Non-fiction Review: Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? by Jena Pincott

Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes?

by Jena Pincott

Random House

ISBN: 9780385342162

http://www.jenapincott.com/

Release Date: September 29, 2009

from the publisher's site:

How long does it take to decide if a person is hot?

Is your lover more likely to get you pregnant than your husband?

Can men tell when a woman is fertile?

If you’ve ever wondered how scientists measure love—or whether men really prefer blondes over brunettes—this smart, sexy book provides real answers to these and many other questions about our most baffling dating and mating behaviors. Based on the latest research in biology, evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? dares to explain the science behind sex—and opens a fascinating window on the intriguing phenomenon of love and attraction.

Covering the areas of bodies, brains, and behavior, this eye-opening guide reveals the genetic, hormonal, and psychological secrets behind what makes us tick sexually. For example, do you know why a man’s body chemistry and behavior change when he’s in a committed relationship? And why, when he becomes a daddy, his testosterone level seems to plummet? And did you know…

• When a couple first fall in love, their brains are indistinguishable from those of the clinically insane

• You can tell a lot about a person’s sexual chemistry just by looking at his or her hands

• Your genes influence whose body odors you prefer

• Being around breast-feeding women may increase a woman's sex drive

Viewed through the lens of science and instinct, your love life might be seen in a completely different way. Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? provides both an in-depth exploration into our sexual psyches—and fresh advice for men and women who want to discover the secrets of successful relationships.

my thoughts:

I am always fascinated by why we do what we do. If there's a special on tv on the science of human sexuality you know I'll be watching it. The studies that Jena Pincott covers in Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? are exactly the kind of thing I love learning about. If you've ever been curious about this kind of thing, or if you're in the market for a man (because yeah it is kinda geared toward the ladies) this is definitely a book you should read.

Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? is set up in question & answer format so if you want to jump around a bit and just read what interests you, you can do so with no problem. This title gets a strong recommendation from me, so check it out today!

Romance Review: Taming the Beast by Heather Grothaus

Taming the Beast

by Heather Grothaus

Kensington Publishing

ISBN: 9781420102437

http://www.heathergrothaus.com/

Release Date: November 3, 2009

from the author's website:

After years of turmoil, Roderick Cherbon has left the Crusades to return to the home he loves. But the wars have changed him, and the heir who thought to heal his father’s injustices has become a vicious beast of a man, scarred inside and out. He will speak to no one, see no one; he leaves the shadows of his ruined keep only under the darkness of night. And even in death his father mocks him: to retain his land and title, Roderick, the Beast, must marry.

Lady Michaela Fortune is reviled for her poverty, ridiculed for her dreams, and preyed on for her soft heart. Humiliation and want dog her beloved family, and her pride is an indulgence she can ill afford. Cherbon and its shattered lord offer a solution. But to court a man who has fallen so low, Michaela will need all her grace and beauty to harbor any hopes of taming the beast…

my thoughts:

I have loved every book of Heather Grothaus' so I was so excited when I received Taming the Beast in my mailbox. Let me tell you, it's another winner. Michaela is a remarkable woman. She has endured so much but she still hopes for something better. Roderick needs a woman like Michaela to help him learn to live again. This truly is a "beauty and the beast" story with a few other elements thrown in.

I love, love, love this book. I knew Heather wouldn't let me down and she didn't. I recommend all of ther books. If you haven't picked up a Heather Grothaus historical, you need to do so. Taming the Beast is completely stand-alone so you don't have to have read any of her other books. The Warrior, The Champion, and The Highlander all have connecting characters so if you're going to read one of those I strongly recommend reading all three.

Pre-order or Reserve your copy of Taming the Beast today, you won't regret reading this one.

Romance Review: For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper

For the Love of Pete

by Julia Harper

Grand Central Publishing

ISBN: 9780446619189

http://www.juliaharper.com/

Release Date: January 1, 2009

from the author's site:

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT?

Free-spirited Zoey Adler is about to hijack a federal agent. And not just any federal agent, but very Special Agent Dante Torelli, a man whose designer suits and Italian shoes are more GQ than FBI. But when her baby niece, Pete, is snatched right in front of her eyes, Zoey doesn’t hesitate to scramble into Dante’s spotless BMW. She needs his help to rescue the baby . . . if only she can ignore his Lips of Sin.

OH, BABY!

Dante’s original mission is down the drain and he’s dodging bullets with a loopy redhead by his side. He likes quiet. She never shuts up. He likes to follow the rules. She throws the rules out the window. But these opposites do more than attract—they ignite. With a henpecked hit man running wild, cooking-obsessed matrons chasing down contraband spices, and a relentless killer tracking them all, Dante and Zoey will risk everything—for themselves and . . .

