In the Mail (Oct 30)

I received this in the mail today for review (sent by Hachette), thanks Anna!

Love You to Death (Mass Market Paperback)

Product Description

Delicate, expressive hands...long, graceful legs...One man is looking for his perfect woman--and he'll stop at nothing until he finds her.

LOVE YOU TO DEATH

It's been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She's convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago--all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her...

The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister's house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won't rest until he has his perfect woman.

I received this in the mail today (which I won on Reading With Monie) - thanks Monie!

Tall, Dark & Fangsome (Immortality Bites) (Mass Market Paperback)

Product Description

Sarah Dearly's vampire life is not all B-positive cocktails. A curse made her a nightwalker, the most vicious vamp there is; the charm she wears to curb her deadly tendencies is losing its juice; and a hunter from hell is turning up the heat. Gideon Chase will kill the ones she loves most if she doesn't obey his orders. That includes breaking up with master vampire Thierry and turning Gideon into an immortal vamp so he can escape a doom of eternal hellfire.

Making things worse are Sarah's growing feelings for Gideon, a bad boy who keeps showing a vulnerable side . . . but is it for real? Will Sarah's dark side take over? Or can she cure herself of the nightwalker curse in time to stop Gideon and finally live happily ever after with Thierry . . . forever?

I received this in the mail today for review (sent by Academy Chicago Publishers), thanks Jacob!

Nibble & Kuhn (Hardcover)

Product Description

An unraveling law firm. An unwinnable case. An unworkable love.

Derek Dover has it all.

Derek's up for partner at Nibble & Kuhn just as that most proper of Boston law firms comically tries to `rebrand' itself for the Google era. Pompous and arbitrary, the ruling junta of partners saddles him with a high visibility lawsuit just weeks before trial. The diligent young attorney arranges things so that Maria Parma, a new associate in the firm for whom he's fallen hard, also gets named to the case. Maria, in turn, can't keep her hands off Derek, but it's complicated because she's engaged to someone else.

As Derek prepares his case on behalf of seven young victims of an industrial polluter, his anxieties about his career and his torments over Maria's mixed messages only increase. Have his eccentric WASP superiors handed him a `toxic' case to ruin his chances of becoming a partner? How can he get his opponents to settle  an outcome the presiding judge all but demands - unless his unorthodox `expert witnesses' perform with enough gravitas to match that of the other side with its Harvard Medical School scientist? Will Nibble & Kuhn survive the partners' spectacularly bad business judgments? Does it even matter to Derek, given that his looming fiasco of a trial and his indiscretions with Maria seem set to sink any chance he ever had at partnership?

Ultimately, Derek sets into motion a line of inquiry that spins events entirely out of the control of the judge, jury, and any and all attorneys.

Author Description:

A native of South Africa, David Schmahmann is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Cornell Law School. His first novel EMPIRE SETTINGS (“unexpected, even unforgettable” – The Washington Post) received the John Gardner Book Award. He practices law in Boston, and lives in Weston, Massachusetts.

I received this in the mail yesterday for review (sent by author), thanks Heath!

The Manufactured Identity (Paperback)
 
Synopsis

Months after his mysterious disappearance from a routine fishing trip, no one really expects over-the-hill Texas housewife Lory Latchley to find her missing husband—especially her husband. The Manufactured Identity is clinical psychologist Heath Sommer's ever-escalating immersion into the world of unlikely friends who each awaken to find their faithful companions missing without warning or reason. Desperate to find meaning in their pain, they are thrust by the auspices of fate into a common thread of mystery and human frailty. In the end, the fate of all may reside in the unstable hands of rookie pastor John Joe, but ultimately Lory and her newfound partners will uncover a truth so unnerving it makes even infidelity look palatable.

Happy Birthday Cecile and AmyC!

Happy Birthday Cecile and AmyC and I hope you both have a great one and get everything you want!

Rough Country (Virgil Flowers Series #3) - ARC

I've just finished reading "Rough Country" the 3rd book in his Virgil Flowers series by John Sandford.

Synopsis

John Sandford's "truly captivating" (Richmond Times-Dispatch) new hero goes north to solve a puzzling murder-and finds that the country is very rough indeed.

Publishers Weekly

Near the start of bestseller Sandford's winning third thriller to feature Virgil Flowers of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (after Heat Lightning), Virgil gets a call while muskie fishing from his boss, Lucas Davenport (the hero of Sandford's long-running Prey series). Lucas orders Virgil to look into the shooting death of Erica McDill, an ad agency exec from Minneapolis and a big supporter of the Democratic Party, who was staying at the Eagle Nest Lodge in nearby Grand Rapids. A talk with lodge owner Margery Stanhope turns up unusual details: Margery's clientele is mostly lesbian; an all-female rock band is involved; guests who are so inclined can buy young men for an evening's pleasure; and financial reasons could explain the murder. It's a complicated case, but Virgil is up to the task, and, as always, he's funny, smart and tough when he needs to be—and catnip to the ladies. 

Biography

John Sandford began his career as a journalist using his real name, John Camp. He won a Pulitzer for feature writing before turning to mystery-suspense novels, simultaneously releasing two “first” novels under two different names in 1989.

My Review:

Storyline: I thought it was a pretty good storyline! The main killer you didn't know until near the end and there are many suspects to consider.  There were some that were lying to Virgil or not mentioning some stuff that were crucial to the case.

Characters: Most of the characters were well written especially Virgil,

Romance:  Most of the romances were of the bi or lesbian variety, not that I have anything against it as long as it's not in my face!  Virgil always has a women wherever he goes.  LOL!

Killer: The killer didn't really know who it was at first there are many suspects and why they were killing certain victims.

Glad to see some characters from Sandford's Lucas Davenport series (Lucas, Weather, Shrake, Jenkins).  Too bad didn't see Del!

5/5

Thanks so much Lydia Hirt from G.P. Putnam's Sons/Riverhead for sending me an ARC to review!

