Oh yeah, tomorrow starts December, and there's more! Believe it or not, I still have more daily posts of books I read during my time away and haven't reviewed, thirteen to be exact.

I have the 3 weekends leading up to Christmas booked with authors who've put in review requests. These will be the reviews along with the author's bio, same as they were in November.

The Blonde Heiress, a Carter A. Johnson Novel by R. E. Schobernd
Fate (Timeless Trilogy, Book One) by Tallulah Grace
Fourth Degree Freedom and Other Shorts by Libby Heily
Dead Is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-Rice
Angel With Fur by Russell Blake
The Geronimo Breach by Russell Blake

I have 2 additional requested reviews that I will read (in the order they were received), but I will post as soon as they're complete. I ran out of weekends, because of the holidays, so they will be posted as I finish them.

Dark Blonde: A Mike Angel Private Eye Mystery by David H. Fears
The Hermetica of Elysium by Annmarie Banks

Last, but not least, there are two giveaway wins that will be reviewed and posted. These will be read after the review requests and posted as soon as they're complete.

Paranormal Doorway of the Triquetra by Lenore Wolfe
White Heat by M. J. McGrath

A few reminders. I will be taking the two weeks of Christmas and New Year's "off". I think I'll need it by then. (whew!)

But don't forget to keep checking back with the Find It Fridays sticky note. I will be updating that information periodically. Mainly that's the weekends when I've got a few extra minutes, but as Christmas creeps ever closer my schedule gets ever tighter. But I promise you this, it will be finalized by January 1st. (Hence the "off"-with my reading and posting schedule, I'll probably have to finalize over the holidays).

But no matter what, I hope you've enjoyed November's slew of posts and new authors, I hope will enjoy all the reviews and new authors that are coming up in December, and I hope you'll start thinking about visiting Books N Beans again next year. Keep Reading!

ISBN: 9780061783166 Publisher: Avon Books Cover Price: $7.99

Synopsis quoted from the back cover: An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness...and now one woman has stumbled into the shadows.
     Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she's only imagined in her worst nightmares.
     At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master vampire who thought he'd seen it all. Then Kira appears-this fearless, beautiful...human who braved death to rescue him. Though he burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life. Yet sending her away is unthinkable.
     But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose either the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction."

The 2 Beans Worth: Boy when Kira goes into something she goes all in. She doesn't just stumble across a vampire, saving him thinking he's a human, but she "saves" one of the most powerful Master Vampires around. What better person to land with then Mencheres? It was a great day for Night Huntress readers when Frost decided to write his story.

Mencheres and Kira are one of those rare couples in romance novels. They're actually quite considerate of each other and their needs. They try to do the right thing for each other, even if it means separating, but the forces against Mencheres end up pushing them back together.

There is a bit of history here that you might want to fill yourself in on before reading Mencheres and Kira's story. Eternal Kiss of Darkness is the second of the Night Huntress World series, which is a spin off of the Cats and Bones series.

 It's great being able to get a more in-depth view of the characters we've been introduced to through Cat and Bones. And if you keep reading the Grave books you get to keep up with Cat's stories. The only downside is the characters from the two series do intersect at certain times, so if you don't read both series then you miss a few things. It's been said by some readers that they were lost a couple of times because Cat's latest story made reference to this book with Mencheres and the reader wasn't filled in on the back story.

A simple solution is to just read both series. (ha ha). Frost never fails to entertain, so it's no difficulty on this end. So, keep reading!

ISBN: 9780373796342 Publisher: Harlequin Cover Price: $5.25

Synopsis quoted from the back cover: "Real cowboys aren't born. They're made...
     Logan Carswell has just kissed his professional baseball career goodbye. Goodbye dreams, career, and future. For now, though, he's working at the Last Chance Ranch and the town saloon, where sexy bartender Caro Davis is definitely taking his mind off his troubles...
     Caro's days have been so hectic, she's forgotten all about the finer aspects of life. Like men. And sex. And really smokin'-hot sex with men like Logan. But when their two worlds collide-and boy, do they ever collide-they both realize that once the gear is off, a cowboy is still a cowboy!"

