July 15, 2008
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot, 3 1/2
Book description: Things are looking up at last for Lizzie Nichols. She has a career she loves in the field of her choice (wedding gown restoration), and the love of her life, Jean-Luc, has finally proposed. Life's become a dizzying whirl of wedding gown fittings—not necessarily her own—as Lizzie prepares for her dream wedding at her fiancé's château in the south of France.
But the dream soon becomes a nightmare as the best man—whom Lizzie might once have accidentally slept with . . . no, really, just slept—announces his total lack of support for the couple, a sentiment the maid of honor happens to second; Lizzie's Midwestern family can't understand why she doesn't want to have her wedding in the family backyard; her future, oh-so-proper French in-laws seem to be slowly trying to lure the groom away from medical school and back into investment banking; and Lizzie finds herself wondering if her Prince Charming really is as charming as she once believed.
Is Lizzie really ready to embrace her new role as wife and mistress of Château Mirac? Or is she destined to fall into another man's arms . . . and into the trap of becoming a Bad Girl instead?
Review: Queen of Babble Gets Hitched is the third and final book in the Queen of Babble series. Overall, I was satisfied with the ending. The aspects of Lizzie’s personality that I found somewhat annoying in the first book have completely disappeared as she matured. I also enjoyed the romance and I was happy Lizzie chose who she did. Queen of Babble is a fun series and I recommend it if you like contemporary romance.
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September 26, 2007
The Royal Mess by MaryJanice Davidson, 3
Book description: Jeffrey Rodinov is descended from one of the oldest families in Alaska, and a Rodinov has been protecting a Baranov for generations. It's a job Jeffrey takes VERY seriously. Six feet four inches, 220 fatless lbs., black hair, and blue eyes; weapon of choice: the 9 mm Beretta. In a pinch? His fists. IQ: 157. (Yes, crossword puzzle, in ink, just after taking out the guy behind you. No thanks necessary.) No one ever sees Jeffrey Rodinov coming, and no one--not even a mouthy, illegitimate princess--is going to keep him from playing bodyguard when his king decrees it.
Right. But no Rodinov ever had to protect Princess Nicole Krenski. Her credentials? Hunting guide in the Alaskan wilderness. Smart. Stubborn bordering on exasperating. Five-seven. Blue eyes. Very kissable mouth. Very kissable neck, back, legs, wrists, earlobes. The lady says she doesn't need a bodyguard, but that's where she's wrong. Someone needs to watch her and show her the royal ropes (and cuffs...and scarves...). Someone who can make her feel like a queen--in and out of bed. And that's a job Jeffrey Rodinov takes very seriously as well...
Review: The Royal Mess is the third and perhaps final book in the Alaskan Royals series. I felt this was an improvement over the second book. The dialogue consists mostly of curse words and slang but Davidson makes this work for her. The romance was so so but this book held my attention and managed to be mildly entertaining. I don’t expect depth from this series so I can’t complain about the lack of it.
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July 23, 2007
Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot, 3 1/2
Book description: Lizzie Nichols is back, pounding the New York City pavement and looking for a job, a place to live, and her proper place in the universe (not necessarily in that order).
When "Summer Fling" Luke uses the L word (Living Together), Lizzie is only too happy to give up her plan of being postgrad roomies with best friend, Shari, in a one-room walk-up in exchange for cohabitation with the love of her life in his mother's Fifth Avenue pied-à-terre, complete with doorman and resident Renoir.
But Lizzie's not as lucky in her employment search. As Shari finds the perfect job, Lizzie struggles through one humiliating interview after another, being judged overqualified for the jobs in her chosen field—vintage-gown rehab—and underqualified for everything else. It's Shari's boyfriend Chaz to the rescue when he recommends Lizzie for a receptionist's position at his father's posh law firm. The nonpaying gig at a local wedding-gown shop Lizzie manages to land all on her own.
But Lizzie's notoriously big mouth begins to get her into trouble at work and at home almost at once—first at the law firm, where she becomes too chummy with Jill Higgins, a New York society bride with a troublesome future mother-in-law, and then back on Fifth Avenue, when she makes the mistake of bringing up the M word (Marriage) with commitment-shy Luke.
Soon Lizzie finds herself jobless as well as homeless all over again. Can Lizzie save herself—and the hapless Jill—and find career security (not to mention a mutually satisfying committed relationship) at last?
Review:Queen of Babble in the Big City is the sequel to Queen of Babble. I didn’t think Queen of Babble needed a sequel because the story wraped up well at the end of the book. However, I always enjoy Cabot’s writing so I decided to read this and I’m glad I did. Lizzie was not annoying in this book like she was in the first book. I loved all the parts about wedding gown design and repair. This book also ends in a way that leaves me anticipating the next book in the series.
