City Dog by Allison Pace

First thing upon waking up this morning was to discover I won a signed copy of this book! Isn't that fantastic? Yes, one of my favorite authors, Brenda Janowitz, has chosen little ole me as the winner in her book giveaway contest held on her blog at http://brendajanowitz.blogspot.com/

This book appeals to me on so many levels. As a lover of all things Scottish and books involving puppies, how could I resist passing this one up? Just look at that face....awwww!

I told the Scottish Guy that this adorable little guy would look great in a tartan sweater and bearing the name Angus.

I'm doing the happy dance today here in sunny Chandler, Arizona!

Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon

My Rating: 10*'s

Description: Eleven thousand years ago, a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. But the strongest steel is forged from the fires of hell…

Acheron’s human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Then, brought back against his will, he became the sole defender of mankind. Only it was never that simple. For centuries, Acheron has fought for our survival and hidden a past he’ll do anything to keep concealed. Until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence. Now his survival—and ours—hinges on hers, and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both. War has never been more deadly...or more fun.

My Thoughts: Just when I think this series is nearing it's completion, a book like ACHERON revives it into high gear. Ash's long awaited story fulfills every fan's need to know who Ash was before there were Dark-Hunters. A man who strikes fear into demons and Daimons, his army of Dark-Hunters know very little about his past and where he comes from.

At times, I found this story very disturbing as the often horrifying events of his life are played out in graphic detail beginning with his birth over 10,000 years ago to the present. And in spite of every betrayal, here is a man who is compassionate and bearing a great capacity to love and a deep desire to be loved and accepted.

So rest easy, Dark-Hunter fans, I think there will be much more to come. Personally, I want to see a happy ending for Nick and Artemis to be turned into a toad.

Veiled Threats by Deborah Donnelly

Veiled Threats by Deborah Donnelly

My Rating: 7*'s

Description: A WEDDING TO DIE FOR

When love is in the air, Carnegie Kincaid is not far behind. A wedding planner who works out of her Seattle houseboat, Carnegie makes magic --- usually --- with fractious families, brimming brides, and cantankerous caterers, to give loving couples the wedding they've always wanted. So why is her dream job turning into a perfect nightmare? It started when Carnegie agreed to plan the wedding of one of Seattle's most prominent families --- who happen to be going through a high stakes, headline grabbing legal war. Before she can get her bride to be into just the right dress, a murder and a kidnapping plunge Carnegie into a mystery of extortion and violence. With a shadowy figure stalking her, a rich lawyer wooing her, and an annoying reporter pursuing her, Carnegie is putting all wedding plans on hold. In an explosion of sheer terror, she must hunt down a killer --- till death do her part...

My Thoughts: A little predictable, but overall a decent story with some very interesting twists. Carnegie is a strong character, though I did get annoyed a little at the way she jumped to conclusions about certain events. I'm curious to find out who she is with, relationship wise, in the next book as this one leaves it wide open. I enjoyed the premise of a wedding planner as the protagonist in the book. Don't think I've read anything similar so I found the change quite refreshing.

For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

My Rating: 10*'s

Description: Despite dating one vampire and living with another, Rachel Morgan has always managed to stay just ahead of trouble . . . until now.

A fiendish serial killer stalks the Hollows, and no one living in or around Cincinnati—human, inhuman, or undead—is safe.

An ancient artifact may be the key to stopping the murderer—a mysterious relic that is now in the hands of Rachel Morgan, fearless independent bounty hunter and reckless witch. But revealing it could ignite a battle to the death among the vast and varied local supernatural races.

Rachel's been lucky so far. But even she can't hide from catastrophe forever

My Thoughts: Love this series! Each story brings the reader deeper into Rachel's world of witches, demons, vampires, pixies, werewolves and elves. Old characters return with many surprises and some unfortunate events occur which makes the reader eager for the next story. Jenks steals practically every scene he is and I'm always looking forward to what he says or does next.

New Additions To The TBR Pile in February

It didn't seem like I added very many books to the teetering pile that is the TBR avalanche waiting to happen. Genre wise, quite a variety. Would love to know if any of these have already been read and made it to your best list.

The Quickie by James Patterson

Description: A STOLEN KISS

When she sees her husband with another woman, Lauren Stillwell's heart nearly stops beating. Her marriage was perfect, she has a great job, she loves her life. But his betrayal turns her into someone she never imagined she could be–a woman lusting for revenge.

IS HER FIRST CRIME

Determined to even the score, Lauren seeks to have her own affair. It was supposed to be a quickie, but Lauren's night of passion takes a shocking turn when she witnesses an unexpected, unbelievable, and deadly crime. Now her horrifying secret threatens to tear her life apart, pitting her need to uncover the truth against her fear that the truth may be too horrible to bear. And whichever choice she makes may cost her dearly—her job, her marriage…or even her life.

IT WON'T BE HER LAST


Sketching Evil by Donna Anders

Description: When an attempted rape in her city apartment leaves artist Abby Carter deeply shaken, she flees to the beautiful Victorian house she recently inherited in a tiny town on the upper Hudson River. But rumors of ghosts from generations past, and an unsolved murder, are unsettling... while handsome local homicide detective Bud Williams investigates a brand-new rash of violent crime.

Empathy with a terrified victim leads Abby to use her artistic skills to capture the face of a local serial rapist. But when the portrait leads to an arrest, Abby starts receiving threats and anonymous phone calls, and the house she believed to be a refuge becomes instead a place from her worst nightmare. Bud vows to protect her, but Abby knows she must look into the face of evil herself, because failure could mean her life.


Just One Bite by Kimberly Raye

Description: She puts the after in happily ever after.

THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHER.

