Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Teaser Tuesday

 
 
 
 
 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title &; author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
Here is my teaser for the week:
 
"Paul hesitated.  He didn't have to explain himself, not to her, not to anyone, but as he walked on under the flickering sky on a cold January evening, he suddenly realized that he wanted her to know him - really know him, in all his contradictions."
 
"Nights in Rodanthe" by Nicolas Sparks
 
Happy Teaser Tuesday!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Book Review: "The Sweetest Thing" by Jill Shalvis



Book Description:

Two Men Are One Too Many . . . — Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.


My thoughts:

This is the second in the "Lucky Harbor" series.  The first one is "Simply Irresistible."  This book focuses on another sister - Tara.  Tara returns to Lucky Harbor to help her other sisters in re-opening their mom's inn. 

Tara has a 'secret' with Ford and tries to hide her feelings, but can not - enter ex husband who wants her back - perfect love triangle.  Who will win? 

I loved the triangle even though you knew who would win.  But reading about her 'fighting' her inner feelings kept me from not putting it down. 

There are also a few chuckles in the book.  =)  Love to smile while reading.

Jill Shalvis is a great writer - so far I haven't wanted to put one of her books down.  I have also read the "Animal Magnetism" series. 

I can't wait to read more in the series.

Happy Reading!!


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Book Review: "A Light at Winter's End" By Julia London



Book Description:

Holly Fisher opens her door one day and finds her estranged sister Hannah standing there with a glassy look and her nine-month old baby on her hip. Before Holly knows what is happening, Hannah has left her baby with Holly and disappeared. Three months later, fresh out of rehab for addiction to painkillers, Hannah shows up sober, contrite, and wanting her son back. But Holly is in love with the baby and not willing to give him up to the mother who abandoned him.

Into the middle of this extraordinary conflict between two sisters walks a lonesome cowboy, Wyatt Clark (Summer of Two Wishes) who knows a thing or two about childcare and fractured families. He’s had his own troubles and has stayed away from women the last couple of years, but he can’t resist Holly and the baby. But when Holly is delivered a devastating blow and returns the baby to his mother, Holly is too distraught to continue her relationship with Wyatt. It will take an extraordinary turn from Hannah to bring Holly and Wyatt together so that they both may find the happiness that has eluded them.


My thoughts:

After starting this book and looking up to post the picture for the blog, I noticed that this was book three in the series.  I have read book one.  If you have read previous posts, you will know I am very particular when it comes to series.  After my initial mini panic attack ha ha - I realized that I could read book two after this book.  This book has a character from book one, which I read.  So I carried on with reading this one as I couldn't put it down at this point.

In the first book, "Summer of Two Wishes" Wyatt Clark was introduced.   He is brought back in this book.  This is only the second book I have read by Julia London.  She writes a lot of historical romances, and those aren't my cup of tea. 

When I read the first book, I was entranced with the characters and story.  I was hoping this would be the case with this book.  I was not disappointed.  The author has a way to capture the reader with the story.  I couldn't put this down.  I didn't like having to put it down.  The conflicts that Holly had with her sister, having her nephew, with Wyatt, her job.... I couldn't wait to read what happened next.  I was very pleased with this book.  I hope there are more in the series, or that the author will continue to write more contemporary romances.

This book was my January book for the Reading Challenge I signed up for.  I hope all my picks are as good as this one.

Happy Reading!!


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Teaser Tuesday - on Wednesday...






Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title &; author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
 
 
Here is my teaser this week:
 
"Tara had a flash to a certain long ago night on the docks, after a fight with her mother that had left her shaky and alone.  Ford had found her, and in shockingly little time, had her forgetting her troubles."
 
 
"The Sweetest Thing" Lucky Harbor book 2
By Jill Shalvis
 
 
Happy Teaser Tuesday (On Wednesday)
 

 

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Book Review: "The Next Always" by Nora Roberts








Book Description:

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, the changing of hands, and even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major face-lift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect in the family, Beckett's social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was sixteen.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town's bookstore.Though busy and with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett's transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look...at both the building and the man behind it.

With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett is happy to give Clare a private tour -- one room at a time, in between blueprint meetings and kindergarten pickups. It's no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something that could arouse the secret yearning that resides in Clare's independent heart -- and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next...

