Black Magic by Cherry Adair

Product Details
Pocket Star, July 2010
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
ISBN-10: 1439153817
ISBN-13: 9781439153819


SHE HATES USING MAGIC . . .
Ever since the death of her parents, Sara Temple has rejected her magical gifts. Then, in a moment of extreme danger, she unknowingly sends out a telepathic cry for help—to the one man she is convinced she never wants to see again.

HE'S A POWERFUL WIZARD . . .
Jackson Slater thought he was done forever with his ex-fiancé, but when he hears her desperate plea, he teleports halfway around the world to aid her in a situation where magic has gone suddenly, brutally wrong.

THEY'VE BEEN CHOSEN TO SAVE THE WORLD . . .
But while Sara and Jack remain convinced they are completely mismatched, the Wizard Council feels otherwise. A dark force is killing some of the world's most influential wizards, and the ex-lovers have just proved their abilities are mysteriously amplified when they work together. But with the fate of the world at stake, will the violent emotions still simmering between them drive them farther apart . . . or bring them back into each other's arms?

My Thoughts:

This reminded me of Harry Potter for adults. It was a dark, suspenseful paranormal romance that was actually highly entertaining. I enjoyed the plot line as well as the characters. This is my first reading a book of this sort, as well as reading a book by the author, Cherry Adair, and I must say that I will be on the lookout for more from this author. I also enjoyed the way that she brought the characters together. This is a book that all lovers of magic should read.

Sizzling Summer Nights giveaway

Are you looking for a few steamy romances to read this summer, well then aren’t you in luck. I have a Sizzling Summer Nights giveaway featuring a variety of genres from Historical Fiction to Romantic Suspense.


FORBIDDEN PASSION
By Rita Herron
DEADLY FEAR
By Cynthia Eden
DARE TO SURRENDER
By Lili Feisty
TO SURRENDER TO A ROGUE
By Cara Elliott
RAVISHED BY A HIGHLANDER
By Paula Quinn

I have 3 Sizzling Sets to giveaway

To Enter Please leave your name and a valid email address.
You must be a resident of the US or Canada
Sorry NO P.O. Boxes.

Contest ends August 30th.

Giveaway thanks to Anna @ Hachette Book Group.

Forgert You by Jennifer Echols

Title- Forget You
Author- Jennifer Echols
Publication Date: July 20, 2010
Paperback: 304 pages
Genre: Fiction, YA


WHY CAN'T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET...AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER?
There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

Published by MTV Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.


My Thoughts:

I have never been one to read YA novels, even as teen I opted for the classics of the historicals, so reading a contemporary YA novel was a bit of a change. Although I tried my best I found that I did not enjoy the plot (yes it was likable but nothing to rave about) , at times I felt as though the dialogue rambled a bit, then again I had to remind myself I was reading a book based on the perspective of a 16 year old. While it’s aimed at teen readers, I felt as though some of the language and content was above what was appropriate for teens. This book should be 17 and up.

Sure the characters were likable, one or two could even be called lovable, and yes some were even emotional layered (once you could past the grumbling), but I felt that the majority of them were one-sided and fell flat. I did see character growth, but it was a little to late in the story, and I felt as if the story was stretched to far. It was an easy read but I had to force myself to finish it.

Fever Dream by Preston & Childs review & giveaway

Yesterday, Special Agent Pendergast still mourned the loss of his beloved wife, Helen, who died in a tragic accident in Africa twelve years ago. Today, he discovers she was murdered. Tomorrow, he will learn her most guarded secrets, leaving him to wonder: Who was the woman I married? Why was she murdered? And, above all . . . Who murdered her? FEVER DREAM Revenge is not sweet: It is essential.

My thoughts:

Loved it! Fever Dream is one of those books that will have you at the edge of your seat and keep you guessing the whole way through. I loved the story as it unraveled, and it had many layers that like an onion. I loved the way that Helen’s past and hidden life comes into view and the journey that Pendergast takes to discover the truth. I was also surprised at the historical aspects of the book and the fact that Audubon is intertwined with the mess.

