The Grand Finale: Janet Evanovich

The Grand Finale is a very light read, extremely light….think cotton candy. This book is a reprint of a Loveswept book from the 80’s and it maintains the feel of the romances in the 80’s. If you enjoy romances that are light and fluffy, you will enjoy this one.

Things enjoyed: I liked the old women that the main character befriended.  I would have liked to see more of them, they were amusing.

Things I didn’t enjoy:  I wish that this book had a bit more depth.

Reason for reading: I saw it on the shelf at my library and I picked it up for light reading.

Rating: Ho-Humm

Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: February 09 (this is a reprint of a Loveswept)
Format: Print
Genre: Romance
Series: No
Author Web Site: http://www.evanovich.com

Description (Amazon) 

Berry Knudson had a talent for disaster, but when she climbed a tree to rescue a kitten, she wasn’t prepared for the scrumptious hunk undressing in a nearby window, or her dive downward that smashed Jake Sawyer’s pizza and won his heart! But was there room in her chaotic schedule for a risk-taking inventor with dreams? She took classes, delivered pizzas, and cared for three eccentric old ladies she rescued from the train station. But Jake thrived on a challenge, and he could be very inventive. Could he teach her there was time to make butterscotch pudding and let herself be loved?

Purchase from Amazon in Print

Highland Knight: Cindy Miles

I purchased Highland Knight by Cindy Miles right after I read her MacGowen’s Ghost. I had a great time reading these two  books and I will read more if she writes more stories for the men. This is a light read that is fun and sweet. If you are in the mood for a romance with a bit of paranormal (think Lynn Kurland), you will like Cindy Miles.

Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: February 2009
Format: Kindle

Author Web Site: http://www.cindy-miles.com/

Description (Amazon) Bestselling mystery novelist Amelia Landry journeys to the Scottish Highlands to stay in a remote 14th-century tower, hoping to re-awaken her imagination. She finds the inspiration she seeks in the ghostly form of Laird Ethan Munro—who has spent six centuries trying to discover why he is neither alive nor dead.
Ethan senses that Amelia may be the one he has been waiting for. Only she can uncover the truth behind the curse and free his heart…

Buy From Amazon

Down and Dirty: Sandra Hill

There are some days that I need Brain Candy, I crave it. Well, Down and Dirty satisfied my Brain Candy urge and then some. This is a light hearted tale in Sandra Hill’s Viking Time travel series. It’s a cute read and provides some humor. Especially for those of us that have a brat in our lives, Sammy the Brat stole the show.

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: November 6, 2007

Format: Kindle

Description (Amazon)
Punished for an indiscretion, Navy SEAL and all-around tough guy Zachary Floyd is forced to head a new SEAL-like program for women. There he meets an alluring Norsewoman, who’s escaped a nunnery, her father, and the eleventh century altogether.

Rating: Brain Candy, Recommend

Buy From Amazon in Print or Kindle

MacGowen’s Ghost: Cindy Miles

Last week I downloaded MacGown’s Ghost for a light read and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the story and the characters, it was just what I needed at that time.  This book will be one of my comfort reads in the future, a sweet romance with some clever ghosts.

Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: February 2009
Format: Kindle

Author Web Site: http://www.cindy-miles.com/
Description (Amazon)
Gabe MacGowan—a sexy, brooding, guilt-ridden widower and father to mischievous seven-yearold Jake—is the proprietor of Odin’s Thumb Inn and Pub in a misty Scottish seaside village. He decides to sell the inn and move, not only to give his son a more stable environment, but to escape the ghosts who haunt him—in particular his dead wife.

Gabe hires Allie Morgan, an easy-going and fun-loving American, to oust the spirits who are chasing away potential buyers. Odin’s Thumb is bustling with frightened tourists, quirky residents of the village, and dodgy yet lovable apparitions—including the ghost of a sea captain who fancies Allie. Allie knows she can help Gabe chase away his own ghosts, but can she help him rediscover life—and love?

