Noah Charney - The Art Thief

Rome: In the small Baroque church of Santa Giuliana, a magnificent Caravaggio altarpiece disappears without a trace in the middle of the night. Paris: In the basement vault of the Malevich Society, curator Genevieve Delacloche is shocked to discover the disappearance of the Society's greatest treasure, White-on-White by Suprematist painter Kasimir Malevich. London: At the National Gallery of Modern Art, the museum's latest acquisition is stolen just hours after it was purchased for more than six million pounds. In The Art Thief, three thefts are simultaneously investigated in three cities, but these apparently isolated crimes have much more in common than anyone imagines. In Rome, the police enlist the help of renowned art investigator Gabriel Coffin when tracking down the stolen masterpiece. In Paris, Genevieve Delacloche is aided by Police Inspector Jean-Jacques Bizot, who finds a trail of bizarre clues and puzzles that leads him ever deeper into a baffling conspiracy. In London, Inspector Harry Wickenden of Scotland Yard oversees the museum's attempts to ransom back its stolen painting, only to have the masterpiece's recovery deepen the mystery even further. A dizzying array of forgeries, overpaintings, and double-crosses unfolds as the story races through auction houses, museums, and private galleries -- and the secret places where priceless works of art are made available to collectors who will stop at nothing to satisfy their hearts' desires.

Comment: I've purchased and read this book for one of my book clubs. I didn't even know about this book's existence before said book club. I must say I also didn't vote for it. I knew it would be about art (duh) and it would be similar to books like Da Vinci Code in some things, although obviously not the same. They just had the art and the mystery part in common.
So, I really didn't have any major influence before starting it. It begun very boring. It took me three days to force myself to focus and read it properly because everything around me was a distraction, the book just wasn't captivating me. But I had more books to read and I spent a couple of hours forcing myself past the pages that were blocking me.
The book is very centered in the mystery of some missing paintings and we get to follow several characters throughout their steps and clues to find them. In the middle of all this we have some interesting information about art, paintings, motivations, artistic motivations, descriptions, and so on and for me that was the best part, because I have to be honest, the mystery part was boring, boring, boring.
This is the author's first (and only, so far) book and I guess we notice it in the way the characters seem to lack some things in their traits and how faraway they seem and even more in how the end is done, I mean, if all mystery books were like this no one would like them after the first two or three. The end was poorly done, in my opinion. Not the end itself, but the whys of it, very amateur, very obvious, the intent to be a surprise too forced.
Then there's the author's style...well he would stop what was happening to show us another scene/character's actions and it got very annoying to have the narrative interrupted all the time.
I also think the way he wrote didn't made the reader feel that much empathy towards the characters, they feel very distant to me.
So, in the end, this book was ok for the art content, for the interesting takes on that world, but in terms of plot, I don't think it was that good. He does know what he's talking about and this is a first book, but still...too many boring and uninterested moments to be a fully enjoyable story.

Zahra Owens - Façade

Jonas Hunter is a high-class body for hire with a small, exclusive, mostly male clientèle who pay big bucks for his undivided time and attention. Discretion is Jonas’s middle name – he can play his role to the hilt for the client’s benefit and at the same time disappear seamlessly into a crowd, safely anonymous. He’s persuaded to take on a new client who is everything he despises in a man: the effeminate, tantrum-throwing, attention-seeking bad boy of Paris haute couture named Nicky Bryant. Nicky’s shows are outrageous and always good for a front cover, and his appearance never fails to turn heads. But Jonas soon learns Nicky is a carefully maintained façade himself. As a fiery attraction grows, Jonas and Nicky have to find a way to walk the tightrope between their public and private personas. They’ll need to learn to love and trust each other around the other people in their lives if they’re going to share their hearts.

Comment: I've had this book in my TBR list for a while. What else is new?
Anyway, With such a blurb how could I not want to read it, it's a very appealing blurb and I was curious to see if it was as good as it promised, after all, two guys apparently too different, the title also suggests intriguing traits or pasts..hum, it sounded great.
I have to confess the fist pages were great. Jonas is a male escort and I was curious to know if he was tired if that life, what had made him do it, why would he do it, and then Nicky was a bit childish in public but in private he seemed afraid and more shy so I figured there was a story there and perhaps the book would exploit not only the relationship between them but also their pasts and how could they overcome what they went through in order to be happy together. I was even prepared for a bit of angst when Jonas confessed he tried to kill himself when he was 16 because his parents didn't accept he was gay.
So by this point - still very early in the story - I already had an idea where the story was leading to, but...ah always the dreaded "but"....it wasn't so.
Jonas seemed confident enough, despite the part he was afraid to fall in love, bad experience in past blah blah but honestly, the suicide attempt was mentioned just that once and never more. I thought it would be interesting to follow that but it didn't happen.
Then there's Nicky... he seemed so fragile at first but he ended up more whiny than timid.
Then the strange stuff happened like how Jonas had a friend whose wife liked seeing them together..ok, fine, I get it but then to take Nicky to his "costumers" and for them to play...and even with a lesbian in there who liked men once and a while, and for God's sake even a menage with another client and the idea that the wife of Jonas' friend, someone who never wanted her husband with anyone else, now accepts Nicky because he was Jonas's....humm too many people in there, you know? Too many menages....so, when I thought I was going to get a sweet, angsty but romantic story I got a menage acceptance one with a certain open mindedness that although I don't mind, I found unlikely and unsuited for the type of story I thought I was going to read.
Perhaps it was my bad, I've read some people say this story was great. But I'm sorry I can't agree, it just was too much for two guys who seemed to have gained a soul mate in the other. I don't mind menages but I didn't think this would be about it. I prefer more conventional couples, like just two people lol
Besides the problem isn't the menages themselves, it's the way everyone accepted it and it wasn't such a big deal...this bothered me a bit because it's hard to see pure and dedicated love like this. I guess sharing isn't for me.
I don't know if her other books are better, worse, even? Has someone read her books and would share some thoughts? I have to be honest, I'm not feeling very willing to try...

