Bookabulary

And On To Book Reviews...

2008-07-29T21:15:00.002+08:00

Now that the OC in me has finally found the blog layout that works, I guess it's freakin' high time for me to start book-reviewing soon. Hmm. I think I just can't do it now--weekdays are the pits! But I promise that come the weekend, I'm gonna post something even if it's going to be just a single book review. We're gonna have to start somewhere.

Sigh. Feels wonderful to be home. :)

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

2007-10-17T12:57:00.000+08:00

After thirty years, Wilson Lewis is forced to face a painful truth. His wife, Jane, has fallen out of love with him, and it is entirely his fault.

Despite the shining example of his in-laws, Noah and Allie Calhoun (originally recounted in The Notebook), and their fifty-year love affair, Wilson is unable to express his true feelings. He has spent too little time at home and too much at the office. Now his daughter is about to marry, and his wife is thinking about leaving him. But if Wilson is sure of anything, it's this: His love for Jane has grown over the years, and he will do anything he can to save their marriage. With the memories of Noah and Allie's inspiring life together as his guide, he vows to find a way to make his wife fall in love with him...all over again.

I wasn't even done with the prologue of this book yet but the waterworks was well underway. Don't blame it on my overactive tear glands. (Well, maybe.) It has everything to do with this being written by the Nicholas Sparks.

I know that NS novels are topnotch and you won't regret ever reading a single one of them. I've read A Walk to Remember and The Notebook well before both were made into and movies; and, I fell in love with the stories and the characters in each. NS is prolly one of the rare authors out there who can leave you the feeling of being immersed in love even without a happy ending (e.g. A Walk...). And we're not just talking about romantic love. It's all about the kind of love that feeds the soul.

That's probably why I've avoided his books no matter how much I want to read them. For me, reading has always been a form of escape away from the harsh realities of life. But when you read an NS, you read nothing but the truths in life. His stories aren't written with the thought of having what the hero and the heroine can do to a plot but instead, it's the other way around. His stories make his characters.

I have always been curious about this book when I learned that it was a sequel to The Notebook. When given the chance to read it, I took it. Although whether it was because of curiosity, I wouldn't know. Maybe I just needed an NS fix.

So far, in all the three NS novels that I've read, I think this book examined the heart and went deeper into the soul more than the others--although that doesn't make the other books any less poignant. I've read book after book about second chances and this is the best yet. In other books, fate always brought the two lovers back together again. Here, Wilson not only wanted to have the a second chance with his wife but he worked hard and gladly to have it. It had nothing to do with fate. Wilson made his second chance happen. I don't think a lot of people could go deep into their selves to manage doing the turnaround that he Wilson did. I hope the time will come that I will be able to if need be.

As for Noah, I liked the ending in the movie better to be honest--of him and Allie dying together. But whoever has read their book know otherwise. One of the best parts in this book was when he said that it wasn't his children believing he had gone delusional that saddened him. It was because he was acting like himself and they couldn't even see it--that he was still the same Noah. It was painful to imagine Noah alone in the end. He had always had Allie even when she was sick. And right before I closed this book, I somehow believed that maybe, he was never alone. Skeptics might say it's foolish but I believe what he believed in.

And that's why I avoid NS novels. By the time I finish one, it leaves me with more feelings of the lack in myself and in my life. And that's why I love finishing reading NS novels. Because every time I do, it leaves me with more hope for myself and what I can still do with my life. And it's a great feeling.

Final verdict: 9/10. Great read, must have.

Gentle Warrior by Julie Garwood

2007-10-17T11:47:00.000+08:00

In feudal England, Elizabeth Montwright barely escaped the massacre that destroyed her family and exiled her from her ancestral castle. Bent on revenge, disguised as a peasant, she rode again through the fortress gates...to seek aid from Geoffrey Berkley, the powerful baron who had routed the murderers.

He heard her pleas, resisted her demands, and vowed to seduce his beautiful subject. Yet as Elizabeth fought the warrior's caresses, love flamed for this gallant man who must soon champion her cause...and capture her spirited heart!

I have read all of JG's historical romances, most of them I did ten years ago--including this one. But that doesn't mean I have all her titles. Most of her stuff I borrowed from friends or from book clubs that I used to be a member of. So when I came across this book, memories of romance-reading-filled high school all came rushing back. Hmm, those were good times.

I know I've read this book before but it never quite left its mark unlike some of JG's other earlier stuff. So rereading this actually felt like reading it anew and I liked it enough--not overly much but it did warrant an instant reread once I was through with it.

I have a divided opinion about the hero though. I think it was really kinda cool that he married the heroine of his own free will--because he really wanted to. (Not that our heroine knew that.) But so many of our medieval heroes always get told or commanded to marry the heroine that this book gave a different take. But then...I didn't like the fact that Geoffrey actually thought of it as training a wife--always telling Elizabeth what she could and couldn't do. It got pretty tiresome but I had to consider that he was from the Dark Ages. Huh! What did they know.

And I liked Elizabeth Montwright a great deal. I think she was a really, really strong character. To have one's family die is bad enough but she actually saw how her family was murdered and butchered like animals. Surviving the aftermath of such a nightmare even demanded for more strength and courage for one to want to continue living--and she delivered.

One thing that really disappointed me though was that one of the villains in the story, Elizabeth's uncle Belwain, never really got punished. And I just have a feeling that he could cause trouble for the family after this story was concluded.

But never let it be said that I did not enjoy this. Granted, it's nowhere near my most fave JG historical but it still smacked of the trademark JG style that keeps you turning the pages like the Energizer bunny. Not to mention that the chemistry between Geoffrey and Elizabeth was spectacular. Hmm, come to think of it--I wanna reread the book again after I'm done with blogging for today.

Final verdict: 7.5/10. Good read.

The Wedding Night Of An English Rogue by Jillian Hunter

2007-10-06T11:43:00.000+08:00

Lord Heath Boscastle’s attraction for Julia Hepworth begins with a bang. She shoots him at a hunting party–accidentally, of course. Though the shot grazes his shoulder, her beauty pierces his heart. Sparks fly soon after when they find themselves dangerously close to a compromising position. Too inexperienced to understand such overwhelming emotions, Heath and Julia part ways.

Now, years later, Heath is a high-ranking intelligence officer, asked to protect his commander’s fiancée, Julia, while he chases down an elusive spy. Heath quickly regrets his promise when he meets Julia again–and their mutual desire still burns hotter than ever. Of course he will protect her. There is danger in the air. And Heath would never think of betraying his friend, until he learns that Julia herself has been betrayed. Suddenly seduction Boscastle style is the name of the game. Yet Julia has a trick or two up her own sleeve–and is determined to be a player, and not a mere pawn, in his wicked game.

Pressure is finally getting to me if it took me nearly a week to finish this book plus a few more days to post a review of it. Was that it? Or didn't the story impress me much for me not to at least try to lose some sleep just to finish the entire thing? I had extremely enjoyed the only other JH book that I've read that I might have been too excited to read this--and then there were actually some points when I was reading this book that I though maybe, just maybe, JH was a fluke.

But then I did get to the very last page and after breathing a sigh of relief, I realized that this book was actually a good one. Prolly not as good as the other book, which was the first book of this trilogy. But I found that I quite enjoyed our hero Heath Boscastle.

He was quite the mysterious brother when he appeared in his older brother Grayson's book. And now I know why. I loved it that he worked around the miscommunication that lost him Julia and that when he finally had a chance to see her again, he risked everything including honor and friendship just to have her again. Julia Hepworth was one of those heroines that we could never call "a sweet little thing." She was more aptly described at one point in the book as an Amazon and I had to smile about that. Yes, our Julia had spirit.

Fate has a funny way of intervening in our lives. It was Fate that brought our hero and heroine back together just when they thought that they would never have the chance to finish what had started between them when they were younger. Julia was already engaged to a good friend of Heath's at this time. I guess it was too convenient that Russell turned out to be an a-hole though. It would have been a nicer touch to really "wrong" him and that would have made a more complicated plot. I love it that way. But at least Heath didn't use that to his advantage to win Julia over again. Now that was a truly gentlemanly move.

