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Friday, February 27, 2009:
You bored yet? You will be...
As per usual, not much going on here. Got some great books I should be reading (most notably "Smooth Talking Stranger and yes I had to throw that in because I'm such a bitch right now that I just can't help myself), but I'm still getting over being sick - got that killer cough that's been keeping me up at night. I have another 3-day weekend planned where I hope I kick this damn cold to the curb once and for all.  I'm really loving my Netflix right now. Just finished season 2 of "Entourage", and this show is growing on me. Total guy crap but it amuses me greatly. And I discovered I have this weird fascination for Kevin Connolly, who plays Eric, aka E. I would have never thought that he'd be the one I'd be paying attention to. Despite the cutie factor of Adrian Grenier, his character pretty much bores me. And of course then there's Jeremy Piven, whom I've liked since "Say Anything" and even that strange show, "Cupid", which I was sad to see canceled. Anyway, next up is "Dexter". Can't wait for that one. So far I haven't been able to do a crash course of 4-5 seasons all in one shot. I still have "Heroes", season 2, to watch. God I am so addicted to Oreos right now. They sell them in packs of 6 at work, and at least once(!) a day I find myself making stupid excuses to buy them (i.e. someone has to or they'll go stale; nothing goes with milk like an Oreo; these are necessary in case of emergency). I totally blame Jill Shalvis for this insanity. She brainwashed me with all her talk about cookie survival. I'm utterly doomed. Love ya Jill! Nickelback is coming to town! In a little over 2 weeks, I will be rockin' out to these guys once again, and damn, I can't wait. I mean really, who can resist a band with songs like "Something In Your Mouth"? Obviously not me. And the thing is, they are awesome playing live. And every song I've listened to is worth cranking up the volume to about 25. Which I do in my car all the time. Yeah, you should hear me sing along. Huh. So there you go, five minutes you'll never get back again. You can't say I didn't warn you *g* Have a most fabulous weekend; hopefully it'll be way more exciting than mine. Adios...I have a cookie calling my name. Labels: ramblings
posted by Stacy~ at 2/27/2009 07:25:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009:
Cover alert: "Hot Pursuit" by Suzanne Brockmann: Troubleshooters #15
Hot Pursuit Ballantine Books In stores: July 28, 2009 418 Pages Cover Price: (coming soon)
Jacket Blurb: (coming soon...) *** Because I am a truly devoted follower of the Suz, I couldn't not post this picture of her latest book cover. Not all that exciting, but then I don't read her stuff for the cover, that's for sure. July 28th cannot get here fast enough, that's all I have to saw. Well, for now...
posted by Stacy~ at 2/25/2009 04:50:00 AM
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009:
(Click on the picture to get the full effect) *** Okay I know I'm oh-so-late to the party here, having recently started watching "Heroes", just finished watching season 1 last week, but Sendhil Ramamurthy is my new favorite thing. I don't know anything about him other than what he does on the show, but man, he does it for me, big-time. Always been a sucker for brown eyes, and his character, Mohinder, is really smart, which is another big turn-on for me. And I love listening to his voice. (If anyone watches the show, please don't tell me if he turns bad!) *** Now I can't wait to catch up with season 2 and see what Mohinder's been up to, but next up is "Dexter", once I finish watching season 2 of "Entourage". *** Who's your latest crush? Labels: crushes
posted by Stacy~ at 2/24/2009 05:35:00 AM
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Monday, February 23, 2009:
Oy. I have a review to do for a book coming out Tuesday, and I am stuck. Not that it was a bad book; it wasn't. I just can't seem to string two coherent thoughts together without wanting to rip my hair out. It's been awhile since I've had this problem, and it's driving me nuts! I finished this book a week ago and now I'm caught in a trap because I don't want to read anything new until I finish my review, but at the same time, I have other books to read for review too. And ones I just want to REALLY read. Like...... "Smooth Talking Stranger". So instead I grabbed an older Kleypas off the keeper pile, "Again the Magic", and I'm hoping this is going to trigger my reviewing abilitie, such as they are. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it. Have you ever had reviewer's block? What's your cure? Labels: reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 2/23/2009 06:02:00 AM
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Friday, February 20, 2009:
Spotlight: underrated authors
