Keeper Shelf Sunday

My TBR pile is huge! And when you count all the e-books it's down right scary! But I have many print books of favorite authors that I can't seem to part with. Some, I even have the e-book but there is just something about the feel and smell of an old favorite in print. Looking through my numerous keepers I decided to spotlight a long time favorite, Kathleen E. Woodwiss. Ms. Woodwiss was right there at the beginning of my love for romances along with Roberta Gellis, Jude Deveraux, Rebecca Brandywine, and Johanna Lindsey to name a few.

Kathleen E. Woodwiss was an author who had several books published before I came along. This meant I had not only found an author I loved, but there was a back list to gloam!

While I bought any Woodwiss I could find, imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a three book box set! It was quite a few years back but I still remember how thrilled I was to discover the set. It was better than finding money in an old purse or coat pocket long forgotten. As I picked up the box, I took a quick look around the used book store, thinking this was too good to be true. Maybe, when I went to pay for the books the owner of the store will tell me there had been a mistake and the set was not for sale? Yes, I do tend to over think things but I was still in shock of my incredible find. I couldn't wait to get out of the store with it. Turns out, it wasn't a mistake and I paid for my treasure and rushed home to place it prominently on my Keeper Shelf. And that is where it has sat for many years.

It's been a long time since I read these but I do remember loving each one for different reasons. I can imagine if some readers were to read them now, they would find the heroes to be too controlling and too alpha towards the heroines. But these were written in a different time and the over-the-top heroes were something readers loved.


The Flame and the Flower 
Avon/April 1972

In an age of great turmoil, the breathtaking romance of Heather Simmons and Captain Brandon Birmingham spans oceans and continents! Their stormy saga reaches the limits of human passion as we follow Heather's tumultuous journey from poverty... to her kidnapping at a squalid London dockside... to the splendor of Harthaven, the Carolina plantation where Brandon finally probes the depths of Heather's full womanhood! (from the back cover)


The Wolf and the Dove
Avon/March 1974

As hordes of Norman invaders sweep Saxony in 1066, the lovely Aislin of Darkenwald is torn between loyalty to her own Saxon people and her tempestuous romance with Wulfgar - the Iron Wolf of Normandy. Can her consuming passion for him wipe out he memory of her father's murder - her mother's shame - her own savage violation - all at the hands of Wulfgar's conquering forces? A turbulent story of romance for now and for all time! (from the back cover)


Shanna
Avon/ April 1977

SHANNA - A woman with surging desires of the spirit, the flesh, and the heart...

RUARK - A man burning to possess her in vengeance and in ecstasy...

SHANNA - A romance of passion beyond wildest dreams!
(from the back cover)

Assassin's Creed - The Movie

How did I not know this was coming out?! This is a favorite gaming series of mine and the trailer looks like the movie could actually be worth seeing. Although I'm not crazy about the song. The song does not fit the movie.

It doesn't come out until this December but maybe I could sneak away to see it for my birthday. :)  It stars Michael Fassbender whom I've heard of but have no idea who he is, if that makes any sense. Now if only the Borderlands gaming series would get a movie.

Scenic Saturday

While it might be spring in other parts of the continent, it's heating up quick here in the U. S. southwest.  Currently, it's 88 F at 9 pm. Today's high was suppose to get to 99 F but I can't be sure since I stayed inside. :) When I did venture out it was this evening when I headed over to the Air Force base to do some shopping. A couple of months ago, the flowers were blooming like crazy but with the heat they are starting to wither. I did manage to find this pretty one blooming from a cactus.

Edited to Add: I was looking through my posts and realized I missed posting Thursday! Ugh! I meant to post a review, have one almost ready but I guess I forgot to finish it and post it. I'll double post tomorrow. I can't even remember what I was doing Thursday night and it was only two days ago!

New Twist on a Classic

For the last couple of years my fifteen year old son has let his love of music develop into favorite band territory complete with a small collection of band t-shirts. One of the bands he likes is Twenty One Pilots. Being a hip mom, I decided to give them a listen since he said he thought I might like them. I found I like some of their music but when I came across their version of an Elvis classic, that became my favorite. They make this song their own and make it fun for the fans too.

