And Away We Go...

It's that time again. I'm headed to Florida tomorrow for the launch of STS-134, 

the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour.

During the time that I'm gone Katidom will not be updated. I expect to be back online on Sunday or Monday.

Have a terrific week, everybody!

Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson - A Review (-ish)

Amber Haven is mourning her mother. She lived with her mom for a year, nursing her through a terminal illness and now is resolved to go to Vegas and try to do the things women in their young 20s do. She has a week's package a Caesar's Palace and is going to make the most of it. On her first night on vacation, she goes to Pure, Caesar's famous nightclub, and meets up with an incredibly handsome man named Sam LeClaire, who is a professional hockey player. They spend three torrid days and nights together that culminates in the two of them getting married. But Autumn wakes up after her wedding night, Sam is gone. She waits around all day, but he never shows back up. A week later, she's contacted by his attorney informing her that Sam wants a divorce. Autumn is crushed and deeply chagrined by her stupidity and impulsiveness, but of course agrees. But more bad news is coming when Autumn finds herself pregnant six weeks after her wedding. She contacts Sam's attorney, who insists on a paternity test, and endures pregnancy alone. And begins a growing loathing of Sam LeClaire.

Six years later, Autumn is a successful event planner and mother to Conner, who is the spitting image of his father. When Autumn plans the wedding of the owner of Sam's hockey club, she knows she's going to see him. Sam loves being a hockey player, and all of the fame and notoriety that goes along with it. He pays Autumn a ton to care for their son and really believes that he's doing right by his son. But when Autumn, in a fit of anger at Sam tells him that his lackadaisical visit schedule with Conner is a constant disappointment to his son and that she often has to soothe Conner while he cries himself to sleep, Sam realizes that maybe he's not been doing a good job. He resolves to do better by Conner, and this throws him and Autumn together. Sam begins to have a growing respect for Autumn, and all she does by herself. Autumn is stumped by Sam's sudden reversal. Why is he around all the time. She believes that he'll grow bored by with being his son and that sooner or later he'll be gone. But he doesn't leave, and soon Autumn is forced to admit that maybe Sam is a good father. But can she get over the hurt and anguish he's caused her and Conner and open her heart to possibility of being together?

I love Rachel Gibson's Chinooks series. This is book six in the series, and I have a great comfort level with the setting and characters. I love hockey, so it's always fun to see the game woven throughout the game. But this book left me cold. Sam is a serious ass. And in my eyes, he never really redeems himself. He's one of those guys who goes through the first half of the book really believing that throwing cash at his baby mama is enough. Of course, once he spends time with Autumn, he begins to remember why he found her so attractive. And sure, he's got a  smidge of regret over the way he treated her in Vegas, but hey, he had his own big problems, and so really it was justified (except, not really). 

For her part, Autumn was one of the wishy-washy heroines that aggravate me. She's pissed at Sam, and completely standoffish. Except when she wants to sleep with him. Then she does, but the next morning, like an immature child, kicks him out of bed. He accuses her of running hot and cold, and boy does she ever. To me, her actions are slightly more justified, because really, Sam is an asshat who can't take responsibility for anything. But if he's such an asshat, why the heck are you sleeping with him?

Overall, between the hero's self absorption and the heroine's hot and cold nature, the book was more of a miss for me. That being said, Rachel Gibson is still a dandy writer, and I'd imagine there are lots of her fans and readers who would enjoy the book. But for me, if I'm the heroine, and raising a kindergartener, I most certainly would not get involved with another one. 

Final grade: C-

This book received from NetGalley

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts - A Review(-ish)

Nora Roberts used to be my very favorite romance author. She's still an autobuy for me, but has dropped from my top 3 favorites. This is, in part, because the sheer volume of books that she publishes means that there is a level of repetitiveness and predictability to her books. Oh, it definitely does not make them less entertaining, but I find that these days I can ID the bad guy in her romantic suspense books almost immediately. 

Chasing Fire, her April release, is just such a book - predictable, yet very entertaining. Rowan Tripp is a second generation Zulie. A smokejumper. She's part of an elite team of fire fighters that parachute into the wildfires that menace western states during the summertime. Her team digs trenches, cuts down trees and does everything possible to kill a fire that is raging out of control. Rowan is very, very good at her job. She would be, she's the daughter of Iron Man Tripp, a Zulie legend. Rowan, or Swede, as her team calls her because of her statuesque figure and short cap of blond hair, is tough as nails, independent, and slightly haunted by the death of her jump partner, Jim last season.

