Sunday, March 27, 2011

Book review: A Lot Like Love by author Julie james

A Lot Like Love is the latest release of author Julie James. I read the back cover blurb of this book and decided i had to read it based on the fact the lead guy here was a FBI agent. My experience has led me to believe FBI guys are usually hot alpha males and i like those kind of guys in my books. Let's get to that blurb.

The FBI wants her cooperation.


As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city’s top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there’s only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother’s release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.

Agent McCall just wants her.

As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This “date” with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment—one they’re both determined to pull off even if they can’t be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick’s investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they’re a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more. . .

Jordan's and Nick can't seem to stand each other but then Nick is forced to start spending lots of time with her trying to catch the bad guy by acting like boyfriend girlfriend sparks fly. Jordan is set to inherit billions from her dad one day so Nick feels he's not good enough for her and her money and the life style he thinks she has because of it. Every time he turns around it seems though she proves him wrong. She's not a stuck up society princess she's an amazing smart women with alot of guts. They spend a weekend in Napa tasting wine and getting to know each other and falling in love although both are afraid to tell the other. Then a misunderstanding breaks them apart right before the op is supposed to be over when the bad guy comes after Jordan with deadly intent. Can Jack get there in time??? hmmm probably it is a romance book right? lol There are some really funny moments in this book. I love a book that can do that. Make me laugh out loud. If you want to find out more about Julie James and her other books please click here to view her website. I give  A Lot Like Love 4 Modokker book pick stars. I think I'm going to be checking out her other selections soon.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Look Book Series review by author Linda Lael Miller

Linda Lael Miller has been one of my favorite authors for a few years now. She is on my auto buy list as a matter of fact. Most of her stories are about hot cowboys but not all. The Look Book series is more of romantic suspense. There are 3 books in this series.















The First book Don't Look Now starts the series and introduces you to the main characters Clare Westbrook and Tony Sonterra ( he is referred to in the mostly just as Sonterra) Clare in a hard working Lawyer who had a tough up bringing that's made her a little cynical and Tony is a tough as nail cop who likes to tangle with Clare. Below is the back cover blurb for Don't Look Now

When hard-working attorney Clare Westbrook learns that her ambulance-chasing boss has been murdered, she's shocked-but not exactly surprised. Harvey Kredd was known for his less-than-ethical business dealings, and even his acts of generosity were tinged with greed; Clare, working at Kredd and Associates to pay off the law school loan Harvey had granted her several years before, knows she's got no choice: indentured servitude, twenty-first-century style.


But Harvey's death doesn't let Clare out of her contract with the firm; instead it brings her a new, odious multimillionaire client, and Tony Sonterra, homicide detective and local heartthrob, who's not above using a murder investigation to get back into Clare's life. Jump-starting her affair with Tony is the last thing Clare needs-she's got enough on her plate raising her niece, Emma, without throwing a bull-headed cop into the mix.

Then Clare gets the news that may convince her Tony is exactly what she needs: Emma's father has been released from prison, and he's intent on seeing his daughter. Though she could never persuade the police to believe her, Clare is convinced that James Arren murdered her sister.

Clare is determined to find evidence that will put James Arren away for good, but Tony is just as determined to keep her safe, after another murder-clearly meant to target Clare-rocks the law firm. With no real leads, too many suspects, and a growing chain of menacing violence, Clare finds that teaming up with the devil she knows is her only option-one that's just too attractive to resist.

Now the back cover blurb for the 2nd book in this series Never Look Back

Devoted defense lawyer Clare Westbrook, used to working for others, can now call the shots on her own terms. A multi-million-dollar inheritance from the father she never knew has allowed her to start her own practice. And with her teenage niece, Emma, whom she's raised as a daughter, on a school trip to Europe, Clare has been able to focus on turning a storefront in a tough Phoenix neighborhood into the legal firm of her dreams and offering her services to the troubled community. But just as she opens for business, explosive shots take out her street-level windows-and nearly take her life. Someone clearly has targeted Clare, though she doesn't know who or why. All she knows is she must surrender to Tony Sonterra's protection is she wants to survive . . .


