A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis

A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis

See index for more.



Category: Crème Brûlée - My All-Time Favorite (A+)
Flame Height: 9" out of 9"

Yes, FINALLY! This is the book I've squeed about multiple times and it's FINALLY being re-released! Probably the best damn erotic historical ever written with characters you will never forget. Go buy-- it's a must have.

Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

Raine: Lords of Satyr by Elizabeth Amber

Raine: Lords of Satyr, book 2 by Elizabeth Amber

See index for previous books.


Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)
Flame height: 8" out of 9"

Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

Challenge Protocol by Dawn Ryder

Challenge Protocol by Dawn Ryder


See index for previous books.




Category: Dark Chocolate - loved by some, just "meh" to me (C-,D+)
Flame Height: 6.5" out of 9"


Read my review at The Good, the Bad, the Unread

The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston

The Beast in Him (Pride, book 2) by Shelly Laurenston


See index for previous books.



Category: Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 5.5" out of 9"

Read my review over at The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

Passionate Plumes 2008

I had the honor again this year of being a first round judge for the Passionate Plume Awards, awarded by Passionate Ink, the erotic romance chapter of RWA. The final Passionate Plume winners will be announced at RWA Nationals in San Francisco in August.

Last year I received four ebooks of widely varying quality. (See Who Needs a Horse (NOT Work Safe) and Dilemmas and Frustrations)

But I really lucked out this year. All three were again paranormals and two of them were in print and signed by the authors. What's coolio is that both of the print books were books I've been curious about.

The first book was a werewolf paranormal. I had read a couple of the author's earlier works but had lost track of which books had since been released in the series. I ended up giving it a score of 7.9 out of 9.0. Interesting, sexy read, but every time the story gained some momentum, we stopped for another sex scene. Now don't get me wrong, the sex scenes were very hot and well written, but the story was compelling enough that the sheer quantity of sex scenes was a nuisance.

The second book was a vampire historical. Good story, but the pacing was incredibly slow. A few pages of action, whether it was violence, sex, whatever, followed by several pages of internal angst. Good world building though. I gave it a 7.6 out of 9.

The third book surprised the hell out of me. I knew from the title that this ebook involved dragons and demons. UGH!UGH!UGH! I don't like dragon books at all, and I've more than had my fill of demon books and avoid nearly all of those. So, damn, now I've got to set all that aside and FAIRLY judge a book that centers on BOTH of those dreaded subjects. GAK!

But you know what? I LOVED it! So creative, so imaginative! The world building was unique and surprisingly complex, especially considering the short length of this ebook. The erotic scenes were smokin' (that's a dragon/demon pun. hee.) and I gave this one an 8.7 out of 9.0. I think that will be enough to get it to the second round because this one deserves recognition.

Judging is supposed to be anonymous, so I won't name any of those books here, but I fully intend to read more in this dragon/demon series (did I just say that?!) so keep an eye out for future commentaries. I think I can guarantee that it will be the only dragon/demon series you'll catch me reading.

More QB's Super Quickies

"So, read any good books lately?"
"What did you think of...?"

Here's the Quickie answers to those questions. Click on the Links for more info.


Joey W. Hill - The Mark of the Vampire Queen, Vampire Queen 2

Category:Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 8" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

So sensual, so captivating. Definitely not for everyone though. An ending that I never saw coming... and it was OUT there... WAY Out! I'm glad there's more of this erotic paranormal series on the way. Hill's got a unique voice in a genre that is being rapidly buried in same-old, same-old.
Piquant Opines: RT, TGTBTU,



Carrie Vaughn - Kitty and the Silver Bullet, Kitty Norville 4

Category:Peanut M&Ms - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)
Flame Height: 4" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

I just love this quiet, warm urban fantasy series. It's like settling down on the couch, cuddling up with a comfy blanket. If you haven't read it, move it to the top of your list.
Piquant Opines: RT, DR,



Kresley Cole - Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night, Immortals 4 - Bowen and Mariketa

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

This is partly a retelling of some of the events from No Rest for the Wicked from another POV. This one was far more emotional than the previous books in this paranormal romance series.
Piquant Opines: RT, TGTBTU,



Mark Del Franco - Unquiet Dreams, Conner Grey 2,

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 2" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

I still enjoy this fantasy/urban fantasy series, but Del Franco does a HUGE no-no near the end of this one. It's told in 1st person POV, so how can an incident be related to us in great detail, yet in the very next chapter we're told that the person who just told us about it, has no memory of it?! That's a corner that authors using FPPOV have to be careful not to paint themselves into. Even a statement like, "It would be months before I remembered all that happened" would have gone a long way toward kissing that boo-boo and making it all better.
Piquant Opines: RT,



Lori Handeland - Hidden Moon, Night Creatures 7 - Claire and Malachi

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

I give Handeland a lot of credit for keeping these paranormal romance storylines fresh, not a formula to be found. Not really necessary to read any of the previous ones to read this one.
Piquant Opines: RT, TGTBTU,



Have you read any of these books? Feel free to review or link to a review in the comments. Even if you don't agree!

