Red and Scarlett by Jordan Summers

Red is set in the year 2160, 150 years after the last world war. This war apparently decimated almost everything, leaving the earth pretty barren and desolate. It also left the Others, genetically-enhanced humans who were created as "super soldiers" (from what I can tell, vampires and shapeshifters). After the war the government was not able to dispose of them all and they live in secret. This future society is very Big-Brotherish, with videocoms and traffic control cameras and people having to be registered to live in "pureblood" society.

Our heroine, Gina, has been having weird dreams where she wakes up with blood on her clothes but doesn't remember going out. Gina is an international police-type who comes upon a murder scene that her department writes off as an animal attack but she knows it's not. She takes a few days off to travel to a border town to investigate. She ends up asking the Sheriff, Morgan, for help questioning the citizens of the town and an attraction builds, which they both fight. Another woman's body is found, and Gina doesn't know it but a 3rd body has been found. Morgan knows something about Gina she doesn't know about herself, and he is having a hard time controlling his increasing lust for her. As they investigate the murders, they realize there's more going on than meets the eye.

Scarlett starts out with Morgan and Gina together, working on her powers, and it's not going well. He tells her to be patient but she's frustrated because she can't control them. Then, Morgan sees an add on television for a clone woman and child - his wife and child who died many years ago. He's got to leave Gina in town to go find this clone lab and destroy the samples - he doesn't want his wife cloned to be used as a whore. While Morgan is gone, weird things are going on in town. Gina is being framed for murders and the townspeople are accusing her of cheating on Morgan. The only people who are standing by her side are a few members of her new tactical team and a vampire. Meanwhile, Morgan is not having any luck obtaining the clone samples and is realizing there are some weird things going on at the company.

I have to say, truthfully, I was not thrilled with these books. In the first book I found Gina to be an inconsistent character - tough as nails but she cries in Morgan's arms when she has a nightmare? I found myself having to read sentences twice and scratching my head, and the foreshadowing felt forced. I enjoyed Scarlet more, the characters were rounded out a bit better, and the story flowed well. I will say that I'm not a big fan of future stories, so that could be part of my problem. I wish I would have checked them out at the library instead of buying them.

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

I think this is probably only the 2nd Contemporary I've read that didn't involve some sort of paranormal-ness to it. I must say I really liked it!

Payton Kendal and J.D. Jameson are 8th year lawyers at the same firm, both are up for Partner in a month. Payton and J.D. have had a mutual distaste for each other almost from day one of working with the firm. Then, they're assigned to partner together to pull in a huge new client. They decide they can try to get over their animosity and work together because they found out that this year the firm is trying to curb claims of ageism and will only pick one new partner instead of two. J.D. thinks they will pick Payton because she's a woman, and Payton thinks they'll pick J.D. because of the "good ol' boy" cronyism. Ms. James did a good job of showing the two of them learning about each other in bits and pieces. I also enjoyed their interaction with the secondary characters.

This book had me laughing so hard tears were coming out of my eyes. The relationship between these two was fascinating to read - and when they found out why they had hated each other all those years - wow! I enjoyed the whole book - there were no slow, boring spots - and rooted so hard for these two. And the end, while a bit far-fetched, was great!

In the Highlander's Bed by Cathy Maxwell

I first came across Cathy Maxwell's work in Four Dukes and a Devil, and I liked her story, so when I stumbled across In the Highlander's Bed, I said to myself, "why not?" I'm definitely going to check out more of her stuff!

In the Highlander's Bed starts out with Gordon Lachlan, traveling to Madame Lavaliere's Academy for Young Women with the intent of kidnapping Miss Constance Cameron. His plan is to trade her back to her brother-in-law for the Sword of MacKenna, a sword believed to give the holder power to lead his army to victory. Gordon is a rebel, fighting the English advancement into Scotland, avenging his father's death.

Little does Gordon know, Constance is planning to run away that very night. She is unhappy in England and wants to go back home to America. She plans to sneak away and ride to a ship that's sailing for America, but Gordon catches her and takes her back to his rebel camp.

It's a long, hard ride, and Constance rides with Gordon. She is upset that she finds herself attracted to the Scotsman, and tries that much harder to escape. She knows if she is ransomed back to her brother-in-law her sister will continue trying to marry her off to a nobleman - all she wants is to go home to America.

