We made it home Friday afternoon after a wonderful romantic week of B&B hopping!

I've added a few teaser pictures here but at my personal Blog I have more.

http://journals.aol.com/browney44/debbiesdiary/

I took to read Emma Holly's COOKING UP A STORM, a very hot re-read for me.

My DH and I are headed out for three nights at three different Bed andBreakfasts. We are in our fifties, kids flying out of the nest, a boom rang daughter returns to the nest with a chick, a new grandbaby who I watch 12/7. Did I say I am in my fifties...damn, it was so much easier in my thirties!

So anyway...we're having our first second honeymoon shorter then the first honeymoon but hopefully just as romantic. But wait the first time around my groom DID NOT fart around me and I this time WANT the sex!!!

Okay, this is where the romance books come in....hummm. should I pack a sweet regency? Or how about one of these men in a kilt? What if I pulled one of Emma Holly's out of the TBR?

Yes, I think even in my fifties, if I can take one hot tub, one bottle of Texas wine, and afternoon swinging in a hammock reading Emma Holly this middle age couple can burn up a few sets of sheets!!
What do you think?
http://sunriseexoticranch.org/bed_and_breakfast.html

I've been visiting tons of Blogs tonight. I am not only a romance reader but also a romance reader lover who loves to read about romance books on the Internet and what other romance readers are watching on TV, seeing at the movies and more.
Some of these Blog are a hoot! I've added them into my links, check to see if you see a new link-to-you. If this doesn't get me started reading again I don't know what will!

So please leave a comment if you're romance reader and how you got out of your reading slumps, the last book you read you rated an A, if I missed your page.

Where have all the romance readers gone? I ask this of one of my good cyber friends that I meet about 8 years ago on AOL message boards.

All the AOL members will remember when romance readers ran those boards and we talked about books with authors, invented the spoiler lines, etc.

Then we had message boards at different sites like Book Bug, eHarlequin, Romantic Times Magazine message boards. Who didn't love to read who was fighting with whom!!! ROFLOL

Then we moved to the Yahoo Lists....broke it down into all kinds of romance books. You have your Harlequin-Silhouette lists, HP list, Romance_Historical, RomanceGarden, Bookstore Junkies, authors got them to tell us about what they are doing, when the new book is coming out, newsletters.

Now there are publishers, authors, and romance readers at MySpace but to me they aren't that user friendly.

So romance readers where is your favorite place to hang out to discuss the books you've read and find other readers????

Good morning Bloggers
When I was being treated for Breast Cancer I kept 2 Blogs....one for BC and this blog for my reading. I wanted to added pictures to my Blogs but couldn't figure out how to do that so I moved my Blog to AOL.
http://journals.aol.com/browney44/DebbiesDiary/

Even if your not on AOL you can read about my life stories, see pictures, and know what books I've been reading. Hope to see you there for a visit.

My book reading this year has been off and on....mainly off. Good books are boring, so I am going to see if reading some contemporary suspense and comedies can put me back into the mood to read till midnight.

Here are my June reads, mostly secret babies.

ANYBODY's DAD Rated C+
Amy J. Fetzer
8/1997
Rom/C
Sperm bank mix up. The hero's ex-wife gave his sperm to another woman after he found her birth control pills. He divorced her but not before she made sure another woman had his beloved baby.

JOEY's FATHER Rated B+
Elizabeth August
10/1990
Rom/C
They fell in loved, married in just a few weeks. He leaves for the city with her to follow soon but he is injuried in a car accident badly enough he decides she is better off without him. He divorces her before she can tell him she is pregnant.

THE SECRET BABY Rated B-
Day Leclaire
5/1997
Rom/C
He is a dumba**, they are living and working together when she is accused of betraying the company. He will not listen to her, shut her out, throws her out. She is on the streets, pregnant, she marries the man he consideres his enemy. Years later he come back for revenge. Hero should have spend a few chapters groveling.

