Book Review ~ Echoes of Titanic by Mindy Starns Clark ~ 5/5!!!

Title:  "Echoes of Titanic"
Series:  N/A

Author:  Mindy Starns Clark and John Campbell Clark
Publisher:  Harvest House
Publication Date: 3/1/12

Pages:  385

Book Description:

Kelsey Tate comes from sturdy stock. Her great-grandmother Adele endured the sinking of Titanic and made it safely to America, where she not only survived but thrived. Generations later, Kelsey works for the firm Adele founded nearly 100 years ago.

Now facing a hostile takeover, the firm’s origins are challenged when new facts emerge about Adele’s actions on the night Titanic sank. Kelsey tries to defend the company and the great-grandmother she has long admired, but the stakes are raised when Kelsey’s boss is murdered and her own life threatened. Forced to seek help from Cole Thornton, a man Kelsey once loved—and lost, thanks to her success-at-all-costs mentality—she pursues mysteries both past and present. Aided by Cole and strengthened by the faith she’d all but forgotten in her climb up the corporate ladder, Kelsey races the clock to defend her family legacy, her livelihood, and ultimately her life.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

Wow!  This book was so intriguing!

I loved how the book went back and forth between present day Kelsey and then Adele and Jocelyn on the Titanic.  I eagerly looked forward to the next section just to eagerly look forward to the NEXT section.  Know what I mean??

Up until the last few pages, I still had no idea if Adele was really Adele or Jocelyn.  The mystery was so complex.  Actually, I should say "mysteries".  There were multiple.

This was such a fun book for both historical and contemporary fans.

A Brief Excerpt:

"Dress warmly first, and then put on the life vest over your coat.  Bring your hat and hand muff too.  It's bitterly cold outside tonight.  I'll be back soon."

Page  322

The Cover:

The cover is so dramatic!  I love how it brings in the Titanic as well as giving me a face to go with Kelsey.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

5/5 Absolutely Loved It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ Rosemary Cottage by Colleen Coble ~ 5/5!!!

Title:  "Rosemary Cottage"
Series:  Hope Beach Book #2

Author:  Colleen Coble
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 7/9/13

Pages:  336

Book Description:

The cottage by the sea offers Amy a refuge to mourn her brother’s death and perhaps even discover a new love. But what if Ben’s death was no accident?

Rosemary Cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been in Amy Lang’s family for generations and offers her a haven within its peaceful walls. There she hopes to discover what really happened to her brother, Ben, even as she tries to come to grips with his death in the ocean months before.


She hopes the Coast Guard team will help her find closure, but they are quick to dismiss her concerns of foul play. Everyone in Hope Beach regards the suspicious e-mail she received as a vicious prank. When it seems discovering what happened to Ben will take longer than she expected, Amy moves her midwifery practice to Hope Beach.


Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland may hold the key to many of her questions, but he also hides a secret that will change her world forever. And her own secrets could tear apart the fragile love developing between them. Will Amy have the courage to put down her mask and let Curtis love her for who she is? And can they both weather the danger that threatens to destroy the most precious thing in their lives?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book made me want to keep reading.  It was so full of mystery that I thought I had some figured out but didn't know for sure.  Just when I thought I knew what was going on, it would take a turn and surprise me.

Overall,  I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as more of the mystery and intrigue genre.

A Brief Excerpt:

"The sun heated his arms, but that wasn't the reason her was warm.  What was it about her anyway?  He'd taken one look at her and had been instantly drawn to her.  He wanted to know what she was thinking, what made her tic,.  What had her life been like growing up?"

Page  84

The Cover:

I want to live there!  Gorgeous!   Enough said.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

5/5 Absolutely Loved It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck ~ 5/5!!!!!

Title:  "Once Upon a Prince"
Series:  Royal Weddings Book #1

Author:  Rachel Hauck
Publisher:  Zondervan
Publication Date: 5/7/13

Pages:  352

Book Description:

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess─just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn’t going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon’s Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna’s aid under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation.

