I have a confession. I stopped reading Linda Howard years ago. All of her characters started to seem the same, so I read a few of her single titles, then quit. However, last year I heard good things about her book Cry No More, so I bought it once it came out in paperback. I haven’t read it, but I read To Die For during the weekend because it sounded different. I ended up enjoying it tremendously. It’s not perfect, and I was originally going to give it a 4, but I’ve already reread it once. That makes it a keeper in my book: 5 out of 5.

Blair Mallory owns a gym called Great Bods, but she’s had some trouble with a gym member who started imitating her hairstyle, clothing, and manner. When this troublesome woman’s membership expires, Blair won’t allow her to renew it. The woman storms out after an angry confrontation. When Blair goes out to the parking lot after work, she sees the woman’s car in the parking lot. Soon she hears a gunshot and thinks someone is trying to kill her. She goes back inside, calls the police, and discovers that the woman has been killed. This turn of events brings police lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth, a man she dated briefly two years ago, back into her life.

To Die For is told in first-person from Blair’s point of view, which is perfect for this story. Blair is an ex-cheerleader who runs a gym, and I loved getting inside her head. It was fascinating to watch the couple interact from Blair’s perspective, and I loved small (or not-so-small) details such as Blair’s sensitive neck. The handstand and movie incidents are funny, too.

I’m going to give Linda Howard another try. I’ll read Cry No More one of these days, and I’d definitely buy another book written in the same style as To Die For.

I’ve been so busy being sick that I forgot that J.D. Robb’s Survivor in Death is coming out tomorrow. I order the In Death series from her husband’s bookstore, which means I should get it tomorrow, or might even get it today. Yay! How nice that I don’t have long to wait.

This seems to be a weekend in which I blog about books with weird punctuation. I read Better Than Chocolate . . . by Jennifer LaBrecque and loved it: 5 out of 5.

Last year, I read LaBrecque’s Barely Behaving; it was OK, but I didn’t feel inclined to buy anything else. I picked up Better Than Chocolate . . . at the library, and now it looks like I need to get a copy for myself.

Eve Carmichael and Jack LaRoux are up for the same vice-president position at Hendley and Wells Advertising. The one who creates the campaign for a certain client will get the position. Jack and Eve haven’t met; she works in the New York office, while he works in San Francisco. Both go to Chicago to have an initial meeting with the client to discuss ideas. Before that, though, Eve and Jack meet in the hotel, and go out for a drink.

I’ll state right now that Jack finds out who Eve is, but he doesn’t reciprocate. In most cases, I’d think that was a rotten thing to do. And it is. LaBrecque, however, shows talent in creating complex characters. Jack is likable even though his actions in this situation aren’t. When Eve discovers the deception, she handles it much differently than I expected. She’s a woman who gives as good as she gets. And I love the fact that she’s attractive but not gorgeous.

Complexity is perhaps the best word for this story. The characters are complex, the situations are complex, and the sex is complex. I simply couldn’t put this book down. (But again, what’s up with the punctuation? No ellipsis is needed.)

On a reading note, I’m seeing a trend here. Better Than Chocolate . . . isn’t the first book I’ve liked with a coworkers-who-don’t-know-each-other plot. Jacquie D’Alessandro’s We’ve Got Tonight also uses this storyline. Different execution, of course, but I loved it, too. I wonder why I seem to be drawn to this scenario? Must give this some thought.

I discovered Meg Cabot last year when I was in a used bookstore, saw and liked the cover of Boy Meets Girl, and decided to buy it. Now I buy her books new, and I don’t mind buying them in trade-size paperback. Every Boy’s Got One is her latest book, and it’s wonderful: 4 out of 5.

Cartoonist Jane Harris is flying to Italy to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. All would be well, except for the best man, Cal Langdon, who not only has never heard of Jane’s Wondercat cartoon, but he also doesn’t believe in love or that Holly and Mark should get married. So, what else can a maid of honor do but try to change his mind?

Every Boy’s Got One is loosely connected to Boy Meets Girl and The Boy Next Door. Like the other two books, this story is told through e-mail messages; this book adds journal entries, PDA notes, and more. Some of the more amusing moments:

• Jane starts out writing in a travel journal she plans to give to Mark and Holly, the couple. She changes her mind after writing about Cal, “He is kind of cute. I mean, if you like the tall, rugged, sandy-haired, razor-stubbled-with-piercing-blue-eyes-who-knows-how-to-use-a-Blackberry type. Okay. Now I definitely won’t be able to give this to Holly and Mark as a wedding present.”
• Jane and Holly are e-mailing each other while they travel in the same car. Holly assures Jane that the men aren’t paying attention to what they’re doing. Of course, Mark e-mails Cal and says, “The girls are emailing back and forth about us.”
• Holly tells Jane a rumor about Cal that leads him to write, “She has this unnerving habit of staring at my crotch. Yes, she’s short, but certainly not so much that this is where her eye level might naturally rest.”
• Jane e-mails Cal while traveling. His reply, “Ms. Harris. What a surprise. You’re emailing me. From the backseat.”
• The group ends up meeting a boy who maintains a Wondercat fan website. He e-mails regular updates to his mailing list, which he signs, “Wundercat Lives–4eva!”

