Here I come!

I’m on my way to San Francisco for the RWA conference and book signing fun. Be back next week!

After reading and loving Eve Kenin’s Driven, I was excited to read Hidden, her recent release set in the same world. After a slow start, Hidden tells a vivid and mesmerizing story: 4 out of 5.

Tatiana has honed her genetic gifts to perfection. She can withstand the subzero temperatures of the Northern Waste, read somebody’s mind with the briefest touch, and slice through bone with her bare hands. Which makes her one badass chick, all right.

Nothing gets to her. Until she meets Tristan. Villain or ally, she can’t be sure. But one thing she does know: he has gifts too—including the ability to ramp up her heart rate to dangerous levels. But before they can start some chemistry of their own, they have to survive being trapped in an underground lab, hunted by a madman, and exposed to a plague that could destroy mankind.

It’s been a while since I read Driven, and reading the first few chapters of Hidden made me feel a bit like I was wading through world building. I’m not sure why it felt different, but I felt less connected to the characters initially.

Thankfully, the story picks up quickly beginning with the hero and heroine’s second meeting. The lead characters, Tatiana and Tristan, are intriguing and a bit opaque. There is perhaps a little too much reliance on the previous book to reveal Tatiana’s backstory; though it’s examined, it wasn’t addressed in as much depth as I’d like.

However, I have to say that this is one of the sweetest love stories I’ve read in months. It’s absolutely beautiful, and I recommend it to someone who wants to see a romance that works despite the short amount of time the couple has known each other. In fact, I might have to add this to my favorite declarations of love.

Driven is the stronger of the two stories, but Hidden is still a compelling, worthwhile read.

When I want to read a story with a range of emotion and plenty of heat, I pick up something by Sasha White. Always thought-provoking and riveting, White’s books always deliver. I saved Sexy Devil for a time when I wanted a sure-fire good read, and I wasn’t disappointed.

“The Devil Inside”
Workaholic Caleb Mann used to think blind dates were a waste of time, but when his ex-girlfriend calls him boring in bed, Caleb becomes bent on changing his image fast—with the help of the incredibly sexy woman standing in front of him. He barely knows his date’s name, but her sassy mouth is almost hypnotizing, in more ways than one, and he can’t stop fantasizing about replacing the sleek motorcycle between her firm thighs and letting her ride him all night long . . .

“Devil’s Jewel”
Ex-soldier and psychic hunter Angelo Devlin has seen evil first-hand. He knows how perilous his assignments can be, and he doesn’t welcome outside help, which makes his run-in with Jewel Kattalis all the more infuriating. But instead of sending her away, he wants to grab her, take her, and tease every inch of her beautiful body. This woman may be more dangerous than any mission he’s ever been on before . . .

Sexy Devil includes two connected stories. The heroine in the first story is the sister of the hero in the second story. The stories are different in tone, as well. The conflict in “The Devil Inside” is largely internal. Caleb and Gina’s relationship begins as a physical one, but deepens into something more. But Gina can’t accept a life with a man who doesn’t believe in her psychic abilities. The story is strong, although the shift from lust to love feels a little quick. Still, it’s a nice story with a solid romance.

“Devil’s Jewel” offers a more action-oriented story. Like his sister, Angelo has psychic abilities, but the siblings have different talents. Angelo’s makes him a hunter, a man on a mission. His latest mission puts him in Jewel’s path, and theirs is a surprisingly sweet (and hot) love story. The action is fast-paced and surprising, and I especially enjoyed the ending.

Closing the anthology is a bonus story titled “Mountain Retreat.” After Nikki runs away from Mac, he vows to find out why. When he tracks her down, he discovers the truth—she’s changed. The epitomy of short and sweet, “Mountain Retreat” is a memorable and compelling story.

Sexy Devil is a fun and easy read: 4 out of 5. Luckily, I don’t have to wait long for White’s next book. Her next book, My Perogative, comes out in September.

As part of my ongoing effort to decrease my TBR, I read a book I’ve had a while—Lori Wilde’s You Only Love Twice.

Comic-book heroine Angelina Avenger battles dastardly criminals and alien invasions. But her creator Marlie Montague’s life isn’t as exciting . . . until Marlie opens the front door and finds the business end of a pistol pointed right at her. Her plan: to channel Angelina fast! Recruiting her new next-door neighbor, who looks like a rock-hard action hero, couldn’t hurt either . . .

