Renee's Reads

Mailbox Monday

2012-01-23T12:35:00.002-05:00

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks and audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists!

This month Mailbox Monday is Hosted by Alyce @ At Home With Books.

Here is what I found in my Mailbox this week. What did you find in yours?

The Crown by Nancy Bilveau

A Keeper of the King’s Secrets by Michelle Diener

The Women of the Cousins' War by Philippa Gregory

Needle in the Blood – Sarah Bower

A Rural Affair – Catherine Alliott

The Wolf Who Loved Me by Lydia Dare

The Three Colonels: Jane Austen’s Fighting Men by Jack Caldwell

Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly

**************************************************

This is what’s on my TBR shelf this week:

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells-I only have about 20 pages left.

Six of One; A Tudor Riff by JoAnn Spears-A very different take on the Tudors which has thoroughly entertained me, I should be done with this one by the end of the day.

Aristocrats; Power, Grace, and Decadence: Britain’s Great Ruling Classes from 1066 to the Present by Lawrence James-I started this one about a week or so ago and have now just started the chapter pertaining to the War of the Roses. While the book is both informative and entertaining I am wondering if it should have been a biography on the Earl of Warwick rather than a look into the Aristocrats because he has been talked about on every page.

I plan to start The Women of the Cousins' War once I have finished Aristocrats.

The Thirteen Tale by Diane Setterfield- I love it when I accidentally stumble upon certain books. In the case of this book, I happened to be passing through a town that looked as though I had stepped back into the early 1800’s complete with cobblestone streets. As I was looking through the shops I came across a bookshop housed in a small cottage named “The Garden of Readin”. Of course I had to take a look and I happened to stumble upon this book.

Books that I finished:

Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl you may find my review & giveaway HERE

Midwife Of The Blue Ridge by Christine Blevins

Sins of the Highlander by Connie Mason & Mia Marlowe

The Lure of Song & Magic by Patricia Rice

Until We Meet Again,

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Angela Renee

Saturday Snapshot

2012-01-21T11:00:00.001-05:00

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce @ At Home With Books

***

I live a few houses down from the Methodist church that was built in late 1800’s. It’s a beautifully built stone church that has the feel of Gothic architecture and it has quickly become one of my favorite places to photograph.

If you look closely you can see the Celtic Cross in between the two windows.

The view at night from my back patio.

This Time by Joan Szechtman

2012-01-15T16:26:00.001-05:00

Title: This Time; a Novel of Richard III

Author: Joan Szechtman

Publisher: Basset Books

Pages: 341 including author’s notes

Release Date: 2009

This Time starts moments before Richard III loses to Henry Tudor on Bosworth Field near Leicester, England on August 22, 1485, when a team of Ricardians substitute an armor clad corpse for the king and bring him into Portland, Oregon. Richard awakens August 21, 2004 to an alien world where even the English he speaks is different.

The story follows two parallel paths: the present where Richard must learn how to adjust to not only the technological advancements but also the more difficult cultural differences; and looking back at the past to solve some of the mysteries that have haunted and maligned his image for over 500 years.

(blurb from amazon)

My Thoughts:

The premise of this novel is promising-Richard III is transported into the present by a team of Ricardians bent on discovering the truth behind the disappearance of his nephews. Acclimating to a new way of life whilst grieving for his deceased wife and son, he must question everything that he has been taught all the while trying to stay alive once he is no longer needed by the man who pulled him from the past.

The Plot:

I so wanted this novel to live up to its potential, sadly it did not. I must say that it wasn’t a horrid novel; in fact, I rather enjoyed the book- it just wasn’t everything that it could have been. The content seemed to be repetitive and often glossed over things that should have been included (i.e. Richards first experience on an airplane) while placing in things that had previously been dealt with and had no real significance to the story.

The Characters:

This Time had several characters that popped in and out of the novel, some of which seemed to be space fillers (i.e. Fortas) that were used to fill in gaps in the plot.

As for the main characters, I felt that they were strong yet could have used some improvement. For instance the character of Richard III seemed a little too meek and a little too willing to relinquish power. While I do not subscribe to the theory that Richard III was a tyrant, he was still King of England who was accustomed to having total control and I believe that this mild/meek character with a willingness to conform was a bit there in left field. Not only did he adjust to the modern world he did so in an amazingly short amount of time which gave the novel a generic feel to it.

We then have three potential love interests for Richard which seems to muddy up the flow of the book. Once you think Richard gets settled with one person, the plot switches. If the love interest would have been established firmly from the beginning it would have aided in the flow of the plot.

The Time Travel Aspect:

This is where time travel novels often get tricky. If the method of time travel is too outlandish the novel, despite how well-crafted the plot is, fails. The method of time travel in this novel actually seemed plausible and while there was occasional science related jargon the book wasn’t overly wrought with it.

Why Do I Feel This Novel Failed To Live Up To Its Potential?

A time travel novel with Ricardian sympathies has potential to be a grand novel. This Time was bogged down with repetitive actions, unneeded secondary plots, unneeded secondary characters, and triple love interest while much needed aspects were glossed over.

Overall Opinion:

Overall, I did like book, it’s a plotline that is not often done which made me eager to read it. Some parts of the novel had me constantly turning the page and when the book ended I still had a desire to read the second part, it’s just not the type of desire that would make me place the second installment on top of my TBR list.

The thing that kind of irked me most about the novel was the questions that were asked to Richard. The sole purpose of bringing him into the present was to question him about the disappearance of his nephews once he provided that information they were ready to kill him off. I believe that the author could have made the questions more interesting, after all the sky was her limit.

Noteworthy Items:

Violence:

This book does have a bit of battle-related violence as the novel opens with scenes from Bosworth; it also has someone being shot. There are also several mentions of scientific cadavers being used as a decoy body when they pulled Richard into this time.

Romance:

I didn’t find the romance to be explicit in this novel, but there is mention of sexual encounters.

Language:

There were a lot of four letter words flying about in this novel, in my opinion they were over used. Some may feel that the language is inappropriate.

Tudor Reading Challenge

2012-01-08T09:25:00.001-05:00

Rules:

· All book formats are allowed for this challenge as long as they have an ISBN number or the equivalent. Both fiction and non-fiction are allowed as well. Re-reads ARE allowed but your review must be a new one. Crossovers from other reading challenges DO count!

· All the books read for this challenge must be Tudor related. Books that feature any Tudor from Henry VII to Elizabeth I and any spouses, lovers, close family members, or themes count. There are a lot out there, so no worries!

· Each month visit The Musings of ALMYBNENR and add your link to your Tudor-related reviews. You do not have to have a blog to participate, you may post wherever you review, i.e. Goodreads, Library Things, Selfari.

Levels:

•Henry VII (Creator of a dynasty): 5 books

•Henry VIII (Larger than life): 10 books

•Mary I (The first queen of England): 15 books

•Elizabeth I (Gloriana & the Golden Age): 20 books

Timeframe:

1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012

Host: The Musings of ALMYBNENR

My Goal:

Elizabeth I (Gloriana & the Golden Age): 20 books

Why am I doing this challenge?

I am a Tudor fanatic. Sadly, my Tudor-related reading declined last year, so I thought that this would be the perfect way to get back into the Tudor-reading groove! Plus, I need to tackle Tudor-To-Be-Read Pile, which is pictured below!

(My T.T.B.R continues to grow!)

Books I intend to read, in no particular order:

Fiction

1- The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson

2- Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson

3- By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson

4- At The King’s Pleasure by Kate Emerson

5- The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

6- To Die For by Sandra Byrd

7- His Last Letter by Jeane Westin

8- The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

9- The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

10- The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

11- Honor In The Dust by Gilbert Morris

12- The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson

Non-Fiction Books

13- Elizabeth & Leicester by Sarah Gristwood

14- Death and The Virgin Queen by Chris Skidmore

15- The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir

16- The Lady In the Tower by Alison Weir

17- The Children of Henry VIII

18- The Tudor Age by Jasper Ridley

19- The Other Tudors by Philippa Jones

20- The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser

To find out more about this challenge you may do so HERE

Best Wishes,

Angela Renee

Wuthering Height- A Classics Challenge Prompt

2012-01-04T14:20:00.001-05:00

This is the first posting prompt for the Classics Challenge and it will focus on the author of the novel.

Here is the rules according to the challenge host Katherine @ November‘s Autumn:

To clarify how this will work: I'll post various questions, don't feel obliged to answer all of them. Some may require a little research but you can be creative in how you answer. Participants have the full month to post and share their answers. The different levels are based on how far into the book you are.

Here are the levels:

Level 1
Who is the author? What do they look like? When were they born? Where did they live? What does their handwriting look like? What are some of the other novels they've written? What is an interesting and random fact about their life?

Level 2
What do you think of their writing style? What do you like about it? or what would have made you more inclined to like it? Is there a particular quote that has stood out to you?

Level 3
Why do you think they wrote this novel? How did their contemporaries view both the author and their novel?

Level 1 Answers:

The Author:

Emily Jane Brontë

Pen Name: Ellis Bell
Born:

July 30, 1818

Where she lived:

Haworth Parsonage

(This photo was taken shortly after the death of her father, Patrick Bronte)

Haworth Parsonage is now called The Brontë Parsonage Museum, located in Haworth, West Yorkshire, England and is maintained by the Brontë Society.

Handwriting:

This page is from the joint journal of Emily and Anne Bronte. You can see that this page is written in Emily’s hand and it contains information about Anne.

Novels:

Wuthering Heights was Emily’s only novel although she did amass a collection of poetry.

Interesting and random fact about her life:

At the age of 17, Emily attended the Roe Head girls school where her sister, Charlotte was a teacher, although she only remained three months before becoming homesick. She returned home where she and Anne opened their own school. Her refusal to look people in the eyes and her anxiety when away from home leads many people to believe that she had Aspergers, a form of autism that often enhances creativity.

Level 2 Answers:

Writing Style:

Emily’s writing style in Wuthering Heights has a gothic feel to it, which surprisingly varies greatly from her poetry, although both , her poetry and novel contain that connection to nature. Wuthering Heights is filled with emotion, anger, passion, the supernatural, and violence and to help portray those feelings Emily mirrored the weather to match the feeling of the scene which greatly improved the atmosphere of the novel.

Emily’s writing style depended heavily on emotions and atmosphere , which made her writing style a little less plot-orientated than the works of her sister Charlotte.

What do I like about it? What would have made you more inclined to like it?

The emotional tug of the novel is amazing and allows you to feel what the characters are feeling. Emily chose to focus on her characters raw emotions rather than where her characters were headed and how the plot was going to unfold and it fit the novel well. She also focused on the atmosphere of the novel-by using the wild vastness of the windswept Yorkshire moors, she incorporates the turbulence and instability of both the characters and the landscape.

I liked Wuthering Heights the way it is and do not believe it could or should be changed. It also may come as a shock that I felt bad for Heathcliff and hated Cathy.

Is there a particular quote that has stood out to you?

The following quotes were the ones that stood out to me and best characterized the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff.

“I was only going to say that heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on top of Wuthering Heights; where I woke sobbing for joy. That will do to explain my secret, as well as the other. I’ve no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven; and if the wicked man in there has not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldn’t have thought it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him; and that not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself that I am whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; Linton’s is as different as a moonbeam from lightning or frost from a fire…

…My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath; a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff.
-Chapter 9
Cathy

“May she wake in torment!” he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion, “Why, she’s a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there-not in heaven-not perished-where? Oh! You said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer-I repeat it till my tongue stiffen-Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you-haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murders, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always-take any form-drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
-Chapter 16
Heathcliff

This last quote is my absolute favorite.

“I disturbed nobody, Nelly.”, he replied, “and I gave some ease to myself. I shall be a great deal more comfortable now; and you’ll have a better chance of keeping me underground, when I get there. Disturbed her? No! She has disturbed me, night and day, through eighteen years’-incessantly-remorselessly.”
-Chapter 29
Heathcliff

Why do I think Emily Bronte wrote this novel?

As the daughter of a clergyman, Emily was constantly taught the themes she included in Wuthering Heights. Love and hate; crime and punishment; good verses evil; class structure, revenge, the ills of obsession and lust and I believe that she wanted to show what would happen when you entwine these elements with a complex love. I also believe that she wanted to push the bounds of writing.

Emily must have loved the characters that she created as finalized a sequel. Sadly, the manuscript was lost after her death.

How did their contemporaries view both the author and their novel?

Many early reviews are the same as they are today, they either loved it or hated it. While most critics recognized the power and creativity of this novel, many found it unlikable and ambiguous.

The Atlas review called it a "strange, inartistic story", but commented that every chapter seems to contain a "sort of rugged power

The Graham's Lady Magazine critique bluntly stated "How a human being could have attempted such a book as the present without committing suicide before he had finished a dozen chapters, is a mystery. It is a compound of vulgar depravity and unnatural horrors."

The Douglas Jerrold's Weekly Newspaper critique was more positive, yet still shocked at the novel's raw depictions, noting "In Wuthering Heights the reader is shocked, disgusted, almost sickened by details of cruelty, inhumanity, and the most diabolical hate and vengeance, and anon come passages of powerful testimony to the supreme power of love—even over demons in the human form. The women in the book are of a strange fiendish-angelic nature, tantalising, and terrible, and the men are indescribable out of the book itself". However the review also emphasized the "great power" of the novel and its provocative qualities; it said that it was a "strange sort of book—baffling all regular criticism" and that "[it is] impossible to lay it aside afterwards and say nothing about it".

Although the Examiner agreed on the strangeness, it saw the book as "wild, confused; disjointed and improbable".

The Britannia review mirrored those comments made on the unpleasant characters, arguing that it would have been a "far better romance" if the characters were not "nearly as violent and destructive as [Heathcliff]". The unidentified review was less critical, considering it a "work of great ability" and that "it is not every day that so good a novel makes its appearance".

Until We Meet Again,

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Angela Renee

2012 Time Travel Reading Challenge

2012-01-01T20:24:00.002-05:00

Rules:
*Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31st, 2012. *You can join anytime.
*Books from other challenges count as long as they are about time travel.
*Books can be children's, middle-grade, YA or adult fiction.

Levels:
*Surprise Trip: 1 to 3 time travel books.
*Great Adventure: 4 to 6 time travel books.
*Fantastic Journey: 7 to 9 time travel books
*Mind-boggling Voyage: 10 to 12 time travel books.

Timeframe: Jan. 1st 2012, to Dec. 31st 2012

Host: Library of Clean Reads

My Goal:
Fantastic Journey: 7 to 9 time travel books.

Why am I doing this challenge?
This is a relatively new genre for me, normally I prefer Historical Fiction. Then last year I read Legacy & Catriona, both by Janette Baker as well as The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley. After reading those books, I found that I loved the time-travel aspect and now I have found this challenge, which hopefully will encourage me to explore more of this genre.

Books I intend to read, in no particular order:

1. Mariana by Susanna Kearsley Date read:
2. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells Date read:
3. The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma Date read:
4. Whispers In The Sand by Barbara Erksine Date read:
5. An Echo In The Bone by Diana Gabaldon Date read:
6. Nell by Janette Baker Date read:
7. This Time by Joan Szechtman Date read: January 14,2012 Review

To find out more about this challenge you may do so HERE

Jane Austen reading challenge

2011-12-24T15:24:00.001-05:00

I found this 8 genre Jane Austen reading challenge and could not resist.

The rules are fairly simple, read 1 Jane Austen-themed book from each of the 8 genres listed below during the allotted time (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012)

With this challenge you do not have to post a review, but I will do so anyway. If you would like to know more about this challenge, please check out their group on Goodreads.

The Genres:

1. Variation Stories
2. Sequel
3. Jane Austen as a Fictional Character
4. Paranormal
5. Modern Adaptation
6. Mystery
7. Supporting Characters
8. Books by Jane Austen

Although you do not have to add what you will read, I am going to add what I am intending to read. Titles may change if the book is poorly.

1. Variation Stories- Pride & Prejudice, Hidden Lust by Mitzi Szereto

2. Sequel- Darcy’s Temptation by Regina Jeffers

3. Jane Austen as a Fictional Character- Just Jane by Nancy Moser

4. Paranormal- Sense & Sensibility with Sea Monsters-

5. Modern Adaptation- Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton

6. Mystery -The Phantom of Pemberley by Regina Jeffers
7. Supporting Characters- Mr. Darcy’s Little Sister by C. Allyn Pierson

8. Books by Jane Austen- Either a re-read of Persuasion or Lady Susan

Thursday Tea

2011-12-16T14:12:00.001-05:00

The Book: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Ok, so today did not get off to a good start. I woke-up at 7 am, put the kettle on and about ten minutes later the power went off. Apparently the whole town was without power. So, I had no heat, no electric and no lights save for the random candles I was able to gather and the book light that is attached to my reading/laptop desk.

Oddly enough I just put batteries in my book light, so thankfully I had a light to read by. I mean what else was going to do? I could sit there and watch the telly, but I am pretty sure I would receive a visit from the men in white coats leading me to a padded cell.

I received an ARC of Cinder in the post today! Yay! I am a total nerd when it comes to revamped fairy tales although I have never read one that is set in the future with humans, androids, and cyborgs. I just finished chapter one and there seems to be a wealth of stuff going on. First, Cinder is a cyborg apparently with a rather small foot as the first chapter opens with her removing said foot and waiting for her assistant to bring her back an adequate one. We also learn that no one other the baker knows she is a cyborg, although I don’t think well have to worry about the baker as comes down with the plague at the end of the chapter. Chapter one also introduces us to the Prince, who brings his android to Cinder’s shop for repair.

It is very futuristic, which is exceedingly different from what I normally read but it has caught my attention and now I want to find out what happens.

The Tea:

I started with a cuppa semi-cold Earl Grey thanks to the power going out. Luckily, four hours later, the power is back one, although the power company informed us that we may be experiencing power cuts throughout the day so I now have a pot of Blackberry & Sage sitting on top a warmer.

Do they go together?

I am not really sure what one drinks when reading a futuristic fairy tale. The book does mention the plague and wasn’t tea used as cure for it in the Middle Ages? So, I suppose that in a way any tea would work.

Thursday Tea

2011-12-08T19:49:00.001-05:00

The Book:
I am reading Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. I am a big fan of GH. Ok- I will admit that may have been a bit of a lie. I am not overly fond of her mysteries and I couldn’t quite get into Beauvallet, but I do love her Regency romances. My love for them started thanks to the sexy voice of Richard Armitage. A friend of mine was listening to the audio book of Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle which was being read by AR while we were going on a car trip and his brilliantly sexy baritone voice is stuck inside my head every time I read a GH novel.

As for Cotillion, I am especially enjoying the light-heartedness of this novel. It’s very different from the GH novels that I have read in the past and I must say it contains a wealth of hilarity which I was not expecting. I also think that this was the perfect title for the book as the word Cotillion means a dance for four people. I cannot wait to see how this novel will end.

The Tea:
On a resent trip to Barnes & Noble I picked up Harney & Sons Earl Grey Imperial. It’s not like I needed another tin of Earl Grey, my tea cabinet is practically bursting with a mass of Earl Grey, I seem to have a mild addiction to this particular tea but seeing as there is no Earl Grey Drinkers Anonyms my addiction will have to continue…

This was the first time that I have tired the Imperial. You can definitely tell that it’s an Earl Grey, but I would describe as an Earl Grey with an extra dose or two or three of bergamot, meaning it’s a bit stronger than your average.

I also spotted this brilliant Keep Calm & Carry On mug which happens to match my Keep Calm & Carry on bookmark. I love it when things come together like that.

Do They Go Together?

Earl Grey goes with anything! Plus, it is a Regency novel and the Regency era is where tea of any type truly took hold. I think it is the perfect combo!

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Angela Renee

Classics Challenge 2012

2011-12-04T10:50:00.001-05:00

I love Classic novels, although due to my TBR pile, my Classics often get overlooked. Now, I have a reason to read them!

The Challenge:
Read seven works of Classic Literature in 2012
Only three of the seven may be re-reads

How Does it Work?
I've organized this challenge to work a little like a blog hop. I hope this will make it more interactive and enjoyable for everyone.

Instead of writing a review as you finish each book (of course, you can do that too), visit November's Autumn on the 4th of each month from January 2012 - December 2012.

You will find a prompt, it will be general enough that no matter which Classic you're reading or how far into it, you will be able to answer. There will be a form for everyone to link to their post. I encourage everyone to read what other participants have posted.

What I am going to read:

1-Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: For some reason unbeknownst to be, I have never read this book. I have had a copy sitting on my bookshelf for what seems like an eternity and now I finally am reading it!

2-The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: I watched the BBC movie with Ben Barnes, now I am eager to read the book.

3-Sons & Lovers by D.H. Lawrence: I purchased this book a few years back, then came down with a horrid case of the chickenpox (I was 21 when I came down with them, so any case would have been horrid) and forgot that I bought it.

4-Dubliners by James Joyce: Another classic that fell by the wayside due to the chickenpox

5- Dracula by Bram Stoker: I cannot believe that I have never read this book…

6-Persuasion by Jane Austen- Re-read. I have been in a Wentworth mood as of late.

7-Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- Re-read. My favorite novel.

Until We Meet Again,
Best Wishes & Happy Reading,
Angela Renee

Saturday Snapshot

2011-12-03T10:58:00.002-05:00

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce @ At Home With Books

Gra, Dilseacht, Cairdeas

Love, Loyalty, Friendship

I never share my artwork, although once I had finished this piece, I knew I wanted it to be displayed. The story of the Claddagh was one that I grew up hearing and I wanted to capture the symbol of the hands holding the heart topped with a crown. The only problem that I encountered was how I wanted to capture the emotion of the symbol. I drew up several sketches, yet none of them felt right, and finally it donned on me; the symbol itself was enough.

