REVIEW: Robyn Carr's MOONLIGHT ROAD (Virgin River bk 10)

In honor of Veteran’s Day, I thought I’d post a review from one of my favorite series who’s characters have deep ties to the army, navy, and air force. This one goes out to my father who severed his country in Vietnam.




Title: MOONLIGHT ROAD (Virgin River Bk 10)
Author: Robyn Carr
Release Date: March 1, 2010
Publisher: Mira
Language: English
ISBN-10: 077832768X
ISBN-13: 978-0778327684

My Ratings

Plot: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Originality of Plot: 4/5
Characters Development: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover Art: 3/5

Overall: 29/35 = 82%


Book Opening

In the two weeks Aiden Riordan had been in Virgin River, he'd hiked over a hundred miles and grown himself a pretty hefty dark red beard. With his jet-black hair and brows and his bright green eyes, this legacy of his ancestors gave him a wild look. His four-year-old niece, Rosie, who sported a full head of red curls to go with her green eyes, had said, "Unca Aid! You're a Wide Iwish Rose, too!"

Synopsis

"With her beloved younger siblings settled and happy, Erin Foley has got empty nest syndrome. At age thirty-five.

So she’s hitting the pause button on her life and holing up in a secluded (but totally upgraded, she’s not into roughing it) cabin near Virgin River. Erin is looking forward to really getting to know herself...not some shaggy-haired mountain man she meets wandering the woods.
In fact, beneath his faded fatigues and bushy beard, Aiden Riordan is a doctor, recharging for a summer after leaving the Navy. He’s intrigued by the pretty, slightly snooty refugee from the rat race — meditating, journaling and definitely keeping him at arm’s length. He’d love to get closer...if his scruffy exterior and crazy ex-wife don’t hold him back.

But maybe it’s something in the water — unlikely romances seem to take root in Virgin River...helped along with some well-intentioned meddling, of course."


My Review

Erin Foley came to Virginia River looking to get away for her hectic life. She’s a high profile lawyer, who was forced to raise her siblings after loosing both of her parents. She is at a cross-road in her life. With both of her siblings now out of the house and moving on with their lives, Erin has decided to stay in her families cabin in Virgin River for the summer. She just wants to relax and make some decisions in her life. To bad the sexy Aiden Riordan , had other plans for Ms. Foley. After fourteen years with the Navy, Dr. Riordan has left the military. He came to Virgin River to visit family, and re-evaluate his career as naval doctor.

I first want to state for the record that Aiden Riordan has been my favorite Virgin River male lead character. He has that night in shining armor sort of feel. He’s handsome. He’s sweet. He’s strong. He’s smart. And he loves children. What more could any women want? Maybe someone without a crazy ex-wife! ; ) I enjoyed taking another look at the Riordan family. How can one family have so many amazing men?

I also enjoyed reading about Erin and her family. She has given so much of her life to other people, and she wasn’t given the chance to life her life for herself. And then Aiden has given her that chance.

One of my favorite parts of this series, is the fact that it centers around a main cast of characters. I did feel like the last two books in this series missed this point. I was very happy to see the Jack and Mel sub-plot find its way back into the series. They will always be my favorite Virgin River couple.

I really enjoyed the newest book in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River Series. Just like the others in this series, this book was funny, romantic, honest, and full of hope. I have devoured this series in a matter of weeks and would recommend them to anyone seeking to get away for a few hours.


Virginia River Series

Novella - "Sheltering Hearts"
Book 10 - Moonlight Road
Book 9 - Angel's Peak
Book 8 - Forbidden Falls
Novella - "Under the Christmas Tree"
Book 7 - Paradise Valley
Book 6 - Temptation Ridge
Book 5 - Second Chance Pass
Book 4 - A Virgin River Christmas
Book 3 - Whispering Rock
Book 2 - Shelter Mountain
Book 1 - Virgin River


Website

Robyn Carr’s Website

Rachel Vincent Blog Tour Contest Winner!!! Is it you?

