The Month That Was April 2014

Lemon Drop: Oh my, for me?

Me: You look genuinely surprised kiddo.

Lemon Drop: Oh you really shouldn't have Auntie Wendy!

Me:  Ummmmm......

Lemon Drop: Finally gracing me with your presence.  Whatever did I do to deserve such generosity?

Me:  Sigh.  OK, so I'm a little late.

Lemon Drop:  Ahem.

Me:  OK, a lot late.  I've been busy!

Title links will take you to full reviews

Night Games by Lisa Marie Perry - Contemporary romance, Kimani Romance, 2014, Grade = C

• A story that tried do to "too much" within the category format and because of that the romance suffered.  Oodles of family drama, and intriguing set-up to series however - if that's how you roll.

Every Part of You: Takes Me by Megan Hart - Erotic romance serial novella, St. Martin's Press, 2014, Grade = B-

•  Final installment in serial.  Was disappointed with inclusion of sex club scene (dude, was over those in 2005 but whatever....), and felt the ending was rushed.  But some very good groveling on part of asshat hero.  I love me some groveling.

Stolen Kiss From A Prince by Teresa Carpenter - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2014, Grade = B-

•  A traditional, throw-back sort of read - but I mean that in the best possible way.  What elevated this from typical, royalty, fairy tale fare for me was the heroine's journey.  She finds her voice over the course of the story, and that is exactly what I want out of a book that I fear will be nothing more than a simple Rescue Fantasy.  This one avoids that pitfall.

How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox - Contemporary romance novella, Loveswept, 2013, Grade = B+

• My TBR Challenge read for the month, I really enjoyed this novella!  I loved that the Alpha Hero came off like an actual real person with real-life foibles.  I loved that the sheltered heroine, while maybe a little naive, wasn't brain-dead stupid.  And I loved the small town feel without all the annoying stuff that crops up in small town romances.  I. Want. More.

Fair Play by Deeanne Gist - Inspirational historical romance, Howard Books, 2014, Grade = B-

• I loved the history here, and once again Gist delivers an inspirational story without shoving a religious agenda down my throat.  There were times the characters drove me nutty, mostly with their "we know best" mentality to do-gooding, but also the hero's opinion of the heroine having a career (hey, he was true to his time period though!).  Not my favorite Gist I've read, but solid.  And again, great use of history. 

Lemon Drop:  You've been busy and you've read five books?  Two of which were novellas?  Really?!?!

Me:  You know I do have other obligations besides reading.

Lemon Drop:  Ahem.

Me:  And you.

Lemon Drop:  Like there is anything more important that me!  Pshaw!

Me:  OK, properly chastised.  I'll do better next month.

Lemon Drop:  You better.  My public demands it!

Me: Oh brother.

The Month That Was March 2014

Me: Wow.

Lemon Drop: I picked it out myself! 

Me: You don't say? 

Lemon Drop: Look how well I match Auntie Wendy!  ALL FLOWERS!

Me: How can I argue with that logic?  And the Elton John sunglasses are a nice touch.

Lemon Drop: Always have a statement accessory.

Me: Yeah, definitely what the outfit was missing. How about we talk about what I read last month - is that all right with you Edith Head?

Title links take you to full reviews.

Secrets at Court by Blythe Gifford - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2014, Grade = B+

• A lovely medieval. The author immersed me in the time period without info-dumping and I found the characters really intriguing people. 

Don't Look For Me by Loren D. Estleman - Suspense, Forge, 2014, Grade = B-

• Twenty-third book in long-running series finds PI hero searching for money man's missing wife.  What he finds instead are mobsters, drugs, and a cute young thang who is up to her eyeballs in trouble.  Great writing, great world-building, but found aspects of the ending a little slap-dash.

For His Eyes Only by Liz Fielding - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Kiss, 2014, Grade = C

• Liked the artist hero, and the story does "get better" as it goes along - but heroine made bad first impression and never quite recovered for me.

Natural Law by Joey W. Hill - Erotic BDSM romantic suspense, Ellora's Cave, 2004, Grade = B-

•  Cop hero who is a sub falls for Domme heroine while hunting down a serial killer.  Other than sub aspect, hero is stereotypical Straining His Leash Alpha Cop - which.....ho-hum.  Also, found the suspense elements lacking and frankly a little tacked on.  Would have much rather enjoyed this as pure romance without added serial killer stuff.

His Hometown Girl by Karen Rock - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Heartwarming, 2014, Grade = B

•  Heroine returns to small town she left behind at behest of her employer, a corporate farming conglomerate and spars with hero, the boy she left behind now running his family's farm.  Interesting conflict, great emotional angst, and I'll admit - a few tears leaked out.

Telling Tales by Charlotte Stein - Erotic romance, Sourcebooks, 2014, Grade = B

• Four college friends reunite when their former professor bequeaths them his house. House party meets menage.  What I loved here is that while there's lots of Sexy Times, Stein never loses sight of the primary romance.  Also, great touches of humor throughout - a trademark of Stein's.

Every Part of You: Taunts Me by Megan Hart - Erotic romance serial novella, St. Martin's, 2014, Grade = B

• Third installment in five part serial.  Hero stops denying himself and proposes to heroine that they start dating.  Naturally complications ensue.

Every Part of You: Denies Me by Megan Hart - Erotic romance serial novella, St. Martin's, 2014, Grade = B+

• Fourth installment in five part serial and my personal favorite.  Heroine makes the fatal mistake of falling in love with hero - who naturally ends up breaking her heart.  Oh the angst!  The delicious glorious angst!  I wanted to wallow in it.

The Returning Solider by Soraya Lane - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2014, Grade = C

• The dreaded OK read.  Never felt a lot of chemistry between hero and heroine.  Also found the looming ghost of the heroine's dead husband (the hero's BFF) problematic for buying into the happy ending.  Not awful, but Lane has written better - says me.

Lemon Drop:  Edith Head?

Me:  Never mind.  Your Auntie Wendy is speaking in old fart tongues again......

The Month That Was February 2014

Me:  Um, wow.

Lemon Drop:  I will have you know Auntie Wendy that I picked out this stylish outfit all by myself.

Me:  Well, yeah.  Obviously.

Lemon Drop:  Of course it's obvious!  Mommy is, like, hopeless when it comes to fashion.