The 2 Beans Worth: Many people know Thompson for her Nerds series. They're romance, but they're what is termed romantic comedy. Just the cover alone of Cowboys Like Us, tells you this is not going to be another nerd story. So you stand there in the store thinking, do I or don't I? Either way you risk a disappointment. Will you be disappointed if it turns out you don't like it as much as the Nerd series, or will you be disappointed if you don't buy it and hear it's great?

In this case, you'd be disappointed if you don't buy it.
One, this is a Blaze, so there's some HOT scenes for ya.
Two, it's Thompson, so even if there's no nerds on the Last Chance Ranch, there's still a great romance read.
Three, even the supporting characters are interesting and not just inserts that are plugged in because they're needed. Supporting roles can sometimes be just as vital to the story as the main characters. Four, the main characters are good people with big hearts and intelligent heads on their shoulders. You won't be frustrated with a complete idiot or airhead doing absolutely annoying things.
Five, if you get the Blaze 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition, then you'll get a bonus story included. It's Thompson's very first Blaze book, Notorious, which was originally published in 2001.

That's a handful ladies, and you know what they say about having your hands full. No, sheesh! Get your mind out of the gutter. One in the hand...and all that. So get one in your hands (a book, you perverts) and keep reading!

Just the other day, as I was wrapping up some more requested reviews, I realized that these last few books should have been read in October. Not that paranormal or horror or those types have to be read only in October. Goodness no. They're great any time of the year. But it would have been so much more apropos. Did I use that correctly? I hope so.

Anyways, then I looked at the stack of 5 that were next in line for already read and need to review. They were all romance. I thought Hunh, I sure do seem to have theme periods. Then, I remembered when I read this latest stack of books that weren't requests. They were all during the months of September and October. This was the time of my mom's surgery, recovery, multiple doctor's visits, little sister freaking out, aunt stepping all over my dad's toes, dad stressing because his wife is ill and her sister is being an overbearing B, etc.

So, not only can you see that I read a lot of romance (heck, I needed a happy ending), but you can also see why (double heck, I needed an easy escape).

Seriously though, I normally take care of my requested reviews before I read anything else, but I truly didn't feel that I could give them the focus they needed during those months. I'm sure you can see why. But no matter what's going on, I am a reader. I need reading, and the escape to someone else's life, like I need coffee or chocolate. But I also needed something that would be okay for me to pick up, put down, not really pay attention to if I didn't have it in me, nor require a detailed accounting for afterwards.

So as November is wrapping itself up, I hope you've been enjoying the author-focus weekend posts. These are all new or fairly new authors who are trying to get the word out on their books, so make sure you give them a little time and attention. Trying new things can be quite rewarding sometimes! And hey, the big hitters we read started somewhere, and it was almost the same place as these new guys. Give them a chance.

Can't wait to see what December brings? I'll give you a hint...not Christmas themed books. Sorry! Check back on Thursday (December 1st) for a sneak peek at what's in store.

ISBN: 9781420122138 Publisher: Kensington Publishing Group Cover Price: $5.99

Synopsis quoted from back cover:
"Kathleen Darrow loves a challenge, and taking care of Jordan Long's two young daughters certainly qualifies! The girls think she's wonderful, but will their handsome single dad ever get to meet her if he keeps taking business trips to faraway places?
     The Matchmakers' secret plan to play Cupid is pure genius, and once Jordan meets their temporary nanny, he's sure to fall in love.

     In Fire and Ice, Alisa Franklin is devoted to her much younger sister-and she'll do anything to keep the little girl. But according to the terms of her mother's will, Alisa must marry to retain custody. Only Zachary Stuart, maverick and millionaire, will accept her term: a marriage in name only, for exactly one year. And Alisa is in for the surprise of her life. Zach's patience-and his passion-are about to capture her heart...forever."

