Review: Forever...

Title: Forever...
Author: Judy Blume
Genre: Contemporary Romance/YA
Published: Pocket/1975
Re-released: Simon & Schuster/2003

Nath's Re-Read Challenge

This is the last of the re-reads for the year and I'm glad I ended it with a book that was a favorite from my youth. Nath has said she will be hosting the re-read challenge again in 2010 but it will be a more casual challenge. You can find out about it here with more information to come in the following days. I want to thank Nath for hosting the challenge and for giving me some wonderful re-reading experiences. :)

From the back cover ~

Awkward, sweet, passionate, innocent, secretive...

Do you remember your first time?

Katherine and Michael won't ever forget theirs. They were seniors in high school. Totally crazy for each other, they thought they had found the one. It was first love, and it was perfect: long talks on the phone, ski trips, and double dates when they simply couldn't wait to be alone.

But was Katherine and Michael's relationship the love of a lifetime, or merely the beginning of a lifetime of love?

Relive the memories in this new edition of Judy Blume's classic and beloved novel. Fall in love all over again with Forever...

The two covers I posted are the original cover with the picture of the girl in the locket. That's the copy I had when I first read Forever... back in my early teens (14). The more recent edition with the red cover and lipstick kiss is the copy I bought a couple of weeks ago. There have been a number of other reprints over the nearly 30+ years since Forever... was first published. I wish I still had the original copy but I left it at home when I moved out years ago. It ended up being sold at a garage sale my mom had, along with some of my other books and my Breyer horse collection. :(

I have very vivid memories of reading parts of this book. Other parts are a little vague. Like I remember the ski trip and I remember the camp but I had completely forgotten about Michael's friend Artie. I definitely remember Ralph*. He still makes me giggle. LOL And I totally remember reading the first time Katherine and Michael had sex. After I finished reading that scene I looked around to make sure no one was watching me, which was stupid since I was in my room with my door closed. But still... then, I re-read the scene all over again, still in shock that they actually "did it". This, even though all of my friends and I knew there was sex in the book, that's why we wanted to read it! It still took me by surprise. Ah, my young sheltered life. LOL

The story is told from Katherine's POV. So it limits how much the reader gets to know Michael. I definitely think of this book as more Katherine's experience of first love than Michael's. Which is okay since it was written specifically for young women. One of the things that I remember most about the book, aside from the sex, was how mature Katherine was. How she made her own decisions and didn't let Michael pressure her into going farther than she was ready to. Katherine was smart and funny and responsible but not always willing to follow the rules. She could think for herself and wasn't afraid to voice her opinion. She was also kind and compassionate. Her relationship with her best friend Erica was a close one that I thought Blume did a good job in showing how that friendship changes when one person falls in love and begins spending more time with the new love and less with the best friend.

I did like Michael, both the first time I read it and now. He was a nice guy that like most teenage guys, thinks about sex, wants to have sex and is so happy when he gets to. :) Since we didn't get his POV it's hard to tell what he was thinking just from his actions and what he says. Michael certainly fell for Katherine and I think he treated her well. He made it clear that he wanted them to have sex and he did get frustrated at times when Katherine would only let him go so far, then tell him no. He's a guy and for guys, their sexual needs are very basic, and that off switch can be hard to find. But I never felt like he pushed her too far. He didn't pull the "if you really love me, you'll have sex with me" crap. Like I said, he did let her know when he got frustrated but he wasn't abusive.

That leads me to another thing about the story. The characters were average. By that I mean they were just like most teens with the usual problems. They have ups and downs but there's no violence or horrible tragedy IMO. Just life. There are a couple of things that happen that are not everyday occurrences but I never felt Blume used them for shock value, more to prove that bad things do happen and life does go on.

Katherine and Michael are both characters I could relate to. The first time I read the book I was younger than Katherine so it was more of a looking up to or "I'd like to be like her" kind of feeling. This time around I see her and Michael like the kids I was friends with in high school with the same fears and concerns that I had. I really like the realness that Blume brings to the characters.

The ending was different that what you might expect but again, I think Blume did this to show how things don't always happen the way you expect but life does go on. I think it was much more realistic and true to real life.

Giving this book a grade wasn't exactly easy. I have wonderful memories of reading Forever... and it definitely left an impact on me as a teen as well as an adult. It was a short, quick read. The newer edition I have is a Trade Paperback with 192 pages. I do wish the story was a bit longer with more time spent with Katherine and Michael. It seem to go by too quickly. So while the book is not perfect the flaws are minor and I still enjoyed the story and the message that Blume penned.

Judy Blume has written a number of wonderful stories for both the young and the adult readers. Deenie, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret? and the Fudge books were some of my favorites as a kid. You can find information on Ms. Blume and her writings at her website.

*If you don't know or don't remember who Ralph is - that's the name Michael gave his penis. When I read that the first time I thought "guys are weird" and I still think that today!

Rating: A-

Review: Courting Miss Hattie

Title: Courting Miss Hattie
Author: Pamela Morsi
Genre: Historical Romance/Arkansas (approximately 1910)
Published: October 1991
Source: Purchased

Nath's Re-Read Challenge 2009

From the back cover ~

They's Shared A Lifetime Of Friendship...
But It Took Only One Kiss To Spark A Wildfire Of Passion In An Unlikely Bride.

The news spread like brush fire through the whole county when widower Ancil Drayton announced his intention to start courting Miss Hattie Colfax. She was certainly spirited and delightfully sweet natured, and she'd managed to run her family farm almost single-handedly. But wasn't a twenty-nine-year-old lady farmer too old to catch a husband?

An Irresistible Suitor.

All his life handsome, black-haired Reed Tyler had worked Miss Hattie's farm--and dreamed of one day settling down on his own piece of land with the pretty young woman he'd sworn to marry. Hattie was someone he could tell his hopes and troubles to--someone he looked on as a sister. So he thought, until the idea of Ancil Drayton calling on her made him seethe. Until the night a brotherly peck became a scorching kiss... and Reed knew nothing would bank the blaze--and that his best friend was the only woman he would ever love.

Pamela Morsi is one of those authors that I choose when I want something different. Different hero, different heroine, different feel. What I get when I read her is a different story but still a comforting, welcoming story. A story that pulls me in a makes me feel like I know these people, like they're just as real as my neighbors down the street. The first time I read Courting Miss Hattie was years ago, along with Morsi's Simple Jess and I remember feeling drawn to these characters the same way I was again drawn to Hattie and Reed along with their families and friends.

I loved Hattie! She was so much fun to read. You can't help but like her and her common sense approach to life. She has this innate ability to get to the heart of things, so that you know what she's thinking. It doesn't occur to her to be dishonest. In a way she has led a sheltered life even though she has shouldered a huge amount of responsibility for a very long time. Hattie longs for a husband and family but that doesn't stop her from enjoying her life on her farm. It's one of the thing that I loved about her. She's not one to feel sorry for herself, she has her moments of sadness but doesn't wallow in them. That's not to say she was perfect. She had this tendency to sell herself short, to buy into what the townsfolk thought of her. That she was destined to be alone, a spinster that everyone liked but no man wanted to marry. That's when I wish someone would have given her a swift kick in the rear! LOL

Reed Tyler is hmm... he's a product of his environment, having believed what everyone else seemed to believe, that Miss Hattie was a nice lady but a spinster and not one to be considered for marriage. He never really saw Hattie as anything other than a friend and business partner. He was her friend and sharecropper. They had known each other forever but only knew a small side of each other. The public side that everyone else saw. In a way Reed reminded me of a little boy. They have no interest in a certain toy until another child starts playing with it. Then they suddenly realize what a fun toy it is and how much they want it, decide that, "hey, that's mine" and don't want to share. That was Reed with Hattie. Once Ancil Drayton starts courting Miss Hattie the blinders came off and Reed realized that he didn't want anyone to have Hattie but him.

