The Month That Was September 2009

Brace yourself. I'm going to whine.

I've been mired in a horrible reading slump. The kind of slump where I don't feel like picking up a book. At all. I'm trying to power my way through it, but it's been rough going. It doesn't help matters that my reading lately has been pretty lackluster. A lot of "C"s and I've read a grand total of two "A" books for the entire year.

Seriously, I'm dying over here people.

I'm trying. I really am. But at this point I sort of feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water. Worse still, is that this reading malaise is starting to spill over into my blogging. I just can't seem to find my groove. At all.

Oh well. Suck it up Wendy. Nobody likes a whiner.

Which brings us to my pathetic recap of the reading I got done in September. I read seven books last month, two of which were short stories - so I'm not sure they count. Title links will take you to full reviews. Here's how it breaks down:

Highland Rebel by Judith James, historical romance, Restoration England, My Grade = B+

• This would be the best read of the month. The heroine started out rocky, but after I got past the first 50 pages, this book really cooked for me. I loved the history and setting, enjoyed the devil may care hero, and yes - the heroine grew on me once the author filled in her back story. I wasn't enamored with the author's debut novel (which was almost a DNF for me), and I was happy that me giving her a second chance paid off.
  

The Daddy Audition by Cindi Myers, Harlequin American, Contemporary Romance, My Grade = C-

• Myers' last several books have all been set in the same small mountain resort community. Earlier this year I read a previous book in the series, and really enjoyed it. So I thought I'd try the next book in the series. I'm sad to say it didn't work nearly as well for me. When the heroine wasn't self-absorbed, she was pretty dense. I couldn't figure out why the hero spent the last 10 years mooning over her.
  

The Countess's Client by Alison Richardson, Spice Briefs, Historical Erotica, Short Story, My Grade = D+

• This erotic short story started out with such promise thanks to an engaging narration style, but it quickly went down hill with snobbish, boorish characters and a bizarre twist at the end. I think the author can write though, so I'm going to read the next short story in The Countess Trilogy. What the heck, right? It's a short story!
  

The Warrior's Forbidden Virgin by Michelle Willingham, Harlequin Historical Undone, Medieval Romance, Short Story, My Grade = B

• The heroine is marginally rocky here (pining for another man) but the hero is so wonderfully deliciously Beta that he picks up the slack. Lots of action and derring-do keep the plot humming along, and I'm looking forward to reading the full-length tie-in to this short story, Taming Her Irish Warrior.
  

From Friends To Forever by Karen Templeton, Silhouette Special Edition, Contemporary Romance, My Grade = C+

• I really enjoy Templeton's category romances, and sadly this one was just OK for me. I felt there was a fair amount of series-itis going on here (it's book four), and the conflict surrounding the hero's dead wife was a little too conveniently wrapped up. Nice characters, but thought the conflict needed some more juice.
  

Silent Watch by Elle Kennedy, Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Romantic Suspense, My Grade = C-

• Ultimately it was the cliches that sunk this book for me. The hero is a damaged FBI agent who blames himself for his fiance's death. The heroine is a drop-dead gorgeous swimsuit model (blah), who has a serial killer stalking her but that doesn't stop her from doing dumb shit that puts her in danger. Swear to God, she keeps wanting to go outside to do inane shit like play in the snow! Hello? Serial killer on the loose? Remember him? Some of the relationship stuff was OK, and I liked that the heroine called the hero on most of his bullshit. Too many bad romantic suspense cliches though.
  

Texas Wedding For Their Baby's Sake by Kathryn Albright, Harlequin Historical, Western, My Grade = C-

• My most disappointing read of the month, and if I'm honest with myself now, I probably should have graded this a D+. The characters don't talk to each other - to the point where the hero keeps pushing the heroine away "for her own good" and the heroine, who travels from South Carolina to Texas to find the hero!, doesn't come right out and tell him he's her baby daddy the moment she lays eyes on him. The revelation is dragged out until towards the end of the book, where the hero proceeds to continue his pity party. Luckily the heroine reaches down deep, finds her damn spine, and that saved the last third of the book for me. I was also mightily annoyed that the hero in the previous book I adored was a raging jackass for most of this story.
  

Four C grades. That probably has something to do with my slump. Also the fact that three of those C grades were attached to books where previous books in the same series worked really, really well for me.

Oh well.

Suck it up Wendy. Suck it up.

The Month That Was August 2009

Now that the dust has sorta settled on my last bit of editorializing, it's time for me to stop putting off the general housekeeping here at the Bat Cave. Case in point, a recap of the reading I got done in August. My grand total is seven books. Not too terrible, but also not very good. Here's how it all breaks down:

Sensual Winds by Carmen Green (Kimani Romance, Contemporary Romance, 2009, third book in trilogy) My Grade = C. Heroine is sent to Key West to break up with the hero, who is engaged to heroine's boss. She gets there, hurricane hits shore, and the two are stranded together in the Dream House hero was building for his fiancee. Unfortunately the compelling conflict gets resolved within the first few chapters, which leaves this story adrift. The characters seemed like nice people, but bye-bye conflict made this a bit of a boring read. Full TGTBTU Review.