I got LuAnn McLane's upcoming release in the mail yesterday, and I can't wait for the chance to read it. One thing I adore about her stories is that they're sassy and fun and sexy, yet also full of those quirky characteristics of small town, and in this case particularly, a small southern town. Having grown up in a small town for most of my life, I feel a connection to characters who are living in places where it's not unusual, even in this day and age, to leave the door unlocked. Where everyone knows you, your parents and your siblings. Where there's one traffic light and most stores are closed on Sundays. That's exactly how I grew up, and LuAnn manages to really bring places like that to life, with a heavy dash of southern hospitality thrown in. She's written several books over the last few years, and I've read most of them and enjoyed them all. They are a refreshing change of pace from the incredible array of historicals, paranormals and scorching erotic romances that I consume on a regular basis. Her voice is so distinctive in her books, and I admire that a lot, considering how books start to "sound" exactly the same after awhile and it's hard to tell them apart. So today I'm spotlighting LuAnn as my pick for an underrated author. Her stories may not appeal to everyone and there's not a lot of new material brought to the table, though I think she's done her part to rejuvenate books about sports (i.e. baseball in "Hot August Nights" and motorcross racing in "Driven by Desire"), but her books are immensely likeable and charming, and her characters are people I can easily relate to. Her stories are straight-up romance with the main focus on the hero and heroine, and she tends to pepper them with references to favorite country singers, which, as a fan of country music, really appeals to me. I've also been fortunate to have spoken to LuAnn many times, and she is as genuine and as sweet as her stories. Even if I'd never met her though, I would still be a fan of her books. But knowing LuAnn is the icing on the cake, and it makes me want to see her do well in her career. So which author do you think is underrated, and why? Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Signet (March 3, 2009)
ISBN-10: 045122633X
ISBN-13: 978-0451226334 Raised by her widowed father, Jolie Russell has always een more into getting dirty than looking pretty. She can keep up with any man—that is, until wealthy and sexy land developer Cody Dean struts into her life. Cody buys the Russell farm with an impossible-to-refuse multimillion-dollar offer that Jolie and her father can't refuse, then relocates them to the Copper Creek Estates. But the country club atmosphere isn’t ready for Jolie’s kind of country. As her two worlds collide, Jolie wonders how she can ever hope to capture Cody’s heart without giving up her grits. Labels: authors, LuAnn McLane
posted by Stacy~ at 2/20/2009 06:22:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009:
"Slumdog Millionaire" - 2008: mini movie review
 The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Intrigued by Jamal's story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out...
It actually amazes me when someone says they've never heard of this movie, as like what happened today when one of my co-workers - a 24-yr old guy with an addiction to Chipotle, Pepsi, "Family Guy" and Britney Spears - admitted to when I told him I'd seen it over the weekend. He gave me a blank look and had to ask me what it was about. Kids (rolling eyes). Of course any movie that has been generating Oscar buzz tends to make me wary most of the time, but in this instance, "Slumdog Millionaire" proves to be one of those shining exceptions that makes me ever so glad I took a chance on it. The movie is essentially the story of Jamal, an 18-year-old young man who's accused of cheating after he wins a whole heck of a lot of cash on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". When he's arrested, he explains his innocence by sharing details of his life growing up poor in Mumbai, and how it lead him to appear as a contestant on the extremely popular game show. Alternately immensely beautiful and starkly horrific, "Slumdog Millionaire" follows Jamal and his older brother Salim as well as Latika, an orphan girl Jamal befriends when their village is violently attacked. These children, no more than five or six, must now learn to survive on their own, and while they are both sneaky and clever, hunger and exhaustion wear down their defenses and they end up in an orphanage. At first things seem to be wonderful, but as time goes on, it becomes apparent that those running the orphanage have bigger plans for the children in their care. Over the next several years, Jamal loses touch with Latika but then finds her again. He's never forgotten the quiet girl with the pretty smile, and she is the guiding force that keeps him going even in the bleakest of times. His older brother does not understand his single-minded devotion to her, seeing her more of an inconvenience, one that Jamal should just forget. But he cannot, and soon they are together again. Fate is cruel however, and once more Jamal is torn from her side. Yet never does he forget her, and it is his determination to be reunited that leads him to the chance of lifetime on a t.v. show made popular throughout the world (or at least in the U.S. and India). My thoughts: What a stunning and moving film. The extreme poverty level is heart-wrenching, especially to realize just how many people in India are living in slums. Millions. As in 65 million. A rather sobering thought. Even the children who portrayed the young Jamal and Latika in the movie were taken from the slums and now must try to adjust to going back to their world. But this is not a social commentary, merely an observation of a more serious nature, brought on by the viewing of this incredibly uplifting film about love and survival. Sometimes