Saturday, May 28, 2011

Giveaway - When Passion Rules by Johanna Lindsey

Johanna Lindsey's newest book comes out June 14, 2011.

Assassin Leonard Kastner agrees to commit an abhorrent crime for an astronomical sum - kill the infant heir to the European kingdom of Lubinia. Just as he is about to carry out the heinous deed, the baby awakens.and smiles at him. Losing his heart to tiny Alana Stindal, Leonard sweeps her out of their homeland to safety in England where he conceals her true identity from her and gives her an education fit for a queen. Eighteen years later, when the king of Lubinia faces a revolt because he has not produced another legitimate heir, Leonard knows he must take Alana home to prevent a civil war. But at the Lubinian palace no one believes Alana is the missing princess. Christoph Becker, the captain of the palace guards, arrests Alana because he suspects she is a pretender or a seductive assassin. When the king recognizes Alana as his long-lost daughter he proudly betroths her to the one man he believes is capable of protecting her and eliminating the shadowy figures who are determined to destroy his dynasty - Christoph Becker.

Want a chance to win a copy of When Passion Rules?  It's simple just:
1) Leave a comment on this post with your email address
2) Follow this blog

For extra entries:
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5) Return daily and comment on any post = 1 entry/day

Contest will end on June 17, 2011.  One winner will be picked at random and announced on June 18, 2011.  This contest is open to international readers. Good Luck!!

Disclaimer: This prize is being provided for free, I am not being compensated for this giveaway.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday Book Trailer

I seem to be in the mood for historical romances lately, especially Viking novels.  Anyone have any recommendations for Vikings?  I've read and enjoyed books by Lindsey (of course), Diana Groe and Josie Litton.  Anyway, here is the book trailer for Johanna Lindsey's Fires of Winter. 



Thursday, May 26, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 30

Your Favourite Book Of All Time

CoverI think my favourite book of all time has to be one of the first books I loved to read over and over again - Cinderella.  Is it any wonder that I would become a romance novel lover as an adult?  I actually had three copies of the book; the Disney edition, a Little Golden book edition, and the Ladybird edition.   Of the three, the Ladybird edition was my favourite.  In this rendition of the fairy tale, the ball at the palace is actually three nights long.  And each night Cinderella wears a different dress.  The detail of the illustrations is magnificent, I could spend hours pouring over each page and still miss some detail.  I could never decide which of the three dresses were my favourite.  Check out some of the illustrations at the Ladybird website. 

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 29

A Book Everyone Hated But You Liked

A Pirate's Love by Johanna Lindsey.  This book was written in the time of forced seduction and rape being romantic.  I first read it when I was about 14, I still like to read it, but cringe at the "love" scenes.  More than likely if this had been any other author or if I read it for the first time in the last 15 years it would have been a wall-banger.

30 Days of Books - Day 28

Favourite Title

Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey is my favourite title for two reasons.  One, because I love this book, Stefan is hot, hot, hot, and Tatiana is feisty enough without being too over-bearing or bratty.  And two, because I am a princess!  Alright, not really, I have to work for a living, and I have no servants, tiaras, or castles.  But I want to be a princess dammit!

Once Upon A Time...

In a rustic Missiissippi tavern, a beautiful exiled princess was forced to dance for the pleasure of others--unaware of her regal birthright...and infuriated by a magnificent golden-eyed devil who crossed an ocean to possess her.

 

From A Far Off Land...

A bold and brazen prince came to America to claim his promised bride. But the spirited vixen spurned his affections while inflaming his royal blood with passion's fire...impelling virile Stefan Barany to take in sensuous and searing conquest the love Tatiana vowed never to yield.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

30 Days of Books - Days 26 and 27

A Book That Changed Your Opinion About Something

I tried, I really did, to come up with a book for day 26.  But I've got nothing, even though I procrastinated and waited a day before posting.  My luck, I will  immediately think of a book in another day or two.