This book did have the JH trademark of witty banter that made me like her other book so much. The caricature of a naked Heath making the rounds of London was a high point. And the fact that it was Julia herself who drew it did not help any. LOL! That was a good one. And although this was a light romance novel, the fact that there was a murderer in the lose that was bent on having his revenge on Russell and Heath added some color to the story, enough to give me a chill thinking how many times the monster got close to Julia. That was one sicko.

I might not have enjoyed this book as much as I wanted to--too high of an expectation?--but I still remain a fan of JH and look forward to finding the second book in this trilogy. Or any of her other books.

Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.

The Boscastle Trilogy
The Seduction of an English Rogue
The Affair of an English Lord
The Wedding Night of an English Rogue

Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros

2007-09-29T17:26:00.000+08:00

Gabriel Fairchild's valor during battle earns him the reputation of hero, but costs him both his sight and his hope for the future. Abandoned by the fiancee he adored, the man who once walked like a prince among London's elite secludes himself in his family's mansion, cursing his way through dark days and darker nights.

Prim nurse Samantha Wickersham arrives at Fairchild Park to find her new charge behaving more like a beast than a man. Determined to do her duty, she engages the arrogant earl in a battle of both wit and wills. Although he claims she doesn't possess an ounce of womanly softness, she can feel his heart racing st her slightest touch. As Samantha begins to let the light back into Gabriel's life and his heart, they both discover that some secrets--and some pleasures--are best explored in the dark...

Hadn't I said that September is book heaven with all the nice books I've found and read this month? And who would have thought that my much postponed trip to the UBS for me to unload some of my 'junk' proved to be fruitful in more ways than one--that I just might have found my author find of the year?

I've already seen Teresa Medeiros' books at the bookstore for quite sometime now. But since I haven't read a single one of her work, I balked at the thought of paying for them at the full brand-new prices. That turned out to be sound judgment (but would also have turned out to be worthy investments) since I found this book at the UBS for a great bargain.

And it was well worth it and more!

TM wove magic into this book that I finished it in one sitting. I went to work the following day in semi-stupor: from too much romance and much too less sleep. I'm not in the habit of giving out spoilers and I'm not going to start now but I could say that although it might have seemed like a predictable story, the way the plot was made kept me turning the pages until early dawn (pun slightly intended).

Let's start with our Samantha Wickersham. She possessed wit and charm and the strength of a woman just coming around to finding herself from girlhood. Others might give up or veer off to the wrong path when confronted with the harsh reality. But Sam plowed head on with no agenda other than to better herself. It turned out that she helped others around her better themselves, too. And when I think about it more and more, her character is fast becoming one of my all-time fave fave heroines.

I was already half in love with hero Gabriel Fairchild when he was described as scarred. I dunno why but I do have a tender spot for imperfect heroes--e.g. JL's Once A Princess' Stefan and JG's Castles' Colin. It symbolizes living and our heroes could only get sexier with it. After the anger, his capitulation to accept his blind existence was more heroic than his decision to go off to war.

Together they--plus the antics of Sam the dog--were beautiful and meshed well together. I couldn't help but laugh at some (many of them) points--especially when Sam (our heroine, not the dog) tricked Gabriel's butler to describe her physically. The only picture that came to my mind after the 'description' was Nanny McPhee. I have to say that our hero was a lucky devil--to find true love twice in his lifetime is a real blessing. and our heroine was an angel who deserved a second chance at finding true love. And they both proved that what the eye couldn't see, if it's real and pure, the heart and soul will see and recognize it for what it really is.

Final verdict: 8.5/10. Great read, sure keeper.

Bel Air by Katherine Stone

2007-09-24T11:10:00.000+08:00

Bel Air--where even the rich and famous are impressed by the wealth that surrounds them. Set in the hills above Hollywood, this is the world of Allison, Winter and Emily. Three beautiful, talented women who couldn't be more different. Three women who find they want more than appearances and glitter. Three women searching for the courage to trust, to love...and to dream.

Allison--A terrible accident taught her that life is too precious to waste. So when she meets renowned movie director Peter Dalton, she surrenders wholeheartedly to passion, ignoring the secrets and warnings that shine in his eyes.

Winter--When Dr Mark Stephens came her way, the brilliant young actress knew she could finally stop pretending to be happy. But their careers are in a collision course, and soon they are forced to make the terrible choice between ambition and devotion.

Emily--To the bewilderment of her friends, she is drawn to men who offer nothing but pain and heartache. Only her photography gives her a sense of self-worth...until she learns to accept the love that will finally free her from the past.

So many hopes, so many betrayals, so many broken hearts. As Allison, Winter and Emily fight for their dreams in glamorous, treacherous Bel Air.

This book came highly recommended by my sister and so when we last went home and saw each other, we swapped books and swore by them that they were not going to be a waste of each of our time.

Not that I needed to unclog my tear glands (they're always unclogged!) but it felt wonderful to have a good cry while reading this book. It has been a long time since I've read a great contemporary romance without all the thriller/mystery factoring into it. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I did. But this book proved to be a fantastic read that showcased the miracle of trust.

The story of Allison Fitzgerald, an aspiring interior designer, was a lot about finding herself after what she thought was going to be her life got snatched away. It was amazing reading about her survival and making a new life that just might be what she really was meant to have. She was the perfect antidote for the aching soul of Peter Dalton, celebrated playwright. Peter was living in the dark after he lost his one true love but he never expected to fulfill a promise he made to her--to someday find a new love. All they both needed to do was to learn to trust each other, and realize that each of them was shaped--and bettered--by their respective pasts.

Winter Carlyle, a daughter of Hollywood (and my favorite character), lived in the pages in this book in search of courage. She needed courage to finally admit that she, daughter to a renowned actress and an English director, was meant to grace the silver screen. She needed courage to hold on to Mark Stephens and know that not everyone she loved leaves. While Mark, a doctor in the making, needed courage to see that Winter was made of sterner stuff to survive his busy months of medical residency. He needed to risk his heart knowing what the pressure of medicine could do to a family--he himself lived and survived it. Once again, trust was necessary for the one half to know that the other wouldn't leave and for the other half to realize that the other would stay.

Emily Rosseau, a budding big-time photographer, was a dimmed light in a life of darkness. She might have escaped a life of abuse but she continued to live it in its shadows, refusing to forgive herself and accept that she was a total victim to it all. Until magazine editor Rob Adamson showed her not just the light but also that she could be the light. But Rob was also living in the shadows of hatred for someone who he thought was responsible for his tragic past. But when they came together, Emily trusted Rob enough to make her see that she deserved to have something beautiful after everything that was ugly. And Rob trusted her back to show him that life of hatred wasn't a life at all but that a life of forgiveness is.

It's ironic that this book was titled so. I never even paid that much attention to the setting and just continued to plow on with the story. But that was prolly because Ms Stone created so much depth to her characters making them so real you could touch them.

Three different women with the same fortitude. Six lives intertwined forever in the bonds of love, friendship and family (sometimes, the lack of it). Reading about them was an adventure to the strengths of the human spirit and how it survives life everyday. And Ms Stone proved to be a worthy tour guide.

Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

2007-09-19T14:01:00.000+08:00

MEET OUT HERO...
Gareth St Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth's sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past...and the key to his feature. The problem is--it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

MEET OUR HEROINE...
All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there's something about her--something charming and vexing--that grabs him and won't quite let go...

MEET POOR MOZART...
Or don't. But rest assured, he's spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual--and annually discordant--Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other... and that there is nothing as simple--or as complicated--as a single, perfect kiss.

If the past two months had been abysmal when it comes to my historical finds, September is already heaven even with still close to two weeks left to it. I've been lucky enough to find books that are part of a series that I'm already in to. And after reading this JQ, I'm only three books short of finishing her Bridgerton series. Shame, but what can I do? The day I find Benedict, Colin and Gregory's stories (at a discounted price, to boot) will be the luckiest day, indeed.

Although I say right now that it just felt queer to read about a character (Hyacinth) who had just been a mere child in the previous books. (Wasn't she launching green pea missiles to her younger brother Gregory in The Duke and I?) And Anthony Bridgerton had gray hair. Two words: Clooney and hot!

