RWA Photo Array: Final Day

Wendy, Not At Work:

Cynthia Ellingsen (who I went to high school with!) signing her debut novel

L to R: Mary Blayney, Ruth Langan, Nora Roberts signing copies of The Unquiet

Nalini Singh signing books

Carrie Lofty signing copies of Flawless and Starlight.  Seriously, read her books!

Petite, lovely Nora (wearing a necklace I was totally drooling over) next to Giant Scary Me.

Wendy, Back At Work:

 

Giant Pile #1 of leftover Literacy Signing books.  Yeah, this is a corner in my office.

Giant Pile #2 of leftover Literacy Signing books.  This is in a room downstairs off our Teen area.

I'll take more pictures as books get unpacked and sorted. I'm expecting Teen volunteers on Tuesday to help with the organization process!  Thank you sweet baby Jesus!

RWA Photo Array: Day Three

Harlequin authors Michelle Willingham and Brenda Jackson

Elizabeth-freakin'-Lowell

Not just romance - James Rollins.  RWA = Where The Hard Core Readers Are

(Sigh, not very many pictures yesterday. I was at some parties last night and like a dip left my cell phone in the car.)

RWA Photo Array: Day Two

A SMALL sampling of leftover books from the Literacy Signing.  The last 21 boxes my library loaded up for transport.

Some of the TGTBTU girls!  Di, Sandy and Veena.  Squeeee!

As seen in the conference hotel elevators....

The room "keys" at the conference hotel

Drinks on the patio at the hotel bar....

World Famous Author L.B. Gregg and Holly from Book Binge

RWA Photo Array: Day One

Suzanne Enoch, Julia London, Sabrina Jeffries, Karen Hawkins

Karen Hawkins with....Hugh Jackman!  No way we were getting bored with this panel!

Author Cynthia Ellingsen (Berkley).  WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER!  SQUEEEEEE!

Ate lunch with Lisa Hendrix.  Her swag at tables (bookmark, with magnetic clip)

Kerrlyn Sparks.  OMG - so awesome!  Laughter and tears!

Crowd shot at Literacy Signing

Review: One Day To Find A Husband

I was once chatting with a category romance writer whose books my mother enjoys.  I told her Mom finished her latest book in two hours.  I asked her, "Is that demoralizing?  That a book you worked hard on is inhaled in such a short time period?"  Her answer was no.  She said it was actually a very high compliment because it meant structurally the story worked.  That as a writer, she had "done her job;" not only with the storytelling, but with the mechanics of writing it.  That was exactly my experience with One Day To Find A Husband by Shirley Jump.  Is this book perfect?  No.  Did I have quibbles?  Yes.  Did I still inhale it in two hours?  ::burp::  Excuse me, yes.

Finn McKenna owns his own architectural firm, and is a bit of a golden boy.  Business was booming, he's been profiled in magazines, and buying out two competitors has earned him the nickname of "The Hawk."  However turns out Finn isn't immune to failure.  His last romantic relationship went down in flames after he discovered the woman he was going to propose to was only feigning interest in him in order to woo away clients.  It was a betrayal that stung, and cast a shadow.  Now needing an infusion to his professional reputation, he gets the brilliant idea to propose a temporary partnership with Ellie Winston.  Ellie is an architect who has built her career designing residential homes.  But when her father becomes ill, she agrees to take over his business - which specializes in corporate structures.  They've just landed a job to build a hospital, and Dad's top architect has decided to walk.  Finn proposes that he come in, help her out on this one job, win-win for both them.

Except Ellie doesn't see it that way, and turns him down.  However no sooner does she say no than she hits a snag in her personal life.  She met a woman in China, during her business travels, and they became friends.  When her friend succumbed to cancer, she begged Ellie to adopt her little girl.  Which Ellie is working to do - until she finds out that the Chinese government wants her to be married.  Crap.  What to do, what to do?  Needing to get married in a hurry, loathe to leave Jiao in that orphanage any longer, she agrees to Finn's proposal - on the condition that they get married, in name only, of course.

