My Life According to Books of 2013

Like some of my online friends in the last days, I also liked this idea of Christine and once again have done this game.
The goal is to pick titles to suit the questions and it's better not to repeat titles because it's funnier!
I only had to think about three or four titles...

 Describe yourself: 

Vulnerable, Amy Lane

 How do you feel: 

Dangerous, Amanda Quick

  Describe where you currently live: 

Revolutionary Road, Richard Yates 

 If you could go anywhere, where would you go:

Bayou Moon, Ilona Andrews

Your favorite form of transportation: 

Mountain Echoes, CE Murphy

Your best friend is: 

Sebastien, Anne Bishop

You and your friends are: 

Living Dangerously, Katie Fforde

What's the weather like: 

Tempestuous, Morgan Hawke

 

What is life to you:

Sacred Fate, Eresse 

 Favorite time of day: 

Edge of Night, Jill Sorenson

 Your fear: 

Fear the Darkness, Alexandra Ivy

 What is the best advice you have to give: 

Dare to Love, Jaci Burton

 Thought for the day:

What Price Paradise, Katherine Allred

  How I would like to die: 

Perfect Timing, Catherine Anderson

  My soul's present condition: 

Beyond Innocence, Emma Holly

2013 Book Statistics

Like it's happening to most bloggers out there, of course I couldn't avoid the book statistics for the year. I think all readers enjoy these kind of posts simply to share the love for all things bookish. Personally, I do like to see what others read and how was their year.

-> Anyway, before anything else, the overall averages.

• I've read 193 books. I didn't reach the total of 200 I wanted like it happened last year. I could say some of the books I've read were huge so it would sort of compensate in terms of pages read but o excuses, I just couldn't reach that number. Still, I've aimed for that same number this year in the Goodreads challenge, I hope I can do it this time.

• My most successful month was March, where I managed to read 19 books and the worst were February and December with only 14. I know it's not bad comparing to many people but we always want to do better of ourselves, right?

• I've purchased 99 books, same as last year. I did spend more however. It was a total of 690,95€, which amounts to more or less 946$. A lot, yes....more than my monthly paycheck but in my defense I do not buy shoes all the time nor do I spend money on other things, books are my only vice!

• 129 of the books I've read were by authors whose work I previously knew and had read. This means I've tried 64 new authors, most of them a good bet.

• Of these books, in a very general range, I've loved 44, liked 72, thought 57 to be satisfying enough, I stayed indifferent towards 11 and didn't enjoy 9. Good numbers I guess.

• The genre I've read the most was the paranormal romance but I like many genres and many types of stories, this year it won't be different.

Now, for the pile of books that languish in my house, like most of you certainly, the number is big. probably not as huge as many of you, but for me...I have right now 356 books in my TBR list. Not counting the LGBT ones because I have many and I didn't feel like doing the math, but believe they're many. Anyway, I have more 18 books in this list than I did last year... no words necessary to explain, isn't it?
However, I can't say I'm sorry and I already bought four more books just this morning... No penance is enough, so....

I'll post about some favorite titles next time for I have to leave.
Happy new year, everyone!

TBR Challenge 2013 summary

 When I decided to join this challenge I was looking for something to make my months more fun and I confess it was always quite the eagerness to start the book for the month. Obviously all the books were new stories for me and although I knew about some of the author's styles, the plots and characters were always a surprise in waiting. Sometimes I had luck, others not so much. But the goal here is to read, not to be with only magnificent books..although that's an appealing thought!
Thanks to Wendy for the challenge itself and once more, to Hilcia, for it was in her blog I knew about this in the first place!

As for the books chosen, here are just a few words about them...

January: The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan (novella)
This story was very interesting and well written, although a little something in one of the main characters put me slightly off. A governess demands satisfaction from her previous employer about her work and his man of affairs is told to take care of it, but...things aren't as simple as that. This is the beginning of a great series which I kept reading and loving!

February: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie (recommended by friends)
This one is so well raved by many readers of romance, some people told me I would love it and I did. It's the story of two different people with apparently nothing in common who agree afetr a disastrous first date not to see each other again..but fate has another plan for them. Witty and fun, what a story!

March: Embrace Me at Dawn by Shayla Black (the most recent in the Doomsday Brethren series)
This wasn't as captivating as I thought, considering I'm a fan of the series. A man tortured after a terrible loss tries to regain his wife's forgiveness and love but she is changed, which means new experiences and paths for them both until they reach happiness. Apart from the apparent change of personality from one book to another in the main female protagonist, all the usual from a paranormal.

April: The Wild Marquis by Miranda Neville (new author to me)
This one wasn't bad but I had high hopes for it. The plot wasn't as amazing as that even with the bookish themes in there. A woman starts working for a titled noble to find out some rare books he wants. In the meantime they fall in love and have to deal with others bent on finding the same books. A bit of a disappointment.

May: The Naked Duke by Sally McKenzie (more than 1 book by her to read)
I thought this would be a funny but special read. Instead, I had a story of a silly woman from America coming to meet her family but finding an even sillier duke before that. They start a relationship at some point but honestly I wasn't very impressed or interested. I know it had some good details and well explored but overall a major disappointment.

