Another Look Book Reviews

Photo a Day Challenge Day 14 - Clouds

2012-03-14T08:05:00.000-04:00

Today's picture is a very inspirational picture. You know the old say that a picture speaks 1000 words. Well that is what this picture is for me. I first saw it on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books website and the blog post was called The Power of Julie Garwood. Well since Julie Garwood is one of my most favourite authors, I absoutlely loved the heartfelt article written by a fan.
This picture was included in the post.

Does this picture speak to you as it does to me?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 13 - A Sign

2012-03-13T18:02:00.000-04:00

Today's challenge photo is "A SIGN"

Here is a sign that I get teased about often. My hubby just loves borrowing my truck with this sign on my tailgate.

Well do you break for Romance?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 12 - Fork

2012-03-12T16:57:00.000-04:00

Today's photo challenge word is "FORK".

The only "FORK" I could think of for a book theme was the constant fork in the road I take whether to read a book Kindle or paper.

This decision happened recently with A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I opted for my Kindle. The hardcover is just too heavy. (although I did it once)

What about you? ebook vs paper. What would win if you have the take the fork in the road?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 11 - Someone You Talked to Today

2012-03-11T13:26:00.000-04:00

hummmm Today's word is "SOMEONE YOU TALKED TO TODAY"
This one is hard only because I've made this challenge book themed. In fact as I look at the second half of this challenge list, it looks like this list is going to get harder and harder to keep book themed.
Another reason this word is hard is because I am allergic to the phone. I really really hate talking on the phone.
So I'm gonna have to go with the Twitter mode of communication today.

Here is a screen cap of my Twitter conversation with...well I'm sure he needs no introduction.

For reals...It happened. Honestly. Just for me Colin reverts back to his Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy character.

I am sure he tweeted me from his phone while daydreaming about me. I am sure of it.

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

2012-03-10T21:04:00.002-05:00

The Fiery Cross

By Diana Gabaldon

Book Blurb:
The year is 1771, and war is coming. Jamie Fraser’s wife tells him so. Little as he wishes to, he must believe it, for hers is a gift of dreadful prophecy—a time-traveler’s certain knowledge. Claire’s unique view of the future has brought him both danger and deliverance in the past; her knowledge of the oncoming revolution is a flickering torch that may light his way through the perilous years ahead—or ignite a conflagration that will leave their lives in ashes.

My Re-Read Review of The Fiery Cross

The Fiery Cross was a re-read for me. Originally I read it in 2010 and the entire Outlander series never really leaves my mind. I was really looking forward to this particular re-read of The Fiery Cross because I had originally rated 4 of 5 hearts . Looking back, was I crazy? The Fiery Cross is definitely worthy of a 5 rating without a doubt.

I highly recommend re-reads. I do remember I was like a savage reader of this series in 2010. I was so desperate to read as fast as I could and to fit as much Jamie and Claire into my day as possible. This time around in 2012, I know how everything ends so I was much more paced and I just really sat back and enjoyed each chapter. I absorbed more of Jamie and Claire's daughter, Bree and her husband, Roger's scenes and I found myself much more interested in reading about the Gathering.

The Fiery Cross starts off at the yearly Scottish Gathering. I remember thinking the first time around, 'when is this Gathering over with already'. But this time I paid much more attention to the names of the secondary characters. As many of these characters make repeats later in this book and I recalled them much more clearly. I also paid attention to some of the subtle hints that were placed on some of the secondary characters for future book plots.

The Fiery Cross also marks off the beginning of the militias and ignites the sparks that later fueled the American Revolution. Once again I am reminded that the first time I read The Fiery Cross I was not really having much interest with the American Revolution (as I am Canadian) but since Diana Gabaldon places so much historical accuracy in her books, I found my eyes glued to the pages this time. For fun I used Wikipedia to see if some the characters she was writing about really existed. (as I mentioned I'm Canadian and we focus on Canadian history in school) I did find Herman Husband and a few others (Governor William Tryon) and I took the time to read more about their bios. I actually found it fascinating.

There are some memorable and fabulous scenes in The Fiery Cross. As usual Diana Gabaldon delivered a kaleidoscope of emotions. Here are some of my favourites without too much of a spoiler.

I laughed out loud when Claire finally built her microscope and she tried to have a medical discussion with Jamie. "So what ye've got there is broth that the mold has pissed in, is that right." Not to mention the most fabulous sperm discussion.
My heavy heart at the mention of Ian.
The warmth I felt for Jamie and Claire's love for each other. "Tell her...I meant it."
The gasping of my breath with Roger's misfortune

I also found I paid much more attention to the descriptions of Jamie and Claire's big house. I picture a different whitewashed residence than I previously did and the layout of the farm is placed differently in my mind now. I have a completely different view of Jamie's aunt Jocasta's house too.

One thing does remain completely the same for me on this re-read of The Fiery Cross. The last last line of the book is still the best of any book I have ever read.

Photo a Day Challenge Day 10 - Loud

2012-03-10T11:51:00.002-05:00

Today's challenge word was "LOUD"

Oh yes, I was screaming in the stands like a 60's teenie bopper at a Beatles concert. My love of cowboys is actually recent. I only started loving these alpha tough guys when I started reading romances with cowboys and *giggles* the books were full of smut. I credit author Lorelei James and her Rough Riders series for having me attend a PBR Bull Riding Competition.
(incidentally, I was not the only one LOUD at this show)

Do you have a love of cowboys at all? Do they draw you in their drawls? Who is your favourite cowboy romance author or your favourite book featuring the studly men.

Photo a Day Challenge Day 9 - My favourite colour RED

2012-03-09T16:42:00.000-05:00

Today's Photo Challenge word was "RED". Hummm, since that is my favourite colour, it sure was not hard to come up with a shot.

Here we have my lovely "RED" leather Kindle case and my snuggly warm romance blanket that I made. Quite possibly two of my favourite things is the whole world.

Those new sew blankets made of fleece are the best thing EVER. Even in the middle of summer I need my blanket. Have you made one before?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 8 - Window

2012-03-08T17:09:00.000-05:00

Today's challenge was "WINDOW"

Anyone who knows me or follows my blog has a clear understanding of my love for Historical Romance Novels. (okay so maybe they don't understand it but they certainly know about it)

This shot above was taken in Charleston, South Carolina by me. The site was at the historical John Rutledge House Inn and of course it was at night.
My imagination gets the best of me. I read all about balls and parties and to actually stay at a mansion with historical significance (that would have definitely hosted such soirees) was a dream come true. Can't you just picture a prominent lady all done up in a ball gown looking out that window?

Are you a fan of historical novels and are dying to visit some of the places that you've read about? Scotland anyone?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 7 - Something You Wore

2012-03-07T12:26:00.000-05:00

Day 7's challenge was "Something You Wore"
I decided to go with the Sock Hop outfit I wore last year during the Lori Foster Reader/Writer convention. The weekend was fabulous and I am really looking forward to this June to attend again.

In the photo from left to right - Me, my friend Julie and author Margaret Ethridge.

Have you been to a writing/author event of some sort? Did you have a blast and meet some really awesome people?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 6 - 5PM

2012-03-06T12:06:00.003-05:00

Okay I admit today's photo is a reach when it comes to my bookish theme. What we have above is a picture I took at 5 pm a few days ago of my bedside table alarm clock.
What's interesting that you can't really see very well in the picture is my iPod and I have it set to what I wake up to every single morning. It's Outlander the Musical. There is nothing like waking up to the beautiful voice of Allan Scott-Douglas.
Oh here is a wee sample:

ahhhh so peaceful.

Have you heard this amazing CD? What do you wake up to? A loud Beep-Beep or soft music?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 5 - A Smile

2012-03-05T18:25:00.000-05:00

There are so many things that bring "A SMILE" to my face. I had a hard time thinking of what to put here. I was going to take a picture of all the packages I get in the mail full of books as that certainly brings me a big smile.
But I think this picture won out. A photo with my favourite author, Diana Gabaldon will do it for me. I think my cheeks hurt for a week afterwards. Here is the blog post about the day if you are interested.

I have a few more pictures with my favourite authors and I treasure them. Have you taken a picture with some of your favourite authors? Who were they?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 4 - My Scandalous Bedside Picture

2012-03-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

Well I wonder what scandalous pictures will show up with the word of the day, "BEDSIDE"? Mine is rather innocent really. You see, my BEDSIDE is usually overflowing with the books that I have up on deck. Since I have about 75 books on deck, this stack are just the ones that have made the way to the top.

Where do you keep your TBR (to be read) pile? Do you have a tower like me?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 3 - Welcome to My Neighbourhood

2012-03-03T13:46:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Day 3 of the Photo a Day Challenge. Today is "Your Neighbourhood". Keeping to my bookish theme, I thought I'd share a shot of the closest bookstore (which happens to be my favourite) to my house.

What's your favourite bookstore in Your Neighbourhood?

Photo a Day Challenge Day 2 - Fruit

2012-03-02T18:23:00.001-05:00

Photo a Day Challenge Day 2

Well as I try to incorporate a bookish theme into this challenge, I have to say that with Day 2 I already started to struggle. How does one incorporate "FRUIT" into a book theme?

Well this was one way.

Well it's a stretch I'd admit. I have the Twilight series but have yet to read it. I haven't really ventured into the YA genre as I do prefer my books to be more adult and not with sparkly vampires but I will get around to it some time...I think.

Have you read them? Was this a good way to incorporate "Fruit" LOL

Photo a Day Challenge - A Novel Idea

2012-03-01T21:36:00.000-05:00

I have seen a few people on Facebook take this challenge and it looks like fun. I am going to try and put a book spin on it. Basically I have a list and I need to post a picture a day about what has been assigned.

Well the first day, March 1st is "UP". So here is my picture. The majority of my books are UP on top of my closet.

Where do you keep your books?

Guest Guilty Pleasure - Hiding behind my ebook reader

2012-02-29T07:48:00.001-05:00

This Wednesday's edition of Guilty Pleasure is hosted by author Cheryl Douglas.

Cheryl is currently on a book tour promoting her book Shameless (pretty cover)

Please join me in welcoming her to Another Look Book Reviews.

My guilty pleasure is definitely the racy books on my ebookreader. Back in the day, I was too embarrassed to go into a book store and buythese books because I thought the cashier would assume I was a sex fiend.Instead, I would have them delivered from a perfectly respectable retailer in anon-descript brown box, stick them on a shelf in the back of the closet andread them when my son was napping. Needless to say, digital technology haschanged everything!

Now I can take my guilty pleasure out in public, read itwhile I’m waiting in the car at my son’s school or during swimming and karateclasses. Ssh, don’t tell the Grand Master, he scares me! As a voracious reader,I read a little bit of everything, including books about business and the lawof attraction, but when I feel like an escape from ‘real life’ I love myhappily ever mixed with a healthy dose of naughty.

Do you have an ereader of some sort? Do you like to read those sexy books and hide those racy covers too?

