Thursday Thirteen: Edition # 32

Books Won From the Contests

I love to win a prizes from contest all the times. I go from authors website or blog to enter their contests. Or it could be from my Yahoo Group/loops. I don't always get lucky to win (not a while lot). Or even get the prizes that I want. But the prizes that I did win, I really got excited and anxious to get them. Most are "new to me authors" which I'm always looking out for *hint hint*. And some are authors/books that I'm familiar with but either I had read their other works previously or never read them before. Below are the list of books that I currently won. Or have won long time ago, but just been sitting in my TBR piles. These are given to me all in different times,years and dates. Not all at once *grin*. If you click on the titles, you'll be able to see the cover arts and information about each books. Enjoy! And Happy TTs and I hope you have a great Thursday! :)

1. Edge of Danger by Cherry Adair
2. Bad Boys Ahoy! by Sylvia Day
3. The Matchmaker by Jamie Denton
4. The Man Behind the Mask by Christine Rimmer
5. A Highlander for Christmas by Sandy Blair
6. Forced Mate Rowena Cherry
7. Kill the Messenger Tami Hoag
8. My Enemy, My Love by Diane M. Wylie (no link)
9. Touch a Dark Wolf by Jennifer St. Giles
10. In the Bed of a Duke by Cathy Maxwell
11. Master of Pleasure by Jessica Trapp
12. Temptress by Lisa Jackson
13. Risk Everything by Sophia Johnson

Have you read any of these books? If so, what your thoughts on them? I would love to know. Maybe it'll push me to pick up the book and read it quicker :)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Juliana:What to Do On My Next Vacation
2. Hootin-Anni: 13 New TTs Headers
3. Melody:Booking Through Thursday
4. Maria: Why We Decided Not to Have Kids
5. 13 Things I Like That Start With the Letter "C"
6. Marcia: Artwork- American to Asian
7. Celticlibrarian:Mysteries You Can Watch and Read
8. Pussreboots: Food on Books

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Heroine

Booking Through Thursday


Who is your favorite female lead character? And why? (And yes, of course, you can name more than one . . . I always have trouble narrowing down these things to one name, why should I force you to?)

1. Eve Dallas (JDRobb's In Death series) - because she smart, witty, kick butt and she get the man of my dream...Roarke *grin*. I love how she learn about marriage and family as she growth and developed through the books series. I love her reaction toward off and on planet life (seeing the cow, afraid of babies, clothes people wear..etc) It funny!

2. Claire (Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series) - She was strong person who love Jamie with all of her heart. She have been through so much along with Jamie through out the
pages. There were so many special moments with her and each individual characters. And she keep her families together. And every scenes with her and Jamie are worth reading :) And Claire (and every characters in the books) just seem...real to me. As if I can see them, out there somewhere. I just need to find them *grin*.

3. The first two heroine from Jacey Ford's Partner in Crime series. Both women were strong person and very smart. They seem to be what I would describe them as sorta being like "Sydney" from Alias show. And I want to be them hehehe.

The top three heroine (above) are the one that stick in my mind the most. I'm sure there is a whole lot of heroine that are my favorite (and maybe when I read other blogger's answers, I would say ah ha! Forgot about her, I like her too *grin*) but I'm just blanking on them at the moment. I sure do need to do re-read again. Most of the time they are the one that is smart, strong, kick butt who can stand up for herself. Or the funny one who is strong sleuth but can take care of herself even when she fall in love and let the man protect her. Or the one who is weak first but than become stronger later, when the heroes come along.

What about you? What your favorite heroine?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Moving Target by Cheyenne McCray

(Romance Suspense)
Cheyenne McCray's website
5 stars









I discover Cheyenne McCray's Moving Target on my own at Walmart. I was browsing through selection on the shelves and find that most books there are either the one I already brought, it not my cup of teas or it new to me authors. The last one is where Cheyenne McCray come in. I thought I give her a try since I have not heard anyone raves about the books. And I figure I try something new and maybe if it good, raves about it *grin*.

