New York to Dallasby J.D. Robb

When a monster named Isaac McQueen-taken down by Eve back in her uniform days-escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.

My thoughts~
New York to Dallas is the 33rd book in the In Death series by J.D. Robb a.k.a. Nora Roberts. Not counting anthologies. Yes, I know the title doesn't say 'In Death' but it lives up to all the other In Death books! You know from the very beginning who the villain is, the connection to Eve, but still... there were somethings that were very surprising in this book. This books delves into Eve's past. Not only as child, but in her Rookie days. You learn about the first time she met & worked with Feeney. All in all, I really enjoyed reading New York to Dallas and look forward to the next book!

Dark Predator By Christine Feehan

As brutal as the undead he hunted, Zacarias De La Cruz was a master executioner. Over the long, dark centuries, he plunged into so many battles they blurred into an endless lifetime of evil that hardened the soul of this merciless, ruthless and implacable dark predator.

Now his stark and savage journey is over. After a thousand years in a gray world, he has accomplished everything he set out to do. His brothers are safeguarded. Each has found a woman who completes him. And they are at peace. For his brothers, Zacarias has walked the edge of madness, but with centuries as a killing machine now left to the past, and without a hunt to define him, Zacarias wonders, for the first time in his life, who he really is.

The answer awaits him back home in Peru, in an unexpected betrayal, in the vengeance of an old enemy, in the inevitable consequences of a bloody family legacy, and in the deliverance of a lifemate he never could have imagined.

~My thoughts on this book~

I have just recently found this series, and I am enchanted by it! I did not want to put the book down. I am looking forward to finding and reading the rest of the books about the Carpathian Brotherhood.

Since I've Been Gone...

Well since I have been internet deprived I have been READING! I haven't been keeping track...but I have read all the books for The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, which are great by the way! If you haven't read them, you should! I also read Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts, which I thought was ok. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but when your in the middle of a series with Vampires, Witches, Werewolves, Pixies, etc a romance makes me say, 'huh'. If I'm not mistaken that's at least 10 books that I've read since July 1st. Not bad considering I made 2 trips to Florida, moved, been looking for a flippin' job and of course the summer usual, hanging out at my friends pool. Hopefully, now I can get on track with this blog while I can. I missed it! I did trade in my trusty Kobo for a NOOK Color and I have to say I LOVE IT! I love the back light, the touch screen, the apps & I can carry my pictures of Rylan on it to show my friends! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!

So that been pretty much my summer. What have your guys been reading & doing? Tell me, tell me, tell me!

Susie Is Temorarily Back...

Guess who just added a WiFi Hotspot to her cell phone? ME! Which means that I have internet for awhile! Woohoo! I've missed blogging! LOL! So much has happened since the last time I was on! Let's see... A couple of my friends & I went to Florida for my daughters baby shower in early July... it was a HUGE success! At one point there were over 70 people in attendance! It was FANTASTIC! It seems in the few months she has been down there, she has made a lot of friends!  It was awe inspiring. Brittni asked if I could, to come back for the delivery....so I did!

My grandson, Rylan Wrae was born August 4th. It was what I would consider a short labor & delivery, timing in at about 8.5 hours! He did have some complications but boy he is going strong now! LOL! This -->
is the first time she was able to hold her son! What an experience it was for me to see my baby holding her baby...and to have been a part of it!
Now we are still trying to figure out if I'm going to be Grandma, Gran, Grammy, Granny, Mimi, Nana, or any other version of Grandma. Any suggestions?



So I'm still looking for a job. We have moved in with my Mother-In-Law which isn't easy. I miss my stuff. Almost everything is in storage. But we are helping her by being here so she isn't alone and that's what our goal has been. So that being said, here are a few more pictures of my little guy!

Unforeseen Fears By H. William Gruchow

They played games with murders; harmless games, it seemed, piecing together details from news reports; imagining theories about how and why; and wagering each other on the outcomes.

Even gaming the Dunwright murders wasn't supposed to be serious. Two dead adults and a missing child; tragic, of course, but it's happened before. Except, this time something was different. There were voids, unanswered questions. Was it an execution or a kidnapping? And why did it seem investigators were misleading and deceptive? Was the investigation being subverted? By whom? And for what reason?

Their curiosities fired up, Armis and Jake broke the rules and did their own sleuthing; and when nine-year-old Brianne's dismembered remains turned up weeks later and miles away, their quest became an obsession that consumed Armis.

