Help Me Pick January 2011 Read #1 and Win A Book

It is time to help me pick my next read from the January Books.
The first three books are scheduled so they will be read the weeks before.  You do not choose from these three but be sure to note the Guest posts and giveaways.
 
Scheduled:


1/12 Wednesday - Hachette Forever - Review, Giveaway and Author GUEST POST: How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling.

1/19 Wednesday - Hachette Forever - Review & Giveaway: Sins of a Highland Devil (Highland Warriors) by Sue-Ellen Welfonder.

1/26 Wednesday - Hachette Forever 

- Review, Giveaway and Author GUEST POST:  

My Immortal Assassin by Carolyn Jewel.

HERE ARE THE REST OF JANUARY BOOKS
IN NO SET ORDER
None of these are multiple giveaways
but most will be ARC or individual book giveaways.

So help me pick the next read 

and you can pick a book from the ARC box.

Hachette Mysteries/Thrillers:
 
Blood Prophecy by Stefan Petrucha
(paperback)

 Coming Back (Sharon Mccone Mysteries) 

(hardcover) by Marcia Mueller

Sourcebooks:
Kiss at Your Own Risk by Stephanie Rowe

I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell

  

The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou 

by Susan Higginbotham

Plus I have at least one Hachette Audio with giveaway and I will be adding at least one author read.

Here's how this Giveaway works:

Make a comment picking the book you want me to read next.  I will do a random draw and whichever commenter is drawn will get their choice of a book from my back review books and ARCs listed below.
I am currently finishing No Greater Love by Kinzie Monroe and The Sherlockian by Graham Moore.
This will be open until January 4th at 10PM as I should be ready for the next book by then.

THESE ARE ALL ARCs
I was hoping I wouldn't have to list them but they don't show up well in the picture so:
Breakfast in Bed
The Christmas Clock
Damage Control
Deadly Codes this is in wrong box as it is not an ARC
Fallen
Getting Lucky
Seduced by the Wolf
Soul Catcher
Truly, Madly: A Novel
Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane)
The Wild Irish Sea

THESE ARE REVIEW BOOKS (Or one or two spares)

A Black Tie Affair

Beyond the Map's Boundary: A Timely Sort of AdventureThe Castaways: A Novel

Eureka Point 

For the Love of Pete

It Happened One Night

One Scream Away
Risk No Secrets (Black Ops, Inc.)

Saint Nick

Sworn to Protect (Call of Duty Series, Book 2)
To Beguile A Beast (The Legend of the Four Soldiers)

White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight

I will add some more books when I get to take up to date pictures.

Winners of Christmas Gifts!

Thank you to everyone who entered.  I found it interesting that there were 13 international entries to 30 US/Canadian entries.  A nice split. I loved learning where people were and what temps you were having.  I forget that some of you are starting summer as we start winter. :)

CONGRATULATIONS

to the winners!

Package #1 - Snowman Package:

KATE N

(from Canada)

Package #2 - Moose Package:

LINDA H

(from USA)

International GC

KULSUMA from the UK

I will need addresses from Kate and Linda and a choice of gift card from Kulsuma. I will try to get an email off to each of you tomorrow but feel free to email me if you get to it first. :o)  mesreadsATgmail.com

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Devil's Desire by Laurie McBain

A devil meets his match.
Devil's Desire by Laurie McBain

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Reprint edition (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402242417
• ISBN-13: 978-1402242410

      Price:  Print $9.00; Kindle $5.38
     Genre: Historical Romance
     My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description
They called him the devil...
With his seductive golden eyes and sin-black hair, it's no wonder Lord Alex Trevegne has earned himself the sinister title-not to mention his reputation as one of the most notorious rakes in England.
And she's the only one who can conquer him...
When fate throws Alex and Elysia into a scandalous situation, Alex suddenly finds it surprisingly difficult to tear himself away from her.
As an unexpected passion blossoms between them, Elysia begins to wonder if after a lifetime of heartache she's finally found heaven in the arms of the devil.

Review: Good characters - to like or not - and engaging writing make this interesting.
I have to admit that I liked Elysia’s character through most of the book.  She is strong minded but nice and down to earth. She doesn’t put on airs and is kind to the servants.  I felt for her hardship and was waiting for her vicious Aunt to have a comeuppance later in the book.  I was a bit disappointed that she didn’t fight harder later in the story.

Alex was a little more difficult to like.  He is extremely arrogant and seemingly shallow in his feelings toward his mistresses and companions. Although he does have feelings for his brother and ultimately for Elysia, he doesn’t show or express them much.  He is good to his servants and animals so he can’t be all bad. However, he does have a mean and cruel streak in his arrogant and dictatorial dealings thus hurting Elysia rather than offering kindness to her or even a good dose of seduction other than ravishment.  I found this difficult especially considering the age difference with him being a seasoned rogue in his 30s and Elysia being a naive innocent barely 18.

I thought the story was a bit disjointed as it moved from the focus of Elysia and Alex’s conflicts to a new plot thread fairly late in the book.  We meet an important new character a good two thirds into the story and then get some tense action in the new plot.  This line kept my attention fixed for the remainder of the book which was a good thing as I had not been fully engaged at the beginning. 

That is the basis for my saying I had mixed feelings about the book.  I really liked the premise and I liked the ending.  I wish it had flowed a bit better and that loose ends had been dealt with. I will want to read more by this author and see if other books have the same good intensity with better flow.  This book still worked for me as good entertainment even with the disjointedness.

xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC COPY:

1. Comment on the review; maybe tell me how you feel about a cruel hero.
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For three extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Four total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on January 11, 2011. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.