it was hard to forget that the main character, Jamal, is only 18 by the end of the film. He's lived so much in so few years, experienced things most people will never know, not all of it good. But Jamal was one of those people that had an open heart and a willingness to believe. Despite the way he grew up, he was able to find beauty in it. I expected to cry, but I hadn't really expected to laugh much during this movie, yet I did. The kids were typical kids, and there was one scene (and those who saw it know which one I mean) that made me giggle in disgust. It was nasty, but you couldn't help but laugh. I couldn't anyway. And Jamal as an adult was funny while on the game show. He's this quiet kid, like a deer in the headlights, but he has an engaging personality. I found him very likeable, and wanted him to get the girl in the end. After all, I love a good romance. Jamal and Latika were wonderful from the very beginning, when he wanted her to be the third Musketeer along with him and his brother Salim. I think it was a sweet love story, to recognize your destiny from such a young age and do everything in your power to make it happen. But this wasn't a complete fairytale; there are harsh realities that Jamal learns and witnesses first-hand, things he is powerless to prevent. But he never gives up, and that is the heart of the story. There's the flavor of India strewn throughout, from the colorful clothing to the distinctive music and accents. It is such a fascinating culture, one I never really thought a lot about before but now I wish I knew more. I loved the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" and it made me curious about the history of the country. I definitely recommend this movie, and hope it does well at the Oscars. I usually am not a fan of any of the contenders, but I can't say that in this case. It is a film I'm still thinking about days later. It kinda snuck up on me that way. I'll most likely buy it when it comes out. Have you seen this movie? What did you think? Any movies out there you'd recommend? Labels: movies
posted by Stacy~ at 2/18/2009 07:16:00 AM
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009:
The Valentine's Day winner :)
Once again I am late to announce the winner. Procrastination is obviously what Stacy means in blog-speak. Anywayz, without further ado, the winner of a book of their choice is... BARBARA!!! Like many in blogland, I used Random.org to choose my winner, and Barbara's name was only entered in once. So, Barbara, please email me at trelainastarblazer @ yahoo DOT com with your snail mail addy and I'll get that out hopefully by the end of the month :) Labels: contest, winner
posted by Stacy~ at 2/17/2009 12:38:00 PM
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Saturday, February 14, 2009:
Feelin' the love: V-Day contest
Despite not having a sweetie of my own, I still can't help but love Valentine's Day. Not the obligatory dinner, flowers and chocolates, but that glowing feeling of romance and love and happiness. So today, I want to hear about your idea of the perfect Valentine's Day. I want details. Not a quick sentence telling me that "flowers are great", but at least a paragraph as to what you would do on this special day. It doesn't necessarily have to be about your significant other - it could be about a day spent watching chick flicks with your BFFs, or making paper hearts with your kids. Anything that makes the day memorable for you :) Winner will get a book of their choice, paperback only. Anyone is eligible to play. Contest ends Monday, February 16th, at noon CST. ~ So come on, share the love ~ Labels: contest, Valentine's Day
posted by Stacy~ at 2/14/2009 06:19:00 PM
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Sunday, February 08, 2009:
Anderson's Bookstore Naperville, IL Saturday, February 7th, was a gorgeous day in northern Illinois. The temps were in the 50's, the sun was shining brightly, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips was having a booksigning. This time I was going it alone, as my normal booksigning pals - Shannon & Michelle - couldn't make it, which was a total bummer. I love hanging out with them and sharing my excitement. Anyway, it was about a 30-minute drive for me, followed by the incredibly fun (not) challenge of finding a parking spot. I love downtown Naperville; it's quaint and full of great shops, but a bitch to find parking. (I keenly remember this from the Josh Bernstein signing). Then some very nice lady saw me driving around and told me she was leaving and directed me to her car. Gotta love people like that (Sadly I am not one of them). It was just a short walk from my car, and once I got there, I ran into someone I didn't think would be there, the infamous author stalker, Mary. Now I had someone to hang with. And if you've never met Mary, then you haven't heard her numerous stories, including the one about the kidnapped sock. It was hilarious. Mary! Well, if there's one thing to be said about Mary, is that she's not easily forgotten. Whereas I blend into the woodwork quite easily, Mary tends to make a lasting impression on writers and readers alike. It's a cool trait to have. In fact Cathie Linz was also at the signing - she knows Mary well - and I got a picture of the two of them, but for some reason I couldn't get it to upload. I'll have to try again and update this post when I do. 
