REVIEW: Return To Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux

Title: Return To Summerhouse (The Summerhouse #2)
Author: Jude Deveraux
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Publication Date: June, 2008
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Time Travel Romance

Description: Magic most definitely resides in the Maine summerhouse where the mysterious Madame Zoya has granted the innermost wishes of its visitors.

Now, three women have come to this special place with one thing in common: a painful past they would each like to rewrite. Amy, who hides a heartbreaking loss behind her seemingly perfect marriage and family... Faith, a widow in her thirties whose deepest grief is for a man from years ago... and Zoe, an artist shunned by her hometown for reasons she doesn't know, after a traumatic night erased her memory. With their mystical powers, Madame Zoya and her sister Primrose are about to transport the trio to eighteenth-century England to alter Amy's ancestry. But although surprises await each of them, will stepping back in time bring the women the happy endings they seek?

My Thoughts: If you already read the first book in this series, the second one is a little different in that the characters do not already know each other when they all arrive. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this difference, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. Amy, Faith and Zoe are complete strangers when they each arrive and in the beginning of the book, I found myself thinking these women would have a hard time bonding or relating to one another.

Each woman carries a large amount of grief, pain and bitterness in their lives and it takes several chapters before I fully understood how much these women needed one another. When I read a book, I usually associate with just one character. As I learned more about each character and their back-story, I discovered I cared about all three of them in very different ways and loved how connected they were without any of them realizing how much.

The only flaw I had with this book is the ending seemed a little rushed after all of the detail spent in the past. I would have liked to witness Faith and Zoe’s experiences first-hand instead of after the fact. Even still, the story was beautifully written and the characters are people you really are rooting for.

My Final Verdict: If you enjoyed the first book, I highly recommend this one. For me, Return To Summerhouse was an enjoyable return to the magic that I experienced when I read the first book. This was a very good story with a wonderful message of hope and love for three women who appear to be damaged beyond repair.

If you haven’t read the first book, I think you could still read and enjoy this one without reading the first story.

REVIEW: Confessions Of An Ex-Girlfriend by Lynda Curnyn

Title: Confessions Of an Ex-Girlfriend
Author: Lynda Curnyn
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Publication Date: August, 2002
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Ex-Girlfriend Emma Carter has a lot on her mind. Her boyfriend got a life --- in L.A. Her hairdresser found God. And that extra ten pounds of "relationship flab" she acquired while falling in love with a commitment-phobe has just put her out of the running for new romance --- or so she thinks. But before Emma can get on with her life, she's got to face a few startling truths about being single in New York City...

Confession #5: Marriage suddenly seems like a social disease. Even the latest bride in my family --- my mother --- has put me to work in the service of her wedding day. What about us non-brides-to-be? Working in the warped little world of wedding planning has only led me to one conclusion: If you don't get married in this world, you get nothing. Once, in an editorial meeting, I jokingly suggested that a woman should get a bridal shower when she turns thirty, wedding or not. Everyone looked at me as if I were some kind of nut. I am 31 years old; am I not entitled to free Calphalon yet?

Who ever thought that baring your soul could be this good?

My Thoughts: Confessions Of An Ex-Girlfriend is one woman’s journey to find meaning in the end of her two year relationship when the man she loves accepts a job in L.A. and leaves New York and her behind. Emma struggles through most of this book living a very dysfunctional life. She is stuck in a boring job at a bridal magazine writing articles that are intended to sell the institute of marriage and all its glitz and glitter to brides to be. Emma’s mother is preparing to get married for the third time and wants Emma’s help and expertise with the planning. Emma has not told her parents about her change in relationship status. Emma’s father is lawsuit happy and may or may not have fallen off the wagon (again). She desperately needs highlights, but her hairdresser can only make time for his spiritual lessons and his guru. Her unwanted single status forces Emma to take a long, hard look in the mirror and acknowledge some facts (no matter how painful) about being single once again.

Even though Emma knew from their first date that her boyfriend would move to L.A. as soon as he sold a screenplay, that event did not happen for two years, in which time Emma got completely comfortable in the relationship and put it out of her mind. Why do we ignore these glaringly obvious relationship red flags? How do Emma and the rest of us develop relationship amnesia and completely forget these events and then walk around like the walking wounded wondering what happened? One thing that annoyed me about Emma is that she spends several pages pining for this jerk instead of getting angry. I felt she should have gotten angry a lot sooner. Two years spent in a relationship, regardless of the red flags at the beginning, is a long time. The last thing I want to see is Emma feeling sorry for herself, while sitting by the phone on the chance that he might call. When Emma finally does get angry and lets him know it, I was cheering. Let him have it, Emma. Rip him a new one.

I really liked Emma’s best friends, Alyssa and Jade. Where Alyssa is sweet and kind and in a committed relationship, Jade is the complete polar opposite. Jade is anti-relationship where Alyssa is living with her boyfriend. Emma fits perfectly in the middle between them. I was amazed how these three different women could be such good friends, but they are and it works. In the early days of Emma’s singleness, Alyssa and Jade both play a vital role in helping Emma reinvent herself.

I also liked that Emma wasn’t afraid to throw herself back in the dating pool, no matter how scary it was or unprepared she was. I loved that Emma does not strike gold right away either. I really enjoy a story that is realistic and having Emma start dating after a long term relationship and find Mr. Perfect on her first attempt would not have been believable for me as a reader.

My Final Verdict: Whether we’re ex-girlfriends or supportive shoulders to friends going through it, this is a good story that will appeal regardless of the situation. Fans of chick-lit and romance will appreciate how Emma comes out of her ordeal willing to take chances without losing her romantic side or becoming bitter.

REVIEW: The Sixes by Kate White

Title: The Sixes
Author: Kate White
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: August, 2011
Genre: Romantic Suspense / Mystery / Thriller

Description: From the New York Times bestselling author of Hush and the Bailey Weggins mystery series comes a thriller set in a college town where a student’s death sends one woman on a search for the truth and into the clutches of a frightening secret society.

Phoebe Hall’s Manhattan life has suddenly begun to unravel. Right after her long-term boyfriend breaks off their relationship, she’s falsely accused of plagiarizing her latest bestselling celebrity biography. Looking for a quiet place to put her life back together, Phoebe jumps at the offer to teach in a sleepy Pennsylvania town at a small private college run by her former boarding school roommate and close friend, Glenda Johns.

But behind the campus’s quiet cafés and leafy maple trees lie evil happenings. The body of a female student washes up on the banks of a nearby river, and disturbing revelations begin to surface: accusations from coeds about abuses wrought by a secret society of girls on campus known as The Sixes. To help Glenda, Phoebe embarks on a search for clues—a quest that soon raises painful memories of her own boarding school days years ago.