There are certain parts of this book that I'm sure readers will remember fondly long after they close the book. One was the way Reed teaches Hattie the three different kisses - pecks, peaches and malvalvas. Keep in mind he's teaching her how to kiss another man, which doesn't dawn on him at first. At first he gets caught up in the teaching, typical man, then when he realizes what he's done, he tries to backtrack and convince Hattie that she should stick to giving Ancil only pecks. Hattie, being Hattie, doesn't like that and says "Why would you peck when you can peach!"

The fact that Hattie(29) is older than Reed(24) by five years didn't factor in much for me. He started working at the farm when he was eight years old, so they've grown up together, they're comfortable with each other. Reed grew up in a loving family and with responsibility for himself at an early age so you could say he's more mature than his age. Hattie, inexperienced in the ways of men and women, still has the practical experience of farm life. So while she's older than Reed, he's more experienced in sex, so it kind of balances out. At least that's my logic and like I said, their ages didn't really factor in for me. :)

It takes Reed a long time to finally be the one courting Miss Hattie. There are obstacles to overcome and responsibilities to be met and Reed is an honorable, responsible man. I was so happy when they could finally be together and once Hattie let her hair down, both figuratively and literally, she led Reed on such a wild ride. Her joy for life followed into her love for Reed.

Another wonderful re-read! If you haven't tried Ms. Morsi, give her a try. She has this ease of writing that allows the reader to just slide into the story, the town and the characters' lives. The secondary characters are well written, interesting without taking the focus off Hattie and Reed. The plot and characters always come back to Hattie and Reed. Morsi also creates a distinct setting by adding in the flavor of the time period and location with colorful sayings and the attitudes of the time.

Pamela Morsi is still writing but I haven't read any of her most recent releases, I'll have to look into changing that. Her books and author info can be found on her website. (Warning: music comes on when site loads)

Rating: A+

Review: The Promise of Jenny Jones

Title: The Promise of Jenny Jones
Author: Maggie Osborne
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: April 1997

Note: This was my book for Nath's Re-read Challenge but I am way behind in posting reviews. But since I loved this book so much I just had to write the review. Enjoy!

From the back cover ~

The One And Only Thing Jenny Jones Doesn't Do Is Lie...

Jenny Jones was a mule driver, a buffalo skinner, and in self-defense, a killer - not a baby-sitter. Yet when a rich dying woman offers to take Jenny's place in front of a firing squad - in exchange for bringing her six-year-old daughter safely to California - Jenny gives her solemn oath. It won't be easy, Graciela hates her on sight. The kid's greedy, gun-toting relatives are soon hot on their trail. And there's a certain tall, handsome complication...

Ty Sanders thought that looking for his brother's long-lost daughter was a fool's errand. That was before he stumbled upon a tough-as-nails young woman battling desperadoes to protect the kid. Now all Ty wants is for Jenny to hand over his niece. But Jenny Jones has a suspicious nature and a promise to keep. Plus her word is all she has - until a little runt of a girl softens her defenses...and a rugged cowboy steals her heart when she isn't looking.

I LOVED this book! Hunt it down and read it because I'm keeping my copy. :)

Okay, seriously - I really loved it. Loved the characters, the plot, the dialogue. It has everything. A heroine who is so very different from the usual. A hero that doesn't want to be a hero and would rather be anywhere than where he is. And a little girl that could charm you in one breath and sorely try your patience in the next. Then there's the slew of bad guys that are ruthless and relentless in all their badness. Loved them all. As I was reading I remember how I felt the first time I read it, exciting to be reading a story that was so different from the usual western romances. I loved it just as much then as I do now.

Jenny Jones is a rough, loud, abrasive and thoroughly honest young woman. Her word is her bond and she will do everything she must to keep that word. She has been taking care of herself for as long as she can remember. She has this very no nonsense attitude that makes her come across as one of the guys. She doesn't care about dresses or finery and while she likes to be clean, she can go quite some time without bathing. LOL In some ways she reminded me of an old west version of Eve Dallas from the "In Death" series. Both of these women downplay their femininity, instead relying on their physical and mental strengths.

What I liked about Jenny? She made me laugh. She made me cry. She made me cheer for her and she made me care about her. Jenny and Graciela's interactions were some of my favorite parts. Jenny doesn't like kids and makes that perfectly clear from the start. Her attitude towards Graciela is one of obligation not affection. Graciela's attitude towards Jenny is hatred, plain and simple. Graciela blames Jenny for her mother's death. Jenny tries to explain but Graciela won't listen. Watching the relationship between Jenny and Graciela grow and change was written beautifully and came across as genuine and staying true to the characters and the situations they were in. They drove each other crazy but also came to care about each other despite their very different backgrounds.

Ty Sanders is one of my favorite types of hero - the anti-hero. The "I don't want to be here and I'm only doing this because I said I would, not because I'm a nice guy," kind of hero. He finds his attraction to Jenny very odd. She's not at all his type. He likes women who are, well, feminine. When he first sees Jenny she's rolling around on the ground, fighting a man. And she's holding her own. LOL Ty steps in to help, when another bad guy shows up and both Jenny and Ty have their hands full fighting off Graciela's cousins. And after a few encounters with Jenny poor Ty, he really didn't know what to make of her.

The fact was, he couldn't get a fix on her. Certainly he didn't understand her position regarding this niece. Her tone and words convinced him that she didn't' like Graciela. Yet he'd witnessed a touch of tenderness when he followed them back to their hotel. And she should have bowed out of the picture the instant she understood who Ty was, but she hadn't.

Everything about this strange woman fascinated him in a way few other women had. He felt a twinge of regret that he wouldn't see her again, would never learn what forces had formed her.

page 122

Ty and Jenny both intend to take Graciela to her father in California. They've both made promises and plan to keep them. While making the trip out of Mexico they keep running into each other, trading off traveling with Graciela, although not intentionally. They steal Graciela from each other while Graciela is trying her hardest to get home to the hacienda and her cousins. She can't believe that her wonderful cousins want to hurt her.

So while Jenny and Ty may not spend a lot of time together, Osborne makes the most of the time they do spend together. She has them thinking and wondering about the other when they're apart. Their curiosity about each irritates the heck out of them because for Ty, he doesn't see Jenny as his type. And Jenny, she doesn't want anything to do with men and doesn't think a man like Ty would be attracted to her. Jenny's education was one of experience, not the traditional school room but she loves learning new words. She has this beat up dictionary that she carrys around with her, I think it's one of her most treasured possessions. After meeting Ty she looks up the word virile.

"Virile," she said quietly. A soft word for a hard thing. Pursing her lips, she considered, then composed a sentence using the word. "The cowboy is virile."

Heat rushed to her cheeks, surprising her. Damned if thinking about the cowboy and virility didn't make her blush. Embarrassed, she looked around to see if anyone had noticed. There wasn't a soul who knew her who would have believed she was capable of blushing, including herself.

page 60

The dialogue between Ty and Jenny as well as Jenny and Graciela is wonderful. Jenny gave as good as she got and didn't back down from either Ty or Graciela. Jenny's approach to life is a very common sense approach of hard work and relying on yourself. Graciela is a spoiled little girl that doesn't understand why her world has been suddenly turned upside down. Ty is just trying to fulfill his obligation to his brother, he doesn't want to get involved with a woman or a kid. He's a bachelor through and through.

The plot itself kept my interest with all it's twists and turns. Even when things slowed down I found there was more to learn about these characters that I had come to know and love. The ending was both sweet and left this reader with the warm fuzzies. Perfect way to end a story.

Maggie Osborne's last book, Foxfire Bride, was published in 2004. According to Wendy aka Super Librarian, Ms. Osborne has retired from writing. Dang! That makes me sad. So to get your Maggie Osborne fix check out this list of her books here and start hunting in the UBS.

Rating: A+

Review: Dark Stranger

Title: Dark Stranger

Author: Heather Graham

Genre: Historical Romance/1862

American Civil War

Series: Slater Brothers Trilogy/Book 1

Published: 1988/1995/2002

Nath's Re-Read Challenge 2009

From the back cover ~

Kristin McCahy's dream of freedom and a life of dignity and self-sufficiency had vanished. All she had left to fight for was her ranch-but she had to give up her independence to do it. She needed

Cole Slater's help, but in return she offered the only thing she had-herself. No questions. No answers. Just a bargain.

