tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32469672943513324072024-03-14T04:29:23.628-04:00Wandeca ReadsBeing a bookworm is a job too...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.comBlogger1014125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-36270706817026436882013-02-21T16:30:00.000-05:002013-02-21T16:30:00.651-05:00How to Marry a Duke<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLehfRrT17vUIIL310Nc8xjMrNVZj4FIRGoHb1QfRSsr_Pu7K-xxYVqb1iIzKbpQZUXNiWsUWwgm6X-QeJJyBbbwJ4LwBLjUPUnucsHfUs1VI1LI7x7rFiDZAhmgFIrzbij09QvdZv0lJi/s1600/how+to+marry+a+duke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLehfRrT17vUIIL310Nc8xjMrNVZj4FIRGoHb1QfRSsr_Pu7K-xxYVqb1iIzKbpQZUXNiWsUWwgm6X-QeJJyBbbwJ4LwBLjUPUnucsHfUs1VI1LI7x7rFiDZAhmgFIrzbij09QvdZv0lJi/s320/how+to+marry+a+duke.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. Love is not necessary--nor desired. But how to choose among a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London's infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she's not the most captivating woman he's ever met... </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she's determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife--she'll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke's affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan's desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker's number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's the historical version of The Bachelor! Oh my goodness! I had a laugh out loud when I noticed it, it didn't even dawn on me that it could have been that by the above blurb. Anyway, after that little shock, I got into the story. I enjoyed the characters, found them believable, if not a little over the top at times, but there are a few characters that I hope will see in future books. Both Tristan and Tessa are strong individuals, and together they were a powerhouse, the chemistry between was believable, I just wish they came to their senses earlier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to reading the next book of the series, <b>How to Seduce a Scoundrel</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How to Marry a Duke</b> by Vicki Dreiling (4/5) Historical Romance; Published: Forever (1/2011); Series: # 1, How To; New Author; Library; Books 2013 (18); </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-61695532526816751852013-02-20T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-20T09:00:00.783-05:00Loving Lady Marcia<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwWz3zkpVTX-eClkgmh0Jmf3nZg2pudHFrYlQfLxB2WaxTs4Zl-ech8Gsy2FjaEx535ij6WiNVP7or-XmbZism0NqzTnStpNNwSelqvr40yLgox0NRBate5STvoJg5uQTgISnqdx2X4Lt/s1600/loving+lady+marcia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwWz3zkpVTX-eClkgmh0Jmf3nZg2pudHFrYlQfLxB2WaxTs4Zl-ech8Gsy2FjaEx535ij6WiNVP7or-XmbZism0NqzTnStpNNwSelqvr40yLgox0NRBate5STvoJg5uQTgISnqdx2X4Lt/s320/loving+lady+marcia.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>In the House of Brady, three very lovely girls have hair of gold—and hearts to match—but finding a match among the gentlemen of London is one comedy of errors that could bring down the house…</i> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Marcia Gets Schooled… </b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of the three Brady sisters, Lady Marcia has always seemed the girl most likely to lead a perfectly charmed life. But after a handsome cad breaks her heart, she swears off love and devotes her life to teaching girls at a private school. In spite of her family’s wish for a London debut, Marcia is happy where she is—until terrible news sends her back to the Brady clan…and into the arms of an unexpected suitor. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>On The Subject Of Love </b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A dark and dashing earl who knows Marcia’s past, Duncan Lattimore is surprised by what a fascinating and independent woman she’s become. Marcia, too, is surprised—by the fiery attraction she feels for Duncan. But why—why—must he be the brother of the scoundrel who broke her heart? Why must Marcia’s rival at school forbid her from seeing him? How can this lady possibly resist this fellow—when they know that it’s much more than a hunch…</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh my goodness! I struggled with this book. I have read previous books written by the author, which I've enjoyed, but for some reason I couldn't get into this story. I love independent heroines, but Marcia was way too extreme, which made me utter a few choice words every now and again. I enjoyed Duncan, he was caring and supportive and he adored Marcia and she was not very nice to him at times. I couldn't see them together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not sure if I will even bother reading the rest of the series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Loving Lady Marcia</b> by Kieran Kramer (2/5) Historical Romance; Published: St. Martin's Paperbacks (8/2012); Series: # 1, House of Brady; Library; Books 2013 (17);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-24442196625804113782013-02-18T16:01:00.000-05:002013-02-18T16:01:00.196-05:00How to Dance with a Duke<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDgDJ3mx-WESgyLcRyf1PS-2MvljMkknNvWE0H5xq1XcYEZrxNZ7KehBlSoeB1A1jDY96U-ez9XdFjfwnBqyFxPQS1j0F1X-IAmgOUrJ5HrJtSPEG5I05Ui82jMuuhECwVhPD4nkfb_5C/s1600/how+to+dance+with+a+duke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDgDJ3mx-WESgyLcRyf1PS-2MvljMkknNvWE0H5xq1XcYEZrxNZ7KehBlSoeB1A1jDY96U-ez9XdFjfwnBqyFxPQS1j0F1X-IAmgOUrJ5HrJtSPEG5I05Ui82jMuuhECwVhPD4nkfb_5C/s320/how+to+dance+with+a+duke.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What’s a wallflower to do when she’s suddenly in need of a husband? Use all the pluck and moxie she can muster to get what she wants…</i> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miss Cecily Hurston would much rather explore the antiquities of Egypt than the uncharted territory of marriage. But the rules of her father’s exclusive academic society forbid her entrance unless she weds one of its members. To clear her ailing father’s name of a scandalous rumor, Cecily needs to gain admission into the Egyptian Club—and is willing to marry any old dullard to do it. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lucas Dalton, Duke of Winterson, is anything but dull. He’s a dashing and decorated war hero determined to help Cecily—even if that means looking the other way when she claims the dance card of Amelia Snow, this season’s most sought-after beauty. But Lucas has a reason for wanting Cecily to join the Egyptian Club: His brother went missing during one of Lord Hurston’s expeditions to Egypt. An alliance with the explorer’s bluestocking daughter could bring Lucas closer to the truth about what happened…or it could lead him to a more dangerous love than either he or Cecily could have imagined….</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm in a romance type of mood. I'm not blaming it on Valentine's Day, I'm blaming it on the amount of romance novels that are accumulating on my night stand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I enjoy reading romance novels that don't have the <strike>traditional</strike> <i>perfect</i> heroine, beautiful, titled and more than money than she knows what to do with it. I love the fiery, intelligent, woman who has no issues with speaking her mind. Cecily is that type of heroine. Not only was she intelligent, she's courageous and funny. And she's a breathe of fresh air, especially for Lucas. As a couple I found them to be great together, chemistry wasn't lacking, it was pretty hot. The mystery itself of who was behind the rumors and disappearance was not a complete surprise to me, I enjoyed it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How to Dance with a Duke</b> by Manda Collins (4/5) Historical Romance; Published: St. Martin's Paperbacks (2/2012); Series: # 1, Ugly Ducklings; New Author; Library; Books 2013 (16);</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-68128297107882034672013-02-17T14:09:00.000-05:002013-02-17T14:09:00.192-05:00One Good Earl Deserves a Lover<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ7Avy8uZUnJqG2VpUbI5aa7cTrGYW6r36ADYZQn__KEiow8afOOm5-Z6w-Gfpl2mC-oPdxZb6HJ-a5T8nDjXM9B69TEY_0y7F0d-Ahsj2DB9YmdyyNoa8et8FSxCPy-EbE6pSifYiJII/s1600/one+good+earl+deserves+a+lover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ7Avy8uZUnJqG2VpUbI5aa7cTrGYW6r36ADYZQn__KEiow8afOOm5-Z6w-Gfpl2mC-oPdxZb6HJ-a5T8nDjXM9B69TEY_0y7F0d-Ahsj2DB9YmdyyNoa8et8FSxCPy-EbE6pSifYiJII/s320/one+good+earl+deserves+a+lover.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been not so patiently waiting for this book since I read the first book of <a href="http://macleanspace.com/">Sarah MacLean's</a> <a href="http://macleanspace.com/book-list/#romance">The Rules of Scoundrels</a> series, <a href="http://wandecareads.blogspot.ca/2012/04/rogue-by-any-other-name.html">A Rogue by Any Other Name</a>. I enjoyed the first book, a lot. And my expectations for the second book were very high. And I'm very happy to say that my expectations were met and exceeded. I loved this book! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Both the main characters, Pippa and Cross, were wonderful. Pippa is what people think as odd, she is more interested in botany and anatomy than social graces; Cross is self exiled from society because of an accident he believes that he caused, wants no part of the Ton, he also has a protective streak which is very endearing. When Pippa approaches him to help with her research, he refuses, but he cannot get her out of his mind. He finds Pippa a breathe of fresh air, and ever so tempting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The steam level in this book is out of this world! Their romance is sizzling, they definitely do not lack chemistry. Hot, hot and hot...