Both the sex and the paranormal concept worked very well in this book. Too bad the story itself didn't work in any way, shape or form. Julie is a coll...moreBoth the sex and the paranormal concept worked very well in this book. Too bad the story itself didn't work in any way, shape or form. Julie is a college science professor but she seems incapable of handling herself in a lab. She's stymied by Italian - which is fine - except that it has the same alphabet as English. She can't figure out how to type on a qwerty keyboard when the language is set to Italian. The hero did his undergrad work at UC Berkley but he types a letter to her parents in Italian, saying that the computer will translate it? (This turns out to be somewhat of a ruse.) But the book starts with Julie being one of a handful of survivors of a plane crash. And she comes away without a scratch. The man-to-leopard idea was the only thing in the book that didn't stretch my incredulity.(less)
I met Lynn at RT2005 and bought her book because I liked her. It turns out she can also write. The devil is in the details and LaFleur takes as much t...moreI met Lynn at RT2005 and bought her book because I liked her. It turns out she can also write. The devil is in the details and LaFleur takes as much time with the details of the story as she does with the sex. It helped me understand the difference between erotica and romantica, which is what Ellora's Cave prefers to use as the term. Although sex-heavy, there is an emotional component in each of these 4 stories that wasn't forced. Quick, perhaps, but it was easy to see the connection wasn't only sexual. The first story is the best, where the husband decides to make his wife's fantasy of a threesome come true. The love between husband and wife was tangible. Even the sci-fi story was cute. I didn't expect to enjoy a story involving a 15 inch sexless alien but it turned out quite likable. (less)
This was a fluffy and enjoyable piece of erotica. The 2nd book in a series (I did not read the first) involves Byron and Violet now that they are marr...moreThis was a fluffy and enjoyable piece of erotica. The 2nd book in a series (I did not read the first) involves Byron and Violet now that they are married. He is a nearly 400 year old vampire and used to manage all the assets for the vampire clan. But he wanted Violet more than he wanted his job. The funniest part of the book was that vampires are supposed to be secret and yet everyone who meets Byron knows what he is and is totally cool with it. Except Byron who must have felt like he was wearing a neon sign. A one-sitting read, it was a nice way to pass the evening. (less)
In full disclosure, I have met this author and like her very much. This was her first published book. Christian Fiction is not a genre that I normally...moreIn full disclosure, I have met this author and like her very much. This was her first published book. Christian Fiction is not a genre that I normally read. That said, I want to talk about the things that make Checketts an author to watch. She puts together a first chapter that grabs you. Her characters are very likable. They aren't perfect but their flaws are human ones and make it easy to relate to them. Her writing style is appealing. She writes a page turner. At the same time, I have a hard time believing that the FBI spends a lot of time talking about God and praying. I resent the idea that only Christians have valid religious beliefs. I have no problem with someone not wanting to marry outside of their religion - marriage is hard enough - but when the main characters were talking about religion, he certainly wasn't saying he was Jewish, Muslim or Hindu. He just wasn't her flavor of Christian. I also would have fired the main character and had him arrested for sharing sensitive information - he was FBI - and he shared information with a civilian. That's practically treason. But this was her first book. I have no doubt she has tightened up her prose.(less)
If this book isn't nominated for a Newbery award, the committee has lost its mind. This Cinderella story is so accessible that it will appeal to peopl...moreIf this book isn't nominated for a Newbery award, the committee has lost its mind. This Cinderella story is so accessible that it will appeal to people young and old, male and female. Poppy, one of the sisters from Princess of the Midnight Ball is in Breton to start mending relations between Breton and Westphalia. Prince Christian of the Danelaw is in Breton for the same reason. They hit it off despite Poppy's refusal to dance. Meanwhile, the former Lady Eleanor who has lost everything and is now merely the incompetent housemaid, Ellen, has been approached by a fairy godmother. Unfortunately, there is always a catch. If the mysterious Ella doesn't get a proposal out of Prince Christian, the consequences won't be pretty. Thankfully, magical interference is not unknown to Poppy. She has an ally in Roger Thwaite who recognized Eleanor even through her disguise. Between Roger's potions and Poppy's knitted bracelets, they may be able to stop a very ancient wrong from perpetuating. Easily George's best work to date. (less)
The author has stated how thrilled she is to have ended this series but not because she was bored, but because the happily ever after finally happens....moreThe author has stated how thrilled she is to have ended this series but not because she was bored, but because the happily ever after finally happens. Creel is at the heart of this book, but not entirely. While she saves the day, the story is really about Shardas and his Queen. I loved that the dragons are a matriarchal society and that royalty is through the female line. George wraps things up nicely and who doesn't like a happy ending? Creel is a wonderful character, full of grit and heart and a strong sense of purpose. Definitely a role model. (less)
