Synopsis for Let Love Find You by Johanna Lindsey

I haven't come across a synopsis for Johanna Lindsey's new book in my search, but an anonymous poster left this in my comments:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey sweeps readers into the ballrooms and country houses of England’s elite society in the sparkling, passion-filled tale of a desperate debutante who learns in a most delightful way that she can’t fight her scandalous attraction to her virile matchmaker.Lady Amanda Locke has struck out miserably in her two Seasons on the marriage mart. Beautiful, titled, and charming – even if she does talk a bit too much, Amanda doesn’t understand why love eludes her. Even her father, the Duke of Norford, is so perplexed he is prepared to take drastic measures to ensure his daughter’s happiness. Now, as Amanda begins her third Season, she gets a little help from Cupid, a darkly handsome horse breeder whose knowledge of basic animal attraction has guided him in arranging more than a few successful matches between the young ladies and gentlemen of the ton. Hired by Amanda’s family, Devin Baldwin produces results for Amanda and soon she is happy to be courted by one of his clients, the dashing Viscount Altone. In order to secure Amanda’s match to a nobleman obsessed with horse racing, Devin must teach Amanda how to overcome her fear of horses. But as Devin shows her the joys of riding, hunting, and racing, will their own hearts run astray as Amanda finds herself falling in love with Cupid himself?

Friday Book Trailer

I happened across a book trailer for Kathleen Givens' book, On a Highland Shore, which I absolutely loved.  If you haven't read it yet, check it out.

Review - On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens

In an age when Norse invaders threaten Scottish civilization, one woman will defend her clan's honor and claim her own exceptional destiny.

1263: As the Highland village of Somerstrath prepares for the joyous wedding of Margaret MacDonald, the laird's daughter, a dark storm of bloodshed and betrayal closes in.... Now, determined to hold her shattered clan together and locate her abducted younger brother in the wake of a brutal Viking attack, Margaret must choose between obeying the dictates of King Alexander's court, or placing her trust in Gannon MacMagnus, an imposing half-Irish, half-Norse warrior. Who is this stranger who vows not to harm her? Will he vanquish the barbarous killers who would continue to destroy the rugged, magnificent land she calls home? (Amazon).

I loved this book and spent most of the weekend reading it because I couldn't put it down.  I didn't want to put it down.  This book had a perfect balance of historical detail and romance.  I was drawn into the story and wanted to learn about the hero and heroine as well as other characters. This was the first book by Givens that I have read and I plan on glomming her backlist.  Unfortunately while looking up how many books she has written and what may be coming next, I discovered that the author has passed away.  I truly believe that the romance community has lost a great voice in Kathleen Givens.

Let Love Find You by Johanna Lindsey

It's that time of year again.  I have found the title for Johanna Lindsey's 2012 release.  The book is called "Let Love Find You".  Once again I find myself  hoping that this will be it.  That this book will be the one with the magical something that the old Lindseys contained.  So although I have given up on a lot of authors over the years, I think Lindsey is one that I will continue to read in hopes of catching a glimmer of the chemistry and rich stories her books had prior to 1995.

I have not found a cover or synopsis for "Let Love Find You" yet.  But I do know that this book will be released on June 12, 2012.  My prediction is that this book returns to the Malory family, maybe one of Tony or James's daughters?

Friday Book Trailer

I came across the trailer for McCarty's The Viper  this morning, can't wait to get this book.  It came out this past Tuesday, but I probably won't have time to get it until next week.

The Saint - By Monica Mccarty

It's here!  Well, not the book.  But the cover!!  And it is red hot!  Take a look:



Magnus MacKay is the ultimate Highlander: tough, proud, able to master any terrain and to best his enemies. Called “the Saint” for his refusal to discuss women, as well as for his cool and steady leadership, Magnus hides a painful truth. It isn’t virtue or piety that keeps him silent, but a wound of love and loss that cuts so deep he cannot bear to speak of it. But when the woman who refused him is betrothed to his friend and fellow Guardsman, Magnus is tested by love’s battle cry.

