The Outlander Reading Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Jenn. You can read the specifics here.

Anytime between Nov. 17th, 2009, and Nov. 17th, 2010, read the entire Outlander series. ((You do not have to start on Nov. 17th you can start the challenge anytime in the course of the challenge you like there is not any right or wrong way to do it.)) Read Outlander through the latest book An Echo in the Bone. (Any format is acceptable - be it paperback, hardback, ebook format, or audio *the unabridged audio is best as you will miss a LOT of the stories if you get the abridged versions, but is not strictly required*

SERIES READING ORDER

• 1. Outlander
• 2. Dragonfly In Amber
• 3. Voyager
• 4. Drums of Autumn
• 5. The Fiery Cross
• 6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes
• 7. An Echo in the Bone
• Optional : The Outlandish Companion

I'll list each book here as I finish.

Friday Finds - Nov. 20

What books did you find this week?

Friday Finds is at Should Be Reading

2009 Holiday Reading Challenge

I've decided to join Nely and her 2009 Holiday Reading Challenge. You can get all the specifics here. I'll start with a list. As I read a book I'll link from this list to my review.

Bed and Breakfast by Lois Battle

On Strike For Christmas by Sheila Roberts

That Holiday Feeling (anthology)

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle

It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale

The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson

Bill Walker - Blog Tour Guest Post

Brian Weller is a haunted man. It's been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma. A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian's life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife's prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him. Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power of true love.

Author information:

He's a graphic designer specializing in book and dust jacket design, and has worked on projects by Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. Between his design work and his writing, he spends his spare time reading voraciously and playing very loud guitar, much to the chagrin of his lovely wife and two sons. Bill makes his home in Los Angeles and can be reached through his web site: http://www.billwalkerdesigns.com/

* * * * * * *

Today I'm very pleased to welcome Bill Walker, author of A Note from an Old Acquaintance

In my journey towards becoming a published author, I worked with a few freelance editors, who were instrumental in teaching me some very valuable lessons. One of them, a retired gentleman with a very impressive résumé that included stints as an advertising and publishing executive, taught me one in particular that I thought I'd impart. During one of our sessions, he asked me a pointed question one day:

"Bill, do you like to write?"

My answer was immediate: "I love it. When I’m in the midst of a story or a novel, I can't wait to get going every morning."

He chuckled and said, "Then I would never have hired you to work as a copywriter in my agency. I always found the ones who hated to write did the best work by far."

Needless to say, I was mortified and his words festered in my mind for a long time. Was I destined to be a mediocre talent just because I happened to love telling stories? Here I was working doggedly to learn the craft and now I'm being told that in order to be truly good at it, I should hate it.

Well, here's what I have to say about that: "Bollocks!"

Sure, perhaps there were great authors who couldn't stand to face that blank page every day, but I'd be willing to bet they weren't all that prolific and no matter how great they are or were at their craft, some of that contempt has to come through onto the written page. But I've also read about many other writers who proudly profess to love it. Stephen King and Dean Koontz are two that come to mind. And their work is memorable, entertaining, and thought provoking—all the benchmarks of truly great writing.

In thinking of that editor's words, I came to realize that for myself, I've always found a way to stop doing what I don't like. For me, I have to truly love something in order to put in the time to become truly good at it. I don’t care if it's writing, guitar playing...or gardening.

My advice to budding authors out there is to ignore discouraging moments like this and let nothing stand in your way. Follow your dreams and your inspirations. Learn as much as you can by reading AND writing, for if you don't exercise those writing muscles, they will atrophy. Writing A Note from and Old Acquaintance was truly a labor of love and the culmination of all the years of hard work and rejection. To this day, I'm very glad I ignored what that elderly gentleman said. For me writing is more than just a job, it's a calling.

* * * * * * *

You can find A Note from an Old Acquaintance here or here.

Waiting on Wednesday - Nov. 18

at Breaking The Spine

Brava, Valentine: A Novel

HarperCollins

February 2, 2010

I couldn't find a synopsis - just the cover. It is book two in the Valentine series.

