Recent Read

Wonderful by Jill Barnett

Why this one: I read all her books before she started writing more Women’s Fiction and loved them. When I saw this one at Kobo ebooks, I couldn’t resist either it or the price. I confess I didn’t remember it from before. It’s been years since I read this book.

Steam Level: While not a lot of steamy scenes, there is definite chemistry

Blurb: For six years Lady Clio has waited for Merrick and once the news arrives that he is returning Cleo makes for Camrose and awaits her husband determined to make up for the years she languished in the convent. Cleo leads the legendary knight a merry chase as she quests for the secrets of -heather ale- a magical beer first made by the Picts. Surrounded by the enchanted mists that circle Camrose Castle the two find themselves involved in an often hilarious battle of wills and passion

My Thoughts: This book is most aptly named as I indeed found it Wonderful. I love a good Medieval (and Western and Time Travel and SciFi/Futuristic and RS and so on and so on) and this makes for a great Medieval. Ms. Barnett writes a good feel for the time and the place and I had a most wonderful time picturing it. Of course the fact that I am totally hooked on Game of Thrones, the series on HBO Sunday nights at 9:00 helps both in picturing it and my desire to read Medievals.

I adore Clio. She’s been waiting longer than she should have for Merrick to show up and she’s pissed and she is going to make him pay for his tardiness. She’s a strong heroine and I got quite the kick out of her “wonderful” plans she comes up with. A lot of readers are fond of Julie Garwood Medievals. I was in the day too, but I can’t read her anymore as her heroines strike me as stupid twits – sorry to Garwood fans, but they do! Clio reminds me of a Garwood heroine but thankfully (really – I’m very thankful) without the twittiness that drives me bonkers about Garwood heroines. Clio does drive Merrick crazy, but in a way I found most amusing. There were more than a few times when I was reading this on my break when I broke out in a snort of laughter and quickly looked around to see if anyone was looking at me strangely. Clio is naïve and innocent, yet she isn’t stupid. She makes Merrick pay for his neglect and you have to love that in a heroine.

Merrrick is also quite a hoot of a character. He is a warrior without a clue as to anything other than battle and battle defenses. But he does have it bad for Clio, though being clueless, he doesn’t figure on letting her know. There is one hilarious scene where he tells her the king should be arriving the next day for their wedding. Not only did he not tell her the king would be there in 24 hours, he neglected to tell her they would be wed soon. When Clio rightly goes ballistic, he is genuinely puzzled as to that the big deal is. I mean the walls were fortified to his specifications, the moat had been filled with poisonous water; he didn’t see what the problem was. The whole scene was very funny and cute and indicative of how clueless Merrick is.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I see it’s gone up in price since I got my copy, but still, if you are a fan of Julie Garwood, Game of Thrones, clueless heroes, adorable not annoyingly adorable, one eyed cats, witches with puffs of dandelion hair, Medievals and oh so many other things, I think you will enjoy this one. Now I’m wanting to reread Wicked and Wild, the next two books in this series.

Grade: 4.50 out of 5

Recent Reads

The One That Got Away by Jamie Sobrato

Why this one: After reading What the Librarian Did - my first Harlequin Super Romance, I finally discovered this line after all these years and have since read a few of them. The story line on this one sounded interesting

Steam Level: Tepid

Blurb: The Rules of friendship are about to be broken
Good friends are hard to find. In fact, they're priceless. And it's only after almost losing her that Marcus Katanos really appreciates his bud Ginger Townsend. She's even offered her house as a place for him to stay while he gets his life on track. Could he have a better friend?

Which makes the wild attraction he feels for her so inappropriate. It's true that she's become a stunning woman since college, but that's no reason to let his libido run amok. The longer he's in her home, the harder it is for him not to act on these urges. Just when he thinks he's got a everything under control, Ginger drops a little confession that changes everything!

My Thoughts: See - sounds good doesn't it? Not. I'm easily pleased when it comes to books. I want to love every one I read and while that may not happen, if I don't love a book, chances are pretty good that I will at least like it. So you see very few low grades here. But alas, once in a while a book comes along that I just can't give a good grade to and this is such a book. I can say I finished it. That's something. And I mostly liked Ginger, though I found her a bit confusing. Such as what the hell a fairly good heroine like her ever saw and continues to see in a total loser like the hero in this book. Marcus was like a 12 year old inhabiting a much older guy's body with about the same amount of depth to him as a head of lettuce.

I'm not sure which one got away according the title but if it was Marcus, Ginger would have been much better off letting him stay away. Years before, Marcus and Ginger had been chums in college. But Ginger had much deeper feelings for Marcus that vice versa. Why - I'm not sure, think lettuce. He's bland, bland, bland. But on their last night, when she finally gained the courage to tell him her real feelings, he didn't even pay her any mind and planned to leave the US the next morning with no plans to keep in contact with his 'supposed' best friend.

