Dev's Good Reads

New Home

2010-09-20T13:27:00.003-06:00

So, if anyone still comes here, I wanted to let you know I've moved. You can now visit me at my new home: http://dishingwithdev.blogspot.com. I'm trying to de-compartmentalize my life a bit so I don't disappear on my online friends like I have in the past. Please be sure to update your bookmarks (if you still visit me here!)

Good Enough to Come Out of Hiding For.....

2010-09-15T13:56:00.003-06:00

So I just finished Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series, and the first book of her newest series, Winds of Change. If you are looking for something great to read, or if you just want to sink into a new series - I highly recommend it! She has now solidified a spot on my auto-buy list and cannot wait until her next book comes out.

These series are connected, so I do recommend reading them in order.....and if you do pick them up, let me know what you think!

Julie is a Christian Romance writer. You can learn more about her here: http://www.julielessman.com

Hearts Are Wild by Cheyenne McCray, Patrice Michelle, Nelissa Donovan

2009-03-29T21:44:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Branded Hearts By Nelissa Donovan
When Lily Whitman agrees to a wager with her two single cousins to abandon her prim and proper ways and go after the first man who "trips her trigger", she knows she's finally fallen off the deep end of loneliness. There's always the hope that Nic or Bri will welch first. Lily just has to wait them out. In Big Sky Montana. On a working dude ranch. Surrounded by big and beefy, hard-bitten, real-life cowboys. Of course, the wrangler who trips Lily's trigger is the last type of guy she'd go for. As big and as wild as the Montana sky, ranch owner Shain Stevenson is only a shade less cultured and refined than grain alcohol and just as flammable. As is the atmosphere of the Red Bear Ranch where, Lily discovers, things are not always what they seem.

Hearts Afire By Patrice Michelle
Book 3 in the BAD IN BOOTS series, but may easily be read as a stand-alone story.
One man: a hot, seductive cowboy who smells of leather and fresh outdoors and who's more than willing to take a woman on the ride of her life. One woman: a sexy, petite firecracker whose emerald gaze and silky black hair can make even an angel want to sin. The mystery: a steamy chance encounter, a burned-out barn, and a potential killer on the loose, waiting to strike.

Wild - Wild Hearts By Cheyenne McCray
When Nicole Landford makes a bet with her cousins to go after the first man who "trips her trigger", little does she know that she's in for the ride of her life. Unfortunately it's with the last man on earth she wants to be with. Kev Grand's had his eye on Nicole for years. Now that he has her attention, he's got more than his hands full with the wild thing who claims her heart's not up for grabs. Not if Kev has anything to do with it. He intends to tame Nicole's wild heart and make her his for keeps.

Note: Wild Hearts is loosely connected to the Wild series, but may easily be read as a stand-alone story.

My Thoughts: I’ve never read any of these authors before. I think my favorite would be Hearts Afire by Patrice Michelle. Josh and Sabrina’s story easily sucked me in as a fan girl for this author and I’m looking forward to reading more from her. So much so, in fact, that I intend to get the entire Wild series just to read up on the past stories of some of the characters in this one.

My second favorite would be Wild Hearts by Cheyenne McCray. Wonderful read. I enjoyed Nic and Kev’s story very much ~ there’s nothing like two former adversaries to get the blood boiling. Literally. This story was pretty hot.

My least favorite hands down was Hearts Afire By Patrice Michelle. I just could not get past the dialect on this. I’m not sure Ms. Michelle realizes that Montana is not in Texas. We do not have a lot of the Southern Drawl going on up here. To be fair, I did like the characters of Shain and Lily and the story was told well ~ I just got real tired and real irritated with all the “Darlin”, “Ma’am” and , “Howdy” speak.

Verdict: This was Good. It was a great introduction to some new to me authors and it’s made me look forward to some other reads in the near future.

Scenes of Passion by Suzanne Brockmann

2009-03-29T16:02:00.001-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: THE AWAKENING

Safe, steady…and unsatisfying — that pretty much summed up Maggie Stanton's life. Until a stranger stirred her imagination until she blushed, a stranger who made Maggie do the unimaginable: take a risk….

Shockingly, the man who'd compelled her to forsake predictability for passion was the full-grown version of her childhood best friend. Only, this Matthew Stone wanted marriage, not a walk down memory lane.

For a while, Maggie almost believed that their whirlwind wedding was the union of soul mates. Almost. Then she learned the secret Matthew was keeping.

My Thoughts: I think I expected more out of this one. Probably because I’d just finished Otherwise Engaged (The 3rd in the Sunrise Key Trilogy) and wanted something close to caliber of Pres and Molly’s story. The story of Maggie and her Jungle Man, Matt, just was not it. There were some good moments, and I did finish it, so that’s something.

Verdict: This was Okay. It’s not a keeper because I doubt I’d ever read it again, but it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Sunrise Key Trilogy by Suzanne Brockmann

2009-03-29T15:50:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Kissed by a phantom at midnight, she had no choice but to surrender….

When Dr. Marshall Devlin spotted Leila Hunt alone on the dance floor, he yearned to charm the violet-eyed Cinderella into his arms, but how could he court the lady when they fought over everything, and always had? Then the clock struck twelve, and Leila was possessed by the passion of a familiar stranger. He'd captured her lips -- and her soul -- in a moment of magic, but could she learn to love the man behind the mask?

In a debut that celebrates the delights and disasters of falling in love with the boy next door, Suzanne Brockmann wins every heart! He'd teased and tormented her since childhood, hidden his white-hot desire for the woman she'd become, but once a fleeting embrace threatened to reveal his secret, could he make her his forever?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed Marsh and Leila’s story very much! Theirs was a great tale with just the right amount of obstacles to make this an enjoyable reading experience.

Verdict: This was Very Good and really set the bar for me to want to read other Brockmann tales in the future..

Just Finished:
Synopsis: He knew just the right moves to melt her resistance….

Allowing Simon Hunt to play her partner on her latest assignment probably wasn't Frankie Paresky's best idea ever, but the P.I. found it just as hard as most women did to tell him no! When a chase to solve a long-ago mystery sparked a sizzling attraction between old friends, Frankie wavered between pleasure and panic. Could the best bad boy she'd ever known be the man she'd always love?

Utterly seductive, irresistibly inventive, Suzanne Brockmann’s merry romp celebrates a love as torrid as the Florida sun – and as steamily passionate as a first kiss! She'd vowed never to be a notch on anyone's belt or settle for one night only, but could she turn down a dare that promised a real taste of heaven?

My Thoughts: This was the first book I read in the trilogy, and my least favorite of the three. I admit, the pretty cover sucked me in. But in my own defense, the story sounded right up my alley. The problem was there was no angst, there really was no pinnacle turning point of the story. It just was.

Verdict: This was somewhere between Okay and Good. I liked the characters ~ there just unfortunately wasn’t much of a story there.

Just Finished:
Synopsis: His lips made an offer no woman would dare refuse . . .

Funny, charismatic, and one heck of a temptation, Preston Seaholm made a wickedly sexy hero as he rescued Molly Cassidy from tumbling off the roof! The pretty widow bewitched him with a smile, unaware the tanned sun god was Sunrise Key's mysterious tycoon -- and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. He needed help fending off unwanted advances, but once he convinced her to play along at pretending they were engaged, would he discover the pleasures of surrendering to her temptation?

Weaving a fast-paced tale as touching as it is passionate, as witty as it is irresistible, Suzanne Brockmann reveals the perfect gift for the man who has everything: true love! He promised her the world if that would make her happy, but would a notorious pirate confess that the only prize he yearned to capture was a lady's heart?

My Thoughts: This was another awesome tale by Suzanne Brockmann. I enjoyed Pres and Molly very much, as well as Molly’s son Zander. I couldn’t stop reading this once I started and it was a great way to spend a few hours on a rainy day.

Verdict: This was Very Good and was a great story to end the trilogy with.

The Bad Luck Wedding Dress by Geralyn Dawson

2009-03-29T15:25:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN A LITTLE LUCK TO BRING THEIR TEXAS HEARTS TOGETHER….

They were calling it the Bad Luck Wedding Dress, and Jenny Fortune knew that spelled trouble for her Fort Worth dressmaking shop. Just because the Bailey girls had met with one mishap or another after wearing Jenny's loveliest creation, her clientele had begun to stay away in droves. Yet Jenny was still betting she could turn her luck around--by wearing the gown herself at her very own wedding. There's just one hitch: first she has to find a groom...

Trace McBride seemed as likely a candidate as any. An attractive widower raising three little girls who were fast becoming three little outlaws, Trace badly needed a woman's loving touch. Jenny wasn't altogether sure she knew how to get a man to propose marriage, but she was willing to take off her spectacles, let down her honey-blond hair, and even give flirtation a try. But when seduction turns into red-hot passion, Jenny will find herself risking everything--even her life--on the chance that she'll be lucky in love..
My Thoughts: It dawned on me that I own series of books by authors that I’ve never read. This is the start of one them.

I enjoyed this book very much (in spite of the fact that my copy was missing 30 pages and that the binding was skewed on another 10). Trace and Jenny were a great combination and I thought Ms. Dawson did an excellent job with the telling of their story. This tale had as much humor as it did heart which made it a wonderful reading experience for me.

There were also several background characters that made this book so enjoyable ~ the McBride Menaces (Trace’s three daughters) would be at the front of this list. These girls have a gift for mischief and it was so fun reading about their exploits. They all three have stories in the Bad Luck Brides series and I can’t wait to find out how well they grew up.

Verdict: This was Very Good. Next up will be Trace’s twin brother’s story, The Bad Luck Wedding Cake. I’m looking forward to reading about the further exploits of the McBride family.

Reading Ramble

2009-03-28T16:40:00.002-06:00

Bliss is when you find a book you can't put down.

Despair is when you realize pages 217-249 are missing in said book.

Dilemma is deciding whether to finish the book anyway, or to wait and get a new copy.

I chose to finish it anyway. I'll read the 30 missing pages as soon as I can get my hands on another copy of the book. It's that good.

Those who love Westerns ~ have you read the Bad Luck Brides series by Geralyn Dawson? I'm reading The Bad Luck Wedding Dress now and absolutely love it!!!

Not Blogging, Just Reading

2009-03-12T08:00:00.002-06:00

Sorry folks ~ I've been a very bad caretaker of my blog as of late, but I have a great reason. I've been reading (and I'm talking real books, not just my Economics stuff).

I've read:

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James ~ Excellent
Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann ~ Very Good
The Kissing Game by Suzanne Brockmann ~ Good
Scenes of Passion by Suzanne Brockmann ~ Good

Next up will be the 3rd in Brockmann's Sunrise Key Trilogy, Otherwise Engaged. Can you tell I've recently read my first Suzanne Brockmann and am hooked (sorry Holly!)?

My Library

2009-02-23T16:38:00.016-07:00

Well, I think I'm done. I wish I could show you a picture of the whole thing, but the angle of the room makes it almost impossible to get the whole thing on camera. I've done my best though!!!

This is what I started with (well, technically this is what I started with after I painted):

Then I added my books:

Then I had to clean out some of my books, which I either posted on PBS and/or donated to the library (you have to imagine several of these to get the full effect):

Which brings me to the final product:

I have to say, it's my favorite room in the house now. I still don't have as much shelf space as I initially planned on, but it works. I had to double up my books, so I have two rows on each shelf, but at least they're organized, alphabetized (yes, I'm that girl), and taken out of their respective boxes. And even if it didn't turn out exactly perfect, it's still a far cry better than this:

Anti-Valentines Day Contest

2009-02-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

The ladies at Breezing Through are holding an anti-Valentines Day Contest. Please click on the image below which will take you right to their page!

Crap (aka Misadventures with Costco Chicken Stalker Man Part Deux)

2009-02-05T21:31:00.004-07:00

So I venture into town today to pick up some gift certificates for work. My second stop was Red Lobster, which was gravy because they share a parking lot with Costco. I figured I could just get the gift certificate, buzz by Costco and then go home. You know what they say about best laid plans......

I go into the bar to get the gift certificate. I notice a man is sitting there, but I don't really "see" him because he's on my right side, and that's the eye that I can't see out of. So I'm chatting it up with the manager, tell her my name and where I work. She pretty much already knew that information because I had called in before I went to town.

Anyhoo...I get the gift certificate and turn to leave. Being the friendly person I am, I smile at the man sitting at the bar......until I notice who it is.

Remember that guy?

Damn.

I said my name. I said where I worked. I just hope I didn't say it as loud as I think I did. Or I hope that he wasn't listening. Or both.

Now I'm just paranoid.

Crap.

Me and my dumb luck.

Needless to say, I didn't go straight to Costco. I saved that for last. Luckily, Stalker Man must have gone there earlier to buy his chicken.

What are the odds?

Dare to Love by Jaci Burton

2009-02-03T18:46:00.004-07:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: A romantic game of chicken—and they’re both too stubborn to flinch.

Lucy Fairchild, lawyer and heiress to the Fairchild fortune, has just had the worst day of her life. Her father has found the perfect man for her to marry. Yes, she’s thirty and single, but that doesn’t give her father the right to run her life. She’ll choose her own husband—someday.

Jake Dalton is struggling to make his fledgling construction company a success. Ever mindful of his father’s derogatory comments that he’d never amount to anything, he’s spent his entire life trying to prove he’s not a failure.

From their first meeting on a construction site, verbal sparks fly. Their argument escalates into a dare for a date—and the game is on. Lucy thinks Jake is the perfect fake boyfriend to parade around in the hopes of getting her father off her back. Jake is amused by the chance to annoy both Lucy and her dad—he doesn’t intend to take the dating thing seriously.

But the heart is a fickle thing, and not above playing dirty. In their quest to prove something—to each other, or maybe to themselves—they find themselves building a case…for love.

And suddenly all the rules have changed.

My Thoughts: Jaci Burton is a new-to-me author. I picked up a few (well, actually three) of her ebooks awhile ago and have been anxious to read them. Dare to Love was the first that I tried. Honestly, I enjoyed it so much I could not stop reading it. So much so, I was almost late for work yesterday because of it (note to self: you really have to stop reading in the bathroom on workdays!).

Lucy and Jake are a great pairing. Sparks flew from their first meeting and just continued from there. I love the concept that their romance started on a dare ~ Jake dared Lucy to go out with him and she surprised them both by saying yes. The banter continued from their first date, to the forming of their friendship, and to everything else after that. I thought this was a great story and I’m so glad that I chose this as my introduction to Jaci Burton’s storytelling. She has a great writing style and the story just flowed.

Verdict: The story was Very Good. I’m glad I have two more of Jaci’s books in my TBR pile. I look forward to reading them soon!

PS ~ I really want a trampoline now.

For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper

2009-02-01T09:03:00.002-07:00

Just Finished:Synopsis: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT?
Free-spirited Zoey Adler is about to hijack a federal agent. And not just any federal agent, but very Special Agent Dante Torelli, a man whose designer suits and Italian shoes are more GQ than FBI. But when her baby niece, Pete, is snatched right in front of her eyes, Zoey doesn’t hesitate to scramble into Dante’s spotless BMW. She needs his help to rescue the baby . . . if only she can ignore his Lips of Sin.

OH, BABY!
Dante’s original mission is down the drain and he’s dodging bullets with a loopy redhead by his side. He likes quiet. She never shuts up. He likes to follow the rules. She throws the rules out the window. But these opposites do more than attract—they ignite. With a henpecked hit man running wild, cooking-obsessed matrons chasing down contraband spices, and a relentless killer tracking them all, Dante and Zoey will risk everything—for themselves and . . .

FOR THE LOVE OF PETE

My Thoughts: I enjoyed Dante and Zoey ~ perfect opposites that made this story very fun to read. Dante is an uptight, buttoned down FBI agent; Zoey is a free-spirited health food worker who likes greasy drive-ins and Twizzlers. As if that wasn’t fun enough, add in a hen-pecked mobster and his son, two Indian sisters-in law (the Guptas) in search of their stolen saffron, and a crazy road trip tying in all of these elements and it made for a great ride.

Dante and Zoey’s story was built slowly enough to be believable, yet fast enough to keep it interesting. Their verbal sparring was fun and I as the reader enjoyed the little undercurrents with every argument they had.

The Guptas added some fun comic relief. They were two elderly sisters-in-law who had come to America to open an Indian restaurant. And of course to do that, they needed to very, very best ingredients indeed. These two characters just seemed to meld right into the madness of the story and added a great element.

The henpecked mobster, Neil, was a fun addition as well. His wife, Ashley, was nothing like I expected and it was fun seeing him grab excuse after excuse in order to try to appease her.

True, there were many elements to this story ~ definitely a lot of layers. Nevertheless, it was easy to follow and made for a fun romp.

Verdict: The story was Very Good. I really enjoyed it and now must hunt down Julia's other story, Hot, so I can read that too!

Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

2009-01-31T07:50:00.003-07:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: The first in a sensational new series, Jill Shalvis introduces Cameron, Stone, and T.J. Wilder – three bad-boy heroes who effortlessly mix breathtaking adventure and scorching sex appeal . . .

GET WILD . .. AND THEN GET WILDER . . .

Accountant Katie Kramer is a quintessential good girl – working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn’t fit in anywhere. That’s all she wants. Well, that – and amazing sex, and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she’s crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed – that part defies explanation . . .

After wandering the planet for months following a life-changing accident, Cameron Wilder has come back to the only home he knows. Under other circumstances, he might be thrilled to find a gorgeous woman sleeping in his cabin, but now, while he’ll risk his body taking clients on adrenaline-drenched excursions, his heart is off limits. Still, Katie’s killer smile triggers something deep in his gut . . . among other places. Showing her how exhilarating it can be to stop balancing her life as if it was a checkbook is the biggest rush he’s ever felt – and an adventure Katie’s wishing would never end.

My Thoughts: Once in a great while, a book comes along that is so perfect, it touches the core of who you are as a person. This book is that for me. I enjoyed it thoroughly from beginning to end.

Katie and Cam had a rather unique way of meeting. From that first meeting, I was hooked. Cam had just returned home after a year of wandering, and Katie was trying to mentally recover from a horrifying accident. There were fireworks from the beginning of this book that continued to the very end.

I laughed a lot. Katie has spunk, that’s for sure. And sometimes, I think Cam was completely dumbfounded by her. Their story held everything that I the reader look for in a good book. I cared about the characters and actually felt like I was there the whole time. I knew Katie. I knew Cam. There was a lot of heart in this story, amazing chemistry, and it was hot. Really hot.

