88. Ian's Ultimate Gamble

by Brenda Jackson

(read as an e-book)

Brooke Chamberlain is an FBI agent whose job is very important to her.  She is sent on an informal assignment to a casino/spa to keep an eye on things because of some chatter about illegitimate dealings.  Brooke is looking forward to some R & R, but doesn't want to run into the casino's owner, Ian Westmoreland.  Their past relationship was a casualty of her career when she arrested his business partner.

Ian has worked hard trying to forget Brooke and doesn't trust the situation when she turns up at his casino. One thing they both can be assured of though, it that neither one is over the other.

87. The Chase is On

by Brenda Jackson

(read as e-book, but it looks like a book version will be re-published in 2011.)

This is part of the highly enjoyable and extensive Westmoreland series.  Jessica Claiborne left her law career to follow her true passion of cooking. She moves from California to Georgia to open a chocolate shop and to hopefully clear the name of her deceased grandfather.  He was accused years earlier by his best friend, a restaurateur, of stealing secret family recipes and selling them to a competitor.  Jessica has no idea that her new shop is just steps away from Chase Westmoreland's...the grandson of her grandfather's accuser.  

Their attraction for each other is undeniable but Jessica struggles whether to tell Chase who she really is now or should she wait until her investigation into their grandparent's history is complete.

86. Scandal Between The Sheets

by Brenda Jackson

Now that I've discovered e-books, I have been going back and reading books by some of my favorite romance authors that are now out of print. No, I don't have an e-reader (I sell them but I can't afford one myself!), but I read on my iPod. It's not as bad as it sounds.

This book starts off pretty funny as Jasmine Carmody, a reporter, is going through the garbage of Wesley Brooks, a dot.com millionaire.  She's hoping to dig up some information on Abraham Danforth a candidate for senate and Wesley's surrogate father.  When Wesley catches her, he assumes that she is a homeless person and offers her money for food!  Jasmine turns down the money and runs (literally) and leaves behind a family heirloom.  Wesley soon realizes who she is and what she's up to and turns the tables on her and starts to stalk her instead as a way of keeping her away from his adopted family.  That backfires when the attraction between them can't be denied.

85. How To Read The Air

by Dinaw Mengestu

How to Read the Air is the parallel story of two marriages as the participants struggle to connect with each other and find truth in themselves.  One couple, Yosef & Mariam, are immigrants from Ethiopia who embark on a road trip from their home in Illinois to Nashville.  The trip highlights the fragility of their relationship and their inability (and unwillingness) to make it right.  The other couple that the novel depicts are Jonas (Yosef & Mariam's son, still an embryo on the aforementioned trip) and his wife Angela.  While they are a modern couple living in New York City, they are faced with the some of the same issues to overcome as Jonas' parents.
As someone who lives a relatively solo existence, the novel's depiction of "aloneness" and loneliness really resonated with me.  Each person really kept a lot of themselves silent and secret and were unwilling to open up to their partner about who they truly were and what they were thinking.  Then I heard an interview with the author about the theme of "home" in the immigrant experience and that made me think more about the book.  None of the characters ever really felt at home with each other or with themselves. 

This was the most literary thing I've read in awhile and after reading all those quick romances it was difficult for me to connect to this story at first.  But when I did finally, I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I love that even a week after reading it, I'm still thinking about it and contemplating its meaning.

84. Island of Deceit

by Candice Poarch

When I picked this up I had no idea that it was part of a series and now have to go back and read the first two.  Island of Deceit is sort of a hybrid romance/mystery with action and love throughout.  Barbara Turner is recently retired and all set to move with her grandmother back to Paradise Island, where their family is from.  But when her grandmother dies after being swindled by con artists, Barbara changes tactics and seeks revenge.

She traces the crooks to, coincidentally, Paradise Island and settles in to entrap them and retrieve the money they stole from her grandmother and several other elderly women.  What Barbara doesn't count on is the attraction she feels for Harper Porterfield, the island's sheriff and what their relationship could mean for her plan.

The best things about this book are that Barbara is a plus-sized woman of a certain age, qualities that you don't find in a lot of romances, and that the island is full of African-American history.  Can't wait to read others in the series.

