I Hereby Resolve...

Booking Through Thursday


Any New Year's Reading Resolutions? A certain number of books you want to read in 2007? Certain genres? Something from your TBR pile? Classics to read? Authors to try? Anything at all??


- I hope to not only to read 50 books in year but to also try reading 100 books.

- I have had "A Breathe of Snows and Ashes for far too long in my TBR piles now. I want to get to it and read it. I always love to read Diana Gabaldon books, and have been trying to find the time to read "A Breath of Snows and Ashes.

- But I would love to try all new to me authors. And always look forward to reader words of the mouth for books recommend :)

Merry Christmas !

I want to wish all bloggers and my friends (those who celebrate it) a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from my home to your :)

Best wishes to you and your family, may you have wonderful time where ever you are :)


Julia

Jingle Bell Rock / anthology

*Notice - There are errors, so I will edit it when I can *


- He See You When You're Sleeping by Lori Foster (click me) * * * * 1/2

Booker Dean was thinking about his neighbor, Frances, who also happen to be his friend. He had feeling for her and knew she is the one for him. He couldn't be with her until he break his commitments he had not ended yet. But once he know he is free, he didn't hesistated to have Frances.



- All She Wants for Christmas by Janelle Denison (click me) * * * * 1/2

Faith Roberts, an Elmentary teacher, going to give Matthew Carlton, an pediatric surgeon, her full attention and a chance to pursued her. She whisper to his ear what she want for Christmas, and that rattle Matthew who never thought his wish would ever come true



- Turning Up the Heat by Susan Donovan (click me) * * * * *

Valerie thought she will spent a lonely night on a Christmas Eve. The heater had stopped working, and now she is cold. She never thought the night will be any worse... not until a furnace repairmen came to her door and a sizzle hot flash, heated her body. And she knew she want him. Earl knew that his chance with Valerie, who he have met during a previously party, is going to come true. Even though Valerie think he is stranger.


- Baby, It's Cold Outside byDonna Kauffman (click me) * * * * *

Jace Morgan coming home to Rogue's Hollow give him hope to reunited with Suzanne York again. Memories of their past relationship was special and bonded. After the summer, 10 years ago, when he was seventeen both Jace and Suzanne went in different direction to go where their scholarship take them to - their dream. Now returning back to Rogue' Hollow, Jace wasn't sure what to expect when he see Suzanne again.


- A Blue Christmas by Alison Kent (click me) * * * *

reunites high school sweethearts, with different circumstances. And erotic story. Jess looking for the love she lost and she found it in Thomas.


- The Nutcracker Sweet by Nancy Warren (click me) * * * * *
Two co-worker always fighting with one another. Then Tara made a dare with Daniel, which lead to one hot night of passion

Holiday Reading

Booking Through Thursday


1- Any favorite holiday books or stories that you like to read and reread this time of year? And if so, why? What makes it so special to you? Favorites from your childhood? (This is a perfectly good time of year for picture books--it's like watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Adults can "do" cartoons in December.)

- I can't remember my mom ever reading Christmas stories to me when I was little. So I can't answer that part. But I'm sure I have heard stories every now and then in elementary school but just can't remember the titles of the books.

However for the past few years, I been reading some short Christmas anthology stories and I re-read them every years.


2- (Psst. You can talk about favorite movies or TV specials, too, if you want, even though they're not about reading. You know, just this once.)

- A few of my favorite movie are:

Miracle on 13 Street
Chevy Chase movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
It's a Wonderful Life
Jingle All the Way
Santa Clause I, II ( with Tim Allen)
Charlie Brown Christmas
Scrooge movies ( any classic and new one)


And of course the original tradition of the animation Christmas, such as "Santa is Coming to Town", "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman"...etc.