Lil Marchette, vampire extraordinaire and owner of Manhattan's hottest hook-up service, is an expert at matching up the lonely and desperate (and sometimes dead). And thanks to the popular local reality dating show Manhattan's Most Wanted, Lil has plenty of fresh blood to add to the mix -- including the biggest, baddest vampire in the Big Apple. Vinnie Balducci, Brooklyn representative for the Snipers of Otherworldly Beings, is making Lil an offer she can't refuse: find him the perfect woman or she's going to be swimming with the fishes.

But Lil may not be the only one taking the plunge. The three hunky demon Prince brothers are poking around Lil's office -- hot on the trail of a rogue spirit trying to escape the land down under (*not* Australia) by possessing some poor, clueless human soul. Then Lil makes a startling discovery: The oblivious human vessel is none other than her loyal assistant, Evie. Between saving Evie from eternal damnation and saving herself from Vinnie's lethal ultimatum, Lil is sure to be in for the most hellish ride of her afterlife.


Irish Girls Are Back In Town by Cecelia Ahern, Patricia Scanlan, Gemma O'Connor, et al

Description: You thought you'd heard the whole story?

They painted the town green in the acclaimed international bestseller Irish Girls About Town.

Now Irish Girls Are Back In Town

...and their unique charm resonates throughout this high-spirited gathering of first-rate short fiction! So cozy up with some of today'sbest Irish women writers -- many favorites from the first Irish Girlscollection and some lively newcomers -- as they spin nineteen all-new tales ranging from poignant and heartwarming to provocative and outright hilarious.

Against the madcap setting of a bingo hall, Cecelia Ahern conjures a woman's memories of her domineering mother in "The Calling"...Patricia Scanlan unwraps the truth behind "Façades" when two friends reconnect at the holidays. Are they as happy and successful as they appear?...A resolute widow pieces together a shocking betrayal -- and vows to outdo her competition -- in Gemma O'Connor's deliciously twisted "Dinner with Annie"...Sarah Webb reveals "How Emily Got Promoted" -- and how a little bit of luck can make a working girl's day.

Plus other wonderful entries from

Una Brankin · Marita Conlon-McKenna · Martina DevlinClare Dowling · Catherine Foley · Áine Greaney · Suzanne Higgins · Rosaleen Linehan · Joan O'Neill · Julie Parsons · Deirdre Purcell · Morag Prunty · Tina Reilly · Mary Ryan · Annie Sparrow


Happiness Sold Separately by Libby Street

Description: Life doesn't come with a money back guarantee.

Dream boyfriend not included.

When she moved to New York, Ryan Hadley imagined living the big-city-sitcom kind of life with all the trimmings -- great apartment, dream job, and a swept-off-your-feet, how-awesome-is-this-guy love. Of course, her real life is only so-so: not outstanding, nor bad enough to require medication. Ryan spends her days at a dreary data-entry job with wannabe-rocker Will, nights at her favorite dive bar with pals Audrey and Veronica, and her spare time daydreaming about the ideal -- but sadly, fictional -- man: if only Mark Darcy wasn't claimed by Bridget Jones.

Some assembly required.

But two promotions and a record deal later, Ryan's three closest friends are suddenly moving on up -- while Ryan seems to be treading water. Then Charlie, her college ex and super hottie, appears out of the blue with a success story of his own and more than a little baggage in tow. In a New York minute, Ryan realizes that one doesn't live off a maxed-out credit card and a year's supply of squashed Ho Ho's without learning a few important life lessons. She's ready to squeeze a five-year-plan for success into just a few crazy months. After all, why be a big-city girl if you're not going to dream big -- and reach for the stars?


For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

Description: Despite dating one vampire and living with another, Rachel Morgan has always managed to stay just ahead of trouble . . . until now.

A fiendish serial killer stalks the Hollows, and no one living in or around Cincinnati—human, inhuman, or undead—is safe.

An ancient artifact may be the key to stopping the murderer—a mysterious relic that is now in the hands of Rachel Morgan, fearless independent bounty hunter and reckless witch. But revealing it could ignite a battle to the death among the vast and varied local supernatural races.

Rachel's been lucky so far. But even she can't hide from catastrophe forever.


Cold Feet by Heather Swain, Pamela Ribon, Tara McCarthy, Elise Juska & Lisa Tucker

Description: There goes the bride....

Say "I do" to five surprising stories of women grappling with love and marriage and whether to walk down the aisle or run away.

In Elise Juska's "Perfect Weather for Driving," Megan and Joel's sunset fender-bender makes for a great drunken story at his friend's wedding, but the reality is hardly romantic. Stuck in a New England hotel waiting for the verdict on their Volvo, the two are forced to take stock of their own damaged relationship -- and whether it's too late to fix it.

In Tara McCarthy's "Losing California," engaged surfer Alison is convinced that Michael Madsen -- a member of her favorite band -- is her soul mate. Unfortunately, he's not her fiancé. So Alison flies to Nova Scotia, where Michael lives, because she's either right or she's wrong -- and she better find out before the wedding.

The bride-to-be in Pamela Ribon's "Sara King Goes Bad" has always done the right thing but decides it's important to know what it feels like to be reckless for once. And so two weeks before her wedding, she indulges in an unforgettable night of sex, drugs, and petty crime.

In Heather Swain's "The Happiest Day of Your Life," Annie and Ben plan a simple ceremony at an apple orchard. But when Annie loses perspective -- and everything that can go wrong does -- she's forced to rethink why she wanted a wedding in the first place.

The "Emily & Jules" of Lisa Tucker's story are two lonely people who meet on an online bulletin board for agoraphobics. But when Emily is invited to her estranged brother's wedding -- and it's clear across the country -- both she and Jules may be forced to change their ways.

