Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter
Mrs. Perfect by Jane PorterISBN: 0446699241
Publisher: 5 Spot
Length: Novel
Genre: Mommy Lit
Price: $13.99
USDTaylor Young is a
Bellevue mom with everything she could ask for: a gorgeous husband, three beautiful girls, her dream house and a nanny. She has time for committees,
pilates, spa dates and more. She is a super mom. She does everything and appears to do it all well and easily. Unfortunately, it's all about to end as a secret is revealed that blows her world apart. When most of her friends shrink away from the 'disaster' her life as become, she finds another friend in the most unlikeliest of people. Somewhere along her journey Taylor learns that being Mrs. Perfect on the outside doesn't change the inside and not being perfect might be a better choice, anyway.
I have to say that I did not like Taylor Young much as I read through the first chapters of this book. In fact, I had a strong distaste for her. But, like a train wreck, I kept reading because Ms. Porter knows how to draw the reader in. I was sucked into the world and I needed to
beleive that Taylor would be redeemed somehow.
Early on, I was able to guess the secret that was going to rip apart Taylor's world. I don't really want to disclose it because the build up in the beginning of the book is imperative. While part of me is unsure how it could have gone on so long without a conversation, part of me understands the world this couple built and the need to not disappoint each other. At first I was solely on the side of Nathan, the husband. I was in total disdain that Taylor had been the major cause of their problems.
However, once their world starts to collapse it is Taylor who is the strong one, while Nathan runs away, ostensibly to make it all better. Although it took a good while (what was with her being so rotten to Lucy and then the sudden flip - it's ok to be nice since they're both in crappy situations?), Taylor seems to reach down inside herself and suddenly she isn't the selfish, vain person I thought her to be in the beginning. The reader starts to see the real Taylor. The insecure woman trying to please everyone. To be everything to everyone but herself. It seemed like she was redeemed a bit too easily, but then again I had no trouble suspending disbelief at that point. I was too sucked in - too invested in the story to stop.
Ms. Porter does a great job of portraying how friends react when the bad stuff happens. Some are there no matter what and then there are those who slink away and pretend they never knew you or are
embarrassed to know you now. Then there are the ones who take advantage of the situation. The character of Monica totally cracked me up because I'm sure we all know someone like that.
The build to Nathan coming back was quite quick at the end and I think I would have liked to have seen more about that, but this was really Taylor's journey so it was ok.
All in all Mrs. Perfect was a great read. Although I can't relate to the financial status of most of the women in this book, I found it realistic and heart-wrenching all the same. Because money is not what makes us who we are. What we have does not define us. And, I think, that is the point. Ms. Porter has a way of taking something superficial and showing us the heart that beats underneath.
I give this a 4
Labels: Rating 4
The Ultimatum by Dan Graziano
The Ultimatum by Dan Graziano
Avon, 2007
Henry is an author who’s been living with his lawyer girl-friend, Layla, for about six years. They are in love and comfortable. Life has an easy rhythm. However, Layla decides that it’s time to take the next step—marriage.
She tells Henry that he has one week to propose or she’s outta there. Their good friends, Jack and Gina, are getting married one week to the day and Henry has until the bouquet toss to make good on his relationship with Layla.
What ensues is a thought-provoking, often humorous, tale of each day as it the countdown to week’s end is on. Will the ultimatum end in a proposal? Or will this couple go their separate ways?
The Ultimatum is a fun story and the author, Dan Graziano, is able to bring a uniquely male perspective to the story. As I was reading this I kept thinking of how I, or any female author, may have presented this. I realised I very much enjoyed seeing the male take on the situation. The author does present both Henry and Layla’s point of view, so he is trying to present both sides to the story. Unfortunately he often cuts back and forth between them, or narrating omnisciently, with no scene breaks, which I found very confusing, and distracting.
However, there were some great laugh-out-loud scenes, as well as some wonderfully touching emotional ones, in this book. As a woman I thought it was a great look into how a man might react to an ultimatum like this. I found it pretty realistic. Especially all of the golf and drinking! While I’m not entirely sure a woman would make the whole date decision as Layla did, I didn’t find it unrealistic either.
All in all, I found The Ultimatum by Dan Graziano quite enjoyable and engaging.
