Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Dangerously Close by Dee J. Adams: A Guest Review by Sassy Outwater

(SB Sarah: I tweeted Sassy Outwater while I was reading this book because I had questions about the portrayal of the blind character, the heroine, Ashley. She started reading the book (and is a MUCH faster reader than I am) and wrote her own review. My review will be posted later today). 

Sarah tweeted this book at me and then upped the ante with a speed read challenge: blind chick with screen reader Vs. a smartbitch with eyeballs. I so got that! Three hour read, and a lasting impression later, here’s my review.

A good book is like a good song. Scenes or lines stick in your head and won’t get the hell out of there. Cliché but true. This was one of those for me.  Dangerously Close by Dee J. Adams is the third book in the Adrenaline Highs series from Carina Press. I wouldn’t call this book an adrenaline high, but I would call it accurate, treacherous, and an overall wonderful read. Adams… read more »

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan: A Guest Review by CarrieS

Here's my second monster-iffic review in honor of Halloween - and this one is a must read!  Team Human is funny, it's thought provoking, it's sweet, and it made me cry when I least expected it.  And yes, there is lovely romance in it.

Although it's not a romance novel, I enjoyed watching the couples in this book interact and develop as couples and as people more than I've enjoyed many romantic pairs in romance novels lately. 

I've heard Team Human described as an affectionate parody of Twilight, and that's partially accurate, but I'm not sure the term "parody" gives it justice.  It's a very thoughtful and suspenseful book for all its humor.  Basically, Mel is a teenager who lives in a town that was founded by vampires.  The vampires live in a separate section of town and generally stay apart from humans, but one day a gorgeous vampire teen named Francis enrolls at Mel's high school.  Mel's best friend, Cathy, is instantly smitten with Francis and when her adoration is requited, she… read more »

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Before I start talking about the book, have a look at the US cover and the UK cover for this book. The difference is very thought-provoking: 

I'm still not sure which cover I prefer, but I wish the UK cover were available in the US. And now: my review. 

Kami is a 17 year old girl in a small town in England called Sorry-in-the-Vale who sets up a school newspaper so she can go investigate things. She's incurably nosy. At one point, Kami says of herself that she wants to "discover truth and change the world." Fortunately for her, circumstances align that allow her to do a lot of both, with painful consequences. Kami has been connected mentally with a boy for as long… read more »

Riveted by MelJean Brook: A Guest Review by CarrieS

Meljean Brooks' new novel, Riveted, is a steampunk romance that is also part of the Iron Seas series.  I love so many things about the Iron Seas and this book did not disappoint.  It works fine as a stand-alone novel.

It has action and adventure but also many quiet scenes between characters.  Although this book is more slowly paced than some of her other books, this means that there is time for the story and the relationship to truly develop.  There is gorgeous world building, and some deeply moving content. 

The book entertains, but it also tackles tough issues.  The hero is a scientist, and you all know how crazy I am about scientist heroes.  For anyone who was off-put by the old school aspects of The Iron Duke  ( A | BN | K | S | ARe ), David is a gentle, respectful, nurturing hero who is also able to shovel coal for hours and walk through the snow without shoes while carrying the heroine if he has too.  Meanwhile, Annika faces her own fears and… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke

This review was written by Hydecat. This story was nominated in the Regency Historical Romance category.

The summary:     

Jane, Lady Roxdale, has endured one marriage of convenience decreed by the Ministry of Marriage. While she deeply regrets her late husband’s death, she is relieved to be free at last. But when a dissolute rake threatens everything Jane holds dear, she must contemplate marrying a second time…

Disgraced libertine Constantine Black inherits his cousin Roxdale’s land and title—while Roxdale’s prim widow is left all the wealth. Constantine is not a marrying man, but wedding Jane is the only way to save the estate from ruin. Jane resists the smoldering heat between them, desperate not to fall in love with an unrepentant rake. But for the first time ever, Constantine wants more than seduction. He wants all of her—body, heart, and soul…

And here is Hydecat's review:

Heiress in Love is the first book in Brooke’s Ministry of Marriage… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell

This review was written by Jamarleo. This story was nominated in the Best First Book category.

The summary:     

From London's slums to its bawdy playhouses, The Darling Strumpet transports the reader to the tumultuous world of seventeenth-century England, charting the meteoric rise of the dazzling Nell Gwynn, who captivates the heart of King Charles II-and becomes one of the century's most famous courtesans.

Witty and beautiful, Nell was born into poverty but is drawn into the enthralling world of the theater, where her saucy humor and sensuous charm earn her a place in the King's Company. As one of the first actresses in the newly-opened playhouses, she catapults to fame, winning the affection of legions of fans-and the heart of the most powerful man in all of England, the King himself.

Surrendering herself to Charles, Nell will be forced to maneuver the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal court-and discover a world of decadence and passion she never imagined possible.

… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose

This review was written by Ashlea. This story was nominated in the Best Contemporary Single Title Romance category.

The summary:     

The Larkin sisters are used to hearing whispers behind their backs. Being raised by hippie parents in the small resort town of Barringer’s Pass, Colorado, they were always considered oddballs, and for a while, they did everything they could to earn the name.  But now, older and wiser, they're discovering that it's not so great to be the wild child, and are struggling to earn a new place for themselves in town.