As the investigation heats up, Phoebe unexpectedly finds herself falling for the school’s handsome psychology professor, Duncan Shaw. But when nasty pranks turn into deadly threats, Phoebe realizes she’s in the middle of a real-life nightmare, not knowing whom she can trust and if she will even survive.

Plunging deeper into danger with every step, Phoebe knows she’s close to unmasking a killer. But with truth comes a terrifying revelation: your darkest secrets can still be uncovered . . . and starting over may be a crime punishable by death.

My Thoughts: When we first meet Phoebe Hall, her life is in a downward spiral. Her boyfriend has ended their relationship abruptly and she is faced with every writer’s nightmare when she is accused of plagiarism. I immediately felt bad for her and, like Phoebe, thought a change of scenery would be a good thing. One of her oldest friends who she went to boarding school with offers her a great opportunity to teach a writing class at Lyle College, far from Manhattan and the bad press and unwanted publicity.

Initially, the move appears to have been a good decision. Phoebe is settling in well and is enjoying the small and quiet community that surrounds the college. She even has a romantic interest on the horizon with a fellow teaching colleague, but Phoebe is reluctant to begin any relationships. Suddenly, Phoebe’s peace and solitude are ripped to shreds when the body of a young coed who had gone missing is found in the river. Several clues point to a secret club on campus, only known as The Sixes. Phoebe’s friend, Glenda, enlists her help in finding out more. The more Phoebe digs, the closer she comes to a killer as well as reliving some horrible experiences she, herself, suffered while attending boarding school.

First of all, I enjoyed the story and the concept of a secret society with an intricate agenda recruiting coeds on campus. It gives the plot a very mysterious and sinister tone. Kate White does a good job of leading the reader through several scenes that allude to The Sixes being involved in the murders and then without warning, I started to suspect others. This story is full of suspicious characters that are all capable of heinous acts. I had a hard time deciding who was trustworthy.

The story goes from mysterious and sinister to downright chilling when Phoebe’s home is broken into and based on the items left behind, she appears to be the victim of bullying. She isn’t a stranger to this kind of treatment as she endured horrific treatment by bullies when she was at boarding school. It takes most of the story to learn the full extent of the bullying she endured. I would have preferred to have it revealed sooner because I just couldn’t understand why she was placing herself in danger. Once I learned what she went through, I understood that Phoebe wants to make sure nobody is ever bullied again. Unfortunately, the choices and decisions she makes while looking into the disappearance and murder lead to more murders and more danger to Phoebe. She has several close calls herself and is physically injured repeatedly because of those choices and decisions. I thought she was taking too many risks and just can’t understand why does the hero/heroine always realize who the killer is only after they are alone with them? It would have been better for my blood pressure if this revelation would have been made while Phoebe is sitting on the couch, eating ice cream and watching television.

In spite of Phoebe’s tenacious pursuit for the truth, I really liked her and admired her ability to rise above a painful past and move forward in times of adversity. The story is a standalone read and doesn’t leave any loose ends, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Phoebe makes another appearance in a book down the road.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a good story that should appeal to readers who like their romance mixed with suspense and mystery. I would have liked it better if Phoebe hadn’t taken so many foolish risks, but I applaud her diligence in seeking out the truth and fighting for the underdog.

REVIEW: Immortal Eclipse by Sherry Soule

Title: Immortal Eclipse
Author: Sherry Soule
Publisher: Disenchanted Publishing, Inc.
Original Publication Date: May 15, 2013
New Edition Published: June 7, 2013
Genre: Young Adult / Mystery / Romantic Suspense

Description: ENTER A SINISTER, CHILLING WORLD FILLED WITH DARK SECRETS

A devoted fashionata and practical New Yorker, Skylar Blackwell doesn’t believe in the supernatural—until she inherits Summerwind Mansion. . . .

When her uncle is brutally murdered, and the cops seem uninterested in following up the case, Skylar journeys to California to seek answers. Her search for clues is soon overshadowed by haunting nightmares of a young woman also murdered in the house.

Now the inhabitants of Summerwind are mysteriously dying, leaving no evidence as to how or why, and Skylar finds herself in a deadly race against time to expose the killer—before they strike again.

Armed with only wit and Pradas, Skylar begins questioning the servants, but the growing list of suspects includes the sexy and brooding caretaker, Dorian Delacroix, a man desperately trying to forget his tragic past. And a major distraction for Skylar.

Determined to play detective—instead of the fashion police—and unravel the dark history of the mansion, Skylar is plunged into an otherworldly mystery that not even she can explain away. As the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, Skylar’s greatest challenge is to stay alive long enough to learn the truth.

My Thoughts: The book started out very good for me but started to spiral downhill with Skylar's incessant inner monologue. I don't mind first person point of view, but this one just didn't fit for me. I found myself wondering several times whether she was talking to someone or to herself. Especially when the inner chatter begins when she is having a conversation with someone! I had to go back several times and reread paragraphs because I was getting lost.

I thought Skylar was very brave to make the move across the country into the unknown and flying by the seat of her pants. I thought Dorian was intriguing but I felt as frustrated as she did at his constant hot and cold manner.

My Final Verdict: I read 68% of the book before I was advised there was a new edition. As honored as I am to be asked to read this book to begin with in exchange for my review, I don't feel invested enough in the characters to start over after coming this far. In addition, switching to the new edition and continue reading where I left off would give me the sense of not reading the whole book. I am told that the new edition has major rewrites so if a young adult fashionata with a love of Pradas, a sexy, brooding, mysterious man and a house full of sinister characters and dead bodies intrigue you, then this book may appeal to you.

REVIEW: The Night I Got Lucky by Laura Caldwell

Title: The Night I Got Lucky
Author: Laura Caldwell
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Publication Date: September, 2005
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: When Billy Rendell suddenly gets everything she wants, it turns out to be the last thing she needs . . . A long-awaited promotion. Freedom from emotional baggage. A newly -- ahem -- amorous husband. What's wrong with this picture? Well . . . everything. For starters, Billy hasn't actually earned any of it. Instead, like some character in a fairy tale, this stuck-in-a-rut publicist had all her wishes granted overnight -- which feels great, at least at first. But soon Billy's brand-new success starts to unravel -- who'd have thought becoming a VP would be so Very Painful? Or that a harmless crush on a co-worker would turn not-so-harmless now that he's crushing back? It'll take a surreal, rollicking, high-stakes journey for Billy to realize what she really wants out of life . . . before it's too late.

My Thoughts: This was one of the books that have been languishing on my to be read pile, gathering dust for years. I am still despondent that the Red Dress Ink line was discontinued. Nothing brought a smile to my face like opening my mailbox to find my monthly arrivals waiting for me. If I weren’t already a fan of Laura Caldwell’s books, The Night I Got Lucky would have made me one.

