The Trial by Larry D. Thompson

Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (March 29, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0312607350
ISBN-13: 978-0312607357
Genre: Legal Suspense
Classification: Adult Fiction

Have you ever seen those advertisements on the television that ask you to "Ask your doctor about (insert drug name here)"? Do you ever wonder how much money those ads roll in for the pharmaceutical companies? If the drug turned out to have a deadly side affect to what extent would a company go to hide it? Thompson explores those very issues in his latest novel The Trial. A drug marketed as "revolutionary" that looks to be set on lining the pockets of the drug manufacturer has been found to cause liver failure in a high percentage of patients. A cover up persists and lives are endangered.

Samantha Vaughan is a healthy 19 year college student with her whole life ahead of her. She agrees to participate in a drug trial to earn some extra money. Several months later she's facing a liver transplant or death. Together with her father, a lawyer, they will take on one of the big drug companies and become closer than ever before. This one will make you think twice about those ads. In a book that had me reminiscing about novels written by John Grisham, which I totally saturated myself in years ago, I found the book highly entertaining. If you're looking for a good suspense filled drama, this one just might fill the bill. I highly recommend it.

I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars.

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Hellions of Halstead Hall, #3) by Sabrina Jeffries

Publisher: Pocket Star; Original edition (January 18, 2011)
ISBN-10: 9781439167557
ISBN-13: 978-1439167557
Genre: Historical Romance
Classification: Adult Fiction
Format: Paperback, 384 pages

"I love you, Minerva. I love that you believe in me no matter what. I love how you take whatever you see and distill it into your books. I love your clever mind and your generous heart and every inch of your beautiful body. I love you even when you give me heart failure, by risking your life before my very eyes." He smiled tenderly. "I only hope in time I can prove worthy of your love."

Minerva is an author at a time when her talent is not appreciated. In fact, it's frowned upon. Her grandmother has declared that all her grandchildren must get married or they'll lose their inheritance. This is not a problem for Minerva since she can support herself with her writing. Her siblings, however, aren't so lucky and since the mandate is that they ALL must marry she feels forced to do so as well.

In an attempt to force her grandmother to take back the mandate she puts an ad in the publication her stories run in for a husband. When Giles Masters, the man she's had an attraction to for years, shows up to apply for the position she thinks he's not serious. So while Minerva tries to put her plan in place to get her grandmother to rescind her marriage mandate, Giles has a plan of his own - To woo a reluctant lady.

A very fun read. This one is going on my keeper shelf. I gave it a 5 out of 5 stars. It has romance, a mystery, and fun. I loved it.

Storm Glass (Glass, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Publisher: Mira; Original edition (April 28, 2009)
ISBN-10: 9780778325642
ISBN-13: 978-0778325642
Format: Paperback, 448 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Classification: Adult Fiction

"There is a reason for everything. You might not be able to figure it out, and time might have made us all forget it, but the reason is there all the same."

"Life is like molten glass. It flows, it's flexible, it can be molded and shaped and...what do you say? Ah, yes. It holds vast potential. You have a number of uncertainties in your melt right now. But they will always be there in one form or another. Always. Unlike molten glass, life can't be fixed or frozen into a pretty vase and placed on a shelf to gather dust."

Something is wrong with the Stormdancers' glass orbs. Being the "glass Magician" Opal (from Fire Study) is called upon to see if she can determine the source of the problem. When a glass orb breaks the life of a Stormdancer is lost. The Stormdancers harvest the power of storms thereby weakening them so they will cause less damage. If the Stormdancers can't perform their tasks lives will be lost. As Opal and Zitora investigate the problem Opal's own life becomes endangered.

Romance, murder, mystery and a dose of humor are in this one. Read the Study series first so you know who everyone is and have a better understanding of the world Snyder has created. If you love the Study series this is a must read. Yelena makes a brief appearance as do Ari and Janco. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

To Tempt a Rake (Circle of Sin #3) by Cara Elliott

Publisher: Forever (February 1, 2011)
ISBN-10: 9780446541305
ISBN-13: 978-0446541305
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Paperback, 384 pages

Kate Woolbridge is not your average English Lady. In fact she's really not a Lady or English. While her mother was the daughter of a Duke, her father was a American sea captain whom her mother married and ran off with. Most would refer to her father as a pirate. Kate has lead an unusual life and traveled to many different ports. Now that her parents are deceased she's decided to try to mend bridges with the only family member she still has, her grandfather, The Duke of Cluyne.

