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WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn FridayJune 5, 2009 I'm on my way to Green Bay to attend the WisRWA (Wisconsin Romance Writers Association) conference. I especially like it because it's close and a more intimate conference after the craziness of BEA (BookExpo America). Of course, this is the only conference my mom attends with me, but I think it's more for the casino it's held in. Here's hoping she hits it big so we have gas money to get home. It's up to $2.89 a gallon here. And Joysann will be attending Lori Foster's Reader-Writer Get-Away in Ohio and reporting from there. Anyway, as a treat, here's the WW Ladies Book Blurbs for the week and your chance to post what you've been reading.  Miss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B. Ross Read by joysann
When Hazel Marie suffers a perplexing illness, and she won't let Miss Julia tell her estranged beau, Mr Pickins, about it, Miss Julia thinks that the quarrel, whatever it is, is exacerbating Hazel Marie's illness. So, when Mr Sam's computer and research material for the book he's writing on local history is destroyed and/or stolen, Miss Julia suggests Sam hire the private detective Mr Pickens to help find who is trying to prevent the book's publication, which will actually bring him into the house, face to face with Hazel Marie.
Miss Julia is the epitome of an aging southern belle, whose steel magnolia charm enables her to keep her home and family intact, share the joys and sorrows of friends and neighbors, and face enemies and danger with aplomb. Ann B. Ross's continuing Miss Julia mystery series is very popular among a certain type of reader, as can be attested by its place on best seller lists and the author's busy tour schedule. I thought it a funny, charming and entertaining gentle read, and it's something my mother would have enjoyed.
 Angel by Carla Neggers Read by Jan Folklorist Keira Sullivan travels to Ireland after hearing of a Celtic legend of a mysterious stone angel...and then turns up missing. Attracted to her after meeting her in Boston, FBI agent and 'search and rescue' expert, Simon Cahill, volunteers to search for her, finding her trapped in an ancient ruin where she thinks she has found the stone angel. However, it disappears and mysteriously reappears in the United States.
I was entranced from the beginning that there might be some truth to the stone angel myth. Could it really exist or was it just a centuries old legend? Many of the characters in this book were carried over from a previous book I read by Ms. Neggers, "The Widow". I felt like I was back with family again.
(Congratulations to Carla and her husband on becoming first-time grandparents to little Leo born this past May!)
Beautiful, naïve and American, Charlotte Cameron brought her sisters to England to hopefully make good marriage matches. But when she encourages her sister to break her betrothal to the wealthy and powerful Duke of Colster and follow her heart, she causes a scandal that ruins the future for her and her sisters. Phillip, the Duke of Colster is a widower who has grown tired of the matchmakers of the ton and becomes engaged to a young American girl who reminds him of his first wife. Many were surprised when he became engaged but none were more surprised than he when his fiancée was encouraged by her older sister to break their engagement. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much so, that I went back and read Temptation of a Proper Governess, The Price of Indiscretion, and In the Highlander’s Bed. Wow, what a journey! I loved the tension between Charlotte and Phillip in the beginning, the turbulence they went through on their journey to the Highlands, and the in comfort that they found in each other in the end .  Thank You For All Things by Sandra Kring Read by Heidi 11-year old Lucy McGowan, future psychologist is leaving Chicago - along with her "profoundly gifted" twin brother, Milo, her commitment-phobic mother, and her New Age grandmother - to care for her dying grandfather. Lucy believes her time in Timber Falls, Wisconsin will provide key pieces to the puzzle of her family's broken past and the mystery surrounding her own father's identity. But what she discovers there is so much more - a lesson about the paradoxes of love and the grace of forgiveness that the adults around her will need help in remembering if their family is ever to find peace and embrace the future. I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. Especially Lucy and all her discoveries about her life and the need for answers. Weren't we all like that at 11? And her grandmother is a stitch. I can completely see her trying her new age ways in a house that hasn't seen a single change since it was built. The journey of this family kept me fascinated right up to the end.
Katerina Pavlova Garibaldi, the Contessa de Salerno creates stunning pieces of jewelry for her upper-class patrons. Her sister died five years ago the with name of Prince Drako Kazanov on her lips. When Prince Drako and his family arrive in London, Katerina feels this is her chance to get back at the man who caused her sisters downfall. Drako is immediately taken with the ravishing beauty, but can't understand why she's giving him the cold shoulder. But before long they are thrown together when attempts on their lives are taken. Soon they both are feeling the pull of attraction, but the unseen enemy lurks ever closer.
This is the fifth book in the Kazanov series, and in my opinion, the best. The pull of attraction between Katerina and Drako make a very interesting plot. And not to mention the fact that Katerina thinks that Drako is the one who caused the downfall of her sister makes an interesting twist.
