Simply Reviewed: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

Mind Games

By: Carolyn Crane

Published By: Spectra

Released: March 2010

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Available for purchase here

ISBN: 978-0553592610

Length: Novel

Justine Jones is dying. Or so she thinks. Just about every day. An intense hypochondriac, Justine is sure that any minute now a blood vessel is going to burst in her brain. But, out of nowhere, someone seems to offer a cure.

Packard looks into Justine's soul and sees her as someone who could be very useful to his disallusionist team. Thinking of this as a temporary way to deal with her hypochandria, Justine agrees to join Packard. Soon, Justine is being trained to use her fears as a weapon against criminals and in turn freeing herself from the pain and panic. It seems like a great way to get a handle on her hypochondria... at first.


While Justine has been successful in her firsts missions, her next has her questioning Packard's true purpose. And, before long, Justine finds herself fighting an attraction to two distinct men, making her resolve to find the truth that much stronger. With Packard's help, she's now free from her neurosis, but has this only bound Justine tighter to this man? Has she traded in her madness only to find out the world is a scarier place than her mind?

It was easy for me to connect with Justine. While dealing with health issues due to her hypchondria, Justine never wallows in self-pity. She's not like the average kick-butt heroine, but a normal girl who was thrust into abnormal circumstances. Well, maybe not too normal if you think about her hightened hypchondria, but hey, everyone has their quirks. Which is why I not only fell in love with Justine, but all the secondary characters as well.

Packard was hands down my favorite secondary character, and I do so hope to see more interaction between him and Justine in the next two books. He has a quiet alpha quality about him and seems to have his thoughts well guarded, although at times letting it down around Justine. I loved the scenes between Justine and Packard. You can see the change and growth in their relationship. They become attuned to one another, even through their anger towards each other.

Mind Games was a mind blowing read! I did not want to put this book down, and even lingered towards the end so I wouldn't finish too soon. First in a trilogy, Mind Games brings you into a different world where highcaps and disillusionist live secretly among average citizens. This story captures your attention from the get-go as it unfolds and brings to light an ingenius plot author Carolyn Crane has woven.

This story line was very original and exceptional. It had much depth and showed how the lines can sometimes blur between good and evil.

While I may be a die-hard romance reader, if I had to choose my favorite read of this year so far, hands down, Mind Games would take top place. What a brilliant and awesome debut for an author. This book has put Ms. Crane on my list of authors to be on the watch for.

Though, not be a huge urban fantasy reader, if I could find more superb and entertaining stories like Mind Games, that might soon change. This will definitely be re-read for me and a book that I'm definitely recommending to everyone.

**********

P.S.

Dude, this makes the sci-fi geeky girl in me happy, hehe. I loved how this story gave me a comic book feel. Another reason I may understand Justine? I'm a bit of a hypochondriac myself... you don't even want to know what I thought was wrong with me the other night, lol. This book was so fantabulous and I've already pre-ordered book two! *yay*

Blog Hopping... visit my cousin, Eli :)

Wowzer, I could have sworn I had blogged more recently... but, I see that it was last Tuesday, eek.

I'll be posting my latest additions to the bookshelf later on this weekend *bg* And, I'll definitely have to share with you my latest fave read!!

In the meanwhile, check out my cousin Eli's blog, Ramblings of a Nice Snarky Girl... tell her I sent you ;)

Blog Hopping... Melissa Schroeder, Tilly Green, and Cynthia Eden

Meant to post this Friday... but, things got hectic as I went out of town to attend my cousin's wedding. Must share pics from that later :)

A few blogs I've been visiting lately:

Melissa Schroeder @ Random Thoughts... Mel's having a Summer of Love on her blog, where throughout the summer she'll have guest authors and giveaways. I'd definitely visit her blog anyway, because you never know when she'll post pics of hott men ;)

Tilly Greene @ Tilly Greene's Hot Thoughts... For the month of June, Tilly is having a Big Huge Reader Contest, where everyday she has a guest author and a giveaway. The grand prize is a Pink Sony eReader or one of three boxes packed full of RT Booklovers Convention goodies.

