Tag: Patricia J. Delois

Guest Reviews

Posted October 20, 2009 by Tracy in Reviews | 5 Comments

I suck! Seriously. I hopped onto Blogger to let you know that my review for Indiscreet had posted over at The Book Binge and I started thinking – have I let them know about my reviews lately? Um, no…not since the middle of Sept. Yikes! What the hell is that all about? I have no idea, truly. This post should get me all caught up! lol

Starting with the oldest first – just click on the titles to go to the review:

Viking He at by Sandra Hill
Psychologist Joy Nelson thinks things are bad when she finds herself training in the modern-day female Navy SEALs program. But then her life takes a turn for the worse. Somehow she’s been thrust back in time to the cold Norselands, and is being auctioned off as a thrall, or slave–a gift for a Viking warlord, who would be a perfect candidate for Male Chauvinist Viking of the Centuries!

Brandr isn’t thrilled with the slave his brothers have purchased for him. Holy Thor! The woman wants to teach him anger-management skills! And help him find his feminine side, whatever that is. She may be beautiful, but the saucy wench defies him at every turn. So Brandr makes her an offer: She can earn her freedom…as his bed thrall. But when Joy dares to decline his offer, he must decide what to do with the woman enslaved to him–and the out-of-control heat between them.

Beyond the Rain by Jess Grange r
In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their freedom, for their lives, and for a love that may destroy them both…

After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite — the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten — but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…

Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.

Bufflehead Sisters by Patricia L. Delois
As an only child, Janet longs for a sister her parents are unable to give her. In kindergarten she meets Sophie, a strange and imaginative girl with a troubled family life. As friendship grows between the two girls, Janet believes her prayers have been answered, especially when members of her family embrace Sophie as one of their own.

Sophie’s troubles continue to follow her through high school, and Janet stands by her “sister” until, in adulthood, she learns of a devastating secret Sophie has kept from her. Janet’s world is turned upside down—and she discovers there may be a limit to what sisters should share.

Neck and Ne ck by Elizabeth Bevarly
There’s only one sure way for fledgling party planner Natalie Beckett to make her Kentucky Derby Eve soiree a success: get reclusive video game creator/billionaire Russell Mullholland to attend. But how can she even get out of the gate with Russell’s gorgeous bodyguard, Finn Guthrie, blocking the way? Never let it be said that Natalie doesn’t like a challenge, for soon she finds sparring with Finn far more exciting than landing Russell on her VIP guest list.

Indi screet by Carolyn Jewel
Edward, Marquess of Foye, would have been happy to continue his life as an unmarried gentleman rake. His brother’s death changed everything. As the last of his line, Edward must now marry. Heart already broken by a capricious young girl, he vows to find an older woman-seasoned, mature. . .and no threat to his feelings. Falling in love can be dangerous. . . Sabine Godard was educated by an Oxford don beyond what was proper. Her studies became her salvation after her past left her unwilling to accept the touch of any man. Though she never intended to fall in love, when she and Edward meet, passion defies logic. Together they explore temptation and sensuality, healing old wounds. . .until events require them to risk everything for their love.

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Tagged: Carolyn Jewel, Elizabeth Bevarly, Guest Review, Jess Granger, Patricia J. Delois, Sandra Hill, The Book Binge

Guest Review: Bufflehead Sisters by Patricia J. Delois

Posted October 1, 2009 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 2 Comments

Tracy’s review of Bufflehead Sisters by Patricia J. Delois.

As an only child, Janet longs for a sister her parents are unable to give her. In kindergarten she meets Sophie, a strange and imaginative girl with a troubled family life. As friendship grows between the two girls, Janet believes her prayers have been answered, especially when members of her family embrace Sophie as one of their own.

Sophie’s troubles continue to follow her through high school, and Janet stands by her “sister” until, in adulthood, she learns of a devastating secret Sophie has kept from her. Janet’s world is turned upside down—and she discovers there may be a limit to what sisters should share.