Sonterra has designs on a career move to the FBI-and on rekindling his scorching, no-strings-attached affair with Clare. But can the man who sparks her passion be trusted with her life? Or is someone using Clare, the one person Tony has dared to get close to, to get to him?

The last book in the series of course is One Last Look and here is that blurb.

Carrying her lover Tony Sonterra's child, Clare Westbrook has finally buried her commitment phobia and said "yes" to Tony's marriage proposal. So why is fear running through her veins and haunting her dreams? Sonterra is fired up to leave Phoenix for small-town Arizona, to target a lethal desert crime ring. Clare's willing to stand by her man, but he won't be the only one flirting with danger on the job: as a special investigator for the D.A.'s office, Clare is plunged into a race to find a missing child whose mother was murdered. And on a case this hot, the promise of Clare's bright future could vanish in the blink of an eye...


This book in this series came out in the years 2003, 2004 and 2006 so it's not a new series but there is nothing wrong with reading older books that have been out a while. I read whatever i want whether it old or new and like to talk about it in the hopes of getting others to go back and read these books. Many are reissued with new covers (been seeing this alot lately) or you can find them at the library , used book store or trading sites such as paperbackswap where i find some of mine. Many are coming out in ebook form as well for you folks buying ereaders these days.

Back to my review lol I really enjoyed this series there is alot of suspense and it's a bit hard to guess who is the bad guy. What irked me just a bit is that Clare is always in danger about every 5 minutes it seems. Tony is this hot smart cop that knows a thing or two about protecting someone but will Clare ask for help? Oh hell no she's independent.  Clare has a niece she has custody in these books. She's about 13 years old and in my opinion kind of a spoiled brat who gets her way and is kind of mouthy. By far Tony is my favorite character. Thankfully we get a few glimpses of Clare being vulnerable but not many. I wondered how her being pregnant ( spoiler but hey it's in the blurb for book 3 so there) is going to be handled. Still someone is out to kill her. lol I was bothered by a few things but that obviously didn't keep me from reading all 3 books. Give number one a shot and see what you think. It's good to try different genre out but i think i like Linda's cowboy stories best yet. I did enjoy the Mojo Sheepshenk books though if you want to try those. To read more about Linda Lael Miller's books please click here to reach her website and see what she has coming out and view her back list. I give the Look Book series 3 and 1/2 Modokker Book Pick Stars. Not her best work but i still enjoyed it.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Book review: Travis series by author Lisa Kleypas

I did something i like to do every now and then. I walked up to my bookshelf full of books i haven't red yet ( there are many) and plucked a book right off the top shelf. it happened to be Smooth Talking Stranger by author Lisa Kleypas. I remember i bought this at a used book store a few months back mostly because i liked the cover and then the back cover blurb. I had never read Lisa Kleypas before and i did a dangerous thing then i opened it up to a random page and started reading. lol This is dangerous because if the book is any good i get reading and don't put it down for a hour or more. I read a little then decided that yes i wanted to read this book so I went to page one and started again. One quarter of the way thru i couldn't decide if i like it or not. Then i had to lay the book down for 2 days and read something else that i HAD to get read first. I got back to it two days later and in short order was hooked. I read it straight thru to the end by the next afternoon. Somewhere in there i realized this was part of a series and not the first book of that series so i went looking online for more info. Sure enough it's third of 3 books so far. If you know me i don't like reading out of order so i stopped at my local library to see if i would be lucky enough to find the first two books. Sure enough i was and i spent this past weekend reading those and feeling the same way about them as i did the third book. Unsure, liking then loving by the end. These books have quite a bit of drama and romance and tackle important topics like spouse abuse. I like how the characters are strong, the men and the women. Ms. Kleypas portrays them as tough but at same time vulnerable. Each ones has their own issues to work thru. I really enjoyed the 3 books in this series but i am hoping there is a 4th for the last Travis sibling Joe. I give the 3 books in the series together 3 and 1/2 Modokker Book Pick stars. To read more about the series. Read excerpts and find out more about the author Lisa Kleypas just click here .
There are 3 books in this contemporary series by the way and come in this order Sugar Daddy, Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Book Review: The Spy who Loved Her by author Melissa Schroeder

This would be the first book by Melissa Schroeder I've read. Melissa was kind enough to send me a advanced copy of The Spy who Loved Her for my honest review. The Spy who Loved Her is the third book in the Once Upon a Accident series . I didn't know this when i started reading and if you know me it's not often i read out of order when it's a series. I will say i believe the book will make more sense if you read the previous two book before this one. Things are eluded to in this book to show you the way but still there are no doubt many details missing for the whole picture to take effect. Below is a short blurb for The Spy who Loved Her.

