by: Cherry Adair

Number of pages: 310

I liked the flawed characters of this book. Despite unbelievable scenarios, the pair of T-FLAC operators discover almost as much about themselves as they do each other. This makes for a wonderful pairing.

Fireworks and bombs, and ancient Egyptian digs combine with a fiery red-headed heroine, and her stoic, but sooo manly hero.

I’m not poking fun, the pair is wonderful despite the potential cliché.

Great book for action romance lovers.

Overall book rating: 7.75

by: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Pages: 533

Ahh, space the final frontier… for romance that is. Kenyon’s League debut book, re-released with more than before, is an excellent read. The author notes at the beginning of the book are almost as much fun (getting a glimpse of the author’s life and start in the business) as the reading.

I have some reservations about this work, mainly a cliché’d happenstance that tastes of Deux en machina, however it still ties everything together nicely, and it isn’t like it drops out of the blue. I suspected the chance meeting’s roots near the beginning of the book.

Actually, I suspected much more than really happened, but that’s just my over-active imagination getting stimulated by a good story. Read if you like science fiction, read if you like action, read if you like
romance. It’s got it all.

Rating: 7.5

(more…)

by Rowena Cherry

Wow. Science fiction with a touch of romance. Really. Let me say it again. Science Fiction…! Backstory needed, bizarre world building, and too much going on to really focus on the budding romance. Should not be put in with the romance novels. but I can’t really see some Microsoft clone wanna be Spock reading this one either.

Writing: 7.1 (kudos for world building, minus points for romantic suspense); characters: couldn’t relate. Nope. Couldn’t relate….6.1; plot: out there and contrived. huh. 5; conclusion: wow, Captain Cardboard has a brain. Who knew? 6.1

Total: 6.1

by Lori Handeland

Elizabeth Phoenix used to be a police officer, but left because her “gift” of seeing things through touch caused the death of her partner. Now she is drawn into more intrigue as her foster mother is brutally murdered. And the main suspect is her ex-boyfriend and enigma, Jimmy Sanducci.

Drawn into an underworld of paranormal war, she must choose to follow her destiny and avenge her foster-mother’s death and pick up the mantle of leadership she left behind.

Grade: writing: 8.6

by Steven Brust

I was disappointed by the latest Vlad Taltos novel. While the writing hasn’t deteriorated, the whimsical Joie de vivre is gone. Vlad is simply a tired criminal on the lam and spends too much time whining over his failed marriage. The intrigue of former novels isn’t as easy to pick out and the wrap up at the end, although expertly contrived, leaves much room for reader enjoyment.

Jhegaala is set in Draghera, but in the non-Empire portions of the East where “Easterners” dwell. Convenient, isn’t that? Vlad, a professional assassin and former leader of his very own Jhereg syndicate, has fled the Empire so he can hide from assassins like himself who have been hired by the Jhereg to kill him. He finds that the east is much like the west and he is forced to defend himself from his own kind.

This is not a “stand alone” novel. If you have read the series, it falls somewhere after Phoenix, of course. Vlad has recently fled Adrilanka following a complicated assassination that threw him into a mess he could not fix.

BUT, there are references in this book(to a Teckla boy) that make me wonder if it is supposed to fall after Orca. All in all, it was confusing so I Googled for the proper reading order, here it is:
Taltos, Yendi, Dragon, Jhereg, Teckla, Phoenix, Jhegaala, Athyra, Orca, Issola, Dzur

Not his best novel: 7.1

by Leslie Langtry

Part of a hilarious series including “‘Scuze Me While I Kill This Guy,” “Stand by Your Hitman” is a combination of madness, wanna be “Survivor” reality show, (Can you imagine what would happen if Canada tried to duplicate “Survivor” eh?) and the ongoing saga of Langtry’s eclectic first family of assassins, the Bombays.

Around since ancient Greece, when hell didn’t know the fury of a woman scorned, this matriarchial family of hitmen (excuse me, hitwomen…) is no Coreleone cliche’. No, think Keystone Cops, Bond style.

Hilarity and star-crossed love seeps through the zany adventures of Mississippi Bombay, mother of twin terrorists (oops!) teenage boys. Mississippi is the Bombays’ very own Q. Her mild-mannered days on her personal island are spent wrangling her active sons, doing laundry, and figuring out whether sticky wall-walkers could be used as a remote explosive device.

Interrupting her “hum-drum” life is her family’s “request” for her to take on a job. Apparently the reality TV craze is not immune from harboring the world’s most wanted terrorists. But the Bombays don’t know which contestant it is. Mississippi’s mission (should she survive it…) is to find out who the bad guy is, and eliminate him. Easy, right?

Enter Lex Danby.

…and two stowaways

…and a lecherous producer

…and a cast resembling Gilligan’s Island

Doh! 7.0

by Mario Puzo

When it comes to “literature” and “best sellers” my tastes usually gravitate toward the plebeian because the structure of most literary classics create an environment where the writing distances the reader. That was not the case in this novel. While complex in timeline and more structured in writing tone than modern thrillers, this gem is a treasure that should and I predict will garner the term “classic” for long to come.

This “fictional” account of an Italian family’s patriarch and his family is a deviation from my usual bump in the night novels. However, it has hit my “must have in my library” list of books. Despite its age (originally released in 1969) this complex novel sweeps the reader along in a majestic tide of realism laced with cunning.

The plot, so expertly woven to create sympathy for a ruthless mobster, pulls you into the inner workings of a mafia family. Their trials, triumphs, tribulations, and tragedies become your own. The tension and pain are real. The shocking events hit near your heart despite despicable deeds.

Simply amazing, filled with astounding brilliance, and a MUST read. A perfect 10.

by Suzanne Brockmann

Amazingly I missed this one and Hot Target (on my TBR list now) by romantic action/suspense guru Brockmann. Her navy seals are hot, FBI agents hot as well, and the subject of this book is enigma (CIA) Diego (Jimmy) Nash and Tess Bailey.

Tess is All-American Apple Pie and Jimmy is Bad Boy from Boots up. Their give and take is like a yo-yo with a really short string. Excellent reading. 8.4

by Lora Leigh

What should you expect? OMG hot! that’s what. Lora Leigh diverts from some of her squickier “sex sells” repertoire to deliver a fascinatingly tense tale that centers around Navy Seal Alpha Kell (rhymes with hell) Kreiger and Emily Stanton, socialite and US Senator daughter.

While trying to keep Emily from the evil clutches of terrorists and uber bad guy (?) Diego Fuentes, he’s also out to seduce the girl that’s fascinated him for over ten years. Aw…

Warning: not your mother’s brand of romance, this is borderline erotica.

Overall: 6.8 A bit formulated, but well-executed.

by Jeaniene Frost

This one made it into my collection. After reading the first book of this series, Halfway to the Grave, I knew I was a fan. Vampire huntress Cat Crawfield is back. Four years after the first book Cat is working for the FBI in their special branch of homeland security that bumps back to the thing bump in the night beasties and targeted by her enemies for assassination.

Who helps her? Why her old flame Bones of course. If you haven’t read the first book, you should. Aussie/Brit accented hottie vampire Bones has been compared to Spike of Buffy fame, but holds his own standard of surprise in these books. Tasty.

The general agreement of those who have read this book/series is DON’T SKIP CHAPTER 32… *G* Romance fans will love it.

Overall: Urban fantasy with the eye-fluttering love candy and an extra helping of Yummy. Recommended read. 8.8