Wedding Survivor

Wedding Survivor by Julia London

Extreme adventure owner Eli McCain is looking for a wedding and event planner to help with planning an extreme wedding for some movie stars. In comes Marnie Banks who isn’t at all like he expects and he can’t help but be attracted to her. Unfortunately Eli has some baggage of his own so life can’t always be just about extremes. They are forced to evaluate their feelings for each other and life as this wedding takes center stage.

It is a fun book where you can’t help but really like Marnie and feel for a distraught Eli who has been hurt before. And you know the only one that can help him is Marnie.

Romance: Some
Sex: Some
Mystery: None at all
Violence: None
Overall Grade: B

Kiss of the Highlander

Kiss of the Highlander (Highlander Series Book 4) by Karen Marie Moning

Drustan MacKeltar has been cursed and lies asleep in a dark cave for over five centuries until Gwen Cassidy finds him and rescues him. Once she awakens him, they travel into the past to figure out why this has all happened and to stop it from happening and destroying the Druid line which protects the earth. Meanwhile they can’t help but realize the truth of their feelings for each other.

This book is a fun start (for me) to the Druid/Highlander series. They are likable characters and it moves at a decent pace. And it is nice that you will see them in the future Highlander series so you don’t have to worry about losing them when this book is finished.

Romance: They like each other – and even if they can’t always remember what has happened they can’t stay away from each other.
Sex: Hot and sexy again like all Karen Marie Morning books
Mystery: Not much here
Violence: Not much
Overall Grade: B+

Spell of the Highlander

Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning (Highlander Series Book 7)

Cian MacKeltar has been trapped inside a Unseelie Halow – the Dark Glass for many, many years. He has finally gotten his chance to be released. The Dark Glass has been stolen from the evil sorcerer who has entrapped him in it, and if he is able to stay away from him until Halloween, then he will be free of this burden. The glass finds it’s way into the hands of Jessi St. James who enjoys studying ancient artifacts. She must protect Cian and the Dark Glass (while he protects her), keeping it out of the wrong hands. Meanwhile she can’t help but fall for him.

Romance: She likes him and he likes her. He realizes right away who she is but doesn’t think he deserves her
Sex: Hot and sexy like all Karen Marie Moning books
Mystery: Not much here
Violence: Not much
Overall Grade: B+ - there is more going on with this series then meets the eye. It makes you want to keep your eye out.

Spirited Away

Spirited Away by Cindy Miles

Archeologist Andi Monroe has been sent to Dreadmoor Castle to unearth some remains and the mystery that surrounds the castle. Tristan de Barre and his men room the castle and lands, after being cursed in 1292, and are forced to remain as ghosts. She helps them but can’t help but fall for Tristan and the whole rag-tag bunch of knights in this romantic mystery.

This book is a little slow and repetitive. The first 1/3 is her not knowing that Tristan is a ghost but being intrigued by him, his castle, and the going on’s that she has encountered then and 12 years before. Then you spend the next 1/3 knowing about everything and trying to figure stuff out and at the very end things actually happen. Personally the only truly engaging characters that I was emotionally invested in was the butler, Jamison.

Romance: Some – he likes her and wishes he could be with her. But when you are a ghost you can’t really touch or kiss the one you love.
Sex: Not till the end.
Mystery: Not much here, everything screams the answer, you would have to be pretty slow to not get what is going on.
Violence: Not much
Overall Grade: D+

Over Hexed

Over Hexed by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Way too sexy Sean Madigan is plagued by the women in his town. They all want him. So when he finds Dorcas and Ambrose and they offer to help him – he takes them up on the offer (though he doesn’t know they are a witch and wizard). They introduce him, indirectly to his soul mate Maggie. Sean and Maggie are instantly attracted to one another, but both interested in buying the same piece of land. Maggie must get the land if she wants to keep her job.

It is really hard to believe that any man would be so hot that women would be falling over him and embarrassing themselves quite the way they do around Sean. It is very sickening. And for him to finally be able to be free of it all and want it back right away just because he meets Maggie and she doesn’t really want him (and yet she does) seems a little strange. The book is slow at times and the whole witch/wizard/dragon thing fits in oddly overall.

Romance: He definitely tries which he has never had to do
Sex: It is pretty hot
Mystery: None
Violence: None
Overall Grade: C- - slow and strange – not sure that I really liked it. I had to force myself to continue at times.

