TBR Challenge: The Family Business

This month's challenge from Wendy's 2013 TBR Challenge was to read an author that is new to me. I try to get out my romance comfort zone every now and then and read something different. I chose to read "The Family Business" by Carl Weber. I can say it was truly different. Family Business starts out with the description of the Duncans. The Duncans are a prominent family in Jamaica, Queens. They own a successful car dealership. But their real deal is crime. The father LC is about to retire and turn the business over to one of his children. Which one will it be? The mother Chippy has named all her children after cities she likes, Paris, Orlando, London, Rio and Vegas. We get to read about all their messy secrets and personal problems. There is a great deal of profanity and unromantic sex involved. It read like a straight-to-DVD movie script. I will not be watching...I mean, reading the sequel. Returning now to my HEA's.

I skimmed quite a bit so I don't feel comfortable giving this book a grade, I'll just say if you like family conflict, crime, sex, betrayal, hit men and murder in your novels, you can have my copy of Family Business.

Dyanne Davis the "Indie" Spirit

L. Wall with Bill and Dyanne Davis
 

Aurora Public Library is celebrating Romance in 2013 with programs that engage readers and encourage writers of Romance Fiction. Today's program "Indie Publishing for Authors" was presented by author Dyanne Davis. Dyanne has written over 16 books, novellas and articles. She has written traditional romance, Paranormal (as F.D. Davis) and recently Womens' Fiction. With the introduction of Epublishing, authors have more choice in the publishing and marketing of their works. Ms. Davis shared the good, bad and the ugly of publishing on your own. Her number one piece of advice for first timers is to invest in an editor before you publish your work. Indie Publishing is the first of three writers' programs that will be offered by the library. Coming in May, "Branding for Authors" presented by Blythe Gifford followed by "10 Secrets to Getting Successfully Published" presented by Joseph Durepos and Bret Nicholaus in June. For more information, visit the library's website: www.aurorapubliclibrary.org.



TBR Challenge: Playing to Win by Jaci Burton

This month's theme for Wendy's 2013 TBR Challenge: Series Catch-Up.

  

I dove expectantly into book 4 of Burton's Play-By-Play series but was a bit disappointed. Unlike the first book "The Perfect Play", this was not an all-nighter for me.

Cole is a football star with image problems...enter Savannah an image consultant assigned to eliminate said problem. Of course Cole is reluctant to take orders from someone he views as interfering with his life. Savannah starts out with a smooth approach in getting to know Cole so she can figure out how to help him. She states many times that she is not a psychiatrist, but after fifty-something pages that's exactly what she sounds like. Her observation and analysis of every move and comment Cole makes becomes tedious. It's obvious that Cole is hiding something from Savannah, he wants her sexually, but does not trust her with his private feelings. Savannah suppresses her sexual feelings for Cole, but she also is hiding her true self from Cole. Around page 103 I was starting not to care about either of them but I kept reading, hoping it would get better. As in the other books, the intimate encounters were well written and I enjoyed glimpses of the couples from the previous books. This was not my favorite in the series but it was decent.

My grade for a slow start, hot stuff and a book cover impossible to ignore C+.

TBR Challange Feb 2013 - Sweet Talk

For this month's choice in Wendy's 2013 TBR Challenge I read Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood. For some reason in the winter months, I seem to tend toward Paranoramals and Romanctic Suspense novels (see last month's TBR post).

Sweet Talk is romantic suspense from veteran writer Julie Garwood. I don't think I've ever read a Garwood book I didn't like, I like some less than others, and this was a less than others book.

Olivia had a serious illness as a child which separates her from her family. Her father is the poster child for Swindlers Inc. Her mother and older sister only exist to fawn over the father. Olivia rises above with the love of her aunt and the friendship of her childhood hospital mates known as the Pips. (I hope the pips each get a book). After attaining degrees in law and accounting she crusades for children at risk part-time and works for the IRS with the mission to expose her father's ponzi scheme.

On an ill-fated job interview Olivia meets Grayson as he, for the first of many times, stands between her and certain death. Grayson is a handsome, rich, well connected FBI agent who fights mixing business with pleasure especially, after he is placed in charge of Olivia's protection.

The verbal exchanges between Olivia and Grayson are enjoyable and I liked it when Grayson's wit sometimes got the best of Olivia. Her background allowed me to forgive some of her naivety and foolish zeal in some situations. What got on my nerves was after she was almost killed and Grayson asks if she has any enemies, she spouts a long list of people who might want to off her but then goes all Whitney Houston in the "Bodyguard" on him and freaks out when he assigns personal security to her. I don't need it blah, blah, blah...! Really! After what happened to her, any sane woman would be grateful instead of taking every opportunity to ditch her protection.

Anyway, I enjoyed Olivia and Grayson as a couple, I could picture them as crime fighting duo battling for truth and justice. The epilogue made me smile and I hope to hear more about this couple in future books.

My grade for a hot millionaire protector, a gusty, sincere, sometimes irritating heroine, the family from hell, the "Pips"  and some breath holding suspense : B-.

TBR Challenge Jan 2013 - Story of Son

This month's Challenge is to read a Novella, I chose Dead after Dark. Dead After Dark is a Paranormal Anthology by J.R. Ward, Susan Squires and Dianna Love.

In an effort to catch up with J.R. Ward's BDB series I read  "Story of Son". She did not disappoint me.

Clarie is a lawyer obsessed with work and this obsessive behavior leads her to visit a client instead of taking off for a long holiday weekend. She is taken prisoner by the client as source to "feed" the client's vampire son who is held captive in the home. I enjoy the way that Ward describes the situation and gets you to identify with emotions of a tortured hero. I was particularly impressed with the strength of the heroine in this piece. Ward has come under much fire for writing weak women in her BDB series.

Claire has a physical and emotional encounter during her captivity and her lawyer instincts will not allow her leave and ignore an injustice although, she does not fully understand the consequences her interference will bring.

This book is apparently a stand alone and not directly tied to the BDB series but.... she left some unanswered questions 1. Why is this guy being held captive? 2. Can he survive without a vampire support system?

I am 2 books behind in the BDB series so I don't know if  Claire & Co appear in other books or may be the start of a spinoff.

My grade for sensual intensity, likeable heroine, tourtured hero and leaving me wanting more - A.

Beverly Jenkins and Me at Cavalcade of Authors 2011 in Chicago



Beverly Jenkins and Me



Had a great time last fall at the Cavalcade of Authors. I had a chance to meet several African-American Romance Authors including: Beverly Jenkins, Francis Ray, Brenda Jackson, Pat Simmons, Donna Hill and Reshonda Tate Billingsley just to name a few. This yearly event is presented by author Naleighna Kai founder of Macro Marketing & Promotions Group for more information on Cavalcade vist the website: http://www.thecavalcadeofauthors.com/index.html

Francis Ray and Fan