Naturally what follows is Finn and Ellie tap-dancing around each other, learning they have quite a bit in common, and trying to smother an attraction they figure cannot go anywhere.  Ellie begins to wonder if Finn agreed to her outrageous proposition only to get his hands on her company, and Finn finds himself attracted to Ellie but still a little gun-shy because of the whole traitorous ex thing.  Neither of them has strong parental examples when it comes to committed, fulfilling relationships and both of them aren't really sure what love is, let alone what they're feeling for each other.  Maybe it's just base lust?  Or a mutual attraction because they share similar careers and interests?

Marriage of convenience because of a legal issue, like an adoption, is a non-starter for a lot of readers I know.  It works fairly well for me, if it's a plausible enough reason - and I know enough about foreign adoption (specifically from China) to know that regulations have been tightened up over the last few years.  So I could roll with this bit of conflict.  Finn and Ellie are both likable people, charming and agreeable.  They have just the right amount of baggage to put a few stumbling blocks in their emotional paths, but not so much that they tediously talk in circles.  I'm not entirely sure how they get from liking each other, to falling in love though - and the very short time table doesn't really help matters.  Literally they meet and the next thing the reader knows - they're married.

Still, this was a likable, agreeable story.  It's light, it's fun, it's the kind of story that would make an ideal Lifetime movie.  A quintessential chocolate chip cookie read, it's charming and bubbly - and while it didn't change my life, I'm really pleased that Finn has two sequel-baitin' brothers.

Final Grade = B

RWA Annual Conference & Blogger Bar Bash!

The Romance Writers of America annual conference is right around the corner (::gulp::, next week) - and in preparation for that, I've got some news and general blog-keeping announcements to share.

First, there will be a Blogger Bar Bash again this year!  It will be Wednesday night, July 25, at the conference hotel bar (the Anaheim Marriott), after the Literacy Signing (which "ends" at 8PM).  A contingent of SoCal Bloggers will be on hand to chat the night away, while washing down what are sure to be overpriced cocktails.  The Literacy Signing is open to the public - you do not need to be registered for the conference to attend!  Seriously, if you are going to be anywhere in the area, as a romance novel fan it is your civic duty to attend.  All of the nitty-gritty details on the event can be found on the RWA web site.  And even though it's called the Blogger Bar Bash - everyone is welcome to stop by and say hello after the signing.  Readers, bloggers, authors, agents, editors, Fabio, Mickey Mouse, Mary Poppins - come one come all!

I am going to try to put in an appearance, but I'm not sure if that will happen.  I'm working with RWA to pack up the leftover books after the signing, which are being donated to my library.  I'll be staying behind to help them pack up, and load up the Batmobile.  And since I'll have been "on the go" since 7AM that morning (Wednesday is also Librarians Day!), I can't vouch for what kind of shape I'll be in.  I literally might just pack up, and head home for the night.  But!  I will try to make the Bar Bash because hot diggity, I love hanging out in the bar at RWA.

Since the conference is local for me this year, it also means I'm commuting and not staying on site at the hotel.  What does this mean?  Well, for the last several (uh, since 2007?) I've made a habit of blogging about the conference, during the conference.  This usually entails me staying up until 2AM and running on so much caffeine that I morph into a hummingbird-like creature.  Not this year.  I have to be in a coherent enough state to drive my car home and fall into my own bed.

So for my sanity, and to insure I'll get some sleep - I'm shamelessly stealing an idea from author Victoria Janssen.  Back in 2010, when the conference was in Orlando, she did a series of blog posts that were basically photographs she had taken.  Here's the post she did about the Literacy Signing that year.  Between the running around at conference, then having to drive to and from the hotel and the Bat Cave?  I just don't see long-detailed blog posts happening.  So yeah, I'm going to try to do the photograph thing.  Let's see if I can pull it off!

At the very least - I'll shoot to be on Twitter.