SPENCER's CHILD Rated B-
Joan Kilby
11/1999
Rom/C
Spencer doesn't want to be a husband or a father. He yells it to everyone. He loves to party, be free like his dophins and whales he studies. Now he finds he has an ADHD child but he will give his money not his time and love. Another hero that needs a whack to the head with a baseball bat.

THEIR BABY MIRACLE Rated C+
Lilian Darcy
3/2005
Rom/C
This book was hard to read because of the baby being a preemie, she was doing fine their romance would be fine then the baby took a turn for the worst and the romance suffered. Too heart wrenching.

HIS SECONDHAND WIFE Rated B+
Cheryl St. John
7/2005
Rom/H-Frontier
Very sweet romance. Noah is a wonderful wounded soul and Kate is prefect to love all of his imperfections.

THE MAN FOR HER Rated C
Alice Valdal
3/2005
Rom/H-Frontier
I was disappointed with this book on many levels. The heroine is a strong woman having loved and lost, to bring her love child up alone. But the hero's gold fever was a little to much. Her son is a brat that needs a belt.


Now I've started into July...again it is slow but I am hoping a change in genre will help launch me too reading heaven. I read TAKE A CHANCE ON ME by Susan Donovan in just a day, giving it an A+

April 15 - 21

I wish I could find a book that makes me want to reread it as soon as I finish it, it has been a while. Another so-so week of reading. The biggest disappointment was THE NIGHT DRIFTER.

I have a new Blog for my day to day life, drop by and say hello.
Blog: http://journals.aol.com/browney44/DebbiesDiary/



THE NIGHT DRIFTER Rated C
Susan Carroll
5/1999
Rom/H/O-Georgian

The book just dragged the whole way.
I didn't feel sorry for a man that was still pouting because he made a fool of himself over a married woman when he was 18 year old....he is shoot in battle and his brother Valentine took the injury to himself and is now a cripple.

Rosalind is kind of a twit, she believes in all the magic tales of King Arthur...a bit boring.

I skipped about 7 chapters, read the end then skimmed the missing chapters.

Not interested in Val's story.
**********************************
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAN Rated B
Jillian Hart
5/2005
Rom/H-Frontier

A giant of a man that was sent to prison for a rape he didn't commit. The town he lived in killed his family (mother, grandfather, and step-siblings) by locking them in their house and setting it on fire. After 10 years of hard labor he is out of prison living in the mountain not wanting any woman near him.
The heroine is a his laundry lady who travels up the mountain to deliver his clothes. A bear attacks her wagon and he saves her but he is badly hurt.
***************************

THE CUTTING EDGE Rated B+
Linda Howard
9/1985
Rom/C

This one was a reread. I enjoy some of Linda Howard's earlier books with the alpha heroes.
******************

THE RANCHER's BRIDE Rated C
Barbara McMahon
1/2004
Rom/C

This is a modern day mail order bride. Rancher has to marry and produce an heir within a year.

Today I am reading PRAIRIE WIFE by Cheryl St. John. Kind of sad and depressing so far. I want to smack the heroine upside the head or shake her.

I ordered a few books this week and they've arrived in the mail.
OF MIDNIGHT BORN by Lisa Cach - ghost ( I've never read her, any opioions?)
GEORGE AND THE VIRGIN by Lisa Cach (TT)
THE WISHING CHALICE by Sandra Landry (TT)
DUKE OF SIN by Adele Ashworth (has anyone read this one??)

Reading from Feb. 10 - 17

I read 3 books this week. One is an e-book for review.
http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/indexT.html
BE STILL, MY HEART! by Carol McPhee

One is an HH by Kate Bridges who is an autobuy author. THE BACHELOR is very good has a interesting hero who is on the cutting edge of modern technology...in 1893.

The third book is actually a reread of an old Silhouette. The couple is reunited after he leaves her at the alter.

THE BACHELOR Rated B
Kate Bridges
3/2005
Rom/H-Frontier

MORE THAN YOU KNOW Rated A
Phyllis Halldorson
7/1993
Rom/C

BE STILL, MY HEART! Rated C+
Carol McPhee
2/2005
Rom/C



Which books do you plan to read this weekend?

