Heather's Reading Romance

Lethal by Sandra Brown

2011-10-30T02:41:00.005-04:00

When her four year old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.
But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it -- at any cost. From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society

My Thoughts:
Honor makes the mistake of believing a man found in her yard is in need of help. It turns out that the man, Colburn, is an accused mass murderer. He is in search of something that he believes Honor possesses that will clear his name and break open a large human, drug, and weapons smuggling ring.

Colburn and Honor set out to find the key that is needed, and in time find more than they were bargaining for.

This was the first book that I have read by Sandra Brown. I have heard many great things about her books and I was not disappointed in my choice of first books. I was immediately drawn into the plot and found it extremely hard to set the book aside to read my school assignments. I am giving Lethal a 4 star rating because I felt the ending needed a little help. I am still questioning if there was indeed a happily ever after. I guess it was implied, but I would rather have seen a final meeting. I do recommend the book to others and I will read this author again!

Whats up with me!!

2011-07-30T19:01:00.000-04:00

I certainly am very excited!! I have been a stay at home mom for 9 years. Before I stopped working, I was a workaholic. It was just my daughter and I, and thankfully I had a great support system. Once I met my husband though, my son came along rather quickly. I stopped working when I was 5 months pregnant. I was having issues with my pregnancy and both my husband and I felt like putting our son in daycare would not be a good choice. I wanted the opportunity to stay home and raise my son, not depend on the daycare provider to do it for me. This also allowed me to spend more quality time with my daughter. So that being said I have not worked outside of the home, except for volunteer work at the schools, in 9 years.

Well things are changing. Not only have I enrolled in school to get my bachelors degree, but I have become self employeed. This is no small thing for me. I am OK with school, that doesn't scare me at all. But the idea of entering back into the work force...yeah that scares the hell out of me. I have just signed on to be a ThirtyOne consultant. I first heard of this company when my son was in Kindergarten, when I purchased my first bow purse and a duffle bag personalized for my daughter. I didn't know who the consultant was and I didn't get to go to the party. Recently a friend of mine entered into this same career, and she has me hyped about doing it myself. The best part is that I make my hours, I have complete control over how often I work and how hard I work at it. I get some great products to advertise and show off at parties. I am super excited about the whole idea!! I am scared witless though. In becoming a stay at home mom I basically became a recluse and I am going to have to work extra hard to get out of my habits of sticking my head back in the shell and pull my nose out of that book!

So this is what's up with me!!!

On top of this I have been reading some really great books!! Right now I am on a real paranormal kick, and have been reading the Mercy Thompson series. I am still do the quarterly challenge in a book group at Shelfari.com. I have 5 books to complete before I start school on Aug. 23: Desires Unchained, Unholy Ghosts, Wicked Intentions, Marry Me, and one more that I have not decided on yet. It needs to be by an author that I have not read yet, so I have a list of potential authors ready and waiting...all of which I already own at least one book.

What is new with my blogland friends?!!

Kelly Armstrong Giveaway

2011-06-30T10:09:00.000-04:00

OK, so I am not the person holding this giveaway!! I have never read the series! But my friend Christine from Shelfari is holding her first ever giveaway, and it just so happens to be Kelly Armstrong's Spellbound.

Here are the details:

Contest starts today!

Contest ends July 6

Names will be put in Random organizer on the 7th

Open to the US only

you have three chances to win...comment, be a follower, and post about it on your blog. However all three entries must have their own comment (oops I missed that part when I left my comment, guess I have to go make two more comments)

Alright so head on over and throw your name into the hat and help Christina with her first ever giveaway!!

Lorraine Heath Giveaway on Happily Forever After

2011-06-16T17:03:00.001-04:00

I have only recently found Lorraine Heath again and I am absolutely in love with her writing! Ok, well I still haven't read many books by her, but I did absolutely love Texas Destiny! And I have found in the past that any book that Barbara at Happily Forever After is pimping is definitely well worth my time and money! So I am more than happy to come out of hiding and have my first post in months be one sharing the news of her Giveaway and pimpage!! And you can bet your buns that I will be throwing my name in to the proverbial hat! Head on over...or not which would definitely give me a better chance ;)

The contest is open until Sunday June 26 and she will announce the winner on Wed. June 29. Open to the United States Only.

Giveaway~~~Desperate Desires by Terri Wolffe

2011-04-27T07:21:00.004-04:00

Ms. Wolffe contacted me a couple of days ago to offer a follow up Giveaway to my review of her book Desperate Desires. I am very pleased and excited to give you guys the chance to win a Kindle ebook of Desperate Desires. I am going to do this a little differently... The first two (2) commenters either here or in my group on Shelfari.com will receive the novella. Please make sure that you leave me your email address so that I can contact you and then forward your information to Ms. Wolffe.

Please remember that the copies of Desperate Desires are ebooks in the Kindle format!

Check out the video for Desperate Desire!

***Giveaway Closed***

Desperate Desires by Terri Wolffe~~~Review

2011-04-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

A Sweet and Spicy Novella

The cunningly audacious Lady Lucinda Davenport is by no means a conventional woman. Smart and fiercely determined, she’s more comfortable adding numbers than she’ll ever be socializing with highfalutin members of the ton. When desperate straits force her into action to save her home and lands, she finds herself faced with only one option. Summoning every ounce of her courage, she sets in motion a wild and raunchy scheme that would set the ton on fire if they ever caught wind of her actions.

Lucien Brandford, fourth Duke of Carlsborough, is a dangerous man. Wealthy beyond imagination and handsome to a fault, the Duke is sought after by nearly every woman of the ton. Single, widowed, or married, ladies vie for his attention with cutthroat precision. But the Duke has no tolerance for the machinations of his title and fortune-hungry peers. He seeks his pleasure from women who require no commitment.

That attitude ensnares the Duke in Lady Lucinda’s plan. Caught unawares, Lucien finds himself at the mercy of a bold and luscious woman whom he cannot decide if he wants to strangle or bed.

The sensual dance that follows between captor and captive as they engage in a volatile battle for control, culminates in a seismic eruption—both psychological and sensual. As tempers flare and sparks fly, an intense and erotic interlude of passion ensues.

The temperamental lovers soon discover what all the world knows: that in order to possess the love of a lifetime, they must submit to one another to conquer their own Desperate Desires.

Sensually spiced with a heavy dose of passion, this romantic bestseller comes complete with a memorable cast of characters. You won’t want to put this one down!

My Thoughts:

In my opinion "Sweet and Spicy" is a little misleading. Desperate Desires was definitely a whole lot more than "Spicy" and should have been labeled erotica. A lot of the "sweet" is lost amongst the sexual interactions and "talk dirty to me" going on. Ms. Wolffe, however did a wonderful job portraying the characters and writing an exciting erotic historical romance.

You know from the blurb that Lucinda is in dire straits and is desperate to save her home and lands, but you are left wondering what the true predicament really is through out the first half of the book. It is made obvious from the beginning that she is not in danger of losing them because of financial losses. There are hints dropped here and there, and it becomes a little frustrating wondering why she would go to the extreme of abducting Lucien, IV Duke of Carlsborough.

There is an instant pull between Lucinda and Lucien, a desire that Lucien is none too happy about. He would much rather strangle "Madame Dictator" than show any desire for her wayward actions. Once they are sequestered in Lucinda's room, they have a total romp fest, Lucien is obviously experiencing Stockholm syndrome, and fall in love. There are tender moments between the two that you get glimpses of in between their highly explosive love scenes. So as to not give too much of the plot away lets just say that Lucien has overstayed his welcome and is quickly removed back to London.

I understand that this is a novella and therefore everything is going to happen on a faster scale than a novel, however I was not thrilled with how quickly the story ended. We go from the reuniting to the end in a matter of a turn of the page. I would have liked to have seen just how these two were able to come to an agreement with all parties involved... surely this could have been achieved within a few pages. On a more positive note I am pleased to see that the author gave our hero and heroine a HEA, even if it was done in a single paragraph.

I do recommend Desperate Desires to anyone that enjoys extremely hot books, and I do mean the caliber of books where you will need a fire extinguisher to put out the flames and lots of ice to cool down those burning cheeks!! After careful consideration and lots of thought I am going to go with my original rating of 4 stars. It is not the book's fault that I was not expecting what I got in terms of heat level, and the story while a little far fetched was extremely enjoyable!

Gorgeous Cover!!

Semi-Sweet: A Novel of Love and Cupcakes by Roisin Meaney~~Review

2011-03-21T14:12:00.002-04:00

Description (from Amazon):
Amazon buy link

Hannah Robinson is just about to open the doors to her new shop Cupcakes on the Corner when out of the blue her boyfriend Patrick announces that he's leaving her for another woman. Faced with starting a business on her own, Hannah begins to wonder if her life-long dream has just turned into a nightmare. So her best friend Adam sets his birthday as a deadline - seven months to make her shop a success, or walk away from it all. And as Hannah immerses herself in her new business, she soon discovers that she's too busy to think about Patrick and his now pregnant girlfriend ...or to notice an increasingly regular customer who has recently developed a sweet tooth for all things cupcake. But while Hannah is slowly piecing her life back together, family friend Alice's is falling apart. Her husband Tom's drinking is getting out of control and things are about to get a whole lot worse. As the seven-month milestone approaches, Hannah must decide her future. And while she's figuring out what's really important, it becomes clear to everyone that happiness in life, and in love, is all in the making.

from the publisher:

"The first edition of SEMI-SWEET was published in Ireland in February 2010 and spent five weeks in the Top 5 on the Irish Bestseller list. Roisin Meaney is the author of six books and is a consistent bestseller in Ireland. The Last Week of May and The People Next Door went to #1 and #2, respectively. Heralded as the new “Maeve Binchy,” Meaney has received high acclaim in the Irish press."

My Thoughts:

Semi Sweet is not a book that I would typically pick up to read, but from the description I thought I would give it a try and broaden my horizons yet again. From the very beginning I was pulled into Hannah's life. On the night that her friends and family were having a dinner to celebrate the upcoming opening of her Hannah's dream cupcake shop, her longtime boyfriend drops the bomb. He has found another, "didn't mean to fall in love, it just happened" and now he is moving in with the other woman.

Hannah didn't drop into a puddle of tears and hysterics she calmly told him to get dressed or they would be late. Leaving him sitting on the bed she heads out to the dinner and makes excuses for his absence...why ruin everyone else's night.

Over the next few days she does tell her friends and family and even considers not following her dreams and opening the cupcake shop. Childhood friend, Adam, won't hear of it and sets a seven month goal...Hannah absolutely cannot throw in the towel, no matter how hard or how bad it gets with the cupcake shop. Over the course of the seven month period Hannah comes to grips with the loss and betrayal of the boyfriend, meets a couple of new guys, and becomes a success with her cupcake shop.

You not only see Hannah's life, but we are introduced to a small town and the people living in it. Their lives are entwined with Hannah's in a sort of six degrees of separation scenario. There is heartache a plenty to go around. At times I did find all of the other subplots a little distracting, but they worked well with the overall story. Because I am a huge romance reader, I would have loved to see more of it in the book. Overall Semi Sweet was a very enjoyable read, and I do recommend reading it.

I know that there are a few authors that I read that don't hale from the States, but it was very interesting to know before hand that I was reading a book that was originally published in another country prior to being released here.

4 stars!

My reading time has been cut

2011-03-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

Over Thanksgiving my sister n law took it upon herself to teach me a craft. Who would have thought that I would have actually picked this craft up with gusto and actually enjoy doing it? Not me or my husband I tell you. My husband would like nothing more than to go back to Iowa and ring his sister's neck for giving me yet something else to distract me from the many housekeeping things that always fall to the wayside as I sit here and read and now Crochet.

(The above picture is not mine, I borrowed the picture)

My mother made the attempt several years ago to teach me, but me being me said I am way too cool for that and never let it stick. OK, I did have a lot on my plate at the time and certainly didn't have time to sit down and crochet a blanket. I had to work, attempt to complete a degree, and spend every spare moment with my precious daughter.

When I fell and broke my ankle, I thought hey I get plenty of time to read. I did have the time, but I couldn't make myself read. I am sure that it had a lot to do with those dreaded pain killers, but I can't put all the blame there. I just didn't want to read. So I picked up the ball of yarn my SNL gave me to practice with and gave it a go. Before I knew it I had finished a scarf. Now this scarf in my opinion is extremely ugly and needs lots of help, but my step mother loved it. So she was the lucky recipient of the finished product. Having another ball of yarn of the same color I thought I would make her a hat to go with the scarf. The hat didn't turn out quite like it was suppose to but it was still extremely cute...for a baby! I gave up on the hat.

Then I got this idea in my head. My best friend is about to be a grandmother. Well now I have a baby that I can practice with... you know make the cute little blankets and anything else that I can figure out. So I made my hubby take me to Hobby Lobby. I was still in a cast to my knee and had to be rolled in, he left me on the yarn isle while he and my son went to look at airplanes. I found the perfect yarn for a little girl, and for a set of teenage parents, "Pink Baby Camo" by Baby Bee (I think that is the company name). So I grabbed my five rolls... thats all they had and perfect for me that is what my pattern said I needed. Only I changed my mind and found another pattern that I liked so much better. Unfortunately for me that in my learning all of these stitches and how to read a pattern all by myself, I didn't realize that not all balls of yarn are the same length. I expected to be able to use the same 5 rolls for this new pattern and be good. I was so wrong. I went through my five rolls and found that I still needed more. And the store was out!! easy fix, I had the store order me 5 more and prayed that that would be enough. In the end I shortened the length of the blanket and changed the border to something more girlly. I ended up with 3 balls left. I made the same baby hat that I accidentally made for my stepmother. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. At the end of this project I was so fed up with crochet I didn't think I would ever do it again.

Boy was I wrong. My son's teacher is pregnant and his Kindergarten teacher is pregnant. So now I have consigned myself to make two more blankets. This time I am using the only pattern my mother knows... a granny square that keeps on going. She says that it moves really fast... I am starting to think she is lying!! So I am bored with the blanket that I have started for the current teacher, she is due first, and decide to look through the internet for some simple and quick patterns that I can make cutesy headbands or something. Yesterday I made two!! They took absolutely no time at all.

I find myself reading less and less as I devote myself to these little projects. And unfortunately my blog has completely fallen to the wayside. I do have one review that I will definitely be getting up in the coming weeks for the book Semi Sweet.

I hope that all of my friends in blogland are doing well and I hope to hop over to see you soon!!

DIK Reading Challenge~~Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran

2010-12-31T19:17:00.000-05:00

BEAUTY IS AS BEAUTY DOES...

Silver tongued Viscount Sanburne is London's favorite scapegrace. Alas, Lydia Boyce has no interest in being charmed. When his latest escapade exposes a plot to ruin her family, she vows to handle it herself, as she always has done. Certainly she requires no help from a too-handsome dilettante whose main achievement is being scandalous. But Sanburne's golden charisma masks a sharper mind and darker history than she realizes. He shocks Lydia by breaking past her prim facade to the woman beneath... and the hidden fire no man has ever recognized. But as she follows him into a world of intrigue, she will learn that the greatest danger lies within-- in the shadowy , secret motives of his heart.

My Thoughts:
I have planned on reading Meredith Duran for quite some time. Several of my internet reading buddies have raved on and on first about The Duke of Shadows and then about Bound by Your Touch. I finally found the opportunity to read one of Meredith Duran's books with the DIK reading challenge. Unfortunately for me the day after I picked up the book and actually started reading North GA was hit with an awful ice storm that left a lot of people stranded. Cars were literally left in the middle of interstates unable to move because of multiple accidents and empty gas tanks. I was not stranded on an interstate, thank goodness, but I did encounter much of the same problems a lot of people did in Atlanta, which aired nationally on the news...My mom was watching in West Virginia and was quite worried. I made the decision to park my car safely and walk the two miles home. Long story short, it was the wrong decision for me. I fell and broke my ankle in 7 places.
In the last two and a half weeks I have been trying to read Bound by Your Touch. I have been taking some pretty decent pain killers and suffering the side effects associated with them. I am hoping that being doped up is the reason the book did not hold my attention for more than a few minutes resulting in me almost not finishing the book in time to get this post completed. Unfortunately the rating may suffer all the same. I will definitely have to take Tracy's advice and reread it later on when I am not doped up. I am definitely not going to count Ms. Duran out, I still have two other books by her to read. If I find that those books satisfy my needs I will definitely revisit BBYT and its rating.

Lydia, the not so pretty older sister who finds solace in books and studies has been placed as the head of the family because the father is too busy with his own agenda to really give a darn about his three daughters. in an attempt to get some of her pride back after being rudely interrupted by Sanburne declares his piece of art a fraud in front of everyone, but the real slap in the face was his father was there as well.

Sanburne is so messed up in his head that he blames his father for his sister's situation. He has vowed to destroy his own life in attempts at making his father miserable for doing nothing about the predicament his sister is in. He acts like a spoiled and selfish little boy when all he has to do is face his father and ask the right questions. Now he is out to ruin Lydia and her family, only he finds he is intrigued by the bookish miss. Instead of publicly ruining her father and the rest of her family, he decides to work with her in the attempt to find out what really happened to the piece that he bought.

I felt like the story dragged on and on. Like I said I am hoping that the percocet, which seems to act like a downer in my system, is to blame for my ill feelings about the heroine and hero. I did enjoy the last quarter of the book which helped me keep the rating for Bound by Your Touch at a respectable 3 stars. I really hope to revisit this review in the future and change my rating and give a more positive review.

rating:3 stars

I really did a number this time!!!

2010-12-18T17:23:00.000-05:00

And I really shouldn't have any excuses for not getting any reading done over the next few weeks, or more. Wednesday night north GA got hit with some more of that wonderful winter weather that is not suppose to come near us. Our streets were covered in ice. I have to give myself props though... for someone who has never drove in the mess I didn't wreck my car. I was extremely proud of myself but was too scared to turn around when I saw the traffic at a stand still on my way home. So I spent over 2 hours on the road that leads to the road that leads to my subdivision, Only to get the road that leads to my subdivision and find it to be a parking lot as well. I decided I was going to park my car before I ran completely out of gas and walk the last two miles to the house. Everyone else was doing it! Well I am not everyone else, and I should have just sat in my car and prayed really hard that I would get home with out wrecking going down the big hill or running out of gas. NO NO NO I should have just stayed put. Instead I do this...

yes that is my foot at odd angle. I broke my ankle in three places and dislocated my foot. My mother tells me that there were a total of 7 brakes that have now been stabilized with plates and screws. My surgeon told her that he had to perform plastic surgery on my dolphin's nose but "Miki" is now "Niki". This is why the south does not like that winter weather that insists on blowing down here.

So up this week is Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran to complete the DIK challenge. My guilty indulgence, Explosive by Beth Kery, and then I will have to send my mother into my closet to find me something else to read.

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning~~DIK READING CHALLENGE

2010-11-28T15:17:00.000-05:00

AN ALLURING LAIRD

He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart—until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistibly challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length—but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.

A PRISONER IN TIME

She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite in her. Not even the barriers or time and space could keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about flowing the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side...

MY Thoughts:
I have heard many good things about KMM, but I have always said I will read her later. This was the chance and the push that I needed to finally pick up on of her books. My TBR mountain continues to grow and the time I have for reading continues to decrease, so I have become a lot more selective on the books that I choose to take what little time I have to devote to reading. KMM will definitely be one of the authors that are on that very selective list.

Have you ever wished on a falling star? That is what Gillam does right before Adrienne is brought to medieval Scotland. Hawk has ignited the jealousy and anger of the Fae King and his Fool. The Fae Queen has taken notice of the legendary Hawk and used him against her two companions. Out of their jealousy they seek a way to destroy Hawk without bloodshed, which would break the pact, and what better way to destroy a man than to have him love so deeply but to have his love thrown in his face.

Adrienne is from the 21st century and she Hates beautiful men. She is hiding from a past, and hoping it doesn't catch up to her, when she is wisked back in time to medieval Scotland and ordered to pretend that she is the Comyn daughter and forced to marry Hawk by the Kings order. Hawk is everything that she could want in a man, but he is a beautiful man and therefore he can not be trusted.

With this plot you know doubt can expect a battle of wits. But the story is so much more. It was an absolute pleasure to watch Hawk and Adrienne fall in love, lose each other, and find their way back again.

When Harry Met Molly

2010-11-12T09:15:00.000-05:00

A four-book series in which debut author Kieran Kramer transports you to London in a time where a wager can be placed by royal decree—and romance is always in season. Handsome, dashing, delightfully wicked—the Impossible Bachelors are the most eligible men in London. But in romance, only one thing is impossible: refusing to follow where the heart leads…

Get ready for When Harry Met Molly coming in November, 2010 and Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right, following in December.

When Harry Met Molly

In Stores November, 2010
Read An Excerpt
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders | IndieBound

He’s always been a player.

Dashing Lord Harry Traemore is perfectly content to live out his days in the pursuit of pleasure. But when he’s named by the Prince Regent as one of society’s “Impossible Bachelors,” Harry is drafted into a ribald romantic wager. The rules of engagement are scandalously simple: The bachelor whose mistress wins the title of “Most Delectable Companion” gets to remain unmarried. Harry is utterly unconcerned about his status…until his latest lightskirt abandons him.

Who will win this game of love?

Enter Lady Molly Fairbanks. Harry’s childhood friend—actually, “foe” is more like it—is the most unlikely companion of all. She’s attractive but hot-headed, and in no mood for games. Besides, what could the self-indulgent Harry possibly know about what makes a woman delectable? It’s time for Molly to teach him a lesson once and for all…but will it lead to “happily ever after?”

