Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr (Virgin River #2)

 

John "Preacher" Middleton is about to close the bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of the wet October night. A marine who has seen his share of pain, Preacher knows a crisis when he sees one—the woman is covered in bruises. He wants to protect them, and he wants to punish whoever did this to her, but he knows immediately that this inclination to protect is something much more. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man—emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.

But when Paige's ex-husband turns up in Virgin River, Preacher knows his own future hangs in the balance. And if there's one thing the marines' motto of Semper Fidelis—always faithful—has taught him, it's that some things are worth fighting for.

Why I decided to read this book: I signed up to try to win a copy of Promise Canyon on Goodreads and I decided to start at the beginning of the series so that book 11 would makes sense to me.  I was also able to download the first 4 books of the series on to my Nook as a book bundle! :)

Likes?.....: I really liked Preacher.  He's a big ole burly badass former Marine who doesn't think that he's capable of loving or being loved.  I also enjoyed Paige and Chris who bring out the best and at some points in the book, the worst in Preacher.  I also really enjoyed how the town rallied around Paige and Chris to make sure that they were safe from Paige's abusive ex-husband.  Oh and let's not forget about "unlovable" Preacher turned lover extraordinaire Preacher.  Everyone calls Preacher by his nickname rather than his given name in town, then Paige comes along and starts calling him John and to me that was pretty sexy in it's VERY simple way.

Dislikes?.....: Paige's brother and ex husband....They BOTH deserve to be beaten to within an inch of their lives in my honest opinion.  There were a couple of odd breaks in the story that seemed a little off to me but not enough to be distracting.

Overall: I think that this book was even better than the first book in the series.  Another one that once I started reading I had a VERY difficult time putting down.  I think that the series builds really nicely from one book to the next with the inclusion of new characters as well as reoccurring roles of the "regulars."  I can hardly wait to keep reading!  I'm just soooo mad at myself for not reading this series before now!

Falke's Peak by Anna Leigh Keaton & Madison Layle ~ Contains Adult Content

 

She couldn't believe her eyes.


Stressed out ad-exec Dakota wandered into Catamount Outfitters in search of a guide for a wilderness excursion. She didn't expect to be greeted by not one, but five of the most ruggedly delicious-looking men she'd ever seen. Not to mention a live cougar guarding the shop.

The Falke brothers have more than just good looks in their genes.

Eldest brother Axel agrees to guide Dakota on her mountain trek. In cougar form, Axel's twin, Gunnar, was there as a protection from predators—but he had his eye on the sexy client instead.

Into the wild...

While the rule with clients was "paws-off," both Axel and Gunnar couldn't resist Dakota's seductive Native American beauty and determination. As cold days led to hot nights in the cabin, Axel and Gunnar wondered if they'd finally found a woman strong enough to tame them...



Why I decided to read this book: I was looking through all the new releases on Netgalley and saw this one and as you can see from the reading the synopsis, it really tripped my trigger.  That and the cover I think is pretty neat too.

Likes?......: What really drew me into the story was Dakota.  The way she's described you think "fluffy city girl," but the farther you read into the book you definitely start to change your tune about her.  I also liked the premise of "modern day" shapeshifters....Especially extremely HOT "modern day" shapeshifters who give one hell of a back rub!  Is it wrong that I really liked the internal struggle of Axel and Gunnar?  Cause I REALLY did.

The sexual stuff?!?!?!?...Just as HOT as the "modern day" shapeshifters!

Dislikes?......: I don't have very many....I didn't particularly care for the "deception" scene.  I did feel that at certain points the story was a little bit rushed.  Overall, not too many dislikes.

Overall: I really enjoyed this story.  Even with the couple of dislikes that I found in the story I think that this is a VERY good beginning to the author's series.  I can hardly wait to check out the rest of the series!  Hopefully each of the remaining brothers and Heidi will get their own stories!