Marco, the Conte of Como, is a Italian rake. He doesn't do relationships, but something about Kate draws him to her. Her scent stirs a distant memory and if he ever unravels what that memory is Kate's dirty little secret may come out and she'll be ruined.

A book with murder, espionage, humor, and a touch of naughtiness makes for an enjoyable read. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Countess (Madison Sisters #1) by Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Avon (January 25, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0061963046
ISBN-13: 978-0061963049
Genre: Historical Romance
Classification: Adult Fiction
Format: Paperback: 371 pages

Christiana entered her marriage in good faith. She thought herself in love with her husband, Dicky. Only the man she thought she married was only a fantasy. The true man was revealed after the "I Do's" and the harsh reality that she would not have a happily ever after set in. When her sisters come to her for help after their father once again gambles away the family savings, she fears her husband's reaction. The plan they devise is for one of her sisters to wed to get access to her inheritance and use it to pay off the debt. Only hours later, however, Dicky is dead. Thinking of postponing the morning period so her sister can find a suitable husband to pay off their father's debt, the sisters decide to keep the body on ice a couple of days. While at a ball that very night, however, the real Earl (Richard) shows up and that is when all the fun starts. Turns out Dicky was Richard's twin brother George.

Very fun read that had me laughing and smiling. I always know Lynsay Sand's historical romances will put me in a good mood. Her humor may not be for everyone (although I don't know why *smirk*) but I absolutely love it. I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars

Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark #11) by Kresley Cole

Publisher: Pocket (February 15, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1439136807
ISBN-13: 978-1439136805
Format: Paperback, 515 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Classification: Adult Fiction

Years ago Regin met the love of her life and lost him. He vowed that nothing could keep him from her not even death and he would find her again. True to his word every hundred years or so Aidan is reborn and finds Regin only to lose his life once more....

Locked in a facility of the Order (a group of mortals set on exterminating immortals) is the last place Regin expects to find her long lost love. This reincarnation, however, has created a version of Aidan which hates all immortals. In his words, "The only good immortal is a dead immortal." Now Regin must help Declan/Aidan remember who she is and his past lives before he does something he'll regret the rest of his life - killing her.

I love Cole's stories. She has a fun sense of humor that makes you smile as you read her books. Drama, humor, and of course romance are all included in this one. If you love the series this one will not disappoint. I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars.

For those of you who dislike the use of F@ck and other such words they are used in this one, but not overly so.

Lust (The Sins and The Virtues #1) by Charlotte Featherstone

Publisher: Spice; Original edition (January 18, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0373605528
ISBN-13: 978-0373605521
Genre: Erotic Romance
Classification: Adult Fiction
Format: Paperback, 384 pages

Hundreds of years ago a Seelie Queen was held against her will by an Unseelie King. In her quest for vengeance she placed a curse in the form of a spell on the Unseelie court's royal male offspring, her own son included. They would each be cursed with a cardinal sin that would overpower them. Their only chance of breaking their bonds to the sin and the curse would be to find their virtuous counterparts in the form of a mortal females who would willingly come to the Unseelie court and give themselves freely to the Dark Fey Princes. For if they cannot break the curse eventually the the Unseelie court will wither and die.

"There is but one hope for the court-to find the seven women who represent the virtuous aspects of humanity. Seven women who embody chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and humility. Women whose very being calls to the sins deeply buried in each prince, sins that are eager to corrupt through erotic pleasure, their virtues."

Every hundred years there is another chance to break the curse and the Virtues have just come of age. This is the story of Thane, the Dark Fey Prince and holder of the cardinal sin Lust, and Chastity, holder of the virtue of Chastity. They say opposites attract and this story is no exception.

A fun little story with some questions left to be answered. Featherstone is an romance writer that just goes south of the border into the erotic territory. The only thing I was unsure of was the business with the ears. Just had me scratching my head. Also, I wondered why give the female "Virtues" the names of the Virtues they uphold yet not give the Dark Fey Princes the names of the cardinal sins they possess? Seemed a little odd to me, but I figure the author has her reasons. Perhaps it's because the Fey are cursed?

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.