Sweet Fortune, by Jayne Ann Krentz

The Jayne Ann Krentz book is Sweet Fortune, one of the first romances I read and loved.

Plot summary:

"The free-spirited rebel of her powerful family, Jessie Benedict was determined not to marry her father's protégé, Hatchard. But no one was taking "NO!" for an answer: not Jessie's mother and stepmother, ex-wives affectionately known as "The Moms"...not her father, Vincent, whose two spectacularly failed marriages left him somewhat lacking as a matchmaker. And certainly not Hatchard, the infuriating match in question, a chip off Vincent's workaholic block, compellingly masculine and an entrepreneur extraordinaire. Jessie Couldn't deny that Hatch was hot, all right -- hot for the empire he planned to build using her inheritance!

Jessie has plans for her own career as a detective -- starting with the rescue of a teenage girl from a dangerous cult. Hatch does make her heart beat deliciously fast, but she's not taking orders from any man. Imagine her surprise when he turns out to be not only a friend and ally, but a strong, tender lover who, in the end, knows how to get to "YES!" for an answer. "

Posted later...

I also finished and loved Sweet Fortune. It had a completely different feel than Falcon, thank God, otherwise I would have died due to too much angst. It gets a B+.

It had the vintage Krentz elements that I love, like a vulnerable hero who really needs the heroine, a lightish suspense subplot and likeable characters, but there were a couple of things which kept it from being an A. First of all, it bugged me how Jessie kept being manipulated by everyone; it was a bit too much. And I wanted to kill them all when they breezily assumed Jessie and Hatch were getting married, and completely ignored her when she said they weren't. Maybe it's just me, but this makes me feel very frustrated... it was the same feeling I had with Crusie's Crazy For You.

The best part was the ending, how both Jessie and Hatch renounced to what they were supposed to care about most in the world, each showing the other he/she was the most important thing in their world. The scene where Hatch is completely conviced he's ruined everything, and Jessie's going to leave him now, is especially poignant. Beautiful!

Falcon at the Portal, by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #11)

Started 2 books in time for the weekend, a JAK and an Elizabeth Peters. First, the EP, Falcon at the Portal, number 11 in the Amelia series. I'm slowly but surely making my way towards the end of the series.

Plot summary:

"Amelia and family have arrived in Egypt for the 1911 archeological season--after the marriage of young Ramses' best friend David to Amelia's niece Lia. But trouble finds them immediately when David is accused of selling ancient artifacts. While Amelia and company try to clear his name and expose the real culprit, the body of an American is found at the bottom of their excavation shaft. As accusations of drug dealing and moral misconduct fly, a child of mysterious antecedents sparks a crisis that threatens to tear the family apart. Amelia brings her brilliant powers of deduction to bear, but someone is shooting bullets at her--and coming awfully close!"

Posted later...

I finished Falcon at the Portal last night. After going back and forth a few times, I'll have to rate it an A.

There were times when I hated this book and wanted to throw it against a wall (and yeah, some of the things that happened were low blows), but I figure that a book that keeps me awake at night agonizing about what's happened and cursing the fact that I have to get up early, otherwise I'd stay up and finish it, deserves an A.

I'm now in love with Ramses. He gets better and better with every book, or maybe it's that we get to know him better. How I wish MPM wrote explicit love scenes... I think I read the descriptions of the consummation of his and Nefret's relationship 3 times, trying to read between the lines. Actually, MPM's great at this: while I usually kind of skim over love scenes, and don't pay much attention, I remember she had me reading and rereading the scene in the first Amelia where Emerson and Peabody just look into each other's eyes. This was more erotic to me than most of Robin Schone's full-blown love scenes.

MPM has hit on an interesting villain with Percy. I don't much like larger-than-life, invincible villains (though I'm fond of Sethos), and he is completely the opposite. He can do great damage, but just because he's stupid and a snake. I'm completely sure he engineered the appearance of Sennia to make sure Ramses never got Nefret.

I just hope Ramses and Nefret get together in the next book. This is getting worse than the Sam and Alyssa story, MPM has dragged it through even more books than Brockmann. Hmmm, I think I'm on to something. Actually, the R/N story, especially in this book, has some similarities with the S/A one. I felt the same outrage when one of them married the wrong person, just when it seemed everything was going to be fine, at any rate. Luckily, in this case I had the following 2 books waiting for me, otherwise I would have been pissed.

I'm done with The Bride Fair. That was a quick read. It was ok, I guess, but a B at most.

On the plus side, it had two characters who were very decent people, nice and dignified. On the minus side, I never cared much about them, especially the heroine. Maybe this was because the author truly succeeded in making them products of their time, so I never felt I knew them. Yes, I liked them, but I always felt far away from them.

The tone of the book was quite dark. Nothing bad happens, really, they're just recovering from the bad thing that's happened, but there's still suffering. This could have been a great story, if the author had succeeded in making her characters a bit more alive. The only ones that were alive were Joe and Jake, and I wanted to kill them. ;-) They were the typical hellion children, and I really don't know what they were doing in this story.

The Bride Fair, by Cheryl Reavis

I started The Bride Fair, by Cheryl Reavis late last night.

Plot summary:

Union military occupation commander, Max Woodard, has returned to the small Southern town where he was once a prisoner of war. The war is over, and he has absolutely no love for the place or the people. There is nothing these so-called ex-Rebels can do to make up for the suffering he endured in the Confederate prison, but he still wants reparation, and he will start with the Rebel girl, Maria Markham. Maria can't bear the thought of having yet another Yankee officer billeted in the house. She despises them all, and with good reason. She knows Colonel Woodard's history. She recognizes his animosity immediately, and she returns it in kind. Even so, he is always watching her-- as if he somehow knows she has something to hide.

Posted later...

I'm done with The Bride Fair. That was a quick read. It was ok, I guess, but a B at most.

On the plus side, it had two characters who were very decent people, nice and dignified. On the minus side, I never cared much about them, especially the heroine. Maybe this was because the author truly succeeded in making them products of their time, so I never felt I knew them. Yes, I liked them, but I always felt far away from them.

The tone of the book was quite dark. Nothing bad happens, really, they're just recovering from the bad thing that's happened, but there's still suffering. This could have been a great story, if the author had succeeded in making her characters a bit more alive. The only ones that were alive were Joe and Jake, and I wanted to kill them. ;-) They were the typical hellion children, and I really don't know what they were doing in this story.

Finished Rapture. Excellent book! An A-. I don't know why I never thought of it as one of my favourite In Deaths.

This is Eve and Roarke practically still in their honeymoon, and they are less "married" than in later books. They are still getting used to being so happy, and this makes for some great scenes. Eve is different here... less hard, more tolerant, I'd say. In the latest books she bullies everyone; here she is more flexible. And Peabody... she's just starting to work with Eve here, and their relationship already shows sparks of what it'll become.

The plot was ok (reminded me of Purity a little bit, actually), though it made for excellent love scenes. The one where Roarke drags Eve into a closet like an animal.... Whew! Hot! And not gratuitous either, since it helps show how Roarke wasn't always this polished and confronts him with the fact that he still has a dark side.

Not much development of Eve's backstory here, no big discovery or remembrance. Eve does wonder if stuff is genetically determined, and if so, what it means that her father was such a monster, but not much more. That's ok by me: I'm interested in Eve's past, but more interested in her present.

Problem: I don't know if I was skimming at some point and missed it, but why does Eve suddenly know it's Reeana when she sees Drew Mathias' nicks flashing across the screen? I went back and reread the previous section, but no luck. I'll have to ask around online.

I'm halfway through my reread of Rapture in Death and it's even better than I remembered. Eve is different than in the latest books. She's much more playful and lighthearted, and I like this very much. Don't get me wrong, I still like the prickly Eve, but I'm sorry, I like this one better.

Just read the following scene, which comes on page 150 or thereabouts. Doesn't your stomach clench in the final part? This scene has it all. We so seldom see the vulnerable Roarke...

"Oh, shit, I forgot." Dumping the robe on the floor, she pawed naked through her clothes. It was a process Roarke never failed to enjoy. She found a shirt of plain blue cotton, shrugged it on. "I had a couple of guys over for a quick orgy after work."

