May Reading Review

Not a bad month overall. Some really good ones and some that didn't make the grade...


A Total Waste Of Makeup by Kim Gruenenfelder

My Rating: 10 *'s

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book! Great story and interesting characters kept me entertained throughout the entire book. Charlie's family had the perfect blend of normal and nutty that is probably inherent in most families. I really enjoyed the co-ed bachelorette / bachelor party scenes.






Chill Factor by Sandra Brown

My Rating: 4 *'s

My Thoughts: Not holding my interest. There are too many sub-plots that take the story all over the place with so many different characters that I cannot keep straight.








Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

My Rating: 7 *'s

My Thoughts: Enjoyed this one more than the first one. The story was a little lame but it kept me guessing almost to the end. Though Hannah doesn't always use the best judgment and ends up getting herself in more trouble, she manages to come through it intact. Not sure who I would like to see her with more...Mike or Norman but I like both of them.






The Ghost And Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly

My Rating: 9 *'s

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. The character of Jack was very entertaining though I didn't understand some of his vocabulary (did they really talk like that then?). Penelope and her aunt Sadie were likable characters too, though Jack monopolizes the majority of the story. It will be intersting to see how Penelope and Jack solve his own murder.







The Make-Up Girl by Andrea Semple

My Rating: 4 *'s

My Thoughts: I had a hard time empathizing with Faith because of all of the lying. Initially, I could understand why she did it but the longer it went on and the more people it involved, it began to bother me.

New Additions to the TBR pile in May

Once again, I have taken in quite a few more books this month than I've actually read and space is, as always, an issue. Doesn't seem to slow me down though...


The Queen Gene by Jennifer Coburn

IF IT'S NOT ONE THING, IT'S YOUR MOTHER"

You are so lucky to have a mother like Anjoli." That's what all my friends say. But really, my friends weren't there when I was eight and my theatre-savvy, drama queen of a mother said she didn't want to take me to the Central Park Zoo because the animals didn't put on a good show. My mother is like a vapor: when she enters a room, she occupies every bit of space. Don't get me wrong --- I adore my mom ... from a distance. It's just, well, what can you say about a woman who takes her teacup Chihuahua to every new age healer in Manhattan, who has a living beauty will so her eyebrows will still look great if she's in a coma, and who tells my cousin Kimmy that the sperm bank has too many rules and suggests a new lipstick and a train ride to Princeton instead?

To top it off, she calls me ten times a day to say, “Darling, I’m in crisis!” What, like I’m not? In addition to mothering my mother, I’m also trying to keep my marriage hot with a two year old underfoot … babysitting the artists in residence of my Berkshires artists’ colony, which seems to be the Bermuda Triangle of creativity but a breeding ground for seriously insane … resisting an attraction to a man so sexy he could give your eyeballs an orgasm … and trying to rid my 100 year old home of mischievous ghosts. Yeah, sort of got my hands full. The way I see it, I’ve got two choices: go completely mad, or start living my own life on my own terms, starting with my mother. I’m just not sure which option is crazier…



Wouldn't Miss It For The World by Tara McCarthy

A striking exploration of dubious pursuits like destination weddings, book clubs, and rock 'n' roll, Wouldn't Miss It for the World is a spirited and surprising new novel from Tara McCarthy, the author of Love Will Tear Us Apart.

The cast of characters that Tara McCarthy sends down to the tiny Central American country of Belize for a destination wedding are in for a few surprises. There's mother-of-the-bride Alice, a widow, who is about to come face-to-face with an impressive array of Belizean creatures from toucans to intriguing ex-pats. There's Abby, who would rather be back home at Chelsea Lambert's Sweet Sixteen but isn't entirely displeased with the effect her new black bikini has on some of the wedding guests. And there's Dan, an old friend of the groom, who has decided it's time to declare his love for the bride -- until complications with his girlfriend arise. As their story unfolds against a backdrop of Mayan temples, butterfly farms, and coral reefs, we learn, too, about the bride and the groom. June and Cash are members of the Starter House, an up-and-coming rock band that is certain to either break through or break up -- and this will be the week that decides it.



Speechless by Sandy Rideout & Yvonne Collins

A story about waxing, wedding bouquets and the power of the written word...

What happens when a political wordsmith finds herself at a loss for words?

Libby McIssac is known for two things: catching bridal bouquets (her record's an even dozen) and having a way with words. Since the former isn't really something that looks good on a resume, it's a good thing she's been able to parlay the latter into a new career as a political speechwriter. But just as she's being careful to dot her i's, cross her t's and make her boss look like she knows something about . . . well, anything, Libby's world is turned upside down.

Libby just wants to write the speeches that'll make the whole world sing, or at least ones that will get her boss to remember her name correctly and stop using Libby as her coatrack at flashy events. But in Clarice Cleary's office there's only one belle of the ball, and it's the one reading the speeches -- not writing them. Enter a handsome British consultant -- a bit on the cagey side, perhaps -- who upsets the delicate chain of command around the office and somehow always gets what he wants, including Libby?

When a media leak of a big-time scandal sends everyone into a tailspin, Libby fears she may get caught in the cross fire. Cue the fake alliances, the secrets, the sex, the subterfuge, the hidden friendships: it's all there.

Welcome to the world of politics, where perception is everything, nothing is as it seems and the last thing you want is to be left speechless.


Spells & Sleeping Bags by Sarah Mlynowski

At long last, Rachel's powers have arrived and she's a bona fide get-your-broom-ready witch! And it's happened just in time. No Manhattan for her this summer—she's spending her vacation at Camp Wood Lake with her little sister Miri, and her big crush, Raf. But bug juice, sailing lessons, and moonlit walks under the gorgeous July stars will to wait ... she's having some serious issues:

Mosquitoes in the Adirondacks are incredibly thirsty.

Her stepmom keeps sending embarrassing feminine hygiene care packages.

She accidentally zapped away all her clothes (her spells are a wee bit out of control).

And there's a backstabber in her cabin intent on making life miserable.

Good thing Rachel's a witch.



Wonderboy by Fiona Gibson

Ghastly new home.

Potentially adulterous husband . . .

Not quite the fresh start in the country she was promised.

A fixer-upper in the sticks was the last place city girl Ro Skews expected to live. But her husband, Marcus, wants it -- and all the arguments are on his side, namely a better life for Tod, their wonderboy, who has developed social problems in London. Of course, the five-year-old has never been the most . . . conventional child.