It took me thirty-seven years to decide whatI wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I'd found my calling. In fact, Iworked as a nutritionist for twelve years before I finally admitted to myselfthat while I enjoyed my work, I couldn't imagine doing it for the next thirtyyears.

I love bringing my characters to life and Iam so grateful to have readers who love those characters as much as Ido.
When I take a break from writing it's to spendtime with my husband (a.k.a. my real life hero), my son, and my writingpartner, Tia, a spirited Havanese who enjoys tapping her paw on my keyboardwhenever I need a little comic relief.

www.cheryldouglasbooks.com

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

2012-02-27T17:46:00.001-05:00

Drums of Autumn (Outlander book 4)

By Diana Gabaldon
This review is spoilerish and was written with the intent that you would have already read the book.

Book Blurb:

It began at an ancient Scottish stone circle. There, a doorway, open to a select few, leads into the past—or the grave. Dr. Claire Randall survived the extraordinary passage, not once but twice.

Her first trip swept her into the arms of Jamie Fraser, an eighteenth-century Scot whose love for her became a legend—a tale of tragic passion that ended with her return to the present to bear his child. Her second journey, two decades later, brought them together again in the American colonies. But Claire had left someone behind in the twentieth century—their daughter, Brianna....

Now Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the circle of stones and a terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and the father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history ... and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past ... or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong...

I ventured forth with a re-read of Drums of Autumn because I had just finished doing a re-read Voyager. I honestly didn't plan for a re-read of the Outlander series right now but I sorta just fell into it after reading and reviewing The Scottish Prisoner. I am so glad I did.

I remember that when I read Drums of Autumn the first and second time, I did enjoy it but because I was so anxious to read anything and everything about Jamie and Claire, I'd skip through a lot of Roger and Bree story lines. This time around I didn't. I just sat back and really took my time and thoroughly enjoyed every chapter and every character. It was fabulous. I feel like I have now just experienced Roger and Bree on a different level.

I do remember being so pleased that when Diana Gabaldon wrote Bree, that she didn't just do a carbon copy of Jamie and Claire. Yes she had Jamie's looks and some of his mannerisms but Bree is definitely her own person. I also have to remember that she is young and she will make mistakes that young people will make. I found I appreciated that trait of hers more this time and I was way more forgiving in some of the things she did and how she did them.

Drums of Autumn is quite fabulous. So much happens in this book but not in an angsty, heart palpating way. A lot of character growth and the story moved forward by leaps and bounds. I think back to all the scenes that happened in Drums of Autumn and I am blown away by how much time had passed.

Claire delivered some of my favourite lines in Drums of Autumn.

"You're a walking inducement to harlots," I said. "Stick by me; I'll protect you."

"He's much sneakier than I thought," I said. "Practically Scottish."

"Actually, it's your kilt that make me want to fling you to the floor and commit ravishment," I told him.

"May the Lord deliver me from stubborn Scotsmen!" I said.

And a Jamie quote worth noting....
"Your face is my heart, Sassenach," he said softly, "and love of you is my soul."

The building of Fraser Ridge really provided an excellent foundation for the North Carolina setting and a true appreciation of what the first settlers encountered.

If reading Voyager was about Jamie and Claire's reunion, then Drums of Autumn was about Jamie meeting his daughter, Bree. The anticipated scene was fabulous and I wouldn't change a thing. Without a doubt, that encounter was my favourite scene in the entire book. Followed closely by birth of Jemmy. I adore that the birth was a wee bit of a family event.

I also found that I enjoyed more of the Indian interactions this time around. I was still very impacted and my heart was heavy for Ian. I found Ian was on my mind a lot and I was ever so thankful that Diana Gabaldon included that letter from Ian to Jamie and Claire while they were attending the Gathering.

Of course I need to move on to The Fiery Cross now. I am quite excited about it since that book was my least favourite of the series and now I am thinking after this experience, I will enjoy it that much more.

Do you ever go back and re-read a book and just love it even more than you did before?

Teasers: Stephen Bonnet the pirate, bear attach and fought off with a fish, Bree's engagement to Lord John, birth of Jemmy and the biological puzzle that goes along with him

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

2012-02-18T21:22:00.000-05:00

Voyager

by Diana Gabaldon

Book Blurb:

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.

What. A. Ride.

This was a re-read for me. I think I've read Voyager about four times now but I've never reviewed before. So this is my first time with pen to paper (so to speak) on my thoughts of Voyager.

Outlander (book 1) will always have that special place in my heart as being one of my all time favourite books. After all that is the book that started it all and was my introduction to Jamie and Claire's world. However out of the Outlander books, I think Voyager is my favourite of the series. Voyager is one adventure after another and just when you think your palms can be dry for a second, something else happens. As I said at the beginning, what a ride.

Here was my blood pressure and heart beat reading Voyager.

There is this one little line in Voyager that perfectly outlines Jamie and Claire for me. It gives me the biggest grin every single time I read it.

"Damn ye, woman! Will ye never do as you're told?" "Probably not," I said meekly.

One of the reasons I adore Claire is that she is so amazingly smart, clever and has unbreakable loyalty to Jamie. However, there are times where even I want to ring her neck. I think Voyager had me wanting to ring her neck a few times. I completely understood every single decision she made, but it I still could not understand why she went through with them. Now tell me, does that sentence even make sense?? I was even arguing with myself. Ha! Having said that, what a boring book it would be if Claire wasn't Claire. I simply just adore her.

There are not enough words to capture my love of Jamie. He is sensible, calm, brave and not shy about his devotion to Claire. The man is the package. Oh he has his flaws, but those imperfections actually perfect him. The thing is, I am seriously smitten with Jamie but I love him to be with Claire. They are my fiction super couple.

Voyager takes us on a journey starting at present day Scotland through to 1746 Edinburgh and then on to Lallybrook (sigh, oh Lallybrook), off to Paris, aboard a ship to the West Indies, Jamaica & other various tropical islands to the final exciting resting stop on a wee bit of a cliffhanger at the end of Voyager. Which is why although I have read the series many times over, I'm off to start Drums of Autumn.

Although I dont' think Voyager is the most emotional book of the series, my heart experienced heaviness quite a few times. I had a lump in my throat here:

"He gave you to me," she said, so low I could hardly hear her. "Now I have to give you back to him, Mama."

and here:

"It isn't Geordie," I said. My voice was higher than usual. "It's me," I said. "Claire"

...and I can't quite put to words what I was experiencing with the acts of of the English soldiers following Culloden, the outrage with Frank wanting to take Bree from Claire, my mouth dropped open when Jamie was flogged again in prison, the nervousness of when Jamie was hiding in closet right after Ian was born. At this point in the book I am not even half way. I haven't even touched on the kidnapping of Ian or the shock of a certain wedding. A super duper rollar coaster I tell you. A true voyage of emotions.

It wasn't all sad and distraught by no means. Just the sheer fact of Jamie and Claire's reunion and togetherness was paralleled above and beyond anything bad that could happen. There were some extreme highs too. *grins*

"I must have ye, or die."

I was not expecting one of the return of a certain character from Outlander nor do I wish to spoil if you are first time reader. Blew_me_ away. Even knowing it is coming, it still does not contain my feelings.

Voyager is not a stand alone book. I would not recommend anyone reading it before Outlander or Dragonfly in Amber. I would recommend if you haven't read the books, you get going and start. They are not light reads. They are not romances. They are emotional roller coaster rides that will never let you forget the characters Jamie, Claire and the country, Scotland. I think Diana Gabaldon should get some sort of shares for how many visitors a year Scotland receives due to this series.

So tell me, have you read any of the books? Have I made you slightly curious?

Winner of Love is in the Air Blog Hop

2012-02-16T17:52:00.000-05:00

Congratulations goes to Donna Simmonds for her entry in the Love is in the Air Blog Hop.

Rafflecopter together with Random.org selected her as the random draw for the RT of the contest on Twitter.

I hope she enjoys her $25 Amazon Gift Card

And the two autographed Margaret Ethridge books.

I'm Major Crushing Right Now - shh dont tell my husband

2012-02-16T07:42:00.003-05:00

Ok, yes he could recite the phone book and I'd be swoon over his accent but seriously just listen to his poetic response to what he loves in a woman. I tell you, I am major crushing right now. Mark Grist, meet your newest fan.

Tell me are you not loving this poem? Are you not wanting to favour this on Youtube for future reference?

Guilty Pleasure - Dana Michelle Burnett

2012-02-14T21:50:00.000-05:00

Today I pleased to have author Dana Michelle Burnett guest post and share her Guilty Pleasure. Dana's current YA book is Spiritus. Check out some free chapters.

It's finally here. It's one of those rare afternoons when I havenowhere to go, nothing to write, and no editing to do. The entire day stretches out withpossibility, but my one thought is HIM.

He's teased me all this time, looking at mefrom across the room with those smoldering eyes. He's my guilty little secret, the one thingthat I tell no one about. We go backyears, he and I, and while I've aged, he remains exactly the same.

I change into something more appropriateand pour myself a glass of wine. I can'twait to hear his voice whisper those words of love and devotion. I go over to him, slowly take it out, and putit in...

And the opening credits come on thescreen. I sit back and spend theafternoon with Robin of Sherwood.

Now anyone that has not seen an episode ofthis popular 80's series will not understand. Sure, it's a television show based on the popular Robin Hood character,but there is something else. Rather thanthe action packed, sword fighting story you are used to, this Robin Hood isdark, magical, and terribly romantic.

Yes, my guilty pleasure is spending theafternoon swooning over such lines as "I have loved you from the first moment Isaw you and every moment since".

As awriter, I can only hope to one day write dialog like that!

I first came across my obsession on thecable channel Showtime. There I was, alittle girl of eight or nine, savoring those romantic words like candy. Needless to say, men had a hard timemeasuring up to my expectations.

Now why do I keep this a secret? In an era where reality television rules, howcan I admit that I prefer to spend an evening with a bunch of forest dwellingmerry men in tights. Yep. That's me, the super cool paranormal romanceauthor crying like a baby over the season one finale. Makes you want to run out a buy my book rightaway, doesn't it? No, but that’s okay.

I guess I've outted myself as a Robin ofSherwood fan..but that's okay too.

Is there a special DVD series that you get all settled down and comfy to watch? Do you have a guilty pleasure lurking?

Dana Michelle Burnett spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more. Her short story John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was include in The Best of Foliate Oak 2006.

In 2010, Burnett's first novel, Ghost Country, was released. Based on her own Cherokee heritage, the novel marked her return to the literary world after a four year hiatus. She followed that with the release of her first romance novel,Two Out of Three in the summer of 2011.

Spiritus is the first novel in her new paranormal romance series by the same name. The second book,Haunted, is expected in the spring of 2012.

Dana Michelle Burnett

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Teaser Tuesday - Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

2012-02-14T07:38:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Voyager (Outlander book 3)

By Diana Gabaldon

"It isn't Geordie," I said. My voice was higher than usual. "It's me," I said. "Claire."

I love this book, no I love this entire series with all my heart. I could quote you all day. Currently doing a re-read.