Sierra Bride by Jenna Kernan (Harlequin Historical, Historical Western Romance, 2009, part of series) My Grade = B-. Widowed heroine rescues hero from thugs attacking him in a back alley. He's smitten and determined to make her his mistress. Her late, unlamented husband was a no-good scoundrel, and she's not about to sell herself to another man. That is until her auntie's home is threatened and she desperately needs the money. Kernan is one of my favorite western authors and this story was a bit of a letdown. The romance was just OK, and frankly I was disappointed that the setting took a back seat in this story. Kernan's talent (I think) lies in her incredible ability to craft compelling heroines and her use of setting as conflict. This wasn't a "bad" read by any stretch of the imagination, but she's done better. Full TGTBTU Review.

Kiss It Better by Portia Da Costa (Erotic Romance, Black Lace, 2009, part of very loosely connected series) My Grade = B. Hero rode to heroine's rescue 15 years ago while on holiday, and neither of them have forgotten each other. He stumbles across her photo in a newspaper article while recovering from a car accident, and heads to her tiny English cafe determined to "take things slow" and woo her. A Big Secret plot and enough sex scenes to make your grandmother's hair fall out. Full Review.

Wild, Wild Women Of The West by Delilah Devlin, Layla Chase & Myla Jackson (Historical Western Erotic Romance Anthology, Kensington Aphrodisia, 2007) My Grade = C-. A pretty uneven anthology, but nothing outright offensive. Two C reads and one DNF. I'd be willing to try all these authors again. Full Review.

Cowboy Comes Back by Jeannie Watt (Harlequin SuperRomance, Contemporary Western Romance, 2009, book two in series) My Grade = C+. Hero and heroine were childhood sweethearts until she told him she wasn't ready for marriage and oops, his penis fell into another woman and knocked her up. He's back in town now that his rodeo career has gone bust, and heroine is beyond less than thrilled to see him. Well-written category romance, but felt the author spent too much time on "other stuff" instead of focusing on the oodles of conflict between romantic couple. Pacing issues aside, I plan on reading more by this author. Full TGTBTU Review.

Full House Seduction by A.C. Arthur (Kimani Romance, Contemporary Romance, 2009, book four in series) My Grade = C. Heroine heads to east coast to over see the final construction on a new casino her brother-in-law is building. Hero owns the construction company and is still hauling around baggage from the death of his parents. This was an OK story, and I liked the romantic couple, but this is book four in a series and has a terminal case of series-itis. Fans will probably like it, newcomers will probably be overwhelmed. Full TGTBTU Review.

After by Amy Efaw (Young Adult, Viking, 2009) My Grade = B. Star athlete, exemplary student, over-achieving 15-year-old girl with white trash mama conceals her pregnancy, gives birth to daughter in bathroom, and throws infant in trash can in alley behind her apartment building. She's arrested and awaiting a court hearing while in lock-up to determine if she should be tried as an adult. A compelling book about an extremely difficult subject that didn't descend into preachiness. Some of the adult characters rang my "too good to be true" bell, but if I had a teenage daughter, I'd want her to read this book. Full Review.

Four C grades? That's kind of depressing. And it's been ages since I've read an "A" book. Here's hoping September drops something truly spectacular in my lap.

The Month That Was July 2009

I am so insanely backed up on my reading right now it's not even funny. I literally need to lock the door, unplug all major electronics and do nothing but read for two solid weeks in order to catch up.

But what with My Man, baseball....oh and my job (minor detail that) - that's not about to happen. Sigh. Why? Why God am I such a slow reader? It's punishment for something I did in a past life isn't it?

Anywho, I finished seven reads in July. Pretty decent considering I lost an entire week thanks to RWA. Here's how it all breaks down:

Passionate by Anthea Lawson - Historical Romance, Victorian England, North Africa, My Grade = B- - Heroine whose mama is forcing her into marriage has one last adventure in Africa with her uncle's family and meets the hero, a man with few prospects who is on a treasure hunt. Good scenery, good characters, but pacing a little slow in the beginning. A second half book for me. Full Review.

Afternoon Delight by Kayla Perrin - Erotica, Spice Briefs, Short Story, My Grade = B - Hero and heroine burn up the sheets at an "adults only" resort in Cancun. Great bit of feminist erotica (it's all about her pleasure), although the story requires the reader to let go of reality. Frankly the resort sounded like a lawsuit waiting to happen to me. Still, it's good, escapist fun. TGTBTU Review.

A Night For Her Pleasure by Terri Brisbin - Medieval Romance, Harlequin Historical Undone, Short Story, My Grade = C+ - A story that requires the reader to be tolerant of virginal heroines. In other words? Not for Wendy. Heh. The minute the heroine started to refer to the hero's naughty bits as "privy parts" it was pretty much downhill for me. TGTBTU Review.

