J.D. Robb – Glory in Death

The second book in the In Death series, published in 1995.




The first victim was lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second was murdered in her own apartment building. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas had no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women. Their glamorous lives and loves were the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with men of great power and great wealth provided Eve with a long list of suspects including her own lover, Roarke. As a woman, Eve was compelled to trust the man who shared her bed. But as a cop, it was her job to follow every lead … to investigate every scandalous rumor … to explore every secret passion, no matter how dark. Or how dangerous …


A very much admired and respected PA gets murdered in a sleazy part of town. Whatever possessed her to go there in the middle of the night, by her own. Suspects enough for Lieutenant Eve Dallas. And especially the victims son seems to hide a lot. He desperately needs money, and this time his parents refused him. So his mothers death will get him a nice inheritance. Then the second woman gets her throat slashed. A famous actress this time. And David was in the middle of negations with her, but she was stalling for more favours. Eve and Feeney are working around the clock on both murders. Which is a good thing concerning Eve, as she and Roarke seem to have broken up. She just isn’t ready to move in with him. But the knife slices two ways, as they both miss each other like crazy.

One of their own was murdered, and everyone wants to murderer caught and brought to justice. But the case is complicated, as her commanding officer is very good friends with the deceased and her family. So Eve has to tread very carefully, but still the evidence points at David, her commander’s godson.

The media is all over the case, and Eve has made a plan to draw the killer out, to make herself the next target. After all, she too fits his victim profile. But so does Nadine Furst of Channel 75, whom Eve is giving personal interviews. They both get a lot of airtime, and that must rattle the murderer. Especially when he kills the wrong woman by mistake …


A great second story in this long but still strong suspense series. I loved the parts between Eve and Roarke, and of course with Mavis, her almost rock star friend. It took me a while to remember who the real murderer was, and I didn’t remember all the great details any more, but that is the fun with re-reading. You know what is coming in the greater lines, but not the tiny details that bring the book to such great life.
Did I mention yet that the series play in 2058, which makes this a paranormal romantic suspense series? I love the sneak peak in the future, and can only hope it will become reality. Wouldn't mind seeing those amazing things for my self.

8 stars.

J.D. Robb – Naked in Death

The first book in the In Death series, published in 1995.




Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant, hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she’s seen it all – and knows that her survival depends on her instincts. And she’s going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire – and a suspect in Eve’s murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it’s up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about – except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.


After terminating a suspect, Eve knows she will have to go trough Testing the next morning. Instead, she gets called to a new murder scene, a very high profile one. To keep things from leaking out, only she and her old partner Feeney are on the job. Which means also doing the drone work themselves. A powerful Senator’s granddaughter is murdered in her own bed. She was a high prices licensed companion, something her family was not happy with. Sharon DeBlass was murdered by three gunshots. As guns have been outlawed decades ago, they are only collectors item’s, collected by the rich and powerful mostly. The high end security in Sharon’s apartment building was tampered with, so there is no evidence of the killer on disc. The apartment itself was cleaned meticulously, so no hairs, body fluids or fibers were found on scene. But the killer is arrogant, as he leaves Eve a recording of the murder at her apartment. Telling it is only the first out of six …

The case is difficult, there are almost no leads. But then they learn Sharon kept a diary since her youth, and loved bragging about the secrets inside it. Eve and Feeney do everything they can think of to find it.

The case seems to be blocked in every direction, the senator demands progress, but at the same time is using his granddaughters dead to further his political goals. The chief of police stonewalls her, and asks her to lie to the press, that this high profile murder has nothing to do with the next one, of a very young licensed companion, who was killed in the same modus.

And every piece of evidence seems to point to Roarke, a mystery man, who seems to own half the planet and its satellites. But Eve just knows he didn’t do it, and not only as she is attracted to him. O he is certainly capable of killing, but not in this way, and not to brag about it.


