Deborah Smith - The Stone Flower Garden

Proud and powerful, the Hardigree family was as unyielding as the Carolina marble that had made them rich. Ruled by her grandmother, ten-year-old Darl learned that privilege demanded distance from others. Yet nothing could keep her from Eli Wade, an untamed stonecutter's son from the wrong side of the tracks. Amid the pink stone flowers in her family's garden, their forbidden friendship blossomed. Then came the terrible day when violence ripped the town apart and sent the Wades packing. Darl knew the truth behind the crime but she could never tell it without destroying more lives. But a secret buried is a secret that will one day be unearthed. And twenty-five years later Darl's silence is tested--when Eli walks back into her life.

Comment: This is the last contemporary book by the author I've had to read. After reading the first one back in March (Gentle Rain), I have read one book by her every month.
Stone Flower Garden makes the read see the childhood of the protagonists and how they live as adults, where the cycle will close and hopefully a HEA will ocurr.
Darl has always been rich but her family has more secrets that one might imagine and when Wade family returns to town, some secrets are very close to be dicovered. Still, nothing stops her from being friends with Eli Wade, the poor boy who undertands her. However, with the fear the secrets might come to surface, Darl's grandmother tries to put the guilt of her sister's murder in Jasper Wade, but he dies in a confrontation with the police.
Years later, Eli wade is rich and helps Darl after a critic moment in her professional life and after that things just had to follow its curse...
Once again, a great book by the author. I feel she didn't push the sad parts and made the reading much easier. I like she makes the protagonists very human, with flaws and defaults but somehow they always have noble reasons even for their most doubtful actions.
Eli and Darl as kids were friends, different but honest to each other until family bacame a havy burden to Darl. As adults the attraction is there and it nedded some real trust to make them happy. I really liked the story...not as much as others, but a good book.

* * * *

After having read her contemporay books as Deborah Smith, this is how I preferred her stories:
Gentle Rain
When Venus Fell
Charming Grace
Crossroads Cafe
Sweet Hush
Stone Flower Garden
Blue Willow
A Place to Call Home
Miracle
On Bear Mountain
Silk and Stone

Her books have a common theme:we always see the protagonists past and present, and after so many books it can becaome a bit repetitive, but her stories are great and I, for one, will buy more if she publishes them. I preferred stories lighter in tone, where the sad parts didn't devour the story making me remember only that. My top 3 favourites are cool, beautiful stories, where the HEA is masterful, to me.

Ally Blue - Forgotten Song

You don’t expect the love of your life to literally fall at your feet. Ben Carson sure as hell didn’t. But when a mysterious stranger passes out cold at Ben’s feet after a street fight, Ben knows right away that this could be something special, that this man isn’t like anyone else he’s ever known.
Eric Green intrigues Ben from the first. The heat between them is fierce and immediate. But it's more than a physical attraction. Ben is drawn to the sorrow and vulnerability that lie behind Eric’s hot temper and suspicious nature. Generous, open, and trusting, Ben vows to help Eric put the violence and abuse of his past behind him and heal the damage it did to him.
As Ben tears down the walls Eric has built around himself and Eric learns to trust again, the powerful attraction between them grows and deepens into a love that could last a lifetime. But the past isn’t always so easily pushed aside…

