Last of my new books arrives

I have been receiving my new books at a steady pace over the last few weeks.  I am in book heaven!

My most recent parcel contained Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts and Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.  Since I was leaving to visit my mum, I spent those few days just relaxing, and reading them in bed at night (well, the sofa bed anyway).  It was nice to finally read something that wasn't related to my studies.

Over the last couple of weeks all the books I ordered have arrived - some were great, others only so-so - and now I can get around to adding my 2 cents worth about them to the blog as a book review.  Only it'll be in a little while as I'm finishing the rough draft of my assignment (and the final copy is due in about 3 weeks) so pleasure reading will be at an all time low for the next few weeks.

Casting Spells

Sugar Maple looks like any Vermont town, but it’s inhabited by warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches – and an ancient secret. Chloe Hobbs, owner of the popular knitting shop Sticks and String, has a big secret too. She’s a sorcerer’s daughter in search of Mr. Right, and she’s found him in Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple’s very first murder. The bad news is he’s 100% human – which could spell disaster for a normal future with a paranormal woman like her.

Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton is a wonderfully easy read. The main cast of characters don’t change, and you know that the killer is amongst them – and it’s not like they’re being deceptive either. In a town of magic, Chloe struggles to come to terms with her normalness. Her ancestor cast a protective spell on the town three centuries ago and it will only work if there is a Hobb’s sorceress to keep their bloodline going. With Chloe being the last of her line and human, the residents are actively trying to fix her up so the magic that protects the town continues. However, the spell is weakening, as their first murder in centuries shows. Unfortunately for them, the woman was the mistress of a state politician, and law and order is descending on Sugar Maple.

It’s funny to read about Chloe and her life. An average, normal human living amongst magical beings takes a little getting used to. As Luke moves into town, everyone is telling her that she can’t be with him, a human, but Chloe’s heart doesn’t care. When her friend Gunnar’s fae mother turns up looking for the Hobb’s Book of Spells, the shit hits the fan as a family squabble turns into a race against the clock in search for the book.

I loved Chloe’s homey attitude. As the daughter of a fantastic knitter, I grew up with a mountain of wool that seemed to multiply by magic during the winter (kinda like dust bunnies... one day there’s none, two days later there’s a whole mob of them!). Luke is a cop who knows there’s something else going on around town, but just can’t quite seem to put his finger on it. It’s fun to watch him trying to explain away Chloe’s burgeoning magic, and poor Chloe – having to deal with her powers emerging at 30 (she’s always been a late bloomer) – is enchanting. I giggled when she had to take shelter from her kitchen utensils.

This book is a sweet read, and I did not find too much wrong with it. It is uncomplicated and easy to read. A nice change of pace from the twists and turns of my recent purchases like Twisted. If you like cosy mysteries then this should still interest you although it’s not a cosy by any means. Think of it as paranormal romance lite. I don’t know if there are any other books from the author in this series, but I some of the other characters deserve their own stories. Read on a bus or train ride, or perhaps during your lunch hour. Or just grab some chocolate, a hot cup of tea, and curl up on the couch and lose yourself in Sugar Maple.

I'll Be Watching You...

Andrea Kane certainly knows what she’s doing. This book grabs you from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until the thrilling climax. It twists and turns until you are unsure as to who you should suspect, and even then, the identity of the killer is a surprise.

Okay, the basic synopsis is this. Dr. Taylor Halstead, a NY school psychologist and radio personality, is assaulted by her cousin’s boyfriend. Interrupted before he can rape her, he leaves her unconscious and handcuffed to the bed, after telling her he’ll be back to finish what they’ve started. When she wakes up she reports his arse to the police. Now, on the same day that he attacks her, Gordon Mallory, her cousin (and roommate) Stephanie and some friends are killed when an explosion rips through his luxury yacht. Taylor is devastated, and left feeling emotional battered.

Months later, Taylor’s life is once again thrown into turmoil when she begins to get notes and phone calls from someone. When dealing with her late cousins estate, she meets lawyers to finalise some financial details. There she runs into and freaks out as she comes face to face with Gordon’s identical twin Jonathan. Lawyer Reed Watson steps in and helps her. The two form a bond and they begin to see each other. Jonathan however doesn’t take the hint and continues to pursues her. Meanwhile her stalker ups the ante by killing one of her co-workers and friend. With the help of Reed, Taylor has to uncover the identity of her stalker. . . or risk becoming his next victim.

