No. 122: Twenties Girl

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Shortly after I vowed to read every book Sophie Kinsella has ever written, I found this book on my living room bookshelf. And I mean really shortly after, as in 20 minutes after! A few (or more) weeks ago my sister in-law lent it to me but I had not been particularly motivated to read it because it was in actual book form and not on my beloved Kindle. But, after the last book I read and loved by this author (which I read this afternoon) I had to immediately read this book. And even though it seemed like kind of a fat book it was a very quick read because I started it at the girls bathtime and finished it by 10:00.

It was about a woman who was visited by the ghost of her late great-aunt Sadie who needs her help to find a missing necklace. Apparently she cannot "move on" or whatever you want to call it until this last request is accomplished. I thought Sadie was kind of annoying but I still liked the book. Kinsella has a way of writing her FMCs that I like, even though they often embarass the living daylights out of themselves. It is funny and they always recover and fall in love with dashing Americans (or at least they have in the last two books I read) And they are definitely not the typical romance novel - maybe because they are considered chick-lit? I am not entirely sure.

But I am moving forward with my quest. I plan to read all of her single titles first and then re-read the shopaholic series.

No. 121: Can You Keep a Secret?

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

I totally loved this book. It was so funny and good I almost didn't leave to pick the girls up from daycare. And as soon as I got home and got them some dinner I started reading again until I finished. I mean, I really liked it, one of the best books I have read in a long time.

I always forget how much I appreciate a funny book - like Janet Evanovich and sometimes Suzanne Brockmann I love a book that is funny but still has a plot. I don't know if I would call this more of a chick lit or a romance - but there was definitely a focus on the relationships of the FMC. Particularly her relationship with Jack.

The book starts out with the FMC traveling back to London after a semi-disastrous work meeting in Scotland. As she is flying home the plane goes through some serious turbulence and thinking they are going to crash and die, she spills all of her deepest secrets to the guy sitting next to her. Of course he is the owner of the company she works for and hijinks ensue. Very funny hijinks.

Anyway, it was such a good book that I have now officially decided to read (or re-read) every book she has ever written! Wish me luck!!!

No. 120: Sizzle

Sizzle by Julie Garwood

Julie Garwood decided to release this new book on my anniversary - wasn't that a nice present! I actually bought it the day it came out and stayed up very late to read it. And I liked it. I have said many times that I don't like her contemporary books as well as I do her historical ones. And I mean it. In the hierarchy of my favorite Garwood books it goes 1) Scottish historicals 2) all other historicals, 3) contemporary serial killer books that freak me out, and finally 4) all other contemporary books. This book would happen to fall into the last category but luckily for me I still liked it better than most other contemporary romances!

This book had a little mystery, a little attempted homicide, a slightly crazy/deluded hit man and a super hot Scottish FBI agent. Those are the kind of things I can get behind in a book. Maybe for my next anniversary present she will head back to the highlands for the whole story instead of just the end!!!

No. 119: Pirate Latitudes

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crighton

I have read several books my Michael Crighton before, and I have enjoyed them all. This is his newest book and it was good, but I wouldn't say one of his best. It was kind of strange but it seemed like this was more of a movie treatment than a book. I didn't think there was as much character development - I couldn't really get into their motivations. It was all action, drama, action, drama. And it was good action and drama, don't get me wrong, but it was missing something for me. I couldn't care enough about what was happening. In fact, I actually put the book down for the night and went to bed half way through. And I almost always have to finish a book before I can sleep. And when I picked it up the next night, I finished it quickly so I could move on to something else. Something I did read all in one night (and stayed up very late to finish!)

But I bet it would make a great movie. I wonder if that is the plan...

No. 118: The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin

Yet another free book, but this one is something a lot different. The narrator is Griselda Sparrow, sister of Agnes Sparrow. Agnes is a 600 something pound woman who makes miracles happen. I seriously have no idea how the author came up with this plot, but it was so interesting. Agnes, who confined herself to her home after becoming too fat to get around easily began praying for the townspeople and miracles started happening. A mysterious stranger comes to town hoping that Agnes can make a miracle happen for him. There are a couple of unusal twists, things I didn't really see coming. But I would recommend this book because it is not like any thing I have read before. And since I want people to read it I am not going to spoil it :)

No. 117: Irresistible Forces

Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson

This was another FREE!!!! book from Amazon. I am on a spending freeze until after Christmas so I can afford all the presents I bought since I am not working. This is very unfortunate for me because I love to buy books, especially for my beloved kindle. But, at least there are some free books out there for me. Even if they are less than great.

Like this book for example. Not great, not even good really. Kind of bad if I am being honest. I knew straight off that I wouldn't like it, but I was desperate. The plot is this - a young professional (rich) woman decides that she wants to have a baby but is not interested in having a relationship to get one. So she thinks of the most perfect guy she can - a client of hers - who is also SUPER RICH and hot and SURPRISE, he wants a baby too but doesn't want to get married and he thinks she is hot so he decides to go for it.

So basically the whole plot is trying to get this woman knocked up. And clearly they are going to fall in love. And spoiler alert - they totally succeed in getting her pregnant in the one week they spend together. And the dialogue was horrible. And, the other thing that really bothered me was that the author "told" me a lot more than she "showed" me. It was very annoying. But FREE!!!

No. 116: Once a Cowboy

Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren

So I was looking for a western or cowboy book and I found this one for free on Amazon! Free!!! But, unfortunately it wasn't THAT great or that much about a cowboy. And it had, perhaps, one of the top 10 worst romance novel lines of all time. But more about that later.

So in this book the FMC is a private detective who gets a new client, an older woman who is looking for her son who was stolen from the hospital as a baby 40 years ago. She brings in some pictures from the paper of a cowboy who she thinks is her long lost son. So she tries to figure out if this famous bull rider is really the baby that was stolen. The main plot was actually really good and interesting. But about half way through the book the author starts to go a bit crazy with the mystery past thing - no one in this book as a regular life. It is non-stop tragedy and craziness. I think if she would have pulled it back a little it would have been a good book.

But, there is the line - and it is terrible. And it is repeated at least 3 if not 4 times in different ways. Here you go - are you ready? The MMC is freaking out, worrying about the DNA test or something and he is out riding with his two best friends - he leaps off his horse, flings out his arms and yells "How do you fix a broken cowboy?!?!?!?!" Is that not awful? I laughed out loud, it was so dreadful. But do you know what is (almost) worse? The answer. You fix a broken cowboy with the love of a good woman.

No. 115: At Home in Stone Creek

At Home in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller

I was trying to feed my new-found cowboy addiction by reading this book - another in the Stone Creek series. But tragically it turns out that this is set in the present and there were no cowboys to speak of. Very disappointing.

While there were no cowboys, there was a retired country music star, a mysterious toxin, a drug dealer, a kitten, a fake death and cherry crepes. Also people that can hear/talk to animals. So not a complete loss :)

Also, this book was an actual BOOK - in book form, not on the kindle. It was soooo hard to turn all those pages. Just terrible, I am exhausted :)

I am going to need to find a good cowboy book now. Maybe something about the rodeo.

Nos. 108 - 114 Meredity Gentry Series 1 - 7

Meredith Gentry Series 1 - 7 by Laurell Hamilton

I decided to write about this series as one post because all the books run together and I read most of them in a row so while I remember what happened in the series, I have no idea what happened in each individual book.

Speaking of individual books, this series has some of the WORST titles I have ever had the misfortune to come across:

1. A Kiss of Shadows (starts out okay - and this one was FREE!)
2. A Caress of Twilight (already going downhill)
3. Seduced by Moonlight (lame)
4. A Stroke of Midnight (getting kind of creepy now)
5. Mistral's Kiss (doesn't fit in with the rest - and they did more than kiss if you know what I mean)
6. A Lick of Frost (really creepy double meaning when there is a character named Frost)
7. Swallowing Darkness (extra super creepy double meaning when there is a character named Darkness)

She started to lose me by about book number 3 with the titles but SERIOUSLY!!! I would not be able to buy these books in the store (thank goodness I have Kindle or I would never know how the series turns out)

I am not even entirely sure why I keep reading the series anyway. I don't really like it at all. It is not my genre of romance - more fairy/fantasy with a good helping of erotica thrown in. I like to be able to read my books with out my delicate sensibilities being offended and I don't like blushing, even in the privacy of my own home. But, there is something about the story line that makes me want to find out how it ends. So I end up reading as fast as humanly possible over the more graphic parts. Which happens quite a bit unfortunately. Although in one book she went like 4 whole chapters without having sex with someone. Which was a record.

The plot involves a fairy princess (seriously) from the Unseelie court of the Fae. I don't really want to go into too much detail because it would take forever, but she needs to get knocked up to inherit her evil Aunt's throne (she is Queen of the Unseelie) and save all of Fae-kind. Anyway, she basically HAS to sleep with like a million guys until she gets pregnant. So she does, a lot. And a TON of other weird, creepy, disturbing and gross stuff happens. I really have to say I would not reccommed this series or any of the books in it to anyone. In fact, the whole time I was reading I kept thinking "why am I reading this?" but I am compelled to finish a series. No matter how unpleasant.

You might be wondering why I have not purchased and read the recently released 8th (and hopefully last) book in this series. Well, because I will never in a million years pay $13.00 for a Kindle book in this series. Forget about it. I will wait until it is cheaper or I will read it at the library or Barnes and Noble. So I will post about that one when I read it. For the record, it is called Divine Misdemeanors which does NOT fit in with her trend of terrible titles. What is up with this Hamilton person - where is the consistency?!?!?