Comment: I had this book to read for a long time but like most things in my TBR list, I've never had the time to read it. It was finally its turn.
The story focuses on Eric and Ben. They meet after Ben helps Etic out of a fight and he "rescues" him and brings him to this house because Eric doesn't have any place to go.
With time, Eric starts trusting Ben but Ben wants Eric and doesn't want to betray that building trust so he never says anyhting until it's just so obvious.
Eric starts feeling the same but he has an awful past, he's afraid and recoils from intimacy which makes him less confidant in his life because he thinks he's not good enough for Ben.
The things that stand out in this story is msotly Eric's fears. I liekd the fact he didn't "heal" overnight, he felt something for Ben, he tried but it wasn't let's have sex now, because when someone has a troubled past, one one fears something, it's not believable that things work out right away. In this the author was ok, although it might seem Eric is just being whiny.
Chapter after chapter the relationship between the grows but we also start seeing that Eric's past isn't as basic as we might thing, things were even worse that waht we imagined. I felt sorry for him too, but I liked seeing him fall in love with Ben and that they tried to trust each other even after a small fight.
Some people whose reviews I read or whose comments I checked said this book made them cry. Well, to be honest, I didn't and it's something usually easy for me to do when it's a sad story like this one. I was sad yes, but strangely not enough to cry, I'm not sure why..of course it's not a requisit but I guess I was expecting to be touched more intensely. Still, the fun in reading is the different reactions it provokes...I still recommend it.

Kresley Cole - Lothaire

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore's most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde's crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness -- until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.
Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she'd be convicted of murder -- or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month's time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.
Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millenniaold blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Comment: Finally Lothaire arrived and I got my hands on it right away.
Once again Kresley Cole wrote a great story, full of mythology and supernatural intrigues and romance and I loved the book.
After so many years, Lothaire is close to his endgame, the conclusion of his plots and schemes, he'll be able to conquer the Horde and for that to hapen he will only need a Bride, his evil queen. However she is trapped in a mrotal's body and the only way to free her is to kill the host by extinguishing her soul. Elizabeth Pierce, a young woman who's been in prison and in the death row doesn't like the idea and considereing she's got as much control of her body as the evil queen, she wants to be the one to live...plus Lothaire isn't as repulsive as that...is he?

I could say many things about every detail but I'm still savouring the book and also mourning it because once I finished, that feeling of eagerness and having something new is gone. Still, it's abook I liked a lot, not only because of the story itself but mainly because it's part of a series I love, it's full of myhtological creatures I love seeing so many different beings as protagonists and things happening.
The story focus on Lothaire of course and we se parts of his past and where he came from in terms of eprosnality. I liekd the fact he wasn't redemed or made good in this book. He's still the same sarcastic, vicious person, but he gained some sort of "humanity" if I can say so, because he has a Bride. She makes him want things, and feel things and for that only he would have to change.
His Bride...I won't say, but she's perfect for him and in the context the author created she is the one.
I liekd the end, how things worked out for Lothaire, considering his difficulties during the book and most of al, I was surpried by a revelation too. Can't wait to see it developed in future books. Plus, we saw a side of Nix we havan't before..her vulnerability, which is good, she's not just a crazy valkyrie, she has an agenda and controls a lot of things but she's not perfect in her powers and that makes her priceless as a character because now we want her to be happy too, more than before.
This book has a lot of pages, but I managed to read it quite fast...love when this happens, this feeling of not having enough...
It was a great book.

Joanna Bourne - The Spymaster's Lady

France and England,1802
SHE'S NEVER MET A MAN SHE COULDN'T DECEIVE...
She's braved battlefields. She's stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She's played the worldly courtesan, the naive virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the one man she can't outwit...
UNTIL NOW.
British spymaster Robert Grey must enter France and bring back the brilliant, beautiful--and dangerous--Fox Cub. His duty is to capture her and her secrets for England. When the two natural enemies are thrown into prison, they forge an uneasy alliance to break free. But their pact is temporary and betrayal seems inevitable. They flee, pursued every step of the way by ruthless authorities, caught in a net of secrets and lies. As the fates of nations hang in the balance, Grey and Annique fight the passion that flares between them--forbidden, impossible, and completely irresistible...

