Late Nights on Air

I read this book as part of the Book Awards II Challenge. Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay, won the 2007 Giller Prize.

Here’s the blurb:

Harry Boyd, a hard-bitten refugee from failure in Toronto television, has returned to a small radio station in the Canadian North. There, in Yellowknife, in the summer of 1975, he falls in love with a voice on air, though the real woman, Dido Paris, is both a surprise and even more than he imagined.

Dido and Harry are part of the cast of eccentric, utterly loveable characters, all transplants from elsewhere, who form an unlikely group at the station. Their loves and longings, their rivalries and entanglements, the stories of their pasts and what brought each of them to the North, form the centre. One summer, on a canoe trip four of them make into the Arctic wilderness (following in the steps of the legendary Englishman John Hornby, who, along with his small party, starved to death in the barrens in 1927), they find the balance of love shifting, much as the balance of power in the North is being changed by the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline, which threatens to displace Native people from their land.

It was one of those books that I started reading not really knowing what to expect. But I was sucked right in at the beginning. I read the book in a few days, and I enjoyed it, but I really didn't get anything in particular from the book.

I thought the characters were interesting, I didn't care for Dido, I liked Harry, but my favorite was Gwen. But for me the scene stealer was the setting. I found myself more interested in the physical surroundings than what was going on with the characters.

Late Nights On Air by Elizabeth Hay (3/5) General Fiction; Published: McClelland & Stewart (2007); New Author; Canadian Author; Giller Prize Winner (2007); 100 + Reading Challenge (61); Book Awards II Challenge (3); Library book;

The Perfect Match

Here's the blurb for The Perfect Match by Kimberly Cates:

SHE'S GOT A KNACK FOR TROUBLE—AND IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS…

At twenty-seven, free-spirited Rowena Brown has never fit in anywhere—not with her ambitious family, not at veterinary school and certainly not in any relationship she's ever had. But surely the good people of Whitewater, Illinois, will welcome a pet-store owner whose talent is finding the perfect home for "problem" animals, even if they do have names like Destroyer.…

When a hundred-pound monstrosity of a dog appears at his door, Whitewater deputy Cash Lawless knows he's in trouble. A single dad with two young daughters, Cash wants more chaos in his life about as much as he wants to find himself drawn to the eccentric Rowena. But if he's not careful, the unruly hound and his unconventional owner might reignite Cash's hopes along with his heart—and help them all find home at last.

Rowena has a gift. She's able to match problem pets (after rehabilitation) to a perfect owner. When she matches her hyper Newfoundland dog to shy Charlie, she thinks it's a match made in heaven, until she meets Charlie's father. Cash is a single father to two little girls, Charlie and Mac. The last thing he needs is a pet, he has enough problems juggling work, babysitting and physical therapy, he doesn't have time to deal with a troubled dog. Then disaster hits, and Rowena is thrown in the mix of things, and she brings the added "colour" that the girls need. But can she mend the hurt that the Lawless family has endured.

I read this book quickly, it was fast paced, the characters were interesting with one exception. I didn't care for Lisa, but I won't go into it here, you'll have to read the book. Overall, I found the book charming. It brought a smile to face and a few tears as well.

I'm looking forward to reading more books by Kimberly Cates.

The Perfect Match by Kimberly Cates (3.5/5) Romance Contemporary; Published: HQN (2007); 100 + Reading Challenge (60);

Wordless Wednesday: A Pony Love Affair

You can join the fun here.

Too Dangerous

This is my first time reading Alexandra Benedict. I’m usually a little skeptical about reading new authors (unless someone highly recommends them), but I read the blurb and it sounded interesting, so it came home with me.

Here’s the blurb to Too Dangerous To Desire:

Lonely and overcome with grief after a painful loss in his past, Adam Westmore walks the ocean’s edge in solitude.
Forced to marry a depraved foreign prince, a desperate Evelyn Waye believes she has no choice but to throw herself from the jagged cliffs into the crashing surf below.