Moon Crossed by Patricia Briggs

 

Title: Moon Called
Author: Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercy Thompson #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated

Release Date: 2006, January 31

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages

Source: Paperbackswap.com

Rating: 5/5

 

Synopsis:

 

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

 

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

 

The "Short Story:"

 

Were-wolves, shape shifters, vamps and more oh my!

 

The "Long Story:"

 

Now that I've actually read the first book in the series so many things from the last book I read in this series makes sense.  I really like Mercy....She's a "no nonsense" take no prisoners type of heroine...I really LIKE ass kicking heroines!

 

I also was really impressed by all the attention to detail towards how the relationships between all the different types of paranormals in the book work as well as the politics.  I'm not usually big on politics but I think that the politics in this book were pretty alright.

 

Alright....I'm jealous of Mercy.  Who doesn't want to have the attention of not 1 but 2 sexy werewolves?!

 

The suspense kept me turning pages.  All the twists and turns kept me wanting MORE! I really hated to put the book down.  The only thing I didn't really care for was how LONG it took me to get this book read....DANG YOU REAL LIFE!

Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young Blog Tour

Title: Buying Time
Author: Pamela Samuels Young

Series:

Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Publisher: Goldman House

Release Date: 2009, November 1

Format: Paperback, 370 pages

Source: Received for the blog tour

 

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Smuttiness: N/A

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

 

Waverly Shaw is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who stumbles upon a potentially lucrative business just when he's about to hit rock bottom. In his new line of work as a viatical broker, Waverly comes to the rescue of people in desperate need of cash. There's a catch, however, his clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they receive a dime. Waverly then finds investors to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath. The stakes get higher when Lawrence Erickson, who's bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General, hires Waverly to broker the insurance policy of his cancer-stricken wife. But Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—is unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail, and murder. With two determined federal prosecutors hot on his trail, Waverly is on the run, and this time he might need some life insurance.

 

Review:

 

I was asked if I would be interested in reading this book as part of a blog tour and I happily agreed.  This is the first thriller that I've read that has been written by a woman also.  I'm so very glad that I was asked if I wanted to participate because I thought that this book was AWESOME SAUCE!

 

Buying Time is an extremely fast paced read as well as being a page turner.  Once I started reading this work of art I was fully sucked into the story.  I did think that as the book was progressing there were a lot of "cliff hangers" throughout but the farther I got into the book everything fell into place and I was plesantly surprised.

 

The way the book was written I thought was pretty unique.  There are two side stories in Buying Time an I found that with the I was constantly trying to figure out what the link was.  I thought that all of the characters were pretty interesting as well....They all have there own conflicts and issues going on and I thought it was great how all those conflicts and issues help to form the story.

 

Another big plus (at least in my opinion) is that by the end there is no clearly defined hero.  I think that's a first for me also.  Almost all of the books I've read there is a hero.  So for the author to have no hero got her a lot of bonus points with me...keeping things interesting is AWESOME SAUCE.

 

Overall, I thought that this was a exceptionally well written thriller that has a VERY strong plot and VERY strong solidly written characters.  I'm also very impressed by how well researched the book was.  Pretty much what I'm telling you is to add Buying Time to your TBR pile!  Do it...you won't be sorry. 

 

Mini Review ~ Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games
Genre: YA
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 2010, August 24
Format: Hardcover, 390 pages
Source: Bought


Rating: 5/5

Smuttiness: N/A

 

  

Synopsis:

"My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead."

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

 

Review:

I was really uber excited about this book.  Though I throughly enjoyed the book there were a few times that I thought that the story was dragging on.  I also didn't enjoy how everyone had all these carefully laid out plans and hidden agenda's and kept Katniss in the dark and treating her at times like she's almost disposable.  Even with those few quirks I still gave this book a 5/5 rating.

I felt horrible for Peeta.  Being treated the way that he was by The Capital.  I guess the saying "war is hell" is pretty applicable to a lot of what went on in this book.  The descriptions and imagery were excellent as usual.  The characters new and old were adding new twists and turns all over the place. The story line was pretty good even though there were parts where I felt it dragged on a little bit. I think overall this was a good ending to the trilogy.

