Wicked Game. WVMP book 1.

I'm a little vampire'd out. Ya dig? After the Twilight explosion everything was about vampires or werewolves (but usually vamps) so now I just want the vampires to be really well written or go away. Just for a while. Please. In my exhaustion I've been steering clear of vampire romances. Wicked Game (click here to go to Amazon) is about vampires. Actually, it's about vampires running a radio station. Hold on. I know what you're thinking. I'm happy to report that this isn't nearly as dreadful silly as it sounds. One of the main things that gets on my nerves, with the torrents of vamp romance flooding the literary scene, is all of the different "legends" surrounding mythical creatures. (Don't worry Raphael. I'm talking to you too Wrath. No, I don't really think you're just a legend. What Alban? Of course I don't think gargoyles are mythical either...but I had to say that or people would think I was crazy.) I liked this take on vampires. It wasn't conventional. It was a little far-fetched. Most importantly, it was not annoying.

Short Synopsis: Ciara (Kear-ah, not See-air-ah. Get it right.) is a (sorta) reformed con-artist who lands a job at WMMP radio station. The station manager has hopes of increasing revenue so that the station isn't bought out by the evil Skyware Corporation. Ciara discovers that the DJ's for WMMP are actually vampires who are stuck (mentally, musically...errr, fashion-ally) in the time period during which they became undead. Shane McAllister is a gorgeous grunge boy. (He was turned in 1995, duh!) There is also a Rastafarian, a greaser, a goth, a blues man (à la Muddy Waters), and a hippie. Each character is representative of an important musical era and has a show dedicated to said era. Follow Me? Ciara gets Shane into bed. Shane bites Ciara, which seals her belief in vampires. She decides to keep the job and comes up with a new marketing strategy. The DJ's admit to being vampires. The radio station becomes WVMP, "The Life-blood of Rock and Roll." Ad sales go through the roof. An ancient vamp cult doesn't like the publicity (even though the public is convinced the pitch is exactly that and nothing more) and sets out to bully Ciara and the vamps into pulling the plug on their new campaign. Add in some stuff with a paramilitary group who kill bad vamps and help nice ones, Ciara's long lost daddy-dearest (another grifter, yay!), some semi-erotic sex, and what do you get? A good read, that's what.

Jeri Smith-Ready did a good job on her characters; the plot moves along at a comfy pace. Will I read the sequel? Of course. And all of the other books from this series. I even liked the "playlist" (there are a ton of musical references, a lot of which I wasn't familiar with) enough to go to the author's website and listen to get a better impression of the station. I wish we saw more of Monroe (blues guy) because I think he's interesting and I like that kind of music. Hopefully he comes out to play a little more in the sequels. The feeding routine of the vamps made me a little squinchy. I'm a romance addict. I don't want the vampire hero to perform sexual acts on a donor so that he can drink their blood! Squinch squinch squinch. I want him to fall madly in love with the heroine and bite only her! This isn't that kind of book; it's more urban fantasy with a side of romance than vice versa. Most people wouldn't have a problem with that, but...I like my happily ever afters tied up with a nice little bow. There was no bow here.

Final Grade: B.

Savor the Moment.

I was relatively excited (i.e. really excited) when Nora Roberts came out with her Bride Quartet. I own everything Ms. Roberts has written; I re-read them regularly. Straight romance from one of my favorites? Sign me up, thanks. Usually when I'm being presented with a group of characters I automatically pick out favorites. I know that I am not the only one so stop giving me that haughty look. Mac was up first. Great. I loved Carter. Yes. Dr. Carter Maguire is on my fake boyfriend list. I would snatch him up and never bat an eyelash while lying about how I acquired my very own klutzy English professor. The sexy, klutzy, nerd is (and has always been) one of my favorite types of hero. Carter happens to be my favorite of the favored sexy nerds. Dr. MacAllister Booke is a close runner-up. Oh hell. They're tied. I loved Vision in White. It’s an A+ book. Right off the top of my head I can't point out a single thing that I didn't like. Emma and Jack? Yup. Loved them too. Actually I loved them more. Emma is my favorite of the quartet so far. Jack? Simply put, Jack is yummy. Bed of Roses gets an A+. Is it any wonder? Nope. Perfection on the page. Amazing. Two books into the series and I've loved them both.

I confess that I wasn't as eager to read about Laurel and Del as I had been to read about Mac or Emma. Laurel was my least favorite of quartet when I started the series, and she was my least favorite when I finished her book. Maybe it's me. I'm not a big fan of the whole "I'm in love with my best friend/best friend's brother/childhood best friend" thing to begin with. That didn't help. Yes, yes. I realize that Jack and Emma knew each other. I realize that Mac and Carter knew each other. But, they knew each other through other people. They didn't grow up together! Point made. Different strokes/Different folks. Onward!

In a general (and very short) synopsis: Delaney is the honorary big brother of Laurel, Emma, and Mac; he is also the biological big brother of event planner Parker. Laurel has been in love with him for what seems like forever. The dynamic of their relationship changes during an argument when (drum roll puh-leez) a passionate kiss is shared. Del doesn’t know what to do about it. Laurel wants to pretend it never happened. Del and Laurel begin to date. Seeing as how Laurel is already in love with Del, she waits patiently on him to catch up. Del temporarily ruins things by being a stubborn ass. He makes it up to Laurel. Bring on the happily ever after. Yay!