When the reach the camp, Constance sees it is in disrepair. No one is working together and it's a disaster. After trying to escape, she talks to Gordon and comes to understand his motives and decides she wants to join his cause. She rallies the women and improves the camp, and falls in love with Gordon in the process. He falls in love with her too, and the elephant in the room is what they're going to do when it comes time to trade her for the sword. When the time for the trade came, I was holding my breath!

This was a very enjoyable book. It is actually the third or fourth book in a series, Constance's sisters had the previous books I believe. I liked Constance and Gordon and wanted them to be happy. As each obstacle presented itself, I read on, hoping they would overcome it. I liked the ending and will definitely check out the rest of the series.

Crux by Moira Rogers

I honestly cannot remember how I came across Moira Rogers' website, but I'm so glad I did. I really liked this book!

Mackenzie is on the run from a crazy ex-boyfriend. The problem is, no matter where she goes, he keeps finding her and trying to bring her back. He's really crazy - he keeps telling her she's a cougar and is going to be the mother of his cubs; what a weirdo!

She ends up running to New Orleans and working in a bar there, where unbeknownst to her the owner and several patrons are shapeshifters. The bar owner, Nicole (Nick), asks a friend, Jackson, to follow Mackenzie home from work to see if she's okay. Nick suspects Mackenzie is a shapeshifter but can't confirm it, and is worried she's hiding from someone/something. Mackenzie detects Jackson tailing her, and when he sees the hellhole she's living in he brings her back to stay at the empty apartment over the bar. The next morning, as Mackenzie is getting ready to skip town again, Jackson tries to stop her but they are attacked by a werewolf and a magician. Jackson is able to fight them off (he's not what he appears to be) and brings Mackenzie back to his place where they talk about magic and shapeshifters and whether or not Mackenzie might be a shapeshifter. She's 23 and has never shifted, which is very strange if she is a shapeshifter.

Someone ransacks Jackson's house, and once they figure out who is really after Mackenzie they take off to see Jackson's magic mentor; they need more information to keep her safe. Mackenzie ends up captive and the bad guy is pretty formidable (and crazy).

As I mentioned above, I really enjoyed this book. Jackson and Mackenzie's quest to find the truth and escape the ex was action packed right up to the end. The romantic relationship was believable and I enjoyed their interactions together. The secondary characters were good, although towards the end there were a lot of names to keep up with.

I'm ready to read book 2 - Crossroads, although I don't see a release date yet. Crux is available by e-book at Samhain and will be coming out in print in January 2010. I think I may give her Red Rock Pass books a try as well.

The Three Sisters Trilogy by Nora Roberts

Since I've started reading romance, I've avoided reading Nora Roberts. After reading these books, I don't know why I waited so long!

In the 1690's, there were three sisters, witches, who left Salem to find a new life away from the Witch Trials. They created an island off the East Coast, where each sister faced a personal demon, and each sister failed. Their descendents were forced to relive their failures for 10 generations, at which point the final descendents would either overcome them together or the island would be destroyed.

The first book in the Trilogy, Dance Upon the Air, features Nell Channing. Nell's real name is Helen, and she is running from an abusive husband. She faked her death in California and eventually made her way to Three Sisters Island in New England. Once she's on the Island, it "feels right" and she's decided to try to make a new home for herself here. She gets a job in a bookstore/cafe and rents a cottage almost immediately, almost as if it was meant to be, as if the Island called her there. Her new boss/landlord, Mia, is known around the island as being a witch, and Mia senses something special about Nell . Nell meets a few of the islanders, including the Sheriff, Zack Todd. Zack takes an immediate interest in Nell and thinks she's not giving out the whole story. Eventually Zack and Mia figure out Nell has a painful past that she's not ready to share. Zack begins pursuing Nell in a romantic way, understanding that he will have to take it slowly. As Nell settles into Island life she warms to Zack as well. But, her past is coming to catch up with her - will she be strong enough to fight it? Will she accept help from her new friends and take a chance with Zack?