I'm sure there are lot more movies that I'm forgetting. But if someone mention it here in the comments, then I might remebmer that too *grin*

Twelve Days of Christmas

For the twelve days of Christmas, your true love will send you:

Twelve street musicians drumming Eleven marshmallows a-puffing Ten elves a-leaping Nine ladies yodeling Eight llamas a-milking Seven fruitcakes a-festering Six iPods a-playing Five Golden Girls Four calling bill collectors Three French berets Two starving Olsen twins And a fairy in a olive tree

What Will You Get for the 12 Days of Christmas?

The Night Before Christmas

*notes* please notice, I will recheck for errors later *end note*


- White Knight Christmas by Lori Foster (click me) * * * * 1/2

Detective Parker Ross, came home from bad day at work and all he wanted to do is take shower and take long sleep. But he end up helping Lily to get rid of the man who were begging her for another chance. He want to avoid bumping into Lily, because he knew she is everything that he shouldn't have. She is sweet and too young. And so into Christmas. Which he is opposite of all three. But Lily won't stop at nothing to get him to declare that he attracted to her. And get into the true spirit of Christmas. She plan to do it by showing him what Christmas is all about. And share one of her most important, sweetest gift of all, with him.


- Snowed Under by Erin McCarthy (click me) * * * * 1/2

Claire was on her way walking home from shopping, when a snowplow passed by and soaked her clothes. She took short trip to her brother house (Derek from "Smart Mouth"), planning to changed and dry out when she find her brother friend, Justin already making himself comfortable in the house. Justin was her childhood crush and she has been attracted to him for years. And now that she is older, she want to show him that she is now an adult and not child anymore. So she determined to act on it, not knowing that Justin felt same, too.


- Ms. Humbug by Jill Shalvis (click me) * * * * *

A city planner,Cami caught Ned, who she has been seeing, having sex with another woman in the bathroom at the office. She was attending to leave for home, only to bump into her boss, councilman Matt Tarino. They always irritate each other when working together, so Cami was not happy seeing him. Later at the Annual Mask Ball when they kisses, it was just right. And all the feeling of being the "ugly ducking" just melted away and Matt helped her to see that there is only one man who would love her the way she is


- I'll Be Home for Christmas by Kathy Love (click me)
* * * * 1/2

Rob were determined to come home to Portland, Main for the Christmas to see his nephew, but a snowstorm canceled his flight. Destiny met him when he landed in the arm of his high school sweetheart Erica, who he let go many years ago. Seeing each other again was uncomfortable because it brought back memories for both. Rob knew that he had hurt Erica, and wonder if there is ever second chance. He realized later that not money nor success could make him happy than being with the one he loves the most, family and Erica

- Seducing Scrooge by Katherine Garbera (click me)
* * * * 1/2

Jackson Peterson is a workaholic, who is retake of the Scrooge from "The Christmas Carol". Krista decided to teach him that there is more to life than work. She want to prove that the holiday spirit live in him and teach him about loving and sharing

- The Good Girl's Guide to a Very Bad Christmas by Kyle Adams (click me)
* * * * 1/2

Peri Knight breaks her engagement, when a friend sent her a link to a video of "Banker Gone Wild" featuring her fiance having sex with a stripper. She put that behind her, when she saw Chase McCloud at the Rush Hour, an anti-Starbucks coffeehouse. Chase is one of the actor who had a supporting role in Physical Evidence the second hottest show on Television. He help her to get in role for Physical Evidence, and she got excited because she have been waiting for her acting break. She have been fantasy about Chase since he is a regular at the Rush Hour. She soon realized that all of her fantasy can come true if her naughty list get into the hand of the right guy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a whole - my feeling for this book was fun. I enjoy some of the stories but felt that some are very short. I did enjoy "Ms Humbug" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas". I find myself chuckling on "Snowed Under" and "A Good Girl's Guide to a Very Bad Christmas".

Can You Hear Me Now? / Audio Books

Booking Through Thursday


Audio Books. Yes or No?


