can't resist the lure of a woman. But his past sins aren't so easily forgotten-or forgiven.

BLUE-EYED DEVIL

Blue-Eyed Devil

by

Lisa Kleypas

1/23/2009

(Second in series)

His name is Hardy Cates. He’s a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston’s oil industry. He’s got hot blood in his veins and vengeance on his mind.

She’s Haven Travis. Despite her family’s money, she refuses to set out on the path they’ve chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course.

Two years have gone by. Now Haven has come home. This time, she is determined to guard her heart. And Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her door—or setting her soul on fire.

OVERKILL

Overkill

by

Linda Casttillo

12/28/2008

Marty Hogan was a good cop until she crossed the line . . . Now someone wants her to pay.

It started with a case so horrific it sent Chicago cop Marty Hogan straight over the edge. Unable to put the past behind her, she lost her job and was forced to flee to small-town Texas and the only police department that would hire her.

She's about to learn you can't outrun the past...

Police chief Clay Settlemeyer knows something about making mistakes, which is why he was willing to give Marty a second chance. But when her ex-partner is brutally murdered, it's clear that Marty's past has come back to haunt her.

And she's the next intended victim...

EVERLASTING

Everlasting

By

Kathleen Woodiwiss

12/19/2008

(Final book by author)

Once, Abrielle's name was on the lips of every unwed nobleman in London as a proud exceptional lady coveted for her bearing, her breeding, her wit, and her beauty.

But when her stepfather—respected for his courage and valor during the Crusades—is denied his rightful title and the wealth that accompanies it, Abrielle finds herself suddenly disgraced, no longer a suitable match for any proper gentleman. Only one would still have her, though he desires no more than physical pleasure: the oafish and grotesque Desmond de Marlé. His dark and scandalous reputation is legend, and Abrielle has heard rumors that his first two wives perished by his hand. Yet no one else can rescue her once-proud family's honor and keep her stepfather from debtor's prison, so she is left with no choice but to accept the cruel and hateful de Marlé's offer of marriage and sacrifice her virtue to a scoundrel she fears and detests . . . even as she yearns for another lover.

Dashing, handsome, tall, and kind—a black-haired Scotsman with vivid blue eyes—Raven Seabern is an emissary for his king, and quite unlike any man Abrielle has ever encountered. From the very first moment their eyes meet, he intrigues and mesmerizes her—and dancing in his arms at a royal banquet leaves her weak with the desire to surrender. But their love can never be, for Abrielle is betrothed to a monster. And the well-being of everyone she cares for demands that she honor her promise. Still, the fire lit that night will not be doused. Raven knows he has found the true one and must never let her go—though secrets, deceptions, dishonor, and unimaginable peril will surely be their fate if they follow the dictates of their hearts.

NAUTI DREAMS

Nauti Dreams

by

Lora Leigh

12/2/2008

(Third in "Nauti" series)

Natches Mackay separated himself from his family years ago, except for the two cousins who gave him the only family he’d known. Now he’s being dragged back into his father’s life in ways that could destroy him and the one woman who tempts him beyond reason: Government Agent Chaya Dane, who has fought to put her own past behind her. A mission in Somerset, Kentucky, brings her back into the dreams of Natches—and into the shadows cast by his father, suspected in the theft of government missiles. And it could cost Chaya more than she ever imagined.

TRIAL BY FIRE

Trial By Fire

by

Jo Davis

11/1/2008

(First in "Firefighters of Station Five" series)

Lieutenant Howard. Six- Pack. Paxton loves three things: being a firefighter, riding his Harley, and his bachelorhood. That is, until the curvaceous Kat McKenna falls into his arms at the scene of a fire and melts the six-foot-six tower of bronze muscle.

But just as passion ignites between them and they explore new heights of ecstasy a ruthless arsonist with a deadly secret and a thirst for vengeance becomes their worst nightmare.