Now, what did I think of this book you ask?  Well... I love, love, loved it. I came across this book after finding a battered ex-library copy of Scent of Danger - and since I loved that book - I was looking forward to another by Kane. I wasn’t disappointed. Her leading lady, Taylor, is a woman who knows herself but isn’t afraid to admit to being insecure and needy at times. Reed is a strong protective man with a deep need to keep his lady safe. Their consequent relationship wasn’t hard to foretell, and was interesting to watch as it seems to stay constant and steady, forging ahead under stresses that in real life would most likely tear any committed couple apart. Jonathan, twin of Gordon, is an interesting character as he struggles to overcome childhood traumas - but not until after he's made a real arse of himself. Gordon was a nasty piece of work and when he was blown up at the beginning, I cheered!

This book twists and turns, taking readers through a range of emotions and ideas. It gives you an insight into the turmoil a stalker can have on their target, and the lack of protection given to their victims by the law. Looking back there was one or two subtle, and I mean subtle, hints as to the identity of Taylor’s stalker. The stalker’s reasoning was hard to fathom at times, but once the identity is revealed then it makes sense. Then again, stalkers don’t seem to need a rational reason to begin with.

If you liked Twisted, Scent of Danger, any of the Noah Bishop books by Kay Hooper or even the JD Robb books starring Lt. Eve Dallas, then you’ll enjoy this book. Be warned . . .it’s addictive, so I wouldn’t recommend reading it during your lunch hour. You just won’t want to put it down.



Couldn't help myself

Yes, I caved.  After talking about the Drake Sisters series, I couldn't help it.  I ordered 2 more books from the online bookstore.  But that's it - no more till after Easter... I promise!

So what did I buy?  Well it'll be no surprise that its Water Bound and Spirit Bound - especially since I've started on the books that lead up to them.  What did surprise me is that there has been a name change to the series.  Yeah, I was amazed too.  Instead of listing them as A Sea Haven Novel, the author's got Sisters of the Heart listed on her website.  Which is strange because the books as still being sold with the Sea Haven tag on the covers.  Who knows, but personally I'll stick with A Sea Haven Novel.  It just sounds better to me - and not so girly if you know what I mean.  Perhaps it is only on the UK covers?  I've noticed that the US covers still carry the original series, but Spirit Bound UK has the new one... hmmm?

Whatever the name, I can't wait to get my hands on Spirit Bound.  This time we meet the third of the Prakenskii brothers, Stefan.  He sounds just as bossy, arrogant and talented as his brothers so I'm expecting a good read - and wow, it doesn't hurt that all of those boys are deliciously yummy.  From what has slipped in the other books, I think Gavriil is the eldest.  It sounds like his book will be very good.  So that's 4 brothers named (Ilya, Lev, Stefan and Gavriil), 3 more to go...

Series Update

It's just come to my attention (probably because I hadn't search for it) that Nancy Martin has added more titles to her Roxy Abruzzo series.

Initially it was just a stand alone story, Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, but now I have found that there is another title available.

Sticky Fingers

Roxy Abruzzo stays one step ahead of trouble----especially now that her cash flow is less than stellar, and she's "doing favors" for her slippery uncle Carmine, one of the last old-time Mob bosses in Pittsburgh. With her sidekick, Nooch, and her thieving pitbull, Rooney, Roxy hustles the mean streets collecting debts for Uncle Carmine and keeping his customers in line. With her daughter's college tuition to pay, Roxy can almost convince herself that the shady jobs are legal. But when Carmine's consigliere offers Roxy a contract to kidnap someone, that's a line she won't cross. Trouble is the kidnapping happens anyway, and when the victim turns up murdered, Roxy's number one on the police hit parade. To protect herself, she investigates and soon learns the victim had a big secret---or two. Add a rock singer with a penchant for dinosaur bones and throw in a pesky paleontologist, plus an ex-nun with a mustache problem---not to mention a sexy chef with a taste for whatever Roxy dishes up---and you've got a caper full of quirky characters and laugh-out-loud mayhem. Peppered as usual with Nancy Martin's sharp one-liners, Sticky Fingers---the second Roxy Abruzzo mystery---is even tastier than the first.

{synopsis taken from Book Depository}

Plus a Name Change...

