Delicious by Sherry Thomas

Delicious by Sherry Thomas (also on Vox)

When Sherry Thomas' first book, Private Arrangements, came out, bloggers everywhere seemed in love with it. I read it and I enjoyed it. But given the high expectations, I enjoyed the book, but I didn't love it as some people did. So when Delicious came out, I was somewhat excited, but wary of the very positive buzz again. I was afraid to read too much about it in case my expectations got too high.

Verity Durant is a notorious chef. Her food is scrumptious and fit for kings. But she is also notorious for her relationship with her employer, Bertie Somerset. When Bertie unexpectedly passes away, his brother, Stuart, inherits everything, including Verity. As we come to find out, Verity and Stuart had one special night ten years ago. Can the two lovers find their way back to each other? Can Stuart, a politician on the rise, marry a nobody like his cook?

I had a bit of a hard time even opening this book because I wasn't a big fan of the concept. It's a bit Like Water for Chocolate. I'll never forget that scene when she started crying into the food and everyone who ate the food started crying. It's a little too fantastic. I never quite bought into the cook cooking with so much passion that those who eat her food will feel the same emotions. Anyway, but I did stay up until 3 am finishing this book.

Unfortunately, I think I read this book in one day not because I loved it, but because I kept waiting for something. But I didn't get it. I didn't feel the bond between the two characters. There was just too much backstory and not enough resolution. There's a secret adopted baby, a hidden inheritance (actually two of those), bastard children, half brothers at war, and more.

Here are my problems with the book (SPOILER AHEAD):

• I didn't feel like Verity really resolved her issues with her family. It seemed like she had all these problems with her family that were just instantly resolved. It seemed like the author was setting her powerful family up to be the bad guy. There were some ominous threatening overtones. But magically, her family loves her and was only mean for her own good? And Verity is okay with that? After 10 years of struggling on her own, she's now just going to be folded back into her family like nothing happened?
  And I felt like Stuart got off too easy. The people he had to make peace with were gone so basically he just had to forgive himself?
• I also didn't understand what made Verity make the mistakes she did when she was young, the one that got her basically into the whole mess she's in now.
  Also, it was a bit weird that Verity is such a notorious figure, but her affair with Bertie actually ended years ago. So she's basically a big harlot for doing ... nothing.
  Then there's Stuart and Verity's relationship. They both held their one night in such high esteem that they both never looked for anyone else for 10 years?? I'm sorry, ONE night with a total stranger??? I guess the idea is romantic, but I wonder if it's not just a bit obsessive.
• In the end, I guess I just wasn't rooting for anyone in particular, which was a problem.

Overall: C+.

p.s. What's the author's obsession with keeping people apart for 10 years? I keep hearing Janicu's voice in my head... tennnn yeeeeaaaarrrrrrs!!!

Deadlock by Iris Johansen

Deadlock by Iris Johansen (also on Vox)

Emily Hudson works for the U.N. Along with her partner Joel Levy, she goes to war torn countries and saves the artifacts that need to be preserved. During one of these trips, Emily and Joel are kidnapped. Jon Garrett has been recruited by the CIA for the rescue.

I liked Garrett. I thought it was really sweet what Garrett will do for Emily. I liked that he gave her space when she needed it, even if it goes against his take charge, protective nature. I actually liked Emily, mostly because she's not TSTL. She's not as annoying as some of the other Iris Johansen's heroines, who rushes headstrong into stupid situations, not caring that they are TSTL. Emily is more reasonable, which is a nice change.

The problems I had with this book is the plot, which is a bit thin. The bad guy is pretty one dimensional. It seemed like the author couldn't decide if the plot should go a little paranormal or just plain outrageous. In the end, it felt surreal. I didn't get the same sense of urgency as some of the other books I've read.

Overall: C

Awesome Sookie Stackhouse Contest

@ Melissa's Bookshelf: http://www.melissas-bookshelf.com/2009/06/huge-sookie-stackhouse-giveaway.html

I love the Sookie Stackhouse series. In fact, I am signing up for Netflix just so I can watch the True Blood series. It would be great to re-read the series again.

Also on Vox.

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (also on Vox)

I enjoyed my first introduction to Molly Harper. In fact, I think this is her first novel. Good debut.