June: Morning Glory by Lavyrle Spencer (it won a RITA)
This was in my radar for a long time becaue it had poor heroes and usually I love stories where they don't have much but are humble and good people. The romance between and ex convict and a widowed single mother others thing crazy more than captivated me, I was amazed by how much  loved these two characters trials until they got their HEA. Wonderful!

July: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (it's a classic romance alright)
This is a classical author and one whose work I enjoy quite a lot. I immediately thought of her when I saw this theme and I did like the story of Fanny and how she had to deal with people whose behavior wasn't humble or morally acceptable and how difficult it was for her to show the man she loved things only had to be simple between them. It was a very interesting read but not as good as some of the author's works.

August: Cooking Up the Storm by Emma Holly (erotica read)
This is an erotic story which I picked because it talked about a chef and right now I'm all into those ind of shows on tv. Anyway, this is the story of a chef coming to a city where he hopes to work at a restaurant and eventually buy it from the owner. But he falls in lust and later with love with her so he changes his mind eventually. Lots of sexual positions and partners in this one. Not what I'm into these days so it wasn't as special as that but I can't say it was bad for what it aims for.

September: Montana Man by RC Ryan (western)
Hum...I already forgot what this one is about, I only recall a man who loved a girl and she left, he wanted to forget her, now she's back and they fall in love again. Don't like lovers reunited at all, but as always we think THE book can change our mind...oh well, not this one for me.
The biggest disappointment. 

October: Water Bound by Christine Feehan (paranormal suspense)
This book was good enough for hat I expected of it. Although very much into the usual trademark of the author, not worthy feeling like characters who have a common goal at one point and eventually fall in love forever. Lev and Nikki have secrets, mostly Lev, but together they find out they're stronger and after dealing with an enemy who wants to ruin their lives, they get their HEA at last. Good but not impressive.

November: The Witness by Nora Roberts (a book very talked about when it was out) 
This one is a winner, I love the author's work, she was my first addiction in terms of romance novels and I'll aways cherish her name for that. This story is powerful, it's about a woman who saw what she shouldn't as a teenager and now that she's a grown up she's still hiding until a police officer gets himself into her life. Together they'll hunt the bad guys and live happy ever after. Perfect story and telling!

December: Western Winter Wedding Bells by Cheryl St John, Jenna Kernan, Charlene Sands
(Christmas)
This one was good overall, one story better than the others. All of them had the Christmas in the horizon and a wedding too. All three stories had strong main characters looking for happiness and being special in their own way. The second story was my favorite about a young women considered a thief but innocent who lies to a sheriff to be his governess. Funny, sweet and romantic in my opinion.

-> So, in the end, this was fun, interesting and a joyous experience and that is why I'll go for it again next year, hopefully with another set of good books to pick and enjoy during that. 
Have fun!

Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Inferno

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well-respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption.
When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide.
An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love, and redemption, Gabriel’s Inferno is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man’s escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible—forgiveness and love.

Comment: After seeing so many opinions about this book in the Portuguese forum I participate in, I've decided to try the book. I was a bit unsure about it tough, because of its similarities to 50 Shades of Grey, which I haven't - or plan to - read. But I now I don't want to now about more BDSM stuff so I stay away from it. This book people said wasn't like that and it was quite romantic, so knowing it was different from something I don't intend to read was a plus for me. I got it in July but well, same old story ever, it stayed behind until now.

This is the story of Gabriel Emerson, he's a reputed professor in a college in Canada. He's a specialist in Dante's studies and he hides a past that shames and makes him feel unworthy.
In comes Julia Mitchell, a young student attending his class and working on a thesis on Dante and other themes. They don't seem to get along at first despite Julia being a friend of Gabriel's family back in the US but after some time things can't e ignored anymore between them and they start a relationship but before they can admit their feelings they must tell their secrets...

Well, the buzz around 50 Shades was more than enough to one see the close details about this story and that one. I wasn't put off but it still annoyed me a bit. How weird is this, to dislike something without having read it and to feel annoyed at something we do read because it might be similar? Someone cares to discuss?

Anyway, his story started quite well for me, that first chapter where Gabriel demands an answer in class from Julia and she's too shy and nervous to reply made me thin we'd have one of those stories where they can't seem to connect despite all clues saying they do... I like this kind of plots because the couple must have chemistry in order for this to work. While this idea didn't come true in a way I'd have liked I was still happy enough with the way the plot evolved. But I'll say this, it did annoy me a little bit more than what I wanted to see so many details, from the clothes they wore to what they were eating and how many times they went to each of their huses and then the other's and I don't know what else, but it got tiring...perhaps a good less 50 pages could not exist but for this, which was exaggerated in my opinion.