Me:  Well you certainly look....colorful?  Yeah, let's go with colorful.

Lemon Drop:  Let's get this show on the road, Mommy and I gots shopping to do!

Me:   Well, yeah.  Obviously.

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Portrait of a Scandal by Annie Burrows - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2014, Grade = C+

• Slow beginning, dynamite middle, tacked on conflict that annoyed at the end.  Loved the Paris setting, loved the business-woman heroine.  Also, hero is fourth son of earl, which is something a little different from the usual proliferation of dukes.

Confessions of a Secret Admirer by Jennifer Ryan, Candis Terry and Jennifer Seasons - Contemporary romance anthology, Avon Impulse, 2014, Grade = D+

• You know how some readers complain about the proliferation of small-town contemporaries?  Um, yeah.  Ryan story = series-itis and it's a prequel novella!  Terry = nice enough but if you're a female character who isn't a heroine watch out!  Seasons = Cute story but a hero who talks like no guy, anywhere.....ever.  Unless he's your 85-year-old grandfather.

Tempts Me by Megan Hart - Part 1 of erotic romance serial, St. Martin's, digital only, 2014, Grade = B

• Sets up the serial, introduces the main characters and like all Hart stories - you get hooked by the characters.

The Initiation of Ms. Holly by K.D. Grace - Erotic romance, Sourcebooks, 2014, Grade = C

• Sex, sex, sex and more sex.  A thin plot, but enough to keep the whole thing going.  What wasn't there?  Character development.  What are these people thinking?  What are they feeling?  Why are they making the choices they are?

His Best Friend's Baby by Molly O'Keefe - Contemporary romance, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2006, Grade = B-

• My TBR Challenge read of the month.  I did think the romance got lost at times with all the delicious angst flying around and that knocked my grade down a bit.  But dang, O'Keefe writes emotion and angst and desire and longing and.....well, everything.....so well.  I inhaled this.

Flashes of Me by Cynthia Sax - Erotic romance novella, Avon Impulse, digital only, 2014, Grade = F

• Telling me the heroine is smart doesn't make her smart.  A bag of rocks has more going for it.  Also, lumpy writing.  Nothing I liked here.

Resists Me by Megan Hart - Part 2 of erotic romance serial, St. Martin's, digital only, 2014, Grade = B

• What I loved about this second installment was how confident the heroine was.  Love her!  Hart is slowly peeling the layers back on her characters and I'm hooked.

The Fall of a Saint by Christine Merrill - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2014, Grade = C

• God bless Merrill, I read her books because I never know what crazy-sauce she's going to throw into the recipe.  This one asks the question - did the hero, in fact, rape the heroine?  I'm still not sure.

More Than She Expected by Karen Templeton - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Special Edition, 2014, Grade = B

• What I love about Templeton's books is how she gives us all this wonderful romance that features "normal" people.  Younger hero starts helping out his newly signal, pregnant, and slightly older than him next-door-neighbor.  

Lemon Drop:  I look fly, I look good....

Me:  Really, Chamillionaire?  

Lemon Drop: Chuck Taylor's killing, Adidas still grooving.....

Me: I just can't even.

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

The Month That Was December 2013

Lemon Drop: ::grumble grumble::  Really?!

Me: What's up cupcake?

Lemon Drop: Auntie Wendy, we need to talk.

Me: Uh oh, this cannot be good.

Lemon Drop:  Every month you talk to me about the books you read....

Me:  And?

Lemon Drop:  And I'm afraid they're giving me unrealistic expectations.

Me: I was right, this cannot be good.  Sigh.  Well let's talk about what I read in December and then we'll address your issues OK?

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Badlands by Jill Sorenson - Romantic suspense, HQN, 2013, Grade = B+

• Third book in series, about a couple I've been DYING to read about since they were introduced in Book #1.  It didn't disappoint.  A great, great read with an uber-wounded hero.

Forged in the Desert Heat by Maisey Yates - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Presents, 2013, Grade = B-

• Hero has inherited the throne but relations are precarious - so when he rescues a neighboring sheikh's betrothed after she's kidnapped he must tread carefully.  A solid read.  Not sure this would change anyone's mind if they don't "like" sheikh stories - but if you do?  This is a good one.

A Christmas to Remember by Kay Stockham - Contemporary romance, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2007, Grade = C

• Heroine's past comes home to roost when the hero who done her wrong returns home from the Army with amnesia.  A lot of promise, but the plot twist pissed me off.

Under a Christmas Spell by Barbara Monajem - Historical paranormal short story, Harlequin Historical Undone, Grade = B

• An incubus and a succubus with a shared past find themselves attending the same Christmas house party.  Liked the holiday atmosphere and the light touch with the paranormal elements.

Under a New Year's Enchantment by Barbara Monajem - Historical paranormal short story, Harlequin Historical Undone, Grade = B-

• The second half of a short story duet, it picks up where Under a Christmas Spell left off.  It details the fallout of the "work" the incubus and succubus have been doing at said house party - and the host and his life-long childhood BFF find themselves unable to resist.

The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton by Viveka Portman - Historical erotic "romance" novella, Escape, 2013, Grade = F

• Burn it!  Burn it with fire!!!!!!!!

Falling for the Highland Rogue by Ann Lethbridge - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2013, Grade = B+

• Bad girl heroine falls for a pretty-boy younger brother who is a whiskey runner.  I loved this story.

Ripped by Sarah Morgan - Contemporary romance novella, Cosmo Red Hot Reads, 2013, Grade = B+

• Chick lit meets romance meets erotic sexy times!  Funny heroine, steamy sexual tension, a fast, fun read.

When the Marquess Met His Match by Laura Lee Guhrke - Historical romance, Avon, 2013, Grade = B-

• Playboy hero needs to marry for money and needs the help of the matchmaker heroine.  Too bad she's not inclined to help a fortune hunter.  Great dialogue, lots of verbal sparring, cannot wait to read next book in series.

Me: Sweetheart, this is fiction and romance novels are a celebration of women, life and love.  Frankly, yes - they should give you unrealistic expectations - and that is not a bad thing.  Because you're worth it.  There's nothing wrong with expecting someone to love you, and love you in a healthy, emotionally fulfilling way.  You should never settle.  You should be happy in your own skin.  Someday, yes - you will hopefully fall in love and when that happens I hope that person treats you well, makes you happy, and is your perfect partner in crime.