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>“I am going to ruin you, Pippa. I shall show you pleasure you’ve never known, the kind you’ve never dreamed. Over and over and over until you beg me never to stop.”</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See what I mean?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next book, Temple's story (squee moment!) is coming out in late August, <b><i>No Good Duke Goes Unpunished</i></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>One Good Earl Deserves a Lover</b> by Sarah MacLean (5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Avon (1/2013); Series: # 2, The Rules of Scoundrels; Format: Ebook for Kindle; New Release 2013 (1); Favorite Reads 2013; Books 2013 (15); </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-595259937661280812013-02-15T09:58:00.000-05:002013-02-15T09:58:00.211-05:00The Princess and the Peer<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3adhrImOW_u4w_BsKodwxfPpUvmFafoWLtaprn8BNz-DoF_YEBGm7CPmn-uTqHQqhTEw2mKzcAYigeYuB9nictsbaSLOpVLZWlcMF1ZVSi7uRkIt658438Txm5NbDSOCLE0oYy9W0GhM/s1600/the+princess+and+the+peer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3adhrImOW_u4w_BsKodwxfPpUvmFafoWLtaprn8BNz-DoF_YEBGm7CPmn-uTqHQqhTEw2mKzcAYigeYuB9nictsbaSLOpVLZWlcMF1ZVSi7uRkIt658438Txm5NbDSOCLE0oYy9W0GhM/s320/the+princess+and+the+peer.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When a royal summons from her brother arrives, Emma knows it’s time to embrace her duties as the princess of a small European kingdom, and marry the man her brother has chosen for her…a stranger she has never met. Instead she does what any self-respecting princess would do—she runs away. All she wants is one week in London. One week to experience everything life has to offer, before she is locked away in a loveless marriage forever… </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Former naval captain Nick Gregory has inherited a title he never wanted. As the new Earl of Lyndhurst, he chafes against his landlocked existence—until fate brings a mysterious young beauty across his path. Believing she’s an unemployed governess, Nick offers shelter and protection to the captivating girl, never guessing her true identity. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Emma falls hard for Nick, but knowing they have no future, she flees once more—this time back to her royal responsibilities. But when she and Nick unexpectedly meet again, she learns that against all odds, he’s determined to make this princess his bride…</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Princess Emmaline of Rosewald, wants just one week of freedom, before her brother announces her engagement to a much older man. She wants to experience London the way a regular person can and not as a princess with all the ceremony. On her first day as a free woman she meets Dominic Gregory, Earl of Lyndhurst, who helps her out. Nick, is a former naval captain, who is a reluctant earl. He rather be out on his boat, but he's responsible to a fault and he tries to help anyone in need. They develop a friendship of sorts, and soon those feeling deepen as well as the attraction between them. Emma knows that she needs to put a stop to those feelings, she is resolved to keep her promise to her brother even if she has to hurt the man she loves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wasn't expecting much. Just a sweet love story. And that's exactly what I got, a sweet love story, but with a lot of steam. Which I thoroughly enjoyed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Princess and the Peer</b> by Tracy Anne Warren (4/5) Historical Romance; Published: Signet (4/2012); Series: # 1, The Princess Brides; Library; Books 2013 (14);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-79215749025054460482013-02-14T00:00:00.000-05:002013-02-14T00:00:06.208-05:00Happy Valentine's Day!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyWMA58_3mAlg7eOaMOvmBPgLvc-yt1vwywJU2Z1eapdzuz38lUH_kwagVN77FrGWoCSodN0b-2wX9VMddfW5Ab9jo2YFCqM0EByUZMnctjuQlJW3i1zwMjqgBUuReJpYIKjV2YcAiTw9/s1600/valentines_day_cupcakes_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyWMA58_3mAlg7eOaMOvmBPgLvc-yt1vwywJU2Z1eapdzuz38lUH_kwagVN77FrGWoCSodN0b-2wX9VMddfW5Ab9jo2YFCqM0EByUZMnctjuQlJW3i1zwMjqgBUuReJpYIKjV2YcAiTw9/s400/valentines_day_cupcakes_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">taken from <a href="http://mysweetlifemoon.blogspot.ca/">My Moon</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-3767956156026958542013-02-13T09:07:00.000-05:002013-02-13T09:07:00.834-05:00The Secret Keeper<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAb-pcoSDYlrKnqFN_EexLq8y839BQ027tNz_omQRTJns2A3MM12quHDC2lLP6BFwBUHQ37mv-okmlhNCoMZDpRwFt2fgPmyYhvvRuRzN9aR_L2e0oiDuS8DKlyUkxXx4g-f8dCal7klE/s1600/the+secret+keeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAb-pcoSDYlrKnqFN_EexLq8y839BQ027tNz_omQRTJns2A3MM12quHDC2lLP6BFwBUHQ37mv-okmlhNCoMZDpRwFt2fgPmyYhvvRuRzN9aR_L2e0oiDuS8DKlyUkxXx4g-f8dCal7klE/s400/the+secret+keeper.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1961 England. Laurel Nicolson is sixteen years old, dreaming alone in her childhood tree house during a family celebration at their home, Green Acres Farm. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm and then observes her mother, Dorothy, speaking to him. And then she witnesses a crime. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress, living in London. She returns to Green Acres for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday and finds herself overwhelmed by memories and questions she has not thought about for decades. She decides to find out the truth about the events of that summer day and lay to rest her own feelings of guilt. One photograph, of her mother and a woman Laurel has never met, called Vivian, is her first clue. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Secret Keeper explores longings and dreams, the lengths some people go to fulfill them, and the strange consequences they sometimes have. It is a story of lovers, friends, dreamers and schemers, play-acting and deception told against a backdrop of events that changed the world.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was hooked right from the beginning. This was a book that wouldn't allow me to stop reading, just one more chapter, just one more before I go to bed. And it so it went for a few hours until I realized the time, almost two in morning, and then I reluctantly put it down. I resumed reading the first chance I got. And then I was done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I loved the way the author transported me back to a time of conflict and hope, that how it made me feel during the WWII scenes. I love how well written all the character were, some good, some nosy, some catty and some down right mean. I think it was a combination of all of this along with mystery of Dorothy and Vivian that kept me enthralled in the story. I have to say I did figure it out at the beginning, but the author kept me second guessing throughout the story. The ending felt right, even though I wanted a little bit more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Secret Keeper</b> by Kate Morton (5/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Atria Books (10/2012); Favorite Reads 2013; Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2013 (5); Library; Books 2013 (13);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-74633335756521181252013-02-12T13:08:00.000-05:002013-02-12T13:08:29.161-05:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pLdaEUV2WMEU_nlbxhbS9f1aSU581VdeBRb81wEZ6VY4PyPSBigWBnBTTKlUh72Df5DR4Z7MTTlSIaXiz_7jp3vRF_Nm_wZJPR9d6i1jYAxULMaG9s_LZrKQRWSnOIOf7ULT4bP6FisF/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pLdaEUV2WMEU_nlbxhbS9f1aSU581VdeBRb81wEZ6VY4PyPSBigWBnBTTKlUh72Df5DR4Z7MTTlSIaXiz_7jp3vRF_Nm_wZJPR9d6i1jYAxULMaG9s_LZrKQRWSnOIOf7ULT4bP6FisF/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Top Ten Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies over at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. This week's topic is <b>Top Ten Romances in Books</b>. It can include the most romantic couples, or your favorite romance novels. I'm going to stick with my favorite romance novels. I have so many that I love, it was hard to narrow it down to just ten. But here they are, my <b>Top Ten Romances</b>! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNbydLfUCuKo8jfXb27MZW70GHlcYyEdlnbQXBSGPeTniyKrHyqQiQ0l_DvvNzVFyjUVZH5u0u6LmeA3EKsRYkkz4igF-Cwguj-XfdchneMHLg8cIV3YMg__Xw9jYZX-ZlASj8kpXXgeU/s1600/lady+whilton's+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNbydLfUCuKo8jfXb27MZW70GHlcYyEdlnbQXBSGPeTniyKrHyqQiQ0l_DvvNzVFyjUVZH5u0u6LmeA3EKsRYkkz4igF-Cwguj-XfdchneMHLg8cIV3YMg__Xw9jYZX-ZlASj8kpXXgeU/s200/lady+whilton's+wedding.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1374049.Lady_Whilton_s_Wedding">Lady Whilton's Wedding</a> by <a href="http://www.barbarametzger.com/">Barbara Metzger</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2f3nJ4znQBvRlRFJyA9ZoVk3Jf1ORax4egHSXtXuwpp6Y-R4KxQYd2hkGLD2QM3LGurhhRpti9Jn3kbqrhSBB0HCmM1WzzoHh8LFVbZn5r_PDG7FY9D_xnFo4tEAEngK1ekxjuyC1Qc2/s1600/match+me+if+you+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2f3nJ4znQBvRlRFJyA9ZoVk3Jf1ORax4egHSXtXuwpp6Y-R4KxQYd2hkGLD2QM3LGurhhRpti9Jn3kbqrhSBB0HCmM1WzzoHh8LFVbZn5r_PDG7FY9D_xnFo4tEAEngK1ekxjuyC1Qc2/s200/match+me+if+you+can.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73089.Match_Me_If_You_Can">Match Me if You Can</a> by <a href="http://www.susanephillips.com/">Susan Elizabeth Phillips</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">8. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/107776.Ransom">Ransom</a> by <a href="http://www.juliegarwood.com/">Julie Garwood</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz03tH2SLAswSersXSt3rX36QNwxQVS6BhqKynuy3kCQFIkNFkfZojSooRTAipuPAwMN1aDIoXKv41YYQKYvIUEspNPqJE42N09wk9XoKDkGpN-LsRMJzb_moy54W-NU9L_3xM6dT6eRCq/s1600/bet+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz03tH2SLAswSersXSt3rX36QNwxQVS6BhqKynuy3kCQFIkNFkfZojSooRTAipuPAwMN1aDIoXKv41YYQKYvIUEspNPqJE42N09wk9XoKDkGpN-LsRMJzb_moy54W-NU9L_3xM6dT6eRCq/s200/bet+me.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. <a href="http://www.jennycrusie.com/books/fiction/bet-me/">Bet Me</a> by <a href="http://www.jennycrusie.com/">Jennifer Crusie</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vtMqVjfksIHeuM2bUEj-NV1KFD67Pa0F5-LNsV1VQfa3ncv73GaprDD7cUnJa_xXb4mmCypOsN8VHo1c0S7SkZS08uBAdv6uYjAOm0VBjF7liaklAmO6q7pj6hcllVJ8rA0UMf3V_Kgv/s1600/he+loves+lucy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vtMqVjfksIHeuM2bUEj-NV1KFD67Pa0F5-LNsV1VQfa3ncv73GaprDD7cUnJa_xXb4mmCypOsN8VHo1c0S7SkZS08uBAdv6uYjAOm0VBjF7liaklAmO6q7pj6hcllVJ8rA0UMf3V_Kgv/s200/he+loves+lucy.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. <a href="http://www.susandonovan.com/Books/He+Loves+Lucy.html">He Loves Lucy</a> by <a href="http://www.susandonovan.com/">Susan Donovan</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxlo3wmY7Vro0SzOGIKsu6AjWouvhh2n0hr9Da4FsJKqCTfCe8UrDzVCJasEVpRxjFr5i8JTB5r4dXSwqVJK1mgDV6GPpwu9Gco5MwBo5emqMD_VwjpORsbw5Wtjxum6hrHQw-9XinERa/s1600/romancing+mr+bridgerton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxlo3wmY7Vro0SzOGIKsu6AjWouvhh2n0hr9Da4FsJKqCTfCe8UrDzVCJasEVpRxjFr5i8JTB5r4dXSwqVJK1mgDV6GPpwu9Gco5MwBo5emqMD_VwjpORsbw5Wtjxum6hrHQw-9XinERa/s200/romancing+mr+bridgerton.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://juliaquinn.com/books/mister.php">Romancing Mr Bridgerton</a> by <a href="http://juliaquinn.com/index.php">Julia Quinn</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPD8xIbaS37bT0GrYZesyb6_SfJpUz2F1qiAdbXGtHlJ91NGDGVVu_LZxcRWi5U53eWQnBIjE4_vkEDjfxuQFdUWZyWT5IxtW0ReOX_LfG9LdP0oaAEXysXWnVJ48TPtgq8dJ3XQyE5Kx/s1600/nine+rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPD8xIbaS37bT0GrYZesyb6_SfJpUz2F1qiAdbXGtHlJ91NGDGVVu_LZxcRWi5U53eWQnBIjE4_vkEDjfxuQFdUWZyWT5IxtW0ReOX_LfG9LdP0oaAEXysXWnVJ48TPtgq8dJ3XQyE5Kx/s200/nine+rules.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. <a href="http://macleanspace.com/romance/ninerules/">Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake</a> by <a href="http://macleanspace.com/">Sarah MacLean</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5mav2XFEmomUVFzbp1qwr_vm10y27FNCFK9KOBjRhkpIH719ixnmEHMM8W3OtAYB6OryHPiZ8ZunXIAnGzElZIo7VxngCLS3qVhb2WTdKwsYb_IYLREJw32tDvzYTUCD7bcisI-44zeG/s1600/the+bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5mav2XFEmomUVFzbp1qwr_vm10y27FNCFK9KOBjRhkpIH719ixnmEHMM8W3OtAYB6OryHPiZ8ZunXIAnGzElZIo7VxngCLS3qVhb2WTdKwsYb_IYLREJw32tDvzYTUCD7bcisI-44zeG/s200/the+bride.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/107779.The_Bride">The Bride</a> by <b>Julie Garwood</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2156.Persuasion">Persuasion</a> by <b>Jane Austen</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1886.Pride_and_Prejudice">Pride and Prejudice</a> by <b>Jane Austen </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What are your favorite romance novels? Or your favorite romantic couple?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-22433958889874692252013-02-11T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-11T09:00:09.383-05:00Barnacle Love<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqneOaa-3f2kES9n-dNUI7OExEqCy7V8z1evVBppQaWw1FBL46KGtRAIiX3zJ6GUofe5MG4eNkNXUG6gzeofjldABMvINKe-6bc4MO1RtkCGostBrtC7Er_pOpTlRHYXLBTnRyGrBBxJ59/s1600/barnacle+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqneOaa-3f2kES9n-dNUI7OExEqCy7V8z1evVBppQaWw1FBL46KGtRAIiX3zJ6GUofe5MG4eNkNXUG6gzeofjldABMvINKe-6bc4MO1RtkCGostBrtC7Er_pOpTlRHYXLBTnRyGrBBxJ59/s320/barnacle+love.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the heart of this collection of intimately linked stories is the relationship between a father and his son. A young fisherman washes up nearly dead on the shores of Newfoundland. It is Manuel Rebelo who has tried to escape the suffocating smallness of his Portuguese village and the crushing weight of his mother’s expectations to build a future for himself in a terra nova. Manuel struggles to shed the traditions of a village frozen in time and to silence the brutal voice of Maria Theresa da Conceicao Rebelo, but embracing the promise of his adopted land is not as simple as he had hoped. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Manuel’s son, Antonio, is born into Toronto’s little Portugal, a world of colourful houses and labyrinthine back alleys. In the Rebelo home the Church looms large, men and women inhabit sharply divided space, pigs are slaughtered in the garage, and a family lives in the shadow cast by a father’s failures. Most days Antonio and his friends take to their bikes, pushing the boundaries of their neighbourhood street by street, but when they finally break through to the city beyond they confront dangers of a new sort</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I inhaled this book in one sitting! Once I began reading it, I couldn't put it down. I was swept into someplace very familiar to me. As a Portuguese Canadian I can identify with so much that the author has written.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The book is divided into two parts. The first half is narrated by Manuel. Manuel is the apple of his mother's eye, the one she hopes that will succeed in life, the one that will be important in their small village in Sao Miguel, Acores, Portugal. But Manuel has his own dreams, he doesn't want what his mother so dearly wants for me. He signs up to be a fisherman in a big ship, which brings him north, where in a freak accident he washes up on the coast of Newfoundland. A series of events leave him confused and angry, the hope that always had seems to be diminishing. He soon feels like his dreams are all slipping through his fingers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second is narrated by Antonio, Manuel's son. Like his mother before him, Manuel has high hopes and dreams for Antonio. For Antonio growing up in Little Portugal in Toronto is a confusing time. It like being caught between the old ways of the old country with a new ways of the new country. Which I completely understand, very well. I know the feeling of going to school and kids asking me if I ate fish all the time, or being sent traditional Portuguese dish for lunch at but just wanting to fit by having a Wonder bread sandwich. I understand the feeling of not quite living up to what the parent expects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I read this book for a challenge, <b>Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge</b>, hosted by<b> Ana</b> from <a href="http://anecasworld.blogspot.ca/">Aneca's World</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Barnacle Love by Anthony de Da (4.5/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Doubleday Canada (2008); New Author; Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge 2013 (1); Favorite Reads 2013; Library; Books 2013 (12);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-53224395213818255812013-02-10T14:42:00.000-05:002013-02-10T14:42:37.960-05:00One Thread Pulled<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8M9i_pzd_jcxsBkaafl-hTG_lVZoILAjziuNmnHWqi1N4b2qO_6NDg2n6Sw-ho2UVWEeCOJZSCKP9KG2UcSQdICl2GM_BjzwCf6Uu4cuUzvB36iZ6IT5QGObeOpJg6Q3hTmKK2svaPaO/s1600/one+thread+pulled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8M9i_pzd_jcxsBkaafl-hTG_lVZoILAjziuNmnHWqi1N4b2qO_6NDg2n6Sw-ho2UVWEeCOJZSCKP9KG2UcSQdICl2GM_BjzwCf6Uu4cuUzvB36iZ6IT5QGObeOpJg6Q3hTmKK2svaPaO/s320/one+thread+pulled.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When the wealthy and handsome Fitzwilliam Darcy encounters the beautiful and lively Elizabeth Bennet at a small country ball, he loudly refuses to dance with her, declaring her to be merely tolerable. Fortunately for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth has walked away and does not overhear his insult, thus snagging the thread that would have sealed her prejudice against the prideful stranger. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unexpectedly, circumstances thrust Elizabeth into the same household as Mr. Darcy, and her proximity unwittingly proves tempting, as her tantalizing wit and playfulness evoke desires that threaten to unravel his resolve against her.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Sxwcq27YwRgEhyphenhyphen5RVuZVb0VqX9IhF38M9N5r3qHwu8sXpm9FLIyKIRWfVNgX-kzxgge8d6cBPXlTGG31uIGfuHHteVe3u2cy8uWRdRJ_d_b45zAtwpSh37JQ35lh58QDwHKcA1XH50UJ/s1600/pride-prejudice-bicentenary-challenge-2013-x-200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Sxwcq27YwRgEhyphenhyphen5RVuZVb0VqX9IhF38M9N5r3qHwu8sXpm9FLIyKIRWfVNgX-kzxgge8d6cBPXlTGG31uIGfuHHteVe3u2cy8uWRdRJ_d_b45zAtwpSh37JQ35lh58QDwHKcA1XH50UJ/s200/pride-prejudice-bicentenary-challenge-2013-x-200.jpg" width="100" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm always on the lookout for variations on <b>Pride and Prejudice</b>, and this book sounded promising when I was shopping around on Amazon last summer, I've had <b>One Thread Pulled</b> by Diana J. Oaks on my Kindle's TBR shelf since then. I tend to read them as soon as I get them, but some titles get forgotten, and for some reason this one was one of them. I guess I needed a reason to read it and<b> Pride & Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge</b> was as good a reason as any to read it...finally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed this adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. It felt like that the author tried to stay true to the original with the sequence of events but making them different without making it feel far fetched. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The characters were written as what I would expect them to be. I loved the way that Darcy and Elizabeth developed a somewhat strong friendship before he declared himself to her. I loved the way that both were struggling with their feelings and having anything they could speak to. I loved seeing that Mary had a stronger presence in this book, I always felt like she was the forgotten daughter, that she needed a chance to shine, she bloomed and had her chance to shine. I also enjoyed Caroline's obsession with Darcy, wanting to make him jealous and he was completely oblivious to what was going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The story moved well, there didn't seem to be any staled moments where I wanted to rush through. My only complaint was that the ending felt rushed and incomplete. I wonder if there will be a sequel? Because it was left open by the author.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>One Thread Pulled</b> by Diana J. Oaks (4.5/5) Historical Romance; P&P adaptation; Published: CreateSpace (8/2012); New Author; Format: Ebook for Kindle; Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge (2); Books 2013 (11);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-86516874369721165742013-02-09T13:57:00.000-05:002013-02-10T13:58:25.834-05:00Library Loot: February 7 to 13<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4jofcio-m5PG-Jj7ZfdO6nrpB77GwcVKSt3D2nE9f2B5wAB5BQRriry-EH1DLZPj9YJ2BLltY4nEoaqWUBV-4IUHNm8wvMr-ASJag6NkpaZ02MFgQTBiTs1LkmkO_ozG8QX3N92_NuIo/s1600/library+loot.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585112815907506578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4jofcio-m5PG-Jj7ZfdO6nrpB77GwcVKSt3D2nE9f2B5wAB5BQRriry-EH1DLZPj9YJ2BLltY4nEoaqWUBV-4IUHNm8wvMr-ASJag6NkpaZ02MFgQTBiTs1LkmkO_ozG8QX3N92_NuIo/s200/library+loot.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 157px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 148px;" /></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Claire</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from </span><a href="http://thecaptivereader.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Captive Reader</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marg</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from </span><a href="http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't realize I had so many books on hold for me. My goodness they all came at the same time. Here's what came home with me this weekend:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzabRGpx3G0T9vnGHPuYVxT3iaSgjKTeXftMom1fh4O5mBRtd6KMxntwZ_7LDX-qRJrfDeh8i5ChUpZAXfIRxfwo6Cph0ORZB0I9SyM-1LdD6M4e2L4gw19YtSTWfip4ViRHwX_z2Unxn6/s1600/how+to+dance+with+a+duke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzabRGpx3G0T9vnGHPuYVxT3iaSgjKTeXftMom1fh4O5mBRtd6KMxntwZ_7LDX-qRJrfDeh8i5ChUpZAXfIRxfwo6Cph0ORZB0I9SyM-1LdD6M4e2L4gw19YtSTWfip4ViRHwX_z2Unxn6/s200/how+to+dance+with+a+duke.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsBQNCiAGhEGUPw3FI-4sls1F8tvSwQfZgW8xBi2iVMa4Osu0ZbwtIO1gEWuCFFADcFrpsx6bRJD1QWDhzrIvl65M72uZLSeTCzZcty6fS6nXO6MAUFmLaGWLnpU4e2W8R-ZIBXwgI0Fd/s1600/the+way+to+a+duke's+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsBQNCiAGhEGUPw3FI-4sls1F8tvSwQfZgW8xBi2iVMa4Osu0ZbwtIO1gEWuCFFADcFrpsx6bRJD1QWDhzrIvl65M72uZLSeTCzZcty6fS6nXO6MAUFmLaGWLnpU4e2W8R-ZIBXwgI0Fd/s200/the+way+to+a+duke's+heart.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61-Na7s4rjzrV09H9wmlCYXu_zt61J2yRkxturb0QTu2fvK1VCBmpcW7pndZERqRpAmBHstsrQHTHGnQVd8D1uoys321e2R2_5r8vUOUAYirTOH5EGeQMryqc2dzJMLFhdIG6raYaUgjn/s1600/loving+lady+marcia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61-Na7s4rjzrV09H9wmlCYXu_zt61J2yRkxturb0QTu2fvK1VCBmpcW7pndZERqRpAmBHstsrQHTHGnQVd8D1uoys321e2R2_5r8vUOUAYirTOH5EGeQMryqc2dzJMLFhdIG6raYaUgjn/s200/loving+lady+marcia.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think I may have bitten more than I can chew....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more loot visit <a href="http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013/02/library-loot-february-7-to-13.html">here</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-63930238039736449942013-02-07T18:06:00.000-05:002013-02-07T18:06:15.335-05:00The Lady Most Willing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrOBNAJvsj8Zw_QveV370dCJMiwX1YMKQWMPJ5Aq-TwwcpxNqPAR9YP6mNcgcoQavFdm9bU42ZlH_cpOYmvVX4lJ3hGDenFaf7gnM6jqAWUu4opkKcWH_7oIYGaZ1MpvSSuLD1I3rSRvE/s1600/the+lady+most+willing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrOBNAJvsj8Zw_QveV370dCJMiwX1YMKQWMPJ5Aq-TwwcpxNqPAR9YP6mNcgcoQavFdm9bU42ZlH_cpOYmvVX4lJ3hGDenFaf7gnM6jqAWUu4opkKcWH_7oIYGaZ1MpvSSuLD1I3rSRvE/s320/the+lady+most+willing.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During their annual Christmas pilgrimage to Scotland to visit their aged uncle in his decrepit castle, the Comte de Rocheforte and his cousin, Earl of Oakley, are presented with unique gifts: their uncle has raided an English lord's Christmas party and kidnapped four lovely would-be brides for his heirs to choose from ...as well as one very angry duke, Lord Bretton. As snow isolates the castle, and as hours grow into days, the most honourable intentions give away to temptations as surprising as they are irresistible.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Funny thing, I placed a hold on this book, and somehow I forgot about doing so. I then bought the ebook, and forgot about that as well. I only found out about my blunder this morning when checking for my Kindle shelves. Oh my goodness...I cannot believe I did that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read and it had alot of the elements that I expect from Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway. It had the humor, the quirky banter between characters, and little twists and turns to the story that moving well. I'm curious about which sections the authors wrote. I think I can tell the difference, considering how often I read these authors, but I would love a definite answer. I believe my favorite love story was the first one, Catriona and Bretton's story. They're both strong willed people and they're attracted to each other, they just need to face their feelings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Lady Most Willing...by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway (3/5) Historical Romance; Published: Avon (12/2012); Format: Ebook for Kindle; Books 2013 (10) </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-75387647950304626192013-02-05T13:25:00.003-05:002013-02-05T13:25:51.608-05:00Teaser Tuesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiqZWuR_oMvILWX4ooY0OuXYvAtCRF74CDo3Vt-_TRG-3Iv23etL3MUwnN1TAlkoguZyfY9oQAbEjWtYeEEyPb4LX_Qlq5qM_TiP_rqn4SqIwG7Cc9_K7xtcvnQUktiuqb9eKluC1pJZT/s1600-h/tuesday+teaser.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355723636603790770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiqZWuR_oMvILWX4ooY0OuXYvAtCRF74CDo3Vt-_TRG-3Iv23etL3MUwnN1TAlkoguZyfY9oQAbEjWtYeEEyPb4LX_Qlq5qM_TiP_rqn4SqIwG7Cc9_K7xtcvnQUktiuqb9eKluC1pJZT/s200/tuesday+teaser.bmp" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 123px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Teaser Tuesday</b> is hosted by <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">Should Be Reading</a>. Here's how you play:</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Grab your current read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Let the book fall open to a random page.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* <span style="color: red;"><strong>Please avoid spoilers!</strong></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My teaser:</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He caught Catriona's eyes. She had hopped up onto the table behind Lady Cecily. <i>Save me</i>, he implored. Surely she would take pity.</span></blockquote>
~ <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">taken from page 113, <b>The Lady Most Willing...</b> by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James & Connie Brockway </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWWYtG5RmmIp554c1dwRKWFlkGKX-6j1U4d7EGFJKB3uHMQFEVuxnvPOcSzb5BNaLNN3mR2jYsAf2f3MDj_7wVBr4-PoTlXydNTd1JvP_nrH28lTgkJCAyMA2ADsmzJPoHHvDl3Q5et6M/s1600/the+lady+most+willing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWWYtG5RmmIp554c1dwRKWFlkGKX-6j1U4d7EGFJKB3uHMQFEVuxnvPOcSzb5BNaLNN3mR2jYsAf2f3MDj_7wVBr4-PoTlXydNTd1JvP_nrH28lTgkJCAyMA2ADsmzJPoHHvDl3Q5et6M/s320/the+lady+most+willing.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can join in the fun by visiting <a href="https://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/teaser-tuesdays-feb-5/">here</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-10471268218650921302013-02-05T13:14:00.003-05:002013-02-05T14:18:26.555-05:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pLdaEUV2WMEU_nlbxhbS9f1aSU581VdeBRb81wEZ6VY4PyPSBigWBnBTTKlUh72Df5DR4Z7MTTlSIaXiz_7jp3vRF_Nm_wZJPR9d6i1jYAxULMaG9s_LZrKQRWSnOIOf7ULT4bP6FisF/s1600/toptentuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pLdaEUV2WMEU_nlbxhbS9f1aSU581VdeBRb81wEZ6VY4PyPSBigWBnBTTKlUh72Df5DR4Z7MTTlSIaXiz_7jp3vRF_Nm_wZJPR9d6i1jYAxULMaG9s_LZrKQRWSnOIOf7ULT4bP6FisF/s320/toptentuesday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Top Ten Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies over at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. The topic this week is your <b>Top Ten Bookish Memories</b>, i.e. meeting an author, waiting in line to purchase a new release, or a memory of reading your favorite book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I haven't had the pleasure of meeting an author, but I had plenty of good memories of reading great books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not many people know this, especially in the blog world, between the ages of 8 and 16, I lived with my family in Portugal (my parents are from there), although I knew the language, I always felt awkward with the others kids, I was teased because of my accent, my name, etc..., I didn't make friends very easily, my refuge was reading. I read just about anything I could get my hands on: <b>Enid Blyton</b>'s Famous Five, Secret Seven and Mallory Towers series; <b>Lucy Maud Montgomery</b>'s Anne of Green Gables series; <b>Agatha Christie</b>, <b>Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</b>. I made friends with those characters very easily. There were many times that my grandmother had to force me out of the house on beautiful summer days. Wherever I went, a book came along with me. I loved reading on the beach (still do), salt air, the waves crashing in the background, and having a Perna de Pau (my favorite Ola ice cream).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Reading in the closet with a flashlight. I did that so I wouldn't be interrupted by my younger sister. It worked like a charm, until she figured it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Reading on the couch on a rainy day with a fire in the fireplace, the radio on low and having tea and discovering new worlds or visiting old friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I read <b>The Diary of Anne Frank</b> for the first time. It was the first book that brought me to tears. Just thinking about it now, it's making me tear up. While reading it I felt that Anne was truly a wonderful person and she always thought the best of people, she had hope in a very trying time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a funny memory: I was reading <b>To Kill a Mockingbird</b> while walking home from school. Not a safe thing to do, I know. While I walking and reading I bumped into a light post and said "excuse me sir", and kept on walking, oblivious that my mother was behind me the whole time. I am still teased about this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I remember the first time I read a <b>Jane Austen</b> novel, it was <b>Sense and Sensibility</b>. It was one of those moments where I had the "where have you been all my life" feeling. I then read every single book written by the author, my favorites are <b>Pride & Prejudice</b> and <b>Persuasion</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another favorite memory was reading my first romance novel. I was in University at the time, it was during exam time, I was stressed, and needed a break, walked into a Coles at Rideau Centre in Ottawa and asked the sales person for a good read that would not make me think too much, and it had to be funny. She suggested Julie <b>Garwood</b>'s The Bride. Needless to say I fell hook, line and sinker for historical romances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But my favorite was the first time I read a book to my newborn daughter. You would think reading a book to an infant would be easy enough, but I was bawling by the end of it. The first book I read to Sophie (who's 12 now) was <b>Robert Munsch</b>'s <b>Love You Forever</b>. It was also the first book I read to my son Kyle (10), and I had the same reaction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What about you? What are your favorite bookish memories?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-64793235064693610492013-02-04T13:39:00.002-05:002013-02-04T13:39:50.373-05:00India Black and the Widow of Windsor<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivconRdVGnmBw7y6nWvTg_Aqi5bDa7m2e0jR1CJr9ZqdKr2kb4wf7myMktpwPnv9Ea8QlOKTGtvSJG53eiK6voywcrNeopVem1r1hBcZLpIp9M4Z_6EJBBxy8KAac5vkww3fWlc-MI_ucg/s1600/india+black+and+the+widow+of+windsor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivconRdVGnmBw7y6nWvTg_Aqi5bDa7m2e0jR1CJr9ZqdKr2kb4wf7myMktpwPnv9Ea8QlOKTGtvSJG53eiK6voywcrNeopVem1r1hBcZLpIp9M4Z_6EJBBxy8KAac5vkww3fWlc-MI_ucg/s320/india+black+and+the+widow+of+windsor.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When Queen Victoria attends a séance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects the Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen-and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests-and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty's last Christmas...</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It feels like I've been reading this book forever...not because the plot was slow and the book was awful, I just couldn't find the time to read. Anyway, I made time to read and I'm happy that I did. It was the break I needed and the story itself was pretty good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">India, French and Vincent are headed to Balmoral in Scotland to uncover the people that are involved in the plan to assassinate the Queen. India is posing as a lady's maid, while French is a guest, and Vincent working in the background. India is the lady's maid to the Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine, and let's just say the woman is quite the character, enjoyed her and she definitely kept India on her toes. I loved the twists and turns on the book which help the flow of the story. I loved the way that author described the Scottish setting and how she incorporated the traditions of Scots and also the anger and resentment towards the Queen and the English. What was most surprising was the leader of the Marischal was, I was completely taken a back...Wow! I didn't see that one coming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I feel that this book is a very good continuation of the Madam of Espionage Mystery series, you can find my thoughts on the first book, <b>India Black</b>, <a href="http://wandecareads.blogspot.ca/2011/05/india-black.html">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>India Black and the Widow of Windsor</b> by Carol K. Carr (4/5) Historical Mystery; Published: Berkley Prime Crime (10/2011); Series: # 2, Madam of Espionage; Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2013 (4); Library; Books 2013 (9);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-15421425261363692252013-02-03T12:07:00.000-05:002013-02-03T12:07:06.407-05:00Library Loot: January 30 to Feb 5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4jofcio-m5PG-Jj7ZfdO6nrpB77GwcVKSt3D2nE9f2B5wAB5BQRriry-EH1DLZPj9YJ2BLltY4nEoaqWUBV-4IUHNm8wvMr-ASJag6NkpaZ02MFgQTBiTs1LkmkO_ozG8QX3N92_NuIo/s1600/library+loot.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585112815907506578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4jofcio-m5PG-Jj7ZfdO6nrpB77GwcVKSt3D2nE9f2B5wAB5BQRriry-EH1DLZPj9YJ2BLltY4nEoaqWUBV-4IUHNm8wvMr-ASJag6NkpaZ02MFgQTBiTs1LkmkO_ozG8QX3N92_NuIo/s200/library+loot.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 157px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 148px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Claire</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from </span><a href="http://thecaptivereader.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Captive Reader</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marg</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from </span><a href="http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Managed to go to the library yesterday. Here's what came home with me:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE5vdatsPfwovAzLxchBcCjS6eWhSSm89EUl2L0KX3g-8m_AIZmAGWkeAgeWDis07d_gUvf8DhLYeq94o2sw_WkzfpmOl3R-HlGTp8qht2UoBTMCGSNmZX1oiUlKAAAY1UAuVgdy3iHhH/s1600/barnacle+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE5vdatsPfwovAzLxchBcCjS6eWhSSm89EUl2L0KX3g-8m_AIZmAGWkeAgeWDis07d_gUvf8DhLYeq94o2sw_WkzfpmOl3R-HlGTp8qht2UoBTMCGSNmZX1oiUlKAAAY1UAuVgdy3iHhH/s200/barnacle+love.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcevD17nBwucT4vzb2-e9Ej6A6cAebyF7E5F19i8t25Tt-tPbRWEBEKSGVzVCRD0wAaijLH6a248xlvKmzgcSZXXH1BzNpvHYWAKr7PpZ-qtS6Xnw7UVb8oHY2FT_G9ihdQPSBEAel2E-c/s1600/the+elephant's+journey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcevD17nBwucT4vzb2-e9Ej6A6cAebyF7E5F19i8t25Tt-tPbRWEBEKSGVzVCRD0wAaijLH6a248xlvKmzgcSZXXH1BzNpvHYWAKr7PpZ-qtS6Xnw7UVb8oHY2FT_G9ihdQPSBEAel2E-c/s200/the+elephant's+journey.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9au9gvi_8dOjFvfSJZ1ymMHX-MBGS9W2d8GjiSf_wm6kTgZBNKkk6P1VzEC0RQbbeW-99hXWZ-B-71jS_L75eFxOnVwqEeiqgrBvgDrlBSawSFxB9HTFhR-jOtFzg4VAnD1clML2OfTk/s1600/the+secret+keeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9au9gvi_8dOjFvfSJZ1ymMHX-MBGS9W2d8GjiSf_wm6kTgZBNKkk6P1VzEC0RQbbeW-99hXWZ-B-71jS_L75eFxOnVwqEeiqgrBvgDrlBSawSFxB9HTFhR-jOtFzg4VAnD1clML2OfTk/s200/the+secret+keeper.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9an7JY0EG6dkuloefJbImpTYHevm15doR0EngxG62eM43GbdpTeem_D2PrZ6TLY7ogbISLd-GvxvSQFs1oOxLJ5rgIoeVWw4kMLyYtF5GvbvBVylXBMraAj1P5c6cK23diLfNcCzCiAT/s1600/the+orchid+affair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9an7JY0EG6dkuloefJbImpTYHevm15doR0EngxG62eM43GbdpTeem_D2PrZ6TLY7ogbISLd-GvxvSQFs1oOxLJ5rgIoeVWw4kMLyYtF5GvbvBVylXBMraAj1P5c6cK23diLfNcCzCiAT/s200/the+orchid+affair.