I'm in No Mood For Love by Rachel Gibson (Sex, Lies & Online Dating #2)

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon 
• ISBN-13: 978-0060773175 

 What is Clare Wingate doing? One minute she's suffering in a pretty-in-pink gown she'll never wear again, and the next thing she knows it's morning ... and she has the nastiest hangover of her life. 


To make matters worse, she's wearing nothing but a spritz of Escada and lying next to Sebastian Vaughn ... her girlhood crush turned sexy, globe hopping journalist. Somewhere between the toast and the toss of the bouquet she'd gotten herself into a whole lot of trouble. 


Clare had the right to go wild - after all, she'd been knocked off her dyed-to-match shoes after finding her own fiance in a compromising position with the washing machine repairman. Clearly her society wedding is off. 


But Sebastian pushed all the wrong buttons - and some of the right ones, too. Claire is in no mood for love - not even for lust - and wants to forget about Sebastian and his six-pack abs. ASAP. But he isn't in the mood to go away, and his kiss is impossible to forget. - Copied from the back of the book.

This was the second book in the writer friends series by Rachel Gibson. This book took me just a little longer to get into verses the first one. I did enjoy this book though and read it pretty quickly. I really liked Sebastian and how he enteracted with Clare. Once Clare finally loosened up things moved pretty quickly between the two. I also enjoyed learning about another writer friend in this series. Good book and am looking forward to the next one. 4 Stars

Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman

 

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone
• ISBN-13: 978-1451623499 

Emma, a prima ballerina in London, is at a crossroads after an injured knee ruins her career. Forced to rest and take stock of her life, she finds that she's mistaken fame and achievement for love and fulfillment. Returning inheritance: a sheep station in isolated rural Australia. Certain she has been saddled with an irritating burden. Emma prepares to leave for Wildflower Hill to sell the estate. 


Beattie also found herself at a crossroads as a young woman, but she was pregnant and unwed. She eventually found success - but only after following an unconventional path that was often dangerous and heartbreaking. Beattie knew the lessons she learned in life would be important to Emma one day: and she wanted to make sure Emma's heart remained open to love, no matter what life brought. She knew the magic of the Australian wilderness would show Emma the way.  - taken from the back of the book

Not only did I win this book in a giveaway from Goodreads my book club Novel Ladies chose this book as a November group read so I had two reasons to read it. I am glad that I entered the giveaway for this and chose to read it. This book grabbed me from the first page and I could not put it down. I like how it told both the story of Emma and Beattie's struggles and how they both overcame them. I think I liked reading about Beattie a little more than Emma but enjoyed both. I felt so bad for Beattie as it felt like life just kept knocking her down but she kept overcoming the struggles. I was so sad for her and the situation with her daughter. Emma on the other had it easier in life and then took it all for granted until she became injured and learned to look at life in a new perspective. I wished the book would have taken us just a little further along as I felt the ending left us hanging just a little and wanting more. 5 stars for me.

FTC DISCLOSURE:I received this book in return for a fair and honest review.

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 19 hours and 36 minutes
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001AWVRX6 

 

This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear.

A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly--she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge. - Taken from Amazon.com

I tried to read this book years ago when it was all the rage and just could not get into but the book sounded so good to me that I wanted to give it another try. So I thought why not listen to it since I have plenty of time at work to do this. Well I am glad I did. It did not move along as fast as I thought it would but I did enjoy it. It only took me two and a half days to listen to it. I plan on listening to the second book next week. I like how the clan ended up accepting Ayla into their clan. I also liked how Iza, Creb and Ayla formed their own little family. I did not like the one guy treated her (I do not know how to spell his name and since I listened to it, I can't look it up). 3 1/2 stars