Guest Post - Roxanne Rhoads

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Smash Cut: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Smash Cut" by Sandra Brown.

Product Description

The latest thriller from "masterful storyteller" (USA Today) Sandra Brown

THE PRINCIPALS: Paul Wheeler: CEO of the Wheeler Enterprises empire, is shot dead during an armed robbery. Julie Rutledge: A savvy, cultured, and attractive Southern woman, was hand-inhand with Paul Wheeler at the time of his death. Derek Mitchell: A defense lawyer of renown, he goes to the mat to make a case for every client -- and headlines for himself. Creighton Wheeler: The prodigal nephew of Paul and a playboy with a passion for movies. Even those closest to Creighton can't be sure when he exits reality and enters the fantasy world of films.

STORYBOARD: The murder of Paul Wheeler has all the elements of a blockbuster: family rivalries, incalculable wealth, and a prominent man dying in the arms of his beautiful mistress. It's a case that could earn Derek Mitchell even greater star power. When the Wheeler family approaches him about defending Creighton for his uncle's murder -- even before he's charged -- he jumps at the chance.

Although Creighton has a rock-solid alibi, Julie is convinced that he is responsible for Paul's murder. Caught in several lies, and keeping secrets from Derek and the police, Julie is suspected of casting blame on Creighton to cover her own crime. Meanwhile, Derek fears he's being duped...yet he burns with jealousy when he thinks of Julie with her late lover. But the more Derek learns about Creighton, the more he doubts the young man's innocence. And hiding in a squalid motel under an assumed name is the one man, a career criminal, a killer, who knows the truth. The clock ticks down toward a shocking ending that can't be known until the final SMASH CUT.

Unabridged Compact Disk Includes a Bonus MP3 CD of Sandra Brown's The Switch!

About the Author

SANDRA BROWN is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers--including most recently Smash Cut, Smoke Screen, Play Dirty, Ricochet, Chill Factor, White Hot, Hello, Darkness, The Crush, and Envy. She is the recipient of the 2008 Thriller Master Award from International Thriller Writers, Inc. She and her husband live in Arlington, Texas.
 
My Review:
 
Storyline:  I thought it was a pretty good storyline!  The main killer is a movie fanatic and when he kills he re-inacts scenes from movies.
 
Characters:  Most of the characters were well written especially Derek, Julia & Creighton.
 
Romance:  I loved the romance between Derek & Julia.  They joined the mile high club!  He didn't trust her but still wanted her!
 
Killer(s):  Creighton the main killer was one sick uck! (ex:  there was a scene from the GodFather where a horse was found in a bed).  He re-inacted that scene but used another victim instead of the horse. 
 
5/5

In the Mail (Oct 27)

I received this in the mail today (which I won from the Unusual Historical Blog), thanks Jean!

Eternal Hearts (Paperback)

Product Description

She found the love of her life 3000 years too late. When Alexandra Kelly returns a broadcollar to Egypt, she is swept through a time portal on a breathtaking yet terrifying journey to a land of majesty and splendour, the land of pharaohs. Death is Lord Khafra's fate if he embarks upon his dangerous quest. Can Alex's arrival save him from his date with a lonely, fiery death? Together they find love and face terrible danger and hardship but the sexy charioteer could make any woman believe the gods were smiling on her. At the next full moon Alex must return to the 21st century, where Khafra has been dead for several millennia.

I also received this in the mail for review (sent by Hachette) - thanks Anna!

Sins of the Flesh (Mass Market Paperback)

Product Description

Caterina Shaw's days are numbered. Her only chance for survival is a highly experimental gene treatment-a risk she willingly takes. But now Caterina barely recognizes herself. She has new, terrifying powers, an exotic, arresting body-and she's been accused of a savage murder, sending her on the run.

Mick Carrera is a mercenary and an expert at capturing elusive, clever prey. Yet the woman he's hunting down is far from the vicious killer he's been told to expect: Caterina is wounded, vulnerable, and a startling mystery of medical science. Even more, she's a beautiful woman whose innocent sensuality tempts Mick to show her exactly how thrilling pleasure can be. The heat that builds between them is irresistible, but surrendering to it could kill them both . . . for a dangerous group is plotting its next move using Caterina as its deadly pawn.

I received this in the mail last week (which I won on the Romance Reviews Today Blog), thanks PattiF!
 
The Fire King (Dirk & Steele Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
 
Product Description
 
A 3000-year-old, hunky shifter and a special woman wounded physically and emotionally make for an engrossing read. "The Fire King" is Marjorie M. Liu's latest in her 'Dirk & Steele' series and I loved it. Each of her books, at least those in this series, dig down behind the differences in her characters whether they're shifter or human and draw on the feelings and emotions that are present in each of them.

Soria is a human with something extra--the ability to understand and speak any language, as long as she is in the presence of a native speaker of that language. One year ago she suffered a horrible betrayal and lost her right arm. Since then she has barricaded herself in her apartment...until a strange pair bring her a new mission from Dirk & Steele. Imagine her surprise when her new mission turns out to be a 3000-year-old fairy tale...a chimera. The product of two different shifters, something that is supposed to be impossible. Now she and the chimera are on the run and Soria isn't sure who is friend and who is enemy.

Karr was the warlord of the shifters from a time when Egyptians and Hittites ruled. He sacrificed himself to save his people, so what is he doing alive now? And who is this woman who appears to be the only one who can understand and speak with him? Is she enemy? A spy? Again and again she appears to help him during their escape and flight...but the more Karr learns, the more unsure he becomes of who is or should be an enemy.

I also received this last week (which I won from Bookin' with Bingo), thanks Karen!