Billy Rendell is a character anyone can relate to and I found myself empathizing with her immensely. Everything from the angst of having an unusual name, to abandonment issues, unsatisfying marriage and career struggles, Billy is carrying a lot of emotional baggage. We’ve all been there and we all have wished for things to be different or to get what we want. It’s the human condition. What I really liked about this story is that Billy learns that getting what she wants may not be the best thing.

After yet another visit to her therapist where she again whines about the state of her life, her therapist gives her a small jade frog and tells her that her luck will change. Billy goes home, slightly offended and disbelieving, puts the frog on her nightstand and goes to bed. The next morning, everything, and I mean everything has changed! Billy now has everything she thought she wants. The promotion, the attentive and loving husband, the sexy coworker now attracted to her, no longer missing her father who walked out on Billy and her mother and sisters, just to name a few. This is where things get really interesting and Billy quickly learns that everything comes with a price and for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

As Billy tries to cope with the massive changes in her life, I got the impression she was drowning. Nothing was working out quite the way she had pictured. Billy decides that destroying the frog will put everything right. I got such a kick out of all the ways Billy tried to destroy the frog, even dropping it off the top of the Sears Tower. But every morning when Billy awoke, there was the frog back on her nightstand smiling at her. I got such a good sense of the desperation Billy was feeling by this time, and though her situation is no laughing matter, I couldn’t help but be amused at her reaction every morning.

Billy finally realizes luck and wishing away her problems are not a solution and she has to actually take action, participate in her life, and bring about the change she wants to see. I thoroughly enjoyed the results.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very good book that I could not put down and I recommend it to all fans of the chick-lit and romance genre. This book was highly entertaining and the author does an excellent job of creating characters the reader will have feelings for and be drawn to. The secondary characters were intriguing and interesting too, without taking the reader’s focus from the central storyline. If you aren’t a fan of chick-lit, consider giving Laura Caldwell’s mysteries a try. I definitely will be.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In May

Temporary residents arrived in May. One has already moved on and the other will soon follow as I will be reading it soon.


Penelope by Anya Wylde
Description: Leaving behind the rural charms of Finnshire, Miss Penelope Fairweather arrives in London with hope in her heart and a dream in her eye. The dowager, no less, has invited her for a season in London, where she will attempt to catch a husband.

Thus begins our heroine's tale as she attempts to tackle the London season with all her rustic finesse. Unfortunately, her rustic finesse turns out to be as delicate as a fat bear trying to rip apart a honeycomb infested with buzzing bees.

What follows is a series of misadventures, love affairs, moonlit balls, fancy clothes, fake moustaches, highwaymen, sneering beauties, pickpockets, and the wrath of a devilishly handsome duke.



The Witness by Nora Roberts
Description: Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems--and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail's reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something--and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed.

With a quirky, unforgettable heroine and a pulse-pounding plotline, Nora Roberts presents a riveting new read that cements her place as today's most reliably entertaining thriller--and will leave people hungering for more.

REVIEW: The Wicked Wager by Anya Wylde

Title: The Wicked Wager
Author: Anya Wylde
Publisher: Kindle
Publication Date: August, 2012
Genre: Historical Romance / Cozy Mystery

Description: The infamous rake, Lord Richard Hamilton, has finally chosen his bride—the very appropriate Miss Emma Grey.

The ton approves, Lord Grey is pleased, Lady Grey delighted, and Emma is over the moon, but her uncle, (the blasted) Duke of Arden opposes the match, and Emma is ordered to move to the duke’s estate to think things over.

Richard Hamilton refuses to take things lying down and concocts a plan. A plan that should have brought the lovers together and had them married within a month. It was a simple matter of masquerading as the duke’s gardener, compromising the lady, and then having the duke rush them off to Gretna Green.

Alas, he underestimates the duke’s intelligence and the tangled situation on the estate—never had he imagined that compromising a lady could be so difficult.

His endeavours lead to a comedy of errors, charades, and knotty love affairs. Yet he forges ahead in spite of pesky house guests, a flea bitten mattress, his lovesick best friend, and a blackmailer.

Just when things seem to be going well, someone is murdered (very inconvenient), and he happens to be one of the suspects (extremely inconvenient).

His simple plan for winning the wager suddenly becomes … a tad complicated.

My Thoughts: Unfortunately, it took several starts and stops before this book and I connected. Even then, I found myself continuously wondering where this was all leading to. The majority of the story focuses on Emma and her fiancé, Lord Richard Hamilton and their concocted scheme to fool her Uncle, the Duke of Arden. I thought their plan was full of holes and it surprised me that they weren’t called out on it immediately. The interesting thing about this story is the more I read, the more curious I became. This story has an Oscar Wilde feel to it. The more Emma and Richard tried to take the situation in hand and control it, the more it got away from them. At every turn, their plan seemed to unravel faster and faster so that it became quite entertaining to see what they would do next.

I mistakenly thought the murder would dominate the story but it was more of an afterthought and an event that exposes Emma and Richard’s scheme to the rest of the household. I found myself amused at the shenanigans of various characters running around the house in the middle of the night, sneaking in and out of bedrooms, searching for clues. I half expected Tim Curry to make an appearance as the butler from “Clue” to solve the mystery in the most elaborate of performances.

Fortunately for Emma and Richard, they end up together, though their plan did not work. I just couldn’t understand why an Earl would go to such lengths instead of just sitting down with the Duke, man to man, and have an intelligent and open conversation. Thankfully, the Duke is not an unreasonable man and all ends well. I thought the murder took too long to occur, initially, but came to realize that the murder was a plot device to wrap up the plot. It also gave me a better understanding of the Duke and an appreciation of how perceptive he really was. The identity of the murderer came as a great surprise, however as well as some other surprises the author throws in about secondary characters.

My Final Verdict: What started out as just an OK book by a new to me author, ended up being a good book that gives the reader a witty story of romance, murder, mayhem and a little comedy to make things interesting. I am intrigued by and enjoyed this author’s writing style enough to look for her next book. The Wicked Wager ends without loose ends, but I wouldn’t mind revisiting the characters later.

REVIEW: The Witness by Nora Roberts

Title: The Witness
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Putnam Adult
Publication Date: April, 2012
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Description: Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems--and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail's reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something--and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed.

With a quirky, unforgettable heroine and a pulse-pounding plotline, Nora Roberts presents a riveting new read that cements her place as today's most reliably entertaining thriller--and will leave people hungering for more.