Buy from Amazon in Print or for the Kindle

Rating: Brain Candy, Recommend, Comfort Read

Maureen Child: More Than Fiends & A Fiend in Need

I read More than Fiends and A Fiend in Need back to back the other day and I had a great time. Its a lighthearted series that can make fun and have a great time in the process.

I think that the only thing that I can complain about in the series is that the main character refer to her vagina as a hoo-ha. Repeatedly…. The first few times it’s amusing but then it grates on my nerves, there are so many other euphemisms that can be used it you don’t want to say vagina. I recently heard “Lady – Town” and I thought that was cute. But if you are going to say something about a penis and a hoo-ha, why not be consistent and use appropriate terms for both or euphemisms for both?

Despite my rant, I enjoyed the books and I will definitely read the next in the series.

More than Fiends

Description (Amazon)
Cassidy Burke is finding it hard to believe that she’s next in a long line of demon dusters-Burke women paired with centuries-old cleaning solution to shine windows and spot demons. Sure, her “Clean Sweep” maid service is taking off, but wiping out supernatural bad guys? Come on.

But Cassie’s surprised by her sudden fighting instincts and fierce new strength…both of which she’s going to need. For one thing, her teenage daughter thinks her dad is dead, but in truth he just never knew about her…and now he’s moved back to town. And after many dateless years, men are finally lining up on Cassie’s doorstep. Sadly, most of them aren’t human.

A Fiend in Need

Description (Amazon)
It’s only been a month since single mom Cassie Burke unexpectedly became the hottest demon killer in town-and already there’s a price on her head and a website calling for her murder.

Then a sizzling hunk of a faery shows up on her porch in need of protection. Cassie’s happy to help because, after all, he is an expert love slave. Plus, he gets along great with her teenage daughter-a heroic feat in itself.

After a few not-quite-chaste nights, Cassie knows why Queen Vanessa wants him back so badly-and why she’s planning an all-out attack on her. Suddenly Cassie’s wondering if she can fend off an entire city of demons-and if a little faery tail is even worth it…

http://www.maureenchild.com

Stand By Your Hitman: Leslie Langtry

Leslie Langtry’s romantic mysteries are fun romps that are an enjoyable read. It’s like candy for your brain, not cotton candy but something that shrinks your head …. sour gummies or zots.

If you like lighthearted romances with a twist, go out and take a look at Stand By Your Hitman. It’s a fun quick read that won’t add any padding to your arse, but it might shrink your head a bit.

Publisher: Making It
Publication Date: August 2008
Format: Kindle

Author Web Site

Description (Amazon)
Missi Bombay invents things–fatal flowers, Jell-O bullets, stroke-inducing panty hose and other ways to kill a target without leaving any kind of evidence. She’s a great asset to her family of assassins. The one thing she can’t invent, though, is a love life. Unfortunately, her mom has decided to handle that for her. Next thing Missi knows, she’s packed off to Costa Rica for a wild reality show where she’s paired with Lex, the hottest contestant on TV. Too bad she also has to scope out a potential victim. But the job becomes tougher when someone starts sabotaging the show…and love-of-her-life Lex thinks she’s the culprit!

By at Amazon: Print or Kindle

Rating: Brain Candy

House of Many Ways: Diana Wynne Jones

Having read (and loved) Howl’s Moving Castle and seeing the 2004 movie,

I naturally picked up House of Many Ways when it came out. I am glad that I read the book, I found it enjoyable.

It falls into the light and fluffy category for me, the magic was present and there are twists and turns trough everyday activities. Howl and Sophie make intermittent appearances through out the book, but the main focus of this book is Charmain. I think that I would have liked more interaction between Charmain and Howl/Sophie. I really loved Howl and Sophie from the first story, it really felt like they were guest stars in this book.

Product Description (Amazon)

Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great-Uncle William’s tiny cottage while he’s ill should have been easy. But Great-Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland, and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places—the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, and the Royal Mansion, to name just a few.

