Love Only Once

"Love Only Once" by Johanna Lindsey

Fall Reading Challenge

Mallory Series #1

From the Back Cover

The exquisite niece of Lord Edward and Lady Charlotte Malory, Regina Ashton is outraged over her abduction by the arrogant, devilishly handsome Nicholas Eden -- and is determined to make the rogue pay ... with his heart.

A golden-haired seducer, Nicholas has been hardened by a painful secret in his past. And now that he has besmirched Reggie's good name, the hot-tempered lady has vowed to wed him. Her fiery beauty stirs Nicholas as no woman ever has -- and the rake arouses Reggie's passion to an unendurable level. Such uncontrolled desires can lead only to dangerous misunderstandings ... and, perhaps, to a love that can live only once in a lifetime.

Well, I don't think this teaser is too accurate! I just finished this book, and I don't recall any dangerous misunderstandings, or that she was outraged at being abducted. I clearly recall her being amused by it, cuz she knew it was a mistake.

Aaaanyway, I think I liked this book! It was good. I don't think it was great! Now I will say that the moments before her wedding, I had to put the book down to go somewhere, and I wondered almost all the way to where I was going, about what was going to happen next to Regina and Nicholas. So, I was invested. I'm pretty easy, so I'll have to give this a 3.5 or 4. It was good enough for me to invest, but I'm not dying to read the next in the series. I think I was pleasantly surprised, cuz for some reason, I was expecting this to be pretty bad. It's almost better to have low expectations, so that you have a good chance of surpassing them. I'm going to say 3.5.

More Sad Sad News!

It's been a rough 3 weeks. As you may have read previously a young man at church was killed in an auto accident, leaving a young wife and 2 very young daughters.

Last night I got another phone call. My last boss, (at my church where I was the receptionist) his wife had gone to Mexico with 2 girlfriends for a getaway. She and her best friend were killed in a parasailing accident. the authorities had closed the harbor due to choppy water, and bad weather conditions. When the rope broke on the parachute, the boat captain, dropped the 3rd member of the party off at the dock and fled the scene of the crime.

This is the woman who gave me a baby shower when I was pregnant with my first baby! This is the woman, who when I couldn't find the baby quilt my grandmother had made for me when I was a teenager, she called her mother in Va. and had her quilt me a baby quilt. She knew how much that sort of legacy meant to me. I used to stay with her children when she and her husband had to travel for work. She talked me "off the ledge" when I had to leave my baby those first days back from maternity leave.

She will be missed! God, THIS SUUUUUUUUCCCKKKSSS!!!!

The Cajun Cowboy

the Cajun Cowboy by Sandra Hill

pgs 349

rated 4

Back Cover

Charmaine LeDeux, who owns not one but two beauty salons on the Louisiana bayou, has a loan shark on her tail. As if that's not bad enough, Raoul Lanier, who she thought she divorced years ago, tells her that they're still married! Plus, they've inherited his father's rundown cattle ranch together. Raoul promises to give her an honest-to-god real divorce this time if she'll sell him her half of the ranch. But she decides that the ranch is the perfect place for her after all; i.e., the perfect hideout for a woman who needs to lie low for a while.

The last thing Raoul wants is for Charmaine to live with him, but Charmaine has always been stubborn. Soon she's taken over the house, adding feminine touches everywhere and having his three ranch hands eating out of her hand. When her belly-dancing great-aunt and the rest of the LeDeux clan come over for Thanksgiving dinner, Raoul knows he's lost the fight. He might as well give in to the temptation she still rouses in him. Now if he can only keep her safe from the Dixie mafia looking for her and convince her that he's worth a second chance at love.

I enjoyed this book a lot! As always there was a lot of humor and a lot of "heat". Since finishing this book, I received some tragic news! So my review is short. I liked the book.

The Clayborne Brides

The Clayborne Brides by Julie Garwood

pgs 456

rated 4 stars.

From the Back Cover

First introduced in Julie Garwood's magnificent New York Times bestseller For the Roses, the Clayborne brothers of Blue Belle, Montana, have been embraced by millions more through this trio of #1 bestselling novels. Now collected in one volume for the first time, these stories tell of three spirited brothers -- once a mismatched gang of street urchins -- who learn that love flourishes in the most unexpected places....

One Pink Rose Headstrong Travis takes a journey that opens his eyes to the splendor of his beloved West -- and his heart to Bostonian Emily Finnegan.

One White Rose Steady, quiet Douglas will do anything to protect a creature in need -- and that includes the strong-willed Isabel Grant.

One Red Rose Thoughtful Adam learns a powerful secret from the irrepressible Genevieve Delacroix -- that true freedom only comes when you trust your heart.

I really enjoyed these stories. The Clayborne Brides is three books in one. Each one was well written, and stayed true to the characters. I did feel like Travis' and Adam's stories moved the falling in love pretty fast. What are the odds that they fell in love at (almost) first sight. I felt like the heroines were very fun, and their personalities unfolded well. Granted each story was short and sweet, so everything had to happen pretty quickly, but with Douglas' story, Ms. Garwood built in some time for Douglas and Isabel to get to know and trust each other. I like that.

If I had one criticism, it would be that Adam's story was not nearly as descriptive as the others. This one could really have been super. I don't know, if because the characters were African-American, she or the publisher chose to downplay that, but you really forgot that. She really could have described the mocha skin and beautiful features of each. Something...Anything....but Nothing! It wasn't until the Heroine tells another character that her ancestors were from Africa, do we get any real kind of description of her. (in my minds eye, she looked like Iman! cuz I loved Adam, and Iman is soooooo beautiful!)

rated 4 stars.