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March 25, 2007
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie, 2 1/2
Book description: Sophie Dempsey is content living a quiet life filming wedding videos until an assignment brings her to Temptation, Ohio.From the moment she drives into town, she gets a bad feeling; Sophie is from the wrong side of the tracks and everything in Temptation is a little too right.And when she has a run-in with the town's unnervingly sexy mayor, Phineas Tucker, making a little movie turns out to be more than a little dangerous.All Sophie wants to do is film the video and head home.All Phin wants to do is play pool with the police chief and keep things peaceful.They both get more than they bargained for when Sophie's video causes an uproar and the proper citizens of Temptation set out to shut them down. As events spiral out of control, Sophie and Phin find themselves caught in a web of gossip, blackmail, adultery, murder, and really excellent sex. All hell breaks loose in Temptation as Sophie and Phin fall deeper and deeper in trouble . . . and in love.
Review: Jennifer Cruise is my favorite contemporary romance novelist. Unfortunately, the is the first book of hers that didn’t work for me. I didn’t care about either of the main characters. They seemed like interesting characters but them and their romance failed to engage me. I liked the setting and the side characters. I can’t really say I was bored reading this either. I just found it lacking.
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March 11, 2007
Doing it Right by MaryJanice Davidson, 3
Book description: Thief Of Hearts
There’s never a dull night in the ER for Dr. Jared Dean, especially when he sees the woman of his fantasies beating the crud out of the city’s biggest, toughest mobster. It’s enough to get a guy all hot and bothered. Not that it matters when SuperHotButtKickingChick gets away without giving her name. The name’s Kara, aka The Avenging Angel, sort of a Robin Hood with better shoes. But now her latest revenge stunt has just landed the gorgeous doc on a mobster’s hit list. There’s only one thing to do: guard Dr. Jared’s extremely fine bod until she can figure a way out of this mess for both of them. Jared’s only too happy to accommodate. Anything to have her close at hand…and in his bed. As for her closed heart? He’s got a plan for that, too…
Wild Hearts
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. Too bad he was trying to steal her car. Kat Wechter has no intention of letting that happen. Not one to ever play it safe, it’s amazing what an irresistible bad boy can drive a woman to do (pun intended). But Chester “Chess” McNamara is not your typical car thief. Seems he’s fueled (ouch) by more complicated motives. And to find out what they are, Kat is more than willing to go along for the ride…(couldn’t resist).
Review: Doing it Right contains a reprint of Davidson’s e-book Thief of Hearts and a new sequel to that story called Wild Hearts. Thief of Hearts takes up the bulk of the book. The characters, plot, and romance were all average in this story and I never got into it too much. I liked Wild Hearts a lot more but it was too short to save the book for me. Davidson’s loyal fans will probably find something to like here but I don’t recommend it to anyone else.
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December 31, 2006
The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie, 4
Book description: Linc Blaise needed the perfect fiancée to win his dream job, butfinding a woman who'd be convincing in a charade seemed impossible—until heheard Daisy Flattery charm her way out of a sticky situation! Playing the primand proper bride-to-be was a lark to the dazzling storyteller, but once sheglimpsed the touching vulnerability Linc tried to hide, pretense turned intotemptation. Could she find a way to make their fairy tale last?
Review: The Cinderella Deal is one of Jennifer Crusie’s category romances. It’s also one of my favorites by her. The characters were similar to the ones in Strange Bedpersons but I liked the romance far better. Daisy made a great heroine and I enjoyed reading about her creative side. The large cast of side characters fleshed the book out a lot too. This was just a short, sweet, comfort read.
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September 29, 2006
Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie, 4
Book description: Dumped by her boyfriend and demoted from WBBB's prime-time spot, radio producer Allie McGuffey has nowhere to go but up. She plans to make her comeback by turning temporary DJ Charlie Tenniel into a household name. And if he's willing to help her cure her breakup blues with a rebound fling, that's an added bonus.
Charlie just wants to kick back, play good tunes and eat Chinese food. He's not interested in becoming famous. But he is interested in Allie. And after all, what harm in a little chemistry between friends?
But suddenly their one-night stand has become a four-week addiction. Night after night on the airwaves, his voice seduces her. . .and all the other women in town. He's a hit. It looks as if Charlie's solved all Allie's problems. . .except one. What is she going to do when he leaves?
Review: One night stand romances usually don’t work for me but Jennifer Crusie can make anything work. I also loved the radio DJ plot. I couldn’t wait to see what Allie and Charlie were going to do with his show next. The radio station was also populated with a quirky cast of side characters that added a lot to the book. This was a light, fun read and I have yet to read a book by Crusie that I didn’t enjoy.
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August 30, 2006
Born in Fire by Nora Roberts, 3
Book description: The Concannon sisters of western Ireland are modern women of ambition and talent, bound by the timeless spirit of their land. This is a tale of a fiery artist who can't hide from her past--or a love that is. Gifted, reclusive, stubborn, free-spirited ... Maggie Concannon is a glassmaker whose exquisite works are more than mere objects of beauty, but reflections of her own true nature. One man saw the soul in her art, and vowed to help this complex woman build a lucrative career. When gallery owner Rogan Sweeney came to Maggie's isolated studio, her heart was inflamed by their fierce attraction--and her dark past was slowly healed by a gentle and forgiving love...