By opening that door, Charmain has become responsible for not only the house, but for an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard, and a box of the king’s most treasured documents. She has encountered a terrifying beast called a lubbock, irritated a clan of small blue creatures, and wound up smack in the middle of an urgent search. The king and his daughter are desperate to find the lost, fabled Elfgift—so desperate that they’ve even called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind?

Of course, with that magical family involved, there’s bound to be chaos—and unexpected revelations.

No one will be more surprised than Charmain by what Howl and Sophie discover.

TBR Day – Blood Is the New Black: Valerie Stivers

Title: Blood Is the New Black

Author: Valerie Stivers

Year published: 2007

Genre: Chick Lit/Vampire

Why did you get this book? I got this book on one of my book binges…(before my Kindle investment)

Did you enjoy the book? It was entertaining. I’ll donate it to the 2nd hand shop or the library soon. I guess it was too much chick lit for me and not enough vampire. It reminded me a lot of Ugly Betty does vampire….Vanilla Vamp.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes, the author was new to me. I might read something else form her, it would depend on the cover blurb.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? I’ll donate it for sure.

Why did you wait so long to read it? I had actually started it and put it down a bunch of times before I made the push to finish it.

Description (Random House)

When nice-girl Kate McGraw finds herself working at Tasty, a magazine with its finger on the pulse of modern style, she’s finally able to put her flair for fashion to good use. But can she keep up with the Tasty staffers? Ethereally beautiful and extremely emaciated, they stay out all night, never look the worse for wear, and are always dressed to kill.

Like everyone else around the office, Kate finds herself begrudgingly reading dispatches from a snarky industry blog that dubs her colleagues “bloodthirsty vamps.” She knows they don’t mean it literally, but . . . she’s heard whispers of “fashion murders” and she has noticed strange things around the office: Like, why doesn’t her boss get laminates to fix her sharp teeth? Why are the blinds always drawn, and why is there a no-garlic policy in the cafeteria?

As well-dressed bodies begin to pile up near all the hot places, Kate has to wonder if there’s a serial killer loose with a grudge against the stylish. Or if the truth is even more sinister: Are Kate’s coworkers actually undead? And, if so, can she design an exit strategy before she finds herself at Tasty forever?

Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry For Your…Brains : Ryan Mecum

Who doesn’t love a good Zombie Haiku? I know I love them, and you should too! This was a serious impulse buy facilitated by ConurePT. We were at the Borders checkout after wandering around the AA2 art fair and she waves it at me. I just could not resist.

It wasn’t until I got home that I fully appreciated the contents of the book. The book is a clever combination of Haiku and design that delivers good clean entertainment.

An excerpt from Zombie Haiku:

Biting into heads

is much harder than it looks.

The skull is feisty.

Zombie Haiku from Amazon.

Blog: http://voreblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/zombie-haiku/

Accidentally Dead: Dakota Cassidy

Accidentally Dead is the second in a series, and I liked #2 better than #1. The heroine in AD is much sharper than the heroine in #1 and that makes me happy. The first book was over the top with the bimbo vibe and the make-up consultant shtick. I liked that this novel was a departure and the heroine was not all put together.  I am not saying that this isn’t Brain Candy, it is very Brain Candy. Enjoyable Brain Candy, ready to donate to the next reader!

Description
A vampire puts the bite on a dental assistant.

It’s a lousy first day on the job for Nina Blackman when a patient, loopy from the anesthesia, bites her. At least he was cute. But for real drama she can’t beat the next evening. Nina wakes up with a set of razor-sharp fangs, bionic vision, supersonic hearing, and a taste for blood. But there’s a good explanation: It’s her patient, Long Island vampire Greg Statleon. Actually they’re perfect for each other—if Nina’s willing to commit to one man for eternity.

 

Web site: http://www.dakotacassidy.com/