The Story of the Claddagh

Long ago, an Irish fisherman named Robert Joyce left his hometown of Galway, Ireland for distant ports. He sailed on a ship bound for the West Indies, but pirates came aboard and took over the vessel. They kidnapped Joyce, and sold him into slavery. He was taken to a goldsmith’s shop, and forced to work there, worlds away from the woman he loved.

Joyce never forgot the Irish woman who owned his heart, and he created the first Claddagh ring as a romantic symbol of their love. His loyalty and commitment to her were illustrated by the charming motifs he chose for the legendary Claddagh ring. Two tiny hands, gently clasping a crowned heart, were wrought from pure gold, and they symbolized the sacred nature of romantic love and faithfulness.

Joyce dreamed of returning to Galway and embracing his love, but instead, he languished for years, honing his skills as the Moorish goldsmith’s assistant. When King William III ordered the release of all slaves in 1689, he gained his freedom at last.

Despite the pleas of his master, who offered him all manner of worldly goods, and even his own daughter as a bride, if only Joyce would stay on and work for him, Joyce was resolute. He would return to his own true love, and make a life with her.

Upon his return, Bruce’s loyalty was rewarded. Margaret, the woman he loved so much, was there waiting for him, just as he had waited for her. And the couple lived out their life together. She wore her Claddagh ring until the end of her days

Until We Meet Again,

Best Wishes,

Angela Renee

Saturday Snapshot

2011-11-26T10:25:00.001-05:00

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce @ At Home With Books

I snapped these pictures on the 18th of November. I was in the middle of reading Wuthering Heights, with it’s vast moors and storm-laden Yorkshire-grey skies, when I noticed that the wind had picked and the three o’clock sky had turned dark in an instant. The gloomy sky was the perfect accompaniment to Emily Brontë’s novel, so I immediately grabbed my camera hoping to capture a piece of the moorland here in Ohio.

Until Next Time,

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Angela

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T07:06:00.002-05:00

Photo taken: November 15, 2011

NANAWRIMO Diary Part 1

2011-11-13T11:44:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I decided to participate in this years nanowrimo. I was planning on doing it last year, but life seemed to get in the way. So, this year I made a schedule and I am trying to stick to it, which means I am doing absolutely nothing but writing today and tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to put a nice dent in the 50,000 word quota. This may be a little tricky, 50,000 words in one month, well actually it is now 17 days, it sounds a bit daunting, but I always have liked a bit of challenge.

I am happy to report that I have a complete plot, which I have thoroughly mapped out. My characters have been outlined, the setting thoroughly researched, and the timeline completed. Thank goodness for sticky notes, index cards, three-ring binders, and highlighters. I do love to raid the office supply stores!

As you can tell I am not a panster. The idea of going into something completely blind makes me a bit unnerved. I am a full-fledged plotter. Those four books you see hold every tiny little detail about my novel, right down to the recipes for the dishes that will be consumed by my characters. I know that it may sound a little over-the-top for some, but I feel that when writing, the author should know every detail that goes in the book, so that your writing has a realness to it.

I have even done a bit of hands-on research for the novel. It’s always nice to have a professional jouster on hand, when you need to know a bit of technical information. Oh, and let me just say that the armour is a lot heavier than it looks and that chain-mail was horribly heavy.

I also visited a local castle just to get the feel of what it was like for my characters to live in one. I wanted to know the sounds, the echos, the lighting, the feel of bare feet upon cold flagstones. Although it wasn’t an actual historical castle, it has been modeled upon an English border castle, which made me even more eager to visit it as my story takes place in Northumbria. It was also thoroughly made by hand. Sadly I didn’t get to take as many pictures as I would have like as I forgot to charge my batteries.

The chair came from England.

Wheel-Stairs leading up from the dungeon.
The wheel-stairs were very steep and exceedingly narrow. Since the dimensions were taken from an English border castle, I was constantly wondering how the women maneuvered the stairs with their dresses.

In my next nanowrimo update I will be blogging about my plot.

Stats as of November 13th, 2011

Days in: 13 (although I started on the 3rd)
Words: 25,507
Chapter: 5-6
Cups Of Tea Consumed: More than I can count!

Keep those pens flowing…or those keys typing,
Until Next Time,

Angela Renee.

Thursday Tea

2011-11-03T19:50:00.001-04:00

The Book: The Monsters; Mary Shelley & The Curse of Frankenstein by Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler

A few days ago I watched the movie, Rowing with the Wind which happens to be about Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Shelley, and Clair Clairmont (Byron‘s lover and Mary‘s sister). The movie started on the night Frankenstein was created and then ventured on exploring the so-called “Curse of Frankenstein”.

The movie had me curious as to why Mary believed that she was created this curse, so I started to research a bit about her life and finally remembered that I had purchased this book at the beginning of the year.

I haven’t been able to delve into this book as deep as I was hoping as I am only on page 19. I am getting a bit of her parents history, mainly her mother’s history, and from the way, the book has been thus far I have to say I hope it improves. The writing seems a bit on the juvenile side for a non-fiction book, which is turning me off it somewhat.

I knew that Frankenstein was created when Lord Byron challenged his friends to write a ghost story, what I didn’t know was that Byron’s physician, Dr. Polidori wrote The Vampyre, which inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula.

The Tea: Boston Blend from Harney & Sons
The tea is a blend of black tea, cranberry, and almond flavours. It kind of reminds me of a cream tea, and I wonder if it contains just a hint of vanilla. The cranberry and almond compliment each other exceedingly well, which surprised me seeing as how the two are often bitter.

Overall, I would have to say that this is the perfect tea for an autumn night.

Do they go together?
Not really. Although I am reading about Shelley, Bryon, and Mary Shelley, so anything is possible.

Until We Meet Again

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Angela Renee

A Novel Seduction by Gwyn Cready

2011-10-24T12:33:00.001-04:00

Title: A Novel Seduction
Author: Gwyn Cready
Publisher: Pocket Star Books
ISBN: 978-1-4516-1264-6
$7.99 U.S./ $9.99 Canada
Format: Mass-Market Paperback
Pages: 373
How I Read It: Mass-Market Paperback from Publisher
Rating: 5 Cups

When snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe screws up at Vanity Place magazine, her boss assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy former party boy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos. Axel really wants the project to succeed. For one, the magazine will double his fee if he convinces strong-willed Ellery to write a story no woman can resist. Besides, getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change . . . even him. At his sister’s advice, Axel gives Ellery a copy of Kiltlander, a much-adored romance whose warrior hero is utterly irresistible. To her dismay, Ellery finds herself secretly falling in love with the story—and with Axel, who’s drawing his own lessons from the book’s compelling hero. With her carefully crafted image of herself crumbling and her dream job on the line, will Ellery risk it all to make the leap from tight-lipped literati to happily-ever-after heroine?
(from the back cover)

My First Thoughts After Reading The Blurb:

This has the potential to be a rather grand read. The name Axel Mackenzie sounds so sexy.

My Review:

After writing up a scathing review of Bettina Moore’s memoirs, Ellery Sharpe finds herself being forced to write an ode to romance novels. And who better to be her photographer and guide into the world of romance novels than her bad boy ex, Axel Mackenzie?
My Thoughts:

I have read devoured Gwyn Cready’s time travel romances-- thoroughly enjoying each of them. When I was offered this book to review, I jumped at the chance. Although I was not, sure how this would play out since this is a contemporary rather than a time travel. I am please to say that this book was just as brilliant as her time travel romances.

Right from the start, I was hooked and found that I could not put this book down. Some romance novels start off a bit slow gaining speed only after the first steamy scene, which was not the case with A NOVEL SEDUCTION. Because the hero and heroine had a history, the novel starts at a good pace, which continues throughout the novel.

I also loved the fact that this is a romance novel about a woman that hates romance novels. It’s a plotline that you do not see often in the world of romance novels and I found that to be intriguing.

I will admit it--I was an Ellery Sharpe. I loathed romance novels and believed them to be a waste of reading time until my second year at Uni when I was forced to read one romance a week for two months straight. For the first two weeks I then started to loath my Professor, until I found that one novel that clicked with me and opened the doors to a whole new world of novels. Sadly, I did not have anyone who looked as yummy as Axel to act as my guide.

I could identify with Ellery and her dislike of romance novels, which made me even more intrigued with the novel. In addition, I loved the way that it was Axel who acted as her guide into the world of romance novels.

Overall:

This was a witty contemporary romance, with believable characters and plot less taken approach. A perfect book to cozy up with.

A fun fact:

The three romance novels that Axel gives Ellery to read are based upon actual novels and one of them is Gwyn’s.

Angela

Thursday Tea

2011-10-13T13:01:00.001-04:00

The Book: Scones & Bones by Laura Childs.

In the latest installment, Theodosia Browning (owner of Indigo Tea Shop and unintentional super-sleuth) finds herself and her coworkers in the midst of another murder. Although this time the case, centers around a Pirate & Plunder part gone wrong which left a history intern dead and a priceless piece of Pirate booty missing.

I absolutely love Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery Series! I can never get enough of Theodosia or her coworkers. I have read numerous books in this series, so far (I am only on chapter 5), this one has been my favorite. It must have something to do with the Pirate aspect of the novel. Who doesn’t like Pirates?

The Tea: Blackberry Sage.

Description:

Tea For Wisdom - An enchanting blend of black tea, fruit and herbs. Finest quality tea leaves mingle with sweet, fragrant blackberries and cool, soothing white sage. The mild, head-clearing character of the white sage herb contributes to a wise tea mind.

I purchased this tea on a whim so I was not sure what to expect. I was also a bit worried that the sage would overpower the blackberry; surprisingly the tea was smooth and refreshing. You can taste a hint of sage but it is the blackberries that predominate.

Do they go together? Sure, why not. If I were to be precise about it, I would have gone for one of the teas mentioned in the book although I did not want to dig around in my tea cabinet.

Until We Meet Again,

Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie

2011-10-03T14:03:00.001-04:00

Title: Kiss of Night
Author: Debbie Viguie
ISBN: 978-0-446-57086-2
Publisher: Faith Words a division of Hachette Book Group
Format: Trade Paperback
$14.99/ $16.50 Canada
Genre: Fiction/Christian Suspense
Pages: 304
How I Read It: Advance Uncorrected Proof from Publisher
Rating:

Centuries ago, Raphael was a blasphemous knight who fought in the Crusades purely for his own mercenary benefit, and to satisfy his taste for killing. Now, condemned for his evil passions and hypocrisy, he wanders the earth a vampire, cursed with first-hand knowledge of the supernatural world he once denied existed. The powerful relic he still possesses from his days as a Crusader has been stolen by a rival vampire who has recruited an army of soulless underlings to aid him in spreading evil. At the time he learns this, Raphael has been hunting this vampire for nearly a century, and it seems the final battle is destined to take place in Prague.

For help in this quest, Raphael must enlist the aid of two humans, David and Susan, who suddenly find themselves immersed in a world they never imagined, entangled with supernatural forces they can't control. Susan, in particular, finds herself conflicted as she struggles with her inexplicable attraction to Raphael. In the end, both Susan and Raphael will be called upon to exercise courage and faith, and in the process, the question What would happen if a vampire truly accepted God? is answered.
(from the publishers)

My Review:

Susan Lambert has traveled to Prague for her Grandmother’s funeral. Seeking solace, she prays in an ancient church where she feels that someone is watching her. When she looks around, she sees a man staring at her and blocking the exist to the church. In the blink of an eye he is gone, only to be seen later in the shadows while she is having dinner with her family.

Soon Susan finds herself immersed in a world she knew nothing about with a vampire as her guide.

My Thoughts:

When I first read the concept of this book, I was intrigued. I wanted to see how the writer would pull off a Christian-based Vampire novel. While the theology of God creating vampires as a source of atonement was a bit absurd, it did make for an interesting read.
I loved the character of Raphael. I loved his struggle to be a good vampire and I could have read his pov forever. The same could be said for Susan‘s story. It was the addition of David’s pov that made this novel a bit stop and start. Too many main characters can taint the novel, making it seem slow and forced. I must admit, that did happen in parts of the novel. Right when Raphael/Susan was gaining speed, David’s pov came in disrupting the momentum.

While David’s disruptions did indeed make me want to throw the book against the wall, it was Raphael and Susan’s story that kept me reading away until the wee hours of the morn.

Kiss of Night, is the first novel in a series and I have to say that the author is off to a good start. I cannot wait to read the next book since this novel closes with a cliffhanger.

5 Cups stands for “I love it! Pour me another one!” I gave it a 5-Cup rating for the simple fact I loved it and cannot wait to read the next book in this series

I know this book will probably ruffle a few feathers for the simple fact that it is a Christian-based vampire novel. Although you must remember, this is simply a work of fiction and I do not believe that a work of fiction can sway a persons religious views.

I HAVE ONE COPY TO GIVEAWAY!

Residents of the US & Canada only.
Sorry, No P.O. Boxes.
To enter please leave your name & email address.
Contest ends Oct. 31st

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Thursday Tea

2011-09-29T20:37:00.001-04:00

The Book: The Goblin King by Shona Husk

I am halfway through the book at this point and I have to say that it’s not what I thought it would be. It’s not bad--the whole concept of a Celtic King cursed with a heart of gold (no not the sweet, I’ll-do-anything- you-ask-me-to-do heart of gold, but an actual piece of gold where his heart once was heart of gold) sounded rather appealing to me. Although I thought that book would have more of a Celtic-vibe to it than it actually does. It’s not bad, I actually want to see what happens between Roan (aka Goblin King) and Eliza, so I have this urge to finish the book; it’s just not, what I was expecting. I also found the worlds within the book to be intriguing. The goblins live in Shadowlands, the names explanatory and then there is Summerlands, the land in-which your dreams lives (think bright sunny Summer days complete with bunnies and wildflowers).

The concept of the book rather reminds me of the Irish legend of Shifty Jack.

The Tea: Asian Moonlight.

Description: I have no idea what is in this tea, but I absolutely love it. (Each time I visit my local tearoom, I buy 6 ounces of it and it never lasts more than a month or two.) It’s a black tea, with a hint of anise. It’s very smooth and relaxing and the lovely licorice aroma fills the room. Since it has been raining here for the last few days with no sign of stopping anytime in the near future, I thought that this would be a nice take-me-away-tea.

Do they go together? Possibly.
Both the book and the tea have qualities that set them apart from what is considered the norm. The tea has qualities of the “Summerlands” and “Shadowlands”, so it works in it’s own weird and wonderful way.

Until We Meet Again,

Thursday Tea

2011-09-21T19:08:00.001-04:00

The Book: Kiss Of Night by Bennie Viguie (out October 2011)
I have been waiting to read this book for what seems like forever. There is something appealing about a vampire doing a bit of soul searching--not to consume but to make amends. This is the first Christian-based vampire novel that I have read and I have to say the concept for this novel is rather intriguing. In addition, it offers a mystery as well as history, which always is enjoyable. I am on page 101 at the moment, and while the book stumbled a bit around page 90, it has picked up and I am eager to finish the novel.

The Tea: Twinings Fresh & Fruity Raspberry, Strawberry, and Loganberry.

Description:
A rich red berry infusion with a sweet juicy flavor. The sweetness of the strawberry contrasts with the sharper taste of raspberry and loganberry to create a delicious and refreshing blend.

Technically this is not a tea; it is an infusion and contains no tea at all. Although its nice and fruity and offers a taste of summer on a chilly, gloomy, British-like day. The taste could be likened to summer berries in a cup. Seeing how I never use sugar, this tea was naturally sweet yet had a bit of a bite to it.

Do they go together?

I am not exactly sure what type of tea goes with a vampire novel. I was about to make a pot of Voodoo tea, when I spotted the Fresh & Fruity tea. The Fresh & Fruity tea won for the simple reason it was already in a teabag where the Voodoo tea was loose and I didn’t want to go to the trouble of finding a tea strainer then filling it.

Surprisingly this tea actually did go with the book. Not only did the tea have a bite to it, when it was steeped, it turned a medium red colour.

The book does actually mention chamomile tea, but I wasn’t in the mood for a mellow tea.

*When reading, I always make a pot of tea, now I finally have a place to share my tea and tome selection!

Mailbox Monday!!!!

2011-09-18T21:10:00.001-04:00

This month Mailbox Monday is Hosted by Amused By Books

I wasn’t expecting a lot of books to arrive this week, so I was extremely surprised when I received the following in my mailbox.

For Review:

1. Heather Song by Michael Phillips
The Sequel to Angel Harp.
Provided by Hachette Book Group.
Synopsis:

Newly married, Marie and Alaster Reidhaven's life seems idyllic. But things start to fall apart when the Duke's sister's curses and spells start to plague them. Alaster dies and again Marie is widowed. Marie returns to Canada to visit her dying father. The reunion is tender and healing for them both.

Unexpectedly months later, Marie is astonished to learn that back in Scotland, her deceased husband Alaster never signed their pre-nup and had instead undertaken the legalities necessary to insure his estate would indeed go to Marie. Olivia is furious and full of threats and attempts to kill Marie and then disappears. Marie inherits and again assumes the title and role of duchess.

But now the other half of her former "love triangle" bubbles up from out of her past. Marie and Grahm begin seeing each other "as friends" awaiting God's leading.

Olivia reappears and again tries to kill Marie. Olivia eventually dies of cancer, unrepentant. The Reidhaven family line is at an end, the legacy of their memory to be carried forward by Marie who loved, in the end, all of them.

2. A River to Cross by Yvonne Harris
Provided by Bethany House
Synopsis:

Texas Ranger Jake Nelson patrols the U.S.-Mexico border, protecting the settlers from cattle rustlers, outlaws, and bandits. Sparks fly when Manuel Diego stirs up a revolt against the government, which leads to the murder of a newspaperman, who is the son of a U.S. senator, and the kidnapping of his sister, Elizabeth Madison, a journalist in the making.
With Elizabeth's photograph in hand--a dark-haired beauty with smiling eyes--Jake rides over the border to find her. After the Rangers defeat the marauders and rescue Elizabeth, Jake is surprised to learn she's not the spoiled daughter of a senator that he was expecting. In fact, he finds himself taken by her. And she by him.

3. The Little Bride by Anna Solomon
Provided by Penguin Books
Synopsis:

When 16-year-old Minna Losk journeys from Odessa to America as a mail-order bride, she dreams of a young, wealthy husband, a handsome townhouse, and freedom from physical labor and pogroms. But her husband Max turns out to be twice her age, rigidly Orthodox, and living in a one-room sod hut in South Dakota with his two teenage sons. The country is desolate, the work treacherous. Most troubling, Minna finds herself increasingly attracted to her older stepson. As a brutal winter closes in, the family's limits are tested, and Minna, drawing on strengths she barely knows she has, is forced to confront her despair, as well as her desire.

4. Theodora, Actress, Empress, Whore by Stella Duffy
Provided by Penguin Books
Synopsis:

Roman historian Procopius publicly praised Theodora of Constantinople for her piety-while secretly detailing her salacious stage act and maligning her as ruthless and power hungry. So who was this woman who rose from humble beginnings as a dancer to become the empress of Rome and a saint in the Orthodox Church? Award-winning novelist Stella Duffy vividly recreates the life and times of a woman who left her mark on one of the ancient world's most powerful empires. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore is a sexy, captivating novel that resurrects an extraordinary, little-known figure from the dusty pages of history.

5. The Wounded Heart by Adina Senft
Provided by Hachette Book Group
Synopsis:

When a business offer turns into something more personal, Amelia is torn between what logic tells her is right, and the desire of her heart.

A widow with two small children, Amelia Beiler is struggling to make ends meet. She is running her late husband's business, but it's not what she was raised to do, which is run a home. When she gets an offer for the business from Eli Fischer, she's only too relieved to consider it-especially when it looks like Eli's interest might include more than just the shop. But when she begins to experience strange physical symptoms and is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it's difficult not to question God's will. If she pursues the treatment she believes in, she risks going under the bann. But how can she allow Eli to court her when she can't promise him a future?

6. Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs
Provided by: the author
Release Date: 10-2011
Synopsis:

The last thing scrapbooking maven Carmela Bertrand expected to bear witness to in St. Tristan’s Church was a crime. But now a beloved member of her scrapbooking circle is dead – and a mysterious hooded figure has absconded with an antique crucifix. With the church, a popular New Orleans tourist site, pretty much open to the public, it looks like the police don’t have a prayer of finding the killer. Good thing amateur sleuth Carmela and her voodoo shop-owning friend, Ava, are hot on the trail of suspects that range from the strange Brother Paul to the cult group The Seekers. Combing New Orleans for clues, they end up in a bayou at midnight--stalked by an enraged killer!

7. The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
Provided by Touchstone
Release Date: 10-2011
Synopsis:

Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her house-hold for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines.

8. Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie
Provided by Random House
Release Date 11-2011
Synopsis:

Biography of Catherine the Great

9. Garden of Secrets by Barbara Freethy
Provided by Pocket Books
Synopsis:

Mysterious dreams draw costume designer Isabella Silviera to Angel’s Bay, the California coastal town where angels occasionally dance above the waves. Bestselling author Barbara Freethy enchants again in this emotional and compelling tale of family secrets, abiding friendships, and heart-touching romance. Isabella’s drive to Angel’s Bay would have ended in tragedy when her car slid off a cliff if she hadn’t been rescued by Nick Hartley. As he helps her to safety, she realizes he is the man who has haunted her dreams. Nick, however, is committed to reconnecting with his estranged teenage daughter, refusing to respond to his powerful attraction to Isabella. And Isabella’s police chief brother has his hands full with a missing mother, an abandoned baby, and an unknown father. What is Isabella’s role in the mysteries—both past and present— that swirl around the town? When she starts helping at the Hartley family theater, all the pieces begin to link together. Loves found and lost, heartbreak and happiness, courage and betrayal are all part of the patchwork quilt of the community—and of life. Isabella’s gift is seeing the patterns. . .

