Finished Reading . . . #73: Just One Kiss (sexy)

Just One Kiss
Fool's Gold
Susan Mallery

9780373777600
Harlequin
June 2013 (4th?)
376 pages
Mass Market Paperback
Age range: 16+
some sex and lots of hot kisses

Contemporary Romance
source: private library

Grade: B+


He won't hesitate to put his life on the line…but will he ever risk his heart?

Falling for Justice Garrett was a high point in Patience McGraw's otherwise awkward adolescence. Even after he disappeared, Patience never forgot the boy who captured her heart. Now he's back in Fool's Gold, California, and her passion for him is as strong as ever. But how can she trust that he won't abandon her again—and her daughter, too?

When bodyguard Justice Garrett was a young man, witness protection brought him to this idyllic town and he never forgot its warmth, or the sweet beauty of his childhood friend. He's returned to open a defense academy, and the Patience he once knew is all grown up. He can't resist her smile, or her curves. But Justice's past doesn't make him husband, or father, material.

Patience and Justice think they'll succumb to just one kiss… Then one more… Okay, just one night together. But they might learn that falling in love is beyond anyone's control.

~*~*~

Welcome to Fool's Gold. Again. This is something like the 11th book in the series and while I like to read book one first, you could start with this one. You'll miss the hits/misses of the relationships from prior books but the main story is about Patience and Justice. About dreams coming true, heartbreak and redemption. There are just enough hints of stories to come to keep you looking for the next book. I personally am looking forward to Felicia's

I think you find you like it here.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Way
Outdo Yourself
Spring into Reading (on wish list 12-12)
Monthly Mix-up Mania
A to Z
Contemporary Romance
In the Middle

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #74: One Day in Apple Grove (sexy)

One Day in Apple Grove
Welcome to Apple Grove
C. H. Admirand

978-1402269028
Sourcebooks Casablanca
June 2013
309 pages
Mass Market Paperback (and ebook)
Age range: 16+
 
romance (Small Town Contemporary)
source: private library

Grade: B


Caitlin Mulcahy loves her family. She really does. But sometimes they can drive her to her last shred of sanity—from her dad ("I'm not meddling, I just want what's best for you") to her eight-months-pregnant older sister to her younger sister, who will do just about anything to avoid real work. Cait just needs to get away, even if for only an hour.

When she sees someone in need of help on the side of the road, of course she's going to pull over. She might even be able to fix his engine—after all, the Mulcahy family is a handy bunch. She's not expecting that former Navy medic Jack Gannon and a little black puppy named Jameson will be the ones who end up rescuing in her...

~*~*~

Cait is the middle child and this is her story. It is also the story of a small town and of a man with PTSD. It is a romance.

Wait? Romance and PTSD? Yes. It has always been around, called several things, talked about in hushed whispers-if at all. This books brings it all out into the open.

So, yes, this is a romance in small-town America. About a girl with dreams of working with wood (as in furniture) but works as a handyman in the family business. About a man, a doctor, who comes back home to take over his father's practice. A man who didn't plan on ever coming home. A man with issues, a girl with issues, how they deal with them together.

And a little black puppy.

Jack didn't plan on falling in love, didn't want to share his scars. Cait doesn't know about the PTSD until she spends the night during a thunderstorm and Jack has a flashback.

Lots of twists and meddling/helpful neighbors. Love and loss and new beginnings. Memorable marriage proposals.

Book three comes out later this year and book one is in my shopping cart at amazon.

Prayer chains are mentioned. There are curl-your-toes kisses and drawn out lovemaking but not as much as some and mostly skip-able.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Way
Outdo Yourself
Monthly Mix-up Mania
Contemporary Romance
In the Middle
Where are you reading?/50 States
Wicked Wildfire
Men in Uniform
Foodies Read

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #71: A Poppy Is to Remember (picture book)

A Poppy Is to Remember
Heather Patterson, author
Ron Lightburn, illustrator

0-439-96786-4
North Winds Press, a division of  Scholastic Canada Ltd.
2004
32 pages
8x10 hardcover
Age range: 5 - 9

non-fiction picture book, Military
source: Private Library

Grade: A

In moving words, and with illustrations both dramatic and tender, A Poppy Is to Remember calls to mind the rich symbolism of the poppy we wear so proudly on Remembrance Day... lest we forget.

~*~*~

Grab your tissues before you start reading. You might want to read this one first before handing it to your child.

