The Bridegroom

by Linda Lael Miller

Rated 4 stars.

A Stone Creek Novel. Gideon is the youngest Yarbro, the son of a career outlaw Payton Yarbro. Having been mostly raised by Payton and his new woman Ruby a Madam and Saloon owner (since Gideon's mother died when he was a baby). Gideon went to live with his brother Rowdy (a reformed outlaw turned sheriff) when he was about 16. During that stay he helped save little 8 year old Lydia Fairmont, who's father died in a snow storm. A long lost aunt comes to claim her but Lydia is afraid. Gideon writes his name on an envelope for her and a writes a note for her that says. " Come to get me" (or something very similar). He tells her that if she if ever afraid, or needs help all she has to do it put that letter in the mail and he will come to get her, "no questions asked".

Well some 10 years later, he gets the letter. Lydia's Aunt Nell has passed away and the family is in financial ruin. In order to ensure the existence of her two matron aunts and Helga the housekeeper she agrees to marry a bulbous obnoxious banker who can financially ensure her family. She dreads this, and in a moment of weakness, mails the letter to Gideon who was her childhood crush, and savior.

In comes Gideon and "kidnaps" her on her wedding day, along with spiriting away Helga and the Aunts. Lydia's fiance doesn't take this sitting down, and comes after the couple who have gone to Stone Creek where Rowdy and his family and Wyatt (the other brother who is also a reformed outlaw) and his family live. In order to avoid charges of kidnapping it is decided that Gideon and Lydia should marry quickly. They do. Also, Gideon is in Stone Creek on "Assignment". He is an undercover agent, working for the Copper Mine Owners. There is talk of a strike, and bringing in chinese workers to replace the current workers. Gideon is sent to report back to the owners.

Of course this brings some danger of it's own, as well as the fact that Lydia's gilted fiance who wants to see Gideon dead, so that he can reclaim his bride....

All the while Lydia and Gideon are finding passion and love in each other. (Gideon reluctantly! Of course!)

It was great at fulfilling my addiction for a western and those Yarbro men are great. Lark, Rowdy's wife is fun and I love when she teaches Lydia how to seduce the Gideon.) Good solid read and I expect to meet the absent Yarbro twins soon.....Yay!!

Besides, the cover art looks like Brad Pitt from Legends of the Fall. Woo Hoo!!!

Vampires are Forever

by Lynsay Sands

I rated this book a 4 stars.

Back Cover:

VAMPIRES DON'T EXIST... DO THEY?

Inez Urso is beginning to have her doubts. Her business associate Thomas Argeneau has some interesting traits, like an allergic reaction to the sun, excellent night vision, and not much of an appetite for food. And to top it all off, he just tried to bite her neck... but maybe that was a sign of passion. If so, she'd be happy to experience more, despite her determination not to mix business with pleasure.

HE'S BEEN WAITING FOREVER FOR A WOMAN LIKE HER...Well, if not forever, at least two hundred years. Inez is the most beautiful woman he’s seen in centuries. Those luscious lips, seductive curves, and her elegant neck... he just couldn't resist the temptation of one little bite. Now Thomas will do anything to convince her that only an immortal like him can satisfy her all night long...


My Thoughts:

I love this series. This was not my favorite of the series, but it was still good. I loved Thomas when I met him in A Quick Bite! I loved that he wore Spiderman Jammies for the sleep over in that book. He did it as a gag, but that was so awesome to envision a vampire Hottie in Spidey PJ's. As it turns out he meets his match in Inez Urso who happens to be a vice president of Argeneau Enterpises London office and a mortal. She is driven and ambitious and strong. Thomas is known as a kinda flakey slacker younger cousin. They are on a mission to find his Aunt Marguerite who has gone missing while on assignment in Europe.

It was good.

What a Guy

Sometimes you just have one of those days. It seems like I've been having "One of Those Days" for 2 weeks. I think my hormones are out of whack!! I'm starting to lose my hair, I've had a headache for almost 2 weeks straight. And how many cycles is a person supposed to have in a single month? I mean really?!