"Did you take pictures?"

She chuckled and found some jeans, remembered court, and switched to tailored slacks. "It was Leonardo and Jess. They're looking for a favor. From you."

Roarke watched as Eve started to pull on the slacks, remembered underwear, and yanked open a drawer. "Oh-oh. Will it hurt?"

"I don*t think so. And actually, I'm kind of for it. They were thinking you couid throw a party for Mavis here. Let her perform. The demo disc is done. I watched it myself last night and it's really good. It would give her a chance to, like, premiere it before they start hawking it."

"All right. We couid probably do it in a week or two. I'll check my schedule."

Half dressed, she tumed to him. "Just like that?"

"Why not? It's not a problem."

She pouted a little. "I figured I'd have to persuade you."

Anticipation lit wickedly in his eyes. "Wouid you like to?"

She fastened her slacks, kept her face bland. "Well, I really appreciate it. And since you're being so accommodating, I guess this is a good time to hit you with part two."

Idly, he poured more coffee, flicked a glance at the monitor as the off planet agriculture reports began to scroll. He'd recently bought a minifarm on Space Station Delta. "What's part two?"

"Well, Jess has worked out this one number. He ran it by me last night." She looked at Roarke, making it up as she went along. "It's a duet, really impressive. And we thought, if for the party-the live portion of the performance-you couid do it with Mavis."

He blinked, lost all interest in crops. "Do what with Mavis?"

"Perform it. Actually it was my idea," she continued, nearly losing it when he paled. "You've got a nice voice. In the shower, anyway. The Irish comes out. I mentioned it, and Jess thought it was fabulous."

He managed to shut his mouth, but it wasn't easy. Slowly he reached over to disengage the monitor. "Eve-"

"Really, it would be great. Leonardo has a terrific design for your costume."

"For my-" Thoroughly shaken, Roarke got to his feet. "You want me to wear a costume and sing a duet with Mavis? In public?"

"It would mean so much to her. Just think of the press we could get."

"Press." Now he blanched. "Christ Jesus, Eve."

"It's really a sexy number." Testing them both, she waiked over, began to toy with the buttons of his shirt as she looked hopefully up into his eyes. "It could put her right over the top."

"Eve, I'm fond of her, really I am. I just don't think-"

"You're so important." She trailed her finger down the center of his chest. "So influential. And so ... gorgeous."

It was just a little too thick. He narrowed his eyes, caught the laughter in hers. "You're putting me on."

Her laughter burst out. "You bought it. Oh, you should have seen your face." She pressed a hand to her belly, yelping when he yanked her ear. "I would have talked you into it."

"I don't think so." Not at all sure of himself, he turned away, started to reach for his coffee again.

"I could have. You'd have done it if I'd played it right." All but doubled over with laughter, she threw her arms around him, hugged herself to his back. "Oh, I love you."

He went very still as emotion delivered a hard, bruising punch to his heart. Shaken, he turned, gripped her arms.

"What?" The laughter died out of her face. He looked stunned, and his eyes were dark and fierce. "What is it?"

"You never say it." Swamped, he dragged her close and buried his face in her hair. "You never say it," he repeated.

She could do nothing but hold on, rocked by the emotions pulsing from him. Where had this come from? she wondered. Where had he hidden it? "Yes, I do. Sure I do."

"Not like that." He hadn't known how much he'd needed to hear her say it, just like that. "Not without prompting. Without thinking about it first."

She opened her mouth to deny it, then closed it again. It was true, and it was foolish, cowardly. "I'm sorry. It's hard for me. I do love you," she said quietly. "Sometimes it scares me because you're the first. And the only."

He held her there until he was sure he couid speak, then eased her back. looked into her eyes. "You've changed my life. Become my life." He touched his lips to hers, let the kiss deepen slowly, silkily. "I need you."

She linked her arms around his neck, pressed close. "Show me. Now."

Rapture in Death, by J.D. Robb (#4)

Next I'm reading Rapture in Death, number 4 in the In Death series, by JD Robb. I'm rereading it because they're discussing it in a group I belong to and someone posted a yummy excerpt, so I just had to do it!

Plot summary:

They died with smiles on their faces. Three apparent suicides: a brilliant engineer, an infamous lawyer, and a controversial politician. Three strangers with nothing in common - and no obvious reasons for killing themselves. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas found the deaths suspicious. And her instincts paid off when autopsies revealed small burns on the brains of the victims. Was it a gentic abnormality or a high tech method of murder? Eve's investigation turned to the provocative world of virtual reality games - where the same techniques used to creat joy and desire could also prompt the mind to become the weapon of its own destruction.

Posted later...

I'm halfway through my reread of Rapture in Death and it's even better than I remembered. Eve is different than in the latest books. She's much more playful and lighthearted, and I like this very much. Don't get me wrong, I still like the prickly Eve, but I'm sorry, I like this one better.

Just read the following scene, which comes on page 150 or thereabouts. Doesn't your stomach clench in the final part? This scene has it all. We so seldom see the vulnerable Roarke...

"Oh, shit, I forgot." Dumping the robe on the floor, she pawed naked through her clothes. It was a process Roarke never failed to enjoy. She found a shirt of plain blue cotton, shrugged it on. "I had a couple of guys over for a quick orgy after work."

"Did you take pictures?"

She chuckled and found some jeans, remembered court, and switched to tailored slacks. "It was Leonardo and Jess. They're looking for a favor. From you."

Roarke watched as Eve started to pull on the slacks, remembered underwear, and yanked open a drawer. "Oh-oh. Will it hurt?"

"I don*t think so. And actually, I'm kind of for it. They were thinking you couid throw a party for Mavis here. Let her perform. The demo disc is done. I watched it myself last night and it's really good. It would give her a chance to, like, premiere it before they start hawking it."

"All right. We couid probably do it in a week or two. I'll check my schedule."

Half dressed, she tumed to him. "Just like that?"

"Why not? It's not a problem."

She pouted a little. "I figured I'd have to persuade you."

Anticipation lit wickedly in his eyes. "Wouid you like to?"

She fastened her slacks, kept her face bland. "Well, I really appreciate it. And since you're being so accommodating, I guess this is a good time to hit you with part two."

Idly, he poured more coffee, flicked a glance at the monitor as the off planet agriculture reports began to scroll. He'd recently bought a minifarm on Space Station Delta. "What's part two?"

"Well, Jess has worked out this one number. He ran it by me last night." She looked at Roarke, making it up as she went along. "It's a duet, really impressive. And we thought, if for the party-the live portion of the performance-you couid do it with Mavis."

He blinked, lost all interest in crops. "Do what with Mavis?"

"Perform it. Actually it was my idea," she continued, nearly losing it when he paled. "You've got a nice voice. In the shower, anyway. The Irish comes out. I mentioned it, and Jess thought it was fabulous."

He managed to shut his mouth, but it wasn't easy. Slowly he reached over to disengage the monitor. "Eve-"

"Really, it would be great. Leonardo has a terrific design for your costume."

"For my-" Thoroughly shaken, Roarke got to his feet. "You want me to wear a costume and sing a duet with Mavis? In public?"

"It would mean so much to her. Just think of the press we could get."

"Press." Now he blanched. "Christ Jesus, Eve."

"It's really a sexy number." Testing them both, she waiked over, began to toy with the buttons of his shirt as she looked hopefully up into his eyes. "It could put her right over the top."

"Eve, I'm fond of her, really I am. I just don't think-"

"You're so important." She trailed her finger down the center of his chest. "So influential. And so ... gorgeous."

It was just a little too thick. He narrowed his eyes, caught the laughter in hers. "You're putting me on."

Her laughter burst out. "You bought it. Oh, you should have seen your face." She pressed a hand to her belly, yelping when he yanked her ear. "I would have talked you into it."

"I don't think so." Not at all sure of himself, he turned away, started to reach for his coffee again.

"I could have. You'd have done it if I'd played it right." All but doubled over with laughter, she threw her arms around him, hugged herself to his back. "Oh, I love you."

He went very still as emotion delivered a hard, bruising punch to his heart. Shaken, he turned, gripped her arms.

"What?" The laughter died out of her face. He looked stunned, and his eyes were dark and fierce. "What is it?"

