What I Read Last Week

It's been an interesting last few days. I might have actually sold MY SUNNY VAMPIRE. Yeah, shocked me, too. I'll certainly share all the details as soon as I can. Let me just say I'm silently freaking out. It's one thing dreaming about something, but something totally different when it might actually come true. It's not just about me any more and that scares the bejesus out of me!

Anyway, on to my post. Here's what I read in the past week.

Feb 8: "Kiss Me, Kill Me" by Allison Brennan. This is the second book in the Lucy Kincaid series. Yes, if you were to read these, it would be best to read them in order. Blurb: Lucy Kincaid has firsthand experience dealing with deadly criminal predators, and she's fully prepared to share her many talents with the FBI. But when her career plans are derailed, her boyfriend, security expert Sean Rogan, asks for help on his latest private investigation. Using her well-honed cyber-hunting skills, Lucy is soon on the trail of a missing teenage girl with a penchant for disappearing – and a shocking secret life. FBI Agent Suzanne Madeaux is also tracking someone; a serial killer on the loose in New York City. Dubbed by the press the Cinderella Strangler, he cruises seamy underground sex parties where drug-fueled women make for easy pickings. As Lucy and Sean's desperate search collides with the FBI's hunt, Lucy isn't about to step aside. Haunted by painful memories of her own harrowing encounters with evil, she's determined to keep any more innocents from meeting the fate she so narrowly escaped. Delving deep into the twisted psyche of a remorseless killer, Lucy must confront her own fears – even if it means risking a future job with the FBI and future happiness with Sean. I loved this book. I like how the characters Lucy and Sean meet up are different than the previous book, making it fresh. It's hard to comment on a series without giving stuff away, though, so I'll end here. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads. And while I should be reading some books I said I'd judge, I'm delving into the next (since it's staring at me – taunting me…).

Feb 11: "If I Should Die" by Allison Brennan. This is the third book in the Lucy Kincaid series. Blurb: Aspiring FBI agent Lucy Kincaid and her P.I. boyfriend, Sean Rogan, are heading to the Adirondack Mountains for a pleasant romantic getaway when they detour to help troubled friends, owners of a new resort who are battling malicious vandals. After Lucy and Sean pursue an arsonist into an abandoned mine shaft, Lucy stumbles upon an even more heinous crime – and the perfectly preserved remains of its victim. The only thing more disturbing than the discovery of the corpse is its sudden disappearance. While the local police remain skeptical, Lucy is dead certain that there's a connection between the sabotage at the resort and the murder – one that the lest-than-neighborly citizens of Spruce Lake seem to have a stake in keeping hidden. Then, when a cold-blooded sniper targets Sean and Lucy, FBI agent Noah Armstrong enters the fray to ensure that more bodies don't hit the ground. Now three outsiders race to untangle a violent conspiracy before they end up like the rest of Spruce Lake's secrets: dead and buried. Told you this book taunted me, and there's a reason it's called a suspense – I couldn't put it down! I really love this series and gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads. I do not have the next book on hand to read (although it's ordered), and I do have some to judge, so I'll be taking a break (grumble, grumble).

Feb 12: "Hers for the Holidays" by SamanthaHunter. This is labeled as an erotic romance. Blurb: Bodyguard Ely Berringer's job was simple: find the missing woman. But there's nothing simple about smokin'-hot tattoo artist Lydia Hamilton…or the fact that they once shared a wickedly sexy night together. And once he finds her in Montana, he realizes that one night with Lydia was definitely not enough! Lydia's been trying to sort out the sale of her childhood home and ranch. But lately there's been a rash of nasty incidents – break-ins, damaged property…just enough to convince Ely that he needs to stick around. And if that means some no-strings-attached naughty nights? Well, he's all hers…even if it is only for the holiday! Frankly, I don't consider this erotic. Yeah, it has some steamy scenes, but I get more from a JR Ward book! I did like the story, but this is not my typical fare. Harlequin books are just too short (for my taste). I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads.

I do have a question for you – do you read the blurbs? Does it help I put them in italics? Just wondering how you feel about them, I guess.