Lemon Drop:  Auntie Wendy, what in the world are you talking about?

Me: Ummmmm, what are you talking about?

Lemon Drop: I'm sitting here, trying to read Daddy's book and it is nothing like the books you talk to me about.  Where are the sheikhs?  The cowboys?  The bosses and secretaries?  Dear Lord, there are no secret babies!  Or amnesia!  Where oh where are the secret babies and the amnesia?!?!? 

Me: So your "unrealistic expectations....."

Lemon Drop: I thought all books had secret babies and amnesia!  Daddy's boring ol' science book doesn't have any of the "good stuff" in it!

Me: Well, yes - I can see the problem now.  Honey, the lesson here is never wander near Daddy's bookshelves.  No good will ever come of it.

Lemon Drop: Now you tell me.

The Month That Was November 2013

Me:  Whew!  Sorry it took so long for me to get here kiddo.

Lemon Drop: That's alright Auntie Wendy, I've been keeping plenty busy.

Me: Oh really?  With what?

Lemon Drop:  Two words: Fire. Men.

Me: Oh boy.  It might be time for us to have a little chat.  But before we do that, let's talk about what I read last month.  I spent the Thanksgiving holiday traveling, which meant no work sucking out my soul and a chance to relax.  So I managed to get eight books read last month!

Everything You Need To Know by HelenKay Dimon - Contemporary romance novella, Cosmo Red Hot Reads, 2013, Grade = B-

• Heroine who runs an exclusive online dating site meets her match in one of Washington D.C.'s most notable eligible bachelors.  The pacing felt a little off to me at times, but otherwise good, clean, sexy fun.

Single Dad's Christmas Miracle by Susan Meier - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2013, Grade = C

• Heroine at loose ends takes job tutoring hero's troubled children.  A Mary Poppins romance with plenty of angst, but a wee bit of Magical Thinking and I felt the childrens' "issues" were easily handled with minimal effort.

Rumors That Ruined A Lady by Marguerite Kaye - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2013, Grade = B+

• Good girl listens to her Daddy and marries the man he chooses for her - only to find herself tossed out on her ear with vicious gossip being spread about her.  Riding to the rescue, the hero - who saves her from an opium overdose.  Oodles of angsty goodness.

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran - Historical romance, Pocket, 2008, Grade = B

• My TBR Challenge read for the month.  I loved the first half of this story that takes place in India.  But once the action moves to England in the second half, my interest began to wane.

Backfield in Motion by Jami Davenport - Contemporary romance, Boroughs Publishing, 2013, Grade = B-

• Tomboy heroine with a full plate finds herself hopelessly distracted by the hero, a guy with a pretty boy façade that hides a whole lot of emotional pain.  There are a lot of elements at play here (maybe too many), but the author ties up all her sub plots well.  My only quibble?  The hero is kind of a jerk at times.

Unraveled by the Rebel by Michelle Willingham - Historical romance, Amazon Montlake, 2013, Grade = B

• Heroine with a Big Ol' Secret finds herself dodging the attentions of her childhood sweetheart, the hero.  Lurking in the shadows?  The dastardly villain.  More angst than you can shake a stick at, and I lapped up every glorious bit of it.

Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan - Contemporary romance, HQN, 2013, Grade = B+

• Scrooge heroine agrees to work over Christmas hoping to escape the holiday.  Instead she falls under the spell of the hero and his family.  Loved the small town feel and appreciated that the author didn't bog her story down with a bunch of extraneous saccharine and goofy shenanigans that, sadly, befall a lot of small town single title contemporaries.

Return of the Cowboy Doctor by Lacy Williams - Historical romance, Love Inspired Historical, 2013, Grade = B

• Heroine with dreams of going to medical school finds herself distracted by medical student hero who has returned home to secure additional funds.  A sweet romance that puts a modern "she wants it all" spin on a historical heroine.

Me: Lemon Drop, sweetie - you're only three years old.  Don't grow up too fast.  There will be plenty of time for boys later.

Lemon Drop:  Auntie Wendy, what exactly are you talking about?

Me: You know, your fascination with firemen.....

Lemon Drop:  But I like firemen!  They get to ride around it big red trucks, and wear cool helmets, and even have these cool masks they wear over their faces.  Oooooh, and they can get in water fights whenever they want!

Me:  Oh, so you're not interested in firemen because, um.....

Lemon Drop:  You aren't making any sense Auntie Wendy.

Me:  Never mind.  Carry on.

The Month That Was October 2013

Lemon Drop: Wee-woo, wee-woo, wee-woo!

Me: Cool costume Lemon Drop! 

Lemon Drop: We got a call that your hopes of hitting 100 books read in 2013 are going up in smoke.

Me: Hardy, har, har.  Yeah, it's not looking too good.  Too much working for a living, losing the summer months to baseball season, working for a living.....

Lemon Drop: Well, I'm here.  Stuck waiting for a grown-up to take me out for candy.  Why not tell me abut the pittance you did read?

Me: Only five books in October, which is pretty sad.  I blame work sucking out my brains.  But what I did get read was pretty good.  Nothing outright terrible and woohoo!  I found an A read!

Title links will take you to full reviews.

The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin - Historical Romance, Harlequin Historical, 2013, Grade = B

• Take swashbuckling and frontier-style themes of justice, toss them in a blender, and you get this book.  I enjoyed the action-oriented plot and Lin has this knack for including at least one scene between her romantic couple that damn near rips my guts out.

The Suicide Club by Gayle Wilson - Romantic Suspense, Mira, 2007, Grade = C-

•  My TBR Challenge read for the month.  I liked the idea of the plot, but the execution of said plot, along with the romance, didn't really gel for me. 

Expecting a Bolton Baby by Sarah M. Anderson - Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Desire, 2013, Grade = B-

• Third book in a trilogy featuring motorcycle guy heroes.  I was "over" this trend before it even began, but I liked the way Anderson wrote about these guys.  They don't come off as hairy, tattooed, misogynistic one-trick ponies.  The book was a little heavy on internal monologue for my tastes, and I wanted more dialogue - but a solid, enjoyable read.

