Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Book: Chasing Fire

Author: Nora Roberts

Bookshelves: 2011, action, America, fiction, Montana, romance

Begun: October 8, 2011

Finished: October 10, 2011

Media Type: book on CD (copied onto iPod Touch) (library copy)

Setting: Missoula, Montana (USA)

Characters: Rowan Tripp, Gulliver (Gull) Curry, Lucas (Ironman) Tripp, Dolly

Review: The book opens six months after the death of Rowan’s jump partner, Jim. Jim was caught in the wind during a fire jump and was pulled into a forest fire that Jim and Rowan were flown into “jump” and fight.

Still haunted by nightmares, Rowan is uncertain that she will be able to handle the new fire season. New recruits and old vets come together in Montana to make up the “Zulies” who are elite firefighters who jump from plans into the middle of fires.

But, trouble stats when a former lover of Jim’s shows up asking for her job back as a cook on the line. Dolly, comes back to camp with a baby, who she claims is Jim’s, and a vendetta against Rowan, who she tells anyone who will listen that Rowan is a slut, was sleeping with Jim, and who she blames for Rowan’s death.

Gulliver (Gull) is a rookie jumper but is already known for his skills and prowess as a former Hot Shot in California and as the man who broke the base’s running record for speed. Gull is taken with Rowan (known as the Swede) with her ice princess beauty and jumper skills. As the daughter of Ironman (a base legend), Rowan is a tough cookie.

Gull gets through the tough exterior and into the Rowan that Rowan is hiding.

Attacks around the base begin with Rowan walking in on Dolly splashing pig’s blood on her bed, clothes, and walls. Then, Dolly disappears and her body is found in the woods, burned after a forest fire is extinguished. A second body in the woods and a sharp shooter trying to take down Gull and Rowan on base are just icing on the cake.

A killer is on the loose at the height of the dangerous summer months where fire rages in the forrest and in the bedroom. Who will get burned?

How to Abduct a Highland Lord (MacLean series #1)

Book: How To Abduct a Highland Lord (MacLean Curse series #1)

Author: Karen Hawkins

Bookshelves: 1800s, 2011, England, fiction, historical romance, London, Scotland, romance,

Begun: July 27, 2011

Finished: July 28, 2011

Media Type: paperback (library copy)

Setting: 1800s Scotland highlands and 1800s London, England

Characters: Fiona MacLean, “Black” Jack Kincaid

Review: The Curse, handed down from generation to generation of MacLeans, has struck again, killing the youngest of the MacLean brothers. To stop the curse from killing anymore of her brothers (and it is assumed, her also), Fiona will marry “Black” Jack Kincaid, brother of the man who killed her younger brother. Even though Jack is estranged from his family, Fiona knows that the Kincaids won’t go after her brothers (or the MacLeans won’t go after the Kincaids either) now that they are family.

But how to get Jack to marry her? They had a love affair years ago and Fiona has never loved anyone since Jack. Finding him face down in a puddle in the road, Fiona takes advantage of her luck and drags Jack to the altar, lying to a priest telling him that she was pregnant with Jack’s baby.

Now married, Jack drags Fiona to London to his house in town. He refuses to give up his drinking, gambling and carousing ways. His one concession is giving up the extra women in his life, like the married noblewoman who doesn’t want to give him up.

When accidents start to happen all around Fiona and the MacLean brothers come to London will Jack survive the MacLean curse? And what will happen to his heart?

Awards: none

Recommended by: I don’t remember

Recommend to: Anyone who likes Lynsay Sands’, Kresley Cole’s, and Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley McGreggor’s historical romances

Quick Review: Trapping A Dutchess

Trapping a Duchess by Michele Bekemeyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute and witty romp around Regency era London where the Ton dragons are all a twitter when the lovely Sophie and her ex-finance (who she left standing at the altar 7 years ago) begin to make the circuit of parties.

