"The Diary" By: Eileen Goudge Review

"The Diary"

By: Eileen Goudge

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

     When the two grown daughters of Elizabeth Marshall discover an old diary of their mother’s in her attic, it comes as a shock to learn that the true love of Elizabeth’s life was not their father. This is the mystery the two daughters must unravel as they stay up late reading the words penned by Elizabeth so long ago. Their mother can’t give them the answers: After a massive stroke, she lies mute and near death in a nursing home. Only the pages of her diary can provide clues to what really happened.
      In a richly detailed journey into the past, we see Elizabeth lose her heart to one man while remaining devoted to another. Finally, she must choose between the stable, loyal Bob...and the electrifying and unpredictable A.J., who spent time in juvenile detention as a teen. When a suspicious fire in the neighborhood is linked to A.J., Elizabeth is faced with another dilemma: She’s the only one who can clear A.J.’s name, but to do so would ruin her reputation. Surprisingly, it’s Bob who comes to the rescue, forcing Elizabeth to make perhaps the most painful decision of her life....
    The Diary is a love story. It’s also the story of the unshakable bond between a mother and her daughters.

My Thoughts:

       "The Diary" is a quick, fun read perfect for any book group! Two daughters are cleaning out their mother's home when they come across a diary. As they start reading, they find a side of their mother they had never known to exist and have to decide whether they like this new side or not.
        The book flips between the two sisters dealing with their mother's illness and subsequent death and the diary entries of their mother. Through the diary entries, they see their mother as a young woman in the 1950's choosing between two loves. It's an interesting premise and delivers on that happily ever after. We chose it as a book group selection for its nostalgia and the premise. Cute, quick story by a great American author!    

Book Details
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Date of Publication: April 7, 2009
Pages: 224

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! - What Are You Reading? is hosted weekly on Mondays 

by Sheila from "One Person's Journey"

Post the books you read last week, books currently reading, and books you plan on finishing this week.

Books I Read This Week:

"His Mistress By Christmas"

By: Victoria Alexander

For three years, Lady Veronica Smithson has been perfectly happy as a widow — and thoroughly independent. Still, the right gentleman could provide the benefits of marriage without the tedious restrictions. And in Sir Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, renowned explorer and rogue, Veronica is sure she has found him. Sebastian will come into his inheritance in a matter of weeks — if his family deems him responsible enough. There’s no better way to prove his maturity than with a home and a wife. But though the lovely Veronica will share his bed, she steadfastly refuses to marry. However, Sebastian has a plan. An intimate sojourn at his new country house will surely change Veronica’s mind. For Sebastian never takes no for an answer. And even in the midst of mischief-making relatives and unexpected complications, he intends to persuade his Christmas mistress that they belong together — in this, and every season to come...

"Lothaire" 

By: Kresley Cole

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness— until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

"Once Upon a Winter's Eve"

By: Tessa Dare

      Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren't beating down her door.

      Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet's feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He's wet, chilled, bleeding, and speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

      Only Violet understands him. And she knows he's not what he seems.

      She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers—and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable... Love.

What I'm Reading Now...

"Five Flavors of Dumb" 

By: Antony John

When in a rush of uncommon bravado high school senior Piper offers to manage Dumb, her school's most popular student rock band, her family thinks it must be a joke. A retiring student and member of the chess team, Piper is neither the stereotypical band manager nor a typical teen: she is profoundly hearing impaired. After she discovers that her parents have spent the majority of her college money to treat her infant sister's deafness with cochlear implants, Piper's quest to get Dumb a paying gig leads her to consider her managerial role as a potential source of income. John's novel is written with a reverence for popular music–particularly the work of Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain–and a respect for its ambitious teen characters. Although Piper's hearing is a characterizing detail that could have been used solely to add a type of politically incorrect and screwball humor to the story, her abilities are seen as assets: while lip reading allows her access to public conversation, she is not above using sign language to obscure her intentions. 

"His Mistress By Christmas" By: Victoria Alexander Review

"His Mistress By Christmas"

By: Victoria Alexander

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

For three years, Lady Veronica Smithson has been perfectly happy as a widow — and thoroughly independent. Still, the right gentleman could provide the benefits of marriage without the tedious restrictions. And in Sir Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, renowned explorer and rogue, Veronica is sure she has found him. Sebastian will come into his inheritance in a matter of weeks — if his family deems him responsible enough. There’s no better way to prove his maturity than with a home and a wife. But though the lovely Veronica will share his bed, she steadfastly refuses to marry. However, Sebastian has a plan. An intimate sojourn at his new country house will surely change Veronica’s mind. For Sebastian never takes no for an answer. And even in the midst of mischief-making relatives and unexpected complications, he intends to persuade his Christmas mistress that they belong together — in this, and every season to come...

