• 850 and counting …

    2 Comments

    Finished the first of my Christmas books — Cold as Ice by Anne Stuart.

    This is the second book in Stuart’s Ice romantic suspense series, featuring the men and women of the Committee — a group dedicated to stopping terrorists and the like. In this one, lawyer Genevieve Spenser is sent to get billionaire Harry Van Dorn to sign some documents. Of course, Genevieve has no idea Harry is a psychotic terrorist or that Committee agent Peter Jensen is under orders to kidnap and kill Harry. Genevieve being there messes up Peter’s perfect plan, but the operative (aka the Iceman) plans to follow through with his mission — no matter what.

    I liked Peter a lot better than I did Bastien in Black Ice, and Genevieve was a much more wordly and stronger heroine than Chloe. But I can’t say that I liked the book as a whole more than Black Ice. Perhaps this was because I’d read Stuart before and knew what to expect. Also, some of the twists at the end struck me as bordering on the ridiculous and physically impossible, like Van Dorn escaping yet another Committee trap.

    Still, there was a lot to like about this book. Stuart has a very fluid, easy-to-read style, and some of her descriptions are just wonderful. The dialogue between Genevieve and Peter was smart and snappy.

    So, thumbs up.

    Up next: Not sure yet. I really need to start working on my own stuff again. I’ve been playing hooky since mid-December, and it’s time to gear up and think about what I want to write next …

  • ·

    Books, books, books …

    7 Comments

    Hope everyone had a great Christmas and got lots of goodies! :bub:

    As for me, this will probably be remembered as the year of the sweater. I got six sweaters, but I really needed some new ones, so it was all good. I also got tons of books this year. All right, not tons — ten shiny new books to be exact. Here’s what Santa brought me:

    Cold as Ice, Ice Blue, and Ice Storm, all by Anne Stuart (books 2, 3, and 4 in her romantic suspense series)

    The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (first young adult novel in a series featuring Greek mythology)

    Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (the young adult vampire novel everyone is raving about)

    The Jugger and The Seventh, both by Richard Stark (hard-boiled crime capers in the Parker series)

    A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison (book 4 in the Rachel Morgan urban fantasy series)

    Don’t Look Down by Suzanne Enoch (book 2 in her contemporary romance series)

    Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward (book 5 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series)

    I’ve already started reading Cold as Ice and am really enjoying it. Which brings to mind a funny conversation my significant other and I had last night.

    He was telling me how he’d started playing this video game I bought him, looked at the backs of his books, and already opened up his new model kits (he builds model tanks). I told him to slow down or he wouldn’t have anything left to look at by the end of the week. Then, he asked me what page I was on in Cold as Ice. The answer: 92 (and I’d only been reading an hour). So, I guess we’re both guilty of tearing into our presents. 🙄

    What about you? What did Santa bring you for Christmas? What new books are you eager to read?

  • Have a great holiday …

    2 Comments

    I just want to wish everyone out there a merry Christmas, happy New Year, and all that jazz.

    So, go. Turn off the computer. Be with your family. Open presents. Eat good food. Take a moment to be grateful for all that you have. Remember those who can’t be home for the holidays or who aren’t as fortunate as so many of us are. Write down some resolutions for the new year. Watch football. Take a nap. Do something special for yourself and the others in your life.

    Happy holidays! :ww:

  • 849 and counting …

    Finished Death: The Time of Your Life by Neil Gaiman.

    This one also features Death and some characters from other Sandman books, one of whom has now become a rock star. In the end, the rock star is forced to choose between life and death, and fame and obscurity.

    Not as interesting as the other Death book, so I’m going to go thumbs down on this one.

    Up next: I’m done with the Sandman books for now. so something I get for Christmas.

  • 848 and counting …

    Finished Death: The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman.

    This one features Dream’s older sister, Death, who must live as a human for one day every century. Along the way, she meets Sexton, a moody teen contemplating suicide, and other weird characters.

    I always liked the character of Death, and it was a treat to read a whole book devoted to her.

    So, thumbs up.

    Up next: Another Death book.