OPI James Bond Skyfall Collection

I'm not sure if you guys know this, but I am a huge makeup geek, and I especially love nail polish. I am also a sucker for packaging and theme collections, which is why I am super excited about the 007 Skyfall Collection that OPI is putting out next month in conjunction with the next James Bond film. I've actually never read any of the Ian Fleming books on which the Bond movies are based, and I think I need to rectify this soon. Below is the press release from OPI.

Move over Pussy Galore, OPI's new 007 range of lacquer, Skyfall is definitely shaken but not stirred! 

OPI celebrates 50 years of the style, swagger and the mystique associated with Bond 007 movies through the release of a very special James Bond 007 range, Skyfall.  Inspired by the film’s blend of glamour and danger, the OPI Skyfall Collection consists of 12 dangerously stunning nail lacquers with each shade titled after one of the box office smash hit 007 movies. 

As with all OPI movie collaborations, the colours are a perfect match to their namesake.
The next highly-anticipated twenty-third instalment of the 007 James Bond movies, Skyfall, stars Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and new bond girl Bérénice Marlohe.  In the movie Bond girl, actress Bérénice Marlohe wears two of OPI’s Skyfall shades, Skyfall, a rich shade of maroon chocolate, painted on top of the nail and GoldenEye, a shimmering gold, painted on the undersides.  This highly-anticipated twenty-third installment SkyFall, opens in cinemas nationwide on 22^nd November, 2012. 

From metallic and glitter finishes to jewel tones and almost black, these lacquers capture the film’s glamorous appeal and sophistication.

the full collection

I haven't seen any of these in person yet but from the promo pics I am most excited for On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Live and Let Die, The World is Not Enough, and Tomorrow Never Dies. As you can see, I like greys and blues. Those reds look fun but I need to see them in person.

I know movie tie ins are cheesy but I can't help it. I loved the Hunger Games collection that China Glaze did earlier in the year and I totally want the new True Blood cookbook. Call me a sucker. I am hoping to get my hands on some of these polishes soon. When I do, I'll post some pics for you all. I also want to get some for a James Bond themed giveaway, so let's hope my beauty supply shop gets these in soon. 

What do you guys think? Do you love or hate movie/book tie in products? Are there any good collaborations you can think of or any particularly bad ones? I'd love to know. Thanks for stopping by!

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*images in this post are not mine and belong to their respective owners

By My Side - Review

By My Side (From This Day/Temptation) by Nora Roberts

Publication date: 01 September 2006 by Silhouette

ISBN 10/13: 037328537X | 9780373285372
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

Category: Adult contemporary romance
Keywords: Contemporary, romance, summer, anthology
Format: Mass market paperback
Source: Library

From Goodreads: 

"From This Day"

When B. J. Clark, manager of the Lakeside Inn, met the new owner, Taylor Reynolds, she was fully prepared to dislike him. She feared--and with good reason--that he planned to transform her lovely, sleepy old hotel into a resort for jet-setters. But when sparks flew between them, B.J. soon found herself torn between her professional antagonism and her growing attraction to the man she had sworn to despise.

"Temptation"

Socialite Eden Carlbough didn't expect running a girls' camp to be easy, but she never thought she'd literally be run up an apple tree by the little monsters--nor did she think she'd come crashing down into the capable arms of orchard owner Chase Elliot. Chase knew he'd caught a windfall when he looked at the woman in his arms. He didn't like being cast as the serpent, but how could he resist when she'd just offered him such forbidden fruit?

Review:

From This Day - 2 stars

This is one of those repackaged 2 for 1 collections of older Nora Roberts stories. Reading From This Day, it’s clear that this was written in another era because there are things in this book that modern romance readers will probably not enjoy. First of all, the male lead Taylor, is a tool. Don’t get me wrong. I love an confident, somewhat arrogant alpha male any day. But Taylor crosses that fine line between confident bad boy and domineering chauvinist. He breezes into town, demanding explanations and threatening changes, all the while calmly telling B.J. that it’s only a matter of time before he gets her into bed. And while I usually appreciate a man who goes after the woman, Taylor was just too forceful and didn't take any of B.J.’s feelings into consideration. There were times, too, where he would flash hot and cold, kissing her passionately one moment and then pushing her away the next. There was an explanation for it at the end but it didn't make much sense to me. He would also have these odd flashes of anger and violence that were never explained. I think part of the problem is that the book is told from B.J.’s point of view so we never get a glimpse of what Taylor is thinking. We have no clue what his internal struggles might be and indeed, we learn almost nothing about his past. Without any context for his actions, I can only take them at face value. It made no sense to me why B.J. would have fallen in love with him.

