Kate Thomas

Drucilia’s father was killed by Derik, the current alpha of her pack. With hunters and vampires attaching the pack, Derik is seeking to make Dru his mate. While Dru is hoping her sister's visions of a white wolf coming to save them are true.

I read a lot of shape shifter novels, and this one had a refreshing feel. The plot was filled with detail and intrigue.

I enjoyed Dru as a heroine. She is brave and smart. She is a worthy alpha female who would be an asset to any pack. I would think it would be difficult to live with Derik as the alpha after he killed her father. I enjoy the chemistry between her and Caleb.

Caleb is a worthy alpha. I felt horrible that his pack was wiped out by vampires. I like the symbolism of Derik having a black coat and Caleb having a white coat to represent hope.

I enjoyed Kate Thomas’ writing style. It is easy to follow and visualize. I effortlessly read this book in one sitting. Resounding Truth is a great novella. I look forward to reading other books in the series.

Complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.… (plus d'informations)

Fun and Fascinating! Kate Thomas takes us on a historical journey of the postal system in Victorian England via an examination of the novels and newspapers of the time and later academic examinations of the works of authors of the period. Along the way, she reveals how the democracy of the penny post opened written communication to all classes of society. Not only were the boundaries between classes blurred, but the division of public and private entered murky territory as well.

Thomas focuses on the queering effects of the democratized postal service on society, using the term "queer" in both its traditional meaning of strange/unusual and its newer meaning of gay,homosexual or outside traditonally recognized male-female relationship.

While I wasn't always convinced of the connections, that didn't detract from my delight in the historical anecdotes. Covering Oscar Wilde's trial for indecency to the personal letters of Henry James, it's impossible for me to view Victorians with the same quaint and staid lens through which they were seen prior to reading Postal Pleasures.… (plus d'informations)

I got this book 4 years ago when I went to a booksigning at my local Barnes & Noble to see Kathleen O'Reilly. It was horribly quiet, and as there were 3 other authors there, I bought a book from each and chatted with them a little. Kate Thomas was one of them. I don't remember her at all, but I'm unaccountably pleased that her story was the one I liked.

I'm not sure if all the Duets had themes, but this one was marriages of convenience.

** Daddy by Design.

Up until about 1/3 of the way through the story, this was a 4-star read. It starts out with race car mechanic Trey Cooper hesitating about getting in an elevator with a very pregnant woman. Cinda Cavanaugh convinces him that in spite of the fact that she's due at any moment, he'll be safe... and then they get stuck in the elevator. And she goes into labor. It's realistic and funny and just cute as heck up through the baby's birth (in the hospital).

Then it just loses steam. When they separate, Cinda tells Trey that since he saved her life, to call her if he ever needs the favor returned.

Which he finally does months later when a ex-girlfriend who's married to a mobster, but separated from him is planning on getting Trey back at their high school reunion, and Trey thinks that if he shows up with a wife and child, the ex will back off.

There's a whole thread that goes on too long about Trey's mother not believing them when they say they're not really married, and how come there are two ex-military nurses in this story? And since when are military nurses' lives like boot camp in Private Benjamin?

But the story really lost me when Cinda argues with herself, repeating things we already know, including the entire plot of the book so far... for 8 freaking pages. Argh. Not only is she nonsensically going back and forth on her decision, but she's walking back and forth as well. I got dizzy as well as annoyed.

I have to say, though, if I'd been the editor, I'd have bought it on the strength of the first two chapters, which were fabulous.

**** Her Perfect Wife.

The premise of this one is even more far-fetched. Stockbroker Jack Halloran is horribly envious of a female co-worker who's quitting her job to get married. He's getting burned out on the fast pace and long hours, and wants to quit and go out on his own, but can't give up his medical insurance, and can't afford the time off to prepare for the certified financial planner exam. So he half-seriously comes up with a plan to marry a woman and be her "wife"--keeping house, taking care of all the little details--in exchange for room & board & being put on her medical insurance.

When his best friend Sherry meets with her client, Dr. Melinda Burke, an extremely overworked pediatric surgery resident (that was redundant, wasn't it?), she decides to get the two together.

It's very entertaining watching Jack get smacked down by his assumptions that housework would be a breeze, mostly because it manages to avoid the clichés, and Jack manages to avoid being TSTL about it.

The romance between the two develops over time, something else I appreciated, since so many romance novels take place in a matter of days.

Once you buy the premise, it's a wonderful story. Until the very end. My advice is to just pretend the book ends 6 pages sooner than it does.

I feel vaguely guilty about the demise of Harlequin's Duets line, with their 2-in-1 volumes of romantic comedy. I love romantic comedy, but I only ever bought 2 or 3 of their books--this one, one with the aforementioned Kathleen O'Reilly in it, and maybe one other. Not that it would have made a difference in their sales if I'd bought every single one, but still, I feel kind of bad.… (plus d'informations)