Yesterday, when I realized TBR day was today, I also realized just how little I’ve read for pleasure in the last month. I think part of this is because I’ve gone through a huge number of submissions and read more fulls in the past few weeks than I did in the previous six months. Mostly due to the fact that I had a really large number of submissions to my shifter anthology.

So I was pretty well resigned to the fact that I hadn’t read anything that would qualify for the TBR challenge because every night I pick up my Sony Reader and page through the 200 books on there, start a few and stop reading. Depressing. In looking at my Library Thing while reading this post, I realized that yes, I hadn’t read a huge number of books, especially in the past two weeks, but in the past month since the last TBR day, I’d read at least two books that qualified and that I very much enjoyed: Pride (Werecats, Book 3) by Rachel Vincent and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (I’m still working on Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely) by Melissa Marr, it’s going a little more slowly for me).

But last night I decided on a whim to turn to my old standby: category. And more specifically, Harlequin Presents. Cheers to HP for always giving me mind candy that I can enjoy without investing too much time or thought (and I mean that in a purely complimentary way, honest!)

In browsing my Sony (hurray for being able to browse by collections I set up, like categories, rather than just the author/title)I found Price of Passion (Harlequin Presents: Pregnant Mistresses) by Susan Napier and decided to give it a go, though most anyone who knows me well will tell you I’m so not a fan of the secret baby trope (which doesn’t explain why I bought this. Maybe because it’s Susan Napier?)

The Amazon blurb:

Kate had learned certain lessons as Drake Daniels’s lover:
Lesson number one: the price of loving Drake was not to love him.
Lesson number two: never give him what he expected.
Discovering she was pregnant certainly fulfilled lesson number two. Drake had made it clear commitment and children were not on his menu. Now Kate must break her news. But when she sees Drake, passion kicks in, begging to be indulged again…

Category is often hard for me to write a review of, because I don’t always have a lot to say. But I did enjoy this book, particularly the heroine. I didn’t find her dense, silly, to suddenly lose brain cells or some of the other things that sometimes prevent my enjoyment of category books. She was smart, she stuck up for herself, she didn’t let the hero walk all over her and she was likable. The book is entirely in her POV, so it was harder to feel close to the hero, but he wasn’t a total asshole and I never wanted to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze it like a tube of toothpaste. So clearly the book was a win for me!

I should say that I particularly liked the opening, and I did enjoy the setup/plot of the book and the progression of the story. It just felt very well-structured and oddly believable (oddly because that doesn’t always happen in HP). If you’re a fan of category, I do recommend this one!

And since I had brain freeze and forgot I’d read the other two books that would qualify for this month’s TBR challenge (even if I’ve yet to actually meet the genre/category goal) I will say that I also recommend Pride (Werecats, Book 3) by Rachel Vincent and Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

It seems like over half of what I read these days would qualify for this challenge, so now that I find myself in the airport with a delayed flight and a Bloody Mary in front of me, I’m not sure which book to write about. Included in the books I could have written about that I read from my TBR pile include Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (which I followed with Plum Spooky) and Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts. I’m a fan of both Janet Evanovich and Nora Roberts, so these are pretty easy recommends for me. Even though I constantly tell myself I’m going to quit Evanovich because her books never seem to move forward with anything, I still find myself going back to them because they’re light and fluffy and never fail to make me giggle. And let’s face it, Ranger and Joe are hot.

But I think my favorite TBR book this month was Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy. This is one I picked up on the recommendation of Jane from Dear Author. I’ve been trying to branch out my reading to more genres other than just fantasy and paranormal, and contemporary is one I don’t read as much of. Plus, this book seems right up my alley because, hello! Nascar!

So the blurb:

“One of the romance writing industry’s brightest stars”(Romance Reviews Today) returns with a flat-out delightful, new, and sexy contemporary romance about a woman who’s happy being single—and the man determined to change her mind.

