If He's Wicked - Hannah Howell

Title: If He's Wicked
Author: Hannah Howell
Publisher: Zebra
Published: 2009
Pages: 357
Genre: Historical/Paranormal
Series: Wherlocke Book #1

Hannah Howell has penned another great read as far as this reader is concerned. The suspense surrounding the hero develops to a final showdown that has you turning the pages to see how it ends. The relationship between Julian and Chloe grows each moment they are together until the passion can no longer be contained.

It all begins with a vision...Chloe has glimpses into the future that reveals to her the terrible plot against Lord Julian. Her psychic ability allows her to save Julian's newborn son from death, and warn Julian that sinister forces are indeed at hand.

You can read my full review here.



Rating: 3.75/5
Pages: 357
Completed: 1/16/10

Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris

Title: Definitely Dead
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2006
Pages: 324
Genre: Paranormal - Vampire, Shape Shifter, Psychic
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #6

I really think that Sookie Stackhouse enthusiasts will enjoy this book. A few loose ends are cleared up, new information is revealed, and there may be a new love interest in Sookie's life - but I'm not telling - LOL.

Sookie goes to New Orleans to clean out the apartment of her dead cousin and close the estate. Little does she know that she will discover something gruesome in the closet, become involved in the Queen of Louisiana's politics, and get herself kidnapped. All in all, another great adventure for Sookie.

You can read my full review here.



Rating: 4/5
Pages: 324
Completed: 12/19/09

Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead as a Doornail
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2009
Pages: 295
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Sookie Stackhouse - Book #5

I love this series so much...Sookie is a down-to-earth, hardworking, kind, and compassionate heroine. She doesn't have many close friends, but those she does have she considers family...and she'll do anything to protect her family. Charlaine Harris creates a world that you want to return to again and again.

Then, of course, there are the vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings. What an array of characters to liven up the night!! Ever since Sookie started dating a vampire (in the first book), she has been pulled into many adventures - some of them deadly.

You can read my full review here.



Rating: 4/5
Pages: 295
Completed: 12/4/09

Heart of the Winter Wolf - Dani Harper

Title: Heart of the Winter Wolf
Author: Dani Harper
Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
Published: 2007
Pages: 423 (eBook)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (Wolf)

I bought this book back in 2007 when it first came out. For some reason it got lost in by TBR stack, and I am just pulling it out now. I enjoyed the book because of its paranormal aspect - I just love wolves. However, there were places that I thought the pace could have gone a little faster. It took some time before the hero and heroine got together, but when they did it was magical. I love the tortured hero theme, and James didn't disappoint.

Jillian suffered a great tragedy when she was seventeen. The only way back to her sanity was with the help of a white wolf. Throughout the years she depended on him to comfort her and guide her through the difficult times of recovery. As time went by, and the healing process gained strength, the white wolf was fading away - that is until she met James with his pale blond hair and Viking good looks. Was it a coincidence?

Changeling James MacLeod lost everything in an instant - his wife, his child, his reason for living. Filled with grief and guilt, he vowed never to walk as a human again by staying in his wolf form. That is until he meets the sexy new veterinarian, Jillian. What is it about her that pulls at his human nature; why is the wolf determined to have her; and how can he forgive the past and look towards the future?

Jillian is a strong heroine - which I like in a story - she has overcome great odds to become a determined individual making a life for herself as a veterinarian. The book not only follows the romance between James and Jillian, but there are also side stories on the trials and tribulations of a country vet. I liked the secondary characters, they added to the story without distracting from the main plot. In fact, there are a couple of characters I would like to see have their own story.

New Concepts Publishing has rated this a "sensual" romance with love scenes comparative to most romance novels published today.



Rating: 3/5
Pages: 423 (eBook)
Completed: 5/29/09

The Vampire Shrink - Lynda Hilburn

Title: The Vampire Shrink
Author: Lynda Hilburn
Publisher: Medallion Press
Published: 2007
Pages: 392
Genre: Paranormal/Vampire
Series: Kismet Knight - Book #1

The Vampire Shrink is told in first person by Dr. Kismet Knight, and throughout the story we get to hear her internal dialogue. She is a psychologist who has a client, a young girl, wanting to become a vampire. Not believing in vampires, Kismet thinks the girl is crying out for help and wants to get to the root of her problem. However, after the she introduces Kismet to the Master Vampire of the city, Devereux - Kismet begins to believe in the impossible - or is she delusional too?

Devereux, a drop dead, gorgeous, 800-year-old vampire falls hard for Kismet. And after she is visited by two angry bloodsucking vampires - he vows to protect her with his life. Not only are two vampires after her, but she is involved in a murder investigation when one of her clients ends up almost drained of blood. That is when we meet the sexy FBI profiler, Alan Stevens - who warns Kismet that vampires are real.

This story is full of humor, witty dialogue, tension, suspense, great secondary characters, and has a fast pace that keeps you intrigued from the first page to the last. I love Kismet - she is a believable character and her wit and sarcasm had just the right touch. She has a growing interest in both Devereux and Alan and it was fun to see how she worked through that. This book had such a different take on the vampire genre. It was an excellent road to explore and a fantastic world to create!!