Will any of these heroines get to the church on time? Cozy up with Cold Feet and find out.

Love's Labyrinth by Anne Kelleher

Love's Labyrinth by Anne Kelleher

My Rating: 8 *'s

Description: When two best friends enter the labyrinth at Talcott Forest, they think it will be fun to pretend to be Elizabethan ladies. But when they finally leave the maze, they have traveled farther than they could ever have imagined -- 400 years into the past.

ENGLAND 1999: When best friends Olivia Lindsley and Alison O'Neill put on sixteenth-century dresses and entered the labyrinth at Talcott Forest, they thought it would be fun to make believe they were Elizabethan ladies. But when they finally left the maze, they had traveled farther than they could ever imagine.

ENGLAND 1586: Before them stood Geoffrey Talcott, amateur scientist and younger brother of Lord Nicholas Talcott. Though he played the part to perfection, both women knew time travel was impossible -- until they met Queen Elizabeth herself! Lord Nicholas managed to pass them off as cousins from the north, but their weird ways soon raised suspicions of witchcraft. Now, with Geoffrey's help, Olivia and Alison will search for a way back to their own century, lest they lose themselves to the past, and lose their hearts ot the dashing brothers Talcott.

My Thoughts: To be quite honest, I had deep reservations about whether I would enjoy this book. My reading tastes have undergone some drastic changes over the years and I wasn't sure I would enjoy this time period. Fortunately, I've been proven wrong. This isn't the typical time travel I've been used to reading. Some of the surprises that await Olivia and Allison in 1586, including meeting Will Shakespeare and meeting people who aren't that different from them are just a few events that made this story quite interesting. Adding to the story some of the scientific theory of time travel and court intrigue and international espionage reinforced to me how dangerous and precarious life really can be living in that time period.

I really liked the characters and enjoyed watching how differently Olivia and Allison react to the change in their time period. I also enjoyed watching how Nicholas and Geoffrey react to their arrival and the ease of their acceptance of their visitors, though Nicholas wasn't thrilled at all. It reminded me how superstitious people of this time period were and the smallest action or perceived behavior could result in a charge of treason or witchcraft, which almost always resulted in death.

I especially enjoyed the ending as it brought a different twist to the time travel genre for me. I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles by this author.

Imitation In Death by J.D. Robb

Imitation In Death by J.D. Robb

My Rating: 10 *'s

Description: Summer 2059. A man wearing a cape and a top hat approaches a prostitute on a dark New York City street. Minutes later, the woman is dead. Left at the scene is a letter addressed to Lieutenant Eve Dallas, inviting her to play his game and unveil his identity. He signs it "Jack."

Now Eve is in pursuit of a murderer who knows as much about the history of serial killers as she does. He has studied the most notorious and the most vicious slayings in modern time. But he also wants to make his own mark. He has chosen his victim: Eve Dallas. And all Eve knows is that he plans to mimic the most infamous murderers of all --- starting with Jack the Ripper.

My Thoughts: Great installment! I love this series! I love how the characters are developing out and growing. Several moments had me laughing and there were a few that made me teary eyed too. The story kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. I enjoy how the author weaves an intricate plot that holds the reader's interest while using characters that are thoroughly entertaining.

I can't wait for each book just to see how Somerset and Eve annoy one another. Another great feature of this series is that the secondary characters are so well written that they become integral to the reader's enjoyment of the story. Peabody and McNabb; Mavis and Leonardo; Feeney and Truheart; and of course Somerset and even Galahad.

I hope this series never ends as I would feel like I would be losing contact with family and close friends.

A Hoboken Hipster In Sherwood Forest by Marianne Mancusi

A Hoboken Hipster In Sherwood Forest by Marianne Mancusi

My Rating: 5*'s

Description: If Chrissie Hayward knew that morning she'd be going back in time to rescue her crazy coworker Kat, she'd have worn better shoes. Doubly so if she'd expected to meet her true love. According to the mysterious gypsy, Chrissie was the "gentle soul who would tame an outlaw's thirst for revenge" -- aka the real Robin Hood. So how come the guy was such a dud?

LOST...IN SHERWOOD FOREST?

No, Robin of Locksley was no Prince Charming. And the part about robbing the rich to feed the poor? He didn't get the memo. In fact, all the guy seemed to do was mope. (And he and his not-so-merry men thought Chrissie was a boy. Sure, she wasn't stacked, but still!) Nonetheless, he was loyal and brave and handsome as sin. If Chrissie coudl just get him with the program, she could right his wagon and get these boyz'n the wood to be heroes of the realm instead of twerps in tights. Only then could this prince of thieves become king of her heart.

My Thoughts: Lots of funny moments made this book entertaining but also quite campy at times. Quite a different spin on the Robin Hood legend I remember with quite a few surprises. I found it difficult at times to suspend disbelief at the ease with which Chrissie is accepted in the past, especially with her 21st century vernacular.

The Quickie by James Patterson

The Quickie by James Patterson

My Rating: 8*'s

Description: A STOLEN KISS

When she sees her husband with another woman, Lauren Stillwell's heart nearly stops beating. Her marriage was perfect, she has a great job, she loves her life. But his betrayal turns her into someone she never imagined she could be–a woman lusting for revenge.

IS HER FIRST CRIME

Determined to even the score, Lauren seeks to have her own affair. It was supposed to be a quickie, but Lauren's night of passion takes a shocking turn when she witnesses an unexpected, unbelievable, and deadly crime. Now her horrifying secret threatens to tear her life apart, pitting her need to uncover the truth against her fear that the truth may be too horrible to bear. And whichever choice she makes may cost her dearly—her job, her marriage…or even her life.

