The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Because this is her first book, I will forgive her. But she better not have any more books like this one. I wouldn't call this book awful, but nor would I say it was good. I'm ok with wounded heroes and heroines, but seriously, this was a little much. The hero was all over the place, personality wise. He was an ass, then he was a jackass, then he was a jerky jackass, then he was sort of nice, then mean, then sweet, then loving.... the man could not decide what kind of guy he was. He was so inconsistent I NEVER knew what he was going to do next. He never followed through on any threats, and he irritated the crap out of me. I came up with several ways I thought he should die in the first 100 pages of the book, but he got moderately better after that. The poor heroine was a pitiful abused woman. I thought she was a little inconsistent too, though not as bad. Over all I would not recommend this book except in the case of extreme boredom.

The Winston Brothers by Lori Foster

Well, hello Lori Foster! Wow, does this book pack a wallop or what?? I had never read one of her books before, and count me in as a new huge fan! This is a 3-in-1 volume with novella's previously published in anthologies. Cole, Mack and Chase (and Zane, who has his own book) are brothers who own a bar, and enjoy their single status, but once the right women walk into their lives, they fall hard. I especially LOVED Cole and Sophie's story. It may have been short, and I would have loved a longer story, but Lori does a fabulous job of packing in the sexual tension and fun. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

Ok, I do NOT read James Patterson. I am a strictly romance girl. But a friend of mine convinced me to give this book a read, and I admit that the story line was very intriguing, so I decided to break out of my female author only box and read it.

Jane has an imaginary adult friend named Michael who has helped her through many hard times. She loves him dearly, and she assumes that he is going to be with her forever. But on her 9th (I think) birthday he breaks her heart when he tells her that he needs to leave her now. He's been her friend for as long as he is allowed, and now he needs to go help other boys and girls. He tells her that once he is gone she will magically forget him and their time together will seem like a dream. He leaves a broken hearted little girl. Fast forward 20 odd years later. Contrary to what Michael told her, Jane has never forgotten him. In fact she wrote an award winning play based on their friendship. When Michael is between assignments he happens across her, to his stunned disbelief, and when she also catches a glimpse of him the sparks fly. But how can an imaginary friend be her true love?

I LOVED the idea behind this book. I didn't love the execution of it as much though. As I was reading it I was very conscious of the fact that a man had written it (with a female co-author), as the writing was not at all flowery or romantically descriptive as women tend to write. I had a couple of nit-picky things, and things I would have changed in the story (I think he should have seen her play before even seeing her again -- that would have been fabulous), but over all I found it highly enjoyable -- for a book written by a man. ;)

Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts

The second in the Irish trilogy, this story continues with Brenna O'Toole and Shawn Gallagher, childhood friends who realize that as adults there is something more between them. They decide to have a fling, but Shawn starts to realize that Brenna is one he wants to keep.

I enjoyed this story, but I wouldn't say I loved it. It resembled the last book I read of hers, "Heaven and Earth". Her formula tom-boy heroine, and absentminded easy going hero were in evidence. I'd say I enjoyed the setting and feel more than the characters. I just can't relate to a tom-boy chick. It doesn't compute. I enjoyed that the ghost Gwen and fae Carrick made appearances, and I am looking forward to reading the conclusion of this trilogy and seeing Gwen and Carrick together again after so many years.

Highlander Untamed by Monica McCarty

Duty and the king have commanded that Rory MacLeod and Isabel MacDonald handfast in order to end a feud that began 2 years before when Isabel's uncle humiliated Rory's sister. Rory's goal is to please the king, and then not marry Isabel once the year of handfasting is over. Isabel has been instructed by her uncle to spy for him and gain information he needs to destroy Rory's clan. Attraction immediately sparks between the two and as they come to know one another better, the plans they secretly hold for betrayal become less and less important, as both try to find a way to make this temporary marriage permanent.

