Book Review: Dark Slayer

Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan


Thoughts: I love the Carpathian books and wish they came out more often. It is a combination of a story about two people who fall in love and are soul mates and the overall story of what is happening to that race of people. In fact over time it seems like more and more of the story has to do with the overarching story then the smaller story of just their love story.

In this case I would probably start with an earlier book in the series then this one. But if you know anything about the Carpathians – I would definitely pick it up and read it.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

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Book Review: Seducing an Angel

Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh

Thoughts: How would you feel if the only reason for the romance starting up is that you need money or you will be left destitute (as well as your friends). So instead you find a man who is willing to pay you to be his mistress. But he is much more of a stand-up man so he won’t do it. He will give you the money but he won’t let you put yourself out that way.

It was nice to see “little” Stephen from the books about his sisters finally find the person he belonged with. I am really looking forward to what his cousin finds in a woman. She has to be someone special.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Romance

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Book Review: Home Safe

Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

Thoughts: I couldn’t imagine living with a man for years and when he dies suddenly finding out that there is something about him that you don’t know about him. Something significant. It would take you to another level of despair when you are already trying to deal with things.

Add to that the way the mother/daughter relationship works for the two of them. It is fine to rely on people but to be that close – and unable to function on your own just seems odd to me.

I wouldn’t say this is a feel good book (I mean it starts out with a death) but it is a book about the progression of a person to being someone new. And the movement of someone into or out of your life will do that to you.

What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics

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Book Review: Fail Nation

Fail Nation

Thoughts:
If you have ever read Fail Blog and found it to be amusing then this is the book for that person. There is not a lot of reading but there will be a lot of chuckling. At least that is how I found it. There were many times I found it laugh out loud funny.

The photos that are found in this book make you wonder – what were people thinking. (In some cases at least I can figure out maybe what they originally thought – even if it wasn’t what they did.)

What genre would you consider this?
Coffee table book

Overall:

Book Review: A Rogue of My Own

A Rogue of My Own by Johanna Lindsey

Description: Rebecca Marshall has been granted an honor few women are - a lady in Queen Victoria's court. But every court is surrounded in intrigue. In this case the intrigue involves Rupert St. John. Rupert can't trust that Rebecca has his interests at heart. So when a liason between the two of them turns out to be everything he could ever have wanted what is he to do.

Thoughts: I love Johanna Lindsey (seems like all I am doing is reading authors I enjoy - maybe because very little else holds interest to me). And it is an ok book. Of course it has nothing to do with my favorite family - the Mallory's which could be part of it. Other then that it is a fun romance set in Victorian times.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Romance

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Book Review: Larger Than Life

Larger than Life by Kay Hooper

Description: Singer Saber Duncan arrived on the scene a little known act. Then disappeared. A few years later she reappeared and something changed. She is now much better then she had ever been before. What is her secret?

Fame means that biographer Travis Foxx is on her heels trying to figure out what her secrets are. But he swears he is in it for love - not for the story. Can Saber trust him with the truth about herself?

Thoughts: What happened to the Kay Hooper I loved. I can't tell you how many times I have read her paranormal books that are also mysteries. I LOVE them. In fact I even made my husband listen to them in the car. But I find this romance genre to fall a little flat.

What reporter would take the story of his life - fall immediately in love with someone (knowing nothing about them but what they sing and look like) and give it all up just to spend time with them? It just all happened to fast. Things get resolved eventually which was nice - but it was one of those books that I put down and waited until I felt like I should just go ahead and finish it. Even though I really didn't want to. That doesn't happen for me and books that I like even a little (I am way to impatient!).

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Book Review; The Wedding Girl

The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham (also known as Sophie Kinsella)

Description: Milly has it all. A wonderful fiance who loves her (even if he doesn't know the real her. A family that loves her (maybe a little too much at times). But what they don't know is she has a secret - she has been married before. But things have to work out for Milly - right? You see a family in turmoil as each member has their own secrets. But their intentions are all for the good. So they try to work out whatever they can - even if it means confronting their past.

Thoughts:I really enjoyed the Shopaholic Series and when I found out Madeleine and Sophie were the same authors I was looking forward to the book. It wasn't a bad book - but it really didn't interest me. The idea of a young to-be wife who lies to her fiance because she doesn't want him to know the real him has a touch of the Shopaholic in it. But the idea that things just get better (like still being married) without facing it -is just wrong. Maybe it is me that has changed instead of the writer. Because the plot in a lot of ways seems similar (substitute shopping for being married). I guess the major difference is you don't get to fall in love with this character before she sets herself up for a lifetime of things not working.

If you like chick lit set in England and you like the Shopaholic you might like this. Or you may be like me and find something missing.

What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics/Romance

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Book Review: Knock Out

Knock Out by Catherine Coulter

Description: Savich is contacted in a different way by seven year old Autumn Backman. He knows he has to help her and her mother. But he has his own mysteries to contend with before they hurt him or his family.