CE Murphy - Coyote Dreams

Instead of powerful forces storming Seattle, a more insidious invasion is happening. Most of Joanne Walker's fellow cops are down with the blue flu--or rather the blue sleep. Yet there's no physical cause anyone can point to--and it keeps spreading. It has to be magical, Joanne figures. But what's up with the crazy dreams that hit her every time she closes her eyes? Are they being sent by Coyote, her still-missing spirit guide? The messages just aren't clear. Somehow Joanne has to wake up her sleeping friends while protecting those still awake, figure out her inner-spirit dream life and, yeah, come to terms with these other dreams she's having about her boss....

Comment: I've become a fan of this series so now I have to read everything. This is the greatness and the curse of beloved series...you just can't resist them.
In this new story, Joanne is having some strange dreams and her guide, Coyote, still hasn't appeared. Then almost everyone at the station where she works is getting to sleep and she doesn't know what is going on but she figures it has to do with something she's done because everyone affected it someone connected to her or who helped her before in her shaman travels into the astral plane.
Also, she wakes up in bed with a guy and she doesn't recall why it happened until she remembers the redhead with her book, Morrison, and how they were so cozy together.

Well, I must say this series is getting so much better with every book. The first one was rather confusing but the last two were great. The action makes more sense, the transition between our world and Joanne's astral plane seems more smooth and obvious too. I think this is key to the series better progress. I think it was very tiring in the first book to try to follow the transitions but in this book it's better and the reader can easily do it.
In terms of plot, once again I was surprised to see how well the author mixed the storyline with Joanne's lessons-to-learn. What I mean is, things happen and of course there's something Joanne need to learn or to accept or to understand before she can move forward in her attempts to save the world and I like that special balance between life and feelings the author has inserted. Joanne certainly isn't perfect but she tries and even her mistakes don't seem vicious because she had a good heart.
In terms of personal stuff...well...Joanne is...how to say it without spoilers...well she admits something and because of this, she reacts violently in one scene because of a little thing concerning the person she has feelings for. Her reaction was powerful, heartfelt, emotional and it's so similar to someone who has gone through it, it's a remarkable scene indeed. I think it was the strongest scene in the whole book. Joanne has finally admitted something important but then...things don't always work the way we think and now I can't wait to read the next book to know what's going to happen.
I think this story is strong and balanced and interesting. This is definitely a world worthy of reading about.

Meljean Brook - The Iron Duke

Seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas, where nanotech is fused with Victorian sensibilities -- and steam. After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power -- and fear -- of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession. Mina can’t afford his interest, however. Horde blood runs through her veins, and despite the nanotech enhancing her body, she barely scratches out a living in London society. Becoming Rhys’s lover would destroy both her career and her family, yet the investigation prevents her from avoiding him…and the Iron Duke’s ruthless pursuit makes him difficult to resist. But when Mina uncovers the victim’s identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans -- and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

Comment: I absolutely loved this book!
I mean, I knew it was good because others said so, but I didn't know I would love it so much. It was such fun to read this story... it really was.
This book tells us the story of Mina, she's a young woman in a different reality, a steampunk world where a terrible villain, the Horde, has managed to infect everyone with their nano agents and thus control the population. The Horde is from Asia, or what we understand as Asia so everything connected to them is perceived as the enemy. The Iron Duke is the one an who destroyed the Horde control in London, and with that he gave freedom to the people again, making him an instant hero.
In this new reality the author created, the world is divided in different continents and I was pleased to see there's a Lusitania (Portuguese people are the current lusitanians in a way), the author surely wrote fiction about this one if she considers it a world potency in her fiction story lol
This story starts with Mina, as a police Inspector, going to the Iron Duke's house to investigate a murder and from then on the Duke pursues her and helps and on the way they both discover things about each other and of course, they fall in love. The main couple is amazing and I was very curious about them and their past because of the way the author would give small clues here and there about each one. The there are some secondary characters I really liked and I'm curious to know more about them too.
What I really loved were the small details that seem so outrageous to be considered interesting but at the same time give life to the story. I loved how the author has filed up her world with so many things, so many new rules but still managed to give it a certain air that makes it so likable to read about. Plus the characters aren't as cold as one might expect, I loved all the emotions described, presented, exploited in this book.
I don't know how to correctly explain why I loved this so much, why all the little things and the overall story intrigued me so much or why I still think about some scenes, but the truth is, I loved it and can't wait to read more. I'm really happy to have read it. The story itself is interesting and we follow the story wanting to now who did what an how. But the richness of the book is truly in the details, I assure you.
It's marvelous to read a book always with that feeling of I need to know more! and I did and it was great, I recommend it to everyone. It's a great world, full of details that leave the reader eager and fascinated.