So the other night I was trying to go to sleep and felt like I was on the verge of crying. I never Cry! I don't like it. I feel like I pretty much need to cry. just let it out. But I can't!!

I was telling my husband and he didn't quite know what to do. I didn't know what to tell him, just that I felt kinda sad and needed to cry it out.

So, the next day when he came home, he brought me movies. Chick movies that he though would be sad. He also made chicken fajitas and made margaritas. He even bought a bag of the little ice pellets that I like. I mean what a guy!!

He brought me Nights in Rodanthe, and Twilight! I mean what a great guy to bring me the chickest of chick flicks. Does he want to watch them....nuh uh! Would he if I asked him too? Oh yea!! I haven't had a chance to watch them yet, but the fajitas and Ritas were good.

Did I mention that he also brought home High School Musical 3 for the kids? Oh Yea!! What a Guy!!

Tempting

by Susan Mallery

rated 4 Stars

Back Cover:

After three romantic flame-outs in a year and a restaurant career going nowhere, Dani Buchanan needs a fresh start. She goes looking for her biological father, but never expects to find a senator running for president. As his long-lost 'love child,' Dani could seriously derail the election— something his handsome campaign manager Alex Canfield isn't going to let happen. Dani isn't about to let Alex run her life, no matter how tempting she finds him—and Alex isn't going to allow Dani to melt his cynicism, no matter how close he has to get. The last thing either of them wants is love, especially with scandals brewing and family trouble on the way. But Dani and Alex are forced to trust each other, and when trust turns to passion, the potential for disaster is only a tabloid scandal away.

My Thoughts:

I wasn't sure how I'd like Dani's story. She lost points with me over Gary in the last book. I need my lead characters to be sympathetic characters. We met Dani a few weeks after the end of Sizzling. Her grandmonster Gloria has bequethed to her the name of her biological father. He happens to be Mark Canfield the Junior Senator from the state of Washington. He happens to have dreams of the White House. Dani tries to meet him and meets his Campaign Aid, Alex, who happens to be his adopted son. Alex will stop at nothing to protect his family and that means also protecting his father's bid for the White House.

Unfortunately for Dani and Alex sparks fly. It's unfortunate for them, because it really complicates things. Not only is he the son of a high profile politician but he has entered into an affair with that same politician's daughter. Luckily for us, they are not really related by biology, since the chemistry is soooo slamming. (Get it...biology/chemistry?)

Alex is not the only adopted child of Mark and Katherine Canfield. He is the first of 8 all of whom have some circumstances that many would think would make them unadoptable. Dani falls in love with the children even before she falls for Alex. Katherine is the ultimate politician's wife and suffers her shame (not able to bear children/husband's secret love child) in silence and always says all the right things in the right way, while wearing the right pearls. She's redeemed by the fact that she is hopelessly in love with her husband. He finally redeems himself in my eyes by making her understand that he really does love her completely.

Alex and Dani do the near miss until they finally connect. The chemistry is great and the journey is good. I like Ms. Mallery's use secondary characters. I didn't bond well with Mark or Katherine. He was cool and distant and she was insecure and a martyr. Ick! Well, he warmed up a little and she grew a pair. I'm very proud of her. I'm also proud of Dani and Alex for opening themselves up to Love!!!

Then Came You

by Lisa Kleypas

Part of the Gamblers Series

Rated 4.5 stars

Back Cover:

She thought her heart was safe, but…...

Reckless, wild, and beautiful, Lily Lawson delights in shocking proper London society -- and now she is determined to rescue her sister from an unwanted impending marriage to the notorious Alex, Lord Raiford, by fair means or foul. But while she succeeds outrageously, Alex is a master gamesman who is not to be undone.

