Monday, November 23, 2009

Books Read

Visions in White- Nora Roberts (Re read)

Bed of Roses- Nora Roberts

The Finishing Touches- Hester Browne

Forgiven- Shelley Shepard Gray

Sunday, November 22, 2009

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.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Sorry for the Delay

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

Monday, November 9, 2009

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

Monday, November 2, 2009

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.