You can read my full review here.



Rating: 4/5
Pages: 392
Completed: 3/22/09

Celebrate the Author - Hannah Howell

Wow, I can't believe another month has gone by, and it is time to Celebrate another author. This month is Hannah Howell's birthday, and I celebrated it by reading Highland Captive. This is a reissue of her 1990 novel, Elfking's Lady.

This is also for my TBR challenge where we had to read a historical novel for the month of March.

Aimil is kidnapped by Parlan MacGuin - known as Black Parlan. He holds her for ransom which starts a feud between the MacGuin clan and Aimil's betrothed. Not wanting to marry Rory, for he has a ruthless reputation, she willing gives up her virtue to Parlan. Known for being a fierce warrior, underneath he is an honorable man. Though Aimil sets out to hate him, she cannot deny her desire for the man who holds her captive.

I loved the characters in this book - from Aimil's strong personality to Parlan's quick wit, and the intriguing ways he comes up with to bend Aimil to his will. The secondary characters add depth to the story, and there are a couple of underlying subplots that worked well.

You can read my full review here.



Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 359
Completed: 3/15/09

On Mystic Lake - Kristin Hannah

Title: On Mystic Lake
Author: Kristin Hannah
Publisher: Crown
Published: 1997
Pages: 322
Genre: Women's Fiction/Romance

I have never, in my short time here on Blogger posting my thoughts on books, given a low rating to a book...until today. I feel so bad doing it, but I just didn't particularly care for this book. It wasn't the writing...I think Kristin Hannah has a very descriptive writing style...some of the emotions pulled me right into the pages. I felt deeply for Nick and his loss, trying to reach out to his daughter but failing, and the depths of despair that you can sink into by the actions of others. Your actions definitely affect your loved ones.

However, the romance in this story just didn't sit will with me. At the beginning of the book, Annie's husband asks her for a divorce - he is in love with someone else. She begs him to take three months to reconsider. During that time - she has her own affair - hence the basis of the story. I just can't read about infidelity like that. I mean, if there is infidelity and they decide to divorce and then get on with their lives - that is okay for me. But to base a romance on it - just doesn't do it for me. There is so much of that in the world today, I don't need to read about it in my HEA romances.

You can read more about this book and my full review here.

This was my first time reading Kristin Hannah's books - but I am not letting this particular book stop me from picking another one to read. I just don't know which one. LOL.

Rating: 1.75/5
Pages: 322
Completed: 2/20/09

Highland Destiny - Hannah Howell

This is the first time that I have read anything written by Hannah Howell, but it sure won't be the last. Even though you don't have to read her Highland series in order, I wanted to start with the first one that introduces the Murray clan.

Highland Destiny is Balfour's story. I love romance stories that have strong heroines. Maldie is faced with problems and she jumps in and takes charge. The hero in this story has a few insecurities that makes him seem all the more real. The secondary characters add a wonderful dimension to the story.

The Scottish dialect is hard to read in the beginning, but contrary to what other people have said about it - I thought it added truth to the story. After a couple of chapters it became easier to read and understand. I don't think it took away from the story at all.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 4/5
Pages: 303
Completed: 9/11/08

Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris

I love the Sookie Stackhouse series. She is a fantastic heroine - just a working class woman trying to make it in the world of the supernatural.

She works for a Were and dates a Vampire. She has been hunted by a serial killer; sent to Dallas to find a missing Vampire; sent to Jackson to look for her missing boyfriend, Bill the Vampire; and in Dead to the World gets drawn into a dangerous battle between witches, vampires, and werewolves.

Eric, the master vampire has lost his memory, Bill has taken off to Peru, and Jason, her brother, is abducted. What more can happen to Sookie? All I can say is, delve into the wonderful world created by Charlaine Harris and find out.

I can't say enough about how much I enjoy this series and am looking forward to reading the next one - Dead as a Doornail. There are a few short stories that happen inbetween these two that I want to read also. But Dead as a Doornail is the next full length story.

You can read my full review of Dead to the World here.

Rating: 4/5
Pages: 291
Completed: 6/6/08

Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris

This is the first book in Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly series. Harper is a person who finds dead people. She can sense their final location, and she shares their very last moments.

I started reading this book yesterday and couldn't put it down. It had me engaged until the very end - which didn't end how I thought it would. I couldn't figure this one out - which I absolutely love in a book. I enjoyed Harper's "give it to them straight" attitude and was intrigued by the depth of caring and protectiveness from her step-brother, Tolliver.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 263
Completed: 3/26/08

The Killing Dance - Laurell K. Hamilton

I finished another challenge book - The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton. This was read for the 888, A~Z, and Spring Reading Challenges.




Anita Blake is in trouble again - this time with a $500,000 price on her head. With the help of Edward, Richard, and Jean-Claude will Anita be able to find out who wants her dead? Will Richard win the challenge with the other alpha male in the pack, Marcus? And will Anita be able to choose between the two men in her life?

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 5/5
Pages: 387
Completed: 3/4/08