Foxy Roxy (previously published as Our Lady of Immaculate Deception)

Big truck, big dog, big hair. Bad attitude. Roxy Abruzzo, bestseller Nancy Martin's latest creation, is the sexy, streetwise niece of a Pittsburgh crime boss, and she's trying to stay on the straight and narrow . . . most of the time. But now and then temptation is just too much for hot-blooded Roxy. As she prowls the mean streets looking for architectural treasures, she can't help swiping an ancient Greek statue that's not exactly hers. Then the statue's owner, heir to a billion-dollar steel fortune, gets himself killed, and the police investigation sweeps Roxy into a mess that requires all of her wits and wiles to escape. All this plus a dotty grand dame, a slippery lawyer, and an avaricious socialite or two makes for a lethal combination of danger and desperation--with Roxy in the middle. With her wicked sense of humor and a devilishly clever premise, author of the beloved Blackbird Sisters mysteries, Nancy Martin has started another outstanding mystery series with "Foxy Roxy."* *(Previously published in hardcover as "Our Lady of Immaculate Deception")

A little bit fey?

Well, after a long week of ups and downs, I've thrown myself back into reading.  Last night, sitting on the top shelf of my bedroom bookcase, was the complete Drake Sisters series by Christine Feehan.  Since the release of the final book in the series, I haven't really read them from start to finish.  I just pull out my favourite ones (Joley and Ilya, Jonas and Hannah, or perhaps Abby and Alexsandr) and leave the rest gathering dust so to speak.  Then I happened to see that the second Sea Haven book, Spirit Bound, was out and decided that before I order it and Water Bound, I'd re-read the Drake Sisters books through again.

I yanked them all down and have them resting on a side table, so that when I want to grab one I don't have to hunt for it.  It only took a short while to read, and before I went to bed last night I started on Book 2.  So when I woke up this morning at some ungodly hour - okay, it was only 5:30am - I switched on my lamp and finished the second book, The Twilight Before Christmas, which was originally one of my favourites.  However, in a weird coincidence kinda way, outside my windows there happened to be the remains of a fogbank which tied in eerily to the book.  Strange but true....

Anyhow, so I finished Book 2 this morning and have already started on Book 3, Oceans of Fire, which is the story of Abigail and her hunky Russian ex-cop, Alexsandr Volstov... yummy.  But that's getting ahead of myself :P  So instead, here's what I thought of Book 1...

Magic in the Wind

(Drake Sisters short story in Lover Beware)

ISBN: 0-425-20863-X

Okay, so while there is not a lot to work with it is a surprisingly good read.  It has been so long since I've picked up this little book, and it is little at only 103 pages, it only took an hour or so to get through. {side note, why didn't Ms Feehan flesh it out when it was going to be reprinted as a stand alone? Eileen Wilks did it for her short story about Rule and Lily?}  But I digress.

This book sets the series up quite nicely in my opinion.  Some of the sisters are present, their 'curse' is mentioned in full, not just hinted at like in the other titles, plus you get a feel for the dynamics of the family - well the sisters anyway.  Jonas is present, and as annoying as ever, and one would never think that he had any interest in Hannah from his actions in this story.

Sarah, as the eldest, is the first to face the matrimonial firing squad.  You get a to see her in both business and bossy older sister modes, and it does read true.  I suspect that's more to Feehan's inate ability to convey family ties and drawing on her own background as being part of a large family.  That been said, Sarah as a character, as well as Damon, isn't as well fleshed out as the other sisters in their stories but I believe that's only because there was the length restriction for MITW.  However, even with those contraints, you still feel for the characters.  Damon is the hunky egghead who has lead a staid and emotionally stilted life.  He lives in his head, but after surviving an attempted kidnapping that went wrong where his friend and assistant was killed and he suffered permanent injuries, decided on a seachange.  Damon feels guilty and alone... until he meets Sarah.  Their courtship is both quick and intense, and with the threat of further violence, they bond together very quickly.  But unlike the other men in the Drake Sisters lives, Damon doesn't have as much of a back story as such. His only real angst comes from the attack and it's aftermath so you don't get the feeling that he's had a terrible childhood, or was deprived like most of the other men. 

Personally, I'd love to have read this as a full length book, not as a skinny-mini, but it was enough to wet my appetite for more.  Unlike other series, you really don't have to have read this title in order to enjoy the following books, but it does help as it sets up the parameters for the legend/curse of the Drake Sisters and how they will meet their mates.

I'd recommend this for a anyone who enjoys a supernatural romance.  Its great for the bus or train, or even as a lunch-break read.

Celebrity in Death

Hands down, this is the longest series I've ever read, let alone collected... and there seems to be no end in sight.  Now numbering in the 30's (34 to be exact), and Lt. Eve Dallas will probably still be going at book 63! 