A wild and innocent beauty, Helen chose family duty over her desire for Magnus. Now the anger in his eyes mirrors the tormented regret in her heart. But as deadly subterfuge stalks the King and his Guard, Helen vows to right her youthful mistakes with a woman’s determined spirit. Still, Magnus harbors secrets and an iron will not to weaken to temptation—or heartache—again. But as danger looms, it’s the kiss not of a saint, but of a sinner, that can save them (Amazon).

Review - From New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb

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The number-one New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name-and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood.
When a monster named Isaac McQueen-taken down by Eve back in her uniform days-escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago. (Amazon)

Yes!  The thirty-third full length novel in the In Death series is a stellar one!  I actually enjoyed reading about the process that Eve went through in solving this crime, lately I have found that I tend to skim these sections of the books, but I was fully absorbed in this book and stayed up longer that I should have to read just one more chapter each night.  It seemed a little weird at first without Eve's cast of characters surrounding her and helping.  But after a while everything was fine.  I also appreciated a story without any major bumps in the relationship between Eve and Roarke.  I know that J.D. Robb wants to make their relationship seem realistic, but it is nice to see them together without some internal and/or external friction causing tension.

I do have one little nitpick.  At times Eve uses short form when talking (Robb probably does this to make her sound more authentic I'm sure), but one short form always, always made me stop and giggle.  Using the context of what Eve was saying or asking, I'm pretty sure the word was analysis, but the short form used in the book was anal, and yes my (apparently 12 year old boy's) mind went there each and every time it was used.  I honestly can't remember if this as been used in previous books, but one would think that I would remember seeing how often I would stop, giggle, read the sentence over again and giggle again.  Even so, this book is a perfect example as to why I enjoy reading a J.D. Robb book.  Even though we knew who the killer was, you are kept at the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.

Review - My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.
Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend. (Amazon)

My One and Only is Higgin's 7th book.  It is also the seventh book of hers that features (prominently) a zany, yet needy family and a dog.  It is also her first book that I did not buy, but borrowed from the library.  I don't think I will purchase any of her books in the future unless she moves away from the crazy secondary characters and dog shtick.  Don't get me wrong, I will continue to read her new novels, I just won't buy them until there is a change.  The book for me did not get interesting and readable until the tenth chapter.  That was when Harper and Nick left the other characters behind for their road trip. 

It took me a while to like Harper.  In the beginning, I found her to be overbearing and yet needy.  She was willing to marry her boyfriend Dennis just because it was time for her to get married.  So she bought her own ring, had a list of things she wanted him to change, and ignored the signs that he wasn't willing to marry in hopes that she would eventually wear him down.  Also, rather than swearing she used the word "crotch", I have to say that being the same age as her I have never used that word in the contexts she did and it felt unnatural and immature.  But again, once I got to chapter ten and we delve into why Harper is the way she is, she becomes more likable.

To be perfectly honest, if I were just reviewing chapters 10 to 24, this book would an A.  I was invested in the story, Nick and Harper were entertaining and I was rooting for them.  Higgins really has the knack for writing riveting stories.  I even cried once, although to be perfectly honest it may have more to do with my hormones.  I also cried yesterday while watching an episode of the Dog Whisperer - he was helping a rescued dog become less fearful of the world and actually get out of a chair! 

I seem to have a problem of letting things go, authors I enjoy reading are included.  So it is more than likely that I will read the next book out by Kristan Higgins, but please. for. the. love. of. God! get rid of the wacky family members, the dogs, and this need to pair the heroine with a family member's ex, or a family member with the heroine's ex!  It gets tiresome after the seventh book.

Darkfever and DreamWorks

Whoo Hoo!!!  Apparently DreamWorks has acquired the rights to Karen Marie Moning's Fever series.  Love this!  Only question is, does DreamWorks only do movies, or do they do tv shows like True Blood?  I don't think a movie or series of movies could do this story justice.  Each book needs it's own season to flesh out the story and the characters.  And HBO would be the perfect place for MacKayla and Jericho.

