March 2011 TBR list

As this is Oscar night, here's my list of TBR reads for March. Whatever books I don't get to will be placed on next year's list, just like for January and February. As you'll see, I'll be doing lots of paranormal romance and some urban fantasy books, which is highlighted in italics.

The Tale of Oat Cake Crag by Susan Wittig Albert
A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander
Night Keepers by Jessica Andersen
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur
Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow by Cynthia Baxter
Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown
Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
The Night I Got Lucky by Laura Caldwell
A Trace of Smoke by Rebecca Cantrell
Blood Junction by Caroline Carver
Indigo Slam by Robert Crais
Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler
Tombs of Endearment by Casey Daniels
Murder by the Book by Evelyn David
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag
Steeling Shadows by Kay Hooper
Chosen to Die by Lisa Jackson
Hangman by Faye Kellerman
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
The Phony Marine by Jim Lehrer
The Devil Who Tamed Her by Johanna Lindsey
Next to Die by Marliss Melton
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
A Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer
Dark of Day by Barbara Parker
Double Cross, The Postcard Killers by James Patterson
Southtown by Rick Riordan
Bungaloo Two by Danielle Steele
Anathem by Neal Stephenson

Chasing the Night

If you love great thrillers, you'll love the next installment in the Eve Duncan series. When Catherine Ling approached Eve Duncan to help her find her son, she'd gotten more than she bargained for in Chasing the Night. She didn't know, if he's dead or alive, since he was abducted from her at age two, and it's nine years later. When Catherine encouraged Eve, she helped her with the age progression of what he looked like now at age eleven, even if nine years have been lost. When his abductor Rakovac called her from Russia, taunting her with his buried body, it prompted her to find him in Russia, as Eve tagged along. From there, it was a race against time as their enemies planted surprises up against them, including terrorist attacks, when they fought them to the finish for a bittersweet ending. What a great series. With this novel's cliffhanger, check out the Eve/Quinn/Bonnie trilogy.

This thriller had an explosive introduction to Catherine Ling. She was interested and inquisitive at best. I became in awe of her, when she went above and beyond to get her son Luke husband back. I loved how she bounded with Eve on her son's rescue mission. I loved the locations from Georgia to Russia and back to paint us a picture. I did feel bad for Catherine, who might have something in common with Eve, too. I did feel bad for Luke as well, while I hated Rakovac with a passion. Plenty of non-stop action and intrigue to keep you guessing.

Ready to chase a night? Join Catherine and Eve on this adventure now!

Kiss of Midnight

If you dark, deadly and dangerous heros, you'll love this paranormal romance from Lara Adrian. Gabrielle Maxwell is a photographer, who gets mixed up in a war between vampire wars. When she witnesses a murder, she becomes a victim, when Lucan Thorpe arrives at the scenes, who invaded her wildest dreams and protects her from the Rogues. Lately, they began to understand one another, as the war brews outside, and one of her friends becomes one of them. She understands who she is, a Breedmate, who's meant for Lucan, when they don't realize it. When things gets heated, she becomes a target, as he vows to protect her. A delightful paranormal romance.

Parallel Attraction

If you love paranormal romance that's out of this world, this is the one for you. Kelsey Wells met Jared Bennett, when they were teenagers in Wyoming. She was human, and he was an alien from a planet, who needs to mate and have a heir. He's also king. When he disappears, their memory was erased. Years later, they meet each other, recovering the love they had, and an attraction that forced them to be together. But there's others who wants them to be apart, and enemies who wished them destroyed. When they defeated the odds, they became one and share an endless love. What a beautiful story.

Jingle Bell Bark

If you love Christmas cozies, you'll enjoy the 11th book in the Melanie Travis series, Jingle Bell Bark. Right before Christmas, Melanie is getting ready for the holidays with her son Davey, and planning her wedding with Sam. Meanwhile, when Henry Pruitt, her son's bus driver, doesn't show up for work the next day, it's up to Melanie and her Aunt Peg to find out what happened to him. While dealing with his daughters and two dogs, Melanie learns more about Henry's life. And as she digs deeper, someone ends up getting hurt or killed, before it's too late. An enjoyable read.

Dark Fever

Urban fantasy is one of the newest genres I'm getting hooked into, followed by paranormal romance. This is the most talked about series in 2010-2011. in Dark Fever, book #1, MacKayla "Mac" Lane is sent to Ireland, when she learns of her sister's death, and looking for her killer. What she got was more than she bargained for: when she runs into Jericho Barrons, she learns who or what she is, when she runs into the Fae world. From there, she learns more about her sister's death and more of her upbringing with hidden secrets, sex-to-death godly looking Fae, and the most barbaric monsters. She's in the battle for her life, including for world, when she's after the book that started it all, a fight for life. An excellent series.

