It Had To Be You

- Susan Elizabeth Phillips -

After two books, this author is rapidly becoming a favorite - am very glad I didn't judge the book by the truly terrible cover art and kept reading.

Basically, it's a fun fish out of water style love story as Phoebe Somerville reluctantly takes over the NFL football team she had inherited and butts heads with the bullying, occasionally judgemental and very bad tempered head coach, Dan Calebow.

I love stories about two characters who are flawed in very human ways, but more importantly that realize those flaws in themselves and will acknowledge it, or try to change if they need to. Phoebe especially was a great example of someone taking control of their circumstances, using all the weapons in their arsenal to deal with a situation, and confronting past traumas to move on with her life.

Dan was occasionally a bit too much of the stereotyped 'hard ass' football coach, everyone worships him/legend type, but he also copped to his faults and owned them, so it was fairly forgivable.

Didn't really need the cheesetastic epilogue, but enjoyed the hell out of the story and will definitely be reading more in what I think is a series about the team. I know that the younger sister, Molly, has a story out there too, and looking forward to that one.

One fun note: some occasional clothing references dated the story a little bit (ie: who wears spandex as non work out wear these days) but nothing particularly noticeable gave away when it was written/set until OJ Simpson was referenced in relation to his football interviewing gig.

Edge of Danger

- Cherry Adair-

Picked up all three in this series from the library cause I have enjoyed books from this author in the past.

What I did not realize was that this series, although featuring the T-FLAC organization in Cherry Adair's other books, also has paranormal components. The agent in this book, Gabriel Edge, is a wizard. Yup, wizard. He (and his two brothers) work for the T-FLAC Psi Ops division which apparently is the agents with paranormal powers division.

I'm not usually a huge fan of the genre but decided to keep reading to see if the writing was good enough to overcome that fact.

The verdict? Yes and no.

The mystery part of the story is engaging: Eden Cahill has invented sophisticated AI technology that has subsequently been stolen, and her boss and mentor murdered in the process. Gabriel Edge is sent to retrieve the information T-FlAC needs to make another robot that will be able to destroy the first. Wow, it sounds way more far fetched typing it out like that, but as I was reading that part of the story, while improbable, didn't sound wildly unlikely and ludicrous.

Where my problems came in was with how Gabriel was going get the information. And that would be by reading Eden's mind. Of course, for some reason (read: twu wuv) he can't read Eden's thoughts, and apparently sex will open her mind up enough for him to get in there, so the first encounter between these two features an out of body seduction by him, and an experience which she believes to be either a) a very realistic sex dream or b) an invisible man making love to her. Yeah.

The vagueness of Gabriel's powers were a real problem for me through out the story. He can tele port, he can morph into other shapes, he can cast spells - basically, even though there are references to wizards having specific individual powers, it seems like Gabriel can do it all and it just seems way too convenient: no need for it to make sense - it's magic!

The flip side of that coin too is that I felt the relationship between Eden and Gabriel was entirely dependent on the mystical, "meant to be" factor that draws them together, and ended up being fairly light on the actually getting to know each other part of things. The magic/prophecy ended up being a substitute for actual development of the relationship and showing them getting to know each other.

The build up of sexual tension was good in that I really, really just wanted them to touch to see what happened, but then again it became all about this magical chemistry/meant to be/Lifemate thing, that seemed to have no basis in anything. Eden was supposed to be a scientist for craps sake - it would have been nice to see a little bit more demanding explanations or trying to understand rather than just being all "Sure, these things could happen".

I guess I shouldn't really expect reality per se from a paranormal romance, but I just felt like the paranormal stuff was used as a rationalization for everything, rather than having actual characterisations and relationship development.

Am halfway through the next book in the series though, so apparently I am a glutton for punishment.

ETA: Gave up on the second and the series. Did not like, too irritating to finish.

Size 12 Is Not Fat

- Meg Cabot -

I really enjoyed this for the most part - the characters were all very engaging, the mystery was a)not instantly predictable and b) made sense once it was solved, and generally speaking I liked the concept of a Britney Spears style character who lost herr career, money and fiance all at once and was forced to truly start her life again from scratch.