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man—just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-youma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

I’ll be honest, for whatever reason I didn’t expect to like this book, I think partly because of the widowed mom aspect of the heroine and the younger hero. Also, I have liked but not loved some of Erin’s previous books. But to my surprise, I liked both the hero and the heroine quite a bit. I enjoyed the relationship between them and found the conflict, while not overly complicated, to be both believable and relevant. I’m not an overly huge fan of children in romance but I didn’t find them to be either intrusive or just wallpaper either. I think that with this contemporary series, the author has found both her niche and a powerful storytelling voice.

To make this brief (because my battery is dying), the characters have wonderful chemistry, but also a really believable growth in both their relationships and their own personal demons. The secondary characters add a depth to both the characters’ relationship and the book itself. There wasn’t anything concrete I would point to and say that I overly disliked about the book and I’m very much looking forward to the next release, Hard and Fast, which releases in May.

The first TBR challenge of 2009! This year Keishon is doing monthly categories for the challenges, but I chose to do an open format because it’s so hard for me to read for pleasure sometimes, I don’t feel I can also force myself to be in the mood. Which is a shame since this month was category romance and I have plenty of those TBR!

Black Magic Woman (Quincy Morris Supernatural Investigation) is a book I’ve had on my TBR pile for awhile. I picked it up because I’m always interested in trying something different, new authors in the UF category. I finally decided to read it for this challenge because I’d been seeing a lot of positive reviews around the web for the second book, Evil Ways (Quincey Morris, Book 2) and, duh, I can’t read out of order.

The blurb: Occult investigator Quincey Morris and his “consultant”, white witch Libby Chastain, are hired to free a family from a deadly curse that appears to date back to the Salem witch trials. Fraught with danger, the trail finds them stalking the mysterious occult underworlds of Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans and New York, searching out the root of the curse. After surviving a series of terrifying attempts on their lives, the two find themselves drawn inexorably towards Salem itself – the very heart of darkness.

My thoughts: The book has a great opening, it’s extremely catchy. I love a book that plops me down in the middle of action and then lets me catch up without trying to dump a bunch of backstory or character internal narrative on me. I think getting to know the character through internal narrative can get…old. And kind of trite. But I digress. So we’ve established how the book starts out. This is different from a more typical urban fantasy in that it’s 1) not in first and 2) told in multiple POV from a variety of characters. That doesn’t work for all books but it works in this one. I love seeing scenes from a variety of characters.

I did feel like this somewhat prevented me from really feeling attached to Quincey, the protaganist, because I spent a lot of time with other characters. But at the same time I was attached enough to root for him. Just not attached enough to cry for him (not that there was one of those moments in this book, it’s just an example of the distance created by multiple POV, which is fine for this book).

The story itself is interesting and moves forward at a good clip, keeping the reader interested, though I did find the climax of the story a bit abrupt. However, I liked this book and will definitely read the next one. Now, if only they’d put them in ebook!

J. Kaye is hosting a whole list of reading challenges for 2009 if you’re looking for one. You’ll need to take a peek at the right sidebar for the full list.

I’m looking forward to some books releasing in 2009, but there are two I’m particularly excited about.

The first is this one: Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels I’ve always both admired and been intimidated by Sarah and Candy’s intelligence, sense of humor and just plain chutzpah (the only other person I feel similarly about is Jane, who is also kind of scary in her intelligent commentary). I know this book promises to be their particular blend of all three of those qualities and I can’t wait! Releases in April 2009.

The second book I’m super excited about is Pioneer Woman’s cookbook. There’s no specific information on it on either her website or Amazon, but from reading her blog I know it’s due to be released in 2009. If you’ve never tried a PW recipe, you’re missing out so get thee to her website and check out her recipe file. Subscribe to the Cooking blog for sure, but also to her other blogs–she’s funny and entertaining. Oh, and she also has some pretty amazing giveaways on her various blogs just about weekly, though she does get about 14,000 entries in one day’s time!