QB's Super Quickies

"So, read any good books lately?"
"What did you think of...?"

Here's the Quickie answers to those questions. Click on the Links for more info.


Patricia Briggs - Iron Kissed, Mercy Thompson book 3

Category: Lava Cake - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)
Flame Height: 3" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

This urban fantasy series just keeps getting better and better. She could write a new one every month and it still wouldn't be enough. This one has more than one surprising or out and out shocking moment.
Piquant Opines: RT, TGTBTU,



Joy Nash - Immortals: The Awakening, Immortals 3 - Kalen and Christine

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

Nummy one. The story really accelerates with a sense of urgency and impending disaster towards the end. Wait till you meet Mac. Talk about Mommy issues! Poor Mac!
Piquant Opines: RT, AAR,



Jennifer Ashley - Immortals: The Gathering, Immortals 4 - Hunter and Leda

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

Hunter is surprisingly laid back and my favorite of the Immortal brothers-- yes, even more than the kiltastic Kalen. The ongoing story comes to a climactic finish which has some great "visuals". They are now planning to continue the series with Tain, the bug-fucked nutso brother, and then some of the secondary characters (including Mac, YEAH!). Can't wait to see how Tain is redeemed.
Piquant Opines: RT,



Christine Warren - Howl at the Moon, Others 4 - Noah and Samantha

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

The Fixed series, the prequel series to The Others, has begun disappearing from Ellora's Cave to be re-tweaked and eventually re-released through St. Martins as part of The Others. Fun, sexy paranormal romance series.
Piquant Opines: RT, TGTBTU,



Jean Johnson - The Song, Sons of Destiny book 4 - Evanor and Mariel

Category: M&Ms - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

See INDEX for previous books.

This fantasy romance series ratchets up now that the Council of Mages learns what's going on and forces the Nightfall Island residents to declare their independence. No hints in this one, though, who the next bride will be. Dammit. But I wonder if it's Meredith?
Piquant Opines: RT,



Have you read any of these books? Feel free to review or link to a review in the comments. Even if you don't agree!

Audio Book: Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning, narrated by Phil Gigante

Historical Fantasy Audio Book (unabridged) released 20 Jan 08 by Brilliance Audio



Category: Lava Cake - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)
Flame Height: 6" out of 9"

Read my review over on The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

And don't forget to comment to be entered to win your own copy of Kiss of the Highlander on unabridged CDs!

So, anyway, as I was saying...

...this head cold is kickin' mah butt. No, really, it did. Piece of advice for all of you--- if you are having trouble breathing, do NOT keep saying you will go see the doctor next week. Here's all the fun I've had over the past few days...

By last Wednesday night, I was REALLY having trouble breathing, and figured I maybe better go see the doc the next day. Well, I never slept Wednesday night because I spent the entire night gasping for air. But I didn't want to wake my husband up to take me to the hospital because 1-he needed his sleep, and 2-I didn't want to leave the kids alone. So I discovered if I just sat straight up, perfectly still, I wouldn't gasp for air quite as much. Finally, it was morning and everyone was up, so I asked my husband to take me to the ER once the kids got off to school. He wanted to go right then, but, again, I'm a Mom and didn't want to leave the kids alone, so I agreed to start getting dressed while the kids got ready and out the door.

OOPS, too late, by then just the act of standing up and trying to get dressed sent me into a crisis and my husband had to call 911. But Vanity thy name is Woman because, as I'm gasping and suffocating I made my husband help me get dressed. After which, I half crawled/ half ran out into the garage in a panic hoping that the cold air would get my lungs started. As I kneeled on the floor of the garage hoping that the paramedics would get there before I suffocated, all I could think of was that I still had to brush my teeth. And by God, once the paramedics got there and they lifted me up, I made my husband bring me my toothbrush with toothpaste on it and a glass of water. No way was I breathing morning breath all over these people! Keep in mind, that I am barely breathing at this point, yet I was obsessing over brushing my teeth! GOOD GRIEF!

