Catching Up

I can't believe it's been so long since I've checked in here. I've been working alot and things just got really busy and hectic. I have still found time to read though. I'm now on book 6 of the Virgin River series. I'm addicted. I will be catching up on my reviews in the near future. If I can stop reading and baking long enough. I've done 2 cakes in the past couple of weeks and my daughter's birthday is next weekend, and we have the Father/Daughter dance the weekend after that. This is the cake I did for a wedding yesterday. Pretty good. Of course, I see all the flaws, but I'm also a bad photographer so you won't see them. :)

Anyway, hoping to fit in a Girls Night Out in a couple of weeks. So, our schedules are really amping up. Will hope to hear from ya'll soon. Happy Reading.

Talk of the Town

by Karen Hawkins

Readers Choice A-L

rated 4 stars

Back Cover:

Do Blondes have more fun? Newly divorced Roxie Tremayne is dying to find out. After years of being the perfect southern lady, all she ended up with was a cheating husband. So she goes bombshell blond, gets a provocatively placed tatoo and prepared to live it up as a Bad Girl. But then her mother falls ill....and Roxie is forced to return to Glory, North Carolina.

He'd love to know. Once the town Bad Boy, Nick Sheppard is now Glory's highly respected sheriff. When the hot blond he stops for speeding turns out to be formerly prim Homecoming Queen Roxanne Tremayne, Nick doesn't know quite where to look--though he'd like a much closer one at that tattoo peeking from her shorts.

But it takes two to tango. Roxie and Nick had a steamy fling in high school, but a love affair between a Southern Princess and a Boy from the wrong side of the tracks was doomed from the start. Now they have a second chance. Can they get it right? Or will they just end up....The Talk of The Town?

My Thoughts:

So the Good Girl/Bad Boy plot device has been done, and done often. It could have been sooo cliche and predictable. However, Karen Hawkins puts a refreshing spin on it. Roxie finalizes her divorce and does what every "comfortable" red blooded American woman would do. She dyes her hair blonde, gets a belly-button ring, and a tattoo. (Admit it, you would too! I would! Except I think, I'd go fire engine Red, and skip the piercing. If you saw my belly button.....) Aaanyway! So then she gets word from her brother Mark, (who divorced last year and didn't tell his mother either) that Dear Ole Mom has had a heart attack and needs help at home. So he suggests that Roxie go back home to take care of mom, and Roxie won't go without back-up so Mark is along for the ride, and they enlist the help of Tundy, (Roxie's housekeeper). Love Tundy! (as they near home, Mark refers to mom and Mom-en-stein, which Tundy interprets to mean that Mom is Jewish....so she leaves the pork rinds in the car and starts cooking kosher. As it happens Mom-en-Stein is not jewish and is somewhat curious as to why Tundy keeps her Kosher....)

Roxie gets pulled over entering town for speeding, and lo and behold Bad-boy Nick Sheppard is now the Sheriff. She gets a warning, mmmm-hmmmmm! Roxie inherits her mothers volunteering responsibility of the Murder Myster Club at the local Retirement Home. Among the members of the MMC is Nick's great Aunt. Coincidence? One of the Retirement community inhabitants recently passed at an accident at the Piggly Wiggly. Accept the MMC after finding a box full of blackmail notes, they decide that it was not an accident but a Murder!! (murder said slowly very reminiscent of the old mystery movies....)

Nick and Roxie are instantly attracted to each other, and Roxie is feeling a little wild and recklessbut Nick wants to be good and responsible. So he wants nothing of the Wild Child. But boy is the chemistry explosive. He can't seem to stay away. So his trying to be good, and her trying to be Bad, lends itself to some misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Also some fun moments between Nick and his assistant/dispatcher/all around girl friday. She's spunky and tells him where to go when he needs it. Yea! There is a mystery to solve and feelings to discover, and a history to work through. Add in a supporting cast, of chubby Housekeeper, 3 drunk Senior Citizens, and an overweight beagle and you've got a fun book.

I recommend this to you if you like a little fun and a good chuckle with your romance.

This was my first by Karen Hawkins but it won't be the last.

2010 Running Book List

I'm excited to keep a running total of the books I've read this year. I read over 100 last year, and most of them were great! I'm hoping to have a lot of great books to read this year too.

1. Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas~5 Stars

2. Virgin River by Robyn Carr~ 5stars

3. Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr~ 5 stars

4. Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr ~5 stars

5. Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr~4.5 stars

6. Second Chance Pass by Robyn Carr ~5 stars

7. Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr ~5 star

8. Paradise Valley byRobyn Carr~5 star

9. Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr ~4 stars (still pouting abt no Dan and Cheryl)

10 The Rogue Hunter by Lynsay Sands~4 stars

11. The Immortal Hunter by Lynsay Sands ~4 stars

12 Covet by JR Ward~~4 stars

13. Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr~~4.5 Stars

14. Moonlight Road by Robyn Carr ~~4.5 stars

15. Fireside by Susan Wiggs~~4 stars

16. When Bruce met Cyn by Lori Foster~~4 stars

17. Love is a 4 Legged Word by Kandy Shepherd~2.5stars

18. When Strangers Marry by Lisa Kleypas ~~4.5-5 stars

19. Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell ~~4 stars

20 Summer Breeze by Catherine Anderson~~4.5 stars

21. That Certain Spark by Cathy Marie Hake ~~4 stars

22. Under Her Skin by Susan Mallery~~4 stars

23. Lip Service by Susan Mallery ~~4 stars

24. Straight from the Hip by Susan Mallery~~4 stars

25. Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery ~~4 stars

26. How to Abduct a Highland Lord by Karen Hawkins~~4 stars

27. Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson ~~4.5 stars

28 Only by Your Touch by Catherine Anderson ~~4.5 stars

29. The McKettricks of Texas: Tate by Linda Lael Miller~~4 stars

30. Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas~~4.5 stars

31. It Happened one Autumn by Lisa Kleypas~~4.5 stars

32. Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas~~5 stars

Serial Readers Challenge

Well, my dear read-a-holics this year is winding down and coming to a close. It has been a very rewarding literary year for me, and a rewarding year in other areas of my life as well. However, the subject of this post is the wrap up for the Serial Readers Challenge.

I know this time of year is sooo busy, so I've extended the due date for your wrap up post until January 14th. Hopefully by then we will all have had time to update our lists, and post all our wonderful books we've read. I know, I've been keeping a running total with the books I've read, and it has been fun.

I'd love to hear on your wrap up posts not only the books you've read, and so forth, but what titles you loved and why. We discover so many new authors that way. Please post your wrap up posts here and we'll have so much fun looking over each others lists. I know I will. I'll be posting mine as well.

I hope dear Read-a-holics that this was a fun challenge for you. I hope that you got great enjoyment from starting and finishing series this year. Maybe you discovered new authors that are now cherished favorites. I know I did, Julia Quinn is my new best friend. Of course, she doesn't know it, but hey some friendships are just that way. I fell in love with the Brothers this year, and am finding the wait for the next book AGONIZING!! Mostly, I hope you all enjoyed the books you've read.

I look forward to hearing from you all. Happy New Year!

It Happened One Night

by Lisa Dale

rated 4 stars

Best Friends to Lovers title for ROR Winter Reading Challenge

Back Cover:

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it. Lana Biel has always wanted to shake the dust of Vermont off her feet and see the world, one exotic country after another. But when a lighthearted spring fling changes her life forever, she turns to the one man whose strong shoulders can lighten her burden, her best friend, Eli Ward.

Eli has always been there for Lana--after all, that's what best friends do. But Lana isn't the only one hiding something. Eli is keeping secrets of his own that threaten their relationship. Yet, as summer turns to fall, new desires awaken between them, even as old fears tear them apart. Then when another Vermont Winter fills the valley with snow, Eli and Lana are given the chance for an adventure greater than they ever dreamed possible...and a love that will last for all time.

My Thoughts:

Best Friends/Lovers really is the whole theme of this book. The story was all about relationships. The relationship between Lana and Eli. The relationship between Lana and Karin (her sister). Karin/Gene, Karin/Calvert(dad)/Lana.

