Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros

I had not planned on reading this book so soon. I went out of town for Thanksgiving. I allowed my husband to do all the driving because I am such a good wife, but doing so I ran out of reading material. I knew I would finish the book that I was reading before I would actually be heading home. The bookstores having the nerve to be closed on Thanksgiving gave me only one option... the grocery store. Let's face it, there really isn't much of a selection there. I was thrilled to find not only one book but two books that I knew I wanted to read, however neither of these two books fit into my challenge books...which I was seriously hoping to find! Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts is part of a trilogy so I am saving that one until Jan. 1 so that I can include it in the Serial Challenge. This left me reading Some Like it Wicked. I had every intention of reading this book eventually... so many of my fellow ROR challengers are reading this title for the Winter challenge I figured I would go ahead and get it in. Its not going to count towards any of my challenges but it was fun read anyway.

Some Like It Wicked:
Catriona was sent to live with her uncle by her brother after their parents were murdered. She has dreamed of returning to her brother and the Highlands ever since. She has suffered the abuse dished out by her cousin Alice for 10 long years when she is forced to take her life into her own hands. Her uncle has told her that he is doubling her dowry and will give her over to the next man that comes through the door asking for her hand in marriage. Lord Eddingham overhears this argument and has told Catriona under no certain terms that he plans on coming back and talking to her uncle and receiving her and her handsome dowry. The very idea is utterly reprehensible.
Catriona heads to Newgate to find Simon Wescott, a man who she fell in love with at the very young age of 16. She has followed Mr. Wescott's career in the newspaper and has the belief that he is a hero. She has dreamed of this man for 5 years, now she must bargain herself and her dowry to him in order to escape her uncle and his family and finally find her long lost brother.

I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading about Connor Kincaid in Some Like It Wild.

Readers of Romance Winter "08 Challenge

Winter Challenge December 1 - February 28
You can find the directions/FAQ for this challenge on the ROR Blog.
NOW FOR THE LIST...
1. Reader’s Choice Place any book here
2. Book that was read and Reviewed in the Fall Challenge
3. Read a book that has a “D” word in it for December
4. Read a book that has an arranged marriage or Marriage of Convenience (AAR Special Titles could be a big help!)
5. For Valentines Day, read a book that has love, kiss or heart in the title
6. Read a book by Lisa Kleypas
7. A book that makes you think about Christmas
8. A title that has 4 words in it
9. Read a story that has a military or civil servant (firefighter/cop/fbi/clan chief/commander) in it –can be any genre
10. Read a book that has a Viking or Pirate in it!
11. Pick a book that was first published in 2008
12. Read a series (Harlequin or Sillehoutte)
13. Read a book that the author has 3 names (ie Susan Elizabeth Phillips/ Karen Marie Moning)
14. For the New Year-Pick a book that has been in your TBR pile for a long time --Out w/ the old in w/ the new!
15. Read a book that has a “W” word for Winter

♥My Book List♥
1. Leaving my options open
2. The Leopard Prince or To Taste temptation by E. Hoyt (reviewed by Cindy W)
3. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn or The Duke by Galen Foley
4. The Gift by Julie Garwood (I think this is the one that I will be reading)
5. Dark Lover or Fantasy Lover
6. Devil in Winter
7. A Seduction at Christmas
8. Flowers From The Storm
9. My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne or Beloved Enemy by Jane Feather
10. A Pirate of her Own by Kinley MacGregor
11. A Seduction at Christmas by Cathy Maxwell
12. Possessed by the Highlander by Terri Brisbin Harlequin Historical
13. My Favorite Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren or Dark Lover by JR Ward
14. Untouched by Anna Campbell maybe
15. Viking Warrior by Connie Mason

Fall Challenge '08

I just realized that I never posted an actual post about the Fall Readers of Romance Challenge. I have completed the challenge so this is not going to be the normal post about the challenge.