The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• ISBN-13: 9780312658960

 Gretchen Daniels has recently moved into a condo with her two children to be closer to her mother, Miriam. She and her children are building a life together in a new community. A mysterious young woman, Melissa McCreary, lives next door to them. She has few possessions, little personality, and keeps to herself. One day a local landlord who is looking for Melissa knocks on Gretchen's door for assistance. Melissa's mother has died and in the coming weeks the landlord needs Melissa to empty her mother's apartment. Gretchen reaches out and offers to help Melissa, but the apartment is a gut-wrenching shambles of a home. There is little worth saving except for a few photos and a note that is discovered on the crate beside the bed. It is unfinished, but in the two scribbled lines Melissa discovers secrets about her family that she never could have imagined. can two very different women embark on a journey that explores a long-buried need for forgiveness, hope and redemption? Taken from the dust jacket of the book

I really enjoyed this book. It has been a little while since I have read a book by Donna but I am glad I did and now need to go back and read the other books in the Christmas series that I have not read yet. I really enjoyed Melissa and Gretchen. I love how Gretchen got Melissa to come out of her shell. I also love the few little surprises that happen in this book. I can't say more about that without spoiling the book. I also thought the way Miriam and Gloria got along was the funniest thing. The only thing I did not like about the book was it kind of left me hanging at the end but in a good way. Great fast fun holiday read. 5 Stars


FTC DISCLOSURE:I received this book in return for a fair and honest review.

Sex, Lies, and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson

 

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon 
• ISBN-13: 9780060772918

What is it about men anyway? Bad cars, bad jobs, even bad teeth -- nothing convinces them that they can't snare a size two babe with a d-cup chest. And after way too many internet dates with men named "luvstick" and "bigdaddy182" Lucy Rothschild should know.

But sitting across from her now is "hardluvnman" and he seems different -- sensitive, honest, and hot! He says he's a plumber, while Lucy claims she's a nurse! She's really a mystery writer, dating online while researching her next book. Hey, everyone lies a little, don't they?

But Quinn's really an undercover cop hunting down a serial killer, and he sees Lucy as hes top suspect. And while he could really go for this smart, sexy woman with the with the killer bod -- if that's the only thing "killer" about her -- he knows he needs to wine and dine her and discover the truth. Hey, he realizes the dating scene can be deadly -- but this is ridiculous!

 I thought this was a nice fun book to read. I did not really know what to expect when I first started reading it. I guess I thought it would be a chick lit book but was pleasantly surprised when I found a mystery book instead with some chick lit mixed in. I enjoyed the main character in this book a lot - she is someone you could be friends with. I think this will be a fun series to continue on with. 4 Stars

Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
• ISBN-13: 978-0425243497

Why should my clueless brother, Binky, and his decidedly disagreeable wife Fig, be the only ones to enjoy the fun and sun of the French Riviera? Though they are disinclined to invite me along. Her Majesty the Queen once again come to my rescue. she is sending me off to Nice with a secret assignment that's nothing to sneeze at -- recover her priceless, stolen snuffbox from the disreputable Sir Toby Groper. 


As much of an honor as it is to be trusted by Her Majesty, an even greater honor is bestowed upon me in Nice -- none other than Coco Chanel herself asks me to model her latest fashion. Unfortunately, things go disastrously wrong on the catwalk. 


And before I can snatch the snuffbox, someone's life is snuffed out in a very dastardly way. With a murderer on the loose -- and my dearest Darcy seen in the company of another woman - how's a girl to find any time to go to the casino? - copied from the bookcover

Another good installment to a fun series. I enjoyed this book. It is always fun to see what kind of trouble Georgie can get herself into. One thing that is driving me crazy Darcy and Georgie. I wish they would hurry up and get over their little "issues/problems" and get together. I like how in this book Georgie seem to get closer to her mum. 4 Stars

Juliet by Anne Fortier

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Random House Audio
• ISBN-13: 978-0739384954 

 Twenty-five-year-old Julie Jacobs is heartbroken over the death of her beloved aunt Rose. But the shock goes even deeper when she learns that the woman who has been like a mother to her has left her entire estate to Julie’s twin sister. The only thing Julie receives is a key—one carried by her mother on the day she herself died—to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy.
   