TBR Challenge 2012: The Lightkeeper's Woman

The Book: The Lightkeeper's Woman by Mary Burton

The Particulars: Historical romance, Harlequin Historical #693, 2004, Out of Print, Available in Digital

Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?:  I've read Mary Burton's historicals before and I'm a sucker for lighthouse settings. 

The Review:  Alanna Patterson has come to the god-forsaken coastal town of Easton, North Carolina to close the door on her past forever.  She was once madly, passionately in love with Caleb Pitt, a captain on one of her father's finest ships.  They had plans to marry, and were already lovers.  Then on his last voyage before their wedding there is a terrible accident.  The ship goes down, men die, but Caleb survives.  What follows is an inquest, and accusations that Caleb and his crew were incompetent.  It's now two years later and Alanna's life is very different.  Her father has committed suicide, the family finances are in ruins, all of their so-called "friends" won't receive her and she's on the verge of accepting a marriage proposal from another man.  But first she must deliver a wooden box that her father bequeathed to Caleb - a box Caleb has already sent back (with a scathing note, naturally) once.

Caleb is now the lighthouse keeper, a hermit who only comes into town when absolutely necessary.  A storm is blowing in, he looks out and spots a boat.  He recognizes the local idiot at the helm and catches his breath when he sees the woman.  Could it be?  No, it possibly can't be.  Alanna?  What the holy heck is she doing there?  Naturally he rescues her, but continued gnarly weather means he's stuck with her, alone, on his island until the waters calm. 

There are a number of elements I really enjoyed about this story.  I liked that Caleb and Alanna had already been lovers.  I liked that Alanna is impulsive, and not the sort of woman to back down from a fight.  I also really appreciated that she's halfway to knowing something was rotten in Denmark before arriving on Caleb's doorstep.  She arrives in Easton on the pretense of giving him the box, but truly she's there to get some answers.  She once lived the life of a well-to-do pampered daughter, but the last couple of years have drastically altered her fortunes.  She's different, her life is different, so when the truth comes tumbling out she doesn't automatically scream at Caleb that he's lying.

This story runs a little hot and cold for me though when it comes to Caleb.  At first he's portrayed as the local hermit.  A man who has shut himself off from everybody.  Then he's determined to have Alanna back in his life.  Then he heads into town and everybody loves him, he interacts with everybody like he's the unofficial town mayor, and then he morphs back into wanting to send Alanna away for "her own good."  He's not a terribly consistent fellow, but hey - he's a hunky loner with a badass facial scar.  Guys working with less than that have made credible romance heroes.

The story itself moves along at a fairly smooth clip, although pretty much all of the conflict hinges on Alanna and Caleb being too proud and stupid to have talked to each other back when his boat sank.  There's also the letters he wrote to her that she naturally didn't read and the box from her father that Caleb refuses to open.  I'll be honest, I tend to hate plot devices like this because they are utterly unbelievable to me.  Seriously, who doesn't open letters, especially when they are addressed to them?  And cripes Caleb - even Brad Pitt wants to know "What's in the box?!?!"  And Morgan Freeman opened it!

In the author's dedication she thanks her critique partners, one of whom is Cathy Maxwell.  What I find interesting is that how I feel about Maxwell's historicals is exactly how I feel about Burton's.  They're easy reading, they go down smooth like a really nice dessert wine, I enjoy them while I'm reading them, but a day later?  Yeah, I have no recall.  None.  They're chocolate chip cookie reads.  They're a great snack, quite tasty, but it's not like a steak dinner at a five star restaurant.  They're not the sort of reads that stick with me for days, weeks, months after the experience.  Which means it's probably a good thing I'm blogging about this book, because other than the lighthouse aspect, I'm not sure how much I'll recall down the road.