"You never say it." Swamped, he dragged her close and buried his face in her hair. "You never say it," he repeated.

She could do nothing but hold on, rocked by the emotions pulsing from him. Where had this come from? she wondered. Where had he hidden it? "Yes, I do. Sure I do."

"Not like that." He hadn't known how much he'd needed to hear her say it, just like that. "Not without prompting. Without thinking about it first."

She opened her mouth to deny it, then closed it again. It was true, and it was foolish, cowardly. "I'm sorry. It's hard for me. I do love you," she said quietly. "Sometimes it scares me because you're the first. And the only."

He held her there until he was sure he couid speak, then eased her back. looked into her eyes. "You've changed my life. Become my life." He touched his lips to hers, let the kiss deepen slowly, silkily. "I need you."

She linked her arms around his neck, pressed close. "Show me. Now."

...and posted later still:

Finished Rapture. Excellent book! An A-. I don't know why I never thought of it as one of my favourite In Deaths.

This is Eve and Roarke practically still in their honeymoon, and they are less "married" than in later books. They are still getting used to being so happy, and this makes for some great scenes. Eve is different here... less hard, more tolerant, I'd say. In the latest books she bullies everyone; here she is more flexible. And Peabody... she's just starting to work with Eve here, and their relationship already shows sparks of what it'll become.

The plot was ok (reminded me of Purity a little bit, actually), though it made for excellent love scenes. The one where Roarke drags Eve into a closet like an animal.... Whew! Hot! And not gratuitous either, since it helps show how Roarke wasn't always this polished and confronts him with the fact that he still has a dark side.

Not much development of Eve's backstory here, no big discovery or remembrance. Eve does wonder if stuff is genetically determined, and if so, what it means that her father was such a monster, but not much more. That's ok by me: I'm interested in Eve's past, but more interested in her present.

Problem: I don't know if I was skimming at some point and missed it, but why does Eve suddenly know it's Reeana when she sees Drew Mathias' nicks flashing across the screen? I went back and reread the previous section, but no luck. I'll have to ask around online.

Finished Maiden Bride. I knew before I started it that the hero was going to bother me, and that I was going to get very angry, but I was right in trusting Simmons to pull it off.

I must admit I hated the first part. I usually keep a Post-it note on the first page of a book to write down my thoughts as I read, and my comments for that part are "What a jerk! He'd better grovel good!" and "Why the hell does he blame her! What does she have to do with her uncle? Feeble minded idiot!". Gillian didn't fare much better: "WTF? She's attracted to this imbecile why? TSTL." Even Edith irritated me: "That stupid hen Edith tries to matchmake because she wants a child to hold on her knee. Blech! Overused and contrived."

But everything starts improving when they start having sex and even more when Gillian falls ill. Nicholas accepts that he's come to care for her without much fighting it, and he just dismisses his thoughts of revenge without torturing himself overmuch. I liked that even when Gillian's supposed brother comes he doesn't kill him. Not quite the epiphany I was hoping for, with Nicholas realizing he shouldn't blame Hexham's family for his sins, but good enough. And the suspense subplot was lightish, so it was ok.

Still, the book still had some problems in this easier to read part. For one, I hated all the baby stuff. First, Nicholas worrying about childbirth out of the blue (it was refreshing that he didn't care about not having a heir, though). Then Gillian going bonkers about wanting a baby. Freak! (Yeah, I'm evil, so what?) And the stupid epilogue... 6 brats? And going for more? Yuck!

To summarize, I enjoyed seeing the jerk that was Nicholas change into a loving husband (even if he never really groveled), and this was good enough that I could like the book in spite of its other problems. A grade of B.

Maiden Bride, by Deborah Simmons

I've started Maiden Bride, by Deborah Simmons.

Plot summary (edited from Literary Times):

Nicholas de Laci's only purpose in life is revenge against Baron Hexham, but his brother-in-law killed the baron and as far as he knows, there are no more Hexham family members to take his revenge upon. Nicholas is not very close to his sister, and the concept of family doesn't mean much to him.

Then one day, a messenger arrives from the king and announces that a female Hexham heir has been found and the king demands that Nicholas marry her to settle the dispute of the lands. Nicholas is overjoyed with the prospect of being able to carry out his revenge after all. Nicholas finds her at the convent where she is living, and marries her before going to his home.

Gillian Hexham is glad to be out of the confining, sheltered life, but she is wary of this warrior who has claimed her as his wife. Nicholas tells her that as the Hexham heir, her blood is tainted and that to have his revenge, she will be his slave. Gillian is a spirited woman who defies him every chance she gets, and they have rousing fights.

A game of Hoodman Blind results in a searing kiss, and while Nicholas admires her feistiness, he is frustrated because his desire for his beautiful wife is more intense than his desire for revenge; and he gives in to his physical desires. Though Gillian and Nicholas begin to accept their feelings for each other, illness, old fears, and the surprise appearance of another Hexham may just destroy their already fragile relationship.

I'm only reading this because it's Deborah Simmons. Usually, I wouldn't really be tempted to read about a guy who decides to take revenge on someone because of a transgression committed one of their relatives. I don't hold with the "the sins of the fathers are visited upon the son" (or however that quote goes) philosophy. I wouldn't trust most authors to succeed in making the hero any other than a jerk, but I'm willing to give Simmons that chance.

Posted later...

Finished Maiden Bride. I knew before I started it that the hero was going to bother me, and that I was going to get very angry, but I was right in trusting Simmons to pull it off.

I must admit I hated the first part. I usually keep a Post-it note on the first page of a book to write down my thoughts as I read, and my comments for that part are "What a jerk! He'd better grovel good!" and "Why the hell does he blame her! What does she have to do with her uncle? Feeble minded idiot!". Gillian didn't fare much better: "WTF? She's attracted to this imbecile why? TSTL." Even Edith irritated me: "That stupid hen Edith tries to matchmake because she wants a child to hold on her knee. Blech! Overused and contrived."

But everything starts improving when they start having sex and even more when Gillian falls ill. Nicholas accepts that he's come to care for her without much fighting it, and he just dismisses his thoughts of revenge without torturing himself overmuch. I liked that even when Gillian's supposed brother comes he doesn't kill him. Not quite the epiphany I was hoping for, with Nicholas realizing he shouldn't blame Hexham's family for his sins, but good enough. And the suspense subplot was lightish, so it was ok.

Still, the book still had some problems in this easier to read part. For one, I hated all the baby stuff. First, Nicholas worrying about childbirth out of the blue (it was refreshing that he didn't care about not having a heir, though). Then Gillian going bonkers about wanting a baby. Freak! (Yeah, I'm evil, so what?) And the stupid epilogue... 6 brats? And going for more? Yuck!

To summarize, I enjoyed seeing the jerk that was Nicholas change into a loving husband (even if he never really groveled), and this was good enough that I could like the book in spite of its other problems. A grade of B.

Grand Passion, by Jayne Ann Krentz

On Saturday I didn't feel like reading anything too demanding. I wanted a comfort read, so I reread a JAK, Grand Passion.

Plot summary:

Cleopatra Robbins has imagined the moment when she'll meet the man of her dreams. But when Max Fortune strides into the Robbins' Nest Inn, a devastating sensation sweeps through her. She knows it's him. And he's all wrong!

Head of the giant Curzon Hotel chain, a cynical man whose only passion in life has been for rare works of art, Max is looking for five priceless paintings left to him by his mentor, Jason Curzon. Max takes one long look at Cleo Robbins and feels fierce desire sweep through him...a feeling so powerful that he soon starts helping to fix everything from the plumbing to the fractured lives of the inn's quirky denizens.

Despite their mutual attraction, Max senses that Cleo is hiding something -- and by the time he realizes it's not the paintings, it's almost too late to save her from the danger rising out of her past. As suspense and desire intensify, this delightful duo sweep us toward a dramatic ending in a love story beyond compare...Grand Passion.

It was the perfect choice. I don't care that she's written the same book seemingly hundreds of times, I still enjoy it. A B+.

What can I say? A vulnerable hero, in need of a family who loves him. An intelligent heroine (who owns a small business, of course) who falls in love with him. Then there are the quirky secondary characters, including the New Age people, and the theme (in this case 2, modern painting and Cleo's book, The Mirror). There's also a very light suspense subplot which is the least enjoyable element of the book, but which was so light it didn't bother me much. Just right.

