Holy schmigoly my life is crazy! lol But it’s all good and I can’t complain about a thing! How are you all?
My oldest sister, who lives in Alabama, was in San Diego (about a 3 hour drive from here) for work these past few days but was inundated with work. The girls and I were going to go down to see her on Saturday but alas she had to work. Lucky for us she didn’t work yesterday and drove up. She picked her daughter up in Pasadena and they came up for lunch. Then they went to my house and we all got to spend the evening together along with my mom and dad. It was a lot of fun and just wonderful to spend time with her and my parents since she flew home today and won’t be able to be here for Thanksgiving.
I haven’t had time to think much less post so this is really behind. Of course I’ve not had time to read this week but hopefully that will change since I have a 4 day weekend – woohoo.
My first read was my Tracy’s TBR Challenge Read. I was in the mood for a contemporary so I chose Suzanne Brockmann’s Hot Pursuit. You can read my review here.
Next up was I Spy Something Wicked by Josh Lanyon. This was a short story follow up to his wonderful book I Spy Something Bloody. The story take place 4 months after the first and follows Mark trying to make a decision about doing one last job for his previous employer. It’s well worth the read – especially if you’ve read ISSB. I just love Josh’s work! 4.25 out of 5
Next was the short story Holiday Affair by Yvette Hines. It was the story about a woman who is getting secret gifts from a co-worker and though the person who is giving them hasn’t asked her out she’s determined to start something with him. Knowing he will be at his cabin by himself during the holidays she plans to have her friends drop her off and abandon her at the cabin, with no clothes, for the week. When she gets there though she discovers that another man, one she has secretly lusted after, is there instead. What follows is the story of the two of them spending the week together. There was lots of sex involved but I just never could get into the characters. I definitely liked the hero of the story better but I didn’t know him that well. 2.5 out of 5
My next book was The Spanish Groom by Lynne Graham. Tumperkin had a huge hand in my reading this book. I will be reviewing it for my Year of the Category Challenge so I will post the review later in this week (or Monday depending on how my time goes).
After that I started Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs and just couldn’t put it down. It was such a great book and one that I just loved. It was sad, heart wrenching and horrifying but just so damned good. 5 out of 5
I couldn’t very well finish Iron Kissed and not immediately move on to Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs – thank heavens I had ordered it from the library! Although I loved this book as much as Iron Kissed I had a few issues with it. I think it was more the timing of when things took place – so close on the heels of the previous book. I would have liked it to at least have been a coulple of months down the road – but understand, with some issues with Adam, that it had to be done quickly. 5 out of 5
Last for the week was When Seducing a Duke by Kathryn Smith. This is the first in a new victorian series that she’s doing and it was my first read by this author. I read this one for The Book Binge and my review has been posted. You can go here if you’d like to read it.
Happy Reading!
Glad you got to spend time with your family π It's always fun to do so π
LOL, yay, you love the Mercy Thompson series π I have to say, my Bone Crossed is one of my favorite π I just love Stefan π
Now, you have to wait for the next book like us π
Hi Tracy,
So glad you were able to see your sister!
I have the first two Mercy Thompson books. I really need to read them soon :).
Your reading was very varied! π Cool that you got to see your family – and yay for holiday weekends!
I really got to read this Josh book. Everyone keeps raving about it!
I am so glad Kathryn wrote a straight historical romance. Very, very sexy.
Goody gumdrops!
I loved I Spy Something Wicked – thought it wrapped up that couple wonderfully.
Mercy is one of my fav series!! Can't wait for the next in March!
Nath – Arg! You're right I have to wait and I just don't want to. The last two books were really wonderful.
Amy – I think you'd like the Mercy Thompson series. The first book was good but the subsequent books were excellent.
Chris – I try to mix it up as best I can so I don't get stuck in a rut! lol
And yes! YAY for holiday weekends. π
KB – You really should read the 2 books if you haven't already.
This was my first read by Smith. I haven't really checked her out too much – what else does she write?
Tumperkin – Oh, just wait. lol Do I have your attention? π
Mandi – I liked ISSW too. Sometimes follow up books suffer but this was great.
OMG March? I have to wait until March for the next Mercy book. I'm now sad. lol
Smith has a whole bunch of historicals, but then wrote a few PR historicals and some paranormal romance. I am more of a fan of her straight historicals then her PR or PRH.
I'm rapt you and all of your family were able to spend time together!
Iron Kissed is amazing, isn't it? I love the scene at the end of the book when the British wolf (whose name escapes me) 'explains' things to Adam.
I can't tell you how happy I am to see you loving the Mercy Thompson series as much as I do. :)))
That's so cool that you got to spend some time with your sister like that.
IK is my favorite of the series, for so many reasons. And, like Orannia, I love the scene where (I've forgotten his name, too!) talks to Adam. It was murder to wait for Bone Crossed (and, really, each book) as it came out, to be released. You're so lucky you got to read the 4 pretty close together.
Sounds like fun with your sister. I would have sworn it said "your daughter who lives in Alabama" and I'm thinking "noooo, she's too young to have a daughter that old." LOL
I have ISSW in my TBR file, must get to that. It's always a sure thing with Josh. (Not that he's easy or anything, I'm just saying the quality is there. :-D)
Yay! Glad you got to spend time with your family, especially your sister π Thanks for all the wonderful reviews…I keep saying this but I need to read all of the Mercy Thompson series. It's on my list, just gotta find the time π