RUNNING WILD

Running Wild

by

Sarah McCarty

10/21/2008

Three stories of sensual erotic romance. Three werewolves who feed a wild hunger…

Donovan must bring the Pack Alpha home and nothing more. But when he catches the sexy scent of Lisa Delaney, he’s hers, body and soul and ready to risk both on an erotic desire that will shatter all boundaries.

Kelon intends to return to his pack after helping Donovan, but he never counted on the voluptuous distraction of Robin Delaney. She’s the one woman who can make him contemplate a choice no werewolf should have to make.

Wyatt can’t afford to be attracted to the practical, completely human Heather Delaney. But she isn’t a woman a man ignores, no matter what the cost.

WILD CARD

Wild Card

by

Lora Leigh

10/3/2008

(First in Special Ops series)

-Loosely related to Navy Seals series-

**My favorite Lora Leigh book to date**

It was supposed to be simple. All Navy SEAL Nathan Malone had to do was rescue three young girls from a Colombia drug cartel, then allow himself to be captured just long enough to draw out a government spy. That was before his mission went disastrously wrong…and before his wife, Bella, was told that Nathan was never coming home.

Bella’s mourned her husband’s death for three long years. But she has no idea he’s still alive. Forced to assume a new identity, the man Nathan was is now dead. If he can get back to his wife, can he keep the secret of who he really is…even as desire threatens to consume them? And as danger threatens to tear Bella from Nathan’s arms once more?

ATLANTA HEAT: RESCUE ME

Atlanta Heat

~From the anthology "Rescue Me"~

by

Lora Leigh

9/25/2008

(In-between story in series)

Em Delaney has wanted bad-boy Macey March for as long as she can remember. But as a Navy SEAL under the command of her overprotective godfather, Macey is off-limits to Em…until a kidnapping attempt forces them to share tantalizingly close quarters—and a forbidden desire.

NEW MOON

New Moon

by

Stephanie Meyer

9/19/2008

Recovered from the vampire attack that hospitalized her in the conclusion of Twilight (Little, Brown, 2005), Bella celebrates her birthday with her boyfriend Edward and his family, a unique clan of vampires that has sworn off human blood. But the celebration abruptly ends when the teen accidentally cuts her arm on broken glass. The sight and smell of her blood trickling away forces the Cullen family to retreat lest they be tempted to make a meal of her. After all is mended, Edward, realizing the danger that he and his family create for Bella, sees no option for her safety but to leave. Mourning his departure, she slips into a downward spiral of depression that penetrates and lingers over her every step.

Vampire fans will appreciate the subsequently dour mood that permeates the novel, and it's not until Bella befriends Jacob, a sophomore from her school with a penchant for motorcycles, that both the pace and her disposition begin to take off. Their adventures are wild, dare-devilish, and teeter on the brink of romance, but memories of Edward pervade Bella's emotions, and soon their fun quickly morphs into danger, especially when she uncovers the true identities of Jacob and his pack of friends. Less streamlined than Twilight yet just as exciting, New Moon will more than feed the bloodthirsty hankerings of fans of the first volume and leave them breathless for the third.

TWILIGHT

Twilight

by

Stephanie Meyer

8/31/2008

Deeply sensuous and extraordinarily suspenseful, TWILIGHT captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite. Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife--between desire and danger.

TO THE LIMIT

To the Limit

by

Cindy Gerard

8/23/2008

(First in "The Bodyguards" series)

When former Secret Service agent Eve Garrett, gets a late night call from Tiffany Clayborne saying "Eve, please come and get me" she books over the bar Tiffany says she's at. She met the girl when she was still an agent. Tiffany was her first assignment and she developed a big sister attachment to the kid that continues to this day. However, when Eve gets to the bar she sees some suspicious activity in a dark alley and her gut tells her that Tiffany is involved. When she goes after her, she's knocked out and when she comes to, Tiffany is gone. Eve believes that Tiffany is in danger. But when she goes to Tiffany's father, he doesn't want Eve anywhere near Tiffany. After all she was in charge the last time Tiffany got hurt. Eve and Tiffany have put that incident behind them. Her father has not. He plans to hire his own private detective to check into this. Eve doesn't trust Tiffany's safety to anyone else and decides to hunt for her on her own. However, during her search in Miami, Florida she runs into Clayborne's detective--her old flame, Mac, who loved her and left her. He's the last person she wants to see, especially on this case. However, when several attempts are made on Eve's life, Mac decides that they should stick together. And the closer they get to Tiffany, the more deadly secrets unfold and the more the danger rises. . .

