Oh, forgot to mention the book I read last night....contemporary suspense, it has a very hot and horny cowboy. :)

LAUREN'S EYES by Norah Wilson B+
8/2004 Rom/C Suspense

You can find Mad's review here.
http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/2004/mar04/LE_NW.html

This is one book to watch for.

I got back into the traditional regencies with 3 Elizabeth Rolls book reading one right after the other. THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE - B+, THE UNRULY CHAPERON - B, and THE DUTIFUL RAKE - C+.
I like her writing style, her heroes are rakes and a bit of a womanizer. They want the traditional English marriage of convenience but find themselves very much in love with their heroines...of course, they fight the love on every page. :)

Then I am still reading the time travels...the past few days have found me reading:
ONCE IN EVERY LIFE by Kristin Hannah B-
2/1993 Rom/TT/R-Frontier


At the beginning of the book Jack is thinking of committing suicide. A bit selfish since he had 2 little girls and a new baby on the way. His wife is a bitch....made her 12 y.o. daughter do all the cooking, cleaning, taking care of her younger sister Katy.

The girls are adorable, starved for love. Jack has built a wall around himself that the girls can't climb and most of the book he fights when they or Tess / Lissa reaches out to him.

He has blackouts and panic attacks because of the Civil War......he is afraid he will hurt his family. His wife makes him sleep on the couch or in the barn, again she was a bitch!

Lissa made the girls laugh, she even has Jack grinning now and then against his will. She had never cooked or cleaned but she tries with some funny results. Savannah does most of the cooking but Lissa learning as they go.

They love to play games and have fun...Katy and Savannah open up to Lissa like baby birds starving. Lissa teaches them to paint....throw freebies, and make daisy chains.

TIME AFTER TIME by Constance O'Day-Flannery B
3/2001 Rom/TT-Victorian


Kelly and Daniel both looked like each other's deceased spouse. It was just to comfortable and easy for each to fall in love with each other.

Kelly was married to Michael for only a year before she sent him to the store for pantyhose and he walked into a robbery and is killed.
Daniel's wife was English, he brought her to New Orleans even though she was weak, frail, and pregnant with his child. She dies of yellow fever when their daughter is a month old.

The daughter, Lizzie is 12 y.o. now, Daniel has allow his housekeeper to raise her with some disasters results. She runs wild in the Louisiana swamps and speaks like a backwoods man.

Good read but no heavy emotions.

YESTERDAY AND FOREVER by Vickie Presley C+
3/1999 Rom/TT-Frontier


At some spots the heroine, Bailey irritated me to death...it was her way or no way...she got the hero, Zach and herself in trouble because she thought she knew better then him. The three younger sister, reminded me of little sisters in THE BAD LUCK WEDDING DRESS by Geralyn Dawson just all grown up.

A TASTE OF HEAVEN by Barbara Benedict C -
9/1993 Rom/TT-Old South

A TASTE OF HEAVEN is really weird with Voodoo and a soul stealer.....I liked the book until it started the soul snatching.

Judith is raising her niece to steal her body and then give her soul to this snake but something went wrong and the heroine, Monica (the niece) switched body's with her evil aunt Monique in the past. Very confusing!! Monique and Judith are the same person but one lives in the present the other in the past.

Monica wakes up to a husband, Drew that hates her and 3 children that are terrified of her. She has to win their trust and respect...the little girl looks into Monica's eyes and knows almost from the beginning her mother is gone but a wonderful new mommy lives in her body.
There was just to much time traveling, Voodoo, and evil for me in this story. And after what the evil wife, Monique did to the Drew, I was so surprised he could even think of trusting the Monica in her body.

Good morning!

My Novel Thoughts are up on SOMETHING ABOUT THE LADY by Carol McPhee.
Go check them out, look for DeeKay.

Novel Thoughts:
http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/indexT.html

I read an interesting book last night, I traded books with a lady in Wales, it is THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE by Elizabeth Rolls...this is a Mills & Boon historical romance, 2000 release.