Kerrelyn Sparks - Wanted: Undead or Alive

Phineas McKinney thought New York City was tough, until he was attacked by Malcontents -- evil vampires who consider mortals to be snacks. Saved by the good vampires, Phin swore to devote his now undead life to stopping the Malcontents. He's got his job cut out for him when word comes that their enemy may be hiding in Wyoming. What does a city boy like him know about horses and campfires? Good thing he's got Brynley Jones with him . . . if only she didn't hate every vampire on earth. Bryn believes vampires are seductive and charming, and that makes them dangerous. So she's more than a little annoyed about teaming up with Phin, even if he is the only bloodsucker able to make her inner wolf purr. But as they hunt down the new leader of the Malcontents, danger threatens . . . and Phineas and Brynley discover a passion that will rock the foundation of their supernatural world.

Comment: Another book in this series.
This is the latest book in the Love At Stake series and it's Phineas turn.
Phineas was rescued in book #3 and has been working with the god vamps and enjoys being part of the big family that they all are.
Brynley is the twin sister of Phil, the hero of book #7, and she is a rebel at heart because her father wanted her to marry someone for power. These two keep fighting because it's the best way to fight their attraction. They're very different and both think it would be impossible for them to be together. But when they go on a mission together they talk and realize maybe it wouldn't be as difficult as they think to be together.
This story follows Phineas, a good vampire but he feels alone because everyone around him is finding someone to love and he jokes about being the Love Doctor but is still alone. I felt for him and it was interesting to see him gaining the protagonism. We always have an idea about characters and sometimes in their books we see them differently...to be honest I never saw Phineas as protagonist but I liked seeing trying to be happy.
Brynley was funny and caring and I think they are a good couple. She obviously had her issues but it was a nice change from the usual heroines (he's a shape shifter). I liked them together because they're an odd pair and in the end an even stranger one, but it was ok, I enjoyed it.
This story also moved things along in terms of plot. Once again, we see more conclusions about the bad guys, although some of them are still very mysterious and I'm actually quite interested in seeing what next will come from them.
It's always fun to watch beloved characters and how they're still happy with their lives, this is one of the reasons I love series, we get to watch our favorite characters all the time even when they're no longer the protagonists.
Just one thing bothered me here, well it's not exactly a bad thing, jut a little small tiny thing...Phineas told the truth to his brother and he's now a part of the vamp world, still human, but knows about them. I mean...did he really? I guess it's ok but the why he had to know I didn't buy, it was too easy.
Apart from this, I liked the whole book. Like I said once, not the best books in the whole world, but mostly light, funny and entertaining stories to decompress. I'll keep reading them, for sure.

Madeleine Urban/Abigail Roux - Fish and Chips

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are back on the job, settled into a personal and professional relationship built on fierce protectiveness and blistering passion. Now they’re assigned to impersonate two members of an international smuggling ring—an out-and-proud married couple—on a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean. As their boss says, surely they’d rather kiss each other than be shot at, and he has no idea how right he is. Portraying the wealthy criminals requires a particular change in attitude from Ty and Zane while dealing with the frustrating waiting game that is their assignment. As it begins to affect how they treat each other in private, they realize there’s more to being partners than watching each other’s backs, and when the case takes an unexpected turn and threatens Ty’s life, he and Zane will have to navigate seas of white lies and stormy secrets, including some of their own.

Comment: The third installment in the Cut and Run series.
In this story, Ty and Zane impersonate two criminals in a cruise...two gay criminals in a cruise. It seems the easiest way to be open about themselves but at the same time it might not be that easy to separate things in the end. In the cruise they are supposed to act in love while trying to find who is the true bad guy in the game but as time goes by someone tries to kill them and what looked like vacation at first gains a whole new level.

In this story Ty and Zane have to act like a married couple and make others believe they're in love. technically it's not so hard because they do have an intimate relationship and there are feelings between them. Ty, apparently, has managed to admit it to himself and I was to see him saying so, because it means he no longer sees Zane as temporary.
Zane, on the other hand still has doubts, still thinks Ty only wants him temporarily and doesn't really believe they could have something more, although he too is developing stronger feelings.
While each one is in their own personal doubtland, they have to embark in a mission where they are forced to act in love and when alone they are together ans as usual, but it's to others that they must act and soon it gets complicated to separate who's acting and more so, when it's an act and not the real thing. I really felt this separation getting all messed up because it was harder to them to not be themselves, to make it just part of a show...and although no one would point the finger at them, still they felt it and I wondered how it might affect their relationship.
The plot was funny and interesting yes, but to be honest the emotional side of things was what compelled me the most. I was intrigued by how they would play the game and how they would deal with public demonstrations of affection and it was so cool to watch, I wish they would one day admit it all and could come out too.
In the end, for me, this book was more an emotional journey for the characters than a mystery. And for one of them it also meant saying it out loud, saying each one of the three little words and I loved it! I think the other's reaction was a bit too cool, but I'll wait to see what happens in the next story because can't wait to see them together...officially. I really hope it happens.
As for this one, it was a great book, and I loved reading it.