My Thoughts:
I was approached by Tracee to read and review When Harry Met Molly for Ms. Kramer's blog tour. Unfortunately through circumstances that neither the author or myself could control, my review is a tad bit late for her blog tour. I am most pleased, however, to finally have received this book. While waiting on the arrival I read only one interview and stayed away from any reviews...I did not want to cloud my judgment, which unfortunately happened just a little bit. I was pretty young when the movie When Harry Met Sally came out, I don't remember much about the famed movie, though I have seen it. Of course the title automatically makes you think about the movie, but when I read the interview and saw the reference to the two sets of characters I was kind of put off. I don't know why, other than Billy Crystal just doesn't strike my fancy. I don't see him as a romantic character, he is hilarious and a great comedian... I loved him in Monsters Inc. Again I say I was excited when the UPS guy dropped the envelope off on my front steps. So excited, that I put my current read to the side... a hard thing to do since it was Wild Riders by Jaci Burton!!

In a return comment on the "spotlight" post I stated:

"These two are the bane of each others existence yet they are going to have to work together to get out of a dilemma."

I honestly believe that that one statement can sum up the entire book in one little nutshell. However there is so much to the story, that I would hate for that one statement to detract anything from it.

We meet a young Molly at Christmas. She has prepared a poem that she intends to read in front of her family and the Dukes family. She is utterly in love with Roderick, her sister's fiance and Harry's older brother. In her not so mature mind she believes that changing the only the names will hide the identity of all involved. Not so, it causes a brawl right away. This unfortunate event sends Harry to the military and Molly to a stricter school. These two suffer far greater consequences than could be imagined.

Years later Molly has had it with being stuck in the country, a companion to an elderly cousin. She devises a plan to elope. Only her plan goes array the moment Harry walks into the inn with his latest lightskirt, who is described to be Aphrodite. Molly's intended runs off with Aphrodite, leaving both Harry and Molly in a large pickle. He must make it to the Hunting Box or forfeit the wager and end up married, but he can't in good conscience leave Molly standing on the side of the road to be completely ruined and possibly hurt. After some bickering back and forth Molly flatly says No to Harry's proposal and starts walking in the other direction, only Harry won't have it and carries her back to his carriage over his shoulder. They made a huge scene in front of the inn, neither caring or aware of it.

I am not going into any more of the story than that. These two have been at each others throats for most of their lives and now they must depend on the other to get them safely through one week with a house full of bachelors and their mistresses. The games that are implemented, the bickering, banter, and wit within this book kept me turning the pages.

i wanted to hate Harry at times but he always seemed to do the right thing at just the right moment. Molly's strong demeanor and cunning personality kept her secret and her in the running for the "MOst Delectable Companion". I have to say that When Harry Met Molly is the best historical romance that I have read all year. I am definitely going to be on the look out for the second in this series, Dukes to left of me, Princes to the right, which comes out next month!! If you have not yet had the pleasure of reading When Harry Met Molly I highly recommend that you put it on your Christmas list!!!

Rating: 5 stars

PICK ME

2010-11-09T21:26:00.001-05:00

Ok, you all know that I have a 15 year old daughter. I tell you there are some days I wish I had a bottle that would capture her statements and actions and save them forever. While I was over at Lea's blog, I apparently had a flash of something that happened today that has just stuck in my head.

Have you been to a Taco Bell lately? I was there this evening, and staring at me through the drive through window are several Hot Sauce packets that have the words "PICK ME" in big bold letters. I thought it was cute. And obviously "Pick Me" has stuck in my head tonight, as I used it in my commentary over at Lea's on the Stephanie Tyler giveaway post. Any way my daughter tells me I would love for my future husband to ask me to marry him that way. Here is the conversation that ensued afterward...

Me: OK I will save one of these little packets of hot sauce just to give to the guy that is going to ask you to marry him. And then I will tell him he has to ask you to marry him by handing you this packet and saying "PICK ME".

Michaela: (laughing) NO, they actually have a packet that says "Marry Me". I want my future man to hand me that packet of Hot sauce. I think it would be really sweet.

Me: You're kidding me right, (giggle), they do not have a packet that says Marry me.

Michaela: Yes they do, I find it for you.

she starts searching the plastic bag for our sauces and starts reading them off.

MIchaela: Watch we will get the only packets that don't say it. I swear mom they really do have ones that say Marry Me.

so as I am telling Lea to PICK ME on her contest, I decide I will Google the hot sauces. And guess what I found...yep you got it

So she isn't delusional as I first thought, but she is a little goofy! If I didn't think she was serious I wouldn't have posted about it. Taco Bell is her favorite place to eat and she loves their Hot sauce. So now I think I am going to hunt down this "Will YOu Marry Me" packet so that I can save it for her future husband!!

Spotlight~~~When Harry Met Molly

2010-11-03T14:26:00.000-04:00

When Harry Met Molly

In Stores November, 2010
Read An Excerpt
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders | IndieBound

Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas~~DIK READING CHALLENGE

2010-10-25T00:41:00.000-04:00

Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a dangerous hidden life. When their flirtation compromises her own reputation, Poppy shocks everyone by accepting his proposal only to find that her new husband offers his passion, but not his trust. Harry was willing to do anything to win Poppy except to open his heart. All his life, he has held the world at arm's length'¦but the sharp, beguiling Poppy demands to be his wife in every way that matters. Still, as desire grows between them, an enemy lurks in the shadows. Now if Harry wants to keep Poppy by his side, he must forge a true union of body and soul, once and for all...

My Thoughts:

Poppy is a very down to earth person. She is extremely pretty, witty, and intelligent. So why has she experienced three London seasons without one proposal, her family doesn't have the bluest blood and they are rather odd for London standards. Each person has his or her quirks which endears them to the reader. I for one fell in love with the entire family. They are very protective of each other and very loving and accepting. So when Poppy is satisfied with a "secret courtship" from her gentleman they are only partially fighting it. They want Poppy to be happy and are willing to stand behind her in her decisions.

Harry's first meeting with Poppy leaves him breathless and with a desire so strong for this woman he would do anything to have her. He knows there is competition but he is willing to stoop to any level to have her. Harry's plan to seduce the breath taking Poppy has only gone slightly askew, seeing his one and only chance in securing her hand in marriage he jumps on the opportunity to completely ruin her, kissing her passionately on the patio in front of several people.

I normally hate reading out of order, but I am finding more and more with historical romances that it is quite easy to do and still feel like you are reading a stand alone book. Yes, I could tell that there had to be a previous book or two because there are two sisters already married, and their husbands play such pertinent roles in the family dynamics... but I really felt as if I was reading an unrelated book. This is a big plus for me!!!

I found that Tempt Me At Twilight was a delightful book, one that I could not put down. With every story you have to have some sort of incident to cause problems, but I really think we could have gone without the abduction. I think that Poppy and Harry's relationship was riddled with enough strife to suffice, and with the strife there was plenty of banter and antics between the couple and the Hathaway family to keep the book moving at a really good clip. The abduction didn't take away but it didn't add anything either. Other than that one small complaint I loved the book. Lisa Kleypas hits another one out of the park! I can't wait to read more of the Hathaways.

5 stars

One Night Stands and other Corny stuff

2010-10-13T09:33:00.000-04:00

For the life of me I cannot remember where I heard this one but I just can't get it out of my head. So I thought I would share it with you and maybe you can be tortured right along with me!! LOL

I am getting too old to have one nightstands in a hotel room. So now I only stay at hotels that have two nightstands .

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A police recruit was asked during the exam, "What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?"
He said: "Call for backup."

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Little Johnny was sitting in class doing math problems when his teacher picked him to answer a question

Little Johnny was sitting in class doing math problems when his teacher picked him to answer a question, "Johnny, if there were five birds sitting on a fence and you shot one with your gun, how many would be left?"

"None," replied Johnny, "cause the rest would fly away."

"Well, the answer is four," said the teacher, "but I like the way you're thinking."

Little Johnny says, "I have a question for you. If there were three women eating ice cream cones in a shop, one was licking her cone, the second was biting her cone and the third was sucking her cone, which one is married?"

"Well," said the teacher nervously, "I guess the one sucking the cone."

"No," said Little Johnny, "the one with the wedding ring on her finger, but I like the way you're thinking."

Regression by Kathy Bell

2010-10-11T05:39:00.002-04:00

Regression Blurb:
Fourteen-year-old Adya Jordan swears that before her head injury she was a forty-year-old mother of six. Is she going crazy, or did she really live through an entirely different life? 1985 is nothing like she remembers, although her first day of high school certainly is! A typical girl with atypical genes, Adya tries to recapture her old life, hiding her growing conviction that she has done this before. Memories of the man she loved and a family she adored haunt her, even though her future husband doesn't even know she exists. Accidentally discovering the secretive Three Eleven Corporation might know more about her situation than she does, she is convinced the twenty-eight men heading up the company are responsible for the changes in her world. Adya finds her way into their ranks, journeying to the tropical island headquarters to begin an orientation into their prestigious internship program. The Three Eleven Company controls the development and distribution of Twenty-first Century technology brought with them from the future. Charged with the task of preparing the world for an impending disaster, each member of the team uses his scientific background to create a solution for a problem the planet does not know it is facing. They don't have time to deal with a feisty young girl poking around. Banished to the frozen Canadian Shield for asking too many questions of CEO Abraham Fairfield, Adya finds the men in the underground city of Sanctum are interested in more than just her genes as they search for the answer to her presence in the timeline. In the end, Adya encounters a choice no mother should ever face: save her children...or everyone else.

Regression Buy Link

My Thoughts:

I don't typically read or watch Sci-Fi. It just isn't my passion. I was approached by Tracey with the offer to review Regression and thought Hey Why not. I was intrigued by the blurb that was sent to me and thought that if nothing else I would have an interesting time reading. I was not instantly drawn in to the book. It kind of started off slow, but I knew something exciting was going to happen, maybe I shouldn't say exciting so much as unusual in my reading life.

Adya is a forty year mother of six. Regression opens up on a normal day. The family has just left a memorial and are headed to Grandma's. Adya realizes that she has forgotten presents and must go back, leaving all but one of her children with her mother. There are not many details as to what happens but you know that she has been in a car accident. Upon waking up she finds that she is fourteen years old and in the year 1985. She has very strong memories of a full life filled with love and happiness and a family that she could not have dreamed up. The doctor informs her that she has been in a coma for a week and that the brain can do funny things when traumatized.

With no other option but to accept that she is a fourteen year girl again Adya tries to blend in and behave like a normal teenager would without letting it slip that she has already lived this life, or one very similar to it, once. She is faced with confusion about her "new" world, seeing things in this 1985 that didn't appear until the 21 century. I was actually thrown for a loop and thinking that this is just ridiculous when Adya walks into school and finds that everyone has a computer at their desk, and not the Commodore 64 that was first introduced to me when I was a child. These were top of the line laptops. Of course the author did a wonderful job explaining all of this later on, and Adya did make reference to the changes she was seeing. It is in this classroom that Adya finds out about the company Three Eleven. After answering a question posed to the new users of the program Adya is invited to tour the company as an intern.

At Three Eleven Adya learns that she is not the only Regresse, the term used to identify those that have come back in time to their younger selves with full knowledge of their previous life. The only thing that these regresses do not know is what catastrophe takes place in 2011. Adya spends several weeks learning about the 28 men that run Three Eleven and their projects being worked on in the different departments to try and divert the unknown catastrophe.

I was a little confused to the time line at times and there is a lot of scientific information included that did throw me for a loop. But I really enjoyed what I was reading. The plot is well developed and very interesting. At times I felt like there was way too much information given, but that could be a normal thing for a Sci-Fi novel dealing with so many different concepts. Overall I enjoyed Regression and look forward to reading Evolussion, the second installment in this trilogy.

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts~~~DIK Reading Challenge

2010-09-27T10:40:00.000-04:00

Love blossoms in the second novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Bride Quartet series. Florist Emma Grant is finding career success with her friends at their Vows wedding planning company, and her love life appears to be thriving. Though men swarm around her, she still hasn’t found Mr. Right. And the last place she’s looking is right under her nose.

But that’s right where Jack Cooke is. He’s so close to the women of Vows that he’s practically family. But the architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship.

My Thoughts:

Nora Roberts is my Mac-N-Cheese author, you know what I mean, she is the author that I know I can pick up and fall helplessly and hopelessly in love over and over again with each one of her books. I know I can count on Nora to pick me up and give me my HEA in the most superb fashion. Every book I read is a page turner that will keep me awake at night and have me burning dinner because I have to read just one more page...which turns into just one more chapter. So when I saw Bed of Roses as one of my choices I was ecstatic. The problem with reading Nora is that I am so addicted that I hate waiting for the next book to be released. So I have been putting off reading the Bride Quartet until I have all four books in my little grubbies. I was trying desperately to hold of on reading this one until later in the year, but nothing else on my list of books was really calling to me. So I broke down and read Vision in White, because you just can't read these books out of order!!

The Bride Quartet is about a group of women who have been friends their entire lives. As adults they open their own wedding business, each with their own specialties. Vows consists of four parts, Photography- Mackenzie's area, Flowers- Emma's area, Cakes (desserts)- Laurel, and Planning every minute detail- Parker. In Vision in White we meet all four ladies and get glimpses into their lives and personalities, but ultimately VIW is Mac's story. Bed of Roses is Emma's.

Emma's passion and arm of Vows is flowers. She has the ability to see all the beautiful colors that bloom and is able to create stunning arrangements and bouquets. Out of the four ladies Emma has the most dates and offers for dates. She has her standards and her Spark-o-meter is what guides her through dating. If the date doesn't reach high enough on the Spark-o-meter she finds a way to detour the guy to another lady, all in a way that they guy has no clue that he has been brushed off. Emma's problem lies in her secret infatuation with Jack.

Jack is Del's best friend. Del is Parker's brother, and because of the many years he has also spent with the other three ladies he considers them his sisters as well. Emma's secret is not the only one that has been running around for years, Jack is infatuated with Emma as well. But because of Del's feelings on the ladies, you know the whole brother thing... "You are my best friend and my sisters are completely off limits to you." Jack has been reluctant to act on his desires. The more time that is spent between Emma and Jack the more the sparks are igniting and flying around. One kiss leads to a game of back and forth emails enticing them to make a decision to put their friend's feelings aside and see what they can make of their feelings and desires.

It was fun to watch these two people realize that they have been in love with each other for years. The banter between the two was sweet, funny, and romantic. I was head over heals with this book. Every emotion that was experienced between Emma and Jack, and yes their mutual friends too, was felt as I read each page. Bed of Roses is definitely a five star read, another out of the park novel by Nora Roberts, that has me craving more. I can't wait to finally sit down with Laurels story, but that I am going to make myself wait for until Parker's story is released in a few months.

Yep it's that time a year!!!

2010-09-12T11:30:00.000-04:00

My son has officially kicked off his football season. So far we have had two pre-season games and two official games. His team is 2-0. I can never get tired of hearing "Ding in the backfield"!

My husband is one of Cody's coaches and sometimes it is hard to separate the dad from the coach and vice versa. This has led to a few problems on the field. While we don't allow our son to talk back to us at home, he feels that he can talk back on the field. But he only does it with his dad, none of the other coaches ever have an issue with Cody. So when Cody started reading the plays and going after the ball instead of playing his position the way he is suppose to he just about lost his chance to play both sides of the ball. My heart fell the afternoon my husband told Cody that he had officially lost his position as the Defensive End. I hurt for my son, but I could not believe that I would not be hearing those four little words...Ding in the backfield.

Fortunately my son's ability to read the plays was noticed by another teams coach during a practice scrimmage and he suggested that our coaches move Cody to Middle Linebacker. Now I am not all too familiar with this position. But my husband tells me that basically it gives Cody the freedom to go where the ball is and anything that tries to come up the middle is all his. My son loves to tackle!! so this made his day. Not only does he get to continue to play both sides of the line but he gets to tackle someone all the time.

Now for the games~~~ two weeks ago we played Hiram Hornets. I have to say this game was a difficult one!! We went into overtime. I don't know if our overtime is played the same as college or pro-ball, but this is how it works for my little guy...the teams are lined up 10 yards from the goal line and they have 4 downs to make a touchdown. the two teams take turns doing this until someone scores. So if the first team scores they win the game. If both teams have their turn and neither team scores then they start all over again but they reverse the order. So in the first over time Team A went first so in second overtime Team B will go first. We were into the third overtime on our fourth down when We finally scored our winning touchdown! I have to say I was on pins and needles and praying that these boys would make something happen pretty quick or I was not going to be able to get it on video...my battery was dying and dying fast. Final Score 12-6

Yesterday we played SCRA Redskins: This game had to be a birthday present for my husband and coach Dwayne, it just had to be. I mean these two guys have to share their birthday with the memory of one of the most devastating days in my lifetime.This game was a cakewalk and I really felt bad for the other team. They ended up not posting any more scores and just letting the clock run during the second half. We won 42-0. Because I video the games I really don't get to see much of what happens. I know that sounds odd, you would think that with me videoing the games I should see everything when it happens but that is just not the case. I have to follow the ball to the best of my ability using a 2" screen on my little video camera. So until I watch the video I won't be able to tell you that my son actually tripped over his own feet while running the ball during a Tight End Reverse... my husband does tell me that he did get at least 8 yards in before it happens. So later today I can laugh at my son when I have time to sit and watch the entire game!!!

The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt~~DIK READING CHALLENGE

2010-08-26T10:03:00.000-04:00

WHEN THE DEVIL MEETS AN ANGEL

Country bred Lucy Craddock-Hayes is content with her quiet life. Until the day she trips over an unconscious man—a naked unconscious an—and loses her innocence forever.

HE CAN TAKE HER TO HEAVEN

Viscount Simon Iddesleigh was nearly beaten to death by his enemies. Now he’s hell-bent on vengeance. But as Lucy nurses him back to health, her honesty startles his jaded sensibilities—even as it ignites a desire that threatens to consume them both.

OR TO HELL

Charmed by Simon’s sly wit, urbane manners, and even his red-heeled shoes, Lucy falls hard and fast for him. Yet as his honor keeps him from ravishing her, his revenge sends his attackers to her door. As Simon wages war on his foes, Lucy wages her own war for his soul using the only weapon she has—her love…

My Thoughts:
I started reading this trilogy about two years ago. I was really impressed with EH's The Raven Prince and honestly couldn't wait to read the remaining two books. Things definitely did not go as I had planned. I did not immediately grab up book two, The Leopard Prince, or the third The Serpent Prince...other books just seemed to fall into my lap or these titles didn't fit into the challenge that I was doing. I sincerely regret this. I do believe that The Serpent Prince is my favorite.

Lucy is a country mouse set to wait out her time until the Vicar finally gets up the nerve to propose to her. She does her duty to her town and her father and life is just the same old thing until she stumbles across a man that she presumes dead lying face down along the roadside. When Lord Simon Iddesleigh moans she knows she is mistakened. Lucy does what any caring person would do, she has him carried home with her.

In the week or so that Simon spends in the Craddock-Hayes home he is bowled over by Lucy's beauty, strength, honesty, and her brow. His Angel sees through him right to his very soul, and a black soul it is. He has already sold his soul to the Devil to get revenge on the men who murdered his brother. Loving his Angel the only thing he can do is set her free to live her merry life with the Vicar, this is the only way to keep her safe from the would be assassins and his own devilish needs.

I almost instantly fell in love with the characters in this book. Lucy's father is a blowhard with a foul temper, but you have to laugh at his conversations. Poor Lucy doesn't know how to subdue either man when in each others presence and the banter is comical at times. Edward de Raaf shows himself a few times throughout...I don't remember him being so humorous in his book The Raven Prince.

This is my favorite part of the book. The hopeless romantic was rearing its ugly little head while reading apparently.

"You won't speak, won't tell me,' he said huskily. 'Are you taunting me? You taunt me in my dreams sometimes, sweet angel, when I'm not dreaming of...' He sank to his knees before her. 'You don't know me, don't know what I am. Save yourself. Throw me from your house. Now, While you still can, because I've lost my determination, my will, my very honor--what little of it I had left. I cannot remove myself from your presence." p.152

Simon is pouring his heart out into Lucy's lap after leaving and spending a week in London. He is looking ragged and not all together healed from his last ordeal that landed him on Lucy's doorstep to begin with. My heart definitely did the pitter patter while reading this particular part of the book. Elizabeth Hoyt did a wonderful job with the hero and heroine and their story and at the same time she weaved the Serpent Prince's fairytale into the plot of the book with an expertise that I have grown to love. The Serpent Prince definitely earns high ratings!!

5 stars

I'm Jealous!

2010-08-18T10:18:00.000-04:00

My sister came down for a visit last week, and she surprised me by actually wanting to see me for a change. I love my sister but I am not high on her priority list when she comes to visit her house and in laws. It's not like I am so out of the way that spending an hour or two hanging out at my house or meeting for lunch/dinner should be such a chore. She has really put my kids noses out of joint on this visit because she didn't bring her boys with her when she came to have lunch with me and she didn't stay long enough to see my daughter. I will give her some credit though, she was suppose to be gone before my son got home which is why she didn't bring the boys. My sister is self absorbed for the most part and I know this so I really try not to get my feelings hurt that she doesn't seem to think that it is necessary to come visit with us when she is in town. My husband is laying down the law now though...there will be no more helping her inlaws out with babysitting when the boys come down. I don't know if I like that because it may be the only way I get to see my nephews. But this is not what this post is suppose to be about!!! So I am going stop my rant right here and tell you why I am jealous!