Review: The Shameless Hour

The Shameless Hour
Sarina Bowen
New Adult/Contemporary Romance
The Ivy Years/Book 4
Rennie Roads Books/April 12, 2015

The girl who’s had everyone meets the boy who has no one.

For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second guess herself. 

Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright sinister fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.

Bella doesn’t want Rafe's help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can't be extinguished.

*Apologies. I planned to post this review before posting the review for book 5, The Fifteenth Minute, which I posted yesterday. This is what happens when you have numerous reviews partially written. You don't always finish them in the right order. :)

When you think of a hero, you don't usually think of a virgin. When you think of a heroine, you don't usually think of a promiscuous woman. But that is what the reader is given in The Shameless Hour. In some cases, this set-up might not work. Sarina Bowen not only writes believable characters but creates a plausible relationship.

Bella is the team manager of the Harkness hockey team which means she spend a lot of time around guys. Bella is comfortable being around the guys and it shows. It's safe to say she has far more male friends than female, in fact, she doesn't really have any true female friends, just some acquaintances. Most of the females tend to be either intimidated by Bella's confidence or jealous of her access to the hockey players. Whichever it is, Bella seems to have accepted her position in a world dominated by males.

I was surprised at how much I liked Bella. Admittedly, I thought I might have difficulty seeing past her promiscuity. She honestly doesn't see anything wrong with having sex simply for the sake of having sex. No lasting attachment necessary, just physical gratification for a short period of time - like an hour or two. The truth is, Bella is lonely. She seems to have all of these friends but in reality, there isn't anyone whom she can confide in. At one point, there was someone she felt close to, not only physically but emotionally, but she was terribly hurt and now trust is something she doesn't give out. I felt genuine empathy for Bella, which surprised me.

Rafe is perfect! This guy has it all going for him. A loving mom, a wonderful extended family, great soccer player, handsome and an all around nice guy. He also still has his V card when the story begins but Rafe has a plan to change that status. There's a saying that goes something like, "The Fates laugh when we make plans." Poor Rafe because the Fates must have really had it in for him. All his plans come crashing down in the most terrible way possible. Except no one died so it could have been worse. You can't help but feel sorry for this guy. He's tried to do the right thing and in doing so, gets screwed but not in a good way. But a little time, a bottle of wine and a desirable woman can make all the difference in the world. And in the end, Rafe really did ended up with the finest outcome.

The secondary characters are some familiar faces if you've been reading the series as well as some new faces. Rafe's roommates are the ideal foil for his perfection. And while Bella doesn't have a roommate, she does share a bathroom with an intriguing character. Harkness College creates its own presence with the dorms, dining halls, frat houses, library and hockey rink producing emotional reactions from the characters. It has all the aspects of a small town, both the good and bad.

The Shameless Hour was another welcomed addition to what has become a favorite series.

Rating: B+

The Ivy Series ~

The Year We Fell Down
The Year We Ran Away
Blonde Date (novella)
The Understatement of the Year
The Shameless Hour
The Fifteenth Minute

Review: All Chained Up

All Chained Up
Sophie Jordan
Contemporary Romance
Devil's Rock/Book 1
Avon/March 29, 2016

There are bad boys and then there are the men of Devil’s Rock . . .

Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.

Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .

“When the prison doors are open, the real dragon will fly out.”—Ho Chi Minh

~This review is for the audio book, narrated by Christian Fox whose smooth voice made this a pleasure to listen to. 

Sophie Jordan not writes historical romances, new adult and contemporary romances. She also writes paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler. I've only read her new adult and contemporary romance but will need to try her historical and PNR since I have had such good luck with her writings.

It's the old question of can a "bad boy" be redeemed? Whether the hero is truly a bad boy or someone who made a terrible mistake, it's the heroine's belief in him, which in turn strengthens his belief in himself, which makes for the basis of the story.