In the end this was a nice, pleasant diversion.  I liked the story, I liked the characters, and I loved the setting.  Sure, it didn't rock my world and I'm not in a swoon over it - but it was a pleasant, leisurely experience that kept me entertained for a couple of days.  There are times in my life when I just need a book like this one.  Which is why I keep some Mary Burton historicals lying around in the TBR.  Break glass in case of emergency.

Final Grade = B-

Reminder: TBR Challenge For July

For those of you participating in the 2012 TBR Challenge, a reminder that your commentary is "due" on Wednesday, July 18. 

The theme this month is How Did This Get Here? (a book you can't remember how/why you put in your TBR!).

Remember, the themes are completely and totally optional.  I'll be honest, this is a tough one for me since I tend to have a pretty good memory of why a book is in my TBR (even if the only reason is because it was an "impulse buy").  So if you're in the same boat like I am?  Do what I'm doing and treat this as Free Pick Month!  The themes aren't important - reading something that's been lying around neglected is the real goal.

And hey, and it's only July!  It's not too late to sign-up for the challenge and join in on the fun.   If you're interested, or just want to be a snoop, please check out the TBR Challenge 2012 information page.

Jesus Loves Cover Art

As I am known to do, given my job, I was tip-toeing through catalogs today and hit the jackpot of beautiful cover art thanks to the Baker Publishing Group.  For those of you who don't know Baker, they publish the inspirational fiction imprints Bethany House and Revell.  Take a gander at this cover art and weep bitter copious tears that secular romance publishers haven't caught a clue.

Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell - publication date March 2013

Description:  Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will reverse their fortunes.

St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry. Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?

 Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot - publication date January 2013

Description: After the loss of her husband and the birth of her baby, Charlotte has had a long, hard year. But when a notorious robber believes she knows the location of a long-lost treasure, she flees to Cheyenne and opens a dressmaker's shop to lie low and make a living. When wealthy cattle baron and political hopeful Barrett Landry enters the shop to visit her best customer, Charlotte feels drawn to him.

If Barrett is to be a senator of the soon-to-be state of Wyoming, he must make a sensible match, and Miriam has all the right connections. Yet he can't shake the feeling that Charlotte holds the key to his heart and his future.

Soon the past comes to call, and Barrett's plans crumble around him. Will Charlotte and Barrett find the courage to look love in the face? Or will their fears blot out any chance for happiness?

 Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer - publication date April 2013

Description: Lydia Eldredge longs to provide a sanctuary for her son, Nicky. But a constant threat comes from Nicky's drug-addicted father, who wants the boy and seems willing to do whatever it takes to get him.

Dr. Micah Hatcher serves the immigrant population in Queens, but under cover of darkness he provides another service that must not be discovered lest his and his brother's lives be in danger.

When Lydia and Micah's paths cross, they are suddenly wrapped up in each other's callings. Through unforeseen twists and turns, they seek a refuge of safety--for Nicky, for themselves, and for the needy people God unexpectedly puts in their lives.

 Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell - publication date March 2013

Description: Lady Celine Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need--or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte.

When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess's butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London's West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham's spell. Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, will he do the right thing?

 The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen - publication date January 2013

Description:  Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems--and secrets--of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor's daughter figure out which brother to blame...and which brother to trust with her heart?

 Picture Perfect by Janice Thompson - publication date February 2013

Description: Feisty wedding photographer Hannah McDermott has dealt with her share of difficult brides. But none can compare to the ultimate Bridezilla she's dealing with now. Still, she's trying desperately to impress Bella Neeley, Galveston Island's most sought-after wedding planner, so she can take the top spot in Bella's list of recommended photographers--a spot currently occupied by her arch-rival, Drew Kincaid. What she doesn't count on, however, is falling head over heels for the competition.

+++++

Back cover blurb commentary aside (seriously, the word "feisty" should be outlawed from the English language), I think all of these covers are absolutely gorgeous.  Every single one of them would at least get me to pick up the book long enough to read the plot description and the first couple of page.  Instead what secular publishers keep offering me is an endless parade of head-less man-titty that I can't distinguish one cover from the next.  And OMG - period costume!  My kingdom for historical romance covers with actual period costume!

