Once Upon A Tartan

• ISBN 9781402268694
• Price 7.99

I must start out with a quote. ” I am unhappy… no, I am miserable. Abjectly, profoundly, unendingly miserable. I have transgressed before a woman who deserved honesty and more from me, and now my life stretches out, decades of meaningless time…”

What’s a man to do when he’s torn between honor and orders? How is a man not to fall in love when his heart tells him otherwise? Yet, how does a son, who wants to please his father, disobey a request to bring his grand-daughter home?  This story, like a tartan,  has many intricate lines of distinction woven through each chapter and once finished creates a beautifully warm feeling of  happiness for the reader.

If you’re used to a story with fast progression, give Once Upon a Tartan a start to finish read as it will come together and the end end is well worth the wait.

The Shambling Guide to New York City

• ISBN 9780316221177
• Price 14.99
• CurrencyUSD
• Edition Paperback

Does this cover remind you of anything? Well, it reminded me of that scene in MIB where soon to be Agent J must shoot at the hostiles only to turn out that sweet little school girl is up to no good and the ‘monsters’ have issues, such as a stuffy nose.  Where am I going with this? Look again at the cover. In New York City things aren’t always what they appear to be and this is what Zoe, a uniquely qualified travel writer, confirms through a series of determined steps to prove she’s got what it takes for the Underground Press- a travel publisher for those of the non-human, or Coterie, kind.

Like any large city, Shambling’s NYC has mystery and intrigue and a nefarious plot to take over the city and with luck (depending on your point of view) the world. This may be a cutesy way to look at entities who are known to be evil, but Lafferty gives these guys a humanistic side that allows human and non-humans to co-exist in a thriving city.

Shambling Guide is a delight to read. You’ll chuckle through chapters, think “eeewww, gross!” and how cool while you read about how the other half lives.  You may even start to wonder about your co-worker or house mate.

The Mystery Woman

• ISBN-13: 9780399159091
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 4/23/2013
• Series: Ladies of Lantern Street Series , #2
• Pages: 384

I’m going to say this upfront, I’ve been reading Amanda Quick novels since the late 90’s and fell in love with her stories. A decade or so later, I’m still enamored with her stories and consider her writing enthralling. The Mystery Woman was a page turner for me, which in turn cause a lack of either sleep or pushing back things til later that weren’t of great importance, such as house work, yard work, etc.

While Amanda Quick novels include some paranormal influence, it’s just a tidbit compared to Jayne Castle’s full on in your face style.  Also, if you’ve never ready Quick, you’ll soon find out that this is a story based on relationship building and not your quick and dirty sex novel. If I remember right, the ‘bedroom’ scene is almost in the last chapter. This isn’t to say that there’s not heat, it’s just not blatantly in your face.

The Mystery Woman picks up not much after Crystal Gardens and weaves a little of this prior book in to the story line.  Opening with a quick synopsis of what the book is about in chapter one, the proverbial ball starts to roll and off we go, pinging and ponging around sleuthing, spying and of course, romance!   Hooking me into the world of our heroine is Quick’s essence of the intimacies of romance and relationship building. Simple things like watching a man get ready for bed. Have you ever watched your lover go through the intimate ritual of shaving, brushing his teeth, washing up, etc.? If so, how did that make you feel…for me it feels like I’m trusted to be in his world. Quick brings this intimate trust to her readers through out the story with all the little things her hero does for his heroine.

A small little sticking point is the pistol wielding. I’m thinking of how many layers there are on a ladies skirts, how heavy they are and where this pistol is hidden via the cover. In reality, the time it would take to retrieve said pistol I truly believe if it weren’t for our hero the heroine would be dead.  If you’re willing to over look this practical point, it’s an enjoyable read that may have you wondering about your own intimate rituals that are either still happening or forgot about.

And the Miss Ran Away With the Rake- Runs Away With Your Heart

• ISBN-13: 9780062089083
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 3/26/2013
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 384

If you’re looking for that book that steals time and will cause your heart to flutter this is your week-end read.

I almost over looked this due to the cover title- a little too Humpty-Dumpty for me. Yes, I know there are a lot of writers out there basing their new books on fairy tales and now children’s stories…some times it works and sometimes it doesn’t. This book does work, although in my opinion I would have gone with a different title since this book is more about love letters.  Think Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in “You’ve Got Mail” and you have this book.

Two people brought together by fate who were never meant to meet much less fall in love. Neither knows what the other looks like and yet they know each others souls intimately. Each yearns that the one they’ve been writing is really who they seem to be on paper and hoping upon all else to actually meet. Yet, through a series of events two sworn enemies slowly find common ground (think Hatfield’s and McCoy’s) and wonder if the blossoming of feelings they have for one another are real. Are they betraying their feelings for those who’ve they’ve been writing? Is it fate that brings these two lovers together or is it the past righting a wrong.  Well, to know these answers, you’re just going to have to read this little gem. Happy lost week-end to you!!

Eternity Embraced (Demonica Series) A Novella worth buying!

• ISBN-13: 9781452479354
• Publisher: Larissa Ione
• Publication date: 1/27/2011
• Series: Demonica Series
• Novella

Typically, I’m not a novella fan as there’s usually not much depth, nor story, to hold my attention. Ione’s novella, Eternity Embraced, was not one of ‘those’. From the start, you’ll find action, character building and forward movement that builds to a climax and then gently brings the reader back down to reality. Reality being buying the next book Ione has written that you’ve not read yet.

I would not have thought that two larger than life, action packed characters could fit into such a small book. Think Buffy and Angel; that’s from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, television version, in case you’re not a t.v. aficionado.  Our lead heroine has the daunting decisions of what to do about her lover turned vampire. To kill or not to kill. Could you kill someone you love because they’ve become something that’s not supposed to exist or will make an existence by killing others? Want to find out? Give Larissa Ione a chance. At .99 for the e-book novella, it’s completely worth the price!

Ooh La La!: French Women’s Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Every Day

• ISBN-13: 9780806535579
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Publication date: 5/28/2013
• Pages: 224
• Paperback $11.45
• NOOK Book $10.19

Ooh La La! shared some insights that most women forget- that women love helping other women- be it a comment on lipstick, hairstyle or even a kind word. Callan’s book delved in to the mystery of her love of French women’s innate ability to love themselves for who they are and therefore creating an image of ‘Ooh La La!’. There did seem to be places in within this book that Callan rambled on aimlessly, for example about how she loves the color red and her signature red lipstick. While reading this section I found my self wanting to say to her “Take slow deep breaths.” as I felt as if she was hyper-ventilating at the thought of having to give up the color red.
I’m sure many readers will find great tips on nail polish, fashion, food, make-overs, etc. This book is about finding a new way to allow a woman to just love herself, creating the effect of having “Ooh La La!”