I love the way Cabot doesn’t shy away from creating imperfect characters and letting us laugh at them. Jane, for instance, is in many ways a stereotypical American traveler who thinks things should be the way they are in America. In spite of this, she has a refreshing sense of wonder that balances her character and makes her appealing. Cal is also multidimensional.

I’ve said before that there aren’t many authors who make me laugh out loud. Meg Cabot is one of them, and I’m glad she keeps writing.

P.S. Want to know what every boy has? You’ll have to read the book.

I can’t seem to resist Brava titles. When I see them in the bookstore, I always read the back covers to see if I would enjoy them. I wish they weren’t always released as trade paperbacks first, but that just makes me more selective; it doesn’t stop me from buying. Last week, I bought Susannah Carr’s “Wicked” Women 101. It’s quite good: 4 out of 5.

“Six Weeks to Sensuality”: 3 out of 4
Amy’s ex-boyfriend publically proposed to her nemesis, which was a big blow to her self-esteem. Amy reacts by joining Dr. Marc Javier’s sensuality project, so she can go to the engagement party and show everyone that she doesn’t care about the ex.

Marc and Amy have been attracted to each other for some time, but neither has acted on that attraction. There are some nice moments between the characters, but I don’t like the whole make-me-over-into-a-sensual-woman theme. To give Marc credit, he says that he likes her the way she is, without changing. But that’s not the message I got from the rest of the story. The ex and his fiancee are a bit too stereotypical, too.

“Code Pink”: 4 out of 5
When Jennifer goes to the restaurant to meet a man, she wasn’t expecting him to be her former lover Bryan. Jennifer is a skilled encryptionist, and Bryan decoded the message to her date. Sparks fly as they make a bet about whether he can decode three more messages.

Jennifer and Bryan have an interesting history, which unfolds nicely through the story. They also have chemistry—always a good thing in a Brava title. This is the shortest of the three stories, and it’s excellent.

“Fantasies Are Forever”: 4 out of 5
Caroline has been fantasizing about coworker Joe, and it’s gotten to the point that she can’t focus. Her solution: she’ll sleep with him and get him out of her system. Joe has other plans. He’s wanted Caroline for months, but he doesn’t want only one night.

I like reading about men who know what they want and aren’t afraid of commitment, and Joe is both these things. This story is at its best when Joe and Caroline are together. I wanted to see a little less of Caroline talking with her friends; there’s a distracting subplot with a magic potion. I understand the point Carr makes with it; I’m just not sure it’s necessary. But I love the way Caroline and Joe finally get together.

This anthology is one I’ll keep; I’ll enjoy rereading the last two stories.

As a side note: what’s up with the weird punctuation? “Wicked” Women 101 doesn’t need quotation marks. I think readers can tell that the women aren’t really wicked. Otherwise, why haven’t they been added to titles like Bad Boys Next Exit?

Wow, Karen Harbaugh is good. I just finished Dark Enchantment and loved it: 4 out of 5.

Catherine de la Fer has no memory of her life before the past few months, and she’s been living in Paris. One night, she saves a girl who is being attacked, and ends up getting injured herself. Jack Marstone takes her back to his lodgings so she’ll have a place to recover. Catherine is unusual for more reasons than her amnesia. The wounds on her back and her hands heal surprisingly quickly, too quickly.

Since Dark Enchantment is connected to Harbaugh’s earlier book Night Fires, I expected it to be a vampire story. It isn’t, but I won’t say what it is; you’ll enjoy it more by discovering it as you read. Catherine and Jack are both terrific characters. I like how Jack, a mercenary, gradually realizes how valuable Catherine is to him. And Catherine is no stereotypical damsel in distress.

Jack and Catherine are separated for a good part of the book. Though I would have liked to see them together for more of the story, I was surprised by how little this bothered me. Usually long separations drive me crazy. However, this one worked.

I’ve been visiting several new-to-me blogs lately, and at Suzanne McMinn’s blog, I learned about a company that designs unique blog templates (if hosted by blogspot) for $45. I’m giving this some thought. It might be fun to have something designed just for me.

One of these days, I will write a blog entry that doesn’t start with the words, “I’m still sick.” Unfortunately, today is not that day. I am still sick, though I’m doing better than I was on Wednesday. It’s all relative. I’m just glad it’s the weekend, and I’m planning to spend much of it sleeping.