What say you?  Do you like these covers or do you find them boring?  Am I being too hard on the scores of headless man-titty on romance covers?  (Hey, hunky cover models have to eat too!)

Wendy's Birthday Wish List

Yes indeedy, it's Happy Birthday day here at the Bat Cave.  Now you're probably asking yourself, what does the Queen Librarian of the Universe do on her birthday?

This year I'm working the late shift.

Yes folks, my life really is this glamorous.

So what does the librarian who has everything want on her birthday?  I will forever be Librarian of the Year 2011.  I've got a man who gives me sparkly gifts and takes me out for killer birthday dinners.  I've got books.  I've got chocolate.  I've got enough caffeine to run a nuclear power plant in a third world country.  What else could there possibly be?

1) A firm, yet soft cushion to protect my forehead as I spend the next 11 months slowly banging my head against my desk at work.  Yep, I've heard final budget rumors - and....somebody hold me.

2) A Greek tycoon to keep me in the style to which I could quickly become accustomed.  Granted, the Greek economy isn't so great right now.  So.....

3) Said Greek tycoon to gather up the last of his millions and spirit me away to a tax shelter - say, the Cayman Islands.

4) I'm not greedy though.  I'd happily settle for the Greek tycoon to pay me my current salary so I can stay home and read books for a living.

5) Gerard Butler and Ewan McGregor.  In kilts.  'Nuff said.

6) For the new Batman movie to not suck.  Confession time: I'm not a Catwoman fan (I know, I know), so I'm worried.

7)  To be Judi Dench when I grow up.  Or barring that....

8) Maggie Smith.

9) For Jim Leyland to stop playing Ryan Raburn.  Seriously?  Why?!?!?!?!!?  Why?!?!?!?!?!?! 

10) To read nothing but really awesome books for the next year. Not that I spend a lot of time reading crap, but nothing but awesome would be, well....awesome. Or maybe it would just warp me.

11) Minions.  It's exhausting being this awesome (and humble!) without them.

12)  Oh, and world peace.  Just so I don't come off as completely self-absorbed (too late).

Happy, happy!

Review: Summer Nights

Brace yourself kiddies - this one is going to be bumpy.

As amazing as I know this is going to sound, I've never read Susan Mallery before.  Despite the fact that she's written somewhere in the ballpark of 761 books and despite the fact that she has a huge category backlist.  She's also quite popular among library readers.  So when I was approached to review Summer Nights, the eighth book in her Fool's Gold series, I said yes.  Certainly it had a little something to do with the librarian heroine, but also because I wanted to see what the fuss was about.

Annabelle Weiss is the librarian in Fool's Gold and very short (which Mallery reminds us of over and over and over again....).  She also needs to learn to ride a horse oh, and to make said horse "dance."  Annabelle needs a bookmobile, which is going to cost money, which means it's time for a fundraiser.  She thinks the way to do this is to reenact some horse-dancing ritual thing that the native Maa-zib women performed for some town parade.  She goes to new guy in town Shane Stryker (seriously?) to teach her.

Shane has met Annabelle already, sort of.  He saw her dancing on the bar at the local watering hole (which apparently only women go to and the men avoid - see my eyes rolling back in my head) and naturally has pegged her as being exactly like his traitorous slut of an ex-wife (yeah, we all know where this is going).  He wants a nice, boring, quiet woman and his mother suggests the town librarian, who is a very nice girl dontcha know.  Then he meets Annabelle, sees that his bar dancin' wild woman is also the town librarian and his world goes topsy turvy.