I want to thank Rachel Vincent for taking the time to stop my the Nice Girls Blog to answer a few questions and sharing a quote from ALPHA.


I also want to thank everyone for checking out my interview with Rachel. I really enjoyed reading what songs you guys think best describes Rachel Vincent's Shifters characters! And the winner is.......Vanessa T. who picked Missy Higgins' Special Two to for Faythe. Please e-mail me at HCross9820 [at] aol [dot] com. The winner has FIVE days to respond & claim their prize.


The official releases date for ALPHA was October 1st, and is available for purchase at you local book stores and online book retailers. So check out ALPHA today!!!

INTERVIEW: Rachel Vincent's ALPHA Blog Tour & Contest

Title: ALPHA (Shifters Book 6)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Release Date: October 1, 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Mira
Language: English
ISBN-10: 077832818X
ISBN-13: 978-0778328186

“YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE...

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for. But life never waits until you're ready.”



Today, I am pleased to bring you a special guest- amazing talented author Rachel Vincent! She has graciously agreed to a short interview right here on Nice Girls in promotion of her newest release ALPHA, the final book in her Shifters Series.

********************

Q: When writing the Shifters Series, did you plot book to book, or the whole series right from the beginning?

Rachel: I had an idea where the series was going by the time I'd finished Rogue, but I plotted each book's individual plot separately.

Q: There is a serious fan base for both Team Marc and Team Jace, and a lot of debate about the two sides on your discussion group. Did you ever think the love triangle would cause as much debate as it has, and does that debate bother you?

Rachel: No, the debate thrills me. If the readers weren't torn about Faythe's decision, that would mean I hadn't written the scenario (or the characters) well enough. The fact that there's so much argument tells me that Faythe's trouble deciding makes sense.

Q: When creating the character Jace, did you intend or ever envision him to have such a following?

Rachel: I didn't intend much of anything when i wrote Stray. I didn't even know if it would get published. But I knew I liked Jace. And Ethan. And I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one. :)

Q: If Faythe, Marc & Jace each had an individual theme song, what would they be and why?

Rachel:
Faythe's would definitely be "I'm Just A Girl" by No Doubt
Marc's might be Citizen Soldier
Jace is harder to pin down. He's light hearted, but beneath that, he has some serious problems. I'm not sure about that one.

Q: Now that the Shifter Series has basically come to a close, how do you feel about completing you first published series?

Rachel: It's a very bittersweet moment for me. I love the series and the characters, and it's hard to say goodbye to them. But I think the series is ending well, and hopefully on a high note. So I take pride in that.

Thanks Rachel, for taking the time to stop-by and answer a few questions! Congratulation on ALPHA's release, the Shifters Series was truly an exhilarating ride. Can't wait to see what else you have up you sleeve.

********************

Rachel also picked out a special teaser quote from ALPHA just for Nice Girls:

"Besides, this mouth was made for shouting the truth and demanding justice. Among other things..." -From Alpha, pg 222

The official releases date for ALPHA was October 1st, and is available for purchase at you local book stores and online book retailers. You can check out my review of ALPHA here.

********************

SHIFTER SERIES CONTEST !!!!!

In honor of the release of ALPHA, I have decided to giveaway a Shifter Series tote bag made by yours truly. I also sent a similar tote to Rachel to celebrate the conclusion of this amazing series. Enter below for the chance to win one for yourself. Contest starts today and closes Saturday, October 16, 2010 at midnight. The winners name will be posted here on my blog on Monday, October 18, 2010. The winner will have FIVE days to respond & claim their prize!



HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

• In the blue contest entry box below, please leave your first name/last initial and e-mail address.
  

• Then name a song that best describes any of Rachel Vincent's Shifters characters! (I'd pick Linkin Park's Somewhere I Belong for Jace or The Fray's Where the Story Ends as a combo for Marc & Faythe!!) Good for 1 point.

