Review: Highland Rebel

Title: Highland Rebel
Author: Judith James
Genre: Historical Romance/1668
Published: September 2009

ARC Review

From the author's website ~

Set in a dangerous time of religious and political upheaval and civil war, HIGHLAND REBEL tells the story of Catherine Drummond and Jamie Sinclair, two proud and lonely outcasts whose struggle for acceptance and survival draws them together in a partnership based on mutual interest that will transform them both. In so doing it transports the reader to Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, the court of King James II, and the coffee houses, backstreets and taverns of seventeenth century London, while chronicling the brief reign of England’s last Stuart king.

Born in the waning days of Cromwell’s England, despised as a bastard by his Puritan father, and abandoned by his mother, James Sinclair has learned from an early age to fend for himself. Charming, dangerous, and decidedly amoral, his quick wit, good looks and military prowess have served him well in the courts of two Stuart Kings, the grudgingly Protestant Charles II and the openly Catholic King James. Adventurer, courtier, mercenary and spy, he’s a master of disguise who can transform from aristocrat to beggar and disappear in any crowd. Sent to mind a troop of foreign mercenaries, he looks forward to completing his mission and collecting his reward, and when an inconvenient spark of gallantry and his own perverse humor cause him to marry a maid captured on the battlefield he intends the marriage to be in name only.

Raised in the Scottish Highlands, heiress to a title, a fortune founded on the whiskey trade, and properties in Scotland and in France, Cat Drummond is far from the camp follower Jamie mistakes her for. Fiercely loyal to family, clan and king, she’s born to rule, trained on the field of battle and at the court of Versailles, and equally comfortable in men’s breeches or a gown. Disguised as beggars on the streets of London, or glittering amongst the courtiers of Whitehall Palace, Catherine and Jamie will join forces in an age where treachery and adultery are the fashion, and cynicism, cruelty and barbed wit are the qualities most admired. But in a world where family, creed, and princes can’t be trusted, and faith fuels intolerance, hatred, and war, they’ll soon find themselves on opposite sides of a growing conflict that will force them to question everything they know, and test the bounds of friendship, loyalty and love.

What a lush, provocative story Judith James has written. The setting is rich with history and the characters are different from the usual fare historical romances serve up. Highland Rebel isn't as dark as Broken Wing but still has it's gritty moments. The love story of Jamie and Cat isn't typical, they meet under very strained circumstances; on the battlefield. What I like about their story and the whole book for that matter, is that it's a step away from the usual. I wasn't always sure what might happen next which made for some fascinating reading. Highland Rebel is a not necessarily a book you can bang out in one sitting but something that takes time to read, a book that you want to take your time reading.

Let me just say how much I loved Jamie Sinclair. His brash boldness, his cynical view of the world around him, all made for a fascinating character. He's not at all what I was expecting and I'm thankful for that. He's one of my very favorite hero types - the anti-hero. He's all about looking out for himself. Jamie has been a Protestant and a Catholic, his religion depends on who is in power and how the political winds are blowing. This is a volatile time in English history and Jamie has every intention of coming out on top or the very least, surviving. He acts like he is only looking out for himself but he does have a handful of people he cares about. And now Cat is part of that select few. In true anti-hero fashion he tries to deny how he feels about Cat, he's really not sure about love. He's never know what true love feels like but he does know that he likes Cat, actually likes her and this surprises him. He comes to consider her a good friend and has every intention of keeping her safe.

Cat is a dynamic heroine. She was raised by her father to take over as head of the clan but she also spent time at the French court, acting the part of a lady. So she has two very distinct sides to her: the pants wearing, sword wielding Highlander who will do anything for her clan and the lady dressed in silks, tempting Jamie to find out what's under those silks. I completely enjoyed Cat, her loyalty and honor and her love of life that took such pleasure in seeing the darker side of London with Jamie. Cat is a complex heroine that has such difficult choices to make but through it all she stays strong and true to her character.

One of the things that I enjoyed in Highland Rebel was the setting and time period. While I enjoy the Regency and Victorian eras, I also enjoy a chance to read a different time period. The period of Highland Rebel is one of political upheaval and war. With friends and enemies changing from one day to the next, Jamie and Cat are caught in the middle. I loved the intrigue and the way Ms. James used it to show how these characters react to the different situations they find themselves in. When everything was said and done their actions made sense given the unrest in their countries and their own beliefs.