While Ro (grudgingly) makes a life for herself in stuffy Chetsley (if you can count reaping the whirlwind of floor sanding and playing Suburban Lawn Warfare with her sexy neighbor as a life), Marcus starts spending more nights in the city with his cell phone switched off. And Tod, whose fascination with mazes seems to have blossomed into a full-blown obsession, treads the worrying line between eccentric and problematic.

Ro searches for the right path in a few mazes of her own -- her marriage, motherhood, country customs -- but when she unearths a shattering secret, more than one truth is revealed and Ro is left wondering: Is the country any place to raise a family?



These Boots Were Made For Stomping by Julie Kenner, Jade Lee, & Marianne Mancusi

...and romping and kick-starting your life.

SOMETIMES IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SHOES

Whether facing the forces of evil or simply battling a bad hair day, fantastic footwear is key.

Yes, there are the right shoes for the right situation, and not every moment calls for Manolos. Sometimes a woman's gotta be fierce as well as feminine, fiery as well as fragile. And when the legwork required is a roundhouse, when a girl's mantra has to become "I am woman, hear me roar," those are the times it's good to know there's magic in the world...because in super-powered pumps, the shrinking-est Violet or the nervous-est Nellie can do anything. Every step in magic shoes is sure to be a big one.

After a single trip to Hiheelia.com, our heroines are safe. Their hearts are not.



The Art Of French Kissing by Kristin Harmel

How do you say, 'So many men, so little time,' in French?

Well, Emma Sullivan can always figure that out later. The point is -- she's in Paris! Which would be great, except that she's stuck doing public relations for one of the hottest -- and craziest -- rock stars on the planet. Making things worse is Gabriel Francoeur, the sexy and stubborn reporter who refuses to believe her when she tells him that her client was just playing Go Fish in that hotel room with all those scantily-clad girls....

But Emma will always have Paris. The City of Light, of romance, of high fashion and of unfathomable varieties of cheese. If a girl can't reinvent herself here, there's no hope! It's time to leave the old Emma Sullivan behind and become someone courageous, exciting, successful. The type of girl who, when faced with a reporter who won't stop asking questions, knows just what to do. After all, they don't call it French kissing for nothing!


The Blonde Theory by Kristin Harmel

Do gentlemen really prefer blondes?

Harper is the youngest attorney in her firm to make partner and, at thirty-five, the oldest one to remain unmarried. It seems the more successful she gets, the faster men run for the door. What to do? Apply her very expensive law school education to the problem, of course!

PRECEPT #1: Harper is blonde. Harper is smart. Harper is successful. Harper is not having fun. Therefore, it’s not really true that blondes have more fun, because right now she’s really being kinda cranky.

PRECEPT #2: If Harper were … say … an NBA dancer instead of a partner at a prestigious New York firm, would she be on a date right now? Survey says: Yes!

PRECEPT #3: There is only one way to prove Precepts #1 and #2: Send Harper out into the world acting a lot dumber than she is. Luckily, she comes by the blonde naturally. Thank you, Universe, for your assistance in this matter.

PRECEPT #4: Harper has just informed us that we are misusing the word “precept.” Which means we have a lot of work to do…


The Matzo Ball Heiress by Laurie Gwen Shapiro

Q: How does Heather Greenblotz, the thirty-one-year-old heiress to the world's leading matzo company celebrate Passover?

A: Alone. In her Manhattan apartment. With an extremely unkosher ham-and-cheese panini.

But this year will be different. The Food Channel has asked to film the famous Greenblotz Matzo family's seder, and the publicity op is too good to, ahem, pass over. Heather is being courted by the handsome director and the subtly sexy cameraman, and she's got family coming out of her ears. It's enough to make a formerly dateless heiress feel like a princess.

Here's hoping that no one will discover that a Greenblotz family seder is about as real as the Easter bunny.

After she casts an ancient shopkeeper as Grandma and coaxes her bisexual father to make an appearance, Heather thinks she's pulled it off. Until her mother stages an unexpected walk-on. As the live broadcast threatens to become a Greenblotz family expose, Heather must dig deep to find faith in love, family and, most of all, herself.


High Stakes by Erin McCarthy

When you sleep with a vampire in Vegas, it stays in Vegas.

From the national bestselling author of Heiress For Hire comes a vampire-meets-girl story about lust and love in the city that never sleeps --- except during daylight: Las Vegas...

He's a bloodsucking freak of nature. But, unlike other politicians, Ethan Carrick is actually a nice guy. Not to mention a very hot, wealthy, casino-owning vampire. It's an election year for vampires, which means he'll first have to escape his opponent's hit men. Then he'll have to find a suitable First Lady, preferably here in Vegas.

Brittany Baldizzi fits the bill. She's smart, pretty- and sweeter than a glass of diabetic O-Negative. But her protective sister Alexis steps in with a message for Ethan: Bite me. It's then that he realizes it's the sexy, no-nonsense Alexis who raises his stake. And as much as she denies it, Alexis wouldn't mind a romp in the coffin with him. But can a mere mortal, even one who risks her life for him, make a centuries-old, womanizing vampire feel something entirely new?


Just Friends by Robyn Sisman

Thirtysomethings Freya and Jack have been “just friends” for more than ten years. Of course, they’ve had their differences. Freya doesn’t approve of Jack’s taste for student teeny-boppers from Planet Bubblegum, and Jack has problems with Freya’s utter scorn for human frailty–especially his own.

So when Freya, dumped by her lawyer boyfriend, moves temporarily into Jack’s apartment, tensions simmer. They reach a boiling point when Jack agrees to act as Freya’s Significant Other at her step-sister’s society wedding. Now, old friends, best friends, just friends, are fighting like cats and dogs.

Bestselling author Robyn Sisman has written a sexy, hilarious novel about that eternal struggle to find “the one”–the one for now and the one forever!


No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong

Jaime, who knows a thing or two about showbiz, is on a television shoot in Los Angeles when weird things start to happen. As a woman whose special talent is raising the dead, her threshold for weirdness is pretty high: she's used to not only seeing dead people but hearing them speak to her in very emphatic terms. But for the first time in her life - as invisible hands brush her skin, unintelligible fragments of words are whispered into her ears, and beings move just at the corner of her eye - she knows what humans mean when they talk about being haunted.

She is determined to get to the bottom of these manifestations, but as she sets out to solve the mystery she has no idea how scary her investigation will get, or to what depths ordinary humans will sink in their attempts to gain supernatural powers. As she digs into the dark underside of Los Angeles, she'll need as much Otherworld help as she can get in order to survive, calling on her personal angel, Eve, and Hope, the well-meaning chaos demon. Jeremy, the alpha werewolf, is also by her side offering protection. And, Jaime hopes, maybe a little more than that.