The first 25 pages is pure picture book. Large print, simple ideas, bold illustrations. Then comes the photographs and explanation. I had heard of the poem "In Flanders Fields" but had no idea the Poppy was so important to Canada. Well, I am in the US but still. We who benefit from those who fight must all remember and support.

Together on Remembrance Day we take the time to think of those Canadians who have given so much. We pledge to remember what they fought for -- freedom and a world at peace. We think of the Canadians today who strive to foster peace in troubled regions of the world. In one special silent moment, we pledge to do the same.

~*~*~

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
Nerdy Non-fiction
Spring Reading Thing
52 in 52
Wicked Wildfire RaT

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #59: Mr. Putter and Tabby Spin the Yarn (early reader)

Mr. Putter and Tabby Spin the Yarn
Cynthia Rylant
Arthur Howard, illustrator

978-0-15-206095-4
Sandpiper
October 2007
44 pages
paperback
Age range: 6-9

children's book, early reader, animals, friendship
source: Private Library

Grade: A+

Trying to be neighborly, Mr. Putter decides to serve tea to Mrs. Teaberry's knitting club but chaos ensues when Tabby the cat and Zeke the dog find the party irresistible.

~*~*~

This is number 15 in the series but once you read the first one you should be fine reading them in any order. In this book, Mr Putter is worried that he isn't as good a neighbor as Mrs. Teaberry, after all, all he does is eat the food she makes him.

All room full of knitters and a cat shouldn't mix but add to that a dog who likes hat decorations and the party has all the hallmarks of being a disaster. Those who knit or do other crafty stuff will cringe when they read about the sweater. And the ending illustration shows just how good of a neighbor Mr. Putter really is.

My son is 23 now but I got a smile and a "hey, is that a new one?" from him.

~*~*~

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #57: Needing Seth (sexy)

Needing Seth
Shawn Lane
978-1-61124-410-6
Amber Quill
April 2013
105 pages
ebook
Age range: 18+ because of content but 16 should be fine)

Romance, male/male
source: Private Library

Shy and a bit of a science fiction geek, Seth Landers is afraid he’s going to die a virgin.

Then one day, Casey Logan, the sexier-than-sin doctor where Seth works, notices him. Not only that, but Casey actually asks him out!

Seth’s life could finally change for the better, but only if Casey can convince the shy geek that he needs Seth in his life just as badly...

~*~*~

A short, intense story full of insecurity, best friends, family, bigotry, hatred, and a possible happy ever after. It ended well but I still have questions.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
ebook
m/m romance
Men in Uniform
Monthly Mix-up Mania

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #44: The Lady Most Likely (sexy)

The Lady Most Likely
a novel in three parts
Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Connie Brockway
978-0061247828
Avon
December 2010
384 pages
ebook (also in print)
Age range: 18+, I think 16 should be okay

historical romance
source: Private Library

Grade: B+


Alec stopped chuckling. “What?”

“A list. Of women. I had my sister make me a list of possible brides. I can’t be expected to figure this out on my own.”

“The rest of us generally do.”

Hugh gave him a powerfully irritated glare. “I’m busy.”

~*~*~

Hugh, Earl of Briarly, is not your typical Earl. He would rather be in his stable than anywhere else and he trains his own horses. Most Earls would simply hire a trainer but Hugh wants the horses trained, not broken so he does it himself. This leads to forgetting to come to dinner on time and sometimes he smells more like his horses and misses dinner completely! This is fine when you're at your own home, but at a house party, you're expected to arrive on time and smell like a recent bath.

Training your own horses is not the problem, the problem is that Hugh is an Earl, with entitled property and as he has no wife, his heir is a cousin none of his sisters like. Come to think of it, he doesn't either. After a nasty fall that leads to a week-long coma, he decides he needs to get married in order to have a proper heir.

This leads to the list. A house party given by his sister and her husband. And the women being crossed off his list one by one.

This may be "a novel in three parts" but it is seamless. It is funny, romantic and sexy all in the right spots.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
ebook
romance
In the Middle
Monthly Mix-Up Mania

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #43: Never Less Than a Lady (sexy)

Never Less Than a Lady
The Lost Lords #2
Mary Jo Putney
978-1-4201-0329-8
Zebra
May 2010
352 pages
ebook (also in print)
Age range: 18+, I think 16 should be okay

historical romance
source: Private Library

Grade: B+


As the sole remaining heir to the Earl of Daventry, Alexander Randall knows his duty: find a wife and sire a son of his own. The perfect bride for a man in his position would be a biddable young girl of good breeding. But the woman who haunts his imagination is Julia Bancroft—a village midwife with a dark secret that thrusts her into Randall’s protection.