I read some rave reviews for this new author, and just had to give her a try. What I found in this book was a wonderful, sensual and stunning. This author clearly has a talent, and her research and attention to detail were flawless. The characters were very engaging and you really come to care for them and fear for them and hope everything turns out ok. I am thrilled to already own the next 2 in this trilogy and I am excited about the next trilogy that is coming out in '09. This is an author to watch!!!

The More I See You by Lynn Kurland

Jessica Blakely decided she had made a slight error in judgment when she went off to England with a recent blind date. He's a boor, he's an idiot, and she just wants to find a true knight in shining armor! So while walking through a castle garden she wishes for a true knight.... and a few minutes later she is swept back to medieval England where a knight sweeps her up to save her from hunting dogs. But Richard De Galtres isn't quite what she expects. His gruff manner fearsome scowls hide a gallant and loving man who needs her love. Before she knows it she wants to stay and love this gruff knight forever.

How sweet was this book?! I loved it. Richard was a very sweet hero. I loved how he was so gruff and grumpy while he was being chivalrous -- it was so funny and adorable. And I thought Jessica was the perfect woman for him. It took me about 50 pages or so to really get into it, but once I did I didn't want to put this adorable story down. Lynn Kurland is a master at writing an emotional and sweet story. It made me want to go give my husband a squeeze. "-)

Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

The second in the Three Sisters trilogy, this story was about Riley Todd. As in the first book, she is fighting her gift of magic and tries to ignore it as much as she can. But when charmingly nerdy MacAlister Booke shows up on the island looking to study the magic of the three women, Ripley finds herself drawn to him and before she knows it she has fallen in love with this lovable absent-minded nerd. And to her dismay, she can't ignore her powers any longer if she wants to save the man she loves.

I wasn't overly thrilled with this book. I enjoyed the first book of the series SO much more. This was easy to put down and didn't really ever grab me. I wavered between liking the heroine, and being thoroughly irritated by her. She's very sarcastic and harsh and she swears a lot, which I didn't enjoy. The hero was adorable. I normally don't like nerdy heroes, but this one was a good one. I think I'm over the witch-theme, just like I'm over vampires. I'll finish out the trilogy -- I'm looking forward to reading Mia's story.

Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband by Melissa Mayhue

In the year of 1272 Conner MacKeirnan, descendant of the fae, needs to marry in order to save his sister from a terrible marriage to an evil Laird. To do that he needs to travel through time and find the right woman because of a vow he made to never marry any woman in his own land. In Denver 2007, Caitlyn Coryell has just discovered her fiance with another woman and has decided to celebrate the end of her engagement by putting on some sexy lingerie, and drinking a Scottish alcohol she's been saving, when out of the blue and hot highlander pops into her bedroom and asks her to come to his time and marry him temporarily to save his sister. Thinking this a great drink-induced fantasy, she agrees.

This was a cute book. I wouldn't call it great, or fantastic -- a few loose ends and not a lot of detail prevent that, but worth a read for the time travel fan. It kept my attention and the characters were enjoyable.

Summer reading challenge wrap up

My Summer reading Challenge on Shelfari is complete, and here are a few questions we were asked to answer:

If you could recommend ONE book for others to read in the Fall Challenge, what would it be and why?
Definitely "Intimate Enemies" by Shana Abe. It was a very moving story with an unusual setting and two of my most favorite characters ever.

What was the worst book you read?
Probably "Deceptions" by Amanda Quick. It just didn't follow through, the characters were boring, and I was very disappointed in it.

Was there an author you found that you LOVED or HATED?
Any authors I loved I already knew I loved, and I tried a new author (Brenda Joyce), and while I didn't dislike the book, I got a clear enough picture of what sort of story she writes and I won't be reading anymore of hers. I didn't appreciate her idea of romantic.

Did you review books that were reviewed by other readers? If so, were the reviews alike or totally different?
I think a couple books were read by others as well. I don't recall exactly, but they differed a little. One I didn't like (Silver Angel), but someone else did.

Any other Comments or Suggestions?
Looking forward to the Fall Reading Challenge, but I am also enjoying reading anything that strikes my fancy while I wait!

Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn

When another clan raids her home, Kate Campbell doesn't hesitate to jump in and fight with her own sword, but to her surprise she is saved from being cut down when yet another feuding clan comes to her rescue. When she is injured by "friendly" fire, Callum McGregor decides she would be better off coming with him. When he learns who she is, the niece of the man he came to kill, he is delighted to change her status to captive in hopes that her uncle will come after her and make his job easier. But by the time they get to his own keep he is hopelessly in love. But Kate needs to convince him that his torturous past doesn't make him unworthy of being loved back.

Outstanding!!! Reminiscent of Julie Garwood's old historicals, this book was the ultimate comfort read. Sweetly romantic, engaging, and funny! Kate and Callum are fantastic characters, and Callum's band of warriors are absolutely hilarious. I cannot wait to read more by this author. This book goes on the 'KEEPER' shelf!!

Love Me Forever by Johanna Lindsey

n order to get out from her father's thumb, Kimberly is looking for a husband. She journeys to the home of the Duke and Duchess of Wrothston as their house guest as she begins her search. Also there as a house guest is Lachlan, the Laird of Clan MaGregor, and he happens to be there in search of a rich wife to restore his clans stolen fortune. After they both get a little tipsy on too much champagne, they sleep together and Lachlan becomes determined to have Kimberly as his wife.... but Kimberly believes him to be in love with someone else, and she won't have him if he can't love HER.

This book sort of strolled along. Never quite boring, but never exciting either. The hero was so-so, the heroine was so-so, and all of the characters were, well, so-so. I normally think of Lindsey's books as comfort reads, but not THIS comfortable. If it were any more comfortable I would have fallen asleep. In fact I did get a little droopy-eyed while reading it the other night.

Intimate Enemies by Shana Abe

I can sum this book up in two words: utterly fantastic. I read a couple of reviews on a Amazon that called this book boring, and to those people I would ask, are you CRAZY????

After the death of her father and serious injury of her cousin at the hands of invading Vikings, Lauren MacRae has taken temporary control of her clan on the isle of Shot. Half the island is inhabited by her clan, and the other half is inhabited by the hated English. When Lauren saves their new lord, Arion du Morgan, from one such Viking attack and brings him back to her castle to recover from his wounds, an idea is born. What if they declare a temporary truce to increase their numbers and fight off the Vikings for good? Neither side is thrilled with the alliance, but for the sake of survival they join their forces. But neither side count on the attraction and intense love that start to blossom between Lauren and Arion as they fight to hide their feelings to keep the alliance from turning sour. Now Lauren's betrothed from a mainland has come to claim his bride, and he wants to destroy the English side of the isle and kill Arion. Lauren must now choose between her duty to her clan and her true love.

The love story between Lauren and Arion is one I won't soon forget. At times tender, tentative, intense, and sweet. Lauren was the perfect balance between capable strong woman, and a feminine woman who also needs to be cherished. Arion was sweet, strong, protective and he was always there when Lauren needed him. The whole book was a delight to read and I was sad to turn the last page. Normally around the end of a book I am ready to finish and move on the the next book on my shelf, but this one I felt the need to savor after finishing. This book has earned an easy home for life on my bookshelf and I am certain I will be reading it again and again. I HIGHLY recommend it if you enjoy a tender historical romance. I wish ALL books had that special something that I found in this book.

Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts

I can sum this book up in one word: Charming. Set in modern day Ireland, this story is about an American woman who feels the need to get away from the job she hates and get back to her Irish roots and find herself again. So she journeys to Ireland, and moves into a cottage on Fairy Hill where a now dead distant relative used to live. In the small village she finds magic, ghosts, fairies, friends, and love.

The magical elements are never over-powering, and in fact lend even more charm to the story. The village people are fun and lively and they jump off the page. The author does such a great job I wished I could jump into the book and live there too! The romance was sweet and charming. I loved this book and I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy!! I give it 5 stars!

