The Crossroads Cafe

This was a freebie via kindle, and after sitting in my to be read pile for quite some time I decided to give it a shot. Now, I do not have a kindle but I do have an iphone 4 with a kindle app, which means that while reading a downloaded book isn't impossible or unpleasant, it is not my favorite way to go about consuming words of another. So, it took me a while to read this as I usually only read on my phone when I have a few minutes in between showings, or when I'm waiting for my daughter to get out of school.

This book is written in 2 first persons - Thomas and Catherine. Tom is a architect who lost is wife and son on 9/11 and has since become an alcoholic hillbilly residing in the mountains of NC. Catherine is a famous movie star known pretty much only for her beauty. Catherine has a car accident where she actually catches on fire in amidst those flames she loses her career, her beauty, her husband, and her sanity. Catherine retreats to her grandmothers cottage in the mountains of NC upon the insistance of her cousin Delta (who runs the Crossroad Cafe).

I loved the wholesomness of this book. Wholesome so often comes off as boring and slow, and while there were some parts that were slow moving, the overall book was not. There were no quick answers, magical cures, and love conquers all type of situation. It was real life, real pain, real progress and setbacks. At the end of the book you know everyones going to be okay though you also know that youre not leaving them in some magical fairyland place. I like realism every now and then and this gave me that along with a HEA - not always an easy thing to accomplish but Debroah Smith did just that.

WARNING: be prepared to crave biscuits! Biscuits are the over all theme of this book. Yes, biscuits. Thankfully Ms Smith includes biscuit recipes at the end of this book to help with your cravings. I have not tried to make them yet as Im quite sure they would have about 40 WW points in one and bathing suit season is right around the corner, but one day I will. 

From Booklist Review: Cathy is on top of the world--beautiful, rich, a top movie star about to launch a new career as a cosmetics queen--when an unscrupulous photographer in search of a story causes her car to crash and burn, destroying her perfect body as well as her career and sending her scurrying for a place to hide her scars. Thomas, on the other hand, is still mourning the deaths of his wife and young son in the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center and is slowly drinking himself to death while sleeping in the bed of his truck in an isolated hamlet in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. Together, however, they find they are stronger and better people, and they begin to take an active interest in the mountain community that has taken them both into their hearts, and into their kitchens. Once again, Smith has created an unforgettably poignant story in the best tradition of contemporary southern romantic women's fiction.

The Darkest Kiss

Theres just something about books like this, The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, The Highlander series, and other similar books that I just love. I know Ive mentioned before that I love a scarred hero - both physically and emotionally, and this book had them both, all wrapped up in a nice non vampire (always a plus but not necessarily a needed) yet demon package. Other than one anthology a few years ago this is actually the first Gena Showalter book I have ever read. How on earth could that have happened?!" you may exclaim, well quite honestly, the novella I read by Showalter wasnt anything that I'd write home about so I didnt bother to pursue her any further. This book however makes me change my thinking about her. In it contains good guys who are in essence bad guys, a rather awesome heroine who isnt too hardcore to be vulnerable, sex, tension, sexual tension, all set within a paranormal realm of existence. Definitely an "everyone wins" type of thing in my book.

Anya, goddess of anarchy is smitten with Lucien - warrior with the demon of death trapped inside of him. After a few adventures, lots of lust, ancient curses, Medusa like creatures, and eventually true love, this story gets the thumbs up from me.

I swung by Borders today and picked up the first one in the series The Darkest Night - going to start that tonight while Im DJing. How will I read and DJ at the same time? After about 11:30pm on a Wednesday night in south central PA, things tend to die down rather drastically. So all i need to do is put in a CD and let it play. It will still be a loooong night regardless, but Im hoping that The Lords Of the Underworld will be able to help dull the pain of staying out until 2am on a weekday when I know I have to be up at 6:45am the following morning in order to make it to the bus stop on time.

Amazon's Product Description:

She has tempted many men… but never found her equal. Until now.
 
Though she has lived for centuries, Anya, goddess of anarchy, has never known pleasure. Until Lucien, the incarnation of death—a warrior eternally doomed to take souls to the hereafter. He draws her like no other. And Anya will risk anything to have him.
 
But when the merciless Lord of the Underworld is ordered by the gods to claim Anya herself, their uncontrollable attraction becomes an anguished pursuit. Now they must defeat the unconquerable forces that control them, before their thirst for one another demands a sacrifice of love beyond imagining.…

Sunshine

Robin McKinley's Sunshine is a story about a girl, a vampire, life on earth after the Voodoo Wars, and a bunch of other things that I'm still confused about. No, confused isn't the right word, a bunch of other things that I'm still left wondering about - pondering if you will. The book is broken up into 4 parts opposed to individual chapters. The first part for me was like one giant run on sentence. After I got used to the 1st person story telling (let me just add that I usually have no problem at all with 1st person, but this one took a bit getting used to), it took me until the end of the 2nd section to realize that severe lack of dialogue amongst the characters was in fact intentional and would continue throughout the rest of the book. By the third section I found that I could skip paragraphs and still know what was going on - and while it shames me to admit it, since I detest skimming, I did in fact skip a bit. The whole book is basically one huge adjective.  The author goes into colorful depth of everything from the scenery, to the magic used, to Sunshine's clothing, state of mind, fear, anger, confusion...etc.  I know a book, a good book, is suppose to transport you to the place, time, and amongst the characters, but this one was so drastic in description. Not a bad thing, merely how I perceived it.

