With my love of vampire books - how could I not post this link. Michele Hauf has created the 
Title: Sunset Bay
Author: Susan Mallery
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 2009
Pages: 342
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Susan Mallery has another winner on her hands with Sunset Bay. Through devastating circumstances, Megan discovers her inner strength, courage to stand up for who she is, and realizes her dreams. Travis learns that he doesn't have to follow in the footsteps of his parents, he can change his life and become the man he truly wants to be.
There is a lot going on in this book with twists and turns, revelations, and captivating side stories that keep the reader interested and turning the pages to see what happens next. Susan Mallery captivates her audience with emotion, humor, passion, and skillful writing that is provocative.
CPA Megan Greene has it all - a prominent cardiologist as a fiance, a father who dotes on her, and a succesfull career. Until the day it all comes crashing down. Devestated by her fiance's and father's actions, she turns to Travis who was her first love in high school. Separated by tragic circumstances, Travis reappears in Megan's life 10 years later - more handsome, hardened, and cynical than before. "His reappearance stirs dreams she reluctantly packed away."
Megan is forced to confront her relationships with her sister, mother, father, and Travis. Can she survive the turmoil in her life? Can she trust Travis with her heart? And what of Megan's future, will it contain everything she really needs?
Rating: 3.5
Pages: 342
Completed: 11/24/09
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sunset Bay - Susan Mallery
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I'm Back
After several months of family commitments, health issues, and a reading slump of all reading slumps, I am back in the swing of things. My reading has picked back up, and I am in love with books again. However, I am taking a break from all my challenges and am just sitting back and enjoying the fact that I am reading again. Challenges will start back up in 2010.
I have seriously neglected this blog and apologize for that. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of you that have remained followers even though I disappeared for a while. You don't know what that means to me!!!
I have read several books the last few weeks that I need to post reviews for...I should have them up sometime this weekend.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and safe travels to those that will be out on the road visiting friends and relatives.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Just Breathe - Susan Wiggs
Title: Just Breathe
Author: Susan Wiggs
Publisher: Mira
Published: 2008
Pages: 470
Genre: Romance/Women's Fiction
Wow...I can't believe it has been since June 20th that I have written a post. My book reading has really slowed down since I got a part-time job, but I so want to meet my goal of 100 books this year. I have been involved in reading other blogs and writing on the Weight Watchers message boards that I think my reading has been sidetracked. I need to learn how to budget my time. LOL.
Well, on to the book...Susan Wiggs pens another winner with this reader. I just love her work, and she doesn't fail to deliver in this one. She brings real life issues to her stories; this one being infertility and cancer survivor and the tolls both situations take on a family. I really enjoyed the sweet romance between Sarah and Will. They have to sort through many issues and family situations in order to be together (step children, infidelity, abandonment), and it was a great ride seeing if they would make it in the end.
Sarah is a cartoonist who struggled several years to help her husband beat cancer. Afterwards, she started getting inferility treatments so they could begin a family...that is...until she found out that her husband has been cheating on her. So, she goes back to Northern California, back to her family.
There she meets high school heartthrob, Will Bonner. He is a firefighter with family issues of his own - deserted by his wife, he is raising his teenage step-daughter. "But just as Sarah's heart is about to reawaken - she discovers she is pregnant with her ex's twins...the winds of change have led Sarah here. Now all she can do is just close her eyes and breathe."
I loved Will Bonner. I could feel his pain as he tries to deal with his teenage daughter's change of moods, growing into puberty, and her middle school crush. He flounders helplessly, and you just want to wrap your arms around him and tell him he is doing the best he can.
Sarah's self-discovery as to the mistakes she made in her marriage kept her real for me. There are always two sides in a marriage. She also realizes her inner strength...not only dealing with the trials of her husband's cancer, but also the trials of being pregnant and having twins. She stands on her own two feet and doesn't let people walk all over her.
Thias was a fantastic read and will be on my shelf of keepers.
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 470
Completed: 6/21/09
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Love at First Flight - Marie Force
Title: Love at First Flight
Author: Marie Force
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2009
Pages: 383
Genre: Romance
I had the immense pleasure of being asked to review another book written by Marie Force. I absolutely loved her first book Line of Scrimmage, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on her next book.
After reading this book, I have to say that Marie Force has written another hit - at least with this reader. The first pages grab your attention, and the book holds it until the very end. I was ready for the emotional impact from the book (because of her unique writing style), but I wasn't prepared for the suspense and intrigue that encompassed the story. Marie Force certainly knows how to pull on your emotions when penning the romantic aspects of her stories, but I was equally impressed with her ability to draw out the suspense. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next - both with the decisions they each had to make and with the intrigue behind the high profile trial that was going on throughout the book.