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

2012-02-11T15:11:00.001-05:00

The Scottish Prisoner

by Diana Gabaldon

Book Blurb:
London, 1760. For Jamie Fraser, paroled prisoner-of-war in the remote Lake District, life could be worse: He’s not cutting sugar cane in the West Indies, and he’s close enough to the son he cannot claim as his own. But Jamie Fraser’s quiet existence is coming apart at the seams, interrupted first by dreams of his lost wife, then by the appearance of Tobias Quinn, an erstwhile comrade from the Rising.

Like many of the Jacobites who aren’t dead or in prison, Quinn still lives and breathes for the Cause. His latest plan involves an ancient relic that will rally the Irish. Jamie is having none of it—he’s sworn off politics, fighting, and war. Until Lord John Grey shows up with a summons that will take him away from everything he loves—again.

Lord John Grey—aristocrat, soldier, and occasional spy—finds himself in possession of a packet of explosive documents that exposes a damning case of corruption against a British officer. But they also hint at a more insidious danger. Time is of the essence as the investigation leads to Ireland, with a baffling message left in “Erse,” the tongue favored by Scottish Highlanders. Lord John, who oversaw Jacobite prisoners when he was governor of Ardsmiur prison, thinks Jamie may be able to translate—but will he agree to do it?

Soon Lord John and Jamie are unwilling companions on the road to Ireland, a country whose dark castles hold dreadful secrets, and whose bogs hide the bones of the dead. A captivating return to the world Diana Gabaldon created in her Outlander and Lord John series, The Scottish Prisoner is another masterpiece of epic history, wicked deceit, and scores that can only be settled in blood.

In all of my book reviews that I have written, I've never reviewed a Diana Gabaldon book. She is my writing hero, my author idol and her books are the go to books where I need an outlet to be transported away from real life. (check out my Fan Girl page if you don't believe me) I feel that I could never do her books justice and explain in my own amateur words how amazing her writing is and how much I adore her work. Can I convey that in a mere book review? Well, I'm going to try with The Scottish Prisoner.

The Scottish Prisoner is not a sit down in one day and read a book novel. The hardcover is over 500 pages and I absorbed every_ last_ word. Diana Gabaldon books are not published frequently so there is no need to rush. This week while reading in the evening, when it was late and time to place in my bookmark, I'd look up and half expect to glance around and see that I'd been transported back in time. There were no candles lighting my bedroom and there were no maids scurrying in to start a fire. Her writing literally makes me feel as though I am there. She is so descriptive with scents, sounds and settings. I love how Diana Gabaldon does this to the senses and not with an overflow of overused regular adjectives. The descriptions are more real.

Case in point >> Lord John and Jamie Fraser are sitting together in a greenhouse talking. Lord John takes a moment to think of what his next words will be and in the middle of his pause the reader is treated to this addition to the moment...

“The grapevines had been cut back for winter, but the new springgrowth was well sprouted, delicate rusty leaves deckling the rough-knuckledvines the roped through the arbor. A faint draft moved through the rich air ofthe glasshouse, ruffling the leaves.”

And then the conversation between the men continued. I swear I am there with them. I am sitting in one of the basket chairs that they collapsed into and I am right along side of them. I can smell the earth and dirt. I can feel the breeze and pull my blanket around me more. We are treated to additional bits of setting moments like this throughout the book. It not only adds to the conversation but it deepens the reader's relationship with The Scottish Prisoner.

As for the actual story of The Scottish Prisoner. It was marvelous. I enjoyed every one of those 500+ pages. Out of all the Lord John books I have read, The Scottish Prisoner is my favourite. I am sure that Jamie Fraser being a lead protagonist added to that love but truly the story itself was very engaging.

I loved reading and having more insight of Jamie's time at Helwater, England. Experiencing those sacred moments that Jamie had with is son, William was worth The Scottish Prisoner alone. I felt the helplessness of Jamie not having any say into William's life but how much he treasured those gracious moments he was able to get. He would have made a wonderful father if he had the chance to have raised William (and Bree for that matter) I adored reading how calm he was and the route he always took when Willie was acting out his two year old spoiled self. No wonder Willie was so drawn to "Mac". He needed that strong male that he could hero worship towards.

Lord John is such an amazing and complex character. He treats Jamie as an equal and you know he feels torn that he has to continue to hold Jamie as The Scottish Prisoner. He'd much rather be friends and he battles himself daily on the feelings he carries for Jamie. This moment below is so touching and is a huge milestone between Jamie and John. Diana chose it as an ending to chapter. The double meaning of it being a chapter ending was not lost on me.

"I'm sorry," he said, very softly.

"Ego te absolvo," Fraser murmured, and shut his eyes.

I can't even imagine the amount of research that goes into any of these historical books. Diana Gabaldon takes real events, historical people and true materials of the day and weaves them into a fictional story that mesmerizes the senses. Every moment, every step of the story is a set in motion for the reader to journey along believably. Quite honestly, The Scottish Prisoner was an outstanding book and I adored every adventurous moment through Ireland and England. I think I want to go and re-read Voyager again. I want to read about Jamie and Claire's reunion. I need to.

Well how did I do? Did I do The Scottish Prisoner justice?

Teasers: "Christ, Sassenach. I need ye.", The Wild Hunt, another prison escape (but this time is is Lord John that is busting out), "I a bonnie lad!"

Taken by the Cowboy by Julianne MacLean

2012-02-11T12:58:00.000-05:00

Truman Wade and Jessica Delaney's book

Taken by the Cowboy

by Julianne MacLean

Book Blurb:
HERO AND PROTECTOR

Former bounty hunter, expert gunslinger, and the toughest sheriff Dodge City has ever known, Truman Wade is a real man from the tip of his black Stetson right down to his spurs and leather boots. He’s never met his match in a gunfight, but he’s never met a gorgeous, gutsy woman from the twenty-first century either…

TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

Newly single after a rocky breakup with her self-absorbed fiancé, newspaper columnist Jessica Delaney crashes her car in a lightning storm and soon finds herself dodging bullets in the Wild West. Before the night is out, she’s tossed in jail for a murder she didn’t commit, and if things don’t seem complicated enough, the impossibly handsome sheriff in charge of her arrest has danger written all over him - and a sexy swagger to die for. Jessica knows she needs to get home, but when Sheriff Wade’s enticing touch sets her passions on fire, she begins to wonder if fate has other plans for her, and soon she must choose between the life she longs for in the future… and the greatest love she’s ever known.

Taken by the Cowboy was one of those Twitter feed posts that grabbed my attention. "Free - Taken by the Cowboy" I didn't even read the blurb. I just saw "free" and I saw "cowboy" and clicked to download. Even after I loaded the book onto my trusty Kindle, I still didn't read the book blurb. So I'm reading away and right at the very beginning of the book, I was captured. Emotionally sad but gripping beginning. Then the next chapter, wow same thing. So I'm clicking away and then I wonder what the heck is going here and THEN I read the blurb. Taken by the Cowboy is a time travel book. Awesome. What a surprise. I was not expecting that from just glancing at the yummy front cover. So now that I understood what was happening, I hunkered down to enjoy the story.

I do enjoy time travel stories. They often leave me wondering what I would do if I was in that situation. I believe that I would have handled myself pretty much the same way that Jessica, the female protagonist of Taken by the Cowboy did. That is great news because it made the story not so far fetched.

Jessica is transported back in time to around the 1888 time era and is in Dodge City, Kansas. She is stumbling around town there wondering what movie set she fell into and in less than an hour she is somehow implicated in committing murder against a highly wanted man. Enters in Sheriff Truman Wade and her journey back in time became that much more interesting.

Taken by the Cowboy was a truly fun and enjoyable read. The old west is not romanticized and there is no shortage of cow dung stink and the lack of women's rights is apparent. Even her clothing was not made out to be fabulously garbed out. Jessica or shall I say "Junebug Jess" as she is now affectionately called stumbles into dangerous situation after dangerous situation. Trouble finds her like a fly to a pile of cow dung. As Truman and Jessica become closely acquainted, Jessica is becoming torn on the matter of returning back to her own time or staying to be with Truman if the opportunity presents itself. I felt her befuddlement. The confusion was so well written and it was certainly left up to the reader to decide what they would do in that circumstance.

I completely enjoyed the story and I loved the writing. I will certainly not hesitate to look up this author, Julianne MacLean's other works.

Teaser: lost watch, Junebug Jess, basement cellar, reincarnation puzzle

Love is in the Air Blog Hop

2012-02-06T19:46:00.003-05:00

February is the month of LOVE and what's a better way to celebrate love than with some ROMANCE.
Under the Covers is hosting the "Love is in the Air" Blog Hop and welcome to stop #20.

I am totally excited to be giving away to a US or Canadian book lover:

2 autographed books by author Margaret Ethridge

and a

$25 Amazon Gift Card

"The petty resentments that have built over fifteen years of marriage surface when Tracy tells her husband, Sean, that she is no longer interested in sex, and their marriage threatens to implode.

With the help of a healthy dose of adult-rated fiction and some gentle prodding from a good friend, Tracy begins to rediscover who she is, what she wants, and the reasons she fell for Sean once upon a time."

"To Maggie, messing with a guy like Tom Sullivan is the single-girl equivalent of playing with fire, but she convinces herself to take what she can get for as long as she can and expect nothing more. But Tom falls hard and fast for Maggie, and now that they’re planning to have a baby together he starts banking on his own a happily ever after.

If only he can get her to commit…"

Pesky yet simple rules

Open to US or CAD residents.
You have a freebie and the only other mandatory rule is to comment on ANY book I have reviewed in the past. Just click Books Reviewed to see my list.
Must enter through the Rafflecopter. Its the only way your entry will count.
Have fun! You can check out all the other amazing blogs that are participating. Some awesome prizes. The linky for the other blogs are just below the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

According to Plan by Madison J Edwards

2012-02-05T01:41:00.001-05:00

Jake Steele AKA Tank and Shelby Stewart's book

According to Plan

By Madison J Edwards

Book Blurb:
What do you do when things don't go According to Plan? For starters, you trick, deceive, and lie to the very person who ruined your best laid plans.

Welcome to the world of Shelby Stewart, P.I., who's been hired to find Harrison Grant. To complicate matters further, her ex-partner, ex-lover, ex-everything Tank shows up looking for Harrison as well, albeit for a very different reason. Harry is the prime suspect in the grisly murder of a call girl, Lulu, in L.A.

That wouldn't be so bad, but Tank plans on staying at Shelby's house, and makes it obvious he's quite willing to help her heat the sheets, again. Shelby knows that sex with Tank is dangerous, fast, and sometimes a little dirty. Now is not the time to become side-tracked. Besides, this job could launch her company into a whole new stratosphere, so it's imperative she remain focused.

Frustration becomes Shelby's newest partner as she makes plans to out maneuver Tank in their parallel quest. Tank, on the other hand, is always one step ahead of the game; and is not what, or who, Shelby thought.

As an erotic suspense, According to Plan carried out a pretty good story. I do enjoy an interesting back story between the characters. I love where the reader gets the opportunity to pick up on a relationship well established.