IT WON'T BE HER LAST

My Thoughts: I can always, ALWAYS count on James Patterson to rip the rug out from under my feet when I read one of his books. Even the ones I didn't really care for. With The Quickie, Patterson weaves a tale of betrayal and murder so tightly knit and intricate, the reader is left shocked and flabbergasted at the end. This book is definitely one of those that delivers an ending you never saw coming. Lauren Stillwell is a character any woman who has had an affair or a spouse suspected of having an affair can relate to. On the outside, she is a tough, hard as nails, take no prisoners, NYPD homicide detective. On the inside, she is a woman grieving over her inability to conceive and struggling with coming to terms with what her husband, Paul, is up to when she witnesses him entering a hotel with another woman. Unfortunately, she doesn't make wise choices and in a moment of poor judgment decides to have an affair out of revenge. Her spontaneous choice leads to disaster for Lauren at home and at work. I enjoyed how the story unfolds layer upon layer of bad luck with every decision or action Lauren makes. Just when you think you have figured it out, off comes another layer and once again you are blindsided by the result.

I enjoyed the complexity of the characters. Throughout the story, I found it difficult to decide whose side to be on as the lines delineating the heroes from the villains was not clear. This story may not be for everyone as Lauren does hold the blame for the mess she finds herself in, but many readers should enjoy the creative and interesting way she resolves it.

Deja Demon: The Days and Nights of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner

Deja Demon: The Days And Nights Of A Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner

My Rating: 10*'s

Description: Between attending gala fundraisers for her husband’s political campaign, training her teenage daughter to wield a crossbow and a stiletto, pottytraining a toddler, and her increasingly complicated personal life, Kate Connor hardly has time to prepare for the impending chaos of a neighborhood Easter party that has her enslaved to dying hundreds of hard-boiled eggs.

Keeping the local kiddos in line will take all of Kate’s skills as a mother and demon hunter, just when she’ll need them the most. The High Demon Goramesh has returned to San Diablo—this time with a full-blown army of the undead and a powerful demonic ally. Once again, it’s up to Kate to save the world. Good thing she can multi-task...

My Thoughts: Another fantastic installment of the Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom! I am loving this series. Kate Connor is the type of character that amazes me on all levels. Managing home, hearth and family is a tough job on its own for some people, but throw in some serious demon ass kicking and you would need a miracle.

Julie Kenner's imagination to bring this story to life is proof of her immense talent. Each story in this series is better than the last and makes me want more. I'm on the edge of my seat with wondering what will happen next? How will Kate's husband react when he finds out the truth? Is Kate's daughter destined to be a demon hunter? Will Eddie get a date? Will the demon hiding in Kate's pantry cause her to burn dinner?

This is a series not to miss. Lots of humor and action keep the stories moving at a rapid pace with characters that you can care about and root for.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In January

Lots of new additions to make room for last month. ... The good news is there are a few I either am reading now or did manage to read right away. The bad news is I will have to take up residence in my car soon as there will be no room in my flat for me.

You've Been Warned by James Patterson

Description:
YOU'VE BEEN NICE. VERY NICE.

Kristin Burns has lived her life by the philosophy "Don't think, just shoot" – pictures, that is. Struggling to make ends meet, she works full-time as the nanny for the fabulously wealthy Turnbull family, looking after their two wonderful children and waiting for her glamorous life as a New York photographer to begin. When her photographs are considered by an elite Manhattan art gallery, it seems she might finally get the chance that will start her career.

YOU'VE BEEN NAUGHTY. VERY NAUGHTY.

But Kristin has a major distraction: forbidden love. The man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. Breathless with an inexhaustible passion and the excitement of being within reach of her goals, Kristen ignores all signs of catastrophe brewing.

NOW YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Fear exists for a reason. And Kristin can only dismiss the warnings for so long. Searching desperately for the truth through the lens of her camera, she can only hope that it's not too late.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Description: ONLY A TRUE BEST FRIEND CAN PROTECT YOU FROM YOUR IMMORTAL ENEMIES...

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires --- the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's --- inside the Academy's iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the tempation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...


Undead And Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson

Description: Betsy Taylor thought entering the world of the undead was a big adjustment. Being a new bride isn't much easier. The blush has only been on for two months, and Betsy has a lot to do: set up the new house, finish writing thank-you notes, and raise BabyJon, her half brother and legal ward. Just another happy American family adjusting to marital bliss.

Betsy's husband, Sinclair, has been perusing the Book of the Dead, and Betsy's visited by a ghost who's even more insufferable, stubborn and annoying in death than she was in life. She not only blames Betsy for her condition but insists she fix it. It's all just a prelude to the fun and games awaiting Betsy and Sinclair when a pack of formerly feral vampires, hungry for blood and power, pays a visit to the happy couple.

WELCOME TO MARRIED LIFE, BETSY!


The Last Of The Honky-Tonk Angels by Marsha Moyer

Description: From Marsha Moyer, the critically acclaimed author of The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch, comes a second novel as rich in atmosphere and heart, as brimming full of colorful, unforgettable small-town characters and incidents as her notable debut.

On a lazy June morning in Mooney -- a wooded patch of sparsely populated northeast Texas -- a shiny red Chrysler sedan pulls up to the home of Lucy Hatch and her live-in beau Ash Farrell, depositing a teenage girl on their doorstep before speeding away. For Ash, town carpenter and musician, the unheralded arrival of his daughter, Denise -- whom he hasn't seen in nearly eight years -- is a major life-altering shock. It's a surprise for Lucy as well, since she's had little reason till now to recall the fourteen-year-old's existence. And the unanticipated intrusion is certain to further complicate Lucy's increasingly complex relationship with Ash, now that she has discovered she is pregnant with his child.

