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.