Ilona Andrews - On The Edge

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between two worlds: on one side lies the Broken, a place where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is nothing more than a fairy tale; on the other is the Weird, a realm where blueblood aristocrats rule and the strength of your magic can change your destiny. Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel between the worlds -- but they never truly belong in either.
Rose thought that if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn't turn out the way she'd planned. and now she works an off-the-books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life determined to have Rose (and her power).
But when a terrible danger invades the Edge -- a flood of creatures hungry for magic -- Declan and Rose must overcome their differences and work together to destroy them, or the beasts will devour the Edge and everyone in it...

Comment: I loved this book!! I still can't believe it, I've finished this book last week and I still can't believe how truly amazing it was!!! It still is!
I've been a fan of the authors' other series but I postponed reading this one because I feared it wouldn't be as good and my opinion would be influenced by what I know and...oh well, I'm so happy to have read it.

So, this world is also filled with magic. There are three kind of dimensions in parallel in this world. Well, not exactly dimensions because they don't co-exist, they are side by side, but once stepped over each boundary it's like the world itself grows bigger. There's Weird, a world full of magic and Broken, a normal human world. These two worlds are key, but there's also The Edge, a in between where people can have magic or not, but aren't strong enough for the Weird and still manage to be different from humans.
It's in The Edge where we find Rose, a young woman taking care of her younger brothers and working as a cleaning lady in the Broken, the only place with steady paying jobs to help support the family.
Rose's family is poor but the tries her best to love them and help them despite the disappointments she suffered and the disillusionment.
One day Declan shows up, he's pursuing something but Rose is rude to him because he's a powerful blueblood from the Weird, which means his magic is one of the purest. But there's a thing....so is Rose's.

I already said loved the world, the way the authors imagine things is amazing. I'm so happy I enjoyed another world by them, I'm now positive they can't write crap! lol Everything they do is wonderful. And it's not only the world and the "rules" or even the slow but empathic way the reader acknowledges what is being read and what's supposed to be felt when reading a sentence. This is there too, but I think the best thing is when a small detail makes the sentence alive, makes that thought a human one or a heartfelt one. It's really amazing.
I liked how the story just flew, I was captivated from beginning to the end. Everything was fluid even when we read the villain's descriptions or about his past. It wasn't boring; it was purposeful to the plot.
But I really liked the little details about their lives, about what they were going through, I liked seeing Rose as someone poor but honest, and she loved for real. Her brothers are so cute and giving and there's this scene with one of them learning about the cycle of life, about the true meaning of why people die and it was so...so emotional and powerful I cried and cried and cried because it was so well written! As good as the whole story but like said over and over...their eye for details is unique. The authors are really gifted.
The romance is sweet too, I liked how they fought at first (I love when this happens, much more spicy lol) but slowly, step by step they saw in the other something true and special and it was great. I love how the story ended, I think it was more than perfect!
Now I can't wait for more, I already purchased the rest of the books, can't wait to have them in my hands! I more than recommend this, hope people would just go get it!

Damon Suede - Hot Head

Since 9/11, Brooklyn firefighter Griff Muir has wrestled with impossible feelings for his best friend and partner at Ladder 181, Dante Anastagio. Unfortunately, Dante is strictly a ladies’ man, and the FDNY isn’t exactly gay-friendly. For ten years, Griff has hidden his heart in a half-life of public heroics and private anguish. Griff’s caution and Dante’s cockiness make them an unbeatable team. To protect his buddy, there’s nothing Griff wouldn’t do… until a nearly bankrupt Dante proposes the worst possible solution: HotHead.com, a gay porn website where uniformed hunks get down and dirty. And Dante wants them to appear there—together. Griff may have to guard his heart and live out his darkest fantasies on camera. Can he rescue the man he loves without wrecking their careers, their families, or their friendship?

Comment: I bought this book after some people recommended it to me. They said it was a good GFY (= gay for you) story and although it was the author's debut, it was great.

This is the story of Griff and Dante, they are firemen in New York and work together. Griff and his dad don't get along that well, so he's friends with Dante's family since ever and spends a lot of time in their house. At first it was only friendship that moved him, but since 9-11 Griff has slowly getting to see Dante with different eyes, to the point he suspects he's in love with him. Then, because Dante has a house but not enough money to fix it, he proposes Griff a deal, something to do with a gay website and from that point on, things change completely.