Then there’s Annie, the aunt that raised Cam who is trying to fight for her marriage to Nick. Loved her. And every apron she wore had some kind of zinger on them. Loved that too. Poor Annie. She went through a lot of embarrassment to try and get her man. But, when he finally got it, he got it and it was completely rewarding for me as the reader.

No to mention, Jill has laid a beautiful groundwork for more stories. Stone, the middle Wilder, and Emma Sinclair, the new town doctor; Harley, the mechanic, and TJ, the eldest Wilder brother. Then there’s Serena, Cam’s ex. I like her. I’m hoping for more of her in the next Wilder book.

Take my word for it. Get this. You will not be sorry.

Verdict: The story was Excellent. I loved it from the very beginning and was sorry to see it end. I became submerged in this story and fell in love with the town of Wishful and everyone in it. I am now impatiently waiting for July when Stone's story is published. I cannot wait.

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

2009-01-22T19:00:00.001-07:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: COOL. CALM. COLLECTED...
Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her—not even her cheating ex-fiancé. So when she's assigned to coach People's "Sexiest Man Alive" for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob's charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

CONFIDENT. FAMOUS. IRRESISTIBLE…
Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he's thrown for a loop. She's unlike any other woman he's ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She's the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize she may just be his perfect match...
My Thoughts: The banter got me first. I’m a fan of quick wit, so I really enjoyed how the two leads continuously tried to one-up each other. This book was fun from beginning to end ~ so much so, I could not put it down once I started reading it. Taylor and Jason were strong, independent, and successful characters so it was a delight watching them both change as the story progressed. And as far as chemistry?? These characters had it virtually leaping off the pages.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I enjoyed the banter between the two characters and was thoroughly entertained throughout the whole book. I cannot wait to read more from Ms. James in the future.

The Borrowed Bride by Elizabeth Lane

2009-01-22T18:25:00.003-07:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: "We're going to have a child. You need to come home so we can get married."

So wrote Hannah Gustavson to her childhood sweetheart, the father of her baby. But with no response, she was forced to marry another man…her lover's brother.

Tall, handsome and honorable, Judd Seavers could make any woman's heart race. Hannah was no exception, and she was awed by the ex-soldier who gave her his name.

A forbidden love as grand as the Rockies crested between them. But a shadow loomed. Would the baby's father come home? And if he did, would Judd return his borrowed bride?

My Thoughts: I had high hopes for this one when I started it, because I’d been looking forward to reading it months before I actually got around to it. Ms. Lane is a wonderful storyteller and I enjoyed her writing immensely.

However, The Borrowed Bride just didn’t do it for me. I thought that Judd and Hannah fell in love too soon, almost too easy ~ which seemed to detract from any chemistry they might have built. The challenges seemed to be overcome effortlessly, which made the story somewhat hard for me to swallow.

Verdict: This was somewhere between Good and Okay. I had better hopes for this one, but that won’t stop me from buying the sequel, His Substitute Bride, in April. Despite being disappointed with this one, I really am looking forward to Quint’s story.

Adventures at Costco (aka Misadventures With Stalker Man)

2009-01-13T14:31:00.007-07:00

I went to Costco last night to stock up on veggies before class. While standing in line, a man holding a rotisserie chicken came to stand behind me. He was shortish, with brown hair, a mustache, and maybe mid-late 40's age range. Below is the saga:

"Is this the shortest line?" he asked.

"I have no idea," I replied. "I think they're all long."

"Well, you're definitely not the shortest woman. You might be the cutest, though." He then points at the gentleman in front of me in line. "Is that your guy?"

"No," I replied.

"Do you have a guy?"

"No."

"Do you want a guy?"

"No."

"Are you one of those "alternative" people?" he asked.

"No," I said.

He then points at my veggies. "You eat a lot of vegetables. Are you a vegetarian?"

"No," I replied.

I think he could tell I was getting a bit uncomfortable because he lifted his hands up and waved them ~ "Oh, I don't mean anything by it. I'm just talking. Guess how old I am. Nobody every guesses it right."

I replied, "Sir, I'm really not good at this game. If you'd like to tell me, go ahead, but I won't guess your age."

"Oh, it's not a game. Nobody ever guesses my age right. Go ahead. Guess my age."

Again, I replied, "Sir, if you want to tell me, that's fine, but otherwise I have no idea how old you are."

He then says, "Really, I don't mean anything by it. I'm just passing time. I do this sort of thing at work all the time. Guess what I do for a living."

I replied, "Sir, I'm not going to guess. If you'd like to tell me, that's fine."

He then proceeds to tell me how he goes to Costco everyday to buy a chicken. He said they hate him at Costco because everyday he buys one chicken, and so he then makes their average per person sales go down. He then asked me again to guess what he did for a living.

By this time I am trying very hard to ignore the fact that this man exists. Yet, he still would not get the hint. He then asked, "Why don't you want to be bothered? Why don't you want to talk to me? I'm just trying to talk to you. Why won't you look at me?"

I then turned and said, "Sir, you're making me very uncomfortable. Will you please stop talking to me?"

He replied, "But I'm just trying to talk. I'm just friendly. I won't hurt you. Why won't you talk to me?"

Luckily, by this time it was my turn to checkout. The checker takes my card and starts scanning my groceries. Stalker-man behind me then leans over tape machine and starts talking to the checker. "You two sure are fun," he says to the female checker and her male counterpart. "Are you married?"

"No," she responds.

"Well," he says, "I'd sure like to get up your dress." (Yes, he said that. Verbatim)

"Excuse me?" she said. She then turned to me and rolled her eyes, because I'm pretty sure she'd just gotten a clue of what I'd been dealing with for the past few minutes. I then finished paying for my groceries and thought I was in the home stretch.......but then, my receipt got jammed, because Stalker Man was still leaning on the tape machine.

I then left with the male helper dude so that he could tape my receipt together so I could get out of there. I also needed to stop by the deli so that I could get a caesar salad to take with me for dinner. I thought that should have left plenty of time for Stalker Dude to buy his solitary chicken and go.

Not so.

Stalker Man was waiting at the exit, talking to the man who marks the receipts as you leave. I got my receipt marked, avoided eye contact with Stalker Dude and hurried on out of there. Unfortunately, so did Stalker Man. I then headed to the aisle where my car was. So did Stalker Man. So I continued walking. Past my car. To the end of the lane. And I kept walking around the parking lot until Stalker Dude was no longer following me.

Girls, heed my warning. If you're in line at Costco and a weird little man with a rotisserie chicken stands behind you in line, run away. Go to a different line and don't look back. Or don't. It may make for an interesting story to tell on your blog someday.

The Stranger in Her Bed by Janet Chapman

2009-01-11T10:59:00.001-07:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: When Ethan agreed to work at a sawmill his family is purchasing, he didn't foresee getting fired on his first day. He should be mad at the fiercely outspoken female foreman, but something about her seems disconcertingly familiar--even though Ethan is sure he'd remember meeting a stunning beauty like Anna Segee before.

Anna has never forgotten Ethan--or the schoolgirl crush she had on him before her father whisked her off to Canada. Now the shy, gangly girl is grown up and back in Oak Grove with a new name, new confidence and a newly inherited mill of her own. Her superb reputation in a male-dominated industry hasn't come easy, but even harder will be ignoring the sexy man Ethan has become....

My Thoughts: Janet Chapman only mildly disappointed me with this second installment of The Logger series (I’ll get to that in a moment). The book gets off to a fun start when Anna Segee fires Ethan for stepping in front of her loader, not knowing that his family is the new owner of the sawmill and, in essence, are her new bosses.

From there, the arguments just keep getting better. The fun just keeps on coming when Ethan moves into an empty cabin at Abby’s property, but invites himself to sleep in her home because the cabin isn’t exactly up to code for anyone to live in. Anna finds him to be as overbearing as her father and four over-protective brothers that she left behind.

I enjoyed the sparks between Anna and Ethan from the start. In that, Janet Chapman didn’t disappoint. What I didn’t like really had nothing to do with the story. It was the fact that Paul, the playboy of the Knight family, wouldn’t be getting his own story. His HEA was tidily pieced together in just a few pages of this book, and really disappointed me. I wanted to see Paul fall for a strong woman just like his brothers Ethan and Alex did.

Like I said, the only disappointment I felt had nothing to do with Ethan and Anna. Their story was excellent and kept me engaged from beginning to end.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I highly recommend it!

Where Has the Time Gone???

2009-01-02T09:37:00.003-07:00

Wow, it's been over a month since I posted. I can't believe it. If there's a bad blogger award out there, nominate me. I deserve it.

Christmas vacation was great. I spent about a week at Mom's house and read, read, read. I finished Lady Flees Her Lord by Michele Young, Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James, Wish You Were Here by Lani Diane Rich, The Borrowed Bride by Elizabeth Lane, Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr, and half of Simply the Best by Shirley Jump. I'll need to post my thoughts on those, not to mention the Janet Chapman I finished in October.

That being said, I also went on a bit of a book buying bender. Not bad, though, considering what I normally do :-) Kiddo and I went to B&N last night to browse. I hadn't intended on buying anything because I forgot my gift card (yay!!!) at home, but I ended buying two: Smart Girls Think Twice by Cathie Linz and Simple Wishes by Lisa Dale. We then went to Wal-Mart where I bought For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper. When we got home, I went to amazon.com and pre-ordered the next 3 Virgin River books for me and a few Jodi Picoult books for Kiddo.

Can I just interject here how happy I am that my girls are readers like I am??? Kiddo loves books and now Baby-J does too. She loves to read. Makes me gush, really, because no one else in the family are readers.

So, anyway that's just a quick catch up. I hope to post on the books over the weekend - I have one more week before school starts so I hope to read as much as I possibly can until then. But you never know ~ I get so sidetracked sometimes!

I know what a scoundrel wants!

2008-11-22T19:24:00.002-07:00

I want, I want, I want. I've been looking forward to this book for months. Go out and enter! Good luck :-)

I'm Ba-ack

2008-11-20T20:25:00.002-07:00

(said in my best Heather O'Rourke aka The Poltergeist impression.)

Internet got connected today!!! Now I can finally feel like myself again :-) That being said, I've got a few reviews to write and get posted. I know, I should have written them while I was offline, but I hardly turned my computer on at all. Hopefully, will get those done and posted this weekend!

And Still Out of Commission

2008-11-17T09:27:00.003-07:00

IT Department has promised I should have internet access no later than Friday (11/21). Gawd, I hope so. I miss my friends!

Then again, they promised I'd have it on 11/3, and 11/7, and 11/12.

Out of Commission

2008-11-02T08:21:00.003-07:00

I will be out of commission for a few days. I need to unhook my computer today because the final move will be tomorrow! Hopefully, IT guys will be hooking me up tomorrow afternoon so I won't be out of commission too long, but if I'm scarce, you'll know why :-)

I did finish The Stranger in Her Bed by Janet Chapman and hope to post about that this week. I'm halfway through Wish You Were Here by Lani Diane Rich and The Lady Flees Her Lord by Michele Young, so hopefully I'll get those finished up within the week so I can post on those as well. They're both very good so far!!

The Seduction of His Wife by Janet Chapman

2008-10-26T18:41:00.001-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: He set out to seduce her for all the wrong reasons -- but found himself falling in love with her for all the right ones.

Alex Knight is dead -- or so everyone thinks. A widowed logger baron with a risk-taking streak, he took on a South American engineering project and was reported dead after a rebel attack. So when he turns up back in Maine very much alive, his grieving family is shocked. But the biggest shock is Alex's, when he discovers he's now married -- to a woman he's never met.

Sarah Banks is ready for a change from running a quiet Bed & Breakfast, and working for the Knight family offers not only a bigger opportunity, but also the family life she yearns for. So she's glad to help secure custody of Alex's orphaned children, whom she's come to love, by marrying their father by proxy before he's legally declared dead. But when Alex returns, the sexy, determined woodsman upends all of Sarah's plans. Because suddenly she's married to a passionate stranger with an easy smile...and tumbling headlong into a fiery dance of seduction.

My Thoughts: I don’t think I’ve ever read a story before where the hero was presumed dead and comes home to find himself married to a woman he’s never met. I’m sure there may be more books like this out there, but I’ve never read them. So, I was interested in how JC was going to pull this unbelievable theme off. But then I started reading and from Sarah and Alex’s first meeting I was hooked. They had unbelievable chemistry right from the start that just continued to grow as the book went on.

Then there is the rest of the Knight family: Grady, the matchmaking schemer of a patriarch; Ethan, the gun-shy middle brother; and Paul, the youngest brother, a flirtatious lady’s man who is never at a loss for a date; and Tucker & Delaney, Alex’s children that Sarah adopted when she believed him to be dead. There are also the two side characters: John Tate, the local sheriff and Daniel Reed, the local Fish & Game Warden. I can only hope that they will all eventually get their own stories.

Alex was an awesome hero. I love how he and Sarah would try to best each other by coming to the rescue of each other, all ideas they each got by reading Sarah’s romance books. It was just hilarious. I had several laugh out loud moments as the two continuously tried to one-up each other throughout almost the whole length of the book.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I didn’t want this story to end. I got sucked in to the world of the Knight family and their Maine home from the very beginning and could not put the book down. I am anxiously looking forward to reading Ethan’s story, The Stranger in Her Bed, and sincerely hope that Ms. Chapman finishes this series.

Never Naughty Enough by Jill Monroe

2008-10-25T09:17:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: She's the perfect executive assistant — or at least she was until she agreed to be put under hypnosis at a party. Overnight, the very proper Annabelle Scott turned into a terrible tease. Now she doesn't "do" typing or filing and spends most of her time wondering which of the naughty items in her wardrobe might do a good "job" — on her boss.

Wagner Achrom is a sexy workaholic who barely knows that she exists. But she plans to change all that when she lets down her hair and clues him in to the fact that, in future, the new "Belle" plans on leaving her most intimate things where they belong — off! After all, she's learned firsthand that you can never be naughty enough….

My Thoughts: I enjoyed Belle and Wag’s story very much. Seeing Isabelle transform into Belle and watching Wag’s reaction to her was a treat. Pre-hypnosis Isabelle was self-conscious, unsure of herself, and made a lot of fumbled attempts to get Wagner to notice her. Post-hypnosis Belle was daring and just naughty enough to catch Wag’s attention.

Once she caught his attention, it was a fun ride. Of course, as the story progressed, they both had pasts that they needed to come to terms with. Eventually the just got around to enjoying being together, and it was great to see them both let the guards down and just let it happen.

Verdict: This was Good. I’ve wanted to try a Jill Monroe book for awhile now, ever since I became addicted to Author Talk. This was a great introduction, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Out of the Blue by Jill Shalvis

2008-10-23T22:01:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: For Hannah Novak, running a bed-and-breakfast with her two best friends was adventure enough. But they didn’t feel that way. They wanted to devote the summer to serious manhunting — loser cleans toilets! Fine for them, but Hannah was, uh...inexperienced. How could she seduce anyone?

Then out of the blue came Zach Thomas, looking for a bed...and breakfast. Hannah had always thought the rugged cop was the sexiest man alive, and, bet or no bet, she wanted him. So she checked him in — to her own room — with every intention of checking him out!

My Thoughts: Anyone who reads my blog regularly knows that I’m a new fan of Jill Shalvis and am now trying to get my hands on her entire backlist. Out of the Blue is a Harlequin Temptation from 2000 that I’m glad to have discovered.

I enjoyed Zach and Hannah right from the beginning of this story. Even better, for me at least, is that Zach is the older brother of Hannah’s best friend so it had the element of childhood crush in it as well. If you know me at all, you know that unrequited/lost love stories are my favorite things to read. I think the couple had great chemistry from their first meeting in the kitchen of Hannah’s B&B to the very last page.

Verdict: This was Good. This was a quick, enjoyable read and I’d recommend it to anyone that wanted something light to read.

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas

2008-10-20T21:45:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searches for true love. Now happily married, they join together once again to help one of the world’s most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe.…

It’s Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady in waiting and, if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.

A Wallflower Christmas takes a trip to Victorian London, under the mistletoe, and on a journey of the heart. With her trademark charm, sensuality, and unforgettable characters, there’s no one like Lisa Kleypas to make you believe in the magic of Christmas.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed spending some time with the Wallflowers again. It was great to catch up on their lives and what they’ve been up to since Daisy’s story concluded the series.

Rafe and Hannah. Loved them! I really enjoyed their chemistry, from their first meeting until the end of the story. I thought it was really well done and I was rooting for them the whole time. Lots of awww moments between the two of them which made this book one I could not put down.

Hannah’s cousin Natalie? Didn’t care for her so much. She came off as a spoiled pampered princess and I didn’t find anything likeable about her whatsoever. Maybe this wasn’t intention, but she was condescending and mean to Hannah, which made me seriously dislike her character. Thankfully, her story is summed up by the end of this book also, so I don’t need to worry about a follow-up book about her.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I highly recommend it!

Remembering Dad

2008-10-14T20:03:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you and miss you everyday.

Remembering Dad

The Trouble with Paradise by Jill Shalvis

2008-10-12T16:24:00.001-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: When Dorie Anderson meets a cute guy, she becomes a huge klutz. But one phone call has turned her dead-end dating life into an adventure: she's won a trip on a singles' cruise to Fiji. On board, she soon meets pro baseball player Andy, and the ship's hunky French doctor. She's sure she'll fall head-over-heels in no time. Unfortunately, she's right: soon, she trips over her luggage right in front of them. Mortifying. But a bigger disaster is just on the horizon. Dorie finds a man murdered in his bunk the same night a storm wrecks the ship, stranding everyone on a deserted shore. It'd be a perfect setting for romance-if it weren't for the fact that there's a killer among them.

My Thoughts: I don’t even know where to start. I loved this story. Dorie and Christian? Amazing! From their first meeting before the start of the cruise, was hooked. Poor accident-prone Dorie, and smoldering Dr. Christian, who can’t keep his eyes off her. And the two just seemed to come together from there, in spite of themselves.

I enjoyed the friendships Dorie made with the other passengers on the boat as well. Cadence, Brandy, and Andy were all great additions to this story, as were the other members of the yacht crew: Denny, Ethan, and Bobby. I also enjoyed the fact that there was a bit of a mystery involved in the read, and I literally didn’t know who did it until it was revealed. JS gave each of the characters just enough of an edge, that even though I as the reader liked the character, he/she very well could have been the guilty party.

Going back to the reason I read this: Dorie and Christian. Let me sum it up. Dorie and Christian in the cabin, trying not to succumb to their attraction? Hot. Lagoon Sex? Hot! Shower Sex? Hot.

