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.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

The Month That Was January 2013


Me: That's a pretty sweet ride you got right there Lemon Drop!

Lemon Drop: Sometimes I like to kick it old school Auntie Wendy, plus these old pick-up trucks are awesome!

Me: Couldn't agree with you more.  They're pretty cool looking and nothing beats a classic

Lemon Drop: It's also the easiest way to snag a cowboy!  Cowboys love pick-up trucks!

Me: A sure sign you've been spending too much time on this blog!  Moving along before your Daddy kills me, I started off the new year kind of slow in reading quantity, but man - I had a great month filled with some quality reads.  Here's hoping the rest of 2013 is like this!

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Aftershock by Jill Sorenson - Romantic suspense, 2012, HQN, Grade = B+
  • A humdinger of a romantic thriller that was high on action, characters in peril, and the unpleasantness that will surely follow if The Big One (as in earthquake!) ever hits southern California.  I loved every moment of this book, and am so happy it's the first in a trilogy.
The Things That Make Me Give In by Charlotte Stein - Erotica short stories, 2009, Black Lace, Grade = B
  • My TBR Challenge read of the month was this single-author erotica anthology by Stein.  While every story wasn't a winner for me, I really appreciated seeing all the different tones and emotions she explored in this one anthology.  If you're hooked on Stein, this a great one to get your hands on.
The Soldier's Sweetheart by Soraya Lane - Contemporary romance, 2013, Harlequin Romance, Grade = C
  • When Lane works for me, she really works for me.  When she doesn't, you get this book.  I liked everything about this story except for the way the heroine dealt with and felt about her infertility issues.  Admittedly a hot button for me.
Sins of a Virgin by Anna Randol - Historical romance, 2012, Avon, Grade = B+
  • I read a lot of good books this month, but this one may be the winner just because it was such a pleasant surprise!  Heroine who used to be a spy for England is turned loose after the war and decides to auction off her virginity in the name of financial security.  Hero is a Bow Street Runner hired to investigate on her behalf, but is really using her auction as an excuse to hunt down his twin sister's murderer.  First book in a trilogy, a good story helped along by a really great heroine.
Addicted by Charlotte Stein - Erotic romance ebook, 2013, Pocket, Grade = B+
  • A last-minute addition to my reading month when I was asked by Heroes & Heartbreakers to provide a "First Look."  Librarian heroine with limited sexual experiences (most of them not very good!) falls into bed with a man-whore she meets at a "sexual self-help" group.  Funny, challenging, different, a nice change of pace from the asshole billionaires who seem to be overrunning erotic romance of late.
Reservations for Two by Jennifer Lohmann - Contemporary romance, 2013, Harlequin Superromance, Grade = B
  • A solid debut romance featuring a chef heroine and food writer hero.  Great use of setting, beautiful neighborhood "big city" feel, and a great family dynamic that sets up the next two books in the series.
Lemon Drop: You know Auntie Wendy, maybe I am a little young to be thinking about cowboys....

Me: Your father and your Papaw will surely be relieved to hear that.  You're not even in kindergarten yet.

Lemon Drop: Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking.  A classic old pick-up truck like this one?  Surely I could snag myself one of those ranching or oil-tycoon types like you read about in Harlequin Desires!  They'd see the classic truck as an investment, plus I'm hella cute!  Win, win!

Me: Oh brother.  Maybe I need to lay off the cowboys and start reviewing more Dr. Seuss or something.  You're too young to be this corrupted.....

8 comments:

Phyl said...

I have 3 of these in my tbr (Sorenson, Randol & Lohmann). I'm glad to know you liked them!

AlohaJan said...

Little Lemon Drop is getting so mature!! Not a baby anymore!

Tara Marie said...

Good Monday Morning--another snow day in the Northeast and I actually have enough time to visit my favorite blogger :)

Nice recommendations this month--I picked up the Sorenson, Randol and Lohmann from Amazon after reading your reviews. You should see what books pop on Amazon when you put in "Sins of a Virgin" without an author's name--yikes.

Lemon Drop is as cute as a button.

Molly O'Keefe said...

I love Aftershock - that premise was amazing and watching them gather/scavenge for the things that would help them survive - really fun. I also loved how she pushed things in the subplots - race, character, situations, it felt exciting.

And I read Addicted too - my first Stein and I was so impressed with how she managed to be both really really hot and really really funny. Really loved her voice.

Wendy said...

Phyl: Read 'em soon so I can see if they make any of your monthly Phaves posts :)

AlohaJan: I know! She's looking more like a "little girl" - no longer a baby ::sniffle::

Tara Marie: HEY, HEY, HEY! Glad to see you pop up! LOL - Lil' Sis recently got a Kindle for Christmas, and checked out the free books (the erotica no less!) available to Amazon Prime members. I had to talk her away from grabbing the nearest gallon drum of Eyeball Bleach.

Molly: I love angsty-erotic-writing as much as the next girl, but I also love really fun erotica. Stein has a way to melding the serious, the funny and the sexy times in such a way that I find her brand of writing really appealing. I'm trying to space out my reads by her and NOT overdose - but yeah, two books last month alone :)

Sheri said...

Just started Addicted on the Kindle - quite funny actually. Although I will admit the first chapter scared me....thought it was another trilogy that must not be named. ;)

Lil Sis

Wendy said...

Lil' Sis: Tsk, tsk. You should know me better than that! (Although, I'll admit it - when I was reading it for that blog piece I wrote for H&H the first chapter scared me too! LOL)

nath said...

LOL, your niece is so cute Wendy :) And wow is she growing!

Great month you had there!