No. 107: Kindred in Death

Kindred in Death by JD Robb

I actually read this book quite awhile ago but since I am so far behind on my posting I completely forgot about it! Luckily I have my Kindle which keeps all the books I read in one place so I don't lose it altogether.

I have read every book in this series. I like every book in the series - this is the 30th one!!! JD Robb (aka Nora Roberts) has the amazing ability to write both good love/romance and good gruesome crime and death. I like that even though every once and a while her bad guys totally creep me out!!!

This one completely creeped me out, and also made me very sad with his unfortunate choice of victims. I wasn't 100% sold on his motivation, but the more I think about it, I can buy it. I hate to give away too many details in these books because I know so many people read them.

No. 106: A Precious Jewel

A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh

This book tricked me into thinking it was new and good when in reality I had read it before and HATED it. And I HATED it this time too. In fact, I HATE it so much it I have to use caps when I write HATE.

Why did I HATE a book by one of my all time favorite authors? Author of one of my all time favorite series? (I am looking at you Slightly series) Creator of one of my all time favorite characters? (Wulf!) That is a good question.

First and foremost this is one of those terrible stories about a lady who has fallen on hard times though absolutely no fault of her own and has to become a prostitute. I think that is depressing. Then she meets a guy and even though he is totally paying her for sex, she falls in love with him. And he falls in love with her - even though he treats her like crap occasionally. But it can never be because she is a whore. I hate this kind of plot. I also thought the MMC was a slightly creepy jerk and the FMC was unsympathetic. I didn't care when her heart was broken - that is no good.

I am making a vow - no more books like this. Unless they are free. I can't turn down a free book no matter how terrible :)

Balogh has a new Regency series coming out this winter - I can't wait to read it because her new stuff is ONE MILLION times better than this early 90's nonsense.

No. 105: Snowbound

Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson

This book was free! So I wasn't expecting much to be honest. But it was better than anticipated. The story starts when a teacher and her students get trapped in a snowstorm and become stranded (snowbound?) at a lodge owned by a veteran semi-recently returned from Iraq. He is, of course, damaged both physically and emotionally by war. Nevertheless, he is able to fall in love with the FMC in the short period of time she is stranded at the lodge. The feeling is mutual and she even returns to stay with him over the Christmas holiday.

But (and here is where things get kind of annoying) she gets pissed off when he won't tell her the terrible things he experienced during the war. I thought she was a jerk for trying to make him relive things that he clearly wasn't ready to deal with yet. So they kind of break it off for awhile. Later he decides he is ready to get some psychiatric help (maybe something a loving girlfriend could have proposed as a solution rather than breaking up with him?) and goes back to her after he is less crazy.

In sum - it was okay, better than I expected but I still thought the FMC was annoying. I am sensing an unpleasant trend. I might need to read some old favorites before the year is over to end on a good note!

No. 104: New Moon and New Moon Movie Review

New Moon by Stephanie Meyers

I went to see the New Moon movie this weekend so I had to read the book to see how close they were to each other. When a book I love gets made into a movie I want them to be as close as possible. That is one of the problems I had with the Twilight movie - they left out my favorite parts and added in some new parts that I didn't like as much.

But this movie, oh, it was soo good. Very similar, in fact, as I was reading the book again I was happy to see many of the lines in the movie taken directly from the book. There were a few changes and additions, but nothing that irritated me. Actually, I liked that instead of just hearing Edwards voice Bella could see him (anything to get a little more Robert Pattinson into the movie is something I can get behind)

A big surprise to me for the movie is that I actually liked Jacob Black. I pretty much hated him in the last three books of the series and I thought it would taint my ability to enjoy this movie. But it did not at all. Perhaps the amount of time he was shirtless had something to do with it - holy six pack Batman :) Very difficult to remember that he is only 17. I also had strong feelings of affection for the rest of the wolf pack and their shirtless tenancies as well!

I did not have strong positive feelings for Kristen Stewart, the actress that plays Bella though. She really was dreadful - maybe not as bad as in the first movie, but the girl cannot act her way out of a paper bag. She is really nothing like what I pictured Bella to be - I almost didn't even care if she was completely depressed and zombified - I mean, who can tell, her when she is so zombie like as a general rule. But, even her tragic, tragic lack of acting ability could not ruin this movie for me. So, to summarize - I loved the movie and I am going to see it again as soon as possible. And maybe again after that.

As far as the book goes - I think this is the third or fourth time I have read it - I actually really liked it. I don't think I liked it as much in my previous reads. Perhaps it is my fond memories of a shirtless (but VERY young) Jacob Black that improved my opinion of this book, or maybe I just like the book. It is hard to say, but I am eager to read the rest of the series now - these books are addictive to me!!!

I am trying something new with my next post. I have been reading a new series that has 8 or so books in it, I have been reading them pretty much in a row and since I have not been posting they are all running together for me. So I am going to finish up the series and then do one big post for the whole thing. I can tell you right now though, this is like nothing I have ever read before. It is weirdly compelling but also extremely inappropriate - I kind of wish the series would end so I could know what happens and be done without reading more. Pretty weird.

No. 103: His Lady Mistress

His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls

This was yet another FREE book for my Kindle! I seriously love free books!!!

However, this book had many of my most hated plot points:

1. The MMC wants the FMC to be his mistress, and then, if she agrees, he holds the mistress thing against her later.
2. The FMC is a young woman in a vulnerable position which makes the mistress option an option.
3. EVERY SINGLE BIT of drama in this book is created by a misunderstanding. Literally - if the characters every really carried on a meaningful conversation instead of being so secretive, oblivious or irrational there would be no excitement.
4. The MMC is a complete jerk - so mean to the FMC - but she looooves him and keeps taking him back and then BAM, he does it again. But it is because he is afraid to love or some such nonsense OR because she used to be a mistress so she is inherently untrustworthy and duplicitous.

Despite all of this, I actually kind of liked the book. I was able to look past some of the not so good stuff to actually care about the characters to some degree, particularly the FMC. I was pretty annoyed with the MMC most of the time, he was a serious jerk for the vast majority of the book. I am glad it wasn't any longer though because I think one more fight based on a minor misunderstanding and it would have lost me. I probably won't read more books by this author unless there are more free books - this was fine, but not really to my taste,

This is Amazing!!!

I found this interview, of a woman who read 462 books in one year. That is amazing! I would love to be able to do that - can you imagine? Of course, she is a book critic so reading is her job, but still!!!

Of course I am CERTAIN that she reads actual literature and not romance novels, but now I have something to aspire to.

I really identified with her assessment of her reading style. I would say mine is similar - reading a passage at a time more than a word at a time. But I am not sure I am quite as speedy as her. Typically, a 300 something page book takes me somewhere in the neighborhood of 2ish hours. Depending on how good it is, I always read faster when the book is good - which is both awesome and frustrating. Because obviously if a book is good I want to finish it so I know what happens, but I also want to enjoy it for as long as possible because it is so good.

No. 102: Rogue's Challenge

Rogue's Challenge by Jo Barrett

This is the second in what I have termed the Challenge Series. It involves the rich nerdy scientist that the FMC from the last book was hired to protect before she went back in time. I had a real likability issue with this FMC Jenny, she was stubborn to the point of being intractable, very annoying, she demeaned the MMC's intelligence constantly, and she was one of those irritating "I don't believe I am beautiful" girls but yet every guy is in lust with her and she needs constant protection to keep some unsavory character from abducting her based solely on her beauty. I kind of hate that. So, when Ian, whom I had come to like very much in the last book, somehow finds all of these faults to be not incredibly annoying but rather endearing - well, it was too much for me to accept. I know where the author was going, at least I think I do, that nerdy girls who are not necessarily conventionally attractive deserve to win Prince Charming (Ian's nickname in the series) but when the nerdy girls are unbearable to be around, I am not buying it.

And there is the other matter of the villain. He follows her back in time with the intention of kidnapping her to force her father to rightfully acknowledge that he invented a medication. But then when Jenny diminishes the importance of the medication it seems like the guy is crazy and the whole villain part of the story looses something. And it ended without ever really knowing why he was so crazy and what he thought was so important. I find that frustrating.

So I don't know if I will read more books by this author, I imagine if there are more time travel romances I will!

No. 101: Highlander's Challenge

Highlander's Challenge by Jo Barrett

This is a new author to me, but when I heard that she wrote time travel novels involving the Scottish highlands (one of my very favorite kind of books) I had to give her a try. Turns out this book is one of two interconnected books. So, I had a new author, time travel and a series all in one!

This is the first of the two, it involved Tuck - Amelia Tucker - who is employed as a private bodyguard for a rich and nerdy scientist. She is trying to protect her from kidnapping threats while they travel through Europe including ... Scotland! While they were visiting a castle, they made a wish in a wishing well and shortly thereafter Tuck was sent back in time to the 1400's. The first people she meets are Colin and Ian who are both (of course) ridiculously handsome guys. Then they are attacked and she kicks some butt, as she is wont to do. But Colin is suspicious about her appearance and the "coincidence" of the attack happening so soon after. She goes back to Colin's castle where she makes herself useful as a healer. And falls in love with Colin. And fights many of his men - because chicks can be as tough as Highlanders who have spent their whole lives training for war (or that is what we are supposed to believe) and even beats up Colin a time or two. The problem is, he is betrothed to another and also some evil outside source is trying to stir up a war. Also, there is an inside source trying to stir up some death by poisioning.

While I was glad to find another time travel romance to read, I had some issues with this one. I think in her efforts to make the FMC tough and yet interesting, she went to far on the tough side. I had a difficult time believing that the MMC would fall in love with her, she kept doing crazy things, acting irrationally, escaping and being generally a pain in the butt. So that was kind of annoying - but I think this is definitely my favorite of the two.