For Knox Callaghan, the driving force in his life is keeping himself and his younger brother North, safe. Not an easy feat when you're locked up with some of the worst criminals around. So when Knox is injured and sent to the prison infirmary, he can't help but enjoy the company of beautiful nurse Briar Davis. From the beginning, it was obvious Knox wasn't a bad guy. He's done some things he wouldn't have considered doing prior to being imprisoned but his new situation makes him do whatever it takes his brother and himself alive.

I liked Knox for his protectiveness, his sense of right and his ability to see when he's wrong and admit it. He does have a short temper when it comes to men coming on to Briar. To be fair, Briar needed to stand up for herself more instead of putting up with an asshole making the moves on her when she doesn't want it.

Briar was a bit of a pushover. Like I mentioned, she worried too much about what other's thought. She let her neighbor, her sister and sometimes even Knox push her around. It was a relief when she held her ground and even pushed back a little. She doesn't have much experience with men so had Knox been harder around the edges, with out the sense of gallantry when it came to women, they might not have worked as well.

The secondary characters, mainly Knox's brother North, and Reid Allister another inmate, are given enough page time to get the reader interested in their upcoming stories. Reid's is next with North's set for publication early next year. I will admit interest in both with Reid's story given some set-up in All Chained Up. The premise is one I don't remember ever reading so it's certainly captured my curiosity!

Rating: B

Devil's Rock Series ~

All Chained Up
Hell Breaks Loose (July 26, 2016)
All Fired Up (February 2017)

Roberta Gellis (1927-2016)

I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Ms. Gellis' passing. My love of reading historical romances can be traced back to Roberta Gellis. She had a way of transporting the reader to another time and making them believe in her stories. She had an amazing ability to create the period atmosphere; from the details of the clothes, the society, the historical figures and the living conditions, she gave the reader the experience of being a part of the time period. Her characters truly came to life on the page. I am so thankful for the wonderful memories of those books and the love of the genre they instilled in me.

Condolences to Ms. Gellis' family and the readers who loved her.



Ms. Gellis' obituary from Legacy.com

The soul of Roberta Gellis departed this life and was reunited with the Creator of the Universe on May 6, 2016. Roberta was born on September 27, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York City, the daughter of Dr. Morris B. Jacobs and Margaret (Segall) Jacobs. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, NY. She received a B.S. in Chemistry from Hunter College of the City University of New York in 1947 and a M.S. in Biochemistry from Brooklyn Polytechnic University in 1952. She worked both as a freelance scientific copy editor and as a research chemist for Foster D. Snell for many years, where she and her inventing partner developed aerosolized shaving foam and pink hair dye, among other creations, before she entered a second career as a best-selling author.

Starting with Knight's Honor in 1964, Roberta was the author of nearly fifty novels. These included more than twenty historical romances, including the Roselynde Chronicles and the Heiress Series, a number of medieval murder mysteries, and several historical fantasies. Other novels ranged from space opera to gothic romance to a mystery featuring the much-maligned Lucrezia Borgia as an amateur detective. She mostly wrote under her own name, but occasionally wrote as Max Daniels, Leah Jacobs, and Priscilla Hamilton. She won numerous awards for her writing, including a 1983 award from Romantic Times for Best Historical Series and a 1996 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. She married her high school sweetheart Charles Gellis on April 14, 1946, in Brooklyn, NY. They were married for 68 years. He preceded her in death on November 17, 2014. They resided for many years in Roslyn Heights, New York, before moving to Lafayette, Indiana, and then to Flushing, Michigan. 

Roberta loved animals and was an enthusiastic supporter of animal rescue and animal charities. She had several canine companions during her lifetime, including Airedales, Welsh Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Scottish Terriers, and West Highland Terriers. Roberta is survived by her son Dr. Mark Gellis, daughter-in-law Sandra Brown Gellis, and her granddaughter Elizabeth Gellis, all of Flushing, MI. In keeping with Jewish tradition, the family requests no flowers, but memorial donations may be made to Westie Rescue Michigan (http://westierescue-mi.com/). As per Roberta's wishes, no funeral will be held. A private burial service will be held at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI, and conducted by Congregation Beth Israel President Leonard Meizlish, on a future date. The family would like to thank Right at Home and Reverence Hospice and special friends Catherine, Vicky, Lisa, and Cathy.