- No I don't use Audio Books. Because for personal reason. If it wasn't for that reason, I might be more likely to buy them so I can listen to it on road/short trip to where- ever I need to go :)

Santa, Baby (anthology) * * * * 1/2

(*notice* This have not been edited yet, so forgive me for my errors)



- Hot Toy by Jennifer Crusie ( a new story!)
Trudy is determined to get the latest hot toy action figure "Major MacGuffin" for her nephew Leroy. She ended up in a place where she finally found one but it was only the last year "MacGuffin One" hot toy buy. And Leroy wanted the latest "MacGuffin Two" with the toxic waste on them that spit goops. But no matter what, Trudy was set on buying it anyway, because that what Leroy want Santa to get him for Christmas, "Major MacGuffin".

While in the store, she saw Nolan, the guy who she dated once and then never received a phone call or heard from again. And she grow to hate him. But Nolan wanted to apology and make amend. But Trudy try to guard herself from him.

Then an unexpected thing happen, when a mystery man name Reese appeared. He was once assistant to her Professor father and good friend. He tell her that there is warehouse where she can get the latest "Major MacGuffin Two" but she would have to follow him by cab. And Nolan wind up in the cab with them. Then she find herself right in the middle of some trouble of minor spy game. And she had to try to escape to safely.

The romance at the end was short but sweet. And what happen to the "Major MacGuffin"....you going to have to read it to find out *grin*.


- Christmas Bonus by Lori Foster website
(reissues from All I Want for Christmas )


Eric had fallen for Maggie the first time he saw her at age 16. But 5 year later, she is now grown up and had finish college. So he planned to tell her of his feeling. But the only thing was, her father died and left the company to her. So Maggie became Eric boss. And he doesn't want to get too close, in fear that there be speculation and rumors that he trying to be promoted ahead of the other. But then he discover Maggie's steamy manuscript, and became amuse when he realized that the male characters resemble him. And he knew that there is chance for him and Maggie after all and decided to do something about it.


Maggie wonder if she ever have the chance with Eric. Since her father death, he have been a distance from her. Maggie invited Eric to a Christmas party- in hope to get his attention, now that she no longer a college girl, and is ready to let him know her feeling for him. But an unexpected surprise visit at her doorstep, changed her plan.



- Naughty Under the Mistletoe by Carly Phillips website

( was originally printed in Naught or Nice anthology )

Antonia mission, when she attend the Corbin Company party, was to seduce Stephan Corbin, who she been attracted to for long time. She felt she can act on her feeling toward him now, since she is going to be in new suburban office of the Corbin and Sons. However, she end up kissing the wrong twin brother. And she never felt the spark between anyone else before, like the way she did with Max.


Max Corbin attend the party, and was just getting bored when a woman in elf outfit caught his attention. When she walked up to him and gave him a kiss, he knew he is attracted to her. Then he realized that she mistaken him for his twin brother, Stephan. But Antonia told him that she is more attracted to him then his brother.

A night of fun pool and intriguing stakes of rule : strip or "admit something about themselves", turn out to be one sexy night for both :)


*********

Jennifer Crusie "Hot Toy" was fun to read. I laugh at some of the funny scenes. There were moments where I can understand the heroine struggling to buy the perfect gift to a child. The gift that a child wanted Santa to buy them for Christmas. There were little surprise that I didn't expect to happen. I enjoy the story. Even though Lori Foster and Carly Phillips stories were reprint, I enjoy it. I haven't read the original print before, so maybe that have affection on me. But even if I have read them already, I still would have love the stories no matter what. The only complaint I have is that the stories were too short :)

Santa, Baby as whole was fun and lots of laugh. I enjoy reading them and getting into the Christmas spirit. It was fast, light and romantic. Read it if you ever have the chance. And Check out their website above

Rec'd series books / Christine Feehan

I admit - I'm one of the few people who didn't read too far from Feehan's Dark series. It became popular today, and more new people are starting to reconized her everyday. Feehan's have so many different series books for everyone to enjoy, lucky for that I have enjoy her other works much better :)

Here is Christine website if you would like to take look and see if you're interest in any books she has written.