Review: Well, lets start with what worked for me. Maggie is a fantastic heroine. She’s written with far more depth than most romance heroines. I loved all the descriptions of the glass blowing. It was really interesting to learn about an art form I know nothing about. I also liked Maggie’s dynamic with her sister and her mixed feelings about her mother. Unfortunately, there was a lot in this book that didn’t work for me, the main thing being the romance. I found the romance dull and Rogan wasn’t a very interesting character. The book also felt too long. It took me two weeks to finish and it never takes me that long to read a romance. I was ready for it to end about 2/3rds of the way in but it just kept going. I began to think of it as the book that would not end. I am curious about Maggie’s sister’s story but I don’t know if I’m going to read the sequel.
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July 30, 2006
Wilde at Heart by Janice Kaiser, 3
Book description: Once upon a time there was a beauty who was beguiled by the fanciful tales of a wild man living alone in the woods... The more Victoria Ross learned about Jarred Wilde, the more determined she became to discover the truth about him. To some, he was a cold-blooded murder who had fled to the wilderness and now lived like a beast. To others, he was a victim of tragic circumstances who was long dead and gone. Using her beauty to lure Jarred out of hiding, Victoria was about to risk everything...
Review: Wilde at Heart is a Harlequin Temptation published in 1993. Clearly, I will read anything with a Beauty and the Beast theme. This book had one major flaw that kept me from really liking it. The plot was only ever advanced due to the heroine’s tstl moments. Other than that, it was a pleasant enough read. Hardcore Beauty and the Beast fans may like but they’re probably the only ones.
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July 23, 2006
Drop Dead, Gorgeous! by MaryJanice Davidson, 2
Book description: Ah, weddings -- every single woman’s reminder that she’ll probably die alone, covered in cat hair and dressed in unflattering sweatpants. And as far as bad wedding experiences go, my friend Stacy’s could take the cake. 1) I’m dateless 2) I’m a bridesmaid, and 3) Someone just attempted to whack the groom (known, no kidding, as The Boss) in the middle of the ceremony. Whoa -- hang on. I might not relish reception food or doing the Electric Slide, but anyone who tries to ruin a girlfriend’s big day by bumping off her true love will have to go through me first.
So now I, assistant hairdresser Jenny Branch, am helping to hunt down a real-life bad guy, and the prime suspect is Kevin Stone, who claims to be working undercover for a group called Covert Ops Protection. Riiiight. All of this is hard to believe -- my new role as spy-in-training, the fact that I’m surrounded by people with freaky superhuman powers, and most of all, the way that this unbelievably sexy villain/double agent/whatever Kevin is makes every (and I mean every) nerve-ending tingle the second he comes into view -- and it appears to be mutual. Living with flying bullets and constant danger is a long way from sweeping up hair at the end of the day. But if it means being around Kevin, a girl could get used to it...
Review: Drop Dead, Gorgeous! is the sequel to Hello, Gorgeous!. It’s suppose to stand on its own but it doesn’t. There are quite a few characters from the first book that make an appearance here and the book is confusing enough even if you have read the first one. I almost always enjoy Davidson’s books but this has to be the worst I’ve read by her. It’s just a mess. The plot skips around every few pages and the character motivations make little sense. The beginnings of good character development and romance are present here but that wasn’t enough to salvage the book for me.
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June 21, 2006
Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot, 3 1/2
Book description: Lizzie Nichols has a problem, and it isn't that she doesn't have the slightest idea what she's going to do with her life or that she's blowing what should be her down payment on a cute little Manhattan apartment on a trip to London to visit her long-distance boyfriend, Andrew. But what's the point of planning for the future when she's done it again? See, Lizzie can't keep her mouth shut. And it's not just that she can't keep her own secrets, she can't keep anything to herself.
This time when she opens her big mouth, her good intentions get Andrew in major hot water. So now Lizzie's stuck in London with no boyfriend and no place to stay until the departure date on her nonrefundable airline ticket.
Fortunately, there's Shari, Lizzie's best friend and college roommate, who's spending her summer in southern France, catering weddings with her boyfriend, Chaz, in a sixteenth-century château. One call and Lizzie's on a train to Souillae. Who cares if she's never traveled alone in her life and only speaks rudimentary French? One glimpse of gorgeous Château Mirac -- not to mention the gorgeous Luke, the son of Château Mirac's owner -- and she's smitten.
But while most caterers can be trusted to keep a secret, Lizzie's the exception. And no sooner has the first cork been popped than Luke hates her, the bride is in tears, and it looks like Château Mirac is in danger of becoming a lipo-recovery spa. As if things aren't bad enough, her ex-boyfriend Andrew shows up looking for "closure" (or at least a loan), threatening to ruin everything, including Lizzie's chance at finding real love. . . .
Unless she can figure out a way to use that big mouth of hers to save the day.