Within the space of a day, Julia has been abducted by her first husband’s cronies, rescued, and proposed to by a man she scarcely knows. Stranger still is her urge to say yes. A union with Alexander Randall could benefit them both, but Julia doubts she can ever trust her heart again, or the fervent desire Randall ignites. Yet perhaps only a Lost Lord can show a woman like Julia everything a true marriage can be…

~*~*~

We met Alex and Mrs. Bancroft in the previous book. . . Just when all seems safe, danger lurks again. And again. I was starting to wonder when it would end and IF there'd be a happy ever after at all rather than the formula of there has to be one!

I love when "doing your duty" falls by the wayside when "follow your heart" comes into play. To have such a twisty happy ever after just adds to the satisfaction. I do have several questions so I don't feel this one ends tied neatly in a bow.

There are two more available in the series, one coming out soon and another in the works. There is hope to have my questions answered!


Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
A to Z
ebook
romance
In the Middle
Men in Uniform
Monthly Mix-Up Mania

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #42: Loving a Lost Lord (sexy)

Loving a Lost Lord
The Lost Lords #1
Mary Jo Putney
978-1-4201-2862-8
Zebra
March 2012
352 pages
ebook (also in print)
Age range: 18+

historical romance
source: Private Library

Grade: B+


Battered by the sea, Adam remembers nothing of his past, his ducal rank, nor of the shipwreck that almost claimed his life. However, he’s delighted to hear that the golden-haired vision tending his wounds is his wife. Mariah’s name and face may not be familiar, but her touch, her warmth, feel deliciously right…

When Mariah Clarke prayed for a way to deter a bullying suitor, she didn’t imagine she’d find the answer washed ashore on a desolate beach. Convincing Adam that he is her husband is surprisingly easy. Resisting the temptation to act his wife, in every way, will prove anything but. And now a passion begun in fantasy has become dangerously real—and completely irresistible…

~*~*~

First in a new series, we meet all four of the Lost Lords in this story, learn how they became friends and grew into more like brothers, willing to do anything for each other.

I'd love to be friends with Mariah, she's so sensible but fun.

I'm not sure what to say. There is danger, memory loss, recovered memories, back-from-the-dead relatives, shady characters, and a satisfying ending.

Oh! I started today. I finished today. I really liked this one and am looking forward to the other three.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
ebook
romance
In the Middle
Bout of Books 7.0
52 in 52

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #28: Leaving Home (sexy)

Leaving Home
Home series, book 4
T.A. Chase
978-1-78184-307-9
Total-e-Bound
April 2013
157 pages

male/male romance, Cowboy/Rodeo
source: private library

Chaz struggles with his addiction, while continuing to do his job of saving bull riders, but it’s all getting out of control.

Charles ‘Chaz’ O’Brien has been at the top of his profession for many years, enduring injuries that would have crushed a lesser man. Yet the top bullfighter isn’t calling it quits any time soon. He does his job with a fierce joy, though all the while he’s hiding a terrible secret. One that could get him suspended, and could end up killing the very men he protects.

Peter Skinner loves working for Les Hardin and Randy Hersch. His bosses are amazing men, but seeing how in love they are every day makes Peter’s heart ache. He wishes he could find a man to love him like that, but he knows they’re hard to come by in Wyoming where he lives.

Until, one day, Peter finds a man strung out in an alley, and is the only one around to deal with it. When Peter and Chaz meet, their worlds collide in a way that could be the best thing in the world for them both, or the worst experience of their lives.

~*~*~

This could be read as a stand alone but is so much better when read as part of a series. There is a lot of back story in the previous books. That being said. It's been awhile and countless number of books ago since I read the others and I did just find.

Peter is a sweet character in a bad spot with his family but he learned that the family you choose can be a whole lot better than the one you're born into. Chaz doesn't have the family problem, his is pain meds. Chaz's life revolves around the rodeo. He's a clown and one of the important parts of the ring for he holds the rider's safety in his ability to distract the bulls. Hard to do when you're hurting, thus the pain medicine.