Cole hadn't meant to stay and he hadn't meant to get close to her. A woman was the last thing in the world he needed. He had commitments of his own, and he intended to see them through. But love had a way of changing the rules.

I remember when I first got this book. I had joined the MIRA book club way back when and this was one of the first books I received. After reading Dark Stranger I just had to get the next two in the series. Initially Dark Stranger was published by Harlequin, then by MIRA, then reprinted by Harlequin in 2002. Three very different covers for the same story. The one I like the least is the MIRA(pink). The pink is too happy and certainly doesn't conjure images of war and strife. I like the original Harlequin, even with it's overly happy mother, father and baby picture. The most recent cover seems to be all about the author's name and marketability. The cover doesn't tell you much about the story.

On to the story... It's the time of the American Civil War and while Kristin McCahy isn't living in what would be considered the thick of the fighting she's still exposed to the brutality and the bloodshed. Living in Missouri during the Civil War, Kristin and her family learn to fear the Jayhawkers (Union sympathizers) and the Bushwhackers (Confederate sympathizers). These two groups of fighters are no more than vigilantes who go after anyone who stands against them. In the land of the Kansas/Missouri border, it's like there's another civil war going on with the McCahy family caught in the middle.

Kristin is 18 years old when she meets Cole. While that may seem young, at the time many women were married by 18, certainly in wartime they married younger. Kristin was a mature 18, she had to be. She had no time for frivolities and pursuits of pleasure. After her father was killed by the Bushwhackers, her brother joins the war, for the North. She is now in charge of the ranch and takes that responsibility very seriously. There is also her younger sister Shannon to look out for. And the freed slaves Delilah and Samson who are family to the McCahys. Add in the ranch hands and Kristin is overwhelmed by her responsibilities.

Then Zeke Moreau, one of William Quantrill's men, comes calling. Zeke and a bunch of his men come to take what they want and what Zeke wants is Kristin. It's at this point that the dark stranger appears, killing many of the men and saving Kristin from Zeke. But Zeke gets away so Kristin knows it's only a matter of time before he comes back for revenge. Kristin has to get the stranger to stay, to keep her and her family safe from the likes of Zeke Moreau. While Kristin may have had to grow up fast she's still naive when it comes to men. That naivety makes it's appearance in some amusing ways. Cole certainly found Kristin's shyness attractive and reminded him of how young she really was. I like how Kristin's youth was used as a strength instead of focusing on her lack of experience as a weakness. Cole's experiences in the war made him appreciate Kristin that much more.

Cole Slater was just passing through when he saw what was happening at the McCahy ranch. He has no plans to stay on after driving off the scumbag that is Monreau. He tells Kristin to leave the ranch and head somewhere safer, Missouri is no place for a couple of young women alone. Kristin refuses to leave her home and makes Cole and offer he tries to refuse but in the end stays while making some demands of his own.

With the war still going on Cole can't stay with Kristin indefinitely. He has to get back to the fighting so when it comes time to leave he gets word to his brothers Malachi and Jamie. They come to the McCahy ranch and are able to stay for a while. Cole also gets word to Quantrill that Kristin and her family are under his protection and are not to be touched by any of Quantrill's men. Quantrill tells Cole that he can't make any guarantees unless Cole marries Kristin. To say Cole isn't happy about this is an understatement. He has his own ghosts to fight, one of them being his deceased wife. Cole is one of those heroes that makes a quick impression with his charming of Delilah, his gentleness with Shannon and his respect for Samson. The way he treats Kristin is far different from how he treats everyone else. I think it was because he was attracted to her from the beginning and he doesn't want to be. He feels that by doing so he is betraying his deceased wife.

At first Kristin finds Cole abrasive, irritating and a bit scary. He also fascinates her with his manners and good looks. He's not what she was expecting and while his attitude about the war upsets her, he's fighting for the Confederacy and her brother fights for the Union, she still can't help caring and worrying about him when he's gone. I really liked the way these two broken souls came together. Once they did sleep together it didn't fix their problems or cure their distrust. They still had many obstacles to overcome not the least of which is a secret from Cole's past.

Dark Stranger is a fast read. There's a lot going on in this story that spans almost three years. The book comes in at just under 300 pages but it felt much longer, in a good way. :) Heather Graham loads the story with not only Kristin and Cole's romance but what it was like living during this tenuous time in US history. She also has a number of secondary characters that add even more depth to the story. Of course we know that Zeke will be back and there will be a dramatic showdown between Zeke and Cole but I found myself caught up in the day to day tests of faith and perseverance that each of these characters went through.

All in all I'm glad I choose this as a re-read and plan to re-read the next two books in the trilogy. The second book, Rides a Hero is Malachi's and I do remember ever since reading Dark Stranger I have loved the name Malachi. :) The third book is Jamie's, Apache Summer. Oddly, I don't remember much about it but I'm sure it will come back to me once I start reading it again.

Heather Graham, who also writes as Shannon Drake, has a new western coming out this November. Night of the Wolves is about.... Vampire Hunters in the old west! An old west paranormal - who'd have thought it. LOL I checked on Amazon and Harlequin's pages and can't find a synopsis. Hopefully one will be posted soon. Heather Graham and her huge back list can be found on her website.

Rating: A

Review: Come Spring

Title: Come Spring
Author: Jill Marie Landis
Genre: Historical Romance/1892/Wyoming
Series: Flowers series/Book 4
Published: October 1992

Nath's Re-Read Challenge 2009

From the inside cover ~

In, 1892, lovely Bostonian Annika Storm is traveling to meet her brother in Wyoming. But her plans go awry when tall, blond trapper Buck Scott mistakes Annika for his mail-order bride - and kidnaps her from her train! By the time he will admit his error, they are snowed in at his tiny mountain cabin until spring.

Passion grows between Annikia and Buck, and when it blossoms into ecstasy she is ready to share his life forever. Then Annika is kidnapped again, by outlaws seeking reward money. Believing she has run away, Buck feels betrayed. Yet he vows to find the woman who has stolen his heart.

Come Spring has been at the top of my potential re-reads for this challenge. What made me choose it this month was the overwhelming need to read a western. :) That was brought about by Kristie, Wendy and Sybil and their Great Western Drive. And while Come Spring may not be a western with cowboys and gunslingers, it was still a very enjoyable read and I loved it this time as much as I did the first time around.

The hero, Buck Scott, isn't a cowboy or gunslinger but a skinner. He's a mountain man who makes his living trapping and skinning animals, then selling their pelts. His trade is not well thought of by most and he is looked down on by many. Buck Scott does come across as a man who prefers his own company to others. He's not open or friendly and he's rather intimidating in size at over 6 feet in height and well muscled. But for all his gruffness there lies the heart of a gentle soul. Buck was such an easy man for me to like. At one point even Annika tells her brother that it's hard to stay mad at Buck. :)

Buck is a very giving individual without being obvious about it. It's the little things that he does that made a big impression on me. His patience with Baby, his 3 year old niece, is amazing given that he has only the very basics to hold her attention. He's rough with Annika in the beginning but that's more out of frustration and urgency than it being his true nature. He gives her his gloves to wear while the travel up the mountain. Once they are snowed in he makes sure she can fend for herself and Baby if something should happen to him. He makes her a coat and carves the buttons for it. He's so sweet when he gives it to her, so afraid she won't like it.

Annika Storm was raised by two loving parents in a home where her every need was seen to. She has never had to work for what she needs or worry about having food or a place to live. She has lived a life of privilege and secure in a family filled with love. I wouldn't say that she's spoiled so much as that she's simply accustomed to wealth and a loving family. All that changes when she is kidnapped and taken to a mountain cabin. It's a crude one room cabin with the basic necessities but none of the comforts that Annika is accustomed to.