Lana and Eli have been friends since college, where they had one steamy night together. Afterwards they both did things to send the relationship back to the "friend" zone even though they both knew that they were really in love with each other. They each had their reasons why. It takes Lana's one night stand with Ron, and the resulting pregnancy to force them to come to terms with their feelings for one another. Eli is the first to come to terms with his love for Lana, and decides to live honestly. He breaks up with his "girlfriend" and puts his energy into showing Lana how he feels. Lana has some growing up to do, and has about 9 months to do it. When she finally realizes what she wants,or rather who she wants, and decides to act on it, a misunderstanding sends Eli running. He's had enough of the pain. (usually this plot device irks me, but didn't this time. It made sense with their complicated history.)

Also, Karin (Lana's sister) is dealing with her own issues. Infertility, and the obsession to have a family. It starts to really affect her marriage, and then her DaddyIssues. (turns out he was neglectful to them growing up and now wants forgiveness, they are not so eager to accomodate). She kinda gets on my nerves really. Once she finds out Lana is pregnant and Lana more than likely intends to go the adoption route, she tries to hint and pressure Lana to give the baby to her and her husband. We all saw, that conversation coming, but it was kinda ookey!

I felt like Lana, was too slow to fully realize her feelings, and to admit to them. Geez! But all things considered, it was a good book. I got my Happily Ever After. Things worked themselves out all the way around nad it was good. It didn't feel "wrapped up" in the end like can sometimes happen. "Oh, it's 297 pages time to tie up all the loose ends.." Nope it ran it's course, the way it should have.

A Creed Country Christmas

by Linda Lael Miller

rated 4 stars

Back Cover:

It's the unforgiving Montana wilderness of 1910, and widowed rancher Lincoln Creed has more worries than rustler, wolves and blizzards. He needs a governess for his young daughter---a respectable lady who can teach Gracie and cook for them, yet who won't set her sights for him.

Disowned for her refusal to marry, Juliana Mitchell saves her love for her students and the two orphans in her care. That is until she meets the handsome rancher, Lincoln, and his Gracie. In the season for miracles, could Providence find a way to bring Juliana, the children, and the Creed family together in time for Christmas Eve?

My Thoughts:

I love her westerns. It was such a fast read. It's kind of cool to see the beginning of the Creeds. I liked also the side story with Lincoln's brother and his woman who owns the saloon. Anyway, there may be more historicals in this family story. I'd be happy to read them.

I liked that Juliana was a woman of conviction. She could have married the older partner of her brother and lived the life of a wealthy woman. Instead she stands up for what she wants. she decides to become a teacher. She ends up in Montana teaching at the indian school. The indian school closes and she ends up keeping 4 of her "students". Lincoln meets them in the mercantile store where she has figured out that they have nowhere to turn and no money. Lincoln comes to their aid, and takes them home to his ranch.

Juliana falls for Grace, and eventually Lincoln. After the birth of a ranch hands baby, Juliana is exhausted and emotionally spent. Lincoln ends up putting her in bed, and lays down beside her. They fall into an exhausted slumber where Grace finds them the next morning. Zoinks! Busted!!!

Funny, thing that the circuit preacher happens to be coming through the very next day.....Whaddya Know?!

So, they get married, the indian affairs officer finds out about the children that she still has in her care. (they were supposed to be sent to new schools.) He comes on Christmas day and threatens to take the children except that Lincoln who also happens to be a lawyer (How convenient) has been drawing up papers to adopt the 2 indian children who don't have any family and has made arrangements to send the brother and sister who do have family back in the Dakotas, back to their family.

Yay! Then he decides that he does in fact love Juliana, and She fesses up to loving him....Woo Hoo!

Stuck with You

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Rated 4 stars

Cabin/Road romance for ROR Winter Reading Challenge

Back Cover:

He wasn't about to be hog-tied. Wyatt Logan, champion bull rider, isn't ready to settle down. But from the moment he spots Charity Webster's cute little behind stuck in his Aunt Nora's doggy door, he knows he's going to end up eating dust.

Then came the snow....And Wyatt kisses his single life goodbye. Trapped by the storm, Wyatt and Charity have to keep warm somehow. And there's alot to be said for body heat. Not even the comical antics of Nora's maniacal neighbor disturb their idyllic love nest. But when the snow melts, Wyatt's dreams turn to slush. He's finally lost his heart to a woman who has no intention of committing.


My Thoughts:

This one was cute. It was quick and fun. I didn't think the neighbor was as fun as he was supposed to be. He felt more like a distraction really. Anyway, I liked the opposites attract theme. It was a light read. I read it in one afternoon.