Life with a new baby means no time to write. Heck, I’m lucky if I can eat and take a shower. Blogging, sadly, falls at the very bottom of my list of things to do.

Books I’ve managed to read or am currently reading:

MAGIC BLEEDS by Ilona Andrews

I picked up my autographed copy at Powell’s and read it in a record two days. LOVE THIS SERIES. Another great addition. Kate! Curran! Magic! Pretty writing. Deep characters. Sarcastic and funny dialogue. What’s not to love? If you haven’t read the Kate Daniels series yet, get on it.

THE FORBIDDEN ROSE by Joanna Bourne

I’m only halfway through, but I’m loving it.

REBELS AND LOVERS by Linnea Sinclair

I’m only halfway through, but then Andrews and Bourne’s books came out. I think scifi romance might be too complicated for my current sleep-deprived state of mind.

SOULLESS by Gail Carriger

Fun and flippy Victorian paranormal romance with steampunk elements. My book club read this one and we all enjoyed it. Loved the idea of a heroine born without a soul, and vampires and werewolves have an excess of soul. Very unique.

TSUNAMI BLUE by Gail Williams

This debut novel by SHOMI contest winner and Seattle RWA author Gail Williams hooked me from the beginning. I love the post apocalyptic setting and the hero is dreamy. Loved the dog, wish he appeared more. That said, if Tsunamis rocked the world, the San Juan islands would be the first to go. They are small and low in elevation. If the United States turned into a bunch of islands, only the mountains would be left above sea level. We would be living on top of the Cascades. Also, if you can see the tops of the Pike Place market buildings, the Space Needle would not be under water. It is on a hill. Details, details…which the average reader probably won’t care about. The bad guys could have used another layer or two. We know the hero and heroine are Good People because they have a dog–the kids didn’t add much to the story. I’m looking forward to reading more from Ms. Williams.

What have you been reading? What is so good you can’t put it down?

The Oscars of the Romance Industry, the RITAs, were announced yesterday. Books published in 2009 were eligible, but authors had to submit them to the contest to be judged. Seattle authors made another strong showing among the finalists: Alexis Morgan, Julia Quinn, Margaret Mallory, Susan Wiggs, Jane Porter, and Lakeside alumna Marjorie M Liu (Class of ’96). There were, as usual, many great books of 2009 that didn’t make the cut. Who knows if the authors submitted their works. RITA winners will be announced at the Romance Writers of America national conference in Nashville in July.

Here are the few I’ve read that I can recommend:

Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
Contemporary Single Title
Harlequin Enterprises, HQN
Editor: Tara Parsons
ISBN: 978-0-373-77356-5

Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle
Historical Romance
Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books Romance
Editor: Lauren McKenna
ISBN: 978-0-4165-9492-5

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance
Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books
Editor: Lauren McKenna
ISBN: 978-1-416-58094-2

The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu
Paranormal Romance
Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Books
Editor: Chris Keeslar
ISBN: 978-0-843-95940-6

Scandal by Carolyn Jewel
Regency Romance
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation
Editor: Kate Seaver
ISBN: 978-0-425-22551-6

How many have you read? Which do you plan to add to your TBR pile? Which books from 2009 do you wish had made the finalist list?

Warm wishes and god jul to you and your kin!

We celebrated the holidays in Seattle for the first time in four years. Our semi-annual caroling party with friends was a success, though we missed a number of people who got snowed in on the East Coast. After stuffing ourselves with good food and drink, we caroled in four part harmony along Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna. My mom made our secret family Swedish Glögg recipe (which, consisting mostly of port and whiskey, I could only sniff wistfully this year).

Today we rocked around the Christmas tree with my large extended family. The jultompten brought books on babies, breastfeeding, and birthing. (Not a secret baby in sight! ) Mr. Wonderful and I bought ourselves a fancy new camera to take photos of our little bundle of joy. Three months to figure out how to use all the bells and whistles–we can do it!

On a non-baby-book-related note: December’s book club book was Nalini Singh’s SLAVE TO SENSATION, which everyone loved. I’ve got her latest Psy-Changeling book in my hand as I relax on the couch, digesting my extra helpings of fruit cake. If you haven’t tried Ms. Singh yet, I thoroughly recommend her.

We’re looking for a good historical paranormal for our next pick. Any suggestions?

May 2010 bring you and your family good health, peace and joy!

