Monday, March 29, 2010

The Lover [Schone]

Book: The Lover
Author: Robin Schone
Genre: Romance - Erotica

Review: Annie, a spinster with nothing to offer a man other than her money, hires male prostitute Michel for one month to teach her about passion. Clinical, boring sex scenes coupled with flat main characters and a disturbing conclusion were further hampered by poor writing. Additionally, readers hoping for romance will be sorely disappointed-there wasn't any! Skip this book.

Book Junkie's Grade: D

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Untamed Bride [Laurens]

Book: The Untamed Bride [Black Dagger Quartet #1]
Author: Stephanie Laurens
Genre: Romance - Historical

Review: After the disappointing 'Mastered by Love' in January, I took a 2 month break from Lauren's tales of romance and spies. After reading the first of her Black Dagger Quartet series, I'm happy I gave Lauren's another try. Like all of Lauren's books-the hero is a strong male (military man Del) and the heroine a tall, sensuous woman with a strong personality (Deliah). Del is on a secret mission bringing him from India to England, while Deliah is traveling from Jamaica to England. When she becomes entwined in the mission, they embark on a love affair while trying to fight danger at every turn.

After the heavy 'Rhett Butler's People' this was a fun, easy, enjoyable read.

Book Junkie's Grade: B

Rhett Butler's People [McCraig]

Book: Rhett Butler's People
Author: Daniel McCraig
Genre: Fiction

Review: As a lifelong fan of GWTW-I was disappointed with 'Scarlett' and had high hopes for this novel. Marketed as GWTW told from Rhett Butler's perspective, I dove in headfirst. The book started off well with tales of Rhett's childhood. The book quickly veered off course. I'm not even sure where to start. First and foremost-although 'Scarlett' was not a great book, it was a sanctioned sequel and it would have been nice if McCraig had kept the same names (for example-Rhett's mother and brother had different names in both books-it was confusing since I just finished the other book). Next-Rhett is portrayed as a manic depressive, Scarlett is not spunky and Melanie (who all devoted fans know, was a kind person who loved Scarlett unconditionally), was just massacred in this book. McCraig's Melanie was aware of Ashley and Scarlett the whole time-hated Scarlett and was a vindictive woman. McCraig rewrote certain scenes from Rhett's perspective, which had the potential to be interesting, but in many cases he changed the dialogue! He also avoided scenes like the bizarre where Rhett bids on her, and basically skips over Rhett and Scarlett's marriage as well as Bonnie's death.

If anyone is considering reading this novel-just skip it. To pick up where GWTW ends-Scarlett loses all her money in the stock market, moves back to Tara to work the fields, is good enough friends with Belle Watling that Belle and her family are invited over for a bbq (that never would have happened!). Scarlett telegrams Rhett, who comes back, and for the icing on the cake-Tara BURNS DOWN. Sacrilegious! 'Scarlett' was great compared to this book. I will give props to McCraig that his war descriptions were spot on.

Book Junkie's Grade: D

The Broken H [Langley]

Book: The Broken H
Author: J.L. Langley
Genre: Romance - GL

Review: Sheriff Grayson Hunter and rancher Shane Cortez find love in their small Texas town while battling local prejudices. Sexy yet often repetitive, this was an okay read. The main characters were one dimensional and it was hard to relate to them.

Book Junkie's Grade: C-

Monday, March 22, 2010

Dreamfever [Moning]

Book: Dreamfever [Fever #4]
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review: After a traumatic encounter with the Unseelie Fae princes, Mac is rescued by Barrons who nurses her back to health. Losing her innocence and still unsure of who to trust, Mac embraces her darker side to fight the fae and rally her fellow sidhe-seers. When her parents in Georgia become involved, Mac must fight to keep them alive.

As the 4th book in a series of 5, I was hoping for some answers in this installment. Who is Mac's biological father? Who/what is Barrons? Instead-we were given more questions and a cliffhanger ending that has me scouring message boards for fans predictions. When I am reading message boards and dreaming about the characters and what might/might not be happening-that is how I know I am reading a great series! While I am not pleased with the lack of relationship development between Mac and Barrons, the cliffhanger was strong enough to override that disappointment. I am anxiously awaiting the final book-Dec 2010!!

Book Junkie's Grade: A-

Faefever [Moning]

Book: Faefever [Fever #3]
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review: Mac now knows who killed her sister, but she is no closer to the vengeance she desires. Still wary of others motives, Mac continues to search for the book and hones her sidhe-seer skills. Meanwhile, she must balance relationships with Barrons, V'Lane and the leader of the sidhe-seers, Rowena.

Fast paced and action packed with a cliffhanger ending-this was a great read.

Book Junkie's Grade: A-

Bloodfever [Moning]

Book: Bloodfever [Fever #2]
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review: Picking up where Darkfever ended, 'Bloodfever' follows Mac as she continues to search for the Sinsar Dubh, a book of black magic, while she tries to rid the human world of faes. Still working with enigmatic Jericho Barrons, Mac doesn't trust him or his motives, but she can't deny the growing attraction between the two or that he does come to her rescue quite often. Meanwhile, Mac is being pursued by V'Lane, a death by sex fae (who she is trying to resist) and begins to learn about her Irish heritage.

