In My Mailbox II

In My Mailbox is a weekly book-sharing meme hosted at The Story Siren. Each week, you talk about books received the previous week, not necessarily in the mail. Posts can include library books, borrowed books, as well as purchased books.

Received Books:

Sea of Suspicion by Toni Anderson - I entered a giveaway on the book's Facebook fan page. I won! It's a romantic suspense e-book published by Carina Press (an imprint of Harlequin) so I'm sure it'll be fantastic.

Library books:

The Reincarnationist (The Reincarnationist #1) by M.J. Rose - Grabbed book one when I went by to donate books Monday of last week. Will be starting this series soon.

Purchased books (New):

Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Borque - I didn't hear about this book until just a week or two before its release. Though, when I did hear about it, I thought it sounded interesting. Very interesting. So much so that I bought it when I saw it in a bookstore. Review to come.

Purchased books (Used):

The Chronicles of Riddick by Alan Dean Foster - The novel based on the screenplay. I love these movies, and the novelization is from the hub's favorite author, so of course we had to get it! ^_^

Nadesico Volume 1 (manga) by Kia Asamiya - This is one of our favorite animes, so buying the manga was a no-brainer. ^_^

Prohibited Love

Before reading Jazz Baby by Lorelie Brown, I really wasn't interested in Prohibition or the Jazz Age. I knew a little bit about Prohibition from various history classes - and from my love of the movie "Oscar" - but didn't care to learn more. It just didn't appeal to me.

So why does it interest me now?

I'm not entirely certain. Likely, it has to do with the fact that I was drawn into that age within the first couple of pages. I fell for Micah Trent, the book's hero, when he had a twinge of regret in closing down a speakeasy simply because it was run by an older couple. It was their life. Closing it down was his job, but that didn't make it easy.

He may have been a big, tough Prohibition Agent, but he was also human.

Then he went to New York, undercover, after a gangster. As part of his cover, he became the supplier for The Kirk, Kate Kirkland's speakeasy. From the moment those two met, sparks flew. They shared an immediate, intense connection.

Their chemistry sizzles.

That chemistry kept me reading, hanging on every word until the end.

Which was, of course, a happy one. A bit surprising - to me - and very well done. I loved it.

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Source: I won a copy of this e-book in a random giveaway among the author's followers on Twitter.

Where to Buy: Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly book-sharing meme hosted at The Story Siren. Each week, you talk about books received the previous week, not necessarily in the mail. Posts can include library books, borrowed books, as well as purchased books.

Library books:

The Memorist (The Reincarnationist #2) by M.J. Rose - I meant to get the first volume of this series, but I grabbed the wrong book. Luckily, I'm going back today so I can remedy my mistake then. Unfortunately, I don't think my local library has the third book in this series yet...

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult - I've wanted to read this book since it released more than two years ago. Better late than never.

Gone (Dreamcatcher #3) by Lisa McMann - I was so excited they finally had this one. I've been waiting to read it since it came out!*

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - Since reading Devilish, I've been on the lookout for Miss Maureen's other books.

Paper Towns by John Green - I keep reading the cover copy on this one and thinking 'oh that sounds interesting'. So I finally checked it out.*

Inkheart (Inkheart #1) by Cornelia Funke - I've wanted to read this one for a while, too. Finally got around to checking it out.

Purchased books (New):

Forgive My Fins (Fins #1) by Tera Lynn Childs - I've been looking forward to this book since I first learned of its existence about two months ago. None of the local libraries carry it - or any of Miss Tera Lynn's books for that matter - so I bought it. Now I want the rest of her books as well.*

My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent - I love this series. It's one of those 'I wish I wrote that' series for me. My local library has book one, but not this one. So I'm going to remedy that. I'm going to the library today to donate this and the book below.

My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3) by Rachel Vincent - see above

Purchased books (Used):

Skykeepers (Final Prophecy #3) by Jessica Andersen - I'm slowly collecting this series. I now have books one, three, and four. One and three were purchased used. Book four was purchased new (2-3 weeks ago).

Beyond the Dark by Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Emma Holly, and Diane Whiteside - Paranormal Romance Anthology, need I say more? No, I thought not. ^_-

*Expect a review soon. ^_^

Burnout

To all of my readers -

I am so very sorry. I haven't even felt much like reading recently. In fact, I didn't read anything for almost a week. Then I got Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, from the library. Now I'm reading again. ^_^

I tried to take on too much. In addition to maintaining this blog, I started a personal blog.

And I volunteered to help with a multitude of projects. After a couple of weeks, I began to feel overwhelmed. This all started back in early February. Late last month, I got to the point where I felt like I was failing everything I attempted.

I became so afraid of failing everyone, myself included, I just sort of seized up. I still need to contact some of those I offered to help and let them know why I didn't. Some of them may see this post, but most will not.

I haven't written a single review this month. I just - a few minutes ago - posted something on my personal blog for the first time in four weeks. That was only a small thing, part of a meme I try to participate in weekly (The Friday 56, which [I think] began here).

I will still be maintaining this blog, though I can not promise I will post often. I still want to do a review a week, but I don't know that I will be able to stick to that schedule. I have several reviews to catch up on as it is, so I can't make any promises.

I shall try.

Thanks for understanding,
TuraLura

Charmed, I'm Sure

Summary: Greiman combines historical and paranormal elements in this wonderfully sweet romance.

For those of you who don't know me, I adore the paranormal. Any aspect, from magic to shape-shifters, make a book more likely to appeal. I also love historical romance. The first romance book I ever read was historical. When I started reading paranormal romances several years ago, I stopped reading historicals. Until I discovered the historical paranormal subgenre. It's like these books were made for me. I love them.

Charming the Devil is the first romance I've read by Lois Greiman, but it won't be the last. I've fallen in love with this world she's created.

The paranormal elements in this book are small, but play a necessary part in the plot. Faye Nettles is a new witch, unsure of her own abilities. She knows she possesses some small powers, but not what she can do with them. Not even what her abilities entail.

At the start of the book, she is charged with a mission. She is to look into the death of one Lord Brendier. Her first task is to investigate Rogan McBain and his possible involvement.

But McBain reminds her of a tormentor from her past. He has the same tall, muscular build. The same grace and speed of movement. He terrifies her. So much so that she sends a flowerpot careening into his face when he rescues her from an overeager admirer at a party.

Not on purpose, mind you. You see, in addition to not knowing what powers she has, she can't always control them.

The other ladies of Lavender House - the home for witches where she currently resides - convince her to apologize to the man. She does still need to investigate him, after all.

And so, early the next morning, before the rest of the ton is even awake, he finds her on his doorstep. Scared, but ready to apologize.

They meet several more times under unusual circumstances - only at one other party - in the course of getting to know each other. Faye has to hide behind her false identity, concocted to protect her by the inhabitants of Lavender House, though she desperately wants to tell him the truth. For quite a while, she addresses him by his surname to keep distance between them. Until her attraction grows too strong to fight.

I can't really say much more without giving too much away. They do have a happy ending - natch. The journey was entertaining. I giggled several times. I nearly cried when they finally did get it together.

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Rating: 8 out of 10 (Very good. Highly recommend.)

Heat Level: 2.5 (Mild, bordering on Sensual)

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Source: I was given this book to review by The Season. This my first book review for The Season, hence the altered format. This review also appears here: http://historicalromancereleases.com/wordpress/2010/04/review-charming-the-devil/

Where to Buy: Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million