Review ~ A Secret Rage by Charlanie Harris

TITLE: A Secret Rage
AUTHOR: Charlanie Harris
COPYRIGHT: 08/07/2007
PAGES: 224
TYPE: contemporary/ myster/thriller
SERIES:  no

REASON FOR READING: I had it in the TBR pile and thought of how much I love this author and gave it a shot.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
Former New York City model Nickie Callahan is looking forward to the easy life when she moves to the sleepy college town of Knolls, Tennessee. But the women of Knolls are not safe. And as Nickie gets swept up in a string of brutally violent crimes, she must take matters of justice into her own hands.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

I am still torn on this review. It is a tough subject to write about and had I actually read in between the lines and knew this was about a RAPE I wouldn’t have read it. The book in general is good I just sometimes don’t think authors can handle the rape thing very well. I did like that after she was raped it was hard not to panic when the thought of being with someone else. But she did manage to get over it fast when it came time to have sex with the hero. IF you ignore this aspect the book was over all pretty good. Not a favorite of mine the book was violent the women of Knolls are being raped and by whom. Two of the survivors get together to solve the case and well there you go. They do solve it but it has a twist I guess. Anyway a very hard book to read and even harder to review due to the sensitive nature of the topic.



Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
TBR pile Challenge

Review ~ Seven Exes are Eight too Many by Heather Wardell

TITLE: Seven exes are eight too many
AUTHOR: Heather Wardell
COPYRIGHT: 2010
TYPE: E-book Contemporary Romance
PAGES: 276
SERIES:
No not that I am aware of

REASON FOR READ: I absolutely adored Go Small or Go Home so I was thrilled to give this one a try

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
The fiercely private Madeleine-Cora Spencer is the last person who should be on a reality TV show, but when she's shunned by a friend's new wife because "you can't trust desperate single women" her pain and humiliation drive her straight to the "Find Your Prince" dating show's web site. Armed with date-appropriate clothes and a detailed game plan she arrives to meet her potential loves, only to be dumped... on a remote island with seven ex-boyfriends. Seven exes! Could this be any worse?

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Wow I was once again impressed with this book. It wasn't nearly as emotional as the first one I read by Heather but it was just as engaging. I loved the premises of the book and the question of what if you were trapped with 7 of your exes and everything you did or said was filmed. How would you feel? And what if one of the exes was the one that got away due to a stupid mistake? I thought Heather did a nice job juggling 9 plus personalities where you had enough to judge them and feel as if you got to know enough of them and the ones that you didn't care about you still got to know them. It was nice without being too much. I enjoyed both the H/H and the extras LOL if that makes sense (and it would if you read it)

THINGS I LIKED:
- Uh hello the whole freaking plot EXCELLENT who in the world would want to be trapped on an island with their exes? Could you? I think not. This had it all fighting, crying, laughing, bonding, growth *sigh* yeah a good plot.
- I enjoyed the men which is strange b/c at first I felt horrible for MC being trapped with them but, then I watched as they matured and as MC matured and wow I just liked them all. I am kind of sad none of my exes would be like that LOL they would actually try to kill me.
- I liked that the main character learned from her mistakes GOD it took a while but she was able to learn from past mistakes and to make things better.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I hated, hated that MC wouldn’t forgive KENT for the love of GOD woman give it up already LORD help me I get it. You have secrets, you’re a private person, he betrayed (in a very stupid way) GET OVER IT. Ok rant done.
-Side rant. Seriously how could she not know that Kent THREW the damn contest so she could talk to her dad? Serioiusly?!?!

Are you keeping it or passing it on? duh keeping!

Would you recommend this book? Actually I highly recommend pretty much whatever this author writes. I have only read 3 of her books but she is a must buy/read author for me!