Alex has lost one bride, yet he is enchanted by this remarkable lady who is willing to break any rule to flaunt her independence. When Lily offers him only scorn, he counters with kindness, and he parries her blistering barbs with gentle words and a soft, tender touch. The spirited miss will pay dearly for her interference -- with her body, her soul, and her stubborn, unyielding heart. But will Alex's own heart be the prize to be won in this sensuous game of love?

My Thoughts:

Lily is notorious for her crazy behavior, however her antics hide a secret she keeps from all but the one friend she can absolutely trust. She uses her "persona" to keep people at a distance, especially men. She has vowed never to marry, to never be the property of a man, to let someone have that much control over her.

Alex is considered to be powerful and somewhat distant. He is the morose and reserved Lord of the manner. He was once engaged to a lovely and spirited woman who died in a tragic hunting accident. This is a loss from which Alex has never really recovered. He has since chosen a docile, obedient, sweet woman to become his bride. She is the polar opposite of his deceased fiance, and therefore a "perfect" fit for him, since she will not remind him of his lost love. His new fiance happens to be Lily's sister, Penelope.

Lily feels she must rescue her sister from a tyrant, and in doing so puts herself into his path. Alex is intrigued by Lily, as well as angered by her. He has a lot to overcome before he is ready to give his heart away, and so does Lily. She was gilted at the alter some 10 years ago and fled to the continent to be a companion for her Aunt. During this time she is avidly courted and seduced by an Italian who turns out to be a big fat doo doo face! She becomes pregnant from their one time together and after two years with her daughter, the daughter Nicole, is taken. Guiseppe (aka doo doo face) blackmails Lily, with the bait that he will give her information about her daughter, and perhaps give her back to Lily.

This is their journey. They must find the road to healing in their own hearts, and to trust someone else. They must also heal in order to open themselves up to Love.

Bite Me if You Can

by Lynsay Sands

I rated this a 4 stars.

Back Cover:

Once Bitten . . . One minute Leigh is walking home in the early hours of the morning, and the next a vampire is sinking his teeth into her neck. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination, but it does Leigh little good because the damage's already been done. She's become one of them.

Lucian Argeneau, hunter of rogue vampires, has been alive for over two thousand years, and there's very little to excite him anymore. Food has become tasteless, sex is ordinary. Then Leigh drops into his life. Suddenly he finds himself craving coffee . . . and imagining the sassy brunette atop the black satin sheets on his nice big bed.

It's Lucian's job now to enlighten Leigh on the inner workings of being immortal . . . and tutoring her is igniting a fire in him that hasn't burned in centuries. But until they stop a renegade bloodsucker from destroying the human race, passion will have to wait!

My Thoughts:

I really love this series. I read one out of order recently and didn't like that much, but the book itself was good. Lucian is someone we meet in A Quick Bite the first in the series. He is the the uncle to the Argeneau's that we've met so far and an warrior to boot. He's lived 2000 years and lost his lifemate and children in the fall of Atlantis. He is now a rogue hunter and comes across Leigh just after a rogue turns her. He begrudgingly takes her under his wing to see her through the change and teach her what it means to be an immortal. He doesn't do a very good job sometimes, since he has kept himslef apart from others for so long.

Leigh is smart and independant and the perfect match for Lucian. Because of her, Lucian comes to terms with those in his family he has previously alienated. He is misunderstood. All he ever really wanted was to protect his family and his people.

I loved that Lucian's rogue hunting protege's were being so careful with Leigh and treating her with just gentle kidd gloves. I loved that Rachel (who doesn't even really like Lucian) could read him so easily. I even love Julius. He may be huge as a monster and have a drool problem but, he's got a heart of gold. (it just so happens that he's a Neopolitan Mastiff)

I'll be looking forward to reading Thomas' Story very soon.

So Into You

By Sandra Hill
#11 Title with an S word for Summer
Rated 4 Stars

Authors Synopsis:

Angel Sabato was an ex-poker champ, bayou treasure hunter, and Playgirl centerfold.

Grace O'Brien is an ex-poker playing nun, folk healer with a secret.