The Immortal Highlander

The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning (Highlander Series Book 6)

Sidhe-seer Gabrielle O’ Callahan has been taught her entire life that she should stay away from fairies and that they were evil soulless creatures who would hurt her, then she meets banished fairy Adam Black. Adam has been forced to be mortal, and invisible, only to be seen by sidhe-seer’s like Gaby (who is one of a dead race because of hunters who have killed them for centuries). He uncovers an evil plot by a an old enemy and must get back his fairy powers and warn his queen. Meanwhile Gaby learns that Adam isn’t as bad as he seems.

If you like your men big, strong and gorgeous in romance novels and you don’t mind a paranormal twist the highlander series is the way to go. The men are so yummy that you can’t help but wish that men like that really existed. While being protective and a bit “me man – you woman” it isn’t so bad that you want to throw the book at something. Overall it is just a fun read.

Romance: Yummy, sexy romance
Sex: Hot bodies, and lots of anticipation
Mystery: Not much here
Violence: Not much
Overall Grade: B (Only because the whole series is very similar in plot and everything else)

The Dark Highlander

The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Morning (Highlander Series Book 5)

Dageus MacKelter is part of a special race who has been protecting the human race for centuries. Many years ago he was cursed when he used his special powers granted by the fairies for personal gain, to save the life of his beloved twin brother. He now must figure out a way to break the curse. During his pursuit of ancient texts that may hold the answer he meets Chloe Zanders, a student of antiquities who is ready to join in him in his quest.

Lots of lust and love helps these two find each other as they are meant to be together. He definitely is meant to be with her from the onset and the story shows how he pursues her without just jumping into bed.

Romance: Lots – he is big and sexy and just wants to show her that he can love her for eternity
Sex: Lustful thoughts lead to the bed
Mystery: None
Violence: Not really any there
Overall Grade: B+ - because this is my first read in the highlander series and I really enjoyed it overall. I will definitely keep reading them.

The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount

The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount by Julia London

Lady Phoebe Fairchild was forced into becoming a seamstress when left penniless when her mother died. Though her circumstances have improved she has been blackmailed by her employer into attending Viscount William Darby’s siblings and making their dresses. Since all of this is not appropriate for a young lady of quality she must do this under a fictitious name and past. Unfortunately she just can’t help but fall for Will and he for her.

This is a very sweet and fun love story. The only difficulties for them are those of their surroundings, their self-inflicted social aspirations, and themselves. They are fun characters you can’t help but love.

Romance: Lots of romance – he is sweet and determined to woo her
Sex: Medium – classic historical romance
Mystery: None
Violence: None
Overall Grade: B+

The Baby Chronicles

The Baby Chronicles by Judy Baer

Whitney Blake has been married to Chase Andrews for a few years now. Her friends Mitzi and Kim have become baby crazy and she can’t help but get bit by the same bug. She journals everything that happens on hers (and their) road to motherhood.

While I personally love books about people’s lives and happiness, especially when they have quirky friends like Whit this book was not what I had expected. There was a big message about god and lots of religious quotes in it that it just didn’t project on the cover or description. While the story of their lives was really good and I didn’t want to quit reading because I was emotionally invested in what was going to happen next, I probably wouldn’t read any more about Whitney’s life since I really just didn’t want to ready about how god had a hand in it.

Romance: Little
Sex: None even though babies popped out
Mystery: None
Violence: None
Overall: D+ - the book was ok but the religious overtones was just too much for me. Not to mention there were times I was screaming at the characters that they were all stupid idiots. How could they just not see things that were in their faces!

Exit Strategy

Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong

Part – time hitwoman Nadia spends part of her year running an out of the way hotel and the other part of the year taking care of those that need to be taken care of. This time though it isn’t just a normal hit that has her donning her disguises. A serial killer has been terrorizing the United States and he has the skills and precision of a professional hitman himself. So Nadia and her fellow assassins do their best to stop him.

While a little slow at times, it generally is an interesting book. Nadia is a strong female character who has an interesting past which has led her to this life of crime. You can’t help but feel for her and not mind her somewhat unusual career. So for those that want to read a thriller this is an interesting female empowered read.

Romance: 2 (She has some romantic interests – but it is hard to get close to someone when you don’t want them to know your name or where you live or anything about you because they might kill you. Even though they are your friend and ally.)
Sex: 1
Mystery: 2.5 (You don’t know who it is – but you don’t really meet them either – so it isn’t a matter of you figuring it out).
Violence: 3
Overall Grade: C

Helen of Troy

Helen of Troy by Margaret George

This is the story of Helen of Troy as a young girl until after the fall of Troy. You follow Helen as she learns of the prophesies that guide her life and the gods that guide and protect her. Find out about Helen’s family and her interaction, as well as how their lives both are affected and lived separately without Helen. You meet Paris as he and Helen first fall in love. You find out what Helen thinks as all these things are going on in the world around her.