10. To Wed A Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
Provided by Publicist
Release Date: 12-2011
Synopsis:

To Wed a Wild Lord
To fulfill his grandmother’s ultimatum, Lord Gabriel Sharpe pursues a spitfire he believes desperately needs him. Then the tables are turned....

Like everything daredevil Gabriel Sharpe does, pursuing Virginia Waverly is a high-stakes game. Ever since her brother Roger died racing Lord Gabriel, Virginia has yearned to take her revenge on the reckless lord by beating him at his own sport. But when she challenges Lord Sharpe to a race, the hellion who has always embraced his dark reputation as the “Angel of Death” counters with a marriage proposal!

Gabe knows Virginia's family is in dire financial straits—why shouldn’t she marry him and solve both their problems? She claims to be appalled by his proposal, but her response to his kisses says otherwise. So when the two of them begin to unravel the truth behind Roger’s death, Gabe takes the greatest gamble of all, offering the cunning and courageous beauty something more precious than any inheritance: true love.

11. Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves 11.
Provided by Hachette Book Group
Release Date: 10-2011
Synopsis:

HE'S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS . . .

In a world full of frogs, Alison Carter is determined to find her prince. Maybe her dating past is more Titanic than Love Boat, but she's seen enough happy marriages to know that true love is possible. No matter what, she won't give up on happily-ever-after. If she can't find Mr. Right, she'll simply hire someone who can.

SHE JUST DOESN'T KNOW IT YET …

When Brandon Scott inherits a successful matchmaking business, he thinks his prayers have been answered. Set up a few lonely ladies, collect the fee, how hard can it be? No one needs to know he's not really a professional matchmaker-especially not his first client, the beautiful, spirited Alison. Soon he's falling for her-and her dreams of kids and carpools. But Alison is getting close to figuring out his secret, and if she learns he's deceived her too, she'll walk right out the door, taking Brandon's heart with her.

12. Scottish Customs From the Cradle to the Grave by Margaret Bennett
Purchased New from Amazon

I received a grand total of 12 books in my mailbox this week….What grand reads did you receive?

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Fall Into To a Good Book-Romance Edition

2011-09-12T12:20:00.000-04:00

With fall falling upon us, I thought that this would be a good time to introduce you to some of my favorite books.

For many of us the cooler air has started to creep in. For me, that means breaking out the plaid wraps, putting on the teakettle, grabbing a good book (or two or three) and heading outside to the swing to enjoy the last days of nice weather before winter settles upon us.

I thought that I would share with you a few of my favorites and what better than a Regency Romance series to warm you up on a chilly night.

The Duke’s Obsession Series by Grace Burrowes

1. The Heir (out now)
2. The Soldier (out now)
3. The Virtuoso (releases November 2011)

The Heir (book one)
Author: Grace Burrowes
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4434-6
$6.99
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

AN EARL WHO CAN’T BE BRIBED…

Gayle Windham, earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the duke of Moreland. To escape his father’s inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper...

A LADY WHO CAN’T BE PROTECTED…

Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper.
As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna’s secrets threaten to bring the earl’s orderly life crashing down—and he doesn’t know how he’s going to protect her from the fallout...

Title: The Soldier
Author: Grace Burrowes
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4567-1
$6.99
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

HE IS WEARY IN BODY & SPIRIT…

Devlin St. Just has tried everything to escape his demons. But his responsibilities are multiplying and his despair deepening, until beautiful, enigmatic neighbor Emmaline Farnum steps in…

SHE’S GOT EVERYTHING TO HIDE…

Devlin’s torn spirit calls to Emmaline, but even as she gives in to his irresistible caresses and her own growing desires, she’s keeping a devastating secret…

Protecting Emmaline becomes Devlin’s urgent mission, if only he can over come the forces that are driving them irretrievably apart…

Title: The Virtuoso
Author: Grace Burrowes
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4570-1
Release Date: November 2011
$6.99
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

A MAN WHOSE PASSION HAD FAILED HIM…

Lord Valentine Windham is devastated when an injury makes it impossible for him to play the piano. Val’s music was his greatest expression and also his salvation from the pressures of society--and his imperious father. Greif, loss, and loneliness threaten to overwhelm him, until he meets a beautiful young widow whose troubles are even deeper than his own…

Immerse yourself in the earthy, passionate Regency of Grace Burrowes where love and sensuality come vibrantly to life in a timeless graceful era….

My Thoughts:

The Heir

Before I became a reviewer, I would normally pass by romance books. Occasionally one would catch my eye, but often I wrote them off as fluff- light reading with no substance to engage me- I have to say that it’s author’s like Grace Burrowes that have pulled me into this genre. I found that The Heir, not only peaked my interest, it held my attention, and now has me hooked on the characters. I simply cannot wait to read what will happen next.

Very well crafted, each of the characters offers the reader something fresh and unexpected, the same goes for the plot. Westhaven was so unlike any other romance character that I had read, it made me want to read more. To find out who he was and what he wanted (not what he was expected to do, but wanted) to do with his life. I found alluring to watch him claim his own destiny and not have his father force it onto him. I was hooked from the moment Westhaven received a knock over the head, and thoroughly enjoyed his battle with the chicken pox. (Although I did feel his pain, seeing as how I was 21 when I fought my own battle with them. Not pleasant indeed!) I also enjoyed Anna’s character, I was speaking about the book a few days ago to a friend of mine and compared her to an onion in the sense that she very well layered.

The supporting cast was also a welcome surprise. Even though he may come off a bit rough and gruff, I have to say I found myself falling in love with Dev and I simply could not wait for his story to be published. Val was very charming, I could not wait to see what he came up with next.

I read somewhere that Grace Burrowes had originally intended for Westhaven to be a secondary character in a completely different novel, I am so glad that she answered the call of the writer and created a story just for him.

The Soldier

When reading The HEIR, the first book in the series, I found that I was drawn to Devlin St. Just. I wanted to know more about this man who seemed so burdened by his past. I could not wait to read this book. And let me just tell you that once I got my hands on it, I devoured it.

My heart bled for Devlin as he struggled with the unseen wounds war left upon him. You see him making progress only to have an event as simple as a thunderstorm pull the rug out from underneath him. Yet he prevailed. He knew that those around him depended upon him, especially little Winnie. I also enjoyed the family connection portrayed in this book. Family is front and center in this book, and you feel the ties that bind them together as well as the love they share, and the fact that they would do anything for those they loved.

It was almost as if Devlin were a soul laid bare, his thoughts and feelings being very prevalent in this book. The hero’s in The Duke’s Obsession series are very emotional and I believe that is why I have enjoyed this series thus far.

Emmie was also likable, although I wished that she would have stopped trying to run a bit sooner, but with the secret she held (I figured out her hidden fact early on) I could see and appreciate the reasons behind her actions. In the story she was viewed as an outcast by the villagers, although I found it funny that they could buy her baked goods and have her to make their wedding cakes while ostracizing her. I found myself wanting her to scream make your own bloody bread/cakes, to standup for herself a bit more, but like I said before I knew the reason behind her actions.

This is my favorite book thus far in The Duke’s Obsession series. Well paced, well plotted, brilliant characters. I truly hated to see this book come to an end, although I am anxiously waiting for Val’s story

The Virtuoso

Since this book is not out until November, my review will have to wait until late October-Early November. Although, let me tell you it is definitely worth the wait!!!!

I have both The Heir and The Soldier to giveaway*.
To Enter please leave your name and a valid email address.
Contest is International.

Ends October 15.

How To Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling review & Giveaway

2011-07-04T14:07:00.003-04:00

Title: How To Seduce a Scoundrel
Author: Vicky Dreiling
ISBN: 978-0-446-56538-7
Publisher: Forever Romance
Format: Mass-Market Paperback
$7.99
How I read it: Mass-Market Paperback from the Publisher

Rating:

Miss Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle. It started when her brother's best friend-for whom she's long nursed a secret tendre-agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risqué waltz. But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for Marc Darcett, Earl of Hawkfield, to claim her as his own, he made his disinterest clear. Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any self-respecting, recently discarded young miss with a wicked sense of humor would do. She secretly pens a lady's guide to enticing unrepentant rakes . . . and it becomes the hottest scandal sheet in London.

Every honorable rake knows that friends' sisters are forbidden. But suddenly Julienne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can't resist. Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter and his nights dreaming of kissing her senseless. He's always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match?
(from the publishers)

My Thoughts:
I have been waiting for this book ever since reading HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. You could see this book coming while reading the first and I have to say it is even better than I imagined it would be.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL. The plot was fast-paced, the characters were well rounded, and I found myself halfway through the book before I realized I had read so much.

Trust me, BUY THIS BOOK, you will not regret it!

Five Fun Facts

1. The Rules and He’s Just Not That into You inspired Vicky to write HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL.

2. Vicky writes to music and created a playlist for HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL. Readers can listen to the songs on her website. The theme song for the book is Better Man (Pearl Jam).

3. Lady Julianne, the spunky heroine of HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL, finds inspiration in Anne Boleyn, who was said to be only moderately attractive but managed to charm everyone at court with her wit and vivacity.

4. A giant statue of Napoleon at Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington’s residence, was the inspiration for the hideous statue of Apollo in the opening scene.

5. One scene involving a decanter of wine and a thumping door is based on something that Vicky overheard. She plans to include a spoiler on her website that details the hilarious incident.

http://www.vickydreiling.com/

I have three copies to giveaway on July 30
Please leave your name and a valid email address
Residents of the US & Canada Only
Sorry, No P.O. Boxes

Scarlet Nights by Scarlet Nights

2011-07-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Scarlet Nights
Author: Jude Deveraux
ISBN: 978-1-4391-0799-7
Publisher: Pocket Books
$7.99
Format: Mass-Market ARC
Rating: 4 Cups

Engaged to the charming and seductive Greg Anders, Sara Shaw is happily anticipating her wedding in Edilean, Virginia. The date has been set, the flowers ordered, even her heirloom dress is ready. But just three weeks before the wedding, Greg gets a telephone call during the night and leaves without explanation. Two days later, a man climbs up through a trapdoor in the floor of Sara’s apartment, claiming that he is the brother of her best friend and that he’s moving in. While Mike Newland is indeed telling the truth about his identity, his reason for being there reaches far deeper. He’s an undercover detective, and his assignment is to use Sara to track down a woman who is one of the most notorious criminals in the United States—and also happens to be the mother of the man Sara plans to marry.

Mike thinks the job will be easy—if he can figure out how to make a “good” girl like Sara trust him, that is. But Mike has no idea what this mission has in store for him. He’s worked hard to keep private his connections to Edilean, which date back to his grandmother’s time there in 1941. But as Mike and Sara get to know each other, he can’t help but share secrets about himself that he’s told no one else. And in return, Sara opens up to Mike about things she could never reveal to Greg. As the pair work together to solve two mysteries, their growing love begins to heal each of them in ways they never could have imagined.
(from Goodreads)

My Thoughts:

I have to say I truly liked this book. I had previously read and loved Scent of Jasmine and I failed to realize that it was part of The Edilean Series. When I started this book, I have to say I enjoyed it even more so than Scent of Jasmine. The characters were well put together, the plot was well paced, and I could not put this book down.

Undercover with the intentions of catching a family of criminals, Mike Newland never imagined that he would developed feelings for the woman he was sent to protect. Although he has never had been involved in a case where he knew a bit about the woman he was sent to seduce. After hearing about Sara from his sister who married one of Sara’s cousins, he goes into this case knowing a bit (a small bit) about her. In some ways I believe that led to his attraction to her.

Sara had her own problems, for starters she was being unknowingly duped by her fiancé. Now, she has to deal with Mike. The only thing she knows about is that he is her best friends mysterious brother who is asking her to trust him with her life. When Mike decides to be honest with her about certain aspects of the case, she begins to let her guard down a bit.

Throughout the book you see witty banter between Mike and Sara as well as harrowing situations. There is danger and romance, but the main focus seems to be the relationship between Mike and Sara.
*On a side-note, I have to say that the way the complication of this series is a bit out of whack. One book is set it the present while the next is in the past. I would have liked to have seen a bit of unity in the progression of the novels. In my opinion, this series should have been released in two parts, a historic set dealing with early Edilean and then a secondary series dealing with a contemporary Edilean.

Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves

2011-07-01T12:40:00.000-04:00

Title: Black Ties and Lullabies
Author: Jane Graves
ISBN: 978-0-44656847-0
Publisher: Forever Romance
Release Date: July 2011
Format: Mass-Market Paperback
$7.99/$8.99 CAN.
How I Read It: Mass-Market ARC from the publisher
Rating: 5 Cups

A good girl can be bad for one night...

Bernadette Hogan doesn't make mistakes. Not when it comes to caring for her mother, and not at her job protecting Texas's most eligible--and infuriating--bachelor. Maybe that's why she's overcome with guilt after one tiny indiscretion: a passionate fling with her boss that's left her confused, intrigued...and pregnant.

but can a bad boy be good for a lifetime?

To self-made millionaire Jeremy Bridges, women are like fine wine: if held for too long, they sour. But one wild night with Bernadette changed all that. She makes him laugh, she makes him think, and soon she's going to make him a father. For the first time, Jeremy wants to be a one-woman man. So how can he convince the fiercely independent Bernadette he's ready to change from partying playboy to dependable dad--and become the loving husband she deserves?
(from the publisher)

My Review:

Three Sentence Summary:

Bernadette Hogan and Jeremy Bridges are like chalk and cheese, yet one night of angry passion changes their life forever. Now what was once an employee/employer relationship becomes a bit more complicated when Bernie discovers that she is carrying Jeremy’s child. Can Jeremy prove that he is ready and will to give up his bad boy ways and become a father?

Main Characters:

Bernadette Hogan: Bernie comes across as a no-nonsense kind of woman. She knows that she cannot make mistakes, especially since she has to look after her mother. She also comes across as tough, yet we see her layers peel away as the story progresses. As a bodyguard for Jeremy Bridges, she watches as he lives the high life, attends glitzy charity events, and pulling birds as he pleases. When he fails to listen to Bernie’s advice regarding a crazy blond, things soon escalate beyond control.

Jeremy Bridges: CEO of Sybersence Systems Jeremy is indeed living the good life. Glitzy parties, limousines, any woman. To top it all off he has the one thing that matters the most-control. He seems to be doing rather well for himself, although he fails to realize that in the process he comes across as a shallow control freak. Although after the saferoom incident, he learns what happens when you lose control.

As I said before these two characters are like chalk and cheese, you would never envision the two of romantically involved for fear of one of them killing the other. Each of them knows the buttons to push to make the other go over the top, and they push those buttons daily. Both like to be in control and they have their own reason for that, but as the old saying goes too many chefs in the kitchen spoil the broth, ultimately they need to figure out how they are going to work together to raise the child Bernie is carrying. Let me just say that this is not going to be an easy task to accomplish.

Secondary Characters:

There are several characters that pop up throughout the novel but I have to say that there are a few who act like the voice of reason throughout the novel.

Phil-Jeremy’s best friend and financial advisor who steers Jeremy through his “how can I be a dad when I have had such a terrible example” stage.

Teresa- Bernie’s friend who shows her that mothering is not as bad as one might expect.

Max- New bodyguard to Jeremy and one of Bernie’s oldest friends. He has Bernie’s best interest at heart and that does not bode well for Jeremy, although it does make for some interesting reading.

Then we have Eleanor, Bernie’s mother. Like most mothers, she knows what her daughter needs/wants before her daughter does. We see her helping led Bernie in the right way. Although we also see Bernie taking of her due to the dieses Eleanor has.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book. I devoured this book in one setting and now I am on the prowl for Jane Graves’ other novels. Often I find that contemporary romances fail to capture my attention because they are often flat, but BLACK TIES & LULLABIES was one of my absolute favorites of the year. The characters were well rounded and believable. I was drawn to the situation at hand and was eager to see how it was going to be concluded. The way the plot unfolded was phenomenal. While the number of twists were limited, a few spanners were thrown into the works every now and again. I also enjoyed the way Jane Graves revealed her characters to the reader. She only allowed certain bit and bobs of information out at a time so it would be a buildup of facts rather than a downpour, and I have to say that made me want to read it even more.

Would I read this book again? Definitely!

About the author:

Jane Graves is the author of seventeen contemporary romance novels. She is a seven-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's Rita Award, the industry's highest honor, and is the recipient of two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Booksellers' Best Award, and the Golden Quill, among others. Jane lives in the Dallas area with her husband of twenty-eight years and a very sweet kitty who kindly keeps her lap warm while she writes.

You can visit Jane's website at www.janegraves.com , or write to her at jane@janegraves.com. She'd love to hear from you!

A Trip Down the Rabbit Hole! Books and hats and holidays!

2011-06-24T19:57:00.017-04:00

Hello Readers,

It’s HOLIDAY TIME!! Yippee! I am officially on holiday until June 15th, although I will blog while off!

Being on holiday gives me ample time to catch-up on my ever-growing to be read pile. Several books have caught me eye that I simply cannot wait to read.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud (September, 2011)

At the moment I am wavering between “will I like it?’ and “will I not like it?”. I keep picking up the arc and then placing it back on my shelf not quite sure what to expect, but I do have to say this book looks as though it will hold my interest. Before my holiday is over, I will read this book!

Catriona by Jeanette Baker

Having fallen in love with Legacy, I cannot wait to start this book. I love how she intertwines the past and the present.

Whispers in the Sand by Barbara Erskine

This will be my first time reading a novel by Barbara Erskine, and after hearing the amazing buzz about her books I am thrilled to have it in my tbr pile. In fact I just may have to move it to the top of the pile!

Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer

I cannot wait to curl up with this book. The blurb on the back caught my eye:

Rank, wealth, and elegance are no match for a young lady who writes novels…
Sylvester, Duke of Salford, has exacting requirements for a bride. Then he encounters Phoebe Marlow, a young lady with literary aspirations, and suddenly life becomes very complicated. She meets none of his criteria, and even worse, she has written a novel that is sweeping the ton and causing all kinds of gossip…and he’s the main character!

Doesn’t it sound brilliant!

How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling

I simply have to read this after reading How to Marry a Duke. Stay tuned because I will be hosting a giveaway for How to Seduce a Scoundrel.

Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves

I received an arc of this yesterday and desperately want to devour it!

The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase

This will be my first time reading Ashlyn Chase and I am eager to do so.

The Greatest Love on Earth by Mary Ellen Dennis

The cover alone peaked my curiosity, now I have to see what it’s all about!

That’s my short list of what I am itching to read. I am currently reading

Pillow Talk by Freya North, and I have to say I am rather enjoying. As a fan of Brit-Chick lit, this book is right up my alley. Sourcebooks is releasing this title in July, so make sure you add it to your tbr list.

When I am not working, reading, or writing you can find me covered in paint- well my hands at least. In my spare time I am bit of an artist, although sadly I hardly have the time to break out the paints anymore. Hopefully while on holiday I will be able to finish the canvas I started a few weeks ago.

However I did mange to finish a sketch from a few months back

and I finally found a frame for it.

As of late I have become a bit of a hatter and I can definitely see why some of them went mad. The work that goes into making a single hat is exceeding tedious, so that is why I have only completed two.

A tea hat

A historic pillbox type complete with a peacock feather

I have a few other designs in mind, a regency type bonnet, and a renaissance inspire attifet that was made famous by Mary, Queen of Scots. I will let you know how they turn out!

Until next time,
Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Update!

2011-06-11T13:48:00.008-04:00

Hello All!

WOW! These last few weeks have been pure madness! Starting at the end of May it has been a nonstop cycle of running here and there, although I did manage a few shopping trips along the way :-} Who can resist a chance encounter with a bookshop? Or finding a cute little boutique and snagging that to-die-for dress?

Besides the browsing and buying, that went on, I also checked out The Feast of the Flowering moon, a Native America-inspired festival that was held in Chillicothe, Ohio’s first capital. I have to say that the festival failed to impress, sad to say I had more interest in the family of swans that were moseying about than the actual festival.
(I am surprised she allowed me close enough to snap these pictures)

(I cannot leave out these cute little ducks that were swimming about)

I will say Ohio’s First Capital does have some rather interesting historical sites to offer. Sadly, I only had time to check out Adena.

Adena Mansion, completed in 1806-1807, was the 2,000-acre estate of Thomas Worthington, Ohio’s sixth governor and one of Ohio’s first United States Senators. Adena is one of only three houses designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe* that is still standing in the country.

Although once comprised of 2,000 acres only 300 remain. On those 300 acres, you will find the original homestead, five outbuildings and a highly impressive formal garden.

Another area of interest is the north lawn of Adena. Looking east from the north lawn, one can see across the Scioto River Valley to the Logan Range. This view was the inspiration for the Great Seal of Ohio

As I was taking in the view from the north lawn, and mentally removing the modern houses that have since been place there, the guide from Adena told the story of how the inspiration for the seal came about.

“Thomas Worthington and a few good friends had wondered onto the north lawn after attending a soiree at Adena. Apparently the small party had partaken in one too many of the spirits that were offered and passed out upon the north lawn. Awakening the next morning as the sun arose, they were drawn to the beauty of what they were witnessing, and thus deemed the scene worthy to be Ohio’s Great Seal.”

Apparently the creation of Ohio’s State Seal can be attributed to a drunken folly.

*Benjamin Henry Latrobe was a British-born American architect whose buildings include, The United States Capital, the east and west colonnades of the White House, St. John’s Church, Christ Church and many other historic buildings.

