Wednesday Reads

Okay, maybe I cheated a little. I read a couple of novellas to boost my quota so I’d reach my goal (and I only have to finish one more to do that!). I still read more pages than last year. That should count for something, shouldn’t it? Plus, I still have weeks left to read more (like at least finish that 90th book!). Maybe next year I’ll lower my goal so I don’t go all crazy at the end of the year. Yeah, right. Who am I kidding? I'll go crazy regardless. Here’s what I read this week:

Dec 9: “Wolf Tales VIII” by Kate Douglas, #8 in the Wolf Tales series (duh!), a paranormal erotica at 265 pages. Blurb from book: In the shadows they transform into beasts and possessed of boundless sexual energy, with the strength and stamina to indulge every primal urge. Now, six new Chanku have appeared—bold, brash, and very much in need of their elders’ wisdom. It is decided to split the young pack: three will travel to Montana to learn from Anton Cheval, and three to Colorado to be mentored by Ulrich Mason and his mate, Millie… Having weathered a series of vicious attacks, the Montana pack welcomes the distraction of breaking in the novices. But everything changes with the arrival of a mysterious stranger whose connection to Millie will bring the she-wolf, her partner, and their protégés—including Matt, the sensitive alpha Millie has brought to his sexual peak—to Montana. The time has come for Millie to confront her past, even as the young Chanku prepare for a future of power, pride, and pure pleasure… This one didn’t hold my attention like previous books in the series. I wasn’t really sure what the book was about. And the ending left me wondering even more. I own the rest of the series, so I will continue reading it. Plus, I like a lot of the characters, so there is that.

Dec 10: “Treasure on Moon Lake” by Amy Gamet, #1 in the Love on the Lake series, a contemporary romance at 118 pages. Blurb from Goodreads: Jewelry designer Tori Henderson’s first year in business was far more expensive than she could have imagined. Faced with closing the doors of Tori’s Treasures, she sinks her last dollar into one final promotion—a widely publicized treasure hunt for a chest of fine, handmade jewelry that could drum up enough business to get her back in the black... or kill her shop once and for all. The last thing she needs is her mother's announcement that she's preparing to marry Edward Trainor, the father of Tori’s long ago summer crush, Gabe - a man who regularly makes his way into Tori's dreams some ten years later. Corporate tycoon Jed Trainor has no intention of attending his estranged father’s wedding, and he certainly doesn’t need to see his half-brother Gabe after the other man put the moves on Jed's one-time fiancée. But with business problems looming, Jed needs time to think, and the small town of Moon Lake seems like the perfect place to hide away while he figures out how to save his empire. The last thing he needs is the distraction of a beautiful woman who thinks she’s in love with his idiot half-brother. Tori is determined to win Gabe’s heart, but Jed has other plans. When they learn Gabe is bringing a date to the wedding, Jed offers to bring Tori himself, knowing any woman on his arm is sure to be on Gabe’s radar. But his ploy for her attention just may blow up in his face. Can Jed prove to Tori he’s the Trainor brother she really belongs with? All I can say is that I’m not the audience for this book, but I gave it a try.

Dec 12: “Ready to Were” by Robyn Peterman, #1 in the Shift Happens series, a comedic paranormal/urban fantasy at 108 pages. Blurb from Goodreads: I never planned on going back to Hung Island, Georgia. Ever. I was a top notch Were agent for the secret paranormal Council and happily living in Chicago where I had everything I needed – a gym membership, season tickets to the Cubs and Dwayne – my gay, Vampyre best friend. Going back now would mean facing the reason I’d left and I’d rather chew my own paw off than deal with Hank. Hank the Tank Wilson was the six foot three, obnoxious, egotistical, perfect-assed, best-sex-of-my-life, Werewolf who cheated on me and broke my heart. At the time, I did what any rational woman would do. I left in the middle of the night with a suitcase, big plans and enough money for a one-way bus ticket to freedom. I vowed to never return. But here I am, trying to wrap my head around what has happened to some missing Weres without wrapping my body around Hank. I hope I don’t have to eat my words and my paw. This was a cute and funny story (with a steamy sex scene) and ended a lot better than I expected (no cliffhangers—yay!). Some people might call this a romance, and in a way it is, but it’s in first person so I never know what Hank is thinking and I need that for it to be a good romance for me. Still, I enjoyed the story very much and I’ll check out the next one in the series.

So…It’s nine days until Christmas. How ready are you? I’m just about done with the shopping. Next is the wrapping. Ugh. I bet I wait until the last minute to wrap. I usually do. Haha!

Happy Reading!

Stacy