Sheer Pleasure, by Patricia Rosemoor

Yesterday I read Sheer Pleasure, by Patricia Rosemoor.

Blurb

No question, Annie Wilder's chic new lingerie store inspired sexual fantasies in everybody. Her provocative window displays — full of silks, satins, and oils — sent blood pressure soaring in the hot Chicago neighborhood. It even generated a few mysterious erotic notes. Yet Annie went home every night to bed — alone.

Intrigued landlord Nate Bishop was determined to change that. He wanted to uncover the true Annie even as he uncovered her beautiful body in its fine lingerie. He wanted to make love to her and explore their deepest fantasies together.

So why was this sexy woman suddenly acting so resistant to Nate?

It was an interesting book, although it had some problems... a B-.

It had an edgier feel than most series books; the heroine had some doubts about her feelings for the hero... was actually wary of him at some points. However, this wasn't adequately solved. Her doubts just disappeared because he told her he loved her and the stalker was caught. Her ambiguous feelings about the 2 sides of his personality (Nate and Nathaniel, as she called them) weren't too explored either.

My impression is that this book was too short for the love story and the stalker plot. Both were intriguing (though I guessed who the stalker was almost immediately), but there just wasn't space to develop them well.

Extra points for the urban setting and for the display windows idea. The lingerie / sex-toy shop is way over-used in "erotic" romances, but this one didn't bother me. And very often in these books you just don't see why a certain thing is such a hit, but I can certainly see people checking out Annie's display window regularly to see what's going on. I don't see why it would be picketed, however.

I finished Sons of the Wolf and I'm not too impressed. I can certainly see why I never felt moved to reread it all these years. It's good, but it's not among BM's best... a B-.

My problem was basically that it was all so obvious. The moment Francis was mentioned, I knew he was going to be the good guy... ergo, Julian would be the villain. But then, I've read and reread my BMs so many times, of course I'm now able to predict her plots. My other problem was with Harriet. She was a bit of a prejudicious prig at times, IMO. Yeah, yeah, historically accurate, blah, blah, blah, I still don't like that. She gets better, though. The ending... hmm. Yeah, it's a HEA, but it was a little unsatisfying.

Oh, and the second will thingie was really stupid. Why would the evil grannie keep the second will hidden for 6 months? I mean, Harriet was supposed to receive it before things were completely settled with Ada, and keep it under wraps until they were. So, it doesn't make sense for her Grandmother to trust her to do this 6 months after her death but not 2 days after it.

I very much enjoyed the gothic feeling in this book, but I would have liked more supernatural stuff. The warewolf thing never gets developed, and the dogs weren't too scary.

Sons of the Wolf, by Barbara Michaels

I'm now re-reading a Barbara Michaels, Sons of the Wolf. I last read this one 7 years ago, in 1995, so I don't really remember it much. It's one of the very few BMs I haven't reread 4 or 5 times already.

Plot summary:

Ada and Harriet had never met anyone like their new guardian, Mr. Wolfson, and his two mysterious sons, Julian and Francis. But Harriet soon discovered that evil ran rampant through Abbey Manor and the surrounding moors--especially in the moonlight.

Posted later...

I finished Sons of the Wolf and I'm not too impressed. I can certainly see why I never felt moved to reread it all these years. It's good, but it's not among BM's best... a B-.

My problem was basically that it was all so obvious. The moment Francis was mentioned, I knew he was going to be the good guy... ergo, Julian would be the villain. But then, I've read and reread my BMs so many times, of course I'm now able to predict her plots. My other problem was with Harriet. She was a bit of a prejudicious prig at times, IMO. Yeah, yeah, historically accurate, blah, blah, blah, I still don't like that. She gets better, though. The ending... hmm. Yeah, it's a HEA, but it was a little unsatisfying.

Oh, and the second will thingie was really stupid. Why would the evil grannie keep the second will hidden for 6 months? I mean, Harriet was supposed to receive it before things were completely settled with Ada, and keep it under wraps until they were. So, it doesn't make sense for her Grandmother to trust her to do this 6 months after her death but not 2 days after it.

I very much enjoyed the gothic feeling in this book, but I would have liked more supernatural stuff. The warewolf thing never gets developed, and the dogs weren't too scary.

Bewitched, by Heather Cullman

On Sunday, I read Heather Cullman's Bewitched.

Plot summary:

Once the most sought-after bachelor in England, Michael Vane, Duke of Sherrington, now lives in isolation at his dark, brooding mansion on the moors. Ever since the strange illness that nearly took his life, Michael has suffered debilitating seizures that leave him weak, and far worse, a madman in the eyes of the ton. As no respectable lady will have him, Michael has accepted his hermitage, oblivious of his distant cousin�s devious plan to have him declared insane.

But his grandmother has other plans to save Michael from a fate worse than death, and preserve the duchy for the rightful heir. She plans to wed her dearest friend�s granddaughter to Michael. The dowagers devise a plan for the American heiress to wed Michael when she arrives in England.

Though Michael is opposed to the marriage from the start, his grandmother has a few tricks up her sleeve and convinces Michael that marrying Emily is his only option. Thrice-betrothed, Emily knows the curse that haunts her will prevent her from ever finding and marrying for love, and thus she consents to her grandmother�s wishes, never expecting to find love on the isolated moors of Dartmoor.

But Emily and Michael find a love that transcends all else as it heals wounded souls and hearts, conquering the inner demons that would keep them enslaved within the darkness of a world without hope.

This was a lot like the last Cullman I read, in that it had some things that were so great that I wanted to love it, but I couldn't because it had too many flaws.

First, I loved that it was so romantic. We have a very simple plot here: no villains, no real trouble, but 2 people falling in love and trying to deal with Michael's illness. The thing about Michael's cousins trying to declare him insane just disappears after being used as a plot device for getting them married, but I didn't miss it. Michael and Emily become friends first, friends! This is so uncommon in romance novels, and then they fall in love, platonic love, and just throw verbal flowers at each other for pages on end. Incredibly enough, not too boring. ;-) And Michael was a wonderful wounded hero. No stupid "my momma didn't love me, so I fuck everything in skirts" excuse for his bitterness, the guy really did have reasons to be a bastard but didn't choose to be one.

The problem is, the novel has to have some conflict, and Cullman, apparently not believing Michael's illness to be enough, throws in some lame stuff about a curse and magic. This lowered the book a full point for me. I thought Emily was stupid when she started blathering about the curse, but when I came to the scene in the stone circle, with spirits floating about, I thought the book was stupid. The only thing I liked about all this was Magellan the goat. He reminded me of my cat O'Neill (I'll have to remember to post his pic!).

I also had a problem with Michael's reasons for not wanting to consumate the marriage. He was going to have a seizure some day or another, and Emily was going to see it. Better to have it now and not dread it for months. But it made for a really hot first (and only) love scene.

All in all, a B+. A real keeper which wasn't because of the stupid magic stuff.

I also finished The Ape Who Guards The Balance, and it was also a B+. Good, but not one of my favourite Amelias.

The plot itself is good, no problem with that: it's pretty much standard Amelia (we do see Sethos again here, though, which is fun!). It's darker (the horrible murders!!), but ok. My problem is that the "Ramses pining for Nefret" is getting to be a bit too much, too drawn out. I love the two of them, and I think they'll be great together, but enough already!! I hope the next book is the one where something finally gets resolved.

Another thing I'm a bit sick of is all the foreshadowing. Especially when sometimes the "horrible event" which is foreshadowed isn't all that horrible, so you've got all bothered by something which doesn't live up to its billing. The horrible thing that does happen, however, comes out of the blue.

In a way, this one reminds me of the 4th Harry Potter. The characters are growing up, and in some ways their charmed existence is not so charmed any more.

No posting this last weekend, I was too busy napping and reading. I also went to work very early Friday morning, so I was home by 2 PM. Ergo: long weekend!!

The first I finished was Sweet Starfire. It was a B+. This wasn't really a book with a villain (the only possible villain is dispatched without much trouble halfway through, but an adventure book. I usually prefer character driven books, but I do enjoy adventure books (Suzanne Brockmann's, or Laura Leone's great Fever Dreams, for instance).