Unfortunately, the festival and Adena were the only two places of interest that I was able to see. The week that followed consisted of graduations, parties, picnics, and a massive amount of work when I returned home. I had little time to read, only managing to read one book: A Weekend With Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly which was released Sourcebooks this month, so watch for the review to come!

June 4 was filled with a surprise visit from a friend who brought me a lovely cloth map of Scotland as well as an odd proposal to, and I quote, “take a turn in the garden.” I believe he has been watching/reading up on his Jane Austen. Nothing grand happened while ‘taking a turn in the garden’ other than me being chewed alive by a swarm of mosquitoes.

I did manage to start a reread of Northanger Abbey, which happens to be my second favorite Jane Austen novel. Due to the massive pile of paperwork that greeted me when I arrived back at work, I am still reading Northanger Abbey, although I only have two chapters left!

For me it’s a three-day weekend! :-) Which means, I *FINALLY* have a chance to catch-up on my TBR pile, which at this moment is growing at a steady pace. This week I have amassed a grand total of 38 books! Most are review books with release dates spanning from the end of June to August. The others I have purchased.

The books that I have purchased are the following:

The Invasion of Falgannon Isle by Deborah MacGillivray
*A book about an Isle that has 213 single Scotsmen. If there is an Isle like that somewhere, please sign me up for a visit!

Improper English by Katie MacAlister
Erin Song by Diana Groe
The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer
The Tudor Age by Jasper Ridley (nonfiction)
Queen Elizabeth I by Susan Doran (nonfiction)

************************************************

I am looking forward to spending this weekend with a cuppa tea and a few good books.

I will let you know how many I finish!

Until next time,

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

Dark Descendant by Jenna Black

2011-06-08T13:11:00.001-04:00

Title: Dark Descendant
Author: Jenna Black
ISBN: 978-1-4516-0679-9
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: Mass-Market
$7.99

Nikki Glass can track down any man. But When her latest client turns out to be a true descendent of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can’t die…Crazy as it sounds, Nikki’s man hauling skills are literally god-given. She’s a living, breathing descendant of the gods. Nikki’s new “friends” include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matte; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she’s a spy. But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle between good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she’ll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy…
(from the back of the book)

My Thoughts:

This is my first time reading a novel by Jenna Black, and I have to say that it most definitely will not be my last. Her writing is very catching, making the reading want to know more about the story at hand. A mix of Mythos and Urban Fantasy, Dark Descendent has me hooked. I liked the fact that this was not your typical vampire, werewolf, paranormal type of book, but rather a mythical concoction that will leave you craving more.

As this is book one in Jenna Black’s Descendant Series I cannot wait to read what comes next!

Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton review/giveaway

2011-05-19T13:50:00.003-04:00

Title: Death of a Chimney Sweep
Author: M.C. Beaton
ISBN: 978-0-446-54739-0
Publisher: Grand Central
Format: Hardcover
$24.99
How I Read It: Trade paperback ARC

In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder.

My Review:

Once again we find ourselves back in Lochdubh with P.C. Hamish Mcbeth as he tackles yet another case. This time a body is found stuffed up a chimney leaving some to believe that is was indeed the chimney sweep with the candlestick. But when Pete Ray, the chimney sweep in question is found dead on the moors, Hamish is convinced that is was not a simple accident and that someone else is to blame for both deaths.

Now Hamish must search through Lochdubh for the killer he believes is out there. For those of you who know Hamish, you will know that he never goes by the book, allowing the investigation to go above and beyond what would be considered normal.

My Thoughts:

I love the Hamish Mcbeth mysteries, in fact they are one of my favorite series, and this book was one of the best that I have read so far. While it is a book in a series, each one can be read alone without the need to have read the ones that came before. If a topic from the previous book is addressed it is explained within the novel so the reader is not left with feeling as though they have missed something.

Wrote with the language of the Highlands, this book transports the readers to the fictional town of Lochdubh (pronounced Lochdoove). The residents of Lochdubh are a treat as well bringing their own bit of zaniness to the story, making that much more enjoyable to read. For those of you who have read the other novels, yes, this one offers a bit of conflicted romance as well.

Grab you a few pieces of shortbread, make yourself a nice cuppa of heather tea, and journey to the Highland moors as Hamish solves yet another crime.

I HAVE THREE BOOKS TO GIVEAWAY ON JUNE 2
RESIDENTS OF THE US & CANADA ONLY

As Always,

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

The Magic of Finkleton by KC Hilton

2011-05-19T12:19:00.001-04:00

Title: The Magic of Finkleton
Author: KC Hilton
ISBN: 9781456570293

www.kc-hilton.com

Most folks say, "Mother Nature controls the rain". However this is not the case in the village of Finkleton.
In the perfect little village of Finkleton, the weather is always perfect. Every farm grows the best, biggest, healthiest crops in the entire world, and everyone is happy.

Soon after the Finkles inherit their Uncle Harry's shop and move to Finkleton, they discover magical secrets hidden in his shop. One clue at a time, Jack, Lizzy and Robert learn the town's amazing secret. No, Mother Nature is not in charge in Finkleton!

Ever since Uncle Harry's death, the weather has not been cooperating. Farms are starting to fail. Will the Finkle children be able to solve all the magical mysteries before the village is destroyed?

Come along to Finkleton. A very special, magical adventure is about to begin!
(Form the back of the book)

My Thoughts:

As you turn each page “The Magic Of Finkleton” comes to life in this amazing book. Young readers will delight as they unlock the magic that awaits.

Inheriting their great-uncle Harry’s general store seemed to be a blessing after their cottage in Bath caught fire, yet once the Finkle children arrive they find that it was more than fate that brought them here. Discovering one clue then another, Jack, Lizzy, and Robert unlock the secrets that the shop holds. Once all the clues are in place the children discover that Mother Nature is not in control of the weather in Finkleton, they are. Now they most figure out to set the small village back to rights.

A very entertaining read, with an ending that leaves you wanting more. Children of all ages will enjoy this magical story as they embark on a journey of magical discovery right along with the Finkle’s.

I believe that fans of Nanny McPhee will love this book as it offers that same English charm.

The Magic of Finkleton
Prologue

Nestled in the lush countryside of England exists a tiny place called Finkleton. Finkleton is too small to be officially considered a town; most would consider it a village. In fact, Finkleton is so small it cannot be located on any map.

Finkleton is a thriving, self-sufficient community. Every year all their crops overflow with an abundance of delicious fruits and vegetables. The farmers trade and sell amongst each other, then sell their excess crops at local markets in nearby towns.

The weather in Finkleton is always perfect for each farmer. So perfect, in fact, that not one farmer has ever wanted to sell their land and move away.

Of course outsiders have tried to persuade the farmers to sell their land, but it is all to no avail. Nobody wants to move from their farm. But the farmers’ refusals to sell doesn’t stop outsiders, who continue to try and persuade the local farmers to bargain with them for their perfect farmland.

Some folks say Finkleton holds the luckiest lands in England. Others shrug and say instead that it is a magical place.

Reviewed for Review The Book

Looking for new reviewers

2011-05-18T15:04:00.000-04:00

We are currently looking for a few more royal bloggers to join the Royal Reviews team! We are looking for both permanent bloggers (minimum of 3 reviews per month) as well as Ladies in Waiting (guest bloggers, who fill-in on certain Fridays).

If you are interested or would like to have more information, please email newroyalreviews(at)yahoo(dot)com. We look forward to hearing from you!

As Always,
Happy Reading and Best Wishes,

The False Friend by Myla Goldberg

2011-05-18T09:50:00.002-04:00

Title: The False Friend
Author: Myla Goldberg
ISBN: 978-0-385-52721-7
Publisher: Double Day Broadway Books
Format: Hardback Book- Trade Paperback
$25.95 HB/ $14.95 Trade Paperback
How I Read It: Trade Paperback ARC

From the bestselling author of Bee Season comes an astonishingly complex psychological drama with a simple setup: two eleven-year-old girls, best friends and fierce rivals, go into the woods. Only one comes out . . .

Leaders of a mercurial clique of girls, Celia and Djuna reigned mercilessly over their three followers. One afternoon, they decided to walk home along a forbidden road. Djuna disappeared, and for twenty years Celia blocked out how it happened.

The lie Celia told to conceal her misdeed became the accepted truth: everyone assumed Djuna had been abducted, though neither she nor her abductor was ever found. Celia’s unconscious avoidance of this has meant that while she and her longtime boyfriend, Huck, are professionally successful, they’ve been unable to move forward, their relationship falling into a rut that threatens to bury them both.

Celia returns to her hometown to confess the truth, but her family and childhood friends don’t believe her. Huck wants to be supportive, but his love can’t blind him to all that contradicts Celia’s version of the past.

Celia’s desperate search to understand what happened to Djuna has powerful consequences. A deeply resonant and emotionally charged story, The False Friend explores the adults that children become—leading us to question the truths that we accept or reject, as well as the lies to which we succumb.
(From the Publisher)

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for this book; unfortunately, I was very disappointed by the time I finished it. The concept was indeed an intriguing one- a group of girls walk home on a forbidden highway, a fight ensues one girl runs into the woods, another girl follows her in, only one comes out, a lie that becomes the truth. While the author could have created this amazing story out of the previous description, I felt that the book was a literary mess, continually circling around a thread without gaining any ground. Almost pointless to read as the issue at hand is never truly addressed and rather than sustaining the plot, she fills the book with one-dimensional characters that offer nothing to the story.

Celia to me came off whiny and the fact that she continuously called her mother ‘mommy’ annoyed me to no end. Then we have the boyfriend, Huck, who not only is a teacher he’s a pothead as well, and apparently Celia has no problem with dating one and he has no problem with getting high at her parents house, even though her brother Jem is a recovering drug-addict. The “friends” offer nothing to novel except that Leeanne is now Lee. Even the missing girl and her mother are annoying.

The characters fell flat and the plot was lost to misguidance. Random things were placed into the novel such as Celia and Huck having phone sex, continuous talk about their dogs, Huck getting high, Jem’s pregnant wife complaining, that in my opinion were just fillers that offered nothing to the story.

For me this book was a poorly composed Lifetime movie where the ending was deleted.

I would love to know your thoughts on this book if you have read it.

Swept Off Her Feet by Hester Browne

2011-05-14T10:00:00.003-04:00

The steps of a charmingly complex dance—Scotland's famous reel—are at the heart of Hester Browne's enchanting contemporary novel of two very different sisters whose dreams may come true at a romantic Scottish ball.

Evie Nicholson is in love . . . with the past. An antiques appraiser in a London shop, Evie spins fanciful attachments to Victorian picture frames, French champagne glasses, satin evening gloves, and tattered teddy bears—regardless of their monetary value.
Alice Nicholson is in love . . . with Fraser Graham, a dashing Scotsman whom Evie secretly desires. As crisply neat and stylish as Evie is cheerfully cluttered, Alice is a professional organizer determined to pull her sister out of her comfort zone—and who presents her with an irresistible offer.

As a favor to friends of Fraser's family, Evie jumps at the chance to appraise a Scottish castle full of artifacts and heirlooms. What could be more thrilling than roaming the halls of Kettlesheer and uncovering the McAndrews' family treasures—and dusty secrets?
But crossing paths with moody heir Robert McAndrew has Evie assessing what she wants the most . . . and at an upcoming candlelight gala, a traditional dance will set her heart reeling.
(from the publisher)

My Thoughts

I wasn’t sure if this book would be my cuppa tea being that it is a contemporary novel. Although being that it was set in Scotland made me want to see what it was all about. As I started reading I was hooked by the first page. The description of Evie being addicted to the past drew me in and made me want to know more about the story that was about to unfold.

The Characters-

Evie Nicholson- I found that I could relate to Evie and her obsession with the past and the antiques that come from it. As a lover of antiques- like Evie- I too want to know the story that comes along with each item. She was fun to read, I enjoyed watching her come in to her own as the story progressed.

Alice Nicholson- Sister to Evie, although rather than being a collector of antiques, she is a professional organizer. While I liked Alice, occasionally I could not stand her and her annoying need to control things that were beyond her control. Yet by the end of the novel she was becoming a bit more enjoyable to read.

Fraser Graham-A Scotsman through and through, Evie finds herself drawn to him even though he is her sisters boyfriend. He’s the classic man you would envision in a novel. He’s charming, polite, kind and caring, one can easily see why Evie is attracted to him.

Robert McAndrew- The heir of Kettlesheer, Robert run’s a successful London-based business and has more of a London air than a Scottish one. Viewing Kettlesheer as a drain on his family and disconnected with the his families past- he cannot wait to back in London. Whereas Evie is a collector Robert is more of a minimalist. It was fun reading the bits when these two were together- Evies passion for Kettlesheer and Roberts dislike made for some rather interesting reading.

Ingrid & Duncan McAndrew-The present owners of Kettlesheer- Ingrid feels boggled down with the responsibilities that come with owning a house such as Kettlesheer. You can feel the stress that is upon her, and her longing to return to the life she led before. Duncan on the other hand feels as though it is his duty to see that Kettlesheer -instilled with that idea from childhood, Duncan is determined to keep the estate.

Of course there were a bevy of secondary characters that made this book come to life as each of them offered something crazy to the mix.

The plot-

Needing to save Kettlesheer, Evie is called to the estate to appraise their antiques, yet she is not prepared for the truth she uncovers. A truth that could potentially led to disaster for the McAndrews. All the while her dance-challenged body has to learn the complex turns and spins the reel.

You get to see the characters assess what they deem to be valuable.

*One of my favorite novels that I have read this year! I truly enjoyed the way this book unfolded.

I wished that this novel would have addressed certain issues rather than just ending and leaving them up in the air. Hopefully a second novel will follow and clear those issues up.

Double Trouble Giveaway!

2011-05-10T09:35:00.005-04:00

Going Cowboy Crazy
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Faith Aldridge wants answers. Bramble, Texas is the only place she can find them . . . as well as Hope, the identical twin sister she never knew she had. But the townsfolk reckon that shy city-girl Faith is really her long-lost sister Hope, back in Bramble at last. And they're fixin' to do whatever it takes to heat things up between her and Hope's long-time flame, Slate Calhoun. If that means rustling her car, spreading rumors like wildfire, and reining in some explosive secrets, well, there's no way like the Lone Star way . . .
But Slate's no fool. The woman in his truck may look like Hope, yet the way she feels in his arms is altogether new. He's determined to keep this twin in his bed and out of his heart. Trouble is, the real Hope is headed home, and she's got her own designs on Slate. If Faith wants to avoid heartbreak, she'll have to show a certain ruggedly handsome cowboy that this crazy-impossible love is worth fighting for.

Make Mine A Bad Boy

THERE'S A NEW BRIDE IN TOWN!
Hope Scroggs is finally ready to get hitched. After years of sowing her wild oats, the former head cheerleader and homecoming queen has returned to Bramble, Texas, to marry her high school flame. But her perfect wedding plans are stomped to smithereens when her adoring cowboy two-steps down the aisle with someone else. Now Hope is stuck with the one man from her past she can't shake: Colt Lomax, an irresistible bad boy whose sultry kisses are hotter than the Panhandle in August . . .

Colt lives for freedom and the open road; he never gets attached, never looks back. Still, he can't forget the night of passion he once shared with Bramble's sweetheart--a night he wouldn't mind repeating. So, he piles on the Texas charm to tease the feisty beauty back into his bed, while she tries her darnedest to resist. But something unexpected is about to tie their fates together . . . and oh, baby, will it ever

I have three sets thanks to Brianne at HBG to giveaway. To enter please leave your name and a valid email address. Contest ends May 26. Winners will be contacted on the 27.

Residents of the US & CANADA only. Sorry no P.O. Boxes

Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr review & giveaway

2011-05-10T09:33:00.002-04:00

Ripe for Pleasure
Book One in the League of Second Sons
Author: Isobel Carr
Publisher: Forever Romance
ISBN: 978-0-4465-57275-0
Second in line, first in love
A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure,
finding forbidden fantasy.
London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

This is a very charming little romance that puts the second sons front and center. I enjoyed reading this as it was a bit different from the way that other romances normally focus on the heir. Filled with adventure, action, a treasure hunt, and romance, Ripe for Pleasure is the perfect Summer Romance book.

One of my favorites! A quick read that will have you turning the pages. I cannot wait to read what comes next in this series.

*I have to add that I enjoyed the characters names, especially Leonidas’ sister’s name, Boudicca.

Five Fun Facts

1. The treasure Leo and Viola are looking for is real. The King of France really did send a fortune to support Bonnie Price Charlie in his bid for the English throne, but the rebellion collapsed before the money reached him, and no one knows what happened to it.

2. There’s a lot of Joan from Mad Men in Viola.

3. The idea to give all the kids in Leo’s family historical names was inspired by real men from the era named Hannibal, Achilles, Hercules, and Perseus.

4. The heroine’s dog was inspired by Isobel’s very own dog, Clancy, a Bullmastiff/Neapolitan Mastiff cross and two of his littermates, who are owned by her best friend and her little sister. And yes, that means there’s a minimum of 500 lbs of dog at every dinner party and holiday.

5. The idea of a man marrying his mistress in the Georgian era wasn’t all that far-fetched. Charles James Fox, the famous Whig politician, did it (and they lived quite happily at Strawberry Fields; yes, that Strawberry Fields) as did the 5th Duke of Devonshire, the 1st Baron Carteret, the 1st Earl of Orford, the 3rd Viscount Palmerston, and Sir Robert Wilmot.

I have three copies thanks to Brianne at HBG to giveaway. To enter please leave your name and a valid email address. Contest ends May 26. Winners will be contacted on the 27.

Residents of the US & CANADA only. Sorry no P.O. Boxes

BBC Top 100 Books. What Have You Read?

2011-05-02T13:30:00.002-04:00

Top 100 books chosen by viewers (re-edited and remastered from the BBC site) The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed here. Copy this , Bold those books you’ve read in their entirety, italicize the ones you started but didn’t finish or read an excerpt.

1 Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte 4 Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee 6 The Bible 7 Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte 8 Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11 Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare 15 Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch – George Eliot 21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald 24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy 25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame 31 Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy 32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma -Jane Austen
35 Persuasion – Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis 37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden 40 Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne 41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
45 The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins 46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery 47 Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies – William Golding
50 Atonement – Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi – Yann Martel
52 Dune – Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen 55 A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens 58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck 62 Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History – Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold 65 The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road – Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding 69 Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula – Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett 74 Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses – James Joyce
76 The Inferno – Dante 77 Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal – Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession – AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens 82 Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple – Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert 86 A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White 88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 90 The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad 92 The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery (English) 93 The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
94 Watership Down – Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet – William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl 100 Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

Additional books that seemed to have been excised from the list above and replaced with some others.

28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett 41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher 53. The Stand, Stephen King
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell 59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens 80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith 83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake 85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot 100. Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie

What Have You Read?

Have you Heard?

2011-04-25T16:30:00.001-04:00

I’m Addicted to Jane Austen! Are you? If so, please join my new blog!

Addicted to Jane Austen will officially go live on May 1st. We will kickoff with a week of giveaways, so please join now. Don’t forget to subscribe to feedburner, that way all the exciting news and giveaways will be delivered straight to your inbox.

If you wish to be a guest reviewer, please email me at ars45123@yahoo.com. Please place “Addicted to Jane Austen reviewer request” in the subject.

I look forward to this new blogging experience.

Best Wishes & Happy Reading,

The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

2011-04-13T12:07:00.004-04:00

Title: The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf
Author: Molly Harper
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9587
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$7.99
How I read it: Mass Market Paperback from the publisher
Baring it All

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes in to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg.

Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave…..and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With inter-pack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough from anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous…….

My Thoughts:
Molly Harper has once again dazzled us with her wit and brilliance as she brings to us Maggie’s story in THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF. This book is just as intriguing and comedic as the first and you will not want to put this book down.

The characters are amazing as well, and if you have read the first the book HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF, you will recognize a majority of them. Of course rather than featuring Cooper and Mo, this book features Maggie, Cooper’s sister, as the star of the book. She is witty, snaky, and dangerous if you make her mad, you may lose a limb or at least a few fingers and possibly an ear, just ask Cooper. I liked Maggie; I liked the fact that she was a take-no-nonsense kind of girl. The alpha of her of pack, she is very capable to take control of the situation at hand, yet when an outsider comes into her world, her heart seems to have a mind of its own.

Nick, said outsider, was a fun read and I found that the more I read about him, the more I liked him. He had a nice back-story that readers will have to find out on their own, which I believed enhanced his character. Traveling to Grundy, Alaska to investigate the rumors of lycanthropic activity, he soon finds that he is drawn to Maggie Graham. Although the more she tries to push him away, the close they become.

Her snarky remarks and his determination to prove the existence of werewolves create a one-of-a-kina romance that will have readers rolling on the floor in fits of uncontrollable laughter.

Of course, the loveable antics of the residence of Grundy are still included, and we get to see a lovely amount of Mo and Cooper, as well as a mix of new characters that adds a bit of excitement to the book.

Trust me this is the book that you have been looking for.

Cover Thoughts:

Once again the art department has done an outstanding job with this cover. It conveys so much of the book in its quirkiness.

Unfortunately, actual naked hunky werewolves remain elusive…

Molly Harper, author of HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF and the upcoming THE ART OF SEDUING A NAKED WEREWOLF, has written the following blog post. Please feel free to share it with your readers and followers.

When I was little and came running into the house, sweaty and caked in dirt, my mom would cry, “What the- have you been rolling around with wolves?”