It’s the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God’s will or their own?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I loved this book!  From the start to the finish it was magical.

I was afraid a book with a modern-day prince would be cheesy but it wasn't at all.  Awesome read!

A Brief Excerpt:

"Susanna glided into the room, wearing a beautiful gown that fitted her in all the right places.  Avery struck an elegant pose in her shimmery, beaded black gown, strutting proudly beside her sister."

Page  209

The Cover:

Love the cover!  It brings a bit of the fun from the book to the cover.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

5/5 Absolutely Loved It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ A Shore Thing by Julie Carobini

Title:  "A Shore Thing"
Series:  Otter Bay Book #2

Author:  Julie Carobini
Publisher:  B&H
Publication Date: 7/1/10

Pages:  400

Book Description:

Callie Duflay just isn’t like the rest of her family. While they’ve built white collar lives, she prefers getting her hands dirty by working with children and local California causes. When Callie learns that a beloved piece of untouched property in her town of Otter Bay may soon be developed, she confronts the architect assigned to the project.

Gage Mitchell may be an easygoing, eco-friendly professional, but he’s not about to back off this job no matter how cute Callie or her pet pooch, Moondoggy, may be. His reasons and hers are noble—both have a heart for protecting God’s creation, and the truth is these two would be perfect for each other outside of this face-off. But will they ever figure that out?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I enjoyed reading it but didn't necessarily love it.  It took me almost a week to read it due to being so busy so that might have had a lot to do with it.  If I had been able to read it in just a few sittings, I probably would have "felt" it more.

I have to admit, though, that it did make me want to read more.  I just didn't have the time.

A Brief Excerpt:

"From his post on the hill , Gage stopped mid-pace.  He straightened and shaded his eyes with a notebook, the other hand poised in a greeting.  Even at this distance, he could see the scowl forming on her face."

Page  39

The Cover:

Love the cover!  I want to be there right now digging MY toes in the warm sand.  Whine......

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

3/5  It Was OK.

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley

Title:  "Dawn Comes Early"
Series:  Last Chance Ranch Book #1

Author:  Margaret Brownley
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 3/13/12

Pages:  353

Book Description:

Looking for a woman of good character and pleasant disposition willing to learn the ranching business in Arizona territory. Must be SINGLE and prepared to remain so now and forever more. Will be given ownership of ranch. -Eleanor Walker

Disgraced dime novelist Kate Tenney fled the city that banned her latest book for a fresh start at a cattle ranch in the Arizona Territory. She hopes ranching turns out to be as romantic as she portrayed it in her novels.

But what awaits her is a much harder life. There is no room for mistakes on a working cattle ranch in 1895, and Kate is ill-prepared for her new life. She quickly learns that dawn comes early . . . every day. But she is tenacious.

Having been abandoned by a string of men, Kate has no intention of ever marrying. But she didn't expect to meet Luke Adams either. Luke awakens feelings inside Kate she doesn't recognize, and his steady presence is a constant distraction. She has only written about love in the past, never known it herself. But her feelings for Luke stand in the way of all she has to gain if she is chosen as the heir.

Perhaps God brought Kate to the barrenness of the desert to give new life to her jaded heart.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This was a sweet story about overcoming our past to embrace our present and our future.

Kate worked so hard to earn Last Chance Ranch.  She believed that land was the only thing that mattered and would never leave.  All she had to do was agree to never marry.

Luke is a simple, hard-working man.  He doesn't have the education that he thinks Kate would desire in a mate.  It takes him a while to accept himself as worthy as the man he is.

I really, really enjoyed the second part of the book where the romance was mainly located.  The beginning of the book had a lot of set-up for the series.  I do believe it was worth it as I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

A Brief Excerpt:

"Lula-Belle leaned over and whispered in Kate's ear, 'That was before they invented passion.'  Kate smiled politely, not sure she'd heard right."

Page  243

The Cover:

There are some discrepancies with the cover.  The ranch house was an adobe building, not a white clap-board house.  It also took place in the desert and I don't think it looks very desert-y.