Simon, Sophie's brother, has given her an ultimatum: Marry by the end of the season or he would see her put out to the country with no more town fun. Sophie will have none of that. But she also won't be forced into a marriage where she will be dominated like her mother was (by her father).

Will Sophie run again? Possibly!

Nice read. Nothing too deep or too superficial!

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Dark Viking (Viking II series #10)

Book: Dark Viking (Viking II series #10)

Author: Sandra Hill

Bookshelves: 2011, fantasy, fiction, historical romance, romance, Sandra Hill, time traveler, Vikings, Vikings II series

Begun: February 16, 2011

Finished: February 21, 2011

Media Type: book (paperback)

Setting: present day Coronado, California (USA) and 10th century Norstead (Norway)

Characters: Rita Sawyer, Steven of Norstead, Lady Thora, Sigge, and Oslac

Review: Rita Sawyer, experience and sought after stunt woman in Hollywood, is approached by two of the Navy SEALs’ finest and is encouraged to join the ranks of a newly formed class of WEALS (Women on Earth, Air, Land and Sea – the female equivalent of the SEALs. She readily accepts when she learns of the sign on bonus that will allow her to pay off her mother’s daunting medical bills (that piled up before her death).

Rita is on a training mission in California one day when her boat (and her world) is turned upside down with a knock on her head. She awakens to 10^th century Norstead and Steven and his friend Oslac calling her a mermaid. They bring her back to the keep and cage her (basically because they think she is a sea beastie and then accuse her of being a spy of one of the pirates in the area).

Steven leaves Norstead for some time and Rita breaks free of her cage. She meets up with Sigge who her aunts have sent to help Rita. Her aunts … the witches … who brought Rita back to Norstead to bring Steven out of his funk.

The usual happens. Rita brightens up Stevens’s day. Steven falls for her. They have sex. She gets pregnant and tries to go back to her time because she thinks Steven will leave her for his betrothed.

While I generally love Sandra Hill, I just didn’t find this book as exciting as others she’s written. Maybe it’s time to stop writing the Viking I and Viking II series for a while and come back to them later? Not a bad read. Just not her best.

Awards: none

Recommended by: personal find

Recommend to: Nora Roberts’ fans, romance fans, time travel fans, historical romance fans, history fans

The Switch

The Switch by Lynsay Sands


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Beth and Charlie are caught red handed. Or red ... dressed. Trying the sneak out the window of an inn that they and their uncle are staying at, Lord Jeremy William Radcliff comes upon them and berates them for trying to leave the inn without paying. Charlie is dressed as a boy even though she is a girl.

The pair (identical twins) explain that they are running away from their uncle (who is their guardian) because he is marrying one of them off to a brutal man who only wants to sire a son and is suspected of already killing two of his wives.

Lord Radcliff immediately takes the pair under his wings, traveling with them to London. Here's the problem. Because he is under the impression that Charlie is a boy, Charlie has to sleep with him (in the same bed) at the first inn they stay at.

Radcliff is perplexed. He loves women, in all shapes and forms and in all quantities. But suddenly, he is feeling more than friendship for the little slip of a boy, Charlie. So he takes him to a brothel (a disaster) and then a gambling parlor (where Charlie wins a boatload of money). But even as Radcliff tries to make a man out of the boy, he's feeling more and more "unnatural" emotions for him.

Throughout the book, Charlie and Beth switch back and forth between who is playing the boy and no matter who is which gender for the day, Radcliff seems attracted to Charlie (whether she is dressed as a boy or a girl).

This book is ok. Amusing at times but nothing to drop other books and start this one over.

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Always

Always by Lynsay Sands


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Rosamunde is the bastard daughter of the king of England. Training to become a nun, she has lived at the convent with the sisters for her entire life. That is, until her father shows up with a terrific specimen of the male physique (or what she assumes is a great example since she really has never met such a man or warrior before) and tells her that she is to marry.

