Book Review: Ice

Book Title:  Ice

Author: Linda Howard

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Cost: $18.95

Pages: 224

How I got it: From the Library

My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis:

Tis the season for mistletoe and holly, Santa . . . and suspense. And the gift that keeps on giving is Ice: premier thriller author Linda Howard’s breathless tale of a man, a woman, and a battle for survival against an unforgiving winter–and an unrelenting killer. Oh what fun it is to read.
Gabriel McQueen has only just arrived home on holiday leave from the service when his county-sheriff father sends him back out again with new marching orders. A brewing ice storm, and a distant neighbor who’s fallen out of contact, have the local lawman concerned. So he enlists Gabriel to make the long haul to the middle of nowhere, and make sure Lolly Helton is safe and sound. It’s a trip the younger McQueen would rather not make given the bitter winter weather–and the icy conditions that have always existed between him and Lolly.

My Review:
This is another of those books I hesitated to read due to poor reviews on Goodreads and Amazon; I should have taken those reviews with a grain of salt.  This was a quick read, but just as exciting as all the others, but man it packed the punch.  It contains Linda's signature style & writing process, her stories all have strong female characters, sexy strong men (generally military or former military) which I love because I'm such a suit slut. Yeah I admit it, a tall sexy man in Marine dress whites is just so....*blinks looks around guiltily and gets back to the point* as I was saying Marines in uniform ...hmmmm *drools just thinking about it* ah hem I mean Navy, or Army men.. let's just say if the pilot looks like Tom Cruise from Top Gun then yeah I might ... yeah now you know why I'm gunning to work on a base as a nurse..LOL .

Ok NOW on to the real review: in this book this time one of the main characters is actually mother nature.  Ice not only refers to the huge storm that centers the story, but also to the junkie's drug of choice (learnt that from Dog the Bounty Hunter.. I only watched because of Leland, oh what a sexy sexy man; there is an episode where Beth, who by the way is kick ass despite looking like a real live Barbie, she taunted a bail jumper 'nannani ice head" because apparently in Hawaii they call Meth "ice").  Anyway, the main character here is on her way home and getting ready for a really bad storm that is predicted for their town. While on her way home she picks up some unsavoury characters who need money for their habit.    In comes a hero in the form of the sheriff's son who is sent by his dad to check on her, and there in comes the adventure. I liked that the lead had spunk and wasn't just waiting to be rescued, that the villains although idiots didn't just give up and that the storm made it all that much worse. It moved quickly, had great scenes and you could see the relationship forming between them.  All in all it was a good book, short but good. One that I enjoyed reading.  It may not be a burn rubber to get book, but it's a definite read when you have a chance.

I hope you will enjoy it as well.
Happy Reading

Book Review: Calista's Men

Book Title: Calista's Men

Author: Jory Strong

Publisher: Ellorascave

Pages: Novel

Cost; $ 5.95

How I Got it: Purchased

Description:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like with a woman we actually cared about? One who belonged just to us? One who wanted more from us than a good time… A woman we could have together or separately. One who saw us as individuals who came as a package deal? One who was waiting for us at the end of the day?"
"No."
"No?"
"I like them easy and I like to share them with you. End of story, Benito."Getting involved with any woman, much less one who might ultimately drive a wedge between him and Benito, is the last thing Dante needs, especially now, when his life is already in turmoil. The wealthy, influential family of a murder suspect he killed in the line of duty is portraying him as a trigger-happy vigilante, putting his career and reputation on the line.
But as soon as he sees Calista Burke—and witnesses Benito's identical reaction to her—he knows the stakes have just gotten higher and a lifetime of never risking his heart is about to be put to the test.

My take on the book:
Sign me up for two of these please. Dante & Benito Hello!?! hot damn Ms. Strong can write. The story is about twin brothers who have a need to share the women that they make love to. In walks Calista a school teacher who screams 'let's settle down and have children' Dante wants to run the other way Benito? He's all set to pop the question & settle down. Calista is also attempting to shake her good girl image by working as a private investigator for Bulldog who owns Crime Tells (which is the name of the series just so you know).  Her case intersects with Dante's case; which really pulls out his dominate side and he helps her with her case as a way to get to know her better.

This is a steamy, raunchy, sexy, hot book, the action flows, the characters are well fleshed out and have complicated thoughts and feelings which make them feel real. The sex is out of this world amazing as a trio & alone. The men insisted on getting to know her as part of their own relationships as well as a trio, which I really loved. There are some BDSM themes throughout the novel & Dante is extremely secy and dominating without being domineering.  I love this story & continuously find myself re-reading it, because I love the love story forming between the three & the struggle that Dante & Benito find themselves in. One not wanting to fall in love and trust anyone else but his twin, & the other struggling not to have to walk away from his twin because he can't walk away from the woman.

This is a definite go to Ellorascave and purchase title. I love the heck out of Jory Strong, as far as I have read none of her books have ever disappointed, so get this one as well!!!.