FOR THE LOVE OF PETE

my thoughts:

For the Love of Pete is hilarious, fun romp. This was the first book I've read of Julia Harper's but it won't be the last. I had so much fun with this story. Zoey and Dante are an excellent pair; they played off each other well. The secondary characters were just as great. I loved all of the back and forth and the comedy of errors.

I can't wait for more from Julia Harper! Take my word for it, this is such a great book you don't want to miss it.

Romance Review: To Catch a Thief by Christine Skye

To Catch a Thief

by Christine Skye

HQN Books (Harlequin)

ISBN: 9780373773077

http://www.christinaskye.com/

Release Date: September 1, 2008

from the publisher's website:

Nell MacInnes can spot a forgery from a mile away. After all, she learned from the best—her father is one of the art world’s most notorious thieves. His brutal beating by the very authorities who claim to keep the world safe from harm taught her one more valuable lesson—trust no one.

The last thing rugged Navy SEAL Dakota Smith needs on his mission is a tempting woman he doesn’t trust. But a sketch by Leonardo da Vinci has gone missing, and the art conservator’s skill in detecting forgery would be invaluable, if only her ties to the criminal world are as dead as she says they are.

Soon an edgy partnership and white-hot attraction are forged between Nell and Dakota as they race to Draycott Abbey to track down a ruthless criminal with terrorist ties before time runs out—and the da Vinci is lost forever.

my thoughts:

This was the first Christina Skye book I read, but it certainly won't be the last. The Romance and the Suspense were wonderful. Nell and Dakota make a great pair. It took them a while to get out of their own way and realize it, though.

The action in To Catch a Thief just keeps on coming. There were surprises I never saw coming, and with as much as I've read it's getting harder for me to find an author who can surprise me.

I definitely recommend reading Christina Skye's To Catch a Thief and I'll be getting my hands on her other books as well.

Romance Review: Scions: Revelation by Patrice Michelle

Scions: Revelation

by Patrice Michelle

Silhouette Nocturne

ISBN: 9780373618002

http://www.patricemichelle.com/

Release Date: December 1, 2008

from the author's website:

They thought they understood the prophecy.

They were wrong.

Caine Grennard was a werewolf, living among humans and lacking purpose--until the night he met a woman with an exotic, irresistible scent. A woman who might be his deadliest enemy.

When her aunt is kidnapped, Emma Gray swears to do anything to get the older woman back. Even if it means trusting the mysterious--and sexy--stranger named Caine.

But more is at stake than one woman's life: Emma's past holds the last key to unlocking a prophecy Caine's clan is depending on. The fate of both their clans rests on them trusting the impossible, electric connection between them, even in the heart of betrayal...

my thoughts:

I loved Patrice Michelle's previous Scions books, and Revelation was no different. Questions from the past finally become clear. Caine and Emma were great together and seeing them finally come together was great. It was a hard journey with many roadblocks, but in the end it was worth it.

Since each portion of the prophecy has been covered, I'm not sure if Patrice Michelle will add any more books to this series, but even if she doesn't I still look forward to whatever else she may release.

Romance Review: Seduce Me in Shadow by Shayla Black

Seduce Me in Shadow

by Shayla Black

Pocket Books (Simon & Schuster)

ISBN: 9781416578444

http://www.shaylablack.com/

Release Date: September 29, 2009

from the publisher's site:

Ex-marine Caden MacTavish has shunned his magical heritage all his life, but he will do anything to heal his desperately ill brother, a Doomsday Brethren warrior in mourning for his missing mate. Posing as a photographer, Caden must convince firecracker tabloid reporter Sydney Blair to reveal the source of her recent exposé on a supernatural power clash. Unfortunately, keeping his hands off the sizzling redhead proves as hard as getting them onto the potent and mystical Doomsday Diary he discovers at her bedside. A bloody rebellion led by an evil, power-hungry wizard is imminent. If Sydney divulges the book's existence, she will jeopardize magickind's most deeply guarded secrets and become the ruthless wizard's number one target. Caden has never trusted magic's cruel and dangerous powers, but he will protect Sydney with his life and magic -- even if it means risking his heart.

my thoughts:

I'm completely in love with Shayla Black's Doomsday Brethren. I loved Tempt Me with Darkness when I read it last year and it was agony waiting a full year for Seduce Me in Shadow, but it was so worth the wait. Caden and Sydney are great characters and I look forward to seeing more of them in the next book Possess Me at Midnight.

What I really love is that there is so much more going on here than just Caden and Sydney's story. There is certainly plenty of attention paid to them and their romance, but we get to see quite a bit of the world Caden comes from (much as he'd like to deny it).

If you like dark paranormals with a lot of action then you have to pick up Shayla Black's Doomsday books. I flew through both of the stories so far and I'm practically hopping up and down waiting for the next book. :) There is so much that comes up that I'm so curious about, but naturally we're being kept in suspense.