The Most Surprising Plot Twist Or Ending

When I first started the 30 days of books, I looked over the list to try and plan what books I would talk about.  For today, Sandra Brown's Where There's Smoke immediately came to mind.  I first read this book when I was about twenty.  I remember being stunned (jaw-dropping and gasping) by two plot twists in this book.  I'm not sure if it was because I was just starting to get into contemporary romance and didn't see it coming, or if I was too naive.  But, over 15 years later I still enjoy reading this book and think it holds up well.  It has the feel of an epic novel because it does not just focus on the hero and heroine, but a cast of characters living in the same town.

No one knows why Dr. Lara Mallory came back home to Eden Pass, Texas to open up her medical practice after all these years. But everyone remembers her role in the well-publicized scandal that caused the downfall of White House hopeful Senator Clark Tackett. So when the iron-fisted matriarch of Tackett Oil uses every weapon in her arsenal to drive her out of town, Lara refuses to go quietly. Yet in this corruption-riddled town, nothing is as it seems. An explosive secret lurks beneath the surface, threatening Lara at every turn. Her unlikely ally: Key, the hell-raising youngest Tackett son. Thrown together, they're on a dangerous quest to expose the one secret that can destroy the Tackett empire-and anyone who dares to challenge its power.

If you love melodramatic books featuring family empires, secrets, and ill-fated love, you will love this book!  Spoiler alert - below I have written the two plot twists that completely took me by surprise.  Highlight the words to read them.

After Lara is accused to having an affair with Clark Tackett, she and her husband, Randall, are banished to the Carribean nation of Montesangre.  There, the ambassador Randal and their daughter are murdered.  A couple of years later, Lara ends up in Eden Pass with one mission - to get Key to fly her back to Montesangre for her daughter's body.  The first plot twist is that Randall is not dead but has been living in Montesangre all these years.  The second twist is that it wasn't Lara who was having an affair with Clark, but Randall.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 25

A Character Who You Can Relate To The Most

The character that immediately came to mind was Naomi Brightstone from Nora Roberts' The MacGregor Grooms.  Naomi is a bookstore owner who is enlisted by Ian MacGregor to help him furnish his home library.  She is somewhat shy and still feels like the nerdy, overweight girl from high school.  

Saturday, May 21, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 24

A Book That You Wish More People Would’ve Read

I really wish more people would read or get their children to read the Trixie Belden series.  There is still time before these books are gone for good.  And if enough people start reading them again, then the whole series could be reprinted.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Friday Book Trailer

I completely forgot to do a book trailer last week!  I have no idea what happened.  Oh well, today I decided to see if there was a trailer for The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and here it is.

30 Days of Books - Day 23

A Book You Wanted To Read For A Long Time But Still Haven’t

I was immediately drawn to The Thirteenth Tale the moment I saw the cover.  The story sounds really interesting as well:

A plain girl gets wrapped up in a dark, haunted ruin of a house, which guards family secrets that are not hers and that she must discover at her peril. Margaret Lea, a London bookseller's daughter, has written an obscure biography that suggests deep understanding of siblings. She is contacted by renowned aging author Vida Winter, who finally wishes to tell her own, long-hidden, life story. Margaret travels to Yorkshire, where she interviews the dying writer, walks the remains of her estate at Angelfield and tries to verify the old woman's tale of a governess, a ghost and more than one abandoned baby. With the aid of colorful Aurelius Love, Margaret puzzles out generations of Angelfield: destructive Uncle Charlie; his elusive sister, Isabelle; their unhappy parents; Isabelle's twin daughters, Adeline and Emmeline; and the children's caretakers. Contending with ghosts and with a (mostly) scary bunch of living people, Setterfield's sensible heroine is, like Jane Eyre, full of repressed feeling—and is unprepared for both heartache and romance. And like Jane, she's a real reader and makes a terrific narrator. That's where the comparisons end, but Setterfield, who lives in Yorkshire, offers graceful storytelling that has its own pleasures.

I have absolutely no idea why I haven't read it yet, so I think I will stop at the library today to see if it is in.