Real Women Eat Beef by Tracy McArdle


New and improved -- now with added goats!

Welcome to advertising executive Jill Campbell's life, version 2.0. Gone are the cheating ex-husband and the chaos of New York. Brand-new features include a prestigious job at a Boston ad agency, a stronger father-daughter relationship, and a gorgeous old farmhouse. It's bliss -- until a snazzy car account evaporates, leaving her branding...beef. Un-snazzy, un-sexy beef -- which she hasn't eaten in twenty years. Talk about false advertising. Owning a two-hundred-year-old house in a one-store hamlet is not the nirvana Jill imagined, even with the addition of a dog, two needy goats, and unexpected encounters with the town's most eligible -- and probably only -- bachelor.

Peace of mind sold separately.

Wondering how she sold herself on this new existence, Jill forms an unlikely bond with Sarah Watson, a feisty twelve-year-old with an aversion to training bras, makeup, and all the trappings that supposedly make sixth grade worthwhile. While Sarah teaches Jill the basics of home maintenance and animal husbandry, Jill helps Sarah deal with impending womanhood. And as men start to complicate matters, every idea Jill ever had about love and advertising gets turned on its head. Suddenly, her life looks nothing like the picture on the box, but it could turn out to be exactly what she didn't know she needed.


Special Relationship by Robyn Sisman

A razor-sharp romance from the author of Weekend in Paris and Summer in the City

Renowned London literary agent Annie Hamilton never forgot Jordan Hope. And now he's back. As the saxophone-playing United States presidential hopeful, Jordan is a constant reminder to Annie of their whirlwind love affair during the heady days of Oxford in the 1960s—and of the secret she's kept ever since.

Comfortably married with three wonderful children, Annie thinks her life is complete. But her son Tom, now twenty-one years old, discovers Annie's secret—and his own shocking connection to it. In tumult, Tom flees to Manhattan to try to unravel the past and confront the man who might be his father, with no regard for Jordan's delicate political situation. Desperate to explain, Annie races after Tom…and straight into the arms of the man she thought she'd never see again.

All Soul's Night by Jennifer Armintrout

I have reached my breaking point. And now I will not, cannot be stopped. With the Soul Eater on the verge of god status, it's time for me to take a final stand, even if it means losing everything I love. Even if it means losing my life.

I've got plenty of power on my side, and some I didn't know I could count on in the first place. But it's nothing compared to the army of the undead the Soul Eater is building up. And time is running out.

They say that good always triumphs over evil. I hope that's true. Because the odds aren't in our favor, and the fate of the world is in our hands.

Confessions Of A Nervous Shiksa by Tracy McArdle

Lights! Camera! Ultimatum!

When movie studio publicity V.P. Alexis Manning's fiancé -- Jewish bartender/actor David a.k.a. Deke -- goes home with her for a holly jolly Christmas in Vermont with her family, there's a chill in the air and it ain't just the weather. Overwhelmed by the Christianity of it all, David confesses that he can't marry Alexis unless she converts to Judaism. Alexis might not know exactly what she wants to do with her life...but she knows she doesn't want to spend it pretending to be something she's not. Alexis believes in only one religion -- movies. So with her well-scripted romance on the cutting-room floor, she begins replaying favorite film scenes in her head and breaking down her own life into dramatic clips, searching for the right ending. If only she were Julia, or Demi, or Meryl, things would be different.

Get me rewrite!

Is Kirk, the hot new director of her latest project, meant to be Alexis's leading man? Or are she and David headed for a dramatic act-three reunion? And what of Andrew Sullivan -- the proverbial One That Got Away? Between film festival dramas, uncontrollable actors, egotistical directors, a heartbroken sister, an ailing, peculiar cat named Little (and her accompanying astronomical vet bills), and fantasies about simpler times back in New England, it's all Alexis can do to keep production on schedule. But surely there's a happily ever after for her -- and hopefully for Little, too -- before credits roll.

Demon Envy by Erin Lynn

Being a teenager can be hell-especially when you're friends with someone who was born there.

Kenzie Sutcliffe woke up to another normal morning-until a demon popped up in her shower. While trying to get rid of a monster zit, she dropped her acne lotion in the tub. And when fifty bucks' worth of it swirled down the drain, it freed a demon from his prison portal. A mysteriously geeky-looking demon.

So now Kenzie is saddled with a creature who looks and acts like every other guy she knows-that is, annoying. At least Levi has a job-if you can call it that. He has to stir up envy and jealousy in humans, or he starves. All he's tempting Kenzie to do is to crawl back into her bedroom and hide there forever. Because no one is going to be coveting her life after this.

Don't Even Think About It by Lauren Henderson

Three's company....

Best chums Sally, Jude, and Michael are living the single life in cool flats a mere stone's throw apart in London. But the girls find the sitcom life they love taking an unexpected twist when Michael's new girlfriend, Katie, moves in with him. Michael's a notorious womanizer -- he broke it off with Sally years ago -- and the girls have gotten used to his endless parade of brunettes. Sally acts like she's over Michael; Jude prides herself on knowing better; and they're both sure Katie's not going to last.

Four's a crowd.

Katie's not particularly thrilled that Michael's ex and her best friend live right across the street, but she makes the best of it. After all, things with Michael are going brilliantly, and he seems determined to commit to their future. But when another brunette from Michael's past arrives from Paris and Katie begins to fear that she's just another notch on Michael's bedpost, the girls realize that they're all just playing parts in Michael's drama. So what will his reaction be when they try to break free? Don't even think about it!

Fendi, Ferragamo & Fangs by by Julie Kenner, Johanna Edwards, Serena Robar

The nights belong to the new girls in town.

MEET THE VAMPS OF VAMP MODELING, INC. --- THE MODELING AGENCY THAT’S TAKING A BIG BITE OUT OF BIG-CITY NIGHTLIFE.

OLIVIA, STRAIGHT-A NERD TURNED OVERNIGHT SENSATION…

I have an I.Q. over 170, so my flat stomach was a bonus. Then I won a modeling contest and hooked up with Vamp Modeling, Inc. Unfortunately, my boyfriend doesn’t know exactly how I’ve changed since becoming a … model.

VERONICA, BIG AND BEAUTIFUL…

I’m your average teenage girl --- give or take thirty pounds. And I love every inch of me. So does Vamp Modeling, Inc. They just turned me into their plus-size model, among other things. But this all-blood diet can really get in the way of romance.