It’s also strange that that B.J. is is described as being very young looking. Taylor actually mistakes her for a teenager when he first meets her. But then she puts on grown up clothes and everything goes on as normal. Then at the very, very end after all the misunderstandings are understood and they are about to live happily ever after, Taylor stares into her eyes and tells her that she looks like a child, that she has a child’s lips. Ew, creepy. 

I’d skip this one unless you’re a Nora Roberts completionist. I didn’t feel any connection between the two main characters and didn't like the male lead at all. 

Temptation - 3 stars

The second story in this collection is much more of what I was expecting from Nora Roberts. Set at a girls’ summer camp, it is a quick, sweet read with a little bit of heat to keep it interesting. Eden is a very likable heroine. Once a spoiled socialite, she has lost everything, including her fiancee who ditched her as soon as scandal hit her name. Even though she’s grown up with a silver spoon, she isn’t snobbish or mean. Though not accustomed to work, she doesn’t shy away from working hard and is intent on making the camp succeed and proving herself. 

Chase is sexy and just the right amount of confident. He pursues Eden but it never veers into stalker territory. There’s also just something super hot about a guy who outdoors and knows how to use his hands. The romance between Chase and Eden believable and they had some great chemistry. 

I also really enjoyed the camp setting. I never got to go to camp as a child but it make me think of those movies from the 80’s set in summer camp, complete with the troublemaker campers and food fights. A very fun, quick read.

Overall:

Averaging the rating for these stories this collection would be 2.5 stars. However, I am bumping it up to 3 stars (since there are no half stars) and because I liked the second story. I recommend skipping From This Day and going straight to Temptation.

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Visit the author online at www.noraroberts.com 

The Duke & I - Review

The Duke & I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn

Publication date: 05 January 2000 by Avon

ISBN 10/13: 0739407740 | 978-0739407745

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Historical Romance
Keywords: Historical, romance, regency, family
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: Library

From Goodreads:

Relentlessly pursued by match-making mamas and their charges, Simon Bassett, the handsome Duke of Hastings, has grown tired of the societal chase. Tired too is the lovely Daphne Bridgerton, whose matrimonially minded mother is set on finding her daughter the perfect husband. Neither Simon nor Daphne is happy with this annoying state of affairs and both would give anything for a little peace and quiet. Their mutual wish for a respite from the ton's marriage mart leads to a pretend engagement--a scheme that is threatened with exposure by Daphne's suspicious older brother, who happens to know Simon's way with women very well. The two never anticipated that a mutual attraction would lead to the very thing they set out to avoid--a wedding. But Simon fears that his painful past may keep him from being able to truly love anyone. And though Daphne cares for him deeply, she won't settle for anything less than his heart.

Thuy's Review:

I don’t know why I put off reading this series for so long. I’d heard really great things about it and it sounded right up my alley. After reading a series of only so so historicals, I decided to start The Duke & I. Just a tip for those who haven’t read it - be smarter than me and don’t start reading this book after midnight. Because if you do, you’ll probably end up staying up until 4:30am trying to finish it before succumbing to sleep.

What can I say except that I loved this book? Simon and Daphne were both fantastic characters and I fell in love with both of them. Simon, intense and brooding, is still living in the shadow of his father’s disdain. I really felt for Simon and the damage that his father caused. I felt sad for the little boy that Simon was once and I fell in love with the man that he became. Bright and gregarious, Daphne is the perfect match for Simon. She doesn’t allow him to be too serious and her intelligence is a match for his. Their rapport was immediate and I enjoyed their quick banter. I truly felt like they had an emotional connection that had me, as a reader, fully invested in their relationship.

I had so much fun getting to know the entire Bridgerton clan. The large, loving, and extremely boisterous family made me laugh with their antics. All of the Bridgerton men sound quite dashing and I want to know more about them. I also enjoyed Lady Danbury and the gossip pieces by Lady Whistledown at the beginning of every chapter.

This is my first Julia Quinn book and won’t be my last. I enjoyed her writing and the dialogue especially. The book was surprisingly funny and there was a good mix of humor, romance, and angst. The writing seemed very modern, which is unusual in historical novels, but I liked it. The book flowed really well and, as I said, I stayed up half the night because I could not stop reading. The Duke & I is one of my new favorites and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Bridgerton series.

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Visit the author online at www.juliaquinn.com and Facebook

Fool Moon - Audiobook Review

Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher
audiobook read by Jim Marsters

Publication date: 09 January 2001 by Ace/Roc

ISBN 10/13: 0451458125 | 9780451458124
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, paranormal, mystery, murder, werewolves
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Library

From Goodreads:

Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work—magical ormundane.

But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.

A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses—and the first two don't count.