I give it 4 Kisses, Reviewed for Romance Divas
Labels: Rating 4
Rubies of Fire (Dept 57)by Lynne Connolly
Dept 57 Rubies of Fire by Lynne Connolly Triskelion Publishing
Andreas Constant is undercover as the sleazy, office dude who hits on all the women in the CIA Department of Internal Business. He is actually vampire orphan and a field agent for Department 57, which is another department of the CIA, who are investigating a leak that apparently came from the DIB. He has been slowly getting to know everyone and entering their minds without them noticing. He has also been attracted to Roz Templeton since day one on the job and upon entering her mind he finds that she’s another vampire.
Roz has been working in the department trying to uncover leads to the two family member’s untimely and unorthodox deaths. She has been trying to stay away from the office sleaze, Andreas, but somehow finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers he’s undercover, looking for the same answers she is, she allows her passion and desire to take over. When the danger hits too close to home they find out that they might be the only ones they can count on.
Rubies of Fire is an intense, on the edge of your seat suspense with a paranormal twist. Or perhaps that would be an intense paranormal with a suspense twist. Either way, it was good. Initially, I found it a bit hard to follow all of the departments, jobs, and various Talents (which include vampires, shifters, dragons and sorcerers) but as the story settled in it started to make more sense.
I loved all of the characters in this book, most especially Fabrice Germain, the virgin sorcerer. The hero and heroine were also interesting and believable, and the heat between them seemed real. There was no doubt in my mind that they were meant to be together. There are a lot of characters and sometimes that is slightly confusing as well, most notable when editing errors use the wrong characters name at the wrong time. There were a couple of editing errors which caused a blip in my reading enjoyment, most especially when Candy states in one case that she’d known Fabrice for a long time and then only two pages later says she didn’t know him; however the plot carried me through and I was able to move beyond the errors and really get into the story.
You will need to know that there are some rather shocking elements (for the unprepared) and eyebrow raising issues in this book but they are handled well. The author tackles homoerotic issues as well as rape but not the way you would expect. In my opinion she has done a good job of creating and layering her characters and story so that these elements are believable for the plot. Other than the issues mentioned above I really enjoyed this story. Apparently this is book three in a series. I will look for the first two and I certainly hope Fabrice will come into his own story from Department 57 very soon.
I give this 4 Ayres (RORR)
Labels: Rating 4
Dead of Winter, Review for Gotta Write Network
Title: Dead of Winter Author: Patricia Parkinson
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
ISBN: ISBN: 1-59998-012-6
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 236 pages
Publishing Date: 2006
Cost: $5.50
When Kate Madison finds her friend Harley Wilson dead behind his house she immediately suspected foul play. Although murder in Windy Creek, Montana is not the norm she just knew things weren’t right. Harley had become the father she’d never had - in her heart he was her true Dad. She is determined to find out what happened to him, no matter what the local Sheriff says. She’s a mystery writer who thinks she knows a thing or two about investigations and she doesn’t need his permission.
Sheriff Steve Lambert has only been in town for just over a year but his heart had skipped a beat from the minute he had seen Kate. This isn’t to say he was going to let her play detective while he was trying to track down a murderer. Keeping her safe is his utmost priority. When Kate started noticing him as more than just a sheriff his priority became trying to keep his hands off of her long enough to solve the case.
When Kate admits to Steve about a mistake she made in her past, he’s not sure he can get beyond it. When a stalker goes after he learns his heart might not survive if she’s not around.
Dead of Winter is a great story about the many people we allow into our hearts, whether by blood or familial ties or just bound by something inexplicable. The suspense is real and you are constantly guessing about the suspect and changing your mind all the way through, although once guess seems pretty obvious and I wish it was less so.
There are many characters scattered throughout the pages of this novel and Ms. Parkinson did a great job of keeping them all real and making them fit into the storyline. The reader is really able to feel the small town and get to know its inhabitants.
The romance between Steve and Kate was nice and their moments together believable and tension filled when necessary. All in all I’d say this is the perfect book to grab a cup of hot chocolate and cosy up next to the fire with. It’s comfortable and warm like that.