I know, I know, it’s been a looong time since I blogged last. I have lots of excuses, but who cares? I promise to try to update more often. Here in Seattle it’s been cold, damp, and windy: perfect for snuggling up with a good book. Every day it seems like I discover another great local author. Today my high school news letter arrived in the mail and I was delightedly surprised to learn that Marjorie M. Liu is a fellow alumna. I wish I had known that when I met her at the RWA National conference in San Francisco. If you haven’t read Ms. Liu, her Dirk & Steele series is one of the best in the dark paranormal romance genre. Her urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, is set in Seattle (which should have been a clue that perhaps she had local ties). I highly recommend both.

My favorite recent read:

MUST LOVE HELLHOUNDS

Must read this book! Three of my favorite authors, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, and Nalini Singh, dish up action packed urban fantasy novellas with hot heroes, kickass heroines, and monstorous hounds. Fans of Brook’s Sir Pup will enjoy an extra story featuring the mischievious shapeshifting canine, while Kate Daniels’ devotees will delight in finally finishing the Raphael-Andrea saga. Singh’s novella is set in her new urban fantasy world with archangels and vampires. I hadn’t read the single title books yet, but after reading this novella I’ve added them to my TBR list. Charlaine Harris’s addition was the only one that wasn’t a love story, which meant that it was least interesting to me personally. Highly recommended!

The Emerald City Writers’ Conference was a fabulous success, but it was still nice to rejuvenate from conference fever on the beach in Kona on the big island of Hawaii. I wrote by the pool, read a stack of books, snorkeled with colorful fish and sea turtles, hiked through Volcanoes National Park, viewed lava rolling into the sea, and got up close and personal with manta rays.

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

A few of the agents and editors at the conference were raving about this post-apocalyptic YA novel. I became so absorbed in the story that I didn’t notice when my shade moved and ended up with a toasty lobster-red burn on my chest. Classic. Hunger Games is a cross between SHADE’S CHILDREN (Nix) and COUNTDOWN (Maddox). It’s fast paced and enjoyable, though I wish it had more rebellion in it and less playing the system. Hopefully book 2, CATCHING FIRE, will deliver.

When her little sister is drawn for the lottery to be the next contestant in their district for the deadly Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. She is joined by Peeta, a seemingly easy-going, kind-hearted baker’s son, and together they take on contestants from the other 11 districts in a televised battle to the death.

WELCOME TO TEMPTATION by Jennifer Crusie

I’ve been hearing about Crusie, a giant of romantic comedy, for years, but hadn’t tried her until now. Why, oh why, did I wait so long?? Her books are funny, sexy and sweet. I’ve been devouring her backlist ever since. WELCOME TO TEMPTATION is still my favorite. I love the crooked Dempsey family and Phin, the seemingly straight-edged mayor, whose bent streak is revealed as he succumbs to temptation.

Sophie arrives in the one horse town of Temptation with her artistic sister and a video camera planning to shoot a come-back film for  Clea, an aging actress whose bombshell looks leave a trail of broken hearts starting here in her hometown. Phineus Tucker is the mayor of Temptation, as generations of Tuckers have been before him, and he knows with one look that Sophie’s arrival in his quiet town means Trouble with a capital “T”.

I also read Crusie’s BET ME, FAKING IT, GETTING RID OF BRADLEY, STRANGE BEDPERSONS and Lisa Kleypas’s A WALLFLOWER CHRISTMAS on the trip. Now I’m back in a rainy, gloomy Seattle autumn getting ready for my favorite holiday Halloween!

Title: City Of Bones
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publication Info: Simon & Schuster, April 2007
Series: The Mortal Instruments, book 1
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Move over Edward Cullen, Jace Wayland is here to steal those young hearts (and young-at-hearts) out from under you. Braver, smarter, hotter, sexier, Jace is a hero for the ages. Book one in Cassandra Clare’s mega popular series is a page turner. As soon as I finished, I ran out to barnes and noble to buy the next two. It’s been a marathon reading labor day weekend! I’m looking forward to book 4 and a potential movie version of the books.

Plot:
Clary Fray is a somewhat geeky, but otherwise ordinary fifteen year old. Or so she believes. When she witnesses the murder of something not-human by three gorgeous teenagers that no one else can see, she begins a tumble through the rabbit hole into a world of demons, mythological monsters and things that go bump in the night. Jace Wayland and his siblings are Shadowhunters–an elite race of half-human, half-angels that fight the demons that threaten to overrun our world. He has little respect for “mundanes,” but Clary seems different. When her mother disappears, leaving demon stench and zombies behind, Clary must uncover the secret world her mother has been hiding, and seize her destiny.

