Review @ Breezing Through

Nath and I have a review of Rachel Gibson's True Love and Other Disasters up at Breezing Through.

Check it out HERE.

Disaster Number One: Men

Hard knocks and hunger taught Faith Duffy not to believe in love. Still, when she married her very wealthy—and very old—husband, she became the perfect wife. And then he went to that big bank in the sky, leaving Faith with lonely nights, a pile of money, and a total mess of a pro hockey team. Heck, Faith doesn't even watch hockey!

Disaster Number Two: Passion

But most of America and half of Canada is watching Ty Savage. His lethal sex appeal and deadly right hook make him the favorite of fans. For most of Ty's life, he's dreamed of winning the Stanley Cup. The last thing he needs is a bimbo messing up his plans.

Disaster Number Three: Love

Faith loathes Ty on sight, but she can't stop thinking about him all day... and night. Then a moment of temptation ends with Faith in Ty's bed, and she begins to see there's more to him than sex appeal. Ty discovers there's far more to Faith than beauty and billions. But a relationship with Faith is impossible, and falling in love—that would be a disaster.

Blog Pimpage

Hey everyone, I'd like to direct your attention to Monroe With a Twist, a new book blog that I found via Rowena.

I've been getting to know Monroe and I have to say, she's pretty awesome. And I'd like to help her out by getting some historical romance recommendations from you. She liked Outlander and The Time Traveler's Wife. And she just recently read Mary Balogh's First Comes Marriage.

Now I am recommending Lisa Kleypas' Dreaming of You (knowing Kristie would get the fact that she hasn't read it yet out of her in no time LOL) and Loretta Chase's Lord of Scoundrels. These two are some of my top fave historicals.

What would you recommend for Monroe?

Santa Olivia Giveaway!

Nicola O. of the wonderful Alpha Heroes (where I just delurked LOL) is giving away 5 copies of Santa Olivia, Jacqueline Carey's latest release. It is not part of the Kushiel's Legacy series, just so you know. But I'm a big fan of JC's writing so I'm very eager to get my hands on this one, just cuz.

Here are the deets:

The giveaway is open only to US and Canada.
Books cannot be shipped to PO Boxes, an actual address is required.

To enter, comment here or on the review post.

For additional entries:

• Post a link to Alpha Heroes on your blog, Facebook, a relevant forum thread (where it would not be against forum community standards), etc. Leave me a link in comments so I can keep track. One extra entry per link!
  
• Become a Follower of Alpha Heroes for an additional entry. If you already are, I'll count it automatically as long as you are using the same name. (You need to *still* be a follower on the day of the giveaway)
  
• Stop back over the course of the week and you may find some additional ways.
  

Nicola has 5 copies and will give away one per weekday starting Friday 5/29 (Publication date for Santa Olivia).

Tuesday Tease

She was blessed with a gift of temptation.

Violet, Lady Carrington, possesses everything a spirited woman could want out of life. Money (and lots of it). The freedom to make her own choices, with no husband to rule her. And a delightfully attentive young lover, Lord Peter St. Johns, to satisfy her every wild whim. But Peter desires more than Violet's lascivious attentions. He's desperate for her heart—and her hand in marriage.

Yet with a toss of her russet curls, Violet refuses. A man like Peter belongs with a naïve, blushing beauty, not a luscious lady with a talent for sin, and she would rather die than be beholden to anyone. But try as she might, she cannot convince him—or herself—that their tantalizing dalliance is a mere trifle. Perhaps Lady Carrington has finally met her match—a man who will love but not control her, a man who can meet her wickedness with a fierce passion of his own . . .

I like this cover. Holding that apple...LOL

This is Lavinia Kent's debut novel and I am very very interested.  It's in stores in Canada already, but in the US it looks like May 26 is the drop down date.  

Her Ladyship's Companion by Evangeline Collins

In the Scottish countryside of Selkirk, Lady Isabella Stirling resides at Bowhill Park, serving penance for a sin that nearly ruined her family. For five years she has been condemned to a loveless marriage and confined to the estate where she does little more than tend her rose garden. With her husband absent for months at a time and few visitors, Bella lives a lonely existence, denying the passions that burn within her very soul.