Other than that I like how the heroine's features are highlighted.  I like being able to put a face to the name.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

4/5  Really Enjoyed It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ The Dashwood Sisters Tell All by Beth Pattillo

Title:  "The Dashwood Sisters Tell All"
Series:  Adventures with Jane Austen Book #3

Author:  Beth Pattillo
Publisher:  Guideposts
Publication Date: 4/1/11

Pages:  272

Book Description:

Following Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, Beth Pattillo returns with her new novel. Inspired by Sense and Sensibility, The Dashwood Sisters Tell Allfollows two modern-day sisters as they set out on a walking tour of Jane Austen's England and uncover what might actually be Jane's long-lost diary.

Ellen and Mimi Dodge have never been close, but their mother's dying wish sends them on a walking tour of Hampshire, England, that follows in the footsteps of Jane Austen. Their mother also left them something else: a diary that belonged to Jane's sister Cassandra. These pages shed light on the secrets that nearly tore the Austen sisters apart and inspired one of the greatest love stories of all time. They also bring Jane to life in a way that no one has ever seen before: through the eyes of her sister. As the Dodge sisters embark on their walking tour, they too are drawn together in ways they never expected. They also discover that Cassandra's diary holds secrets, and someone doesn't want Ellen and Mimi to discover the truth. As they stumble on their way toward love, the women learn how Jane and Cassandra Austen inspired the original Marianne and Elinor Dashwood and come to realize that despite their very different personalities, they are a vital part of each other's happy endings.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I thoroughly enjoyed this whole series.  The first two I loved.  This one fell just a bit short of them.  I wasn't impressed with the romantic aspect of the sisters.  It felt too forced and quick.  Is a week really long enough to fall in love?  True love?

As for the mystery and the clues, I loved that aspect.  It was so much fun trying to figure it out.  There were more than a few ways it could have gone and I wasn't sure which way it was going to be for quite a while.

I loved the correlation between sisters of Jane Austen's time and sisters of today.  I have two girls and would love them to become best of friends.

A Brief Excerpt:

"A gentleman learns from an early age
To play his part upon the stage
His lines are crisp, his speech is clear
He studies most from year to year."

Page  148 (a riddle)

The Cover:

Again, the covers for this series were spectacular!  I love the sisters walking side-by-side.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.


Rating

4/5  Really Enjoyed It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo ~ 5/5!

Title:  "Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart"
Series:  Adventures with Jane Austen Book #2

Author:  Beth Pattillo
Publisher:  Guideposts
Publication Date:  2/1/10

Pages:  263

Book Description:

Claire Prescott is a sensible woman who believes in facts and figures, not fairy tales. But when she agrees to present a paper to a summer symposium at Oxford on her ailing sister's behalf, Claire finds herself thrown into an adventure with a gaggle of Jane Austen-loving women all on the lookout for their Mr. Darcy. Claire isn't looking for Mr. Anyone. She's been dating Neil -- a nice if a bit negligent -- sports fanatic. But when a tall, dark and dashing stranger crosses her path, will the staid Claire suddenly discover her inner romantic heroine? 

Her chance meeting with a mysterious woman who claims to have an early version of Austen's Pride and Prejudice -- in which Lizzie ends up with someone other than Fitzwilliam Darcy -- leads to an astounding discovery about the venerated author's own struggle to find the right hero for Lizzie Bennett. Neil's unexpected arrival in Oxford complicates Claire's journey to finding her own romantic lead. 

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart is the story of a woman who finds that love isn't logical and that a true hero can appear in the most unexpected of places.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I devoured this book in one, snowy afternoon.

Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favorite Austen novel.  At first, I was a bit skeptical about reading passages of an "alternate" manuscript but I quickly came to love reading those bits and seeing how they differed from the real story-line.

I loved Claire's romantic  dilemma as well.  Tried and true or new and adventurous?  You'll have to read to find out :)

A Brief Excerpt:

"Whoever he was, he was the handsomest man I'd ever seen in my life.  He took two steps into the room and surveyed the paltry occupants.  An older gentleman, probably retired, sat by the door.  A young man with floppy blond hair and white ear-buds lounged in the corner.  And then there was me."