Well, here I sit, sweaty, caked in various layers of dried mud. And I have indeed been playing with wolves. While promoting the release of my Naked Werewolf romance series, I visited the Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge in Nicholasville, KY. Wolf Run, a state- and USDA-licensed non-profit educational facility, provides a safe, loving and permanent sanctuary for 23 adult wolves and wolf-dog hybrids. The refuge is also home to two full-grown lions, deer, goats, sheep, monkeys, and other exotic wildlife. And Rowdy, the most obese raccoon I have ever seen.

Most of the animals are former pets that were either confiscated by or surrendered by their owners. Because it turns out, wolf hybrids do not make great house pets.
As Savannah Massey, director of animal care and education at Wolf Run told me, “These animals are gorgeous, appealing and unique. But they’re also aggressive, destructive and territorial. This is not an animal you want in your home. Wolf genetics do not go away. And it’s not just that they could tear up your furniture or hurt one of your other pets- you are physically in danger when you’re around them.”
Just what you want to hear when you’re sitting right next to one, and he’s been licking your face.

Honestly, Boone, a 10-year-old grey male, could not have been nicer during my visit and our subsequent photo shoot. He was a dignified statesman compared to raucous Razz, a three-year-old tan specimen who seemed to think my make-up was bacon-flavored. (Note to Sephora, wolf-oriented face powder may be a niche market you haven’t considered yet.)

I learned a lot during my visit to Wolf Run. I was happy to find there are some definite similarities between actual wolves and the characters in HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF and THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF.

For instance, a wolf will pee on whatever it wants, whenever it wants, to make sure you know that thing belongs to them. It is now your tree, Boone, we understand. Thank you for not choosing my shoes.

Wolves have to date. There are five packs at Wolf Run, each with three to five pack members. New wolves are matched to potential packs based on temperament when they arrive at Wolf Run. If the initial matches don’t work, they are moved to different packs until they find a good fit. Some wolves, like Boone, don’t fit well with any group and end up being loners. (Which, I think, makes him a bit like Cooper.)

Wolves struggle over the Alpha position. Large males jockey for the position and it can lead to inter-pack tension. Unlike Boone, who was an Alpha contender, Razz, just seemed to want to play, which made me think of Samson. I did not see a real-life counterpart for Maggie, which was probably a good thing given her penchant for biting people on the

butt.. Mary Kindred, CEO of Wolf Run, calls the animals her babies. When she walks around the yard, any effort to distract the wolves is futile, because a) she is mom and b) she has Pupperoni in her pocket. Kindred noted that the sanctuary receives no outside funding, and all expenses, such sturdy fencing, food, veterinary care, and upkeep of the grounds, are paid through donations. The facility welcomes volunteers. And despite the love and effort Mary and her staff devote to the sanctuary, both she and Savannah look forward to the day they’re no longer needed.

“These animals shouldn’t be here,” Savannah said. “The lions should be in Africa. The wolves should be in the wild. Our goal is to rescue animals and educate the public, until a facility like this is no longer needed.”

I have one copy to giveaway.
Residents of the US only
Contest ends April 29

The Return of Black Douglas by Elaine Coffman

2011-04-06T09:58:00.003-04:00

Title: The Return of Black Douglas
Author: Elaine Coffman
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5074-3
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market paperback
$7.99
Release Date: April 2010
How I Read It: Mass Market ARC from publishers

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK? FOLLOW THIS LINK
The Return of Black Douglas Giveaway

HE’LL HELP A WOMAN IN NEED,
NO MATTER WHERE SHE CAME FROM…

Alysandir Mackinnon rules his clan with a fair but iron fist. He has no time for softness or, as he sees it, weakness. But when he encounters a bewitching young beauty who may or may not be a dangerous spy, but is surly in mortal danger, he’s compelled to help…

SHE’S ALWAYS WONDERED IF SHE WAS
BORN IN THE WRONG TIME…

Thrown back in time to the tumultuous, dangerous Scottish Highlands of the sixteenth century, Isobella Douglas has a lot to learn about her ancestors, herself, and her place in the world. Especially when she encounters a Highland laird who puts modern men to shame….

Each one has secrets to keep, until they begin to strike a chord in each other’s hearts that never been touched before……

MY REVIEW:
As soon as I received this book in the mail, I devoured it! I was hooked from the moment I read about Alysandir wearing his shiny chain mail.

The character of Isobella Douglas was a brilliant read, and I understood her connection with her Scottish ancestors as I too feel that strong connection with my Scottish roots, so in a way I truly connected with her character. Isobella is on a mission to enrich her connection with her Douglas ancestors as well mend a broken heart, thus she has dragged her twin sister, Elisabeth on a journey to the Scottish Highlands. Seeing the tomb of the Black Douglas, Isobella allows her emotions to take over and in doing so she has evoked the ghost of the Black Douglas who is intent on tormenting her (that how she views it). Now she and her sister find themselves transported to the 16th century, Isobella runs straight into the arms of Alysandir, as a feuding Laird takes her sister captive. As the story progresses we see this modern historian blend into a world that seems she was she was meant for, yet will she be able to conceal the secrets she brings with her while trying to get through the cracks in the armor that surrounds Alysandir’s heart?

Alysandir’s character was so well defined and brilliantly portrayed those qualities you would expect a Highland Laird to portray that it was truly an enjoyable experience to read him. He is The MacKinnon in every sense of the word, putting his clan’s needs and safety above all else, ruling with iron fist, that is fair and balanced. While we see this strong, sturdy Highland Laird, we also see the man that lays beneath the chain mail, the man whose heart has been crushed ands it is those actions that cause him leery of Isobella. We also see that Alysandir is hiding a few secrets of his own.

Isobella never imagined that her search for her Mr. Darcy would lead her to the 16th century.

My Thoughts:

The main characters were very well portrayed as were the secondary characters, and that added a solidness to the plot that made this book a truly enjoyable read. I loved every aspect of this book and the plot was extraordinary. Elaine Coffman brought 16th century Scotland to life with the amazing details that went into this book, each page held something wonderful. I also enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, transplanting Isobella and Elisabeth into another time and they way that they each brought a bit of the modern world along with them. Vividly composed, rich in detail, this is the type of historical romance that stays with the reader.

This was my first encounter with Elaine Coffman’s writing, and I have to say I am hooked, I will definitely give her other books a go!

How To Flirt With A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper review, guest post, and giveaway

2011-04-01T19:12:00.001-04:00

Title: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf
Author: Molly Harper
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9586-4
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: Mass Market paperback
$7.99
How I Read It: Mass Marker paperback from publishers
Rating:

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham-who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to like in Alaska-has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worries that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are suppose to do anyways? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated……

My thoughts:
WOW! I LOVED this book! This has to be one of the funniest books that I have read this year, and I could not help but to laugh as I read it. If you are in a bad mood or have a bit of the blues, this book will improve your mood with its sassy wit and comical characters. Everything worked so perfectly in this book and left me itching to read the second one.

The characters were remarkable, and I found that I loved reading Mo; she was just so witty and fun to read that I could not wait to see what she was going to say next. Then there is the werewolf, Cooper who although he was very gruff he was a fun read as well, and enjoyed watching his story play out. Next, we have the locals of Grundy who are so interesting that you could devote an entire book just to them and then there is the drama with Cooper’s pack that adds tension and intrigue. Oh, and I cannot leave out Mo’s hippie family who bring their own bit of crazy into the mix. So, as you can see this book is loaded with an eclectic cast of characters that brings this book to life.

The plot was remarkable as well. Fast paced and comedic, you will be flipping the pages like mad and before you know it, you will have read it from front to back. I also enjoyed how Molly Harper added mystery, comedy, a healthy dose of romance, and a few twists and turns along the way without one overshadowing the other. Each element was well intertwined with the other and played out its part well adding a lovely flow to the plot.

Trust me BUY THIS BOOK you will thank me later! One of my favorites that I have read this year, a funny romantic romp that will have you laughing until you cry!

Cover Thoughts:

This book defiantly has that “pick me up, take me home, and read me” quality. In my opinion, it was the perfect cover for this book!

Read How It All Began
A Guest Post from Molly Harper

Pocket author based new book on 2009 ice storm experience

An ice storm. Stranded in a strange, isolated place without power. Children with an unsettling ability to win staring contests. This is how horror movies start.

Watching the news coverage as cities across the Midwest are pelted by the much-touted historic blizzard, I’m having strange sympathy pangs. In January 2009, an ice storm ripped through Kentucky, taking out power and phone lines for thousands of homes, including mine. The first night I spent camped out in my in-laws’ darkened living room with my two young children, I was sure this was just a temporary blip. It was going to be a funny story we could tell the next winter. As in, “Remember that night we had to sleep on an air mattress in front of Grandma’s fireplace and cook on a gas grill in the garage?”

By the sixth night, I was no longer amused.

Over the next week, Kentuckians were cold, cranky and progressively ill-groomed. I returned to my dark, cold house to forage for supplies one afternoon, only to find my neighbor shaving his head in his driveway. I sincerely hoped that was related to the lack of electricity and not just a personality quirk I'd never noticed before. Neighborhood block parties have been stilted and awkward since.

But I managed to channel my cabin fever, before going the full fire-ax-through-bedroom-door and elevator-full-of-blood route. I started writing. Having recently published the Nice Girls books, a vampire romance series about an undead librarian in small-town Kentucky, I’d already decided that I wanted to write a werewolf story. And being isolated, in the dark, in an increasingly crowded, enclosed space, I decided to set the story in the frozen regions of Alaska.

While we waited for the power to come back on, I wrote about twenty pages of notes by candlelight. What emerged was the story of Mo Wenstein, a woman who moves across the country to escape her intrusive hippie parents and make a life for herself in the remote town of Grundy, Alaska. Cantankerous neighbor Cooper has been giving Mo a hard time about her place in her new community since day one. But when Cooper stumbles onto her porch, naked, with a bear trap clamped around his ankle, she realizes there’s more to him than a surly- though attractive- surface. A series of werewolf attacks, for which Cooper may or may not be responsible, dysfunctional werewolf clan drama, and romantic hijinks ensue.

The manuscript grew over the next few months and became HOW TO FLIRT WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF, which is due to be released by Pocket Books on Feb. 22, wherever books are sold. The sequel, THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF, will follow on March 29.

So, while the encroaching claustrophobia is frustrating, make the best of your snow days. Use the milk, eggs and bread you hoarded to make French toast. Plow through the To-Be-Read pile of paperbacks on your nightstand. Write journal entries about the sights, sounds and emotions you’re experiencing as a blizzard survivor.

You never know. You could turn this experience into your first manuscript.

I have 1 copy of this book to giveaway.
To enter please leave your name and a valid email address.
Residents of the US only
Sorry no P.O. Boxes
Contest ends: April 14, 2011

The Mistress’ House by Leigh Michaels

2011-04-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

Title: The Mistress’ House
Author: Leigh Michaels
ISBN: 9781402241352
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: Mass Market Paperback
$7.99
Genre: Historical Romance
How I read it: Mass Market ARC from publishers

THE RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN……

When the handsome, rakish Earl of Hawthorne buys the charming house across the back garden from his town home, he never expects the lovely lady he installs there to ensnare him completely…

AGAIN……

After Lady Anne Keighley marries the earl, it seems a shame to leave the house empty, so she offers it to her childhood friend Felicity Mercer, who discovers that the earl’s gorgeous cousin is precisely the man she’s been waiting for…

AND AGAIN……

Finally, feisty Georgiana Baxter moves into the house to escape an arranged marriage, and encounters the earl’s friend Lord Julian Silsby late one night in the back garden. The handsome soldier is more than willing to give her the lessons she asks for…
There is plenty of gossip, scandal, and torrid speculations surrounding the “mistress’ house”, but behind closed doors, passions blaze…

My review:

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading The Mistress’ House, it was a lovely little romance novel that featured three different stories, each combining to make an interesting read. First we are introduced to Lady Anne Keighly who is desperate to be ruined, and she knows the perfect rogue for the job. It seems that luck is on her side when after a bit of convincing the Earl of Hawthorn agrees. To make matters more interesting Hawthorn has just purchased the perfect house in which to hold a rendezvous, Number Five Upper Seymour Street, although he never imagine that this mistress would win his heart.

Next to visit the house is Felicity Mercer, a dear friend of Anne’s, after an unexpected visit with the brother of her former lover, she proposes a plan that Richard cannot refuse. Felicity soon begins to develop feelings for Richard, even though she believes him to be married, but one must remember that appearance are not quite what they seem.

Last but not least is the whirlwind, Georgiana Baxter, who has come for Hawthorns aid. She is determined not to windup trapped in an arranged marriage, so she finds her escape in Number Five Upper Seymour Street, never imagining that she would also find the man who will take her breath away. Although once again we are reminded that appearance are not quite what they seem.

My thoughts:

Although there are three stories combined in the book, they are not novellas; together they create this charming romance. Each story is filled with romance, as well as a few twists and turns, making it a fun and enjoyable read. A perfect book for those of you who want to do a bit of light reading. One of my top picks that I have read this read.

Darcy and Fitzwilliam by Karen V. Waslyowski

2011-03-31T07:00:00.002-04:00

Title: Darcy and Fitzwilliam; a tale of a gentleman and an officer
Author: Karen V. Waslyowski
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4594-7
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Format: Trade Paperback
$14.99
How I read it: Trade Paperback ARC from the publisher

A gentleman in love cannot survive without his best friend...
Fitzwilliam Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam couldn’t be more different, and that goes for the way each one woos and pursues the woman of his dreams. Darcy is quiet and reserved, careful and dutiful, and his qualms and hesitations are going to torpedo his courtship of Elizabeth. His affable and vivacious cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam is a military hero whose devil-may-care personality hides the torments within, until he finds himself in a passionate, whirlwind affair with a beautiful widow who won’t hear of his honorable intentions.

Cousins, best friends, and sparring partners, Darcy and Fitzwilliam have always been there for each other. So it’s no surprise when the only one who can help Darcy fix his botched marriage proposals is Fitzwilliam, and the only one who can pull Fitzwilliam out of an increasingly dangerous entanglement is Darcy...
(from the publishers)

My thoughts:

Darcy and Fitzwilliam is highly original for a Pride & Prejudice spin off. While maintaining the core of Jane Austen’s characters, the author has in a sense liberated them from the restrictions of the era in which they were penned. Jane Austen was said that she did not write any scenes in which men were alone because she did not know what they spoke about or how they acted, in some ways that put a limit on her novel, being that we only see things from a woman’s point-of-view. Now with Darcy and Fitzwilliam we see the flipside, we get to see how these two men interact with each other, and I have to say it is a truly fascinating glimpse. I loved they way Karen Waslyowski knew her characters, when an author is truly in tune with her characters it shows, and you could see it in this book. I also enjoyed the way she portrayed Darcy and Elizabeth as a couple, no marriage is perfect, and there are bound to be a few ruffled feathered, and those were included.

I highly recommend this book! It is a true page turner, that you will get lost in!

Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower

2011-03-30T07:00:00.002-04:00

Title: Sins of the House of Borgia
Author: Sarah Bower
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
ISBN: 9781402259630
Format: Trade Paperback
$14.99
Genre: Historical Fiction
How I Read It: Trade Paperback ARC

A Notorious Duke
An Infamous Duchess
An Innocent Girl

Violante isn’t supposed to be here, in one of the grandest courts of Renaissance Italy. She isn’t supposed to be a lady-in-waiting to the beautiful Lucrezia Borgia. But the same secretive politics that pushed Lucrezia’s father to the Vatican have landed Violante deep in a lavish landscape of passion and ambition.

Violante discovers a Lucrezia unknown to those who see only a scheming harlot, and all the whispers about her brother, Cesare Borgia, never revealed the soul of the man who dances close with Violante.

But those who enter the House of Borgia are never quite the same when they leave—if they leave at all. Violante’s place in history will test her heart and leave her the guardian of dangerous secrets she must carry to the grave.
(from the publishers)

My thoughts: This was one book that I could not put down. I have heard some say that beginning of the novel was a bit slow and it deviated from the story of the Borgias, I one the other hand found that I enjoyed the beginning, I felt as though it added a nice back-story to the book. I found that while reading this my fascination with this so call First Family of Crime, grew because they way that they author presented the Borgias. It was a very fresh take on his this fascinating family and cannot speak highly enough of THE SINS OF THE HOUSE OF BORGIA. I find that I am telling everyone I know and even random strangers who are in the bookstore about this book. If you are looking for court intrigue then this is the book for you.

This is the one book that you will want to read.

Legacy by Jeanette Baker

2011-03-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

Title: Legacy
Author: Jeanette Baker
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5583-0
Format: Trade Paperback (Special Release)
$9.99
How I read it: Trade Paperback from the publisher

THE LAST OF THE MURRAYS………….

Christina Murray is elated to inherit her family’s ancestral home in Scotland. But upon her arrival she is confronted by her breathtakingly handsome new neighbor, Ian Douglas…and an ancient family curse that comes with the castle.

A VIOLENT LEGACY OF PASSION

Seduced by Ian’s easy Scottish charm by day, Christina dreams at night of three raven-haired beauties, ancestors who fell victim to the curse one generation after another: Katrine, the fiery Jacobite supporter who lost her heart to an Englishman; Jeanne, an accused witch; and Mairi, who shared a forbidden passion with the King of England.

Now it’s Christina’s turn to lie in that cursed bed… and loving Ian might just cost her life.
(from the publishers)

My Review:
Christina Murray has been summoned to Traquair House and after the death of Lady Maxwell, Christina now finds that, she has inherited this piece of history. Little did she know she has also inherited the curse that comes along with the house. It seems that Christina has also fallen under the spell of her gorgeous neighbor, Ian Douglas. Although, it is not the handsome that haunts her dreams, instead she is plagued with vision of the past. Visions of three women who look exactly like Christina and who have suffered greatly for the men they chose to love.

Each one of the three women fell victim to the curse, first it was Mairi. She suffered at the hand of the Bruce for her forbidden love of an English King. Next in line is Katrine, a loyal Jacobite supporter who fell hopelessly in love Richard an Englishmen in the Kings Army. The third woman to share this ill-fated destiny is Jeanne; once again, she marries only to find that the stars are set against her. Now it is Christina’s time to fall in love, will she escape the curse and change her destiny? Or, will loving Ian Douglas cost Christina her life?

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It reads as four books in one, each one taking you on a journey throughout Scotland’s history, and each one more intriguing than the next. The characters were intriguing as well, and I found that I could not put this book down; if I would have had the time, I could have finished this book in one sitting. Although I should warn you this book has its share of heartbreak as the curse is explained, it also has its share of twists and turns that I did not see coming. I also enjoyed the plot.

While I enjoyed the story, I would have enjoyed a deeper look into the storyline especially when the plot reverted to the past. I felt that bits and bobs of the story rushed from one point to the other. Although I did find that I truly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to those of you who like Scottish history.

For a romance book, it was light on the romance, of course it was still there it was just tuned down allowing the focus to be on the story itself rather than the falling into bed aspect of it.

Cover Thoughts:

I am not sure what to think of the cover, I like that it gives off an air of mystery although I think it fails to covey the story. In addition, I would have liked the strip of tartan that is down the side of the book to have either been a Maxwell, Murray, or Douglas color rather than a Stewart tartan.

Overall:

This was one of my favorite books. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of the four women, although I believe that my favorite would have to be the story of Katrine, the Jacobite supporter and her doomed love. Not that the others fail in comparison, I just have a soft spot for the Jacobite cause and those who have suffered for it. Jeanette Baker also conjures up a gripping account of Culloden Moor.

Alice in Zombieland by Lewis Carrol and Nickolas Cook

2011-03-28T07:00:00.005-04:00

Title: Alice in Zombieland
Author: Lewis Carrol and Nickolas Cook
ISBN: 978-4022-5621-9
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Format: Trade Paperback
$14.99
Pages: 256
How I read it: Trade Paperback ARC from the publisher

They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the bank—the birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their fur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross, and uncomfortable. All of them were covered in Alice’s now cold and congealed blood, which made them even tastier looking to poor hungry Alice.

When little Alice follows the Black Rat down into the gaping darkness of an open grave, she falls and falls. And soon finds herself in an undead nightmare of rotting flesh and insanity. Venturing further into this land of zombies and monsters, she encounters characters both creepy and madcap along the way. But there’s something else troubling poor Alice: her skin is rotting and her hair is falling out. She’s cold. And she has the haunting feeling that if she remains in Zombieland any longer, she might never leave.
Can Alice escape Zombieland before the Dead Red Queen catches up to her?
(from the publisher)

My Thoughts:

It just gets curiouser and curiouser with these mash-ups, although I have to say that they do make for a rather entertaining read. Alice in Zombie was a fast paced read with an air of creepiness about it. For those of you who have watched Tim Burton’s Alice and Wonderland, this book holds that darker quality that the film possesses. While some bits and bobs of the story are a bit gross, such as the undead tea party, I found that this was a very humorous read, although I will say that I read this book before falling asleep and it did provide for some interestingly strange dreams. A quick read for those of you who enjoy mash-ups.

Please note that the size of the book is 5x7, and it does include pictures and breaks in-between each chapter so this is a very quick read.

Cover notes: I liked that the art department gave the cover the look of the old cloth books, it added a nice touch to the creepy quality.