Fast forward 14 years and Marcus has been shot by some guy who objected to a story he wrote. Ginger hears about it and offers him a place to stay and regroup. Marcus also comes with someone else - a daughter he knew nothing about for years. Her mother has just recently died and he wants to try and give fatherhood a go. As long as it's convenient for him that is. He's always run away when life got a tad to difficult and it's not long before he wants to leave his responsibility to his daughter to anyone but him. Ginger knows he's a boy in man's clothing, but somehow - why I don't get at all - still has feelings for him. Of course now that she's not the dumpy girl he knew in college, he's eyeing her.

As I was reading along in this book and getting closer and closer to the end, I was wondering when the change; when the 'growing up' would occur with Marcus and it wasn't until the final two or three pages that he aged from 12 to maybe 17. I'm usually pretty gullible when it comes to a HEA - thinking most heroines/heroes can have one. But not so in this book. I didn't believe it for a nano second. A fairly decent heroine staying happy with a 17 year old head of lettuce - nope - can't buy that one at all. And if I can't buy into a HEA, then it's a BIG fail for me.

Grade: 1.5 out of 5




The Conqueror by Kris Kennedy

Why this one: Wendy had a review for this one last year and with her review, and the price, and the fact that it was a medieval, a genre I love even though I don't read enough of them, it was a given that I'd love it. Wendy is a pretty tough reviewer and if she likes a book, chances are I'll love it! It's happened before. So I got it and it sat around in the TBR pile like SO MANY other books I plan to read. Then when I got the Kobo and was looking up Ms. Kennedy's newest book, The Irish Warrior, that Wendy gave another good grade to, and which happily I already got before my no new book self imposed ban, I noticed that The Conqueror was available for a very good price as an ebook so I got it as an ebook. And I was off to the races.

Steam Level: Oh yeah!!

Blurb: England, 1152. Henry II is king. The country is wracked by bloody civil war. Griffyn Sauvage is a valiant knight with a strict moral code of honor. But when his family's estate and vast treasures are seized, he becomes hardened by the betrayal. Now he will go to any lengths for vengeance—even if it means forming a union with his most despised enemy by marrying his daughter, Lady Guinevere de l'Ami. Then, Griffyn lays eyes on Gwyn and is completely disarmed. . .

As war strikes, Gwyn is left alone to fight her enemies who want control of her ancestral lands. When Griffyn comes to her rescue, she is grateful that the mysterious, brave knight has risked his life to protect hers. With each passing day, she finds herself drawn to him even as she senses he's hiding a dark secret from her. And when another dangerous adversary closes in on both of them, Griffyn and Gwyn's trust in each other will be put to the ultimate test. . .

My Thoughts: First, if you haven't read Wendy's review - Go. Read. It Now............



OK - did you read it? What Wendy says.

Now I could leave it there; Wendy did an excellent review of this book, but that would kind of be cheating. And Wendy's a tougher critic than moi so I'll try and give my own words.

This book really, really worked for me. Pagan is a hero to die for! He falls and he falls hard for Gwyn but he has other duties and they are on opposite sides in a civil war. He's brave beyond belief, he's loyal, he's honourable, in short he's everything we want in a hero. Even though circumstances are against them, still he saves her again and again. And well he should. Gwyn makes for a wonderful heroine. She's stubborn, smart, brave and funny as all get out. It's not a laugh out loud kind of funny, but a smile a lot funny. The quips she and Pagan Griffyn exchange are delightful. But he knows things about her that he doesn't tell her and she knows things she doesn't tell him. Which considering they are on different sides, as well as the fact that her father stole his fathers lands from him, makes sense.

The love they feel for each other is palpable and the choices, difficult to say the least. While reading this book, I simply had to know more about the history and spend some interesting time reading about Stephen and Matilda and her son Henry Fitz-Empress. I love it when a book has me digging into history.

As Wendy points out in her review, this book is available as an ebook for a very reasonable price and like she says "At that price how can you not try it?"

Grade: 4.75 out of 5

The Year in the Review - The People and the Future

This is an aww shucks’ post. But I can’t not let the end of the year go – even though it’s already went.

For years I felt alone on an island of romance book-it is, but with the dawning of the internet, I found people. Yes, there were others out there like me; readers who bought purses based on the number of books it would hold rather than brand name, readers who bought more books than they could read and seemed unable to just stop doing this. There were others out there I discovered who read the end of a book before they got there – just to make sure there was an HEA, even though they were reading ROMANCE where it’s a given.

