The Silent Governess

Another one I've been staring at for over a year! FINALLY!

Book Rating: Up All Night'er

Let's get one thing clear. I think the girl on this cover is way too pretty and should never be allowed to do covers again because it's tough on the rest of us ordinary peeps. Are you with me? *wink* Seriously, lovely cover, isn't it? It's one of the main reasons I bought this book.

As for the "inside", it was more enjoyable than I expected. After reading THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE I was kinda wary of reading any more of Klassen's books, but since this one was SUCH a huge hit and an award winner (right?) I had to give it a try.

First of all, I thought this book flowed much better than the Gatehouse book, and Klassen just has an amazing style. So beautiful! As for the characters, I thought Olivia (heroine) was extremely likable, and the hero was great! However, the romance--in my humble opinion--was tepid at best. I wanted MUCH more from them and I thought there were ample opportunities where things could have heated up, but it stayed mild. And for some people that's just what they want, so I guess that's why it is popular.

The plot kept me interested--mostly--, though at times I was temped to skim because I thought it got slow here and there. In the end, to be honest--and even though I gave it my second highest rating--there wasn't anything that made me want to pick it up and keep reading once I put it down.

If you are looking for something worthy of a mini-series, lots of family drama, and episodes of excitement with only slight romance then this one will be great for you!


Happy Reading!
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The Rose of Winslow Street

I've had this book on my shelf F.O.R.E.V.E.R. Forever! LOL

Now, I can finally say I've read it!

Book Rating: Up All Night'er

If I had a rating between this one and Here a little, there a little--I'd use it for this book. I enjoyed it--mostly--but, it was so unusual in some respects (and the hero was such a puzzle) that I can't honestly say I would read it again. But isn't the cover marvelous?! *sigh* Pink!!

Elizabeth Camden is a fabulous writer--an award winning writer, in fact--and she does know how to craft an exciting tale. This is my second Camden book, and I think I could read more of hers. It seems like her style is to include of a lot of mystery and sometimes suspense. I enjoy that, and it keeps me reading. This story was no different.

Such a unique plot idea! Libby Sawyer has just learned that a strange family has taken over her home--and claims it legally as their own! She soon discovers that this family is not the frightening group of foreigners that everyone seems to think they are. And Michael Dobrescu is more intriguing that she cares to admit.

Speaking of Michael.... I still don't know quite what to think about him! He's a soldier--from Europe--and very tough, and yet he makes--perfume?! My first reaction is to think, holy cow, that's swoon-worthy. (And in fact there's a pretty romantic part in this book where he...well, I won't give it away.) But in the next instant, I think--gosh, that seems like such a feminine thing to do! So, I'm on the fence about him.

Overall, the book was nice--but I would have really enjoyed MORE romance. In fact, I think there was barely a kiss. For many audiences that is an awesome thing--its very clean and sweet, but I would have loved to see more romantic tension between them, more "pure" passion, you know?! Also, there was another female character in this book that had a good place, but she stole a lot of the story and it seemed to break away from what was happening with the hero and heroine.

OK. That's my take on things. What did you think of this? Did you like it or not--tell me why, I just have to know! ;)

Happy Reading!!
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The Redeeming

Wanna hear a funny story?......

No?

Well. Too bad..... you're gonna hear it anyway.

(Oh and by the way... I just kinnnnnnnda liked this book.)

Stick around cuz if you follow my FB page, you can enter the giveaway I've got goin' on....

Book Rating: Best of the Best


So you know a book/series is good when it, well, CONSUMES you! I mean CON-SUMES!!

OK, so this is what I mean. It was 4th of July morning and I'd just finished The Redeeming the night before at like midnight. I could-not-stop-reading-this-book! COULD NOT STOP, and it was still swimming in my mind... *sigh* So, before the obligatory small-town parade started, I ran across the street to take my (adorable, if I may say so) 5yo daughter to use the ladies room. Whilst washing hands at the sink, up beside me steps this leggy blonde. And of course, since I was STILL consumed with thoughts of Christian and Gaenor I thought to myself, "Self, that lady kinda reminds me of Gaenor." So I allowed myself a longer look and that was my doom. This woman, whoever she was, was my EXACT idea of what Gaenor looked like and I seriously couldn't stop staring. Tall, long dark-blonde hair, a lovely face....must have been around 25-26 years old, I don't know. I'm sure the lady thought I was a psycho. But here's the thing--I didn't care. (OK, maybe I cared a little bit.) I was THIS close to wanting to stop her and compliment her, as someone might when they see a person who looks like, say {insert name of famous person here}. But in this case I wanted to say, "Excuse me, but has anyone ever told you that you look exactly like Gaenor Wulfrith...or I mean, Lavonne... *giggle*." And in my imagination she would smile, flip her perfectly long, wavy hair over her shoulder (because it WAS perfectly long and wavy) and say with a bit of red in her cheeks, "Well, thank you so much. I love Gaenor--you just made my day!"

No.

Instead, I had the most difficult time not letting my jaw scrape across the bathroom floor as I struggled to help my little-one while (shamelessly) gawking.

This book, this SERIES is amazing. I love that Tamara has this elaborate story world and that her plots seem to flow effortlessly into one another. In fact, sometimes I feel like these stories are so real that they simply EXIST. Do you know what I mean? They are so good that I don't feel Tamara there at all--I feel like these stories just appeared out of nowhere for our blessed enjoyment.

