Life is too short to read a bad book.
Monday, January 14, 2008,8:52 PM
Sundial by Carrie Lofty
Just Finished:


Synopsis: Amber Schulman stepped into a lush English garden in 2007, only to arrive in breathtaking Sorrento, Italy--in 1958. The only person who understands her confusion is fellow time traveler Mark Lacey, a New Yorker who comes from the land of cassette tapes and Reaganomics. His dark, world-weary eyes beckon her with secrets and sensuality. But why does he seem familiar?

Trapped in the past since he was a teen, Mark wants nothing to do with another whining newcomer. But the blue-eyed Aussie might be able to answer the one question that haunts him: Do I ever get back to 1987? From soccer to samba to sex, Amber tempts him with a zeal for life and love, pulling him free of his lonely isolation.

But getting home may prove easier than they imagined. How will their love endure if Amber returns to her time--and Mark to his?

My Thoughts: Sundial is a short story ~ barely 60 pages, but it’s worth the time to read. Yes, it’s a bit choppy which is to be expected in a short story ~ so I can easily forgive that.

Immediately, there is antagonism between Mark and Amber ~ more on Mark’s part than Amber’s, of course. Mark has been stuck in a time that is not his own for over 4 years and he’s tired of people coming in and out of his life. And a bit jealous. Everybody else seems to be able to go back home from this place except him. So he’s bitter. Then there’s also the fact that he’s immediately attracted to Amber and that just adds fuel to the fire.

Despite their frosty beginning, Mark reluctantly befriends Amber and their relationship quickly blossoms. And believe me when I say there is a lot passion in these few pages. However, less than a year later they are separated. Are they reunited? I guess you’ll just have to read it yourself to find out. You can pick it up for $3.00 here.

Verdict: This was Good. This was my first read by Carrie Lofty and if her other works are anything like this one, she’s snagged a new fan. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

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posted by Dev | Permalink | 9 comments
Sunday, December 30, 2007,11:24 PM
Promises Prevail by Sarah McCarty
Just Finished:

Synopsis: Wyoming Territory 1870:

Jenna never planned on getting married again, not only because her first husband had been a brutal monster, but because no man would want a crippled barren woman, but when fate sends her a helpless little baby to love, Jenna vows to do whatever she needs to in order to keep her daughter, even marrying Clint McKinnley. Big, dark and simmering with a deadly intensity, the exotically handsome ex marshal could put fear into the devil. He certainly strikes fear into her, but though she accepts his offer of marriage in the same practical vein it's made, Jenna soon discovers the man behind the reputation is a man like no other. A man to whom a woman could trust her heart.

Clint McKinnley is a man made hard by life, burned out by the choices he's made, looking for a reason to go on. He finds one in Jenna Hennessy. Lushly plump, sweet and shy, innocent in ways that have nothing to do with inexperience, she calls to him on the deepest levels. Still, he never would have touched her except for the vagaries of fate. When the town fathers threaten to take away the daughter she loves, Clint steps forward. While he can't offer Jenna love, he can offer her a home in which to raise the baby and the child the protection that comes with being a McKinnley. Having Jenna and Brianna in his home brings Clint a peace and satisfaction he's never known before, but even as he ferrets out the secrets that haunt Jenna's nightmares, Clint keeps his own close to his chest, knowing this is temporary, because even though Jenna is a woman with an incredibly generous heart, there are just some sins a woman can't be expected to forgive.

My Thoughts: My heart immediately went out to Jenna. She’s quite a heroine. She’d been victimized in the past, but still she was determined in her quest to be independent. Then there’s the strong, quiet way that Clint watches over her, and this was before they ever got together. I loved that too.

I really enjoyed seeing a reunion of the ladies of W.O.M.B. (Women Overcoming Male Bullheadedness) again ~ Pearl, Dorothy, Millie, Elizabeth, and Mara. It reminded me a lot of the first time I saw them in Promises Keep. They’re good for a laugh and it’s so fitting that the Rev is involved in their escapades. ~ And speaking of Rev, I was so excited to see a new part of his personality in PP.

What I didn’t like was Clint saying he was going to beat Jenna. This was a woman who was beaten and whipped by her former husband ~ his even teasing about it left a bad taste in my mouth. I know he was joking, but it wasn’t funny.

But, when he finally confessed his love to Jenna I forgave him ~ not for what he said, but the way he said it. He made a genuine romantic gesture and Jenna is definitely a heroine that needed one. In the end, I got my HEA and another satisfying read by Ms. McCarty.

Verdict: This was Good. Now I just have to wait until October to read the next in the series ~ Rev’s story.

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posted by Dev | Permalink | 6 comments
Tuesday, December 04, 2007,1:42 PM
Promises Keep by Sarah McCarty
Just Finished:


Synopsis: Wyoming Territory 1869:

Being kidnapped into a bordello has a way of changing a woman’s focus. On the day Mara Kincaid escapes the Pleasure Emporium, she vows to start living for herself. Rebuilding her life isn’t easy as the town isn’t fond of reformed fallen doves, but she’s a Kincaid and Kincaids are known for their stubbornness. She’s successful right up until the notorious ex-marshal Cougar McKinnley comes into town.

As big as a mountain, dark as sin, and wearing a reputation as deadly as the knife strapped to his thigh, McKinnley is a man who knows what he wants. By rights, she should be shaking in her shoes when he approaches her, but when the powerful half-breed turns his dark gold eyes on her, it isn’t fear that has Mara trembling, but rather an overwhelming desire to be the kind of woman Cougar needs to satisfy his deepest desires.

