Review: The Major's Daughter: A Novel by J.P. Francis

Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: July 29th 2014 by Plume

ISBN

0452298695 (ISBN13: 9780452298699)

From Goodreads:

"April, 1944. The quiet rural village of Stark, New Hampshire is irrevocably changed by the arrival of 150 German prisoners of war. And one family, unexpectedly divided, must choose between love and country.

Camp Stark is under the command of Major John Brennan, whose beautiful daughter, Collie, will serve as translator. Educated at Smith and devoted to her widowed father, Collie is immediately drawn to Private August Wahrlich, a peaceful poet jaded by war. As international conflict looms on the home front, their passion blinds them to the inevitable dangers ahead.

Inspired by the little-known existence of a real World War II POW camp, The Major’s Daughter is a fresh take on the timeless theme of forbidden love."



My Thoughts: Even though I lived in New England for over 50 years, I had never heard of any POW camps in the area. I thought this was an extremely interesting fact for the basis of a novel.


The story held my attention at all times even though I'm not too sure how credible it would be for a prisoner-of-war to be allowed the chance to meet the Major's daughter. Although, that was a minor concern because the story line was well done. All the characters were well fleshed out and I thought the dialogue was very realistic. Actually, the story of Collie's friend who also fell in love with someone her family deemed not "socially acceptable" was on a par with Collie's own story. Besides being a love story, it also was a social commentary of the times.


Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot. 4****


Recommended for fans of romance, historical and WWII fiction.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Plume/NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Promise by Robyn Carr

Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: June 24th 2014 by Harlequin MIRA

more details...

ISBN: 0778316203 (ISBN13: 9780778316206)                

edition language: English

series: Thunder Point #5

From Goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr returns to Thunder Point with an uplifting story about overcoming loss and finding unexpected love

Scott Grant has a bustling family practice in the small Oregon community of Thunder Point. The town and its people have embraced the widowed doctor and father of two, his children are thriving, and Scott knows it's time to move...more Scott Grant has a bustling family practice in the small Oregon community of Thunder Point. The town and its people have embraced the widowed doctor and father of two, his children are thriving, and Scott knows it's time to move on from his loss. But as the town's only doctor, the dating scene is awkward. That is, until a stunning physician's assistant applies for a job at his clinic.

Peyton Lacoumette considers herself entirely out of the dating scene. She's already been burned by a man with kids, and she's come to Thunder Point determined not to repeat past mistakes. When Scott offers her a job, at a much lower salary than she's used to, Peyton is surprisingly eager to accept…at least for now. She's willing to stay for a three-month trial period while she explores other options.

Scott and Peyton know the arrangement is temporary—it isn't enough time to build a real relationship, never mind anything with lasting commitment. But love can blossom faster than you think when the timing is right, and this short visit just might hold the promise of forever.   

My Thoughts:

Every book is this series is wonderful, the magic just keeps on happening. Robyn Carr can write a romance and stories of family like no one else. All her books are so enjoyable, I haven't found one yet that I didn't like. I just couldn't put this one down. It was so interesting to read of the Basque culture and I just loved all the characters. Okay, there was one or two I could have given a dummy slap to but the rest of the recurring characters was a nice catch-up with old friends.

Highly recommended for fans of romance, family stories and contemporary fiction. 5****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Harlequin MIRA/Netgalley  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 6th 2014 by Zebra

more details...

ISBN: 1420133071 (ISBN13: 9781420133073)

edition language : English

series: Seasons of the Heart #4

From Goodreads:

As a bright season brings a fresh start to Willow Ridge, Annie Mae Knepp feels she can never make peace with the past. Her disgraced ex-bishop father is furious she has taken her five siblings to live with her. She's never been truly at home in her faith. . .or believing in herself. And Annie Mae fears no man will want to take on the responsibilities she's gladly shouldered. True, her quiet neighbor Adam Wagler has been steadfast and unshakeable helping her through her trials, but he surely couldn't think of someone so lost as more than a friend. Believing she is unworthy because of her doubts, Annie Mae will find in a moment of surprising revelation that God can work impossible miracles--and that love makes all things new.


My thoughts:

 Not too sure what it is about Amish fiction that draws me in so quickly but maybe it is the seeming simplicity of their lives. The Amish seem to know what is expected of them and generally they do that. I've read the other three in the series and enjoyed them tremendously, although this one seemed a little more "preachy" than the previous three. Even so, the first three in the series captivated me with the varied characters and situations.

 Miriam has her own story going on as well as her three daughters. I really liked Miriam, the mother of the triplets, and her dedication to her faith, family, and her cafe business. In this fourth book, Hubbard branches out to another Willow Ridge family member, Annie Mae Knepp. We had met her father, Hiram, in the first book. Hubbard did a terrific job of bringing Hiram, as well as all the other characters,  to life. There's not usually a villain as nefarious as Hiram Knepp but this character, Annie Mae's father, definitely filled the bill as villain. I think it added to the reality of the series that not all people are perfect and some people are just downright deplorable despite their religious title.

Recommended for fans of family sagas, romance, Christian fiction. 3.5***

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Kensington/Netgalley  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts

Paperback, 320 pages

Published October 23rd 2012 by Harlequin MIRA

more details...ISBN: 0778313921 (ISBN13: 9780778313922)

edition language: English

Icicle Falls, Washington, is home to three divorced women; talented strong women in their own right. They've all been hurt by their ex-husbands but are now moving on. Well, for the most part moving on.

Ella, who was sure her husband Jake was cheating on her, jumped into divorcing him. He's still living in their house for financial reasons.  He's hoping to make his big break into Nashville with his songwriting. Ella's sure she just wants their house to sell so they can move on. She's even starting to see another man but the magic of Christmas time, a little bit of eggnog and a very persuasive Jake might have her re-thinking her position. Jake and Ella were my favorite characters!

Charlene, "Charley" to her friends, definitely wants nothing to do with her Ex, Richard but when he shows up in town all remorseful and making a huge effort to get her back, Charley starts thinking maybe he has changed.  Leopards can change their spots. It is possible, right?