There is no doubt as you start in with According to Plan that Shelby and Tank have a precarious history. It was quite obvious from the start that Shelby was still hanging on to some bitter and hurtful feelings. I think that those emotions mixed with her nymphomaniac behaviour towards Tank made me quite confused if not frustrated. I liked Shelby but even though she had apparent smarts, she was so incredibly weak where Tank was concerned. He'd interfere with her plans or investigation and where she'd start off spitting mad, (deservingly so) the minute he'd smile or stroke her cheek, she'd practically pull down her thong for him. I didn't like that. I prefer a heroine who is adept and who insists a man work for his forgiveness and allows a bit of deserved grovelling.

I like a story with first person narrative. My favourite narrative is third person as I prefer being told the a story more from a narrator's point of view. But I do not care for a mixture of both flipping back and forth between chapters. That is my personal preference. This back and forth style was really driving a wedge in me for really liking According to Plan as much as I think I could have. I want to be completely transparent about that because there are numerous readers who wouldn't give that casting back and forth another thought.

There was some action, suspense and a few emotional scenes that completely redeemed According to Plan for me. I started to become suspicious of the secondary characters, wondered where the author was taking us and I was really curious on how the plot was going to unfold. There were some new characters that were introduced in the second half of the book that really caught my interest. One of these new players was a delicious rancher named, Caleb. This well mannered cowboy was sure to add a bit more conflict to the story and succeeded charmingly.

The intimate scenes between Shelby and Tank were erotic and very well done. Lots of emotion and even though early on in the book neither one of the couple openly professed their love, it came out easily translated in their love making.

Teasers: strip billiards, awesome best friend Polly, bomb, bed footboard

Epic Moments for Me

2012-02-04T14:24:00.001-05:00

This past month I've had two epic moments for me as a book review blogger.

Epic Moment #1
Author Tibby Armstrong's publisher had selected a quote from my book review of her captivating story, No Apologies. (Here is my review of No Apologies)
I was beyond ecstatic to have a tidbit of my review added to the back cover of No Apologies. It was a fabulous book that left me thinking about it for quite awhile after finishing it. What an honour for sure. This is my first quote ever on a book.

In case you can't read the quote it says, "I wished I was there. I wanted to be their friend. I wanted to hug them."

Epic Moment #2
As a book review blogger there are many things I hope to accomplish. One of the things that I hope to do is inspire someone to try out and buy a book. For a person to take a recommendation by me and then have it turn out positive is so satisfying. After all, so many of my own book choices come from recommendations from friends.

I received this email below. I have permission from my Australian book friend to post it. It made my entire week. She was specifically looking for historical romance suggestions. Since it is my favourite of the romance genre I gave her some. Yes, this is exactly what is it is all about!

I hope you are well? January has proven to be crazy busy, but I have finally clawed my way back on line. I hope you had a nice Christmas? I myself was glued poolside devouring Julie Garwood books (Which I deeply thank you for) You introduced me to Garwood via your blog. Now I have introduced her to my Mum and friends.

I am seriously salivating at all the information you have provided. I am going to have such fun researching these. I am also excited to see a few Scottish romance suggestions *sigh*

Oh and OMG my all time number 1 book boyfriend (I think he may very well have knocked Adam from Mercy Thompson from the long standing number 1 position) is Iain Maitland!!!!!! From the Secret...I am having heart palpitations just thinking of him.

Thank you soooo much for taking the time to give me some suggestions, it's a total Guilty Pleasure conversing with you about my HR fetish.

Yep. It's all worth it when I see someone just as giddy over the same books I love. As book blogger have you had any Epic type of moments?

Friday Funny

2012-02-03T09:04:00.000-05:00

Things around the web that made me smile this week

Hope you had a fabulous week.

Spectators by Maggie Wells

2012-02-01T18:18:00.002-05:00

18+ review

Spectators

By Maggie Wells

Book Blurb:
From the moment she steps into the exclusive Spectator Club, Grace Andrews finds herself caught between heaven and hell. Dark and light, two halves of a delicious whole, partners Damien and Gabriel are intrigued by the newest member of the club. Intrigued enough to take her initiation in hand...and mouth. And anything else. Because at the Spectator Club, anything goes.

These little dirty bits by Maggie Wells are hot little numbers. Super quick reads for only .99 that packs a punch. They are short yet they seem longer. This erotic novella, Spectators it the perfect little smut fix you are looking for.

With a play on character names, you have the ever feminine Grace, the devil Damien and Gabriel the watcher. Mix the threesome together and you are taken on a voyeuristic trip to heaven.

You can feel the thumping of the bar music and the feel the blinking lights as Grace enters the Spectators club. Looking to live out a fantasy with funds left over from an inheritance, Grace plans to just do that. In her high heels and her sleek and sexy clothes Grace joins the club to act out a sexual fantasy and Damien and Gabe are only too happy to participate.

Damien seeks out Grace almost as she enters the Spectators club. With three little words all women love to hear, "I want you" Grace willingly and lustfully turns herself over. For Grace the Earth tilts on its axis as she makes her way to the "special" one way mirror rooms to find her Utopia. The erotic threesome balance heaven and hell as Grace is taken on a trip between good and bad. Enjoy the journey as much as I did!

Teasers: "Nothing more beautiful than a woman taking what she wants."

Missed Connection by Maggie Wells

2012-02-01T17:36:00.000-05:00

18+ review

Missed Connection

By Maggie Wells

Book Blurb:
Saturday morning sorority girl-Cuppa Joe-Halsted St.

At least that's what you look like to me. I see you every Saturday, ordering your non-dairy, decaf, why-bother version of coffee.

You with the Goldilocks hair, big blue eyes, and toothpaste smile. You match your little gym outfits to your yoga mat and clutch your Blackberry like a lifeline.

I shouldn't be attracted to you, but I am. You want me too. I've caught you, you know. You stare at me with the same hungry gaze you use on the chocolate croissants in the case.

Do you have a craving for ink, Goldilocks? Are you itching to take a stroll on the dark side? Will you dare to take a bite, or will you deny yourself pleasure like you do pastry?

Don't walk away again. Let me have you. Let me have just enough so I can stop thinking about you and you can stop staring at me. Take a taste of me. I dare you.

Meet me at Cuppa Joe, Friday the 15th at 9PM. Don't settle for just right, Goldilocks - just this once, choose too hard and too hot.

Before I read this hot little number by Maggie Wells, I had never heard of Missed Connections. I had never knew that there was an internet site dedicated to people posting about a missed meeting or a connection. I looked it up online and spent a little time on there smiling at all the people trying to find that missed connection that they let go by. Some great stories and ads on there. The whole concept is totally cool. What a great idea for a story and that totally got me into the frame of mind as I clicked to open my Kindle.

Well that brings me to this Missed Connection. Seriously for .99 this sexy short story is super hot and full of fantasy. A hot tattooed coffee barista places a missed connection ad seeking out one of his pretty blond yoga pant wearing customers. When she visits the coffee house, she brings out the hunger in him. He wants that sweet Goldilocks and to take her on a ride to his dark side. He sends out the tempting offer into cyberspace and hopes she shows up and accepts his tempting offer.

His piercings to her sweet ballet flats that are as opposite as night and day. However their lust for each other is completely mutual. She answers his ad by showing up and that's when the pages start on fire. A quick erotic read that sets you off into an arousing fantasy where complete strangers just go for it.

Teasers: you'll never eat a chocolate croissant again and not think about this story

A Lady Never Surrenders by Sabrina Jeffries

2012-02-01T16:22:00.000-05:00

Lady Celia Sharpe and Jackson Pinter's book

A Lady Never Surrenders

by Sabrina Jeffries

Book Blurb:
With two months left to find a husband to fulfill her grandmother’s ultimatum, Lady Celia Sharpe sets her sights on three eligible bachelors. Becoming betrothed to one of these wealthy, high-ranking men will surely prove her capable of getting married, so hopefully the wedding itself won’t be necessary for Celia and her siblings to receive their inheritance. Step two of her audacious plan is hiring the dangerously compelling Bow Street Runner Jackson Pinter to investigate the three men she’s chosen. But with Lady Celia bedeviling Jackson’s days and nights, the last thing he wants is to help her find a husband. And when she recalls shadowed memories that lead his investigation into her parents’ mysterious deaths in a new direction—putting her in danger—Jackson realizes the only man he wants Celia to marry is himself!

Excellent conclusion to a wonderful series.

Out of the Sharpe siblings, Celia seemed to be the one placed off in the background in the other Hellion books. She was there but not much of an appearance in the other stories. So going into A Lady Never Surrenders, I really didn't have any confirmed perceptions about Celia.

Mr. Pinter however has been in every single book quite a bit since he was the fore front investigator into the deaths of Sharpe's parents. Celia labelled him "Proper Pinter" and that would ring true. He did come across as very proper and straight. I pictured him stuffy with a tight cravat wrapped around his neck. He was a "by the book" type of man. Celia and Jackson seemed to love to hate each other ever since book 1, The Truth about Lord Stoneville. That contempt made for some great reading and conflict resolution. Reading and feeling the ice melt around Celia and Jackson's hearts was awesome. Also the major steamy kisses were meltworthy too.

I loved the murder/suicide puzzle that flowed through from book 1, The Truth about Lord Stoneville straight through to this final book, A Lady Never Surrenders. The mystery was an excellent way to keep readers up to date with all the siblings and their spouses. There were twists and turns and just when I thought I figured it out, Mr. Pinter would take us on another route. I am not a mystery reader so I don't read well into the mystery formulas and their plot lines but I did enjoy this Hellion series. I would gauge it to be a light mystery but regardless, it kept my interest throughout.

I adored their grandmother all the way along but I got a wee bit annoyed with her in A Lady Never Surrenders. Even though my annoyance was there, I still understood why she was making the decisions she did. It is only because I was privy to Celia and Jackson's point of view that made me mad at her. As always her heart was in the right spot.

It was a treat to read each story from back to back and that is truly my favourite way to read a series. I had been wanting to read The Hellions series for a while so when this last book A Lady Never Surrenders was recently just released, I knew that this was a perfect time to jump aboard.

PS - This series did annoy me that the paperback book is only 7.99 from Amazon but the Kindle versions were 10.25. I almost didn't start the series due to this pricing. Small font size in paperbacks drives me crazy. I need my Kindle versions. Not the author's fault by no means so this comment is not reflected in my perfect 5 star rating. Just a fact that makes me crazy!

Teasers: hunting competition for a kiss OR a new rifle, bastard's father revealed, cozy poacher's cottage, kidnapping

To Wed A Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries

2012-01-30T19:01:00.001-05:00

Lord Gabe Sharpe and Virgina Waverly's book

To Wed a Wild Lord (Hellions book 4)

By Sabrina Jeffries

Book Blurb:
Drowning in guilt over his best friend's death seven years ago, Lord Gabriel Sharpe, the Angel of Death, knows his only hope at redemption is a race against a shocking opponent.