Thuy's Review:

In this second installment to The Dresden Files, Harry finds himself in yet another sticky situation. When a slew of murders occur on the full moon with paw prints found next to the mutilated bodies, Harry is hired by the police to help find the killer before the next full moon and killing spree. The investigation leads him down an unexpected path and Harry finds himself caught between the law, the mob, and more than one pack of supernatural creatures that want him dead.

This time, Harry finds himself tangled up with werewolves in a complicated plot that has him playing both sides. Harry is the same as ever – sarcastic and just trying to pay the bills. He’s also got this pesky sense of honor that gets him into a lot of trouble. Sometimes I feel like he plays the part of the martyr a bit much and he has enough angst for most of Chicago. At one point, Murphy calls him on his hero complex, which is priceless. But I like that Harry tries to do the right thing, even though it’s not always the smart thing. The werewolf plot was interesting but there were too many different kinds of werewolves to keep track of. They all kind of blended together at one point. And is it just me or is the idea that a person can turn into a werewolf with the aid of a belt somewhat unromantic?

I was glad to see that Murphy was back on the case. She’s tough as nails and I love her. She and Harry have a complicated relationship that gets even more so in this book. Susan also makes an appearance and Marconi is never far when there’s trouble. We don’t see much of Bob in this one but I hope to see more of him in the next book. The action is non-stop and there’s a really bloody battle in the book. It’s clear that Butcher isn’t afraid to kill characters. The ending kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see who would live or die.

I liked Fool Moon though not quite as much as Storm Front. It was still very enjoyable though and I am going to pick up the next book in the series. James Marsters once again rocks my socks as the narrator. He’s become Harry Dresden to me and I can’t imagine anyone someone else reading it. Another entertaining installment in the series and looking forward to the next.

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Visit the author online at www.jim-butcher.com and his blog

The Demon In The Freezer - Review

The Demon In The Freezer by Richard Preston

Publication date: 26 August 2003 by Random House

ISBN 10/13: 0375508562 | 9780375508561
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Non-Fiction
Keywords:Non-fiction, true story, diseases, smallpox, biological warfare
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

From Goodreads:

The first major bioterror event in the United States-the anthrax attacks in October 2001-was a clarion call for scientists who work with “hot” agents to find ways of protecting civilian populations against biological weapons. In The Demon in the Freezer, his first nonfiction book since The Hot Zone, a #1 New York Times bestseller, Richard Preston takes us into the heart of Usamriid, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, once the headquarters of the U.S. biological weapons program and now the epicenter of national biodefense.

Peter Jahrling, the top scientist at Usamriid, a wry virologist who cut his teeth on Ebola, one of the world’s most lethal emerging viruses, has ORCON security clearance that gives him access to top secret information on bioweapons. His most urgent priority is to develop a drug that will take on smallpox-and win. Eradicated from the planet in 1979 in one of the great triumphs of modern science, the smallpox virus now resides, officially, in only two high-security freezers-at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and in Siberia, at a Russian virology institute called Vector. But the demon in the freezer has been set loose. It is almost certain that illegal stocks are in the possession of hostile states, including Iraq and North Korea. Jahrling is haunted by the thought that biologists in secret labs are using genetic engineering to create a new superpox virus, a smallpox resistant to all vaccines.

Usamriid went into a state of Delta Alert on September 11 and activated its emergency response teams when the first anthrax letters were opened in New York and Washington, D.C. Preston reports, in unprecedented detail, on the government’s response to the attacks and takes us into the ongoing FBI investigation. His story is based on interviews with top-level FBI agents and with Dr. Steven Hatfill.

Jahrling is leading a team of scientists doing controversial experiments with live smallpox virus at CDC. Preston takes us into the lab where Jahrling is reawakening smallpox and explains, with cool and devastating precision, what may be at stake if his last bold experiment fails.

Thuy's Review:

The Demon In the Freezer is the chilling and true story of the evolution of smallpox. It takes a close look at the disease, our attempts to eradicate it, and its later use in bioterrorism. I really loved Preston’s The Hot Zone, which was probably one of the scariest books I have ever read. While The Demon In The Freezer didn’t pack quite the same punch (it’s hard to compete with Ebola), it was still a fascinating and frightening read.

In a world of modern medicine, WebMD and countless vaccinations, it might be hard to think of a time when a disease such as smallpox could cause such a panic. Recent outbreaks of swine flu and bird flu are tiny blips when compared to effects of smallpox at its peak. I really didn’t know much about smallpox before reading this book except for references on The X-Files and this book gave me a new respect for the various government agencies and individuals who worked tirelessly for years to get rid of the disease.