Comment: I decided to try this book several months ago and the book has been in my TBR list or allt hat time. I saw some people commenting how wonderful it was and I like historicals, so I had to have it.
The story is full of adventure, spies and romance.
Annique is a french spy and she knows about some plans where Napoleon will invade Great Britain and is running from an enemy who wants to kill her. Before she runs away from a prison, she helps two british spies as well, and they travel together for some time. During that trip, she gets to know one of them better and they start falling in love. After that, it's discovery after dicovery and in the end they must admit what they feel in order to be happy.
I liked the story a lot, I was thrilled to be reading about this couple and how their relationship was developing. They're both spies, people who don't trust easily but seemed to recognize the other immediatly and love just caught them. I liked seeing both of them rationally seeing the conflict it made because of their origin, but sometimes things aren't what they look like in the first place. This actually meant more than what the reader thinks because after a long time in the book we finally understand something about the heroine and I was completely what, this can't be, but yep it was and I was happily surprised! I've never saw it coming.
In the end, I liked how the plot and the characters worked well together and of course I loved the fact there's a HEA.
I'll look for more books by the author, for sure.

Shayla Black - Entice Me at Twilight

Dangerously handsome Simon Northam, Duke of Hurstgrove, and his uptight barrister brother hardly get along, but crashing Mason’s wedding and stealing his fiancée take sibling rivalry to a new level. Duke’s family knows nothing of his magical prowess or the Doomsday Brethren, so how can he explain that mankind’s fate lies with the beautiful, tenacious bride he longs to seduce for himself?
Felicia is an Untouchable, a rare human whose presence disables magic -- even the impenetrable forces surrounding Morganna le Fay’s tomb. The evil witch’s malicious powers could propel nefarious wizard Mathias to ultimate world domination . . . if he can resurrect her. To conceal herself, Felicia must heed her simmering desires to mate with Duke, but he risks binding his life -- and sanity -- to a lover whose loyalty may be forever torn. He faces a terrible choice: betray his brother for ultimate survival . . . or lose the woman who tempts him beyond control.

Comment: This is the 4th book in the Doomsday Brethern series.
Duke is going to be late to his half-brother's wedding but he's not that worried because he's attracted to his fiancé. Felicia isn't really marrying Mason for love, only because he's safe, but when Duke shows up saying she's in danger and kidnaps her, her world changes.
Duke has always been a bit mysterious, not the most lively character in the series, or with the most obvious behaviour, but I was curious about him. He's loyal and trustful and I liked him from the start.
Felicia has had a brutal past. She was an orphan and had some bad experiences in foster care, besides she saw her foster sister comite suicide over a broken heart, so she decided not to the same and when she accepts Mason's proposal it's because they're friends. However, Mason surprises her on the wedding day, saying he's in love with her so when Duke kidanps her, she's afraid, but in a way, relieved she can postpone Mason's hurt.
I liked seeing these two together. They both have to overcome their fears and embrace the idea they're destined to be together, soemthing Duke realizes as soon as they kiss.
Both are afraid to hurt Mason, because they both love him and don't want to "betray" him, but as a wizard, Duke needs Felicia and ciscunstances force them to mate because Felicia proves to be a key character to the plot. Still Duke doesn't tell her what would happen when everything is over and she can renounce him.
Felicia has some trust issues to overcome, she has to learn to see Duke through different eyes, but when it happens, it's believable she loves him.
The plot also goes forward, some new things happen and we're not very clear on how the bad guy "survived" the battle in the end of the book.
I like this world a lot, like I said before, the writing flows, which makes the story alive and easy to read.
Next book is about Lucan and Anka, can't wait to see them renovating their bond.
The author also said she planned writing Shock's and Bram's story for sure. Let's hope she doesn't take too long.

