Fred Tribuzzo - Saint Nick

20. Saint Nick by Fred Tribuzzo (2009)
Length: 76 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started/Finished: 20 December 2009
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Tracee at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 November 2009
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Fred Tribuzzo is a new author for me


Paul Castellucci was a down-and-out middle-aged bankruptcy lawyer whose high-flying spiritual ideals had guttered to almost nothing, leaving him depressed and cynical. Now it is almost Christmas and the spirit world has decided to take Paul firmly in hand through the intervention of three iconic 19th-century Native Americans: Black Elk, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. They challenge him to a dream quest through his past, present and future, no guarantee of a safe return. It's going to be a rough ride. I loved this book and give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Patrick Suskind - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

19. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind (1985)
Length: 310 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Started: 6 December 2009
Finished: 16 December 2009
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like historical mysteries


I just finished Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille was born without the personal scent that denotes us all as human beings. He was however born with a brilliant sense of smell. With such a brilliant olfactory sense, he rose from lowly tanner to the most famous perfumer in Paris. He was driven insane by the fact that he could smell human beings and to him, they all smelled horrible.

He spent seven years as a hermit living in a cave, during which time he discovered that he has no personal odor. When he reemerged from the cave, he had a diabolical plan to make his own personal scent and make people adore him. All he needed now was the sweet floral scents of virgins. I enjoyed this story even though it was a little long and give it a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Teresa Medeiros - After Midnight

Re-read. After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros (2005)

Kane/Cabot Vampire Series Book 1
Length: 370 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Originally Read: 1 August 2008
Re-read Finished: 1 December 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I had read this book last year and really enjoyed it. I was reacquainting myself with the plot and found that it was just as good the second time that I read it.

May you read well and often

Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin - The Taker and the Keeper

17. The Taker and the Keeper by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin (2009)
The Red Monocle Series Book 1
Length: 176 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 11 November 2009
Finished: 21 November 2009
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Monserrat at Chiron Books for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 11 October 2009
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin are new authors for me.


I just finished reading The Taker and the Keeper by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin, It is the first book in the Red Monocle Series.

Middle-schoolers Gregory Guest and Yolanda Torres find that they are the only two people in their tiny town of Bainesboro who can sense something wrong with the world - the sky is duller and parents and teachers are nastier somehow. Together with their eccentric science teacher and Gregory's trusty magical red monocle, the children go into the legend of King Arthur to help the wizard Merlin and his apprentice to find Excalibur and defeat the sorceress Morgan le Fay. Only then can Gregory and Yolanda set the "real" world to rights and save the legends of Camelot. I really enjoyed this story and give it an A! I look forward to the next book in the series.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Kathryn Meyer Griffith - Witches

16. Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (1993)
Length: 384 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 4 November 2009
Finished: 14 November 2009
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 24 March 2009
Why do I have it? I like horror and Kathryn Meyer Griffith is a new author for me.

For my #10 challenge (Reader's Choice), I read Witches by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. Amanda Givens is a white witch - a witch who uses her powers for good. She lives alone in a cabin in the woods of Canaan, Connecticut with her feline familiar, Amadeus. When Amanda is wrongly blamed for a rash of ritualistic murders committed by a Satanic cult, she is inevitably drawn back in time by the ghost of Rachel Coxe, a dark witch who was drowned for practicing black magic in the 17th century.

Now, as Amanda tries to rehabilitate Rachel's reputation in an effort to save her own life, she has to rely on a sister's love and magical knowledge, and a powerful sect of witches named the Guardians to help Amanda get home safely. I give this romantic horror story an A+! I thought it was great.

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Christine Feehan - Dark Gold

15. Dark Gold by Christine Feehan (2000)
The Carpathians Series Book 3
Length: 384 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 4 October 2009
Finished: 14 October 2009
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 24 March 2009
Why do I have it? I like Christine Feehan as an author

For my #15 challenge (backlist from a favorite author), I read Dark Gold by Christine Feehan. Alexandria Huton is near death when she, and her little brother, Joshua, are found by vampire hunter Aidan Savage. He saves them from a terrible fate, but in the process Alex is changed forever.