If you haven’t read Jill Shalvis before, start with this one. JS has written a fun, witty, humorous, romantic read that was a wonderful thing for me to curl up with on a cold, blistery day.

Verdict: This was Excellent. I could not stop reading this story and looked forward to every breathtaking page. Keeper, definitely.

Just Breathe by Susan Wiggs

2008-10-11T21:30:00.001-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: UNEXPECTED CHANGE CAN BE LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR— A LITTLE BRISK AT FIRST, BUT MAGIC FOR BODY AND SOUL...

Cartoonist Sarah Moon tackles life's real issues with her syndicated comic strip just Breathe, which is how the subject of infertility became fair game for her wickedly satirical pen. As Sarah's cartoon alter ego, Shirl, undergoes artificial insemination, it mirrors Sarah's own desperate attempts to conceive after her husband's bout with cancer. However, Sarah's dreams of the future did not include the infidelity of her now fully recovered husband. Faced with the unthinkable, Sarah asks herself, what would smart, sassy Shirl do? She'd floor the gas pedal straight out of Chicago.

She heads back to the small Northern California coastal town where she grew up. Just as she's settling in, a sudden dizzy spell lands her in the arms of somebody she never expected to meet again: Will Bonner, the high school superstar she'd skewered happily in her old comics. Now a local fireman, he's raising his teenage stepdaughter alone and looking better than ever. It is at this promising juncture that Sarah discovers she's pregnant. With twins.

The irony is delicious. Here she is, back home in a place she couldn't wait to leave, pregnant with the babies of a man she just divorced. Now her heart is calling out to a single father of a troubled girl who reminds Sarah a lot of herself. Hardly the most traditional of new beginnings, but who says life, or love, is predictable...or perfect? The winds of change have led Sarah here. Now all she can do is just close her eyes...and breathe.

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end. The story covers a year (maybe year and a-half) of Sarah’s life. It begins in Chicago while she is happily married to Jack, and is hopeful that she and Jack will soon be expecting a new addition to her family.

Things happen (will not divulge any spoilers here, sorry!), and Sarah finds herself back in her hometown in Northern California. There, she must go about rebuilding her life and coming to terms with her past. Unfortunately, Sarah was an outcast in school ~ an artsy type who never fit in. She soon learns that not everything is how it seemed in high school.

I enjoyed the building of her relationship with Will, a former classmate. The pacing was slow, which I appreciate. Sarah and Will were not friends in high school, so I appreciated the fact that Susan took the time to build their relationship and actually make it believable. I also enjoyed Sarah’s relationship with Aurora, Will’s daughter. The fact that they became friends before Sarah and Will did added a great likeability for me to this story.

There were a few choppy things I couldn’t get passed. The first was Sarah’s babies. In one chapter, they were three months old, and then it seemed like the next chapter they were eating cheerios, sitting in high chairs, and able to indicate when they wanted to be picked up. Evidently, there was a passage of time between the chapters, but I missed any indicators if there were any.

The second, something big happens to Aurora’s friend, Glynnis that effects Sarah, Will, and the whole coastal town where they live. But we don’t see it in the story. It’s referred to, but the story’s not told. Glynnis is supposed to be Aurora’s best friend. And the fact that Aurora is Will’s daughter and therefore, a central part to the story ~ I just thought that what Glynnis did and how they found out should have been in the story. Aurora’s reaction should have been there. The fact that it wasn’t, seemed to leave a tiny hole in the tale for me.

Verdict: This was Very Good. It would have been excellent, but there were some timing issues that I couldn’t get passed. As far as I’m concerned, Susan Wiggs rarely disappoints. This is a definite keeper.

Contest!

2008-10-11T08:29:00.001-06:00

Jessica is having a giveaway at her blog, Racy Romance Reviews. Anyone who comments has the chance to win one of books listed above. The contest ends on Wednesday, 10/15.

A Conversation w/ Mom

2008-10-10T11:37:00.005-06:00

So, Mom called me last tonight to see how I'm coming on the packing. (Note: Not well. I get sidetracked easy). The conversation went pretty much like this:

Mom: Are you packing?
Me: Yup (Lying through my teeth)
Mom: How's it coming?
Me: It's coming. I'll do more this weekend (Okay, that's the truth as far as I know).
Mom: Well, you can pack up lots of stuff now. Pack up your makeup you're not using. What about your dishes? Or you can start on your books.....
Me: I'm not packing my books yet. I don't know what I'm going to read between now and then.
Mom: **silence**

**brief pause**

Me: I bought myself a congratulations present.
Mom: Really?! (Excited) What'd you get.
Me: An Ebookwise-1150 Ereader (Really excited!!!)
Mom: A what?
Me: An ereader. So I can download books off the internet and read them. It's better than reading off the computer.
Mom: Oh. I suppose that's better than keeping all those books you've got. It'll save you a lot of room.
Me: Oh no. I'm keeping those too.
Mom: **click**

Mom's just not a reader...........

Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

2008-10-04T09:04:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: He has tried hard to forget her.
Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

Can she remember the man he once was?
Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…

My Thoughts: I have been looking forward to Kev and Win’s story ever since I finished Mine Till Midnight (I know, I know, that was just last week….). This one did not disappoint.

Seduce Me at Sunrise takes up where MTM left off. What I liked about how SMAS started is that LK devoted two chapters to Kev’s history with the Hathways, going back in time to explain why Kev is the way he his. The instant connection between him and Win also added so much to the story for me. Additionally, there was also the history of the Hathaway parents and getting to know them as well.

No surprise, I absolutely loved this story. I really felt for Win, putting her heart out there to only be trampled on by Kev, thinking he is doing the right thing for her by not letting her be with him. I honestly wanted to delve into the pages myself and slap him upside the head a time or two.

Then came page 244. I’m not going to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet, but that was the turning point for me. That was where Kev became my #2 favorite LK hero of all-time. If you’ve read it, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t read it, you need to and when you come to this page, you’ll figure it out.

Additionally, there was the relationship between Cam and Kev. I enjoyed seeing them come closer and bond. I look forward to seeing even more of this in future Hathaway books.

Now, Dr. Julian Harrow. He was predictable. I had him figured out right away. Again, not going to go into details, but you already know Kev and Win are going to end up together by the end of the book. So, you know one of two things are going to happen with Dr. Harrow. He’s either going to be exceptionally good and back away gracefully, or he’s going to be exceptionally bad and try to rid himself of the competition so that he can have Win all to himself.

Then there are the Hathaways. I still don’t feel like I know Poppy very well ~ hopefully she will be explained in more detail in upcoming books; Beatrix has matured somewhat and I cannot wait to see how she’s grown by the next book; Leo ~ I’m so looking forward to his and Miss Marks story (someone put a shout out to LK to finish it soon!); and Amelia and Cam were an integral part of SMAS so I felt justly caught up with them.

In MTM, we either saw or got mentions of all of the four wallflowers. In SMOS, we got to see Simon and Annabelle! I hadn’t realized I’d missed them so much until they were featured here. It was great to catch up on these characters and their lives as well.

Win and Kev’s story was everything I expected and more. I’m so glad to see how strong Win became. She’s a wonderful heroine. As for Kev, I’m so glad he came to terms with demons and allowed Win to love him; and allowed himself to love her. It made for a great story.

Verdict: The story was Excellent. Of course, I actually read this one “on time” so now I expect it’ll be another year before I get my fix of the Hathaways (although I hope not!!!). I know I said it before, I cannot wait for Leo and Miss Marks’ story!

Announcement!!!

2008-10-03T12:50:00.003-06:00

I'm not sure if you all remember this post from August 23 in regards to on-campus housing at work. I've been praying for this since July and just yesterday I was offered one of the houses!! I'm so excited. This really is an answer to my prayers. Of course, this means I'll be on call one day per week (Wednesdays) and every 6th weekend. But that's it. So worth it for housing to me. No rent, no utilities, no excessive gas prices.

Oh and best of all ~ I'll have one room completely for my books. And a spare room for when I grow out of that one.

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

2008-09-28T13:21:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: THEIR LIVES DEFY CONVENTION.
When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

THEIR DESIRE CONSUMES THEM BOTH…
Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter….

My Thoughts: I cannot believe that Cam and Amelia’s story has been languishing in my TBR pile for almost a year. I should be banned from the romance reading community for this one.

That being said, I’ve been anxious for Cam’s story since Devil in Winter when he stole a kiss from Daisy. In fact, I bought this book the day it came out. Just shameful, I know.

I enjoyed Cam and Amelia’s first meeting. How he went out of his way to try to help her look for her brother, and then when Leo was found he kissed her goodbye with every intention of never seeing her again. And how sweet was it that he stole one of her ribbons from her bonnet? I was already hooked, but that right there sealed it for me.

But they did meet again on several occasions and each time they met the attraction grew, and I as the reader became more and more submerged in the story. And then came the turning point, as I rooted “He’s got to go back to her!”

I absolutely loved this story. I enjoyed Amelia and how protective she is of her family. In fact, I enjoyed the whole Hathaway clan and cannot wait for each of their stories. I cannot wait to see what LK has conjured up for each of them: Win, who’s health was affected by a bout of fever ~ who isn’t rooting for her and Kev after they almost stole the show in MtM???; Poppy, I cannot wait to get to know her better; Beatrix, still so immature and I know LK has a great story planned for her (she said so over at Book Smugglers this week); and Leo, I cannot wait to see how LK redeems his character after this one.

As if it weren’t enough to have such a great story between Amelia and Cam, I got to see the Wallflowers again. Lillian, Evie, Saint and Lord Westcliff all got some time in this novel so I felt I was able to catch up on their stories; and Annabelle, Simon, Daisy, and Matthew were all mentioned! That in itself is enough of a reason to read this for those of use die-hard Wallflower fans.

The one thing I probably loved the most is Amelia didn’t automatically give up her independence. Cam actually had to work pretty hard to convince her that they were meant to be together. Her resistance and his determination kept me turning each page until the very end.

Verdict: The story was Excellent. Of course, I really expect nothing less of LK by now and cannot wait to read Seduce Me at Sunrise.

The Magic of Christmas by Cheryl St. John, Carolyn Davidson, and Victoria Bylin

2008-09-27T20:19:00.007-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Four tiny babes! Three uplifting stories! One Magical Christmas!

A Christmas Child by Carolyn Davidson: Marianne Winters has no one in the world but her baby brother and, with Christmas approaching, she needs somewhere warm to stay. Will she find her home, and a loving heart, with the lonely pastor, David McDermott?

The Christmas Dove by Victoria Bylin: Maddie Cutler once snubbed bad boy Dylan McCall, but with nowhere else to turn she has come back to town—with a babe in arms. Dylan is a reformed man, and on seeing Maddie again he longs to heal her hurt—and claim her once and for all!

A Baby Blue Christmas by Cheryl St. John: Turner Price hasn't been the same since he lost his wife and child. But when he finds a young woman and newborn twin babies in his stable, he realizes this may be his second chance to be a loving husband and father, just in time for Christmas!

My Thoughts: Recently, I got to experience my very first Cheryl St. John book, Joe’s Wife. Cheryl read my blog post and was kind enough to send me this book as a gift. Since I’m always in the mood to read a good book, I started it right away. Of course, it helped that Sybil had been twittering all over the place about it the week before. The book consisted of three short stories by three authors: Cheryl St. John, Carolyn Davidson, and Victoria Bylin.

A Baby Blue Christmas by Cheryl St. John: I read this one first because I’ve recently become so enamored with CSJ’s storytelling. This tale is no different. I was impressed, because I do think it’s difficult to tell a full narrative within the short story concept. CSJ managed to accomplish this in 93 short pages.

Gabby is a very strong-willed heroine, chasing after her pregnant cousin in Colorado. Although she’s not able to connect with her cousin, Willow, she does find her newborn babies in Tanner’s livery. I felt that Tanner and Gabby had a connection immediately and from their first meeting I looked forward to their story. They of course, have issues to work through. Gabby is ashamed of past; Tanner can’t seem to let go of his. But at the core of it all, CSJ has created two strong, good-hearted characters that I as the reader rooted for from start to finish. Verdict: Very Good

A Christmas Child by Carolyn Davidson: Carolyn Davidson is a new-to-me author so I was looking forward to reading this. I love discovering new authors and at 79 pages, I thought it would be the perfect way to introduce me to CD’s writing style.

I almost put the book down three times reading this story. First, the heroine was described as “a girl, for she was not yet a woman”. That stayed in the back of mind the entire time I read this one. I pictured a young girl, maybe mid-teens? It was a visual I couldn’t shake, even though I did find out halfway through the story that she was 18. I felt pacified, but just barely. Second, Marianne abandons her new-born brother, Joshua, in the manger in front of the church. I was outraged. Third, when I discovered the hero, David, was around thirty. Although, I didn’t feel quite as bad about that when I found out Marianne’s real age. I just wish CD would have mentioned it earlier. Verdict: Okay. Probably not the best Carolyn Davidson story to start out with, but I’m willing to give her another try.

The Christmas Dove by Victoria Bylin: Victoria Bylin is also a new-to-me author, and you all know what a sucker I am for unrequited or reunited romances. This was a great story complete from begging to end, condensed into a mere 83 pages. I can't wait to see what she can do with a full-length novel.

Maddie was the spoiled daughter of Lord Oliver, a direct descendent of a British duke. She was the princess of the town, and acted the part. Dylan didn’t have it to lucky. He came from a bad family and had a lot to overcome in the eyes of the town. When Maddie left town with a gambler, Dylan tried to warn her not to go. In response, she slapped him and called him trash. One year later, Maddie’s back in town with an illegitimate child.

I enjoyed Maddie and Dylan immensely. I thought their story was very sweet and I enjoyed the fact that Dylan forced Maddie to come to terms with her past so that they could have a future together. It’s ironic how their roles seemed to have reversed; when Maddie left town, Dylan was viewed as nothing more than trash, while Maddie was revered because of who her father was. One year later, Dylan has become a respected citizen and Maddie is seen as the fallen dove. But Dylan doesn’t judge her and forces her to forgive herself. Verdict: Very Good

Sweet Love by Sarah Strohmeyer

2008-09-21T18:58:00.004-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: An irresistibly delicious novel about the power of love and dessert.

Like other well-meaning mothers, Julie Mueller’s believed she did the right thing when she secretly ended her teenage daughter’s crush on Michael Slayton, a wild older neighborhood heartthrob with a penchant for Shakespeare and the pedigree of trailer trash.

Twenty years later, Betty Mueller has come to realize that was a big mistake. Her daughter Julie -- divorced and raising a teenage daughter alone -- is a workaholic obsessed with her career. And Michael, the one man who could make her happy, is the one man to whom she won’t speak.

Now dying and determined to make amends, Betty stages her last great feat of motherhood by reuniting the couple in a dessert class where she hopes the sweetness of a chocolate almond Torta Caprese will erase the bitterness of a wretched misunderstanding.

”Sweet love, renew thy force; be it not said thy edge should blunter be than appetite,” Shakespeare once pleaded -- though it will require more than poetry and passion fruit for Julie and Michael to renew their love.

It will, in fact, require the sweetest sacrifice of all.

My Thoughts: I’m forewarning you now, this is not a light fluffy read. I thought it was going to be. After all, it has my two favorite elements: a woman who becomes reacquainted with the man she fell in love with when she was seventeen, and food. I thought it would be cozy read for a Sunday afternoon. And it was, to a point, until chapter fifteen.

The story starts off in Betty’s point of view. Knowing there’s something wrong with her health, she purchases tickets for her daughter Julie and Michael, the man she never got over, to attend three dessert classes by a local chef. Julie fell in love with Michael as a teenager, but nothing ever came of it. They did remain friends, however, until a work-related snag kept them from speaking for the past six years.

The tale is told in the first-person from Julie's point of view. Now in her forties, Julie is a single mom on a career path at a local news station. She doesn’t date, and devotes any of her free time to her family; either her daughter, or her parents who share a duplex she purchased so that she could be close by in case she was ever needed in a hurry. She is the typical middle-aged woman, trying to juggle a teenage daughter along with the responsibilities of caring for two aging parents, all the while attempting to have a successful career that at the very least pays the bills.

Michael and Julie’s relationship was very well written. I enjoyed watching them become reacquainted and tenuously rebuild a friendship that had been fractured six years ago. Add to that the fact that Michael is the one that Julie never got over and it’s a great story.

There are things that happen in this book that I’m not going to divulge here ~ I just don’t want to take away from the story. The title of the book says it all. Sweet Love It’s not just a romance. It’s unrequited love, it’s familial, it’s friendship, it's history, it’s food, it’s just life in general. Love isn’t always the roses; sometimes it’s about the thorns and what makes us stronger.

Verdict: The story was Excellent. I’ve never read Sarah Strohmeyer before, but I’ve been impressed. I’ve heard this is her best work to date, and though I haven’t read any of her other work, I’m not about to dispute it. This is a powerful story that touches on so many factors. Read it. You won’t be disappointed.

Men of Courage by Lori Foster, Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis

2008-09-21T11:09:00.005-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: These men are heroes — strong, fearless…and impossible to resist!

Fireman Ethan Winters ran headlong into a burning building to find Rosie Carrington. Rescue worker Brett Gannon defied the aftershocks of a San Francisco earthquake to prevent Haley Brubaker from entering her collapsing home. And emergency-room doctor Matt Walker braved gale force winds and rising floodwater to rescue scientist Molly Stanton.

For Rosie, the heat in Ethan's eyes was enough to start a three-alarm blaze! As for Haley, being trapped amidst the rubble with Brett meant heightened tension — and heightened passion. And sheltering together from the storm, Molly needed Matt to make love to her. It was the only way for her to know she was still alive…and that she'd stay that way.

My Thoughts: Recently, the ladies at Book Binge had Jill Shalvis as their guest author and after reading her interview, I admit to developing a major girl-crush on the woman. Anybody that witty had to translate that humor into her stories right??? Luckily, I had one Jill Shalvis in my TBR pile ~ part of the Men of Courage anthology that I won from Melody’s Reading Corner a few (okay, more than a few) months ago.

The book consisted of three short stories by three authors I’ve never read before: Lori Foster, Donna Kauffman, and Jill Shalvis. Now, short stories are hit-or-miss with me. Sometimes, they’re just too rushed; sometimes, they’re the perfect read when you’re between books and have no idea what to read next.