SYDNEY, MISUNDERSTOOD BAD GIRL…

Even after I won that beauty contest, I never got rid of my party behavior. Hey, it’s made me a hit on the runway --- and in the tabloids. A celebrated mystery girl. They don’t know the half of it. There’s a perfectly good reason that nights are my thing.

IT’S TIME FOR THE UNDEAD TO LIVE IT UP…

April Reading Review

Reading totals seem to have stabilized at 4 for the month. Definitely acquiring them at a faster rate than I'm reading...


Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Rating: 10 *'s

My Thoughts: OMG! This was such a fantastic story! Vane is still my favorite Dark-Hunter but Sin is up there near the top of my favorites. I also enjoyed seeing more of Ash and I cannot wait for his story. I enjoyed the pairing up of Kat and Sin and thought they made a perfect match. Look forward to getting to know Cypher as well, as you know there's a story there with that one! Plenty of surprises in this book that are sure to entertain every Dark Hunter fan. I'm a little behind in the Dream Hunter series so I will need to go dig up the next one out of the cedar chest as this book has certainly awakened the appetite for more!


The Pregnancy Test by Erin McCarthy

Rating: 7 *'s

My Thoughts: Not a bad story though a little predictable. Some loose ends lingered at the end of the book and it felt a little rushed but overall I enjoyed it. I liked the strength of Mandy's character and the soft center underneath Damien's rough and tough exterior.



Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Rating: 4 *'s

My Thoughts: I started this one after hearing so many recommendations. Unfortunately, this book falls flat for me with all of the sidebar plotting involving Hannah's interpersonal relationships with her mom and potential boyfriends. None of this extraneous stuff was integral to the storyline and after a while I began to feel very annoyed. I found it difficult to suspend disbelief towards many of Hannah's actions and many of the interactions with the supporting characters. I'm hoping this is due to it being the first book in the series and the characters are not yet fully developed.





Wolves In Chic Clothing by Carrie Karasyov & Jill Kargman

Rating: 6 *'s

My Thoughts: This book was a fast read with several amusing bits but for the most part, very predictable. It is sad and pathetic just how shallow some people can be. The only one in Lell's band of bitches I could tolerate at all was Hope. She at least displayed compassion though I wished she would stand up to Polly and Lell and tell them where to go. I thought Julia's roomie Douglas was a hoot. Not a lot of substance to this story but if you are looking for mind numbing fluff with some laughs, this should fit the bill.

New Additions to the TBR pile in April

Lots of promising additions this past month...hope the TBR pile can survive the increasing weight of it all!


Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

A road trip with her ex? Danger ahead...

there are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.

But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.

Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Un-bridaled by Eileen Rendahl

Sometimes your "happily ever after" takes an unexpected turn....

Call her crazy . . . .

With half her immediate family having been committed -- mentally speaking -- why can't Chloe Sachs commit? After all, she's always been considered the sane one in the family. But seconds before becoming Mrs. Mark Hutchinson, Chloe leaves her handsome, successful fiance at the altar and tears down Interstate 505 in her red Ford Frontier. Maybe it was the heat of a California June wedding. Maybe it was when a family tradition went awry before hundreds of shocked guests. Or maybe it was because she heard a voice telling her in no uncertain terms, Run! . . .

but just call her.

Now Chloe has no Plan B, two kooky dogs, one angry ex, and a truckload of wedding gifts to return. Taking refuge at her grandmother's, Chloe helps her renovate a bungalow that's been in the family for years --- and unearths some surprising secrets. She also discovers that leaving her heart open may invite some very intriguing guests --- like the beguiling veterinarian she can't get off her mind. And with her family and friends' help, Chloe realizes she's truly free . . . to follow her heart wherever it takes her.

News Blues by Marianne Mancusi

Maddy’s revolution may not be televised.

TUNE IN

All 27-year-old Maddy Madison wants is a cute guy, a designer handbag and to work at Newsline. What she has is a dead-end job at News 9 San Diego, a psycho boss and a counterfeit Kate Spade. One with a badly glued-on label. Oh, and no guy.

TURN ON

Just when Maddy’s sure her days of producing sensationalistic puff pieces will never end (“Perilous Pets!” “Deadly Dishwashers!” “Clay That Kills!”) she’s offered a promotion. She’s now an investigative producer --- and that’s not all, she’s also partnered with the station’s newest photographer: sexy, motorcycle-riding bad boy and former moviemaker Jamie Hayes. But every silver cloud has a stormy lining. Her new job is with News 9 narcissistic anchor, Terrance Tollier; Jamie’s getting married (not to her); and reporting the truth is about as easy as watching your divorced parents get remarried (not to each other).

TAKE OFF

So, how does Maddy get to produce real news, bag her boss and win her man? Stay tuned. It’s the story of a lifetime.

Spying In High Heels by Gemma Halliday

L.A. shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion. Fashion. Fashion. But when she stumbles upon the work of a brutal killer, her life takes an unexpected turn from Manolos to murder. And things only get worse when her boyfriend disappears—along with $20 million in embezzled funds—and her every move is suddenly under scrutiny by LAPD's sexiest cop. With the help of her post-menopausal bridezilla of a mother, a 300-pound psychic and one seriously oversexed best friend, Maddie finds herself stepping out of her stilettos and onto the trail of a murderer. But can she catch a killer before the killer catches up to her?

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

When the president of Hartland Flour chooses cozy Lake Eden, Minnesota, as the spot for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, Hannah is thrilled to serve as the head judge. But when a fellow judge, Coach Boyd Watson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in Hannah's celebrated strawberry shortcake, Lake Eden's sweet ride to fame turns very sour indeed.

Between perfecting her Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie and Chocolate Crunchies, Hannah's snooping into the coach's private life and not coming up short on suspects. And could Watson's harsh criticism during the judging have given one of the contestants a license to kill? The stakes are rising faster than dough, and Hannah will have to be very careful, because somebody is cooking up a recipe for murder...with Hannah landing on the "necessary ingredients" list.

The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer

When magazine editor Nola Devlin is turned down for her dream job as an advice columnist because she's overweight, she decides to become thin --- or, at least, pretend to be. Belinda Apple, the alter ego she creates --- thin, British, hip, and did we mention thin? --- is a smashing success who is offered movie proposals, national television appearances and even dates. Of course, no one’s actually met her in person.

Unfortunately, Nola takes Belinda a bit too far, jotting off a column about how easy it is to lose weight --- a column her friends take seriously. Trapped by her own words, Nola is forced to join the “Cinderella Pact” and drop the pounds.