This book was one of the simplest JQ books I've read. It was because of the lesser complex plot that made this a great afternoon read. Of course, we had another tormented hero as per the usual JQ serving plus a heroine who helped the hero face and vanquish the ghosts of his past. Gareth St Clair's strength in living with his father's hatred and his overall "quiet" character actually balanced out the exuberant nature of Hyacinth Bridgerton. And by that I don't mean that he was quiet quiet to her noise. But you get the picture, right? Gareth seemed to always hold back something when out in company. All the while, Hyacinth was always too comfy with herself in public to hold back anything about her nature. But when this two were together, everything balanced out and sometimes even put the other in a novel position--Gareth could actually stymie Hyacinth's words.

And I love treasure hunts. That and the fact that the heroine was a reader were two of the major factors why I liked this book. Or maybe I have just become too comfortable with JQ's writing style to not like it. And I loved the fact that as the love affair between hero and heroine deepens, Hyacinth got closer and closer to finding Gareth's grandmother Isabella's hidden treasure while Gareth got closer to discovering who he really was. It just disappointed me that Hyacinth wasn't able to find her treasure herself in this book. Oh, I know JQ wrote what really happened to it afterwards. Whether it was in one of her e-book second epilogues or in an anthology, I can't remember exactly where. One thing's for sure, I haven't read nor do I know what happened to the jewels and for once I'd be glad for some spoilers.

To be honest, I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I did the others in the series. But being the JQ that it was, it was a lot better than most out there. (I'm really waiting to stumble on Colin's book since I heard that it's the best in the series. Hmm, let's see how it'll fair with WHWW.)

Final verdict: 7.5/10. Good read.

The Bridgerton Series
The Duke and I
The Viscount Who Loved Me
An Offer From a Gentleman
Romancing Mister Bridgerton
To Sir Phillip, With Love
When He Was Wicked
It's In His Kiss
On the Way to the Wedding

By Arrangement by Madeline Hunter

2007-09-16T19:59:00.000+08:00

Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn was not opposed to marriage. But she demanded to be married on her own terms, not as punishment for a a romantic indiscretion, and especially not to a common merchant. Yet she was in for a shock when she met David de Abyndon. For she was confronted by no ordinary merchant but a man of extraordinary poise and virility. He was unaffected by their difference in social status. And even less affected by her well-thought-out arguments against their upcoming betrothal. Instead, it was Christiana who felt uneasy in the presence of this naturally lordly man behind whose cool blue eyes she sensed the most uncompromising of passions.

David de Abyndon understood Christiana's dilemma, for he too harbored a secret pain. How could he tell her that there was more to this arrangement than met the eye? How could he tell her about his deal with the king--a deal that meant he had all but bought Christiana sight unseen? What's more, now that he had seen this beautiful, spirited woman, how could he convince her that the love she sought was not in the callow knight she has romanticized but in the flesh-and-blood arms of the man who may have bought her body--but in the bargain lost both his heart and soul?

This book reminded me of just how much I enjoy MH's medieval romances. I never cared for her Regency romances after just reading one sample--The Seducer. But after reading this book, it left me wanting to read her other earlier books set in medieval England.

The story of David and Christiana had always intrigued me for quite some time as I've read them in The Protector and Lord of a Thousand Nights. Even appearing in select scenes in those books, I had the feeling that theirs would be a fascinating story to read. And MH didn't disappoint with this effort. Nor did David de Abyndon and Christiana Fitzwaryn. I might not have finished this one in one sitting but that wasn't for the lack of trying. Sleep deprivation and too much stress won over the interest to finish this book (plus maybe another) in one go.

But no matter.

The chemistry between hero and heroine was sizzling at the very least, The circumstances that brought them together wasn't the greatest, not even a good one, as it was surrounded with mystery to begin with. And I love the fact that David was a commoner merchant and it proved that they can be great heroes as much as noblemen and knights and such can be. Reading from the other books, I knew that Christiana had some spirit but reading about her here tells more of her character as she never allowed herself to be bullied and stood her ground. We had here two proud characters who managed to meet halfway during their conflicts.

Okay, so David turned out not to be so common after all (he was a nobleman's illegitimate son). But he refused what was his by right to remain loyal to friends and country. (Although he did turn out to have inherited the title two books later.) But he did turn out to be more noble than most when at the end, he insisted to pay the bride price for Christiana that he had let her believe he paid for her at the beginning. That way she would never find out that the money that changed hands at the start was really a rich merchant's part in the King's campaign against the French--and David got the King's ward for a bride to cover up the exchange.

As much as I love this book because of the two main characters, one of the factors that really won me over was Christiana's relationship with her brother Morvan. I already loved him from his own book but I'm loving him more because of his part in giving this tale a happy ending--even if he disapproved of David at the onset. It's one of those times that makes me wish I had a brother of my own.

Another keeper from MH, no doubt about it.

Final verdict: 8/10. Good read, must-have.

Out Of The Blue by JoAnn Ross

2007-09-10T12:09:00.000+08:00

Lark Stewart is on the run from a singing career that skyrocketed out of control...and from someone who's bent on murder. When one of her band members is killed in New Orleans, Lucas McCloud--her first love and a former FBI agent--takes Lark home. But the remote Stewart family resort offers no protection from the madman who's working his way across the mountains.

A Desert Storm hero and FBI sniper, Lucas is haunted by a tragic mission in his past. But with the mysterious killer talking Lark, Lucas is forced back into the life he left behind. For Lark is the only woman he's ever loved, and the only person who can save his soul...provided he saves her first.

Here's my attempt at trying out previously unread authors on my part. My streak wasn't looking too good with my historicals that I found at the UBS. So why not try some contemp? I braved this one out even if it has become exceedingly difficult to look for contemps with heroes other than cops, FBI agents or former something-along-that-line.

The love story between Lark Stewart and Lucas McCloud was all about second chances and forgiveness--something I could really learn from. Years after Lucas left his childhood sweetheart, he came back to her rescue as a terror from her past haunted her once again. They found out that time had changed them both--Lark because of a bad marriage and Lucas because of a tragic point in his life as a sniper. But in spite of everything they had both gone through away from each other, they struggled to put things right in a present cast in the shadows of the past.

The main character, even the secondary ones, were well written. (I'm forever intrigued by Lark's Aunt Melanie.) The chemistry between the hero and the heroine was intense and at the same time, fun to read. But this was one of the books that was never obvious (in my view, at least) because the twist was really a twist and not something I'd guessed from the fourth chapter.

Although to each her own since I wasn't quite blown away by Miss Ross' style. But I liked it enough to be disappointed that this is part of a series (second in the Stewart Sisters trilogy) because now it made me wanna look for the other books--just so I'd know what the stories of Lark's sisters are. I guess it's the OC in me.

Final verdict: 6.5/10. Give this book a try and you just might like it.

Kill And Tell by Linda Howard

2007-08-31T11:29:00.000+08:00

Still reeling from her mother's death, Karen Whitlaw is stunned when she receives a package containing a mysterious notebook from the father she has barely seen since his return from the Vietnam War over twenty years ago. Unwilling to deal with her overwhelming emotions, Karen packs the notebook away, putting it--and her father--out of her mind, until she receives a shocking phone call. Her father has been murdered on the gritty streets of New Orleans.

Homicide detective Marc Chastain considers the murder nothing more than street violence against a homeless man, and Karen accepts his judgment--at first. But she changes her mind when her home was burglarized and "accidents" begin to happen. All at once, she faces a chilling realization: whoever killed her father is now after her. Desperate for answers, Karen receives the only thing that links her to her father--the notebook he had sent months before. Inside its worn pages, she makes an unsettling discovery: her father had been a sniper in Vietnam and the notebook contains a detailed account of each one of his kills.

Now running for her life, Karen entrusts the book and its secrets to Marc Chastain. Together they unravel a disturbing story of politics, power, and murder--and face a killer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the kill book.

LH is one of the rare authors out there who always manages to put in the right ingredients to cook up the perfect hero. And that's why this book is one of my favorite reread--much of my fave rereads are by LH, if you ask me. It's all because of those all too sexy heroes of hers. Marc Chastain is certainly among them--Marc with a C is already as sexy as hell and the rest of the character followed, thank goodness.