This key sends Julie on a journey that will change her life forever—a journey into the troubled past of her ancestor Giulietta Tolomei. In 1340, still reeling from the slaughter of her parents, Giulietta was smuggled into Siena, where she met a young man named Romeo. Their ill-fated love turned medieval Siena upside-down and went on to inspire generations of poets and artists, the story reaching its pinnacle in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.
   
But six centuries have a way of catching up to the present, and Julie gradually begins to discover that here, in this ancient city, the past and present are hard to tell apart. The deeper she delves into the history of Romeo and Giulietta, and the closer she gets to the treasure they allegedly left behind, the greater the danger surrounding her—superstitions, ancient hostilities, and personal vendettas. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in the unforgettable blood feud, she begins to fear that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is destined to be its next target. Only someone like Romeo, it seems, could save her from this dreaded fate, but his story ended long ago. Or did it? - copied from Amazon.com

I enjoyed listening to this book. I like how the book makes Romeo & Juliet into real people and not just a story. I also enjoyed the mystery of the story and how Julie is looking for the treasure/history of her family and the real story behind Romeo and Juliet. The more I listened to the book the more the mystery twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out up comes another twist. It was also nice that you got the original story of Romeo and Juliet and then the modern/real story. Very enjoyable book. 4 stars

 

Silently Loved by Annie Lee

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Tobias Books
• ISBN-13: 978-0615536859 

After a four-year failed marriage to Dane Weathers, an unplanned pregnancy, and a terrible beating that led to a miscarriage,  Hailey promised herself she would never depend on another man again. That is, until she meets her deaf and nearly blind landlord. As Hailey attempts to move on with her life as the Sign Language teacher at a local high school, she is faced with budding emotions towards her landlord and threats from a dangerous ex-husband who won't let her go. - Quoted from the back of the book.

First I would like to thank Annie Lee for asking me to review her book. I am so happy that I said yes. This was a very good book that grabbed me from the beginning. There was just a little of Hailey's background at the start that left me wanting more and I got just that. As Hailey and Noah get to know each other and as Hailey and her best friend Reese reconnect you find out more about Hailey's failed marriage. I liked how Noah and Hailey became close and fell in love. There are ups and downs in this book. I found myself smiling, crying and sitting on the edge of my seat. Annie's writing is so good that she pulls you in to the point that you feel like the characters are alive and you don't want to put the book down. Now I want to read Annie's first book. I think she will be on the bestseller list in no time. 5 stars.

FTC DISCLOSURE:I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Playing the Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• ISBN-10: 0312578083

Annette Remmington, a London art consultant and private dealer, is at the top of her game. She is considered a rising star in the international world of art, and has a roster of wealthy clients who trust her judgment and her business acumen. Her success reaches new heights when a rare and long lost Rembrandt finds its way into her hands, which she restores and sells for top dollar. Called the auction of the year, Annette becomes the most talked about art dealer in the world.
Annette is married to her mentor and personal champion, the much older Marius Remmington. For twenty years, Marius has groomed her into the international art star that she has become, not to mention saving her from a dark and gritty past. She is his pride and joy, and as her best advisor, it’s with great care that he hand picks only the best journalist possible to do a profile on his beloved wife in a popular London Sunday newspaper. Jack Chalmers is a bit of a celebrity himself, becoming one of the top journalists of his time. Marius believes only he will be able to capture the true brilliance of his lovely wife. But Marius never intends to put his marriage in jeopardy. How could he have known that the connection between Jack and Annette would ignite so many secrets? And how could he know that Jack would uncover a scandal that could ultimately destroy them all? - quoted from Amazon.com 


This was my first audio book that I have ever listened to. I picked this one to be my first because I really like Barbara Taylor Bradford's Emma Harte series. I really enjoyed this book. I liked getting to know Annette. From the beginning I knew there was something in the past that was a problem but could not put my finger on it. As the book went on it got more and more interesting until I did not want to stop listening. I liked how the mystery of the forged art work kind of tied in with Annette's past at the end. I thought the ending of the book was perfect, but I won't give away any details - just that it was the perfect ending. I thought the narrator did a good job - I could listen to someone with an English accent talk all day long. So in ending this was the perfect audio book for me to start with. 5 Stars.