Though no longer an immediate threat, smallpox is far from gone. The samples that we know of reside in various government freezers and are being used for research. Whether or not this research is really being done for the good of humanity or as an attempt to gain a weapon that no other country has is debatable. The idea that someone might be working on a weaponized version of smallpox terrifies me and I hope that it’s something that we never see in action

Preston is matter of fact in his depictions of smallpox and what it can do to the human body and population which makes it even more terrifying. Seriously, you won’t want to go out for or touch anything after reading this book. Some of the really scientific parts can be a little dry at times but it still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. And Preston has a flair for making you feel like you are there watching these events unfold. A must read for Preston fans and fans of biological thrillers.

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Visit the author online at richardpreston.net and find him on Facebook

Someone To Watch Over Me - Review

Someone To Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners #1) 
by Lisa Kleypas

Publication date: 01 May 1999 by Avon

ISBN 10/13: 0380802309 | 9780380802302
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Historical Romance
Keywords: Historical, romance, amnesia, murder, courtesan
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

From Goodreads:

A temptingly beautiful woman is rescued from the icy waters of the Thames, her memory gone. Told that she is Vivien Rose Duvall, one of London's most scandalous beauties, she finds herself under the protection of the enigmatic and charming Grant Morgan, one of London's most eligible, and unattainable, catches. As his love for this mysterious beauty grows, he's determined to discover the truth - no matter what.

Thuy's Review:

I’ve been on a big Lisa Kleypas kick lately and am a self-professed fangirl. While I was disappointed in this on, I still had a hard time putting it down. The book starts off with an promising premise. A woman is found half drowned in the river by a Bow Street runner. She turns out to be Vivien Duvall, infamous courtesan, who has no memory of her previous life. Her rescuer, Grant Morgan, remember Vivien as a conceited, scornful woman who once spurned him. He vows to protect her even though his last memory of her isn’t a pleasant one and sets out to find the person who is trying to kill her and untangle the truth of her past.

Normally I love how Lisa Kleypas writes people. One of the great things about a Lisa Kleypas novel is how emotionally involved I become in the story and I’ve fallen in love with more than one of her characters. Unfortunately, I never connected with Grant or Vivien and I actually didn’t like Grant for a large chunk of the book. He saves Vivien and takes care of her quite lovingly. However, while he’s doing this, he’s also plotting to seduce her as some sort of revenge for a past argument. He takes advantage of her amnesia to press a physical relationship when he should be protecting her. Even as his feelings change towards Vivien, Grant insists on lying to her about their previous relationship in the hopes of seducing her.

Vivien herself was sweet if somewhat bland, having no memory of her previous life for most of the book. I just didn’t feel very attached to either of them. The relationship and the characters in this one just didn’t quite mesh for me and I saw one of the major plot twists coming from a mile away. The book does get better as the story progresses. We learn more about Grant and he loses some of his bitterness. It’s also obvious that he truly cares for Vivien by the end and they share some very sweet moments. So while this isn’t my favorite Lisa Kleypas novel, I still a fan and am will give the rest of the series a try.

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Visit the author online at www.lisakleypas.com and follow her on Twitter @LisaKleypas

You Slay Me - Review

You Slay Me (Aisling Grey: Guardian #1) by Katie MacAlister

Publication date: 07 September 2004 by Onyx

ISBN 10/13: 0451411528 | 9780451411525
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, paranormal, mystery, dragons, witches, Paris
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

Thuy's synopsis:

Aisling Grey is a down on her luck 30-something working for her uncle as a courier. Unfortunately while on a job delivering a prized artifact in Paris, Aisling finds her client murdered and herself as the main suspect. She also loses the artifact to a mysterious and sexy stranger who claims that she is a Guardian (more on that later). Suddenly thrust into a new and frightening world filled with witches, demons, dragons, and talking dogs, she must prove her innocence and get the heck out of Dodge (or Paris as the case may be) and hopefully not lose her job or get killed in the process.

Thuy's Review:

I knew I was going to have a problem with this book when, a few pages in, an airline clerk read the contents of Aisling’s passport back to her and we conveniently get her physical description. This book is definitely a case of telling, not showing, the reader what is happening. Instead of letting events unfold naturally, there are long passages where characters are explaining things to each other. Aisling also talks to herself in long, rambling monologues to explain either what’s happening in front of her or what she’s thinking. And I know this isn’t the author’s fault but my copy of the book was also riddled with typos, which made for a distracting read.

My biggest problem with the book is the main character. Aisling Grey is a Guardian. Don’t know what that is? Don’t worry - Aisling doesn’t either. In fact, she doesn’t know much of anything. She’s a total ditz who has no clue what’s going on most of the time. I don’t love dumb characters but I don’t mind them as long as they have some redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, there’s nothing endearing about Aisling and she’s more annoying that anything. As I mentioned before, she has a habit of babbling incoherently to herself and others. She is always asking questions but then either doesn’t believe or doesn’t understand the answers. She’s totally clueless most of the time and does and says many dumb things. It’s really a miracle that she manages to survive at all.