No. 100: The Untamed Bride

The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens

100 books so far this year! Pretty exciting but I am behind where I was last year at this time. I just don't know if I have 40 something more books in me this year. Although, since I read 2 1/2 books today I just might!

This book is the start of a new series - The Black Cobra Quartet - and I have to say I am kind of into it already. A few summers ago, when I was pregnant with Ella, I read the entirety of the Cynster series and the Bastion Club series. Which is really saying something because that is a lot of books. And they were all starting to seem the same, and I decided I was pretty much Stephanie Laurens-ed out. But this book, while retaining a lot of the characteristics of her other series, has enough of a new twist to make them interesting to me again.

This book begins in India, which is an unusual location for a romance, in the years following the Peninsular war and the quartet - the MMCs for the series - are former Guardsmen now employed by the East India Company. Their mission is to destroy the Black Cobra Cult - a gang of vicious murders and terrorists. The FMC in this book is older than the traditional romance heroine who had been sent to live in Jamaica for a number of years following a scandal and her subsequent ruin. They meet and of course fall in love.

I have to say, I liked it very much and I am looking forward to the remaining 3 books in the series.

No. 99: Shape Up With the Slow Fat Triathlete

Shape Up With the Slow Fat Triathlete by Jayne Williams

I have read this author's first book - The Slow Fat Triathlete - several times. She is very inspiring and motivating. This book is less about her personal story and more about tactics that can help you overcome the barriers that might prevent success in athletic endeavors. Since Aaron is making me do P90X - which is a super long and hard exercise program - I needed a little motivation. I think it worked! I got through a hard workout anyway. I can barely move my arms to type now, but I made it! Anyway, I would recommend either book by this author - even if you are fast or skinny!

No. 98: Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch

Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by BJ Daniels

I got this book for FREE from Amazon for my kindle. FREE! Of course, it wasn't a great book. But FREE! Anyway, the book starts when a ranch employee discovers human remains at the bottom of a well. Which is a pretty good beginning. But it seems like the author was trying to fit too many things in one short book. For example - mysterious bones of a murdered woman, the murder of a judge 5 years ago, an ex-fiancee returned to town as the new marshall, he left town because he was discovered in bed with her sister, the ex-fiance turned marshall's dad was the marshall at the time of the judge murder and he had suspect motives in solving the murder, also an abusive and potentially homicidal brother, a missing will and more. It was not a long enough book for all of the subplots and twists. And because the book was so full, for lack of a better word, everything felt really rushed and there was not enough time devoted to everything.

No. 97: Bed of Roses

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

I am totally disappointed by this book!!! The first one was pretty good, and then there was a LONG WAIT until this book came out. I was excited, but ultimately let down. There is something going on with Nora Roberts the past year or two - she just isn't doing it for me anymore. Which I think is a terrible shame because I LOVE LOVE LOVE so many of her books - all the Ireland ones, some of the witchy ones, the series with the adopted bad boys - all wonderful. But lately...

There were many problems I had with this book, aside from the super cliched (and not in a good way) plot where the only real conflict is that the FMC loves too much and the MMC is commitment phobic. Seriously, that is played out Nora, you need to come up with something new. Also, there is a fine line between witty, hip dialogue and over the top trying too hard dialogue. Unfortunately, this book seemed to be on the wrong side of the line - too many abbreviations and nicknames and little sayings. And it seems like Nora is trying to kill her poor characters by working them to death - the wedding business seems like too much work and a pain in the butt.

There are still 2 books left in this series - I can tell you right now where things are going. Laurel and Del - which has the potential to be interesting, and Parker and Malcom which I am undecided about. I will finish the series, obviously, but things better pick up or I will be strongly tempted to write my old buddy Nora a strongly worded letter.

No. 96: At Home in Stone Creek

At Home in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller

Again I felt compelled to buy a LLM book despite the fact that I have not been liking them much lately. I have no idea why. This one was kind of boring, there wasn't really any drama or exciting or much of a plot in my opinion. No tension, everything resolved too easily and quickly. I didn't have time to work up the effort to care about what happened. It had potential - MMC was unhealthily attached to his dead wife, FMC was harboring Indian children that she had no legal right to, the brother has been having an illicit relationship with a saloon owner - but still, nothing. Kind of a bummer.

I feel like the last couple of books I have read have been disappointing, I need something really good to read now. I have three newish books to read, but they are in actual book form rather than kindle. I almost just bought them again on the kindle, but I restrained myself. I guess I will just have to read the old fashioned way - with a real book :)

No. 95: A Wallflower Christmas

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas

Just when I thought I had read the whole Wallflower series I found a new one! Since all of the original four Wallflowers are happily married (and this book provided a nice peek into their married lives) this book features Daisy and Lillian's brother Rafe. Which is a great name. He is coming from America to marry a rich girl but instead - spoiler alert - falls madly in love with someone (gasp) inappropriate! I don't know why, but this story line never gets old to me, I just love it!!!

I also see on Amazon that there are several new books out this week that I very much need to read including but not limited to a Nora Roberts wedding series book and a Linda Lael Miller Stone Creek series book. Very exciting!!!

No. 94: Match Play

Match Play by Merline Lovelace

This is another in the OMEGA/spy series. This time, it is a former olympic athlete - Rogue, who is supposed to befriend a North Korean female golfer to assist her in defecting to the US with her nuclear scientist father. So, in order to do so she participates in a charity golf tournament in the UK (luckily she is super awesome at golf) where coincidentally, her ex boyfriend who is a stealth bomber pilot is stationed secretly (don't want anyone to know the bombers are in the UK) Of course they run into each other but at first they hate each other because of how they broke up - right before the Olympics - but after she is poisoned by a masseuse and almost dies and is also kidnapped, they realize their love for each other didn't die and they are going to give it another chance.

These books are definitely not my favorite, but they are amusing - heck, just writing a brief summary of the plot kind of cracks me up - and they are quick reads, which is always kind of nice if you don't have a lot of time.

No. 93: Undercover Wife

Undercover Wife by Merline Lovelace

Yet another OMEGA book. This time Gillian has become an agent and is paired with Mike for an op in China where they are trying to figure out who is smuggling sick monkeys into the US for use in religious sacrifices. Awesome, no? But wait, it gets better - their first contact in China is a woman who ownes an export business who just happens to secretly be Mike's love who he thought was murdered in the jungle but instead was only almost murdered but was then kidnapped and kept captive by some creepy English guy - who she later murdered and then used his money to have extensive plastic surgery and start an export business in China all in an elaborate plot to get her revenge on Mike who she thought abandoned her in the jungle. Also, there are two con artist kids, their grandfather, a kidnapping, a mudslide and did I mention sick monkeys? And Mike and Gillian fall in love and live happily ever after.

No. 92: Stranded With a Spy

Stranded With a Spy by Merline Lovelace

This book was free on my kindle! I love free books! It is actually part of a series that I have read before about a secret special operations group called OMEGA.

In this book, a woman is pursued by OMEGA agents when a CD with classified financial information is found in her luggage by TSA when she travels to France. OMEGA thinks she is going to sell or otherwise provide the information to a terrorist called The Russian so they send an agent to follow her and retrieve the CD and catch the bad guy. The FMC, Mallory, is the former aide of a US Senator that she accused of making inappropriate advances towards her. It was kind of a scandal and she left the country to get away from the attention. The agent made contact with her, they fell in love and it turns out she is not a bad guy after all - surprising!

No. 91: Closer Encounters

Closer Encounters by Merline Lovelace

This was a weird one, a lady was haunted/possessed by the spirit of her deceased "Uncle's" fiancee who died after she was pushed off the balcony of a hotel at the begining of WWII. I didn't really get into it as much as the others in the OMEGA series because I am not really a fan of ghost stories. A little too weird for me.

Although, I did recently like another book where there was a ghost/spirit. Interesting...

No. 90: With Every Breath

With Every Breath by Lynn Kurland

This was actually the first book I read on the Kindle. I was surprised to find this book - it is by one of my favorite authors and I thought that I had read everything from her. But I had not, it was a nice surprise.

This book was about Sunshine who is the sister of a character in a previous book. She is in Scotland to help her sister (in the present day) while she had her baby and does not want to go back to Seattle. She is living in the witch's cottage. One night there is a knock at her door and a man asking for her help to save his brother. When she steps through the doorway she goes back in time! Yeah! Time travel!

No. 89: Secrets of a Summer Night

Secrets of A Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

This is the first in the Wallflower series. Annabelle is a beautiful girl from a poor family and she has no dowary but she needs to marry someone rich to save her family and it needs to happen fast because her Mother is having an affair with a disgusting guy who helps pay some of her family's bills in exchange.

Annabelle meets Simon hunt and a house party in the country, he is not a peer, but an industrialist that is a friend and business associate of their host. Simon pursues her and is determined to have her but she resists. But of course later they fall in love and get married. Before that happens though she gets bitten by a snake, accosted by her mom's creepy guy, and plays rounders in her knickers.

No 88: It Happened One Autumn

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

This is Lillian's story - she is the eldest Bowman sister, so this is the second book in the series. The books starts when Lillian and Daisy visit a perfume shop and Lillian has them make her up a special perfume that she designed. The store owner says he added a special ingredient that would make the perfume magical.