Yet, through encounters with corrupt lawmen, malevolent executives, and reticent family members, Armis was unable to find the answers he needed; until he met the mysterious Malwina. She insidiously drew him into her plan of personal vengeance, and closer to learning why Brianne had to die. But as they intruded into a world where the bad guys seldom lose, the game turned dangerous...and deadly.

~My thoughts on this book~

I love a good murder mystery, and this one was a real page turner. I look forward to more in what I hope is a long series from this writer.

The Mission, The Men, and Me By Pete Blaber

As a commander in Delta Force -- the most elite counter-terrorist organization in the world -- Pete Blaber has taken part in some of the most dangerous, controversial, and significant military and political events of our time. And he's learned and experienced more about the real world and how things really work than most people could imagine.

Here, he reveals his intimate knowledge of warfare, and that it's not the chaotic action of battle, but the interaction -- in the form of the way we think, the way we make decisions, and the way we act on them -- that provides the keys to success and the truly meaningful lessons.

In this book, you will learn the same lessons he learned, while experiencing what the life of a Delta Force Operator is like -- from extreme physical and psychological training to the darkest of shadow ops all around the world. From each mission, Pete Blaber has brought back a life lesson with him. You will learn these enlightening lessons as you gain insights into never-before-revealed missions executed around the globe. And when the smoke clears, you will emerge wiser, more capable, and better prepared to succeed in life than you ever thought possible.

~ My thoughts on this book~

My taste in literature is fairly eclectic, I like almost everything. I prefer to read instead of watching television or listening to the radio. You will never find me without a book in my hand or at least in my purse.

When it comes to books about the military, I hold most interest in the books about The Civil War and The Vietnam War, but I can't tell you why. This is the first book I have read that dealt with Special Operations, namely Delta Force, and I really liked it. It has gotten really good reviews and I highly recommend it. It is an easy read. The author teaches some insightful lessons based on his experiences.

In closing, I would like to share what the author wrote in the forward of this book.

"My motivation for writing this book isn't personal or political. Instead, I believe that accurately understanding and sharing lessons from the past is an essential step for gaining insights into and preparing for the future.....The stories in this book and the guiding-principle lessons they produced belong to all of us."

In My Mailbox 8/28/11

~To Review


My Pictures, My Words - Mac Kenney
The Mission, The Men, and Me - Pete Blaber
Uncaged - Paul McKellips
Unforeseen Fears - H. William Gruchow
Love and Marraige Perspectives - Vince Brendan Vincents

Gog & Magog By Jerry Pollock

In Dr. Jerry Pollock's riveting thriller, Satan descends to earth with the intention of destroying God and the entire planet by inciting war between a modern-day Cain and Abel. Will he succeed? That is the question at the center of this heart-pounding mystery-thriller, which takes much of its inspiration - and it's characters - from the Bible itself. It's a classic story of good vs. evil with one important twist: it takes place in America's halls of power.

Beginning in the Garden of Eden, where he entices Eve to eat a fig from the Tree of Knowledge, Satan's quest continues to modern times, where he aligns himself with the president of the United States and his son, Cain. Standing in Satan's way is a captivating cast of characters that include a brilliant psychiatrist charged with unraveling God's prophetic secret, a modern-day Abel who represents all things good, and the archangels Michael and Gabriel. Will Satan succeed or will God himself intervene? The answer lies in a duel to the death and the electrifying conclusion.

My thoughts on this book:

It was a page turner and kept me interested until the very end. This book is available at Amazon and also for e-readers.

The Lament: Selected Poems and Prose By Ercell H. Hoffman

The Lament captures the full range of emotion that whirl around human relationships. Here are dozens of poems examining the profound joy of those deeply in love, the incredible longing of the separated partner, the intense loneliness of modern working life, and - above all - the indisputable necessity of connecting with people around us. Poet Ercell H. Hoffman casts a penetrating gaze on our everyday emotions, revealing our extraordinary capacity for feeling, empathy, and love.

In "Lost to the Moment," the speaker relishes the irreplaceable first blush of fledgling love that sweeps through her body "like a cool summer breeze." "This Afternoon" explores the painful possibilities of a love that might have been - that "I knew could not blossom." "Stay Heart Stay" is about the undying fire for another that refuses to be extinguished despite considerable hurdles. Meanwhile, other poems examine relationships in the contemporary workplace, revealing a deeply unsatisfying existence: "The Factory" looks at the peculiarly disconnected relationships among under appreciated factory workers, while "On the JOB" tackles the boredom of a career that's anything but busy. Chock full of penetrating insights into the heart, The Lament is about our most basic needs: finding and keeping love and obeying your inner truth.

