Trial by Fire - Jo Davis

Title: Trial by Fire
Author: Jo Davis
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2008
Pages: 352
Genre: Romance; Suspense
Series: Firefighters of Station Five - Book #1

What a scorching read!!! Jo Davis has captured another reader in her grasp, and has made my "auto buy" list. She has reeled me in hook, line, and sinker. Trial by Fire grabbed my attention from the first page until the last...and her hero, Howard "Six Pack" Paxton is to die for!! He is our tortured hero in the story rising from an abusive childhood to be a dominant, understanding, caring man.

Kat, our heroine, is a school teacher who is just what Howard needs...she shows him understanding without pitying him, knows just the right buttons to push to get this gentle giant to revel things about himself that no one else knows, and brings joy into his life. The passion between Howard and Kat is sizzling hot and burnt up the pages.

The mystery behind the story is that someone is burning women in vacant houses in Station Five's district. And the killer has involved Howard personally by sending him trinkets of the women. The answers to the mystery aren't too obvious. In the middle of the story, I figured out who the murderer was, but I wasn't quite sure of why. Even if you guess the ending, the story is still a thrill ride you won't want to miss. It was definitely a page-turner for me!!

I loved the way the secondary characters were woven into the story...just enough mystery surrounding them to make me anxious for the next book...Under Fire.




Rating: 4.5/5
Completed: 12/27/09
Pages: 352

Trial by Fire - Jo Davis

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/trial-by-fire-jo-davis.html

I hope everyone has a joyous holiday. My your day be filled with love and laughter!!!

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-hope-everyone-has-joyous-holiday.html

Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris

Title: Definitely Dead
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2006
Pages: 324
Genre: Paranormal - Vampire, Shape Shifter, Psychic
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #6

Book 6 in the Sookie Stackhouse series is packed full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. Sookie sets off to New Orleans to close up the estate of her dead cousin and gets herself involved in the politics of the Queen of Louisiana. While closing up the apartment, a gruesome discovery is made in the closet which sets off a string of events that has Sookie running for her life. Through it all, her friends are there to help - Eric, Quinn, and Bill.

Some things are also wrapped up in this edition...we hear more about how Bill and Sookie got together, some old business is conducted with the Pelts, and Quinn slowly starts...well I won't say because I hate giving spoilers.

As usual, I loved this book. Charlaine Harris has a way of drawing me into the story so that I feel that I am right there...standing beside Sookie. I haven't decided which is my favorite book yet...probably Dead to the World because of Eric.

I don't think Sookie Stackhouse enthusiasts will be disappointed in this book. And if you haven't read Sookie yet...what's stopping you?? LOL.



Rating: 4/5
Pages: 324
Completed: 12/19/09

Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/definitely-dead-charlaine-harris.html

Dear John - Nicholas Sparks

Title: Dear John
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Hachette
Published: 2006
Pages: 276
Genre: Romance

Once again, as I read Nicholas Sparks, I'm thinking left and he takes a right on me. Thought I knew how the story would end, but it ended remarkably different. Yes, the tears came - not only at the end of the book but in the middle as well. I was reading this book daily while waiting in the carpool line to pick up my kids from school...but when the crying started...I couldn't put it down and had to read it in one evening at home. Truly sensational.

This book touches on so many real life issues...military life, loving someone serving in the armed forces, autism/Asperger's, 911 and the aftermath...so many twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. It is all told from the man's perspective - one you don't see much of in romance novels. On the back of the book it states, "an unforgettable tale of a man who must make the most heartrending decision of his life - in the name of love..." Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine states that it is, "beautifully moving...Has tremendous emotional depth, revealing the true meaning of unconditional love."

During his furlough, John Tyree meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. This is their story. In the prologue, John says, "Our story has three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. And although this is the way all stories unfold, I still can't believe that ours didn't go on forever."

Nicholas Sparks has a way of taking a simple plot and turning it into a masterpiece. The characters appear so real...you feel their pain, anger, and love. You have not idea of the journey you are about to experience.

I haven't done this in a while...but this is one of my favorite quotes from the book:

...that love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be.

Rating: 5/5
Pages: 276
Completed: 12/19/09

Dear John - Nicholas Sparks

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/dear-john-nicolas-sparks.html

A Highlander Christmas Giveaway

Seductive Musings is having a book giveaway!! She has two copies of A Highlander Christmas to send to two lucky winners!!

Here is the blurb:


Camry MacKeage has absolutely no intention of telling her parents that she left her job as a NASA physicist for the small-town life of a dog-sitter -- which is why she's spending the holidays alone in coastal Maine with her furry friends Tigger and Max. Unfortunately, her irresistibly handsome rival, scientist Luke Pascal, accidentally spilled the beans. Now he's on a mission from her mother to tempt Camry home for the family's annual winter solstice celebration. But Luke is hiding his own secret, and he'll need a little bit of magic to earn Camry's trust...and a whole lot of mistletoe to seduce his way into her heart.

So head on over to Seductive Musings and leave a comment to get in the running to win this book!!!

A Highlander Christmas Giveaway

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/highlander-christmas-giveaway.html

Mailbox Monday 12/7/09

MAILBOX MONDAY is hosted by Marcia over at The Printed Page. "It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do).

I haven't participated in some time since I haven't had many books come into my house lately. I keep forgetting to post about the eBooks that I buy because they don't come in the mailbox...however, I do know that they count.