Stranded! by Jill Shalvis: I read the stories somewhat out of order, but the stories weren’t connected so I wasn’t turning my back to series-order karma. Remember, I read this just because of the Jill Shalvis factor. Her story was the last in the anthology: Stranded! Stranded is the story of Matt, an emergency room doctor who has no time for a life out of the ER, and Molly, a scientist who loses touch with the outside world when she starts working. Molly and Matt are trapped together in Matt’s home due to a vicious storm that would have killed Molly, if Matt hadn’t rescued her.

The story was the shortest in the anthology, only 92 pages. I wish it would have been longer, I really do. I’m not sure if the publisher only allowed her so many pages or not.

The chemistry between Matt and Molly was great and this story could have easily been longer in order to allow for the development of the relationship between the two main characters. In the end, I enjoyed the story but the ended was rushed. I didn’t like that, but even though I was disappointed that the story was too short, it was a great sampling of Jill Shalvis work. I’ll definitely read more of her in the future. Verdict: Good

Trapped! by Lori Foster: The second story I read was the first in the anthology. Ethan and Rosie are long-time friends. Actually, Rosie is the younger sister of the man that used to be Ethan’s best friend. Rosie has held an unrequited torch for Ethan for years. Rosie finally lets Ethan know how she feels, forcing him to re-evaluate his feelings and his relationship with the woman he’d always thought of as just a friend. Ethan’s alpha came out full-force, I have to say. It made for a great reading.

The story was 139 pages and I think Ms. Foster did a great job in telling a complete story in the short amount of pages allowed. Although, I will forewarn you, the summary for this one is a bit misleading. Ethan never ran into a burning building in order to rescue Rosie. That’s okay, though. This was by far my favorite in the anthology. Verdict: Very Good

Buried! by Donna Kauffman: I initially wasn’t going to read this one, but I didn’t feel right posting about the book if I hadn’t read it in it’s entirety. Haley’s home was destroyed by an earthquake. Brett is the Search & Rescue worker who comes to her aid to try and rescue her dog who was in the house. Turns out, Haley dated Brett’s older brother in college and Brett has been carrying a torch for her ever since. However, things go south after Brett rescues the dog and an aftershock leads to injuries. However, as Haley nurses him back to health, she begins to nurse something else as well.

The story was 140 pages and was my least favorite of the anthology. Something just was missing for me on this. That being said, I do have to say I enjoyed the last two pages immensely. Great end to the story. Verdict: Okay

If Wishing Made it So by Lucy Finn

2008-09-20T07:37:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Once voted the girl most-likely-to-succeed, Hildy Caldwell is now the one in the biggest rut. She has let her world get very small: a tiny cottage in rural Pennsylvania, two cats, and a ho-hum job. As for love? Nobody has ever measured up to her football hero high school sweetheart. If only she could meet him again . . .

Knowing that's wishful thinking, Hildy splurges on a summer rental on Long Beach Island, one of the Jersey shore's prettiest spots. There, she hopes the wind might blow a handsome man her way. Instead, she finds an abandoned bottle-with a two-thousand-year-old, meddlesome genie inside! Magic and mayhem follow, along with what Hildy's been wishing for: a meeting with the man she has never stopped loving.

With the genie's help, Hildy's dreams might come true. But spells and enchantment have a dark and dangerous side. And Hildy could lose everything-unless she finds out that true love is the best kind of magic.

My Thoughts: Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for two kinds of stories: The unrequited love story, or the reacquainted love story. In this one, two high school sweethearts are reacquainted after ten years time.

Hildy’s character was likeable. She had remained in the small town where she grew up in order to take care of her dying mother. Even after her mother passed away, she remained in that small town teaching English to high school kids. For the most part, I thought she was well-written and I enjoyed her exploits.

It was rather convenient the way Mike entered the picture. Mike was the high school boyfriend that Hildy never got over and she hadn’t seen him in the ten years since they graduated. Then while vacationing on the Jersey shore, who should she meet up with again but Mike? Mike’s character, I didn’t really invest in. Not really. I guess he was likeable enough, there was just something missing. That being said, I still enjoyed Hildy and Mike’s relationship. The whole past relationship thing probably just made me more forgiving.

***Spoilers***
A few things bugged me about this story, which really took away from the likeability of it. First, Mike was already engaged to somebody else. His whole “I love you ~~ wait, no I don’t” wishy-washiness with Hildy and his fiancé really bugged me. The other thing? Hildy was a virgin who always wanted her first time to be with Mike. So, conveniently, it was. But then Mike’s whole wishy-washiness came back again. Let me summarize: “I never stopped loving you ~ wait, maybe I did. Okay, I might still love you, but I might still marry my fiancé instead. Wait, I might want to marry you now.” Blah, blah, blah.
***End Spoilers***

The gist of story was Mike and Hildy, but there were some great side characters as well:
1) Tony G is the genie that Hildy inherits by accident. For a two-thousand-year-old warrior, he’s pretty savvy to current fashions. Hildy soon has a closet full of top designer fashions, hair that grows longer within mere seconds, and a genie that can change her appearance with a flick of his gold genie dust.

2) Corrine is the stereotypical protective older sister, but that just made her character more likeable to me. I really enjoyed reading the interactions between the two sisters and really enjoyed their relationship.

Verdict: All in all, the story was Good. I finished it and it kept me entertained, which is really all I care about. Not a keeper, but still worth the time it took to read.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

2008-09-19T22:41:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." —Randy Pausch

A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave—"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"—wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have…and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

My Thoughts: I first fell under the spell of Randy Pausch in the fall of 2008. At that time, a co-worker of mine had shared with me the link the youtube presentation of Randy’s Last Lecture. I was mesmerized. Here’s a man who had every reason to be angry and to lash out at the injustice of his mortality. Instead, I watched a man whose grace and integrity touched a part of my heart and really made me think about what mattered most in life.

When I first opened the pages of The Last Lecture, I started crying. As I read the pages, I visualized the man I watched giving his last lecture at Carnegie Melon University; at the time of the lecture he appeared so vital and so healthy; it was hard to believe that he was even sick. Reading this book tonight, it was even more bitter-sweet because I was reading the words of a man who had passed away in July.

As I continued reading, my tears dried and I became submerged in the stories that Randy regaled about his life. I enjoyed the stories of his childhood and his dreams at the time. It was clear that Randy had a close relationship with his sister and his parents. His stories were lovingly told with such humor and intelligence; I couldn’t help but be taken with him.

I continued reading about how he met his wife Jai, about the birth of his first child, about the realization of so many of his dreams. I enjoyed the memoirs of Randy Pausch. I liked reading about a young, cocky Randy in his adventures through childhood, college, and career.

Dr. Pausch included a lot of little witty mottos, otherwise knows as “Pauschisms” in his book, the fundamentals of which are essentially common sense and common decency. Some of these “Pasuchisms” were his own; some were lessons he learned through others on his life journey.

Some of the ones that stuck with me?:

The brick walls are there for a reason. They’re not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. (p51-52).

Give yourself permission to dream. (P.133)

If you wait long enough, people will surprise and impress you. (p. 145)

There were several others. The book was filled with them. This is a man who was terminally ill and he’s trying to put a lifetime of learning down into a 200 page memoir. Something to think about.

I continued reading and then I got to the last section of the book. My heart broke for the father trying to say good bye to the three children who may be too young to ever remember him, for the wife who loved her husband so much she begged him not to die, and for the husband who loved his wife so profoundly that I literally felt it as I read every word he wrote about her.

Verdict: This was Excellent. As I read the book, it was never far from my mind that I was not this book’s intended audience. This book will serve as a memoir to Randy’s children who are so young that they will more than likely not have any memory of their father. This is his story in his words, for them. This is the legacy he leaves for his kids.

I encourage everybody to read this one. The world lost a great man the day Randy Pausch died.

Joe's Wife by Cheryl St. John

2008-09-14T08:31:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Tye Hatcher returned to Aspen Grove to find that life in the sleepy western town hadn't changed much. The townspeople stubbornly refused to see the man he had become. That is, everybody but Meg Telford. Meg definitely took notice of the reticent rancher and gave him a chance in like when no one else would. Still, Meg clung to the memories of her late husband, afraid of the feelings Tye aroused in her heart. And though Tye vowed to prove his worth to the town, could he ever prove to Meg that he was worthy of her love?

My Thoughts: Cheryl St. John is another new-to-me-author that I just couldn’t wait to try out. I’ve heard so many good things about her, and Kristie raves about this book all the time. So what better book to start off with than Joe’s Wife?

I really enjoyed this story. Tye has always been an outcast in town because of his background, but Meg had always been nice to him ~ even when they were kids. When Meg’s husband, Joe, dies in the war she needs a husband in order to keep her ranch afloat. So she asks Tye.

I enjoyed the elements of family and friendship in this one. The building of the relationship between Meg and Tye was told very well, as was the slow warming of the community towards Tye. The story was very well written and flowed easily.

Verdict: This was Very Good. So good, in fact, I’ve ordered several of CSJ’s back list to be added to the TBR pile. I cannot wait to read them.

The Official BBAW Giveaway List

2008-09-12T21:38:00.001-06:00

If you follow along for the festivities of BBAW at My Friend Amy, you will find many chances to win LOTS of goodies! Like what? Well have a look below. All of these things will be given away between September 15-19. There will be a huge variety of ways to win them and giveaways will be announced constantly throughout the week. So be sure to check in often!

A HUGE thank you to Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group USA, Harlequin, The B&B Media Group, Shera of SNS Blog Design, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, Catherine Delors, Pamela Binnings Ewen, Andromeda Romano-Lax, Ceceilia Dowdy, Sormag, Book Club Girl, Savvy Verse and Wit, Cafe of Dreams, Fashionista Piranha, and Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?.

Daily Raffles:
Monday--Books and Chocolate sponsored by My Friend Amy and Hey Lady! Whatcha' Readin?
Tuesday--Books and Going Green sponsored by My Friend Amy
Wednesday--Books and Coffee sponsored by My Friend Amy
Thursday--Books and Charity sponsored by My Friend Amy and Fashionista Piranha
Friday--Books and Movies sponsored by My Friend Amy

Win a Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit!
Do you find it's your turn to host book club and not only do you not know what to serve but you don't know what books to offer up for the next month's selection?! Let Book Club Girl come to your rescue with the Book Club Girl Hostess Survival Kit.

One lucky winner of the kit will receive:

* A basket of cheese, crackers, cookies and wine for up to 12 people
* 5 great book group books to vote on for your group's next pick. And Book Club Girl will then donate 12 copies whichever book is chosen for your entire group to read.
* 12 Book Club Girl mousepads to give out as party favors that night
* 12 Book Club Girl bookmarks to mark everyone's favorite passages
* 12 Book Club Girl coasters to protect your coffee table from all those wine glasses!

TWO SORMAG Goody Bags containing books and more!

A Special Pamper Me Basket from Cafe of Dreams!
From Avon Foot Works
~ Inflatable watermelon shaped foot tub
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Cooling Foot Lotion
~ 3.4 FL oz Watermelon Exfoliating Foot Scrub
~ 12 count Watermelon Effervescent Foot Tablets
~ An ARC of So Long At The Fair by Christina Schwarz
~ A variety of Hot Chocolate and Tea mixes

A pre-made blog template from SNSDesign!

A Subscription to Poetry Magazine from Savvy Verse and Wit!

BOOKS
Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen
The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax
John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy
Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy
Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley
A Tale Out of Luck by Willie Nelson with Mike Blakely
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
Gunmetal Black by Daniel Serrano
Isolation by Travis Thrasher
The Miracle Girls by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
Every Freaking! Day With Rachell Ray by Elizabeth Hilts
Dewey by Vicki Myron
The Shiniest Jewel by Marian Henley
Keep the Faith by Faith Evans
The Book of Calamities by Peter Trachtenberg
A is for Atticus by Lorilee Craker
After the Fire by Robin Gaby Fisher
Mike's Election Guide by Michael Moore
War as They Knew It by Michael Rosenberg
Fixing Hell By Col. (ret.) Larry C. James
Wild Boy: My Life with Duran Duran by Andy Taylor
The Last Under-Cover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil By Bob Hamer
Border Lass by Amanda Scott
Insatiable Desire by Rita Heron
Hungry for More by Diana Holquist
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Trespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Emerson Hancock
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish Ryan
Never Surrender by General Jerry Boykin
Dream in Color by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sánchez
Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton
Cobain Unseen by Charles R. Cross
Doing Business in 21st Century India by Gunjan Bagla
Branding Only Works on Cattle by Jonathan Salem Baskin
Launching a Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady, Orrin Woodward
How to Hear from God by Joyce Meyer
Knowing Right from Wrong by Thomas D. Williams
Pope John Paul II: An Intimate Life by Caroline Pigozzi
Pure by Rebecca St. James
He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobson
So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Wayne Jacobson and Dave Coleman
Move On, Move Up by Paula White
The Rosary by Gary Jansen
Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
Right Livelihoods by Rick Moody
by George by Wesley Stace
The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh
Dead Boys by Richard Lange
The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez
Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky
With Endless Sight by Allison Pittman
Harlequin Titles: To Be Announced

Many other blogs are giving away books and prizes for BBAW as well! You can see the links to all of these giveaways here.

Interested in gaining entries into the daily raffles? Post this complete list on your blog with links and you'll earn two extra entries!

Unbelievable

2008-09-11T21:23:00.012-06:00

Today's been a weird day. Last night I had funky dreams about a man I haven't seen in years. I met M 17 years ago when we worked together at a restaurant. He was a cook, I was a waitress. There was something that immediately drew me to M, even if our first conversation was a bit of a shouting match because I was the new girl and he was the ass behind the grill. But, he had the most mesmerizing eyes. A beautiful deep blue that I could just drown in. Just awesome. We worked together for several years. I had a bit of a crush on M for most of that time, but he had a girlfriend so nothing ever came of it. Until he didn't have a girlfriend anymore.

With us, I guess it was easy because we already knew each other, although when he first asked me out it scared me to death and I ran. But, he chased me and showed up at my house. That's all it took. That's how it began. I don't think you could really call what we did dating, but we hung out. Or maybe he hung out. And I fell hard. We were in our mid-twenties at the time and we had fun. We went dancing, although he couldn't dance I still loved being held in his arms. We'd play pool, we'd hang out, we'd drink. Eventually, we slept together and then eventually we stopped hanging out and it essentially became about the sex. At least it did for him. For me, I was lost. I was just in so deep with this guy that I lost myself. I'm not a casual sex person, but I couldn't say no to him. I just couldn't.

About a year later, he got a job with the oil rigs and left the restaurant. He'd be gone for weeks at a time, and then would be home for a week or two. He'd go out drinking with his friends and then would show up at my house for I guess what is basically a booty call. We didn't go out anymore, although I desperately wanted to. But it got to the point where I just couldn't do it. I didn't feel good about myself anymore. But if I was around M, I just couldn't say no. So I hid. A mutual friend would tell me when he was coming to town, so I'd go hide out at my sister's until he was gone. That was the only way I could stop it. It was unhealthy for me and for him, really.

My heart shattered.

Time passed and soon I didn't have to hide anymore. More time passed and ultimately I was able to have fun again. I went out with my friends again. I dropped my guard. I laughed. And eventually, I met the ex-fiance.

Life went on and eventually ex and I split. Then in 1999, M called out of the blue. Evidently, he'd sought out my sister in the hopes of tracking me down. According to her, he and his fiance had split and he basically just wanted a friend. He asked my sister for my number. She gave it to him, although I chewed her out because of that later. Anyway, M called and asked me out for lunch. I was struck dumb, but asked the only real thing I could: "Why?" I can't really remember what he said other than an uncomfortable "Ohhhhhhhh-kay". I don't remember what he said. I don't know how he talked me into it, but I agreed to meet him at my sister's restaurant for lunch. I got ready, went to my car, put the key in the ignition, and.....nothing. It wouldn't start. I called M and told him I couldn't make it, but then he offered to pick me up.

I remember waiting for him and thinking it was a mistake. I was hurt so badly with him the first time, and my heart was still tender from the break-up with my ex. Thoughts just rambled in my mind as I waited, which gave me time to second guess everything. But then he knocked on the door and I immediately saw those eyes. We went to lunch and talked for hours, we really did. Everything and nothing all at the same time. He'd been engaged, but she'd cheated on him; I'd been engaged, but he'd cheated on me.

That's how it started again. We'd meet for meals, or we'd go for walks, or drives. We talked. We actually did become friends. He'd call before he went to bed. He'd call in the morning. He'd just show up. Kiddo and I would go to the park with him and his daughter. We watched movies. I met his Mom and Dad, and soon I'd be hanging out at his house as much as he hung out at mine. He cooked me dinner. He even drove down to my mom's house to spend the evening with her. It was nice. It really was.

When he had an accident, I was the person he called from the hospital because he wanted me to be with him. So I met him at his house after his dad brought him home. He told me his ex had gone to the hospital to see him and he'd actually gotten some closure. He was moving on.

It was like that for months and I got comfortable. But then M called me. He said his ex wanted him back and he just didn't know what to do. He didn't know who to choose. I told him the only thing I could, that I wouldn't choose for him because if I told him to choose me, if we were unhappy he'd hold it against me for the rest of our lives; but I wasn't going to tell him to choose her either. I told him that only he could make that decision, only he knew his heart.

He chose her.

That was years ago, but I can't deny that there's still some part of me that cares for this man. I still think of him from time to time and I still think of what might have been if he'd chosen me instead. And sometimes, I still wish he had. He's my Mr. Big without the bank account. He's the elusive guy that I can't get out of my head, or my heart. No matter how many times I wish I could.

So last night I dreamed about him. Haven't seen him in years, but he invades my dreams sometimes. Last night was one of those times. I dreamed we were together. I dreamed of a kiss like the hundreds he gave me before. I woke up this morning and for a split second I believed it. And then I didn't. And it made me sad.

Tonight, I went out to dinner with my best friend. We were sitting and chatting having a good time when who should come in with his wife but M. He went to the table across from us and sat so he was facing me because he does that. Every few years if we do find ourselves in the same place, he always faces me. But tonight, I couldn't look at him. So we left.

Needless to say, I'm a bit reflective tonight. I have to wonder at the timing. Perhaps seeing M again wouldn't have affected me so much if I hadn't had the dream about him last night. Or maybe it would have.

But one thing's for certain, I was sure glad I had my black wrap dress on. It may be vanity, but I was glad I looked good. Because I can gleefully say that he can look at me all he wants, and then he can look at that unhappy, sour woman who was sitting across from him at that table and know that he chose that.

