My Most Recent Blog Posts

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

(Little, Brown - 2008)

Rating: Excellent

This is one of those rare novels that feels completely perfect and self-contained, and leaves me in awe wondering if I'll ever been able to write anything as good as this book.

Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey

(Hachette Books - 2007)

Rating: Excellent

This is a gorgeous book...emerging after close to 900 pages I'm not quite sure what to do with myself, other than to wait for the next one to come out in paperback.

Carey's latest sees the protagonist, Imriel, son of a traitor, through a forbidden love, an arranged marriage, and a quest for revenge. Much of the book is a poignant look at grief and loss, and healing through love.

The Baby Doctors by Janice Macdonald

(Harlequin Superromance - October 2007)

Rating: Good

I got this book as a Free Book Friday, I think, and it took me a while to get around to it, because I don't particularly like babies, and there's a ginormous one on the front cover.

Did someone put the wrong cover on this book? Because I soon discovered that there aren't any babies in this book. None at all, near as I can remember.

His Very Special Nurse by Margaret McDonagh

(Harlequin Medical Romance - August 2007)

Rating: Good

This was a very sweet story with strong, likeable characters. Definitely different from my usual reading, but I really enjoyed it.

The story is:

Alexandra Patterson has been hired as a nurse working for Dr. Kyle Sinclair. She's excited about the new job, which allows her to work out in the community, but is unsure of her boss. She's attracted to Kyle, but he seems distant, with a hidden grief, and Alex soon begins discovering some unsettling truths about another nurse in the practice...

I really enjoyed the Briefs I read this time around, and I'm again very impressed by the courage and quality of the writing. I love the variety in this line.

No Apologies by Tracy Wolff

Rating: Good

I didn't really like the heroine in this one, and it took me a while to warm up to the relationship. However, the writing was strong and I liked the longer length (a little over 50 pages).

I'd read another by Wolff but wouldn't call this a favourite.

Dingo by Charles de Lint

(Firebird - 2008)

Rating: Good

Miguel's dad owns a music and comic book shop. One day, Lainey, just moved to town from Australia, comes into the shop. Miguel feels an instant connection, and it seems to be mutual. But why, when he sees her on the beach the next day, is she cold to him? And what's the story behind her pet dog, who looks just like an Australian dingo, and the large pawprints that seem to be stalking Miguel?

Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

(Random House - March 2008)

Rating: Good

I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan, to the point where I bought her latest in hardcover. It's the first one of her books I've been a bit disappointed in, though it was still worth reading.

Catch a Mate by Gena Showalter

(HQN - 2007)

Rating: Good

Jillian Greene works for Catch a Mate, a company that tests the fidelity of husbands and boyfriends by using women as "bait" to prompt them to cheat. Jillian firmly believes in what she does, helping women discover the truth about their men. When she meets Marcus Brody, the first man to work for Catch a Mate, she is instantly attracted and starts to doubt her man-hating ways...

The Guilty by Jason Pinter

(Mira - March 2008)

Rating: Okay

I was really looking forward to this one based on the great reviews. This book had elements I'd normally enjoy: a crime-solving journalist, the historical connection to the Wild West. But flat characters, a focus more on Henry's incredibly pathetic love life, and a complete lack of shades of grey left me bored.  (Warning: this gets ranty.)  

Kitty and the Silver Bullet

(Grand Central, January 2008)

Rating: Very good

I'm really enjoying this series, and Kitty and the Silver Bullet is another great book.

The premise:

She's a werewolf named Kitty with a radio show about the paranormal.