I'm supposed to read this together with a friend, but then so many things have been happening to my life lately that I can't seem to concentrate on this book. Don't get me wrong, this book isn't bad, but I don't think I can rate this book as a good read either since I didn't read it full heartedly. My mind was simply not with the book. :-(

Back when I read the first book to this series, To The Edge, I got wowed by the story and the characters. (By the way, this is the second book and there is also a third book called To The Brink.) The hero in that book was sooo sexy!

Eve Garrett, the heroine and a security specialist in To The Limit, receives a late night message from her estranged friend Tiffany Claybourne out in a storm. She befriended Tiff while she was working as a Secret Service agent years ago. Anyway, Tiff is late and Eve feels that something is wrong. Later when she sees someone duck between some buildings and intends to find out more, she is jumped by an unknown assailant who seems to want her to be dead.

Curious to find out more, Eve searches the night spots the next night hoping to find traces of Tiff but instead, she meets the last person she intends to see...

Tyler 'Mac' McClain, a former cop turned private investigator is now working for Tiff's wealthy, reclusive father. It is his job to find Tiff and he has never expected to find Eve face to face under this situation; for he had broken her heart fourteen years ago when they were teenagers.

Eve is equally stumbled to chance upon Mac, but she is worried about Tiff and fearing she has met up in some danger. They have no choice but to work together, although they can't fight off the attraction they still have for each other...

PS: Julia, sorry that I'm being a slow reader this time round but I'm sure you would understand...

Well, what shall I say about this book? The title gives me the impression that this story is all about fashion, or even a chick-lit story, but it isn't. I bought this book because of the author. Ever since I stumbled upon her books some years ago, I was hooked by her stories. But recently it seems like her stories no longer hook me anymore. I notice there is a slight changes of her writing style, and although the idea is refreshing, but in my opinion, they aren't as good as her previous works. You can imagine how disappointed I am.

Lan Li is an office girl who takes great pride in her dressing and fashion. She loves wearing Chanel apparel, have a devoted boyfriend who will say yes to all her needs. One night she encounters a robbery who intends to rob her, despite her feminity there is another side of her that nobody knows. Her neighbour, Ma JunKe fell in love with her at first sight, after seeing her bravery acts towards the robber but Lan Li despise him because she feels they are worlds apart. Ma JunKe is a chef and his dishes are well loved by the public. He has set up many branches thanks to his hard work and determination. He is also a loud person who loves to help people. One night, Lan Li's father committed suicide and she is shocked to find that her father's business doesn't go well as they thought. Then, her boyfriend starts to treat her coldly so she breaks up with him before he does.

Ma JunKe consoles her, and tells her bluntly that he wants to woo her. She tells him it isn't possible, but despite this, she begins to think of him differently as time goes along as they see each other more often as a friend.

The plot isn't complicated, and you don't have to guess the ending. Suitable if you just want a light easy read.

I have never read anything by David Morrell, but this book definitely makes me want to read his other books.

What should I say? As the title suggests, Creepers is creepy. From the moment I started reading the first chapter, it has got me hooked and never let go until the very last chapter.

On a cold October night, five people gather in a rundown Paragon Hotel on the Jersey shore. They are the ‘Creepers’, another term for ‘Urban Explorers’. One of them, Frank Balenger is a reporter who isn’t looking for just a story, and their chilling adventure begins. The Paragon Hotel was built in the glory days of Asbury Park in 1901 with a magnificent structure, by an eccentric and hemophiliac Morgan Carlisle, but is now boarded up and prepared for demolition. Although this activity is technically classified illegal, but it doesn’t stop them from doing so, as they pride themselves on never stealing or destroying anything they find at the sites. The team is led by Professor Robert Conklin, who has done a research on it and has a special agenda on his mind.

While they enter the rat-infested tunnel leading to the hotel, they encounter strange cats with three hind legs and a few corpses. What is more terrifying is that some rooms seem to have their own stories to tell; and they are most eager to find out more. Then, things start to go badly in a life-threatening ways and they realize a little too lately that they aren’t the only ones creeping in this spooky hotel.