What are you reading? - Nov. 16

Join this meme at J. Kaye's Book Blog

Last Week:

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

This Week:

All That Matters by Stef Ann Holm

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

Mailbox Monday - Nov. 16

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. Mailbox Monday is hosted at The Printed Page.

From Nely:

From FSB Associates (for review):

Sunday Summary - Nov. 15

I was happy to be a stop on the blog tour of White Picket Fences. You can read my thoughts here about Susan Meissner's latest novel.

A new novel by Anne Tyler (due out in January) was my Waiting On Wednesday pick.

My Friday Finds highlighted 3 books that are now on my TBR list. In fact, one is on its way to me for review.

I managed to read ONE book: Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. You can read my very brief thoughts in the Show Me 5 Saturday meme - it's the first time I've joined in the fun and I may do more "reviews" using this form.

*******

My youngest daughter is home right now while she has H1N1. She's on Tamiflu and getting a lot of sleep. We're hoping for a quick recovery. Since she lives and works in another city 90 minutes away, I'm relieved we could bring her home to give her TLC.

That was my week. I wish you all good health and good books.

Show Me 5 Saturday - Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

That's A Novel Idea has started a new MEME called Show Me Five Saturday. This meme will give each blogger an opportunity to give a brief description of a book they have read or reviewed during the week. It will work like this: Each Saturday you will post the answer to these questions. The number indicates the number of answers you will provide.

1 Book you read and/or reviewed this week

2 Words that describe the book

3 Settings where it took place or characters you met

4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it

5 Stars or less for your rating?

1. Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

2. Chick-Lit, Mystery

3. Savannah;

the local antique furnishings scene (especially at Beaulieu, a "crumbling rice plantation");

Weezie's carriage house (behind her ex-husband's townhouse).

4. Liked: the humorous writing of Ms. Andrews;

the main characters (Weezie and all her family and friends);

the budding romance of Weezie and Daniel;

the fact that I want to call my sisters and good friends to suggest this book.

5. 5 stars because it was such a fun read. I looked forward to picking it up again as soon as I had to set it down. There's a sequel, yay!

From my book shelf

Giveaway Winner - White Picket Fences

Congratulations to

Darcy O.

Random.org picked her name to win my copy of

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

Friday Finds - Nov. 13

I think they all look like good books!

Friday Finds is at Should Be Reading

A Quick Giveaway - White Picket Fences

I was part of the blog tour for White Picket Fences this week and would like to offer my copy to someone who really wants to read this book. See my original post to read what I thought about the book. If you're interested, come back here to sign up for the giveaway.

I have to limit it to residents of the US

Leave your email in a comment by 9pm eastern, Friday, Nov. 13

I'll post the winner on Saturday, Nov. 14 Good luck!

Giveaway now closed

Giveaway Winners - To Desire A Devil

Winners of

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

Toni

Benita G.

Belinda M.

etirv

scottsgal

Congratulations!

Waiting on Wednesday - Nov. 11

Goodreads synopsis:

Liam Pennywell, who set out to be a philosopher and ended up teaching fifth grade, never much liked the job at that run-down private school, so early retirement doesn’t bother him. But he is troubled by his inability to remember anything about the first night that he moved into his new, spare, and efficient condominium on the outskirts of Baltimore. All he knows when he wakes up the next day in the hospital is that his head is sore and bandaged.

His effort to recover the moments of his life that have been stolen from him leads him on an unexpected detour. What he needs is someone who can do the remembering for him. What he gets is—well, something quite different.

We all know a Liam. In fact, there may be a little of Liam in each of us. Which is why Anne Tyler’s lovely novel resonates so deeply.

Product Details

• Pub. Date: January 05, 2010
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Format: Hardcover, 288pp

Hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine

Thank You, Veterans

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner - Blog Tour

Summary:

Amanda Janvier’s idyllic home seems the perfect place for her niece Tally to stay while her vagabond brother is in Europe, but the white picket fence life Amanda wants to provide is a mere illusion. Amanda’s husband Neil refuses to admit their teenage son Chase, is haunted by the horrific fire he survived when he was four, and their marriage is crumbling while each looks the other way.

Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away.