The lady of the hour: SEP I also saw author Tracey Devlyn at the signing, which was pretty cool. She's a part of Lori Foster's Yahoo group, so I knew she'd be there, but didn't know if I'd get a chance to see her with everything going on. She's very nice, and I wish we could have had more of a chance to chat, and see what she's up to writing-wise. But she said she's going to Lori Foster's/Dianne Castell's get-together in June, so hopefully we can catch up. 
anyone who's read the Stars books knows about this phrase *g*
The signing went very smoothly. Susan has an agenda that she loosely follows, so it's relaxed, fun, and comfortable. We meet some of her friends and other authors. She introduced her husband Bill and her son youngest Zach (very cute, btw). And his wife. The signing was being streamed live via webcam, which was pretty cool. She has a trivia contest to guess her books, and that was fun, considering I'm still reading them (in the middle of "Natural Born Charmer"). And some of you might already know (I didn't) that her son Zach wrote the Jack Patriot songs from "Natural Born Charmer". In fact both him and his wife have had CD's published. I love stuff like that. SEP and her hubby Bill (aka fan photographer) It came as no surprise that Susan is a very nice person and also very funny. She did clear the air about one burning question some readers had about whether or not she would get a Facebook page: No, nope, her message board is more than enough, thank you very much. I get that. She only writes one book every 18-24 months as it is. SEP & me I was not one bit nervous meeting Susan, which is unusual for me. But having become a fan late in the game, I think that helped in preventing me from acting like a total dork. I felt really comfortable talking to her. She just has that way about her where you feel very calm in her presence. I brought all the Stars books to sign, plus I bought the new one, but they asked if we'd only have 3 books out to have Susan sign, and later we could have the rest of them signed, after everyone got through the line. Mary & I went over to Lou Malnati's after we got through the line and by that time I'm sure everyone had cleared out. I didn't bother to go back to find out for sure though. That's okay - I'm sure there will be another signing someday :) So that was my day. Pretty freakin' awesome, if you ask me. Labels: booksignings, SEP
posted by Stacy~ at 2/08/2009 07:33:00 AM
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Friday, February 06, 2009:
SEP, booksignings, blogging, and D.C. (again)
Saturday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. Tomorrow I'm going to be meeting Susan Elizabeth Phillips for the first time, and I cannot wait! I still haven't read all her books, and I have one left of the Chicago Stars series, but that's okay. I'm going to bring them all with me and see what happens. Everyone says how nice and funny she is, so I'm really looking forward to meeting her, and possibly some fellow bloggers. I hope to have pictures to post sometime soon. *** But as you can see I'm heading off to D.C. once again, which I really enjoy, but it cuts into my blogging time - I don't bring my laptop with me and while I'm at work, I guess I should make an attempt to actually get some work done. (Crazy notion). Plus, the awesome Kati lives there so I'd love to get the chance to hang with her and talk books, m/m action, and RWA. And, thanx to Facebook, I'm going to be catching up with a friend from high school that I haven't seen in years, and I'm really excited about that. It's funny how much of a small world it is when you have *** In other news, Michelle Buonfiglio recently went back to her roots and is now back at Romance Buy the Book, a more user-friendly blog, and I think a lot of people are glad to have her "back". MyLifetime was completely awesome in many ways, but the blogging format was a bit of a nightmare to navigate. Anyway, it's nice to be back to basics again, and if you get a chance, stop by and say "hey". Very cool news: Suzanne Brockmann will be at RBTB on Friday, February 13th - and you know I'm beyond thrilled at this news. *** So, have a fabulous weekend!!!!! Labels: booksignings, SEP
posted by Stacy~ at 2/06/2009 03:02:00 PM
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Thursday, February 05, 2009:
Anticipation = "Double Play" by Jill Shalvis
Mass Market Berkley July 2009 GETTING TO FIRST BASE IS CINCH…BUT GETTING HOME WILL TAKE A GRAND SLAM.