I am hoping the 7 or 8 books I traded for this week arrive in the mail. If not, I have March Harlequin Historical to choose from. TURNER's WOMAN by Jenna Kernan is calling to me. :)

Recently I was asked my favorite book, you know me can't just list one.


I have a few favorite books, they seem to change over the years.

When I first started reading romance SHADES OF TWILIGHT by Linda Howard was one of my first books. I must have reread the book 20 times.

Then I read BOLD ANGEL by Kat Martin, a medieval. I kept 2 copies because I loaned it out so much.

Then I read a very emotional western that has a marriage in trouble theme with adultery. I've only read it one time because it is a painful book to read. THE COMING HOME PLACE by Mary Spencer.

I started glomming Kathryn Shay's books after reading the first in her America's Braves series, FEEL THE HEAT. She rarely disappoints me.

Just last year I read my first Time Travel in a long while...it packed the same strong emotions as the above books. WHEN THERE IS HOPE by Jane Goodger.

My favorite erotic book is MENAGE by Emma Holly...burning hot!

Happy February!

I read 13 books in January, not bad...last year my total was 15.
I am still enjoying the TT's my best read for the month is ECHOES OF TOMORROW. The most disappointing book was from one of my favorite authors, Kathryn Shay, OUR TWO SONS.

THE BEST MAN. Turner, Linda. . Rated B+
SIM-1010. [Rom/C] [3-Those Marrying McBrides!]
Buddies, Unrequited

CROSS MY HEART. Halldorson, Phyllis. . Rated B+
SSE-430. [Rom/C]
False assumption, Limelight, Single parent, Triangle

EVERYTHING BUT A HUSBAND. Templeton, Karen. . Rated C-
SIM-1050. [Rom/C] [3-Anything For...]
Single parent

OUR TWO SONS. Shay, Kathryn. . Rated C
HS-1253. [Rom/C]
Limelight, Single parent

SEATTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. Carmichael, C.J.. . Rated B+
HS-1240. [Rom/C]
Limelight, Rescued

THE SEXIEST DEAD MAN ALIVE. Blackwood, Jane. . Rated B+
[Rom/C/Gh]
Guilt, Limelight, Office, Runaway, Secret identity

MIDNIGHT RAIN. Lisle, Holly. . Rated B+
[Rom/C/O]
Psychic

JANE's WARLORD. Knight, Angela. . Rated B
[Rom/C/TT]
Goal, Opposites, Outcast, Rescued

ECHOES OF TOMORROW. Lykins, Jenny. . Rated A
JTP. [Rom/C/TT-Old South] [6-Time Passages]
Fish out of water, Reunited

SECONDHAND BRIDE. Miller, Linda Lael. . Rated B+
[Rom/H-Frontier] [3-The McKettrick Cowboys]

THE UNLIKELY GROOM. Douglas, Wendy. . Rated C-
HH-741. [Rom/H-Frontier]
Doctor/Nurse, Fish out of water, Guilt, Rescued

NO GREATER LOVE. Kingsley, Katherine. . Rated B-
[Rom/H-Regency] [1-Pascal]
Convenience, Handicap/Injury, Inheritance, Rescued

A ONCE AND FUTURE LOVE. Kelleher, Anne. . JTP. Rated B+
[Rom/TT/R-Medieval]
Switch

Happy TGIF!

This week I read another "been in the tbr more than 2 years."
I am trying to read some of my older books to clear more out.
This weeks was, NO GREATER LOVE by Katherine Kingsley.
NGL is a very good book, it just moved a little too slowly for my taste.

I finished MIDNIGHT RAIN by Holly Lisle last night. It is great suspense. I didn't figure it out until about 2/3 of the way. The romance is lacking a little because of the suspense.