In other news, I’ve set aside my original idea for my Romancing the Blog entry. I have a new idea, and I’ve written a rough draft. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that no one will focus on this topic before February 10.

I also have two reviews to write for The Romance Reader. One is almost finished, but I haven’t started the second one. I may try to finish the first one this weekend, but I don’t want to push it.

I’m still sick, but I’m also the recipient of some good news. Rachel Gibson is coming to Utah during her book signing tour! It’s sad, but true—Utah isn’t a book signing hub. So imagine my surprise when I visit Gibson’s website and see that she is having not one, but two book signing events in Utah, both of which are close enough to attend. OK, actually it’s a bit of a drive to get to Park City, but better an hour and a half in the car than seven hours on a plane. And Murray is quite close to where I live.

I wonder if they’d mind if I brought all of my backlist for her to sign?

All good news is much appreciated, since I have a monstrous headache in addition to my other cold symptoms. I’m staying home today, though I might go to work this afternoon if I can find a strong enough cold medicine. I’m going back to bed soon to lie down and die, but it’s always nice to have a book signing to look forward to.

If I had judged C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp’s Hunter’s Moon on the fact that it’s a first-person narrative from the perspective of a hitman—who happens to be a werewolf—I would have missed a great story by an interesting author team: 4 out of 5.

Yes, you read that correctly. Hunter’s Moon is told in first-person. Tony Giodone is also a hitman and werewolf. He meets Sue Quentin when she hires him to kill her. You read that correctly, too. But things don’t quite go as planned. Sue recently won the lottery, which put her in the spotlight. Tony doesn’t agree to kill her (at least, not immediately), but he does agree to hear her story. However, the full moon is coming . . .

I enjoyed entering this fictional world. I was fascinated by the idea that emotions have different scents. As a werewolf, Tony has a keen sense of smell. He uses this in every aspect of his life, but it’s particularly useful with his work. Tony is matter-of-fact about the way he earns his living. Authors Adams and Clamp create an interesting voice that really works.

Sue is startled but not horrified when Tony turns into a wolf. They forge a connection both of them find unnerving—Tony more so than Sue. There’s plenty of adventure here, too. I’d describe Hunter’s Moon as paranormal romantic suspense.

I checked out the authors’ website, and it looks like their next book is coming out in August. It will be set in the same world, though it looks like the focus is on other characters. With any luck, we’ll see Tony and Sue again. I’d love to read more about these memorable characters.

P.S. I do have a cold. It should go away as long as I drink a gallon of water, right?

I think I might have a cold. As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry, I have been feeling a bit off. I ascribed it to my strange sleeping on Friday, but today I can’t seem to stop sneezing, and I’m feeling yucky in general.

I’ve also been working on my entry in the 2004 Annual Reader Survey. Here are my votes:

Best Romance
When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn

Favorite Funny
Undead and Unwed, MaryJanice Davidson

Most-Hanky Read
Divided in Death, J.D. Robb

Most Luscious Love Story
The Bane Affair, Alison Kent

Most Tortured Hero
Dylan Moore, His Every Kiss, Laura Lee Guhrke

Strongest Heroine
Eve Dallas, Divided in Death, J.D. Robb

Best Hero
Michael Stirling, When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn

Best Heroine
Sookie Stackhouse, Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris

Best Couple
Eve Dallas and Roarke, Divided in Death, J.D. Robb

Most Annoying Lead Character
Kris Baldwin, Time’s Captive, Kate Lyon

Best Author Who Debuted in 2004
Sophia Nash

Best Buried Treasure
We’ve Got Tonight, Jacquie D’Alessandro

Guiltiest Pleasure
Wickedly Hot, Leslie Kelly

Author Most Glommed in 2004
Suzanne Brockmann

Best Cabin or Road
When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn

Best European Historical
Slightly Dangerous, Mary Balogh

Best Traditional Regency
A Passionate Encounter, Sophia Nash

Best Contemporary
Smart Mouth, Erin McCarthy

Best Series
We’ve Got Tonight, Jacquie D’Alessandro

Best Romantic Suspense
The Bane Affair, Alison Kent

Best Alternate Reality
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris

Best Chick Lit
Bombshell, Lynda Curnyn

Best Short Story
“Dancers in the Dark,” Charlaine Harris, Night’s Edge

Author You Gave Up On in 2004
Maggie Shayne

Author Others Love that You Don’t
Laura Kinsale

Most Disappointing
Return to Me, Shannon McKenna

Worst
The Lipstick Chronicles, Lori Soard

Purplest Prose
Return to Me, Shannon McKenna

I had forgotten Return to Me until I was organizing books this weekend, and I found it. I love McKenna, but Return to Me was a disappointment. Hopefully I’ll like her next book better. It’s due out in April.

I didn’t vote in the Best American Historical, Best Medieval, or Best Villain categories, because I couldn’t think of any standouts. But it was fun to create this list.