Shifting Plains
Author: Jean Johnson
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (November 3, 2009)
Full Disclosure: Purchased

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:
Tava is a shifter, but cannot let anyone in the village she resides in know. When her father is brutally murdered leaving her alone in the world, she decides to go out and avenge him. While hunting the band of thieves that murdered her father, Tava encounters a Shifterai warband. Only knowing the horror stories her mother had told her father, Tava is weary of them, and careful to not reveal her true self to them.

Kodan is the leader of the warband, and after watching a shapeshited Tava take down a full grown man, and not recognizing her scent, he wants to know more about her. So when he sees her fighting with one of the men from her village, he strikes up a bargain to bring her with his warband. One way or another, Kodan is determined to show Tava that not all shifters are like the ones her mother warned her about.

I love Jean Johnson, seriously. She is one of my must buy authors. Ever since I read her Sons of Destiny series. And Shifting Plains didn't disappoint. While I didn't fall as in love with these characters as I have her other ones, Shifting Plains had very depth filled characters.

I enjoyed watching Tava blossom from being someone who had to contain her true feelings and thoughts, to someone who could speak freely around her people. It was so amazing. There were a couple of confrontations that I thought could have been drawn out more, but as a whole it was a great read.

Plus some of the scenes between Tava and Kodan, seriously left me wanting to howl at the moon. (HAHA howl at the moon, shape shifters, do you get it!? okay moving on now) This book is not for those who do not enjoy some steamy scenes, not that there were many, and they weren't just randomly thrown in. The sexual scenes fit very well into the story line and weren't abundantly disgusting or graphic. Just the way I like them.

Over all I would recommend this book happily to anyone who had enjoyed her previous novels, or anyone who enjoys a paranormal setting that isn't all about vampires and werewolves.

Lucan
Author: Susan Kearney
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Forever (September 5, 2009)
Received: Won in a contest.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:
Earth is dying, or rather it's just fading out. Nobody on Earth can have children, even though they are trying to. So when Lucan's sister miscarries again, he knows that he needs to do something. When he finds a map that might lead him to the Holy Grail, which will cure his sister, and save Earth, Lucan vows that he will bring it back to Earth.

Lady Cael is a dragonshaper, the only one of her kind on her planet of Pendragon. Being the only dragonshaper is a lonley life, because nobody is allowed to touch her. So when she meets Lucan, and he doesn't show fear at the customs set by her people, Cael becomes suspicious, even though when he touches her every fiber of her being ignites. But she knows that she has to stay focused and find the Holy Grail to save her nephew, the only one of her family who she knows without a doubt really cares for her.

Lucan, was a very enthralling read. When I picked it up I had assumed that it would be a historical romance, set somewhere else. What little did I know. It was like Star Trek meets a romance novel! From the first chapter I was hooked.


Cael, is so fiesty, and proud. Even when Lucan pretty much abandons her, she still stands up for herself and her people. I love how both Lucan and Cael were both primary characters. Usually in a story like this, you get one character who over shadows the other, and it was not the case in this story. Both Lucan and Cael lept off the page and into my heart.


I felt myself becoming tense over how they were both going to save the Holy Grail, and rescue both of their planets without loosing one another. The ending surprised me, but really made me happy and paved the way for the next installment. Rion, which I am happily devouring now.


I would recommend Lucan to people who like futuristic stories, and of course great love and romance.

A Highlander Christmas
Author: Janet Chapman
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star (October 27, 2009)
Recieved: From Publisher for Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

My Summary:
Camry MacKeage has suddenly stopped becoming a rocket scientist in favor of being a dog walker and a bartender. Not that she'd ever tell her parents. As far as they know she's still locked away in her lab, being one of NASA's top scientists. So imagine her parents surprise when Luke Pascal shows up on their doorstep and tells them that Camry has quit her job and isn't answering any of his emails.