Review: I really did not like the beginning of this book. The heroine was very irritating. She was so dense and she blamed herself for everything. Fortunately, she improved a lot as the book went on. Once I got over my initial irritation, it was easy to get into the book’s cute story. I really liked the fashion aspect of the book as well. Not my favorite Cabot book but her fans will enjoy it.
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May 06, 2006
Falling Angel by Anne Stuart, 3
Book description: Emerson MacVey was a ruthless, womanizing, corporate raider that hadn't thought twice about destroying Angel Falls. But suddenly, Emerson received the gift of a second chance at love. He became his own alter ego, Gabriel Falcone. Without divulging his identity, could Emerson--the new Emerson--right his wrongs and claim the one woman he should have loved?
Review: Falling Angel isn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon. It’s enjoyable in a completely average kind of way. It’s a bit too inspirational lit for my tastes and is kind of on the boring and sappy side too. I thought Anne Stuart’s heros were suppose to be bad ass? Emerson/Gabriel is about as bad ass as a new born kitten. Maybe I’m not reading the right books by this writer.
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April 23, 2006
Ex and the Single Girl by Lani Diane Rich, 3
Book description: Dumped by her boyfriend on Valentine's Day (oh, the irony!),
Portia Fallon has developed an obsession with Jane Austen movies, Cheez Doodles, and chardonnay...and is four felines and a Reader's Digest subscription away from turning into a crazy cat lady.
When the Miz Fallons-her meddling mom, her tarot card-dependent aunt, and her take-no-prisoners grandmother-dupe her into coming home to Truly, Georgia, Portia finds herself plied with their medicinal gin and tonics and ordered to have a no-strings affair. They've even picked out the rebound guy, sexy British spy novelist Ian Beckett. And invited her ex, who arrives in Truly with contrition in his heart and a diamond that says forever in his pocket. Forced to follow her heart or break the curse of the Miz Fallons-the one that sends men packing when things get serious-Portia decides that maybe she can have it all. But only if she embraces her inner Miz Fallon…
Review: Ex and the Single Girl was an enjoyable, quick read but I never really go into it. I felt the Miz Fallons thing was too cute and quirky and that made those relationships feel forced. However, I did like how I didn’t know who Portia was going to end up with until the end. An ok but forgettable read.
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March 27, 2006
Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie, 3 1/2
Book description: Tess Newhart knows her ex-boyfriend Nick Jamieson isn't the right guy for her. He's caviar and champagne, she's take-out Chinese pot stickers. He's an uptight Republican lawyer, she was raised in a commune and thinks Cinderella is politically incorrect. He wants to get ahead in business, she just wants . . . him -- only not the social-climbing Nick, but the sweet, caring, unbuttoned-down Nick.
And Nick wants her, too, but there's no way Tess is about to play second fiddle to his obsession to make partner. Yet somehow she finds herself agreeing to play his fiancée for a weekend business trip that could make or break Nick's career. And while he's wrapped up in convincing Tess that he needs her in his respectable world, Tess is doing her best to keep her left-wing opinions to herself and her hands off Nick.
Review: I didn’t like Strange Bedpersons as much as I usually like Crusie. The book started right in the middle of an off again on again romance and I never found myself getting into that part of the book. Tess was so liberal she got on my nerves at times and I’m pretty darn liberal. I also saw the big plot twist coming a mile away. Even though I did not like the romance, I never fail to enjoy Crusie’s writing. The dialogue was hilarious and the character interactions were interesting. I love how Cruise’s characters are never stereotypes and her side characters are always fleshed out. This wasn’t the best Cruise but it’s still better than a lot of what’s out there.
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January 28, 2006
Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie, 4
For Nina Askew, turning forty means freedom -- from the ex-husband whose career always came first, from their stuffy suburban home. Freedom to have her own apartment in the city, freedom to focus on what she wants for a change. And what she wants is something her ex always vetoed -- a puppy. A bouncy puppy to cheer her up. Instead she gets . . . Fred.
Overweight, smelly and obviously suffering from some kind of doggy depression, Fred is light-years from perky. But for all his faults, he does manage to put Nina face-to-face with Alex Moore, her gorgeous, younger downstairs neighbor.
Alex looks great on paper -- a sexy, seemingly sane, surprisingly single E.R. doctor who shares Fred's abiding love for Oreos -- but a ten-year difference in age, despite his devastating smile, is too wide a gap for Nina to handle. Ignoring her insistent best friend, some interfering do-gooders and the ubiquitous Fred -- not to mention her suddenly raging hormones -- Nina thinks anyone but Alex would be a better bet for a relationship. But with every silver-haired stiff she dates, the more she suspects it's the young dog-loving doctor she wants to sit and stay!
What I love about Jennifer Crusie is that her characters always ring true and are never romance novel cardboard cut-outs. That makes her books a joy to read. This is the first romance I can recall reading where the woman was significantly than the man and it was an issue. I loved the dynamic between Nina and Alex. Each of their insecurities seemed realistic but were not insurmountable. All in all, another funny, sweet book from Crusie.