Cass, mother to three kids and owner of The Gingerbread Haus bakery has enough to do just to keep the business running, take care of things at home and deal with her still simmering disgust at her ex hubby and his new trophy wife. When their daughter, Danni, announces her engagement at Thanksgiving and sets the wedding date for the weekend before Christmas, Cass is just about undone with worry. As if that weren't enough, Danni wants her father to walk her down the aisle. It's not like he's been been there for her for years. It annoys Cass that her Ex can seem to pick and choose what to do as a father. To top that off, Danni wants him, his new wife and his mother and sister to stay with Cass. They will all have to come up with a way to get through the festivities without killing each other or some having  a big blow-up.

 I enjoyed the story, the three strong women and the rest of the characters, the setting and the realistic dialogue. Roberts did a good job with her themes of love, forgiveness and finding out that family is indeed the most important thing of all. This was my first experience with Sheila Roberts and I'm sure it won't be the last. 4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Netgalley/Harlequin MIRA in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: My Kind of Christmas by Robyn Carr

ebook, 314 pages
Expected publication: October 23rd 2012 by Harlequin MIRA
ISBN13
9781459244375
edition language
English
series
Virgin River #20


In My Kind of Christmas we meet 23 year old Angie LeCroix whose recent accident has left her restless and indecisive. With her mother hovering over her and constantly urging her to get back to medical school, Angie decides she needs to get away, be alone, and think. Besides, she's not convinced she even wants to return to medical school. Where does she go? Virgin River, of course! Her Uncle Jack is not quite as protective as her mother but almost. At least he's willing to give her a little space.

Patrick Riordan, the youngest of the Riordan brothers, is also in Virgin River, where he has his own personal crisis going on. He's suffered a severe loss as a Navy pilot and is on leave for six weeks. He just wants peace, quiet and some alone time to re-think his own life and career path. The last thing he's looking for is a new commitment.

Yup, you guessed it! Patrick and Angie spot each other in Jack's bar and the sparks fly across the room. Against admonishing from both families and their own better judgement, Patrick and Angie become a twosome for the holiday season with the understanding that it is only for a few weeks and then life will go on.

Separately.

Uh, huh, Patrick and Angie. Keep telling yourselves that.

Romance stories are not usually my first reading choice but when it comes to Robyn Carr, I make an exception. I just happened to win one of the books from the Virgin River series and have not looked back. Every new one I read, I enjoy tremendously. Carr manages to grab my heart every time with her characters and the plot line.


I love this series. Even after 20 books, it still feels fresh. Carr has created a community filled with interesting and caring characters who feel so real to me. The sense of place is well done and the love stories are truly romantic; nothing over the top. I can picture all their homes and family in my mind. Even though some of the plot is predictable, it doesn't matter. It's the quality time spent in this wonderful community with it's own traditions. I'd love to spend Christmas in Virgin River!  4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Harlequin Mira/Netgalley  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Autumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard

Paperback, 368 pages

Published September 4th 2012 by Zebra (first published September 1st 2012)

ISBN

1420121707 (ISBN13: 9781420121704)

edition language

English

series:Seasons of 
the Heart #2

Right away I felt connected to the characters in this captivating Amish romance. Just as there were many characters I liked, there was only one I didn't like. The main characters, Miriam and Ben, were very appealing and I was rooting for them to find happiness together but Miriam had her doubts when she thought her late husband, Jesse, was admonishing her for inviting a "stranger" into their home and for thinking about selling him some of their farm land. Ben, as a traveling farrier, wants to finally settle down and he's sure Miriam is his soul mate but he's got a lot to do to convince Miriam of that. Not only is Miriam unsure that it is proper to move on, there's the little matter of Bishop Knepp. He is determined to have Miriam for himself even when she tells him it will never happen.

Bishop Knepp is one of those threatening characters who looms up from the pages.  He's the one I didn't like, mainly because of his selfish, chauvinistic ways and bullying tactics. He wants what he wants and no one will stand in his way. I like the way Hubbard included a less than stellar personality into the story. It just shows some people will egage in egregious behaviors when it behooves them to do so, even if they take on the mantle of a peaceful, loving leader of a religious community. He was anything but! He gave me the "creeps." It takes a talented writer to elicit out such emotions from a reader.

 One other thing I liked about Hubbard's writing is that she showcases strong women who can stand on their own especially when modern day ways intrude on the old Amish ways. Despite Bishop Knepp's attempts to take Miriam out of the café kitchen and into his own kitchen, she has managed to run a very successful bakery café with her business partner and two daughters. Several other romance threads, particularly that of Miriam's daughter, Rhoda, were woven into the plot which made for delightful reading. The Willow Ridge, Missouri setting was very well portrayed as were all  the characters.

Will Miriam come to realize that Jesse would only want her happiness and that Ben is truly the man for her or should she yield to Bishop Knepp's pressure and marry him? Will Rhoda find the man who is right for her?

I guess you'll just have to read the book and see. Autumn Winds is the second book in the Seasons of the Heart series. Although I didn't read the first one in the series (Summer of Secrets) I don't feel like I missed anything. Hubbard does a terrific job of creating a stand alone story, one that I enjoyed immensely. Recipes included at end of book.
4****


Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by LT/Zebra in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog tour: Katie's Way by Marta Perry

Paperback, 352 pages
Published November 1st 2011 by Berkley Trade
ISBN: 0425243222 (ISBN13: 9780425243220)

Still grieving over a broken heart, Katie Miller moves to Pleasant Valley to open her very own quilt shop. Back home she worked in her mother's quilt shop so she has some experience to fall back on.
Not only did Katie lose Eli, the man she loved, she lost her best friend who married Eli almost four years ago but she is one  young lady who is determined to succeed. She has one year to prove to her family that she can make a go of the shop.

