Review of "The Cinderella Deal" by Jennifer Crusie

I spent my day doing yardwork, and to relax, all I wanted was a good book. So of course I picked up a Jennifer Crusie book! I believe "The Cinderella Deal" was published some time ago, and it has just be re-released with a new cover. It was also one of the only Jennifer Crusie books I don't own. What can I say, I'm a huge fan. But on to the review.

Disclaimer: I, the reviewer, bought this book on my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review.

From the back of the book: " Daisy Flattery is a free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story. Why else would she agree to the outrageous charade offered by her buttoned-down workaholic neighbor, Linc Blaise? The history professor needs to have a fiancee in order to capture his dream job, and Daisy is game to play the role. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that changes everything. Now, with the proverbial midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily ever after? "

As I said, I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Crusie, I will, and have, read everything by her - except for her newest release, which I just found out about today and therefore need to go buy. And "The Cinderella Deal" did not disappoint. Maybe it's just that I have become more emotionally involved in things I've read lately, or maybe I've just read some great books lately, but there was a time or two in this book that I about teared up because I was so emotional. But that's what I love about this author and her books. There's humor, which I love to read, but there's also real emotions. And sometimes, you can't help but feel them too.

I was a little worried that the plot was going to run out, since things seemed to be moving so fast - and indeed, a fair amount of time was covered in this book. But I was glad to find that it really worked. Their months together felt like a whirlwind to the reader, and when you think about how the characters are reacting to this huge, new change, you realize that it's all a big whirlwind to them as well.

I loved the characters, and they were comforting. There's a reason I keep coming back to Jennifer Crusie's books - she writes characters that I love, ones I know I can count on to give me the good love story I need. And not just human characters. Dogs show up in several of Jenny Crusie's books, and "The Cinderella Deal" doesn't disappoint in that area, either. Jupiter, a stray that Daisy finds and adopts, helps shape Linc's character and begins his change from stuffed shirt to something human.

I am a little disappointed with the cover though. It's a good, eye catching cover - but having read the book, I assume the dog on the front is meant to depict Jupiter. Well.. considering Jupiter is a one-eyed, stray, mutt, I'm sure his looks are... vastly different. But I guess that doesn't really matter. Covers are there to help sell the book, and I've already bought it. I do enjoy the bright colors on the cover though, I know the main character, Daisy, would really love it. And I think it's a nice touch, when the cover shows a part of the character.

All that said, I'm giving "The Cinderella Deal" by Jennifer Crusie a FIVE out of FIVE. Once again, she didn't disappoint. And I think this book might have to be moved to the top of my "Jenny Crusie Favorites" list. I really suggest anyone in the mood for a good, quick, funny romance should pick up anything from Jennifer Crusie - and especially "The Cinderella Deal."

Check out "The Cinderella Deal" and Happy Reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "Tsunami Blue" by Gayle Ann Williams

And I'm back! Finally! For a review of "Tsunami Blue" by Gayle Ann Williams. I was contacted a few weeks ago by Dorchester Publishing to see if I would be willing to review some of their new Urban Fantasy/Paranormal titles. Of course, I said yes - and "Tsunami Blue" was a great first experience!

First off, disclaimer: I received my copy of "Tsunami Blue" from the publisher, Dorchester Publishing. The copy was given to me for review purposes, and I have no received any money or anything else in exchange for a review.

From the back of the book: " With her badass rain boots, her faithful dog, and the ability to predict the monster tsunamis that have reduced the US to a series of islands, Kathryn O'Malley isn't afraid of much. Cut off from all society, she takes to the airwaves as Tsunami Blue, hoping to save something of humanity as the world around her crumbles. But Blue should be afraid - because her message reaches the wrong ears.
Now she's the target of ruthless pirates known as Runners who want to use her special talents for their own profiteering - as son as they can find her. Blue's only shot at survival lies with the naked stranger who washes up on her rocky beach. A man who might just be working for Runners himself. Torn between suspicion and attraction, the two will have to navigate a surging tide of danger and deceit if they hope to stay alive. "

