Hey Everyone!

I happened to stumble on Hummingbird Lake while I was in the book store one day, and I was in the mood for a sweet romance story. I've also been attracted lately by the small town setting, and Hummingbird Lake just seemed to fit my mood for the moment. I realized that it's book two in March's Eternity Spring series, but of course the book store didn't have the first book and although I like reading in series in order, I thought, what the hell, and here we are.

Summary from Emily March 

Paperback, 336 pages
Published March 22, 2011
by Ballantine Books
ISBN 0345518365
ISBN-13:9780345518361

Shattered after her experiences in war-torn Africa, obstetrical surgeon Sage Anderson gives up medicine and moves to Eternity Springs.  There she finds a place to call home, but even her newfound success as a gifted artist isn't enough to keep her nightmares at bay.  Colt Rafferty is about to change all that.

Eternity Springs is a refuge for Colt, a place to ground himself when the stress of investigating tragedies takes its toll.  He has come here for a little R&R, but instead of relaxing, he finds himself fascinated by the mysterious redhead whose secrets beg to be discovered--a beauty running from her past, a heartsick woman in desperate need of the sweet sanctuary of a devoted man's embrace.  And he is just the man to show her the true path to peace--by offering her the healing power of love.





Review

I really enjoyed March's writing style and story line in this book. She brings the little town of Eternity Springs to life with her descriptions and I was immediately swept away by the easy, natural pace of this novel and the rich people and places we encounter in the novel.

Sage Anderson is a character I have a huge amount of sympathy for. It's clear from the beginning of the novel that she's on the run, and barely acknowledging what she's on the run from. She's abandoned her medical career to be an artist, which is in itself, an escape from the horrors she's endured. But it's clear that while her current home and job in Eternity Springs has helped her cope, that she's barely coping from what she's running from. I like that March doesn't reveal to us right away what horrible experience is in Sage's past, that we only face it when Sage herself is ready to face it, in bits and pieces.

Colt is part of the reason Sage begins to open up about her experiences in Africa. After she delivers Nic's babies, it's clear that the source of her nightmares is somehow related to her previous doctoring career, but we're left pretty much in the dark as to how or why. Colt happens to be on hand once the babies are safely delivered and Sage falls apart in his arms. Something she does repeatedly during the first months of their friendship. I like that Colt is always pushing Sage. Really, Sage doesn't want to be pushed, and she's a strong willed personality who won't tolerate being pushed. But Colt isn't a pushy guy, he just pushes. He cajoles, and teases and romances Sage until she gives in and starts enjoying his attention and spends time with him. She knows better than to become involved with anyone because she knows she's suffering from PTSD, but she feels that a fling with Colt is a safe bet because that's all it will be, a fling since he doesn't live in Eternity Springs.

Until he moves to Eternity Springs that is. Colt has been supremely unhappy with his career, and he decides he needs a change in life and lifestyle and he's always loved Eternity Springs, so he decides to move there. He's also in love with Sage despite the fact that he knows there is something big in her past that she's hiding and not dealing with. So Colt sticks around until she is ready. There is a moment when he thinks that Sage will never be willing to deal with her PTSD, where he thinks he's been hoping for too much for them, but Sage does come through in the end. I rather thought the ending was perfect--Sage has agreed to marry Colt, and she's realized that she can survive her experiences in Africa, by continuing to face life head on.

A great story of love, loss, survival, and hope, Eternity Springs is one series I'm eager to continue to read.

4.5 glittering stars

Hello!

I'm back on the historical romance binge. So, here is my latest great read for you. I hope you have all heard of this author, if not she's one I highly recommend. Her stories are everything romance should be.

Summary from Goodreads



Paperback544 pages
Published September 1st 1997 
by Pocket Books (first published 1989)
ISBN 0671011332 (ISBN13: 9780671011338)
No beauty in England could outshine Elizabeth Cameron, Countess of Havenhurst. But beneath her exquisite emerald eyes and cloud of golden hair lived a girl of rare gentleness, pride, and splendid, even ferocious, courage. In Ian Thornton's powerful embrace, Elizabeth felt the first stirrings of a passion that blazed through her senses, never to be denied. Yet for Thornton, a dangerously handsome man of secret wealth and mysterious lineage, the voyage to Elizabeth's heart was fraught with intrigue, scandal and a venomous jealousy! From London's salons to Scotland's Highlands, "Almost Heaven" weaves its sensuous spell...a tempestuous, dramatic romance between two lovers destined for each other, and for love's wildest abandon.