As the weight comes off, however, Nola’s problems begin to mount. Her magazine launches an investigation into Belinda Apple’s true identity, her friends race ahead of her in the weight loss game, and her younger sister chooses Belinda as her maid of honor. Plus, there’s this mysterious hunk who might be Nola’s prince --- or a rat in coachmen’s clothing. Will this “everygirl” from New Jersey finally find a glass slipper that fits? Or do glass slippers shatter on the feet of real women like us?

The Secret Identity Of Devon Delaney by Lauren Barnholdt

Devon's lied her way into the popular crowd....Now what?

Mom says karma always comes around to get you, and I guess it's true. Because last summer I was a total liar, and now, right in the middle of Mr. Pritchard's third-period math class, my whole world is about to come crashing down.

That's because while Devon was living with her grandmother for the summer, she told her "summer friend," Lexi, that she was really popular back home and dating Jared Bentley, only the most popular guy at school. Harmless lies, right? Wrong. Not when Lexi is standing at the front of Devon's class, having just moved to Devon's town. Uh-oh.

Devon knows there's only one way to handle this -- she'll just have to become popular! But how is Devon supposed to accomplish that when she's never even talked to Jared, much less dated him?! And it seems the more Devon tries to keep up her "image," the more things go wrong. Her family thinks she's nuts, her best friend won't speak to her, and, as if it's not all complicated enough, Jared starts crushing on Lexi and Devon starts crushing on Jared's best friend, Luke. It all has Devon wondering -- who is the real Devon Delaney?

Confessions Of A Slacker Wife by Muffy Mead-Ferro

By the author of Confessions of a Slacker Mom, hilarious reflections on being a"good wife" in a world of high expectations.

"I often thought to myself, 'If I really want to compete with these guys, I need a wife,'" begins Muffy Mead-Ferro in this ode to the women everywhere who are trying to take care of husbands, children, houses, jobs, bosses, clients, customers-and, oh yes, themselves! In lieu of that much-needed wife of her own, Mead-Ferro finds solace, sanity, and even success by embracing her famous tendency toward slackerdom. Full of personal anecdotes and real-wife wisdom, her latest Confessions offers precious comic relief and an invitation for wives everywhere to join the ranks!

A slacker wife has the wisdom to accept the following: that a little dirt on her kitchen floor doesn't hurt anyone, that wrinkles on her husband's shirt and on her face are perfectly natural and not worth worrying about, that party guests can be just as happy with a bowl of chips as an elaborate salmon mousse, and that over-scheduled equals under-happy. Above all, a slacker wife lets herself have fun being a wife. She has girls' weekends, orders take-out, and takes leisurely walks. And as a result, she, her husband, and her family are happier and healthier-even with a dirty kitchen floor and a wrinkled shirt.

Confessions Of Super Mom by Melanie Lynne Hauser

“Every superhero has an Origin. To tell the truth, it’s a little embarrassing. I wasn’t put into a rocket and sent to Earth by my parents just as my home planet exploded. I wasn’t given a special ring by visiting aliens. I wasn’t bitten by a radioactive spider. No, it wasn’t anything nearly so glamorous; my beginnings are quite humble. I was merely the innocent victim of a Horrible Swiffer Accident.”

Meet Birdie Lee, clerk at Marvel Fine Food and Beverages and an average, middle-aged single mother of two teenagers. Until one ordinary morning when, on the floor of her bathroom, Birdie discovers a Stain of Unknown Origin—a stain so intense that nothing can remove it. When all her attempts fail, Birdie does the unthinkable: She loads her Swiffer with every cleanser she owns, aims, and shoots. Suddenly, Birdie becomes endowed with extraordinary powers. Now Birdie must somehow balance it all—her smug ex and his overachieving new wife; two teenagers and a string of PTA meetings; her own budding romance; and her beloved town of Astro Park, whose very existence is threatened by a mysterious force sneaking its way into every household. A delightful, well-earned escape, Confessions of Super Mom is an amusing vindication of the overlooked everyday heroism that is a woman’s life.

He's Got To Go by Sheila O'Flanagan

It's a miracle they're related

Apart from being sisters and living in Dublin, Nessa, Cate, and Bree Driscoll couldn't be more different. Nessa's the happy homemaker, tending to her doting husband Adam and little girl Jill and boasting of marital bliss. Cate, a career go-getter with a knock-out wardrobe, lives with her drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend, Finn -- a famous radio host who's about to break into TV -- and never wants kids. Youngest sis Bree -- a mechanic who's happier riding her motorcycle than chasing guys -- is the free spirit of the family, the one who'll never settle down. No wonder they bicker all the time.

In one way they're the same.

When Nessa begins to suspect that Adam isn't the faithful man he seems, all three sisters are shocked. But with the perfect sheen of Nessa's life finally chipped, Cate might just allow herself to admit that things with Finn aren't exactly wonderful either. And, as her two older siblings debate loving and leaving and kicking their men to the curb, Bree dares to embark upon a relationship of her own. Soon all three sisters face unexpected revelations that will show them that they can all stand on their own two feet if they have to...and that they've got each other to lean on no matter what.

I Burn For You by Susan Sizemore

Embrace the darkness in a sensual new vampire romance novel from acclaimed author Susan Sizemore....

She enflames a vampire's desires...but will she give him what he so desperately needs?

The world holds great danger for Alec Reynard and his kind. As the dark hollows of his soul threaten to overwhelm him, he undergoes secret medical treatments that allow him to bear daylight. Living a double life as a bodyguard, he must also battle the powerful chemistry that explodes between him and Domini Lancer, a mere mortal -- and, unbelievably, his soulmate.

Domini knows nothing of Alec's true nature. But when danger threatens, he kidnaps her to his clan's stronghold to protect her....and there, he can no longer hide who -- or what -- he is. As the forces aligned against Domini draw near, Alec wonders whether she'll accept the darkness within him -- or whether she's actually a vampire slayer who's cleverly infiltrated his clan.

My Sister Is A Werewolf by Kathy Love

Bad Moon Rising

Elizabeth Young's brothers think they have it rough as vampires? Ha! Two words for them: unwanted hair. What werewolf Elizabeth craves is a normal life with a husband, kids, and less shaving. Unfortunately the vaccine she's researched isn't working yet. Worse, she's in heat - and soon every dangerous wolf pack for miles around will be at her door. To buy time, she needs to have sex, and often, with the first human male she can find.