Heaven, Texas

Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

pgs 371

rated 5

#9 Title with a place

Back Cover

Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to track down the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton and drag him back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. But taming an egotistical cowboy in a '57 T-Bird might be more than this prim Ohio wallflower can handle.

Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being movie star -- and no plans to cooperate with the bossy little virgins whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hellraising playboy decides to make her over from plain Janet Texas wildcat.

But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion -- and a match that can be made only in Heaven.

I loved this book. Of course, Susan Elizabeth Phillips books are an auto-read for me! No one writes flawed characters who aren't pathetic like Ms. Phillips. I love that Gracie, has her weaknesses and insecurities, but also has integrity, and a stength of character. I love that while she is shy and sheltered, she's also curious and willing to take risks. I love the scene on the trip in the hotel room, where Bobby Tom catches her eyeing the "Adult" channel schedules. She's too embarrassed to admit to being curious, but he just turns the channel on and watches her blush 18 shades of red. Gracie, is above all someone I'd like to be friends with.

Bobby Tom, is going thru a really rough time, and makes some major mistakes. In someone else, I might have found them a "deal breaker" but know BT and that inside he has a heart of pure marshmallow fluff, I'm willing to cut him some slack. I find his need to give, lets him be taken advantage of, and his guilt for having it easy, and being successful leads him to become an "easy mark". But how can you not love a guy who's sensitive underneath it all. I also love him, cuz he's flirty even with the chubby girls. He makes a point to make, even the not perfect feel special. Besides, he has 2 names and one is not Bubba! I love a 2 name guy. It's the 3 name guys you have to run from. (like John Wilkes Boothe, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wayne Gacey!) *shudders*

I'm so looking forward to more Chicago Stars!! I highly recommend this book to anyone!!

Sugar Daddy

Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas

pgs-418

rated 5 stars (Can you believe it!? I finally gave a 5!)

SHE'S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS

Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas -- if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty is a complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.

HE'S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN'T HAVE When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty is under the spell of a billionaire tycoon -- a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family's past.

Will they find their hearts' desires --or will HEARTBREAK tear them apart?

Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget.

I don't typically read books written in the first person. And I think, I prefer the third person, cuz you get a broader view! However, I really liked this story! Having lived in a trailer in Texas as a youth, and not being what would be considered the desired specimen of a Texas female, I could relate to Liberty. I actually cried in the scene when she loses her virginity. The raw emotion she was feeling, (not passion!) was so earnest. I feel her story is told with honesty and a believability that would probably have been missing had it been written in the 3rd person. Liberty's voice was so strong, that I'm not sure any other method would have done it justice.

I really liked the conflicted Hardy of Welcome. I knew many boys just like him. We couldn't wait to get away from our small town, depressed upbringing. I just wish he hadn't used her the way he did.

I do feel like the end was a little ...rushed? The turn of events, regarding Hardy, Gage and Liberty! The pace of the rest of the book, was so (not slow) but paced! then the end needed wrapping up, (almost like her deadline was around the bend, or something). However, I will say, that it was the right time, to start wrapping it up. To have dragged out the Gage/Liberty relationship more, would have stalled the plot. IMO!

Gage, **sighs**! I love a good brooder. And he's a good brooder!! But, he didn't drag it out tooo much! There is only so much brooding a person can take without wanting to shake him til his teeth rattle. Gage, was that perfect balance, of brooding/humor/normalness! I think he was blond in the book, but my mind's eye has him as a dark haired guy! **sighs again**

Now, will I read Blue Eyed Devil? I think it's Hardy's story with Haven. I probably will, but not right now, cuz I'm mad at Hardy! (that's pretty sick and twisted of me, I know!! Like, I'm punishing a fictional character!!) I hear she has a third coming out soon in this series too! I'll probably read them both! Hardy better behave!!

I may even substitute this for something in one of my challenges! We'll have to see!

Is It Just Me?

So lately I've been reviewing a little more harshly than usual. I'm typically a solid 4 giver. Books tend to be good. Maybe not perfect, but fun and enjoyable. However, lately I'm kinda tough. Maybe, I'm getting picky! Maybe, I'm spoiled. I mean Nora Roberts and Julie Garwood, Lynsay Sands, Susan Elizabeth Phillips are soo good.

I will say, that everyone knows, I prefer a pg to pg-13 books. AAR's warm ratings are best for me. I don't mind a Hot every once in a while. Or a book whose scenes are Hot but not every 3 pages. Really? How do they have time to do anything else, and who'd be able to walk with all that "business" going on below the equator. But, I'm getting really tired, of always being aware of the Hero's "Mini Me". For men who are supposed to be sooooo experienced, they seem to tighten, swell, grow, salute, whatever at every breeze! I mean, the heroine, glances in their direction and Mini Me, stands at attention! Also, I don't care to hear about each and every "Salute". Maybe it was the last couple of books I read, but I'd rather know what the hero is feeling in his heart or head than in his pants. Geez Louise!!

Also, I've been kissed in my day. But so help me, I've never been kissed so that I didn't realize that my clothes were being removed. At least not without the help of a Jimmy! I always knew exactly what was going on. (Maybe I didn't care, but I knew. Believe You Me!) So, I know many of you who read romance, aspire to write romance too. (or maybe you already are!) Please, focus as much attention on a realistic progression of feelings, and not just the Sex! Great sex, is--well--Great! But, it is not what a Great relationship can flourish on! I mean, haven't we all had past relationships where the passion was super, but other more important stuff was Crap!! Did, I marry him? No! Even if you did, it doesn't last, without a conversion of some sort.

I think that's why I like the Inspirational romances too. There's no sex, and often no kissing, just a progression of a relationship with each other (including God!)

Or, maybe I'm in a bad mood! Or maybe, I need more fiber in my diet! Who knows!