Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern

From naughty children to rebellious teenagers, Rosie and Alex have stuck by each other through thick and thin. But just as as they're discovering the joys of teenage nights on the town and dating disasters, they're separated. Alex's family move from Dublin to America - and Alex goes with them. For good.

Rosie's lost without him. But on the eve of her departure to join Alex in Boston, Rosie gets news that will change her life forever - and keep her at home in Ireland.

Their magical connection sees them through the ups and downs of each others lives, but neither of them knows whether their friendship can survive the years and miles - or new relationships.

And at the back of Rosie's mind is whether they were meant to be more than just good friends all along. Misunderstandings, circumstances and sheer bad luck have kept them apart, but when presented with the ultimate opportunity, will they gamble everything for true love?

After reading PS I Love You, I raced out and put my name down at the library for Cecilia Ahern's other books because I just *had* to read them. And today just happened to be my day..so I picked up Where Rainbows End, raced home and started to read it. Now let me tell you..by the third chapter I had probably laughed out loud at least sixteen times. No joke. I just couldn't help myself. The things that Rosie and Alex said when they were but 5 years old..oh it's priceless.

At first, I thought the first chapter of "letters" between Alex and Rosie was just the authors' way of introducing us to the characters and setting the scene..but after the first 5 chapters being the same as the first, I quickly flicked forward (without looking too closely and spoiling the story) and I realised that the entire book was made up of letters, emails, IM-ing, and various other communications like that to tell the story. I was a bit skeptical with this form of story telling and I wondered if any author could pull it off. But amazingly, even though the story was told in letter/email and whatever else format, I was still thoroughly engrossed by the story.

There was not one page in this book that I wasn't cheering on Alex and Rosie wishing and hoping they they'd finally sort through the obstacles and just be together. But I guess Cecilia must like to torture her readers, because I was in absolute agony the entire time..becoming giddy with excitement at the possibility that their HEA is on the rise, and then to have it come crashing down because life happened.

Seriously, I love the whole "The One That Got Away" and the "Best Friend is my soul mate" type plots..but towards the end of this one, I didn't know if my heart could take any more separation between Alex and Rosie. It was so obvious that they needed to be together. I understand that things happen that alter our course in life, but oh my gosh, did Rosie and Alex have so many life changing moments that affected their HEA! I just wanted to shout: Enough already! Haven't they been through enough to prove that they belong together?! I was so upset for them and their missed opportunity. No really, I felt like I was the one being deprived of my HEA.

Personally, I would have been far happier if Alex and Rosie finally sorted through everything a few years earlier than they did, because wow..their battle for love was such a long and hard one. I only wish that they spent of that time together, than trying to sort through their lives.

But even though I would have liked a HEA sooner, I still liked this one very much. I laughed out loud alot, especially in the earlier chapters and I became very teary eyed when I read some entries. You'll see what I mean when and if you read this one. I'd love to say I'd want everyone to read this one..but this one might not be everyone's cup of tea. There's alot of bad timing and life changing consequences from one error in judgement..so you've been warned. But if you can handle that, then I'd say..definitely pick this one up to read.

4/5

Dylan's Review:

Hero: Alex Stewart
Heroine: Rosie Dunne
Category: Chick Lit
Page Count: 400+
Grade: B++

Sometimes you've got to get things wrong a few times before you can get them right.

First off, I didn't think this was the same book that Grace reviewed a while back because it had a different title, but then I started reading the book and by page 7, I was laughing out loud and grinning from cheek to cheek, knowing this was the same book that she was talking about.

I swear, this story was one gigantic emotional rollercoaster for me. I loved it just as much as I hated it and I think I hated the book because it took them SO long to get things right. They just kept going round and round and I didn't know how much I could take anymore.

I totally picked this book up on accident, thinking I was just going to see what the story was like, just kind of browse through this book because I had already just started The Stranger In Her Bed by Janet Chapman.

But I forgot all about Ethan's book (I know the scandal, huh Grace and Jazz?) once I started reading this book. I was so engrossed in this book that my niece, Chloe who is not a reader begged me last night to hurry and finish the book so that she can read it for school. She needs an SSR book and thinks this book will be just perfect for her.

I loved seeing Alex and Rosie grow from young snot nosed kids with magicians at their parties to elementary school kids who hated double maths on Monday. I loved reading all about Rosie's 16th birthday and the trouble that Alex and Rosie got into. I loved everything about this book, except the big IT TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH crap that kept them from each other, for all those years.

This story, the best friends falling in love storyline is one of my all time favorites and the one that got away, well yeah Grace can tell you all about how much I just love this storylines (it's a storyline love that we both share) and this one fit those both to the tee.

It was great just as it was horrible that so many things got in between these two being together. Cecilia Ahern did a fantastic job of wrapping me up in Alex and Rosie's world, because I was rootin' them on since the beginning, after the book ended though, I felt emotionally drained and I called Grace crying because I was so happy and so worn out by the book, but by golly I did love the book and Alex...gosh I loved me some Alex, even when he was being such a dummy head...

Go read this book! Gosh I want to experience the "silence".

*sigh*

Hot Number by Carly Phillips

The Hot Zone:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Micki Jordan, co-ownder of The Hot Zone Sports Agency

Micki Jordan, publicist to the brightest stars in the sports world, is pleased to announce the end of her tomboy ways, effective immediately. While she will still be able to discuss the finer points of the two-man defense, Micki has transformed herself into one hot number, and she will no longer be known as "just one of the guys."
To that end, Micki is now holding tryouts for the position of new man in her life. Current leading contender Damian Fuller is a professional ballplayer and a major-league playboy. Those who would like to go head-to-head with the wildest player in the league for a chance at winning Micki's heart should apply in person . . .

Let the games begin.

Now at first glance, this book seems to be like every other predictable contemp romance with a sports focus - with the hero fighting the premature end of his sporting career and the heroine battling her own insecurities as well as trying to to succeed where every other woman had failed: to break through the hero's defenses and prove that all their tomorrows should be spent together.

Yes, this book definitely had all those qualities but it was far from a disappointment. In fact, the first time I read this book I was completely hooked. I chanced upon Hot Number a little over six months ago while I was shopping for snacks with Dylan at Wal-Mart. So as the two of us browsed the aisles talking and what not, I continued to flick through the cute book to see if there was anything of interest. And yes, I was definitely interested. I think I devoured the Prologue, the first chapter and half of the second before I realised that I was practically reading non-stop in the store. I knew then, that if I couldn't stop reading at the store, there was no way I could leave it behind. And thankfully I didn't.

The fact that I was on vacation at the time visiting some long distance friends and still couldn't bare to put the book down, should be confirmation enough that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Micki Jordan was a spunky heroine and even though she was sporting some insecurities she was still able to be the confident assertive heroine we all love. Damian Fuller, the hottest player on and off the field was definitely a treat. What I loved most about him was his sense of honor, especially towards Micki. And it's no wonder Micki fell for this particular ball player.

I haven't been all too impressed by Carly Phillips other books so I was quite surprised that Hot Number had fast become one of my romantic sports favourites - alongside The Chicago Star series by SEP.

Hot Number is apart of a three book series, centering on the Jordan sisters, beginning with Hot Stuff. Hot Item is scheduled to be released in June 2006 and you can bet that I'll be anxiously awaiting for my copy.

If you're looking for a light romantic read, I'd definitely recommend Hot Number.

Dylan's Review:

Hero: Damien Fuller
Heroine: Micki Jordan
Category: Contemporary
Grade: B+

Grace did a spectacular review on this book and I just wanted to add a little bit to it since I just finished reading this book myself.

This book was definitely on my TBR list and has been since that memorable day that I stood in Wal Mart trying unsucessfully to have any kind of conversation with Grace, whom was visiting from her far away homeland of Australia. I have Carly Phillips to blame for stealing precious time away from Grace's first trip to the states to visit myself and our friends. She was so engrossed in this book and after finishing the book myself last night, I completely understand why she was so wrapped up in it.

Now, I should add that the reason I'm just barely getting around to reading this series is because I have been very wary of trying anything new by Carly Phillips (and by new, I mean new to me) because I haven't been "wowed" by Carly Phillips yet. I mean, I've only read one of her other books and that was the first book in The Chandler Brother's series, Roman's story. I think it was called The Bachelor and though I liked it well enough, it didn't have enough of a pull for me to think "Wow that was a great book" but I thought it would get better as the series progressed but then I never finished Rick's book. It was the first book that I never finished and to this day, almost 3 years later, I STILL haven't finished that book. So I never got around to reading Chase's book which I hear is the best book and a favorite among CP fans.

But I can finally say that Carly Phillips has wowed me.

The storyline behind this book isn't a new storyline, it wasn't fresh, it wasn't something that I haven't read before but none of that mattered to me while reading this book. Carly Phillips did a wonderful job writing this book.

I absolutely LOVE this kind of storyline and Carly Phillips delivered a great rendition to the ol' Aging Athlete denying the end of his career and tomboy unsure of her worth as a woman. Damien Fuller was a memorable hero and Micki was a fantastic heroine! The storyline didn't drag at all and it was just fun, light and very fulfilling. A truly great read!

