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.

Labels: Ebook, Erotic Romance, Good, 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.

Labels: Ebook, Erotic Romance, Sarah McCarty, Very Good

So, I'm on page 179 of Promises Linger now. OMG. The horseback scene! Wow. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Asa and Elly are wonderful! I also love the lady who runs the boarding house/cafe ~ Millicent, maybe? Starts with an M, but can't remember it off the top of my head. I also like Cougar (I think that's his name) ~ the son of the doc. Is Promises Keep his story? It felt like SM was building for his story to be next.

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I'm on page 127 of The Raven Prince. Just finished the garden scene. When Anna and the Earl almost kiss. Wow, Elizabeth Hoyt is brilliant. She knows how to build a scene. Can't wait to find out what happens when Anna gets to London.

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I'm very blessed to have such good things to read right now. Wish I was home doing just that. I hope to have both of these finished over the weekend.

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I'm going to sister's house tomorrow to watch Shrek 3 with her and the kiddos. Will be a fun family night. Saturday, I have some alone time until 3, and then I'm on baby duty the rest of the day. So, hope to get some reading time in before and after that. Sunday, we're all going to the Holiday Bazaar. Hope to pick up the rest of my Christmas gifts there....or at least the majority of them. I only have a few things left to get. And then I'll be done ~~ maybe I can actually enjoy the season this year.

Labels: Book Crazy, Elizabeth Hoyt, Family, Holidays, Sarah McCarty

Just Finished:



Why I Read It: Because I won an ARC from Sarah

From the Back Cover: Caine Allen is a hardened Texas Ranger, definitely not the marrying kind. But when he rescues a kidnapped woman and returns her to town, the preacher calls in a favor. One Caine's honor won't let him refuse.

From the moment he beds Desi, Caine knows turmoil will follow. Desi might have the face of a temptress, but she also has a will of iron and while she needs his protection, she's determined that no man will control her again. They establish an uneasy bond, but it still isn't enough for Caine. He wants all Desi has to offer. He wants her screams, her moans, her demands…everything. Yet there's still a bounty on Desi's head and keeping her satisfied is proving easier than keeping her alive.

My Thoughts: This was my first Sarah McCarty book. And wow, what a treat. Desi is compelling, strong, tenacious, and willful. I absolutely loved her as a heroine, and to imagine the things that she had to endure before ever meeting Caine and the Hell’s Eight is just so heartbreaking.

I have so many thoughts about this book. I laughed so much ~ whether it was they way Desi and Caine first met, Desi’s adventures with the rooster, or the outhouse scene, I cracked up. I also cried ~ both from anger and from sadness. Desi’s past affected me more than Caine’s, but they both came from tough backgrounds ~ but Desi’s abuse got to me more. The fact that she went through what she did and still remained so strong was so wondrous to me.

It wasn’t all wonderful for me. I understand the concept of Erotic Romance, but I’m also one who likes sex as part of the story ~ I don’t want it to be the whole story. Know what I mean? So when I got to page 38 and the whole foreplay stuff started already, I had misgivings. Luckily, it didn’t amount to anything more than a bluff, so I continued on. And I’m so glad I did. Watching Caine and Desi’s relationship evolve from one of a marriage of convenience to a real marriage was magical for me.

I enjoyed the members of Hell’s Eight, also. I really liked Sam and Tracker and am looking forward to Sam’s book which comes out next year. I want to know more about all of them though, how they came together to form the “family” that they did. I hope that more clues are given throughout the series. Caine’s Reckoning gave me just enough of the background that I want more.

I’d say this is a Very Good read. For those of you who love Sarah, I doubt you'll be disappointed with this one. I'll definitely have to read a few more of her books ~ if her others are as good as this one, she may become an auto-buy for me.

Labels: Erotic Romance, Sarah McCarty, Very Good

Have I mentioned my hatred for shopping? I hate it. Unless of course it's for groceries, kitchenwares, or for books. I could do that forever.

It's getting colder outside. There are all sorts of good things about losing weight. But let me tell you the bad thing. You have no clothes. So, what's a girl to do. I had to shop. My little skirts, crop pants, and t-shirts aren't going to keep me warm this winter. Of course, I have hopes that Mr. Crush will. But I can't wear him to work ~ although, I really wish I could :-)

Anyway, back to shopping. I went to Ross and got 3 pants and 3 shirts ~ all for $69.00. Not bad, I thought. Oh, and small victory for me. I actually tried the clothes on first. I hate that ~ although not as much as I used to. But I still have a tendency to pick myself apart and look for what's wrong, versus what's right. I'm working on it.

Next, I went to Borders since I was right next door. Was on the hunt for Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake. No luck there. So, continued on.

Next, were Costco and Walmart. Groceries ~ yay! I love grocery shopping ~ hate walmart. People check their manners at the door. Although tonight wasn't bad. No lines, no waiting. I was in and out in a flash. Costco was a bit busier, but it's okay. I bought a few Christmas presents, a few groceries, and a lovely crate of pomegranates. Yum!

Barnes & Noble was on the way home, so I figured "why not?". They had the book I was looking for (no wonder they're my favorite!), plus I was able to pick up a book for kiddo for Christmas.

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On the reading front, I'm halfway through Caine's Reckoning and can I just say "WOW"? I've never read a Sarah McCarty before, although I've had Mac's Law on my wishlist forever. But, for those of you who love Sarah, I doubt you'll be disappointed with this one. I'll definitely have to read a few more of her books ~ if her others are as good as this one, she may become an auto-buy for me.

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On the health front, my next CT scan is Friday. More waiting, and then I should know (or not know ~ which just means more waiting) by the middle of next week. Is it bad that part of me hopes that there is a change so that they do have to do surgery? Just because if they have to go in there anyway, can't they just scrape this lump off my ribs? If not, that's okay too. Then it'll just be more monitoring, more blood tests, and more waiting. Ugh.

Labels: Mr. Crush, Ramblings, Sarah McCarty, Shopping

I won! I won!

I got an email today from Sarah McCarty ~ I won an ARC of Caine's Reckoning! Me ~ the girl who never wins anything :-) Woo-hoo! I cannot wait to read it.

Labels: Contests, Sarah McCarty