Friday, November 27, 2009

Calypso Magic


Title: Calyso Magic
Author: Catherine Coulter
Series: Magic Series (Book 2)
Genre: Historical Romance


Diana has lived in the West Indies her whole life until her father sends her to a distant Aunt in London to find her a husband. Diana is high spirited and tan. Most of all she doesn't want a husband. Her Aunt has her sights set on Lyonel for her, another distant relative.

Lyonel was engaged to be married at one time. He found his fiance in the stables with another man and called it off. Being the gentleman he didn't tell the whole world why, just let them think what they wanted.

The two are constantly butting heads around London and eventually the two are somehow convinced into going to the West Indies so that Lyon can take Diana home. When they arrive at Diana's home there is a murder mystery.

I had such a hard time with this book. I couldn't get into it and it took me forever to read. In addition to other issues with the book, a "thrasing" followed by fondling (against the heroine's will) and later attempted rape (she says no, but he wants it anyway) and a brutal coupling that leaves the heroine bleeding, the storyline just didn't do it for me.

I'm tempted to not finish the series, but there is only one more book (I think) and it has gotten stellar reviews on Amazon. Perhaps Ms. Coulter can redeem herself.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Midsummer Magic


Title: Midsummer Magic
Author: Catherine Coulter
Series: Magic Series (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance



Hawk's father has a debt to pay to a Scottish man who saved his life. He promised him that one of his son's would marry one of his daughters. Hawk sets off for Scottland to meet the Scottish daughters and choose his bride.

There are 3 daughters, two of which are excited to meet the Lord and try to look their best and be exactly what he wants (so they think) in a wife. The third, Frances, does not want to marry and move away so she dresses horribly, hiding her beauty with glasses and dowdy clothing. It backfires on her when Hawk chooses her anyway. He figures he can marry her and leave her in the country while he goes back to London and his mistress.

Eventually Frances comes out of her shell, to her husbands surprise and they find themselves in the middle of a mystery full of murder and attempted harm due to a racing horse farm that they own.

This is the first time I've ever read anything by Catherine Coulter. I picked her up simply because she had a lot of books at the library. Too many times I come across an author who I love and they've only come out with a limited amount of books that I go through too fast. I was hoping to find another love that had many books out.

That being said, the story line was overall acceptable but there was something missing. The two main characters never really in my opinion feel in love. In most romance novels there is this point when the characters take the plunge and profess their undying love for each other and their relationship changes dramatically. I never found that to happen in this book. The two never professed their love, and Hawk continued to boss Frances around in a overbearing way without that, "I'm just doing it because I love you so much" mentality. Not to mention that he essentially rapes her the first few times in their marriage.

I've read that this is not totally common in her books so I'm going to finish off the series and perhaps read another set by her.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie


Title: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Highland Pleasures (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance

Beth is about to marry a horrible man and Ian can't stand it. It doesn't matter that he's never met her before or that he doesn't know her. He writes her a letter telling her about what a bad man her fiance is and gives it to her upon their first meeting.

Beth is instantly intrigued by Ian. There is something that is a bit off (or mad) about him. He's not like all of the other men she's met. She looks into his claims and finds that what he says is true. She breaks it off with her fiance and becomes the object of Ian's interest.

Ian and Beth find themselves in an interesting position. Ian could possibly be arrested for "abducting" her. He decides the best thing for them is to be married. It helps that he wants her desperately and that they have a sizzling attraction to each other.

The two then need to learn how to live together and to solve the mystery behind a courtesan's death from many years ago.

It took me until the second chapter to realize there really was something with Ian. I thought perhaps like some books he was a bit eccentric and they had labeled him as mad. Ian has aspergers. It made for a romance novel unlike any I had read before. I highly enjoyed it, although did have some issues with him seeming so childlike. I know that is sometimes how they appear due to the aspbergers, but it was hard for me to see someone like that in a romantic role. He still does make for a fantastic male lead.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Goddess of the Hunt


Title: Goddess of the Hunt
Author: Tessa Dare
Series: Unnamed, I'll call it Dare Trilogy 1 (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance



Lucy is a young woman is besotted with one of her brother's best friends. The main problem is that he is about to get married. In order to better seduce him, Lucy turns to another of her brother's best friends, Jeremy and practices her feminine wiles on him.

Jeremy has had a tough life. He is viewed to be ice cold and has troubles letting any see the true him and letting any one in. Somehow, with her first inexperienced kiss Lucy draws him in in a way no one has before.

