Books read this week

Books in Review:

Sword of Raven by Diana Duncan   ***
This paranormal romance is about Delaney Morgan whose life falls apart when her cop brother is arrested and convicted for corruption.  She finds out that she has magical abilities and everyone wants her.  Some to help and train her and others who want her essence.

It was a good story and it moved along nicely.  There were some moments in the book where the story seemed to jump ahead and it wasn't made clear so the reader was left to figure out what was happening.  Overall I will definetly be looking for the next book in the series.

If you can't stand the heat by Robin Allen **

If you can't stand the heat is a mystery set in Austen Texas.  Female protagonist Poppy Markham has left her family restuarant to be a health inspector.  Her father has her help out on the grand reopening.  During the evening Michelin-rated chef Évariste Bontecou is murdered and Poppy's stepsister Ursula is the prime suspect.  Poppy's father and stepmother expect her to figure out her is the actual murderer.

This was an ok story.  The mystery part of the story was really good and interesting.  However, the problems I had with the story were the interaction between Poppy and her family and former boyfriend.  There seemed to be a backstory about what happened with the boyfriend that was alluded to but not really explained.  Her family kept asking her to deal with the murder but were rude and obnoxious to her.  I don't know how many people would be willing to solve a murder to get someone off who was being that nasty to you.


Weddings can be murder by Christie Craig ***
Weddings can be murder is one of Christie Craig stand alone romances.  Katie Ray is about to be married and is having a massive case of cold feet.  She flushed her $8,000 engagement ring down the toilet by mistake.  Katie shows up for a meeting with her wedding planner and witness the wedding planner being murdered.  She ends up locked in a closet for 18 hours with P.I. Carl Hades.  After getting out of the closet she breaks off her engagement and ends up in protective custody with Carl.

I liked the storyline for the most part.  It was well written and flowed nicely.  The issue came in with the romance between Katie and Carl.  She breaks up with her fiance and starts up with Carl the same day.  It just didn't seem very realistic but it was interesting to see how Carl got himself out of trouble after pancaking twice.

Warrior Trainer by Gerri Russell *

Scotia was raised to protect the Stone of Destiny from everyone as well as, train everyone from the Scottish clans.  Ian MacKinnon has come to train with her so that he can defeat the four horseman who are terrorizing all of Scotland.

The premise of the story was interesting but there were to many complications in the story.  The romance was slow starting.  Ian and Scotia would get together then break apart and then they would sort of get back together just to not end up together.  The action was also very slow to start and then it was done.  The build up was long and extensive and then it was done.  I would have prefered there to be less build up.

Genie knows best by Judi Fennell ****
Sequel to I dream of genie.  Samantha Blain has just lost her father and found out her soon to be fiance is only using her for her inheritance.  When she finds a bottle in her father's safe she discovers a genie named Kal.  Kal is on probation and once he finishes granting all of Samantha's wishes he will finally be off probation.  The problem is he doesn't want her to finish her wishes because then they will be done with each other.

This was a funny and sexy book.  Drama and chaos throughout the book but it all ends up the way it should in the end.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara *****
Kaylin was born and raised in Nightshade fief until a slew of murders made her run.  She ends up in the City of Elantra.  She became a hawk patrolling the streets until the murders start again.  She has to confront her past to prevent more deaths.

This was a very well written fantasy novel.  The story moved and there was enough details throughout the story to not feel like the reader was missing vital details while leaving information to be uncovered in later books.