Friend says he traded down. I'm not sure about that. But I was able to get out of there and go on. For the most part I'm happy and that's all that matters.

So guess what, M? I won.

Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, M.D.

2008-09-11T21:20:00.000-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Who Moved My Cheese? Is a simple parable that reveals profound truths about change. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a "Maze" and look for "Cheese" to nourish them and make them happy.

Two are mice named Sniff and Scurry. And two are "Littlepeople" -- beings the size of mice who look and act a lot like people. Their names are Hem and Haw.

"Cheese" is a metaphor for what you want to have in life -- whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, health, or spiritual peace of mind.

And "The Maze" is where you look for what you want -- the organization you work in, or the family or community you live in. The characters are faced with unexpected change.

In the story, the characters are faced with unexpected change. Eventually, one of them deals with it successfully, and writes what he has learned from his experience on the maze walls.

When you come to see "The Handwriting on the Wall," you can discover for yourself how to deal with change, so that you can enjoy less stress and more success (however you define it) in your work and in your life.

Written for all ages, the story takes a less than an hour to read, but its unique insights can last a lifetime.

Verdict: Okay, so it's a textbook. But I read it, so I'm posting it. Actually, this one was very good. As pretty much explained in the synopsis, Who Moved My Cheese? is about adapting to change. We control how we react to change and this is the story of 8 characters (4 actual, 4 fictitious) and how they learn to adapt to change. I was actually able to relate to a lot about what this was about. Change is constant in our work, both professionally and personally. This book reminds us that we must take the time to laugh at ourselves and choose how we want to adapt. We can move forward or we can stand still. The ones who move forward are the ones who will succeed; the ones who stand still will find themselves either following the pack, or languishing.

I found this book to be Very Good. I enjoyed it. It was a simple read, told in a "storybook" kind of way that was both entertaining and enlightening.

Colleen Unleashed, CF Fundraiser. Help Spread the Word!

2008-09-11T15:20:00.003-06:00

The ladies at Book Binge are doing yet another good deed at their blog. Let's all help Colleen reach her goal:

Taken from Book Binge:

Colleen Gleason, author of the wildly popular Gardella Vampire Chronicles, is currently fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis. Colleen's personal goal is $1000. She is currently at $890, but we would love to see her meet and even exceed her goal.

Our friends at Book Binge have put together a grab bag full of books - 17 in all - that they're going to give away to one lucky winner. All you have to do to be entered is post about this contest and Colleen's fundraiser on your blog, website, MySpace, Facebook or Twitter account encouraging your readers to donate, and leave a link for us in the comments section. The more places you talk about the fundraiser contest, the more times they'll enter your name. Make sure you include a link to the donation page!

The grab bag will include recently released novels from Elizabeth Boyle, Diane Mott Davidson, Jodi Picoult, Sabrina Jeffries, Melody Thomas, Victoria Alexander and many, many more.

If you want a chance to win, have your entries in to Book Binge by Friday, September 19.

Let's help Colleen reach her goal!

Donate here!!

The Chosen Sin Contest

2008-09-11T07:47:00.003-06:00

Anya Blast is having an awesome giveaway at her blog. Seriously. You need to go check it out. She's got some amazing prizes!

Author Interview & Contest

2008-09-10T14:04:00.002-06:00

The ladies at Book Binge are having an author interview today with Jill Shavis. Go here to check it out, and if you leave a comment you'll get a chance to win a book from Jill's backlist!

Over Hexed by Vicki Lewis Thompson

2008-09-08T12:50:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Banished. Until their unconventional techniques landed them in hot water, Dorcas and Ambrose were the matchmaking sex therapists for lovelorn witches and wizards. The Grand High Wizard has exiled them to the very conventional and unmagical town of Big Knob, Indiana, Pop. 947. But that doesn't mean they've given up matchmaking . . .

Now they're doing it for mere mortals-although all agree: Sean Madigan is something of a god. Because he's tired of being the town sex object, Dorcas and Ambrose strip him of his appeal and then introduce him to his destiny, Maggie Grady. This time winning a girl's heart won't be so easy for Sean. It means rediscovering the charms buried beneath a gorgeous surface.

My Thoughts: Believe it or not, this was my first Vicki Lewis Thompson book. I’ve been meaning to read the Nerd series for a long time now, but so far I just haven’t gotten around to it.

Anyway, back to my thoughts. I really enjoyed this story. I think VLT is a wonderful story teller. I was drawn right in and enjoyed every moment of it. She’s great at humor and definitely writes some hot love scenes also. Honestly. Shower sex. Tree sex. Car sex. It was all in there.

I really enjoyed Sean and Maggie. They were definitely likable characters and I found myself rooting for them, both separately and together.

The only part of the story I’m undecided about? George, an I-Pod listening dragon that claims to have ADD. That part of the story just seemed to take away from the book for me. I’m sure I’m in the minority, but it just added an element of the ridiculous that I just couldn’t get past.

Verdict: This was Good. I look forward to reading the follow-up Wild & Hexy. I’m such a sucker for unrequited love stories.

The Weekend

2008-09-08T11:29:00.004-06:00

We left Billings Thursday night, stopped in Bozeman to eat at The Chinatown Restaurant, and then continued on to Deer Lodge, where we stayed at the Western Big Sky Inn. The hotel itself wasn't bad. It was cheap, clean and roomy which is what we needed since there were 4 of us. Unfortunately, we had an ass in the room above us. About 1am, he started banging on doors ~ every half hour until about 5. The only reason I didn't call to complain was because the phone was across the room. Then there was the fact that Deer Lodge is where the state prison is. Sister and I both had vivid imaginings of an escaped conflict loose at our hotel. :-) Anyway, he eventually stopped, but we didn't get much sleep anyway.

Baby-J started throwing up about 2:30am. Poor thing. It didn't really seem to affect her mood, though. She was still trying to play and she was still happy. But she definitely sick.

We got off to a late start on Saturday, between the door banger, and a sick baby we slept through our alarm and didn't get up until after 7! We had some coffee, except poor Kiddo spilled hers right in her female area. Luckily she didn't get burned, but she wasn't happy. Truthfully, she's 16, so I'm not sure how often she's happy anyway.

We then went out for breakfast. After placing our order, Kiddo and I went outside to take some pictures of the Old Prison that was right across the street from the restaurant. One day, we'll go back and actually take a tour.

We got to Hamilton close to noon, opened the door to our father's house, and..............nobody's home. He and step-mom were both working! Turns out, Little Sis was home, but she was sleeping in the back. She woke up eventually though, but then went out to lunch with a friend, so Sister, Kiddo, Baby-J and I all headed to the motel to check in. Our room was comped because Father and Step-mom both work there. Of course, when we got there, Father had just left to go home :-)

After checking-in and letting Step-Mom show off her family for a bit, we stopped by Super-1 foods so Sister could buy some PediaLite for Baby-J, and then we went out for a bite to eat and then headed back to Father's house. He made some soup because we'd mentioned that we'd liked it the last time we visited. It was good. Unfortunately, Baby-J couldn't even keep the broth down. We ended up going back to the hotel early and hoping baby could get some sleep. Ended up having to get two extra sets of sheets for Baby, but she eventually was able to get some sleep.

Saturday, we'd made plans with Little Sis, so we headed over to Father's about 11. She was still in bed, but it didn't take her long to get ready. We went to the new sushi place in town and it was phenomenal. I hope that they get the business to sustain it, because it really was good. Baby-J was still sick, so Sister took her back to the hotel to sleep, then Little Sis, Kiddo, and I went shopping. We went to the used book store where I bought the entire Virigin River series for $5, the second in the Grace Valley series for $1, and Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux for $.50. Not bad, if I do say so myself :-) We then went to the art supply store, the Christian book store, and then the candy store. After that, Little Sis asked me to drop her off back at Father's so she could visit her mom, so Kiddo and I went back to the motel to check on Sister and Baby-J, then headed back to Father's. Baby-J basically just layed down the whole time ~ poor thing, she just wasn't doing good. We ended up going back to the motel early again so baby could get some sleep.

Then Sunday morning about 1am, it hit me. Full frontal flu. It was awful. After being up all night with that, needless to say I wasn't up for much yesterday at all. Went down to hotel lobby for a piece of dry toast and Step-Mom told me Father and Little Sis were both sick also. Talk about bad timing. But, the good news was Baby-J was feeling much better.

We went to Father's, but Little Sis was in bed so we didn't want to wake her. We talked to Father for a little while and then headed out for home. It was probably the quickest trip home we'd ever made because we didn't stop anywhere. I was sick, Kiddo wasn't feeling well, and Baby-J pretty much slept the whole time.

Last night, I still had 100 degree temp, so I called in sick to work (which I never do), and decided to just take it easy today.

So, that was my weekend in a nutshell.

Like a Dirty Shirt.........

2008-09-04T11:13:00.002-06:00

I'm off. Will hopefully be back early Sunday so I have a little blogging time. Or not. I still have to write my paper that's due on Monday. Still no idea what I'm going to write about. Although, I dreamed about a great first sentence last night. I've forgotten it now. Sure hope it comes back........

Reason 1,000,0001 Why I love Rosie

2008-08-30T18:31:00.003-06:00

So, I get home from watching Baby-J tonight and guess what what was in my mailbox??? My very own personalized signed copy of Twisted Creek by Ms. Jodi Thomas!!!! How awesome is that???

Rosie, thank you so much!!! This was so unexpected and so very much appreciated!

What Type of Man Turns You On

2008-08-30T12:15:00.002-06:00

Jane twittered about this today and I couldn't help myself. I really should be reading, but I'm a great fan of time-suckage.

Your result for The What type of MAN turns you on Test...

Tough guy

You scored 75% masculine, 65% athletic, 36% exotic, and 50% refined!

You love men, you love testosterone and you know it. You like a bad-ass man who knows what he wants. He isn't what you might bring home to mom but I don't think it really matters - he's hot! Someone like.....Vin Diesel. But let's face it, the whole point of this was to look at a bunch of hot guys. If you liked what you saw, please rate my test!

Take The What type of MAN turns you on Test at HelloQuizzy

The Marriage Bed by Laura Lee Guhrke

2008-08-30T08:57:00.004-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: It was love at first sight for Lady Viola the night she met the dashing viscount John Hammond. Swept into a whirlwind courtship, it wasn’t until after their vows had been spoken that Viola learned the shattering truth: her beloved John had never loved her, had married her for her fortune…and worse still, saw nothing wrong with that. Heartbroken, she vowed never again to let the deceiving scoundrel into her bed.

John never intended to hurt the headstrong beauty who has become a stranger to him. Now, after years of sham marriage, he is in need of an heir, and John is faced with a luscious, intriguing challenge—seducing his own wife. He must persuade Viola back into their marriage bed, but this time, he may be the one to lose his heart.

My Thoughts: I had my mind made up before I ever started this book that I wasn’t going to like it. I didn’t like the character of John in the first two books of the series and just didn’t see how LLG would redeem him. He was a man who married for money and then left his wife in order to pursue his sexual exploits in what seemed to be the bed of every other woman in London. When his cousin dies and it is forced upon him to produce an heir he must try to win Viola’s affections and persuade her to give their marriage a second chance.

I really enjoyed the character of Viola ever since she schemed to bring Anthony and Daphne together in Guilty Pleasures. I thought she deserved better than John and felt like he had a lot of work to do in order make up for the past 9 years of adultery. As I read the book, I just wasn’t sure that he did enough. Sure, he seduced her back into his bed, but I didn’t feel that he did enough to cause Viola to forgive him and fall in love with him again. Maybe that’s just me. I tend to read too much into my books sometimes, tend to personalize too often.

But then, John made the ultimate sacrifice. He made a speech that rivaled the one Anthony made in Guilty Pleasures. The man made a fool of himself all for the sake of proving his love to Viola, and even I forgave him.

Verdict: This was Very Good. It was great seeing Anthony and Daphne (Guilty Pleasures), and Dylan and Grace (His Every Kiss) again and I enjoyed seeing all of the couples interact together. In spite of myself, I found myself really liking this story and I was so glad to see that LLG made John a redeemable and even likable hero.

Can't Talk Now

2008-08-27T07:38:00.003-06:00

Literally. I think I caught Kristie's cold or MM's brain-eating amoeba.

Cough, cough.

Wheeze, wheeze.

Today's the Day!!

2008-08-25T15:00:00.002-06:00

Can you believe I almost forgot to post about this? Tonight is orientation for classes!!! Ready or not, I'm school-bound for the next 6-12 months. But then, I'll finally be done!!!

Contest - Daughters of Boston Week

2008-08-25T08:20:00.004-06:00

My Friend Amy's blog is having a great contest this week. Everyday there will be something fun related to the Daughters of Boston posted and each day will introduce you to new ways you can win!

The grand prize...

A copy of A Passion Most Pure
A copy of A Passion Redeemed signed by Julie!
A 3.5 bag of Boston baked beans
A $15 Starbucks gift card so you can lose yourself in a good book!

And two additional people will win copies of A Passion Redeemed!

How to win:

1) This week, each time you comment on a post labeled Daughters of Boston you will get one entry. These must be relevant comments.
2) Blog about this contest including a link back to her blog post and the cover of A Passion Redeemed and you will get 5 entries.
3) Read the posts this week...there will be additional ways to gain entries revealed!

The grand prize is open to those with a United States mailing address only.

You Know You're Addicted When.......................

2008-08-24T09:17:00.008-06:00

You walk through Target taking pictures of book covers, so that you can rush home to check your library's website to see if they have them.

Yesterday, Kiddo and I did a little date day. We went to the library (I bought 8 friends of the library books ~ $2.00), we went for gelato, and then we went to Target so kiddo could see if the keyboard she wanted was still there (it was). While we were there, I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to go to the book section to see what was there. As I was browsing, I made the comment that I wish I had a pen and paper, so I could write the titles down and check the library when I got home. Kiddo said that my phone had a notepad and I could text it (ps - not a big fan of the texting thing. It takes me forever.). Kiddo offered to text for me, but then the lightbulb went off ~ I have a camera phone!! So I told her I would just take pictures of the covers and then look them up when I got home. PS ~ Kiddo didn't stick around. I think she was 2 or 3 aisles over.

Kiddo made the remark that she didn't know why I was looking at books anyway because I'm not reading the ones I have (she's right). I told her that you never knew when you had the time to read a good book and I liked to have options. Kiddo then said she thought I had about 800 books; I told her I thought it was more like 749 (semantics, anyone???).

We were both wrong.

I checked my librarything account today.

940 books owned, not including the pile on my living room floor that I haven't cataloged yet.

585 of these books are in my tbr pile.

82 of these books are in my TBR Challenge pile (books I really want to read by the end of the year ~ and PS, I think I started the year with 84 books in this pile. What can I say ~ I get distracted.).

I have pictures. I should really post them sometime. I really have run out of room. If I ever disappear, my family knows that they'll be able to find my body buried underneath the stacks in my living room.

That being said ~ it's almost October! The new Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas will be released then, and then in November the new Robyn Carr books will be out. I'm saving room at the top of my TBR pile. I think I'll have some time to read around Christmas.

Update

2008-08-23T08:12:00.010-06:00

Wow, has it really been 2 weeks since I last posted??? Well, that pretty much tells you I haven't been reading. I'm in the middle of The Marriage Bed by Laura Lee Guhrke right now and hopefully will finish it this weekend. Life's just been busy.

My best friend's son got married last Saturday, so Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday was all time donated to her family. We had a great time cooking, laughing, drinking, etc., etc.

This past week has just been impromptu all over the place. Had a dinner party Tuesday night at a friend's house. Wednesday night was the dinner given for volunteers at the hospital (this is my niece's 3rd year). And of course, this weekend is my Baby-J time.

My youngest sister is state-side right now (she's in the Air Force). We've missed her a lot. She served a year in Iraq last year and then when she got home, she found out her husband had been cheating on her with the wife of one of her fellow-soldiers. Needless to say, she got a divorce and asked for a transfer to Sydney, Australia. Anyway, short story long, my sister, the kids, and I are taking another road trip up to Hamilton the weekend of September 4th to visit our father and to see our sister.

Let's see ~ what else, what else, what else??? I applied for housing on-campus at work. I'm really praying I get it because my finances are in a bit of a mess and it would really be a God-send. I'd have to be on-call a few days a week, but it's worth it for free housing and utilities. I could actually get things paid off, and might even have some left over to put into savings!

Kiddo and I went and saw Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 the night it opened. I loved it! I think I actually liked it better than the first one.

Oh, almost forgot ~ I watched North and South. Twice. Currently, I'm on the 10th episode of the 2nd season of Sex and the City.

Monday is the big day. Starting that day, I'm afraid, about the only things I'll be reading are large text books dealing with transitional leadership and business management.

I think that's it in a nutshell. Hopefully, I'll get some reading done. And I've starred an obscene amount of posts in my blogger reader that I need to catch up on.

A Bit Late to the Party ~ Book Blogger Appreciation

2008-08-23T07:41:00.001-06:00

I saw this at Book Binge, who saw that Marg blogged about this over at her blog.

My Friend Amy is putting together a Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I definitely think it's a great idea and hope you all decide to participate! The details from Amy's blog below:

Book Bloggers: You work hard. You read books, you write reviews, you maintain relationships with your readers, publicists, and authors. You are constantly running to the post office to mail your giveaways and participating in carnivals to help boost traffic. You sometimes want to faint when you see the size of your TBR pile, but faithfully you read. And you do it because you love it. Book blogging is for most a hobby. But it's a hobby that takes a lot of work and time. It's a labor of love.

I've been blogging for three years but only really got into book blogging in the last year. I have found, without a doubt, that book bloggers are the kindest, most open minded, and supportive group of bloggers on the internet. With book blogging, it's about community and a love for the written word.

The Readers: We love you! You don't have a blog, but you read our reviews and share your thoughts with us. You enter our giveaways and click on our Amazon associates link. We do this for you and appreciate your readership. We hope you'll join in the fun and festivities of BBAW! (we'll have a special contest just for you!)

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Acknowledging the hard work of book bloggers and their growing impact on book marketing and their essential contribution to book buzz in general, I am excited to announce the first Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Think of it as a retreat for book bloggers and a chance for us to totally nerd out over books together. And of course, shower each other with love and appreciation.

Register: In order to experience the maximum impact of the week, I invite you to register your participation (just like a retreat)!

To register, just send an email to bookbloggerappreciationweekATgmailDOTcom with your blog url and what you consider your niche...i.e, general book blog, classics blog, personal blog with a healthy dose of books, YA books blog, etc. Then, add one of the two buttons at the bottom of this post to your sidebar. If you are a reader (no blog) just send an email announcing your plans to follow along.