When Adam sees the enchanting woman in terrible danger, he rescues her from death and brings her back to his humble cottage. Hesitant to reveal his true identity as a distinguished lord, he nonetheless offers to protect her. And she needs protection, for the prince will find her—and harm her.

Evelyn wants to trust the handsome stranger who saved her life, but her cursed beauty has made her suspicious of all men . . . even one whose kindness disarms her, whose gentle touch inspires passion within her.

Soon Adam and Evelyn are consumed by desire . . . a dangerous desire that puts their very lives in peril.

Both the hero and the heroine have their problems to deal with, Adam with the tragic death of his wife and Evelyn with her upcoming wedding to a man she fears and despises, the man that killed her sister. Adam saves Evelyn from her suicide attempt and promises her to keep her safe from him. And if that means asking for help to do so, he will. Even if it’s his brother…

I enjoyed it. It was a page turner, and very emotional. And with my luck it was the last book of series. I didn’t realize that until I was half-way through, but I kept on reading it. I can’t wait to discover the author’s other books.

Too Dangerous To Desire by Alexandra Benedict (3.5/5) Romance Historical; Published: Avon (8/08); Series: # 3, Westmore; New Author; Canadian Author; 100 + Reading Challenge (59); Library book;

Teaser Tuesday

I've been seeing this around, and this week I decided to join the fun. Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should Be Reading. Here's how you play:

* Grab your current read.
* Let the book fall open to a random page.
* Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
* 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!
* Please avoid spoilers!

My teaser:

"On these August staging grounds, said the biologists, the birds were easily frightened by planes overhead and activity on the ground - the noise of a compressor station at a distance of a mile and a half, or a small aircraft at the same distance, was enough to flush them into the air. Similarly, the white whales of the Beaufort Sea were wary of man, yet increasingly exposed." - taken from page 160, Late Nights On Air by Elizabeth Hay.

Manic Monday

If you could choose only two movies to watch ever again, what would they be?
Tough question. At the moment, the A&E/BBC's Pride & Prejudice, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

What have you found to be the best way to relieve tension?
Walking helps me. I clear my mind, get my breathing in control and that relaxes me.

If you went to a beach and it turned out to be a nude beach, would you stay and go swimming? Would you swim nude?
No, I wouldn't. I'm self conscious, and I really don't want to see naked people.


You can join the fun here.

That's Amore

I haven’t read too many of Wendy Markham’s books, I’ve enjoyed one and the other wasn’t that great. But when I found That’s Amore on the new releases shelf at the library, I decided to give the author another chance.

Here’s the blurb:

Daria Marshall is a psychic who sees dead people, but she learned the hard way not to interpret their messages. Now the spirit of an old man keeps popping up wherever she goes, and so does the very much alive -- and charismatic -- Ralph Chickalini. What’s a reluctant medium to do?

The youngest sibling in a large, fun-loving Italian family, Ralph has just lost his beloved father. Everything in his life is changing from the menu at the family pizzeria to plans to preserve his childhood home. Only nomadic newcomer Daria seems to understand Ralph, but she with her own complications. Ralph doesn’t believe in ghosts, or in opposites attracting. And footloose Daria doesn’t want to put down roots. But even as they keep trying to go their separate ways, it seems the Other Side has Other ideas…

I struggled reading this book. The premise of it was promising but the execution was not my cup of tea. Let’s begin with the author writing in the present tense. It really bothered me, I usually don’t nick pick on things like that, but it was really distracting. I can deal with first person, but the present tense bothers me… Go figure!

I found the main characters boring. Yes, boring. Daria is a gypsy by choice, she cannot feel comfortable with staying in one place for too long. And I found Ralphie (yes, Ralphie!) childish. Trust me, I have a child that doesn’t do well with change, and Ralphie behaved the way my six year old would have. What’s the deal with that?!

Another question: What's the deal with dog on the cover? There isn't a dog in the story.

I mentioned numerous times before I’m a moody reader, and I can honestly say it was NOT my mood. I really didn’t like it. Yep, this book has my Waste of Time stamp.

That’s Amore by Wendy Markham (2/5) Romance Contemporary; Paranormal: Psychic; Published: Grand Central Publishing (7/08); Series: # 2, Chickalini Family; 100 + Reading Challenge (58); Library book; Waste of Time;

Malibu & Ewe

Christie Ridgway has a new series! The first book came out in June, and I finally got my hands on it.

Here’s the blurb to How To Knit A Wild Bikini:

The beachside shop Malibu & Ewe has become the knitting hot spot, the perfect place for L.A.’s hip, young crowd to enjoy some colourful yarn and intimate conversation. Just ask chef Nikki Carmichael. It could be the softest place for her to land if her new job falls through…

With a bum knee, Nikki’s days of restaurant work are numbered, so she’s set her sights on becoming a private chef. But her trial run with magazine editor Jay Buchanan comes with some strange conditions -- like pretending to be his girlfriend. If that’s not bad enough, trying to please Jay’s picky palate has Nikki running to Malibu & Ewe for a little stress relief -- and to put some space between her and his perfectly toned body.

As for Jay, he’s given up women for the year -- but finds himself drawn to the kitchen, where he’s intrigued by his sexy cook’s ability to withstand the heat between them. He thinks it’s time to turn up the flames…

Jay is an editor of a Playboy type of magazine, he's used to the B&A girls, and here enters Nikki who is completely different. She's a smart, confident, and a wise-cracking chef. She's also the answer to his prayers. She can pose as his girlfriend, and ward off his sexy neighbor who can't seem to leave him alone. The only problem is that he can't stop thinking about Nikki, she stirs up more than just good food. He's experiencing feelings that he has never had before. Now he just has to convince Nikki, that his feelings are more than just a summer fling. Nikki has trust issues, she's been hurt before and she tends to guard her body and heart. Along way we're introduced to a number of interesting characters, Cassandra the owner of Malibu & Ewe, Gabe her landlord, Shanna the beautiful but troubled neighbor, Jorge the sexy gardener and Oomfaa, which stands for "One of the Most Famous Actresses in America".

I read this book in one morning! It was that good! It was fast paced, it had great characters, an amazing setting, and dealt with knitting and food. Just a few of my favourite things! Plus it had Ridgway’s usual humor, and have I mentioned it was sizzling hot.

Can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series!

How to Knit a Wild Bikini by Christie Ridgway (4.5/5) Romance Contemporary; Published: Berkley Books (6/08); Series: #1, Malibu & Ewe; 100 + Reading Challenge (57); Library book;

The Daddy Verdict

After my last read, I decided I needed a pick me upper. I decided to go rummage through my Harlequins and Silhouettes, and I came up with this one, The Daddy Verdict by Karen Rose Smith.

Here’s the blurb:

By-the-book lawyer Ben Barclay didn't make mistakes—especially not one-night-stand mistakes. So when he learned that his lone reckless act with a beautiful stranger had lasting consequences, he was determined to do the right thing

And that meant marriage.

When Sierra Girard learned she was pregnant she didn't expect Ben to be part of her life. So she was stunned at his insistence that they be husband and wife—if only for the sake of the baby. But even cautious Sierra couldn't deny the smoldering embers of attraction that burned bright. It was a fire that could almost be mistaken for true love.…

I enjoyed both the hero and the heroine. Ben and Sierra have one night of passion, she becomes pregnant. She wants to do the right, and lets Ben know. She's willing to care for the child on her own, and is surprised when Ben wants to be a part of the child's life. But can they make their marriage work.

Just want the doctor ordered! It was a short, a fast and good read. And for an added bonus it had some sizzle.