There is also a lot of very awkward dialogue in the book. I think the author was trying to go for funny and clever, but it comes across as forced and unnatural. Not everything has to be a joke, but if it is, it should at least be a good one. I also found the author’s depiction of France to be cliche and outdated. Do Americans still think that all French people are rude and snobby? Judging by this book that still seems to be the popular opinion. And the ones who weren’t cliche tourist haters were unrealistically friendly, offering to chauffeur Aisling around for cheap while telling her about Paris’ underground occult scene, and helping her with dangerous breaking and entering missions.

There were a couple of bright spots in the book. I liked Aisling’s demon dog, Jim. He probably had the funniest lines in the whole book. It was weird that everyone kept referring to Jim as “it” though. He’s clearly a male but everyone refers to him as “it” instead of “him.” Maybe all demons are supposed to be referred to as “it” but it just sounded wrong. My favorite part of the book, though, was Drake. Dark, mysterious and predatory, Drake is a real live dragon housed in a gorgeous male body. I was really intrigued by the idea of a dragon that also has a human body. I wish we could have learned a little bit more about the history of the dragon clans. Drake’s also very attracted to Aisling, for reasons I cannot fathom, and they have great chemistry. I really enjoyed the scenes that they had together, especially the sexy ones. Aisling’s dreams were h-o-t. I just wish the rest of the book had been as captivating.

As you can see, this book was not for me. I was actually quite relieved when I finished the book and was happy to be done with it. While I want to see where the relationship between Aisling and Drake goes, I will not be picking up the next book in the series.

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Visit the author online at katiemacalister.com and follow her on Twitter @katiemacalister

Blood Bound - Review

Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson #2) by Patricia Briggs

Publication date: 30 January 2007 by Ace Roc

ISBN 10/13: 0441014739 | 9780441014736

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, vampires, weres, fae, shapeshifter
Format: Hardcover, mass market paperback, eBook

From goodreads:

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.

Thuy's review:

**This review is spoiler free but this book is part of a series. You may not want to skip this review if you haven't read the previous books in the series.**

I have a new love and her name is Mercy Thompson. This series is just so fun and I love all of the characters. Blood Bound pics up a few months after the events of Moon Called. Things have been relatively quiet until Stefan calls in the favor the Mercy owes him. A dangerous creature is on the loose and Stefan needs her help to find out more about him in order to stop him. Mercy is soon neck deep in dangerous vampire business. And when Stefan and some of her friends go missing, head mistress vampire Marsilia, asks Mercy to help. She believes that Mercy's unique powers will help her succeed where others have failed.

This book made me love Mercy even more. She's no super woman. She gets scared and frustrated and is often physically weaker than her opponents, but she deals with it moves on. I love her loyalty and the fact that she will jump in to help her friends, even when it's clear that she has little chance of success. I love her dry humor and sarcastic voice, too.

Things in the Mercy-Adam-Samuel triangle heat up. Samuel kisses Mercy twice! Mercy also has a nice sweaty workout with Adam (yum!) and learns more about the werewolf hierarchy and how it affects her. I am just dying for her to make out with Adam (or more). Briggs also throws another curveball in there with possible romantic interest by Stefan. The series also has some great secondary characters. Warren and Kyle are probably my favorite gay werewolf/human literary couple (not that there are many). They have a real relationship complicated with paranormal issues. We also get more Ben, who fascinates me. I think his whole woman hating jerk persona is a facade to cover something else up - and I want to know what it is! I know he has a heart hiding in there somewhere. I would be so happy if Ben got his own book one day.

Another fantastic read by Patricia Briggs. I am totally hooked on the characters and the world of Mercy Thompson and look forward to reading book 3!

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Visit the author online at www.patriciabriggs.com and follow @Mercys_Garage on Twitter

How To Knit A Love Song - Review

How To Knit A Love Song (Cypress Hollow Yarn #1)
by Rachael Herron

Publication date: 31 January 2006 by William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN 10/13: 0061841293 | 9780061841293

Category: Adult Contemporary Romance/Knit Lit
Keywords: Contemporary, romance, knit lit
Format: Paperback, eBook

From goodreads:

Abigail is more than ready for a change when she inherits a cottage from her beloved mentor, knitting guru Eliza Carpenter. Leaving the oppressive city for the greener pastures of a small California beach town, she intends to turn her cozy little windfall into a knitting shop and spend her days spinning, designing, and purling. But she's not going to be welcomed with open arms by her new neighbor. Eliza's disgruntled nephew, the gorgeous Cade, now owns everything surrounding Abigail's ramshackle new home, and he views this sexy city girl as an unwanted interloper.