As always in JAK's books, the world the book is set on is fascinating, and the characters are very well done. Teague is the perfect gamma hero, and I loved the way Cidra discovers exactly what she's capable of. I can't stop thinking, though, that I'd love to live like a Harmonic... all that serenity and peace... yeah, I'm boring. ;-)

This is also a great road romance. Cidra and Teague are together pretty much all the time, so the romance is strongly developed. There is a separation in the end, but the reader doesn't see it, so it didn't bother me much.

The Ape Who Guards The Balance, by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody #10)

The second one is number 10 in the Amelia Peabody Series, by Elizabeth Peters. The title's The Ape Who Guards the Balance.

It's interesting how so many books in this series all have an animal in the title:

• Nº 1 - Crocodile on the Sandbank
• Nº 4 - Lion in the Valley
• Nº 6 - The Last Camel Died at Noon
• Nº 7 - The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog
• Nº 8 - The Hippopotamus Pool
• Nº 9 - Seeing a Large Cat
• Nº 10 - The Ape Who Guards the Balance
• Nº 11 - The Falcon at the Portal

Plot summary:

The Ape Who Guards the Balance begins in 1907 in England where Amelia is attending a suffragettes' rally outside the home of Mr. Geoffrey Romer of the House of Commons. It seems Romer is one of the few remaining private collectors of Egyptian antiquities, and a series of bizarre events at the protest soon embroil Amelia in grave personal danger. Suspecting that the Master Criminal, Sethos, is behind their problems, the Emerson Peabodys hasten to Egypt to continue their studies in the Valley of Kings where they soon acquire a papyrus of the Book of the Dead. As with past seasons, however, their archaeological expedition is interrupted. The murdered body of a woman is found in the Nile. Ramses, Radcliffe, and Amelia all have their theories as to the origin of the crime, but their own lives might soon be at stake if the cult of Thoth and their ancient book is, indeed, involved.

Posted later...

I also finished The Ape Who Guards The Balance, and it was also a B+. Good, but not one of my favourite Amelias.

The plot itself is good, no problem with that: it's pretty much standard Amelia (we do see Sethos again here, though, which is fun!). It's darker (the horrible murders!!), but ok. My problem is that the "Ramses pining for Nefret" is getting to be a bit too much, too drawn out. I love the two of them, and I think they'll be great together, but enough already!! I hope the next book is the one where something finally gets resolved.

Another thing I'm a bit sick of is all the foreshadowing. Especially when sometimes the "horrible event" which is foreshadowed isn't all that horrible, so you've got all bothered by something which doesn't live up to its billing. The horrible thing that does happen, however, comes out of the blue.

In a way, this one reminds me of the 4th Harry Potter. The characters are growing up, and in some ways their charmed existence is not so charmed any more.

Sweet Starfire, by Jayne Ann Krentz

I've started 2 books. The first is another by JAK, one of her futuristics: Sweet Starfire. It's a reread.

Plot summary:

Welcome to the futuristic world of Lovelady, where humans are divided into two types - Harmonics and Wolves. Harmonics live a serene life, elevating their knowledge and dwelling on a higher plane where emotions and instincts have no control or power. Wolves . . . everything a Harmonic is not.

Enter Cidra Rainforest: a Wolf reared as a Harmonic in the serene community of Clementia, desperate to find the ancient key to taking to last step to becoming a full Harmonic.

Meet Teague Severance: a true Wolf from Port Valentine, a renegade mail carrier who lives for making the package arrive on time.

What happens when these two meet? Interstellar sparks! Cidra hires on as Teague's assistant in exchange for a trip to Renaissance, the neighboring planet, to begin her quest for the Harmonic holy grail . . . a legend and most likely unreal. But life with a renegade doesn't always turn out like one plans. Cidra finds herself along with Teague in the dangerous jungle of Renaissance and must learn to survive by wits and instinct, not exactly easy for a trained Harmonic.

Posted later...

No posting this last weekend, I was too busy napping and reading. I also went to work very early Friday morning, so I was home by 2 PM. Ergo: long weekend!!

The first I finished was Sweet Starfire. It was a B+. This wasn't really a book with a villain (the only possible villain is dispatched without much trouble halfway through, but an adventure book. I usually prefer character driven books, but I do enjoy adventure books (Suzanne Brockmann's, or Laura Leone's great Fever Dreams, for instance).

As always in JAK's books, the world the book is set on is fascinating, and the characters are very well done. Teague is the perfect gamma hero, and I loved the way Cidra discovers exactly what she's capable of. I can't stop thinking, though, that I'd love to live like a Harmonic... all that serenity and peace... yeah, I'm boring. ;-)

This is also a great road romance. Cidra and Teague are together pretty much all the time, so the romance is strongly developed. There is a separation in the end, but the reader doesn't see it, so it didn't bother me much.

Summer in Eclipse Bay, by Jayne Ann Krentz

Yesterday I devoured Jayne Ann Krentz's latest: Summer in Eclipse Bay. While I'm afraid this is not as good as her best, it's still a very nice, comfortable book. I'd give it a grade of B.

Plot summary:

"Word gets around fast in Eclipse Bay. Nick Harte should know --- his family's legendary feud with the Madisons fueled the local gossip mill for years before finally cooling off. But people are still talking--and rumor has it Nick's involved with someone new...

Art gallery owner Octavia Brightwell doesn't take chances--especially on handsome, charming men. But that's only part of the reason why she turned Nick down six times before--finally--agreeing to a date. Octavia's related to the woman who sparked the long-running family feud--and fears that falling hard for Nick would only ignite the flames again. Octavia knows her family's past is best kept hidden. But her secret isn't safe in Eclipse Bay--and neither is her heart...

As I said, this one works great as a comfort read. It has a light, well-crafted mystery, nice, likeable characters, quirky secondary characters (loved the Heralds and Mean Eugene and Dickhead Dwayne), lots of interactions between the characters, a nice little romance... nothing too exciting, but it hit the spot. The romance still feels a little toned-down, compared to what it used to be in her best books, but at least Nick and Octavia have much more chemistry than the protagonists in some of her latest books.

The setting was pretty nice, though it would have been more understandable that they would want to stay there if the town hadn't had so many judgemental hypocrites. But then, Octavia ends up in the Hart family, so she won't have to suffer the scorn!

Incredibly enough, I adored Carson, Nick's son. I usually detest the children in romance novels (such saccharine, precious brats!), but he was a real dear. I very much enjoyed Nick's relationship with him, especially how he treated his son as a real person.

I had a little problem understanding what was going on with the Claudia issue because I'd only read Eclipse Bay (the first in the series; this one's the third) and I'd done so quite a few months ago. I would have appreciated some reminders about what the feud had been all about. I still don't remember exactly what Claudia was to Sullivan and Mitch.

Topaz Dreams was a very interesting book. I loved the world it was set in, very inventive. Just one niggle: it's labeled wrong. It's not a futuristic; it's set in the present (or, actually, 10 years in the past, since it was written in 1992) but there is supposed to be another world in the center of the Earth. They should have labeled it sci-fi romance.

The romance is good, basically because it has 2 likeable characters, who have lots of chemistry. I especially liked that Falcon was supposed to be a virgin, so we had a more experienced heroine. Stephanie was also really strong, though she was a bit too quick to resign herself to being separated from Falcon. At one point, near the end, I was afraid Campbell was going to pull a Body Electric on me and have Falcon get more experience with other woman before he returned to Steve. Luckily, he didn't!

The bad points here were 2: First, the villain was much too over-the-top. Plus, we spent way too much time seeing his POV. Second, the prequel was given a bit too much space here, and Campbell revealed exactly what had happened and how all the problems were solved. No need for me to read it, then.

A grade of B+.

Topaz Dreams, by Marilyn Campbell

I started a futuristic today: Topaz Dreams, by Marilyn Campbell. I don't remember why I bought it, probably because of a comment in a message board, but I've just read Mrs. Giggles's review and it sounds great.

Plot summary:

Denying his emotions for fear that they will compromise his strength, empath Falcon searches for a ring that threatens his futuristic world and encounters independent Stephanie Barbanell, who is searching for a missing scientist.

