Wednesday Reads

Why is it when I have hosting duties on the Sizzle and Sass Facebook Page I just can’t get into writing. Argh! One of these days I’m going to figure out how to do both on the same day/week: marketing and writing. Anyway, here’s what I read this week (and yes, some of them are rather short):

Jul 8: “Blood Eternal” by Amber Belldene, the 4th book/short-story in the Blood Vine series, a paranormal romance at 19 pages. Blurb from Goodreads: Distance has grown between blood mates Pedro Torres and Lucas Bennett. Before an eternity of bonded misery becomes their fate, Pedro undertakes a plan of seduction, hoping it will close the gap and bring his lover back to him forever. This short story is a nice look at 2 characters who didn’t get their own book. And while it was an enjoyable read, I would have enjoyed it more if it were longer. Probably because I’m not ready to say goodbye to the series. Yes, I’m greedy!

Jul 10: “Ghostly Justice” by Allison Brennan, #2.5 in the Seven Deadly Sins series, an urban fantasy at 84 pages. Blurb from Goodreads: LAPD Detective Grant Nelson made a promise to his dying girlfriend that he would find out what happened to a Jane Doe who’s been in the morgue for months. Grant is a cop first, last and always – but what he’s recently witnessed makes him realize there are forces he doesn’t understand and can’t possibly fight alone. The unusual aspects of the case force him to bring in supernatural experts Moira O’Donnell and Rafe Cooper. Two puncture marks in the victim’s neck confirm she’d been bitten by a human with incisor implants, but the large-bore needle mark in her side prove that someone intentionally drained her blood. Moira doesn’t want to get involved because she doesn’t think the case is related to anything supernatural, but after Rafe communicates with the ghost, he insists that dark magic was involved in her murder. Reluctantly, Moira agrees to help and together, the three of them uncover a violent, vampiric subculture that has no intention of stopping with only one human sacrifice. Because with each death they become stronger, and the threat of hell on earth becomes all too real. It has been awhile since I read book #2, but got back into these characters easily. Nice action (and a sex scene) made it an enjoyable read for me. This novella also included the short story “Ghostly Vengeance,” which is #1.5 in the series. That one is only 13 pages and was just a tiny bit confusing, since it’d been even LONGER since I read book 1. Still liked it, though. Book 3 is due out soon and I’ll definitely be getting that. I really like Moira and Rafe.

Jul 12: “Risking Love” by Janie Mason, #1 in the New Beginnings series, a historical romance at 223 pages. Blurb from Goodreads: Reclusive widow Lucy Neels barely survived her late husband’s brutality. All she wants is to be left in peace to manage her small southern Ohio farm in the days before the Civil War. But when her only friend, a conductor on the secretive Underground Railroad, begs for her help, she can no longer stay uninvolved. Lorenzo “Renzo” Ross, second son of a Philadelphia shipping magnate, has floundered all his adult life. He’s had it with secrets and deceptions. After tracking the fiancée who has jilted him to Ohio, he finds himself deputized. When he meets Lucy, his protective instincts, and his desire, are ignited by the independent widow. But Renzo has a dark secret of his own. Harboring fugitive slaves is dangerous and illegal. The last thing Lucy needs is the attention of the mysterious new deputy sheriff. In spite of the risk, Lucy finds herself drawn to Renzo, whose kindness chips away at the walls she’s built around her heart. As their attraction grows, unscrupulous slave catchers draw closer to discovering their prey. Out of options, Lucy and Renzo must decide who they can trust, and that sometimes a lie can save a life. I’m not a big historical romance reader, but when I do read historicals, prefer the ones set in the U.S. (because frankly, I couldn’t care less about Dukes and such). And that’s one of the reasons I gave this book a try. So glad I did. I really enjoyed the story (as well as the romance) and the history involved (I could relate to it better, I guess you could say). If you like historical romance set in pre-civil war Ohio, give this book a try. It certainly kept my attention throughout.

So… Did you see Todd Frazier win the Home Run Derby? I was so excited for him (especially since he’s a former Dayton Dragon!).

I’ll get pictures posted on Friday of our trip to Racine. Yes, I actually took some. Yes, I already downloaded them from my camera. Shocking, huh?

Happy Reading!

Stacy