Favorite Quotes:
The usual Las Vegas airport crowds bustled around us, and people kept eying me, the lone female in a group of men, then nudging their companions and whispering, no doubt trying to figure out who I was to have such an entourage. Someone who was pure evil in a past life, apparently, if I deserved all this. Pg 8

Plain rice with no seasoning except the odd little bug with a death wish. Fabulous. Pg. 21

Author Webpage: http://www.heatherwardell.com/

You can purchase the book here:


Challenges:E-book Challenge
Out do Yourself Challenge

Reviewing Next:Planning to Live by Heather Wardell


Anything else?
******EDITED******
Yes!!! Don't forget that Heather had a new book which came out on the 24th of last month (sorry about he confusion!) and I will for sure be picking this up!

"Stir Until Thoroughly Confused"

Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to
become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy
but controlling new boss.

They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and
when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary
faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?

Review ~ Go small or Go Home by Heather Wardell

TITLE: Go Small or Go Home
AUTHOR: Heather Wardell
COPYRIGHT: March 2010
TYPE: Contemporary Romance
PAGES: 164 give or take on your e-reader
SERIES: Nope

REASON FOR READ: Heather contacted me to see if I would be interested in reading and of course I said yes!!

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
When massage therapist and aspiring artist Tess begins treating stressed but attractive hockey star Forrest, her art career soars due to his gallery-owning mother, but her creativity plummets under the weight of rules and deadlines. Soon, she's lost the freedom and joy she'd always found in art. Is having her dream career worth losing doing her art her way, or can she somehow have both at once?



THOUGHTS/OPINION:

First and foremost I am very honest about my reviews if something doesn't work for me I will let you know. This was not the case. I ADORED this book which is shocking considering that I usually don't like contemporary romance novels very well. Something about the summary hooked me and I couldn't say no. Then once I began to read HOLY MOLEY I was hooked. Tess is wonderful, Forrest is wonderful, Jen is wonderful, Pam becomes wonderful and well I think that was all the "Main" type characters although the secondary cast was great. This book did it all for me. I had the H/H meet and build their relationship (there was no I love you on the first sight) they started slowly. It had me crying with the sibling aspect (seriously bawling like a baby) it had me on the friend level with Jen, on the the job level and stress level with Tess. Needless to say everything worked for me with this book. NO COMPLAINTS... and well that's rare let's just say that.

It appears the older I get the more complaints I start to have with books. Any who that's neither here nor there so moving on.

THINGS I LIKED:

- Loved, loved, loved the hockey aspect. I'm not sure if Heather is a hockey fan or not but damn girl you make me want to be one. GEEZ I was getting into imaginary games... think about that for a second... yeah that's how in detail they were.

- Miniatures... not something one should care about but I found myself wanting to buy some of the ones that Tess made. Hell I want the one that she sent off to a person I won't mention to not give it away but HOLY MAN I want. And yeah normally not into them...

-Loved the team aspect of hockey players and how that worked with Tess and Forrest I absolutely loved the interactions as they became more comfortable with Tess. And can I just say that Guitar Hero was mentioned and yeah won me over with that... Oh and puck bunnies never heard of them before (I live in KS there is no hockey here although based on the weather this winter there should be.)
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:

- If I had to pick one thing I didn't like it would be the way that Tess handled the stress with the art dealer. Now that being said I understood why she did it I just wish she would've come to her decision a lot sooner instead of fighting it for so long. Enough said I just got to the point that Tess became my girl and well it drove me insane that she struggled with the issue for so long. Okay seriously I'm done now.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? KEEPING!!! Well it is an E-book but it is definately one I shall re-read later!

Would you recommend this book?  Yes and so far I have to 3 people plus all of you!!!

Challenges:
Ebook Challenge
Out Do Yourself Challenge

Reviewing Next:
Another Heather book! 7 exes are 8 too many!

Author's Website
http://www.heatherwardell.com/

You can purchase this book here:


Anything else?
Yes!!! Heather has a new book coming out on the 24th and I will for sure be picking this up!

"Stir Until Thoroughly Confused"

Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to
become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy
but controlling new boss.

They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and
when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary
faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man?

Review ~ Rising Tides by Nora Roberts

TITLE: Rising Tides
AUTHOR: Nora Roberts
COPYRIGHT: 1998
TYPE: Romance
PAGES; 330
SERIES: Yep Book 2 in a 4 book series
1. Sea Swept
2. Rising Tides

REASON FOR READING: I enjoyed book 1 and really liked Ethan’s character so I had to read what happened to him.