Free Books

For anyone who loves a free deal, check out the website Pocket After Dark.  They offer sneak peeks of the first two chapters in upcoming releases.  As well as two free books to read  once a month.  This month, Johanna Lindsey's Marriage Most Scandalous is one of the free reads.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 22

Favourite Book You Own

If I have to pick just one, I'll go with Johanna Lindsey's Hearts Aflame.  It was the first historical romance book that I ever bought.  I recently purchased a second copy as the first one has been dropped in a pool and read so many times that the cover has come apart from the binding.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 21

Favourite Book From Your Childhood

Trixie Belden, Trixie Belden, Trixie Belden, Trixie Belden.  Did I mention that my favourite book from childhood was any of the books from the Trixie Belden series?  Loved these books like no other.  And she can kick Nancy Drew's ass any day!!  I can still remember the day I came across the first book, Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion.  I was 8 years old and completely bored on a Sunday afternoon.  My parents were reading comfortably in the living room and had no desire to entertain me.  For some reason I went into the basement and came across some of my mom's old books.  I think I read that book in one day.  Luckily, the next book Trixie Belden and the Red Trailer Mystery was also in the box. 

For anyone who doesn't know, Trixie Belden is a thirteen year old tomboy who loves horses.  One summer she becomes best friends with Honey Wheeler.  Soon, with Trixie's two older brothers, Honey's adopted brother and two more friends the form the Bob-Whites of the Glen and solve mysteries.  The books were written between 1948 and 1985 then were out of print.  In 2003 Random House reprinted the first 15 books but stopped there.  There are 39 books in total plus two quiz books.  Right now the books are still available and I highly suggest them for girls between the ages of 7 and 10 who love mysteries and horses.  If you want the books to continue to be available, email Random House.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 20

Favourite Romance Book

What?  Just one book??  There is no way I can do that, so I am going to list my favourite romance book in different categories.

Romantic Suspense
Divine Evil - Nora Roberts

Contemporary Romance
Simply Irresistible - Rachel Gibson

Civil War
One Wore Blue - Heather Graham

European Historical
Tender Rebel - Johanna Lindsey

Historical Fiction
Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Medieval Romance
Prisoner of My Desire - Johanna Lindsey

Renaissance Romance
Highland Outlaw - Monica McCarty

Urban Fantasy
Bloodfever - Karen Marie Moning

Viking Romance
Hearts Aflame - Johanna Lindsey

That's all I can think of.  I know I'm only supposed to list one, but it's my blog and I can do what I want!!

Monday, May 16, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 19

Favourite Book Turned Into A Movie

My favourite book turned into movie is Nora Roberts' novel Montana Sky.  Montana Sky is one of my favourite romantic suspense novels and the movie for the most part does not disappoint.  I think it would have been better if it was a miniseries rather than a two hour movie.  Also, I didn't like how they changed the character of Nate.  In the novel he is a lawyer who is somewhat awkward around Tess.  In the movie he is a sheriff who is almost too stupid to believe.  I preferred the novel Nate and am not sure why they had to change him.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 18

A Book That Disappointed You

Definitely My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  I borrowed this book from the library because I was hearing about a lot of people reading it.  I was on a waiting list so decided to her previous books.  I read The Pact and Vanishing Act before I finally got to read My Sister's Keeper. 

Warning there are spoilers ahead for the book and movie!  After reading these three books I have come to the conclusion that Picoult takes a topic that is making headlines, has the characters take sides.  Each side or position may be controversial in some way, but that doesn't matter because something happens so that there is no controversy in the way the novel ends.  It's like Picoult chooses topics that will get people to read, but doesn't want to annoy anyone and takes the safe way out.  I know a lot of people did not like the way the movie turned out.  But I loved it compared to the book.  It felt true to life, rather than fake and saccharine sweet.  In the movie, Anna wins her case against her parents and does not have to give her sister, Kate, her kidney.  I haven't watched the movie in a while but I think Kate makes it to her prom and dies.  In the novel, Anna wins the case but then is killed in a car crash and her kidney is given to Kate. Therefore both sides are satisfied, Anna wins, but Kate gets the kidney.  Kate goes on to live a long and healthy life.  This pissed me off and the book almost became a wall-banger.  It was such a cop out by Jodi Picoult that I felt I had been played with.  I have not read one of her books since.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 17

Favourite Quote From Your Favourite Book

This was really hard.  There were a couple of quotes I could have picked.  Some gave insight into Kristen's personality and behaviour.  While others were very emotional but were spoilers for anyone who has not read Hearts Aflame yet.  Finally I decided to go with this:

They had sailed south, farther south than Kristen had ever dreamed of going.  She knew it was south, for each night the sky stayed darker longer, until finally the darkness was equal to the daylight.  For days now they had sailed past a beautiful land whose coastline was kissed by summer's green, but no one would tell her what land it was.