Sometimes I come across books that I think I need to own. This is one of them. If all of Tessa Dare's books are like this one then I think I have another favorite author. She currently has only written this trilogy and one other stand alone book (in addition to a smattering of non-book items). I cannot wait to go on with this trilogy it was amazing.

When I read the scenes between Lucy and Jeremy my heart would pound. They were just beautifully written. I loved the story line and the depth of the characters was phenomenal. Overall just fantastic!

Monday, November 9, 2009

The Rivers of Zadaa


Title: The Rivers of Zadaa
Author: D.J. MacHale
Series: Pendragon (Book 6)
Genre: Young Adult



Even though I think that Black Water is a turning point for the Pendragon series, I feel like The Rivers of Zadaa take it a bit farther. We learn new things about just about every main character, and even some of the more minor ones.

The territory of Zadaa is Loor's territory. There are two different "races." The Batu who live above ground and the Rokador, who live below ground and control the water. There is a drought and the two groups are brewing for a war. Sounds like Saint Dane to me!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Fever 1793


Title: Fever 1793
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Series: None
Genre: Historical Fiction/Young Adult



Mattie is a young girl who lives in Pennsylvania with her Mother and Grandfather. They own and operate a coffeehouse in 1793. It seems almost overnight people have contracted Yellow Fever and are dying. Mattie's own Mother is dumped at their doorstep after having fainted from contracting the fever. It is decided that Mattie will go to the country with her Grandfather to escape the fever outbreak.

Mattie's Grandfather has a cough and therefore they are denied entrance to a small town they need to pass through to get to their country destination, the two become deserted in the middle of nowhere and of course Mattie falls ill with Yellow Fever.

The story continues with Mattie's almost coming of age story. She survives the fever and has to learn how to survive in a new city. Food is scarce and crime is high.

I was recommended this book by a fellow teacher. She wasn't mistaken, I think this was a phenomenal book. There is an appendix that tells what is true from the book. I found it very interesting to know that all along mosquitoes were carrying the fever. I'm usually not one for much in the way of history, but this book was simply fantastic.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Bed of Roses


Title: Bed of Roses
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Bride Quartet (Book 2)
Genre: Romance



Emma is the florist for Vows. She is a hopeless romantic and wants it all. Her big dream is to have a moonlight dance in a garden with the man she loves.

Jack has been around the family for years. As one Parker's brother's best friend he knows all the girls and is almost like a brother, except to Emma. Jack is an architect and has a few issues with people invading his space. He goes through girlfriends quickly, but still seems like a nice guy.

During a wedding at Vows, Jack takes a leap and kisses Emma. The two have been yearning for each other all of these years and a romance breaks out between the two of them. It's an interesting pairing when Emma wants it all and Jack wants to keep her at a distance. Eventually this comes to a head and the two have a major fight and "breakup."

The book couldn't end this way, so eventually after everyone has calmed down they reunite and Emma gets her Happily Ever After

This book definitely brought out the hopeless romantic in me. It had me dreaming these amazing dreams where I was being whisked away to far away places (Stowe, Vermont) and having incredibly romantic vacations (Here). I've never been there before, but always have wanted to go and those pictures stayed in my mind and came to life.

Aside from that, the book was decent enough. I don't remember enough about the previous book to remember if it was better or the same. Sometime there would be paragraph long descriptions of the flowers, which makes sense that's what she does. But I cannot picture many of the flowers that were used. I also felt like maybe Emma was to simple of a Character. I noticed this when talking about her above, I really didn't know what to say about her.

Still a good book, and Nora Roberts remains a favorite.

I am very excited about the next book. It revolves around Laurel, who is the Pastry Chef for Vows. I love cake and would love to make wonderful cakes. I really would like to go to Culinary School. This makes me wait for those paragraph long descriptions of cakes :) Unfortunately, it looks to be released May 2010. This may be a long 6 months.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Dragon Kiss


Title: Dragon Kiss
Author: E.D. Baker
Series: The Tales of the Frog Princess (Book 7)
Genre: Juvenile Fiction



In Dragon Princess Millie met Audun, an Ice Dragon. After she rescued him and went with her family back to Greater Greenwald, Audun cannot stop thinking about her. He knows that to truly be happy together, he needs to also know how to turn into a human, so he goes and sees the Ice Dragon King.

The Ice Dragon King sends him on several dangerous missions so Audun can prove himself before he is taught how to turn into a human. Eventually he learns how and returns to Millie, who is also in love with him. The two help Millie's family in a battle for their kingdom.

Books for younger children are often repetitive. From the highly repetitive books for the youngest of babies to apparently this book. Each mission was similar and he was given a different object to take with him on each mission. I suppose the book was merely okay.