Ya'll should definitely pick this book and give it a whirl, I'm so glad I did!

Unleash The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Hero: Wren Tigarian
Heroine: Marguerite D'Aubert Goudeau
Grade: A-
Date: 01/01/06

It's a predator eat predator world for the Were-Hunters. Danger haunts any given day. There is no one to trust. No one to love. Not if they want to live…

An orphan with no clan that will claim him, Wren Tigarian grew to adulthood under the close scrutiny and mistrust of those around him. A forbidden blend of two animals—snow leopard and white tiger—Wren has never listened to anyone when there was something he wanted. Now he wants Marguerite.

Marguerite D'Aubert Goudeau is the daughter of a prominent U.S. Senator who hates the socialite life she's forced to live. Like her mother before her, she has strong Cajun roots that her father doesn't understand. Still, she has no choice but to try and conform to a world where she feels like an outsider. But the world of rich and powerful humans is never to meet the world of the Were-Hunters who exist side by side with them, unseen, unknown, undetected. To break this law is to call down a wrath of the highest order.

In order to have Marguerite, Wren must fight not just the humans who will never accept his animal nature, but the Were-Hunters who want him dead for endangering their world. It's a race against time and magic without boundary that could cost Marguerite and Wren not just their lives, but their very souls…

Dylan says:

This book was such a great book to read after our long wait. I think SK did a wonderful job of showing us the man behind the dreads from the previous books. What I loved most about this book was that they didn't forget about Nick, Nick had befriended both of them and it was good that they had that to share between them. I loved how we got to meet the mysterious and all mighty, Savitar. He's been mentioned a few times in the previous books and it was fantastic to finally meet him and see what he's all about, Wren and Maggie were definitely made for each other and I thought it was just pure magic seeing them come together.

I know that it was probably unrealistic for Maggie to be so "okay" with the idea that her boyfriend was a Tigard, but I'm sure she freaked out, we just didn't see it. It was great to see some of the DH's in there and to meet the newest one, Jean Luc. We learned a lot of things and I just loved every minute of it.

The whole Mama Lo thing grabbed me because I didn't really care for Mama Lo in the previous books, even when she was so good to Vane, I couldnt' care less about her, which is why I was so against Fang (my boo) getting with Aimee.

The action was high in this book and the love factor was great, I loved Wren and I loved Maggie and I loved them together, I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone, even though a few others were disappointed in this book, it totally worked for me and I know it will, you.

So go on, buy it, read it and love it....I know you will.

Grace says:

Since Dee has given you the run down on the story line, I've decided to just skip forward to the review part. Now I've had UTN by SK on my TBR list, ever since it was released last year but the waiting line at the library was forever long. But, luckily for me, (or unluckily, depends on how you look at it) my name came up about two weeks ago, just as my load at uni increased dramatically. So what was a girl to do, stuck between giving her studies her undivided committment to pass and wanting to savor every line about Wren Tigarian? I ditched the studies and gave Wren my undivided attention for a couple of hours straight..and boy, was it worth it!

I loved, loved, LOVED the way SK portrayed Wren in this book. He was so fierce and deadly and yet, so vulnerable at the same time. I loved how Maggie was able to get through his guarded defenses in such a short time and how she saw him in a different light - she saw the real Wren. Not the Wren people avoided and didn't talk to, or the Wren that people thought were crazy psycho. Even with her sheltered life, she went against the crowd, full knowing her domineering father would be furious if she spent any time with Wren. I thought that was awesome. Maggie earned some serious heroine points right there.

One of my favourite scenes in this one, is where Wren surprised the hell out of Maggie by dropping by her university after his little appearance fix up. Damn. I could totally imagine that scene, with Wren dripping in hotness. What made that scene even better was the way SK was able to portray Wren's vulnerability and uncertainty, when it came to Maggie. When he told her:

"I didn't want to embarrass you anymore,"

...I was a goner. I felt his insecurities leap off the page and I just wanted Maggie to show him that he was worthy, very worthy.

I was so glad that Maggie turned out to be a great heroine. Sure, she was sheltered and living a life she didn't really want, but in the end, she stood up for what she wanted. It was great watching Maggie find herself, and even sticking it to her dad in the end when the Senator was insulting the hell out of both Maggie and Wren. Oh, that scene was priceless!! LOVED IT. You'll have to read it, to see. :)

Also, I have to agree with Dylan. I had a hard time believing that Maggie was completely okay with the idea of Wren being a tiger. I know she had a couple of hours to adjust to the idea..but finding out her man was a tiger? That's something even the most unconventional might have more than a few hours worth of worry over, right? Oh, and I'm still mad at Mama Lo, I know she sorta made up for doing what she did to Wren..but I'm still mad. LOL.

Overall, I thought this one was a good read. I'm a bit wary of reading the next one since I've read a lot of reviews stating that the series is going down hill..but for now, I'm just happy this one turned out to be a goodie. A far better way to spend my time, compared to studying from a boring textbook. ;o)

4 / 5

Fantasy Lover
The Beginning (which you can find on the Dark Hunter site)
Night Pleasures
Night Embrace
Dance with the Devil
Kiss of the Night
Night Play
Sieze the Night
Sins of the Night
Unleash the Night
Dark Side of the Moon

Truly, Madly, Yours by Rachel Gibson

WHERE THERE'S A WILL. . .
When pretty hairdresser Delaney Shaw returned home to Truly, Idaho, for the reading of her stepfather's will, she planned on paying her respects and getting out of town. But it seems the will has some unexpected stipulations-like the one that says if Delaney wants her inheritance she needs to stay put and have nothing to do with sexy Nick Allegrezza. . .for an entire year!

THERE'S NO WAY. . .
Ten years ago, Nick had swept Delaney off her feet and onto his Harley, and that's when she really let her down her Hair! Back then, he was a love-'em-and-leave-'em man, and Delaney learned the hard way that she was just a fling. But Nick is as irresistible as ever. And when the ladies at Tuesday night Bingo see Nick and Delaney making after-hours whoopee through the window of a local beauty parlor, Delaney knows it's time to decide if Nick I truly, madly the man of her heart. -- Excerpt from Rachel Gibson's website

Ten years ago, Delaney made a hasty exit from Truly, Idaho to escape her mother and step father's controlling ways. But not before Nick Allegrezza, the infamous bad boy of the town managed to get her flat on her back on the hood of his car - a fact neither of them can forget. Now that Delaney's back in town (for a brief time, or so she thinks) Delaney realises that whatever was between them years ago, is still there. And to make it worse, her step father just had to try and control her life, even after death.

According to Henry Shaw's will, Delaney could expect to receive a big fat inheritence IF she stayed in town for an entire year, but if she left..everything would go to Nick. Unexpectedly, Henry also left a provision for Nick. IF Nick can keep his goods in his pants and out of Delaney's for an entire year, then he'll be entitled to receive highly coveted properties..otherwise said properties would go to Delaney. Delaney is clearly outraged, as we'd expect, after finding out about Henry's will. But Nick on the other hand, he's purposely obnoxious -- "Does one fuck constitute a sexual relationship?" he asks after finding out about the conditions, even with Delaney's mother present. LOL, cracked me right up.

So with the grounds laid out, Delaney decides to stick it out and stay in town. But it isn't easy. She starts to receive messages telling her to leave town, she finds herself coming up against an old rival who stole her boyfriend in highschool, her mother continues to drive her insane and on top of it all, Delaney can't seem to keep her mind or hands off Nick Allegrezza. And Nick seems to be all for the idea, even though it put his inheritence at risk each time. Ultimately, it was only a matter of time before one of them lost and broke the conditions laid out in the will.

When I first picked this book up, I read the first chapter and then immediately put it down. I couldn't seem to get over the fact that Henry Shaw, who is Nick's biological father, adopted Delaney when she was a little girl making them step brother/step sister. I know, it shouldn't have been THAT big of a deal since they're not related by blood nor did they grow up in the same household, but still. I had to put the book down for an afternoon to forget the fact. But once I got over it, or pretended to get over it..I really enjoyed the book.

As expected, I loved Nick Allegrezza. I don't know if it's because he's the bad boy of the town who is sexy and tempting as sin or because his name just happens to be Nick. He's the type of guy mama's warn their daughters about and he's one of those alpha males who pretend that they're invincible and incapable of being hurt by others - but we all know different. Under all that arrogance and I don't give a shit attitude, he cares. Especially for Delaney. And it was so cute to read Nick doing random things for her showing that he cared, but denying it when she called him out on it. So cute. Even seeing Nick interact with his niece was verra cute.

The only things that didn't sit well with me on this one besides the step brother/step sister thing, was the fact that Nick had long hair and the on again off again attitude Delaney and Nick had towards each other. Yeah, it was fun to watch them try to fight the attraction at first, but after a while I got tired of it. I wanted them to realise and acknowledge their feelings before the final chapters of the book. I also thought the ending (when one of them finally had their epiphany and realised they couldn't live without the other) felt kinda rushed.

Bottom line: It was an enjoyable read, mostly because of Nick Allegrezza. Damn, he was hot. Minus the long hair, of course. ;o) So if you're looking for a light read and don't mind small town stories with everyone knowing everyone's business, try this one out.