• Link contest via Twitter/Facebook/Blog 1 point for each link provided.

• Follow this blog for bonus 2 points! (button located on right-hand side)

RULES AND LEGAL DISCLAIMERS:

• I will use random.org to choose the winner.
• Contest is open to readers in the USA only.
• You have FIVE days from the day I post the winners name to claim your prize by sending your name/mailing address to me. Failure to contact me result in forfeit of your prize. At that time, I will choose either to re-award the prize to another entrant or not.
• These rules are subject to change or be modified without prior written notice.
  
• Contest is void where prohibited.
• By entering this contest you are agreeing to our terms of entry.
• Please allow 30 days to receive your prize before e-mailing me.
  

(Scroll down in the blue box to fill in contest information)

Last but not least, I want to thank Claire and Nikki, my book buddies for lending a hand with this blog post. Don't know what I'd do without you girls. I ♥ you both! If you get a chance, take a minute to check out their book review blogs!

Rachel Vincent's ALPHA Trailer

So this is what all of the Shifter fans have been waiting for. The final chapter in Faythe's story. There are so many questions to be answered in this book. We've waited all year for Alpha, and I promise you won't be let down. Grab your box of tissue for this one readers, it will turn your world upside down. Check out my review for more details.




Title: ALPHA (Shifters Book 6)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Release Date: October 1, 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Mira
Language: English
ISBN-10: 077832818X
ISBN-13: 978-0778328186

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE...

"The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council. It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for. But life never waits until you're ready."


Please come back on October 2, 2010 for my interview with Rachel Vincent and a Shifters giveaway!

REVIEW: Julie Kagawa IRON KING

Author: Julie Kagawa
Title: Iron King
Release Date: February 1, 2010
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN-10: 0373210086
ISBN-13: 978-0373210084



My Ratings

Plot: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality of Plot: 4/5
Characters Development: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Cover Art: 5/5

Overall: 31/35 = 88%


Synopsis

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY— ONE SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED…

“Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.”


My Review

Meghan Chase, is the quiet girl that no one ever notices. She doesn’t have the right clothes, she lives on a farm, and her only friend is her prankster neighbor, Robbie. That is until her 16th birthday, when all hell breaks loose. Her little brother is kidnapped, and she has to leave her life behind to save him.

Iron King brought to my mind hours watch Labyrinth and the Wizard of Oz and reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Alice and Wonderland as a child. While I saw correlations between those stories and Iron King, I found this book has a very fresh take on this type of story. I felt that it has great mix of fae mythology, classical literature, steam punk, and modern YA.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Meghan and Puck. Puck seemed to be willing to do what ever it takes to help Meghan get her brother back, even if that means defying his king. Meghan and Ash are amazing together, also. Ash tried so hard to keep distance between he and Meghan, but fate just kept pushing them back together. I wasn’t sure if I like Ash in the beginning of the story, but once everything was said and done he carved a place in my icy heart.

I did feel like the beginning of this book was a bit slow. I actually put the book down for a few days, before I picked it back up again. I just wanted to jump into the meat of the story, but instead I feel that their was to much introduction into Meghan’s human life. Once, we get into the fae world I flew through the book.

I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed Iron King, once I really got deep into the story. I usually have a hard time getting into stories that are almost fully based in fictitious worlds. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a new intriguing world to escape into for a few hours.

Books in this Series




Websites

Julie Kagawa's Website
Julie Kagawa's Blog



Book Trailer

EARLY REVIEW: Rachel Vincent's ALPHA (Shifters Book 6)

Title: ALPHA (Shifters Book 6)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Release Date: October 1, 2010
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Mira
Language: English
ISBN-10: 077832818X
ISBN-13: 978-0778328186

My Ratings

Plot: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Originality of Plot: 5/5
Characters Development: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover Art: 5/5 (My favorite of this series)

Overall: 33/35 = 94%

First Line

“Are you sure about this?” Jace hesitated, one hand gripping the bare branch overhead, and the other poised over his zipper.