Books like Summer Nights are the reason I have such a hard time with single title contemporaries.  I was literally destroying this with my mental red pen the entire time I was reading it.  It's fat, it's bloated, it's crammed so full of unnecessary, mind-numbing secondary characters that my eyes started to bleed.  This series centers around the town of Fool's Gold and apparently that means everybody who lives in the town must pop up on page, not doing a damn thing to further along the course of the romance - which is really what we're here for, right?  I don't know these people.  I don't care about these people.  I should be caring about Shane and Annabelle and wanting their romance to get off the ground - and instead I'm reading about Shane's mother's pet elephant and how the elephant is lonely and needs friends and oh look she's made friends with a pony and Shane hates ponies and gee, isn't that like the cutest thing ever?

No!  I don't care!  No, no, no!  Romance!  Annabelle!  Shane!  Falling in love!  That's what I care about!  Where is that?!?!?!

Sorry, where were we?  Oh yeah, Series-itis Hell.

That's not to say I was ever lost, or confused, or didn't know what was going on.  No, Mallery brings me up to speed.  It's just all these people don't matter.  I'm sorry series fans, they don't.  They've had their moment in the sun, or else their moment is coming in book number whatever, and this is now Annabelle's and Shane's time.  Which means the less time spent on them, the less I believe in the romance.  Which is a problem because Shane's inability to trust Annabelle, even though she does absolutely nothing to warrant his misgivings, make this romance a dead duck from the word go.  Why Annabelle keeps sticking around is beyond me.

Oh yeah, the bookmobile.  Politicians, this is what happens when you cut library funding.  Librarians have to resort to hanging around cowboys (albeit hunky ones) who compare them to their slutty ex-wives.  Dude.  Here at the Bat Cave we love us some cowboys, but even we're not willing to hang out with asshole cowboys.

On the bright side?  Mallery manages to hit all the right librarian notes.  I've worked in both rural and urban libraries, and the small town librarian depiction is a fairly solid one.  I also liked that Annabelle is divorced, not uptight, and isn't a walking librarian stereotype.  All very good things.

So where does that leave us?  With sweeping statements.  If you're a fan of this series, you're probably not reading this review, nor do you give a flying fig what I think.  You're juiced in, you're hooked, and more power to you.  We all have series we love, and if this is yours - enjoy it in in good health.  However if you're over small town romances and find your eyes crossing at the very thought of another series?  Yeah, this is unlikely to make you see the error of your ways.  As for me, when I wasn't bored silly, I was annoyed.  Two emotions I really don't like to experience when I'm reading a book.

Grade = D

The Month That Was June 2012

Me: Elton John called.  He wants his glasses back.

Lemon Drop: You are just jealous Auntie Wendy.

Me: Yeah, that must be it.

Lemon Drop: You wish you were this fierce and fabulous!  RAWR!!

Me: Well while we're all basking in the glow of your fabulousity, how about we discuss what I read last month?  I managed to read 10 books this month.  Sort of.

Title links will take you to full reviews.

First Things First by Barbara Delinsky - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Temptation, 1985, Grade = C

• St. Martin's has been releasing several of Delinsky's older category romances digitally, and H&H asked me to tackle a couple of them for blog posts.  This story holds up amazingly well, and with a few minor tweaks (mostly involving fashion choices), it reads like a story that could have been written last week.  However while I liked the hero, I was disappointed that the strong, interesting heroine morphs into a bit of a sad sack at the end.  Still, not sorry I read it - and interesting on several levels.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: One Made Over Hero, Private Eye Heroine, One Overbearin' Mama, But What I Really Want To Do Is Go Back To School!, Big Secret

A Little More Scandal by Carrie Lofty - Historical romance novella ebook, Pocket, 2012, Grade = B

• Digital prequel to Lofty's Christie series.  Loved the Victorian back-drop.  I also enjoyed both romantic leads, although admittedly they're both a teensy bit mercenary.