I chose this quote because I could feel Kristen's excitement building as her adventure was finally beginning.  Also, because I knew that she would soon be meeting Royce and the story would really begin.

30 Days of Books - Day 15

Favorite Male Character

No question, it is James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser from the Outlander series.  He's tall, built, rugged, smart, hot, and always seems to know what to do and say.  And yet he doesn't seem like an exaggeration or stereotype, he seems real.



Diana Gabaldon has said that the above picture of Gabriel Aubry is pretty close to what Jamie looks like.  But I have also come across a video of Gerard Butler that is close to my personal image of Jamie.  Maybe not in Outlander, Gerard Butler does not look like a young 23 year old.  But definitely a 30 something Jamie.



30 Days of Books - Day 14

Favorite Book Of Your Favorite Writer

I didn't even have to think about today's book, it is Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey.  It's a medieval historical with Vikings and one of the first romances I bought.  I have to admit, I was drawn to this book at first because of the cover.  It was also this book that got me hooked on Johanna Lindsey.  This book was written before the popularity of the female warrior in historicals.  Kristen Hardraad, the heroine, is a strong woman taught to fight and use weapons by her mother.  But she is also still womanly, and enjoys her feminine side.  I find now that the heroine in historicals are too modern in their thinking and their actions.  They can do it all and want nothing to do with or listen to the hero.  Sometimes to the point of being TSTL.  I'm not asking for a heroine who is timid and lacks the ability to think for herself.  Instead, I want a heroine who is smart and strong while still being true to her time.  Kristen, in my opinion fits that description.  Oh, and Royce of Wyndham is hot!  If the Viking era is one of your favourites (it's one of mine) check out the Hardraad series.  It actually starts with Kristen's parent in The Fires of Winter and continues with Surrender My Love.  I am still waiting for more books from this family.

Friday, May 13, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 16

Favourite Female Character

I know since my favourite male character was Jamie Fraser that it seems obvious that today's character would be Claire Fraser, but it's not.  Don't get me wrong, she is one of my favourite, but there are times when I find her a little too harsh, curt, and a bit of a know-it-all.  So for my favourite female character I have chosen Kristen Hardraad from Hearts Aflame.  She is a strong woman who knows what she wants and takes the steps to get it.  Kristen is knowledgeable in weaponry, is willing to fight dirty but at the same time can be vulnerable and willing to show her feminine side. 


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 13

Your Favourite Writer

This was so hard to narrow down.  I have two bookcases full of books of my favourite authors.  Some of my faves are:

Contemporary
Rachel Gibson
Linda Howard
Nora Roberts
Sandra Brown
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Lara Adrian
Kristan Higgins
Karen Robards
Karen Marie Moning

Historical
Lisa Kleypas
Monica McCarty
Johanna Lindsey
Madeline Hunter
Diana Gabaldon
Karen Marie Moning
Pamela Clare
Julie Garwood
Shannon Drake
Heather Graham

I think my all time favourite author would have to be Johanna Lindsey.  I started reading her books when I was twelve.  I don't think she wrote a bad book before 1994, after that some of her books are hits and misses.  But I still return to her old ones which have heart, heat, and chemistry.
Surrender My Love (Viking, #3) The Magic of You (Malory Family, #4) Once a Princess (Cardinia's Royal Family, #1) Defy Not the Heart (Shefford's Knights, #1) Tender Rebel (Malory Family, #2) Hearts Aflame (Viking , #2)

Monday, May 9, 2011

Turbo Fire

Ok, this post has absolutely nothing to do with romance novels, reading, or books in any way possible.  Turbo Fire, Chalene Johnson's newest cardio conditioning system is my new obsession.  I got it last Tuesday and started off with the 5 day inferno plan.  Now I know you're supposed to take your measurements before to compare, but I didn't.  I can already feel a difference in my waist, and my pants feel looser around my thighs.  Today was the first day of the actual program and I am hoping to lose a couple of dress sizes for a girls' night out on June 11. 