Veterinarian Jensen Adler just meant to drown his sorrows, until a stunning, leather-clad brunette made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Now he's caught up in something really weird, definitely dangerous, and, okay, extremely hot. So his new girlfriend's hiding something (and she's a little freaky about the moon), but Jensen knows true love when he feels it, and this time, he's not giving up no matter how hairy things get.

A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans

Have you ever fallen for the wrong man? Over and over again? But do you still believe in fairy tale endings? Then you must be a hopeless romantic.

Laura Foster is a hopeless romantic. Her friends know it, her parents know it - even Laura acknowledges she lives either with her head in the clouds or buried in a romance novel. It's proved harmless enough, even if it hasn't delivered her a real-life dashing hero yet. But when her latest relationship ends in a disaster that costs her friendships, her job, and nearly her sanity, Laura swears off men and hopeless romantic fantasies for good.

With her life in tatters around her, Laura agrees to go on vacation with her parents. After a few days of visiting craft shops and touring the stately homes of England, Laura is ready to tear her hair out. And then, while visiting grand Chartley Hall, she crosses paths with Nick, the sexy, rugged estate manager. She finds she shares more than a sense of humor with him - in fact, she starts to think she could fall for him. But is Nick all he seems? Or has Laura got it wrong again? Will she open her heart only to have it broken again?

Ashes To Ashes by Jennifer Armintrout

ENDLESS LIFE. ETERNAL STRUGGLE. JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE AFTERLIFE...

Being a vampire is a life-or-death situation. When I was first turned, I had only my survival to worry about. Now I'm locked in a battle for the existence of the entire human race-- and the cards are stacked against me.

The Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement headquarters are destroyed, and their pet horror, the Oracle, is on the loose. She'll stop at nothing to turn the world into a vampire's paradise, even if it means helping the Soul Eater become a god and harnessing his power for her own evil ends.

An ancient vampire, a blood-sucking near deity and oh, yeah, my presently human former sire thrown into the mix. I say bring it on. May the best monster win.

Being Committed by Anna Maxted

After her disaster of a marriage ends when she is just twenty, Hannah is convinced you have to be out of your mind (or desperate) to tie the knot. And life without a husband at thirty-one is just fine, thank you very much. She has a steady job working as a private investigator (albeit a mediocre one); a devoted boyfriend of five years, Jason; and a wonderful relationship with her dad (it's a shame her mother is such a lost cause). Then, on a romantic weekend retreat to a faux-ancient castle, Jason proposes marriage, leaving Hannah with no choice but the obvious: to turn him down cold.

Much to her horror, four weeks later, Jason becomes engaged to his next-door neighbor, a fine baker and "proficient seamstress." Has Hannah blown her last chance at a solid relationship as her family claims? Jason agrees to give her another chance -- but only if she meets his terms, among them a promise to dust off the many skeletons in her closet.

Brimming with her characteristic blend of humor and heartache, Anna Maxted's Being Committed is a perceptive look at intimacy (and its substitutes), commitment phobia, and the power others have over us.

Chill Factor by Sandra Brown

Suspense abounds in this gripping new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown, in which a successful magazine editor is trapped in her remote cabin with a man believed to be a serial killer.

Cleary, North Carolina, is a sleepy mountain town -- the kind of place where criminal activity is usually limited to parking violations. Not so, lately. Four women have disappeared from Cleary over the past two years. And there's always a blue ribbon left near the spot where each of the women was last seen. There are no bodies, no other clues, and no suspicion as to who their abductor might be. And now, another woman has disappeared without a trace.

It is to this backdrop that Lilly Martin returns to close the sale of her mountain cabin, marking the end of her turbulent eight-year marriage to Dutch Burton, Cleary's chief of police. Dutch's reluctance to let her go isn't Lilly's only obstacle. As she's trying to outrun a snowstorm, her car skids on the icy road and strikes a man who emerges from the woods on foot. She recognizes the injured man as Ben Tierney, whom she'd met the previous summer. They're forced to wait out the storm in the cabin, but as the hours of their confinement mount, Lilly begins to wonder if the greatest danger to her safety isn't the blizzard outside, but the mysterious man right beside her.

Is Ben Tierney the feared abductor? Or is he who he claims to be...her rescuer from harm and from the tragedy that haunts her?

The compelling characters, sexual tension, and stunning plot twists in Sandra Brown's Chill Factor combine to create a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Circus Of The Darned by Katie Maxwell

Dating a vampire can be a little draining...

I've given up all hope of having a normal life. As if things weren't freaky enough traveling around Europe with a group of witches, mediums, and magicians who make up my home-away-from-home (aka the GothFaire), now I also have to cope with a mysterious man who wants to steal my horse, and a time-travel counselor who insists I'm Cleopatra reincarnated.

I just want to go on a date with Benedikt, but when your boyfriend's a vampire, nothing is easy. Not only is Ben keeping secrets from me, but somehow, I raised an entire battlefield of warring Viking ghosts--all of whom refuse to be sent back.

And I thought all I had to worry about was what to wear on my date...

March Reading Review

With the first quarter of 2008 behind us, I am shocked to see that I have given up on almost as many books so far this year than I've actually read. I managed to finish 3 for March.

Judgment In Death by Nora Roberts

Rating: 10*'s

My Thoughts: This series keeps getting better and better. The growth and depth of the characters with each book adds to each interpersonal relationship. I hope this series never ends!

Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Vicki Pettersson & Marjorie Liu

Rating: 5*'s

My Thoughts: Out of the 4 stories in this anthology, the only one I enjoyed was Two Ghosts For Sister Rachel by Kim Harrison. I enjoyed meeting a younger Rachel before she knows Ivy, Jenks and Kisten. The other stories were unable to hold my interest at all.

M Is For Malice by Sue Grafton

Rating: 8 *'s

My Thoughts: Another enjoyable installment of the Kinsey Millhone series with a surprising conclusion. I am looking forward to seeing what Kinsey gets involved in next.

New Additions to the TBR pile in March

Once again, I have added more books to the stacks than I managed to read and at this rate the books will take over my living space completely...

Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Hades doesn't often give second chances.

HADES DOESN'T GIVE SECOND CHANCES...

Xypher has one month on Earth as a human to redeem himself through one good deed or be condemned to eternal torture in Tartarus. But redemption means little to a demigod who only wants vengeance on the one who caused his downfall.

UNTIL ONE DAY IN A CEMETARY...

Simone Dubois is a medical examiner with a real knack for the job. Those who are wrongfully killed appear to her, and help her find the evidence the police need to convict their killers. But when a man appears and gtells her that she's more than just a psychic, she's convinced he's insane.