Ani King had to leave her life behind and go under the Witness Security Program for two years, because she witness the Russian mafia murdered her family. But when she made one simple phone call, her life is in danger again. And now they are on her trail, ready to destroyed her before she can testified the witness. But only one man who she know she can trust and protect her, Daniel Parker.

Deputy Marshal Daniel Parker, rush to protect her when Ani King admit her mistake when she made phone call to her close friend. Daniel knew that Ani was to give a testimony in just two days on the trial of the man who wanted her dead, but now see that it not gonna happen. Because Daniel knew that the mafia would do whatever it take to kill Ani, he helped her to flee and run. To keep her safe he need to keep her close. Even when he tried to keep his feeling he had for her, from distance.

They run onto obstacles and danger at every turn, and Ani start to wonder if she would ever survive to testify and get justice for her family. But as they keep running, their feeling for each other grow closer and stronger.

Moving Target is a fast pace, non stop action packed. It edgy, intense, hot and sexy! The chemistry between Daniel and Ani was hot, you will love them. Great story and writing, it keep me turning the page! I love it! I can't wait to read more of her romantic suspense books!

Code of Honor by Kathryn Shay

(Shilhouette-SuperRomance)
Kathryn Shay
4 1/2 stars







*note: Code of Honor is the 3rd book to the "American Bravest" books. The cover art at the top, is not the one that I have copy of. My friend Angela sent me the UK cover version. I would have the link (like I have done with the first two previous books) but there no UK version of the book online. I could take picture but the batteries ran out from my camera. I have said previously that I like the UK cover art version much better. Because it show real people and you can see the emotion on the cover. Kathryn Shay have became one of my favorite author, and I have been trying to catch up on reading some of her older series book. They are worth the reading if you into brave men and women firefighter with real emotion depth. And wonderful characters and writing. End notes*

Lieutenant Jake Scarlatta didn't like the idea of Chelsea Whitmore moving in to his fire station because of her bad reputation with her last relationship with one of the fellow team from Engine Four. Even though Jake knew it not fair to her, because he knew she is a good person despite the mistake she made. He fear that his team won't accepted her in. He believe that firefighting is about working as team. But the result of his loyalty decision to his best friend Danny in the past, who was one of the teammate, has ruin his record on that. He blame himself for driving his best friend away from his family and himself.

Chelsea Whitmore knew she had to prove to Jake's team that she is one of them. And not only that, she need to cope with the fact of her past history with Billy who done nothing but abuse her and damaged her image as good firefighter. Even when it mean to be loyalty to her team she need to clear her name and not let Billy hurt her again.

Jake will help Chelsea clear her name too, even if he need to be loyal to his team. But this time he knew he have to make the right decision or he would make the same past mistake he did with Danny. But they never expected to fall for each other and when they did -- they learn that love is found through each other, right where they least expected.

Code of Honor is emotional but with good writing in depth of two characters who have endure similar common problem of their lives. It show loyalty of team and brave firefighter. You will see previous characters again and get glimpse of what been going on with them. And also you will see behind the life of firefighter work.

Kathryn Shay never disappointed me. I love her writing and the characters she bring alive through the pages. Emotional depth, you can feel that Shay shown it all :)

My only problem is that few of the pages (not all of them) when a characters or scenes is about to say or do something, it stop in the mid air sentence and the next pages goes to next Chapters -- starting with few minute later or next days scenes.

Format

Booking Through Thursday

All other things (like price and storage space) being equal, given a choice in a perfect world, would you rather have paperbacks in your library? Or hardcovers? And why?

- Honestly in my perfect world, I would love the idea of hardcovers sitting on my bookshelves in the library. It stand bold and tall, and look very nice and neat in the row in large library. It make the room look nice. And adding ladder and chair make the room look more like a library room.