Now, she is swept into the dark world of the Carpathians - struggling with near vampiric urges and a lethargy that strikes during the day. Only Aidan, as her lifemate, can help. But can she trust him when her brother is kidnapped by a vampire bent on Aidan's destruction.

I really liked this story. Alexandria was a strong, capable woman and Aidan was extremely likable (in a 'medieval' way :)). I give this story a B+! I would definitely recommend it to others.



B+! - (89-94%)


May you read well and often

Amanda Quick - Desire

14. Desire by Amanda Quick (1993)
Length: 373 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 3 October 2009
Finished: 8 October 2009
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like historical romance and Amanda Quick as an author

For my #8 Challenge (author with a pseudonym), I read Desire by Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz). Upon her father's death while he was traveling in Spain, Lady Clare of Desire reluctantly writes to her guardian, Lord Thurston of Landry, to find her a husband. Enclosed in her missive is a "husband recipe" with four qualities which she requires her future husband to have.

Thurston sends only two candidates for Lady Clare's hand, one man who kidnapped her for four days and the other - Sir Gareth of Wyckmere - who is his 'natural son' and known as the Hellhound. Clare is astounded to learn that her wish has been granted in such a way but is determined that if she is to marry, it will be on her own terms.

I loved this story and its honest treatment of the issue of virginity and people's reaction to it. Lady Clare manages her isle and her perfume business with great skill and has earned people's respect because of it, but she has yet to give respect to her husband until she receives it herself. I give this story a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Sherrilyn Kenyon - Fantasy Lover

13. Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon (2002)
The Dark Hunters Series Book 1
Length: 368 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 30 September 2009
Finished: 2 October 2009
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Cherry D for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 August 2009
Why do I have it? I won a giveaway at Cherry's site for the best books ever.

For my #4 Challenge ('F' Word For Fall), I read Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Julian of Macedon was every woman's fantasy: tall, broad-shouldered and sexy as anything. It seemed that he would have any man's fantasy: any woman he wanted. However, for thousands of years he had been cursed to live inside a Greek spell book and fulfill every woman's deepest fantasies at the cost of his own - a woman and a family to love him.

Grace Alexander is a sex therapist whose friend believes needs a seriously sexy birthday present - a Greek love-slave to fulfill her every need for a month. On Grace's birthday, Selena conjures up Julian and blissfully gives Grace her "present". Grace is shocked when the naked Julian appears in her living room and begins to tend to her. She does the one thing Julian never expects any woman to do, she refuses to have sex with him.

As the month goes by, Grace and Julian grow closer and Julian begins to hope that he can break the curse and go home. However, the more he gets to know Grace, the more he begins to believe home is where his heart lies - with Grace. I loved this story and give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Maura Seger - Sea Gate

12. Sea Gate by Maura Seger (1987)
Length: 304 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Started: 20 September 2009
Finished: 30 September 2009
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like contemporary romance and Maura Seger is a new author for me

For my #7 Challenge (book less than 300 pages), I read Sea Gate by Maura Seger. A dark-haired beauty washes up on Andrew Paxton's beach in the Caribbean, to be found by Andrew's three-year-old son, Billy. While recovering at Andrew's house, the young lady, who says her name is Marina, is very reticent to talk about where she comes from.

Assuring Andrew - a scientist who works with classified material - that she means him and Billy no harm, doesn't come easy for Marina as she harbors a secret which could cause them serious harm. She has escaped from her people and come to Andrew's world in order to gather evidence to prove to them that they can live with 'Outworlders' safely. Marina's secret mission is jeopardized when a strange sea craft is spotted along the beach and an expedition to find the lost continent of Atlantis finds more than is expected. I give this story an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Preetham Grandhi - A Circle of Souls

11. A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi (2009)
Length: 339 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 26 July 2009
Finished: 4 August 2009
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Preetham for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 4 July 2009
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Preetham Grandhi is a new author for me

When the quiet town of Newbury, Connecticut, is rocked by the brutal murder of ten-year-old Janet Troy, the FBI send in their best agent, Leia Bines - an expert in cases involving children - to solve the case. Already reeling from the result of her previous case, Leia reluctantly agrees to take the case.