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December 05, 2005
Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie, 
Book description: Kate Svenson is attractive, successful, a brilliant businesswoman—and miserable. After three failed engagements, she realizes it’s time for a plan...an organized, detailed agenda with a clear goal: finding Mr. Right.
The Cabins resort is ripe with eligible bachelors, all rich, distinguished, and ambitious—just her type. And they’re dropping like flies around her...at least, that’s how Jake Templeton views the situation. After he’s stuck pulling her latest reject out of the swimming pool, Jake’s convinced this femme fatale is trouble. Especially for him.
But can a man who’s sworn off ambition for good and a woman hanging from the top of the corporate ladder find common ground in the unpredictable territory called the heart, where the word proposal takes on a very different meaning...?
Review: Manhunter is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Jennifer Crusie, a straightforward tale of two likeable characters falling in love. From the description it seems like Kate is shallow but she’s not at all. I identified more with her than any other romance heroine in recent memory. Jake is a lot more mellow than your average romance guy and he was perfectly suited to Kate. So, this was yet another good afternoon spent with a Crusie book.
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November 06, 2005
Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie, 
Book description: Lucy Savage is not having a good week. Her cheating husband, Bradley, lobbed the final insult when he stood her up in divorce court. A dye job gone wrong has left her hair green. And someone is trying to kill her. To top it off, sexy cop Zack Warren is certain the very same man Lucy is trying to wash right out of her hair is the same Bradley he wants to arrest for embezzlement.
When someone shoots at her and then her car blows up, Zack decides she needs twenty-four-hour police protection. Next thing Lucy knows, Zack has moved in to her big Victorian house, making them both sleepless . . . and not just from things that go bump in the night!
Review: Getting Rid of Bradley is another enjoyable book from Crusie. I, once again, loved the romance. Zack and Lucy were very cute together. I love cop heros who aren't overly alpha. The mystery plot was a bit funky but I liked the romance enough to overlook that. This book isn't perfect but it's a darn good way to spend an afternoon. I think I want to read everything Jennifer Crusie has ever written.
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November 05, 2005
The Royal Pain by MaryJanice Davidson, 
Book description: In a world nearly identical to ours, the North won the Civil War, Ben and JLo got married, and everyone dresses well to attend the Grammys. Oh, and Russia never sold Alaska to the U.S. Instead, Alaska is a rough, beautiful country ruled by a famously eccentric royal family, including oldest daughter, Princess Alexandria, whose acid wit and bad case of insomnia have turned her into a tabloid darling, a palace problem, and overall...
Marine biologist Dr. Shel ("Never Sheldon") Rivers has a problem. Some princess expects him to wait on her, hand and dimpled foot. His boss is taken with the royal redhead -- brunette, whatever, it’s not like he keeps track of that stuff -- and nobody realizes that he just wants to be left alone in his lab. All alone. All the time. Weekends, holidays -- it’s all good.
Now here’s Miss Royalpants, insisting that he escort her around the marine institute, explain what he’s doing, kiss her until her toes curl -- no, wait, that was his idea. She’s not even apologetic about being born into a royal family! Says it’s his problem to overcome, not hers. Which leaves him with one option: to kiss her again. And again. And...
So she’s nothing like he expected. In fact, Dr. Rivers can see that this fantastic, exasperating woman has problems no princess should ever have to deal with. And he has an idea to help her get some much-needed sleep. Of course, it involves getting very, very tired beforehand, but if she’s up to it, then so is he...
Review: The Royal Pain is not one of Davidson's better books. It's the sequel to The Royal Treatment, a book so unmemorable that I had a lot of trouble figuring out who the characters were and what was going on in the beginning of the sequel. The romance was ok but I didn't care for the side story at all. There were some funny moments with the King, who curses more than any fictional character I can remember. I recommend this book only for hard core Davidson fans, everyone else should skip it.
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November 04, 2005
Blow Me Down by Katie MacAlister,
Book description: In the internet virtual reality game Buckling Swashes, Earless Erika and Black Corbin are two of the most deadly pirates to sail the online seas. And now they've met their matches: each other.
But fearless Earless Erika is really just Amy—a financial analyst with little time in her life for anything but work. And Corbin is none other than the man behind the game—the programmer and owner of the company. He's intrigued by Amy, the only buccaneer to best him in this test of digital testosterone, while she just wants to take his arrogance down a peg. But soon the two find themselves comrades in arms against a merciless rival bent on Corbin's destruction—both on the virtual high seas and in real life. Only by setting aside their differences can they locate the actual people behind the swaggering swashbucklers—and along the way find that love can tame even the most fearsome of pirates.
Review: I loved the plot of this book. Who doesn't want to read about romance in an online virtual reality pirate video game? I liked the romance aspect in this book a lot more than in You Slay Me, the only other MacAlister book I've read. But there were a few areas of the book that dragged. I also would liked to have seen more balance between the online world and the real world. Fun was had though and if the premise of the book appeals to you you'll probably like it.
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October 29, 2005
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, 
Book description: Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes, and keep him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.
But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all-true love.