NOTE: I purposely kept this review short, sweet and vague to not giveaway anything to anyone who hasn't read this book yet.

Mini Review ~ Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins

Series: The Hunger Games

Genre: YA

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: 2009, September 1

Format: Hardcover, 400 pages

Source: Bought

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Smuttiness: N/A

 

Synopsis (From Goodreads):

 

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

 

Review:

 

Another Awesome Sauce installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy!  I couldn't read this one fast enough...So far this series is one that once you start it it SUCKS YOU IN!  In other words...VERY HARD TO PUT DOWN!  The original cast of characters are back and better than ever. Even the new characters that are added for the Quarter Quell flow nicely with the original "cast".  The storyline is riveting and sucks you in. The harshness and bloodlust of the games are very vivid.  I LOVE this series enough that I've converted a couple of my co-workers into Hunger Games junkies!

 

NOTE: I kept this review a mini review and pretty vague to keep from giving away anything to anyone who hasn't read this book yet.

 

 



The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dog and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption by Jim Gorant

NOTE: There is the use of cuss words in the review that follows.

Title: The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption

Author: Jim Gorant

Series:

Genre: Non-fiction, animals, sports

Publisher: Penguin

Release Date: 2010, September 16

Format: E-Book, 488 pages

Source: Bought for my Barnes and Noble Nook

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Smuttiness: N/A

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

 

An inspiring story of survival and our powerful bond with man's best friend, in the aftermath of the nation's most notorious case of animal cruelty.

Animal lovers and sports fans were shocked when the story broke about NFL player Michael Vick's brutal dog fighting operation. But what became of the dozens of dogs who survived? As acclaimed writer Jim Gorant discovered, their story is the truly newsworthy aspect of this case. Expanding on Gorant's Sports Illustrated cover story, The Lost Dogs traces the effort to bring Vick to justice and turns the spotlight on these infamous pit bulls, which were saved from euthanasia by an outpouring of public appeals coupled with a court order that Vick pay nearly a million dollars in "restitution" to the dogs.

As an ASPCA-led team evaluated each one, they found a few hardened fighters, but many more lovable, friendly creatures desperate for compassion. In The Lost Dogs, we meet these amazing animals, a number of which are now living in loving homes, while some even work in therapy programs: Johnny Justice participates in Paws for Tales, which lets kids get comfortable with reading aloud by reading to dogs; Leo spends three hours a week with cancer patients and troubled teens. At the heart of the stories are the rescue workers who transformed the pups from victims of animal cruelty into healing caregivers themselves, unleashing priceless hope.

Review:

I was checking out the new releases on Barnes and Noble the other day and I saw this book.  I'm an animal lover and I thought that the premise of this book sounded really interesting, so I downloaded it onto my Barnes and Noble Nook.  I started to read it at about 2 am Sunday morning and I could NOT stop reading it until I had read all 488 pages e-book pages (the print version is 304 pages).  I was absolutely FLOORED by some of the things that I had read.

Now if you are going to read this book I must warn you in the beginning there are a few graphic scenes that show just big of an fucking jackass Michael Vick truely is. And they let this fucker BACK into the NFL! The author of this book doesn't hold anything back really.  He goes into the gorey details of how Vick and his "crew" disposed of dogs that just didn't have it in them to fight.
Once the bust is made on Vick's property and the dogs are confiscated then there is a big hoopla about if the case is going to be a state/local case or a federal case.  In the end it became a federal case but the state/local attorney did slap some charges on about 5 months AFTER the case started.

While the case is going on there is much discussion about what should be done with the dogs.  There were many who said that they should ALL be destroyed because they were taken from a fighting situation, which makes them steriotypical "killers" naturally....I mean hell...even PETA said destroy them.  In the end, after much discussion and bringing in outside help.  It was decided that they would evaluate each dog individually.  After all the evaluations were done, of the 51 dogs that were seized, only 1 was deemed to dangerous to even evaluate.