This is not what I would consider a quick read but a story thick with politics and court intrigue. That's not to say that the love story took a backseat to the history, not at all. At the center was Jamie and Cat's relationship, whether they were together or miles apart their relationship was still growing and developing even if they didn't realize it. Their love story was one of mutual attrations but also one of becoming friends first. Of learning to trust and to love. These two were perfect for each other because at their core they held very similar values. On the outside they seem so different, with Jamie having his 'devil may care' attitude and Cat being all about her clan. But at their hearts they were all about keeping their families safe and fighting for what they believed in.

Judith James has done it again and written a novel that takes the reader into a world of intrigue, action and most importantly, romance. Ms. James next novel, Libertine's Kiss, is set for release in August 2010. You can find out more about this wonderful author at her website.

Rating: A

Review: Deathwish

Title: Deathwish
Author: Rob Thurman
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Cal Leandros/Book 4
Published: March 2009

From the back cover ~

How I felt the mental stirrings of a bloodthirsty heritage when I passed through the gray light wasn't my favorite topic... The Auphe nature wasn't mine. I wouldn't let it be. And if I said to myself over and over and sprinkled around enough frigging fairy dust, maybe it would be true.

Half-human Cal Leadros and his brother, Niko, are barely getting by with their preternatural detective agency when the vampire Seamus hires them. He's being followed, and he wants to know by whom. But the leandros brothers have to do more than they had planned when Seamus turns up dead (or un-dead.)

Worse still is the return of Cal's nightmarish family, the Auphe. The last time Cal and Niko faced them, the Auphe were almost wiped out. Now they want revenge. Cal knows that before the Auphe get to him, they will try to destroy everything and everyone he holds dear. Because for the Auphe, Cal's pain is a pleasure.

And they're feeling good.

Hey, where's the review? It's over at Breezing Through, that's where. :) nath from Books, Books and more Books asked me to do a buddy review for what has become one of my favorite series. So head on over to Breezing Through and check out our love for those Leandros brothers.

Rob Thurman and her books can be found here.

My reviews for the first three books in this series:

Nightlife

Moonshine

Madhouse

Monkey Driver...

Where I live we have what are called "speed cameras" on the freeways. There are signs posted stating that the photo enforcement cameras are X number of feet ahead so drivers do get warnings about what is coming up. Apparently that warning is all some of them need to beat the system. That and a monkey mask.

Yes, instead of slowing down for the cameras like most everyone else, some people have taken to wearing monkey masks. The above picture is an actual photo taken by one of those cameras of a driver who doesn't want to slow down. You can read the full story here. Seriously people - animals masks???

So what have you done to get out of a speeding ticket? Crying, lying about an emergency or just take it like an adult and take the ticket? I blamed Roarke once for a speeding ticket. I was listening to one of the In Death audio books and Roarke was working his magic on Eve, trying to get her to relax. I was so into Roarke's voice (and yes it is a woman reading, but still) that I didn't realize the speed limit had decreased from 65 to 55. I still got the ticket and I still listen to the In Death series in the car, I'm just more careful when certain scenes are playing. ;o)

Review: Once A Cowboy

Title: Once A Cowboy
Author: Linda Warren
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Cowboy Trilogy/Book 3
Published: February 2007

From the author's website ~

Once. And For Always

Brodie Hayes is a former rodeo star, now a rancher-a cowboy, through and through. But when he finds out some shocking news about the circumstances of his birth, he begins to question his identity. Luckily, private investigator Alexandra Donovan is there to help him find the truth about who he is. Along the way, he discovers that even a man who thought he'd be alone for the rest of his life can fall in love.

For Brodie, love was something you did once-and for always. But is Alex the type of woman who can take on a stubborn man like him? Because there's one thing about him that will never change, no matter what they find out about his past-once a cowboy, always a cowboy.