At first Annika thinks she will only have to suffer Buck Scott's company for a couple of days but when those few days turn to weeks she is forced to adjust to life in the small cabin in the valley. Annika for all her pampered upbringing adjusts well to life on the mountain. At first she's standoffish and not so easy to get to know but once she spends more time with Buck and Baby she became a heroine worthy of her hero. Annika takes fairly quickly to Baby but with Buck the process was more slow and steady. Each of them exploring the other person that was so different from everyone they had known before. Her relationship with Baby came about a lot easier than her relationship with Buck. With Buck it was anger and fear. Then she just got good and pissed off. LOL This was after Buck realized his mistake, that Annika wasn't his mail-order bride, and he agreed to take her to Cheyenne as soon as the pass was clear.

There was one part where Buck is gone hunting all day. When he gets back Annika is angry that he had left her there alone with Baby. During the day her thoughts had gone from fear at being alone in the cabin to anger that Buck might be with a woman. This happens before they sleep together. When Buck returns it's an angry Annika that greets him. ~

"Where have you been?" she yelled.

"Why are you shouting?" He pushed her aside and stepped over the threshold, intent on getting warm. Walking straight to the bed, he stood for a moment and gazed down on Baby as she slept, then turned to survey the room. The fire was burning brightly, there was a stack of clean dishes on the kitchen bench. He was relieved to note that everything looked fine.

Everything but Annika. She was still glaring at him.

"Close the door," he said softly, so as not to wake the child.

She slammed it shut. Baby stirred and rolled to her stomach.

"Are you going to tell me where you've been or not?"

"I was until you started ranting. What are you so upset about?"

"Upset? Upset? I'm not upset! I'm furious. How dare you leave me here all day to watch over this place and that child while you go traipsing off, God knows where. I won't do it again, do you hear?"

At this point Annika gives him some coffee and biscuits and tells him he's lucky to get that much. LOL Buck's response ~

"If I thought I would have gotten this much kindness out of you I'd have stayed away all daylong before now," he said around a mouthful of biscuit.

She gasped aloud and turned on him. "You are an outrageous imbecile, Buck Scott."

"Anyone every taught you any manners, Miss Storm?"

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"I mean real manners, like not shouting in the house, not making too many demands on a person, like giving out a bit of the milk of human kindness?"

She lifted her hands and appealed to the ceiling. "And this from a man who dragged me here against my will."

"A mistake you're not ever likely to let me forget."

"Not while I live and breathe."

Buck threw back his head and laughed. It wasn't a mere chuckle, nor was it a quick bark. It was loud and long and came from the depths of his soul.

pages 145-146

It was so sweet and such an intimate moment between these two. They realize that they missed each other, missed the arguing and banter.

For a great deal of the book Buck and Annika are together, along with Baby, aka Buttons. I liked the addition of the child in this story. She played a pivotal role in the plot because she was the reason Buck needed a wife. He couldn't continue to hunt and trap with Baby along and he couldn't leave her alone at the cabin. So he placed the ad for a wife. Buck's relationship with Baby was also a joy to read. This big, mountain man and this adorable little baby who has him wrapped around her finger. He would do anything for this child, even marry a stranger. Or give Baby up to a good home. The emotions that came through in the writing, of Buck's love for Baby, show what a beautiful person Buck is beneath the gruff exterior.

The plot itself is fairly standard. Hero kidnaps heroine, they're forced to spend time together, they are separated, they are reunited through adversity. It's what Jill Marie Landis does with that plot that makes this book stand out. The events that bring these two people, who are such opposites, together and then create this little family are what make this such a wonderful read. The character development is such that the reader gets to know, care and forgive Buck and Annika of their flaws, mistakes and misunderstandings. When they are separated I found myself thinking "they have to get back together" and "he can't just leave her" even though I knew they ended up together I was swept up in their story and worried that their stubbornness would keep them apart.

As you can see from the book info above, Come Spring is the fourth book in the series. The first book is about Annika's parents, Analisa and Caleb, Sun Flower (loved that book!)

The second book is Wild Flower. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember this one. All I could find was this:

From the great peaks of the West to the lush seclusion of a Caribbean jungle, two 1830s' lovers discover the deepest treasures of the heart. Dani braves the Rocky Mountains alone, dressed as a man, until a handsome explorer kidnaps her on a dare. Now her heart holds nothing but passion.

If anyone can jog my memory, I would appreciate it. :)

The third book, Rose, is about Annika's brother Kase and his love, Rose. This one I remember as a fun read with Rose a beautiful stubborn Italian cook and Kase a grumpy, good looking sheriff.

Both couples, Analisa and Caleb and Kase and Rose, also appear in Come Spring. It was fun to revisit with this characters and gave me an itch to do some more re-reading of Ms. Landis.

Ms. Landis has a fairly extensive back list with both historical and contemporary novels. She is currently writes Inspirational Western Romances for Steeple Hill Books. Information about Jill Marie Landis and her writing can be found here.

Rating: A+

Review: A Heart So Wild

Title: A Heart So Wild

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Genre: Historical Romance/Texas - 1872

Published: December 1986

Nath's Re-Read Challenge 2009

From the back cover ~

A Heart So Wild

Courtney Harte gasped in disbelief. There, in a Texas newspaper, was a photograph of her beloved father... thought slain several years back in a savage Comanche massacre. The honey-haired beauty vowed to find him - but whom could she trust to accompany her through wild, dangerous Indian territory?

His name was Chandos. Tall and dark, with eyes the most startling shade of blue, he was the best gunslinger around. Courtney put her faith in him... little dreaming of the dark secret that burned in Chandos' soul... little imagining the fires that would ignite under the hot summer sun, driving them together in an ecstatic frenzy that only passion understood... and love could tame.

I have loved Johanna Lindsey books forever. She was one of the first romance authors I read along with the likes of Roberta Gellis, Beatrice Small, Janelle Taylor and Cynthia Wright. Lindsey's regencies, westerns, the sci-fi romances and who could forget the wonderful Malory series were well anticipated and enjoyed. But lately I've fallen off the Lindsey train. The last book of hers I remember reading and enjoying of Lindsey's was A Loving Scoundrel (2004). The adorable Jeremy Malory's story. After that it was if she had lost that spark that we readers hear about. So with some trepidation I decided to choose a Lindsey for the re-read challenge. At first I thought to go with either Tony or James Malory's books (Tender Rebel and Gentle Rogue). Those two always seem to get rave reviews. But I was in the mood for a western. I thought of maybe re-reading Angel, one of my favorites or Savage Thunder (I think that's the one the h/h do it on horseback *grins*) but I decided on A Heart So Wild because of Chandos.

Chandos is a bit of a mystery. He's a gun fighter and bounty hunter but we don't know much else about him. Nothing really about his background. Even Courtney doesn't know much about him when she hires him to take her to Waco, only that she feels she can trust him. Chandos is one of my favorite types of heroes. He's the anti-hero hero. He's definitely got that bad boy attitude but in an old west sort of way. He's a man of few words, gruff and cold with looks that say "keep away" unless you're looking for trouble. So when he does agree to take Courtney to Waco he doesn’t cater to her every need but instead decides to teach her a lesson in survival. Things don’t go as planned and he ends up falling for her which he doesn’t like at all! He feels she deserves better because he has nothing to give her and his secret will keep them apart. I really liked Chandos and the way Lindsey kept his character true to form. She didn't have him change overnight when he fell hard for Courtney. He still maintained his gruffness but showed his care for Courtney in other ways. And the fact that he is tall, dark and handsome doesn't hurt one bit!

Courtney isn't one of my favorite Lindsey heroines but she didn't annoy me so that's a big plus! She’s likable enough but I didn’t fully connect with her. When we first meet her she’s a shy, fifteen year old who’s traveling from Chicago to Waco, Texas with her father and new stepmother. Her father has become withdrawn and depressed and Courtney feels this so strongly she has also become quiet and withdrawn. She can’t seem to please her stepmother and has very little self-confidence, relying on food for comfort. She’s described as “short and chubby” which only adds to her lack of confidence.

