eARC of Colleen Gleason's A Lily on the Heath Review

Expect this book on
January 15, 2013

My review:

My way of reviewing is a tad “different” than others.  Instead of waiting until I read the book through then write up my thoughts, feelings, and opinions, I like to stop at intervals.  This better records my thoughts as I have them.

A Lily on the Heath is actually my second foray with Colleen Gleason’s books.  I had read one of her vampire books years back.  Kris Kennedy had a contest for her street team members and I won the chance.

It has been a while since I read a historical. So 7% in and it is evident that the hero and heroine had known each other once.  And the two were more acquaintances than friends or close.  Sort of like a new bent to the reuniting theme…

So far I have not read enough on either Judith or Malcolm to form an opinion.  Though, the beginning scene does sort of show bits of Judith’s character. More in the way she deals with her Queen, behaving more out of necessity than a mindless sycophant.  

29% in…. Judith and Malcolm’s characters, quirks, and personality are defined.  Though she is close to the Queen Judith does not use the advantage like some would.  She knows her place in life and court but does not let it go to her head or reveals in it. Also she stands out among the ladies.  One aspect makes her stand out among the rest of the nobility.

So glad she is not the simpering, weak-willed type.  I like that she thinks for herself.

Malcolm…  though not crazy about his view on a wife’s uses, so I hope his views would change further in the book… He’s strong and alpha but is not arrogant about it. Quick to help the underdog from a squire to saving damsels in distress (in trees especially)

Though I am sensing an undercurrent…  especially in the attention Judith garnered.  The attention would not do her good especially in her standing and duties.

41% in …  The heroine has my sympathy for what she must endure. Had my hopes that something would intervene, would save her from that part in her life.  It really doesn’t sit well with me honestly. I had hoped the hero would figure a way to thwart it…

63% -  Absolutely love how Malcolm took care of the situation Judith landed in.  Mm, he so reminds me of the metaphor “knight in shining armor”. My opinion and thoughts of him notched higher.  Though what he planned could garner his death he did it in a way that spoke of his honor and character.

Since it had been some time since I read a historical romance, took me but a moment to get use to the speech patterns and assimilate to the time period.  Minor characters in the tale told me that this is in a series but stands alone – which I was correct.

The side little romance of two more minor characters lent the story a bit more.

The heroine’s misunderstanding did wear on me.  I had wished for a little more interaction between Judith and Violet. Just felt that bonding was missing.  Sometimes a child in a story can really do good for the plot and storyline.

Other than that I enjoyed the story. It was a great break from the paranormals and romantic suspenses that I have found myself reading of late.

 

Four Shillelagh

 

Misadventures

               Mmm, this blog has been forgotten for such a long time, and only used to endorse this contest or that.  Not to mention shamelessly plug some awesome authors and broadly display the many street teams I belong to.

               Decided to post my adventure as an amateur writer. Couple weeks back I had happen what many writers/authors dread. Not the deletion of the WIP file but really it comes close to that.  The file, the one that housed not only my written word but my notes in the right sequence placement got corrupted!

               Oh how I wanted to cry, toss my external out the window, and call it a loss.  At that moment I let discouragement consume me, even questioned about continuing writing.

               Fortunate for me I loved playing with the document. Decorating it and then saving it as a pdf file in the grand illusion of seeing how it would “look” as an ebook.  Hey everyone can dream write? Every novice writer likes to see their blood, sweat, and tears in book form.

               Lucky for me that paid off. No – not in the sense that I got a publishing deal.  My dreams have not reached that level. To be honest I dread it only because inwardly I do not believe my words are “good enough”. And that I would be told that straight up.

               No… lucky for me the corrupted file did not mean a complete loss.  All that was missing from the pdf was three or four of my notes that I had recorded in a file. Happy days when I found them!

               Since this particular Work in Progress is my longest story, ten years plus in the writing, revamping, and adding.  So I could not let the story die completely.  Besides I love the characters within so much to dishonor them in that way.