* * * * * *

My thoughts:

I found White Picket Fences to be a cautionary tale of what can happen to people when they don't want to upset the status quo. People usually keep secrets because they don't want to cause pain or unhappiness for themselves or others - but that can sometimes have the opposite effect.

Although I thought this was a quiet novel, it made me feel anything but quiet. The first half slowly unveiled a few secrets and then events occurred that set the plot in motion. I won't reveal more except to say that the pace picked up and I read the second half of the book without stopping.

My favorite characters were the two gentlemen who told their stories to Tally and Chase. Not only did they share their Holocaust memories but they gave wise advice to the two teens that helped them make decisions regarding issues in their own lives.

Susan Meissner's novel is a touching tale. I'm glad I read the book and recommend it to readers of Contemporary fiction and YA fiction. An interview with the author is included. White Picket Fences would be a good family book club selection.

You can get more information about White Picket Fences here.

Review copy provided by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

What are you reading? - Nov. 9

at J. Kaye's Book Blog

Last Week:

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti

All the Right Angles by Stef Ann Holm

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

This Week:

Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

All That Matters by Stef Ann Holm

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

Mailbox Monday - Nov. 9

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. Mailbox Monday is hosted at The Printed Page.

From HarperCollins for review:

I bought:

Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

Book Description

It's 1964 and ten-year-old Felix is sure of a few things: the birds and the bees are puzzling, television is magical, and this is one Christmas he'll never forget.

LBJ and Lady Bird are in the White House, Meet the Beatles is on everyone's turntable, and Felix Funicello (distant cousin of the iconic Annette!) is doing his best to navigate fifth grade—easier said than done when scary movies still give you nightmares and you bear a striking resemblance to a certain adorable cartoon boy.

Back in his beloved fictional town of Three Rivers, Connecticut, with a new cast of endearing characters, Wally Lamb takes his readers straight into the halls of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School—where Mother Filomina's word is law and goody-two-shoes Rosalie Twerski is sure to be minding everyone's business. But grammar and arithmetic move to the back burner this holiday season with the sudden arrivals of substitute teacher Madame Frechette, straight from Québec, and feisty Russian student Zhenya Kabakova. While Felix learns the meaning of French kissing, cultural misunderstanding, and tableaux vivants, Wishin' and Hopin' barrels toward one outrageous Christmas.

From the Funicello family's bus-station lunch counter to the elementary school playground (with an uproarious stop at the Pillsbury Bake-Off), Wishin' and Hopin' is a vivid slice of 1960s life, a wise and witty holiday tale that celebrates where we've been—and how far we've come.

* * * * * * *

My thoughts: Wishin' and Hopin' is an amusing novel about Felix Funicello (Annette is his third cousin) and his 5th grade year at St. Aloysius Gonzaga.

I really enjoyed reading about Felix and his classmates, teachers, and family. I went to Catholic elementary school (in the 1960s) and could relate to much of the story. Wally Lamb infused humor throughout the book. That said, there were a few times when I really felt sympathy for a couple of Felix's classmates. The class is guided through the first semester by a memorable substitute teacher. Lamb's story culminates in a hilarious Christmas program.

I recommend placing Wishin' and Hopin' on your reading list this season.

Review copy from HarperCollins

Sunday Summary - Nov. 8

Books reviewed last week:

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

All the Right Angles by Stef Ann Holm

Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

I'm hosting a giveaway of To Desire a Devil. It ends on Nov.11 so enter soon!

Sign up for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap ends on Nov.12. Click the button if you want to know the specifics.

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris was my pick for Waiting on Wednesday. I liked his first novel Then We Came to the End.

National Bookstore Day

Today is National Bookstore Day. I plan to visit the nearest independent bookstore and buy a book or two. I buy from all different sources but I understand the importance of the small independent shops. I know times are tough for buyers as well as sellers and these days of price wars aren't easy. So, today I'm going to champion the "little guy" and buy from Next Chapter Book Shop. Click the logo to visit their website.