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMK3JWYMN0OxaWotnwX7s5NKPLTWTvYIFJJliZ6EeQaWaBf4N-NmFYT2R5kXyeg6eHH_pI-A9UDUVBvBzHx2lmM3jV5mDguQnWDEQ9ay8KVjce0ObYYbdVgrbonJMGiEEq2yGB5_0nfiT/s1600/the+garden+affair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMK3JWYMN0OxaWotnwX7s5NKPLTWTvYIFJJliZ6EeQaWaBf4N-NmFYT2R5kXyeg6eHH_pI-A9UDUVBvBzHx2lmM3jV5mDguQnWDEQ9ay8KVjce0ObYYbdVgrbonJMGiEEq2yGB5_0nfiT/s200/the+garden+affair.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm hoping that I will read them all....I need to get started reading the library books that have been accumulating on my nightstand. Did you visit your library this week?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more loot, visit <a href="http://thecaptivereader.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/library-loot-january-30-to-february-5/">here</a>. </span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-30432858912448412502013-02-01T09:55:00.000-05:002013-02-03T09:55:28.729-05:00Vision Impossible<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXsJLGnRPglsbTNSKO2TpW6ku-a8bBnN8dnIDXMCa-VYbXxTtJVhA71EYcfJWA65XWHTZ3qr5_Q9fFU1ZUR1Ao-VgFk4KZkOzdY7fHmKGgMa7rWeh_fxKqFvuK6-fhiQacV7HfFg_At2V/s1600/vision+impossible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXsJLGnRPglsbTNSKO2TpW6ku-a8bBnN8dnIDXMCa-VYbXxTtJVhA71EYcfJWA65XWHTZ3qr5_Q9fFU1ZUR1Ao-VgFk4KZkOzdY7fHmKGgMa7rWeh_fxKqFvuK6-fhiQacV7HfFg_At2V/s320/vision+impossible.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Abby Cooper's next mission may truly be impossible... </span></b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Abby Cooper, the FBI's newest Civilian Profiler, is adding Spy to her resume. The military's digital photography software that captures one's aura- just like Abby can-sits in a drone aircraft that's been stolen. It's a major breach in security as every country's leader can be identified by their aura... </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Abby springs into action to stop the criminals before they set their diabolical plan into motion, while making herself a prime target.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been ages since I last read a <b>Victoria Laurie</b> book. I simply adore her Psychic Eye series, I have read a couple of books from her other series, Ghost Hunter, but I have quite warmed up to GH yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been a pretty busy week here at home, didn't get a chance to read too much this week. I carried Vision Impossible with me wherever I went, just in case I had time to read. Well, after a week, I finally finished it. It hit the spot. I needed a comfort read and this was it. It was great to see both Abby and Dutch, but I was a little sad not to see the rest of the gang. What was surprising to me was that the majority of the book is set in Toronto. I loved the way the author put a Canadian touch to the story, there was a Tim Horton's mention (our version of Dunkin' Donuts), Shoppers Drug Mart, and the Eaton Centre.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even though it's a cosy read, there was plenty of action in the book which kept the story flowing very well. There were the expected laugh out loud moments and the I cannot believe she just did that; which was nice. But I have to say I love the tougher Abby! Don't mess with the people she cares about because you will she her claws!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Vision Impossible</b> by Victoria Laurie (3/5) Paranormal Mystery; Published: Signet (6/2011); Series: # 9, Psychic Eye; Library; Books 2013 (8);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-27453627956433187182013-01-27T18:14:00.000-05:002013-01-27T18:14:46.541-05:00The Soldier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyJIKXh3OJFgQ_XKiyQ2biFJx1w62q4pOxB6Y-XK7mNA12RwCCj1_X-oZC2WyoyFlL7rwPfiJ7UOvI_eY4b1KvM_Pl75CJNfw1jR2Vz6x6FsByCNWWLqlPAsWNJ6mWp7rwoXKlQjXbTf1/s1600/the+soldier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyJIKXh3OJFgQ_XKiyQ2biFJx1w62q4pOxB6Y-XK7mNA12RwCCj1_X-oZC2WyoyFlL7rwPfiJ7UOvI_eY4b1KvM_Pl75CJNfw1jR2Vz6x6FsByCNWWLqlPAsWNJ6mWp7rwoXKlQjXbTf1/s320/the+soldier.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Taken from author's site:</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Colonel Devlin St. Just’s torn spirit calls to Emmaline Farnum, and in good conscience she cannot refuse his offer to provide a home for the little girl so dear to Emmie’s heart. As the adults forge a path to a better life for young Winnie, Emmie finds herself unable to resist the allure of a deeper attraction to Devlin. But resist she must, because decisions made years in her past are forcing her inexorably away from Devlin’s side.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After the previous book, I needed a pick me up, and this book was it. I read the first book of this series just last week, and I enjoyed it so much I had to read the second book as soon as possible. My expectations were high... I wasn't disappointed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Devlin has a great sense of responsibility, and when the illegitimate daughter of the previous estate owner shows up, he feels obligated to take care of her and of her caregiver, Emmaline. He soon develops feeling for the little girl and the attraction to Emmaline is getting harder to ignore. Emmie is independent and very strong willed but when it comes to Winnie, she'll do just about anything. So when St. Just offers to take care of Winnie, she agrees but with some conditions of her own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as the previous, but I did. I found that this book the story flowed better, and even though I had my doubts about Emmie and Winnie's relationship, I loved the way the author introduced it. It was beautifully done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The series just keeps on getting better... Cannot wait to get my hands on the third book, The Virtuoso.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Soldier</b> by Grace Burrowes (4.5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Sourcebooks Casablanca (6/2011); Format: Ebook for Kindle; Series: # 2, Windham; Series: # 2, The Duke's Obssession; Keeper Shelf; Books 2013 (7); </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-88264661375832989402013-01-26T17:23:00.000-05:002013-01-27T17:26:46.551-05:00The Great Escape<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47uqIiJI55OVe1mYjcTldko3B8Dyf76u85e9sOwmKnVtIlB6SDdCXdhZC_LfQmOPADDdNtv2phmlfofyv2oVK8NppiwdkKzfQaCRUSbwVk_lXWrmcgNs9TGbWG_Mbyi6G56yg-e6k8TBa/s1600/the+great+escape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47uqIiJI55OVe1mYjcTldko3B8Dyf76u85e9sOwmKnVtIlB6SDdCXdhZC_LfQmOPADDdNtv2phmlfofyv2oVK8NppiwdkKzfQaCRUSbwVk_lXWrmcgNs9TGbWG_Mbyi6G56yg-e6k8TBa/s320/the+great+escape.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Where do you run to when your life has fallen apart?</i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
Lucy Jorik is a champ at never embarrassing the family she adores—not surprising since her mother is one of the most famous women in the world. But now Lucy has done just that. And on her wedding day, no less, to the most perfect man she's ever known. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Instead of saying "I do" to Mr. Irresistible, Lucy flees the church in an ill-fitting blue choir robe and hitches a ride on the back of a beat-up motorcycle plastered with offensive bumper stickers. She's flying into the unknown with a rough-looking, bad-tempered stranger who couldn't be more foreign to her privileged existence. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While the world searches for her, Lucy must search for herself, and she quickly realizes that her customary good manners are no defense against a man who's raised rudeness to an art form. Lucy needs to toughen up—and fast. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Her great escape takes her to his rambling beach house on a Great Lakes island. Here, she hopes to find a new direction . . . and unlock the secrets of this man who knows so much about her but reveals nothing about himself. As the hot summer days unfold amid scented breezes and sudden storms, she'll also encounter a beautiful, troubled beekeeper; a frightened young boy; a modern-day evil queen; and a passion that could change her life forever.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It may just be me, but I've been pretty disappointed with Susan Elizabeth Phillip's last couple books. Not sure if it's been too much of the same, but it's felt like too repetitive. Honestly I think it was the characters that weren't cutting it for me. So you can understand my hesitation with this book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It took me forever, ok, exaggeration, but it took me days to read this book. Although I enjoyed the premise, pampered rich kid, having second thoughts about marriage to perfect guy, decides to ditch him at the last minute and discover herself; it felt too forced in my opinion... Out of the two main characters, I liked Patrick aka Panda much better as a character than I did Lucy. Yes, he had his flaws but he was likable, Lucy on the other hand was way too boring for my taste. At one point I was more interested on what was going on the secondary story lines that with what Lucy was going through....Argh! I'm so frustrated....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Am I alone with this opinion? Have you read this book? What do you think?