My Thoughts:
     “His Mistress By Christmas” is by Victoria Alexander, a veteran romance author I had never tried before. I meant to read this book before Christmas, but time got away from me, so I read it shortly after! I was still in the Christmas spirit somewhat.
     Lady Veronica is a widow who is ready for a little naughtiness in her life. She feels that she has lived by herself for too long and looks to find a man to fulfill her life. She doesn’t want to marry, she has to keep her independence, but she is looking for a little male companionship. Enter Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, an explorer who has just returned to England. He isn’t attached to anyone, seems intelligent, and he is looking for a little female companionship as well. So Veronica chooses Sebastian, not knowing Sebastian is really looking for a wife.
      The romance in this book seemed stilted. The entire situation between Veronica and Sebastian seems improbable and forced. You don’t really see the characters warming to one another or developing a relationship…they pretty much meet and then suddenly they’re together. While the secondary characters make the story charming at times, I doubt I will be picking up any more books in this series or by this author.

     

Book Details

Publisher: Kensington

Date of Publication: October 1, 2011

# of Pages: 352

"Lawe's Justice" By: Lora Leigh Review

"Lawe's Justice" By: Lora Leigh

Diane Broen's lived to protect her younger sister Rachel from harm. But now that Rachel has been mated off, Diane's occupied herself with less fulfilling tasks at the Genetics Council--until she's paired with a new team member, a Breed male notorious for his attitude, and a touch that makes her recoil.

Lawe isn't thrilled with her either. A lion at heart, he prefers a lair of solitude. When it comes to females, he'd rather snarl than purr. And while fate may have paired them to fight on the same team, neither is willing to admit to the obvious: the mating heat between them is positively incinerating.

It's only when danger threatens that they make a hotter-than-hell connection--one so explosive it could destroy them. Or, as providence reveals, bind them together, forever.

My Thoughts:

     "Lawe's Justice" is the newest installment of the Breeds' series by Lora Leigh. I've been a fan since the beginning and have watched the world develop through each book. Well past a dozen, it seems like Lora Leigh is losing a little steam as she continues to write about this unique universe she has created. 
     This is the story of Diane (Rachel's sister) and Lawe, an enforcer on the compound. Both of these characters have appeared in many books before, so it was nice to see they finally had their own story. Diane was hard core and serious - Lawe is pretty hard core and serious too.
     The only complaint really that I have about this book is that is boring. The story is boring, the characters are pretty boring and the love story is about as uninteresting as you can get. I read this book because it was a Lora Leigh, definitely not because I was enjoying it or was wanting to see what would happen. 
     I would recommend this story to only hard core fans. It was nice to visit with characters from past books, but this adds very little interest to the universe. Isn't it sad when you see a great series start down the drain?

"Past Perfect" By: Leila Sales Review

Today, I am in a "Young Love: Young Adult Romance" video conference so I decided to share one of my favorite YA books that I've read recently.

"Past Perfect"

By: Leila Sales

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….

My Thoughts:
      The only complaint I have about this book is the cover! Has absolutely nothing to do with the book, and no where does it rain or she wears a green coat. BUT the book is an amazingly cute and funny young adult romance about lost love and finding love again.
     Chelsea works as a reenactor in the Revolutionary War Village and her crush Dan, works in the Civil War Village across the street. So, naturally they are enemies but you know how it is, we always love the ones who are worst for us. Add into this funny mix a funny best friend, a weird ex-boyfriend (Ezra) and other zany characters and you have the perfect recipe for a funny romantic comedy.
     Leila writes in such a realistic voice, I felt like I was 16 reading this. She talks about how hard it is to get along with your friends, how exasperating your parents can be, and how annoying those hot summer actually are. Chelsea is a sweet heroine, confused but with a good heart. Ezra, the ex-boyfriend, is self-centered and you really hate him as the reader. AND of course, you luuuuvvvv Dan, the heroic civil war reenactor as they bond over ice cream and trampolines.
     I will definitely be recommending this title to the teens in my library. Sweet, funny and unpredictable "Past Perfect" is a great read for those teens who enjoy history and a little romance!