A Cadence Creek Christmas by Donna Alward - Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Romance, 2013, Grade = B-

• The last book in this series really didn't work for me, but I had high hopes for this one and I thought the author pulled it off well.  The highlight?  While there is the whole Sparkly Small Towns Will Save Us All vibe, the author doesn't fall into the trap of letting her heroine be "rescued."  In other words?  The heroine solves her own damn problems - and falls in love along the way.

Now Or Never: Part I by Logan Belle - Erotic Romance Novella, Moxie Books, 2013, Grade = A

• The read of the month.  40-year-old woman just diagnosed with breast cancer finds her very own sexual "wingman" in the hero - a guy who trolls AA meetings looking for one-night-stands.  A gut-wrenching read - don't miss it.

Lemon Drop: "Wingman"is that like a pilot?

Me: Uh, go ask your mother....

The Month That Was September 2013

Lemon Drop: Ta da!

Me:  Now where did I leave that chocolate?  And I only have, what?  That many bottles of wine left?  Not nearly enough.  Maybe this romance novel will help....

Lemon Drop:  Ahem!  I understand you had a bad week Auntie Wendy, but snap out of it!  Cuteness!  Right here in front of your face!

Me: Just promise me you won't grow up and be a bitch to anyone who works in the service industries.

Lemon Drop:  Um, do they teach that in preschool?

Me: I'm beginning to feel that way.....

Lemon Drop:  There, there Auntie Wendy.  Don't be such a mopey sad sack.  Tell me about the books you read last month.  Aren't you always telling me that books make everything all better?

Title links take you to full reviews

Louder Than Love by Jessica Topper - Contemporary romance with heavy women's fiction overtones, Berkley, 2013, Grade = C-

• Librarian heroine still grieving for dead husband meets and falls for a former heavy metal rock god.  What was a good idea on paper gets bogged down with wispy conflict and too much internal monologue'ing.  But the parts that are good, are really good (the music "stuff" especially).

Highlanders by Brenda Joyce, Terri Brisbin & Michelle Willingham - Historical romance anthology, Harlequin, 2013, Grade = B-

• Typical anthology, which is to say I found it to be a mixed back.  Read it for the Willingham story, which was the best in the bunch (although the Brisbin fell into my "OK" range).

The Bridge by Rebecca Maher Rogers - Contemporary romance novella, Self-Published, 2013, Grade = B+

• The read of the month.  Hero and heroine meet on the Brooklyn Bridge - where they've both come to commit suicide.  Just trust me on this one.  Click on the title link and read my review.

Spin by Bella Love - Contemporary romance novella, Self-Published, 2013, Grade = B-

• Heroine determined to leave her white trash past behind gets all spun up by the hero, a Small Town Bad Boy. 

Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell - Historical romance, Self-Published, 2010, Grade = B-

• Compelling historical western, but the more I think about the writing the more ticked off I get.  Oh, and Rosie?  You still haven't blogged.

Wish Me Tomorrow by Karen Rock - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Heartwarming, 2013, Grade = B-

• Single father with bone cancer falls for nurse/grief counselor.  A debut with some uneven moments, but a solid emotional core.

The Sweetheart Bargain by Shirley Jump - Contemporary romance, Berkley, 2013, Grade = B

• Heroine looking for answers about her past falls for the injured Coast Guard pilot who lives next door.  The first in a small town contemporary series, cute with an undercurrent of angst.

Lemon Drop:  See?  Don't you feel better already?  And look at all the B reads!

Me: Yeah, I guess I do.  Although having a Harlequin Presents Greek tycoon sweep me off my feet would probably make everything really, really all better.

Lemon Drop:  Ahem, Uncle My Man.  Remember him?

Me:  He's no tycoon.  And he's Irish.  If Harlequin has taught me anything it's that all tycoons are either Greek, Italian or Sicilian. 

Lemon Drop:  You need help Auntie Wendy.  You should go read another romance novel.  And maybe down another glass of fermented grapes while you're at it.....

Me: Don't mind if I do!

The Month That Was August 2013

Me: Whatcha doin' peanut?

Lemon Drop:  Digging in this sandbox, trying to find your mojo Auntie Wendy.

Me: What, just because I can't seem to blog consistently at the moment?

Lemon Drop:  At all.  You can't seem to blog AT ALL at the moment Auntie Wendy.  My public - she awaits!

Me: Drama Queen much?  You know, you could start your own blog.

Lemon Drop:  Ahem.  I'm three.  I can't even spell.

Me:  Well, neither can I!  It didn't stop me!  You keep digging, and I'll tell you about what I read last month.  Well, sort of....

Title links will take you to full reviews

Contest reads I can't talk about just yet (all 2012, links take you to Amazon):

The Dirty Girls Book Club by Susanna Fox - Contemporary Erotic Romance
Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols - Contemporary Young Adult
Nanny For the Millionaire's Twins by Susan Meier - Contemporary, Harlequin Romance
Do You Believe In Magic? by Susan Squires - Paranormal Romance
In Rides Trouble by Julie Ann Walker - Romantic Suspense
A Taste for Scandal by Erin Knightley - Historical Romance
Worth The Risk by Robin Bielman - Contemporary Novella, Entangled Ever After
A Light in the Window by Julie Lessman - Historical Inspirational Romance
Sea Change by Karen White - Contemporary, Romantic Elements

Now, on to books that I can (and did) talk about!

To Sin With A Viking by Michelle Willingham - Harlequin Historical, 2013, Grade = B-

• His arranged marriage imploding, the hero finds twu wuv with a half-starved Irish gal whose younger brother kidnapped the hero's wife.  Sounds unsavory, but the author handles the angst well.  Plus, the wife is getting her own romance early next year.

Training The Receptionist by Juniper Bell - Erotic romance novella, 2010, Samhain, Grade = B+

• It requires you to completely kick reality out the door, but I really enjoyed this first novella in a trilogy featuring an aimless 20-something who takes the world's kinkiest receptionist job.  

Let Me Go by Chelsea Cain - Suspense, 2013, Minotaur, Grade = B

• Latest book in series featuring a painkiller popping homicide detective and the female serial killer who loves to toy with him.  I inhaled it, and not sorry I read it, but not as enjoyable as some of the others in the series.