Why it was interesting is that some of the phases that Ms. Rolls used I had never heard before in a traditional regency. In one part the hero's heir/cousin is in debt to money lenders, "The Jews have their claws into him." The other phases are very proper English.

Ms. Rolls is now releasing her M&B books to Harlequin Historical. I've got the M&B copy of THE DUTIFUL RAKE and should receive a copy of the HH later this month. I can't wait to compare them to see if she has changes up her wording.

THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE has a widower the Earl of Darleston needing an heir so he decides to take a wife. He has a wicked mistress that cause havoc trying to get him to marry her, an evil cousin that is his heir now, and bitter past with a wife that cuckolds him while he as away fighting at Waterloo. It doesn't look like he is going to take the news he married the wrong twin and that she is blind very well.

Penelope and Phoebe switch places so that Phoebe can marry the man she loves, since Darleston only ask for Miss Ffolliot's hand in marriage not Miss Phoebe Ffolliot. Darleston warns Penelope just before the marriage never to expect love from him and she never is to pretend to love him. She lets her guard down a few times but after he rebuffs her once or twice she starts to build barriers around her heart. Darleston blows hot and cold throughout the book, being almost loving then hateful to Penny.

I stayed up a late to see how this one turned out, I wasn't disappointed. I think I might start THE DUTIFUL DUKE this afternoon, the July HHs are due any day now.

THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE B+
Elizabeth Rolls
2000
Rom/H-Regency

The Earl of Darleston was in a fix. If he was to cut out his obnoxious cousin from the succession, he must marry. But after a disastrous first marriage, he wouldn't endanger his heart again -- this would be a marriage of convenience only. Miss Phoebe Ffolliot seemed ideal. But after the wedding he was shocked speechless to discover that "Phoebe" was really Penelope -- Phoebe's blind twin....

I need to catch up on my reading journal, I've read 2 or 3 books I haven't told you about. I've start with a great time travel.



A TIME FOR LOVE grabbed me the first chapter as the heroine Elizabeth Mackenzie is sitting in her dentist chair having a tooth pulled while sniffing laughing gas. She is enjoying the floating feeling when she hears a roaring sound and then everyone disappears from the room. As she gets up she walks out into a wild west town. Believing she is hallucinating she goes with two cowboys take her believing she is their boss's proxy bride. With a mouthful of gauze she slurs her words so when she finally meet the boss, Jordan McCabe, the proxy groom he thinks she is a blubbering idiot who wears men's trouser with a paper bib.

Jordan is picking his bride up in Wichita on his way back home to his Texas ranch driving 500 head of cattle. When he sees Cynthia/Elizabeth is disappointed she isn't what she claimed in all the letter she wrote him. He believed her to be a quiet southern belle but this woman slurred her words, dresses in men's clothing, then grabbed a bottle of whiskey downing it yelling how much pain she was in. Now she is passed out under the wagon.

When Elizabeth runs a high fever Jordan decides to leave the cattle drive and head for a sodbuster's house hope they will let her rest and recover there. But Jordan and Elizabeth stay with the family is filled with violence and dead as the abuses father is killed and the mother is guilt ridden kills herself leaving two innocence children, Julie and Cory.

Elizabeth vows to find the perfect home for these two love starved children as she makes Jordan load their pitiful few possessions into the wagon. As Elizabeth excepts she is living in the past she falls in love with Jordan and the 2 children. But when Jordan finds out in the next town that Cynthia turned back to Georgia and the woman who is claiming to be his bride is nothing but a liar and thief he wants nothing to do with her and decides an orphanage is the best place for the children.

Elizabeth fights him every step of the way back to Texas through 3 states and a long cattle drive. There are some wonderful emotional parts as the children bond to both Jordan and Elizabeth. Elizabeth has to find out why she has been sent back to the past, she believes it is to find a loving home for Cory and Julie, know how they both feel living with an abusive father.

I love this story because; cattle drives, a strong heroine, sexy cowboy, and children that need love are some of my favorites. There is some very funny parts then some that having you reaching for a hanky. The ending of the book is beautiful giving it perfect closure. This is my first Constance O'Day-Flannery, I've ordered a few more of her TT and hopefully they will be arriving in the mail this coming week.