After the attack Courtney is left with her stepmother as her only family. Four years later she has become far more self-reliant and hard work has trimmed her figure into one that attracts the attention of men whether Courtney wants it or not. She still maintains some of her shyness and aloofness but it’s directed at the men who want more than to just talk. She works hard but has dreams of moving back east where she feels safer. I did like the way Courtney would choose her battles when it came to dealing with her stepmother, Sarah. They still don’t get along and with Courtney working for Sarah and relying on her for a place to live she has had to learn to keep her opinions to herself.

When Courtney sees Chandos there is a spark between them but there is also a healthy fear on Courtney’s part. She knows he’s dangerous and wants to avoid him at all costs. Until she realizes she needs him and overcomes her fear and asks for his help. Was it a smart thing to do? Nope. But she was desperate and really had nowhere else to turn if she wanted to find her father. Lucky for Courtney, Chandos wasn’t all bad and she ended up falling for him hard. ~

All the next day, Courtney was in love. Nothing bothered her, not the heat and insects, not the monotonous riding. Nothing penetrated her bliss.

Two days later, she wasn’t sure. And three days later she had changed her mind. She couldn’t possibly love an exasperating man like Chandos. She could still want him – and despise herself for it – but couldn’t love him.

What had Courtney fuming was that he returned to his enigmatic self. He had made her his, transported her to the heights of ecstasy, and then treated her with the same old indifference! She was stupefied. Page 175

Chandos is feeling the same aggravation as Courtney. His discomfort when he’s around Courtney has only gotten worse now that he knows exactly what he’s missing. :)

I wasn't sure how the plot would hold up after all these years. It's a fairly standard romance plot: heroine asks hero (anti-hero) for help and while he reluctantly helps she falls for him, he falls for her but he thinks he's not good enough for her and can't be with her even though he wants to. Ugh! These guys can be so stubborn! Then there's the whole Comanche slant and Chandos' relationship with the Comanche that added more drama to the story. And Chandos' background that comes into play when his secret eventually comes out. Courtney and Chandos were together for a large part of the story and their interactions and getting to know each other flowed well within the context of the story. How they dealt with every obstacle and could still find a HEA was a pleasure to read. Overall I thought the story of how these two met and fell in love was well written and their experiences on the trail were an added source of interest for this reader.

So I've conquered my fear of re-reading Johanna Lindsey. Yeah! I still enjoyed Chandos and Courtney's story just as much as before and have every intention of re-reading more of Lindsey's books. Maybe another western? Or a Viking or medieval?

Johanna Lindsey doesn't have an official site that I could find but you can get info on all her books at Fantastic fiction.

Rating: A-

Review: Dreaming of You

Title: Dreaming of You

Author: Lisa Kleypas

Genre: Historical Romance

Published: May 1994

Reprint: September 2003

Nath's Re-Read Challenge 2009

From the back cover ~

A prim, well-bred gentlewoman, Sara Fielding is a writer who puts pen to paper to create dreams. But now curiosity is luring her from the shelter of her country cottage into the dangerous world of Derek Craven - handsome, tough, and tenacious-and the most exciting man Sara has ever met.

Derek rose from poverty to become the wealthy lord of London's most exclusive gambling house. And now duty demands that he allow Sara Fielding to enter his perilous realm of ever-shifting fortunes-with her impeccable manners and her infuriating innocence. But there is a hidden strength and sensuality to the lady that captivates him beyond his better judgement. And in this world, where danger lurks behind every shadow, even a proper "mouse" can be transformed in to a breathtaking enchantress-and a cynical gambler can be shaken to his core by the power of passion and the promise of love.

I don't remember the first book I ever read of Lisa Kleypas. It feels like I've always read her books, like they've always been part of my reading experience. While there have been some I've loved more than others there haven't been any that I didn't like. Dreaming of You is one of those that I loved the first time I read it and it is still one of my very favorites of Ms. Kleypas. It's one of those books that part of me wants to read fast because it's so good but another part wants to read it slowly and savor it, knowing that at the end I'll be a little sad that it's over.

A female writer, not at all uncommon now but during Sara Fielding's time it was not the thing for proper ladies to do. So Sara uses her initials, writing under the name S. R. Fielding. Sara is from the country and leads a simple life, living with her parents and being courted by a local man. She travels to London to stay with friends and while there takes the opportunity to gather information for her next novel. The gathering takes place in a rookery, not exactly a safe place for a woman alone. It's there that Sara witnesses a man being beating by two other men. She debates on whether to get involved when she sees a knife and thinks they are about to murder the poor man. Sara is smart and knows the area isn't the best that's why she comes armed with a pistol. I loved the fact that miss prim and proper carries a pistol in her proper handbag. *grins* Sara is a character that is full of surprises, many of which she springs on Derek Craven.

Of course Derek is the man that Sara saves with her less than proper pistol. They make their way back to Derek's club where Sara is awed by the elegance and opulence that is Craven's. Derek's factotum, Worthy, is called to take over the care of his injured employer. In terrible pain, Derek's cockney accent makes an appearance. Sara may not understand everything he says but she still finds him quite irresistible. He has a wicked reputation that even Sara is aware of. No doubt she learned of it while doing her research. She is fascinated by Derek, his life starting in the gutter and ending up rich and powerful but there is also the physical pull Sara feels towards him.

Sara and Derek come from such different backgrounds. Everything about these two is opposite. Sara grew up in the country, Derek in the city. Sara was raised by two loving parents. Derek was "raised" by whores but in all actuality he was raised by the streets. Sara is well read. Derek is not. Sara knows how to love and what it feels like to be loved. Derek doesn't know what love feels like. Sara, while being an author is still held by the restraints society places on women. Derek may not be welcomed in all the best homes of London but he is powerful and can do just about whatever he wants. So how do these two opposites come together to make one happy couple? Kleypas magic. Yep, it's that simple. :)

Derek is one of my very favorite types of heroes. He's the anti-hero. He's not a good guy, doesn't want to be a good guy and really has very little association with good guys. He considers himself as far from hero material as you can get. He certainly doesn't think he's good enough for Sara. He tries to get Sara to leave London, leave Craven's. First he simply tells her to go then he tells her about himself. About all the terrible things he's done to survive. He does nothing to hide his past from her, in fact he practically flaunts in. He'll do whatever it takes to make her go. ~

Stopping in the middle of another pass, he crossed the invisible barrier between them and seized her. His hands clenched her upper arms painfully. "I want you to leave. You're not safe here. As long as you 're in London you're not safe from me." His gaze raked over the rippling mass of her hair, her delicate face, her bewildered eyes. With a sudden groan he pulled her against him, burying his face in her hair. Sara closed her eyes, her mind spinning. His body was solid and powerful, hunching over hers to accommodate their difference in height. She felt him tremble with the force of his need. He spoke just beneath her ear, his voice thick with tormented pleasure. "You have to leave, Sara...because I want to hold you like this until your skin melts into mine. I want you in my bed, the smell of you on my sheets, your hair spread across my pillow. I want to take your innocence. God! I want to ruin you for anyone else." page 163

Such a powerful scene. You can feeling the longing in Derek for what he thinks he doesn't deserve but wants so desperately.

Sara shows Derek through her words and her actions that she finds him far more than good enough for her. She lets him know that he's the only one she wants. I loved Sara's tenacity, her inquisitive nature, her ability to find good in what others might deem bad or worthless. She may write about the darker side of life but she still maintains her sense of hope for all things. That's not to say that she's naive about life, she just doesn't shy away from the less pleasant aspects of it. The rookeries, the gaming halls, the whores plying their trade all grab her attention and her imagination. Sara's a heroine that would seem perfectly suited for the hero lord or hero rake. But her real hero is Derek. ~

But Sara saw Derek for exactly what he was, no more and no less, and she was aware that he might never change. It was enough that he loved her. In spite of his faults, he would take care of her and defend her to the last breath of life. Separately they had different strengths. Together they were complete. page 305

This is why these two are so right together. And by the end of the book Kleypas has shown the reader the rightness of this pairing. Derek is one of my favorite Kleypas heroes probably second only to Nick Gentry. Which isn't surprising since they are both the anti-hero types. Yes, I do love those bad boys. :) One of the things I liked about Derek is that he doesn't try to change Sara and he doesn't change the basics of who he is for her. For him to have suddenly become a proper gentleman with proper manners and proper etiquette would not have been true to his character. He is who he is and Sara loves him for that. Perfect!