Really enjoyed this story. A retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses, the story is lush with description. The characters were very likeable and it was...moreReally enjoyed this story. A retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses, the story is lush with description. The characters were very likeable and it was easy to root for Galen and Rose was a very fitting match. It would have been interesting to see the "under" world a little more closely and to understand better the motivations which drove them. But no one will be disappointed in this story. There are even knitting patterns! Made me wish I knitted. (less)
Although this didn't hit 5 stars, George is still on my must-read/must-buy list. This book was fantastic. It lacked a bit of the suspense that made th...moreAlthough this didn't hit 5 stars, George is still on my must-read/must-buy list. This book was fantastic. It lacked a bit of the suspense that made the first book so compelling but it was fun and had a great ending. Creel is a fabulous role model. (less)
George is an award winning author. The committees just haven't found her yet. But they will. This kind of talent is rare. This interpretation of the f...moreGeorge is an award winning author. The committees just haven't found her yet. But they will. This kind of talent is rare. This interpretation of the fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon is lovely and empowering and just plain entertaining. Her main character may lack a formal name, but that doesn't stop her from running her own life. George's theme of female empowerment makes for very strong, fully realized characters and an equally impressive plot. Are there more stars?(less)
This book was beyond fantastic. It was such a novel take on damsels in distress and dragons and princes. Creel is supposed to be the damsel in distres...moreThis book was beyond fantastic. It was such a novel take on damsels in distress and dragons and princes. Creel is supposed to be the damsel in distress but she doesn't have time to be bothered. She's got things to do and she goes ahead and does them. But she's also extremely likable and brights. She's pretty but she's not planning on making it on her looks. She's a fine embroiderer and has every intention on making her living as a dressmaker. Though she expects nothing to do with the royal family, she ends up tripping over them every time she turns around. It isn't just Creel that makes the book special but also the dragons. They are nothing like the dragons we expect. They are far more. They have personality and we care about them. I can't wait for the sequel. George is amazingly talented. (less)
This is a very clever story with tremendous and successful worldbuilding. Although designed for the YA and younger set, there are a bunch of sneaky on...moreThis is a very clever story with tremendous and successful worldbuilding. Although designed for the YA and younger set, there are a bunch of sneaky one-offs that you would only get if you were an adult and were clearly written by the author to amuse himself. He gets points for that. What keeps this book from a higher rating is simply that it is not compelling from an action standpoint. There was a lot at stake here - life and death stake - but it took forever to get there and I kept getting bored. The worldbuilding is first class. But the action needs to be less descriptive and more prescriptive. The characters are well drawn and he sets up the next book beautifully without it being a true cliff-hanger. (less)
Tan should be commended for selecting stories that are definitely non-traditional. Vampire doesn't have to mean Dracula. In this set of stories, vampi...moreTan should be commended for selecting stories that are definitely non-traditional. Vampire doesn't have to mean Dracula. In this set of stories, vampire didn't even have to mean living off of blood. One story had the "vampire" living off of human dreams and nightmares. But by and large, I didn't find the 11 stories particularly erotic. A few were, but most of the stories weren't developed enough. The standouts were Desmodus by Byrn Haniver about a vampire bat researcher and Initiation in Club Sanguis about a woman dying to understand her new roommate's profession. I think I was just expecting something different.(less)
I only read the first the first Percy Jackson book which I thought was entertaining but not wonderful. This book shows how much the author has grown....moreI only read the first the first Percy Jackson book which I thought was entertaining but not wonderful. This book shows how much the author has grown. Like Sherrilyn Kenyon did for her adult Dark-Hunter series, Riordan added the Roman pantheon to his Greek pantheon, because although the gods are technically the same, they are not. Jason arrives at Camp Half-Blood knowing nothing about himself but he speaks Latin, has a lovely gold sword and Chiron's comment was that Jason should be dead. Not an auspicious beginning. But there's a prophecy and Piper and Leo, also newly arrived demi-gods, are clearly involved. If they can rescue Hera, all will be well, maybe. If they can't, it's a sure bet that nothing will be well. Riordan created likeable characters and a interesting plot that should play out well over the series.(less)