Here’s some of the fiction books on my Amazon wishlist for 2009–these are only the ones that I had note of, I’m sure there are many, many more I’m missing. One thing you might note about my wishlist is that it’s comprised almost entirely (with the exception of Kristan Higgins, Victoria Dahl and JD Robb) of urban fantasy, fantasy and paranormal. I think for 2009 my resolution will be to read more contemporary and historical:

January 2009

Kiss of a Demon King (The Immortals After Dark, Book 6) by Kresley Cole

These two are available now but deserve mention as January releases:
Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl Kindle edition

Veil of Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 5) by Lara Adrian

February 2009

Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins

Promises in Death by J.D. Robb

The Better to Hold You by Alisa Sheckley*

Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4) by Patricia Briggs

Undone (Outcast Season, Book 1) by Rachel Caine

White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7) by Kim Harrison

March 2009

(see ARCs below for March wishlist)

April 2009

Blue Diablo: A Corine Solomon Novel by Ann Aguirre

Sins & Shadows by Lyn Benedict*

May 2009

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9) by Charlaine Harris

Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang: A Dark Ones Novel by Katie MacAlister

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, Book 1) by Kim Harrison

June 2009

Mark of the Demon by Diana Rowland

July 2009

Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson Homecoming by Patricia Briggs

August 2009

Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow

September 2009

October 2009

Doubleblind by Ann Aguire

November 2009

Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb. *sidenote* I love how Nora Roberts has her entire 2009 release schedule on her website. It lets fans know what’s coming. There are some authors on my list who really need to do better about updating as some don’t even update AFTER the book’s release (or don’t have a website to speak of at all). Ack!

Unknown release date

Book 5 of C.L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series. Write faster C.L.!

Some 2009 books I have ARCs and have either read or have TBR:

Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh releases March 2009

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3) by Ilona Andrews (I’m also very excited about her June release from Samhain!) releases March 2009

Living on the Edge by Ilona Andrews (pssst, Ilona, you need to update your website…it still says “Border Rose” and your Samhain book isn’t even on there. *sniff*)

Pride (Werecats, Book 3) by Rachel Vincent releases February 2009

The Treasure Keeperby Shana Abe releases March 2009

The Shadow Queen (Black Jewels, Book 7) by Anne Bishop releases March 2009

The Sharing Knife, Volume Four: Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold releases January 2009

*No author website.

So what books are you looking forward to in 2009?

Last month during Thanksgiving weekend, I took about 4 days off from work–shocking, I know–and during that time I decided to re-read Anne Bishop’s Dark Jewels trilogy, but also read some of the additional books that I hadn’t read, because I’d gotten an ARC of The Shadow Queen , it had been years since I’d read the trilogy and I wanted it to be fresh in my mind.

Anne Bishop, and specifically this trilogy, has long been one that I’ve recommended to fans of fantasy and dark fantasy in particular. I find the books, even on the second reading, to be brilliant and captivating, with amazing primary and secondary characters, a rich plot and story and even romance! Score!

First is my actual “TBR” book, it’s the prequel to the trilogy, but released after the trilogy. The Invisible Ring The Invisible Ring takes place centuries before the actual Black Jewels trilogy, and the primary characters don’t show up in the Black Jewels Trilogy (though the antagonist–Dorothea SaDiablo–and the secondary characters are major players in the trilogy). Instead, this prequel gives a fantastic setup for the world itself, helps you get to know both as well as some background that’s especially pertinent for the trilogies conclusion.

The blurb: A prequel set in the “dark and sensual world”( 11th Hour) of the national bestselling Black Jewels Trilogy.

Jared is a Red-Jeweled Warlord bound as a pleasure slave by the Ring of Obedience. After suffering nine years of torment as a slave, he murdered his owner and escaped—only to be caught and sold into slavery once again. The notorious queen who has purchased him, known as the Gray Lady, may not be what she seems. Soon, Jared faces a difficult choice: his freedom, or his honor.

If you haven’t read the Black Jewels trilogy, you could easily start with this book. The story and characters immediately suck you in, and are fully developed and well-written. In fact, as I was reading the trilogy after this book, I found myself wondering about these characters, what had happened to them and their descendants, if they managed to stay “free”. It’s a testament to the author’s skill that I thought of them long after the story was over.