The Manning Grooms by Debbie Macomber

 

• Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Mira
• ISBN-13: 978-0778326021

 Jason Manning is content with his life as a bachelor, a slob and a sports fan. Then a precocious girl named Carrie Weston decides to play matchmaker, introducing him to her mother Charlotte. To his relief, Charlotte is as averse to marriage as he is. But Jason's feelings start to change once he gets to know his Bride on the Loose.

James Wilkens as almost a Manning groom - because he almost married one of the Manning sisters. With that broken engagement behind him, he spends New Year's Eve in Las Vegas... where he meets Summer Lawton. She's just suffered a painful betrayal, and James promises her that in a year, she'll be over it. To prove his point, he makes a date to meet her in Vegas Same, Next Year. Except it turns out to be more than a date - it's a wedding! - quoted from the back cover of the book. 

I am going to review each story of the book separately.  

The Bride on the Loose - I liked this story but it was not one of my favorites of Debbie's. I enjoyed reading about Charlotte and Jason, although for some reason I was not fond of Charlotte. I did like Jason though. I thought it was cute now Carrie was trying to find a man for her mom so she could be happier. The ending was good but then again if it did not have a happy ending we would not like it right?

Same Time, Next Year - At first I really did not like this story and thought it very unreal to me. Then it kept growing on me until the last section then I really liked it and even had a lump in my throat reading some of it. The last part of the book was more the way that I like how Debbie has written her other books I have read. I want to know what happens next with Summer and James.

I give this book 3 stars - it was a good great but now outstanding to me.

Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander - Lady Emily Series Book 5

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• ISBN-13: 978-0312383794 

Returning from her honeymoon with Colin Hargreaves and a near brush with death in Constantinople, Lady Emily convalesces at her mother-in-law's beautiful estate in Normandy. But the calm she so desperately seeks is shattered when, out horseback riding, she comes upon the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The girl's wounds are identical to those inflicted on the victims of Jack the Ripper, who has wreaked havoc across the channel in London. Emily feels a connection to the young woman and is determined to bring the killer to justice.


Pursuing a trail of clues and victims to the beautiful medieval city of Rouen and a crumbling chateau in the country, Emily begins to worry about her own sanity: she hears the cries of a little girl she cannot find and discovers blue ribbons left in the child's wake.  As Emily is forced to match wits with a brilliant and manipulative killer, only her courage, keen instincts, and formidable will to win can help her escape becoming his next victim. - quoted from the cover of the book.

My review of this book is going to be short and sweet as I don't want to give too much away. I thought this book was a good addition to the Lady Emily series. The way that Emily's tragedy from the last book was used to lure her in this story was kind of interesting. I also enjoyed that Sebastian was a little more out in the open this time. All in all another great book. 5 Stars

Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr - Virgin River #7

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Mira
• ISBN-13: 978-0778312949

Marine corporal Rick Sudder is home early from Iraq - his tour ended abruptly on the battlefield. The carefree boy is gone, replaced by a man who believes his future is as bleak as his mirror image. But can the passion and commitment of a young woman who has never given up on him mend his broken body and shattered heart?

As the people of Virgin River rally around Rick, another recent arrival tests the tightly knit mountain town's famous welcoming spirit. Dan Brady has a questionable past, and he's looking for a place to start over. He'd like it to be Virgin River .. if he can find a way in. But he never expects to find it in the arms of a woman who was as much an outcast as himself.