One way to draw in more customers is to offer quilting lessons and Katie runs with this idea. Soon, both Amish and Englisch are mingling amiably together in the shop. Not only does Katie have the business to worry about but her parents left her younger, somewhat rebellious sister, Rhoda, in her care. Rhoda soon finds her own place in Pleasant Valley and she and Katie become a good team but it's not easy at times. The shop is a little off the beaten path and business is not as brisk as Katie would like so some of the town's merchants cook up an advertising scheme to promote Pennsylvania Dutch Days. A few of the townspeople feel they don't really want too many tourists overrunning the area but the plan goes ahead.

When acts of vandalism start to occur, everyone is worried about why this is happening. Is the outside world trying to intrude or could one of the Plain People be taking matters into their own hands?  Caleb, who shares a storefront with Katie, has his own feelings about the situation. He too is nursing a broken heart and spirit. Just being able to make his furniture and a living is fine with him. He doesn't need too much interaction with other people but life has a funny way of helping people heal. It's almost a foregone conclusion he and Katie will be attracted to each other but how they decide to handle their feelings is a big part of the story. 

" Endings. Beginnings. That was what made up life, wasn't it? She'd just like to know whether she was at an ending or a beginning."

Well, I like the ending and the beginning and all the pages in between! 4****

Lately, I've gotten into reading Amish fiction and found I really enjoy it. In Katie's Way, Marta Perry introduces some loveable characters along with a solid plot. There's a little bit of mystery to the story along with the romance, sense of community, life choices and friendship. After reading this book, I tried another one of Perry's books, Hide in Plain Sight,  and liked that one very much also.

About the author: A lifetime spend in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta Perry to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than thirty-five inspirational romance novels and lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse. You can read more about Marta at her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley Trade in exchange for my honest opinion.  Thanks also to Pump Up your Book  for allowing me to participate in the tour.

Book tour & Giveaway for Hometown Girl by Mariah Stewart

Hometown Girl
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
 ISBN13: 9780345531216
Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 27, 2011)

From the publisher:

Life was always just about perfect for Brooke Madison Bowers. She was the prettiest, most popular girl in small-town St. Dennis, Maryland, a prom queen, local pageant star, and the pride and joy of her loving parents. She even married the man of her dreams. But the promise of happily ever after fell to pieces when her husband was killed while serving in Iraq. Brokenhearted and longing for the solace of better days, she returns to the idyllic world of St. Dennis, and the familiar comfort of the family farm. Surrounded by her loving family and friends, she’s determined to build a new life, complete with her own cupcake bakery. She’s equally determined never to fall in love again.

For Jesse Enright, life has been a challenge. A fourth-generation attorney, he’s spent his life fighting to escape the shadow of his irresponsible father. Now he’s moved to St. Dennis to run the family law practice, and he’s ready to find the right girl, get married, and settle down. But his carefully laid plans go out the window when he meets Brooke and finds himself caught between the unbreakable law of attraction and Brooke’s resolve to go her way alone—despite the undeniable feelings Jesse stirs in her. But just like catching lightning in a bottle, is it possible to fall head-over-heels, heart-and-soul in love all over again?

My Thoughts:  Ahhhh, it's like coming home again and reconnecting with old friends and getting to know some new ones better.  In this story, we get to see Brooke and Jessee start a relationship and watch as the two slowly fall for each other. I love the way Ms. Stewart develops her characters and their relationships so realistically. With each book  we get to see one couple as the star of the show, so to speak with, the characters from the preceding book weaving in and around the main characters' lives. It's just like real life; families with their ups and downs, joys and sorrows and credible feelings.

Both Jesse and Brooke have some issues to work out; Brooke is still feeling afraid to trust her heart again after the pain of losing her beloved husband and Jessee is afraid he will turn out like his father even though he is nothing like him. With the help of each other, this couple should be able to live life full on for a very long time to come and I want to be there to witness it.

Even though a happily ever after is almost a guarantee in her stories, Ms.Stewart captivates the  reader along the journey. The little town of St. Dennis on the Chesapeake is almost a character in itself with caring residents and long time traditions being carried out. Along with the plot this small town atmosphere is very appealing to me.

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed the first three in this series and the latest, Hometown Girl is just as fresh and delightful as the first three. Last year I read and reviewed Coming Home the first book in the series, and Home Again, the second book. In May I reviewed Almost Home, the third book in the series.  If you visit Mariah's web site and click on books, you can read excerpts from the first two.

Hometown Girl is book # 4 in The Chesapeake Diaries series. Any of these books can be read as a stand alone, but in my opinion, it's best to start from the first one to see how all the relationships develop besides, you don't want to miss out on some truly wonderful stories. 4****

About Mariah Stewart: Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and their dogs amid the rolling hills and Amish farms of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she gardens, reads, and enjoys country life. She is currently working on the next book in her bestselling Chesapeake Diaries series.

Connect with Mariah on her website or on Facebook.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by TLC tours and Ballantine Books in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Thanks to the generosity of Ballantine Books I am able to give away one copy of Hometown Girl. Open to US & Canada. Be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Deadline to enter: Nov 24th at 5 PM (est).

Bonus entries are available as follows.

+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Hometown Girl in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Review and Giveaway: Almost Home by Mariah Stewart

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345520378
ISBN-13: 978-0345520371

Steffie Wyler, owner of the very popular ice cream parlor, One Scoop or Two, is living her dream - well, almost. Since she was little she had three goals in life: make ice cream every day, marry the coolest guy in town and live happily ever after. It's the "marry the coolest guy in town" that has eluded her but now that her high school crush, Wade McGregor is back in town maybe, just maybe that goal is reachable.

 In town for a wedding, Wade renews his acquaintance with Steffie getting her all starry eyed with her hopes up but once again he hightails it back to Texas where he has been living and working since college. Try as she might, Steffie tries to be complacent about it.

"She tried to keep a smile on her face and a positive attitude as they said good-bye, even until the door closed behind him and she turned the lock.

Then, from somewhere deep inside, a little voice whispered that some things never change. Wade would leave and get on with his life, and she'd still be here,  in St. Dennis, until next time."