There are many obstacles for these two to overcome not the least of which is their different backgrounds. When Derek goes to Sara's home in Greenwood Corners their differences are on display for all. But thankfully Sara's parents are able to look beyond the surface and the rumors about Derek and see the man that their daughter fell in love with.

Ms. Kleypas has a very informative website with lists of all her historicals and her contemporary works. She has a great printable book list that is perfect for taking to the UBS. :)

Rating: A+

Review: Atlantis Awakening

Title: Atlantis Awakening
Author: Alyssa Day
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: The Warriors of Poseidon/Book 2
Published: November 2007
Nath's Re-Read Challenge

From the back cover ~

To rescue the world from an overwhelming evil, Poseidon's warriors have risen from Atlantis. Chief among them is Ven, serving as the King's Vengeance by birthright and by battle challenge. None can conquer him-except perhaps for one human female.

The warrior...
Ven's mind is filled with duty. He must serve as Atlantean liaison to the humans in a war waged against the vampires. A sword is his weapon - not diplomacy. But on a mission to recover the Nereid's Heart--a ruby of immense power--it will take every ounce of strength he possess to resist the sexual allure of the beautiful with chosen to work with him.

And the witch...
Erin's heart is filled with vengeance. She lives only for the chance to punish those who murdered her family. Now she must partner with a legendary Atlantean warrior whose dark desire threatens to crash through the barriers she built around her emotions--and her heart. Caught in a trap of shifting alliances, how long can Ven and Erin resist their awakening passion?

I had a hard time chose a book for this challenge, again. It seems that each month when I try to pick a book I start with my old favorites of Roberta Gellis, Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught, Kathleen Woodiwiss etc. but their books are so darn big. And the fact that I wait until the last minute to pick the book causes me to shy away from the longer novels. Then there's the scare factor. Will my long time favorite author still be a long time favorite?

The reason I chose Atlantis Awakening is because the third book in the series, Atlantis Unleashed will be out this Tuesday. It was scheduled to be release a year ago so I have been waiting for what seems like a long time for this book. Since this is a PNR series I thought it would be a good idea for a re-read to refresh my memory of the world building and rules of that world. And the fact that it was just under 300 pages didn't hurt either. :)

A group of warriors from the sunken world of Atlantis protect humans from all the monsters that are out to get them. The humans don't know of the existence of the warriors but they are very much aware of the vampires and shape shifters in their world. The vampires even have their own house of Congress and the shape shifters control much of the media in this world similar to ours yet very different. There is also a rebel group who is out to stop the vampires from gaining more control. The rebel group is mainly comprised of humans, witches and shape shifters who are working together to take out the bad guys.

One of the warriors is the King's Vengence or Ven. He is the younger brother of High Prince Conlan who is the heir to the throne. Conlan's story was told in the first book, Atlantis Rising. Ven must work with the witch Erin Connors in finding the vampire Caligula. He's the same Caligula that the Romans feared. He's just as evil and sadistic but now he's a very old vampire that isn't easily defeated and is determined form a new empire to rule.

Erin Connors is a very powerful witch who, along with Ven, is determined stop Caligula and gain revenge on the monster that killed her family 10 years ago. Erin does have a problem with her magic. She has in her what is considered dark magic called "the Wilding." Not everyone who has this type of magic can control it. In Erin's case she is still learning that control. If that wasn't enough to deal with Erin finds out she is what the Atlantean's call a "gem singer". She can use the power of her voice to harness the power of the gems in her possession and those in Atlantis.

The fact that the females in this series have powers and play an important role regarding the antagonist(s) is very appealing. Erin uses her magic through out the book to protect herself, others and fight the vampires. Ven is good with his sword but has that alpha trait of wanting to protect the women even when they are capable of protecting themselves. Erin shows him that she can not only protect herself but is a true asset in a fight. That aspect is maintained throughout the book.

The warriors are all brave, courageous fighters but they are each portrayed as individuals. Each with their own specific obstacle that must be dealt with before they can get their HEA. I never get a sense of these warriors being carbon copies. Day is able to make each one of them unique not only in looks but in temperament and how they deal with situations. Ven is the smart-ass. The one that is always quick with a comment to break the tension and try to relieve the stress. It's his way of dealing with a life of fighting and killing.

Erin's abilities as a gem singer are new to her and Ven, along with the rest of the Atlantean's, help Erin discover what a gem singer is and how her abilities can help others. She also gets to go down to Atlantis and Day does a good job of describing the beautiful undersea world. It's a paradise filled with beautiful beings who are extremely long lived. This is where Erin meets the warriors along with Riley, Conlan's fiancé. Riley is human and is also an emotional empath. Riley's sister Quinn, who is also an empath, is the leader of the rebel forces. Having strong female characters seems to be a trademark in this series. The men are still strong, brave alpha types but the women are no push-overs and used their various abilities to help the warriors rather than waiting on the sidelines.

Ven was a good match for Erin. He doesn't try to stop her from using her magic. He preferred she use it to protect herself rather than fight but there were times when he was glad she used it to fight. He still did his best to keep her out of the fighting and keep her as safe as possible. Erin didn't back down and let Ven take over when she felt she was needed. She was there when he needed her help and they worked well as a team.

The main problem I had with this book is that I was more interested in the secondary characters. I liked Ven and Erin together but they just didn't hold my attention as much as my need for more scenes with a few of the secondary characters.

My favorite couple Quinn and the warrior priest Alaric have been attracted to each other since they met in the first book. But with Alaric being a priest he must remain celibate or lose his powers. He wields extremely powerful magic and he can't chance losing all that power. But the pull of Quinn is getting stronger. Quinn for her part does okay with resisting Alaric. She understands sacrifice and also has some fierce demons in her closet to fight. When these two are on the page I can't help but long for their book.

The other two characters I want more of is Jack, Quinn's shape shifting partner. He's interesting as well as dangerous but we don't know that much about him. Then there's Daniel/Drakos. He's a vampire but on the side of the good guys I think. There's more to him than being a vampire but I'm not sure what.

So while I liked the book and the plot of Ven and Erin finding and defeating Caligula kept the story moving, I found myself wondering what the other characters were doing and when will we get more of them. Atlantis Awakening is still a solid read with the series arc moving along and setting up for the rest of the warriors' stories. It does end with a bit of a cliff-hanger and so my need to keep reading the series is secure.

Alyssa Day and information about the warriors can be found here. There are also two novellas in the series ~ Wild Hearts in Atlantis in the Wild Thing anthology and Shifter's Lady in the Shifter anthology. Both are part of the series but can be read as stand alones.

Rating: B+

Review: Touched by Fire

Title: Touched by Fire
Author: Catherine Spangler
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Sentinels/Book 2
Published: October 2007
Nath's Re-Read Challenge 2009

Since a brutal attack on her sister eleven years ago, Marla Reynolds has been emotionally frozen - but one man's passion could melt her defenses...

For the past eleven years, Marla has avoided relationships with men. Then she meets Luke Paxton in a Houston bar and is upended by an intense attraction she doesn't understand. But Luke does - it is an energy he must harness to achieve his goals. He is a Sentinel, a member of an ancient superhuman race. His purpose on Earth is to track unimaginable evil, and he needs Marla - willing or not - to help him focus his psychic powers. But as Luke draws Marla deeper into a supernatural world, he finds himself torn between protecting humanity - or yielding to the fire of her touch...