But! There are some major buts - flaws, or stylistic choices that drove me insane:

- Why, why, WHY is Heather written as too dumb to believed sometimes? Ie completely unablto think before she talks, to observe anything around here eg: at the Pansy Ball with Christopher, there is no subtlety whatsover. He asks her to dance, the next minute she's all " Those two girl you shagged" what about them. a) it's ludicrous, because even if she suspects him, she has no definitive proof and b) if she wants to get proof, thinking it through for a moment and turning the conversation in that direction doesn't have to be done by blurting crap out without thinking.

I know Heather has self esteem issues relating to her lack of education etc, but does that mean she has no street smarts or impulse control whatsoever?

We are shown that her instincts are good - she picks up on very reasonable yet easy to overlook reasons for the the deaths of the girls in her dorm make no sense, so I found it irritating that she then was a) seen as the overreacting melodramatic type by those around her and then b) seemed to act out that image herself by behaving completely hysterical and dim: seriously - she couldn't really have thought that if Christopher is sociopathic enough to callously seduce virgins and then shove them down an elevator shaft, then the mere mention of their names is going to inspire him to what? Confess? Look guilty so she can point and say 'he did it'.

I was also annoyed by Heather's mooning after Connor. Not the fact of her being semi in love with him, but by the constant "what does he think of me" or "maybe he's going to say he secretly loves me now" anytime he opened her mouth. Part of it I am sure comes from Heather's self esteem issues - she clearly doesn't expect him to take her seriously in any way - but when she gets all hysterical "You went to see a GIRL" when he tells her about the visit to the coroner's office, instead of listening to him, and taking the point that he clearly does take her concerns seriously, it is just frustrating.

Finally - the way Heather's size was dealt with bugged as well. Again - not because it was an issue, but because of the way we are constantly reminded it is an issue by the never ending references to "I'm size 12 cause I like to eat". That sentiment alone is fine - great even, but it's constantly described as she likes to eat junk, listing all the stuff she wants to eat, so despite Heather saying constantly "Size 12 is not fat, it's normal", it ends up feeling like the eating is also related to her self esteem issues and a sort of compulsive behaviour, instead of it being a situation where, free from the physical constraints of her career, she is free to relax and eat and live with a bit more freedom.

Wow, my problems with the book make it sound like I didn't enjoy it which is not true at all - I really did which is probably why those issues stood out to me so much. Will be reading the next book in the series soon though, so hopefully they won't be as noticeable to me.

Save the Contemporary!

See www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com for details!

To Tempt a Scotsman

- Victoria Dahl-

Decided to try this one based on how much I enjoyed 'Talk Me Down', the first contemporary romance by this author.

I haven't really read historical romances much (unless "The Other Boleyn Girl" counts) since my early teens, and the one that stands out in memory there featured a hysterical horse/man penis logistical comparison that still makes me laugh. Man, I'd love to get my hands on that books again for the sheer laugh out loud factor.

But anyway, so historical fiction: not really my thing. But if this book is a good example of modern historical fiction, I might have to change my mind.

First of all, the writing was great - no reliance on crappy "Olde English, this is how they talked then" style conversation, which I have read before and drives me INSANE (ie: the entire thing being all "och, the wee lassie" blah blah). The language used was contextual, as in no "do me now, big boy" and other modern expressions, and the relationships and social structures were all period appropriate, but there was still a sense of modernity that I really enjoyed. I think that came from well realised characters, who acknowledged the restrictions and boundaries of the society they were born into, but weren't afraid to challenge them and go after what they wanted.

Alexandra is the best example of this: a so called "fallen woman", she decides that since society sees her as damaged goods, she can live life exactly as she wants. This means throwing herself into managing her brother's estate and, when Collin appears on the scene, pursuing him because she wants to and she can.

As for Collin: I need to read more books with sext Scotsman in them, because damn. Yum. He is believeable in that he is challenged by Alexandra's openess (with men particularly) and threatened by it in some ways, but it works so well as a problem in their relationship because it makes sense that a man of this time period, who are taught to view women a certain way, would be troubled by a woman who doesn't conform. And while jealousy turns him into a raging arse, it also is something he works through and ultimately acknowledges the wrongness of, so it doesn't seem like an over the top or unbelievable character trait or situation.

