Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme started by Breaking the Spine. It is a feature that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating



Alpha is by Rachel Vincent and set to be released October 1, 2010.
Rachel Vincent is one of my favourite authors and this is the last novel in her Wearcat series. I'm so sad that this series is coming to an end. I found it to be very different than the typical Urban Fantasy/Paranormal romance. There are not very many novels about were animals other than werewolfs. Countdown is on till October 1st.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Pride

This book is the third book in the Shifters series. The series follows Faythe Sanders, a female werecat who is the daughter of the alpha of her pack. Faythe has not lived a typical life, even for a werecat. Last book she committed 2 of the werecats biggest sins, infecting a human, and killing another werecat. Even though if it was an accidental infection, and self defense, she still has to go to trial and face consequences.

Right away it's obvious that certain members of the council believe Faythe is guilty and want the greatest penalty, death. While Faythe's trial is going on, humans start disappearing and it seems a group of strays is to blame. The werecats run into some problems and even capture a cat.

There is a ton of action in this book, and it kept me glued to the book. It also had a bunch of surprises. I can't give more information without giving some of the surprises away. I would give this book a . I love this series and recommend it to everyone! It's different, its funny and it's action packed!

Not My Daughter

This is Barbara Delinsky's newest book. I had heard that it was pretty good, so I figured I would give it a chance. The book follows Susan, a high school principal and her 17 year old daughter Lily. You find out almost right away into the book that Lily and her 2 best friends created a pregnancy pact and all were pregnant.

Drama unfolds as Lily is the first friend outed for being pregnant. Susan receives a lot of heat not only because she is the high school principal, but because she got pregnant with Lily at 17.

I thought with the plot and the potential storyline set up it would be a sure hit. I was excited, and thought that she could go many different ways with it. But it started getting really repetitive and boring. I had to force myself through it. Even once the other girl's pregnancies became known, it kept only repeating the same problems and the same responses.

The ending was mediocre. I thought that she could have taken the book in a totally different way, and I was very disappointed overall. I would give this book a . I just really didn't like the direction she went.

Review ~*~ Home in Carolina by Sherryl Woods

Mass Market Paperback: 375 pages
Publisher: Mira; Original edition (March 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778327566
ISBN-13: 978-0778327561

Home in Carolina is the first in a trilogy of the Second Generation of Sweet Magnolias. It is based on Annie Sullivan (daughter to Dana Sue and Ronnie Sullivan) and Ty Townsend (son to Maddie and Bill Townsend). Their characters were first introduced in Dana Sue's Sweet Magnolia novel A Slice of Heaven (Mira 2007). Ty, was the only one that could get through to Annie. She was suffering from anorexia and Ty was able to get her to eat and see herself in a better light.

Now, its years later. Annie is 23 and back in Serenity working at the Salon as Physical Therapist and Physical trainer. Ty, is back in Serenity as well because he has injured his shoulder and needs to heal so he can return to pitching for the Braves. Eventually, Annie, forgives Ty enough to help him as his PT. Ty has betrayed Annie in the worst way and has a child that is a constant reminder to Annie of the betrayal. The whole town is on Annie's side so Ty has a great deal of groveling to do. He has to be very creative because Annie is very stubborn.

All the great characters are back in Home in Carolina. Lots of problems ensue and once again they all gather together to help each other out. Ty is praying for a miracle to get Annie back. Annie is the only one he has ever loved and wants her back. But Annie has a lot to forgive. This was a sweet story of love and rekindling love that was destroyed by betrayal. I was a bit envious of the love that Ty and Annie shared. They had been friends since birth and high school and college sweethearts. That is a long time and a lot to give up.

I give this installment 5 out of 5 babies because it has everything that I love about romance novels- great characters, problems, tension and happy endings. I also liked getting introduced to Annie's friends Sarah and Raylene who are the subjects of the next two Sweet Magnolia novels in the trilogy. This novel could be read alone but is so much better if you read the first 4 novels (Stealing Home, A Slice of Heaven, Feels like Family and Welcome to Serentiy). The Sweet Magnolias along with their spouses and children are exactly what family and friends should be!