Then her cousin comes for a visit and makes an outrageous suggestion: what Bella needs is a lover. A hired lover. Despite her need, Bella says no. But soon Mr. Gideon Rosedale arrives—and he is at her service for two weeks. Indulging in what she intends to be a harmless flirtation, Bella is overcome by Gideon's intoxicating presence. And when she at last permits him to satisfy her desires, she discovers she's done the unthinkable—she's fallen in love.

I spotlighted Her Ladyship's Companion as one of my Tuesday Teases a few weeks ago. I buy all my TTs so decided I should hurry up and read one! Unfortunately, Her Ladyship's Companion was not as good as I hoped it would be.

HLC opens with a young Isabella getting ready to give her virtue away to the stableboy in her brother's stables. Her brother catches her right before she's deflowered but assumes the worst. He had high hopes for his sister as she was to marry a wealthy man to help lift the family out of debt. With his plans in tatters, the Earl marries her off to the first man who will have her.

Five years later, Isabella is in exile in Scotland. Her husband comes to visit for a day a few times a year and she is still cut off from her family, except for a French cousin. Her cousin can see that Isabella is lonely and pleads with her to accept the gift of a hired companion - of the masculine variety. Isabella is tempted, but propriety dictates she refuse the gift. Her cousin sends a man to her anyway, and Isabella throws caution to the wind.

Gideon arrives in Scotland and is immediately awestruck with Isabella. He sets about to slowly seduce her as he can tell she's a bit skittish. Isabella eventually gives in to her passionate nature and samples Gideon's ware. Along the way though, she falls in love with him. And on a second visit, Gideon realizes he's fallen in love with the lonely Isabella as well. But she's married and Gideon cannot escape the fact that he is a prostitute.

So where do I begin? First of all, after the initial seduction scene, the love scenes are kind of glossed over and a bit dull. And Isabella is incredibly responsive! I've never read of a heroine who could climax so easily and often! It was a bit much and it turned me off.

I didn't see how Gideon fell in love with Isabella. He just was all of a sudden and had to be with her.

What pissed me off though was Isabella's brothers. Their callous attitude toward their sister, until they realize the hell she's been through - ugh! So pompous! AND - the big thing with the brothers was getting out of debt. But it's NEVER ONCE mentioned that they could easily marry an heiress. No, they rely on their sister to get them out of debt. Just the fact that the simple solution of the brothers marrying money was overlooked just aggravated me.

Her Ladyship's Companion is Evangeline Collins' debut novel and although it wasn't perfect, I did keep reading to see how these two would get their HEA. It's by no means unpredictable. C

TBR Day: Simmer All Night by Geralyn Dawson

The theme for this month's TBR Challenge is "unrequited love" or "friends to lovers" - friends to lovers being one of my personal top favourites.  For this month I chose Geralyn Dawson's Simmer All Night, which was published in 1999. Although the h/h aren't exactly bestest friends, they did grow up together. Also, I've never read GD before and this book has been in my TBR Pile for ages.

A CHILI QUEEN IN ENGLAND

Independent daughter of socially prominent Texans, Christina Delaney stirs up scandal along with her spicy Texas Red when she's crowned Chili Queen of San Antonio. Her family reacts to this culinary coronation by packing her off to live with her grandfather on his English estate, hoping to transform Chrissy from Chili Queen to countess. Never mind the fact that what she longs for is a modest home and loving family deep in the heart of Texas.

A TEXAN WITH A CRAVING

Born British but reared Texan, Cole Morgan would do anything for the Delaney family, even escort the incorrigible Christina to England. Besides, he has his own agenda abroad: to locate the missing copy of the Republic of Texas' Declaration of Independence. But when a viscount offers Christina marriage, Cole is forced to see that the girl he grew up with is now a woman whose fiery passion -- and love -- he craves. So he sets out to win her, and in the process proves that only he can make the Chili Queen...

SIMMER ALL NIGHT

The blurb sounds totally silly but oh my was this an enjoyable read!

First of all, Chrissy is a saucy wench. She doesn't much care for the gatherings of genteel society and so she goes her own way and marches to the beat of her own drummer. She figures her mother disapproves of her no matter how she acts so she might as well act how she really wants to anyway. However, the Delaneys are prominent Texas citizens and they hold their reputation dearly. After one too many broken engagements and scandals, Chrissy's mother decides to send her off to her English grandfather, an Earl who knows all about strict discipline.

Cole Morgan enters the picture as a family friend. He was raised by Chrissy's parents when he was orphaned as a young boy. Cole and Jack, Chrissy's brother, are blood brothers and always left Chrissy out of all their adventures growing up, which made Chrissy furious. Chrissy definitely has a way of getting under his skin but he is almost totally blind to her beauty.

