Books I’ve Read

Finished Shadow Touch by Marjorie M. Liu. It’s the second book in her popular Dirk & Steele series — about a detective agency whose members all have paranormal talents, like telekinesis and shapeshifting.

I read the first book in this series, Tiger Eye, a while back. I remember enjoying it well enough, but not being blown away by it. Then again, I’ve never really been fond of genie stories, which is sort of what that book was. (I say sort of because to describe it fully would make this post way too long.) Anyway, I thought I might pick up another D&S book someday.

I’m glad I did.

Shadow Touch focuses on Artur Loginov, a D&S operative who can absorb people’s memories with just a touch. He’s kidnapped, along with healer Elena Baxter, by The Consortium, a shadowy group who wants to exploit the couple. The Consortium plans to unlock the D&S secrets in Artur’s head and have Elena heal their leader. Oh, and they want to take over the Russian mafia too.

There’s a lot going on in this book, but Liu balances it all quite nicely. Shadow Touch is an excellent blend of romance, fantasy, and action. Liu’s writing is descriptive and beautiful, and the developing relationship between Artur and Elena is realistic and powerful. I can see why the book was nominated for a RITA award. It’s one of the most interesting books I’ve read this year, and I can see why people are buzzing about Liu.

My only quibble is that the internal, mind-to-mind communication between Artur and Elena got a bit hard to follow at times, even with the italics to set it apart from spoken dialogue. The end is also a bit confusing if you haven’t read Tiger Eye, as The Consortium’s connection to D&S is revealed. I couldn’t recall all the details Liu was referencing from that book in this one.

Still, a big thumbs up.

Up next: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore.

What about you? What have you read lately? Inquiring minds want to know …

Finished After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros. It’s a historical romance with a strong paranormal bent.

Caroline Cabot is suspicious of her sister Vivienne’s suitor, Adrian Kane. Rumor has it that Kane is really a vampire, since he keeps late hours and no one’s ever seen him outside during the day. Caroline decides to find out the truth — and ends up falling for Adrian herself.

This is a wonderful romance, full of great dialogue and appropriately eerie, Gothic descriptions. Medeiros keeps the reader wondering for some 200 pages whether or not Adrian is really a vampire — not an easy task to pull off. The twist she throws in isn’t too hard to figure out, but it only adds to the conflict between Caroline and Adrian. 

Medeiros has written a strong, sympathetic heroine in Caroline, who yearns for Adrian, but is determined to step aside so her sister can have a chance at happiness. You’ll find yourself hoping for a happily ever after — for everyone.

I sometimes get tired of historicals and the limited plots they seem to have, but I really enjoyed this one. Thumbs up.

Up next: Shadow Touch by Marjorie M. Liu. She’s another author like J.R. Ward that people always seem to be buzzing about. Liu is in Romantic Times like every other month! I wish I knew her secret …

Finished A Study in Scandal by Robyn DeHart.

Amelia Watersfield loves Sherlock Holmes and the thrilling stories he appears in — so much so that she and her three friends form the Ladies’ Amateur Sleuth Society to discuss crimes that occur in and around London.

But when her father’s prize statue is stolen, Amelia finds herself face-to-face with a real inspector — Colin Brindley. In Amelia’s mind, Colin is Sherlock come to life, and she finds herself falling in love with him — and plotting how she can get him to engage in an affair with her.

The mystery of the missing statue is fairly easy to figure out and takes a backseat to the romance. But if you’re looking for a light, fun read, this book should satisfy.

And mystery fans, take note. DeHart gives readers a little something extra by starting off each chapter with a real quote from Holmes.

So, thumbs up.

BTW, doesn’t the DeHart have the best name ever for an Avon author? 😀

I’m slowly whittling down my TBR pile. Next up: After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros. What are you reading right now? Inquiring minds want to know …

Finished Charming Jo by Laura Drewry.

It’s about Jo McCaine, a Kansas woman who needs some help to run her ranch and string up a new fence her neighbors aren’t too happy about. But since nobody wants to work for a woman, Jo is forced to hire Levi Travers, a cowboy drifter who has his own problems. Naturally, sparks fly between the two.

One thing I really liked about this book is that the characters talked about doing things properly (i.e. getting married before they had sex), and then they actually followed through with those promises, instead of tossing them aside like characters usually do in the heat of the moment.

And this is the only romance I think I’ve ever read where the characters don’t have sex until the very last chapter. Seriously. Last chapter. There some kissing and some touching throughout the book, but Jo and Levi don’t seal the deal until the very end. It was a refreshing change.

So, thumbs up.

On a side note, the book was a historical Western. I love Westerns. Give me cowboys and bank robbers and men strung up at dawn. Give me tough women and prospectors and evil sheriffs. There aren’t enough Western romances out there these days. It’s all regency England (which I enjoy, but I really love Westerns).

To all you historical writers out there, I say get cracking! Give the world some more Westerns to enjoy. 😎

What about you? What sort of historical romance do you like? Westerns? The regency period? Exotic locales? Inquiring minds want to know …

Finished Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter this weekend.

I got this book because it’s about superheroes (sort of). The book focuses on Belle Jamison, a woman who drinks a secret formula in her mocha latte and is suddenly able to control the four elements — and finds out that there’s a whole world of people out there with special abilities. Like the sexy Rome Masters, a government agent who’s ordered to bring Belle in — no matter what.

Showalter wrote the book in first person, which I enjoyed (since I write in first person myself). Bella had a funny voice, and I really liked Tanner, one of the secondary characters who’s an empath.

I didn’t care too much for Rome. Then again, I usually want to slap the ultra alpha males in most books. But one thing really bothered me – when Rome reveals to Belle late in the book that he intended to turn her over to his agency, even though he swore up and down for the last hundred pages not to.

Belle is pissed at first, but then, she just forgives him. Just like that. Poof! That’s it. I forgive you. Let’s move on. Personally, I would have fricassed his ass, or frozen his limbs one at a time and then shattered. But hey, that’s just me. 😈

But overall, thumbs up. 

What about you? What have you read lately? Inquiring minds want to know …