Review ~*~ Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Mira; Reprint edition (February 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778329623
ISBN-13: 978-0778329626

I loved this book (I know I have been saying that a lot lately but I really did!) I love small town series but even more I love small town series set in the south. I think in a past life I was a Southern Belle! Truly! Welcome to Serenity is the 4th novel in the Sweet Magnolia series. The heroine has been made an honorary Sweet Magnolia after working with Maggie, Dana Sue and Helen for years. She, like a lot of women today can't find a good guy for the life of them. When they have one they try to push him away. The hero of this novel had his work cut out for him.

Jeanette Brioche is strong on the outside but hurting on the inside. Tom McDonald is the new city planner. Tom wants Jeanette from the beginning but he has to make her believe in them. The novel shows how both Tom and Jeanette deal with relationships, family, work and friends. The usual Sweet Magnolia suspects are present- Dana Sue and her husband Ronnie; Helen and her husband Erik; and Maddie and her husband Cal.

This 4th installment was very well written with great charm and wit. It is a must read for all Sherryl Woods fans. It is another "feel good" novel where you feel happy and alive after reading it. I give it 5 out of . This novel will be a well loved re-read for me along with the other novels in the series.

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author ,too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

The concern bit into his pride. Christ, to think he was so weak that he couldn't handle feeding a female... and what a cringer to realize she knew this while she was at his vein.

pg 149 Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Please comment on what you are reading with a teaser quote as well.

It's Monday! What are you reading! meme (7)

This is a weekly book meme hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey through a world of Books.

Books Completed Last week:
Home in Carolina by Sherryl Woods
Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery

Books I'm currently reading/listening to:
The Homecoming by JoAnn Ross
Risk No Secrets by Cindy Gerard
Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione ~ still on the reading list!
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber ~ started it but so many books to read!
Lover Awakened by JR Ward

What's up next:
Night World No. 1 by L.J Smith
Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
Poison Study by Maria V Sndyer
- still the same!

Teaser Tuesday (6)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author ,too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

Last night was burned into her brain. She couldn't believe what had happened, what she'd done.

pg 195 Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery

Please comment on what you are reading with a teaser quote as well.

Review~*~ Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Mass Market Paperback: 359 pages
Publisher: Pocket (June 27, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416520295
ISBN-13: 978-1416520290

Bought this book on a whim and I'm so glad I did. I have read all of her novels under the pen name of Kinley MacGregor and loved them. They are some of my favourite historical Scottish fiction. I have started really enjoying books about uber strong alpha males in a romantic suspense setting. I don't know if its because my spouse looks like an alpha male but is so not an alpha male or if its just my preferences changing as I get older.

Bad Attitude is the first in a series about agents from The Bureau of American Defense. Sydney Westbrook is the main character. She is a kick butt, no nonsense BAD agent who needs help from sniper J.D. Steele. Both have guards up and both do not want to be in a long term relationship till they find each other.

The novel is all about Steele and Sydney needing to kill an assassin. Along the way Steele gets shot at a few times and knifed as well. The storyline was well thought out and fast paced which left me wanting to read more and find out what happens next. The fact that Steele was the strong, silent and gorgeous type helped too!

The book was a tad bit unbelievable in parts but overall was a very good read. Gator Jack was one of my favourite characters with all his crazy notions. The secondary characters could have had a bit more background given but we were still given enough information for us to understand what is happening. However, as a reader you didn't receive hints or clues about it actually being a series.

I would recommend this book to all those you enjoy Suzanne Brockmann, Cindy Gerard, Dee Davis, Christy Reece etc. I give it 4 out of 5 babies because of the slight plot problems and need for more characterization.