3.75 / 5

Table For Five by Susan Wiggs

Lily Robinson is not only the godmother of the Hollway children; she's also their teacher. So when Lily calls in the divorced parents, Crystal (her best friend) and Derek, for a conference, and the two of them are killed on the way home, Lily's grief is exponentially worse because of her guilt. Sean Maguire, Derek's half-brother, is an ex-pro golfer ready for a comeback. Crystal never got around to formalizing her request that Lily take the children in case anything happened to her, and Sean is named as their guardian in the will. But Lily refuses to walk away from her godchildren, so Lily and Sean force themselves to cooperate with each other, an exercise that begins to lead to a grudging respect.

Wiggs explores many aspects of grief, from guilt to anger to regret, imbuing her book with the classic would've/could've/should've emotions, and presenting realistic and sympathetic characters. Never maudlin, Wiggs writes with an even hand, thus adding another excellent title to her already-outstanding body of work. Shelley MosleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

This wasn't a typical fairy tale like romance novel. The hero and heroine didn't meet, instantly fall in love, get married and have half a dozen babies. No. A horrific tragedy occurred in the form of a car accident, leaving 3 children alone and orphaned, resulting in two people altering their lives to help the children survive their loss.

When Lily Robinson finds out her best friend Crystal Hollway had died in a car accident with her ex-husband, she's torn apart. They had been best friends for the longest time and she couldn't even begin to imagine life without her. But after her initial shock, she pushes her grieving aside to care for Crystal's children, just as she had promised. Lily turns her life upside down in order to make room for the children and vows to make sure they all get through their loss, together. The only problem is, Crystal hadn't had the opportunity to officially make Lily the children's legal guardian, should they pass away...leaving the court to rule in favour of Sean Maguire.

Lily knows she can't contest the will and especially not without causing further havoc in the children's life. So reluctantly, she hands the reigns over to Sean - who is in no shape to raise 3 children on his own and they both know it. But Sean is determined as hell to make it work, somehow - even if he knew next to absolutely nothing about caring for kids.

With Cameron, Charlie and Ashley in Sean's care, Lily is off the parenting hook, but she has trouble letting go. And so she finds herself frequently dropping in at the Hollway residence, to check up on both the kids and Sean's parenting. But we all know, those regular visits were more than that. Lily had always loved her godchildren, but somewhere along the line, Lily fell in love with Sean too.

I really enjoyed reading this one. It was great to see the tough yet rewarding journey these five people took in order to deal with their loss. They made sacrifices to make it work, they made mistakes, they took chances and somehow they made it work. Together, Lily and Sean picked up the pieces in all their lives and rebuilt a family.

As for the children, the one that got to me most was Cameron. He was a young kid with the weight of the world on his shoulders, a lot of resentment built up, fear and insecurity, and uncertainty of the future. I loved how Susan Wiggs portrayed his troubled character in addition to giving us a glimpse into his unconditional love for his sisters. By the end of the book, there was no doubt of the self journey Cameron had gone through, with the help of Sean and Lily, and his new friend Becky.

Other cute things that warmed my heart was the shared devotion both Sean and Lily had towards the children. I loved the way they discussed the kids and their well being, as though they were in fact their very own. It was even cuter to see a man's man like Sean, attempting to fix Ashley's hair, just like Crystal.

The only thing that would have made this an even better read, would be a greater exploration of Sean and Lily's feelings. I understand that a big focus was on making it work for the kids etc, but it would have been nice to see more of the chemistry between Sean and Lily.

Bottom line: A great read, with a touch of realism that brings a tightness to the throat as the characters try to pick up the pieces and find their bit of happiness.

4 / 5

Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It by Lucy Monroe

SURPRISE, SURPRISE
The last woman business consultant Marcus Danvers expects to find at Kline Electronics is Veronica Richards. He’s supposed to be rooting out a corporate spy, not rehashing an old love affair—with the woman who sold out the company they both used to work for and then took off without so much as a kiss goodbye. All the clues point to Ronnie as the firm’s newest mole, which means he’ll have to spend time with the stubbornly reticent—and mouthwateringly sexy—woman he hasn’t been able to forget, and uncover every last thing she has to hide…

FANCY SEEING YOU HERE
It’s just Ronnie’s luck. The one man she’d hoped never to see again is suddenly everywhere she looks—and taking up a starring role in her daydreams, too. Remembering the passion she and Marcus once shared certainly isn’t going to help, though, not when she has so many secrets, and no explanation for the way she left him eighteen months ago—or at least not one he’ll want to hear. The problem is, when Marcus is around all her good intentions go up in smoke…-- Lucy Monroe website

It had been 18 months since Veronica Richards had sold out their company. 18 months since Marcus Danvers had last seen her. And it had been 18 months, 2 weeks and 3 days since Marcus had slept with anyone. All because he couldn't get Veronica, the woman who shared his bed but nothing else, out of his system. Even knowing that she had betrayed him in more than just a professional way, wasn't enough to douse out what he still felt for her. So when Veronica is unexpectedly thrown back into his life during his investigation regarding a corporate spy, all hell breaks loose.

As exptected, Veronica tries to avoid Marcus like the plague, but Marcus is having none of that. From the moment he was appointed to do some digging around at Kline Electronics, he found a sure way back into Veronicas life too. But as determined as he is to catch the spy, (with Veronica's name shooting higher and higher up the suspects list) he also wants answers. Answers to questions that had been weighing down on him, ever since Veronica took off without so much as a thought to him. And what Marcus wants, Marcus gets. Which is what ultimately scares the crap out of Veronica. She knows that if he gets too close, he'll find his way back into her heart and then he's bound to find out the entire truth - something she definitely can't allow to happen. Not if she wants her carefully built life to stay in tact.

I was hooked into this one, right from the beginning. My nosy self had to find out what could have possibly motivated the prim and proper (or so we're made to think) Veronica to cash out on company secrets and then run and hide right after signing a confession. But even more so, I had to find out what became of the initial flirtation between Marcus and Veronica in Come Up & See Me Sometime. And after reading this, I wasn't disappointed.

Marcus Danvers is every bit as arrogant and possessive as Alex Trahern , which should tell you, that I absolutely loved him too. What I also loved was that even though Marcus knew that there was a significant chance that Veronica could very well be the corporate spy and even though she had professionally and emotionally betrayed him, he still wanted to protect Veronica any way he could - he cared about her even when he didn't want to. It was also nice to see that the heroine didn't have to be the only one who was vulnerable in this book. Marcus had some moments when his insecurities came to the surface..like when he admitted how he felt about her betrayal and desertion, or about his childhood.

I thought Veronica Richards was a likeable heroine, especially realising the motive behind her actions and the heavy responsibilities she had to handle all alone. Having solely raised her sister after their parents deaths, battling serious health issues and a baby - my admiration for her raised a fair few notches. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult or lonely it must have been for her. Or how the weight of guilt and worry consumed her. It doesn't mean those things completely excuse her choices and actions, but it did help me understand the situation more. And cheer her on for her HEA.

The only minor thing I didn't like was the overuse of endearments throughout the book. Don't get me wrong, I love to hear couples using endearments here and there, sometimes it even manages to make me awwww...but I just found too many "baby's" for my liking.

Bottom line: Finding out what became of Marcus and Veronica's hook up in Come Up & See Me Sometime , is definitely worth it. If you're looking for a great contemp read, I suggest giving this one a go. :o)

4.5/5

Related books:
Come Up & See Me Sometime

Come Up And See Me Sometime by Lucy Monroe

In a high-stakes game of love, attraction, and desire, two people playing for all the wrong reasons are about to discover how delicious it can be when plans go deliciously awry and love is all that matters.

Like father, like daughter.
That's what businessman Alex Trahern thinks about Isabel Harrison. If the prestigious headhunter thinks she can steal his top employee, just like her father stole his dad's ideas, she's dead wrong. Alex is always a man with a plan, and his plan is to get revenge on John Harrison through his daughter. But there's no contingency plan for the impact Isabel's sparkling green eyes and honey brown hair have on the decidedly non-business side of his brain…

If at first you don't succeed, change the game.
After some relationship flameouts, Isabel's decided to leave love out of it and approach her search for a husband like finding a suitable job candidate. And according to her list of requirements, Alex Trahern certainly has potential. He's sexy. (Check.) Forceful and fascinating. (Check, check.) Also arrogant, obnoxious, and way too hot for her own good. (Erase. Start over.) Now, if only she could find out what he's really after… -- Lucy Monroe's website.

I have Holly to thank for yet another fab find. She devoured this one and then raved all about it to us, so of course I immediately added it to my ever growing TBR list. And having read and devoured it also, I'm only sorry I didn't order it sooner.

Alex Trahern, who is one sinfully sexy businessman, is hell bent on seeking revenge for his father's death. Firm in the belief that his father died over John Harrison's betrayal, Alex wants nothing more than to hurt Harrison any way possible as a means to an end. And so, he targets the one thing Harrison prizes most - his company. But as Alex continues to work behind the scenes aiding another company in their hostile take over attempt against Harrison, Alex crosses paths with none other than Harrison's daughter, Isabel.