My Thoughts: Anyone who read my thoughts on Promises Linger knows that I had a bit of a crush on Cougar. So, I really looked forward to his story. Mara, however, it took me a little longer to warm up to. I'm not sure if it's because I wasn't crazy about the way Cougar and Mara met, or what, but it took me awhile. And I'm not really sure when it changed, but by the end of the story I liked her and I enjoyed her and Cougar together.

What I Liked: I have to say, I really love the side characters that Sarah McCarty creates. I got to see Millicent again (yay!) and got to know Doc, Dorothy, and Rev. They are great characters! Then there's Clint ~ he makes me smile. I'm looking forward to his story next. Oh, and I'll be one of the first in line to buy Rev's story when it comes out next year.

What I Didn’t Like: Other than how Mara and Cougar met ~ I didn't like the punishments ~ that left an ick factor for me. That's not my thing. I found myself skimming those parts. Other than that, not a thing. Sarah's an awesome writer!

Verdict: I'd say this was Good. I liked Promises Linger better, but am looking forward to reading Promises Prevail next.

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posted by Dev | Permalink | 6 comments
Friday, November 16, 2007,1:03 PM
Promises Linger by Sarah McCarty
Just Finished:



Why I Read It: Because after reading Caine’s Reckoning, I wanted to read more by Sarah McCarty.

Synopsis: 1868 Wyoming Territory

Elizabeth Coyote will do anything, anything at all, to save the ranch she loves, including marrying Asa MacIntyre, a broad shouldered, lean hipped silver eyed gunslinger with a ruthless reputation for getting the job done.

Asa dreams of a place of his own, a wife, and the respect that comes with both. Marrying Elizabeth may have started as a means to an end, but nothing in Asa's wildest dreams prepares him for the excitement of unleashing the carnal woman beneath his wife's prim and proper exterior.

My Thoughts: This was an amazing story. I loved Asa and Elly both so much. From the minute he agrees to marry her until the very last sentence, their story was one that captivated me. Elly is a firecracker ~ spirited, independent, and definitely a free-thinker. Asa is hard, strong, and just the man that Elly needs to help her keep control of the ranch.

The story also had great side characters. I love, love, love Millicent, the woman who owns the local boarding house and who is a surrogate mother to Elly. I hope to see more of her in the other Promises books. I fell in the love Cougar the first time his character was introduced and found myself looking forward to any part of the book that he was in. Clint was awesome and a great addition to Elly’s ranch. Aaron. Ah, Aaron was hard. I didn’t like him, nor did I trust him up until the last chapter. Something about him seemed off.

This was Very Good. I’m not sure I could even pick a favorite part. There were so many. Of course, there’s the horseback scene. Loved that. And Elly’s penchant for pitching things at people who irritate the life out of her. Loved that too. I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I’ll be starting Promises Keep immediately (Yay, Cougar’s story!) and hopefully I see more of Asa and Elly there.

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posted by Dev | Permalink | 6 comments
Sunday, October 28, 2007,10:30 PM
Annabelle's Courtship
Just Finished:



Why I Read It: I’ve seen reviews for this one all over the place. I had to get my hands on it, even if it is an ebook.

Synopsis: An inconvenient proposal.

Ian MacKay, Laird of Graenfrae, has no use for love or marriage. However, his stepfather’s will mandates that marriage is what he must have...to an Englishwoman. A sensible man, Ian develops a list of requirements in a wife: Plain, moderately dowered, older and practical. He thinks he has found the perfect candidate in Lady Annabelle.

Labeled The Ordinary her first season, Annabelle longs for a man who will see her as beautiful and love her as her father loved her mother. When she meets Ian, she thinks she has at last found that man. Until his proposal, in which he has the audacity to list his "requirements."

She refuses his proposal. He informs her that she will marry him at the end of the season.

The battle of wills is on.

My Thoughts: Well, I’m wondering what I missed. I should have loved this book, and I’m not sure why I didn’t. I liked Annabelle and her independence; I liked Ian and his willful attempts to get Belle to agree to marry him. So what was off?

I expected Belle to hold off longer than she did. That’s why I got the book. I wanted to see how resourceful Ian would be in getting her to change her mind. And I wanted to see how resourceful Belle would be in getting Ian to fall in love with her. I was disappointed with how quickly Belle relinquished, to tell you the truth. Not even halfway through the book she agreed to marry him, knowing he didn’t love her. The crux of the whole thing was she wasn’t going to enter a loveless marriage. Sure, she fell in love with him like at page 2 (okay, that was sarcasm), but I really wanted it to take the length of the whole book for them to come together. I felt cheated.

I’m also left wondering what William (the supposed protagonist) was doing in this story. It’s almost like he was there for decoration and didn’t really add anything to the story. In fact, at first when he popped back into the story I had to go back to remind myself who he was. I just didn’t think his character was necessary. But he eventually served his purpose and the conflict caused by him was quickly rectified.

Also not necessary were the number of times Belle had to be nearly kidnapped (3) and for Ian to rescue her. That irked me. Why create what should be a strong character in Belle only to have her become helpless and in need of Ian’s rescuing so many times?

I’d say it’s a Good read. Not as good as I'd hoped for, but not a complete waste of time. The ending was satisfying and I got my happily ever after, which is why I read in the first place.

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posted by Dev | Permalink | 4 comments