Boy Meets Girl By: Joshua Harris

This is going to be a different kind of review and I was hesitant to put it on here because I didn’t create this blog to talk about religion or self help books and this one could be considered both.  So, if you’re not interested in reading further, I understand - but if you want to hear about a book that I really enjoyed and think could be helpful for others as well, please read on.

While at lunch with a friend on Saturday, we started talking about relationships and marriage and being single and some how ended up discussing this book.  We had both read it years ago and while we were discussing it, I decided that I should read it again to refresh my memory.

I re-read the book and was reminded that there are aspects of my faith that I have not fully explored.  For instance, am I ok with gender roles? Could I let a man be the head of our household? I’ve been saying that I’m ready for marriage and I think I’m getting there, but I also think that in order to be able to be a part of a solid Christian relationship, I need to better understand my personal relationship with God.   The author, Josh Harris, explains his views of what a relationship between a man and a woman should be before marriage.  What I found the most helpful were the stories that he related about people he knew and how what he was explaining had worked for them.  It helped me to know that he wasn’t just talking but that he had himself experienced this and had watched his friends go through the process as well.

Since I moved to the DC area I’ve been searching for a church.  I’m Catholic and have been visiting different Catholic churches for weeks and still haven’t found one that I feel is right for me.  I had this same experience when I was here for my internship during undergrad.  At that time I ended up attending Capital Hill Baptist Church with a co-worker.  I felt then and now that I want to learn and grow in my faith; but that I’m not getting that in the Catholic church.  Reading this book has reminded me that its alright for me to want and need certain things from my church, that I shouldn’t have to settle on a church because it is what I feel like I should be going to.  I’ve decided to try out some different denominations and see where I think God is leading me.  This book helped me to process this thinking.  It’s just another reminder of the power of books.

Grade: A

Multiple reviews…

Works been crazy lately and I haven’t really been in the mood to review the books as I’ve been reading them.   I decided to do a short review of some of the books I’ve read and will try to do better with the reviews.I saw Wild and Hexy reviewed on one of the blogs I read (can’t remember which) and decided I would give this series a try.  I’m read Vicki Lewis Thompson before and I’ve always enjoyed her quirky style of writing.  For the most part, I did in this book as well.  Its possible that my not so great mood from work was carrying over in to my reading of this book, but at first I found it extremely corny. The premise of the story: Dorcas and Ambrose are magical and are sentenced to live in a small town called Big Knob until they are able to train the dragon that lives in the forests near the town.  While they are there, they can’t resist trying to help Maggie and Sean find love.

It took me a little while, but I came around and enjoyed the story.  Sean and Maggie are fun characters and Dorcas and Ambrose are crazy, but in a good way.  I’ll read Wild and Hexy and see what else this little town has going on.  Grade: C

This book has been reviewed all over the place in blog-land.  The Good, The Bad, and the Unread have reviewed the book, had an interview with Shiloh Walker and have a contest going on.  So, if you’re interested in seeing more about this book take a look over there.

I thought that this was an interesting story and one that was unique.  Since there has been so much talk about this book, I won’t take the time to explain the story - I’ll just tell you guys that if you are looking for a new fun fantasy type book, give this one a shot.  Grade: B

When Rae heard that I liked Suzanne Brockman, but hadn’t read her Navy Seal, Troubleshooter series - she promptly handed me the first two books.  What I’ve really been enjoying in these books are the secondary characters.  Brockman has done a fantastic job of creating enthralling stories around characters other then the hero and heroine.  For example, in The Defiant Hero, the heroine’s grandmother and daughter are kidnapped and while they are being held, the grandmother tells this story about how she met and fell in love with a man that fought for England during WWII.  The Unsung Hero has a couple of side stories and I found myself trying to rush through some of the main characters portions to get back to the other characters.

I’m enjoying the sexy Navy Seals and watching them fall in love, but I’m equally enjoy the way that Brockman is weaving their stories and portraying their family and friends.  Grade for both books: A

Some romance related questions

Holly over at Book Binge answered these questions and I thought I’d follow suit.

Contemporary, Historical, or Paranormal?
I can and have enjoyed them all, though I tend to lean more towards Paranormal and Historicals.

Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?
Any. Though it has to be an author I love and a book I plan on keeping for me to buy a hardback.

Heyer or Austen?
Austen. Enough said.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar?
It really depends. Amazon is convenient and I tend to go there for older books that I can get used…other wise I’m at a brick and mortar perusing the stacks.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes & Noble.  They tend to have a better selection and I used to work there. ☺

Woodiwiss or Lindsay?
Lindsay; though I prefer her older books.

First romance novel you ever remember reading?
A Harlequin Super Romance that had the word Angel in the title.  I can picture the cover, but not the name.

Alphabetize by author Alphabetize by title or random?
Don’t alphabetize at all (crazy seeing as I’m a librarian and all). I line them up on my shelves by author. Where they are depends on which ones I want with in easy reach.