Product Description

Maggie Shayne calls Samantha Graves an "astonishing new talent". SIGHT UNSEEN is a paranormal tale of a heist gone bad, a stolen painting, and a sizzling attraction between two people forced together in a madman's scheme. Can an art thief earn an honest living? Raven Callahan does, with the help of a rare psychic power that lets her read the emotions locked inside ancient objects. But when her partner is kidnapped and Raven is forced to steal a priceless masterpiece to save him, ESP takes a backseat to quick wits, steely nerves, and the lethal skills she needs to survive. Ex-cop Dax Maddox made just one mistake on the job, but it took a young rookie's life and cost Dax his ability to see color. Now stalking a killer brings Raven into his life-and floods his gray world with vivid and conflicting emotions: anger and lust, suspicion and awe. Are the criminals they seek one and the same? If so, Dax and Raven's growing need for each other could inspire a madman to go for the ultimate revenge....

Guest Post - Loucinda McGary

I am so excited to have Loucinda McGary Guest Post to talk about her amazing Mexican Cruise trip here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

Some of you may already know me as the irrepressible and sometimes irreverent Aunty Cindy of the Romance Bandits, or from my own blog, Aunty Cindy Explains It All. If so, thanks for visiting. If you are a newcomer, thanks even more.

I enjoy books in many different sub-genres, but currently I am writing contemporary romantic suspense with paranormal elements.

A life-long avid reader, I write the kinds of stories I like to read – stories with danger, romance and a touch of the unexpected. I like to read and write about wonderful, far away places and people not so very different from me or someone I know. My characters must overcome physical and emotional obstacles, sometimes risk their lives, and eventually discover love.

Always love.

Basically, I'm a romantic at heart and there's nothing I find more satisfying than two people achieving their own happily-ever-after. I believe that you, my readers, feel the same.

Blessed with the gift of "Irish Blarney" Loucinda McGary (everyone calls her Cindy) became a storyteller shortly after she learned to read. If she didn't like the way a story ended, she made up her own ending. In high school, between history and algebra homework, Cindy wrote stories featuring herself, her friends, and their favorite movie and rock stars. After college, she published a couple dozen poems in "little magazines" (the equivalent of e-zines in those pre-internet days) and even wrote a couple of novels. Then life intervened. Family and career became her top priorities, though she could never quite stop dabbling in writing. Also along about this time, vacations became a must and she developed an almost legendary love of travel that took her all over the United States and abroad in one and two week stints.

A long-time reader of romances, Cindy discovered and joined Romance Writers of America in 2001. But her stressful career as the manager of a multi-million dollar State and Federally funded program prevented her from doing much writing or traveling. She still managed to squeeze in a little of both, but not enough of either to be truly satisfying. Finally, at the end of 2003 she decided to take an early retirement from her career to fully pursue her twin passions of travel and writing. Cindy likes to set her novels of romance and suspense in some of the fascinating places she has visited.

Books:

The Wild Sight

An Irish tale of deadly deeds and forbidden love

Since he was a wee lad, Donovan O'Shea possessed a gift of clairvoyance that allowed him to see and hear people and things that others could not. Viewing his ability as a curse he could not control, Donovan fled to America, but now after fifteen years, he has been forced to return to the family homestead in Northern Ireland to handle his ill father's affairs. Decades earlier, Donovan's mother disappeared into the encroaching fens and was never seen again. Now the same fens are offering up secrets, both ancient and recent, and restoring a terrible legacy that just may drive him mad. And if this is not trouble enough, a beautiful woman walks into his life, claiming to be his half-sister.

Rylie Powell never knew her real father. Her mother would only say he was a charming Irishman who seduced her, married her, and then abandoned her and his baby daughter. But after her mother's death, Rylie finds tantalizing clues about her father that send her off to Northern Ireland and an archeological site on Dermot O'Shea's property, the man listed on her birth certificate as her father.

Did Dermot O'Shea father both Donovan and Rylie?

What is Donovan's connection to the Celtic High King Niall of the Nine Hostages?

And what secret do the fens hold that invites murder?

The Treasures of Venice

A passion they never expected, a danger they cannot escape.

Somewhere amid the canals and palazzos of romantic Venice, a beautiful damsel is in distress. Held against her will, her fate depends upon unraveling a centuries old mystery. Also in this ancient city of love, two couples separated by over 500 years, defy both church and state as they challenge destiny to be together. And all find themselves inextricably linked to the Jewels of the Madonna.

For more information about each book, please visit

http://www.loucindamcgary.com/
http://auntycindy.blogspot.com/

Please take it away, Loucinda!

Cruising, Relaxing, and Writing Inspiration

Everyone who meets me quickly learns that I am a travel fanatic. I’ve visited 47 states and 26 foreign countries over the years, but lately most of my travel has been on cruises. I absolutely love being able to visit several different exotic ports without having to move my luggage or worry about where I’ll be eating my next meal (and don’t get me started on how wonderful the food is on most cruises). Plus, in between ports of call, I love to just hang out and relax.

I recently completed my 14th cruise, and my DH has us signed up for two more before the end of the year (see, told ya I love to cruise)! Except for the week I spent in Washington DC attending the Romance Writer’s of America’s National Conference, this was my first major trip all year. I’ve been chained to my computer writing my third contracted book for Sourcebooks Casablanca, so I really needed this eleven day getaway to beautiful Mexico.

Only it turned out to be Hotter Than Hades Mexico! We encountered 100+ degrees (Fahrenheit) temperatures at every one of our five stops. UGH! But it didn’t stop me from having fun! This was my ninth or tenth cruise to Mexico (I’ve lost count) but this time we stopped in a couple of places I’d never visited before, which I always find exciting!

Our first stop was a tiny fishing village on the Sea of Cortez called Topolobampo. There really was nothing at the port except local shrimp boats and a huge gasoline storage facility from which they shipped fuel all over northern Mexico. The tourist attraction here is a train trip through the Copper Canyon area. Actually a series of canyons on the scale of the US’s Grand Canyon, the shore excursion was 18 hours and started at 5:30 a.m. Another fact people quickly learn about me is that 5:30 a.m. and I NEVER belong in the same proximity! Not even on paper! So I opted not to go on the excursion.

