Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Month That Was November 2011

Lemon Drop: Auntie Wendy!  You're finally here, blogging, and not sitting in the corner rocking back and forth....  By the way, Mommy says that's rather unbecoming. 

Me: Now see here Little Miss Cutie Britches, Auntie Wendy and Uncle My Man got the plague.  And I'm still swamped at work, and not reading, and having a general all-around meltdown...

Lemon Drop: Blah, blah, blah - have you thought about me Auntie Wendy?  And my adoring public?  You need to get it together, because this keeping us waiting until the end of the month thing is just not kosher.  Besides, I'm cute!

Me: Well, there is no denying your cuteness.  While we all try to get over the sugar shock, why don't I tell you about what I read last month?  It wasn't all that great.  A couple of goodies mixed in with a couple of ho-hummers washed down with a DNF.  Six books in all.

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Snowflakes and Stetsons by Jillian Hart, Carol Finch & Cheryl St. John, Historical romance anthology, Harlequin Historical, 2011, Grade = B
  • Holiday-themed anthology featuring three western stories.  Totally solid all the way around, with particularly strong showings by Hart and St. John.
Officer Down by Theresa Schwegel, Suspense, St. Martin's, 2005, Grade = D+
  • My epic dud of a TBR Challenge read.  Well-written so I kept flipping the pages, a compelling mystery that kept me hooked, but a dumber than a sack full of door knobs heroine.  Blah.
Baby, Let It Snow by Beverly Jenkins & Elaine Overton, Contemporary romance anthology, Kimani Romance, 2011, Grade = C
  • Two holiday short stories featuring characters done wrong, Thanksgiving, family and snow storms.  Easy reading, a nice way to spend an afternoon, but neither story lit a fire under me.
Rodeo Daddy by Soraya Lane, Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2011, Grade = C+
  • Kind of a letdown considering how much I enjoyed Lane's first two books for HR.  Cowboy hero and single dad moves to New Zealand and falls for a local girl running from her past.  The heroine's Big Secret smacked me as "punishment."  It got under my skin, and not in a good way.
A Man of His Word by Sarah M. Anderson, Contemporary romance, Harlequin Desire, 2011, Grade = B+
  • A real gem of a read that I downloaded and plowed through in one afternoon.  Hero shows up in South Dakota to help out his not-so-dear uncle, only to fall for the thorn in the man's side - the lawyer heroine.  Compelling conflict, interesting characters, a solid three-dimensional read that reminded me of how much I used to love the Desire line.
The Playboy's Gift by Teresa Carpenter, Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2011, Grade = DNF
  • Got halfway through the book and had to stop reading because I was no longer rational.  Heroine's brother and sister-in-law die months apart from each other and the hero thinks he's the little girls' Daddy just because he was the frackin' sperm donor.  I got to the point where reading was making me angry, so I stopped.  Writing style gelled for me, so will likely try this local (for me) author again so long as Biology Above All Else is off the table.
Lemon Drop: Wow, you have issues Auntie Wendy.

Me: That would be what we call stating the obvious my dear.  Here's hoping for better things during the final weeks of December.

Lemon Drop: Like Christmas!  And presents!  And Santa Claus!  And presents!  You are getting me presents aren't you.....

Me: I love how you automatically made that plural.  Yes, I'm getting you presents.  And yes, I even had a little help from the Bat Cave community in picking them out.  That's how much of a rock star you are.

Lemon Drop: Like there was ever any doubt?

7 comments:

Hilcia said...

Aww, there's Lemon Drop. :)

I also enjoyed Snowflakes and Stetsons. Loved the western Christmas theme. A heartwarming read all around.

ms bookjunkie said...

Cute as a button! And she's gotten so big!

JamiSings said...

IT'S LEMON DROP!

Man, Wendy, I honestly wish I could travel in time so I could see her as a teenager to see how she feels about being internet famous before she could walk. LOL

But in the meantime I want to know what she's getting for Christmas! Granted, it's because I want to see if you got the book I suggested that I want to see her review. ;-) LOL

Kristie (J) said...

You really did have a down month didn't you. Good thing you have Lemon Drop to help cheer you up.

Kathryn said...

Lemon drop is adorable. Thanks for the reviews.

nath said...

LOL, Lemon Drop is so cute :) You should consider starting up her own blog :) and fan club while you're at it :)

I think you didn't have such a bad month. Sure you didn't read a ton, but it was all well balance :) Some good books and some duds, and even if there was one DNF, you'll be checking out more by the author. Not bad at all :)

Sarah said...

I always seem to open your blog just when you have a new Lemon Drop post. It's total love!