I give it 4 Grizzly Bears Labels: Rating 4
Ninja, Review for RORR
Ninja by Racy Li
Loose ID
Liz Blackwell, leads a double life. The face she shows the world is all attorney but in her spare time she helps the FBI. The new world is full of superheroes, demons and secret spies all tangled up in a web of organized crime.
Kent Alistair is an ex-dotcom exec who seems happy as Liz’s secretary – the one she thinks is a geek. Ninja is the fantasy superhero who rescued her from the bad guys. He’s the one she wants to get all hot and sweaty with.
Will she discover that Ninja and Kent are one and the same? Or will the game of deceit they are both playing be their undoing?
Ninja by Racy Li is hot, hot, hot. Whew. Did I say it was hot? Kent Alistair is like a future combination of Spiderman and Superman (he’s even named Kent) with martial arts and mystic thrown into the mix. He’s hot. Yes, ok, everything about this book is hot.
From the very start we are aware that this is going to be a very sexual, sensual read. Thankfully, there is a plot in between all the sex scenes and a pretty darned good one at that. Although, trying to keep track of the various sides (who was a good guy and who was not) did get a bit confusing at times. The only other thing that bothered me, and it wasn’t a huge thing, was the whole lift up Ninja’s mask and kiss him on the mouth scene reminiscent of that of Spiderman and Mary Jane. Plus, just as with those superhero movies, I have a hard time believing a mask would keep anyone from figuring out that the hero is really mild mannered “enter name here”. However, I choose to believe Ms. Li was going for the old-fashioned superhero effect and she nailed it.
If you are looking for a kick butt, sexy rompin’ read with a superhero who is rock hard (yes, I said that!) then snap up Ninja by Racy Li – you won’t be disappointed. Ms. Li has created an interesting world that I’m eager to learn more about. I suspect we will be seeing more of Metrocity and Ms. Li.
I give it 4 Ayres
Labels: Rating 4
Dangerous Games, Review for Romance Divas
Dangerous Games by Lora Leigh
St. Martin’s Paperback, February 2007
Morganna Chavez has been running after Clint McIntyre since she was a toddler.
She saw past his icy Navy Seal exterior to the man underneath.
Clint, on the other hand, had been running from Morganna since her teens, since he saw through to the woman she would become and the danger to his heart.
Clint is cold as steel and no one will stand in his way. He wants to protect Morganna from life, as only a surrogate big brother should, but when he finds out she is working in dangerous territory he’s not sure he can. Morganna is set to prove she’s made her own life and she’s a big girl. She doesn’t need Clint or anyone to protect her, she can do it herself.
When both Clint and Morganna end up in a high stakes game of hide and seek with a maniac, in an investigation of a date-rape drug, their close encounters are a little hotter than either anticipated, in more ways than one. Will they make it out alive? And will either risk their heart to the only one who can shatter it?
Dangerous Game by Lora Leigh is a fast-paced, high tension romantic suspense that is adventurous in many ways. To be honest there are elements in this book that disturb me and that would have probably made me not choose this book, had they been mentioned in the blurb. I think the blurb is a little deceiving and perhaps that was the point, I’m not sure. This book enters the world of BDSM and while mostly using fringe clubs and probably not really getting in too deeply it is not something I am comfortable with. I am not familiar with this author or her style so have no idea if this is the norm for her; however, the author’s note in the book does talk about the setting and her dominant hero theme for this new series she calls Tempting SEAL’s.
I gravitate towards romantic suspense and this book sounded perfect. I got a bit more than that. However, I was able to put my discomfort aside and read the book because the suspense storyline was very good, if paced a bit fast at times. There was a lot going on but the author handled it adeptly and I think the backtstory for Clint was especially well done. It showed us why he had become the man he had, why he made the decisions he did and why he was called the iceman. I think the heroine was completely suited to him and the author did a great job building the layers of their relationship.
If you are looking for a thrill ride of action, adventure and suspense with over-the-top erotic romance thrown in then Dangerous Games is the one for you. Despite my reluctance with the BDSM theme I am eager to read the next in this series, as Ms. Leigh has created a world and characters where you just need to know what happens next. I need to know what happens next and to whom.
I give it 4 kisses.