This book is actually one of LH's fast-paced and darker works, and I had no choice but to love it to bits. Marc Chastain and Karen Whitlaw had an amazing chemistry. The first time I really dug Marc was when he realized that Karen wasn't really the bitch he first thought she was. I love it when men get proven wrong. And Karen was one kick-ass heroine as well. She survived the many attempts on her life--including that one attack in her apartment wherein only a can of deo saved her. I'd be in a total freak-out mode had I been in her place. She's some lady that's why I forgive her for nabbing Marc in the end.

Now, if LH can make the most memorable heroes, she can also create the worst of villains. Here's another one for the books: Senator Lake might not be the most evil in the lot but the ones who commit familial crimes are, for me, the most twisted of all.

I'd probably read this book again before I put it back with the rest of my LH stash. If you're looking for a good read on the lust-at-first-sight, love-on-the-second plot (so it wasn't really during their second meeting that Marc fell for her but ya know what I mean), you must give this book a try.

Final verdict: 8/10. Great read, must-have.

Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey

2007-08-18T18:29:00.000+08:00

He'd caught only a glimpse of her from the window of his carriage, but the young prince knew he had to have her. Within minutes, Lady Katherine St. John was dragged from the London street and carried off to a sumptuous town house -- for the pleasure of her royal admirer...

From the tempestuous passion of their first encounter, across stormy seas, to the golden splendor of palaces in Moscow, she was his prisoner -- obsessed with rage toward her captor even as an all-consuming need made her his slave. Yet theirs was a fervor beyond her understanding, carrying them irrevocably toward final surrender to the power of undeniable love.

I know a lot of people prolly don't like this book. After all, it's easily one of the books with one of the most chauvinistic heroes in the fictional world. Honest to goodness I wanna kick his ass for all his faults. But there's just something about this story that pulls at me. It's difficult to explain since I myself can't paint it exactly.Although I think the hero and the heroine clashed nicely.

Kate St John was following her sister in the streets of London when Prince Dimitri Alexandrov saw her and had her picked up, thinking that she was nothing more than a peasant girl. Because she refused to bend down to their will, his servants had no choice but to drug her--with an aphrodisiac, no less, so that she would be more "amenable" to her purpose. It was in that state that Dimitri saw her again and willingly "helped" her to appease her condition all through the night. And when morning came, he had no choice but to bring her back to Russia when she threatened to make known of his abduction of her. He had planned to just pay her off but with the imminent visit of the Russian czar to England, he was left with no choice.

But he unexpectedly began to like her as a person on their long journey north. He could only make her his mistress since his refusal that she was high-born prevented her from being wife material. So he installed her in his home and went searching for the Russian princess he had been planning to propose to as siring as heir had become the main object of his position as head of the family after his older half-brother had been declared dead. So he went away while Kate was left to suffer in his aunt's accusation's that she was a thief and her caned. She was beaten so badly that she was nearly crippled and after her attempted escape, she was banished to the kitchens.

Dimitri returned only to find that Kate wasn't in the room he installed her in and thinking it was another of her tricks in refusing his generosity, never bothered to sought her out--until one of the servants confessed to him what really happened. Hence my favorite scene: Dimitri humbling himself in front of his household to fetch Kate from the kitchens--begged her to believe that he never knew anything about her beating. I think that was really something of a big step for a proud person in his position to do.

So Dimitri proposed to her--for Kate to become his mistress. Despite her refusal, insisting that whatever children she would one day have would have a father (Kate had already found out she was pregnant), Dimitri proclaimed that she was not marrying, ever. And especially not to somebody else. And then decided not marry after all if he couldn't marry Kate--family heir be damned, he could always adopt any children he and Kate would have. This was Russia, not bloody England.

But then he found out that Kate was really the high-born lady she had been claiming from the start and consumed with guilt, he proposed marriage to her. She refused seeing as how knowing who she really was made any difference--after all, she had heard talks that very same evening that he was just using her to make the princess he had intended to be his bride (who had already chosen somebody else over him) jealous. Then it got even worse when he got trapped in a snowstorm, got sick for weeks, and lost track of Katherine. Until he traced her back to England, more demanding than ever even without the knowledge of his son.

Nevertheless, charm and honesty about telling her that he really loved her got him what he wanted in the end. It would have been a lot nicer if the ending didn't seem too rushed. It did tell of how many times she refused his gifts or how many times he was tunred away when he asked for an audience; and these things was causing a stir in the ton.

Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.

The Hazards Of Hunting A Duke by Julia London

2007-08-06T16:21:00.000+08:00

When the young ladies of the Fairchild family learn that their stepfather has absconded with their late mother's fortune, Ava, the eldest, hunts down the notorious wealthy rakehell Jared Broderick, the Marquis of Middleton and heir to a dukedom. Much to her shock and delight, the marquis sweeps her into a whirlwind romance and proposes marriage. But after their passionate wedding night, Ava discovers Jared has an ulterior motives of his own. Not only does he expect her to deliver as heir while he continues to enjoy a rogue's life, but Ava also suspects she is a pawn in her husband's quest for revenge. Marriages of convenience work for some, but for Ava a loveless bond won't do. So she devises a bold plan to confront her husband's demons so that he might be free to choose to give her his heart for the right reason: because she is the only woman he will ever truly desire.

This book started okay with. I practically went through the first pages because I really thought that the characters were quite impressive. I actually thought that Jared Broderick was quite a hero. And that Ava Fairchild was one spunky heroine. I loved reading the parts when the word marriage hadn't come up in conversation yet because they seemed like two people really into each other.

But then Jared started having second thoughts about his hasty proposal. And then I had doubts about Ava's hasty acceptance. In fairness to Jared, he did make it clear that it was going to be a marriage of convenience--his father wanted to see him married to secure an heir for the dukedom; and Jared wanted his wife to be, at least, of his own choosing. But the novelty of it all soon faded because he wasn't ready for anything resembling to marriage.

The heroine knew it was going to be a marriage of convenience but she had high hopes that everything would change for the better after the wedding. There was nothing wrong with that except that she managed to turn into a shrew for all of it. And that didn't make a pretty picture when she knew that her acceptance of the wedding proposal was born out of need after what her stepfather did with their late mother's money.

Nevertheless, they were attracted to and respected each other. And the book did have its moments e.g. when Jared apologized in bed after Ava suffered the company of his former mistress. That was one of my favorite scenes. But then there were massive lows as well, e.g. when he repeatedly told her that it was just a convenient marriage, that they married for specific reasons, and that love was never part of the bargain. Rub that in, why don't you?

I guess it was an okay read but I quite didn't get into the writing style. I may not be reading a Julia London any time soon but I'm not saying never either.

Final verdict: 6.5/10. Good read.

Your Wicked Ways by Eloisa James

2007-07-29T20:44:00.000+08:00

Helene, the Countess Godwin, knows there is nothing more unbearably tedious than a virtuous woman. After all, she's been one for ten long years while her scoundrel of a husband lives with strumpets and causes scandal after scandal. So she decides it's time for a change--she styles her hair in the newest, daring mode, puts on a shockingly transparent gown, and goes to a ball like Cinderella, hoping to find a prince charming to sweep her off her feet...and into his bed.

But instead of a prince, she finds only her own volatile, infuriatingly handsome...husband, Rees, the Earl Godwin. They'd eloped to Gretna Green in a fiery passion, but passion can sometimes burn too hot to last.

But now, Rees makes her a brazen offer, and Helene decides to become his wife again...but not in name only. No, this time she decides to be very, very wicked indeed.

I cannot believe that I actually finished this book. Prolly because I was desperate to like Eloisa James' works. Remember that July was becoming a very bad reading month save for a few old fave rereads and, of course, THE book of the century (check previous post for details). Nevertheless, I plowed on page after page because I was hoping there might be a surprise somewhere that would save my opinion of the book. Unfortunately for me, there wasn't any.

Infidelity will always leave a sour taste in my mouth so I dunno how I lasted through this book. I can't stomach the thought of a husband throwing out his wife from their home and have the gall to put his mistress in her room. It was made clear that he was only after her for her voice so that she could help him with the operas he was making--but it was a pointless argument since they did sleep together. And worst of all, he didn't want to give his wife the divorce she had repeatedly asked for because it would be too costly--even if he could bloody well afford it. Deffo not a hero material.