The trilogy:
Daughter of the Blood (Black Jewels, Book 1)

Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch saw an ancient prophecy come to life in her web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to influence-and corruption.

Whoever controls the Queen controls the darkness. Three men-sworn enemies-know this. And they know the power that hides behind the blue eyes of an innocent young girl. And so begins a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, where the weapons are hate and love-and the prize could be terrible beyond imagining…

Heir to the Shadows (Black Jewels, Book 2)

In this violently passionate, “darkly fascinating world,”** the Blood rule: a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channeled through magical jewels. Ambitions unfurl in this second novel of The Black Jewels Trilogy, as the realm’s dreams of a liberator have finally been made flesh…

Jaenelle, singled out by prophecy as the living embodiment of magic, is haunted by the cruel battles the Blood have fought over her-for not all of them await her as their Savior. Nothing, however, can deflect her from her destiny-and the day of reckoning looms near. When her memories return. When her magic matures. When she is forced to accept her fate. On that day, the dark Realms will know what it means to be ruled by Witch.

Queen of the Darkness (Black Jewels, Book 3)

Jaenelle Angelline now reigns as Queen-protector of the Shadow Realm. No longer will the corrupt Blood slaughter her people and defile her lands. But where one chapter ends, a final, unseen battle remains to be written, and Jaenelle must unleash the terrible power that is Witch to destroy her enemies once and for all.

Even so, she cannot stand alone. Somewhere, long lost in madness, is Daemon, her promised Consort. Only his unyielding love can complete her Court and secure her reign. Yet, even together, their strength may not be enough to hold back the most malevolent of forces.

I already said it, but I love these three books. I think they’re absolutely fantastic examples of dark fantasy, they have romantic elements, a whole cast of fascinating, well-developed characters, and they’re set in a fully realized world. One thing that should be noted is that the books do have violence. As I discussed in the comments of this blog post, I feel the violence is not gratuitous in any way and is integral towards both the world building and showing the lengths the antagonists will go to, the degradation the men/characters experience, and the disintegration of the world itself.

After I read the books, as I was thinking about them and what I could say in my review, something struck me. It’s something that’s incredibly unique to the books. The books, as you can tell from the above blurbs, feature Jaenelle as central to the story, and she is. But her story is told entirely from other characters’s point of views. Not once do we have her point of view, that I can recall. And yet, the skill of the author is such that her POV isn’t particularly missed. It does create a bit of a distance between her and the reader, but I think that only adds to the skill of the author, because it gives the reader much of the same feelings towards Jaenelle that the characters in the story seem to have. It’s very well done, and as such, helps the reader feel close to and empathy for other characters.

Last, I also read Dreams Made Flesh (which, interestingly enough, was named as a favorite re-read by someone in the Holiday Hell contest). I’m not actually going to review it here, except to say it’s a book of novellas that fill in some gaps in the trilogy, because I think to say more about it would constitute spoilers for those who haven’t read the trilogy. I didn’t love all of the novellas in the book, but I’m glad I read it and I did enjoy at least two of them very much, so I would recommend it to those who’ve read the trilogy (this is definitely not a book you’d want to read out of order).

I took a break after reading these five books back to back, but in the next few weeks I’m planning on reading Tangled Webs (Book 6) and then The Shadow Queen.

In recap, I (still) highly recommend these books by Anne Bishop to all fans of fantasy/dark fantasy. In fact, I don’t think you can go wrong with an Anne Bishop book

I have never read a Loretta Chase book before. This came up in conversation at RWA, when a group of us were at the bookstore where Sarah, Jane, Kassia and co. were doing the interview for the Today Show. We were instructed to do some random browsing for the cameras, and somehow a group of us ended up in front of Loretta Chase. Someone picked up a couple of her books and I mentioned that I’d not read her before.

*gasps of shock and horror*

No really, there were! They were happy to give me a few recommendations, which I promptly proceeded to forget, but when I went to look at my TBR shelves later and saw Lord of Scoundrels and Your Scandalous Ways there, I thought those sounded familiar. I realized on Monday that I didn’t think I’d read a TBR book yet this month, so I grabbed Lord of Scoundrels.

