TBR Challenge- August Category: Steamy, sexy book

In Your Wildest Dreams by Toni Blake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011--August Category: Steamy Read. In Your Wildest Dreams has been on my TBR list since June 2010.

Mild on suspense and long on relationship development, In Your Wildest Dreams is a satisfying and sensual novel. Like many steamy reads, suspension of disbelief is a must. The reader has to buy into the almost instant attraction between the leads, even though neither one is looking for any kind of relationship. At least the male lead, Jake, isn't a horn-dog. The female lead, Stephanie, is sexually experienced but somewhat repressed. While trying to infiltrate the high-priced escort service in New Orleans to find her missing sister, Stephanie meets Jake, a former cop now working just enough hours as a bartender to pay his bills. As the book progresses, it's revealed that Jake has given up on having a "life" due to a tragic event a couple of years earlier.

While the sex is the stuff dreams are made of (and reality isn't), there is more to the story than just the frequent, steamy sex scenes. Both Jake and Stephanie are good, if flawed, people, and Blake does a good job making their journey toward each other plausible. Well drawn secondary characters like the homeless girl, Shondra, round out this enjoyable novel.

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TBR Challenge- General

Deeper Than Midnight by Lara Adrian

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TBR Challenge 2011-- general. this book has been on my TBR list since Oct 2010.


While Corinne wasn't a strong character, overall the story was excellent. Dragos is less cardboard and more 3-dimensional, and a much more interesting villain now than in previous books. Hunter becomes more sympathetic as Adrian develops his background and the reader gets to see inside his thoughts. The background stories going on involving the other members of the Order round out the book and make it one of the most interesting reads in the series as far as story complexity. Perhaps the most satisfying storyline involved Sterling Chase, who is sliding toward rogue. As he struggles with his darker nature, Chase becomes a fascinating character, giving the reader opportunity to contemplate such weighty topics as addiction and friendship and honor.


Corinne, unfortunately, remains a flat character. Adrian, who often writes emotionally satisfying "tortured" males, seems less consistent with her female leads. While some of her heroines have been strong and interesting, others have been boring and several downright forgettable. Corinne's suffering during her captivity in Dragos lab fails to capture the reader's sympathy. Part of the problem is Adrian never adequately explains why the women were tortured. The reasons Dragos wanted the breedmates is clear, but their torture made little sense given the rest of the details. While the reader watches Hunter's feelings for Corinne grow, we don't see a corresponding explanation for Corinne's attachment to Hunter. Overall, the romance felt somewhat forced. It was fine, but not what made this book so satisfying. What made it satisfying, and what has me waiting impatiently for the next installment, were the well-written action plot about the vampire factions, the continuing stories of characters from previous books, and Chase's decent into bloodlust.


I can't wait!

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SOA Listening Challenge 2011

Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Speaking of Audiobooks Listening Challenge 2011-- Borrow an audiobook from friend or library.


While I still enjoyed this book the second time around (this time on audio), I found I wasn't as enamored of the lead characters as I was the first time. Lady Emma showed too little backbone and Kenny was emotionally stunted. But I tried to suspend disbelief at some of the antics, and overall I laughed and had a good time with the book. As always, Anna Fields is masterful as the narrator.

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SFR Reading Challenge 2011

Space Junque by L.K. Rigel

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

SFR Reading Challenge 2011


The basic story could have been interesting, but it was poorly executed. The writing was choppy, and the switch from scene to scene very abrupt. The characters and plot line were underdeveloped. Toward the end the plot became confusing and completely unfocused. We go from apocalyptic sci-fi to new-agey goddess worship. The reader isn't given enough background information to understand what's happening, and things happen so fast that the reader is apt to miss something important. There was so little depth to the story that it felt more like an outline than a finished novel. Plus, the sex scenes felt like after-thoughts and were bland.


I have the second of the series, but don't know if I'll read it. I'm giving it two stars instead of one because the original premise and the first part of the book were both interesting. I think the author tried to cram too many plot points into a small space and didn't spend time developing them. The ghosting gene was pretty cool, though, as were some of the other ideas the author had. The goddess thing was unfortunately corny and confusing.


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