I feel like I need a shower...

It's no secret that I'm a TrueBlood fan. Since Justified is on hiatus and Rescue Me hasn't started yet I have to admit I was looking forward to catching up with the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse and the cuckoos that live in Bon Temps, LA.

Unfortunately at least a couple of times each of the previous two seasons there have been episodes that just leave me feeling dirty and wondering why I watch the perversity that is TrueBlood. Last night was one such episode.

I hate to think that I'm so shallow that I watch just to get a look at vampire Eric Northman played so deliciously by Alexander Skarsgard. Sadly, I'm afraid I'm that superficial. Otherwise there is no reasonable explanation why I kept watching last night's episode all the way through. Of course I also obligingly watched the previews for July 11th which were just Eric-enticing enough to be sure I'll be tuning in again. I'm such a wimp.

I need some raspberry sherbet to cleanse my palate. Thank goodness Rescue Me starts Tuesday.

It's a New Day.

Well, after all sorts of deal making with myself, wishing, stumbling, and generally fumbling my way through the last six months, I've once again cleared out my Google Reader and am trying to catch up with my pals.

Wish me luck.

One reason I've had time to do this is the reading has dried up in a big way. I've picked up four separate books this weekend and couldn't get interested in any of them.

What are you guys reading. Anything really rock your boat?

Reader = Writer?

Do you have people in your life who think you should be writing a book instead of reading one? I wrote about it over at Readers Gab at Access Romance.

Take a look.

Reading Bliss

Just finished another great historical and now I get to read the new Ava Gray book SKIN TIGHT. You may remember that I loved SKIN GAME, also by Ms. Gray, last year. In fact I think I bought about 7-8 copies besides my own. I wanted EVERY body to read it.

I also picked up WELCOME TO HARMONY, the new Jodi Thomas, Joanna Bourne's newest THE FORBIDDEN ROSE, OPEN COUNTRY by Kaki Warner which I reviewed for Book Binge, and Dreamveil by Lynn Viehl.

Very satisfying haul.

Maybe someday I'll post my April and May lists. They are both works in progress.

May 2010

A big reading month for me was May. Also a good one. I sometimes think I end up in a reading funk because it's hard to keep having really good reads back to back to back.

Since I'm writing this post in July, I think that may be what happened in June and July with my reading malaise. Well that and a big project at work. Eighteen books for May. Fifteen in reality since two were DNFs and one was an anthology of which I only read one story.

SINFUL by Charlotte Featherstone
Well this book was a surprise. I think mostly because Ms. Featherstone didn't take any shortcuts or easy roads for her characters. The quote that opens the book, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." by Anais Nin, sets up this story perfectly.

Both shy nurse Jane Rankin and Matthew, the Earl of Wallingford are damaged and hiding in the only way they know how.
My Grade = B+

BLOOD BORN by Linda Howard & Linda Jones
I started this book two times and am no further than 30 pages into it. I'm keeping it for now to try again in the future because I'm thinking, maybe I'm burned out on paranormals?
My Grade = DNF

WILD FIRE by Christine Feehan
This is pretty standard shifter fare. But a solid entry into Ms. Feehan's series.
My Grade = B

NOTHING BUT TROUBLE by Rachel Gibson
On my spreadsheet I labeled this a sports rom-com in the hockey world. That about sums it up. An unsuccessful acting career sends Chelsea looking for a real job. She lands one as a personal assistant to injured hockey superstar Mark Bresslar. Chelsea is unorthodox and Mark is grumpy. He can't play hockey any more. Fun read and a perfect book for the poolside or beach.
My Grade = B

SAVOR THE MOMENT by Nora Roberts
This is cake baker, Laurel's entry into the Wedding Quartet. I must say I'm enjoying this series quite a bit, but have to give this one a "B" just for being so anti-climatic. I felt this book more or less moved the series along and set up the fourth and final book which is wedding planner, Parker's book.
My Grade = B

VAMPIRE MISTRESS by Joey W. Hill
An interesting addition to Ms. Hill's vampire queen series. Gideon Green is so damaged and has so much anger. Anwyn seems to see his pain. Gideon, a ruthless vampire hunter, is, understandably, deeply troubled and conflicted by his brother's relationship with a vampire queen. Erotic as all get out with lots of emotional conflict, this book is not light reading.
My Grade = B+

LOVE IN THE TIME OF DRAGONS by Katie MacAlister
This may be a case of it's not the story it's me, but there just didn't seem to be anything new or interesting here. I only read a third of the book and called it quits. When Ms. MacAlister began the dragon books I couldn't get my hands on them fast enough. This just seemed too much same old, same old.
My Grade = DNF