Page 6

The Cover:

Gorgeous!  The red dress against the backdrop of the green countryside is just amazing.  I have to admit that I liked the drama of "Jane Austen Ruined My Life"'s cover just a bit more.

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.
~Many thanks to my "Books 'n' Bloggers swap partner for this book!

Rating

5/5  I Loved It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo ~ 5/5!

Title:  "Jane Austen Ruined My Life"
Series:  Adventures with Jane Austen Book #1

Author:  Beth Pattillo
Publisher:  Guideposts
Publication Date:  2/9/09

Pages:  270

Book Description:

English professor Emma Grant has always done everything just the way her minister father told her she should -- a respectable marriage, a teaching job at a good college, and plans for the requisite two children. Life was prodigiously good, as her favorite author Jane Austen might say, until the day Emma finds her husband in bed with another woman. Suddenly, all her romantic notions a la Austen are exposed for the foolish dreams they are.

Denied tenure in the wake of the scandal and left penniless by the ensuing divorce, Emma packs up what few worldly possessions she has left and heads to England on a quest to find the missing letters of Jane Austen. Locating the elusive letters, however, isn't as straightforward as Emma hoped. The owner of the letters proves coy about her prize possessions, sending Emma on a series of Austen-related tasks that bring her closer and closer to the truth, but the sudden reappearance of Emma's first love makes everything more complicated.

In the end, Emma learns that doing the right thing has very little to do with other people's expectations and everything to do with her own beliefs. Laced with fictional excerpts from the missing letters, Jane Austen Ruined My Life is the story of a woman betrayed who uncovers the deeper meaning of loyalty.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

Of course, I love any book that has to do with Jane Austen.

That being said, I was so frustrated by the unanswered questions throughout the book!  I would have been demanding answers.  But then I wouldn't have had the journey that Emma had where she learns so much about herself as well as Jane Austen.

I love the "scavenger-hunt" concept.  How fun!  Loved it!  I can't wait to read "Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart" which is currently on my shelf!  Squeeelll!


A Brief Excerpt:

"I'd been too proud to ask Mrs. Parrot for financial help in completing her tasks.  Now I was regretting that pride.  To have come so far and to fall short...No.  I couldn't let that happen."

Page 41

The Cover:

I adore this cover.  I love the darkness with the pop of red.  I love how the red dress is shiny while the rest of the cover is matte.  Gorgeous!

Other Notes:

~  This is a nice, clean read.

Rating

5/5  I Loved It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

Title:  "Mine Till Midnight"
Series:  The Hathaways Book #1

Author:  Lisa Kleypas
Publisher:  St. Martin's
Publication Date:  10/2/07

Pages:  372

Book Description:

Their lives defy convention.

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

Their desire consumes them both.

Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter…

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book was so much fun to read.  Being the first book in a series, I enjoyed learning the characters and their quirks.  And the Hathaway's are full of quirks.

Amelia, it seems I'm on a roll reading books with Amelia's, was very maternal and protective of her siblings.  Her older brother, Leo, had gone off the deep end leaving her in charge of their family.  This family included, Merripen, a very interesting side character that I can't wait to read more about in book #2.

Cam Rohan, half Roma, was a juicy character.  From the street of London to the English Countryside, he can adapt to whatever comes his way.  He does have to make a life-decision though.  Freedom to roam or love.


A Brief Excerpt:

"The Hathaways are outsiders, as well," she said.  "It's obvious we're not suited to a position in polite society.  None of us have the education or breeding to carry it off.  Supper at Stony Creek Manor should be a spectacle--I'm sure it will end with us being tossed out on our ears."

Page 67

The Cover:

The beautiful blue dress on the front is gorgeous.  I don't really know how well it fits the book though.  I like that it isn't overly exposing.  The inside cover gives a bit of a glimpse at how Amelia and Cam look.  Most of the time I like having a face to put with the name/story.

