More Mad Morelands

His Improper Lady by Candace Camp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How great. We get three new Morelands. Desiree Malone is one of the new Morelands and Tom Quick is out to get her. Funny how it turned out. The closer he got the more he liked then loved. Great story with a mystery that brings on the romance. I did know who done it but no spoilers.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 205 - His Wicked Charm by Candace Camp, A Cowboy's Luck by Vicki Lewis Thompson

His Wicked Charm by Candace Camp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You have to love both Lilah Holcutt and Constantine Moreland. While Lilah tries to follow all the rules Con seem to follow none. After all he is a mad Moreland. Turns out that in spite of all that Lilah tries to do her family is just as mad. This has a big touch of the paranormal (the other books in the series had some but not as much) while following the rules of historical romances. Lilah and Con tell their story with great dialog, with others and between the two. I was surprised by who turned out to be the villain. The afterward was a nice addition. It provided a window into action where we only saw the result. Nice to get the inside scoop. This is an interesting and fun series to follow.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


A Cowboy's Luck by Vicki Lewis Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Roxanne Sawyer and Michael Murphy are side characters in previous books. Now they get their own story. Turns out they have a lot in common but are very different in their approach to things. Michael moves very fact, Roxanne looks a long time before she leaps. However, both have looked for a small town to make their home and have arrived in the same town. I loved the two characters. Michael is so secure and does not mind admitting that he is not a born cowboy; in fact he grew up in Chicago. Roxanne is not that secure. She had a relationship that ended very badly. That is the set up for their romance and boy oh boy does it really heat up fast. A fun tale that sets up the next book in the series. I am really looking forward to that on as it features two more mature people.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 183 - His Sinful Touch by Candace Camp, Interference and Insurgency by Michelle Diener

His Sinful Touch by Candace Camp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A perfect fit for the Mad Morelands. Sabrina shows up at Alexander Moreland's office dressed as a man, does not remember her name or her past, and knows she is running for someone. Of course, Alexander takes her to stay with his family who join with Alex to help her find the answers she needs. This is a fun rump with all of the Morelands adding to the fun. Sabrina and Alex are great together and so another Moreland finds his HEA.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Interference & Insurgency by Michelle Diener
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Interference in the Orphans in the Black Anthology and loved the world building, backstory, plot and character development. Insurgency takes all of that to a higher level. Both had tension filled story lines that fit their titles. There is interference in one and insurgents in the other. The backstory is fleshed out more in Insurgency. Both are full of danger and wonderful characters. This is a lead up to a new series by Diener. What I love about her SFR books are the very different worlds she builds while telling her stories. The Verdant String is a new unique and interesting setting for stories. These two are rather short but a full length novel set in the Verdant String is due out in June. I am looking forward to more adventures in this new setting.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 166 - Mesmerized by Candace Camp, Wolf Hunger by Paige Tyler, All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Mesmerized by Candace Camp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Paranormal is all the rage today and Mesmerized is a mix of historical romance and the paranormal. Olivia Moreland thinks of herself as a small brown wren who is set to discredit the current rage of mediums. Lord Stephen St. Leger needs her help. Both are interesting characters who share a link with the past. It was fun watching the two come to terms with both a medium who is a fake and the very real ghosts who are visiting both their dreams and theirs waking hours. I loved the ending to the ghost story and of course seeing Stephen and Olivia get their HEA.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Wolf Hunger by Paige Tyler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book seven in the SWAT series but it read fine as a standalone. Lana Mason is an interesting character. She knows that she is attracted to SWAT Officer Max Lowry but does not realize that he is THE ONE. Max does know that Lana is his ONE but he realizes that Lana does not know she is a werewolf and does not really understand why her attraction to Max is so strong. That keeps the plot in the first part of the book moving. The danger Lana is in fuels the second part. This is another interesting take on what a werewolf is and how a werwolf is made.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


All Systems Red by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have had this since it came out in May and just got around to reading it. Murderbot is the name the that a security android or a self-aware SecUnit has given to itself. This is told in the first person by Murderbot. All Systems Red is a novella that introduces both the SecUnit and the world where he functions. The reason for his name and for his actions after getting the name are at the heart of the story. What happens when he is assigned to a group of scientists on a planet where things start to go wrong fuels the action and the conquests for Murderbot. I loved the world building, the back story and how Murderbot choices his own fate. Great set up for future stories.

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What Else I Read in October 2015

Books:

Christmas at Evergreen Inn by Donna Alward – There is nothing like a visit to Jewell Cove at Christmas time.  Both Todd Ricker and Lainey Price are old friends who find that Christmas changes friends to lovers.  A nice short sweet romance.

Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep – This is book two of the Black Blade series and it does a great job of moving the story forward.  All of the original characters are there along with at least one surprising new character.  The world building, character development and back story are furthered fleshed out.  The plot moves at a nice pace and the action is once again tension filled.  A good well written addition to the series.

Lone Wolf Lawman by Delores Fossen – I have become a fan of several of Harlequin Intrigue books and authors.  Delores Fossen is one of the authors.  Lone Wolf Lawman is the first book in the new Appaloosa Pass Ranch series.  The series is off to a great start.  The characters are interesting, the back story is worked into the story line and the plot is full of twists and turns.   Along with the danger there is a nice romance.  One couple finds their HEA while others are in the backgound waiting their turn.  

Castaway Planet (Boundary #4) by Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor – While this is book 4 (and the start of a new trilogy) in the Boundary series it will work well as an entry to the series. It is a set up for the rest of the trilogy.  Most of the story is about how to survive on an unexplored planet.  It follows the family for the first year.  As the book ends they realize that someone else has arrived.  To find out how that changes things you will have to wait for the next book.  Castaway Planet has an interesting story line, fun characters, as well as lots of tension and adventure. Pick it up for a fun quick read.

What Happens Under the Mistletoe by Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins, Candace Camp and Meredith Duran - Four fun Christmas stories and as the title suggests they all have a kiss under the mistletoe.  I had two favorites in the collection.  My very favorite was Sabrina Jeffries The Heiress and the Hothead.  This one featured the mill owning sister of Jeremy from a previous story.  I just knew she needed a romance and an HEA .  Jeffries provide the perfect one.

My other favorite was Sweetest Regret by Meredith Duran.  I loved both Lucas Goodwin and Georgie.  Theirs was not a smooth path to an HEA but it was an interesting one.

Like The Heiress and the Hothead the other two stories were based on characters from Hawkins’ and Camp’s series.  I did not know the characters so did not enjoy the stories as much.  This is a fun Christams collection and since it is four novellas you can pick it up and finish a story in a short time.  Great for when you are too busy to start a long book.

Shadows of Self (Mistborn #5) by Brandon Sanderson – Shadows of Self is the second book of a new series set in the Mistborn universe.  It does not work as a stand-alone.  At the very least read The Alloy of Law first.  Even better start with Mistborn, then The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages.  All of those are part of the back-story and world building needed to understand all the reference in Shadows of Self.  The story here is full of danger, tension, character development, and surprises.  All of that kept me reading but in the end I don’t know where the story is going.  The set up for the next book is there at the end so I guess I will find out when The Bands of Mourning comes out next year. 

Stacking the Shelves - Oct 10

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

Another short list.   I am doing better at adding to my TBR pile

For Review:

Horizon by Tabitha Lord

Dragos Goes to Washington by Thea Harrison

Anything for You by Kristan Higgins

What Happens Under the Mistletoe by Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins, Candace Camp, Meredith Duran

Stacking the Shelves, July 5, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their 

shelves.

From the Library:

The Collector by Nora Roberts

Dirty Magic by Jayne Wells

For Review:

American Craftsmen by Tom Doyle

The Garden of Stones by Mark T. Barnes

Innocent Prey by Maggie Shayne

Night of a Thousand Stars by Deanna Raybourn

Purchased:

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X) by Richelle Mead

Treasured (Secret of the Loch ) by Candace Camp

Teaser Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser is from Candace Camp's second book in the Legend of St Dwynwen trilogy, A Summer Seduction.

"Footsteps sounded behind her, and Damaria started to turn, burt at that moment two arms went around her from behind, wrapping a garment around her.  Before she could move, he whipped the two sides of the garment, which she recognized now as a cloak, around her and behind her back, effectively pinning her arms to her side. 

So far this is a good historical romance.  There is romance and drama and the main characters from the first book, A Winter Scandal, also appear.  

A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp

 Historical Romance

A Winter Scandal is another book that has been in my TBR pile for at least a month.  It is the first book written in a new series by Candace Camp.  She is one of my favorite historical romance writers but this book just did not catch my attention like some of her previous books.

A Winter Scandal has a cast of character that sounds familiar.  We start with Thea Bainbridge, the plain sister of the local Vicar.  Add in Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, who just purchased a local manor and is visiting with some of his bachelor friends.  And then there is Matthew, a delightful baby, who Thea finds in church abandoned in the manager that is out for the Christmas program.  The baby has a pin belonging to Gabriel’s sister.  The sister has been missing for over a year.  So now we have a mystery that Gabriel and Thea need to solve. The mystery throws them together and attraction follows.  There is also a cast of characters that can be featured in future books.

I have no complaints about the writing; the story line just did not click for me.  I hope I will like the next one better.

Pocket Star Books published A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp in 2011.