While she was down she showed me her Birthday gift from her husband. (This present really shocked me because when I got my Kindle she thought I was insane.) She pulled out her brand new Nook!! Yes, both devices have basically the same things going on... and I didn't have too much time to really check her Nook out, but OMG was it so cool with its touch screen and color. She did like that I have a keyboard that she doesn't have. I was in complete awe!! And her cover was in color as well. She also didn't get my post on facebook quick enough... she went out and spent the $25 for a book light for her Nook, I tried to tell her that the el cheapo that I got from Wal Mart works really well with my Kindle, and after seeing my light she wishes that I had gotten on the computer sooner. Me on the other hand seriously has that ugly green eyed monster rearing its ugly little head. I love how her book light clips to the side of the device and hides nicely beside it when not being used and the cover conceals it when it is closed. So now not only am I envious of the new device but I am also jonesing for a new cover and book light. I checked them out and Yikes! I can't see wasting that money...I mean thats money that I could be using to buy more books. So I will sit back and be happy with what I have and know that my husband loves me very much.

I am guessing that this means that the days of trading books back and forth are over. We all know that the readers will not be able to read the books purchased at either bookstore.

Oh and I just thought of something that should make me feel better but doesn't really... she hasn't learned to shop around and do price comparisons. I won't purchase an ebook if it costs more than a paperback at the store. She is learning the hard way. She had a book in her shopping cart and her husband (remember he is the one who bought the Nook for her) secretly pulled the book from the cart. When she realized the book was not in the bags she went to her Nook and bought it. Im not sure how long it took for her to realize that she paid $3 more for the ebook than she would have at Wal Mart, but she was highly upset about it.

Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards

2010-08-16T14:38:00.000-04:00

Join five women connected only by their growing friendship and the road that runs like a lifeline between their cottages in a run-down Florida development called Happiness Key.

Tracy Deloche finally gets a chance to swap business for a romantic evening with Marsh Egan, but dinner goes cold when she spots her ex-husband prowling outside her cottage. CJ is supposed to be in prison and out of her life for good. Exactly what is this modern-day pirate seeking and what will it mean for Tracy's future?

Janya Kapur envies every pregnant woman she sees, but Rishi, her husband, is suddenly reluctant to talk about children. Is he disappointed in her inability to conceive? Their marriage was a contract between strangers. Can they ever hope for anything more?

Waitress Wanda Gray loses her job after new owners turn the Dancing Shrimp into a tapas bar. Wise neighbor Alice Brooks's suggestion that Wanda start her own business seems like a brilliant solution, until Wanda starts Pie War I with the owners of the local bakery.

When the empty cottage at Happiness Key is rented by single mother Dana Turner, everything seems perfect. With Alice volunteering to watch Dana's daughter while she works and Wanda's offer of a job, this spit of Florida Gulf Coast land should be a fortunate harbor for a mother and daughter who have moved far too often. Except for Dana's shocking secret.

As the women of Happiness Key struggle to discover the truth in time to help their new neighbor, their only weapon is friendship. But will friendship be enough?

My Thoughts:

While Fortunate Harbor took me just about a month to read I have to say that it was not from the content... I have just been overly busy and trying to squeeze in 5 minutes here or there to read was just not cutting it. I hate that my son had to get sick before I could sit down and really devote enough time to reading this book. That being said I just finished Fortunate Harbor and I am definitely quite pleased and may have just found another author to grace my list of to read more of.

Fortunate Harbor is my first encounter with Emilie Richards and I have definitely enjoyed the ride. This is the second book in a series, but other than the well established relationship between four of the women on Happiness Key you would never know that you have been dropped into an on going plot. Tracy Deloche is the owner of the property and the five little cottages that bless the area. The cottages are rented out to Wanda and her husband Kenny (a cop), Janya and her husband Rishi, and Alice and her Granddaughter Olivia. Like I said these four ladies were brought together previously in another book and from what I gather from the information given in Fortunate Harbor, the death of the fifth renter brought them together.

They are all experiencing shifts in some part of their lives. Alice is raising her granddaughter and trying to get her through a rough past with a father in prison and a mother who has past away. Janya and Rishi have past the early stages of marriage and are now ready to conceive, only they are experiencing some troubles of their own that are preventing them from sealing that deal. Wanda's love of baking pies is going to move her in another direction after she walks out/loses her job working at the Dancing Shrimp. Tracy is the head of the rec department. Her love life is in tatters when both her ex and her new boyfriend's ex drop back into their lives.

Wanda brings home a stray... Dana a single mom who is running from a past that no one can guess, has every excuse in the book why she should not get caught up with these lovely ladies and let her guard down.

There is a buried treasure to be found, love to cultivate, exes to get rid of, secrets to unearth, and wonderful pies to indulge in. This sweet read about friendship and troubled pasts was exactly that a sweet read. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a light read with little romance and no steam.

4 stars

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris~~DIK Reading Challenge

2010-07-25T17:39:00.000-04:00

"Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability". She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome- and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life...

But Bill has a disability of his own. He's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of- big surprise-murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next..."

MY Thoughts:

Dead Until Dark did not appeal to me on several reasons... let me clarify that statement-- I did not want to buy this book because I didn't think the synopsis on the back was very intriguing or interesting and the cover is rather silly. We all know that there is a mass of people out there raving on this series. I started watching the HBO True Blood series on Demand a few months ago and became addicted. I sat in my husbands recliner for several days watching the 24 episodes of Seasons 1 &2, and then had to impatiently wait for Season 3 to start in mid June. My mother in the mean time had been sending me her entire set of books, which I kept telling myself (and her) I was not going to read. I finally resigned myself to reading them... I mean I was in love with the TV series and the books had to be even better right?!!

So I finally picked up book 1 Dead Until Dark and I am happy to say that the events did follow along closely with the HBO series ( I guess I should really say the TV series follows closely to the books). And I should stress "events" because I was extremely shocked and disappointed to find that Tara was not mentioned in this book and Lafayette did not show as much flair as he did in the TV series. I absolutely love these two people... and then to find out that they are not related at all (ok that is definitely later, but still shocker to me). I had to get past all the first person POV and the fact that you really don't get to see what the other characters are doing when Sookie is not around, but hey the books are about Sookie and her friends not friends and Sookie. I did completely love the book!! At first I had mixed emotions, I wasn't sure if I would have read the book if I had not watched the TV show and didn't know if I liked the book enough to continue on with the series, etc. I waited a couple of days mulling it over and definitely decided that I needed to continue to read. So that being said I have read the entire series--yes all 10 books have been read!! So I have a feeling that this review is going to be hard for me because I don't want to give anything away and hope that I don't get my stuff mixed up!!

Sookie is a Southern girl living with her Grandmother in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She has what she calls a disability... she can read people's minds (whether she wants to or not at times). She is working as a cocktail waitress at Merlotte's. Because of her "disability" keeping friends and having boyfriends is almost an impossibility. People around town thinks she's crazy and look at her funny or steer clear of her completely. Being able to hear every thought running through someone's head definitely has it's disadvantages when it comes to dating and therefore she doesn't date.

Vampires have decided to "come out" of the coffin and make themselves known to the public. The Japanese developed a synthetic blood making it possible for them to live among the living without harming anyone. This doesn't always work out the way it is suppose to but both sides are attempting to make a go of it.

Bill walks into Merlottes one night and Sookie instantly knows that he is a vampire. There is something definitely different about him and she is amazed that no one else in the bar immediately recognizes him for what he is. Sookie finds a peace that she has never experienced when she is around Bill and they hit it off quite well.

While Sookie and Bill are dabbling in Sookie's first romance there is a murderer running around town killing women. Some of the victims have close ties to Sookie and she is starting to fear for her life.

Dead Until Dark definitely did its job of introducing us to the world where Vampires and Humans are trying to find common ground and a peaceful existence with each other. The characters are all memorable and I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. I don't know if my rating is due to the conflict I have with the book and the HBO series or if it was the book itself (and I have tried desperately to separate the two), but all in all I really enjoyed the start of this series and was drawn in enough to continue reading the next nine books cover to cover without stopping!!

rating: 4

Thank You!!

2010-07-24T10:39:00.000-04:00

I have been extremely absent of late to both my blog and the internet. Every year we go to a beach house just north of St. Augustine, and while there I don't use the internet...not because I don't want to but the signal there is not very good. So instead of getting upset that the computer can't keep up with me or it won't load properly I just relax without using the internet. In truth it is very nice most of the time not using the computer and just enjoying my time with the family playing on the beach or strolling through St. Augustine (I do love that city!).

kids on our deep sea fishing trip

When we got home we were busy running the kids to cheerleading and football camps/practices and having several of their friends running around the house. I felt it better not to get on the computer... once on it all else ceases to exist for a few hours. Besides I got totally engrossed in the Sookie Stackhouse books. I don't think I have read this many book in one month in over a year, and that was only because I was participating in a game/contest.

Once I got past the shock of how different the books are from the HBO series True Blood and got use to the first person POV I could not put these books down. I have succeeded in reading all 10 books plus one short story in an anthology. I will eventually get the book containing all the Sookie short stories, but for now I am content. I absolutely loved the books and really started understanding Ms.M's sentiments on "Dull Bill" and her rooting for Eric, however I was extremely disappointed when things did not quite work as planned with Quinn. If I didn't think my husband would sneak into my closet and take my collection away I would already be rereading them.

Then we had the dreaded problems with our modem. I guess it just worked its little heart out for the last 5 or 6 years and couldn't continue any longer. We got the run around from AT&T...one person tells you one thing and another tells you something else, then they try and remedy to the problem only to screw it up and have a total Jerk Off tell me something else entirely. So I said screw you and dropped AT&T completely and went with Comcast for telephone and high speed internet. So I was completely with out internet for almost 2 weeks here at the house. Everything seemed to going great until I went outside to mow my yard. The blasted cable guy left the box hanging wide open with all the wires exposed and when I try to log on after finding that mess my internet won't work. So here goes another day and a half without the internet. The new cable guys tells me that the problem with the internet has to do with the first guy not closing out the job properly. Yippee!! I am so done with all this at the moment. I am ready to chuck the computers out the window and say screw the internet. I did fine without it before I found it and I might be able to be fine without it again...

NO I won't I am addicted to my books and this is how I find new ones and share my thoughts about the ones I am reading!!

So imagine my surprise when I check my email this morning and find that someone nominated me for an award and I am one of 50 people that won!

PhD Online

So I want to send out a big

to all my followers, readers, and friends that I have made during my time on the blog. I know that sometimes life gets in the way of being as active as we would like to be with our blogs and commenting on our fellow blog posts, but I want you guys to know how much I really appreciate all of you!

WINNER

2010-07-19T13:48:00.000-04:00

I apologize for this announcement coming so late!!! I have been without internet for over a week now and just finally got it back! Thank You Comcast for coming to my rescue!!!

The winner for the Fortunate Harbor giveaway is:

Tetewa

Congratulations! And because I have been so absent for so long I will be emailing Tetewa to get her information!

Author Q&A and Giveaway~~Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards

2010-07-06T13:40:00.000-04:00

Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards

Join five women connected only by friendship and the road that runs like a lifeline through a run-down development called Happiness Key.

Southern California socialite Tracy Deloche finally gets a chance to swap business for a romantic evening with down home environmentalist Marsh Egan, but dinner goes cold when she spots her ex-husband prowling outside her cottage. Janya Kapur, finally settling into an arranged marriage, envies every pregnant woman she sees, but Rishi, her husband, is suddenly reluctant to talk about children. Waitress Wanda Gray loses her job after new owners turn the Dancing Shrimp into a tapas bar. At the suggestion of wise neighbor, Alice Brooks, Wanda starts her own business, until Wanda starts Pie War I with the local bakery.
When the empty cottage at Happiness Key is rented by single mother Dana Turner, all the neighbors believe this spit of Florida Gulf Coast land will be a fortunate harbor for a mother and daughter who have moved far too often. Until they discover Dana's shocking secret.
As the women of Happiness key struggle to discover the whole truth in time to help their new neighbor, their only weapon is friendship. But will friendship be enough?

Today I have the pleasure of sharing my blog with Mrs. Emilie Richards and she has generously agreed to answer a few questions about herself and her newest release Fortunate Harbor. Please help me welcome Mrs. Richards!!!

Will you please start of by telling us a little about yourself and how you started writing?

With a master's degree in family development and counseling, I worked in several kinds of counseling/social service positions until the birth of my youngest son. Since I planned to stay home with him for his first few years, I realized I had a golden opportunity to give writing a chance. I'd always loved what little fiction I'd written in school, but my life had gone in other directions. The moment I began, I knew I would never stop as long as my fingers moved and my brain still whirled with stories. Writing was like coming home.

Are there any idiosyncrasies or items that you must have while writing?

I've written everywhere in all kinds of situations. I don't need a view or the perfect study, and even though I'm surrounded by silly mementos, they aren't essential, either. Give me a working computer, a comfortable chair, and relative quiet, and I'm good to go.

Visiting your website, I see that you have a few series out, is Fortunate Harbor part of one of these series, a new series, or a stand alone? Please tell us a little about it.
Fortunate Harbor is the second book of three which began with Happiness Key, and will end with Sunset Bridge next year. Happiness Key was a stand alone novel, or supposed to be, but as so often happens, I enjoyed the characters so much, and so did my publisher and readers, that I was asked to continue. So Fortunate Harbor picks up where Happiness Key leaves off. It's the story of a shabby beachfront community on Florida's Gulf Coast, and four very different women who become friends and confidantes. Fortunate Harbor introduces a new renter, Dana and her daughter Lizzie, who come to live in the last house in the little "development" called Happiness Key. Of course Dana is not what she seems, and life is filled with twists and turns for all the characters.

What inspired you to write Fortunate Harbor?
I enjoyed my characters so much that given a chance to follow them a bit into their futures, I couldn't say no. I had introduced a number of situations in Happiness Key that were fun to explore more fully and resolve or even complicate. Ex-spouses, blossoming, unsolved mysteries. It's almost as if I wrote the first book with a second book in mind, even if that wasn't conscious. And once I was finished with Fortunate Harbor, it was clear to me that there were still plot threads to conclude. So Sunset Bridge is now in progress.

What would you say to someone who has never read one of your novels… how would you describe it to them in a manner that would entice them to read something from your bookshelf?

I think first and foremost I'm a storyteller, who explores complex characters and situations with a view toward positive resolutions. I want my readers to feel better about the world we all inhabit when they've finished one of my novels, but I still want them to have food for thought and feel they've grown in some small way along with my characters.

Is the location of Fortunate Harbor significant or special to you?

Fortunate Harbor is set on Florida's Gulf Coast where I grew up. Palmetto Grove isn't a real town, but I picture it near Ft. Myers. I lived a little farther north in St. Petersburg.

Who are some of the authors that inspired you or that you are currently reading?

I've been inspired in some way by every well written book I've ever read. The books that were not well written inspired me to work harder at my craft and try to avoid those mistakes.

Are you working on anything currently? Would you be willing to give up some top-secret information for the inquiring minds?
I'm about halfway through Sunset Bridge. After that I have a new idea, this time a series I'm planning right from the beginning. So my next step will be to write that up and present it to my publisher for discussion. The beginning of a series is like the beginning of a love affair, filled with promise and possibilities. I'm looking forward to that, even while I'll be sad to part with Tracy, Janya, Wanda and Alice, of Happiness Key.

Thank you for taking the time to sit down with me and answer a few questions. I have really enjoyed spending the afternoon with you and look forward to sitting down with Fortunate Harbor in the near future!

Planned Television Arts has been kind enough to offer up one copy of Fortunate Harbor to be given away.

All you have to do is leave a comment to be entered.

The contest is open to the United States and Canada only.

The contest closes July 11 at noon (Eastern).

I will post the winner either that night or Monday morning.

Pleasure Unbound by Larisa Ione~~DIK Reading Challenge

2010-06-25T02:00:00.001-04:00

Demonica Book 1
Grand Central Publishing
July 2008
ISBN-10: 044640103X
ISBN-13: 978-0446401036
Order At Amazon
Order at Barnes & Noble
Order at Borders
Order at Books A Million
Find at Indiebound

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life…
She’s a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure—but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.
Two lovers will dare to risk all.
Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his desire to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable—and let Tayla possess him, body and soul…

My Thoughts:

I have seen this series floating around blog land and Shelfari for quite some time now, and always say to myself that I will get to it some time. DIK Reading Challenge was just the kick in the butt that I needed to finally get Pleasure Unbound off my TBR list and onto my reading list. I don't guess I need to tell you that Pleasure Unbound was the first book I read by Larissa Ione.

Eidolon has built a hospital, Underworld General, that caters to the needs of various demons. Only a select few are denied care in his hospital, and unfortunately he never foresaw the need to include the Aegis on that list. He has a passion for helping and healing others and as part of his genetic makeup he follows the rules, so when Skulk brings in Tayla Mancuso he feels duty bound to treat her wounds, regardless of the desires that are voiced by several others including his brothers to take her out of the hospital and destroy her.

He is battling some very dark demons of his own. Eidolon's maturation is coming and unless he can find a woman that he is willing to bond with, and who is willing to bond with him, then his darker side is going to come to the surface and he will be forever changed...

Tayla is deep in enemy territory. Her body is betraying her on several levels and now she is faced with a hot doctor who is turning her into putty. She needs to figure out a way to escape the hospital, get back to headquarters and convince the regent that she is not compromised.

Larissa Ione has created a world of dark humor, explosive sexual tensions, and bone breaking battles all centered around Eidolon and Tayla. There are plenty of sub characters to enrich the plot and ensure that this story remains a page turner. I am definitely hooked on this dark underworld.

Rating: 4 stars

Tied Up Tied Down by Lorelei James

2010-06-16T15:42:00.000-04:00

...The strongest bonds are the ones unseen.

Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy—and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk—wasn’t in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone.

Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he’s the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in and plays house by her rules to prove he’s a man in for the long haul.
Despite Skylar’s insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as a brush fire, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she’s leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart.

Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren’t a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her…forever?

Warning: this book contains: no holes barred kinky sex scenes, wicked rope play, blunt language, and yowza! lots of hot cowboy nekkidness.

My Thoughts:

This book was so much more than I was expecting. It was sweet with the added erotic scenes. You are faced with a couple that is trying to learn how to come to terms with their feelings for each other while learning how to be parents. Skylar is a head strong woman who loves to be in control of all aspects of her life. When she is faced with a surprise pregnancy she is delighted. She decides to keep the paternity a secret thinking the father has a right to know before everyone else in town does and he is nowhere to be found. Once her secret is out she is faced with the whole McKay/West family and questions as to why she never said anything while being excepted into their family wholeheartedly. Kade is the ideal man and faced with the knowledge that he is a father he steps up to the plate and hits a home run. I loved his reaction when he first sees his little girl Eliza.

My Shelfari friend Janon highly recommended this one after reading it not too long ago. I have to admit that the title threw me for a loop. I seriously didn't want to buy this book because I thought it would have a major kink factor going on. I finally read the blurb the other day and being nostalgic over my own relationship with my husband I thought I would give it a try. Upon turning the first page I see Ms. James' Dedication, which reads:

To those of us who've realized a surprise pregnancy isn't the end of the world...but can be the start of something magical.

I can so relate to this dedication. Many of you may have read my story on CJ's blog the day that Cecile was visiting, for those of you who didn't here is the long and the short of it...My husband and I were practically a blind date. I wasn't looking to get involved or even date after moving to Iowa with my sister. I had just gone through a break up of a three year relationship. This didn't stop my sister and her new husband from meddling and throwing a dinner party. Ron, my husband, stuck around after everyone left to hang out with us a little longer and some how we started playing Phase 10. In my family, especially if the kids are not around, this turns into a drinking game. After that night we were practically inseparable. And not too long into it I realized I was pregnant. I have always said that my relationship with my husband started out much like the movie Fools Rush in starring Selma Hyak and Matthew Perry. We didn't instantly get married... I was having none of that. We did finally get married when our son was five months old. The road hasn't always been smooth, but what is life without those bumps and pot holes, but we do love each other very much and all three of our children have brought something special to our lives. My daughter is the only granddaughter my husband's mother has...hell she is the only granddaughter for three sets of grandparents. His son gave me a dose of what to expect from teenagers before my daughter was out of elementary school and has continued to add an extra spice to our lives...I just pray that he doesn't make me a grandmother anytime soon. And the baby, 7 years now, is showing me what raising a boy is really like.

So with all that being said, Tied Up and Tied Down is going to hold a special place in my heart.

Rating 4 stars

Guest Post~~~Marshall Chamberlain

2010-06-10T13:14:00.006-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of sharing my blog with Marshall Chamberlain. He has prepared a little something to talk about how he became an author and the books in his Ancestor Series.

Welcome Mr. Chamberlain!!

I thank the host for inviting me to write this guest-post as part of introducing The Mountain Place of Knowledge, Book I in my Ancestor Series of adventure-thrillers. In order for readers to get a feel for me, I’m going to say a little bit about my background, how I came to be an author, what “The Mountain” and Book II, The Ice Cap and the Rift, are about, what I’m writing now, and offer short answers to several questions I’ve been recently asked by readers and writers.