When Grace rejects Angel's love, he hightails it out of Louisiana, but neither of them take into account the wacky Cajun matchmaker Tante Lulu who has them in her crosshairs. They don't stand a chance, nor do the precious orphans being rescued by the new Jude's Angels Foundation.
My Thoughts:

I've been a fan of The Cajun Books and the Jinx Books by Ms Hill for some time. We met Angel and Grace in Pink Jinx. We are reintroduced to them in wild Jinx. I came to like them very much. I enjoyed that they were fun. For example Angel was always cracking Nun jokes with a dirty twist to Grace.

I liked So Into You, but found that the interactions were less....witty than I'd come to expect. We don't see the banter between Grace and Angel that I'd have liked. Yes, Tanta Lulu is there and she brings all the hilarity that you'd expect from her. We also catch up with the LeDeux men including Dan and Aaron. I have a feeling we'll get to know Dan more very soon.

Anyway, Grace is keeping a big secret and just knows that telling Angel (who has been her best friend for years) the truth will ruin their friendship. Really!!! Her big bad secret is that she got pregnant at the age of 16 and gave the baby up for adoption. Ooooooo! I know! Listen, in this day and age, that's the least problematic secret. I mean, if she's fessed up to being born male or something....Now that would have been a real problem. Geez!

I liked it better than Pink Jinx, but it is not my favorite. I'm hoping for a return to the books I know and love with her next book.

Readers of Romance Fall 09 Reading Challenge

THE CHALLENGE:

1. Read a Beta Hero http://www.likesbooks.com/spechero.html

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn~~Done~~5 Stars

2. Read a debut author OR an author that has LESS than 4 books published

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James~~Done~~4.5 Stars

3. Read a book that was read in the Summer Challenge

Reckless Love by Elizabeth Lowell~~~Done~~~5 stars

4. Read a book with an “F” word for Fall

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn~~Done ~~4.5 Stars

5. Read a book you’ve borrowed from a friend or the library

Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy~~Done ~~3 Stars

6. Read a book by Lori Foster

The Secret Life of Bryan~~Done~~4 Stars

7. Read a book that less than 300 pages

A Game of Chance by Linda Howard

8. Read an author that has a pseudonym (Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor)

A Highlander in Her Dreams by Allie MacKay (aka Sue Ellen Welfonder)

9. Read a book to catch up on a series you are reading

The Accidental Vampire by Lynsay Sands~~Done ~~4 Stars

10. Reader’s Choice

The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley~~Done~~4.5 Stars

11. Read a book set in Ireland

The Princess by Claire Delacroix~~~DNF~~~

12. Read a Romantic Suspense

To Die For by Linda Howard

13. read a book by an author you've "given up" on (call it one more try)

Diamond in the Rough by Diana Palmer~~~Done ~~3 stars

14. Read a book with "Dream" in the title

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas~~Done~~5 Stars

15. Read a book from the backlist of an author you enjoy!

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn~~Done ~~4.5 Stars

Test Post.

This is test post!!! Do Ya like the Signature??

Pardon My Mess

Under Construction. Bear with me!! I'm trying new things.

Memory Lane

Hey Ya'll. Today was a different kinda day. I had to drive some 30 miles to Denton to pay a traffic ticket that I got. I know, 60 in a 45 is NOT a good idea. I do not recommend it. (Neither does my bank account). Anyway, the County Clerks office was in a Government building in an older part of town. So, I google map my way there, got a little turned around looking for parking but found the place and took care of business.

Upon leaving I cranked up the Keith Urban in the CD player and proceed to drive home. (Well, really to Walmart, cuz I have to get the oil changed and pick up some more school supplies. But that is really neither here nor there) I recognized a road that ought to be a short cut to get to the state highway that lead back home. Well, it sorta did, but anyway. Along this new route that I'm taking home, I see a Mrs Bairds Bakery Outlet. Ahhh! It got me thinking of times gone by.