Shortly thereafter they go to a house party in the country - the owner is the friend of Annabelle's husband (from the first Wallflower book) and he is an Earl. He does not get along well with Lillian and she does not care for him either. Nevertheless, they become attracted to each other (which Lillian thinks is a result of her perfume) and have a hard time staying away from each other despite their apparent mutual dislike. But of course, they fall in love and he proposes. But then, someone (and I won't say who) has Lillian kidnapped so she can't marry the Earl and instead she is taken away to be married against her will to Lord St. John who needs her money. But she is rescued in time and it all ends happily - except for the kidnapper who gets the crap beat out of him.

No. 87: The Devil in Winter

The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

This is the third book in the Wallflower series about Evie. Evie has been trapped in the clutches of her evil family who after realizing that she is unlikely to marry a peer that will improve their social standing, decides they want to marry her off to a fat and repulsive cousin so that they can keep all of her money for themselves. Evie, despite being very shy and timid, escapes her family repeatedly so that she can visit her father who is on his death bed. Her family (on her mother's side) will not allow her to visit because they disapprove of her father because he is the owner of a gambling club (coincedentially the same club that employs Cam Rohan) and they never approved of his marriage to Evie's mother.

But Evie loves her father and decides to escape her family once and for all by marrying someone. She finds someone as desperate to marry as she is and proposes a deal - they marry, she can stay with her father and take care of him and he can have her money which he desperately needs. He agrees and they run off to Gretna Green to get married.

He is a rake who has done something terrible to his closest friend in an effort to get a rich wife to save his family's fortunes. This is a great book - it has syphilis (which they call another name that I can't remember now) and fighting and attempted murder and friends reuniting. All good stuff!

No. 86: A Scandal in the Spring

A Scandal in the Spring by Lisa Kleypas

Obviously I have been on a bit of a Lisa Kleypas kick lately - she had two good interconnecting series and I can't resist that. I actually just bought another book in this series that I didn't even know existed! It is taking a lot of will power to work on catching up the blog rather than just reading the book - so you are welcome :)

This is actually the fourth book in the series, about Daisy. This is the Wallflowers series which is about a group of 4 girls who had very unsuccessful seasons and found themselves wallflowers sitting together at every ball. They become friends and make a plan to find themselves they husbands they want. The decide to go in age order - Daisly is the youngest which is why her book is last.

Anyway, Daisy gets an ultimatium from her father - she needs to find an acceptable husband or he will marry her off to Matthew Swift who is his protege. Daisy hates the idea (obviously) so sets off to find someone else to marry. She goes to a house party to meet an eligible man. While she is there she meets Swift who is much better looking and more interesting than she remembers. Also he has a mysterious past that catches up with him. Very interesting and good - don't want to spoil it :)

No. 85: Sugar Daddy

Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas

I am not writing about these books in the order I read them (I am too far behind and I can't even remember the order I read them in!) but rather in the order they are listed on my new best friend the kindle.

I just read this book yesterday - it took me longer to finish than the others for a couple of reasons - one the girls were home all day, two I took an afternoon nap with Ella, three we had to carve pumpkins which took FOREVER and four, this book is not as good as the historical series I have read previously by this author.

Turns out this is the second contemporary novel I have read by this author and I feel kind of the same way about it. It was an interesting story with interesting characters, but it was kind of depressing, and not in an emo, obsessive, kill-my-self-if-you-die way, but more in a lots of bad things happen to one person and it makes me sad way. I don't want to be sad when I read, I want to be happy. Also, I was kind of pissed about the way she handled Hardy - I don't want to spoil it, but seriously, not cool!!!

No. 84: Seduce Me at Sunrise

Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

This is the third in the Hathaway series, about a middle daughter Win who was an invalid after having scarlett fever. But the book starts before she gets sick when Meripen (a gypsy) comes to live with her family after being left for dead by his own tribe as a youth. Win and Meripen have an instant connection when the meet despite their young age and the fact that Meripen is seriously injured.

As they grow up the connection remains and turns into attraction although neither of them act on it. And then, Win gets scarlett fever and she is so sick she could die. (this is my favorite part - very Twilight-y) Meripen mixes up some medicine that is also a deadly poison and he keeps enough of the poison so that if Win dies, he can drink it and die too!!! I have no idea why I like this so much, it is kind of crazy and depressing - and I know that - but it is also very Edward going to Italy to die after he thinks Bella is dead and God knows I love Edward. Anyway, Win survives and so does Meripen. Win goes off to a clinic in France to try and recover her health and does, coming back to England with the Doctor who helped her. Making Meripen extremely jealous and angry. And I will leave the rest up to your imagination but I am sure you know it ends happily ever after.

No. 83: Mine Till Midnight

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

This is the second book I read in the Hawthaway family series. It is about Amelia the eldest sister who in her attempts to find her brother meets Cam Rohan who is the manager of a gaming house and is also half gypsy and also involved in the Wallflower series of books! Anyway, Cam is wildly inappropriate (see half gypsy and manager of gaming house) but he is also wildly attractive. Which, from the description I can totally see - tall, dark and handsome with a mysterious tattoo.

Anywhoozle, despite all the reasons they should not be together, they fall in love. Also, there is the return of a former love, a ghost and a large number of bees. And a house fire. All very exciting.

No 82: Tempt Me at Twilight

Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kelypas

This is a new author for me, but since I am always ready for a historical romance I thought I would give it a try. Turns out I really like her historical stuff (more on the contemporary stuff later) and I especially love that she has two series that interconnect! My favorite thing!!!

I unfortunately did not read this series in the right order, I have to confess I bought this book for two reasons - the FMC's name is Poppy which I like very much and the title has Twilight in it and I was in a Twilight-y kind of mood when I saw it. Which is actually interesting because while this book is nothing like Twilight, a later (technically earlier) book is!

Anyway, this book has a lot of the things I like in a romance - the MMC is dark and mysterious and kind of grumpy (I have no idea why this is appealing but it is) and he desperately wants her despite being somewhat inappropriately matched. Very good stuff. This book is also surprisingly funny, the characters are very witty and intelligent which makes the dialouge MUCH better than many other romances wherein the dialouge is painful.

*edited to add - turns out I have read something by this author before, I just forgot about it! Blue Eyed Devil which I didn't love - maybe because in my opinion her contemporary stuff is nowhere near as good as her historical.

No. 81: The Guinea Pig Diaries

The Guinea Pig Diaries by AJ Jacobs

I have read this author's other two books and I enjoyed them very much. This book is in a similar vein as it is all about his many experiments doing weird things. For example, he outsourced his life, hiring two different Indian companies to act as his assistants. He pretended to be a famous person and a beautiful woman. And my favorite chapter and experiment he decided to do everything his wife said for a whole month. If only I could get Aaron on board with this!

As I have probably mentioned before, I like Jacob's writing style, it is very wry and conversational but I also enjoy how much research he includes and how committed he is, despite the frequent number of times he ends up looking like an idiot.

Catch Up and Kindle Review

I am SO FAR behind in posting!!! I got my kindle and I love it so much that I cannot do anything but read. I have read about 15 or so books since it came so there are many more posts coming. I thought I would do a quick Kindle review in case anyone is considering one.

If you are a reader, go to the store and get one immediately!!! Seriously, I love it. It is very easy to read, the screen looks like a page from a book, my eyes do not get tired like they do reading a computer screen. Some of the features that I like are the page turn buttons on both sides, and there is a little progress bar on the bottom of the screen. It is very lightweight and easy to hold while reading, even easier than a book!

But the best thing about it is how easy it is to get new books!!! This may also be a drawback as I have purchased about 20 books in 2 weeks which could get spendy (although less expensive than buying actual books I have found) If you are reading a series, as soon as you finish one you get online and buy the next and read it - and so on until you have read 2 series of books in 3 days :) It has also helped me discover a new author that I enjoy just from browsing the kindle store.

So, in sum, buy a kindle if you like to read. Or, have a wonderful husband buy you one as a present and then read so much that he later regrets it - which is what I did :)

No. 80: The Lost Symbol

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I read this about a month ago - clearly I have not been inspired to write about it. It was okay but not awesome like I was hoping. That is all I have to say because I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

In other reading news - the next book I read will be on my Kindle!!! Aaron ordered it for me as a present because I am unable to buy myself anything that costs more than $40. So he surprised me with it! I am so so so stinking excited!

In other non-reading news - I am now happily unemployed. I quit my job and today was my last day. So hopefully I will have more time to read.

No. 79: Blow Out

Blow Out by Catherine Coulter

This is another in the series with Savich and Sherlock. It was pretty good - started out with a ghost visitation and the assasination of a Supreme Court justice. There were several unnecessary (in my opinion) twists that were annoying, and the romance was really secondary to the mystery and suspense part. But still good.

No. 78: Under and Alone

Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America's Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang by William Queen

This book was research for a book I am writing about an undercover agent. It was fantastic and all the more fantastic because it all really happened. I am amazed that he could do all the things he did. A seriously good book!!!

No. 77: An Offer From a Gentleman

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

This is a book in the Bridgerton series. I am not quite sure why I bought it, I am pretty sure I already have it and I know that I have read it before several times. But it had a new cover...

Anyway, I love this book and this series. Quinn has a really excellent ability to create really believable relationship development. I also like that in this book, the MMC is willing to sacrifice his position in society for his love. Very excellent!

No. 77: Dreamfever

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

This is the fourth in the series. I didn't like it as much as the other three. I thought this went a little too far in the fantasy direction and a little too far in the erotica direction. Neither of which I am particularly fond of. One thing I did like was the focus on the other Side Seers. And seeing the semi-softer side of Barrons. In that he tries to save her...I can't discuss how because I am a lady :)

No. 76: Tailspin

Tailspin by Catherine Coulter

This is another book involving FBI agents Savich and Sherlock. This time they are trying to solve the murder of a US Senator and the attempted murder of his daughter. It was pretty good but not great. Also, I have been reading it for WEEKS! I was completely unmotivated to finish it. Bizarre, I guess I am out of the reading mode. Although I am anticipating some good books coming in the mail and coming out in the next month or two so I better get back into it.