Posted later...

Topaz Dreams was a very interesting book. I loved the world it was set in, very inventive. Just one niggle: it's labeled wrong. It's not a futuristic; it's set in the present (or, actually, 10 years in the past, since it was written in 1992) but there is supposed to be another world in the center of the Earth. They should have labeled it sci-fi romance.

The romance is good, basically because it has 2 likeable characters, who have lots of chemistry. I especially liked that Falcon was supposed to be a virgin, so we had a more experienced heroine. Stephanie was also really strong, though she was a bit too quick to resign herself to being separated from Falcon. At one point, near the end, I was afraid Campbell was going to pull a Body Electric on me and have Falcon get more experience with other woman before he returned to Steve. Luckily, he didn't!

The bad points here were 2: First, the villain was much too over-the-top. Plus, we spent way too much time seeing his POV. Second, the prequel was given a bit too much space here, and Campbell revealed exactly what had happened and how all the problems were solved. No need for me to read it, then.

A grade of B+.

Death in the Andamans was very good, a B+. What was good and what was bad?:

• The setting and atmosphere were probably the best thing here. I just loved this. The island seemed like paradise at the beginning, but during the storm it helped create an oppresive atmosphere, reflecting the characters' mood. And the house was great, I'd love to visit it. Also, for the first time, I found the little diagram of the house useful. I'm usually hopelessly confused, but in this case it was great to understand who was where and where they could go in and out.
• The language was very enjoyable, especially Charles'. It might be considered a little too precious, but I was in the right mood for witty banter. Plus, it added to the flavour of the book.
• The mystery was very neat and well-constructed. Not a loose thread to be seen when the book was over. I also loved how Nick and Copper and Charles and Valerie got together to investigate.
• Very well-drawn characters. I could really see them in my mind, and predict how they would react. Even the murderer never really acted out-of-character. The only exception, strangely enough, was Copper. The protagonist, no less! She seemed a bit wishy-washy. She did show intelligence during the investigation, but she sounded a little too young and immature for my taste, and so was her romance with Nick.
• There was a paternalistic, superior attitude towards the natives apparent throughout the book, and I disliked this. It was all very pro-colonialism. One has to remember, though, that this book was written in the '30s, so this is quite understandable.
• The conclusion was a little too drawn-out. At one point, after we know almost everything, they get together to go over it once more and this was really repetitious.
• I liked that there were more POVs here than in other MM Kaye books. I especially liked seeing Nick's, mainly because I'm not too fond of the mysterious hero

I've finished both books. The first one was Her Perfect Stranger (of course I finished it first! it was much shorter). Unfortunately, it wasn't very good, about a C+.

As it often happens, because I choose books very carefully, I liked the concept but not the execution. My biggest problem with it was that Corrine acted so out-of-character in most of her dealings with Mike. From all we knew about her, she was a very rational and professional woman and her career seemed to support that. But she acted terribly stupid and unprofessional when forced to work with Mike.

Maybe the author thought this was the only way to create conflict, but I don't think it was. The reaction I would've expected from Corrine, when confronted with having to work with her one-night-stand, would have been to talk to him very calmly, something along the lines of what a small world it is, and what a bad idea it would be to endanger their work by pursuing a relationship right then. Then they would have tried to work together, learned to like each other, and would have started having a difficult time keeping their hands off each other. But no, she had to act like a twit and allow her emotions to control her.

And Mike didn't behave very well either. All that touching on the job, trying to make her uncomfortable, and how he kept grabbing her all the time. He was harassing her, IMO. She should have stopped it (she was his boss, for crying out loud!), yes, but he shouldn't have done it in the first place.

Finally, I didn't believe these 2 had fallen in love. They didn't know each other, because the image they had of the other was completely false, if we believe the character painted by their actions was the true one.

I did enjoy the setting, and the fact that the heroine had a real career (BTW, what's up with her getting pregnant 3 months after the end of the book... right after the mission? Hated that!), plus, the love scenes were very hot and Corrine and Mike did have chemistry. A real shame about all the bad stuff.

Her Perfect Stranger, by Jill Shalvis

The other one is Her Perfect Stranger, by Jill Shalvis. It sounds interesting, both the stuff about the space program and the story about a one-night-stand which ends up not being one.

Plot summary:

One wretched night while a storm rages in Huntsville, Alabama, a woman seeks refuge in a hotel pub. The man watches her temper with amusement. She's drenched, filled with fire, passion and rage. When the power goes out, he offers her his room for the night. It seems like the perfect opportunity for two perfect strangers to share their passion. Their connection is electric, but when morning comes, the woman is gone.

Mike shipped in from his assignment in Russia to accept a pilot position in a space shuttle mission. He is stunned to learn that his commander is Corrine Atkinson, the perfect stranger of the night before. And he is hurt that her cold demeanor in no way acknowledges the connection they made. His bitter disappointment leaves him determined to break through Corrine's formidable defenses.

Posted later...

I've finished both books. The first one was Her Perfect Stranger (of course I finished it first! it was much shorter). Unfortunately, it wasn't very good, about a C+.

As it often happens, because I choose books very carefully, I liked the concept but not the execution. My biggest problem with it was that Corrine acted so out-of-character in most of her dealings with Mike. From all we knew about her, she was a very rational and professional woman and her career seemed to support that. But she acted terribly stupid and unprofessional when forced to work with Mike.

Maybe the author thought this was the only way to create conflict, but I don't think it was. The reaction I would've expected from Corrine, when confronted with having to work with her one-night-stand, would have been to talk to him very calmly, something along the lines of what a small world it is, and what a bad idea it would be to endanger their work by pursuing a relationship right then. Then they would have tried to work together, learned to like each other, and would have started having a difficult time keeping their hands off each other. But no, she had to act like a twit and allow her emotions to control her.

And Mike didn't behave very well either. All that touching on the job, trying to make her uncomfortable, and how he kept grabbing her all the time. He was harassing her, IMO. She should have stopped it (she was his boss, for crying out loud!), yes, but he shouldn't have done it in the first place.

Finally, I didn't believe these 2 had fallen in love. They didn't know each other, because the image they had of the other was completely false, if we believe the character painted by their actions was the true one.

I did enjoy the setting, and the fact that the heroine had a real career (BTW, what's up with her getting pregnant 3 months after the end of the book... right after the mission? Hated that!), plus, the love scenes were very hot and Corrine and Mike did have chemistry. A real shame about all the bad stuff.

Death in the Andamans, by MM Kaye

I've started to read 2 books. The first is Death in the Andamans, by MM Kaye. Her book are great, especially the exotic settings. One actually feels as though one is right there.

Plot summary:

The enchanting islands in the Indian Ocean beckoned irresistibly . . .

Through Copper Randal soon discovers that paradise has a darker side. A sense of foreboding hangs in the hot stillness among the mango trees and coconut palms. But neither she, nor her friend Valerie, stepdaughter of the Islands' Chief Commissioner, could have anticipated the sinister climax to the picnic after the hurricane struck.

One of their party is resumed drowned, then another mysteriously murdered. Stormbound and marooned on tiny Ross Island, with no links to police or doctor, Copper and her friends turn detective . . .

Posted later...

Death in the Andamans was very good, a B+. What was good and what was bad?:

• The setting and atmosphere were probably the best thing here. I just loved this. The island seemed like paradise at the beginning, but during the storm it helped create an oppresive atmosphere, reflecting the characters' mood. And the house was great, I'd love to visit it. Also, for the first time, I found the little diagram of the house useful. I'm usually hopelessly confused, but in this case it was great to understand who was where and where they could go in and out.
• The language was very enjoyable, especially Charles'. It might be considered a little too precious, but I was in the right mood for witty banter. Plus, it added to the flavour of the book.
• The mystery was very neat and well-constructed. Not a loose thread to be seen when the book was over. I also loved how Nick and Copper and Charles and Valerie got together to investigate.
• Very well-drawn characters. I could really see them in my mind, and predict how they would react. Even the murderer never really acted out-of-character. The only exception, strangely enough, was Copper. The protagonist, no less! She seemed a bit wishy-washy. She did show intelligence during the investigation, but she sounded a little too young and immature for my taste, and so was her romance with Nick.
• There was a paternalistic, superior attitude towards the natives apparent throughout the book, and I disliked this. It was all very pro-colonialism. One has to remember, though, that this book was written in the '30s, so this is quite understandable.
• The conclusion was a little too drawn-out. At one point, after we know almost everything, they get together to go over it once more and this was really repetitious.
• I liked that there were more POVs here than in other MM Kaye books. I especially liked seeing Nick's, mainly because I'm not too fond of the mysterious hero

Between the Lines, by Jayne Ann Krentz

I also read an old Jayne Ann Krentz yesterday: Between the Lines.