This program is intense!  Apparently you are supposed to burn 9x more fat and calories than with traditional cardio.  If you haven't heard of it you need to check it out.  I think I might do either a weekly or monthly update on my progress with Turbo Fire.

TurboFire--Intense Cardio Conditioning

30 Days of Books - Day 12

A Book You Used To Love But Don’t Anymore

A book I used to love but don't anymore is Maggy's Child by Karen Robards.

Lyle and Maggy Forrest and their son David, 11, seem to be a stable, wealthy Kentucky family, but Lyle is physically abusive and Maggy is trapped by a web of secrets and by her love for her son. Then after 12 years, Nick King, Maggy's protector when they were children in the Louisville projects and David's real father, reappears as a prosperous nightclub owner. Although unaware of David's patrimony, King wants Maggy back and to do so he is "looking for dirt" about Lyle. There turns out to be plenty. Blackmail, the DEA and other elements follow along with a large cast of secondary characters like Tia Gloria who thinks she's psychic; Nick's half-brother Link, who has a shady past; and a huge, nasty parrot named Horatio who plays a vital (though incredible) role in the denouement.

I first read this book when I was in my early twenties and loved it.  In fact I still have a copy on my shelves.  I would re-read it every once in a while.  The last time I read it, I didn't like it as much.  I'm not quite sure why.  Maybe my taste in reading has changed, or perhaps Robards' writing has changed, as I still read her novels.  Mainly, I think that the last time I read this book, I suddenly found the main characters to be too immature.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 11

A Book You Hated

This may be an unpopular opinion with some people, but a book I hated was Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.  My friend, Mary, was getting annoyed with co-workers who kept talking about the book and telling her she just had to read it.  I wrote this synopsis for her so that she wouldn't have to suffer through all 400 pages like I did:

For the love of all that is good and holy stay away from Twilight!!!  Everyone loves it??  Yes that is the one I said sucked.  Here let me give you a synopsis so you can tell everyone you read it.  Bella Swan (get it? beautiful swan?) moves in with her father and attends a new school.  She is described as plain and no guy at her old school showed any interest in her.  Here?  At least 5 guys are in love with her.   She notices Edward in the cafeteria and is instantly in love but he avoids her and at times is mean.  One day while walking to school Bella is suddenly in danger.  A truck has hit black ice and is heading right for her!  How will she survive?  What will happen??  Out of nowhere Edward pulls her aside and stops the truck with his hand.  Of course he moves faster than a human and no one else saw him move so quickly, or noticed his hand imprinted on the side of the truck. 
They are now inseparable and instantly in love (wtf??).  Next Bella is in the city with some girlfriends but is separated.  Some guys start to follow her and corner her in an alley. How is she going  to get out of this?  Oh wait, there's Edward.  How did he know where she was.  Uh, he saved her by telling her to get into his car.  They go out for dinner.  But won't her friends worry about her?  They have no idea where she is.  Some time later (a day? week? I don't know) Edward decides to take Bella into the woods to tell her the truth about himself.  He is a vampire and skips school on sunny days because he and his family glow and glitter in the sun (I'm sorry wtf???) he shows her he can fly. 
For the next 100 pages Bella thinks about how she loves Edward, can't live without him blah blah blah.  She loves cuddling with him even though he is a block of ice.  She loves the smell of his breath we are told over and over and over again (but um ew he's a 100 year old vampire who only drinks blood.  Let's hope he has a good dental routine).  That is the first 250 pages.  Next the book actually started to get interesting...for awhile.  Edward takes Bella with his family to show her how they play baseball it's super fast and the ball goes super far (a total rip off of Quidditch if you ask me).  But suddenly other vampires appear.  Bella is in danger cause she is human and they can smell her blood.  What will happen?  How will she get out of this one?  Oh Edward saves her again. 
 Now they decide Bella must leave town.  The book is coming to the end so it starts to pick up pace.  Edward's family has hidden Bella in another town but her mother is in danger from the other vampires.  She must go save her, only she could save her no one else.  But she was tricked by the bad vampires.  Her mom is safe in another town but they now have Bella.  What will she do?  How will she - oh *$#@ it, might as well skip these pages until Edward shows up-and there he is.  Bella is saved, all is right with the world until you read the next book.  There you go 400 pages condensed into 4 paragraphs.  You can tell everyone you read the book!
The movie was actually on TV last week and decided to watch it to see if maybe I was a bit harsh in my opinion of the novel.  Nope, movie was just as bad as the book. 