The last thing Navy secret agent Joel Hunter expected on this surveillance gig was a luscious brunette bursting through his window. Now he and Marlie are blowing the doors off a full-blown conspiracy with more double agents than a Bond flick. But in between shootouts and squealing tires, the mystery that is Marlie is making Joel’s heart go thump thump thump. Is she a femme fatale or an endearing bookworm? And how does she leave him both shaken and stirred?

This book offers a quick pacing and a fun premise. I can’t think of another romance that features a comic book artist as a heroine. (Wait, is there a Nora Roberts book with a similar heroine? The Perfect Neighbor? Maybe . . . Still, this is original.) In this story, Marlie’s comics lead to trouble when an assassin tries to kill her. As the blurb states, Joel comes to her aid. The lead characters are interesting—I enjoyed the time with them. Their romance is both fun and sweet; I loved the tie-in with the title.

The trouble is that there are many characters vying for attention. Two subplots and secondary romances keep the book moving quickly, but make it difficult to get invested. Just as I settled into one plot, another would take center stage. Marlie and Joel’s romance interested me, but the other plots kept shifting my focus.

The action stretches credulity as well. When I’m swept away by a story, I can overlook implausibilities and coincidences. In this case, I didn’t reach that level of emotional involvement, so I kept tripping up over the coincidences. One development/appearance toward the end of the story made my eyes roll.

So here’s my take on You Only Love Once: good writing, unique idea, cluttered plotlines. 3 out of 5.

When I learned that Jim Butcher’s wife is a romance writer, I became curious enough to pick up No Regrets. I’m pleased to say that I don’t regret doing so.

Renowned cryptologist Noelle Blanche refuses to have blood on her hands. So when the military asks for her help in a covert operation, she refuses—until masked gunmen raid her home and threaten her life. Suddenly it’s all too clear that any blood spilled may be her own. Noelle has no choice but to trust the dangerous stranger sent by the military to safeguard her. A stranger who is everything she detests, everything she fears  . . . and everything she desires.

Former Delta Force operative David Wolfe thought he had left it all behind—the horror, the hurt, the guilt. But now the men who savagely murdered his wife have set their sights on a brilliant cryptologist who can lead them to the cache of weapons they prize. As passion ignites between David and the woman he’s sworn to protect, what began as just a mission escalates into the fight of his life. But can he prevent history from repeating itself?

When I started reading No Regrets and Noelle’s attitude toward the military, I worried that she would be a raving woman similar to another heroine I read. Thankfully, Noelle is no shrill talking head. Her reasons for her beliefs are quite understandable, and she articulates them logically.

However, her knowledge and abilities make her a target for both the military and a terrorist group. David gets to her first, and he convinces her to lend her talents to ensure the weapons stay out of the hands of the terrorists.

David is attracted to Noelle immediately, and it’s compelling to see the way she slips under his defenses. Though he wants to keep her at arm’s length physically and emotionally, he can’t resist her. These scenes are among the best in the book, and the love scenes are emotional and passionate. My favorite combination.

The showdown is a little anticlimactic. The villain is dispatched a little too quickly and easily; for all the build up, I expected something bigger here.

I enjoyed No Regrets and have bought the second book in the series.

. . . but it does. From the RWA Conference website:

Please note: Since this is a literacy fundraiser, please do not bring your own books for the authors to sign. We want to raise as much money as possible to help fight illiteracy.

Don’t bring any books for authors to sign? *Gulp.*

I get it; I really do. But I buy dozens of books. And authors don’t have their entire backlists available for sale. It was nice when they allowed attendees to bring five books. Just five.

And I still can’t find the list of authors who are attending.

/End whine

I’ve always enjoyed audiobooks, but I’ve become a bit obsessed. Bring them on! Bring on the new! That’s my current philosophy. I’ve got all the J.D. Robbs on audio, and I love them, but I discovered that it actually is possible to overdose on them. So I’ve been getting audios by other authors. I made another purchase today. Here’s what’s coming:

Kelley Armstrong: Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic
Jim Butcher: Summer Knight and Small Favor

I won’t even say how much they cost—audiobooks aren’t cheap. But I know I’ll listen to them often, so it’s worth it.

Anyone have any good audiobook recommendations?