Rosamunde is one day away from taking her vows as a nun when Aric shows up, marries her and consummates the marriage. She's bewildered by the man and what it means to be his wife.

King Henry insisted Aric marry his beautiful daughter, the product of the one woman, albeit a mistress, that he had loved. He knew that someone was out to kill him and possibly all those he loved to take the throne from him. What he didn't know was how soon it would happen.

Rosamunde and Aric go to the estate that King Henry gave the pair as a wedding tribute and begin to set things in order when the Bishop of Shrewsbury shows up with news that the king is dead.

Throughout the novel, we get a glimpse into Rosamunde and Aric's characters. Aric was cuckolded by a former woman with whom he was betroved. He fears that Rosamunde will cheat on him too ... in the exact same fashion ... in the stables with a stable boy or master. The problem is that although Rosamunde was never educated in how to care for a household, she is a wunderkind when it comes to animals, husbandry and veterinary care. So when Aric forbids her from attending the animals any longer, Rosamunde is lost.

Always is not one of Lynsay Sands's best. It's actually pretty much one of the ones I would catagorize as her worst. But as always with Lynsay Sands, because everything she writes is pretty awesome, Always is still up there in comparison with other novels.

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2000 Kisses (SEAL/Code Name series #1)

2000 Kisses by Christina Skye


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It's the new millennium and EVERYONE'S worried about Y2K taking down the computers and the ATMs and THE WORLD! (sorry, I think this is hysterical and I did back in 2000 too when everyone thought it was going the be the end of the modern world as we knew it!)

Tess O'Mara's a modern woman with modern wants. She the head of ... well ... she's a PR guru. I don't know how else to describe her. She's the shit when it comes to her stuff though. And she's just sold out every port of the cruise ship that she was working on the campaign for. She makes everything she touches gold. And her boss is giving her a bonus ...

Then comes Jan. 1, 2000.

Tess decides to check her ATM account and withdraw some funds. But to her surprise (a very pleasant surprise) there are 1,000,000 reasons she needs to go on a shopping trip. A new hairstyle, a leather jacket, some clothes and a baby blue convertible later, Tess calls her brother in Washington to ask about the strange amount of money she's received after the bank can't track where the credit to her account came from.

Turns out something very illegal is going on and Tess has been caught up in the middle of it because of a Y2K glitch. Her brother wants her some place safe where an old friend will watch over her.

That place is Almost, Arizona (aka East-Cupcake-ville). And the friend that is going to be watching over Tess is ... well, think Mel Gibson in the late 80s/early 90s.

T.J. McCall is hot ... and tired ... and sick of trouble. That's why the ex-Secret Service agent is now the sheriff of the town out in the middle of no where, but after an old friend, Andy O'Mara, calls him asking for help with his baby sister, T.J. knows he's in for it.

The tension between these two sizzles and sparkles. My only problem with the book was that at times Tess seems to have these "spells" where she is halucinating that she is in the old West (I'm talking back when the Native Americans ran the place and the whitemen hadn't even been seen on the shore of New England, yet). Then all of a sudden ... nothing. They go away. She can't explain it ... no one can. They don't even bring it up again. That was a little bit of a problem to be but all in all, this was a good start to the Seal/Code Name series.

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A Mother's Way

A Mother's Way Romance Anthology by Lisa Cach


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I only read Lynsay Sands's addition to this anthology. It was decent for an anthology. A quick read. Less than an hour total for Lynsay Sands's story.

Hers is set in medieval England where a Lord is told by the King that he must marry in the next two weeks and have produced offspring by the following summer's end. So, his mother decides to help him by having the daughter of friend sort through all the eligible women at court.

The problem starts when he finds himself falling for the daughter that his mother has said is off limits.

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Love Is Blind

Love Is Blind by Lynsay Sands


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Love Is Blind is not one of Lynsay Sands's best. Some of her "historical romances," which all seem to be set in England in the medieval days or in time of Regency London, seem to me to be written early in her career when she has yet to find her voice or humor. It's this humor that draws most readers back to her.