These two titles were originally published in 1975 (Fire and Ice) and 1977 (The Matchmakers),. The first edition of Dance With Me, which is these two titles in a two-for-one-book, was published in 2004.

The 2 Beans Worth: A Challenge? That's an understatment. Unbeknownst to Kathleen and Jordan his two daughters are The Matchmakers. They've decided their dad needs a wife and they want a mom. So they've chased off their previous nanny in hopes of gaining a better suited one. Though the girls are convinced that Kathleen is perfect, there dad isn't as convinced. Even worse, he suspects her of being the manipulator. Sure to fall in love? Maybe, but love's never easy. Find out for yourself if the girls' plan works out.

What's better than opposites attracting? Not much. There's so much passion when they do. Sadly, Dailey (In Fire and Ice) makes the passion mean loud fighting and stubborn stupidity. There is not a single moment where you think Zachary actually loves Alisa. He acts like nothing more than an egotistical control freak towards her. And Alisa's no better. There were multiple times she needed to be slapped for acting like a child throwing a temper tantrum.

So while The Matchmakers was a fun read, Fire and Ice was anything but. Therefore, Dance With Me is only worth 2 cups of coffee.

The following biographical information was found at the end of Darwin's Children.

"Natasha Larry resides in Huntsville, Alabama, with her daughter and fiance. She graduated from Tusculum College with a B.A. in History and is currently working on getting her certificate in education. She is a self-proclaimed comic-book nerd and urban-fantasy junkie. Her poetry and short fiction has appeared in publications such as Writing Edge magazine and Escaping Elsewhere.

Darwin's Children is her first work of novel-length fiction.

To find out more about Natasha Larry and her books, please visit her blog site at:
www.natashalarry.com
www.paranormalwire.blogspot.com"

Check them out, and don't forget to check out the review of DC below.

ISBN: 9781935563518 Publisher: Penumbra Publishing Cover Price: $10.99

This book was given to me for free by the author in exchange for a review.

Applause, if you please, for a paranormal author who doesn't just ride along with the status quo. Yes, it's been said before, but it can't be said enough, that there's kudos for the author who steps outside the cookie-cutter mold of a genre. Natasha Larry is one such author.

Jaycie and her eclectic family (father, trainer, and friend-of-the-family uncle) take you into a paranormal world that literally defines paranormal. They are mortal humans who just happen to have extraordinary powers, they deal with vampires who are nothing more supernatural than people who are born with the gene, they encounter evil that is simply within normal human capacity, and they are watched over by Guardians that are equivalent to guardian angels.

At first, it seems as if Darwin's Children is going to start with the world's longest background history ever for a character. However, about 30% of the way into the story, you soon realize it's just the pace of the story. Not that a slow paced story is a bad thing. Quite the opposite is true for Darwin's Children. It is a story that slowly builds it's foundation, but it's an extremely well-built, solid foundation. In the long run that's critical. The absolute attention to detail and the explanations that are included don't seem forced and blend almost seamlessly into the plot.

A note for adult readers, this is a Young Adult book. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but something to keep in mind while reading. Sometimes as adults we read a YA book, forgetting it's written for another audience, and expect it to be written for us. This creates a different set of expectations, so it's worth making the distinction. However it is a book that both YA and adults alike can enjoy. 

Better news is that #2 (Unnatural Law) is already published! So start the Darwin's Children series, and keep reading!

ASIN: B005E8S6AE Publisher: Author List Price: $0.99

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for a review.

Meet Hank Mondale, a private investigator. He's also a heavy drinker, irresponsible with money, disrespectful, and a whiner. What was he said? Something about guys like him have to work so hard for all they got, because they've had it so rough. Or something like that. Guys like you put yourself in those bad situations.