Right before Chrissy's latest scandal erupts, Cole has just agreed to head to England to look for one of the few remaining copies of the Texan Declaration of Independence. When Cole hears that Chrissy is getting sent overseas, he thinks that she will now be in charge of the search, but unfortunately that's not what's going to happen. Cole is going to escort Chrissy to England.

Cole and Chrissy - on a boat, with no corners to retreat to. It's going to be like cats and dogs.

Except Chrissy takes exception to her family's highhandedness and takes off to England with her best friend Leah and Leah's two children.

Ok, there's so much more going on here and I don't want to give everything away. LOL

First of all, Chrissy. I loved her! In a time when women were expected to be demure and ladylike, she flouted convention (as much as she could, but her mother didn't really give her a lot of room to flex her wings). She was sassy and brave and she could think and she thought of herself as equal to any man. Unfortunately, she didn't think herself equal to any woman and her mother had a pretty significant negative effect on how she viewed the world. With her mother's constant disapproval, it's no wonder Chrissy had trust issues when it came to Cole.

And Cole. Poor Cole. LOL He grew up with this hellcat in his back pocket and he almost didn't realize how he felt until it was too late. And I love those kinds of stories. He's a man who came from humble beginnings but didn't let that hold him back. He's a lawyer, a good looking guy and for the majority of the book, he wanted to strangle Chrissy. LOL

Simmer All Night was just loads of fun. It was great to see the way Chrissy and Cole finally took their blinders off to see what was right in front of them. Although Chrissy was a little bit stubborn and it took her a while to come around, she didn't annoy me at all. I found her to be a breath of fresh air. She wasn't going to wait around for a guy to make all the decisions. Heck no.

I also like that issues Chrissy had with her mother were resolved. The only thing I didn't like was the resolution to finding the declaration. Let's just say sequel bait.

And since everyone knows me so well, the love scenes were plenty steamy enough. :P

All in all, I'm giving Simmer All Night a B. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for Geralyn's backlist.

Tuesday Tease

Here's what I could find:

From the author of the erotic "Tempted" comes a sizzling new novel about a woman who after 20 years reunites with a man with whom she'd spent a summer--a fervent sexual accomplice who knows how to ignite an all-consuming obsession she had no idea she had carried deep within her.

Deeper is available on July 1, 2009.

ETA: I was at work when I did this post, so I couldn't exactly go onto the author's adult website. LOL But I finally did and here's the proper blurb - now that's hot stuff!

Some lovers never leave you...
Twenty years ago she had her whole life spread out before her like a mesmerizing map. She was Bess Walsh, a fresh-scrubbed, middle-class student ready to conquer the design world. And she was taken. Absolutely and completely.

But not by Andy, her well-groomed, intellectual boyfriend who hinted more than once about a ring. No. During that hot summer as a waitress and living on the beach, she met Nick, a dark haired, local bad boy. He was, to put it mildly, not someone she could take home to Daddy.

Instead, Nick became her dirty little secret; a fervent sexual accomplice who knew how to ignite an all-consuming obsession she had no idea she carried deep within her.

Bess had always wondered what happened to Nick after that summer, after their promise to meet again. And now, back at the beach house and taking a break from responsibility, from marriage, from life, she discovers his heartbreaking fate--and why he never came back for her. Suddenly Nick's name is on her lips...his hands on her thighs...dark hair and eyes called back from the swirling gray of purgatory's depths.

Dead, alive, or something in-between, they can't stop their hunger.

She wouldn't dare.

Vision in White by Nora Roberts

Wedding photographer Mackensie "Mac" Elliot is most at home behind the camera, but her focus is shattered moments before an important wedding rehearsal when she bumps into the bride-to-be's brother...an encounter that has them both seeing stars.

A stable, safe English teacher, Carter Maguire is definitely not Mac's type. But a casual fling might be just what she needs to take her mind off bridezillas. Of course, casual flings can turn into something more when you least expect it. And Mac will have to turn to her three best friends—and business partners—to see her way to her own happy ending.

Reason for Reading: At first I wasn't interested in this book and talked myself out of buying it. Then Nath started talking about it and I read her review and then I just had to read it. I'm glad I did.