Why did I read this? Because it was free. :) Yep, Once A Cowboy is one of the seventeen free downloads that Harlequin is offering to celebrate 60 years of publishing. What was even better than the price tag was the story. While I didn't download all of the free reads I do plan on trying a number of them. The two historicals look interesting and Hilcia from Impressions gave Raeanne Thayne's Dancing in the Moonlight ,from the Silhouette line,a very positive review.

I enjoyed Linda Warren's voice and her ability to give her characters a strong presence without overshadowing the story. The main characters of Brodie and Alex were easy to like and enough back story was provide that I felt I knew them. If I had any problems with their relationship it was the romance aspect of it moving too slow. The book was only 246 pages and I thought they would get together long before they finally did.

The overall story was different than what I was expecting. The author got into the ramifications of what would happen if suddenly you are not who you thought you were. Warren didn't gloss over how what affects one person can spiral out to affect others no matter what precautions are take. I liked that Brodie showed his concern for his mother, who sorely tried his patience. He was an easy going, likable guy that was content with his life. When his career as a bull rider ended he took to his ranch and made a life for himself there. When he first meets Alex it's for business reasons but Alex soon becomes concerned about Brodie and reaches out to him. He doesn't want her in his life but she is stubborn and continues to look out for his best interest.

The two do eventually acknowledge their attraction and Brodie lets Alex into his life where she quickly makes a place for herself. Alex, for all her tenacity, was a heroine that I saw as good for Brodie. And Brodie was good for her, he's there when she needs him the most. But at first it's loads of drama and the past coming back to haunt Brodie. Alex is good for him in that she knows when to push and when to back off. Alex's own past isn't a bed of roses. Her mother died when she was 2. She's now in her early 30's and lives with her father and grandmother, who don't get along very well. To say her life is pretty much about her P.I. work would be accurate. She's tends to get too involved in some of the cases and becomes emotionally attached. I think it was because she needed someone to focus all her nurturing instincts on and she needed to become independent of her father and grandmother.

All and all, considering this was free it was certainly worth my reading time which isn't easy to come by. The romance wasn't as strong as I would have liked but I'll be looking for more of Ms. Warren's book in the future. Even if this doesn't sound like your type of story, there might be some among the 17 category romances available to enjoy.
Linda Warren has written a number of books for Harlequin. Those books and the excerpts can be found at her website.

Rating: B

Zombie Clowns...

I'm not crazy about clowns and I'm not crazy about zombies. The only zombie movies I do like are the Resident Evil franchise - I want to be Alice when I grow up. :)

So zombie clowns would fall low on my list of must see. But for the new movie, Zombieland, coming out next month, I might make an exception.

Woody Harrelson is probably one of the few that could actually make me laugh while zombies are busy munching away on their slow moving victims.



And I mentioned the Resident Evil movies which I love and I might be loving even more since the current rumor has Jensen Ackles of Supernatural (scroll down for Supernatural love) playing in the next movie, Resident Evil: Afterlife, due for release next July. Jensen and Milla - perfect. I'm there!

ETA: Sorry about the video. :o( You can go here or here to see the trailer.

Review: Instant Gratification

Title: Instant Gratification

Author: Jill Shalvis

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Wilder Brothers/Book 2

Published: July 2009

From the back cover ~

Wishful, California, is 3000 miles from Dr. Emma Sinclair's last job in a New York City ER. It may as well be another galaxy. Here, running her father's clinic for a summer, Emma treats bee stings, stomach flu, and the occasional pet cat. Plus, she has to contend with patients like Stone Wilder: gorgeous, laid-back, and irritating beyond belief. The man laughs at her. A lot. And Emma loathes him. All except that tiny part of her that wants to throw him on her examining table and break every doctor-patient rule in the book.

When Stones tries to help Emma learn to loosen up a bit, he pictures white-water rafting or scenic mountain hikes. Not a mind-blowing affair that shakes them both to the core. Emma's sure she has no place in a town like Wishful, but Stone knows different. Emma belongs here - in this town, in his life. It is convincing that this strong-minded, stubborn, sexy woman of that fact will be a challenge no Wilder man could resist.