At first, he believes her to be every bit like her father - where he was a man who stole men's ideas and she was a woman who stole key employees. But from the moment he sees her face to face, he realises that father and daughter are nothing alike. That she was indeed every bit as good and innocent as Harrison was not. Alex also sees that not only is Isabel dedicated to her job, but she's dedicated to the people, wanting to provide them with the best work environment possible - not to steal employees away. And slowly, he becomes torn over his long overdue revenge, winning over the daughter of the enemy who'd stolen his heart and doing whats right. You can probably guess which path he takes, but lets just say he nearly screws up because he's blinded by everything in the past.

I can't say enough good things about this book. The fact that I was on holidays and still managed to gobble this one up in a few sittings just goes to show I couldn't stay away from it. I loved both Alex and Isabel. They both had their issues and insecurities, but I think they were well developed.

I have a weakness for arrogant heroes, so Alex Trahern did great in my book. He was arrogant as hell, with his comments and cocky attitude, but that didn't bother me at all. I also really liked the fact that once he realised that he wanted Isabel, he wasn't going to try to deny himself. He was strong in his pursuit, even though he knew that chasing after Harrison's daughter complicated matters greatly. It was so funny to see him work his way into Isabel's life, when she clearly didn't want him to be there, or rather didn't want to want him there, insisting on his dates and what not. The way he came to care for Isabel in such a short time was very heart warming. I loved how he became protective of her physically and emotionally - even to the extent of wanting to protect her from her own father's cold behaviour towards her. It was very nice indeed, to see someone seeing to Isabel's needs after she'd blocked everyone out. Alex also earned major points with me, when he constantly complimented Isabel's sexy shoes - what can I say? He pleased the shoeaholic in me. *grin*

I thought that Isabel might be a character to annoy the heck out of me, or perhaps have some of those heroine issues - but she didn't and I really liked her. She had insecurities, but I thought they were justified. After feeling like she came in a far second to her fathers company, Isabel learnt to put up walls to protect her heart. She shut people out, she referred to prior nannies by numbers instead of familiar names and she even wrote up a characteristics list for her potential husband, in part to make sure she found the 'right' candidate and probably in part to make it seem more like a potential 'client' than a partner. Her insecurities felt real to me, and her way of dealing, not so far fetched. I really don't blame her for wanting to protect herself.

Lucy Monroe did a great job with this one. There is one point in the book where Isabel is emotionally betrayed by Alex, and I felt it. And it hurt, like it were me he had betrayed. Then when Alex makes up for it later? I felt that too. It was the though the constriction on my heart eased and everything was going to be alright. Lucy Monroe is just that good in expressing emotions. And don't even get me started on the part where Alex declares, "You belong to me." Damn.

Bottom line: This is my first Lucy Monroe book. But if the rest of her books continue to be of this standard, I won't even flinch at paying 20 bucks a book. I say, bring it on. *grin*

4.75/5

Midnight Sun by Rene Lyons

Where the damned come to play.

When things go bump in the night, Allison Parker bumps back. As the resident ghost hunter in a quiet, rural town, she's thrust into the nocturnal world of the Templars. Embracing the night, she finds a place where she belongs.

Damned by God, Sebastian of Rydon knows only blood and death. After eight hundred years of merely existing, he learns what is to live when Allie comes bursting into his life. Her spirit guides him out of the dark.

Caught in a web of hate and revenge, they search for love as their world is torn apart.

...following on from Holly & Dylan's review.

I was completely hooked to this one, right from the beginning. In fact, I became pretty foul when I was constantly pulled away from my Sebastian time - of which my family can undoubtedly attest to. Suffice to say, my ever romance loving heart could not stay away. Every minute I could spare, I had my eyes glued to the screen, reading with anticipation and glee - and often found myself laughing out loud, thereby causing anyone who sat beside me to see what was so darn funny.

And this one indeed had many outright funny moments. I think the humor sprinkled throughout the novel has got to be one of my favourite things about it. It can be deadly serious and heart thumpingly spine chilling, and then bam! *insert humor here* It was FAB! In particular, there's a scene towards the end of Chapter 3 that made me laugh so much, it has fast become one of my favourites.

There were just so many great things in this one..but some that must be mentioned:

* Hands down, Sebastian of Rydon is one smokin' hot Templar. *fans self* I love how he's so fierce yet so gentle with his Allie. And it was great to see how quickly she was able to penetrate his defenses that he had put up and held for so many centuries. It was heart warming to see him finally find some sort of peace, after suffering for so long. I loved everything about him, hell, even the way he 'broods' is sexy to me. LOL.

* As Holly has already mentioned, Allie didn't suffer from common heroine issues and she definitely did NOT get on my nerves! I thought she was sassy, smart and very brave - and when the shit hit the fan, she didn't go charging in but rather thought quick on her feet, assessing the situation and the best way to keep herself safe. She was independent, yet she knew exactly when she was out of her league and when reinforcements were needed. Smart girl, indeed.

* The way all the Templars embraced Allie into their fold, and swearing to protect her with everything they had. They were fierce and deadly and yet, all of them had a softness about them that had me grinning like a fool. I even loved how Constantine, who seems to be the more intimidating of all the Templars, wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to Allie's welfare.

""Like we wouldn't protect you.." -- Constantine to Allie

and then later, a fierce warning..

"Allie better be in one piece, Sebastian"

To be honest, I was a bit hesistant to Constantines character for such a small insignificant reason, but now..I can't wait to see what Rene will cook up for him!

* The sizzling chemistry between Allie and Sebastian. They both wanted each other, but being from two totally different worlds, Sebastian didn't want anything to do with her. Without a soul and in search of redemption, he of course thought Allie should have nothing to do with him. But as fate would have it, nothing could squash what was between them. And when both of them realised it, neither tried to fight it anymore. They accepted it and fought to be together and ultimately, fought for their other half.

Overall, I was very pleased with Midnight Sun. After waiting impatiently for its release, I had set expectations for it in my mind - and I'm delighted to say I was not at all disappointed! So KUDOS to you, Rene! It's a keeper! :D

The only thing that stopped this one from being a perfect 5 is that I wanted more. I wanted more insight into the world of the Templars and of how they came to be doomed, and perhaps a sneak peek into their lives prior to the present day. I just wanted a little more background info to see the 'bigger picture'..or maybe that's just me being a curious wench. ;o)

Bottom line: I highly recommend this one, especially those that enjoy a good paranormal. Don't pass this one up! *grin*

4.5 / 5

Saving Grace by Julie Garwood

Hero: Gabriel McBain
Heroine: Johanna
Grade: A+

When Lady Johanna learned that she was a widow, she vowed she would never marry again. Only sixteen, already she possessed a strength of will that impressed all who looked past her golden-haired beauty. Yet when King John demanded that she remarry—and selected a bridegroom for her—it seemed she must acquiesce, until her beloved foster brother suggested she wed his friend, the handsome Scottish warrior Gabriel MacBain.

At first Johanna was shy, but as Gabriel tenderly revealed the splendid pleasures they would share, she came to suspect that she was falling in love with her gruff new husband. And it was soon apparent to the entire Highlands clan that their brusque, gallant laird had surrendered his heart completely. But now a desperate royal intrigue threatened to tear her from his side—and to destroy the man whose love meant more to her than she had ever dreamed!

This was one of the books by Julie Garwood that I read twice before moving on to the next book on my TBR pile. Yes, this book was that good.

You see, Lady Johanna is one smart cookie. You can see why she's such a smart cookie when you read the book (trust me, you won't be sorry you read it, it's a GREAT book), but above her smartness, she's also very strong. What I liked most about this book (besides the to die for hero and brother) is we see Johanna's growth in character as the story progresses, you see her as the weakling she seemed to be at the very beginning and with the help of Gabriel McBain, she comes out of her shell and transforms into this beautiful woman who knows her own mind and is no longer afraid to show it.

The turn around in Johanna is a most enjoyable feature in this story, because you can see why Gabriel couldn't help but fall in love with Johanna, because buried deep inside of her was a spirit so strong and so true that anyone would have wanted to help bring it out, I'm so very glad that it was Gabriel who came to her rescue, when Nicholas practically gave Johanna to him, it was such a great blessing to the both of them, because they both needed each other, quite desperately.

This entire story is one of the best love stories I've read to date. I may say that a lot, but this one is one that will stay with you long after you've finished the book. It's that good.

Gabriel is a strong hero who needs Johanna just as much as she needs him. I loved the ending, when Gabriel is standing behind Johanna the entire she says her speech to Raulf? Loved it. I loved what Gabriel helps her do at the end too, that scene was so sweet and so poignant, I love it to pieces.

Some memorable scenes from this book:

• When Johanna tells Alex that Gabriel gave her a son as a wedding gift, Awww.
• The teaching of manners at the dining table.
• Johanna sewing the plaids together.
• The Punishment Stick.
• Johanna's nickname for Glynis.
• Johanna saving Claire's life with her arrow.
• Johanna fainting when they're trying to find a way to get a noser.