After Luke meets Camry's parents they get a mysterious card only signed F, that tells them where Camry is. Luke is dispatched by Camry's parents to find her and bring her home in time for the Winter Solstice.  But Luke knows that it's not going to be easy, because Luke is hiding his own secret from Camry.

This book was a decent read. Nothing super spectacular, but it was entertaining. Luke and Camry were nothing like I would imagine rocket scientists to be. They were both engaging and very active and each had their own presence. They both really popped off of the page and right into my living room. A Highlander Christmas was a decent read, and something I would happily recommend.

Christmas Cowboys
Authors: Ann Major - Stella Bagwell
Paperback: 388 pages
Publisher: Silhouette (October 1, 2002)
Received: Library


My Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary:
The first story in this Omnibus is A Cowboy Christmas by Ann Major. And honestly, it was this short story that pulled my thoughts on this book way down.

Heddy and Lelander were both born on Christmas Eve. That's pretty much were the similarities end. She's daddy's little princess, and he's an orphan from the wrong side of the tracks. And yet, they still manage to fall in love.

My big issue with A Cowboy Christmas was honestly a very small thing but it annoyed me to no end and really killed the story for me because it was all I could think about. So the small town that Heddy and Lelander live in, have an ice cream parlor called Dairy Princess. Yeah, it's a really small thing, but for some reason it drove me up the wall. To me it felt as if the author couldn't come up with a more original name, and instead figured well, Dairy Queen is pretty good, but this is a small town so lets only give them a Dairy Princess.

Other than that the story was solid. Lelander was shunned from the town him and Heddy lived in because everyone believed he had killed Heddy's father after a rather heated argument. So Lelander moves himself to Alaska, and becomes a famous writer with a horrible deep dark past. While Heddy lived in the small town and raised their daughter.

As characters I really like Lelander, but Heddy was such a door mat .She stayed in the town where she grew up and lived under the thumb of her grandmother. She didn't stand up for her husband and let him walk away, and ugh. The more I think about it the more I really didn't like the first story.

The second story in this book was A Christmas Cowboy by Stella Bagwell was much better in comparison. Lucinda picked up and left everything she knew in Chicago to get away from a stalker ex-boyfriend. Chance happened to notice her car on the side of the road after she had spun out during a winter storm. He rescued her and brought her back to his home the D Barr D. Where his sisters engagement party was going on.

For me this story really made up for the lackluster of the first one. Lucinda was a bit of a doormat but she had every reason to be. She was on the run, hoping to not draw any attention to herself least her abusive ex come and find her. Chance had been hurt and vowed to never fall in love again. But when he meets Lucinda, he comes to feel things for her he had thought he would never feel again.

There were parts of this story that really touched a cord inside of me. The one part that honestly sticks out is when Chance gives Lucinda a kitten. His reasoning is that she had never had a pet. It was such a simple and small gesture but it was what made me as a reader fall in love with Chance.

If there was a way I could recommend A Christmas Cowboy without having to recommend A Cowboy Christmas I would. But since I cannot do that, I honestly wouldn't recommend Christmas Cowboys.

Have you read Christmas Cowboys? Let me know what you thought of it, maybe I missed something in the first story that you think I should know! Leave me a comment!

Knight of Pleasure
Author: Margret Mallory
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Forever (December 1, 2009)
Recieved: from publisher for review & blog tour

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:
Isobel is the apple of her fathers eye. She is everything he's ever wanted in a child. Headstrong, courageous, beautiful and smart. So when he gives her in marriage to a man who is practically ancient, she feels as if she was betrayed in the worst way possible. When her husband dies he leaves her with no other option but to agree to wed a French noble man to help form a political alliance.

Stephen is a womanizer, and an amazing solider. However, he is looking for something more even though he doesn't know it yet. When he meets Isobel he's immediately attracted to her, even though she is promised to someone else.

Knight of Pleasure was a very enjoyable read. To me it was of the same quality as Judith McNaught, and Jude Deveraux, two of my favorite authors in this genre. It was nice to read something that was quick paced but made the reader care about the characters. There were times when Isobel was going through some really crappy stuff, that just broke my heart.

