To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

I decided that since I liked What Would Jane Austen Do? that I would try another historical romance. Based on several mentions that I saw on the internet, I picked To Beguile a Beast. Bad choice. I hope this book is not representative of historical romance.

Where to begin? I just couldn't get with the plot. The heroine was the mistress of a Duke, Ms. Fitzwilliam, that decided to run away with her (and the Duke's) children because he didn't pay attention to her anymore. Not because he beat her or was blackmailing her or anything. He kept her in a house and gave her expensive gifts, he just didn't have sex with her anymore. I didn't buy it. She went to the castle of a codgerly man who lived alone and had let his castle go to rot after he was disfigured in an unfortunate accident; his face was scarred, he'd lost an eye and 2 fingers. She showed up on his doorstep to be his housekeeper at the recommendation of a mutual friend. He told her to go away and she wouldn't; she took charge and hired new staff!

Of course, the Duke came looking for his children to steal away and force her back to her life with him, and Mr. Munroe helped her rescue the children and free her from the Duke's clutches.

I just didn't buy it. The running away, knowing society would not acknowledge her because she was a mistress; her taking over Mr. Munroe's castle and falling in love with a horribly scarred and grumpy man - not believable to me.

Whew, crisis averted!

I had to go out of the office for work today, and while I was out I decided to stop by my neighborhood B&N to grab Prey, out today. I reserved it quite some time ago and have been anxiously awaiting it.

Prey is the 4th book in Rachel Vincent's Shifter series. Faythe is a were-cat who has been having a hard time accepting her responsibilities to her pride and throughout the series I've enjoyed watching her grow and learn about herself and her family (and Marc - see my fictional boyfriend list at right). I loved the first three and can't wait to see what happens next.

So, I stroll in and ask at the desk if my copy is in. No, it's not in and they don't have me down as reserving a copy. It came out today and they haven't unloaded their trucks yet. Damn! Well, her site said many places have put her book out early (maybe because she's not as famous? Dunno.) so I go into the back to check the SciFi/Paranormal section. Nothing. I'm really disappointed and am thinking about trying another B&N and as I'm walking down the Romance aisle - THERE IT IS!!!!! It was already on the shelf, in Romance??!! Whatev. I've got it!!!!!

Don't call me tonight.

Can't Wait for Prey

Prey by Rachel Vincent comes out tomorrow...I can't wait!!! I'm re-reading the series now. I've decided to give it to J to let him read it. He liked the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. He said he thought the characters were pretty realistic and he liked it much better than Twilight.

The book I've had on my side-bar as "currently reading" I haven't even cracked open yet. Bad, bad me. But I will, soon. It's just that I'm re-acquainting myself with Ms. Vincent's amazing world of were-cats. Prey is getting terrific reviews, so I KNOW it's going to be good! One more day....

The Anna Strong Series by Jeanne C. Stein

As I mentioned before, I found this series because there was a shapeshifter mentioned in the Bitten By Books shapeshifter poll, Daniel Frey. He's not really a major character, but he does play a part in the 2nd through 4th books.

I enjoyed this series, but found myself easily frustrated while reading it. Anna is a new vampire, created by accident. My frustration lies in the fact that she does not accept the guidance offered to her by other vampires. The police chief is a vampire who is trying to help her and she pushes him away at every turn. For some reason, she keeps trying to find her own answers but I feel like she's looking in the wrong places (She keeps going to shapeshifters for answers. Why wouldn't she ask vampires?!) The books mix a lot of human bad guys (her boyfriend, Max, is an undercover DEA agent and she deals with all that is associated with that) with supernatural bad buys (vampires and witches and werewolves, oh my!) and Anna certainly has her hands full trying to juggle them all. The 2nd book, Blood Drive, was my favorite; Anna discoveres she has a niece, who has gotten unwillingly mixed in with a child porn ring. The 3rd book, The Watcher, involves a homicidal stalker-type and a witch. Max discoveres that she's a vampire. The 4th book, Legacy, involves a murder and werewolves. Max is not speaking to Anna, and she discoveres him with another female vampire. I'm really pulling for her relationship with Max, although it doesn't look good. Her relationship with her partner (they're bounty hunters) is also very hot/cold. Not sure where that's going either.

So, I enjoyed the series, but will not be keeping the books. I will read the next installment in the series.

Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge

I read a lot of reviews of this book, all but one were glowing reviews. I've got to be honest, it was okay. Not great, not bad. Just okay. I'll read the next book coming out in December and see how I feel about it then.

This book was about a detective, Pete (female), who's friend, Jack, had died in a magic accident 12 years previously. She went out on a tip about a missing child, and the informant turned out to be Jack - not dead as she thought. He's a junkie, but his information is correct and she finds the child. Two more girls go missing and she needs him to find them. She gets him clean and they delve into the ugly magic underworld of London to solve this mystery.

As I said, it was okay. I liked the interaction between the characters, so I can't really say what the problem is. It could be that I just came off a great historical book and my brain is having a problem with the change. Maybe the second book will change my mind - it's happened before!

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown

Wow. I LOVED this book! I bought it with my birthday $$ (thanks J!) and had it in my TBR pile. I just kept putting it off, picking other books to read. It just wasn't "calling" me. I mean, I wanted to read it - I bought it. But I couldn't make myself pick it up. I should know by now those are the ones that I end up loving....

WWJAD? is about a woman named Emmaline who was visiting England (was supposed to be her wedding but he broke it off and she decided to go anyway) and staying at a quaint hotel that she had stayed in two years previously. There is a Regency Fair and she is a costume designer who brought some of her dresses to show. Her reservation gets lost and she ends up in the "haunted room"...it has ghosts. She doesn't believe in ghosts and just wants a room so she can get some sleep before she has to work the fair in the morning. A pair of ghosts (sisters) wake her and tell her they need her to go back in time to the early 1800's to right a wrong and stop her brother from challenging a duel to defend their honor; apparently they were involved with a "rake". Emmaline thinks she is dreaming and agrees so they'll leave her alone and she can go back to sleep. She wakes up in the past! They think she is the cousin they were expecting from America and welcome her.

There are adventures, espionage, romance....the characters are fun and her interaction with Mr. Shermont....oh, Mr. Shermont! I loved them together! I'll definately be keeping this one to re-read in the future!

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

Okay, I hate the title and cover. This is one of those books I wish they made "fake covers" for. You know, so it would look like you're studying mathematical theorems or poetry or something more worldly.

That being said, I liked it. It's the story of Emma, a half vampire/half Valkyre who is in Paris on a search for information about her father, whom she never knew. Lachlain is a werewolf who's been imprisoned and tortured by vampires for the past 150 years, until he senses Emma and knows she's his mate. He escapes and finds her and attempts to bring her to his ancestral home. She, of course, is terrified of this big brute, and he is repulsed that his mate turns out to be a vampire.

The story moves along quite nicely and I enjoy the interaction between them. Her aunts are an intersting lot of ladies and the ending is good. Oh, and Emma and her aunts live in New Orleans, which I see as an added bonus (love stories set in New Orleans, as long as everyone is not continually stumbling across a parade).

The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein

I saw this book when a character was mentioned on the Bitten By Books shapeshifter poll. I've only read the first book in the series, so I haven't come upon a shapeshifter yet.

I enjoyed this book. The plot was good - Anna is a bounty hunter who gets attacked by a vampire while trying to catch a bail jumper. Her doctor at the hospital immediately recognizes what happened and helps her. Then her house burns down and her bounty hunter partner disappears. The plot moves along quickly during her search for her missing partner and the clues point all over the place. There's a bit of sex, but it's pretty non-descriptive -you know it happened but not the particulars.

Am I going to keep this book? I haven't decided yet, but I am going to read the next book, Blood Drive, soon.

The Guardians of Eternity Series by Alexandra Ivy

I'm not sure how I stumbled across this series. The first book, Touched by Darkness, is the story of Dante, a vampire, and Abby, a human. The phoenix is encased in a human and supposed to keep the ultimate evil away from the earch and Dante is bound to protect the phoenix. The phoenix is killed and Abby is in the wrong place at the right time and the phoenix is transferred to her body. Of course all the demons want to kill her while she is "fresh" and Dante must protect her. I enjoyed the story of their fight against evil and their evolving relationship.

The second book, Embrace the Darkness, is the story of Viper, a vampire friend of Dante's, and Shay, a demon of some sort whose blood is intoxicating to vampires. I'm not even halfway through yet, but let me tell you why I'm enjoying this book - he's got a lair, and she's granted him a boon. Awesome!

The Hathaway Series by Lisa Kleypas

I saw a post somewhere about Lisa Kleypas' Hathaway series, read an excerpt, and thought "Why not?" Why not, indeed. This is the first romance I've read that doesn't involve time travel, vampires, werewolves, or faeries (although I think Mine Till Midnight had a ghost involved at one point). Not what I expected, but they were entertaining to read. I liked Mine Till Midnight better, but Seduce Me at Sunrise was also good. They both had a bit of a mystery intertwined with the usual romantic tension and "stubborn male/female who refuses to acquiesce to his wishes" storyline.

Mine Till Midnight featured Amelia, one of four sisters, out searching for her drunk brother. While searching, she meets Cam, a handsome gypsy living in society. They meet again after Amelia moves to the country to (hopefully) cure her brother's wicked ways. A mystery ensues and reluctant romance blooms between Amelia and Cam. It is a sweet story with a good ending. I enjoyed the characters, her sisters were fun and the secondary stories woven into the novel were good.

Seduce Me At Sunrise is the story of Amelia's sister, Win. Win is sickly due to a bout of Scarlett Fever a few years before the story, and is in love with a close family friend, Kev. Kev is also a gypsy and, although he has loved Win since they were children, he doesn't think he is worthy of her love. Some of the scenes wherein he tries to discourage suitors for her are pretty funny! Win goes off to France for a cure, and comes back healthy and wanting Kev, who pushes her away. This book has a mystery involving the doctor who cured Win, and the strange tattoo that both Cam and Kev each have. The end was sweet.

I enjoyed both books, particularly the interaction between the hero and heroine in each story. The side stories were good to keep the books moving along. I think the next story will be about the brother, Leo - I'll read it!