Things in Wade's life, both personal and business wise have gone sour and now he is back. Again! But this time with some surprising new complications to consider. Will Wade finally see what is right in front of him? Will this be the time for Steffie and Wade to make a go of it once and for all?

What I like about this series is the recurring characters that feels like visiting with old friends and family. I like Stewart's emphasis on love, friendships and the complexities of family dynamics.There's something so engaging about all the interwoven family stories in the little town of St Dennis on the Chesapeake. Even though as a reader, you pretty much know all will work out in the end, it's a delightful journey getting there with the characters as they go through all of life's surprises, joys and heartaches.

Almost Home is the third book in the Chesapeake Diaries series by Mariah Stewart. Any of these stories can be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend you start with the first one just to get a feel for the little town and all the characters. I'm so invested in these characters now, I can't wait for the next one; Home Town Girl, the fourth in the series, will be released in July.

Last year I read and reviewed Coming Home the first book in the series, and Home Again, the second book. If you visit Mariah's web site and click on books, you can read excerpts from the first two. There are also links to contests. Happy browsing!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Ballantine Books & TLC tours in exchange for my honest opinion.

The publisher is allowing me to give away one (1) copy of the book. US & Canada. Deadline for giveaway is May 27th at 5 PM (est). Be sure to include an e mail address in your comment. As always bonus entries are available by :

+2 for being a follower- just remind me how and under what name
+3 for tweeting or putting on sidebar - leave me a link, please.
Good luck!

Review & Giveaway: Beautiful Disaster by Laura Spinella

For college student, Mia Montgomery, it's just another day hanging out with friends until she lays eyes on Flynn; a scruffy looking, coarse mouthed,  motorcycling drifter with a past full of secrets and a future full of nothing but uncertainty. When they meet later on in a bar, it's as if the two of them just knew they were soul mates.

"Silence settled between them as Flynn searched the busy bar for a place to hide his vulnerability. He rubbed his palms over his denim-covered thighs, realizing his hands were sweaty. The attraction, like the tide to the moon, kept pulling the two of them toward each other. "

 Mia's youth, freshness and naivete crumbled Flynn's defenses and brought out his vulnerabilities. Flynn was like no one Mia had ever known before. Despite their obvious differences and against all advice from Mia's best friend, Roxanne, Mia and Flynn began an intense love affair that would change both their destinies almost destroying them in the process. On the other hand, it might just be their salvation.

Flynn was the kind of man that could not be pinned down; it would be like trying  to chain a rainbow or a breeze to earth. Even though Flynn could not promise her any future, Mia had complete faith in him knowing that he would never hurt her. The best he could promise was that he would not leave her. That's why it was so devastating when suddenly he was just gone without a word of explanation leaving Mia to agonize over her lost love and wondering how she would take her next breath never mind getting on with her life.

Now he is back; but not the way Mia would have wanted. Roxanne, now a doctor in the local hospital, has called Mia to let her know that Flynn had been in a motorcycle crash and is now in a coma in the ER. Mia leaves a life changing business meeting to rush to Flynn's side. Oh, yeah, there is a slight complication. In the twelve years Flynn has been gone, Mia married Michael Wells after waiting for years for some word or news  from Flynn.

Along with the main plot line, there is a bit of a mysterious sub-plot going on. College girls have been murdered from the midwest all the way to Alabama and Roxanne, is convinced Flynn was somehow involved. This suspicion on Roxanne's part almost ended her long friendship with Mia.

For a debut novel, this was beautifully written and very enjoyable. In fact, other than one scene in the middle, I had a hard time putting this one down. I was so captivated by the characterizations, southern setting, depth of emotions and plot line that I couldn't wait to see what happened next; I just kept turning the pages almost non-stop. Laura Spinella has dug deep to flesh out her characters' feelings and thoughts. It's as if I had been a close friend of  Mia, Flynn and Roxanne for years and had been through all the heartache right along with them. Highly recommended. 4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Penguin Group at no charge to me in exchange for my honest opinion.

To celebrate the release of Beautiful Disaster Penguin group is allowing me to giveaway 2 copies of the book. US & Canada only. Deadline to enter is January 25th at 5 PM (est). Please be sure to include an e mail address for your comment to qualify. 

 As always, bonus entries can be earned by:

+ 2 for following - just remind me how and under what name you follow
+3 for posting or tweeting about contest with a link included - Be sure to leave me the link.

Good luck!

Review: Sealed With A Ring by Mary Margaret Daughtridge

From the publisher: Sealed With a Ring follows medic Davy Graziano, sidelined after being wounded in action. He meets ambitious and beautiful JJ Caruthers, who has her own motives to quickly find a military husband that will be away on tour and never around. Davy surprised himself by accepting JJ's proposal, but soon after their marriage of convenience ceremony, they suddenly realize they're both falling fast for one another! Can the savvy business woman and dutiful military man put their rising passions aside, or can they find a formula to fall in love?

JJ had put her heart and soul into the family's car business and now her grandfather threatens to sell it if JJ is not married within a year. Not wanting to let go of the business and let down all Caruthers's employees, JJ plots to make a marriage of convenience. When her friend jokingly advises her to marry a Seal as they are rarely home, JJ thinks that is a good idea. A year ago at a wedding, JJ had met a navy Seal named David. The two shared an impetuous night of passion but the next morning went their separate ways.

When she runs into David at a get together, JJ proposes to him and he accepts. David is more than willing to marry JJ but he has some stipulations of his own if he goes through with the deal. What does he want? He wants her! He wants a real marriage. But can he convince JJ of that? The funny thing is she starts to fall for David and he for her but trying to get past the negotiations and dealing with the reality of David's injuries and his desire to resume his military duty is another thing.

Daughtridge spins a true love story that is not without its ups and downs. After a lot of painful heart searching, JJ learns a lot about herself and her grandfather while David comes to a few realizations of his own. Trying to get past their stubborness, they all finally learn what is truly important and that is one aspect of the book I liked; the characters were not portrayed in perpetual hold. They all showed some emotional growth.