Hard to Resist by Samantha Hunter - Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Blaze, My Grade = D+ - Inconsistent characters make my head hurt. Photographer heroine's ex is sitting in jail because he beat the shit out of her, she's jumpier than a jack-rabbit, yet she recovers in record time when she meets the hero. So much so that she makes the first move on him, and she lets him photograph her naked while she's um....pleasuring herself. All you abuse victims out there? You don't need therapy. All you need is a hunky Texas Ranger willing to give you mind-altering orgasms. You'll be all better in no time! ::headdesk:: Full TGTBTU Review Forthcoming.

No Longer Forbidden by Portia Da Costa - Erotic Romance, Spice Briefs, Short Story, My Grade = C+ - Textbook Da Costa. Great first-person narration. Hot, sweaty, vanilla sex (nothing off the wall weird), but the premise just didn't work for me. Heroine is one of teacher hero's former students. TGTBTU Review.

Mountain Wild by Stacey Kayne - Historical Western Romance, Harlequin Historical, My Grade = B- - A wonderful, self-sufficient western heroine and a hero that I seriously wanted to lick from head to toe. Plenty of external conflict thanks to the range war the hero finds himself embroiled in. Unfortunately the one dimensional villain bumped my grade down a tinch. Still, a solid western read. TGTBTU Review.

His L.A. Cinderella by Trish Wylie - Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Romance, My Grade = C+ - Great premise, and one that I was pleasantly surprised to find in the sweet, fairy-tale oriented Harlequin Romance line. Hero and heroine are former screen writing partners. Lots of lively banter. That said? I desperately wanted more of the hero's point of view. Full TGTBTU Review Forthcoming.

The Month That Was June 2009

It's July 1, which means two things. 1) The stupid politicians in this god-forsaken state still haven't been able to slap a budget together and 2) it's time for me to look back at the reading I accomplished in June. I actually did quite well last month. I read 13 books. OK, so there are a mess of Harlequins here. Throw me a bone will ya?

Here's how it breaks down:

Let It Ride by Jillian Burns, Harlequin Blaze, 2009, Grade = B - Keno girl with no time for romance catches the eye of a wounded Air Force pilot partying with his buddies in Vegas. Unexpected charm and emotional depth made this a very enjoyable read. This was a debut Blaze - really hoping the author writes more for the line. TGTBTU Review.

Tonight My Love by Tracie Sommers, Spice Briefs, eBook, Short Story, 2009, Grade = D- - OK, so I know the Spice line doesn't have to be "romantic" but this story took me places I really didn't want to go. It literally turned my stomach. The sex is hot enough to peel wallpaper, but the ending left me wishing I hadn't read this on my lunch break. TGTBTU Review.

Disrobed And Dishonored by Louise Allen, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2009, Regency England, Short Story, Grade = C+ - A heroine who begs the hero to "ruin her" so she won't be forced to marry the odious lout Daddy has picked out for her. This plot can sometimes work for me, but it didn't here. Allen has a charming writing style though, and this is pretty harmless fun. TGTBTU Review.

Killer Cruise by Laura Levine, Cozy Mystery, Part Of Series, 2009, Grade = B - The latest entry in the author's Jaine Austen (no relation) series. Brain candy, fluffy fun. I found myself suspending some disbelief when the murderer was unmasked, but it was clever, so I was able to roll with it. Ideal reading for the beach or lounging by the pool. Full Review.

A Holiday Romance by Carrie Alexander, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2009, Part Of Series, Grade = B+ - Carrie Alexander is one of my favorite HSR authors, and this book is a prime example of why. Heroine looking for some fun and adventure after her ill mother passes away. Hits Arizona on vacation and meets the hero, a career driven hotel manager who doesn't have time to be distracted by his hormones. No babies (secret or otherwise), no tycoons (Greek or otherwise), and not a virgin in sight. Just a straight-up, well-written, sweet (PG-rated) romance. TGTBTU Review.

The Heiress's Two-Week Affair by Marie Ferrarella, Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Part Of Series, 2009, Grade = C+ - Great soap-opera style plot, and a homicide detective heroine that I really liked. However I actually used the words "sanctimonious prick" in my review to describe the hero. That can't be good. TGTBTU Review.

Pleasured by the Secret Millionaire by Natalie Anderson, Harlequin Presents, 2009, Grade = C+ - A refreshing, young, adventurous heroine wasn't enough for me to overlook the "Oh crap we didn't use a condom" sex scene and a hero who is HP standard-issue. If you're a fan of the line this one will probably work better for you. TGTBTU Review.

Pulling The Trigger by Julie Miller, Harlequin Intrigue, Part of Series, 2009, Grade = C+ - An impulse buy that I didn't realize was part of a series. The beginning suffers from series info-dump, but by the second chapter it cooks up to a pretty decent cat-and-mouse-style suspense plot. Unfortunately I thought there were some holes in the story - most notably why the hero didn't immediately gut the villain upon his arrival back in town. TGTBTU Review.