Discussion:
Ms. Clare’s writing is lovely. Her poetic descriptions paint a fascinating world of mythic monsters and epic struggles. Her exceptional talent is in creating characters that jump off the page. Jace Wayland, in particular, is larger than life. He has all the characteristics of Peter Pan, but with a heart. Courageous, conceited, always the first to rush into danger, always the last one to accept defeat, Jace is a bad-ass with a heart of gold. *happysigh* Some of the plot twists were predictable, and I kept reading “Valentine” as “Voldemort.” There were other similarities to Harry Potter, with the kid’s parents all being part of the secret club and Clary getting a photo of them all together. I was quite disappointed by a major plot twist, but ruined the surprise for the rest of the series by reading the back cover blurb of the next few books. Do yourself a favor, don’t read the back cover blurb of books 3 and 4!

If you like the Twilight Saga, you’ll love this series.

Ms. Clare’s next project is also in the Shadowhunter world, but set in the Victorian Era. Check out her new website for the series, called the Infernal Devices, to see all the pretty gears and steam.

Title: Bound by Your Touch (advanced readers copy)
Author: Meredith Duran
Publication Info: Avon June 2009
Genre: Regency Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Ms. Duran’s sophomore try is even better than DUKE OF SHADOWS, and that’s saying a lot.

Plot:
Lydia Boyce manages all the affairs for her egyptologist father, so when some of his artifacts are exposed as fakes, she is determined to uncover the true villain and save her father’s reputation. Viscount Sanburne is the man who purchased the fake. Lydia accuses him of perpetrating the fraud. He is just as determined to uncover the truth. When a blue-stocking spinster and notorious rake go head-to-head, someone’s reputation is bound to be ruined.

Sanburne is plagued by guilt over failing to save his sister from an abusive marriage. As he accompanies Lydia to the darkest parts of the city in search of clues, she slowly discovers that the irresponsible rake has a deeper side to him. But she’s been burned before, and she hesitates to become another notch on Sanburne’s long list of conquests. They search the dark streets of London for the missing jewels with assassins hot on their heels. Neither is willing to risk his or her heart again.

Discussion:
An excellent adventure filled with rich prose, sparkling wit, and period details. Ms. Duran’s historic commentary makes this a book you can sink your teeth into. Clever and passionate, with a hero and heroine equally matched in stubborn determination, Bound by your Touch is sure to delight all readers of Historical Romance. (Especially fans of Loretta Chase!) I look forward to watching Ms. Duran’s star hit the New York Times best seller list and capture a RITA or two in the near future. Her third book is due in July: WRITTEN ON YOUR SKIN.

Title: Some Like it Wild
Author: Teresa Medeiros
Publication Info: Avon March 2009
Genre: Regency/Scottish Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

When I want a good dose of happily ever after with a dashing hero and a clever heroine I always turn to Ms. Medeiros. She never disappoints. Her latest tale is particularly excellent. Pamela and Connor are a matching set: both devious and crafty, but with hearts of gold. Their banter surprises and delights. Their chemistry sizzles.

Plot:

Pamela Darby and her younger sister Sophie are down-on-their-luck orphans who seek the long-lost son of a Duke to claim the reward money. Their mother trod the boards of Drury Lane before it burned to the ground with her inside it. All they have left is a letter that claims the son is in Scotland. They dress in their finest costume jewelry to search the Highlands, only to be set upon by a notorious highwayman. Pamela decides that with a little stage polish this prince-of-thieves could pass for a Duke’s son. Connor Kincaid is only too happy to swindle an English swine out of his money.

When they arrive at the Duke’s door, the feeble old man is won over by Connor’s charade, but his wily sister and her son (the displaced heir) are not so easily persuaded. Pamela hoped to get the reward and run, but Connor announces that she is his fiancee. What woman could say no to a devilishly handsome Scotsman in a kilt? In staying, she risks her neck to the handman’s noose if the ruse in uncovered. She may not have a choice; this thieving blackguard has already stole something far more dangerous: her heart.

**swoon!!**

Discussion:

I love Ms. Medeiros’ books because they always fill my chest with that warm glow of love, true love. Oh! Love. Connor and Pamela are my favorite pair yet, especially the dashing Scot. He’s like a much handsomer version of Liam Neeson’s Rob Roy. Medeiros even recreates the dueling scene between the broadsword and the epee. Connor is delicious, and Pamela is a smart heroine worthy of him. (No TSTL here, thank goodness!) Just when I think I know the dialogue she’s going to say, she surprises me.

I hope Sophie gets her HEA next with similar bravado.

If you want a great book for lounging in the summer sun, drinking mint juleps and dreaming about happily-ever-after, this is it!