Keep, Throw Away or Sell?
It depends. I rarely throw away; but if I really hate a book I might. I tend to keep and sell; also pass on to other romance readers.

Read with dustjacket or remove it?
Off, always off. It is so freaking annoying! (but looks pretty on the shelf)

Sookie Stackhouse or Anita Blake?
Um, most people that know me or read this blog know the answer to this. Anita Blake!!!! Always and forever. Love love love this series! I never could get into Sookie.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
It really depends. There are nights when I say I’ll finish just one more chapter, but if it’s a really great book, there’s good chance that I won’t realize when the chapter is over. On those nights I either finish the book or just stop when my eyes are so watery from being tired that I’m having issues reading.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
I’m with Holly on this one. Either works, probably depends on my mood.

Crusie or SEP?
Crusie

Buy or Borrow?
Depends on the book.  Series that I enjoy and plan on reading again, I buy - otherwise I try to borrow.

Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation or Browse?
It really just depends.  Though I’m super picky about book reviews. Strangely, I prefer to read reviews after I’ve read the book.  I like to see what other people thought and if we agreed. I love to get recommendations and have been known to browse.

Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?
Holly said, “I’m all about the tidy endings. I want everything wrapped up in a nice, neat little bow. I’ll make an exception, however, for books I know belong in a series(i.e. JDR’s In Death’s)”. I decided not to write my own response here because I completely agree with her.

Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Nighttime reading?
Any time of day works for me.  On weekdays I read while commuting. That gives me an hour and a half both ways and then sometimes again at night. On weekends it just depends on my mood and plans.

Series or standalone?
I love series.  If I enjoy the characters, then I prefer that the author continue on.  That is one of the things that I love about the Anita Blake books; there have been 16 books and there’s no end in sight.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
I really have no idea…

Booking Through Thursday - A day late

Have your book-tastes changed over the years? More fiction? Less? Books that are darker and more serious? Lighter and more frivolous? Challenging? Easy? How-to books over novels? Mysteries over Romance?

I haven’t left one genre for another, but the coming of paranormal romance introduced me to scifi and fantasy books.  Now I can be found reading a scifi book with *gasp* no romance in it!  Crazy, I know.  One other change that I can think of right now is the fact that I’m much more picky then I used to be with my romances.  I’ve been a fan of the genre for so long that I know what I like and what I don’t like.  I used to never just stop reading a book, I still wanted to know what happened.  Now if I find myself disliking a book, getting extremely annoyed by it - I just put it down.  Reading is about enjoyment and if I am not enjoying the book, I don’t care how it ends.

So, I’m still reading the same genre, just not indiscriminately and I’ve added in some other types of fiction. (including chicklit, though that is very similar to the girly books I read growing up just with the focus on adult women and their lives)

Blood Noir By: Laurell K. Hamilton

LKH is still writing some of the most compelling books I’ve ever read!  Blood Noir is the 16th book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series and this one is focusing on Jason.

*** If you have not read the other books in this series and plan to…do not read this post! I do discuss things that appear in some of the later books. ***

Jason’s father is dying of cancer and Nathaniel and Jason ask Anita if she would go home with Jason and pretend to be his girlfriend.  (Jason had been dating Perdita, one of Sampson’s mermaids (mentioned in The Harlequin), but they had just recently broken up.) Jason’s relationship with his father has always been strained and he is hoping to get one good moment with him before he dies.

Anita lets the men in her life know what is going on and it is decided that she has gained enough control of her animals, that she can go out of town with only Jason to feed the ardour.  When they get to Ashville, NC (Jason’s home), they quickly learn that one of his cousins is getting married that week.  This would normally not be a problem except that this cousin and Jason could be twins they look so much alike and Jason’s uncle, the governor, is currently a front runner in the race for the Presidency; meaning that the media are everywhere.

Jason’s appearance with Anita causes the press to go crazy, first guessing that the cousin is having an affair and then when they realize who Anita is — doing stories about how she has left Jean Claude for Jason.  The situation goes from bad to worse… I don’t want to give away everything, but I will say that Marmee Noir makes an appearance and that Anita gains another animal.

This book is shorter then most of the other ones in the series, which I guessed since Micah was also shorter, but it was still a disappointment.   It’ll be another year before we are able to learn how all that has happened in Ashville will affect their lives in St. Louis.

There were two things that bothered me about this book: 1. Jason and Anita both say “like” a lot.  I’ve read this series numerous times and I don’t remember this happening before.  Each time they said it, it kind of broke up my reading groove for a second. 2. The cover: I can not for the life of me figure out why there are scissors there.  I would love to hear some guesses from you guys, because I just don’t get it.  They completely broke away from the other cover designs, which is fine, but then created one that at least I feel, doesn’t fit the book. Even with that - I am still in love with this series.  I enjoyed learning more about Jason and am looking forward to the next installment.