Cynthia Eden @ her blog... From June 1- August 1, 2010, Cynthia is having a Deadly Days of Summer party. Each day has a new guest author with a fabulous prize and fun times (I actually just found out yesterday that I won a book *bg*). This is in celebration of Cynthia's 06/29/10 release, I'll Be Slaying You, and her 08/01/10 release, Deadly Fear.

So, be sure to stop by these blogs for some great fun... and maybe you'll be like me and add a new author to you buy list *bg*

New Reads: Before the Moon Rises by Catherine Bybee

I was reading my digest mail from the different Yahoo! Groups I subscribe to when a header about a short werewolf story by Catherine Bybee catches my eye. *sigh* I'm a sucker for a werewolf romance... It didn't hurt/help that they left a link to Amazon for the kindle edition. That just made it easier for me to press the 'Buy Now' button, lol So, here's my new buy:

Before the Moon Rises

By: Catherine Bybee

Published By:The Wild Rose Press

Released: June 2010

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Available for purchase here

ISBN:

Length: Novella

BLURB:

After a twelve-hour shift in a busy emergency room, Janet O’Brien is beat. Her last patient arrives unconscious and naked. She’s lead to believe he’s a psyche patient off his meds. However, once he awakens, Janet is charmed by his million-dollar smile and agrees to give him a ride home.

Werewolf, Max Ritter notices the sassy nurse when he wakes after a night under the full moon. Unfortunately, his archrival is drawn to Janet as well. In order to keep her out of harm's way, he opts to keep her close. When the chemistry between them sparks, Max discovers a completely new reason to keep Janet safe.

© Catherine Bybee

New Reads: Warrior's Heart by Bianca D'Arc

How excited was I to get a newsletter from Bianca D'Arc and find out that Warrior's Heart was releasing?! OMG, you have no idea!! *bg* I first read Warrior's Heart several years ago when it released with a now closed epublisher. I was sad that I never heard more about this series, but turns out Ms. D'Arc has now released it with Samhain Publishing and will continue this series!! (believe it or not, I'm doing a happy dance here, lol)
Warrior's Heart is a new version of the old story... so, I must definitely read the new release *bg*.. and is the first in the Gift of Ancients series... omg, I just can't wait for the next release!!

Warrior's Heart

Book 1 in the Gift of the Ancients series

Published By: Samhain Publishing

Released: June 2010

Genre: Paranormal, Erotic Romance

Available for purchase here

ISBN: 978-1-60928-056-7

Length: Novella

BLURB:

He’s home to claim the girl he never forgot…but more than war memories have changed him.

Gifts of the Ancients, Book 1

Hal’s best-friend status with Casey’s brother always meant that the one woman he wants is strictly off limits. But now that he’s back from a harrowing mission in the ancient Iraqi city of Babylon, all bets are off. The strangely mystical experience left him and his Special Forces team with a new appreciation for life—and strange new abilities they are only beginning to understand.

Casey never thought she’d have a shot with the strong, silent Green Beret. Something about him has changed, though, and old feelings have risen up, demanding an answer. And her answer is an unequivocal yes. Now, to break the news to her brother and hope it doesn’t come to blows.

Her brother’s reaction becomes the least of her worries when Hal singlehandedly stops a car from running her down, then falls into her arms, weak from some kind of strange reaction. Whatever went down in Iraq has changed Hal and made him a target of foreign agents who’ve found his one vulnerability…Casey.

This book has been previously published.

© Bianca D'Arc

Winner for Something About You by Julie James

Winner of

Something Abou You by Julie James:

Mystee

Congratulations, Mystee :) I'll be e-mailing you for your information.

New ePublisher: Carina Press

Carina Press is an ePublisher from Harlequin that just opened this past Monady, June 7th *bg* They're currently open in all genres, so there should be something there for everyone. I just love their tag line, don't you?