Other Notes:

~This is a  mainstream romance with adult situations and content.
~I do my best to skip over the above-mentioned scenes.

Rating

4/5  Really enjoyed it!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare

Title:  "One Dance with a Duke"
Series:  Stud Club Book #1

Author:  Tessa Dare
Publisher:  Ballantine
Publication Date:  5/25/10

Pages:  384

Book Description:

In One Dance with a Duke, the first novel in Tessa Dare’s delightful new trilogy secrets and scandals tempt the irresistible rogues of the Stud Club to gamble everything for love.

A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members,  yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing “Duke of Midnight.” Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobody ever bests the duke until Lady Amelia d’Orsay tries her luck.

In a moment of desperation, the unconventional beauty claims the duke’s dance and unwittingly steals his heart. When Amelia demands that Spencer forgive her scapegrace brother’s debts, she never imagines that her game of wits and words will lead to breathless passion and a steamy proposal. Still, Spencer is a man of mystery, perhaps connected to the shocking murder of the Stud Club’s founder. Will Amelia lose her heart in this reckless wager or win everlasting love?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I'm so conflicted over I how I feel about this book!  On one hand, I loved the plot and characters and on the other hand, it felt a bit slow in the beginning and I hated the main male character!  So conflicted!

Spencer was so arrogant, self-serving, and narrow-minded.  He throws money around like it is nothing and thinks a Duke never has to explain himself.  His redeeming quality is that he DOES fall in love with the Leading Lady and even tells her so!

Amelia, one of my favorite names BTW, is fiercely loyal to her family (almost to a fault) and is a nurturer at heart.  I love that she isn't your normal "thin and beautiful" heroine but is plump and has regular features.  A real woman.

I have the next two books of the series on my shelf and since it is a Snow Day, I might attempt to read them both in a mini read-a-thon.  I do look forward to reading more about Bellamy and Ashworth.


A Brief Excerpt:

"So, Spence thought to himself, Lady Amelia had received offers of marriage.  And refused them.  He had been wondering whether her spinsterhood was a condition arrived at by choice, or merely from a lack of alternatives."

Page 41

The Cover:

The top of the cover is verging on showing a bit too much skin for my taste.  The lower part of the cover is gorgeous!

Other Notes:

~This is a  mainstream romance with adult situations and content.
~I do my best to skip over the above-mentioned scenes.

Rating

4/5  Really enjoyed it!

On to the next book,

Book Review: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah Maclean ~ 5/5!

Title:  "No Good Duke Goes Unpunished"
Series:  Rule of Scoundrels Book #3

Author:  Sarah MacLean
Publisher:  Avon
Publication Date:  11/26/13

Pages:  384

Book Description:

A rogue ruined . . .

He is the Killer Duke, accused of murdering Mara Lowe on the eve of her wedding. With no memory of that fateful night, Temple has reigned over the darkest of London’s corners for twelve years, wealthy and powerful, but beyond redemption. Until one night, Mara resurfaces, offering the one thing he’s dreamed of . . . absolution.

A lady returned . . .

Mara planned never to return to the world from which she’d run, but when her brother falls deep into debt at Temple’s exclusive casino, she has no choice but to offer Temple a trade that ends in her returning to society and proving to the world what only she knows . . . that he is no killer.

A scandal revealed . . .

It’s a fine trade, until Temple realizes that the lady—and her past—are more than they seem. It will take every bit of his strength to resist the pull of this mysterious, maddening woman who seems willing to risk everything for honor . . . and to keep from putting himself on the line for love.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I have loved this whole series!  I've loved reading how each of the "Scoundrels" has fallen in love.  Temple was one of my favorite characters throughout the series and I was really hoping he would have a good back-story.  The author didn't fail me.  I loved it!

The very last line in the book is such a cliffhanger!  I am eagerly anticipating Book #4.


A Brief Excerpt:

"She looked down at her skirts.  Smoothed them.  He noticed she wasn't wearing gloves--same as the prior evening.  As in his dream."

