Ishbel's Party by Stacy Absalom

Summary:

Once she'd dreamed of being his wife

While Bethan was recovering from injuries she'd suffered while nursing in Beirut, her job with Mrs. Ruston in a peaceful Suffolk village seemed just what the doctor had ordered--plenty of fresh air and no stress.

Instead Bethan was strained to the limit. She met Fraser again, and was reminded of the guilt she'd carried with her since his sister Ishbel's party ten years ago. But seeing Fraser with the woman he intended to marry was what really hurt.

She'd loved Fraser as a young girl, and she loved him still--with a depth and power that was shattering.

Reviewer: Fashionta
Ever felt like everyone remembers you for one mistake in your life? And that you can't shake the mistake no matter how hard you try. Ishbel's Party is about a mistake that happened a number of years ago that has come back to haunt Bethan when she revisits her past and meets the title character's brother. The book moves between present and past as past and present feelings between the two families are explored. The fact that Bethan feels like an outsider ever since she was adopted by her stepfather is key to the story, as they believe she is like her mother. Bethan's mother, who abandoned her,  is a source of pain for her and she's hated by her step brother because his father took a special interest in her.

This revolves around the party where the incident happened and the end is satisfying when the natural son of her stepfather and her best friend were revealed as the cause of the friction. The only let down was that there was no confrontation between Bethan and Mark, her stepbrother, who's current circumstances are mentioned by the hero. For those reasons I gave Ishbel's Party 4 stars.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/219024656

Tangled Memories by Jan Scarbrough

Summary:

Dr. Alexander Dominican needs a mother for his infant daughter. Motherless himself from birth, he refuses to let his daughter grow up without one. He's convinced kindergarten teacher Mary Adams is the answer to his dilemma. When he offers Mary a marriage of convenience, he has no idea he's setting into motion a destiny that has taken him seven hundred years to fulfill.

Mary Adams needs to pay her deceased husband's gambling debts, and Alex's offer of marriage seems to be the answer to her prayers. But on the day of their marriage, Mary begins to have strange hallucinations - memories of another woman's life. A life that had taken place centuries before and somehow seems frighteningly familiar.

Before Mary can figure out why she's hallucinating, it becomes clear that someone in Alex's house is out to destroy her. Could it be one of Alex's sinister servants, or could it be Alex himself? Until she can learn the answer, Mary knows she must keep her distance from Alex, but he's reawakening a hidden desire - a deep longing - that she can't ignore. But will following her heart lead her to eternal love or to a nightmare that will never end?

The only way to discover the truth is to unravel centuries of... Tangled Memories.

Reviewer: BlackTulip
I never read contemporary romance. But I had two good reasons to try this one. First, I LOVED Jan Scarbrough's first historical novel My Lord Raven and second - Tangled Memories promised a Gothic undertone and flashbacks to the fourteenth century. Truth be told, I don't regret it! But frankly I never thought I would be blown away by it!

I often complain about the lack of atmosphere in a book but here it was as tangible as you could want. You can feel it, you can even smell it, you are surounded by it.
The author has definitely succeeded in creating a true atmosphere mixed with an incredible range of emotions. You cannot help but be touched and moved by it.

The two main characters are perfect in their interaction, so believable, so genuine. There is an invisible bond between Mary and Alex and even in her worst moments of doubts and questioning, she is irresistibly dragged back to him like a magnet.

You really want to believe in this everlasting love, you need it ... and at the end you cannot stop yourself from believing!

Without a doubt I recommend it. For myself I can't wait for her next historical novel. I give this one a 4.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/218882116

Crossing Genres

I missed last week, so this week I'm going to tackle a couple of things I've seen or heard.

Some authors take a chance to write in different genres but it can be hit or miss. Take for instance Maya Banks. She wrote in 2007/2008 for Harlequin’s line Silhouette before writing for Berkeley and Samhain. She mainly sticks to contemporary, her newest series being her first foray in historical, which I know lot of people are loving.

But there is another side to it - when authors shouldn’t have tackled a genre. I read one such book a couple of years ago, due to the fact the author was fantastic writer and I was into the ménage at the time. All my friends knew her as paranormal/contemporary author but this new fantasy book by her was a huge disappointment. In fact, I was put off reading that particular genre for a couple of months and only recently began to get back into the fantasy genre.

Then there is the new wave of mixed genre books. I haven't personally read one of these yet. I'm sticking to my old favourites for now, but it's exciting to hear about such experiments. There are some great new authors in each particular genre, but  I don't know any outstanding authors (besides Maya Banks) whom I have read that have successfully crossed genres. Hopefully, in the future we will see more such attempts.

Fashionta

Malachite: The Year Without Summer by Kate Cotoner

Summary:

A murderer is loose in London's most notorious rookery, and now his evil is spreading to the upper classes. Constable Nicholas Green is sent undercover to investigate, armed only with his wit and a malachite talisman, a gift from his mother. At the multiple crossroads of Seven Dials, Nicholas meets Kristian, a mysterious gentleman who claims to know the identity and motivation of the Rookery Murderer.

Kristian is searching for a companion to help him defeat the dangerous, charismatic Lord Winter. He thinks he's found his man in Nicholas, and together they plunge into an underground world of occult and esoteric worship. The malachite talisman protects Nicholas from the evil that threatens to engulf the city, but only great sacrifice can ensure London's safety...

Reviewer: BlackTulip
I only knew Kate Cotoner paired off with Aleksandr Voinov and the fantastic book The Lion of Kent. I wasn't really sure if I would like this one because paranormal and fantasy are not what I usually read but the story intrigued me enough to give it a try!

I was extremely and pleasantly surprised by it. I was quiet literally absorbed by the book and its very strange and very thrilling atmosphere. The mixing of several different genres and periods was very craftily done and the result was a very interesting, original, and well written book. Her description of Victorian London was superb and so realistic.

We have here an very engaging murder mystery, combined with a paranormal twist. We have two contrasting main characters, coming from dissimilar worlds who both have their own goal to attain. At the end Nicholas' and Kristian's world will merge. This book really kept my attention from start to finish.

As I said already, I'm not accustomed to reading this genre but I have to say that I loved it! I give it a 4.5.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/218661092

Seeking Fate by Moira Reid

Summary:

No one listens to Josephine Mattern. She has a solution to her company’s ski resort project, but her boss won't consider it. In frustration, she skis away alone and has a terrible accident.

Floating in and out of consciousness, she is carried deep into the woods by a stranger. He miraculously heals her and and breaks mind-boggling news: His name is Victor, and he has traveled across the galaxy to find her.

An asteroid will destroy his planet, Vivimonde, and their king will eliminate every person on Earth and relocate the inhabitants of his planet before it hits.

Vivimonde’s oracle has spoken: Josephine can save them.

Reviewer: Fashionta
It's hard not to like this book. But it kept me thinking of another book, Pilgrim Progress, as they undertake a journey of strength, logic, and endurance.

Jo the heroine and the other female characters are made to be intelligent young woman who are willing to risk all. What threw me of is the names of the hero and the other male characters. In this case the journey take place on a planet called Vivemonde . But most of the male characters are called earth sounding names of Butch, Victor, and Brenner. Yeah, Victoria and Butch have longer Vivemonde names but when Jo questioned them, they answered that's what everyone calls us.

The powers assigned to the aliens make up for it and soon I forgot about it. The one thing I couldn’t get past was their god/oracle or whatever you call it. The Auquerel is made to be this god who lives at the top of a mountain on the same planet. She only communicates through people’s minds and she has loyal servents which block the way to her santuctuary. But once you meet her it is let down. She's just in fact another alien who has come from another planet. It's a big let down as she played a significant part in this novel.

For those reasons I gave it 2.5 stars as I can’t get over the let down of the Auquerel.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/218655299

A Gentleman and His Jockey by J M Cartwright

Summary:

Jockey Gem Hardaway has a race strategy that will not only carry him and Pilate to victory, it will also show that he's the best jockey at Templeton Yard. Lord Templeton, the Earl of Vickers, knows exactly what he wants to have happen at the racecourse. He demands Gem's obedience.

When an unruly horse intervenes, the Earl insists on a meeting of the minds. Gem is shocked to learn just what that entails.

Reviewer: BlackTulip
As always when I read a short story, I am left unsatisfied and this one is VERY short. But I have to admit that the author did a very good job about the description of the horse race and I'm not mad about horses and even less about races.

The two main characters are sketched very quickly but they are believable enough. There are basically two scenes, the race and a very hot encounter between Gem, a young jockey and his very aristocratic employer.

What bothers me is that we don't really know what the period is. There is not enough clues to really determine it.

Overall it was well written. I give it a 3.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/218193299

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

Summary:

The people of Cedar Cove know how to celebrate Christmas. Like Grace and Olivia and everyone else, Beth Morehouse expects this Christmas to be one of her best. Her small Christmas tree farm is prospering, her daughters and her dogs are happy and well, and her new relationship with local vet Ted Reynolds is showing plenty of romantic promise.

But…someone recently left a basket filled with puppies on her doorstep, puppies she’s determined to place in good homes. That’s complication #1. And #2 is that her daughters Bailey and Sophie have invited their dad, Beth’s long-divorced husband, Kent, to Cedar Cove for Christmas. The girls have visions of a mom-and-dad reunion dancing in their heads.

As always in life-and in Cedar Cove-there are surprises, too. More than one family’s going to have a puppy under the tree. More than one scheme will go awry. And more than one romance will have a happy ending!

Reviewer: Firefly
How do you say goodbye? I had this book on my shelf but put off reading it because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Cedar Cove. I would miss the friends and family that I grew to know over the years, their triumphs, struggles, heartbreak and of course their romance.

Be forewarn, a few tears will be shed. Debbie Macomber did an exceptional job giving closure to this series. In the midst of the main story line, of Beth Moorehead, she was able to have a chapter or a mention on each of the characters she introduced from her previous 11 books.

At the end of her last book 1105 Yakima Street, Beth finds 10 puppies left on her doorstep. Christmas is fast approaching and her two daughters not only come to visit, but they have hatched a plan to bring their parents back together. As the story develops, the loving puppies each find a welcome home.

This series will be missed greatly. We can only hope that we are invited back in the life of Cedar Cove, maybe a reunion or another wedding. Where we can have some pie and coffee and sit a spell with some of our dear friends.

I rate it 4 stars

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/218156495

My Lord Raven by Jan Scarbrough

Summary:

Bran ap Madog, bastard son of a Welsh prince, has devoted his life to serving the English king. At Edward's behest, he nourishes his reputation for savagery, taking as his badge the raven, a scavenger bird that feeds off rotting spoils. He wants, as his reward for service, the hand of a wealthy wife, as well as the land and power she will bring to his bed.

When her father and twin brother are murdered, Lady Catrin Fitzalen sets out to learn the truth about the awful rumors. Were they killed by the king’s own champion, the vicious King’s Raven? She will do anything to protect her remaining family, including switching places with her cousin when the king forces the pious girl into marriage with his wicked champion.

Reviewer: BlackTulip
A very important thing that I have to find to really appreciate a book, is accuracy in the details and the settings; well in My Lord Raven I found it. I must say that the medieval background is very well depicted and full of atmosphere. I read it in two nights and had a hard time putting it down the first one!

You won't find any dull moments in this book and you'll be eager to unravel the mystery behind the murders of Catrin's family. There is a very palpable and well built tension from the start between the two main characters of Catrin and Raven. Both are very believable and little by little like Catrin, you too will discover the true nature of the Raven.

I loved this book from start to finish. It's definitely a keeper. I give it a 4.5.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/217769903

Guarding Pandora by Annmarie Ortega

Summary:

When Kayla's mother gave her a family heirloom, she had no idea it would take her to another world where magic, evil villains, and sexy heroes really existed.

Reviewer: Fashionta
Even wonder what happened to the Pandora box mentioned in the Greek Myths? The author has it on the heroine's neck as necklace in the middle of New York. Guarding Pandora is this author's version of what happened to the box and the power it contains. It is only a short read of 55 page but jam packed of sex and mystery, without becoming chessy. It is a nice quick read and fast paced so that you won’t get bored.

I give 3 stars. As much as I loved this book, I would love to see a pre-sequel for Jack and Bridget the heroine parents and how the necklace came to their hands.

The Nobleman and the Knave by Pelaam

Summary:

Timon's comfortable life is turned upside down when he rescues a young slave destined to be a rich man's toy. He uncovers a world he never dreamed existed. Worse still, at its blackened heart, is his own sister's fiance, the dark and dangerous Sir Jocelyn.

Timon promises the slave, Agapito, that he will return the young man to his home and family. However, fulfilling that promise is jeopardized when Sir Jocelyn becomes an adversary.

Reviewer: BlackTulip
Very early, I thought that it wasn't a good book, then later it became a bad one and at the end the only word that came to my mind was terrible!

There is absolutely nothing historical in it. An allusion to King George is made in a sentence at the beginning of the novel, which one and when, I don't know. There is no description of any kind that could have helped me determine the period. I just hated that!

We know it takes place on an island in the Caribbean and that's it. The only background we have for one of the main characters, Timon, is that his family had settled at one time, prospered and that his father died leaving him and his sister on the threshold of debtors prison. Nothing is said about the other characters. In my opinion they all are caricatures, no depth, no finesse. Because of it, none are believable. The way Timon and Agapito interact is ridiculous. The author attempts to tell a story but he fails miserably, there is absolutely no substance in it, there are only bits and pieces. The only thing here overly described are the too numerous and boring sex scenes. At least half of them were pointless if not more. He should have taken more time thinking about building a convincing story and working on credible characters.

I had to finish this book to be able to comment on it but it was very painful! Don't waste your time on it. Just avoid it. I give it a 1/5.

See the original review on goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/217762249