The Border Lord by Sophia James, Harlequin Historical, Scottish, 2009, Grade = C - Plain Jane heroine forced into marriage by decree of a king. The romance is pretty decent, although these characters obviously took a side trip to Regency England because they're incapable of talking to each other. I also found the villain a bit schizophrenic, and the second half is bogged down by too much external conflict. TGTBTU Review Forthcoming.

From Friend to Father by Tracy Wolff, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2009, Grade = B- - Heroine agrees to be surrogate mother for her BFF, when tragedy strikes and BFF is killed in car accident. Hero is shell-shocked and pulls a vanishing act, leaving heroine alone to take care of a baby girl she had no intention of raising and her rambunctious twin boys. I had issues with the hero (who runs at the first sign of any sort of conflict) but loved the heroine to bits. Also, Wolff can flat-out write her ass off. TGTBTU Review.

Evil At Heart by Chelsea Cain, Suspense, Part of Series, 2009, Grade = B+ - Not as good as the previous two books in the series, but that's just me being greedy. I do think this book marks a turning point in that I don't think this series can "stand alone" anymore. There's essentially no character development here, the assumption being that the reader has read books one and two already. Also, I thought the gore factor was much higher in this book. There's a moment in the final 100 pages where I literally had to set this book down and walk away from it. Seriously. Messed. Up. TGTBTU Review Forthcoming.

Sultry Storm by Celeste O. Norfleet, Kimani Romance, Part of Series, 2009, Grade = D+ - A plot that sets the heroine up to look Too Stupid To Live, a borderline creepy hero who is in love with the heroine, even though they've never met. It also doesn't help that the heroine is so stubborn that she's incapable of listening when the hero wants to spill his guts to her about The Big Secret. Lots of sex scenes (and I mean a lot) weren't enough to make it work for me. TGTBTU Review Forthcoming.

Second Time Around by Portia Da Costa, Spice Briefs, eBook, Short Story, 2009, Grade = B- - I tend to love Da Costa's heroines, and this one is no exception. That said, there were aspects of the erotic love scenes that pressed some of my feminist hot buttons. Just as I was contemplating how annoyed I should be by it all, the author pulls it out with a really fab ending. Fun, frothy, just don't go over-analyzing it like I did. TGTBTU Review Forthcoming.

The Month That Was May 2009

Ahem, don't mind me. Just time to do some general housekeeping and finally post my monthly reading recap for May 2009. Hey, better late than never I always say. Here it goes:

The Conqueror by Kris Kennedy - Medieval Romance, Debut. I like the occasional medieval to "cleanse the pallet" and this one has all the charm of an Old School romance without any of the "stuff" that makes Old School so annoying (purple prose, forced seduction, a heroine who rolls over and dies for manly hero etc.). Great setting, great sense of history, good story, gritty medieval feel while still having some traces of humor. My Grade = B. Full Review.

The Unlacing Of Miss Leigh by Diane Gaston - Regency historical, short story, ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone. A beauty and the beast story about a heroine who needs to earn some cash to send her younger brother to school, and a hero willing to pay her to be his companion. Pretty standard fare, enjoyable read. Could have done without the plot device at the end that the author uses to get the characters to admit their true feelings though. My Grade = B. TGTBTU Review.

Wet by Lauren Hawkeye - Erotic romance, short story, ebook, Spice Briefs. Sometimes erotica and romance don't belong together. This story would have worked a lot better if the author hadn't of tried to shoe-horn in a happily-ever-after, complete with "OMG, we totally got caught up in the moment and didn't use a condom!" scenario. I hate that shit in my romances, and I hate it even more in my erotica. Ugh. My Grade = D-. TGTBTU Review.

Temperatures Rising by Brenda Jackson - Contemporary romance, Kimani Romance. A perfect example of why I avoid all romance novels featuring professional athlete heroes. I haven't found an author yet who gets the sports "stuff" right. Memo to authors: women like and know sports. Really liked the heroine, loved the Key West setting, annoyed by poor football research (or lack thereof). My Grade = C+. TGTBTU Review.

The Diamonds Of Welbourne Manor by Diane Gaston, Deb Marlowe and Amanda McCabe - Regency historical anthology, Harlequin Historical. An extremely well-done connected anthology about 3 siblings with notorious parents. Wonderful setting, great sense of place, good characters. The Marlowe story was my favorite, but they all worked. My Grade = B. TGTBTU Review.

The Man Most Likely To by Cindi Myers - Contemporary romance, Harlequin American. Size 16 heroine catches the eye of a reformed ski bum in Colorado resort town. Both fighting how others perceive them, and trying to figure out if a relationship between the two of them can work. Great hero. Great heroine. Emotional read. My Grade = B+. TGTBTU Review.

Lightning That Lingers by Laura London - Contemporary Romance, Bantam Loveswept. Old school category romance published in 1983. Held up surprisingly well, although parts of this story were rather silly. Also, not a fan of purple prose, and given how much of it is crammed in this little story, I'm in no rush to try a single title by London. My Grade = C. Full Review.