The Last Real Cowboy by Donna Alward - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2012, Grade = B

• Former social worker heroine finds herself working with the hero to get her women's shelter off the ground.  The rub being that they're like oil and water when they're together.  Plenty of angst and baggage, a nice emotional read.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Cowboy Hero, Heroine Done Wrong, Mommy Issues, Illin' Daddy

To Rescue or To Ravish? by Barbara Monajem - Historical romance short story ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2012, Grade = C+

• Heroine running away from an arranged marriage runs smack dab into her former childhood love - a vicar's son and now self-made man.  I had issues with the historical "feel" of this short story, but Monajem is pro when it comes to this short format.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Vile Guardian, Self-Made Hero, I'll Marry Who I Want To!, Richie Rich Heroine

Rake With a Frozen Heart by Marguerite Kaye - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2012, Grade = B

• Heroine gets conked on the head after interrupting a burglary and wakes up in the hero's bed.  A hero who happens to be a notorious rake.  Loved the dialogue and adventure storyline, but felt the pacing bogged down in the middle.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Rake Hero, Governess Heroine, Vile Social Climbing Villain, Missing Jewels!, Road Romance

The Rebel Rancher by Donna Alward - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2012, Grade = A-

• Sequel to The Last Real Cowboy, hero with family baggage finds himself attracted to the heroine, still gun-shy thanks to her abusive a-hole ex.  A couple that is perfectly matched and a storyline that hits all the right notes.  Alward has consistently been "good" for me, and this has been the best to date.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Heroine Done Wrong, Rodeo Hero, Mommy Daddy and Uncle Issues, Baby Makes Three

I Love This Bar by Carolyn Brown - Contemporary romance, Sourcebooks, 2010, Grade = DNF

• I started thinking of this book as Redneck Hell.  You have three secondary characters, triplets, with names like Billy Bob, Joe Bob and Jim Bob and the town slut's nickname is "Chigger."  I suspect these secondary characters were supposed to be funny and colorful, but frankly I get bored reading about caricatures - and this troop never elevated themselves past that.  Also a bartender heroine who is some sort of poor man's veterinarian?  A hero who is taking care of a relative who is supposed to have Alzheimer's - but frankly just read like a grumpy old man on the page?  Also, some pretty atrocious head-hopping in the early chapters.  I was bored.  I didn't care.  I read a third of it before chucking it in the "get rid of it somewhere" pile.

High Country Bride by Jillian Hart - Historical inspirational romance, Love Inspired Historical, 2008, Grade = C+

• My TBR Challenge read of the month.  Hart slathers on the angst, and I liked the set-up, but after a while the heroine's amazingly tolerant nature started to grate on me.  Get angry damn you!  Get angry!  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Heroine Done Wrong, Two Kidlets, Widowed Hero, I Can Never Love Again!

My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2012, Grade = B-

• My Fair Lady hits China.  Hero employs the heroine to take his sister's place in arranged (political) marriage after Dear Ol' Sis runs away from home.  A slow starter, but the emotional moments in this story are really gut-wrenching.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: My Fair Lady, Heroine From Wrong Side of the Tracks, Hero Obsessed With Family Honor, One Runaway Sister, Arranged Marriage

Unexpected Family by Molly O'Keefe - Contemporary romance, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2012, Grade = B+

• Heroine running away from her problems runs up against the former rodeo star hero, who is still trying to cope with his sister's death, and taking custody of his three nephews.  Interesting, damaged characters who don't behave in a conventional way, plus a solid secondary romance between an older couple.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Rodeo Hero, Heroine Running From Problems, Three Orphaned Kidlets, One Past Romantic Couple, One Drunk Old Man, One Mad As Hell And Not Going To Take It Anymore Mama.

Lemon Drop: Maybe if you're really nice to me Auntie Wendy, I'll let you borrow these glasses for RWA.  You could wear them while you're presenting to the librarians at Librarians Day!

Me:  Uhhhhhh.....

Lemon Drop: On second thought, never mind.  You could never do them justice.

Me: Oh brother.

Review: Unexpected Family

Words cannot express how much I loved His Wife For One Night by Molly O'Keefe when I read it last year.  I loved it so much it damn near sent me into a swoon.  I loved it so much that I immediately started flipping through the book to reread certain sections.  I loved it so much I almost thought about slapping it with an A+ grade (which I didn't, because frankly I don't believe in them and cooler heads prevailed).  However, books like that are almost a bit of a curse for a reader. 

