Lionhearted by Diana Palmer

# 14 title with an animal

rated 3

pgs 187

His Winter Bride . . .? As the holiday season approached, the residents of Jacobsville were whispering about Janie Brewster's hopeless crush on Leo Hart. Up till now, all her efforts to lasso the dynamic cattleman had crumbled quicker than those mouthwatering biscuits that Hart men coveted. However, this time the starry-eyed debutante had come up with the perfect self-improvement campaign to dazzle Leo -- she'd become a courageous cowgirl! Still, her sudden transformation seemed to rouse Leo's formidable temper more than ever. But wait... was it hot-blooded hunger -- not dark disdain -- that gleamed in his eyes when they melted into those smoldering kisses beneath the mistletoe? Could the last Hart bachelor be on the verge of taking Janie as his bride?

Pet Peeve Alert

this teaser doesn't tell you anything about this story. It leads you down a wrong direction.

The holiday season has nothing to do with nothing. The residents of Jacobsville weren't whispering about anything except Leo getting drunk and jealous of Janie, not the other way around. Leo, isn't mad about Janie becoming a courageous cowgirl, but that he was told by her best friend Marilee (and with friends like who need enemies!) that Janie was spreading rumors etc. They didn't kiss beneath any mistletoe, and were married by christmas. Ugh! I hate it when the teaser lies!

**soapbox put away! For Now***

Why do I read Diana Palmer? It's like looking at a car wreck on the highway. I don't want to look, and yet somehow, I can't help myself. Her books are always the same. Hero-Older more experienced wealthy rancher (or merc! ) who vows never to marry for some dumb-butt reason! (pardon my francais!) Also, only likes women who have no (I mean NO) ambition professionally. Heroine- Young (sometimes barely 20) poor, virginal, hopelessly in love with hero, woman, who has "old fashioned" values meaning that all she aspires to is to cook and clean and raise children. (which is great sometimes to have a maternal character, but seriously everywoman in town, has no professional aspirations? Seriously?) There will come some point in the story where Hero will verbally abuse the the heroine, for being plain/poor/innocent/....Ack! It's always for her own good, mind you! Or, or, or, or, He will tell some 3rd party how awful said heroine is , while she walks into the room to overhear him. Akward!

***soapbox returns***

These women are soooooo innocent that he kisses them, and they are stunned! What?! Who Knew! He "makes a strong pass" and she's scarred for life! She has to(leave town, quit her job, quit school, Hide out ) to avoid the memory of his kisses and groping! He molds his body to her, so that his "physical response" is obvious and she's never seen or felt or heard of anything. "Does it hurt?" She asks. As if the school system in Texas does not teach a health class in High School that covers basic reproduction. (I know they do, cuz I'm a product of that school system. and they taught health class even in the 80's)

While I'm on the topic, did you know that most men, "MUST" rest immediately after "relations"? Yup! Seems most men, need a sandwich and a nap, just to survive! However, these Jacobsville men, are that small percentage who are capable of multiple-O's. And several of them are soooooo well endowed that "most" women can't take all of them. SERIOUSLY! Also, an epidemic in Jacobsville, is that several women need to have a minor medical procedure to ready them for their Wedding Night! yep!

I originally gave this a 3.5 cuz I knew exactly what I was going to get, when I picked it up. But now that I've vented, I can't really give it a 3.5. It's got to me more of a 3 maybe even 2.5. I'll say 3 cuz, If I didn't want this sort of book, I shouldn't have picked it.

Ms. Palmer is a decent writer, but Criminy, get a new formula. These women need a pair, (if ya know what I mean!) I come from a town very much like this one in her stories, and I gotta say, the women I knew, and saw everyday wouldn't put up with the crap these guys dish out. they'd have tarred and feathered their butts, and told them "what for". Then sat down with a girlfriend and "God Blessed" their pitiful souls to death. Cuz, you know when a southern woman is talking about someone and says "God Bless 'em" it is not cuz they sneezed. (for instance. "Uncle Cletus, God Bless 'em, is a sorry fiddle player" it softens the blow! )

If you like, weak women and super alpha males. you'll like Diana Palmers Long Tall Texan series.
***soapbox is now smoking and deserves a rest! ***

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars

I love Dancing with the Stars! Looooove it! I love this season! I love the dancing, the costumes, the music, the back stories, I love it all!