To keep her safe, he will not only have to risk his life, but also his heart.

Once Upon an Accident, Book 3

Lady Anna was once considered the catch of the season. Now, three years after she fell for a man who tried to murder her cousin, she eases her guilt with charity work at an orphanage. Until her mother insists she do her duty.

Attending her cousin’s ball is irritating enough. It’s her one dance with Daniel, the unscrupulous Earl of Bridgerton, that rubs her nerves raw. And oddly leaves her senses on the edge of arousal.

The ton sees Daniel as a scoundrel. In truth, like centuries of Bridgertons before him, he leads a vast network of spies, protecting England from her worst enemies. His resolve never to marry means the one woman he’s always wanted—Lady Anna—is off limits. Especially now that his father’s murderer is coming after him as well.

At first, Anna wonders if Daniel was put on this earth just to annoy her. It’s only when she finds him injured that his mask begins to fall away—and so do the barriers between them. But their flaring passion puts her right where Daniel didn’t want her. Next on a killer’s list.


The Spy who Loved Her is a historical. I loved all the character immediately.I like when that happens although sometimes you just have to warm up to someone right? lol  Anna was in a previous book involved in a scandal and did not think herself worthy of love and family for herself. She blamed herself for everything that happened and was hell bent on punishing herself for it. Now you have Daniel. He was best friends with Anna's brother and grew up around Anna and thought of her as a friend. That all changed with her coming out and she changed from a girl into a woman. Since then he's wanted her. Little did he know the feeling was mutual. There is alot of misunderstanding and suspense in this book. Daniel you see is a spy and someone who killed his father years ago appears to now be after him as well. His interest in Anna puts her in harms way as well now. Can he figure out who the bad guy is before it's to late?  Here's what i like. Love the historical setting, the characters are strong and i like the mix of suspense and romance. Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genre's along with historicals so it's a great mix for me. What i didn't like as much as the story needed more filling. This was a short story at 162 pages so that's understandable but I'd LOVE to see it more fleshed out with more details. I just wanted more. I plan to read the first two in this series and see what else else is available out there by Ms. Schroeder. The Spy who Loved Her is available i know from Samhain.com as well as Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. To find out more about Melissa Schroeder and this and her other books please click here. You can also find a excerpt there. I give The spy who Saved Her 4 Modokker Book Pick Stars.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Book review: Live Wire by author Lora Leigh

Huge Lora Leigh fan over here. OK being a big fan of a author for me just ratchets up the tension wondering if your going to like their next book. If you have a so so feeling or it's a new author it's not so bad. You don't like it not a big deal right? Being a big fan you build up some expectations. The more i get to like a author the bigger that expectation gets. OK I'll be honest I'd probably forgive them anyway even if i didn't like it. OK now that that's out of the way let's talk about Lora Leigh's latest Elite Ops series book Live Wire!!! To read this book i think you have to have read a few of the previous books or it won't make as much sense. There are lots of past characters in this book as well. Love when authors bring back past characters. In the Elite ops series you see them in alot of the books anyway but in Live Wire you see more and you see the couples from previous books. A+ for that alone. Let's get to a back page blurb first kay?

A HERO AMONG MEN


Meet Captain Jordan Malone. For years he has been a silent warrior and guardian, operating independent of government protocol or oversight, leading his loyal team of Elite Ops to fight terror at all costs. A legend in the field, Jordan’s true identity has remained a mystery to even his own men…until now.