My Scandalous Bride

If you love historical romance and anthologies, this is the one for you. In these four stories, there's a couple coming together, an obstacle between them, and a scandal, one way or another, with a happy ending. In The Lady and the Tiger by Christina Dodd, Laura Haver avenge her brother's dead, and pretends to be Keefe Leighton's bride. In Melting Ice by Stephanie Laurie, Dyan will do anything to make Fiona Winston-Ryder melt and burn, a woman who wanted to be his bride in the past, and even now. In Wedding Knight by Celeste Bradley, Kitty "Katrina" Trapp poses as her twin sister, Bitty, on her wedding night, and falls in love with Knight, when the switch is revealed. And in The Proposition by Leslie LaFoy, Rennick St. James has three days to seduce Julia Hamilton, a widow with two grown children, to be his, before her wedding day. This is good for a quick read and to introduce you to Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Celeste Bradley, and Leslie LaFoy's work. I'll be reading Dodd, Bradley and LaFoy in the near future.

Don't Blink

If you love quick fast-paced mysteries, you'll enjoy this one from James Patterson. Nick Daniels is a reporter for a magazine, when he's a witness to a murder taking place, and getting it all caught up in tape. From that moment on, he's in danger, when things go awry. As he starts unraveling the truth, between Dwayne Robinson's missing interviews to a mob hint, things get heated up, when people wind up dead. And before you know, dirty politics played a hand into it, when it involves his family, and his life is on the line. What a thrill ride!

Austenland

Jane Hayes always imagined to find a Mr. Darcy in real life, when she had fast relationships in the past. When her great aunt dead and left her a trip to Pembroke Park, England in her will for Jane, she went to Austenland. That's where she spent the past three weeks, living how Jane Austen's characters did, when she was in her own love triangle, between Martin, a gardener, and Mr. Nobley, who she falls in love with. In the end, she couldn't pretend how the others lived back then, and became herself. A light and fluffy romance for those who love Jane Austen.

To The Brink

Cindy Gerard's To the Brink was the third book in the Bodyguard series. This red hot romantic suspense took us to the jungles of the Philippines and back to the USA. Darcy Prescott worked at the Vice Consul for South America, when she called her ex-husband Ethan for help, as she encountered trouble. It was now up to Ethan to rescue her with his team as Darcy fought for survival by terrorists, and befriended another hostage, Amy. When she waited for Ethan's rescue, she remembered when she met and married Ethan, and what went wrong--so did Ethan. After they were rescued, it was now up to them to find out what's going on, when they couldn't stop loving each other, remembering the hurt in the past as they get back together to work things out, when their lives were in the line. What a rush!

This was another explosive romantic suspense. I loved how it took us straight to the South American's jungles and back to the USA for the dual locations in this novel. I did feel worried about Darcy, when she was stuck in the rut and needed Ethan to help her out. I could see he still cared about her, when they remembered the past and why they split up. There was so much dramatic action in every page, you would be hooked from the first page to the last. Great suspense, intense romance, and plenty to keep you wanting more.

Ready to be at the brink? Pick up a copy today!

Just Desserts

In Mary Daheim's Just Desserts, the first installment in the Bed and Breakfast series, Judith McConigle owned a B&B, which had very old history, when the Brodie family came over, due to their home being fumigated. When she accepted them, it changed everything for Judith and her cousin Renie. And when Wanda, the fortune teller came to visit them with a fortune, things  do go bad to worse, when she died. And now everyone was a suspect, when Judith's ex-boyfriend, Joe Flynn, came on the scene, and brought back memories for Judith, a widow with a son from their past. It was up to Judith and Renie to figure out who was the killer in the middle of the snow storm, before they ended up the same way Wanda did. A delightful mystery.

This was an intriguing introduction to the Bed and Breakfast series. I did care about Judith and Renie, when they started their B&B and invited some guests into their building. I also could see how Judy still cared about Joe, too. I love the concept of having a B&B-themed series that included some delicious recipes, too, in another small town. I did feel bad for Wanda and became curious on the Brodie family.  Great drama, good action and suspense, and plenty of mystery to tie it all in.

Ready for your just deserts? If so, give it a read tonight!