In terms of the plot, I was mildly unhappy because it went from the I can't stand you to you're the only one I'd ever love and cherish in a way that didn't convince me much, but overall, I can't say it was bad, because it did allow them to explore their issues and it was a good start for their story. The writing was fluid enough and apart form that annoying habit of puting too many details, I didn't dislike the reading experience. The sex only happened once which was quite the surprise. Not as good was the sex description because at that time I was so bored with how long it too them to address their passion I found it not passionate enough! Maybe in the next book they'll be more hot together.

Julia and Gabriel have different pasts and experiences. I liked how each one overcame what seemed like dreadful prospects to become someone and be worthy in the eyes of those they cared about. Many mistakes in there but who doesn't make them? So, I liked how they did talk abut their problems and fears and doubts and in the end the story felt more solid because of this. Their romance wasn't as romantic as I thought, but it had the elements needed to work out.

In the end, I was happy enough like I said, but this wasn't the amazing book I thought I'd get. Still it was done good enough to entertain. With a little less detail and a little more passion it would have been wonderful, I think.
Grade: 7/10

LaVyrle Spencer - The Endearment

From the streets of 19th-century Boston to the harsh frontier--she wove a web of deception to ensnare her man!
Lovely, fiery-tempered Anna Reardon was forced to lie to get out of the street urchin's life that shamed her ... to become Karl Lindstrom's mail-order bride in the beautiful, treacherous Minnesota wilderness.
Karl forgave Anna for her deceptions--but there was still one shameful, burning secret that she had to hide from him, knowing its revelation would destroy the love that had become her very life!

Comment: This is another one of the books I had to read by the author. The previous one I've read, Morning Glory, was beautiful and everything a romance should be. I had high hopes for this one as well, considering the good reviews out there about it.

In this book we have the story of Anna and her younger brother James. They are very poor and don't come from the best family. After seeing an ad in the paper, they decide to embellish their story a bit in order for Karl Lindstrom to send them money to marry Anna and thus making a change in their dead end lives.
Throughout the letter exchange, Karl made up an idea of how Anna should be like and when meeting her he finds out many truths. With time they will get to know each other completely to reach happiness. But will some truths be harder to accept than others?

Well, my expectations were met so I can't complain. I started this book with the idea it wouldn't be as thrilling as the other one and I was right. This story is enjoyable but it's not as special as the other one.
The relationship between Anna and Karl starts based on lies, but Anna did this for good reasons. It's very hard to tell people certain things about our lives, especially if it's something shameful or that makes us feel unworthy. In Anna's case, she lied not only to leave the place of bad memories but mostly to look for a future for herself and her brother. I can't imagine what it must have been like in the past centuries where people didn't have social welfare help and the sort of conditions we have nowadays to escape the ind of troubles Anna had to go through. I think she had difficult choices to make and she did hat she thought best. Of course, from Karl's POV things could be done in another way but we are always wiser when it's not about us or after we had time to think again.

Karl is a very likable character, he is a true gentleman towards Anna and his reactions after knowing the whole truth can be seen as too harsh but there's also a bit of reality we can use to justify that, after all he was led to believe certain things and he was deceived. I guess the biggest lesson in this book is that not always the things we are told are what really happened but we should learn to forgive and accept and help the others to feel worthy human beings. Obviously easier said than done.

After Karl and Anna face their ideals about what their new life should be, the usual obstacles show up to spice up the story, jealousy, feelings of inadequacy, attempts to be better in the other's eyes... I think the stronger part of the story happens until the confrontation where Anna tells everything about her past to Karl. After that we know a HEA is coming so I had the feeling the story lost some steam from then on.

The secondary characters offer the expected support when needed but no one stands out enough to be very strong. There's Anna's brother that, with some POV scenes here and there, gained the best supporting role status and his scenes offered some development to the plot, but in a way I wished we could have more of him, for a young 13 year old he's quite brave.
The plot is a very normal romance and nothing outside the mark happens. Still, I had a good time seeing how the romance would develop and how two people with not much in common in the beginning could make a good live together.

In the end I had some good times with the book but it didn't have any wow factor nor did it have anything to make me amazed or surprised or even glued to it. It was simply good and that was all.
Grade: 7/10

Joining in 2014 TBR Challenge

 

Next  year I've decided to join the same challenge I've tried this year that's ending. I had lots of fun not only picking books for myself but to look out at some of the other people's choices. I've added a few more titles to my own pile because of that! Still, I can't wait to chose next year's books.

Here's Wendy's site, where everything happens!

In the following days I'll write a post about this experience and about the books I picked and my overall impression of them. Nothing big, just a sort of conclusion.
I'll also fix the page about the challenges.