               I decided the arduous process of rewriting, hoping to get inspiration to write out the notes to the parts I need.  Each chapter’s rewrite’s completion I zip the file and email to the account I use for my Kindle to store. Backups!

               Just started the rewrites three days ago and I got the prologue and chapter one finished. Good progress if I do believe so.  It is going to be a long and slow progress.  My plan is to try to rewrite at least some part every day and then reward myself with reading.

Review - Blaze by Joan Swan

      Excuse me as I have a fan girl moment here! Eeeee!  So yes, I am a total fan of Joan's, and willing to pimp out her books at every instant!  Another winner! Better than the first. Never disappoints.   Love love love mitch

The hotter they come, the harder they fall…

With a man like him, every mission becomes personal…
Ever since FBI agent Keira O’Shay started tracking a young boy named Mateo, she’s felt a connection even her empathic abilities can’t explain. She needs to save Mateo from the cult leader holding him hostage. Nothing can interfere with that—not even the reappearance of Luke Ransom, the hot-as-hell fire captain she’s regretted walking out on for three long years.

Losing Keira left Luke vulnerable—in every way. When they were together, the powers each possesses were mysteriously enhanced. But it’s the sexy, surprising woman beneath the tough exterior that Luke’s really missed. Even if she betrayed him utterly. And even if agreeing to help her uncover a government conspiracy means watching his life and his heart go up in flames again




MY TAKE:
 Book Two in the Pheonix Rising series, second book from her debut novel Fever. 


    Really like how Joan started the book with Keira.  We heard "of" the woman in Fever. Mostly her past relationship with Luke.  So this was a really good way for us readers to get a good introduction to her character and person. What drives her. Etc
   
 Luke played a vital role in the end of Fever, so we readers are already well acquianted with him. Enough to have formed an opinion going in. 

    Not so with Keira. Mostly what we know is hearsay.  And as a reader I like to learn about the woman more than what previous characters told us.

    First impression of Keira:  Strong. Not afraid to give her opinion to the higher ups. Even if it gets her reprimanded.  Cautious - to hide the secret she's harboring, to not let a speck or hint of it released, a secret that mirrors Luke and Teagans in the grand scale of things.

    Seventy pages in and my favorite side character makes a phone appearance.  Absolutely love Mitch's character.  Sarcastic and a wise-ass but he's there for those he cares about with all his connections.  So I got a goofy grin at the way he answered the phone:

"Mitch, it's Luke"
"Oh, it's only you. What number are you calling from?" Mitch didn't wait for an answer. "This better be important, Ransom, 'cause my Padres are spanking your Giants, and if I miss even one good pitch, I'm going to be pissed."

    When Keira told him not to trust anyone... that ol Mitch love there was the first to come to Luke's mind for help.

    Blaze is totally living up to a sequel to Fever.  Does not scrimp on the action and humor.  Even though I feel sort of dead inside the humor in the book has reached me, enough to have me crack a smile or laughing outright.



   Keira and Luke together is explosive.  The two characters are so quirky! So fun to read and follow. Sure they snipe at each other but what couple doesn't have their fights?  There are some unresloved issues between the two.


   Was curious about the child angle. Sometimes it works and sometimes it drags the plot down.  The boy really doesn't say much, the language barrier between the three but he seems to strengthen the plot and shows sides of the character.  We've already seen Luke with his niece - but seeing how easily he fell into with the boy was so awwing.

  
 137 - Caught this. Muahahaha moment:
She felt as if she'd fallen into an Indiana Jones Movie or an Elisabeth Naughton novel, in possession of a treasure everyone wanted, on a quest she didn't understand, running a race for which she had no timetable, no map.

   : ) Hummm, wonder if she is talking about Naughton's Stolen series

   228 pages in -  Last night, around two am I was loath to put this book down to sleep even knowing I had to get up at seven am to get my three sons up. I wanted to read the next page...

   Ahh we have been introduced to some new characters.  I have a hunch on who the elusive, mysterious Q is.  And damn Joan makes some believable villians because I hate Jocelyn. She's an evil B**ch...


   Ahhhhhh <--- Now that is the sound of a book high. I really do not think I can start another book right now. I want to settle on my contentment with this book.  Can't wait for more books! I seen some potential!!

Fever by Joan Swan Review

When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she's in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need...

A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn't, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever

MY TAKE:

Been anticipating this book for some time! And ironically animals and family are working against my reading time!

On page 87 - Very gripping, nearly action packed from the beginning. Never once did I get bored, no information dump from the get go. Been picking up information here or there along the way for the pace to go rather smoothly.

Note: Alyssa is the type of heroine that I really like. No fragile flower there. She fights and straight up gives Teague a rough time of it.

The side character Taz is a straight up jerk (well worse but I'm keeping it clean). Though, I blame the author for singing along with him. I had the darn song stuck in my head.

On 272 and honestly I do NOT want this book to end! Fever definitely grabs you by the seat of the pants. And what a ride!

Alyssa and Teague's relationship (okay I am a fan of unusual and uncommon names, so yes I love Teague's name). Not too fast or too slow, nicely, believable pace that just helps the reader connect and fall in love with both of them.

There were several moments in the book that just makes you want to hug Teague. He's an alpha but there is also the soft, emotional side you see here or there. Nothing that takes his masculinity away.

Trying to articulate just how much I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Near the end I got a little teary eyed but by the time I finished the last word, I was smiling like a loon! All I can say... DAMN good book! So glad I got the chance to read it.

Now the burning question is... Luke and Mitch best be getting a book!!!! Yes, I want more!

Eternal Captive - Laura Wright Review

Since feeding her his blood, Lucian Roman has struggled with his obsession with Bronwyn Kettler-fighting an uncontrollable desire to kill her, if he has to, and the vampire she has sworn to wed. But when a dangerous enemy threatens Bronwyn, only Lucian can save her life. Even if it means sacrificing his own...

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My thoughts: So 21% in Luca's story and wow, just wow! I've been anticipating this book since Eternal Kiss.

Lucian is everything I like in a male: sarcastic, snarky and straight up-asshole!! For those starting in on Laura's Mark of the Vampire, I really recommend they start from book one.

Luca's personality is outlined from the getgo, when we were first introduced to him. Bronwyn too is introduced in the first book - where we get insight on her personality and person. The tension between the two start there and continue somewhat in book two and leads us to their story.

We are introduced to some new players...which really have me chomping the bit in excitement.

Favored line so far: If the princess won't come to the asshole, then the asshole will have to come to the princess.

81% in - Really do not want to put this book down. Seriously. I stayed up till 3 am reading, needing to read that next page, that next chapter.

Some cool new players are introduced and put into play. I was happy when Laura mentioned one would get a book. I really hope the other interesting male gets a book too unless his is a side romance.

WARNING: near the end is several sniffle scenes. One scene nearly broke my heart! Though, that was quite a twist about an existing character that we already knew and love!

This book absolutely does NOT disappoint! Already anticipating the next book!        

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas Review

Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her fiancé Kevin has left her. His new lover is Lucy’s own sister. Lucy's bitterness over being dumped is multiplied by the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life. Facing the severe disapproval of Lucy's parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on San Juan Island, to "romance" Lucy and hopefully loosen her up and get her over her anger. Complications ensue when Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love, Kevin has second thoughts, and Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses. Questions about love, loyalty, old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings are explored as Lucy learns that some things in life—even after being broken—can be made into something new and beautiful.

MY TAKE:

Fifteen pages in - My heart ached and went out for Lucy. The more I read the more I thought "That poor girl". But the end of that fifteen pages, the good that came out of the bad, made me smile.

I can understand Lucy's rapt attention in the glassblowers. My dad was friends with people in the Globe factory. They blew those glass balls that people put out in their front yards in pestals. Lisa did a wonderful job of describing that! Her research on that was spot on!

30 pages in - I am cackling here. I love this part. Lucy and Sam are talking about what their sexes do with breakups.

Sam: It is a lot simpler for guys. We jsut drink a lot of beer, go a few days without shaving, and buy an appliance

Lucy: You mean like a toaster?