More fast paced than book 1, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

Book Junkie's Grade: B+

Darkfever [Moning]

Book: Darkfever [Fever #1]
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Review: When her older sister is brutally murdered in Dublin, 22-year old Georgia native MacKayla (Mac) Lane travels to Ireland to solve the crime. Armed with a cryptic voicemail message from her sister just hours before she died, Mac begins searching for an ancient book and meets mysterious bookstore owner, Jericho Barrons. Barrons, recognizing Mac as a sidhe-seer, a human who can see fae, agrees to help her hone her skills while they work together to find the book.

Funny and filled with just enough sexual tension to keep readers on their toes-this is a good read. The pacing is a little slow but as the first book in a series of 5, Moning is laying a lot of groundwork. If you are looking for a new sci-fi series with a hint of romance-this is a good bet.

Book Junkie's Grade: B+

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Tin Star [Langley]

Book: The Tin Star
Author: T.J. Langley
Genre: Romance - GL

Review: After coming out to his family, 21-year old Jamie is disowned by his father and kicked off his family's ranch. His brother's best friend Ethan takes him in and offers him a job on his own ranch. As a relationship develops, they must fight prejudice and hate in their small Texas town.

An educational, sexy read, Langley crafts a fun tale but sloppy editing hurts the overall effect of the book.

Book Junkie's Grade: C+

Smooth Talking Stranger [Kleypas]

Book: Smooth Talking Stranger [Travis Family #3]
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Romance

Review: When her sister abandons her 1-week old son, Ella takes the infant and tries to find the father. Her search leads her to wealthy playboy Jack Travis. He denies being the father but agrees to a paternity test. As Ella and Jack become closer, Ella must reconcile the fact that the baby she loves is not hers. Jack also challenges her liberal relationship beliefs.

Addictive and a quick read like Kleypas' previous books, this is the most fun, sexy and overall exciting.

Book Junkie's Grade: B+

Blue Eyed Devil [Kleypas]

Book: Blue Eyed Devil [Travis Family #2]
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Romance

Review: Two years after defying her family and marrying her college sweetheart, Haven Travis realizes the error of her ways. Returning back to Houston, she accepts a job working for her brother and tries to rebuild her life. She quickly develops a relationship with Hardy Cates: a self-made millionaire who also happens to be an enemy of the family. Haven embarks on a journey to heal herself and her heart.

Author Kleypas' favorite book to date, it well written and a fast, fun, if not predictable read.

Book Junkie's Grade: B

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Sugar Daddy [Kleypas]

Book: Sugar Daddy [Travis Family Book 1]
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Romance

Review: Moving to a trailer park in Welcome, TX with her widowed mother, Liberty Jones meets neighbor Hardy Cates. Their friendship turns into a deep bond, but Hardy decides to leave Welcome to make something of himself in the world. As Liberty struggles with lost love, personal tragedy and building a career for herself, she eventually develops a relationship with a local, wealthy millionaire that has life changing repercussions. When Hardy reenters her life-Liberty must choose between her first love and new found love.

A quick read-Liberty is an engaging heroine and someone you can root for. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is the first out of a series of 3 (so far, #4 may be in the works) and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Book Junkie's Grade: B+

When Will There Be Good News? [Atkinson]

Book: When Will There Be Good News?
Author: Kate Atkinson
Genre: Fiction

Review: 'When Will There Be Good News?' has a few story lines that intersect as the book develops. The book opens with a gruesome murder: on a country road in England, 6-year old Joanna's family is butchered in front of her eyes. Thirty years later, the killer is released from prison. Boarding the wrong train, private investigate Jackson Brodie is involved in a train crash. He is saved from the crash by Reggie Chase, who works as a nanny for a local doctor. Convinced the doctor has been kidnapped, she enlists Brodie's help. Meanwhile-an old love interest from Brodie's past, police detective Louise Monroe, is searching for released killer.

Atkinson does a great job weaving the stories together into a believable tale. This is a dark, depressing book with ominous tones. It took me awhile to read it-not because it wasn't good (it is exceptionally well written) but because it was such a downer.

Book Junkie's Grade: B+

Scarlett [Ripley]

Book: Scarlett
Author: Alexandra Ripley
Genre: Fiction

Review: Devoted GWTW fans will be disappointed in Ripley's sequel. Of course, since this was written by a different author the overall tone and language of the characters was not in line with the original. But my biggest complaint was Scarlett's portrayal. She underwent an entire personality change from GWTW and became weak and dependent throughout many parts of the novel. Half of the book takes place in Ireland, and while detailed, the sections were extremely boring and tedious.

I'm interested to see what Margaret Mitchell's estate (who gave their permission for this to be considered an official sequel) think of it. They must not be pleased.

Book Junkie's Grade: C-