But chemistry working overtime is drawing two very different people closer than they ever thought possible. And when the past that Abigail thought she'd left behind comes calling, she'll have to somehow learn to trust her handsome adversary with much more than just her heart.

Thuy's review:

I was already familiar with Rachael Herron's blog Yarnagogo when I heard about this book. As an avid knitter, I am generally wary of "knit lit," as the stories can be cheesy and the knitting aspect often seems forced and obtrusive to the main story line. But, as a fan of Herron's blog, I decided to give her book a chance.

Abigail moves to the small Norther California town of Cypress Hollow when her friend and mentor, Eliza, passes away. Eliza's left her a little cottage and Abigail, itching for a new start, jumps at the chance to have a place of her own and clean slate. Unfortunately she doesn't realize that the cottage is set on a ranch - one that's already owned by Eliza's handsome nephew Cade. And Cade is not happy about having a permanent tenant in the middle of his land. At first Cade thinks that Abigail is a city girl and an interloper looking to take over his land. But Cade didn't count on the attraction between he and Abigail and finds it harder and harder to resist her. I loved the antagonistic relationship that Cade and Abigail first have. Lots of fighting and near romantic misses keep the sexual tension high.

How To Knit a Love Song is a sweet and sexy romance. There’s a little bit of a suspense element, though that was probably the weakest part of the book. The book’s strength lies in the setting and the characters. Abigail and Cade are a great couple and are both well developed and likable. I found Abigail's optimistic attitude to be the perfect foil to Cade's gruff cowboy. A fun cast of secondary characters rounds out the story well. Janet is outrageous and funny and I enjoyed Herron's descriptions of the farm and life in a small town. Cypress Hollow is a picturesque setting which I could easily imagine. By the end of the book I felt like I knew the town and its people. There are a lot of knitting references - Abigail is an avid knitter and she ends up opening a yarn store. It's clear that Herron is a knitter and that she knows her stuff. However, the knitting references are not heavy handed and non-knitters will still be able to enjoy this story.

Cowboys, romance, and knitting? What more could you ask for? Highly recommended.

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Visit the author online at www.yarnagogo.com and follow @RachaelHerron on Twitte
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Desert Warrior - Review

Desert Warrior by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 01 August 2003 by Silhouette
ISBN 10/13: 0373765290 | 9780373765294

Category: Adult Romance
Keywords: Romance, sheikhs, royalty
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

From goodreads:

The fabled desert kingdom of Zulheina was Tariq's birthright, and he was a man who held tightly what belonged to him. And that meant he had to reclaim a very special woman--the woman who had broken his heart years before in New Zealand. And once he had lured her to this distant land, he meant to keep his new bride here forever....

But Jasmine Coleridge was not as easily tamed as he had imagined. Her beguiling blend of untouched innocence and dazzling sensuality threatened, once again, to bring the haughty sheikh to his knees--and made him wonder who was the true prisoner.

Thuy's review:

I hate to give a low score to a Nalini Singh book but I really wasn’t a huge fan of either the hero or the heroine in this one. Jasmine is only 18 when she meets and falls in love with Tariq, son of the sheikh of a desert kingdom. Young and insecure, her family convinces her to leave Tariq and end the relationship. Four years go by when Jasmine hears of Tariq’s father, the sheikh passing. Having matured in the last four years and come into her own, Jasmine has realized the mistake she made in leaving the man she loved. She hops a plane back to Tariq, intent on making it work this time. Tariq knows that Jasmine has made plans to come back and he intends to make her stay. Picking her up from the airport he takes her to his palace and basically tricks her into marrying him. Sure, she knows what’s going on but it doesn’t change the fact that he thought he was doing it without her knowledge.

Tariq is angry at her for leaving him all those years ago, which is understandable. However, what I don’t understand is his why he ties her to him when he is so intent on remaining angry with her and not trusting her. I feel like part of him does it so that he can punish her. He withholds his love from her and his words and actions border on cruelty. I know he’s afraid to show Jasmine how he feels because he doesn’t want to be hurt again but at a certain point I just stopped liking him.

I liked Jasmine a little more but not much more. I didn’t understand why she put up with Tariq’s behavior for as long as she did. Actually I think I do. Since she was the one who left him originally, I think believes his behavior is fitting punishment for her lack of faith and that this time around, she has to prove to him that her love will not be swayed - by him or anyone else. Unfortunately he didn’t want to believe it for a very long time. When the Big Conflict finally occurs I was mad at both of them - Tariq for his lack of trust and Jasmine for putting up with it for so long. He also says something incredibly cruel to her during a big fight which made me want to punch him.