A TIME FOR LOVE Rated A
Constance O'Day-Flannery
2/1991
Rom/TT-Frontier
The story of a fiercely independent woman whose wounded heart has made her give up on finding Mr. Right -- until a rough and ready cowboy from the past shows her how wonderful true love can be...

Elizabeth Mackenzie had decided long ago that happily-ever after was just an illusion. Her career was what mattered, and the ambition that had carried her through many lonely Saturday nights brought her West to land a new account for her communications firm. Then the force of a tornado took her even further -- back in time to 1876... and into the arms of handsome Texas rancher Jordan McCabe.

Mistaken for Jordan's mail-order bride, Elizabeth soon discovered a passion powerful enough to make her believe in love. But could she sacrifice all she had known in her former life for a fragile dream that could vanish at any given moment? As she struggled to understand the choices that lay ahead, Elizabeth came face to face with her own destiny... and the desires that tempted her very soul.

I am still reading the Time Travels.
I had a good week with 5 books, my favorite was BETHANY'S SONG by Susan Plankett. This is a very emotional book that starts with a weak heroine whose strengths grows with each page.


SIXPENCE BRIDE Rated B
Virginia Farmer
6/2000
Rom/TT-Medieval

Jilted by her fiancé, Jocelyn Tanner had to struggle not to believe that her own value had been somehow diminished. Still, she knew better than to let that fear ruin her tour of England. But no one had explained to her that there would be a mock bride auction -- or that she would be sucked back in time to the close of the eighteenth century.


SOMETHING ABOUT THAT LADY Rated B
Carolyn McPhee
6/2004
Rom/C ~ E-Book

Widow Bri Beaumont's friendship with blind Matthew Cameron is pushed the limit by his brother's Jed's instead dislike of her. Jed wants no woman on their Alberta ranch.

A TIME FOR LOVE Rated A
Constance O'Day-Flannery
2/1991
Rom/TT-Frontier

One minute Elizabeth Mackenzie is sitting in the dentist chair having a tooth pulled then a tornado whisk her to 1786 into the arms of a cowboy who believes she is his proxy bride.

BETHANY's SONG Rated A+
Susan Plunkett
11/2001
Rom/TT-Frontier

Bethany and her sisters all sing in cemeteries, especially for people that don't have anyone at their funeral. As Bethany and her sisters turn to leave after singing one foggy evening, they are swept away in the River of Time. Bethany lands in another cemetery with a knot on her head in Juneau Alaska in the year 1895.

THE HEALER Rated B+
Jean Brashear
1/2003
Rom/C

This is the second book of her Deep in the Heart series.
Brilliant, driven surgical superstar Caroline Malone is desperate to recover from the injury that threatens to end her career, and she'll try anything that might help her heal -- including a rest away from it all in the remote Davis Mountains of west Texas.

Half Latino, half Anglo, Diego Montalvo knows exactly how it feels to have fate change your life. Three years ago he lost men as a Special Forces medic, and almost lost his life. Now back in the valley he left to follow the call of ambition -- and feeling a measure of peace at last -- he's trying to make a new life combining his Western medical training with the nontraditional ways of his Latino heritage as a curandero or folk healer.

I should know not to pick up a book late in the evening but I had been petting BETHANY'S SONG by Susan Plunkett all weekend. I read the first chapter and here I sit at 8:30AM after a sleepless night of reading.

BETHANY'S SONG is the second book in what seems to be a trilogy about sisters that time travel throught the River of Time but Bethany's story was published in November 2001 and the youngest sister doesn't have a book yet. I've added ALICIA'S SONG to my "find ASAP" list! :)

Bethany and her sisters all sing in cemeteries, especially for people that don't have anyone at their funeral. As Bethany and her sisters turn to leave after singing one foggy evening, they are swept away in the River of Time. Bethany lands in another cemetery with a knot on her head in Juneau Alaska in the year 1895.