Page 55

The Cover:

This cover is gorgeous!  Green, green, green.  The lady just looking back over her shoulder as she runs away.  Beautiful!  The inside cover is gorgeous as well :)

Other Notes:

~This is a  mainstream romance with adult situations and content.
~I do my best to skip over the above-mentioned scenes.

Rating

5/5  Absolutely loved it!

On to the next book,

Book Review: The Trouble With Being a Duke by Sophie Barnes

Title:  "The Trouble With Being a Duke"
Series:  At the Kingsborough Ball Book #1

Author:  Sophie Barnes
Publisher:  Avon
Publication Date:  8/27/13

Pages:  371

Book Description:

Sometimes happily ever after…

Anthony Hurst, Duke of Kingsborough knows the time has come for him to produce an heir. But first he must find a bride. When he meets the most exquisite woman at his masquerade ball, he thinks his search is over…until the breathtaking beauty runs off. With few clues other than her figure, her scent, and the memory of her kiss, Anthony must find his mystery lady.

…needs a little bit of help.

Isabella Chilcott can scarcely believe it: she is finally at the Kingsborough Ball. As a child, she dreamed of dancing a waltz here and now, thanks to a gorgeous gown she’s found in the attic, Isabella is living her fairytale fantasy. And she’s waltzing with the Duke of Kingsborough himself! But she must escape before he discovers her secrets…for she is not who she pretends to be, and falling in love with Prince Charming is the last thing she can allow herself to do…

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book was a little too "fluffy" for my taste.  Love at first sight?  At a masquerade ball?  I think not.  It seemed a bit cheesy and too "Cinderella-y" in the beginning.  It did, however, have some redeeming qualities.

Isabella gives the Duke a run for his money by not throwing everything in the air and running straight into his arms.  Although at times, she did.  She was a bit hot and cold which no doubt was very confusing for the Duke.

I did enjoy the book but I REALLY want to know more about the woman who was shot at the ball!


A Brief Excerpt:

"Why not?" he asked as he cupped her head with his hands, forcing her to look at him.  "I won't tell a soul if you do not wish for me to do so.   Your parents will never discover that you were here, and neither will you intended, but I need to k now who you are...the name of the woman who's captured my interest."

Page 79

The Cover:

The cover is really beautiful.  The dress is gorgeous and I love that it fits the description of the dress in book.  I'm also pleased that it doesn't show too much skin.  I also like that the man is wearing a mask.  Very mysterious.

Other Notes:

~This is a  mainstream romance with adult situations and content.
~I do my best to skip over the above-mentioned scenes.

Rating

3/5  It was OK.

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ An Unwilling Conquest by Stephanie Laurens

Title:  "An Unwilling Conquest"
Series:  Regencies Book #7

Author:  Stephanie Laurens
Publisher:  Harlequin
Publication Date:  4/30/13

Pages:  320

Book Description:

A successful horse breeder and self-proclaimed rake, Harry Lester samples women like wines. But after having his heart trampled by someone he actually loved, he has no intention of falling for a woman again, let alone being ensnared by the trap of marriage. Now, with a large inheritance to his name, Harry knows that he'd best start running from London's matchmaking mothers and widows.


Harry heads for the racing town of Newmarket, only to encounter Mrs. Lucinda Babbacombe, a beautiful, independent widow. And before he knows it, Harry vows to protect Lucinda from the town full of lonely gambling men, despite her refusal to accept his countless offers of help. Lucinda is extraordinary,  an intelligent, tender woman but will Harry let himself be taken prisoner in this most passionate of traps?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I can't say that I loved this book.  I enjoyed it but it didn't leave me wanting more or with that giddy feeling I get when I finish an awesome book.

The characters were charming in their own rights but I felt that so much was left out that could have made the relationship more intriguing.


A Brief Excerpt:

Somewhat later, the lilting strains of another waltz drifted from the musicians' dais at the other end of the room.  Lucinda blinked.  She had already danced with all those of her court she considered safre--she hadn't anticipated another waltz.

Page 111

The Cover:

I really like this cover.  I like the details that are shown and how they match up with the description of Lucinda.  I also like that it doesn't show so much skin that I'd be ashamed to read it in front of my children.