I was truly disappointed in Kathryn Shay's new release, OUR TWO SONS I just didn't care for the heroine. She is a snob, brains over muscles snob, her actions towards the end made the book slip from a B- to a C.

I received a few TT in the mail this week, hopefully one of those will pull me in for a great weekend read. The main plans I have for the weekend is continue inventorying my books and setting up my library.

Anyone read any of these? Any recommendations which to start?
A ROGUE IN A KILT by Sandy Blair
FOREVER HIS by Shelly Thacker (TT)
THE LAST HIGHLANDER by Claire Cross (TT)
TIME AND AGAIN by Kathryn Jensen (TT western)
LOST YESTERDAY by Jenny Lykins (TT Southern)


Books for Jan. 21 - 27 2005

NO GREATER LOVE Rated B-
Katherine Kingsley 4/1992 Rom/H-Regency

MIDNIGHT RAIN Rated B+ (some hot sex scenes)
Holly Lisle 11/2004 Rom/C/O

OUR TWO SONS Rated C
Kathryn Shay 1/2005 Rom/C

For my reading and discussion group at CozyRomanceReaders@yahoogroups.com.
This months is a "K" author.

My "K" author is Katherine Kingsley, I read her book NO GREATER LOVE.

The entire book moved very slowly but the writing is excellent. Katherine Kingsley has some wonderful books, one of my favorites is CALL DOWN THE MOON.

Nicholas Daventry was banished for attempting to rape his uncle's wife, Lady Jacqueline Raven (bi*ch) when he was 20 years old, which was a lie. He goes to India to live and while there made a fortune. Ten years later his uncle, Lord Raven ask Nicholas to come home so they could make peace.

When Nicholas arrives at Raven's Walk he finds his uncle in a catatonic state, his young cousin, Cycil hates the sight of him and his aunt still a bi*ch.

Nicholas had 3 weeks to marry before his 30th birthday or his beloved childhood home estate Raven's Close, would go to his cousin along with Raven's Walk. Raven's Close is in shambles but with Nicholas' new riches he could restore it even though his aunt had removed all the valuable pieces of furnitures and allow it to be in disrepair.

Nicholas meets Georgia Wells the day he arrives home and is very attracted to her. She is his aunt's seamstress that she kept in a tower only allowed out for exercise. Georgia is young and beautiful which makes Jacqueline very jealous. Georgia loves to walk, most days she goes to Raven's Close to sit and dream of a happier future. That is were she found Nicholas crying the first time he sees the Close. When she tells him how much she loves the Close and it hurts her heart it is falling down Nicholas pulls her into his arms and kisses her.

Later that night he climbs into her tower asking her to marry him. She agrees to get away from his aunt and also because she believes Nicholas is poor and he needs her help to restore the Close. Nicholas and Georgia are married a week later, they work hard to repair the roof and inside, as Nicholas pretends to be poor as he courts his bride.

They also work to restore Nicholas' good name in the village and bring Cycil around to love his older cousin again and see the truth.

There is the mystery of what happened to put Nicholas' uncle in his vegetated state, fight the nasty rumors Jacqueline has started in London about both Nicholas and Georgia.

One thing I did like is Nicholas and Georgia declare their love for each other about half way so I got to watch the love grow. There is some very humorous parts about Nicholas lower anatomy compared to her deceased husband, Baggie Wells'. Georgia was married for 3 years but comes to Nicholas' bed a near virgin.

I rated NO GREATER LOVE (B-) the minus for the slowness.

I only read 3 books this week because I am inventorying my books. I have 500 into BYRON so far with only about 2000 more to go.

My best read this week is ECHOES OF TOMORROW by Jenny Lykins. She is a great TT author, I wish she had more books to collect.

I am reading NO GREATER LOVE by Katherine Kingsley now.


SEATTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT Rated B+
C.J. Carmichael
11/2004
Rom/C
This book is about a late night radio DJ. She has a secret admire that is creepy. The hero is a widower PI, he is a very wounded soul.