This is one of those books that you want to skip ahead to find out what’s going to happen. Although this was audio book, it didn’t take anything away from the story, I think that it added to the story with the rich New Orleans accent that it was narrated it.

If you only listen to one audio book this year make it this one, it has it all mystery, drama, and complexity.

I have 3 audio books to giveaway of August 1

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Captured by Moonlight Nancy Gideon

IN THIS DARK THRILLER FROM NANCY GIDEON’S SULTRY NEW SERIES, SEXY NEW ORLEANS COP CHARLOTTE CAISSIE GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE LAST NEMESIS SHE EVER EXPECTED: HER SUPERNATURAL BOYFRIEND.

THEIR LOVE IS JUST BEGINNING.
Detective Charlotte Caissie is growing used to the secrets that come with loving the mysterious leader of a shape-shifter clan. But that doesn’t mean she has to like it. She’s avoided complications of the heart all her life, but when it comes to irresistible Max Savoie, she’ll force the truth out of him if she has to.

HIS TIME IS ALMOST UP.
Hunted by the deadly trackers his nefarious father warned him about, Max is transforming into a preternatural force he can’t explain and Cee Cee will never understand. He’s tempting the dangerous limits of their love, but it’s her curiosity that could get them both killed.

WILL THEY EVER REALLY BE TOGETHER?
When Max discovers the enemy’s true target is someone far more vulnerable than he, he must do the unthinkable to save his own flesh and blood. But he can’t fight this battle alone, and Cee Cee faces the ultimate test of loyalty: the man she’d sacrifice everything for . . . or the laws she swore her life to protect.

My thoughts:

I am not sure whether it is do to the fact that I haven’t read the first two books in the Shape Shifter series, but I felt as though I was lost reading Captured by Moonlight. Although I am curious about the first two and probably will go hunt them down, and then reread, Captured to see if I can get a new take on the book. For me it felt a little dry, yes it did have the normal romance aspects as well as the internal struggles associated with many of the shape shifter type of books, but I just couldn’t get the feeling of it.

Hunter's Moon by Don Hoesel

Every family has secrets.
Few will go as far as the Baxters to keep them.
Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there's one story from his past he's never told. One secret that's remained buried for decades.
Now, seventeen years after swearing he'd never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past.

With Graham Baxter, CJ's brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it's no match for power and money.
There are wounds even time cannot heal.




My thoughts;

Hunter’s Moon was a highly interesting look into a families closet of skeleton’s. A thriller of sorts that has depth, so it’s not your light Summer read, it’s a heavy book that takes the readers on an emotional ride as CJ Baxter discovers the truth that was hidden. A perfect read for those who like a weighty type of drama.

Masked

WELCOME TO THE SECOND "GOLDEN AGE" OF SUPERHEROES AND HEROINES

Superheroes have come a long way since the "Man of Steel" was introduced in 1938. This brilliant new collection features original stories and novellas from some of today's most exciting voices in comics, science fiction, and fantasy. Each marvelously inventive tale shows us just how far our classic crusaders have evolved—and how the greatest of heroes are, much like ourselves, all too human.

In "Call Her Savage," MARJORIE M. LIU enters the dark heart of a fierce mythic heroine who is forced, by war, to live up to her own terrible legend.

In "A to Z in the Ultimate Big Company Superhero Universe (Villains Too)," BILL WILLINGHAM presents a fully-realized vision of a universe where epic feats and tragic flaws have transformed the human race.

In "Vacuum Lad," STEPHEN BAXTER unveils the secret origins of the first true child of the space age—and disproves the theory that "nothing exists in a vacuum."

In "Head Cases," PETER DAVID and KATHLEEN DAVID blast through the blogosphere to expose the secret longings of a Lonely Superhero Wife.

In "The Non-Event," MIKE CAREY removes the gag order on a super-thief named Lockjaw . . . and pries out a confession of life-altering events.
(From the back of the book)


My Thoughts

This was a different type of book for me, and I wondered if I was going to like it once I held the copy in my hands. Being an anthology on superhero’s, I found that I was surprised when I actually liked several of the short stories that was included. If you are a fan of the whole superhero genre you may want to pick this one up, although I would recommend it for the men in your life. This would be a great gives for the teen boys in your life.