Twice The Pleasure by Portia Da Costa - Erotica short story, Spice Briefs. The ol' high school reunion plot device featuring a heroine who wants to hook up with a former crush, only to have his best buddy interrupt the interlude. Two hunks for the price of one, and a vintage Da Costa heroine. A gal not afraid to have little fun. My Grade = B. TGTBTU Review.

The Month That Was April 2009

OK, so I'm finally getting around to doing my monthly reading recap for April. I managed to get nine books read, most of them pretty decent. Here's how it all breaks down:

A Cowboy's Promise by Marin Thomas, Harlequin American Romance, Grade = C-. This was the second book I've read by this author and the second book that largely didn't work for me. The heroine was way too "save me rescue fantasy" for my tastes, and the hero wasn't exactly a prize either. There's also a scene where the hero has to clean up after one of the heroine's kids who has an "accident" on the bathroom floor. Ahhhh, romance! Not. Full TGTBTU Review.

The Substitute Bride by Elizabeth Lane, Harlequin Historical, Grade = C+. A sequel to The Borrowed Bride, I liked the early 20th century San Francisco setting and the heroine. The hero? Yeah, not so much. Still the selfish jackass that he was in the first book. Absolutely no growth. Full TGTBTU Review.

Someone Like Her by Janice Kay Johnson, Harlequin SuperRomance, Grade = B-. A nice story about a hero who discovers his mentally ill mother is alive, living in a small town in the middle of nowhere. A nice romance about grown-ups, no babies or kids mucking up the works. I did feel the heroine was a bit too hard on the hero, hence knocking my grade down a bit. But still, a solid read. Full TGTBTU Review.

In A Mother's Arms by Jillian Hart & Victoria Bylin, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical, Grade = B-. File this under Wendy Broadening Her Horizons. I thought it was high time I try reading an inspirational romance, and since both authors have written secular books I figured they'd be a good way to test the waters. The Bylin story was a real stand-out, but pretty heavy on the "God Stuff." The Hart wasn't quite as heavy, and a nice sweet read. Full TGTBTU Review

Taking Care Of Business by Megan Hart & Lauren Dane, Erotic Romance, Grade = B. I love Hart's writing, but admittedly her Spice novels can be a little "heavy." This was a light, fun, sexy erotic romance. An ideal beach read. Full Review.

Ride The Fire by Pamela Clare, American Historical Romance, Grade = B+. I like "gritty" historicals, and appreciated that the author didn't pull her punches. Loved the period detail in the story, and a great romantic couple, both with plenty of personal baggage. Not a keeper for me, but I understand why it is for many other readers. Full Review.

The Rake's Inherited Courtesan by Ann Lethbridge, Harlequin Historical, Grade = C. False advertising with this title since the hero isn't remotely rakish. Nice hero, nice heroine, but the lack of communication between the two, along with misunderstandings and assumptions were more than a touch annoying. Seriously, why is it that Regency romantic couples can't seem to talk to each other? Full TGTBTU Review.

A Not So Perfect Past by Beth Andrews, Harlequin SuperRomance, Grade = A-. The best read of the month. Fantastic wonderful romance about a heroine who finds her back bone and a hero who gets his second chance. Emotional, sweet, all-in-all a great read. And only Andrews' second book for HSR. Yippeee! Wendy found a new author! Full TGTBTU Review.

Menage On A Train by Alice Gaines, Spice Briefs, Erotica Short Story eBook, Grade = B. Um, yeah. Wanna guess what this short story was about? Hot, sexy, but very much fitting in the erotica = escapist fantasy mold. If you're looking for realism and oh...I don't know....safe sex practices and condoms? Not the read for you. I was able to roll with it, hence the grade. Full TGTBTU Forthcoming.

The Month That Was March 2009

There's something to be said for obligation reading with deadlines attached. I managed to finish 10 books during March. OK, so there were several Harlequins. And OK, so I whipped through two short stories on the 31st. Ahem. Anywho. Since several of these were contest reads, I'm going to do my final "grading" on those titles a little differently. Still, you'll get the general gist of it.

Here's how it breaks down:

Kidnapped: His Innocent Mistress by Nicola Cornick, Harlequin Historical, Regency Historical, Scotland - Despite the Harlequin-ized (read: sensational) title, this was by far and away my favorite read of the month. An old school style story that pushed all the right nostalgia buttons. Wonderful use of first person narrative, great soapy plot line, and a heroine I want to have babies with. My Grade = A-. TGTBTU Review

How To Knit A Wild Bikini by Christie Ridgway, Contemporary Romance, First book in trilogy - A fun, breezy contemporary that I enjoyed while reading, but didn't necessarily change my life. The heroine had a little too much baggage for my tastes, and the hero had some douchey tendencies, but I generally liked them, along with the secondary characters. I'll be reading Ridgway again. My Grade = B-. Full Review

Rivals For The Crown by Kathleen Givens, Historical Romantic Saga, Scotland - I liked the scope of the story, and really enjoyed one of the main female leads. The writing style didn't always work for me, mostly because the author jumped ahead in time a lot, and some of the more important (I thought) aspects of the story took place "off page;" which kind of annoyed. My Grade = C. Full Review

One Tough Avenger by Diane Pershing, Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Contest Read - Pershing has a clean, straight-forward writing style which is well-suited for the category format. The story moves along at a good clip, interesting hero and heroine. My Grade = Above Average. I'll read Pershing again. My teaser blog post.