Well, I liked the story and apart from some personal preferences, I can't say the story is bad or badly done. It has all the ingredients to work, two close friends, hidden desires around, dramatic things making the change happen, admissions of love...
I liked Griff's personality, he thought a lot about feelings and desires and what was right or wrong, how his eventual decision would affect the others around him, whether he confessed his feelings or not. His character is strong and we easily want to see him overcome the obstacles to be happy.
Dante, on the other hand...well, here's the thing I prefer when both main characters have a voice from the start. We only see Dante's POV when the guys finally admit things and this obviously only happens almost in the end, so..a lot of time imagining what Dante is thinking. A lot of his actions and behavior seems strange especially when compared to Griffin's more depressed thoughts about losing a friend, etc, in case he admits things. So I was a bit anxious to see Dante "speak", because there were some times where I think it would suit the story if we did see his mind...with only Griffin"speaking" we felt for him and get to the feel of the story faster but in my personal opinion, it's best to just know things than to imagine them, even more when we know they're ending up together, this isn't a drama or a tragic story.
Speaking about drama, there are some subjects in the story, some related to what others think about gays, some about the American vision of what was 9-11 and what it meant to them, it was interesting and it fit the plot in a fascinating way. But to combine everything..yes, it's possible, but a bit too much, I think there was too much imposed drama for the type of story.
In the end the guys are together and go out and they seem so happy, I was glad for them. Dante's family proves they are special and Dante is even a jealous boyfriend. They also help others accepting themselves and all in all, a great story to read.
Like I said, what I felt wasn't so good it's simply my personal vision of things, because the whole story is great and the author has done a good job.

Julia Quinn - Just Like Heaven

Honoria Smythe-Smith is: A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed "Bug" as a child
C) not in love with her older brother's best friend
D) all of the above
Marcus Holroyd is: A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) not in love with his best friend's younger sister
D) all of the above
Together they: A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever and the world's worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love It's Julia Quinn at her best, so you know the answer is . . . D) all of the above.

Comment: I like this author's style a lot. I've read her Bridgerton series and all the books were so funny and emotional, I loved them all, especially the 2nd one. Anyway, when I realized she was writing more books where those characters might show up I didn't stop to think and bought them right away.
This first book about the Smythe-Smith quartet presents us Honoria. She plays the violin and against popular belief, she does know they don't play well. But she does it because it's family tradition and she loves her family. Being part of the musicale is an honor to her because not only she respects her family but she has a great time laughing and being with her cousins. Marcus is Honoria's older brother best friend. The met in Eton and never separated, especially since Marcus' father wasn't very loving so Daniel Smythe Smith's family kind of embraced Marcus as their own and they stayed friends forever. Daniel, however, had a little problem and had to leave the country but he asked Marcus to help Honoria and drive away unsuitable suitors, which Marcus has been doing for quite a while. But this year, Honoria is determined to find a husband and maybe Marcus has to figure out the answer to both of them has been there all along.
Like I said, I love the author's style. I know she's not the best writer in terms of precise historical details, I know there are other authors whose work has more correct information, but to be honest I like her style and the fact she deals with intense subjects in a simple but sweet manner. She doesn't dramatize everything, she doesn't explore strange stuff or focus on her character's most awful traits. She writes and delivers an entertaining story, with romance and funny moments and seriousness all wrapped in the prefect package. To me it works and I'll keep reading her things. I love the fact her heroines aren't the most beautiful but they are honest and loving. And her heroes aren't impossible rakes or decadent men, they are funny and decent and perfect in their faults, although never arrogant. I love it. This book just proves it. Some might say it's a too easy book, but to me it's written well, the story is sweet and funny at times and I love there's love there, not only between the main characters but we feel the love in the Smythe-Smith family.
The romance is sweet and I liked they start falling slowly, it was always there but they realized slowly, it was fun. I liked how their personalities and choices didn't waver just because they started falling in love. This made the end so much better.
Now I can't wait for the next one, it's pre-ordered since last month and it is promising!
I picked up the UK covers since Bridgerton series and prefer them to the US ones. Those who know them...aren't they gorgeous?

Nora Roberts - Private Scandals

Deanna Reynolds had it all planned: She'd start out in the newsroom of a small Chicago station, then move up to one day host her own talk show. When her mentor Angela Perkins leaves for the big time in New York, Deanna risks everything for the chance to replace Angela on the air. Now, the TV talk show host finds herself competing with her former friend and mentor, Angela, over success in the world of television Finn Riley, Angela's former lover, and the network's sexiest journalist, falls for the risk-taker in the small town girl. But soon they are caught up in the bitter backlash of Angela's revenge... Together Finn and Deanna must unmask the hidden betrayals of Deanna's fiercest rival by taking the biggest risk of all...