Saturday, May 7, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 10

Favorite Classic Book 

Today I am going with a classic book I loved as a child.  I remember reading it in school in grade 6.  I absolutely loved it from the first page.  The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic that stands the test of time.  I loved this book so much that I wanted a copy for myself.  I was so excited when a couple of months after reading this in class I came upon the exact same copy for sale at a church sale for 10 cents.

Friday, May 6, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 9

A Book You Thought You Wouldn’t Like But Ended Up Loving

Hard to believe now, but the book I picked for today is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  Even though this book is one of my all-time favourite, ten years ago I wasn't sure if I would like it.  I think the first time I came across Diana Gabaldon's books was when I was looking for the newest book of Marius Gabriel.  Every time I was at the bookstore I would stop to see if he had a new book out.  Diana's books were right next to him.  Each time I would pick up Outlander and read the back cover.  And each time I would consider getting it, but decided that I wouldn't like the heroine having two husbands or the time traveling.  So each time i would put it back.  Finally, after reading the back cover for the hundredth time I decided that if I saw it at the used book store I would get it.

Only problem was, the next time I saw it at the used book store, it was Voyageur that was there.  I got it anyway and decided to start reading it until i could get the first book.  I was immediately hooked and wanted Outlander then and there, I tried to wait until I had to go by the bookstore again, but I couldn't.  Within two days I was back at the bookstore and bought Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Drums of Autumn brand new because I did not want to wait.  So moral of today's story is you never know what it is you'll like unless you try it first.

Friday Book Trailer

I haven't read any books from this author, but I think I will be on the lookout for her books.  Here is the book trailer for Christine Young's Highland Honor.




Highland Honor

Thursday, May 5, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 8

Most Overrated Book

I had no trouble thinking about which book I was going to talk about today.  For me, the most overrated book is the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.  I remember at the time it was widely popular that there was a waiting list at the library for it.  While waiting patiently, I watched shows talking about the theory behind the story, possible clues in art etc.  I was really interested and intrigued and tried to find as much information on the subject as possible.  When I finally had the book in my hands, I didn't even get through the first chapter.  I honestly don't remember why I didn't like it because I read so little of it.  I think it was because the writing felt very flat and amateurish.  Maybe I had read up too much on the subject and built the book up too much before I got it.  I don't know, whatever it was, I just could not get into the story.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 7

Most Underrated Book

Secret FireI think that in the literary world all romance books are underrated.  But that's a rant for another day.  Today's challenge was really hard, but I finally chose a book.  It's Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey.  Actually, I think any book of Lindsey's that is not a Malory family book tends to be underrated. I think that because of the overall popularity of Regency romances plus the popularity of the Malory family, the publisher wants a story about this family at least every other year.  Don't get me wrong, I like the Malory family, some of my favourite books are from the series.  But at times I want something different.  This was one of the first historical romances I read that was not set in England or France.  It starts out in England but the majority of the action takes place in Russia.  Lindsey was able to entwine a lovely story with the scenery and history of Russia and I loved every second of it.  Dimitri is very alpha (too the point of being cruel - but I can overlook it) and Katherine is very straight-laced, proper, and indignant about being kidnapped.  I had always hoped that Johanna Lindsey would return to this family so that I could see more of Russia through her eyes.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 6

A Book You Couldn't Finish
I just realized that there is no day 6 in this challenge!  So for day 6 I chose to talk about a book I couldn't finish.  There are quite a few books that I have tried to read but couldn't finish.  I used to feel guilty and push through, but I have come to the conclusion that there are far too many good books out there so why waste my time on a book I'm not enjoying.