Summary : {From Goodreads}
Set on the windswept shores of the Chesapeake Bay, Nora Roberts's Rising Tides, the second book in the Quinn Brothers trilogy, continues the story of the lives and loves of adopted brothers Ethan, Cameron, and Philip Quinn. Eager to honor their father's dying wish that their other brother, Seth, be cared for, the three settle into life with a 10-year-old. Of all the brothers, it is Ethan who finds himself drawn to the young boy, because both suffered horrific abuse before being adopted by the Quinns. Time hasn't extinguished Ethan's pain, only buried it deep within his heart, a fact that may keep him from the only woman he has ever loved

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Ethan’s story is the one that I wanted to read the whole time I was reading Cam’s story. I really enjoyed how serious he was, how calm, and that he took his time before making a decision he appeared to be the kind of man you could like and respect. I also found that I was really interested in Grace’s story during book 1. She appeared to be the kind of woman I could be friends with and I just wanted to see her get a HEA. The book takes off a few months after the last one. Cam and Anna are married and on a honeymoon in Rome. Leaving Seth with Ethan which was good b/c Seth’s past was a WHOLE hell of a lot like Ethan’s the only difference was how far the abuse went. God what Ethan had to go through was horrible and I found myself crying with Grace while he told her. The shame and guilt he felt and the fact he believed he was tainted about broke my heart.
As far as Grace is concerned she is doing everything she can just to survive. She has a daughter with no father. Her own father cut her out of his life (but that was a mutual thing) she is working 2 jobs and trying to give her little girl the best life she can. She was exactly what Ethan needed.

Things I enjoyed:
-I really enjoyed that Ethan helped Seth come to terms with his shame and helped him to realize that he was still an okay kid even after what had happened to him. I really feel that Ethan is the reason that Seth started to connect with the family.
-I enjoyed Grace. Yes at times she was beyond stubborn but she figured out early in life you can’t count on anyone to take care of you but yourself and by God did she ever.
-Watching these two dance back and forth fighting their feelings, mis-reading each other and not talking would usually be a turn off for me. But in this case I really enjoyed it.

Things I didn’t care for:
-I didn’t care for the almost rape scene that happened at the bar and how Ethan reacted to. I thought it was a little out of character for him and didn’t do anything for the plot other than help Grace realize that maybe it is okay to ask for help.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it. It was a cute book but not a re-read for me.

SCORE: 7 out of 10

Anything Else: You really need to read book one in order to fully appreciate the situation with Seth and the brothers.

Review ~ Sea Swept by Nora Roberts

TITLE: Sea Swept
AUTHOR: Nora Roberts
COPYRIGHT: 1998
TYPE: Romance
PAGES; unsure
SERIES: 1st in the series
1. Sea Swept

REASON FOR READING: Well I’ve never read a Nora book before and this one came HIGHLY suggested so I figured why not

Summary : {From Goodreads}
Sea Swept tells the tale of three brothers--all former juvenile delinquents adopted by Raymond Quinn and his wife, Stella. Cameron, Ethan, and Philip are as different as can be, but they are bound by their love and respect for their adoptive father, who has recently passed away. On his deathbed he asks his sons to look after their most recent brother, 10-year-old Seth, who--if the rumors are to believed--just may be Ray's biological son. Of course, the brothers don't know anything about caring for the young boy, and if social worker Anna Spinelli has anything to say about it, they won't. However, the sparks that fly over the fate of Seth are nothing compared to the romantic sparks that fly between Anna and Cameron

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
For my first Nora book it was pretty good. I enjoyed the setting St. Christopher Bay. The brothers were different all from a horrible background and taken in by wonderful people who gave them a chance to better their lives. The only hiccup was the fact they were all BEAUTIFUL, GIFTED, RICH, Ect… and so forth including the women listed. That got old but I cancelled that out based on their horrible childhoods and made it work. The brothers are living their lives when it falls apart. The man they call Dad just died and left behind a kid just like them. Only this time Seth is left with scandal. The town believes that he is Ray’s son which of course the brother’s don’t believe. This book focuses on the eldest Cam who races boats for a living and his “heroine” Anna who happens to be Seth’s Social Worker.