But I probably rather have both hardcovers and paperbacks. Even new first edition would be nice. Why? Because I would want the room to fit my personality. These format place into the library shelves would feel more like ME, my perfect world.

P.S. Yes that me babbling LOL

Get a Clue by Jill Shalvis

Contemporary Romance
Jill Shalvis's website
4 1/2 stars







Note: Over the years, I have been recommend to read Jill Shalvis' books. I did read the one that was part of an series. I believe it was title Seeing Red. I don't recall ever reading Blue Flames or White Heat but I know that the two books are connected to Seeing Red. I think I have one of them in my TBR pile. So I probably read them out of order *oy*. It has been many years since I read Jill Shalvis book. So Get a Clue is the first time I pick her book again. I truly enjoy it. If it wasn't for Jill's note on "Making Of...." at her website (where she explain how she got the idea for each of her books) I weren't have known that the idea of Get a Clue came from the old classic board game "Clue". I used to love playing that game as kid. And always play it with my friends. I even once brought a movie that was base on that board game. Who know what ever happen to that movie *grin*: End notes.

Breanne Mooreland, who was left at the alter on her wedding day, took a flight to her supposedly honeymoon suite so she won't have to face the embarrassment from her family. She end up losing her luggage along the way and stranded up in a snowed storm in Sierra mountain lodge with a gorgeous naked man, who happen to be in the the bathroom taken a shower in her suite. Even though she was smitten by his gorgeous body, she weren't step down and let him take the suite that belong to her.

Cooper Scott was a cop, sent to Sierra mountain lodge for a needed vacation that was order by his brother. He was expecting a quiet vacation where he could relax, to regroup and get his life back together for while. But he was not expecting to find himself stranded in with a insane woman who seem to make his heart do flip flop. He want to show her what honeymoon is all about, but Breanne stumbled over a dead body and there a mystery to solve. Cooper use his training cop hat on to find who the killer is. There are plenty of staffs but he doesn't know who not to trust. But he is determined to protect Breanne until the killer is found.

Get a Clue is story of two main characters, who have their own reason to mistrust each other but finding themselves to confront their issues and understanding. They find love and trust. It witty and humor with very intriguing suspense of "who dunnit". There plenty of steam that sizzle the pages that make you want more. You will also enjoy other group of characters who make the place in Sierra mountain lodge interesting, fun and alive. The book had me by the heart one minute and laughing the next. I find myself fanning over steamy scenes and cheer for Cooper and Breanne to be together.

Jill gave the right touch of romance with fast pace read. I enjoy it. You will like it too :)

Thursday Thirteen: Edition # 31

New Books I Brought/ Or Gift Books

First I want to wish EVERYONE a Happy Valentine's Day!!!! I hope your day were special, sweet and fun. Enjoy the day!

Because today is Valentine's Day, I thought I list some books of romance that I think you be interested to read. Books would make a nice gifts, don't you think? *grin*. The following list below, are books that I recently brought or was given to me as gifts (thank you my friend! You know who you are). Some books are from authors that I'm familiar with while other are just "new to me" authors. Even if it "new to me" I know it will be romance because friends tell me it is *grin*. Below, you can click the titles of the book if you want to see the book covers for each listed. Enjoy!

1. Get a Clue by Jill Shalvis (Contemporary Romance)
2. Dawn's Awakening by Lora Leigh (Paranormal Romance)
3. Beyond Fearless by Rebecca York (Paranormal Romance)
4. Moving Target by Cheyenne McCray (Romance Suspense)
5. Hard to Handle by Lori Foster (Contemporary Romance)
6. A Seduction in Scarlet by Sara Bennett (Historical Romance)
7. No Control by Shannon K. Butcher (Romance Suspense)
8. Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie (Contemporary Romance,re-issue)
9. Guarded Heart by Jennifer Blake (Historical Romance)
10. Stars by Nora Roberts (2 in 1 stories, re-issue)
11. Decadent by Shayla Black (Erotic Romance)
12. Just a Taste by Deirdre Martin (Contemporary Romance)
13. White Heat by Cherry Adair (Paranormal Romance)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!