No. 75: The Bridegroom

The Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller

This is another in the Stone Creek series - another Yarbro brother. This time Gideon who was hired by mine owners to get inside information on the workers about a potential strike. Also he kidnapped Lydia on her wedding day to "save" her from marrying a guy she doesn't like. It was not as good as the other in the series, but I still enjoyed it.

No. 74: Promise in Death

Promise in Death by JD Robb

Yet another of the in death series books. This one was not one of my favorites. No creepy serial killer, no awesome mystery - I actually guessed whodunnit halfway through - and there was not enough of the relationship development I like to see. Maybe this series is just getting old, it is seeming kind of repetitive. Although there are like 30 in the series so its no wonder.

No. 73: Hot Pursuit

Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann

So this is the new Troubleshooters series book for this year. It was good, but really different than a lot of her other books. It was primarily about a serial killer who really wants to kill Alyssa. So the majority of the plot was about trying to figure out who he was, and keeping him from killing more people. But there was also a romance of sorts between Gillman and Jenn. It was kind of a weird relationship though - definitely no Kenny and Savannah or even Sam and Alyssa. Unfortunately, I started reading this book late in the day and didn't get it finished until 11:00 or so at night and I was up much later than that freaking out about the serial killer thing. I think I am going to have to institute a new rule where I don't read scary books when Aaron is working at night :)

No. 72: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

Since I had just read the Half Blood Prince and seen the movie, I thought I better read the last book in the series while I was in the mood. I am glad I did because this is one of my all time favorite books. It is so good, no matter how many times I read it. And it is so involved that I always notice something new or different, or maybe just pay closer attention. But it is fantastic. I am sad there will be no new Harry Potter books. At least I have the last two movies to look forward to!

No. 71: The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

I was sure that I had read this book before, but now I think I had just seen the movie. The book was enough different than what I thought the story was that I am sure I have not read it. It was pretty good though - funny and kind of amazing what some people's lives are like. I would love to have two assistants/slaves at my beck and call. Now I just have to figure out how to become rich and famous...

No. 70: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Since the movie comes out this week, and I don't have a chance to go until Saturday AND I have already watched the first five movies that I got for my birthday I had to satisfy my need for a Harry Potter fix by re-reading this book. It was GOOD! Just like always, I can read these books a million times and they are just as good every time! I can't wait to see the movie!

No. 69: The Seduction of an English Scoundrel

The Seduction of an English Scoundrel by Jillian Hunter

Aside from the TERRIBLE name, this book wasn't half bad. It did take me a long time to read though - I think I have been working on it for like a week, and have read at least two other books since I started. I thought the initial plot was interesting, the FMC essentially plotted her own jilting and the MMC tried to come to her rescue and save her reputation as the head of the family of the man who jilted her. But, after awhile the plot got a little annoying when the MMC tried to trick the FMC (for some reason) and make her think he wanted her to be his mistress. That was kind of dumb I thought. But all in all an okay book. It is the first in a series I believe, so I might read the ret if I am looking for something to read someday.

No. 68: Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

I guess the full title of this book is Julie & Julia my year of cooking Dangerously. I saw the preview for the movie that this book has been made into and remembered that a co-worker recommended this book to me so I went and picked it up. I really liked it! It was funny in parts and kind of sad and serious in parts. But mostly funny and crazy. I really liked the tone of this author and I am sure I will read anything else she writes. I actually want to look up her blog, but to be honest I don't have the time to read a years worth (or more) of blog posts and I will read them all if I start - I am compulsive that way :) Someday maybe!

No. 67: Black Hills

Black Hills by Nora Roberts

I have been sadly disappointed by the last couple new Nora Roberts books, but I enjoyed this one! I am glad because I was pretty worried! This book is set in South Dakota. Now, I have been to South Dakota and found it incredibly boring and not particularly beautiful, but if this book is to be believed, I was just in the wrong part. It is about a woman who is a biologist that specializes in big cats, especially cougars. And she has an animal refuge that has, among other things, a tiger named Boris and a cougar named Baby that she pets. Anyway, a crazy person starts killing people (of course) and wants to kill the FMC so there is some action. And the romance is pretty good, but not great. All in all a good book though, I am happy Nora Roberts is back on her game!

No. 66: What Happens in London

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

This was the best book I have read in awhile. It was sooooo funny! I laughed so hard I cried and got many annoyed looks from Aaron who was trying to watch TV and two "be quiet or you will wake up the girls!" so I must have been laughing pretty loudly. But it was hysterical - and really good. It had the potential to do things I hate, but it was saved because the characters were funny and made rational decisions - something that is sadly lacking in romance novels. AND there is going to be at least another book that comes after and it connects to The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever which I have already read it.

No. 65: The Shack

The Shack by William P. Young

This was a book I got from my Mom. It was very different than the kinds of books I usually read - very religious. Essentially, after the terrible and sad kidnapping and probably murder of his young daughter, a guy gets a note from God to come visit. He goes to the shack where his daughter was held while she was kidnapped and meets...God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I don't want to ruin it, so I won't say more than that. But it was really really interesting and good. I am glad I read it!

No. 64: Lyon's Lady

Lyon's Lady by Julie Garwood

A new historical romance by Julie Garwood. This one was interesting, it started in a Native American village and ended in Regency England. Very cool. I thought this was a funny one - especially the FMC. When she cut her hair, hysterical! I am glad that the author is doing more historical books, this one was even in paperback!

No. 63: Blue-Eyed Devil

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

I can't recall if I have ever read anything by this author before. This book was interesting but not great. It seemed a little heavy on the "narcisistic personality disorder" diagnoses. And I am not a huge fan of reading about abused women - makes me kind of sad and that is not what I am looking for when I read a romance novel. But it was an interesting plot. I may read more from this author, I think she has a bunch of books out and I am always in need of books to read!

Infinite Summer - Day 8 - Page85

Well, I am caught up, but I am certainly not as far into the book as I had hoped. It is still difficult going at this point. Partially because I don't know much about drugs or tennis. But there are a couple story lines that are intriguing. I need more information about Hal - specifically, can he really talk and what is his diagnosis. I also am curious about Katherine, and whether she will get any help from this doctor. There is a repeating theme of marijuana addiction and the negative impacts it has on people, which is interesting because you don't really hear about that much. I am also interested in Hal's brothers - Mario and Orin, seems like a very weird family, which I guess is the point :) But I think the plot line I am the most curious about is the medical attache - what the heck is on that video?!?!?!

I don't like the endnotes, it is kind of annoying to flip back and forth. Although I am implementing the multiple bookmark strategy which is better. I also don't like the random paragraphs of nonsense. I read it, I knew the words, but it didn't make sense. But I will persevere.

Words I Didn't Know:
apocopes
leptosomatic
quincunx

No. 62: Knockout/ Notes on Infinite Jest

Knockout by Catherine Coulter

Aaron bought this book for me when he got me the new Janet Evanovich. I have read some books by this author (notably, the crazy wizard book that Aaron also bought me) and liked them, especially the FBI books, like this one. This had a crazy paranormal edge that was really interesting. This was a pretty good length book - 416 pages. It had kind of two intersecting plot lines, a little girl and her mom on the run from a crazy guy named Blessed who could hypnotize people, and an FBI agent and his wife/partner who were on a manhunt for escaped bank robbers. Also the FBI agent and the little girl could communicate telepathically (I think that is the word) and so she "called" him to help her escape Blessed. Also there is a cult. So it was good. I read it all in one night even though I planned to just read a little bit.

I am starting to get a little anxiety about this whole Infinite Jest thing. I have read 49 pages in the 5 days the project has been going on. I keep hesitating to start reading again because it seems like such a big ordeal because it is such a long book (not that it has ever stopped me before) and it is kind of hard to read and so far not that awesome. But, since the day I read those 49 pages I have read THREE WHOLE OTHER BOOKS! Which I am sure all together are more pages than Infinite Jest. So I don't know what my deal is. I think I just need to sit down and read, and I guess since I have read all my new books this might be more likely. Technically I only need to read 26 more pages to keep to the schedule. That should be easily accomplished, if I can just get going!!!

No. 61: Finger Licken' Fifteen

Finger Licken' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

This book came out and I must have had the date wrong in my head because I was thinking it wouldn't be out until after my birthday. But Aaron saw it at the store and bought it for me because he is awesome. And the book was also awesome. This one was so so funny. I mean laugh out loud funny. I read it all on Tuesday night, cracking up and interrupting Aaron's TV watching. But it was worth it because it was good. Some really excellent Lula, kind of minimal Morelli (which was kind of a bummer) but pretty heavy on the Ranger. I am glad I have re-read that whole series now. I will just have to wait until June 2010 for the next one to come out - seems like a long time to wait!!!

No. 60: State Secrets

State Secrets by Linda Lael Miller

This is in a series of first books by now popular authors. I didn't realize this when I bought it, I just saw Linda Lael Miller and secret service and bought it. I wish now, that I hadn't because it wasn't great. I think the same can be said about most author's early work. This book had many issues, but the biggest complaint I have is that I didn't believe the relationship. I couldn't believe that they fell in love.

I see that I have had several books lately that have been not good. Hopefully things will turn around for me. I got the new Janet Evonavich book (Finger Lickin' Fifteen) and a new Catherine Coulter FBI book that should be good - thanks Aaron!