A MAGNET FOR ONE WOMAN

Tehya Talamosi, codename: Enigma, is a force to be reckoned with. A woman this striking spells nothing but trouble for Jordan. Armed with killer secrets—and body to die for—she’ll bring Jordan to his knees as they both take on the most deadly mission they have ever faced. Because this time, it’s personal…

So for those of you who follow this series we finally get to Jordan's book. I don't know about you but I've been waiting and waiting for Jordan to finally get his just desserts. lol You get to meet Tehya in the book Wild Card Nathan Malone,Jordan's nephews book. Her father was a evil man and Tehya has spent most of her life running from him or his associates. The time for Jordan's Elite Ops team has come to end and so everyone goes their separate ways. Tehya doesn't know what she's going to do Elite Ops has been her life for 8 years ever since they saved her from being alone after she is finally freed from her father. Tehya finds what she thinks might be a place to belong but after a while she feels like she's being watched. She also feels forgotten because no one not even Jordan tried to contact her in the months after leaving Elite Ops headquarters. Jordan finds out someone knows who she is and where she is and he goes to check on her and that's when the fight to live a normal life starts for Teyha. Question is when the smoke clears will Jordan be there or not. That is if she survives. Lots of action and hot sex in this book. You see Jordan be such a hard ass in all the previous book it's fun to see him squirm in this one finally. Poor Tehya goes thru the emotional ringer. The only problem i had was a few places where some of the sentences didn't make sense and some grammatical errors but you always seem to get some of those in every book and i can usually over look them. Check out Live Wire and read the first chapter and check out the other books in this series by going to Lora Leigh's website by clicking here. I'm giving Live Wire by Lora Leigh 4 and 1/2 Modokker Book Pick stars.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Coffee Table Press: March Madness Giveaway!!

Coffee Table Press: March Madness Giveaway!!: "Happy Birthday to me! What does this mean? It means I am giving away some great prizes in celebration of my birthday! I will be giving away ..."

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Book review: Playing with a Wood Nymph by author Abby Wood

I've read a few of Abby Wood's short stories ebooks. This one is a short 83 pages. Amazingly enough pages to get a good story in. Abby asked me to read this erotica fantasy and give my honest opinion so here we go. Below first is a short little blurb about the book.

Using her magic, Melanie of the Dryad family weaved a spell around the man who wandered into her forest. Wanting to play her wood nymph games, she was devastated when the man turned her down.


Unable to understand why he dreamed of a naked woman in the woods during a photo shoot, Jared found an even bigger surprise after developing the pictures he’d taken at the waterfall. Who was the nude beauty sunbathing behind the rocks? Why did he feel like he knew her?

Ok where to begin. As i was reading this i was not sure what i thought. It was kind of interesting and different from what I've read of erotica. This has a fairy tale kind of feel and not in the traditional sense so be warned.  OK Melanie is a wood nymph that lives deep in the woods. She can make herself invisible and make you forget you've seen her at all. Wood nymphs are all about pleasure. Pleasuring themselves and each other. Jared is a nature photographer who works for a magazine. Melanie sees him standing my her favorite waterfall and wants to play with him and i don't mean jump rope. She does all her little tricks to seduce him and he's interested but he feels like he's be taking advantage of her so he walks away. Melanie is heart broken but finds out Jared might have walked away because he's her true mate and if he is he'll be back! He does come back and she has to convince him she is actually a wood nymph and not someone messing with his head. He gets a bit possessive when he meets Arian and decides he needs to take her home with him. It's kind of fun to watch Melanie try to act like a regular human having to wear clothes and learning things from TV.  It's kind of goes down hill though towards the end when one of Jared's so called friends finds a picture he took that shows Melanie in the woods and her secret appears to be out. She thinks Jared betrays her and makes herself disappear and leaves him. Will it work out? You have to read the book to find out. Really for me this was a interesting erotica. I liked the story and it had some a good story to go with all the hot sex scenes. Often erotica is just sex sex sex. Need some story to go with it and this one delivers on that score. I give it 4 Modokker Book Pick stars.

Read a excerpt for this book and find out more about Abby Wood and all her books at her website by clicking here.  Please remember this excerpt is for adults 18 and older. Links are provided on her website to find out where to purchase this ebook.