(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

After the Honeymoon...

Booking Through Thursday

I had a post ready for today, but I liked this suggestion from Chris even better, so … thanks, Chris! Here’s something for Valentine’s Day.

Have you ever fallen out of love with a favorite author? Was the last book you read by the author so bad, you broke up with them and haven’t read their work since? Could they ever lure you back?


- I'm sure there have been some authors I have fallen out of love with who was among my favorite. But than I think it because (in my opinion) some authors do well in one genre but not too well in the others. Why changed when they write so well in writing the genre they do the best in? And I have heard more readers still love their older books more than the recent one out there. I admit some do very well in doing both genres while other just don't click with me. I applaud all authors for trying both (or many others) genres and satisfied the other readers who love those genres more than I would. I do understand how hard they work on it. And it weren't be fair to give them a chance. And I also realized that some genres are popular now these days, but does everyone have to follow that same path? The changed in genres for example: From historical to romance suspense or from romance suspense to paranormals.

But just because I fall out of love with them does not mean I won't continue to read them again. I still have some favorite in my TBR pile but it just taken me slowly to pick them up and read it. I think I'm just waiting for that zing to strike, you know...those thing call "mood" *grin*.

What about you?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

TBR Challenge: February

This TBR Challenge will be up on my blog side bar until February 31, 2008

For February, read a book with a "musical" title. Be as creative as you like.

Examples from Darla shelves:

1. Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (song title)
2. Song of the Beast by Carol Berg
3. Record Time by Beverly Brandt (records-->music)

As always, let us know what you read, how it fit the challenge, how you liked it, and how long it had been in your TBR pile. Either post it here on the comments page or on my comment page, sent me a link directly to your blog where you post it :)

But, Enough About Books....

Booking Through Thursday

Okay, even I can’t read ALL the time, so I’m guessing that you folks might voluntarily shut the covers from time to time as well… What else do you do with your leisure to pass the time? Walk the dog? Knit? Run marathons? Construct grandfather clocks? Collect eggshells?

- I normally read all the time during my leisure time. It the only pleasure I like to do for "ME" times. And I would read just anywhere,anytime, any-days :)

Of course lately, I've been on reading slump. So whenever I'm not reading, I would do my scrapbook albums. It one of the most important things for me to do. Because I hope to someday pass the albums along to either my nieces, children or grandchildren. And it can be pass down to generation to generation. Family is most important to me. I want to scrap about each members of the family so they know who they are and where they came from. And who their family. And I want my nieces and children to always remember that I love them when I'm gone. And I hope pictures would remind them that when they need me, they can always remember I'm there with them in their hearts. I already made one for my nieces. They love it :) But they don't get to keep it until they're married or have children of their own....someday :)

Beside scrap-booking, I also make hand-made scrap bookmarks. I make these for not only myself but for friends and bookmark exchange that I'm participating for one of my Yahoo Group Email. Sometime I would take pictures too. Or watch TV and movies. I may even hit the malls *grin*

I used to cross stitches, but I haven't in so many years. Not because I don't enjoy it. It time consuming. My last project was when I cross stitches with a pattern of Precious Moments. And than I sew and turn it into a pillow. I know a couple months ago, I post the picture of the pillow. Hope the picture was close enough to see the detailed of the pillow :)

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Chasing Stanley by Deirdre Martin

Contemporary Romance(Berkley Sensation)
Deirdre Martin's Website
4 1/2 stars





For January: Read a book that has an animal in the title
Examples from Darla shelves:

So Long, and Thanks for ALL the Fish by Douglas Adams

Silver Wolf by Alice Borchardt

A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony

As always, let us know what you read, how you liked it, how it fits the challenge, and how long it had been in your TBR pile. Please post it in the comments box here, or give me the link to your actual participation post at your blog.