There were some things that didn't work for me, or maybe just weren't developed as much as they could have been:
- I would have liked to see more of Alexandra's relationship with her brother, because it was so well done and shown to be so loving, yet flawed. Actually I just want to see more of the brother. Hope he gets a story of his own someday.

- I wish Fergus and Jeanie's story hadn't been quite as secondary as it was. I would have loved to see more interaction development between them, rather than straight from Jeanie's confession to Alex telling Fergus to get over himself to oh, look - they are together. More one and one stuff with Fergus and Jeannie would have been awesome.

- I hated, HAAATED it ending on the note it did - nominally triumphant, but really they have both just been through the most terrible ordeal ever (the villian kidnapping them both and almost raping (or raping. Wasn't entirely clear) her while Collin is forced to listen, before Alex kills him. I hated that they had to go through something so horrific at that stage of the story, and I wanted a little bit more of the recovery and the homecoming after that, not just the jump to the happily ever after epilogue.

Overall though, really enjoyed the story and can't wait to read more from this author, and maybe more historical romances in general.

White Heat

- Cherry Adair -

One of the T-FLAC series (gah, everytime I read that I hear that quacky little duck from the Aflac commercials)

Really fun, easy read - the story moves quickly and is very engaging, as are the two leads, Max & Emily. Actually, thinking about this on the train ride home - I feel like we didn't get all that much information about Max and Emily as people. Some background, family stuff - sure, but not a whole lot of organic "this is who they are" type stuff, beyond the usual "he's a super spy" "she's and independent woman" generalities.

Nonetheless, I found them both to be really likeable and well match, so clearly they were still pretty well written, despite being a bit enigmatic.

Also not quite as much background stuff for all the terrorist activity/groups, which I actually enjoyed - a couple of times with Cherry Adair's books, all that stuff has felt like a total info dump and slows the story right down for me.

One minor quibble: loved the spider as mysterious killer (spoiler!), but have never heard a funnel web referred to as a Sydney Funnel Web Spider. I don't know...maybe that's it's official name. Where I am from we just refer to them as "Quick, squish it!".

Marley & Me

- John Grogan -

Finally caved and bought this one after adoring the movie - yes, I am a sucker for cheese. And proud of it.

Probably not surprising, given I'd assume it's a prerequisite for newspaper columnists to be able to connect with their readers, but John Grogan has an amazing ability to write about simple yet universally recognizable events with such clarity and charm.

No doubt being a huge animal lover helps, cause I have friends who just don't get the dog thing at all and where mystified by my enjoyment of the movie, but I related to so many of these stories, despite not being in the same place in my life as Grogan was when he wrote. I may not be a newlywed/new parent etc, but I sure as hell can relate to the coming home and bracing yourself before opening the door to see what the dog has destroyed now (thanks, Molly dog!) and being completely unable to stay mad cause the destructor in question is just so damn happy to see you.

All in all, super enjoyable read and lovely tribute to the wonderful place a good bad dog has in your life.

To The Edge

- Cindy Gerard-

First in a series (the "Bodyguards" series).

Came across this one because I was looking for a good, easy to read romance/suspense type series/author and Amazon recommended this via the "customers who bought X also bought Y" feature.

Definitely enjoyed - solid writing, not as repetitive as some in this genre can be (ie: repeating information, character traits etc ad nauseum), nice tension (both of the sexual and 'what's the stalker up to next' varieties).

The lead characters, Nolan and Jillian, both seem realistic and believable both as individuals and as a couple.

The stalker character could have been integrated more into the story, so that it seemed more organic when the reveal came and I also would have liked a little bit more interaction between Jillian and the characters around her so we had a bit more insight into who they were and why they were suspects (particularly in the case of her assistant, who is described as very nervous, had a hard life etc, but we don't get a whole lot of background, which I would have liked).

Overall, I really enjoyed - exactly what I was looking for and have already ordered next in the series. Thank god for paperbackswap!

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

- Michael Chabon -

Wow, I don't know what it is about this guy's writing, but I could not put this book down. His use of language is just so compelling and vivid, it's like having a filmstrip in your head.

Even when I don't particularly like any of the characters as people, and I really didn't like any of them much, I still couldn't wait to read more and see where they ended up.

It's the first book by Chabon, and some of the plot points are fairly easy to see coming, but the mastery of the language and imagery more than make up for it.