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Great Escape</b> by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (2.5/5) Contemporary Romance; Published: William Morrow (7/2012); Library; Books 2013 (6)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-39012208991020697412013-01-24T10:14:00.000-05:002013-01-25T10:18:05.912-05:00Library Loot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4jofcio-m5PG-Jj7ZfdO6nrpB77GwcVKSt3D2nE9f2B5wAB5BQRriry-EH1DLZPj9YJ2BLltY4nEoaqWUBV-4IUHNm8wvMr-ASJag6NkpaZ02MFgQTBiTs1LkmkO_ozG8QX3N92_NuIo/s1600/library+loot.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585112815907506578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4jofcio-m5PG-Jj7ZfdO6nrpB77GwcVKSt3D2nE9f2B5wAB5BQRriry-EH1DLZPj9YJ2BLltY4nEoaqWUBV-4IUHNm8wvMr-ASJag6NkpaZ02MFgQTBiTs1LkmkO_ozG8QX3N92_NuIo/s200/library+loot.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 157px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 148px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Claire</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from </span><a href="http://thecaptivereader.wordpress.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Captive Reader</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marg</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> from </span><a href="http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have two weeks worth of library loot! Here's what came home with me:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-2VR2cdZmbtEuqtRk0Uw3zHDvuxrmxd79-smsajuRMbr-nTO7XOYJK2Zye5CjmEwgRY9QslpwNyxflaUA-y4HU0g7eeJtk_eE9T1mckUvRu-0PENcNpV3FZSd89GjakHx9TLA7mTC257/s1600/tigers+in+red+weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-2VR2cdZmbtEuqtRk0Uw3zHDvuxrmxd79-smsajuRMbr-nTO7XOYJK2Zye5CjmEwgRY9QslpwNyxflaUA-y4HU0g7eeJtk_eE9T1mckUvRu-0PENcNpV3FZSd89GjakHx9TLA7mTC257/s200/tigers+in+red+weather.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found this book on the librarian suggestion shelf. I'll be reading <b>Tigers in Red Weather</b> by Liza Klaussmann for the <a href="http://wandecareads.blogspot.ca/2012/11/2013-colorful-reading-challenge.html">2013 Colorful Reading Challenge</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6x2jJYLI0rUQOBrIhmv2z8ipamCBxB3zEqtJJQE0mYGFWD3Qm7zQz-UgweLn2B0oyzJN5qvjx4nSb42-hUZhMQfsT3XYLlw0VhxPf7BtXPvLardeb0LuIZ6e422t14axuB69cDj4RCn9/s1600/in+need+of+a+good+wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6x2jJYLI0rUQOBrIhmv2z8ipamCBxB3zEqtJJQE0mYGFWD3Qm7zQz-UgweLn2B0oyzJN5qvjx4nSb42-hUZhMQfsT3XYLlw0VhxPf7BtXPvLardeb0LuIZ6e422t14axuB69cDj4RCn9/s200/in+need+of+a+good+wife.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I read Kelly O'Connor McNees' <a href="http://wandecareads.blogspot.ca/2010/06/m-is-for-mcnees.html">The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott</a> a few years ago, which I loved by the way. So when I saw <b>In Need of a Good Wife</b> on the new titles shelf, I couldn't resist putting it in my bag.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38wBQfVYhZZeIcXawOOfCkuEa1mpro2Cu03O0A5yrG5qwUbWX8QlsoqMFQqeKH_6KjfVfKen5uvCCMtwcFJx14nIbkQnKdTfNQlMrdEyo0lZ-BQKCbM6H0zRSA6XPFi-czy_xOLBRYR7e/s1600/hot+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38wBQfVYhZZeIcXawOOfCkuEa1mpro2Cu03O0A5yrG5qwUbWX8QlsoqMFQqeKH_6KjfVfKen5uvCCMtwcFJx14nIbkQnKdTfNQlMrdEyo0lZ-BQKCbM6H0zRSA6XPFi-czy_xOLBRYR7e/s200/hot+button.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another book that was picked out of the new titles shelf. I love my cosy mysteries, and who doesn't love buttons? I'm hoping that <b>Hot Button</b> by Kylie Logan will satisfy my inner sleuth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_EVlES0rBBbRK6mR_3-VvH208nbMzTNb2qKWTnZhGou2aqVjsaXb0K7pYjuEHn7bE440S5fsCGYefdR8vVbAMvQX9vjB_9zjIAAKmAXN4_xF43wJF3Vlrv1gp3xVZCCmoX-LCvw2uB-h/s1600/the+deep+blue+sea+for+beginners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_EVlES0rBBbRK6mR_3-VvH208nbMzTNb2qKWTnZhGou2aqVjsaXb0K7pYjuEHn7bE440S5fsCGYefdR8vVbAMvQX9vjB_9zjIAAKmAXN4_xF43wJF3Vlrv1gp3xVZCCmoX-LCvw2uB-h/s200/the+deep+blue+sea+for+beginners.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't remember the last time I read a novel by Luanne Rice. While I was browsing the paperback racks, I found <b>The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners</b>. I'll be reading this book for <a href="http://wandecareads.blogspot.ca/2012/11/2013-colorful-reading-challenge.html">2013 Colorful Reading Challenge</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznVLt59NaSCnXPFX1t33KBGYN_UdWR3s6ArwDDmZqeMyaTXoQcRKs-eB2Tf3NsPPnHIb48agEKeCMznYT0L7yFrh_N3ciIfDRbOSANZeDCxKEPEmGekg-n18Ndly_VyXNkF5Goq3uVebd/s1600/the+lady+most+willing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznVLt59NaSCnXPFX1t33KBGYN_UdWR3s6ArwDDmZqeMyaTXoQcRKs-eB2Tf3NsPPnHIb48agEKeCMznYT0L7yFrh_N3ciIfDRbOSANZeDCxKEPEmGekg-n18Ndly_VyXNkF5Goq3uVebd/s200/the+lady+most+willing.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Lady Most Willing</b>, historical romance written by Quinn, James and Brockway. Yep, automatic must read. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4yGsGsevc07JsdF9xS-ayfld7S5DUNmdoRjBxfTOXYEh3IMOZlq_pH05b6Y-DX4JMx-cYx6NBXahACITVA1-Q2s8lgM6lE3jwiL0-s154AAhlhQPQCzCcjtrdD2XQq6IdwATEDop1w9I/s1600/vision+impossible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4yGsGsevc07JsdF9xS-ayfld7S5DUNmdoRjBxfTOXYEh3IMOZlq_pH05b6Y-DX4JMx-cYx6NBXahACITVA1-Q2s8lgM6lE3jwiL0-s154AAhlhQPQCzCcjtrdD2XQq6IdwATEDop1w9I/s200/vision+impossible.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm trying to catch-up with this series. It's one of my all-time favorite paranormal cosy mystery series. <b>Vision Impossible</b> is book 9 of A Psychic Eye Mystery series by Victoria Laurie.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwciFv8fSAEACcOiGG77L3P3iqkkfFei2yE8R5L26zC6DZr1kiwsNJ1jtZuosUdA4mwfANMmfbKNzJuAcaslzNizPTX0zCXRXfjB7V6ZxfrtaKQZ41dCl3EEoksMi4AmBqMW6J2V40EmWj/s1600/splintered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwciFv8fSAEACcOiGG77L3P3iqkkfFei2yE8R5L26zC6DZr1kiwsNJ1jtZuosUdA4mwfANMmfbKNzJuAcaslzNizPTX0zCXRXfjB7V6ZxfrtaKQZ41dCl3EEoksMi4AmBqMW6J2V40EmWj/s200/splintered.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been seeing <b>Splintered</b> alot around the blog world. I had to give it a try. Gorgeous cover, isn't it?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WKO_EdB1__KtL8qqO8fTO36mvzYHgkztNRnXnBY0s6YBOLAjNHNfIWIFToHEvJsPl8lyu-vjdbR537DUngEmEoDRGR54CmAr6r3it5Hy39fyR9ICBSrdiWmL8WivVGd9cHsOiHnTPSF5/s1600/the+casual+vacancy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WKO_EdB1__KtL8qqO8fTO36mvzYHgkztNRnXnBY0s6YBOLAjNHNfIWIFToHEvJsPl8lyu-vjdbR537DUngEmEoDRGR54CmAr6r3it5Hy39fyR9ICBSrdiWmL8WivVGd9cHsOiHnTPSF5/s200/the+casual+vacancy.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally! It's my turn to read <b>The Casual Vacancy</b>! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more loot, visit <a href="http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013/01/library-loot-january-23-to-29.html">here</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-52271823613394480162013-01-23T12:41:00.000-05:002013-01-23T13:33:37.463-05:00A Proper Companion<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1eHN8HGW0f67CeLo_MLRVw6SGGQwkk2AQWwri_GU_d2rG3CEKU93w0SKuisAak3Jmn2G-GAN8GayGHJ9RKc26J6VvmqGaYMO75L8XIcQDITm4o5xcKb4XzFg0jEBwdnrvu_16sEpI_ft/s1600/a+proper+companion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1eHN8HGW0f67CeLo_MLRVw6SGGQwkk2AQWwri_GU_d2rG3CEKU93w0SKuisAak3Jmn2G-GAN8GayGHJ9RKc26J6VvmqGaYMO75L8XIcQDITm4o5xcKb4XzFg0jEBwdnrvu_16sEpI_ft/s320/a+proper+companion.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyone can arrange a marriage-but only the heavens can decree true love! </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Her grandson, the Earl of Bradleigh, had just announced his engagement to a thoroughly unlikeable chit -- and Lady Bradleigh was determined to do something about it. Why, just about anyone would make a more suitable match...even her own paid companion, Emily Townsend! But if her dear, practical-minded Robert were to back out of the betrothal, the tongues of the ton would never stop wagging... </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the very least, the dowager decides, she will extract a promise from her grandson to find Emily a husband. But when the handsome, rakish earl comes to know the charms of Emily Townsend, he suddenly regrets his hasty engagement-and is sorely tempted to win her hand for himself.