Constance O'Day-Flannery - Time-Kissed Destiny

With dreams of scuba diving in the relaxing warm waters of Bermuda, Kate Walker left New Jersey for sand, sun and surf. On her very first dive, however, Kate got much more than she bargained for --- she discovered sunken treasure. But when she went to claim her bounty, suddenly all the divers around her disappeared, and Kate found herself staring into a pair of hypnotizing blue-gray eyes! This diver wasn't familiar at all --- he wasn't wearing scuba gear and didn't have an oxygen tank strapped to his back! Frightened, Kate swam off in the direction of the ship she had dove in from, realizing too late that she hadn't even offered to share her life-supporting oxygen with the stranger . . .
Shipping entrepreneur Michael Sheridan couldn't believe his own eyes --- he found a mermaid at the bottom of the ocean! All of those ancient sea tales were true . . . even if this was the modern age and the year 1868, he now had reason to believe those old stories. She had fins for feet, a sleek body and the most exquisite flowing hair he'd ever seen. But as quickly as she appeared, she was gone, and Michael vowed to find her again. The underwater beauty became the object of his ultimate fantasy. He would seek the depths of the ocean to touch her skin, to kiss her lips, to caress her curves --- for once loved by a mermaid he would forever burn with Time-Kissed Destiny.

Comment: This is the fourth book I've read by the author. All the books have the time travel theme and, I found now, a connection.
In the first two books (Timeless Passion and Timeswept Lovers) the couples meet rapidly once, and the reader gets the feeling is random. Then in the third book, Time-Kept Promises, we hear nothing about them. I thought the books didn't share anything besides the theme Then there's this one. The male protagonist meets the protagonists of books #1 and #2 when they're...still single. Most confusing to me. Then, in the end of the book, one character, common in all books but in a way I completely overlooked him, clearly says the characters where chosen, and now I'm left not knowing why and how. I have two more books by the author to read, when I finally do, I'll see if there's any connection, but if not, I think I might have to look for it in other books, because my curiosity is at maximum levels right now.

And to be honest I didn't think I'd be because, mystery apart, this 4th book is my least favourite. I just didn't like the main couple, I mean, alone each character was ok, I guess, but together I didn't see much chemestry, it didn't feel they were meant for each other.
The plot is interesting yes, the descriptions of the scenes, the way things were happening were fine, but I had to make an efort to keep reading and, well, it's not the same thing when we just have to read more.
As I said, I'll read more, not right away, but one day I'll read more. I think that, considering it's books from the 80s, they're quite fine.

Kerrelyn Sparks - The Vampire and the Virgin

Olivia's packing list:
1. Sunscreen
2. Bathing suit
3. Flip-flops
FBI psychologist Olivia Sotiris was looking for a cool ocean breeze, sand between her toes, and a break from her crazy, chaotic, and sometimes all-too-dangerous life. But when she escaped to the small Greek island of Patmos, all she got were meddling grandmothers trying to marry her off. Can't they see that none of the men around interests her--except Robby MacKay?
Robby's packing list:
1. Synthetic blood
2. More synthetic blood
3. Jogging clothes
(even vamps have to stay in shape )
Robby needs to cool off, too, since all he can think about is revenge on the Malcontent bloodsuckers who once held him captive--but then he meets Olivia, the beauty with wild curls and a tempting smile. When a deadly criminal from a case back home tracks her down, Robby will have to save her life--along with giving her a first time she'll never forget . . .

Comment: Another installement in the Love at Stake series.
This is the story of Robby and Olivia. They meet in Greece, when both are in vacations, Robbie's are a bit forced but he is there.
I had hopes for Robbie's book, but from the title alone I could see it wouldn't be as interesting as others. And although it had funny moments it's nothing like the 4th and 5th books, real laughing material.
What I liked in the story was the constant presence of known characters, I like seeing more of characters that were protagonists before, who had central stage or not, it's fun to see them all as a family like this.
Also good was the evolution in the storyline, we see what the bad guys ared oing and although it's bad at least allows the story to flow which means more people can have HEAs. Of course, it's all a bit predictable, but thse books aren't misteries, so no worries there.
What I didn't like...the romance. I don't particularly like love at first sight stories and in this case it was also a bit rushed. Still, considering the circunstances of how they met, the issues in their lives and the natural fears a relationship could mean, I think it wasn't all bad, just rushed.
In the end, it wasn't a favourite but the world appeals to me, and I'll keep reading, the next one next month.

