What are you reading?

November is not shaping up to be a very productive reading month. Sure I've read a few books, but I'm in the mood for something to REALLY engross me. Something that takes a lot of concentration and focus that engages me completely. I've been sort of hoping that the ARC I won of Megan Hart's next book TEMPTED would get here.

I recently agreed to take delivery of two books by Georgette Heyer COTILLION and AN INFAMOUS ARMY from Sourcebooks. All they asked is that I mention that Ms. Heyer's books were being re-released and maybe do a review when I read one (or both) of them. Since I do like to read English historicals and I've also been wanting to try Ms. Heyer I was happy to get the books for free and mention the re-release of the books. Of course, I noted that the two books I got are not the ones that made the new AAR 100, but what the heck. Like I said, I've been wanting to try out Ms. Heyer and this is my chance. So I guess it's official. I got free books, I pimp their publication and now I'm a full fledged book whore. Anybody feel free to step in and refute my logic. Seriously. Anybody. Really.

All of which has nothing to do with why I'm having a slow reading month. Want to read but don't know what to read. You know like having a food craving but not knowing what you want to eat exactly? Sometimes you get lucky and try something way off the radar and get *ahhhhh* satisfied. That's sort of what I'm hoping will happen with my reading. I'm going to browse through my stash and find something off my current radar and get my craving taken care of. Western? Contemporary? Suspense? Erotic? Sweet? Inspirational?

I had lunch with Super Librarian Wendy yesterday. She whet my appetite for westerns by giving me a great synopsis for THE HORSEMAN by Jillian Hart. I also picked up the new Charlene Sands HH BODINE'S BOUNTY. God knows what will end up in my hot little hands.

Currently I'm struggling through HOLY SMOKES by Katie MacAlister. I've enjoyed this particular series about the adventures of Guardian (not angel) Aisling Grey in the supernatural, paranormal realm. The first couple of books were great. Unfortunately, the last couple have strayed far from the central romance and are involved in the politics and power plays of dragon septs, demons, heaven and hell and well...I've lost interest. The book's not bad, it's *big yawn* boring. I'm sooo disappointed too because I sure liked the first few books. They were funny and entertaining and I'm not one who's particularly enamored of comedy in my romance. I like dark and angsty. But I did enjoy these.

So, I'm muddling along. Distracted by life, work and the upcoming holidays and looking for something to read. What about you. C'mon take a second and comment. What are you reading right now? You might suggest something that will satisfy my craving. You never know... Help a friend out.

Moo Moooooo...

It's okay I admit it. I'm one of the thundering herd that made their way to a bookstore yesterday and purchased LOVER UNBOUND by JR Ward. I want to read Vishous' story. There I said it. My name is Rosie and I like the BDB books. I almost can't wait to see what I think about this one knowing it's gotten some mixed reviews. I mostly skimmed the few reviews I've seen because I don't want to be influenced by anyone else's take on the book.

Besides LU I also purchased:

LESSONS OF DESIRE by Madeline Hunter
AIN'T MYTH BEHAVING by Katie MacAlister
DEMON'S KISS by Eve Silver
DEVILS ON HORSEBACK:NATE by Beth Williamson (ebook from Samhain)

MacAlister is hit or miss with me, but when she's on I really enjoy her books especially the dragon series. HOLY SMOKES is due out in November and I'll be purchasing that one for sure. I've liked most of Madeline Hunter's books and was sort of excited about this release because I've been on a historical kick. I've also been in the mood for a western, so I decided to try Beth Williamson after looking at her westerns at Samhain for about a year now.

I still haven't read the ARC of the Lynn Viehl book EVERMORE yet. If you are a fan, as I am, you probably think I'm crazy. I actually think I'll crack LU first. EVERMORE is my ace in the hole. Knowing it's there waiting for me (personally signed no less) makes me feel warm and fuzzy. A little kooky maybe? Cuz, I'm not taunting...really I'm not.

What I've been reading lately

So, I'm cleaning up this weekend and sorting through all the books I've piled up that I've read recently to decide whether to save 'em or send 'em to the used book store. I realized I had quite a stash accumulated in the process. I thought I'd share a quick review of this latest group. You're getting bare bones here. I'm too tired and lazy to get links or covers.