THE UNLIKELY GROOM Rated C-
Wendy Douglas
2/2005
Rom/H-Frontier
The heroine's brother is killed leaving her stranded in Alaska penniless. The hero is another widower who blames himself for his wife and daughter's death. He doesn't get involved with people and tries to stay emotionless. He helps the heroine by giving her a job in his saloon even though she is a teetotaler.


ECHOES OF TOMORROW Rated A
Jenny Lykins
6/1997
Rom/C/TT-Old South
I loved this time travel. The hero comes forward in time falls in love with the heroine then on their wedding day he is returned back to his time. The heroine must find a way to his time. When she does he doesn't remember their time in the future and he is betrothed to marry a b*tch.

I should be still asleep since I didn't turn the lights off until 2:45 AM. Read another great TT, ECHOES OF TOMORROW by Jenny Lykins.
I loved that the hero came to present day, fall in love with the heroine, they married and then he returns to his time. Now the modern day heroine has to figure out how to get to his time for the second half of the book.
I hunted the used bookstores for the book but ended up having to buy it off Half.com, it was worth every penny.

I visited Ms. Lykin's website to see if she had any other books coming up, I didn't see any. That is so sad, she is a great TT author.


Echoes of Tomorrow by Jenny Lykins Rated A
http://louisabrown.net/Echoes.htm

Here is Louisa Brown's review:

Echoes of Tomorrow by Jenny Lykins is the sixth book in Penguin Putnam's Time Passages series.
Echoes of Tomorrow is quite easily my favorite book out of the Time Passages series. This is because after all the disbelieving men in the previous books, whose reasons for disbelief are often pure stubbornness, finally here is a man time traveling.

Reed Blackwell travels into the future not the past so in some ways his experience is less of an ordeal than those who go backwards. After all his biggest challenge is discovering how to drink a can of coke without making a fool of himself.

Reed also has the advantage that Elise Gerard witnessed his materialization, on her bed no less, and is more open minded than most people.

As Elise shows Reed her world of the 20th century they fall in love and, as there seems no way back to 1844, Reed decides to make a life with Elise in the future.

What Reed doesn't know is that it was his maid's tea, a bewitched potion, that sent him to the future, and when he drinks more on his wedding day he disappears home again leaving Elise to follow him.

Once in 1844 things take on the route of a regular time travel - Elise is in the past, Reed has lost his memory of the future, and her, and guess who doesn't believe a word she's saying.

Reed is now engaged to be married and the clock is ticking for Elise to help him remember her. So it's plots, plots and more plots, some hilariously funny as Elise tries to recreate the future for the benefit of Reed.

A delightful tale of time traveling romance that leaves everything in the air to the last possible minute.

I tried a few day ago to catch up my reading blog but Blogger was naughty and didn't publish it.

So in Novemember I read 6 books, not a great month but some of the books were great.
In December I read 11 books, better month since it was a very busy month in our household. Below are the books and my ratings.

You can find my thoughts on TREASURED VOWS by Cathy Maxwell, MIDNIGHT SATIN by Laurie Grant, A MAN IN A KILT by Sandy Blair, MONTANA WIFE by Jillian Hart, SAY IT AGAIN, SAM by Mary McBride, and A TEXAN'S LUCK by Jodi Thomas at Romance Reader at Heart. http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/indexT.html


BYRON Read-status: "11/04"

MADELEINE's COWBOY. Rolofson, Kristine. 2/1994. . Harlequin Temptation. HT-478. [Rom/C]
False assumption, Single parent

TREASURED VOWS. Maxwell, Cathy. 1/1996. . [Rom/H-Regency]
Convenience, Guardian, Outcast, Triangle

MIDNIGHT SATIN. Grant, Laurie. 11/2004. . [Rom/H-Civil War]
Forbidden, Rescued
THE LAST HONEST OUTLAW. Finch, Carol. 12/2004. . [Rom/H-Outlaw]
Accused, Captive, Masquerade, Outcast