You see in Downtown Ft. Worth close to where I grew up, there was a Mrs. Bairs Bakery. The big factory kind. You would drive down the highway in front of the factory and it didn't matter the time of day or night. It didn't matter if you had all the windows rolled up and the air cranked to recycle interior air. You could always smell the scent of fresh baked bread. You could usually smell it before you could see it. Mmmmm. I used to love that. They've since torn it down, and that made me sad, but seeing that little store brought back some really cool memories. (and it kinda made me want some white bread.)

Then as I continued on my journey, and thinking about that great bread, I passed in an even older part of town, a Piggly Wiggly grocery store. Now, I don't know, if they had Piggly Wiggly's where you all come from but they were here. Safeway, bought them out in the late 70's. But a few retained their name. That got me to thinking too. I remember going grocery shopping with mom, and they'd give you these stamps. You'd save up all these little stamps in the book, and when you filled it up, you would turn the book in and get dishes usually. Also sometimes you could redeem them for small appliances. My mom still has some plates and bowls that she got that way in the 70's. It was so fun and exciting. The bowl probably cost 50 cents to make and would have cost maybe $5.00 or something, but boy you felt like you really accomplished something. Licken and Sticken those stamps and keeping track of that book. Then taking it into the manager.....Yea!

You know, we just don't have that kind of stuff nowadays. No, fresh bread drivebys and stamp earned dishes. My kids, are really missing out. I should see if the local Albertsons has anything like that.

Black Dagger Brotherhood

This is sooo cool. Someone on Shelfari recommended looking here for interviews. There were several videos. She's asked about all sorts of stuff. Beware there may be spoilers. Me, I like spoilers. But if you don't.....

Twin Victories

by Cathy Marie Hake

#15 Twins

rated 3.5

Back Cover:

Amy Wilkins isn't interested in making her four sons the subjects of a research project. But when an identity mix-up at school deeply upsets her sons, Amy knows her family must participate in Dr. Todd Avery's research project. She sacrifices her jealously-guarded privacy and all her waking hours as a child psychologist invades her family's home and lives for three months.

For Todd, finding a family with two sets of identical twins to study is like striking it rich. Best of all is their mother, whose commitment to her sons and Christian faith touches him at the very core of his soul.

Could it be God has rewarded a mother's personal sacrifice by providing a man to love her and her sons?

My Thoughts:

This is the story of widow Amy Wilkins and her two sets of identical twin boys. Amy was married to Joseph an abusive alcoholic truck driving husband. After the birth of her first set of twins and upon realizing that she was pregnant again, (Joseph viewing the twins as a sign of his virility, but not ones to love and nurture) she leaves him and moves into a women's shelter. They help her through the birth of the second set of twins and help her to get started when her husband is killed in a trucking accident. So we meet her now when the boys are in elementary school and is aproached by Dr. Todd Avery who is doing research with the university on twins and recognition. His hope is to help understand why parents can accurately identify identical twins in order to help others identify them as well. She is wary of the good doctor being a man and big. After a situation at school, Amy finally agrees to participate in the study and Dr. Todd begins monitoring the family and tracking data from the time they wake til the time the boys go to bed. As they spend the summer together Todd rededicates his life to God, as he is so moved by Amy and her faith. Amy is faced with many opportunities to talk to the psychologist about her past abuse, but refuses. She has trust issues, and rightly so. Fast forward! The boys ambush her on the stairs one day with water guns and she slips and falls and breaks her ankle and gives herself a concussion falling down the stairs. Dr. Todd comes to the rescue and while waiting for her in the ER he comes to understand her history since the social worker and nurses begin questioning him about Amy's injuries. DingDing!

As he begins to seriously persue her, and when he finally does pop the question. She says no, because she is afraid and had issues with intimacy in her marriage. So....he prays with her (once!!) and it's all better. They get married and live Happily Ever After.