Why bother? If you register, you will be added to a book blog directory which will exist long after this week is over. Additionally, you will receive one raffle entry into the daily giveaways during BBAW here at My Friend Amy.

Awards: Oh yes, there will be awards. The Oscars of Book Blogging. :) Nominations start next week.

Spread the Word: If you are excited about this idea like I am and the other book bloggers who are helping, please consider writing a post on your blog announcing this event and inviting other book bloggers and readers to join.

Help Wanted: If you have a talent for designing buttons (like those below) and would like to donate some of your time and skill to me, please email me personally at mypalamyATgmailDOTcom.

You can use these nifty little buttons to promote the cause as well:

The Seductive One by Susan Mallery

2008-08-09T22:49:00.004-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Of all the Marcelli sisters, the one who dreams of running the family's winery is Brenna -- and she's about to get her chance. But taking the helm at Marcelli Winery is tougher than she bargained for -- especially when she butts heads with her grandfather, whose Old World ways dictate that a male should inherit the business. In need of some fast capital in order to prove her grandfather wrong, Brenna turns to Nic Giovanni, her family's nemesis....Years ago, she ended her secret relationship with Nic, choosing loyalty to her family over the hot passion they shared. But now he's back in her life, he's loaned her a million dollars, and their feelings for each other are stronger than ever. Brenna must find out for herself: is Nic the love of her life? Or the schemer who could topple the Marcelli dynasty -- and break her heart?

My Thoughts ***CONTAINS SPOILERS***: I enjoyed this one maybe most out of the series so far. Anyone who knows me at all knows I’m a sucker for an unrequited love / lost love kind of story. Brenna and Nic secretly dated 10 years ago and fell in love. Because they come from families that are mortal enemies of each other, they reached the point in their relationship where they needed to choose their future. Nic chose Brenna; Brenna chose her family. Nic was kicked out of the family and went to Europe while Brenna married a man she didn’t love.

Brenna finds herself working with Nic and the more time she spends with him, the more the old feelings surface. And when the old feelings surface, new conflicts arise. Such as Brenna finding out Nic had betrayed her. How she and her family handle this betrayal is great story telling by Susan Mallery, in my opinion.

I also enjoyed that the long-lost brother Joe makes an extended appearance in this story and I found myself really liking him. I enjoyed the reluctant, uncomfortable bond he formed with his sisters and how he soon adapted to being a bit of a protective older brother, especially to Brenna.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I enjoyed Brenna’s story very much and was happy to see that the conflicts that had been hinted at in the previous books came to a very satisfying conclusion. And I have to say, I found myself really liking that old crusty man, Lorenzo Marcelli, by the end of this story.

The Sassy One by Susan Mallery

2008-08-09T22:32:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Francesca Marcelli married at eighteen -- right on schedule, according to her warm, colorful family, who have always said a beauty like Francesca need never worry about finding love. But a few years later, finding herself on her own with a wide open future ahead of her, she pursues her educational passions -- with a risky experiment that takes her straight into the arms of playboy CEO Sam Reese. Delighted by Francesca's interest in a no-strings relationship, Sam suddenly finds himself needing her outside the bedroom when a secret from his past lands on his doorstep. But Francesca soon has a secret of her own to tell -- a bombshell that will force the diehard bachelor to show his true colors. Are there "I do"s in Sam and Francesca's future? Only if she can persuade him that home truly is where the heart finds happiness.

My Thoughts: The second book in the Marcelli series is a great way to spend a day. I enjoyed Francesca and Sam’s relationship, starting from the unusual way they met. And of course, the writing’s on the wall as soon as they agree to have sex with no strings. They soon formed a friendship that turned into a relationship, unbeknownst to them.

The only thing I couldn’t forgive about the book and something that still bugs me is how Kelly (Sam’s secret daughter) traveled to Santa Barbara from New York. The 12-year-old girl ran right up to the counter, late for the flight and they let her right on??? No ID? No parent? A child claiming to be 15 and they didn’t question it? The way airport security is now? That was a stickler for me and still bugs me.

Okay, maybe a second thing bugged me a bit too. The use of the word “panties”. Maybe it’s a regional thing, I don’t know. But I don’t think grown women wear panties, do they? Underwear? Yes. Lingerie? Yes. Panties? Again, maybe it’s just a regional thing. But that left me with a bit of an ick factor.

Verdict: This was Good. Mallery’s writing is very good in this one, I just couldn’t get past the few things that bugged me. All in all, though, I did enjoy the read and was happy to spend some time with my favorite Irish-Italian family again.

Degree or Not Degree, That is the Question

2008-08-05T07:32:00.005-06:00

So, you would think that if somebody has a degree they would know it, wouldn't you? Wouldn't that be the logical conclusion? Evidently not. See, I attended a business college back in 1993-1994 pursuing an Associates' in Travel Management. I left in April 1994 after an extended internship which lead me to a job in a travel agency. I never finished. Shortly after that, the college closed down. They went by a new name for awhile and then disappeared off the face of the earth.

Well, since I'm pursuing going back to finish my degree I've been trying to locate my old transcripts from the various colleges I've attended over the years. San Fernando Mission College (now known as LA Mission College), check. MSU-B, check. Billings Business College? Not so much. They're not around anymore so I hadn't pursued it. Until my advisor told me to contact the Montana Department of Higher Education because they should be able to help me locate at the very least an old course schedule or something like that. So, I contacted them on Sunday via email not expecting much.

Monday morning, I had an email back from them giving me the name of Remington College along with their phone number and website. Evidently, they've taken over all of the old Business College records. So, I went to their website and put in my request. Within minutes, I kid you not, I had a response from their records clerk. Who stated (and I quote), "I have a copy of your degree here, but am having trouble locating your records". Evidently the older records are filed by social security number and not by name. So I let her know what my ss was and waited for her to pursue it. My mind didn't even register the degree thing because I'd never graduated. I thought maybe she was referring to the degree program or something like that.

Yesterday afternoon, she faxed me my records. 60 credits and an AAS degree conferred as of September 2, 1994 in Travel Management. I have a degree???? Evidently I had all my credits, but I never went through any kind of ceremony. I never got a letter (at least not that I can remember) stating I'd achieved enough credits for graduation. As far as I knew, I'd never finished.

Again I ask you: If somebody has a degree they would know it, wouldn't they?

Contest!

2008-08-02T07:18:00.005-06:00

The ladies at Book Binge are generously giving away a brand new copy of Acheron or Breaking Dawn to one lucky winner. All you have to do is go leave a comment at their blog letting them know which book you want. The contest ends Monday, so you better hurry :-)

The Official Word Is.......

2008-07-31T18:07:00.003-06:00

I got a $7,500 scholarship from work! Orientation starts August 25. Classes start September 8.

Accccckkkk!

The Sparkling One by Susan Mallery

2008-07-30T20:32:00.005-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: A party planner extraordinaire, Katie Marcelli loves her big, boisterous family -- even when their chronic matchmaking drives her crazy! In the Marcelli household, fine wine and good food are as celebrated as true love, so when her eighteen-year-old sister announces her engagement, Katie promises her the perfect wedding. There's only one hitch: the father of the groom, Zach Stryker, who is adamantly opposed to his son marrying so young. Now, despite her instant attraction to the handsome, arrogant attorney, Katie must approach with caution: Zach, who hired Katie for a major fundraiser, holds the fate of her business in his hands -- and how can she trust a man who is willing to break her sister's heart? It will take a passionate battle of wills to determine if wedding bells will ring for a Marcelli bride, and to unlock the deepest desires -- for family, love, and home -- inside a strong-willed man's heart.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story. I’ve had the Marcelli books in my stacks for quite awhile now, but after talking to Nath and Anne over at Anne’s blog, I was motivated to whip these out and start reading them. And can I just say, I had an uber-crush on Zach from the very beginning???

This book is not only about Katie and Zach, but also encompasses the entire Marcelli Irish-Italian clan. I enjoyed the family aspect of the story, and I think SM did a wonderful job of world building for the future Marcelli books. I enjoyed Francesca, Brenna, and Mia almost as much as I did Katie and Zach (notice I said almost). Did I enjoy the grandfather, Lorenzo’s, male chauvinistic views?? No. Not so much, but it gives great groundwork for Brenna’s story and I can’t wait to see how she resolves this conflict.

As far as the much coveted ILY, I thought it came too soon. I was just starting to actually believe in Zach and Katie as a couple and then in the last two pages, it was over. I wouldn't have minded if the story would have been a little longer, but I suppose 326 pages is long enough. I have no suggestions on what could have made this better. It's just my opinion.

Verdict: This was Very Good. This was a wonderful starter book for the series and I’m looking forward to reading the rest soon (hopefully).

The Secrets of Rosa Lee by Jodi Thomas

2008-07-30T20:10:00.000-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Everyone assumes Rosa Lee Altman lived a life without passion. But buried secrets are meant to be revealed. And no one is prepared for what they discover beneath Rosa Lee's overgrown roses -- or how her legacy will change their lives with love.

The once beautiful Altman home sits empty, its gardens overgrown, its windows boarded up -- an old lady, now silent, surrounded by what passes for progress in Clifton Creek, Texas. But if some of the townsfolk have their way, this lovely reminder of times past will be sold off to the highest bidder.

When a group of community members with little in common is chosen to decide the fate of "the old Altman place," they soon learn that this home is more than bricks and mortar. It's also a place that harbors a love so strong, it still has the power to change the entire town.

My Thoughts: Jodi Thomas is a great storyteller. Her stories have a way of keeping people engaged and involved in what the characters are doing. What I like most is that her stories aren’t just about the male and female relationships, they also encompass entire communities. This story is no different.

In Clifton Creek, we have Sidney Dickerson, and orphaned professor nearing her 40th birthday, Sloan McCormick, a loner who is in town on business; Ada May and Beth Ann Rogers, retired schoolteachers who have a knack for getting into trouble (and creating some great laugh out loud moments for this reader); Lora Whitman, a newly divorced young woman trying to break free of her overbearing mother; Billy Hatcher, a young man trying to break free of a reputation he didn’t earn; Micah Parker, a widowed pastor living alone with his young son, and Randi Howard, a widowed local woman who owns a neighborhood bar. This group, with the exception of Sloan and Randi, has the unenviable task of deciding the fate of the Altman home, the former residence of the founder of Clifton Creek.

The group is immediately drawn together from a catastrophe at their first meeting and it seems hardship and sabotage follows them as they continue to meet to decide the fate of this house. As they grow closer, they become a makeshift family and support each other as some of the committee members make discoveries about themselves and their pasts that they never saw coming.

Verdict: This was Good. I should also mention that this is a loose follow-up to The Widows of Wichita County, which I still haven’t read. I think Rosa Lee is probably better than I give it credit for, but I just had problems getting through it. Mostly because my mind kept straying to what I was going to read next, so I wasn’t concentrating on what I should have been. I may have to re-read this again. You know. In the perfect world where I actually finish reading everything in my TBR pile.

The Texan's Dream by Jodi Thomas

2008-07-30T19:43:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Fleeing trouble in Pittsburgh, young Kara O'Riley has no choice but to travel as far west as her meager funds will take her. And when she is hired as a bookkeeper for a sprawling Texas ranch, she quickly decides that her new employer, Jonathan Catlin, is the coldest, strangest man she's ever known. He tells her he has exactly one year to make the ranch a success - - but she has a feeling there's an awful lot more he's not telling her. For one thing, there's something odd about the Catlin Ranch. For another, she has glimpsed a hint of tenderness in Jonathan's gorgeous, haunted eyes - - and suddenly her lonely, aching heart is filled with fire . . . ..

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story. I loved the relationship between Jonathan and Kara. I liked the friendship that they built, knowing that they were attracted to each other. I think that Kara complimented him because she was a fiery Irish girl, which I think Jonathan, a self-proclaimed savage, needed. She stood up to him and she stood up for him. Even though things seemed to progress quickly, the story was paced wonderfully and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Verdict: This was Very Good. It is the 5th in the McLain series, so I am anxious to pick up the other books in the series and read them soon.

It's Official (I think)

2008-07-28T08:22:00.004-06:00

School starts August 25. I'm freaking out. So many books to read before that time. I want to finish the Marcelli series by Susan Mallery (5 books total), the Guilty series by Laura Lee Guhrke (2 books left), the McLain series by Jodi Thomas (4 books left), on and then thanks to Holly, I just remembered that the Grace Valley series by Robyn Carr is being re-released (3 books). What's a girl to do????

In Memoriam

2008-07-25T13:26:00.002-06:00

Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture, has passed away due to pancreatic cancer. I'm at work now, so can't post a link, but if you have a chance, please go to youtube and check out his Last Lecture speech. He was such an inspirational man.

I'll be sure to keep his family in my prayers.

Busy

2008-07-23T20:57:00.002-06:00

I'm reading. This one sucked me right in.

I still need to post about The Texan's Dream (Very Good) and The Secrets of Rosa Lee (Good).

His Every Kiss by Laura Lee Guhrke

2008-07-20T08:18:00.001-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Everyone knows about Dylan Moore—his brilliant talent and his pleasure-seeking ways—but no one knows the torment that lies beneath his reckless veneer. Only one woman gets a glimpse of the forces that drive Dylan’s soul, a woman who haunts his dreams and evokes his passions as no other woman ever has before.

Disgraced and destitute, Grace Cheval wants nothing to do with the seductive man who desires her. When Dylan offers her a position as governess to his newfound daughter, she knows his true intentions are dishonorable. Yet she finds this charismatic man hard to resist, and she returns his passionate kisses with a fire that matches his own. Can Dylan dare hope that this proud, spirited beauty will melt the ice around his heart?

My Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I loved that both of characters were flawed in some way and had demons they were trying to deal with. Dylan’s was that he was a composer who could no longer compose; Grace’s was that she had fallen in love with a temperamental artist before and knew the pain of when that fiery love died.

I wasn’t quite sure what to think when the daughter, Rachel, was left with Dylan. Sometimes stories that have children in them seem to focus more on the child and not on the main characters. Luckily this was not the case here. Rachel was a great addition to the story ~ and really, the catalyst to Dylan and Grace because without Rachel, Dylan would have never needed a governess.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I thoroughly enjoyed Dylan and Grace’s story and look forward to reading the third book in this series, The Marriage Bed, soon.

I'm Back

2008-07-15T08:22:00.003-06:00

I'm back! Didn't get much reading done ~ only 2 1/2 books: The Texan's Dream by Jodi Thomas; His Every Kiss by Laura Lee Guhrke; and The Secrets of Rosa Lee by Jodi Thomas. The trip was fun and I'll post about it later. Right now, I've got some serious catching up I need to do at work.

Road Trip!!!

2008-07-07T20:41:00.004-06:00

Well, tomorrow we're off for our roadtrip to Silverwood Theme Park. I'll be thinking of you all as I am riding the wooden roller coasters and going down the 55mph waterslides :-)

I'm bringing the following to read:

The Texan's Dream by Jodi Thomas (currently halfway through)
Only His by Elizabeth Lowell
Keegan's Lady by Catherine Anderson
The Accidental Countess by Melissa Schroeder
Three Weddings and a Kiss (anth) by Catherine Anderson, Loretta Chase, Lisa Kleypas, Kathleen Woodiwiss
Testing Miss Toogood by Stella Cameron
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
His Every Kiss by Laura Lee Guhrke
A Rogue in Texas by Lorraine Heath

edited to add:

Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker (thanks, Nath!)

Of course, I know I'm never going to read all of these, but it's nice to have options. I'll be around until about noon tomorrow, so will be checking in every once and awhile. Behave :-)

Twisted Creek by Jodi Thomas

2008-07-06T21:01:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Bad luck's been biting at Allie Daniels's heels all her life, so when she inherits a tiny cafe in a small Texas community she's sure there's a catch. But Allie brings her grandmother along, and the cafe gives Nana a chance to do what she does best - cook. As the pair settle in to make the best of what surely must be a mistake in an old man's will, the people of the town drop by. Lonely folk discover there's always a "table for one" available, with down-home food to warm the soul. An old maid, a shy young man, and a drifter, slowly become the family Allie never had. When trouble comes, Allie finds she's not alone anymore -- and that, sometimes, the only cure for bad luck is the courage to love.

My Thoughts: I loved this story from beginning to end. Allie and Nana find themselves in a run-down cabin at Twisted Creek that doubles as a general store and a café. And though they are new to the area, they are not strangers to the people who live at Twisted Creek. Allie’s Uncle Jefferson, spoke of her often and so when he passed away, folks expected Allie and welcomed her as only a small community would do. And the small community soon engulfs Allie and Nana as one of their own, forming a make-shift family.

The cast of characters includes Willie, the fisherman who always stinks of the river; Mrs. Deats, the eccentric rich woman who lives alone at the top of the hill; Thomas, a young man living in his family’s home living inside his books and searching for direction in his life; Mary Lynn, a woman nearing middle age who is wrestling with demons from her past; Paul, a banker who is relearning how to live his life; the Landry brothers, former miners who spend their days fishing and eating; and Luke, the grandson of Jefferson’s best friend and who has more going on than what it seems.

The story was very easy to follow ~ it flowed nicely and the world-building was done slowly. The tale was told in two parts, really. Allie’s part of the story was told in 1st person; Luke’s part of the story was told in 3rd person. Yes, there was romance, but the story encompassed more than that. It was a story of friendship, of family, of community, and of just finding a place to belong.

Verdict: This was Excellent. Jodi Thomas is another new-to-me author and I’m really looking forward to reading more of her. I have a few of her westerns tucked away in my TBR stacks, so I plan on digging them out and reading them soon.

Destiny's Child by Barbara Bretton

2008-07-05T18:57:00.005-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Dakota Wylie didn't claim to understand men... But she did know that Patrick Devane was stubborn and angry and that he refused to let anyone, including his young daughter, get close. Dakota also knew she had no choice but to accept his reluctant hospitality. And he, her bold audacious company.

No woman had ever challenged Patrick so brazenly - while no man had ever seemed so daring and dangerous to Dakota. And no little girl had ever seemed so in need of a family. Now only time would tell if their destiny lay with each other.

My Thoughts: I don’t know what to say, really. I finished it. The writing was okay, not great. I’m truly conflicted is what I am. I wanted more.