As for the 2014 schedule. I know Wendy says themes are optional all the time but I kind of like to follow instructions on these things, that's the challenge, otherwise...I mean, reading anything isn't a challenge for me ever, so...the fun thing is to actually think and pick a book for that month's theme. I know many people don't feel this, but for me, it's how I like things. So I'll try to find books in my piles to suit each month.
Here's the link in Wendy's blog about the challenge

Here are the themes Wendy suggested for 2014:

January 15 - We Love Short Shorts! (Short stories, Novellas, category romance)  
February 19 - Series Catch-Up (pick a book from a series you're behind on)  
March 19 - New-To-You Author (an author you've never read before)
April 16 - Contemporary romance  
May 21 - More Than One (An author who has more than one book in your TBR pile)  
June 18 - Romance Classics (classic book, classic author, classic trope/theme etc.)
July 16 - Lovely RITA (past RITA winners or nominees)
August 20 - Luscious Love Scenes (erotic romance, erotica, a "sensual" read - leave those "just kisses" books alone this month!)  
September 17 - Recommended read (a book recommended to you by someone)
October 15 - Paranormal or romantic suspense  
November 19 - Historical romance  
December 17 - Holiday themes (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, it's all good!)

I can't wait to start!

(Image belongs to Wendy)

Happy Holidays!

Dear Readers, 
I want to wish you all a great Christmas time, many joyous moments and happiness! I hope you can spend this holiday with your family in safety and peace.
Also, a happy new year, I hope it brings health and success to you all!
Happy holidays!! :)

Emma Holly / Selah March

To avoid marriage, Merry Vance has concocted a sinfully scandalous scheme: to pose for Nicolas Craven, London's most sought-after artist. No man in his right mind would marry a woman who posed nude for this notorious rogue.
But Nicolas has his own plans for the fiesty young woman. And Merry has no idea how hot it can get in an artist's studio.

 

Comment: This is the sort of sequel to Beyond Innocence, a book I've read last month. This one features a known character from that book, Merry Vance. I thought Merry was very bold in trying to get her way out of marriage and she thought a plan that wouldn't make any man want to marry her, but she didn't think things through and her family had to deal with her actions. However, Merry falls in love with Nic, the painter she "uses" to help her without his knowledge of everything. Of course many situations come from Merry's bold but reckless actions in particular related to her own feelings. I liked this story, it had all the elements to work out just like the previous story, but it didn't captivated me as much and I thought it was more centered in the sexual side of things before they fell in love for real. It was good, especially the surrounding things but overall, weaker for me then the first.
Grade: 7/10

*  *  *  *  *

Sweet-natured Etienne LeFevre must give up his birthright and flee into the snow-covered forest to

save himself from the murderous greed of his brutish elder brothers. When Etienne ends up alone and hungry, with a ramshackle cottage his only shelter and a feral cat his only friend, he believes himself doomed to a sad, cold death.
But out of the shadows of the night arrives a visitor who brings comfort. He presents himself as a servant, but the man called “Jacques” spends the long hours instructing Etienne in the cruel delights of a disciplined passion.
Jacques is gone with the morning light, but Etienne thinks he knows the stranger’s secret. Will Etienne tame the beast that lurks within his lover? Or will he find himself a victim of the bitter rage that rules Jacques’ heart?
Based on the classic French fairy tale, “Puss In Boots,” this story explores what happens when the servant becomes the master, and the master lives to serve...

Comment: This is a sort of version of the Puss in Boots tale. It's obviously very sexual and not very romantic in my opinion. I thought it would be interesting to see how the author would play the story with two gay men but this was more like a exaggerated story on some D/S relationship. I wasn't very fond of the story neither did I think the plot had much to it. The major elements were there but I didn't feel any affinity towards the main characters. Their relationship was weird and lacking important things. Very weak this story, for me.
Grade:3/10

Song # 15

This is my favorite Christmas song...I like the original a lot, but this version by the Portuguese singer David Fonseca is wonderful as well.
I hope you like it too... and merry Christmas!

Rob Thurman - Nightlife

Welcome to New York City - a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge, a boggle in Central Park, and a beautiful vampire in a penthouse on the Upper East Side. Most humans are oblivious to the preternatural nightlife around them, but Cal Leandros is only half human.
His father’s dark lineage is the stuff of nightmares – and his entire otherworldly elf race are after Cal. His half brother, Niko, gave up college to keep them on the run for four years, but now the Grendel monsters are back. And Cal is about to learn why they want him. He is the key to unleashing their hell on earth. The fate of the human world will be decided in the fight of Cal’s life..

Comment: I've had this book to read for more than two year surely. Why I got it, well it was said to be similar to that TV show, Supernatural, with two brothers. Well, I never watched the show myself but I have a friend and she's a huge fan of one of the characters and she used to talk endlessly about that and it was around that time I knew about this book. My friend's buzz added to a good opinion here and there prompted me to get this but as you all must deal with in your own book piles, this one stayed behind until now.

This is the story of Cal Leandros, he's half human, half something and all he knows is his brother Niko and himself have been on the run forever, since Cal had an experience with his father's species, which he isn't even sure of it was. 
The brother's lives seem to be safe enough until Niko sees a being like Cal's father in the park and they start to work on their run but things don't go as smoothly as they wished and from unsuspected allies to unlikely foes, the two guys have a lot to deal with...

