Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Book review: The Best of Friends by author Susan Mallery

The Best of Friends is the long awaited new release by author Susan Mallery. I am a pretty big fan of Susan's books. She has several really good series including her current series "Fool's Gold" You can read some of my reviews on the books in that series on this blog. The Best of Friends is a stand alone book so if you don't want to worry about a series this ones for you. Below is a blurb on the back of the book and you can read a excerpt on Susan's newly revised website by clicking here . If you join as a member you can also read a addition bonus excerpt and get on her mailing list to receive updates on what's coming down the pike with Susan.

The Best of Friends


Pocket Books

October 2010

In high school, studious Jayne Scott and wild child Rebecca Worden became unlikely best friends—atie that endured even after Rebecca fled her family to live overseas. After Jayne’s mother passed away, she became part unpaid assistant, part surrogate daughter to the wealthy Wordens.


But now, ten years later, Rebecca is coming home to L.A. to cause havoc for Elizabeth, the mother who all but rejected her. And Jayne finds herself pulled deeper into the Wordens’ complicated family dynamics—especially when Rebecca’s brother, David, returns as well.


David is the man Jayne always wanted and knew she could never have. But when he gravitates toward her in spite of Elizabeth’s protests, her vow to escape the family’s shadow is put to the ultimate test. And as lies are shattered and true feelings exposed, Jayne must decide where loyalty ends, and love begins. . . .

This is what i call a twisty book. Meaning there are lots of twists and turns in it. My perception of what the book was going to be and how it would progress kept changing as i kept reading. A few times i wasn't sure if i liked the twists and turns but it really kept me reading and not wanting to put it down. I kept wondering where the whole thing would end up. I didn't expect all this with this book but it was a interesting surprise. While i enjoy predictable story lines well enough this was no where near predictable and kept you wondering til the end. Only thing i'm not sure i cared for was the way one of the characters was left at the very end of the book and i wondered if there might be a story in the works for her that would tell what happens with her next. Word from Susan Mallery was "Not at this time." I guess you are left to decide what she does then. Then again you never know her story might get told yet. I give "The Best of Friends" 4 Modokker Book pick stars.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Want to win a copy of Wolf Signs by author Vivian Arend?


Win a copy of A Wolf Signs by Vivian Arend!
Wolf Signs
Robyn Maxwell doesn’t care that her brother has to cancel out on their backcountry ski trip. She can do it alone. The fact she’s deaf doesn’t make her survival skills any weaker. The chance to get away from it all and relax in the Yukon wilderness is just what she’s been craving.
Meeting wilderness guide Keil at the cabin starts cravings of another kind. Keil’s one hot hunk of ripped, tasty male. Now she has to deal with raging hormones as well as strange questions about wolves and mates and challenges to the death.
Keil was trying for a nice reflective retreat before challenging for the Alpha position of his Alaskan pack. He wasn’t planning on meeting the woman destined to be his mate, or finding out she’s not aware she has the genes of a wolf.
Between dealing with his accident-prone younger brother, a deaf mate with an attitude and an impending duel to the death, his week—and his bed—is suddenly full.
Far from the relaxing getaway any of them had in mind...
Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Wolf Signs!
This contest is a part of Moira Rogers' & Vivian Arend's Fall Frenzy Event. For your chance to win books, gift certificates, ereaders and more, visit http://www.moirarogers.com/contests/

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Book review. Midnight Rainbow By author Linda Howard.

Ok i'm kind of a kind of a Linda Howard fan. If you read my blog you'll notice I've talked about Linda Before. I recently read Diamond Bay that my library had in the new books section. Turns out it is a reissue not new. It was new to me so it is all good. I really enjoyed Diamond Bay but got the feeling there was something i was missing. I keep track of what i've read using goodreads.com . I went to put Diamond Bay in as read and that's when i discovered it was part of a series. Ah ha moment. That's what i was missing. There were a couple characters in Diamond Bay that seemed like i should've known something about. These people would be Grant and Jane. Kells friends in Diamond Bay. Upon investigating some i found i actually had read 3 of the 4 books over the past year but of course backward because i didn't realize they were part of a series. I think you can get away without reading them in order of course but if you know me i really like to read them in order regardless. lol I had to order Midnight Rainbow thru my libraries inter loaning service. Don't mind the funny name because the books is great. It was also reissued in hard cover and that one is only 224 pages so a easy read. This is a romantic suspense with a bit of humor thrown in which is just the way i like it.

PRISCILLA JANE HAMILTON GREER


Was she a society girl in over her head, or part of an espionage ring that could compromise U.S. interests for years to come? The only certainty was that she was a captive in Costa Rica, and her very wealthy, very well-connected father wanted her out--fast.

GRANT SULLIVAN


He was the best agent the government ever had, and he came out of retirement to rescue Jane. Finding her was easy; getting her out was something else altogether. In the time they spent together, questions of guilt and innocence began to fade against the unassailable reality that two people who never should have met were irrevocably in love.