Review: Bet Me is a romance novel that’s actually romantic. That's something I find lacking in a good deal of the romance novels I read. The plot setup is a basic one but it's done well here. Loved the characters and the writing is very funny at times. This is almost the perfect contemporary romance novel and I highly recommend it. I can't wait to read more by this writer.
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October 07, 2005
Untamed by Nora Roberts, 
Book description: Jovilette Wilder had the heart of a lion and the temper of a wildcat. And when Keane Prescott first crossed her path, she had her claws bared. Jo was certain her beguiling new boss imperiled everything she cared for, but she couldn?t deny the overpowering attraction that sizzled between them. And though Keane?s kisses left her breathless with longing, it was the tenderness he showed her that threatened to tame her heart.
Review: It?s hard to tell from the cover or the book description, but this book is set in a circus. The setting is really the only thing that stands out in the book. The rest is a pretty basic romance novel. It wasn?t overly interesting but it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. I did like the writing though so I?ll be trying more of Roberts' romances... if I can decide which of her many books I want to pick up.
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August 18, 2005
Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson, 
Book Description: For Genevieve Terrence it seemed like a dream come true: a weekend alone on Maui with her sexy boss, Nick Brogan. But little did she know that Nick had dreams of his own--a nefarious scheme that nearly got her killed on the flight over the Pacific. Lucky for her, brilliant computer programmer Jack Farley was on board and quick-witted enough to crash-land the plane. Now Jack is her sole companion on a remote desert island with nothing but guava trees and sharks for company. Who?d expect the shy genius--and the least alpha male she knows--to turn out to be the uninhibited stud of her wildest dreams?
Saving Genevieve?s life has made Jack a hero in the eyes of the woman he has secretly lusted after for months. Now they?re alone together in a tropical eden where they?re free to give in to their every sensual whim. But when some nasty unfinished business puts them at risk again, Gen will learn there?s nothing quite as dangerous as a fully aroused ex-nerd who?ll move heaven and earth to protect the woman he loves?
Review: I picked this up because I love the idea of a romance series with nerd love interests. Unfortunately, I didn?t find Jack to be particularly nerdy. Aside from the few mentions computer games and bad fashion, Jack is just like many other romance novel guys. Though it could be that I?ve misunderstood his character. He wears glasses, maybe that?s where the nerd part comes in. As for Genevieve, she?s borderline obsessed with her hillbilly upbringing and there?s isn?t a whole lot to her character aside from that. If you can get past all that and the boring sub-plot, Nerd in Shining Armor slightly enjoyable in a mind numbing way.
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April 12, 2005
Night of the Phantom by Anne Stuart
Book Description: Between dawn and dusk, Ethan Winslowe?s weird mansion was as still as a crypt. Beneath its maze of gloomy corridors, it?s owner slept far from the reach of the sun.
As night fell, and fears and phantasms rose to haunt her, Megan Carey was led down to his underground lair?to dine with a phantom she never saw, who remained a dark shape hidden among shadows.
Reputation had it that Ethan was a genius, madman and monster. And Megan was Ethan?s prisoner, held fast by a threat stronger than chains...
And by a hunger to know the heat of Ethan?s passion, which raged like a fire in the night.
Review: This is yet another one of those Beauty and the Beast/Phantom of the Opera inspired romance novels that I enjoy so much. However, this one was just ok. I read it quickly and enjoyed it but it doesn?t have anything special to set itself apart from all the others I?ve read. My main issue with the book was that I didn?t get a sense of why these two fell in love. Fans of this kind of story will enjoy this but there are quite a few books that do a better job of retelling Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera.
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March 13, 2005
Hello, Gorgeous! by MaryJanice Davidson,
Book Description: Here?s the story: One minute I?m out with my sorority sisters; the next, there?s a terrible accident (beyond my friend Stacey?s outfit), and I?m waking up in some weird clinic with the Eggheads Du Jour telling me I?m now officially a human cyborg, and I?m suppose to work for them from now on. You know, super spy style...stop people from doing evil things and stuff. Uh, hello?did I ask for this? I?ve got a beauty salon to run. If those bad guys need highlights and a pedicure, call me. Otherwise, I?ll be at the bar.
Okay. So it is cool to move faster than a Ford Mustang when I need to, even if it?s totally hard on my shoes. But I just want to get back to my old, normal life. Except The Boss?that?s his name, I swear?wants me to bring in another human cyborg on the run. And here?s the thing: He?s totally gorgeous. Smart. Funny. And, um, his ?enhancements?? Lets just say he?s not faster than a speeding bullet, if you know what I mean. So what?s a former party girl-turned-spy-cyborg suppose to do? Arrest the hunk? Turn him in? Neutralize him? As if...
Reviews: This is yet another fun book from MaryJanice Davidson. It?s a funny take on the Six Million Dollar Man. I had trouble getting into it at first. In the beginning the book switches scenes a lot making it seem disjointed. However, once the main plot kicked in I became interested and enjoyed the rest of the book. Davidson fans will like this and who could refuse a book with such a wacky premise?