Don't misunderstand, this is not a slam against the book. Heck no! It's Pepper's skill at writing that makes Mondale the complete loser that he is. Or at least that's assuming Pepper meant for Mondale to be a despicable being.

Really all you have to do is read the feeding scenes to know that Pepper has the imagination and the skill to entertain. The first feeding is gross with an "Ewww!" or two, it works its way into "Nasty!", lands firmly into skin crawling. By the 2nd feeding you're skimming the worst of it, and by 3rd you're just skipping the whole feeding. Oh yeah, it's that detailed. It was great! Who doesn't love a good skin crawling moment.

As for the rest of the characters, well there's that evil little...and that twisted devious...(Sigh! You'll have to read it to see these would be spoilers).

What was weird was the crescendo happened, and it seemed as if the book was about to end, but the music kept going. Yes, that's a little novice word play for Symphony. HTH (How the H, not hope that helps) is Pepper going to wrap this up? He does it though, and leaves you with a tiny nugget of a potential cliffhanger.  Fantastic ending to a truly twisted (loved every minute) book!

Oh, 4 stars because Mondale really was just that obnoxious, to the point of he treated every woman very badly. As stated above, he's despicable.

I found and quoted the following from the end of Symphony of Blood.

"At times disturbing and grim, others raunchy and comical, Adam Pepper's work is known for a unique blend of horror, suspense, and speculative fiction. Memoria, Adam's debut novel, reached #1 on the Dark Delicacies Best Seller list and received rave reviews from Cemetery Dance and Chronicle. "Super Fetus," his outrageous Bizarro novella was called 'in-your-face, allegorical social commentary' by esteemed reviewer, Paul Goat Allen. His quick-hitting short work has appeared in genre magazines including The Best of Horrorfind, Vol. 2 and Space and Time. Adam's non-fiction credits span from New Woman Magazine and The Journal News. Learn more about Adam at his website: www.AdamPepper.com."

Wow, right? Right!
Adam you keep writing and we'll keep reading!

ISBN: 9780440244806 Publisher: Bantam Dell Cover Price: $4.99

Synopsis quoted from back cover:
     Enchanted by a powerful spell, Highland laird Drustan MacKeltar slumbered for nearly five centuries hidden deep in a cave, until an unlikely savior awakened him. The enticing lass who dressed and spoke like no woman he'd ever known was from his distant future, where crumbled ruins were all that remained of his vanished world. Drustan knew he had to return to his own century if he was to save his people from a terrible fate. And he needed the bewitching woman by his side...
     Gwen Cassidy had come to Scotland to shake up her humdrum life and, just maybe, meet a man. How could she have known that a tumble down a Highland ravine would send her plunging into an underground cavern-to land atop the most devastatingly seductive man she'd ever seen? Or that once he kissed her, he wouldn't let her go? Bound to Drustan by a passion stronger than time, Gwen is swept back to sixteenth-century Scotland, where a treacherous enemy plots against them...and where a warrior with the power to change history will defy time itself for the woman he loves..."

The 2 Beans Worth: Okay, so you're a sucker for any book that has an Irish guy or a Scot in it. Yet, you don't care for historical romance. What's a girl to do? Read a Moning Highlander book, that's what. You get all the benefits of a modern day girl (Gwen) with all the machismo that defines a Highlander man (Drustan), which means some great romance scenes because there's no old-fashioned standards (no ankles showing) to limit them.

For the actual story you get conspiracies, gypsies, time travel, culture shock from said time travel, a medieval tournament, a curse, a family with magical abilities, loads of secrets, and of course the trials and triumphs of love.

The tricky part with a time-traveling couple is deciding where they should stay. Do you they forever end up in his time long ago? Or do they end up in her future world? Either way there's going to be huge adjustments and major repercussions to face. You can't mess with time and not pay a price. (It's that whole time-space continuum we keep hearing about.) Usually at the end of a time travel book, there's some discrepancy that irritates, or there was a ending that didn't seem to be well thought out. Moning does a lot better than most in resolving these issues. Plus she leaves a plausible opening for the next book in the series. Oh yeah, there's more than one Highlander to read about. So, get out there, find yourself a Highlander, and keep reading.

