Review 4: Nora Roberts Bed of Roses

Since I already reviewed Visions in White, I figured I might as well follow through and do Bed of Roses.

Bed of Roses is the second book in the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. This is the Story of Emma and Jack. They have been friend for as long as... well forever. Emma is the florist for Vows. Her knowledge of plants and flowers, as well as colors and what goes well with what makes her very sought after and praised for her beautiful arrangements. She always knows just what will make the occasion. She comes from a loving family, and while she enjoys men and easily falls into lust, she will also point those men in the right direction when the "thing" is over. She hopes to one day find the everlasting love her parents have.

Jack is the man responsible for all of the renovations at the manor and all of the off buildings that house Vows. As an architect, he works well with people and has a great personality. After a party one night after watching Emma across the room all evening he happens to drive by a car stranded on the side of the road. It's Emma, and he helps her "Look under the hood." They tend to get a little cozy and head turn towards each other.. Sparks fly.. he gets her car started goes out of his way to follow her home.. and in that instant the two see each other in a whole new light.. One tinged with sexual heat. He's leery of starting anything with her because of the friendship with her and all of the other girls, plus Parkers older brother, not to mention the broken home he came from.

Of course one thing leads to another.. and badda bing badda bang.. we have the big moment, which follows some really hot playful email flirting. Things eventually come to a head.. a fight occurs and, honestly I hate how Nora has the 4 women and some of the other characters react to Jack after. But maybe because that just because I really liked Jack. Finally things work for the best and Emma finally gets Her Blue Butterfly...

Her Romance in the Moonlight.

The next book is the story of Laurel and Carter (Parker's older brother). Followed by Parkers story with a character you will meet in B.O.R..

Once again. I will recommend this book..because well I will recommend just about anything Nora writes. It's a guilty pleasure.

Well.... Crap...

OK so I havent blogged anything or done my reviews in a while. I apologize. Between being sick before, then my oldest brother got married and I had to make 60 homemade hot chocolate favors and I made the wedding cake... I was freaking busy. Now we have Christmas just a few short days away. I feel like THE biggest slacker in all of Cannon Ball History!

So Now Im and vowing at least ONE review today in honor of Nicole's Birthday... Then I'll get going again and get caught up...

Happy Happy!

I'm a slacker....

So I just realized Im behind in my posts. at this rate.... I'm not gonna make it up. So I have 3 weeks to make up for.. Will do ASAP. But first... I have a wedding cake and a dry wedding to get through.

Books Read

Visions in White- Nora Roberts (Re read)

Bed of Roses- Nora Roberts

The Finishing Touches- Hester Browne

Forgiven- Shelley Shepard Gray

Week 3: Visions in White Nora Roberts

Since I was sick last week this will be my blog for week 3.

Mackensie, Laurel, Emma, and Parker have been friends since they were kids. playing hundreds of games of "Wedding Day". Now as adults, they run a wedding planning company called “Vows.” Parker’s obsessive-compulsive nature makes her the perfect person to plan out all the minute details. Emma is the florist and grows most of the flowers herself, Laurel is the pastry chef in charge of all of the cakes and desserts, and Mackensie (Mac) is a professional photographer whose work has been on the covers of magazines.

Vision in White, the first of the quartet is Mac’s story. Even though Mac works in the wedding industry she doesn't see getting married in her future. She doesn’t really believe in happily ever after. Her mother, Linda, is a serial bride and is always on the trail of yet another man. To make things worse, every time things fall apart she always comes to Mac with all of her drama, always drain her daughter emotionally and financially.

On the day of one of the weddings, Mac’s having “one of those days” when she meets Carter, the bride to be's brother. Sparks start to fly and it all leads up to a confession and a kiss. Mac never imagined herself falling for anyone, much less an English teacher in tweed and glasses with a dry sense of humor, but soon things are twisting and turning. After a funny scene in which Mac has her mothers car towed and Carter turns Linda down when she not so subtly propositions him. Things take a turn for the better.

All in all a good read. Vintage Nora. It's nice to have a straight romance and not a paranormal or murder thrown in there. Book Two Bed of Roses is already out. This is Emma's book. Followed by Laurel and then Parker.

Sorry for the Delay

I have been really sick for the past week. I'll get my review up ASAP. Thanks.

Week Two: Tempt Me At Twilight- Lisa Kleypas

Book Three of the Hathaway Series finds us visiting Poppy Hathaway as she runs after her sister Bea's pet ferret. Dodger has once again stolen something important and claimed it as his own. The item this time turns out to be a love letter from Poppy's beau Michael Banning. As she follows the ferret into an office of the Rutledge Hotel where the family is staying during the "season" in London, they stumble upon a secret entrance into a tunnel behind the fireplace. Chasing the ferret she enters and finds herself closed in and in the company of an unknown male.

Harry Rutledge owns and runs his hotel with a fist of steel. Making sure everyone that works for him keeps his secrets and confidences. He finds Poppy and Dodger in his tunnel and brings them to his "Curiosities" room, where he talks with Poppy and does not disclose who he is until a maid bringing them tea calls him by name.

He decides Poppy is the woman for him and does everything he can to "ruin" her and make her his own. After a few funny moments, one including a monkey and a food elevator, and a few that make you want to smack him, he gets his way and they wed.

Two of my favorite lines in the book is when Harry tells Poppy.. "In the fairy tale you mentioned last night, I would probably be the villain. But it's possible the villain would treat you far better than the prince." After your typical historical fights over virtue, and family matters, you finally see that Harry is not quite the villain he tries to be, but more of a wounded man with a sad past, and of course everything works out for the best.

I like these books for some fun fast reading fluff, and am anxiously awaiting Leo and Beatrix's books.

If interested Book One is:
Mine Until Midnight (Amelia's Book)

And Book Two:
Seduce Me at Sunrise (Winifred's Book)

Books Read During Week One:

Vanishing Acts- Jodi Picoult

The Forgotten Garden- Kate Morton (READ THIS BOOK!)

Me & Emma- Elizabeth Flock (Couldn't finish it. Bored me to tears within the 1st 2 chapters)

Tempt Me At Twilight-Lisa Kleypas (3rd book in the series. Starting with Mine Until Midnight, then Seduce me at Sunrise)

Now reading

Anybody Out There- Marian Keyes

Week 1: Vanishing Acts- Jodi Picoult

I've never written a book review before and hope that I can get these 52 done properly. My first book was one with issues..with a capital I. Although I think my favorite sentence in this entire book, is also the first. To me it sets the mood for the book and reflects on so many things through out.

"I was six years old the first time I disappeared."

Cordelia (Delia) Hopkins is a 32 year old woman that does search and rescue with her bloodhound Greta. Her searches are almost always successful and tend to get her written up in the newspaper and online. Raised by her widowed father Andrew, Delia had a happy childhood and had vague memories of her mother, who as she was told, died in a car accident. She remembered her smelling of "apples and vanilla". They lived alone in Wexton, New Hampshire for as long as she could remember. Her father worked in and later ran a retirement facility and was a town councilman.

Her two neighbors growing up became her best friends and continue to be even after all of these years. Eric Talcott, her fiance, is the father of her pre-school daughter, Sophie, and Fitzwilliam MacMurray, (Fitz), formed the other part of their inseparable trio. Eric is now a lawyer, and Fitz a journalist. After talking with Fitz about things that are "Strange but True" Fitz mentions how Delia is extremely afraid of spiders, and says that maybe she was "Little Miss Muffet in a former life". She then tells him about a memory she has about a lemon tree, one she has never remembered before this. This single conversation ends up turning all of their worlds upside down.

"Vanishing Acts" is written in first person by Delia, Andrew, Eric, and Fitz. Each point of view offers insight into the story you wouldn't have gotten if it was written differently. I found for myself, it took me about three days to read about 50 some pages. I just wasn't getting into it. Not in the mood for the kind of book this is, One that makes you think. After sitting down and reading a few more chapters I finally got into it and finished it in one day. I would say if your a fan of hers and haven't read this yet..Definitely do so, and if your not a fan or have never read her stuff, give it a try.

So far October...

Books read so far this month...

House of Night Series: P.C. Cast

Marked

Betrayed

Chosen

Untamed

Hunted

(Pure Teenage drivel.. But there is this pretty wicked scene where the Main Shero get's seduced by her teacher and her just turned vampire boyfriend walks in on them during post coital bliss.)

Lucky Break- Carly Phillips

Covet- J.R. Ward

The Trouble with Valentines Day- Rachel Gibson

Of Bees and Mist- Erick Setiawan (Honestly I got about 50 pages into it.. Couldn't stop myself from falling asleep and stopped reading it. I was not going to torture myself with it. I believe... It sucked.)

I know there were more.. several more.. but my memory sucks. If I remember I'll add them.


I have waiting to be read:

Dear John- Nicholas Sparks
Note to Readers: I only got this book to read because I laughed so hard at the movie review on Pajiba. They warned that it sucked and i should have believed and left it at that. I started it yesterday afternoon and have yet to pick it back up. That should say something.)

The Forgotten Garden-Kate Morton

The Prince of Tides- Pat Conroy

I've already read TPOT, but it was years ago. I remember I loved the book, and as I was channel surfing with my husband the other day the Movie version was on TV. Made me want to read it again.

Waiting....

Waiting waiting waiting.

This sucks balls.

HA.

I got a few books from the library today and will commence my normal reading until CB:IMP begins. I promised Nicole lots of Penis and Sex..So lets hope I can keep that promise. Only every other week though. I don't want my glasses/contacts permanently steamed up.

But I guess that means that collections of Hustler, Penthouse, and Playboy won't be eligible because they have pictures and nowhere near 150 page.

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY

November 1st... Starting a Book review for Pajiba.Com Thanks to my awesome friend Nicole who will be running it.

52 books in 1 year = One book a week. This blog will be where my Reviews will be. I am not entirely sure all of the rules that Nic has set, but I will be reading her stuff carefully again soon. Personally, I don't read anything less than 150 pages so I should be good. I know she wants at least 3-4 paragraphs so you'll probably be seeing alot of yammering and bull shitting. But you'll get a review and the hint of whether or not I actually liked the book. I'll be doing New books along with books I have already read. If I feel the book is good enough for a re read I will post how many times I have actually read that particular book.

Take your time and read read read.

It's Orgasmic. I swear.