   

If, like me, you are impatiently waiting for another book by Moning, head on over to her facebook page for a scene from Jericho's point of view.



Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

Oh yeah!  Check out what I found over at Goodreads:

"I'm currently working on a trilogy that features Dani, Christian MacKeltar, Ryodan, and the mysterious 'Dancer,' set primarily in Fever-Dublin. Each installment in the trilogy is a stand-alone mystery, however there are larger plot arcs unfolding in the background...

..For those of you who have been worrying—the trilogy is not YA. If I had to categorize it, I would say it straddles the line between YA and adult uneasily. ...Many of the questions I left unanswered in the FEVER series are addressed in this new series.

Exciting news: I’ve agreed to write two more books after that. Once the new trilogy is complete, I’m returning to the core story begun in the FEVER series, and will resume writing about Mac, Barrons, V’lane, Cruce, the Unseelie king, the concubine, the Song of Making.

All in all, there are five more books coming about the Fever World!"

I cannot wait for this!  Although I am a little worried about the books "straddling" YA and adult.  According to Goodreads, the first book will be out sometime in 2012.

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Every so often I like to look up upcoming books by my favourite authors.  Today I decided to see if there was any information on Nora Roberts' hardcover for 2012.  I discovered that her next book is titled The Witness and will be released on April 17, 2012.  I have not come across a cover or the synopsis but I did find a description from Nora herself at her messageboard about the book:

Right now I’m working on the 2012 hardcover. As a teenager our heroine has her first rebellion and as a consequence witnesses brutal murder. This brilliant, socially awkward girl goes under the protection of the US Marshalls, but things go horribly wrong. Some 12 years later, with only herself to depend on, she’s still on the run. Until she meets the charming and tenacious local chief of police in the quiet area of the Ozarks where she’s trying to settle down.

I am looking forward to this book, it sounds like a classic Roberts suspense.

Friday Book Trailer

Here's another Friday book trailer that is actually a trailer for a movie based on a book.  This time it's Janet Evanovich's One for the Money.



I haven't read any of the books since #6 because I was getting tired of the triangle between Stephanie, Joe and Ranger (I was a Joe girl, but also found Ranger hot - he just needed his own girl).  I also found that the books were becoming too formulaic with the jokes and characters.  I tried reading numbers 7 and 8 but couldn't finish either one.  I think the series is up to 17 now.  I absolutely loved the first 6 books and read each one a couple of times.  So I think I might actually check this movie out when it comes out in January.  Meanwhile, I think it might be time for a re-read of One for the Money.

Review - Prey by Linda Howard

Thirty-two year old Angie Powell and wilderness guide has finally decided to put up her family business for sale.  Business has slowed down in the past two years due to the economy and the arrival of fellow wilderness guide, Dare Callahan.  Dare, a veteran of the war in Iraq, returned to Montana three years ago, is seen as a stronger more capable guide.

Angie has one more client to take on a hunt before she leaves town.  Things go horribly wrong for her though when Angie witnesses a murder and must deal with a rampaging black bear.  Luckily for her, Dare has set up camp near by.  Together, they must overcome their hard feelings and work together to get off the mountain.

I was a little leery about reading this book.  Something about spending time in the wilderness just does not appeal to me.  It's a lot of work, it can be cold, rainy, and too many bugs (and now apparently I have to worry about psycho bears).  When my friends talk about wanting to go camping my eyes glaze over and I start to dream of resorts with spas.    The book started off a little slow but things really started rolling once Angie started the hunt.  I made the mistake a deciding to read a little bit more at 11pm last night before I went to sleep.  I stayed up until 3am to finish it.  This book is a perfect (or almost perfect) example of  why I enjoy reading romance.  Not everything may be believable and the suspense may be lacking because the reader knows who the villain is, but I could not put it down.  I also enjoyed the little snippets of humour between Dare and Angie when they were on the mountain and the sex and sexual tension was not steaming hot, but warm enough!  Warning, if you do not enjoy reading anything remotely gory you might want to skim the parts that involve the bear.  I also admit that I found the suspense really lacking near the end of the book.  I wish there had been more time devoted to the villain tracking Angie and Dare.  Even with the minor nitpicks I loved this book, maybe not as much as Open Season or Mr. Perfect, but Prey cam pretty close.