Pace Martin is the ace pitcher for the Pacific Heat. He’s got the arm, the experience and the wins. He’s also got the pain, the pressure, and the possible end of his career looming over him. The last thing he needs now is a distraction, even if it comes in the form of a tough, beautiful,tell-it-like-it-is writer who sees past his defenses.
Holly Hutchins knows a good story when she sees one, and the tall, dark and slightly attitude-ridden Pace Martin fits the bill. But when she realizes there’s more at stake than just the win, she starts to notice the handsome broad-shouldered jock in a different light.
Pace and Holly begin a seductive game in which neither wants to drop the ball, but in the face of an unexpected betrayal and challenge, they’ll have to find the courage to swing for the fences…
Sigh.... Labels: Jill Shalvis
posted by Stacy~ at 2/05/2009 05:42:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 04, 2009:
SPOILERS! "Dark of Night" by Suzanne Brockmann (2009) - SPOILERS!!!!!!
Taking on the world’s deadliest criminals is what the elite security force Troubleshooters Incorporated does best. But now they face a new and powerful threat from their most lethal enemy yet–a shadowy government outfit known only as The Agency.
For years, operative James Nash has performed ultra-covert “Black Ops” missions for The Agency, but when he decide to walk away from their dirty work, his corrupt bosses aren’t about to let him go. After Nash is nearly assassinated, Troubleshooters team leader Lawrence Decker launches a skillful deception to neutralize the threat and protect his friend. With the FBI’s help, Decker fakes Nash’s death, then brings him to a safe house with his fiancée, Tess Bailey, to recover from his injuries and strategize their next move.
Only a handful of people know that Nash is still alive–and fellow Troubleshooters Dave Malkoff, Sophia Ghaffari, and receptionist Tracy Shapiro aren’t among them. Believing that Nash is dead and that Decker has begun a romantic relationship with Tess, Sophia settles for second best and begins a love affair with Dave, who has adored her for years. But Tracy puts two and two together, discovering the truth about Nash–much to Decker’s dismay.
As passions flare, Decker struggles to keep his scheme afloat, and to keep Nash alive. But when he finds himself targeted for death, the game turns even more perilous, and Sophia, Tracy, and Dave are swept into the deadly play. Under fire and racing to unmask their relentless adversary, the Troubleshooters know that the closer they get, the greater the risks. But sacrifices and consequences come with the territory. Forced to choose between love and loyalty, they are no longer just solving a crime–they’re fighting for survival.