The tension in this story is phenomenal. Let me spell that for you again. PHEN. OM. ENAL. (When you break it apart like that, it's actually Latin for Must. Read. Book.) I really BELIEVED this tension, I believed that these emotions and this intensely difficult situation existed for these two. There is so much going on--the raw, deep, real struggle. Gah! Am I making myself clear?

And the romance! AH! I won't even get started. Not to mention the spiritual side of it? I have no words.

SO.... in honor of my new FAVE series AND the fact that I have just reached (way over) 300 likes on FB, (many, MANY thanks to Jen Turano for that!!!) I am GIVING AWAY, yes, GIVING AWAY 3 COPIES of Tamara's first book in this series, The Unveiling. If you would like to be entered, please make sure you follow my FB page (and this blog, if'n ya want)--but all that good stuff is made easy by RAFFLECOPTER! The drawing will be in two weeks.... so you've got plenty time to do your readers-duty and tell everyone and their puppy about this, ok?! :)

I can't wait to write the next review, but I need to finish it first, so I shall bid thee farewell so I can once again be consumed by my latest obsession.

HAPPY READING!
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tomorrow's Garden

I've had this on my shelf for a while so it was nice to finally find out what was inside! (Being laid up for a few weeks has a nice way of allowing a reader to whittle down that TBR pile!)

Book Rating: Up All Night'er

I have now read all of Amanda Cabot's books and overall I can honestly say, she is a very fine author. Her style is subdued, often very mild on the romance--and even sometimes a bit slow in the plot department for me--but there really is something to be said for a gentle, easy read and she really delivers there.

Tomorrow's Garden was a nice end to this series. I had really liked the Texas Ranger from Scattered Petals and I was really thrilled to see he was the hero of this book. Lawrence Wood was a very enjoyable hero, though a bit mild for my tastes--I tend to like a hero with more umph. (And by that I'm not honestly sure what I'm trying to say, but I think you might know what I mean, so I hope that's clear as mud for ya. *wink*)

The general story was not unlike many you have read in the past--young school teacher down on her luck and having to care for her younger siblings now that their parents are dead--but having enjoyed the first few books in this series it was fun to get to come back to this town and see everyone again. Do you like that about series books? I love it!

The heroine was kind of an ugly duckling-type--unaware of how attractive she actually was and not really sure why anyone would be interested in her. It took a while for the romance to heat up, and it never got Lessman-worthy, but it was sweet and rounded out the series very nicely.

I almost has more fun reading about the other characters (from previous books) than I did about these two, but that's just me.

If you are looking for something mild, easy on the nerves and a novel you can pick up and put down as needed, this is a great one.

Happy Reading!
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Beloved

I had read the first few pages of this many moons ago, and uh.... talk about a hook!

Book Rating: Best of the Best

Oh man, is it possible to dislike a hero in a book? I did. At least for the first little bit, and then he changed his tune and I really liked him. LOL Seriously, he was a complete tool... and then he was awesome. And THAT my friends, is what I found so interesting about this story.

Hatcher has has some interesting plots and this was one of her most unique. I don't want to give away the beginning, but once you start you'll be all, "Whaaaaaaaa????"

You won't want to stop reading....

And then you'll be like, "Oh man, I hate that dude. LEAVE HIM DIANA!" (Diana is the heroine, btw...)

Then after a while you'll go, "Hold on a sec, Diana give this guy a chance."

And pretty soon, it'll be midnight and you won't be able to stop until it's done. Really, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I've been a Hatcher fan from day one. Not all of her stories are this great, but I must say this series is my favorite of hers by far.

Have you read this series--this book? It was awesome wasn't it?

Happy Reading!
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The Pelican Bride

I have been looking forward to reading this book from the moment I saw the cover. WOWZA! Its got to be one of the top-five BEST covers so far this year, don't you think?

Overall, this is a sweet little tale, but with a few bumps for me.

It was tough, however in the end I decided I had to rate it thus...

Book Rating: Here a little, there a little

This new author has a really great style and did a fine job choosing an exciting era and setting. Unfortunately, it was so unique at times that I found myself a bit confused. You know that happens to me easily.... I admit it, OK?!

I had such a hard time trying to figure out how to pronounce some of the French names/words (some Native American names as well) that it pulled me away from the story, but that might only be an Amber problem. (Give a girl a break OK, I took Spanish, not French... LOL)

The relationship between the heroine and her sister--which occupies a great deal of the story--was not as warm and endearing as I would have liked and at times I found the younger sister's jealous attitude a bit of a turn off. The heroine Genevieve was genuine and very likable with a secret in her past that was a nice twist!

Now.....let's talk about the hero for a second, shall we?! Tristan Lanier was all kinds of rugged-awesomeness, so that was a huge plus there. However, I was disappointed he wasn't in the book very much. I tend to prefer stories where the H&H have lots of opportunities to be together and this one didn't have much of that in my opinion. As well as, there were lots of characters and (again) I had difficulty remembering who everyone was.

Now, lest you begin to think I am a woman of little brain ("Holy cow, Amber couldn't figure out who everyone was??") I shall call to your remembrance that I have not been well of late and will blame said cloudy-brain on that--and the lack of French lessons.

Overall, it really is a nice read and a fun beginning to a series--which of course is the reason for all the characters I couldn't remember. *wink*

OK. Your turn. Thoughts???

(Thank you to the publisher for a free copy to review)

Happy Reading!
Buy it!