I have to be honest. I liked this book, but I wasn’t wowed by it and I definitely didn’t love it. The characters of Jess and Dain were interesting but actually seemed to me to be just characters, both a little one-dimensional. Reading the book, I couldn’t get the feeling out of my head that I was reading a story. I know that sounds weird, since I was reading a story, but you know how it feels different, reading a fairy tale to your child–reading them a story–versus falling into a book? I didn’t have that here. I felt like someone was narrating this book to me. And it was amusing and I finished it, but when I closed it, I felt no real sense of satisfaction or attachment to either the stories or the characters.

Actually, if we’re being really honest, I was a little annoyed by the characters at times. I thought Dain was unlikeable, spoiled and selfish. I know I was supposed to have empathy for him, because he had a terrible childhood and no one loved him, but I didn’t. I just felt impatient and like telling him to get over it (I know, I’m so kind). As for Jess, she fell flat, almost like she didn’t respect herself, to fall “in love” with a man who’d treat her so shabbily. She liked the sex, but what else was there about him to love? I didn’t get it.

But clearly the book didn’t totally fail for me because I did finish it. But it’s not a book I’d pick up again. I did open Your Scandalous Ways and give that a try, but I had similar feelings, so I think it’s probably the author’s style that doesn’t appeal to me, and that happens. Clearly it worked for and appealed to a whole lot of other people, so I don’t mind being in the minority on this one!

***This post will have spoilers so don’t read if you plan on reading the books!***

I started reading Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series when the first book was released. I had never read Charlaine Harris before, but I was desperately glomming everything paranormal, long before paranormal was “in” (when I had to hunt out small press authors before people even knew about small presses). I liked the series, though I never really cared much for Bill, for some reason–maybe because he was so standoffish to Sookie? I stopped reading at the book after the book where Sookie and Eric hooked up, when I realized two things: 1) that Sookie and Eric were not going to get together beyond that and 2) Ms. Harris was going to start throwing even more love interests in Sookie’s path.

So it had been about three years since I’d read any of the books, but about six months ago I started thinking I’d like to know what was happening. Since it had been so long, I knew that meant rereading the backlist. While I was traveling the past couple months seemed like the perfect time to do that, so I read (or in some cases reread) the entire series.

Jumping back into, I found I still had my love of Eric, for whatever reason–I think it’s amazing that I ended up with a nice guy, as I seem to favor some heroes who act a bit like assholes! I was still disenchanted with Bill (and with Alcide) and OMG the author has written this character as a total Mary Sue, and no one can convince me differently. Her allure for men, her ability to survive impossible situations, and that she seems to be of such amazing interest to so many people? Mary Sue.

As I continued to read the series, I found myself increasingly impatient with the sheer number of men who become enchanted with Sookie, and with her apparent inability to find one who’s not going to use her and toss her aside (also, since I favor Eric, it’s possible I was just a little peeved with how she kept taking him for granted and then shutting him down. I think the word is cock tease).

In the end, while I’m a romance reader at heart–or perhaps because I’m a romance reader at heart–I thought the books concentrated too much on Sookie and the men in her life, because after a while it gets old reading about so many different men who want this one, apparently irresistible person. And the whole bit with her fairy grandfather? Bleh.

But lest you think I didn’t like anything about the books, I’ll assure you that’s not true. I do like them, particularly the idea of a world where vampires are “out” but the other supernatural beings are not. I also like the fact that it’s not set in a particularly urban setting, and we get to see the flavor of Sookie’s surroundings. Last I love Eric. Did you guess that already? I think he’s probably the most complex, yet truthful/real, character in the book.

Despite my apparent dislike of Sookie (I think it’s more disdain, but whatever) I do actually recommend these books to those who like paranormal with some romance. I think they’re quite entertaining and the author has a fantastic ability to draw you into both the story and the setting. And I will be reading them as they release!

I meant to do this post before I left town, but ran out of time. But darn it, I’ve come this far, I am NOT going to let a little thing like being out of the country with limited access to the internet stop me from participating in the monthly TBR day. I only hope today is TBR day and it’s not next week. Or last week.