SEX, LIES & SECRET LIVES by Thea Devine
I haven't read a Devine book in what seems like forever. I enjoyed this twin story, where one sister assumes the identity of the other, to find out what happened to the missing twin. Very spicy, predictable, but a book I was in exactly the right mood to read at the beginning of summer.
My Grade = B

THE MAN WHO LOVED PRIDE & PREJUDICE by Abigail Reynolds
In this contemporary homage to Jane Austen's PRIDE & PREJUDICE, Ms. Reynolds has marine biologist Cassie Boulton and wealthy and politically connected Calder Westing meet in a small New England town and sparks fly. I picked this up on a whim and was charmed by the idea of a modern re-telling of P&P.
My Grade = B

MEN OF DANGER (Anthology)
Hannah's Luck by Lora Leigh
Ibought the anthology for this entry. Why, I don't know...
My Grade = C-

IN SHELTER COVER by Barbara Freethy
This is a part of Ms. Freethy's Angel Bay series and I feel that while the books all take place in Angel Bay they are completely stand alone stories. I enjoyed this book about Brianna Kane trying to make a life for herself and her son in her deceased husband's hometown of Angel Bay. A place where she comes face to face with her husband's childhood friend, Jason Marlow. The same man who sent her husband to prison.
My Grade = B

MANHUNTING by Jennifer Crusie
This was a re-read that was once again fueled by seeing the newer release in the bookstore. I've been doing a lot of that lately (see the Linda Howard below). A reasonably intelligent career woman decides to begin putting as much energy into her personal life as she does her career when she chooses to visit a swanky resort where successful, and eligible, businessmen hang out. This is such a fun book to read and being so short it's a quick fix for an afternoon.
My Grade = B

ALMOST FOREVER by Linda Howard
An old classic Howard that is a re-read. This takes place in the same world as SARAH'S CHILD. The one thing that stops me from giving this book an A is Claire's behavior when they are in England. It didn't make sense the first time I read it and it still didn't this time. I don't get why she would be so insecure so late in the relationship. It's not like the man hadn't gone to great lengths to show his feelings for her. Still a good book and a blast from my reading past.
My Grade = B

10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU by Julia Quinn
I had a great month reading historicals in May. I could make a list of the things I liked about this one. For instance, the list making itself within the story. The relationships, not just the H/H but theirs with others in the story. It was a fun read as well. The irony of Sebastian being the heir to the man who wants to marry Annabel and beget children so Sebastian can't inherit, was delicious. I found myself saying, "c'mon, fix it... fix it..." Nothing like a little a tension and conflict to move a story along.
My Grade = B

FADE TO MIDNIGHT by Shannon McKenna
Kevin McCloud has been mourned for years by his brothers and as readers we have read about how his death and loss affected Davy, Sean and Connor. In this book we find out what happened. I was very excited about finding out what Ms. McKenna had in store for us here. I'm not one to complain about a book being too long, especially when I've been waiting for it for so long, however, I think this could have been tightened up a bit and it would have been a better book.
My Grade = B-

MARRIED BY MORNING by Lisa Kleypas
Catherine Marks is the sand in Leo Huxtable's shoe. Surprised years earlier by inheriting a title, Leo Huxtable finds himself having to marry and produce an heir in order to save the family home. The sparks these two throw off one another is as age old as a young man dipping braids in an inkwell. Attraction pure and simple. Although it seems to surprise the two of them. This is a very competently written book by Ms. Kleypas and far from a disappointment, I just wanted Leo's heroine to be someone new.
My Grade = B

HIS AT NIGHT by Sherry Thomas
It takes talent to act dumb which Ms. Thomas' character Lord Vere does, but in my opinion in order to write and make it believable to the reader as well, takes some real writing chops. There are some moments in this book that are so poignant. Paging through it to do this blurb, I actually sighed aloud. The wedding night (pgs 154-169) my heart hurt for both Elissande and Freddy.

I loved reading this book.
My Grade = A

WHERE THE WIND BLOWS by Caroline Fyffe
This is a quintessential cowboy story. Chase Logan arrives just in time to keep the winter and starvation from Jessie Strong' s door. These are both two wounded characters and the powerful healing of love. While the premise was predictable, I found myself engaged in the characters. GG is a lover of westerns and I knew this one had enough grit and reality in it to be a good read for him too.
My Grade = B+