Not as brilliant as "Kavalier and Clay", but totally want to read more of his stuff.

Unravel Me

- Christie Ridgway -

Usually enjoy this author, and this was no exception.

Second in a series, following "How to Knit a Wild Bikini".

Loved the two main characters, Juliet and Noah, they were very believable both as characters and as a couple attracted to one another. The writing is also good enough, and the story engaging enough, that the dead first husband, 30 years Juliet's senior, who seemed to be a daddy replacement for her (they seem to have re-met, and gotten together at the funeral of her parent's, who died tragically early and unexpectedly), and even to some extent, him, was fairly believable and non-creepy.

I like the relationship between the sisters - mostly seemed realistic from a group of women with no family to speak of who want to develop that family bond with each other (ie: unconditional love and good-natured teasing which seems to equal happy families, romance novel style).

The third books deals with the middle sister, Cassie, and I hope to see a couple of things in that book:

- Comeuppance. Juliet's stepdaughter has the sub plot in this book, and the B-romance story and, while I liked that pairing and ultimately would like to see that story resolved, Marlys needs to face some consequences and acknowledge her totally heinous and unjustified behaviour in "Unravel Me". I also want to see some sort of resolution and maybe friendship develop between Marlys and Juliet, just because I am a sucker for that "enemies realize they have lots in common and become friends" thing. Cheesy, but oh well.

- Consequences - I like Cassandra as a character and am dying to read her book, because the naive Susy Sunshine and the tortured "hero" is one of my favorite tropes, and this looks like it could be a good one. But I also REALLY want to see someone, preferably multiple someones, call her out on her nosy interference into other peoples lives. She, albeit fairly innocuously, forces her sister into her life (not that they object ultimately, but still...) and then goes against their wished in establishing contact with their biological (sperm donor) father, all apparently in pursuit of some idealised dream of a big family. I would like to see some mention of the way she turns people's lives upside down, in pursuit of what she wants.

Overall, enjoyed this read a lot.

Talk Me Down

- Victoria Dahl -


Whoa. Picked this up based on great review from www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com and it was fabulous.

Two great lead characters - both flawed, but not dominated by their flaws. It drives me insane, particularly in romance novels, when the protaganists don't get out of their own heads enough. In "Talk Me Down", Ben and Molly both have their share of hangups (his pathological fear of scandal, her secrets about her career, former lovers etc) but they don't let it get in the way of going for what they want, ie: each other.

There is nothing more irritating in a romance than fake tension of the "We shouldn't, we can't, this isn't right" variety and thankfully there is none of that here - they want each other, they go for it and the problems that arise later as a result of their various issues feel much more natural as a result. And the inevitable tensions, conflicts and separations are drawn out to the point of ridiculousness. It all flows as part of a fun, larger story - lots of stalkers in this small town!

Loved it, will definitely be looking for more by this author.

Addicted to Love

- by Lori Wilde -

Third in the "Wedding Veil Wishes" series. I loved the first one in this series, but the subsequent books have mostly been a gigantic "meh".

The thing that bugged most about "Addicted to Love" is the use of what each protaganist had been through in the past - Racheal getting screwed around by love, Brody going through various traumas related to being in the Twin Towers, losing a leg in Iraq, to pit them against each other in a weird way. Like Racheal talking about being hurt by love, only to have Brody's internal monologue telling us that she is getting upset about little things - he has been through "real" tragedy.

First of all, I hate the use of 9/11 and Iraq service in this way - it doesn't work for me in terms of making his emotional turmoil seem believable or real - it's like lip service is paid to the trauma he has been through, but it's never really explored in depth - obviously romance novels aren't really a genre where you would expect it to be, but I still feel like it could have come into play in the story in a more organic way.

And I really, REALLY, hate the compare/contrast of their various traumas. Obviously ditched at the altar and war are completely different in terms of the scope and nature of what they went through. But just because they are not on the same spectrum of pain doesn't make it okay for him to say, or think, that her fears and concerns are silly or irrelevant, or to devalue her legitimate pain because it's not as painful as what he might have been through.

Overall, I guess the emotional journey was too simplistic and so it just wasn't that interesting to me.

I'll probably still read the fourth book in the series when it comes out later in the year though. My inner OCD freak apparently can't deal with not finishing the series once I've started.