All the Right Angles by Stef Ann Holm

Synopsis

Architect Francesca Moretti has always been taught to aim high, work hard and finish what you start. So when it falls to her--the baby of the family and only daughter--to head up the family construction business and see a high-profile project through to completion, there is no question of bailing out.

Still, it won't be easy. Construction is a guys' game--Franci will have to prove she's just as comfortable in steel-toed work boots as in peep-toe heels. To make matters worse, the financing company has sent a glorified babysitter to oversee the project: nitpicking workaholic Kyle Jagger. The human watchdog is constantly looking over Franci's shoulder--and not always at the blueprints. And Franci's getting the distinct impression that Kyle is interested in a little more than just the bottom line.

* * * * * * *

My thoughts: When I post a review I usually include the synopsis from the book or one found on BN.com or Amazon.com. I'm not sure if the person who wrote this synopsis actually read the book but I want to say Kyle didn't seem like a "nitpicking workaholic" or "human watchdog".

I really liked All the Right Angles. It's the first of three books. Franci and Kyle's story was fun to watch unfold. I enjoyed reading about the Moretti family and can imagine a few possible story lines for the books that follow. Although I thought the ending was a bit too abrupt, this is a feel-good romantic novel and I recommend it.

Kindle edition

To Desire a Devil - Blog Tour, Review, Giveaway

Back of the book:

After seven years in hellish captivity, Reynaud St. Aubyn busts into his ancestral home half mad with fever, demanding his due. Can this wild man truly be the last earl's son, thought murdered by Indians?

Beatrice Corning is the niece of the present earl and a proper English miss. Yet she has a secret: No real man has ever excited her more than the handsome youth in a certain portrait. Now, suddenly, he's here, in the flesh - and luring her into his bed.

Only Beatrice can see past Reynaud's savage ways to the noble man inside. And Reynaud is drawn to this lovely lady, even as her loyalty to her uncle raises his suspicions. But can she tame a man who will stop at nothing to regain his title - even if it means sacrificing her innocence?

* * * * * * *

My thoughts:

Since the first book in The Legend of the Four Soldiers we've read about Reynaud St. Aubyn. When the four soldiers were fighting in the Colonies their unit was overtaken by a group of Indians. Most of the unit died but the four soldiers were captured and tortured. Three of them (the main characters of the previous three books) thought they witnessed the death of St. Aubyn. Throughout the series they've been searching for the traitor who tipped off the attackers where the soldiers would be on the fateful day. With the reappearance of St. Aubyn the four men resolve to find the traitor once and for all.

Another aspect of the novel is that Reynaud wants to reclaim his title which is now held by Beatrice's uncle. She's torn between her loyalty to the man who has raised her and her new love who she knows deserves his title. There's political intrigue woven throughout the story, as well.

Elizabeth Hoyt wrote another exciting novel. I love her subtle and detailed character and setting descriptions. When I read her books I feel totally immersed in the story. To Desire a Devil was no exception. The romance between Reynaud and Beatrice was intense and sometimes startling. Hoyt is known for her wicked hot romantic scenes and it holds true in this book. There's also an exciting dramatic sequence that made me wonder how the book would conclude. I'm sorry to see the series end. I recommend this book (and the rest of the series) to fans of Historical Romance.

visit ElizabethHoyt.com for more information

Review copy provided by Hachette Book Group

* * * * * * *

Hachette Book Group has allowed me to offer 5 copies of To Desire a Devil for a giveaway.

* Open to residents of US and Canada

* No PO Boxes

To enter:

Tell me why you'd like to win this book and then leave your name AND email all in one comment. That's it! Remember: everything in one comment.

Contest ends Wednesday, Nov. 11th at 9pm (eastern)

Contest Closed

Holiday Swap

I'm going to join in the fun of the Book Blogger Holiday Swap.

You can too!

Just head over and sign up here.

Deadline to sign up is November 12.

Waiting on Wednesday - Nov. 4

• Pub. Date: January 18, 2010
• Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
• Format: Hardcover, 320pp

Synopsis

He was going to lose the house and everything in it.

The rare pleasure of a bath, the copper pots hanging above the kitchen island, his family-again he would lose his family. He stood inside the house and took stock. Everything in it had been taken for granted. How had that happened again? He had promised himself not to take anything for granted and now he couldn't recall the moment that promise had given way to the everyday.