Dakota Wylie is a woman of the 90’s who is transported to the 18th century via a hot-air balloon. She’s a Harvard educated librarian who believes herself to be fat and unstylish. Patrick Devane is a good-looking man with a hardened heart and no wishes to have it any other way. He’s also the single parent to 6-year-old Abigail, whom he believes is not his child so he treats her with about as much emotion as one would treat a stranger.

I really liked the history of the Revolutionary War that was involved in this novel. Ms. Bretton did a wonderful job of encompassing the war as part of the story line but not having it take over. The history itself was rich in this small book, but I really enjoyed the idea of a modern day woman being thrust back into the time where we were just the original thirteen colonies.

I did find out after I was finished reading that there were two prior books that dealt with the hot-air balloon theme: Somewhere in Time, and Tomorrow & Always. Although connected, I believe each book could stand on its own because I read this one and didn’t really feel like I was missing anything.

Verdict: This was Okay. With as much as I loved Just Desserts, I expected a whole lot more. I’m afraid that if this had been my first Barbara Bretton book, I probably wouldn’t be tempted to read more by her. Fortunately, I’ve read better from her and know she’s capable of more than what I got in this read.

Too Hot to Handle by Elizabeth Lowell

2008-07-04T20:09:00.004-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Tory Wells arrived at Sundance Ranch with only a battered suitcase and a letter from a friend that promised employment. Recovering from knee surgery, Tory desperately needed this job. And Ethan Reever was her only hope.

But Reever wasted no time in telling Tory he wanted nothing to do with some city-bred stranger. In his opinion, a woman like Tory knew nothing about ranch life, and he'd decided long ago that he had no use for pretty, useless women. Especially one who looked at him as innocently as Tory did -- no matter how much he desired her . . .

Tory knew one thing for certain. Determined to show him she could make it on her own, she vowed never to ask Reever for anything ever again. Not a job. Not money. And definitely not his love.

My Thoughts: Well, what can I say. I liked this in spite of myself. See, the story was a little bit too Diana Palmer-ish for my tastes; and I gave up Diana (who was one of my faves, btw) for one reason: I felt like I was re-reading the same story over, and over, and over again. The hero is always much older than the heroine, the heroine is almost always a virgin; the hero always calls the heroine “little one”, and the hero always has to explain what le petite morte is.

In Too Hot to Handle Reever, the hero, is 33; Tory, the heroine, is 20 (Palmer check #1); Tory is a virgin (Palmer check #2); Reever calls Tory “little one” (Palmer check #3); and although Reever doesn’t have to explain exactly what an orgasm is, he describes it as the two of them dying together (therefore, morte, therefore Palmer check #4).

Yes, I realize that this is Elizabeth Lowell, but I swear I could have been reading Diana Palmer. I really could have. In spite of this, the writing was good. I found myself submerged into the story and looking forward to what happens when I wasn’t reading it.

I did like Tory for the most part, although it did seem she played the victim a little too much, especially around Reever. She wasn’t strong in that aspect and that bugged me. I liked Reever also. Yes, he’s an ass, but that’s probably what I liked most about him. He wasn’t some lollypop version of a dime-store hero.

Okay, and so what if when she was in the throws of a good orgasm she said the three dreaded words ~~ I Love You. Not really my favorite thing to read, but I can deal with it. And of course Reever turned into and ass again for about 5 days after she said those dreaded words. Which caused the *gasp* big understanding. He thought she wanted to leave him to go back to competitive diving, she thought he could never love her. Sheesh, I hate big misunderstandings. But, it was all cleared up within the last few pages and I got my HEA with a big red bow tied around it.

And really, people should read it just for the bareback scene alone.

***This is a reprint. The story was originally published in Silhouette Desire #319 in November 1986***

Verdict: This was somewhere between Okay and Good. I enjoyed Elizabeth Lowell’s writing, even if the story itself held just about everything in it that I dislike about a novel. But I read it anyway, so that’s something. I’ve got more of Elizabeth’s books in my stacks and look forward to reading them in the future.

Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery

2008-07-03T08:28:00.004-06:00

Just (Didn't) Finish:
Synopsis: Is there anything sweeter than a first love?

Don''t ask Claire Keyes. The twenty—eight—year—old piano prodigy has never had a regular boyfriend, much less a real romance. Her music career has left little room for friends or family—which is just part of the reason she hasn''t seen the family bakery or her two sisters in years.

But now Nicole is sick, and Jesse is AWOL. Despite the fact that Claire can''t boil water, she''s determined to play caretaker. Connecting with her sisters tops her to—do list…along with falling in love, or at least in lust, for the first time.

Ruggedly sexy Wyatt just might fit the bill. Although he keeps saying that he and Claire come from entirely different worlds, he lights up hotter than a bakery oven whenever Claire is near. If this keeps up, she just might sweet—talk him into her bed…and her life.

My Thoughts: I couldn't get past page 50. I tried. I just couldn't. I hated Nicole (the sister), Jessie (the other sister) just disappeared, I didn't like Wyatt (the love interest), and after 50 plus pages I didn't feel like I'd gotten to know Claire (the heroine) enough to care one way or the other.

Verdict: This was Awful. I've enjoyed the few Susan Mallery books I've read in the past, so I'm not giving up on her; but I am doubtful I'll read the rest of the series.

Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Guhrke

2008-06-30T22:12:00.001-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: For prim and shy Daphne Wade, the sweetest guilty pleasure of all is secretly watching her employer, Anthony Courtland, the Duke of Tremore, as he works the excavation site on his English estate. Anthony has hired Daphne to restore the priceless treasures he has been digging up, but it's hard for a woman to keep her mind on her work when her devastatingly handsome employer keeps taking his shirt off. He doesn't know she's alive, but who could blame her for falling in love with him anyway?

Anthony thinks that his capable employee knows all there is to know about antiquities, but when his sister decides to turn the plain young woman in gold-rimmed glasses into an enticing beauty, he declares the task to be impossible. Daphne is devastated when she overhears… and determined to prove him wrong. Now a vibrant and delectable Daphne has emerged from her shell, and the tables are turned. Will Anthony see that the woman of his dreams has been right there all along?

My Thoughts: This is the first book in the Guilty series.

First off, I disagree with the book synopsis. Anthony’s sister, Viola, really didn’t have anything to do with Daphne’s transformation. I just have to say that up front.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Daphne’s spirit. Here is an intelligent woman working for a man she is secretly in love with. Until she overhears him describing her as a stick insect on a twig with no feminine appeal who works like a machine. From that point on, she vows not to love him anymore. In fact, she quits her job and tells the man it is because she just does not like him. Being a Duke, Anthony is not used to people talking to him this way and is completely baffled by it. And then he sets out to change her mind. First about the job. Then about him. The end result was a great tale, with him proposing and her rejecting him.

I loved how the relationship between Anthony and Daphne flowed, even if it did seem too convenient. But, I’m a fairly forgiving reader and will overlook almost anything if the story is good enough. And the story was good enough. The development of the friendship between the two characters was done very well and I could hardly put the book down once I started it.

And by the way, probably the best last two pages of a book I’ve read ever. Ever. Really.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I enjoyed Anthony and Daphne very much and am looking forward to reading more in the series soon.

The Kiss by Sophia Nash

2008-06-29T13:54:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Penrose, Cornwall ~ September 20th ~ To Do
~ invite the dowager duchess and the other ladies in the club to stay
~ prepare for Quinn’s arrival
~ pretend you haven’t loved him . . . forever

He had once been her cherished childhood companion, and then the man she had lusted after in secret, but Georgiana Wilde hasn’t seen the recently widowed Quinn Fortesque since the day he married another woman and shattered her heart. Then fate intervenes and brings the man she dreams about each night back to her . . .

Returning to the estate on family business, Quinn would like nothing more than to turn the land over to Georgiana and leave the memories of his former life behind. But then the brooding marquis finds himself under the spell of the hidden beauty he once left behind. With her barely concealed passions, Georgiana melts his coolly guarded heart. Suddenly his well-ordered world is in danger of crashing down. And it all begins with just one kiss. . .

My Thoughts: This is the second book in The Widows Club series.

I’m a sucker for unrequited love or lost love stories. This is why I bought this one, and also its predecessor, A Dangerous Beauty. Not being one to read series books out of order, I quickly read Book 1 in the series and enjoyed it immensely, so I had great hopes for The Kiss.

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS ~ READ AT YOUR OWN RISK***
The Kiss, however, started off slowly for me and it took me quite awhile to warm up to it. I liked Georgiana. She had a spunk and energy that I really appreciate in a heroine. She also had wounds that she hid away from everyone and managed her life quite well in spite of them.

I enjoyed Quinn very much. It seemed he not only came home to claim the Marquis title but also to make sure there were not doubts that Georgiana should be considered the legal Marchioness, due to her ill-fated marriage to his cousin, Anthony. Even when he found out through the usual means that he marriage had never truly been consummated.

As with the prior book, there did seem to be a lot of misunderstandings and assumptions in abundance in the tale as well. Quinn assumed Georgiana loved Anthony; Georgiana assumed Quinn could never love her; Quinn accused Georgiana of wrong-doing; and Georgiana just let him assume incorrectly about her. Those things always seem to drive me crazy, but I can be forgiving up to a point if the story is good enough. This story was good, but not so good that I didn’t tire of these misgivings in the end.
****END SPOILERS****

Again, a host of wonderful side characters added to the depth of this book and also lay the groundwork for several more Widows Club books to come. I was also glad to see much of Luc and Rosemunde (from A Dangerous Beauty), Ata, and Grace. Added to the mix is Farleigh, Quinn’s precocious 9-year-old daughter who was a delight in every page she was in.

Verdict: This was Good. It took me a bit of time to warm up to Quinn and Georgiana, but after I did I enjoyed it. It’s going to be a long wait until February 29 when Grace’s book Love with a Perfect Scoundrel is released.

I'll Be Back

2008-06-29T08:58:00.001-06:00

....I say in my best Schwarzenegger impression.

House + Pit = MUST CLEAN!

Be back later :-)

(PS ~ I'd still rather be reading).

I'd Rather Be Reading....................

2008-06-27T12:51:00.005-06:00

I'd just gotten to the part where Quinn was kissing Georgiana's scarred flesh, his hands reached for her hips, and as he drew her closer ................

I realized I was getting sucked in and would be late for work if I didn't leave right away.

The mind boggles as to what will happen next.

Questions to Ponder

2008-06-26T08:01:00.003-06:00

Why is it that people run stop signs just to be the "frontman" in traffic and then proceed to either a) immediately make a left-hand turn; or b) go 20 miles per hour under the speed limit?

Why is it that campers seem to travel in a caravan, driving less than the speed limit, and leaving less than one car length in between each one so to make it impossible to pass??

Why does it seem that dumpster trucks speed up just to block you into your garage and then take forever to dump your trash???

Why do people drive under the speed limit, and then proceed to speed through school zones?

And finally:

Why did I get out of bed this morning??

Hmmmmmmm................

2008-06-24T19:43:00.002-06:00

I stole this from Lori. I have to say ~ I'm starting to get a complex.

You have a sexual hidden talent

You have a sexual hidden talent. You might not look it but you are a dynamo in bed. Most of your lovers think that it is from years of practice, but really, you were just born with it.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

A Dangerous Beauty by Sophia Nash

2008-06-22T23:12:00.001-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: A Courageous Outcast . . .
Rosamunde Baird has lost everything and has no choice but to accept an invitation to spend a season with a dowager duchess and her clandestine ladies club. Determined to stay in the shadows and live quietly, she has sworn never again to come face to face with adventure and temptation, two things that brought her ruin years ago. But then the Duke of Helston dangles before her the very things she craves most...

Lord Fire & Ice . . .
Mysterious Luc St. Aubyn is well known for exuding blistering passion at night and frost the morning after. But dark mystery swirls around this audacious war hero. A tragic past has driven the Duke of Helston to hide the twin secrets of the dowager’s Widows Club and his own infamous writing talent. When he’s blindsided by his reactions to a virtuous siren, he has no choice but to reveal all during a scandal that will doom them …or save them, if only they dare to believe in love.

My Thoughts: This was my first book by Sophia Nash and I was not disappointed. She did a great job of storytelling and world building with this one. I was hooked from the first sentence to the last.

****SPOILERS****
In the beginning, I enjoyed Rosamunde’s youthful spirit. She loved sports, such as racing horses. She was carefree, and most importantly, she was her father’s favorite child. I loved reading about her crush on young Henry who was to be the next Duke of Helston and how after she won a race with him she tentatively asked him for a kiss as her reward. I thought it was all so sweet. But then it took a turn. Henry told her he loved somebody else. And although the kiss between Henry and Rosamunde was very innocent, it was reported to be much worse than it really was. So, rather than be forced into a marriage with a man she knew didn’t love her, she ran and married a man she thought was kind, and who she thought she would able to have at least a convenient marriage/friendship with because her reputation was ruined. She was wrong.

Eight years later, she’s widowed and the Dowager Duchess of Helston has invited her to stay at her estate to be part of her Widow’s Club. And it is there where she meets Luc, the younger brother of boy she’d kissed so many years ago. Luc and Rosamunde form a fast friendship which I enjoyed. I enjoyed learning more about his family through his point of view. It was wonderful watching the closeness that formed between the two characters and seeing them share secrets with each other that they had never shared with anyone else.
****END SPOILERS****

There are also a host of wonderful side characters in this book, but the two I’ll mention are Ata and Sylvia. First and foremost is the Dowager Duchess, Ata, a very spirited woman who heads up the Widows Club. She is short in stature but believes she makes up for it by wearing dresses that flow just a few inches too long. Of course, because he dresses are too long, she is always tripping over them. Also, there is Rosamunde’s sister Sylvia, who has remained faithfully by Rosa’s side since she left the family home eight years ago. However, Sylvia’s got secrets of her own that she’s trying to hide.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I enjoyed Luc and Rosamunde immensely and am looking forward to reading the follow up: The Kiss.

Much Better

2008-06-22T11:30:00.002-06:00

Can't talk now. I'm reading.

Good Gawd

2008-06-22T08:34:00.001-06:00

Stole this from LisaBea:

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

I didn't like the first one so I tried again:

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

They're both bad.

Don't Hate Me

2008-06-22T07:06:00.001-06:00

I'm halfway through Faking It by Jennie Crusie and I'm just wondering..........

When does it get good???

The Forever Summer by Suzanne MacPherson

2008-06-21T11:30:00.006-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: The Awful Truth about Emily Ruth

Lucas Griffin has come to Port Gamble for one purpose: to get the Griffin family summer home out of the clutches of his evil ex-wife, Emily Ruth Griffin.

But before he can blink twice, she drops dead in the local grocery market. Now he's stuck with her ghost, and her little dog, too.

Not-So-Dearly Departed Lila Abbott has had her fill of rich summer people who crowd Port Gamble every year. Townie girls and summer boys just don't mix, and she's learned that the hard way.

But Lucas Griffin has a ghost problem that only Lila can solve, and she finds herself knee-deep in Cheez Whiz while Lucas and the deceased Emily Ruth duke it out.

Working together to clear his name and get rid of their pesky poltergeist, Lucas and Lila find themselves falling in love. Maybe this will finally be the forever summer for Lila Abbott.

My Thoughts:Hmm. Well, I honestly don’t know what to say about this book. I really wanted to like it ~ and I guess I must have on some level because I finished it. But, I expected more of a story. Especially since there were so many facets that should have been appealing ~ paranormal, murder mystery, opposites attracting, working class girl falling for the rich summer guy, etc, etc.

I liked Lila, and I liked Lucas. I’m just not sure I liked them together. I just didn’t feel it. Well, technically I guess I maybe felt it in the very beginning. And then again when they first do “the deed”. That was fun. And Chapter 16. I liked the end of Chapter 16. But any other time? No. Not really. And the ILY seemed to come out of right field. I don’t feel like I ever really get to know the characters, so maybe that’s why. I don’t know.

The story seemed to have a lot of holes in it for me. The storyline seemed choppy. And then there were a few misspelled words that the editor should have caught, but didn’t. That threw me a bit.

The side characters didn’t really add much to the story either. Except maybe Bonnie, Lila’s best friend. I liked her, or at least I would have if she’d been around more. But I wasn’t invested in the rest of them.

The whole whodunit part of the story was easy to figure out. I had that one pegged from the get-go. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m usually pretty good at figuring that out. And I’m not big on mysteries anyway (says the girl who starts a book by reading the final chapter).

Verdict: I guess I’d rate it Okay. Again, I did finish it and normally if I completely dislike a book I don’t bother. So I must have liked something about it on some level. I just don't know what it is.

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

2008-06-20T08:05:00.008-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Min Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man like Cal Morrisey, who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Cal Morrisey knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it’s not long before Min and Cal are dealing with meddling friends, wedding cake, a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kremes, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a frantic bride, Chicken Marsala, a mutant cat, snow globes, two Mothers-from-Hell, great shoes, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of including the biggest gamble of all--unconditional love.

My Thoughts: Two words: Loved it! Min first meets Cal when she thinks she overhears her ex-boyfriend and him betting on whether he can get her into bed. So, when Cal oozes charm and asks her to dinner, she says yes thinking that it'll upset her ex, David, by making him think that Cal may have a chance to win the bet. Besides which, Min needs a date to her sister's wedding so she thinks she can at least keep him on a string until after the wedding.

After an awkward dinner Min knows she wouldn't be able to keep him at bay for three weeks, and they part ways thinking they'll never see each other again. However, they seem to bump into each other everywhere. And the more they try to avoid each other, the more they bump into each other. Oh and then there's the humorous little accidents they get into while thinking about each other while trying not to think of each other. So eventually they decide to give in and actually try to date for real.

I liked the fact Min was bigger and that she had body image issues. I loved that Cal loved her body as it was and wanted her to eat all the good, gooey, horrible, awful carbs and butter she could stand. What a guy.

Verdict: This was Excellent. The story was engaging and I enjoyed the read thoroughly from beginning to end. Another great for Crusie, and another keeper for by bookshelf.

Breathless by Laura Lee Guhrke

2008-06-16T22:07:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Lily Morgan may be Shivaree, Georgia's most talked-about lady. Everyone in town knows about the bitter breakup of her marriage five years before, when Daniel Walker, her husband's tough, uncompromising lawyer, tore her reputation to shreds and left her with nothing but a wish to get even. But now something about Daniel makes her blood boil and her pulse quicken . . . not with righteous fury, but with passion.