Up Close And Personal by Joanne Rock, Harlequin Blaze, Contest Read - A heroine with sexual baggage, but it's well-done, so it didn't annoy. Great blue collar hero. Lovely San Diego setting. The suspense subplot is straight-up Lifetime Movie Of The Week though. My Grade = Above Average. I'll read Rock again. My teaser blog post.

The Cowboy And The Angel by Marin Thomas, Harlequin American, Contest Read - Nice use of Detroit as a setting. Scrumptious hero that I seriously wanted to lick head-to-toe (and no, I don't care if that's TMI). However, the social worker heroine? I can't decide if she should have been simply arrested or shot for serious gross negligence. My Grade = Below Average. However the writing style was pleasing, so I'll give Thomas a second chance. My teaser blog post.

Night Secrets by Cherry Adair, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Contest Read - A serviceable read until the end which lacks closure. The author doesn't explain some major plot points (Why are the hero's paranormal powers malfunctioning? Why does being close to the heroine increase his strength? Etc.). It was readable, but I don't have any desire to read the other two books in this series. My Grade = Average. I'd consider reading a non-paranormal from Adair if a plot description tickles my fancy. My teaser blog post.

The Dragon Earl by Jade Lee, English Historical Romance, Contest Read - I gobbled this book up. A heroine who is borderline wanton, and a hero torn between two cultures. The author does leave unanswered questions at the end, so I didn't get all the closure I wanted, but I'm seriously looking forward to the next book in this series. My Grade = Very Good. I will definitely be reading more Jade Lee. My teaser blog post.

Flower Arrangement by Adelaide Cole, Edwardian London, Erotica, Spice Brief eBook, Short Story - OK, I get that Spice Briefs are, well, "brief" - but this one clocked in at a whopping 27 pages on my Sony Reader. It's an OK story, very much straight-up erotica (don't go looking for romance, cuz you ain't gonna find it). I'm a bit of a ho for historical erotica, hence why I picked this one up. My Grade = C. TGTBTU Review

A Night Of Wicked Delight by Joanne Rock, Medieval Historical Romance, Harlequin Historical Undone eBook, Short Story - See, I told you I'd read Rock again. An engaging medieval captive/captor story with a smokin' hot R-rated love scene. Rock avoids the pitfalls common to these types of stories. Nice forthright heroine, and a well-done wounded hero. My Grade = B. TGTBTU Review

The Month That Was December 2008

I am planning several posts that will dissect my reading habits during 2008, but for now here's what I managed to get done in December. I wish I could say I ended 2008 on a high note, but alas, I only managed to get five books read. Two of which were short stories from Harlequin. I'm not sure they "count" as "books," but hey, I'm desperate. Not to mention sad that I've been such a reading slug this year.

What A Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty, Medieval England, Grade = B+, Full Review.

• A well-written book featuring "different" character-types that took me forever to get through. I found the first half a bit of a slog, given that the characters didn't trust each other and were so morally flexible they would have sold their own mothers if the opportunity presented itself. The second half worked a lot better for me, mostly because trust starts to make an appearance and the characters stop fighting each other and their feelings.
  

Her Montana Man by Cheryl St. John, Western (Montana), Harlequin Historical, Grade = B, TGTBTU Review.

• I've read better by St. John, but this was a good, solid western. I've got a weakness for romance heroes who have long-standing "crushes" on the heroine before they hook up, and this guy is tough-guy-strong with a gooey-marshmallow-interior. Loved him! The heroine was pretty good too, although I do think she could have confided in the hero much, much sooner.
  

Notorious Lord, Compromised Miss by Annie Burrows, Regency England, Harlequin Historical Undone, Grade = C+, TGTBTU Review.

• I've quickly become addicted to these Undone eBook short stories. Hero and heroine, neither anxious to marry, become friends and fall in love. Lots of nice dialogue and I enjoyed the banter between hero and heroine. I did feel the writing was a little abrupt, which is why I didn't grade this one higher.
  

High Seas Stowaway by Amanda McCabe, 16th Century Caribbean, Harlequin Historical, Grade C+, TGTBTU Review.

• I picked up this one because I enjoyed an earlier HH Undone story by McCabe, and because of the setting. I generally enjoyed it, although I found the heroine's motivations unclear and therefore she came off a little too "wishy-washy" for my tastes. Nice hero, fantastically lush setting, and a sea-faring romance. A good bet for those of you desiring a historical that doesn't take place in the U.S. or England.
  