Tess Gerritsen - The Keepsake

For untold years, the perfectly preserved mummy had lain forgotten in the dusty basement of Boston's Crispin Museum. Dubbed "Madam X," the recently rediscovered mummy is, to all appearances, an ancient Egyptian artifact. But medical examiner Maura Isles discovers a macabre message hidden within the corpse -- horrifying proof that this "centuries-old" relic is instead a modern-day murder victim. When the grisly remains of two other women are found, it becomes clear to Maura and Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli that a maniac is at large. Now Maura and Jane must unravel a murderer's twisted endgame before the Archaeology Killer adds another chilling artifact to his monstrous collection.

Comment: Another great book by this author. I don't think I've read anything by her that made me think badly of her power as a writer. She writes in a very clean, precise way. She goes to the point, she makes the reader think about this and that and she delivers. I'm very happy with her books, thrillers aren't my favourite books but in her case..perfect.
This book, once more, was done amazingly, all the pieces fitted together, it seemed she just...I don't know, started and finished, there isn't a page there that doesn't belong, that was wasted. I love this about her writing.
The storyline continues things in the recurrent protagonists' lives, we see a bit of their social circle interactions and feel intrigued.
The mystery in this story was intense and I confess, a time or two I was indeed afraid to be alone in the dark thinking about certain things. It's not Stephen King terror, but it suggests interestingly.
The "invited" characters in the story have interesting personalities, it was a story that gained life, very good.
I don't know what else to say about this author, she rocks and I'm so happy to have followed a friend's advice and started reading her.

AKM Miles - Brackets

Photojournalist Austin Edmunds is something of a loner, preferring his own company to all of the people his friends try to set him up with. A new assignment in the Smoky Mountains might just change all that, though, when Austin meets big, sexy hunk, Brack Edge.
Austin has never experienced an attraction as immediate as the one he feels for Brack, and he loves the scenery and people he encounters in the Smokies. Despite all that, life isn’t all fun and games for Austin and Brack. They take on helping out a local kid with his homophobic family, and Austin has a story to finish. The hardest part might just be how Brack and Austin will handle the fact that Austin is a Manhattan man to the core, and Brack is a mountain boy, through and through. Can they find a way to keep it together?

Comment: I've decided to try this book because the blurb captivated me. Then time went by and the ebook has been waiting and waiting in my files for a long time. This year I'm going to read mostly LGBT things I've had in my TBR list.
This month it was this book's time.
Well I was curious about the story ebcause the reader is led to believe one of the protagonists is a loner and then meets someone, you know the rest. I pictured immediatly that he would fight the attraction he surely would feel but then it would be too late because he would fall in love, and more towards the end he would admit it finally.
Yeah right.
For a loner, Austin fell prtty fast, love at first sight? Unfortunally I don't really believe in it, it has to be done - in writing - extremly well, and in this case..not. It hapened too fast. I mean, they acted on it too fast. If he was already in love, who am I to doubt it, but to act right away?here's the fight, the reluctance, the fear of an early commitment, the think-about-this stage? Am I being too cynical here?
Anyway, apart from this, I liked the story, the tale of the dead brothers and sisters and Austin's past. It's all very sad, I've cried a bit too, I think the story was good but it was done a little bit in extremes: Too fast love, too sad stuff. Despite this, it's an easy read, it flows and I didn't get tired of it alhough when they get to the sex parts, of course they have to last. Still, I liked that they switched, I prefer partnership in every aspect of the couple's lives.
The little things, whether personal taste or writing style, marked the way I read so can't say I loved the book...but it wasn't that bad, I'm not sure how to explain...let's just say it's nice but not a favourite.