Trust me, these are books you don't want to miss.

Romance Review: Texas Wedding For Their Baby's Sake by Kathryn Albright

Texas Wedding for Their Baby's Sake

by Kathryn Albright

Harlequin Historical

ISBN: 9780373295616

http://www.kathrynleighalbright.com/

Release date: August 1, 2009

from the author's website:

Caroline Benét enjoyed one night in her fiancé’s arms before he left to fight for freedom in the Texas territory. The day news reaches her of the Alamo slaughter is the day she learns she is carrying his child.

He may have survived, but Brandon Dumont can’t return to the life he once knew or the woman he loves—not as a cripple and a man battling his own personal demons.
When Caroline shows up in Texas, Brandon is determined to send her packing. But Caroline wants more than Brandon’s name for their baby. It will take a love as big as Texas to win him back.

my thoughts:

I love Kathryn Albright and her books. Her stories are particularly special to me because she's a local lady and I know her personally. Brandon and Caroline's story is a beautiful story of two people who knew and loved each other finding each other again. In the months they are apart Brandon and Caroline each change and grow so that when they meet again they aren't quite the same people they were before. And despite them trying to deny their love; it won't be ignored. The attraction between them is too strong.

This book felt very real to me. The people were real, and so were their problems. Yet Brandon and Caroline didn't let their problems get the best of them. They faced their difficulties head on and perservered.

I loved this story and I hope you will too. If you're interested Brandon and Caroline are first brought up in Kathryn Albright's previous novel, The Rebel and the Lady, which is the story of Brandon's brother Jake.

Romance Review: Winter Kissed by Michele Hauf and Vivi Anna

Winter Kissed

A Kiss of Frost by Michele Hauf

Ice Bound by Vivi Anna

Silhouette Nocturne

ISBN: 9780373617999

http://www.michelerhauf.com/

http://www.vivianna.net/

Release date: November 1, 2008

from Michele Hauf's website:

A Kiss of Frost

When winter god and assassin Jal Frost's latest assignment targets mortal Kate Wilson, the last thing Jal anticipates is falling for his victim. But she provides a warmth unlike anything he's known. Soon Jal faces his most vexing challenge as he must choose between the woman he loves and his duty as a god.

Ice Bound

On a special mission to Japan, Dr. Darien Calder hopes to learn more about the legendary Ice Maiden, who purportedly froze lost travelers with just a touch of her icy lips. But when she rescues him from a snowdrift, will the warmth of Darien's newfound love be enought to thaw the Ice Maiden's heart?

my thoughts:

Winter has never been my favorite season, but the hot stories in Winter Kissed may make me want to change my mind. I love both Michele Hauf and Vivi Anna so I love that they came together with stories for this book. Jack Frost and the Japanese Ice Maiden aren't characters that you often get to read about. I'm a big fan of mythology so I really enjoyed the unique mythologies that each of these ladies used.

If you get a chance, grab a copy and settle down for a nice cool read. :) Highly recommended.

Non-fiction Review: Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper

Homer's Odyssey

by Gwen Cooper

Delacorte Press (Random House)

ISBN: 9780385343855

Release Date: August 25, 2009

from the publisher's site:

Once in nine lives,something extraordinary happens...

The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention a phenomenally underpaying job and a recently broken heart. Then Gwen’s veterinarian called with a story about a three-week-old eyeless kitten who’d been abandoned. It was love at first sight.

Everyone warned that Homer would always be an “underachiever,” never as playful or independent as other cats. But the kitten nobody believed in quickly grew into a three-pound dynamo, a tiny daredevil with a giant heart who eagerly made friends with every human who crossed his path. Homer scaled seven-foot bookcases with ease and leapt five feet into the air to catch flies in mid-buzz. He survived being trapped alone for days after 9/11 in an apartment near the World Trade Center, and even saved Gwen’s life when he chased off an intruder who broke into their home in the middle of the night.

But it was Homer’s unswerving loyalty, his infinite capacity for love, and his joy in the face of all obstacles that inspired Gwen daily and transformed her life. And by the time she met the man she would marry, she realized Homer had taught her the most important lesson of all: Love isn’t something you see with your eyes.

Homer’s Odyssey is the once-in-a-lifetime story of an extraordinary cat and his human companion. It celebrates the refusal to accept limits—on love, ability, or hope against overwhelming odds. By turns jubilant and moving, it’s a memoir for anybody who’s ever fallen completely and helplessly in love with a pet.

my thoughts:

From the time I saw Gwen's blog post about Homer scaring the late-night intruder away, I knew I had to read this book. When I saw a promotional copy in my manager's office at work I begged him for it. I love cats, and having one myself, have a personal fondness for black cats. Homer's story is simply amazing, I laughed, cried, and told everyone I came into contact with about this wonderful little cat.