SO, ABOUT ME AND HOW I BECAME AN AUTHOR:

Way before taking up the pen, I received graduate degrees from Michigan State University and The American Graduate School of International Management, served as an officer in the USMC, and spent many years in investment banking and finance. Today I live and write on Estero Island, better known as Fort Myers Beach, in an apartment near the water I refer to as “The Writing Rock.” Believe me, it was never my intent to write fiction books. I had dabbled with a novel in my late twenties, and during my career in investment banking I put together many business documents and published several metaphysical articles. But on August 14th, 1998, anchored and living aboard my thirty-foot sailboat, The Shard, in the back-bay off Fort Myers Beach, my habit was to dingy in, get in my car and go about my business. On that day I sat reading in the Fort Myers Beach Public Library when a story involuntarily began surfacing, and it spewed from my pen as fast as I could write. In a year and a half’s time the first draft of the four-book Ancestor Series materialized. Since then, it has been a long road to learning how to effectively edit and enrich a story, and prepare and guide a completed manuscript through the publishing and promotion processes. Along the way I found the need and time to author and publish the trade paperback, Creative Self-Publishing in the World Marketplace.

NOW THE BOOKS:

Although I’ve labeled the books in the Ancestor Series adventure-thrillers, they would fit well in one or more of the other thriller sub-genres: action, suspense or mystery.. BOOK I, The Mountain Place of Knowledge, centers on discovery of a mysterious place of knowledge created by “The Ancestors” 180,000 years ago and located inside a mountaintop in Belize. The plot focuses on two feisty scientists, unable or unwilling to acknowledge they care for each other, who are recruited to investigate the mysterious death of a UN administrator vacationing in Belize. The unfolding adventure turns perilous with the discovery of an ancient Mayan codex, describing the secret entrance to a mountain and unfathomable wonders inside. The two stalwart characters are forced to deal with the encroaching interests of the CIA, a local museum curator afflicted with a case of avarice, and a strange Indian monk sent to assist them. A small force of NATO troops is sent to provide security at the mountain site; a covert attack is feared from major powers intent at any cost to gain possession of what lies inside the mountain.

In BOOK II of the Ancestor Series, The Ice Cap and the Rift: A comboquake rakes the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A fifteen-mile rift rips open across an Icelandic ice cap, dissecting a huge cavern holding mysterious ancient technology. A UN scientific expedition discovers the cave was occupied 180,000 years ago and contains a perfectly-preserved high-tech habitat and an inter-planetary traveling machine. Deceit and violence manifest as nations and terrorist groups ferret out the existence of the discoveries and mount operations to seize control of the ancient treasures. Lives are expendable in frantic action across oceans and air-lanes, from Iceland to the US, Libya, France, Spain and China.

The STORIES IN THE ANCESTOR SERIES contain scatterings of plausible technological gadgetry, are sprinkled with eastern metaphysical philosophy, and run for readers like raging rivers. Themes of the existence of mythical ancient races, adventure in strange inhospitable environments, discovery of arcane ancient technology and instruments of immense power, encounter with various forms of evil and heedless slaughter, and attraction and growth of a young man and woman sharing experiences of hazardous sojourns are ageless attractions for avid thriller readers. I’ve attempted to make the stories riveting, the characters captivating and real, and to stir the strings of excitement by luring readers into a personal sense of presence in the adventures and their mysteries.

WHAT I’M WRITING NOW:

After returning home to the “Writing Rock” on Fort Myers Beach in July of 2008 from a great conference in New York City called ThrillerFest 2008, I decided to apply my efforts to a new book I’d been taking notes on since 1999. Several authors at the conference liked the “what if” I’d developed to describe the heart of the proposed book, motivating me to put my half completed Book III in the Ancestor Series away for a while. The new book is entitled The Apothecary. It’s about a demented scientist disappearing from a DOD top-secret project along with an inventory of proprietary hi-tech nanites. Eluding his trackers, he produces a line of designer drugs for the Mafia and gains the interest of the North Koreans in the development of the ultimate soldier. When the DOD learns the scientist’s nanite replication process could easily run out of control and lead to a catastrophic event, his capture and containment become a major national security issue.

SOME QUESTIONS I’VE BEEN ASKED LATELY:

Often I’m asked about my favorite books and movies, especially ones that inspired my writing. To boil it down, I learned the most about plot development, concise writing, twists and turns, and character development by reading books in the thriller genre by authors Michael Crichton, Lincoln Childs and Douglas Preston. Outside the genre I favor James Patterson, Patricia Cornwall and Greg Isles, especially for their character development. And then there’s Faldo on Golf —sorry that just slipped in. For movies I like action and intense drama, unique stories that hold my attention and don’t rely heavily on just gory or spectacular special effects. Recent notables that come to mind are Avatar, Blade Runner, Braveheart, Jurassic Park series, Star Wars series, Terminator series, Minority Report, Man on Fire, Paycheck, Predator, Gladiator, The Kingdom, and alas and of course all of James Bond.

After checking out my Facebook profile, several curious readers wanted to know something about the “Writing Rock.” Well, it’s a generic name I’ve given to where I do most of my writing, i.e. Estero Island, better known as Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The name derives from my sense of the island as a place of power; the Seminole Indians were possessors of the land for hundreds of years. I’ll also offer this: During my years of searching for meaning I have become sensitive to “loose spots” in the fabric of reality, power spots that facilitate and foster contemplative clarity and spontaneous imagination. I am at great peace living in such an island environment.

Some readers have asked me if the Ancestor Series is part sci-fi, and if the books were influenced by the Raiders of the Lost Ark books and movies, and why I choose Belize as the setting for Book I, The Mountain Place of Knowledge.To answer, all the books are indeed part sci-fi but within plausible reality — in other words not at all far out, and they were not influenced by any other books unless my subconscious has an agenda beyond my understanding, which I’m sure has to be the case — but which leaves me unaccountable. As far as Belize is concerned as the setting for Book I, it came about from some of the first story pouring out so long ago and that I later cut from the manuscript; the beginning of the first draft of Book I was originally about Myakka, a young girl on her path to becoming a powerful sorceress. I got the name from a river in Southwest Florida. The name sounded Mayan, so I set the first book in Belize because 600 years ago the area supported several powerful city-states.

I hope readers here will enjoy the Ancestor Series books and periodically check at my website on how The Apothecary is coming along. I look forward to any feedback — always looking to sharpen my skills to better entertain avid readers. The following links should help you searching for more info:

My Facebook Page, “Marshall Chamberlain Writes:”

My Website “Weekly E-book Gift” on the Home Page

My Website “Sample Content” Page with Book-trailers and Sample Chapters

Purchase Hardbacks or Paperbacks:

Barnes & Noble

Amazon.com

Purchase E-books in Multiple Reading-device Formats at Smashword.com:

Book I in the Ancestor Series, The Mountain Place of Knowledge:

Book II in the Ancestor Series, The Ice Cap and the Rift:

YouTube.com for Book-trailer Videos

Contact Me, Marshall Chamberlain: mailto:author@gracepublishing.org

Cheers to All,

Marshall

Thank you Mr. Chamberlain for stopping by and spending the day with us and talking about your novels. I am really looking forward to reading The Mountain Place of Knowledge.

What Im doing besides reading!!

2010-06-09T18:49:00.004-04:00

School has been out for few weeks around here and we have been busy little bees. My son left with my mother two days after they got out, right after his last baseball game. The following weekend we headed up to West Virginia to spend Memorial weekend with my mother, stepfather, and sister and her family. They all recently relocated up there leaving me in north GA with the closest relative being four hours away. So it was really nice to spend several days with them in what one of my friends calls "Twang Town"

We then came home to do some weeding and cleaning around the yard and house. The FedEx lady brought the kids a special treat...Six Flags season passes! So I spent the entire day Thursday convincing my son that he was not afraid of the big roller coasters and that there was a lot more to do than the water slides in Skull Island. My daughter's friend Robyn was sweet enough to sit with Cody for about an hour while Michaela and I rode the Superman roller coaster. This was my first time on it! I absolutely loved it!!

Saturday rolled around which meant I had to take my baby, yes I mean the soon to be 15yr old, to the airport for her annual trip to her Dads. This time it was particularly hard on me. She no longer has to fly Unaccompanied Minor...saves lots of mullah but I don't get to walk her to her gate. So my baby had to walk through security and find her way to her gate at the Atlanta Airport all by herself. I was a nervous wreck!! I sat in my car in the parking garage until her flight left. My daughter was really awesome!! She catered to her mother's needs and text me every step of the way letting me know when she got on the Tram, when she made it to her gate, when the plane arrived and started kicking passengers off to make room for her. She then text me when she landed in Baltimore and again when she landed in Michigan. She laughed at me when I thanked her for being so understanding of my needs!!! How Dare she?!!! LOL

Now I am going to be letting my son go back to Moms for another two weeks! I was originally going to drive him up there, but Lil Sis is going to be down this weekend and said she would take him back with her. Great news for me!!

Now what am I going to do with myself for the next two weeks having no kids in the house and my husband in and out on business. Im throwing a huge party!!! Yes anyone want to join me?!! I plan on repainting my living room hallway, and dining room. And if time permits the main bathroom. I am also going to be looking into new lights for my kitchen. I am really hating the track light that has been there since we bought the house. It does not match anything and the stupid bulbs, which cost almost $8, are constantly burning out. To help me in my search for new lights CSN stores has an array of light fixtures. And they have given me the opportunity to review one of their products. With so many projects going on around my house I am sure to find something from their 200+ stores. So be looking for an upcoming review on something that is so not book related but will be something special to me!

The Wasteland Series/Anthology

2010-06-09T09:12:00.001-04:00

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The Wanderer-by Crystal Jordan
This story opens up the reader’s eyes to a whole new world. Kadira and Ezra’s chemistry burn up the pages, not to mention what happens when they bring more people into their bed. The Wasteland comes alive in a wild post apocalyptic way that reveals a tribal community with technological know how and a lot of…um…interesting customs.
Buy Here

The Whore-by Lilli Feisty
You may think the title says it all. And its true, no one does in your face gritty like our Feisty, but there is a lot of vulnerability, humor, and yes, man on man while a woman is watching love as well. Feisty takes us to the edges of city life. The darker edges. Shows us that there is more to this Wasteland than meets the eye. And she shows us pirates…I mean…pirates for heaven’s sake.
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The Breeder-by Eden Bradley
Nitara brings us into the heart of Kroy Wen, the sacred Temple. She shows us civilization-the fragile, barely hidden barbarity of it. And she shows us that when love is involved, acts of great courage are still possible, even in the Wasteland. (And yes, you heathens, she also shows us dirty nookie and threesomes and man on man love.)
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The Priestess-by RG Alexander
The final book gets to touch base with each of the worlds. Most closely intertwined with Eden Bradley’s Breeder, it starts in the Temple. But Xian, The High Priestess, comes into contact with pirates, thieves, and Wanderers. Hel, her Sun Guard, has a past with them as well. When Xian goes off to discover the truth about the world shes living in, why she doesn’t have all the answers as High Priestess, she takes Hel along and they discover the addictive taste of freedom.
Buy Here

I finally got all four books and took the time to sit down and read each one back to back!! I have to say having only read two of the four authors I was pleasantly surprised to have loved all four stories. Yes you must read all four of them, I don't think that it is a must to read them in order except for The Breeder and The Priestess...these two definitely play off of each other and you really need to read The Breeder before reading The Priestess. The words Steam Punk completely throw me for a loop and I have to say that I normally turn my nose up and walk away from a book with that label. And I almost did it with The Wasteland. But after spending so much time with these authors in their Yahoo Group and reading several excerpts I just couldn't pass up on the opportunity to try something new. This just goes to show that you really shouldn't judge a book by its labels!

These four ladies did an awesome job of putting together a world where the caste systems...or a should say who falls into which caste...are determined by one woman, the High Priestess. Lets see how best to tell you about The Wasteland ...

***You definitely need to read all of the warnings on these books... OMG were they HOT (think the hottest pepper and multiply it by 10)***

Outside of the city living in the deserts and caves you have The Wanderers. Within this group you have several smaller groups or clans who battle each other, trade with each other, and twice a year put all differences aside to celebrate in the Spring and Fall Rites.

Kadira and Ezra heat the pages from the very start. The sexual tension electrifies you as soon as you start reading. These two have watched each other at all the Rites from afar for several years, this year however Ezra has his mind made up he will have Kadira no matter what the cost. Kadira is a shaman which means that she must remain untouched for several weeks during the Rites to perform the coming of age and bonding ceremonies. She is also a warrior who pushes herself to be better than everyone else. Her past demands it of her and she will not allow this chieftain to distract her from her duties.

I was so wrapped up in this book I burned dinner... does that tell you something !! I loved how Kadira and Ezra allowed their past to dictate their lives until they came together and could no longer stick to their guns of never falling in love. Ezra's possessiveness or should we say protectiveness of Kadira was endearing and it made it even sweeter when he realized that he could share her without doing bodily harm to someone. Yes this story is jam packed with several sexual scenarios but the love story that builds and culminates was awesome!

Inside the city the women do not come and go as freely as they would with the clans. Women are revered and protected. They are not allowed to walk the streets of the city...it is not safe for them. There are three classes of women in the city... The Rose or the Whore, The Breeders and The Priestesses.

In The Whore we meet Bryn, a Rose or a prostitute. She is unusual in that she does not enjoy her work. In the evenings she sneaks out in boys clothing to run to the docks. One night she is not so successful in going unnoticed and runs into three thugs that want her earbob. The only problem with just handing it over is that it is part of her disguise and hides the rose tattoo that symbolizes her station. If anyone finds out that she has left the safety of the house her punishment will be harsh. There won't be any debilitating isolation for such a defiance. Thankfully two extremely hot men come to her rescue. Bryn knows immediately that they are pirates and follows them listening to their conversation. Without thinking she gives herself a way out of prostitution but could possibly have created a much bigger problem for herself.

The Breeder Nitara is having doubts about her upcoming sacrifice. She is dreaming about him instead of the babies that she will bring into the world to help repopulate the Earth, gifts for the Goddess. Akaash is not like other Wanderers that have been captured and brought to the Temple to be the Virgin Sacrifice. He is not as susceptible to the drugs used to keep the warriors immobilized in a constant state of arousal. Nitara and Akaash use her Taming Moon to become better acquainted, each becoming aware that the other is more than they seem.

In The Priestess we see how the escape of a sacrifice and a Breeder effect the High Priestess. Her doubts about her world are only intensified after the escape. Needing to find answers she has her Sun Guard Hel accompany her on a journey that breaks every rule/law of the Temple.

All I can say is WoW!! This world is explicit and passion is expected. It is believed that the passions shared is a must in order to keep Man subdued. I loved this series and highly recommend it to any one and everyone that has no qualms about reading very sexually explicit stories. I am really building a love hate relationship with novellas right now. I thoroughly enjoyed these novellas. All four ladies did a wonderful job keeping the flow of the world and the stories intertwined in a way that stayed connected. ---Does that make sense?--- You can tell that they put in many painstaking hours in creating their own stories while staying true to the overall theme of the story. This is how it should be done!!! The Wasteland definitely earns a 5 star rating!!!

Dangerous Winner--Updated

2010-06-01T19:23:00.001-04:00

I just got home from spending 5 days with my mother and sister in W. Virginia so this is going to be a quicky post !!!

THE WINNERS ARE

elaing8
etirv

elaing8 and etirv please email your snail mail information to jstpeachy1976 at yahoo dot com and I will forward it on to the publisher. Congrats on your win!!! Happy Reading!

Dangerous by Diana Palmer ~Review and Contest

2010-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

DANGEROUS
Long, Tall Texans
Hardcover
HQN Books
ISBN-10: 0373774591
ISBN-13: 978-0373774593 Buy link

Tall, lean and headstrong, FBI agent Kilraven lives by his own rules. And one of those rules includes keeping his hands off Jacobsville’s resident sweetheart, Winnie Sinclair, no matter the temptation. Shy and innocent, Winnie couldn’t handle a man like him—a merciless man with a haunted past. And this small town may hold not only the woman he fights to resist, but the answers to a cold case that is very personal to Kilraven....

Winnie has had her own share of sorrow and senses Kilraven’s pain. Even though she tries to deny it, the gentle 911 operator feels a connection with the darkly handsome agent. When he makes the disturbing discovery that her family’s unsavory past might have a bearing on his case, Winnie is determined to help him crack it...and the ice around his heart.

As they combine forces in a dangerous investigation, the stakes rise ever higher. Winnie’s life is on the line, and she’ll need Kilraven more than ever. But if they are to have a future together, her ruthless Texan will need to confront his past and risk it all for their love.

My Thoughts:

Kilraven, a CIA agent working undercover in Jacobsville, Texas, has had an extremely rough hand dealt to him. Facing, or should we say not facing, the deaths of his wife and three year old daughter he is bent on revenge and justice. The killer is still at large and it seems that these two senseless deaths are linked to several other murders that have taken place over the last few years. Opening his cold case, two officers are attacked, and there is a small break in the case.

Kilraven needs Winnie's, a local 9-1-1 dispatcher, help to interrogate a Senator's wife. He is well aware of young Winnie's feelings for him and her innocence, but he doesn't care who he uses or the depths that he must go in order to find the person responsible for his family's murders.

I have to admit that I am struggling with this "review". I am always pleased to be considered to read and review new releases, whether it be a well known author or a new comer to the scene, but Dangerous is the first one that I really wish I had passed on to the next willing reviewer. In excepting the offer I have an obligation to both my followers and the author to give an honest review, which includes my feelings on the book. With that in mind, please remember that these are my thoughts and opinions and you should by no means let them cloud your reading expectations of this well known author and her current new release.

Dangerous fell flat for me. I had a lot of hang ups while trying to read this book. It has been many years since I have read a book by Diana Palmer, so many in fact that I can not remember the names of the books that I read. I know she has a huge following, but after finishing Dangerous I have to wonder why.

The relationship between Kilraven and Winnie made me feel like I was back in high school. The boys will say anything to get into the girls pants. Yes, Winnie is suppose to be innocent, but at 22 years old you would think that she would have some inclination as to what a boy, or in this case a man, would say or do to girl/woman who he wants to get into bed, yet have no strings attached. I am fine with the fact that Kilraven wants to marry Winnie to gain information for his murder investigation and want an annulment as soon as the investigation is over, it does make for good story line and provides a way for the hero and heroine to get together. But in the same sentence he also suggests that they take liberties and indulge themselves and actually share the marital bed and get a divorce instead of an annulment just seemed a little callous and again I was transported back to high school.

The constant repetition of thoughts, comments, etc really had me pulling my hair out. For example, and this one is just a minor one:

"...Her face was flaming, and not only from the intimate position. She hadn't dreamed that men would say such blatant things to women! 'Im not on the pill!'

That stopped him dead. His mind wasn't working. It was enslaved to the throbbing hunger in his lower extremities. he didn't have anything, either. He didn't carry prophylactics because he never slept with women. She could get pregnant. Just for an instant, he thought about a baby in her arms and his whole soul felt grief like a lance. No! Never again!

...'It amazes me,' he said.
'What?' she asked.
'How very innocent you are,' he remarked quietly, staring straight into her dark eyes.
She colored prettily. 'I'm getting less innocent by the day' she said tautly.
He grinned. 'Didn't know men said such blatant things to women?'"

Like I said, this example is very mild but it occurs throughout the book. One person is thinking something or saying something and in comes another person with the same comment or voicing the thoughts of the other. Palmer also has the annoying habit of explaining everything and leaving nothing to your imagination. I could have gone with out several scenes while Winnie was at work or the couples walks to the car. Let me add here that I read not the finished product but the "Advanced Uncorrected Proof." I really hope that the finished product has eliminated the problem (in my opinion) areas.

While I was struggling in the beginning, wanting to put the book down and move on to the next, I decided I would surf the net and try to find another review of Dangerous. My initial search found only one giveaway and one review in blog land. I recently did another one and found another review. One is pretty negative and the other pretty positive. So here are the links to the reviews:

Positive Review

Negative Review

The overall story line was descent and if I could have just gotten past my own hang ups with the repetition and "telling" of the story I think I would have enjoyed Dangerous more.

My rating: 3 stars

Now for the contest

Thanks to the publisher I have two books to giveaway.

All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment.

Contest is open until May 31

Opened to United States and Canada only.

I will post the winners June 1

Wasteland series is out!

2010-05-26T08:46:00.004-04:00

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas~~DIK Reading Challenge

2010-05-25T08:33:00.000-04:00

Why is Lady Sophia looking for a lover?

And could she seduce the most marriageable man in London?

Lady Sophia Sydney would do anything to ensnare the unattainable Sir Ross Cannon. Her goal -- to ruin his reputation and cause a scandal that would be the talk of all London. So she insinuates herself into his life by gaining his trust and living in his house.

She knows he is falling more in love with her each day. But she never counted on falling in love with him. And she never dreamed he might very respectably ask for her hand in marriage...

My Thoughts:

I love Lisa Kleypas! I don't think I have ever bought a book with her name on it that I did not absolutely love. And saying that I realize now that I always go into reading a Kleypas book with high expectations. Happily Lady Sophia's Lover held up to not only the hype but to my expectations. I know we always say we just could not put it down, but that was the case again.

This is the second book in the Bow Street Runners series. I normally try to steer clear of starting a series in the middle but I have heard so many wonderful things about this one particular book and the title worked in two of the challenges I am participating in, I made the exception and I am so glad that I did.