So, as I said, this was definitely a good first experience with Dorchester Publishing. I absolutely loved this book. And I hated that it took me so long to finish it once I started. But I honestly think it would have been too overwhelming if I had tried to read it in one sitting. The story of Blue and Gabriel, and what has happened to the US and humanity, is so powerful, that I'm not sure I would have been able to handle it all at once. The idea behind this book - that tsunamis have ripped through the world, killing countless amounts of people, changing how everyone lives their lives, creating a whole horrifying class of people - Runners, is just so fascinating. And Blue has known so many hardships in her life, it's not a surprise that she has ended up such a hard character - untrusting, and yet so hopeful that she can use her gift to help people, even when so many call her the devil, witch, etc. I loved her characterization, as well as that of Gabriel, who was quite the enigma. Gabriel's character - you just wanted to trust him, for things to work out for him and Blue, even though his ties and his life weren't so reputable.

Speaking of enigma, the only issue I had with "Tsunami Blue" was that I wasn't sure of the characters' ages. I could guess at some of the side characters - the younger members of the group - but for Blue and Gabriel, I was clueless. Maybe their ages were given, and I missed it, but I, for some reason, kept picturing them as much younger than they should be. It wasn't until the end, when Gabriel made mention of a side character's father being his best friend before the waves came, that I realized Gabriel had to be older than what my mind was making him.

I'm a fan of the Anita Blake books by Laurell K. Hamilton (more so of the earlier books than the more recent ones, but..), and I found some parallels between the way Blue acts, her badass attitude, and the character of Anita Blake, at least from the first few novels in the series. She has the drive to stay alive, and people she wants to fight for, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. This is an excellent quality, and felt right for Blue's character. And I have to say, I loved Blue's snarky attitude. She never could keep her mouth shut, and I loved her running commentary of life, even in the worst situations.

From the acknowledgements in the beginning of the book, it mentions that "Tsunami Blue" is Gayle Ann Williams' debut novel. I have to say - what an entrance! Everything was so vivid, the characters so real, it was such a wonderful book. I do hope she chooses to write more.

And on to the rating - I have to give "Tsunami Blue" by Gayle Ann Williams a FIVE out of FIVE. I really liked it, I loved the (hopefully) alternate version of the future, and I loved Blue.

I hope you all get to check out "Tsunami Blue" - obviously I'm recommending it to everyone. I thought this was a great read, and I do hope to see more from this author in the future.

Happy Reading! And I hope you're all enjoying some wonderful weather! It's a perfect day to sit outside and read here in Ohio.
~!~ Morning Glow

I've been a very bad blogger!!

I have, I have! And it's not like I have no books to review (currently reading "Tsunami Blue" to review for Dorchester Publishing!! So look for that next), I think life just caught up with me. And I was sick all of last week, which mostly meant being curled up in bed, hiding under the blankets.

I have been working since I graduated, but just part-time, and I am actively looking for another job, whether it be full time, or just another part-time job. And since I'm not finding any others (still haven't heard back from some places, so we'll see), I've decided to implement some positive changes in my life. I mean, I have the time, after all.

Don't worry, one of the things on my list is to read more and get more reviews out, and I will! Especially since it's so pretty outside, I can't wait to curl up on the deck with a book and read. Hopefully soon - if not tonight!

I hope you all can forgive me, and for those of you that have continued to stick around - Thank you!! I'll be back with more reviews in no time. And hopefully get them out quicker.

I hope you all have an excellent Wednesday, and as always, happy reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "Steamed" by Katie MacAlister

Ahhh Katie MacAlister, one of my favorite authors. And when she said she wanted to try a Steampunk novel, well... I said Alright, I'll try it to. And I did. And we'll just see how it goes, okay? Okay!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own, no money nor any fun freebies were exchanged for a review. Or even un-fun freebies (whatever they may be).

From the back of the book: " Jack Fletcher's heart is about to get punked. Computer technician Jack Fletcher is no hero, despite his unwelcome reputation as one. In fact, he's just been the victim of bizarre circumstances. Like now. His sister happens to disturb one of his nanoelectrical system experiments, and suddenly they aren't where they're supposed to be. In fact, they're not sure where they are when...

...they wake up to find a woman with the reddest hair Jack has ever seen - and a gun. Octavia Pye is an Aerocorps captain with a whole lot of secrets, and she's not about to have her maiden voyage ruined by stowaways. But the sparks flying between her and Jack just may cause her airship to combust, and ignite a passion that will forever change the world as she knows it. "

First off, I'm totally in love with the tag line "Jack Fletcher's heart is about to get punked." It's perfect, and just sparks immediate interest. Along those lines, the cover is stunning. I'm usually more of a fan of non-illustrated covers, but this one is definitely an exception.