Roping The Wrangler by Lacy Williams - Love Inspired Historical, 2013, Grade = B-

• A sweet historical western that finds a schoolmarm and a man from her past getting thrown together to help out three underprivileged kidlets.  Warm, fuzzy, but felt the wrap-up with the villain left too many dangling threads.

Lemon Drop:  Thirteen books?!?  You lost your mojo because you've had your nose in a dang book all month long.

Me: More like Auntie Wendy went on vacation and now she's trying to readjust to being back in her cruel, cruel reality.

Lemon Drop: Now who's the drama queen?

The Month That Was July 2013

Me: Mmmmmm, ice cream!  Can I have some?

Lemon Drop: Ha!  As if!  Mommy thinks this is her secret stash of ice cream, but I found it!

Me: But, but, but....can't I have some?  ::sadface::

Lemon Drop:  Sigh.  I suppose.  But only after you tell me what you read last month Auntie Wendy.  And just so long as you stop pouting.....

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Diamonds In The Rough by Portia Da Costa - Historical erotic romance, HQN, 2013, Grade = C

• I've liked her short stories, but Da Costa's full-length historicals have been mixed for me.  Loved the heroine, was less thrilled with hero, and never really bought into the romance.

A Cowboy's Pride by Pamela Britton - Contemporary romance, Harlequin American, 2013, Grade = B-

• Injured rodeo cowboy falls for physical therapist.  Great emotional struggle for both characters but the We Don't Have Any Condoms sex scene got on my last hot nerve.

Rancher To The Rescue by Jennifer Faye - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2013, Grade = D+

•  Liked hero.  Liked the relationship he had with his grandmother.  Hated the heroine with the passion of a thousand blazing suns.  I cannot stand reading about women who won't help themselves and that's this cupcake in a nutshell.

The Man Behind The Pinstripes by Melissa McClone - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2013, Grade = B+

•  Heroine With A Past runs up against a distrustful hero when she starts working for his grandmother.  Great heroine!

To Have A Wilde by Kimberly Kaye Terry - Contemporary romance, Kimani Romance, 2013, Grade = DNF

• I gave up on this one out of sheer boredom.  By Chapter Six (in a category romance no less!) the hero and heroine still hadn't spent any meaningful time together and the lack of dialogue made all the internal lusting a slog to wade through.  

High Noon by Nora Roberts - Romantic suspense, Putnam, 2007, Grade = B-

•  The perfect cure for a DNF was diving into a Nora Roberts book.  I just felt like I was in the hands of a pro.  The hero and heroine were both a little too perfect for me - but I loved the suspense in this one, and really enjoyed reading about the heroine's job.

Paradise Valley by Rosanne Bittner - Historical western romance, Sourcebooks, 2013, Grade = B-

•  Wonderful, gritty, frontier-style setting with plenty of action.  Was less enamored with the romance which seemed rushed to me.

His Uptown Girl by Liz Talley - Contemporary romance, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2013, Grade = A

•  Young widow finds romance in post-Katrina New Orleans with younger musician hero.  Wonderful romance with plenty of emotionally charged dialogue.

A Cowboy To Come Home To by Donna Alward - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2013, Grade = B

• A story that should have been a train-wreck, but wasn't.  Yes, the heroine is determined to get pregnant at all costs.  Yes, it's a reunion story featuring an unrequited high school crush.  But the author avoids all the crap that can crop up in stories of this ilk that annoy the heck out of me.  Not a favorite of mine by Alward, but really solid.

Me: OK, where's my ice cream?

Lemon Drop: Geez, one track mind Auntie Wendy.  Just don't tell Mommy.

The Month That Was June 2012

Lemon Drop:  Owwww!  Auntie Wendy you're hurting me!

Me: Don't look down.  Don't let go.  Why the hell did I think walking the Golden Gate Bridge was a good idea?

Lemon Drop: Too much wine at dinner last night?

Me: That's probably it.

Lemon Drop:  Why don't I distract you Auntie Wendy?  Tell me about the books you read last month!

Me: Good idea.  ::looks down:: Oh God, why did I do that?

The Beauty Within by Marguerite Kaye - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2013, Grade = B

• Spinster heroine too smart for her own good falls for an Italian artist commissioned to paint a portrait of her rambunctious half-brothers.  Interesting characters, with a well-done "beauty in the eye of the beholder" theme.  If you're looking for more historicals featuring non-titled characters?  Yeah, this one.

An Invitation To Sin by Sarah Morgan - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Presents, 2013, Grade = B+

• Second book in a continuity series (but it stands alone well - promise!) featuring a bad girl heroine who falls for a bad boy hero.  Think Lindsey Lohan (but not nearly as screwed up) falling for a hot-shot Italian fashion designer and you'll get the gist.

Beta Read by An Online Bud - Steampunk romance, Grade = C

• Was asked to read this book not so much for the steampunk stuff, but just to take a good look at the characterizations.  Good bones here, good story idea.  Did think there could have been some more polish in certain areas, and sent back notes.  As it stood though?  The author has already found "average."  More work and this could easily see publication and be a solid B read - says me.

Freefall by Jill Sorenson - Romantic suspense, HQN, 2013, Grade = B-

• Good action and adventure, and I loved the tortured main romantic couple.  Was less enthralled with the secondary romance, which just - ugh, annoyed me.  Probably would have been a C grade normally, but damn, I'm loving this series/world so much that it tipped me back to B territory.

Patrick Gallagher's Widow by Cheryl Reavis - Contemporary romance, Silhouette Special Edition, 1990, Grade = B+

• A RITA winner from 1991, and my TBR Challenge read for June.  Loved the main romantic couple, loved how Reavis didn't make the heroine a "token widow," and thought the suspense aspects of the book were well handled.  Only quibble?  Some of the secondary characters bordered on caricature.

Lemon Drop:  This bridge is pretty awesome.  To think it was built in the 1930s!  And it's been standing all this time.  Technology not being what it is today....

Me: Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick....

Lemon Drop:  There, there Auntie Wendy.  Let's get you home.  Mild mannered librarians just aren't cut out for this dare-devil stuff.  Geez, what would you do if you really were Batgirl?

Me: Never leave the ground floor of the Gotham Public Library.

The Month That Was May 2013

Me: Hey, everybody thinks you'll go far - are you going to be a rock and roll star?