COVER OF NIGHT

Cover of Night

by

Linda Howard

8/5/2008

In the charming rural town of Trail Stop, Idaho, accessible to the outside world by only a single road, young widow Cate Nightingale lives peacefully with her four-year-old twin boys, running a bed-and-breakfast. Though the overnight guests are few and far between–occasional hunters and lake fishermen–Cate always manages to make ends meet with the help of the local jack-of-all-trades, Calvin Harris, who can handle everything from carpentry to plumbing. But Calvin is not what he seems, and Cate’s luck is about to run out.

One morning, the B&B’s only guest inexplicably vanishes, leaving behind his personal effects. A few days later Cate is shocked when armed men storm the house, demanding the mystery man’s belongings. Fearing for her children’s lives, Cate agrees to cooperate–until Calvin saves the day, forcing the intruders to scatter into the surrounding woods.

The nightmare, however, is just beginning. Cate, Calvin, and their entire community find themselves cut off and alone with no means to call for help as the threat gathers intensity and first blood is drawn.

With their fellow residents trapped and the entire town held hostage, Cate and Calvin have no choice but to take the fight to their enemies under the cover of night. While reticent Cal becomes a fearless protector, Cate makes the most daring move of her life . . . into the very heart of danger.

SHADES OF TWILIGHT

Shades of Twilight

by

Linda Howard

7/29/2008 (reread)

Roanna Davenport was raised a wealthy orphan on her grandmother's magnificent Alabama estate, Davencourt, where she had a passion for horses, a genius for trouble, and a deep love for her cousin, Webb. But everyone expected Webb to marry their ravishing cousin, Jessie. When he did, Roanna's desire became no more than the stuff of dreams -- until the night Jessie was found bludgeoned to death.

After the shocking murder of his wife, Webb left for Arizona, abandoning the legacy that he had once believed was all he wanted. But then an all-grown-up Roanna walked into a dingy bar in Nogales to bring him home; the mischievous sprite he had known ten years earlier was no more. Gone, too, was her fire. In its place was ice that melted at his touch. Webb is drawn back to Davencourt, to Roanna, and to the killer that once destroyed his life and waits only for the chance to finish the job....

IN THE DARK

In the Dark

by

Marliss Melton

7/28/2008

(Second in series)

Navy Seal Lieutenant Luther Lindstrom is determined to clear the name of his Commanding Officer, Gabe 'Jaguar' Renault. One person who has the evidence that can clear him of the trumped up charges, and that is Hannah Geary. Hannah is in hot water herself, for she is being held in a Cuban prison. Luther knows to rescue her would put his own life in jeopardy, but the consequences outweigh the logic. Hannah Geary wakes up to the cold isolation of a Cuban prison. Having been trained to protect herself, her instincts go into high gear as she tries to find a way out of her dilemma. She is able to escape and runs straight into the arms of Lt. Lindstrom and Chief Westy McCaffey.

The trio manages to escape the dangers of the compound and travel to safety. Although they are safe, they realize they must lay low until Commander Edware Lovett is captured and brought to justice. Their close quarters ignite feelings for each other they didn't anticipate. As danger is around every corner, will their love be given a chance to emerge?

LAST PEEP: THE PLOT THICKENS

Last Peep

~From the anthology "The Plot Thickens"~

by

Janet Evanovich

7/22/2009

A Stephanie Plum story well worth tracking down. This time, bounty hunter Stephanie is on the trail of a burg resident with a penchant for peeping in windows and showing off his personal wares. But when she discovers his dead, naked body, which subsequently disappears, she's thrust into the middle of an exciting, and very amusing, mystery. A mystery that she is bound and determined to solve, with a little help from sidekick Lula and Grandma Mazur.