As Matthew Gray and four men bury Matthew's father they hear a moaning sound coming from behind a stone angel grave marker. Curled in a ball lays a hurt woman. Matthew is still grieving the lost of his beloved wife and son two years ago to childbirth. He isn't ready to move on but Bethany has a way of melting his cold heart.

There is a mystery of where all the money has gone from Matthew's father's gold mine. And lots sexual tension between Matthew and Bethany as they both try to stay away from each other. It is wonderfully emotional.

BETHANY's SONG Rated A+
Susan Plunkett
11/2001
Rom/TT-Frontier

FRIDAY FIVE


1.) Would you consider yourself an organized person? Why or why not?
No, no, no.
I am left brained and my right brain is away fighting it to do something
about this mess, so they both get confused and just sit down to read a book.

2.) Do you keep some type of planner, organizer, calendar, etc., with you,
and do you use it regularly?
I keep a paper in my purse of what books I am looking for does that count as
a planner?

3.) Would you say that your desk (work/home) is organized right now?
OMG....no! I am Miss Disorganized.
I've even had to start using AOLs Calendar for my chemo treatments and
doctors appt. it reminds me the day before.

4.) Do you alphabetize CDs, books, DVDs, or does it not matter?
No, but my son keeps his in alphabetical order can I count his??

5.) What's the hardest thing you've ever had to organize?
I've tried 3 times to inventory my books on BYRON and then have them in the
shelves in that alphabetical order by author. After the computer crashed 6
times I gave up. Now that I've got a new computer I hope to do this again this
fall while I wait for the hair to grow back!

Last night's book, RIVER OF DREAMS started off with lots of promise but got a little too confusing and then too many space jumpers. Brianna goes a seance where a spirit, Griffin takes great interest in her through her best friend David's body. He returns a few times tell her that she is his great love and she needs to come to him. Later Brianna is struck by lightening and she is in Amily's body in 1832.
Griffin is married to Amily's cousin but loves Amily as much as she loves him. They both love Florence his wife and would never hurt her so they stay apart. Florence has had 6 miscarriages and is now pregnant again and Brianna being a midwife is determined to save her.
There are lots of tender scenes of forbidden love, enjoyable read just not a keeper. WAITING FOR YESTERDAY by Jenny Lykins is a keeper for me.



RIVER OF DREAMS Rated C
Jenny Lykins
7/1999
Rom/TT/Gh-Old South

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 1999.

Brianne Davis thought a séance would liven up her busy life. But now she's haunted by the persistent voice of a lovestruck ghost!

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 1832.
In a flash of lightning, Brianne wakes up in the body of another woman -- in another time. And the ghostly voice unleashed in the séance is there in the flesh, promising to love her... body and soul.

A WOMAN's TOUCH Rated B+
Bernadette Carr
5/1998
Rom/TT-Frontier/Edwardian


Courtney James' parents were killed when she was very young, raised by her grandmother, after whose death, Courntey is alone. She tries to stay busy by volunteer with senior citizens but she is very lonely and wishes for a family of her own.

One magical night a 12 year old boy, Peter in Montana 1896 makes a birthday wish for a woman to take care of him and his 2 brothers Matt and Travis. At the same time in 1996 Courtney makes her wish, later Courtney is found upon a hill over looking their ranch.

Matt doesn't trust women, they always seem to leave. He believe that Courtney is a soiled dove some cowboy no longer wanted, dumping her on his ranch. Peter loves how Courtney cleans, cooks, and gives lots of hugs. Travis wants to marry her so she will stay on the ranch but Matt eyes follow every moves she makes wanting her with every fiber of his being but hating himself and her for it.

*** Matt needs a baseball bat a few times, he just can't believe Courtney is a wonnderful woman and he can trust her with his love. Very good book.

BUSHWHACKED BRIDE Rated C+
Eugenia Riley
6/1999
Rom/TT-Outlaw/Frontier

Jessica Garrett is bushwhacked back in time to the Wild West, only to become the captive of five sexy, dangerous outlaw brothers looking for a bride!

"JUMPING JEHOSHAPHAT! YOU'VE SHANGHAIED THE NEW SCHOOLMARM!"