Comment: I have had this book by Nora Roberts for a long time, since my "obsession" with her work begun. I've kept some books unread, though, exactly for this, to have things to savor for a long time.
This book is about Deanna, a young journalist turned tv host and Finn, a reporter. They come together when Deanna's career as tv host is yet to start and they face an opponent that doesn't want them to succeed, Angela. She is the prime star of the tv channel where they all work and she wasn't it all, never stopping in her pursue of bigger and better, even when she crushed others under her foot.
When Angela goes away to New York to be a national star, it seems things will get better and it looks like it, but when Deanna slowly starts to be successful not only Angela is against her, someone else too, even with love messages spread around...
The story is interesting but the identity of the mystery guy who's obsessed with Deanna is really obvious from the start even for me, notoriously weak in guessing the bad guy's in books. The way he pursues her and slowly gains intensity in his "devotion" is very intriguing especially because - Nora Robert's trademark style - he does it in moments where the reader isn't very concerned with it. In the end it kind of jumps in front of us and because it's not a surprise, it gets the feel it's very staged. But still...
The Angela storyline is actually interesting. She's mean, but we don't see her doing things all the time, we see a lot of planning and anger from her but actions are few, which helps, in my opinion, I think I'd be very bored and tired of watching her.
I liked the details about the tv business, the backgrounds...I wonder if it's really like that in the world... tv shows always present us with perfection, I wonder what's in those people minds every time they smile for the camera...
Deanna is a good protagonist. She comes from a humble home, she tried her best to be someone and she's rather strong for someone who had a not so perfect past. Finn, on the other had, comes from money but the lack of love from his parents roughed him up a bit, although I liked seeing his more vulnerable side.
Now...about their relationship. I liked how it progressed and how it ended, it was sweet. But I really disliked how Finn pursued Deanna when she was in another relationship in the beginning of the story and how insistent he seemed. I was a bit put of by the way he always had to push her at first. I mean, couldn't the guy wait? Then he grew on me but I couldn't just forget the initial image of him.
In the end, a entertaining read, as always, but it's not one my favorites. Still, way better than the ones I didn't really like (Public Secrets and Blue Smoke). Anything is better than those.

Michelle Rowen - That Old Black Magic

Reluctant witch Eden Riley knows that codependent relationships aren't good, especially when you're possessed by a sexy but troublemaking demon. Darrak's physical form makes good girl Eden want to go bad, but the constant itch to use the soul-destroying black magic she's recently acquired might force Eden to explore her dark side in an entirely different way.
And when her magic starts manifesting itself without conscious effort, both Eden's life and the possibility of a future with Darrak are threatened-since only one of them might be able to survive this...

Comment: After reading book #2 I just had to get to this one because I got really curious on how Darrak and Eden would finally solve their problem.
Eden is having more and more difficulties to control her witch's powers and that can be troublesome to her soul. In order to find help, they go ask for advice in Maksim, the wizard we've heard about in the previous book. He tells them how to solve the issue, but some things aren't as easy as they look and to make things even harder, Lucifer has asked for Eden's help too bu what he wants isn't easy to accomplish.
This books is thrilling, it's addictive because I wanted to keep reading all the time, it wasn't easy to stop when I had to. It's a very organized paranormal romance, I mean, everything follows a certain path, some might say it's expected, but I think it works, because besides Eden's looking for a way to solve everything, we also have Darrak becoming something he shouldn't and I loved seeing him have human reactions and feelings. It's very well done and the explanation in the end makes sense for the story.
I was so happy with the end of the book. I really liked it was both enchanting due to the HEA we're finally seeing and charming because the witty dialogue never stops and I laughed a few times. Plus, it happens a lot of things, some of them I didn't see coming and it very interesting ans smart how the author dealt with them.
I liked how the series developed since book #1. It was an amazing journey and it has great lines, great backgrounds, interesting characters and it's a trilogy. A finished trilogy, which means we have a beginning, a middle and an end that makes sense and delivers.
Totally happy with it and recommend it to everyone.

Jessica Bird - An Unforgttable Lady

She thought she had everything she ever wanted--
until she met the only man she'd ever need.
Forced into the spotlight by her fabulous wealth, heiress Grace Hall isn't always prepared for the consequences of her standing. When a string of attacks against the city's most prominent women leaves Grace vulnerable, the refined beauty reluctantly hires a bodyguard. Now she finds herself subject to the ironclad will of her new protector. In spite of her frustration, Grace is drawn to John Smith in ways she can't explain. For beneath his tough exterior and dark past, there's an inner core that is tantalizingly seductive.
John knows that when you're a professional bodyguard, it needs to be all business. But such conduct makes for a solitary life with few ties and too many good-byes. Grace was supposed to be just another assignment on a long list. Yet there's something about her that gets under his skin. With each passing day, the attraction grows more intense--until John is faced with a decision he never thought he'd have to make. Can he give up the only life he's ever known to be with the only woman he's ever loved?

Comment: This book tells us the story of Grace, a very known and rich heiress and John Smith, a bodyguard. They don't seem to appreciate the other in the beginning but after some deaths that have a connection to Grace, she asks for his services and then everything changes.
This book was recently published in Portugal, so I decided to read it because I confess I was curious to see how the author's writing would look like in a different genre, considering I like her BDB books so much.
First of all, the feel of the book. I've noticed the writing style is pretty much the same as in BDB books. Of course, considering it's the same author, but some writers can kind of camouflage things, depending on the genre, in a way that even tough we see it's the same person, it's like both things are from different sides of the author's mind, if you get my meaning. In this case, I was glad to see the author I love in this side as well, especially in the way the characters justify their actions, wonder about their reactions, the details of the thinking process. There are differences, obviously, but I felt myself relax when I read the first pages and things were...familiar.
The storyline was a bit predictable, but well, mainstream romance...and then the villain was a bit too obvious although I must confess my poor judgment and guessing skills because I only convinced myself about who it was after half of the book..*blushes* Yep, I'm pretty much an airhead about these things.
The romance. It was sweet but not entrancing. In this genre I've read better. I liked how they both discussed things many times and how slowly they progressed from antagonists to kind of friends to intimacy but John was always reluctant and I was a bit put of on how easily he accepted things in the end. I guess I'd have preferred if he admitted it to himself sooner, so it wouldn't feel rushed. I liked Grace's behavior and attitude and how she was humble and friendly despite her social position.
In the end I was glad for them but I wished I could see them together after because some issues - namely their financial differences - might still be obstacles to their HEA. Maybe in the 3rd book? Anyway, despite all, it was a very entertaining read.