And the heroine wasn't much of anything either. She wanted to have a child and since her husband wouldn't divorce her, she sought to make this happen with another man. Ugh! (As my friends would say: Cannot be, borrow one!) And even if her husband already treated her shabbily, she just went along with his plan to live with him again so long as he was willing to father her child. And let's not forget: the mistress was still in the house, too.

I dunno. The story only got from bad to worse. I know it worked for other readers because how else was I to know about EJ and be desperate enough to read her stuff. I don't think I'll be getting some of hers soon though.

Final verdict: 5/10. Meh.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

2007-07-24T14:29:00.000+08:00

Wow! Absolutely fantastic!

I know those words are not enough to describe the last book in the Harry Potter series. In fact, I don't think mere words can do justice for what J.K. Rowling had written.

I was ready for anything before I started reading the book. I accepted the fact that Harry or anyone of the beloved characters could die. After all, freedom and peace always come with a price. I hid it well but I had tissues in pocket as well--that was how prepared I was. Which turned out to be a very good thing because, believe it or not, the waterworks started on the dedication page.

"...and to you, if you have stuck with Harry until the very end."

Stuck, studied, gone on adventure after adventure, suffered, triumphed, LIVED with Harry Potter for the past six years since I read the very first book in 2001--right after I saw the first movie.

It saddens me to think that this is the very last book in the series. But I think Harry had been through enough in his seventeen years that he deserves to have a relatively peaceful life. (Relative being the operative word, literally, once you read the epilogue.) I'm not giving out spoilers here although if you haven't read the book yet, I really dunno what you're waiting for. It's more than satisfying to have all the pieces of the puzzle fit together and have the entire picture out in front of you.

Since The Sorcerer's Stone, we have come to know and love characters book after book--and lost some along the say (I miss Sirius). The Deathly Hallows is no different. It makes victory all the sweeter. This book tells of stories testing the bonds of family and friendship; of loyalty and love; of the inherent goodness in people; and of the triumph of the good versus evil. I have never and would never have presumed how J.K. would cook up this seventh book but I had my own hunches. Suffice to say that I was right about Professor Snape (and gloating about it); and wrong about (my hopes for) Professor Dumbledore's character. After you've read the first six books you'd think that you have a general idea of what's in store for you here. Think again. There are still a lot of secrets to be uncovered and secrets in store for you.

And my props go to J.K. Rowling for not succumbing to the pressure brought about by the fame of the series. The style of this book is as pure as the first, only with grown and more mature cast. For all the talk about how the story had become darker and might not be for children anymore, somehow it manages to be what it's meant to be--a children's book meant as well for the adventurous young-at-heart. And I have to say, I was proud of myself--I was itching to do it but I never once peeked to the very last pages of the book.

As for how they'll make a movie version of this, I don't think it could ever surpass the beauty of the book. No HP movie had ever been better than its book version. But that's also to say that there are no (and, I think, ever will be) bad HP movies--only good and better ones. And I'm counting on this one to be the best. (Warner Brothers had better be looking for the best man to do the directorial honors right about now. Chris Columbus, anyone?)

Wotcher. All is well.

Final verdict: 10/10 (although it deserves 12.5). Fantabulous read and a MUST HAVE!

The Beginning Of The End

2007-07-14T22:02:00.000+08:00

It's a week from that day and there had nothing been a more exciting and disappointing event to look forward to in my life. Never.

July 21st is just around the corner and there's no stopping it. The adventure is coming to an end that very day and it scares the heck out of me. What do I look forward to every couple years or so? Oh, there are the movies --and I'm positively happy hearing that the trio had signed up for movies until the last book.--but the books have started all the magic and therefore have a special place in my heart.

Be that as it may, the legend of Harry Potter will surely live on forever.

While I wonder if I'll live to survive the next seven days as I wait for The Deathly Hallows to hit the stores. But as you can see from the template change, I am pretty psyched about it all.

Harvard's Education by Suzanne Brockmann

2007-07-14T21:09:00.000+08:00

THE MAN AND HIS MISSION

As a navy SEAL, Harvard had seen his share of trainees before, but PJ Richards managed to pack more fire in her five-foot-two-inch body more than all the men he'd ever worked with. And he couldn't help hoping for some more personal contact.

One thing, always-in-control PJ Richards couldn't afford to do was let herself get sidetracked. Not now, when her goal was finally within reach. Unfortunately, so was Harvard--every hard-muscled, pure-male, irresistible inch of him...

There's nothing like an old SB reread to save my week. It started with me having two books to read. These were the ones I picked up last weekend and was quite excited about them. (I never keep a TBR pile because if I see all these yet to be read books, I'm 99 per cent sure to stay home to read each one of them rather than go to work. Believe me, it already happened.) One was a paranormal romance I thought would help get me out of historicals mania; the other was a historical to continue said mania. I did find out two things for sure: I'm not one for paranormal reads--all that biting/immortality/time travel just don't do it for me. And that I'm not not totally immersed in my historicals mania not to recognize an unejoyable Regency/medieval read. I guess it's safe to say that I won't be making reviews for those two books--total waste of time.

I think senior chiefs are absolutely lovable characters--and their own love stories always pack quite a punch. They play the always-there, go-to persons for all the big, bad SEALs and that puts them in a deeply reverent position.

And don't you just love it when they are brought down from their lofty positions in the alpha male ladder by a woman's love? Then you realize that they're only humans, too. Not machines, like I'm sure they bust their asses off to project.

Just as Daryl "Harvrd" Becker was determined to keep PJ Richards under his wing to prove that women don't belong in the front lines of war. PJ, however, is set to prove him wrong. But as their training turns into a real mission, H was forced to accept that PJ could be an asset as they go into enemy territory. And not only to complete one dangerous mission but most importantly, to save a friend and a comrade.

But not before they admitted to themselves that they were meant for each other. And the scene of their "marriage," handfast-style, is one of the most romantic scenes I've ever read. There's nothing quite like two people pledging their love for each other in the presence of God and nature.

And do you think it was coincidence that the H got a PJ for a heroine? LOL!

Final verdict: 7.5/10. Great read.

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

2007-07-08T19:26:00.001+08:00

1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has no indication that he plans to marry.

And in truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better...
--Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814

But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry--he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield--the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Contrary to popular belief, Kate is quite sure that reformed rakes do not make the best of husbands--and Anthony Bridgerton is the most wicked rogue of them all. Kate is determined to protect her sister--but she fears her own heart is vulnerable. And when Anthony's lips touch hers, she's suddenly afraid she might not be able to resist the reprehensible rake herself...

After reading Anthony's story I have become more in love with the Bridgertons And I loved his story so much that I had second thoughts about doing a review--I don't think I can do it justice. But I'll try.

This might be the second book in the series but it's my fourth Bridgerton book to read. So I have already come across Anthony Bridgerton, head of this illustrious family, a number of times. He came across as someone who was a tad overprotective of his family but also someone who deeply cared about them and seriously took his position as the head of the Bridgertons to heart.

And now I know why. And I like him even more.

And the fact that he remained strong when he had to face the demons in his life everyday made him all the sexier. And yet it was quite understandable that he would aspire to be as great as his father was and to live for as long as Edmund Bridgerton had. Facing one's mortality doesn't make for good company. It did dictate much of his decisions in life and took root deep in his soul to actually help mould his character--especially towards the subject of love.

But he didn't expect the effect Kate Sheffield would have on him. No, he didn't expect Kate Sheffield, period.

Mortality had dictated that it was high time for him to take a wife and he decided Edwina Sheffield would do nicely. But like him, Edwina had strong familial bonds and had announced that she would only consider someone to be a husband-to-be with the approval of her sister, Kate.

Kate didn't think Anthony was good enough for her sister and she didn't mince words to let Anthony of that. But as the days pass, she realized that he was a better person that he let on. And when she was ready to accept that he could make sister happy, that could only be met with remorse. For she had fallen in love with him and wanted him for herself. She, whose beauty didn't even come second to her sister's.

Anthony might have had the approval from Kate that he wanted but when Fate intervened, he gladly and willingly escaped to Kate's arms. It was always her in his mind and who stirred his blood from the start. And when the rules of society forced them to marry, he agreed.

But therein lies the problem because unlike Edwina, Kate was some he could love. And as someone who was aware of one's mortality, that didn't sit well with him. He couldn't bear the thought of just having her for less than a decade, if he was lucky. He wanted to be with her for much longer than that.

But Kate, who had demons of her own and which Anthony helped exorcise, helped him realize that even if he couldn't get over his fears, he could at least not let it be the center of his life. And that he had to live everyday to the fullest as if it was his last. Having a half-lived life is the biggest regret a person can have.

So that's the reason why Anthony and Kate are easily two of my most fave characters. They both were too human and too real not to fall in love with.

Final verdict: 9/10. Fantabulous read, must have.

Soldiers Of Fortune by Diana Palmer

2007-06-28T15:15:00.000+08:00

An innocent beauty is courted by her mysterious boss to play his lover during a dangerous mission. Dare she resist her SOLDIER OF FORTUNE?

A cornered beast. There's no other way to describe J.D. Brettman. And no one fought against love among all three heroes in this collection harder than he did. Knowing how Gabby Darwin felt for him, he set out to prove to her that he was not the man for her. I just didn't particularly like his methods for doing so--by almost raping her. Although he didn't intend to, J.D. lost control and undoubtedly managed to do more than what he set out to do, which was to turn Gabby against him. But then he panicked when he found out that she was really loving him. He was never comfortable with their thirteen-year age difference but he was willing to forget all that as long as Gabby could learn to care for him again. What made up for the almost-rape scene? When J.D. stopped their lovemaking even when he learned that Gabby was finally ready to give herself to him, so that they could wait until after their wedding. Sweet.

Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.

*******

A moment of reckless abandon leads to a whirlwind wedding for a virtuous bride and her secret agent groom, a.k.a. THE TENDER STRANGER.

I dunno why but this story is quite special for me. Eric van Meer was a special character. Probably because from the reference of him from the first story, he was introduced as a man who hated women, and marriage even more. But one look at bespectacled Danielle St Clair did him in to the point of offering marriage if that was the only way to have her. But then Dani found out what he did for a living and refused to live that kind of life, especially when he was leaving for a mission after their short idyll. And when he came to find her a few months later with the hope of saving their marriage, he found her pregnant with his child--and memories of the past came rushing back to him. What he had become was shaped by a woman who had left him for a richer man and that was after she aborted his child. And only when he learned that Dani almost had a miscarriage did he realize that her life was the most important thing for him--not the baby and not even his job. The reaction of his fellow ex-mercs to the news of this (supposed) womanhater's marriage and impending fatherhood made for a fun read.

Final verdict: 8/10. Great read.

*******

One night of passion propels a sheltered virgin into a tempestuous marriage with a mysterious freedom fighter. Can she protect her heart from becoming ENAMORED?

I have mixed feelings for this book. The thought of a man hating a woman after being forced into marriage with scares the hell outta me. It wasn't as if she was to blame for everything when he obviously let his little head did the thinking for the circumstances that forced them into marriage in the first place. It served Diego Laremos right to find his wife Melissa Sterling Laremos gone from the hospital she was confined in after a bad fall--and after telling him that she lost their child. But fate brought them back together and Diego found out that Melissa had had a child. He was as jealous of the child as of the man who fathered Matthew. Melissa refused to tell him who the father of the child was and so he thought of obtaining the child's birth certificate and learned the truth that way. It would have been better if he was able to better accept Matt before obtaining the documents. And so he began to treat the child with more warmth but still waited for his wife to trust him enough to tell him the truth. While Melissa was waiting for the right time to tell him because of the same fear that drove her to keep the child from his father five years ago--that Diego would take the child away from her. One consolation from his story: that Diego was true to his vows for the five years they were separated. And the possibility that he might actually have come around even if he learned hat Matt was indeed another man's son. Nevertheless, they made a beautiful family.

Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.

Once and Always by Judith McNaught

2007-06-21T17:12:00.000+08:00

Suddenly orphaned and alone, Victoria Seaton sails the vast ocean, eager to claim her heritage at Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her distant cousin...the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Bewildered by his arrogance yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she senses the painful memories that smolder in his eyes when he gathers her at last into his arms, arousing a sweet, insistent hunger, they wed and are embraced by fierce, consuming joy--free from the past's cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of anguish, Victoria discovers the treachery at the heart of their love...a love she had dreamed would triumph not just once, but always.

The problem with going through old books to weed out the ones bound for the UBS is that you just can't go through them in one go because old favorites tend to catch your attention and the next thing you know you're well into another good reread session.

And probably the best reason why I love JM so much is that no matter how many times I reread her stuff to the point of memorizing the lines, she penned them in a way that it still feels like a brand-new read. Every time.

I chose OAA from the rest because if I started a Westmoreland book, I wouldn't be able to stop with just one. LOL! And so, let's get this fact out of the way first--this book isn't my most fave among JM's historicals but it still rates high enough to be a personal favorite. I love the entire thing except for one thing--that it contained not one but two scenes of our hero Jason Fielding and his mistress. And both times when he was already engaged to out heroine Victoria Seaton. Okay, the engagement wasn't his idea but still...But the rest of the story pretty well made up for it and so I lumped these scenes in into the complexity of Jason's character.

With that said, I can now declare that I positively love the story. First off, Victoria was a very strong character which was exactly the kind needed to break down the walls around Jason's heart. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind in his presence even knowing that he was practically one of the very few she had left in the world. And I think that the scene with the piglet was rather cute. I love piglets--those pink round bodies are hard to resist. (Sadly enough, that doesn't stop me from eating bacon.)

As for Jason, I think he was one of the few JM heroes without a strong familial bond when growing up. That's why I'm willing to forgive him for those mistress scenes. His displays of jealousy was quite enjoyable to read. Although I wanted to hit him in the head sometimes so that he'd wake up.

But boy, oh boy, did he wake up when he thought that Victoria died. My heart just broke for him. He didn't cry when he lost his beloved son from his first marriage. But the thought of losing his Tory broke him to the point of losing his mind.

Innocence can indeed help heal souls. If Victoria hadn't come to his life, no matter how he reluctant he was of the idea, Jason wouldn't have been able to mend his ways. And that's a sad thought.

Final verdict: 8/10. Great read, must-have.

Dan Brown's "Unputdownables"

2007-06-17T16:42:00.000+08:00

After all these years I still find the books to be so damned good! I finally got a copy of Angels & Demons--thank God for mall-wide sales--and I don't need to borrow a friend's copy if I wanna reread it again (and again and again...).

"Unputdownable." That was how one of the critics described one of Dan Brown's bestsellers. I really can't remember which one it was--Angels & Demons or The Da Vinci Code. It's not even a word but somehow it's more than apropos to describe both of those books. Both are sleep-be-damned kinda books, you know. And Dan Brown knows the perfect formula of what to put in a perfect thriller. It wouldn't have mattered whether those copyright theft charges against him were dropped or not by the judge. And that somehow made him more popular and his books more in demand than ever.

Angels & Demons. This was where we first met the incomparable character, Robert Langdon. He needed to decipher the clues before a centuries-old society acts on its vendetta against the Catholic Church. It was a race against time as the Church's leaders go into conclave--while sitting on a timebomb that could erase Vatican from the map in a matter of seconds.

The Da Vinci Code. Another fast-paced conspiracy, but an equally suspenseful chapter, in the life of symbologist Robert Langdon. This time it was a quest for the Holy Grail and what it really is. And so he worked on the clues found in Da Vinci's masterpieces before the cover-up was exposed and the answers fell into the wrong hands.

Dan Brown is a master storyteller. He may have penned other works but nothings beats these two, especially the latter. Although when you seriously think about it, the first book is actually a lot better when it comes to the suspense and drama in it; only that the latter has a(n even) more controversial topic and therefore captured more attention. It makes you wonder. It makes you think. It opens your mind to possibilities other than what you've been taught your whole life. Whether you believe it or not, that's up to you. But whether it's pure fiction or not, we would probably never find out. At least, not in this lifetime.