Other Notes:

~This is a  mainstream romance with adult situations and content.

Rating

3/5  It was OK.

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd ~ 5/5!

Title:  "The Headmistress of Rosemere"
Series:  Whispers on the Moors Book #2

Author:  Sarah E. Ladd
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Publication Date:  12/31/13

Pages:  320

My Review of Book #1 can be found HERE.

Book Description:

Patience Creighton will finally find the peace she lost years ago--if she can open her heart and forgive the man who loves her.

Bright, sensible Patience knows what is expected of her. At twenty-five, her opportunity for a family of her own has passed, so she finds contentment teaching at her father's school for girls. When her father dies suddenly and her brother moves away to London, she is determined to keep her father's dream alive.

Confirmed bachelor William Sterling also knows what is expected of him, but mistake after mistake has left him teetering on ruin's edge. As master of Eastmore Hall he owns a great deal of land but possesses little money to manage the upkeep. He is desperate to find a new source of income, including the sacrifice of land connected to Rosemere.

When her brother returns with a new wife to take over management of the school, Patience is heartbroken to no longer be responsible for her beloved school and is forced to reassess God's purpose for her life. After her sister-in-law's matchmaking brings Patience and William together, they both learn new truths about their character and find a common goal in restoring Eastmore's legacy.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

Sarah E. Ladd is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

I anticipated reading this book after reading Book #1 of the series where William was first introduced.  Even though his character was very less than stellar, I knew that there could be redemption for him.  I was very pleased with how his story plays out.

Patience is a very lovable character.  She dotes on her students and takes care of her Mother during trials and tribulations.

I cannot wait for the third book in the series!

A Brief Excerpt:

Feeling exhausted even before the day was truly under way, Patience carefully closed her mother's door and let the brass handle slip from her fingers.  She sighed.  She would give anything to have her mother back, the mother she remembered.

Page 27

The Cover:

I like the continuity of the theme from Book #1 to Book #2.  Leading lady with her back turned against the backdrop of an architectural feature.  The story does take place in the winter so the snow is appropriate.

My only problem is how the dome of the building almost makes Patience look like she has a nurses hat on!

Other Notes:

~Read this book and the first!

Rating

5/5 ~ Absolutely Loved It!

On to the next book,

Book Review: The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd ~ 5/5!

Title:  "The Heiress of Winterwood"
Series:  Whispers on the Moors Book #1

Author:  Sarah E. Ladd
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Publication Date:  4/9/13

Pages:  320

Book Description:

Darbury, England, 1814

Amelia Barrett, heiress to an ancestral estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend’s infant baby. She'll risk everything to keep her word—even to the point of proposing to the child’s father, Graham, a sea captain she’s never met.

Tragedy strikes when the child vanishes with little more than a sketchy ransom note hinting to her whereabouts. Fear for the child’s safety drives Amelia and Graham to test the boundaries of their love for this infant.

Amelia’s detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she examines her soul and must face her one weakness: pride.

Graham’s strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline.

Both must learn to accept God’s sovereignty and relinquish control so they can grasp the future He has for planned for them.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

This book is full of drama and excitement!  From the very first page to the very last, it is non-stop.  From marriage proposals to kidnapping, from dinner parties to dockside brawls.  It kept my attention from beginning to end.

I love Amelia's fierce loyalty and Graham's strong dependability.  Throw in a sweet little baby and this was a wonderful book.

I have Book #2 on my TBR shelf.  It just might be my next read!

A Brief Excerpt:

Amelia's ears flamed, and she tried to swallow.  She wanted to tell them that though Edward appeared amiable, he was actually a treacherous man.

Page 143

The Cover:

Once again, this cover contains a favorite of mine.  I love that we get to see Winterwood.  Also the color of Amelia's dress is simply gorgeous against the gold and green backgrounds.  Beautiful.

Other Notes:

~Read this book!

Rating

5/5 ~ Absolutely Loved It!

On to the next book,