Swept Away by Marsha Canham

Annaleah is visiting her aunt on the seashore when a nearly-naked man washes up in a nearby tide pool. He comes to long enough to say, "They need to know the truth, before it's too late". Her aunt recognizes him as Emory Althorpe, an adventurer who has been recently branded a traitor and spy for Napoleon. Anna knows this can't be true the more she gets to know this man, so she agrees to help him clear his name despite the danger and possible consequences if she is also branded a traitor for helping him....

I read this while on vacation, and it was pretty good. Not as much romance as I would have liked. It was a lot of running around, here and there, everywhere, trying to escape people trying to capture them and figure out who is trying to frame Emory. I admit the mystery of who the real traitor is took me by surprise, so I like that it wasn't too predictable. Over all it didn't excite me too much, but it was a nice easy read!!

Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas

When Lady Sophia gets a job working for the Bow Street magistrate Sir Ross Cannon, she has only one goal: Destroy him in any way she can. She believes him to be responsible for punishing her brother harshly and causing his death when her brother was arrested for pickpocketing. She intends to seduce him, make him fall in love with her, and gather evidence of corruption at the same time. Then she plans to ruin him. What she doesn't plan on is finding a caring, fair, forgiving man who needs her love.

This book was wonderful. I was drawn in right away by the romantic and sexual tension between Ross and Sophia. They are both good people who have been ill used and disappointed in their lives, and they both need each other very badly. I loved how this book wasn't set in the typical ball rooms, drawing rooms, etc of the Regency era. This book was more working-class (though the characters are well born), which I felt made them seem more real and normal. The love story was very touching and it was a delight to read. I highly recommend it!!! I give it a 4.5!!

If You Desire by Kresley Cole

This was my first by this author, and I just didn't love it as much as I thought I would. I'm a sucker for the theme -- hero is in love with the heroine for years and doesn't think he's good enough for her, comes to find out heroine has loved him for years too..... In this book Hugh MacCarrick has come back to England at his at an urgent request to protect his employers daughter Jane Weyland from a mentally unstable rogue assassin who wants revenge on both Hugh and Jane's father by killing Jane -- the only woman either of them care for. It felt like a thin excuse, but I went with it. Jane is a bit of a thrill seeker. Within the first couple of chapters we meet her as she and her cousins are attending a masquerade ball for courtesans.... yeah. A little odd. Then Hugh marries Jane so that he can take her away to hide her (all things considered marrying her to protect her reputation seemed a bit like closing the barn door after the cows have escaped - LOL!), but he is determined to keep the marriage in name only and leave her when the threat is over, despite the fact that they are both madly in love with each other.

Frankly, the chemistry between the hero and heroine was pretty darn good throughout most of the book. I admit that. But the writing had an odd feel to it, and the hero's primary reason for not wanting to stay married is a curse that was put on his family 500 years before dooming he and his brothers to never love. It added an odd supernatural element to the story that felt totally out of place. Perhaps if I had read the first in the series first it might have been better explained... The ending was a little anti-climatic, I felt. Not as strong as I expected. Over all I enjoyed it and it was a quick read, and I will likely read more by the author if I happen across her books, but I won't be rabid to find them all.

Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught

Whitney has loved her childhood crush Paul for as long as she can remember. She is determined to marry him someday, so she is devastated when her father sends her to live with her aunt and uncle in Paris when she turns 15. She decides to make the best of it by making herself into a lady instead of the hellion she is known to be and win Paul when she someday returns. 4 years later her father has sent for to return home. Whitney is now a stunningly beautiful, and very captivating, woman. She sets out to win Paul, but a wrench in thrown into her plans by a new neighbor, Clayton Westland who is determined to have her for himself. (Not a spoiler btw) She finds out he is actually the Duke of Westmoreland, and he also happens to be her betrothed!!

This was a very long book. The version I read was 706 pages long! I confess that for the first half of the book I wondered why we were getting SO much background and why the courtship was taking so long. I understood by the last half. I needed a box of tissue right next to me for that last half. This was a very involved and emotional love story with lots of twists and turns. You REALLY feel for both characters and what they are going through. It was very intense and enjoyable and I see now why it is so highly rated!!! It's a must read!

