Category: Rated 4.5 Stars
Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, #5
) by J.R. Ward
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other—six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Now, the cold heart of a cunning predator will be warmed against its will…
Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous son of the Bloodletter possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father’s war camp, he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time - until a destiny he didn’t choose takes him into a future that cannot include her.
Here I am reviewing my 4th J.R. Ward book in a row. It just can’t be helped you must read this series in order and once you start the first you will want to read them all back-to-back. Lover Unbound is the 5th of this Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I have enjoyed every book in this series, so far! J.R. Ward is a very talented writter. But I do have a few issues with Lover Unbound. The first being the character Jane. When she is first introduced she is portrayed as being a strong and very independant, modern woman, totally 100% committed to her work as a surgeon. But she gave it all up, and so quickly. And because of what happened at the end of the book (major plot spoiler if I said anything) she fads into the background even more then past heroines of this series. I also think Jane and V’s story took a back burner to all the other sub-plots in this book. The 6th book is Lover Enshrined. It is Phury’s story. According to J.R. Ward’s website it is due to be released in June 2008.
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The Mephisto Club (Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles Series, #6) by Tess Gerritsen
PECCAVI. The Latin word is scrawled in blood at the scene of a young woman’s brutal murder: I HAVE SINNED. It’s a chilling Christmas greeting for Boston medical examiner Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli, who swiftly link the victim to controversial celebrity psychiatrist Joyce O’Donnell–Jane’s professional nemesis and member of a sinister cabal called the Mephisto Club.
On top of Beacon Hill, the club’s acolytes devote themselves to the analysis of evil: Can it be explained by science? Does it have a physical presence? Do demons walk the earth? Drawing on a wealth of dark historical data and mysterious religious symbolism, the Mephisto scholars aim to prove a startling theory: that Satan himself exists among us.
With the grisly appearance of a corpse on their doorstep, it’s clear that someone–or something–is indeed prowling the city. The members of the club begin to fear the very subject of their study. Could this maniacal killer be one of their own–or have they inadvertently summoned an evil entity from the darkness?
Delving deep into the most baffling and unusual case of their careers, Maura and Jane embark on a terrifying journey to the very heart of evil, where they encounter a malevolent foe more dangerous than any they have ever faced… one whose work is only just beginning.
My Thoughts: Tess Gerritsen’s latest book, The Mephisto Club is book #6 of the Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles Series. I have been following this series from the start and I must say this is the most chilling and the most graphic, so far. The crime scenes are decribed in so much detail, it’s almost like you’re watching the crime scene on television, or you are right there in person. I found Jane to be a little cold, and unfeeling towards Maura in this book, which I didn’t like. The whole investigation into who was doing all the killing keep you glued to the book, but the subplots involving Maura and Father Brophy, and the crazy behavior of Rizzoli’s parents are interesting as well. The best thing that could happen in the 7th installment would be for Father Brophy to betray his vows and give up the church, but we will have to wait and see if Tess heads in that direction or not.
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Black Rose (In The Garden Trilogy, #2) by Nora Roberts
A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night…
At forty-five, Rosalind Harper is a woman whose experiences have made her strong enough to bend without breaking - and weather any storm. A widow with three grown sons, she survived a disastrous second marriage, and built her In the Garden nursery from the ground up. Through the years, In the Garden has become more than just a thriving business - it is a symbol of hope and independence to Roz, and to the two women she shares it with. Newlywed Stella and new mother Hayley are the sisters of her heart, and together, the three of them are the future of In the Garden.
But now that future is under attack, and Roz knows they can’t fight this battle alone. Hired to investigate Roz’s Harper ancestors, Dr. Mitchell Carnegie finds himself just as intrigued with Roz herself. And as they begin to unravel the puzzle of the Harper Bride’s identity, Roz is shocked to find herself falling for the fascinating genealogist. Now it is a desperate race to discover the truth before the unpredictable apparition lashes out at the one woman who can help her rest in peace…
My Review: Black Rose is the 2nd book from the In The Garden Trilogy. I enjoyed it, as much as Blue Dahlia, the 1st in the series. I liked the character depth, and the elements of supernatural behavior that is in the series. I thought the Amelia plot was better in this book then Blue Dahlia, but I found I enjoyed Blue Dahlia more because I
thought Stella and Logan had more chemistry then Roz and Mitch. I’m just itching to read the conclusion to the series, Red Lily.