1. Kathy Love - A trilogy GETTING WHAT YOU WANT; WANTING WHAT YOU GET; and WANTING SOMETHING MORE. I probably would not have read all three of these if I was waiting for them to come out individually. However, this was one of those rare instances when a cover caught my eye and all three of the books were out already. Reading them one after the other was great. They aren't the sort of read I would rave about, but were an enjoyable way to spend a weekend. Straight up contemporary romance about three misfit sisters and how they manage to make a life for themselves when the "grow up".

2. Michele Albert - HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT. I have all of her books...even those as Michele Jerott. I like her voice. Considering some of the unsavory and unpleasant things the protagonist has in his past it would have been more interesting to be a little more in his psyche. Grif Laughton is a complicated guy. I liked the book though. Fast paced enough, even if I would have liked seeing more of the dark side of Grif.

3. Kresley Cole - A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER. If you know anything about me you know I'm a complete pushover for werewolves and vampires. While I'm partial to these two kinds of stories, I do have standards. I like intensity and new twists to the same old legends. I liked this book alot because probably the only thing I'm more of a sucker (no pun intended) for then weres and vamps is a tortured hero. This book has that all wrapped up in one guy. Of course, I can't over look his single minded focus to find and keep his mate. Yeah...my guilty secret a man's intense focus of energy on one woman. It gives me shivers. I'm curious to read a second book of Ms. Cole's to see if this was a one time thing or not.

4. Lucy Monroe - READY; WILLING; AND ABLE. This is actually three individual books. This is another trio I've been ignoring but started reading part of the second book in the store and got hooked enough to give them a whirl. I read all three back to back. Again, I don't know if I had read the first one all by itself if it would have stood out in my mind long enough for me to buy the second and third books, but all together they were very satisfying. The guys are mercernaries which always intrigues me. It's interesting to me when an author tries to give us a reason why a man would choose that sort of life...it's pretty hard to justify selling yourself to the highest bidder. Of course, these guys belong to a "good guy" merc group doing good for the world. There are some far fetched scenarios, but I don't read romance for a dose of reality...I get that from CNN. So all in all they were a fun read.

5. Lucy Monroe - TEMPT ME. So I liked the contemporaries enough to give this regency of Ms. Monroe's a try. I wasn't as captivated by it as I was the contemporaries, but if you are the mood for a decently written regency, this one is pretty good.


6. Eloisa James - THE TAMING OF THE DUKE. I've enjoyed this series and was disappointed in this installment. It was predictable and I had trouble finishing it. I've enjoyed several of Ms. James books very much, but this one made me feel like she wasn't sure what she wanted to write. It was too tepid for the build up we've had of these two characters.

7. Emma Holly - ALL U CAN EAT. I liked this book, but not as much as some of Ms. Holly's books. I loved both of the main characters and was very invested in both of them. But this is another one of those occasions when a book was missing something for me and I can't put my finger on what it is. Satisfying ending though. Even though Frankie Smith has a boyfriend when the story starts, I can't think why she wasn't flirting her ya-ya's off with Police Chief Jack West. He's a memorable guy...kind of like Patrick in Ms. Holly's VELVET GLOVE. Both these guys make their individual books worth reading. All that intensity and focus (again!) just makes a chick shiver!

8. Katie MacAlister - EVEN VAMPIRES GET THE BLUES. This was an enjoyable addition to this series of Ms. MacAlister's. By itself it wouldn't be a recommend for me though. Her earlier books are much better I think. I would have liked more of Paen's background explained. Also, it's hard to be too invested in soul saving when the person whose soul is at risk never makes an appearance in the book. Yeah, that was weird. Even so, if you liked her other vampire books and enjoy this series, you'll like this one too.

9. Sarah McCarty - CONCEPTION: THE OTHERS. I just re-read this book because I bought it in print. You know I'm so taken with her PROMISE series that I didn't remember how much I liked this particular book. What can I say? *G* I'm a huge fan of Ms. McCarty's. I am anxious now to read more of this series. (Bohdan's story if you must know). Character, character, character...she writes them with so much depth and accessibility. Even when writing about the supernatural, like she is here, she is one of those writers that make her characters seem so real. Good, good book. If you haven't read it, you really should.

With the exception of Ms. McCarty's book, none of the other books are something I would stop someone in the romance section and tell them to read. However, none of them made me go screaming into the night either.

Psst...Sarah...what's the latest with UNCHAINED: ZACH'S OBSESSION ?