Meanwhile, child psychiatrist Dr. Peter Gram, is dealing with a new patient. Seven-year-old Naya Hastings has been brought to him suffering from horrific nightmares. The only clues to her nightly terrors are the drawings that she does in the morning. As Naya's drawings become more violent, Peter becomes increasingly more worried for Naya.

As the townspeople struggle to come to terms with Janet's murder and Agent Bines struggles to find a killer, Naya's drawings hold all the clues in a tangled case of lies, deceit and serial murder. It falls to Leia and Peter to uncover these clues before time runs out.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a touch of the supernatural about their mysteries. I give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Tamora Pierce - Wild Magic

10. Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce (1992)
The Immortals Series Book 1
Length: 299 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 16 July 2009
Finished: 17 July 2009
Where did it come from? From Barnes and Noble
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2008
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and I read the entire series back in high school

Daine Sarrasri, an orphan girl from Snowsdale, arrives in the magical kingdom of Tortall and becomes assistant to the royal horsemistress. Her gift for calming horses is almost magical, even though Daine tries to hide it. As well as horses, all animals seem to understand Daine as she seems to understand them. They come to her when injured, scared or ill.

Daine communicates and trusts animals better than she trusts humans, it seems. She was run out of her village after her family was killed by raiders when she was thirteen. She discovers that she has an ability to speak to animals with her mind. Now she has to trust her new human friends enough for them to help her control her magic before war breaks out in Tortall. Even though this is a young adult fantasy novel, I loved Wild Magic and give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Jennifer Ashley - Penelope and Prince Charming

Re-read. Penelope and Prince Charming by Jennifer Ashley (2006)
Nvengaria Series Book 1
Length: 373 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Originally Read: 15 June 2008
Re-read Finished: 2 July 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I really enjoyed this book the first time that I read it so I decided to reread it a year or so later. I still think that it was a great book.

May you read well and often

C. L. Wilson - Lady of Light and Shadows

Re-read. Lady of Light and Shadows by C. L. Wilson (2007)
Tairen Soul Series Book 2
Length: 386 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Originally Read: 18 February 2008
Re-read Finished: 1 June 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I had really enjoyed reading this book the first time that I read it. C. L. Wilson is a new author for me and I love paranormal romance.

May you read well and often

Jenny Lykins - Echoes of Tomorrow

7. Echoes of Tomorrow by Jenny Lykins (1997)
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 14 May 2009
Finished: 19 May 2009
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like historical romance and Jenny Lykins is a new author for me

For my #7 challenge (Reader's Choice), I read Echoes of Tomorrow by Jenny Lykins. One moment, Elise Gerard is dressing to give tours of her 150-year-old plantation house, the next she is shocked to discover an extremely handsome man in her room, demanding to know what she was doing in his bedchamber. Charming and considerate Reed Blackwell was the perfect Southern gentleman and the man of Elise's dreams. Until their wedding night, when he vanished as suddenly as he appeared.

Now, Elise has found a way back to Reed's time, but her future husband had no idea who she was. And now she had to win his love all over again. I really enjoyed this time travel romance even though the romance was a little rushed and I give the story an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

J. R. Ward - Lover Eternal

6. Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward (2006)
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series Book 2
Length: 441 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 3 May 2009
Finished: 13 May 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 January 2008
Why do I have it? I like paranormal romance

For my #11 challenge (Read and Reviewed During Winter Challenge), I read Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward. This is the second book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. Rhage is the one brother whose appetites are the strongest of all the brothers in the Brotherhood. He's the strongest fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses. In fact, this lack of impulse control had led him to insult the Scribe Virgin - the spiritual leader of all vampires - leading to her laying a centuries old curse on him in punishment. The curse is something which Rhage fears most of all.

