Line of Scrimmage

by Marie Force

#1 Sports Theme

Rated 4.5 Stars

Back Cover:

She's given up on him and moved on...
Susannah finally has a peaceful, calm life and a no-surprises man. Marriage to football superstar Ryan Sanderson was a whirlwind of passion, heat, energy, and excitement, but Susannah got sick of playing second fiddle to his team, watching women throwing themselves at him, and living in terror of the hard hits he took on the field. With their divorce just days from being final, she's already planning a wedding with her new fiance...
He's finally figured out what's really important to him. If only it's not too late...
Ryan has just ten days to convince his soon-to-be ex-wife to give him a second chance. He has just brought home his third championship and his career is at its pinnacle, but during the year of their separation, Ryan's come to realize it doesn't mean anything at all without Susannah...

My Thoughts:

I love a comeback story. I love a football story and a strong female lead. I did feel like some of the plot devises were a stretch, but it's a book, and we are supposed to suspend reality. With that being said, I loved Ryan. He was a totally "stand-up" guy. He had honor and integrity in abundance to go along with a great set of abs. :::check out the cover::: I liked that Susannah was a strong woman. I felt their pain, and growth. I would've liked the ending to be a little less abrupt. It wasn't the story, but the method. It just didn't feel totally resolved. I love an epilogue, but don't want it to replace a good ending.

Happy Birthday

A Friend of ours from church is pretty amazing. He does a lot of this kind of stuff. I thought I'd post on here a sample of his Awesomeness. Hope you like it and if you want to send it to someone on their birthday go right ahead.

Enjoy!

The Leopard Prince

by Elizabeth Hoyt

This is the story of Harry Pye and Georgina Maitland. Georgina Maitland has inherited the estate of her Aunt, and that simple fact is fairly uncommon for the era. Mr. Pye is her land steward. He is stoic around "His Lady" but happens to understand her better than anyone else. She appears flighty and fanciful, but is really untuitive. She has a heart for the people even if she doesn't know how to help them. Harry fights his attraction to her out of duty and a lifetime of seeing Aristocracy mix with the working class. However, he cannot help himself but fall for her. She seems to unlock the humor in him and he the passion in her. They must also face the allegations that Harry Pye is poisoning the farmers sheep.

There is a fun and quirky cast of characters. I so enjoyed the interplay between the entire Maitland family. I also enjoyed the mixing of of the actual plot with the fairytale. If you want to smile, and chuckle, and fan yourself then this steamy book is for you. It is second in the "Prince's Trilogy" The Raven Prince, The Leopard Prince, and The Serpant Prince.

Book Reviews

I'm really very far behind in reviewing and posting my books for the Summer Reading Challenge 09. So, I'll be summing them up here.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

#10-title with Title (royalty)~~~Rated 4.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Daphne was so much fun, and Simon, well I just love an underdog. He started off as a tortured hero, and the interplay between him and Daphne was great fun. I also loved the whole Bridgerton family. Super fun and heartwarming.

The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson

#7 Unlikely Hero/Heroine ~~~Rated 4 Stars

A Vegas Showgirl and a Nerdy Accountant. Match made in Heaven right? Lainie Terrel finds herself on the run with Harry Ambrewster. I totally loved this couple. The chemistry was Hot, and the entire cast of characters were so much fun. Outside of the villain, there was not a character I didn't love. I will read more about Ms. Thompson's nerds!

MacKenzie's Mission by Linda Howard

#4 Title published before 2000 ~~~Rated 3.75 Stars

I have definately a mixed opinion of this book. I loved Joe MacKenzie sooo much from MacKenzie's Mountain. He was 16, and so interesting. However, fast forward and He wasn't all that intersting to me. I liked him, but didn't see the depth in him that I'd seen from him previously. I liked Caroline so much though. I found her complex and tough, but with that soft vulnerability that was so appealing. I figured out some of the mystery, but that is fine with me. I don't particularly like mystery, so for me it is more about how are they going to resolve it.

Vampire, Interrupted by Lynsay Sands

#8 Title with Author "S" name like me! ~~~Rated 4 Stars

This is the story of Marguerite Argeneau, the Matriarch of the Argeneau clan. We've seen her try to match her sons and daughter and nephews, Brother-in-law......You get the picture. She is on her first assignment as a private investigator with "Tiny" her mortal boss. Christian Notte as hired them to help research and find out who his mother was. She meets Christian's father Julius who refuses to tell anyone who Christian's mother was. As it happens, Julius turns out to be Marguerite's true Lifemate. She has trust issues since her late husband was able to both read her and control her. I liked Julius and Marguerite. I liked Tiny alot, and want him to find an Immortal as a Lifemate. I love those Notte men. So hot and fun. These Argeneau's are such a hit. I love them all.

MacKenzie's Mountain

by Linda Howard

#3 title by Linda Howard

rated-4 stars

Back Cover:

Mary Elizabeth Potter is a spinster with no illusions about love. But she is a good teacher and wants Wolf Mackenzie's son back in school. And after one heated confrontation, she knows father and son have changed her life forever. Still paying for a crime he didn't commit, Wolf Mackenzie has a chip on his shoulder. But Mary Elizabeth Potter doesn't see him as the dangerous half-breed the town has branded him. She sees him as a good, decent, honest man. A man she could love....

