I do love Margaret and Helen’s blog. Those two old ladies talk so much sense.

Whether they are for real or not, who cares, but whoever they are, they have to be the most amusing, startlingly perceptive, forthright political bloggers out there. I love how they get right to the heart of the matter.

Their latest log is entitled “The Elephant In The Room Is A Kangaroo” and starts: (more…)

Rosario has a great review of Dorothy Koomson’s book, The Chocolate Run, up on her blog. She loves it as much as I did.

She also wrote a review of Goodnight Beautiful. Once again, she loved it, even though it wasn’t a romance.

Yay for another Koomson convert!

Yay!

I am so happy to ’see’ her. I think it’s been well over a year since she last blogged.

I emailed her loads over the past year, because I was really worried about her. The thing with blogging is, people can up and disappear, and you may never hear from them again. It’s happened a couple of times already, and if I like that person, I tend to worry about them, Maili, I’m looking at you!.

Monica was such a staunch voice in RomLand, she was honest and direct, and you always knew where you stood with her. Gosh it’s lovely to have her back.

She’s had a terrible time of it, having to deal with serious health issues, so she doesn’t quite sound her usual chirpy self, but hopefully that will change soon.

Anyway, go and say hi, I’m sure she’d appreciate it.

(I already tried posting a comment, but it didn’t show up for some reason, I’ll try again though. Monica, you may need to check your spam queue, because I think that’s where my comment went. In fact, I think you may find that quite a few other comments have ended up in your Akismet spam filter too.)

First: this one is Kristie(J)’s fault-all of it! (Well, okay, the inimitable Super Librarian is involved there somehow, but still! All Kristie(J)!)

Second: next time someone recommends a book without telling me it’s the third in a trilogy, I’ll grab a leaf outta Little CJ’s book and start with the voodoo dolls and the pointy objects. (The good news: this one reads very much like a stand-alone until the last three or so chapters, so no one is getting hurt… this time. I seriously would advise you guys not to tempt fate, though, capisci?)

*ahem*

Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare

My confession: despite having one or (more likely) two other books by Ms Clare in the TBR mountain range, Ride the Fire is the first of hers I’ve read. Unbeknownst to me before I read it *glaring at Kristie(J) and Super Librarian Wendy* this is the third title in Ms Clare’s Blakewell/Kenleigh trilogy. As stated above, it can be read as a stand-alone title, but people like me *coughanalretentivecough* want know where it stands before reading it.

Set in the Ohio frontier during the tumultuous period after the French and Indian war, it follows Nicholas Kenleigh, firstborn son and heir to the Kenleigh Shipping empire in Virginia, and one Elspeth (Bethie) Stewart, the young widow of a humble settler.

I find I need to issue a warning: while this is definitely a romance, it includes some rather intense and graphic descriptions of violence-not for the faint of heart. Reader beware.

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Promises in Death, by J.D. Robb

With twenty nine full length novels and five novellas, J.D. Robb’s “… In Death” series is a testament to the author’s successful blend of characterization and suspense. Obviously, not every title hits the same high note, but as has been said before, “Nora Roberts in a bad day is better than many other authors at their best.”

For those new to the series, it follows the adventures of Lt Eve Dallas, of the New York Police and Security Department, and it is set in New York in 2060. The futuristic aspects of the story are partly extrapolations grounded in current technology, and partly a bit of fantasy-with space colonies, virtual reality and interstellar travel being common place.

As a long time fan of the series myself, I am very happy with Promises in Death; the whodunit aspect of the story is quite good, but it is the characterization that makes the book for me. (more…)

Hello, my name is azteclady, and I’m a Shiloh Walker fangirl (and no, I don’t need no stinkin’ program, thank you)

Fragile, by Shiloh Walker

Ms Walker’s latest print release, Fragile, is a mix of erotic romance and romantic suspense, and it succeeds beautifully in both subgenres. All too often erotic romances focus so much on the erotic part that the romance feels short-changed; not so with Fragile, at all. All the different elements are so well balanced that I have trouble trying to label this novel into any one subgenre.

Unless the label happens to be, “excellent” ‘cause then it’s easy.

Here is the back cover blurb: (more…)

I love her version of Snow Patrol’s Run, I really do.

Here’s the original version for those who aren’t as familiar with the song:

I’d definitely say that she did the song justice.

I totally LOVED Michelle Obama’s election night dress!

Apparently she got slated in the press for it though:

Mrs Obama wore a red and black scoop-neck dress by Narciso Rodriguez for the historic moment, a decision that has sparked instant debate among the fashion-focussed. Some branded it an eyesore, others said it was a simple mistake. Most agreed Ms Obama had suffered a rare lapse of taste.

“I voted for Obama, but I didn’t vote for that dress,” Jessica Bettencourt told the New York Times.

Amazing, I thought her dress rocked on a grand scale.

Salvation in Death, by J.D. Robb

Can I say how happy I am that we get at least one, and often two, new In Death books every year? Happy, I tell you. Who needs sleep?

Salvation in Death is the twenty eighth novel-length installment in the In Death series. Yup, you read right, 28 novels, and—lemme count—five novellas in multi-author anthologies. Some readers may wonder how on earth can a writer keep both the quality of writing and the freshness of the characters after this many books, and I’m here to tell you that, while I don’t know how she does it, Ms Roberts definitely delivers, each and every time. That is not to say, mind, that I enjoy every one of the In Death books or novellas equally, since more often than not I find stuff to quibble about (but then, I do that with pretty much everything I read), but that they are consistent in quality of writing, plotting, and characterization, and every single one is worth reading and re-reading. (more…)

The Missing, by Shiloh Walker

Coming out on November 4th from Berkley, The Missing is my current favorite of the novels by Ms Walker that I’ve read so far. Honestly, I think her writing improves with every work she puts out.

The Missing explores the realm of paranormal, or psychic, abilities, and whether they can be harnessed and used as tools, as well as the toll such gifts can take on those who possess them. It is perhaps not a coincidence that foresight, psychometry, and other paranormal powers have been long branded as “curses.”

The back cover blurb:

Love lost
As a teenager, Taige Branch was able to do things with her psychic gift that others couldn’t understand—except for Cullen Morgan, the boy who stole her heart. He did his best to accept her abilities, until his mother was brutally murdered—and he couldn’t forgive Taige for not preventing her death.

Passion found
Now a widowed father, Cullen Morgan has never forgotten Taige. But what brings her back into his life is another tragic event. His beloved little girl has been kidnapped, and Taige is his only hope of finding her.

A love that never died
Working together against the clock, Cullen and Taige can’t help but wonder whether—if they find his daughter in time—it isn’t too late for the overpowering love that still burns between them…

(more…)