Grade: A-

In bookstores now…

Today is the day I have been waiting months for, Blood Noir, the 16th book in the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton comes out!  I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally get a closer look at Jason.  He’s a character that I enjoy and I’m looking forward to learning more about him and where he comes from.

Also in stores today is Damien by Jacquelyn Frank, the 4th book in the Nightwalkers series.

I also plan on purchasing:

In a day or two, I’ll have a review of Blood Noir for you all.  So excited! If only I didn’t have work today, I could spend the day reading the book.

Busy busy and the Key to my heart…

I’ve been super busy lately and have had little time to review the books I’ve been reading. I’m hoping to catch up on that in the next couple of days.

I was over at Rae’s blog and decided to see what the key to my heart was… This is what I learned:

You are attracted to obedience and warmth.

In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored.

You’d like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.

Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything… no secrets.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You’ll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You’ll do anything for love, but you won’t fall for it easily.

Visit here to see what the key to your heart is.

LKH Podcast

My admiration of Laurell K. Hamilton is obviously not a secret on this blog.  I’ve written a couple of other posts about her books and my love for them, so I won’t go into detail again on the subject.  I do however want to say that she recently posted a podcast on her blog where she answers questions from readers.  I really enjoy listening to her explain her understanding of different things within the series.  There are a couple of spoilers in the podcast, so if you’re new to LKH’s work, then be careful.

Also, for those of you who don’t know - the next Anita Blake book, Blood Noir comes out on May 27!!! So, excited

Marrying the Boss, By: Megan Kelly

Megan Kelly has written an intriguing story that has more depth then I would normally expect from a book of this length (216 pages).  The story does not only focus on the hero and heroine, Mark Collins and Leanne Fairbanks, but also on Leanne’s mother and her new relationship.

Leanne first meets mark at the grave of her father, Mark’s adopted-grandfather.  Leanne’s mother had an affair with Lionel Collins that ended when she learned she was pregnant.  Lionel, a wealthy cutthroat businessman was willing to have a monthly check sent to help with his daughter’s financial needs, but made no attempt to meet his daughter.  It was this inattention that made the announcement at his gravesite that much more shocking.

Leanne and her mother, Jenny, had waited until they thought everyone had left the funeral site to allow them a private moment to say goodbye; only to get there and realize that there are two men who have returned.  Mark was sent back to search for an earring that his mother suspected to have fallen off during the service and the family lawyer had accompanied him.  It was after introductions that the lawyer asks to see both Mark and Leanne in his office to discuss Lionel’s will.  Mark is shocked and wonders out loud why Leanne would be included.  It is at that time that he is told about his grandfather’s affair and that Leanne is the result of the relationship.  Caught off guard by what he has learned, Mark asks that they resolve matters right then and learn what the will states.  He was becoming nervous of the outcome, having worked his entire life to live up to Lionel’s standards and prepare himself to take over Collins Company at his death; assuming that he was Lionel’s heir.

Leanne is shocked that after years of inattention and no contact with the Collins family, her father would use his death to finally recognize her.  Bitter from his neglect, her mother has to encourage her to go and hear what her father’s will states.  What she learns is even more of a surprise then she could have anticipated.  Having been a fan of the TV show The Apprentice, Lionel has created three tasks for Leanne and Mark to accomplish and the winner of the tasks will win control of his company.

This is an interesting set up for the story.  Though Leanne, a Business Professor, has no interest in running CoCo, as she and her mother have nick named Lionel’s company, she ends up participating because of an over heard conversation between Mark and his mother.  The pressure of competing does not stop either Mark or Leanne from recognizing their attraction to one another and it is fun to watch the two work through the issues holding them apart and figure out a way to be happy together.

This is certainly a book that has many levels and in an attempt to not give away too much of the story, much has been left out of this review.  The journey that this family takes is definitely worth the read.

Grade: B

***This review can also be found at The Romance Reader. If you’ve never been there, please take a moment to check it out. There are thousands of romance book reviews there on all different types of romances. ***

Embrace the Night By: Karen Chance

Embrace the Night is the third book in the Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance.  The first two books- Touch the Dark and Claimed by Shadow – introduce Cassie and the exciting world that Karen Chance has created.

*** I don’t think that what is written below are spoilers…but I’m tired and might be wrong…Read at your own peril! ***

This book focuses on Cassie learning about her new powers as Pythia and finally breaking the geis that had tied her to the Vampire, Mircea.

Cassie has grown in her powers and has over time begun to learn how to use them to protect herself and her friends; though by no means has she become proficient.  While searching for the Codex, a book of magic spells written by Merlin and supposedly containing a spell to break the geis, she is forced to continually break out of what she thinks is possible.  It is this journey that allows Cassie to begin to understand what it means to be Pythia.

I really have no idea where this series will go next, but I’m excited to find out.  I look forward to seeing what Karen Chance will do next and of course in seeing if Mircea and Cassie can make it work together.

Grade: B