My list can go on, seriously...that's how much I love this book. Another thing I loved about this book was Baron Nicholas, I was mad at Gabriel for a little bit on Nicholas' behalf and I thought it was extremely nice of Nicholas to stand up for Claire the way he did, even though I did start out a bit standoffish where Nicholas was concerned because of you know what (well those of you who have read this book, knows that I'm talking about, if you haven't, read it so you can know too!), he was her brother and what not...

Okay seriously, I can go on and on about why I love this book so much, but I'll stop here, just suffice it to say that this book is the bomb dot com and you're missing out on some serious good reading if you haven't read this book, so get on it right this minute!

...what are you still doing on this blog? Get thee hence to the bookstore and get this book and read it, dag nabbit! =)

A+ that's what this book gets!

Rene Lyons (humble guest reviewer) says:

Well, first let me thank the ladies of SF for allowing to add my two cents to this review. See, SG is a book dear to my heart. This was the book I read that inspired me to write.

What drew me to this book was the tortured heroine. JG did it in a way that women who suffered such abuse in 'real life' could relate and have a heroine with enough strength to inspire courage in themselves. I think that's what drew to me to this book and had me instantly falling in love with Johanna. Her reaction to her husband being dead hit my heart like an arrow and had me staying up for almost twenty-four hours straight to finish the book.

Johanna's dignity and strength truly made her, a herione worth admiring.

Now, Gabriel...ah...he is all things wonderful to me and to this day still stands as my favorite hero.

Johanna's journey from 'cautious' to learning how to enjoy life was heartwarming. The love between her and Gabriel lept off the page. So much so, that when her 'dead' husband returns (I hate him too much to even write his name here. lol) and she stands proud before him, you can just feel her love for not only Gabriel, but her newfound family as well.

I think it goes without saying that I give this book an A+

Grace says:

This is without a doubt yet another winner by JG. Once again JG has been able to successfully throw elements of witty humor, sass and poignant moments to tug at your heart, and make you want to read and re-read this one over and over.

The JG trademark - ending one chapter and beginning the next in direct contradiction - is also evident in this book right from the very beginning. It made me laugh, as it always does, to see one chapter end with Gabriel predicting that Johanna won't deny him, and will marry him...and then to see Johanna flat out denying him on the very next page. I do so love these contradictions!

It was a true joy to see how this book progressed. At first we got a little glimpse of the horror Johanna had been living in, married to Raulf, causing her to tame her spirit in fear of being wrongfully punished. But while she was very cautious and even somewhat afraid - and rightly so - her first marriage was never able to break her.

It is through Gabriels gruff but surprisingly gentle ways that Johanna begins to feel a certain ease that she had not been given the freedom to feel, being married to Raulf. Gabriel reassured her countless times and ways that he would more likely lay his life on the line to protect her, than harm any part of her. A promise he made to her, right from the beginning.

As the book continued on, we saw Johanna slowly start to build up her sense of esteem and belonging to the clan, and even unleashing her fiesty sass on her husband whenever the mood struck. It was so wonderful to see Johanna finally feel safe enough to let her true colours show and be at ease. Reading about scenes where Johanna was no longer afraid to sass Gabriel back when he was roaring at her for something or other was another great treat, because it just demonstrated exactly how far she had come during her time in the Highlands. I think Johanna is probably one of my most favoured JG heroines, because she showed so much strength and courage, even when it was very difficult for her to do so.

Now Gabriel..Oh how I love Gabriel MacBain. He's a fierce warrior through and through but surprisingly, or perhaps not, he was just as capable of being very gentle and considerate to his petite little wife. Not to mention, quite protective. It was so cute to see him chasing Johanna down to make her rest all the time so she didn't get sick and die on him. And it was also cute to read about Gabriel realising he was a warrior who loved his wife..and who was hell bent on making his wife love him too.

"She'd snared him all right, blindsided him she had...."

"There was only one course of action left to him. Johanna was going to have to love him. By God, he wasn't about to let himself become this vulnerable without gaining equal measure."

All in all, this one is definitely a keeper. Just the storyline between Gabriel and Johanna makes this well worth the read, but the addition of secondary characters and even love interests make it even better. If you haven't read this one yet, I'd highly recommend it. You wouldn't want to miss out, now would you? *grin*

5/5

Ransom by Julie Garwood

Overflowing with all of the majesty and intrigue of medieval glory days, this magnificent New York Times bestseller is a page-turner of passion and loyalty, justice and honor. Beloved storyteller Julie Garwood steps back to the silver-shrouded Highlands of her classic tale The Secret -- and hails the return of two unforgettable warriors: Ramsey Sinclair and Brodick Buchanan.

In the dark days after the death of Richard the Lionhearted, lives and lands would fall into upheaval at the hands of a power-hungry British ruler and his violent minions. One victim of the scourge is innocent Gillian, who is a mere child when the cruel and ambitious Baron Alford slaughters her father and tears her family apart. Alford, determined to recover a jeweled box for the despotic King John, is furious when the precious treasure slips through his fingers -- only to be lost for more than a decade.

Now a beautiful young woman, Gillian finds the key to resolving her past in handsome Scottish chieftains Ramsey Sinclair and Brodick Buchanan. With the cunning and courage of the daring Scotsmen, and with the friendship of a new ally, Bridgid KirkConnell, Gillian at last fights the unscrupulous Baron Alford, laying claim to her home, her family, and her father's reputation. But in the presence of the mighty warrors, Gillian and Bridgid discover that desire can be a weapon of conquest...betrayal can slay trust in a heartbeat...and the greatest risk of all is surrender -- to the deep emotions of unexpected love.

This book follows on from The Secret and gives Brodick Buchanan and Ramsey Sinclair their moment to shine.

Brodick Buchanan is a fierce highlander, feared by both men and women from clans all over the highlands. His name is whispered throughout the land and is seen as a leader without mercy or compassion, with a ruthlessness to make a grown warrior shake in his boots, in fear of his wrath. His elite guard are likened to the Spartan warriors, for they are invisible, which is nothing less of what Brodick demands.

When Lady Gillian is forced into his life, with an important mission to accomplish, Brodick cannot help but be mesmerised by the depth of her courage and strength or her sassy and stubborn ways. Even I was impressed by her courage, for not many women would have been able to do as she did in holding her chin up high and smiling, after suffering a sound beating from the enemy. Oh no siree.

Much like in The Secret, Brodick becomes protective of Gillian almost right from the beginning, refusing to let any harm come to her..or let her go, for that matter. He's as possessive as Iain Maitland and it's cute to see his reaction to the idea that Gillian might be attracted to pretty boy Ramsey Sinclair. Gillian was a good match for Brodick, because Brodick probably would have walked all over any other heroine who didn't stand her ground, like Gillian. And both of them would have been miserable. But Brodick and Gillian together, that was great. I also love the fact that by the end of the book, Brodick was willing to do anything..and I mean, anything, to keep Gillian in his life and atone for his screw up. That was verra nice indeed. :)

As for Ramsey, it was great to see how put out he was by his "pretty boy" looks. We see how he finds it more of a nuisance than an advantage in most instances. And it was verra nice to see his reaction to Bridget and the numerous requests for her hand in marriage. I loved the scenes where he requested for Bridgets presence to try to sway her mind in marrying one of his soliders, but then becoming quietly pleased when she declined. The secondary romance between Bridget and Ramsey was a lovely addition to this book, making it far more enjoyable and lively. The immediate friendship and loyalty between Bridget and Gillian was great as well. The only minor complaint I have for this one, is that I wish that Ramsey and Bridget were given their own novel - giving us more pages to explore their romance. I think Bridget would have driven Ramsey mad, but in a great way. LOL. And not to mention, the fact that for once Ramsey would have had some competition since Bridget had about a dozen and one marriage proposals. Oh, to see him struggle or feel slightly unsure of himself when it came to his pursuit..that which would have been absolutely perrrrrfect!

If you've read The Secret, then I recommend reading this one also. If not for Brodick and Ramsey, then definitely for the chance to re-visit Judith and Iain. It's quite nice to see how their HEA continues on, even after their epilogue.

Any historical readers would appreciate this one too, so go on..give it a go. :)

4.75 / 5

This is apart of a two book series
The Secret
Ransom

The Secret by Julie Garwood

Judith Hampton was as beautiful as she was proud and loyal. Her dear Scottish friend from childhood was about to give birth, and Judith had promised to be at her side. But there was another, private reason for the journey from her bleak English home to the Highlands: to meet the father she had never known, the Laird Maclean. Nothing prepared her, however, for the sight of the Scottish barbarian who was to escort her into his land...Iain Maitland, Laird of his clan, a man more powerfully compelling than any she had ever encountered.

In a spirited clash of wills and customs, Judith reveled in the melting bliss of Iain's searching kisses, his passionate caresses. Perplexed by her sprightly defiance, bemused by her tender nature, Iain felt his soul growing into the light and warmth of her love. Surely nothing would wrench her from the affection and trust of Iain and his clan...not even the truth about her father, a devastating secret that could shatter the boldest alliance, and the most glorious of loves!