I've only mentioned a gazillion times that I am an unabashed Suzanne Brockmann fan, that I have an undying love for her Navy SEAL books, and now that is true more than ever. I don't care if what she writes is believable or not. It's fiction, after all. What matters to me is how I feel at the end of it. Have you ever felt really sad after reading a truly unforgettable book? That's how I'm feeling after reading the 14th installment in the Troubleshooters series. Suz effectively rips my gut apart and then makes me fall completely in love with the choices she's made for her characters. I know some readers feel like she throws too much into the mix (ala everything plus the kitchen sink method of writing) but with Suz it totally, totally works for me. This time around it's not quite so overwhelming, so I was better able to concentrate on the people that I was rooting for in this book. And yes, there will be spoilers here. I really don't know any way around it, so stop now if you don't want the dirt before you're ready for it. *SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS* Okay, you've been sufficiently warned. Well. Where do I begin? I'm still overcome with emotion though I finished this book over 12 hours ago (Saturday). One thing I will say is that I am a huge fan of the drawn-out storylines that Suz has mastered since "Unsung Hero" (the first Troubleshooters book). The reason being is because we meet these people, and see into their complicated, messy lives, and inevitably begin to care for many of them. Sometimes we might hate them, and sometimes we really don't care one way or the other. Other times we adore them, then hate them, then fall in love all over again. A lot of times we cry. And laugh. Rejoice. And mourn. No one, not even my beloved Lisa Kleypas, can run me through the emotional ringer like Suz does. My heart is racing from the very first page, mostly in anticipation of what's to come. I haven't loved every book, nor every storyline, but not once did I ever close a Troubleshooters book and feel nothing. I am completely invested from the get-go. Yes, this is a total Suz lovefest. And I'll tell you why: because she took what I would describe as a completely impossible situation and made it work in such a way that I was completely, completely happy with the outcome. That's saying something because I had my heart on things turning out a certain way, but they didn't go that way at all. And if you don't want to find what I'm talking about, I hope you stop reading. Because I cannot review this book without giving spoilers. I just cannot. SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Dark of Night" picks up immediately where "Into the Fire" leaves off - with tortured hero Jimmy Nash dead and his friends in mourning. With equal parts grief and relief at still being alive, we find Dave and Sophia at the bar, kissing. So here I was sitting, squirming in my chair because as much as I liked Dave, and I really did like the guy, I was in the Sophia & Decker camp. Even during my moments of wanting to smack Deck for being so stupid, and self-sacrificing, and guilty, I still had hopes that these two damaged souls would end up together and finally, FINALLY get their shot at much deserved happiness. But then Dave and Sophia kept kissing, damn them. And then Soph is inviting Dave up to her room. And then they are getting naked. No, no, no. This was not the plan. Suz, what the hell are you doing to me here? I can't handle this. Argh! I am dying a slow, achy death and my heart is hurting. Then we flash-forward about 7 weeks into the future, which is actually the present, to Dave. And he's remembering his short but glorious time with Sophia. Next we're going back four days from the present, where one phone call sets about a chain of events that leads to what happes next... See, here's another spoiler, one that actually goes back to "Into the Fire". Not everyone knows this, and certainly not Dave and Sophia, but Nash is not really dead. Some very bad people want him dead, and they are willing to kill innocent people in order to make that happen. They seem to be one step ahead at all times, and when Jimmy is seriously hurt, Decker, Jules Cassidy and Jimmy's fiancee' Tess pretend that Jimmy died from his injuries in order to protect him and find out who's after him. Because at one time Decker had feelings for Tess, it seemed natural to everyone that he would be there for Tess, and if Jimmy's out of the picture, it would clear the way for Deck and Tess to eventually end up together. Or so everyone believes, including Dave and Sophia. Dave knows Sophia has loved Decker for a long time, but he's willing to be second best. He loves her so completely that he sees any chance with her as a gift, and it's also obvious that he does make her very happy (ugh! Damn you, Dave, for being such a good guy!). Sophia, in the meantime, has come to terms with the fact that Decker doesn't love her, and wants to have a life, a normal one with a nice, ordinary man and maybe children one day. She sees Dave as that man. But in reality, Dave is not that man. Despite his paunch and his nice guy demeanor, Dave is not just a regular guy with a desk job and a mortgage. He's a trained Troubleshooter, one who knows how to kill and how to handle deadly situations. When Dave is stabbed in what initially appears to be a random attack, Sophia starts to realize that Dave is much more than what she bargained for, and that she cares much more for him than she ever thought possible. She will do anything