I am (of course) grateful for my family, our health, our amazing friends, and our creature comforts (so many are without, so I try not to take things for granted.).

I want to say a HUGE thank you and send a HUGE hug to the military families who are separated during the holidays! I've been there and I can say it's no small sacrifice. I hope you have a great family and/or amazing friends to support you during this time!

Lastly, I admit (with a little itty bit of shame) that I am thankful that I don't have to cook any holiday meals this year! Of course, now you have to stick around to see that bite me in the ass next year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The following quotes are from Rendezvous Rock by Rickey Bray. 

"And 'ifs' are like the wind, they blow as they will."

"[A] sense of purpose is a marvelous, self-perpetuating thing. It's what motivates mere mortals to rush magnificently into death for what are perceived as higher causes."

Great words, right? So go read them!

ISBN: 9781439160282 Publisher: Simon and Schuster Cover Price: $7.99

Synopsis from back cover: "Underachieving paralegal Finley Anderson Tanner should never have accepted her mother's offer to sell her a quaint cottage on posh Palm Beach at a bragain-basement price. The place is in shambles. At this rate, she'll be shopping designer outlets forever. But when Finley discovers a skeleton in her new closet, a total home renovation is the least of her worries. Sandwiched between sexy P.I. Liam McGarrity and her hot new boss, defense attorney Tony Caprellit, as she digs into a cold-case homicid involving a bizaree burglary ring, a lingerie thief, and filthy-rich Palm Beach socialites, she can only be headed for commitment. To an institution. With her fabulous (but slightly more successful) friends to keep her sane, Finley vows to get the bad guy-and decorate her new house-without paying full price."

The 2 Beans Worth: Yeah, go ahead and say it. Another fashionista, wannabe detective story? In a way, yes. In another way, no.
Pollero was a never-heard-of-her author before this read, but sometimes taking the chance pays off. Such is the case with Pollero. She is another author who can mix the genres and make a really readable story. Even though there's a mystery (gruesome skeleton in the closet), and Tanner's mom is a complete Capital B (Tanner even starts to think her mom is involved in the murder), there is also a bit of humor to lighten the story from time to time.

Any story that can entertain, intrigue, and gives a few chuckles is always a winner around here.
So worth the read? Yep. Sometimes change is good. And sometimes a new perspective on an old idea is good too. Both hold true with Pollero and Fat Chance, respectively.

ISBN: 9780425243213 Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group Cover Price: $16.00

Synopsis from the book cover: "The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, the changing of hands, and even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major face-lift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect in the family, Beckett's social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was sixteen.
     After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town's bookstore. Though busy and with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett's transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look...at both the building and the man behind it.
     With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett is happy to give Clare a private tour-one room at a time, in between blueprint meetings and kindergarten pickups. It's no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something that could arouse the secret yearning that resides in Clare's independent heart-and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next...."

The 2 Beans Worth: There are so many things to like about Roberts' books that it's hard to not just ramble on, but I'll give it my best shot.

Roberts writes across so many different sub-genres and does it so well. There is always a base of romance in all of her stories, but she seamlessly adds in paranormal, suspense, intrigue, etc. Her characters never seem to suffer for her multiple focuses. They are always very well written. Their interactions come across as realistic, their conversations don't feel forced or mechanical, and their personalities are complex and 3-dimensional.

All of this is very hard to accomplish when you're dealing in the realm of words and not pictures. An author has to illustrate all of this with only ink and paper, there is no sound, no picture, no body language to assist the reader in understanding what the author is trying to get across.