No matter how many times I re-read this one, it never fails to make me smile, laugh out loud or sigh in contentment as though it were the very first time I read it. Iain Maitlands' arrogance and Judith's innocence as well as the deep friendship demonstrated between Judith and Frances Catherine, provide just the right combination to pull off a fabulous story.

We first meet Judith when she's about 4 years old, while she's attending the annual border fair. It is at this fair that she befriends Frances Catherine, when Judith tries to impress Frances Catherine by protecting her from a bothersome bee. The two automatically hit it off and it's outright funny to see how the two complement each other and begin to pick up each others habits, much to Frances Catherine's father's chagrin. Over the years, the two become inseparable and form the sort of friendship that would make anyone envious. Their loyalty to one another is absolute and unwavering - even when they realise that they shouldn't be friends at all. It is because of this loyalty that Frances Catherine requests that Judith make the long journey from England, to the highlands to be there for the birth of her first child. And it is here that Iain and Judith are thrown into each other's lives.

Iain Maitland was a mean son-of-a-b*tch when he was riled....that is the very first line we get about our hero, and boy, was I hooked on him from there. (Yeah, I know I'm a sucker for the alpha male) Iain is a man of authority and conviction, moreover, he knows he could get any fit solider to do his bidding with a mere nod. Not because he's a bad ass, but because he's worked his ass off and his clan members respect him and perhaps, even fear him.

He's used to shouldering on alot of responsibility, having singlehandedly raised his younger brother Patrick (who is married to Frances Catherine) at a young age, and trained to be of the fittest warriors to grace the Highlands. In fact, he's the youngest highlander to ever be appointed as the clan Laird. So it's only expected for Iain to be an arrogant son of a gun, and boy..is he. But not in an irritating, get-over-yourself way..I think I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud at his apparent arrogance, not to mention sigh a dreamy sigh. LOL.

As per usual with the Garwood heroes, Iain never fell short of being the possesive-ut-not -overly-so-protective warrior of his woman. I loved how he felt a fierce protectiveness towards Judith right from the beginning. And while he's as fierce as warriors come, Judith soon realises much of it is all bluster and underneath it all, he's still a man. A man of brilliance, a man of consideration and kindness and a man with a clear vulnerability when it came to the woman he loved.

Judith was a great heroine for Iain, and more importantly, she didn't make me want to rip my hair out or throw the book across the room, which is definitely a plus! While she's led a very sheltered life, she is still realistic about many things and I applaud the way she handled specific situations, such as the birthing of the babies. Many women during that time period would have swooned, but not Judith. Oh, she stalled and fought against the idea but when it came down to the crunch, she presented a confident front - shoulders back and chin up - even though she was terrified as hell, and did her best to handle the situation. Brava Judith!

Overall, this one was definitely a GREAT read, even as a 15th or 16th re-read, which is where I believe I'm at. Iain is without a question a swoonworthy hero (one of my all time favs) and even if he's not the hero for you, seeing the strong ties between Judith and Frances Catherine still makes it worth the read. A keeper for sure!

4.75/5

This is apart of a two book series:
The Secret
Ransom

Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood

In the feuding English court, gentle Lady Madelyne suffered the cruel whims of her ruthless brother, Baron Louddon. Then, in vengeance for a bitter crime, Baron Duncan of Wexton-the Wolf-unleashed his warriors against Louddon's main.

Exquisite Madelyne was the prize he catured...but when he gazed upon the proud beauty, he pledged to protect her with his life. In his rough-hewn castle, Duncan proved true to his honor. But when at last their noble passion conquered them both, she surrendered with all her soul. Now, for love, Madelyne would stand fast...as bravely as her Lord, the powerful Wolf who fought for...Honor's Splendour.

The first time I read this book was years ago, while I was at a friends birthday. I saw the book, picked it up and read the first line.

They meant to kill him.

These words left me both curious and somewhat uncertain as to whether I'd ever read the book. But my friend Jayne assured me that it was well worth the read and to take it home. And so I did. It wasn't until weeks later when I found it sitting on my desk, that I gave the book a fighting chance to prove itself. And it did. My goodness, it did. Each time I re-read it, I love it even more.

The novel begins with Madelyne rushing out to save Duncan Wexton from the cold, where her evil step brothers men were holding him, wanting him to freeze to death and no one be the wiser. What Louddon's loyal men didn't count on, was Madelyne coming to Duncan's rescue to recitify the injustice. Terrified to the bone but determined to assist Duncan, Madelyne makes quick work of releasing him and then bringing him to a temporary sanctuary in the chapel. From there much to her chagrin, she continues to hold up a one sided conversation, as well as scolding Duncan for believing her brother would stick to their truce and act honorably. Madelyne then realises that being left out in the cold for so long had affected him and she needed to find a way to bring feeling back to his body. And fast. So she did the first thing she can think of, to help him.

She carefully lifted her clothing, still remaining decent, and pulled Duncan's feet towards her stomach and warmed them.

It was the most unselfish act Duncan had ever witnessed. And he was completely undone by it.

And it was the one move that Duncan, the ever strategic planner, had not planned on. What had started out as an act of revenge on Duncan's part, had dramatically changed and altered the future for them both. The revenge he sought could not hold a candle to the innocence Duncan saw in Madelyne, nor the fierce desire and possessiveness he felt towards her. As the book progressed, Duncan began to see Madelyne as more than a pawn in his quest for vengence, but the only woman to please and infuriate him at the same time. He could not fault her for her brothers misdeeds. Instead, his protective nature kicked in and he was a man intent on protecting what was his. And Madelyne, was his.

Both Duncan and Madelyne come across several issues which demonstrated a life together would be near to impossible, but as the romantic formula goes..they work it out. Along the way, we get to know the Wexton clan - who at first refuse to welcome Madelyne for she is the enemies sister, but eventually Madelyne is able to win them all over and acts very much like the glue to hold the family together. In addition, we get to see both Duncan and Madelyne kick ass in the end and boot Louddon's sorry ass to the kerb to get what he deserves. Jerk ass prick.

I will always have a soft spot for this one. Not only because it was the book that reeled me into the romance reading world, but because it had everything I could ever want to read about. Duncan was oh so swoonworthy, making me sigh with contentment so many times over the way he felt towards Madelyne. I simply adored the way he felt his life was built around her and how he roared in absolute grief when he thought she was lost to him. Oh my, I do love his protective nature. And even better, he was the first to put his heart out there and tell Madelyne how he truly felt. *sigh* Thats a GREAT hero right there.

He's the type of hero that makes reading romance novels worth it, the type of Real Man that Mailyn was discussing just the other day. He's a fierce and strong warrior, a devoted and loyal brother, and a man who loves his woman unconditionally. What's more, once he has his mind set on a goal, there was no going back. To hell with the dramatic consequences. Once he realised that Madelyne meant more to him than he could ever have thought, he fought tooth and nail to make sure she stayed where she belonged. With him. And nothing was going to rip her away from him. And I loved him even more for that.

As for Madelyne, I didn't get annoyed be her at all. I thought she was courageous and came a long way from the character we met at the beginning. I liked how she was honest even though she didn't want to be; I liked how she protected Gilard, Duncan's youngest brother even though she didn't have to; I liked how she helped Adela, Duncan's sister, deal with what had happened to her in the past, and the way she brought the Wexton family closer together -- even though that could not have been easy. I loved the way she sassed Duncan and drove him nuts trying to figure out how else she'd complicate his life. But most of all, I loved her unwavering trust and faith in Duncan especially in the end when she defied convention and spoke with her heart to prove her loyalty to her Duncan, at the expense of her reputation.

This book definitely belongs on my keeper shelf. It's just, amazing. And if you haven't read it, I suggest you run not walk to grab this one from the bookstore/library..and read it. :)

5/5

Best Enemies by Jane Heller

Amy Sherman is doing just fine - nice apartment in Manhattan, good job as publicity director at a publisher, decent social life - until she runs into Tara Messer, the beautiful blonde prom queen who was once her best friend. It's been four years since Tara stole Stuart Lasher, Amy's fiance - four years since Amy swore she'd stop playing second fiddle to spotlight-hog Tara. But when Tara, who is now blissfully married to Stuart, asks whether she's dating anyone, Amy can't bear to admit there's no man in her life. Instead, she claims she's getting married in six months, figuring the lie will never come back to haunt her. The next day, Amy learns that her publishing house has just acquired Tara's lifestyle book. Now, she not only has to promote her nemesis to the media, she also has to dig up a temporary Mr. Right to show off in front of Tara and Stuart. In desperation, she turns to bestselling mystery writer Tony Stiles, who has no idea what he's in for. And in the course of playing a game of payback, Amy finds herself vulnerable to yet another betrayal. As hilarious as it is romantic, Best Enemies is a cautionary tale about trying to keep up appearances, even with the person who knows you best.

What started off as yet another great plot for a book by Jane Heller, turned out to be some what of a disappointment for me. The book is broken up into three main sections, the first is from Amy Sherman's POV, the second from Tara Messer's and then finally, back to Amy's POV.