"Lothaire" By: Kresley Cole Review

"Lothaire"

By: Kresley Cole

Synopsis from Amazon:

     Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness— until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

     Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

     Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

My Thoughts:

     Wow! I have a confession to make, I am such a fan of this series and have been waiting for this book since Regin's story came out in early 2010. So excited in fact, I actually took a vacation day from work to read it! I enjoyed it and the vacation day was not wasted in the least!

      The Immortals After Dark series, in my opinion, has been leading up to this book and this moment. Lothaire, the Enemy of Old, is a fearsome vampire and a fierce warrior. In the rest of the series, snippets occur that make what happen in this book possible. To people who have read the rest of the series, it is incredibly pleasing to see the endgame finally play out. For those who haven't read the others, it would be impossibly confusing but I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not liking it.

      Lothaire has finally found his bride, the vampire equivalent of a mate. He believes his bride to be an evil sorceress (Soraya) that is currently inhabiting the body of a mortal female from Virginia, named Elizabeth. Yet, and I'm not ruining it, Soraya is not his true bride...Elizabeth is! Both Lothaire and Elizabeth, despite being completely different, are both strong willed, independent, and very intelligent. I loved seeing them interact with one another and how they reacted in different situations.

      I think the best thing about the Immortals After Dark series is the utter improbability of the world being completely believable. She writes  the characters realistically and you feel as if you know them. You know their motivations, their reasoning, and their feelings...they feel like friends and family when you are done.

      "Lothaire" is a wonderfully enchanting paranormal romance I would recommend to anyone. Excellent, fast moving plot, engaging characters and a witty dialogue unlike any other. A vacation day well used :)

Book Details

Publisher: Gallery Books

Date of Publication: January 10, 2012

# of Pages: 506

ISBN: 978-1439136829

"Warlord Wants Forever" By: Kresley Cole Review

"The Warlord Wants Forever"

By: Kresley Cole

Summary from Kresley Cole.com:

Nikolai Wroth, a ruthless vampire general, will stop at nothing to find his Bride, the one woman who can “blood” him, making his heart beat and filling him with strength. Coldly interested only in the power his Bride will bring, he can hardly believe when Myst the Coveted awakens him body—and soul.

Famed throughout the world as the most beautiful Valkyrie, Myst has devoted her life to protecting a magical jewel and to fighting the vampires. Wroth provides her with the perfect opportunity to torment her sworn enemy—for with his new heartbeat comes a consuming sexual desire that can only be slaked by her. Denying him, she flees, struggling to forget his searing, possessive kiss.

She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen her enchanted jewel, giving him absolute power over her. Now that she’s his for the taking, he intends to make her experience first-hand the agonizing, unending lust she subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Nikolai realizes he wants far more than vengeance from Myst and frees her, will she come back to him?

 My Thoughts:
     In preparation for "Lothaire," I re-read "The Warlord Wants Forever" by Kresley Cole. This title is the beginning of the Immortals After Dark series and is best charactorized as a novella at approximately 192 pages at length. A wonderful introduction to the world of vampires, valkyries, and witches, "The Warlord Wants Forever" is also a pretty wonderful romance.

      Nikolai is a vampire who has never taken blood from a living person. Turned into a vampire on a battlefield, Nikolai is part of a new order of vampires intent on taking over control. As they are taking over a castle held by one of the most evil vampires around, Nikolai encounters Myst, a valkyrie. Of course, he doesn't know who or what she is, making her the victor in their warfare.

      Even though it is the beginning of the Immortals After Dark series and a novella, the story is surprisingly thorough in character development, plot, and leaves you excited to read the rest of the series. While an abundance of characters are introduced, it isn't overwhelming and the bulk of the story deals with our hero and heroine.

     Like any Kresley Cole book, the plot is fast moving, the characters witty, and the dialogue snappy. She uses modern phrasing and culture in an almost ancient world that works seamlessly. A great romance and a wonderful start to one of the best series out there, I would highly recommend "The Warlord Wants Forever." 

 

Book Details

Publisher: Pocket Books

Date of Publication: February 7, 2006

# of Pages: 192

Waiting on Wednesday - "Girl of Nightmares"

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme where we let everyone know what books we are eagerly anticipating the release of. 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. 

Girl of Nightmares

By: Kendare Blake

Releases: August 7th, 2012

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

"The Duke is Mine" By: Eloisa James Review

"The Duke is Mine"

By: Eloisa James

Synopsis from Amazon:

Tarquin, the powerful Duke of Sconce, knows perfectly well that the decorous and fashionably slender Georgiana Lytton will make him a proper duchess. So why can’t he stop thinking about her twin sister, the curvy, headstrong, and altogether unconventional Olivia? Not only is Olivia betrothed to another man, but their improper, albeit intoxicating, flirtation makes her unsuitability all the more clear.