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February 22, 2005
Shadow Prince by Terri Lynn Wilhelm, 9 1/2
Book Description: Ariel Denham is a rising young cosmetic surgeon forced by circumstances to take a job at the Fountainhead Foundation. The resources there are first rate, but it?s a very unusual setup. For starters, there?s the all-powerful head of the place whom Ariel has never met, the bizarre curfew for all staff and patients, and the single perfect rose that appears on her desk daily?without a note.
But strangest of all is the man who waits for Ariel each night on her forbidden walks through the dark grounds, a man who refuses to step out from the shadows, but whose sensual presence lingers in her heart all through the day...Jonah.
Review: Yet another romance novel that follows the Beauty and the Beast formula. I know I read a lot of these but this just may be the best one I?ve read. All of the elements I like in these kinds of stories just came together really well in this. The pacing of the romance is where a lot of romance novels tend to loose me but the pacing in this was perfect. A must read for people who enjoy Beauty and the Beast/Phantom of the Opera sort of stories. I?ll be reading more by this author.
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February 13, 2005
The Royal Treatment by MaryJanice Davidson, 7
Book Description: In a world nearly identical to ours, the North won the Civil War, Ben Affleck is the sexiest man alive, and Russia never sold Alaska to the U.S. Instead, Alaska is a rough, beautiful country ruled by a famously eccentric royal family, and urgently in need of a bride for the Crown Prince. But they have no idea what they?re in for when they offer the job to a feisty commoner...a girl who?s going to need...the royal treatment.
Review: Didn?t like this quite as much as the other Davidson novels but her novels are reliably entertaining and this one is no different. The best thing about this novel is that it?s genuinely funny. Very few authors besides Davidson make me laugh out loud on a regular basis. The plot and characters were pleasantly quirky as well. I didn?t really care for the romance here but this book is a good bet for any Davidson fan. This book also reads a bit like an adult version of The Princess Diaries so older fans of that series may want to give it a chance.
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February 08, 2005
Night Magic by Charlotte Vale Allen, 8 1/2
Book Description: A beautiful, sensitive young girl falls in love with a brilliant older man who is so profoundly scarred both physically and emotionally that he literally cannot face the light of day. Despite his deep apprehensions, he allows her to enter his world of darkness, where they communicate their love for each other through music.
Fearful of what he most craves, Erik nevertheless becomes convinced of Marisa?s love. He nurtures and tutors her as she matures from girl to womanhood, while she, in turn, teaches him to trust and gradually coaxes him into the light.
Review: This is a modern retelling of Phantom of the Opera. I found Erik and Marisa?s relationship to be totally unrealistic but I couldn?t help enjoying this book anyway. I can?t really say why. Phantom of the Opera fans will find something to like here but I don?t recommend this to anyone else.
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February 01, 2005
Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot, 7
Book Description:Cartoonist Jane Harris is delighted by the prospect of her first-ever trip to Europe. But it's hate at first sight for Jane and Cal Langdon, and neither is too happy at the prospect of sharing a villa with one another for a week -- not even in the beautiful and picturesque Marches countryside. But when Holly and Mark's wedding plans hit a major snag that only Jane and Cal can repair, the two find themselves having to put aside their mutual dislike for one another in order to get their best friends on the road to wedded bliss -- and end up on a road themselves ... one neither of them ever expected.
Review: Sequel to The Boy Next Door and Boy Meets Girl but they are only loosely connected so you don?t have to read the others to enjoy this one. As always with Meg Cabot?s books, this was a quick, fun read. I didn?t like it quite as much as The Boy Next Door but it was a bit more enjoyable than Boy Meets Girl. This, like the other two in the series, is comprised entirely of e-mails and journal entries. This format makes it a bit like reading Meg Cabot?s blog which isn?t as criticism as I find her blog highly amusing. I also found it interesting that this book is based on the author?s own wedding. Meg Cabot fans are sure to like this and I recommend this series to anyone who likes light chick-lit.
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August 31, 2004
Breath of Magic by Teresa Medeiros, 7
Book Description: Arian Whitewood hadn?t quite gotten the hang of the powerful amulet she?d inherited from her mother, but she never expected it to whisk her more than three hundred years into the future. Flying unsteadily on her broomstick, she suddenly finds herself among towers of glass and metal, the tumbling from the sky to land at the feet of a man with frost-gray eyes and a seemingly flint-hard heart.
Reclusive billionaire Tristan Lennox didn?t believe in magic, bet he had his own reasons for offering one million dollars to anyone who could prove it existed. Now he finds himself besieged by fakes, frauds, and an old nemesis ready to leap on this opportunity to destroy him. But the smoky-voiced beauty who appeared to fall from the clouds into his climate-controlled existence is something else entirely ? a woman able to enchant his lonely heart with wonder, but who can?t possibly be what she seems....