Stephen is someone who I would be interested in. He was strong and stubborn and just from his description and personality, delicious. And Isobel who grew up a tomboy kept that up through out the whole story, which pleased me. She was no delicate wilting flower, she was strong and feminine, and honestly I felt that she would have fit in the time period she was written for.

The fact that Knight of Pleasure is part of a series didn't matter either. Yes there were allusions to the story before it, but it worked well as a stand alone as well. I didn't feel as if I had missed anything from the first story. I will be picking up the third book Knight of Passion and digging out the copy of Knight of Desire that I had won in a contest awhile ago.

Great book, great read. I would recommend to anyone. I know that this book is for sure a keeper on my shelf.

Pride and a Pregnancy Secret
Author: Tessa Radley
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Silhouette (February 12, 2008)
Received: Library

My Rating: 1 out of 5

Summary:
Jessica Cotter is her bosses mistress. She knew that when she started the relationship the rules were: No kids, No cats, No ring. She was fine with that, she was focused on her career, and didn't want the hassle of a ring, and kids.

When Jessica finds out she is pregnant, her world shifts. Suddenly, she realizes that she really does have strong feelings for her boss, Ryan Blackstone. She has every intention of breaking it off with Ryan, until his father disappears and later is announced dead. Then Jessica makes every excuse to stay with Ryan, until Ryan drops an accusation on her that rocks Jessica to her very core. Then it seemed she had no problem finally breaking it off. However, Ryan wasn't going to let her go that easily.

Honestly, I feel that I went into this book with higher expectations than I should have, I blame it on the fact that the main characters name is Jessica. It was a quick read, but other than that there wasn't much going on. Typical story about being in love with someone unobtainable, but there was nothing there to add the sparkle. Literally, there were parts where I thought things were gonna get juicy, but they quickly fizzled out and went back to being just ... for lack of a better word, boring. I say, if you like quick reads then this is the one for you. Personally though this book didn't do much for me.

Lavender Morning
Author: Jude Deveraux
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Atria (March 31, 2009)
Received: Library

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
This book kicks off a new series written by Jude Deveraux, that being said I don't know how I feel about this series. Jude Deveraux was one of the first romance writers that I had started reading. I love her work, and when I saw that there was a new novel out by her I knew right away that I had to pick it up. I don't regret doing so, because it was a good read, but for me it didn't live up to her other works.

Jocelyn grew up with a wicked step mother, two awful step sisters and a father who just didn't understand her. Jocelyn's idea of a good time was sitting with a cup of tea and reading a good book, her father's idea was riding a motorcycle or watching a race.

When Jocelyn meets Miss. Edi, her whole life changes. Suddenly, she has a best friend. Someone who understands her quiet demeanor and someone who she can share things with. When Miss Edi passes away, Jocelyn recieves a letter, stating that Jocelyn is the heir to Miss Edi's family home in a town that Jocelyn had never heard of, Edilean.

When she gets to Edilean, she is thrust into the middle of a love triangle. On one hand there is Ramsey, the gentleman that Miss Edi had written would be perfect for her, on the other there is the gardner of the estate, Luke, who is just like her father. Plus there are so many secrets in the small town of Edilean, that Jocelyn swears she's going to go mad.

I had a hard time figuring out who Jocelyn was going to end up with in Lavender Morning, usually when there is a love triangle like there was in this book, I can pick who's going to end up with who, but in this one it took me awhile to figure it out.

I was also sad that there was no mention of a Taggert or a Montgomery in this book at all. It would have made my day, because that is one of my favorite parts about reading a Jude Deveraux book. Knowing the family. I did like the little flashbacks that were thrown in though, honestly that is what made this book a 3 instead of something lower.

Overall, this was a good read. Not great, but good. I enjoyed it, and will read the rest of the books in the series.