Enjoy

Book Review: The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Book Title:  The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: Bantam

Pages: 304

Cost; $15.00

How I Got it:   Library

Description:
Allen's latest (after The Sugar Queen) takes the familiar setup of a young protagonist returning to the small town where her elusive mother was raised, and subverts it by sprinkling just enough magic into the narrative to keep things lively but short of saccharine. Seventeen-year-old Emily Benedict, intent on learning more about her mother, Dulcie, moves in with her grandfather, but is disappointed to find that her grandfather doesn't want to talk much about Dulcie. She soon discovers, though, that many still hold a grudge against Dulcie for the way she treated an old sweetheart before dumping him and disappearing. Luckily, Dulcie's high school adversary, Julia Winterson, back in town to pay down her deceased father's debt, takes a shine to Emily. She's working another quest as well: baking cakes every day with the hope that they'll somehow attract the daughter she gave up for adoption years ago. There are love interests, big family secrets, and magical happenings (color-changing wallpaper, mysterious lights) aplenty as Allen charts the spiraling inter-generational stories, bringing everything together in an unexpected way. (from Amazon.com description)

My take on the book:

What can I say about this book? Let's see, I picked it up at 11:30pm, and didn't put it down until 4:30am and I was screaming out NOOOOO!!! I didn't want it to end. I have very rarely read an author who pulls you into the world, not just shares the story but makes you feel like your there, walking the streets of the town, watching the Giant go walking by, smelling the sweet smells coming from the BBQ, meeting your friends at the local fair and having a good ol' Southern time in North Carolina (I'm a Virginia girl myself and must say when she describes the food my mouth just WATERS). *wipes drool off just remembering*.
The characters are like friends you haven't seen in a while, the story fantastical and wondrous, yet so believable, even in it's unbelievability you can just imagine wondering into town and discovering that everything she wrote about is actually true.
I got so involved in the story and couldn't wait for the characters to get out of their own way, especially Julie ohhh girl I would ... wait no spoilers, but let's just say i would have snatched her bald for her oppurtunity.  I loved that the young lead Emily, came into town and helped to change it in her own little way; that her presence made each of the other characters take a good look at their lives and seek change. I really really loved her Grandpa the Giant, I could almost see him like a older (cleaner but only a little bit) version of Hagrid. yeah it's a Harry Potter reference and?? Yeah Id don't think so Lol, ok y'all knew I was crazy coming on here so don't gimme those looks,  I enjoyed reading about Win and his family,  this town like the other towns in her books, have so many quirky characters, and townspeople with special gifts and traits.  Some of the plots in the story left you wondering and made you really think, especially abut Dulcie and her past, and how it affected her daughter's future. 
I loved this book, the story, the characters, and even though I keep looking to see if maybe I was dreaming and it really didn't end that way, I even liked the ending.

I loved reading Garden Spells, I fell deeply in love with  the Sugar Queen, and I must say that Sarah Addison Allen is fast becoming for a favorite must read author. I loved this book so much i almost (i said almost so don't gimme that look) didn't return it to the library * of that now means I MUST buy my own copy...heheheheh, another reason to shop Borders*

I will say that I loved this book as much as I loved Practical Magic and that i have placed in all it's witchy and everyday magic (yeah I know it's only in my mind, but my blog, my opinion) her along the likes of Alice Hoffman. yeah I said it.
Go a get this book, it will be worth it I promise!!
Be Blessed

Book Review: Burn

Book Title: Burn

Author: Linda Howard
Pages: 367
Publisher: Ballatine Books
Cost: $7.99
How I got it: Borrowed from Library
Synopsis:

When Jenner Redwine wins a lottery jackpot, she can’t imagine ever finding a place in the world of the wealthy. Seven years later, though, she finds an ally—and a guide to the rarefied realm of privilege—in the kind-hearted heiress Sydney Hazlett, who invites Jenner on a charity cruise aboard a luxury liner. But what Jenner gets is more like a Hitchcock movie than a Love Boat episode. Taken hostage by a menacing stranger, with nowhere to run, Jenner is drawn into a game of dizzying intrigue and harrowing danger. But as fear of her captor turns to fascination, Jenner rediscovers feelings she hasn’t had in years—and realizes she’s found a life worth living. If she survives

My Review:
I hesitated to read this because of lots of reviews gave it a luke warm receipts.  I should know better it;s Linda Howard it may not be what you would write but it's pretty damn good.  This book stated a little differently from others, it started at the end. the the back story the back to the action. Kinda catching you up but not in a flashback sequence.

From this book I learnt a few things I didn't know about the lottery. Jenner won the lotto, now her life is very different ( If i ever won the lotto, I have learnt what to do and what not to do) Anyhoo, flashback to Jenner present day and the story really begins.

Personally 1) I would have NEVER let someone steal $50 much less $ 27400 that mother foooo oh ugh *coughs * ahem I meant what I was saying ugh Yeah Jenner has changed somewhat ok a whole lot but wouldn't you?? 2)Her 'love' scenario really smacks of Stockholm syndrome or even hero worship. I would be more pissed before we fell in love but then again people meet and fall 'in love' in some sticky situations doesn't mean they won't last.  The female lead kept insisting she wasn't stupid, that she was strong and capable and sometimes that can be annoying.

The main characters worked together well, and the relationship that formed was a natural formation from that. I am however dying to know about Adam, since his heart was broken in this book. I think this is a much like her other reads and I think this was definitively a book to read despite what others were saying.

I enjoyed this one, the killer was a little too effed up; even for me. I mean really?? That's your solution to your personal problems??? But then again to each their own. Actually no f**k that he soo got what he deserved A**hole.

See strong reactions - good book- you go read
Enjoy my loves

My Computer is on the outs

so yeah, this saturday my computer decided it desired a break and the hard drive is now officially effed and gone it won't even restart, so I have to send it in to be fixed. Ill be back in a week talk among  yourselves and ill be back on time for the Practical magic Blog Party, make sure to check out the blog button next and see the toher participants.

Be blessed