Lemon Drop: Mommy said I should take some time and learn how to play....

Me: Well at this rate you're more likely to go country, holding it slide style.  Do you want to kill your Mommy?

Lemon Drop:  Well, it could be worse.  I figure it's learn to rock out on the guitar or get myself an autotune machine, low-rise jeans, say y'all a lot and be the next Britney Spears.

Me: So you want to kill your parents, your aunts and your grandparents.  You are a devious little monkey.  Why don't we put your musical ambitions on the back burner for now and talk about what your Aunt Wendy read last month.  I only finished six books in May - but four of them were Bs!  Woo Hoo!

Title links will take you to full reviews.

The Greatest Of Sins by Christine Merrill - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2013, Grade = D+

• Appreciated the risks the author took, but the fact that the non-blood-related hero and heroine were raised together, as siblings, from the time the heroine was born hit my personal ick button.  Chalk it up to me having an adopted niece growing up with her younger brother (who is biologically linked to the Wendy family gene pool).  My brain, it didn't want to go there....

Down By Contact by Jami Davenport - Contemporary romance, Boroughs Publishing, Digital only, 2013, Grade = B

• Book three in series featuring an uncouth NFL linebacker hero in need of etiquette lessons and the former mean girl who done him wrong in high school.  Good conflict, zippy story, I inhaled this in one sitting.

A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss - Contemporary romance, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2013, Grade = B

• Soldier hero returns from the dead to find out the girl who done him wrong is claiming to be his fiancee.  Author does a good job of crawling inside the characters' and I understood these people even though there were times I wanted to shake 'em 'til their teeth rattled.

The Drifter by Susan Wiggs - Historical romance, Mira, 1998, Grade = B

• My TBR Challenge read for the month.  Doctor heroine gets some excitement when the hero shows up, in the dead of night, and kidnaps her to help his sick "wife."  Sympathetic characters with interesting baggage.

How To Seduce A Sheikh by Marguerite Kaye - Historical romance short story, Harlequin Historical Undone, Digital only, 2013, Grade = C+

• French heroine is rescued by sexy sheikh after she's put up for sale at a slave market.  Great use of setting and likable characters - but thought the conflict was too much for a short story.

The First Move by Jennifer Lohmann - Contemporary romance, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2013, Grade = B+

• Emotionally closed off heroine still living with a fateful decision she made as a teenager finds her life upended by the hero, a guy she went to high school with whom she didn't know existed at the time.  I had issues with the hero and romance, but as a "heroine's journey" this story was absolutely fabulous.

Lemon Drop: You really should reconsider my Britney Spears idea Aunt Wendy.  I mean, she's as dense as a bag of hair - but she is rich.  Rich enough to support her ingrate relatives.....

Me: Ahhh, I think I understand now grasshopper.  

Lemon Drop: That dream gig you fantasize about when you're on your third glass of wine.  Yeah, once I'm rich and famous I'd totally hire you to read romance novels and watch Law & Order reruns. 

Me: The student surpasses the teacher.  Why not?  I figure you have as much of a shot at being the next Britney Spears as your cousin, The Flash, does of playing for the Detroit Tigers.  Solid retirement planning on my part.

Lemon Drop:  Oh, and do my laundry.  And clean my mansion.  And just be at my general beck and call.  I won't ask you to cook though - because, like, whoa......

Me: On second thought....maybe not.

The Month That Was April 2013

Me: Well look who is Queen For A Day!  April was someone's happy birthday month, wasn't it?

Lemon Drop: What do you mean, Queen For A Day? 

Me: Just that you had a birthday this past month, and I'm sure you got all kinds of nice presents and cards and even had a birthday dinner with Memaw and Papaw....

Lemon Drop:  What do you mean, Queen For A Day?

Me: Ohhhhhkay then.  Um, how about we belatedly celebrate your birthday with the knowledge that Aunt Wendy kept chugging through the Reading Slump From Hell?  Only five books, but I'm like the Little Engine That Could!

Title links will take you to full reviews

The Magic Of His Touch by Barbara Monajem - Historical romance short story ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2013, Grade = B-

• Plain Jane heroine desperate to avoid aunt's matchmaking decides to perform May Day ritual to unmask her one true love.  She ends up catching the eye of the hero, who is Pretend-Engaged to her cousin.  A farcical bit of fluff with some charm.

Bewitched By His Kiss by Barbara Monajem - Historical romance short story ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2013, Grade = D

• Heroine who thinks superstitious folklore is a bunch of nonsense falls for Magical Thinking hero.  Liked both these characters in first story, but in their own romance they annoyed me.  Also, the whole "magical thinking" thing on the hero's part smacks of "soul mates" which I abhor!

Seducing the Duchess by Ashley March - Historical romance, Signet, 2010, Grade = B+

• After three years in a loveless, sham marriage the heroine is determined to get a divorce.  The fly in the ointment?  The hero has just realized he's in love with his wife.  A book not without flaws, but I loved the combative, sparring dialogue and the fact that the heroine gave as good as she got.

Hurricane Lily by Rebecca Rogers Maher - Contemporary romance novella, Self-Published, 2013, Grade = B

• Working class hero falls for neurotic poor little rich girl.  Loved the baggage, loved that the characters were class-conscious, and liked that not all their issues were solved thanks to the power of amazing sex.  A good, solid story.

A Time For Change by Aimee & David Thurlo - Contemporary romantic suspense, Tor, 2013, Grade = C-

• A slog of a read.  Hero returns home after his father is murdered and reunites with the girl who broke his heart in high school.  Interesting heroine, but a hero who suffers from PMS.  I also found the tone of this story all over the frickin' place.  One minute it's a dark, gritty suspense, the next it's a cutesy-wootsy small town romance.  Good Southwest flavor and interesting suspense, but not much else.

Lemon Drop: I am Queen Of Everything All The Time!!!!!!  Just ask Mommy.

Me: Look, kiddo - it's good that you have a healthy self-esteem and all, but nobody likes a self-absorbed prima donna.

Lemon Drop: Says the woman who routinely bills herself as "Queen Librarian Of The Universe."

Me: I have no idea what you're talking about....

Mutter, mutter, dammit.

Outwitted by a three-year-old.

Lemon Drop:  Again.