In the first section, we learn a great deal about Amy's character. We see that she's a talented publicity director who just happens to work for an impossible to please credit stealing boss at Lowry and Trammell; we learn that even though she's spent the last 4 years in therapy trying to deal with the betrayal from her best friend and ex-fiance, that she still has some deep issues to deal with; and we see that even though she has come a long way from playing second fiddle to her ex-best friend Tara, she still has those same insecurities and need to prove her self worth.

I felt for Amy's character, really, I did. When I read about how her best friend and fiance betrayed her, I wanted to hurt them as much as they had hurt Amy. They not only hurt, humiliated and betrayed her 2 weeks before her wedding day, but they didn't even have the guts to tell her. She had to find out by walking in on them doing the dirty, with her best friend sceamin' her lungs out.

So when Amy accidentally bumps into Tara 4 years later, not exactly looking her best (but of course, Tara is looking faaaaaaabulous) I didn't really fault Amy for spilling a little white lie here and there about how exactly she was going and who she was dating. I mean, how many of us wouldn't do the same thing, just to stick it to the girl who's mission was to steal the spotlight every chance she got and who just happened to steal your man in the process? Right? Right. But what Amy doesn't expect, is to see Tara again, ever. Unfortunately, no such luck for her. The very next day, Amy finds out that not only will she be seeing Tara on a regular basis, she'll have to promote the heck out of Tara's new book called Simply Beautiful (gag) and have to make her little white lie come true.

From here, Amy goes on a hunt to find the perfect candidate to fill the shoes of her future husband. But the last man she ever thought would fit the profile was Tony Stiles, another author L&T promotes and publishes. Tony and Amy have been aquaintances for some time, yet always seemed to rub each other in the wrong way..that is until Amy realises exactly how big of a fan both her ex best friend and ex fiance are of his work. She then works her magic to try to charm the socks off Tony and agree to her little ploy. The mysterious Tony was an okay hero, in my opinion. He had some sweet and awwww moments, but nothing to warrant a spot on my swoon-worthy heroes shelf. I did find his urge to help Amy out in her little predicament and protect her very noteworthy. I just didn't feel drawn to his character as I often find myself in other books.

As for the second section from Tara's POV..well, all I can say is that I nearly threw the book across the room six times. After having a horrible impression of Tara in the first part, I thought it was going to take a miracle by Jane Heller to convince me that Tara was a not so bad character. I didn't get that miracle. What I did get was an insight into Tara's character that I didn't like or empathise with at all. The section starts off with Tara admitting the wrong she committed but then she goes into an explanation of WHY she is the way she is and why things happened the way they did. I imagine that was meant to put cast her character into a better light, but all she did for me was make me want to gag.

For example, part of the reason she betrayed her best friend? Stuart convinced her (not so convincingly, by the way) that Amy had asked her to be the maid of honor out of obligation, not choice. And then he went on to say that "apparently" Amy didn't think very highly of her, (insert shallow, prissy, aloof, etc) and he disagreed. Well of course he's going to tell you that you twit, he wants to get into your pants! What surprised me was that (no matter how vulnerable Tara was saying she was at the time) she fell for the dumb ploy. She betrayed her lifelong best friend because of a few words she didnt even have the decency to confirm with Amy! She didn't even WANT Stuart, she just wanted to hurt Amy, the way she was hurting. Ugh. While I sympathise a little with the situation we find Tara in, in the present, a failing marriage which she pretends is Simply Beautiful, a part of me thinks, perhaps it served her right for her past misdeeds. But then again, who am I to judge?

The final section pretty much ties things up, sorting through the issues between Amy and Tara as well as giving Amy her HEA with Tony.

I can't say I'll ever re-read this one, nor will it ever earn a place on my keeper shelf. If you're looking for something to read to pass time, I'd maybe give it a go. But otherwise, I'd recommend you pass. I don't think I'll be picking up another book by Jane Heller any time soon.

3/5

Name Dropping by Jane Heller

Two women with the same name living in the same Manhattan apartment building? It could happen -- and does -- in Jane Heller's seventh novel, a breezy summer read as clever as it is comic!

Preschool teacher Nancy Stern is in a personal and professional rut. But what really puts a dent in her self-esteem is the realization that another woman named Nancy Stern has just moved into her building ... a Nancy Stern who lives in the penthouse ... a Nancy Stern who interviews celebrities for glossy magazines ... a Nancy Stern who's chummy with Harrison Ford. Nancy's loss of her own specialness deepens as she keeps getting the other, more glamorous Nancy's mail, phone calls and party invitations by mistake. It's all too much to bear -- until a man calls one night, intending to ask the other Nancy out on a blind date. In a moment of madness, Nursery School Nancy accepts, and what follows is a raucous tale of mix-ups, murder and mistaken identity. Leave it to the wickedly witty Jane Heller to come up with a story of a woman whose humdrum life turns out to be anything but.

I thought the concept of mistaken identity in this book would have been a great plot to pursue, one that would have provided readers with many laugh out loud moments, amused smiles and just a plain good ol' time. Apparently not. Granted, the book did have its moments, but nothing to the standard I thought it could have had.

I wasn't captured by the heroine, Nancy, nor her side kick friend Janice, who encouraged Nancy to take the leap of faith and go on the blind date with Bill Harris, full knowing that the invitation was meant for the other Nancy.

The hero, Bill Harris was handsome, charming and much like the man many women would like to find their HEA with. Although, at the beginning I found his character a little too strong for my liking, perhaps a little too keen. Which, I think is rather strange of me, since I live for heroes to woo their heroines. In this instance, when Bill was dating Nancy, (as the Other Nancy) in the beginning, I wasn't swept away by his keen attraction for her. I thought it was cute that he was slightly insecure in his pursuit of her and very honest, but I felt no *spark* for the hero.

But, I do have to say that towards the middle, the book did pick up for me. I enjoyed seeing the plot unravel, the mystery of the murder, Bill's protective nature towards Nancy, the pursuit of the bad guys and finally finding out why something about Bill Harris didn't quite add up. And I have to say, that I'm probably superficial because once I found out that my hunch about Bill was correct, my interest in him did increase a notch.

Overall, I thought this one was okay. Not bad, but not over the moon great. Some places I thought the book fell flat but other areas were able to pick it up a little, but not enough to warrant a spot on my keeper shelf.

2.75/5

Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie

Fast Women.
They don't break for anybody.

Nell's been discarded. Suze's been repressed. Margie's been put on hold. But now they're hitting the ground running, kicking up dust, and moving at the speed of rage.

The Story:
Nell Dysart is living a too small life in a too small apartment with no visible evidence of a reason to get up in the morning. Weighed down by an inexplicable divorce and a loss of appetite for everything, Nell is frozen in place, and she's not alone: Her two closest friends and sisters-in-law are as stuck as she is. Suze is married to a controlling lawyer who keeps her housebound while she perfects an almost zen-like denial, and Margie has been stuck in foggy limbo since her husband disappeared seven years before with a lot of money that didn't belong to him. Good thing Nell's new job is with a down-and-out detective agency that has huge potential and a boss who looks easy to manage.

Gabe McKenna isn't doing too well, either. His detective agency is wasting time on a blackmail case, his partner Riley has decided he hates watching cheating spouses for money, and his ex-wife has just dumped him . . . again. Good thing his new secretary looks efficient, boring, and biddable.

But soon Nell and Gabe are squaring off over embezzlement, business cards, bribery, interior decoration, vandalism, dachshund-napping, blackmail, and unprofessional sex, all of which turn out to be the least of their problems. Because shortly after that, somebody starts killing people. And shortly after that, they start falling in love...

I wasn't all too anxious to read this one by JC, but surprisingly it turned to be a good read. A very good read. Once I got past the first few chapters and familiarised myself with the range of characters, I became very antsy and wanted to get to the end of the book already.

Both Nell and Gabe are control freaks, or should I say "Kissers"..so you can only imagine what the consquences are for putting these two together. But some how, they made it work. Well, eventually, they made it work.

I liked Nell very much, at least compared to my last JC hero (Maddie Faraday) and I enjoyed reading about her own journey of self. Gabe McKenna on the other hand, wow. I LOVED him. I absolutely ate up the fact that he was so darn..whats the word I'm looking for. Hmm..Decent. And kind..and just, so much more. His protective nature won me over in a heart beat.

And Riley McKenna (Gabe's partner) was such a treat too. He sounds like such a charmer, I think it'd be so freakin' dangerous to come across him in a bar..*sigh* I should be so lucky.

The secondary romance between Nell's son, Jase Dysart and Gabe's daughter, Lu is something I was rooting for too. Gosh, Jase sounds like a lady's man. He stole a little piece of my heart too.

Overall, JC climbed back up a few notches for me, after her crash and burn in Tell Me Lies. The only complaint I have for this one, is the ending..I felt like it fell a little flat and short. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting, but maybe just a little more oomph or perhaps an epilogue..or something! But otherwise, Fast Women was a treat. :)

3.5/5

Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie

Maddie was coping pretty well with the adultery, the embezzlement, and the blackmail.Then her old boyfriend came back to town

The Story:
Maddie Faraday's life would be perfect if it weren't for her nosy neighbors, her interfering mother, her unhappy best friend, her worried little girl, her cheating husband, and that guy she lost her virginity to twenty years ago who just showed up on her front porch. But things keep taking a turn for the worse (and worse than that) and pretty soon she's up to her eyes in gossip, blackmail, murder, and brownies, not to mention some flashbacks to a past that's just as steamy in the present.

