Highland Snows.

One of my favorite romance authors, Julia London, has a part in a new release, out today: Snowy Night with a Stranger. (Jane Feather and Sabrina Jeffries also contributed, actually I believe Jane Feather is the "lead" author in this one.) Julia London's part, Snowy Night with a Highlander, is a tie in with her upcoming novel Highland Scandal, which is part of her Scandal Series.

From Julia London's website:

From Jane Feather, Sabrina Jeffries and Julia London, a holiday collection of stories:
Amidst a snowstorm, a viscount is waylaid by a band of highwaymen—but it’s his heart that is robbed by a spirited beauty…A coach accident strands an heiress at the home of an embittered lord—will her festive spirit heal the Christmas Day tragedy that wounded his soul?...A debutante searches for her scandalized brother in the wintry Scottish wilds, guided by a rugged Highlander who masks his scarred face—will fury or passion ignite when he reveals his identity?...The journey to love is never more enticing than when Yuletide Travelers cross paths with unexpected strangers—and unpredictable passions!

Go here to read an excerpt from Julia London's contribution. :)

The Book of Scandal.

There is a new Julia London romance recently released (on the 19th of this month):

The Book of Scandal - the first in a series, and you can read about it here on her website. :)

I haven't picked it up yet, I'm hoping the library will get it soon because I can't afford it right now, so I don't know if it's good or not yet, but considering the fact that it's a Julia London, I think it'll be just fine. :)

Once A Knight.

Christina Dodd's Once A Knight proved to be a somewhat trying book to read. The editing for one, I think could have been better. Character development could have been better. I didn't really understand Lady Alisoun, and found her to be a very hard heroine to *get.* At some points in the book, with what went on, I found far-fetched and hard to get through, even for a romance novel.

From the back cover:

"Only a threat to her life can make strong-willed Lady Alisoun hire Sir David of Radcliffe to protect her castle. Although he had once been a hero and master swordsman, the good life has been a little too good to the warrior, and he has become as rusty as an old suit of armor. But he needs the money to support his motherless daughter, and Alisoun is in too much danger to haggle. Once he arrives at her grand estate, Sir David must use the wits and strength that made him a legendary mercenary when Alisoun's enemy draws too close for comfort. But after he saves her life, David will be shocked to discover that the fiery damsel has stolen his well-guarded heart."

This, sounded like a very promising good read. It did have it's good moments where I got a silent chuckle out of it but never a full blown laugh. I do not think David's heart was very well guarded at all, however - Lady Alisoun's very much was, and I found her much too proper, even when she and David were alone in the book. It is a wonder to me how he even fell in love with her in the first place. The whole thing with Philippa on Lady Alisoun's part was handled much dumbly for such a "clever" lady. I mean really, with her situation, I would not have had her so often out in the open. There were, thankfully, three very lovable characters; Bert - David's young daughter, 11 year old Eudo - who is introduced first in the story through his narrative which is throughout the book, who becomes David's squire, and David's horse - King Louis, were all very enjoyable to read... And I think, that is all I have to say about this semi-disappointing read.

I had never read Christina Dodd before, and I don't think I ever will again.

a shadow, indeed.

Well, I didn't get to finish reading A Shadow on Summer. (By Christy Brown.) I only got to chapter four and back it had to go to the library. Bleah. On Link+ books they only allow one renewal. I wish I would have checked into that earlier, but ah well. I shall get this book and the three others I didn't even get a chance to start on, again (very) soon.

I think I could have finished them if my dog (Brownie) didn't have to have surgery (two weeks ago) and then be watched afterwards. He was neutered and they found a hernia (no idea how to spell it, ugh) so he needed to be pampered and watched to make sure he didn't jump up any place high or run because he could have torn his stitches. Poor little guy, he had to have a cone on his head too. lol. It all comes off tomorrow though, so he can go back to being his normal grouchy doggie-self. Barking right in my face and hording all of the good chewies in my room so the other dogs can't have them.

Anyhoo, back to the library books! I think all of that slowed me down, so hopefully this weekend I can just sit and read and start concentrating on my challenge again. :) So yay. While at the library I looked for my current book which I will start later tonight: Once A Knight, by Christina Dodd. I was pretty close to being bummed because it wasn't in the section I thought it would be in, then as I was going to leave I remembered their "new arrivals" shelves, so I stopped over there, and there it was. Not checked out after all. :) The description of the book is on the humorous side so I hope I will enjoy this read.

switching romances.

uhm. oops. I was accidentally starting a series backwards, again! grr. with the same author. is this becoming a pattern for me? ugh. I hope not. :sigh: I should just check out her website better next time before I go book buying. yes.

so, since I wasn't that far in yet, I decided to just put it away (because I don't want to start backwards again), until I can get the other two books (most likely from the library), and switch to another romance series and author. heading from Scotland, to England and ton gossip, I'm reading Julia London's first book in The Rogues of Regent Street series: The Dangerous Gentleman. :) which is also a recent purchase from a few weeks ago.

got to love a romance.

you guessed it, I decided to go for a nice light fun read by one of my favorite authors in that genre: Jennifer Ashley. :) Highlander Ever After is one of my recent purchases, so I'm excited to get to it, instead of letting it sit on my shelf like the fate of many of my other books, whilst I become consumed by the library's reading material instead! :p

new books. yay.

I recently took a trip to Reno and purchased the following romance novels, because yes, I am addicted:

2 Jennifer Ashley's and 2 Julia London's. I just love them. the top 2, which are Jennifer Ashley's, are: Highlander Ever After, and Immortals: The Gathering. (which is book four in the Immortals series.) and the bottom 2 are Julia London's, which are: The Dangerous Gentleman, and The Ruthless Charmer. (which are books 1 & 2 of her Rogues of Regent Street series.) one of my book goals this year is to collect the remainders of those series'. I've accidentally started the Immortals series backwards though, lol. oops.

with the addition of those two Julia London books I bought earlier this week, I now have eight of her books. I simply adore her stories. really. :)

of Jennifer Ashley's books I only have those two, but I have already read two others. I discovered her about two years ago I think, when I was looking for pirate romances, I came across her pirate trilogy which I am really loving. I just have one book left of that to read before I've finished it, which I plan to do this year. :p

The Pirate Next Door.

I finished this book last week and I absolutely loved it. It made me laugh out loud a number of times which I always love about a book intended to do so. I loved all of the characters except of course the villains, with the exception of Mr. Henderson. I cannot wait to get to the next book in this trilogy, but it will have to wait while I catch up on my other library reading and until after I finish Tara Road, which I have not yet totally abandoned.

& Mr. Burchard: what a surprise. Glad to see *him* die and things in that part of the plot be explained a little more. I was not expecting his secret though! I love it when I find a book like this, and this definitely was a good one.

reading update...

time for a little reading update.. :)

I have put Tara Road aside to read some library books. I got one that has been "in transfer" for a while now so I was excited about that. I also came away from the library with two romance novels. I just couldn't help myself. :p

one is The Pirate Next Door by Jennifer Ashley, which I just could not wait to get to, so I am actually reading that one right now, first. (it's great so far, btw.) and the second is Lair of the Lion by Christine Feehan. I've never read anything by her or even heard of her for that matter, but the title and cover interested me along with the back cover description. I hope this will be a good choice, especially since I rarely read authors that aren't on my favorite list. so hopefully I have found either a new favorite, or at least a decent read.

so that's about all for now on what I'm currently reading. :)