It was wonderful meeting these people online – but even better was meeting them in person. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet even more readers and authors in 2009. The first exciting meeting was when we had a Canadian Bloggers meet this past summer. It was held at Cindy’s and included Nath, Lea and Mary G (who doesn’t have a blog but does a lot of dropping in and visiting. Right from the first moment, there was that bond that all us romance readers share and in no time at all, it was like we had known each other for ages. It was wonderful fun and I hope we do it again this year. There is nothing quite like hitting a UBS with fellow romance readers and sharing buried treasures with them.

And then came the RWA convention in July. There are no words to describe the feeling of being surrounded with hundreds of like minded people. And best of all was meeting them and having a chance to catch up with bloggers/friends I’d met before. This was my third RWA Convention and the third time I shared a room with Wendy. Although this was only the third time we’ve spent time together, she is branded in my memory and I hope with all my heart that it isn’t the last time. This was the second year in a row that I shared a room for at least one night with Rosie and again, she is in my heart. When I met LisaBea again, it was like no time at all had passed and yep – heart too. There were other familiar faces there too that it was just

da’bomb to talk with again – Katiebabs, Amy, Jane, Angie and Candy and Sarah. All I have to do is close my eyes and I see these dear people as if they were standing right in front of me.

And then there were the new bloggers I met!! Barbara was a roomie this year and for those

who haven’t met her in person, she is as sweet and nice as can be. She’s on a (I hope) hiatus at the moment, but I’m looking forward to meeting up with her again when RWA heads to her stomping ground. And Aztec Lady was an honorary roomie and popped in. It was such fun to meet her in person after getting to ‘know’ her online. Her enthusiasm was infectious and the time spent getting to know her was such a special part of the conference as it was with Barbara.

Another blogger who gets a special shout out to is AnimieJune. I LOVE her reviews so when I noticed that she was planning on heading to Washington, I emailed to see if she was interested in meeting up. We did, a number of times, and thank goodness she is an organized person. Getting to know her better was such a delight.

The trouble with doing something like this and suffering from short term memory loss is the fear that I might miss someone. If I did, it’s only that the brain doesn’t always work at 100% capacity anymore and I will remember – probably right after I post this!

****ETA****

See - I knew this would happen! Although I didn't get to spend much time with them in Washington, I did get a chance to meet a couple of other bloggers!! Katie of Katidom and Mandi of Smexy Books. I really wish I had had longer to get to know them :-(

The Future – the people

And 2010 promises to be another grand year. I’m not sure if I’ve come out ‘officially’ yet, but I’ve two trips planned this year – at least – and maybe hopefully more. I’m headed to Columbus in April for the RT convention. I thought about going and then not going – but when I heard some bloggers were headed that way, and having enough vacation time left over from 2009 and the go ahead to carry it over, I decided, with encouragement from Ryan who said why not do what you really want to do, I figured why not?? I’m registered now and have a couple of roommates. It’s more of a party time than I’m used to – but hopefully I can pace myself.

I’m also planning on going once again to RWA, this time in Nashville. As well as seeing friends, it’s a great way to visit cities I never would have thought of visiting. I’m not sure who else will be going. I’m crossing my fingers that Wendy will be, thus making it four years in a row we can be roomies. She does look good in her little black dress!

And hopefully we will have some sort of Canadian Blogger get together. I’m always so happy/green with envy on hearing about the SOCal meets

I don’t make resolutions as I never keep them. But I do have ‘hopes’. They are simple this year

Read More!! Buy Less!!

I’m going to try and keep it equal this year – I hope to allow myself a new book for every book I read. Since I’ve already read 2 this year, I can buy 2. Although the real plan is to read more and make a dent in the TBR pile. It’s really starting to scare me – and that’s saying a lot!

Also, I want to read more of the neglected genres. I have a number of Medievals to read and a number of Westerns. I wasn’t really pleased with the low numbers of either – ‘specially medieval since I read a grand total of 0 medievals and I love that genre. I also want to read more books set in other times such as the time of Elizabeth I.

SciFi/futuristics. I have several in the TBR pile that I really need to get to; specifically Linnea Sinclair!! And werewolves books. Although I'm not a big vampire romance fan, I do have quite a few werewolf romance books (that just sounds silly doesn't it) I want to get around to reading.

I also need to get to work on the ‘library’ downstairs!! I have empty shelves there just crying to be filled. And I’ve been travelling with a new half book case in my car for months – just waiting for me to bring it and assemble it.

And I got to turn my calendar at work today. Not that it’s an exciting thing for most people at work – but when one has a specially designed calendar and this…is January’s picture, it’s nice to check the month out – frequently!