Instead, I rode the lovely air conditioned shuttle bus thirty minutes inland to the town of Los Mochis (means “the turtles”). Unlike tiny Topolobampo, the city of Los Mochis has over 100,000 residents and boasts several universities. However, they are not used to seeing American tourists, as I quickly found out. Also, by the time I arrived at shortly after 11:00 a.m. it was already over 100 degrees! UGH! I quickly located an indoor, air conditioned mall and sat myself down to people watch.

After about half an hour, a beautiful young woman (and I’m talking the kind of beauty people turn their heads to stare after) walked over and asked if she could sit on the bench next to me. She asked, in English, if she could sit down and I said sure. She had a slice of pizza (her lunch) and when she finished it, she shyly asked, “May I practice my English with you?” I quickly agreed. Turns out she was recently graduated from a local University with a degree in business but has, thus far, been unable to find a job. She had studied English for a couple of years but didn’t feel she was fluent enough to find a job speaking and reading it. She said, “My father told me to get out and practice speaking with some tourists, and you are the first one I’ve seen.” We talked for almost an hour, and I hope I helped her. She certainly gave me ideas for future female characters!

The next day, we stopped in the city of La Paz, also on the Sea of Cortez but on the long skinny arm of Baja California. La Paz is a resort town, and definitely more used to seeing tourists because every other store along the waterfront sold either “cold beer” (yes, they had an Applebee’s across from the marina) or T-shirts! Again, it was excruciatingly hot, but at least if I stayed near the water, which was a gorgeous turquoise blue, there was enough breeze to make it bearable.

Unfortunately, I wrenched my knee getting off the shuttle bus in La Paz so my sightseeing was seriously curtailed at our next two stops. Luckily, by the time we reached Cabo San Lucas, I was pretty much recovered. Having been to Cabo many times, I already knew the best air conditioned places to hang out. But the most interesting thing about this visit was that there were five cruise ships in port that day! I’d never seen more than three. And the thing that made it so remarkable is that the harbor in Cabo is too shallow for the ships to dock. They all have to anchor outside the marina area and shuttle passengers to shore in small boats called tenders. Standing on the dock and looking out at five massive ships sitting just beyond the harbor was quite an impressive sight (and perhaps fodder for a future story)! And all the T-shirt and beer vendors were in nirvana!

So even if on the surface, this was an eleven day vacation full of rest and relaxation, I never know when someone I met (a beautiful girl with curly black hair) or something I’ve seen (five enormous ships all sitting at anchor in a small area) or experienced (horrible heat) might turn up in one of my stories. But I do know I’m seriously considering making the hero of my next novel be a security officer on a cruise ship!

Loucinda will be visiting and answering any questions you might have so please participate, thanks!

Thanks for guest posting on my Blog, Loucinda I greatly appreciate it!

Sliding Home (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished reading "Sliding Home" the 4th book in her "Richmond Rogue" baseball series by Kate Angell.

Product Description

The ultimate bad boy baseball player finds a stranger in his shower and decides that no matter how sexy the interloper is, she won-t find a place in his life-little does he know that the baseball diamond is not the only place he-ll be sliding home.

Story Brief:

Kason is a major league baseball player for the Richmond Rogues. He is a loner, anti-social, rarely speaks and lives with his dog in a mobile home in a secluded wooded area. When he returns from six weeks of spring training, he finds Dayne living in his home. She thought his trailer had been abandoned and is claiming squatter's rights. She had been dumped by her fiancé who took their joint money and changed the locks on their home. She also lost her job doing promotion for his radio talk show. She is now looking for a job while working part-time at Frank's Food Warehouse. Using her employee discount, she stocks the mobile home with family size quantities of mac and cheese, hamburger, kool-aid, pudding, etc. She doesn't know who Kason is, and he lets her assume he is low on money and between jobs. She offers him some of her food and stays in the guest bed. His dog loves her. Kason wants her gone as soon as possible.

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book because of the storyline and the characters are well written and lovable.

Kason and Dayne are well suited for each other and I also loved the secondary romance between the first baseman and the publicity manager.

5/5

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Oct 26)

What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme hosted that J. Kaye Book Blog hosts on her blog here: http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

Post the books you read last week, book currently being read and books you plan on finishing this week.

Last week I read:

1.  Missing – Lisa Jackson
2.  Burn – Linda Howard
3.  Desire Unchained – Larissa Ione
4.  Sliding Home – Kate Angell

I’m currently reading:

1.  Smash Cut – Sandra Brown

Books I’m planning on reading this week:

1.  Rough Country – John Sandford
2.  Silent Killer – Beverly Barton
3.  Hunt Her Down – Roxanne St. Claire

Here’s the links:

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-october_26.html

j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-

Blog Absence

Sorry for my lack of posts and reviews aren't up to par because my computer caught a virus Wednesday night (softcop) and wiped out my whole hard drive.  My bro had to redo my whole computer and it's still not up to par to before it caught the virus. 

I'm hoping to have my computer running up to to par within 2 weeks.  So please bear with me and hopefully I will have my blog up and running too!

I haven't been blog visiting as much and I'm very sorry about that too because of this virus thing happening, etc.

Library Haul (Oct 18 - 24)

Here's the list of books I picked up from the library this week:

1.  Smash Cut - Sandra Brown
2.  Mercy Thompson:  Homecoming - Patricia Briggs
3.  Southern Peril:  A Jersey Barnes Novel - Lynn T. Ocean

Desire Unchained: A Demonica Novel (The Demonica Series) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished reading "Desire Unchained" the 2nd book in her Demonica series by Larissa Ione.

Product Description

Pleasure is their ultimate weapon . . .

Runa Wagner never meant to fall in love with the sexy stranger who seemed to know her every deepest desire. But she couldn't resist the unbelievable passion that burned between them, a passion that died when she discovered his betrayal and found herself forever changed. Now, determined to make Shade pay for the transformation that haunts her, Runa searches for him, only to be taken prisoner by his darkest enemy.

