Tag Archives: Meljean Brook

WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs

Barbara Vey -- July 5th, 2012

Hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July and managed to stay cool. It’s hotter than Hades here and “cooler near the lake” doesn’t seem to apply lately. Here’s some books to enjoy while sitting by the pool or relaxing in an air conditioned coffee shop.

joysann

Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook

Read by joysann

While The Adventures of Archimedes Fox are a highly popular fictional series in the post-Horde years, the real Archimedes Fox finds himself enthralled, not by technological enslavement, but by the swashbuckling charms of the airship captain known as Lady Corsair. They join forces to seek the lost treasures of Leonardo DaVinci’s inventions through devastated, zombie-infested Europe to dangerous Horde-occupied Morocco, all the while their hearts are challenging each to surrender to the other.

The second Novel of the Iron Seas continues exploring the exciting steam-punk world Meljean introduced in The Iron Duke. Creatively conceived, the pseudo-technically advanced world is entertaining to explore, as is the romance between the two colorful rogue protagonists. It was easy to like the strong, adventurous Yasmeen, and Archimedes is as charming a hero as one could want.

Tammy

Dyad Love by Ann Hinnenkamp

Read by Tammy

Emma has fallen in love with Damien, a Dyad, a species of beings hidden among the human population. There are only 1,000 Dyads alive on Earth at any one time, and they are not only beautiful, but possess special powers. Because of these powers, there are humans who are hunting the Dyads. Emma is torn between her love for Damien and her desire to keep him and his race safe from the hunters.

This 3rd book in the Dyad Chronicles contains romance, mystery, and action. I couldn’t turn the page fast enough to see what course of action one of the character’s would choose next. My favorite line the author used to describe Damien was “sin on a stick.” It was enjoyable to visualize him. This was a fantastic book to read.

Joan

Cat in a Sapphire Slipper by Carole Nelson Douglas

Read by Joan

Midnight Louie lives in Las Vegas with his purrfect roommate Miss Temple Barr, a public relations freelancer with a nose for trouble. Temple’s maternal aunt is marrying one of Vegas’ famous, if not mafia, Fontana brothers, and his brothers and friends are throwing a bachelor party, ending up at the Chicken Ranch, a brothel just outside Vegas. Included in the excursion are Temple’s current interest, ex-priest Matt Devine, and, somehow, Midnight Louie. Throw in a dead body and Midnight Louie’s investigation, and it’s a fun read.

Midnight Louie is one of my favorite Animal detectives, after all, being a black cat with a white chest he has a built-in tux. As the head cat of Midnight, Inc., Midnight Louie inserts himself and his friends into the thick of a murder again and again, with newer adventures in the series on the shelves, and a new one coming out soon. I liked how Ms Douglas included the Chicken Ranch as the scene of the bachelor party and was able to get Midnight Louie involved all the way from Vegas.

Heidi

Cherry on Top by Susan Donovan

Read by Heidi

Cherise Newberry and her BFF Candy left North Carolina for Tampa, in hopes of making it big. And they did. Now they have lost it all, and not sure what to do next. Cheri gets a call from her grandfather to come home and run the family newspaper. With her tail between her legs, and her secret not known, she returns out of obligation. What she didn’t realize was that JJ DeCourcy was going to be the “go-to” man of the newspaper. JJ may still be gorgeous, but he broke Cheri’s heart with her sister. Trying to keep her distance, she works on the biggest story her small town has ever seen, she can’t avoid being so close to JJ and coming to terms with her past.

I loved this story and the many layers to the characters. I probably related to Cheri and her friend Candy the best… especially when you make huge mistakes and have to return home. But I adored the mystery twist to this romantic story, including JJ’s never ending love. The whole story brought a satisfying sigh of happiness at the end of the book.

joysann

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Listened to by joysann

Abigail Lowery is a mystery to the locals in the small Ozark community to which she recently moved, polite but unsociable, keeping to herself on her highly-secured rural property with her huge guard dog, and carrying a gun. Amiable, handsome Police Chief Brooks Gleason charms his way through the boundaries of her isolation, and finds an unusual, brilliant but lonely woman hiding big, frightening secrets. When it’s time for Abigail to confront the monsters of her past, Brooks is there to help her face the very real dangers of betrayal and a vicious criminal element.