When Maggie Larkin resists the come-ons of a sleazy actor in town to shoot a film, she pisses off more than a pretty boy and his manager.  Turns out that Rafe DeLuca isn't just a movie star...he's possibly a killer, and Maggie's landed herself in more trouble than she could imagine.  Enter Cal Drummond, cop extraordinaire, who's been trailing DeLuca himself for weeks, convinced that his recently murdered sister is one… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Hush by Cherry Adair

This review was written by Randee . This story was nominated in the Best Romantic Suspense category.

The summary: Thrill seekers Zakary and Gideon Stark travel the globe in search of extreme adventure, but a trip to Venezuela to jump off the world’s highest falls catapults them into a perilous game of life or death—where they don’t know the rules. Kidnapped with a woman Zak knows nothing about, the brothers are held prisoner deep in the jungle.

A risky, deathdefying escape separates them and nearly claims Zak’s life . . . until his recovery reveals a baffling new sixth sense. Now, to find his missing brother, Zak and the mysterious Acadia Gray will have to out-smart, out-gun, and out-maneuver not just the brutal kidnappers but also a new player who joins the adrenaline game: a ruthless opponent who wants the Stark brothers dead—at any cost.

And here is Randee's review:

I always recommend Cherry Adair’s smart and sexy romantic suspense to anyone interested in stories about… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase

This review was written by Julie Brannagh. This story was nominated in the Best Historical Romance category.

The summary:     

From the Design Book of Marcelline Noirot:
 The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold: 
ladies would die to wear it . . .
and gentlemen would kill to remove it!

Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot is London's rising star. And who better to benefit from her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton, the Duke of Clevedon's intended bride? Winning the future duchess's patronage means prestige and fortune for Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady, though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whose standards are as high as his morals are . . . not.

The prize seems well worth the risk—but this time Marcelline's met her match. Clevedon can design a seduction as irresistible as her dresses; and what begins as a flicker of desire between two of the most passionately stubborn charmers in London soon ignites… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase

This review was written by Milena. This story was nominated in the Best Historical Romance category.

The summary:     

From the Design Book of Marcelline Noirot:
 The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold: 
ladies would die to wear it . . .
and gentlemen would kill to remove it!

Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot is London's rising star. And who better to benefit from her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton, the Duke of Clevedon's intended bride? Winning the future duchess's patronage means prestige and fortune for Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady, though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whose standards are as high as his morals are . . . not.

The prize seems well worth the risk—but this time Marcelline's met her match. Clevedon can design a seduction as irresistible as her dresses; and what begins as a flicker of desire between two of the most passionately stubborn charmers in London soon ignites into… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Hidden Away by Maya Banks

This review was written by Randee. This story was nominated in the Best Romantic Suspense category.

The summary:     

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who's in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother--and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it...

But Garrett hadn't counted on falling for Sarah. He'd considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah's dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe--even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn't know exactly who, or what, Sarah's running from, but whatever it is, she's running for her life...

And here is Randee's review:

Of the romantic suspense I’ve read it the last few years, Maya Banks’ KGI Series is among the very best. The stories get… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley

This review was written by Jess. This story was nominated in the Best Historical Romance category.

The summary:     

A renowned rake, Cameron Mackenzie doesn't care if Ainsley Douglas has a virtuous excuse for sneaking around his bedchamber. He only cares that she's at his mercy. One kiss at a time, he plans to seduce her. But what starts out as a lusty diversion may break Cam's own rules.

And here is Jess's review:

First, let me start by saying:  I love me some Lord Cameron.  I get heated thinking about his erotic paintings and his hangovers and his many sins and hot damn.  I like the heroine, Ainsley, a frisky and smart non-virgin, who calls the woman Cameron is tupping early in the book a “selfish cow.” And I dig the entire dysfunctional Mackenzie family—a collection of dudes who know what to do with honey in the honey pot.

RITA Reader Challenge: Nightfall by Ellen Connor

This review was written by KristiBug. This story was nominated in the Best Paranormal Romance category.

The summary:      


Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought in her wildest nightmares that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna's father. Skilled and steadfast, he's ready for the prophesied Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.

When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

This review was written by KristiBug. This story was nominated in the Best YA Romance category.

The summary:      


WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE In Deuce's world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed 'brat' has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms.

Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember. As a Huntress, her purpose is clear--to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade.

When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning. Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn't like following orders. At… read more »

RITA Reader Challenge: Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes

This review was written by Polished Bookworm. This story was nominated in the Best Regency Historical Romance category.

The summary:     


Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.

With his estate in ruins, Vim Charpentier sees little to feel festive about this Christmas. His growing attraction for Sophie Windham is the only thing that warms his spirits-but when Sophie's brothers whisk her away, Vim's most painful holiday memories are reawakened. It seems Sophie's been keeping secrets, and now it will take much more than a mistletoe kiss to make her deepest wishes come true...

And here is Polished Bookworm's review:

This book is an enjoyable bit of Christmas cheer, featuring a snowstorm, a baby, and… read more »