Plot summary:

Amber has been seriously hurt by a flaming hot affair with famous racing driver Roarke Kelley. She flees Southern California to Bellevue, and takes an office assistant's job with Cormick Grayson. After all that flaming passion she finds his placid good nature a relief, and accepts an offer of marriage. She tells everyone she's very "content" with her lot.

But, of course, Gray has hidden depths. He isn't the passionless, boring husband she expected. He's "a lover to die for" and he'd wanted her from the start. And he knows how to bide his time. When Roarke comes after Amber again, and when the business deal goes wrong and two second rate punks threaten them, Amber finds he knows how to handle a gun as well.

It was good, a B. Even if it was written in 1987, it's not at all dated. Yes, Gray orders her around a bit at one point, which I didn't like, but he's no alpha jerk.

Oh, and, though maybe I shouldn't confess it, in this case I loved the plot of a guy instantly falling for a woman and doing whatever it takes to have her, even tricking her into marriage. I usually just get mad, but JAK has me liking it here.

The Roarke Kelley thing was great in concept, but not so good in execution. I think I would have liked Gray to feel a little more jealousy, to suffer a bit.

As always, JAK uses a theme (I don't know if that's the correct name. I mean she always has an element, which can extraneous to the plot, which she uses for metaphors, etc. ), in this case the poetry of Sherborn Ulysses Twitchell. I had great fun with this; it was really, really awful. Thought the thing about Amber being Honoria was stupid.

What I didn't get was what the point of having the 2 threatening punks was. Boring. It looks like she just decided she had to have a confrontation at gunpoint for the book to work so she inserted these 2. But, other than that, fun book.

I completey forgot to post yesterday. I finished Seeing a Large Cat and read another book.

The Peters book was lovely. A B+. It was just like visiting old friends, but seeing they are growing up and changing for the better. This book introduces another point of view into the series, through the so-called Manuscript H. In it, we can see the actions of Ramses, Nefret and David, including what they don't tell Amelia. I loved these parts, and I wished there were more of them. Actually, my favourite scene in the book takes place in a Manuscript H portion: when Ramses confesses his feelings for Nefret to David. Awww! I immediately went back and reread it all twice. I can't wait for Ramses and Nefret to get together, but I think that doesn't happen for 2 more books. :-( OMG! I'm turning into one of those 'shippers Mrs. Giggles complains about!

Another good thing about Manuscript H is how it gently pokes fun at Amelia, by showing us what people really think about some of the things she does. It's interesting, because before we had only her point of view. Sometimes you could read between the lines and see what people thought (stuff that Amelia didn't realize, supposedly), but I like this device.

The mystery stuff was fun too, but a bit obvious. I think I guessed it too easily, maybe because I read this one a few years ago, so I subconsciously remembered a bit? Not much, though: I must have had this one mixed up with another one, because I was completely sure I remembered that Dolly wasn't really the Colonel's daughter, but an actress hired to play that role. I wonder what book that one comes from!

The only thing I didn't like here was the ending... a foreshadowing, I think it's called. Peters' uses this a lot, but while it works when you're halfway through a book, when you have time for whatever bad thing is coming to happen and then to be solved, this was practically the final line. The only use it had was to end the book in a depressing note. I closed it and sighed, sadly.

I've just finished The Veiled Web. I'd rate it a B+.

It's a very good book, one which made me just stop and think many times, about issues like AI, interfaith marriages, etc. Unfortunately, I don't think a book like this one, where Islam plays such an important role, could be published today in the US.

What fascinated me the most in this book were the 2 issues I mentioned. I adored the sections where Lucia is working with Zaki, and where they explore the web. I kept thinking I want this technology, especially the Jazari suit.

Lucia and Rashid's relationship was also enthralling. This is the complete opposite of those Harlequin sheik books, where the hero is just like an USian CEO, only a bit more arrogant and possessive. Asaro doesn't confine herself to superficial characterization of her protagonists. Both are drawn in depth, especially exploring the role of religion in their lives. I found it interesting that even though I'm nothing like either of them, both rang true to me.

I'll explain. Rashid might be very nice and all, but I don't think I could fall in love with him. This is someone who would really prefer for his wife to live secluded all my life in a harem, and just compromises because he knows she wouldn't be happy that way. Maybe I'm being idealistic, but it'd make me uncomfortable to be with someone whose deepest wish is something that implies he thinks women are inferior to men. Yes, he knows that's not so and acts accordingly, but deep down, he's sexist. And Lucia was a bit too accepting of the restrictions placed on her, IMO. I guess I would be more like Rashid's first wife, Brigid, and refuse to even consider wearing a head scarf and veil.

The thing is, I liked the story even if I felt that way, because I understood what made these people tick and why they acted the way they did. So, I could root for them. They weren't stereotypes, or cardboard. They were people to me, even Zaki, and I wanted them to be happy.

What didn't work for me in this book was the whole kidnapping plot. It felt extraneous, and I wish Asaro had thought of another plot device to get Lucia and Rashid together.

But that's actually a small section of the book, and I very much enjoyed the rest.

I was checking out the new reviews at AAR, and I ran across the one of Allison Kent's latest: The Sweetest Taboo. Now, I'd love to buy this, both because it sounds great (really modern characters, who have the kind of relationships with their friends that I do with mine) and because Kent has a very nice and classy on-line personality. However, Kent, along with Theresa Weir and Robin Schone, is one of the authors I don't buy anymore because of their writing style. (Other authors' styles bother me too, like Julie Garwood, but I have other reasons for not buying them apart of their styles).

Why I don't like Schone's style is pretty obvious, since everyone keeps complaining about the short, choppy sentences and the gloomy tone (also too bad, because she's on aarlist and seems really nice), but I haven't met anyone who's bothered by Kent and Weir's. I don't know if I can explain what my probem is in Kent's case. Basically, I get lost when I read her, and I'm never sure of what exactly is going on. Things seem to happen for no reason, and I can never figure out why her characters react in a certain way. I've never heard of anyone who feels the same way I do, so I guess it's just that her style doesn't click with me.

I've just noticed: both of the books I'm reading right now take place in North Africa; The Veiled Web in Morocco and Seeing a Large Cat in Egypt. LOL! How often does that happen?

Seeing a Large Cat, by Elizabeth Peabody (Amelia Peabody #9)

I also started number 9 of the Amelia Peabody series, by Elizabeth Peters: Seeing a Large Cat. This is also a reread.

Plot summary:

Peabody and Emerson receive a warning: "Stay away from tomb Twenty-A!". Along the way to solving the mystery, the Emersons meet a spoiled young woman, an overprotective father, and an intelligent con artist, in addition to discovering that Ramses has grown from a precocious child to a teenage heartthrob. Ramses strikes out with his adopted cousin David and beautiful Nefret on adventures that are best not known to anybody...especially Amelia.

Posted later...

I've just noticed: both of the books I'm reading right now take place in North Africa; The Veiled Web in Morocco and Seeing a Large Cat in Egypt. LOL! How often does that happen?

And posted later still...

I completey forgot to post yesterday. I finished Seeing a Large Cat and read another book.

The Peters book was lovely. A B+. It was just like visiting old friends, but seeing they are growing up and changing for the better. This book introduces another point of view into the series, through the so-called Manuscript H. In it, we can see the actions of Ramses, Nefret and David, including what they don't tell Amelia. I loved these parts, and I wished there were more of them. Actually, my favourite scene in the book takes place in a Manuscript H portion: when Ramses confesses his feelings for Nefret to David. Awww! I immediately went back and reread it all twice. I can't wait for Ramses and Nefret to get together, but I think that doesn't happen for 2 more books. :-( OMG! I'm turning into one of those 'shippers Mrs. Giggles complains about!