Because I don't want to give away too much of this book away I'm not going to go into very many more deatils.  All I'm going to say is that there is a happy ending for the remaining dogs...They actually get to learn how be a dog and do dog things and many of them have been adopted out and several are even therapy dogs.  I hope that if you read this book you learn as much about this breed that is known as the "nanny dog", because it was originally bred to be a family pet as well as a protector of the farm, as I did.  I can honestly say that after reading this book, it has definately changed my opinion on the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Review ~ The Iron Daughter **Contains a few spoilers**

Title: The Iron Daughter
Author: Julie Kagawa

Series: Iron Fey #2

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 2010, August 1

Format: Paperback, 359 pages

Source: Bought via Barnes and Noble webpage

Rating: 5/5

Smuttiness: 2/5

Synopsis:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

Review:

I LOVED The Iron King and I could hardly wait for the second book in the series to come out. This book came out and because I ordered it with a pre-ordered book I had to wait for it!  It was the LONGEST 26 days EVER!

The story starts out with Meghan saying good bye to her family, yet again as she's about to fulfill her contract with Ash and head for enemy territory. When Meghan get's to the Winter Court she is basically a prisoner to Queen Mab and Prince Ash abandon's her.  Needless to say that the Winter Court is NOT happy to have Meghan around at all.  SPOILER AHEAD>>>When the Sceptor of the Seasons is stolen and Prince Sage is murdered by the Iron Fey, Mab becomes enraged, because she doesn not believe that these Iron Fey exsist and think that Oberon took the Sceptor, and a war between the Courts is in the works.  The Iron Fey are looking forward to the long trail of death and destruction that will come from the war. END SPOILER.  Now Meghan and her crew are on a journey to find the Sceptor of the Seasons, return it to the Winter Court and stop the bloody war that is taking place.  All of this while being hoplessly in love with Ash.

Book number 2 in this series is just as captivating as The Iron King was.  The writing is very intense and extremely passionate.  In book 2 Julie Kagawa continues to build the world of Nevernever even bigger and badder than in the first book.  Nevernever only get's even more dangerous (as if that were even possible) in this book.  There are new characters that will have you completely mesmerized.  The plot, I think is better in this book, there are all sorts of twists and turns and it keeps you guessing.

This book is very fast-paced and I totally felt like I was there in Nevernever and as another member of Meghan's team trying to get back the Sceptor.  I had a hard time putting this book down.  Ms. Kagawa does an excellent job of describing Faerie politcs in this book, just to show how very dangerous the Fey can be.  The book is also a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster.....Meghan learns some things along the way...some good and some not so good.

I was really happy with Meghan's personal growth along the way.  She's powerful and yet vulnerable as well....You mash those two things together and you get a pretty badass combination if you ask me.  There are times when she's struggling pretty badly with all the things that are going on around her.  She also makes some pretty bad decisions too....But in the end she rises to the occassion.  Meghan really is a force to be reckoned with!

OMG!  The romance triangle! As much as I love Puck I'm Team Ash (I have a "thing" for the "bad boy" types).  Puck has a lot of amazing qualities and when things started to heat up with Meghan I got a little bit worried.  But then along comes Ash, who has long since given in to his feelings for Meghan, and things get a "little bit" explosive.

My new favorite character is most defiantely Ironhorse!  He's a bad guy turned good.  And that's HOT!

Overall, I'm hopelessly hooked on this series and I'm finding it VERY difficult to wait until February for the Iron Queen to come out!

Review ~ A Proper Suduction

Title: A Proper Seduction

Author: HelenKay Dimon

Series: N/A

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Release Date: 2010, May 18

Format: eBook

Source: Bought via My Barnes and Noble Nook

 

Rating: 5/5

 

Smuttiness: 5/5

 

 

Synopsis:

 

Don't get even. Get everything...

 

Even before her bad marriage ended, Lauren MacDonald lost everything—her job, her friends, her self-esteem, and her sexual appetite. Now that she’s finally free, she’s struggling to regain control of a life her ex did his best to destroy.