to keep him safe, even disregard orders if it means she can protect him. Meanwhile, Lawrence Decker is one of very few people who knows Jimmy Nash is still alive, and he wants to make sure it stays that way. But it's obvious whoever is after Jimmy is not satisfied with mere reports of his death. They are coming after those who cared for Jimmy, and it soon becomes imperative that Decker bring on reinforcements in the form of Sam and Alyssa (who now have an adorable son named Ashton!). With the help of Jules' husband Robin, they set up a safe house for him in California. All is going well under the Troubleshooters' too perceptive receptionist Tracy Shapiro starts to figure out a few things and realizes that Nash is still alive. Incredulous, and concerned for her safety, Deck decides the only thing he can do is bring her along. As the two make their way to the safe house, they have an encounter with Dr. Jo Heissman, who first appeared in "Into the Fire", and whom Deck is convinced is working for the Agency. She insists she's innocent but Decker doesn't want to hear it. They leave her behind and end up injured when the motel where they were planning to stay is blown up and Deck is shot. As they run to safety, it's evident that there is something sizzling between them, something Tracy is more than willing to explore, but Deck, not so much. The sexy receptionist is infamous for falling in love on a dime, but he can't help but admire her guts, and how she's not afraid to stand up to him, which is something no one ever does. She's much smarter than he ever gave her credit for. But Deck has a little secret, something that will probably have Tracy running for the hills. Only when she finds out what it is, she lets him know that she has absolutely no problem with it. In fact, she's giving him the green light all the way. Deck definitely floats her boat, and for the first time, she's falling for a man before having sex with him. But she knows he's hung up on Sophia so.... Except that's the thing - he's not. Hung up on Sophia that is. Yes, there's a ton and a half of residual guilt for a sexual act that occurred between them years ago, but he feels more guilty about how much he totally got off on it. He figures there's something definitely wrong with him, and he tries to hide his true nature. He also believes that there could never be anything between him and Sophia. Whew! Can I just say that at this point, despite wanting Deck and Sophia to hook up, that I'm totally relieved that Deck doesn't want to be with Sophia because now I want him with Tracy. Whom I didn't much like in "Into the Storm" but who has become someone I really genuinely like in this book. Go Tracy! I totally switched sides, just that easily. I know. I am such a fairweather fan. Suz wrote both storylines in such a way that I was completely onboard with how it all played out. There's also a storyline involving Dr. Jo Heissman, whom I admit I didn't care for much in "Into the Fire". Colleen Gleason compared Dr. Jo to Molly Jones. I can see why she'd say that, but I really liked Molly, right from the start, and I never warmed up much to the Dr. Jo, and that doesn't change here. I felt a little sorry for her (as long as she kept her needy hands off Decker) but mostly I just want her to go away. Yet it turns out the Doc is being blackmailed and has an interesting connection to someone who works at the Troubleshooters office. So now the good guys are trying to find out who is trying to kill Jimmy Nash by using any means possible. There is nothing they won't do - they have no limits. They are not just protecting Jimmy anymore, they are protecting each other.... My thoughts: (I stopped there because there is a lot more going on, and chances are if you're reading this, you've already read the book, so you know what happens. If you haven't read the book, then hopefully I left you curious enough to want to read it. And yes, I am all over the place here, but don't let that stop you from reading the books). The biggest obstacle Suz had in making this story work for me was the whole Decker/Sophia/Dave dynamic. I was firmly in the Decker camp, even when there were times I wanted to go up to him and smack him silly for hurting Sophia like he did. Turns out that he does care for her, just not in the way she deserves, and he knows he would not be the man for her because of his own nature. But rather than sitting her down and explaining all this to her, which probably wouldn't have worked anyway with the way Sophia felt, he stayed away from her. I think Decker is the type of guy who was willing to let other people hate him as long as he didn't hurt Sophia. It all makes a crazy kind of sense now, but at the time, yeah, I would get so mad at Deck, much like Dave would. All you could see was this great guy willing to let a very special woman slip through his fingers, and it was very hard to watch. Dave. He probably laid the adoration on a bit too thick here, but considering all the brutal abuse and trauma Sophia has suffered throughout her life, she deserved a man who loved her unconditionally, and that is exactly how Dave loved her. She could have gone off with Decker and he still would have loved her. He had those normal guy tendencies Sophia wanted, plus he was a little insecured. But he was also a very smart man who's lived a dangerous life, and knows how to take care of himself in those kinds of situations. Sophia didn't always want to see it, but Dave was hero material, just no so upfront about it. I think his involvement