When you're trained to be a superspy, sometimes it's difficult to play yourself. But that's the situation Cammie Morgan finds herself in. She's follow...moreWhen you're trained to be a superspy, sometimes it's difficult to play yourself. But that's the situation Cammie Morgan finds herself in. She's following in her mother's footsteps at Gallagher Academy, can speak 15 languages, can kill you with a piece of uncooked spaghetti and has no idea what it means to live a normal life. But when a practice covert operations puts a cute teenage boy in path her brain scrambles like eggs on high heat. Suddenly she knows what to do with all those secret passages she's found in the mansion. There was a little too much time given to the almost-romance and a little less given to the development of a trio forced into a quartet when Cammie and her two best friends find themselves with a new roomate, a very wealthy, senator's daughter. That was more interesting than the Josh/Cammie romance. However, overall this was amusingly clever.(less)
When Carter McCrea's girlfriend dumps him after 3 years, he turns to Lea Saunders, his best friend. He isn't using her on the rebound, he didn't even...moreWhen Carter McCrea's girlfriend dumps him after 3 years, he turns to Lea Saunders, his best friend. He isn't using her on the rebound, he didn't even realize he wanted her. But Lea has been mooning over Carter for more than a year. He had been off limits, now he isn't. There's less character and story development than I'd like, feeling more like a novella than a novel. The sex is well written. If your fetish taste is sex in nearly public places, this is the book for you.(less)
This is book 6 of a series and I wish I had started from book 1 simply so that I could understand the scene. This is historical romantica/erotica. Gre...moreThis is book 6 of a series and I wish I had started from book 1 simply so that I could understand the scene. This is historical romantica/erotica. Gregory Anderson is the son of a famous British naturalist and a Polynesian woman. He doesn't look English or think English. Sexually comfortable with both men and women, he is introduced to Nat and Alecia Digby and falls head over heels in lust, a lust that quickly turns to love as he gets to know them in and out of bed. The sex is hot. I would have prefered a longer story, but I felt the emotional connection to the characters. I spoke with the author at RT (where I won the book) about books where the menage is not expected to be permanent and others, like this one, where it is. A happy ending was had by all.(less)
Cassel Sharpe comes from a family of Curseworkers, people who can make things happen to you simply by touching you with their fingers. He isn't a work...moreCassel Sharpe comes from a family of Curseworkers, people who can make things happen to you simply by touching you with their fingers. He isn't a worker but he prides himself on being a con artist. Curseworking is illegal and since you can't recognize a curseworker, everyone wears gloves. Did I mention that this is our world? With a few simple sentences and some historical twists, Black created a very realistic alternate reality. As the book begins, Cassel finds himself on the roof of his very pricey prep school with no memory of how he got there. Things go from bad to worse because if the school thinks he's been worked or if he is a worker, he won't be allowed to stay. School is so much saner than his own home. Cassel hides his own secret, though, the murder of his best friend Lila, three years ago. He should have known that being the child of Curseworkers, nothing would be exactly what it seems. Jesse Eisenberg, who reads the story, made me feel Cassel's emotions, his fears, his needs. The near-cliffhanger ending makes me very eager for the next book. (less)
This is an adorable book for children and adults that remind all of us of the simple pleasures of living and the easist way to achieve them. For the a...moreThis is an adorable book for children and adults that remind all of us of the simple pleasures of living and the easist way to achieve them. For the author, adopting Rudy was the single biggest transition point of her life and though the lessons that she learned don't necessarily require a dog, it probably increased the fun and joy. The author, who self published this book, recently contracted with Chronicle Books for the sequels. Her art, full of primary colors, conveys the simplicity of the messages. She and Rudy star in all the artwork. I resisted buying this book for some time because I'm not a dog-love but that's because I hadn't read it. She's passing along part of the proceeds to the organization that put Rudy into her life's path.(less)
I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Mattie is a 14 year old girl with a 4 year old brother who is convinced he's a dog. Which wou...moreI was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Mattie is a 14 year old girl with a 4 year old brother who is convinced he's a dog. Which wouldn't matter so much if he didn't want to be in Mattie's company all the time. Her best friend thinks he's adorable. But when she starts dating her best friend's brother, Livvy no longer thinks anyone is adorable. It isn't until there is a crisis that the friendship lines are redrawn, in permanent ink. Mattie's voice felt her age. Her resentment of the family's treatment of her vs her brother was heartfelt as was the mind-numbing confusion of her first crush. But she also had clear loyalties and that made her atypical and ultimately, someone I'd want as a friend.(less)
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