MONTANA WIFE. Hart, Jillian. 12/2004. . Harlequin Historical. HH#. [Rom/H-Frontier]
Convenience, Neighbors, Single parent

SAY IT AGAIN, SAM. McBride, Mary. 12/2004. . [Rom/C]
Hometown, Reunited

***** ****** ***** *****

BYRON Read-status: "12/04"

THE FIFTH VICTIM. Barton, Beverly. 4/2003. . [Mys/Rom/C/S] [1-Cherokee Pointe]

THE BILLIONAIRE's PREGNANT MISTRESS. Monroe, Lucy. 12/2004. . HP-2438. [Rom/C]
Limelight, Masquerade, Reunited

FARELLI's WIFE. Gordon, Lucy. 7/1999. . H-3561. [Rom/C]
Forbidden, Single parent, Unrequited

CALEB's CHRISTMAS WISH. Salonen, Debra. 11/2004. . HS-1238. [Rom/C-Christmas]
Adoption, Convenience, Guardian

THE ITALIAN's PASSIONATE PROPOSAL. Morgan, Sarah. 12/2003. . MBM-1171^. [Rom/C-Christmas] [2-Italian...Santini]
Doctor/Nurse, Masquerade, Office

THE MERCENARY's KISS. Crooks, Pam. 8/2004. . HH-718. [Rom/H-Frontier]
Single parent

A TEXAN's LUCK. Thomas, Jodi. 11/2004. . [Rom/H-Frontier] [3-Wife Lottery]
Arranged, Reunited

THE LAIRD OF STONEHAVEN. Mason, Connie. 9/2003. . [Rom/H-Medieval]

BEWITCHED. Cullman, Heather. 2/2001. . [Rom/H-Regency] [Lords of Danger]
Deadline, Handicap/Injury, Matchmaker, Outcast

BEYOND THE HIGHLAND MIST. Moning, Karen Marie. 4/1999. . [Rom/TT/F-Medieval] [1-Highland Mist]

A MAN IN A KILT. Blair, Sandy. 9/2004. . [Rom/TT/Gh-Medieval] [1-MacDougall in a Kilt]
Inheritance

Last night I stayed up late so I could finish TROUBLE AT LONE SPUR
by Roz Denny Fox (11/1996 Marry Me, Cowboy series).


I just loved the heroine, Lizbeth. She is strong when she could have let despair and grief make her weak. She married a bull rider at 18, was a widow and pregnant at 22. She was left penniless by her husband after he is killed by a bull in the chute. She has to find a career that will support her and her daughter, Melody. She has friends on the rodeo circuit so she trains to be a farrier. For 5 years she followed the rodeo shoeing horses until her daughter is ready for kindergarten, now Lizbeth needs to put down roots so she hires on as the Lone Spur ranch's farrier.

She is hired by the foreman of the Lone Spur, when the owner Gil Spencer returns home after two weeks trying to run down a killer cougar he sees a strange woman in his prize studs stall. Racing to save her from his temperamental horse, Lizbeth chews a bite of hide off his backside for interfering with her work. She believes he is a cowhand, a very dirty stinky cowhand.
Sparks fly between them and the minute Lizbeth said the word rodeo, Gil told her to pack her bags and get off his ranch. He gives her 3 hours.

When Gil can't pay her because his accountant is out of town for a few days Lizbeth refuses to leave until she has her money and she has made plans to withdraw her daughter from school. Gil feels guilty so he gives her until the end of the school year to move on but he doesn't want to see her or her daughter. Gil hates everything that has to do with the rodeo after his two timing wife left him for a bull rider. His twin sons, Rusty and Dustin are almost as bad as their father at hating woman and girls. The twins play nasty tricks on both Lizbeth and Melody, Gil is embarrassed how his attitude toward women has made his sons very disrespectful towards women.