Here is my completed list:

1. Title that reminds you of a fairytale Charming the Prince
2. Book based on the cover: It Happened One Autumn
3. Read a book that was read and reviewed on the blog in the Summer Book Challenge: Mesmerized
4. Read a book from a genre you have not read yet (or if you have read all genres, read from the genre you read the least): The Bounty Hunter and the Heiress (western &Harlequin)
5. Read a book that has an “N” word in the title for November: A Highlander Never Surrenders
6. Read an author that last name or first name starts with "S" for September: The Brat
7. Read a book by Johanna Lindsey: A Man To Call My Own
8. For Halloween…. Read a book that is "spooky": Realm Of Shadows
9. Title with an address or a place in it: Lost Duke of Wyndham
10. Title that has a name in it: Laird of the Mist
11. Read a Series Book: Mystic Rider
12. Read a Series Book: The Dream Thief
13. Read a New (to you) author: Desperate Duchess
14. Title that has an animal in it: The Raven Prince
15. Title that is 2 words:Highland Warrior

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

#2. Book chosen for the cover

Rating 4.5

The girls are back again in the second of the Wallflowers books. Lillian is the next in line to find a husband. From the moment she set eyes on Lord Westcliff there has been animosity bordering on hate between the two. Lord Westcliff thinks that Lillian is an ilreputable American husband hunter and Lillian thinks that Lord Westcliff is an unfeeling, stuffy, know-all. Could this actually be love at first sight? Lillian is head strong and hates to be told what to do. She is constantly at odds with Lord Westcliff who is trying to dictate what Lillian should do and how she should behave. These two are thrown together in some of the best and most scandalous ways. There is a perfume aphrodisiac, could this be why Lord Westcliff cannot control himself whenever he gets around Lillian?
There is a lot of humor in this book. Once I finally had the time to sit down and enjoy getting engrossed in Lillian's story I could not put it down.

Bookworm Award

DeSeRt RoSe awarded me with the Bookworm Award!! Isn't it lovely. Thank you so very much DeSeRt RoSe!!

I can appearantly share this with others, this is how it works:

Open the book closest to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence, as well as two to five sentences following there.

The book closest to me is Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros. I am in the middle of it and only put it down to check my emails and see whats been happening at Shelfari while I have been out of town.

Page 56. Sentences 5-10:

"Why should it require me to trade one set of shackles for another?"

"Because I don't have the means to hire you outright. But I do have a very generous dowry." She lowered her eyes, her thick lashes casting a shadow on her cheeks. "A dowry that's just been doubled by my uncle in his desperation to be rid of me."

"Was this before or after he found out you were going to Newgate to look for a husband?"

Now I have to tag 5 of my fellow bloggers!

1. Cindy W

2. Beth (Carpool Queen)

3.Roberta

4.Heather

5.Melanie

Twilight...continued?!

Ok, so I had to wait until Saturday night to talk about this movie with another avid Twilight fan. My daughter's best friend, the one who kept insisting that I read this series, spent the night. We spent a few minutes discussing her thoughts about it. Before telling you what she thought about it let me tell you she has probably read this series in its entirety 11 times. She can probably quote any line from the books that you need.
I asked my dear little friend if she liked it, in Robyn's 12 yr old teeny bopper way she yelled out NO! She absolutely hated this movie, as did the rest of her family. So we started talking in depth about what she hated and if there was anything at all that she liked about it. Here are some of her thoughts...
1. The first kiss was horrible. Edward would never have approached Bella that way...by saying "I want to try something" and he would not have been so forceful in his actions to avoid her.
2. Everything was too rushed.
3. Bella would never have screamed out the way that she did, she would have been stronger than what they portrayed her to be in the fight scene with James.
4. She loved James
5. She liked the baseball game
6. The kitchen scene was stupid... "her name is Bella, she must be Italian"
7. Alice coming up to Bella saying "we are going to be the best of friends", she said this was corny but in a way it was true to Alice's personality.
She basically hated everything about this movie except for James.

Twilight

I am one of the people who couldn't wait for this movie to come out. Had I not been sick all week I would have been at the Midnight showing last night. I waited and made a day of it with my daughter, sister and mother. I loaned my book out to my daughter's friend so I was not able to reread it before the movie was released. If you have not seen the movie yet you may not want to read my thoughts on it, I may ruin it for you. I have waited a whole four hours before getting on and posting about Twilight, and the entire four hours I have been thinking about the movie... what I liked and what I didn't like.

It was a good movie, but I have to say that I was a little disappointed. I know that the movie is never as good as the book, with the exception of the Harry Potter movies, but I am really upset with some of the stuff that they cut out and how they portrayed some of the scenes. I think most of my problems came within the first half of the movie. If I had not read the book it may have been different and then again it could have been worse for me. I thought that they jumped around a lot which led to confusion. They did not lay a very good base for Bella and Edward's relationship. I almost yelled out in the movie theater with disappointment at how the movie has Edward showing Bella how he looks in the sun. In the book this was a very sweet and romantic day for them, not so in the movie. This could be my faulty memory, but things took place out of order. Not a good thing for me!!! I think that they should have showed a little more of Edward sneaking into Bella's room at night. And what about Bella's Lullaby... never mentioned. I guess this could have been what Edward was playing at the piano, but it did not play a big part in the movie. Oh and don't get me started on Edward's ability to hear every one's thoughts. This is mentioned a couple of times but it doesn't really show up as often as it did in the book.