UP CLOSE AND DANGEROUS

Up Close and Dangerous

by

Linda Howard

7/21/2008

A mysterious plane crash . . . a dangerous trek through the Idaho wilderness . . . a smoldering attraction . . . and a deadly game of cat and mouse. In her latest tour de force of romantic suspense, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard blends these elements into a gripping story that will keep readers breathless–and leave them begging for more. For in Linda Howard’s world, trust can be a weapon, a kiss can be a threat, and intimacy can be deadly.

Bailey Wingate’s scheming adult stepchildren are surprised when their father’s will leaves Bailey in control of their fortune, and war ensues. A year later, while flying from Seattle to Denver in a small plane, Bailey nearly dies herself when the engine sputters–and then fails.

Cam Justice, her sexy Texan pilot, manages to crash-land the aircraft. Stranded in the wilderness, and struggling to douse her feelings for the ruggedly handsome man by her side, Bailey begins to wonder whether this was a mere accident. Who tampered with their plane? Who’s trying to reunite Bailey and her husband in the afterlife? Cut off from the world, and with little hope of rescue, Bailey must trust her life–and heart–to Cam, as they battle the harsh elements to find a way out of the unforgiving wilds and back to civilization . . . where a killer may be waiting to finish the job.

Sexy, suspenseful, and lightning fast, Up Close and Dangerous showcases a beloved author at her dazzling best.

THE COWBOY AND THE CAPTIVE: COPS AND COWBOYS

Cowboy and the Captive

~From the anthology "Cops and Cowboys"~

by

Lora Leigh

7/19/2008

Timid and shy, in her wildest dreams, Allie never imagined Alex would look at her with anything more than friendship and maybe a little pity in his eyes. As if living a nightmare, one horrible night Allie is attacked, and Alex comes rushing to her rescue. He wonders if he is really needed when he finds a little hellcat fighting off her attacker. Much later that night, Alex holds that little hellcat in his arms.

Months later, he runs into Allie again, and he barely recognizes her. She's no longer the shy little wallflower she had once been. Problem is...she doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with him. Allie's about to find out that he's the only man guaranteed to make her wildest dreams come true.

Melina had lived her life in her older, selfish twin's shadow until the final deceit forced her to refocus on her own life. But the past has not been forgotten by Luc Jardin.

Now, kidnapped and at the mercy of a man with a grudge, Melina must learn to accept the past as well as her attraction to the arrogant rancher. Just as Luc must learn to accept that, sometimes, things are not always as they seem...

CAPSIZED: ON THE EDGE

Capsized

~From the anthology "On the Edge"~

by

Sharon Sala (aka Dinah McCall)

7/18/2008

Kelly Sloan is a DEA agent in an undercover operation that goes sour when a released prisoner whom she put away recognizes her. After three days of torture she manages to escape and swim to shore in Texas where she is rescued by Quinn McCord, a Texas Ranger with problems of his own. Together they must outwit the drug kingpin who has offered a two million dollar reward for Kelly's murder, in time for Kelly to testify against Dominic Ortega. The sparks fly in this tale of love and revenge.

DEMON'S KISS

Demon’s Kiss

by

Maggie Shayne

7/17/2008

(First in series)

Even by vampire standards, Reaper is a loner, and his current mission to destroy a gang of rogue bloodsuckers is definitely a one-vamp job. Then fate takes a hand, and before he knows it, he's surrounded by a ragtag crew of misfit helpers: the newbie, the princess, the shape-shifter and the human healer.

Seth is new to immortality, but he's sharp and strong—and he'll risk anything for the rogues' strange female captive, a secretive creature he doesn't understand but feels compelled to save.

Vixen is confused by the emotions that swirl through her at the sight of her impulsive hero. She only hopes the brutal Gregor and his bloodthirsty renegades will leave her alive long enough to explore them.

Or will Reaper himself be the one to destroy them all?