Untamed by Pamela Clare

I read this for the Readers of Romance Spring Reading Challenge Romeo/Juliet story

Untamed is the second in the McKinnon Rangers series. I did something I seldom ever do, and I did it on purpose. I read a series out of order....I know!!!

However, I didn't feel like this time that I was missing too much. I enjoyed Untamed. Morgan was a great Alpha hero, with a heart of gold. Amalie was a good example of a sheltered and seemingly fragile heroine who actually had the inner strength of a warrior.

Morgan McKinnon is forced to fight for the British in the French/Indian war. He is captured and wounded by the French and Amalie a convent raised french young woman is forced to tend to his wounds so that the French can interrogate him before handing him over to the fierce Abenaki indians who intend to burn him at the stake. She tends his wounds and at the same time, loses here heart. Morgan, tries in futility to protect her from himself and his growing feelings for her as he plans to escape and doesn't want to harm her or her heart.

Some secondary characters end up being more human than previously thought, and I think Ms. Clare did a great job of expressing the burgeoning moral dilemma that Morgan found himself in. To be forced into service for a King and Military Leader that you despise, and forced to betray a military leader that you come to respect. To stay loyal to your brethren means betrayal of the one you love. Very poignant.

It helps that the intimacy between Morgan and Amalie was steamy too. (if you like that sorta thing.....and it's pretty safe to say, we do!!)

I hope to read more about these men.

Britain's Got talent

You all may have already seen this but, in case you haven't I'm posting a link here. My husband showed me this this morning, and I cried. (which is not typical for me as I'm not really a crier!) Made me late for work. A Lady named Susan Boyles auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and I'm not going to say anymore about it now, because you really should see it. I even made my daughter watch it. So, please if you have a minute watch this, and hopefully you'll be as moved as I was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY


It just goes to show you that you really can't judge a book by it's cover. My heart was so torn for her, because you could see the whole audience as well as the judges rolling their eyes. Then she opens her mouth and turns everyone into an instant fan. I love it!! You see everyone's mouth drop open, and it kinda feels good for the dowdy lady to sock it to all those who only saw what's on the outside and not what God given talents could be on the inside....Shame on all of us, who prejudge!

Lover Enshrined.

by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6)

rated 4 stars

This is Phury's story. We know that in previous stories his status as a solid hero was formed. In this story we see the inner demons really come out. Now, I will say that The Wizard did get on my nerves. I don't like giving our own self loathing a name. Cormia...It took me a while to really connect with her. I'll say that of all the heroines she made me sad. Even Mary with her illness didn't get me down the same way. I felt like she had real strength inside. Cormia, was such a doormat, and I know that maybe centuries of training at being selfless are at fault. I think I didn't like the idea of her being trapped or a prisoner of her station. It just got me down, and I felt like she never...grew a spine and if a woman is going to love a man like Phury with his issues and his addiction, it's going to take someone with a real inner strength and I just didn't feel that from her. Now, I will say, that I enjoyed her discovery. I loved the Dirty Dancing stuff and M&M's do rock...

I think overall there was so much heartbreak in this book, and so little light that it will not be my favorite book. I cringed over Quinn, John Matthew, Blay, Cormia, Thor. I felt like the Brotherhood lost some of it's shine for me. I know sometimes, you have to have tough love, but I felt like they turned their backs on Phury, especially Z. After all he put Phury through, you'd think he'd be a little more supportive.

I for some reason don't have a mental image of Xhex. I see some sort of female body builder type, but no face....I want to see her face. I want to see who John Matthew is so intrigued by.

I know, I'm going on about this, but there was soooo much in this book. The Chosen, Payne, Lassiter, Rhev, Xhex, whoever Eagle man is.

Time Travel Tuesday

Join me in a trip back to yester-year! Yep, it's Tuesday. And while there is nothing really exciting about Tuesdays (except book release days), I figured I'd start a Tuesday posting on some flashbacks of my youth. If you'd like to share something, by all means, go post something! I'd love to read your story!

I was watching a membership drive for my local PBS station, and they had a DVD selection of the best of Carol Burnett. They showed some skits and interviews. It was great. I have to say, I loved Carol Burnett. It was all sooo great. So, I have the infamous Went With the Wind skit. It's really long but in it's entirety. Enjoy.

Lover Unbound

This is Vishous' story. After being mortally wounded, Vishous is saved by a human doctor. Dr. Jane Witcomb, is curiously connected to her patient. He is not who he seems and his physical anomolies are intriguing, however that is not all. She is taken back to the compound to tend to his wounds. However, it seems she is meant to tend to his heart instead.

I found the story to be one of intense overcoming. I think both of them had a lot to overcome. This is where we really get to know V, and his insecurities. As the story begins, V is jealous of Butch and Marissa, and feels particularly drawn to Butch. His affection and connection is misinterpreted by V as attraction. When in reality he has a genuine affection for Butch. This is altogether new to V, and therefore uncomfortable. V. is instantly drawn to Jane even from the operating table. It takes him time to figure out what it is he feels and what to do with it. He is forced to face his feelings and decide what to do about them.

There were moment that wer so poignant. When he took her back home...There were times that made me cry. It's always meaningful, when someone finally allows themself to feel. This to me was the crux of this book. I was ok with the resolution of the V/Jane romance. It won't be my favorite ending, but it works.

I'm starting Phury's story in Lover Enshrined. I do not have high hopes, but am going to keep an open mind. Besides, I'll get more JM anyway.

I need more Cowbell!!

So, I love Saturday Night Live. I have since the beginning, when my parents wouldn't let me because it was too subversive. My older brother watched it, and I would do what I could to sneak in and watch. This is one of my favorite skits of all time. It took me a long time to find a version that I could embed here. So, since this probably belongs solely to SNL, I'll make sure to put a plug in for them. Don't give up on SNL, when one of your favs leaves the show. It just means that there are new favs coming. So, here it is...Cowbell!

Time Travel Tuesday

I know, it's wednesday, but tuesday was really busy for me. So here is my blast from the past. On Facebook some friends from back in the day were discussing a certain exchange student who came to our school. He was Soren, and he was from Denmark or Norway. Anyway, my friend Amy used to be crushin on him, and anyway, we were all remembering... I used to tutor him and Alex from Germany. Good times...Not sure how much help I was to them in Mrs. Kings english class, but.....What can you say. So in honor of all our 80's exchange students this is for you. I never could understand half of the lyrics, and couldn't get any of our x-students to help me.....

Take On Me by A Ha. They were from Norway, and at one time one of our exchange students was from there.