An excerpt of chapter one:

DOWN THE DEAD-HOLE
Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do. Her sister had seemed very displeased about having to accompany her against her will down to the graveyard that sprawled adjacent to their home. The graveyard, her favorite place to play, was all tangled gray vines and tilting ancient tombstones, bearing names she’d never heard before, though she supposed they must be family, in some distant past before she had been born. Alice loved to stroll through the graveyard, to pick the funereal flowers from old grassy knolls where someone dead most certainly must lie beneath. For her, there was always adventure in a graveyard.
Despite her sister’s nasty disposition, it would have been a perfectly cloudy, chilly day in her
favorite play place had she not been so hungry, for her sister had refused to have tea before angrily bringing Alice outside. Tea and a sandwich would be nice. Perhaps a nice meat pie, if the cook could be bothered to bake one up. For their cook made the best meat pies in the world and Alice could think of no better meal than a delicious hot meat pie.
As if being ravenous wasn’t enough, now her sister was also refusing her the joy of perusing the ancient stones, and had hold of her arm while she read such dull material. Once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, “and what is the use of a book,” thought Alice “without pictures or conversation?”
So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the chill of the bleak day made her feel very sleepy and stupid) whether the pleasure of making a daisy chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a sleek Black Rat with shining dark eyes ran straight from a nearby tomb and quite close by her.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Black Rat say to itself, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!” (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but, when the Black Rat actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice broke from her sister’s grip and started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rat with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and, burning with curiosity, she ran across the graveyard after it, despite her sister’s angry yells for her to come straight back to her this instant, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down into a gaping open grave. Clods of gray dirt sat all around its edge and a displeasing smell seemed to waft up from it.
For a moment, Alice stood beside the grave, her sister’s voice far away and still frightening for all the distance, deciding whether she’d dare jump in after the strange Black Rat. In another moment, down went Alice after it, hardly considering how in the world she was to get out again.
Then she was tumbling forward into the stinking, black grave which went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down and down. On the way down, she hit her head upon the leaning tombstone, and tears filled her eyes for a moment as she tumbled forward.
Either the grave was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, she checked the smarting place on her head and pulled back a small hand coated with bright red blood. Her head hurt quite a bit, but as there was nothing to do but cry or get along with her adventure, she chose to stifle her tears and smile through the pain bravely. Then she tried to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything; then she looked at the sides of the deep, deep grave, and noticed that they were filled with strange and frightening things. In some places, she could see rotting bones poking from the dark soil; in others skulls leered at her as she fell by them, missing teeth giving silent voice perhaps to warn her back from what lie at the bottom of the grave. It made her feel quite out of sorts to see such emblems of death sitting so close next to her.
“Well!” thought Alice to herself, “after such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they’ll all think me at home! Why, I wouldn’t say anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house!” (Which was very likely true.)
Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end! “I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time?” she said aloud. “I must be getting somewhere near the center of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think—” (for, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a very good opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over) “—yes, that’s about the right distance—but then I wonder what Latitude or Longitude I’ve got to?” (Alice had no idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but thought they were nice grand words to say.)
Presently she began again. “I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! How funny it’ll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downward! The Antipathies, I think—” (she was rather glad there WAS no one listening, this time, as it didn’t sound at all the right word) “— but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. Please, Ma’am, is this New Zealand or Australia?” (And she tried to curtsey as she spoke—fancy curtseying as you’re falling through the air! Do you think you could manage it?) “And what an ignorant little girl she’ll think me for asking! No, it’ll never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up somewhere.”
Down, down, down. The pain in her head had turned into a deep throb, but she continued to ignore it and held in her tears some more. There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon began talking again. “Dinah’ll miss me very much tonight, I should think!” (Dinah was the cat.) “I hope they’ll remember her saucer of milk at tea-time. Dinah my dear! I wish you were down here with me! There are no mice in the air, I’m afraid, but you might catch a bat, and that’s very like a mouse, you know. But do cats eat bats, I wonder?” And here Alice began to get rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of way, “Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?” and sometimes, “Do bats eat cats?” for, you see, as she couldn’t
answer either question, it didn’t much matter which way she put it. She felt that she was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that she was walking hand in hand with Dinah, and saying to her very earnestly, “Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat?” when suddenly, thump! thump! down she came upon a heap of cold sodden earth that smelled of dead things. Nasty, pale worms writhed throughout the small hill and she hastily threw herself from the dirt, wincing in disgust. Worms and beetles crawled through the sodden earth, clicking and grubbing along at her feet. Was this what a grave was like inside? She wondered. She’d often wondered how the darkness got along without the light of the sun, how things lived; now she had a better idea how the things that lived without light got along.

2011-03-24T19:47:00.005-04:00

Wow! It has been awhile since my last review. Things around here seem to go from crazy to hectic to completely out of control. Thankfully things are finally back on track and I can focus on reviewing the mountain of books that I have read. I also have few giveaways that I will be posting so please bear with me as I get back into the swing of things.

In the meantime, I thought that I would share with you a few books that I just finished as well as the books that I am currently reading.

Just Finished:

Alice in Zombieland by Lewis Carrol and Nicholas Cook
* It was a rather interesting mash-up to say the least.
Release Date: February 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Review to post on the 28th

Legacy by Jeanette Baker
*One of my favorite Scottish Romances
Release Date: February 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review to post on the 29th

Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower.
* I loved this book. A Very interesting insight to a rather intriguing family.
Release Date: March 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Review to post on the 30th

Darcy and Fitzwilliam; a tale of a gentleman and an officer by Karen V. Waslyowskif
*Loved this book!
Release Date: February 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Review to post on the 31st

The Mistress’ House by Leigh Michaels
*Loved this book. It was like three romances rolled into one.
Release Date: Febraury 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review to post on April 1st

Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain
*A Sourcebooks Classic reprint and a favorite of mine.

Highland Heat by Mary Wine
*The final book in Mary Wines Highlander series.

A Creed in Stone Creek by Linda Leal Miller
*This was the first book that I have read by Linda Leal Miller

Only Mr. Darcy Will Do by Kara Louise
*Loved her new take on Pride & Prejudice

My Love, My Enemy by Jan Cox Speas
*A classic romance reissued by Sourcebooks Casablanca

The Mistress’ House by Leigh Michaels
*Loved this book. It was like three romances rolled into one.

Fierce Eden by Jennifer Blake
*A historical romance set America.

Wickham’s Diary by Amanda Grange
*This is definitely a book to watch the bookstores for.
Release Date April 20111
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Review to post in April

Heart of the Highland Wolf by Terry Spear
*First book that I read by this author, will defiantly check out the others
Release Date: June 2011
Publishers: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review to post in June.

******************************************

Currently Reading:

The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie special edition.
* I picked this up at Barnes & Noble a few months ago for hardly nothing and thought that it might make for an intriguing read. I also thought that the riddle cards would make for a fun distraction. I have to say that so far the book seems to be interesting, although I am only one chapter two.

As always

BEST WISHES & HAPPY READING,

Treasure Me by Robin DeHart review, giveaway, and guest post

2011-03-03T10:20:00.011-05:00

Title: Treasure Me
Author: Robin DeHart
ISBN 9780446541985
Publish Date: 3/1/2011
Price: $7.99/$8.99
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
How I read it: Mass Market Paperback ARC from the publisher

The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as captivating as the Loch Ness monster . . .

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English Crown. Yet his is truly an adventurer's soul-and he's determined to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands to prove the existence of the legendary beast. Instead she finds the first man who has ever shared her hunger for adventure. Soon Graeme and Vanessa are fighting a dangerous battle as well as their own simmering attraction. As their passion grows, so does the danger. Ultimately, they must risk everything to keep the cursed stone out of a murderer's hands. But can they survive without losing the greatest treasure of all-their love?

My Review
After catching her fiancé in a rather compromising position, Vanessa Pembrooke heads off to the Scottish Highlands in search of the legendary beastie of Loch Ness. After narrowly escaping one marriage, she now finds herself married to a man she does not know. Agreeing to annul the marriage as soon as possible, she then discovers that her husbands unusual work calls to the paleontologist at heart and it would be more beneficial to her studies if she could convince her husband that they needed to stay married.

Born to a Scottish mother and an English father, Graeme Langford finds himself torn between his duty to the English Crown and the pull of Highland homeland. As a member of the secretive treasure hunters club, Solomon’s, he has spent most of his life searching for the legendary Stone of Destiny, determined to find the true relic for his homeland. Yet when he finds himself with an accidental wife who has a penchant for adventure, he finds that things are becoming a bit out of hand.

Things go from hot and heated to dangerous in a matter of moments, when the two discover that a notorious villain is after the very treasure that Graeme seeks, as well as a few other gems that could possibly end the reign of Queen Victoria. Will the newlyweds be able to stop the destruction that is looming as well as sort out their accidental marriage?

My Thoughts:

I have been waiting to read this book, and I have to say that once it arrived I devoured it in one sitting and I was not disappointed. This is the book that I have been craving, not only does it offer passion it offers action, adventure, legend and lore. Thoroughly researched and well written, Treasure Me flows off the page with ease and will have you constantly turning the page. I also have to say that I fell in love with the characters of Graeme and Vanessa, they were simpatico from the start and I enjoyed watching them come to that realization as the book progressed. I also enjoyed how Fielding and Esme returned to the series. There is something about this trilogy that made me fall in love with them, and I cannot wait to reread their adventures.

Characters I enjoyed:
Graeme- I enjoyed his internal struggling, as he tried to come to grips with his duty to the Crown and the pull that his homeland of Scotland had upon him. Out of the three men in the Legend Hunters trilogy, I have to say that he is my favorite. Plus, I cannot resist a man in a kilt.

Vanessa- Like the other two women in this trilogy, she was not the typical damsel in distress that you see in most romance novels. She was determined, strong-willed, and feisty, throughout the book Graeme makes little comments about her not being like a typical English woman, and I have to agree, she had a strong spirit, I would describe her as a paleontologist at heart with the soul of an adventurer.

Moira- She was very intriguing, and I would have liked to have known more about her. I would love for her story be told.

*I also have to add that these treasures that are being searched for become almost like another character, and Robyn DeHart did an amazing job at including the history, lore, and mystery of each and every one of them.

Overall:

I have to say that I am sad to see this trilogy come to an end. I feel as though I am saying goodbye to friends, and I love it when I connect with a book(s) that make me feel that way. I would love to see one more book come out in this series that catches up with the three couples , kind of like one last treasure hunt that rounds out the series and brings it to a close.

I would like to thank Robyn DeHart for this lovely guest post

For today’s blog I was asked how I came up with the Legend Hunters idea and how I went about selecting each legend. What a great question. I went back to my idea file for this one to see what that initial thought was that I jotted down. It was something like this “elite gentlemen’s club who fancy themselves archaeologists”. So it started there, just that kernel of an idea that eventually grew into Solomon’s and my Legend Hunters.

Ever since I was a little girl I loved the idea of archaeology-old tombs, ancient relics and hidden treasures. Of course the thought of actually digging around in an underground cave or bug-infested room cured me of the fantasy very quickly. I mean the second Indian Jones made it abundantly clear that there are icky creepy-crawlies all over archeological sites. So if I can’t do it, I can at least write about it and pretend I get to do it, all from the safety of my house.

Coming up with the myths themselves was a different story entirely. I basically just started jotting down ideas that came to mind, fountain of youth, Pandora’s box, Atlantis, Excalibur, etc. I had enough ideas to fill several books, but when it came time to putting the series together I stuck with a trilogy because readers tend to like books in threes. Atlantis was actually the first idea and I thought I’d go with that one, but them Esme from Seduce Me came to life in my mind and Pandora’s Box became the first book in the series. Treasure Me features a joint myth with the Stone of Destiny and the Loch Ness monster and it was actually the very first book I ever wrote. Well, sort of.

Vanessa and Graeme were in that first book as was the general setting and some of the other characters, but the story is completely different. I basically took the characters’ names and started from scratch and built an entirely new world from that old book (that shall remain hidden under my bed). I had already done most of the research on the beastie, but I had a whole new myth to dig into with the Stone of Destiny and what I found was utterly fascinating. It immediately captured my attention the book just grew right out of that history. I love it when that happens!

So far Treasure Me is getting great reviews and I hope all of you will enjoy it too. You can read an excerpt on my website.

But I do have a question for all of you readers. When you read a series, do you prefer trilogies or open-ended series? Do you like to know when a group of books is coming to a close? What’s your favorite kind of series to read, books connected by characters (like in a family or a group of friends) or do you prefer another kind of connection tying them together?

Thanks so much for having me today!

About the author:

Known for her unique plotlines and authentic characters, Robyn is a favorite among readers and reviewers. Publishers Weekly claims her writing to be "comical and sexy" while the Chicago Tribune dubs her "wonderfully entertaining." A two-time Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice award nominee, Robyn has earned 4 star and 4 ¿ star top pick reviews on all her books and Kathe Robin says, "Like Amanda Quick, DeHart [will] keep you up all night."

Please Visit:
Twitter
Facebook
Website

I have three copies of Treasure Me to giveaway.

To enter please answer the question that Robyn supplied:

When you read a series, do you prefer trilogies or open-ended series? Do you like to know when a group of books is coming to a close? What’s your favorite kind of series to read, books connected by characters (like in a family or a group of friends) or do you prefer another kind of connection tying them together?

Contest ends March 24th
Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only
Sorry no P.O. Boxes
Please include a VALID email adress

From Scotland With Love Blog Tour & Giveaway

2011-02-28T13:48:00.005-05:00

Title: Seduced by Destiny
Author: Kira Morgan
Publisher: Forever Romance (HBG)
ISBN: 978-0-446-54817-5
$7.99

****PLEASE NOTE THAT MY REVIEW IS STILL TO COME AS I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE BOOK******

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...seduced by destiny?
(from the publisher)

I would like to thank Kira Morgan for providing this lovely guest post explaining how that she creates that perfect blend of history, fiction, and romance.

I’m delighted to be here among readers who enjoy historical romances as much as I do! Thanks for inviting me.

Historicals are probably the trickiest of the romance to write. With contemporaries, you can draw on the world around you. For paranormals, that world can be altered. But with historicals, you have to stay within the framework of what really happened.

This requires a lot of research. And that’s where the trouble begins.

You see, historical authors LOVE research. Digging into old documents and unearthing obscure facts is endlessly fascinating for us! For example, here are a few tidbits I learned while researching SEDUCED BY DESTINY:

Queen Mary and her ladies occasionally strolled through Edinburgh, disguised as peasants.
The price of ale in the 1500s was fixed, and special brew officers called aleconners were appointed to monitor the quality of the brew.
Queen Mary sailed into the Scottish harbor a few days earlier than expected on her historic return from France, prompting a scramble to greet her at the dock.
Golf was banned in Scotland in the 1400s, because it took time away from the more useful skill of archery.
Cryptography, writing in secret codes, flourished under Queen Elizabeth’s secretary of spies, Sir Francis Walsingham.
Early golf clubs looked a lot like hockey sticks.
Many spies used in the 16th century were women, because they could pose as maidservants and move about almost invisibly.

While these discoveries are interesting--and often lead to several hours of distraction as one riveting fact leads to another, sending an author down unintended paths--they can’t always be used in the finished book.

Why? Because we’re not writing textbooks. We’re writing love stories. And the main focus had to be on the romance between the hero and the heroine.

So how do you create a balance--include real history, toss in some fun facts, and keep the story moving along?

First, you have to be very firm about not altering history. Nothing is worse than violating the past, for instance having Queen Mary meet Queen Elizabeth face-to-face, which never happened. It also comes off as phony of your fictional characters just happen to be on the scene for every major historical event.

Second, the fun facts, as tasty as they are, must be used like spice. You have to sprinkle them in only as needed and where appropriate. Sure, dry mustard is delicious, but you probably don’t want to bake it into your chocolate chip cookies. That’s why you won’t find anything about aleconners, the ban on golf, or a treatise on cryptography in SEDUCED BY DESTINY. They just weren’t relevant enough to the plot to include.

Third, it’s all about the romance! The story has to be strong enough on its own that you could pick it up and move it to another time period, change the outfits, occupations, and politics, and it would still work. This is true for Shakespeare--his plays are constantly being done with new settings, new costumes, and language alterations, but the stories, because they are timeless and universal, never change.

I hope that you enjoy my special blend of history, fiction, and romance in SEDUCED BY DESTINY. Fell free to friend me at www.facebook.com/kiramorganauthor, follow me at www.twitter.com/kira_morgan, and visit my website at www.glynnis.net/kiramorgan, where I have a sweepstakes to win the silver thimble that Drew gives to Jossy!

Title: Highland Masters
Author: Amanda Scott
Publisher: Forever Romance (HBG)
ISBN: 978-0-446-57431-0
$7.99

****PLEASE NOTE THAT MY REVIEW IS STILL TO COME AS I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE BOOK******

When eighteen-year-old Lady Catriona Mackintosh discovers a wounded man in the forest near her Highland home, little does she know that he has sworn a sacred oath to kill her father and other members of the powerful Highland confederation known as Clan Chattan. Nor does she realize that she has met her soul mate. Independent, competent, intelligent, fiercely proud of her heritage, determined always to live near her own family, and known to her family as the "wee wildcat" because of her quick temper, Catriona is the daughter of a Highland chieftain and granddaughter of the even more powerful Chief (or Captain) of Clan Chattan. But her life changes forever when she persuades Sir Finlagh Cameron to return with her to her home to recover from his wounds.

Sir Finlagh "Fin" Cameron is on a mission for the heir to Scotland's throne, who has sent him to the Highlands to persuade the Chief of Clan Chattan to arrange a secret meeting for him with two other great lords (the Lord of the Isles and the Lord of the North). Until Fin meets Catriona, however, he has no idea that her father was the Clan Chattan war leader who led them in the battle that wiped out many of Clan Cameron's best warriors, including Fin's own father. The sole survivor of that battle, Fin accepted a bequest of vengeance from his dying father, providing him with a dilemma to face as he begins to fall in love with Catriona. He is not the only one enticed by her charms, either. There are two other contenders, one of whom is his own master, the heir to Scotland's throne. With royal mischief afoot, if Catriona and Fin are ever to find happiness, they must first avoid disaster that could change Scotland's history, and find ways to be open and honest with each other.

Please check out WE LOVE SCOTLAND to read the true stories behind these Scottish romances.

I HAVE THREE SETS OF SEDUCED BY DESTINY AND HIGHLAND MASTERS TO GIVEAWAY!!

To enter please leave your name & a valid email address. Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only.
Contest ends March 19th, 2011

The Thieves of Darkness by Richard Doetsch

2011-02-23T10:02:00.002-05:00

Title: The Thieves of Darkness
Author: Richard Doetsch
ISBN: 978-1-4165-9897-8
$7.99
Publisher: Pocket Books

An irresistible treasure, two master thieves, and a secret as old as mankind . . .
Michael St. Pierre, a reformed master thief, thinks he has left his criminal days far behind him, when he receives word that his best friend, Simon, has been locked up and sentenced to die in a brutal desert prison. Breaking into jail for the first time in his checkered career, Michael is stunned to discover that his new girlfriend, KC, is connected to Simon's case.
With a madman on their heels, the three adventurers make their way to Istanbul in search of the mysterious artifact that landed Simon behind bars in the first place: a map containing the location of a holy place lost to the mists of time, a repository of knowledge and treasure predating Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Testing their courage and wits, Michael and his team are forced to plot a series of daring thefts that take them inside some of the city's most celebrated (and heavily guarded) sanctums, from the imperial harem of Topkapi Palace to the tombs of the Hagia Sophia itself. More than priceless artifacts are at stake—the lives of loved ones and perhaps the fate of humanity itself hang in the balance.
A globe-trotting adventure that wings from the glittering banks of the Bosporus to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, The Thieves of Darkness confirms Richard Doetsch's place as the modern-day master of pulse-pounding suspense.
(from the publisher)

My Thoughts:

I have heard wonderful things about this book and let me start off by saying that I was not disappointed. There is something about the way that Richard Doetsch writes that pulls you into the story and make you want to know more. I started off with the intentions of reading the first few chapters and then calling it a night, well, the first few chapter became eight and then before I knew it I had half the book read. I literally had t force myself to put it up and go to bed, if I had had more time I would have completed the book in one sitting.

I found the plot to be highly intriguing, as well as the characters. It was fast paced and very original, this book will defiantly keep you on the edge of your seat.

I have one copy to giveaway. Contest open to residence of the US only, to enter please leave your name and a valid email address. Contest ends March 15, 2011

My thanks to Pocket Books for both the review copy as well as the giveaway!

The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers

2011-02-21T09:54:00.001-05:00

THE CHARLATAN'S BOY

This has to have been one of the best books that I have read in the young adult genre for awhile. It has the feel of classic writing, while offering up a folksy vibe to the writing. Telling the story of Grady, a boy who is with a traveling con show, this book offers the reader, adventure and soul. It’s one boys view on finding his own place in the world, and often he offers up his thoughts on the matter, which is very entertaining. As the tale turns we see unexpected changes, and lovely twist. I believe that both the young and the young at heart will enjoy this book!

Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

2011-02-17T19:03:00.000-05:00

Title: Dreams of a Dark Warrior
By Kresley Cole
He vowed he'd come for her. . .
Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives—only an endless yearning.
She awaits his return. . .
When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals, unaware that he belongs to their world.
To sate a desire more powerful than death. . .
Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan's torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?
(from the back of the book)

This is book 11 in the Immortals After Dark series, and my second go at reading the series. I have to say that I enjoyed book 10 a bit better, why, I have no idea, Dreams of a Dark Warrior, could not hold my attention like the last, although it was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the characters, for some reason I could not concentrate on the book. I have read outstanding blurbs about this book, so I may have to give it a go when I am in a different mood.

How To Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling review/giveaway

2011-01-10T09:59:00.005-05:00

Title: How to Marry A Duke
Author: Vicky Dreiling
Publisher: Forever Romance
ISBN: 9780446565370
Price: $7.99/$8.99
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: Forever Special Release
Genre: Historical Romance
How I read it: Mass Market ARC from publisher
Rating 5 out of

Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. Love is not necessary--nor desired. But how to choose among a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London's infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she's not the most captivating woman he's ever met...