Summer runs a chocolate shoppe in a hotel, leading a fairly lonely existence except for the daily cups of coffee she shares with two male colleagues. When Summer’s best friend, Tanya, invites her to sell some anatomically correct suckers at an adult entertainment convention, the shy and sheltered Summer becomes smitten with an intriguing stranger, Max, who lures her into an unfamiliar world of sexual submission and domination. Their ensuing liaisons involve a range of titillating encounters that progressively expand into more and more prodigious experiences. It’s fun to read erotica with a believable and engaging plot. As a feminist, I appreciate the fact that Summer and Max directly approach and then satisfactorily resolve the question of whether it’s politically correct to engage in S & M in an era of gender equality. I’m also glad that Summer takes her turn at being a dominatrix. This is a great book to read before sleep (or bed), but I wouldn’t indulge during a lunch break at work unless I brought along a change of clothes...  Read by joysann
40 year old Alice has spent her entire life in Quidnunc IN, has lived it as one respectably might in a small town, and expects that she will contentedly, if not exactly happily, continue to do so. She finds an unusual empty journal, and blithely tries her hand at writing a romance, with tall, dark and handsome stranger, and all. The story becomes a very passionate recurring dream, making her insomniac, and when said stranger shows up at her door claiming he suffers them too, they work together to learn the secret of the blank book and free their lives from the fantasy. That's what they want, right?
Magdalena Scott presents her slightly ingenuous heroine and engaging hero (and her readers) with quite the conundrum, highlighted by the contrast of her uncomplicated and direct writing style. Romantic, charming, funny, sweet, The Blank Book is a delightful fantasy that tickled my romance fancy.
Posted by Barbara Vey on June 5, 2009 | Comments (18)
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Amanda commented: How fun! A conference in a cas*no! This week I'm reading Distracting the Duchess by Emily Bryan. Very enjoyable.
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Carla Neggers commented: Thanks for the congrats on our sweet little baby boy. Well. He IS a little feisty. ;-) We adore him, even if he did interrupt our trip to Ireland by arriving three weeks early!
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Magdalena Scott commented: Oh my! Thank you so much for the lovely review of THE BLANK BOOK. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it, Joysann. Wish I could be at Lori Foster's--I'd give you a great big hug!
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Magdalena Scott commented: Sorry. Trying to calm down.
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Shari Anton commented: Also headed to the WisRWA Conference, and taking two books. I want to finish Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland, and start The Luxe (recommended by one of this blog's YA readers)by Anna Godbersen.
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Gayle Carline commented: Wow. Now I want to comment, just to say "cas*no". CAS*NO. CAS*NO. I feel so naughty... Seriously, have a great time in Green Bay with your mom - sounds like fun. BTW, I'm reading The Advocate by Teresa Burrell. Good stuff.
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Carolyn Rubenstein commented: I just found this blog and am so excited to read about these books - what great blurbs! The Blank Book and Thank You for All Things are now on my "must read" list!
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Cathy Maxwell commented: This is my first mention in your blog, Barbara! And a big thank you to you and to Marie who wrote that wonderful blurb. I'm thrilled to be mentioned!
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday mary s commented: Thanks Barb--great book/author reviews! Always good to read your blog!
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday asilverrose (from twitter) commented: I'm currently reading "Whispered Lies" by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love. Great so far!
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Opal Carew commented: Barb, thanks for including me in your blog. It's my first time, too.
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Emily Bryan commented: I'm reading Colleen Thompson's BENEATH BONE LAKE. With all the lights on!
June 5, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday CHRISTINE commented: I'm reading "An Aristocratic Affair: The Life of Georgiana's sister, Harriet Spencer, Countess of Bessborough" by Janet Gleeson. Harriet's life definitely reads like a romance novel and is a good accompaniment to the films "The Duchess" (about her sister) and "Amazing Grace" (starring Ioan Gruffudd) set in the same 18th-century time period. I'm having a wonderful English wallow.
June 6, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Dianna Love commented: Ah, Barbara, what mothers won't do to help their children, eh? Another great list of books from the WW Ladies.
June 6, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Christie Craig commented: Great book blubs. Now I've got to add to my list.
June 8, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday violet s commented: Wow Barbara! I don't know where to start on these fabulous books! Thank you for the wonderful reviews (coordinating them for all of us)!
June 8, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Colleen Thompson commented: I've been reading TJ Bennett's THE PROMISE. Very unusual historical - German mercenary and a Spanish widow trying to escape a gypsy curse dooming every man who loves her to die.
June 8, 2009
In response to: WW Ladies Book Club Blurbs and Your Turn Friday Colleen Thompson commented: Hope Beneath Bone Lake doesn't scare you too much, Emily. :)
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