I’d actually read Maria Snyder’s first two books, Poison Study and Magic Study when they first came out. It was a bit of a long wait for the third book, Fire Study, which actually released last fall, and by that time I realized that I’d forgotten much of the first two books and would need a refresher before I read the third (this is the problem with long time periods between series books). So I decided to make Maria Snyder my TBR author for the month, and Fire Study my TBR book.

I’m a huge fan of the first book, Poison Study, and I enjoyed the second. I do think, however, that these books get a bit weaker with each successive book and I’m hoping there might be a fourth book to bring the series around again. While I did enjoy Fire Study, I thought there were places where the pacing dragged a bit, but also the story line seems to get a bit more convoluted and a bit bizarre at times.

I particularly love these books for the interesting world they’re set in, as well as the cast of characters, both the heroine and a number of secondary characters. We get to see growth from a number of the characters in the books, not just the heroine, Yelena. And the author does an excellent job of painting a picture of the characters and their individual traits for the reader without doing it in a manner that seems in your face or telling. She has a very subtle and deft touch for weaving in the details of not just the characters, but the world and its rules as well. I also appreciate the romance subplot running through them, and I would venture a guess that I wouldn’t enjoy them quite as much if that were missing.

On the whole, I do recommend these books, most especially the first one, Poison Study, and I don’t think fans of fantasy romance would be disappointed to have read them.

Poison Study can be found in Kindle format here

Let me start with a small side tangent. A few weeks ago one of the cats had a vet appointment. My vet’s office is really great about calling me the day before and confirming the appointment. Usually the evening before. So they did and I confirmed. I’d remember early, had it on my calendar and was all set to bring the cat in. The next morning rolls around and the cat’s appointment did not ONCE enter my mind until that evening when they called to see if I wanted to reschedule. Yes, in the space of a few hours, I’d completely blanked–not even had a glimmer of–something that I’d been keeping in mind for days.

That’s what happened again with TBR day. I’ve been wondering what to blog about today and decided to catch up on some blog feeds (because I finished some edits I’ve been working on for a few days, and needed a mental break) and I got to Keishon’s blog. And remembered it was TBR day. Yes, she blogged and reminded us earlier in the week. Yes, I commented on that post. Yes, I still forgot. I’ve been forgetting a lot lately!

Anyway, on to the book review. I’ve long been a fan of Jayne Castle, Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick or whatever name you want to call her by. I’ve been reading her books for years, and some of her older books are favored re-reads for me. But the Guinevere Jones books have always been hard to get a hold of, so I’ve been collecting them over the years. For whatever reason, I decided to read the first in the series, Desperate Game, a few weeks ago.

I think I can easily say that this is probably my least favorite book of the author’s that I’ve ever read. I picked it up and put it down half a dozen times before I finally forced myself to finish it. I found the characters rather…blah. I do see the same basic characteristics in these characters that have become a trademark of her writing: independent female who allows herself to be overpowered in love/lust/infatuation with the hero, who is usually a little brooding, and unusual, so often “normal” females don’t “get” him and his secret, dark passions. The hero generally thinks of the heroine as the one who can calm his raging beast (no not THAT raging beast. Well, okay, not ONLY that raging beast) whether it’s whatever secrets, or dark emotions, etc he has.

There’s also the same basic plot, some sort of mystery, intrigue, the male trying to take charge, the female inserting herself, a dangerous climax and a forceful kiss at the end.

Look, I’ve been reading her for years, I’m okay with the basic setups. I LIKE her books partly for that reason, I think they’re yummy. But this one fell flat for me on all levels: characters, story, plot, secondary characters. It didn’t grab me and I think I could have easily put it aside and not finished it, except in the back of my head, I knew I needed to finish a book to complete this month’s TBR challenge. I think it says something that that is the reason I finished.

I do have the other three, but I don’t see myself going back to them any time soon. However, I do have an itch to re-read some of her older books, some of the stronger ones, now that I got a small taste of her again.