Bed of Roses (The Bride Quartet Book #2)
Author: Nora Roberts
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (October 27, 2009)
Recieved From: Library

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
This is book two in The Bride Quartet series, and I have to say that I really liked this one, much more than I liked first book in this series.

Emma is the florist part of Vows, the wedding company that herself and her three best friends had started. She is a romantic at heart, and she loves what she does. Unlike Mac who we read about in the first book, Emma cannot wait to fall in love and have her wedding with her happily ever after. The only problem is that she is realizing that she might want her happily ever after to be with someone who is so close to her, he's practically family.

Jack is a love'em and leave'em kinda guy. Not to say that he doesn't care about the girls he dates, but for the most part the romance has a shelf life of about 2 weeks. His problem is that he's starting to want more, with his best friends unofficial little sister.

I really liked the fact that there was no real 'bad guy' in this book. The only bad guy was the massive difference in personalities between Jack and Emma.
 
I don't know what it is about this book, that seemed to turn me into a blubbering baby, but I would have to guess every other chapter made me bawl my eyes out.  I think it's just the topic of weddings in general, that have been doing to me lately. But, seriously this was a great read.

I didn't want to put this book down, and when I did I often rushed through what I was doing so that I could get back to my book. The banter between Emma and her friends was spot on, and often I could imagine myself having the same type of conversation with my friends. And Emma and Jack, oh boy. They sure brought many a tear to my eye.

I would happily recommend this book to lovers of romance and anyone who just wants a real feel good read.

To Desire A Devil
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Vision (October 27, 2009)
Received From: Anne at Hatchett for Blog Tour

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
This is the fourth and final book in the Legend of the Four Soldiers, and even though I had not read the other books in this series I was able to follow along and not be too terribly confused. Even though I say I have not read the other books in this series, I have paged through them. I own a copy of To Beguile a Beast, but was not able to get into it when I started reading it.

Beatrice is in love with a man from a painting.The only thing is that he has been missing for several years and is presumed dead. When he comes crashing into her Uncle's political tea party, demanding to know where his father is, it sets tongues wagging.

Reynaud enters what is supposed to be his house, only to find it full of people he does't really recognize. While he was missing his title, land and house were handed over to Beatrice's uncle. Mad with fever, Reynaud collapses ontop of a table. Beatrice gets excited when this man came crashing into the political tea party, because he looked a lot like the gentleman from the painting.

From there Beatrice's life changes. She gets put in all sorts of difficult situations. She gets shot at and stabbed, all the while trying to figure out what it is about this savage man that exictes her so.

For me this book was actually pretty good. It wasn't one of those OH MY GOD I can't put it down types, but it wasn't one of the 'this is dragging on forever types' either. It moved at a very good pace, and all the ends that were opened in this book were tied together nicely by the ending.

I liked how while yes there was the villian in this book, there really wasn't much harming Beatrice's and Reyaud's relationship other than themselves. Their relationship seemed to grow naturally and while yes it was a bit rushed, it seemed to work.

One thing that did kind of throw me off while reading it however, was the rather random love scene. I understand that Reyaud had been kept in the presence of what are termed, savages, and that he really didn't care too much for what was proper and the like. But he compromises Beatrice before they are married. And to me it just seemed to be an awkward place for it to happen. Especially because the first time that him and Beatrice make love, it is right after Beatrice gets some rather bad news.

There are several characters that if there aren't stories about already, I would love to read more about. All of the characters in this book seemed to really have a presence. I'm going to go back and read the other books in this series now that I have finished this one.

The book trailer for this book, is really what made me want to read it, allow me to share it with you all.






Excerpt: Found at the authors website HERE

Bitten
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Plume (December 31, 2002)
Received From: Library

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Elena is running from herself. She's trying to be everything that she's not. When she gets a phone call asking her to return home, she does so reluctantly.Upon returning to Stonehaven, Elena is bombarded with reminders of why she ran away and struggles with the desire to go back to Toronto and the life she had just started there.