I choose this one for Nath's Re-read challenge because the third book in the series, Touched by Light, is finally coming out this June. It's been over a year and a half since Touched by Fire was released and I feel like I've been waiting for this next book a very long time. I enjoyed Marla and Luke's story and hope to see them again in the next book. Marla in particular I really liked for her realism and her determination.

Structure and control. Those are some things Marla truly values. She needs her life to be structured and predictable. She needs to feel in control of every aspect of her life. Being an accountant fits right in. It's not a job that lends itself to spontaneity and Marla is not the type for having flings or taking off on a moments notice. She enjoys planning. So when she meets Luke Paxton in a bar the last thing she wants is a one-night stand. And the fact that she thinks Luke is gorgeous while she considers herself "plain and brainy" makes it hard for her to believe that he's interested in her. The only reason she's in the bar to begin with is to give a co-worker a ride home. Otherwise, Marla would have been home with her pooch, Bryony.

Luke Paxton is hunting a killer. The killer happens to also be a Belian. The Belians are the bad guys that are being reincarnated into humans. Their purpose is to spill blood, lots of blood, as offerings to Belial, who they worship. Luke is has also been reincarnated into human form but he's the good guy, a Sentinel. He has some super powers but is still in a mortal body so he can be killed. His powers allow him to track the killer but those powers are enhanced when he is connected with a Conductor. Conductors are not exactly plentiful and finding a good match between Sentinel and Conductor isn't always easy. Lucky for Luke, Marla is a Conductor and a great match for him. He just has to convince her to help him and he's very short on time.

As I read this again it reminded me why I enjoy Ms. Spangler's writing so much. She writes smart, witty characters with all the flaws and quirks that make them seem real. Not only do Luke and Marla have wonderful scenes together the secondary characters make this a fully developed world. Luke and Marla both have family members in the story and they not only give insight into what makes the hero and heroine tick they also show the couple in different situations rather than it being just the two of them always alone. Seeing how Luke and Marla are when around each other's family members adds more complexity to their characters. They both care deeply for their family and have some funny and tender moments with them. Luke's dry humor was a treat to read and his interaction with Marla's dog just added a comedic flare to the story.

The killer that Luke and Marla are trying to find wasn't at all funny but a really sick psycho. The author lets the reader into the killer's head as he plans his next target. He also has Belial in his head, guiding him and encouraging him to cause more destruction. It's like a tremendous high for the killer to please his master. I love when an author creates a worthy antagonist for the hero/heroine to battle. Spangler has certainly done that here.

The plot moves at a well orchestrated pace with Luke, Marla and gang traveling around Texas trying to get ahead of the killer before he strikes again. The relationship between Marla and Luke begins with them being forced to work together. Since they are spending so much time together they eventually get to know a lot about each other. The sexual attraction is very strong, especially with them being an excellent match. And while they try to maintain a non-sexual relationship because of Marla's past experience it's no surprise that they eventually give in to the attraction.

There is a glossary in the front of the book that gives brief descriptions of the specific terms and beings in the series. It's not too complex but fairly easy to follow. Ms. Spangler is also the author of the futuristic Shielder series. I haven't read it yet but have heard some great things about it. More info can be found at the author's website. Definitely glad I read this one again and June can't get here soon enough.

Rating: A-

Review: Over the Edge

Title: Over the Edge
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Troubleshooters/Book 3
Published: September 2001
Nath's Re-read Challenge (sorry it's late!)

Voted # 1 on the Romance Writers of America's Top Ten List of Favorite Books of the Year 2001

Her passion is flying. As one of the best helicopter pilots in the naval reserves, Lieutenant Teri Howe is tough, dedicated, and highly-skilled--until a past mistake surfaces, jeopardizing everything she's worked for.

Rock steady Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok has made a career of solving problems. He willingly comes to Teri's aid, knowing that his personal code of honor--and perhaps his heart--will be at risk. But when a jet carrying an American senator's daughter is hijacked, Stan's unflinching determination and Teri's steadfast courage are put to the ultimate test. The rescue mission will be daring and dangerous. But somewhere between peril and resolution, the line between friends and lovers begins to blur, pushing both their lives over the edge...

I've read all of the books in Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series and Stan is one of my favorite heroes. He's right up there with Jimmy Nash. Which, if you're familiar with the two characters they are very different, at least in looks. But in loyalty, integrity and attitude they are quite similar. While I find something in each of Brockmann's books that I enjoy there are some minor problems that I have with the plot, characters or flow of the story. One of my least favorite are the World War II subplots. Over the Edge had one and while I found it somewhat interesting I'd rather have two separate stories instead of the way Brockmann does it with the WW II subplots.

Stan Wolchonok went into the Navy straight out of high school. He's a career Navy man and has no intention of getting married and settling down. This mind-set comes from watching his parents and how hard being married to a Navy man was on his mother. So Stan focuses on his career and the men in the teams. He's the go to guy when problems need to be solved. His teammates can always count on the Senior Chief to do the impossible. His love life is not a string of one night stands nor is he in a long term relationship. And he certainly doesn't see himself as a ladies man.

He was a scary looking man, not terribly tall but muscular-completely ripped, in fact~with a face that looked as if he'd spent a few years in a boxing ring. His broad cheekbones, big forehead, and heavy brow seemed made for the permanent glower he'd perfected. His jawline and chin were pugnacious and his nose listed very slightly to the left -broken one too many time, no doubt. His eyes were dark and capable of being cuttingly intense or soullessly flat and dead. His hair had lately outgrown his usual no frills crew cut and was thick and wavy and surprisingly blond. His skin was fair ~too-fair ~and he was nearly always sun or wind-burned, with ruddy cheeks and a peeling nose. page 20

So he's not exactly GQ material but that doesn't matter to Lieutenant Teri Howe. She's worked with Stan and seen how his men treat him with respect and admiration. She also finds herself attracted to him. Teri has had some problems in the past with sexual harassment in the work place and she is currently on the receiving end of unwanted advances from another officer. So she decides to keep things strictly platonic with Stan. She also doesn't want to act on her attraction because she thinks Stan doesn't see her as potential date material. He sees her as someone who needs his help fixing a problem.

Stan tries to fix Teri's problem by getting her away from the jerk who is coming on to her. Stan arranges for Teri to go on a training mission with the team. The training mission becomes a real mission when an airplane is taken over by terrorists and the SEALs are needed to take out the terrorists. The terrorists land the plane in Kazbekistan, known as the Pit. Not a place anyone wants to be and Stan is so very sorry he's the reason Teri is there.

Teri isn't sorry, she's excited to be involved in a real mission. All she's ever wanted was to fly. And flying with the SEALs, doing something so important is like a dream come true for her. She is aware of the security risks, Stan is always reminding her to wear her flack jacket, but she still finds the whole experience exciting.

Stan spends his down time in Kazbekistan trying to fix Teri up with Mike Muldoon. An adorable, young attractive SEAL who is also an officer. Teri finds Stan's matchmaking annoying at best. She finally has enough of it and decides to let Stan know exactly how she feels. She does this by getting naked. Sometimes when dealing with men you just have to hit them over the head with a brick.

There are two secondary stories, not including the World War II subplot. The first is with Sam and Alyssa, one of Brockmann fans all time favorite couples. While I like Sam and Alyssa their story seems like such a mess of misunderstandings, miscommunication and negative attitude. They do eventually get their own book, Gone Too Far, and finally get their HEA. In Over the Edge, they are put through the ringer and you can't help but feel sorry for them and the way things have turned out by the end of the book.

The second subplot is about Gina Vitagliano, a hostage on the plane, and Max Bhagat, the head of the FBI's counter terrorism unit and Gina's connection lifeline during the standoff with the terrorists. I really enjoy Max and Gina and how their relationship began and what the potential future of it is. There is a 20 year age difference but I think Gina's experiences on the plane certainly aged her and Max, while trying to deny any amorous feelings towards Gina still has very strong feelings about her that he can't ignore.