Infinite Summer - Day 1 - Page 49

I decided to join in the Infinite Summer project and read the book Infinite Jest. A co-worker of mine invited me and another person in the office to participate. I can't turn down a reading challenge. And since I read so much I thought it would be no big deal and read the book pretty quick and move on.

Well, I was kind of wrong. It is difficult to read (although I hear it gets better after page 200. I am on page 49 after 1 day and I will admit to feeling the sinking sense of dread I was warned about but I will persevere. I will be keeping track of such things as the MANY words I do not know (some of which I cannot find definitions for!), funny jokes or lines and other weird things.

So, without further ado - words I don't know:
wen, kekulean knot, magisculed, alpenstock, mise-en-scene, ad valorem, anfractuous (I like this one!), phylacteryish

And a joke (from page 41):

What do you get when you cross an insomniac,, and unwilling agnostic and a dyslexic?
Someone who stays up all night torturing himself mentally over whether or not there is a dog.

So, this 49 pages took me almost an hour and a half - although that includes a LONG time trying to look up the words and write the definitions in my journal. So I can see that this is not going to be a quick read. I think I will have to plan to devote two nights of reading a week to this to get 75ish pages a week and then I can read my usual mindless wonderful romance novels the rest of the week.

No. 59: Angels and Demons

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

I actually read this book a few weeks ago but forgot to post. Anyway, I read the illustrated edition which I highly recommend because whenever it talks about a painting or a sculpture or building it shows a picture of it. And since I have never been to Rome (tragically) it makes it much easier for me to follow the story rather than wondering about what a certain statute looks like or looking it up on the internet. I think this was the third time I have read this book - it was still good and it had been long enough that I could not remember what happened so I was surprised at the end still. I really like Dan Browns stories, but I do not particularly care for his writing style. The dialogue is painful in some parts which is something that really bugs me. But I have read all of his books and really enjoy the mystery and learning more about art and science - at least as much as you can learn from a fiction!

No. 58: Dirty Sexy Knitting

Dirty Sexy Kintting by Christine Ridgway

Another recommendation from a bookstore stranger and another book I didn't really like. So maybe this will teach me a lesson that you can't count on random people to give good book advice.

Anyway, this book had many problems for me (1) the name of the book is stupid, (2) the MMC was COMPLETELY unlikable! I mean I really didn't like him and I didn't want the relationship to succeed at all. He is a suicidal, alcoholic, depressed jerk. Seriously - does that sound like a good boyfriend? No, it does not. And yes, I understand that he suffered a terrible tragedy, but it just wasn't working for me. (2) The FMC was kind of wacky and I wasn't invested enough in her history to care about her motivations. Also, anyone that can fall in love with the MMC in this book is not worthy of my regard. (3) This book had another STUPID nickname - this time for the FMC - Froot Loop. Is fruit loop trademarked or something? You can't spell fruit the right way now? It was so aggrivating, not just the spelling but it is a terrible nickname with no justification provided in the story. And she hated the nickname. I do not find an alcoholic loser who persists in calling me a stupid nickname attractive. (4) the epiloge. I normally love to know what happens after the story. But this one was dumb and pointless - it ruined the only good semi-mystery left in the story and talked very very briefly about a number of characters with no names for no apparant reason which is always annoying. Like talking about an unnamed girl dressed as a ballerina - for no reason. Stupid. (5) the mystery - who the bad guy was - and the stupid "accidents" that were intended to create drama were all dumb. I didn't care enough about the bad guy to have any feelings. I half hoped he would shoot his hostages and that is never good. (6) The "Dad" was a jerk and that seems kind of pointless too, especially after all the emotional energy the characters put into the situation. (7) Marlys. Her name is bad, I don't know how to say it so whenever I read it I got out of the flow of reading to think about how annoying her name is. Also, she was a jerk! Again, I recognize her past was difficult, but I don't think it excuses her behavior and I don't think she deserved a happy ending. So there. (8) I did not like the sex scenes at all - really really bad and some kind of icky. And not in a good way :)

Clearly I feel very strongly about this book. It is too bad really, I thought it could be cute because of the whole knitting thing. But no.

No. 57: Mutants: On Genetic Variety and the Human Body

Mutants: On Genetic Variety and the Human Body by Armand Marie Leroi

This is a book that is unlike any other book I have read. It was totally science-y and since I haven't taken biology since high school, some of it was a bit over my head. But some judicious google time and I got it all figured out. It was really interesting though. For example, did you know red hair is the result of a mutation. So technically my sweet baby is a mutant! Although, according to the book we all are, it is just a matter of degree. I am pretty glad I didn't read this book when I was pregnant though, it is amazing how many ways our genes can mutate and cause all kinds of crazy things. It is kind of a miracle that any of us turn out okay!

No. 56: SEALed With a Promise

SEALed With a Promise by Mary Margret Daughtridge

I bought this book at the recommendation of a stranger at the bookstore. I didn't really want to buy it because it looked terrible, but I took a chance. It was in fact terrible and I wish I would have gone with my instincts. First off, the name - stupid SEAL pun - boo! The FMC was super annoying, the MMC was domineering and kind of creepy (also he had a STUPID nickname). The author used the phrase "alpha male" like 17 times a page and it had all the lame SEAL stuff I hate. I have a deep and abiding love for the SEALs - so it takes a lot for me to think they are annoying. I saw today that there is a whole series of SEAL books by this author. I will not be reading them, which is really too bad because I love a series and I love SEALs.

No. 55: Fearless Fourteen

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

This is the last one in the series until the new book come out at the end of the month. I think I may have read this book semi recently because it wasn't as surprising as the others have been. I have book related short term memory loss - shortly after I read a book I forget all of the details. Which is good because then I can re-read my books a million times. Actually, I have everything related short term memory loss because I can't ever remember anything. Its kind of a pain really.

No. 54: Lean Mean Thirteen

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

This was another great one - a mystery that involved her ex-husband (who she freaks out and tries to choke) and exploding animals (beaver, squirrel and woodchuck to be specific) that were so funny I laughed out loud, and a number of stun gunnings. And Ranger and Joe and Lula and everyone funny.

The next book in the series (15) comes out this month, right around my birthday as a matter of fact - hint hint - and I can't wait!!!

No. 53: Twelve Sharp

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Number 12, this was especially Rangercentric which means it was especially great! Because as I have mentioned approximately 1 billion times, I love me some Ranger. Not to say I don't love Morelli too - I obviously have a special fondness for cops. But the Ranger/Morelli indecision is one of the best parts of this series, and I hope it doesn't get resolved anytime soon. So anyway, this is more of a mystery one and less bounty hunter which is fine and I think the direction things have been headed.

No. 52: The Kissing Game

The Kissing Game by Suzanne Brockmann

This is a re-issue of an older book. It is definitely not as good as her newer stuff, particularly because there are no Navy SEALs in it :) But, it was also a lot better than some of her other old stuff. Kind of so so I guess.

I am getting ready to participate in the Infinite Summer with some people from work later this month. We shall see how that goes. Particularly since quite a few new books come out this month!!! I hope it is a summer of good reading!

No. 51: Seducing an Angel

Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh

So this is the long awaited 4th book in this series - about the brother Stephen. And unfortunately, I liked it a lot less than I liked the previous three. I thought the FMC was kind of annoying. And since I really liked Stephen I wanted him to have an awesome FMC - but she was just kind of so so. And I was kind of tricked because I thought the axe-murderess thing would be awesome...but no. So it wasn't terrible, but not as good as I was expecting or that I am used to from this author.

Now I just have to wait and see if there is going to be a book for Con. And I have to think there will be. This author loves a family series as much as I do :)

No. 50: Eleven on Top

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich

Number 11 in the series - obviously. I really loved this one - she decides to quit being a bounty hunter, which you would think would make it boring, but no. She helps out Lula (who has promoted herself from file clerk/bounty hunter assistant to bounty hunter - hilarious!) and she is still a trouble magnet. And Ranger! Yep, its a good one!

Can't decide what to read next - 12, a new yet to be purchased Mary Balogh or Angles and Demons to prep for the movie. Choices, choices, choices!

No. 49: Ten Big Ones

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich

This might be one of my favorite ones in the series - it introduces the shower gel and Stephanie finds Ranger's apartment (or one of them) It also brings back Sally Sweet who ends up being a hero which is kind of funny.

I looked back and I am about 30 books behind where I was last year at this time. It is amazing how much less time you have to read with two kids :)

No. 48: To The Nines

To The Nines by Janet Evanovich

This is another in the Stephanie Plum series - in this one she gets mixed up in some kind of game where the people try and kill the other people in the game to be the last one standing and then that person gets to hunt the prize - the prize is Stephanie. It wasn't as good as some of the others, but it was interesting. You get to see more Connie in this one which is kind of funny.

No. 47: Till There Was You

Till There Was You by Lynn Kurland

This is a fabulous time travel romance that is in a series with many other fabulous romances all of which I have read. This is Alex Smith - brother of a previous story's FMC. The MMC goes back in time to the 1200's - 1250 ish I think and meets the woman of his dreams who is about to be betrothed to a creepy jerk. Anyway, they fall in love (obviously) and there is assorted time travel to and from the present day.

The thing I love about these books is that they are all interrelated and the characters keep popping up and you keep discovering new connections. But, it is hard to keep track of who everyone is since I haven't read the other books in so long. I might have to find those.

No. 46: Vision in White

Vision in White by Nora Roberts

New series - awesome - no time to write more now - more later

No. 45: Deadly Deceptions

Deadly Gamble by Linda Lael Miller

No time to review - just didn't want to forget about it

No. 44: At Last Comes Love

At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh

This is the third in the series about the Huxtable family. This one is the oldest sister Meg. It had a really interesting plot, kind of a different twist. It also had some mystery parts - that were unusual twists.