This book follows Janet from the time she is in Kindergarten and meets Sophie to when they are about 30 years old. It’s Janet’s life, told from Janet’s point of view, but it’s really a story about Sophie and how her life effected Janet’s. Sophie is a messed up kid. Her father takes infidelity to the extreme and her mother has serious mental issues. Eventually her mother goes over the edge and is taken away and locked up – then her father just starts bringing his conquests home. Sophie starts spending more and more time at Janet’s and as much as Janet thinks of Sophie as a sister and Janet’s dad loves her to death, Janet’s mother doesn’t care for her. This dislike only gets worse as Sophie grows up and starts doing drugs, sharing some free love and getting into trouble. Janet’s mom urges Janet to stay away from her but the girls are inseparable.

As they get older Sophie really takes the free love (yes, the story takes place in the 60’s & 70’s) to the nth degree and sleeps with just about everything that walks. When she is 16 she starts an affair with a married man who she falls in love with. Even though the man breaks it off with her she remains in love with him throughout the book. This man is the cause of a huge rift between Sophie and Janet toward the end of the book and almost completely decimates their relationship.

While the story started out pretty good I had issue with the way it was told when the girls were small. This was supposedly from Janet’s POV and the things that she was thinking and saying when she was 5-7 were completely ridiculous – kids just don’t talk like that. Also, the way that Janet’s parents were talking to Sophie and Janet was uber inappropriate. I had to stop and wonder if the author had children and if she did, did she talk to them that way when they were little? Just very strange. When the girls got older I didn’t mind as much as it seemed to flow better.

The relationship with the married man: while I knew who the man was almost immediately it wasn’t revealed until near the end of the book. I felt that more time should have been spent on Janet and Sophie trying to fix their relationship from this affair than was given. I personally felt that the way the book ended was ungratifying. How far can your friends and your family eff up and you still love them? That’s basically the question of the book and I’m not sure it was answered.

The book is a coming of age tale that is fun at times, slightly perverted at times, disturbing at times and delves into the issues of friendship and family. It kept my attention and was a quick read but I can’t say I would tell people to run out and read it.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.

This book is available from Penguin. You can buy it here.

2 Comments

Tagged: 3.0 Reviews, Guest Reviews, Patricia J. Delois, Penguin, Reviews, Tracy's Reviews, Women's Fiction

What I Read Last Week

Posted September 28, 2009 by Tracy in Reviews | 3 Comments

Hi folks – it’s already Monday again and I’m behind – as is my usual lately. Today I woke with the migraine from hell. It’s abated somewhat with meds but it’s damned hard to sit here so I’ll be quick.

Saturday I got together with the So Cal Blogger in Pasadena and let me just say how much I love those women! They are so great and it’s just sheer unadulterated heaven to talk to them for hours on end! I have a picture of us but at this moment I’m in too much pain to download the pictures. Besides the camera is in the other room and that’s just too damned far for me right now. 🙂 I’ll post them soon.

So what I read:

I started off with One Week as Lovers by Victoria Dahl. I read this fab review at The Book Smugglers and decided to buy it. It was really good and I liked it a lot. I’d only read one of Dahl’s books before and it was a contemporary but I have to say I liked her historical work just as much. 4.25 out of 5

Next up was Set the Dark on Fire by Jill Sorenson. Another great romantic suspense novel by Jill. I really like her books. My review is here. 4.25 out fo 5

My next read was What A Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken. This is book 3 in the series and I liked it just as much as the first 2. It covered Gwenvael’s relationship with Dagmar as well as catching us up on all of the rest of the dragon siblings. It moved around a lot but it flowed very nicely. Good series…I love the humor, sex, romance and fighting that goes on. 4.25 out of 5

I covered my Year of the Category Challenge read and my Tracy’s TBR Challenge read all in one book by reading Her Best Friend’s Brother by Kay Stockham. I’ve had the book for a while and had been meaning to read it but never got around to it. I decided to read it for my YOTC Challenge so that made me the multi-tasker of the day. lol I’ll post my review of it tomorrow.

Last was Buf fle head Sisters by Patricia J. Delois. A fiction book I read for The Book Binge that wasn’t a romance and was a tad bizarre. I’ll let you know when my review posts.