Review - In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks

Ewan McCabe, the eldest of three brothers, is determined to rebuild his clan and castle while setting about the downfall of his enemy.  Everything looks to fall into place when he comes across Mairin Stuart.  Mairin, the illegitimate daughter of the king, has been kidnapped from her sanctuary and will be forced to marry.  Escaping, she finds herself in Ewan's control and facing marriage once again.

I wanted to like this book, I really did.  I don't dislike, but I didn't love it.  The book just left me feeling meh.  Ewan was too perfect, he was tall, dark, and handsome.  A warrior who was gruff but had a heart of gold.  Mairin was too much of a Mary-Sue.  Everyone loved her the instant they met her.  Even Ewan's son Crispen adored her and called her Mama the second Mairin and Ewan were married.  She is very reminiscent of Julie Garwood's heroines, except here she annoyed me.  The book is set in the time that King David was on the throne.  His nephew, Malcolm was also trying to lay claim to the thrown.  Mairin was very important politically because her first born would be given some land (Neamh Alainn), which would help either one keep the throne somehow (I forgot how).  But if she was so important, why was she left alone at an Abbey to basically fend for herself?  You would think that her uncle (King David) or half-brother (Malcolm) would keep her close to marry her off to an ally. 

Anyways, the majority of the book is spent on Mairin getting to know the clan, getting into mischief, and almost getting killed twice.  The book did pick up near the end when Mairin and Ewan are called to court, but I felt that everything was too rushed by this point.  Overall, the hero and heroine were too perfect and the villain was too "villainy".  I also felt that Banks' voice was too modern.  Looking at her backlist on Amazon, I only found contemporary romances.  So I think this may be her first medieval, and it shows.  It wasn't in your face obvious, but every once in a while it would pull me from the book.  Like every time Mairin rolled her eyes.  I would stop and think, would someone during that time roll their eyes?  I have no idea, but for some reason it strikes me as a modern gesture.  In the end, I don't think this is a horrible book, but it isn't an outstanding one.  It was like all Scottish medievals rolled into one.  I definitely will not be keeping this book.  More than likely I will take it to the used book store for credit.  Having said that, I am still contemplating reading the next two.  But I think that is my little OCD coming out and feeling the need to finish the trilogy because I know there are two more books.

Friday Book Trailer

Since I am in the mood for Scottish historicals, here is a video of the Scottish highlands.  I think it will help set the mood for the reading of any highlander romance.

Highland Guard Series Releases

On October 18, we get to read the fourth installment of the Highland Guard series from Monica McCarty. 

Prized for his snakelike stealth and deadly strikes, Lachlan “Viper” MacRuairi is a warrior to enlist but not to trust. His only loyalty is to his purse, his indifference sealed by bitter betrayal. All that changes when Lachlan is tasked to protect and deliver Bella MacDuff to the king’s coronation—and the proud, lushly sensual countess unwittingly challenges him to his greatest battle yet: to love again.

Passionate and devoted, Bella has defied Britain’s king and her own husband to place the crown on Bruce’s head, and for this she pays a terrible price: Losing her daughter and her freedom to her husband’s vengeance. Imprisoned with barbaric cruelty, she vows to reclaim her child, even if it means selling her soul—and her body—to a dark, lethal warrior whose eyes glint like steel, but who makes her skin tingle and her breath race. Together they embark on a rogue mission with sinister twists and turns that threatens not only Bella’s gamble to save her daughter—but also her heart.

Also, while looking, I found the synopsis for the fifth book, The Saint, which will be out March 27, 2012.  There is no cover yet, but here is the synopsis:

Magnus MacKay is the ultimate Highlander: tough, proud, able to master any terrain and to best his enemies. Called “the Saint” for his refusal to discuss women, as well as for his cool and steady leadership, Magnus hides a painful truth. It isn’t virtue or piety that keeps him silent, but a wound of love and loss that cuts so deep he cannot bear to speak of it. But when the woman who refused him is betrothed to his friend and fellow Guardsman, Magnus is tested by love’s battle cry.