Midnight Warrior by Iris Johansen

2007-06-07T13:44:00.000+08:00

SHE WAS A PRISONER BOUND BY DUTY AND DESIRE

Taken as a slave, fiery, tempestuous Brynn of Falkhaar was awed by the magnificent warrior who stood before her. Known for her skills as a healer, she had been brought to his battlefield tent to save his dying friend. Yet in the days and nights ahead, the sensual conqueror made it clear she might be more than nursemaid to his soldiers. She could be the intimate plaything of his seductive desires.

HE WAS A CONQUEROR FOR WHOM NOTHING WAS FORBIDDEN

Dark, brooding, and passionate, Lord Gage Dumont was a man used to conquest. And yet with one look at the medieval slave he'd been given as his spoils, he realized she held him prisoner. As she fought to save his friend with her healing powers, Dumont felt her fiery touch deep in his scarred soul. Though he may have already owned her body, what he wanted was her heart--and for that he would risk everything.

IJ had put enough intrigue into her old medieval books that I can't help but reread them for the nth time. Here is another example. Although unlike her other stuff, she saved the twist in the plot right at the end of this story surprising the heck out of me the first time I read it for finding out I have just read a King Arthur tale. Really, really cool.

One thing that annoyed me in this story is the fact that Brynn was married to another man, idiot though he might be, when her relationship with Gage started. I was surprised as Gage was when he found out--undoubtedly a HUH?! moment. Since she never gave ascent to the union, they might not have been legally wed but we all know anything goes at that time so they were nevertheless married in the eyes of man. Hence the minus factor from the plot. Other than that, I'm all okay with the rest. Obviously, I've reread it from time to time.

The main point is that I love the hero, Gage Dumont--very bullheaded and someone who busted his ass off to get what he wanted (which happened to be Brynn). I can't explain it but his character turned out to be charming without being charming on effort. Just when I thought his attraction to Brynn was all about lust, he proved it otherwise. Because when she offered herself after admitting that she loved him, he refused--unless she would commit to marrying him. That was really something considering that he had been after her like crazy.

One thing that also clicked for me in this book was Gage's friend Malik. What a flirt! But a sweet one for that matter. Imagine someone willing to scar his face so that you will like him some more because what might be holding you back is his infamous comeliness and the thought that he might be too handsome to be serious. Or to freeze himself in frigid weather (not my thing that's for sure) to prove that he will do anything for you. Sweet, sweet man. In fact, it's probable that he was one of the reasons that I was able to finish this book despite my misgivings about the heroine.

This was another good reread session--which I had to do. I have been slowly going through some of my old books because it's high time to do some weeding out and for another trip to the UBS. It goes without saying that this book safe from the boot. For now.

Final verdict: 7/10. Good read.

Our Secret Love by Miranda Harry

2007-06-02T15:48:00.000+08:00

Dana Lipton has totally fallen for Chris Geller. Who wouldn't? He's sexy, funny, and smart--and he's just as crazy about Dana as she is about him. But there's one problem: Chris is her older brother Brian's best friend, and he's supposed to be off-limits.

Dana and Chris can't hide their feelings for each other any longer. One innocent date ends with an unforgettable kiss, and from then on it's the real thing. And when Brian finds out about their secret romance, he completely flips out, and forbids them to see each other. Will Brian scare Chris off...or is Chris and Dana's relationship strong enough to last?

Anyone complaining about any reading slumps? Hmm, I know exactly how that felt. I've started to read a few books--historicals and contemps alike--and I just couldn't seem to get past the second or the third chapter on any of them.

The solution? Young adult fiction. I know. It's undeniably a hoot. But what can I say except for the fact that I did manage to finish this old fave of mine. Well, a housemate borrowed this book and I couldn't help but read it when she returned it. I haven't read this--or any young adult fiction--in a number of years and I actually surprised myself when after rereading, I still found myself liking it.

It's stories like this that make me wish for and at the same time, not wish for a brother. I just think that it would actually be kinda cool if someone would be as overprotective of me as Dana's brother was of her in this book. But at the same time, it would definitely get stifling and restrictive, and life would be more difficult.

I just think that this story is really cute. Just imagine knowing someone practically your whole life and then realize one day that he could be the one. But it doesn't get any easier since your brother had declared his friends off-limits. That's Dana's case. But I understand her brother Brian's reasons for being overprotective--after all, he had watched his little sister go through cancer and survive.

But then one day Dana realized that Brian's best friend Chris wasn't just a friend to her anymore. What's more, Chris also realized that Dana was no longer just his best friend's kid sister. And I think that it's human nature to do what's forbidden. Hence, Dana and Chris got together. But it was never their intention to lie to Brian--only that circumstances forced them into that kind of situation and they were just waiting for the right time to tell him. But then big brother found out and all hell broke lose.

Chris later apologized to Brian and then told Dana he had decided that no girl was ever gonna come between his and Brian's friendship. It sounded lame to me--until I learned later in the book that he did it because so that he didn't want come between Dana and Brian's special bond forged during her recovery from leukemia.

Dana saw everything was going to be okay with her brother and Chris; and between her and Brian when he bought tickets for a concert. Only to find out that Brian bought tickets for her and Chris--Brian finally realized that the couple was miserable without each other.

It's a simple story and can be downright juvenile at some points. But the point that won me over was when Chris donated blood to see if some kid somewhere was a bone marrow match. After all, that was how Dana survived leukemia--some person was found and was a lucky match for her. Now that wasn't juvenile in the least.

Final verdict: 8/10. Good read.

Man Of My Dreams by Johanna Lindsey

2007-05-16T19:54:00.000+08:00

MAN OF HER DREAMS
The most desirable beauty in the land, wildly unpredictable Megan Penworhty has set her amorous sights on Ambrose St James, Duke of Wrothston--a man she has never net but has every intention of marrying. No other suitor will satisfy her--especially not the common, if uncommonly handsome, horse breeder Devlin Jefferys.

WOMAN OF HIS DESIRES
Posing as lowborn Jefferys to escape a potentially fatal confrontation, Ambrose is enthralled and infuriated by the brazen, duke-hunting redhead. Without revealing his true identity, the notorious rogue vows to foil Megan's plans to wed the man of her dreams--never imagining the enchanting schemer would turn out to be the only woman he would ever dream of marrying.

I can't believe I still have the energy to sit in front of the computer and write in a book review after staying up until 130AM to edit the template of my home blog. (Check out the new look here.) But I finished rereading this JL book just earlier today and since I didn't have to go in to work, I'm making good use of what's left of my free time.

I first read this book close to ten years ago and after the nth reread, it still manages to make me laugh. JL books were among my very first historicals and although I may now think some of her stuff could be juvenile-ly simple, this book remains to be one of my personal faves.

I enjoyed reading about the sparring of words between Megan and Devlin. Megan was always unconsciously picking fights to stem off her attraction with the horse breeder--she was hellbent on marrying the Duke of Wrothston. And Devlin acted always out of turn as if he didn't know what hit him. In fact, he didn't. He went so far as to prove the Duke (him!) was a cad by proposing incognito that she become his mistress. All he thought was that she was a gold-digger, unaware that she really wanted to fall in love with the Duke--and him her--before marrying him.

But Devlin had gotten her pregnant and she didn't have a choice but to wed the horse breeder. Imagine her surprise when she found out she was actually married to the man of her dreams--and she was now Duchess of Wrothston. She might have wanted that but she never expected it would happen the way it did--and she believed she was duped into marrying him. Add the fact that she overheard Devlin telling his bestfriend that he had been miserable since he got married. Since he met her, more likely.

But what Devlin really meant (and what Megan didn't hear) was that loving his wife and not have her love him in return was making him miserable. So she cooked up a plan to set him free and told him that she had lost the baby. But before she could make her point, Devlin had already "comforted" in the oldest way possible. By the time the word annulment came up it was already too late since she could very well be pregnant again.

But what Devlin didn't tell her was that he wasn't about to hand her an annulment, baby or no baby.

My most favorite scene was when Devlin got wind of Megan's plans to dye what he called, when he was masquerading as a horse breeder, "the most unfashionable hair in creation."

"You may not dye your hair."
"But you don't like it."
"It's grown on me."
"But it's not fashionable."
"The Duchess of Wrothston makes her own fashion. She doesn't have to emulate it...If you dye one lock on that beautiful head of yours, I'll put you over my knee again, and you know bloody well that's not an idle threat!"