Sir Ross, handling the job of several men, is the Chief Magistrate and the people either love him or they hate him. He is known to be a fair man and is willing to help anyone and everyone. These traits are not what Sophia was expecting when she took on the job of his assistant at Bow Street. She was looking forward to meeting an aging bald man with added padding around his waist who exhibited awful character traits.

His protective instincts come to the front almost immediately where Sophia is concerned. After years of celibacy and leading a lonely life of work and more work, Ross is shocked when he is faced with a rather uncomfortable condition and racy thoughts concerning the beautiful Lady Sophia. The sparks are flying from their first meeting and he knows that it is only a matter of time before he gets her into his bed. Sophia's plans are falling apart around her with every day that she spends in Sir Ross's presence. She is most certain that she will be the one to suffer a broken heart when her plan comes to fruition...Make Sir Ross love her and leave him with a broken heart after she has ruined him.

I loved everything about Lady Sophia's Lover. There is a battle of wills, a saucy woman, a strong man who knows he can not do anything but fall in love with the beauty in his life, revenge, manly protective instincts...what is not to love.

Rating 5 stars

The Breeder by Eden Bradley

2010-05-18T14:49:00.001-04:00

Need to give a shout out to Eden Bradley and her new release The Breeder! This is book three in the Wasteland series. Happy Release Day, Eden!!

From the Smutketeers Blog

(What a beautiful cover!)

In 2012, the world came to a grinding halt as radiation hit from a massive solar storm. Crops died, animals perished, cities fell and humans became little more than beasts themselves. Under the threat of starvation, civility was reduced to mere memory. Only the strongest men survived, and physically weaker women and children wasted to nothingness.

More than a century later, humanity struggles in the desert Wasteland that was left. The solar radiation rendered most women infertile, and the population dwindles more with each year that passes. Scattered up and down coasts, isolated cities eke out an existence from fishing, foraging and hunting for what little game remains. Outside the city walls, men face the threat of pirates and raiders.

Few women remain, divided into four classes—Wanderers, Whores, Breeders and Priestesses. They are as reviled as they are worshiped, a commodity any man must pay to touch.

There is only one rule in the Wasteland—survive.

Book One: THE WANDERER — Crystal Jordan, May 4, 2010
Book Two: THE WHORE — Lilli Feisty, May 11, 2010
Book Three: THE BREEDER — Eden Bradley, May 18, 2010
Book Four: THE PRIESTESS — R.G. Alexander, May 25, 2010

THE BREEDER, Book Three in the Wasteland Series

Destined to serve the desires of an entire city, all she wants is one man. Or maybe two…

Wasteland, Book 3

Born to the Temple, Nitara knows the Great Goddess’s plan for her: to bring life into what is left of an arid and wasted Earth. Since puberty she has been trained to arouse and titillate, to ensure the continuation of the human race.

As is the custom, the man captured for her is strong of blood, though considered little more than a wild animal. Yet when she looks into his eyes, she sees no primitive creature, but the man whose face and hands haunt her sensual dreams.

For Akaash, a hunter and warrior, it’s his shame that he will be sacrificed to a goddess he doesn’t believe in, for a people who are not his own, leaving behind his Wanderer clan—and his bonded lover, Dhatri. Locked in the bowels of the Temple, he has a month to ponder his fate, all while falling helplessly under the spell of the virgin temptress who will soon take his life.

With each tortuously erotic encounter, however, Akaash realizes that Nitara is as much a prisoner as he. If he can just get a message out to Dhatri, there may be a slim chance both of them can escape…

Warning: Sexual acts in a prison cell, by the sea, in the desert, on an altar, with every possible combination of dirty deeds between two men and one very lucky woman, and all of it hot enough to melt sand! And her panties. If she were wearing any.

Now I have not had the opportunity to read any of the books included in the Wasteland series, but I am really looking forward to getting my fingers on these extremely hot books! Head on over to the Smutketeers blog and get a glimpse into The Breeder with an X rated excerpt!

Wicked Sexy by RG Alexander

2010-05-18T08:34:00.000-04:00

Buy from MBaM!
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Red Hots!

ISBN: 978-1-60504-887-1
Length: Novella
Publication Date: January 26, 2010
Cover art by Tuesday Dube

Something magic this way comes…

Wicked ³, Book 1

Callie has always known the Abbotts were different. Witches, though they call themselves “Magians”. They are her second family. Harrison Abbott has been her best friend since they were children. Tucker Abbott, her life-long crush. And their brother, Tyghe? A magical pain in her backside.

When the Abbotts need her human perspective to solve a mystery, she doesn’t hesitate. Especially since it means getting everything she ever wanted. A chance to be one of them, to have magic, even if it’s only temporary.

Someone is attacking young women at Triune, a ritual that helps Magians find their perfect threesome—the match that will complete their magic and their hearts. Callie expected to be dazzled by her first glimpse into the Magian world, but the bone-melting desire between her and the Abbott brothers isn’t part of the plan.

Nor is the decades-old secret that makes her the target of a killer…

My Thoughts:

I came across this amazing set of ladies, The Smutketeers, over the weekend through Samhain Cafe (Yahoo Group). I joined their Yahoo group and joined in on some of the conversations. I realized that I had not yet read anything by any of the authors. Having had a difficult time with my last book I went scrolling through my Kindle to find something by a familiar author when I ran across the name R G Alexander. What do you know...this lady happens to be one of the Smutketeers and I have at least two of her books unread. So I opened up this novella with my coffee in hand started reading.

I couldn't stop reading! My hubby is none too happy as I was suppose to finish pressure washing the deck which completely slipped my mind while I wrapped up with the Magians. I can not possibly tell you any more about the plot of the story than the blurb that I grabbed from Samhain already does without giving too much away so unfortunately you will have to suffer listening to me rambling away about how I feel!! LOL

Those of you that have followed me for a while know that I don't like Anthologies and Novellas are not that high on the list either, however I was pleasantly pleased with this one. When I finished I felt fulfilled. Other than wanting to know what happens next for Harrison and getting glimpses into Callie's Happily Ever After I wanted for nothing when I turned the last page. You know what I mean... so often when reading a novella I feel like things are rushed and I am left wanting more, not a sequel but more story... the author just didn't pull it off for me kind of thing. Wicked Sexy was the exact opposite, everything progressed smoothly without being rushed. There was enough background information leading up to the romance to make you feel like "this is right!"

The mystery that needs solving opens up doors for Callie that she never thought possible. It also lands her slap dab in Tyghe's arms, something she almost dreads. Tyghe has been the bane of her existence since she met Harrison as a child. Tyghe tormented her, cast spells on her bike, and just made life a little more interesting. It seemed only right that Tyghe and Callie would have this strong attraction to each other after the spell was cast. Problem being that Tyghe is highly jealous of Callie's long time infatuation with older brother Tucker, who is thankfully away on a one man hunting trip.

To top off a wonderful page turning plot, RG can write some explosive love scenes! Ladies bring your fans when reading Wicked Sexy.

Rating: 5 stars

LOVER MINE by JR Ward

2010-05-17T11:10:00.000-04:00

I really don't think that I need to include the blurb for this book! Everyone has jumped on this bandwagon and knows that the latest Black Dagger Brotherhood novel is all about John Matthew and Xhex. This long awaited for romance definitely did not disappoint! It captured me from the very first page. I finished LOVER MINE over a week ago, but have been so wrapped up in trying to get some books read, which I only accomplished one, playing Mafia Wars, and joining new yahoo groups that I have been very bad in not getting my thoughts on my blog.

I have not always been a big fan of Xhex, but I have to say that she does make the perfect mate for John Matthew. LOVER MINE keeps you on an emotional roller coaster that has you loving to hate Xhex and breaking your heart not only for JM but for Blay and Qhuinn as well. I think that for content alone this one has just become my favorite BDB book...I still have my ranking of the Brothers and JM has never been number 1, but I loved his story! I kept waiting for Xhex to figure out that JM was not Darius's son but Darius himself, but of course it never happened.

I really didn't get why JR Ward deviated so far south to the Plantation and the investigation of ghosts. I understand now that she needed a way to leave an opening for the next book, which unfortunately won't be Blay and Qhuinn's story... because these Brothers really need to get their Happily Ever After!!

Rating: 5 stars

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-07T20:45:00.000-04:00

I doubt that I will be logging in over the weekend, so I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you special ladies a Happy Mother's Day!!

My son is sick so we won't be going to his baseball game, but I am looking forward to spending a weekend at home with both my kids, husband, and LOVER MINE.

I have jumped on the band wagon...

2010-05-05T11:53:00.000-04:00

I have just spent the last few days totally immersed in the HBO series True Blood. Now I tried to watch it when it first aired, but the first episode was so raunchy I just couldn't bring myself to actually sit down and watch it knowing my kids were in the next room. Well, we recently added HBO back to our cable package and Seasons 1 &2 are on Demand so I can watch it during the safety of school hours... no children can accidentally walk in and see or hear something that they really shouldn't and I won't have any interruptions, kind of a double bonus!! Anyway, this series actually trumped reading. I have been so involved in the series and jonesing to find out what is going to happen next that I have taken every spare minute of my day and nights to watch all 24 episodes throwing all books to the wayside. LOVER MINE showed up yesterday morning and I couldn't make myself sit down with it...now how f&*^ed up is that (please excuse that slip--I do try to keep my posts and language clean, but I fear that is exactly how I feel). How can a simple TV show trump the Brotherhood? I mean I refused to buy the books because I found the covers to be rather silly and uninteresting, but now I have the entire series sitting in my closet, thanks to my mother who has read the entire series and won't shut up about it, and all I can think about is crawling onto the couch and diving into the that first hideous covered book and reading the entire series cover to cover with out coming up for air. My husband is actually kind of shocked with me... He has not seen a book or my Kindle in my hands in days and he knows about my obsession with the Brotherhood and cannot believe that the beautiful book is still sitting in the box that it came in.
So after watching the last episode of Season 2 I logged on and headed straight to Ms. Moonlight's blog. She is the only person that I could remember having read the series, wasn't sure if she had watched the HBO series...guess I should have known she would not have let the series get by her. lol I only scanned some of her posts concerning True Blood, skipped right over the book reviews--I don't want to taint my own opinions when I finally sit down to read the books. My first thoughts about Bill were very similar. I just cannot see the fascination that he stirs, I mean he does seem rather dull and old fashioned. Remember I have not read the books... I have to admit he has grown on me, he still looks a little old, but his looks are growing on me and he is starting to make me think of a classically good looking man with the old Southern manners that I really do believe some men really should adopt. Jason is some major eye candy, but he certainly isn't the brightest penny in the bag. My daughter calls him a man whore, my friend says he is not respected, but ohhh my wouldn't I like to have him sitting on my couch doing nothing more than looking pretty and ummm well you get where this is going. Eric--what is there to say about him. He seems like a real dick. I am very happy that he had to cut his hair because it just looked wrong long and shaggy... but is he good looking? Like I told a friend of mine in Savannah..."he hasn't grown on me" there is potential there. Sookie, I didn't like her in the beginning but I am really loving her now. I found myself in the very beginning of the series hoping that Sookie would choose Sam over Bill but it just wasn't in the cards. I love Tara and Lafayette. These two have brought tears to my eyes with their antics and comments.

Now I must wait until next month before the next season starts and I am wondering do I put the list of books that I have for May to the side and just read Sookie or do I wait. There are benefits to both. The wait makes it that much sweeter and I get to enjoy several good books in the process, but I am in the mood for instant gratification. In the end I will probably just sit it out and read the books next month, when I haven't so many other distractions. Right now I have one review and contest due at the end of the month, another possible review for the beginning of June, and two challenges that I need to complete. That's 8 books before the end of May and we all know that I am slower than dirt when reading. So the posts will definitely continue to be slow in coming, but I am planning on getting a few out with this month!!

Enjoy your Hump Day and I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!

To Seduce A Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt~~DIK Reading Challenge

2010-04-27T06:35:00.001-04:00

THE ONE THING HE CANNOT REVEAL
For years, Melisande Fleming has loved Lord Vale from afar . . . watching him seduce a succession of lovers, and once, catching a glimpse of heartbreaking depths beneath his roguish veneer. When he’s jilted on his wedding day, she boldly offers to be his.
TO THE ONE WOMAN HE MOST DESIRES
Vale gladly weds Melisande, if only to produce an heir. But he’s pleasantly surprised: A shy and proper Lady by day, she’s a wanton at night, giving him her body—though not her heart.
IS HIS DEEPEST NEED . . .
Determined to learn her secrets, this sinner starts to woo his seductive new wife—while hiding the nightmares from his soldiering days in the Colonies that still haunt him. Yet when a deadly betrayal from the past threatens to tear them apart, Lord Vale must bare his soul to the woman he married...or risk losing her forever.

My Thoughts:
My only regret is waiting so long to read the second book in the Four Soldiers series. I really do believe that allowing so much time to lapse between book one, To Taste Temptation, and To Seduce A Sinner caused me to have an awful time in the beginning. I kept trying to remember how the hero and heroine fit into the last story, what Jasper and Samuel had figured out about Spinners Fall, etc. Once I realized that Melisande was Emmeline's (heroine from TTT) friend and that Jasper was indeed the former fiancee to Emmeline I let everything else go. I figured it would come to me as I read deeper into the story. I am happy to say that most of it did come back.

Melisande has been in love with Lord Vale, Jasper, from afar for years. It almost broke her when her best friend became engaged to him and she did not have the courage to do anything more than stand idly by and watch the love of her life slip through her fingers. Now she must go and watch him wed someone else, only this time the young lady practically leaves Jasper at the altar. Melisande finds the courage to approach Jasper and ask him to marry her. Jasper knows that he should remember who she is, he knows that she is Emmeline's friend, but can't remember her name. Sad really because Melisande was showing more courage than some men standing in front of a firing squad.

Both Melisande and Jasper have secrets that they wish to keep. Melisande is so in love with Jasper but she is afraid that if she allows him to know of her true feelings he will hurt in the end, when he finally gets his heir and turns away from her. Jasper is dealing with his demons from Spinner's Fall and is still on the hunt for the traitor who gave their location to the French. Neither realize that these secrets are going to be the very things that bring them closer together and ultimately bind them together in a very strong love.

I love how Ms. Hoyt always includes bits of a fairy tale at the beginning of each chapter. I believe she has done this with every one of her books that I have read. The fairy tale always lends a little something extra to the story.

Another awesome book by Ms. Hoyt... and this time I won't wait so long before reading the next book in the series!

Rating 4.5 stars

Contest Winner

2010-04-26T12:04:00.000-04:00

I used Random.org to randomize the list of entries.

And the Winner is:

Christina

I loved this anthology so much that I want to share my copy with another lucky person. So I ran the randomizer a second time, after removing Christina's name.

And the Winner of my gently used copy is:

Dawn

The winners have until midnight (Eastern time) Wednesday, April 28 to email me and claim their prize. If I have not heard from the winner by that time, I will use the randomizer to pick another winner.

I must say thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered!!

Full Exposure by Tracy Wolff

2010-04-24T08:32:00.000-04:00

Closing herself off to a traumatic past, photographer Serena Macafee likes sex with no strings attached. No commitment. Just pure pleasure. Her new subject, sculptor Kevin Riley, is the perfect man to fulfill her hottest fantasies. Where better than the torrid wetlands of Baton Rouge where Riley works-and plays? But as their affair heats up, so do Serena’s intimate feelings for Kevin. And as her guard breaks down, her fears are aroused.

She’s opening herself up to emotions she never wanted, and making herself vulnerable to a past she thought she’d escaped. One that has followed her to the sweltering southern bayou, exposing her to the twisted fantasies of someone in the shadows, and to dangers beyond her control.

My Thoughts:

You know me, I am a cover junkie... buying books just because of the cover. I had not heard of Tracy Wolff before stopping by Lea's blog last week and finding Tracy Wolff's awesome post on covers. She didn't talk a whole lot about Full Exposure in the post other than to mention the cover and let us know that she didn't have a whole lot to do with this cover. I guess I should really say that the blurb wasn't included. I went to Amazon.com to find out more and there wasn't a blurb there either, so I did what I should have done in the beginning... I checked out her website. I read only the blurb for Full Exposure, headed back over to Amazon and had to make a really hard choice. Order the print book with the awesome cover and wait 4 days for it to arrive, or order the Kindle version and start reading immediately. My need for instant gratification won out. I ordered the Kindle version and I am only kicking myself because I really wanted to see this cover and for $6.00 it could have been mine. I still may go back and buy it, because lets face it Amazon has a really good deal on it right now and I can purchase another book I want for another $6.00 but then I am going to want to add more books because these two books qualify for the super shipping savings. I'm off track. Full Exposure certainly is a good enough book to warrant me purchasing twice!!!

We have all read and loved the stories of a tortured hero, Full Exposure is the story of a tortured heroine. Sebrina has been through one of the most tragic, devastating, horrifying... there is just not a word that I can come up with to describe the events that took place in her young life without actually telling the heart wrenching story. Which I will not do, I really think that would be considered a spoiler!! Creating a mask to hide behind and a shell to live in she has learned to keep emotionally distant from everyone. She likes the "No Strings attached" concept in her relationships. When her agent sends her to the bayou to photograph Kevin Riley, a recluse and temperamental sculptor, she starts experiencing feelings that she has held in check for 10 years.

Kevin's got the body of a God and Sabrina is lusting after him at every turn. He however is showing no signs of going up in smoke, actually shows no interest in her at all. Kevin's control is slipping. He can't concentrate on his work, which could be very dangerous as he does play with fire. Then it happens, Sabrina is so caught up in the heat of her body that she doesn't realize Kevin has turned and now he sees just how not oblivious Sabrina is to him. She knows that getting involved with this artist will be a disaster for her. He will never let her keep this casual.

Full Exposure was smokin' hot! The Louisiana summer heat had nothing in comparison to the fire that Kevin and Sabrina put off. Ms. Wolff did a superb job creating a world that you could connect to and be a part of. I mean you could honestly feel the heat coming through the book. There is suspense as Sabrina's past creeps back up and she finds that she has a stalker who won't stop and threatens her very sanity. And I can't complain about the romance side of it either. Kevin pushes the boundaries that Sabrina set many years before, makes her open up and face those fears, and the whole time he is right there to sooth the bumps and bruises. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Full Exposure, had a very hard time putting it down. I will definitely be ordering the rest of Ms Wolff's books!!

Rating: 4.5

More Than Words Vol. 6 Review and Giveaway

2010-04-14T12:20:00.149-04:00

Contest is now closed!

I received an email shortly before I went on vacation asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing and the possibility of me holding a give away here on my blog for More Than Words Vol.6. I am not a reader of anthologies, for some reason I just can't seem to make myself enjoy them. But after reading a little bit about the history of the program that put this book, and several others, into the hands of like minded romance readers there was absolutely no way that I was going to turn down this opportunity.

More Than Words is a program that Harlequin started to bring "awareness of worthy causes that are a concern to women." There are women all over the world who are doing something that is bringing about some sort of change and lend a helping hand in this world, real life heroines. Each year Harlequin holds a contest to find worthy women so that they can share their stories with us, the readers. For more information on this program please visit More Than Words.

In More Than Words Vol. 6 we are introduced to five women, their programs, and the stories that they inspired five authors to write.

Katherine Chon, who with the help of her friend Derek Ellerman, who established the Polaris Project, named for the North Star which guided slaves to freedom. The Polaris Project came about after Ms. Chon found that slavery was alive and well still today. This is an entirely different type of slavery than what we learned about in our US History classes. Today we are facing human trafficking, where young people are lured away from family and friends and forced into prostitution. There is a definite dark side to the stories of the women who have come out of this dreadful situation.

Inspired by Katherine Chon's story and organization Joan Johnston wrote Almost Lost, the story of a thirteen year old girl who reports her best friend missing. Joan Johnston does a wonderful job in writing this story informing us of this real problem and giving us insight into what happens to young ladies that are caught in human trafficking without having the story become too dark. Of course there is a romance that starts blossoming, this is after all a romance anthology, but the romance does not overshadow the importance and ultimate goal of the novella.

Rhonda Clemons and the Zoe Institute: The Zoe Institute is "a faith based, long term support agency for single women and their children." The program came about after the death of Rhonda Clemons' husband. She was trying to raise four children on her own, however she had a lot of support. She wondered about all of the women in the world who found themselves in her position without the support and means that were available to her. Zoe Institute provides help to women who come from all walks of life, lending emotional and physical support. They provide safe houses, counseling, food, gas vouchers, etc.

Robyn Carr wrote Sheltering Hearts to help bring about an awareness to the Zoe Institute. In this novella you meet Dory, a single mother with two young children. She escaped an abusive marriage and now throws herself into her children, working at the grocery store, and the support group that her and a few other women started. The support group is modeled after another group that helped Dory several years before in Oklahoma.
This story is close to my heart. While I didn't suffer through an abusive relationship, I was a single mother for several years. Without the support of my family, I really don't know where my daughter and I would have ended up. I count myself as one of the fortunate women who unfortunately made a few bad decisions in my early years of adulthood.

Barbara Huston and Partners in care Maryland: This program, the brain child of Barbara Huston, started in the kitchen. It is a volunteer service where people can bank their time, kind of a "I scratch your back you scratch mine." Someone who has perfect vision may sit and read with someone with less than perfect, and when that person needs a ride to the doctor another member of the group will step up and take him/her. The program was devised to the older generation stay in their homes without feeling like a burden to their loved ones and without living in fear that they won't be able to afford to pay someone to come in and do the little things that they can no longer do.

