Lady Bronco is Taking a Break

Lady Bronco is taking November off from reviewing books here on Enduring Romance. She's back in college and has massive homework right now! She's also going to do NaNo. Hang in there, Lady B!

New Cover Art for Susan Grant and Other Stuff

Susan Grant just posted the cover art for her next novel, MOONSTRUCK. Pop over to http://susangrant.blogspot.com/ to learn more about her next adventure through Science Fiction Romance.

"Ahhh! Kimber! No. I can't do Science Fiction. I'm a girl. Girls are bad at science, yanno." You say?

Oh, get over it already. If you can use a cell phone, you can enjoy Science Fiction Romance. Trust me. My husband won't even let me use his cell phone because I can't remember how to use it from one day to the other, and I love Science Fiction Romance.
;)

In other news, you may notice I'm a little off-schedule these days because we just moved house. I posted the review of NOW AND ZEN by Linda Gerber this Tuesday which I was supposed to post last week. And now I'm only a quarter of the way through FUSION FIRE by Kathy Tyers, which is supposed to be this week's review. I really am starting to climb the heaps & piles. I actually updated the Kimber An Nebula and the Enduring Romance websites today.

Did I mention Linnea Sinclair's upcoming Cyber-Launch Book Party? End of November. Hold on to your favorite undead Halloween costumes.

I also have an Advanced Reader's Copy of a novel on the way. I've decided not to tell you the titles in advance just in case I have to decline doing the review. We only give positive reviews here at Enduring Romance. So, if I don't like or love a book, I don't review it. I let the authors know this up front now. This includes authors whose books I've reviewed before. As much as I love them, the simple fact is I don't love every single last one of their books.

I'm starting to think about the Enduring Romance Book of the Year. I guess there will be two Books of the Year, since Lady Bronco reads a lot of books I don't. These are books I've read this year. Some are new releases and some are new-to-me. Bearing in mind this is only October, here is my list:

SWEET SENSATION by Gwyneth Bolton
GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair
NEFERTITI by Michelle Moran
LOTTERY by Patricia Wood
MASTER OF VERONA by David Blixt
THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak
DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES by Linnea Sinclair (This one isn't due out until November 27th, but I read the ARC and reviewed it here in May.)
STAR WARS HEIR TO THE EMPIRE by Timothy Zahn
STAR WARS THE LAST COMMAND by Timothy Zahn
STAR WARS DARK FORCE RISING by Timothy Zahn

As you can see, Linnea Sinclair and Timothy Zahn are competing against themselves! I love each of these books for such different reasons. It's going to be so difficult to choose when the time comes.

That's it. Must return to tackling my runaway household now.

NOW AND ZEN by Linda Gerber

I rarely read contemporary fiction. I never read it as a teenager. I like to escape reality when I read. If it doesn't have warp drive or ringwraiths, I'm just not interested. Usually. There are two things which can get me to read contemporary fiction - excellent storytelling and a multi-cultural theme. NOW AND ZEN is all that.
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Nori is a Japanese American teen on the fast track to college. But, that's not why she's padding her resume with a student exchange program. She wants to spend time away from her parents in the hope they'll spend more time together. She isn't particularly interested in Japan.
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Nori lands in Japan with her student group and finds all the non-Japanese people expecting her to know everything from the language to the customs. Of course, she doesn't. She has to contend with a couple of Barbie Dolls, one mean as a snake and another so sweet she could just gag. On the hottie front there's Atsushi, the Japanese boy whom she assumes is just being polite. And there's Erik Sussmann who looks like a Viking prince. He's from Germany. Oooh-la-la. Guten tag, eich libe dich. (That means, "Good day, I love you." I think.) I'm not sure if I was meant to, but I was cheering for Atsushi. He's adorable. And poor Nori doesn't have a clue.
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Besides that, Nori's parents show no sign of getting their act together and Mom decides Nori needs to spend time with their long-lost Japanese relatives. And she doesn't take Nori's opinion into the decision-making either. No wonder Mom's not getting along with Dad these days. She's not the best listener.
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So, everyone's thinking Nori's Japanese, except the real Japanese. That really annoys her, but then Erik finally notices her BECAUSE he thinks she's Japanese! Oh, dear. Before you can shout, "Danger, Nori! Danger!" she's letting him think that.
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You know I love culture-shock-fish-out-of-water stories anyway, but the other great thing about NOW AND ZEN is that it captures all the normal adolescent angst. Without slipping into cliche. I hate how my fellow adults tend to stereotype teenagers into self-absorbed parent-haters who only care about shoes and boys. Or girls. All the ones I know are intelligent, considerate and on their way to greatness. Anyway, get NOW AND ZEN for an escape from reality which will bring you all the way home.
;)
NOW AND ZEN is a book in the S.A.S.S series by Linda Gerb. S.A.S.S. stands for Students Across the Seven Seas, a student exchange program. The other book in the series, THE FINNISH LINE, is set in - you guessed it - Finland. I'm hoping there will be many more in this series. It's a gem.

