Darlene's Digest

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez My rating: 5 of 5 stars When I give a book five stars it's because I either couldn't put it down, or if I did put it down I couldn't wait to get back to the engrossing story. The Friend Zone caught me by surprise, but it was that kind of romance. At first I didn't think I'd be that wrapped-up in Kirsten and Josh's story after their "meet-cute" but as the relationship grew I came to appreciate that their obstacles were very real, not contrived, and it made their story one the reader could relate to. I love being captivated by a new author's book and I'm looking forward to more from this talented storyteller. View all my reviews

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey My rating: 4 of 5 stars A delightful (and hot!) summer romance about falling for the girl next door. Georgette Castle's family doesn't take her seriously, and being a professional clown hasn't helped her force them to see her as an adult. I loved how Georgie embraced her inner clown, defying her family and choosing her own career path. It takes Travis Ford, the hot former baseball player nicknamed "Two Bats", to help her move along to embracing all of her needs, her sexuality and her independence. Travis has his own demons to overcome and while Georgie is on-board with his plans, he's the strongest obstacle to them finding their HEA. This was a fun summer read and I look forward to reading more tales of the "Just Us League", the women who refuse to settle for anything less than what life has to offer them. View all my reviews

A Touch of Forever by Jo Goodman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have few Westerns on my keeper shelves (it's mostly Regency), but one of the names you'd see multiple times is Jo Goodman . She writes wonderfully entertaining Westerns about people who would describe themselves as fairly ordinary, but their stories make them come alive. Town doctors and sheriffs and surveyors--ordinary people, the kind who'd welcome you in for a nice cup of tea and a freshly baked biscuit. This third Cowboys of Colorado novel picks up the story of Lily Salt, mother of four and widow. Not the usual heroine material--she's older than the hero and in so many ways has much more life experience than Roen Shepard, but he's drawn to her, and when a nemesis from his past threatens him they become allies in a most unique fashion. I loved this book and I would have given it five stars except for the abrupt POV shifts within a scene. I know "head-hopping" ...

“Jacob was an American who signed on with the Magpie after the war, and he called this ‘ The Liberty Song .’” She hummed for a moment and then began to sing: —— “Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all, And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty’s call; No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim, Or stain with dishonor America’s name.” —— Daphne sang two verses and the chorus before she realized Dr. Murray was staring at her, and the only way to describe the expression on his face—there was no way to describe the expression on his face. She’d never seen anything quite like it before. “There are more verses,” she said helpfully. “Miss Farnham!” He shook his head and started again. “Miss Farnham, that was the most treasonous piece of trash I have ever heard. Do you know what melody that is? Heart of Oak ! Heart of Oak , Miss Farnham! I implore you, never, ever sing those lyrics around a navy man, for I could not answer for the consequences if you do.” -...

Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh My rating: 4 of 5 stars Part of what I'm loving about this series is how Nalini Singh crafts her world building and character development. It's a true talent to be able to bring fresh material to a series that's 18 books in, and with Wolf Rain we get to see new characters with new abilities, but also revisit some of our favorites from previous books. I look forward to more Psy-changeling novels down the road, particularly because one or two maybe villains in this novel have the potential to carry their own stories. View all my reviews

“You underestimate the will of the American people, Doctor,” he poked his finger in the air for emphasis. “When you push us, we push back. Hard. John Bull cannot bully America into surrendering now any more than you could 40 years ago. Have you already forgotten the lesson of Fort McHenry?” He rummaged in his desk and pulled out a tattered newspaper, much folded and creased. “My mother sent this to me with the letters, a newspaper from home. A Mr. Key wrote a poem about the battle, Doctor, titled ‘The Defence of Fort McHenry’. Look here–‘the land of the free and the home of the brave’. That’s America, Charley!" --- SEA CHANGE June 14 is #FlagDay, the day the United States honors our nation's star spangled banner.  If you've got a flag, fly it proudly! And in honor of #FlagDay and #FathersDay, Sea Change (High Seas Book 1) is discounted through Monday. Click on the link to use the Smashwords  coupon and enjoy special savings while you relax this weekend.