Summary: There are 4 childhood friends: Parker, Emma, Laurel and Mac. As children, they liked to get married. To each other, to their pets, to Parker's brother on occasion. It only made sense for them to open Vows, their uber successful wedding business. Parker is the organizer, Emma is the food, Laurel is the decorations and Mac is the photographer.

Vision in White is Mac's story. She has been taking pictures ever since she was a young girl. At first she didn't take to it, but one magical day she captured the moment, and she's been capturing moments ever since. Her life has mostly been on track since then. Yeah it's been a while since she went on a date, but she's ok with that. The only thing that can rain on her parade is her mother, which she does to the tune of $3000. You see, mommy dearest wants to get over a broken heart at a spa and Mac is lucky enough to pay for it. There's a real passive-aggressive relationship between mom and Mac.

So one day, while preparing to meet a new client, Mac runs into the bride-to-be's brother, Carter. Carter has the whole hot nerd thing going for him (oh did he ever). Carter had a crush on Mac in high school, and when he walks in on Mac in just her bra, he's thrown for a loop. And he decides to take action.

My Thoughts: Vision in White is a straight up contemporary romance without a murder plot or some other nefarious plot device (unless you count Mac's mom LOL). Mac is the kind of heroine I like - she's smart, she's successful, she doesn't need a man and she's confident in her sexuality.

And Carter is definitely the kind of hero I like. What can I say, I like those nerdy guys. He's a bit unsure about his woo-ing abilities, he's a bit clumsy, but he's smart and he's a little bit in awe of the Mac he knew in high school. All in all, he's a good guy all the way around and sexy as hell. And another thing? He owns a three-legged cat. Awww!

The only conflict here is Mac's fear of commitment. Her mom issues really twist her up inside and that makes her afraid to open up to others. Her friends are there for her and they know that when Mac's mom comes calling what the outcome is going to be. They're pretty good about pulling her out of the black emotional hole.

What really makes Vision in White enjoyable for me was the humour. Here's an example:

"Fencing mishap," she prompted as he grinned.
"Oh that. I was running from a couple of kids who wanted to entertain themselves by pounding on me. I had to climb a fence, and in my usually nimble and graceful way, which unfortunately doesn't resemble pirates or the actors who play them, managed to slip. Gashed myself on the wire."
"Ouch. When was this?"
"Just last week."
Chuckling, she rolled on top of him. "Brutal little midgets."

Mac and Carter don't take themselves too seriously and they interactions are made up of this kind of dialog. Truly enjoyable. B

Hey Teena!

Teena blogged about snow in Toronto the other day.  It ended up being fake snow for a movie.  I wish I could say the same about this snow.  LOL

My cousin took this picture yesterday.  She lives an hour and a half away from me and this is what it looked like in her neck of the woods.  Us, we got a couple of snow flakes.  On her facebook she also has pictures of the snowman they made.  In the middle of May.

I love Canada.

In other news, there's going to be another Canadian blogger meet up this summer. It'll be on Saturday, June 13th in Ancaster. Nearby American neighbours are welcome as well. :P

Here's who's coming so far:

CindyS of Nocturnal Wonderings
Kristie J of Ramblings on Romance
Nath of Books, Books and more Books and Breezing Through
Lea of Closetwriter 
Me (although I'm still waiting for my supervisor to sign my vacation request. Hope she does that soon! LOL)

p.s.  I have a movie review up for Angels and Demons at the Boob Tube.  

review @ Breezing Through

Nath and I have a buddy review of Erin McCarthy's Hard and Fast up at Breezing Through.

Check it out HERE.

Grad student Imogen Wilson realizes she's hit on the perfect thesis for her sociology degree. If she follows the so-called "rules" on how to get a man, can she steer her way into the world and hearts of stock race car drivers, and establish their dating— and mating—patterns?

Although sexy and reckless racer Ty McCordle is the ideal test subject, Imogen knows that for the sake of science, she can't give in to her growing attraction for him. Yet he's the one who's chasing after her, and Imogen realizes that she actually wants to be caught. A southern gentleman like Ty will satisfy all her curiosity—and make all the risks worthwhile...

review @ Book Binge

I have a review of Whitney Gaskell's Good Luck up over at Book Binge.

Check it out HERE.

Lucy Parker wins the lottery on the worst day of her life. But can all the money in the world make up for a cheating boyfriend, a derailed career, and ending up in the middle of a media circus? Everyone wants a piece of Lucy.and all she wants is to escape from it all.