My thanks to Gallery books for this review copy.

To Surrender to a Rogue by Cara Elliott

An expert in antiquities, Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath to excavate newly discovered Roman ruins-only to find herself caught in a web of evil intrigue by a blackmailer threatening to expose her scandalous past. The one man who can help her is Lord James "Black Jack" Pierson, a fellow member of the expedition and a sinfully handsome rogue whose tempting presence ignites a different sort of danger.

Jack has clashed with Alessandra in the past, so when she suddenly surrenders her body he can't help being suspicious. Is she a scheming temptress? Or is she truly a lady in trouble? As desire and deceptions swirl around them, Alessandra and Jack must find a way to win each other's trust. For if they don't work together to uncover a shocking truth, their enemy-and their own simmering passions-may destroy them and everything they cherish.


My Thoughts:

The second book in Cara Elliott’s Circle of Sin series, is more sinful that the last. The characters that loved from the first book To Sin with a Scoundrel are back in yet another unforgettable story. I will say that I enjoyed this book more than the last, and cannot wait read more from this amazing author





1. “Black Jack” Pierson, the hero of To Surrender To A Rogue, is a gifted watercolor artist, so Cara visited the British Art Center at Yale University to do some research on the subject. In the course of an afternoon in the study room, she was handed a box of paintings to browse through—which turned out to be J.W.M. Turner’s original sketches from a walking tour through the Alps!

2. In the course of her research, Cara also discovered that the finest quality paint brushes are made from the hair of the Asiatic marten (better known as Russian sable) because it’s so flexible and can hold a fine point when wet. This technical detail is put to . . . um, intriguing use by her hero.

3. Cara set her story in the city of Bath, which is famous for its Roman ruins and thermal hot springs. In fact, the Romans, who were famous for their enjoyment of sybaritic pleasures, were one of the first to establish a “spa” on the site of the present-day city—and the warm, bubbling waters play a role in the book’s plot.

4. One of the secondary scenes takes place at a famous London fencing club. Cara admits that she took up fencing in college, but soon decided to switch sports as she didn’t like getting poked with a sliver of sharpened steel.

5. Cara has been fascinated by archeology ever since she was a child and saw a documentary on the excavation of Troy. (Her parents did not appreciate the numerous holes that appeared in the back yard and had to lecture her on the fact that Achilles and Hector did not ever live in suburban Connecticut.)



I have 5 books to giveaway on the 1st of August
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Private by James Patterson giveaway

Former Marine and CIA agent Jack Morgan inherits his father's renowned security and detective business--along with a case load that tests him to the breaking point. Getting to the bottom of an NFL gambling scandal and an unsolved LAPD investigation into 18 school girl slayings would be enough. On top of all that, Morgan takes on solving the horrific murder of his best friend's wife.

As Morgan fights the urge to exact brutal revenge on that killer, he has to navigate a workplace imbroglio that could blow the roof off his elite agency. And it's an especially explosive situation . . . because the love affair is his own.


Thanks to Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies to giveaway on August 1st.

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address.
Contest open to residents of both US & Canada
Sorry no P.O. Boxes

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson review & giveaway

Backseat Saints

Rose Mae Lolley is a fierce and dirty girl, long-suppressed under flowery skirts and bow-trimmed ballet flats. As "Mrs. Ro Grandee" she's trapped in a marriage that's thick with love and sick with abuse. Her true self has been bound in the chains of marital bliss in rural Texas, letting "Ro" make eggs, iron shirts, and take her punches. She seems doomed to spend the rest of her life battered outside by her husband and inside by her former self, until fate throws her in the path of an airport gypsy---one who shares her past and knows her future. The tarot cards foretell that Rose's beautiful, abusive husband is going to kill her. Unless she kills him first.