Things I enjoyed:
-Anna she was very strong, she knew what she wanted and wouldn’t stop at anything to get it. Plus when Cam was being an ass she decided that yes it would hurt but she didn’t need him to survive. She is a heroine after my own heart and I really enjoyed her whipping Cam into shape.
-The plot was pretty good and watching Seth and the brothers come to terms with their life being flipped around was very sweet. I also liked that Seth and Cam liked each other but at the same time didn’t know how to take each other. It wasn’t like the brothers became a family all at once.
-Seeing how the brothers interact with each other was fantastic. Their fights and arguments were very believable.

Things I didn’t care for:
- Like I stated above the brothers were almost too perfect. They were all handsome, rich, well to do, had a great job, ect. It was a little too much
- I didn’t care for “Ray” making a ghost like appearance I thought that was a little silly. I guess it worked but something about it was off for me.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it. While it was cute it just wasn’t a re-read for me.

SCORE: 6 out of 10

Anything Else: I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fluffy and quick romance read.

Review ~ Riding Wild by Jaci Burton

TITLE: Riding Wild
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: Erotic Romance
PAGES; 288
SERIES: 1st in a series

REASON FOR READING: Christine and everyone was talking about the latest release so I thought I should join in and at least read the first one.

Summary : {From Goodreads}
He's a Harley-riding ex-thief working undercover for the government. She's a gun-toting ex-socialite hired to protect a valuable museum exhibit. But in her attempt to stop a heist, she never anticipated having her breath and her heart stolen...

Mac Canfield was the last man Lily West expected to see again, never mind aim her gun at. But here he was, the bad boy who'd broken her heart years ago-still a thief, this time high-jacking a priceless artifact--and it was all she could do to push aside the memories of how it felt to have his perfectly chiseled body next to hers.

Mac was no less shocked to see the beautiful girl-next-door all grown up, threatening to shoot him on the spot. Little did she know she was blowing his cover-and now he had to figure out how to get her out of harm's way without succumbing to his crazy desire to take her on a hot trip down memory lane.

Unfortunately, Lily has no intention of going anywhere with Mac. Which means he has to resort to kidnapping. Unless, of course, she agrees to let him take her for the kind of ride destined to drive them both unbelievably wild

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay don’t hold this against me but to be honest I don’t care that much for erotic romance. Usually I can do okay with it when I am so engrossed with the story/plot that I forget about what I’m reading or the sex makes sense. So bare with me through this review b/c while I LOVED the plot and the sex was HAWT. I could’ve done without five or six of the sex scenes. I didn’t think they helped anything in fact a couple of them were just pointless to me (and only me so don’t flay me alive).

Things I enjoyed:
-I enjoyed that Lily was able to fully enjoy sex without any reservations. She knew what she enjoyed in bed and wasn’t scared to try anything new. In other words she wasn’t your typical I love sex but really I have no idea what I’m doing.
-I liked that Mac really did love Lily and always had but thought he wasn’t good enough for her. Those kind of heroes always make me swoon. He’s a bad boy that knows it and only wanted what he thought was the best for Lily.
-I liked that Mac came to realize that only Lily knows what’s good and what isn’t for Lily not him and that he was going to have to let her experience things on her own without being the over protective alpha that doesn’t budge.

Things I didn’t care for: -Like I said above I could’ve done without some of the sex scenes and ended up skimming through most of them (the superficial ones) once they came together as a couple it was perfect.
-Another thing was introducing us to all the guys. I understand for interaction sake it was important and to let us know who the future books were about this was important but still it just seemed unnecessary.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing on it b/c it was a library book. If I like the next one I might considering buying but I doubt it. I just don’t do long series anymore.

SCORE: 5 out of 10

Anything Else: If you like erotica this is a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it.