The second book, Heaven and Earth, centers around Zach's sister, Ripley Todd. Ripley is the town Deputy; she works with her brother the Sheriff. Ripley has magic but refuses to use it after an incident 10 years ago that has left her angry and in denial. When MacAllister Booke shows up, investigating the events surrounding the end of the first book, Ripley is immediately on the defense. Mac is a paranormal investigator, and is attracted to Ripley. Ripley wants nothing to do with his "hoo-doo research", but when they get together sparks fly. She wants to be with him but is unsure, and covers her confusion by lashing out. When a reporter shows up on the island, things are not right. When her family is threatened, Ripley knows what she must do - defend them. But there's more than one way to save someone. Will Ripley do the right thing or doom herself to repeat her ancestor's mistakes? I must say that at first Ripley got on my nerves, but as the story went on I found myself rooting for Ripley and Mac.

The final book, Face the Fire, is Mia's story. Mia has lived on the island her whole life. As a teenager, she and Sam Logan. 11 years ago, Sam left the island and broke her heart; she never got over it. Now he's back, and Mia must decide if she can open her heart and forgive him or continue to make the mistakes her ancestor made. I've gotta be honest, this was my least favorite of the three books. I liked Mia in the first two books, but found her irritating in this one. When the evil that is trying to fulfill the curse attacks her friends and family Mia gets upset when they don't tell her, but she doesn't tell them when it attacks her! They all know she is the last to face the challenge, and that she will need the strength of the three, but still she fights any offers of help. This book I felt kind of dragged towards the finish. The finish was good but came so fast you almost missed it.

All told, the trilogy was good. I liked the paranormal aspect as well as the small-town vibe and watching the Helen and Riley fall in love. The secondary characters were good supports to the main characters, and the evil that carried through the three books was persistent.

Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare

Since she was a child, Fall has always meant Lucy's brother Henry and his friends, Felix, Toby, and Jeremy. Now Lucy is 19, Henry and Felix are married, and Toby is almost engaged. But Lucy wants Toby to marry her, not Ms. Hathaway. She plans to seduce him, but is not experienced, and she needs to practice....on Jeremy. She thinks he is so aloof and stoic that if she can get a reaction from him than surely it will work on Toby.

Poor Jeremy is aghast when he learns of Lucy's plans and tells Henry and Toby that Lucy is upset about Toby's relationship with Ms. Hathaway, but not that she plans to seduce him. They decide Jeremy should "distract" Lucy from Toby by lightly pursuing her. Poor Jeremy can't believe his ears!

Jeremy and Lucy end up spending a lot of time together, and they end up attracted to each other. Things take a turn when a letter is discovered in Lucy's handwriting that could damage her reputation. Jeremy does the honorable thing and agrees to marry Lucy. Then the misunderstandings begin. We learn about Jeremy's past and watch as he and Lucy make a real mess of things. Watching them learn about each other and themselves is tender and sweet.

I really liked this book. My emotions went on a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Lucy was a very entertaining heroine and Jeremy was perfect as a brooding hero. The end left me satisfied and hinted at the plotline for the second book, Surrender of a Siren.

Cover Alert - Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

AAAAHHHHHH! You know what a Vampire Academy Fangirl I am! What a wonderful thing to wake up to on Monday Morning! This cover is great - But is which guy is that? I'm not going to put my guess here (no spoilers!) but there are two people I think it could be. Awesome cover!!!

Spirit Bound is out May 18, 2010 and is the 5th book in the series.

Big Bad Wolf by Christine Warren

This book was an impulse buy. I saw the cover and read the blurb and threw it in the basket. I haven't read anything else by Christine Warren (that I'm aware of). This was kind of a short book, but there was a lot going on:

Missy is a quiet, unassuming Kindergarden teacher. She's at an engagement party for her best friend (who's a vampire), when she literally runs into Graham, werewolf alpha. Missy is trying to avoid her friends, who are trying to set her up on a date, and Graham is entranced by Missy. Missy can't figure out why, as she's interacted with him a few times before and he never noticed her then. Now, however, Graham wants her.

She agrees to go to his house, as she's had a crush on him for some time and it's a good way to esscape her friends. Once there, hot sex ensues. Graham decides she's his mate, and attempts to convince Missy of the same. Missy's not having any of it - sure,the sex is great, but mates? She doesn't think so. She agrees to give him the weekend so they can get to know each other.