Me: Sigh

The Month That Was March 2013

Lemon Drop: You can smile all you want Cinderella, it doesn't change the fact that I'm leaving here with those shoes.

Cinderella: Do you have any idea what I did to get these shoes?  A wicked stepmother, two wicked stepsisters, and dear Lord I had to be friends with mice.  Mice!

Lemon Drop:  Pfft, dress-making mice.

Cinderella: They're still mice.  The shoes are mine cupcake.

Me: Ahem, while you two are living out some weird shoe fetish - might I remind you that nobody has it worse than I do.  In the middle of a reading slump, I only managed to read four books last month.  Four!

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Must Like Kids by Jackie Braun - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Kiss, 2013, Grade = B-

• Liked seeing a single mother heroine in a non-traditional role, and an enjoyable hero who has more depth than first meets the eye.  The story lost a little footing for me towards the end, but still an enjoyable read.

A Marriage-Minded Man by Karen Templeton - Contemporary romance, Silhouette Special Edition, 2009, Grade = B

• Reunited lovers story from the typically consistent (for me) Templeton.  Heroine with trust issues reunites with the hero who broke her heart many years before.  She's now a divorced single Mom with two little kidlets, and he's a local contractor who's not all that sure he's ready for an instant family.

Sins of a Ruthless Rogue by Anna Randol - Historical romance, Avon, 2013, Grade = C+

• I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, but this follow-up was a letdown.  Thin romance, superficial characters, saved somewhat by an interesting locale (a large chunk of the story takes place in Russia).

A Rake To Ruin Her by Julia Justiss - Historical romance, Harlequin Historical, 2013, Grade = C-

• Liked the banter between the couple, but was pretty much bored by the rest of the story.  A heroine who doesn't want to marry, so decides to ruin herself.  I didn't buy into her complete lack of all things society, and her desire to hold out for a childhood BFF to return from India in case she has to marry grated on my nerves.  Toss in her belief in a "curse" (women in her family tend to die in childbirth - which I know is a legitimate fear but has been so overdone in historicals that now I just roll my eyes....) and yeah, I'm out.  Did like that the hero was a disgraced diplomat though.  

Lemon Drop: Auntie Wendy is right Cinderella.  It's silly to fight over a pair of shoes.

Cinderella: I agree.  If there is one lesson you should take away from all of this?  Don't wait around for a fairy godmother to give you a cool pair of shoes and bag a prince.  Go to college.  Conquer the world.  Make your own pair of shoes.

Lemon Drop:  That's a great idea.  Lemon Drop's Fairy Tale Footwear.  Sparkly sneakers that light up for all ages.  Can those mice make shoes?

Cinderella: Oh no.  You're not hiring away the mice!  Now that I'm a princess, I need all the gowns I can get!

Me: Oh boy, here we go again.....

The Month That Was February 2013

Lemon Drop:  Let's see what Auntie Wendy is up to....

Wendy:  Umm.....

Lemon Drop:  ::scrolling::  Geez, what's with the lack of posts Auntie Wendy?  This place is like The Dead Zone.

Wendy: Which would be why you are here cupcake!  To save my bacon!  To give me blog filler content!  Let's take a look at what I managed to get read last month.

Title links will take you to full reviews

Undone By The Duke by Michelle Willingham - Historical Regency romance, Amazon Montlake, 2013, Grade = C+

• The start of a new series featuring four sisters.  A mixed bag read for me.  I liked the heroine, I liked the way the author handled some of the historical aspects, and I liked that the author gave us points of view from many of the secondary players.  Was less enthralled with the hero and some of the pacing.

A Dangerous Liaison With Detective Lewis by Jillian Stone - Historical Victorian romance, Pocket, 2012, Grade = D+

• Liked the plot (especially the Industrial Revolution-driven suspense thread), didn't like either of the main characters.  A problem since, you know, this is a romance novel.

Little Cowgirl On His Doorstep by Donna Alward - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2013, Grade = D+

• This breaks my heart because it's the first Alward I've read that I didn't like.  Resented the way the Dead Sister was portrayed in this book.  Glamorous, Sexy, Well-Put-Together = One Night Stand Material.  Girl-Next-Door, Homey, Bakes Cupcakes For A Living (Seriously!) = Perfect Mate For The Hero.  I spent the whole novel feeling sorry for the Dead Sister and came to resent the fact that she was dead and therefore was never going to get her own happy ending. 

One Less Lonely Cowboy by Kathleen Eagle - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Special Edition, 2013, Grade = B-

• The romance didn't light my world on fire, but Eagle writes such nice, interesting characters that it's hard to quibble.  Loved the depiction of the hero's occupation, and loved the family dynamic between the aging father in poor health and the heroine, a woman who made some bad choices when she was a teenager.

Sold To The Enemy by Sarah Morgan - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Presents, 2013, Grade = B-

• I like the way Morgan plays around in the Category Romance Trope Sandbox, but I did have quibbles with this one.  A strong first half that sort of faded down the stretch.  Also, I found the heroine's relentless optimism a little hard to swallow considering she'd spent her entire life under the thumb of a domineering father.

Promoted: To Wife And Mother by Jessica Hart - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2008, Grade = A

• My TBR Challenge read for February - the book that saved my dismal reading month.  Great Alpha heroine (who is 40!) paired up with a widower hero with three teenage kids.  A wonderful story about grown-ups with grown-up problems.

A Real Cowboy by Sarah M. Anderson - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Desire, 2013, Grade = C+

• Nice characters, nice setting - I just thought the Hollywood back-story could have used some more work.  Also, I expect a woman with the heroine's background to have a bit more gumption.  OK, any gumption would have been nice.  An OK read, but this author has written better.

Did Not Finish (DNFs) this month were:

Lawless by Patricia Potter - Historical western romance, Bantam, 1991

• Only read about 50 pages before realizing I didn't care and wasn't interested.  A heroine who rescues every damn stray that falls her way, a wounded hero who sticks around even though he should tell the villain to shove it, and a horde of plot moppet kidlets.  I didn't read anything outright offensive or "bad" - it just wasn't my thing and I moved on to something else.