Ma Reklaw bellowed at her sons and wielded her broom with a fierceness that had all five outlaw brothers running for cover; it didn't take a Ph.D. to realize that in the Reklaw household, Ma was the law. Professor Jessica Garrett watched dumbstruck as the members of the feared Reklaw Gang turned tail -- one brother up a tree, another under the hay wagon, and one in a barrel.

Having unceremoniously kidnapped by the rowdy brothers, the green-eyed beauty took great pleasure in their discomfort until Ma Reklaw found a new way to sweep clean her sons disreputable behavior -- by offering Jessica's hand in marriage to the best behaved. Jessie had heard of shotgun weddings, but a broomstick betrothal was ridiculous! As the dashing but dangerous desperadoes started the wooing there was no telling what would happen with... ONE BRIDE FOR FIVE BROTHERS.

***This was a fun read, Cole chased Jessie all over the ranch trying to steal kisses when he wasn't steal a gold shipment. The town's folk fell in love with her also. Ma Reklaw reminded me of the old movies with Ma and Pa Kettle, she kept her boys in line with nothing but a broom.

REMEMBER LOVE Rated B+
Susan Plunkett
12/1996
Rom/TT-Frontier
Jove Time Passages
ALASKA, 1866.

Winifred McCanless only family Joey has died after graduating college, she so misses her beloved brother. One night while working on a cure for cancer in her lab lightening strikes killing her.

At the same time in Alaska 1866 Felicity Forsythe Hamilton, the proxy bride of Ransom Hamilton falls over board and drowns. She has the body of a woman but the mind of a child, but it wasn't her Ransom wanted to marry but her beautiful older sister Cassandra but their father pulled a switch. As Ransom pulls Felicity out of the water she lies lifeless until she coughs and opens her eyes, then Winifred stares into the eyes of the handsomest man she has ever seen.

Winifred likes her new body but isn't to sure she wants the husband, he is arrogant, loves to bark orders, and worst of all be obeyed. But Winifred isn't about to keep quiet even though everyone believes she is a simpleton.
When Ransom is injured after being attacked, the local doctor wants to remove his leg but Winnifred fights for Ransom's leg and life. After he recovers he sees Felicity in a new light but they both still have enemies who seem to be trying to kill Ransom.

***Great TT, lots of twist and turns and some hot love scenes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A POOR RELATION Rated C+
Joanna Maitland
6/2004
Rom/H-Regency
HH-709

Miss Isabella Winstanley is an heiress but after her first season with no offers and the dead of her father, she returned to the country to help raise her younger brother.

She has returned years later to London to chaperone and sponsor a young cousin whose parents are more interested in their 5 sons than their daughter, Sophia. But when Lord Amburley first sees Isabella she is wearing servants clothes out late at night on the side of a road, he believes she is being assaulted.

Later he meets her in fine clothes with young Sophia believing that Sophia is the heiress and Isabella the poor relative. He is determine to uncover her masquerade. He tempts her into a game of cards which she loses but not without a great fight, he then suggest a race in his carriage for double or nothing.

As Amburley spends time preparing for the race he decides to he likes Isabella even if she is poor.

**This book is very good, just seem to drag with Amburley continently trying to trip up Isabella and Isabella not being honest with him after she fell in love with him. At one point she believes he is about to offer for Sophia and she is willing to let him. She is a stronger heroine that to let the man she love slip through her fingers just to hide a good deed she does. I would have rated it a B if not for this.

ABDUCTING AMY RAted C
June Calvin
7/2003
Rom/H-Regency

Amy Armstrong is beautiful and all the men want her but she has to marry for money so she and her mother are supported. Most of her suitors are young men not yet in control of their money.
Max sees Amy as a fortune hunter and believes she is trying to lurk him by playing coy with him. Max's nephew, Chris is 18 and wants to marry Amy who is always in her circle of admirers. Max worries that Amy will try to put Chris into a compromising so he has to marry her. Amy believes Chris to be a true friend to her, the only man to make her heart beat faster is Max but he still convinced she is a fortune hunter and he has been burned once by one and not again.