I hated that they completely cut out the friendship built between Alice and Bella. Alice was a big part of the book, she welcomed Bella with open arms. They have very little interaction at all throughout the entire movie. Rosalee did a stand up job of being her bitchy hateful self. You really don't see much of any of the secondary characters. I really wish that I had reread the book before watching this movie... maybe it would have helped me with how big or how small their roles were. I have to say they were almost obsolete. How often was Jacob actually in Twilight? I think he made 3 appearances throughout the movie. My daughter who has yet to read the book asked me in the middle of the movie "Wasn't Jacob a bigger part of the book?"

These are a few things that I wish could have been done differently:

1. Edward and Bella in the clearing with the sun.

2. More interaction with Alice...hello where is prom night dress up?

3. More of the private time in Bella's room

4. Less time devoted to James' antics before showing up at the baseball game. These things were only hinted at in the book... never discussed at length so why did they feel the need to show it? (no it is not in bloody detail but those scenes could have been devoted to Edward and Bella or the other characters)

5. Charlie and Bella interaction was only so-so.

You would think that I absolutely hated this movie by the way that I have carried on here. That is not the case. I did like it. It just was not as good as the book and I can't say that I would run right out and buy the book had I not already read it. The scenery was beautiful. They did an excellent job casting everyone. Edward took a little time getting use to, but I think it had to do with how his hair was standing up and his thick eyebrows, other than those two minor things he was exactly what I pictured while reading. The second half of the movie was definitely much better than the first. The baseball game was AWESOME!! The encounter with James was good. These things played really close to what I read in the book and I like that sort of thing!

I am not sorry that I ran right out and watched it and when it comes out on video you can bet your bottom that I will be adding it to my collection. I am a sucker for Edward and Bella! I will also run out and watch the next ones, because they did of course set you up for New Moon.

All in all if I were rating this movie like I do my books I would give it a 4, even with all my hangups!!! It had the potential to be sooooo much better though!

A Man to Call My Own by Johanna Lindsey

#7. A book by Johanna Lindsey

Rating: 4 stars

Back Cover:
A Man To Call My Own introduces us to a charismatic pair of twins, Amanda and Marian Laton, who, after the sudden death of their father, are sent to live with their aunt on a sprawling Texas Ranch. As the twin sisters- on of whom is nasty, the other nice- both find themselves pursing Chad Kinkaid, the cowboy son of a neighboring ranching family, LIndsey skillfully charts the intoxicating course of first love- and all of love's attendant twists and turns- that end in one of the Laton twins' winning the heart of a man she can call her own.

My Review:
Marion and Amanda are identical twins with completelydifferent personalities. Amanda has been spoiled so completely that Marion disguises herself under large spectacles, dowdy clothes, and tight buns so that she can become invisible to everyone else leaving Amanda the center of attention and no competition for any of the beaus coming to call.After the sudden death of their father the girls are sent to live with their aunt in Texas. Their father's will stipulates that neither girl will be able to obtain their inheritance before getting married and that their aunt must approve of the marriage or their won't be an inheritance.Amanda was coniving, deceitful and just plain mean. Poor Marion was always trying to smooth or prevent the ruffled feathers that Amanda left in her wake.Chad Kinkaid has been helping Aunt Kathleen out on her ranch since a big blow out with his father sent him packing the night of a huge storm. He is sent to fetch the twins from station, only to find that they have already traveled on towards the ranch. Upon meeting up with Amanda and Marion, he has an instant attraction to the beautiful Amanda. He refuses to act on it until he can get her back to the ranch and see if the feeling is mutual.
A Man To Call My Own had a pretty decent plot. I liked it for the most part. I got tired of Amanda's antics and Marion's refusal to change and tell the truth of the matter. I really dislike what happens with the girls inheritance. This was a little much. Not wanting to give anything away, I cannot delve into that whole situation. This was an O.K read. I think that I might have enjoyed it a little more had I actually read it instead of listening to it on audio. (The reader wasn't bad, I just hated the men's voices)

Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

13. Read a New (to you) author.

Rating 4.5 stars

I have waited to long to post anything of significance on this title. I am having a hard time remembering the names of the characters, so I will have to dig the book back out and find them later.