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she's determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife--she'll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke's affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan's desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker's number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.
(From the publisher)

My Review:

Ducal Duty is demanding that Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne find a wife and the many eligible young ladies of the ton know that he is looking to find one thus ensuring he has plenty of fans to fetch and handkerchiefs to retrieve. While he may be able to catch their ‘dropped’ item, their have failed to captured him. So what’s a Duke to do when he finds that he is in need of a wife yet none have been able to win him over? Why the answer is simple- hire London’s notorious matchmaker to make your match for you. Although Tristan never imagined that he would embark on a 24 woman courtship, and better yet he never imagined that the one woman he cannot have is the woman to dominate his thoughts.

Tessa Mansfield, matchmaker extraordinaire, believes that making a match for the dashing Duke will open doors for her matchmaking career, so she eagerly sets out to find this notorious rogue a love match. Yet she has her hands when Tristan plainly tells her that he is only marrying out of duty, and while he promises to be a loyal and faithful husband, he cannot and will not promise to love the woman he marries, and once he meets the prospective candidates, he simply cannot see himself falling head over heels for one of the witless women vying for his affection. Determined to find the perfect match that will turn into love, Tessa fails to realize that she herself has developed feelings for the Duke, although she tries to reign in her feelings, one kiss unleashes a torrent of emotions and desires that Tessa cannot control. Now she has broken the golden rule of match matching-never fall in love with the intended groom.

What will happen when Tessa’s secrets are revealed and Tristan selects a bride? Rush out to purchase your copy of HOW TO MARRY A DUKE to see how their story ends.

My Thoughts:

This was the first time that I have read this type of story- of course I have read historical romances before, and yes I have read about the dashing Duke searching for the perfect wife, but the plot of this story was very different, very intriguing. I never imagined that I would read the Bachelor-Regency style, and I have to say the concept was off the charts, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I have to say that it was very fresh and highly entertaining. It was very easy to visualize the characters, and I found that they were easy to read and well layered. I loved it when romance characters have a bit of dimension to them, otherwise the story falls flat, but it was just the opposite in How to Marry a Duke, the characters dominated the story and allowed the plot to blossom. I enjoyed the traits of the characters, and I also enjoyed the secrets that slowly unraveled. Another plus for me was the way that Vicky Dreiling incorporated the supporting characters and built up suspense for the next book. A spot on novel in my book.

Overall HOW TO MARRY A DUKE is a very fun read with very different concept that is highly intriguing. Yes, this does have the typical hero/heroine/villain aspect of romance novels, but take it from me it not like anything you have read before.

I have to say that I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.

Five Fun Facts
1. Vicky concocted the idea for a Regency-era bachelor competition while watching the hit TV show The Bachelor one night. In a twist of fate, the new season of The Bachelor begins January 3, 2011, the same day as How to Marry a Duke debuts!

2. Prince William is off the market now, but his former status as the World’s Most Eligible Bachelor inspired Vicky to create Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne, the Most Eligible Bachelor in Regency England.

3. Tristan’s most striking physical traits are his vivid blue eyes and square jaw. Vicky used Henry Cavill, the British actor who starred in HBO’s The Tudors as a model for Tristan.

4. The idea to make her heroine Tessa Mansfield a matchmaker came from Vicky’s love of Jane Austen’s Emma.

5. Vicky writes to music and creates a soundtrack for her books. The theme song for How to Marry a Duke is I Believe in You (Je Crois En Toi) by Il Divo and Celine Dion.

About the Author:

Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.”
When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit that lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.

I have 3 copies to giveaway-
Please leave your name and a valid email address
Sorry no P.O, Boxes
Contest open to residents of the US and Canada

Contest Rules:

Since this is a different plot theme for a romance book, please tell me what your perfect romance novel plot theme would be. (Please keep your answers to 5 sentences or less)
Contest ends 31st

My thanks to HBG for both the giveaway copies and the review copy

Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

2010-12-16T17:52:00.001-05:00

Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing. Namely writing her next novel. A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah's stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily. But when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account, she's intrigued. What's all the fuss?

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, "MarkBaynard"—a quick witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical—Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time. And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life. After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living?

Or is he?

Abigail Donovan should be writing the next bestseller, yet she finds the task a bit daunting seeing as how her first novel was not only a bestseller, but a selection for Oprah’s Book Club. Now with her literary star beginning to dim, her publicist, seeing the need to connect with potential readers, sets her up with a Twitter account. Abby soon finds that she has connected with a mystery man, one who claims to be traveling the world, while seeking the inspiration for his potential novel. With a nudge and push in the right direction from her mystery man, Abby finds that the challenge she faces isn’t as great as what other are going through.

Will Abby and “MarkBaynard” find love in 140 characters or less?

My Thoughts
Okay first let me say that I am not one who generally loves Contemporary reads. Yet when I heard about a novel composed almost entirely of tweets, I was intrigued. I wondered if that style of writing would add to or take away from the story and I have to say that it added to the story greatly. I found that I had a hard time putting this novel down-if it wasn’t for having to go to work, I would have read it straight through instead of reading it in two settings. “Goodnight Tweetheart” was truly an amazing book, one that actually makes the reader think about life.

I highly recommend this book. “Goodnight Tweetheart” will keep your attention with it’s quick wit and amazing flow. Although I will warn you, one minute you will be laughing the next you will be crying. Overall a MUST READ.

*READERS BEWARE* ONCE YOU READ THE FIRST PAGE YOU WILL NOT WANT TO STOP UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED THE END!!!!

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

2010-12-05T10:45:00.002-05:00

Title: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball: A Novella
Author: Donita K. Paul
Publisher: Water Brook
ISBN: 978-0-307-45899-5
$14.99
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?
In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

Review:

Cora Crowder is on a mission-well two missions actually. Her first mission is to catch Christmas, not that it has escaped her, but to discover the right way to celebrate this blessed holiday. Her second mission is to find the perfect gift for her uncle, which not only proves to be the easier of the two, but also acts as the catalyst for the following events. After finding Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s, a quaint little bookshop, she discovers, or should I say the shop owners discover the perfect book for her uncle. After retuning home, gift-in-hand, she flips through the pages and finds one ticket to an annual Christmas Ball, sponsored by the odd owners of the bookshop.

Simon Derrick, known as Serious Simon to his coworkers which include Cora, has also ventured into the same little bookshop, on the same day as Cora. He has also discovered a ticket to this one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball, the only problem is he needs to locate another for his sister. Thus an odd series of events seems to be throwing Simon and Cora together.

Will the proprietors of Sage Street, aid the two not only in matters of the heart, but matters of faith as well?

My Thoughts:

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, has to be my favorite novella of the season. I enjoyed watching the plot unfold, as well as the characters develop. Simon’s sister, Sandy added the right touch to the story to remind the readers of the true meaning of the season, and the One we should be seeking. The lovely characters of Sage Street added whimsy and magic that made this a very charming reading.

I truly enjoyed this novella, and I have found a new book to read each Christmas. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball, is one of those, curl up by the fire reads.

This book was provided by WaterBrook

Sundays At Tiffany's Movie reminder

2010-12-04T11:21:00.001-05:00

MOVIE REMINDER
Sundays At Tiffany’s is now a Lifetime original movie from Sony Pictures Television , which will be airing on Monday, December 6 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, 8:00 PM CT.

Here is a bit about the book to peak your curiosity, although I imagine that knowing it’s by James Patterson has already done just that!

Book info:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

An Amish Christmas

2010-11-30T15:37:00.004-05:00

Enjoy this Amish Christmas bestseller with an additional new novella from romance author Kelly Long.
"Christmas Cradles" by Kelly Long -- When Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt, the local Amish midwife in Paradise, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and the help from resourceful and strong Asa Lapp, whose job it is to get Anna through a dangerous blizzard to complete her midwifery rounds.
“A Miracle for Miriam” by Kathleen Fuller: This Christmas, Miriam must decide whether to guard herself or accept the love of a man who once broke her heart.
“A Choice to Forgive” by Beth Wiseman: Lydia, a widow who has given up on love, is shocked when Daniel-- a past love-- returns to the Order, and her life.
“One Child” by Barbara Cameron: This snowy Lancaster Christmas Eve will see two couples’ lives changed by the birth of one child.
Contributer Barbara Cameron is the author of fifteen novels and three nationally televised movies (HBO), as well as a recipient of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart.

I fell head-over-heels in love with “An Amish Christmas: December in Lancaster County”. This is the perfect book to give or get this Christmas. The four novellas (one is actually a bonus novella) reminds the reader of the true meaning of Christmas, with their heartfelt story’s of love, redemption, and God’s grace. This is my third encounter with Kathleen Fuller’s work, and I have to say that I have and still am enjoying her work. This book should be a must read.

Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr

2010-11-23T15:33:00.002-05:00

Title: Hearts Awakening
Author: Delia Parr
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0670-2
Publisher: Bethany House
Format: Trade Paperback $14.99
Genre: Historical Fiction: Inspirational Romance
How I Read it: Trade Paperback provided by Bethany House
Rating: 5 out of 5

TWO PEOPLE IN DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES ONE UNLIKELY PROPOSAL…..

Life has left few choices for Elvira Kilmer. Her hopes for marriage and a family of her own have long since passed her by, and her arrival on Dillon’s Island, nestled in the Susquehanna River, is not of her choosing, either. She needs work, and Jackson Smith needs a housekeeper.

YET ELLIE NEVER IMAGINES THE WIDOWER WOULD BE SO YOUNG…..SO HANDSOME…..

Jackson, on the other hand, has never met anyone quite so…plain. But he quickly comes to realizes that Ellie’s presence may solve his own problems- both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage.

When Jackson offers her something quite out of the ordinary, will Ellie look beyond mere necessity and risk opening her heart?

My Review:

Elvira Kilmer- or Ellie as she is known- fears that she is firmly on the shelf. Gone are the chances that she will ever be wife or mother, and after the death of her parents she is forced to rely on the kindness (if you can call it that) of her cousin and his wife, who are not too thrilled to receive her. As a form of punishment she is sent to the widower, Jackson Smith to care for his house, although once she arrives, Ellie finds more than just a few dirty floors to occupy her time.

Jackson Smith, a widower who runs the local orchard, needs more than just a housekeeper, he needs a wife who will care for his two young sons. Although thanks to the scandal surrounding his first wife as well as that of her death, that task may prove to be a bit more difficult than he expected. Yet when a rather plain housekeeper arrives on his doorstep, he realizes that he may need Ellie for more than just tiding up.

When the two enter into a marriage of convenience they soon discover that they have quite a few obstacles to overcome, and Ellie is unprepared when she finds out that the woman who owns Jackson’s heart is very much alive. Will Jackson set Ellie aside or will he allow her to play the part of wife and mother.

My Thoughts:

This is one of my favorite books that I have read this year. There was so much emotion surging through this book that you could not help but to fall in love with the characters. I could not help to feel sorry for Jackson, he was carrying around so much hurt and anger from his past that he was too bogged down to see his future. He was also too intent on reclaiming what he though to be his grand love that he failed to see what was right in front of him. Ellie was the solace of both his spirit as well as his broken home, and I enjoyed watching as the Lord’s plan unfolded. I also have to say that the two little boys tugged at my heartstrings, as they were trying to come to grips with the death of their mother.

Overall I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a heartwarming tale of loss, love, and redemption, that proves that one can always reclaim the faith that they lost along the way.

Favorite Quote: Normally there is a certain phrase that sticks with me after reading a book, although I found that this time it was a few chapters that will be embedded in my mind. Chapters 26-27 unfolded so brilliantly that I will never forget what they entailed. I felt that they were extremely emotional for both Jackson and Ellie, and both bore their souls until they were emotionally naked so to speak. I believe that these two chapters captured the soul of the story.

If you enjoyed this book please check out my review of Walker’s Wedding by Lori Copeland.

Also please watch for my review of Delia Parr’s “Love’s First Bloom”

Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Pineiro review/giveaway

2010-11-19T12:09:00.004-05:00

It's been six months since Liliana Carrera helped her brother rescue Caterina Shaw from Wardwell Laboratories, a group of fringe scientists experimenting on human beings. Now, Liliana--with funding from the FBI--has set up a new facility to continue testing the inhibitor complex, a cure for the patients of Wardwell. What's even better is the FBI has managed to recover another of the patients, Jesse Bradford.

When Jesse arrives at Liliana's facility, he has been drugged and displays violent erratic behavior. As Liliana helps him detox, Jesse demonstrates strange powers--superhuman strength and the ability to heal quickly.

Despite their growing attraction, Jesse is secretive and Liliana remains fearful of him. Eventually he admits that Wardwell scientists threatening his sister's life in order to maintain control over him and his powers. As they try to locate her, they begin to suspect that the scientists may have corrupted the FBI. Unless they can discover Wardwell's master plan soon, Jesse's sister, the other patients, and an unknown number of innocent people, will pay the price.
(from the publisher)

My Thoughts:

This is my first time reading a novel by Caridad Pineiro and I have to say that I was very impressed. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed “Stronger Than Sin”, and even though this novel is the second in a series it reads pretty much as a stand alone. Although it does refer to the events of the first book, I did not feel as though it took away from this story, but readers be warned once you have read “Stronger Than Sin”, you will want to read the first part “Sins Of The Flesh”.

Overall would I read this book again? Defiantly. Especially after I read the first one.

What to look forward to: Chapter 38 sets up the next book nicely, and I cannot wait to read it once it’s out.

I have 5 books to giveaway

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address.
Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only
Sorry No P.O. Boxes
Contest ends December 13

Sundays at Tiffany's By James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet giveaway

2010-11-17T19:04:00.005-05:00

Sundays At Tiffany’s is now a Lifetime original movie from Sony Pictures Television , which will be airing on Monday, December 6 at 9:00 PM ET/PT, 8:00 PM CT. And to promote both this book as well as the movie, One lucky winner will win a copy of the book.

Here is a bit about the book to peak your curiosity, although I imagine that knowing it’s by James Patterson has already done just that!

Book info:

AN IMAGINARY FRIEND
Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, the powerful head of a New York theater company, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's eighth birthday he leaves, promising that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

AN UNEXPECTED LOVE
Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets Michael again--as handsome, smart and perfect as she remembers him to be. But not even Michael knows the reason they've really been reunited.

AND AN UNFORGETTABLE TWIST
Sundays at Tiffany's is a heart-wrenching love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's takes an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

THANKS TO VALERIE AT HACHETTE BOOK GROUP I HAVE 1 COPY TO GIVEAWAY!!!!

Contest ends December 15

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address as well as your favorite holiday movie.
Contest open to residents of the US and Canada only.
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes

Montana Glory by R.C. Ryan review/giveaway

2010-11-15T09:00:00.002-05:00

Title: Montana Glory (book 3 in the Fools Gold Trilogy)
Author: R.C. Ryan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-446-54864-9
$7.99
Format: Mass Market ARC

The last thing in the world Zane McCord wants is a wife. But after returning home to the family ranch in Montana to help his cousins search for the lost treasure that is their legacy, Zane can't help notice that love and marriage seem to be contagious. Both his cousins have succumbed, but he refuses. Determined to stay a bachelor till he dies, Zane wants to devote his time to filming documentaries and taking care of the ranch...and then Riley Mason walks into his life.

The last thing on Riley Mason's mind is romance. Sent to the McCord ranch to save the family's accounting problems, she only wants to impress her firm in Helena and be on her way. Life as a single mother isn't easy and she needs to impress her bosses for a raise. But when Zane McCord opens the door, her breath catches in her throat and a desire she's never experienced before takes over her. When the McCords insist that she and her daughter, Summer stay at the ranch, she's forced to give in and before long, she's pulled into their search for the long lost treasure. But she absolutely draws the line at getting involved with Zane McCord, playboy and heartbreaker extraordinaire.

But as they all get closer to finding Coot's lost treasure, a dangerous series of accidents target Riley and her daughter Summer. Can Zane keep her safe while trying to win her heart?
(From the publisher)

My Thoughts:

When I read the first and the second book, I found that Jesse was my favorite, although I have to say that after reading Montana Glory, I believe that I like Zane the best. It was fun watching him interact with Riley’s daughter Amber, I also enjoyed the way he worked through his feeling about love and staying away from it due to his parents messy marriage.

Like the two previous books in the series, Montana Glory, has everything one would expect from a R.C. Ryan romance, plus a few things that I didn’t see coming.

I have 5 copies to giveaway on November 30, 2010
Please leave your name & a valid email address
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes
Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only

Walker’s Wedding by Lori Copeland

2010-11-10T15:06:00.001-05:00

Title: Walker’s Wedding (book 3 in The Western Sky Series)
Author: Lori Copeland
Publisher: Harvest House Publisher
ISBN: 978-0-7369-2761-1
$12.99
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 276 Chapters: 46
Genre: Historical Western Inspirational Romance
Rating 5 out of 5

My Review:

After a near death experience Walker McKay, owner of Spring Grass Ranch, is determined to produce an heir. There’s only one problem with his plan, he needs a wife. So what’s a man that has been previously jilted by his fiancée to do? Find himself a mail order bride. Yet things don’t go quite as planned.

Sarah Livingstone, wealthy railroad heiress, has everything that money can buy, yet she longs for more. If only her father would allow her to marry, her dreams of becoming a wife and mother would be complete. When an opportunity arises to trade places with a mail order bride she snatches it in an instant.

Once Walker and Sarah marry-it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. Walker now feels as though he has been betrayed all over again. Will Sarah be able to soothe Walker’s wounded heart, or will they walk away from what could have been the greatest love they ever found?

My thoughts:

There was something about Walker that drew you in yet held you at an arms length away. You could feel the hurt and betrayal that he still holds from his first fiancée, and it haunts his existence, and only allows him to feel to just to an extent. Then there is Sarah, she is a feisty, independent thinker, and you knew that she was going to be both the balm to ease Walker’s broken heart and the catalyst to break it all over again. I knew that each scene that Sarah was in was going to be emotionally charged, and I was not disappointed. Each page held a different emotion, and I felt that Lori Copeland captured the readers attentions and held them transfixed as the plot unfolded.

Overall this was a lovely Inspirational read that held an amazing message at its core. I love it when I discover a new author that I have not yet had the pleasure of reading and fall in love with their work. I now can say that I have become a fan of Lori Copeland, I cannot wait to read more of her work.

Please note that even though this is book 3 in the Western Sky Series, Walker’s Wedding is a standalone read.

Also note that this book was originally published by Avon Romantic Treasure as Marrying Walker McKay

A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore review/giveaway

2010-10-15T12:16:00.002-04:00

Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London's cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There's just one problem: Jack isn't interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn't have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack's past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he'll be either married to Rebecca or dead.

My Thoughts:

Jennifer Haymore has done it again with her new novel A Season of Seduction. This has to be by far my favorite as of yet. There is something very alluring about Jack Fulton that makes the reader want t know more about him. Plus I found that Lady Rebecca, is one of my favorite heroines. A Season of Seduction is the perfect book for a cold winters night. A must read for all historical romance fans.

This would make the perfect gift this time of year.

Fun Idea:

Instead of giving cards for birthdays or other occasions why not inscribe your well wishes on a book rather than a card. People are more likely to keep a book (something that they will read) than a card that normally they tend to throw away.

Another fun idea- if you have get-togethers or if you are like me and have teas why not use books as name holders? I simply print up the names of my guests on corresponding cardstock, secure a ribbon around the cardstock, and wrap the ribbon around the book. It’s also the perfect gift for your book club.
I know that I am going to be using A Season of Seduction for my holiday tea favor.

Five fun facts
1. After writing two books with Lady Rebecca as a young girl trying to find her place in the world, I loved writing about how she becomes a strong and independent woman in A Season of Seduction.
2. Cornwall, England, where Lady Rebecca’s property is, is one of those stark, windy places I always imagine as a setting for gothic novels. I have always wanted to write about it and visit it. Now that I have written about it and researched it, visiting is the next on the list!
3. I spent hours and hours researching the traveling time from London to Launceston, Cornwall while writing A Season of Seduction. I am always stymied by the amount of time it took to go from point A to point B using the various means of travel during this era. I’m trying to talk my husband into buying a horse for me just so I can be as accurate as possible! Unfortunately, so far, my husband is not convinced, but I’m still working on him…
4. In my last book, A Touch of Scandal, Lady Rebecca broke her arm in a carriage accident. Unfortunately, I know some things about broken arms, because my son has had two of them in two years! Lady Rebecca had the same break as my son’s first injury (a broken humerus just above the elbow), but she didn’t have access to modern medical care, so even after four years she’s still suffering from the repercussions in A Season of Seduction.
5. Christmas is my favorite day of the year, and I’d never imagined I’d be lucky enough to have the opportunity to write a historical romance set during the holiday season. Combine that with the special romance between Becky and Jack, and A Season of Seduction is definitely one of my favorites!

About the author
I’ve been writing since I could pick up a pencil….
Wait, no…that’s what every other writer says! I started writing just before my eighth birthday, and it wasn’t on my own volition. I was sailing with my family in a 42-foot sailboat across the Pacific, and since there were no local schools (except those pertaining to fish) nearby, my mother homeschooled me. She was a strict taskmaster! A veritable slave driver! She demanded a new story every day.
So I’d sit in the boat’s galley and write. And stare out the porthole, and write some more. And doodle, and write some more. By the time we arrived in Hawaii the following year, I had a portfolio of stories, and I was hooked. Since then I haven’t stopped. (Well, much. I did take breaks now and then, for things like college, young kids, and a master’s degree.)
I love to read just as much as I love to write, and actually the reading bug hit me at about the same time my mom was cracking the whip over my head and commanding me to write. What else to occupy your time with when there are no other kids to play with and nothing to do but stare at the endless sea? Some of my most recent favorites: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, River God by Wilbur Smith, and anything by Laura Kinsale and Loretta Chase.