All I can say this is a top notch thriller that leaves you no excuse to stop reading it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone; just make sure don’t read it at night, for I can assure you sleep will be the last thing on your mind once you pick up this book!

Ladies' Man has actually published several years ago, but at that time it was distributed as a bonus gift for a subscription service; on top of that, since it was a "hard-to-find" book then, the bidding price of this book went as high as about US$1k in ebay. I was relieved that this book was reissued, otherwise I'd have missed an 'expensive' read. :-P

Ellen Layne is a Professor at Yale, and she is 'instructed' by her TV host Uncle Bob Osborne to fetch her great Aunt Alma at the airport in New York. During the wait, she meets a handsome stranger, Sam Schaeffer in a bookstore. She frantically grabs a book when he catches her staring at him, so he asks if she has read T.S. Harrison's books which she is holding then, and this leads to a conversation. He asks for her number before departing, but she tells him no, although she is a little attracted by him, after all he is ten years younger than her and she had two teenage children. Later both of them realize they were waiting for the same person - as Sam promises his buddy author friend T.S. Harrison that he would meet Alma, in return Bob allows TS to do his biography since T.S. is Alma's favourite author. Later while Ellen gives Sam a ride in the limo, he explains that T.S. is actually his good friend and he is helping him since he couldn't make it; then one thing leads to another, and at the end of the day both of them can't seem to forget each other!

T.S. later explains to Bob what happened at the airport and is glad he still wants him to do his biography. When Ellen first receives threat letters and obscene calls, T.S. turns to Sam (since she is staying with Uncle Bob temporarily). Sam believes the threat is meant for Ellen, who has filmed in a commercial and just aired on TV. Later he knows of her two children, but despite this he is still very much attracted to her.

Towards the end of the story, the tension heightens as they face the bad guy and their relationship spurs towards a new direction.

Though the plot is not new, still I enjoyed this book because after all, it's a romance suspense.

Karen Marie Moning has done it, again! This book is simply divine. I have read most of her Highlanders series and this is simply the best in my opinion. KMM is getting better and better; in Spell of the Highlander, the devilishly handsome hero and warrior, Cian MacKelter was trapped inside an ancient mirror for some centuries.

Jessi St. James, the heroine was a diligent archaeology student who didn't mind spending most of her life in studying ancient artifacts, but there were at times she wondered if she would be a little more fun and let her hair down for once in a while. Then on one occasion she received a package on behalf of her professor and was in for a big surprise. She thought she was hallucinating when she spotted a gorgeous half-naked man staring out at her from inside the glass of an ancient mirror. It turned out that the mirror was a priceless item and someone else would do anything to get it, including the woman who may hold the key to breaking the Highlander's dark spell. Cian offered his protection to her (Jessi didn't know from exactly what), in exchange of sharing her bed.

Spell of the Highlander is both sensual and seductive; a great plot and not to mention the hero was a sexy alpha male that would definitely make you flip the pages faster. I can't wait for KMM's next release.

Nora Roberts (aka JD Robb) is one unique and talented writer who is able to write different genres at the same time, and she writes fast. It is no wonder she has so many fans worldwide, and her books are always on the top of the bestselling list.

In Morrigan's Cross, the first paranormal ‘The Circle Trilogy’, the story started in the 12th century Ireland, the hero Hoyt Mac Cionaoith was known as the sorcerer. He lost his brother Cian to an ancient vampiress Lilith into a fellow bloodsucker. Morrigan, the goddess of battle then appeared before Hoyt, who demanded that he shall lead the forces of good against the evil, but before that he should gather five others (consisting of ‘the witch’, ‘the warrior’, ‘the scholar’, ‘the one of many forms’, and ‘the one you’ve lost’), thus the name Circle of Six. He travels to the present day in New York, where he met Glenna Ward, the modern-day witch and reunited with Cian who had adjusted to the modern world some time ago.

In this first trilogy, Nora focuses on the gathering of the six, and it was only the beginning of this exciting trilogy. As the story moves on, romance sparkled between Hoyt and Glenna, as Hoyt began to understand and adjust to the 21st century.