The next in the series is the brother - the Earl of Merton and I am way excited for it! I think it comes out next month, or at the end of this month. I am not sure, time is going by too fast!

No. 43: Hard Eight

Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich

I finally found it! It got mixed up with the already read books and put back by the bookshelf. This is not my favorite in the series, obviously, because I let it stay lost for a long time while I read other books. So this wasn't my favorite - but it was still good. Had some Ranger time, which is excellent of course. The part I didn't like is that it had another crazy bad guy that likes to torture Stephanie. But, it had some really funny parts too - so it is still worth reading.

No. 42: Tell Me Lies

Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Cruise

Another book I read because I could not find Stephanie Plum #8. This was good but kind of different. I have found Jennifer Cruise's books to be hit and miss. This didn't seem like a regular romance, more of a mystery. I didn't really identify with the FMC - the whole time I kept wondering why she was doing the weird things she was doing and why she was so weird. But it was an interesting story anyway.

No 41: Deadly Gamble

Deadly Gamble by Linda Lael Miller

I got this book at the library book sale and I am sure glad I did! I really liked it - it was kind of crazy what with the amnesia, ghosts, psycho family, poisioning and whatnot. But crazy in a good way. AND there is another one - I think it could turn out to be a series kind of like the Stephanie Plum books. So that is good.

I actually only read this book because I am partway through #8 but I lost it over the weekend and I was desperate for something to read. I am glad I did, but I really do need to find that book :)

No. 40: Seven Up

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

Another one - I love to read them but hate to write about them. I didn't like this one as much as the last one, but it had an excellent ranger element that starts a new relationship between him and Stephanie - nice.

No. 39: Hot Six

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

I had jury duty today and it was pretty lame - lots of sitting around and listening. But, the good news is I had time to read AN ENTIRE BOOK!

This was a good one. More Ranger which is always good. Also it was the first book that features Mooner and Dougie who are super funny.

No. 38: High Five

High Five by Janet Evanovich

This is one of my favorites - more Morelli and Ranger action and development, funny Lula, explosions and other car mishaps, funny Grandma Mazur and best of all, it is a mystery and not so much about looking for a failure to appear person - although she does that and they are funny. So another good one!

I am sure I will have another book read tomorrow because I have jury duty! For the first time! I am pretty sure I won't get on a jury but it might be an interesting experience anyway.

No. 37: Four to Score

Four to Score by Janet Evanovich

Another Stephanie Plum book - this one was good too. I am afraid that my reviews are going to be pretty short for these - they are good and funny and I highly recommend them. But when you read them all in a row they tend to blend together and I can't remember the specifics. Also I have had a long and tiring weekend and my brain is not what it should be :)

No. 36: Three to Get Deadly

Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

These books get better and better! I can't stop reading them! I have 11 more to go and another one out in June. It makes me happier than I can say to have so many books to read. Fantastic!

No. 35: Two for the Dough

Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich

This is the second in the Stephanie Plum series. It is better than the first because it isn't as icky but there is still action and mystery. It is just as funny if not funnier, and there is good development of the relationship between Morelli and Stephanie. The best scene in the whole book is when Stephanie gets mad at Morelli and drives off leaving him in the middle of the street naked. But comes back and gives him his gun just in case. Hysterical. There is a little more Lula which is good too. Some of the funniest parts in the series are with Stephanie and Lula.

No. 34: One For the Money

One For the Money by Janet Evanovich

This is the first book in the Stephanie Plum series and while it is awesome, it is probably my least favorite. It has a lot of action and drama and some gross and scary criminal activity but it isn't as well balanced with the comedy like some of the later ones. Some of the books (many of them ) are so funny you would laugh hysterically out loud in public and embarass yourself.

But this one is good because it starts a really amazing series. I will probably read them all now (14 our and one coming in June) because I love them so much. Also I am out of other books to read. I feel like I have read every book in the world which I know is not true, but I am having a hard time finding new books to read.

No. 33: For the Love of Pete

For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper

I bought this book entirely because of the title. I used to have a chair named Pete, and I named that chair Pete because of the phrase "Oh for the love of Pete!" So when I saw this book, I had to buy it.

As it turns out, this was a good book! Lucky me! The plot was interesting, the FMC teams up with an FBI agent to try and find a kidnapped baby named Pete. The mafia is involved and there are many shootouts which I enjoyed. There was also a very funny couple of old Indian ladies that completely cracked me up. There was a secondary kidnapping - also maybe a re-kidnapping. So it was funny and good. I will have to see if this author has any more books.

No. 32: A Husband;s Wicked Ways

A Husband's Wicked Ways by Jane Feather

This book is apparently a part of a series that I have read before. I didn't realize it until I was about halfway though. I don't really recall the rest of the series so I am going to have to try and find it and re-read.

This was an interesting book - a woman found out that her husband, that she thought had died in a naval battle three years ago had really been a spy and actually just died recently. Anyway, his spy boss came to tell her and to also recruit her to also be a spy. Pretty cool concept. I used to read a lot of Jane Feather books, and I like them, but I can't say I love them. But you know I will read the rest of this series anyway.

No. 32: The Book of Vice

The Book of Vice by Peter Sagal

I bought this book completely at random one day when I was standing in line at Barnes waiting for someone to help me find the Mary Balogh book that just came out. The cover was kind of interesting - at the top it says "Very Naughty Things (and How to Do Them) which is funny. The lady waiting behind me recommended it to me so I got it.

It is fiction, which is not my usual thing. Although I did read some last year I really enjoyed. It is written by the host of a show on NPR. Which is also not my usual thing because I am not a fan of talk radio.

But it was pretty funny and interesting - he researched all kinds of vice - gambling, lying, eating, strip clubs and went a lot of crazy places and met a lot of really interesting and weird people. It is not as good as the AJ Jacobs books I read last year, but it is in the same kind of vein and worth a read.

No. 31: Then Comes Seduction

Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh

I was so happy to see that the newest Mary Balogh book had come out in for her new series. I thought this book was great! The FMC was the youngest Huxtable sister (yes the name still gets me) Katherine. The MMC was named Jasper (which made me think about Twilight everytime I read it - I know I am a nerd)

This had an interesting plot - in the begining of the book the MMC made a drunken bet with his drunk buddies that he would seduce and debauch a young lady - namely Katherine Huxtable. Turns out he has more honor than he thought and he couldn't go through with it and confessed his sins to Katherine. She got justifiably pissed and never wanted to see him again. Three years later she ran into him because he is a friend of her cousin and brother. She was warned away from him but ended up becoming friends with him. Then the MMCs nasty cousin started some trouble and they had to get married to save their reputation. Of course they fall in love, vanquish the evil cousin and live happily ever after.

I don't know if the next book is the oldest sister or the brother - either way, I am excited to read it!

No. 30: Untamed

Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell

I don't know why I keep doing this to myself - reading Elizabeth Lowell books that drive me insane. I should just sell them all so I stop. Almost every time I read one I complain about how annoying they are.

I actually thought that this was one I liked though. But in fact it is not. It is SUPER annoying - more than usual which is really saying something. There was the whole icky and excessive falcon/falconer thing (ew) and of course, the dialogue was horrifying. I should start putting examples on here so you can see how bad it is. Anyway, in sum, annoying and not good.

No. 29: The Highlanders Touch

The Highlander's Touch by Karen Marie Moning

I actually read this quite awhile ago, I just forgot to post it. To be honest I am 4 books behind on posting.

This was a good one, the MMC is an immortal (and surprisingly 1/2 fae) laird. The FMC went back in time when she touched an enchanted something or another (flask? I can't remember). The MMC is the one who did the enchanting and he did kind of a bad job and to cover up his screw up he had promised to kill whomever brought the flask back to keep the secret of the ?flask? that is really a fae object so no one is supposed to know about it. He promised this to Adam Black (his secret Dad!) who of course had manipulated all of this to reach his own ends. Anyway, he is not about to kill an innocent woman that he conveniently has the hots for. Also he has sworn not to marry and fall in love again because of that whole inconvenient immortality thing. But don't worry, it all works out for the best and they do get married.

*edited to add - whenever I write the plots of these books out I can't help but crack up. I wonder if the author just tries to think up the craziest nonsense she can come up with and makes it in to a book. But I love them, so I guess it works!

No. 28: The Immortal Highlander

The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

This is the book I have been waiting for, the one about Adam Black. He has been a recurring character in this series, sometimes bad, sometimes good. This book is about what happens when after he is forced to do some crazy faery thing to save Daegus and as a result he looses his power and also the Fae queen makes him human-ish and also invisible. But, luckily for him there is a woman in Cincinatti who is a sidhe-seer, which, if you remember from the Fever series, is a person who can see the Fae. Because Adam is not invisible to a sidhe-seer. So anyway, they fall in lust/love blah blah blah, go to Scotland, blah blah blah, meet the MacKeltars, vanquish their enemy, Adam disapears, FMC falls into a deep depression blah blah blah. But lucky for everyone, Adam comes back and they get married and live happily ever after. Hooray!

I don't know if there are going to be more books in this series. In one of the books the author references a plan of Queen Aiboheal regarding making a certain number of MacKelter druids live in the present (instead of the past where they belong) so maybe this is going to be connected to the fever series? I recall a character called Christian MacKeltar and a reference to his uncles who are druids (Drustan and Daegus perhaps?) I don't know. Maybe I will have to check the internets.

No. 27: Spell of the Highlander

Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

This book is shockingly similar to the other books in this series by this author. However, in this one, the MMC is a 9th century MacKeltar who has been trapped in a mirror! That is different! Also sometimes he has to go back into the mirror against his will at inopportune times, which is funny.