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Hosted by CPQ

1. Read books in series/trilogies/related by author. (Julie Garwood’s Lion’s Lady, Castles, The Gift are related.) For a series to count you must read each book in that series during this calendar year. (Rereads and audio books welcome!) If you previously started a series and do not wish to re-read, then only the titles read after 01/01/09 will count towards your total books read. You will not however get "credit" for total series read. Only series started and finished in 09 will count toward the prize for # of series read. For example I started Lynsay Sands Argeneau series this fall. For me to get credit for all 9 books I will need to re-read the first 3 sometime in 09. The series does not have to be read in order, or in succession to "count"! (so if I read #4-9 this spring and next fall re-read #1-3 then I get full credit. Otherwise ...I only get credit for the 5 books read, but not for reading the entire series.) I think I just made that about as clear as mud.

2. The Challenge will begin January 1st and last until December 31st 2009.

3. Post your list on your blog and link it back to this post. Please comment to this post when your link is up. Your list is not something, you need to decide in advance. Please add as you go!

4. Please rate and review each title on your blog. When you do so, please label it SRC or Serial Readers Challenge so we can all read your reviews and maybe be inspired to try a new series for ourselves.

5. There will be prizes! Woo Hoo! Some of the prizes may be simple online trophies, and some will be book give-aways. (Titles to be determined) Prizes will be given for most books read, most # series read, most pages read, and some maybe at random! (my favorite kind!! Yay!)

6. To wrap up the challenge next winter, comment to this post linking your wrap-up post by December 31! Prizes will be awarded January 2010!

Sign up early and spread the word!

The Bounty Hunter and the Heiress by Carol Finch

#4 Read a book from a genre you have not read yet
Rating: 5 stars

After bouncing around the genres trying to find something to read for this, I finally settled on a Western and for an added bonus a Harlequin. I haven't read Westerns in a while, with the exception of the Summer Challenge when I read Julie Garwood's For the Roses and the second set of books in that series. I have never read a Harlequin romance novel. I really don't know why I have thumbed my nose at the Harlequin series for so long... maybe it has something to do with the cover art. I am (blushing and hanging my head) one of those people who will buy or turn down a book strictly because of the cover. I am happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!
Eva is a strong willed woman who thumbs her nose to societies dictates, refusing to conform and has been labeled an eccentric. She is hell bent on tracking down the shyster (Gordon) who deceived her sister,Lydia, and tried to turn her against Eva. She sets out to hire the highly capable and well known Bounty Hunter J.D Raven. Raven refuses to take on the case, no matter how much money this little woman says she will pay. He has just lost his beloved horse Buck to a shoot out while gathering up three outlaws for the Denver sheriff. He wants nothing more than to return to his secluded cabin in the mountains and start training another horse to take Buck's place. Eva poses as Raven's wife in order to travel with him on the stage coach without rousing the other occupants' suspicions. The entire journey Raven is still refusing to help Eva out, but can't help feel responsible for her the second the come under gun fire at two different stops along the stage line.
These two are at a constant battle of wits and banter constantly, but not to a point where you get tired of it. It is quite funny how they are constantly ruffling each others feathers. Their attraction is strong... which seems odd to Eva because she has sworn men off for the rest of her life, so how is this Half breed fast becoming the man of her dreams?
The Bounty Hunter and the Heiress is one funny, action pact, passion filled story!

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

#9. Title with an address or a place in it (city, state, river, lake, cottage)

Rating: 4 stars

I have only read a few of Julia Quinn's books, so I can't say what I was really expecting. I liked this book, but I there was something that didn't sit well with me and I just can't put my finger on it at the moment. Grace, the heroine, was just an average character. I admired her loyalty to Thomas and the grace in which she was able to deal with the antagonist (dowager Duchess) of the story. At the beginning I was a little miffed by her, she seemed really weak. She did end up growing on me a little more througout the story. Jack was a stronger character full of wit and charm. He definitely had his father's traits that the dowager Duchess seemed so fond of, just not in Jack who was constantly using them on her. I was brought to tears with the meeting between Jack and his aunt Mary. I didn't care for the epilogue. I will however pick up Mr. Cavendish, I presume and finish reading about this family. This was definitely not my favorite JQ book.