Although I found the book to be a tad predictable at times, I certainly enjoyed the story. A few of the sex scenes were a little prolonged but that is just my personal opinion. Some readers will find they really like the play by play steamy action. Sealed With a Ring is not just a fluffy romance; there are a few interesting tidbits about traumatic brain injury along with post traumatic stress disorder. With a Vietnam veteran and Navy Seals woven into the story, the tale becomes all that more believable. For contemporary romance fans, this one is sure to be a winner.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Sourcebooks, Inc. Thank you, Danielle!

Review: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

February 1st 2010 by Sourcebooks Casablanca (first published 2010)
details
Mass Market Paperback, 480 pages
setting
Herefordshire, 1824 (United Kingdom)
isbn
1402237014 (isbn13: 9781402237010)

From the publisher: "Lessons in French is a sweet tale of a reconnected childhood love, separated for years because of society and family expectations. Everyone loves a sweeping love story—complete with a shy wallflower learning what’s she capable of because of the devilishly dashing and fiendishly French Duc de Monceaux, still pining away for her after all those years apart…"

My Thoughts: At 18 years of age, Lady Callista Taillfaire was in love with Trevelyn D'Augustin and he with her. Unfortunately, her father did not approve and when he found them together in a state of semi undress, he whipped Trev and hustled his daughter into the house. Trev immediately took off for France and now after nine years he is back.

In the years Trev was away Callista managed to get engaged three times only to have her suitors renege for one flimsy excuse after another. This certainly didn't help our heroine's self esteem. She just assumed she was plain and that even her considerable fortune was not enough to entice a man to marry her. She has been contented raising her cattle, in particular her prize bull Hubert. Fate being what it is, all that is about to change.

When she runs into Trev at a dance she feels as if he had never left; her heart starts to race and her senses reel. Despite these feelings she tells him she has no intention of marrying. No more humiliation for our Lady Callista! The two are thrown together numerous times as Callista stops by to help Trev care for his ailing mother. Secretly, Trev's mother plots to get the two together even though Callista has got herself engaged again to the first man who jilted her.

With a lot of ups and downs and quite a few hilarious shenanigans, the two of them finally realize they were meant for each other; but it takes some near misses with the law and some hijinks at the local livestock show to move things along.

A lot of the scenarios may have been predictable but they were so charmingly written with such witty dialogue, this reader didn't mind at all. Along with the lighthearted frivolity there is a lot of chemistry between Trev and Callista. They are two characters who are so easy to like and root for. I really liked a lot of the supporting cast also, especially Trev's mother with her fractured English and her sense of humor. All in all, a delightfully fun read. 4****

Laura's beautiful website that can be found here.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Sourcebooks, Inc. Thank you, Danielle!

Show Me 5 Saturday: Reasons by Tracy Fabre

Alipet at That's a Novel Idea has started a new MEME called Show Me Five Saturday. This meme will give each blogger an opportunity to give a brief description of a book they have read or reviewed during the week. It will work like this: Each Saturday you will post the answer to these questions. The number indicates the number of answers you will provide.

This week I am going to add part of the publisher's synopsis so you have an idea of the basic premise:

"Delphi Brent, seriously injured ina hit-and-run accident as a teenager, is ready to spend the summer with old family friends when her parents make a distressing confession: the driver of the car that nearly killeed her was one of the three sons of the Laughlin family she's about to visit. They urge her to stay home and let the past be, but she resolves to go out West anyway to learn the truth about what happened the night she was struck and one of the Laughlin sons died.

1. The title of book you read: Reasons by Tracy Fabre

2. Book description: contemporary romance

3. Settings where it took place or characters you met:

• Colorado
• Delphi Brent who has not seen or heard from the Laughlins for over a decade somehow magically gets the e-mail address for Annie ( Mrs. Laughlin and Delphi's mother's old friend) and strikes up a correspondence and then plans on visiting for most of the summer. When she first meets Noreen, the Laughlin's future daughter-in-law, she gets into a verbal skirmish with her complete with childish responses and almost paranoid behavior. Noreen "hates me". This is the first day she arrives. Is this acceptable believable behavior for a guest? I think not! Despite having had a crush on Bobbie, the older brother, she falls for Tam. Another case of inane inner dialogue: "he doesn't like me, he smiled at me, he's not talking to me, he kissed me, he hates me, ooh he called me sweetheart. Oh, puhleeeze, is this the 8th grade. I found Delphi to be an abrasive and most annoying character that at times I wanted to just slap her. Most days she acted half her age. As to her mission to find out the truth, that was just glossed over as she daydreamed about Tam.
• The Laughlins: They must be the most trusting people on earth. They invite Delphi to visit after not having seen her for over a decade nor have they had any contact with Delphi's parents and yet they let her work in their ranch office with free rein to all their files, business, etc. Ten years previously when their sons came home with a very damaged car and one of the sons went into a coma, it seems no questions were asked. Didn't they wonder why the Brents did not contact them in any way after their last visit? Is this likely behavior for any parents or friends for that matter?

4. Things you liked/disliked about it:

• I liked the cover and the title and then it all went downhill from there.
• Improbability of events: When Delphi's parents tell her they don't want her to go and why, none of it made sense to me. If my daughter had been hit by a car and I saw the vanity license plate and knew who the owner was, you can bet I would be irate and demanding of an explantion why she was just left in the street. Even if the car's owner were my best friends' son and I had been staying with them. How could the Laughlins not know that Delphi had been in an accident and then their sons come home in a damaged car? How could this all be swept under the rug? Delphi's mother explains that when they finally got home to PA, they found a letter from the Laughlins that said their son Artie had been in a coma after a car accident and passed away. So they felt bad and didn't say anything about Delphi's accident. WHAAAAT? Nobody connects these two accidents. This whole premise seemed unbelievable to me. It set the tone for the whole book and irritated me to no end.
• A few of the minor characters were the saving grace of this book but the main characters I couldn't get invested in and just couldn't like
• dialogue that felt stilted, tried to be "witty" and failed for the most part.