Stan and Teri go through many ups and downs during their time in Kazbekistan. With Stan trying to play matchmaker and Teri getting mixed signals from Stan. Then you add the stress of where they are and the mission and you get two people who seem to have very little chance of at any kind of relationship. Brockmann does a wonderful job portraying Stan's feelings of being too ugly and old for someone as beautiful as Teri, there is an eleven year age difference. And Teri was trying to get over her fear of aggressive men with Stan teaching her how to stand up for herself. In the end you can't help but feel like they belong together. That everything they went through brought them to that point.

So this time through Over the Edge proved once again a truly enjoyable read and one of my favorites of the Troubleshooters series. If you haven't read Suzanne Brockmann and you like romantic suspense you should give her a try. I wouldn't consider all of her books keepers or re-reads but I have found something in all of them that I enjoyed.

Rating: A-

Review: A Summer to Remember

Title: A Summer to Remember
Author: Mary Balogh
Genre: Historical Romance/Regency Period
Published: July 2002 (HC)/March 2003 (MM)
Nath's Re-Read Challenge

It's been a year since Miss Lauren Edgeworth was left at the altar, her world shattered and torn in two. She has come to London not to find another husband but to be with her aunt, the Duchess of Portfrey, during her confinement. Lauren has always been dutiful and this gave her the opportunity to leave Newbury Abbey and the close proximity to her former fiancé and his new bride. While in London she makes the acquaintance of Christopher "Kit" Butler, Viscount Ravensberg. When Kit proposes marriage Lauren offers a different proposal. She will pose as his intended if he agrees to give her a summer to remember.

The first time I read A Summer to Remember was when it was released in paperback. Mary Balogh has been one of my favorite authors for many years. Way back when I only read historicals *gasp*, Balogh, along with the likes of Roberta Gellis, Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux and Jo Goodman were authors that I read everything they published. After reading One Night For Love, where Lauren is left at the altar, I was hoping she would get her own book and HEA. So when A Summer to Remember came out I knew I had to read it. After reading it the first time it became one of my favorite Baloghs and this re-read proved it's still one of my favorites.

When Lauren was still a baby her father died. Her mother remarried soon after and went on her wedding trip, never to return. Lauren was left to be raised by her step-father's family. A family of strangers who became her real family in every way. Growing up Lauren made sure to be the perfect child, to never give her family reason to regret taking her in and raising her. But she is not a simpering little mouse of a lady to hide in the corner. She can take control of a situation if she must. She is subtle, taking control of situations through her intellect, her words. She likes to be in control in everything she does and says. She is the perfect, proper lady. To loose control would mean to loose that facade of propriety that has helped her survive nearly unbearable situations. She would never dream of doing anything that would embarrass herself or her family.

The first time Lauren sees Kit she is shocked. He is shirtless, fighting three other men in public. The second time she sees him is in a ballroom and he is asking her to dance. While she knows he has a reputation as a rakehell she can't seem to help but be drawn to him. He is good looking but it's not only his looks that attract her. It's his determination. Kit is determined to court Lauren and make her his bride.

Kit has been order, by his father, to return to his ancestral home of Alvesley Park. The trip is for his grandmother's birthday celebration and also for Kit's betrothal. The betrothal that his father has arranged. Kit has other plans since he has no desire to wed his father's choice of a bride. So he decides he must find his own bride and bring her home with him. And so the idea to woo and wed Lauren comes about.

Kit is the second son of three boys born to the Earl and Countess of Redfield. Being the second son Kit was bound for the military which suited him just fine. But when his older brother dies Kit is forced to sell out his commission and return to London. Since his returned from the fighting in the Peninsula, Kit has spent his time making a notorious reputation for himself. He doesn't want the earldom and feels guilty for the fight he had with his eldest brother the last time he saw him. His relationship with his parents and his youngest brother is strained and in Kit's mind broken beyond repair. With that in mind Kit sees no reason to stop his less than honorable ways and marry someone other than his father's choice.

Lauren was perceived by many of the ton as cool and reserved which she was. But it was how she trained herself to be. Her overriding fear of making a mistake and embarrassing her family kept her in such rigid control. I wasn't sure how Kit could get her to loosen up some of that control and enjoy herself. Fortunately, Kit was very stubborn and determined that in order for him to fulfill his part of their bargain he needed to get Lauren to loose some control and get out of her comfort zone. One scene where Kit gets Lauren to climb a tree demonstrates just how far she has come from the lady who wouldn't dare let her spine rest against the back of a chair:

...He went up behind her, one arm linked about her waist, but she would not allow him literally to carry her up.

"I will do it myself, thank you," she told him curtly the only time he tightened his hold and would have hoisted her upward when she seemed to be paralyzed with indecision. "This is not what I meant at Vauxhall, Kit. There is nothing remotely enjoyable about this."

"But it is memorable, you must admit," he said into her ear with a chuckle. "Swimming in your shift and climbing trees all on the same day. You are in sore danger of becoming a notorious hoyden."

And later, when they are sitting on a branch, Lauren's back to Kit's front, Kit's arms holding her. Kit tells her to open her eyes and enjoy the view:

"Nothing could make the climb worthwhile," she said severely, "though the prospect is a good one, I will concede."

Well. Cool praise indeed. But a moment later she ruined the effect of her words. He felt a slight tremor beneath his hands, and then she was laughing softly. Lauren Edgeworth was laughing!

"I am up in a tree," she said. "Gwen and Aunt Clara will not believe it even if I should tell them. No one who knows me would believe it. Lauren Edgeworth up a tree, with out a bonnet."

She seemed to find the idea enormously tickling. For a few moments her laughter was almost silent. But she could not contain it. She burst into peals of glee, gales of merriment. And Kit, holding her safe, joined her.

"And loving every moment of it?" he asked when he could.

"Now that I will never admit to," she said and laughed again. But finally they were both quiet, and when she spoke again her voice held more wistfulness than humor. "I will remember today. All of it. For the whole of the rest of my life. Thank you, Kit." from pages 172-174

I really love this scene. Lauren is so surprised at her self. And at the end she makes it sound as if she doesn't expect much laughter in her life after she leaves Kit. But Kit is there, holding her, keeping her safe. This is what he does for her. He makes her laugh. Such an important yet often overlooked quality in a hero. Can you imagine not laughing? Being so confined in your shell that you never laugh. To never let go and laugh long and loud? Lauren didn't know how until Kit. That's what he gave her ~ the freedom to laugh. To be surprised when that unexpected giggle surfaces out of nowhere. Catching her off guard. Then being able to revel in it.

And how does Lauren help Kit? She uses her quiet dignity to help him overcome his sense of guilt for so many things. She helps him mend the relationships that he thought were beyond repair. This is really a story about relationships and the intricacies in not only forming them but maintaining them. Lauren sees her helping Kit mend the bond with his parents and brother as her part of their bargain. She had no idea she would come to care for Kit's family which makes it that much more difficult when she must leave.

Lauren and Kit's relationship changes during the course of the story. Surprisingly Kit is the one to fall in love with Lauren and decide he wants the marriage to be real. I loved the way Kit began to see Lauren in a different light. To see beyond that rigid control of a proper lady. To see what she could be, was meant to be if she just allowed herself to be happy. I really don't think Lauren knew how, she was too busy trying to be perfect, or at least what she perceived was perfection. Lauren too begins to see the Kit she met in London wasn't the real Kit. He is more than the notorious rake that the ton gossips about. He deeply loves his family and his honor is very important to him. But in the end Lauren insists on keeping her word and breaking off the engagement at summer's end.

The secondary characters of Lauren and Kit's families were drawn with Balogh's deft touch. You could feel their love and concern for Kit and Lauren even though some of them were at odds with the couple. The love of family is a very strong current running throughout the story.

I can safely say this is still a keeper and makes me want to re-read all my Balogh books. I would highly recommend Mary Balogh and A Summer to Remember. The prequel, One Night for Love, I remember as being very good also but it isn't necessary to read it before A Summer to Remember. Mary Balogh's extensive backlist can be found on her website.

Rating: A