Review

I have stumbled on Judith McNaught purely by accident. Thank goodness one of my good friends has read her, and enjoyed her work. As she said, this author is special. I have only read two of her books so far, but I adored both of them.

Almost Heaven is the story of Elizabeth Cameron and Ian Thornton (whose name now gives me shivers because I adore him), who meet by chance one weekend and are thrown together into unlikely circumstances by Elizabeth's cruel and jealous friends. Ian is not the sort of man a nice young lady like Elizabeth should even be introduced to, never mind speak to. First of all, he's not titled. He also has something of a rakish reputation. But once these two do meet and spend some time together, it's immediately clear that they are perfect for one another.

If their meeting is pure chance, then so is their eventual marriage. Elizabeth is properly the Lady Cameron, however, she's near penniless thanks to her brother and father, and her uncle is intent on marrying her off, throwing her into a second unlikely circumstance with Ian. Ian now believes Elizabeth was playing a part to him during the weekend of their first meeting, and wants nothing to do with her. He cannot, however, help how much he is drawn to her. Or the meddling of both his uncle and Elizabeth's duenna, Miss. Throckmorton-Jones (who gave me much cause for fits of hilarity as I was reading this book) and Ian does find himself going through extraordinary lengths to make Elizabeth his wife.

I cannot begin to describe how much I adore Ian. I love how proud and disdainful he is, I love how he sees exactly who Elizabeth is. I love his strength, his noble nature. I love how much he loves Elizabeth. The man just makes me into a bowl of jelly. He also makes me want to slap him on occasion because he doubts Elizabeth, and for someone who's a genius (literally) I thought it rather stupid of him. But I forgave him because he is a man of passionate feeling. And anyway, he did go after Elizabeth and do all sorts of things he said he'd never do, like become the Marquess of Keningston, so that he could marry Elizabeth and show her how much he loves her.

It was Elizabeth I had a harder time forgiving. I love her character. Elizabeth is intelligent, witty, universally accepting of others, and very loving. She has a stubborn strength that challenges Ian's, so I honestly loved these two together. Elizabeth has suffered a lot because of her father and brother, pinching pennies and suffering the ruination of her reputation, and she's done it all without compliant. But her abandonment of Ian broke my heart. It may have broken hers, but it killed me because I was really angry that she could accept what Robert told her about Ian without question like that--personally, I wondered where her good sense had gone. Robert was her brother, but he was hardly very reliable. I'm just glad that when she finally came to her senses that she had the determination to wait out Ian until he realized that under all his hurt and pride, that he did still love her. Do I blame him for wanting nothing more to do with her after the trial? Not in the slightest. It was exactly what I expected from such a passionate, proud character.

The writing is sharp, evoking strong images and deep emotions from the reader. The story unfolds beautifully, and as much as I just couldn't put the book down, there were times I wanted to to prolong the pleasure of reading it. I wish everyone wrote like this.

Favourite Quotes

His gaze held hers, and his voice was tender and rough. “Love me, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth felt a tremor run through her entire body, but she looked at him without flinching. “I do.”



5 glittering stars


Hey Everyone!

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means. Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine in which bloggers share books they are dying on--I mean waiting on for release.


This week I'm waiting on Maya Banks. I noticed on Twitter that she tweeted a picture of the cover of the third novel in her Montgomery and  Armstrongs series. Gorgeous cover! I love her Highlander covers. Anyway, when I saw the cover I got super excited and checked to see if Highlander Most Wanted, the second book in the series was out, however, it is not--although it will be on March 29th. You can read that WOW post here. Yay! So I just had to share. Feast your eyes on this cover. Heres' the synopsis:

After Scotland’s three strongest clans forge a formidable alliance, an uneasy king plots to consolidate power. Knowing that true strength lies in possessing land, fealty, and hearts, he orders sweet Taliesan McHugh to submit to a marriage that will give him control of the coveted McHugh keep. A tender beauty, Taliesan accepts her fate, certain that her lame leg has made her undesirable to any man—until she is swept into the powerful embrace of rugged, devilishly sensual Brodie Armstrong, a warrior who vows to shield her from brutality at any cost.

Fearless and bold, Brodie refuses his king’s command to stand down. Instead, he conspires to rescue the rare beauty whose bravery and innocence stir his blood as no woman ever has. As desperate power struggles reverberate throughout the Highlands, Brodie defies his king and devotes himself to the only mission that commands his loyalty, his blood, and his honor: winning Taliesan’s heart.

Release Date: September 24th 2013 
Publisher:  Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345533259 (ISBN13: 9780345533258)
Add to Goodreads


















As always, Maya Banks highlander novels have me giddy with anticipation. 


Hey Everyone!

I teased about another author interview a couple of weeks ago, and today is the day! Adriana Girolami was kind enough to provide me with a copy of her book, Revenge of the Knights Templar in exchange for an honest review.

Summary from Goodreads 


Paperback254 pages

Published January 15th 2013 
by Mitchell Morris Publishing (first published January 11th 2013)
ISBN13 9781937629373
It is the year 1480, when dark forces and violence corrupt the European court of the Duke of Nemours. The only hope remains in the hands of the Duke’s daughter Polyxena, a woman of stunning beauty that is coveted by many men.

Polyxena arrives at the castle of the Duke of Lorengar-Lorraine only to discover that the arranged marriage to her prospective husband has been foiled. The Duke has been killed in a coup d’etat. She is immediately captured, held in isolation, and commanded to marry to the new Duke, a cruel man who rules with a combination of force and fear.

A mysterious knight hears of the strength, plans, and determination of this beautiful woman, and comes to her aid. He knows she faces many obstacles and counter-plots, but he would be willing to risk his life to protect hers, not only for the sake of her people…but his own heart. 
It is in the darkest of hours that Polyxena’s strength and courage shines, as her skill of the sword comes in handy against her enemies, and she finds the real meaning of true love in a honorable and noble knight.

The odds are against them, death and despair come from all sides…the two will risk their lives and love for the country they share.


Review

I'm a huge fan of historical romance, so naturally the idea of a romance set during the middle ages intrigued me. I do want to make a note on Girolami's style however, since it was something of a surprise for me. The story is very descriptive and uses somewhat formalized language. At first, I found it hard to get into, but as I was reading, I came to like it because it added a sense of the dramatic to the novel and made for an entertaining read. The novel starts out with Polyxena discovering that her father, the Duke of Nemours, has arranged her marriage to Duke Arsenio. However, before Polyxena even reaches her new home, her husband (they were married by proxy) is murdered, leaving Polyxena in hostile territory with only Arsenio's men Phillip and Duccio to protect her now that she is the Duchess of Lorengar-Lorraine.

Polyxena is determined to do what she can to protect the people of the dukedom from Arsenio's evil cousin, who is currently ruling the dukedom and using Polyxena as a puppet head to exert his own power over the realm. The man is really contemptible--bloodthirsty, heartless, cowardly and self indulgent. I was quite delighted when Polyxena killed his evil hunting bird because it foreshadowed the duke's own demise. Plus, Polyxena kicked butt in that scene, which I apprecitated. I really admired how brave and strong Polyxena was, and I love it when women actually kick butt in novels. I wasn't expecting that from a historical romance, but I'm certainly not complaining. I liked that the novel has just enough action to keep you turning the pages to unravel the mystery that is also at the center of the story.

Who is the Unknown Templar? Why was Duke Arsenio's body so mysteriously shrouded at his funeral? These are questions that the reader can't help but muse on while reading, but that are not immediately unanswered. Personally, I got distracted from these mysteries because of Arsenio's cousin who continually tried to seduce Polyxena and was constantly terrorizing the people. I kept wondering how Polyxena would stay ahead of this madman. And then, Polyxena's romance with Duccio (which I thought rather unexpected and sweet) really threw me off of the mystery of who was behind the uprising of the people in the dukedom.

Since there is an element of mystery in the story, and also because I personally hate spoilers, I won't tease too much more about Polyxena's romance. I'll just say she gets her HEA. Although, it is a rather unexpected one as well....

3 glittering stars




Interview with Adriana Girolami


 1.What was the inspiration behind the novel?

I was inspired by the painting of a Countess named Polyxena in a book called "Fashions Through the Centuries." There was no story connected with her only portraits of the lady with different gowns. The name "Polyxena" resonated with me and soon a storyline formulated in my mind.

