'Book Reviews'

Recommended for sci-fi fans

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs, #1) My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful sci-fi debut! I was extremely impressed with Morgan’s lean, evocative prose. I adored Kovacs — his voice and his plight grabbed me from the first page and wouldn’t let go. The story had everything I crave in a top notch read: excellent pacing, wonderful world building, three-dimensional characters and a plot that kept me riveted into the wee hours of the night. I’m thrilled to have discovered Richard Morgan. I ordered his entire backlist as soon as I turned the last page of ALTERED CARBON. (A+)

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Beth Kery’s Sweet Restraint – Coming Soon!

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

My good friend and fabulous romance novelist, Beth Kery, has a new release coming out next week, and I’m delighted to share a bit of info with all of you.

If you like your romance spicy, emotionally rich and satisfying, then read on!
Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Restraint-Beth-Kery/dp/0425227693/
Excerpt: http://www.bethkery.com/sweet-restraint

SWEET RESTRAINT
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: July 7, 2009
Format: Trade Paperback

This time, he’ll never let her go…

Chicago Special Agent Shane Dominic was in love with Laura Vasquez until the day she left him and married another man. Thirteen years may have passed, but Laura’s never disappeared from his fantasies, or destroyed his desire to learn the truth about why she left him. When her husband, the criminal mastermind behind an international ring of thieves, is murdered, Shane knows this is his one last, desperate chance to learn Laura’s secrets. And he’s not above using their scorching hot passion for one another and a little domination to do it.

One look at Shane, and Laura’s own memories come back to haunt her. Her feelings run deep, but she’d never divulge her secrets—a desperate vow that’s compromised when Shane stuns her by taking her as his captive to a secluded cabin. Here, she will finally belong to him, be subjected to his every torturously erotic whim, and be forced to trust him with a shocking truth she’s hidden for so long—one that will expose them to a danger closing in on the both of them.

Recommended: BEAUTIFUL LIES

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Beautiful Lies: A Novel Beautiful Lies: A Novel by Lisa Unger
rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book hooked me from page one. The heroine tells her story in an engaging, conversational style. The writing is superb, filled with wonderful metaphors and striking imagery. A gruff, mysterious hero adds a perfect romantic subplot to this thriller. I was a little dissapointed that a couple of loose ends were allowed to slip, and that a deus ex machina twist at the ending got the heroine out of trouble, but even these two elements couldn’t detract from my utter enjoyment of this novel. I’ll definitely look for more books by Lisa Unger. (A+)

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Nothing to Fear earns stunning 5 cherry review!

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Nothing to Fear by Lacey Savage

Nothing to Fear by Lacey Savage
Publisher: Loose ID, LLC.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short (127 pages)
Other: BDSM, M/F, M/F/M, Ménage, Spanking
Rating: 5 Cherries
Review by Cholla

Three women haunted by horrors from their pasts. Four men who want to show them there’s Nothing to Fear…

In the Air
If Kirk Healey hadn’t threatened to steal her biggest client, Meadow Gardiner would never have boarded another plane. In flight, only Kirk’s smoldering touch keeps Meadow from succumbing to soul-numbing fear. As kisses lead to a frantic encounter in the airplane lavatory, Meadow must trust her greatest rival to see her safely back on solid ground.

In the Dark
When a total blackout forces Shelly O’Rourke to face her paralyzing fear of the dark, she’s rescued from engulfing terror by the scorching caress (and occasional spanking!) of her estranged-and presumed dead-husband. Making love to a memory forces Shelly to confront her deepest fears…and some are just as menacing by the light of day.

In their Arms
Jennifer Meehan has no qualms about taking two lovers. A long history of cruel betrayal has taught her that unbridled sex is the only way to guard her heart. But the men she’s been seeing separately have joined forces, and now the time has come to reveal all: her body, her soul, and every secret fear she harbors in her heart.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual interaction, ménage (m/f/m), mild spanking.

Lacey Savage outdoes herself in this erotic romp through a collection of common phobias: flying, darkness, and intimacy. In each short, the heroine is faced with her fear and finds a steamy, sexy way to overcome it. With a little help, of course.

In the Air is the first novella in this collection and one of the most exciting. Frightened of flying, Meadow Gardiner is prepared to conquer her fear head on. Little does she know that her arch enemy, Kirk Healy, will be coming along for the ride. Meadow is a strong, upfront kind of woman. She knows her limits and is bound and determined to push them in order to get what she wants. Kirk comes off as a bit of a jerk at first until his real plan of action surfaces.

In the Air is followed by my favorite story in the series, In the Dark. In this second story, Shelly O’Rourke is coping with having been abandoned by her husband only to discover that he just may be dead. Shelly is an emotional woman struggling to come to grips with the way her life is headed, while trying to reassure her son. While on a flight to Madrid, Shelly is staying in a hotel when the city experiences a blackout. I think this was my favorite not because it was the most explicit, or the most emotional, but I think it was probably the most intense of the three. Trapped in the darkness and surprised by what you least expect…

In Their Arms finishes off the trio of stories with a bang. Jennifer Meehan suffers from the saddest of all phobias – the fear of being close to someone. She doesn’t let it interfere with her pleasure seeking, however, and has found not one but two constant lovers to run to when she needs them. This is a sweet and steamy story of how her two lovers turn the tables on her and help her on her way to learning to love and trust for the first time in many years.