Sunday's Oldies but Goodies...

Good Morning!

This week's Oldie but Goodie is...

First released in the U.S. September 1999

I am going to assume you all know how much I love romance novels.

Historical, fantasy, sci-fi, vampire - you name it, and I love the genre of romance.

What you may not know is that I have a passion for action-packed stories. Adrenaline-laced, action-packed, hero-kickin'-ass, all-kinds-of-stuff-blowing-up action novels. The faster-paced the better. But I also like to give a damn about the characters within the pages of said action-adventure book.

Well, folks - meet Scarecrow. He is Marine Corps Lieutenant Shane Schofield, in charge of a team of Marines sent to investigate a frantic distress signal sent by the team of American scientists currently inhabiting Wilkes Ice Station on the harsh continent of Antarctica.

Scarecrow and his team figure they are going on a wild goose chase - going down to that frozen wasteland to check on a bunch of scientists who are probably suffering from cabin fever. When they arrive, however, what they find is so much more worse then they could imagine. The distress signal had been sent after a team of divers, exploring the underside of the ice shelf, discovered a cavern under the ice. When they signaled the discovery of some sort of spacecraft, the team of divers came under attack, and all vanished without a trace. But that's not the only wrinkle in the appearance of Scarecrow & Co.

A few other countries with stations in Antarctica heard the distress call as well, and they figured the tech buried under the ice was up for grabs to whoever could fight their way to it first & claim it - using any means necessary.

Before long, not only are the Marines fighting off foreign soldiers hell-bent on recovering the technology, they discover a faction within the American ranks who will stop at nothing to recover the tech for the American government - even if it means sacrificing every Marine and scientist inside the Ice Station.

Matthew Reilly has created a story that moves at lightning speed, but you don't realize it as you are reading it. His world-building skill is absolutely astounding, and believe me, you will be cheering on Scarecrow and his Marines before you are 1/4 of the way through the story. And the best part? the twists and turns all throughout the story do not, in any way, serve as distractions to the storyline - they make you want to find out what the hell is going on before it's all over.

If you love action-packed stories, you cannot miss this one. And the best part is the Scarecrow returns in several other stories by Mr. Reilly. You can find out more about the author & take a gander at his book list on his website http://www.matthewreilly.com/

Happy reading!

ARMED & MAGICAL cover is out!

The cover art of Lisa Shearin's second book is out. Isn't it gorgeous? Wow, Lisa's two-for-two in the Great Cover War. Good for you, Lisa!http://www.lisashearin.comMeanwhile, I know I'm late on my book review this week. We just moved house. I am so insanely busy. In any case, the book I will be reviewing when I have a chance to catch my breath is NOW AND ZEN by Linda Gerber. It truly is wonderful too. It's about a Japanese American girl who visits Japan knowing very little about Japan and everyone there thinks she's Japanese and assume she knows everything about Japan. It's a lot of fun. I love multi-cultural/cultural clash adventure-type stories, yanno.

;)

Sunday's Oldies but Goodies...

Good Morning!

Today's Oldie but Goodie is...

Black Ice

by Anne Stuart

Released May 2005

I do not often read romance that has a thriller/intrigue/spy sort of edge to it. It's no secret that I love my romance with a touch of action/sci-fi, or vampires/zombies, that sort of thing.

~

Imagine my shock when I began reading Black Ice, and the next thing I knew I had looked up from the book and it was almost 2 hours later.

~

Black Ice tells the story of American Chloe Underwood. Chloe lives in Paris, and works as an American book translator. She shares an apartment with a fellow female translator, who offers Chloe the opportunity to fill-in for her over the weekend for some high-powered businessmen who need an English-French translator for a large business meeting taking place in the French countryside.

~

Little did Chloe know this meeting had little to do with legitimate business, and that going to this meeting would jeopardize her very life.

~

When Chloe meets Bastien Toussaint, he has been sent to eliminate her, but for whatever reason, something about Chloe wakes up his conscience - something he thought had died a long time ago.

~

Instead of killing Chloe, Bastien decides to take a chance and get Chloe out of the deadly situation she finds herself in. Now Chloe has more than one problem to deal with. Not only are the two of them on the run from some of the most ruthless individuals Chloe has ever met, the motives of one Bastien Toussaint are continually in question. Why did he rescue her, and what does he really want?

~

Ms. Stuart has skillfully written a tale that will have you hooked almost from page one. While the heat level is sensual in this tale, it is a very integral part of the story, and the intimacy reveals a lot about our hero Bastien we might have never learned otherwise. Ms. Stuart has created two characters you will be able ti identify with, and you will care about what happens to them by the end of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the thriller/action/romance tale spun within the pages of 'Black Ice' and you will also be happy to know it is one of a series Ms. Stuart has written. You can find out more about on the author's website - www.anne-stuart.com

~

Happy Reading!