Kristine Grayson - Utterly Charming

A Day In The Life of Nora Barr, Esq.
Dear Diary,
I can't believe the day I've had. Just when I finally get a client, he turns out to be a nut case! Not only has he been arrested for torching a neighborhood, but he also claims to be the magician who knocked out the Sleeping Beauty a thousand years ago! Is this guy for real or what? Okay, I have to admit, he is the most gorgeous man I've ever laid eyes on. Oh! And did I mention he has a smile to die for? Pinch me if I'm dreaming, but I think my Prince Charming has finally arrived!

Comment: The moment I saw this book mixed contemproary with fairy tales, paranormal style, I had to get it. This is the first book in a series.
I started this book really eager because I imagined things a certain way..well, there's a reson one shouldn't creat expectations on books. The story is interesting but I didn't like the way it was told. It wasn't captivating at all to me.
The story starts with prince Charming (with another name) finding Nora, a lawyer, to help him protecting Sleeping Beauty. But there's an attraction between him and Nora and the Evil Queen shows up...well, you get the point.
The story is full of magic and some fairytales lore mixed with nowadays culture and there's even the mythological Fates there!
I think everything was a bit confusing and then the way the story is told is a bit boring too...I'm afraid I wasn't that impressed... then the romance is tasteless, it's only in looks and a kiss but hey some books rock in the chemestry they show up that sex is disposable, but in this case there was no chemestry, the fact they said I love You in the last page seemed as fake as the fact the sun arises on west.
Anyway, it seems I'm very harsh on the book, but to be honest I didn't enjoy it. I tought the possibility was amazing, plus with all this current buzz about fairy tales being the next hit in the paranormal genre (I've seen some books about it, then tv shows...), but this one is such a mess, I don't even want to try the next ones.
Too bad, not even the new covers are enough to seduce me.

Dianne Duvall - Night Reigns

Ami isn't much for trusting strangers. She has a hard time trusting anyone. But she's no coward, and she's no pushover in the protection department either. So when she comes across a mysterious warrior taking on eight deranged vampires on his own, she doesn't hesitate to save his bacon. Of course, that was before she realized what one little rescue would get her into...
Marcus Graden has been an Immortal protector of humanity for eight hundred years, and he's not interested in backup. From the moment Ami arrives in his life, he can't deny that she's strong, smart, and extremely skilled at watching his back. But she's also destroying his protective solitude and stirring desires he can't bear to awaken. After all, whatever her secrets -- how can she defeat death itself?

Comment: This is the second book in the only series by this author. This second books brings us known characters and developments in the storyline.
We get to know ow things are and we see several characters that, hopefully, will have a book (cof, David, cof).
Some friends have read the book before me and said so many good things about it, they talked non stop about theories concerning some character's future and especially Ami, the female protagonist that I felt interested by their comments alone.
While reading I was curious, interested yes but I wasn't crazy over the story as they seemed to have been. Then when I read Ami's secret I was like what? It's plausible but not common and I still have a hard time accepting it. It's not bad or something unwanted, but it's...different enough to stand out. To me at least.

While reading the first book, I didn't expect Ami and Marcus to hook up. I saw her with someone else, but I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop, especially how it made Marcus a better person.
What I liked was the fact we are given small tidbits of possibilities, of things that might happen to some characters, romantically speaking, and I can't wait to see those things happen or start having more air time.
I also liked seeing David. I can't understand my fixation with this character but the fact is he's the one that just grabs my attention whenever he shows up.
The story went along and we get clues on how it might evolve and it's going to be interesting to watch.
In the end, I've finished the book happy but not dazzled like I tought. Still, it's something I'll keep reading for sure.

Joanna Chambers - The Lady's Secret

London, 1810
Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate–until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland . Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.
Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…
But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?

