Friday, October 21, 2011

Friday Book Trailer

I came across the trailer for McCarty's The Viper  this morning, can't wait to get this book.  It came out this past Tuesday, but I probably won't have time to get it until next week.




book cover of 
The Viper 
 (Highland Guard , book 4)
by
Monica McCarty

Monday, October 17, 2011

The Saint - By Monica Mccarty

It's here!  Well, not the book.  But the cover!!  And it is red hot!  Take a look:

book cover of 
The Saint 
 (Highland Guard , book 5)
by
Monica McCarty

Magnus MacKay is the ultimate Highlander: tough, proud, able to master any terrain and to best his enemies. Called “the Saint” for his refusal to discuss women, as well as for his cool and steady leadership, Magnus hides a painful truth. It isn’t virtue or piety that keeps him silent, but a wound of love and loss that cuts so deep he cannot bear to speak of it. But when the woman who refused him is betrothed to his friend and fellow Guardsman, Magnus is tested by love’s battle cry.

A wild and innocent beauty, Helen chose family duty over her desire for Magnus. Now the anger in his eyes mirrors the tormented regret in her heart. But as deadly subterfuge stalks the King and his Guard, Helen vows to right her youthful mistakes with a woman’s determined spirit. Still, Magnus harbors secrets and an iron will not to weaken to temptation—or heartache—again. But as danger looms, it’s the kiss not of a saint, but of a sinner, that can save them (Amazon).

Review - From New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb

book cover of 
New York to Dallas 
 (In Death, book 33)
by
J D Robb.
The number-one New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name-and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood.
When a monster named Isaac McQueen-taken down by Eve back in her uniform days-escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago. (Amazon)

Yes!  The thirty-third full length novel in the In Death series is a stellar one!  I actually enjoyed reading about the process that Eve went through in solving this crime, lately I have found that I tend to skim these sections of the books, but I was fully absorbed in this book and stayed up longer that I should have to read just one more chapter each night.  It seemed a little weird at first without Eve's cast of characters surrounding her and helping.  But after a while everything was fine.  I also appreciated a story without any major bumps in the relationship between Eve and Roarke.  I know that J.D. Robb wants to make their relationship seem realistic, but it is nice to see them together without some internal and/or external friction causing tension.

I do have one little nitpick.  At times Eve uses short form when talking (Robb probably does this to make her sound more authentic I'm sure), but one short form always, always made me stop and giggle.  Using the context of what Eve was saying or asking, I'm pretty sure the word was analysis, but the short form used in the book was anal, and yes my (apparently 12 year old boy's) mind went there each and every time it was used.  I honestly can't remember if this as been used in previous books, but one would think that I would remember seeing how often I would stop, giggle, read the sentence over again and giggle again.  Even so, this book is a perfect example as to why I enjoy reading a J.D. Robb book.  Even though we knew who the killer was, you are kept at the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.

Review - My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

book cover of 
My One and Only 
by
Kristan Higgins
Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.
Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend. (Amazon)

My One and Only is Higgin's 7th book.  It is also the seventh book of hers that features (prominently) a zany, yet needy family and a dog.  It is also her first book that I did not buy, but borrowed from the library.  I don't think I will purchase any of her books in the future unless she moves away from the crazy secondary characters and dog shtick.  Don't get me wrong, I will continue to read her new novels, I just won't buy them until there is a change.  The book for me did not get interesting and readable until the tenth chapter.  That was when Harper and Nick left the other characters behind for their road trip. 

It took me a while to like Harper.  In the beginning, I found her to be overbearing and yet needy.  She was willing to marry her boyfriend Dennis just because it was time for her to get married.  So she bought her own ring, had a list of things she wanted him to change, and ignored the signs that he wasn't willing to marry in hopes that she would eventually wear him down.  Also, rather than swearing she used the word "crotch", I have to say that being the same age as her I have never used that word in the contexts she did and it felt unnatural and immature.  But again, once I got to chapter ten and we delve into why Harper is the way she is, she becomes more likable.

To be perfectly honest, if I were just reviewing chapters 10 to 24, this book would an A.  I was invested in the story, Nick and Harper were entertaining and I was rooting for them.  Higgins really has the knack for writing riveting stories.  I even cried once, although to be perfectly honest it may have more to do with my hormones.  I also cried yesterday while watching an episode of the Dog Whisperer - he was helping a rescued dog become less fearful of the world and actually get out of a chair! 

I seem to have a problem of letting things go, authors I enjoy reading are included.  So it is more than likely that I will read the next book out by Kristan Higgins, but please. for. the. love. of. God! get rid of the wacky family members, the dogs, and this need to pair the heroine with a family member's ex, or a family member with the heroine's ex!  It gets tiresome after the seventh book.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Darkfever and DreamWorks

Whoo Hoo!!!  Apparently DreamWorks has acquired the rights to Karen Marie Moning's Fever series.  Love this!  Only question is, does DreamWorks only do movies, or do they do tv shows like True Blood?  I don't think a movie or series of movies could do this story justice.  Each book needs it's own season to flesh out the story and the characters.  And HBO would be the perfect place for MacKayla and Jericho.

   

If, like me, you are impatiently waiting for another book by Moning, head on over to her facebook page for a scene from Jericho's point of view.


Monday, October 3, 2011

Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

Oh yeah!  Check out what I found over at Goodreads:

"I'm currently working on a trilogy that features Dani, Christian MacKeltar, Ryodan, and the mysterious 'Dancer,' set primarily in Fever-Dublin. Each installment in the trilogy is a stand-alone mystery, however there are larger plot arcs unfolding in the background...

..For those of you who have been worrying—the trilogy is not YA. If I had to categorize it, I would say it straddles the line between YA and adult uneasily. ...Many of the questions I left unanswered in the FEVER series are addressed in this new series.

Exciting news: I’ve agreed to write two more books after that. Once the new trilogy is complete, I’m returning to the core story begun in the FEVER series, and will resume writing about Mac, Barrons, V’lane, Cruce, the Unseelie king, the concubine, the Song of Making.

All in all, there are five more books coming about the Fever World!"


I cannot wait for this!  Although I am a little worried about the books "straddling" YA and adult.  According to Goodreads, the first book will be out sometime in 2012.

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Every so often I like to look up upcoming books by my favourite authors.  Today I decided to see if there was any information on Nora Roberts' hardcover for 2012.  I discovered that her next book is titled The Witness and will be released on April 17, 2012.  I have not come across a cover or the synopsis but I did find a description from Nora herself at her messageboard about the book:

Right now I’m working on the 2012 hardcover. As a teenager our heroine has her first rebellion and as a consequence witnesses brutal murder. This brilliant, socially awkward girl goes under the protection of the US Marshalls, but things go horribly wrong. Some 12 years later, with only herself to depend on, she’s still on the run. Until she meets the charming and tenacious local chief of police in the quiet area of the Ozarks where she’s trying to settle down.

I am looking forward to this book, it sounds like a classic Roberts suspense.