with the Troubleshooters put them more on even ground because it wasn't just Dave getting the girl, it was Sophia getting the hero. Tracy. Like I mentioned, I didn't like her in "Into the Storm", when Mark was all in love with her before he met Lindsey. She was, essentially, a needy bitch. But she grew up A LOT since becoming the receptionist for Troubleshooters, Inc. And the heat between her and Decker went through the roof. I was impatient to see these two hook up, because every exchange, whether they were talking about Jimmy or Sophia or running from the bad guys, was charged with this incredible sexual tension. Deck tried to push it away, but Tracy surprised him. See, she's figured out what he's all about, and she's okay with it. In fact, she's more than okay with it and wants to give him a go. I admired the hell out of her for being as assertive as she was. I also loved watching her break through Deck's defenses until he cared for her more than he ever expected. She totally got to him on so many levels, and he genuinely liked her as a person and saw how smart she was, especially to figure out something that many trained professionals did not. She impressed the hell out of him, and when these two are around each other, they make the perfect match. I loved their pairing up. And it gave me the reason I needed to let Dave and Sophia be happy. The one thing that drove me a little crazy, just a minor detail, is how freakin' beautiful both Sophia and Tracy are. I know it probably was to balance how messed up emotionally they were, but it still was a little annoying to hear that they were more gorgeous without makeup (eye roll). Perfect bodies and celebrity hair. Ugh. Enough already. A zit from time to time wouldn't have killed them. But seriously, this book did everything I expected and more. I've read some other reviews around the 'net, and many were favorable, though a few commented on the idea that any SEAL, agent, cop, etc., could essentially get a job at Troubleshooters, Inc., no questions asked, and that how the business was run was not too realistic. Fine. I don't get mired in those details. I don't want too much realism in these books. They are larger than life, and if things work out a little too perfectly, so be it. It never once took away from my enjoyment of the story. In fact after reading "Into the Fire" I was ready to have my emotions completely engaged by a central couple (or couples, as it ended up being) that I cared wholeheartedly for. No offense to Vinh and Hannah, but they just didn't have me at the edge of my seat, in a total maelstrom of emotion. This has been a long review, and I could go on and on and on, but suffice it to say, I was so completely happy when I finished this book. As always, I enjoy seeing the other characters, and I wish there was a way to have them all in the book: Ken & Savannah, Tom & Kelly, Max & Gina, Molly & Jones, Mark & Lindsey, Cosmo and Jane, Mike and Joan. You get the idea. If you haven't read this series, sorry, but I really don't believe this is the place to start. You might enjoy it, but there's just so much backstory that you should read first. It's the 14th installment. In fact I am planning a massive re-read of the Troubleshooters series starting this month. I can't wait!!! Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: Brockmann, Troubleshooters
posted by Stacy~ at 2/04/2009 07:00:00 AM
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Monday, February 02, 2009:
I'm taking a few moments to figure out what I've been doing this year and what I'd like to accomplish here at the blog. As long as I'm still having fun, I decided to not put too much pressure on myself by setting up crazy expectations - let the blog go where it wants. As you can probably tell, I really don't have a true pattern to this place, and I'm okay with that. I'm not disciplined enough to have Monday's Men or Wednesday's Wonders, which I totally love to see at other people's blogs. I just don't have it in me to keep up with that. I'll leave it to the masters. And while it's true I've been reading up a storm (for the most part) other stuff seems to be suffering. I can't believe I haven't had a contest all year! I must change this, but so far my schedule's pretty swamped with work and business trips (going to D.C. again for part of next week). I hope to maybe have a Valentine's Day contest so that will be my first one of the year. Not sure what yet, but something fun, I hope. SEP's booksigning is this upcoming Saturday! I still haven't finished "Natural Born Charmer" because I've been all caught up in "Dark of Night", which I'm in the process of re-reading. It's going to be difficult to review because I want to talk about EVERYTHING, and I have to work on that. So far? It's my favorite book of 2009. Decker and Sophia and Dave? Yeah, she made that work for me. No, they are not a threesome now. Sorry to spoil that for anyone *g* Today's good news is that in the Sharon Cullars eBay auction I won the copy of Lisa Kleypas' "Forever My Love"! Can't wait to get that one in my hot little hands. It's from 1988, and I know she's gotten much better since then so I'm just going to read it without expecting to be dazzled like I usually am. It's more out of fondness for the author than anything else. It's like reading Brockmann's earlier works, I'm sure. So how was your weekend? Did you watch the Superbowl? Did your team win?
Labels: contests, ramblings
posted by Stacy~ at 2/02/2009 05:34:00 AM
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