Determined to make a perfect match, he methodically cuts Olivia from his thoughts, allowing logic and duty to triumph over passion…Until, in his darkest hour, Tarquin begins to question whether perfection has anything to do with love.

To win Olivia's hand he would have to give up all the beliefs he holds most dear, and surrender heart, body and soul…

Unless it’s already too late.

My Thoughts: 

           Wow! Eloisa James does it again. I am so incredibly impressed by "The Duke is Mine," a retelling of the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." I have loved the fairy tale books Ms. James has offered us lately, and this one is no exception.
      "The Duke is Mine" tells the story of Olivia, a debutante who has been engaged to a nincompoop since before she was born. Her betrothed can't help the way he is, but nonetheless he's in direct contrast to her sharp wit, intelligence, and straight forwardness. Yet she is loathe to put off the engagement due to familial obligations and not wanting to hurt any one's feelings.
      Enter into the picture, Olivia's perfect hero, Tarquin. I wasn't hip on the name, but 'Quin' is a wonderful counter to Olivia. He's incredibly smart, but doesn't understand people's feelings...while Olivia is sensitive to people's feelings and mood swings. Quin has led a fairly reclusive life at his country estate due to his past and has decided to let his Mother choose his next bride. Olivia and Quin meet when Quin is actually supposed to be assessing Olivia's sister as his future duchess.
      "The Duke is Mine" is an incredibly funny, smart, and well written romance novel. While fairly long, it needs that length to develop the characters, the story, and the emotions. Another favorite of mine, Ms. James usually features an animal character. Lucy, a small terrier and perhaps my favorite character, always comes in when a little comic relief is needed. The romance is wonderful and when they finally declare their love for one another, you will shout, "Finally!" 
      Run out and pick up this new romance by one of my favorite authors. You won't be disappointed in the least. There is even a wonderful short story released a few weeks before this book called "Winning the Wallflower" featuring one of Olivia's friends. Great companion books would be "When Beauty Tamed the Beast" and "A Kiss at Midnight." 


Book Details
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date of Publication: December 27, 2011
Pages: 400

"Orange is the New Black" By: Piper Kerman Review

"Orange is the New Black"

By: Piper Kerman

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

When Piper Kerman was sent to prison for a ten-year-old crime, she barely resembled the reckless young woman she’d been when, shortly after graduating Smith College, she’d committed the misdeeds that would eventually catch up with her.Happily ensconced in a New York City apartment, with a promising career and an attentive boyfriend, she was suddenly forced to reckon with the consequences of her very brief, very careless dalliance in the world of drug trafficking. 

Kerman spent thirteen months in prison, eleven of them at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, where she met a surprising and varied community of women living under exceptional circumstances. In Orange Is the New Black, Kerman tells the story of those long months locked up in a place with its own codes of behavior and arbitrary hierarchies, where a practical joke is as common as an unprovoked fight, and where the uneasy relationship between prisoner and jailer is constantly and unpredictably recalibrated.

Revealing, moving, and enraging, Orange Is the New Black offers a unique perspective on the criminal justice system, the reasons we send so many people to prison, and what happens to them when they’re there.

My Thoughts:

       Wow! This is one of those books that is true to the term of a page turner. Piper Kerman, our author, chronicles her time in a women's prison in such a realistic way that you feel as if you served the time with her. I've never been a huge fan of nonfiction, but was extremely happy to read this book about Kerman's time behind bars.
      Kerman describes her crime in matter of fact language. She was arrested and charged with money laundering and transporting drugs. She never actually did any drugs and by the time the law caught up with her, Kerman had been away from that lifestyle for years. When Kerman finally enters prison, she had done the actual crime more than ten years before.
      The rest of the book describes different people, times, and stories from her time in prison. An eclectic mix of women, guards, and visitors, Kerman delves into the underworld of prison culture. Heartbreaking episodes of mothers being separated from children, anxious prisoners hiding contraband from guards, and vindictive guards round out the story. She goes through her time in prison chronologically and details her relationships honestly and no holds barred.
       I loved this story. "Orange is the New Black" shows what prison is really like, not the made up version for TV. While there is violence, there is also compassion, kindness and even happiness in certain instances. Everyone is just trying to survive. A stunning documentary, I would highly recommend this book. We read this book for a book club I am in, and I simply cannot wait to discuss!


Book Details
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Date of Publication: March 8, 2011
Pages: 352