Ok, so I enjoyed this enough...but I have to admit I wasn't as impressed as that. I wanted something more definitive and apparently this series is long and things seem to work a determined way, but not the way I imagined, meaning the guy's lives will be always like this, on the run, meeting new enemies and facing challenges all the time...? Ok, I'll go to the point, will they ever have a home, a safe place, a routine, maybe love lives? I would keep reading if I knew these things would appear and work out for them. Just adventures while learning life lessons can be fun but it will bore me after a while...so, anyone there a fan of this who can give me some unspoiled ideas about what is to come?

Cal is an interesting character. I liked his POV and how he felt things an how he used humor to diffuse some of his fears and doubts. But I was really interested in Niko and wanted to see more of him, so I kind of wished this would be two narrators instead so I could have Niko'c voice too. I was intrigued the better part of the time until that thing happened to Cal. Who read it knows about the mirror thing. I didn't like that change of things and did count the pages until that was solved. I can see the appeal but to be honest I wanted to scream at the poor book because that happened. The rest of the story was actually interesting and the beginning is easy to follow and to read. I found the pace of the story appropriate for a new story with so many things to know about and for a reader not inside the world yet.

I liked the structure around this story, the supernatural beings humans have no idea are there and it would have be fun to learn more but I guess it would feel too much in just a book, plus half way through I realized this could only mean a premeditated series concept by the author, because we have clues, we have situations not completely told or explained and it's obviously to come again in future stories. I just think the end itself could have been more definitive, especially about the involved characters' future.

I think this is an interesting book and perfect for those who like different world, who want to be distracted. It's full of little things, both character's traits and sentences teaching something, and these things help shaping the world created and our perception of what happens, Still, I think there's also an aura of doom in the works, that something might not work as we want. This isn't a romance and I guess part of my mix up feelings about it is the knowing things might keep up in this somewhat grey tone, no matter the funny comebacks exchanged between the characters.

Overall, I liked this. I don't now at this point if I want to read more. Right now no, but I confess I want to know what happens to Niko, in particular. He's mysterious and I really wanted him to offer some more stability to Cal and prove him happiness can happen. But it doesn't seem likely, considering his personality. Still, what fun it would be...
I hope someone can give me some pointers, but I won't read more this soon.
Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Western Winter Wedding Bells anthology

Small town Christmas--Three big proposals
"Christmas in Red Willow" by Cheryl St. John
Chloe Hanley must save the town church. But only if she can convince reclusive carpenter Owen Reardon to help repair the broken heart of the community and open his own up again-- in time for Christmas
"The Sheriff's Housekeeper Bride" by Jenna Kernan
Running from her past and a crime she didn't commit, Eliza Flannery bumps into her future--all rugged six-foot sheriff of him Single father Trent Foerster mistakes her for his housekeeper, but there's no mistaking his desire for a mistletoe kiss from this mysterious miss....
"Wearing the Rancher's Ring" by Charlene Sands
Cooper Garnett is shot and left for dead near Double J Ranch when widow Rachel Bodine comes to his aid. Could his unexpected arrival be the best Christmas gift ever-- a second-chance family for Rachel and her little son?

Comment: This is the last challenge post of the year, but in 2014 there'll be more as I've signed up for another year. A post about this to come soon.
Anyway, this month the theme is holidays and obviously it's easier to jut pick something Christmas, being in the air all around and all that. I chose a book about Christmas exactly for that reason and it had the words in the title, otherwise it would be difficult as I don't have many of these laying around. I was convinced about this one because of Cheryl St John's name, an author Ive read and liked before, but overall I was curious to read the three stories in this anthology.

So, this being an anthology, it has different stories about a certain theme, this being marriage proposals on Christmas. I was curious to read them and most importantly, to see how each author would present a short story that could deliver everything a full length one does in a shorter amount of time.

Besides the marriage proposal at the end, these stories also had in common the little detail of their possibilities. I mean, for shorter stories having to be told with a certain amount of pages, they worked quite well and I was impressed by how the authors made an effort to write in a way to time go by so things didn't look as rushed as they were. But the three stories have potential to be bigger stories and I think all of them could be a full length book with no problems. Many authors write shorts in such a way it's difficult to see them bigger, but not these ones; these stories feel well structured and despite the rules they had to abide, they still managed to be a sort of special little Christmas' sweet.

As for the each story in particular...
"Christmas in Red Willow" by Cheryl St. John
This story was the weaker of the lot for me. I knew about the author so I expected something romantic, but I thin too much detail was paid to the surroundings instead of the romance and I thought they didn't have much chemistry. I was happy for Owen and Chloe but I wasn't eager to see them together because it looked like it wasn't the most important thing. Besides, this story is a version of the friends to lovers trope and I don't like it that much, probably my second least favorite trope in a romance, right after lover's reunited. I prefer my books to have the thrill of finding out that special person for the first time. Anyway, this story provided an interesting setting and it had its moments, but everything together felt rather too plain.