Does Chaz love the rodeo more then he loves Peter? That becomes the big question and the solution was unexpected.


Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
ebook
M/M romance
Quick Fix
Monthly Key Words (home)

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #25: Lock and Key (NSFW)

Lock and Key
Sasha Devlin
978-1-61124-397-0
Amber Quill
March 2013
Novella, 26K words

ebook
male/male romance
source: private library

Shane Willet has been crushing on his roommate Jake for as long as he can remember with no relief in sight. But as studious as Jake is explosive, Shane has given up hope of catching his friend's eye. In an effort to get over him, Shane allows Jake to drag him to a Key Party—a sex party where men are thrown together by chance. Shane can only hope that hot sex with a virtual stranger will help him forget.

Key Parties are nothing new to a player like Jake Ritter, but tonight he has his own agenda. It involves leaving all other men behind and finally getting Shane in bed. Unbeknownst to Shane, Jake's rigged the party for them to end up together. Under the cover of darkness, he will indulge in every kinky act that he's been imagining over the past few months in a bid to bind Shane to him with sex.

Reality more than lives up to fantasy, and both men are left raw in the aftermath of their night of pleasure. Jake may think he knows all there is to know about men and sex, but Shane is going to teach him a thing or two about love...

~*~*~

Can a book be sweet and sexy? The story starts at a Key Party one weekend. There is some back story and a little foreshadowing but the story is completely settled before the next weekend. I loved the characters at the key party, one sweet, one a little sleazy, one a jerk but all lovable in their roles.

Quick read, lots of sex :-)

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
A to Z
M/M Romance
ebooks
Quick Fix

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #23: It's Not Easy Being Green

It's Not Easy Being Green
and Other Things to Consider
Jim Henson, The Muppets, and Friends
1-4013-0242-4
Hyperion
2005
197 pages

Non-fiction, motivational, quotes
everybody
source: private library

There are few things that evoke such a universal feeling of warmth and humor as the work of Jim Henson. In his own words, as well as those of some of his best-known characters like Kermit the Frog and Ernie, we’ll get a glimpse of the philosophy and humor that was so essential to Jim’s creations. We’ll also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the collaborative spirit of this gentle artistic genius from the people Jim knew, loved, and inspired.

This uplifting collection of quotes, stories, anecdotes, songs, and insights gives new life to Jim’s magical world. With chapters titled Dynamite Determination; Listen to Your Heart; Together We Can Do It; It Starts When We’re Kids; and A Part of Everything and Everyone, It’s Not Easy Being Green is by turns entertaining, inspiring, and laugh-out-loud funny, reminding us that every day counts. Readers young and old will cherish this collection.

Culled from The Jim Henson Company archives, program transcripts, personal letters, and interviews, along with some of Jim’s never-before-published writings, It’s Not Easy Being Green is a testament to the legacy of a man who changed the way we see the world.

~*~*~

Fun. Cute. Read through quickly the first time then go back, randomly reading pages. Did you know we almost missed out on the Muppets?

Quotes from Jim, co-workers, family, celebrities, and Muppets. You have to love a book with quotes from "Ma Otter" taken just as seriously as quotes from Ray Charles. There is a quick background on each of those with quotes in the back of the book with Anthony Minghella (director of The English Patient) getting as much to say about them as Cotterpin Doozer and Mokey Fraggle (both from Fraggle Rock).

There is life advise, work advise, parenting advise, all around how to be a great guy advise. I've got several pages bookmarked and plan on adding the inspiration to my planner.

If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn't anything you can't do if you want to.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
Colorful
Color Coded
What an Animal
Quick Fix
Monthly Key Word
Monthly Mix-up Mania
Nerdy Non-Fiction
A to Z

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading #11 . . . (NSFW)

It's a Good Life
The Good-time Boys #5
Carol Lynne
978-1-78184-203-4
92 pages
Total-e-Bound

ebook
MM
source: private library


Have you ever wondered what life would be like without you?

Although Sonny Good still suffers repercussions from a gunshot wound to his head, he refuses to let them interfere with his life. He does his best to hide what he can from his partner, Garron, in an attempt to gain more independence. When a car accident forces Sonny’s newest health concern to the foreground, he begins to slide back into the pit of despair he’s worked so hard to crawl out of. What use will he be to his family and friends if he can’t lead a normal life?

