Just Finished:



Why I Read It: Because it’s part of the Montgomery-Taggert series, and I want to read all of them.

From the Back Cover: Carrie Montgomery had grown up with seven adoring older brothers, and she was used to getting her way rather easily. Joshua Greene was only looking for a hardworking, practical mail-order bride to help with the farm and feed and clothe his children. Yet from the moment Carrie saw his photograph, saw his devastatingly handsome, sorrowful smile, the petite and pampered beauty knew she was the perfect wife for him.

Josh didn't see it that way. Wed by proxy, he refused to be charmed by his new bride's blond curls and effervescent laughter, or impressed by her trappings of wealth...even if his son and daughter believed she was a fairy princess come to life. He was furious -- and ready to send her packing, until a near tragedy convinced him that her beauty was more than skin-deep. But even after he had yielded to the wild desire that surged between them, Josh could not admit how much he truly needed her. Then an old scandal threatened to re-emerge, and he realized that he could lose her forever....

My Thoughts: I think I may have officially read more books in September than I have all year long. Anyway, I digress.

Well, I liked it ~ it’s not great by any means, but it was okay. The book didn’t immediately grab me and it took me a few days just to get through the first few chapters. Honestly. But, I got through the little slump and then I pretty much read it nonstop.

Carrie is the spoiled youngest sister of the Montgomery clan. She’s gotten everything she’s always wanted, so when she “falls in love at first sight” with the photo of a man advertising for a wife, she jumps at the chance to marry him. She quickly manipulates a marriage by proxy and soon is headed on a long carriage ride to Eternity, CO.

Joshua Greene (Templeton) is the man Carrie marries. He’s a struggling farmer, trying to raise two children on his own. Finally realizing he needs help, he advertises for a wife ~ one who knows about farming who can help him with chores, cooking, cleaning, etc. What he gets instead is Carrie Montgomery.

The attraction between Carrie and Josh is immediate, from the moment he helps her from carriage when she arrives in Eternity. But Josh has secrets from his past that he’s ashamed of ~ secrets that he attempts to hide by keeping Carrie away (This “huge” secret comes to light towards the end of the book and has a very quick esolution). So he pushes her every chance he gets, so much so that “they” decide it would be best if Carrie returned home to Maine.

Carrie is likeable, feisty, and beautiful (but isn’t this a prerequisite for our historical novel heroines, for the most part?) She has a mind of her own, and uses it in creative ways in order to take care of the people she loves.

I also thought Josh was likeable ~ but my problem was I couldn’t quite get a visual on him, if you know what I mean. I don’t know about you, but when I read, the characters become alive in my mind and the story plays out almost like watching a movie. But I couldn’t get a picture of him in my head.

Josh’s kids are both precocious and gave me several laugh-out-loud moments. Tem, the son, and Dallas, the daughter, quickly became attached to Carrie and it was great fun reading about Carrie becoming so beloved to the kids and vice versa.

Anyway, this was Okay. It was sweet, but I doubt it would be something I’d read again.

FWIW~~ quick Montgomery family history: Carrie is the youngest sister of ‘Ring, the hero in Mountain Laurel; Ring also happens to be the father of Jace, the hero in Wishes.

Labels: Historical Romance, Jude Deveraux, Okay

Just Finished:



Why I Read It: It was in my recommendations at amazon.com

From the Back Cover: Jace Mongomery was a stranger in Chandler. Tall, proud, and ruggedly handsome, he would make any woman's heart beat faster...

Even shy, sweet Nellie Grayson -- Nellie, who thought only of her beautiful younger sister's happiness. With Nellie's tireless aid, Terel Grayson easily became the belle of Chandler, Colorado.

Yet Jace, homesick for his closeknit family in Maine, took immediately to Nellie. For the first time, Nellie was the center of attention. It was a heady, delightful feeling...almost as wonderful as the moment when Jace gave her her very first kiss.

Nellie was sure her romantic idyll would end -- how long could Jace resist the lovely Terel's charms? But with the help of an enchanting new friend, Nellie would discover that her flirtatious sister might not be the woman to win the gallant Jace Montgomery....

My Thoughts: This book immediately grabbed me. It was a little different because it started in modern times with the funeral of Berni and then Berni’s journey into The Kitchen (some might call it purgatory). In order to get into heaven, Berni (of modern times) becomes the fairy godmother, so to speak, of Nellie in the 19th century (because in “The Kitchen” there are no time periods ~ it all melds together).