 

The plan: sex with Justin Scott, her ex’s business partner. The man her husband invited into their marital bed, forcing her to realize it was time to get out. Justin was the star of the fantasies that helped her endure her marriage, so she can’t deny she wanted him—but not like that. She wants him like this—alone. In her bed. For exactly three nights.

 

Justin screwed up with Lauren, and in the past she’s made no secret of the fact she loathes him. So when she walks into his office flashing miles of long, lean legs, his brain cells misfire. Three nights of meaningless sex? He’s all over it. Not only does he have the chance to unleash his desire for her, it’s the opening he’s been waiting for—to convince her to give him more.

 

 

Review:

 

I saw a review for this e-book on another blog that I follow and it sounded VERY interesting. I checked to see if it was available for Barnes and Noble Nook owners and low and behold it was! So naturally, I downloaded it and devoured it!

 

The premise of the book is about a woman who just got out of a TERRIBLE marriage and is looking to gain a little bit of control back in a certain part of her life....The Bedroom. So Lauren makes a proposition to Justin.....3 nights of mind-blowing, no-kissing-on-the-lips, business like sex. Which he isn't comfortable with but agrees to because he has a "thing" for Lauren. Actually, they both have a "thing" for each other if I'm being honest here.

 

Anyway, this is one of the shorter e-books I've read but I really enjoyed it. The plot and premise were really good in my opinion. The hero....A HOT SEX GOD! The heroine....a little beat down but comes out on top (in more ways than one) by the end of this book. The sex scenes....SCORCHING HOT!

 

Review ~ Paranormalcy **Tiny Spoilers**

 

Pub. Date: August 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Hardcover, 335pp

Rating: 

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble): Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.


Review: OMG!  This book was "bleeping"(read the book and you'll understand) AWESOME!  I had heard so much about this book in the weeks leading up to it's release that I decided that I needed to check it out. Evie, the main character, is able to see through other paranormals' "glamour" to what's really underneath...Like for example: Vampires....On the outside sex but underneath the glamour 'oh so NOT sexy'.  Evie thinks she's just a "normal" teenager that is able to do something "interesting" when it comes to paranormals.  But then bad things start to happen, paranormals start dying and Evie learns a couple secrets about herself. Reth, her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a faerie is crazy!  Through most of the book you think he's on one side but by the end you realize you were oh so wrong.  That all his craziness was supposed to be "helpful."  Then there's Lend, a shape shifting hottie!  He get's captured by the IPCA and is held prisoner for awhile.  When the center comes under attack Evie helps Lend escape.  Then we learn a little bit about Lend's life prior to being captured. I loved the way that the story was written.  All of the dialouge for Evie and Lend were written in a way that was very believeable.  Things that teens would actually say.  The dialouge for the other characters in the book were written in a very "grown up" manner....things that adults would say. The way things were described were very vivid as well. Overall, I can hardly wait to read more of this series!  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh take on paranormal YA fiction. 

Review ~ Home Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans back to life

 

 Rating: 

 Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover, 304pp

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble):

The inspirational true story of how one man led a football team-and a city- to triumph in Super Bowl XLIV.


In the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Superdome became a national symbol of misery and hopelessness, where the truly desperate rode out the storm.

Four years later, in that very stadium, the New Orleans Saints won the NFC championship and earned their first-ever trip to the Super Bowl.

Two weeks later, the Saints soundly defeated the heavily favored Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in what would become the most-watched television event in history.

This is the inspirational story of a city recovering from disaster and a team with a history of heartbreak, seen through the eyes of the coach who taught them both how to win.

Review:

I downloaded this book as well as Drew Brees' book onto my Barnes and Noble Nook shortly before my July book ban.  I devoured them both with in a couple days...But since I've been in sort of a "funk" about posting reviews lately I hadn't posted the review for this great book yet.  Thank goodness I wrote it out long hand so I would know what to say when I finally got my "stuff" together and started posting reviews again!

As I said in the review of Drew's book I'm not really a Saints fan...I'm a Steelers fan really.  But the "Who Dat Nation" is kind of a Cinderella story.  I mean we are talking about a team and a city that came back from one of the worst natural disasters yet (oh yeah, remember how everyone BUT the government was there right away?!) to become Super Bowl Champions!