I can't fault the storytelling. Nora Roberts tells a wonderful tale, no exception to that is found in Savor the Moment. (click here for Amazon) I love her writing style. It’s crisp and descriptive and lyrical. She's good at providing background information without stinting the flow of events. She always gives insight into her characters; they make sense. I really enjoy the little details she gives her readers about the character's profession. I actually like to know how Emma arranges her flowers; how Mac knows which shot is perfect for the bride and groom. I don't enjoy knowing how Laurel makes her fondant any less than I enjoyed the flowers or the photos. These are the slices of life that make the characters believable. Laurel, in every sense, is organic and likable. She’s tough. She stands up for herself and the people she loves. She’s sarcastic. Let it be said that sarcasm is always a plus in my mind. Del is just as organic and likable as Laurel. On his own I think he's pretty great: gorgeous, loyal, successful. I wouldn’t say no to that. So what if he fumbled the ball with Laurel a little? That's a given. He has testicles doesn't he? They fumble. The real problem is that I don't like them together. Uh-huh. That's the problem in a nutshell. I don't like Delaney and Laurel as a couple. Honestly...if I don't like the couple how can I love the book?

Final Grade: B.

After thought: I’m very excited about Parker’s book coming in November. Hello? Do you guys remember Mal? Sweet baby butter Jesus. He’s a cocky mechanic. Who doesn’t want a gorgeous sweaty guy under the hood of their car? I love him already. I haven’t even read his book yet and I’m making room for him on my “KEEPER” shelf. Yum.

Lisa Kleypas=Historical. Romance. Perfection.

Everyone who knows me knows that I love historical romances in a way that I don't extend to any other genre. I have a deep and abiding love for historicals that can't be topped; regardless of attempts to broaden my reading horizons, I always return to my literary roots. In garnering the knowledge that I love a well written happily ever after like I love nothing else, people also know that I think Lisa Kleypas quite possibly writes the perfect historical romance. I refused to read another Kleypas novel after I struggled with (and abandoned) my first: Blue Eyed Devil. Although I hate to admit it, I was woefully late to the L.K. party. At the urging of a friend I picked up Again the Magic and conceded that maybe I had passed judgment too soon. I still stand by my first impression of B.E.D. I'm sorry, but I still think its rubbish, especially when compared to her historical novels. Hand me a historical Kleypas and I promise not to bother you for at least two hours. How do I know it's true love? I've never started reading one of her historicals and stopped reading before I was finished. Wallflowers? Love 'em. Bow Street Runners? On the "KEEPER" wall. Where Dreams Begin? Check. Suddenly You? Check. Then Came You? Dreaming of You? Check, Check. Hathaways? All present and accounted for on said "KEEPER" wall.

I actually just finished reading the last two novels in the Hathaways series. Forgive me for staying up all night falling in love with men who don't exist and wishing that women who don't exist would hand over their husbands and still be my friends. Married by Morning is suitably perched on a pedestal with Mine till Midnight as one of my favorite go-to novels when I need a romantic pick-me-up or an escape from my romance-less existence. I wondered for a long time if I would ever find a hero on par with Race from Cherish by Catherine Anderson. He was the top of the line for me. I've read Cherish at least a hundred times because I love him. Race is tall, dark, gentle, well endowed, handsome, funny. He loves his dog. That means he's the one. Then I met Cam. Cam has that sexy earring, he's a gypsy. He's smart, he can fight, he's rich, he's funny. Did I mention that he's a sexy gypsy? Race and Cam. (sigh) What more does a girl need?

Leo. Apparently, I need Leo, Lord Ramsay. Cam and Race and Leo. Perfect. All my wonderful trio needs to do now is: 1) become real; 2) forget about those pesky wives from the books; 3) move into my bedroom; 4) walk around at least half naked at all times; 5) fall madly in love with me. Wait. I'm forgetting. Throw in Harry Rutledge, Derek Craven, Matthew Swift, and Simon Hunt. We'll make our fearsome foursome into an octet. (gasp) Scandalous!

I loved Married by Morning. (for Amazon click here) Really, I did. Here I was, expecting M.b.M to be my least favorite of the Hathaways series. I was wrong in a big way. Leo and Catherine are among my favorite couples. As I've come to expect from L.K. the story is tender and funny and real enough to make a person jealous and hopeful at the same time. I think it's a rare gift from the literary gods to find an author who makes you fall in love with their characters, over and over again, no exceptions. There is a lot of humor and bickering. I'm a fan of couples who aren't corn-on-the-cob or saccharine. Leo is a wicked rake; Catherine is stubborn with a sharp tongue. They argue and fling clever insults at each other for pretty much the entire time. I love the questions that Leo asks Cat after their stolen kisses. Hilarious. Read the damn book, you'll know what I'm talking about. Their story made me happy. Suffice it to say (before I ramble on for days about how much I am utterly and helplessly in love with Leo) that this book is excellent.

Final Grade: A.

Love in the Afternoon (and here) is also really good. Beatrix was the character I couldn't wait to read about. What kind of man would she fall for? Would I love this hero as much as I love all the other Kleypas heroes? Yes. And no. This book simultaneously centers around the effects of war and the developing romance. I can't say that I have personal experience with a soldier just out of combat because it would be a lie. Christopher is fractured and tormented; he's plagued by a disease they didn't have a name for and didn't talk about. He isn't sure what type of man he is anymore. Beatrix is perfectly suited to a man with a ton of emotional baggage. Her soldier came back to her broken. She's determined to heal him. The storyline works and it made this novel more realistic to me. You know? Less of a fluffy read. L.K.'s signature humor is there, as is the tenderness, but the hero in this one isn't hurt because of a lost love or a bad childhood, he's wounded because he spent two years dodging death and burying his friends. I cried a little, but I'm a weenie when it comes to love.

Final Grade: A.

Everyone who has even a mediocre fondness for historical romance should read these two. Well, okay. I can't give you that advice because it isn't sound to read a series out of order. So read all five books. Do it.

I can feel you waiting...

Not going to give up are you? That's fine. I'll admit it. My name is Gray and (pausepausepause) I'm addicted to L.K.'s historical novel heroes.