Some might complain that Roberts' trilogies have become predictable. It's true I've heard it. My response to this statements is, "Well duh!" These trilogies are her almost straight romance novels. Of course the guy and the girl hook up. Of course their two friends or associates are going to pair up in the next couple books.

However, there is always the side story going on while the main characters are figuring out their relationship. In this case, it's a historic inn that's being renovated. The great part with the series is not only do you get to see the transformation take place, but you get to watch the progression through the next couple of books as well.

There are also some great minor character which intrigue the mind as well. I mean, the mom and her sidekick friend in this one are as smile-worthy to the reader as they are annoying to her 3 boys.

And if all that wasn't enough for you, now let's add in "Elizabeth". Who's she? Only the ghost that haunts the Boonsboro Inn.

So, if you like an easy-to-read, easy-to-enjoy, thoroughly entertaining story then make sure you check out The Next Always. Sadly though the next one won't be out until May 2012. (Yep, that's 6 whole months-ugh!)

ISBN: 9780446556125 Publisher: Hachette Book Group Cover Price: $14.99

Synopsis quoted from back cover: "Meet twenty-two-year-old Cherry Pye, a pop stat since she was fourteen-and attempting a comeback from her latest drug-and-alcohol disaster. Now meet Cherry's "undercover stunt double," Ann DeLusia. Ann portrays Cherry whenever the singer is too wasted to go out in public. And it is Ann-mistaken-for-Cherry who is kidnapped from a South Beach hotel by obsessed paparazzo Bang Abbott.
     Cherry's handlers want to rescue Ann while keeping her role a secret. The situation is more complicated than they know. Ann has had a bewitching encounter with Skink-the unhinged former governor of Florida-and he's heading for Miami to find her. Will Skink track down Ann DeLusia before Cherry's motley posse does? Will Cherry sober up in time to lipsynch her way through her concert tour? Stay tuned..."

 

The 2 Beans Worth: This book was definitely a disappointment in the Hiaasen realm. There are plenty of people who will disagree, but when you place this book next to one of his others, it can't even compare with them. Just take an easy reference like Hoot. Since Star Island is a story about celebrity status, let's use that metaphor. The two books are no where near the same status level. Star Island would be the wannabe and Hoot would be the big celebrity.

The over-indulgent atmosphere that surrounds celebrities has been in the headlines too many times for anyone to deny. The deaths of many adult and child stars alike also makes anyone trying to deny it a laugh. So that aspect of the book is not arguable.

The characters though? Sheesh. Some of them are so completely exaggerated, to the point of being obnoxiously over the top, that they are completely insulting to the reader. It's as if a comedy factor was being reached for but was over-reached, and he flew beyond that point into the completely ludicrous.

Overall, if you're looking for a Hiaasen book to read, save yourself the time and pick out another title. Though not all of his titles have been read, the experience with some of them says that just about any title is guaranteed to be a better read than this one. Sorry.

I've said it before, I'll say it again now, and I'm sure I'll repeat myself in the future. I do not have any patience. Or maybe it's willpower. If there is something I want, and I have it in my possession, then it's not going to be long before I stop denying myself the enjoyment of doing it.

That's not to say if I go out and get everything I want. Shoot who has the funds for that kind of indulgence. Not I, said the ... crap what was that quote. Anyone know. It was on a fairly recent episode of CSI (original version). The new head guy, Russell played by Ted Danson, said it. He said it was an old folk story. But there's me and one of my tangents again. Back to the point of the post.

November 6th, while running my errands, I picked up the newest Nora Roberts book, The Next Always. I can't ever pass by a NR or an Evanovich when they have a new release. But I do have my set "book allowance" so I'm not breaking the bank. In case you're new and don't know, my book allowance is a small amount that I save for books each month. It helps me to limit my purchases and causes me to have to prioritize my purchases. Otherwise I'd be one of those hoarders you see on TV, only it would be all books. You read the post on Monday right? See, all my many stacks I was talking about? That's not even including what's saved on my Kindle.