It is really interesting to find a book that is not full of prose, and easy to read, that has all of the classic Greek stories in it built into one novel. While I had some knowledge of the basic stories of Achilles, Helen, Paris, and even some of the minor characters in the novel I found out all sorts of new things that played into the story.

Romance: 2
Sex: 2
Mystery: 2
Violence: 3
Overall Grade: B+

Changin' how we do things

Because a scale of 1 – 5 just doesn’t cut it for me in my world for grading how I feel about books I am moving to a grading scale. For some reason giving a book a C or D just doesn’t feel as horrible as giving it a 1.. So feel free to see me move on.

There will probably be more of this as I adjust how things work with how I like to do things. So don't get to excited unless you really hate it. Then feel free to post a comment and I will try to adjust some more.

Silver Master

Silver Master by Jayne Castle

Celinda Ingram with the help of her dust bunnie friend Araminta has come across an old alien relic who everyone seems to want. When P.I. Davis Oakes comes calling to purchase the relic from her, chaos follows. He is forced to protect her to both get the relic back, as well as to save her because of his burgeoning interest in her. They are both forced to use their unique psychic talents to get out of this case alive.

These psychic books of Jayne Castles are interesting in they come up with interesting physic powers as well as interesting ways to tap into them. It brings both a touch of love interest with a thriller and mixes everything in seamlessly.

Romance: 3
Sex: 3
Mystery: 3
Violence: 2

Sorcery and the Single Girl

Sorcery and the Single Girl by Mindy Klasky


Witch Jane Madison has all the problems every single girl has, but add to it a familiar who is human and lives with her. Jane’s newest flame seems intent on winning her heart but she has been burned before. She also has the town’s coven to contend with. She is a new witch and her familiar, her warder, and she must practice if she is to be skilled enough to be asked to join them. And if she isn’t skilled enough she loses everything – her books, her familiar and her friend and warder.

Book 2 after “Girls Guide to Witchcraft” tells more in the story of Jane. It is pretty fluffy in terms of a book, you know who’s bad and she seems pretty stupid to not be figuring it out herself, but then again it could be the magic. But for an easy read about magic this is a fine place to start.

Romance: 2 (Not really romantic though she finds a guy for a while)
Sex: 2
Mystery: 2
Violence: 1
Overall: 2.5

Creation in Death

Creation in Death by J.D. Robb

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is back to help stop a serial killer. It is someone that she has met before in her early years on the force. Set against New York City in 2060, she uses her friends, her rich and powerful husband Roarke, and a few gadgets only found in the future to stop this killer.

If you like mystery novels, and a little romance thrown in and aren’t scared of a futuristic twist this series of novels “In Death” are a MUST READ. The stories keep you on edge trying to figure out who the bad guy is. You genuinely like all of the people in the novel and the fact that this series is many, many books into it allows you to get both a sense of her, her world, and the people in it.

Romance: 2 (She loves her husband and he loves her and that is always a key part of these stories)
Sex: 2.5
Mystery: 4
Violence: 3
Overall: 4.5

Bras & Broomsticks

Bras & Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski

Rachel’s life is like any other 14 year old girls – full of angst, wanting to fit in, wanting to be one of the cool kids. Then she finds out her 12 year old sister (and her mom) are witches. She of course isn’t lucky enough to have inherited that gene, or at least it doesn’t look like it yet. Hi-jinks insue when she convinces her sister to try to use her magic to get rid of her STB soon-to-be stepmother and help make her popular.

For a book for teenagers at time it was slow, but overall was a cute fun romp. It is a great book for the young girl who misses her Harry Potter fix and wants something to read.

Romance: 2 (Teenage crushes all around)
Sex: 0 (I can’t even give it a one. No kissing, no mention of sex. Nothing – which for this kind of book is a really good thing!)
Mystery: 1 (Not that kind of book)
Violence: 0 (No violence of any sort – unless you consider a spell to give someone pimples violent!)
Overall: 3 (Again, depending on the audience this is a great book!)