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

I chose to read Chasing Stanley by Deirdre Martin. Yes I know that there is no animals in it title, however "Stanley" in the title - happen to be the name of a dog. So I thought this is perfect for this challenge *grin*. This book is the 6th book of the New York Blades Hockey series. I've been following the book in order and enjoy reading them all. I like reading Deirdre Martin's hockey books

Jason Mitchell, a professional hockey player, was traded to go to the team of his dream - The New York Blades. He took his Newf dog along but a problem arise when his dog couldn't adjust to New York city life to well. Than he met Delilah and thought she was god sent to help him train his dog, Stanley.

Delilah Gould, a professional dog trainer, decided to help when she see a dog disobeying orders from it owner. More over, she thought the owner need to be trained too, because he need to be taught some few trick on his dog. They made schedule to trained Stanley before she can boarded him. And from there, is when their romance started.

Jason hope to score and win the big time Stanley Cup, for New York Blades third win. But for now, he trying to take it all in that he is now playing for Blades team. He would make his stay in New York all worth awhile. But it become harder for Jason to do well because his twin brother who is his rival team, is playing for the Jersey hockey team. And that he I've been practice not only his game but his dog as well. Would he be able to score his winning for New York Blades third Stanley Cup and the woman he fallen in love with, whose tamed his dog?

Chasing Stanley is a delightful read with wonderful characters. It witty, charming and fast pace reading. You can see Delilah over come her shyness and struggles with social anxiety. And you can feel Jason trying his best to make his dream come true. And what more to touch your heart is Stanley. It refreshing to have pet in the story who bring Jason and Delilah together. Those who are pet lover might enjoy this book. We get to see previous characters in their role in helping Jason do his best. And we also see a little of what happen with their life and their women. I love seeing previous characters make appearance, one of the things I love about series/trilogies or connection books. Even in sport themes. I can't wait to read Just a Taste, the next installment book.

New York Blades books in order

Body Check
Fair Play
Total Rush
The Penalty Box
Same Rink, Next Year (Anthology from "Hot Ticket")
Chasing Stanley
Just a Taste

Winter's Edge by Anne Stuart

Anne Stuart's website
Romance
4 stars







This happen to be another older classic book of Anne Stuart that I found at the Family Center. It probably a hard to find book, but than one of my friend told me she found a copy at Family Center too. I found this book the same time I found Fallen Angel (click title to read review. I thought that Winter's Edge was part of an series. But it is not. She wrote this book back than when she was still writing alot for the Harlequin American line. The only connected ones are the Catspaw books that she wrote for Harlequin Intrigue.

Molly Winters was awaken with amnesia, after a car wreck accident. She doesn't remember how 350 thousand dollars end up in her car. Or the fact that there is a dead man found in her car. What even worse, she has been brought in to jail for suspicious in murders. Since her soon to be ex husband has custody of her, he had to go take her home to his house in Winter's Edge. Things have not been great at home and Molly wonder what happen between her and Patrick before her amnesia. Why is Patrick seem to ignore her and not believe her when she tell him that she has a amnesia. She couldn't remember anything. She only know that when she look at Patrick, she know that she fell in love with him.

In the past, Patrick knew that Molly had crush on him since she was 16. But he always think of her as his little sister. But before his father death, he had plan to have Patrick married Molly despite his objection. So Patrick married her when she was 23 years. But things didn't turn out the way he planned, so he decided to get divorce after the night she ran away.

Than strange things started to happen. She suspected someone wanted her dead. Molly want to find out who and why. And no matter how much Patrick tried to push her away or he doesn't believe her when she tell him someone is trying to hurt her, she staying until she find out what is going on. Who want her dead? She want to remember what happen before the accident. Why everyone seem strange around her.

Winter' Edge was a classic romance story between a couple who fell in love but there are problem by misunderstanding and manipulation. You can feel their love for one another but there was only a little sexual intense moments and not enough to show it. It easy read, good lighter mystery and kept me turning the pages to find out what happen next.