A Seminus Demon with a love-curse that threatens him with eternal torment, Shade hoped he'd seen the last of Runa and her irresistible charm. But when he wakes up in a dank dungeon chained next to an enraged and mysteriously powerful Runa, he realizes that her effect on him is more dangerous than ever.

As their captor casts a spell that bonds them as lifemates, Shade and Runa must fight for their lives and their hearts-or succumb to a madman's evil plans.

My Review:

I liked the chemistry between Shade and Runa.

4/5

Burn: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Burn" by Linda Howard.

Product Description

It’s true what they say: Money changes everything. And in Linda Howard’s red-hot novel Burn, the changes come fast, furious, and filled with the kind of sexy suspense, heart-stopping romance, beautiful people, and risky business guaranteed to give you the most bang for your buck.

Money certainly changes Jenner Redwine’s life when she wins a lottery jackpot. But it also costs her plenty: Her father rips her off and disappears, her fortune-hunting boyfriend soon becomes her ex, and friends-turned-freeloaders give her the cold shoulder when she stops paying for everything.

Flush with new money, Jenner can’t imagine ever finding a place in the world of the wealthy. Seven years later, though, she’s rubbing elbows with the rich, despite the fact she still feels like a party crasher. Luckily she finds an ally–and a guide to the rarefied realm of privilege–in shy, kind-hearted heiress Sydney Hazlett, who quickly becomes Jenner’s confidante and surrogate sister.

When Sydney invites Jenner on a charity cruise aboard a luxury liner, Jenner reluctantly agrees. But while she’s expecting–and dreading–two weeks of masquerade balls, art auctions, and preening glitterati, what she gets is more like a Hitchcock movie than a Love Boat episode. Taken hostage by a menacing stranger, Jenner must cooperate in a mysterious cloak-and-dagger scheme–or else. With nowhere to run, and with Sydney’s life as well as her own at risk, Jenner is drawn into a game of dizzying intrigue and harrowing danger. But as her panic gives way to exhilaration, and fear of her captor turns to fascination, Jenner rediscovers feelings she hasn’t had in years–and realizes she’s found a life worth living. If she survives.

My Review:

I liked the chemistry between Jenner & Cael.

4/5

Missing: Innocent By Association\Zachary's Law (Hqn Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished reading "Missing" an anthology by Lisa Jackson.

Product Description


Innocent by Association

A lot of money, cold, hard cash, has "ended up" in stockholder Garrett Reaves's bank account. Someone is trying to frame him. Investment house president Megan McKearn—his former lover—had motive, means and opportunity. Is she guilty? It looks as though Garrett will have to, once again, get very close to Megan to find out.

Zachary's Law

When a divorced mother's young children are kidnapped by her ex-husband, Lauren Regis exhausts every possibility of finding her son and daughter—until maverick attorney Zachary Winters agrees to take the case. Zach operates under his own set of rules. But even his unconventional methods don't include getting emotionally involved with the client…no matter how tempting.

About the Author

Lisa Jackson is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of both historical romance novels and contemporary suspense. Her most recent books include See How She Dies, Hot Blooded, and Cold Blooded. She lives in Oregon.

For more information, visit www.lisajackson.com.

My Review:

Innocent by Association:  3/5

I thought this story was just about sex and Megan & Garrett didn't trust each other but still got involved again.

Zachary's Law:  4/5

I liked this story alot better and I enjoyed the chemistry between Lauren & Zachary.

KnockOut: An FBI Thriller (FBI Thrillers) (Hardcover)

I've just fnished reading "KnockOut" the 13th book in her FBI series by Catherine Coulter.

Product Description

FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are back in this electrifying thriller from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.

Seven-year-old Autumn Backman has a gift: She can communicate telepathically with others. Not everyone, mind you, but with a select few with whom she shares a special kinship. When Autumn and her mother, Joanna, take her father's ashes to be buried in the family plot in Brickers Bowl, Georgia, the child witnesses a horrifying sight: her grandmother and two uncles, burying a pile of dead bodies in the middle of the night. They head to Titusville, Virginia, to seek the help of an old family friend, but Autumn senses they need assistance on a grand scale. Using her telepathic powers, Autumn calls a man she'd seen only on television: FBI agent Dillon Savich. But before Savich and his wife and partner, Agent Lacey Sherlock, can get on the scene, Autumn and Joanna flee, fearing the retribution of her uncle Blessed. A huge manhunt ensues, with Titusville Sheriff Ethan Merriweather racing to reach the girl before Blessed can get his hands on her. Blessed's got big things planned for Autumn and her gift, and he'll stop at nothing to force her into his growing army of exploited children. Savich, Sherlock, and Merriweather face their most elusive foes to keep Autumn out of harm's way-before it's too late.

About the Author

Catherine Coulter is the author of the New York Times-bestselling FBI thrillers The Cove, The Maze, The Target, The Edge, Riptide, Hemlock Bay, Eleventh House, Blindside, Blowout, Point Blank, Double Take, and TailSpin.
 
My Review:
 
It's great to see old friends Dillon & Sherlock and their fellow friends.
 
I liked Autumn, Joanna and Ethan and hated Blessed, Grace, their mom and the rest villians.
 
This book was more focused on the storyline then the romance.
 
4/5

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Oct 19)

What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme that J. Kaye Book Blog hosts on her blog here: http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

Post the books you read last week, books currently being read and books you plan on finishing this week.

Last week I read:

1. Undone - Karin Slaughter
2. Swimsuit - James Patterson
3. KnockOut - Catherine Coulter

I'm currently reading:

1. Missing - Lisa Jackson

Books I'm planning on reading this week:

1. Burn - Linda Howard
2. Desire Unchained - Larissa Ione
3. Sliding Home - Kate Angell

Here are the links:

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-october_19.html
http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-

Library Haul (Oct 11 - 17)

Here's the list of books I picked up from the library this week.