This was actually my first journey into steampunk, and I know well not to judge every style of novel by one example. However, I think my first glimpse at Steampunk wasn't a bad one. I can't see all steampunk novels being like this, since Jack starts out in our world, and is knocked into a different version of reality - one that is steampunk-y.

I could see a lot of the things I love about Katie MacAlister's stories in this book. There are character types you find in her other novels, with just enough spin on them that they don't get old. I liked Jack and Octavia both, but I felt like Jack had a bit too much of a backstory. The author made me feel like I had missed something, that Jack Fletcher had had novels previous to this, and that I had come in on the middle of a series. I always love it when characters had an interesting life, one that shaped them in amazing ways - but this seemed like just a bit too much for me. Octavia, on the other hand, seemed better, easier to understand. Yes, the reader is told she has many secrets, but it never gets to be too overwhelming, while Jack's past seems like too much information thrown at the reader at once.

But that wasn't too much of an issue. My main problem with the book was the switching of perspective. Chapter one started from Jack's perspective, and the second chapter switches to Octavia's perspective. It just feels a little jarring when you get used to seeing things through one character's eyes, then the next page moving on to the other person. And there were ways to help the reader realize whose thoughts we would be hearing for that chapter, but sometimes it wasn't enough.

All that said, I really did enjoy "Steamed" by Katie MacAlister. There are certain habits Katie MacAlister has that I love, and they showed up in this book. I really enjoyed the characters, the plot was interesting, and I thought the steampunk-y elements were well done. However, as I said, I am new to this genre. I think "Steamed" is a good stepping stone for non-steampunkers to break into the genre, if they wish.

That said, I'm giving "Steamed" by Katie MacAlister a FOUR out of FIVE. I did enjoy it, it was a quick, fun read, but as I said, the switching of perspective gave me pause a few times. As far as I remember, Katie MacAlister's earlier novels never had this issue, and it wasn't until her past few releases that's she's picked up this habit. I just wish there was a smoother way to transition between the two, if she decides to keep it up.

Happy reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "Back in Black" by Lori Foster

Ahh, here I am, back again with another review - "Back in Black" by Lori Foster. Disclaimer: This book was purchased for my by a family member. I was not given the book, nor money, in exchange for a review.

From the back cover: " Drew Black, president of the SBC fighting organization, is as controversial as they come. But this hotheaded entrepreneur is a perfect match for his popular sports club venture: uncompromising and extreme. Maybe too extreme. With a reputation for saying what he thinks, Drew's been causing a lot of friction. That's why someone's been called in to clean up his image - before he does any permenant damage.

The lucky lady is Gillian Noode, a PR expert who has smoothed out the rough edges on many a man. But Drew is rougher than anyone she's ever met, and he refuses to change for any woman, for any reason. To make matters more complicated, Gillian's starting to like him raw. Now opposites aren't simply attracting - they're igniting. But in the rising heat, who will end up on top? "

Well, as a whole, I really liked this book. But I did have a few issues - the biggest of which is that the back of this book? Totally doesn't do it justice. There's actually two couples highlighted in this book, Drew and Gillian of course, but also Brett and Audrey. And in fact, I think they're story is just as important, or maybe I just like them better. Alright, I'll admit it, I wanted Brett. But I really liked Drew and Gillian too.

Actually, that brings me to the second thing I didn't like - I think Gillian and Drew moved a little too fast. It was their second or third meeting, and they had sex. It just seemed a little too.. whirlwind for me. This, however, could be a personal taste sort of thing.

Those really are the only things I didn't like about this book. I loved the characterization, and I really loved the antagonist. I think the ultimate baddie of the situation was amazingly done, and such a complex character. I thought all the characters were passionate about their chosen profession, and they just felt genuine. I'm actually rather interested in MMA fighting after reading this. I always thought that was one of the signs of a good book, when it makes you interested in not only the book, but anything connected to it.