Lady Clarissa has maimed, set on fire, burned with scalding water and stomped upon the feet of most of the ton. But it's not her fault, her step-mother Lydia won't let her have her glasses. She says that no one will want to marry an ugly girl who wears glasses. But Clarissa can't imagine anyone wanting to marry a girl who seems out to kill them with her ineptitude!

At the first ball he's attended in ten years, Adrian Monfort notices Lady Clarissa and, with her aunt wandered off to find a bit to eat, he takes her dancing across the floor telling her to close her eyes and allow him to lead. Clarissa seems a natural at dancing with Adrian's help.

Amusing little asides happen. There is a dead plot against Clarissa and then everything ties up at the end. Not something I'd pull off the shelf again but not a horrible read nonetheless.

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The Reluctant Reformer

The Reluctant Reformer by Lynsay Sands


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Maggie is just doing her job. She's a journalist. Well ... she has been ever since her brother died and left her the pen name of G.W. Clark.

Maggie's latest article is a piece on the working girls of one of London's houses of ill repute. Maggie is interviewing one girl when a client of that girl comes in. It's Maggie's beau and the local pastor. In an attempt to get Maggie out of the room (and the wardrobe she's hidden in), the girl changes dresses with Maggie and gives her a mask. Maggie sets off on the outside ledge of the building and hops into the next window she comes across.

There she is accosted by a stranger, bound up in his cape and stolen away from the brothel.

James has rescued Maggie at last. After having her followed for days, he has discovered that she is Lady X (a well-to-do Lady about the ton who has fallen on hard times). Now he must save her from herself. He had, after all, promised her ding brother (his companion in war) to watch over the chit.

But what will happen when they get back to his home in the country? And what will Maggie think of him when she realizes who he thinks she is? Will Lord James ever find out if she is in fact Lady X?

And who's trying to kill Maggie!?!

Not one of Lynsay Sands's best books (it seems I do not appreciate her Regency London novels as much as other people) but it's a good read. I would have finished it fast (it took me a week) but I had bronchitis and a sinus infection and I wasn't into reading ... I was into sleeping.

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Frankly, My Dear ... (Creole Historical series #1)

Frankly, My Dear by Sandra Hill

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of Sandra Hill's better novels (not that any of them are terrible ... this one just stands out).

Selene is starving. Literally. She's a model. One of America's most beautiful people and she hates her life. Capivated by Gone With The Wind since she was little, she's spent her life looking for her Rhett. Then at one photo shoot, she passes out only to awaken in Louisiana ... in the 1830s.

Mistaken for a light skinned slave, Selena finds her hero in James and his unconventional life. Who needs who more? A former model who can't stop eating? Or the dour sugar plantation owner who would rather free his slaves than deal with his screwed up family?

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Book: Hot & Heavy (Viking II series #5)

Hot & Heavy by Sandra Hill

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I've gotta say. I think that this book, so far, is my absolute favorite of Sandra Hill's books. It reads fast and beautifully. The emotion, the love, the sex, are all there and in the perfect quantity. The plot is believable and well executed.

Ian MacLean is as hardassed as they come. Leader of a SEAL team, Ian takes it in spades when something dangerous has to be done, like entering a cave in enemy territory. But what he finds there will knock his socks off.

Madrene Ogladottir is the last of her family alive. Alone he defended her homestead of Norsestead until Steinhold took her prisoner and threatened to kill off all of her holders. He sells her into the harems of the Arab lands when she refuses to wed him. One day, two years later, she finds herself in a horrible sandstorm one minute and a cave shelter the next.


Ian wanders upon a woman, smelling to high heaven and looking like Phyllis Dyller. What is she doing in the middle of the desert? And why does Ian feel like he knows her already?

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Book: Down & Dirty (Vikings II series #7)

Down and Dirty by Sandra Hill

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
WHOOO HOOO. Finally. My name.