Layover by Megan Hart, Contemporary Erotic Romance, Spice Briefs, Grade B+, TGTBTU Review.

• This spicy eBook short story hit the spot! Hot, sexy and featuring a heroine who "takes charge" without going into full-blown dominatrix mode (not that there's anything wrong with that). I liked the "happily for now" ending and felt it fit the story - but if you're a reader who demands a wedding ring and a pregnant heroine knocked up with triplets at the end, it's probably not for you.
  

The Month That Was November 2008

Even though I've done zero in preparation for Christmas, I am so insanely happy to see November bite the dust. Between evacuating because of the wild fires and my visiting in-laws gifting us with the Stomach Flu From Hell - let's just say I'm ready for something happy and fun to happen to me.

Although finding out that all my worldly possessions didn't burn up in said wild fire was pretty damn happy. That's something positive to focus on.

Despite all of that, I managed to finish 5 books in November. Not bad, not great, although nothing that really knocked my socks off - which is kind of disappointing.

Turner's Woman by Jenna Kernan, Harlequin Historical western, Grade = C+. I fell insanely, head over heels, in lurve with the heroine of this story. But the hero? Yeah, sped right past Alpha and landed straight in Jackass Idiot Moron Why Doesn't The Heroine Just Shoot Him Already? territory. Full review.

The Borrowed Bride by Elizabeth Lane, Harlequin Historical western, Grade = B-. A very emotional read about a woman who marries her beau's brother after he takes off for Alaska and she discovers she's pregnant. Loved the hero, found the heroine a little bland, but a good solid read. Review at TGTBTU.

A Christmas Wedding by Tracy Wolff, Harlequin SuperRomance, Grade = C-. A marriage-in-trouble story that had me hoping the hero would dump his wife and find a life of his own. Seriously, Did Not Like That Woman. Still, Wolff knows how to write a story, and I had a hard time putting this book down. Will be looking for her next HSR release. Review at TGTBTU.

Broken Wing by Judith James, Historical romance (France, England, various other locales), Grade = C. I had a hard time with the Telling Over Showing writing style, which led to me never fully connecting with the characters. Also, I prefer more fully realized heroines in my romance novels, and this book is All About The Tortured Hero. I did appreciate the Old School Vibe of this book, but that was pretty much about it. Full Review.

Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead by Livia J. Washburn, Cozy Mystery, First In Series, Grade = B-. A piece of fluffy, brain candy that got me through a bout of the stomach flu. Heroine is a newly divorced travel agent specializing in "literary tours." When she takes a group to a plantation house, recreated to look like Tara, the actor playing Rhett Butler turns up dead in the garden. In order to save her fledgling business, heroine starts sticking her nose into the murder investigation. Cute read, typical cozy fare. A good, solid library read - and I'll probably try the next book in the series. No "official" review.

The Month That Was September 2008

There's a reason I only started doing these monthly reading recaps recently.

I hate publicizing what a terribly slow reader I am. Seriously, snails read faster than I do.

So distract you all from the dismally, sad month I had I'm putting up the latest naughty librarian picture I stole from my image hosting site. I'm also going to play up the fact that the Super Librarian parents were visiting for a whole week this past month, and I didn't read a single, solitary word while they were here. OK, I did go through the Sunday newspaper with my Mom, but that doesn't count. Here's my sad, pitiful recap:

Reckless by Selena Montgomery - The hero is to die for (yummers!), and I did get sucked into the story despite the fact that the heroine is a compulsive liar. Then I got to the "ending." No ending! None! No closure! Wendy mad! Wendy smash! For lack of a better word, I felt "manipulated" into reading the next two books in the trilogy. Won't do it. Final Grade = D. Review over at TGTBTU.

The Rebel And The Lady by Kathryn Albright - A western set against the backdrop of the invading Mexican army showing up at a little place called The Alamo. A very hero-centric story, that features a strong-principled heroine. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, which I'm blaming on the word count of the Harlequin Historical line. One of the few times in my life that I wished a book could have been a couple hundred pages longer. I got sucked in, and didn't want it to end. Final Grade = A-. Review over at TGTBTU.

As Darkness Falls by Bronwyn Parry - An "only published in Australia right now" publication and the author's debut romantic suspense. Loved the gritty tone of the story, the Australian outback setting (not romanticized in the least - hoorah!), and I found the suspense thread compelling. Also enjoyed the complex characterization of the heroine, and the hero is suitably heroic. Sure do hope it gets picked up by a publisher here in the States. Final Grade = B+. My review can be found here. Oh! And the author giving away a copy of this book, regardless of where you live on the planet Earth. Deadline is October 13. Head over there now!

Yep, you read that right. Three books. Three measly books. Here's hoping I have a more productive October.

The Month That Was August 2008

I read six books in August, which is kind of sad when you factor in that three of them were shorter Harlequins. On the other hand, six in August is a huge improvement over the measly two books I read in July, so maybe I should count my blessings. Here's a recap:

• Lifelines by C.J. Lyons - This book was a real slog for me. I just could not get into it. Personally I felt the author had "too much" going on in this story and it detracted from me "getting to know" the main players. That said, if you dig medical drama and like "big" stories, this one is worth a look. First in a series. My grade = C. Review up at TGTBTU.
  