Now when I started this book, I did it with some trepidation. I've had issues with shifter books before, but a few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Kelley Armstrong (who is a wonderful person btw) and wanted to see what the draw to her Otherworld series was. Let me say that this book did not disappoint in the slightest. It's been a long time since I had a book that I just could NOT put down.

Elena is a werewolf, and trying to hide it by living an almost all human life. Sure it's a little hard for her having to schedule when she can change and when she can eat her fill, but it's something she desperately wants to do. She gets a phone call from Jeremy, who is the Alpha Leader of her old Pack. And with some gentle pressuring from her completely human boyfriend, heads back home, against her will.

I found Elena to be a wonderful narrator. Things were explained nicely and in time, and all with the biting wit that the character showed other characters. The other cast of characters in this story were amazing as well. I found myself crying at the very sad parts, and I won't give them away here because then it would ruin the story. I also found myself wanting to smack some of the characters, because hey they were being idiots. All in all this was an amazing story. It flowed nicely, the suspense and action scenes were awesome. And being blunt, the sex scenes fit into the story where they should have. Plus they weren't overly graphic.

I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a fast paced action novel with a hint of romance. However I would throw the warning on it that there is some very violent scenes that left even me going oh my.

Highland Dragon
Author: Kimberly Killion
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra Books  (October 1, 2009)
Received From: Author - for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
First, I'd like to thank Kimberly Killion for sending me a printout of this book. Now onto the review!

It took me a little bit to get into this book, in fact there were several times when I put the book down after only reading a few pages. However, after the first chapter or so I really got into it and I am glad I did.

At the age of 10,  Calin MacLeod had followed his father at the age of 10 and witnessed the most unspeakable acts. witnessed his father's death by the Laird of Clan Kinnon. He also saved a babys life that day, and vowed to protect her.

Akira was the babe he had saved, she grew up with some of the Kinnon kin. She knew she had a benefactor somewhere, that would marry her some day and for that she kept herself pure. When she was kidnapped by two MacLeod warriors, she feared she would never get to meet her kind benefactor.

When I first read that Akira had been captured by two MacLeod warriors, I had to go back and re-read the first few pages. I had already connected the dots that Akira was the baby that Calin had saved, but I couldn't fathom as to why he would want her to be captured. The meeting between Akira and Calin had me smiling, not because it was a pleasant meeting, but because it was such an unusual meeting.

Of course Calin and Akira are married, and like all married couples have their differences. One thing that really stuck out to me though, was that the two characters while both bull headed, were obviously in love with one another. There is a cute scene right before they are married where Akira climbs a tree and Calin grants her boons (requests) for their marriage. That whole scene left me going SQUEE!

Of course, like I said all married couples have their differences and when Akira meets Calin's ex-mistress, Catriona, she feels betrayed. Honestly, once Catrioina and Akira met, I thought it was going to be the same ol' song and dance that many novels of this genre seem to adhere too. Husband falls in love with wife, bitter mistress ruins it all by causing wife to leave husband for some stupid reason. Husband then thinks that wife hates him/never loved him and then seeks solace with the mistress, after a bit husband then realizes that the mistress was the reason wife left in the first place. So then he goes after the wife to make her fall in love with him all over again, and eventually they all live happily ever after. But, it was not the case in Killion's Highland Dragon, when Akira meets Catriona she pretty much tells her to go to hell, (Which by the way was one of my favorite parts) and then confronts Calin about the whole situation. The whole time I sat there and was like YES! YES! YES! YOU GO GIRL!

There was one thing about the whole story that really threw me off. When Calin had saved Akira as a baby, he had placed a brand on her behind. It's because of that brand that Akira believed she was a witch. There were a few characters who mentioned the fact that Akira was a witch, when they couldn't possibly have known about the brand, unless the brand was very public knowledge in which case how come more people didn't mention it?


The ending was also very unique. Of course it was going to end up happy, but it was twist that made it end up happy that really pulled the ending together.