I can't help but post this week because I am so very excited about what I received. I won a Brenda Novak contest over at Michelle's Romance: B(u)y the Book and received a ton of goodies. Not only did I receive a Brenda Novak tote bag, which is an awesome tote and something I look forward to using - very sturdy and great quality, but I also received a ton of books - her whole Last Stand series (6 books)!!! Plus I received her new Christmas Novella along with a Harlequin Super Romance - and ALL the books are autographed - WOOOOHOOOO!!!





You can read about this fantastic series over on Brenda Novak's website.

To read more bloggers' Mailbox Mondays...hop on over to The Printed Page!!

Mailbox Monday 12/7/09

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/mailbox-monday-12709.html

Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead as a Doornail
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2005
Pages: 295
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Sookie Stackhouse - Book #5

You know...I really don't like to review series books...I'm always afraid I'll give away a spoiler from a previous book. However, I'll try my best to keep away from revealing something from earlier in the series.

Sookie once again finds herself embroiled in the supernatural world. Someone is targeting the shifters of the community, and her brother is suspected to be the shooter. She has until the next full moon to discover who the killer is...unless they decide to find her first.

For those that have never read the series before..."Sookie is a cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's pretty and well-mannered and has only a few close friends - which isn't surprising, since not many people can appreciate Sookie's abilities as a mind reader." The first book starts out with her dating a vampire (humans know about them). Little did she know that having a relationship with a vampire would lead to all sorts of adventures - some more deadly than others.

I think the one thing I really like about Sookie is that she isn't all about who she can jump into bed with...unlike another paranormal heroine I know. She has several suitors in this book, but she manages to keep them all in line - LOL. I love the world that Charlaine Harris has created...the characters are engaging and you really care about what happens to them. The adventures that Sookie gets pulled into have you turning the pages to see what happens next. And who can resist Eric, the vampire sheriff of Area Five. Delicious!!

All in all, another winner in the series!!



Rating: 4/5
Pages: 295
Completed: 12/4/09

Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/dead-as-doornail-charlaine-harris.html

Book Junkie's Birthday Bash

Book Junkie is having a BIRTHDAY BASH over at her blog!! 35 books - 1 Winner!!!

Here is what she says:

December is my birthday month and I will be turning 35! (OMG did
I just day that out loud?) Yikes!! So....I have decided to
have a huge Giveaway, 35 Books, 1 Winner! I am putting some
from my own collection, (no crease in spine, excellent condition)
BUT this is the catch.... Since it is the holiday season & it
is all about giving, I want to know from all of you what books
YOU want! What's on your TBR & Wish lists? New Releases, what
are you dying to get your hands on (up until Jan 05 for new
releases!), or even something from one of your favorite authors's
backlist. Even ebooks count!!!!

So head on over to her blog...and read about all the goodies you could win. She has also posted the rules of the contest.

Good Luck!!

Book Junkie's Birthday Bash

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-junkies-birthday-bash.html

Black Hills - Nora Roberts

Title: Black Hills
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Putnam
Published: 2009
Pages: 371
Genre: Romantic Suspense

While I have read mixed reviews on this book, I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. However, you do have to realize I am a huge fan of Nora Roberts. The backdrop is set in the hills of South Carolina better known as the Black Hills. The story revolves around Lil and her dream of opening a wildlife refuge - so there is a lot of discussion and storyline about wild animals, running a refuge, and the need for preserving wildlife. To me, this was one of the pluses of the book. I love stories about animals - especially the big cats.

The book starts out with Lil and Cooper as children. We learn how their friendship develops and soon moves into love. Then there is a twelve year separation where Lil goes to college, learns how to run a wildlife refuge, and goes home to open one of her own. Cooper moves on to become a New York police officer, detective, and then opens his on private investigation business.

Cooper leaves his fast-paced New York lifestyle and returns to his grandparent's farm to take over the reigns and care for his aging grandparents. Returning to the place he always considered home, seeing Lil again, and realizing his love for her is still burning strong, Cooper sets out on a course to win Lil's heart again. However, all is not peaceful in the Black Hills...someone is watching Lil and is trying to destroy the refuge...when the small pranks escalate into brutal killings of Lil's beloved animals, Cooper springs into action to keep Lil safe. "Now they must work together to unearth a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts who has singled them out as prey."

Lil is special to me because I grew up wanting to work in the wild saving animals. Her strength and determination to make her dreams come true is something I would long to have. Her love for Cooper was all-consuming, but he broke her heart when he walked away from her at the age of 18. Now he is back to win her heart again, and she has trouble letting him into her heart. Cooper has a quiet strength about him...he felt he had to walk away or Lil would never realize her dreams. He comes from a broken home, but through the love of his grandparents, he realizes his strengths and builds a life for himself that can make him proud.

The side stories just add to the depth of the book. This wasn't a "sit on the edge of your seat" suspense...but, I enjoyed the intrigue as to how and when the antagonist would strike next. So, I would say that this is another winner for Nora Roberts and I look forward to reading her new series...Bride Quartet.



Rating: 4/5
Pages: 371
Completed: 12/1/09

Black Hills - Nora Roberts

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/title-black-hills-author-nora-roberts.html

Stephanie Tyler at Seductive Musings

Seductive Musings has a truly gifted guest author today. None other than Stephanie Tyler!! She talks about her new book Hard to Hold and is also offering it as a giveaway.

She also posts a super special excerpt that has never been posted anywhere before.

So head on over to Seductive Musings, take a look around her excellent blog, and read about Stephanie Tyler. Oh yeah, and take part in this great giveaway.

Stephanie Tyler at Seductive Musings

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/stephanie-tyler-at-seductive-musings.html