When a seizure leaves Sonny in need of emergency care, a CT Scan reveals the cause of his continued blackouts. Faced with a risky surgery, Sonny begins to wonder if his loved ones would’ve been better off if he’d died the day of the shooting.

Faced with the prospect of losing the man he loves, Garron is determined to show Sonny what he has to live for.

~*~*~

It was good to revisit the Good Brothers. Lilly's pregnant, Rawley is Mayor, Garron is Sherriff. And Sonny is struggling with his ranch. The seizures are getting worse and he's ready to give up. This is a happy-ever-after, at least for right now, because we never know what the future holds and need to enjoy each moment we have.


Other challenges this works for:
Winter's Respite RaT
M/M
Contemporary Romance
A-Z (I)
erotic ~ need to sign up for this one still
ebook
Outdo Yourself
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Ways

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading #10 ... (sexy)

The Lady Risks All
Stephanie Laurens
9780062068637
Avon
Oct 2012
467 pages

author's blog

print/ebook
Historical Romance
source: personal library

Grade A+

Neville Roscoe, notorious and enigmatic, lives resolutely outside society, bound only by his own code of honor - until challenged by his desire for the one woman he cannot have.

Miranda Clifford is a lady imprisoned by rigid respectability - until tempted by a passion beyond her power to deny.

Flung together in peril, through danger and intrigue, they discover a love impossible to ignore ... or keep.

~*~*~*~*~

Roscoe had a minor showing in Mastered by Love that raised questions. This is his story. And as with Ms. Laurens other stories, there is danger and love, and happily ever after. For Miranda's brother certainly.


Challenges this works for:
150+
Read a Latte
Let Me Count the Ways
Bout of Books 6.0
An Embarrassment of Riches
Mt. TBR
Romance
A to Z

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading #9 ... (sexy)

Mastered by Love
The Bastion Club #8
Stephanie Laurens
9780061246371
Avon
Jul 2009
434 pages

author's blog

print/ebook
Historical Romance
source: personal library

Grade A

The men of the Bastion Club proved their bravery secretly fighting for their country. Now their leader faces that most dangerous mission of all: finding a bride.

As the mysterious leader of the Bastion Club known as "Dalziel," Royce Varisey, tenth Duke of Wolverstone, served his country for decades, facing dangers untold. But as the holder of one of England's most august noble titles, he must now take on that gravest duty of all: marriage.

Yet the young ladies the grand dames would have him consider are predictably boring. Far more tempting is his castle's willful and determinedly aloof chatelaine, Minerva Chesterton. Beneath her serene façade lies a woman of smoldering sensuality, one who will fill his days with comfort and his nights with sheer pleasure. Determined to claim her, he embarks on a seduction to prove his mastery over every inch of her body . . . and every piece of her heart.

~*~*~*~*~

Finally! Questions that have been plaguing us for the whole series are answered. Quite a satisfying conclusion to this fabulous series.


Challenges this works for:
150+
Let Me Count the Ways
Bout of Books 6.0
A to Z
Bout of Books 6.0
Romance

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Quick Thoughts on #3 . . . (sexy)

Moosed-Up
Wild Men of Alaska #2
Tiffinie Helmer
ASIN: B007W51VP4
128 pages
April 2012
ebook 
Romance

Grade: B
source: private library

Nurse Practitioner Eva Stuart’s life is messed-up. She found her fiancé in bed with her best friend Jeremy, which has killed her confidence as a desirable woman and brought her judgment into question when it comes to men. Needing a change of scenery, she leaves Cincinnati behind for the wilds of Alaska and opts for running a medical clinic in a remote town. Her life quickly changes from messed-up to moosed-up as nature takes a stab at her.

Wildlife Refuge Officer Lynx Maiski is big... and hot... and hungry for a mate. He’s more than willing to show Eva just how sexy she is. After all, sometimes what a street-smart woman really needs is a forest-smart mountain man. But he’s keeping a secret that seems destined to ruin his chances at love.

Soon they are dealing with small town interference, a sun that refuses to set, deadly poachers, out of control lust, and a matchmaking moose on the loose.

~*~*~

This was a fun read with a little sex. Defiantly bedroom scenes even if they don't take place in the bedroom, but the romance, and the moose, is the story. I started reading this series with book ... 5 and didn't realize this was the same series.

Eva is sassy and petite but hurt. Lynx is 6'3" and enthralled. I loved watching the city-girl deal with not only small, small town but also living in the land of the midnight sun.