So, NR is in my house, and on my coffee table. I placed it there as an incentive. See that's your reward (this is me talking to myself-I do it a lot), all you have to do is read all the reviews you fell behind on, make sure you keep up on your posts, and then you can read it. My good intention was that I'd work my tail off for a month or so, making sure my blog and reviews were caught up to the Christmas break I planned for myself. I figured it would be a great reward to have NR and Evanovich's new Plum book waiting for me. I mean what better treat, right? Plus I'd have to spend 2 weeks with my kids and some of that time with extended family, so I would need it.

However, I found myself getting ahead on my posting schedule and on my reading list. You can guess what happened right? Oh yeah, I sat down and started reading TNA. (Sigh!) I told myself it was only going to be a few chapters. It was late at  night on a Saturday, we had just gotten home from this seminar thing my daughter asked us to attend, and I wasn't quite ready for bed. I'm just one of those people who needs a transition time. I can't have people over or get home from somewhere and hop right into bed. I need a few moments to wind down and change gears.

You'll be happy to know I did just read a few chapters (3 to be exact). My downfall was the next day (Sunday). It was still sitting on my coffee table and I just couldn't resist. I did what any addict will do. I started with just a few chapters on Saturday, said I'll only read a few more now, and ended up finishing off the whole damn book. (Bigger sigh!)

So, treat for you! You got two reviews yesterday by Christina Skye, you get this post and a review of JD Robb's latest (Roberts' alias), and you'll get two reviews tomorrow (TNA and a Hiaasen).
So keep reading!

ISBN: 9780399157783 Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons Cover Price: $27.95

Synopsis quoted from book cover: "It was one of Eve Dallas's earliest takedowns, back in her uniform days. A monster named Isaac McQueen had been abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. Thanks to Eve, he wound up where he belonged, removed from civilized society in Rikers. But he's not behind bars anymore.
     After his escape, McQueen has two things on his mind. One is to take up where he left off, preying on the young and innocent-when necessary, with the help of a female partner all too willing to be manipulated and to aid and abet his crimes. His other goal: to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago, now a high-profile lieutenant in the NYPSD and married to one of the city's richest men.
     Commanding Eve's attention with a chilling and brazen crime, McQueen sets off the chase-forcing Eve down a road marked with blood and tears, a road that eventually leads southwest to Dallas, Texas, the home Eve fled long ago. And each new twist brings her closer to the harrowing memory of when she wasn't a hardened detective but a vulnerable girl just like McQueen's innocent prey. As her husband, Roarke, tries to rescue her from the nightmares that claw at her mind, and her partner, Peabody, doggedly works to support her, Eve must confront-and call upon-the darkest parts of her own soul to survive."

The 2 Beans Worth: Wow, oh wow, oh wow! Just when you think you've gleaned all you can out of Eve's past, it comes back and bites you! Now imagine how poor Eve feels. Once again she's thrown into a nasty case, and sadly it takes her back to her roots.

As darkly entertaining as ever, Eve and Roarke's trip from New York to Dallas is not to be missed. A word of caution though, this one is not for the squeamish or light of heart. It's a deeply disturbing tale, with at least a few scenes that will make you squirm due to their twistedness.

If you can manage it, then it's definitely worth the read. Watching Eve and Roarke battle the truly vile of the bad is great, but watching them grow as individuals and as a couple is even better.

ISBN: 9780440235781 Publisher: Dell Cover Price: $6.99

Synopsis quoted from Goodreads: "Annie O’Toole has a past....

The last time Annie saw Sam, they were lying in each other’s arms beneath a canopy of stars. Now Annie paces a secluded airfield at midnight, awaiting the arrival of an unmarked Navy helicopter. Her assignment: Get this Navy SEAL back into fighting form pronto–and keep his identity a secret. But who’s going to protect her from a man who looks at her as if she were a stranger and who doesn’t remember the one night she’ll never forget?

His name is Sam McKade.