5. Stars or less for your rating:

• 2** Using my put down/pick up criteria, I could easily put this one down and if I hadn't agreed to review it in January, the bookmark would most likely still be languishing between page 90 to 100.

Review: Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr

Blurb from back cover: "Four years ago, air force sweethearts Franci Duncan and Sean Riordan reached an impasse. She wanted marriage and a family. He didn't. But a chance meeting proves that the bitter breakup hasn't cooled their sizzling chemistry."

And sizzling it is! Definitely rings the bell on the "phew, is it hot in here or is it me" meter. When I finished Forbidden Falls, it was almost with sadness. I wanted it to go on and on. Well, now with the release of Angel's Peak Robyn Carr gives us another wonderfully warm and heartfelt story from Virgin River. Not only do we get to re-visit some old friends from the series, we get to meet new ones. Let's take a quick look at what Francie and Sean are up to.

When Sean has quite a bit of leave due him, he decides to visit his newly-wed brother, Luke. One night, in an attempt to give Luke and Shelby a little more private time, he visits a nearby bar. His heart starts to thud and his pulses race when he sees a woman who looks just like Francie but leaner and with much shorter hair. On an impulse he follows her out of the bar and tries to reconnect with her. Francie tells Sean he had his chance and made his feelings about marriage quite clear four years ago. She is in no way amenable to more heartache from Sean. She wants none of that, thank you very much!

Or so she tells herself. The hard part is she never got over him and probably never will but she has her life now; a job she likes and with her mother living just up the street to help out, life is good. But Sean is taken aback at his response to seeing her and is not about to take no for an answer. After listening to some advice from his new sister-in-law, he starts to haunt some of the places he thinks he might find her. Several weeks later they reconnect in a chance meeting and wow, do the sparks fly! Can Sean even get his head around the changes in her life since he last saw her and prove he is not such a mule headed idiot now and win Francie back?

Robyn Carr is the consummate story teller breathing life into her characters so that they just come alive on the page. There is a lot more to this book than just Sean and Francie. There's love, friendship, faith and a little bit of self discovery mixed into the story with some other terrific characters. I don't want to give away any more details. You'll just have to read the book and find out. You'll be happy you took a little trip to Virgin River. Needless to say, I loved it! 4.5 ****

Robyn Carr is the author of the Virgin River series. Angel's Peak is the second in her 2010 trilogy and is set to hit the shelves in February. Moonlight Road will be released in March. Link to review of the first one: Forbidden Falls .

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Nancy Berland Public Relations, Inc. Thank you so much Nancy!

Review: Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr

From the back cover: Noah Kincaid arrives ready to roll up his sleeves and revitalize his new purchase, but he's going to need some help. An ad in the local paper brings an improbable candidate his way.

"Pastor's assistant" is not a phrase that springs to mind when Noah meets brassy, beautiful Ellie Baldwin. With her colorful clothes and even more colorful past, Ellie needs a respectable job so she can regain custody of her children. Noah can't help but admire her spunk and determination, and she may just be the breath of fresh air he needs.

The opening is most intriguing: Noah Kincaide, a widowed Reverend is patiently waiting for a church but the presbytery just hasn't come up with anything. When Noah sees an abandoned church for sale on E-Bay of all places, he contacts the real estate agent to take a look at the church. After convincing the presbytery that he has inherited enough money to do all the renovations,they approve the purchase and he is on his way to starting a new life in the little town of Virgin River.

When Ellie applies for the job, Noah is very hesitant to hire her as he worries about her appearance. All that makeup, all that curly hair and all that cleavage could be a serious distraction for young Noah. Although she had worked as an exotic dancer and had two children born out of wedlock to two different men, Ellie is totally different than what she appears to be.

Ellie was brought up by her grandmother and learned not to be afraid of hard work and that whining about a bad situation does not make it better; it just makes a person stronger. With a heart as big as all outdoors, her grandma's commonsense and strong work ethic deeply ingrained in her, Ellie proves her worth as she leaves an indelible mark on many of the town inhabitants, especially Noah.

I've only read one other of Carr's books and that was Virgin River Christmas and I really liked it. This latest was just as wonderful; the characters seemed so real to me in their thoughts, actions and very realistic dialogue. They are just everyday people living life to the best of their ability and very easy to relate to. Of course, some parts of it were predictable but the story is so heartwarming and Ellie is one of those characters you just love to root for.

Carr sure knows how to elicit emotions in a reader. I was hesitant to put this one down as I couldn't wait to see how Ellie's custody situation and her relationship with Noah would be resolved.
4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was sent to me by Nancy Berland Public Relations, Inc. Thank you so much, Nancy!

Show Me 5 Saturday: The Treasures of Venice by Loucinda McGary

Alipet813 at That's a Novel Idea has started a new MEME called Show Me Five Saturday. This meme will give each blogger an opportunity to give a brief description of a book they have read or reviewed during the week. It will work like this: Each Saturday you will post the answer to these questions. The number indicates the number of answers you will provide.

1. Title of book you read or reviewed this week: The Treasures of Venice by Loucinda McGary
2. Words that describe the book:
Romance, Intrigue
3. Settings where it took place or characters you met:
Set in Venice, Italy.
Samantha: Indiana librarian whose fiance just dumped her, travels to Venice to show him she can be fun and spontaneous. What she finds in Venice is an adventure and love she had never thought was possible.
Kiernan: Silver tongued charmer who is on a mission to find his kidnapped sister and the Jewels of the Madonnas. His mission becomes keeping Samantha.
4. Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
I loved the setting; rich descriptions transported me right into the scene.
Two concurrently running plot lines centuries apart; one in the present with characters who may be the reincarnation of the characters from 1485 time line.
The intrigue and adventure of the characters', main and minor, dangerous search for the jewels from renaissance Venice.
The smoldering hot love story between Samantha and Kiernan
5. Stars or less for your rating: 4 ****
Note: I really enjoyed this one more than I thought I would due to the book having one of "those" covers. I read this one in three sittings feeling somewhat anxious to see what happened next.
For another Show Me 5 please visit Jenners.
Disclosure : this book is from my personal library.