My thoughts on this book:

I don't read alot of poetry, however, I enjoyed this book. I'm a hopeless romantic, and quite a few of the poems in this book touched me. "Stay Heart Stay" was one of my favorites as well as a short poem called "Knowing You."

This book is available in paperback at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. It is also available as an instant e-book download. I highly recommend this book for an enjoyable, easy read.

Alaskan Quest Series; Song of Alaska Series By Tracie Peterson

Alaskan Quest Series:

Book One - Summer of the Midnight Sun

Leah Barringer and her brother, Jacob, have come to love the rugged Alaskan territory they call home. But when Jacob determines to join an arctic expedition, Leah realizes her heart yearns for more than this solitary existence.

The unexpected arrival of Jayce Kincaid, the man who spurned her ten years before, awakens feelings that Leah would much prefer to leave buried. As Jayce sets out to prove he's a changed man, Leah cannot deny the effect he once again has upon her. But the appearance of a young investigator casts a cloud over Jayce's past..and over Leah's dreams for the future.

Book Two - Under the Northern Lights

When Pinkerton agent Helaina Beecham's obsession with capturing a dangerous fugitive dulls her judgement, she is kidnapped and carried off into the wilderness just as an early winter is approaching. Now her only hope is that Jacob Barringer -- the man who has captivated her heart -- will find her before it is too late.

Book Three - Whispers of Winter

The unforgiving descent of Alaskan winter has Jayce Kincaid and Jacob Barringer struggling for survival after their ship is trapped in the ice floes of the Arctic.

Back at Last Chance Creek, Lean and Helaina endure the long separation -- Lean wondering if her children will ever know their father and Helaina longing for the chance to express her love to Jacob.

When unexpected loss invades their world and tragedy looms once again, will they find the strength to trust in God's faithfulness?

Song of Alaska Series: Book One - Dawn's Prelude

Newly widowed Lydia Sellers discovers that through an unforseen fluke, she is the sole recipient of her husband's fortune. But instead of granting her security, it only causes strife as her adult step-children battle to regain the inheritance for themselves. Lydia, longing to put the memories of a painful marriage behind her, determines to travel to Alaska to join her aunt.

Lydia's arrival in Sitka, however, brings two things she didn't expect. One is the acquaintance of Kjell Bjorklund, the handsome owner of the sawmill. Second is the discovery that she is pregnant with her dead husband's child. What will this mean for her budding relationship with Kjell? And to what lengths will her stepchildren go to reclaim their father's fortune? Lydia soon finds her life -- and that of her child's -- on the line.

Book Two - Morning's Refrain

As dark family secrets threaten the tranquility of the life he's come to love, Dalton Bjorklund must make difficult choices about the future. To complicate matters, Phoebe Robbins falls into his life quite literally when Dalton rescues her after she falls overboard in the Sitka Harbor. He quickly loses his heart.

But Dalton is not the only one who decides to seek Phoebe's attentions -- his best friend, Yuri, decides to court her when Dalton must travel from Sitka. But when Dalton realizes the depth of his love for Phoebe and returns, the two friends find that their battle for Phoebe's affection is only the start of the problems that face them.

Book Three - Twilight's Serenade

Britta Linquist left Sitka six years ago in an attempt to distance herself from the love of her life, Yuri Belikov. Upon her return, she finds Yuri absent and his wife about to deliver a child. When tragic circumstances ensue, Britta suddenly finds herself caring for Yuri's children -- and her life intertwining with the man she's tried so hard to forget.

But Britta's other great love is for the violin, and her talent is recognized by Brenton Maltese, a conductor from England. He proposes she accept the coveted first chair position in his orchestra -- and also his hand in marriage.

At a crossroads, Britta must determine what her heart truly longs for -- and if she's willing to fight for it.

~My thoughts~

I was introduced to this author by my mother and have grown quite fond of reading her books. It has been difficult for me to put these books down. Mrs. Peterson has been a Christian since a young age, and tells readers on her website that she feels that her writing is a ministry. She states that above all else, she longs for readers to fall in love with God. These books could probably stand on their own, but as I stated at the beginning, they are a series and you learn more about the characters if you read all of them in each series.

Last Call...Beg For Mercy...giveaway!

Go HERE to enter for a chance to win

Beg for Mercy by Jami Alden! 