Celebrity in Death picks up not long after Eve's last case, and after Eve and Roarke's meltdown in the last book I was worried how Robb would try to repair their relationship.  Instead of falling back into old patterns, I was pleasantly surprised at Eve's emotional progress.  No longer was she lashing out in anger and pain, she was instead trusting those around her to help her through the toughest of times.  Amazingly there was even a slight mellowing between Eve and Somerset which I found amusing.  But I digress....

Now I eagerly awaited this book.  I reserved it from my local library (1st in queue! woohoo!) and have spent the last 5 or so hours devouring it.  This time round, Eve's latest case revolves around the movie being made about one of her earlier cases, the Icove murders (Origin in Death).  Now, the bitchy celebrities of The Icove Agenda have become the prime suspects in the murder of one of their own - and under Eve and Peabody's noses - so Dallas and Peabody have to man up once again to find the killer.

This was just a great murder mystery and after following Eve's gut wrenching past through various storylines, I'm so thankful it wasn't as emotionally charged as the last book. This was classic Eve at her best - and JD Robb too.  It's been so long since there has been a book that hasn't had the tread of Eve's past running through it as a major sidestory.  Here we are back to the classic formula where Eve has a hunch and follows it no matter what the obstacles.  I could tell you how much I enjoyed certain parts, but that might spoil it for those who haven't read it yet.

Now I think I'm a fairly clued in reader, I've usually discovered the killers identity long before the big reveal, but this time the killers identity was a surprise to me.  Perhaps I was tired, or I just missed some clues that were right under my nose? But for whatever the reason I didn't twig to the killer until Eve mentioned it...d'oh.

If you'be never picked up an In Death title before for goodness sake, don't start with this one.  You'll just become horribly confused.  Start with Naked in Death.  You won't be disappointed.

New books on order

Hi there!  With all this wet weather hanging around, I thought I just might need some new reading material.  So off I went to my trusty online bookshop and spent way too much time pondering over all the titles I'd love to get.  Finally, after much debate, I narrowed it down to six.  I would have ordered more, but there is only so much I can spend on books!  My budget just wouldn't take it if I indulged every month - heck, I'd purchase weekly if I could afford it :P

So what were my choices, you ask?  Well, thank you for your interest.  Currently winging it's way to me are some more titles from a few of the must have series I get.

Ooh, just got an email to tell me that Timeless by Gail Carriger has just been released from the publishers.  It's the first cab off the rank, so to speak, and should be hitting my local Post Office in a week or so.  This is the first steam punk series I've ever read (thanks to Aaron at Bookworld for recommending it!), and I've enjoyed the series so far.  It has all my favourite things... werewolves, vampires, paranormal romance with some murder/mystery thrown if for good measure.

The other books that I purchased consisted of

•  the new Patricia Briggs book, Fair Game.  I've been eagerly awaiting this next Alpha and Omega story.

•  Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter's anthology, Angel's Flight.

•  Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.

•  Canyons of Night, the latest of the Jayne Castle (AKA Jayne Ann Krentz) Ghost Hunter series, and finally

Andrea Kane's sequel to Twisted, Drawn in Blood.

 Now, having said that I couldn't resist jumping onto Book Depository and having another look for more books {if I keep going like this I'll have to open a library just for all my books :)} and found some good one.  There is a trilogy by Leslie Tentler (Chasing Evil) that has really whetted my appetite.  The 3 stories don't share the same lead characters, but boy it sounds like a great thriller/murder mystery.  It's in my wishlist, but I'm tempted to sneak it into the cart...

Following my success at finding some new authors, I soldier on.  I'd love to get my hands on Sharon Sala's Snowfall, but unfortunately there is nothing in stock... bummer.  Back to the more familiar, and I've found another Andrea Kane that's due for release soon - mine now - and passed on a few P.C. Cast titles (I think I've moved on from them, although I still adore Divine by Mistake), and am into the final stretch for the moment.  Feehan has released a new Sea Haven book... do I or don't I?... hmmmm.... wishlist.

Speaking of old favourites, I've also spotted the first book in the Annie Darling series, Death on Demand, by Carolyn Hart. Having borrowed some of the later titles from the local library over the years, I don't mind reading this series. It's a not too complicated read, and although more in the vein of a more dedicated crime book, it's not as captivating as say the In Death series. Into the wishlist for this title.