Labels: Rating 4
InSINerator, Review for WCP
InSINerator
Wild Child Publishing.com © 2007
Title of Book: InSINerator
Author: Joseph DiFrancesco
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing Inc
ISBN: 1-55404-355-7
Genre: Suspense
Length: Category
Release Date: May 2006
There is a serial killer on the loose and detective Bob DiStanza is determined to find him. What he doesn’t want to find is any more dead women. He’d really love to just concentrate on his own life and happy ever after.
When things suddenly take an odd turn and the killer’s M.O. changes Bob has to follow a new trail. He can’t figure out whether there is one killer or two. The killer himself is suddenly made aware that changes have been made and that makes him nervous, as well, especially when an arsonists seems to be following his every move.
When all is said and done, who will catch the killer? And whose side is he on?
InSINerator is a great suspense that builds from the very start and comes to a very satisfying conclusion. The author layers everything in such a way that the reader is eagerly anticipating what will happen next. What I liked about this book was that I only guessed who was behind something at the same moment that the detective did. I love it when a suspense is able to keep me in the dark for as long as possible. If I figure it out too soon then the book isn’t quite as interesting to me.
While not labeled a romantic suspense, there was a sweet romance building alongside the mystery/suspense of this story. I found it very believable and loved the way the main character kept trying to reach out to his girlfriend’s daughter, to include her in the relationship.
This book is told in third person omniscient and, after the prologue where that was clear, it took me a while to figure out that we weren’t head hopping through scenes. This was slightly distracting to me as we’d be in one head and then the other and sometimes it was confusing who was talking and/or thinking.
If you are looking for good suspense with a twist and just a darned good plot, then I highly recommend InSINerator.
I give it 4 Cats
Labels: Rating 4
Visting Donna Dee, Review for WCP
Visiting Donna DeeWild Child Publishing.com © 2006
Title: Visiting Donna Dee
Author: Zinnia Hope
Publisher: Amira Press
Genre: Inspirational
Length: Short Story
Release Date: February 2007
Author's Website:
Zinnia Hope's websiteRegina Mayse is the store manager at a bookstore, which she happens to live above. When she hears about Arnold Cuttshaver she thinks her boss is out of his mind to have hired an ex-con. An ex-con who served fifty years for murder no-less.
Arnold Cuttshaver is the cantakerous ex-con who just wants to do the job he was hired to do and be left alone. When he was locked up he lost his freedom and the wife he loved so much. Whether he actually committed the crime he was incarcerated for wasn’t the point.
In this short story Zinnia Hope tells a unique tale of friendship between a young girl and an old man. I really liked Arnold and found his character to be especially well written. I completely believed the fact that he saw his ex-wife Donna Dee in Regina. The rising floodwaters added to the tension in this very nice story but unfortunately I thought the wrap up to be slightly abrupt and didn’t necessarily believe the very last line.
However, this author knows how to layer characterization and build the story. I found this to be a delightful, feel-good read.
I give it 4 Cats.
Labels: Rating 4
Seven of Cups Review for RORR
Izzy MacPherson seems to have trouble keeping her boyfriends alive. After the second one in a year is killed she starts to think she is cursed. And she should know, she comes from a family of famous witches. She’s been avoiding her own legacy for years, although her senses are telling her it’s time to get on board, and she’s not who she thinks she is. In her search for a killer, Izzy finds herself, can she find love too?
Eric Baxter is the crime novelist who arrives to take on the case of the murders from a year before. Originally determined to paint the MacPherson sisters as the culprits behind the real murderer he starts to realize everything he knew about Izzy was all wrong. Now instead of wanting to put her away he wants to keep her away from all who are trying to harm her. If only she’d let him.
When I started to read the Seven of Cups I wasn’t that appreciative of the first chapter, in fact I was already thinking about how I was going to rate this book. That was a mistake. In fact the parallels between my assumptions of that first chapter and the assumptions made about the heroine, Izzy MacPherson, are uncanny.
I truly enjoyed this book. The more I read the more I wanted to read. Written in the first person the reader enters Izzy’s heart and mind and grows as she grows. We see how she goes from girl that just wants to have a good time to the girl who is ready to become a woman and take on the world and save those that she loves. Eric Baxter is hot and, although I would have liked to see him fleshed out a bit more (which is hard to do when the story is written in first person I know), a wonderful accompaniament to Izzy.