I decided I wanted to reread the first few books in this series, to learn again how the relationship between Eve and Roarke got started. Even after 37 books it is still a great series to read. The murders are never boring or repetitive, and the personal life of Eve and Roarke is still steamy and filled with friends and the difficulties of learning to handle a relationship and everything that is custom to it. Both Eve and Roarke had hard childhoods, but they got out of them, and made something of themselves. They will never be victims again.

If you like romantic suspense, I certainly recommend this series to you. You don’t have to like Nora Roberts’ other books to love those, they are so completely different.

8 stars.

Jennifer Estep – Spider’s Bite

The first book in the Elemental Assassin series, published in 2010.




My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South -- when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way -- good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.


Well, the blurb tells most of the story. And a really original and compelling one it is. Welcome to a great new urban fantasy series. A world with vampires, giants, dwarfs and humans. Some with elemental magic, strong or not so strong. The world Gin lives in, is filled with all kinds of violence. Vampire hookers, giant bodyguards, and a city ruled with the iron hot fist of the fire elemental Mab. Most of the police force and other officials are corrupt, and the innocent people are left to fend for themselves.

When she was a 13 years old, her family was murdered by a fire elemental. She never knew why. Only her own Stone magic saved her from the same faith, though she was tortured by the woman. So living on the streets of Ashland on her own, eating out of restaurant dumpsters, just staying alive, is hard for a girl alone. Only one old man shows her a bit of kindness. The owner of the Pork Pit, he sometimes hires her to do some cleaning jobs, or just gives her a left over burger. Then one night she saves Fletchers life, and her new life has started. Fletcher not only teaches her how to be a waitress and a cook, and takes her in his own home to raise as a daughter, he also teaches her his other, secret, job. An assassin. And a damned good one too.

Being a murderer doesn’t bother Gin very much. After all, she has killed before. And she has her own set of rules. No children. No animals. No cruelty but a swift death, and to victims who each and all deserve to die. Like that dirty cop who liked to rape little girls. Only his partner didn’t know that, and vowed to bring her to justice for that. The very same, rare honest cop on the force, she now needs to help her bring down Fletchers killer.


I liked the book a lot, and will certainly read the next books in this series soon. You just have to like Gin. She is sassy, and merciless in her job and in protecting those few she loves. She is also honest, and doesn’t hide the fact that she is attracted to Donovan. She is not afraid to act on it, even though she knows he wants to bring her in. There is not much information yet on Donovan, but he cannot deny the attraction between them, even though he loathes himself for giving in to it.

And then there is Fletchers son Finn, a longtime friend of Gin, who is more like a brother to her. She barely manages to save him. Together the three of them are a force to be reckoned with. The secondary characters with Jo-Jo and Sophia are great too. And real characters they are too.

7 stars.

Stephanie Laurens – The reckless bride

The fourth book in the Black Cobra Quartet series, published in 2010.




Four officers of the Crown, aided by Bastion Club member and Cynster alike, fight to bring down a venomous enemy – and to win the loves of their lives …

Entrusted with vital evidence, Rafe takes the long way home to England - a journey made even longer and more perilous when when he acquires some unwanted companions. After rescuing an old woman from footpads, he finds himself stuck with the woman's niece Lucy. Unwilling to leave her to the Black Cobra's minions, he discovers he has a surprisingly fierce defender on his hands.

Lucy is not quite certain what Rafe is up to, but it's clearly dangerous. Drawn to him, despite the obstacles he tries to place in their way, Lucy soon realises that this particular rake is the one for her. Brought together by faith and united by fiery passion, Rafe and Lucy pursue their shared destiny, as they race to bring down the Black Cobra – and begin their lives happily ever after…


I typed this blurb from the back cover of the book itself. The really stupid thing about it is, the heroine is not named Lucy, but Loretta. How come no one noticed that before the book was printed?