One reason I enjoyed the book is it is over a long period of time, nearly the entire school year. Sparks fly not only with Lizbeth and Gil but Gil's son Dustin hates Lizbeth trying to drive her off. His brother likes having Lizbeth and Melody around cooking and caring for him when his dad is out on the range. As Gil feelings soften and he falls in love with Lizbeth Dustin causes trouble. Toss in his ex-wife to mix and readers will think this romance doesn't have a chance in heaven. I was blinking back tears as Lizbeth fights for all the Spencer's love but sees it slipping away.

I was disappointed earlier in the week when my first shipment of Marry Me, Cowboy arrived in the mail. I thought they would be newer books but I had forgotten there are some great romances in the older books. TROUBLE AT LONE SPUR is going on the keeper shelf. I am going to check the other 5 books for another great cowboy read.

TROUBLE AT LONE SPUR Rated A
Roz Denny Fox
Marry Me, Cowboy series
5/96
Themes: Single parents, ranch, alpha hero, twins

I picked up a great book last night....finished it around midnight. Love it when that happens. I am hoping since I finished 2 books this weekend my reading mood is coming back.

I ordered about 8 books from Half.com that I hadn't been able to find at the used bookstore, a few TTs and some older HSR. I haven't received my November HH so I can watch the mail this week for those. My November HSR are here but it is too warm to read Christmas stories...I will wait for the next cold front! ;)

WEST OF HEAVEN Rated B+ Sex- Sweet
Victoria Bylin
7/2004
Rom/H-Frontier

WEST OF HEAVEN by Victoria Bylin (HH714) 7/2004

The hero Ethan Trent is a very wounded hero having lost his entire family. Now he is a bitter man wanting to be left alone to wallow in his misery. But he finds a body in his barn which bring the man's pregnant widow to his ranch. She is sick and stranded until the snow melts.
Jayne wants to leave as badly as Ethan wants her gone but he is racked with guilt because the first night he made her stay in his cold barn instead of offering her hospitality in his house.
When Jayne's dead husband puts a dangerous outlaw on her trail Ethan will do anything to protect her and her baby.

***************

A SCANDALOUS SITUATION Rated B+ Sex - Semi-Hot
Patricia Frances Rowell
8/2004
Rom/H-Regency

Saturday evening I finished A SCANDALOUS SITUATION by Patricia Frances Rowell (HH716). This wouldn't be a good read to anyone that hates rape in their story, the heroine, Iantha is gang raped in the first chapter and the young men are never caught. The hero, Rob Armstrong rescues her from a snow bank taking her to his castle, later offering her marriage. He then is helping her to remember things about the night hopefully to identify who they were. After they marry he is slowly wooing her sexually. The book is Semi-Hot. Very tender read.

Happy Reading!

While in Denver I picked a few older westerns, this weekend I read one, FAN THE FLAME by Suzanne Elizabeth. The book started out great, the banter between Samatha James and U.S. Marshall Max Barrett was great. It fell a little towards the end.


FAN THE FLAME Rated B Sex- Semi-Hot
by Suzanne Elizabeth (1993)
Historical Western

For once, Samantha James was determined to follow her head instead of her heart, which had been broken twice already. Leaving home to teach school in Utah sounded like a sensible plan. Until her father insisted that she travel with arrogant U.S. Marshal Max Barrett--a towering man who dizzied her with desire. The Montana trail they rode held danger from a bloodthirsty gang whose leader Max had struck down. But the greatest danger lurked within Max himself. For he felt a fierce longing for the woman he was supposed to protect. And when Max and Samantha were swept by a passion as deep as the craggy canyons and a glorious as a Rocky sunset, they could only fear what lay ahead.

To say this has been the worst month in my romance reading history since I started read again is an understatement. My total this month is 6 books. What happened, you ask? Yes, I can hear you....well, on September the 1st I got hit with a big dose of a cancer drug during my last chemo. It would have been nice if my oncologist had told me beforehand he was doing it but no, he talks to himself more than me. Oh well, that is over. WOOHOO

Then when I was about to recover from chemo I took a trip to Denver with my husband for a long weekend. He worked, I played. Two of my reading buddies took me out shopping to a wonderful used bookstore in Boulder were I found about 15 books on my wish list. It was a wonderful day of books, good food and friends. Thank you Pam and Tracy.

