Twist by Colby Hodge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading Twist, and I loved it! There's so many things that I like about this novel. For starters, there's time-travel, romance, a tortured hero, aliens/vampires, a likeable heroine who's realistic, and a femme fatale villain! And don't even get me started on Jayne the cat, and Charlie the dog! When I started reading, I couldn't put this book down. Colby Hodge did an excellent job with the paceing of this story. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The action was well spaced and suspenseful, the romance between Shane the hero, and Abbey the heroine was perfectly paced, and there was some real romantic tension that had me rooting for them to get together. After reading the synopsis, I expected a lot of silliness. I just didn't expect a romantic story involving aliens and time travel to be so well executed. This was the first Shomi novel that I've read, and it saddens me that Shomi novels are no longer being published. Thankfully, I have other Shomi novels on hand won't wait as long to read them as I did to read Twist.

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Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a a little while to get to get into this one, but once I did it was hard to put it down. At first, I had some trouble wrapping my mind around the heroine Justine's "superpower." Justine is a severe hypochondriac, and I just didn't see how that could be useful fighting crime. With Packard's help, the head of the disillusionists, she can project her fears into criminal targets in need of mental rehabilitation, causing them to have a better appreciation for life etc. That said, this was a different take on psychics, or "highcaps" as referred to in the world that Carolyn Crane has created; the author definitely gets points for originality. Thankfully, I'm glad that I have the second book in this trilogy readily available as there was some hint of an upcoming love triangle, and I'd like to see how that turns out.

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Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It took me a little while to get into this book. I even thought about putting it on hold, and picking it up at a later date. I'm glad I stuck with it, because the story was well worth it. I loved the fact that the heroine- Emerald O'brien was an almost 40 yr old, single mother of 2 children, who owned her own business. Sometimes its nice to read about a heroine who's a little more mature. I like the setting that Galenorn created too. I think fans of paranormal cozy mysteries would really enjoy this one.

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Somber Island by T. Lynne Tollis

Somber Island by T. Lynne Tolles


Based on the synopsis, I thought Somber Island had the makings of a great historical/ paranormal romance/ Cinderella-ish, gothic tale, but it just fell short for me. I think that if it were longer, the story could've been better developed, and the events flushed out. Things were happening too quickly, without any follow up to some major events that had taken place. Perhaps a prologue giving a back story on the hero, the villain etc, could've added to the mystery; and a little more background on the heroine would've added some depth to her character so the reader could actually care what happened to her. Not only was the heroine Phoebe just silly at times, so was the hero, the villain, and even the supporting characters. That said, the cover is just beautiful; if I could give it 5 stars for the cover alone, I would.

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Just wanted to share.....

These are some motivational quotes that I received via email the other day. Enjoy! "Knowing others is wisdom; knowing the self is enlightenment." -- Tao Te Ching ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The true profession of man is to find his way to himself." -- Hermann Hesse

Black Ice (Ice #1) by Anne Stuart

I finished reading this one, and I loved it! I'd even like to see Black Ice turned into a movie. At first I was thinking that Bastien was a real a$$hole, and that there wasn't ANYTHING he could do to redeem himself. But then things kept happening, and then we get a glimpse into his background, including his childhood, so it was easier to accept him, and appreciate him for being the flawed, dangerously bad ass hero he was as the story progressed. There were some major twists just when I thought I knew what was happening; and I love it when that happens! I was pleasantly surpirsed with some events that had taken place near the end. The hero in Cold As Ice (Ice #2) is Peter Jensen, one the operatives in Black Ice. My curiosity about Peter's character was certainly peaked near the end of this book. I'm definitely moving forward with Anne Stuart's Ice series!

Shadowfever (Fever, #5) by Karen Marie Moning

The Fever series is on my favorite series, and I'm sorry to see it end. I'm looking forward to the spin-off series, which is set in the same world that KMM has created. Overall, I was happy with the way this series ended. There were some very unexpected twists and turns, and some things that I thought were predictable. As is expected with a lot of serial books this size, there was a lot of rehashing of what happened in prior books. That said, everything was resolved, and all of the questions that I had throughout this series were answered. I gave it 4/5 stars because I became annoyed with Mac's constant introspection. That said, Mac is still one of my favorite heroines, and I'm sorry to see this wonderful series end, but at least it ended well. :(

In the Eye of the Beholder by Sharon E. Cathcart

It was ok. Erik was just too different from what I remember. I remember him being guarded, and a bit arrogant in the original by Gaston Leroux, but there were just times when he just cruel towards Claire.  I found myself rooting for the heroine- Claire though; after everything she'd been through - being an over thirty independent thinker in a society that doesn't value women, losing her father and having to have and unknown male relative control her assets, losing her fiancee

, and then putting up with Erik, how could I not?! I'd most certainly recommend this one to POTO fans. It was nice to read a "sequel" and for those wondering how Erik fared after Christine Daae, might feel like they've gotten some sort of closure.

Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson (Book 1)

I would describe this book as "paranormal chick-lit." In addition to being a quick, and easy read, it was funny, and the characters were likeable. It was so refreshing to read a story where the humor wasn't overdone, and the heroine wasn't a total air-head in need of constant saving, or an extreme tough girl. In fact, all the characters were "just right" in my opinion. I'll most likely be reading the next installment in this series sooner rather than later.

Don't Bring Home a White Boy by Karyn Langhorne Folan

I thought this one was ok. I really enjoyed reading the historical info the author provided. In fact, I was inspired to go and my research. I think the author, and the persons interviewed for the book provided some helpful tips to that can be applied to any relationship, not just interracial couples. I appreciated the way the Langorne Folan tackled issues such sexism, and domestic abuse etc, and made a point of saying that "all" at one time or another in their lives may encounter such issues. But at the same time, addressed issues that I believe black american women in particular face as well. For example, the 3 main stereotypical media images of "Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire", and issues that are unique to black women/white male couples in this country (United States), and the history of such relationships. I don't know that all persons involved in an interracial relationship need to read this, but it can only help. Overall, I thought this was an excellent book,and I look forward to reading the author's essays etc as soon as I get the chance.

Beauty & the Geek: I Heart Geeks by Janet Eckford

Silly me! I didn't realize that this one is an erotic short story when I bought it.  That said, I really enjoyed it. I loved the heroine, and  loved, loved, loved the hero! When I finished reading it, I thought "what a great couple!" In my opinion,  it was well written for an erotic novella.  There was actual romancing, and a build up of sexual tension that I find is often lacking in full length erotic novels; not to mention erotic novella's. Overall, a great combination of the "sweet" and the "erotic".  So, I loved it!  I'd recommend Beauty & the Geek to  readers that: 1) prefer the geeky, but sexy hero and 2) enjoy reading interracial romance.  I'll definitely be looking for more of Janet Eckford's work.  Wow!  I am so glad that my first read for the New Year was a good one!!