Shrouded in darkness for the past seven years, the infamous racer Lord Gabriel Sharpe is known to accept every challenge to race thrown at him. When his next challenge comes in the form of his late best friend's sister, Virginia Waverly, Gabe is shocked. Yet she presents just the opportunity Gabe needs--marriage to fulfill his grandmother's ultimatum and ensure his inheritance. What he didn't count on was needing her love.

Gabe is indeed the wild one out of his brothers. A phaeton carriage racer, Gabe has been known as the Angel of Death for seven years after racing Virginia's brother, Roger. Roger died in that reckless race and Virginia along with her grandfather had always blamed Gabe for his death. It was a great story to read about the forgiveness unfold and begin to heal. Both healing inregards to Virginia against Gabe but also with Gabe himself. He had such a burden all these years. Great title and well suited, To Wed a Wild Lord.

Even though Gabe felt incredibly guilty for losing his best friend that fateful day all those years ago, it certainly did not curb his wild activity with the racing. It took me a long time in To Wed a Wild Lord to understand why he would continue to be a daredevil and continue to race so carelessly. Even after it was fully explained, I just didn't buy it. Sabrina Jeffries did a great job explaining Gabe's reasons through Virginia's voice, but I still just didn't buy it.

Virginia and Gabe had great chemistry on the pages. They are totally a great match and it was lovely reading how Gabe tried to win her hand. I liked Gabe and he would have won me over a long time before it took Virginia but with the heavy blame she still placed on Gabe. It made for a great obstacle and book conflict. Well Virginia's grandfather was a pretty heavy obstacle as well.

Of the Hellion series so far, I found Gabe's romance the most swoon-worthy of the brothers. There is a hay loft scene that was simply romantic as it was lusty. The added touch that Gabe walked around dressed completely in black, firmly cementing his Angel of Death persona, just made him that much sexier to me. No wonder the women were crazy for him. But the best thing was that I didn't necessarily get the impression that Gabe was the rake his brothers were. He'd rather hang out with his horses.

The mystery continues along the series and it got even more interesting in To Wed a Wild Lord. More and more secrets are uncovered and I haven't a clue at this point who could have killed the Sharpe sibling's parents. I have some light speculation but really, I'm grasping. I love that Celia's book is last and the Bow Street Runner, Mr. Pinter seems to be the potential match in A Lady Never Surrenders so I am happy to start the book next. I am sure I will feel some sort of withdrawal once the series is done as I've come to really like the Sharpe family and their spouses.

Teasers: mystery man on horseback, hayloft heaven, lavender, grandma just may get some ;)

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries

2012-01-28T20:15:00.003-05:00

Giles Masters and Lady Minerva Sharpe's book

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (Hellions book 3)

by Sabrina Jeffries

Book Blurb:
When a charming rogue proposes she marry him to meet her grandmother's ultimatum, the Sharpe clan's strong-willed sister makes a tempting counter-offer that preserves her inheritance and ignites his imagination.

Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother's demands: become engaged to a rogue! Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva's would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes? The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva's imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him. Little does she know, he really is a covert government operative. When they team up to investigate the mystery behind her parents' deaths, their fake betrothal leads to red-hot desire. Then Minerva discovers Giles's secret double life, and he must use all the cunning tricks of his trade to find his way back into her heart.

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady is the third book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series. Each one of these Hellions has been a great read so far but I think that How to Woo a Reluctant Lady just may be my favourite up till now. I was fond of the idea that Minerva had fallen in love with Giles when she was only 9 years old. I love a story that has a rich backstory that began years before. Even though Giles was 10 years older than Minerva, the kindness he'd shown her the day of her parent's funeral was just what made me fall in love with him too.

Since the title of the book is called How to Woo a Reluctant Lady, you may wonder what is so reluctant with Minerva not to fall for Giles' marriage proposal many years later. Well fast forward from Minerva's parent's funeral to ten years into the future, Minerva gets her dream answered by bribing a kiss from the rake Giles. It is after this precious moment that Minerva falls out of love with him as he made some flippant cruel comments that broke her heart. How to Woo a Reluctant Lady was about poor Giles making up for those careless words.

Minerva is running out of time regarding her grandmother's ultimatum to marry within the year or be cut off. As she attempts to battle wits with her grandmother, the famous Gothic novel writer decides to be bold and takes out an advertisement in the newspaper to interview suitors for a potential husband. It is this ad that springs Giles forward with a plan to make Minerva his wife. Giles always wanted Minerva ever since that moment years earlier but had to hold off due to his emotional place in life. He just wasn't ready or stable to settle then. As Giles shows up for his interview, he eventually woo'd her into accepting the proposal under the guise of fooling her grandmother. I loved out Minerva thought she was thwarting her but really Giles and her grandmother were thwarting Minerva!

It was entertaining t read the various ways Giles was striving for her to fall in love with him. Giles became super attractive to me as he demonstrated how smart he was in court as a barrister and how he worked to figure out more clues regarding her parent's deaths. I do love a smart man and Giles had it in spades.

Another reason I loved the story is because Giles and Minerva get married in the middle of the book. I truly love a marriage near the beginning or middle and not having to wait for a wedding to close out the novel. All in all, a wonderful read and can't wait to start the next book, To Wed a Wild Lord. Sabrina Jeffries did a great set up for a potential spouse for Minerva's brother Gabe so I am eager to read how that will all play out. Could be turbulent and I have a feeling it will be emotional.

Teasers: Behind the dressing screen, the real Lord Rockton, parent's mystery thickens, office desk experience

Shameless Blog Hop Winner

2012-01-28T00:25:00.001-05:00

Congratulations goes to Linda H for her entry in the Shameless Blog Hop.

Rafflecopter together with Random.org selected her comment on my book review of Enemy Lover for the random draw. #93

I have emailed Linda and I am presently waiting for a reply. I hope she enjoys her $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Friday Funny

2012-01-27T10:07:00.000-05:00

Every week around Facebook and Twitter I see things that just crack me up.

Some weeks there are more than others.

So I thought, starting on Fridays I'm going to post on my blog some of the things that gave me a big smile during the week and share them with you.

A Hellion in Her Bed by Sabrina Jeffries

2012-01-25T19:09:00.002-05:00

Lord Jarret Sharpe and Annabel Lake's book

A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall #2)

By Sabrina Jeffries

Book Blurb:
Furious at his grandmother’s ultimatum to marry or lose his inheritance, Lord Jarret Sharpe wagers his luck—and his heart—at the card table against a most unlikely opponent.Mired in scandal after his parents’ mysterious deaths, notorious gambler Lord Jarret Sharpe agrees to tamely run the family brewery for a year if his Machiavellian grandmother rescinds her ultimatum that he marry. But the gambler in him can’t resist when beguiling Annabel Lake proposes a wager. If she wins their card game, he must help save her family’s foundering brewery. But if he wins, she must spend a night in his bed. The outcome sets off a chain of events that threatens to destroy all his plans . . . and unveils the secret Annabel has held for so long. When Jarret discovers the darker reason behind her wager, he forces her into another one—and this time he intends to win not just her body, but her heart.

I didn't find this book 2, A Hellion in Her Bed as good as the first book, The Truth About Lord Stoneville. At the same time, I was a really great book.

Jarret's grandmother becomes ill and releases him from the ultimatum she placed on Jarret regarding the demand to get married....only if he will run Plumtree Brewery. This decision gave Jarret the purpose he needed to move passed his wastrel life. Although he reluctantly took over charge at the brewery at first, it quickly became obvious that he really did knack the true business sense to operate the company. When Annabel takes a gamble on her future and approaches Jarret to help, their chemistry was instant. Their charm may have been compatible but both were quite devious. Annabel with her salacious wagers and Jarret thinking with his lower brain.

It is obvious that Sabrina Jeffries did a lot of research for this book. I really appreciate when I read about a certain time period (1825) I can trust what I read. The Plumtree and Lake Brewerys were fictional but she combined in a great historical account regarding India Pale Ale and the shipping export business. I love it when I leave a book with some account of true facts on the period. It just gave the entire story such validity.

Annabel sure lied her way through A Hellion in Her Bed. It was becoming a dangerous slope for her to follow and she needed many others to back her up with all the lies. I realize that she did what she did to save her family and company but I still felt bad for Jarret that she was being so deceptive. Now Jarret was no angel either by accepting her wagers and also holding back on his own personal history so really the two were quite a match. I did adore how well the pair were suited for each other and they were both so clever and knowledgeable about their business. It is always a pleasure to read about women of industry in that time period. It was so rare.

I wished we had more interaction with the other siblings in A Hellion in Her Bed. I think that is what I missed about this story compared to The Truth About Lord Stoneville. The family dynamic in this story was more on Annabel's side. I am hoping that when I start How to Woo a Reluctant Lady next (and I am starting right now) that there is more of the Sharpe family. I missed his grandmother too. She is a scene stealer for me.

I liked the idea that Sabrina Jeffries created a mystery to link the books together more closely. Instead of each book being about a couple match up, there is more to the story to keep the reader coming back. I think with each book more clues get revealed. I would like to see how it all links together. So for that reason, I would not recommend Hellions of Halstead Hall as a stand alone books but rather to be enjoyed from first book to last.

Teasers: Irish whist, late night office rendezvous, cundums, more clues to the mystery

The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries

2012-01-24T21:40:00.000-05:00

Oliver Sharpe and Maria Butterfield's book

The Truth About Lord Stoneville

by Sabrina Jeffries

Book Blurb:
HELLIONS OF HALSTEAD HALL
They're the scandalous Sharpes, five hell-raising siblings tainted by a shocking family legacy. Now each faces a daunting ultimatum: marry by year's end -- or kiss their inheritance good-bye.

In the two decades since a tragic "accident" took the lives of his parents, Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has survived the scandal surrounding that fateful night by living as an unrepentant rakehell. And with his grandmother vowing to disinherit him if he doesn't settle down and wed, he plans to fulfill the bargain in true Sharpe style -- by bringing home a fake fiancée from a brothel! But his scheme is derailed when he rescues an American beauty in a dire predicament instead. Maria Butterfield came to London to track down her groom-to-be, who's gone missing, but her engagement won't stop Oliver from getting what he wants: her, in his bed. His rebellious masquerade may call his grandmother's bluff , but it's soon made all too real -- by a love that tempts him to be a hellion no more.

I really enjoyed The Truth About Lord Stoneville. This was my first read from Sabrina Jeffries and first time being introduced to Oliver (Lord Stoneville). Loved them both!

Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville was sure in for a surprise when the tables get turned on him. His grandmother's ploy to get her grandchildren married off seemed to be exactly what Oliver needed for healing. Whether or not he knew he needed the cure.

Oliver had a tragic moment early in his life that scarred him for years to come. It was heartbreaking really. His mother was furious and in her anger she said some things that if she lived, she would have deeply regretted. The thing is, I understood his mom. Being a mother myself, I know that there are times where I am so angry I say something that I don't necessarily mean. I later regret and apologize profusely. I am so saddened for his mother and for Oliver that those harmful words were the last thing she ever said to him before she died. It leaves a pain in my heart and huge lump in my throat. This very incident is the core basis for how Oliver's life was shaped and how he grew into the rake he was. The burden on his shoulders was immense.

