The Month That Was January 2014

Lemon Drop: Auntie Wendy, Auntie Wendy, Auntie Wendy's on fire!

Me: I've seen a few hunky firemen in my day, but nobody as cute and you two.

Lemon Drop: My deputy and I received the alarm.  Someone has been reading so much she's smokin'.....

Me: Um, yeah.  I kind of didn't have a life last month.  Also, I hit a string of really good reads and started inhaling books in one sitting.

Title links will take you to full reviews.

A Promise For the Baby by Jennifer Lohmann - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Superromance, 2014, Grade = D

• Liked the hero, hated the way he was portrayed as being unreasonable when it was the heroine and her idiot father who drove me up one wall and down the other.

Baring It All by Megan Frampton - Historical romance short story, Loveswept, 2013, Grade = B+

• A very short story that is essentially a love scene.  Loved the tone and style of the writing, a great introduction to the author's voice.

Follow Her Home by Steph Cha - Suspense, Minotaur, 2013, Grade = B-

• Loved that the author cast a 20-something Korean-American girl in the PI role. 

The Man Behind the Mask by Barbara Wallace - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2014, Grade = A-

• An emotional boss-secretary romance (don't judge) with oodles of internal conflict.  Inhaled in one sitting.

The Marshal's Ready-Made Family by Sherri Shackelford - Inspirational historical romance, Love Inspired Historical, 2014, Grade = B

• Town marshal takes custody of his orphaned niece and falls in love with tomboy town telegraph operator.  A cozy small-town historical western with very light inspirational elements.

Yesterday's Echo by Matt Coyle - Suspense, Oceanview, 2013, Grade = B+

• Suspense featuring down-on-luck ex-cop hero who was, at one time, accused of murdering his wife.  Great use of setting (La Jolla, California) and a twisty-turny plot. 

Now and Forever by Logan Belle - Contemporary erotic romance, Moxie, 2014, Grade = A

• Second novella in duet that wraps up a romance left unfinished in the first story.  Wonderful characters, wonderful emotion, loved it.

Killing Cupid by Laura Levine - Cozy mystery, Kensington, 2013, Grade = B

• Latest book in the only cozy mystery series I'm still reading.  Solid, delivered exactly what I wanted and expected.

To Tempt a Viking by Michelle Willingham - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2014, Grade = B-

• A first half that dragged for me (too much rehashing of the first book in the duet) that gave way to a dynamite, angst-filled, gut-wrenching second half.

Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak - Cozy mystery, Doubleday, 2004, Grade = DNF

• Loosey-goosey plotting and characters who didn't behave in a logical manner.  I DNF'ed it around 150 pages and skimmed huge chunks after that to get to the end.

Her Rancher Rescuer by Donna Alward -  Contemporary romance, Harlequin American, 2014, Grade = A

• Good time girl heroine leaves her judgmental small town to take a temporary job at the hero's ranch-slash-corporate retreat.  A story that shines thanks to the author's deft handling of "character growth."  I loved this book.

Sonata for a Scoundrel by Anthea Lawson - Historical romance, Self-published, 2013, Grade = C+

• I loved the concept of this book, but it fell flat on execution for me - mostly in the heroine department.  I wanted, and felt, she should have had more "fire" to her.

Lemon Drop: Deputy!  Turn the hose on her!

Me: Hey ::splutter sputter:: wait a minute!

Lemon Drop: It's for your own good!  Three A grades in one month?  Auntie Wendy, you're getting soft on me.  It just will not do.  You're starting to make The Mean Girls cry.

Me: Sigh.  The "mean girls" are a figment of everybody's imagination.  I'm chalking it up to the Reading Gods taking pity on me and putting a lot of great (and good) reads in my path this month.

Lemon Drop: OK, I suppose.  But pull it together man!  People will start thinking you're nice or something....

Me: Perish the thought /end sarcasm