Okay, I’ve been goofing off all week reading and watching the Olympics.

Time to get back in the saddle, read through the second draft of Assassin 2, and get to work on that. And think about where I want the story to go in Assassin 3. I also think I’m going to work on some workshop proposals for RWA Nationals next year.

What about you guys? Anyone got big plans this weekend?

Finished Kill Me Twice by Roxanne St. Claire. This is the first book in her popular Bullet Catchers romantic suspense series. I’ve heard a lot of buzz about the series so I decided to check it out. This post has some spoilers, so you might want to skip it if you haven’t read the book.

This one’s about Cuban hottie Alex Romero, who’s sent to Miami by his BC boss, Lucy Monroe, to protect television anchorwoman Jessica Adams. But when Alex gets to Miami, he finds Jessica had vanished and that her twin, Jasmine (aka Jazz), has come to town to stand in for Jessica while the anchorwoman investigates a big story. But Alex and Jazz soon find themselves trying to find out what really happened to Jessica — without getting killed in the process.

Overall, I thought this was a really interesting book. The Bullet Catcher premise is fun and leaves room for lots of sequels with the other BC folks (I think there are 5 or 6 books out in the series already). Plus, Lucy is an intriguing character. You want to know more about her. (I really hope Lucy turns out to be as super-tough as she seems when she gets her own book in September, instead of just pretending to be tough like Isabella in Anne Stuart’s Ice Storm).

There’s some nice inside info about the world of television news and security consultants, and a cool action/rescue sequence at the end involving a Florida mansion, helicopters, and some fast boats. Plus, Alex and Jazz have some nice chemistry, and each one gets to show off their skills during the course of the investigation. St. Claire also has a very easy-to-read style that really moves the story along. And there’s a double-cross at the end I didn’t see coming.

I did have one little quibble. Jazz is supposed to meet Jessica when she gets to Miami, but Jessica is nowhere to be found. Jazz just assumes Jessica is already off investigating her story. Jazz gets a couple of weird text messages from Jessica but chalks them up to Jessica pursuing her story. It takes about 150 pages for Jazz to really believe Jessica is in danger.

I realize St. Claire is using those 150 pages to build the relationship between Alex and Jazz and introducing the reader to the players in the mystery. But if my sister disappeared like that and sent me weird messages, I’d be parked at the police station and doing everything I could to get the cops to find her — no matter what kind of story she was working on. 

Still, I’ve been looking to read some more romantic suspense since Anne Stuart’s Ice series concluded, and I’m glad I picked up Kill Me Twice. If you’re looking for a good romantic suspense, you’ll probably enjoy the world of the Bullet Catchers. I did. Thumbs up.

Up next: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong.

Books in my TBR pile: About 13.

I’m a little burned out reading paranormal romance and urban fantasy right now, so I’ve been thinking about picking up some romantic suspense, epic fantasy, and young adult books. I was wondering what books y’all would recommend in the genres. I’m especially interested in romantic suspense right now.

So far I’ve read and enjoyed Anne Stuart’s Ice series, and I plan on getting more of Roxanne St. Claire’s Bullet Catchers series (my review of the first book is coming soon). What else is out there? I’m looking for more action adventure-type stories than, say, FBI procedurals or serial killer stories. 

It’s been a while since I’ve read a really good epic fantasy. I’ve burned through most of the David Eddings and Terry Brooks’ various series, and I’ve read several books in Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series.

As far as YA goes, I’ve read and enjoyed Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief and want to get more of the books in that series. But I’d be interested in both fantasy and non-fantasy YA.

Got a recommendation? Please share in the comments.

You guys have probably seen the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest for the worst first lines over the years, but Wheezley sent me the link to this year’s winners so I thought I’d share. So go, read, enjoy, and laugh.

Finished Atlantis Awakening by Alyssa Day. This is the second book (third story) set in her Warriors of Poseidon universe, about a race of warriors from Atlantis who help humanity battle vampires, shapeshifters, and other creatures.

This book is about Ven (aka King’s Vengeance), who’s basically a bodyguard to his brother, Prince Conlan. Ven is assigned to meet with Erin Connors, a very powerful witch. Ven soon finds himself protecting Erin from the vampire Caligula, who’s obsessed with Erin and her sister. Lots of fights and double crosses ensue.

I read the second Atlantis novella in the Wild Thing anthology and was interested to read more in the series. I’m glad I did. Day has created an interesting world that’s part urban fantasy (vampires) and part mythology (Atlantis, Poseidon) with a healthy dose of romance thrown in. 

Day’s style reminds me of Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dark-Hunter series. There’s a big cast of characters (all of whom I imagine will get their own stories at some point), lots of action, and lots of bad stuff that happens. But the warriors don’t get too angsty about things, and there’s plenty of humor to balance out the dark points. There are also several plot threads going in addition to the main story between Ven and Erin, but they add to the story, and I enjoyed the different characters’ point of views. (I really want to read Quinn and Alaric’s story!)

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of alpha heroes or the soulmate plot device (they’re just not my thing), but I thought they were well done in this book. Ven is definitely an alpha warrior, but Erin has plenty of backbone and power too and is more than capable of standing up to him and taking care of herself. And even though the two are soulmates, they still have free will in the end and choose to be together.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fun, action-packed romance, give this one a try. Thumbs up. Now, I need to go back and read the first book in the series, Atlantis Rising …

Up next: Kill Me Twice by Roxanne St. Clair.

Books in my TBR pile: About 14.

What about you guys? Anyone reading something good right now?