When a Duchess Says I Do by Grace Burrowes My rating: 5 of 5 stars I enjoyed this book so much! Duncan Wentworth is my favorite kind of hero--thoughtful, caring, overlooked by many but appreciated by the heroine who sees him for what he truly is: A stand-up guy you can count on. Matilda is perfectly matched for him. Her intelligence shines through and while Duncan sees her as a damsel-in-distress, she's so much more than that. Their conversations are like little lightbulbs flashing saying, "Hey, this person gets me!" I'm new to Ms. Burrowes' books and I look forward to checking out her backlist and adding future releases to my wishlist. View all my reviews

The Rose by Tiffany Reisz My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a continuation of the story begun in The Red , set a generation later. Like The Red, The Rose uses a framing element to set up various erotic scenarios. While the first book was based on scenarios enacting famous paintings, The Rose is about Greek Mythology. Both novels have an element of the fantastic to them and I enjoyed the tales as they unfolded. It's a good introduction to Reisz's writing for readers who've wondered about her Original Sinners series, but want to try her stories in smaller bites. View all my reviews

Tempest by Beverly Jenkins My rating: 5 of 5 stars When you want the finest in Western historical romance, look no further than Beverly Jenkins . Ms. Bev has produced another winner with Tempest , the latest romance in her Old West series. Regan Carmichael sets off for Wyoming Territory to be the bride of widower Dr. Colton Lee and care for his young daughter Anna. Unlike many other mail-order brides in historical romances, Regan's not doing it out of desperation based on life's circumstances. On the contrary, she's college educated, wealthy, skilled at a variety of trades and doesn't need a man, but Dr. Lee's ad intrigued her. For his part, Colton Lee's never met anyone like Regan and she quickly upends his world, first by shooting him (in her defense, she thought he was robbing the stagecoach) and not being at all demure and biddable like his late wife. Clearly, the stuffy doctor and the liberated lady are made for each othe...

Tightrope by Amanda Quick My rating: 3 of 5 stars I enjoyed this novel, as I do all Amanda Quick/JAK books, but there was one detail that kept me from giving it a higher rating--the hero and heroine in the 1930s not only didn't use any birth control, there was never any discussion of the the consequences of sex in an age when birth control devices and options were sketchy, at best. Even a quick pull-out to make the point that someone was thinking about it would have sat better with me. Other than that it's a good mystery/romance with a "whodunnit" that will keep people guessing up until the end. View all my reviews

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a bittersweet read since, of course, we all know the story of Achilles and how it ends. However, the relationship and love between Achilles and Patroclus, and later, the special relationship with Briseis, is refreshed by an author with a keen eye for bringing the classic characters of mythology alive. Miller's Circe was one of the best books of the past year and I enjoyed this earlier effort. View all my reviews

There was a rush of air overhead and Oliver ducked reflexively, avoiding a collision with a flashy green parrot swooping down to perch on St. Armand’s shoulder. “Good evening, Roscoe. Who’s a good boy?” The parrot ruffled his wings as Turnbull passed over a handful of nuts he’d pulled from a pouch at his waist. “That’s a lovely par—” “Don’t say it!” Turnbull and St. Armand said at the same time. St. Armand reached up to scratch the bird under his beak. “This is Roscoe, the ship’s cat. Who’s a good kitty? Who’s a good boy?” Oliver could deal with being shot at, beaten, evicted from a brothel, kidnapped by pirates, but there were some situations he was not willing to accept. “I realize I may not survive this voyage in one piece, but I must speak my mind, Captain. That is not a cat.” “When I want your opinion, I will tell you so. Roscoe’s a prime mouser and a valuable member of the crew. Last I checked, your greatest value to me may be in selling you to the anatomists. Do not confuse our...