For a favorite son returned from war and an outsider looking for a home, Virgin River offers them a chance to make peace with the men they once were ... and to find the dreams they thought they'd lost. - quoted from the back of the book

If I had to list my favorite series - the Virgin River series would be one of them. This book did not disappoint. I cried and smiled thru this book. The more I read about this town the more I feel a part of it. I was happy to see more progression with Walt and Muriel, Cam and Abby and to hear more about Cheryl and the addition of a old but new character in Dan. I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. 5 Stars

Dying in Style by Elaine Viets

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Reprint edition 
• ISBN-13: 978-0451216793

Ah, the Danessa Celedine handbag. To have one is to invite envy and flaunt wealth, with each bag costing upward of five thousand dollars. When a large company considers paying millions for use of the Danessa name, Josie's hired to inspect the designer's stores anonymously. And each boutique is worse than the one before. Her less than stellar report provokes threats of a lawsuit... until Danessa is strangled with one of her own thousand-dollar snakeskin belts. Josie better bag the killer before she winds up in an ugly jailhouse outfit herself.  - quoted from the back of the book. 


I am a cozy mystery fan and enjoyed this book. I like the little twists in the murder and trying to find out who actually killed Danessa. The ending of the book was fun to read even though it was not so fun for Josie. I could not put this book down. I would like to continue on with this series. 4 Stars

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
• ISBN-13: 978-0312357054 

 Turn Left at Small Town Secrets

Sophie Dempsey is content living a quiet life filming wedding videos until an assignment brings her to Temptation, Ohio. From the moment she drives into town, she gets a bad feeling. Sophie is from the wrong side of the tracks and everything in Temptation is a little too right. And when she has a run-in with the town's unnervingly sexy mayor, Phineas Tucker, making a little movie turns out to be more than a little dangerous. 

Yield to Oncoming Desire

All Sophie wants to do is film the video and head home. All Phin wants to do is play pool with the police chief and keep things peaceful. They both get more than they bargained for when Sophie's video causes an uproar and the proper citizens of Temptation set out to shut them down. 

Welcome to Temptation

As events spiral out of control, Sophie and Phin find themselves caught in a web of gossip, blackmail, adultery, murder, and really excellent sex. All hell breaks loose in Temptation as Sophie and Phin fall deeper and deeper in trouble ... and in love.  - quoted from the back of the book.

I thought this book moved a little slow for me. I enjoyed the last two or three chapters of the book more than I did the rest of the book. The story line at times seemed a little choppy. It was a nice book to read but not one I would read a second time.

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 
• ISBN-13: 978-0312321192

Meet Rachel White, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl - until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiance. Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from. In her wildest dreams (or worst nightmare?) this is the last thing on earth Rachel could ever have imagined happening. As the September wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk all to win true happiness. Something Borrowed is a phenomenal debut novel that will have you laughing, crying, and calling your best friend. - quoted from the back of the book.

I enjoyed this book. There were a couple of parts that I thought could have maybe moved along a little faster though. I felt empathy for Rachel and the way that her friend Darcy treated her. What a twisted turn of events ended up happening at the end of the book. I was happy with the ending but also surprised by some events. If you are looking for a light fun read you will enjoy this book. I would like to continue with this series. I gave this book 4 stars.

Please be patient with me.

Hello all - Just wanted to let you know it has been a couple of slow days for the reading as I have spent too much time on the computer as well as spent some quality time with my teenagers. I hope to have my book done no later than Tuesday so I can post my first review for everyone to see.


In the meantime - tell me what you are all reading. I would love to hear about the books you are enjoying at the moment.

Well time to put the computer away and do some more reading. Enjoy your books.

Hi everyone

This is my first attempt at starting a blog. I will mostly be adding book reviews to my blog but may occasionally post a card that I have made or just chat with you all. I hope you will all enjoy reading about the books I have read.