2. How much research of the medieval ages did the novel require?

I did some research through books about Knights and the history of the Templers. The Metropolitan Museum in New York has an extensive medieval section, a place I often visited and admired. History has always been a favorite subject of mine. I was born in the beautiful country of Italy, a place filled with art and history.


3. Who was your favourite character and why?

My favorite character is the lady Polyxena, a woman of great integrity. Her courage and a survival spirit are what many women can aspire to. She had to endure the middle ages. It was a very challenging time in history, especially for women. Her quest is to avenge the honor of the Knights Templar and find true love.

4. Polyxena is beginning a new life with Arsenio at the end of the novel. Will we be seeing more of their characters in future books?

Yes, I am in the process of writing a sequel to my novel with continuing adventures for my heroine Polyxena. Since I am an artist I also painted the cover for the sequel of my historical novel as I did with the first book.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I am a professional artist and wrote my debut novel "Revenge of the Knights Templar" because I love the freedom of the written word and the ability to express my creativity without boundaries. I believe aspiring authors should write about a subject matter they are familiar with and would love to read. There should be a passion to the subject you choose to write about and that excitement will be experienced by the readers.



Hey Everyone!

Recently I felt the need for a good stand alone romance, so I decided to read a Harlequin presents novel that I had heard good things about. Here's my review.

Summary from Goodreads

Paperback, 256 pages
Published November 13th 2012 
by Harlequin (first published July 1st 2012)
ISBN 0373238762 (ISBN13: 9780373238767)
When duty wars with desire, which one wins?With her life mapped out since birth, Princess Evangelina Drakos—known for her dramatic flair—hopes the minor scandal she plans to create will deter potential suitors.

Hired for Eva's security, unemotional bodyguard Makhail Nabatov nevermakes a mistake, but the impulsive princess pushes his resolve to the limits. It's not long, however, before the beautiful and imprisoned Eva entices him to leave his bonds of duty and honor behind.

While their chemistry reaches fever pitch, Makhail knows he knows he must deny his desire—for Eva is promised to another man….


Review

I have to say, I adored Maisey Yates' style. Without using a lot of words, she drew a story of great depth and emotion. I loved how even her short sentences, some of them fragments, conveyed very telling emotions about both Eva and Mak and how they viewed themselves, each other and the situation they were in. Every scene was rich with poignant emotion, and I truly enjoyed every word I read.

From the beginning, I was drawn in by the characters and story. Eva's a princess who has no control over her own life. Everything from her underwear to her fiancee are chosen for her, and at barely twenty-one, she's being forced into a marriage for reasons other than love. Eva feels controlled and powerless, and she acts out in the only way she knows how--by acting out. She's a princess who slips past her security guards for a night of fun. Makhail calls her spoiled, and while I never really agreed with that assessment, it's not really an unfair one. She does have everything after all. Except for real, honest relationships. And for a woman who's all emotion, that's the worst thing for her not to have. I really connected with Eva because she was a wonderfully emotional character, also an intelligent and strong character.

Makhail is her security guard. I thought of him as an alpha male--controlled, cold, intelligent and downright sexy. Since her father has basically placed Eva on house arrest since her choices have been drawing scandalous media attention to the royal family, Mak considers himself honour bound to make sure she doesn't sneak off or get into trouble, to protect her even from herself since Eva is hell bent on stirring up scandal. But Mak proved to be a character of far greater depth than your typical alpha male. I loved how loyal and true his character was to his now deceased wife, Marina. I loved that for him, desire was both a physical and emotional need. I loved that Eva was able to crack him just enough at the beginning to make him want to give her a little bit of happiness--a day of shopping, a trip to the beach. Small, unimportant gestures really. But looking back, I think his control, his disconnectedness from love and happiness, began to slip there, when he offered her a day at the beach.

Both Mak and Eva have choices to make in this novel. Mak can chose to walk away, or be with Eva. His head says to go, his heart says to stay. He's used to listening to his head. It's made him into who is he, and he thinks Eva deserves than a man who can only take from her. Which is his head trying to talk his heart of what he really wants: Eva. And Eva can chose to marry a man she doesn't love for duty, for her country, to please her father. Or she can chose to grow up. To really stand up for herself. Choices, these are very important in life. And I love the choices Mak and Eva make. Those choices made this HEA just beautiful. Although I have to say, I was sad to see the novel end. I wanted more of this great couple!

5 glittering stars