After being slightly disappointed by Faking It, I decided the best course of action for this next JC book was to have no expectations at all. To just read it without thinking, OH gosh, this is the same author who wrote Bet Me and Welcome To Temptation..and oh gosh, those were FABulous! I wanted to give this a fair go. I tried, I really did. But in my eyes, Tell Me Lies came up short. Very short. I can't exactly pinpoint it to one thing in particular, I can only say that by the end of the 384 pages, I wasn't a completely satisfied reader.

I didn't feel like I could relate or warm up to Maddie Faraday much..and I hated that she tried to cover up the fact that her lying-cheating-good-for-nothing-husband hit her. That made me mad. The secondary characters were just meh and I think the only saving grace for me was CL Sturgis. I loved that he was so frank and forward with his wants and intentions with Maddie and never tried to convince himself otherwise because he was scared. (at the beginning he did try, but I understand that because Maddie was married to someone else) He fought for what was his and kept on fighting until he finally got his HEA. And considering he had been waiting for a very long time, he scored some major points there.

All in all, as much as it pains me to say it..I'm disappointed in Tell Me Lies.

2.5/5

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry.

Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other.

Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry's death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He's left her a bundle of notes, gently guiding Holly into her new life without him, each note signed "P.S. I Love You."

As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows her better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing - and being braver than ever before.

Life is for living, she realises - but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you.

My friend Jamie recommended this book to me, after a friend of hers pushed her into reading this. Actually, it was more like: Jamie read one particular section of the book and I demanded to read to know the title of the book so I could get my hands on it. I was gripped by the story even before I knew what hit me.

Here was what Jamie read to me:

PS. I love you. Holly, I know you love me. You don't nee my belongings to remember me by, you don't need to keep them as proof that I existed or still exist in your mind. You don't need to wear my sweater to feel me around you; I'm already here...always wrapping my arms around you.

This story was more about the journey Holly had to trudge through in the months after the recent death of her husband, her love, her best friend. We see how she grieves for the man she had lost, how she tries to put on a brave face for the world to see and we see her at her worst. And then, with the help of Gerry's encouraging letters we have some uplifting moments when Holly tries to embrace her life and continue on without her mate. Even after death, Gerry knew exactly what to say and do to help Holly move on with her life.

My heart hurt for Holly when she was consumed with loneliness while everyone around her seemed to have "moved on" with the rest of the lives. My throat tightened when John (Gerry & Holly's best friend) confronted Holly about locking herself away from the world and expecting it to stop because Gerry was no longer with them. And then my vision blurred when John spoke about his feelings of missing his best friend so openly.

It's not a typical romantic tale with a sure thing happily ever after that many other novels guarantee, but rather this gives us perhaps a more realistic tale containing some poignant moments, some outrageously funny, moments we all wish we never had to experience and also a reminder that a small act of kindness can be remembered and can change someone else's life. PS I Love You may not have the HEA formula attached in the end, but I do think it provides its readers with a sense of contentment. A sense of accomplishment. It wasn't exactly what I had anticipated for it's ending, but like life and something that was preached in this book..not everything turns out exactly the way you plan. So you have to take it as it comes, adjust and finally accept.

I'm so glad Jamie mentioned this book to me, because I really enjoyed it. It was something different, something a touch more realistic and that much more bittersweet. I'm really impressed by Cecilia (I looked her up, and she was only 21 when she published this book!) and I'm definitely looking forward to reading her other books. I've already put myself on her waiting list.

FYI..PS I Love You movie rights have been bought by Warner Brothers so we should probably see this one out on the big screen some time in the future. I can't wait!

4.5/5

Faking It by Jennifer Crusie

She has a history of forgery she's trying to forget. He has a knack for scamming he's trying to resist. But one fateful night, their good intentions go bad, And what they get up to is downright immoral, illegal, and irresistible.

The Story:
Meet the Goodnights, a respectable family who have run a respectable art gallery for generations. There’s Gwen, the matriarch, who sedates herself with Double-Crostics and double vodkas; Eve, the oldest daughter, who has a slight identity problem (she has two); and Nadine, the granddaughter, who’s ready to follow in the family footsteps as soon as she can find a set that isn’t leading off a cliff. Holding everyone together is Matilda, the youngest daughter, who’s inherited the secret locked down in the basement of the Goodnight Gallery, a secret that she’s willing to do almost anything to keep, including breaking into a house in the dead of night to steal back her past.

Meet the Dempseys, or at least meet Davy, a reformed con man who’s just been ripped off for a cool three million by his financial manager, who then gallantly turned it over to Clea Lewis, the most beautiful sociopath Davy ever slept with. Davy wants the money back, but more than that, he’ll do anything to keep Clea from winning, including breaking into her house in the dead of night to steal back his future.

One collision in a closet later, Tilda and Davy reluctantly join forces to combat Clea, suspicious art collectors, a disgruntled heir, and an exasperated hit man, all the while coping with a mutant dachshund, a jukebox stuck in the sixties, questionable sex, a painting of three evil fishermen closing in on a dyspeptic tuna, multiple personalities, miscellaneous Goodnights and Dempseys, and the growing realization that they can’t turn their backs on the people they were meant to be... or the people they were born to love.

After being thoroughly impressed by Welcome to Temptation, I was very excited to read the follow up book on Davy Dempsey. I couldn't wait to see Davy in the spotlight and to see the woman who would match our reformed con man.

Davy was a FAB hero. I knew he would be from his secondary role in WTT, but reading Faking It merely confirmed it. He made me laugh and he made me blush, and I loved how he continually came to Tilda's rescue. First with the paintings and then when he tried to take care of her the way she looked after her family. I loved it.

Tilda was an alright heroine, nothing absolutely fabulous about her for me. Although I did like the fact that she wasn't perfect in every way. I also appreciated her little quirks and habits which made her all the more real and likable. I really liked the the secondary characters - Eve/Louise (Matilda's sister), Nadine and Gwen as they all helped to create a richer tale to be told. It was nice to get to know them. And very nice to see Davy become protective Tilda's family too.

Between Welcome to Temptation and Faking It, WTT is definitely my favourite. I think after reading WTT, my expectations of Faking It was a touch high and when it fell short (only by a very little!) I was disappointed. But nevertheless, Faking It is still a great read. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.

3.5/5

Welcome to Tempation by Jennifer Crusie

Welcome to Temptation.Population 2,158. And falling...

Sophie came to Temptation, Ohio, to help her sister make a movie.Now she's making trouble for the town council, love with the mayor, and lemonade for a murderer.

The Story:
All Sophie Dempsey wants to do is help her sister make a video of a washed-up actress and get out of town before they get into trouble. The daughter of generations of con men, Sophie's trying to walk the straight and narrow, but it's, well, difficult.

All Mayor Phineas Tucker wants to do is run Temptation with as little fuss as possible and win his upcoming election without cutting into the time he needs for his real passion: playing pool. The son of generations of mayors, Phin's trying to be an upstanding citizen, but it's, well, boring.

It only takes one look before Sophie knows that Phin's the kind of boy her mother used to warn her about-- a fast-talking town boy-- and Phin knows she's the kind of woman his father told him to stay away from-- the devil's candy.And in no time at all, boredom is the least of their difficulties. Gossip, adultery, and blackmail; pornography, politics, and murder; vehicular abuse of a corpse and slightly perverse but really excellent sex: all hell is breaking loose in Temptation, Ohio, while Sophie and Phin fall deeper and deeper in trouble… and in love.

It's taken me almost six months to finally feel "in the mood" to read this book, but luckily two days ago I decided to dig it out of the box Dylan graciously sent to me (bless her generous heart) and pop it into my bag to take to work. I started reading it on my lunch break and I could not put it down. I was in my office reading and grinning and laughing and trying not to laugh so much or hard, (which obviously didn't work because within minutes my co-workers were in my room asking if the work load had finally driven me mad) and to no avail. Suffice to say I was in a huge rush to get home to continue reading.

And there the grinning and laughing continued. It's been a very long time since I've literally laughed out loud because of a book, but Welcome to Temptation definitely had me laughing hysterically, cheeks and tummy hurting and all. For those that have read it, the part I'm specifically talking about is where Phin and Wes are talking about all the "injuries" and possible causes of death for one particular person. Oh gosh, I laughed soooooooooo hard!

Phin Tucker was an amazing hero. Shockingly gorgeous, down to earth, cocky and quick with his comebacks. I absolutely loved the banter between him and Sophie. And gosh, did the boy know how to make me blush.

I really liked Sophie and felt myself rooting for her the whole time. Her sister Amy though, got on my nerves a little. As did a fair number of the people in town, including Phin's mother, Liz. Although, I did change my mind about her in the end when she finally stood up for Sophie. Hoo-ray!

All in all, WTT was a great read and just the thing to pry me out of my reading slump. And more importantly, it has me very, very eager to read all about Sophie's ex-con brother, Davy Dempsey in Faking It. I can't wait! *grin*

4.5/5