The Daddy Verdict by Karen Rose Smith (3/5) Romance; Published: Silhouette (9/08); Silhouette Special Edition # 1925; Mini-series: Dads In Progress; 100 + Reading Challenge (56);

Pass the tissues...

Girls In Trucks

This book was recommended to me by a friend. She read it and loved it, and usually our tastes in books are similar, so I didn’t think twice about picking this book up at the library.

Here’s the blurb:

Meet Sarah Walters, a Charleston debutante with questionable manners and an inherited weakness for bad ideas. Sarah’s brilliant older sister just dropped out of Yale to run off with an unstable graduate student from Africa. Her beautiful mother lectures her incessantly on the importance of good etiquette but tends to act cold and mysterious after she’s had her nightly gin. Still, Sarah tries to follow the rules set by the Camellia Society, the creators of the debutante code. After all, this is Charleston. Decorum means everything.

But it’s not easy to be good, particularly in those summers when she and her friend run into wild Island boys in pickup trucks. When Sarah heads north to college and New York, she finds a world very different from the one promised to her by the Camellias. The girls don’t say “ma’am”; the boys don’t act like gentlemen. And then there’s love, which comes to Sarah in the form of Max, a passionate yet emotionally closed older man who leads Sarah to her dark side and then leaves her alone to find her way back.

Events bring Sarah home to Charleston and give her a good, fresh look at her beginnings. The revelation of her mother’s secret - one of many sights now plain to Sarah’s eyes - shows her that the motto of her girlhood, “Once a Camellia, always a Camellia,” has more truth to it than she had ever guessed.

I was expecting this book to have the Southern charm that I love so much, and I got something completely different. I enjoyed the first part of the book, and slowly the story just got so complicated. It felt like the author just jammed numerous sub-plots as fillers, and to me it took away from the main story. As for Sarah, the main character, I thought as a child she had potential, and her character as a teen was strong but somehow she loses all her self esteem and self respect as a adult. Argh! She's one of those heroines that you want slap across the head and say "Snap out of it!".

Bottom line, I thought the book was a waste of my time. I should have been reading something else.

Girls In Trucks by Katie Crouch (2/5) General Fiction; Published: Little, Brown & Company 3/2008; New Author; 100 + Reading Challenge(55); Library book;

Pride & Prejudice

5 Minutes For Books is hosting a Classics Bookclub, and this months selection is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I absolutely love Pride & Prejudice. I first fell in love with it in high school, I admit I was forced to read it, but I was won over right on the first chapter. Since then I've re-read it several times (maybe more - but who's counting), and with each read I get something else out of it. Yes, we have the Darcy's and Lizzie's love story, but there's so much more...The characters are so rich, Mr. Bennet's sarcasm, Mrs. Bennet' nerves, Jane' sweetness, Mr. Collins' absurdity, Wickham's easy manner and wickedness, and Lady Catherine's rants on proper society...and much more! How can I resist it?!

Just last Friday, this happened:

Hubby: "You're reading it again?"
Me: "Yep."
Hubby: "What's the big deal with this book?"
Me: "It's a great story. The characters are amazing."
Hubby: "And Mr. Darcy."
Me: "Yes, him too."
Hubby: "I still don't get it."
Me: "It's a story about first impressions. Both Darcy and Lizzie think they know each other, and they are wrong. While he falls in love with her sooner, she slowly gets to know him and understand his manner, falls in love with him. Then Wickham and Lydia elope, and Lizzie feels like nothing can be done to save their reputations. And he does everything in his power to make her happy."
Hubby: "Yep, typical romance. I guess you'll be watching the movies, again. It's an obsession."

He does have a point there, I'll be watching the movies again. The mini-series with Colin Firth, and the movie with Keira Knightley. It sure does sound like an obsession, doesn't it?

Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen (Re-read) Classic Literature; First published in 1813; 100 + Reading Challenge(54);(Classics Bookclub (1); Keeper shelf;