Jane Jameson has just been fired from her position as librarian by her old-bat of a boss. After some feeling sorry for herself drinks and a nice chat with a handsome stranger, Jane's car breaks down on her way home. She is then mistaken for a deer, shot by a drunk and left for dead. Luckily, she wakes up as one of the undead. Now she has to deal with Gabriel (her hot sire), Zeb (her BFF), her family (including her dad, crazy mom and insane sister), her (dead) Aunt Jettie, AND someone seems to be framing her for all sorts of unpleasantness.

Jane is an overall likeable character. I liked that she is a librarian with a constant thirst of knowledge and useless bits of trivia and she has a sense of humor. Her relationship with her family is not the best. While her dad is supportive, her mom and sister sound truly unpleasant. She has a solid relationship with her BFF Zeb, who surprisingly is not gay. However, my problem with Jane is she can be a little too zany and quirky. She reminds me of Lorelai from Gilmore Girls, who, while cute and adorable, is somehow emotionally more immature than her 16 year old daughter. The Gabriel character is not very well-developed. I liked what I know of him so far, but he's pretty one dimensional - turn Jane, like Jane, puts up with Jane despite her craziness.

Overall, it was a pretty entertaining read. I would pick up the next book (of course there is a next book) at the library again.

Overall: B-.

Yikes!

Has it really been 3 months since my last post? I truly admire real bloggers like my friend Janicu and all the other blogs I follow. It takes time and dedication to maintain a well-written blog. I suppose I'm more of a fair-weathered blogger myself. However, I shall endeavor to post more regularly!

This post is not about anything in particular though. I've been pondering keeping a TBR list. Tips? I read so many reviews on various blogs. For example, I just read a positive reviews on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread on A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. I remember reading another good review on this book earlier on some other blog. So I'm now tempted to try it. But it's not at the library. Boo. So I will have to remember it the next time I go to a bookstore or shop @ Amazon, which I never do.

So readers (if I have any other than Janicu!), how do you keep your TBR? General list, excel spreadsheet, online, in your head? I'm thinking of a simple table with book name, author name, and a link to the review or source that got my interest. I will probably keep it online so I can easily reference it and easily link to the reviews. But we shall see.

Now I'm off. Gotta get ready to attend 2 weddings today!

Also on Vox.

The Rogue Hunter by Lynsay Sands

The Rogue Hunter by Lynsay Sands (also on Vox)

Wow, has it really been over a month since I've posted? Hmm. There goes my resolution to post my reviews in a timely manner. Since my last post, I've read all four of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Yep, all four gigantic books that got longer and longer. That review will come soon enough.

For now, here's Lynsay Sand's The Rogue Hunter, Argeneau Vampires Book 10. I've read quite a few of the books in this series, but not really in order and not very faithfully. I've liked some but did not love love love any. This one, I have to say, is a disappointment.

Garrett Mortimer is an enforcer with the Counsel. In this world, the "vampires" are actually injected with nanos, which help them heal etc. So they're basically indestructible, except for fire, beheadings etc. They can live forever and can procreate. They find their life mates - someone they can't read the minds of. They suck on bags of donated blood. Sometimes, there is a rogue who bites mortals and they have to send rogue hunters.

The love interest in this book is Samantha. She and her two sisters have been going to their cabin by the lake for years. Mortimer, his partner Bricker are staying with Pimms, who owns a cottage along the lake too. All three of them are hunting a rogue in the area. Mort realizes Sam is his lifemate when he couldn't read her or control her. But she's not at all what he pictured his lifemate to be. She's skinny and a lawyer, not at all a Jessica Rabbit type as he had always imagined. Ugh. Seriously? 800 years of immortality, and all he wants is a blonde with big boobs? But of course, he realizes she's awesome and falls for her. But I never really forgot he always wanted a Jessica Rabbit. Oh, Sam is also clumsy because of an ear infection (which is so random). Mort thought she was a drunkard and/or a klutz until he found out. Then after that, he's all, I will take care of you so you don't fall. But before he found out, that was just another strike against her. But they never resolved the ear infection. She just had it ... um ok. Very random.
So on top of the rogue hunter plot, Sam finds out her boss's god-daughter is missing. Mort investigates with her, thinking it might be the rogue. In the course of the two of them staying alone looking for the god-daughter, the two of them of course, try to hook up. But nature always ruins it. Once, they were about to do it in the lake when ... she gets LEECHES all over her in the lake. Seriously, leeches! OMG that completely RUINED the book for me. EWWW. Not only not romantic, but seriously, is there no other way to ruin the moment? I felt itchy for the rest of the book. And the rest of their hooking up is so not romantic because of it too. Ick. I'm itching again.
So I didn't entirely get the chemistry between the two. And the resolution was lame too. The mystery was not very mysterious. Then of course, Sam and Mort acknowledges they love each other. But she refuses to turn because she will have to leave her sisters. But she loves him so much she can't deprive him of his life mate. So she will think about it for a decade or two. Um. That doesn't feel like a resolution at all.