Maria was like the healing salve being gingerly applied to heart. The minute Oliver met Maria, as she threatened to stab him in the neck with a sword, he knew she was different. She was outspoken and said her mind instead of the English prudish way he was used to. Being American she didn't salivate over gossip and paid little credence to the ton's talk and rumours. I liked her right away. Even though she was strong willed women, I loved that she was still so completely soft that Oliver's kisses could still melt her.

I like that this Hellion Series has a back story mystery attached. As I head into book 2 A Hellion in Her Bed, I am eager to see the little bit of a cliffhanger continues. I'd hate to stop on just book 1 The Truth About Lord Stoneville because I am eager to read these siblings through to the end. They all have such different and awesome personalities that I can't wait to read their matches.

Teasers: hungry cousin Freddy, conniving grandmother (whom I adored), brothel encounter, fixed Valentine's Day ball

Sparkling Reviews: Alienware Gaming Laptop Giveaway

2012-01-24T12:38:00.000-05:00

I am going to try and win this amazing prize for my youngest son. He is saving his money for a Gaming Laptop. What an awesome opportunity!

Sparkling Reviews: Alienware Gaming Laptop Giveaway:

'via Blog this'

Teaser Tuesday - The Truth About Lord Stoneville

2012-01-24T08:03:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Truth About Lord Stoneville

By Sabrina Jeffries

"I love you," she repeated as she kissed his cheek. "I love you." She kissed his other cheek, now damp, though she wasn't sure whether from her tears or his. " I love you so much." She brushed his lips with hers.

pg 344

Shameless Blog Hop

2012-01-19T17:28:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Shameless Blog Hop hosted by Jen at Red Hot Books, Brie at Romance Around the Corner and Michelle from Michelle's Book Blog.

January has always seemed like such a BLAH month for me. I usually reach for my various comforts this time of year. My comfort PJ's, my comfort hot drinks and my comfort books written by my favourite comfort authors.

So I'd like to simply offer up a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a US or Canadian resident to purchase any book you want any time you want. Its all about the comfort and being shameless.

Pesky yet simple rules

Open to US or CAD residents.
The only mandatory rule is to comment on ANY book I have reviewed in the past. Just click Books Reviewed to see my list.
Must enter through the Rafflecopter. Its the only way your entry will count.
Have fun! You can check out all the other amazing blogs that are participating. Some awesome prizes. The linky for the other blogs are just below the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Guilty Pleasure by S.J. Clarke - Secret Love Affair with Egyptian Sheets

2012-01-18T07:27:00.000-05:00

This Wednesday's return of my Guilty Pleasure posts welcomes author S.J. Clarke. I totally love the guilty pleasure topic because I have the same one!!

My Secret Love Affair

My guilty pleasure, what I curl up with every chance I get,are my Egyptian cotton sheets.

Nothing compares to rolling around in sinfully soft sheetsthat stroke every pleasure point on your body.

Egyptians grow their cotton along the steamy, fertile banksof the Nile. Ooh, what fantasies that inspires as I slip between the covers.Who can resist the result of skill perfected through generations? Expertcraftsmen gently ply their trade by hand, devoting exquisite care to each and everydetail, offering the most luxurious of bedroom accessories.

Believe me, while skill counts, quantity and size matter.The higher the thread count, the longer the fibres, the greater the euphoria.

Oh sure, you may have other toys ─ uh, I meanaccessories ─ that provide bliss. But do they have the strengthand endurance to caress your sensitive skin, oh-so-softly, for hours at a time?Like fine wine, these only get better with age. Can your's boast the same?

I know you've tried them ─ ones boldlypromising to send you into dreamland with a smile on your face, but onceunwrapped, fail to live up to expectations. Don't be ashamed. Many of us fellfor those enticing, if unfulfilling, come-on lines.

Image from Amazon

The rewards of unadulterated Egyptian cotton put wannabe’sto shame. The real deal are enduring, able to withstand the most vigorous ofactivity. No heat level (or hot flash ─ whatever) is toomuch for them to handle, because they breathe. This decadent splurge is enoughto entice even me to shave my legs during cold Canadian winters.

My Egyptian sheets call out to me,luring me to return to them earlier each evening. I find myself making excuses,bidding abrupt farewells at the most inopportune times. My family understands.They realize a happy me at night, means a happier me the next day.

Have you experienced this love of Egyptian sheets yourself? Do you have a special comfort or quilt instead?

S.J. Clarke has published over fifty articles as a columnist and regularcontributor for a variety of lifestyle and human interest websites. She is agrateful member of the Writers' Community of Durham Region, and proud to sit onthe Board of Directors for The Ontario Writer's Conference.

Check out my new website at: http://sjclarke.com

Friend me on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/jzcSq4

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sandrajc

Join me on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=hb_tab_home_top

Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow

2012-01-15T13:47:00.000-05:00

Marcus Cross and Jax Cassidy's book

Enemy Lover

By Karin Harlow

Book Blurb:

When you have no alternative, then you call in L.O.S.T. Because with the Last Option Special Team, it’s do or die. . . .

It’s Jax Cassidy’s first mission for L.O.S.T.—one that will give the former cop who went rogue a chance to prove herself. Her assignment: gain the trust of assassin Marcus Cross . . . eliminate him . . . then take down Marcus’s mentor, Joseph Lazarus, a man with a bold eye on the White House. But the woman who’s known by her team for being a femme fatale succumbs to passion, only to discover Cross’s deadly secret. He’s a vampire, and Joseph Lazarus is his creator.

Left for dead by his platoon in the violent hills of Afghanistan, Special Ops sniper Marcus Cross was given a second chance at life. His newly heightened skills make him the perfect killing machine, and as Lazarus’s right-hand man, he’s quickly rising to the top of his dark empire, purging enemies with speed and precision. Only when dangerous beauty Jax Cassidy is sent to bring him in does he begin to question Lazarus’s motives and his own actions. But when Jax’s life is threatened by the one thing that can destroy them both, Marcus must make a bitter choice—her death or his.

I read Enemy Lover a few days ago and I didn't do a review right away because I am unsure what to rate it. So this review is me on the fly jotting down what comes to me and where it flows out at the end is how I'll rate it. I don't think I've done that before.

The female protagonist is Jax Cassidy. She is a tough chick. She has been wronged on so many levels that it infuriated me. So points there for invoking so much anger from this reader. A former decorated cop, we meet a convicted Jax (then known as Angela) as she is being loaded onto a bus heading off to prison. Although she is toughing out this circumstance you can't but feel the helplessness of the situation. Life imprisonment. 8 x 8 cell. Mixed with prisoners she has arrested over the years.
I ached and the book caught my attention right away.

The next few chapters is about Jax being interviewed and introduced to L.O.S.T after she was kidnapped from the prison bus. We don't actually get introduced to Marcus until chapter 7. Marcus works for a type of vigilante organization called "The Solution". He is going after his target, a scumbag press secretary for a senator, who like to hurt young girls. You learn a lot about Marcus' back story in this chapter.

So I am trying to gather my thoughts about these two similar organizations. You have "L.O.S.T" which takes out targets and completes undercover Ops, funded by the government. And then you have "The Solution" who is illegitimately funded by the government. The Solution claims to be patriotic by taking out terrorists and was even the network who located Saddam Hussein before turning over to the armed forces.
I felt very confused by the two organizations. It wasn't until later when it was clear that the leader of The Solution was power crazy before I understood. Then I kept wondering if The Solution would have been a bad organization if their leader, Lazarus would have been stable like L.O.S.T.'s leader "The Godfather"???

The fact that Marcus is a vampire only mildly came into play in the story. It felt odd. I don't know quite how to explain this but to me it felt misplaced and as if the story was being made up as I read along.
It seemed odd that L.O.S.T. had no idea about the vampire society but then all of a sudden the Godfather found someone who could speak expertly about them.
These type of things kept me from enjoying the story.
There are a few more but I fear my review would certainly be to long and more of an analysis.

I did feel that Jax and Marcus had a great connection and were a fabulous couple to read about. I understand that L.O.S.T. is going to be a series but I would have loved it if the series was about Jax and Marcus similar to Cat and Bones. I loved their chemistry and I would think that if Enemy Lover served as an introduction book, Karin Harlow could write amazing adventures full of suspense for Jax and Marcus. I admit to not wanting their journey to come to an end. These two could be one hell of a power couple.
I just wished that when authors found a magical match with a couple that they expand on that same couple and write a series around them. So few couples are written about but when they are, the books just get better and better.

Teasers: gangster alley fight, sunset balcony sex, killing room, healing blood

Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros

2012-01-15T11:06:00.000-05:00

Gabriel Fairchild and Samatha Wickersham's book

Yours Until Dawn

by Teresa Medeiros

Book Blurb:
Gabriel Fairchild's valor during battle earns him the reputation of hero, but costs him both his sight and his hope for the future. Abandoned by the fiancée he adored, the man who once walked like a prince among London's elite secludes himself in his family's mansion, cursing his way through dark days and darker nights.

Prim nurse Samantha Wickersham arrives at Fairchild Park to find her new charge behaving more like a beast than a man. Determined to do her duty, she engages the arrogant earl in a battle of both wit and wills. Although he claims she doesn't possess an ounce of womanly softness, she can feel his heart racing at her slightest touch. As Samantha begins to let the light back into Gabriel's life and his heart, they both discover that some secrets -- and some pleasures -- are best explored in the dark.

Great deal for your Kindle. If an US resident Yours Until Dawn was free. If you're Canadian, Yours Until Dawn was still an amazing price of $2.19. I highly recommend this great limited time offer.

Well I'll be honest and say that I purchased Yours Until Dawn because of that great deal I mention above. I follow Teresa Medeiros on Facebook and I read so many of her comments from her fans indicating that Yours Until Dawn was one of their favourites of her's so I got it. I can see why. I just loved it.

I knew nothing of Yours Until Dawn as I didn't even read the book blurb. I had no idea what to expect but I do enjoy Teresa Medeiros' historicals so I knew with faith that it would be great. The writing was fabulous and highly descriptive. I adore the witty banter of conversation she orchestrates with her protagonists. Samantha and Gabriel entered into some simply awesome sparring moments and humourous comebacks. As Samantha was acting as Gabriel's nurse there were some laugh out loud moments that I want to go back and read. Loved it!

I could really feel Gabriel's desperation with his blindness and all the emotional turmoil that twisted inside him. From the jilted finance that left him at the hospital to his adoring family thinking he'd been better off dead rather than suffer a disability like blindness. It was unsettling to read their ignorance.

There is a twist to Yours Until Dawn that I admit I didn't see coming. I can usually sniff out the obvious and I was pleasantly surprised to be taken by surprise. I think I was so absorbed with the fabulous story,and by not taking a moment to put my Kindle down, that I didn't see it coming. What an amazing transformation these characters go through and it was a wonderful afternoon read. Outstanding! Now I want to turn around and re-read.