Meanwhile, Graham is having problems with one of the members of his pack who's trying to take over. He's a weaker member, so he's being sneaky. He's approached the elders and said since Graham doesn't have a mate he shouldn't be alpha; he doesn't know Graham's found Missy. But, Missy hasn't agreed to be his mate and a challenge is issued in a round-about way.

I liked this book. Graham and Missy were good together. Missy wasn't some overconfident tough chick, as a matter of fact, part of Graham's problem was Missy's lack of self-confidence. Even though it's not in my summary, there was quite a bit of suspense and action to this story; and the passion was high.

There was one element in this story a lot of readers might take exception to. I chose to look at it as a fictional story - if it happened in real life I wouldn't be so nonchalant about this incident. It was definitely in keeping with Graham's Alpha character, and affected parts of the rest of the story.

All in all, it was a fun, quick read and I'll probably look up some of Ms. Warren's other works and check them out.

Guest post by Hannah from Taunt who reviews Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

You know how you can pick your friends but not your family? I'm lucky enough to have someone who is both - my sister-in-law, Hannah! She is the Cool Aunt to my kids, the fun SIL that everyone wants to hang out with, AND she is super-good to my brother. Hannah is a bit (a lot) edgier and grittier than me (think Avril Levine vs. the Stapler Guy on Office Space), smart as a whip, and her sense of humor is off the wall. She's also my BFF -Yes, our husbands think we're having an affair!

Hannah recently did a blurb on her blog about some books she read by Ellen Hopkins, and I invited her to guest post here:

Wish
you could turn off
the questions, turn
off the voices,
turn off all sound.

Yearn
to close out
the ugliness, close
out the filthiness,
close out all light.

Long
to cast away
yesterday, cast
away memory,
cast away all jeopardy.

Pray
you could somehow stop
the uncertain, somehow
stop the loathing,
somehow stop the pain.

Act
on your impulse,
swallow the bottle,
cut a little deeper,
put the gun to your chest.

______________________

Vanessa and her blade. Controlling the only thing in her life she can. Her flesh. The warmth of her blood released from its thin casing brings her the only relief, the only comfort she has ever known. I completely understood Vanessa's need to control something. Even if it's her demise.

Todd and his pills. When your childhood is filled with an abusive mother, nonexistent father, viscous juvenile facilities, and the added burden of homosexual phobias, the bottom of a bottle surely looks most appealing. Take one and feel lovely. Take two and feel the bliss of divinity. Take fifteen and ride that wave of joy onto the other side. Surely it can't be worse than this. Can it?

Connor and his gun. Well, to be honest, his father's gun. But his mother pulled the trigger. No matter the ivy league lifestyle, torment and constant failure were plastered to the walls of his home. A film of disease laying atop Ralph Lauren paint. They say this generation is a coddled one, well not in Connor's house. In his house, failure is not an option. I know that breath he exhaled when he pulled the trigger was the cleanest and purest of his entire life.

As the three shuffle through their experiences in a psychiatric institution I fell in love with each of Vanessa, Connor and Todd for all the wrong reasons. Secrets, failures and family, abuse and desire, love and lust, longing for a hug, a smile, a bond. With something. Other than a dope or a blade or a bullet.

I laughed. I cried. I recommend it.

My September Read List

I thought September was a slow reading month, but as I look at my list, I guess it wasn't so bad!

1. Desire Unchained - Larissa Ione
2. Passion Unleashed - Larissa Ione
3. Addicted - Charlotte Featherstone *
4. In the Highlander's Bed - Cathy Maxwell
5. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead * (read twice)
6. Devil of the Highlands - Lynsay Sands
7. Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead * (read twice)
8. Frostbite - Richelle Mead * (read twice)
9. Dark Needs at Night's Edge - Kresley Cole
10. Blood Promise - Richelle Mead * (read twice)
11. Highland Scandal - Julia London
12. Scent of Darkness - Christina Dodd
13. Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
14. Red - Jordan Summers
15. Scarlett - Jordan Summers
16. Highland Obsession - Dawn Halliday
17. Dragon Actually - G.A. Aiken
18. Crux - Moira Rogers
19 - Goddess of the Hunt - Tessa Dare
20. Heart of the Wolf - Terry Spear

Started but haven't finished yet:
Jacob - Jacqueline Frank
Covet - J.R. Ward
Destiny of the Wolf - Terry Spear

Books with an * made it to my keeper shelves.