Review: Dance to the Piper by Nora Roberts

Dance to the Piper by: Nora Roberts
Source: Library

Blurb:
Nora Roberts, “a consistently entertaining writer” (USA Today), delivers the story of Maddy O’Hurley—one of Broadway’s brightest stars—whose passion for dance and for life captures the attention of business mogul Reed Valentine.
Fans of Nora Roberts will be delighted with her latest tale of a woman who dared to dream and a man who had forgotten how. She moved in perfect harmony to the music that ruled her life both onstage and off. He dealt with ruthless expertise. Music was his business and he was all business--until she lit up the stage. . . .

Review:
Dance To the Piper, the second in The O'Hurley's trilogy, was a marked improvement over the first book. You can find my review for The Last Honest Woman here. While I was relieved that this was better than the first, it was by no means anything spectacular nor a favorite. The romance between the two characters is typical, as is the situation. Nora Roberts did again what she is best known for and delivered a cookie-cutter romance that passed the time as I listened to it as an audio book on my way to and from work. I probably wouldn't have had as much patience with finishing the book if I were to read a bound copy but I seem to be more forgiving with the audio versions. If you can't find this one at the library I wouldn't spend the money on a copy for yourself.


At A Glance:
1= Could not finish the book

2= A struggle to read to the finish

3=Meh. Average with all the elements I like in a book but nothing notable

4= I ended it with a smile on my face

5=Excellent. I want to read everything this author has ever written and when I
finish all the books on my wishlist I will reread it.

Challenges: 

Review: A Demon Does it Better by Linda Wisdom

A Demon Does it Better by: Linda Wisdom
Source: NetGalley
(Sourcebooks Casablanca 2012, 352 pages)

Blurb:
After more than a century, Doctor Lili Carter, witch healer extraordinaire, has returned to San Francisco and taken a job at Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum, where something peculiar and wicked his happening. Patients are disappearing, and Lil wants to know why.
AND DOUBLY DANGEROUS FOR A DEMON...
Lili finds herself undeniably attracted to perhaps the most mysterious patient of all-a demented but seriously sexy demon named Jared. What's behind the gorgeous chameleon demon's late-night escapades?
Before long, Lili and Jared are investigating each other-and creating a whole new kind of magic.

Review:
This being the sixth book in the series, but the first that I have read by this particular author, I am going to give a lot of leeway in this review. The background information that would have been recognized and appreciated in a book that had been read from the beginning of a series was lost on me. I may eventually pick up the first one to see if I appreciate the story more after learning about the world from the start. 
That being said, the author did do a good job of catching the reader up on the ins and outs of how this world works. I enjoyed the story overall between Lili and Jared and thought that it was a sweet romance that happened within the circumstances. 
My main problem with this book is the believability of those circumstances. Yes, yes it's paranormal romance and not believable to begin with. However, I couldn't help thinking through most of the story that the characters didn't really do as much as they could have with the situation. I felt that Lili could have explored other avenues on ways to help Jarod and the other patients but she seemed to be content to go about her job and moan a little on the side about what she was missing and what he may be suffering. I felt like I was more involved with the situation than perhaps she was. 
If you are looking for a light-hearted romance with a world you can pick up on pretty quickly then this is a good one for you. It would probably be something good to read on a plane.

Sexual Content: m/f


At A Glance:
1= Could not finish the book

2= A struggle to read to the finish

3=Meh. Average with all the elements I like in a book but nothing notable

4= I ended it with a smile on my face

5=Excellent. I want to read everything this author has ever written and when I
finish all the books on my wishlist I will reread it.

Challenges: 

Review: Kiss of Twilight by Loribelle Hunt

 Kiss of Twilight by: Loribelle Hunt
 Source: Galley from Carina Press
 (Carina Press, 2011, 88,000 words)



Blurb:
Dupree Jackson is everything a senior soldier of the Order of Templar should be. Cold. Unbreakable. A master at arms in the fight against demons. But as a hybrid, Dupree is beginning to lose himself to the demon half of his soul. One woman has the power to save him. If he lets her. Kara Stone wants two things in life: to be merged with a demon so that she can become a full member of the Order; and Dupree Jackson. She knows they are meant to be together, if only Dupree would love her back.
Though his desire for Kara is undeniable, Dupree's need to protect her is stronger. Not wanting to see her merge, to face the internal struggle he deals with every day, he refuses to bond with her. But when Kara becomes a target and uncovers a dark secret about her past, Dupree may no longer have a choice...

Review:
This book took a while for me to get into and understand what was going on with the characters. After about 100 pages I FINALLY felt like I understood how the world Dupree and Kara lived in actually worked and how the characters related to one another. I wouldn't say the book was slow to start because there was enough action to keep me entertained but I think I may have understood their world better if I has read the first book Kiss of Darkness.
The romance between Dupree and Kara was mediocre and didn't really have much of a sizzle. The main plot for the book was Dupree not wanting Kara to merge with a demon. I didn't feel like that was enough conflict for all the issues it created between them. There were several times while I was reading that I just wanted to tell the characters to grow up, get over it, and find a demon couples therapist. Oh wait...that was touched on but it didn't really help. The problem created so much hemming and hawing from Dupree that the strong characteristics that Kara had no longer held any weight when she kept putting up with the whining.I felt little affection for the main characters but eventually enjoyed the world that was created enough that I will give the author another try and hunt down the first book. Maybe it will make me appreciate this relationship a little more.

   
Sexual Content: m/f


At A Glance:
1= Could not finish the book

2= A struggle to read to the finish

3=Meh. Average with all the elements I like in a book but nothing notable

4= I ended it with a smile on my face

5=Excellent. I want to read everything this author has ever written and when I
finish all the books on my wishlist I will reread it.

Challenges:

Review: Trace of Fever by Lori Foster

Trace of Fever By: Lori Foster
(HQN Books (2011), Edition: Original, Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages)
Cost: Free (Ebook downloaded from Public Library via Overdrive)


Review:
Trace is a mercenary who is working to uncover a human trafficking operation. While undercover he meets Priss when she proclaims herself to be the daughter of the very person Trace is trying to take down. Trace is assigned to keep an eye on Priss while "Daddy" figures out what to do with her.


I enjoyed the book though there were some issues I had with the story. The guy Trace is trying to take down tried to have Trace killed. Trace survived, of course, and then asked his "boss" about it. I don't understand the logic of the "boss" believing Traces motivation for working for him as altruistic if Trace was still okay to work there. I would have been a bit miffed if I were Trace and suspicious if I were the boss. Maybe you have to be a corrupt, human trafficking boss to believe that kind of logic. Also, Priss' character fell a little flat for me. She lived a secluded and sheltered life while at the same time owned and worked in a porn shop?? Unlikely. The sex scenes were hot and the tender "I will protect you don't worry" moments were well done.


All in all, a good book to pass the time if you can ignore some realities and just enjoy the mushy stuff.
Sexual Content: m/f


At A Glance:
1= Could not finish the book
2= A struggle to read to the finish
3=Meh. Average with all the elements I like in a book but nothing notable
4=I ended it with a smile on my face
5=Excellent. I want to read everything this author has ever written and when I finish all the books on my wishlist I will reread it.