"The Sheriff's Housekeeper Bride" by Jenna Kernan
This one was my favorite, I love the situations where one of the protagonists aren't who they say and how part of the conflict comes from there. In this case, Eliza had reasons to hide her identity and the story developed with the expected situations in these cases, the not knowing about past conversations, the lack of particular skills, among other things. But the relationship between Eliza and the sheriff was funny to watch, I liked them together and the scenes with the sheriff's daughter were sweet. I also liked how Eliza had to struggle and had had troubled experiences in her past and she needed as much love as he sheriff and his daughter. I'm a sucker for stories with little children and couples that find in each other the love and acceptance they didn't had before. This story was spot on for these things and it made it my favorite.
I'll have a look at the author's other work too.

 "Wearing the Rancher's Ring" by Charlene Sands
In this story we have a very traditional theme in romances, the I don't deserve you but eventually I'll stay with you. Cooper lost his family and is looking for the man responsible. He is robbed though and later on rescued by Rachel.
Rachel is a widow left with a young son but after getting to know Cooper she starts having feelings for him. They have to overcome some obstacles, mostly emotional ones, and they get their HEA.
This is the most sensual story but still very sweet. I liked how the main couple didn't seem to care what the other thought at first but things changed. I agree with some readers it was a bit too fast and at times it looked like they just couldn't wait to be intimate, which didn't sit well with the tone of the story in my opinion. However, their reasons were exploited and reasonable enough for me. I thin they were two people waiting to be loved again and in the end the kid and the hope sealed the deal, although I think this is the story with more potential to be stronger.

Overall, I liked the three stories but each one made me feel interested for different reasons.I thin each author has done a good job, with space left to much improvement nevertheless.
On their own I don't know which grade to give, but as a set of stories featuring Christmas and hope and warm thoughts, this guarantees a few hours with a smile on your face, so... still, the bigger portion of my grade goes to story #2, very good indeed!
Grade: 7/10

Amy Lane - Rampant

Lady Cory has carved out a life for herself not just as a wife to three husbands but also as one of the rulers of the supernatural communities of Northern California-- and a college student in search of that elusive degree. When a supernatural threat comes crashing into the hard-forged peace of Green's hill, she and Green determine that they're the ones in charge of stopping the abomination that created it. 
Their vow to protect leads Cory, Bracken and Nicky to Redding--where a tight-knit family of vampires threatens the people Cory loves to keep a terrible secret. It also leads them to a conflict of loyalties, as Nicky's parents threaten to tear Nicky away from the family he's come to love more than his own life. 
Cory has to work hard to hold on to her temper and her life as she tries to prove that she and Green are not only leaders who will bind people to their hearts, but also protectors who will keep danger from running RAMPANT.

Comment: This is the fourth book in the Little Goddess series by this author and so far, th last one, I've asked ms Lane if she's planning to write more, but I'm still waiting for a reply. Anyway, I'll consider this one to be the last book after four months reading the series. I've started this just to get four more books out of my TBR pile so I wasn't really expecting to be amazed. Still, I've read them all now and my opinion grades this with an average of three starts in GR mainly because the main character annoyed me in three of the four books. Oh well...

This fourth book continues the story of Cory, a new goddess-like person who got to know her powers after the touch of another god, which led to a succession of happenings that changed her life, her perspective of life in general and how to see herself and others. In this book Cory and her new family have to deal with a threat to her family and to anyone else because a predator is turning children into monsters. While dealing with this they also meet Nicky's parents and a guest that will prove quite the challenge...

I was thinking how best to write about this story...the thing is, I did like the book and the others before for there's something special about it, some little thing in there that makes me want to read, there's an interesting lesson as well, but at the same time I find many passages boring and too slow to fully enjoy this. Besides, the books demand a lot of time and I had some struggles with this one, for it took me practically a week to finish it.

It's not that it is bad or stupid. It does have, like I've said, some interesting elements and lessons in how to accept others and their relationships and how to be open minded and in reality the only thing we have to protect is our family and our beliefs, just letting go of all the others prejudices and fears we might have. But good sentences and ideals aside, I found the story to be...slightly boring. Oh and I really don't see the attractiveness in the female protagonist. The series revolve around her so there's no avoiding her, but while I warmed up to her in the first book, now she's annoying and it get on my nerves how she suddenly is the holy grail of everything in the series. Also there's too much speculation, what ifs about a thing or two and I just wanted some more objectivity at some points.

I found Cory to be really annoying now. In the first story sh was just someone with potential finding out about her powers, her life, the possibilities, she got to know others and herself and the story felt like a whole new existence to all the characters. Now, Cory is a different person, she's still a bit timid and she does power related stuff because she has to..but I don't like her voice anymore, she is too much in a position of power and focus. Yes, I know it's all about her, but I no longer like that, I'd have preferred to see her as someone important but did the others have to bow all th time (metaphorically and figuratively speaking) to her and her sudden new take on life? At some parts I just agreed with some of the antagonists were they spoke badly about her because at those moments it seemed she was just too much the know-it-all and a bit arrogant too. It annoyed me immensely. All the other characters that like her usually let her do and talk like she's the only one who matters and although she claims she doesn't see herself that way, the author has written things in such a way, it's right there in the face of the reader and it gets tiring and annoying.