Review: The Wildest Heart by Rosemary Rogers

From the back cover: Lady Rowena Dangerfield travels from the exotic palaces of India to the splendor of the Royal Court of London to the savage New Mexico frontier to lay claim to her inheritance and live freely as only she would dare. In the violent, untames American South,west meets a man as strong as she is: Lucas Cord, a dark, dangerously handsome, half-Apache outlaw. Fighting scandal, treachery, and murder, Luke is determined to have Rowena for his own, and as their all-consuming passion mounts, no one is going to stop him...

My thoughts: The beginning of this story, set in India in the late 1800's, really grabbed me with the wild and reckless nature of Lady Rowena being discussed by several English women. When Rowena moved to England after the death of her grandfather, I was still enamored of the character; strong, fiercely independent young woman who could certainly take care of herself and make up her own mind. All of the lesser characters were well described and easily imaginable.

When her father sends for her to travel to New Mexico, Rowena finds herself in different circumstances than she is used to. At first I thought she adapted well to the wild roughness of the era. Then somehow, Rowena began to really annoy me with her waffling thoughts and emotions. After being engaged to two different men, she was so attracted to Luke but declared she hated him after begging him to kiss her. This goes back and forth too often in my opinion. At this point in the story, it started to drag a little for me. Enough is enough already; make up your mind! Of course, once she acknowledged her feelings for Luke, there were no holds barred. Talk about tempestuous passion!

The author, Rosemary Rogers, has been dubbed the queen of historical romance and maybe rightly so. This is the first of her books for me. Her writing flows easily off the page and I did find myself able to vividly picture the scenes. For me, it was an okay book, easy to put down but not one to rush back to. The parts I did like were the historical descriptions. If you like sweeping sagas, long involved romance stories and don't mind some dated attitudes, this may just be what you are longing to read. 3***

Disclosure: Book was supplied for review by publicist from Sourcebooks, Inc. Thank you, Danielle!

Show Me 5 Saturday: Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs

That's A Novel Idea has started a new MEME called Show Me Five Saturday. This meme will give each blogger an opportunity to give a brief description of a book they have read or reviewed during the week. It will work like this: Each Saturday you will post the answer to these questions. The number indicates the number of answers you will provide.

1. Book you read and/or reviewed this week

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs

2. Words that describe the book

Lovestory, Christmas theme

3. Settings where it took place or characters you met:

Avalon: small town in NY Catskills. Maureen Davenport: young, somewhat insecure librarian who loves Christmas so much she volunteers to direct the annual pageant and somewhat reluctantly manages to fall in love while doing so. Eddie Haven: recovering alcoholic who helps Maureen direct the pageant even though he hates Christmas due to his childhood memories of being on the road as a child star in his family's Christmas show.

4. Things you liked and/or disliked about it:

Having read several books in the Lakeshore Chronicles series, catching up with some of the characters is like visiting with old friends. I loved the way Wiggs developed Maureen's and Eddie's characters showing the heartaches and emotional pain of their pasts and how they resolved them. The whole town of Avalon is like a character in itself and seeing how the town worked so hard to save the library from closing was a very enjoyable aspect of the story. The burgeoning love story between Maureen and Eddie is a wonderful plot line particularly because Eddie thought Maureen was definitely not his type. Maureen had been in love before and all she got for that effort was her heart broken. No more of that love nonsense for this librarian!

5. Stars or less for your rating?

4.5****

Note: although the book is part of a series, it is definitely a stand alone read. If you enjoy this one, I would highly recommend you read some of the others in the series. Summer at Willow Lake is the first one.

Review & Giveaway: The Ocean Between by Lynda Coker

From the back cover:

Victoria Ballard, a New York financial executive, is one woman who considers men to be an unnecessary bother and annoyance. With her career on track, she focuses on the adoption of four beautiful orphans, a crowning completion of her well designed life-plan. But, life is a nasty trickster, and it's about to spring one on her. Unknown to Victoria, Prince Rashid Davar has just completed a marriage contract with her father, However, what the prince does not realize is that is is easier to marry a woman that it is to control one. She may be his wife, but it will take a kidnapping, a battle of wills, and some desert heat of his own before he can claim her love.

My thoughts: When Jacob Ballard first proposed his idea of Rashid marrying his daughter, Rashid was taken aback and explained that since he is a prince of his people, much will be expected of his wife. He wanted to reject Jacob's proposition at first but when he got sight of Victoria, his heart said yes while his mind was saying no. Through some hasty paper shuffling on Jacob's part and without any input from Victoria, the deed was done.

Prince Rashid may be arrogant and used to having his own way, but he has not encountered a woman like Victoria before. Victoria is also used to being independent and has a hard time adjusting to the ways of Ahalamin, the Prince's homeland. At the same time that she is rebelling, a part of her is intrigued by the desert and the people. Some times the heart rebels and what a person thinks they want is not what they want after all. Will one of them eventually get their own way, as their cultures dictate, or will they manage a compromise that will suit them both?

*Sigh*, I feel like I have been to the desert and back. Coker definitely has the gift of putting the reader right in the scene. Her descriptions of the landscape and the people are most intriguing. I almost felt like a voyeur when Rashid and Victoria were,. . . ahem, trying to sort out their differences. This is one lady who knows how to write a Love story with a capital L! Hot as the desert wind, sweet as the date cakes served with mint tea, this is one romance that will grab you by the heartstrings. I can almost guarantee that the ending of this book will make you teary-eyed but in a good way, of course. I loved it! Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down until the end. That earns it a 5***** rating.

Author info: Lynda Coker lives in the rolling hills of East Texas with her favorite alpha-male, her husband of 45 years. Now that she has retired from the field of Photographic Art, she writes full-time and blesses her husband for patiently sharing her with some factitiously strange, exotic, and mischievous characters. A voracious reader, she decided to try writing the type of stories she loved to read.