Another good thing about Manuscript H is how it gently pokes fun at Amelia, by showing us what people really think about some of the things she does. It's interesting, because before we had only her point of view. Sometimes you could read between the lines and see what people thought (stuff that Amelia didn't realize, supposedly), but I like this device.

The mystery stuff was fun too, but a bit obvious. I think I guessed it too easily, maybe because I read this one a few years ago, so I subconsciously remembered a bit? Not much, though: I must have had this one mixed up with another one, because I was completely sure I remembered that Dolly wasn't really the Colonel's daughter, but an actress hired to play that role. I wonder what book that one comes from!

The only thing I didn't like here was the ending... a foreshadowing, I think it's called. Peters' uses this a lot, but while it works when you're halfway through a book, when you have time for whatever bad thing is coming to happen and then to be solved, this was practically the final line. The only use it had was to end the book in a depressing note. I closed it and sighed, sadly.

The Veiled Web, by Catherine Asaro

I've started 2 books again. The first is a reread, Catherine Asaro's The Veiled Web (Pandora's box here). I loved it when I first read it.

Blurb

Ballerina Lucia del Mar has two great passions: dance, which consumes most of her waking hours, and the Worldwide Web, which brings the outside world into her tightly regimented life. Lucia's two passions collide when a White House performance and reception leads to an encounter with handsome Moroccan businessman Rashid al-Jazari, creator of a brilliant technology that has set the Internet rumor mill afire.

A second, seemingly chance meeting with Rashid will plunge Lucia into a deadly world of desire and intrigue. For although his work has implications she cannot foresee, there are those who do understand and would turn its great power to their own destructive purposes. As she is drawn deeper and deeper into Rashid's life and work, cut off from the outside world, she finds herself becoming more attracted to him. But is her seclusion within Rashid's well-guarded Moroccan home intended to ensure her safety—or her silence? And is it already too late to stop the terrible consequences his new technology could unleash?

Posted later...

I've just noticed: both of the books I'm reading right now take place in North Africa; The Veiled Web in Morocco and Seeing a Large Cat in Egypt. LOL! How often does that happen?

Posted later still...

I've just finished The Veiled Web. I'd rate it a B+.

It's a very good book, one which made me just stop and think many times, about issues like AI, interfaith marriages, etc. Unfortunately, I don't think a book like this one, where Islam plays such an important role, could be published today in the US.

What fascinated me the most in this book were the 2 issues I mentioned. I adored the sections where Lucia is working with Zaki, and where they explore the web. I kept thinking I want this technology, especially the Jazari suit.

Lucia and Rashid's relationship was also enthralling. This is the complete opposite of those Harlequin sheik books, where the hero is just like an USian CEO, only a bit more arrogant and possessive. Asaro doesn't confine herself to superficial characterization of her protagonists. Both are drawn in depth, especially exploring the role of religion in their lives. I found it interesting that even though I'm nothing like either of them, both rang true to me.

I'll explain. Rashid might be very nice and all, but I don't think I could fall in love with him. This is someone who would really prefer for his wife to live secluded all my life in a harem, and just compromises because he knows she wouldn't be happy that way. Maybe I'm being idealistic, but it'd make me uncomfortable to be with someone whose deepest wish is something that implies he thinks women are inferior to men. Yes, he knows that's not so and acts accordingly, but deep down, he's sexist. And Lucia was a bit too accepting of the restrictions placed on her, IMO. I guess I would be more like Rashid's first wife, Brigid, and refuse to even consider wearing a head scarf and veil.

The thing is, I liked the story even if I felt that way, because I understood what made these people tick and why they acted the way they did. So, I could root for them. They weren't stereotypes, or cardboard. They were people to me, even Zaki, and I wanted them to be happy.

What didn't work for me in this book was the whole kidnapping plot. It felt extraneous, and I wish Asaro had thought of another plot device to get Lucia and Rashid together.

But that's actually a small section of the book, and I very much enjoyed the rest.

Pure Temptation, by Vicki Lewis Thompson

I read Pure Temptation, by Vicki Lewis Thompson yesterday. She's becoming one of my favourite category authors; I think I'll have to read some more of her books (oh, what a hardship!!).

Blurb:

"Tess Blakely's innocence is getting downright embarrassing. But growing up in a small town with four very big brothers... well, she might as well have been wearing a chastity belt. She's read loads of books about sex, but now she needs some hands-on training. And her best friend "Mac" MacDougal, looks like the perfect teacher...

Mac can't believe the sexy siren propositioning him is the girl he's known forever. Suddenly Tess is on his mind, in his fantasies... and setting the sheets on fire in his bed! And he's thinking about keeping her there indefinitely. But Tess is supposed to leave at the end of the summer. And Mac can only hope their blazing nights together mean more to her than research..."

At first glance, this sounds like the typical contrived Harlequin. A 26-year-old virgin, who has to find a way to lose said virginity pronto. But the reason I loved this book, and it gets a B+, is that it's very different from the rest. For starters, there is a very good explanation for why the heroine is a virgin, and her attitude towards it makes sense. This is no naive girl, who's been dead beneath the waist until she kisses the hero. She hasn't had the opportunity to do anything, though she would have been interested in doing it. And I identified in how she thought of her virginity as just something to get rid of. Maybe this is not very realistic to some women, who see it as a gift, yadda, yadda, yadda, but for me, it makes a lot of sense.

Another difference, and an element which I loved and which was present in Acting on Impulse too, was that both protagonists liked their small town, but saw its defects and prefered New York. It was very refreshing to see the heroine leave the hero, because she didn't want to give up her dream (actually, he never asked her to stay, so she didn't really make a choice like that, but it was still good) and the hero refuse to even ask her to stay, for the same reason. And I loved that Mac wasn't crazy about his land, as all heroes seem to be, and wanted to go to New York too.

I adored Mac and Tess together. They know each other very well, and the fondness they have for each other shows in all their interactions. And when they finally get together, they're HOT!

The only thing that didn't work for me here was how Tess and Mac tolerated some of the more extreme interfering by their families and neighbours. I couldn't believe how Tess's whole family felt they had the right to just walk into her house, without knocking. Lock the door, you idiot! You have the right to walk around naked in your own house, if you want! Same thing with her brothers. Their sexist attitude really bugged me, so I couldn't like them at all, which I suppose is what the author wanted. Oh, and it felt a bit weird that Tess and Mac returned to Coppersville so soon after leaving. It would have been better that they'd stayed some more years.

But that were small nits, in an otherwise very enjoyable book.

Finished Mercy, and I enjoyed some parts and hated others. The final grade would be a C+.

The two elements that bother me the most about Julie Garwood's historicals were present here, but were less intense. Her hyper-simplistic style continued to bother me, but maybe because of the contemporary setting, it sounded less out of place and I could tolerate it. The idiotic heroine was a bit more problematic, basically because her episodes of idiocy alternated with episodes of bright intelligence. The woman was a surgeon, for heaven's sake! She's usually extremely capable and smart, but in most of her interactions with Theo I wanted to throw the book against the wall. She becomes 15! Luckily, this improves as the book continues, so ok, I could finish it.

Theo, on the other hand, was really nice. My favourite kind of hero. I especially loved his scenes with Noah and with John Paul. Really funny stuff. He does become a bit to much of a warrior in the final action scenes, which wasn't very realistic (for once, I'd like to read about a hero who doesn't have much physical courage!), but in balance, he was great.

I didn't enjoy the suspense subplot. I was very, very bored by all the stuff about the Sowing Club. It sounded too contrived to me. Near the end, I actually skimmed through the final action sequences. And Monk... I don't see the fascination with him. As I said, all very boring. The only bright spot related to this was the final scene, when John realizes what's happening. That was an excellent ending: suggestive and very appropriate.

Finally, though I liked the swamp as a setting, I hated the parasitic, manipulative people of Bowen. They were users, as was Michelle's dad.

All in all, though Mercy was readable, I don't think I'll try Garwood again. I've given her historical's a chance and no luck. I've given her contemps a chance and no luck either. I give up!