What I’ve Been Reading This Week

Posted April 27, 2009 by Tracy in Reviews | 8 Comments

Happy Sunday!

It’s been a beautiful day in So California, I’m so sad to see it end. As I was telling someone earlier today we had 102 degree weather earlier in the week and then down to 65 by the end and now it’s back up to 85-90! Crazy! I’m enjoying it though and between laundry, putzing/cleaning around the house and reading today I spent a lot of time outdoors with my daughters. They love being sprayed with the hose! Ah the joys of being young. 🙂

My boss went on sabbatical a week ago and I thought it would be dull in my office – yeah, right! I was so stinking busy this past week but it did make the week go by fast even though I felt like I’d temporarily lost my right arm. With only 2 people in my office (me and the boss) it made it very quiet in there!

The first book I completed was Queer Wolf ed. by James Rasmussen (see 1 post down for review). I say this is the first book I completed because technically I’ve been reading it for a few weeks. It was a book of 17 short stories and I would read 1 here and 1 there. Pretty good shorts all about werewolves in some fashion with all being m/m or f/f stories. 3.5 out of 5

My next book was Till There Was You by Lynn Kurland. My first book by this author and I very much enjoyed it. I read this one for The Book Binge so you can go here to read my review. The book releases this Tuesday the 28th. 4 out of 5

My Tracy’s TBR challenge read for the week was Divorced, Desperate and Dating by Christie Craig. Katiebabs sent me this book a while back and though it caught my attention I just didn’t read it for some reason. I find myself saying that a lot, don’t I? lol Anyway, since KB sent it to me I’ll be doing a review of this one for her blog while she’s away visiting Ana in England May 1-6. I’ll let you know when the review posts.

My next read was the continuation of the story of Luc in Hellbourne: Bound and Determined by Amber Kell. I didn’t like this one quite as much as I did the first but I still loved Luc. He’s great. He’s just torn between men and he’s getting ready for his birthday – which means he’s taken to hell by his father the devil and tortured by his brothers which they try to coerce him in to giving up his soul.
The problem I think I had with the story is that in the first he was completely broken hearted by the alpha were but then it was like he forgave all in book 2. I know it’s a short and there’s not time to delve too deeply but I thought that was something that could have been worked in – imho.

Next up was my Year of the Category read for the month Awaken to Pleasure by Nalini Singh. I’ll be posting my review on Wednesday of this week.

After that it turned into the novella weekend: first up was Captured by Anna J. Evans. I’ve had this one for a while as well and finally got around to it. It was a really good erotic historical. Lillian takes erotic pictures of herself and sends them to her lost love. He tries to resist her for many reasons but he can’t deny the love he’s had for her. Hot story but also heartwarming. 4 out of 5

Then it was on to Happy Ending by L.B. Gregg. Wow I just loved this one! That LB really write great stories and great characters. I’ll review this one later this week. (great job Lisabea!)

Finally it was Running from the Past by Katie Reus. Katie just found out this past Wednesday that this book is a finalist in the Passionate Plume Contest from Passionate Ink. Congratulations Katie!!!
A woman, Emma, running from her not so distant past and a very dangerous man, runs straight into the home, job and arms of Caleb Ryder. Though she’s there to be his cook neither of them can deny their attraction to each other. Just a great novella – very much enjoyed it! 4 out of 5

Have a great week and Happy Reading!

8 Comments

Tagged: Amber Kell, Anna J. Evans, Christie Craig, James Rasmussen, Katie Reus, LB Gregg, Lynn Kurland, Nalini Singh

Review: Queer Wolf ed. James Rasmussen

Posted April 25, 2009 by Tracy in Reviews | 6 Comments

Bound within QUEER WOLF is an exciting collection of contemporary, urban and sensual werewolf tales; a gathering of queer wolves presented by exciting, new and established authors.

Edited by: James EM Rasmussen
Stories by: RJ Bradshaw; Naomi Clark; Charlie Cochrane; Laramie Dean; Moondancer Drake; Ginn Hale; Erica Hildebrand; Michael Itig; Lucas Johnson; Andi Lee; Charles Long; Stephen Osborne; Robert Saldarini; Quinn Smythwood; Jerome Stueart; Anel Viz; Cari Z

Queer Wolf, as it says, is a collection of werewolf tales where all of the characters are gay. There are 17 short stories included in the anthology and run the gambit from contemporary to Urban Fantasy and involve m/m as well as f/f. Since there are so many stories I won’t give a review of each one but just do a general review.

What I first noticed about this anthology and appreciated was the diversity in the different stories and themes. It’s amazing that so many stories can be included and not one of them the same as the other. It just shows you that there is something out there for everyone – whether is be a story or an author.

There were a couple of the stories that I really liked such as Ginn Hale’s Shy Hunter which was a tale of fear and how it shapes a person’s life.

Also New Beginnings by Cari Z. where a wolf enforcer learns about himself and the wolf he’s instructed to train.

Wrong Turn by Stephen Osborne was one that I enjoyed immensely. This is a story about a man who makes a wrong turn and ends up in the werewolf part of town. He meets a wonderful man and begins a relationship. It was one of those that just left a smile on your face when you were done.

Where the Sled Dogs Run by Jerome Stueart was a cute light tale about wolf shamans and a 4th grade teacher.

While I didn’t love every story I found something to like in most all of them. This was a most enjoyable read and if you are a shifter story lover as I am then this will definitely be a book that is right for you.

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5