Teasers: love letters, Sam the dog, "Before, you were only a dream. Now you're a dream come true"

The Shy Duchess by Amanda McCabe

2012-01-10T22:48:00.002-05:00

Lady Emily Carroll and Nicholas, Duke of Manning's book

The Shy Duchess

by Amanda McCabe

Book Blurb:
With her golden hair and dazzling emerald eyes, Lady Emily Carroll should have her pick of suitors. Instead, her crippling shyness has earned her the nickname "Ice Princess."

Nicholas, Duke of Manning, isn't looking for a bride, but he won't pass up a stolen kiss at a masked ball.

With her blushes hidden, Emily lets her inhibitions go. Only to find herself betrothed! Now it's her wedding night, and her new husband seems determined to thaw his Ice Princess and reveal her every secret….

Just look at the beautiful cover. It is a piece of art! So lovely. In fact, I was drawn to read The Shy Duchess from my huge TBR pile because of that beautiful cover. I won this book in a fabulous blog hop and I was eager to try a new to me author. I am a huge historical romance reader as it is my favourite of all the romance genres but The Shy Duchess wasn't for me. I want to be specific why I didn't care for the book because my reasons may very well be the same reasons other would love this story.

I am not a shy person. I am reserved and I like to hold back a bit in a crowd until I am comfortable but I am very very far from being shy. Reading about The Shy Duchess, I had a very difficult time relating to Lady Emily because she was so timid and skittish. She saw the worst in every situation and seem to seek out the negative with every interaction. I like my female protagonists to be confident and sure of themselves. Reading about all of Emily's hesitant reactions drove me a little crazy.

Nicholas was not a manly alpha Duke character that had a tortured upbringing. He wasn't abused and in fact had a wonderful family. It was nice change for once but then I realized as it turns out, he was boring. I know lots of readers that don't like the whole tortured past going on with their heroes so The Shy Duchess is for you. Is this the type of conversations you enjoy? Let me set it up for you...

Emily and Nicholas sneak away to a secret watering hole on their honeymoon and they are laughing and having a great time. Nicolas says to Emily, ...."we could sing and weave daisy chains, and lay in the sun all day long."

Yeah I don't know about you but weaving daisy chains doesn't bode well with me and what I like to read from my heroes.

Even with Emily here is an example of her getting all mad and angry. "It was time for something quite extreme. She was going to have to get rude."

Oh heavens forbid my female protagonists doing extreme rudeness!

So The Shy Duchess is as fluffy as a romance novel as you could get. She is an annoying English proper prude and he is a gentle as an English gentleman could be. All wrapped up in a whole lot of boring.

Teasers: stuffy ballrooms, firework display, gallant save from a runaway carriage, morning sickness before her courses were even missed *eyeroll*

The Hazards of Hunting a Duke by Julia London

2012-01-09T21:54:00.000-05:00

Ava Fairchild and the Marquis of Middleton, Jared Broderick's book

The Hazards of Hunting a Duke

by Julie London

Book Blurb:
When the young ladies of the Fairchild family learn that their stepfather has absconded with their late mother's fortune, Ava, the eldest, hunts down the notoriously wealthy rakehell Jared Broderick, the Marquis of Middleton and heir to a dukedom. Much to her shock and delight, the marquis sweeps her into a whirlwind romance and proposes marriage. But after their passionate wedding night, Ava discovers Jared has ulterior motives of his own. Not only does he expect her to deliver an heir while he continues to enjoy a rogue's life, but Ava also suspects she is a pawn in her husband's quest for revenge. Marriages of convenience work for some, but for Ava a loveless bond won't do. So she devises a bold plan to confront her husband's demons so that he might be free to choose to give her his heart for the right reason: because she is the only woman he will ever truly desire.

Did you notice the title of the book? It's called The Hazards of Hunting a Duke, yet the male protagonist was a Duke's son, a Marquis named, Jared. I thought that was very odd. Why title a book about a Duke when the character wasn't a Duke???

Anyhow moving on...that was not my only issue with The Hazards of Hunting a Duke. I felt all over the place in this book. There was also a lack of originality missing from the story.

Normally I love a story where the protagonists gets married near the beginning or in the middle of a book as The Hazards of Hunting a Duke did. They are my favourite coupling stories by a long shot. Especially in historicals because I love reading about why they married and the various circumstances that lead to an early wedlock. I also love to read about the couple falling in love with each other as they start out their married lives. But The Hazards of Hunting a Duke put me off just a bit. There were a few story plots thrown in the story that I thought were unnecessary as it didn't really provide any growth to the story as I kept waiting for something more to happen. It felt like Jared's former mistress was forced to be a villain and I tired of her quickly. The same reaction to Jared's father, the Duke. It was almost as if the author couldn't decide if he was to be a wicked man or if he was to be forgiven.

I did enjoy Ava's maid Sally as she added some relief from the couple's tension and she was a great scene stealer. I'd actually love to read a book about her!

I have to say that I did really enjoy the actual writing as everything was very well described and emotions were well communicated. The Hazards of Hunting a Duke did retain my attention and there is more story to be told here in a book 2. I will just not be in a rush to read it but perhaps check it out of the library some time.

Teasers: great idea for free labour, wrong way to church, who is Mr. Percy?, harem dance

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper

2012-01-08T00:20:00.001-05:00

Jane Jameson's book 3

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever

by Molly Harper

Book Blurb:
Nothing sucks the romance out of world travel like a boyfriend who may or may not have broken up with you in a hotel room in Brussels. Jane Jameson’s sexy sire, Gabriel, has always been unpredictable. But the seductive, anonymous notes that await him at each stop of their international vacation, coupled with his evasive behavior over the past few months, finally push Jane onto the next flight home to Half Moon Hollow — alone, upset, and unsure whether Gabriel just ended their relationship without actually telling her.

Now the children’s-librarian-turned-vampire is reviving with plenty of Faux Type O, some TLC from her colorful friends and family, and her plans for a Brave New Jane. Step One: Get her newly-renovated occult bookstore off the ground. Step Two: Support her best friend, Zeb, and his werewolf bride as they prepare for the impending birth of their baby . . . or litter. Step Three: Figure out who’s been sending her threatening letters, and how her hostile pen pal is tied to Gabriel. Because for this nice girl, surviving a broken heart is becoming a matter of life and undeath...

I'm really enjoying this Jane Jameson series. This third book, Nice Girls Don't Live Forever is probably my favourite so far. There was a lot of character development and a captivating story line. I loved it.

I wish Jane was a real person because I'd love to have her as a friend. She is so good to her friends. She is supportive, generous and humourous and in return, her friends are just as companionable back to her. What a brilliant cast of secondary characters this series has. Molly Harper relies on this secondary cast to carry their weight of the story almost as much as her main protagonist, Jane. If it wasn't for Jane's friends, there wouldn't be much of a story at all. This opinion is not meant as a slight at all. Please accept it as the highest praise because I love a story that includes an engaging cast of characters that can hold a reader's interest. Kudos!

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever held quite the puzzling mystery over on the readers trying to figure out what Jane's sire/boyfriend, Gabriel was up to. I believed from the beginning that Gabriel would never have cheated on Jane but why was he so distant and mysterious? If he was so in love with Jane, why couldn't he share some of his deep dark secrets? Gabriel's holding back of information sure did a mind number on Jane and I was feeling sorry for her. Jane handled herself really well. She earned my respect by not chasing him down, crying and forcing him to talk. She held her own by carrying on and being with her friends. She did a great job not sticking them all in the middle.

The only wee bit of respect I lost for Jane was when Gabriel and her do start and have that long overdue talk, she blurts out a few insecurities about not understanding why Gabriel would want her. GAH! I was so hoping she wouldn't be THAT girl. I mean in real life, those girls are a dime a dozen but I wish Jane thought of herself more highly. I wanted to mold Jane into role model and I guess that's not fair.

Jane comes around again for me though with a few awesome sister scenes and I continue to love her relationship with her mom. The pair crack me up. I want to limit the amount of spoilers because there is a lot of great scenes in Nice Girls Don't Live Forever. But I have to share one of my favourite scenes.

"Andrea opened her door, wearing Dick’s “Virginia is for Lovers” T-Shirt and no pants, drinking a Budweiser from the can. A Wrestlemania highlights DVD was playing in the background.

“Baby, who is it?” Dick asked, coming out of the kitchen, wearing one of those beer-drinking helmets, jeans and no shirt.

“I take it back, you are not the same woman I met a year ago,” I told Andrea.

Andrea burped noiselessly under her breath. “I’m aware."

Funny, emotional, frustrating, the whole package is here to enjoy and I so hope you take the time out to introduce yourself to Jane and her wonderful friends.

Teasers: Courtney nightmares, silver explosion, cryptic letter messages, fresh new bookstore

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper

2012-01-06T22:54:00.000-05:00

Jane Jameson's book 2

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men

by Molly Harper

Book Blurb:

Once a devoted children's librarian, Jane Jameson now works at a rundown occult bookstore. Once a regular gal, she's now a vampire. And instead of a bride, she's an eternal bridesmaid — which leads her to question where exactly her relationship with her irresistibly sexy sire, Gabriel, is headed. Mercurial, enigmatic, apparently commitment-phobic vampires are nothing if not hard to read. While Jane is trying to master undead dating, she is also donning the ugliest bridesmaid's dress in history at her best friend Zeb's Titanic-themed wedding. Between a freaked-out groom-to-be, his hostile werewolf in-laws, and Zeb's mother, hell-bent on seeing Jane walk the aisle with Zeb, Jane's got the feeling she's just rearranging the proverbial deck chairs.

Meanwhile, Half Moon Hollow's own Black Widow, Jane's Grandma Ruthie, has met her match in her latest fiancé. He smells like bad cheese and has a suspicious history of dead spouses. But Jane's biting her tongue. After all, would a nice girl really think she has a future with a vampire?

I really enjoyed the pop culture reference lovin Jane Jameson in Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men. I preferred this book two over the first book, Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs. This book was toned down comedy wise compared to book 1 and I found the humour to be less forced and more natural. Jane Jameson has some great lines. I was at work when I read these lines in the lunch room and I was giggling like crazy.

Fortunately, among werewolf women, the word "bitch" is not offensive. I was having a lot of fun with that.

"Hey there bitches!" I called as I came through the door. "What are my favorite bitches up to today?"

The only response was a chorus of unenthusiastic, drawled "Hi"s" and "Hey's"

In my review of the first book, I made a mention of how Jane didn't seem to really put much thought into her being a vampire and the repercussions of her new life. I found that a lot of those issues I had previously disappeared with Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men. She had an eye opening epiphany when she babysat an infant for a few hours so I feel she firmly came to terms with the no child bearing issue and comfortably resolved that. I also felt she made a lot of headway with her family. I liked her new backbone and how her sister is set up to be a villain. Jane's mom could be so many moms I know. She is perfectly written and I actually like their mom/daughter dynamic.

Jane has accumulated a great new set of friends while still remaining close with her lifelong best friend, Zeb. I liked the various sub stories going on in the book with the secondary characters and the few mysteries popping up. Some of which are unresolved so it's a great catch for readers to move on to the next book, Nice Girls Don't Live Forever.