No. 26: The Dark Highlander

The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

This is another one - time travel? Check. Super hot Scottish guy? Check. Druids? Check. Super hot guy worried that FMC won't like him? Check. FMC unable to resist super hot guy? Check.

The twist in this one is that the guy is essentially possessed by the souls of evil druids. But he can be saved by the love of a good woman (and fairys). I liked it though, I like all of these books even though they are WAY more graphic than my usual books. With very, um, descriptive language. But the stories are really good, so it isn't too bad. Not for reading at work on my lunch break though. I tend to blush and I don't want to say why :)

No. 25: Kiss of the Highlander

Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

This one is funny and also a little sad and mysterious. I thought it was great! I really really liked the part where the MMC is in the future. He is hysterically funny and I very much enjoyed the shopping chapter. I also liked the FMC and how tenacious and stubborn she was. The secondary love interest between the Dad and Nell is very sweet and romantic also. I guess I liked everything about this book! Better than the last one and I am excited to read the next with Drustan's twin brother Daegus who is bad.

No. 24: To Tame a Highland Warrior

To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning

I have read like 4 of these books in a row without posting, so I am kind of confused about which is which. But if I recall correctly this is the one where the MMC is a secret berserker. Which is awesome. I liked a lot of parts of this book - the way that the FMC finds the MMC is awesome, the dad and the brothers are super funny and cute, I like how aggrevated the MMC got the whole time, I liked the reunion. So it was really good!

No. 23: Beyond the Highland Mist

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

So, it turns out that I have essentially every book this author has ever written. I am so glad that I organized all my books so I found that out before I went out and bought a bunch. Organization! Its amazing!

This book has many good things, for example, super foxy MMC, time traveling, the Scottish highlands. But it also has some annoying things, irritating and irrational FMC, stupid Adam Black (although I vaguely remember that he has his own book so he must get less stupid over time). So clearly I am going to read all of her books now.

No. 22: FaeFever

FaeFever by Karen Marie Moning

The first time I read this book I was super pissed because I thought it was going to be the last in the series but instead of getting some resolution the book ended at a critically suspenseful place and there was no resolution whatsoever. But now I can appreciate that there are more books to come and that is always good. Although I wish they would come out faster. I am going to have to re-read these three again whenever the next one comes out because I will have forgotten the details by then!

I liked this book because there was more about Christian MacKelter who I think might be a viable love interest for Mac and because I think there is a connection to some of the authors other books which I also enjoyed and now I think I should re-read to check.

No. 21: DarkFever

DarkFever by Karen Marie Moning

This is the second in the series. I think I like it best although it also has several chapters of grossness involving a fake vampire who is rotting in parts. Very disgusting. It also had a lot more of the tension between Mac and Barrons which is interesting. Mostly because I don't know if I think it is a good idea and I would need more information about Barrons before I could make an opinion. Not that my opinion matters :)

No. 20: DarkFever

DarkFever by Karen Marie Moning

This is the first in the Fever series which is about a woman who goes to Ireland to try and solve her sister's murder and it turns out there are bad things happening and that she can see the Fae and all kind of other mystical nonsense. It is a good book, and a good series, but it is quite a bit different than the books I usually read. It is certainly not a romance, more of a mystery I guess.

I had read these before but out of order. There are at least two more in the series, I think the next comes out in August.

No. 19: Simply Magic

Simply Magic by Mary Balogh

This is another great Mary Balogh book in the Simply Series. This is the story of Susanna and Peter (which I think is kind of a lame name for a MMC) but they mostly refer to him as Viscount Whitleaf which is much better.

I like this book because I really like the MMC because he is funny! The whole relationship between the two is funny and there are so many good lines. Of course I can't remember any of them now :) The other thing I liked was the FMC's reunion with her estranged family - the grandparents cracked me up.

What I didn't like about this book is the MMC's mother. I don't think she got her just desserts. And that is irritating. I like my books to have perfectly happy endings.

No. 18: Simply Perfect

Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh

I have been on a huge Mary Balogh kick lately I guess. I remembered how good the Simply series was, especially this one.

Miss Martin has been a recurring character in the Slightly series and in the rest of this series. I am very very glad that she got a happy ending. It is particularly sweet that she ended up with a titled gentlemen (as they say) especially an heir to a dukedom.

Now I imagine I will have to read the rest of this series - the first two books. Although I might be too busy sewing this weekend to read :)

No. 17: First Comes Marriage

First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh

This is the first book in a brand spanking new series by one of my favorite authors! I am so excited!!! It was great, and I can't wait for the rest. There should be at least 4 total - at least that is what I can tell from amazon.com. One book for each of the Huxtable sisters and brother. The only thing I don't like is that their last name is Huxtable which makes me think of the Cosby Show.

This is the story of the second oldest sister Vanessa (Nessie). She is a widow and had been living with her husband's family. Her two sisters and younger brother lived nearby in a small town. One day, out of nowhere, a Viscount shows up and tells the family that the brother has just interited a title and he has to move to his new estate to learn how to be an Earl. I thought this was FANTASTIC! How exciting it would be to find out that your family is suddenly super rich and your brother is an Earl!

Anyway, this Viscount decides he should marry one of the sisters and Vanessa proposes to him to save her oldest sister (who may or may not be in love with someone else) and it is pretty funny. She is allegedly kind of plain, but she is funny and although he says he dislikes her and is annoyed by her he is attracted to her and they eventually fall in love - of course.

So the next book comes out at the end of the month I think, I can't wait!!!

No. 16: Slightly Scandelous

Slightly Scandelous by Mary Balogh

This is the last in the Slightly series. I saved it for last because I though that it was my least favorite. Now that I have read it again, I realize that it is not my least favorite at all, but one of my most favorite! Maybe tied for 2d with Slightly Tempted. It is so good. I don't really like Frejya in the other books because you don't get a good insight into her character, but this book is chock full of insight and it is great. I also particularly like Josh (MMC) because he falls in love with Frejya even though she is not beautiful but because he likes her spirit and intelligence and character and finds her wildly attractive. Usually in romance novels the FMCs are very beautiful and the MMC is drawn to them because of their looks. Here is is a little different and it is a nice change. It is also particularly nice because Josh is supposed to be gorgeous :)

I have heard that Balogh is going to have a new series coming out this spring, I am very excited because I LOVE her new books. I think I am going to have to re-read the Simply series next.

No. 15: The Grand Finale

The Grand Finale by Janet Evanovich

This is a re-issue of an older book. It was funny, all her books are funny. I liked the old ladies in this one, especially because they were on the prowl for boyfriends. I also really liked the MMC - he was an inventor and a first grade teacher which is an interesting profession. So it was good but very short and a very quick read. I only wish they were longer!

No. 14: Slightly Sinful

Slightly Sinful by Mary Balogh

If I didn't love Wulf's story so much, this would be the best book in the series. It is fantastic! Very very funny thanks to the four friends of the FMC and all the hysterical things they say. But the FMC and MMC are funny too. And this book has so many good parts - like when Alleyne first wakes up and sees the ladies, and when they finally catch up to the villan, and most especially when Alleyne decides to go to Lindsey Park and is reunited with his family (and Wulf!) so very good.

No. 13: Slightly Tempted

Slightly Tempted by Mary Balogh

I love this book, I really do. Although my favorite part comes at the very end when they are driving back from the wedding and see a man standing at the front door. And then the book ends but I know who it is and what happens and I love it. But this book has some issues too. It is kind of harsh on Wulf (who I have strong feelings about) and it doesn't really resolve the brooch issue. And I want to know what happened. But I like Gervase and Morgan both, and so it is good. I think my third favorite in the series.

No. 12: Dark of Night

Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann

I went to the bookstore on my lunch break on Thursday and I discovered a brand new Suzanne Brockmann book had been released and I didn't even know about it! So of course I bought it. It is in the Troubleshooters series. I have to say, I prefer the Navy SEAL books, and this was definitely not one of my favorite books in the series, but it was still pretty good. I like to get more information about the characters from previous stories. It is also nice to get all the loose ends wrapped up. I think she is running out of characters though, there might be only one unmarried repeat character, so unless she wants to start writing about a whole new bunch, I don't know how long this series will go on. But it was good to get Dave's story wrapped up. I always liked him. I was also glad to see a cameo from my all time favorite MMC - Ken Karmody. His book is the best!

No. 11: Montana Creeds: Logan

Montana Creeds: Logan by Linda Lael Miller

This was a contemporary western/cowboy story. It was good, but I don't know why I keep reading Linda Lael Miller books - its like I am compelled to get a book whenever I see it. Anyway, this is the first of three about three brothers who are estranged but share a farm that they inherited from their father. The FMC is a single mother whose ex-husband (who abandoned her and her two little kids in the Walmart parking lot) is coming back to town. Then she meets Logan and of course there is some mysterious crazy person harassing her, and a bear...anyway, it was okay and I am sure I will read the other two in the series because that is how I am.

No. 10: Slightly Dangerous

Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh

I did decide to skip ahead to Wulf's story which is awesome and really the best one in the series. I love it on so many levels. The FMC is funny and like a real person with real emotions which is surprisingly hard to come by in a romance novel. The MMC is not funny but he has real emotions, however buried they are. Also, you get more information about the other Bedwyns which is good and you finally get a happy resolution for Wulf. And the thing with the quizzing glass is hysterical. No matter how many times I read that book it completely cracks me up! So it was good.

I can't decide if I want to read the other books in the series or if I want to read the new book I got yesterday or the new book I want to get tomorrow. Choices choices choices.