Angry, rebellious, and uncertain -- having been unceremoniously dumped by her mother on the father she barely knows and the stranger who now shares his life -- Denny must somehow find a place where she belongs in a town far tinier than any that hasimprisoned her before. But it's not until she picks up Ash's guitar -- and hears the songs that were born in her father's heart -- that Denny and Ash are drawn closer together by the common bond of music. In its haunting strains and true emotions lies hope -- that Denny can finally settle down, that she and Lucy can build a real friendship, that all of them can become, at last, that most rare and precious thing: a family.

But anything that happens ina place as small as Mooney has repercussions for every one of its residents. And when an ugly incident divides the community -- raising specters of suspicion, hatred, and intolerance -- the members of the growing Farrell-Hatch household will be deeply affected as well.

From its rollicking dance halls to its tree-shaded front porches, the world Marsha Moyer creates in The Last of the Honky-tonk Angels draws us inexorably in and makes us feel right at home. A glorious novel of love, family, and forgiveness, it is at once funny and poignant, startling and uplifting, richly imbued with the author's luminous prose and a vitality that reminds us all of how good it is to be alive.


Suite 606 by J.D. Robb, et al

Description: J.D. ROBB plunges Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the violent aftermath of a ritualistic murder --- and into the mind of an alleged witness who can't remember a thing to save his life

Love endures for MARY BLAYNEY, who investigates the connection between a ghost, a magic coin, and a deception that has kept two lovers apart for years.

RUTH RYAN LANGAN brings a lost man out of a pounding storm and into the arms of a welcoming woman for a breathtaking twist of fate.

And MARY KAY MCCOMAS follows a mother and son lost in the threads of history an an impaired wizard who must return them to their own world to fulfill his own destiny --- in time.


Persuading Annie by Melissa Nathan

Description: After years as a sweet, good-natured pushover, Annie Markham has had to face up to three hard truths:

You've got to be tough to succeed in business and romance.
Sometimes your meddling loved ones are right about your worthless, no-good boyfriend being worthless and no good.
The only reliable thing about men is that they're totally unreliable.

Okay, she's been persuaded. So now, seven years after wisely and abruptly dumping the "love of her life," Jake Mead, things should be going better for Annie Markham, right?

Unfortunately, her life's going nowhere, her family's going mental, and the family business is heading straight down the tubes. Could it get worse? Of course! Jake's back, Annie's getting ready for bankruptcy, and no one's ready for Christmas ... let alone a happy New Year.

And no amount of persuasion will ever convince Annie that magic does happen and dreams do come true, not even at the stroke of midnight on December 31 at New York's Plaza Hotel ... will it?


Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

Description: I'm Jaz Parks. My boss in Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there, too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the CIA doing what he does best --- assassinating people. And I help. You could say I'm an assistant assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass.

Vayl and I have to take out a Miami plastic surgeon with ties to terrorism. But the assignment gets complicated when it turns out he's in cahoots with a supernatural nasty powerful enough to bring America to her knees.


No Rest For The Wiccan by Madelyn Alt

Description: Maggie O'Neill loves her job at Enchantments as much as she loves being Indiana's newest witch. But when her family needs her, she's still willing to lend a hand --- even if she has to reach beyond the grave.

It's a long, hot summer in Stony Mill, and Maggie is busy watching TV reruns, minding the store, and figuring out her love life. Then, she reluctantly volunteers to care for her bedridden, oh-so-perfect sister, Mel. But Mel isn't the only focus of Maggie's attention. There are some strange spirits hanging about the area --- and it looks like a job for Maggie and the N.I.G.H.T.S. ghost-hunting team.

Even as she tries to deal with the long dead, Maggie must also cope with the recently deceased. When a friend of Mel's loses her husband to a dreadful fall, the police call it an accidental death. Maggie's not so sure, and sets her second sights on finding a first-degree murderer...


Murder With All The Trimmings (Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper) by Elaine Viets

Description: For Josie, the appeal of the year-round Christmas shop is an enigma wrapped in tinsel. But when three such holiday houses pop up within two blocks of one another, she's assigned to rate them. Things start turning sour when Josie puts a store owned owned by her boyfriend's ex on her naughty list. And worse yet, shoppers are finding a strange --- perhaps deadly --- secret ingredient in a rival store's holiday cake. Now, desite the dire problems at her own hearth, Josie must get to the bottom of it all --- before someone else becomes a Christmas spirit.


Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter

Description: WHERE'S A FAIRY GODMOTHER WHEN YOU NEED ONE?

For Taylor Young, life is very good. She has a handsome husband who loves her, three gorgeous children, a personally designed and decorated dream house. Suburbanite trendsetter and super mom, she reigns supreme over her perfect world. And as long as no one notices the fragile woman beneath her coiffed and polished image, things will stay that way.

Then a devastating secret bursts Taylor's fairy-tale bubble, suddenly making her a cul-de-sac pariah and stripping her of the role that defined her. Struggling to maintain her alpha image, Taylor finds help from the unlikeliest of people, her nonconformist nemesis, Marta Zinsser. But to become the woman her family truly needs, Taylor must first believe in the person she is hardest on --- herself.


Little Pink Slips by Sally Koslow

Description: Maggie Goldfarb, born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, was born to be a magazine editor. In pursuit of her dream, she moved to Manhattan and, with luck, persistence, and hard work, morphed into Magnolia Gold, the highly paid editor in chief of Lady. With a corner office, a designer wardrobe, and dozens of loyal employees, Magnolia has been hired to update the stately dowager of women’s magazines. She’s on her way to giving Lady a facelift when she is ignominiously replaced by Bebe Blake, a brash television personality who remakes Lady in her own, hilariously inappropriate image. With her ketchup-red hair, skintight clothes, and penchant for “boy toys,” Bebe is more out of control than a speeding limo. Maddeningly unpredictable, she confounds everyone at the newly christened Bebe with her personal vision of what a women’s magazine should be.