A wild and innocent beauty, Helen chose family duty over her desire for Magnus. Now the anger in his eyes mirrors the tormented regret in her heart. But as deadly subterfuge stalks the King and his Guard, Helen vows to right her youthful mistakes with a woman’s determined spirit. Still, Magnus harbors secrets and an iron will not to weaken to temptation—or heartache—again. But as danger looms, it’s the kiss not of a saint, but of a sinner, that can save them.


I am looking forward to this book as McCarty's stories always deliver!

Which One First - Johanna Lindsay?

Last week SBTB asked readers which Johanna Lindsey book a new romance reader should read first.  I pretty much agreed with the resulting list except maybe The Heir.  That is one of three Lindsey books that I have never been able to finish.  The other two being Heart of a Warrior  and Home for the Holidays. 

If I were to recommend which books of Lindsey's to read, I think it would go like this:

1. Hearts Aflame - the first ever JL book I ever read and the beginning of my historical romance love.
2. Tender Rebel - Tony Malory's story in the Malory family.  There is something about Tony that appeals to me, the description of his looks, his attitude, and his personality.
3. The Magic of You - another Malory story, this time it's Tony's niece, Amy and Warren Anderson.  A hot story with lots of humour.
4. Defy not the Heart - a medieval romance with a twist - the hero has trouble pleasuring the heroine at first because he is worried about his size.
5. When Love Awaits - another medieval, this time a man marries to gain land.
6. Once a Princess - an ordinary person suddenly finds out she is a princess from a far away land, and her prince is hot!
7. Prisoner of Desire - some people have been turned off of the story line of forced seduction, but for some reason it works in this book.
8. Love Only Once - the first book to start the Malory series - is there any other reason needed?
9. Secret Fire - a Regency era book with a kidnapping and Russian setting.
10. Fires of Winter - the story of Kristen's (Hearts Aflame)  parents
11. Surrender my Love - another Viking era story, this time it's Selig's story
12. Paradise Wild - a little old school, but I enjoyed the story with a different setting (Hawaii)
13. Man of My Dreams - Megan is determined to land herself a Duke, Ambrose St.James.  Ambrose, hiding out as a horse breeder is determined to change her mind.
14. Gentle Rogue - this book would be higher on my list, but James is so revered in subsequent books that he begins to annoy me.
15. A Gentle Feuding - warring clans and Scotland, what else is needed?

     

I tried to keep the list to my top ten, but just couldn't do it.  Sadly, my favourite Johanna Lindsey books were all published before 1995.  I continue to read each book that is released, but none seem to have that magical something of the old books.

What Ever Happened To...

Do you ever read a couple of books by an author and then they seem to suddenly disappear?  For myself, I can think of two authors I am wondering about.  First up is Rebecca Brandewyne.  I read her book, Upon a Moon Dark Moor, for the first time when I was about 13.  I loved the gothic feel to it, and how Brandewyne did not rush the story, but let it unfold as Draco and Maggie grew up.  There was also a sequel involving their sons, Across a Starlit Sea.  The way the sequel ended left it pretty wide open for a third book involving the grandchildren.  According to her website the third book will be called Beneath a Sun-Washed Sky, and it should have been finished in 2007 or 2008.  I have not come across it in my searches.