I have 5 copies to giveaway thanks to Anna @ Hachette Books

To enter leave your name and a comment along with a valid email address.
Contest ends Nov. 30

Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pajamas by Judy Parkinson

2010-10-13T14:07:00.001-04:00

Title- Spilling the Beans on the Cats Pajamas:
Popular Expressions-What They Mean & How We Got Them
Author- Judy Parkinson
Publisher- Reader’s Digest
ISBN- 978-1-60652-171-7
Format- Hardcover
$14.95

Strike while the iron's hot and bone up on the origins of your favorite expressions

Cat got your tongue? Well, for Pete's sake, use this collection of colorful expressions to enrich your everyday speech. This book spills the beans on our best-loved euphemisms and most curious sayings, explaining their fascinating origins and the remarkable stories that surround them. It rounds up the usual suspects -- the catch phrases, quotations, and expressions that keep our language flourishing -- and makes them easy to find in a convenient A-to-Z format.
Did you know that . . .
The expressions all that glitters is not gold and apple of the eye have each been in use for more than a thousand years?
To bark up the wrong tree comes from the sport of raccoon hunting?
Embarrassed parents can thank the songwriter Cole Porter for the euphemism the birds and the bees?
(from the back cover)

My Thoughts:

WOW!! WHAT A BOOK!!!!!! I picked this up last night just to have a look through and I was so hooked I ended up reading it straight through. Not only does Spilling the Beans on the Cats Pajamas contain the where any why, it contains little adages to go all along with each phrase. This book chocked-full of the normal ever day phrases as well as some that may be new to some readers. I was pleasantly surprised with the information that filled each page. I was surprised at the origins of a few of the phrases.

Overall would I read this book/use this book again? Most Defiantly. I believe that I will find myself referring to this book quite often.

Who would I recommend it to? Any/ Every one. This is the perfect book for those who are home schooling as well as writers, and lovers of literature.

My thanks to FSB Media for sending me this copy.

Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon Review/giveaway

2010-10-08T09:40:00.006-04:00

Title- Two Lethal Lies
Author- Annie Solomon
Publisher- Forever Romance an imprint of Hachette Book Group
ISBN- 978-0-446-17845-7
Release Date- 10/1/2010
Format- Mass Market Paperback
$6.99/$7.99 CAN.
Pages- 381
How I read it- Mass Market Paperback

Book description:

A LOVE TO DIE FOR………….

On the run since his daughter was born, Mitch Turner has concealed a truth so dangerous, its discovery could jeopardize both their lives. But when a series of shocking murders hits their newfound home, the trail leads straight to Mitch. With the police out for blood and his daughter ripped from his arms, he has nowhere to turn- until a beautiful stranger offers her help.

Neesy Brown has made mistakes in her life, yet she refuses to believe this mysterious man is a killer. There’s a strength in his broad shoulders that draws her to him and a weariness in his eyes that she longs to ease. As the murders tear her small town apart, she vows to help Mitch find his missing child. But a cunning predator is pulling them deeper and deeper into his fatal game. And the price of losing is the child-and the future-they could both share……………………….

My Thoughts:

This was my first introduction to Annie Solomon, and I have to say that it will not be my last.

I truly enjoyed this book. In fact I loved it, and I am not one for Romantic Suspense. The writing was very intriguing, and I found that I could not put the book down. It seemed like each time I turned the page a new challenge was waiting for Mitch. I also enjoyed the characters immensely. Mitch was an enigma, one that I could not quite figure out in the beginning. He kept me guessing, which I rather enjoyed (normally I can have a character figured out by chapter two), I enjoyed unraveling the mystery that was Mitch. Neesy was also well mapped, and I found that she completed the story and gave it a nice rounded feel, while complimenting Mitch.

Overall this was my favorite book that I have read in a while. I think that this would make an incredible movie. It has all the right elements that one looks for in a Romantic Suspense novel. Intrigue, mystery, murder, secrets, and to top it off romance. In the end would I read this book again? Defiantly, it’s a keeper that I will reread.

I also wanted to say that while reading this book, in my mind Mitch Turner was Thorsten Kaye. If any of you have watched the soap opera All My Children, the character of Zach Slater (played by Thorsten Kaye) will remind you of Mitch, or at least it reminded me.

Favorite quote:
“But Mitch was more Rochester than Darcy. And like Rochester, there was something about him. Some dark undercurrent no one but her seemed to see.”

Five Fun Facts
1. Hot Chocolate Freaks: My hero, Mitch Turner, and his 11-year-old daughter, Julia, drink a lot of hot chocolate in Two Lethal Lies. And they are VERY particular about the type. No open-packet-and-add-water for them. This comes from my stint in Seville, Spain, where hot chocolate and churros is an afternoon treat. You've never enjoyed the drink until you've had it there—thickest, richest, most chocolaty I've ever tasted. Dip in a freshly made churro—paradise! I've got a bunch of hot chocolate recipes on my website, so come on over and check them out. Or email me yours and I'll include it with the others!

2. Radio Research: In an early draft I had a car problem I couldn't solve. So, where do you go for unsolvable car problems? Click and Clack of Car Talk, of course! You can hear my question and their on air response on my website. Sadly, though, the scene using their answer was deleted from the final book. But you can still read it. Where? My website, of course.

3. Southern Yankee: My heroine, Neesy Brown, is from a small town in Tennessee. Two Lethal Lies takes her, among other places, to New York City, where she has to learn what a knish and a nosh are. I had fun with this, since I'm a New Yorker living in Tennessee and had to learn what country ham and red-eye gravy were.

4. The Iowa Way: I stationed my FBI agent in Iowa's Quad Cities so I could send him to Muscatine. My brother and his wife moved there and I had a fun time visiting them. Everyone I met was so warm and welcoming. Among other things, I got to ride a combine and harvest corn. I used the layout of Muscatine, which is on the Mississippi River, as a partial model for Crossroads, the small town in Tennessee in which Two Lethal Lies takes place.

5. Lies, the Movie: No, I haven't sold the book to Hollywood, but you can see who I'd cast if I did sell it. Go to StoryCasting.com and click on Two Lethal Lies. You'll not only be able to see who I'd cast, but you can create your own cast, too.

A native New Yorker, RITA-winning author Annie Solomon has been dreaming up stories since she was ten. After a twelve-year career in advertising, where she rose to Vice President and Head Writer at a mid-size agency, she abandoned the air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps of her professional life for her first love—romance. An avid knitter, she now lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter.

I have 5 copies to giveaway.
Contest ends October 29
To enter please leave your name & a valid email address.
Contest open to residents of the US & Canada only
Sorry no P.O. Boxes.

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis review/giveaway

2010-10-07T10:25:00.006-04:00

Title- Simply Irresistible
Author- Jill Shalvis
Publisher- Forever Romance an imprint of Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 978-0-446-57161-6
$6.99/$7.99 CAN.
Release Date- 10/1/2010
Format- Mass Market Paperback
Pages-336
How I read it-Mass Market Paperback

Book Description-

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.
(from the publishers)

My Thoughts-

This was actually a good book. I found myself drawn in by the characters as well as their stories. The plot read smoothly, and while it didn’t offer that many ‘surprises’, I found it to be intriguing, and hard to put down. The only thing that I would change about this book is the cover. To me the cover seems a bit bland, I know the whole “don’t judge a book by it cover” adage, but I am afraid that if I spotted this cover in the bookstore I would walk right past it. The cover provides no allure which is sad because the book is full of it!!

Overall, don’t judge this book by its cover-give it a try and I believe that you will be pleasantly surprised. Although I will warn you once you finish this book you will be willing April to arrive so that you can read the second.

Favorite Character- While I really enjoyed Maddie and the way her character developed I found that my favorite character in the book had to be Jax. He held that extra something that will make him a memorable character.

Favorite line- At the beginning of each chapter, their deceased mother is quoted. Each quote is better than the last, although I have to say that my favorite quote would be
“If you are saving for a rainy day, you’re never going to get out of the house”

Five Fun Facts
1. Jill is more afraid of spiders than the bears that she runs into on her daily mountain hikes.
2. If Jill couldn't be a writer, she'd want to be a rock star. Only problem—she can't hold a tune to save her life.
3. Jill would take a box of cookies over just about any other food. Mother's Double Fudge, if she had a choice, but she's not picky.
4. While writing Simply Irresistible (Oct '10), the first Lucky Harbor book, she knitted her own crooked boyfriend scarf just like the heroine in the book. However, the dog ate it. You don't want to know what happened to it after that.
5. For more information on Jill, check out her website at jillshalvis.com, including her daily blog chronicling her I-Love-Lucy life.

USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books are, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountain adventures.

I have 5 copies to giveaway thanks to Anna @ Hachette Books
To enter leave your name, and email address.
Open to Residents of the US & Canada only
Sorry no P.O. Boxes
Giveaway ends on October 29

A Summer of Secrets by Kathleen Fuller

2010-09-14T13:40:00.002-04:00

In the Mysteries of Middlefield series, readers will be immersed into exciting mysteries and authentic Amish culture.

With a twin brother and five younger brothers, Mary Beth Mullet’s house is in constant chaos. Her parents don’t seem to mind the noise, but she needs a break from all the pestering and babysitting.

It’s the summer before eighth grade, and Mary Beth plans to escape to her secret place as much as possible. The old barn in the neighboring field is dangerous, and her parents have forbidden her to go there, but she escapes to it as often as she can.

Mary Beth soon discovers she is not alone in the barn. Someone is living there; someone who needs help. Can Mary Beth help the stranger without losing her secret place? And what if the barn is as dangerous as her parents say it is?

Readers will identify with Mary Beth’s struggles for peace and independence and be engrossed in the excitement and danger of A Summer Secret.

Although this is a teen book I believe that both teens and adults will adore this book. I have read numerous Amish themed books but I have found that Kathleen Fuller always offers readers a bit more than other authors. If you are searching for the perfect weekend read, this is it!

The Way Home movie review

2010-08-30T14:05:00.004-04:00

A missing child. A family in crisis. A faith tested. In their darkest hour, God gives hope.
Dean Cain stars as Randy Simpkins, a husband and father torn between the demands of his job and family. Asked by his wife to watch their two-year-old son, Joe, for a few minutes, he becomes distracted by work. When he returns, Joe is gone. He and his wife search desperately for their missing son through the vast countryside. But as their fear grows, the community responds – hundreds of supporters uniting behind the family in a powerful spiritual journey that will test the couple’s love and faith, and forever change a community.

This was a heartwarming film that I believe all should watch. Not only did it deal with the testing the bounds of your faith it deals with reclaiming what you have lost. It was truly moving.

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt review & Giveaway

2010-08-20T20:20:00.002-04:00

Title- Wicked Intentions, book one in the Maiden Lane trilogy
Author- Elizabeth Hoyt
ISBN-9780446558945
Publisher- Forever Romance
Page-416
Price-$6.99/8.99
Genre- Historical Romance
Publication Date-8/01/2010
How I read it- Mass Market ARC

Forever Romance brings to us the first book in Elizabeth Hoyt’s The Maiden Lane trilogy, Wicked Intentions.

From the New York Times bestselling author of To Desire a Devil comes this thrilling tale of danger, desire, and dark passions. A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES . . . Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand-she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk .

My thoughts

I have read and enjoyed Elizabeth Hoyt’s Princes Trilogy although I have to say that they fail in comparison to Wicked Intentions. The first books in the Maiden Lane series leads the way for what I am sure is going to be a highly alluring series. The relationship between Caire and Temperance draw me in so that I wanted to know more. I also liked the dichotomy of Caire and Temperance the sinner and the saint. Although a few of the scenes get a bit steamy, Wicked Intentions has that extra something makes you want to devour the book. The cover art also invites the reader to pickup the book and have a look.

Take a peek inside the covers

I have 4 books to giveaway

Please leave your name and email address.
Open only to residents of the US & Canada.
Sorry no P.O. Boxes.

Giveaway copies & Arc provided by Hachette Book Group!
Thanks Anna

What's in the Bible Episode 3 Wanderin' in the Desert

2010-08-18T21:16:00.002-04:00

The 3rd DVD of Phil Vischer’s Wanderin’ in the Desert covers the “Pentateuch”, otherwise known as the first 5 books of the Bible. Explaining in child-friendly terms the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, as well as the difference between ethical rules & ritual rules and why some of those rules are no longer in use today. The texture of the material is rich in Biblical knowledge that could be applied to toddlers as well as grade school children, I believe that adults will even learn a thing or two. As for using this as a teaching tool, What’s in the Bible, offers a wealth of starting points that can be applied to all ages. Using this as part of a lesson plan, I would draw up a curriculum for each of the sections. Depending on the Episode you are using you could further your studies in history, science, and so forth. I highly recommend this for both homeschoolers and church groups.

A few ideas to get you started:

(History)
When discussing Moses and the Pharaoh you could use this as a jump off topic for discussing Egypt
(Social Studies)
When discussing the Laws in Leviticus use that as a way to discuss the law and rules in place today.
(English)
Each Episode has featured words as well the definition, depending on the age group use those featured words as part of your vocabulary and spelling lists.
Use the Episode of when they are talking about the Tower of Babel to either introduce a foreign language of to talk about the different languages once again this depends on the age of the students.

Each Episode offers a variety of discussion points that can be used in both your home schooling curriculum or in your Bible lessons for Sunday School or Bible school. The DVD’s are wonderfully composed with a whole cast of zany characters that will capture your child’s attention while educating them as well. I will say that older children and adults will appreciate the funny humor that pops-up every once and awhile. While the Veggie Tales were toddler oriented What’s in the Bible is for all ages.

And One Last Things by Molly Harper

2010-08-16T14:35:00.001-04:00

“If Singletree’s only florist didn’t deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger.”

Lacey Terwilliger’s shock and humiliation over her husband’s philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike’s company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of “administrative support” his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike’s family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say “instant urban legend,” Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.
Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.

Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?

My Thoughts

This was a very interesting book that offers an odd humorous look at divorce. Several of the situations had me laughing my head off, while others had me going what was she thinking. Molly Harper is a genius at contemporary writing, her characters are charming and realistic as well her take on the after affects of divorce in a small town, where everybody knows everybody. I found that this book practically flew by, I read it in about two days. The perfect dramedy for a weekend read. This is one of those books that you should give a try.

Manifest by Artist Arthur

2010-08-16T14:30:00.003-04:00

When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moved to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener - and everything she'd ever want - except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door - Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good? (book back blurb)

Please check out the authors website

Follow Me by Joanna Scott review & Giveaway

2010-08-16T11:50:00.002-04:00

On a summer day in 1946 Sally Werner, the precocious young daughter of hardscrabble Pennsylvania farmers, secretly accepts her cousin's invitation to ride his new motorcycle. Like so much of what follows in Sally's life, it's an impulsive decision with dramatic and far-reaching consequences. Soon she abandons her home to begin a daring journey of self-creation, the truth of which she entrusts only with her granddaughter and namesake, six decades later. But when young Sally's father--a man she has never known--enters her life and offers another story altogether, she must uncover the truth of her grandmother's secret history.

Boldly rendered and beautifully told, in FOLLOW ME Joanna Scott has crafted a paean to the American tradition of re-invention and a sweeping saga of timeless and tender storytelling

My thoughts-

First off let me say that I normally don’t judge a book by its cover, although I will say that I did on this one. The vivid greenery and splash of red hair called to saying “read me, read me, put me to the top of you tbr pile, see what I am all about”. So needless to say I listened and this was my next read. I must say that I was not disappointed, I enjoyed the family dynamics that is features and I am always a sucker for books that feature family secrets. The author has a way of pulling the reader into the story that makes you want to read more. So be warned this is one of those cant put down types of books.

I have 3 Copies of Ravens to giveaway.
To enter leave your name and email address.
Please note this contest is only open to residents of the US & Canada.
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes.

Contest ends August 31st

Ravens by George Dawes Green giveaway

2010-08-16T11:49:00.002-04:00

The Boatwrights just won 318 million dollars in the Georgia State lottery. It's going to be the worst day of their lives.

When Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull up at a convenience store off I-95 in Georgia, their only thought is to fix a leaky tire and be on their way again to Florida-away from their dull Ohio tech-support jobs. But this happens to be the store from which a 318,000,000 million dollar Jackpot ticket has just been sold -- and when a pretty clerk accidentally reveals to Shaw the identity of the winning family, he hatches a ferociously audacious scheme: He and Romeo will squeeze the family for half their prize.

That night, he visits the Boatwright home and takes the family hostage, while Romeo patrols the streets nearby, prepared to murder the Boatwrights' loved ones at any sign of resistance. At first, the family offers none. But Shaw's plot depends on maintaining constant fear-merciless, unfaltering terror-and soon, under the pressure, everyone's sanity begins to unravel . . .

At once frightening, comic, and suspenseful, RAVENS is a wholly original and utterly compelling novel from one of our most talented writers.

I have 3 Copies of Ravens to giveaway.
To enter leave your name and email address.
Please note this contest is only open to residents of the US & Canada.
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes.

Contest ends August 31st

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand review

2010-08-15T15:22:00.001-04:00

Rylee Monroe was once a member of Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood, although that was many years ago, so many in fact Rylee has almost no memories of living among the elite. After her father, a prominent lawyer, up and leaves both his job and his family, and her mother dies, the life Rylee once knew no longer existed. With debt piling up her grandmother has no choice but to enlist the aid of her fathers partner and sell off the families home and possessions.

Like I said that was long ago. Rylee is now a dogwalker for Charleston’s elite, earning enough money to pay for her grandmothers (her grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer’s) care in a nursing home. When Rylee encounters a robber in the house of one of her clients, she finds that the streets that she once loved are more dangerous than she ever has imagined, and someone is intent on following her. After the thief targets the homes of her clients, Rylee not only has to deal with her stalker, she now has to prove that she is not the so called “Robin Hood thief.”

Logan Woods is a reporter hoping to crack the case and turn his findings into a bestselling novel. Discovering Rylee may have more information than she is letting on, Logan takes the investigation into his own hands hoping Rylee will be selling point to his story, although he never imagined that he, the man who is terrified of dogs would develop feelings for a woman who is a dogwalker.

Now Logan is faced with a life altering decision, will he choose the girl, or his story? If he chooses the girl will he clear her name, or be the one to put her behind bars?

My thoughts?

I liked this book, it kind of put me in mind of Susan May Warren’s P.J. Sugar series, a light mystery, with uplifting undertones, and an adorable love story to boot. The characters were full of charm, and I found myself liking both Rylee & Logan from the start. Plus I love novels that are set in Charleston, it seems that its impossible for the city just to be a background and in this book it has become a character in its own right. Another intriguing aspect of Beguiled was the plot, not only was it a weekend mystery/love story, it was a story of self-discovery, and a sort of riches to rags type story whereas normally authors have the whole Cinderella type theme.

This book was provided by Bethany House, my thanks for sending me this copy.

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand review & giveaway

2010-08-15T14:50:00.002-04:00

Greg and Tess MacAvoy are one of four prominent Nantucket couples who count each other as best friends. As pillars of their close-knit community, the MacAvoys, Kapenashes, Drakes, and Wheelers are important to their friends and neighbors, and especially to each other. But just before the beginning of another idyllic summer, Greg and Tess are killed when their boat capsizes during an anniversary sail. As the warm weather approaches and the island mourns their loss, nothing can prepare the MacAvoy's closest friends for what will be revealed.

Once again, Hilderbrand masterfully weaves an intense tale of love and loyalty set against the backdrop of endless summer island life.

The Castaways, well, what can I say about Elin Hilderbrand that hasn’t been said before? She is an amazing writer, that writes with conviction and emotion. You can feel what each of the characters are going through, it so vividly described that you almost feel as though you among them, while each deal with fallout the occurs after the death of the MacAvoy’s. I would highly recommend that each of you push this to the top of your To Be Read list.

Birdie Cousins has planned a getaway with her daughter Chess on rustic, charming Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, a chance to bond before Chess's upcoming marriage. Birdie's been through a difficult divorce herself, so she knows the big commitment that marriage entails. She's only recently dared to tiptoe back into the waters of romance.

When Chess abruptly breaks off the wedding and her fiancé shockingly dies in a rock climbing accident, it leaves Chess feeling guilty and deeply depressed. Birdie circles the wagons, convincing her younger daughter Tate, and her own sister India to join them on Tuckernuck for the month of July. Secrets and intrigue soon make their way to the surface, as Elin Hilderbrand once again weaves a masterful story of summer suspense.

What’s better than winning 1 Elin Hilderbrand novel? How about winning two?

As a treat for you I will also thrown in an audio book of The Island ,Elin Hilderbrand’s newest novel.
The Island

I have 3 sets to giveaway on the 30th of August.
To enter leave your name and email address
Open only to residents of the US & Canada
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes

The Secrets of Newberry by Victor McGlothin giveaway

2010-08-15T14:35:00.004-04:00

Two lifelong friends are about to discover the hard side of life in The Big Easy after a heinous crime is committed . . . THE SECRETS OF NEWBERRY 1950s New Orleans couldn't be sweeter for Ivory "Bones" Arcineaux and Hampton Bynote. Friends since meeting at an illegal gambling house outside Newberry, Louisiana, they indulge themselves with all the fine women, good food, and wild nights they can handle. All seems good in N'awlins-especially for Hampton, who plans to make a clean break from riotous living after falling for the woman of his dreams, classy Magnolia Holiday.

I DID NOT FINISH THIS BOOK. I simply could not get past the first few chapters and I figured life is simply too short to read a book that cannot hold my interest.

I do have three copies to giveaway on the 30th of August.
To enter leave your name and email address
Open only to residents of the US & Canada
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes