Review: Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 336pp
Isbn: 0446619124
Challenge This one covers one challenge, Read Around The Genres


First Sentence or two: Kate Campbell looked her enemy square in his lifeless face and then swung.

Synopsis:PROTECTING HER WAS HIS PASSION

High-born though she is, Kate Campbell isn't afraid to draw her sword. When raiders strike, she rushes into the fray...and is lucky when a mysterious Highlander shields her from a deadly blow. Swept onto his stallion, she soon discovers that her rescuer is her clan's most hated enemy: Callum MacGregor, the man they call The Devil. Yet she cannot ignore his achingly tender touch or the way his fiery gaze leaves her breathless.

POSSESSING HER WOULD BE HIS PLEASURE

Callum MacGregor has taken many Campbell lives, but he's never saved one--until now. Mesmerized by this spirited lass, he wants her by his side, even if it means holding her for ransom. As his fingers graze her sumptuous curves and tangle in her unruly tresses, Callum realizes Kate Campbell is his most dangerous foe of all. For he can't make love to her without betraying his kinsmen and his honor...and surrendering his heart forever.


Random Thoughts -This is the ultimate tortured alpha male hero. As far as romance books go this was more then a romance book. This book was about a battle for survival. There was love but it really felt as if a sideline story to me. I love my highlanders though they never do disappoint.

Favorite Scene - I loved it when Kate had to drink the brew to get ready for the wound in her shoulder burned. Callum was talking to her afterward and she was sloshed and slurring her words. She called him Clalum MacKeglor instead of Callum MacGregor. LOL

Rating - I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. The writing was superb and flowed well. Not ever single in between scene was spelled out for us since it didn't need to be. This author knows its ok to skip a day or two of uneventful traveling or such. The book kept me engaged and not bored.

*Author's Note- In gratitude for the MacGregor's support in his struggle to regain the throne, Charles II repealed the laws against the MacGregors in 1661. Their name was restored, but their lands were not. In 1693 the prosciption was fully imposed once again by William of Orange. The persecution of Clan MacGregor finally ended in 1774 when the proscription against them was lifted once and for all, 171 years after it was enacted.

Review: Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384pp
Isbn: 0380776847
Challenge This one covers two challenges at the same time.
#1 Read Around The Genres
#2 Fall 2008 Reading Challenge

First Sentence or two: "A bodyguard! I don't need any damn bodyguard!"

Synopsis: From the author of It Had to Be You comes a deliciously, sexy contemporary romance. Former pro-football star Bobby Tom Denton has agreed to lend his fame and his name to a movie. But when he doesn't show up, the film company sends straight-laced Gracie Snow to bring him to the set—with surprising results.
Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to drag the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being a movie star -- and no plans to cooperate with a prim and bossy Ohio wallflower whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hell-raising playboy decides to make her over from plain Jane to Texas wildcat.

But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion -- and a match that can only be made in Heaven.


Random Thoughts - I loved this book from the first page on. I could not put it down. I read this in one day. This may be my favorite one of the "Stars" series. This is another "INSIST" read. No recommending about it!

Favorite Scene - I had several so it's pretty hard to nail down just one. I think I will go with the scene in his trailer on the set. The one where she had like 6 of his fans in the trailer just to annoy him. Then he turned it around on her and announced to the girls that he was engaged to her. After the girls left and they got into an ice cream fight with each other. That to me was the first physical step they took in getting together. I was so happy and excited with that scene. Not to take away from any of the other many scenes in this book.

Rating - I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*Note This is part of a series she has written about the Stars Football team. The first book is "It Had To Be You". To see the rest of the books in this series, or to see what order. Go Here

*Summer Reading Challenge Wrap Up*

As the sun begins to set on our "Summer Romance Reading Challenge", Cindy, our group leader for the challenge, has asked us to offer a little wrap up.

Here are the prompts Cindy has asked us:

"If you could recommend ONE book for others to read in the Fall Challenge, what would it be and why?" I would recommend "Halfway to the Grave" by Jeanine Frost. This was a brand new author and a new series. You don't expect them to be THAT awesome out of the gate. I was aggravated that I had to check it out from the library, when I new I wanted to own it with every fiber of my being! Plus, if you like your men with accents and with that cocky swagger in everything he does, "Bones" is your man. Tall, Dark, and Dead. Well in the first book he has striking blond hair. *sighs
"What was the worst book you read?" Hands down from my list it's "Bride for a Knight" by Sue-Ellen Welfonder. To put it nicely let's just say I think she forgot what she was doing while she was busy telling about every nook and cranny and crack of detail she could. In fact it was so informative I didn't need to use my imagination and I found that insulting!! Go read my review on my Shelfari shelf below. Bring a fire extinguisher when you do.
"Was there an author you found that you LOVED or HATED?" Yes and Yes. Obviously hated was just discussed in the last question. As far as Loved goes, Sandra Hill. I wasn't all that into Vikings. Once I read her "A Tale of Two Vikings", it was a slam dunk. I now am trying to read her Viking books as I come across them. This book is not recommended by me...It's "Insisted" by me.
"Did you review books that were reviewed by other readers? Well I'm sure other's have read the books I have. I am not aware of anyone else who participated in our challenge, from our Shelfari group, did or not.
If so, were the reviews alike or totally different?" N/A
"Any other Comments or Suggestions?" Yes, a couple. "Witch Fire" by Anya Bast is HOT HOT HOT. I enjoyed "Hot Wheels & High Heels" by Jane Graves. This was a middle aged couple romance. Two adults in 40's who have a chance to change their luck and grow up. It was refreshing!

Well that concludes the ask/answer segment. I just want to thank Cindy for being so awesome and thinking up our challenge, making a group, and putting a blog together for all of us to participate in. Since it went so well I am excited to know we are going to be starting a "Fall Challenge" as of today. More in my next post. (Jen, is thinking that post felt like some talk show or something. )

Sneak Peek of the cover "At Graves End" by Jeanine Frost

I am tickled Pink to be able to show you the new upcoming cover for "At Graves End" by Jeanine Frost. This cover is so beautiful. In fact all the covers for her books in this series have been FABULOUS.
I discovered the author, Jeanine Frost through my book group,
Vampires, Witches Weres and all that .... on Shelfari. We read her first book "Halfway to the Grave" as a group read. Jeanine was kind enough to come to our group and answer our questions regarding her writing, and the characters. She is a new writer and this book was her break out series about Cat, a vampire hunter. The romance between Cat and her vampire lover Bones is Hot, Hot, Hot. Bones and his English accent just jump off the page at me when I read it. Can you say *SPICY* ?
Her second book in the series "One Foot in the Grave" surely did not disappoint. Jeanine surely threw us a few curve balls in both books. No spoilers here, but she left me dangling on a cliff by my fingernails at the end of this book as well as the first. So when she unveiled the cover of the next and 3rd book in the series, my wings began flapping excitedly ever since. I had to share this with you, my friends. I don't recommend you read this series. I INSIST you read this series. This other shot of the book I am sharing with you if of Cat & Bones in what they call the "Stepback" or inside cover to us not in the know. There may be some minor changes in the wording on the cover but the pictures shall remain the same according to Jeanine.
From the back of the book:
SOME THINGS WON'T STAY BURIED...AT GRAVE'S END

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield's life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she's successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat's worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover's finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.

As if that wasn't enough, a woman from Bones's past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat's about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she's learned as a special agent won't help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself - and Bones - from a fate worse than the grave.

Check into her site to get a sneak at the first paragraph sometime in a month's time. I know I will be checking for that.

My favorite author:Jeanine Frost