The last book I couldn't finish was A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr;

Last Christmas Marcie Sullivan said a final goodbye to her husband, Bobby. This Christmas she's come to Virgin River to find the man who saved his life and gave her three more years to love him.
Fellow marine Ian Buchanan dragged Bobby's shattered body onto a medical transport in Fallujah four years ago, then disappeared as soon as their unit arrived stateside. Since then, Marcie's letters to Ian have gone unanswered.
 
Marcie tracks Ian to the tiny mountain town of Virgin River and finds a man as wounded emotionally as Bobby was physically. But she is not easily scared off. As Marcie pushes her way into his rugged and reclusive life, she discovers a sweet but damaged soul beneath a rough exterior.
Ian doesn't know what to make of the determined young widow who forces him to look into the painful past and, what's worse, the uncertain future. But it is, after all, a season of miracles and maybe, just maybe, it's time to banish the ghosts and open his heart.

I thought that I would really enjoy this book, it had many elements that I like.  It's Christmas time, there's an isolated cabin with the possibility of being snowed in, and a man with a tortured past.  But I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters.  There were way too many characters from previous books and practically all of them were pregnant.  It felt very weird for some reason.  The heroine also seemed saccharine sweet, it became annoying.  I'm sure there were other reasons, but that is all I really remember about this book.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Review - Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Chasing Fire is Roberts' 2011 romantic suspense release.  Here we meet Rowan Tripp, a Missoula smoke jumper.  Smoke jumpers are elite firefighters who parachute into remote areas to combat wildfires.  Rowan is returning to Montana for the season with the death of her jump partner haunting her.  This season she meets up with rookie smoke jumper Gulliver Curry.  Rowan's rule of no fraternizing with fellow jumpers is forgotten with Gulliver.  But soon someone starts to blame Rowan for her partner's death and the fires of summer start to take on a sinister heat.

The good - Nora Roberts as always delivers a story with witty dialogue, humour, chemistry between characters, and a mystery that keeps the reader guessing.  I have to admit, I think I enjoyed the secondary romance between Lucas (Rowan's father) and Ella, a local high school principal, more than Rowan and Gull.  I liked Rowan at first, she seemed strong and capable without a harshness to her.  The mystery kept me guessing until the end.  I had the suspect narrowed down to two characters (A and B).  I thought it was character A at first but closer to the end, character B did a couple of things that made me think the story was going in another direction.  I was completely wrong, well-played Ms. Roberts, well-played.

The bad - Nora Roberts has gone from an auto-buy hardcover author to borrow hardcover at library and buy paperback to just borrow hardcover at library.  This book has not changed that.  I find that although her books are better written than most romance novels available, they have become very formulaic, starting with the heroine.  Roberts seems to favour three main female archetypes for her heroine.  This is really evident in her trilogies which usually features one archetype per book.  There is the nurturer who takes care of everyone and is protective of her charges.  A great example of this is Mia from Face the Fire (Three Sisters Island trilogy).  Next is the waif, she is the tender, innocent, damsel-in-distress that needs to be saved or shown how to save herself.  This describes Nell from Dance Upon the Air the first in the Three Sisters Island Trilogy.  Finally there is the crusader (Ripley from Heaven and Earth) who is strong, headstrong, independent and will take care of everything herself.  Rowan is the crusader, she does not want her friends to look out after her and will do everything herself.  Although I don't have a problem with any of these archetypes, I do get annoyed with them if they become too extreme.  I liked Rowan at first, but she became to harsh and bitchy at times.  When she was being interviewed by the police, I felt that she was way over the top in her reaction to them.  I get that she was annoyed about possibly being a suspect, but come on!  They weren't harassing her, they were just doing their job.

Roberts' story lines seem to have become formulaic as well.  Chasing Fire is no exception.  It involves a strong heroine, a romantic, wealthy (or financially sound) hero, a couple of chapters focused on an interesting or different career, and a murder.  Throw in a secondary romance and you have 450 pages of a story. I have found that for the last couple of books, I tend to skim the pages that focus on the career.  It at times feels like filler that I have read before rather than something that adds to the story. 