Mary Luce has a deadly curse of her own. A survivor of many hardships, she has lost her faith in miracles when she is unwittingly thrown into Rhage's world. Reliant on his protection, Mary is not looking for love. But when Rhage's attraction to Mary turns to something more emotional and as their enemies close in, Mary fights to stay with the man she loves for eternity. I loved this story and give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Meriel Fuller - Conquest Bride

5. Conquest Bride by Meriel Fuller (2005)
The Harlequin Historical Series Book 782
Length: 304 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 23 April 2009
Finished: 2 May 2009
Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 18 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like historical romance and Meriel Fuller is a new author for me


For my #12 challenge (Romeo and Juliet), I read Conquest Bride by Meriel Fuller. Baron Varin de Montaigu was sent by King William to investigate his new Saxon subjects for possible treason. Varin knew something of treachery, especially when it came to a woman's traitorous nature. What he didn't expect was to meet Lady Eadita of Thunorslege, a sparkling Saxon elfin woman whose beauty bewitched him even as he was continually angered by her.

Lady Eadita of Thunorslege hated the Normans with every fiber of her being. She wanted them out of her home and her country at any cost. They had killed her father and turned her brother into an outlaw and her fury still burned bright. When she meets Varin, however, she can't deny the desire that burns between them. But will a secret from Eadita's past turn their mutual desire to ash? I enjoyed this historical romance very much and give it a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Kathryn Albright - The Rebel and the Lady

4. The Rebel and the Lady by Kathryn Albright (2008)
The Harlequin Historical Series Book 913
Length: 288 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 1 April 2009
Finished: 11 April 2009
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like historical romance and Kathryn Albright is a new author for me.


For my #1 challenge (Read a Western), I read The Rebel and the Lady by Kathryn Albright. Victoria Torrez is on the run from Santa Anna's forces as they invade Texas. To protect Victoria, her parents have sent her to live with her cousins Juan and Diego. While helping at the local hospital and secretly helping the rebels, Victoria meets Jake Dumont who is searching for his brother.

Jake has never understood why his brother wanted to fight for Texas so badly. In his mind, land was just not worth dying for. He had come from Charleston to drag his brother back home. Jake had never expected to meet such a highborn lady of quality as Victoria Torrez, or to find that such a lady could fall for a drifter like him. Jake would find that each person had his or her own reason for fighting for the freedom of Texas.

I have never read a Western before, they were not really my type. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

J. R. Ward - Dark Lover

Re-read. Dark Lover by J. R. Ward (2005)
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series Book 1
Length: 393 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Originally Read: 7 June 2008
Re-read Finished: 11 April 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I had read this book for the first time about a year ago and loved it. This is the first book that I have ever read by J. R. Ward and I look forward to further books in this series.

May you read well and often

C. L. Wilson - Lord of the Fading Lands

Re-read. Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson (2007)
The Tairen Soul Series Book 1
Length: 402 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Originally Read: 16 January 2008
Re-read Finished: 31 March 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I read this book for the first time about a year ago. C. L. Wilson is a new author for me and I truly loved this debut novel.

May you read well and often

Mercedes Lackey - The Fire Rose

1. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey (1995)
The Elemental Masters Series Book 1
Length: 433 pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Started: 5 January 2009
Finished: 15 January 2009
Where did it come from? From Barnes and Noble
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2008
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and I like Mercedes Lackey as an author

Impoverished heiress Rosalind Hawkins is a thoroughly modern medieval scholar. When her father dies after losing all the family fortunes in bad investments, Rose has to apply for a position of some sort. What she receives is a request to become governess to a reclusive rail baron's precocious children. When Rose arrives in Jason Cameron's palatial mansion overlooking San Francisco Bay, she discovers that there are no children for her to teach, and the house is filled with invisible servants and a sour agent of Jason Cameron's named Paul du Mond. Her job changes to one that involves reading arcane tomes to Jason Cameron himself - a victim of a mysterious accident.

Jason Cameron is an Elemental Firemaster who has suffered an accident when he tried to perform a spell called the loup-garou - to turn himself into a werewolf. What has become of Jason is that he is now half man-half beast and in danger of losing his mind to the wolf side of himself. As a result, he has dismissed his whole staff except for his Apprentice, and relies on his mystical salamanders to help him.

As Rose reads Jason's books to him, she discovers that she has the potential for Air Mastery herself. She decides that, after necessity demands it, she will become Jason's Apprentice. As Rose and Jason come closer to an answer, they grow closer to each other. When an horrific attack takes place, can Rose trust that Jason is still the man that she loves? I give this historical fantasy an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often