I didn't investigate the author's books as mrs Bird, so I wasn't aware this is the second in related stories books (or should I say series?) so I've seen the couple from the previous one and I was intrigued by how their story might have developed so now I have to get it too...- I prefer reading things in order - ...but I have to say this story convinced me enough to want to find out if the others are as interesting.

Devyn Quinn - Siren's Call

There are some things that can't stay buried -- even in the deep of the ocean. As a woman with a secret, lighthouse keeper Tessa Lonike savors her solitude on the island of Little Mer, off the coast of Maine. During a violent storm, Tessa spots a man thrashing in the ice-cold waters and dives in to save him, using her ability as a mermaid to easily pull him to shore. When Kenneth Randall awakens on the beach, he is alone, left with the haunting memory of his beautiful flame-haired savior. And a year later, when Kenneth meets Tessa again, he's determined not to let her slip away. Just as the desire between them begins to burn, Tessa's archaeologist ex-lover comes back to town with a tantalizing clue to her murky heritage. The trio travels to the Mediterranean in search of answers, and what they find there will change Tessa's life forever. She'll have to choose between the world of her people and the call of her heart....

Comment: When I picked up this book I was very intrigued by the fact it was about mermaids. There aren't many books with mermaid protagonists or, at least, not that I know of. I guess the vampire/angel tend isn't over yet, who knows, maybe mermaids and trolls are next ah ah.
Hum, so...this story... Tessa Lives in an island that belongs to her family for ages. She's a light keeper (how I wish I'd live near lighthouses) and she's a mermaid so it's kind of handy she lives so near the ocean. She has some financial problems and her sisters - also mermaids - want her to sell the island because they no longer have the ability to maintain the house, but she doesn't want to because it's part of their legacy and their parents' memories.
Kenneth is a sad, depressed man. One day, while in vacations near the island where Tessa lives, he decides to kill himself and tries to drown but Tessa sees him and jumps to the water, becomes a mermaid and saves him.
One year later, Kenneth is better, he recovered and dealt with some of his issues, namely the death of his wife, which was the cause for his sadness in the first place. Tessa is still struggling in her island and when Kenneth returns because he couldn't forget her face somehow, they meet properly and although Tessa wants to deny it at first, there's chemistry between them.
...or should have if I got convinced of that. Which I wasn't.
So, at first sight this story had everything to work out, interesting theme, characters, mystery, romance, a lighthouse, the sea and a lost civilization in the bottom of the ocean. I guess I can say many people will enjoy this story too. In amazon most people who rated it, liked it.
Now, the main reason why I didn't like it that much it's because Tessa annoyed me a lot. I mean, really a lot. She is stubborn and independent and I don't blame her to be like that, she's also suspicious of love because she has had a bad experience, and she wants to preserve something that means a lot to her, but she's not likable to me because she tries too hard to be all these things and I was never convinced she was really changing her mind about love even when she said so. The thing is, in the story her ex returns because he's an archaeologist and he found out about the lost mermaid civilization but he's vain and selfish and many other things and still she lets him play her and her new developing relationship with Kenneth and although she is portraying someone very close to real, I mean, many people can't resist their exes, they're exes because they were an it before after all, but to allow him to touch her and to not see his moves even when saying she's mad at him...ahh it was too much. In real life people can be as doubtful and weak as they want, but in romanceland I like some determination and certainty.
So after the ex returns and Kenneth helps her to look for her roots by financing the trip (he's rich) they all go, yep, Tessa and th two guys - I really don't like love triangles even when it's obvious with whom she will end up with - and try to find the lost kingdom well under the sea. Tessa being a mermaid helps this little enterprise, of course. So they find it and discover many things about it and it's not all fun.
The adventure part of the book was great, the author has managed to create a detailed world, many interesting points. Then the romance part ruined it because Tessa isn't likable to me and Kenneth deserved someone better I think.
After all this, in the end I didn't really liked it. I liked some parts but not enough to make me keep reading because who knows if the sister's stories are better, but I just don't have the time to read everything. The writing is apealing yes, but then the romance itself...meh.