I will continue to read Nora Roberts' novels in hopes that the stories return to characters that are more fleshed out and stories that feel less formulaic.  She has the gift of storytelling and while this is not a keeper for me, it is still better than most authors out there.

30 Days of Books - Day 5

A Book That Makes You Happy

This one was hard and I had to think for a while before I decided on which book I was going to choose.  At first I was going choose Outlander or Hearts Aflame but I want to try and choose a different book/author for every day as much as possible.  So the book that makes me happy is Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey.  It is the second book in the Malory family series and is one of the best. 

Scottish heiress Roslynn Chadwick needs the safety of marriage to protect her from an unscrupulous cousin and from the army of fortune-hunting scoundrels who covet her wealth and beauty. And Anthony Malory is everything she has been warned about.
A ruthless, irresistibly handsome English rogue, Malory′s sensual blue eyes speak of limitless pleasures. How Roslynn wishes she dared love such a man, but believing his passionate promises will only lead her into uncertain realms - and to unimagined heights of love.

Anthony is the epitome of the English rogue, he is charming, unrepentant, and when he falls in love, he falls hard.  I long for the return of historical romances like this one.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Review - Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson

In Gibson's newest release we return to the Chinook hockey team and star player Sam LeClaire.  Sam shares custody of his 5 year old son, Connor, with his ex-wife, Autumn.  Sam and Autumn had a brief whirlwind fling in Vegas six years previously.  Now, both live in Seattle and shuttle Connor between assistants to avoid seeing each other.  But Sam slowly starts to realize that he is missing something in his life and wants both Autumn and Connor back full-time.

I really enjoyed this book - I stayed up until 2am to finish it and had tears in my eyes at one point.  Signs to me that I am reading a good book.  Trust me, normally when someone is crying during a movie or tells me I will cry in a book, I roll my eyes.  Most times I find that an author or movie is trying too hard to pull the emotion out of me.  So if I do find myself crying, I genuinely feel that there is true emotion in the book.  It took me awhile to warm up to Sam, he was a very absentee and uninterested father for the first 5 years of Connor's life.  But Rachel Gibson was able to make the character of Sam work for me and become more likable.  Autumn seemed to be the stereotypical single mother - strong, resilient, yet vulnerable and still working through the rejection of Sam.  I think my favourite scene in the book was with Sam, Connor, and Autumn when Sam discovers Autumn wearing a Sidney Crosby Penguins jersey.

I have read other reviews saying that this book is very similar to Gibson's Simply Irresistible and I agree.  But unlike some, I do not have a problem with this.  Simply Irresistible is one of my all-time favourite books and there are enough differences between the two so that Any Man of Mine is not a carbon copy.  I am hoping that there will be a long line of hockey books from Rachel Gibson because one can never have enough Canadian hockey heroes! 

30 Days of Books - Day 4

Favourite Book of your Favourite Series

No question, my favourite book is Outlander, it's the one that started it all and introduced me to Jamie, Claire, Roger, Brianna, Ian, and Rollo.  Although I'm not sure I would classify this under romance, more like historical fiction with everything thrown in for good measure.  For anyone who has not heard about this book (there might be one or two out there) this is what it is all about:

Absorbing and heartwarming, this first novel lavishly evokes the land and lore of Scotland, quickening both with realistic characters and a feisty, likable heroine. English nurse Claire Beauchamp Randall and husband Frank take a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands in 1945. When Claire walks through a cleft stone in an ancient henge, she's somehow transported to 1743. She encounters Frank's evil ancestor, British captain Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall, and is adopted by another clan. Claire nurses young soldier James Fraser, a gallant, merry redhead, and the two begin a romance, seeing each other through many perilous, swashbuckling adventures involving Black Jack. Scenes of the Highlanders' daily life blend poignant emotions with Scottish wit and humor. Eventually Sassenach (outlander) Claire finds a chance to return to 1945, and must choose between distant memories of Frank and her happy, uncomplicated existence with Jamie. Claire's resourcefulness and intelligent sensitivity make the love-conquers-all, happily-ever-after ending seem a just reward.