This book is VERY inspiring.  Coach Payton talks about coming from to the NFL from the College ranks to work with some of the best coaches in the NFL (Bill Parcells to name 1) to going out looking for his first Head Coaching position (I don't want to burst any bubbles here but he does mention that he REALLY wanted the Packers Head Coaching position...I'm from WI and about 1% Packer fan).  He didn't really want to come to New Orleans but once he saw that the organization had his back if he had theirs that's how this Cinderella story begins.

Coach Payton also talks about trying to rebuild a complete coaching staff too.  Some of the coaching staff hadn't been working in the NFL until Coach Payton called them up.  Then once they got the staff figured out...it was time to work on the team itself....To become winners again...who knew that in a few short years they'd be going to the Super Bowl? Did you know that Reggie Bush had his "people" tell the Saints "No" the year they drafted him....The Saints told his "people" screw you and drafted him anyway.  Now he's a Super Bowl Champion.

There is also a lot of mention of the devastation and the re-building process mentioned in the book too.  What really surprised me was how involved the team got with the re-building efforts.  And also how "accessible" the team is to the rest of the population of New Orleans.

Overall, this book is a emotional book full of the Highest high's and the Lowest lows.  I would recommend this book to anyone really. Read IT!  You don't even need to be a Saints fan to enjoy it!

Mini Review ~ Hot Finish

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble):

Desire is about to reach its peak.

Suzanne Jefferson is broke, which is why she's given up charity work for wedding planning. Fortunately, she has a high-profile client and best of all, he's paid in advance. There are two teensy problems: the bride is a bona fide bridezilla, and Suzanne's stock racer ex-husband is the best man. At least she thought he was her ex-husband....

Review:

I LOVE this series! This is the third book in the Fast Track series and I can honestly say that it was well worth the wait! Suzanne and Ryder have always been two of my favorite characters in this series, though the other characters are pretty great and HOT too...they're exes who are constantly sparring with one another.....It makes for some pretty interesting scenes. And in their own book throw in a pinch of bridezilla who is incapable of making up her mind, a small dose of the fact that they (Suzanne and Ryder) are still indeed married, a LOT of miscommunications and even MORE REALLY HOT SEX and stir that all together and you have a recipe for a pretty dang good story in my book.

Review ~ The Hunger Games

To sign up for The Hunger Games Book Club click here

Barnes and Noble

Review:

NOTE: My computer is not letting play the copy and paste game right now for some strange reason...so if you click on Barnes and Noble it will take to the page for The Hunger Games.
......Now back to our regularly scheduled programming......OH MY GOODNESS! WHERE HAS THIS BOOK BEEN "ALL MY LIFE?!" Since I've started book blogging I've come across many reviews of this book and the vast majority of them have been really shining reviews. But it wasn't until last week that I actually took the book off my shelf and read it. I'd like to thank my co-workers for that....They were talking about the book at work and started giving me crap cause I hadn't read it yet. As my co-workers say....."It's Awesome Sauce!"

I really don't know what to say beyond the above words that are in all capital letters. I don't want to say to much because I don't want to give anything away....I'm occasionally bad about putting in unintentional spoilers. I LOVED this book. I LOVED the story line, I totally felt like I was there. The main character is very real and relatable, you totally feel her pain. The secondary characters are also written in a very real and relatable fashion. The games themselves are written in a way that it paints a vivid and brutal picture of what it must be like for these kids. I guess the only problem I had with the book was the end....I didn't want it to end....cause when the book came to an end I'd have to wait to start reading Catching Fire because I lent it to a friend to read.

Review ~ Coming Back Stronger

Pub. Date: July 2010 (purchased shortly before the Book Ban)
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook, Hardcover

Rating: Synopsis:

When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team and faced with the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again, coaches around the NFL wondered, would he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving 85% of the city under water, many wondered, would the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, would the Saints ever come back? It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope—yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done—and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL's top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees' inspiring message of hope and encouragement proves that with enough faith, determination, and heart, you can overcome any obstacle life throws your way and not only come back, but come back stronger.