So now that I've perused my old wishlist, and added some things to it, I've been bad and ordered another couple of books. 

Coming to a mailbox (namely mine) soon are, drumroll please.....

•  No Safe Place - Jo Ann Ross

•  Courting Darkness - Yasmine Galenorn

•  Hiding in the Shadows - Kay Hooper

•  In Too Deep - Jayne Ann Krentz, and lastly

•  Midnight Caller - Leslie Tentler

Oh well.  Like I always tell people - I don't drink, or smoke.  This, books and reading, is my addiction :D

One for the Money a flop?

 

I was looking forward to seeing Stephanie Plum brought to life on the big screen, but after reading the reviews today (see link below) I'm not sure whether I'll see it at the cinema?

Movie Review: One for the Money | Herald Sun

Has anyone seen the movie? Is the 1 star review harsh or totally justified?

I think perhaps I'll just wait for the DVD.   Though I do have to confess I think it's the choice of actors that is the problem.  None of the actors cast really fit the images I'd built up in my head. On-screen Ranger doesn't look like my Ranger, nor does Morelli.  The late, great Estelle Getty would have been great as Grandma Mazur.  However, Ann Guilbert would have been fabulous as Stephanie's Grandma.  She was wonderful on The Nanny, plus she can pull off that style of comedy.  You only have to look at her done up as Yetta (below) to see what a wonderful Grandma Mazur she'd have made.

From me to you...

Review - Death Magic

I'd been waiting eagerly for this installment since finishing Blood Challenge last January.  I finally got my hands on it yesterday at my local bookshop - yeah me :-D

I rushed home and once I settled down to read it I have to admit that I was disappointed.  I loved Blood Challenge. The addition of Benedict and Arjenie's storyline, from their POV was fantastic. I enjoyed reading their narrative more than Lily and Rule's!  In Death Magic I just found it predictable.  Not the storyline so much, but the way those characters react.  Rules all intense and protective and Lily is stubborn, determined, logical and a little bit anal about things.  And while Reuben and his secret was a great twist, there was no more than a few paragraphs regarding the new baby, Ryder - and most of that was about her future sexual education! 

There was no Benedict, Arjenie, or Cynna, why not?  Hopefully the Ms Wilks will either incorporate more narratives in the next book, or give Benedict and Arjenie their own spinoff.

So after my above complaints, this wasn't the worst book out there.  There was much storywise that could have been improved of and the ending bugged me as the confrontation had been building since early on in the book, but it was over relatively quickly.  The bad guys seem to have more lives than a cat, and never seem to get busted by the cops.  Is Lily the only honest competent law enforcement agent out there?  Sam the Dragon and Lily's grandmother are no-shows (I'd love to read that story!) plus much of the time Lily and Rule were apart.  I know there is a reason for Rule's wolf to still be in the back of the storyline, but it's about time we found out why.

Death Magic does advance the storyline, but if you're not a big fan of the series who has to own every book, then I'd recommend borrowing it from a friend or your local library.

Noooooo.... Lost Pictures

I hate the fact that I can accidentally delete a picture folder in my phone's gallery, yet there is no way to recover the file.  Why do they make it so easy to delete yet not tell you "... oh, by the way - once you delete something YOU CAN"T GET IT BACK!" ... ?

Has anyone else been able to find a nifty way to recover lost images from their phones?  My Google Nexus S is only 8 months old for goodness sakes.  Even the manual (which I had to download from Google as the phone didn't come with a manual... hmmm, maybe that should have been my first clue?) doesn't recognise the terms recovery, retrieve, etc.  I think I'll be downloading an app in the future to stop this from happening.

... and Yes, I did have my phone synced to my Gmail, etc, but no photos were saved.

Oncoming Storm

Yeah!  After more than a few steamy days it looks like we're going to get a good storm.

Luckily for me, the town I live in is not prone to the flooding that has inundated other southwest towns like Mitchell, Roma, St George and Charleville.  Most of the rain that fell there over the last few weeks missed us here.  Hopefully this storm brings enough rain to cool the area down

Lots of rain

Just had a text from home.  They've had 277mm in the last 32 hours... OMG!

At the moment I've got a 'severe storm warning' where I'm at.  Thunder is rumbling almost continually - I love it :-)

Goodbye L plates!

Yes, as of last Tuesday I am now legally allowed to drive! 

I thought I'd flunked at one stage, but came out of the practical test 40 min later clutching my paperwork that said I'd passed.

Woo-hoo!