At the beginning of the season, Rowan meets Gulliver Curry, a rookie. He's also an experienced fire fighter, but hadn't jumped out of airplanes before. He's quick on his feet, well read, smart, and has an immediate attraction to Ro. Rowan is having none of it. She doesn't get involved with team members, particularly not rookies, who may wash out. But as Ro and Gull work together, she develops a grudging respect for him, and really loves that he can make her laugh. Gull is not to be dissuaded by Ro's "no dating policy" and woos her with a picnic, thoughtful gestures, and being good in a fire or under pressure.

While Ro and Gulliver are falling for each other, a former flame of Ro's dead jump partner, Jim has shown up, baby in tow. She's furious with Rowan for "allowing" Jim to die (even though his death was an accident) and leave her baby fatherless. Dolly was fired the season before after Jim's death because she threatened Rowan with a knife. But she's been hired back now and is still furious with Rowan. She wants vengeance and will stop at nothing to get it. One night she's found vandalizing Rowan's room and is promptly fired again. Rowan, who was enraged at Dolly's invasion into her space and the destruction of her belongings, threatens Dolly and has to be restrained from physically hurting her. So when Dolly turns up dead - burned to death- Rowan is considered a suspect. But as things spiral out of control, others die, equipment used by the Zulies is damaged, and lives are on the line. Will the police who are investigating the crimes be able to find the perpetrator before someone close to Rowan or Ro herself dies?

I've said it before, Nora Roberts is a master at creating a sense of place. And nowhere is this ability on display more than the firefighting scenes in this book. One can practically smell the smoke, and sense the exhilaration as the fire fighters kill the fires. Nora also gives good hero. And Gulliver Curry is a charmer. He's affable when possible, but not afraid to kick a little ass when he needs to. He respects the hell out of Rowan and is captivated by her abilities. He's a definite keeper. Rowan is also really likable. She's strong, independent and smart enough to know when she needs help. She also is an asskicker, but never loses her femininity, even amongst a bunch of men.

The other thing I consistently appreciate about Nora's books is the fact that the main couple isn't always the only course. And this is the case in this book too, there's a lovely and compelling secondary romance between Rowan's father and a high school principal. 

Overall, the story is entertaining and very smoothly written. Since I don't read Nora books for the suspense, the fact that it was predictable didn't really bother me. But this is definitely not the book for hard core romantic suspense readers. But if you're looking for a terrific beach reach, this one fits the bill perfectly.

Final grade: B

~Checking to see if you won a copy of Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison? 

Winners are announced below!~

Dragon Bound Winners!!

Congratulations to our Dragon Bound winners:

Stephalicious

Valerie

I'll be contacting you both via email to get your mailing addresses.

Thanks to all for playing, and if you're new to Katidom, welcome! I hope you'll return!

REMINDER: Thea Harrison visits on May 9th!

Win a Copy of Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

If you are on twitter, or have been around the internet any in the last few months, you've heard a ton of buzz about Thea Harrison's new release, Dragon Bound. 

I've read it, and I can tell you that it is tightly written, emotional, exciting and features a wonderfully imagined world. Thea will be visiting Katidom on May 9th, and in advance of her visit, her publisher has graciously offered TWO bound galleys of Dragon Bound to Katidom readers!

I'm so excited about this book, and am thrilled to give each of you an opportunity to read it before release day.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!

The Reluctant Nude by Meg Maguire - A Review(-ish)

Fallon Frost is an environmental advocate and biologist. She's passionate about her work, and in particular about protecting the land that her late foster mother's home is on. The land has been bought by a shady developer and he's threatening  to turn it into a strip mall, or some other environmental nightmare. Fallon has sued him in court multiple times, but now, they've come to a much shadier and less appealing agreement. You see, said developer not only has designs on the land, but he also has designs on Fallon. When Fallon emphatically turns down his latest offer, he resorts to blackmail. He will give her back the land, if she will agree to pose nude for famed sculptor, M. L. Emery. Fallon is appalled and disgusted, but in the end agrees to take three months off from her job and move to rural Nova Scotia in order to be sculpted.

From the moment Max Emery meets Fallon he's fascinated. Not necessarily sexually at first, but she's so brusque, so defensive, and he cannot understand her motivation for agreeing to sit for him. For whatever reason, he seems to trigger all of her defenses and he amuses himself for the first few weeks poking at her, and then enjoying her chilling responses, or the total rise that he seems to get out of her. She's standoffish and difficult, and while she is resolute in sitting for him, she never discusses why, except to say that the sculpture must be done. 