As for this book's plot, I thought it was interesting enough to see things develop but it took forever and it ended in a thrilling cliffhanger. If the series is to end this way I don't mind I thin it's artistic and leaves a lot of space for the imagination, but I guess I see why many readers would like a follow-up.
This book is so long I could spend many more lines talking about several subjects, like how Nicky's parents weren't exactly what I thought, how we had characters playing an important role but whose main story is in another series and must we read everything, but to be honest those things feel like secondary.

I enjoyed reading the series overall, but this book in particular was harder for the reasons I've mentioned. If there are more books to come I really hope they're better and not as Cory oriented or done in a way that only shows how wonderful others see her or how perfect she seems to act even when she isn't. Too much of her gets too much, period.
Still, many elements to think about.
Grade: 6/10

Carla Kelly - The Surgeon's Lady

As a surgeon in the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Philemon Brittle has proved his bravery countless times. But he's never known the thrill that comes with falling in love. Until he meets the beautiful Lady Laura Taunton, who has turned to nursing the wounded as solace from her unhappy past.Philemon will need to draw upon every bit of his strength and determination to convince the marriage-shy Laura that establishing a life together is the truest path to love and happiness...

Comment: Since I've read my first book by this author, Marrying the Captain, I've immediately saw this is an author whose work I feel I'll appreciate quite a lot, mainly because her heroines are very in tune with what I like in a heroine. Since then I've tried to get more books by her, namely the rest of the series. This is why I picked this book now.

This is the story of widow Laura Taunton. She's a sister to the heroine from the other book and took care of her husband for a long time before he died. She had no tender feelings for him, so after finding her courage, she visited her sister at last. She also met Lt Brittle, someone we've know from the previous book too and casually he asks if she wants to work for him at the naval hospital where he works as a surgeon. Amazingly, Laura says yes and a journey for the both of them starts with many little adventures on the way...

I liked this story a lot! I think it's really special how the author can write about a romance, a tender and modest one, but still very romantic on its own way, and inserting it in a story that feels real, feels well done and solid. This isn't a silly historical or a sensual one where everything besides how fast the main couple has sex is just decorative. Although those novels can be worthy in their own level, this isn't like that. This is a strong story featuring many details from those days but from a romantic point of view.
The story shows the reader  how men would recover after accidents, diseases or other medical problems and how the surgeons dealt with those challenges in a time without many comfort or easiness. Surgeons didn't have the facilities and the medicines to best treat their patients and many times they had to be creative. I liked how this book focused so much on that side of war, of medicine and how Lt Brittle was a character highlighted to show that side that many times isn't much detailed in romances. I really liked all those things, and how both Brittle and Laura had to find a way to make things work in a job that doesn't always end the way we'd like to.

The romance was so cute and sweet. I think something rushed would go against the feel of the story, the way both protagonists were wired. I found their romance wonderful and with the prefect slow pace in those cases where the heroine just puts aside her fears and gets it on. People don't work that way and I thought the slow take on this to be believable.

Both main characters were interesting and we could see their good and worse moments. Nobody is perfect but in this case even the not so good things had a reason and were presented in a way that allowed the reader to weight everything. I thought Laura was convincing and very nice. She was a bit shy and had things she wanted to keep for herself but she found love without expecting and I love those situations.
Lt Brittle is a good man, his attitude towards Laura was respectful but he also demanded action from her, he asked for her help and expected it, he didn't make excuses for her apart from the usual ones in those cases at the time. considering the woman's role in society then. His character is wonderful, he should be real.
The secondary characters didn't get in the way, didn't steal the show and offered the help needed to better present the romance and the storyline.

I thin this author is very talented and her stories (at least these two I've read) show not only a good story, very well structured, but also a good feel, I have the feeling she thought about how to make things work the best and she did it. It's a nice feeling.
I can't wait to read more by her.
Grade: 8/10

Eresse - Sacred Fate

In the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre, the great divide between the high-born True Bloods and the lower-ranked Half Bloods is deemed impassable by most. Rohyr Essendri dared to cross it when he took young Lassen Idana from his provincial town and made him his paramour. Lassen perforce learned how to navigate the intricate byways of life at court. What he never expected, however, was to fall in love with Rohyr, a most inadvisable and impractical thing to do when one’s lover is sovereign ruler of the land. But anything worth having is worth fighting for, both figuratively and, as Lassen discovers, literally speaking.

Comment: I picked this book because it was in my tbr list for a long time. I thought it would be an interesting read for this moth so I added it to this month's readings a couple of months ago. I was very curious to see what kind of story it was and I was away from reviews. Besides, the cover was cute, I like draws as covers, they're so much better than the computer digitalized...

This is the story of Rohyr and Lassen, two different men from two different backgrounds. They live in a place where women no longer exist and their species has become hermaphrodite. Still, the difference among classes and poverty vs wealth remains. There is a lot of political intrigue and Rohyr, being the king of Ylandre has a lot of protocols to follow but he puts that aside when he chooses Lassen for his lover, someone unsuited because he is a half blood, thus not being in the same class as Rohyr. But their relationship soon evolves to commitment and love, even when duty gets in the way...