Jane Feather - Rushed to the Altar

From New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather comes the first of a wonderful new trilogy, The Blackwater Brides, set in the sensually im-proper Georgian period, in which three noble brothers discover they will be forced to find brides under highly unusual circumstances. Jasper Sullivan, Earl of Blackwater, needs a prostitute. Not in the usual way, however. His wealthy uncle's will promises to divide his huge fortune among his nephews if each rescues a fallen woman . . . by marrying her And since Jasper's estates were already mortgaged to the hilt before he inherited them, when he catches a pretty young prostitute trying to pick his pocket, he immediately makes his proposal. Clarissa Astley is not at all what Jasper believes. The orphaned daughter of a prosperous merchant, she is searching the seedier districts of London for her young brother, abducted by their evil guardian, who wants the little boy's inheritance. But she needs powerful help, and the darkly handsome Earl of Blackwater is certainly that. So she pretends to be exactly what he assumed-- a risky charade for an innocent virgin. But when passion flares between Jasper and Clarissa, the deception becomes even more difficult to handle. . . .

Comment: Months ago, I've read something about this book and I followed my guts and ordered it. I'm not sure why...like in most cases with so many books in my TBR list...
Anyway, this is the story of Jasper, he's an earl in the Georgian years and together with his brothers, will receive an heritage that would solve all his financial problems, but the uncle who will give them the money has one request: that they marry and they have to pick a woman to reform, so they can be protectors and charitable at the same time. So each bother tries to look for a woman with a poor situation in life to help and to gain the heritage.
Jasper finds a young woman in Covent Garden and follows her to a brothel and so he thinks he's found the right woman to help him.
Clarissa is looking for her younger brother, he's only 10 and was abducted by their tutor who wants the family money. When she couldn't see her brother she left for London to look for him and bring him back home, but it's not so easy and the only place she could find to live while searching for the boy is the brothel but she isn't a prostitute. When Jasper tries to offer her a deal she accepts because she realizes it's the fastest and safest way to retrieve her brother and to ensure his safety so their uncle couldn't find them later.
The storyline is interesting and I liked how Clarissa seemed to dodge all the issues in front of her so no one around her knew what she aimed for and exactly who she was. That was fun and I cheered every time she managed to find an excuse for her actions or words. Of course the hero wasn't always deceived but still, she was great just by trying.
One thing bothered me, well it usually bothers me in these types of plot, I hate the way prostitutes are treated...it's...annoying that things had to be that way. Then Clarissa seemed to enjoy her new role, she wasn't a prostitute but acted like one to keep her plan and I was a bit put off by how easily she accepted that, considering she was from a small town and she does things to keep her lies that I didn't think young ladies in those times might do...some things were a bit too much, I think.
In the end, of course everything works out and they see they're in love. Jasper helps Clarissa with her brother and they end up happy.
Did I enjoy this book? I did. Not the best historical I've read but good. The story fascinated me and the character's personalities too. I just didn't like that much how they ended up together...it wasn't how I imagined and usually an author proves me I'm wrong but in this case I wasn't convinced they were really good together, as a couple. Anyway, I recommend it.

Michelle Rowen - Something Wicked

(Just a quick note to say sorry for being away for so long...sometimes time isn't enough for all the things we have to do and then to join the party there's family visiting, I don't know about you, but with my family visiting I can't do anything else besides entertaining them)

* * * *

Being a little wicked isn’t all bad…
Every woman has a sexy demon inside her just waiting to get out, but for Eden Riley it’s a little different. Her inner demon is named Darrak, and he’s been inhabiting bodies for the past 300 years. In the daytime, thanks to her special psychic energy, he’s able to take physical shape -- a shape she wouldn’t mind getting her hands on, if it wasn’t a threat to her immortal soul…
Because of her possession, Eden now has uncontrollable black magic at her fingertips, and she and Darrak are trying to end the curse that binds them before the situation gets any worse. To do it, they’ll have to get tangled up with some unsavory characters from the underworld. When sparks and spells fly, they could get the distance they need…or each have their own private hell to pay.

Comment: I was so happy to have read the first book in the series I just had to read the rest of the trilogy - currently I did - and I wasn't sorry.
This second book is another set of adventures where Darrak and Eden try to find a way to break the curse that forces Darrak to possess Eden.
In this story Eden and Darrak are looking for a wizard to help them and maybe telling them a way how to break the curse without one of them dying or Eden turning into a black witch. However, the bad guys have some secrets that might be key to separate Eden and Darrak in a permanent, deadly, way.
I liked this story a lot. It took me just one day to read it all, the book is that good. I love the dialogue, it doesn't stop to amaze me how perfect it is, with the right amount of sarcasm/irony and fun. I smiled a lot while reading the book, even in the not so funny moments, only because the comebacks between characters was so well done and amusing.
Darrak and Eden are an interesting couple and not only because their living arrangements, they are falling in love and it's good to see how Eden sacrifices a bit of her pure soul to help others or to do things she shouldn't just because she has to help. And then it's cute to watch Darrak, this archdemon, to think and act to help Eden because it's the right thing to do and because he might be falling in love. The thing is, after so many human possession, some things start to root in him, such as...feelings.
The storyline isn't boring or stale. It moves along, we see things happening and it's both fun and gripping.
I recommend this to everyone. We see Lucifer show up too and his role isn't as evil as one might expect. Besides, some secondary characters give us a glimpse of the role they might play, although not too much, the focus is clearly in the main couple.
I'm not sure what else I can say without giving spoilers or having to explain the story, I just think the author has done a great job and by this point I was more than eager to read the last one, to see how in the world Eden and Darrak could be happy.