• A Mother's Wish by Karen Templeton (SSE 1916) - I really loved this book until the epilogue, which was too precious for my blood. If it weren't for the fact that the author practically ripped my heart out over the course of this story, I might not have been as forgiving on that epilogue (it comes dangerously close to pushing one of my big hot buttons). But dang, did I mention how emotionally draining this story was? Seriously if I were the type to cry over books (and generally speaking, I'm not) this one would have had me bawling. My grade = B+. Review up at TGTBTU.
  

• Bound To Please by Hope Tarr (HB 407) - The first ever historical Blaze novel. I have a feeling this one is full of historical inaccuracies (I don't know and didn't care enough to dive into research mode), but it was short, sexy and steamy enough to keep me entertained. It didn't change my life, but I enjoyed it while I was reading it. My grade = B-. Review up at TGTBTU.
  

• What I Did On My Summer Vacation by Thea Devine, Debbi Rawlins and Samantha Hunter (HB 405) - Another one that didn't change my life, but that I enjoyed while I was reading it. Devine reins in her writing excesses here (although if it had been a full length novel it would have made my head hurt). The Rawlins story was very good, although the Big Secret wasn't that big of a deal in my opinion. The Hunter story was the hottest, but way too short given the emotional baggage of the hero. My grade = B-. Review up at TGTBTU.
  

• Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner - I really wanted to love this historical mystery, but I couldn't get behind any of the characters. Great setting though (late 19th century Paris). A more thorough review is forthcoming over at TGTBTU. My grade = C-.
  

• Velvet Glove by Emma Holly - I'm a huge Emma Holly fangirl, but this book fell flat because the heroine annoyed me. Also there were too many Help Me, Save Me, I'm Young And Cute vibes getting tossed around for my tastes. My grade = C+. Full review can be found here.

Three Bs and three Cs. Not the greatest reading month I've ever had, but certainly not dismal. Now to see what's in store for September....

The Month That Was: June 2008

A lot of readers around Romance Bloglandia post month-end recaps detailing what books they read over the course of the past 30-odd days. I've never done this, mostly because 99.9% of what I read gets reviewed on the blog. No joke. But now that I'm going to have some reviews posted over at Sybil's, I thought a month-end recap would be a good idea. This way a list of my reviews will all be in one place, just in case you missed one. Of course, this is assuming you care.

June was pretty productive for me, and I finished eight books. Hey, I have a full-time job and it's baseball season. Finishing eight books is pretty darn good. Here it goes:

Kidnapped By The Cowboy by Pam Crooks - Review posted at TGTBTU - Final Grade = C

Wendy's Thoughts: To be brief, the characters did things that annoyed me. What really chapped my buns was that the hero didn't understand why everybody shunned him, and nobody liked him. Um, hello?! You confessed to killing a boy you moron! Of course nobody is going to "like" you anymore. Geez.

The Last Rake In London by Nicola Cornick - Review posted at TGTBTU - Final Grade = B

Wendy's Thoughts: I really liked this one. It does have moments of melodrama, but I loved the heroine and the Edwardian London setting. Also, I thought this was one hawt book. Kind of surprising since Harlequin Historicals tend to be PG-reading for me.

Western Weddings by Jillian Hart, Kate Bridges and Charlene Sands - Review posted on TGTBTU - Final Grade = B-

Wendy's Thoughts: The Hart story is the stand out here, which isn't too shocking since she's the reason I wanted to read this anthology in the first place. The Bridges' and Sands' stories were average.

Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain - Random ramblings posted here - Final Grade = A

Wendy's Thoughts: Loved this book. Loved it! That being said, I see a lot of readers having issues with the places Cain chooses to take her characters in this story.

Outlaw Bride by Jenna Kernan - Review posted at TGTBTU - Final Grade = A

Wendy's Thoughts: I love frontier style westerns, and Kernan really seems to have a knack for them. Great heroine, great hero, fabulous book.

Killing Bridezilla by Laura Levine - No review - Final Grade = B

Wendy's Thoughts: Another entry in the author's Jaine Austen cozy mystery series. More of the same. Wacky antics, great chick-lit-style first person narration, total brain candy. It didn't change my life, but I enjoyed myself while reading it.

Sleeping With The Devil by Vanessa Marlow - Review posted here - Final Grade = B

Wendy's Thoughts: I was very pleasantly surprised by this erotic thriller, and found it compulsively readable. I also found it heads and shoulders above the author's work under the name Cheryl Holt - but that's just me.

The Angel and the Outlaw by Kathryn Albright - Review posted at TGTBTU - Final Grade = B-

Wendy's Thoughts: A pleasant debut read. I did feel the author had too many secondary characters mucking up the works, but I loved the setting and the heroine.