Review:

I just want to set the record straight...I'm not a New Orleans Saints fan. But after watching the past few years....Post Katrina. As the Saints and New Orleans "crawled" their way out of the wreckage and despair that a Category 5 hurricane created I would poke around and see how they did during their games. I watched the "homecoming" game against the Falcons and most recently the playoffs and the Super Bowl. That being said I saw this book while I was checking out the new releases a couple weeks ago on Barnes and Noble.com and the synopsis alone sold me on it.

This book is wonderfully written. Drew and his ghost writer eloquently put Drew's life (personal and professional) into perspective for the reader. Sometimes when you read and hear about these professional atheletes you forget that they too are just a person just like everyone else. You see them as "larger than life" and "unaproachable." The way this book is written it puts to rest those "images"....in Drew's case any way.

Drew covers his childhood and even covers his parent's bitter divorce. All the way through his time at the Chargers and his potentially career-threatening injury. Then there was "Miami vs New Orleans" and the deciding factor that made him chose post-Katrina New Orleans over the "obvious choice" Miami.

It's all here. There is not a person that has been a part of Drew's life (ok there may be a couple) that isn't talked highly about here in the book....from his parents, to his wife, teamates (past and present), doctors, coaches, etc. Then throw in bringing a city and a football team back from ruin and you have a pretty amazing comeback story. Life threw Drew some serious lemons along the way and he's made some pretty LARGE amounts of lemonade.

Even the religious talk didn't turn me off on this book. See Drew has VERY firm Christian beliefs and sometimes, for me anyway, that can detract from a book. That was NOT the case with this book.

I even learned a few things from the book too....Just to name one thing....I learned that for the past few years the New Orleans Saints has been made up of players that were considered "castoffs" from other teams. I guess that gave them, as a team, a chip on their shoulder and it's starting to really pay off for them.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a "feel good" story.

Review ~ McKettircks of Texas: Garrett

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Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: Harlequin
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook, 384pp

Rating:

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble):

Fast track up the political ladder, fast cars, fast women—that's Garrett McKettrick. Make that was. A scandal has brought him home to Blue River, Texas, a place where a man can slow down, take stock and plan his next move. Which doesn't include staying at the family ranch with his brothers. A city boy, Garrett doesn't think he has the land in his blood.

But Blue River has other attractions, like his former high school nemesis, Julie Remington. Now a striking woman, Julie comes complete with a four-year-old cowboy, a three-legged beagle and deep ties to the community. Good thing they have nothing in common…except their undeniable attraction and a future brighter than the Texas sun.

Review:

This is the second book in the McKettricks of Texas series and I really enjoyed this one too. See Garret is a very interesting hero...He thinks he's on the road to be a career politician but then there are some circumstances that make him think maybe he's NOT cut out to be in that line of work. He likes to think the best of people and over look their faults also.

Then we have Julie who is Garrett's high school nemisis. Even though she is oh so attracted to Garrett she has a career, a child AND a three-legged beagle to consider. She's not even convinced that he's NOT going to take off on her like her son's father did AND she doesn't want to have anything to do with politicians in any way, shape, or form.

But Garrett is pretty persistent especially after he falls hard for a single mom, he 4 year old son and their three-legged beagle. This story has just the right amount of family interactions, love, romance, and a little bit of danger just to shake up all those "happy feelings."

Review ~ McKettricks of Texas: Austin

NOTE: The Book Blogger Twitter Hop is moving to Fridays and don't forget to enter to win a $60 gift certificate from CSN.

Pub. Date: June 2010
Publisher: Harlequin
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook, 384pp

Rating:

Synopsis (from Barnes and Noble):

World champion rodeo star Austin McKettrick finally got bested by an angry bull. His career over, his love life a mess, the lone maverick has nowhere to go when the hospital releases him. Except back home to Blue River and the Silver Spur ranch. But his overachieving brothers won't allow this cowboy to brood in peace. They've even hired a nurse to speed his recovery. Paige Remington's bossy brand of TLC is driving him crazy. As is her beautiful face, sexy figure and silky black hair.