To recap the story a bit...Michael and Juliana meet at the airport heading in the same direction to meet their significant others. Michael is an attorney who is meeting his fiance for the weekend, and Juliana is a beautician who is meeting her boyfriend of ten years. They discover that they are on the same return flight and agree to meet and discuss how their weekends went. Needless to say, both were disastrous, with each of them breaking it off with their intendeds. This starts the relationship between Juliana and Michael. Get ready for a roller coaster ride through laughter, tears, nail-biting scenes, and life-altering decisions. Michael is the prosecuting attorney in a high profile case which leads to his life being in danger. Juliana, being connected with Michael, is not safe either. What will happen to their love? Will they get through the trial alive; what will happen in the end - together or back to their old lives?
While some creative license was taken with the legal aspects surrounding witness protection, it did not in anyway detract from the story. I look at it this way - fiction is just that - fiction. I loved how strong both Michael and Juliana were. There wasn't that airhead quality in Juliana - she kept her head on straight, made wise decisions, and didn't take chances concerning her safety during the trial. Michael was everything you could want in a hero - strength, intelligence, protective, and he loved with his whole heart. He was there for Juliana - even in the darkest of hours, and his love never wavered. Ahhhh to be loved like that!!
What else can I say - I loved this book. It is definitely on my keeper shelf. And a HUGE "Thank You" goes out to Danielle from Sourcebooks for giving me the opportunity to read this book and review it. And to you, Marie Force, what a talented author you are - your characters are captivating and come to life through your writing - they jump out of the pages and into the reader's heart. The plot is well-developed, flows smoothly, and engages the reader from beginning to end. Emotions are strong and written with such clarity that you feel them inside as if they were your own. Congratulations on your new release - and here's to many many more!!
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 383
Completed: 6/9/09
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wallpaper Fun
Kristie J over at Ramblings on Romance decided that she was curious about what others have as their desktop wallpaper. Here is her post on it. So, I want to join in on the fun and show what is on my desktop.
I downloaded this wallpaper from the Members Section of Christine Feehan's website and I absolutely love it - hunky man, Carpathian Mountains - I don't know if you can see it very well, but there is a small cabin in the trees on the left side of the wallpaper - my ideal spot to be.
Go to Kristie J's post and see what others have as their wallpaper and join in the fun!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Hunger Like No Other - Kresley Cole
Title: A Hunger Like No Other
Author: Kresley Cole
Publisher: Pocket Star
Published: 2006
Pages: 384
Genre: Paranormal Romance (Vampire, Werewolf, Valkyrie)
Series: Immortals After Dark - Book #1
This was an entertaining read with a lot of sexual tension, witty characters, and an exciting culmination with the heroine saving the day. One of the things that I had trouble with were the amount of characters in the book. I kept having to go back and figure out who was who. I finally wrote them all down, their relationships to each other, and their background in order to keep them straight in my mind. "The Book of Lore" was placed in the back of the book, and I didn't realize it was there until the end. It explained the different cultures, and I think it would have been more helpful if I had read it first.
The hero of the story is Lachlain, a Lykae who had been trapped and tortured by Vampires for over a century. He escapes only after he catches the scent of his mate who is above ground and getting farther away. Lachlain is totally an alpha male, but he has a hard time controlling his rage in regards to his torture.
Emma is half Vampire, half Valkyrie, and in danger. Being kidnapped by her enemy, a Lykae, and told that she was his mate wasn't what she had in mind when she visited Paris. Lachlain and Emma have a tumultuous relationship, and the sexual tension between the two escalate throughout the book. Will they both get over their hatred of the race that they each represent in order to reach their destiny? Will the Lykae clan embrace a Vampire as their queen? What of the evil that they discover who is chasing Emma? Who will prevail - who will fall?
I didn't really like Emma at the beginning of the book - I felt she was rather wimpy and kind of blah. However, through dealing with Lachlain, finding her inner strength, and learning to stand up to her family - she grew on me and I liked her in the end. Lachlain was my favorite. I love a tortured hero, and he was a great one. After discovering that Emma was half Vampire, his rage could have taken over and killed her. But, he discovered that she wasn't like the others and treasured her for who she was - not what she was. All in all, a good read.
Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 384
Completed: 6/17/09
One More Award...
I just posted about the rewards I have received recently, and I accidentally left one out (sorry Jacqueline). There have been so many gracious book bloggers that have encouraged me to keep blogging by giving me awards. So without further ado....
I received the Let's Be Friends award from Jacqueline at Undercover Book Lover. "These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers."
Well, I have one problem with this award - I can't find just eight bloggers I want to give it to - LOL. I would really love to bestow this award on all my followers - you mean the world to me, and I hope that we can become friends through reading and commenting on each other's blogs.
Please, take a moment to accept this award...and check out Jacqueline's Blog - it is dedicated to all things paranormal and fantasy. She also has another blog called The Eclectic Book Hoarder - dedicated to books for the modern woman!!! (I'm a follower).