The second author is Tamara Leigh.  A couple of years ago I read her book, Blackheart.  It was a Medieval where a man, Lord Bernart Kinthorpe, orders his wife Juliana to sleep with his enemy, Lord Gabriel de Vere.  Lord Kinthorpe is impotent but wants to put an end to the rumours that he is by producing an heir.  I can't remember the reason why he chose his enemy, but the rest of the story is about Gabriel finding out about the plot and falling in love with Juliana.  Again, there was a subplot with Juliana's sister that made it obvious that there would be a sequel.  If I remember correctly, the sister had suffered an injury to her head that left her somewhat mentally incapacitated.  During the time that Juliana was taken by Gabriel, the sister left Kinthorpe's castle.  At the end of the novel, Gabriel's friend (naturally) was looking for the sister to bring her back. This book was written in 2001 and the book about the sister has not been written yet.  The information I can find is that Tamara Leigh is now writing inspirational romances.  Which is a shame because I really enjoyed her medieval romances and wanted to read the story of the sister.  I can understand that authors' style changes.  Some move from historical to contemporary or erotic to mainstream.  But I do wonder if authors sometimes owe it to their fans to at least finish what they started.

 

Friday Book Trailer

Something a little different for today's book trailer.  It's a news clip about Harlequin romance novels, book covers and a little bit about the history of the romance genre.  With Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd (mmmm Paul Rudd!) reading from some books!

Turbo Fire

It's been over three months since I started Turbo Fire and I love it!  I will be honest, I slacked off quite a bit between June and the end of July because of a course I was taking and well, it's summertime and I've been really lazy.  I did the whole program, just not on a daily/consistent basis.  But for the past week and a half I have given it my all with the program.  Over the past two days I have noticed that my upper arms are beginning to look more toned.  And my thighs!  My thighs are becoming toned and sleek.  Now if only I can get my diet on track too I would kick ass!!  For some reason I can be totally on track with my diet, but fail to exercise.  Or, I will exercise daily but can't seem to get my eating under control.  Sometimes I am able to really focus on both, but that will last for a couple of days at the most. 

Some things I have noticed with the Turbo Fire program - you will sweat!  A lot!  Usually when I exercise, I where a t-shirt and yoga pants.  Within the first week of TF I switched to capri yoga pants, then I started wearing a tank top.  Now I wear a tank top and shorts.  I prefer to exercise first thing in the morning, pretty much as soon as I get out of bed.  With Turbo Fire, I noticed that I did not have the energy to get through a whole workout, or be able to give it my all if I did it before eating.  So now I try to do it before lunch or a couple of hours after lunch.  Which is fine during the summer, but I will have to figure out another schedule once school starts up again.  Another thing I noticed is that I am starving one or two hours after doing one of the DVDs.  So now I try to have a little snack within 30 minutes after exercising or I will binge eat!

If you are looking to lose weight or just to tone up you have got to try Turbo Fire, it is awesome!  If you haven't really exercised before, I would suggest starting off with Chalene Johnson's other program, Turbo Jam.  It's similar to Turbo Fire, but not as intense.  I am hoping to really see a difference by the end of September, especially in my midsection, that always seems to be the last area I see a difference in.

The Next Always by Nora Roberts

This one almost slipped by me!  Roberts' newest trilogy begins with The Next Always, which will be released November 1, 2011.  It looks like fact and fiction will be merging for this trilogy, which takes place in a family renovated bed-and-breakfast in Boonsboro, MD (Nora and her family have actually renovated a B&B in Boonsboro).  Following is the synopsis from Amazon:

The historic hotel in BoonsBoro, Maryland, has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect of the family, Beckett's social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen...

Can I just say that I love the front cover of this book?  There's something very warm and romantic about the old stone building, the colours of the wood and the flowers.  If this is the front of the actual B&B I think I might need to take a road trip.  And talk about great free advertising for it!  If any fan of Nora's didn't know she owns a B&B in her hometown, they will now!  Seeing as how this book is about a mother and two sons, I wonder how many of Nora's fans will be asking her how much of her life made it into this book? 

I am looking forward to reading this book, I love a romance in a small hometown where people fall in love with someone they have known all their life, but never considered.  But, enough with the trade size!  I knew this would happen when Roberts' Bride Quartet came out in Trade.  I hate that size!  For one thing it is more expensive, and another thing, it is not comfortable to hold while reading.  I want the mass market book back for the trilogies!  I will definitely be borrowing this book from the library instead of buying it, even though Roberts is usually an autobuy for me.