The Princess by Jude Deveraux

When princess Aria washes up on military man JT's vacation beach, he finds his rest and relaxation ruined by a girl who won't eat with her fingers, won't let him so much as touch her, makes him walk behind her, and generally acts like the uppity princess she is. Someone tried to kill her, and now it's suddenly become his responsibility to protect her. When they get back to the mainland the government comes up with a bazaar convoluted plan to keep her safe while at the same time benefiting them by making the two of them marry. Aria needs to learn to act like an American for the plan to work.

Hmm. Well, since this book got such high reviews on book seller sites I was expecting to really enjoy it, but I didn't. The hero ran hot and cold throughout the WHOLE book. He was either mad or he was lovey-dovey. He was so easily annoyed that it got old really fast. And the the heroine's snobbery was more annoying than funny. I did enjoy that this book was set in the 40's, which is highly unusual for a romance, and I found I enjoyed that. I enjoyed reading about Aria learning to be American, but the romance of the story was lukewarm at best. I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters AT ALL. And the plot that the American military came up with was confusing and strange. At one point Aria goes back to her country pretending to be an American, and then pretending to be an American pretending to be a princess.... got it? Me neither. I think even the author got confused. LOL! I think I would have enjoyed this book very much as a teenager, but as a 30-something I enjoy a little more depth in my books. For the setting and for originality I will give it a 3.

Where Angels Fear by Ginna Gray

Waking up in bed with virile Sam Lawford was hardly Elise Holman's typically angelic behavior. Lately she'd been fighting an attraction to her very sexy boss, but there is no excuse for her impulsive behavior where he is concerned. She is stunned by his solution to their mutual attraction. He abruptly proposed -- then stipulated that, she wouldn't have his love or any children from him. Though Elise feared treading into such a cold bargain, she prayed warm affection would soften Sam's heart. But was she simply a fool rushing into marriage with a man who refused to love?

I am a big fan of Ginna Gray's oldies from the 90's. Her style is very reminiscent of vintage Linda Howard in the way she is able to evoke emotion and really make you care about her characters. I found this on the book sale table at the library and couldn't resist this blast from the past. She really draws you in the second you open the book and it was very hard to put this book down. I felt the ending was just a touch forced and his confessions of love a little over-done for how he was throughout the rest of the book, but aside from that I really enjoyed this book!! I give it a 4 rating.

Devil Takes a Bride by Gaelen Foley

Lizzie Carlisle, companion to Dowager Viscountess Strathmore, is tired of seeing the bills pour in, but no sign of the nephew of her employer. She takes the matter into her own hands and writes a misleading letter to Devlin "Devil" Strathmore to force him to visit his lonely aunt. Believing his aunt (his only living relative) to be at deaths door, he races to her home to find his aunt well and in the care of a meddlesome and enchanting woman that he desires to know much better....

But Devil Strathmore is not what he appears-- believing the members of an exclusive and depraved 'club' to be the murders of his parents and young sister, he plans to infiltrate the club and discover just what happened that night they died in a mysterious fire. In order to be accepted he must play up to the club's rep and behave like a degenerate. But his plans for total revenge are altered by the fact that he is falling in love with the woman of his dreams and now he has to choose between love and his long planned revenge.

Fast paced, sometimes intense, very entertaining book. Not as romantic as the last (and first) book I read of hers, but no less enjoyable. The story centers more around the mystery than the romance, so just for that I give it a 4!

Promise of the Rose by Brenda Joyce

A bit more intense than I was expecting, this book had a lot of medieval political intrigue. I really loved the hero for the first half of the book, but he got a bit meaner than I would have liked in the last half. I think he should have been made to suffer a bit for his mistrust and ill-treatment of the heroine. I didn't feel he was properly repentant at the end. The ending was sweet, but I somehow expected more for such an emotional book. Over all it was pretty fast moving and interesting throughout. The author struck a good balance between keeping the reader informed of the goings on without boring with too many details. The romance was hot without being gratuitous. I would have given it 5 stars if the hero had redeemed himself a little more.