83. Private Lessons

by Donna Hill

Naomi Clarke is known for being a little uptight, so her friend convinces her to go on a cruise to let her hair down a bit.  Even though her friend has to cancel at the last minute, Naomi throws caution to the wind and has a hot affair with a stranger.

When she returns home and goes back to work as a college professor, who does she see sitting in her classroom? Yes, the man from the cruise, Brice Lawrence.  It turns out that neither one was completely honest with the other on vacation, so this is a total surprise.

But once the air is clear, it turns out that they may not be able to be together because of a scandal brewing on campus.

82. In Bed With Her Boss

by Brenda Jackson

(No picture available because I read it as an e-book)

Don't you just love that title?

After working as an intern in his office for some time, Opal Lockhart has just about given up on expecting her boss to be nice to her.  D'Marcus Armstrong has proven to be demanding and cranky, but she still finds herself drawn to him. Her sisters believe that he acts that way because he's attracted to her as well.

All that is put to the test when Opal accompanies D'Marcus on a business trip after her sisters give her a makeover.  Will the scenario in the title come true?

81. The Fashion File

Advice, Tips, and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men

by Janie Bryant

I am a big fan of the tv show Mad Men and never miss an episode. And while I find the authentic sets and clothing beautiful (and a trip down memory lane), I'm not obsessed with the styling like I see some people are.  There are women redecorating their homes, getting total Mad Men makeovers and having Mad Men themed parties.  That's not me. 

This is a beautiful book written by the stylist behind the show, Janie Bryant.  You get behind the scenes looks at her process for dressing each character and the detail involved is very interesting.  The forward is written by January Jones and there are contributions from other cast members as well giving insight into how Bryant makes them comfortable as they transition from reality into the lives of their characters.

The fashion advice given in this book are designed to help all women, but it still felt like it was a little biased to the whole vintage, Mad Men style.  I did enjoy her tips of dressing while being influenced by each decade.  If the 20's flapper designs appeal to you, Bryant shows you how to make that look work in the new millennium.  

I'm glad I didn't buy it. It's not the type of fashion book that I would go back and refer to, but it's worth taking a look at, especially if you enjoy the show.

80. The Millionaire's Ultimate Catch

by Michelle Monkou

WNBA star Naomi Venable is walking to the team bus after a game when she comes to the aid of a young girl being attacked.  Although the girl is okay, Naomi sustains some injuries that make it impossible for her to travel and play in any more exhibition games.  When real estate developer Zack Keathley hears about how she helped his little sister, he offers her the chance to recuperate at his family's estate.

Naomi is determined to get back to her regular life and isn't interested in being pursued by a millionaire playboy.  But the longer she stays there, the more she is able to see her life beyond basketball and maybe there is room for love there as well.

 

79. Bachelor Unleashed

by Brenda Jackson

Farrah Langley and Xavier Kane had an affair. It was as simple as that.  Neither one was interested in commitment and with their busy schedules as a mediator and a lawyer, respectively, there simply wasn't time for a relationship.

But their dependence on each other scares Farrah a little bit and she decides to call the arrangement off.  After having some time off, however, Xavier realizes that he really cares about her and wants them to have a conventional relationship.  Convincing Farrah that she wants the same is another matter.

78. Seduced on The Red Carpet

by Ann Christopher

Supermodel Livia Blake has been working almost non-stop since she was sixteen and needs a break.  The perfect opportunity arises when her friend asks her to help scout locations for a wedding.  Livia arrives early to a small, family-owned winery in Napa Valley looking forward to some R&R, but immediately gets off on the wrong foot with one of the employees.

That employee turns out to be single father Hunter Chambers, one of the owners of the resort. The two set out to work out their differences and spend time together, but can they make it work when they come from two different worlds?

77. Because of You

by Rochelle Alers

This is the first book in the new Wainwright Legacy series by one of my favorite romance authors.  What's interesting is that the Wainwright family are a wealthy Manhattan family who happen to be White.  Not a big deal, except that this author and publishing imprint are read by primarily African-American readers.  We'll see where this leads.

Jordan Wainwright is a lawyer who has already caused a scene by leaving the family firm to work with his friend practicing law in Harlem - much to the dismay of his grandfather. He is introduced to Aziza Fleming, a lawyer herself, at a New Year's Eve party thrown by his cousin and agrees to represent her harassment case against her former employer.  They are drawn to each other immediately but the secrets that each one holds onto threaten to keep them apart.