Friday Book Trailer

Check it out!  Hilarious book trailer for Maya Banks' new trilogy.  I first saw it at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.



I am so looking forward to this trilogy, I haven't read any of Banks' books, but if a historical book involves Highlanders, kidnapping, enemy clans, and revenge, I am hooked!  Not sure what that says about me, and pretty sure I don't want to know!

   

Cleaning Bookshelves

I know I haven't posted in a loooooonnngg time.  I started a course in June and there are assignments due almost daily.  After I am done those, I do not feel like writing or reading anything else!  But, I finished a couple assignments early, so here I am. 

Do you ever get tired of seeing your bookshelves crammed with a ton of books?  I think I am getting to that point.  But, last summer I culled the shelves to take out books that I haven't reread in a couple of years.  I boxed the books up and put them away thinking that if I didn't want to read one of those books within a year, it would be safe to get rid of them. So now all that is there are my favourite authors.  But I am starting to get that spring cleaning feeling and want to get the shelves all nice and streamlined.  Problem is, what if a couple of months from now I suddenly have an urge to read Nora Roberts' Dream trilogy but they are no longer there?  I tell myself that I could just borrow them from the library, but what if the library doesn't have them? 

If I were to take out some books, I think that most of my Nora Roberts books would be gone.  I would just keep a couple of my absolute favourites.  I am finding that I do not return to read any of her books lately.  And I think it is most of her books that are taking up so much space.  But it almost feels like I am breaking up with an old friend!  I would have to keep all of Diana Gabladon's books and all of Johanna Lindsey's books.  Almost every year or two I return to read through their complete backlists.

Right now all the paperback books I have are stacked two books deep on the shelves.  Anyone have any suggestions on making the shelves look neater?

Review - When Passion Rules by Johanna Lindsey

Alana Farmer enjoys a privileged life in London.  She spends her time either in fencing lessons with her uncle, or helping out at an orphanage.  Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, Alana discovers that her uncle is not a relative, but the assassin hired to kill her.  She is also the princess of Lubinia and must return to reveal herself to her father, the king, and help stop a rebellion.

I finished reading this book two days ago but have been procrastinating in actually writing the review.  I have mixed feelings about this book.  There are aspects of this book I really enjoyed and felt like the old Johanna Lindsey is finally coming back.  But on the other hand, there are things that pop up that are not quite Lindsey and make me question if there are ghost writers.  I question this because there seems to be such a disparity in the way Lindsey's newest books are written.  Some seem to have depth, feeling, and actual stories (A Loving Scoundrel) while others feel rushed, are amateurish, and boring (That Perfect Someone).  Also, in When Passion Rules, the way the love scenes were written just didn't feel like an authentic Lindsey work.  Looking around at other reviews, I see that other people have the same opinion.

I had a couple of issues with this book.  The big one for me was the timeline.  I tried to keep track, and I think once Alana is in the castle to the end of the book happens over one week.  Within this time, she willingly becomes Christoph's lover and they go from mistrusting each other to falling in love.  It felt too rushed for me, and I would have preferred if it was spread out over a month or two instead.  Also there were  a couple of WTF moments.  First, while Alana is Christoph's prisoner, he takes her outside of the castle to a fair in the countryside.  The main reason really was for Alana's former guardian to get a message to her but it still seemed highly unlikely that a guard of Christoph's standing would take an imposter to a country fair.  The other one was Christoph's wannabe mistress, Nadia.  What is it with the need to write in nasty, bitchy, always older than the heroine, mistresses?  When we first meet Christoph, she wouldn't take no for an answer, to the point of being pathetic.  Not sure why she had to be written this way, other than to show the reader how irresistible Christoph is.