I enjoy traditional regency now and then, ABDUCTING AMY has some humor as Amy has to keep her uncle happy while she finds not only a husband that can support her and her mother but she can love. Her uncle wants to marry her off to the richest man and doesn't care for love at all.
It was an enjoyable read.

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY Rated B+
Jenny Lykins
8/1997
Rom/TT-Edwardian

What would you do if you fell asleep a single virgin to being in the last stages of labor with a husband that hate you? That is what happens to Barrett in WAITING FOR YESTERDAY. She has shut her emotions down after her grandmother died when she was 10. Her parents are to busy to care about how she is and she isn't close to her siblings. Now her guardian angel steps in to whisk her back 1887 and into the body of Elizabeth Alston who is about to give birth.

Chase hates his wife and will never forgive her for betraying him, he can hardly stand to touch her but when the baby she is about to deliver isn't turned right and the doctor hasn't come he must. But he is amazed at the woman she becomes after the baby is born. His Elizabeth is the perfect wife, no dust touch his furniture, her cooking was the envy of all local women, but never show her emotions. His Elizabeth, that now demanded she be called Barrett couldn't cook, she swears, she even laughed when he had never Elizabeth do before. This woman he could fall in love with.

I am beginning to like these TT!

Next up....I think it will be a trad. regency ABDUCTING AMY by June Calvin

Here are the latest books I've read. I've been on a reading frenzy before the next chemo comes up. Tomorrow is chemo day so I know I will be in the fog again for at least a week, this time I am not reading because it seems to ruin the book for me reading it so slow. I will just play catch up the 2 weeks in between.

Today I plan to start WAITING FOR YESTERDAY by Jenny Lykins. This is a TT with the heroine waking up in full labor with a husband that hates her. Wow, going from single in the 1990 century to pregnant and married in the 1880s.

THE PROMISE Rated B+
by May McGoldrick
9/2001 Georgian/Colonial-England
Themes: Runaway, Adopt, Accused, Single Parent

Another great book, my first my May McGoldrick. This book was recommended by shuana who has similar reading taste to mine. We had been chatting about books that have mistress to the hero...good and bad.
THE PROMISE has a very wicked mistress to the Earl of Stanmore, she had worked for years to get herself into this position and she would do anything to stay there.

Rebecca Neville has to escape England to the colonies after defending herself against being raped by a member of the ton. She is recused by a woman with a newborn baby boy, she buys passage aboard a ship for the America but 5 days into the voyage the woman dies leaving Rebecca to raise the baby boy as best as she can.

Now 9 years later a lawyer has arrived at Rebecca's door in Philadelphia to return the Earl of Stanmore's heir, James to his proper place in England. Rebecca knows she must return James to his father but she plans to go along to be sure "her son" is loved and care for.
Stanmore is intrigued by Rebecca, she is different from other women in his acquaintance. His wife left him, his mother did her duty giving her husband an heir then moved to Scotland, Stanmore viewed most women with contempt.
As he watched the love between mother and son he craves for Rebecca to love him the same way. But of course, there is that other woman, Rebecca's past and others that toss rocks in their path to true HEA.


THE MIDWIFE's SECRET Rated C+
Kate Bridges
2/2003
Rom/H-Frontier ~ Alberta
Themes: Adopt, Secrets

THE MIDWIFE'S SECRET is the only book in my Kate Bridges collection I was missing. I love her Mountie series. TMW isn't as good as her Mountie books but still an enjoyable read.

Amanda Ryan is a divorced midwife posing as a widow who moves to Rocky Mountain Park with her grandmother for a fresh start. She has purchased a plot of land to build a cabin on for her and her grandmother plus any children that need a home.

Tom Murdock owns a sawmill and has just been swindled out of all his money by his partner who even sold part of their land to a woman. When he has the deed check it is legal. He needs money to meet his payroll so he agrees to build Amanda's cabin. As they work side by side clearing the land Tom begins to admire Amanda.

There are a few subplots with Tom's brother, the children Amanda takes off the orphan train to live with her, and the folks in Rocky Mountain Park. Then there is also the secret Amanda holds back from Tom and the town.