The secondary characters in this book are also well done and make me now want to go back and read the first book. I didn’t know this was a series and this book certainly stands alone but I had an inkling there must be another one and I was happy to find out I was right.
If you are looking for a romantic paranormal with suspense then you should pick up Seven of Cups. You won’t be disappointed.
I give it a 4
Labels: Rating 4
In the Spirit Review for RORR
In the Spirit by Shannon Stacey
Samhain Publishing (ebook)
Jessica Newton is an author looking for a secluded place to write far away from the holiday mayhem she abhors. The remote cabin in the mountains seems to be a perfect place to escape the holiday spirit.
Zachary Roberts loves Christmas. At least he did when he was alive, so why not carry on the tradition even though he is ghost? He often surprises the residents of the cabin with a fabulous display, in all different forms.
Zach is a holiday spirit ready to spread some joy. When he sees Jessica he knows he wants more than that. Can a bah humbug and a mischievous spirit come together to find the true meaning of Christmas?
This light-hearted tale by Shannon Stacey is filled with fun and frivolity. From the first word I was captured in the Christmas spirit, even as the heroine fought against hers. I know that if I found a ghost inhabiting a cabin I'd hope he was as gorgeous as Zach Roberts sounds!
My biggest gripe about this story was that Jessica didn't seem too disconcerted to find her cabin inhabited by a ghost. I think we are to assume that since she writes horror, that things like this don't faze her. Maybe, but I would still have liked to see a bit more of a struggle with this issue. However, the way they negotiated their way through the Christmas decorations was fantastic.
If you are looking for a fun story with lots of heat then look no further. In the Spirit is a feel-good holiday romance that will leave you smiling.
I give it a 4.Labels: Rating 4
A Sight to Dream of Review for WCP
A Sight to Dream of (Oberon: Book 2)
Wild Child Publishing.com © 2006
Title: A Sight to Dream of (Oberon: Book 2)
Author: P.G. Forte
Publisher: SynergEbooks
ISBN: 0-7443-0728-7
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Length: Long Novel
Release Date: 2004
Author's Website:
P.G. Forte
Things are different in Oberon. Sometimes things happen in such a way as to be far more than just coincidence. Unfortunately, Sam Sterling is new to town and he hasn't learned that yet.
Arriving in Oberon on his motorcycle Sam is a man trying to hide from a killer. When the local reporter ends up dead at the exact spot he was designated to meet her, Sam is pretty sure his partner has figured out where he is and has sent a killer. He has no idea that the local psychic will be his saving grace, nor the angel from a photo he saw, come to life.
Marsha Quinn is a bit of an oddity, her psychic abilities came to her after a nearly life ending accident left her scarred and broken. When she sees Sam looking at her as if he knows her she is not too surprised, although she is not sure why. She only knows that she is willing to vouch for him when a body turns up dead.
I really enjoyed this book from P.G. Forte. It had unusual characters as the leads and I liked that. No cookie cutter heroes and heroines here as both Marsha and Sam are uniquely gifted in both abilities and looks. I like that Marsha is scarred and psychic and that Sam still finds her attractive and sexy. I even like that he is a bit put off by her abilities because I think that's the way most of us are...we don't really want to believe in the paranormal and yet we are still drawn to it. Sam is not the typical tall, dark, Alpha male, and in fact that the author gave him silver hair which made me smile, for it is not often used with heroes as far as I'm aware. Little touches, like making him a brilliant man able to read special stock market coding to see trends but yet still stand and watch a flock of birds or find beauty in a scene, make him more real. Often corporately brilliant men are depicted as cold and unfeeling and Sam is none of those.
There was a good build up for the suspense of the novel and a great inclusion of a good number of characters, any number of whom could have reason to have killed the reporter. For me it did get a bit to busy at times with some stories overlapping but for the most part I was able to keep it all on track. I would have liked to see Marsha be a bit more firm with her ex and some others that seem to walk all over her but maybe that is in keeping with her peacekeeping nature. I thought in the end she was a bit harsher with Sam than she needed to be considering how she let others treat her but, again, perhaps this was her finally taking a stand.