Silver Angel by Johanna Lindsey

English miss Chantelle Burke is trying to escape her horrible guardian when she stumbles on the wrong people and is kidnapped and taken to the middle east, where she is sold into slavery and put in a posh harem owned by Jamil, the Dey of Barikah. What she doesn't know is that the man posing as Jamil is really an Englishman named Derek, there to help his twin (the real master) find out who is trying to kill him. Chantelle's silver haired, slim beauty isn't appreciated by Jamil, but Derek is instantly attracted to her English-like beauty and decides to make her his own.

I can't say I loved this story. There are many romantic places and settings in the world, but I don't find a middle-eastern harem to be one of them. Granted, Derek never slept with any of the other women in the harem, but Chantelle didn't know that, and so I found it hard to believe she could possibly fall in love with someone she believed to own nearly fifty women for his exclusive pleasure, 3 of them wives for heavens sake. In fact when she realized she loved him she pretty much demanded that he never sleep with any of the other women, which I found laughable given the circumstances. I didn't like Derek at all. He wasn't exactly emphatic about taking her back to England with him when his help was no longer needed. And he planned to make her his mistress when he got back since he was already engaged. It was only after his finance begged off that he essentially said, 'hey, now I can marry that other chick!' ok, maybe not in so many words, but it had that feel. *giggle* I normally really enjoy Johanna Lindsey's books, but this was a miss for me. I'll be nice and give it a 3.

Deception by Amanda Quick

Rating: 3

Olympia Wingfield devotes all of her time to her passion for studying ancient legends. But when she suddenly becomes guardian to her 3 hellion nephews she has little time or quiet for her studies. So when Jared Chillhurst appears on her doorstep after escorting a new shipment of goodies to her from her uncle, she is delighted when he announces that he is also the new tutor for her nephews, also courtesy of her uncle. In reality Jared is there to learn what she finds in the old diary that is in the shipment. The diary was written by his great grandmother and it contains clues to finding a treasure.

When I read the back cover of this book I was expecting an action/adventure/pirate/treasure hunt sort of story. Perhaps the person who had the job of writing that blurb should be fired. It was none of the above! I kept waiting for them to jump on a ship and go find the treasure they kept talking about, but they never did!!! Even at the end they sent someone else to go find it!!! Huh? And for someone who is there to find out what she deciphers, Jared is remarkably uninterested in listening to what she finds. And the heroine. Oh my word. Constant defense of her man is very admirable, but makes for a rather boring story. I also thought the character development was a bit lacking. It was like reading about paper dolls -- there was no depth to them at all. And the author just couldn't decide WHO she wanted to be the "bad guy" so she threw a few semi-bad guys in. If I wasn't reading this book for a book challenge I would have tossed it into the UBS bag 200 (of 400) pages in! *snore*

A Kiss at Midnight by Shana Abe

It's 999 and it's believed that the world is about to end. But Rafael Leonhart doesn't believe the doomsday talk. All he knows is that ancient prophesy has dictated that at the turn of the millennium the land of Alderich will belong to him. But the current lord doesn't want to relinquish it, so Rafe kidnaps his granddaughter, Serath Rune, from the convent where she has lived for 11 years, in hopes that his hostage will help convince the elder Rune to give the land over to him. But neither Rune nor Sareth are what he expects. Rune cares not at all about his granddaughter, and Sareth is viewed with fear by the people of her childhood home and thought to be a witch. And now he is finding himself falling in love with his hostage.

A little darker than I was expecting, but a good book. The theme of the "end of the world" was highly unusual, and I can't say I loved that part since it cast a slightly dreary feel over the book, even knowing that it wouldn't be the end of the world. I felt like Rafe and Serath weren't quite as well rounded of characters as they could have been, but I still thoroughly enjoyed their love story. If there is one thing you can count on Abe to do, it's to pull you in and give you a story with a different twist than you have ever read before. I'll give it a 4.