I really wanted to like this book. I had some problems with it on several levels. I will say that for an inspirational romance there was a lot of flirting. I'm glad. Usually there is little or no acknowledgement of physical attraction and no passion. Being a christian I understand the conviction to show purity in relationships. However, showing a little flirting a little chemistry a kiss here and there isn't impure. (At least not in my opinion).

This is one of those Harlequinn type books and I find that usually I'm not as in love with those stories as longer books. It feels so rushed. I will say that Mrs. Hake did show the passage of time and didn't have her couple fall in love in a day and a half. It was pretty quick, over the summer and married in September. That's really quick for real life, but I'm more than willing to suspend reality. Since it was shorter, I felt like certain things that should have taken longer to overcome were quick. I mean he prays with her once and her fear is gone! Really! Then she has a moment of pause on her wedding night, and it's all better. I'd have felt better if they'd acknowledged that her road to recovery could be long, but that they'd get walk hand in hand through everything with the help of God. (or something)

I typically love Mrs. Hake's books. She usually has some great quirky characters and some fun, but I just didn't get that from this book. I mean you'd have thought that with 2 sets of twins under the age of 9 there would have been lots of opportunity for fun. But not really in this book. So that left me wanting.

I give it a 3.5 cuz it was ok, but not great. I kept hoping something, I don't know, "more" was going to happen and it just didn't. I feel like Randy Jackson from American Idol, "It was just ok for me, Dawg!"

Preteen-ness

My lovely daughter is 11. She's officially a preteen (at least she's in the preteen class at church and went to preteen week at church camp). So as we all remember those years can be full of transition and all the angst a young person could possibly dream of. I thought I had more time. I thought it'd be while before we were dealing with the wonders of puberty/insecurities/body image/fashion. But no. She's entering the 6th grade and I remember very little drama about 6th grade. I do remember it was the first time we had a Girl's Locker Room and I realized that I had really big feet.

At camp this year Savannah was in a cabin with mostly 12 year olds because her cousin who is 14 was with her. So instead of putting Savannah is a cabin with her cousin and 14 year olds or putting my niece into a cabin with 11 year olds they split the difference. Anyway, every other girl in her cabin wears makeup. Yep, make up and every day. So, she comes to me and asks if she can wear make up. What?!?!? I'm not quite sure I'm ready for this. I mean, she's just a baby! Yesterday, she was in preschool. The day before that she was in diapers. I'm not old enought to have a daughter who wears makeup. I'm only 29! Really!!!

So I relented at camp and said that for the Social she could wear makeup. It's sort of a dance (really it isn't a sorta dance, it's a dance-dance). Some parents are a little uncomfortable with the idea of a dance at church camp but not me. They had a blast and the boys and girls actually get a little hang out time. They were not allowed to have "dates" but could have fun with each other. So I was finishing up in the kitchen at camp and here come the kids to have their fun. In walks Savannah. She's wearing eyeliner and eye shadow. She's flossed and glossed and brushed and shined. She was sooo cute. She had more on than I would have liked but she looked cute. She did not look like a hoochie Momma! All the counselors were teenage kids and they were watching and waiting to see if I was gonna flip out. Nah! It's all good! Then they were watching for my husband (who was also at camp and working in the kitchen with me). Is he gonna be one of those dad's who doesn't want to see his little girl looking grown up..... They just knew that they were gonna get in trouble or something for letting the other girls "make her over". Nah! We just gushed about how pretty she was and I think Daddy took a picture.

Since coming home from camp. We've "played" make up several times. Hmmm. I've been asked about when/how to use mascara-eyelash curler-concealer. (like she has anything to conceal! Puhleeze!!) I've been asked what foundation is for. Hmmm. So I think, that maybe she's more interested in makeup than she'll outright admit.

I've started wondering then...How old are girls when they start wearing makeup these days. In my days, I wasn't allowed to wear any until I was 14. I was a freshman in high school. But now, girls are doing these things so much earlier. I don't want to be that mom that says. I didn't until I was in high school, so you can't. I also don't want to be that mom, that says sure anything goes. I want to be perfect. Since that's not gonna happen, I'm wondering those of you out there in blogland. What do you think. How young is too young? What would you do? Or better yet if you have girls and they are makeup age, what did you do?