I would like to recommend one of my favorite series written by her.
The GhostWalkers series are about a group of military men, who was taken in for science experiment. Things went wrong and they escape. They later learn that there are other people like them, who have different special ability and may harms themselves or the other innocence. So their mission was to find them quickly before any damaged can happen. And each men work together with the heroines as equal partner, which give them both strengths and abilities in order to survive.

The story have plenty of actions and romance. It is thrilling and powerful. It has paranormal elements sci-fic to it. Humors and intense scenes. It is a great series! The order the books come in are:


GhostWalker series:

- Shadow Game
- Mind Game
- Night Game
- Conspiracy Game
- Deadly Game ( releasing in February 27, 2007 )


I love this series and have enjoy all the books. And I hope you will too :)

Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

Do you like to keep your books nearby? Do you collect them? Pile, stack, shelve, hoard them? Or do you get rid of them, send them back to the library, give them away, once you've read them?

- Yes I like to keep my books nearby. I have two shelves in my bedroom and both are fulled. I also collect books too. If I don't think books to be keeper then I donated it to my library or give them to people who need it :) I never ever thrown them in the trash. That is no no :)

Cold As Ice * * * * 1/2

*notice* - I well come back to re-check the errors grammars later, as I've been busy with the holidays stuff*

(Romance Suspense)
Cold As Ice is the continue to the "Ice" series. The first book Black Ice , is one of the great book I've read of the year. And it Bastien and Chloe story. In Cold As Ice you will see a bit of Bastien again :) If you want to know more about this series, click this link here Anne Stuart website

Cold As Ice is about our hero, Peter Jensen who was on a mission. His secret operative mission was to find Harry and kill him. Harry is the head of the Rule of Seven terrorists, who plan a massive attack on civilian populations. But an innocence intruder aboard the yacht, the SS Seven Sins, and it could ruin his plan. The only thing to do is, to have her killed if she get in his way. But the problem is he is attracted to her. And he is proud that he has never killed an innocence people in all his assignments and assassinations career.

Genny, A Manhattan lawyer, job was to hand deliver some legal papers to a billionaire philanthropist Harry, to get him to sign it and then leave to take a vacation trip to Costa Rica. But Harry have other plan. Because she thought he was sweet man, she finally gave in and decided to stay the night on Harry's SS Seven Sins yacht. Only she didn't know she had walk into danger zone.

While Peter was debating whether to kill Genny or let her walk away, Genny tried to find a way to escape and save Harry or just accepted her death.

The romance between Genny and Peter was emotionally sexual intense. I'm always left wondering what Peter will do with her next and weather if he going to go through his plan with her. I just love that he was teaching her to protect herself, and the way he "teach" it was very sexual thrilling in some senses.

I LOVE this book! When I was reading this, I find myself really feeling the intense and the emotions between the two main characters. It was thrilling for me. I also devour some of the scenes by scenes. I eat every words. The dialogue are great. It is easy read and fast pace. On the half-ending, left me emotionally breathless. And the ending was great! :) Although I rolled my eyes at the heroines when she did something, that she shouldn't have.

I need to answers a topic regarding reader's question about Peter's bi-sexuality. He is not a bi-Sexual character. What he does regarding to his sexuality is that he does what needs to be done to get his job done. One of the reason why he is such good in his job is that he can turn his emotion on and off. With no feeling. When the job call for it, he will do it. No questions ask.

And while I do like this book, I still love Black Ice more better than Cold As Ice. Because it was more better and exciting.

Anne Stuart have done it again! She is one of the authors who don't hide beneath the surface and know how to push the envelopes deeper into the places where some authors never have gone to before. Her heroes are not ordinary characters. Some are trained killer. Other are bad boy with attitudes. And each heroes had something dark about them. They are arrogant and cold with no feeling but a heart that was never discover until they met "the one". You will see that they're an interesting characters.

I highly recommend anyone to read the "Ice" series. They're great read! Please don't miss it :) Also you might want to take look at some of Anne stuart's backlist. Lots of her books are well done too, IMO. I highly recommend it.

*Notice - I wrote this draft on November 19, 2006 but just never published it until today*