1.  Burn - Linda Howard
2.  Fatal Secrets - Allison Brennan
3.  Silent Killer - Beverly Barton
4.  Hunt Her Down - Roxanne St. Claire
5.  Dark Lover - Brenda Joyce
6.  Kiss of the Phantom - Julie Leto
7.  Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
8. Time for Eternity - Susan Squires
9.  Slidng Home - Kate Angell
10.Servant the Kindred - L.L. Foster
11. Desire Unchained - Larissa Ione
12. Murder Game - Christine Feehan

Swimsuit (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Swimsuit" by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro.

Product Description


THE BEACH...

A breathtakingly beautiful supermodel disappears from a swimsuit photo shoot at the most glamorous hotel in Hawaii. Only hours after she goes missing, Kim McDaniels's parents receive a terrifying phone call. Fearing the worst, they board the first flight to Maui and begin the hunt for their daughter.

...WILL NEVER BE...

Ex-cop Ben Hawkins, now a reporter for the L.A. Times, gets the McDaniels assignment. The ineptitude of the local police force defies belief--Ben has to start his own investigation for Kim McDaniels to have a prayer. And for Ben to have the story of his life.

...THE SAME FOR YOU AGAIN.

All the while, the killer sets the stage for his next production. His audience expects the best--and they won't be disappointed. Swimsuit is a heart-pounding story of fear and desire, transporting you to a place where beauty and murder collide and unspeakable horrors are hidden within paradise.

About the Author

James Patterson published his first thriller in 1976 and since then has become one of the best-known and bestselling writers of all time, with more than 160 million copies of his books sold worldwide. He is the author of the two most popular detective series of the past decade, featuring Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club, and he has written numerous other #1 bestsellers. He has won an Edgar Award--the mystery world's highest honor--and his novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came aSpider were made into feature films starring Morgan Freeman. His website, www.ReadKiddoRead.com, lists the very best books for kids--titles that kids will gobble up and ask for more. He lives in Florida.

Maxine Paetro is a novelist and journalist. She lives with her husband in New York.

My Review:

Very fast paced right from the beginning.  Hard to put down!

Henri is quite sadistic and he loves his job!  Each kill is more brutal and graphic then the last one.

4/5

J.A. Saare Q & A

I am so excited to have J.A. Saare here to talk about her amazing series in a Q & A here at Razlover's Book Blog.

J.A. Saare. is currrently touring to promote her  four erotic paranormal romance releases, “Lick of Frost”, “Soft as Moonlight”, “Moon Kissed” and “A Kiss Before Dying”.

“A Kiss Before Dying”

Katja Morgan has committed the ultimate taboo in the life of a blood slave; she has fallen in love with her master. Vampire Lord Sebastian Arsov is everything she has ever wanted - gorgeous, sexy, intelligent, kind. As their time together nears an end, she carefully constructs the ruse that will allow her to belong to her shellar in both body and soul.

But sharing an evening with her beloved comes at a high price - the cost of her life.

Disguised as a bed slave, Katja enters Sebastian's chambers to experience the pleasures she's been long denied. Including the bite that will ultimately kill her - what slaves refer to as a kiss before dying. As the night fades into the day, will Sebastian discover Katja's true identity before it's too late? Or will he lose the slave he's come to love above all others?

A Kiss Before Dying Excerpt:

The large oak door opened with a protest of squeaking hinges, interrupting my thoughts and memories, and Sebastian entered the bedchamber. His massive frame took up a large portion of the bedroom, as did his tremendous presence. He pulled the door closed behind him, walked to the center of the room, and stood before me.

I knew what to expect. I had seen him come to those fortunate enough to grace his bed in those early days of my tenure, exiting just before the females doomed to die glorified in the last dizzying moments of pure bliss. For though they partook in the pleasures of his body, it was I who shared a portion of his mind, and the only reprieve I was allotted from his chamber was when he entertained.

As required, I donned a black mask embossed with blood red jewels that revealed only my cherry-stained lips and darkly kohled chocolate brown eyes, which worked in my favor to keep my identity hidden. Many of the lords preferred to think of their bed partners as little more than disposable pleasures. None of them enjoyed killing, even when it was necessary. The mask also held an enchantment, obscuring my unique scent. Otherwise, Sebastian would easily recognize the aroma of my blood and, by association, my identity.

To continue with the illusion, I chose a long, pale blonde wig to disguise the brunette waves collected underneath. Sebastian loved my hair. He claimed it was a prize of its own. Masking those heavy strands was as important as obscuring my face.

He continued standing there, observing me with a trained and critical eye. He was covered by only the most expensive materials, each piece custom fit to conform to his frame perfectly. The black jacket molded to his wide shoulders was left open along the center to reveal the crisp white shirt beneath with pearly white buttons opened at the collar.

"Rise," he murmured in his thick, rich voice, slightly accented and entirely erotic.

The mere word caused my thin panties to become drenched with hot liquid arousal. I began to shiver, goose bumps gathering along the surface of my skin. Wantonly, I envisioned the lips that uttered the word against my breasts, sucking and nipping playfully. My nipples, aching and sensitive, hardened at the prospect, and I shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

Scenting my desire, Sebastian chuckled at my reaction. "Rise, little beauty, and come to me."

This time, I did.

 
“Moon Kissed”

When Kassia Lambert wakes in a nice warm bed, alive and intact, she can’t believe her good fortune. She should be dead, considering she was sent head first into brick and mortar. So why isn’t she?

“Soft as Moonlight”

Lycae Wolfe Trevlian returns to New Orleans after a lengthy self imposed absence with one goal – to appease the vampyren harboring a grudge against his kin so he can leave as soon as possible. Bitter memories linger in the Big Easy, memories best left in the past. Fortunately, the agreement with the vampyren is simple – destroy the creature killing off their brethren, and the death of their Master is forgiven.