Time Travel Tuesday

Yep! It's Time Travel Tuesday. I was asking my husband what were some of the shows he watched as a kid. And I have to say, I didn't watch any of them. Weird huh? Then I was goofing on YouTube and found this. It was great. I heard that theme song and could almost smell the kool-aid my mom used to keep around. This was also where my fascination with John Travolta started. Yes, you've guessed it right. Welcome Back, Kotter! I think I had the same glasses as Julie.....Anyway. Enjoy and Welcome Back!!

Recent Acquisitions

I know that it is normally Mailbox Monday, but I went to the Used Book Store and found a number of super cool books. Some that I've been looking for and some that I've just found but have heard great things about. I also got a couple from Paperbackswap. So today is Acquisition day.

I got Nalini Singh's Slave to Sensation. Luckily for me it's also first in the series. I've heard such great things about this series. I can't wait.

I also got, So Into You by Sandra Hill. It's the latest one in her Cajun Series. It's Grace (retired nun) and Angel's (a biker and ex-poker champion) story. We met them in Pink Jinx and were reunited with them in Wild Jinx.

I found Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas at the UBS. I've only read one of her historicals but have heard some great things about it. Found out it's 2nd in a series, and am hoping to not need to read them in order. I also intend to use this for the Fall 09 Readers of Romance Challenge.

I got The Reluctant Viking by Sandra Hill. I like Sandra Hill and have only read one of her Viking Books before. It was ok, but I am hoping that by reading them in order, I'll like this one even better.

The Frasers: Clay was recommended to me since I've been Jonesing for a western. I've never read Ana Leigh, but am so looking forward tothis one. Sounds fun.

Dangerous Heart by Tracey Bateman is a book, I'd almost forgotten about. I'd read the first 2 in the series so long ago, I'd lost track of time. This is the final book in the wagon train series and I understand it's the most gritty. That's kinda hard to do in inspirational romances.

Calico Canyon

by Mary Connealy

#9 Teacher Governess Title

Rated 4 stars

Back Cover:

Let yourself be swept away by this fast-paced romance, featuring Grace Calhoun, an instructor of reading, writing, and arithmetic, who, in an attempt to escape the clutches of a relentless pursuer, runs smack dab into even more trouble with the 6R's -- widower Daniel Reeves, along with his five rowdy sons. When a marriage is forced upon this hapless pair -- two people who couldn't dislike each other more -- an avalanche isn't the only potential danger lurking amid the shadows of Calico Canyon. Will they make it out alive? Or end up killing each other in the process?

My Thoughts:

The back cover doesn't give you a real glimpse of the story within. It's too generic. Inside this book was some real chuckles, some aww moments and a progression.

When we first met Grace Calhoun she was the snobby schoolmarm introduced in Petticoat Ranch. Noone really likes her, but here we get a glimpse at the woman beneath. She is full of life and courage and even a sense of humor. She also has the physical and emotional scars of someone who has suffered.

Daniel Reeves is the loner widower of 5 boys. 10 year old twins and 5 year old triplets. He seems to be content with the hovel he lives in, and letting his boys run wild as long as they work hard. However, we see a man who is doing the best with what he has. We also see a man, who tries to do right. He is still suffering the from guilt at the death of his wife.

I laughed out loud and was so torn for these two suffering people. I loved seeing them slowly come together. I started the book this afternoon and I couldn't put it down.

Rising Tides

by Nora Roberts

Re-Read a Favorite.

Rated 5 stars

Love Grace and Ethan. Ethan is such a great Tortured Hero. Grace is a super Steel Magnolia. I've read this book so many times and it never gets old. I just LOVE it. I love the relationships between the brothers and Anna and Grace. It's perfection. When I die, they will have to pry this book from my cold dead hands. (thank you Charleton Heston)