Hot-blooded Rose Mae escapes from under Ro's perky compliance and emerges with a gun and a plan to beat the hand she's been dealt. Following messages that her long-missing mother has left hidden for her in graffiti and behind paintings, Rose and her dog Gretel set out from Amarillo, TX back to her hometown of Fruiton, AL, and then on to California, unearthing a host of family secrets as she goes. Running for her life, she realizes that she must face her past in order to overcome her fate---death by marriage---and become a girl who is strong enough to save herself from the one who loves her best.

BACKSEAT SAINTS will dazzle readers with a fresh and heartwrenching portrayal of the lengths a mother will go to right the wrongs she's created, and how far a daughter will go to escape the demands of forgiveness. With the seed of a minor character from her popular best-seller, GODS IN ALABAMA, Jackson has built a whole new story full of her trademark sly wit, endearingly off-kilter characters, and utterly riveting plot twists.


My Review

I loved this book when I read the ARC that Hachette provided for me. Normally I am not big on contemporary books, preferring the historical and classic novels, although I loved this book. There was something about the way it was written holds your attention while making you want to know more. The southern setting, the complex yet vulnerable characters, and the intriguing plot all mix together to bring you a story of family complexity that will startle readers.

Although I read this book, I have listened to snippets of the audio book that is read by the author, Joshilyn Jackson, and I found that I did like it as well.

Thanks to Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies to giveaway on August 1st.

To enter please leave your name and a valid email address.
Contest open to residents of both US & Canada
Sorry no P.O. Boxes

The Dark Rose by Cynthia Harrod Eagles review

It is 1501, and Paul, great-grandson of Eleanor Morland, has inherited the estate and has a son to follow him. But he fathers an illegitimate boy by his beloved mistress, and bitter jealously between the half-brothers causes a destructive rift that threatens to destroy them all.
Paul’s niece Nanette has her own passions, and becomes maid-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn. At the court of Henry VIII, she witnesses firsthand the events leading up to the rift with Rome, her mistress’s execution, and the further efforts of the sad, ailing king to secure the male succession. And through all the turmoil of Henry VIII’s reign—from drought to floods, from religious reform to court intrigue—the Morlands find new ways to come together while the world seems intent on tearing them apart.
(from the Publisher)

My Thoughts:

Once again we join the Morland family, through another of England’s turbulent times, the reign of Henry VIII. The Dark Rose focuses primarily on the lives of Paul, great grandson to Eleanor, and his niece Nanette. Like the Founding (the first book in the Morland Dynasty series), the second focuses on family dynamics, although we see a bit more court life seep into the book, while the Morland’s become more entwined with the court of Henry VIII.

Although I have heard that some readers feel the book wonders a bit, I found myself enjoying the way it read. Paul’s brooding character and his affair sheds light on what life in the 1500’s was like. Often those in situations such as Paul’s felt at any moment their world could crash down around them, then add a loveless marriage, and the fact that you only have one legitimate heir to the mix one can only imagine how unbearable it would feel. Then the drama of court life, particularly the era of Anne Boleyn, brings an intriguing aspect to the book which made it impossible for me to put down.

The second book in the Morland Dynasty, THE DARK ROSE, is as well written as the first. A true page turner, that offers the reader a few shocking outcomes. The only thing that I found bothersome was that the author used more creative licensing rather than sticking to the historical facts, although it was an enjoyable read, that I highly recommend.

For those of you unaware of the Morland ancestry a lovely chart has been added.

Although the Morland’s are a fictional family, the author Cynthia Harrod Eagles gives readers a glimpse of what many families went through throughout England’s turbulent history.

A Few Facts about the Morland Dynasty

There are currently 32 books in the Morland Dynasty and follows the linage of one family
The series follows England’s history from the War of the Roses until the first World War.


Don’t forget to look for my review for the third book, The Princeling.

By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan review & giveaway

Author: Mitchell James Kaplan
Publisher: Other Press
Publication Date: May 18, 2010
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-1590513521
Genre: Historical Fiction


Luis de Santángel, chancellor to the court and longtime friend of the lusty King Ferdinand, has had enough of the Spanish Inquisition. As the power of Inquisitor General Tomás de Torquemada grows, so does the brutality of the Spanish church and the suspicion and paranoia it inspires. When a dear friend’s demise brings the violence close to home, Santángel is enraged and takes retribution into his own hands. But he is from a family of conversos, and his Jewish heritage makes him an easy target. As Santángel witnesses the horrific persecution of his loved ones, he begins slowly to reconnect with the Jewish faith his family left behind. Feeding his curiosity about his past is his growing love for Judith Migdal, a clever and beautiful Jewish woman navigating the mounting tensions in Granada. While he struggles to decide what his reputation is worth and what he can sacrifice, one man offers him a chance he thought he’d lost…the chance to hope for a better world. Christopher Columbus has plans to discover a route to paradise, and only Luis de Santángel can help him.

Within the dramatic story lies a subtle, insightful examination of the crisis of faith at the heart of the Spanish Inquisition. Irresolvable conflict rages within the conversos in By Fire, By Water, torn between the religion they left behind and the conversion meant to ensure their safety. In this story of love, God, faith, and torture, fifteenth-century Spain comes to dazzling, engrossing life.
(From the Publisher)

My Review:

I have read numerous novels set during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, although I must say that none can compare with the power and beauty of By Fire, By Water. There was an emotional rawness in the both the chancellor, Luis de Santangel and Judith Migdal, a Jewish woman struggling to save her family, that makes the reader take notice to their plight. I also enjoyed that both the book and the characters will multilayered, and the way Kaplan writes we get to see both the and the characters striped down.

Not only is this book vivid historical account of the time, it is also a beautifully composed loved story, that will take your breath away. A true journey of discovery in a time when many felt their world come down around them. Kaplan’s fluid and highly descriptive writing will keep you engaged to the very end of this heartfelt story.

A rich tapestry finely woven with historical details, By Fire, By Water is a book that everyone should read and then reread.




My thanks to the author for providing me with the following guest post:

Romance & History

I met Annie on a Paris Metro train. She was sitting across from me, talking with her brother Michel as we approached the Ile de la Cite. They were discussing contemporary Spanish writers. I intervened, telling them I was doing research about Spain. Their family had lived in Spain until 1492, Michel told me. He gave me his phone number.

Later, Annie described her first impression of me: a nice American boy, lost in Paris. It wasn’t accurate, at least the latter part. I had been living in Paris for years, I knew the city well. I had friends all over. Perhaps that was how she wanted to see me, as somehow helpless.

Two weeks after our first encounter, we were head over heels in love. A dear friend of hers was having problems in his marriage, He asked Annie if his five-year-old daughter Maude could stay with her for the weekend.

She was a rambunctious little girl, full of life and laughter. Annie took her shopping at an open market in the Faubourg St-Antoine. I tagged along. I observed how Annie played with Maude, provided boundaries, watched her. She seemed to love her as if Maude were her own daughter. Looking at them over a pile of grapes on a big table, a thought entered my mind: this is the woman of my life. I felt honored and surprised that such a thought could even be thinkable. Somehow, I knew it was true.

Although penniless, I burned with desire to visit the Alhambra castle, near the southern tip of Spain. I managed to save up enough francs for two round-trip second-class train tickets. I asked Annie if she wanted to come along

We slept in the train. After disembarking in Granada, we found a hostel, where we shared a room with a couple from Austria. We ate paella, rice with bits of shrimp, scallops, and bell pepper, because paella was cheap. We drank gazpacho.

As we walked through the Alhambra, I tried to imagine what it felt and looked like five centuries ago, when
Moorish princes and generals strolled through its gardens and slept in its ornate chambers. I pictured the `emir sitting on a stone bench, surrounded with courtiers, watching woman dance.

Many year latter, when Annie and I were grown up and living in America, with one kid in college and one in high school, that vision found its way into my historical novel. “By Fire, By Water.”


Oh, and yes-we are still in love.




I Have 2 Copies to giveaway on the 30th of July

Tempted by a Warrior by Amanda Scott review and giveaway

Lady Fiona, wed in haste, has never known marital peace. When last she'd seen her cruel husband Will, he'd struck her - and she has no memory of what she did next - only that she woke later alone in her bedchamber. Will has gone missing, and Fiona fears that in her rage and terror she might somehow have killed him. When her husband's cousin Sir Richard comes to search for Will, Fiona is touched by his warm nature. A knight and warrior, Richard is drawn to Fiona's brave manner, quickly seeing in her an equal measure of inner courage.


My thoughts-

This is one of my favorite series of books. I started with the second book, Seduced by a Rogue, and I immediately had to run out and find the first. Finally I read the third and realized the I cannot pick a favorite out of these novels. Although they are romance novels, they go deeper than the normal “romance” type of book, the characters are well rounded full of emotion, while the plot is deep and intriguing, leaving you wanting to know more. Although each book is a standalone novel, you will want to read them from the start.


Tempted by a Warrior is the third book in Amanda Scott’s Galloway trilogy. Her trilogy is based on an unpublished Scottish manuscript, dated 1544 and written by a Lady Maxwell.


Don’t forget to look for the first two novels in this trilogy

Tamed by a Laird
Seduced by a Rogue.

Five Fun Facts
1. The title Tempted by a Warrior, as with that of its predecessor, Seduced by a Rogue, can be read two ways, because the warrior can be either the lady Fiona or the hero, Sir Richard Seyton, Baron Kirkhill. The reader can decide which one it is.

2. I wrote most of this book last summer and fall while sitting on the porch of a rustic lakeside cabin in the High Sierras (meaning no internet, no road, no phone or electricity, but loads of peace and relative quiet), aided by nosy (and noisy) Stellar jays, assorted chipmunks and squirrels, and the odd glass of wine offered by childhood friends and neighbors who thought I ought to relax and enjoy real life more.

3. My hard drive crashed while I was at the lake, and my tech-brilliant nephew, whose cabin is across the lake, suggested putting my laptop in the freezer for a few hours and then trying to access the hard drive to save the book (and other sundry files) onto a flash drive that he would provide. See wine reference in #2 above. Fortunately, freezing the computer worked and a nearby (relatively) computer fixit place froze it again and managed thereby to clone my entire hard drive onto a much larger replacement hard drive. Amazing!

4. The information for the head injuries in this book comes from both research and personal experience.

5. Willie Magee, the uh…assistant who has insisted on helping me write for the past year, instead of climbing up my leg to get to the keyboard as he did when he was small, now leaps from the floor to my shoulder, drapes himself over said shoulder, and purrs loudly while watching my every keystroke. If I stop typing, he promptly reaches out a paw to the keyboard, clearly offering to continue in my stead. He also likes to play with the keyboard whenever I take a break, which has resulted in some interesting narrative, to say the least





About the author
Amanda Scott is the author of over 50 romance novels and the recipient of the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award. She lives in Folsom, California, outside of Sacramento. She is a fourth-generation Californian.






My Thanks to Hachette Book Group for both the review copy as well as the giveaways.

I have 4 copies to giveaway on the 30th of July.

Contest open to residents of the US and Canada.

Sorry no P.O. Boxes.

To enter please leave your name, a valid email address, and the reason you love to read Scottish literature.

Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer review and giveaway

HE CAN’T REMEMBER…………………..
WHAT SHE CAN’T FORGET………………………

Olivia Grace has secrets that could destroy her. One of the greatest of these is the Earl of Gracechurch, who married and divorced her five years earlier. Abandoned and disgraced, Grace has survived those years at the edge of respectability. Then she stumbles over Jack on the battlefield of Waterloo, and he becomes an even more dangerous secret. For not only is he unconscious, he is clad in an enemy uniform.

But worse, when Jack finally wakes in Olivia's care, he can't remember how he came to be on a battlefield in Belgium. In fact, he can remember nothing of the last five years. He thinks he and Olivia are still blissfully together. To keep him from being hanged for a traitor, Olivia must pretend she and Jack are still married.

To unearth the real traitors, Olivia and Jack must unravel the truth hidden within his faulty memory. To save themselves and the friends who have given them sanctuary, they must stand against their enemies, even as they both keep their secrets.


My Thoughts:

What would you do if you found the man who divorced you and left with nothing bleeding and half dead lying on the battlefield in the uniform of a traitor?

Olivia’s actions may surprise most women, stripping him of his French uniform and redressing him with the English colours, she is set to save the man who once caused her world to fall in around her. Although the Jack that she rescued from the battlefield is not the Jack she remembers. He is now dark and needy, and without any memory of the last 4 years. Jack still believes that he is married to Olivia and she must put aside the abuse that she has endured for the sake of his health. Together the two must navigate the twists and turns of his memories, while they get reacquainted with each other.

Will Jack be able to stomach the truth the once it comes out and will he still love Olivia? Or will he once again turn his back on the woman who saved his life?

I believe that this is my favorite romance novel of all time. Barely A Lady has all the qualities that a romance novel should have, while also adding in that special something that others are lacking. You are guaranteed to fall in love with this delightful cast of characters, while the leading two will steal your heart as they fight to reclaim Jacks memory. The plot is simply riveting with its ups and downs, and many of the revelations will surprise the reader. Although I do have one complaint, it simply was not long enough. Barely A Lady is one those books that I did not want to see end, although I am glad that this is the first book in the Drake’s Rakes Series and I cannot wait to read the others. The snip-it of Never a Gentleman has left me craving more.

I do have to say that with this being Eileen Dreyer’s first foray into in Historical Romance one would believe that she has been writing historicals all her life.


Oh and one more thing that will draw your attention to this book, the cover is stunning.

Want read the back-story for Barley A Lady? Then check out these short stories

The Wedding Night

The End

Want more information on the Wyndham family?

Take a look at their family tree

Meet the characters

Want more……………………
Take a look at the open book

Here are Five Fun Facts about the book and the author

1. I have written 25 contemporary romances as Kathleen Korbel and am a member of the RWA Hall of Fame.

2. Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet were the models for Jack and Olivia.

3. One of the characters is an homage to the Richard Sharpe books, which were my first gateway into the Regency period (if you know the series—immortalized by Sean Bean on BBC— you should be able to guess).

4. All my characters did their own stunts.

5. Olivia's name was originally Annie. My characters' names tend to change as I write the book and get to know them better. And Olivia wasn't an Annie. I try and make sure all the names are corrected in editing, but occasionally, I miss one or two.

Book Details:
Category: FICTION, ROMANCE
Format: MASS MARKET
Edition: FOREVER SPECIAL RELEASE
Publish Date: 7/1/2010
Price: $6.99/$8.99
ISBN: 9780446542081


About the author
Born and raised in Brentwood, Missouri and a product of Catholic Schools, she lives in St. Louis County with husband Rick and her two children. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the glare of the limelight.
Dreyer won her first publishing award in 1987, being named the best new Contemporary Romance Author by Romantic Times. Since that time she has also garnered not only five other writing awards from Romantic Times, but five RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, which secures her only the fourth place in the Romance Writers of America prestigious Hall of Fame. Since extending her reach to suspense, she has also garnered a coveted Anthony Award nomination for her last paperback, Bad Medicine. She has over three million books in print world wide, and has made regular appearances on the Waldenbook and B.Dalton bestsellers list, and now the USA Today list.
A frequent speaker at conferences, she maintains membership in Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and, just in case things go wrong, Emergency Nurses Association and International Association of Forensic Nurses, for which she is the unofficial mascot.
Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She's also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn't see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn't pan out.


Please Check out the authors website, I found several amusing things there.













I have 5 copies of this delightful book to giveaway:

To enter you must be a resident of the US or Canada
No P.O. Boxes sorry

Please leave your name and a valid email address.
Also I would love to know what’s your favorite type of romance book and why?

Contest ends July 30th

Dangerous Desires by Dee Davis review & giveaway

As the extractions expert for A-Tac, an elite CIA black ops unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college, Drake Flynn knows how to survive behind enemy lines. But he's about to meet one adversary he can't subdue . . . or resist.

A RACE FOR SURVIVAL

Stranded in the Colombian jungle after a mission goes bad, Drake has only one objective: evade the mercenaries hot on his trail and deliver "the package" to U.S. officials. But "the package" has a mind of her own, and she has no intention of trading one set of captors for another. Madeline Reynard is beautiful, headstrong, and hell-bent on escape after years as a crime lord's pawn. She'll risk everything for freedom, even if it means deceiving the dark, handsome operative who now holds her life in his hands.

Drake has been burned too many times to let a woman manipulate him, especially a secretive one like Madeline. Even so, they cannot deny the attraction between them. Now as enemy forces close in, Drake and Madeline must trust each other with their lives-or face certain death.



Dee Davis is the reason that I started reading romantic suspense. She has an amazing way of combing great characters with mind blowing plots. Dangerous Desires, the second in A-TAC series, is a definite page turner, that will have you clinging to the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the first book in the series, Dark Deceptions, but I have to sat that Dangerous Desires in by far my favorite. I loved the exotic locations, and found that I like Drake the best out of her characters. Although fans of Nash will be happy to hear that he makes several appearances in this book. If you are like me you will be looking forward to reading the third installment, Desperate Deeds, which is set to be released in August.

Oh and by-the-way, don’t you just love how catchy the titles are?


Five Fun Facts

1. A-Tac’s headquarters at the fictional Sunderland College is actually based on real life Hendrix College in Arkansas where Dee graduated with honors.

2. Dee’s undergraduate degree is in political science and history which is also Nash Brennon’s expertise. In fact, he’s a noted political historian.

3. As a child, Dee used to watch National Geographic specials about archeologist Louis Leakey. She dreamed of following in his footsteps until she discovered she hated heat and bugs. But fiction keeps all that at bay, so enter archeologist Drake Flynn and the ancient ruins of Colombia.

4. Growing up, Dee moved every two years, so summers spent in Colorado often felt more like home, and writing about the mountains she loves has always figured into her books. A-Tac is no exception. Annie Gallagher lives in Creede and Tyler Hanson is attacked on a lonely mountain road near Colorado Springs.

5. Clearly life influences fiction. To find out more about how Dee’s life affects her novels, check out www.deedavis.com

Want to check out what they are up to at A-TAC? Click here


I have 3 copies to giveaway on July 30.

Contest is open to residents of both the US and Canada.
To enter please leave a valid email address, and your name.

My thanks to Hachette Book Group for both the review copy and the giveaway.

One Season of Summer by Julia London

Should some questions be left unanswered?

Adopted as an infant, Jane Aaron longs to know the identity of her birth mother and why she gave her up. Her only clue is the name of the small Texas town where she was born, so she's come to Cedar Springs for answers.

Handsome ad executive Asher Price lost his wife, the beautiful, mysterious Susanna, in a terrible car crash eighteen months ago. When he hires Jane as the nanny for his two children, sparks fly. Jane finds herself falling in love with both Asher and his children, but begins to suspect that Susanna was not the perfect mother and wife the family portrays her to have been.

As Jane gets closer and closer to finding out the truth about both her own and Susanna’s past, devastating secrets begin to emerge that may be more than anyone can bear. Will the truth bring Jane and Asher closer together or tear them apart forever?


I have been hearing great things about this book, One Season of Sunshine, well when I was given the opportunity to review the book, it was simply an offer that I could not refuse. Let me just say that everything I heard was right on target, I loved this book. In fact I was so interested in the plot and the characters that I sailed through this book in one reading. Although I have to say that when I reached the ending I was a bit upset, because I wished that the book would go on.

Many of you, like me, maybe aware of the author through her historical romances, while Julia London is rarely new to the world of contemporary authors, she is not out of her element. If more authors wrote their contemporary romances like this one, I would read more of them. One Season of Sunshine was a definite page-turner, that you will want to read again and again. It would also be the perfect book for your Summer Reading Groups. While the book itself was a quick “Summer Read”, the plot was deep and meaningful something that you don’t often see in a romance book.

My thanks to Ayelet at Pocket Books for my copy.