I recently got a taste of a Carina Press upcoming release that I'm reviewing for Joyfully Reviewed (I'll have to post more on that later, hehe) OMG, this read was just... well, you'll just have to wait to read the review ;)

Carina Press titles are not just available on their website, but also at other online booksellers... which makes me happy, because most titles I just buy from Amazon for my kindle *bg*

New Reads: Dante's Ultimate Gamble by Day Leclaire

Yesterday I took my 13yr old sister, who's visiting, to the mall. I have a cousin's wedding to attend this weekend and desperately needed something for the both of us to wear. Well, I thought I had found a dress a few weeks ago, but after thinking about it, I just wasn't too into the dress. Luckily, I did find something to wear *bg*

Now, anytimes I go to the mall by my house, I have a habit of parking right outside the Barnes & Noble. It doesn't matter if the store I need to go to is on the other side of the mall, I will always park by the bookstore... it just makes me happy :) And, how can you pass into the bookstore without looking at the books, right? Well, you can't, hehe

Not only did I get away with a book, but so did my sister... I just love the fact that my two younger sisters enjoy reading :)

What did I get away with, you ask? Day Leclaire's latest Silhouette Desire:




BLURB:

Mr. June: Luc Dante, take-no-prisoners bachelor


His Vow: Avoid the Dante Inferno…at all costs

His Destiny: Watching over the one woman who can make him burn

Only family obligation could have forced him to play babysitter to heiress Téa de Luca. But when Luc felt the heat of the Dante Inferno, undeniable passion quickly propelled them into bed. It was supposed to be for just six weeks…until their families found out. Dante duty had Luc agreeing to a wedding—but would he ever accept Téa as his destined love?

© Day Leclaire

New Reads: A Firm Hand by Cheryl Dragon

This past weekend I was lucky enough to win a prize from The Romance Studio *bg* My prize ended up being an ebook from author Cheryl Dragon! I got her latest novella from Total-e-Bound, A Firm Hand... take a look, it sounds hot, hehe:

A Firm Hand

By: Cheryl Dragon

Published By: Total-e-Bound

Released: May 2010

Genre: Historical - Regency/ Light Bondage and BDSM

Available for purchase here

ISBN: 978-0-85715-150-6

Length: Novella

BLURB:

In public they are a proper couple in every way, but behind closed doors they explore rough desires that could prove more than they can handle.

Mariah and James share dark passions and are a match in every way but marriage is only the beginning of their journey.
Mariah wants more of James' intense instruction but James pulls away. She must tempt him, trust him, and prove to him that the ghosts of their childhood losses won't keep them from a long and happy marriage and unspeakable pleasure.

© Cheryl Dragon

I 'Heart' Romance Book Club: Something About You by Julie James

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but a while back I started a book club here where I live, in the Houston/Humble area, for romance readers. I'll write more about how it happened later on :)

Right now, what I want to do, is share what's going on with my book club with my online friends and romance readers *bg* Not only do I want to share our latest book pick, but I want to share the book, too!

So, our latest book pick? With the help of my friend Fatin:

Something About You

By: Julie James

Published: Berkley Sensation

Released: March 2010

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Available for purchase here

ISBN: 0425233383

Length: Novel

Blurb:

FATE HAS THROWN TWO SWORN ENEMIES. . .

Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends in bloodshed. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago—and nearly ruining his career…


. . .INTO EACH OTHER’S ARMS

Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it’s no joke: the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes—and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension…

© Julie James

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So, want a copy of Something About You by Julie James? I'll pick one winner next Thursday... There's only one stipulation *dun, dun, dun* lol. My book club meets on the 27th of this month... at that time, I'll have a post here on Something About You, and all I need you to do is stop by and leave your comment/thoughts on the book, whether you get to finish or not.

If you think you can do that, leave a comment in this post letting me know you'd like a chance to read Something About You and you are in the draw *bg* I'll be picking the winner next Thursday so I can send out asap, giving you a chance to read :)