You don't understand if you have a name like Susan or Katie or any other name that is common place. But my name is Britta.

I've never had magnets that I could buy or pencils with my name on it ... or key chains or cups ... my name isn't a "normal" name. Sure, I bought the Brittany magnet once and cut off the "ny" but that's not the same (althought this did make me happy at the time).

BRITTA Asadottir is a strong woman ... very very strong. And when she's pulled from her home in 1000 Norseland to 2000 California (on a Navy WEALS training course no less) she finds out what she's made of. Reaquiainting herself with Zack-hairy, the man who followed her around like a love sick puppy when the SEALs team was transported back to Norseland in Max's book, Britta wonders if all she will ever be is a warrior.

Holy hell. Could life get worse for Zachary "Pretty Boy" Floyd? His five year old son, who he stole from under a terrorist's nose in Afganistan, is running him ragged and now Britta ... BRITTA is here. And he's chasing her ... Zachary doesn't chase women ... they chase him. What is wrong with this picture?

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Book: A Highlander of Her Own (Daughters of the Glen Series #4)

A Highlander of Her Own by Melissa Mayhue

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I waited a long time to get this book from the library and I was not disappointed.

As often happens to the poor women of the decedents of a Fae prince named Pol, Ellie Denton was just living her life until she was thrown around by magic conferred on her suddenly. Ellie is wisked away from present day Texas to 14th century Scotland.

She finds herself at the mercy of the MacAlister clan. The very same clan from all the other books. Here comes Caden MacAlister, the once jilted bethrothed of Alycie (now a nunon the island of Iona). Turns out there is treachery afoot and Caden wants nothing to do with Ellie.

Ellie wants nothing to do with him either. Well ... maybe not nothing. Maybe a little something. Something like love?

A great and heartfelt romance that travels into the emotional underbelly of Caden and Ellie's love. Not high on the "sex-scene" meter (2 total) but the writing more than makes up for the blatant sexuality.

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The Bewitched Viking (Viking I Series #4)

The Bewitched Viking by Sandra Hill

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another great book by Sandra Hill.

Tykir just wants people to leave him alone so he can harvest amber and return to his home of Dragonstead in the Norse country.

Alinor just wants her idiot brothers to leave her alone so she can continue to raise the sheep that make her the finest wool in all of Northumbria.

But there is always a hitch. When Alinor "curses" a certain king's "manroot" to fall off and then said king gets a kink in his ... "manroot" ... well said King thinks that Alinor is a witch. He sends a messenger out to get Tykir and asks him to find the witch and bring her back to him.

Tykir doesn't want to ... but then the messenger lets poor Tykir know that the king is holding Adam (his adopted nephew) as a friendly hostage. What's a good Viking to do?

Go out and kidnap the witch that is ... problem? Alinor is NOT a witch.

Hilarity ensues.

A great read. Not as good as some of Hill others but this was an early novel in her series (Viking I). They all seem to get better in time.

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Book: Return of the Warrior (MacAllister Series #7)

Return of the Warrior by Kinley MacGregor

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Two souls both desperate for a family cling together in the hopes for salvation. Can they save themselves? Can they save each other? Can they save the kingdoms each is supposed to rule?

Queen Adara has ruled without her husband since she was seven. Waiting for her beloved was her only goal but the power hungry steward of the neighboring country is pressuring her to denounce her husband as dead. Instead, Adara wishes to find the man she has always loved and bring him home so he can finally help her rule her country ... and his own.


Pushed away from his homeland, Christian de Acre lost his parents at a young age, was imprisioned in a monastary, had said monastary burned to the ground, and was imprisioned in Outremer. How much more can one man take? How about a woman he vague remembers turning up declaring them to be man and wife?


Slowly, their love grows and the two head back to take on the usper to both of their throwns.

Again, MacGreggor/Kenyon does a fantastic job of tapping into the basis of human emotions. Great read.