My Thoughts:

I really liked this book. I think this is only my second Linda Howard. Her books get such great reviews from friends and this did not disappoint. Wolf was definately the strong type, and Joe was too. I liked that the "mousy" teacher could have been a typical "damsel in distress" but was written with a spine of steel. I love that she stood up for her beliefs and her man. I knew who the "bad guy" was, but that was ok. The solving of the mystery was less about the "whodunit" and more about the conflict resolution.

I liked the chemistry. Even though Mary was a spinster, and "innocent" she wasn't written as tstl! Other authors could take a lesson here. Just because a woman is a virgin doesn't mean she has to be an idiot. Even virgins know the "mechanics" of it all. :::rolls eyes:::

I did really fall for Joe. I'm excited to read his story...may have to substitute it for something else in my Summer Reading Challenge....:::nods head:::

Summer Reading Challenge 09

Yea! It's June and time for the Summer Reading Challenge. Randi and I worked together to come up with this list. It was so fun. I have a title or two to decide upon, and several that I'm waiting for from the library. :( But here is the list.

1. Read a Title with a Sports Theme

Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force ~~~DONE~~~4.5 Stars

2. Re-read a favorite

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts~~~DONE~~~5 Stars

3. Read a Title by Linda Howard

MacKensie's Mountain~~~DONE~~~4 stars

4. Read a Title published before 2000

MacKenzie's Mission ~~~DONE~~~3.5 Stars

5. Hot word for summer (heat, sun, fire, fever, hot, blaze....)

Sizzling by Susan Mallery~~~DONE~~~4.5 Stars

6. Read a book that takes place in a warm location (Florida, Caribbean, Hawaii, etc...)

Code Name:Baby by Christina Sky

7. Unlikely here/heroine (whatever that means to you. overweight heroine, nerdy hero...)

The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

8. Author with last name that starts with same letter as your last name.

Vampire Interrupted by Lynsay Sands ~~~DONE~~~rated 3.75 Stars

9. Schoolmarms/Teachers/Governess...(it's summer no more classroom, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks!!)(AAR is a good tool for this one!)

Calico Canyon by Mary Conneally~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

10. Title with a person of royalty (Duke/Princess/Marquis/Queen...)

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ~~~DONE~~~rated 4.5 stars

11. Title with an "S" for Summer

So Into You by Sandra Hill~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

12. Food type word (Sweet, Tasty, Cake, Lick, Bite...)

Delicious by Susan Mallery~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

13. A Title Read/Reviewed in the Spring Challenge...>/s>

Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas ~~~DONE~~~4.5 Stars

14. Reader's Choice...

Lover Avenged by JR Ward ~~~DONE~~~4.5 Stars :::Yea!!::

15.Double Trouble (Twins)

Twin Victories by Cathy Marie Hake ~~~DONE~~~3.5 Stars

Spring Reading Challenge Wrap Up!

Spring '09 Challenge list:
1. Read a Western
Sisters Found by Joan Johnston ~~~DONE~~~Rated 3.5 stars

2. Read a book set in Scotland-
To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning ~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

3. Title contains Sun, Moon, or Stars
Sun Kissed by Catherine Anderson ~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

4. Title contains Angel or Devil
Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands~~~~DONE~~~~Rated 4 stars

5. Read any title by one of the first romance authors you ever read
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts ~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

6. Title or Cover makes you think of Spring
Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas. ~~~DONE~~~rated 4 stars

7. Readers Choice
Flat Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy ~~~~DONE~~~~Rated 4.5

8. Select a book that has been marked favorite or 5 stars from another group member's shelf.
DarkFever by KM Moning as listed on Lucky Irish Gal's shelf~~~DONE~~~Rated 3.5 stars maybe more...

9. Read an AAR top 100 title
The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 stars

10. Title contains the word "Secret" or “Lie” in it
The Secret by Julie Garwood~~~DONE~~~rated 4 stars for sure....

11. Read a title that was read and reviewed during the Winter Challenge
Dark Lover by J R Ward~~~DONE~~~rated 4 stars~oh yea!!!

12. read a book with a Romeo and Juliet type theme
Untamed by Pamela Clare~~~DONE~~~Rated 4 or more stars

13. Read a trilogy (or 3 books from same series) Part 1
Sweet Spot by Susan Mallery( 3.5 stars) & Lover Eternal by JR Ward~~DONE~4.5 Stars

14. Read a trilogy (or 3 books from same series) Part 2
Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery (3 stars) & Lover Awakened by JR Ward~~DONE~4.5 Stars

15. Read a trilogy (or 3 books from same series) Part 3
Sweet Trouble by Susan Mallery (3 stars) & Lover Revealed by JR Ward~~DONE~4.5 Stars

This was my final list. I finally gave in and started the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I loved it! I ended up adding them to my challenge list, because I didn't want to read anything but the BDB for a while. I had a lot of good titles and some that I thought I would like but didn't. I didn't care for Dreamfever. It had no, None, romance in it.