NOW THE FATE OF THE WORLD HANGS IN HER HANDS...

It was bad enough when just the dead relied on her. Now there's the seductive Dream-Hunter Xypher, who needs Simone's help in opening a portal to the Atlantean hell realm to fight insatiable demons. The future of mankind is at stake --- and so is her life. The only question now is: Who is the bigger threat? The demons out to kill her? Or the man who has left her forever changed?

Real Vampires Have Curves by Gerry Bartlett

What --- did you think all vamps are pale, thin, and brooding? Don't I wish.

Me, I just happened to be bloating when a sexy Scotsman sank his teeth into me, so here I am, Glory St. Clair, eternally "full figured." On the plus side, I can rock a corset like nobody's business. Oh, and as for Angus Jeremiah Campbell III, a.k.a. Jeremy Blade? We've been on and off again for centuries, currently off. After a couple hundred years we sure know how to press each other's buttons --- in good ways and bad.

The whole never-aging thing means that a girl's gotta keep moving, and I'm headed for Austin and a new business venture: Vintage Vamp's Emporium. After all, I love cute clothes, and I am an antique. Only problem is, there's a billionaire technofreak vampire hunter on the loose. Blade's in total he-vampire mode and wants me to move in with him so he can "protect" me. But I'm sick of the not-so-little-woman thing. It's time for this vamp to explore her own powers...

Real Vampires Live Large by Gerry Bartlett

You think it's easy to keep a boyfriend, run a business, and survive for centuries as one of the immortal undead? Just try it sometime, sweetheart...

It was hard enough when a sexy Scottish vamp bit me while I was feeling a bit...bloated, leaving me eternally retaining, if you get my drift. But when a frustrated vampire hunter firebombs my vintage clothing boutique, I'm ready to pitch a fit. Then my long-time, sometime lover takes off in a rage to hunt the hunter and prove himself worthy of me or something manly like that. And now things are really getting out of hand.

The Energy Vampires want me --- and not in a good way. They're paranormal drug dealers, selling thrills to those who've lived for ages, been everywhere, and done everything...and they want to suck me dry.

But it'll take more than a few super-suckers to gt the goods out of this girl. And if they want to make things personal, I'm going to make things downright painful...

Vanished by Karen Robards

Seven years ago, Sarah Mason's five-year-old daughter vanished during an outing at a park in Beaufort, South Carolina. Despite a frantic search, little Lexie was never found, and Sarah was left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and go on the best she could.

Then, one hot August night, Sarah comes home to hear the phone ringing. When she picks it up, a child's terrified voice whispers, “Mommy, help, come and get me . . .” The call is cut off, but not before Sarah's heart goes into overdrive: she is sure the voice belonged to Lexie. Five-year-old Lexie. Though seven years have passed, she sounds exactly the same.

Frantic, Sarah turns to the police, the FBI, and her co-workers at the County Prosecutor's office, none of whom takes the call seriously. The only person she can count on to help her is Jake Hogan, her closest friend in the world, the man who has provided a strong shoulder for her to lean on throughout the long search. A former FBI agent, Jake is now a P.I., and though he is skeptical about the authenticity of the call, the attraction he feels for Sarah pushes him to help her. He is convinced someone is deliberately tormenting the grief-stricken mother.

Their long friendship explodes into a romance as they try to figure out who, and why - and what happened to Lexie. When the torment escalates to murder, Jake is the only one who can keep Sarah safe. Together, they are caught up in a nightmare search for Lexie that just might end with Sarah's death.

First Comes Love by Whitney Lyles

...then comes the hard part.

HAPPILY MARRIED AT LAST...

Cate is no longer a permanent bridesmaid. Having found a love of her own with Ethan, she's enjoying newlywed bliss. Married life is so much calmer now that the wedding mayhem has subsided.

THE HONEYMOON IS OVER...

Just one problem: As the last of their friends to marry, Cate and Ethan are now the only ones who don't have a kid, aren't expecting a kid, and aren't even trying. There's not even a bump on the horizon. They were just cozying up to being a twosome, and now there's pressure to make it three. Those carefree bridesmaid days are starting to look good...

Crime Seen by Victoria Laurie

This job is murder.

As a professional psychic, Abby Cooper doesn't exactly lead a nine-to-five existence. But when she tunes in on a cold case that's getting hotter by the minute, it looks like it's time to work out a new schedule...

WELCOME TO A KILLER WORKWEEK...

Abby Cooper, psychic intuitive, is finding that gunshot wounds are bad for business --- especially since she never saw the bullet coming. She's been recuperating under her sexy FBI agent boyfriend Dutch Rivers's watchful eye, but Abby's not the kind of girl who can tolerate much supervision. So when Dutch asks her to check out a few case files, Abby can't pass up the chance to recharge her intuition --- and her independence.

When she accidentally comes across a closed file that's dead wrong, Abby knows she's got to bring the real killer to justice. With an innocent man in prison and no new evidence to free him, her only choice is to go undercover at the murderer's shady mortgage firm. As a vision of the crime scene plays in her head, and she races to trap the bad guy, Abby realizes that corporate life is even tougher than it seems --- and the hours can be deadly.

Undead And Uneasy by MaryJanice Davidson

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Elizabeth Anne Taylor and Sinclair

607 Summit Avenue Midnight July 4, 2007 RSVP by June 25, and don't be one of those jerks who doesn't RSVP and then shows up with three people. Seriously.

In the days leading up to The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house --- and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there's a ghost, a werewolf, and a Fiend crashing at her place. And though her fiance, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.

Betsy knows the next few weeks won't be smooth sailing --- but she never expects just what's in store for her. Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing --- and not just to avoid wedding preparations --- along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic. Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can't trust anyone as she tries to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances.

M Is For Malice by Sue Grafton

"M" is for money. Lots of it. "M" is for Malek Construction, the $40 million company that grew out of modest soil to become one of the big three in California construction, one of the few still in family hands.

"M" is for the Malek family: four sons now nearing middle age who stand to inherit a fortune -- four men with very different outlooks, temperaments, and needs, linked only by blood and money. Eighteen years ago, one of them -- angry, troubled, and in trouble -- went missing.

"M" is for Millhone, hired to trace that missing black sheep brother.

"M" is for memories, none of them happy. The bitter memories of an embattled family. This prodigal son will find no welcome at his family's table. "M" is for malice.

And in brutal consequence, "M" is for murder, the all-too-common outcome of familial hatreds.