Review~*~ Lois Lane Tells All by Karen Hawkins

Mass Market Paperback: 379 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star; Original edition (March 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416560270
ISBN-13: 978-1416560272

I read this book in 2 days and the only reason it was two days was because I had to sleep. I absolutely loved it! It had just enough physcial tension between the two main characters that made you want to keep reading to find out what happens. Both main characters were introduced in the first book Talk of the Town. Mark Tremayne is just in town to help his sister get the newspaper off the ground. He never expects to run into the likes of Susan Collins. Susan, is worried that Mark will leave and break her heart.

Their relationship is cute and "normal" in that its not about frills or expensive gifts. It is about two people who don't believe they will ever find someone to spend the rest of their life with. Each one has a lot to learn about each other but as well as themselves. Its a feel good relationship.

Once again their is a mystery that the Murder Mystery Club is involved with and this brings more joy and laughter to reading this novel. I just really enjoyed reading it. It was an excellent escape of the daily stresses that have been going on in my life lately. I loved how nerdy Mark was and how Susan was just as dorky in comparing him to Clark Kent.

I cannot wait till the next book in this series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Karen Hawkins' books. I will recommend this book to many. I give it a solid 5 out of 5

I have 3 reviews to write!

I promise that I will write them tomorrow after work! I just went back to work full-time and I'm having a hard time getting used to it! Carving out reading time is one thing.

I have to write a review of Lois Lane Tells All by Karen Hawkins, Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods. Tomorrow, when the kids go to bed I'm going to sit down and write them!

I also forgot to mention that I got the ARC to The Homecoming by JoAnn Ross. I've started reading it and so far I love it! I'm so excited and honoured that she has sent me one of her coveted ARC's. Happy reading everyone!

Monday Musings (2)

Musing Mondays is a weekly event hosted by Just One More Page... Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post:


Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about movies based on books…

What happens when you see a movie based on a book/story, especially one you’ve not read? Do you feel the need to track it down and read it?

I cannot watch a movie first. I don't know how anyone can. Books make me see things differently. I would not be able to watch the movie first then read the book. I ALWAYS read first; watch later. I still haven't watched Lord of the Rings for this exact reason even though I can't ever get through The Hobbit; let alone the other books.

One movie that I watched and found out later there was a movie about it was What's Eating Gilbert Grape. The movie was fantastic but the book was even better. Whenever I see a preview of a movie I would want to see; I always google to see if the screenplay is after a book which it often is. I do tend to track the book down and read it before seeing the movie. I don't know what that says about me at all. OCD, maybe? Or, maybe, just the biggest nerd alive!!!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.

It's Monday! What are you reading! meme (6)

This is a weekly book meme hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey through a world of Books.

Books Completed Last week:
Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods
Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Books I'm currently reading/listening to:
Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione ~ still on the reading list!
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber ~ started it but so many books to read!
Lover Awakened by JR Ward
Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery
Home in Carolina by Sherryl Woods
Risk no Secrets by Cindy Gerard

What's up next:
Night World No. 1 by L.J Smith
Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
Poison Study by Maria V Sndyer
- still the same!

What's up next often changes because I will think its up next but get a need to read something else.

Definitely Dead

This is the sixth book in the Sookie series. I found this book action packed as well. Sookie finds herself dating a new beau, Quinn a weretiger. Bill and Eric are extremely jealous of Quinn and Sookie finds the trying to get her attention.

Sookie has to go visit the Queen of Lousiana because the Queen's lover(Sookie's cousin) died and left everything to Sookie. Before Sookie even leaves, there is a dead half demon on her property. Sookie is attacked many times throughout the book, and is pretty much always in the centre of the action.

We find out a tidbit about Bill that makes me dislike him even more. The show makes him seem like such an awesome guy, when it's truly not the case at all. I am really enjoying the relationship between Sookie and Quinn. He seems like a good match for her, and I love that he is a supernatural being. I can't wait for the next book.

I would give this book . It kept me glued to the book. It had enough romance that I enjoyed it, but was completely action packed. I love a good supernatual book!