This is book two in the series about the three Wilder brothers who run Wilder Adventures, a guide service in the California Sierras for just about any kind of outdoor activity. Ms. Shalvis' love for the Sierras comes through in her writing of the scenery, the feel and even the smell of the mountains. Makes me want to go there and look for these Wilder brothers. :)

Stone Wilder is aptly named because he is the rock that holds his family together. He's the mediator, the one that keeps the company running and diffuses the numerous quarrels that occur with three very opinionated brothers and their aunt who raised them. I liked Stone but he was a man that's easy to like. He pretends to be a laid back mountain bum, just hanging out, playing on the mountain. But he's really very responsible and very giving to his community. These are things that Emma comes to find out as she gets to know the real Stone Wilder.

Emma is used to the big city pace of New York and the ER that she ran. The pace in Wishful is decidedly slower and less trauma filled. The people are different too. They take time to enjoy life and concern themselves with their neighbors and the goings on in the small town of 3000. Emma is out of her element and can only look forward to getting out of Wishful. She just has to wait until her father is able to take over the Urgent Care clinic again. Until then, she's stuck in Wishful and trying to keep her attraction to the sexy Wilder brother from becoming more than simply enjoying the view. Emma was an okay character. I never really felt like I connected with her. Her personality is standoffish and she's not a person comfortable getting close with others. While I liked her I just didn't feel that connection with her that I was hoping for. That's not necessarily a bad thing and doesn't mean that other readers might get more from the character, just that I didn't.

The plot was interesting with Stone trying to get Emma to come out of her shell and learn to slow down and smell the roses. He takes her to some of his favorite places on the mountain and helps her to be more open with the townspeople. I liked Stone's patience with Emma and his consideration of her situation. She had left Wishful when she was only 6 and considers herself a New Yorker. She came back because her father needed her help with the clinic and it's only suppose to be temporary. Stone hopes that Emma will make the move permanently and tries to show her how much he and the town need her.

Instant Gratification was a quick, fun read with the hot, steamy sex scenes that I've come to expect from Shalvis. The road to HEA for Emma and Stone was an entertaining journey with a glimpse of brother number three, TJ and his potential HEA. His story looks to be a rocky one. Look for Instant Temptation (TJ's story) in April 2010.

Want to read excerpts for all three Wilder brother books? They can be found here. Want to read my review for Instant Attraction? That can be found here.

Jill Shalvis and her considerable back list can be found on her website. Shalvis also has a daily blog about life as a writer in the beautiful Sierras.

Rating: B+

Supernatural Weekend...

I started watching Supernatural when it first premiered in 2005. I watched it because of Jared Padalecki. I had been watching Gilmore Girls and seeing ads for Jared's new show, decided to give it a go. So I watched and fell for these two brothers (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles)who were funny smartasses and knew how to kick demon ass. Sadly, I haven't been watching now for the last couple of years.

I'm not sure why I stopped watching but ever since I started reading Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series I've been thinking about Sam and Dean Winchester. Then the promos for the new season started and grabbed my interest. That's why I've been playing catch up with watching the series on DVD. The new season starts this Thursday.

Aside from the brothers and their relationship I also love the music. Dean is the brother who loves old cars and classic rock 'n roll and heavy metal - my kind of music. :) The show's play list really sets the mood and can work as a commentary to what's happening in the episode. The other thing I like is the creepiness and sometimes plain old grossness of the show. And the various hotel rooms the brothers end up in. Some of those can be quite scary too. :)


In Everybody Loves a Clown (season 2, episode 2) Sam and Dean become carnival workers and hunt down a killer clown. Anyone who says clowns are funny and harmless should watch this episode. Clowns totally creep me out!

While poking around at YouTube for more Sam and Dean goodness I came across Supernatural fan July83rose(http://www.youtube.com/user/July83rose)who has put together some great Supernatural bloopers and videos. You should really check them out.


I probably won't get completely caught up on all four seasons before season 5 starts on Thursday but I'm having fun getting to know these brothers again.

Georgette Heyer/Sourcebooks/Barnes & Noble ...

If you've been thinking about trying Georgette Heyer or if you have and plan to buy more of her novels then this promotion might be for you. Sourcebooks & Barnes and Noble is having a really good promo and you could win a $200 Barnes and Noble Gift Card. Yep, $200! See the info from Sourcebooks below for more details...