They might have managed to reach a truce but Megan saw the wisdom of confessing her love for him just might make him un-miserable. But first she had to tell him that she was pregnant. And then he walked out on her when he found out that it was the same child and that she had asked for an annulment while still carrying the same baby.

Unaware that he had drunk himself to sleep that night, Megan decided to complete her mission and told him she loved him--with him half asleep and fully drunk. Silence was all she got and that was when she made her statement the following day.

"I'm moving into the stable."
"You're what?"
"I'm going to stay here until I have my horse breeder back."
"Thought you couldn't stand him."
"You thought wrong."
"He doesn't exist."
"He does. You're just keeping him buried beneath all that ducal haughtiness."

See? I love the book so much I can't even do a simple review on it. I just have to go on and on and on...Devlin and Megan made such a cute couple and their story is such a smile-inducing read that there is no helping loving it.

I want me some Dev!

Final verdict: 8.5/10. Great read, must have.

Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Guhrke

2007-05-11T18:02:00.000+08:00

For prim and shy Daphne Wade, the sweetest guilty pleasure of all is secretly watching her employer, the Duke of Tremore, as he works the excavation site on his English estate. Anthony hired Daphne to restore the priceless treasures he has been digging up, but it's hard for a woman to keep her mind on her work when her devastating handsome employer keeps taking his shirt off. He doesn't know she's alive, but who could blame her for falling hopelessly in love with him anyway?

Anthony thinks that his capable employee knows all there is to know about antiquities, but when his sister decides to turn the plain young woman in gold-rimmed glasses into an enticing beauty, he declares the task to be impossible. Daphne is devastated when she overhears...and determined to prove him wrong. Now a vibrant and delectable Daphne has emerged from her shell, and the tables are turned. Will Anthony see that the woman of his dreams has been right there all along?

Unconsciously, I might be on a quest to have as many first-time reads from as many authors as I can . And consciously, I just might be ready to 'let go' of the same authors I've been reading all through the years. And by let go I mean let my mind know that there are other great authors out there who are worth my time.

And here I found another one.

I admit, it started quite slowly for me. I didn't catch on to LLG's style right from the top. But I think I did right on cue because there was a point (I don't remember exactly where) when I just zipped right through the pages.

Anthony, the Duke of Tremore, was an okay hero. Great, even. I really couldn't blame her for not noticing Daphne from the get go. If a woman acted like she did in his presence, I guess that's just the way he'd react, thinking she's a machine in this case. Although it did irked me to read him offering marriage for duty and honor. I don't know why he kept on harping on that when he knew that Daphne had already got under his skin and doing what they did didn't have to do about duty and honor.

As for Daphne, I like her. What she went through was harsh but she came out the winner anyway. Fortunately, it didn't happen to me but if it hurts to have the person you love not love you right back, to hear him say that you are anything but a woman in his eyes has gotta be heartbreaking. But the first time she really made her mark in this story was when she gave her notice of resignation and just about lashed out on Anthony when he refused to accept it.

To say the least, I love Anthony's journey in 'discovering' Daphne like the way she was rediscovering him. And the game about the language of flowers was really something. (I know I always like learning about the symbolism of flowers when I play Hangaroo. Hehehe!) I can't single out a favorite scene but I was really impressed by the big picture. So it goes without saying that I'm looking forward to my next LLG.

Final verdict: 8.5/10. Great read.

The Chronicles Of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

2007-05-02T16:51:00.000+08:00

After my Literature instructress mentioned that my old university had wanted to put The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on stage but was only foiled by budget woes, it got me pretty curious about the story. The first time I saw a copy of the book, I winced at the price. A senior college student couldn't spare that amount of money. (In my case, that is.) Discounting the Harry Potter books, I have never been a big fan of children's literature. Years later, I found out that The Lion... is part of a seven-book series. So when I found one whole volume of the seven stories, I couldn't resist; hence the beginning of my journey to Narnia.

A friend wanted to borrow my copy for the summer so I had to do a quick read-through.

The Magician's Nephew. I'm glad that the series was completed decades before because I was able to read the books in chronological order. This story was written years after the series was officially started. It tells the story of how Narnia began. What would you have done if you were in the shoes of Diggory and/or Polly and were/was whisked off to other worlds so unlike our own? Who is Aslan? How did Narnia come about? Questions, questions. The first book of the Chronicles will provide the answers and tease you to go on reading--because you can never tell when the next adventure will be starting.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This is the book that started it all for Mr Lewis' Chronicles. Diggory is now an old professor who is hosting distant relations for the Holidays. The Pevensie children--Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy--embark on an adventure beyond the back of a wardrobe. Unfortunately, the perfect Narnia that was created in the first book is now frozen for a hundred years. Of course, if you hadn't read these books you can always check out the movie version (especially of this one just a few years back). Suffice it to say that no matter what, the good always prevails--the White Witch is no match for the Lion.

The Horse and Its Boy. This is the adventure of Shasta during the reign of the High King Peter and his siblings. (Yes, the Pevensies ruled the land of Narnia after the death of Jadis, the Witch.) Narnia is the land of Talking Beasts so in this story we get to know a Talking Horse named Bree. Aside from learning about the wisdom of Aslan, we will also be reading about the stories of friendship, loyalty and fortitude. It's also noted here that the children cannot come back to Narnia again using the wardrobe. Only the Magic of Narnia can call back its friends.

Prince Caspian. I would say that the most pertinent thing shown in this Narnian adventure is the massive difference in how out time passes compared to Narnian time. It has only been a year (in our time) since the Pevensie children were in the world of Narnia. But because of utmost need for the Kings and Queens of old, they are called back to Narnia. That is, to a Narnia hundreds of years after they were last there--and this time ruled by the foreign Telmarines. As I've said, the good always prevails. Although a Telmarine himself, Prince Caspian triumphs to rule for he appreciates and accepts the real Narnia for what it is. Unfortunately though, it's here in this book where I learned that there is an age limit when coming to Narnia. Sad, really.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. (King) Caspian, (King) Edmund, and (Queen) Lucy appears in this adventure. But we are also introduced to a new, uhm, charming character in the person of Eustace Scrubb--a cousin to the Pevensies. I would say that this is my most favorite book in the Chronicles. Although we found out in The Horse and Its Boy that there are places outside of Narnia, this book becomes more of an adventure because it's our characters that are making the discoveries of different places. In the long run, we encounter enchantment after enchantment, and the voyage becomes a quest for Aslan country. Of course, with the addition of Reepicheep the Talking Mouse, the story becomes definitely...cuter, to say the least (sorry, Reep).

The Silver Chair. Because of that age limit, we only meet Eustace in this story. And his friend from school, Jill. But in most parts of the book, we know them as Scrubb and Pole, respectively. Lost royalty is always a fun read. This is no different. The adventure is to find Prince Rilian, King Caspian's son. One of the most appealing factors of this adventure is the journey to the land north of Narnia--Giant country--making it a darker story. And I love the company of Puddleglum--even if he is so ever...glum. (I wonder if they'll ever make a movie for this one.)

The Last Battle. The title alone, after the six previous books, makes you wanna give out a huge sigh of relief. As I read on about greed, courage, etc. it just sunk in that this will be the last time we will be gallivanting on adventures with the Pevensies, Scrubb, Pole and the other (and rather) surprising creatures in the land of Narnia and its surrounding land--e.g. warring with the Calormenes of the south. And the ending does not give any closure at all. It makes me wanna ask for seven more books (although I doubt if Mr Lewis can write any more. LOL!). Nevertheless, I learned here that all things come to an end--even Narnia. I'm just glad to have known Aslan and his wonderful world of Narnia. When you read these books, don't overlook the symbolisms that might swamp you--take them as they are. We ignore symbolisms in real life as it is.

As a contemporary and a close friend of J.R.R. Tolkien, I wonder what he and C.S. Lewis talked about over afternoon tea. Did they talk about Narnia and the Middle Earth? Of Aslan and the One Ring? Of the Pevensies and the Fellowship? Or, they might have not talked about their works at all. I'm ever grateful to have read the stories they spun and the worlds they created. My kudos and props for those brilliant minds.