This is actually the first book I've ever read by Lori Foster. I have read a short story in an anthology I picked up years ago, but that was barely a taste. So using "Back in Black" as my main example, I'd have to say I'm definitely a fan. I hope to be able to check out other books soon - and actually, I think I have an anthology ( "Tails of Love" ) featuring Lori Foster and a few other familiar authors in my To Be Read pile.

I am going to give "Back in Black" by Lori Foster a FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE. I really, really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to find and read more by this author in the future, especially more of this grouping of books. I don't think it's really a series, though it seems there are recurring characters in each.

Happy Reading, and check out "Back in Black," or anything else by Lori Foster!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "How to Lose a Client" by Becky A. Bartness

Well well, finally back with another review! Let's start with the disclaimer and get right into it. This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for a review. No money was given, but I did receive a book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From the back cover: " Kate Williams, Esq., has just started her own criminal defense law firm in Phoenix, Arizona, when Katherine Paar aka Tangerine, a new client, walks in and proposes a lucrative deal to bring Kate on as her attorney. Things get complicated and events unfold quickly when the body of Tangerine's ex-lawyer is discovered and Tangerine disappears. Kate, aided by MJ, her tattooed, pierced, and fashion-challenged paralegal and Sam, her sometimes cross-dressing investigator, along with a cast of characters straight out of a John Waters movie, try to unravel the bizarre mystery and save Tangerine's life. The action is fast and fantastically funny, and Ms. Bartness proves once again that you can laugh at death. "

Now, first off, "How to Lose a Client" is actually third in a series, and I have not read the first two. However, while there are a few references to the earlier books, I had no trouble reading "How to Lose a Client" as a stand-alone. I always think that's a good sign, when you can pick up a later book in a series, and get through it with only a minor misstep or two. Any references to the previous books were explained enough that I had little trouble understanding how they might play into characterization, or the plot.

I found plenty of similarities between this book/series, and the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. But while the Stephanie Plum series is starting to get stale (or maybe I'm lying to myself and it's been stale for a while), the Kate Williams Mysteries still have a fresh feel to them. Kate is a smart woman, and despite not having skills that may help her when these occasions keep popping up (It was even suggested to her by another character to take some self defense lessons), she has enough common sense to figure out how to deal with the issues in the best way possible. She doesn't just rely on pure luck (Unlike some characters..), which makes her seem stronger.

And the side characters - I loved every one of them. They all had depth, and I honestly believed they all had known each other for years, had developed various relationships with each other, and they added just enough humor (as well as Kate's funny moments) to make this quite an enjoyable book. Off the top of my head, I'd have to say I loved Sam, Larry, Tuwanda, and Ralph (her dog) the best. Tuwanda and Larry were great sidekicks, and Larry was fascinating to read about.

And the ending was exceptional. After finding out the culprit, I like to sit down and think about what clues there were along the way that might have helped me come to the right conclusion. I don't read many mysteries, but when I do, I hate when the ending is too much of a shock, with little to no clues for the reader to follow along and make their own hypothesis as to who the bad guy might be. But "How to Lose a Client" had just the right about of mystery and humor to keep me coming back.

There wasn't much I didn't like about this book, as I'm sure you can tell, and the only issue I had with it was one scene near the end. Whether it was the wording, or a mix up of names, I had to read it three times, and even then I wasn't totally sure what was going on. While it did pull me out of the story, it was only for a brief moment. I cared far too much about Kate's life, and wanting to know where the story was headed than to be bothered about something that small for too long.

I really enjoyed "How to Lose a Client," I loved the characters, the plot, and even the pacing. After reading a fair amount of books in recent history with no pacing at all, this book was the comfort I needed. Hectic and/or scary moments were followed by just enough of a cool down to give me, as the reader, a little break before we jumped into the next section. I'm giving "How to Lose a Client" by Becky A. Bartness a FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE. I'd love a chance to check out the previous books in this series. And I'm really excited I got the chance to read and review this book.

Hope you all get a chance to check out "How to Lose a Client" by Becky A. Bartness. And Happy reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "Gentlemen Prefer Succubi" and "Succubi Like It Hot" by Jill Myles

I've been seeing these books around the blogosphere, and after hearing the main character, Jackie Brighton. is caught between both a vampire and a fallen angel? Well, you should all know by now those are two of my favorite things. Of course I had to read them! And I was super excited to find them both while shopping around on Wednesday. Oh yes, I inhaled these books in less than two days!