Nothing to Fear is a wonderful collection of stories centering on something we’re all familiar with – the fear of something. Lacey’s frightened heroines are strong and seductive, scared and sexy. And as an added bonus, all three stories connect in a way that you’re really reading one story told from many viewpoints. It was a fascinating and different touch that made Nothing to Fear an even more enjoyable read.

Purchase Nothing to Fear from Loose Id

Recommended: BIRD BY BIRD

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastic insights and advice on the writing life. Lamott has a breezy voice, filled with humor and a healthy dose of sarcasm. She doesn’t sugarcoat the tougher aspects of embarking upon a writing career, and she makes it clear from the beginning that the goal of publication is not the fabulous end-all-and-be-all so many people make it out to be. Writing is its own reward even when it’s painful, frustrating and just damned hard. Lamott never lets us forget that. (A)

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Recommeded: COACHING THE ARTIST WITHIN

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Coaching the Artist Within: Advice for Writers, Actors, Visual Artists, and Musicians from America's Foremost Creativity Coach Coaching the Artist Within: Advice for Writers, Actors, Visual Artists, and Musicians from America’s Foremost Creativity Coach by Eric Maisel
rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve been reading a number of books dealing with the themes tackled in COACHING THE ARTIST WITHIN: artist fears, doubts, anxiety, blocks, stalled projects, etc. Maisel’s book is a wonderful addition to my growing keeper shelf of books to reconnect with when the creative life becomes too much to bear, when I wonder why I bother at all, and when I start to think I’d be better off making widgets on an assembly line.

Maisel addresses the issues all artists face with plenty of compassion, but he doesn’t sugar-coat the important issues, either. He makes it abundantly clear that hard work is needed to succeed, and he’s not afraid to give artists a good kick in the behind to get them moving again. Perhaps most important of all is the way he encourages each of us to become our own creativity coaches. Empowering and motivating, COACHING THE ARTIST WITHIN is a must-read for anyone struggling to find meaning in his or her creative work. (A)

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Just Finished: THE COMPANION, by Susan Squires

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

The Companion (Regency Vampire Novels) The Companion by Susan Squires

A wonderfully engrossing book featuring a tormented hero, a spunky heroine and an evil that could destroy the world. What more could a reader want? The sexual tension between the hero and heroine is palpable from their first meeting. The plot moves along at a great pace, and the writing is top-notch. I’m not a fan of the Regency era, but Ms. Squires’s fabulous story more than made up for any shortcomings inherent in the genre (like the dreadful ton, and everything that comes along with it). I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. (A)

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Recommendation: COLD AS ICE, by Anne Stuart

Sunday, March 29th, 2009

Cold As Ice (Ice Series, Book #2) Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart

rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anne Stuart continues her reign as the queen of romantic suspense. She writes Alpha heroes better than anyone, and she’s not afraid to delve into controversial subject matter. Her characters are not cookie-cutter by any means; they’re fully realized people who feel so real, I almost expected them to walk off the page. COLD AS ICE features a wonderful, believable love story between two strong people perfect for each other. I’m looking forward to the next book in this unforgettable series. (A+)

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Finished reading… Unbound, by Lori Devoti

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

Unbound (Silhouette Nocturne) Unbound by Lori Devoti


A surprisingly dark story about the torment of servitude and the power of love to break the chains of enslavement. I didn’t think Harlequin let their authors run with such savage characterization and brutal imagery, but I’m glad they did. The villain was truly heinous, so cheering for the good guys came easy… even when I wasn’t quite sure who the good guys were. (B+)

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In Search of the Perfect Craft Book

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

Books - bookcase top shelf

I came home today with a mission: I was determined to go through my storage room (which is crammed tight with boxes from our last move in preparation for our next move) and find my favorite writing craft book. What is it, you ask?

Well, I could tell you, but then I’d have to–

No, okay, you’re right. I won’t do anything dramatic. Instead, I’ll count down my top 5 favorite craft books and reveal the one that had me digging through storage at the end.

5. The Right to Write, by Julia Cameron

4. Word Work: Surviving and Thriving as a Writer, by Bruce Holland Rogers

3. How to Write a Dirty Story: Reading, Writing and Publishing Erotica,by Susie Bright

2. Man, Oh Man, Writing M/M Fiction for Cash & Kinks, by Josh Lanyon

And my number 1 craft book? *drumroll please*

It’s…

Ready…?

1. On Writing, by Stephen King

And no, I wasn’t able to find it tonight, but I’ll attempt part 2 of my mission tomorrow evening. This time, I might even enlist hubby’s help.