Recent Reads

The Templar's Seduction by Mary Reed McCall

Why this one: Dear Author had a recent post highlighting the good things that authors do. Karen S got in the act too.
Authors also do little things that don't get much notice. Such is the case with Mary Reed McCall. We got into a bit of a debate on a message board not long ago. She later contacted me and said she enjoyed it and would I like an ARC of her latest book? Never one to turn down a free book, plus being quite impressed with her offer since we did disagree on a certain subject, I said sure! And sure enough she sent me a copy. I have so many books that this one remained unread for a while. When I noticed that Jennie had purchased it jolted me into reading it.

Amazon Blurb: Only a lie will save his life....
Sentenced to the gallows for trying to sell the treasures of the Knights Templar, Sir Alexander de Ashby has one chance for survival. The scoundrel must impersonate the late Earl of Marston, to whom he bears an uncanny resemblance, and infiltrate the lord's border castle. But first he must convince the earl's beautiful Scottish bride that his rightful place is in her bed.

But only love can save his soul.

Relieved that the story of her long-absent husband's death was false—and enticed by a wild, sensuous side of him she had never experienced before—Lady Elizabeth cautiously welcomes "the earl" back into her heart, unaware that the breathtaking imposter intends to vanish. But escape may be impossible even after his secret is revealed. For now Alexander burns for the proud, remarkable lady . . . and desires nothing more than to live—and die, if he must—for a glorious love born of deception and sin.

Level of steam: This one boiled very nicely

My thoughts: When done right, a medieval is a wonderful genre to read. When done wrong, it can be dreadful. Ms. McCall really does this wonderfully right!!

Elizabeth was a terrific heroine. Left to defend her husband's castle for five years while he was held in captivity, she showed a wonderful ingeniousness that helped keep it out of the hands of those who would attack. Much of the time, I don't pay all that much attention to the heroine unless she is done badly - then the book is ruined for me. But in this one, I loved Elizabeth's spirit.

And Alex was a great hero. I haven't read her previous books in the series (and it didn't affect my enjoyment of this one at all) but Alex wasn't that great a guy when the book first started. He was pretty self-centered and a bit of a coward at dealing with mistakes he had made. But he slowly begins to find a conscious and seeing him transformed into a true hero really made this a Very Good Read.

I also thought she did an excellent job of getting down the 'feel' of the time. I find that more important in the medieval genre than in most others. And I 'felt' this one.

It was with a bit of a bittersweet feeling that I finished this one. You see the author is taking a hiatus from writing medieval romance. And darn it all - just when I found her! But she does have a number of other books and I will be seeking them out. In fact I was at Chapters the other day - they still have their buy 3 get one free sale going - and picked up the second one Sinful Pleasures.

Jennie - once you get moved and unpacked - you have to give this one a read!

Grade: 5 out of 5

Shadowhawk by Jill Shalvis

Why this one: I’ve mostly quite enjoyed her books. I love all her heroes although a couple of her heroines haven’t worked for me. And I didn’t buy it for the cover. Really – I didn’t!

Level of Steam: The burner won’t have to be on too long for this one

Cover blurb: When his latest mission turns into a bloodbath, ATF officer JT Hawk realizes he’s been set up by someone at the top. Wounded and on the run, he has no choice but to take beautiful Abby Wells hostage. After all, she’s in danger too. And if the only way to keep the fiercely independent communications expert safe is to cuff her and bring her along for the ride, he’ll do it. With pleasure even.

Only, given their close contact, it’s not long before Hawk’s thinking about a totally different kind of pleasure….

My thoughts: I’d say I was pleasantly surprised at this one - but I’ve read and really enjoyed her books before so I wasn’t really surprised that I really enjoyed this one.

For a Blaze, the sex wasn’t front and centre – but then that is one of the things I appreciated about this book. Instead Ms. Shalvis took the time to develop the character more than is done in some Blaze books.

Hawk and Abby share a mutual lust for each other but Abby was traumatized in an earlier incident and as a result keeps herself well buttoned up around Hawk to whom she is strongly attracted too. He is puzzled by this as most women find him pretty irresistible. But eventually she overcomes her issues and the love scene is quite fine.

There is also a nicely done secondary romance and I was quite impressed that considering series books have a smaller word count, it felt complete and I wasn’t left feeling it was missing something.

I don’t buy a lot of Blazes, but I will make a point to continue buying Ms. Shalvis’.

Grade: 4 out of 5

And in other news - it's not long now!! I'm trying hard not to think about the Upcoming Trip. I have to be able to focus at work and if I spend too much time thinking about it - well, I'll lose all concentration. But come tomorrow night baby - well - it will be time to let that anticipation run amok!

'til later