“Lick of Frost” (comes out Oct 30th)

Onyx “The Ice Princess” Blackthorn has yearned for the nearness of another for two centuries. Cursed after she shunned the advances of a lovelorn wizard and felled him with a cursed blade, she ventures to New Orleans with his coven, desperate to put an end to the isolation that is slowly killing her.

For more information about each book, please visit
http://jasaare.com/

Thanks so much Goddessfish.com for connecting us on this blog tour!

1.  Why did you become a writer?

Interestingly enough, it started as a hobby. My children, as much as I love them, were driving me batty. I had been a stay at home mom for six years by that point (I started writing about fourteen months ago) and I needed something that was purely “mine”. An idea for a story had been floating around in my head, and one night I took a seat in front of the PC and started writing. It was as if a switch of some kind was turned. I wrote eight-thousand words that night, and afterward, I spent each spare moment I had on my story. I finished eight weeks later, printed it out, and placed Crimson Moon on my bookshelf.

For some reason, I thought the itch would go away when I finished, but it didn’t. Within a couple of weeks I was already at work on my next story. And thus, a writer was born.

2.  What are you books about?

I write what I enjoy, and I enjoy several genres: horror, urban fantasy, romance, and erotica. But there is one element that appears in everything I write–the paranormal. I’m a self-professed werewolf nut. Most people are on the vampire bandwagon (and don’t get me wrong, I love me some fanged nocturnal creatures as well) but for me, there is just something so sexy about a man that truly is a “beast”. Howling at the moon, shifting shape, lethal teeth and claws…how can you go wrong?

The stories featured on the paranormal tour are A Kiss Before Dying, Moon Kissed, Soft As Moonlight, and Lick Of Frost. Of those four, A Kiss Before Dying is entirely independent.   It’s the story of a vampire blood slave, her Master, and the love that has developed during their time together. The remaining three stories revolve around Adam, Wolfe, and Luke Trevlian–Lycae attached to the powerful Bacchus pack of New Orleans. They can be read separately, but the intended order is Moon Kissed, Soft As Moonlight, and then Lick Of Frost.

3.  What are some of your favorite authors or genres?

I love, love, love urban fantasy and horror. As wrong as this is to confess, I read Stephen King’s Firestarter when I was thirteen (oddly enough, that was the same year I read my first romance, Kathleen Woodiwiss’s The Flame and the Flower) and I was captivated. I was already into horror movies, so I suppose it was only natural that I would gravitate toward the genre. I also love the classics and read John Steinbeck faithfully, as well as the master himself, Edgar Allan Poe.

Some of my favorite authors would be: Joey W. Hill (the erotica Mistress that everyone must read), Kresley Cole, Piers Anthony, Stephen King, J.F. Lewis, Jim Butcher, Laurell K. Hamilton, Patricia Briggs, Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, J.R. Ward, Stephen King, Toby Barlow, Wally Lamb… The list goes on and on.

4.  I noticed you are a Bruce Campbell fan! What movies of his would you recommend?

I love me some Bruce, he’s so multifaceted! His books, If Chins Could Kill and Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way are incredible. If you haven’t given them a read (and you’re a fan) treat yourself and buy a copy!

As for the movies, it goes without saying thou shall not forget The Evil Dead (and the consequent followings, Evil Dead II, and of course, the utterly fantastic Army of Darkness). But if I had to recommend one movie, it would be Bubba Ho-Tep, hands down. Bruce playing Elvis in a retirement home with a mummy that goes around eating the souls and life force of the elderly residents…rocks my socks!! *grins*

5.  What's on your next to do list?

I had a really difficult time after I completed Lick Of Frost. The second in my urban fantasy series (following Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between) begged to be completed, but another story just wouldn’t get out of my head. So…

I’m currently working on a new story, tentatively titled, “Omega Mine”. It’s a new spin on the traditional shifter lore, in an urban fantasy sort of world where people don’t know scary critters exist all around them. It will be super hot and full length, so I expect it will require an impressive spot of time at the PC and laptop. As I work the story, I’ll also devote time to The Renfield Syndrome.

My goal is to finish off those two books, return to another urban fantasy, The Company of Wolves, and then finish off the second in my Desires of the Otherworld romance series (the first, Eternity and a Day, is under submission).

So many ideas, so little time! *smile*

Thanks for having me on the blog! I really appreciate it!

Jaime

Thank you J.A. Saare. for being here today to talk about your series, I greatly appreciate it!

J.A. Saare will be giving a $10 Amazon gift certificate to a random commenter on her blog tour so please don't forget to comment here to have a chance to win.

Please follow the rest of  J.A Saare's  blog tour here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2009/09/virtual-book-tour-j-saares-paranomal.html

Book Flashback and Tea

The Tea:  Tetley's Asian White Pyramid Tea

The Book:  American Star by Jackie Collins.

Synopsis

Jackie Collins' American Star is a love story for the nineties. At its heart are two extraordinary lovers, separated by tragic circumstances, yearning for each other, yet seemingly never able to be together again.

Nick and Lauren can never forget each other. Teenage small-town lovers -- he from the wrong side of the tracks, she the prettiest girl in town -- their love was the town scandal, forbidden, sizzling and unforgettable, ending abruptly in a tragedy that sent them into separate orbits.

Nick pursues his dream of acting, and after a series of wild adventures begins the slow rise that will make him one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Lauren goes to New York and enters the modeling world, surprising everyone with a career that takes off in a direction she never expected. American Star follows them both on their trips to fame, as Nick and Lauren, haunted by the secret they share, try to live without each other -- only to find they can't.

American Star is a compelling story of love, sex and murder, set against the glamorous backgrounds of New York and Hollywood, as only Jackie Collins!

In the Mail (Oct 14)

I received this in the mail today (which I won from Books & Needlepoints, thanks Kristi):

Seduce Me (Legend Hunters) (Mass Market Paperback)

Product Description

Fielding Grey is the second son of the Marquess of Eldon and fortune hunter by night. He's on a mission for the Legend Hunters--a group of wealthy, titled, and heart-breakingly gorgeous men, each of whom are after the find of the century--he has his eyes set on obtaining the illustrious Pandora's Box. But before he finds it, he encounters an equally alluring treasure--the woman bold enough to look inside.