MY INVISIBLE HUSBAND by Shelia M. Goss

This is a novel I've been wanting since last February. I couldn't find it anywhere in Alaska. I finally ordered it off Amazon.com. New, of course.


Remember the sacred Enduring Romance oath? "I, Kimber An, do solemnly swear to always buy my favorite authors' books new." Buying new is the only way authors make money and publishers pay attention to the kind of books you like. But, I digress.
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Nikki is on the other side of thirty and her family and friends nag her relentless about when she's going to find a nice man and get married. Ug. I really know how that feels because I went through the same thing. Finding a loving, faithful husband can take a while, yanno.
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Sick of all the nagging, Nikki does something I never thought of. She pretends to get married. She flies to Las Vegas for the supposed wedding/honeymoon and has a nice solo vacation. Oh, yes, she does feel guilt and worries how long she can pull it off before she has to tell everyone it didn't work out and she got divorced. But, then, on the flight back she meets Byron.
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Byron's been waiting a long time for a loving and faithful spouse too. One of his misfires is a psycho ex.
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Byron is so taken with Nikki that he plays along with her charade when he finds out that she's claimed him as her Invisible Husband to her friends and family. How far will they go? How long can they pull the wool over everyone's eyes? Will love make the charade irrelevent?
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You'd better buy this book and find out. ;) http://www.sheliagoss.com/

Sunday's Oldies but Goodies...

Good Morning!
This week's Oldie but Goodie is...

Houston, We Have A Problem
by Erin McCarthy

Released September 2004

Meet Josie Adkins. She's a surgical resident, but she also happens to be a grade-A klutz. More than a little self-conscious of her short and curvy frame, her nerves go into overdrive everytime Dr. Houston Hayes comes anywhere near her.

~
Dr. Houston Hayes is a no-nonsense orthopedic surgeon. He has no desire to get into any long-term relationship - too risky. He is, however, at a loss when it comes to Dr. Adkins. He drives her crazy, and not just because she is always dropping x-rays and charts every time she is around him. He is so attracted to her that it's becoming a distraction, and he can't have that. His solution? Offer one night together to get rid of the tension between them.

~

Yeah, cause that always works.

~

Not.

~

Houston is in for a big surprise. Not only does Josie turn out to be someone he is actually comfortable talking to, she turns out to be so much more than the clumsy resident who drives him crazy. And Josie? Well, she is discovering there is more than meets the eye where houston is concerned. Behind the 10-ft walls he has erected around himself is a man who is in some desprate need of a little TLC.

~

Slowly, Josie manages to find a way around Houston's walls, and when Houston is badly hurt, Josie grabs on with both hands and refuses to let go, even when Houston tries his best, in his misery, to push her away.

~

Erin McCarthy definitely manages to create two characters you can identify with. If you have never read a novel by Ms. McCarthy, this is an excellent story to start with. Her stories are always a treat to read, and her writing style always manages to blend a perfet balance of humor and wit, and her character-building skills are awesome. If you are looking for an author who writes in a style you will be comfortable with, Ms. McCarthy is definitely your woman.

~

For more information on the author, and a complete list of her books, pease visit her website at

http://www.erinmccarthy.net/
~

Happy reading!

THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak

Okay, I confess I'm not even a third of the way through this novel. We're moving house, yanno, and this is a novel which refuses to be sped-read. Did you catch that? THIS IS A NOVEL WHICH REFUSES TO BE SPED-READ! I had actually started on a terrific old Science Fiction novel about time travelers visiting Atlantis, ATLANTIS ENDGAME by Andre Norton. Really cool. But, this gem came in and I dropped ATLANTIS like a hot dilithium chrystal. Not that ATLANTIS isn't great, but THE BOOK THIEF is awesome.

THE BOOK THIEF is told from the point-of-view of Death. Yes, Death. Cheery, hmm? Actually, he's not gloomy and, believe me, I hate gloomy. Death is fascinating. From his perspective, we follow Liesel and her brother and her mother on a train bound for foster parents. The foster parents have agreed, for money, to take care of Liesel and her brother, because they're not Jewish and do not belong to any of the groups on the Nazi hit list. You know, like homosexuals and Gypsis and other people who were born of a different race or have excercised the human right of choosing lifestyle or religion different than what the Nazis of World War II Germany dictated.

On the train trip, Liesel's brother dies and is buried in a cemetary in a nameless town on the route. Death was there when the brother died and Liesel interested him, so he went to the funeral too. On the way out of the cemetary, Liesel stole her first book. It had been dropped in the snow by a grave digger. Now, Death's interest is really sparked. That's about where I left off.

You'll be mesmerized by Death's prose on the first page. It's haunting and totally not stereotypical. According to the blurb, Liesel hides from the Nazis during the war, a bleak, starving time devoid of almost all human compassion. Books save her soul and, therefore, her life. Death comes calling, but he leaves empty-handed because Liesel survives.

Enduring Romance website updated

I let this go for a month. Sorry! Anyway, it's up to date now.