Unexpected Family is the follow-up sequel to His Wife For One Night.  It features Mia's sister, Lucy, and the hunky former-rodeo star next door.  It also wraps up the leftover baggage from the first book - namely between Sandra, Lucy and Mia's mother, and Walter, Mia's now father-in-law.  Here's the rub, I have mad, crazy, insane love for that first book.  Can this second book possibly live up to that?  Well, no.  It can't.  Doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it though.

Lucy Alatore is at loose ends. A jewelry designer who caters to exclusive boutiques, a bad business decision has caused her to flame-out in Los Angeles.  Uh, and nobody knows about it except for her accountant.  Her mother, who lived with her in LA has no clue, and neither does her now blissfully happy sister.  She's screwed.  She knows she's going to owe some people some serious money, but the experience has left her used, dried up.  Her artistic inspiration is gone.  Hiding out on the ranch where she grew up, with her mother, and her sister's drunken father-in-law, is where she has landed.  Then one night she gives a drunk cowboy a ride home from the bar and runs smack-dab into Jeremiah Stone.

Jeremiah is the stuff of erotic daydreams.  A former rodeo star, he's hot, he's hunky, he's the guy you want to party with and....a father of three?!  With his brother-in-law and sister both dead, Jeremiah's the one who gets custody of his three nephews - ages 5, 9 and 11.  Now this cowboy, the man who could charm the panties off of anything wearing a skirt, the guy whose only concern in life used to be what bar am I hanging out in and what women will I be flirting with, is....not that guy anymore.  And damn, he misses that guy.  He has no idea what he's doing with his nephews, especially 9-year-old Ben whose soul mission in life seems to be giving Jeremiah an ulcer.  Then in waltzes Lucy.  Sexy, fun, sassy Lucy.  Lucy with her own secrets and problems.  Lucy who he can't stop thinking about.

What I've loved about the O'Keefe Supers I've read is that she writes damaged characters that feel authentic.  I love that Lucy has sass and spark, but that she's also not perfect.  She's running away from her problems.  I loved (loved!) that Jeremiah just doesn't fall right into being Super Dad.  He's a guy who wants to do the right thing, but he misses his life.  He did not sign up to be a "dad" to his three orphaned nephews.  It just, happened.  And it takes him a big chunk of this book to not only wrap his heart and mind around that, but also to mourn his "old life."

There is a lot going on in this story though, and the romance does get a little lost.  Mia and Jack do make appearances, but for the most part they stay off-stage.  However the author still has to deal with the Sandra and Walter baggage.  Walter who has loved Sandra from afar for years and has been slowly trying to kill himself by drinking and not taking his meds.  I loved that the author gives Walter a second chance, but that she doesn't do so by painting a rainbow over his head and disregarding his past sins.  There's also the matter of Jeremiah's nephews, who naturally play a hefty role in this story.  Now, this is a longer SuperRomance, and that certainly gives an author a little wiggle room for secondary characters and plots.  However I still like a very strong focus on the primary romance, and that doesn't really happen with this book until the last half.  For that reason I'm left wondering exactly how Lucy and Jeremiah got from lust to love (but boy howdy, the lust is off the charts).

It's hard for me to separate the two books in my mind, but I think if I had read Unexpected Family as a stand-alone, with no knowledge of that first book (which, have I mentioned, how much I  loved His Wife For One Night?) - I think this one would have landed somewhere in my B/B- range.  It's got a lot of emotional angst, well-developed characters, and some really sparkling dialogue between the romantic couple.  Here's the thing though - I did read that first book.  Which means I'm already juiced in to the world that O'Keefe has created and I've fallen back under the spell of the characters she's populated in that world.  I'm sorry to see them go, to ride off into the sunset - but they'll live on forever in my small pile of keepers.

Final Grade = B+