Hunger

In Jackie Kessler's Hunger was about Lisa Lewis, who was an anorexic teen and denied about her eating disorder. She was chosen to be Famine, one of the Horsemen for Death, who learned about her gift, and her advisory. While she understood her gift, she fought with her family and friends, and became sicker and sicker. It wasn't until later, when she fought her own battle, and wanted to live, when she didn't want to be Famine anymore. Hunger had humor for this urban fantasy, and taught us about eating disorders for teens all alike.

This was a great urban fantasy for the YA genre. This dealt with eating disorders and with the historical 5 Horsemen. I loved how it was told in the most delicate ways of overeating or under-eating as well. I liked the storyline and how Lisa fought her own battle to eat and get better. I loved the concept and the backdrop as well. I couldn't find anything wrong to hate in this story. I just loved it for a gentle reading.

Don't go hungry! Grab a bite and a copy today!

See No Evil

In Allison Brennan's See No Evil, the second book in the No Evil trilogy series, you'll better be prepared to be chilled in this romantic suspense. Julia Chandler's niece was accused of murder. She needed Connor Kincaid to help find out who framed Emily, while they did have a past--she ruined his career, five years ago. They found out what was really going behind this murder and more, past and present, when they linked the connection of Wishlist, an egroup for anger management, when their fantasies come alive. The closer they do get to the truth, they fell in love and become more in danger. In the end, they hold on and fight for life and justice.


This was another wonderful romantic suspense novel from Allison Brennan. I cared about Julia and Connor and even Emily, when they've gotten tangled up into a nasty mess. I didn't like the people be hind the Wishlist e-group one bit. I loved the California locations for this magnificent romantic series trilogy. This would make you grimace and groan and root for Julia and Connor all the way. Great drama, excellent suspense, tons of heated romance, and lots of non-stop action to keep you at the edge of your seat.

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE

If you love hot romantic suspense, you'll enjoy this one by Judith McNaught. Mitchell Wyatt finds out the scandal behind his rich family and his upbringing, when the police are questioning him after his half-brother's disappearance, after he welcomes him into the family and apologies. He's introduced to the world of high politics. Kate Donovan is in St. Maarten, mourning the loss of her father, when she meets Wyatt and feels an attraction to him. Instantly, they're pulled together and make love, during three days of magic, as the investigation continues. Kate forgets about her boyfriend in Chicago, as she finds out all about him, and probes on the past, swapping family secrets. When Kate finds out he lied to her, they go their separate ways. Things gets complicated, when she becomes pregnant with his child, when they meet once again at a party; two years later, they meet again, when her son's kidnapped and they forgive each other with a happy ending. Beautifully written.

Coming Back

After Locked-in, Coming Back was the follow up to the Sharon McCone series, which happened months later in the 27th installment by Marcia Muller. When Sharon checked on one of her friends from rehab, she realizes that Piper's not who she was, and then later disappeared. It was up to Sharon and McCone Investigations to find out what happened to her, and to discover her past, when it lead to Adah's abduction and placing her colleagues in trouble, and a strain on her marriage with Hy. When they learned about the coverup, it was now up to cover all the bases, and to sort out what they really want. Lots of drama in this non-stop action-packed mystery.

This mystery was another stellar one. I continue to care about Sharon and her work and her marriage to Hy as well. Although she was strong enough to return to normalcy, thing weren't what they seemed to be. This pulled on my heart strings real tight. I still love the central California location for the series. I also was concerned about Piper, too. This had great drama, plenty of action and shocking surprises along the way.

Want to come back to a terrific series? Pick up a copy today!

Exclusive

If you love a good mystery with a hint of humor, you'll enjoy Exclusive, the second book in the Godmothers series. In this one, Teresa Amelia Loudonberry believed her house was haunted by ghosts, and told her friends, Ida, Sophie and Mavis. A bit skeptic, they did a seance and saw two spirits. Meanwhile, Ida was involved with her therapist in a heated romance, when he was up to no good with a scam, and Abby's job was on the line, when she promised him a scoop, which fell through, and have romance issues with her stepbrother Chris. With a hint of paranormal, some good laughs, these senior citizens know how to have fun, and tell a good story.

This was a delightful mystery with a hint of humor, paranormal, and romance in it. I cared about the godmothers and their obstacles in love and life. We've gotten to know them better in this novel. I loved the haunted house as the central location and setting in Virginia. This made me ponder and dwell on life some more. Good drama, nice action and suspense with plenty of intrigue to the end.

Will you receive an exclusive scoop? If so, check it out!