Exit Strategy by Martha Wells My rating: 5 of 5 stars This right here is why I love science fiction so much--human/non-human interaction! Fantastic action sequences! Deep moral and philosophical questions: (What does it mean to be human? And why would anyone aspire to be a meatsack anyway?) Snark! A mechanical entity who gives the Three Laws of Robotics the metal middle finger! And, best of all, primo writing, plotting and characterization. I have been buttonholing everyone I know who's a science fiction fan and telling them to read The Murderbot Diaries . It's that good. View all my reviews

Some years ago I had a villain who caught my imagination. Robert St. Armand wasn't just a pirate, he was a pirate with style and had far too high an opinion of himself and his success with women. Robert got his comeuppance in Castaway Dreams (High Seas #2)  but just wouldn't leave me alone. He needed his own book. How do you transform a villain into a hero? You throw a plot moppet and a puppy at him. If he catches them, he's capable of reform. Oh, and having a no-nonsense governess on hand to keep them all in line helps. Five years ago I published The Pirate's Secret Baby (High Seas #3)  which went on to win the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and the New England Readers' Choice Award. The Pirate's Secret Baby led to What the Parrot Saw (High Seas #4) , the story of that little moppet all grown up and running the family business. To celebrate that publication anniversary, the ebook edition of The Pirate's Secret Baby will be on sale at...

A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn My rating: 4 of 5 stars The best part of this novel wasn't the whodunnit, though that was well done, but seeing the interaction between Veronica, Stoker, and Stoker's brother. We saw Stoker and Veronica's relationship tested further, and we also learned about some of the tensions in the Templeton-Vane family that led to Stoker's estrangement from his home. It's a great series with a heroine for our times--a scientist, an explorer, a woman who embraces her own sexuality--and the hero who appreciates her. I look forward to more Veronica Speedwell mysteries and many hours of reading enjoyment in months to come! View all my reviews

Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas My rating: 4 of 5 stars I love Lisa Kleypas historical romances because of the depth and quality of her research. It doesn't hurt that she packages that research into a fabulous love story. We first met West Ravenel some books back in the Ravenel series when he was introduced to us as the pot-bellied, soft, wastrel younger brother of Devon Ravenel, Lord Trenear. But West's character began to undergo some changes and it's all come to fruition in the latest book as West meets Phoebe, Lady Clare, a beautiful young widow and the daughter of characters from the Wallflower series. Phoebe wants nothing to do with the man who bullied her late husband when they were schoolboys, and West thinks himself unworthy of such a fine woman. I enjoyed how their relationship developed slowly rather than with instalust, and how each character uncovered the hidden strengths in the other. Lisa Kleypas is an autobuy for me a...

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another fascinating and satisfying Murderbot story from the very talented Martha Wells. I'm recommending this series to all my friends looking for interesting and intriguing SF. View all my reviews

Run Away by Harlan Coben My rating: 4 of 5 stars It kept me up past my bedtime, which is high praise indeed. The question always lurks in a parent's mind--what would you do to save your child? In the case of parents of drug abusers the question becomes even more complex and troubling, and Sam knows this, but when he sees his strung out daughter Paige in Central Park, he approaches her to offer help one more time. This sets a series of events in motion which spiral into secrets revealed, murder, deeply buried crimes and answers the question "What would you do? How far would you go?" I was flipping pages as the ending snuck up on me, leaving me once again impressed with Harlan Coben 's talent as a mystery and suspense writer. (This is a stand alone novel, not part of his ongoing series.) View all my reviews

Connections in Death by J.D. Robb My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sometimes you get the murder mystery, sometimes you get the police procedural, in this book you get both, and it's still a satisfying experience nearly 50 novels into "In Death". Eve Dallas is called in to investigate a suspected OD by a drug user, far below her pay grade but a favor for a friend. She quickly determines it's murder and we readers realize what cops say all the damn time--most crimes are committed by people who do stupid things, not by criminal masterminds. But watching her and her team (and Roarke, of course) unravel two gangs' businesses and rivalries is a delight to watch, especially the climactic battle and interrogations at the end. I expect Queen Nora has something special planned for "In Death, #50" and in the meantime, we'll cheerfully glom all the books she produces until that day. Incidentally, if you're not a fan, I insist you ...

Blooms: Contemporary Floral Design by Phaidon Editors My rating: 5 of 5 stars I received this book as a gift and it is drop-dead gorgeous. These are not your boring dozen roses & baby's breath, but a breathtaking look at modern floral design, design that incorporates found objects and flowers in all stages. It's the perfect coffee table book or gift because you don't sit down and read it from cover-to-cover, but rather sip at it like a fine cocktail incorporating carefully curated ingredients. Full disclosure--one of the artists featured is @wifenyc (Sophie Parker) who is my son's significant other and a supremely talented botanical artist. Check out her work on Instagram! View all my reviews