As usual, Nora Roberts has a way of creating well-liked characters and interesting dialogues. Come October (or maybe early November, depending on the publishing schedule), the second and third book will be released subsequently, and am sure it will once again entice the readers to this exciting trilogy.

I have read this book since last year, and I want to thank my best friend, Jennifer, for helping to buy this book for me! I have had a hard time searching this book! I couldn't even find it in any of the used bookstores, so Jennifer offered to look out for me, and I was thrilled that she managed to get it, along with Into the Fire and a few others. Thank you so much, Jennifer! :-)

Night Fall is very different from the other romance suspence novels which I have read. I was hooked by the story from the very beginning.

Cassidy, the heroine receives a call from her father, Sean who claims is ill. Hearing this, she rushes back home, only to find the situation isn't what she has expected. Sean is a tabloid-like writer, and he enjoys searching for the most gossip infested stories. He stumbles upon Richard Tierna's story and will do anything to accomplish his next writing 'goal', including taking in the suspected murderer into his own home and entice his daughter back home and take her like a bait to tempt Richard! Cassidy is aware of his suspicion of murder, but she isn't sure of the rumors that claims he has murdered his wife and children, but yet she is unable to explain her attraction to him. Perhaps his mysterious aura intrigues her, for she later agrees to edit Sean's novel and is caught in an untangled web that Richard weaves.

Night Fall is intense, a dark romance story filled with intrigue and suspense. This is a must read for all romance suspense readers who like something different from the same genre.

Occasionally I would like to read just a classic romance story, so I have chosen Prince of the Desert by Penny Jordon amongst my TBR pile. Published under Harlequins Mills & Boons Australia (or Harlequins Presents in America), as far as I know, M&B has been around since I was in High School. Heck, it might even go earlier than that, I’m not sure; but that shows M&B is expanding and still growing on strong.

In Prince of the Desert, Gwynneth the heroine has never given her sexuality any thoughts and has vowed never to give in to passion, but one night in the kingdom of Zuran has changed everything. She met a stranger from the desert and they were attracted to each other. She thought she could leave the thoughts of the man and the night behind, but she never expected the man she dealt with was Sheikh Tariq bin Salud, who was determined to claim her despite anything.

Harlequins stories can be equally sizzling as compared with other romance novels and this is no exceptional. This is the right book for you if you don’t want to feel tied up with a thick book and engaged with various secondary characters to a story. Simply a romance story that entertains; not to mention a beautiful cover set in an exotic location.

Don't get me wrong. A Confusing Story isn't confusing at all. That is actually the book title. Gotcha! LOL.

Yazi and Yuanzi lost their parents when they were young. They inherited the apartment from their parents and life is simple. Yazi is a university student who will be graduating soon, while her elder brother get married and leads his own life. Their relationship distanced.

One day, Yazi received a call from her sister-in-law, telling her that Yuanzi is admitted in a hospital, his life is in danger and need an organ transplant. Feeling desperate and penniless, she confides in her good friend, Zhongyun. Zhongyun tells her there is a way of solving her financial issue, and that is to sell away one of a woman most important assets: her eggs. Yazi begins to understand how Zhongyun acquires a car and leading a good life. Yazi is in a dilemma, for she feels this is wrong but she is at her wits' end. Finally she has no choice but to give in to this bizarre solution.

She meets up with Jiashi, a wealthy woman who is willing to buy her eggs and sponsors her every living needs, but on a condition that Yazi isn't allowed to be near the baby once the delivery. Yazi is skeptical but in the end, she signed the contract under the moral and mental support by the doctor and the lawyer, moreover she needs the money urgently to save Yuanzi. Yuanzi is saved, finally; then one day Yazi receives a call from the doctor and the lawyer, informing her that she has to abort the baby because Jiashi and her husband falls out.

Yazi by then begins to develop a special feeling towards the baby, who is already in her third trimester. She tells them she will bring up the baby despite anything. Jiashi then vanishes out of her world. Yazi moves in a simple apartment, and is intrigued by her new neighbour who happens to be Jiashi's ex-husband, Yuzhang. He has finally tracked her down, after all the commotion and the lie Jiashi has told him. Yuzhang tells Yazi his relationship with Jiashi was on the rocks, and that Jiashi will do anything to reclaim the lost love - therefore drawing an agreement with Yazi and hoping the baby will bring back his love, since she can't have any children.