Sunshine is abducted by vampires and as a result of this her entire world changes - as it should I would think. She is forced to use the magic her grandmother showed her how to briefly use when she was a child, magic that she had ignored for 15 years. In the process of escaping she also rescues a vampire who was also being held captive - Constantine. The entire rest of the store keeps you locked in Sunshine's unsure, fearful, and confusing head. I liked the fact that from beginning to end she is who she is. She does not get a dose of super human ninja courage just because she realizes the power she has, but nor does she really seem to obtain any real form of self confidence. Theres also an underlying sexual tension between Sunshine and Constantine that is never resolved, never goes away, and is never expounded upon. Sunshine also has a boyfriend, Mel, who remains a mystery as to what he is, why hes a part of Sunshine's life, and to what extent they care for one another. She never leaves Mel, despite Constantine, but then again she doesn't really do anything with Con either.

The ending of the story left me trying to talk myself into getting the sequel. When i finally decided that I could in fact read the second book I was shocked to find that there is no second book nor will there be! The ending is left very open. Seeing as how this book does not provide answers of any kind to any question, the ending actually works. This is not a typical story. The whole thing flows on the same wave length throughout with a climax near the end during the "big battle" but then it straightens itself out and and continues on again until it simply ends.

I liked it. Despite the questions, and the openendedness, the extreme lack of dialogue, and the extreme amount of description to the point of overkill, I liked this book. Still cant figure out why I did...Kudos to McKinley for writing a book that makes you think. Even if the thought you're having is "what the heck did I just read?"

From Booklist via Amazon:
Rae Seddon, nicknamed Sunshine, lives a quiet life working at her stepfather's bakery. One night, she goes out to the lake for some peace and quiet. Big mistake. She is set upon by vampires, who take her to an old mansion. They chain her to the wall and leave her with another vampire, who is also chained. But the vampire, Constantine, doesn't try to eat her. Instead, he implores her to tell him stories to keep them both sane. Realizing she will have to save herself, Sunshine calls on the long-forgotten powers her grandmother began to cultivate in her when she was a child. She transforms her pocketknife into a key and unchains herself--and Constantine. Surprised, he agrees to flee with her when she offers to protect him from the sun with magic. They escape back to town, but Constantine knows his enemies won't be far behind, which means that he and Sunshine will have to face them together. A luminous, entrancing novel with an enthralling pair of characters at its heart. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Time Weaver

First allow me to apologize for the size of the above picture. I could not for the life of me find a larger picture online, and my phone is dead (a very rare occurrence) so I cant take a picture and upload it right now.

Time Weaver by Kate Donovan is an early 90's time travel romance (for some reason all time travels tend to be labeled as paranormal romance, and while I will admit that there is a paranormal factor to time travel, that in and of itself is not, in my head, a reason to label it as such).  It also appears that this is the second and last book of Donovans time travel series revolving around Native Americans some 300 odd years ago. Timeless is the first book.

Ok so here's my quick thoughts of this book: I liked it. I love time travel books, you throw in a cheesy cover and some large men with dark hair and broad chests, and I am a happy lady (you should meet my husband - I'm a very happy lady). 

Our neighbors just came in (its Friday night and we're having pizza. let the kids play together, wear one another out, early bed times...you know how it goes) so I'm going to just post the product review and call it a day.

Time Weaver overview from Kate Donovans website: Native American attorney Alex BlackKnife is a man with a mission: to find Shannon Cleary, last seen crossing the border into sacred Indian territory.  Instead, he meets Cassie Stone, an artist with her own ideas about her famous cousin's disappearance.  But her journey to the ancient burial ground takes Cassie farther than she expected---300 years back in time!  And she drags tall, dark and good-looking Alex along for the ride . . .

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever

This was another of my very common found at a thrift store books. Saw the cover, recognized the author (Julia Quinn), it was .47 cents, so I grabbed it. Oh I know I sound so negative so often about so many of these books, but I just didn't care for this. I wanted too - I always want to love what i read - I finished it, but it was a challenge. So our heroine in this story - Miranda - falls in love with her best friends older brother when she is a little girl. He gets married, his wife cheats on him multiple times, eventually dies, and he is back on the market so to speak - though he claims he will never marry again. There was no real romance to this book. This was the story of a young girl throwing herself at the man she has wanted for years and he taking advantage of that, eventually knocking her up, having to hunt her down after she runs away, marrying her against her will, and then at the very end realizing he loves her too. *gag*  And if that wasn't a run-on sentence I don't know what is! 

Sorry Julia - this book rather sucked. Please don't judge all of Ms Quinn's based on this one book - read The Viscount Who Loved Me .

Amazon Product Description:

2 March 1810 . . .
Today, I fell in love.
At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Miranda learned to accept the expectations society held for her—until the afternoon when Nigel Bevelstoke, the handsome and dashing Viscount Turner, solemnly kissed her hand and promised her that one day she would grow into herself, that one day she would be as beautiful as she already was smart. And even at ten, Miranda knew she would love him forever.
But the years that followed were as cruel to Turner as they were kind to Miranda. She is as intriguing as the viscount boldly predicted on that memorable day—while he is a lonely, bitter man, crushed by a devastating loss. But Miranda has never forgotten the truth she set down on paper all those years earlier—and she will not allow the love that is her destiny to slip lightly through her fingers . . .

Once A Rake

So think Phantom of the Opera but with an HEA and masked scarred hero who really turns out to be gorgeous. Yeah, I was hooked until that last part too. Actually though, I did enjoy this book. This was a Kindle special that I had remembered someone suggesting one time when I was looking for scarred and broken men (what can I say I like my men emotionally tormented and not beautiful).

Lord Ashby is a war hero/duke/best friend of Will who happened to be the older brother of Isabel aka: the heroine. (I cant help it, but whenever i write the word "heroine" I feel naughty). Lord Ashby is 13 years older the Isable and they have known each other since she was a little girl. In fact, Isabel kisses him when she is but 15 and he 28.  So of course theres alot of miscommuncation between the H & h (if there wasnt then there would be no plot), but in the end it all works out.

I did enjoy this story despite the frustration of Ashby and Isables mind games - I can say that they were not nearly as bad as some, but still there none the less. I also loved that Ashby was a masked recluse in the beginning of the story. I wish he wouldve stayed that way instead of unveiling and stepping back out into society only to be viewed as even more handsome and manly as ever.

A definite heart warming and sensual story.

Devon says: read it.

Amazons Product Description:

War had scarred the Earl of Ashby's face...and perhaps his soul. Before being wounded in the Napoleonic war and shunning society, the dashing lord had been a notorious rake. Now, Isabel Aubrey, a proper lady, dares to approach the masked, reclusive nobleman for a large donation to a worthy charity - and decides she must save him from his self-loathing. She begins to flirt. He responds. She invites him to a masquerade ball. He accepts and dazzles her with a kiss.But Isabel already has a fiance and despite her attraction to the earl she knows she must reject him. Yet no force on earth is greater than the passion that leads her into his bed; nothing she has ever experienced is more exciting and erotic. Now he asks her to stay with him although it will mean her ruin. Isabel must not say yes - and the smitten earl cannot let her say no. To win her body and her heart, he initiates an outrageous scheme that only a rake would devise - and no woman can resist.

This Side of the Grave

I started reading Jeanine Frost's Night Huntress series a couple of years ago. The series features Bones - an English rake of a vampire, and Cat, a half vampire half human vampire hunter. Phew, that was a mouthful. I absolutely loved the first 3 books in this series, the 4th wasn't as great, but still good, and her spin off series Night Huntress World is also def worth the read. Typical PNR's with HEAs.

When This Side of the Grave came out I was excited. I only have a handful of series I actively follow and this has been one of them. It took me forever to find it though - after stopping at Borders & Target, I finally went to Wal-mart (i do my best to avoid that store whenever I can) and got it there.

Unfortunately, not only did I give money to my nemesis, I also wasted 5$ on a mediocre urban fantasy. I started reading this series because of the love story between Bones and Cat. It was great. Wonderfully done sex scenes (most of them very spicy), passion, even my ultimate weakness: a rather powerful separation and reunion (I'm such a sucker for a reunion - think Jamie and Claire in Voyager....I have read and reread that book so many times...the entire Outlander series for that matter....but my declarations of my undieing devotion to Jamie and Claire is for another entry). Sorry - got a bit sidetracked there...  Anyways, so this book has def crossed from PNR to UF and with the change, robbed me of my romance.  I could barely finish it. After the first 2 chapters I just wanted to put it down.

If you like UF then you will probably enjoy this book - Jeanine Frost is a very talented writer and like I said, up until this book I have been a huge advocate of all of her work.  This just missed the mark for me. I will buy the next in her Night Huntress World series but I will not be buying any more of this particular series. I'll just wait til the library has it.

Amazon Product Description: Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance...

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing.  A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"--the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. ...to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.