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Blue Dahlia (In The Garden Trilogy, #1) by Nora Roberts
A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night…
Trying to escape the ghosts of the past, young widow Stella Rothchild, along with her two energetic little boys, has moved back to her roots in southern Tennessee - and into her new life at Harper House and In the Garden nursery. She isn’t intimidated by the house - nor its mistress, local legend Roz Harper. Despite a reputation for being difficult, Roz has been nothing but kind to Stella, offering her a comfortable new place to live and a challenging new job as manager of the flourishing nursery. As Stella settles comfortably into her new life, she finds a nurturing friendship with Roz and with expectant mother Hayley. And she discovers a fierce attraction with ruggedly handsome landscaper Logan Kitridge.
But someone isn’t happy about the budding romance . . . the Harper Bride. As the women dig into the history of Harper House, they discover that grief and rage have kept the Bride’s spirit alive long past her death. And now, she will do anything to destroy the passion that Logan and Stella share…
My Review: I loved Blue Dahlia. It is a great start to this new series! I liked the chemistry between Stella and Logan. The best part of the book was the scenes with the ghost, and her relationship in regards to the other characters. One mintue she is loving and protective, the next she is outright nasty. I love gardening, when I have time to work at it, so it was very easy for me to enjoy this book. If you have never read a Nora Roberts novel, give Blue Dahlia a try. You won’t be disappointed. The next novel in this series is Black Rose, which I’m looking forward to reading.
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Twenty years ago, four teenagers at summer camp walked into the woods at night. Two were found murdered, and the others were never seen again. Four families had their lives changed forever. Now, two decades later, they are about to change again.
For Paul Copeland, the county prosecutor of Essex, New Jersey, grief at the loss of his sister has only recently begun to subside. Cope, as he is known, is now dealing with raising his 6-year old daughter alone after his wife has died of cancer. Balancing family life and a rapidly ascending career as a prosecutor distract him from his past traumas, but only for so long. When a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to Cope, the well-buried secrets of the prosecutor’s family are threatened.
Is this body one of the campers who disappeared with his sister? Could his sister be alive? Cope has to confront so much he left behind that summer 20 years ago: his first love, Lucy, his mother who abandoned the family, and the secrets that his parents might have been hiding even from their own children. Cope must decide what is better left hidden in the dark and what truths can be brought to the light. And can he find absolution
…continue reading to find out what I thought of The Woods by Harlan Coben
Christina Alberti, an expert art historian, has run from the shadows of her past, hiding the truth and building her name as a reputable jewelry specialist at the Barclay Auction House. Everything is perfect — until a legendary and priceless diamond makes her a target for a diabolically charming con man determined to pull off the heist of the century at her expense.
FBI Agent J.T. McIntyre is determined to catch the thief who conned his father and destroyed his family. He wants revenge as much as he wants justice, and he won’t let anyone stand in his way, not even Christina, whose secrets make him wonder just which side she is on.
When the diamond goes missing, the game turns deadly. Christina and J.T. take a dangerous journey deep into a world of greed and desire, secrets and seduction — until there’s no betrayal left hidden and nowhere the shocking truth can hide.
…continue reading to find out what I thought of Played by Barbara Freethy
Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard
Blair Mallory has already survived one murder attempt. Now, while planning her wedding and dealing with holiday-season madness, Blair once again dodges a bullet. Or, more precisely, a Buick. And though the driver’s identity remains a mystery, his or her murderous intentions are all too clear.
Or are they? After all, Blair’s homicidal ex-husband and his partner-in-crime/wife are safely behind bars. And even Wyatt Bloodsworth, Blair’s police detective groom-to-be, isn’t inclined to believe she’s being targeted again. All of which makes Blair wonder if her close call was simply a mishap. But the wondering stops when she narrowly cheats death again in another seemingly innocent accident. Two strikes is all it takes to convince Blair that she’s back in someone’s crosshairs. And the only thing more frightening is that Wyatt still doubts her. That means this time no one will be watching Blair’s back when she sets out to get the drop on her would-be killer - before whoever it is finally drops her.
…continue reading to find out what I thought of Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard
Kiss of Crimson (Midnight Breed Series, #2) by Lara Adrian
Plot Summary: He comes to her more dead than alive, a towering black-clad stranger riddled with bullets and rapidly losing blood. As she struggles to save him, veterinarian Tess Culver is unaware that the man calling himself Dante is no man at all, but one of the Breed, vampire warriors engaged in a desperate battle. In a single erotically charged moment Tess is plunged into his world, a shifting, shadowed place where bands of Rogue vampires stalk the night, cutting a swath of terror.
Haunted by visions of a dark future, Dante lives and fights like there is no tomorrow. Tess is a complication he does not need, but now, with his brethren under attack, he must shield Tess from a growing threat that includes Dante himself. For with one reckless, irresistible kiss, she has become an inextricable part of his underworld realm… and his touch awakens her to hidden gifts, desires, and hungers she never knew she possessed. Bonded by blood, Dante and Tess must work together to thwart deadly enemies, even as they discover a passion that transcends the boundaries of life itself…
My Review: I’m feeling kind of bitchy and sleep deprived today. When I reviewed Kiss of Midnight, the first in this series. I mentioned that it wouldn’t be a good idea to start the book before bed. Perhaps I should have followed my own advice. I finished the book at about 3:30am.