The characters were all very vivid. I found myself dispisng Catronia and then actually kind of liking her after she showed her human side. I am half in love with Akira's brother Kendrick. I would love to read his story. Heck, I'd love to read another story set in this same universe. There were several characters who could possibly have their own story, I know I'd want to read it.

I would happily recommend this book to anyone who likes romance. I cannot wait to pick up another of Kimberly Killon's novels.

Book Trailer:
As if this review isn't already long enough (LOL!) I found a book trailer for this novel and decided I should share it with my readers.





NOTE: This review was not influenced by the fact that the author sent me the book. Nor did I recieve any kind of compensation for the positive review.

Storm Born
Author: Richelle Mead
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Zebra (August 1, 2008)
Received From: Library

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
Eugenie Markham is a super powerful shaman, she leads a fairly mundane life except for the fact that her job pays her to deal with all sorts of supernatural beings. When a prophecy is revealed she suddenly becomes the most desired woman amongst all of the beings of the other world.

In a short period of time she has to learn to rely on not only her instincts but on the people she thought she could trust. When she finds out that everyone seems to have alternative motives for helping her. She really starts to wonder who she can trust and who is on her side for real.

This book hosts a super colorful cast of characters. Eugenie has two love interests who are so different from one another. Kiyo who is a Kitsune, or a fox shape shifter, and is fiercely loyal. There is also Dorian who is a fey. Eugenie knows she cannot trust Dorian, but finds herself drawn to him anyway. And with Kiyo, Eugenie wants to trust him but when she finds out that he too has an alternative motive for helping her she wonders if there was anything between them at all.

There are also Eugenie's two minions. While they are both secondary characters they made reading this book fun, the two characters always inserted a little bit of comedy into some otherwise serious situations.

I would recommend this book, with no qualms. There is a lot of romance and some steamy parts, but even still, this book was a good read. A constant page turner. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series.

Beauty and the Duke
Author: Melody Thomas
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (July 28, 2009)

My Rating: O out of 5 Did not Complete


Summary: Taken from Amazon
The face he shows the world is not the face she sees. . .

Once, ten years ago, they were young lovers, sharing sinful touches and desperate ecstasy. But he was bound by his promise to wed another. Since that fateful time, Christine Sommers has grown into a headstrong beauty, the kind of woman who thinks nothing of daring travels to the ends of the world. But for all her achievements, Christine has never found anyone who makes her heart race the way Erik Boughton once did.

Since that fateful time, Erik Boughton, the Duke of Sedgwick, has become something of a beast, at least according to the gossips of the ton. They say that he's cursed, that any woman who shares his bed will meet an untimely end. But when he comes to Christine, desperate for her help to preserve his family and his title, she does not fear the devil duke. Enthralled by his ravenous desire, she would give him anything he wished, even her body . . . and her heart.

I don't know why I couldn't get into this book. I tried and kept pushing on, but just could not bring myself to finish it. Christine was too head strong and Erik from what I saw was just a jerk. At least in my opinion. I may pick this book up at another time, but as of right now this book was not the book for me.

I'm interested in hearing if anyone else has reviewed it, if you have please let me know what you thought about Melody Thomas' Beauty and the Duke

One Deadly Sin
Author: Annie Solomon
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Forever (May 1, 2009)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5


Summary:
Edie Swan, formally Eden Swanford is out for revenge. She returns to her home of Redbud, Tennessee hell bent to make the men she believes responsible for her father's death pay. She starts by sending out black angels to each of the men, hoping that the sight of the black angel will goad them into spilling the beans about what really happened to her father all those years ago. Except that when the men start dying, Edie becomes the number one suspect. Even to herself!

Holt Drennen, the sheriff of Redbud, doesn't suspect Edie at first, all he wants to do is get her in the sack. But after awhile he starts to suspect that Edie knows more than she is letting on. When the previous sheriff of Redbud gets the black angel, Holt and Edie really start to worry. Seeing as how it's Holt's father.