If you want a fast read and enjoy romantic suspense i think you'll like this book. Originally published in 1986 it's been reissued in hard cover last year. Once you read this one read Kell Sabin's story in Diamond bay reissued in hardcover this year. Diamond Bay i found in my libraries newly arrived book section.  Heartbreaker comes after Diamond Bay and then lastly comes White Lies to complete the series. I'm thinking i have to go back and re read the last 2 books now. I give Midnight Rainbow 4 and 1/2 Modokker Book Pick Stars. Loved it







Monday, October 4, 2010

Win a copy of Safe Harbor by author Moira Rogers (digital)


Win a copy of A Safe Harbor by Moira Rogers!
A Safe HarborFind out how it all began...
During the bite of the Great Depression, sole female dominant Joan Fuller struggles against the rise of cruelty among her alpha counterparts. The men tolerate her interference--until she breaks from the pack and allies with a witch and a vampire. Now the Boston alpha intends to bring them all forcibly back into the fold--and teach her a lesson she may not survive.
Seamus Whelan and his werewolf bootleggers intend to retire from smuggling and savor their fortune, but first they must do a favor for an old friend: escort some female wolves to safety. An easy job, if their leader wasn't a prim ex-debutante with enough power to challenge Seamus himself. Chance makes them allies; powerful need makes them lovers.
Together, they have the opportunity to build a sanctuary for their kind, but first they must free themselves from Joan's past, and the powerful man who would see her destroyed.
Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of A Safe Harbor!
This contest is a part of Moira Rogers' & Vivian Arend's Fall Frenzy Event. For your chance to win books, gift certificates, ereaders and more, visit http://www.moirarogers.com/contests/

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Book review: Veil of Night by author Linda Howard

Wow it's been a while since I've posted here but life just seems to keeps to be keeping me busier than I'd like. We've settled out oldest son in college but he won't seem to stay there. Every weekend he shows up here at home. lol Our middle son has had several medical issues come up. Nothing serious but that's another distraction and then the youngest well he's actually doing pretty good. I haven't posted here in a while but that doesn't mean i haven't been reading. Recently i discovered author Johanna Lindsey. I really have been enjoying her series on the Malery family. I'll try to review a couple of those books later this week. I make several trips to the local libraries a week lately and i happened upon a copy of Linda Howard's newest release "Veil of Night" Once i got a few chapters in this book it put me in mind of a early release of Linda Howard's called "Mr Perfect". That's been my hands down favorite of Linda Howard and i'm pretty sure i reviewed it a few months ago.  Below is a little inside cover blurb on the book.


Jaclyn Wilde is a wedding planner who loves her job--usually. But helping Carrie Edwards with her Big Day has been an unrelenting nightmare. Carrie is a bridezilla of mythic nastiness, a diva whose tantrums are just about as crazy as her demands. But the unpleasant task at hand turns seriously criminal when Carrie is brutally murdered and everyone involved with the ceremony is accusing one another of doing the deed.

The problem is, most everyone--from the cake maker and the florist to the wedding-gown retailer and the bridesmaids' dressmaker--had his or her own reason for wanting the bride dead, including Jaclyn. And while those who felt Carrie's wrath are now smiling at her demise, Jaclyn refuses to celebrate tragedy, especially since she finds herself in the shadow of suspicion.
 
Assigned to the case, Detective Eric Wilder finds that there's too much evidence pointing toward too many suspects. Compounding his problems is Jaclyn, with whom he shared one deeply passionate night before Carrie's death. Being a prime suspect means that Jaclyn is hands-off just when Eric would rather be hands-on. As the heat intensifies between Eric and Jaclyn, a cold-blooded murderer moves dangerously close. And this time the target is not a bride but one particularly irresistible wedding planner, unaware of a killer's vow.
 
Sound pretty good? It was! Both Eric and Jaclyn have been divorced neither is looking for marriage or a serious relationship. Yet when they meet when Jaclyn kind of runs into him literally there is a instant attraction. Later they bump into each other again in a bar and get along well enough to exchange phone numbers. Neither can get the other off their mind and Eric calls her before he even gets home and she invites him over. The result is a one night stand. At least that's what they are thinking at first but again neither can get the other one off their mind. Jaclyn is a event planner and most of her events are weddings. This week she has 6 weddings in 5 days so busy doesn't even begin to explain her week. One of the brides she is dealing with is literally a bridezilla you hear about on TV. She has to meet with her and several vendors for her wedding when things get ugly. The bride, Carrie is extremely difficult and gets off and being mean to people. She decides she is going to fire Jaclyn and threaten her and the other vendors that they'll never work any important events when she's done with them. She even goes so far as to slap Jaclyn. Unfortunately later that day Carrie is found murdered in the same building the meeting took place. Eric is assigned as the cop to investigate it and Jaclyn is one of the prime suspects. This is where things get sticky for Eric and Jaclyn. He has to be be by the book to protect himself and Jaclyn and he can't even tell her he believes she is innocent. Then it becomes apparent the real killer things Jaclyn knows something and she becomes a possible victim herself. You have to read the book to find out how it ends and all the deets in between. I really enjoyed the humor bits in this book. That's what put me in mind of Mr Perfect. Good story with likable characters. Just a few places it seemed to lag a bit but not enough to turn me off. I give Veil of Night 4 out of 5 Modokker Book pick stars!