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Your Turn Friday with the WW Ladies

July 3, 2009
Since Monday is my travel day to the Big Apple for Thrillerfest (and I want everyone to concentrate really hard that I get bumped up to first class), I thought I'd squeeze in another addition of the WW Ladies Book Blurbs since the conferences will be taking over the next couple of weeks.  I'm so excited and I'm all packed.  Just found out I'm at a VIP table for the Awards Dinner, so I should be able to see what's going on without wearing my glasses.  Although, I think my glasses make me smarter (and I need all the help I can get).

And don't forget, it's Your Turn Friday, so let the world know who and what you've been reading!

Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance

Read by joysann

It seems everyone's out to get Cassie Palmer dead, the good guys, the
bad guys and the confused guys. Mircea's solution is to lock her
safely away, and Pritkin's is to follow her everywhere to fight and
die for her. But since Cassie is Pythia, she  sees that it's her
choices that will determine the result of the coming war.

I'm totally captivated by Karen Chance's books, and Cassandra Palmer's
world. Fast, fantastical, whimsical, humorous, sexy, strange, and
hair-raising, I'm left wanting what's next. I love the men in the
story (except the bad guys); powerful, romantic, mysterious, and
dangerous figures that stir my imagination and have me making up
stories of my own.

First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh
   

Read By Stacey

 

Vanessa Huxtable Dew and her siblings find themselves at a crossroads when their young brother is told he has inherited an unexpected title.  A widow, Vanessa decides to enter into a loveless marriage not only to provide the chaperon her siblings will need to enter into society, but also so that her elder sister will not have to.  Love is still on her mind, and she wonders if she will ever find it.

 

Mary Balogh has always been one of my comfort reads.  Her lush descriptions transport me through time, and the way she portrays the relationships between her characters draws me deeper into the story.  I loved watching Vanessa’s journey towards love, as well as the way she handles the fundamental change of circumstances.  I cannot wait to see what will happen with the rest of the siblings.

Can't Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards
  
Read by Kym
 
Miranda Wake is a food critic who specializes in skewering the egos of
celebrity chefs and, to further her goals, she's prepared to do the
same to Adam Temple. At their initial meeting, Adam's temper flares
and he dares Miranda to last a day in the kitchen of his newly opened
restaurant. The day turns into a month's commitment and soon the only
thing hotter than the passion they generate is the secrets they're
hiding.
 
Although not a foodie, I spent ten years waitressing (unfortunately
not in a chic New York restaurant) and the atmosphere of this book
rang true. It didn't take long for the main characters to feel like
friends and the secondary romance involving Miranda's brother helped
keep things moving. One of the best parts was discovering an excerpt
of Edwards's next book featuring a minor character from this
one--giving me another book to look forward to. There are also recipes
for the foodies of the romance crowd.  Can't Stand the Heat? I say, get into this kitchen!


Hot Mail by Janice Maynard

Read by Denise

Jane has wanted Ethan for years and decides to fulfill her secret fantasy by sending him naughty Valentines.  A lot of ups and downs that one never knew what might happen to put the in the irght circumstances for lovemaking.

Sensual and enticing enough to keep me reading even though this was my first really sexy romance.  Will definitely read more of Janice's books.






The New Jew An Unexpected Conversion by Sally Srok Friedes

Read by Michelle
 
Sally grows up Catholic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and when her life takes her to New York she falls in love with a Jewish man.  Having been on a spiritual quest since she was 13 she finds that the principles of the Jewish faith resonating with her.  Her quest to conversion is completely her own initiation based on what she learns about what it means to be Jewish. 
 
Sally mantains such strength when she encounters diversity along her journey that as a reader I found her faith greatly inspiring.  Her story challenged me to find a spiritual connection, community and practice to give me strength, love and hope.  A moving memoir.

Lip Service by Susan Mallery
     

Read by Stacey

 

Skye Titan has spent all of her life following the dictates of her tycoon father.  But when the love she thought she’d lost returns home from the war, she has a second chance and vows to fight his most recent edict.  But nothing is ever what it seems as the foundation she built from scratch, as well as her daughter, are under attack, she finds herself in serious trouble, where the only people she feels she can really trust are her sisters.

 

To call Susan Mallery’s books anything but larger than life would be a mistake.  They are funny, serious, dramatic and humorous all in one.  She has never disappointed me, and I enjoy myself no matter what length she’s writing-category or single title.  And when I finish one of her books, I feel as happy as the ending she gives her characters.  Lip Service is no exception, and the twist at the end makes my wait for the third book in the series that much more difficult to handle..

Now that the WW Ladies have done their job, it's up to you to comment on your latest reads.

Bottom Line:  Off to make my world famous Taffy Apple Salad for huge 4th of July party at my sister's house.  I'll save some for you.  :)
 

Posted by Barbara Vey on July 3, 2009 | Comments (11)