It seems there wasn't a single person who met Homer and left unaffected in some way. Homer finds joy in everything and that draws people to him. If only we could all be so happy with what we have. Homer is an example to us all.

Reserve your copy today, if you like animals or even just enjoy heart-warming stories then you need to read Homer's Odyssey.

Romance Review: Lord of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle

the info:

The Lord of Pleasure

by Delilah Marvelle

Zebra (Kensington)

ISBN: 9781420104493

http://www.delilahmarvelle.com/

Release Date: August 4, 2009

from the publisher's site:

Desperate Times. . .

It's been months since Lady Charlotte Chartwell's philandering husband met his untimely end at the hands of an angry mistress. But as miserable as he made Charlotte in life, his death proves to be an even harsher blow. For not a farthing of his fortune or estate have passed on to her, and as a ruined widow, she is destitute, penniless, and utterly without hope.

Lead To Desperate Pleasures…

Then, as Charlotte is considering the worst, a man steps into her carriage. His intentions are quite indecent at first, but the more he learns about her, the more an unfamiliar—and undesirable—emotion creeps over him. Could it be compassion? Never! For this is Alexander Baxendale, third Earl of Hawksford. He is known throughout the ton as the Lord of Pleasure, dedicated to passion, ruthless in his pursuit of sensual gratification. Yet never in all his exploits has he met a woman who could intrigue him as Charlotte does. Can this mysterious beauty make him hang up his title and see to her pleasure alone?

my thoughts:

As usual I loved this one. After all, I wouldn't bother telling you about it if I didn't love it now would I? This is the companion book to Mistress of Pleasure and I do say companion because what I love about these books is that they overlap each other. Lord of Pleasure doesn't follow like a standard sequel, it actually starts prior to the events in Mistress of Pleasure and ends prior to the end of that book as well. I would definitely say it could be read as a stand alone, but highly recommend reading both books because you see the same events from different perspectives when you read both.

I loved reading about Charlotte and Alexander and of course all of Alexander's many sisters. Delilah Marvelle is definitely one of my new favorite historical authors. I can't wait to see if she writes more companion books in this series. I'd love to see what happens with the other men, espeically Alexander's best friend, Lord Caldwell.

Go out and pick up your copy of Lord of Pleasure today, and if you can find it, grab a copy of Mistress of Pleasure as well. You may need to search used bookstores to find a copy of that one, however.

Romance Review: A Duke to Die For by Amelia Grey

I just finished reading this one for the book club I host at work. Totally loved it.

Here's the info:

Title: A Duke to Die For

by Amelia Grey

Sourcebooks Casablanca

ISBN: 9781402217678

http://www.ameliagrey.com/

from the publisher's site:

What is a roguish young nobleman supposed to do with a shockingly lovely young ward? The Duke of Blakewell believes he'd better marry her off as soon as possible, before he gives in to temptation himself...

But Henrietta doesn't want a husband— she wants her independence...

Sure that she carries a curse that killed her previous guardians, Henrietta just wants the duke to sign over her inheritance before something terrible befalls him...
In a moment of passion, they become scandalously entangled, and suddenly the duke must take Henrietta's curse seriously, and she must take drastic measures to save the one man she could love...

my thoughts:

This book is great. Henrietta is a wonderful, caring woman. And Lucien, the Duke of Blakewell is just the kind of hero you love to read about. The tension between the two could be felt from the first scene. You knew right away that they wanted to be together but believed they shouldn't be. It was wonderful watching them come together and realize how they felt about each other. The secondary characters like Race, Morgan, and Gibby were so much fun and I can't wait to read Race's and Morgan's stories. Be sure to watch for A Marquis to Marry and An Earl to Enchant, coming up in the Rogue's Dynasty series.

Intro

As though the blogoshpere or myself really needs another blog, but here it is, I've created one anyway. :)

For those of you who don't know me, I run a Young Adult blog called Want My YA. You can find that one by going here: http://www.wantmyya.blogspot.com

I will be using this blog to discuss everything else I read. It will probably wind up being a lot of Romance, but I'm not limiting myself to any one genre. I may even cover some non-fiction as well. The only thing you won't see covered here is YA because I already have a blog dedicated solely to that genre.

I also want to note that for now I will not be accepting any review requests for this blog because I already have so many I need to cover for Want My YA. Not to mention the 7+ bookshelves of unread books in my bedroom. I want to be able to review what I want when I want without worrying that I'm letting someone down by not posting fast enough.

I will try to post as often as possible but I can be a space case so don't surprised if I forget to post sometimes.

Questions or comments? email me at bookmaedin at yahoo dot com

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll keep checking back.