After having declined her eight suitor, a totally eligible young man, Loretta Michelmarsh is whisked away into Europe by her great-aunt, Lady Esme Congreve. Lady Esme has recently been widowed, and now she wants to visit all those places she went with her late husband again. As Loretta has come to the conclusion, that after posing as a demure female for years, she is attracting the wrong suitors, and she needs to change herself into her true being, she takes joy in the travelling. What no one in her family knew, is that she is secretly writing articles for one of London’s newssheets, the musings of a Young Lady in London. Her editor is only to pleased to continue with her new series, a Young Lady Abroad.

After travelling for a few months through Europe, meeting with Lady Esme’s friends and acquaintances, seeing the sights, and revisiting her memories, they decide it is time to return to England for Christmas. But just after they have booked passage on a river boat on the Danube (it took me a while to figure out that is the Donau), Esme is attacked by two villains. Luckily she is saved by an English gentleman, Captain Rafe Carstairs. And although the gentleman resists, she hires him and his companion to act as their guides and guards until they reach England.

Captain Rafe Carstairs has travelled all the way from Bombay, India, over land to reach England on a certain date. He is on a secret mission for the Crown, and his journey is extremely dangerous. Still, he cannot say no to Lady Esme. After all, she knows his family, and they do believe she and her party will provide cover for him and his companion Hassan. They have to evade the assassins of the Black Cobra cult, who followed them from India, trying to intercept the message he is carrying back home, with the proof of the identity of the Black Cobra. By travelling over the river instead of the highway’s they manage to stay out of sight of the cultists for a few days. But every time the ladies set out for a bit of sightseeing, some ruffians try to rob them. Are they really hired by the cultists as local muscle? They don’t seem to want Rafe and Hassan, but are after Lady Esme.

The moment Rafe and Loretta meet for the first time, time seems to stand still. Instantly aware of the other, and shaken to their souls, they have eyes only for each other. But Rafe can’t afford any distraction from his mission, so he tries to control himself, and ignore the attraction between them. Loretta has other plans. Never has she been attracted to a gentleman before, and she needs to find out about herself, before she is back in her old life in her brothers house in London. She wants to explore the attraction, and find out if she can have marriage after all, or will spend the rest of her life as an old maid. And when Loretta charges, Rafe doesn’t stand a chance. He will of course marry her when they cross the final line, but Loretta holds out on her promise. O, she knows he is in love with her, but she needs him to acknowledge that fact too.

Danger throws the two of them together, closer and closer. And when back in England the final battle begins, amidst all the other heroes of the previous books by Stephanie Laurens, they know they want to be together for ever.



I really did like the story, but there are some things in Stephanie Laurens’ books I am starting to dislike. Both Loretta and Rafe think way too much, there are too many love scenes, when I want some action, some intrigue. Stephanie Laurens is not easy or fast to read, she uses long sentences and an elaborate play of words. I love the story itself, and the strong hero and heroine, who are made for each other. Of course I will continue buying and reading her books, as I love meeting the previous characters again, and the adventures the current couple has.

I had a feeling about the Black Cobra that became reality, and made me think back to the previous books. All in all, a really good quartet of books.

7 stars.

New additions to my addiction

Finally, Sinterklaas arrived early for me. But I have been waiting for two weeks for those books to reach  me, so I am happy.

Amanda Quick - The third circle
Yasmine Galenorn - Harvest Hunting
Lori Handeland - Marked by the moon
Jayne Castle - Obsidian Prey
Nalini Singh - Branded by Fire

and last but not least: Jennifer Estep - Spider's Bite, which I won in a book contest on Realmsonourbookshelves blog.

Jayne Castle – Midnight Crystal

The third book in the Arcane Society: Dreamlight Trilogy series, published in 2010.




For many Earthly centuries a legendary curse has plagued the Winters family, stemming form the tumultuous founding of the Arcane Society. But now, on the futuristic world of Harmony, the curse’s final mystery will be unravelled…

Adam Winters has enough responsibility as the new head of the local Ghost Hunter Guild without being saddled with the family curse. He’s convinced his recent nightmares and hallucinations will lead to him becoming a psychic rogue – unless he can find a stolen relic and a woman who can read dreamlight.