After life as she knows it falls apart, Lucy heads off to Palm Beach to hide out at the home of an old college friend. There, living in a tropical paradise of millionaires, Lucy acquires a new hair color, a new social set, and enough anonymity to put her notoriety behind her. Soon she's courted by two men who don't know her history. But just as Lucy begins to envision a new life for herself, the past catches up with her. Lucy would give up every penny to have her old life back - but just as she's ready to cash it all in, fate has one last surprise in store for her. One that will show her exactly what she's worth.

Tuesday Tease

#1 New York Times–bestselling author Nora Roberts takes us deep into the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, where the shadows keep secrets, hunters stalk the land, and a childhood friendship matures into an adult passion.

Asummer at his grandparents' South Dakota ranch is not eleven-year-old Cooper Sullivan's idea of a good time. But things are a bit more bearable now that he's discovered the neighbor girl, Lil Chance, and her homemade batting cage. Even horseback riding isn't as awful as Coop thought it would be. Each year, with Coop's annual summer visit, their friendship deepens from innocent games to stolen kisses, but there is one shared experience that will forever haunt them: the terrifying discovery of a hiker's body.

As the seasons change and the years roll, Lil stays steadfast to her dreams of becoming a wildlife biologist and protecting her family land, while Coop struggles with his father's demand that he attend law school and join the family firm. Twelve years after they last walked together hand in hand, fate has brought them back to the Black Hills when the people and things they hold most dear need them most.

An investigator in New York, Coop recently left his fastpaced life to care for his aging grandparents and the ranch he has come to call home. Though the memory of his touch still haunts her, Lil has let nothing stop her dream of opening the Chance Wildlife Refuge, but something . . . or someone . . . has been keeping a close watch. When small pranks and acts of destruction escalate into the heartless killing of Lil's beloved cougar, recollections of an unsolved murder in these very hills have Coop springing to action tokeep Lil safe.

Lil and Coop both know the natural dangers that lurk in the wild landscape of the Black Hills. But now they must work together to unearth a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts who has singled them out as prey.

I just finished Vision in White, the first NR I've read in a looooong time so I'm all kinds of excited about this one. Friends to lovers, CHECK, pet cougar CHECK CHECK. LOL

Black Hills will be hitting shelves in early July 2009.

classic Max

I was going through my old email items at work and this picture, with a few others, was hidden away. My dad sent me the email back in July 2005, so this picture is older than that.

So yeah, here's Max 4 years ago. He's fatter and there's more white on his face now. He'll be 10 this year.  I got him just before I turned 17 - after years and years of asking for a dog.  

Awww, I love him.  

Tuesday Tease

A debut novel of erotic intensity set in the Regency era.

In the Scottish countryside of Selkirk, Lady Isabella Stirling resides at Bowhill Park, serving penance for a sin that nearly ruined her family. For five years she has been condemned to a loveless marriage and confined to the estate where she does little more than tend her rose garden. With her husband absent for months at a time and few visitors, Bella lives a lonely existence, denying the passions that burn within her very soul.

Then her cousin comes for a visit and makes an outrageous suggestion: what Bella needs is a lover. A hired lover. Despite her need, Bella says no. But soon Mr. Gideon Rosedale arrives—and he is at her service for two weeks. Indulging in what she intends to be a harmless flirtation, Bella is overcome by Gideon's intoxicating presence. And when she at last permits him to satisfy her desires, she discovers she's done the unthinkable—she's fallen in love.

Title:  Her Ladyship's Companion

Author:  Evangeline Collins

Release Date:  May 5 2009

This sounds interesting. I'm all about a woman bucking convention in historical times and taking the reins on her own sexuality. Rah rah

review @ Breezing Through

I completely forgot to post about our three-way review at Breezing Through.

Kris, Chantal and I reviewed Nauti Intentions by Lora Leigh.

Since he saw Janey Mackay taking a dip in her bikini, Major Alex Jansen has had to quell the fire she ignites in him. Even touching her would mean death at the hands of the Mackay men. Until now, the girl of his dreams—and fantasies—has lived in a vacuum of affection, shying away from the danger she thinks men represent. Alex sets out to prove her wrong, with his torturously slow caresses.Everyone thinks Janey’s safe now, with her abusers dead. But when someone starts leaving spine chilling notes, Alex won’t rest until she’s completely safe. And completely his—body and soul…