Six foot four inches of tough, trained professional, Sam risked his life in an act of rare courage, saving a busload of schoolchildren from certain death. But becoming America’s newest media hero can be dangerous for a man with an undercover past. Sam could do a lot worse than this secluded beach resort. Ditto the sexy therapist who seems maddeningly familiar–if he only knew where or when. But he’s about to find out–as a dangerous enemy surfaces out of his shadowed past, leaving a trail of bodies right to Annie’s door.

Now the rugged SEAL who doesn’t believe in love or commitment is about to risk everything...because for Sam McKade, protecting this woman, this extraordinary woman, has become the most important mission of his life...."

The 2 Beans Worth: This book has actually turned into something  of a mystery all in its own right. I went to find the book so that I could write this review, only to discover it seems to be missing! I have checked my boxes of books to get rid of, my shelves of books to keep, my stack of read but not reviewed, and my to-be-read stacks. It's simply "poofed" from the existence of my house. Hunh. So needless to say, I had to snag my synopsis from Goodreads this time. I'm a little bummed, because I do remember enjoying this book.

My Spy has a little bit of everything for everyone, and it's part of a series so you can stay with the characters a bit. This is a story that's got romance, action, suspense, and humor at times.

The character's interactions are realistic, their personalities are dynamic, and while the military aspect might be a touch outside realistic it's entertaining.

Ha! I just figured out why I can't find it. I checked it out from the library. I was just thinking, "Wait. I know I've read Annie's sister's story, so why don't I have the book...let me check something." I went to Goodreads and looked up the series, and yep, there they were. Hot Pursuit is the next in the series and it's a you-should-read-this-book too. 

So, if you haven't heard of or read Christina Skye yet, then I'd recommend you check her out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Her characters are definitely her strength and she plays to it. So you're in for some fun!

Bonus for you! I never wrote down Hot Pursuit on my list of books read, so you get a 2-for-1 review today. Keep reading for the review of HP.

ISBN: 9780440242482 Publisher: Dell Cover Price: $4.99

Synopsis quoted from Goodreads:

"He’s hot. He’s tough. He’s dangerous...Bestselling suspense writer Taylor O’Toole has a huge problem--almost overnight, her quiet, humdrum life is starting to resemble one of her novels. Who knew that a little unofficial surveillance for a friend would backfire--throwing her into the crosshairs of a stalker? And why does her sexy new neighbor always seem to turn up when things start heading south?

He’s a Navy SEAL with a top secret mission: her!When Navy SEAL Jack Broussard is called back from a dangerous mission, the last thing he expects is a top secret assignment protecting a beautiful mystery writer. Jack can drop a kidnapper with his bare hands, run airtight surveillance, and cook a mean lasagna, but tangling with his unpredictable neighbor is enough to drive any man crazy. Like it or not, his new orders are to keep Taylor O’Toole in his sights--after all, she could be a key link in the government search for a missing Navy scientist. But when an attempt on Taylor’s life ratchets up the stakes, Jack knows he’d better watch his heart. Because suddenly the chase is on . . . and seduction has never been so close. Or so dangerous."

The 2 Beans Worth: Yes, I know this one is at the library. No, I won't waste your time looking for it. However, I will give rise to a little sibling rivalry though. I know! I hate to do it, but it must be done. I'm afraid to say it's true, but the BNB opinion is that Taylor's story is so much better than Annie's. Taylor was so much more fiesty. BNB loves fiesty.

You still get the military tough guy. You still get the wit and humor that is Ms. Skye. You still get the romance. So you get all that you did with the last one, plus a tougher heroine for your time. There's this hallway scene....ah well you'll have to read it for yourself. Let's just say it was quirky and smile-worthy at the minimum. Depending on your sense of humor, it might just a laugh-out-loud moment.

Maybe you disagree. Or if you haven't read them, check them out (NO pun intended here), and let us know which sister's story you liked better.