Free Fall

Free Fall by Fern Michaels

This is the last book in the main Sisterhood series. It is Yoko’s turn to find her father and get revenge on him for how his behavior killed her mother. He is both a great Hollywood actor and someone who runs a large underage prostitution ring. The Sisterhood plots, plans, and exacts their revenge with the authorities and two pesky reporters on their heals.

This is definitely a series about women empowerment. They have been treated poorly by someone in their lives and they are ready to take back their depression and pain and reuse that in a “productive” manner by making the world a better place by hurting those who hurt them.

Romance: 1 (They have people they like but that isn’t the reason this story is being told).
Sex: 3 (People have it but again it isn’t something of importance, at the same point this is a story about underage prostitution rings. So the filth of that behavior bumps this up a point.)
Mystery: 2 (You always know who did it and why they did it. The main question in your mind is how are they going to get back to them)
Violence: 2.5 (They get back at people without killing them)
Overall: 2.5 (It was good but not my favorite book ever. It is nice that all the women got their story – and it looks like it may not be ending).

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel

A cast of players that include a nineteen year old grammy winning singer, a good doing not so typical nun, a Pulitzer winning photographer, and a high society housewife round out this novel. All set against the possibility of a terrible San Francisco earthquake changing their lives. It follows them and how fate continues to bring them together and let them grow in both good (and bad) ways toward a future.

With some romance, a lot of showing how good in people helps the world and a general positive note this book was a quick fun read. While not everything in life is good it overwhelming leaves a good feeling in your heart.

Romance: 3 (Lots of relationship analyzing and movement towards closure)
Sex: 2 (They have sex but don’t really get into it)
Mystery: 1 (Not really any here)
Violence: 2 (An earthquake leaves destruction)
Overall: 3

Lover Unbound

Lover Unbound by J.R.Ward
Book 5 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series

Vishous finally meets the woman who was meant for him Dr. Jane Whitcomb when he is shot and almost killed. She is a human surgeon who saves him in the emergency room. Of course fate (and his long lost mother) are out to stop them from being together.

The Black Dagger brotherhood books are dark, erotic, and in this case a bit boring. I was confused by a lot of external story that I was waiting to play into Jane and Vishous’s plot line that just never happened in any big way (her parents, her sister, etc). I am sure parts of it are leading up to other’s story (you meet some characters that I am sure will be future stories in the series).

Romance: 3 (You get that they love each other. A lot – they can’t live without each other. And that is really touching.
Sex: 4.5 (Classic sex, definitely in depth erotic language, descriptions of rape, sodomy, S& M)
Mystery: 2 (A little whodunit that maybe you were/weren’t expecting)
Violence: 2.5
Overall: 2

Play Dirty

Play Dirty by Sandra Brown

Griff Burkett has done some bad things in his life that have landed him in jail. Just as he is getting out he is propositioned with some easy work that can give him back the life he is accustomed (wealth) by Laura and Foster Speakman. Foster can no longer get his wife pregnant and desperately wants a child the old fashioned way and wants Griff to make his wife pregnant (and no one else to know). What they don’t know is some of the ghost’s of Griff’s past are going to meet up with some of the craziness of this arrangement and make for some bad times for all.

This book was an interesting read but at the same time it was really hard for me to like anyone. I don’t particularly like “bad” guys who are former convicts unless they didn’t really do it. I don’t like women who cheat on their husbands even if it is with their permission and feel bad about it. So it takes a long time to really like the characters even though the author tries. She gives you everything you need to like them. Just a little to late.

Romance: 1.5 (Bringing lube to sex is not romantic – trying is but still it just doesn’t do it for me)
Sex: 3 (A book about impregnanting your wife for you has to have some sex in it)
Mystery:2 (Since you don’t think the bad guy is really a bad guy there aren’t a lot of options.)
Violence: 2.5 (People die and get hurt. So is life)
Overall: 2.5 (I would read others of her books it wasn’t so bad that I had to put it down. I just didn’t really like anyone in the book. I didn’t care when they were done. I didn’t want to know what happened to them.)

An Ice Cold Grave

An Ice Cold Grave By Charlaine Harris
Book 3 in the Harper Connelly Mystery Series

Harper can find dead people and tell you what killed them. So a small town in North Carolina asks Harper and Tolliver (her step-brother who she has a big crush on) to come help them find a bunch of missing teenage boys. Some townspeople are convinced they are dead and considering more and more keep disappearing over the years they want to figure out what is going on. She of course finds them immediately and the rest is a task of finding out who did it. Harper tries to get out of that part of the task (as she can only see what killed them not who) but inevitably gets drawn into things.