Yazi tells Yuzhang she wouldn't give the baby to him, but Yuzhang tells her he will be patient. His family urge them for marriage, but Yazi isn't sure of her feelings towards Yuzhang. Yazi then gives birth not only a boy but twins! They were exhilarated, until Jiashi re-emerges into their lives again, telling them one of the twins doesn't belong to Yuzhang! To make things worse, Jiashi manage to brainwash Yuzhang's parents of seeking custody to the twins. Yuzhang makes an arrangment for Yazi and the twins to escape to the US, since he has the citizenship and an apartment there. The three of them flees, with the companionship of Zhengming, whom Yazi treats him as only a friend.

Yuzhang manage to contact Yazi when the commotion dies down, and realizes she has befriended a young attractive British-Chinese woman called Guining and finally accepts their special relationship. On the way home, Yuzhang's elder sister tells him, "This is one confusing story."

And there, this story ends with her remark.

I got this book due to the recommendations of my booklover friend, Julia, who claimed she was recommended by her friend but never get a chance to read it, yet! The reviews have been good so far, from what I heard from the bookseller as well as the comments made on B&N. Turns out that Faithless is the fifth book of a series. Oh well...I can always go back to the first book if this is good. :-P

When Sarah Linton, a medical examiner and Jeffrey, police chief and her ex-husband are out in the woods discussing about their past infidelities, they stumble upon a terrifying scenario which shakes them all: a young girl has been buried alive! They began to search for her story, with the help of Lena Adams, who is a female detective.

I am currently reading Chapter Two and I am already hooked with its plot and the turn of the events. The author, Karin Slaughter has a way of writing the story that I, being her first-time reader, couldn’t put the book down! Faithless is full of intrigue, suspense and well...some horror in it as there are some graphic descriptions of the victims.

I will keep a look out of Karin's books in future.

PS: Julia, don’t say I never listen to your recommendations! LOL. Now it’s your turn to grab this copy yourself!

Well, I just can't get enough of Nicci French's books! The other day, I managed to get The Memory Game, The Safe House and Land of the Living at a used bookstore. I was so thrilled! Besides these, I also managed to get Every Breath You Take by Judith Mcnaught, Hit Hard by Amy Fetzer and Faithless by Karin Slaughter. Julia recommended the latter to me, before which it was recommended to her from a friend (although she hasn't read it yet). Go figure! LOL.

In Land of the Living, the story starts with the heroine, Abbie Devereaux wakes in the dark and find herself hooded and bound. She has no idea how she was being kidnapped; while all the time she struggles with the truth and tells herself to live on...

Finally she escapes her captor; but back to the outside world, she finds herself lost for she doesn't remember anything before she disappears - days when she quit her job and then there is her boyfriend, Terry... She stays in the hospital where they put her under some tests, while the police continues to keep watch of her... As the days go on, all of them begin to wonder if they should hold on to her words. But what Abbie fears most is the captor may come for her, again...and this time no one will be able to help her, and she will wake in the dark, hooded and bound...

I was stopping by the bookstore during lunchtime earlier when I found these books on the shelves! I was soooo excited! Of course I have to grab them fast. :-P

Matthew Reilly's Seven Ancient Wonders was actually published in 2005, but it was in hardcover, thus I didn't buy it. It is way too expensive in my opinion; with the same amount I can buy 2 books at that price! Anyway, I am so glad to see it's released in paperbacks now.

As for Nicci French's Catch Me When I Fall, I did mention in my previous blog that I will get her other books, but this is only what I could find in the bookstore. I will continue to check for their other books...{keeping fingers crossed}

That's all for now! ;-)

I have just finished reading Secret Smile. Only one word could describe this book: awesome!!! I was hooked with the story right from the beginning. I was totally blown away with the ending, what a shocker! Actually this was the second book I read by Nicci French; the first book was Killing Me Softly, which later made it to the movie screen. I didn't get the chance to watch the movie, but all I know the book was another page-turner.