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Book: A Dark Champion (MacAllister Series #6)

A Dark Champion by Kinley MacGregor

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kinley MacGregor does another bang up job with this historical romance.

A knight in shining armor set to steal your heart and flood your senses. Who could ask for more? Rowena de Vitry, that's who. A woman ahead of her time stuck in King Henry II's England, all she wants is to share her gift of music with those around her.

In strides (no pun intended) Stryder, Earl of Blackmoor. Every woman wants him. Every man wants to be him. His problem? Forgetting his past in Outremer.

Fate throws these two passionate souls together as they fight for each others' lives and hearts.

A spectacular novel in the MacAllister/the Brotherhood series.

Stryder often mentioned Simon and his wife Kenna ... I feel like I might have missed a book in this series. I always wanted to know what would happen to poor Simon. I'll have to get on that one!

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Book: Born In Sin (MacAllister Series #3)

Born in Sin by Kinley MacGregor

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another fantastic addition the Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor's MacAllister series.

Saved from the harsh life of slavery and killing he was sold into, Sin is the trusted advisor and sometimes friend of King Henry of England. Allowing no man nor family to claim him, Sin deals with his demons (and being called a demon as well as the devil himself and a baby eater) on a daily basis.

Much to his chagrin, Henry orders Sin to marry a woman who is the oldest daughter of the former (now dead) Laird of the clan MacNeeley. Sin wants nothing to do with her. He wants nothing to do with the homeland (Scotland) who shut her door to him. Sin hates ALL things Scottish.

Who is this red haired vixen? Caledonia. So Scottish, her name is the Gaelic word for Scotland.

What is a man like Sin to do? And what happens when he starts to fall for the little minx?

All around a good addition to the series. This book allows you to see all the brothers, their dead father, and Sin's step-mother (the rest of the boy's biological mother) in a different light.

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Book: Claiming the Highlander (MacAllister Series #2)

Claiming the Highlander by Kinley MacGregor

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
All it took was one fickle woman to ruin the lives of most of the members of two clans in the Highlands of Scotland. Clansmen from both families are still paying the price to this day (seven years later) and Maggie ingen Blar is sick of buring her family over this stupid feud. Using her brains she rallies the women of both clans to hide in the kirk (church) on her family's land and in the castle of the MacDonald's land. Suffering from loneliness, bad hygenie, and horrendous cooking, the men of the clans realize that Maggie is a pain in the butt and her influence has to be removed from their women's presence.

Their best idea? Send in Braden MacAllister, playboy extradinaire.

Problem? Maggie has been in love with Braden since she was a child of ten. How is she going to end the feud, save the laird AND her heart in one fell swoop?

Deep and emotionally, I enjoyed Kenyon/MacGregor's tone and the speed at which the plot moved. As always Kenyon/MacGregor probes the emotions behind the characters and doesn't leave you with a flat 2D picture of anyone. We can see their souls through her words.


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Book: Master of Desire (MacAllister Series #1)

Master of Desire by Kinley MacGregor

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars

A historical romance set in the England during the reign of Henry II. Draven, Earl of Ravenwood, is forced by his sovereign to take in the youngest daughter of his sworn enemy in an attempt to bring some truce between the two feuding households. This works for sometime as Emily and Draven get close. She is determined he will be her husband and he has made an oath to the King to return her to her father in one years time in the exact same way he left her. Old wounds and psychological trama come up for Draven leaving Emily's feelings battered but not bruised. Can she win him?

Overall, a good read. Not one of the best from Kenyon but a very good start to the MacAllister Series. The one part I didn't appreciate was that she threw in Sin's name close to the end in a very off-handedly way. If I hadn't already read some of the MacAllister series book already, I would have had no idea what she was talking about. Literally, it says Sin did something with Draven ... nothing is explained about who Sin is ... or why he was there. Like I said, I knew who Sin was but didn't expect him to show up in this book.

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