Though I did feel an emotional connection between the two characters, in the end, there was little romance in this romance novel. I am glad I read it because Nalini Singh is one of my favorite authors and I liked taking a look at her early work. But I would not recommend this to someone if I wanted to turn them on to her books. My copy of Desert Warrior was bundled with the new release, Lord of the Abyss. Lord of the Abyss is freakin’ AWESOME (see review here) so, if you’re interested in Desert Warrior, pick up the bundled version with Lord of the Abyss.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com and follow @NaliniSingh on Twitter

Mine Till Midnight - Review

Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways #1) by Lisa Kleypas

Publication date: 02 October 2007 by St. Martin's Press
ISBN 10/13: 0312949804 | 9780312949808

 

Category: Adult Historical Romance
Keywords: Historical, romance, siblings, gypsies, ghosts
Format: Hardcover, mass market paperback, ebook

From goodreads:

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

Wealthy beyond most men's dreams, Cam has tired of society's petty restrictions and longs to return to his -uncivilized- Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship-but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter.

Thuy's review:

This is  my first Lisa Kleypas novel. She’s a big name in historical romance but it’s not a genre I’ve delved into very much yet (preferring the more paranormal stuff). But I picked up the second book in the Hathaway series last weekend at a used book store for $1. Since I hate reading things out of order I knew I had to track down the first book before going any further. Luckily my local library had a copy of Mine Till Midnight on hand and I was able to jump into this one right away.

Mine Till Midnight is a story about the Hathaway family - a close knit and somewhat unconventional (for their time at least) family. There are four sisters - Amelia, Win, Poppy and Beatrix with the eldest being their brother Leo. Also part of the family is Merripen, a Gypsy who came to the family has a child. Merripen holds an odd place in the family as he’s not quite a brother but he’s not really a servant either. With both parents deceased, it’s up to Amelia and Leo to take care of the family. Unfortunately Leo is on a destructive downward spiral after losing his fiancee to fever several months before.

I have to say, wow. I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. I loved the historical aspect of the story. There was just enough of it to create a believable setting but not so much that I was bogged down by language or too much historical background. Sexy love scenes, witty dialogue, and an emotional love story made this a book I did not want to put down.

I loved the hero of the story, Cam Rohan. Being a half-blood, he’s never really fit in anywhere. Not with his Gypsy family or with the the proper English society where he currently finds himself. He’s smart and forceful and confident in his ability to do anything, be it run a gambling club, find a missing person or get the woman he loves to marry him. I love that he’s undaunted by Amelia’s stubbornness and pursues her despite her reluctance. He’s a bit wild, his Gypsy half doing its best to uproot his Irish half.

Amelia is the backbone of her family, holding it all together when times get tough. I admire her strength and determination. Not many woman of that era would just walk into a gambling house or brothel but she’s ready to do whatever she has to in order to get the job done. She’s extremely loyal and loves her family beyond all reason. She also takes on way too much responsibility, refusing to ask for or accept any help in taking care of her family. She’s resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood in order to make sure that everyone else has a happy future. She’s also quite frustrating at times. She’s so stubborn and refuses for a long time to see what her own heart is telling her. Luckily Cam isn’t one to give up easily and his dogged pursuit of her is romantic and sweet. They also have fantastic chemistry and the love scenes were extremely sensual and sexy.

I loved watching Cam and Amelia’s relationship develop from physical attraction into a true partnership filled with love, caring and understanding. Cam becomes the person that Amelia can depend on and be vulnerable with (even when she doesn’t want to). In Amelia, Cam finally finds the place where he belongs, his home, his place by her side. I found their story to be ridiculously sweet and romantic and made me want to squeee.

And let’s not forget about Win and Merripen. The sexual tension is high with these two. Theirs seems like an impossible love but nothing is impossible in a romance book. I greatly look forward to reading their story. Thank you, Lisa Kleypas. You have officially made me a historical romance convert.

Note: I've also joined Under The Covers' Krazy Kleypass Reading Challenge 2012. More info on the challenge here. Come by and join up!

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Visit the author online at www.lisakleypas.com and follow @LisaKleypas on Twitter

Caught In The Act - Review

Caught In The Act (PI & Men To The Rescue #3) by Lori Foster
Publication date: 01 September 2001 by Harlequin
ISBN 10/13: 0441013813 | 978-0441013814

Category: Adult Romantic Suspense
Keywords: Contemporary, realistic, romance
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

From goodreads:

COINCIDENCE?

Not.

Mick Dawson, undercover cop.

He's got his hands full with a pushy broad who claims she's just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Except all the perps seem to know everything there is to know about her. Who're you going to believe? Only one way to find out. Get real close.

Lela DeBraye (aka Del Piper), mystery writer.

She's as confused as he is, but mostly because he's got the sweetest smile, when he smiles. Still, he's sticking with her twenty-four/seven — is this love or duty? Is he her protector or her captor?

