First Among Sequels (Thursday Next, #5) by Jasper Fforde

Actually 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it but it lost that ½ a star because it wasn’t quite as funny as the first four books in the Thursday Next series. This is the only book that has really had a cliff hanger so I know that he’s going to write another one. I was a little disappointed that he got rid of the “Friday’s going to be a time traveling hero” storyline because I really liked that idea. It was a bit weird reading Thursday as a 50 year old - maybe that was why I didn’t find it quite as funny as the previous books. I did finally get one of the jokes from the previous books – Millon De Floss’ name is a pun on George Eliot’s book Mill On The Floss, which, because I had never heard of any of Eliot’s books I didn’t get, but since I started reading Middlemarch and found out that we actually have a copy of Mill On The Floss I now get the joke.

 

Finished on 26 March 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Ravensdale Spring (Ravensdale, #3) by Kate Fielding

I really enjoyed it. It was part medical drama, part crime thriller. I am going to read the other books in the series.

(That was written over six years ago. I was so detailed back then, wasn't I? When I re-read it, I will definitely have to re-review it as well. Also funny to note, since then I have often thought of re-reading this book and finishing the series, but haven't gotten around to it yet. All my good intentions regarding books are so often distracted by pretty covers and trendy new authors. Oh well, one day hopefully.)

 

Read in January 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The Script Book: Season One, #2) by Joss Whedon

Some of the dialogue is different from what was actually filmed so it was interesting to see what changed from the original script.

 

Read on June 27 2001

 

 

 

 

 

Dark Melody (Dark Saga, #12) by Christine Feehan

Not as good as some of her other books. It was really promising, really romantic, I loved the 'eyes meeting across a crowded room' thing that she had in the first few chapters. But once the characters left the bar all the tension seemed to leave the book. Everything became about the baby the female character was carrying, her heart condition that made continuing to carry the baby so dangerous, and the best way to save both her and the baby. Then at the very end, after the baby was born, the tension from the beginning returned, but still, only in a smaller way.

 

 

 

 

 

Highlander Unmasked (MacLeods of Skye Trilogy, #2) by Monica McCarty

I felt that this book had a lot of the same ideas as a number of more well-known romance writers, and so, felt it was pretty much same old, same old with the plot - nothing new or exciting here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Critical (Jack Stapleton & Laurie Montgomery, #7) by Robin Cook

 
 

I just started a medical course and so I loved reading the phrases and terminology in 'real life' use (as real as a fiction novel can get). Not one of his absolute best, but top 10. Not too many unpronounceable medical terms.

 

First Comes Marriage (Huxtable Quintet, #1) by Mary Balogh

I've read other Mary Balogh books and found this to be one of her least engaging. The plot of the story called for an arranged, mostly romance free marriage. Supposedly, they fell in love with each other during the last 2 thirds of the book, but I found the romance scenes to be quite passionless, even the "honeymoon scene." Not recommended for someone who enjoys a real "love" story, as I didn't feel the love in this story. In the back cover description it says this is the first in a quartet of regency romances, hopefully the others are more engaging.

 

 

 

 

 

The Mane Event (Pride, #1) by Shelly Laurenston

Both the stories were good, although they had the familiar theme of the males seeing/smelling THEIR WOMAN and just knowing that she's THE ONE for them forever. That seems to be a common theme among romances at the moment. The romance scenes were appropriately frequent, but too short. I liked the fact that the two stories were the start of a group of stories involving the same two or three families. I look forward to reading other books in the series.

 

 

 

 

 

Patriot Games (Jack Ryan, #1) by Tom Clancy

The plot was good and the action scenes were engaging, but the writing was a bit weird. Clancy added too much description of details that were completely unnecessary to the narrative of the story. For example he would write something like "Jack retrieved the steaks, which he'd picked up from the butcher on his way home from work before marinating them in his own special steak sauce, from the fridge and placed them on the barbeque, where they started sizzling immediately." I don't think Clancy should have spent so much time and energy describing mostly irrelevant information like this in such detail. As I said before the action scenes were engaging, but the long, slightly boring and overly wordy breaks in between the action scenes left me feeling bored and wanting to skim the pages to find the action and parts of the plot relevant to the story. I would recommend the first few chapters while they are in London and then the final few chapters while they are on the final chase for the terrorists - they were the most interesting parts. Most of the story in the middle could be condensed into one or two chapters quite easily without losing anything of the plot. Might try one of Clancy's later books to see if his style of writing has changed in the 25 years or so since he wrote Patriot Games.

 

 

 

 

 

Inkheart (Inkworld, #1) by Cornelia Funke

I enjoyed this book but enjoyed the movie version more. I found the book dragged on a bit (especially after watching the movie first, and therefore already knowing what was going to happen next). I also found some parts of the plot a bit tame.

 

 

 

 

 

Nauti Nights, (Nauti, #2) by Lora Leigh

Ignore the warning on the back cover at your own peril - this is VERY HOT. I wouldn't call this a romance book, it's a bit too gritty for that, more of a raunchy, rough love book. No sweet, heart-warming romance scenes in this book.

 

 

 

 

 

The Naked Gentleman (Naked Nobility, #6) by Sally MacKenzie

Not a very interesting romance. Not enough naked gentlemen :). I wouldn't recommend it to anyone and I probably wouldn't read any of her other books.

 

 

 

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) by Cassandra Clare

Great book!! My first Cassandra Clare book. I just happened to see it on the new and recently returned books shelf. I loved the dark and grimy late 19th century London setting. Very atmospheric, almost a character in the book like Tessa or Will. I look forward to the rest of this series and to reading the original series too.

 

Strip Search (Sexy Capers, #2) by Shayla Black

Very hot. Not recommended for under 18. I got irritated by the lead male's constant internal arguing with himself over whether the lead female was guilty or not. It was obvious he was conflicted about his feelings for her, the author didn't have to remind us after every conversation he had with her.

 

 

 

 

 

A Lady's Guide to Improper Behaviour (Adventurers' Club, #2) by Suzanne Enoch

This wasn't a bad romance but I found the romance scenes a bit passionless and forced sounding. I found the heroine a little annoying with her constant hesitation about whether or not she should do something because it might be seen to be improper. I recommend romance readers try other Suzanne Enoch books instead of this one, which I found to be a bit below par for her.

 

 

 

 

 

The Homecoming (Shelter Bay, #1) by JoAnn Ross

Not as good as the next book in the Shelter Bay series. There was not nearly as much sexual tension between the two main characters as there was between the main characters in One Summer, the next novel. Despite that I am really enjoying the series and I love the Oregon coastal town the books are set in.

 

 

 

 

 

An Irresistible Bachelor (An Unforgettable Lady, #2) by Jessica Bird

This was a good story, but not enough romance for me. Also a bit shorter than I usually like, not enough time for proper character development.

 

The Rogue Prince (Regency Flings, #3) by Margo Maguire

 
The plot had potential, but it didn't quite match up to expectations. The romance was good, better than expected after reading the first few chapters.

 

 

Single White Vampire (Argeneau, #3) by Lynsay Sands

I thought this was absolutely hilarious!! Nearly fell out of the chair I was laughing so hard. I loved the family dynamic of the vampires. The romance was engaging and very romantic. I can't wait to read more of the series. Highly recommended for anyone looking for vampire romance.

 

 

 

 

 

The Accidental Wedding (Devil Riders, #4) by Anne Gracie

I thought this was a reasonably good romance. The tension leading up to the love scenes was great but the actual scenes were a bit of a let down and some of the writing was a bit contrived. A decent read that I would recommend to other romance readers but I wouldn't want to buy it or read it a second time.