Nicci French, is actually a pseudonym by two co-writers, Nicci Gerrard and Sean French. They were married and began their first co-writing in 1995, with their first book The Memory Game, which became a huge success. I intend to read their other books once I have the chance to find them all.

OMG, Secret Smile is great! (I have reached to the part whereby the heroine, Miranda began to ask herself if she was going insane or even obsessed with Brendan!!!) I haven't finished reading this book yet, still I can't stop myself from raving it to Julia and hubby. Julia seems interested though a little skeptical (LOL!), while hubby's reaction was like, "What's the big deal about the storyline?!" He didn't know how much he had missed; anyway he isn't a booklover like me, so I gather it's useless to discuss any books with him unless they are books on photography or IT stuff. Oh well...

Anyway, here is a list of books which I'm going to buy next (sequence not in order):
1) Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts (1st book of the trilogy)
2) Murphy's Law by Lori Foster
3) Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard
4) Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught
5) Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
6) The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe

That's all for now. :-P

I started reading this book on my way to work this morning and gosh, what a great page-turner! A psychological suspense, the story begins with the heroine, Miranda Cotton wishing she had never met Brendan Block, whom they had went out eight times. She dumped him when she caught him reading her diary, uninvited, when she came home from work. Then things began to worsen when her sister, Kerry phoned her in ecstasy, telling her she had found someone she loved, and his name was Brendan. The next thing she knew, her family members were so taken in by his charms that they wouldn’t believe what she told them about him and their previous relationships.

Great hook, great plot, and I’m already dying to find out what would Brendan do to Miranda, or to anyone in the end! Grab a copy if you want to know the outcome, for I’m not going to type my reviews here! LOL! :-P

I have never read anything by Shiloh Walker, but this book has definitely caught my attention! The moment I set my eyes on the cover, I just knew this will be one book I wouldn’t miss - since I’m a fan of paranormal romance suspense.

In Hunting the Hunter, the hero in this story, bounty hunter Kane Winter witnesses the murder of his partner, Duke during a drug deal confrontation that went all wrong. The last thing he remembers is a beautiful mysterious woman whom he believes she is the murderess, and he intends to hunt her down until he catches a hold of her. Kendall, a vampire and a Hunter who hunts evil counterparts is intrigued of the mortal warrior when she realized she is his latest “quarry”, but she is not going to let any emotion overcomes her judgment, for she seldom failed with her assignments.

Currently I’m into Chapter 3 and can’t wait to read till the end.
So many books, so little time!!!

All right, I have bought more books during the weekend, so shoot me! LOL. Here are my list:
1) Angel with Attitude by Michelle Rowen
2) Hunting the Hunter by Shiloh Walker
3) Surf's Up by Nina Bangs, MaryJanice Davidson and Janelle Denison
4) Scent of Roses by Kat Martin
5) In the Dark by Marliss Melton

Currently I'm reading Angel with Attitude and all I can say is, this book is a fun read. Former angel, Valerie Grace was kicked out of Heaven and fell into the killer whale tank at MarineLand. She still couldn't understand what she had done to deserve this, but she was going to find the stolen key to Heaven by all means. Then came Nathaniel, a sexy Tempter Demon who intend to lure her to Hell but soon he began to show signs of loyalty and love. Valerie began to wonder if it is a bad thing to have the hots for a demon.

This book was actually recommended to me by the bookstore assistant. I was brownsing and searching for some good books when she dumped the above books (Item no. 1 - 3) into my hands and said, "These're some of the new releases. See if you're interested..." Then she wandered off and busied with her work. Bad Attitude, you would say, but because I'm one of their regular customers (since when, I can't remember!) so naturally we are more like friends than anything else.

I was excited when I saw this book at Kinokuniya's bookshelf yesterday. After all, it was written by Laurell K Hamilton. I have been a fan of her Anita Blake series, so naturally her name caught my interest. I was kinda glad to note that this book is unlike her Anita or Merry Gentry's series. In this story, the heroine was actually a teenage girl who didn't realize she had the talent for magic, or witchcraft as they called it. She was both intrigued and amazed at her strange talent, and I intend to find out how she dealth with it and her journey of exploring and facing the evil.