Through her last few books, I’m finding that the already incredible Nora Roberts just keeps getting better and better. I was enthralled with The Witness, listening to its 16-some hours in less than a day and half. The story mixed brutal and chilling with romantic and charming in such a satisfying way that, with a fine reading by narrator Julia Whelan, I found listening a true pleasure.

Bottom Line: “What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance”~ Jane Austen

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WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs

Barbara Vey -- February 3rd, 2012

12 Replies

Yes, I’m still in Florida enjoying the warm life, but I’ll be going home to real winter on Sunday. Rats! At least I have the Silken Sands Conference to look forward to in March in Pensacola, Florida. Also in March is the 5th Anniversary Bash for Beyond Her Book and time is running out if you want to participate. Last year we had over 22,600 comments and we’re going to try to break that record this year. Email me at bvey@publishersweekly.com if you’d like to participate. Now, here’s the WW Ladies reads of the week.

Joan

Vampire in Atlantis by Alyssa Day

Read by Joan

While not a Warrior whose job is to protect the human race, Daniel is a friend of the Warriors and works to have vampires look at humans as other than food. Daniel is tired and ready to walk into the sunlight when he finds himself in Atlantis facing the love he thought lost to him all these eleven thousand years. Serai is one of six maidens that had been encased in glass by an Atlantean high priest, to be awakened when it was their time to wed. However, the Emperor, the magical stone that has kept the maidens safe, is acting erratically as a sorceress tries to obtain it from where it was hidden before Atlantis sank below the sea. Serai and Daniel must find the stone in order to keep Serai and remaining encased maidens from dying, and the Warriors are trying to find Serai after she disappears from Atlantis.

This is the ninth book in a series regarding the handsome Warriors of Poseidon. Though I have not read the other books, I was able to easily follow this fascinating story. I intend to read the previous eight books, and am looking forward to the next book coming out, Heart of Atlantis.

joysann

Angels of Darkness by Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, Sharon Shinn

Read by joysann

The fascination with angels creates an opportunity for authors to share what they imagine angels might be, and four favorite authors find worlds of romance for them to inhabit.

Angel’s Wolf by Nalini Singh – though nearly broken in a brutal abduction, recovering Guild vampire Noel begins to recover his self-respect when he is sent to Louisiana to the court of the beautiful angel Nimra who rules there, to find her attempted murderer.

Alphas: Origins by Ilona Andrews tells a riveting tale about a young widowed mother slipping into an unknown world where unusual powerful beings battle to protect humanity, and her vital part in that war.

Nocturne by Sharon Shinn returns to Samaria where a young woman, though in hiding from them herself, finds and helps a crippled angel languishing in the attic of a mansion.

Ascension by Meljean Brook – While the Guardian Marc Revoire continues his tasks protecting humans from demons, Radha joins him in an investigation to, if for no other reason, see if she can brighten up the guardian’s somber world.

These stories read well as stand-alones, and are utterly captivating. Three introduced me to romantic fantasy series that I’m now intent on starting from their beginnings and getting lost in their worlds.

Michelle

Secrets of the Lost Summer by Carla Neggers

Read by Michelle

Dylan McCafferty receives a note from a woman he’s never met, Olivia frost, that his property in New England needs some TLC. Dylan’s life is in California and doesn’t know he owns this property. His father died two years before and never told him about this purchase. Dylan decides to investigate more about this mysterious property. Meanwhile Olivia Frost is busily transforming her historic property into a getaway retreat. As the two lives converge they find, love, jewels and a woman’s past an intriguing aphrodisiac.

A well written novel in which Carla Neggers transformers her characters with each turn of the page. I found her descriptions of life in Knight’s Bridge so intriguing that I would love to find myself somewhere so idyllic.

Heidi

Justice in June by Barbara Levenson

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Read by Heidi

Criminal defense attorney Mary Magruder Katz has her hands full in Miami. She has two of the toughest cases of her career, her family who is worried she is spreading herself too thin and isn’t taking care of herself, and her hot boyfriend Carlos. Mary is risking her own safety while trying to free Luis Corona, who is a suspected terrorist AND trying to keep Judge Liz Maxwell from going to jail for letting drug cases slide through the system. Mary will fight to the end for her clients, but someone is trying to stop them before they even go to trial. Now, Mary’s boyfriend is in hot water too. June will be a true challenge for Mary, all the way to the end.