Thuy’s review:

Mick’s been watching Del for a couple of weeks. He first spotted her in his old neighborhood and immediately developed a small obsession for the dreamy mystery writer. The day Mick decides to make his move, Del’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. During an attempted robbery, Mick gets shot saving Del’s life. As drawn to him as he is to her, Del offers to take Mick in while he recovers. However, things about the robbery don’t quite add up and Mick isn’t sure if he can trust Del so he keeps her close while trying to unravel the mystery.

Caught In The Act is a light, fun romance with a little bit of mystery thrown in. Foster can be a bit hit and miss for me. I like some of her books a lot and other are just OK. I didn’t like this one as much of some of her other book. It was somewhat predictable but I still enjoyed it - good for a quick read. Caught In The Act is actually a part of a series, which I didn’t realize when I picked it up. I don't think you need to read the series in order though, as I was able to follow along perfectly fine.

This is definitely a case of love at first sight romance. Mick’s absolutely enthralled by Del and she seem to share the same attraction. Usually in romances (especially novella length ones), the falling in love is fast and hard. And normally I can suspend disbelief and go with story. However, in this case, the fast fall was a little too fast for me. Mick and Del barely know each other and he’s already moving in. Maybe it’s a bit of gratitude on her part and obsession on his but I wish they would have developed the relationship a little more.

Mick’s your typical romance lead - big, handsome and aggressive. He makes no qualms about telling Del exactly how he feels about her and is sweet and protective. His cop instincts get the better of him though and he makes a big blunder with Del. Even though I could see it coming, I wanted to smack him upside the head when it happens. Though I didn’t love Del, I did like her and find her to be a unique character. She’s a bit of an odd bird - a mystery writer with her head in the clouds and, while I couldn’t relate to her, I liked that she wasn’t your stereotypical romance heroine.

Mick’s two friends, Zack and Josh, provided some comic relief. Their scenes with Mick had a real feeling of camaraderie and their conversations were pretty funny. I would love to read more about both of them. Good thing they each have a book of their own.

This book wasn’t anything new or groundbreaking but it’s a quick and entertaining read with some good moments. I am picking up Josh’s book after this. :)

say "twee!"

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Visit the author online at www.lorifoster.com and follow @lorilfoster on Twitter

Moon Called - Review

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs

Publication date: 31 January 2006 by Penguin/Ace Roc

ISBN 10/13: 0441013813 | 978-0441013814 

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, vampires, weres, fae, shapeshifter
Format: Hardcover, mass market paperback, eBook

From goodreads:

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

Thuy's review:

Moon Called is the first book in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Surprisingly, I hadn't heard much about this series until I spotted it earlier this year at the LA Festival of books (at the always awesome Mysterious Galaxy booth).  The covers were eye catching and I decided to give them a chance, and boy, am I glad I did.

Mercy Thompson, coyote shapeshifter and VW mechanic, is living a relatively quite life when runaway werewolf Mac shows up at her garage looking for work. Mercy decides that she can use the extra help while keeping an eye on him at the same time. Unfortunately, trouble follows Mac and all hell breaks loose. Mercy must work with the local werewolf pack, a vampire den and covert military ops to make it right.

I was really surprised by how much I liked Moon Called. Briggs does a great job of drawing a world full of its own unique characters and mythologies. Sure, you have familiar creatures like vampires and werewolves, but Briggs puts her own spin on them. Mercy feels like an old friend, someone you can have a beer and a laugh with.  She also likes to bake a lot, which made me like her even more.  She's a fascinating heroine - independent and stubborn , with a dry sense of humor and sarcastic wit. She's no invincible superhero but she's smart and loyal and manages to hold her own against some very scary creatures. I also love the chemistry  between Mercy and Adam.  There's not much romance happening just yet, but it promises to get steamier as the series goes on. There's a bit of a love triangle going on with Samuel in the picture, but I'm rooting for Adam. 

There are some great supporting characters in the book, too. Mercy's friend, Stefan, happens to be a vampire and a big Scooby Doo fan.  Adam's third in the pack, Warren, is probably the only gay werewolf I've ever met.  He and his boyfriend Kyle are adorable together. Jesse, Adam's human daughter is awesome as well and is funny as only a teenager can be.

There is plenty of action and intrigue to keep the book moving. Things did get confusing at the end with the double crosses and ulterior motives. I admit that I was confused about who was working for whom and what the end game of certain characters were. However, it all ends up working out and I am dying read the next book. This series promises to be a new favorite for me and I have already gone out and purchase the rest of the books in the series. Yes, I am that confident of its awesome-ness. If you haven't tried this series yet, get to it! You won't regret it.

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Visit the author online at www.patriciabriggs.com and follow @Mercys_Garage on Twitter