However, It seems to me that the judges are being really hard on people really early! Cripes! Give 'em a break. They weren't this tough last year! (or is it just me!) For some reason, I love Rocco DiSpirito! He's cute, and gawky! (and he can cook!!) (my new celebrity crush!) I think he must be a nice guy too, cuz Karina Smirnoff, is usually pretty iritated by a dance partner who can't dance. She seems to be all grins and happiness! Maybe, that's cuz she's finally over Mario, (ptooey ptooey!) or because she sees a nice guy doing his best.

I also loved when Derik Hough kept telling Brooke to keep her "boobies" off him. (during the quickstep) She laughed and said, that's was the first time she'd heard that! Ha ha ha ! Btw, I think I decided to not like her a lot. I mean really, it's wrong to have 4 children, (one very new!) and look that good. **nods head** yep, and she's likely to lose weight...and get a harder body! **sighs with disgust**

Let me say, Cloris Leachman may be a comic genius! She is definately a legend in show business. However, I'm over her in this show. I can't tell if she's trying to be silly, or she's got a little dementia kicking in? I don't know, maybe she needs some ritalin, but it's getting old. I'm feeling kinda sorry for good ole Corky Ballas, cuz he can't seem to reign her in. I definately appreciate the kind of shape she must be in to do what she's doing. I can certainly appreciate her wanting to boost her career, and all that, but it really is time she gets voted off. (In my humble opinion) (and since this is my blog, it's my opinion that counts! Heeeeey!)

Toni Braxton, is doing really well. I'm a little nervous about her heart condition and the strain is might cause. She's killing me! Everytime she gets really out of breath, I start breathing for the both of us. (sympathy breathing?) and start to feel lightheaded. On a side note, I think Alex Mazo and Edyta Sl*^&%$#%A (I couldn't possibly spell that name!) are either married or a couple. Finally, someone who karaoke's worse than me!

Kim Kardashian! Why is she a Star? Poor Mark is dancing his little shoes off trying to make her look good! Where's Sabrina when you need her! (are they still together?)

Love Lance Bass! His dance partner, Lacey Schwimmer (sp?) was a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance! Wha!? Love that! I also loved that they danced to "I Kissed a Girl" and at the end he kissed Lacey and then put on Cherry Chapstick. Ha ha ha ! I figure Len, will be in trouble with GLAAD cuz he said something like, "I know your gay," then something to Lacey and didn't like the song and dance. So I'm expecting rainbow flags in the audience next week.

I'm loving Misty May-Trainor, Warren Sapp, Cody Lindley. I'm not so into Susan Lucci. I want to be, but just am not. Maurice Green isn't doing it for me, and to me it looks like Cheryl (who I normally love) is either not into Maurice or is kinda checked out this season.

Stay tuned for more details

Highlander in Her Bed by Allie MacKay

Tour guide Mara MacDougall stops at a London antique shop-and spots perhaps the handsomest bed ever. Then she bumps into the handsomest man ever. Soon Mara can't forget the irresistible-if haughty-Highlander. Not even when she learns that she's inherited a Scottish castle.

Spectral Sir Alexander Douglas has hated the Clan MacDougall since he was a medieval knight and they tricked him into a curse-the curse of forever haunting the bed (the very one that Mara now owns) that was once intended for his would-be bride. But Mara makes him feel what no other MacDougall has-a passion that he never knew he'd missed.

I'm a little conflicted about this book. Ms MacKay (Welfonder) does a decent job of telling a fun little story. It was a quick read, and had some fun moments. However, there were definately parts that I felt were lacking. The secondary characters could have been sooo much fun, and a really colorful backdrop, but they were pale. She mentions a 1 armed gardener, then nothing. The ghost hunting cook, could have really been superb, but stayed just ok. Even Hardwick, the ghost friend of Alex, could have been so much more fully developed (pun intended, you'll have to read to find the pun). The plot progression didn't make sense to me.

Mara, finds a bed in an antique shop, (along with the ghost who haunts it.) She also inherits the castle (said ghost) was to inherit upon wedding the then maid. Yadda yadda yadda! He starts to haunt her, to quickly fall in love with her. She finds him rude and scary and then...is in love.