This was a fantastic read, the mystery was enough to keep the pages turning, and after awhile I really seemed to get wrapped up in what was going on. A good read, something that I would recommend to anyone who likes mystery and some romance.

Vision in White
Author: Nora Roberts
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (April 28, 2009)

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Summary:
Mac fell in love with photography after capturing a rare moment with her friends as a child. From there on out trying to get Mac to step out from behind the lens was like trying to make a mime talk.

The thing I liked best about this book was that there was no real bad guy or massive conflict. Unless you count Mac's extremly selfish mother or Mac's intense fear of falling in love.

I noticed while reading this book that a lot of Nora Robert's books follow the same MO. The heroine is super strong often absorbed in her work and kind of scatterbrained. While the heroes are usually kind of nerdy or studious, and either super clumsy or really over the top athletic. Not a bad MO, really because the stories work and it gives strong women a chance to realize that love is out there for them too regardless of what they've gone through.

It was a quick read once I got into it. Almost mindless since I was able to put it down when I needed to and I was able to pick it back up and be sucked right back into the story. It did take me a little bit to get into, but I can't quite pinpoint why that was. When I got to the end however, I was disappointed. I didn't want it to end. I'm looking forward to reading the other installments in this series.

McKettrick's Heart
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Books (April 1, 2007)

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Summary:
This book is the final book in the Mekettrick Men series, and it's one that took a bit getting into.

Keegan has no reason to trust women, other than his young daughter that is. After a bitter divorce with a woman who he realizes he really didn't care about in the first place, Keegan has sworn off of women in general.

Molly comes to Indian Rock on a Greyhound bus, to meet her ex-boyfriends wife, and the now mother of Molly's child. Yeah, you read that right. Molly was the other woman in a relationship, that resulted in a child being born. I'm not sure why Molly gave up the rights to her child, with the ex being such a shady person anyway but she did.

I had a really hard time liking Molly, not for the whole other woman thing, but just because she seemed so wishy washy and a very puzzling person. She was a successful business person in LA, but yet she took the Greyhound to Indian Rock. She also just seemed to lack the skill that would be needed to run her own business.

I also had a hard time liking Keegan. I understand that he didn't want to trust a woman, much less the woman who had been his friends husbands mistress, but the way he treated her was down right cold. I personally wouldn't have gone out with him had I been Molly.

Over all this book was enjoyable after I got into it, but I would not read it again. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to finish out this series, and who enjoys men who are way to harsh and women who are just confusing.

Lily and the Major
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Softcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket (December 1, 1990)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

This is my first book review entry ever, let alone as a guest to Jess' blog. Please bear with me :). Thanks!

Jess had me read Lily and the Major by Linda Lael Miller. As much as she told me she ripped it apart, I did not hate the book. I am new to the romance genre. The lovin' did not start until page 100 exactly (note: she told me chapter two... this was definitely not chapter two) and had it's good steamy moments after that (why else would I read romance? lol). Jess said that she didn't like Lily, I do not like her lover Caleb. He kept bringing her up, then ignoring her and bringing her back down, so she kept being the self-efficient, strong, stubborn woman she always had to be. Again, I blame Caleb for showing her "how it's like to be a woman" and then ignoring her like she's no one.

I do however have my favorite lines of the book for cheesiness and "I can't believe she wrote it" factor:

"Lily, listen to me. I've got feelings for you that I've never had for anyone else. Ever."
Her hadns were drawn to his shoulders, where they rested lightly. "Buy why? Why me, Caleb?"
He kissed her lips lightly. "Because you're beautiful - because you're strong - because somewhere, sometime, an angel wrote our names in a book. I don't know why, Lily. And they why of it doesn't matter."

Page 121

That excerpt made me laugh for five minutes straight and I had to read it to everyone I told because it was that much BS in that little bit of space. If a guy told me something like that, I would laugh hysterically and leave him.

"Oh, my God," Lily gasped, clutching the edge of the bureau in both hands.
"It's a religious experience for me, too," Caleb commented.

Page 346

Again, I was a cluster of laughter.

The ending was quick and for me cut off at the ankles. She's been looking for her sisters through the whole book. They were sent on an orphan train when they were little cause their mom fell in love with someone in the military that didn't want kids, and separated. And in the end, it just kinda falls off. Jess says there's two other books and that's why, I say dammit just finish a book.

It wasn't terrible, it had it's funny moments. I would read it again and hope to find the others.

McKettrick's Pride
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Books (March 1, 2007)

My Rating: 3 out of 5

My Summary:
Rance was broken, not in body but in spirit. His wife had died some odd years earlier, leaving him to raise his two little girls. However, he left most of that to his Mother In Law, and instead preferred to be a jetsetting business man.

Echo had been stranded at the alter, and decided that enough was enough. She packed up her pink bug, her bookstore and her online business and moved out to Indian Rock. A stray dog finds her while at a rest stop and becomes her best friend throughout her whole journey. When she meets Rance out in front of her shop, she dislikes him and his huge SUV. But she softens a bit when she meets his Mother In Law and daughters.

I think that Echo really started to fall for Rance when he helped her with a guy who was trying to say that the dog she found was his. I know that for me, that is when I really started to fall for Rance. A guy who is willing to go that extra mile for a stray dog ... yes please.

The start of Rance and Echo's relationship is so turbulent. She is mad at him, and he's mad at her but neither can deny the sparks that seem to shoot out every time they are near one another. Throw in a couple of kids and a dog, and you've got the makings for an awesome story.

The beginning of the book was amazing, you spend a lot of time learning things from Echo's perspective, and you feel her heartbreak and confusion. The ending was a bit rushed in my opinion, but such is to be expected from the middle book of a series.

I would recommend this book to other readers, especially if you like heart tugging cowboys.

McKettrick's Luck
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Books (February 1, 2007)

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:
Cheyenne has come a long way from the girl sent to fetch her father home from the local bar. She's now successful, grown up and over her teenage crush on Jesse. That is until she winds back up in her home town of Indian Rock, Arizona with her disabled brother and her mother.

Cheyenne needs to make a deal with the devil, the devil being Jesse McKettrick. She needs to convince him to sell her his land, so that the company she works for can build a set of condos on it. The situation gets sticky, when some accusations are thrown, and of course things get hot. Sparks are flying and eventually Cheyenne realizes that you can't out run your past. You can only embrace it.

After reading Lily and the Major, I wasn't sure if I would ever pick up another Linda Lael Miller book, but boy howdy am I glad I did. This book had a wonderful cast of characters. All of them felt realistic, and very much so alive. The setting was breathtaking, and the description of the scenery made me wish I could be there as well.

I would happily recommend this book to anyone who likes Western settings.

Lily and the Major
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Softcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket (December 1, 1990)

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Summary

Lily has strong dislike for anyone in the military. After all, it was the military, or rather someone in the military, that made her mother give her up Lily and her sisters.

When Major Caleb Halliday rescued Lily from some rather rowdy soldiers she thought that she would be rid of him. However Major Halliday had other plans. He began a seduction so strong, that Lily was helpless to resist him.

Okay, so this book was a pretty quick read. And some of the scenes between Lily and Caleb ... super hot. But there was something missing. Maybe it was the way Lily acted more like a modern woman than she should have, or maybe it was just that it seemed every 3 pages Lily and Caleb were falling into bed, or over a horse, or in a corner. It seemed like the sex was there strictly for the sex. To me it felt like oh Lily and Caleb are fighting again and then within seconds they had their clothes off and were tearing at each other.

I will finish reading the series, mainly because I don't like to start something and not finish it, but I will not be keeping this book in my collection. It simply wasn't for me.

I'd recommend it to others who like Western Historical Romances, but would do so with a warning.

If you've read this book, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I'm very interested in knowing what others thought of this book, especially because I didn't care for it much. Maybe I missed something.