Lynda strives to peel back the layers that obscure the emotion we call love. She believes her readers choose romance, not to explore the physical, but rather, the compelling desires of their hearts. "Physical love is a glorious gift," she says. "But without the heights and depths of the emotional journey, it is only an empty reflection of what could have been."

A review copy of the book was provided by the author.

Now for the giveaway: Lynda is generously allowing me to give away a copy of her book to one very lucky reader. Here's the scoop!

No P.O. Boxes and open to residents of the US & Canada only. For your official entry, let me know the best romance you have read lately. Put all info in ONE box, please! If you are already a follower, remind me.

Be sure to leave an e mail address; no e-mail, no entry. Bonus entries can be earned by:

+2 Becoming a new google friends connect follower
+2 Already being a follower
+ 2 Post about contest and leave me a link
+1 Put contest in sidebar or tweet and leave me a link

Deadline to enter is December 1st at 5 P.M. Good Luck !

Author Spotlight shines on Dianne Castell, author of Hot and Irresistable

USA Today best selling author Dianne Castell writes for Kensington Books. She also writes a monthly editor interview column for Romance Writers Report. Her books have won Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, been on the cover of Romantic Times Magazine and included in Rhapsody Book Club, Doubleday Book Club and have made the Waldenbooks Bestseller list.
The second book in her Savannah Sizzles series for the BRAVA line, Hot and Irresistible, hits the shelves Nov'09. Dianne lives in Cincinnati with her two cats and will do just about anything to get out of housework. You can visit her website at http://www.diannecastell.com/ or email her at dianecastell@hotmail.com.

SOUTHERN COMFORT, SAVANNAH STYLE…

Bebe Fitzpatrick’s hard upbringing taught her how to take care of herself, how to tell true friends from false, and how to be a good cop. She can also sweet-talk a man like she means it…until she stumbles into the arms of a damn sexy Yankee who’s gunning for Savannah ’s favorite shady entrepreneur…

As far as Donovan McCabe is concerned, the main obstacle to his investigation is the one thing he can’t help wanting in his way. Bebe’s smart, sassy, and utterly oblivious to her own appeal. Add the fact that a Boston cop trying to arrest one of Savannah ’s best-loved citizens is about as popular as the reincarnation of General Grant. What Donovan needs is a better game plan. What he’s about to get is southern “hospitality” that’ll make his toes curl…

Want more? Of course you do! Here is an excerpt from Dianne's book:

Don’t you dare go feeling sorry for me because, Donovan McCabe, I sure as hell don’t need a pity party and now you want to tell me what you’re doing on my front stoop?”
Her gaze met his and she braced herself for the Oh, you poor thing look but instead Donovan bent his head and kissed her. She started to protest but her lips were busy and suddenly her tongue was too and then her arms got into the act and then her insides melted into goo which had acid beat all to hell and back. This was all wrong on every level except one…Donovan McCabe felt so darn good when she was feeling crappy as hell.
How many times had Dara struck and no one had been there? But here and now on this beautiful spring morning, there was Donovan McCabe. She breathed, a sense of peace she’d never
known before in her whole life filling her up like a glass long empty. She leaned into him and took one more kiss, just a little with a tiny nibble of his bottom lip to chase away the lingering chill of Dara, then Bebe stepped back. Every cell in her body…except the two rational cells still functioning in her
brain… insisted she was the most stupid woman on planet earth for not staying locked in his arms.
“What was that all about?” The question was as much for
her as him because she didn’t know what to think about the effect he had on her.
“You look like a woman who needed a hug and the kiss part just snuck in.” His voice was steady but there was unsure spark in his eyes that said he didn’t just go around kissing every woman who may have the need. But she didn’t need him to be nice and she wished like hell he hadn’t seen Dara. It was Bebe’s private life, the part she kept tucked away as best she could even from Brie, Priss and Charlotte . A crappy childhood did not transfer into a crappy life.
“Are you playing me, McCabe? Softening me up so I’ll help you nail Cleveland ?
Well, I won’t and I can handle Dara.”
“How about I look the other way and you
just shoot her.”
Bebe broke into a laugh and today she didn’t think she’d be
laughing about anything. “I’ll lend you my gun,” he continued, looking perfectly serious. “Or at least blast the bitch verbally. I’ve seen you in action, you’re a hellcat when riled. Why not now?”If he hadn’t offered his gun she would have told Donovan to butt out but he did offer and he’d kissed her when she needed it and she wasn’t in the habit of needing much. A new meaning of good cop, bad cop. “A conditioned response from when I was a kid. Dara’s favorite game was to threaten to leave me in the marsh if I didn’t do what she said. Scared the hell out of me and you never did say way you’re here.” Why the hell was she telling McCabe all this? Fallout from a dynamite kiss.
“When my mother tells me to stand up straight and get a haircut I still do it.”
A gentle smile that comes from thinking of good stuff softened his face.
“Except my mom’s nothing like yours, though I do remember threats of military school.” He leaned against the side of the apartment looking as if the place belonged to him. He was that kind of guy, one who fit in anywhere, probably even military school. Bebe felt as if she fit in nowhere and she’d
lived in Savannah all her life. He said, “I’m here because I didn’t want to air our problems in front of the whole station. We need to talk about how we’re going to handle Ray Cleveland.”
This was better. Arguing over work was a piece of cake, reminiscing about a screwed up childhood was a piece of shit. “I said I’m not helping you with Cleveland, McCabe and I haven’t changed my mind so there’s no need for kisses that curl my toes.” Well damn. She was on a roll till the toes part. When Donovan was around she had to learn to think before she opened her big mouth…which could lead to more kissing and then tongues. What in the almighty hell was she going to do with Donovan McCabe!

Dianne Castell’s HOT AND IRRESISTIBLE VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Oct. 5 and end on Nov. 27. You can visit Dianne’s blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ during the month of October and November to find out more about this great book and talented author!