Max begins his studies of Fallon, and as he does, he catches little glimpses of the woman who is beneath all of the chill. He wonders what motivates her, why she's so prickly. Max is a literal child prodigy, having been discovered at age 12, and having been immersed in the New York art scene by age 14. He finally burned out a few years before meeting Fallon and retreated to rural Nova Scotia, where he's developed a fascination with bodies that have some physical deformity. He sculpts scars, amputations, and other physical deformities and has found a peace and beauty in the process. When he meets Fallon, it doesn't take him long to know that there must be a reason for her coolness, but will he be able to discover it as he sculpts?

The Reluctant Nude is a completely character driven book. The story circles around Max and Fallon, and we discover facets of their characters gradually. As the two spend more time together, they become more likable, almost softer. Although Fallon is very closed off, even with her inner monologue, one gets a sense of a stifling protective instinct in her. Throughout the book I kept waiting for some giant revelation about Fallon's character as to why she's so closed off. We never get it, but instead get to experience Max teasing the instinct out of Fallon. He pushes her harder than anyone has, barreling by all signals that she gives him that he's delving too deep. And as he discovers things about her, so do we. She tells Max he's like a detective, and in this case, it's really true. The reader finds things out about Fallon as he does.

Max is truly a delight to experience. He's witty and smart. He's creative and clearly an artist. But he also has a deep capacity for love, which he rediscovers as he's falling for Fallon. He's definitely not an alpha male, but instead is a wonderfully written beta, who knows when to push, and when he finally is able to connect with the heroine, it's a glorious reading experience.

On top of that, the sexual tension between the two leads is exquisite, and drawn out to the point where as a reader I was shrieking in my head "Just do it already!" Ms. Maguire leads us on a merry chase, far into the book before the two consummate their relationship, but the slow, deliberate development of their attachment makes the sexual frustration the two characters feel completely worthwhile.  I will say that it took me quite a while to warm up to Fallon. But as usual, I'm a sucker for a dreamy hero, and Max grew on me immediately. Therefore I had a hard time understanding why Fallon was so chilly to him.

The Reluctant Nude is a luscious story that never moves its attention from the development of a relationship between the two leads. It is an emotional, wonderful story that left me heaving a big satisfied sigh at the end. 

Final grade: A-

Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez - A Review (-ish)

I picked up Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez because Holly at Book Binge had mentioned that she'd read it and liked it, and that the story had lingered with her. She's right. It's an interesting story, one I had my issues with, but overall packed a decent emotional punch.

Elizabeth Williams is on the run. She has been for two years, since a nightmarish night in Estonia turned her world upside down. While on the typical post-college backpacking in Europe trip, she and her best friend, Rachel, are at a bar. She encounters a man who disquiets and frightens her, and she drags a drunken Rachel from the bar, rather than risk a confrontation with this scary man. Instead, she finds him about two blocks from their hostel. They are unceremoniously dumped into a van and taken to the wilderness. The girls find themselves being hunted by something that should only occur in nightmares, a pack of werewolves. Rachel is caught and is brutally murdered before Beth's eyes. Beth, whose fight instinct is strong, manages to kill the werewolf who attacked Rachel and escape. 

When she returns to civilization, shes institutionalized immediately, and through therapy and drugs learns to deal with the traumatic after effects of Rachel's murder. Well, almost all the after effects. You see, Beth was bitten by the wolf, and now is horrified to find herself changing with the full moon. She's unable to control the change, and yet disgusted by the fact that she has now become that which killed her best friend. She's been on the run, trying to cope with the horror that her life has become.

For the last five months she's been living in Portland, OR, working at a coffee shop. One day, Braden Edwards walks through the door. Braden owns a successful construction company, and is immediately and irrevocably captivated by Beth. He realizes almost immediately that Beth has been traumatized and works hard to earn her trust. He woos her, taking her to dinner and getting to know her. And little by little they begin to trust each other. All of that changes when the brother of the wolf that attacked the girls arrives in Portland seeking vengeance against Beth. When Beth and Braden encounter Markko Bolvek, he attacks her. Imagine Beth's surprise when Braden changes into a werewolf and engages Markko in battle. Braden is shocked to find Beth bearing the marks of the Bolveks, his family's long time enemy. He and his brother restrain Beth, throw her in the trunk of his car, and head to his family's home to consult with his father about what to do next. Needless to say, Beth is mightily pissed off when she gets out of the trunk. Will she be able to explain her past to Braden? Will he be able to overcome his feelings of betrayal and listen to her? And will they be able to protect Beth from Markko Bolvek, who is intent on revenge?

