Here Comes The Bride

I've had this book in my TBR pit for years, two maybe three years tops. Why did I choose to read? Easily answered: it's a western and it's written by a Canadian author. Ok, in all honesty I picked it up because it was a western. I only found out that Laura Drewry was Canadian at the end of the book.

Here's the blurb for Here Comes The Bride(taken from the author's website):

Gabe Calloway is certain of only two things in his life. The first is he was born to be a rancher. It's bred into him as much as the color of his eyes and the huge stubborn streak he inherited from his father. The second is that ladies have no business whatsoever in a town like Porter Creek, Montana Territory. It is a life of hardship, sorrow and pain, and sooner or later every woman will succumb to the harshness of the land.

So how is it that in a matter of weeks, a tiny whisper of a thing like Tess Kinley - a fancy city girl no less - can turn his whole world upside down and leave him wondering what the hell happened.

Tess insists she is meant to be at El Cielo, his family's ranch, yet her blue blood paints a very different picture for Gabe. She is, without question, the least likely person able to cope with ranch life, yet she dives in with an exuberance that softens even Gabe's own hardened core. Yet, the more he's drawn to her, the more determined he is to put her on the very next stage headed east. Best to do it now, while his heart is still whole, than risk her leaving him and his heart in a million pieces.

If only she'd stop looking at him that way; if only she'd stop letting him kiss her; if only. . . .

I enjoyed reading the book. I found it fast paced and funny. It was a great book to read on a fall afternoon. It was just me, the cat, the book and Earl(Grey).

I thought the main characters were interesting and their dialogue (and banter) was informative and hilarious at times. Gabe has some issues with women leaving him so he basically avoids them at all costs but Tessa who baffles him, was slowly invades his thoughts and his heart. I also found to be bull-headed but it wasn't overdone. I liked Tessa, she's independent, courageous and she knows what she wants. And she wants Gabe. But at times she got on my nerves, and I'm not sure exactly what it was that bothered me about her, but she did. I liked that she took fate in her hands and ran from her family, but how realistic was that. And the chemistry between them was non-existent in my opinion.

I've already placed a hold on another book by the author, Charming Jo.

Here Comes The Bride by Laura Drewry (3.5/5) Historical Romance: Western; Published: Zebra Historical Romance (5/2005); New Author; Canadian Author; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (131);

With A Twist

After reading Power Play, I've been a tad reluctant to read Deirdre Martin. And I enjoy my hockey players, and this one doesn't deal with the Blades, but is the first book of a new series, Wild Hart Saga. The main characters, Natalie and Quinn are no strangers to me, they were both in Just A Taste. I guess that made me get off my behind and read this book.

He's a tall order. She's a hot dish.
But are they ready for the main course?

Natalie Bocuse dreams of managing a chic Manhattan restaurant. In the meantime she's waitressing at her sister's French bistro in Brooklyn.

Among the regulars is Quinn O'Brien, not only the best reporter in New York but the most handsome. He'll do anything for a story, even break hearts, though Natalie swears hers will stay untouched.

When Quinn offers Natalie a waitressing job at his parents' Irish Pub in Manhattan, she can't refuse. She'll be a step closer to her dream and temptingly close to Quinn. But then Quinn's new editor-in-chief steps through the pub's doors and wants to order what's on Natalie's menu. Now Quinn will do anything to stop the presses. Pursuing the greatest story of his life, his own love story, Quinn's going to need his luck of the Irish to win Natalie's heart—or else it's c'est la vie...

And I'm glad that I did. I'm pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book.

Both Natalie and Quinn are career orientated, they're banter is hilarious and they're chemistry worked. Not as a steamy as some previous books, but much better than the last, in my opinion. The author also introduced a interesting group of characters and I cannot wait to read more about them.

Hmm, I wonder how long the wait will be for the next one...