Sam: No, Something that makes noise. Like a leaf blower or chain saw. Very Healing

Oh man that part right there got me howling with laughter where I HAD to read it to my hubby. Even he laughed.

50 Pages in - Had to pause here because Justine and Zoe's characters are great! Such diversity between two characters. These two girls, especially Justine and her love for confrontation, is what every gal needs in her life. Just that scene alone makes me hope Kleypas decides, once the Nolan's are done, that she'll consider writing a book for Zoe and Justine. Zoe, from what little is divulged, deserves a happily ever after.

165 pages in - Revisiting Mark, Maggie, and Holly was like seeing long-time friends again. The connection is just there. And I was struck with how much I actually missed the Nolans. There is just something about them that tugs at the heartstrings, that makes you relate and bond with.

The scene between Mark and Holly brought actual tears to the eyes. It's a wonderful continuation from Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, touching the heart as the soul.

The last hundred pages flew by...and all the way, through the sheen of happy tears at the ending, I was given the thought... Rainshadow Road conveys what romance is all about.

That through the scared skeletons of the past, Nolan managed to work through the dark shadow that was his family's supposed legacy. The two of them, Lucy and Sam, were cynics when it came to love, each colored from family's, yet somehow, the two managed to find the magic of love, that cynic or no, love shines through.

Kleypas never lost the magic that was the Nolans, what was introduced in Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. Sometimes, anticipated books in a series can fall flat... Not Rainshadow Road. The magic of the story continues..

Now I am eagerly awaiting the next installment, for Alex... Lisa Kleypas never disappoints - be her historical or contemporary..        

Five Shillelagh and a bear claw

King of the Isles - Debbie Mazzuca Review

  Did this review a little differently.  Instead of waiting until I finished the book, I stopped at intervals or important places to jot down the thoughts and opinions fluttering through my head. 

Evangeline may be powerfully persuasive in her way, but convincing the notoriously wild Highland king Lachlan MacLeod to strengthen his alliances with a strategic marriage seems to be asking the impossible. Stubborn and proud, Lachlan seems determined to go against her will, even if it means endangering the people he's sworn to protect and the enchanted isle that has already seen so much discord. Yet the battle-scarred Highlander cannot ignore his sultry advisor for long. When his mentor is kidnapped, forcing him to ride into combat alongside the beautiful Evangeline, he must choose between her safety and his own independence. It's a choice he makes in an instant ...but once wed to the woman he could not resist, he'll soon find that his heart is in even greater danger than his kingdom



My Take: - Won this Advanced Reading Copy off a contest Kensington Publishing Corp had on Twitter.  If I could compare this author to another author out there... Donna Grant comes to mind with that highlander magic mixed with the Fae.

- New to me author

So far I am 48 pages in and Mazzuca's written voice is spellbinding. This is definitely a book I would recommend for those who love magic, Celtic myth (Fae) and hints of Scottish element. All things that tickle my fancy and interest.

Now I have not read the two previous books before King of Isles. I get hints that Syrene and Aidan have a book, but so far I really do not feel handicapped reading this first. It does spark my curiousness. I will reserve my judgement about getting the two previous books once I finish the book.

So, I am on page 208. The book is still engrossing. Evangeline and Lachlan both are considered tortured. Lachlan being in the physical and emotional sense. Evangeline more haunted and emotionally abused.

The two of them have such common ground that I can really see the two coming together. Evangeline has some baggage still. Lachlan too that they need to overcome.

So I wrapped up the remainder of the story and it's nearly 2 am in the morning. Yes, there were moments when Evangeline and Lachland aggrivated the hell out of me but glad the issue was resolved quickly.

Now the ultimate question is.... Will I read the first two stories in this series, oh yes. I found I enjoyed the side characters. I like to learn more about them.

Will I read more from this author? That is a given since she did weave such magic in her words.

The children in this book made me smile, cackle even.

Now there were a couple of times I wanted to knock Lachlan and Evangeline's head together but grief and anger does play havoc on our senses.