Paige has lost count of how many times Austin has tried to fire her. She's not going anywhere till he's healed—body and heart.

And by then her place in his life just might become permanent….

Review:

I've just got done reading this final book in the McKettricks of Texas series and I LOVED it! Austin is your typical rodeo cowboy....thinks he's 10 feet tall and bulletproof....well it's not very far into the book before that attitude gets cut down to size. He's almost been killed once by a bull but since coming home after this last mishap it seems that the McKettrick "boys" have big ole bulls eyes painted on them.

In comes Paige Remington, a currently unemployed RN, who is living at the Silver Spur while renovations are being done at the home that she grow up in. Then Austin comes home and that right there brings their past relationship to the surface. And let's just say that their last relationship did NOT end on good terms.

Then Austin get's hurt a second time and Paige is sort of feels obligated to be Austin's nurse, while trying to make peace with him as well. Considering Paige's sisters are marrying Austin's brothers. Peace is NOT an easy thing for these two to achieve that much I will say. Though in the end it is definately acheived.

The only "gripe" I have about the book and it really is a small "gripe" is that I think the "bad guys" were a little too obvious. That's it. That's the only "gripe" I have with the book.

Review ~ Official Book Club Selection

Pub. Date: September 2009
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Format: Hardcover, 368pp

Rating:

Synopsis:



Official Book Club Selection is Kathy Griffin unplugged, uncensored, and unafraid to dish about what really happens on the road, away from the cameras, and at the star party after the show. (It's also her big chance to score that coveted book club endorsement she's always wanted. Are you there, Oprah? It's me, Kathy.)


Kathy Griffin has won Emmys for her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, been nominated for a Grammy, worked and walked every red carpet known to man, and rung in the New Year with Anderson Cooper. But the legions of fans who pack Kathy's sold-out comedy shows have heard only part of her remarkable story. Writing with her trademark wit, the feisty comic settles a few old scores, celebrates the friends and mentors who helped her claw her way to the top, and shares insider gossip about celebrity behavior–the good, the bad, and the very ugly. She recounts the crazy ups and downs of her own career and introduces us to some of the supertalented people she encountered before they got famous (or, in some cases, after fame went to their heads). Word to the wise: If you've ever crossed Kathy Griffin at some point in your life, check the index for your name.


Along the way, Kathy reveals intimate details about her life before and after she made the big time. She opens up about everything from growing up with a dysfunctional family in suburban Illinois to bombing as a young comedian in L.A., from her well-publicized plastic surgery disasters to her highly publicized divorce, and more. Only in this book will you learn how the dinner table is the best training ground for a career in stand-up, how speaking your mind can bite you on the ass and buy you a house, and which people in Kathy's life have taught her the most valuable lessons–both inside and outside the entertainment industry. And as if all that wasn't enough, there are also dozens of exclusive and somewhat embarrassing photos from Kathy's own collection–featuring the diva of the D List herself, with her old nose as well as her new one, plus celebrity friends, foes, frenemies, and hangers-on for you to gawk at.


Refreshingly candid, unflinchingly honest, and full of hilarious "Did she really say that?" moments, Official Book Club Selection will make you laugh until you cry, or just puke up a little bit.


Review:



I picked this book up at my public library a couple weeks ago after reading a bunch of rave reviews for it on the web. I'm glad that I did because it was a funny, honest and very candid read. There were a lot of moments where I thought to myself "I can't believe she just said that!"

I found that Kathy Griffin is one heck of a lady and really is NOT afraid to put her true feelings into print. Whether it be about her brother (total pedophile), her marriage and divorce, plastic surgery issues, what ever the case may be it's there in print.

The photo's that are included in the book are pretty neat too. Kathy is THE youngest in her family and it is oh so obvious in some of the photos that are shared. Overall, I really think that this book could very well be a Official Book Club Selection.