"M" is for malice . . . and malice kills.

School For Husbands by Wendy Holden

Neil and Sarah are the ultimate happy couple. Until Neil's job starts keeping him away from home evenings and Sarah's left with the baby, domestic drudgery, her own career to keep on the go and an increasing feeling that Neil's up to something. When he fails to come home and his sexy co-worker calls to make the excuses, Sarah has finally had enough. The stage is set for divorce.

But Neil has other ideas. He's innocent, if a workaholic, and as a last-ditch attempt to save his marriage he signs up with The School for Husbands, a relationships clinic claiming to create the perfect spouse. But will its intensive and unorthodox tuition be enough to convince Sarah to take him back?

Tall, Dark & Dead by Tate Hallaway

The line between magic and sanity is very thin. That's part of why I, Garnet Lacey, quit cold turkey. Never touch the stuff. No exceptions.

But magic is so addictive...and my inner Goddess, Lilith, is hard to resist. Besides, restraint isn't easy when you manage Wisconsin's premier occult bookstore, and get customers like Sebastian Von Traum --- piercing brown eyes, a sexy accent, and a killer body in black leather and denim. The only thing missing is an aura. Which means he's dead...

That means trouble. I guess I'm a sucker for it. The Vatican witch hunters are on to us. My long-lost vampire ex has crawled out of the woodwork looking for action. And Sebastian's frustrated ex is stirring in her grave.

What's a girl to do if she's hot for a dead man walking? Run like hell --- and take full advantage of the nights...

Happy Hour At Casa Dracula by Maria Acosta

Latina Ivy League grad Milagro de Los Santos can't find her place in the world or a man to go with it. Then one night, at a book party for her pretentious ex-boyfriend, she meets an oddly attractive man. After she is bitten while kissing him, she falls ill and is squirreled away to his family's estate to recover. Vampires don't exist in this day and age - or do they? As Milagro falls for a fabulously inappropriate man, she finds herself caught between a family that has accepted her as one of its own and a powerful, clandestine organization that refuses to let the undead live and love in peace.

Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter

DOES SHE REALLY WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS MOMMY CLUB?

Advertising executive Marta Zinsser is no poster child for her wealthy Seattle suburb-and nothing could please her more. This former New Yorker wears combat boots, not Manolos, and drives a righteous Harley hog instead of a Mercedes SUV. Now she's launching her own agency in this land of the Microsoft elite, even though her ten-year-old daughter wishes she'd put on a sweater set and just be normal.

Can this ex-urbanite remain uniquely herself without alienating the inner circle of smug, cookie-cutter executive wives? And when push comes to shove, can she stop being the proud odd mom out and take a chance at something frighteningly-and tantalizingly-new?

Hazing Meri Sugarman by M. Apostolina

Poor, dear Cindy Bixby is a total loser. Has been all her life. But now as she enters college, Cindy hopes to shed her loser ways -- get some friends and maybe even (dare she think it?) get a boyfriend. Her first move out of loserdom: pledge Alpha Beta Delta.

There Cindy meets Meri Sugarman. Meri is not only beautiful, she controls the sorority, a position that gives Meri more power than...well, maybe not God, but certainly any person within a one-hundred-mile radius. (How, you ask? Think of today's technology and what you could do with it if you were so (illegally) inclined. Get the picture? ;-) )

Meri teaches Cindy that she, too, can be perfect. She can be beautiful, sexy, and popular, influence teachers and politicians, and even have a boyfriend!

But when the new Cindy crosses into Meri-only territory (hint: where there's trouble, look for boy), new -- very scary -- Meri emerges. And Cindy realizes that behind all that beauty is an evil beast that must be stopped.

E by Matt Beaumont

The novel of liars, lunch and lost knickers...

e is a tapestry of insincerity, backstabbing and bare-faced bitchiness --- just everyday office politics.

Meet:

* a CEO with an MBA from the Joseph Stalin School of Management

* a director who is a genius, if only in his own head

* creatives with remarkable brains, if only in their trousers

* a copywriter with the two things no adwoman should ever let show --- underarm hair and a conscience

* secretaries who drip honey and spit cyanide

* the sad git in accounts

Consisting entirely of e-mails, e spends a few weeks in the company of Miller Shanks, an advertising agency embarked upon the quest to land Coca-Cola --- the account they would sell their collective grandmothers in a car boot sale to acquire. This is one pitch that nobody will ever forget...

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she's in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident---in a Mercedes no less---Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she's about to find out just how much things have changed.

Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband---who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she...well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all.

Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does?

Your Coffin Or Mine? by Kimberly Raye

She knows where the hot bodies are buried...

Being Dead Can Kill A Social Life!

For Lil Marchette, the owner of Manhattan's premier dating service for vampires (and a dazzling denizen of the dark herself), death is all in a night's work. Unfortunately, it's going to take more than matching up vamps to pay the bills and fund Lil's cosmetics addiction. Dare she add actual humans to the mix? Eager to diversify, she signs up for a popular dating show, Manhattan's Most Wanted (MMW), to pitch her expertise to the perfect target audience---eligible women looking for eligible men.

Of course Lil is trying to forget the one man she'd love to sink her own teeth into: Ty Bonner, the ultraseductive vamp who broke her heart after she gave him the hottest night of his afterlife. Problem is, she and Ty have an intense mental connection and she's sensing he's in deep trouble. Even worse, she soon finds herself heading for MMW's grand finale (cameras are so not a vamp's best friend). The race is on as Lil struggles to save Ty (and herself) before all hell breaks loose.

Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sin, an ancient Sumerian god, was one of the most powerful among his pantheon... until the night Artemis stole his godhood by trickery and left him one step from death. Trust of any kind died in him that night, as well. For millennia, this ex-god turned Dark-Hunter has dreamed only of regaining his powers and seeking revenge on Artemis. If only life were that simple.

Unfortunately, he has bigger fish--or in Sin's case, demons--to fry. The lethal gallu that were buried by his pantheon are now stirring, and they are hungry for human flesh. Their goal is to destroy mankind and anyone else who gets in their way. Sin is the only one who can stop them--that is, if a certain woman doesn't kill him first.

Unfortunately, Sin discovers that he must now rely on her or witness an annihilation of biblical proportions.

Enemies have always made strange bedfellows, but never more so than when the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Now a man who knows only betrayal must trust the one person most likely to hand him to the demons. Artemis may have stolen his godhood, but this one has stoelen his heart. The only question is: Will she keep it or feed it to the ones who want him dead?