Sourcebooks B&N Heyer Receipt Promotion

This September, Sourcebooks is exclusively releasing The Foundling by Georgette Heyer in Barnes & Nobles stores Nationwide!!

Sourcebooks is holding a fabulous receipt promotion! Send us your receipt/proof of purchase of The Foundling from your local Barnes & Noble to our office or a scanned receipt in an email to Danielle Jackson and you’ll be entered to win a $200 Barnes & Noble gift card! Receipts must be dated between September 1 – September 31, 2009, and can be from an in-store or online purchase. Any questions please contact Danielle Jackson.

Sourcebooks is so excited about the warm embrace everyone has given the Georgette Heyer reissues! Good luck—we look forward to hearing from you!

Send your Barnes & Noble The Foundling receipts to
Sourcebooks, Inc.
c/o Publicity
PO Box 4410
Naperville, IL 60567

Free Short Story By Lisa Kleypas...

Just in time to get readers ready for the next release in Lisa Kleypas' Hathaway series, a free short story of the wedding of Merripen and Win. Just click on the image above and it will take you to the publisher's site where you can sign up to the get free read by email. The next novel in the series, Poppy and Harry's story, Tempt Me At Twilight releases September 22.

Movie Review: The Outsider

Johnny Gault (Tim Daly) is a cold-blooded gunslinger who wasn't looking for trouble but finds it when he rides into a dusty little town. An escalating feud over land between ranchers and new settlers is ready to explode into violence. As tensions mount, Johnny gets involved with a beautiful settler (Naomi Watts) and the fight becomes personal. Now it's the outsider who will need to settle the score in a final face-to-face showdown.


Stunning and beautifully acted adaptation of Penelope Williamson novel of the same name. The Outsider (Showtime/2002) tells the story of Rebecca Yoder, a woman of the Plain People. The Plain People believe in a strict life of no violence and that God will take care of them. Rebecca is recently widowed and is alone with only her young son. When notorious gunslinger Johnny Gault stumbles onto Rebecca's land she takes him home and nurses him back to health.


Tim Daly has played a number of different roles but I remember him best from the show Wings. In The Outsider he plays Johnny Gault who is a very bad man. Just the way I like them. :) Daly played this role surprisingly well. He was dark, violent, coarse and wicked, often just to get a reaction out of Rebecca. As Johnny he seems to relish his reputation as a killer. It's what he knows and what he's good at. He is confused by Rebecca's beliefs, especially after finding out her husband was killed because he would not fight back. Johnny even offers to kill the men who killed Rebecca's husband. He figures he owes her for saving his life. I really liked the character of Johnny and the way he changed over the course of the movie.


The movie opens with Rebecca and her husband in bed. You definitely get the sense that Rebecca isn't shy when it comes to sex. Not that she's promiscuous but that she loved her husband and loved the physical side of their relationship. She was at times a very simple woman who lived her beliefs and kept her faith in God. After some time with Johnny she didn't question those beliefs so much as begin to interpret them in a different way. She still doesn't believe that violence is the answer and tells Johnny this a number of times. He doesn't want to give up his guns since this is all he knows.

The movie worked on so many level. The relationship of Johnny and Rebecca and how she was afraid of him but felt it was her duty to save him because of her beliefs. Johnny comes to realize that violence isn't always the answer. There is also the range war going on and Rebecca and her sheep ranch are right in the middle of it.


Overall this was a wonderful story of two people who despite everything are attracted to each other to the point of going against their beliefs. The scenery was beautiful and the acting superb. Tim Daly as Johnny was smoking hot. He had that cool, "I don't give a damn" attitude down pat. Naomi Watts as Rebecca made for an admirable opponent to Johnny. There were also some scenes of humor that only added to the realism of the story. The drama of their everyday lives played out while their love story grew. When they do sleep together the sex is hot and both Rebecca and Johnny give and take. Their passion seems to take them by surprise for there was nothing quick or sedate about the love scenes. Their physical relationship merely adds another dimension to their bond.

If you are in the mood for a splendid love story then I would recommend The Outsider.

Rating: A

*Do I even need to mention who got me to watch this? :0)*