I really like the supernatural twist on the mystery novel. It isn’t horribly unbelievable in that they have a good backstory as to why she has these “powers”. Not to mention both Harper and her brother are likeable characters. I also like the fact you don’t find out 10 pages into the mystery novel who did it (to me that isn’t a mystery). So for easy going, fun mystery reading this is a definite.

Romance: 2.5 (Charlaine has bumped it up a notch in this novel and given love a some attention of a feature)
Sex: 3 (Both sex and rape are described in this novel, though rape not in horrible depth)
Mystery: 4.5
Violence: 3
Overall: 4

Lick of Frost

Lick of Frost By Laurell K Hamilton
Book 6 in the Meredith Gentry Series

Princess Meri is back in trouble again. With her band of sidhe men at her side to do her bidding in every way (I am sorry if this sounds dirty but if you have read any of these other books – you would know that it is meant to sound dirty) . This time her uncle the King Taranis is after her and he is trying to use legal means to get to her.

This book definitely fits in the series and it is always fun to see Meredith again. Though I have to say I felt the book was definitely too short and didn’t have enough “stuff” in it. While things happened that will help future books – and it moved the story along a little – part of me felt like this was a filler novel in the series. And if you are looking for some of the standard crazy Laurell K. Hamilton sexual scenes – you will definitely be disappointed in this book.

Romance: 3 (Hey Meri loves her men, she just loves all of them, distinguishing love and sex in this case can be hard)
Sex: 3 (I never thought I would give one of her books only a 3)
Mystery:2 (You know who did it.. Pretty much always.)
Violence: 3
Overall: 3 (Not my favorite in the series – but still you have to read it if you love the books because some important things come out!)

Eclipse

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
Book 3 in Twilight Series

Bella has fallen in love with Edward who is a vampire. This love is definitely more then just a normal schoolgirl crush and she wants to be with him forever. This of course has impacted her relationship with her best friend, Jacob, who is a werewolf. She struggles with some of the normal schoolgirl issues of school, keeping her parents happy, relationships with her peers, but also has the cloud of death hanging over her.

Personally I love this entire series. It is well written and for being a “tween” book it isn’t too childish even for adults who like supernatural stories. At the same time, I find a lot of books designed for the tween market a little over the top for me (maybe I am being old fashioned in this) but I really don’t want to read about 14 year olds having sex. Even if it is not described in detail like it would be in an adult romance. So the appeal of having a book designed for 11 – 14 year olds that has a heroine that is both older (17 years old) as well as not having her jump into sexual escapades (even if in other books they end badly teaching them a lesson) is quite refreshing. While some might be scared off by giving a younger person a book about vampires, I would find this book a good buy for someone you wanted to appeal to in that age bracket.

Romance: 3.5 (A lot of love and desire to be together they REALLY love each other)
Sex: 1.2 (Nothing above kissing and a little talk about whether sex is right – and it is decided not right now)
Mystery: 1.5
Violence: 3 (It is a vampire book – you have to expect a little bit of blood and fighting but it truly doesn’t get into a gore-fest)
Overall: 4.5 (I will be waiting for the next book!)

Servant: The Awakening

Servant: The Awakening By: L.L. Foster

Loner Gabrielle has been chosen by good (God) to see the evil in the world and fight it. She is young, gutsy, and has some sort of special powers in order to do this. She meets Detective Luther Cross during her adventures. She also begins to form a friendship with her neighbor Mort. She finds out about the benefits of being alone versus not, the truth of what evilness really is, and can't quite open up her heart to anyone.

Genre: Totally supernatural, while it tries to start getting into the romance of Gaby and Luther, it never really gets there. Possibly at some point in this series but not here.

Ratings: (1 - 5 with 5 being high) Romance: 1.5 Sex: 2 (Some sexual acts described) Mystery: 2.5 (A touch of whodunit) Violence: 4 Overall: 3.5

Suggest a Title, A Genre, or A Category

Do you have something you wish would pop up on this list?

Something that you wish would become either a metric for categorization or a rating scale?

This is where you need to put it! Please respond here!

Getting Started

Have you ever just wondered what would be a great book to read? You just weren’t interested in always reading the classics, and the best sellers were touch and go. You needed to know what the book was truly about. The plot was helpful but you needed just a bit more. Well that is what I am here to help you with. I read them, I review them, and mostly I just tell you about what kind of content is in them so that you can decide if that book is right for you!