The whole book was just meh. Nothing memorable about it at all. And I guess Lynsay Sands is sort of known for her humor? I didn't find leeches amusing at all. I take it back, that was memorable. But not in a good way!

Overall: D

Back into Anne Stuart land

Ice Blue by Anne Stuart (also on Vox)

I was really into Anne Stuart a few years ago but kind of got out of it. Her books have very similar tones. Tortured bad boy heros who are really soft at heart, calm but resilient heroines. The hero reluctantly saves the heroine from everyone, including himself. But in the end, she's steadfastly in love with him, so he resigns himself and loves her back. It's basically the same story. When Anne Stuart is not being overly melodramatic, it usually makes for a good, enjoyable read.

The first Anne Stuart book I read in a while is Ice Blue, which I picked up from the library. In this book, museum curater Summer Hawthorne was given an ancient ice-blue ceramic bowl by her Japanese nanny. Somehow, this crazy Japanese guru is now after it and her. Takashi O'Brien, half Japanese and half white, is sent by a secret organization, The Committee, to get the bowl from Summer by any means necessary and then to kill her. But of course, Taka finds that he just couldn't do it.

I like this book a lot. Typically having an Asian hero or heroine annoys me. But I think it was well done here. Taka is simply who he is, an enigmatic, conflicted hero who is struggling with the task he was given and the woman he is intruiged by. Whatever action was set in Japan or whatever Japanese culture/language is involved, it was used to advance the story. I hate when people set stories in Asian and have Asian characters for the "exotic" nature of it. I am always mildly repulsed by any hint of yellow fever, in real life and in fiction. But in this case, I thought it was very natural and smoothly done. I also really liked how he calls her "Su-chan".
The plot was also pretty good. I wouldn't say it's the most complicated, but I was more interested in Taka and Summer's characters and their getting together. So a semi-intruiging story plot was sufficient.

Overall: A-.

Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart

After I read Ice Blue, I went to the used bookstore (where I have a ridiculous amount of credit) and bought a couple more Anne Stuart books in this series. Apparently there are 5 books so far in this series, including Black Ice, Cold as Ice, Ice Blue, Ice Storm, and Fire and Ice. I guess I'll have to read them all now. *sigh*

In Fire and Ice, Taka's cousin Reno was sent to protect Summer's half sister, Jilly. We met Reno in Ice Blue. He is Japanese, with flaming red hair, and green contact lens. He dislikes American women. We also met Jilly in the last book. She is a precocious young girl who went to college at 16 and is a genius. In the last book, Jilly seemed calm and clear headed. Somehow, in her own book, her personality did not come through at all and I saw no evidence of her high IQ. For a smart person, she's actually pretty idiotic.

Unlike the last book, I did not like Fire and Ice at all. I think this book tried a bit too hard. I guess I just never felt the connection between Reno and Jilly and I never really got to see who they are. In this book, it was a bit more of the stereotypical Asian guy and blond American woman, set mostly in Japan. And I think Anne Stuart went a bit overboard with the melodrama in this one. "No one is going to hurt her. Not even him." Oh please.

I wanted to like Reno and Jilly as much as I liked Taka and Summer. But it just didn't work. It felt like Jilly had a complete personality makeover to fit in with the typical Anne Stuart heroine. And we never got to see who Reno is - the only brief explanation of his hatred for American woman is that his mom was an American. HUH??? Until that big reveal, I had assumed that he is all Japanese, especially when he would say something about Taka being half. And then after that, nothing was ever mentioned about this again. That was very random. And also the Japanese punk with the red hair and green contacts ... blah. So typical.
Anyway, I was disappointed.

Overall: C