  
My thoughts:

A lot of people are HUGE Nora Roberts fans.  I can't say I am NOT a fan, but I am probably one of the few that haven't read a lot of her books.  I have only read one series by her - the "Born In" series - "Born in Fire", "Born in Ice," and "Born in Shame."  That was many moons ago.  I enjoyed them, but for whatever reason I just haven't went back to her. 

This series was recommended by a co-worker.  We talk about books all the time and asked if I have read this.  She said if you haven't read a Nora Roberts series or haven't in awhile to read this.  I am glad I listened to her, as I didn't regret this book.


I could tell by the beginning that his series is about the Montgomery boys.  They are the typical brothers - love and pick on each other a lot.  I loved the banter between them.  I loved the hometown feeling of Boonsboro.  Very enjoyable.  I felt a part of the town and felt like it was very realistic.  

The storyline between Claire and Beckett - loved it.  I couldn't get enough.  It was hard with my schedule lately to find time to read and when I did it was too short of time for how good this book was.

I have the second and third book on my Wish List at Paperbackswap, but I might have to put a hold on them at the library too  - these were that good.

My coworker has already told me to read the 'bride' series too.  I think I will try and fit that in this year as well.

Happy Reading! 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Reading Challenge books



Man!  This was harder than I thought to find some books for my Reading Challenge.  But once I found them, I am very excited to read them... As I found them, I noticed that I will be starting some new series.  I will also be continuing a couple.  That is exciting!!

Here they are:

January - "A Light at Winter's End" by Julia London

February - "A Town Called Valentine" by Emma Cane

March - "Paradise Valley" by Robyn Carr

April - "A Place Called Home" by Jo Goodman

May - "Code Name: Nanny" by Christina Skye

June - "On Folly Beach" by Karen White

July - "Into the Night" by Janelle Denison

August - "Carrot Cake Murder" by Joanne Fluke

September - "The Blue Bistro" by Elin Hilderbrand

October - "Murder Buys a T-Shirt" by Christy Fifield

November - "Welcome to Last Chance" by Hope Ramsey

December - "Mother Road" by Dorothy Garlock



Have you read any of these books?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Book Review: "All He Ever Needed" by Shannon Stacey



Book Description:

He won't stay put for a woman, and she won't chase after any man... — Mitch Kowalski lives out of a suitcase -- and he likes it that way. Traveling for work has the added bonus of scaring off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. But when he's called home to help with the family lodge, he's intrigued by the new girl in town and her insistence that she doesn't need a man. If there's one thing Mitch can't resist, it's a challenge.

After a nomadic childhood, Paige Sullivan is finally putting down roots. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she lives by the motto "Men are a luxury, not a necessity." But when Mr. Tall, Dark and Hot pulls up a stool in her diner and offers her six weeks of naughty fun with a built-in expiration date, she's tempted to indulge.

They're the perfect match for a no-strings fling. Until they realize their sexy affair has become anything but casual...


My thoughts:

This is book four in the "Kowalski" series.  I read the first three back to back to back awhile ago.   I wish there was a little more back story with the other three "Kowalski's" but I guess this series might be meant to be 'stand alone' book.  At whatever case I still enjoyed this book very much. 

This was a new author to me last year.  I read the first three in the series in about a week.  They were THAT good. =) 

This book revolves around Mitch Kowalski, who comes into town to help his brother out at the family lodge.  I laughed a few times in the book at the family dynamics.  That is always refreshing in a book.  Smiles and laughter. =) 

The chemistry with Mitch and Paige was undeniable.  I loved how she tried to hide and not act on her feelings for Mitch.  It was enjoyable to read. 

If you are looking for an enjoyable author/book/series.  Check this one out.  The others in the series are:
Exclusively Yours
Undeniably Yours
Yours to Keep

Happy Reading

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Reading Challenge - Join me!!

monthly key word challenge

 
Here is a new Reading Challenge I found at Bookmark to Blog:

Each month you have a key word and you read a book with that key word.


GUIDELINES

* The title you choose can be a variation on one of the key words. For example- your title could include the word 'snowing' or 'snowflake' even though the key word is 'snow.'

*Key words can be tweaked. For example- You could read "Cinder" or "Ashes" for the key word 'Fire' and that would be just fine. If the key word is 'family' then your title could include the word 'sister' or 'mother.'If the key word is 'food' then your title could include the word 'cake.'

Monthly Key Words:

 
 
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Who will join me at Bookmark to Blog ??