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men was still really light on the romance but that isn't a complaint. Jane and Gabriel are definitely in a relationship (albeit not a steaming one) but they are in a very believable relationship where they don't spend 24/7 with each other or heavily rely on each other every waking moment. In fact, Gabriel is obviously doing something secretive behind Jane's back and I hope that secret is revealed in book 3, Nice Girls Don't Live Forever. I am strongly confident that it is not cheating with another woman however it does make me curious.

All in all, Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men was a great read that had some really great scenes. I love the secondary cast and the over feel of the story. I am eager to move to book 3.

Teasers: Unicorn secret revealed, monetary winfall, Dick's Vampire ability is awesome, a wedding of Titanic proportions

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

2012-01-04T16:05:00.002-05:00

Jane Jameson's book

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (book #1)

By Molly Harper

Book Blurb:
Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.

Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?

I'm gonna have to go with a 3.5 rating on Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs. Did I chuckle? Yes and often. Did I love the all of the constant pop culture references? Oh yes, a lot. I also found a very close connection with Jane's character and the TV character, Lorelei Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls. Both characters do an absurd amount of pop culture references and don't take very much seriously. Also, Gilmore Girls was Stars Hollow and it was interesting that Jane was from Half Moon Hollow. Coincidence? Maybe. Now I am a huge fan of the Gilmore Girls so why am I not rating higher? Because I wasn't quite sure what the book was supposed to be.

If it was meant to be a comedy, then it passed mildly because I didn't laugh out loud and instead I did a lot of smiling and chuckles.

If it was meant to be a romance, then I think it failed. I wanted more from Jane and Gabriel then what was delivered. In fact I have issues on the romantic spin that Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs did deliver.

If it was meant to be an awesome paranormal genre book then I'd have to give it a big, meh. It could have been really cool but the vampires, werewolves and other paranormal creatures in Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs left me bored.

If it was to be an entertaining book that killed a few hours, well then it succeeded.

I know it was supposed to be light book and not a deep dark vamp book but it would have been a better reading experience for me if Jane came down from this comical sarcastic stance she paraded around with and added a few more emotional outbreaks and feelings into the story.

I didn't like that after she rises to her new vampire self she is not one bit vulnerable or sad. She wakes up at her sire, Gabriel's house where he is trying to help her and she flees. Why wouldn't she want to stick around and learn about her abilities and what she can and cannot do. She didn't feel threatened while with Gabriel so it made no sense to me. I would think if you were just told you're a vampire and you had died, there would have been a few panicked questions or an emotional reaction . Even the scene where she finds out she isn't going to have babies was just shrugged off. She used to work at the library in juvenile studies so I would think that not having children would have had some sort of an emotional impact to her.

I was confused on the romance between Gabriel and Jane. They barely knew each other and in fact seemed to have very little contact and then all of a sudden Gabriel took on this MINE! attitude. I wanted him to be all "MINE" but it seemed to happened to fast for the amount of contact they had with each other.

I liked Gabriel a lot and with the potential of a love triangle between Gabriel, Jane and Dick (the other male vampire) I was so happy that the author didn't go in that direction. So so happy about that. There was barely enough romance to keep Gabriel afloat so there was nothing for Dick's character to grab on to.

The mystery of who was trying to kill Jane was luke warm but the story did need something more so I accepted it for face value. It is not a mystery genre book and I did enjoy all the situations that the plot landed Jane in.

I am happy to read on to the next book and since the characters are now well defined, I am really curious to see if the story just gets better and better.

Teasers: Gabriel's reaction to cigarette smoke is EXACTLY the same reaction I personally have. Best scene in the book!

Guest Guilty Pleasure and Giveaway by Keta Diablo

2012-01-03T21:06:00.003-05:00

Please welcome Keta Diablo to my first guest author blog post of 2012!

Keta has graciously offered for every comment left that includes an email address, she will mail a PDF of her short erotic bondage story that is called interestingly enough, "Guilty Pleasures"

And that's not all, all commenters will be entered to win an ebook copy of Keta's newest historical release Holding On To Heaven. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address, and good luck everyone!

A Sultry Childhood Journey . . . .

The dictionary says sultry means to be hot with passion or to be capable of exciting strong sexual desire. But sultry can also mean sweltering or torrid.

Have you ever heard a word that reminds youof a certain time and place, almost like a Déjà vu? Whenever I hear the word sultry it reminds of onlyone thing – To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I know, it’s a silly analogy. Most of the time sultryshould remind one of steamed heat or perhaps conjure an image of Marilyn Monroestanding over a street vent, her short skirt billowing about her.

Not me. When I hear the word sultry I’mtaken on a journey back to my childhood, seventh grade to be exact. That year,my teacher placed a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird on my desk with a simple note, “Read this. I hope it opens manydoors for you.”

At the time, I thought it a strange note,but then Miss Holmquist was rather strange. (Picture a short, stout woman with flabbyupper arms that jiggled when she worked the chalkboard). Still, the woman piqued my interest with herodd message. How could books open doors? Why did I want to read about an oldlawyer in a southern state I knew nothing about? And, what’s more, what kind ofa man would name his children Jem and Scout?

I took the book home and several dayspassed before I opened it and read the first line, "When he was thirteen,my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow." Hmm, this Ms.Harper Lee, whoever she is, has my attention now,” I said aloud, “Who is Jemand how did he break his arm?”

From that moment I was hooked – mesmerizedover the story, in awe over the character names, Boo Radley, Aunt Avery, Dill, Atticus,Calpurnia, and even the white girl who was supposedly raped, Mayella. And I’mstill in awe of the plot, the personalities, and the vivid neighborhooddescriptions.

So why does the word “sultry” remind me of To Kill A Mockingbird?Because for the first time in my life I realized that by simply turning thepages, I could feel the sultry heat,taste the prejudice and agonize over the hatred between black and white.

“So what did you discover in this book?”Miss Holmquist asked me two weeks later. I didn’t know where to begin. Should I tell her about the rollercoasterof emotions I went through reading it? Do I dare ask her why the jury convictedTom even though I prayed they wouldn’t? Or maybe I should tell her how braveScout was when she diffused an explosive situation between Atticus and theold-timers of the town with a simple, “Hey there, Mr. Ewell, how’s your boy,Henry doing?”

I didn’t ask her any of those things, but Idid tell her about every sentiment I felt. Mostly I told her about the bittertaste in my mouth over a word called prejudice, and I told her I felt the hot, sultry sun of MaycombCounty.

Some days, I wish I could go back to 7^thgrade and ask Miss Holmquist if she knew that one day To Kill A Mockingbird wouldbe one of the best-loved stories of all time,that it would earn many distinctions since its original publication in 1960.I’d ask her if she thought it would win the Pulitzer Prize one day and betranslated into more than forty languages. And Miss Holmquist, do you think itwill sell more than thirty million copies worldwide, and will it be made intoan enormously popular movie?

You know, I think Miss Holmquist would have said,“Yes, I do think Miss Lee’s novel will achieve all those things and more, butthe most important thing, Keta, To Kill A Mockingbird will transport youto the sultry heat of the deep south and will take you to places you neverdreamed existed.”

And I would say, “Thank you, Miss Holmquist.”

What books have you read that transported you to a place or a time? Do recall reading a novel that gave you an emotional ride?

About Keta:

Ketais a multi-published author of paranormal, historical and occasionally gayfiction (paranormal). In 2009, her erotic romance Decadent Deceptionswas a finalist in the RWA Molly contest. In 2010, Keta's entry PhoenixRising finaled in the Scarlet Boa contest and in 2011 Keta's acclaimedparanormal shifter, Where The Rain is Made, was nominated by AuthorsAfter Dark for a BOOKIE AWARD AND by Deep In The Heart of Romance for BESTROMANCE OF THE YEAR.

Manyof her books, including her gay fiction series CROSSROADS have won numerousawards: Top Reviewer's Pick, Recommended Read and Best Book of the Month.

Ifyou'd like to know more about Keta and her latest releases, she haunts the Nethere:

Keta's Keep Blog, http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ketadiablo
Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/KetaDiablo.Author
Gay Fiction Blog: http://thestuffofmythandmen.blogspot.com

Teaser Tuesday - Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

2012-01-02T18:40:00.000-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Unclaimed

by Courtney Milan

"At this moment, I believe a proper gentleman would apologize for taking liberties."

"If you do," Jessica said, "I will find a stick and beat you over the head with it."

Kindle Loc 2227-29

I loved this book and if you are interested in the review, it is just below. Fabulous!

Unraveled by Courtney Milan

2012-01-02T18:28:00.000-05:00

Miranda Darling and Smite Turner's book

Unraveled (Turner book 3 final)

By Courtney Milan

Book Blurb:
Smite Turner is renowned for his single-minded devotion to his duty as a magistrate. But behind his relentless focus lies not only a determination to do what is right, but the haunting secrets of his past—secrets that he is determined to hide, even if it means keeping everyone else at arm’s length. Until the day an irresistible woman shows up as a witness in his courtroom…

Miranda Darling isn’t in trouble…yet. But she’s close enough that when Turner threatens her with imprisonment if she puts one foot wrong, she knows she should run in the other direction. And yet no matter how forbidding the man seems on the outside, she can’t bring herself to leave. Instead, when he tries to push her away, she pushes right back—straight through his famous self-control, and into the heart of the passion that he has long hidden away…

Unraveled is a full length novel, at 95,000 words

I was blown away by this Turner's Series. It was exceptionally well written and it is deserving of every 5 star rating the series has properly received. Unraveled might have been my favourite of the series but it is a close race for top spot for sure.

I was never quite sure what to make of Smite. He is quiet but with only a few scenes in the previous books, he was a commanding presence. I really like the oldest brother Ash and I often thought Smite was a bit off towards Ash. But even so, I knew from the first book, Unveiled that there had to be some mysterious reason for his behaviour. It was really great to see this brotherly mystery come to a close in Unraveled.

Miranda, darling er Miranda Darling was fabulous. Fabulous fabulous fabulous. I just adore her, her decisions and her great attitude. Courtney Milan wrote about simply fabulous women in this Tuner series. So often *shakes head* I read a book where the author is trying to develop conflict in the story and the easy out for this route is to make the heroine make a super dumb decision. Each one of the Turner stories the female protagonist needed to make a huge decision and I throw flowers at the feet of Courtney Milan for making the conflict around the heroine choosing the RIGHT decision and not around where the female protagonist makes a wrong decision and then the male hero needs to sweep in and bail her out. 1000 thank yous.

It takes a special woman to break the ice around Smite's heart and Miranda was just the woman for it. She was perfect and yet not perfect. She has flaws but those flaws almost make her perfect. I am beyond sad I won't be able to read more about Smite and Miranda. I miss them already.

I am starting 2012 off with a bang reading Courtney Milan's Turner series. What a wonderful way to begin a fresh new year with a huge smile on my face.

Teasers: sentimentality quota, flood, best beloved, snowball fight