In Safely Home by Christina Skye Sara Winslow travels to Sedona, Arizona to find her sister Hannah. Hannah is a free spirit, flitting from place to place on a whim, but she would never needlessly worry Sara. Sara finds the house empty, a cafe full of well meaning but very curious neighbors, and one sexy Deputy Sheriff who has her thinking relationship. In the midst of trying to figure out the disappearance of her sister, Sara runs across a log with names, DOBs, and jobs needing to be done. It seems that Sara has finally found a worthy cause to settle herself into.

Unfortunately life got in the way of my reading over the weekend and I didn't finish the last two stories. I am expecting that the last two novellas will be just as heart warming and touching.

Lara Tavares and Sky's The Limit Youth Organization: It wasn't that long ago that it was not common to have a computer at home. I had a little experience with them in high school, nothing major... learning to type only. It was only ten years ago that my stepdad brought the first computer home and I had my first taste of the internet. Now it seems like a foreign concept not to have access to my computer and internet on a daily basis. My son was playing games on it at two years old, and would probably be lost without it now at the grand old age of seven. So hearing that there are children that don't have access to do school projects just seems so unreal to me. Don't get me wrong I do know that there are countries where the poverty level is so great that there is no surprise, but for us in the United States and Canada?!!

Lara Tavares has made it her mission to close the digital divide in Canada. She is the founder and CEO of Sky's The Limit Youth Organization. The organization purchases refurbished computers and distributes them to students in under-resourced communities. Not only does the organization provide the computers but it also teaches the students how to use the computers.

Roni Lomeli and Shoes that Fit: Shoes that Fit is a charitable organization that provides school shoes for children in need. I hear my husbands stories about his childhood and think "Wow, as bad as it got, I never had to tape my shoes together." and I can't imagine either one of my children having to either. Unfortunately that is what some children are faced with each year. Their shoes are either falling apart, too small, hand me downs from an older sibling who might just be the opposite sex.

It is pretty cool how the organization works. It is much like a secret Santa that you would see at your kid's school. You find a tag that has a boy or girl on it with their shoe sizes. Often times the child that you are purchasing for will not be at your school. Once you purchase the shoes you take them back up to the school and drop them off. They are then given to the child in need, but in private so that the child does not feel bad about it.

THE CONTEST
Harlequin is offering up More Than Words Vol 6 to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave a comment here and I will use a randomizer to draw a name. The contest is open until Monday April 26. The contest is open to U.S and Canada only.

Please take a moment to stop by More Than Words website to learn more about this wonderful program, the winners of this years (and previous years) contest and the programs they have started. All proceeds from the sales of the book go directly back into the charity program. And if you know a lady that is taking strides to better her community maybe you could take the time to nominate her for next year!

My Lady Captor by Hannah Howell

2010-04-13T10:43:00.000-04:00

Lady Sorcha Hay is devastated to learn that English soldiers are holding her young brother captive. Penniless, the only way she can pay for his freedom is by taking a hostage for ransom herself. Her captive--a wounded knight plucked from the battlefield--is furious to be imprisoned by a woman. But nothing will stop Sorcha from keeping Sir Ruari Kerr enslaved, even as the sight of his bronzed body sets her mind reeling and her senses afire..

With her dark mane and soft curves, Sorcha is everything Ruari has ever desired in a woman. As she tends to his wounds, Ruari fights the intense attraction that ignites at her very touch. But he can't afford to lose his heart to his tempting captor. For when he's finally rescued by his men, Sorcha will pay dearly for her treachery--and loving her could put both their lives in peril...

My Thoughts:

It seems that I have been reading a lot of New To Me authors lately. I have not been disappointed in any of them and Hannah Howell has definitely lived up to the expectations that I have created of late in reading these NTM authors.
My Lady Captor was exceptionally good. I enjoyed that Sorcha was such a strong woman, and was ultimately leading her clan while everyone waited for her brother, Dougal, to finally mature enough to use the brain God gave him. When Sorcha finds out that Dougal has been taken captive by the English her only option is to hold Rauri Kerr and his cousin Beatham for ransom. Sorcha has a strong attraction towards Rauri but knows that nothing can come of it, she is a landless and dowerless woman of high birth and his pride in being taken captive by a woman will not allow them to ever form a match. The two must come to terms with this and offer only the passions that rise whenever they are near.

My Lady Captor was humorous, sexy and passionate. The constant bickering and kidnapping between the clans mixed in with some unhappy spirits made for a really fun read. I have definitely found another HR author to put on my list of must haves.

Rating 5

The Magic Knot by Helen Scott Taylor

2010-04-13T10:28:00.000-04:00

HE'S A BIKER WITH AN ATTITUDE

What woman wouldn't be attracted to Niall O'Connor's soft Irish brogue and dark good looks? But Rosenwyn Tremain must find her father, and she isn't going to let a sexy, stubborn Irishman and his motorcycle distract her. Rose's intuition tells her he's hiding something, a secret even the cards cannot divine. Her tarot deck always reads true, but how can one man represent both Justice and Betrayal?

SHE'S A WOMAN ON A MISSION

Magic. Niall's body tingles with it when he finds the woman snooping in his room. Rosenwyn might believe she's a no-nonsense accountant, but her essence whispers to him of ancient fairy magic that enslaves even as it seduces. Her heritage could endanger those he'd die to protect, but her powers and her passion, if properly awakened, might be the only thing that can save both their families, vanquish a fairy queen bent on revenge, and fulfill a prophecy that will bind their hearts together with... THE MAGIC KNOT

My Thoughts:

All I could remember when I finally purchased this book was that I wanted to read it. I didn't know anything more about it than that. I didn't read the back of the book and I hadn't read any reviews on it. I have seen the author on a few blogs, and all I can remember from those interviews are Fairies and that the author has a quiz on her website that will tell you whether you are Earth, Fire, Water, or Air. So needless to say I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I finally started reading The Magic Knot last week.

Rosenwyn has no idea who she really is. She does not think too fondly of her mother, who always criticized her for being too plain. Now that her mother is dead and she has a promising career Rosenwyn is headed to the one place her mother always said to never go, Cornwall. She is determined to finish the business of telling Michael O'Connor that he is in default of his loan and the bank is going to take the company so that she can move on to her other agenda... finding her father.

Niall O'Connor has a way with money, which is good for him because he is going to need to bail his brother out once again to keep the nosy Rosenwyn from delving to far into the business and digging up information that is better left alone. He is also using his "Midas touch" to pay one creepy little man to provide the much needed protection spell to keep his brother and sister hidden from an vindictive Fairy Queen.

Rosenwyn has buried her past so deep that she does not remember that she is not a normal human being but a Cornish pixie. Her father wants her only to finish the job he started years ago with her mother. She unknowingly creates a very strong bond between her and Niall when she runs across his magic knot. Now Niall must keep her safe which means trying to keep her from finding out who her father really is.

The Magic Knot was an excellent story filled with all sorts of mystical people. It was a great start for a new series, and the second book (Phoenix Charm) is available now.

I loved learning about the pixies, leprechauns, and Night walkers. The bond that is created between Niall and Rose is kind of reminiscent of the bond that you will find in the couples from the Black Dagger Brotherhood, however there is no comparison in the stories. Rose is such a strong willed woman and Niall is of course just as strong and stubborn. He will not allow himself to get close or allow another person to get close to him for fear of the danger he puts the people around him in, and a deep emotional scar. A sweet romance!!

Why Parents Drink

2010-03-30T12:59:00.001-04:00

Another wonderful and much needed email from my husband! How is that this man knows exactly what to send at exactly the right moment? If you are experiencing or ever had problems with your teenagers then you really want to read this. It will hopefully lighten your spirit and take a step back and appreciate the problems that you have and know that you will get through this bump in the road! A friend of mine recently gave me some great advice (or maybe it is wisdom)... When your children are little you want all this great stuff for them, by the time they reach the dreaded teenage years you just want them to grow up to be good people. That too couldn't have come at a better time!

(my daughter and her best friend---who I claim as well)

the email~~Why Parents Drink!
A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to "Dad."

With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am.

But it's not only the passion... Dad she's pregnant.

Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter.

We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby, for cocaine and ecstasy.

In the meantime, we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it. Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love, Your Son John

PS. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house.
I Just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than a report card. It's in my center desk drawer.
I love you. Call me when it's safe to come home.

Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler~~DIK Challenge

2010-03-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

Maximum danger.
Maximum desire.
And holding on for dear life…

The Special Ops hero feared nothing
-until he met a woman too hot to hold…

Lt. Jake Hansen has survived some of the riskiest missions known to man. But now the wounded Navy SEAL faces his toughest job yet: Smuggling Dr. Isabelle Markham out of Africa without triggering an international incident. Not easy to do when the gorgeous hostage happens to be a senator’s daughter —and about as easy to resist as an oasis in the desert…
If it weren’t for Jake, Isabelle would still be halfway across the world, where rebel forces left her for dead. The Special Ops warrior may have saved her life, but she doesn’t need him to protect her now. Tell that to the ruggedly handsome hunk in full battle fatigues who’s just been assigned Isabelle’s personal bodyguard. Close quarters aside, Isabelle won’t let Jake anywhere near her heart — until danger throws them together again…and nothing in the jungles of wildest Africa could prepare them for a passion this wild. This crazy. This hot….

My Thoughts:
I have to admit, I purchased this book for no other reason than Lea (closetwriter.blogspot.com) wrote an excellent review a while back. I had never heard of Stephanie Tyler or her SEALs series, and I have yet to read the back of the cover. So when I decided to throw my hat in the ring for the DIK challenge and saw Hard to Hold on the list of optional books, I took the bait! I rarely read contemporary romance... there are a select few CR authors that are on auto buy. I pick up a CR when I need a change of pace or I am in a reading slump and HR is just not cutting it for me.

Hard to Hold opens in the Jungles of Africa. On their way to the rendezvous point (forgive me here, I can't remember the ranks) Jake Hansen, our SEAL, and his best friend Nick get a call that an American woman was kidnapped and believed to be located in there general vicinity. These guys hump it over to the location where the woman was seen left for dead. Upon their arrival they find Dr. Isabel Markham, a Senator's daughter, badly beaten and abused. They make quick work of stabilizing Isabelle, when she tells them that she can't be moved. With their communications down and rebel fire closing in, Nick runs for help. Jake does everything possible to ensure Isabel of her safety with him and that they will get out of Africa alive.

Dr. Isabelle Markham is a plastic surgeon who has decided to work with Doctors without Borders instead of practicing in the safety of an American hospital and marrying her fiance. In all of her previous stints with the organization things have been perfectly fine, until her mother is elected into Senate. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree... both of these women are head strong, feisty, and stubborn...real go-getters. Despite being betrayed by her bodyguard Izzy is getting on with her life, in almost the capacity that she wants. It is only going to take a few more months before she can go back to Africa and do what she loves most.

Jake Hansen is a tortured hero. After a childhood of abuse he enlists in the Navy at 15 years old with the help of forged documentation and becomes a highly trained SEAL. He is stubborn, loyal, and is able to take charge in any situation no matter how chaotic.

Two months after her ordeal in Africa, Isabelle has signed on, with the help of her "Uncle" Cal (an Admiral), as a civilian consultant for the Navy. She is assigned to the same base as Jake and the Admiral. Cal asks a favor of Jake, who is on restricted duty due to a gun shot wound. "Keep her safe" Without Isabelle's knowledge and with a lot of bucking Jake becomes her "personal body guard". There is definitely a connection between Jake and Isabelle. Jake believes that it is a hero syndrome, you know the one I mean, the one where the girl is attracted to her rescuer because he rescued her. Isabel isn't sure what the connection is that she feels but insists that it is not the hero syndrome.

Hard to Hold was exciting to read, never losing steam. The battle of wills that ensues between Izzy and Jake, while not funny, was extremely fun to watch unfold. The pushing and shoving to release the bottled up emotions and deal with the past so they could face their futures, fighting the strong sexual desires, and the overall caring between Izzy and Jake made for a very intense romance and not so normal romance. Jake understood Isabelle's limits and pushed her past them emotionally while respecting her need to stand on her own two feet and take back control of her life. I loved that Jake not only respected those boundaries, but that he understood that Isabelle was in no way ready for a sexual relationship.

Hard to Hold definitely earned the hype that I have heard, and a 5 star rating!!! I am looking forward to the other to novels in this trilogy, Too Hot to Hold and Hold on Tight.

Outlaws: Rafe by Connie Mason

2010-03-23T12:24:00.003-04:00

He is going to hang.

Rafe Gentry has committed plenty of sins, but not the robbery and murder that has landed him in jail. Now, with a lynch mob out for his blood, he is staring death in the face...until a blond beauty with the voice of an angel steps in to redeem him.

She is going to wed.

There is only one way to rescue the dark and dangerous outlaw from the hanging tree is to meet in Pueblo. But Sister Angela Abbot never anticipates that she will have to make good on her claim and actually marry the rogue. Railroaded into a hasty wedding, reeling from the raw, seductive power of Rafes kiss, she wonders whether she has made the biggest mistake of her life, or the most exciting leap of faith.

My Thoughts:

I am currently reading one of my all time favorite authors, Connie Mason. It has been while since I have read a book by her, excluding the reread of Tears Like Rain that I did a few months ago. I am about a hundred pages from the end and I am wondering why I fell in love with this author. Why did her books draw me so much. I know that the rules of a good romance have seemed to have changed, but this book is not all that old, being published in 2000.

The actual story is decent. You have a man on the run for a crime he didn't commit. A woman on her own trying to discover the truth behind her father's unexpected death and attempting to claim her inheritance while ditching her conniving stepfather and chosen fiance at the alter. I don't think that the heroine, Angela (Angel), is "too stupid to live" but she does definitely seem to keep getting herself in some predicaments that you would think she was smart enough to avoid and Rafe has the worse luck possible. He is already running from the law when he is mistakenly taken for a murderer and later charged with another.

I am all about falling in love quickly, but can a couple really fall in love within days of meeting each other and having a marriage forced on them due to their own actions? Am I reading too much into the romance and shadowing the story with today's views? And there seems to be something in the dialogue that keeps throwing me off. I am loving the story as long as the characters aren't speaking. I am going to hold my final judgment until I finish, but I am seriously thinking of going into my closet and getting rid of all of the older books that I have been hoarding. Right now I am thinking the rating for this book will be between a 3 and 4, but as I said before I am reserving final judgment until I have completed it.

3/24/2010

I finished reading Rafe shortly after writing the above post. I was still thinking about the book and wracking my brain trying to figure out what was throwing me off with this particular book when I picked my daughter up from her track meet last night. (The girls came in third in the 4x400, not bad for a bunch of freshman running against Juniors and Seniors) It hit me while driving... Rafe is not an Alpha male!!! He had, in my opinion, some wishy washy tendencies and came across kind of weak at points. I know I love my Alpha males, but I didn't know that I loved them to the point where not having one could potentially ruin a book for me. I love a strong heroine but I would like to see the man take it upon himself to do something to get himself out of trouble once in a while. Don't get me wrong Rafe didn't depend on Angel to get him out of his predicaments that is just the way it happened and unfortunately Rafe ended up coming across as weak.So now that I have finished reading and really thought it all through I am ready to give a Rating: 3.75 stars. I liked this book, but didn't love it. Into the bag it goes headed to the library for donation!

I just finished...

2010-03-19T14:55:00.000-04:00

I just finished Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler... And OMGosh!! But y'all are going to have to wait until the end of the month to read My Thoughts!! I actually enjoyed going back and writing my "My Thoughts" on it.

What I have been up to and Some of the books I have read this month!

2010-03-16T12:02:00.001-04:00

Gee... it has been a while since I have come to blog land. I have absolutely no excuses. I have only read three books this month and I have no desire to write a "My Thoughts" on them. They were not awful books by any means. I rather enjoyed all of them. I miss blog hopping and chatting with a few of you wonderful ladies. I have said it several times over the past few months that I am going to make a conscious effort to be around more, but for some reason that is just not happening. And as I said a second ago, there are no excuses...well maybe that I have just been too lazy to do it!! I don't believe that my sporadic posting will get any better, not with Track meets, baseball, and tumbling. I gave my daughter an ultimatum, either she tries out for cheerleading or no more tumbling. So in April she will be trying out for Cheerleading. She did put a condition on the cheering and I guess I am a push over because I allowed it. She's stipulating that she will cheer for basketball not football, but I am still pushing for both and maybe even competition.

These are the books that I have read so far this month:

I have heard many wonderful things about Tortured but after winning a copy from Ms. McIntyre I didn't get around to reading it. I finally made a point to make it a challenge book. I really enjoyed the dark romance. Am I wrong, or did I read somewhere that there is going to be a follow up to this one? I am definitely looking forward to reading Torin's story, if he gets one!! Rating: 5 stars

I am not liking this cover. The cover on my version is much prettier! I am not overly fond of books where the heroine is raped. I give it to the author that she had her drugged before it occurred and it wasn't brutal (if you can say rape is not brutal), but it still took away from my overall enjoyment of the book. One other issue I had with it was that the heroine was too willing to stand idly by while her husband, who she was falling in love with, did what ever he wanted. She never demanded explanations and was never a burden to him. Get a back bone woman!! I did give An Arranged Marriage a 4 star rating, because other than those two issues I enjoyed the book and I do have to remember that the book is older and rape seems to have been the thing to write about.

I just finished Simon Says by Lori Foster. I know that this is only the second book in the SBC Fighter series, and only my second Lori Foster book, but I am really enjoying them. I have just ordered Hard to Handle from PBS and Simon Says is definitely going to my keeper shelf... that is if I don't pass it off to my mother to read.
I know Barber is not a fighter, but I wonder if Ms. Foster is going to give him a book of his own? I have some high hopes for him. All through the book I was thinking that Dean and Simon would some how convince Barber to become a competitive fighter and was saddened to see that it didn't happen.

So that is what I have been reading! Up next will be my first Stephanie Tyler book, Hard to Hold. I am double dipping with this book, using it both for the Readers of Romance Spring Challenge and DIK challenge. And because it is a DIK challenge book, it will definitely get a "My Thoughts" post all of its own, however it will not be posted until the end of the month.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley~~DIK Reading Challenge

2010-02-24T10:36:00.000-05:00

The year is 1881. Meet the Mackenzie family--rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. A lady couldn't be seen with them without ruin. Rumors surround them--of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz.

The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He's also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women.

Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama--an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband.

And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.

My Thoughts:
As much I as I wanted to read The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, I put it off for reasons unknown. I think maybe because there was so much hype about this book and I read so many great and promising reviews I was scared to read it. Fearing that I would be disappointed in reading my first Jennifer Ashley book, because I was expecting so much out of it.

Ms. Ashley did a wonderful job portraying Ian's idiosyncrasies associated with the not yet known diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome. Ian was considered the Mad Mackenzie, having spent his part of his childhood suffering the various tortures called medical science in an insane asylum. His older brother Hart wasted no time in getting him released immediately after their father's death. As an adult Ian is unable to make eye contact, is easily distracted, and has an amazing mind that remembers every detail of everything he reads, sees or hears.

Beth is a widow from the work house who was fortunate enough to land herself a position a Lady's companion to the dear old Mrs. Barrington, who upon her death leaves everything to Beth. Her first encounter with Ian leaves her breathless and questioning her own sanity along with his. Circumstances see Beth leaving for Paris and having Ian chase her there.

Beth lands herself smack dab in the middle of a murder mystery that is swirling around the Mackenzie brothers. Not only is Ian bound and determined to keep Beth safe and separate from the ordeal, he wants Beth for himself always. Beth having already turned down one proposal from Ian , he is need of a way to convince her to stay with him.

I fell in love with Ian and all of his little craziness. His protective nature and the inability to share feelings or understand emotions, his love of porcelain bowls, everything about him. Beth was perfect for him in all ways. Neither of them fit into the box that Society has for all of the upperclass, but they fit together perfectly.

Ms. Ashley certainly didn't disappoint, and all of the rave reviews I read were completely true. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is certainly a 5 star read!

Raunchy Romance and Steamy Covers?!?!?---got a clue?

2010-02-19T12:13:00.001-05:00

I am kind of wishing that I did my blog hopping yesterday. I didn't and now I am a day late in reading the latest criticism to the Romance genre and the avid fans. Thanks to Heather posting "What A Load Of Crock" yesterday, I was able to not only read the current criticism but also some of the responses that have been directed to the author of this ridiculous so called review. The Berkley Beacon decided that they were going to Judge a raunchy book by its steamy cover.

I have to say that I definitely agree with Heather... what a load of crock!!! Did this person read the novels or did she/he do just what the title of the article say... judge the book by its cover and subsequent blurb? This drivel definitely doesn't deserve the attention that it's getting. To say that she/he has riled the fans of romance is an understatement. Nora fans every where are going to want to scratch this one's eyes out!! All of the commenters to the article have definitely done a superb job in letting the author of the article know just how far she/he has over stepped in stereotyping all of us who read these books.

I am not a single woman with a house full of cats. I am happily married, a stay at home mom with two kids, two dogs and yes I do own a cat. My cat would take offense to being a called a cat...she is more dog than my Westie. OK I know that Lancelot is not going to appreciate that comment, but hey what can you say...
I read romance because I enjoy it, just like I enjoy sitting down and watching an excellent movie. However I have found that I enjoy the book much more than I enjoy the movie.