Shunted off to the darkest corners of executive purgatory – an overlooked back office that she shares with a cockroach or two – Magnolia seethes from the sidelines as Bebe turns her beloved, once profitable Lady into a sideshow. Then things go from bad to worse: Magnolia receives a pink slip. Brooding about her fall from grace, she fears that her career will never recover, but even she can’t predict how deeply satisfying her eventual triumph will be. And not just at work: amid the frenzy of backstabbing at the office, Magnolia finds Mr. Right in a city of Mr. Not Quites.


How To Be Cool by Johanna Edwards

Description: Kylie Chase always thought once she lost weight, life would be perfect. And for the past couple of years, that’s proven to be true. After shedding seventy-five pounds and reinventing herself as a savvy trendsetter, Kylie’s enjoyed amazing success. She’s even found a new career, working as a “cool instructor,” transforming the socially inept from geek to chic. Her classes on How to Be Cool are Chicago’s hottest ticket.

But despite her outward image, Kylie’s still uncomfortable in her skin --- and she’s still a dork at heart who knows more about board games than Balenciaga (she thought the latter was a tropical disease). Kylie would sooner die than let her clients know about her overweight, nerdy past.

But things start to unravel when Kylie’s apartment burns down and she’s forced to shack up with her parents. (No matter how you slice it, a twenty-nine-year-old living with Mom and Dad is definitely not cool.) Now her father’s enforcing house rules and her mom’s proving she’s way cooler than Kylie’s ever been. Making matters worse, there’s a journalist shadowing her every move. The last thing Kylie needs is someone snooping around and uncovering her dirty little secret … no matter how sexy he may be.

The stress is driving Kylie nuts --- and the weight she fought so hard to lose is starting to creep back on. But with the help of her best friend, Ruby, a confident plus-size model, Kylie’s starting to learn that appearances aren’t everything. And that morphing from an ugly duckling into the queen of cool isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…


Deja Demon: The Days And Nights Of A Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner

Description: Between attending gala fundraisers for her husband’s political campaign, training her teenage daughter to wield a crossbow and a stiletto, pottytraining a toddler, and her increasingly complicated personal life, Kate Connor hardly has time to prepare for the impending chaos of a neighborhood Easter party that has her enslaved to dying hundreds of hard-boiled eggs.

Keeping the local kiddos in line will take all of Kate’s skills as a mother and demon hunter, just when she’ll need them the most. The High Demon Goramesh has returned to San Diablo—this time with a full-blown army of the undead and a powerful demonic ally. Once again, it’s up to Kate to save the world. Good thing she can multi-task...


Blood Is The New Black by Valerie Stivers

Description: Fashion is a bloodsucking business. Literally.

When nice-girl Kate McGraw finds herself working at Tasty, a magazine with its finger on the pulse of modern style, she's finally able to put her flair for fashion to good use. But can she keep up with Tasty staffers? Ethereally beautiful and extremely emaciated, they stay out all night, never look the worse for wear, and are always dressed to kill.

Like everyone else around the office, Kate finds herself begrudgingly reading dispatches from a snarky industry blog that dubs her colleagues "bllodthirsty vamps." She knows they don't mean it literally, but ... she's heard whispers of "fashion murders" and she has noticed strange things around the office. Like, why doesn't her boss get laminates to fix her sharp teeth? Why are the blinds always drawn, and why is there a no-garlic policy in the cafeteria?

As well-dressed bodies begin to pile up near all the hot places, Kate has to wonder if there's a serial killer loose with a grudge against the stylish. Or if the truth is even more sinister: Are Kate's coworkers actually undead? And, if so, can she design an exit strategy before she finds herself at Tasty forever?


A Compromising Position by Carole Matthews

Description: A brilliant blend of bad boys, betrayal and bare-faced cheek...

Emily Miller has been betrayed. When her boyfriend posts compromising photos of her on the Internet, her life goes into sharp decline. Emily is about to lose everything --- including the man she thought she loved.

Her best friend, Cara, is determined to mend Emily's broken heart and she believes that a little magic is all that's required. But will Cara cast the right spell to get Emily out of her current position? Or will it go horribly wrong when they both fall in love with the same man?

My Lady In Time by Angie Ray

My Lady In Time by Angie Ray

My Rating: 8*'s

Description: CALIFORNIA, 1998.

Handsome playboy Derek Sinclair didn't have time to go looking for love. Then one night, the ghost of Lady Allison Pelsworth appears, asking him to travel back in time and prevent her marriage to the wretched Wilfred. Now, love seems to be looking for him -- and Derek is not one to refuse a beautiful woman....

ENGLAND, 1498.

Derek thought it was just a dream, but when he finds himself -- stark naked -- in Medieval England, he knows he's in real trouble. To keep his promise to Lady Allison -- and find his way back to the 20th century -- he must prove himself a worthy knight and Lady Allison's True Love. Now for the first time in his life, Derek is willing to fight for honor... and for a passion that transcends time....

My Thoughts: Initially, I thought both Derek and Allison were too stubborn and obstinate and it made the story drag a bit but it began to get interesting when Derek began his knight training. The more I read, the more amused I was at Derek's antics, especially in teaching everyone to play poker. The author does an excellent job of making 1498 come to life, which makes me appreciate 2009 all the more. I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the festival, tournament and overall daily life inside the castle and the extremely hard work it takes to run it, inside and out. I wish there had been more explanation about Anne and Rafael and how they were involved, though at the end of the book, it's easy to figure out most of it. I would have liked to have learned more. Overall, a good time travel that will delight fans of the Middle Age.

You've Been Warned by James Patterson

You've Been Warned by James Patterson

My Rating: 5 *'s

Description:

YOU'VE BEEN NICE. VERY NICE.

Kristin Burns has lived her life by the philosophy "Don't think, just shoot" – pictures, that is. Struggling to make ends meet, she works full-time as the nanny for the fabulously wealthy Turnbull family, looking after their two wonderful children and waiting for her glamorous life as a New York photographer to begin. When her photographs are considered by an elite Manhattan art gallery, it seems she might finally get the chance that will start her career.

YOU'VE BEEN NAUGHTY. VERY NAUGHTY.

But Kristin has a major distraction: forbidden love. The man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. Breathless with an inexhaustible passion and the excitement of being within reach of her goals, Kristen ignores all signs of catastrophe brewing.

NOW YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Fear exists for a reason. And Kristin can only dismiss the warnings for so long. Searching desperately for the truth through the lens of her camera, she can only hope that it's not too late.

My Thoughts: I didn't enjoy this one as much as his other books, probably because this book centers around adultery, a plot device I cannot stand. If this book had been a romance genre, I would have given up on it. I thought Kristin was a weak character who uses poor judgment and makes bad choices and decisions throughout the book. I thought Michael and Penley were selfish, manipulative, snobs and I found myself wondering throughout the book why Kristin stayed in their employ. The only characters I did like were Michael's children, Dakota and Sean. These kids brought a sweet innocence to an otherwise twisted and dark story of seduction, betrayal and murder.

Though this story twists and turns into chaos and confusion, I was compelled to finish the story just to see what happens and hopefully bring closure to a very complicated story.

When Darkness Falls by Shannon Drake

When Darkness Falls by Shannon Drake

My Rating: 9 *'s

Description: WHEN DARKNESS FALLS...

In a windswept Scottish cemetery, Jade MacGregor's carefree vacation abroad is marred by a seemingly random tragedy. A year later, back home on a shadowy French Quarter street she glimpses an oddly familiar face. Coincidence -- or something more disturbing?

AND TERROR TAKES HOLD...

Surrounded by her friends and engrossed in her work, Jade should feel secure. But somebody is dogging her every move. Somebody who knows what she saw on that long ago afternoon. Somebody who will try to rescue her from the evil that is waiting to destroy her.

INNOCENCE DIES....


My Thoughts: I've had this book in my TBR pile for the better part of 8 years now and was never compelled to read it. Last year, I decided I needed to be proactive in culling down my TBR pile, I found this book in one of the many nooks and crannies I have books stashed in and pulled it out deciding this is one I would read, though the desire that grips most readers to read a particular book wasn't present for me with this book. I don't know why since paranormals top the list of my favorites in genre.

WHEN DARKNESS FALLS is the second story in Shannon Drake's vampire series. Characters from the first book make an appearance in this book, but this story does stand alone. The story begins in my favorite place in the world, Scotland, where the heroine, Jade MacGregor, is on a tour of a cemetary. The tour goes horribly wrong when the group is attacked by vampires. Jade is saved by a mysterious stranger and the police have a hard time believing Jade's tale. Fast forward one year later to New Orleans and Jade finds herself being hunted by the evil that she escaped from and the mysterious stranger again makes an appearance.

I honestly could not put this book down and found myself grabbing every spare moment I had to read, even if it was only a paragraph. Drake does an excellent job of weaving the past and present together to explain the history of the evil and the role the hero, Lucian DeVeau, plays in it. I liked Jade, though there are a few of those "too stupid to live" moments where she finds herself in mortal danger as a result of poor judgment. The supporting cast of characters were fantastic as well and I hope Rick Beaudreaux gets his own story. Sophia and Darian were great villains that you will despise but will enjoy finding out what they do next.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series with high hopes that it will deliver as this one did. Scottish Vampires....what else can I ask except for more please?

REVIEW: O Is For Outlaw by Sue Grafton

O Is For Outlaw by Sue Grafton

My Rating: 9*'s

Description: The call comes on a Monday morning from a guy who scavenges defaulted storage units at auction. The weekend before, he'd bought a stack of cardboard boxes. In one, there was a collection of childhood memorabilia with Kinsey's name all over it. For thirty bucks, he was offering Kinsey the lot.

Though she's never been one for personal possessions, curiosity is a powerful force. She agrees to meet the guy, then hands over a twenty (she may be curious, but she's also cheap and she loves a bargain).

What she finds among the items is an old undelivered letter to her that will force her to reexamine her beliefs about the breakup of her first marriage . . . about the honor of her first husband . . . and about an old unsolved murder.

It will put her life in the gravest peril.

My Thoughts: Just when I start to wonder if this series has anything to offer in the way of surprises, along comes this installment of Kinsey's next assignment and I'm hooked all over again. I love Kinsey and her smart mouth attitude. This story shows another side of Kinsey when she is told her first ex-husband has been shot and may not survive. When she discovers some very hard truths about the past, Kinsey has to take the painful journey to forgive her ex for his alleged misdeeds. Kinsey also has to look at her own shortcomings as well and reevaluate her beliefs.

From Santa Theresa to Louisville and back, Kinsey's dig into the past attracts the attention of some unsavory people who would rather the past and the crimes committed there remain dead and buried. Kinsey is her usual feisty self but we get to see more of the compassionate side of her, especially with the ending. Kudos to Sue Grafton for creating a fantastic multi-dimensional character that comes to life and draws the reader into her world so deeply that it's easy to forget that Kinsey and her world is fiction.

The Truth

For every woman who has had her share of relationship issues:

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn’t want you, nothing can make him stay. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache. Stop trying to change yourselves for a relationship that’s not meant to be. Slower is better. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can’t "be friends." A friend wouldn’t mistreat a friend. Don’t settle. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is. Don’t stay because you think "it will get better." You’ll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better. The only person you can control in a relationship is you. Avoid men who’ve got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn’t marry them when he got them pregnant, Why would he treat you any differently? Always have your own set of friends separate from his. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later. You cannot change a man’s behavior. Change comes from within. Don’t EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...even if he has more education or in a better job. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less. Never let a man define who you are. Never borrow someone else’s man. Oh Lord! If he cheated with you, he’ll cheat on you. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you. All men are NOT dogs. You should not be the one doing all the bending. ..compromise is a two-way street. You need time to heal between relationships...there is nothing cute about baggage... deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complimentary...not supplementary. Dating is fun...even if he doesn’t turn out to be Mr.. Right. Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and your always readily available to him- he takes it for granted. Don’t fully commit to a man who doesn’t give you everything that you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others. Share this..... You’ll make some women SMILE, another RETHINK her choices, and another woman PREPARE. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them and an entire lifetime to forget them.

- Author Unknown

REVIEW: Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire by Michele Bardsley

Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire by Michele Bardsley

My Rating: 9*'s

Description:

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE --- OR PULSE.

Ever since a master vampire became possessed and bit a bunch of parents, the town of Broken Heart, Oklahoma has catered to those of us who don't rise until sunset --- even if that means PTA meetings at midnight.

As for me, Eva LeRoy, town librarian and single mother to a teenage daughter, I'm pretty much used to being "vampified." You can't beat the great side effects: no crow's-feet or cellulite! But books still make my undead heart beat --- and, strangely enough, so does Lorcan the Loner. My mama always told me everyone deserves a second chance. Still, it's one thing to deal with the usual undead hassles: rival vamps, rambunctious kids adjusting to night school, and my daughter's new boyfriend, who's a vampire hunter, for heaven's sake. It's quite another to fall for the vampire who killed you....

My Thoughts: I have to say that when I read the first one (I'M THE VAMPIRE, THAT'S WHY), my socks stayed firmly in place on my feet. Though I liked Jessica and Patrick and thought there were some funny moments, I was able to put the book down quite a lot and let my attention be drawn to other things.

I wasn't in a big hurry to read this book. I picked this book up and right away I was drawn into Eva's life and getting to know Lorcan was great. I especially LOVE how all of the animals are drawn to her, which is a little surprising considering she's a vampire, but hey, it works. I enjoyed Eva and Tamara's word of the day contest too.

It's a little difficult to put my finger on why this book was so much better for me than the first, but it has revitalized this series for me. Most likely, it has to do with the animals, even the lycans. I'm a sucker for the animals. I will be definitely getting the rest of the series as I am especially looking forward to Ralph's story.

Joining The Undead

You would think that after nearly 13 years working in public safety and being subjected to various shifts, that working what I call the Vampire shift would be nothing new. You would be right. You would. Additionally, with all of the vampire themed books I surround myself with and read, I would be further prepared for the lifestyle the ranks of the undead live. I should.

It's been a year since I walked the undead road. And it wasn't easy. My doctor had to prescribe Provigil for me to help me stay focused and alert on the nights I am working. I guess it's true that as we get older, we don't bounce back from stuff as quickly or are less able to adjust to changes.

When the sun goes down and I arise from my coffin tonight, I begin my first night back with my fellow undead armed with Provigil and caffeinated beverages. Garlic cloves and wooden stakes are not necessary at this time, though we can always revisit it should my Transylvanian accent gets too thick.

Honorable Mentions Of 2008

For many books that don't make the top reads for the year, I want to give an honorable mention to those books I read in 2008 that didn't make the cut for the best but were still very good books and recommended:

32AA by Michelle Cunnah
L Is For Lawless by Sue Grafton
M Is For Malice by Sue Grafton
The Pregnancy Test by Erin McCarthy
Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Interlude In Death by J.D. Robb
Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Sit, Stay, Slay by Linda O. Johnston
The Pact by Jennifer Sturman
Don’t Tell by Karen Rose
Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

2008 In Review

2008 has come and gone and with it another year's worth of reading. Some awesome reads and some real stinkers. In total I read 49 books which doesn't count the 16 that I gave up on. I'm in a state of shock at the number I gave up on. Amazes me that my reading taste has become, to some, quite picky. Sad that my reading totals would have been much higher had it not been for those lost causes.

Overall, my selections this year ranged across the spectrum of genres and are as follows:

Mystery / Suspense / Thriller: 17
Cozy Mystery: 6
Anthologies: 3
Paranormal Romance: 5
Chick-Lit: 14
Other Fiction / Literature: 3
Biography / Memoir: 1

Definitely went for more of the mystery genre last year instead of romance which I attribute to trying to catch up on the In Death series by J.D. Robb.

My picks for the best books for the year in the order they were read are:

Witness In Death by J.D. Robb
Bitter Is The New Black by Jen Lancaster
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag
Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore
Judgment In Death by J.D. Robb
Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon
A Total Waste Of Makeup by Kim Gruenenfelder
The Ghost And Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly
Betrayal In Death by J.D. Robb
The Prada Paradox by Julie Kenner
Seduction In Death by J.D. Robb
Judge & Jury by James Patterson
Reunion In Death by J.D. Robb
Welcome To The Real World by Carole Matthews
Sex, Murder & A Double Latte by Kyra Davis
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Purity In Death by J.D. Robb
Better Read Than Dead by Victoria Laurie
N Is For Noose by Sue Grafton
Demons Are Forever: Confessions Of A Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner
Cheating At Solitaire by Ally Carter
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Portrait In Death by J.D. Robb
7th Heaven by James Patterson
Jack With A Twist by Brenda Janowitz
The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

Here's hoping 2009 brings even more excellent books!