Tim Farnsworth is a handsome, healthy man, aging with the grace of a matinee idol. His wife Jane still loves him, and for all its quiet trials, their marriage is still stronger than most. Despite long hours at the office, he remains passionate about his work, and his partnership at a prestigious Manhattan law firm means that the work he does is important. And, even as his daughter Becka retreats behind her guitar, her dreadlocks and her puppy fat, he offers her every one of a father's honest lies about her being the most beautiful girl in the world.

He loves his wife, his family, his work, his home. He loves his kitchen. And then one day he stands up and walks out. And keeps walking.

THE UNNAMED is a dazzling novel about a marriage and a family and the unseen forces of nature and desire that seem to threaten them both. It is the heartbreaking story of a life taken for granted and what happens when that life is abruptly and irrevocably taken away.

Hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti

Book flap:

It started in a cemetery, where they begrudgingly share a bench. "Shrimp", the childless young widow and librarian with a sharp intellect and a home so tidy that her jam jars are in alphabetical order, meets Benny, the gentle, overworked milk farmer who fears becoming the village's Old Bachelor. Both driven by an enormous longing and loudly ticking biological clocks, they can't escape the powerful attraction between them.

But how will she learn to accept that he falls asleep at the opera and has a house full of his mother's cross-stitch? And how could he ever feel at home in her minimalist apartment, bare as a dentist's waiting room?

* * * * * * *

First I'd like to thank Katrina for sending me her copy of Benny & Shrimp. This slim novel was as addicting as the blurb on the cover claimed. The chapters are 3-4 pages and alternate between Benny and Shrimp's version of the same story. It's a rather quiet story that had me smiling much of the time.

The main characters are in their mid-late 30s and getting worried that life is passing them by. Instead of observing, they want to participate in life. So they take a leap and strike up an unlikely friendship that becomes much more - but what? They reach a point where they know it's time to make a big decision.

I don't want to give away any more of the book but I will encourage you to make time to read Benny & Shrimp. I'm glad I did and hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks again, Katrina!

Note: Also included in the book is a Q&A with the author as well as discussion questions. In the interview Katarina Mazetti says she wrote a sequel a few years after Benny & Shrimp was published. Has anyone read it? I searched online but didn't find any mention of it. Maybe there isn't an English translation yet.

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh - Blog Tour

Summary:

Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. She’s even “engaged to be engaged” to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman Grant Spangler.

Now all of Piper’s hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncle’s bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generations’ worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicks’ secrets, including Piper’s.

Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obe’s rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, can’t she stay on task? With the Lord’s help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.

* * * * * * *

Piper Pickwick tries to live a good and honest life but, like most of us, she has things she needs to work on. When she is called back to her hometown she gets the opportunity and time to work on correcting past wrongs. It took me several pages to get into the rhythm of Leaving Carolina but once I did, the pace picked up and I quickly finished reading the book.

Two of my favorite characters in the book help Piper realize that life can be good when you face your past instead of run from it. Those two are Uncle Obe and Axel Smith. Obe has received a diagnosis of dementia and wants to make things right in his own life. Piper has always been his favorite relative and she feels the same about him. Axel is Obe's godson and works as gardener on Obe's estate. Obe thinks Axel (who has had several challenges in his life) could be a good match for his niece. The story moves in several directions and never failed to keep my attention.

There are several interesting characters in addition to my favorites. Two of them will be featured in a second book due out in 2010. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy Chick Lit and Contemporary Christian Fiction.

You can find more information about Leaving Carolina here.

Review book fromWaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

What are you reading? - Nov. 2

hosted at J. Kaye's Book Blog

Last Week:

Chosen By Desire by Kate Perry

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt (review will be posted Nov. 5)

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Chocolate: A Love Story by Max Brenner

This Week:

Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti

All the Right Angles by Stef Anne Holm

Sunday Summary - Nov. 1

I read a few books this week:

Chosen By Desire (review)

Chocolate: A Love Story (review)

A Highlander's Temptation (review)

To Desire a Devil (review to be posted this week)

The Waiting On Wednesday pick this week was Forbidden Falls - you can read about it here. It's the newest addition to Robyn Carr's Virgin River series and I'm really looking forward to that.