With A Twist by Deirdre Martin (4/5) Contemporary Romance; Published: Berkley (5/2009); Series: # 1, Wild Hart Saga; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (130);

Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl is a one of the greatest criminal minds the world has ever seen. He is heir to the Fowl family empire—a centuries old clan of international underworld figures and con artists. He is arguably the most cunning Fowl of all. He is also twelve years old.
Artemis' interest in mythology and an obsession with the Internet leads him to discover proof of the existence of "The People"- otherwise known as fairies, sprites, leprechauns and trolls. He learns every fairy has a magical Book. If he can find the Book, it will lead him to "The People's" vast treasure of gold.
With his brutish sidekick, Butler, he sets his plans in motion. Artemis tricks a drunken old fairy woman into loaning him her Book, a tiny golden volume, for thirty minutes. He scans it with a digital camera and emails it to his Mac G6 computer. Back in his mansion in Ireland, he is the first human to decode the secrets of the fairies.
Artemis needs a leprechaun to help him with this plan. He and Butler hunt down Holly Short, a tough, female LEPrecon, part of a gung-ho Fairy commando unit, who is on a reconnaissance mission. He kidnaps her, and a major battle begins. It's satyr against gnome, man against elf, and for the first time in his life, Artemis must decide what he values most.

I have heard nothing but good things about Eion Colfer's Artemis Fowl series. So, when I saw it listed on 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge, I knew I had to read it, or at least the first book of the series.

Well, here's another series that both children and adults can enjoy. I was hooked right from the beginning. I found the story entertaining and funny as well. It has a darkness to it that really appeals to me, but not so dark that I wouldn't let my nine-year-old daughter read. I loved the way that the author brings out the evil genius of Artemis but also the child quality that he doesn't show too much. And there's the kick-ass fairy, Holly, who has a very strict code of conduct but also a tender heart. And then you add a whole bunch of secondary characters that interesting and comical. The story cannot go wrong.

Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer (4.5/5) Children Fiction: Fantasy; Published: Miramax (4/2001); Series: # 1, Artemis Fowl; New Author; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (129); Young Readers Challenge (7); 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge (1);

I Scream, You Scream

Tallulah Jones, proprietor of Dalliance, Texas’s old-fashioned ice-cream parlor, dishes up luscious ice cream that is simply to die for….

Unfortunately, Remember the A-la-mode’s profits are melting faster than a snow cone in July–and Tally’s stuck scooping sundaes for her two-timing ex-husband and his bodacious new girlfriend, Brittanie, at his company luau. To make matters worse, twenty years after she dumped him in the Tasty-Swirl parking lot, Tally’s high school beau, Finn Harper, comes back to town–looking every bit as delicious as a double-dip raspberry mascarpone waffle cone.

The cherry on top? Brittanie drops dead, and Tally’s suddenly the prime suspect in her murder investigation. To catch a killer, Tally will have to churn up Dalliance’s darkest secrets and dip deep into the past. But can Tally freeze out the real culprit before a murder charge puts her dreams on ice for good?

What's a girl to do when she's accused of murdering her ex-husband's current girlfriend? Find the real killer, even if that means getting help from her high school flame. Add a quirky cousin, her genius daughter and yummy ice-cream you have an entertaining read.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was a quick read, mainly because the it was a fast paced story, with great characters, funny dialogue and a murder mystery that had me guessing all along the way.

I'm looking to the next book, which comes out next year.

I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson (3.5/5) Contemporary Mystery; Published: Obsidian Mystery (10/2009); Series: # 1, A Mystery A La Mode; New Author; Debut Book; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (128);

A Passage To India

When Adela and her elderly companion Mrs Moore arrive in the Indian town of Chandrapore, they quickly feel trapped by its insular and prejudiced British community. Determined to explore the real India', they seek the guidance of the charming and mercurial Dr Aziz, a cultivated Indian Muslim. But a mysterious incident occurs while they are exploring the Marabar caves with Aziz, and the well-respected doctor soon finds himself at the centre of a scandal that rouses violent passions among both the British and their Indian subjects. A masterly portrait of a society in the grip of imperialism, A Passage to India compellingly depicts the fate of individuals caught between the great political and cultural conflicts of the modern world.