Autumn meanwhile comes in contact with Sherriff Ethan. He can’t help but believe the girl and her mother. They are scared and with perfect right. Uncle Blessed is on his way to do whatever he can to take the girl away from her mother. Uncle Blessed has his own powers. And what Ethan ends up seeing is a world he never would have believed in.


Thoughts: Catherine’s Sherlock and Savage books are always good. But they focus much more on the stories of catching these horrible people then on the romance of the characters. That is especially true in this book. Just being in each others presence is how they fall in love.

The paranormal twist to the thriller part of it is always different and interesting. I definitely will keep reading the series. Just expectations shouldn’t be that it is mostly romance – it is mostly a Sherlock and Savage book.

What genre would you consider this?
Thriller/Romance

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Book Review: True Love and Other Disasters

True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson

Description: Faith Duffy learned that money was just as important if not more so then love growing up. So when she finds an older man who is willing to take care of her she jumps at the chance. And then they learn to love each other. But that means that a lot of men and women look down on her. When that man dies and leaves her in charge of his hockey team Faith doesn’t know where to even start.

Ty Savage is Canada’s favorite hockey player. When his team is left to the merry widow he can’t help but be anxious. What does she know about hockey – nothing. But their interactions leave each of them wanting more. Can a hockey owner and a hockey player be happy together? What about all the other conceived notions of what is or should be going on between them?

Thoughts: If you like sports and sports teams (as well as a romance) this is one of those books that you will like. It doesn’t focus totally on sports but it definitely is a part of the major plot to the book.

For me this was a quick and happy read. I enjoyed it – there isn’t a ton of subplots – it really just focuses on the relationship of the two people as well as their desire to show each other what they really are. They are more then just a pretty face or a hockey player.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

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Book Review: Start Me Up

Start Me Up by Victoria Dahl

Description: Lori had a chance to escape the small town that she has lived in her whole life. But she came back to help her father and hasn’t looked back since. She has reconnected with her old friend and her friend’s geeky (and yet incredibly cute) brother is back in her life.

Lori hasn’t been in a relationship in a while so what she wants more then anything is a no-strings attached relationship and Quinn is the perfect man for that. He always gets more involved with his work then the string of women that have paraded through his life. And he wants to get involved with her too.

But that isn’t everything that is going on in Lori’s life. It looks like her father was killed. Someone is creating havoc at her garage. And she is being contacted by people who will do anything to get some land that she was left by her father.


Thoughts: This is another of those romances that have hit the hot level. And I enjoyed it quite a bit (much like I loved the other Victoria Dahl book that I loved). The side story of the garage and Lori’s father was not something that I thought really needed to be a part of it. I was so concerned with the romance that I really didn’t concentrate on it all that much.

Despite this – the book is a quick read that you will love.

What genre would you consider this?
Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Burning Wild

Burning Wild by Christine Feehan

Description: Jake Bannaconni is not a normal man. He has had a horrible childhood that has scarred him in ways that he never could have imagined. He trusts no one – not even his family. And with good reason. When he meets Emma Reynolds he knows she must be in his life no matter what. So he will stop at nothing to make that happen.

But the two have trust issues. And Jake has a large secret that a normal person won’t be able to handle.


Thoughts: More than a normal paranormal romance it has a touch of erotica. It is a hot romance that keeps you entertained. You feel for him in terms of his family and you want Emma to make him happy. You understand her need to not ruin their relationship as his child is her child and hers is his.

I love Christine Feehan but even more I like her romances. She gives them to you with unique stories. Usually they have had rough childhood. And their romancec with someone else saves them.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

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Book Review: Primal Needs

Primal Needs by Susan Sizemore

Description:Sidonie Wolf is a female vampire in a world where all they want to do is protect her. She has always been attracted to werewolf Joe Bleythin. But she let him go years before for both of their best interests and now that he is returned she doesn't know if she can do it again. Hopefully she can because in her society they are not allowed to be together. And it could mean death for Joe. Of course the bad guys are after all of them - so can they face the difficulties that they are facing and their growing feelings for one another?

Thoughts: As someone who is about to embark on the journey of mother hood the beginning of this book disturbed me like nothing else. They take away your child and then plant memories so that you don't feel that bad about the whole thing?!? I understand the need (at least in this book) I mean crazy vampire kids who want to suck your blood don't sound like the best thing to have around you - but still!

I guess if you really wanted to you could compare this book and its themes of women's rights (in a society that only wants to protect and coddle their women) as well as cross species (werewolf/vampire) marriages as being bad - to society in the olden times. For that it makes it interesting.

I had forgotten most of the times I had seen Sidonie and Joe together so it took a little while for me to remember what was going on with them and to catch up - so I wouldn't suggest this as a first time book for someone. Read the others first. But it is still entertaining.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal

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