I'll be buying more in this series as soon as my buying ban is over. :-)

Other challenges this works for:

Self-published (googled the publisher and didn't find it.)
Contemporary Romance
ebook
What an Animal
Where are you reading/50 States
Let Me Count the Ways
Mt TBR - An Embarrassment of Riches
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks
I Double Dog Dare You


purchased Dec 30, 2012 so it counts as a tbr book. Finished Jan3

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Quick Thoughts on #2 . . . (clean read)

The Missing Monarch
Reclaiming the Crown #4
Rachelle McCalla
9780373445066
224 pages
Harlequin/Love Inspired Suspense
September 2012
ebook (and print)
Love Inspired Suspense

Grade: B
source: private library

Six years ago Crown Prince Thaddeus abandoned his new bride and went into hiding. His motive was to protect his country and his family from a ruthless tyrant. But when his estranged wife tracks him down, Thaddeus knows it's time to make a stand. Restore the royal line. And reclaim the crown. Yet just as he learns about the family's new addition—his and Monica's son—little Peter becomes a target. In a deadly game of power, Thaddeus must choose between the country and heritage he's been raised to defend…and the woman he never could forget.

~*~*~

This is a Happily Ever After for the Whole County kind of book.

Five-six years ago the was an explosion during the Royal Family's motorcade. The first three books explain what is happening, the trouble everyone is having trying to protect their tiny Christian country from a madman with the brains and money to defeat them. A man who wants to rule and doesn't like to lose.

While this is book four, it has been long enough since I read the others that I'm sure you won't be disappointed. You'll miss the journey the others had to make but you shouldn't feel lost in the story.

I'm happy to note that the author has not abandoned the county and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Oh, I mentioned it was a clean read. The whole country was based on Christian values, they pray frequently during the series and in this book, the kisses happen between husband and wife. No going behind doors either. Just Kisses.

Other challenges this works for:

Contemporary Romance
A-Z (M)
Genre/Sub-Genre
Let Me Count the Ways
Mt TBR - An Embarrassment of Riches
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks
ebooks
I Double Dog Dare You
Romantic Suspense

purchased Dec 2012 so it counts as a tbr book. Finished Jan3

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Thoughts on...The Paternity Test

A fiction book that read like truth.

I feel a little like a voyeur. Having a child to save a marriage can be fraught with minefields then add in needing a surrogate? Yikes! The thoughts and feeling expressed in The Paternity Test felt too private. The flip side is that I feel privileged to have been invited into the process. The search within and the search for a surrogate.

Plus, there's that whole gay thing. Yup, the marriage needed saving is a gay one. Would a woman really be willing to have a child for a gay couple?

If you are absolutely opposed to anything gay, do not read this book. (or blog for that matter, I review/read gay books all the time). The wonderful thing is that so far, the couple being gay doesn't seem to be the story. The aching for a child, needing medical help to do so, the infidelity. These things are not exclusively gay, they are human.

I've read thru five cycles and am looking forward to finishing the book.

back to reading...

Pat? What are you doing!

I feel betrayal coming and need to put it aside for a bit...




Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book without any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of BN.com and amazon.com.

The Paternity Test
by Michael Lowenthal

University of Wisconsin Press
ISBN: 9780299290009
Publication date: September 2012
Hardcover (also ebook)
Contemporary Fiction/Gay
18+ (maybe 16)
277 pages~my copy

Grade:


Product Description:

Having a baby to save a marriage—it’s the oldest of clichés. But what if the marriage at risk is a gay one, and having a baby involves a surrogate mother?

Pat Faunce is a faltering romantic, a former poetry major who now writes textbooks. A decade into his relationship with Stu, an airline pilot from a fraught Jewish family, he fears he’s losing Stu to other men—and losing himself in their “no rules” arrangement. Yearning for a baby and a deeper commitment, he pressures Stu to move from Manhattan to Cape Cod, to the cottage where Pat spent boyhood summers.

As they struggle to adjust to their new life, they enlist a surrogate: Debora, a charismatic Brazilian immigrant, married to Danny, an American carpenter. Gradually, Pat and Debora bond, drawn together by the logistics of getting pregnant and away from their spouses. Pat gets caught between loyalties—to Stu and his family, to Debora, to his own potent desires—and wonders: is he fit to be a father?