(Insert Jace fan girl squeal!!)


Synopsis

“YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAYTHE...

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can--that will--change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for. But life never waits until you're ready.”


My Review

(Please be aware that this review contains spoilers from the previous books in the Shifter Series. I will try to keep the Alpha spoilers to a minimum.)

I’m pretty sure that I screamed, when I received the e-mail containing the link to the early release of this book on NetGalley. It was like Christmas for me. I want to thank people at Harlequin and NetGalley for giving me such an amazing opportunity to read and review this book early.

For the past three years, Rachel Vincent’s Shifter Series has been “The Series” for me. It’s the series in which I compare all other urban fantasy I read to. I’ve read each book multiple times. I’ve spent hours upon hours in Rachel’s discussion group talking with other fans about them, and driven all over the country to see Rachel at signings. I’ve laughed, loved, fought, and cried alongside Faythe and her pridemates. The end of Faythe’s story is a culmination of so many things for me.

This book left both my head and my heart spinning, I even have the empty box of tissues to prove it. Alpha broke my heart, and gave me faith in the world all at the same time. Faythe had to face so much adversity in this book. One road block after another fell in her way, but she didn’t let them stop her. She kept going, not only for herself, but for her Pride most of all. Words can’t explain how proud I am of what Faythe has accomplished in Alpha.

The Faythe/Jace/Marc Love Triangle: what is there to say? Basically not a whole lot, without giving away spoilers. I will say this- Faythe does choose one in the end. She isn’t forced toward one guy or the other by circumstance (example: one of them is killed in battle). She made the right choice for herself, although the ride along the way is pretty bumpy. Some readers will be happy, while others will be sad. I’m pretty sure Rachel couldn’t have made everyone happy, regardless of which way Faythe chose.

“Whoever said two is better then one was either stupid or crazy. Or heartless.” - Faythe

I absolutely loved getting to know Holly, Michael’s wife. She’s has always been this unknown entity. I was truly grateful for her presence, late in the book. She inadvertently lent much needed comic relief to a very dark part of this story.

“This place is like a scary, furry soap opera,” - Holly

While the ending did have it’s sad points, everything ended just the way it should have. Lives were lost, and choices were made. Many characters in Faythe’s world have messed up through out the series, but in the end some were able to redeem themselves when it really counted. I was also very happy to see who came back to help the South-central pride in the end.

My only complaint is that there wasn’t an epilogue. I wanted to know how things wrapped up after the final showdown. I just can’t believe that was it, it was all over. I felt that so many important questions (at least in my mind) were left unanswered. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a Shifter’s short story to hopefully show up in the very near future. Until then, I guess I’ll have to make it up for myself.

Overall, I want to thank Rachel for writing such amazing characters and such a wonderful world for them to live in! Reading this series, has rejuvenated my love for reading.

Please come back on October 2, 2010 for my interview with Rachel Vincent and a Shifters giveaway!

Shifters Series







Other Books by This Author

Soul Screamers YA Series:





Anthologies







Websites

http://rachelvincent.com/
http://rachelvincent.proboards.com

NEW RELEASE TO LOOK FOR: Molly Harper's AND ONE LAST THING...

Title: AND ONE LAST THING...
Author: Molly Harper
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Gallery
ISBN-10: 1439168776
ISBN-13: 978-1439168776




Book Description

"If Singletree’s only florist didn’t deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger."

Lacey Terwilliger’s shock and humiliation over her husband’s philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike’s company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike’s family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend," Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.

Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.

Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?



My Thoughts

If this book is even close to as amazing as her Jane Jamison vampire books, this will be amazing. Her writing is both funny and fresh. The author posted the first chapter of this book on her website, so take a few minutes to check it out. This book has been places on my massively growing To-Be_Read pile. I can't wait to read it!


Links

Molly Harper

Purchase AND ONE LAST THING...