I hope my Friday Finds pick will be as good as it sounds. The Three Weissmanns of Westport is due out in February, 2010.

I changed the background on the blog - which I've been doing almost monthly. Can you believe November is here already? Daylight Saving Time is over in the US. The holidays are almost upon us and I'm looking forward them.

Happy reading!

October books:

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham

To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh (Book #100)

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

Chosen By Desire by Kate Perry

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Happy Halloween!

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Mitz!

Random.org picked her name to win my copy of

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

A Quick Giveaway

I'm giving away my gently-read copy of A Highlander's Temptation

I have to limit it to residents of the US - no PO Boxes

* Leave your name and email in one comment

* Ends tomorrow - Saturday at noon EDT, October 31st.

Contest Closed

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder

\

Back of the book:

Darroc MacConacher spends sleepless nights dreaming of a raven-haired beauty who makes him ache with desire. Then his dream comes true: the lady with her lush curves and fair skin appears shipwrecked on his shores. Darroc is immediately drawn to her strength and beauty, and from the moment she lays eyes on this powerful, broad-shouldered warrior, Lady Arabella MacKenzie knows she'll never want another man.

But theirs is a forbidden love. The MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands and destroyed their honor. Now, Darroc can use this sapphire-eyed seductress to shatter his foes. Yet how can he deny the passion that burns between him and Arabella, and ruin the one woman who touches his very soul?

* * * * * * *

(possible spoilers)

As I read A Highlander's Temptation, the story of Romeo and Juliet came to mind. There's no love lost between the MacKenzies and the MacConachers just as there was none between the Montagues and the Capulets. Darroc and Arabella meet in a most unusual way, overcome obstacles and become determined to marry. There is a sea adventure or two in the story which adds excitement to the novel.

This is the first I've read of this type of historical romance. There is a bit of magic and a whole lot of Scottish accent/words in the dialogue. At times, this really slowed the reading for me. I'm sure fans of Scottish romances would have no issue with it. I recommend it to fans of the genre.

Review copy provided by Hachette Book Group

Friday Finds - Oct. 30

I found this at Breaking the Spine. Jill named it her Waiting On Wednesday pick this week. We have to wait until February 2010.

From Amazon.com:

Jane Austen’s beloved Sense and Sensibility has moved to Westport, Connecticut, in this enchanting modern-day homage to the classic novel

When Joseph Weissmann divorced his wife, he was seventy eight years old and she was seventy-five . . . He said the words “Irreconcilable differences,” and saw real confusion in his wife’s eyes.

“Irreconcilable differences?” she said. “Of course there are irreconcilable differences. What on earth does that have to do with divorce?”

Thus begins The Three Weissmanns of Westport, a sparkling contemporary adaptation of Sense and Sensibility from the always winning Cathleen Schine, who has already been crowned “a modern-day Jewish Jane Austen” by People’s Leah Rozen.

In Schine’s story, sisters Miranda, an impulsive but successful literary agent, and Annie, a pragmatic library director, quite unexpectedly find themselves the middle-aged products of a broken home. Dumped by her husband of nearly fifty years and then exiled from their elegant New York apartment by his mistress, Betty is forced to move to a small, run-down Westport, Connecticut, beach cottage. Joining her are Miranda and Annie, who dutifully comes along to keep an eye on her capricious mother and sister. As the sisters mingle with the suburban aristocracy, love starts to blossom for both of them, and they find themselves struggling with the dueling demands of reason and romance.

Cathleen Schine is the author of The New Yorkers and The Love Letter, among other novels. She has contributed to The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Magazine, and The New York Times Book Review.

Friday Finds is at Should Be Reading

Chocolate: A Love Story by Max Brenner

With gigantic vats of churning chocolate, desserts like their famous chocolate pizza, and 12 varieties of hot chocolate served in custom mugs, Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man has turned their line of hip, colorful themed restaurants into an international sensation..