A Private Duel With Agent Gunn by Jillian Stone - Historical Victorian romance, Pocket, 2012

• Read about a third of the book and realized that I was having the exact same issues with this story as I did with the other Stone novel I tried this month.  An interesting plot saddled with characters who behaved in a manner I found unbelievable.  The heroine thinks the hero is responsible for her brother's death and she's bantering with him?!  The hero supposedly suffers from PTSD, used to have a problem with opium, and yet he flirts, banters and doesn't brood?!  I mean, at all?!?!?!  Yeah, moving on.  I suspect this is a series that just isn't going to be for me.

Lemon Drop: Someone pass the Baby Xanax!  What a.....well, this wasn't a very good month Auntie Wendy.  No wonder your blogging has slacked off.  You need help!

Me: Yes.  Yes, I do.  What do you propose?

Lemon Drop: Duh.  More pictures of me!  Oh, like this one for instance.....

Me: Really?  Your solution to me breaking out of my reading slump is to post more pictures of you?

Lemon Drop: The cuteness, it will distract people.

Me: Or, you know, I could force myself to sit down and actually get some reading done.  I'm bound to find a good book eventually.

Lemon Drop:  Pffft, like that will work!

Me: Crazier things have been known to happen.

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.....

The Month That Was December 2012

Lemon Drop: Under my umbrella...ella, ella, ay, ay, ay....

Me: Oh Lord, make it stop!

Lemon Drop: It's Rihanna Auntie Wendy!  You need to get hip with the new school yo.

Me: Can't you sing Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head?  That's a nice song.  A nice song that doesn't send Auntie Wendy shrieking into the other room.

Lemon Drop: Sure I could, if you want to hear Old Lady Music ::sniff::

Me: I'm going to ignore that, but only because your Hello Kitty umbrella is almost as cute as you are.

Lemon Drop: Never!

Me: I'm sorry, I shouldn't have even suggested such a travesty.  Anyhoodle, how about I tell you what I read last month?  December means Auntie Wendy is busy, so I read a lot of short books this month, including several short stories.

Title links go to full reviews.

The Rules of Engagement by Ally Blake - Harlequin Presents, 2012, Grade = D

• Commitment-phobe heroine has fling with hero, develops feelings, and then when he finds out she has three broken engagements it all blows up in her face.  Really, really thin conflict made this a slog of a read for me.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Hero With Money And Parent Issues, Heroine With Daddy Issues, Commitment-Phobia, Wise-Crackin' BFF.

Front Page Affair by Mira Lyn Kelly - Harlequin Presents, 2011, Grade = B

• Old money heroine agrees to help new money hero out of a jam by pretending they've been having a secret torrid affair for the benefit of the snooping paparazzi.  The fly in the ointment?  She's had a monster crush on him since they were kids.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Friends To Lovers, New Money Hero, Old Money Heroine, Disapproving Family

The Lady Who Broke The Rules by Marguerite Kaye - Historical romance, Harlequin, 2012, Part of Series, Grade = B

• Disgraced daughter of a Duke finds herself attracted to an American businessman who also happens to be a freed slave.  A very tricky set-up, with very tricky characters, which I thought the author handled very well.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Disgraced Heroine, Asshole Ex, Neglectful Father, Battle Ax Aunt, Merchant Hero (The Horror!)

Home For Christmas by Carrie Weaver - Harlequin SuperRomance, 2005, Part of Series, Grade = B-

• Single mother heroine looking for a fresh start is dismayed to find herself attracted to a man who is all wrong for her - a thrice-married single father to a surly teenage daughter.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Heroine Done Wrong, Plot Moppet Tot, Playboy Hero, Surly Teenager, Single Dad, Single Mom

Woman In A Sheikh's World by Sarah Morgan - Harlequin Presents, 2012, Part of Series, Grade = B

• Heroine has to plan a party for her former lover (the sheikh) and his virgin bride.  She's not over him and thinks once he's married she'll be able to move on.  Then he shows up on her doorstep with the announcement that his bride has run away.  Uh oh.  Two headstrong characters that need to learn to put their pride aside in the name of finding happiness.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Busy Business Lady Heroine, Sheikh Hero, Don't Rein Me In!, Runaway Bride

Lady of Shame by Ann Lethbridge - Historical romance, Harlequin, 2012, Part of Series, Grade = B+

• Disgraced younger sister of a Duke returns home with her daughter only to fall in love with the resident chef.  Lovely story, really enjoyed it.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Disgraced Widow Heroine, One Kidlet, Working Class Hero, Big Secret

Maid Until Midnight by Joanne Rock - Historical romance short story ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2012, Grade = C+

• Nice, steamy medieval story that features a hero who kidnaps his intended bride after her father welshes on the deal.  Liked the characters, but felt certain aspects of the story were too "big" for the short word count.

To Undo A Lady by Christine Merrill - Historical romance short story ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2012, Grade = D

• Heroine on the run lands at a theater where the hero is looking for a new actress to replace the ungrateful wench that just up and left him.  Really loved the setting of this one, but the author takes a risk to resolve the conflict that just didn't work for me.

His Wicked Christmas Wager by Annie Burrows - Historical romance short story ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2012, Grade = B-

• Heroine enters into wager with hero in order to get him to come to the wedding of her sister and his brother.  The problem?  Yeah, she broke his wee lil' heart years ago and he's a mite bitter.  Good, but wished it were a little bit longer.  Review forthcoming at TGTBTU.

An Illicit Temptation by Jeannie Lin - Historical romance short story ebook, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2012, Grade = B

•  Heroine masquerading as a princess falls for the man charged with taking her to her intended groom's homeland safely.  A tie-in to Lin's full-length My Fair Concubine, a very solid short story.  Review forthcoming at TGTBTU.

Letting Go by Sarah McCarty - Erotic romance short story ebook, Spice Briefs, 2012 reprint from 2007, Grade = D

• Oh joy, another BDSM story.  NOT!  A heroine I seriously wanted to maim.  Or shoot.  Or just beat over the head with some good ol' fashioned blunt force trauma.  Review forthcoming at TGTBTU.

Lemon Drop: Short stories?  Isn't that like cheating?

Me: You've been talking to your Uncle again.  Hey, it got me to 100 books read on the year.  My blog.  My record keeping.  My rules.

Lemon Drop: Geez, okay, okay.  Mental note: never call Auntie Wendy old and never question her record keeping, no matter how dubious it is.....

Me: Now you're learning.....