OK lets get back to the title of this article for a moment...Judging these books by their steamy covers The Beacon reviews raunchy romance novels from Danielle Steel to Etherington's NASCAR sagas

The books chosen for this article are:
Full Throttle by Wendy Etherington
Her Colorado Man by Cheryl St. John
Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts
Toxic Bachelors by Danielle Steele

Is it just me or is there nothing racy or steamy about these covers. They are surprisingly mild, and IMHO kind of boring!! Nora Roberts book is the only one that is showing being published before 2000, being published in 1981.

I am not going to break down this article piece by piece. Let it be known that it is blatantly obvious that this columnist didn't do her homework/research. She must have been in a hurry to meet a deadline with nothing better to write about. While romance books are not every ones cup of tea they do appeal to a very large group of people that come from all walks of life and are very diverse in professionalism and education. To insult these readers and the authors who write these books shows us just how ignorant and self absorbed, not to mention small minded, that this person really is.

And by the way I have never bought a book from the grocery store!!! My books come from book stores, Wal Mart (because there is not a bookstore in my town), and Amazon!

My Newest Endeavor!

2010-02-18T08:40:00.000-05:00

I have been pretty absent from my blog of late. I have checked in and done some blog hopping over the last few weeks, commenting occasionally. Now not only am I letting my blog fall to the wayside I am not reading. It really is aggravating!! I want to read. I have two books started, not to mention the task that I have set for myself of reading the Bible. Now my husband and I have started taking the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class through our church, this comes with more reading. I don't feel like I have to read, although I know I am suppose to read his book along with the class assignments...can't I leave that to my husband? I mean I just don't feel like reading anything.

And on top of the "required" reading I am suppose to help with the budget. Yeah Right! I haven't paid a bill in over eight years. Ron handles it all. He is a little bit of a control freak when it comes to that, and I just kind of let him have his way. Less headaches for me, right. It was really very hard for me to relinquish that control. I mean I had been working since I was 13 (in the family pizza place) and had complete control over my money. Yes I made some huge errors in judgment, not once but twice, when it came to allowing the person I was in a relationship have access to my credit card and bank account. I learned my lesson well the second time around. So letting my husband take over all of the bills was hard. I still have issues with it. I just dealt with it a little differently... I don't have anything in my name. I refuse to have anything in my name... I don't want that worry. Granted yes I know I am married and his debt is my debt, but it was just a little easier for me to say put the car in your name or no I don't want that credit card in both of our names. I do have a credit card in my name, but we never use it. OK never is too strong of a word. I use it occasionally and he makes sure that it is paid off when the bill comes in. Let me get back on track---BUDGET---Now in this class Dave Ramsey says that opposites attract and that means there is most likely a Nerd and a Free Spirit in the marriage... I immediately said my husband is the Nerd!! He is the one that likes the spread sheets, budgets, everything has its place and should be in that place. I am more of the free spirit. I am not organized at all! Nothing has a place...well except things like toilet paper and trashbags---you know what I mean the toilet paper goes on the holder and there should be a trash bag in every trash can!

The Nerd is suppose to make the budget and the free spirit is just suppose to show up to the budget meeting and make one change. My husband and I were discussing this this morning. He told me he doesn't think he can let me make one change. He can't relinquish that control. However for the Financial Peace to work we both have to be involved in the decision making of where we put the money and what name each dollar gets. I am a very easy going person, and would rather not fiddle with all of the hard work that it takes to make and maintain the budget, so I told him fine... give me an allotment of money each month that I can do with what I please, no questions asked and no bitching later. Of course he jumped at the opportunity.

But as I sit here this morning going over the conversation and the last two classes... I am thinking "You know, I am a Nerd!" I may not be into Excel spread sheets, graphs, and charts the way my husband is. But I don't spend willy nilly either. I only buy what I know is needed for the house and the kids. The only exception to this is my book habit. Which I really don't spend much on. Right now I think I am down to buying two books a month. Yes I get more than that a month, but I am trying to get all of this under control. With over 200 books to read I don't need to spend the money to buy new books. I only buy the ones that I have had on radar for over a month. If they slip from the radar then they don't get bought.

So in an attempt to take a more active role in our financial state I am going to make myself sit down and read a book on Money! I am going to go to the website and I am going to print out the budget forms. And I am going to take all of this very seriously. Which means I might actually have an argument with my husband over money in the coming months. I might actually go out and get a job waiting tables. Why waiting table and not something else, well because it is an easy job with flexible hours and its quick money!! Plus I love the interaction with all the different people. I have always enjoyed working in the restaurant. I am thinking this came from working in the family Pizza place for so many years, I mean when I had Michaela I took her to work with me in her car carrier and set her on the shelf behind the register...She was on display not hidden somewhere dark. lol As she got older she would tag along behind me either in the kitchen or in the dining room. --OK rambling again-- But most importantly I want to blog about my adventure into my finances, the ups and downs of it, the aggravation of spread sheets, the creating of a weekly menu so I know exactly what to buy at the grocery store and what we will be eating that week, etc.

I am hoping that with this Financial Peace class and the two book challenges I am indulging in will give me the gumption to come back and blog on a regular basis again!

I Need Help!!

2010-02-06T10:47:00.000-05:00

I am trying to choose which picture to use for the ROR Spring Challenge. I like both, but I am a little partial to one . I don't know how to do a poll so would you just comment and tell me whether you like the fountain or the tree more. Thanks, I really appreciate the help!!

All Night With A Rogue by Alexandra Hawkins

2010-02-01T09:09:00.001-05:00

IT BEGAN AS A FAVOR

Seduce Lady Juliana Ivers and then cast her aside: Those are his sister’s instructions. Alexius Braverton, Marquess of Sinclair--known as Sin to the ton--is happy enough to oblige, especially when he catches a glimpse of his target. Juliana is completely unlike the empty-headed chits who barely hold his attention for a week. A true gentleman would leave her to find a worthy suitor. But then, a Lord of Vice would never claim to be a gentleman.

WOULD IT END IN FOREVER?

Juliana is expected to marry well to improve her family’s finances, even if she secretly longs to make a living through her musical compositions. A dalliance can only complicate matters, though not even practical Juliana can help succumbing to the aptly named Sin. But one unforgettable night will draw her into a scandalous affair and a seduction begun as sport will soon become deliciously, dangerously real.

My Thoughts:

First let me start with saying that this cover is totally Awesome! I am loving all the red and the sensually posed couple.

The lovely Juliana finds herself in quite the predicament after she flees her dinner escort's unwanted advances. Stuck in a tree she has no choice but to bite her tongue when Sin and his lady of the moment wander into her view for their lovers' tryst. Sin comes to Lady Juliana's rescue and becomes completely enchanted with her. Leaving him standing in the back gardens without giving her name, he has vowed that he will find his lybbestre again and make her his...for the moment.

Sin's sister, Duchess Belinda, has taken a dislike to Juliana. She feels that Juliana has effectively taken Lord Kyd's affections, the one man that she is in love with, and she wants revenge. The spiteful Belinda has asked her notorious brother, in a Cruel Intentions (you know the movie I am talking about) sort of way, to not only seduce Juliana but to publicly dispose of their relationship and in turn effectively ruining Juliana and any chance of her making a good match. Not that Juliana has any intentions of following through with her mother's desires to marry... she has her own agenda which definitely contributed to the bulls-eye that has landed on her back.

All Night With A Rogue has a plot that is full of twists and turns creating a story that will hold your attention and keep you turning the pages. My only concern with this book was that the author, in my opinion, did not dedicate enough time (pages) to the love affair between Sin and Juliana. Their is definitely plenty to keep the story's flow moving, but I would have loved to see a little more between the couple. How Ms. Hawkins would be able to accomplish it without having to take away from the side plots is beyond me... I certainly would not want to lose any of them. Juliana's mother was something to behold, I wanted to reach in and wring her neck quite a few times... I mean what was she thinking! I thoroughly enjoyed the tangled web that was weaved in All Night With A Rogue, and I look forward to reading more from the Lord of Vice series.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Thought I would share a few laughs...

2010-01-29T18:28:00.002-05:00

My husband has been sending me emails left and right today... well he sends so many that I don't normally read them all completely through, but today's batch have me busting my gut! Hope you guys enjoy some of my husbands sense of humor!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love Dress

A woman stopped by, unannounced, at her son's house.
She knocked on the door then immediately walked in. She was
shocked to see her daughter-in-law lying on the couch,
totally naked. Soft music was playing, and the aroma of
perfume filled the room.

"What are you doing?!" she asked.

"I'm waiting for Mike to come home from
work," the daughter-in-law answered.

"But you're naked!" the mother-in-law
exclaimed.

"This is my love dress," the daughter-in-law
explained.

"Love dress? But you're naked!"

"Mike loves me and wants me to wear this dress,"
she explained. "It excites him to no end. Every time he
sees me in this dress, he instantly becomes romantic and
ravages me for hours on end. He can't get enough of
me"

The mother-in-law left. When she got
home, she undressed, showered, put on her best perfume,
dimmed the lights, put on a romantic CD, and laid on the
couch, waiting for her husband to arrive. Finally, her
husband came home.

He walked in and saw her laying there so provocatively.
"What are you doing?" he asked.

"This is my love dress," she whispered
sensually.

"Needs ironing," he said. "What's for
dinner?

He never heard the gunshot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Candy with Little Holes

The children began to identify the flavors by their color:

Red.......................Cherry
Yellow...................Lemon
Green...................Lime
Orange ................Orange

Finally the teacher gave them all HONEY lifesavers. None
of the children could identify the taste.

The teacher said, 'I will give you all a clue. It's what your
mother may sometime call your father.'

One little girl looked up in horror, spit her lifesaver out and
yelled, 'Oh my God! They're ass-holes!

The teacher had to leave the room!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SLOW DAY IN TEXAS

    It's a slow day in a little East Texas town. The sun is beating down, and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.....

    On this particular day a rich tourist from back east is driving through town. He stops at the motel and lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.

      As soon as the man walks upstairs, the owner grabs the
bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.

      The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to
retire his debt to the pig farmer.

       The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his
bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.

The guy at the Farmer's Co-op takes the $100 and runs to
pay his debt to the local prostitute, who has also been facing
hard times and has had to offer her "services" on credit.

        The hooker rushes to the hotel and pays off her room
bill with the hotel owner.

       The hotel proprietor then places the $100 back on the
counter so the rich traveler will not suspect anything.

      At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks
up the $100 bill, states that the rooms are not satisfactory,
pockets the money, and leaves town.

       No one produced anything. No one earned anything.

However, the whole town is now out of debt and now looks to the future with a lot more optimism.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government

is conducting business today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are in trouble...

The population of this country is 300 million.

160 million are retired.

That leaves 140 million to do the work.

There are 85 million in school.

Which leaves 55 million to do the work.

Of this there are 35 million employed by the federal government..

Leaving 20 million to do the work.

2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied with killing Osama
Bin-Laden.

Which leaves 17.2 million to do the work.

Take from that total the 15.8 million people who work for state and city
Governments. And that leaves 1.4 million to do the work.

At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals.

Leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.

Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons.

That leaves just two people to do the work.

You and me.

And there you are,

Sitting on your butt,

At your computer.

Nice.

Real nice.

Between the Devil and Desire by Lorraine Heath

2010-01-26T12:45:00.002-05:00

Book 2 in the Scoundrels of St. James Series

January 2009 - 978-0-06-135564-6

Once a pickpocket and thief, Jack Dodger is now the wealthy owner of one of London's most exclusive gentlemen's clubs.

But after one of his patrons bequeaths him his London residence, Jack finds himself dealing with the man's lovely widow.

When Olivia, Duchess of Lovingdon, is forced to share her beloved home with the notorious--and deliciously wicked--Jack Dodger, she quickly discovers that between the devil and desire, the only choice is surrender.

My Thoughts: I admit I chose this book for its cover and title. I don't think I even read the blurb that went along with it until I had my heart set on buying this particular book. I had never read Lorraine Heath, so why not give another author a shot at staying on my radar. Little did I know that it was the second book in Ms. Heath's Scoundrels of St. James series. You can read this one by itself, it is written to where you won't be in the dark by missing the first book. However you know, well anyone that reads romance on a regular basis will know, that there has to be another story before Jack's and that there most likely will be more to follow.

The blurb definitely describes Jack to a "T", he is deliciously wicked. He was a bastard child running the streets of London until one fateful day when he was notified that he had acquired an anonymous benefactor. The money he received from his benefactor aided him in building one of the most popular gaming hells in London and earning him quite a reputation among the elite. Ladies are whispering their tales of him over tea, while the men are paying enormous prices for him to keep their secrets in his club.

Jack has been summoned to a not so familiar Lord's residence for the reading of the will, his first encounter with the Duchess, Olivia. Sparks fly and wills collide after the reading is complete. Not only has Olivia lost her home to Jack, but she just may lose any say in the raising of her only child. Olivia is the epitome of everything that is proper, following the rules of society to a T. She is finding it rather difficult to share her home, well not her home, with the devil himself.

I enjoyed watching Jack and Olivia battle each other at every turn, watching them fall in love, despite what society deemed proper. Between the Devil and Desire was a fun, fascinating read that kept me enthralled to the very end. Jack has some scars that he hides and makes it difficult for him to care for anything other than his next coin, and watching these scars come forward was heart wrenching. I had only one small problem with the book, but thankfully the author did not go into great detail, and it did not take away from the 5 star rating that I have given to this book. I loved it!

The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter~~DIK Reading Challenge

2010-01-26T09:17:00.001-05:00

Publisher: HQN Books (May 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0373772467

His powers — Inhuman
His passion — Beyond immortal . . .

All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she’ll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member — a man trapped in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments . . . and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction — and a soul-shattering test of love . . .

My Thoughts:

I have heard a lot of wonderful things about this series, however after reading The Darkest Fire I was not entirely sure that I would even get through this book. I am definitely going to say that my first thoughts were completely wrong. I was gripped and pulled into The Darkest Night almost instantaneously. I can only say that my hesitation and concerns were brought on because of how much I don't like reading short stories/anthologies. To me they just don't give enough of the author's talent for writing and things often progress too quickly between the hero and heroine for my liking. I guess I have to be a big fan of the author's previous works to really enjoy an anthology.

Maddox is one of several Warriors that have been cursed by the Gods for their actions and the part they played in opening Pandora's box releasing some of the most vile and evil demons to grace the planet. The Gods made warrior and demon one. Well I guess not necessarily one, as they are constantly at odds with each other, battling for dominance. Maddox received the most viscous of demons, Violence.

Ashlyn has been blessed, or cursed, with the ability to hear voices/conversation from the past. Anywhere she goes she hears the voices and has no idea how to control this ability. It is slowly driving her mad. As a child her parents, who are at there wits end, turn her over to the Institute. Ashlyn grows up basically as a lab rat with very little human emotion shared. She is desperate to find some way of controlling the voices.

In Budapest she hears of Angels on the mountain and in her desperation defies her boss to beg them for help. On the mountain she is put in Maddox's path. There is an instant connection between them and despite Maddox's warnings Ashlyn refuses to leave, following him instead.

The warriors are hunted by none other than the Hunters. They have in the past used Bait to lure the warriors out and distract them long enough for an attack and hopefully the desired results of killing the warriors. None of the Warriors in the castle trust Ashlyn, she has to be Bait. But for some unexplainable reason Maddox cannot except that she is Bait and looses himself to his demon anytime one of the Warriors verbally attacks her.

I enjoyed the start of LOTU. I was reminded of Rhage in BDB. Both of these men are cursed with an inner demon. The stories are completely different but they have the same outcome, the demon is calmed by a woman. I look forward to reading more LOTU. The Darkest Night did engage me through most of the book, there were some points where it seemed to slow down to a point where I was doing more skimming than reading. My laundry and house definitely suffered while I read this book though.

Rating:4.5 stars

The Darkest Fire by Gena Showalter

2010-01-21T08:47:00.004-05:00

He is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. She is the goddess of oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a dangerous horde of demon lords — and discover a passion unlike any other….

My Thoughts:

The Darkest Fire is the prelude to the Lords of the Underworld series. That being said, if you don't read e-books or you are like me and don't like anthologies, you won't miss out on anything by not reading this story.

Geyron traded his soul to the devil to save his wife's life, now he the task of guarding the gates to Hell have been bestowed on him. He is transformed into a hideous beast that with one swipe of his claw can poison any foe.

Kadence is the Goddess of Oppression. The Gods have demanded that she be the keeper of the wall to Hell. For years she walks the wall delicately touching and restoring it, making sure that none of Lucifer's demons are allowed to escape.

When the wall shows sign of tumbling Geyron and Kadence must work together to fix the wall and round up the demons who seek to destroy the wall.

I gave this story a 3 star rating. I am sure it has to do with my bias against anthologies and short stories, but the story progressed much too quickly for my taste. I guess, however that 200 years (I think) of being in each others presence without any communication or physical contact could attribute the desire and attraction that the hero and heroine felt for each other. All in all it is a decent story that sets up the series wonderfully.

Captive of Sin by Anna Campbell

2010-01-19T06:48:00.003-05:00

He pledged his honor to keep her safe...

Returning home to Cornwall after unspeakable tragedy, Sir Gideon Trevithick comes upon a defiant beauty in danger, and vows to protect her whatever the cost. He's dismayed to discover that she's none other than Lady Charis Weston, England's wealthiest heiress-and that the only way to save her from the violent stepbrothers determined to steal her fortune is to wed her himself! Now Gideon must hide the dark secrets of his life from the bride he desires more with every heartbeat.

She promised to show him how to love - and desire - again...

Charis has heard all about Gideon, the dangerously handsome hero with the mysterious past. She's grateful for his help, but utterly unwilling to endure a marriage of convenience-especially to a man whose touch leaves her breathless. Desperate to drive him mad with passion, she would do anything to make Gideon lose control-and fall captive to irresistible, undeniable sin.

My Thoughts:

Captive of Sin is only the second book that I have read by this author, but Anna Campbell did it again! She has completely Wowed me! Her characters are strong and resilient. The story line is thick with passion, love, and deceit.

Feeling as if he will never be a part of society again, Gideon is tormented by his demons. He has accepted that he will never lead a normal life, everything that is taken for granted by others will be denied him. He is touted a Hero, and he despises it. He does not think of himself as a hero and does not accept gratitude willingly. He just wants to get home and get started with some semblance of life when he comes across Charis.

Charis has an inner strength that has kept her alive thus far. She reluctantly accepts Gideon's help to escape Winchester and her deplorable step brothers. She feeds him several falsehoods only to have everything backfire in her face. Now Gideon and Charis are faced with a marriage of convenience.

Captive of Sins was captivating, heart wrenching, and all together an Awesome book! I am looking forward to grabbing more by Ms. Campbell!

Rating: 5 stars

Sinful Surrender by Beverly Kendall

2010-01-13T09:19:00.003-05:00

Millicent “Missy” Armstrong is entering her fourth London Season, but not for lack of suitors. Since her debut three years ago, Missy has received twenty marriage proposals. But she is interested in only one man—her brother’s best friend, James Rutherford. As a child, Missy looked up to James. As a grown up, her admiration has blossomed into the longings of a beautiful, sensuous woman—and she won’t rest until James admits his love—and desire—for her…

James Rutherford rues the day he let his physical weaknesses get the better of him by kissing Missy. His best friend has made it clear that Missy is off limits, and though he’s avoided her for three years, he hasn’t forgotten the feel of her soft lips pressed against his—and it seems neither has she. For no matter how much James tries to discourage Missy, he keeps winding up in her arms, sharing heated caresses that promise the most delirious pleasure...

My Thoughts:

I have been patiently waiting for Ms. Kendall's debut novel for some months now. Finding the lovely cover and then reading the blurb on on of Ms. Kendall's wonderful sites The Season, I didn't waste anytime adding Sinful Surrender to my wish list and started counting down the days until release day.

Who doesn't love a story where the younger sister is in love with the best friend! I guess I love them so much because I was always put into similar situations. My brother had some of the cutest friends, but they were strictly off limits! I always respected my brother's wishes not to date his friends, and hated it when the guy I liked found out who my big brother was because he became friend and not boyfriend... tended to make it hard for a girl to find a boyfriend in high school.

Missy on the other hand, while respecting her brother did not respect these wishes. She threw herself at James the moment she was considered old enough to court. James, however was not going to go against his best friend. James took to staying as far away from Missy as possible for as long as possible. None of this deterred Missy. She fancied herself in love with James and no one else would do, not even the Duke!

With Missy entering into her fourth season and two more sisters coming up behind her, Armstrong (Missy's brother) is desperate to get her married and settled. He asks James to change their tactics and to be at every ball, party, opera, etc. possible with any one of his beautiful lady friends and to discourage Missy by showing his rakehell side.

Sinful Surrender was a pleasure to read. I could say that it rivals Julia Quinn in feel. Congratulations Ms. Kendall on an AWESOME debut!!! I highly recommend reading Sinful Surrender!

Rating: 4.5

Master of Surrender by Karin Tabke

2010-01-13T09:01:00.002-05:00

The year is 1066. William, bastard Duke of Normandy, has claimed the English throne by right of conquest. To quell the Saxon unrest, William sends out his most trusted knights to secure the land. One of those knights is his cousin, Sir Rohan de Luc, known far and wide for his bloody deeds as The Black Sword. . .

Bold and courageous, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe is the only one left to protect the people of the manor and its lands. When Rohan de Luc seizes Alethorpe, he offers to spare the life of Isabel’s young squire in exchange for her willing gift of the charms of her body. Betrothed to another, she vows to that while he may take her maidenhead, her heart will remain her own. But even as her lips say no, Isabel’s traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her own people, or will Sir Rohan’s skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father’s lands?

My Thoughts:
Rohan de Luc and his fellow knights,having survived a tortuous captivity, learn of the Blood Sword Legacy as they are escaping the dungeons in Iberia. While it is not thoroughly explained, these Christian Knights were betrayed and led into a trap. Each bears a sword on his chest and a half moon scar on their chin. They have banded together and become William of Normandy's most trusted knights.

These knights are hated and feared. With the tenants fleeing to the woods and raiders stalking and killing them Rohan must figure a way to gain their trust in order to secure the land for William.

Isabel is holding out hope that her father and brother will return from battle and oust these knights, but until then she must lead her people by example and show courage while doing everything in her power to protect them. In exchange for one boy's life she trades her only possession left to her... her virginity. In a twist of fate she is saved from losing her maidenhead but must still allow liberties of her body to Rohan.

Her courage and wit keep her and her people safe and earn the respect of the most feared knights.

The Blood Sword Legacy is beginning and each of these knights play a role. Master of Torment follows this tale with Wulfson and another strong willed maiden.

Rating: 4.5

Reviews Upcoming

2010-01-12T15:49:00.003-05:00

Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare

2010-01-05T09:47:00.004-05:00

There was only one rule on the frontier—survival.

So when wounded, buckskin-clad stranger appeared at the door of her isolated cabin, Elspeth Stewart felt no qualms about disarming him and then tying him to her bed. Newly widowed and expecting her first child, she had to protect herself at all costs. And Nicholas Kenleigh threatened not only her safety, but her peace of mind. The terrible scars on his body spoke of a tortured past, but his gentle touch and burning gaze awoke longings she had never expected to feel. Bethie had every reason in the world to distrust men; the cruelty she suffered at their hands had marked her soul, though her blonde beauty showed no sign of it. But little by little she found herself believing in Nicholas, in his honor, his strength. As he brought her baby into the world, then took both mother and daughter into his care, she realized this scarred survivor could heal her wounded spirit, and together they would… Ride the Fire.

My Thoughts:
This was my first experience with Pamela Clare. I did something I never do... bought the book from the Dollar Tree. For some reason I have been closed minded to any book on display at any of the "Dollar" store chains. I can happily say that I got the better end of the deal spending only a dollar on the book and receiving an excellent book! This being the first book I read for 2010 I am happy to say that I am off to a wonderful start in my reading.

Ride the Fire takes place just after the French and Indian War, I love reading books set during any war but most especially those that took place on our soil here in the States. To top it all off it also involved Indians and the Frontier.

Nicholas was captured by the Wyandot Indians and tortured. When he was finally able to escape the hell that had become his life he returned home to his family in Virginia only to realize that he had escaped one hell to enter another. One that was entirely in him. His soul was tortured and he could not live among his family any longer for fear of what he had become and what he might unintentionally do. So he headed West hoping for death to consume him.

Bethie is widowed and heavily pregnant when Nicholas stumbles into her yard, forcing her to care for his injuries. Growing up in the Frontier, Bethie is not stupid and knows that she has to figure a way to keep herself safe from this man who has held a gun to her head and demanded her help. The Christian inside her won't allow her to kill him while he sleeps. They come to a silent agreement. He takes care of the work that she should not be doing and she allows him to stay under her roof until he is strong enough to move on. Bethie's strong character eventually wins Nicholas's dead heart and soul.

They fight their way to safety and deal with their inner demons side by side. Ride the Fire is a great first read by a new author and for a new year.

Rating 4.5

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-24T18:06:00.005-05:00

I have a house full today. My father and stepmother are staying with us for the rest of the week. My mother and stepfather, sister and brother-n-law, nephews, and daughter's boyfriend are all here to spend a few hours with us on this blessed Christmas Eve. I wanted to take a quick break from the Holiday madness to wish those of you who celebrate it a Very Merry Christmas! I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday with friends and family and Celebrate life to it's fullest.

We are going to take a ride out to Petit Creek Farms to view the holiday lights from the car and probably hit a few neighborhoods as well. This is one of my favorite times of year. The only thing missing is the snow. Yes I said snow. I hate the cold, and the snow even more, but this is the only time of year that I really wish I had a blanket of it in my front yard. I love all of the beautiful lights that sparkle throughout the night, the Christmas Carols, and just spending time with my family. This is the first year in several years that I have had all of them in one spot, and better yet in the same house (even if I need a bottle of wine to calm my nerves...lol). I am truly blessed this Christmas and can only hope and pray that all of you are as blessed as I am.

Warmest Wishes to you and yours!

Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare

2009-12-15T13:22:00.004-05:00

Available now from Ballantine

“The sweetest, sexiest romance you’ll read all year.”
~Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author

“A romantic delight, sure to satisfy every reader.”
~Teresa Medeiros, New York Times bestselling author

Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion—one that could send all her plans up in smoke.

Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past, full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming, he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart, and claim her for his own?

My Thoughts:

Goddess of the Hunt has got to be one of the best historical romances that I have read all year!! Lucy is determined to not only hunt herself down a husband, but she has one particular man in mind. She has fancied herself in love with Toby since childhood and now he has gone and brought another woman to their annual Autumn vacation. She has her work cut out for her if she is going to sabotage any chances of him proposing to this blond beauty who is the epitomy of everything lady-like.

Lucy did not, however consider that the one man who has vexed her for the last eight years would have anything at all to say about her determination. Jeremy is tired of watching Lucy get herself into all sorts of trouble and he will not stand idly by and watch Lucy have her heart broken because she doesn't have the sense to realize that Toby is not in love with her and she is most certainly not in love with him. A plan is developed to keep Lucy out of Toby's hair and to make Toby jealous. Neither the men at this Autumn getaway or Lucy ever expected to have the plan backfire.

Loved Goddess of the Hunt! I am looking forward to reading Surrender of the Siren, which is Sophia's (Toby's intended) story. I was not overly fond of Sophia, preferring Lucy's character any day, but I am definitely interested in finding out what kind of trouble she is going to find herself in.

Rating: 5 stars

Sweet Restraint by Beth Kery

2009-12-11T07:58:00.003-05:00

SWEET RESTRAINT
Publisher: Berkley Heat
ISBN-10: 0425227693
ISBN-13: 978-0425227695
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: July 7, 2009
Format: Trade Paperback

From Beth Kery's Website

This time, he’ll never let her go…

Chicago Special Agent Shane Dominic was in love with Laura Vasquez until the day she left him and married another man. Thirteen years may have passed, but Laura’s never disappeared from his fantasies, or destroyed his desire to learn the truth about why she left him. When her husband, the criminal mastermind behind an international ring of thieves, is murdered, Shane knows this is his one last, desperate chance to learn Laura’s secrets. And he’s not above using their scorching hot passion for one another and a little domination to do it.

One look at Shane, and Laura’s own memories come back to haunt her. Her feelings run deep, but she’d never divulge her secrets—a desperate vow that’s compromised when Shane stuns her by taking her as his captive to a secluded cabin. Here, she will finally belong to him, be subjected to his every torturously erotic whim, and be forced to trust him with a shocking truth she’s hidden for so long—one that will expose them to a danger closing in on the both of them.

My Thoughts:

Shane has never gotten over Laura. Their six month relationship ended abruptly when Laura eloped with Huey Mays. Shane has done his best to move on, he has a great career in the FBI and is engaged to a beautiful woman. His position in the FBI has put him right in the middle of the investigation of corrupt cops and Huey Mays is at the top of the list. He hopes that his past relationship with Laura remains hidden so he can finally end the investigation and get the top man in charge. When Huey is found dead, Shane has reason to worry for Laura's safety.

He takes matters into his own hands and risks everything to try to find the truth behind Laura's involvement in this corrupt ring of cops before it is too late. He takes her to a cabin to slowly break down the barriers between them. He executes his plans with white hot passion. Apparently Laura is not so good at hiding the fact that she still burns for her former lover.

Laura has her secrets, ones she must keep hidden or risk the lives of everyone she loves. She learned years ago that she cannot go against what has bound her and determined the path that she has taken. Her husband's death has changed nothing, except maybe putting her in more danger than she has ever been before. Now she has to contend with Shane's domineering need to have her submit and trust him to carry her burdens. This is the last thing she needs, or so she thinks.

Sweet Restraint was smokin' HOT! There is just no other way of putting it. Beth Kery wowed me with Wicked Burn, gained a loyal follower with Daring Time, and Sweet Restraint has me shouting from the roof tops. This author does amazing things!!! Her stories while wickedly hot and push you to the very edge with the sexual tensions and play have a great story with well developed characters that you can fall in love with and a story that will surely pull you in making you turn those pages nonstop and having you begging for more. Not to mention that she always has amazing covers, the Cover Gods must love her! I mean look at this cover... don't you love that those ties are in reach to where she can untie herself if she wants.

Rating: 5 stars

Knight of Pleasure Contest

2009-12-08T19:15:00.004-05:00

I recently read Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory and loved it! I have been anticipating the release of Knight of Pleasure and alas it has snuck up on me. The second book in Margaret Mallory's All the Kings Men series is up for grabs in a giveaway at Seductive Musings blog. If you love Midieval Romances you are going to love this series. So head on over to Seductive Musing and drop your name in the hat.

Kimberly Killion's Contest

2009-12-06T19:37:00.000-05:00

Ho, ho, ho...'Tis the season for gift giving and Kimberly Killion must be feeling verra generous this year. She's giving away a sled-full of books...

Highland Dragon by Kimberly Killion
Her One Desire by Kimberly Killion
An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James
Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
Untouched by Anna Campbell
Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell
Before the Scandal by Suzanne Enoch
Death Angel by Linda Howard
Too Good to be True by Kristan Higgins
Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary
Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spears
Everything Forbidden by Jenna Petersen

You have to do two simple things to enter:
1) Go to Kimberly's website and fill out the form on her contest page
2) Follow Kimberly's blog, Wowf about Writing!

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Contest Rules: One entry per person per contest period. Contest winner will be announced on Kimberly Killion's website and blog Dec. 26th, 2009. All entrants must be 18 years of age or older

Kindle II Giveaway

2009-11-28T19:29:00.002-05:00

Bibliofreakblog is giving away 15 Kindle IIs. I don't know how she managed to get her hands on that many but how can you pass up on the chance to win one. Yes I know I already have one!! I do love it. What better way to share the love than to give one to some one else. If I am one of the few lucky winners that is just what I will be doing... giving it away to someone else.

So hurry on over and enter the contest, it will be ending Dec. 18

Laird of Desire by Paula Quinn

2009-11-12T09:05:00.003-05:00

Paula Quinn
Book 1
August 2005

He Is Every Woman's Fantasy...
Darkly handsome and sensual, Lord Brand Risande--known as "The Passionate"--is temptation incarnate. But his prowess on the battlefield and in the bedchamber hides a bitter secret: the betrayal that has sealed his heart. Now as this most feared warrior rides out to possess the lands he has won in war, he engages his most formidable enemy ever.

And One Woman's Destiny.
Lady Brynnafar Dumont is prepared to do anything to protect her people--even seduce the savage Norman knight who defeated her father. Prepared to face down a cold-blooded beast, she instead confronts a wickedly attractive scoundrel who wants nothing to do with her. It's enough to sting a lady's pride...and strengthen her resolve. Innocent as she is, now she must use all her charms to defeat Lord Brand in the only battle worth fighting--the one for his love.

My Thoughts:

I read Laird of the Mist last year. After reading that one book, I fell in love with Paula Quinn's works. She definitely did not disappoint me with her earlier work, book 1 in her Laird trilogy, Laird of Desire.

Brynna is feisty little women. She inherited her mother's passion and her father's will to fight. When the livelihood of her home is threatened by Lord Brande she vows that she will do what ever it takes to stay in her childhood home and allow no harm to come to her people. Little did she know that the man that was riding in to take her home was the same that she had been dreaming about for almost two years. This Lord Brande however was completely different, he lost his passion for life and instead of warmth he brings the cold.

Vowing to never love another woman again, Lord Brande would rather face another battle than to marry Lady Brynna. In order to keep the land that he rightfully won by defeating Lord Richard those are his only options. In taking the daughter as a wife he will avoid a war and make William of Normandy happy. But at what cost?

Brynna is just the woman to put the life back into Brande. I so enjoyed reading about these two. I could not put this one down and I look forward to reading books 2 and 3

Randi's Having Her First Author Interview and Giveaway!!!

2009-11-04T09:42:00.003-05:00

Hey Guys, Randi is having her first ever Author Interview and Giveaway on her Blog today. The lovely Carolyn Brown is sharing a little about herself and how she got started writing Western Romance. Let's show some love to both Randi and Mrs. Brown and head on over to Randi's Blog. Anyone who knows a little bit about Country music might just get a kick out of the titles for CB's up coming books!!!

Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory

2009-11-03T10:36:00.003-05:00

KNIGHT OF DESIRE
1st Book in All the King’s Men Series
by Margaret Mallory

ISBN-10: 0446553395
ISBN-13: 978-0446553391
Publisher: Grand Central
Release date: July 2009

FEARLESS IN BATTLE

His surcoat still bloody from battle, William FitzAlan comes to claim the strategic borderlands granted to him by the king. One last prize awaits him at the castle gates: the lovely Lady Catherine Rayburn.

TENDER IN BED

Catherine risked everything to spy for the crown. Her reward? Her lands are declared forfeit and she is given this choice: marry FitzAlan or be taken to the Tower. Catherine agrees to give her handsome new husband her body, but she’s keeping secrets and dares not give him her heart. As passion ignites and danger closes in, Catherine and William must learn to trust in each other to save their marriage, their land, and their very lives.

My Thoughts:

Knight of Desire is the first book in a while that I literally could not put down. I sat here yesterday reading all day. I got through about 75% of the book before my son got home and I HAD to put it down. I was drawn into the story immediately. Catherine's first meeting with William was sweet and heartbreaking. You get a glimpse into Catherine's courage and William's desire to protect and do his duty from the very beginning.

Learning to trust is a whole other ball game. Neither of these two know how to do it. Catherine has already proven that she would betray her husband, so how is William to trust that she would be loyal and honest with him after being forced to marry him on the very day her first husband was murdered. Catherine having already experienced one brutal marriage is now suppose to believe that her knew husband will be any better than the tyrant she had before. Watching these two brought joy to my heart while setting flames to my temper. How could they not see each other for who they really were. How could William allow his friend to keep putting the bug in his ear that his wife was unfaithful. Lady Catherine experienced a lot of hardships due to her first husband and must live down the choices she made, the very ones that saved her life.

Rating 5 stars

Untouched by Anna Campbell

2009-11-03T10:06:00.002-05:00

“I am many things,” Lord Sheene said. “Kind is not one of them.”

Beautiful Grace Paget has no reason to doubt these words. After all, she was kidnapped, spirited away to a remote country manor, and told she is to grant this man his every desire… or lose her life. But Grace is no common trollop. So she risks everything to save her virtue by planning a daring escape, even though she finds herself tempted by this dangerously handsome man. There is something in his eyes that makes her wonder if he is not as cruel as he would have her believe…

Sheene knew nothing of the plan to bring him this woman. Locked up as a prisoner, called “mad” by all of society, he will do anything to reclaim his life, and Grace’s sensuous beauty has distracted him from his goals. And although he finds her irresistible, he is horrified to hold her against her will. Now, together, they must both revolt against the strange set of circumstances that have forced them together - for only then will Grace truly surrender to him… forever.

**from the author's website

My Thoughts:
I purchased Untouched two plus years ago. I was browsing through the DoubleDay book club magazine when I ran across the beautiful cover. Yes, I ordered this book strictly for the cover. I had absolutely no idea what it was about. The couple embraced on the front cover in front of all that green just pulled me. However the cover could not make me read it. I loved looking at it but for some reason did not want to crack the book. I needed a Beta Hero to read for the Fall Challenge and someone else posted this book. I said to myself, this is the perfect time to read Untouched. I had yet to read anything Anna Campbell and I have heard such good things about her books. I have seen so many readers eagerly anticipating the release of Captive of Sin that I wanted to find out what all the fuss was about. I had just been reading paranormal romance and knew I needed a change before I fell into another reading slump. So as you can tell I had several reasons to finally pick this particular book out of my TBR pile clogging my closet up. I am now ready to slap myself. Why did I let this book sit there collecting dust just to stare at the cover for so long?!!

Lord Sheene, Matthew, has experienced a pretty secluded life by no choice of his own. At a very young age he suffered a fever that made him "mad". His uncle who had been granted guardianship over him after the deaths of his parents thought it best to have him shipped off to a secluded cottage and held under lock and key. Matthew tried to escape several times only to be thwarted by his uncle and his minions. With every escape he was returned to a tortured hell. He was severely beaten and had to live with the knowledge that his actions had also impacted innocent people.

His Uncle's greed knew no limits. Wanting to keep Matthew in line and to prevent any further attempts at escape he had his minions kidnap a woman and bring her back to the cottage. The woman however was to be a prostitute, one no one would miss. They had not counted on the widow.

Eloping at the age of 16 to be with a man much older and well below her station in life cost Grace her family. She vowed she would never become the trollop her father predicted her to be with the path she had chosen. Now she must go against her vows to save her own life. She never thought that she would fall in love with her fellow captive.

I was mesmerized from the start with Matthew and Grace. The will to survive the hopeless predicament that they had been thrust into and the tremulous beginnings made for a very sweet and romantic coming together. After bungling his first attempt at making love to Grace, Matthew redeems himself and shows so much passion and love that it is breathtaking.

Rating 5 stars

Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian

2009-11-03T09:38:00.002-05:00

MIDNIGHT RISING

Midnight Breed Series
BOOK 4

Dell Books ~ 400 pages
ISBN: 978-0-440-24444-8
First Printing: April 2008

Available formats:
Mass Market Paperback
Bookclub Edition Hardcover
E-book

From the back cover:

IN A WORLD OF SHADOWS AND DARK, CONSUMING HUNGERS, DESIRE IS THE DEADLIEST WEAPON. . . .

Fueled by pain and rage over a shattering betrayal, the warrior Rio has pledged his life to the war against the Rogues. He will let nothing stand in his way--least of all a mortal woman with the power to expose the entire vampire race. But now an ancient evil has been awakened, and a stunning darkness is on the rise.

For journalist Dylan Alexander, it began with the discovery of a hidden tomb. Suddenly she is at the center of a gathering storm of violence and secrets. But nothing is as dangerous as the scarred, lethally seductive man who rises from the shadows to plunge her into his world of dark desire and endless night. Here she is powerless to resist Rio's touch, even as she uncovers a shocking link to her own past. Now Dylan must choose: Leave Rio's midnight realm, or risk it all for the man who has shown her true passion and the infinite pleasures of the heart . . . .

My Thoughts:

Rio has suffered a tremendous loss and betrayal at the hands of his very own breedmate. In loving Rio and wanting to keep him to herself she betrayed the Breed to Marick, the Breed enemy. When her plans fail to kill the leader of the Breed Warriors and severely injure Rio she takes her own life. All of this happens in book one. Rio is scarred over half his body and has some major head trauma going on. He suffers black outs and fits of rages. He fears that he is no longer useful to the Breed Warriors and is more of a threat to everyone around him. The pain he has suffered has drained his will to live.

He screws up his last mission and now must rectify his actions. He has allowed a reporter to see the crypt that he was to destroy. Dylan is not only a reporter, but a breedmate. The Warriors have to retrieve the pictures she took and lose her story before it goes to press. They have given her the choice of entering into the Breed life through one of the Dark Havens or returning to her life without any of the knowledge she has come to over the last few days. Her connection to Rio is not as strong as the connections between the previous couples. She has an outside life that she is not ready to leave.

The connections between Rio and Dylan are slow to form. I was eagerly anticipating the reading of Midnight Rising. I don't know if my anticipation got the better of me, but Midnight Rising moved way too slow in the first half of the book. I was sorely tempted to put it down several times, but my desire to see Rio get his happy ending won out every time. I wanted to see how Adrian was going to spin the story for the next books in the series. What trouble is going to befall the Breed now that Marrek is out of the way, but this too moved extremely slow. The last half of the book did move at a better pace and eventually kept me wanting to finish this series. I decided however to wait a little while before venturing into the next book Veil of Midnight.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Winners of Angelica and Zi's guest post

2009-11-02T09:55:00.002-05:00

Angelica Hart and Zi were sweet enough to contact me with the winners of their three blog contests. Congratulations to all three of you!!!

WINNERS!!!

Commenting on Blogs Contest

We held our drawing last evening for all who

commented on our various blogs over the past week

The following are our winners and have received a free e-book

ANNA

Heather's Reading Romance

ALAINE

J. Kaye's Book Blog won

LISA

Romance Junkies

READ ON!

Angelica Hart and Zi

KILLER DOLLS ~ September 2009

SNAKE DANCE ~ February 2010

CHASING GRAVITAS ~ July 2010

angelicahartandzi.com

KILLER DOLLS can be purchased at

Champagne Books

http://www..champagnebooks.com

Confucius Says...

2009-10-29T15:20:00.004-04:00

My husband sent this to me. He knows me so well and this is right up all of our alleys!!!

Confucius say....

If you can't find the book

you want,

You're probably shopping

at the...

This made me laugh a little but now I am going to go put my head back on the pillow.