Chocolate: A Love Story is a vibrant new cookbook that includes 65 original recipes narrated in the quirky, captivating voice of Max Brenner, the restaurant's visionary founder and "bald man." Bold original illustrations inspired by Art Deco poster graphics, full-color photographs, easy-to-follow, delicious recipes, and a serving of Max's unique vision for spreading "chocolate culture" around the

world make this book a must for every chocolate lover.

* * * * * * *

This is the coolest cookbook I've ever seen! The artwork is fresh, the recipe titles make me laugh and I can't wait to start baking. The book is coffee-table size and it would be a perfect coffee-table book. Chocolate: A Love Story truly is a feast for the eyes. However, it is a cookbook so it would go on the appropriate shelf in my kitchen - but facing out and maybe with a spotlight shining on it...

Max Brenner writes "I invite you to watch, smell, taste, and feel my love story."

If you are a fan of chocolate, you'll love this book. It would be a wonderful gift to give or receive.

I'll close with a few recipe titles:

* Dependable Banana Cupcakes

with dark chocolate chunks and a moody coconut sugar glaze

* Spy-thriller Chocolate Black Forest Cake

covered with Alpine whipped cream and cherry, the German double agent on top

* A Therapeutic Chocolate Pot Pie

with a rich filling of soul-refreshing strawberries

* A High School Bonfire Chocolate Melting Heart Cake

with a soft marshmallow first memory hidden inside

Review copy from Hachette Book Group

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Nancye!

Random.org picked her name to win my copy of

Chosen By Desire by Kate Perry

Waiting on Wednesday - Oct. 28

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

FORBIDDEN FALLS
January 2010 / MIRA
$7.99 U.S. & $8.99 CAN.
ISBN-10: 0778327493
ISBN-13: 978-0778327493

You can read about it at the author's website. It's the newest book in the Virgin River series - there will be two more in 2010. Although the info above lists January 2010 as release date, both Amazon and B&N: December 29, 2009.

A Quick Giveaway

I'm giving away my gently-read copy of Chosen By Desire by Kate Perry. You can read my thoughts about the book here.

To enter the giveaway:

* Leave your name and email in one comment.

* Open to US residents only/no PO Boxes

Contest closes at 9pm EDT, Wednesday, Oct. 28th

Contest Closed

Chosen By Desire by Kate Perry

It's down to the wire and Carrie Woods is leaving China without the proof she needs for her thesis: Wei Lin's journal. While on a final tour of the monastery, Carrie finally locates the scrolls and attempts to photograph the documents. Caught in a sticky situation, Carrie takes the scrolls, only to notice a mysterious monk watching her--the same monk that she's seen each time she's taken a tour. Unable to return the scrolls, she travels back to California and isn't too thrilled when she notices the monk at the airport.

Maximillian Prescott first came to the monastery as an orphaned teenager when he inherited the Book of Metal from a distant uncle he hardly knew. After spotting a woman stealing from the monastery, he follows her to get back the documents he knows she's stolen. Max is further intrigued when he finds out that the chatty woman is friends with his archrival, Rhys Llewellyn, and he will stop at nothing to get back everything he's lost.

* * * * * * *

One of my goals this year is to take a tiny step out of my comfort zone of Women's Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Historical Fiction, etc. So when Anna from Hachette Book Group offered Chosen By Desire for review I jumped at the chance.

Author Kate Perry wrote an entertaining novel. I enjoyed the humor as well as the drama throughout the story. I haven't read any urban fantasy novels and, looking back now, I think this was a good book to try. It's not too unbelievable. I found myself enjoying the romance between Carrie and Max, the mystery involving the scrolls, and the special powers possessed by Max and the other Guardians of Destiny.

When I finished the book I bought the first in the series: Marked By Passion. I look forward to reading about what happened before Carrie came into the picture. Recommended to fans of Urban Fantasy/Romance.

Review copy from Hachette Book Group

What are you reading? - Oct. 26

hosted at J. Kaye's Book Blog

Last Week:

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner (blog tour in Nov.)

This Week:

Chosen By Desire by Kate Perry

To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder