Show No Fear by Marliss Melton

Show No Fear by Marliss Melton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011 On my TBR list for over 6 months.


Show No Fear is an enjoyable book, and in several places the action is very exciting. Unfortunately, the main characters are 2-dimensional. Neither Gus nor Lucy drew me in, and and there was little chemistry between them. Parts of the plot seemed implausible, like why a UN hostage negotiation being taken into hostile territory would including women, especially knowing how dangerous it would be if the negotiations broke down and the team became more hostages. Even if women were part of the team, the reasons for including Lucy in the assignment were vague, especially since she was newly "recovered" from PTSD. It makes no sense that the first assignment back after being okayed by the psychiatrist would be a situation apt not only to cause a relapse, but to get others killed if it happened.



On top of that, Lucy's is stubborn to the point of being unprofessional several times, ragging on being a "partner" and not following the advice of the more experienced Gus. I dislike when authors have heroines do stupid things just to prove they're "tough." Invariably, the hero takes a few minutes to muse about how he loves her stubborn streak or admire her strength, then he goes all alpha trying to protect her from her own mistakes.


Lastly, while there were some very sweet moments in the relationship, Lucy's conviction that she "loves him but can't be with him" was a flimsy plot device. Melton needed to come up with a better reason for the relationship conflict than "I can't do it because I need to focus on my job."


Marliss Melton is one of my top 5 romantic suspense authors. The majority of her books I've rated 4 stars. Even though this wasn't my favorite, I did enjoy it, and I look forward to the books to come from this author.


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Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro

Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011: General read- this book has been on my TBR list for over 6 months.

SFR Reading Challenge 2011: This finishes my "Earth Level" for the challenge, 5 sci-fi rom books in 2011. The "Moon Level" means reading 15 sci-fi rom book in 2011, and I may try for it.

SOA Listening Challenge 2011- Listen to a new-to-you author.

4.5*

Primary Inversion is a a difficult book to categorize. It definitely has romance, but it's not a typical "romance" novel. There is a "happy for now" with the hope of a "happy ever after," which is important to me as a reader, but there is so much more to this book. I think the main appeal of this book to the romance reader would be the intensely character-driven story. The sci-fi details are intricate and amazing, but the character development trumps even that. Sauscony is an amazing heroine. Her personal journey through this book is heart-rending and satisfying.


This is one of many books set in the Skolian Empire, and I plan on returning there to "visit" in the not-too-distant future.


I listened to the audiobook from audible.com narrated by the always excellent Anna Fields.


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Hot Island Nights by Sarah Mayberry

Hot Island Nights by Sarah Mayberry

TBR Challenge 2011- the is book has been on my TBR list since before 2011.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you read the back cover of this book you'd probably dismiss it as quick, hot romp, and you'd be partly right. It's a quick read, and it's steamy at times, but it isn't a "romp." Sarah Mayberry knows how to use her 200 pages to write well-drawn characters and emotional stories with real depth. Nate is an Australian man suffering from PTSD due to an accident. Elizabeth is a somewhat repressed English woman who has recently learned a startling bit of information about her past. These two end up together for what both thinks is a one-nighter, or at best a short affair. But as each one copes with the past, they find they also have to cope with the present, and hopefully the future. And that means both getting beyond the present pain. Mayberry makes you care about the characters and believe their stories. Nate is the most complex character of the book. He comes to life in this book and brings the rest of the story with him.


This is the third book I've read by Sarah Mayberry, and I plan to work my way through her backlist.


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Shield's Lady by Jayne Ann Krentz

Shield's Lady by Jayne Ann Krentz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SFR Reading Challenge 2011


The Lost Colony trilogy by Jayne Ann Krentz are some of her best work, imo. The writing is strong, the details and characters well-developed, and the romances satisfying. My favorite of the three is the first, Sweet Starfire, but I've enjoyed all three. (The second book is Crystal Flame). the books do not have to be read in order.


I was surprised when reading reviews for this book that so many readers had a problem with Gryph's attitude toward Sariana. Many seemed to feel he was a jerk to her. My reaction to the couple was just the opposite. I was on the verge of getting frustrated with Sariana because she was so manipulative and obtuse. In reality, however, both characters acted in realistic ways given their backgrounds and their understanding of events. This is the story of two cultures clashing as much as anything, and Krentz does an excellent job with these characters. She builds their actions, thoughts and words firmly on the foundation of who they are and where they've come from. Each one has a limited understanding of the others worldview and motivations. Gryph and Sariana both come to understand the other slowly, and as they do they come to appreciate each other. Gryph is apologetic for his high-handedness, and Sariana comes to understand what has motivated him and how she fits into that.


Unfortunate the book falters just a bit at the end, but it's minor, and overall this is an excellent sci-fi/fantasy and an excellent romance.

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Mind Game by Christine Feehan

Mind Game by Christine Feehan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Speaking of Audiobooks Listening Challenge 2011- While not directly fulfilling a SOA Challenge category, Mind Game is the second in the Ghostwalker series by Christine Feehan which I used to fulfill the "Listen to a series that grabs you" category.


In a word (or two or three): Mind Games is full of intensely intense intensity. ;-) Self-conscious and over-written, the book is full of dramatic adjective, verbs and adverbs. Dahlia is specially enhanced, but is in almost constant pain, feeling nausea, having convulsions and migraines, and unable to be around people. Niko was always feeling intense emotions, savagely possessive--a cold warrior whose shell is inexplicably cracked by this unhappy woman.


I love Tom Stechschulte's voice and narration style, but have to admit that for this book his somewhat slow, dramatic delivery, while sexy and mesmerizing in part, only made this book feel more sluggish than it already did.


The last half of the book moved more quickly and the story became more interesting.


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Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan

Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011; General- this book was on my TBR list for almost 6 months then I removed it. I added it back when I was able to buy it at Border's close-out sale.

3.5*
Proof by Seduction was very entertaining in parts, and somewhat tedious in others. I enjoyed the parts of the book dealing with Jenny and Gareth, but found those dealing with Ned to be somewhat boring. In fact, the one thing that really made this book was Gareth. Courtney Milan did an excellent job with his character, from the coldness at first to the way he slowly grows through the book. He is the best "awkward" hero I've encountered.

Since Ned wasn't my favorite character in this book, the second book, Trial by Desire which features him as the male lead, seems less appealing. However, since I own the book, I'll eventually read it.


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Breaking Point by Pamela Clare

Breaking Point by Pamela Clare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011; General- Books that have been on my TBR list since before January 2011. Breaking Point has been on my list since September 2010.


It's been a while since I read the first four I-Teams books, but this installment definitely seemed grittier. That doesn't detract from the book, it was just a difference I noted early on. Pamela Clare does an excellent job with the grit, tension and angst in Breaking Point. As many other reviewers have noted, I was on the edge of my seat and didn't want to put the book down.



One of the several themes in the book was about dealing with survivor guilt. Both Natalie and Zach had traumatic experiences that had left them living half-lives, although Natalie was functioning better on the surface than Zach. This aspect of both characters was particularly well done by Clare. Too many romance novel characters are described as "tortured" but the authors aren't able to build a believable case for the readers. Clare weaves the past trauma into the present story in a way that comes through to the reader are real and believable.



The violence in the story was difficult to read, even more so because it is based on factual events. Knowing there have been dozens of women who have gone through this brutality is deeply troubling. In fact, there's a great deal of good, if troubling, information about US and Mexico, and their relationships past and present in this book. It is obvious Ms. Clare has done her research thoroughly.


For the most part I thought the love story was balanced and believable, with the tension coming from the characters troubled pasts, plus the dangerous situation they are in at present, and not from plot devices like "big misunderstandings.". I have only a few caveats and they are minor. One, the resolution of Zach's guilt with the dream sequence was moving but a little cheesy. Secondly, I thought there was too much sex. ;-) I know it's sacrilege of me to say so, but a couple of the sex scenes made me have to suspend disbelief too much. That's not to say they weren't scorching hot and well written, they were both.


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TBR Challenge- May Category #2

Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011: May category- Marriage of convenience. this book has been on my library to-read list since Sept 2010.


I've enjoyed other Jane Graves' books, especially I Got You, Babe, so I shouldn't have been surprised that I enjoyed Tall Tales, Wedding Veils as much as I did. I think I was surprised because of the plot: two drunk almost-strangers get married in Vegas, decide for some reason they need to stay married a while before calling it quits, find out how difficult it is to have to deceive people you care about, and end up falling for each other against all odds. That should be a tired, boring story, but Graves didn't write a tired boring story, even if the plot is a well-used one. Heather and Tony are likeable, well-developed characters, and if they are little too caught up in their own lives to see other clearly, they are still good people trying to do the right thing. The relationship between the two was funny and poignant, and the dialog was often humorous. Even though I figured, being a romance book and all, there would be a "happily ever after" I was still pulled into the tension and moments of pain of their story. I liked that the characters tried to talk to each other and that even though the break felt real, the desire to communicate and the underlying relationship Heather and Tony had already established showed through.


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Testarossa by Julie Dolcemaschio

Testarossa by Julie Dolcemaschio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011: General- Books that have been on my TBR list since before 2011. This one has been on my amazon.com wish list since June 2010.
4.5*
As I read Testarossa I realized that if done well, the first person POV is an amazingly effective way to immerse your reader in the life and emotions of main character. Julie Dolcemaschio uses the first person POV very well. I heard John's voice as I read the book, actually heard his speaking voice in my head. Each time I picked up the book I stepped into John Testarossa's head and lived there for the duration. I never felt like I didn't know enough about what was going on in other characters heads, because this was how it was suppose to be, this was how we each live, and the writing here was so realistic that I could do that, I could live in Johnny's head and experience his life as he did.



Testarossa is a story of a LA homicide detective. We follow along while Testarossa does his work, day to day. We meet his friends, feel his emotions, experience the horror and the humor. There is one over-arching story in the mix, but the day-to-day work and life of the detective seems to be just as important as the murder mystery. This book is realistic. Nothing was solved in a day or two, and while the detectives worked on one big case, they are continually called out on other cases, which the reader experiences along with the detective. We also he him falling in love. The relationship between Karen and Johnny is so well done. The realism of the relationship might give a few romance readers pause, because this book is less like fiction and more like life, messy.

Testarossa is a complicated man and as the book unfolds we learn of his past and the very large secret he lives with, and how that secret is tearing up the good in his life. At the beginning of each chapter is a short third-person account from Johnny's childhood and young adult life. These short narratives aren't in chronological order, but they help the reader piece together what makes Johnny tick. It is extremely well done, and I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter to get a little more of the back story. John, like his father before him it seems, is a complex mix of honor, violence, weakness, bravery, and fierce loyalty. This isn't a man with a supposed secret, or a hidden sin that turns out not to be what it seems. This is a man who really is tormented about his decisions.


I highly recommend this book, which I believe (hope, pray) is part of a series. The author takes a few pages to find her footing, but by the end of the first chapter John's voice is there and it's mesmerizing. The details of his life, work, love, and the descriptions of the city, the food, and the people come to life. Be forewarned that his book ends without resolution to several things, including John's relationship with Karen, although there is hope. If the next installment where out, I'd be buying it today. This book is like being addicted to a great TV series where you get so invested in the characters you can't wait to get back to them.

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TBR Challenge 2011- May Read: Marriage of Convenience

The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011- May theme: Fake relationships/ marriage of convenience. This book has been on my library list for a year.


Decent plot, but the author doesn't allow the tensions to build enough. One reason is the sex scenes every two or three pages for the last half of the book. After the first few they seem very similar and began to detract from the story instead of enhance it, at least for me. The back stories provide the angst, but there was potential for some real heart-wrenching stuff here and it didn't quite happen.


Readers who enjoy erotica would probably give this book higher marks. I like steamy, but generally don't read books this explicit, or at least this explicit for this much of the book. ;-)



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Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz

Crystal Flame by Jayne Ann Krentz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SFR Reading Challenge 2011- I'll keep this here even though it might be better termed a fantasy set on another planet.


3.5*
Crystal Flame is a companion book to Sweet Starfire, although both are stand-alone reads. They are set int he same universe, but have no characters or events binding them. Sweet Starfire is an excellent sci-fi romance which I highly recommend. Crystal Flame is more fantasy than romance, and while still enjoyable, was a weaker book overall.

The story starts out strong, with main characters who are well-drawn and interesting. The plot set up well done and the book involves a favorite device of mine, the "road trip" with hero and heroine. The book starts to flounder when the two traveling companions reach their destination, and the real "fantasy" part of the plot comes to the fore. The entire history of the "Keys" was vague, and from there the plot gets vague as well. I still don't quite understand the power of the Keys or how it was channeled or controlled, and why, so what should have been the pivotal scene in the book is just sort of "whatever."

At over 400 pages, Crystal Flame could have used some good editing to remove redundancies and tighten the story to about 350 pages.

All that aside, I still enjoyed the story, especially the main characters, and will definitely read the last story set in this universe, Shield's Lady.

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The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Speaking of Audiobooks 2011 Listening Challenge: Listen to another listener’s romance favorite


Listening to The Spymaster's Lady was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The narrator, Kirsten Potter, did the accents to perfection, and breathed life into the dialog. The story itself seemed to be less important than the pleasure of listening to Potter's rich voice. Not to say that the story wasn't excellent. The Spymater's Lady has a good balance of danger, intrigue, action, romance, suspense, and humor. The characters were sympathetic and honorable, even if flawed. The story did drag a bit for me at the very end when the author chose to slow down the pivotal scenes with Anique's musings. I realize this was done on purpose, to give a sense of unreality to the drama, as seen though the emotions of Anique. But even knowing that, I itched for the internal thoughts to cease and to find out how it was all going to be resolved. The only other quibble I had with the book was the slightly over-emotional sex scenes. The narrator handled it beautifully, but if I'd been reading them I probably would have skimmed or skipped them altogether.


I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book quite so much in print, but I enthusiastically recommend the audio.


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Ride the Fire by Jo Davis

Ride the Fire by Jo Davis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011- this book was on my TBR list last year, then removed, then added again when i was able to buy it at a discount.


Mostly enjoyable romantic suspense. there were some "duh!" moments for both hero and heroine, but not too bad. The ending scenes in the graveyard was a little melodrmatic, and Sean's letting-go seemed a little to complete, but it was moving even with the weaknesses. I enjoyed that this was more about the station and the fire-fighters than the previous few books have been. The first int he series is still my favorite.


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