Hi There! joysann here. Barbara’s off being a lady of leisure somewhere and has asked me to post the book blurbs this week. I find this is that awkward time of year when I can’t decide whether to read only holiday books or indulge in a variety of reading pleasures. Fortunately, this week’s blurbs provide several terrific choices. There goes any dents in my TBR pile… not that I’m complaining. Happy reading!
Joan
Iced Chiffon: A Consignment Shop Mystery by Duffy Brown
Read by Joan
Savannah raised and recently divorced, Reagan Summerside is left with only Cherry House, a Victorian fix-it-upper, and a pile of mounting bills. Her ex and his good-looking attorney, Walker Boone, took everything else. In order to survive she has been selling off her furniture, and without trying, Reagan has started a consignment store that her aunt names the Prissy Fox. Without telling her ex, she and Aunt Kiki borrow his Lexus to move a water fountain she sold, and they find the ex’s girlfriend dead in the trunk. Determined to hang onto her home and not wanting to pay Walker Boone’s excessive attorney fees, Reagan knows she will have to find the killer before he does.
This is a new mystery series that I have been looking forward to reading, and I really did like Iced Chiffon. The fact that the author actually works at a consignment shop peaked my curiosity even more. I cannot wait for the next book to come out in 2013; I do wonder if Reagan will fall for Boone.
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Heidi
Werewolf in Denver: Wild About You Series by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Read by Heidi
Stillman Lodge in Estes Park near Denver is a private hotel, the perfect place for a conference where werewolves can meet, be themselves and work together. Were blogger Kate Stillman agrees to debate political “bad boy” Duncan MacDowell about werewolf segregation. Kate and Duncan are delayed getting to the conference by a huge blizzard and are stuck in a remote cabin, where their attraction to each other is conflicts with their beliefs and loyalties to their organizations. But as the conference continues, they need to decide whose side is the best, while keeping their feelings aside for the good of all.
Even though this isn’t a holiday book, it certainly put me in some holiday spirit: with the blizzard, the fight of opposing sides, all wrapped up in a beautiful lodge. I thought this book would be super serious, but there were so many enjoyable funny sides to this book, that it really went full circle for me. I am looking forward to the next installment of the Wild About You Series: Werewolf in Alaska.
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Kym L
Queen’s Ransom: A Sofie Metroplis Novel by Tori Carrington
Read by Kym Lucas
Sofie Metropolis is having a hard time finding the holiday spirit. First, one of her suitors has been deported and the other is playing “now you see me, now you don’t.” Next, she’s somehow managed to acquire yet another lost animal case. Oh, sure, finding Rudolph the reindeer should be easy enough, but when a Greek tycoon tasks the frappe’-gulping PI with finding his kidnapped daughter, Sofie discovers it will take more than iced coffee to get through Christmas alive.
Because I’m a big fan of — okay, sucker for — holiday tales, and also have met Lori and Tony Karayianni (the couple who together write as Tori Carrington), I welcomed the opportunity to read this, their sixth Metropolis novel. As usual, the pair made me long for an ice-cold frappe’ despite the chilly weather. In Queen’s Ransom, the Karyaiannis have gifted us with a holiday tale that’s light on the tinsel, but rich in fun. Now, where did I put that frappe’ recipe?
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joysann
Charming Freaks by Koko Brown
Read by joysann
This fun title holds two erotic novellas:
Charmed – Chloe enjoys the most amazingly realistic erotic dreams starring a handsome Tristan Smythe, only to discover she isn’t dreaming. She has married Tristan during a whirlwind Las Vegas vacation, and now finds herself wondering if his vampiric intimations indicate he’s crazy or she’s crazy, or if her choices were somehow magically influenced.
Nerds Are Freaks Too – Computer nerd Leo has kept his feelings for his best friend Roxanne under wraps for years, but when she hints that she’s looking for something a little less vanilla in her sex-life, Leo knows he can give her what she needs, and more. Now he just has to convince her.
Both of these erotic stories are titillating, but I have a fondness for those beta-male types that sneak up in nerd stories and end up so appealing. Those guys are never quite what you expect them to be. Koko has delivered some sexy fun fantasies.
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Heidi
His Mistletoe Bride by Vanessa Kelly
Read by Heidi
When her long-estranged grandfather asks her to leave her Quaker background and return to England, Phoebe Linville made the brave decision to leave America and return by ship, knowing that things will be different. When she arrives, she is met with an unusual request from her grandfather; to marry Major Lucas Stanton. Lucas is handsome and irresistible to Phoebe, and she isn’t sure the marriage is the best idea, but caught in a compromising position, they don’t have a choice. Their stubbornness could cause them not to find true love, especially during the holidays.
This historical brings all the traditional feelings of the holidays, along with family beliefs both from England and America. I found Phoebe delightful with her headstrong ways that had her standing up against her stubborn husband, as well as her seductiveness with him too. The entire book felt full of love, laughter, family, elegance, and happiness, all while dreaming of fancy clothes and sparkling jewelry. A perfect holiday treat to read.
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Joan
Rescue My Heart: an Animal Magnetism Novel by Jill Shalvis
Read by Joan
Adam Connelly was always in trouble growing up and, after a tragic accident, he enlists in the National Guard. He leaves behind a broken-hearted Holly Reid, who tries to move on, but makes some unfortunate choices until returning to run her father’s ranch in Sunshine, Idaho. Adam Connelly has also returned after his years of military service, specializing in search and rescue. Adam still suffers some PTSD from his time in the military, but with the help of therapy, his family and current work training and working with search and rescue dogs, he is doing better. When Holly’s father goes missing she reaches out to Adam to help her find him before a huge snow storm hits the mountains.
This is the third book in Jill Shalvis’ Animal Magnetism series. Though I have not read the previous two books, Animal Magnetism and Animal Attraction, I felt I did not need to have read them to enjoy this story. I enjoyed this book as it deals with what our soldiers can go through and how animals can be a comfort and great therapy for them or anyone.
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Heidi
A Cowboy for Christmas: A Jubilee, Texas Novel by Lori Wilde
Read by Heidi
Lissette Moncrief is facing more loss than she cares to think about. Her husband dies in Afghanistan and leaves all his benefits to his half-brother Rafferty Jones, a man she never knew about. Now, she learns her little boy Kyle is slowly going deaf, and she has no extra money for his health care. As she feels her world crumbling, she runs her car right into Rafferty’s pickup truck. Rafferty is in town to offer help, and she wants none of it, no matter how attractive Rafferty the cowboy is.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It put me in such a holiday mood, even with the seriousness of loss and love of a sick child. I admired Lissy’s character so much. She shows so much strength, love and drive to help her little boy. The secondary story line of Lissy’s mother-in-law Claudia not only creates conflict, but shows the strength in Lissy. This book has motivated me to read more from Jubilee.
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Bottom Line: Whatever I choose to read on these cold, dark evenings heading into winter, I’ll be snuggled down under a nice warm afghan and a couple of cats. Toasty.
At these events Lori Foster has been organizing an anthology book with donated novellas by herself and other authors, the proceeds of which go to a charity of her choice, this year benefiting the AAF – 