First off, the disclaimer: I, the reviewer, purchased these books on my own. No books, or money, were given in exchange for a review.

From the back of "Gentlemen Prefer Succubi": " Jackie Brighton woke up in a Dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her familiar B-cups have somehow become double Ds, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever... with a fallen angel. All she remembers is gorgeous Noah's oddly hypnotic blue eyes... and then a dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal sire with a sexy Itch. With help from Noah, Jackie begins to adapt to her new lifestyle - until she accidentally sends Noah into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands herself in a fierce battle for an ancient halo with the queen's wickedly hot right-hand man. Who just happens to be the vampire who originally bit her. How's a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy's so hard to resist? "

Well, as I stated previously, I inhaled these books. I loved them, and was so engrossed in Jackie's story, that I stayed up way past my bedtime so that I could finish reading the first one. And it took everything I had to not start the second one right afterwards. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the way she became immortal, and I loved the differences in the two guys. What? Oh.. you want details of why? Sure, sure that makes sense. Let's go into each one on it's own.

First off, the idea of how she became a Succubus. In Jill Myles' world, where these wonderful characters meet, there are vampires - fallen angels that made deals with demons, and therefore have to feed on blood, and fallen angels - those that at least try to stay pure, but have been cursed (due to their fall) to be required to have sex and pleasure someone at the full moon.. and nearly every other time of the month. And to become a Succubus, one must be fed on by both a vampire and a Serim (fallen angel), oh.. and then die for about two days. Jackie was lucky enough to be that girl, and after waking up in a dumpster, she started noticing some changes. Which fascinated me just about as much as her. I mean, really, I was so into the story and the dynamics of her change that I might have missed some things because I was reading so fast, so I will definitely re-read these... maybe now. Oh, alright, I'll wait til I finish the review.

Now on to the contrasts between two of the characters, Zane and Noah. Oh sure, some might think it cheesy and overdone to have Noah, the Serim, be a blonde god, the good guy, always there to fall back on should Jackie need help. And in contrast, Zane is the god of leather and chains, dark hair, the bad boy you just can't trust. But it's perfect. What makes it even more perfect, is that you know both men have their opposing moments, ones where Zane can be the good guy, can do what's right, and where Noah can be almost frightening. Part of Jackie being a Succubus means she is tied to both these men, and I can see why should would have a difficult time picking one to be the recipient of her complete loyalty.. well, that, and the fact that both men can command her to do anything. The guys, in my opinion, were perfectly done. I loved them both, despite their issues and flaws, and I knew they were all the more perfect characters for having them. And then there's Remy, a fellow Succubus, and Jackie's new best friend, as well as mentor. She's.. flighty, to say the least. But you can tell she's fully embraced the fact that she's a Succubus, and decided to have fun with it, which isn't terrible. The only thing I had an issue with is that Remy's masters never appear in these two books. Maybe Jackie just got lucky, with two masters that want to keep an eye on her, as well as even care for her, but I would want to keep Remy close, if I were her master. Well, that sounds dirty...

As for the plot itself, I can see why some people might find the fact that Jackie just keeps getting herself further into trouble annoying. And maybe, for a second, I did too. But then I realized, if I put myself in this characters place, I think I would have had the same problem, if not made it even worse. Like in much paranormal and fantasy fiction, you need to be careful what you say, because you could make a promise that will end up getting you hurt, or killed. And when Jackie is tossed into a world where favors and promises, and keeping them, could mean the difference between life or death for either you or someone you care about... yeah, you're probably going to get yourself in trouble too. Luckily, Jackie has some amazing fellow leading characters to back her up - Remy, Zane, and Noah.

As I said, I loved these books. I want... no, I NEED more of them. I need to know what happens to Jackie, Noah, Zane, and Remy. As for a rating, is it really a surprise that I'm giving "Gentlemen Prefer Succubi" and "Succubi Like It Hot" a FIVE out of FIVE? I didn't think so. I love the plot, I love the character dynamics, and I want my own Zane. And Noah. Actually, if either of them want to give up Jackie and want to make me a Succubus, I'd be all for it. I mean, really.

Well, Happy Reading! And definitely check out both of these wonderful books by Jill Myles!
~!~ Morning Glow