My Thoughts: I knew this book was going to be special to me as soon as the heroine, Elizabeth Fitch is introduced. I quickly and easily connected with and could relate to her. On the outside, she comes across as a very lonely teenager who lives in her mother’s shadow doing what she’s told. On the inside is a young girl who aches to break free and find herself. A young girl on the brink of becoming a woman, she wants to live her life on her terms. After an argument with her mother, Elizabeth does what a lot of teens do. She rebels in a big way. She cuts and colors her hair, buys clothes and makeup that she knows her mother will disapprove of and makes plans with a girl she knows from high school to go to a trendy nightclub.

Liz is extremely intelligent. At sixteen, she is already attending Harvard and it is her mother’s wish that Liz become a doctor like she is. Liz’s wish is to join the FBI. She’s what a lot of people refer to as a geek, nerd or hacker. She has extraordinary computer skills and she uses her intelligence and computer skills to create fake identification for herself and Julie to get them into the nightclub. Initially, everything appears to be going well. Liz meets and dances and later kisses a man and makes plans to meet up with him later at the nightclub manager’s home. Unfortunately for Liz, she sees things she shouldn’t and finds herself on the run with some very bad people after her. The people after Liz are very powerful and will stop at nothing to silence her. Protective custody doesn’t keep her safe and she has to go on the run.

Twelve years later, Liz resurfaces, living in a small town in the Ozarks. She is using a different name, is loaded to the teeth with several types of firearms, installed high tech security and surveillance surrounding her property and has a very large dog. She is reclusive and tries to avoid most interactions with anyone. She is even reluctant to meet any of her security systems clients face to face.

Brooks Gleason has returned home to become the new police chief. I really liked Brooks. He goes on calls with his deputies and appears to have a good rapport with most of the folks in the area. A chance meeting with a woman named Abigail intrigues him to no end and he’s determined to get to know her whether she wants to or not. I really enjoyed how real the tension between Abigail and Brooks was in the beginning. Abigail’s life depends on her keeping herself out of the spotlight and for the last twelve years, she has done very well and isn’t willing to trust anyone. Brooks senses there’s more to Abigail than meets the eye and he is determined to gain her trust and hopefully a lot more. I loved that even though Brooks is a man’s man, he isn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. I also loved that he doesn’t badger Abigail or dig around in her past looking for information. He wears down her defenses with honesty, compassion and love.

The criminals after Liz are still out there, still looking for her. She knows she will have to take a proactive step to bring this to an end so she can start living her life without looking over her shoulder every minute. I loved the whole book but when the story shifts to Liz/Abigail confiding in Brooks and as a team, they come up with a plan to resolve it, I couldn’t put the book down but I was worried that the whole plan would blow up in their face.

My Final Verdict: Overall this was a fantastic book! Excellent pacing of the story, super intense plot and intriguing characters makes this book worthy of any keeper shelf. But I’m not stopping there. This book deserves the highest rating because it pulled me out of a slump and continues to stay with me. I was feeling a lot of anticipation with how Ms. Roberts would wrap up the story and though I am extremely pleased at the outcome, I felt a sense of loss that it’s over. I heartily recommend this book to readers who enjoy romance that isn’t mushy or sappy, suspense and action that keeps you guessing at what is coming next and characters who are written so realistically they seem to come alive on the pages.

REVIEW: It's A Girl Thing by Jan King

Title: It’s A Girl Thing
Author: Jan King
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date: September, 2000
Genre: Non-Fiction / Humor

Description: Past a certain age (let's say puberty) women start exhibiting certain traits that, well, boggle the male mind. Since the traits are genetically ingrained, we women don't think about them --- so we're not bothered by them at all. In It's A Girl Thing, Jan King has meticulously chronicled many of the "girl things" that ultimately define women's behavior.

Read Jan's hilarious take on

Chick Flicks - on average, it takes 7.6 boxes of Kleenex for the heroine to die

Lipstick and Nail Polish - on any given day, a woman has enough nail enamel to paint Graceland

The Crying Game - at her child's award ceremony you see more mascara running down Mom's cheeks than Tammy Faye Bakker's at a revival meeting

Women's Underwear - because of their corsets, women remained pretty much unconscious for the first five centuries of recorded history

The Gynecologist - cold rooms, hankie-sized "robes," cold instruments...

And much, much more!

Wasn't it Jan King who first said "The thong? For Pete's sake, I've spent my whole life pulling my underwear out of there!"

My Thoughts: It’s A Girl Thing by new to me author Jan King brings a very funny insight to what is going on inside the female mind and why we behave the way we do. I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this. I only picked it up because my Kindle had died and I needed something to read while it was charging. It’s A Girl Thing turned out to be a good choice. I saw myself in several of these chapters and believe that every woman can relate to at least one, if not several, of these chapters as well. I wish I had read it sooner and it should be mandatory reading for every girl and woman.

My Final Verdict: Everything from lipstick, nail polish and our underwear to shopping and dieting, Jan King shines a hilarious spotlight on topics that have confused men for centuries and reminds me that I’m not alone, it’s a girl thing. This is a good book that is funny and entertaining. I recommend this to anyone who is curious why girls do the things girls do.

REVIEW: 50 Ways To Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom

Title: 50 Ways To Hex Your Lover (Jazz Tremaine #1)
Author: Linda Wisdom
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publication Date: March, 2008
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Description: Jazz can't decide whether to scorch him with a fireball or jump into bed with him.

Jasmine Tremaine, a witch who can't stay out of trouble.

Nikolai Gregorivich, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire cop on the trail of a serial killer.

The sizzling love affair between Jazz and Nick has been off-again, on-again-for about 300 years. Mostly off, lately. But now Nick needs Jazz's help, and while Jazz and Nick try to figure out their own hearts and resist their ever-increasing attraction, they must steer clear of a maniacal killer with super-supernatural powers. They are surrounded by a hilarious cast of oddball paranormal characters, including Irma, the chain-smoking ghost who haunts Jazz's sports car, Dweezil, her ghoul of a boss, and Fluff and Puff, a pair of bunny slippers with sharp teeth and short tempers (watch your ankles)!

My Thoughts: With 50 Ways To Hex Your Lover, new to me author Linda Wisdom introduces her series starring a feisty witch named Jazz and a vampire named Nick who have been in an on then off relationship for several hundred years. Unfortunately, most of it has not been good and the last time Jazz and Nick were together several decades ago, he had her arrested. Understandably, Jazz is a tad cranky when she and Nick cross paths. He is definitely the last person, dead or alive, she wants to deal with and I was given a very good idea just how angry she is with him when she conjures up fire balls and wooden stakes ready to end his existence mere seconds after laying eyes on him again. Jazz doesn’t need any more trouble. Her temper and bad behavior have gotten her in trouble with the Witches Council and she was banished so she is trying to walk the straight and narrow. I was very intrigued to say the least.