I’m confusing myself just writing it, but it’s not that hard to follow reading it. The flow is much nicer there.

Nellie Grayson is a loveable character. She’s loving, caring, and totally taken advantage of by her bratty younger sister and tyrant of a father. She also has a bit of an eating disorder, whereas when she feels trapped in this unhappy life that she’s in, she gorges on everything. So, she’s a little overweight.

Jace Montgomery is a widower. For 4 years, he’s mourned the death of his wife and infant son. An accidental meeting with Charles Grayson (Nellie’s father), brings him to Chandler, Colorado ~~ although he probably would have ended up there anyway because his cousin, Kane Taggert, also lives there.

Jace and Nellie first meet in the Grayson’s parlor. It was accidental to be sure, because Charles had his heart set on Jace meeting his youngest daughter, Terel. But Jace is taken with Nellie’s sweet nature and almost immediately pursues her in the hopes of making her his wife.

Nellie has issues to get through, though. When she’s surrounded by her family, she’s verbally beaten down by them because if they were to lose her, they’d lose their comfortable lifestyle. Nellie does the cooking, the cleaning, and the overindulging of the spoiled younger sister, Terel. But when she’s with Jace, her inner beauty truly does shine through. She smiles more, she laughs more, and she’s happier than she’s been allowed to be for the past 14 years.

Some scenes were just too cute (meaning I really liked them). If you’ve read this book, I’m sure you remember the pantry. Jace has a wicked sense of humor and I could just see him smiling while putting poor Nellie in that situation. And I could see Nellie just getting flustered by it all. Again, just too cute. Very sweet.

I really enjoyed this story. It had romance, it had antagonists that I loved to hate (Terel and Charles), and it had protagonists that I rooted for from their first meeting. And then there was the Berni factor. I literally could not put this book down, and when I did, I watched the clock until I could get home and start reading it again. It also introduced me to the Montgomery/Taggert clan. With a backlist of 28 books, I’m sure I’ll enjoy getting to know each and every family member intimately.

I’d say this was a Very Good read. I’m so happy it was in my recommendations and I was able to find it so quickly. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Deveraux’s stories.

Labels: Historical Romance, Jude Deveraux, Very Good

So, how is that a 15-year-old girl can sleep through 3 alarm clocks blaring at full blast? My niece is staying with me for the week while Mama and new baby are staying with my mom and it's been an adventure. It's been awhile since I've had to play "mommy". I have someone to cook for, someone to talk to ~~ it's just been so nice having her there. She planned the meals all week ~~ I just had to cook them :-)

Anyway, I just have one bedroom at my place, so that's where she's sleeping. I'm sleeping on the couch. She has 3 alarm clocks; I only have the one on my cell phone. My alarm is set for 6am; hers are set for 5am. Guess when I'm waking up? That's right, 5am. Nothing like being shocked out of a peaceful slumber by the likes of Ozzy Osbourne blaring through the house. Quite a way to wake up, let me tell you. Oh and just ask me when she's getting up. Oh, between 6 and 6:15 most days ~~ this morning it was at 6:30 and she has to be at school by 7am. Oh the joy.

Did I mention I only have one bathroom? One tiny bathroom. Not enough room for two people to get ready, so I guess it's a good thing that Kiddo's alarms are waking me so early because that's the only time I have to get ready. Once kiddo gets out of bed, it's all over. A teenager has invaded the bathroom and no grown woman can enter that realm.

In spite of all this, her mom comes home tomorrow and I'll miss her. It's been nice having her around again ~~ even if I am left scratching my head at her random teenager-ness.

On the reading front, I started "Wishes" by Jude Deveraux and am hooked. I'm only 60 pages into it so far, but all I want to do right now is go home and finish it. I love the two main characters so much and am really looking forward to reading their story.

**Oh, and I just found out that this is part of the Montgomery/Taggert series (I know, I was raised under a rock). There are 28 books in the Montgomery/Taggert series ~ yikes. I guess I'll add these to my Christmas list and hope I get a few of them (because you know I don't have enough books in my TBR pile already). Yikes, again.

Labels: Family, Jude Deveraux, Ramblings