There's a lot to like about this book. I love a traumatized heroine. One with *real* trauma. And Beth is that girl. She's a survivor, one who is trying so hard to cope with all that has happened to her. And the author does a very credible job in conveying both the extreme horror of what happened to Beth, and the guilt, and sorrow that she feels constantly. She's wary and scared, and the reader understands her reasons for being so. She's also sensible, and has a strong spine, despite being hurt. She's a tremendously likable character.

Likewise, Braden is likable. Although his reaction to Beth's change was extreme in my opinion, his apology is genuine and when he hears the story of her past, he's outraged on her behalf, and determined to try to help her deal with what she has become. 

My issue with the story is that it takes a LONG time for Beth's past to come out. Too much happens that we don't understand before her past is explained. There were occasions while reading the book that I genuinely thought I'd missed a chapter. I understood that something horrible had happened, but it took too long for the truth of it to come out. That being said, once it did come out, I thought that both Beth and Braden reacted in believable ways, and the trust that is slowly built between them is lovely to read. 

My second issue with the story is that there is a final action scene, which is well written, but the HEA after it is too rushed. The characters are just beginning to trust and truly love at the end of the story, and while the epilogue works to show the characters finding their HEA, I would have liked to see them spend more time together to solidify that relationship before Beth makes the decision she does. I felt her choice seemed to come out of left field. 

Overall, the book is an emotional, strongly written romance with some flaws in the story. I think that Ms. Alvarez has a strong narrative voice and a good grasp on character development. I look forward to reading more from her, and will be interested to see which of Braden's brothers (and youngest sister, Lucy) get the next book. She's definitely piqued my interest. Hunting Human is an interesting werewolf story, one that is worth your time.

Final grade: B-/C+

The Chase by Erin McCarthy - A Review (-ish)

Kendall Holbrook is having a good rookie year. She's the only female driver in the Sprint Cup series of NASCAR, and she's putting in a good showing. She's also learning to deal with the sexism and macho drivers on the circuit. She has no time for anything but racing, which has been her dream her whole life. She particularly has no time for Evan Monroe, a talented driver who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend and the only man she ever loved.

Evan still has no idea why Kendall broke his heart years ago. One moment everything was fine, the next, she wouldn't speak to him. He's baffled as to what went wrong, but after multiple attempts to apologize and reconcile, he's realized that she'll never give him a chance and has moved on. And by moved on, we mean nailed just about every pretty girl who has ever looked his direction. But secretly, he still holds a candle for Kendall. When Evan and Kendall end up in a restaurant together, they finally have a frank conversation about what went wrong - and sure enough, it was all a big misunderstanding. They end up reconciling that evening and going back to Evan's house for some of the hottest sex he's ever experienced. But in the morning, Kendall tells him that this was a one time thing. She has no time for romance, she's focused on her rookie season. And since Evan has just lost his sponsor due to his crappy season he'd be smart to do the same. Focus on the season. But Evan can't stop thinking about Kendall. He just knows that if she would give him a chance, they could make it work. Can he make Kendall stop focusing so much on work, and redirect some of her energy towards love?

The Fast Track series is one of my favorite contemporary romance series. Erin McCarthy has a strong voice and a serious knack for creative sex scenes that inform the action and are scald your fingers spicy. I loved Evan already, as he was a secondary character in previous books. But I had a really hard time warming up to Kendall. I felt that she was closed down and very often avoided situations that no grown woman would. I wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her to put some big girl panties on and deal with multiple situations in which she was very often *at least* 50% culpable. She just seemed very immature, and sometimes quite difficult to like. 

The book also has a sharp left turn in the final 50 or so pages. The romance is proceeding along nicely, and then an unexpected plot device pops up. An unneeded plot device. It's dispensed with almost too quickly and with far too much dispatch. Especially for two characters who have both been quite immature throughout the book.

Overall, the book is a quick read, but far from my favorite in the series. If you haven't read any of the Fast Track series, I strongly recommend Flat Out Sexy, which is the best of the series, in my opinion.

Final grade: B-/C+