Fortunately for the future of this story, Nick doesn’t give up so easily and continues to try to persuade her to help him track down who is responsible for several vampires going missing. I liked Nick and his persistence. I liked that he and Jazz have an extensive history and they always manage to find their way back to one another. Jazz has a lot on her plate already and the last thing she wants is Nick back in her life. In addition to hiring her witchy services out to disarm curses and her job as a driver for a limousine company she has to deal with Irma, a chain smoking nag of a ghost, who haunts Jazz’s T-Bird, her ghoul boss, Dweezil, who walks a very fine line between good and evil and her carnivorous bunny slippers, just to name a few. On top of that, her boss insists she is the only one who can drive his best customer (because he pays in gold bars), who also emits an odor so noxious that Jazz has to throw away the clothing she wears when she drives him. For Jazz, having Nick show up again after all these years is like the final straw for her. Of course, Jazz eventually agrees to help him, especially when she discovers that the most evil and foulest of creatures she thought had been destroyed in the ‘30s is actually still around.

I would have liked a little more background history with Jazz (and whatever names she used throughout the years) and Nick. How they met, more detail about her banishment and the relationships with her sister witches Stasi and Blair, how Nick became a vampire and his history with the Protectorate. There were a lot of references and inferences to these issues and a lot of jumping back and forth between past and present, but it left me with more questions that pulled me out of the story many times. Even still, these issues did not keep me from wanting to know more and connecting with the characters.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a good start to a series that has three more books and one short story. Jazz and Nick will return in the next book, Hex Appeal and Stasi and Blair will each get their story. I am hopeful more will be revealed and explained as we go forward. If you like your vampire heroes to be hot and your witch heroines to be smart, feisty and full of snarky attitude, with vibrant supporting characters throughout that threaten to take over the whole story, then I recommend 50 Ways To Hex Your Lover as a good place to start.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In April

As I close the chapter on another month that seemed to fly by way too fast, I am left with the familiar task of making room on physical and digital shelves for my new additions...

Title: Immortal Eclipse by Sherry Soule
Description: ENTER A SINISTER, CHILLING WORLD FILLED WITH DARK SECRETS

A devoted fashionata and practical New Yorker, Skylar Blackwell doesn’t believe in the supernatural—until she inherits Summerwind Mansion. . . . When her uncle is brutally murdered, and the cops seem uninterested in following up the case, Skylar journeys to California to seek answers. Her search for clues is soon overshadowed by haunting nightmares of a young woman also murdered in the house.

Now the inhabitants of Summerwind are mysteriously dying, leaving no evidence as to how or why, and Skylar finds herself in a deadly race against time to expose the killer—before they strike again.

Armed with only wit and Pradas, Skylar begins questioning the servants, but the growing list of suspects includes the sexy and brooding caretaker, Dorian Delacroix, a man desperately trying to forget his tragic past. And a major distraction for Skylar.

Determined to play detective—instead of the fashion police—and unravel the dark history of the mansion, Skylar is plunged into an otherworldly mystery that not even she can explain away. As the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, Skylar’s greatest challenge is to stay alive long enough to learn the truth.

Title: Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander
Description: From debut author Cassie Alexander comes a spectacular new urban fantasy series where working the nightshift can be a real nightmare. Nothing compares to being Nightshifted.

Nursing school prepared Edie Spence for a lot of things. Burn victims? No problem. Severed limbs? Piece of cake. Vampires? No way in hell. But as the newest nurse on Y4, the secret ward hidden in the bowels of County Hospital, Edie has her hands full with every paranormal patient you can imagine—from vamps and were-things to zombies and beyond...

Edie’s just trying to learn the ropes so she can get through her latest shift unscathed. But when a vampire servant turns to dust under her watch, all hell breaks loose. Now she’s haunted by the man’s dying words—Save Anna—and before she knows it, she’s on a mission to rescue some poor girl from the undead. Which involves crashing a vampire den, falling for a zombie, and fighting for her soul. Grey’s Anatomy was never like this…

Title: The Sixes by Kate White
Description: From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Hush" and the Bailey Weggins mystery series comes a thriller set in a college town where a student's death sends one woman on a search for the truth and into the clutches of a frightening secret society.

Phoebe Hall's Manhattan life has suddenly begun to unravel. Right after her long-term boyfriend breaks off their relationship, she's falsely accused of plagiarizing her latest bestselling celebrity biography. Looking for a quiet place to put her life back together, Phoebe jumps at the offer to teach in a sleepy Pennsylvania town at a small private college run by her former boarding school roommate and close friend, Glenda Johns.

But behind the campus's quiet cafEs and leafy maple trees lie evil happenings. The body of a female student washes up on the banks of a nearby river, and disturbing revelations begin to surface: accusations from coeds about abuses wrought by a secret society of girls on campus known as The Sixes.. To help Glenda, Phoebe embarks on a search for clues--a quest that soon raises painful memories of her own boarding school days years ago.

As the investigation heats up, Phoebe unexpectedly finds herself falling for the school's handsome psychology professor, Duncan Shaw. But when nasty pranks turn into deadly threats, Phoebe realizes she's in the middle of a real-life nightmare, not knowing whom she can trust and if she will even survive.

Plunging deeper into danger with every step, Phoebe knows she's close to unmasking a killer. But with truth comes a terrifying revelation: your darkest secrets can still be uncovered . . . and starting over may be a crime punishable by death.

REVIEW: Delusion In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Delusion In Death (In Death #35)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Putnam
Publication Date: September, 2012
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crow seemed oppressive. some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving.

Then the madness descended. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn't explain who would unleash such horror—or why. Eve's husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he's convinced the attack wasn't directed at him. It's bigger than that. And if Eve can't figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it's airborne....

My Thoughts: Well, bless your cotton socks, Eve Dallas! After 35 books, I was pretty much convinced that there wasn’t a case or crook out there that Eve wasn’t shocked by. Angered, enraged, yes; determined to solve and catch, absolutely. Shocked, never, but she definitely is shocked with this case. In addition, she’s worried and a little frightened by the turn of events her new case has brought down on the city of New York. That’s what made this book so enjoyable for me. The plot was believable and frightening in its realistic delivery. Day to day activities like going to happy hour or grabbing a bite to eat at lunch time takes on a whole new apprehensive angle. Nobody is safe, nobody is exempt and the killer is virtually invisible.

If you have been with Eve and her crew from the beginning, you already know that she doesn’t let a lot of people get close to her. You have to be invited into her inner circle, which is where you get to see the real Eve. The woman cares about her friends, family, cat and yes, even Summerset. Go ahead and pick your jaw up off the floor; I’ll wait. As much as Eve and Summerset enjoy getting under each other’s skin hurling insults and looks of disgust toward one another, I loved seeing this side of Eve and Summerset. In Delusion in Death, Eve and Summerset sit down together to a meal, having polite and civilized conversation and sharing a bond over this case. A truce has not been called and they will probably be right back at each other’s throats in the next book, but this was my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed seeing two adversaries come together over a common goal to work together to achieve successful results.