Teaser Tuesday (5)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author ,too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

"Well, you're going about it all wrong. Getting me into your bed is about sex. People getting to know each other start by dating"

pg 107 Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods

Please comment on what you are reading with a teaser quote as well.

Dead as a Doornail

This is the fifth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I always feel bad reviewing these because I can't reveal a whole lot without spoiling most things. So I apologize if it isn't that long :).

After the last book, Sookie still hasn't reunited with Bill and Eric still has no clue what went on while his memory was wiped. Alcide has an inkling of what happened to Debbie after the Witch War and why she is missing. Jason is also dealing with the fact that he is now a were panther.

Now Sookie has even more stuff on her plate. Bill has a new girlfriend, a new vampire is staying with her and shifters are getting shot all over. Not only are her friends being shot, but it seems that her brother is the culprit. On top of all that, something fishy is going on with her best friend Tara, and someone tries to set Sookie's house on fire, with her still in it.

This book was action packed. I really recommend this series to anyone who is into the Supernatural stuff. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. I would give this book a . It was really good.

Monday Musings

Musing Mondays is a weekly event hosted by Just One More Page... Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post:


Do you have to carve out time in your day for reading (due to work and other obligations), or does your reading just happen naturally? (Question courtesy of MizB.)

Before going back to work I would read whenever I had a chance. Which was quite frequently. A lot of the time I read while nursing my daughter or when she's sleeping. I have always read before bed since I was very young. I always read in the tub once the kids are in bed as well.

Now that I've gone back to work I think I'm going to have to come up with a "reading time" so that I can read the books I want to read. I do not have to read to write certain reviews because I haven't been asked to write any yet but I'm hoping as time goes on the blog gets more traffic and authors/publishers ask me to write reviews for them so I want to start a habit of reading now.

Review ~*~ Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins

Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Pocket; 1st Pocket Books Pbk. Ed edition (November 18, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 141656022X
ISBN-13: 978-1416560227

Talk of the Town is the first contemporary and the first novel in Karen Hawkins Glory, North Carolina series. I absolutely LOVED it! It was super funny and witty. The heroine was Roxie Tremayne who was returning to Glory to take care of her ill mother. She is recently divorced and decided to dye her hair blonde, get her belly button pierced and a tattoo all in the same day. She wants to break free of the bonds of the Southern Belle because it really didn't help her much in her marriage.

The secondary characters are her maid Tundy, Mark, her brother, Nick Sheppard the man she left behind in high school, Clara Nick's Aunt and her friends in her Murder Mystery Club. The novel had a bit of everything- laughter, serious moments, romance, intrigue and a real mystery. The story is about soul mates that have lost their way and have found themselves back at the place they left off. There are a few bumps along the way but it is dealt with humour and great attention to each other's feelings.

This is my first Karen Hawkins book and I can't wait to read her historicals. I read this book quite fast and loved the range of emotions I felt while reading it. I felt like I was right there in Glory with the characters. They were so real to me and believable. Even Aunt Clara in all her silliness about CSI and solving a mystery. I was very impressed about this book. It made me feel good and it made me think about my own relationship. I don't want to forget that Nick Sheppard is a very hot sheriff. I love small town sheriffs! They always give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I would recommend this novel to anyone that loves Sherryl Woods, Susan Wiggs or Lisa Kleypas' contemporaries. To anyone that loves small town series. I give it ouf of 5 babies because it will definitely be a book I come back to for a pick me up. I can't wait to here what happens next to the characters! It was a great first novel in a series.

It's Monday! What are you reading meme (5)

This is a weekly book meme hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey through a world of Books.

Books Completed Last week:
Lois Lane Tells All by Karen Hawkins

Books I'm currently reading/listening to:
Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione ~ still on the reading list!
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber ~ started it but so many books to read!
Lover Awakened by JR Ward
Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods
Bad Attitude by Sherrilyn Kenyon ~ almost done! This book was calling to me

What's up next:
Night World No. 1 by L.J Smith
Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
Poison Study by Maria V Sndyer

What's up next often changes because I will think its up next but get a need to read something else.