Anyway, long story short, I spent a couple of nights in the hospital, NOT a place to go when you need to sleep, btw. Diagnosis was acute bronchitis, probably brought on by a combination of the sneezefests I've been having due to allergies that have appeared this winter, and that damn lingering head cold. I was supposed to be discharged Saturday after the home health equipment place delivered equipment for breathing treatments. But we had a wee bit of a blizzard here in Ohio and they wouldn't deliver the equipment. Keep in mind that the hospital was full of people waiting for rooms, and some people couldn't be discharged because the storm prevented medical transport. So, when I said my husband was coming to get me even if he had to borrow a team of Huskies, the docs figured out a combo of meds/inhalents that were available at pharmacies to keep me going until the medical supply place could deliver the equipment.

Which started the next phase of fun--- finding an open pharmacy to fill all the prescriptions. FINALLY found one open in a nearby town, and FINALLY got home about 9:30 Saturday night.

But, mah butt is officially kicked. They tell me to not expect to be over this for a good month, and even then I should keep an inhaler at hand in case something triggers it again. So, that finalizes my decision about RT Con-- I've always been sensitive to certain perfumes and colognes, and I can't see wading into a sea of scents at RT Con without getting myself into more breathing trouble. So, decision made. Pittsburgh will just have to go on without me. Hee.

In the meantime, my daughter came home from college on Thursday to try and help with some of my work but didn't leave in time to miss the storm. So here she sat with all her homework in Cleveland and NO WAY were we going to let her drive back during that freaklin' blizzard! She was finally able to get out and back Sunday morning though.

And, to top it all off, our oldest son is in India for two weeks. The last I had heard from him, he emailed me Wednesday morning and said they were leaving New Delhi and were heading by bus to another small town about 4-5 hours away. So, I had my daughter emailing him since I wasn't home to see if he had contacted me or not. But SHE wasn't getting a response from him either! First thing I did when I got home Saturday was check my email and, NOPE, no response. So by Sunday, we were getting worried. Fortunately, he called late Sunday morning. Seems the small town they went to had hinky dial-up and his emails were bouncing back. PHEW!

So, all is (sorta) well in our little corner of the world now. I have got soooo much work to do and only so much energy to do it. But I WILL get back to blogging eventually. And reading--- I went so long without sleeping that I couldn't even concentrate on a book! *GASP* I FINALLY got a decent night's sleep last night, but now I feel crappy from a sleep hangover.

Oh, and btw, maybe I'm not in the right frame of mind to judge it, but I have to say that I've been trying to slog through Nicole Jordan's - To Pleasure a Lady - Courtship Wars 1. It's taken me since Friday to get to page 130, and, frankly, it's pretty BORING. I may set it aside and try agin when I'm feeling better, but I just don't see this snooze-fest engaging me any other time either. *YAWN*

SCORE!!

Yep, yep, I KNOW! The Dark Highlander is not due to be released in unabridged audio until March 20th, but Barnes & Noble online is selling it now with expedited shipping for the same price as standard. WOOT! Okay, so I paid a wee bit more than I would have if I'd bought it at Borders with a 30% off coupon, but I.Don't.Care. I've been desperately clinging to the last bits of Kiss of the Highlander and now I can float away with the HEA cuz I've got more Phil G. right here waitin' for me. Life is good.




I also scored even more thanks to Ann Aguirre/ Annie Dean. Annie has a Yahoo group (soon to be replaced by her message board) and every month the members name their favorite book they've read for that month. Ann randomly picks one name and that person can pick any book mentioned from any author during the month and she will have it shipped straight from Amazon to the winner. Well, I was the lucky duck whose name was picked for February! WOOT!

My book pick was a no brainer since it's already on my Constant Cravings list-- Grimspace by Ann Aguirre!! You know, I usually don't care much for sci-fi, but I love Ann's characters and have been sooo curious to read Grimspace to see if she can turn me into a sci-fi fan. The reviews for Grimspace have been awesome-- even from other non-sci-fi fans! It sounds like it could be described as urban fantasy romance in space. Thanks Annie!



Ah well, back to work. End of month/ beginning of month, plus our CPA called to light a fire under me to get our personal tax mess down to him. BLECH!

Audio Book Buzz on TGTBTU

I've got some audio book buzz posted over on The Good, the Bad, the Unread.

(and, yes, of COURSE, Phil G. is mentioned!)

Be Right Back

This head cold is kickin' mah butt. Hubby and kids are dropping one after another with the flu.

Upside? When I'm awake, I'm reading.