One of my favorite things about suspenseful novels is when there is a little humor mixed in on the side. I imagined Mary rushing around in the heat of June in Miami, and juggling all her responsibilities, but knowing she just wanted to lay in bed with her hot boyfriend. Then add in a little mystery solving, and you have a fun book to keep you warm.

Stacey

Immortal Champion by Lisa Hendrix

Read by Stacey

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A member of a Viking band cursed by a villainous sorceress,Gunnar is quite aware that the noblewoman he rescues from a fire cannot be the one for him. But fate has other plans. Will she be the one to break his curse?

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I loved seeing this story though Gunnar’s head. But I also adored Eleanor,her strength and the fact that Lisa Hendrixlet her intellectual brilliance shine through. Because the hero is an immortal,the action is allowed to take place over an extended period of time,but the way that the story is written,I found myself glued to every single page. I cannot WAIT for Torvald’s tale.

joysann

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

Listened to by joysann

Lord John Grey investigates the allegations of corruption by a senior officer, and a vital clue is written in Gaelic. He turns to the only Gaelic speaker he can trust – his Scottish rebellion prisoner, Jamie Fraser. Jamie accompanies Lord John to Ireland where the dangerous investigation leads, creating an opportunity for the two men to begin the friendship that will last decades.

Being an enthusiast for the Outlander series and its characters, I’ve enjoyed the Lord John stories a great deal. Since the relationship between these two men is vital, it’s a pleasure to witness the pieces of their interactions that build that all important trust and loyalty. I always listen to Diana Gabaldon’s books, with their wonderful narrators, and this book gave me no less pleasure than any of the others I so enjoy.

Bottom Line: Today is Bubble Gum Day started in 2006 by children’s book author Ruth Spiro. I want Double Bubble.

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My Reads and Your Turn Friday

Barbara Vey -- October 22nd, 2010

37 Replies

With all the traveling, it’s not easy to squeeze in time to read. But now that I’m home for a while, things have changed. I managed to polish off two exceptional books this week.

First up is The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook. Amid a Victorian England inhabited by people with nanotechnology, Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth vigilantly works solving murders. When a body is found on the grounds of national hero Rhys Trahaearn, the Iron Duke, Mina finds herself fighting off the Duke’s advances as together they race against time to find, not only the murderer, but those who conspire to destroy her homeland.

This riveting steampunk novel had me gasping for my breath as Mina and the Duke traveled an incredible world searching for clues. I knew I was in trouble when I got to the middle of the book and fought myself to read slower because I didn’t want the book to end. I have to say, I picked up this book because of all the great buzz on Twitter. It seemed everyone was talking about it and now I know why. My first steampunk book and it totally won me over. Deny yourselves no longer, this book should be on everyone’s bookshelf.

Next I read Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin. Taking place during the Tang Dynasty, on her way to her wedding, Princess Ai Li learns the truth of her future husband’s treachery and escapes with her trusty butterfly swords for defense. Ryam was considered a barbarian in this culture and is slowly making his way back to his own group after an attack left him unconscious when his path crosses Ai Li’s. Thrown together by fate, they travel the long road to her family to warn them of her betrothal’s betrayal.

Jeannie Lin won the RWA Golden Heart award for this wonderful story and now I want to read all the Golden Heart finals to see what other gems I’m missing. This beautiful, enduring story of honor above all else had me mesmerized. Ai Li’s determination and Ryam’s awakening to his self worth make this book a treasure. Engaging, refreshing take on impossible odds. This one’s a keeper.

I really lucked out with two totally different, yet marvelous reads. It’s exciting to think what the week ahead will bring me.

Now it’s your turn. Tell us what books you’ve been reading lately. Any new discoveries? Genres you didn’t think you’d like, but were surprised to enjoy?

Bottom Line: I’m happy to know that I’m still open to new and different ideas…I’d hate to think I’ve gone stale.

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