Tomorrow's New Releases...

Tuesday is generally thought of as new release day for books. Some release days are plentiful others, not so much. This Tuesday I had a hard time finding any on my list so like a good reader, I added some. Nothing wrong with adding to the Wish List. :)

I've never been big into retelling of of fairy tales but this one caught my eye. I enjoy dystopian stories and can easily overlook the Peter Pan names and hopefully get into the story.

Everland
Wendy Spinale
Young Adult

Forget the story of Peter Pan you know. Because in Everland, the only way to grow up is to survive.

London has been destroyed in a blitz of bombs and disease. The only ones who have survived are children, among them Gwen Darling and her siblings, Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days avoiding the ruthless Marauders -- the German Army led by Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer.

Unsure if the virus has spread past England's borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook hunts for a cure, which he thinks can be found in one of the survivors. He and his Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None ever return. Until the day they grab Joanna. As Gwen sets out to save her, she meets a mysterious boy named Pete. Pete offers the assistance of his gang of Lost Boys and the fierce sharpshooter Bella, who have all been living in a city hidden underground. But in a place where help has a steep price and every promise is bound by blood, it will cost Gwen. And are she, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart Captain Hook?

This one sounds cute and already has some positive reviews on Goodreads. This is a Gold Heart Award winner and Ms. Wood debut novel.

Summer Of Supernovas
Darcy Woods
Young Adult

When zodiac-obsessed teen Wilamena Carlisle discovers a planetary alignment that won’t repeat for a decade, she’s forced to tackle her greatest astrological fear: The Fifth House—relationships and love.

But when Wil falls for a sensitive guitar player hailing from the wrong side of the astrology chart, she must decide whether a cosmically doomed love is worth rejecting her dead mother’s legacy and the very system she’s faithfully followed through a lifetime of unfailing belief.

I used to practically consume Linda Howard novels. Not so much in recent years. This one showed up, and while I like the blurb, I'm a little hesitant.

Troublemaker
Linda Howard
Romantic Suspense

For Morgan Yancy, an operative and team leader in a paramilitary group, nothing comes before his job. But when he’s ambushed and almost killed, his supervisor is determined to find out who’s after the members of his elite squad—and why. Due to worries that this unknown enemy will strike again, Morgan is sent to a remote location and told to lay low and stay vigilant. But between a tempting housemate he’s determined to protect and a deadly threat waiting in the shadows, keeping under the radar is proving to be his most dangerous mission yet.

The part-time police chief of a small West Virginian mountain town, Isabeau “Bo” Maran finally has her life figured out. She’s got friends, a dog, and a little money in the bank. Then Morgan Yancy shows up on her doorstep. Bo doesn’t need a mysterious man in her life—especially a troublemaker as enticing and secretive as Morgan.

The harder they fight the intense heat between them, the closer Morgan and Bo become, even though she knows he’s hiding from something. But discovering the truth could cost Bo more than she’s willing to give. And when Morgan’s cover is blown, it might just cost her life.

This blurb frustrates me! I want to know more. Which is the whole point isn't it? The idea of traveling across Europe for three months sounds lovely. I want to know what they will do for those months even if it does sound like a potentially sad ending.

The Empty Jar
M. Leighton
Contemporary Romance

Three months touring Europe.
Romantic. Dazzling. Unforgettable.
The trip of a lifetime.

But some lifetimes are shorter...

We couldn’t have known it would work out this way.
No one could. No one could’ve guessed that something so beautiful could be so tragic.

But it is tragic. Yet so, so beautiful.

That’s what sacrifice is—beauty and tragedy. It’s pain and suffering for something or someone you love.

And this is the ultimate sacrifice. One stunning act of true love.

This is our story. Our true love story.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Scenic Saturday

We have clouds! Yes, this is a big deal to me because we don't get clouds very often. It's usually sun, sun, and more sun. But today we have an abundance of clouds! These clouds are over the mountains near my house.