We also see Eve being proactive trying to protect Mavis, Leonardo, Bella and Dennis Mira. Most of the time, she reserves her worry exclusively to Roarke, usually because he is neck deep in the case with her. I got an excellent sense of how deeply Eve feels for the people she truly cares about, though she has a hard time expressing it most of the time.

As usual, Eve quickly figures out who is responsible, though she is in store for a few twists and surprises near the end. I thought the twists were brilliantly executed. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Eve deduces who the responsible parties are for each case. She must have some kind of a super computer brain instead of the thought patterns of a mere human. By the time I come even remotely close to being comfortable with just a guess, Eve has already identified her suspect and taken steps to bring them to justice.

My Final Verdict: If you are already a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed by this very good installment. If you are new to this series or have never read the series, I highly recommend it and not trying to sound like a broken record, but starting at the beginning of the series is the best place to begin. Meeting Eve for the first time and seeing how her relationships with Roarke, Mavis, Mira, Peabody and everyone else all began is a treat. J.D. Robb has done a brilliant job of creating characters you get to know and care about in a series so rich with detail that illustrates vividly in my mind’s eye what it truly is like living in New York City in the mid-21st century.

REVIEW: Love You To Death by Melissa Senate

Title: Love You To Death
Author: Melissa Senate
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Publication Date: January, 2007
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: When did Abby Foote's life become an episode of "Law and Order?" First, a former boyfriend (who dumped Abby in the most humiliating way imaginable) is found murdered the day his engagement is announced.

Then two other ex-boyfriends report attempts made on their lives right after breaking up with her. Coincidence? Detective Benjamin Orr, of the Portland Police Department (and Very Probing Questions and Incredibly Delicious Face), doesn't think so. Neither do Abby's friends, family, coworkers and other exes--who are suddenly shaking in their shoes. Soon everyone is sucking up to her as though the Abby they know and supposedly love to death is capable of poisoning their drinks....

Is someone trying to frame her?

Who? And why? She has to find out fast. Because by-the-book Ben is bound to break her heart.

Which makes him next on someone's list...

My Thoughts: Could Abby Foote’s day get any worse? She already has the worst luck with men and discovers that her ex-boyfriend has been found murdered. The cop investigating the murder happens to be the guy she had a major crush on in high school. She soon learns that attempts were made on two other exes and she is the prime suspect for all three crimes. It’s bad enough that you’re being investigated by your high school crush for crimes you did not commit, but adding insult to injury, he doesn’t even remember you! Your family claims they believe in your innocence but they start acting strange, don’t want you around your newborn nephew and even insist you be accompanied by a police escort to your bridesmaid’s dress fitting for your sister’s wedding!

I completely understand that Ben is just doing his job, but I started to get annoyed at his insistence that she “could” have done it and “it’s possible” instead of not appearing to look at anyone else as the suspect. Even when there’s evidence that someone Abby knows is committing the crimes, Ben still asks Abby if she planted it! If it wouldn’t have made her situation worse, I would have cheered Abby slapping him a good one!

The list of possible suspects is large. It could be anyone starting with the dead ex-boyfriend’s new fiancée, to Abby’s family, to her co-workers and even her friends. Sadly, everyone seems to believe it’s Abby and people are walking around on eggshells around her, which I found highly insulting, but there isn’t much to be done to help the situation except prove her innocence. It was next to impossible for me to figure out who did it as I was likely to believe any of the people in Abby’s life were capable. When the culprit is revealed, I was surprised and a little disappointed that I didn’t pick up on it sooner.

The story moved very slowly for me until Ben starts to entertain the possibility that someone close to Abby could be responsible for the crimes. By then I was pretty frustrated at Abby’s insistence of innocence falling on deaf ears and more agitated that there were no signs of interest in Abby coming from Ben, except as a perp. Probably a good thing as there is a killer watching and Ben could have ended up on the killer’s list of targets.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a good book. I really enjoy the mix of chick-lit and mystery. As frustrating and annoyed I as I was at the lack of passion in this story, I have to applaud Ben’s ethics and integrity. Fortunately, he steps up when Abby finds herself face to face with the killer so all ends well. I recommend this to fans of both the chick-lit and cozy mystery genre that are looking for something light to read and don’t mind the lack of passion and romance for our heroine.

At The Movies: The Call

The Call

In Theaters: March 15, 2013

Starring: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, Michael Imperioli

Director: Brad Anderson

MPAA Rating: R (for violence, disturbing content and some language)



Plot Summary: When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.

My Thoughts: As soon as I saw this trailer, I knew this movie was going to be intense. Halle Berry delivers a remarkable performance as Jordan, a 911 operator for LAPD who at first glance appears to love her job and is quite good at it. She is in a relationship with Officer Paul Phillips (Morris Chestnut) and seems to be at the top of her game. Everything changes suddenly for Jordan one evening when she takes a call from a frantic teenager who calls 911 to report an intruder. Jordan takes the call very calmly and professionally walking the girl through the steps to hide while awaiting police arrival. Everything appears to be going well and the intruder is leaving the home when the call is disconnected and following procedure, Jordan calls the number back, alerting the intruder to the girl's presence in the house. Of course, the intruder (Michael Eklund) locates the girl's hiding place and grabs her taking the phone from her. Jordan begs with him to leave the house and not to hurt the girl, but he states "It's already done" and disconnects the call. Several days later, the girl's body is recovered. Jordan blames herself and decides she can no longer do the job.

Six months later, Jordan is now a trainer of 911 operators and is in the process of giving a tour to a new batch of trainees when a call comes in from a frantic girl who says she has been kidnapped. Jordan is forced to take over the call from the frazzled call-taker and though it's painfully obvious she is on the verge of losing it herself, her instincts kick in and she begins to offer assistance to the young girl, Casey (Abigail Breslin), who is inside the trunk of a car calling on an untraceable cell phone.

The majority of this movie revolves around Jordan on the phone with Casey, trying to help her remain calm and figure out ways to get help to her, including kicking out the tail light and waving her hand through the hole and pouring paint out of the same hole in the hopes of leaving a trail. Up until this point, the movie is very fast paced suspense but when a fellow motorist sees the paint and tries to get involved, the movie skyrockets into terrifying when we see several times how far the killer is willing to go. Michael Eklund delivers a very gripping performance as the disturbed and psychotic kidnapper.

This movie gives a very good sense of realistic and true events, which is what makes the subject matter so frightening. It can and does really happen to real people and the 911 operator is holding someone's life in their hands. Like most 911 operators, Jordan can handle herself very well and periodically gets calls that are very difficult and emotionally painful but she has to hold herself together the best she can to help the person on the other end of the line. Lives depend on it.

Unfortunately, that is where all common sense and reality ends. When the call with Casey ends, Jordan is ordered to go home by her supervisor but instead starts listening back to the call trying to figure out where the killer took Casey. Then Jordan takes it upon herself to get in her car and drive up into the hills to look for her by herself! Unarmed and no police officers backing her up, she only has a cell phone with no signal! I found myself asking repeatedly, "What the bloody hell is she going to do when she finds this lunatic?!?" In addition, we never got a good understanding of the killer's background and why he's kidnapping and murdering young blonde girls. There's a hint of an explanation involving the killer's sister, who appears to be a cancer patient and has been deceased for a very long time, but we are never told or shown if she died from the cancer and he's doing this trying to cope with her death or if he killed her himself.



My Rating: For a movie that starts out quite well and holds up with the adrenaline and suspense, this film takes an abrupt nose-dive in the last 20 minutes leaving me with more questions than answers. I don't recommend spending the big bucks to see this at the theater. Wait until it goes to the dollar theater or wait for the DVD instead.

A Bookworm's Passion

I've always been a bookworm and I was outed at a very early age when I was caught reading (or trying to anyway) the newspaper.  Back then, I read anything, anywhere or anytime.  Cereal boxes, road signs, the newspaper; didn't matter really.  Always reading and if I couldn't read the word, I was asking my parents what a specific word was.

For the most part, they indulged this habit, as they should since it's their fault I'm this way.  Trust me people, genetics don't lie.  There were times, however, threats of corporal punishment were issued when I was caught reading in bed with a flashlight when it was supposed to be lights out.

On my 8th birthday, I was introduced to my new best friend, Nancy Drew.  She introduced me to her friends, The Hardy Boys, though we never really hit it off like Nancy and I did.  I loved Nancy and hanging out with her, Bess and George always made my day better.

Almost 40 years later and I don't hang out with Nancy anymore but I will always cherish those times.  It got me to thinking about what motivates me as a bookworm when I choose the books I read.  I still love a good mystery and over the years I became a romance junkie and I devoured most historical romances.  If they featured a kilt wearing Highlander with a Scottish accent, I was sure to pounce on it.  My romance reading branched into many paranormal sub-genres like time travel, vampires, werewolves and ghosts.  One of my all time favorite time travel series was The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  As all fans of this wonderful series have done, I have often pictured Jamie in my mind's eye and my mind hasn't let me down yet.

A kilt wearing vampire with a Scottish accent...yes, it's been done, probably overdone, but I don't care.  I can't get enough of them.  I adore chick-lit, both British and U.S.  I love cozy mysteries and the more whimsical the theme, the better.  Urban fantasy have been a favorite for a while and it turns out a lot of the books I have loved for a while fall under that category.  Thriller and suspense like James Patterson and Harlan Coben also top my list.

One genre that surprised me is the Young Adult.  I admit it.  I was a snob when it came to reading those kind of books.  I thought, quite incorrectly, that I was not going to be interested in something for the younger set.  I had even turned my nose up to Harry Potter for many years.  I have thankfully seen the light and enjoy the young adult / teen genre too.  There are many great reads and several authors I love have crossed over to this genre as well.  Just to name a few are The Chronicles Of Nick Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon or The Darkness Rising Series by Kelley Armstrong and The Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot.

The important thing for any serious bookworm to remember is our love of reading.  It crosses time and space and yes, even genre.  So, my fellow bookworms, the next time you find yourself in your favorite bookstore perusing the shelves and contemplating your choices, don't dismiss any or you may be missing a wonderful opportunity to find something spectacular.

Women Of The Otherworld Series Optioned For Television

Fans of Elena Michaels and her werewolf pack can now rejoice as the series is being brought to the television screen! The 13-part series is currently shooting in Toronto and will air on Canada's Space channel in 2014. I have never heard of any of the actors but fans of Smallville should recognize Laura Vandervoort who has been cast as Elena Michaels.

Laura Vandervoort

I am so excited about this as I have been a long time fan of the books. I am hoping fervently that the show will be picked up here in the U.S. Please join me in praying to the television gods to make it so!

The Hollywood Reporter

REVIEW: Deadly Legacy by Robin Burcell

Title: Deadly Legacy (Kate Gillespie #3)
Author: Robin Burcell
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January, 2003
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: San Francisco P.D. Homicide Inspector Kate Gillespie's investigation into a bizarre apparent murder/suicide is threatening to careen out of control. A dead man might not be dead. The families of the deceased are hiding something. And there are blood-soaked threads reaching into some very lofty places. But most perplexing of all are the shocking revelations of one of the "victims" dark and dangerous history -- the more Kate learns, the less she knows. It's a case that has placed Kate Gillespie on the hot seat as her investigation gets bigger by the moment -- and puts her perilously high on a rabid killer's hit list.

My Thoughts: When I first met Kate Gillespie in Every Move She Makes, I knew I would like her and I have not been disappointed. With the follow-up book Fatal Truth, I was even more intrigued by this character. In the third installment, Robin Burcell reveals a side to this character that I enjoyed. The human side. Gillespie is not just a cop; she's human and comes with all of the imperfections we all have within us. Gillespie makes a poor choice, showing a lapse in judgment that could have cost her the badge and career she loves. She's not a bad cop, she's human and she made a choice rooted in her human emotions. It's sad when good cops make bad decisions but it happens all the time. I enjoyed this plot dynamic because Robin Burcell wrote it with such stark clarity that the reader can't help but feel bad for the position Kate has put herself in. The good news is that Gillespie has a high moral code and is ethical so she does the right thing and comes forward with her transgression. She then spends the majority of the rest of the story trying to get past it while wondering if she will have a career waiting when this case is completed. Add into the mix that Torrance is assigned to Internal Affairs and it makes for some very awkward and uncomfortable encounters. I certainly am not alone in wondering if Kate's career will survive this cloud and if she and Torrance will find their way to one another.

This case was quite interesting as Kate learns that one of the victims used to be a good friend of hers. Kate is obviously shocked but it doesn't end there as Kate learns more about the dark side of the double life the victim was living and the people involved. I enjoyed this story line as it once again showed me Kate's human side as she tries to put aside the past and focus on the investigation. Kate's old partner, Scolari, briefly comes out of retirement to lend a helping hand and I quite enjoyed their interactions. I like to be surprised and maybe a little shocked when the bad guy's identity is finally revealed in a book. Of course, I am trying to figure it out as I go along, but having the plot twist out of nowhere is a lot of fun and keeps me on my toes. I was beyond shocked at who was behind the killings and maybe a little more shocked that I was happy that my guess was wrong.

For me, the toughest part of this book were the nails I was chewing in anticipation of what would transpire with Torrance. I think he and Kate are great together and belong with one another but his announcement that he is leaving to take a position with the FBI really deflated me. There are a lot of loose ends with these two and I hope to get some closure in the next book, as it appears to be the last book in this series.

My Final Verdict: Though I am quite bummed that this series is nearing the end, I am still intrigued with the characters and absolutely love that the author draws on her own personal law enforcement knowledge to make this series and the characters realistic and believable. I felt completely drawn into the story and connected with the characters. This is a very good book that will appeal to readers who enjoy romantic suspense, mysteries and thrillers, but I really recommend the complete series.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In March

I was alot more productive on the acquiring side of things in March than I was in the reading side of things, unfortunately. One-third of 2013 has now passed and my reading slump continues. Maybe it's just spring fever but I'm surprised at how long it is taking me to finish a book these days. Here are the new arrivals that I welcomed into my home in March...

Title: Skipped Parts by Tim Sandlin
Description: Banished to the hinterlands of Wyoming, rebellious Lydia Callahan and her thirteen-year-old son Sam have no choice but to cope. But while Lydia drinks and talks to the moose head on the wall, Sam finds a friend in local girl Maurey Pierce.

One of the wildest, raunchiest, most heartfelt coming-of-age novels of the past thirty years, Skipped Parts puts Tim Sandlin in the upper echelon of contemporary comic novelists.

Title: Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi
Description: Rayne McDonald thought getting into the Blood Coven was the hard part. But now there's a new breed of trouble in town...and the former slayer and her vampire boyfriend may be the only ones who can stop it.

Now that she's an official vampire and full-fledged member of The Blood Coven, Rayne assumes her vampire slaying days are over. Sure, she doesn't have any vampire powers, thanks to a mutated blood virus, but she and Jareth can go out in the sun, which is a pretty good trade-off.

But just when Rayne's starting to enjoy her afterlife, she's contacted by Slayer Inc once again. It seems that a member of her high school's football team has disappeared—and the powers-that-be think the cheerleaders had something to do with it. Now Rayne has to infiltrate the squad before the cheerleaders have a chance to sink their teeth into someone else...

Title: Allison Hewitt Is Trapped by Madeleine Roux
Description: "One woman's story as she blogs - and fights back - the zombie apocalypse"

Allison Hewitt and her five colleagues at the Brooks and Peabody Bookstore are trapped together when the zombie outbreak hits. Allison reaches out for help through her blog, writing on her laptop and utilizing the military's emergency wireless network (SNET). It may also be her only chance to reach her mother. But as the reality of their situation sinks in, Allison's blog becomes a harrowing account of her edge-of-the-seat adventures (with some witty sarcasm thrown in) as she and her companions fight their way through ravenous zombies and sometimes even more dangerous humans.

Title: Delusion In Death by J.D. Robb
Description: After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crow seemed oppressive. some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving.

Then the madness descended. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn't explain who would unleash such horror—or why. Eve's husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he's convinced the attack wasn't directed at him. It's bigger than that. And if Eve can't figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it's airborne....

REVIEW: Scream For Me by Karen Rose

Title: Scream for Me (Daniel Vartanian #2)
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Grand Central
Publication Date: May, 2008
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Description: Special Agent Daniel Vartanian has sworn to find the perpetrator of multiple killings that mimic a 13-year-old murder linked to a collection of photographs that belonged to his brother, Simon, the ruthless serial killer who met his demise in DIE FOR ME. Daniel is certain that someone even more depraved than his brother committed these crimes, and he's determined to bring the current murderer to justice and solve the mysterious crime from years ago.

With only a handful of images as a lead, Daniel's search will lead him back through the dark past of his own family, and into the realm of a mind more sinister than he could ever imagine. But his quest will also draw him to Alex Fallon, a beautiful nurse whose troubled past reflects his own. As Daniel becomes attached to Alex, he discovers that she is also the object of the obsessed murderer. Soon, he will not only be racing to discover the identity of this macabre criminal, but also to save the life of the woman he has begun to love.

My Thoughts: If you are a fan of Karen Rose, then you already know all of her romantic suspense books are connected, character wise. I really enjoy this aspect of her books because I am one of those readers that like to feel a bond with the characters and having various past characters make an appearance in future books gives me a warm fuzzy. I first met Daniel Vartanian last year when I read Die For Me. As stated in that review, I didn’t feel much of a connection to him at that time but I also knew that would change when I started this book and I was not disappointed.

Scream For Me picks up fairly soon after the last book ends. Special Agent Daniel Vartanian has returned to Georgia and is trying to piece together the horror depicted in his brother Simon’s photographs and come to terms with the fact that his brother was a monster. Daniel receives a shock when he learns that one of the women in the photographs was murdered thirteen years ago and an even bigger shock when he meets her identical twin, Alex. Alex and Daniel begin to work together to find Alex’s step-sister, Bailey, a recovering drug addict who has gone missing and has left behind a young daughter. After an attempt is made on Alex’s life, they realize both cases are connected. Danger escalates as they race against the clock trying to figure out who was behind the crimes thirteen years ago and how they are connected to the murders happening now.

The villains are not easily identified in this story and between all of the bad guys and good guys, I had a hard time keeping everybody straight. In addition, there is a lot of back-story to comprehend. Alex’s entire past history plays front and center throughout the entire story and is quite detailed and sometimes complicated. My mistake with this book was choosing the audio book instead of another format. I had to keep backtracking to refresh my memory as to which characters were who and what their roles were. There are just too many details that need to be processed thoroughly. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of the audio format for this book.

I really liked Daniel and Alex. On the surface, they are both very strong people who have made something of their lives and are successful. You would never know from looking at them that they each carry a very heavy load of emotional baggage from their pasts. It’s logical that they would be drawn to one another so quickly and with such intense passion. I liked that in spite of the horrors of their painful past histories, they are able to open their hearts and care about others.

I am looking forward to reading the third book as it centers on Daniel’s sister, Susannah. I found her to be a very interesting character that I am extremely curious about. I expect it will pick up where this one ends and will pack quite a punch of its own, as well.

My final verdict: Scream For Me is a very good book that continues the story that began with Die For Me and will conclude with Kill For Me. I highly recommend this book if you like character driven books packed full of intense suspense, action, intrigue and passion that keep you in anticipation with each chapter. Don’t start here, however. Give yourself a better treat and read all of Karen Rose’s suspense novels, starting with Don’t Tell. You will be glad you did.