76. Lovers Premiere

by Adrianne Byrd

This is the fourth and last book in the Love In The Limelight series.  Each one was written by a different author about romance in the entertainment industry. The great thing about this series is that it wasn't always about an actor or a singer, they covered varied aspects of the industry.

Lovers Premiere is about Limelight Entertainment a family business that is full service talent agency representing today's hottest stars. (The agency was featured in an earlier book, but I cant remember which one. Sorry).  Sofia Wellesley has followed in the footsteps of her late father, who started the agency, but has made her job her life leaving no room for anything else.  She finds out that her uncle has made plans to merge with another successful firm that was started by her father's best friend, who she loathes.  Ram Jordan is the man's son who is looking forward to working closely with Sofia since he's been in love with her since they were children.  

The only bad thing about this book is the airbrushed abs of the dude on the cover. They look like Krispy Kreme donuts.

75. Strictly Confidential Attraction/Taking Care of Business

by Brenda Jackson

This is two novels published in one book.  Both were previously published and tell tales of finding love in the workplace.


In Strictly Confidential Attraction, Alison Lind has always been attracted to her boss, Mark Hartman,  but even though the two work really close together she has always been able to stay completely professional.  Mark's live-in nanny to his neice has to leave unexpectedly and asks Alison to fill in temporarily.  Yeah, being in close proximity like that takes a toll on the whole professional thing!

Renee Williams is a hospital social worker whose job is help patients navigate their health crises.  Taking Care of Business finds her helping the matriarch of a wealthy Manhattan family navigate the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.  When the son wants to show his gratitude, she soon finds he has romantic ulterior motives, but Renee has misgivings about being a part of that moneyed world.  Never mind the whole interracial thing...

74. The Warmth of Other Suns

The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
by Isabel Wilkerson

Epic is right! As you can tell by the past posts of my blog, I'm not a huge reader of books about history. I'm not sure why, but I'd much rather get lost in a work of fiction, or in someone's personal story than to read a book about historical events.  However, I've been fortunate that when I do go out on a limb and climb out of my reading comfort zone, I'm always pleasantly surprised.

I received an advanced copy of this book back in early summer, but because it was so thick, I decided not to read it just then but save it for the cooler months.  When it was finally published, the reviews were so incredible that I went ahead and picked it up.  If you know anything about American history and slavery in this country then you are already familiar with the migration that African-Amercians made as they left the confines of their lives in the South for hopefully brighter pastures in the North.  What you probably don't know is this movement started in the right after slavery ended and well into the 1970's.

Wilkerson centers her book on the stories of three individuals of varying degrees of education and economic status, who hailed from three different states and migrated to three different areas of the country in three different time periods, for three different reasons.  So while you are learning about an important part of American history, you are really reading the biographies of three people, making the story relatable and interesting.

I'm definitely glad I picked this up and I learned so much while reading.  On a side note, I was at work a couple weeks ago in the office talking with a co-worker.  Then over the radio a cashier asks if we have any more copies of The Warmth of Other Suns in the store because the author was here to sign them.  I hopped out of my chair in mid-sentence and ran out to the sales floor.  Luckily, I was in the middle of reading it and had my copy with me so Ms. Wilkerson could sign.  Doret & I were so excited to meet her (authors are like rockstars to us)!  We also had good news for her because Debbie Allen had been in earlier in the week and bought 30 copies of the book and was trying to get in touch with her.

73. Oh No She Didn't

The Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make and How to Avoid Them
by Clinton Kelly


I'm a huge fan of the television show What Not to Wear and watch it since the very first season with Stacy London and Wayne Scot Lukas.  For some reason (probably because of his unkempt appearance - purely my opinion) Lukas was replaced in Season Two with Clinton Kelly.  Good decision, I think. Clinton is way more put together, fashion-wise, and his rapport with Stacy is engaging.

Clinton has written two other books: Freakin' Fabulous (I reviewed it here), and Dress Your Best, co-authored with Stacy. This new book, like the others, focuses on style, but it is more in keeping with the show and what not do do.  It hilariously countdowns 100 things that women do wrong in fashion with accompanying photos (please don't miss the camel toe picture).  


While it's not a book that I will go back and refer to for fashion advice, it made me laugh out loud often and I'm glad I read it.