So, this book shows us a new world where the men are hermaphrodites which means they can have their own babies. It may sound weird and I admit at times it sounded too much like a guy playing woman but the way things work biologically is different enough to make us put that thought aside. I've started with this because it surely would be the biggest issue most people would have with the story. Personally I wasn't that surprised as I've read before stories with this theme. I think that, if we thin about this from a romance point of view, it can be....sweet. The way a family works is there as well, so...and the beauty is there's no shame in two men together, just the expected class difference.

What made me struggle the most with this new world was the geography. We would get detailed geography lessons about what is where but it was everything very confusing...and the made up names didn't help because both the personal names as the topography were very different from what we are used to, so it made more difficult the reading of those parts.

As for the two main characters, they're very different in all levels but their falling in love is almost believable..I say almost because I felt they took too long to say it and to show it to the other. At some point there's some angst moments that allow their confessions so I guess I would have preferred them to say it at a time where such pressure wasn't there. Still, it shows in those little moments we see throughout the book.
Being from two different environments, of course their relationship isn't as easily accepted and there's some obstacles to overcome, very similar to those old stories of arranged marriages, but I've decided to read this more like a fantasy romance than something realistic so some elements were to be expected, mostly in terms of romance clichés and solutions. Still enjoyable anyway.

In the end, I finished the book with a smile, not sure if due to the silliness of some things or just because it has a HEA that makes you smile, but I also got curious enough to want to read the following story. I think if one puts aside most expectations about it, it can be enjoyable and fun.
Grade: 7/10

Robyn Carr - Wild Man Creek

Colin Riordan came to Virgin River to recuperate from a horrific helicopter crash, the scars of which he bears inside and out. His family is wonderfully supportive, but it's his art that truly soothes his troubled soul.
Stung personally and professionally by an ill-advised affair, PR guru Jillian Matlock has rented an old Victorian with a promising garden in Virgin River. She's looking forward to cultivating something other than a corporate brand.
Both are looking to simplify, not complicate, their lives, but when Jillian finds Colin at his easel in her yard, there's an instant connection. And in Virgin River, sometimes love is the simplest choice of all.

Comment: Another Virgin River series installment. Since the beginning of the year, I've been reading a book a month and every time I get amazed by how special and warm these stories are. Even the ones I don't like as much are still wonderful in their own way. This is the 14th story, but only the 12th full length book and this is why I've read it in December.

This is the story of Jillian Matlock, we've met her when she and her sister plus two friends visited Virgin River in a trip. Now she's back after a problem with her job and a tip from someone at Jack's bar puts in her head the idea of  cultivating vegetables for the six months she hopes to spend there.
Colin Riordan has had problems after his helicopter crashed and now he's painting in Virgin River to let tension go until the time to travel to Africa comes. 
These two meet and are proud of the other's efforts to be someone else but at the same time they fall in love and in the end, perhaps what they thought they wanted isn't exactly what they feel they have to do...

Once again, I loved a book in this series...I think this is right after Noah and Ellie's, still my absolute favorite of them all. That one is a perfect ten, this an almost, but either way, both are wonderful examples of a beautiful story.
This story focuses on Jillian and Colin but we also have scenes with other beloved characters, Jack for instance plays an important role in this story as well and a couple of scenes with him were very emotional, but nothing tragic, just feeling's related. The community of Virgin River is prospering and it shows with all the little scenes apart from the main storyline. I really like the sense of unity and family we get from books like this, where we see everyone being part of the small town, being interesting in helping and offering a hand. It's really something we don't see everywhere.

As for the main story, both Jillian and Colin seek in Virgin River a new start for their lives even if they don't see it that way at first. Their romance has an expiration date but this doesn't stop them from getting together and I admit some of my favorite parts were when we would see them sharing their lives so easily that I doubt many people in the real world feel and live like that.
Jillian aimed for six months but her agricultural enterprise grows big and I enjoyed all the steps she goes for in her new adventure. I guess in real life things wouldn't happen as fast and as easily as that, but part of the charm and the beauty of a fictional romance is to see a bit of fantasy happening, so...
Colin only wanted to recover and go for new experiences after that. He didn't count on falling in love but even when both of them recognized that, Colin still went and Jillian let him because she rather know he didn't feel pressured than to feel guilty. I liked the balance in their relationship, once again a bit too perfect, but it didn't put shadows on the novel, I still appreciated it a lot.

The HEA is wonderful and it kind of teaches us a lesson because sometimes we let difficulties win and perhaps we should try something else to have a better life...the scary part is trying and being afraid of failure and in this the book is a bit unrealistic because both with Colin's painting and Jillian's business, things surely wouldn't be dealt as easily, but like I said a bit of fantasy doesn't hurt and in the end, this books shows how wonderful love and trust are and they are worthy of any effort.

I really enjoyed this romance and can't wait for more stories, at least there are still six more to be read...I do recommend this to any romance reader.
Grade: 9/10