Yearly Reading Challenges

This blog contains my book reviews for my yearly reading challenges. See all my reviews at http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1478411.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer

The CorinthianThe Corinthian by Georgette Heyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011- This has been on my TBR list for several years. I was able to find it on audio narrated by the great Eve Matheson.


The Corinthian reminds me of Cotillion in tone (not in plot). It's a delightful book, especially in audio. Eve Matheson does a wonderful job with all the characters. I made time to iron, fold clothes, and even clean bathrooms over the past few days in order to get extra time to finish listening to this audiobook.


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Hero Under Cover

Hero Under CoverHero Under Cover by Suzanne Brockmann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


TBR Challenge 2011- Hero Under Cover has been on my TBR pile since May 2010.



3.5* While Hero Under Cover had a few plot holes, and one or two "duh!" moments, it was a better than average "light" romantic suspense read. The main characters were sympathetic and the chemistry was believable. One "duh!" item was when Annie thought Pete didn't want her and he gave no explanation. Since Pete was undercover as a bodyguard, the only explanation he needed was that it's unethical for a bodyguard to sleep with the person he's guarding. I don't understand why that never occurred to Pete (or the author).


What I did like was the relationship between Annie and Pete. If the reader buys into the over-the-top attraction (which you have to in most romance novels, it seems), the interactions between the leads are believable. Pete's feelings of being trapped in a no-win situation, and Annie's feelings of betrayal are real. I was moved by Pete's sense of loss and his desire for forgiveness.


Brockmann creates believable emotions from the very first page with Annie's anger and frustration at being held up at the airport by the FBI. Recommended for fans of light romantic suspense and Suzanne Brockmann.


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Monday, March 28, 2011

Shadow Dance

Shadow DanceShadow Dance by Susan Andersen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TBR Reading Challenge 2011

Not a bad effort early effort by Andersen. Her writing is good, but she adds extraneous details that, while not badly written, don't forward the plot. I couldn't quite put my finger on why it doesn't work, because I've read descriptive books that I've enjoyed immensely. But the details here were mostly unnecessarily wordy back story.

The main characters were great, and the mystery was decent. Overall a good book.



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Monday, March 21, 2011

Shadow Games by Feehan

Shadow Game (GhostWalkers, #1)Shadow Game by Christine Feehan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Speaking of Audiobooks Challenge category: Tempt yourself to find a series that grabs hold and won’t let go by listening to the first in a series.

3.5* rounded up to 4* for goodreads (and because of the awesome narration by Tom Stechschulte).

Shadow Games has a great premise. The government is funding a top secret program to enhance psychic ability. But something has gone terribly wrong and the subjects of the program are now being kept like prisoners in a lock-down facility. Murder, treason, and betrayal are all part of the mix as the men, led by Ryland Miller, try to find ways to protect each other and expose the traitor(s). Lily is the genius, and psychic, daughter of the original researcher. She ends up helping the men and falling in love with Ryland.

As an action/suspense story Shadow Games works very well. Feehan's writing is taut and she keeps the tension high. The romance was intense, and very emotional. My main complaint is that it took over much of the story. One love scene took almost an entire chapter and I found myself wishing the story would switch back to the mystery and suspense. I think if I were reading the book it might not have struck me quite so strongly because I would have skimmed the love scenes and gotten back to the suspense plot. Don't get me wrong, I liked both leads and loved their story, but I'd have preferred shorter sex scenes. Tom Stechschulte's deep voice and sexy intensity may have enhanced the impact of the love scenes, as well.

Overall I recommend the book and already have the second book on audio to listen to soon.

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts

Hidden RichesHidden Riches by Nora Roberts

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011 - I'm using the TBR Challenge to make myself clear out some books that have been on my to-read shelf for a long while. Hidden Riches has been on my list since January 2010.

Dora's quick wit makes this book. Nora Roberts does a great job writing her, and writing the interactions between Dora and Jed. Jed is a complex character, but even though he acts like a jerk on several occasions, he isn't an unlikable person. In fact, his struggles are some of the most realistic I've seen in romance novels. I'm glad Jed admits his feelings for Dora, at least to himself, before the crisis at the end. That added believability to the HEA.