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been years since I last read a book by <a href="http://www.candicehern.com/">Candice Hern</a>. I remember loving her books, but I can't remember why I stopped reading her. I'm a huge fan of romances set during the Regency period, and I have a soft spot for the traditional Regency that I read so long ago, I couldn't resist signing up for <b>The Regency Romance Reading Challenge</b> that is being hosted by <a href="http://austenprose.com/">Austenprose</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It seems like I'm on a roll, another book that kept me up at night. I began reading <b>A Proper Companion</b> shortly before going to bed, but I couldn't put it down. I was transported back to a time where the upper crust of society felt the need to meddle in their children and grandchildren's lives. I enjoyed all of it, Emily and Robert, started off as friends, they soon developed stronger feeling, but Robert being a gentleman could not give or promise anything more than friendship to Emily. I loved the way that he struggled with his feelings for Emily and the way she did as well for Robert, they both knew that it wasn't proper, but the feelings were still there. Even though I enjoyed Robert and Emily, the scene stealer of the book was the Dowager Duchess, she was a force of a nature, full of life and love for the people that mattered the most to her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A Proper Companion</b> by Candice Hern (4/5) Historical - Regency Romance; Published: Jove (1995); Format: Ebook for Kindle; Series: # 1, Regency Rakes; Regency Romance Reading Challenge (1); Keeper Shelf; Books 2013 (5);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-73981210972952446932013-01-22T14:31:00.002-05:002013-01-22T14:31:38.927-05:00Top Ten Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Top Ten Tuesday</i></b> is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies over at <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. This week's Top Ten consists of the settings you'd like to read or you'd like to see more in books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm a huge historical fiction fan, I love reading books set in the Regency, Victorian and Edwardian times, but I also like to expand it a little more, my only complaint is that majority of books are in England, North America, France, etc... You get the point. Here are my Top Ten historical settings that I would love to see more in books:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. <b>American gold rush</b> - it can be either western or even Alaska gold rush, not picky in that area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. <b>Westerns</b> - I can't remember the last time I read a western, I loved reading romances set in the west. Rugged gunslingers, cowboys, rangers... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. <b>South America</b> - The countries in south America are full of turbulent political history, and there's a certain exotic feeling to that region.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. <b>South Pacific</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. <b>Japan</b> - I'm fascinated with Japanese culture</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. <b>China</b> - Great Wall of China, need I say more?...imagine the possibilities!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. <b>Scandinavia</b> - I want me some Vikings!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. <b>Russia</b> - Russia, is a country rich in history, I don't understand why there isn't more</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. <b>Canada</b> - I would love to see more, please.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. <b>Portugal </b>- Another country that is rich in history and at one point in time it ruled oceans (and the world). ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you have suggestions on books with these setting let me know, I'm always looking for more to read. Thanks! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To join in the fun, visit <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.ca/2013/01/top-ten-settings-jana-would-like-to-see.html">here</a>. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-85532174866334355182013-01-22T13:59:00.001-05:002013-01-22T13:59:12.302-05:00Teaser Tuesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiqZWuR_oMvILWX4ooY0OuXYvAtCRF74CDo3Vt-_TRG-3Iv23etL3MUwnN1TAlkoguZyfY9oQAbEjWtYeEEyPb4LX_Qlq5qM_TiP_rqn4SqIwG7Cc9_K7xtcvnQUktiuqb9eKluC1pJZT/s1600-h/tuesday+teaser.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355723636603790770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiqZWuR_oMvILWX4ooY0OuXYvAtCRF74CDo3Vt-_TRG-3Iv23etL3MUwnN1TAlkoguZyfY9oQAbEjWtYeEEyPb4LX_Qlq5qM_TiP_rqn4SqIwG7Cc9_K7xtcvnQUktiuqb9eKluC1pJZT/s200/tuesday+teaser.bmp" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 123px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Teaser Tuesday</b> is hosted by <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/">Should Be Reading</a>. Here's how you play:</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Grab your current read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Let the book fall open to a random page.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* <span style="color: red;"><strong>Please avoid spoilers!</strong></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My teaser:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She'd tucked her hair into a fashionably untidy bun to accompany one of the few dresses she hadn't put up for consignment, a sleeveless caramel sheath she's accessorized with costume hoop earrings. Her arms still felt bare without her bangles.</span> </blockquote>
~ <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">taken from page 201, <b>The Great Escape</b> by <a href="http://www.susanephillips.com/">Susan Elizabeth Phillips</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more teasers, visit <a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/teaser-tuesdays-jan-22/">here</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-79792277863528804932013-01-21T10:51:00.004-05:002013-01-21T10:51:57.432-05:00The Heir<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">AN EARL WHO CAN'T BE BRIBED</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the Duke of Moreland. To escape his father's inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper... </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A LADY WHO CAN'T BE PROTECTED... </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper.
As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna's secrets threaten to bring the earl's orderly life crashing down - and he doesn't know how he's going to protect her from the fallout...</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would like to begin by thanking <b>Ana</b> from <a href="http://anecasworld.blogspot.ca/">Aneca's World</a> for introducing me to this author. It's been quite a while since I read a historical romance that has captured me as this has. So thank you Ana, I believe I have found a new must read author.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This book should also have a disclaimer on its cover, one sitting read, reader beware you may lose sleep. Which I did, but I'm not complaining because it was a very good read. I loved the setting, the time period, the characters and the story itself wasn't too shabby either. I found that Anna and Windham suited each other very well, she caring and headstrong and Windham is a no-nonsense type of gentleman who adores his large family, even the meddling members of said family. I admit at the beginning I thought it a stretch that they would become involved, master and employee, but the author had a way in drawing me in and keeping interested in the book. I'm looking forward on reading more of her books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Heir</b> by Grace Burrowes (4.5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Sourcebooks Casablanca (2010); Format: Ebook for Kindle; New Author; Series: # 1, Windham; Favorite Reads 2013; Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2013 (3); Keeper Shelf; Books 2013 (4);</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246967294351332407.post-5285502017451817182013-01-12T13:12:00.000-05:002013-01-13T13:14:01.301-05:00The Age of Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Born in 1930 in a small town outside Winnipeg, beautiful Hope Koop appears destined to have a conventional life. Church, marriage to a steady young man, children-her fortunes are already laid out for her, as are the shiny modern appliances in her new home. All she has to do is stay with Roy, who loves her. But as the decades unfold, what seems to be a safe, predictable existence overwhelms Hope. Where-among the demands of her children, the expectations of her husband and the challenges of her best friend, Emily, who has just read The Feminine Mystique-is there room for her? And just who is she anyway? A wife, a mother, a woman whose life is somehow unrealized? This beautifully crafted and perceptive work of fiction spans some fifty years of Hope Koop's life in the second half of the 20th century, from traditionalism to feminism and beyond. David Bergen has created an indelible portrait of a seemingly ordinary woman who struggles to accept herself as she is, and in so doing becomes unique.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hope is a woman living through years of the Women's Liberation movement in Manitoba. She questions herself, as a woman, a daughter, wife and a mother. She wonders if there's more to life than what she experiences everyday. She loves her children, even though at times she doesn't recognize them (especially during the teenage years), she loves her husband, but is that enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book. For some reason I was expecting something darker. Yes, there are turmoils in Hope's life, depression, there's a breakdown that leaves her hospitalized, a bankruptcy and a run in with a religious cult. I found it understandable her envious feelings towards her teenage daughters, the freedom they had in comparison to her...she just couldn't pick up and leave. I found those emotions believable and real. I guess you can call this book, a real life novel. I enjoyed how well the book flowed, it didn't have any plot hiccups in my opinion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to reading more books by David Bergen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The Age of Hope</b> by David Bergen (4/5) General Fiction; Published: Phyllis Bruce Book (2012); New Author; Canada Reads 2013 (3); Library; Books 2013 (3) </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767169252458166253noreply@blogger.com0