Review: This book was just a cute, charming romance. Perfect for a bit of comfort reading. Probably my favorite Teresa Medeiros novel so far. The only thing I didn?t like about it was that it dragged a bit in the last half. The characters went back and forth between trusting and not trusting each other a few too many times. Still, if you like romance with a few light fantasy elements you?ll most likely enjoy this.
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June 22, 2004
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner, 9
Book Description: For twenty-eight years, things have been tripping along nicely for Cannie Shapiro. Sure, her mother has come charging out of the closet, and her father has long since dropped out of her world. But she loves her friends, her rat terrier, Nifkin, and her job as pop culture reporter for The Philadelphia Examiner. She's even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body.
But the day she opens up a national women's magazine and sees the words "Loving a Larger Woman" above her ex-boyfriend's byline, Cannie is plunged into misery...and the most amazing year of her life. From Philadelphia to Hollywood and back home again, she charts a new course for herself: mourning her losses, facing her past, and figuring out who she is and who she can become.
Review: I loved this one! I stayed up all night to finish it. It's probably the most realistic chick-lit I've ever read. Even with the Hollywood sub plot. I really cared about the main character and what happened to her. Cannie is a character that all women can identify with and this book should be recommended reading for all chick-lit fans.
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April 12, 2004
Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot, 7
Book Description: Kate, an earnest young human resources representative at the New York Journal, must handle a dreadful case. Her evil boss, Amy, is forcing her to fire the beloved Ida Lopez, whose desserts are famous in the senior staff room, just because Ida refused a second dessert to the detestable Stuart Hertzog, Amy's beau and the paper's lawyer. When Ida Lopez sues the paper for wrongful termination, the case goes to Mitchell, Stuart's handsome, unconventional brother.
Review: This book loosely ties in with The Boy Next Door but I didn't find it as enjoyable. The characters were fun as ever but I missed the all e-mail format. Switching back and forth between e-mails, diary entries, and recorded interviews didn't make the book feel very fluid. Don't get me wrong, I did like the book. If you liked The Boy Next Door then it's a good idea to pick this one up.
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March 15, 2004
The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot, 8
Book Description: An entertaining romp told entirely through e-mails. Melissa Fuller, celebrity-gossip columnist for the New York Journal, lives a relatively shallow existence until her elderly neighbor is attacked and sent to the hospital in a coma, leaving behind her Great Dane and two cats. Melissa gets help in caring for them from the man who is supposedly Mrs. Friedlander's playboy nephew Max, but who is actually his college buddy doing him a favor, and it all becomes a bit complicated when Melissa falls in love with "Max."
Review: I really enjoyed this one. I loved the all e-mail format it was written in. In books like these the way it's written can sometimes interfere with the plot but that didn't happen at all. I loved the characters and the romance was really nice. If you are looking to get into Meg Cabot but aren't really fond of teen novels then this would be a good place to start.
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August 21, 2003
Beauty by Susan Wilson, *****
In this modern take on Beauty and the Beast artist Alix Miller is hired to paint wealthy recluse Leland Crompton. Alix is shocked to learn that Leland suffers from a physical deformity but she soon learns to overlook it. The two become friends but when Alix realizes she's in love with Leland she has a hard time convincing him her feelings are real.
I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast so I , of course, loved this book. The characters and plot were engrossing and fit well with the Beauty and the Beast theme. The writing was very good considering this is a romance novel but there was a couple of really cheesy lines in every chapter. I also hated the ending. I'm sure the author was trying to make some sort of statement with it but it wasn't really necessary. Overall this book is wonderful, I'll just skip the end if I decide to re-read it.
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April 28, 2003
Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field by Melissa Nathan, ***
Jasmin Field, a reporter for a woman's magazine, decides to try out for a theatrical production of Pride and Prejudice. She didn't think the audition went well because she overheard the snobbish yet handsome director, Harry Noble, insulting her. Jasmin is shocked when she learns she landed a part and the part of the female lead, Elizabeth Bennett, at that! Things are not so easy for Jasmin because Harry is particularly hard on her and is always watching her. During all the time Jasmin spends trashing Harry to anyone who will listen she never suspects that her life has started to imitate the play.
For people familiar to the plot of Pride and Prejudice this book really won't hold any surprises for you. All of the characters in the book are updated replicas of the parts they have in the play. The character interactions are also the same as in P&P and, aside for the premise, there's not much originality. Jasmin's life away from the play is also quite boring. Other than that the book is an enjoyable light read. The writing is fairly witty and the characters are likeable. P&P fans should at least give it a look just don't expect it to be on the same level as the original.
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March 18, 2003
Full House by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes, ***
Billie Pearce, a divorced house wife, meets Nick Kaharchek, a playboy millionaire, and of course the two quickly fall in love. Not everything goes smoothly when Nick's kooky family members get involved in Billie's life. This is a cute book even though it's a bit too much of a romance novel for my tastes. I decided to pick it up because Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series amuses me greatly. Fans of that series will surely enjoy this book. There isn't as much action as the Stephanie Plum series but the same wacky humor is still there. Besides, Nick's mad genius cousin, Max, is so very adorable.
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