Title: The Dream Thief
Author: Shanna Abe
Series: The Drákon book 2
Publication Info: Bantam, August 2007
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3

The sequel to the excellent SMOKE THIEF follows Rue and Christoff’s youngest daughter, Lia, who is born with the rare Drakon gift of dreaming the future. Her hero is Zane, her mother’s street urchin sidekick, who has grown up to be a dark, powerful criminal in London.

Plot:

There is a legendary diamond that has the power to enslave the Drakon’s minds. Lia hears it calling her from a very young age, accompanied by disturbing sexual dreams of her mother’s dangerous apprentice Zane. No one believes her, so she grows up hiding her future-telling dreams and her slow-to-come Drakon powers. Her parents learn of the diamond when Lia is off at finishing school in Scotland and send Zane–a human–to find it. He runs into Lia, who has escaped school to find the stone herself. She has dreamed this. Regency road trip!

After a number of misadventures, they find the legendary Drakon castle and its twisted lord. Lia knows that Zane cannot have the diamond, because she has dreamed he uses it to kill her parents and everyone close to her. But she is Drakon, so the diamond enslaves her. Is there enough goodness in Zane’s black heart to set her free?

Discussion:

Ms. Abe’s writing is very good. I have always been a big fan of road trip books, especially when the protagonists get stranded out in the middle of nowhere and must tough it in the wilderness.

There is a lot more of that airy, poetic narration in this book. In The Smoke Thief it was only a long prologue. In The Dream Thief it comes every other chapter or so. I skimmed it.

The hero/heroine age difference bothered me. Zane is 12 in The Smoke Thief, when her parents meet. Lia is 19 in The Dream Thief. Lia has dark, sexual dreams of Zane since childhood. Does she actually love him, or is she merely obsessed? Does Zane take advantage of her youth and inexperience? Should maybe he have woken her up first? These and more questions weighed on my enjoyment of the book. In the first book, I felt Ms. Abe did a good job on coming right up to the forced-seduction line, but not crossing it. In this book, well, you’ll have to make up your own mind. I enjoyed the book, but certain parts made me a little morally squeamish.

I enjoyed The Dream Thief and plan to read book 3. Ms. Abe is a masterful storyteller. I just hope the heroine in The Dragon Queen finds healing and psychotherapy from what she endured in book 2. Maybe she should talk to Hardy Cates?

Title: The Smoke Thief
Author: Shanna Abe
Series: The Drákon book 1
Publication Info: Bantam, Oct 2006
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3

Ms. Abe combines my favorite two romance genres, Historical and Paranormal, for a delightful adventure that soars through the star-strewn sky and delves deep into the fire of the human heart.

Plot:

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne was born an outcast, a half-blood in the mysterious and sheltered clan of dragon shapeshifters. She will never fit in, so she breaks the clan’s laws, fakes her own death and escapes to London. She spends nine-or-so years building a secret life for herself: the proper widow by day and a Smoke Thief at night. But her past catches up with her in none other than the dragon king himself, Christoff, Marquess of Langford, who comes to London dangling the most precious jewel of all as bait. She can’t help but visit the stone and is caught up in Christoff’s deadly claws.

Christoff has been raised for one thing: to rule his people with an iron fist and keep them safe from the human Others. He is the Alpha and must marry the Alpha female of the tribe, but no woman in generations has been able to Turn into Drakon. When he lays a trap for the outlaw who dares expose their secrets by stealing the Ton’s jewels, he never imagined he would find a female who could Turn, or the lost little girl who caught his notice so many years ago.

But there is another rogue drakon theif in London and he steals the drakon jewel from under their noses. Rue makes a devil’s bargain: her freedom for his. She must join forces with the indomitable Christoff to find the jewel before the week is up. Christoff is injured in their search. Rue has the chance to escape to freedom, or to try to save the Alpha. She might have won her freedom, but she lost her heart.

Discussion:

Christine has been telling me about this book for over a year and I don’t know why I didn’t get around to reading it until now. I couldn’t put it down! The attraction between Rue and Christoff burns red hot and their cat and mouse chase keeps the pages spinning. I loved the descriptions of the dragons flying through the clouds. This is a Cinderella story: Rue’s childhood crush comes to fruition, bringing the now all-grown-up domineering Alpha male to her feet.

The one thing I would have changed is the long airy prologue. I think that backstory could have been communicated through the book, or in a shorter prologue. I’m excited for the next one, The Dream Thief, which stars Rue & Christoff’s daughter and Rue’s street urchin companion Zane.