Marlowe Jones rides into his life on a motorcycle and with a dust bunny at her side. Though a descendant of the rival Arcane family, she’s just what Adam needs: a psychic private investigator and dreamlight reader extraordinaire.

Together, amid the glowing catacombs and steamy underground jungles at Harmony, Adam and Marlowe must break the curse, save the entire underworld – and fight a passion that could destroy them both…



I truly loved this book, but I am also kind of sorry I read it. It means there are no new books in this series to look forward to for a very long time. I am confident there will be more, but there will probably first come a historical Amanda Quick novel, then a contemporary Jayne Ann Krentz novel, and only then perhaps a new futuristic Jayne Castle novel. I love them all, but I have fallen for this great world with its adorable dustbunnies.



When Marlowe Jones contacts Adam Winters, and asks him to meet her somewhere private, she has no idea of the intrigue that will follow. Marlowe informs Adam that a powerful relic has been stolen from the Arcane Society museum, called the Burning Lamp. It belongs to the Winters family, and is needed every few generations to save one of the men from becoming an insane Cerberus talent. But Adam tells her not to worry, the lamp in the museum was just a fake. As a matter of fact, he has been looking for the real lamp for quit some time now, as the real one has disappeared too. And as she is a PI, the new head of Jones and Jones, with the full power of the Arcane Society behind her, he can really use her help. According to legend, only when a Winters and a powerful dreamlight reader work together, they will find the lamp.

Then their meeting is abruptly disturbed by a gunshot. Someone has been trying to kill Adam ever since he became the new Guild Boss of Frequency city. The second shot blasts one of the tyres of her motorcycle, so that area of escape is gone to. The only way to stay alive is to get down into the catacombs. Which is not so easy as there is a vortex over the entrance. Luckily, Adam is powerful enough to deal with that. But the afterburn of using so much psy power really kicks in hard and fast. They barely make it safely to an underground rainforest where they will be safe from their pursuer.

Soon after Adams collapses, Marlowe senses his nightmares, and soothes him with her powers. Then she leaves him asleep for six hours, causing their return to the city really late. The tabloids have a field day with that, their picture is splattered all over the front page: new Guild Boss and his mistress … Marlowe is not amused by that, and neither is her family. But they believe she and Adam are meant for each other, her mother is after all a very strong talent too … Marlowe got burned really badly by a con artist a few weeks ago, so she is very cautious about Adam. But Adam knows she is the one from the start, so he doesn’t mind the fuss all that much. He wants her for his wife, and he will make sure to get what he wants.

But first they have to find the Burning Lamp, heal his parasenses and then save the underworld. All in a days work ofcourse.

But the danger is not over when that is done. Other people want to Burning Lamp for themselves.



A really great story again. Filled with action, and humor. Gibson the dustbunny is no artist like Elvis or Vincent, but he does have a lot of friends. And when your friends come to visit, you have to feed them of course.

I liked both Marlowe and Adam a lot. Marlowe is really hot on that bike of hers, and Adam notices that right away. They work really well together, even though there is a bad history between the Winters and the Joneses. I loved the part where the ancient prophesy became reality. How Adam was prepared to die to save Marlowe, and how she saved him instead.

There are some hot love scenes too, and of course some of the previous characters make an appearance here. All in all, a good read.

9 stars.

New additions to my addiction

I almost forgot to post this, but I received three books yesterday evening. One from my backlist, and two brand new ones I have been looking forward to a lot:

Amanda Quick - The perfect poison
Jayne Castle - Midnight Crystal (which I am reading at the moment)
Stephanie Laurens - The reckless bride (which will be the next book I will be reading).

But still I haven't received some of the jewels I have ordered and which have been dispatched last week already. Sigh.