Now to the 6 books. Most were time travels all rated Bs, didn't have an A this month.

MIDNIGHT MAN Rated B+ Sex- Burning Lisa Marie Rice 2003Rom/C e-book
The hero has a hard on the entire book! Two explosive up against the wall sex scenes. I will be reading more of her e-books.


ON THE LINE Rated C Sex - Good sexual tension
Kathryn Shay7/2004Rom/C
She doesn't disappoint me often but just didn't feel the usually snap, crackle, and pop Shay's past books have had. Still, her firefighters always give me tingles!

STILL CLOSE TO HEAVEN Rated B+ Sex- Good sexual tension Kathleen Kane 8/1997Rom/H/Gh-Frontier
Great angel want-a-be, ghost story. The hero is sent to save a young girl but forgets to erase her memory of him. She falls in love with him waiting to one day marry him but he is a ghost working on becoming an angel.

ALICIA's SONG Rated B Sex-Good sexual tension Susan Plunkett 4/2001Rom/TT-Frontier
I read the 2nd James sister book before this book, it was just a bit better - more emotional. As far as I can find out the 3rd book was never published.

UNTAMED TIME Rated B+ Sex- Good sexual tension Susan Plunkett
2/1999Rom/TT-Frontier
The heroine has very strong mating urges for the hero but he wants to go back to his time and doesn't want to take her virginity. She is always giving the poor man looks of hunger. :)

STARDUST TIME Rated B+ Sex- Good sexual tension Marti Jones 6/1995Rom/TT-Victorian
The heroine is a bit dizzy at first, she had all the modern conveniences in her century and she used them. When she is faced with no modern conveniences she can't even boil water much less change a baby's dirty diaper.

My best read this past month was YOURS UNTIL DAWN, a keeper. I was disappointed in a few books, THE BABE MAGNET, HARD LOVIN' MAN and WINDMILLS IN TIME.

I started one of Kathryn Shay's books last night ON THE LINE, so I know September is going to start off with a bang!


THE BABE MAGNET. Wells, Robin. 6/2004. . [Rom/C]Convenience, Secret baby
FATHER IN SECRET. McArthur, Fiona. 11/2001. . Mills & Boon Medical Romance. MBM-1021^. [Rom/C]Doctor/Nurse, Office, Single parent
HARD LOVIN' MAN. Heath, Lorraine. 11/2003. . [Rom/C]Hometown, Reunited
HONKY-TONK CINDERELLA. Templeton, Karen. 12/2001. . Silhouette Intimate Moments. SIM-1120. [Rom/C]Opposites
MAKING MEMORIES. Anderson, Caroline. 9/2000. . Mills & Boon. MB-4799. [Rom/C]Office, Reunited, Secret baby
PETER. Leigh, Ana. 12/1998. . [Rom/H-Riverboat/Frontier]Convenience, Unrequited
THE PROPOSITION. Bridges, Kate. 9/2004. . Harlequin Historical. HH-719. [Rom/H-Frontier]Escort, Single parent
THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY. MacAlister, Katie. 7/2004. . [Rom/H-Regency]Convenience, Single parent
WHAT DADDY DOESN'T KNOW. Quinn, Tara Taylor. 9/2004. . Harlequin Superromance. HS-1225. [Rom/C]Office, Reunited, Secret baby
WHEN HE WAS WICKED. Quinn, Julia (2). 7/2004. . [Rom/H-Regency]Bad Boy, Forbidden, Friend's spouse, Unrequited
WINDMILLS IN TIME. Bruce, Victoria. 10/1998. . [Rom/TT-Frontier]Switch
YOURS UNTIL DAWN. Medeiros, Teresa. 8/2004. A+, 08/04, 2004>. [Rom/H-Regency]Doctor/Nurse, Handicap/Injury