Daniel has returned to Shivaree to once again match wits with Lily Morgan. The thought of a rematch with Lily delights him, for he has never forgotten her hot temper--or her lovely looks. But when a shocking murder shakes the town, Daniel joins Lily to find a killer, and their unexpected partnership sparks something between them they never expected--desire. Now Daniel, the strong-willed lawyer for whom winning is everything, realizes he must win the one reward he can't live without: Lily's forgiveness--and her love.

My Thoughts: I first heard about this book from a guest review that Nath did at Book Binge, and usually if Nath likes it, I’m pretty much guaranteed I’ll like it too.

By page 7 I was laughing out loud and that pretty much continued throughout the majority of the story. Lily is a stubborn character and I love how Daniel’s mission in life seems to be to get her riled at every turn. What he does to her and how she responds kept me laughing throughout most of the book. The amount of hatred that Lily had for Daniel seemed to leap right off the pages. Literally. But then, slowly the hatred turned to tolerance. Which turned to respect. Which turned into a friendship. Which turned into something else entirely.

I enjoyed Lily’s tenacity. She was a smart, stubborn, flawed woman. The fact that she was wronged, but still held her head up high just made me like her more. The fact that she hid her hurt and sadness behind acting out by wearing outrageous outfits or displaying a naked statue of David (no fig leaf) in her foyer just added depth to the character.

For the most part I enjoyed Daniel’s character as well. I enjoyed his sarcasm, his wit, and his sense of humor. He’s smart, shrewd, and driven to succeed. He’s also arrogant and cocky ~ which I guess adds to his charm. I also like how he is with Lily. First as an adversary, then as a friend.

The story was a wonderful read from beginning to end with not only great lead characters, but also a host of well-written side characters that gave great depth to the book. I loved every minute of it, and of course the ending left me with a goofy grin on my face with is a sure-tale sign that I enjoyed it.

Verdict: This was Very Good. This was the first book of Laura Lee Guhrke’s that I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to catching up on some of her other stories and have her Guilty series on order.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

2008-06-15T10:30:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine... until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have...

My Thoughts: This is another winner for Julia Quinn. What a great story this was! I was taken with Jake the moment he was introduced in the story and I liked him more and more the further I read. Same with Grace. The two of them are easily one of the best couples JQ has ever written. I loved Jack’s humor, his wit, his love of family, and most of all, his love of Grace. Just an awesome character. In Grace, I loved her loyalty, her caring, the way she found humor in almost every situation, and finally , I loved her love of Jack.

There were also some great side characters ~ Thomas, the man formerly thought to be the Duke of Wyndham who had befriended Grace when she thought herself no more than a servant in his household; Amelia, the young woman who found herself betrothed to Thomas since infancy who I got to witness form a tight friendship with Grace throughout the pages of this story; then there was the Dowager, a woman I loved to hate at every turn of the page, but yet also found myself liking in spite of myself.

Verdict: This was Excellent. I love Julia Quinn anyway, but this story was exceptional. It had a lot of emotion, and a lot of laughter which is what I expect from JQ. I am now anxiously waiting until October when I can purchase the follow-up book, Mr. Cavendesh, I Presume? which is the story of Thomas and Amelia. I cannot wait!

Road Trip

2008-06-15T09:11:00.005-06:00

Well, my sister just invited me to go on a road trip with her and the girls to Idaho July 8 - July 14. We're going to Silverwood!!! Then we'll stop in Hamilton to spend a few days with our father before returning home on the 14th. Be prepared for another play-by-play because I tend to ramble about my vacations :-)

Just Desserts by Barbara Bretton

2008-06-14T09:39:00.004-06:00

Just Finished:
Synopsis: Once upon a time, Hayley believed that a good woman (her) could turn a bad boy (her ex) into a knight in shining armor (pure fantasy.) Ten years of marriage to Michael Goldstein finally drummed the truth into her head. People don't change with time. They just become more of who they were to begin with...

Hayley Goldstein should be jumping for joy. She's been offered the chance of a lifetime: to bake a cake for world-famous rock star Tommy Stiles. But why would such a celebrity send his big-time lawyer to her small-time South Jersey bakery? Hayley's had enough hard knocks in her life to always suspect the worst. And she has a sneaking suspicion that this is about more than just cake...

Well, lawyer Finn Rafferty has to admit she's right. The truth is, Hayley is Tommy's long-lost daughter, and the aging rocker wants to meet–and maybe spoil–Hayley and her daughter. With her world turned upside down, Hayley will need help letting down her guard and hanging onto the things that matter most. And Finn may just be the man for the job . . . .

My Thoughts: I loved, loved, loved this story! Finn and Hayley were real if you get my meaning. Well, as real as fictitious characters go. She is 38; he is 39. She is a mother, a baker, a small business owner who is barely making ends meet. According to her, her thighs are a condo where cellulite has made themselves at home. She is a classic TV fan and had the pets to prove it ~ Mary, Murray, Rhoda, Ted, and Mr. G (a little Mary Tyler Moore, anybody??). She has one failed marriage behind her, and an ex-husband who quite frankly isn’t worth the energy it takes to breathe in oxygen. Add to that a mother who she doesn’t quite have a relationship with because she is always on the road lecturing, an aunt who helped raise her and who is now a permanent fixture in her daughter’s life, a 14-year-old daughter who could probably out maneuver the best businessman in the world, and a best-friend who is also her former sister-in-law and that pretty much sums up Hayley’s life.

Finn is a lawyer full-time and a rocker part-time. With the rocker part of his lifestyle he finds himself part of an extended, loving, mixed-up menagerie of Tommy Stiles children, ex-wives, fiancé, band members, and all that comes with that. Tommy however, is not your typical rocker. He has his head on straight when it comes to family and it definitely shines through to all who know him. There’s also Anton, a shaved-head, tattooed, pierced, hard-rocking man who likes to bake, cook, and read romance novels on the side. (Who for some strange reason reminds me of Preacher from Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series ~ not sure why? Maybe because Preacher screams like a girl?????)

When Finn and Hayley meet they can’t stop looking at each other. He, because he is looking for a family resemblance to Tommy Stiles; she, because he keeps looking at her. That’s how it starts. Then it extends to emails, phone calls, last minute dinners, and soon a romance has developed.

But this book is more than a romance. It’s family, friendship, forgiveness, chaos, gossip, and all that goes with it. It’s a wonderful, wonderful story that immediately sucked me in from the moment I started it until I finished it.

Verdict: This was Excellent. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I got the “ahhhh” moments ~ it was just an awesome. This was my first Barbara Bretton, but most definitely will not be my last. I loved every minute of this book and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

Stolen Meme

2008-06-12T19:01:00.009-06:00

I stole this from Holly, who stole it from Anne.

46 ODD Things about you! If you opened this, FILL IT OUT! Learn 46 things about your friends, and let them learn 46 things about you! Remember send it back to the person who sent it to you.

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes, absolutely.

2 Have you ever smoked? Yes. I quit 8 years ago August.

3. Do you own a gun? Absolutely not.

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? We don't have a sonic.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No, not really.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? Yummy with saurkraut, onion, relish, ketchup, and mayonnaise

7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th St, and A Christmas Story ~ although I'm a huge fan of all the made for TV Christmas movies also.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee, preferably with an IV.

9. Can you do push ups? Yes, a few. I've just now gotten to where I can do the plank for a fairly respectable amount of time.

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I don't really have one. I wear my rings, necklace, watch and earrings every day.

11. Favorite hobby? Reading, blogging, cooking, exercise.

12. Do you have A.D.D.? Nope, but OCD? Definitely.

13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I cry when I get upset. I hate that. I can't confront without getting over-emotional

14. Middle name? Marie

15. Name 3 thoughts at this emailing
1. I need to post something or people will stop coming to my blog
2.Must stop emotional eating.
3. He is not worth a Three Musketeers.

16. Name 3 things you bought yesterday: Arby's Deluxe, Jalapeno Poppers, DQ Reeses Blizzard (see above post about emotional eating.)

17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
1. Coffee
2. Water
3. Hot Tea

18. Current worry? Money

19. Current hate right now?Gas Prices

20. Favorite place to be? With my kiddos

21. Where would you like to go? Savannah

22. Name three people who will complete this?
Holly??? Oh right, she already did.
Izzy
Rosie

24. What shirt are you wearing? I'm not. Just took a shower.

25. What year would you go back in time to? None ~ I'm supposed to learn something every year I've been alive. Damned if I know what it is, but I'm supposed to learn it :-)

26. Can you whistle? I can whistle regular, but not a big wolf whistle with my fingers.((Ditto what Holly said))

27. Favorite color? Green

28. Would you be a pirate? No

29. Favorite girl's name? Lily

31. Favorite boy's name? Danny

33. Last thing that made you laugh? My boss and I discussing the latest drama at work. Have to laugh or we'd cry

34.Favorite Halloween costume? None

35. Worst injury you've ever had? I don't know. Maybe my neck and back from my two car accidents??? Or, it could be the broken toes I get every year (except for the last 2, knock on wood). Or it could be my heart that continuously seems to get injured. Why can't life be like a romance novel???

36. Do you like where you live? No

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2

38. Who is your loudest friend? I have a few of them.

39. How many dogs do you have? None.

40. Does someone have a crush on you? I thought so. I was wrong.

41. What is your favorite book(s)? That's too hard to say. I have different favorites for different reasons.

42. What is your favorite candy? Lately? Three Musketeers? (See above post about emotional eating)

43. Favorite sports team? Green Bay Packers

44. Your favorite meal? That's too hard to say. I have different favorites for different reasons.

45. What were you doing @ 12 AM last night? Sleeping

46. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I have to pee.

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

2008-06-07T19:11:00.004-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: All Sophie Dempsey wants to do is help her sister make a video of a washed-up actress and get out of town before they get into trouble. The daughter of generations of con men, Sophie's trying to walk the straight and narrow, but it's, well, difficult.

All Mayor Phineas Tucker wants to do is run Temptation with as little fuss as possible and win his upcoming election without cutting into the time he needs for his real passion: playing pool. The son of generations of mayors, Phin's trying to be an upstanding citizen, but it's, well, boring.

It only takes one look before Sophie knows that Phin's the kind of boy her mother used to warn her about-- a fast-talking town boy-- and Phin knows she's the kind of woman his father told him to stay away from-- the devil's candy.

And in no time at all, boredom is the least of their difficulties. Gossip, adultery, and blackmail; pornography, politics, and murder; vehicular abuse of a corpse and slightly perverse but really excellent sex: all hell is breaking loose in Temptation, Ohio, while Sophie and Phin fall deeper and deeper in trouble… and in love.

My Thoughts: First of all, I need to thank the ladies at Book Binge for sending me this. This was just awesome. I loved Sophie and Phin, not to mention the numerous sex scenes that made me: a) hot; b) laugh; c) grin like a mad fool. I love stories that just make me feel good. And this one most definitely did.

Besides Sophie and Phin there were so many side characters like: Rachel, a twenty-something girl who’s only dream is to get out of Temptation; Dillie, Phin’s precocious 9-year-old daughter; Wes, Phin’s best friend and chief-of-police; Davy, Sophie’s con-artist brother with a heart for family; Amy, Sophie’s overindulged younger sister; Liz, Phin’s overprotective mother; and last but not least Clea, a semi-famous porn star (who was only ever in one movie) who has returned home to Temptation in order to film a “documentary”. Not to mention a host of other side characters I didn’t mention

I loved how Amy and Sophie wanted to get out of Temptation the minute they got in to it, in spite of (or maybe despite) the phallus-like water tower. (Seriously, you have to read about it to understand). I enjoyed Phin and Sophie’s first meeting ~ he referred to her as the devil’s candy and she referred to him as her worst nightmare. Also, it’s funny how Sophie and Amy find themselves going from filming a documentary, to accidentally (at least on Sophie’s part) filming a soft-porn film with Clea and the son of the boy who took her virginity.

Worthy of a second mention ~ this definitely has some hot sex in it. Which, I told Wena and Holly I learned the hard way that this was definitely a book I needed to read at home. Really ~ I read the first sex scene (aka the dock) at the gym. Thank God I was already red, hot, and sweaty ~ but thanks to the book, I also had a stupid grin on my face. I read the second sex scene (aka the alarm clock and the lamp) at my eye doctor’s office and laughed out loud. Luckily it was late in the day and I was the only one left in the reception area. Well, except for the secretary who was very fascinated in what I was reading. I think she may have gone out and gotten her own copy after work.

Verdict: This was Excellent. I laughed a lot and of course read most of this with a stupid grin on my face. Definitely a keeper and definitely a recommendation for anyone looking for a good, funny, hot, sexy romp.

I Blame Holly

2008-06-06T14:55:00.002-06:00

Well, as most of you know Holly is considering going back to school. Which got me to thinking that maybe it's time I actually got back on that horse and finished my 8 second ride. So, effective September 2008, I am a Bonafide full-time college student (again). I only have a year left, and really it is kind of ridiculous that I haven't finished yet. Not to mention that I've got six years of college under my belt and no degree to show for it. I'm tired already, but it'll be good.

I'm tired already. And I blame Holly completely.

Bummed, Seriously

2008-06-05T13:22:00.004-06:00

Friend and I were supposed to go hiking to Mystic Lake on Sunday. (I think I can hear Holly screaming all the way up here). Now, it looks like we'll have to postpone it because it is still raining and they're calling for a chance of snow in the higher elevations.

On the plus side, I guess it's more reading time. But dang, I wanted to go on the hike. I'm ready and 'tis the season.

Okay, wait a minute. All is not lost!!! Weekend was just salvaged. Girlfriends and I are revising our Sunday Sex Night and going to see Sex and the City.

Maybe we can get hiking next weekend, instead. So, something to look forward to.

Note to Self

2008-06-01T09:29:00.003-06:00

You're almost 40. Really, what were you thinking going out and drinking last night? This hangover is going to take weeks to go away. Nasty, nasty, nasty. And really. You do have a bit of a potty-mouth once you've imbibed in one too many beverages. And sure, you may have been the life of the party, but you will need to face most of those people again when you go back to work tomorrow ~ at least the ones you remember. And right about now, don't you wish you knew who the guy was that you were having the whole rabbit discussion with? It would serve you right if he's the new staff you have to train on Tuesday.

PS ~ You're not really thinking about doing it again next weekend are you? Bad idea.

Reforming a Rake by Suzanne Enoch

2008-06-01T09:21:00.003-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: A Governess must never be alone with a man. Her reputation mustn't have even a hint of scandal. She must never reveal personal emotions. No matter how strong the provocation by her employer. A governess never questions her employer's commands. Even when he's tempting her to forsake respectability for desire? She must never, ever, fall in love with someone above her station. Especially a rake--no matter how devastating his kisses may be...

Alexandra Gallant is a governess extraordinaire--and if it weren't for that unfortunate incident at her last position, she wouldn't now be forced into the employ of Lucien Balfour, the most notorious rake in London. Though the sinfully attractive earl hired her to teach his young cousin, his seductive whispers and toe-curling kisses suggest he has something far less respectable in mind...And that will never happen. For although Lucien seems determined to teach her about pleasure, she has a few lessons to teach him about love.

My Thoughts: For me, the chemistry between Lucien and Alexandra leapt from the pages of this book the moment I started reading it ~ from the moment they first meet when she is interviewing for the position at his household, to the very last page. Between the witty banter and their sexual tension, I was immediately hooked on this story.

I enjoyed watching the transformation of Lucien. At the beginning of this story, he is an unapologetic rake; single, and enjoying everything that comes with it. Unfortunately, as the last male heir of his family he gets stuck as guardian for his young cousin, Rose, and her manipulative mother, Fiona. Which is why has to hire a governess so that he can quickly get his young cousin married off and consequently she and her mother will leave his home.

Alexandra is a ruined governess. Not by her own doing, but by the unwanted attentions of her former employer. Lucien hires Alexandra without references, with one specific purpose. He wants to make her his mistress. In spite of this, Alexandra accepts the position because it’s the first post she’s been offered in the last six months.

Enoch does a fine job in telling the story of Alexandra and Lucien. In addition to the banter and the tension I’ve previously mentioned, Enoch also provides some wonderful secondary characters: Emma and Vixen, friends of Alexandra’s (and consequently the two heroines in the other books of this series); and Robert, friend to Lucien and unassuming suitor to Rose.

Verdict: This was Very Good. Of course, I expected nothing less because I am a fan of Enoch’s Lessons in Love series as well. I now am on a mission to read the rest of this series before I read anything else.

Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2008-05-30T20:31:00.002-06:00

Just Finished:

Synopsis: Sin, an ancient Sumerian god, was one of the most powerful among his pantheon—until the night Artemis robbed him of his godhood and left him one step from death…

For millennia, the ex-god turned Dark-Hunter Sin has sought to regain his powers and take revenge on Artemis. But now he has bigger fish—or in this case, demons—to fry. The lethal gallu that were buried by his pantheon are stirring, and they are hungry for human flesh. Their goal: To destroy mankind. Sin is the only one who can stop them…if a certain woman doesn’t kill him first.

Enemies have always made strange bedfellows, but never more so than when the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Now a man who only knows betrayal must trust the one person most likely to hand him to the demons. Artemis may have stolen his godhood, but this one has stolen his heart. The only question is: Will she keep it…or feed it to those who want him dead?

My Thoughts: Finally. Sherrilyn Kenyon has finally written another great Dark-Hunter novel. I say finally because I was sorely disappointed in the last two and thought maybe I was just over the whole paranormal, Dark-Hunter phase. I bought Devil May Cry out of habit because I own all of the dark-hunter novels, so decided to give it a try and just see what happens. I’m glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised.

I enjoyed the instant spark between Katra and Sin (SK really does have a gift at this, when she does it right). And there’s conflict right away. Katra is the daughter of his enemy, Artemis, the woman who stripped him of his powers. Or did she?

I’ve loved Katra since Kiss of the Night (Wulf and Cassie’s story) and was hoping she’d get her own story at some point. What troubled me were Kat’s flashbacks to her childhood and showing Artemis in an almost loving, maternal light. No, no, no, no, no. Artemis is the bitch-goddess. I really hope SK wasn’t trying to soften my viewpoint as the reader and then lambaste me by making Artemis Ash’s heroine!!! She wouldn’t be that cruel.

Back to Sin and Katra. Hot, yes. But, quite frankly it seems like SK uses the same sex scenes over and over and over again. They all do the same thing. They all get hot over the same thing, or something remotely similar. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Still, I like this one. Very much. Lots of Simi is always a good thing. I hope the next one is just as good.

Verdict: This was Very Good. I cannot wait until Acheron is released later this year. And since it’s Ash’s story, I have hopes that it will be excellent. Stay tuned.