Contest ends tonight at midnight! 

Winners announced July 1st!

Black Hills By Nora Roberts

A summer at his grandparents' South Dakota ranch is not eleven-year-old Cooper Sullivan's idea of a good time. But things are a bit more bearable now that he's discovered the neighbor girl, Lil Chance, and her homemade batting cage. Even horseback riding isn't as awful as Coop thought it would be. Each year, with Coop's annual summer visit, their friendship deepens from innocent games to stolen kisses, but there is one shared experience that will forever haunt them: the terrifying discovery of a hiker's body.

As the seasons change and the years roll by, Lil remains steadfast to her aspiration of becoming a wildlife biologist and protecting her family land, while Coop struggles with is father's demand that he attend law school and join the family firm. Twelve years after they last walked together hand in hand, fate has brought them back to the Black Hills when the people and things they hold most dear need them most.

Coop recently left his fast-paced life as an investigator in New York to take care of his aging grandparents and the ranch he has come to call home. Though the memory of his touch still haunts her, Lil has let nothing stop her dream of opening the Chance Wildlife Refuge, but something...of someone...has been keeping a close watch. When small pranks and acts of destruction escalate into the heartless killing of Lil's beloved cougar, memories of an unsolved murder in these very hills have Coop springing to action to keep Lil safe.

Lil and Coop know the natural dangers that lurk in the wild landscape of the Black Hills. Now they must work together to unearth a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts who has singled them out as prey.

~My thoughts on this book~

I love love love anything Nora Roberts writes!!! This book is one of the best I've read. There is just enough of a sexual tension between the two main characters. I was on the edge of my seat, holding my breath at every turn of the page as I got closer and closer to the end that would pleasantly surprise me.

Teaser Tuesday (6/28/11)

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Miz B of "Should Be Reading!"
It's a great way to check out what your fellow bloggers are reading. Anyone can play! Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read



• Open to a random page



• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from the page. PLEASE DON'T INCLUDE SPOILERS!



• Share the author and title of the book so that others can add it to their TBR list if they want.

My Teaser~

"I'd say we don't know what to make of each other these days. It's awkward. Visiting's one thing, and we've hardly been in the same state at the same time since."

Black Hills by Nora Roberts, pg. 96

Going On A Temperary Hiatus...

Well, this is it. I'm in the middle of moving in with my MIL and we will not have internet for awhile. I will try to keep up with the books that I read, write my reviews long hand (ick) and post them once internet becomes a part of my world, again. So until I get hooked up again, take care, be safe & have a wonderfully fun summer!

Beg For MercyJami AldenFeature & Giveaway!

He lurks in the shadows, waiting and watching . . . And once he has you, all you can do is. . .
BEG FOR MERCY
Megan Flynn thought she was falling in love. Cole Williams wasn't just handsome and passionate, he was one of the good guys. Or so she thought, until he arrested her brother-the only family she has left-for a murder she knows he couldn't have possibly committed. Now, with her heart broken and her brother's life hanging in the balance, Megan will risk everything to prove his innocence. Even if that means throwing herself into the path of a sadistic killer with a hauntingly familiar MO.
Seattle Detective Cole Williams had given up on making Megan see reason where her brother is concerned. But when she insinuates herself into the most shockingly brutal case Cole has ever worked, he can't stand idly by. Plunged into a secret world where the city's elite indulge their darkest desires, Cole will do whatever it takes to bring down a madman who has made Megan his most coveted prey.

from the authors website~

Like so many romance readers, my first romance novel was by Kathleen Woodiwiss - The Flame and the Flower, to be exact.  I was thirteen.  I spent the next month working my way through her entire back list.  Shortly thereafter I discovered Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey, Karen Robards, Catherine Coulter, Shirlee Busbee among others, and devoured their lavish historical epics full of overbearing alpha males and the women who brought them to their knees. I was hooked.  My high school teachers marveled at my ability to read romance novels under the desk and still score straight A's.  I started to imagine myself, living in a cabin in the mountains somewhere, writing romance novels. 
It took me quite awhile to pursue my dream.  After graduating from Stanford with a degree in English Literature, I worked in a variety of soul sucking admin jobs before I began my career in marketing.  It wasn't exactly my dream job, but at least my writing appeared on several web sites and in many software marketing brochures. Unfortunately I wasn't able to fit the phrase "and her loins melted like hot wax" into any of them.
During my stint as the world's surliest receptionist, I took my first stab at writing.  The result was a very melodramatic western historical which reads like a bad Elizabeth Lowell rip off.  Its currently languishing on my hard drive, forever stuck on page 330.
Then in fall 2001 I had an incredible stroke of luck and got laid off from my marketing job.  I decided it was time to stop saying I wanted to be a writer and to actually give it a serious go.  Fortunately my husband, a socially well adjusted alpha male, is a very generous patron of the arts.
Four years later, I sold my first book and I'm pretty much living the dream of getting paid to write romance.  I don't live in a cabin in the mountains, but I do live in a rural-ish town near San Francisco (hey, we have deer and bunnies in our yard, along with the occasional coyote) with my husband, sons, and two dogs who patiently listen to my dialogue and help me work out plot points.  When I'm not writing sexy romance, I enjoy running, reading, yoga and watching Food Network and bad reality TV.