The plot has suspense but it's not a mystery. The readers know all along what's going on, and the suspense comes from how it's all going to play out. The suspense was a success for me. I enjoyed how the details were unraveled for the readers. Dora's emotions and reactions after scary events seemed believable. In newer novels the norm is a superwoman who is fearless and often reckless. Dora was no doormat, but she had realistic reactions to being in danger.

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Morning Comes Softly

Morning Comes Softly (Harper Monogram)Morning Comes Softly by Debbie Macomber

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011 - I'm putting this book in the TBR Challenge list because I've been looking for the title for the past year! I read part of this book at the library one day while waiting for my children, but didn't remember the name, so I couldn't go back and finish it. At the time I remember thinking I wasn't that interested in the book, but for some reason the story stuck in my mind.


After finally reading a description of the book on an Amazon.com forum, I located the book and finished reading it. It was an entertaining book and I'm glad I finally got closure on the story. The book is a "closed door" romance, in case anyone is interested. There is foreplay and talk, but the actual love scenes are not written. This is the first Macomber book I've read and I thought her writing was fine, but not outstanding. The book is a type of romance that seems common: small-town, hard-working people, heartwarming and emotional story with trials to overcome. The heroine was a little too perfect (spotless housekeeper, skilled cook, expert seamstress, wise with children, etc.), and it felt a little "made-for-TV" movie-ish, but overall I did enjoy it. I thought the secondary romance was good, as well.

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Icebreaker by Deirdre Martin

Icebreaker (New  York Blades, #9)Icebreaker by Deirdre Martin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


3.5*



Overall I enjoyed the book, but I thought the plotting lacked focus. There were many small stories going on but no real over-arching plot to give the book cohesiveness. The two main characters, Sinead and Adam were interesting characters and theirs was an enjoyable romance. I was surprised the author didn't make the law-suit a major player in the book. It's difficult to discuss it without spoilers, but it seems the situation with Adam's friend Ray could have gone against him if the suit had gone to court. It surprised me Sinead didn't see it as a potential negative in their defense case.



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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Miss Pettigew Lives for a Day

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day AudiobookMiss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Audiobook by Winifred Watson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


SOA Listening Challenge 2011: Pick an audiobook that received a DIK grade at AAR in print format. TBR Challenge 2011

I rarely give 5 star ratings, but I can't really think of a complaint about this book. The writing is clever and witty, and the narration is truly masterful. Since the plot works as a series of vignettes, it is an easy book to put down at the end of a chapter, and that can be both good and bad, I suppoes. But toward the end I really didn't want to put it down. I needed to know how Miss Pettigrew's amazing day was going to end. It was wonderful!

I've seen the movie and enjoyed it very much, but the book (as is often the case) is even better!

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Glad this one's done!

The Best Is Yet to Come / Maternity Bride The Best Is Yet to Come / Maternity Bride by Diana Palmer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


2* for The Best is Yet to Come by Palmer. Palmer's writing is always too flowery and over-emotional for me. this book was no exception. It was also not at all unique in premise or execution.



2.5* for Maternity Bride by Maureen Child. Not a bad story, but the heroine's stubbornness about accepting the heroes words of love as truth went on way too long. The writing was okay, but there really wasn't much of a plot outside of "I love you." "No you don't, you're just saying that because of the baby!"


TBR Challenge 2011 for books that have been on my TBR list for a long while, plus Maureen Child is a new-to-me author.


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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Deadly Fear

Deadly Fear (Deadly, #1)Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A very well done romantic suspense novel. The pacing was perfect, with enough "down time" scenes to let this reader's heart-rate return to normal. This was not a comfortable book for me because the killer was sick and the descriptions sometimes a little too detailed. Getting a "killer's eye view" is not my favorite thing to read, but Eden did a great job with it. I was surprised at the end and that was satisfying.



The main characters were well drawn, and the push-away/pull-closer see-saw didn't go on too long. I hate reading 3/4 a book where the leads fall into bed then one pushes the other away. The sex scenes were too much alike, with little variety in the way the leads interacted. Ihey weren't bad, in fact they were intense, but I'd have liked a softer scene between them at least once.



Eden writes very well and her plot was exciting, so I'll definitely read more.



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