It took me while to get into the story. I knew what was going to happen (I watched the movie a long time ago), so I was dreading certain areas of the book. But I got over that and I inhaled it. I loved the way the author brought India to life for me, it was beautiful and scary. The prejudices that the British had towards the natives was shameful and ignorant. I felt for Aziz and for Fielding, and particularly their friendship.

I read this book as part of the Book Awards III challenge, A Passage To India won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1924.

A Passage To India by E.M. Forster (4/5) Classic Literature; Published: Edward Arnold (1924); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (127); Book Awards III (4);

Goddess of the Hunt

Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion–one that could send all her plans up in smoke.

Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming, he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart and claim her for his own?

I admit that when I first started reading this book I wasn't expecting too much. I thought it would be a nice read, and maybe the author would be one to be on the look out for, considering it's a debut book. And let me tell you, I'm blown away... I love this book.

Lucy, is an unconventional young woman, she's independent, outspoken and confident. And she's madly in love with one of brother's friend's, Toby. But Toby is oblivious of her feelings, and will soon be engaged to the "perfect lady". Lucy decides that she needs to practice her seduction on her brother's other friend, Jeremy. Jeremy is a rake, has a title and is very rich. And he cannot believe the scheme that Lucy has develop to snare Toby. And just when Jeremy thinks he has everything figured out, Lucy manages to surprise him once again.

I love the theme, "best friend's younger sister". The setting was wonderful and the characters were very entertaining. I loved the chemistry between Lucy and Jeremy, they're very hot. There are several hot encounters with these two, but I loved the wardrobe scene, very steamy.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the the author's second book, Surrender of a Siren.

Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare (4.5/5) Historical Romance; Published: Ballantine Books (7/2009); New Author; Debut Book; Favorite Reads 2009; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (126);

Wicked All Day

Miss Zoë Armstrong is beautiful, charming, rich -- and utterly unmarriageable. So, while she may be the ton's most sparkling diamond, her choice of husbands looks more like a list of London's most unsavory fortune hunters. Since a true-love marriage seems impossible, Zoë has accepted -- no, embraced -- her role as society's most incomparable flirt and mischiefmaker...until in one reckless, vulnerable moment, her future is shattered.

Stuart Rowland, the brooding Marquess of Mercer, has been part of Zoë's extended family since she was a child. As dark and cynical as Zoë is lively, Mercer has always known they would be the worst possible match...until his scapegrace brother Robert does the unthinkable, and winds up betrothed to Zoë. Now, secluded on Mercer's vast estate to escape a looming scandal and the ton's prying eyes, Zoë and Mercer may find that a dark obsession has become a tempestuous passion that can no longer be denied....

I've been waiting for Zoe's story (for years), she's a great character, full spirit and confidence...but in this book she isn't the Zoe of previous books. She and her cousin (and best friend) Robin are caught in a compromising position. You can figure out what has to happen, right?!

Anyway, they leave for the country where they're supposed to be planning the blessed event. But there we encounter three very confused and angry characters. Mercer, the Marquis, he needs to be in charge of everything, he needs to control, but the cannot control his feelings for his brother's fiancée; and he doesn't like that one bit. Robin, feels sorry for himself, he has to marry Zoe but he loves another woman. He has no problem showing his anger and lack of respect to Zoe (in my opinion he needed a swift kick in the behind). And there's Zoe who is having conflicting feelings for the wrong brother, but doesn't want to bring any more shame or scandal to her family. What a jumble!

And then the story just went on and on and on...I truly believe that the triangle could have been resolved sooner, there was a lot of filler in this book.

With all that being said...I still enjoyed it, but not as much as I thought I would have.

Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle (3/5) Historical Romance; Published: Pocket Books (10/2009); Series: # 2, Tempted All Night; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (125);

Shotgun Wedding

I haven't been feeling the best lately. I've had a cold for the past couple of weeks, and don't get me started on my cough. Anyway, I've been in the dumps and I wanted a picker-me-upper, and what can possibility go wrong with reading Maggie Osborne. I haven't read her in years, so I ventured downstairs to my TBR pit and dug through and found Shotgun Wedding. I first read this book when it was first published, I believe it was through the library. And when I found it recently at the UBS, I couldn't resist buying it.


Here's the blurb for Shotgun Wedding:

Annie Malloy is in a fix. She’s gotten herself into the worst kind of trouble and there’s really only one way out. It seems the town’s handsome new sheriff, Jesse Harden, has taken a shine to her–and has offered her a way to end the scandal once and for all. Marriage, she hopes, even a hasty one to a virtual stranger, will put an end to the gossip and return her life to something like it was before. But Annie soon finds that the quiet life she once lived has been exchanged for one full of chance, desire, and the breathtaking possibility of true love.

Jesse John Harden has always followed his instincts and has no doubt that he can turn this marriage of convenience into a true marriage of the heart. With each day that passes the bond between him and his pretty new wife grows stronger and the spark between them gets hotter. But Annie is hiding a secret that could destroy their delicate happiness. Now Jesse must convince Annie to let him stand beside her to face the past so they can have a chance at a happy future.

I'm so glad that I re-visited this story. It reminds me the reason I enjoy Maggie Osborne so much, she tells a great story. The characters are amazing, the dialogue keeps the story flowing and reading it for the second time it's still fresh and entertaining.

I loved the way the heroine is having a hard time with her feelings. She's a modern woman, she believes that she's doing the best she can in the situation but slowly she realizes that it's not only her that suffers the consequence of her "mistake". And there's Jesse who is willing to help her and take some of the blame, and wants to protect and love the child even if it's not his. Very commendable.

I wish I had more westerns in my TBR, but, oh well....If I could only get hands on I Do, I Do, I Do!

Shotgun Wedding by Maggie Osborne (4/5) Historical Romance: Western; Published: Ivy Books (11/2003); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (124);

To Wed a Wicked Earl

He's on the hunt for a bride . . .

Adam Faramond, Earl of Rothbury, needs to find a wife—immediately!—or his beloved grandmother will leave him penniless. But Adam, an unrepentant rake, would reform for only one woman, the woman he's lusted after—and loved—for years. It's rather unfortunate, then, that Miss Charlotte Greene would never consent to be the blushing bride of a rogue . . . or so he thinks.

Charlotte believes that the earl, the only man whose touch leaves her trembling, would never want a woman like her. Weary of her wallflower ways, Charlotte decides that a friendship with the earl just might give her the excitement she desires. Keeping their true feelings hidden, she and Adam plan a sham ceremony to placate the dowager. But when the "marriage of convenience" takes an unexpected turn, will Charlotte and her wicked earl finally reveal their irresistible, unforgettable love—and delight in a lifetime of passion?

I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of Olivia Parker. I first read her debut novel, At The Bride Hunt Ball, when it was first published. And I've been patiently waiting for her second book, I finally read it and I wasn't disappointed. I adored it!

Both the hero, Adam Faramond, Earl of Rothbury, and the heroine, Charlotte Greene were introduced in the previous book. Rothbury is known to be a rake, a scoundrel of the worst sort. Charlotte is what they call a wall flower, she's near sighted and sometimes painfully shy. But these two strike a special friendship. Although Charlotte thinks that Rothbury is helping her with her scheme because of friendship, the truth is that he's been deeply in love with her for a long time. That one aspect is what I found to be different, usually it's the other way around. Add to the story two matchmakers, one a friend who doesn't mind meddling and the other a grandmother who pretends to be losing her mind.

It was a quick, funny, sensual read. It was definitely worth staying up late to finish the book. I wonder how long I'll have to wait to read something new by Olivia Parker...

To Wed a Wicked Earl by Olivia Parker (4.25/5) Historical Romance; Published: Avon (9/2009); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (123);

Tempted All Night

Lady Phaedra Northampton is a proper English miss -- but burdened by a dark secret. She's buried her shame in running her wealthy brother Lord Nash's household while hiding behind a sharp wit and dull wardrobe...until a reckless village maid's disappearance pulls her into London's seedy underworld.
A former mercenary and jaded spy-for-hire, Tristan Talbot, Lord Avoncliffe, now does little, and manages to do it scandalously. Though Tristan's an out-and-out rogue, when his dying father begs him to delve into the secrets behind a notorious brothel -- a perfect task for his talents! -- Tristan can't refuse. Is the brothel a front for a notorious Russian spy ring? Tristan is on the hunt -- until his path collides with the oh-so-tempting Lady Phae.

Soon what should be a simple assignment becomes deliciously complicated...when deception and desire lead to an explosive passion -- and deadly foes!

Finally got my hands on Liz Carlyle's Tempted All Night. The first book of a new series, and I've been patiently waiting for it. Or should I say I finally found it at the UBS.

I really enjoyed it. Surprisingly. I didn't care for the author's previous series, just couldn't into it. Anyway, this one hooked me right from the first chapter. The main characters, Phaedra and Tristan, are both very interesting. She's a proper English lady and he's a scoundrel, but they both have secrets that make them what they are now. They're basically thrown together when Phaedra (along with Zoe) find a dead body at Mr. Kemble's (I wonder if he'll get his book?)shop. And Tristan's father wants him to investigate. But, there's so much more going on though, but it doesn't take from the story, it adds to it.

I'm looking forward on reading Wicked All Day.

Tempted All Night by Liz Carlyle (4/5) Historical Romance; Published: Pocket Books (3/2009); Series: # 1, Tempted All Night; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (122);

The Remains of the Day

A compelling portrait of the perfect English butler and of his fading, insular world in postwar England. At the end of his three decades of service at Darlington Hall, Stevens embarks on a country drive, during which he looks back over his career to reassure himself that he has served humanity by serving “a great gentleman.” But lurking in his memory are doubts about the true nature of Lord Darlington’s “greatness” and graver doubts about his own faith in the man he has served.

I knew the premise of the book, I watched the movie version a few years ago and I enjoyed it. And when I saw it listed as a Booker Prize Winner, I couldn't resist on adding it to my Book Awards III list.

It took me a long time to get into the story. I enjoyed the way the author writes, it flows and it gives my imagination a workout, especially the way he describes the sceneries. But I found the main character, Stevens, to be dull and boring. His life is his job, and I don't think he's able to see what is really happening around him. Slowly though, he starts to realize what he's been missing. It's a long journey.

I enjoyed it and I'm glad that I read it. But I don't think it's the type of book that I'll ever re-read, once was enough.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (3.5/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Faber & Faber (1989); Book Awards III Challenge (3); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (121);

Tempting Faith DiNapoli

At heart, Faith DiNapoli is a good Catholic girl. She's memorized all the prayers and hymns. She daydreams about her First Communion. She's pretty sure Jesus loves her. But she's angry. Angry with her father for leaving, her mother for never going anywhere, and her dysfunctional siblings -- just because they're around. And though she knows the Bible says the meek are blessed, Faith can't help but covet beautiful things and try to obtain them in any way possible. So Faith lies, cheats, and steals. In fact, she breaks almost every one of the Commandments, mostly by accident. At the same time, she grapples with the girl she thinks she should be, the family she's supposed to be a part of, and the imaginary life she may never live.

In Tempting Faith DiNapoli, Faith does more than grow from innocent eight to headstrong eighteen. Faith struggles with her new bad habits, fends off bad boys who want more than she should give, and contemplates a future that looks worse than her mother's past and present.

The DiNapolis are mismatched, broke, and dysfunctional, but they fight with and love one another with equal parts ferocity and devotion, laughter and tears. All the while, Faith prays for a happy ending. Or at least for something not too, too bad.

Wow! The DiNapoli's are quite the family! They had me smiling, laughing out loud, and crying too. They truly seem to be a "real" family. Because I was raised Catholic, I can identify with Faith, her curiosities, her doubts and her questions. It brought back a whole bunch of memories, some good and some bad. But reading this book was a wonderful experience.

If you want to revisit your teenage years, this may be the book for you. But be warned it also deals with serious stuff, it deals with drugs, alcohol, rape and violence. I mention this because a friend's daughter asked to read it, she's 12, and I don't think it's appropriate for a tween. It could be just me...

Tempting Faith DiNapoli by Lisa Gabriele (4/5) General Fiction; Published: Simon & Schuster (6/2002); Canadian Author; New Author; Canadian Book Challenge 3 (4); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (120);

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .

What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen's memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That's the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen's life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.

Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.

Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen's own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author's romantic tales. It's a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.

What a wonderful book! I was hooked right from the first page. It was a perfect way to visit Jane and spy on her and family and friends. Even knowing that this is fictional it gave me a little glimpse on Jane Austen's life and her love for a man that sounds a lot like Colin Firth (just saying!).

I love the way the author writes, it flows and it's easy to follow, and she paints a pretty picture too. Did I mention Colin Firth? Excuse me, a man that I think looks like him. Anyway, the author targets a period of time that there isn't too much information on Jane Austen's life, but the way that it's written it sounds possible.

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James (4.5/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Avon A (11/2007); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (119);

Harbor Lights

Struggling in his role as a newly single father, former army medic Kevin O'Brien moves home to Chesapeake Shores. He wants a haven for himself and his toddler son, surrounded by the family he knows he can count on, and a future that's nothing like his past. But Kevin is suddenly facing a risk he hadn't anticipated, in the form of Main Street bookseller Shanna Carlyle.
Shanna immediately recognizes Kevin as a wounded soul—she's had way too much experience with the type. Still, this charming O'Brien man and his son are almost impossible to resist.

Then, just when the barriers are toppling, someone from Shanna's past appears. Confronted with a threat to their hard-won serenity, Kevin and Shanna face their toughest challenge—learning to trust again.

I have read the two previous book of the Chesapeake Shores series by Sheryl Woods, The Inn at Eagle Point and Flowers on Main. I enjoyed both of the books and I was expecting to enjoy Harbor Lights just as much.

But it wasn't meant to be. I found it lacked chemistry between the hero and heroine, the plot seemed to be all over the place, and it really didn't resolve anything. No rotten tomatoes, please. It's just my opinion. I'm really disappointed, I was expecting so much.

I hate when this happens. Argh!

Harbor Lights by Sheryl Woods (2/5) Contemporary Romance; Published: Mira (5/2009); Series: # 3, Chesapeake Shores; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (118);

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures

This is the year that I will read all the books that I listed on my Book Awards III challenge. Two down, three more to go. This book won the Giller Prize in 2006.

I also read Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam for the Canadian Book Challenge 3.

Here's the blurb:

Provocative, heartbreaking, and darkly humorous, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures introduces readers to a masterful new voice in fiction. A practicing ER physician, Vincent Lam delivers a precise and intimate portrait of the medical profession in his fiction debut. These twelve interwoven stories follow a group of young doctors as they move from the challenges of medical school to the intense world of emergency rooms, evacuation missions, and terrifying new viruses. Winner of the prestigious Giller Prize, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures marks the arrival of a deeply humane and preternaturally gifted writer.

Fitz, Ming, Chen, and Sri are the four ambitious protagonists of Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures. They fall in love as they study for their exams, face moral dilemmas as they split open cadavers, confront police who rough up their patients, and treat schizophrenics with pathologies similar to their own. In one harrowing story set amidst the 2003 SARS crisis, which the author witnessed firsthand, two of these doctors suddenly become the patients.

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures invites us into a world where the ordinary becomes the critical in a matter of seconds. A formidable debut, it is a profound and unforgettable depiction of today’s doctors, patients, and hospitals.

It's Grey's Anatomy set in a hospital in Toronto. What it really is, a collection of short stories that follow the above mentioned characters while they study, learn, perform their duties and go on with their lives.

I admit, I was dreading starting this book, I was afraid that it would be dull and I would struggle to read it. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading each short story. I tend not to like short stories because I feel that I cannot connect to the characters, but in this book they were seen in each of the stories. So I had enough time to get to know them.

Reading this book was time well spent.

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam (4.5/5) Short Stories; Published: Doubleday Canada (1/2006); Giller Prize Winner 2006; New Author; Canadian Author; Canadian Book Challenge 3 (3); Book Awards III (2); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (117);

The Tenth Gift

In an expensive London restaurant, Julia Lovat receives a gift that will change her life. At first glance it is a book of exquisite 17th-century embroidery patterns belonging to a woman named Catherine Ann Tregenna. Yet in its margins Julia discovers faintly written diary entries that date back to 1625. They reveal that Catherine and others were stolen from their Cornish church by Muslim pirates and taken on a brutal voyage to Morocco to be auctioned off as slaves. Captivated by this dramatic discovery, Julia sets off to North Africa to determine the authenticity of the book and to uncover more of Catherine’s mesmerizing story. There, in the company of a charismatic Moroccan guide, amid the sultry heat, the spice markets, and exotic ruins, Julia will discover buried secrets. And in Morocco, she will lose her heart just as Catherine did before her.

Though they live almost 400 years apart, the stories of these two women converge in an extraordinary and haunting manner that will make readers wonder—is history fated to repeat itself?

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the overall book, but there were several things about it that I couldn't wrap my mind around. I won't go into detail because it will probably spoil the book for others, so I'm keeping mum.

But the one thing that I enjoyed the most about the book was that there was a mysticism about it...Two women connect with each other but they live 400 years apart. And Julia traveling to Morocco and discovering its culture and people, added to that.

The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson (3.5/5) Fiction; Historical Fiction; Published: Crown (5/2008); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (116);

Wuthering Heights

The haunting intensity of Catherine Earnshaw's attachment to Heathcliff is the focus of a novel which relations between men and women are described with an emotional and imaginative power unparalleled in English fiction.

First published in 1847, Wuthering Heights is set on the bleak Yorkshire moors, where the drama of Catherine and Heathcliff, Heathcliff's cruel revenge against Edgar and Isabella Linton, and the promise of redemption through the next generaion in enacted.

Like many other readers I was introduced to Wuthering Heights in high school. Then, I thought it to be a boring and simplistic story. But I have changed mind, this time around I truly enjoyed it.

Heathcliff's obsession with revenge is a true characteristic of his madness. Knowing what going to happen I still couldn't put down the book. I had to keep reading. But Heathcliff's madness is not the only one in the book, I found Catherine to be just as crazy, she too was obsessed, with him. What a web! A delightful one! Also this time around I really enjoyed the darkness of the mood.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (4.5/5) Classic Literature; Published: Thomas Cautley Newby (1847); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (115); Romance Reading Challenge (9); 18th & 19th Century Women Writers' Reading Challenge (8); Keeper shelf;

Tempt Me At Twilight

He was everything she'd sworn to avoid.

Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a dangerous hidden life. When their flirtation compromises her own reputation, Poppy shocks everyone by accepting his proposal - only to find that her new husband offers his passion, but not his trust.

And she was everything he needed...

Harry was willing to do anything to win Poppy - except to open his heart. All his life, he has held the world at arms's length...but the sharp, beguiling Poppy demands to be his wife in every way that matters. Still, as desire grows between them, an enemy lurks in the shadows. Now if Harry wants to keep Poppy by his side, he must forge a true union of body and soul, once and for all...

The third installment of the Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas was without a doubt the best so far in my opinion. I loved it!

I loved getting to know Poppy better. In a family full of eccentric individuals Poppy is the only normal one. Although she loves the craziness of her family she craves normalcy. She falls in love with a proper gentleman and he with her, but when he does not get the approval of his father he breaks her heart. But waiting in the wings there's the mysterious Harry Rutledge, a self proclaimed villain, our modern day bad boy. Their chemistry was amazing, there were several times that I needed to take a break and fan myself, wow.

I inhaled this book in one day! It was a perfect Sunday read.

You can find my thoughts on Mine Till Midnight, here. And Seduce Me At Sunrise, here.

Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas (4.5/5) Historical Romance; Published: St. Martin's Press (9/09); Series: # 3, Hathaway; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (114); Favorite Reads 2009; Keeper shelf;

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte

Though poor, plain, and unconnected, Charlotte Bronte possesses a deeply passionate side which she reveals only in her writings—creating Jane Eyre and other novels that stand among literature's most beloved works. Living a secluded life in the wilds of Yorkshire with her sisters Emily and Anne, their drug-addicted brother, and an eccentric father who is going blind, Charlotte Bronte dreams of a real love story as fiery as the ones she creates.

But it is in the pages of her diary where Charlotte exposes her deepest feelings and desires—and the truth about her life, its triumphs and shattering disappointments, her family, the inspiration behind her work, her scandalous secret passion for the man she can never have . . . and her intense, dramatic relationship with the man she comes to love, the enigmatic Arthur Bell Nicholls.

I honestly didn't know a thing about Charlotte Bronte. Aside from having sisters that were also authors, and that was about it. And I've only read one of her books, Jane Eyre. But I was curious enough to pick up The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James, just 'cause.

I found myself drawn into Charlotte's world, where she's a mere companion and nurse to her ailing father but who wanted to be so much more. Although I knew the common opinion (back then) that women were mere posessions to their families, it didn't diminish my anger or the characters' for that matter. I loved the way she stood up for her own ideals. Her drive to have her book published, even using a pseudonyn, was remarkable. The emotional loss of her siblings was earth shattering and brought tears to my eyes.

Loved it! And I'll be picking up the author's firt book, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen.

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James (5/5) Historical Fiction; Published: Avon A (6/09); New Author; Favorite Reads 2009; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (113);

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

I read this book for a challenge, Book Awards III Challenge. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz won the Pulitzer Prize in 2008. I had heard of this author beforehand but never read him.

Here's the blurb:

Oscar is a sweet but disastrously overweight ghetto nerd who—from the New Jersey home he shares with his old world mother and rebellious sister— dreams of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien and, most of all, finding love. But Oscar may never get what he wants. Blame the fukú—a curse that has haunted Oscar’s family for generations, following them on their epic journey from Santo Domingo to the USA. Encapsulating Dominican-American history, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao opens our eyes to an astonishing vision of the contemporary American experience and explores the endless human capacity to persevere—and risk it all—in the name of love.

Wow! I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised! I wasn't expecting on enjoying as much as I did.

I was hooked right at the beginning. Like the blurb says it's the story of a Dominican American boy who has a weight problem and who feels more at home with J.R.R. Tolkien than his own family. He has a desperate need to be in love and to be loved, but his shyness, awkwardness and his weight do not help. We get information on his family history, on his mother's heartache and bitterness, on his sister's strength and even on narrator's history with Oscar and his family.

It was a great read and I highly recommend it.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (4.5/5) Fiction; Published: Riverhead Hardcover (9/07); New Author; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (111); Book Awards III Challenge (1);