Comment: This was the first book I've read in 2012. I heard about this book in Hilcia's blog and the blurb seemed so interesting that I got curious. When I saw her review I was convinced I wanted to try it.
For an amazing review you should check Hilcia's post, but my comment is the following: I liked it a lot, I had so much fun reading it and it grabed immediatly because time would go by and I wanted to keep reading. It really was annoying when I had to pause the reading for some reason.
I liked the writing style a lot and especially the pace, nothing seemd rushed or boring, it had the perfect balance.
Both main characters were convincing and their feelings touched me and I was hoping for them to get their HEA. The way this happend also made me happy, I don't think the author has done anything sloppy, perhaps it's the publisher's work there or whomever, but all the pieces fit together.

The other characters offered interesting interactions, and I was curious about them too, it felt they weren't there just to act as co-stars, it was truly important or them to exist, I liked having the feeling that the story had this purpose as well.
The storyline was interesting to follow and didn't seem too much. It was such fun to see Georgy trying to be invisible and then Nathan taking notice of her, I liked the idea a lot.
This is the author's first published book, I hope she can produce more and as good or better than this one.

My Life According to Books I Read in 2011

Here's a game with the books one read in 2011: My Life According to Books I read in 2011. I thought this post was very cute and I loved the answers Hilcia gave. So, after seeing it on Hilcia's blog (who saw it on Christine's...) I decided to try it. I have this done for a while now, but there's always something keeping me away from internet. Anyway, here are my answers, it was fun to look for titles to match each question.

Describe yourself:
No Proper Lady (Isabel Cooper)

How do you feel:
Invencible (SK)

Describe where you currently live:
City of Ghosts (Stacia Kane)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Out of Africa (Karen Blixen)

Your favorite form of transportation:
Soaring With a Hawke (Kenn Dahl)

Your best friend is:
Sylvester (Georgette Heyer)

You and your friends are:
Here to Stay (Catherine Anderson)

What's the weather like:
Storm Kissed (Jessica Andersen)

What is life to you:
Deeper than Midnight (Lara Adrian)

Favorite time of day:
Darkness Dawns (Dianne Duvall)

Your fear:
Vanish (Tess Gerritsen)

What is the best advice you have to give:
True of Heart (ML Rhodes)

Thought for the day:
Live the Dream (Josephine Cox)

How I would like to die:
Blameless (Gail Carriger)

My soul's present condition:
As Good as it Gets (Zoe Nichols)

2012 Book Challenge

Yes, yes, yes, I've said I wouldn't participate in any chellenge this year, but apparently it's something that just pops up and tricks one to get into it.
The thing is, I really didn't want to get myself into anything because I wanted to read without pressure, besides I already have my portuguese book club. Anyway, it's exactly because of the book club I'm getting into this.
Some friends in the book club have a goodreads account and I believe this idea comes from there but I can't know for sure where it did come from originally.
It's a challenge for one year and part of the fun is to find out books to fit each month's theme.
Here they are:

January - Something from an european author
February - Something with a character whose name starts with the same letter as mine, an "S" (tricky)
March - Something with a red, blue or green cover
April - The action has to be set in Africa or Asia (or part of it)
May - Something that is part of a series
June - Something adapted to a movie
July - Something with more than 350 pages
August - Something published in the year I was born
September - Something from an already deceased author
October - Something from an author from our country
November - Something with less than 200 pages
December - Something that has been a gift

I'll have to think of several things, but February, April and June are the ones I'm most concerned about...
When I have my ideas I'll create another page on top and give my progress's report there. I hope it's fun, at least!

Georgette Heyer - Friday's Child

To orphaned, pixie-ish Hero Wantage, it seemed like a star-studded dream when dashing Viscount "Sherry" Sheringham asked her to be his bride--for although she knew it was a marriage of convenience (his convenience), it eliminated the depressing prospect of life as a governess.
But their marriage soon became a frenetic comedy of errors, as Hero tried to keep up with the fashionable and very unfamiliar society in which she now found herself. From chariot races to gambling tables to exclusive drawing rooms, an exasperated Sherry followed in his wife's wake, trying to clear the air after her well-intentioned but scatterbrained escapades. And it was with great surprise that both Hero and Sherry discovered that even a marriage of convenience can turn into a love affair, under certain circumstances ....

Comment: This was the last book I've read in december...well, that I've started, but I actually only finished it on the 2nd of january.
Anyway, It took me a great effort to start it. The beginning pages are a bit complicated and feel very boring. I had to push myself to keep reading.
The story is about Sherry, a young viscount who proposes to a young woman but she refuses him, so he gets angry and declares he will marry the next girl he sees. This girl turns out to be Miss Wantage, someone he knows since they were children. The thing is, he decides to marry her as an impulse, and gets her to London, where she starts her married live without ever been in Society, and she keeps making mistakes and doing things a Lady shouldn't do, thus making Sherry going after her all the time.
The biggest issue I had with this book was the language. It's much more formal and specific than anyhting I've read in other historicals. Even comparing it to the other book I've read by the auhtor and enjoyed (Sylvester), it seems more evident the fomality of the language. I had to read some sentences twice to get some points, which made this more difficult. However, this only happened until the main couple had their first fight. After that, it seemed to me the plot itself became simpler, and the pieces started to fit together and I managed to read faster.
The story is funny, and teaches not to give into all our impulses...I think all the relationships between the characters were well done and allowed me to have a greater picture of what was going on.
The characters, they all had a role but obviously the main couple was the funnier to watch. Sherry had many vices but with each mistake his wife does, she says it's because he said so, and he learns to grow up in order to help her. It's very amusing actually. I wasn't very convinced of their love, although in the end they declare it to each other, I think it could use some more passion, but this is the author's style so one learns not to expect it. Still, it would be interesting.
I'll certainly read more things by Gerogette Heyer but out of the three books I've read, Sylvester is still my favourite.

2011 book statistics

Well, here are the statistics for the year 2011.

I've read 195 books (I read more in october - 23, and read less in march - 11).
I've purchased 118 books, spending 668,79€. (Around 720$ more or less...)

General Favourites, in order of preference:
1.Spellcast by Barbara Ashford
2.Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh
3.Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith
4.The Archer's Heart by Astrid Amara
5.City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Curiosities:
I'e read 127 books by authors I've previously knew, which means I've taken a chance on 68 new authors.
I've read more books in the paranormal romance genre (56).
I've loved inconditionally 39 of the books read. I liked 63, I found 35 somewhat interesting, I was (am) indiferent to 29 and I couldn't care less about 28 of them.

In my TBR list, currently, I have 371 books. Not counting the ones I purchased and haven't arrived yet and the LGBT ones. The genre that wins the waiting list is, once again, the paranormal (94).

The m/m challenge 2011 is completed

First of all, happy new year to everyone and I hope 2012 brings lots of books to read and good health to enjoy them!!

Now onto business...
I managed to end the m/m challenge. I've read more than 30 lgbt books which means I was able to read all the books I wanted to plus some more.
This was a great experience. I had read several m/m books since I first started in 2009 but I've never tried to do it in such a precise way.
Like I said, I picked random authors and even more random stories and in the end it was an eperience I liked.

Obviously some books I didn't enjoy that much, other I absolutly loved and among them are my top 3, books I loved with all my heart and will re-read one day (perhaps when my TBR list is a little bit lower...), but for now I treasure them immensely and don't have any problems by recommending them to everyone who likes to read m/m.
The books are - really in order of preference! - the following:

1. The Archer's Heart by Astrid Amara, something I've read in september;
2. Snowflakes and Embers by SA Payne, something I've read in may;
3. With Abandon by JL Langley, something I've read in march.

These were the best for me! Wonderful reads without a doubt!
I'll post a bigger summary in the challenge's page on top, if anyone is interested. The links to each comment are there too.

I'm not particpating in a challenge this year, but I'll surely keep on reading m/m...
Take care, people!