Esme Worthington can't resist taking the tiniest peek inside when fate drops the real Pandora's Box in her lap. Thus, she unleashes one of Pandora's irresistible curses: the curse of lust. Now, both Esme and Fielding must deal with this passionate curse--or blessing?--before unknown implications of Pandora's Box overpower them both.

About the Author

Robyn DeHart has published four books with Avon: Courting Claudia, A Study in Scandal, Deliciously Wicked, and Tempted At Every Turn. Known for her unique plotlines and authentic characters, Robyn is a favorite among readers and reviewers. Publishers' Weekly claims her writing to be "comical and sexy" while the Chicago Tribune dubs her "wonderfully entertaining." A two-time Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice award nominee, Robyn has earned 4 star and 4 ¿ star top pick reviews on all her books and Kathe Robin says, "Like Amanda Quick, DeHart [will] keep you up all night."

Undone (Grant County) (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Undone" book 7 in her Grant County series by Karin Slaughter.

Product Description

In the trauma center of Atlanta’s busiest hospital, Sara Linton treats the city’s poor, wounded, and unlucky—and finds refuge from the tragedy that rocked her life in rural Grant County. Then, in one instant, Sara is thrust into a frantic police investigation, coming face-to-face with a tall driven detective and his quiet female partner…. In Undone, three unforgettable characters from Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling novels Faithless and Fractured collide for the first time, entering an electrifying race against the clock—and a duel with unspeakable human evil.

In the backwoods of suburban Atlanta, where Sara’s patient was found, local police have set up their investigation. But Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Will Trent doesn’t wait for the go-ahead from his boss—he plunges through police lines, through the brooding woods, and single-handedly exposes a hidden house of horror buried beneath the earth. Then he finds another victim.…

Wresting the case away from the local police chief, Will and his partner, Faith Mitchell—a woman keeping explosive secrets of her own—are called into a related investigation. Another woman—a smart, upscale, independent young mother—has been snatched. For the two cops out on the hunt, for the doctor trying to bring her patient back to life, the truth hits like a hammer: the killer’s torture chamber has been found, but the killer is still at work.

In her latest suspense masterpiece, Karin Slaughter weaves together the moving, powerful human stories of characters as real as they are complex and unforgettable. At the same time she has crafted a work of dazzling storytelling and spine-tingling mystery—as three people, each with their own wounds and their own secrets, are all that stands between a madman and his next crime.

About the Author

Karin Slaughter is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Fractured, Beyond Reach, Triptych, Faithless, A Faint Cold Fear, which was named an International Book-of-the-Month Club selection, Indelible, Kisscut, and Blindsighted; she contributed to and edited Like a Charm. She is a native of Georgia, where she currently lives and is working on her next novel.

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book!  Not for the faint of heart pretty graphic description of torture!

Glad to see Karin bring Sara, Will & Faith together and interact with each other.

I believe there might be a romance between Sara and Will?

5/5

Dark Hunger Winner

The Winner of my Dark Hunger Contest is:












drumroll please







********************



















CONGRATULATIONS:

Martha Lawson!

List Randomizer


There were 3 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1.Martha Lawson
2.booklover0026
3.ddurance

Timestamp: 2009-10-13 21:04:57 UTC

Cold Moon Rising (Tales of the Sazi) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished reading "Cold Moon Rising" the 7th book in their Sazi series by C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp.

Product Description

TONY IS BACK

Former Mafia hit man Tony Giodone has been through a lot--he’s turned into a werewolf, with a human mate and a pack leader tougher than his old Mob boss. And he’s developed a powerful psychic ability—he can see into the past through other people’s memories.

Being mated with a human is difficult in more ways than one. Tony and Sue’s relationship is full of struggle. Adding to Tony’s trouble is a new problem with some old mobster “friends”…who also happen to be a cabal of Sazi mass murders trying to extinguish the human race.

Only one man might be able to help Tony and the Sazi stop the cabal: Ahmad, the leader of the snakes. He and Tony have a deeper psychic connection than Tony has with anyone else--even his mate! Now Tony is along for the psychic ride of his life as the crown prince of an ancient empire is faced with his deadliest enemy: a woman he once loved, whom he was forced to betray . . . one who may now betray Ahmad, Tony, and all of humanity.

About the Author

C.T. ADAMS AND CATHY CLAMP live outside Brady, Texas—Cathy with her husband and dogs, and C.T. with her son and cats. They are the USA Today bestselling authors of the Sazi shapeshifter series and the Thrall vampire series.

My Review:

Glad to see Tony and Sue back.  Ahamad was quite interesting and his history with Tuli was complicated.

I suggest reading "Hunting Moon" and "Moon's Web" first or else you won't know who's who!

This book was a kind of hard to follow because there were a lot of character surprises and they were undercover so you don't know which team they were really on.

3/5

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Oct 12)

What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme that J. Kaye Book Blog hosts on her blog here: http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

Post the books you read last week, books currently being read and books you plan on finishing this week.

Last week I read:

1. 8th Confession - James Patterson
2. Destined For an Early Grave - Jeaniene Frost
3. Leader of the Pack - Karen MacInerney
4. Cold Moon Rising - C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

I'm currently reading:

1. Undone - Karin Slaughter

Books I'm planning on reading this week:

1. Swimsuit - James Patterson
2. KnockOut - Catherine Coulter
3. Chasing the Bear (Young Spenser) - Robert B. Parker (not reading)

Here are the links:

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-october.html
http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-

Library Haul (Oct 4 - 10)

Here's the list of books I picked up from the library this week.

1. Missing - Lisa Jackson
2. Undone - Karin Slaughter
3. KnockOut - Catherine Coulter
4. Chasing the Bear - Robert B. Parker