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on...Perfect Bait by Michael Fowlkes

I don't usually read reviews on books I'm going to review but I couldn't help but read a snippet that was posted on the book's website. "Blows Fifty Shades out of the Water..." Now I have no desire to read Fifty Shades so I'm not sure if this little snippet is a good thing or not. Time will tell.

Off to read....

I have very mixed feeling about this title. There were brilliant bits of philosophy and a heart stopping rescue even before the kidnapping. The kidnapping itself was so slick no one, except Corey of course, had an inkling something was wrong. Even when there was no radio contact and the ship was late.

Flaws: I was having trouble keeping up with the fact that the time setting of the book was not recent. For example, Seattle waterfront that "used to be a shantytown of makeshift craft...were being run off by multilevel, built-to-the-hilt, wall-to-wall floating condos" sounded current then the third of the best friends gets drafted for the Vietnam War. 

There were several places where there were no spaces... andIreallyhopethatiscorrected...

Sex: Most of the sex flowed well, just like any other mainstream novel, nothing kinky going on here. Some seems added just to have a sex scene. None of that bothered me as much as three pages of descriptive sex between between teens. Call me a prude if you want but it wasn't the sex, which was quite vanilla as far as sex goes, it was the high school freshman part!

Corey grows up in chapter one. Has sex in chapter two. He gets married in chapter three...

Gems: I absolutely loved Augie and think every child needs one in their life. Lloyd Wolf was an angel with his timing and knowledge. Also, someone I'd want in my corner. The philosophy of Jasmine and Jennifer could be made into a small inspirational book. The relationship between Jennifer and Corey shines. The teamwork of Corey's crew made me want to book a fishing trip.

The book didn't really grab me until the end of Chapter Ten. Still, it wasn't my complete attention. That didn't happen until pages 231. Was there too much back story? I don't know what could have been left out. Maybe I was focused on other stuff, I was vacationing after all and working on a deadline.

The books ending was all I was expecting before I started reading and I am glad I finished it. Would I read the author again? Yes, but it would be a library check out. Perfect Bait may have started as a D+ but it ended as a B and I feel that's a pretty good improvement.


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book without any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of Barnes and Noble, amazon and my copy of the book.

Perfect Bait
previously released as Flawed
by Michael Fowlkes

publisher: Thunderbird Press
ISBN: 978-0974240657
Publication date: May 2012
Trade Paperback
Fiction/Erotic Romance
Mature Audiences!
392 pages
Grade: C

Book's website


Product Description:

The richly-textured settings of Seattle's commercial waterfront, San Diego's topless beaches and the breathtaking waters off Cabo San Lucas create the backdrop for a riveting story of love, romance and betrayal, as a young couple find themselves in a fight for their lives having been set up by the FBI as perfect bait.

Now, that's what it says at amazon and Barnes and Noble but the back of my book?

The richly-textured settings of Seattle's commercial waterfront, San Diego's topless beaches, and the breathtaking waters off Cabo San Lucas create the backdrop for a riveting story of kidnapping, rape, and murder.

Born and raised in Seattle, Corey Phillips is new to Southern Calfornia, but with his devoted and beautiful girlfriend Jennifer by his side, their boat "Vintage" has become one of the top charter operations in the area.

However, not all those seeking trips offshore are looking for fish. Young girls are disappearing. Local authorities hope the FBI can put the pieces together, but nothing fits-until Corey and Jennifer become the perfect bait and find themselves in a fight for their lives.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on ... Mile Markers

This is a running book that's not really about running. Kristin Armstrong is a runner and uses running as a metaphor for life. The determination, dedication, strength and endurance needed in running has parallels in life. These are blog posts from Running World, turned into a book, arranged into chapters/mile markers in our life; Friendship, Play, Motherhood, Balance, Race Day.

This is a deeply personal glimpse into her life, her faith and love of family, friends, and running comes through loud and clear. I read it straight though and enjoyed the book. Each chapter has had something call to me and I found myself reaching for a highlighter. I'm thinking I'll need my own copy so I can highlight and write in the margins.

Here's just one example where Kristen writes of roadblocks and detours. The kind you find while out and about on a run, the kind you find while driving around, the kind you hit in life.

...Roadblocks always have something to teach us. Maybe it's a lesson in patience or perseverance. Maybe it's an opportunity to rethink the direction we chose in the first place. maybe it's an essential tutorial about life. Maybe it's a profound examination of self.