I also have to say, that I found the chemistry between these two, too unrealistic to even make allowances for. I understand that many (ok maybe most) romance novels there is the suspension of reality for the sake of brevity. But this was.....too much. He sees her and is instantly "standing at attention". Really! He talks to her in his burr, (usually mean words) and his accent alone, has her...umm...almost finishing! (**wink wink**) REALLY! I mean, if that accent is ALL THAT, I need to get to scotland stat!! Crud, for a heroine, who's not sure she has had a "real" -O-, the wind on her breasts, (through her shirt) is almost enough to finish the job. Scotland, here I come! (get it? Here I ...aaaany way!)

Besides that, the story was ok. If you want quivering, standing at attention fun little reads, this is the book for you.

I rated it 3.5 stars.

It meets needs for my Read Around the Genres and Fall 08 Reading Challenges.

Fall Into Reading Challenge

Hello, everyone! I love a good challenge! I also love an easy one! (heh heh) This one looks like fun. It's hosted by Callapidder Days! Click here to check it out. I'm posting a list of books, I'm planning to read this fall. Many (ok, maybe all are books for other challenges as well.! ) (so?! You got a problem with that? ) (Geez, I'm channelling my inner Goodfella! Zoinks!!)

AAAAanyway, here they are in no particular order!

*Lionhearted by Diana Palmer *** 3stars ***

* Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning****4 stars****

*Castles by Julie Garwood***4 stars****

*Heaven, Tx by Susan Elizabeth Phillips*****5 stars*****

*Tall, Dark, and Hungry by Lynsay Sands****4 stars****

*AHighlander in Her Bed by Allie MacKay ***3.5 stars***

*The Clayborne Brides by Julie Garwood****4 stars****

*Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas*****5 stars*****

*The Cajun Cowboy by Sandra Hill ****4 stars****

*Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey

*Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips ***rate 4.5 stars****

*Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery *****Rated 5 Stars*****

*Love and Mayhem by Nicole Cody ***rated 3 stars***
*Circle of Gold by Diana Palmer ***3.5 stars***

I have more planned, but that will do for now. I'll be adding to as I go, and marking these read and rating them on a scale of 1-5 . I'll be writing reviews as I go. So feel free to check those out too. Yay!

A Tale of Two Vikings by Sandra Hill

Two Vikings, Toste and Vagn Ivarsson, twins so identical that only a tiny birthmark differentiates them, find themselves in a battle to the death on their way to pillage a convent. Each brother believes the other to be dead, but each has been saved by a very different angel of mercy. Toste is under the care of Esme, a novice who doesn't trust men. After all, her own father and brothers keep trying to kill her for her inheritance. Vagn finds himself at the mercy of "Helga the Homely," who suffered years of teasing because of the nickname Toste gave her, and she's not real fond of Vagn, either.

I liked this book pretty well. I didn't Loooooove it! I did love how, Vagn and Toste could still hear each other in their heads. I felt more, the connection with Helga and Vagn. They seemed to have a more natural progression. I felt like Esme and Toste's story was a little reaching with the Kidnappings. It was a stretch and I didn't feel warm and Toasty. I felt like he used and manipulated, and not is a great way. If I were Esme, after the tasting in the barn, and the woodsman's hut, I would have felt used and cheap. But maybe that's just me.

I will probably revisit this story at another time. Maybe reread in a couple of months. ( I think I'm in a funk!) Several authors who I have Looooooved in the past, have been so-so lately. So for now, I'll give this a 3.5. It wasn't great, but an enjoyable little read. Who knows, next time, I may give it a 5! You be the judge!

Paella

After watching the Food Network, and Throwdown with Bobby Flay, I fell in love! With Paella! I found this great recipe, even though I've already made some changes to it. It's really a great 1 dish recipe and I use my cast iron skillet, since I don't have a Paella Pan! I live too far inland to get good fresh seafood, so I use shrimp and Pilgrim's Pride boneless/skinless dark meat chicken. (it just tastes better!) I cook the chicken first, and leave it in the skillet and add the chorizo and stuff. I also add any fresh veggies that I can get my hands on. I particularly like asparagus, but use frozen mixed in a pinch. (it's about the only way, I can get the natives to eat veg!)

Yum! It's my new obsession. We have it at least once a week! My family will be glad when I become obsessed with something else. They vote I watch more Ace of Cakes, or Duncan Hines challenges. Hmm... I wonder why?

For the recipe click on the word Paella!