About The Contest: 

Thanks to Brianne at Hachette Book Group 

Two winners will be chosen on random.org 

The Contest ends at midnight on June 30th 

Open to US & Canadian addresses. No PO Boxes please.

**Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, 

which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, 

you will receive only one copy of the title**

Leave a comment below with your email address!

Hit Listby Laurell K. Hamilton

A serial killer is hunting the Pacific Northwest, murdering victims in a gruesome and spectacular way. The local police suspect “monsters” are involved, and have called in Anita Blake and Edward, US Marshals who really know their monsters, to catch the killer.
But some monsters are very real. The Harlequin have been the bogeymen of the vampire world for more than a thousand years; they are a secret so dark that even to speak their name can earn you a death sentence. Now they are here in America, hunting weretigers…and human police.
The Harlequin serve the Mother of All Darkness, the first vampire. She was supposed to be dead, but only her body was destroyed. Now she needs a new one, and she’s decided that Anita Blake’s is the body she wants. Edward thinks the serial killings are a trap to lure Anita closer to the most dangerous vampire they’ve ever hunted. The vampires call Edward “Death,” and Anita the “Executioner,” but Mommy Darkest is coming to kill one and possess the other, and she doesn’t care how many others have to die along the way.

my thoughts~ 
Thank goodness I didn't turn my back completely on this series! Hit List is written like the first few books of the series! LKH has went old school! Loved IT! When I finished this book, I thought, "Oh I hope this isn't the last one!" It ends in such a way that it could be the last in the series, but there was still one big scary thing that was left hanging that just has to be closed. I did miss Jean Claude, Richard & the others, but I loved visiting with Edward! Yes, he can be scary, but I still get a kick out of him!

Weekly Wrap Up(06/11/11)

reviews

I was a slacker this week-NONE!

posts

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesday

Waiting On Wednesday

what going on

This week has been busy! I have read, but in between stuff going on! My youngest, Matt graduated from high school on Wednesday! Woohoo! No more kiddos in high school! And we have his graduation party next Saturday, so that is taking alot of time, trying to figure out what food to have. We're having it at our favorite park and I can't remember if there is a grill there or not or if there is electricity at the shelter. 

Back to the reading, this week I've read: The Darkest Secret, The Darkest Passion, The Darkest Kiss, The Darkest Pleasure, The darkest Whisper, The Darkest Night. I also finished Ceremony In Death on audiobook. So that was my week...How was your week?

Waiting On Wednesday(06/0811)

 

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message. Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

Title:         Second Grave on the Left

Author:	Darynda Jones
Series:	#2 in Charley Davidson
Release:	August 16, 2011
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
ISBN:	0312360819

Teaser Tuesday (06/07/11)

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading! It's a great way to check out what your fellow bloggers are reading. Anyone can play! Here are the rules:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from the page. PLEASE DON'T INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• Share the author and title of the book so that others can add it to their TBR list if they want.

my teaser~
He would mark her, he decided, put a brand on her so that William and the others understood beyond any doubt that she was now and forever off limits. "Mine to claim."

The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter
pge 110 (ebook)

In My Mailbox06/06/11

Bought~
All 19 Anita Blake eBooks by Laurell K. Hamilton! 
Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse, Circus of the Damned, The Lunatic Cafe, Bloody Bones, The Killing Dance, Burnt Offerings, Blue Moon Obsidian Butterfly, Narcissus in Chains, Cerulean Sins,  Incubus Dreams,  Micah,  Danse Macabre,  The Harlequin, Blood Noir, Skin Trade, Flirt, Bullet

Ascension by Caris Roane

To Review~
(from the author)
The Summoner by Layton Green