Kiss of Crimson is the second book in Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series and follows on from Kiss of Midnight. The additional new characters Elise and Chase providing an interesting sub-plot. Just like in Kiss of Midnight there was tons of action and romance. It seems any review I read on this series, people are saying how it is similar or is a copy-cat of J.R. Ward’s Brotherhood series. I haven’t read J.R. Ward’s series so I don’t have an opinion on that. But so what if it does? I read anywhere from 130-160 books a year. Probably 75% of them are from a series. Do you know how many series are out there that compare to another?
Book 3 in the series, Midnight Awakening, is about Breed Warrior Tegan. It should be an interesting one, as Tegan is pretty cranky. He’ll be a hard one to tame.
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Dead Right (Stillwater Trilogy, #3) by Brenda Novak
Plot Summary: The people of Stillwater, Mississippi, are asking questions about murder. Again.
Twenty years ago, Madeline Barker’s father disappeared. Despite what everyone else thinks, she’s convinced her stepfamily had nothing to do with it. But the discovery of his car proves he didn’t just drive away. Worse, the police find something in his trunk that says there’s more to this case than murder.
With no other recourse, Madeline decides to hire a private investigator—even if the cops don’t like it. Even if her family doesn’t like it. But when PI Hunter Solozano begins to uncover some shocking evidence, someone in Stillwater is determined to put a stop to Madeline’s search for the truth. And that means putting a stop to her. Permanently.
My Review: Dead Right is the final installment of the Stillwater Trilogy. The 3rd novel was just as good as the others in the series; Dead Silence (book #1) and Dead Giveaway (book #2). What impressed me the most with all 3 books was the depth of the characters. They are characters that you can really feel for. Madeline and the Montgomery’s are a family that have been though so much. You just want everything to work out and for them to all be happy and finally put the past behind them. I only fault I found with Dead Right was the ending. I thought it was rushed. I was also surprised at how quickly Clay trusted Hunter. Considering how protective he was of his family over the years. I do want to warn any readers that are a little more sensitive. This series of books deals with the act of child abuse and molestation. It does have some graphic details in it. Pedophiles disgust me, but I think all 3 books have more love in them than disgust and hate. Overall I was very impressed with the whole series. I enjoyed every page.
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All Night Long by Jayne Ann Krentz
Plot Summary: Shy, studious Irene Stenson and wild, privileged Pamela Webb had been the best of friends for one short high school summer. Their friendship ended the night Pamela dropped Irene off at home - and Irene walked in to discover her parents’ bodies on the kitchen floor. It was ruled a murder-suicide, and Irene fled Dunsley, determined to wipe out every memory attached to her northern California hometown. But now she has been summoned back.
Pamela’s e-mail had been short and cryptic. More alarming, it included the code word they had used as teenagers, suggesting an urgency and secrecy that puzzled Irene. What could be important enough to make her former friend get in touch after all these years? She won’t find out, at least not from Pamela, who lies dead in the luxurious home of her father, a U.S. senator, pill and liquor bottles beside her. The shock has barely subsided before the rumors begin to swirl.
Irene had planned to get out of this place as quickly as possible. But her reporter’s instinct, and her own hunger to know the truth, compel her to extend her stay at the local lodge. Even more compelling is the man who runs the place, a hazel-eyed ex-Marine who’s as used to giving orders as Irene is to ignoring them. Luke Danner can see the terrified young girl hidden beneath Irene Stenson’s black-clad, confident exterior, and he is intent on protecting her. But he is also driven by passions of his own, and together they will risk far more than local gossip to sort out what happened to Pamela Webb, and what really happened on that long-ago summer night.
My Review: I have had a funny relationship with Jayne Ann Krentz’s books over the years. I either love them, or hate them. All Night Long falls under the love them category. It was an excellent read. The plot was very strong. My attention was grabbed on the very first page and kept until the very last chapter. The twists and turns were unpredictable. I found the characters were well developed. There was also some humor added in, which really made this book fun to read.
“The problem,” he said evenly, “is that everyone, including Katy, assumes that the reason I called off the engagement is because I was unable to perform my duties in the bedroom.”Irene stared at him, clearly torn between shock and laughter.
“Oh, dear,” she whispered.
“You think being slapped with a diagnosis of PTSD is hard to overcome? Try getting stuck with the Erectile Dysfunction label.”
The only complaint I have with the book. I thought the romance was a little weak. But, it is a romantic suspense, so I guess that is ok.
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