Having said that, I did enjoy this book.  At one point I was reading this before bed and was getting really tired.  I kept telling myself that I would just read to the end of this chapter and go to sleep.  But every time I got to the end of the chapter, I had to go on and read the next one.  I did this for about three chapters. Alana started out a bit too much of a Mary Sue/Pollyana with her sweet disposition, love of children, and excelling at everything she does.  But she eventually grew on me once she left England and started her journey to Lubinia.  The hero, Christoph, has some flaws, but over all even as an alpha male, he does show humour, tenderness, and he's hot!  I was a little worried that Alana would have it really easy convincing the king that she is his daughter and be immediately welcomed into the castle.  So I was happy when the story turned instead to her being imprisoned for being an imposter with Christoph in charge of her.  Although I don't think When Passion Rules is comparable to Lindsey's best novels, it is getting pretty close and is a vast improvement over her latest books.  If you loved Once A Princess, you will like When Passion Rules as it does have some similarities.

Giveaway - Johanna Lindsey

Congratulations to Aurora!  You have won one copy of When Passion Rules by Johanna Lindsey.  Please check your email for more information.

Friday Book Trailer

Today's book trailer is for one of my favourite books from the Midnight Breed series; Ashes of Midnight.  This series by Lara Adrian follows the vampires who are members of The Order.  Their main purpose is to protect humans and vampires from Rogue vampires - blood addicted vampires.  Lately, though, they are having to deal with one evil entity who's sole purpose is to rule the world.  The vampires are hot and the heroines are intelligent, independent, strong and willing to fight.  Ashes of Midnight follows the story of Claire Roth and Andreas Reichen.  One time lovers, Andreas now despises Claire and only wants revenge.  Can I just say that I love stories that have old lovers who despise each other come back together?  The newest book, Deeper Than Midnight, will be out at the end of this month.

Reading Slump

And I think my reading slump will continue on until I get Johanna Lindsey's newest book next week.  The books I picked up at the library last week just aren't holding my attention.

Against the Law by Kat Martin - I stopped reading at chapter 16 but left my bookmark in, so I might return and give it one more try.  So far Lark hired Dev Raines to help her find her niece that had been adopted a couple of years ago.  Within a couple of chapters they find her in her adoptive parents house, along with the dead parents and nanny.  They take the girl and leave.  Now Lark is raising her neice, but where are the CAS workers and anyone else you would think would be involved in this?  I'm pretty sure you can't just take a child, even if she is your niece.  The back cover leads the reader to think the story is about finding the child, but she is found even before the book is half way through.  It then begins to concentrate on the drug smuggling business the adoptive father was involved in.

Black Magic by Cherry Adair - I'm only on page ten, I don't think I am in the mood for a paranormal story right now, so I might come back to this book another time.

The Hellion and The Highlander by Lynsay Sands - A cute, readable historical set in England and Scotland during the Crusades.  History takes a back seat in this novel which is more character driven than plot.  I did finish reading it, there were a couple of humourous moments involving the heroine's inexperience in the bedroom.  However, after awhile, her lack of experience in certain acts became cringe-worthy rather than funny.  I lost interest in the story around chapter thirteen and skimmed through the rest of the book.

Conversations With The Fat Girl by Liza Palmer - This story is about two best friends, Maggie and Olivia, who grew up being the fat girls.  Olivia goes on to lose her weight through surgery, becomes engaged, and wants Maggie to be her maid of Honour.  I couldn't finish this book because I found the main character, Maggie, to be too immature for her age.  Although she is 27, I found her reactions to her "crush" at work to be similar to a fourteen year old.  Maybe it was because the author was trying to convey the sense that  Maggie did not have those experiences as a teenager.  I don't know, it just felt off.  I also found it unbelievable that Olivia, who is portrayed as being sweet and nice as a fat girl, suddenly becomes a raging bitch because she is thin.  I get that people change when their perceptions of themselves change, but I can't see someone suddenly treating everyone around them as insignificant and beneath them just because they have lost weight.  Perhaps if the author had kept Olivia's sweet character, but brought out her insecurities in a different way, I would have found it more believable.

Moonlight Road by Robyn Carr - Gah!  Why did I bother trying this author again???!!!  I obviously did not learn from the first time.  Once again, this book is chock full of previous characters, everyone is related to someone and practically all the female characters are pregnant.  Note to self - do not bother with this author again.