Whatever we learn, we can be almost certain that we would not have learned it any other way. And that is the most direct route from frustration to gratitude, no matter where the detour takes us.

I remember someone saying "isn't a 5k just 3 miles?" No. no it's not. It is 3.1 miles. That .1 makes a big difference. Kristen says the .2 is about having what it takes. Where ever life takes us, I hope you always have strength left for your .2

Disclaimer: This was a library book. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of publisher

Mile Markers
The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run
by Kristin Armstrong

Rodale Press
March 2011
978-1609611064
Hardcover
12 + (personal feelings)
Running, Life Lessons, Biography
288 pages
Grade: A


Product Description:

Built on the success of her popular blog on RunnersWorld.com, Kristin Armstrong’s new book is an intensely personal look at how running creates a special sense of community for the women who participate, and how it has helped her and many others mark the milestones of their lives. Each of the 26 chapters (the .2 is the epilogue) is dedicated to a specific theme, such as Friendship, Gratitude, Healing, Balance, and Motherhood. The specific experience of running is knitted into each chapter.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on ... Midnight Promises

Sherryl Woods has added to her Sweet Magnolia world with a new trilogy. I've only read the original story (Stealing Home) and I was a little disappointed at one of the spoilers in this book. Until I thought about it some more and realized it was wonderful to have the characters I knew from the first book involved in this one. I would totally recommend you read the whole series but can say that you should be just fine if you start with Midnight Promises. I can also say that I'm sure you'll be happy to go back to the beginning ;-)

My copy is an uncorrected proof and I did find one, minor, case of "oops" that I hope was corrected but was not that big of deal if it wasn't.

There is a "Dear Friends" letter explaining why the couple she had sent to the alter to in previous story needed a new one. The prologue ends with what may have been the end of the first story.

She lifted her gaze until she met Elliott's, then took that first confident, trusting step down the aisle into the future that promised to be everything her first marriage hadn't been.

This is a story about what happens after "you may kiss the Bride". The different viewpoints, the in-laws, the compromises. Step-children. Both working and struggling to find together time. The lessons learned from a previous marriage. All the stuff that happens on your way to "happily ever after."

There were several story lines going on at once, just like in real life and I'm hoping they are continued in the next books. I loved that the interaction between Elliott and Karen wasn't perfect. That they made mistakes just like we do. Serenity is the best of small town America but is far from perfect and that is refreshing also. I would totally move there if I could. I wonder if they need a bookstore? Maybe a craft store.

Does our Cinderella get her happy ending? Take a guess, this is a romance book after all :-)

Midnight Promises is currently available but you'll have to wait for book 2: Catching Fireflies and book 3: Where Azaleas Bloom. Luckily for us, they'll be released in 2012! If you can wait long enough, I wouldn't be able to, the trilogy would make a great winter-time gift.

When I was asked to review Midnight Promises, it was because I've read/reviewed romance. I have read Sherryl Woods but it had been a long time and I hadn't read any of the Sweet Magnolia novels. I love ebooks ;-) and purchased Stealing Home right away. Loved it. I didn't read any of the others until this one and I'm excited to read the whole series. I am going to start by reading Catching Fireflies because I received the whole trilogy. yea!

Sherryl Woods website. She also has a blog and a Facebook account.

Midnight Promises is available at amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Mira/Harlequin. Mass Market Paperback, multiple ebook formats, audio and large print hardcover. Be sure to check your favorite bookseller.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book without any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of the publisher and amazon

Midnight Promises
A Sweet Magnolia Novel
by Sherryl Woods

publisher: Harlequin MIRA
ISBN: 9780778313489
Mass Market Paperback
Romance
18+
384 pages plus Discussion Questions

Grade: B+


Product Description:

When Elliott Cruz first courted struggling single mom Karen Ames, it was a romance worthy of any Sweet Magnolia fantasy. The sexy personal trainer made it his mission to restore Karen's strength—physical and emotional—and to charm her children.

Now, a few years into the marriage, colliding dreams threaten to tear them apart. Elliott's desire to finance the business opportunity of a lifetime with their hard-earned "baby money" stirs Karen's deep-rooted financial insecurities. It's the discovery that their brother-in-law is cheating on Elliott's sister—and thinks it's justified—that puts their irreconcilable differences into perspective. Will their own loving fidelity be a bond so strong they can triumph against all odds?

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011