My one caveat is that the book is quite long and I don't necessarily think that all scenes were necessary for this storyline and one didn't even wrap up as far as I'm concerned. Having said that, however, they maybe necessary to further the series and I may find what I'm looking for in a further book. I hope so. My point on this, mostly, is that I think this would be easier to read in print so if you can buy the print version I suggest doing so.
In the end I think P.G. Forte has created a unique world in Oberon, one I'm interested in exploring again. I did not read the first book in this series but this one was perfectly capable of standing alone. If the rest of the books are like this then I suspect the author has created a winning series.
four cat review at Wild Child Publishing.com
Rating: 4 cats.
Labels: Rating 4
The Pirate's Booty Review for Wild Child Publishing
The Pirate's Booty
Wild Child Publishing.com © 2006
Title: The Pirate's Booty
Author: Shelli Stevens
Publisher: Cobblestone Press
ISBN: 1-60088-021-5
Genre: Contemporary/Interracial
Rating: Wicked
Length: Novella
Release Date: July 2006
Author's Website: http://www.shellistevens.com
Renee crashes a very exclusive party in order to retrieve something belonging to her family. What she doesn't know is the party is a bit hotter than she expected. All she had to do was slip in and slip out with the item, and no one would be the wiser.
Devon Murray is the descendant of the pirate who allegedly stole Renee's family heirloom. He is also the man throwing the sexy little party and keeping an eye on the comings and goings, so to speak. Realizing that Renee shouldn't be there, he pegs her for a reporter and figures he'll take care of it on his own rather than letting his bouncers handle it. Something about this party crasher intrigues him, but he's not sure what.
This book definitely started out a la Eyes Wide Shut, which was quite interesting, and I wasn't sure how the author could take that and run in a way that wasn't just bad for the romance part of the book. However, I was very impressed. Shelli Stevens was able to take this very erotic tale and turn it into a romance that I wanted to see continue and was interested in. I found the characters to be fascinating and believable for the most part and I liked them.
Often in erotic romance, I find a lot of filler, added just to connect the sex scenes, but not really adding anything to the plot. This wasn't the case in The Pirate's Booty, which was a welcome change. Although you will find the steamy bits to be absolutely sizzling and daring, you will find the romance to be sweet. It goes back and forth, and, for this reviewer, I find that believable because if you think about who you are in bed and who you are in real life, you will generally find (although not always I'm sure) a bit of a split personality.
The only thing that I thought a bit unbelievable was how quickly they fell in love. While a good many romances have the couple falling in love in a short period of time, in this instance because of the extremes between the erotic and sweet, I would have liked to have seen the couple spending a bit more time getting to know each other outside of the bedroom. I think it's hard to see someone in the image of a sex-party and then as the love of your life three or four days later. The author did do a good job of setting this up as some kind of deja vu from their ancestors, so perhaps she intended that to help suspend disbelief.
All in all a surprisingly enjoyable read!
I give it 4 cats.
Labels: Rating 4
Deadly Mistakes reviewed for Rites of Romance
Deadly Mistakes by Denise Belinda McDonaldSamhain Publishing (ebook)
Reviewed by: Michelle Puffer
When Charlie Foster discovers a dead man on her living room floor, she becomes entangled in a web of viscious circumstances, which really have nothing to do with her.
Detective Bobby Allen is on leave from the Chicago PD, trying to figure out who killed his brother and trailing a man who ends up dead.
When another murder victim is found the local police are pointing their fingers at Charlie but Bobby is able to clear her by being in the wrong place at the right time. The two of them work together to defeat a madman and discover that there are more than one. Can their growing attraction keep this pair together or will Bobby's past come back to rip them apart?
The author has done a great job of making the reader care about the characters in Deadly Mistakes. The pace certainly never lets up and there are moments where you feel your heart pounding just as loud as you imagine the character's heart is. There are thrills and chills about in this suspense novel and definitely some nail biting moments.
While I truly did enjoy the story, there came a part where I just felt it was too much. Could any more happen to this heroine? Towards the end I felt that perhaps it stretched out a bit too long. However, the author has a great voice for suspense and, I suspect, a great career ahead of her.
I gave this 4 MoonsLabels: Rating 4
