Cutting Loose - Susan Andersen

Title: Cutting Loose
Author: Susan Andersen
Published: 2008
Publisher: HQN
Pages: 379
Genre: Romance

I am trying to get caught up on a couple of reviews that I need to post. I want to start October off fresh and up-to-date.

This is a fun, quick, easy read. It is filled with humor, a great cast of characters, family issues, and a touch of mystery/suspense. Susan Andersen does a excellent job weaving a fun and romantic tale filled with witty dialogue and passion. I enjoyed this book immensely.

There was a little problem with editing...at one point the brother, Bren, had three sons...then some pages later...he had three daughters. Then there was the problem that I wanted to slap the main character, Jane, during the first part of the book...but then she her attitude settled down and I grew to like her.

You can view a trailer to her book here.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 3/5
Pages: 379
Completed: 9/19/08

8th Challenge Completed

This isn't really a reading challenge, but it has to do with reading blogs so I thought it could be included in my challenges.

The Bloghopping Challenge is just that...bloghopping. It is being hosted by Alpha Heroes and I am copying the rules from her post.

RULES:

1. Starting here, find a linked blog that you’ve never been to before. It does not have to be book-related. If none of the links in my sidebar are new to you, hit the BBAW list and start there.


2. Go to the blog you’ve chosen and browse through the posts until you find something you find interesting. Leave a comment. Mention where you found the link. Mention of this challenge is optional.


3. Using the links in THAT blog, repeat. If you find yourself somewhere that does not have any new-to-you links, go back to the BBAW list. Be sure to leave a comment in each location, mentioning where you found their site linked.


4. Repeat until you have visited 10 new blogs.


5. Write a post on your blog showing your bloghopping trail. Content is up to you; you can highlight your favorites, critique the sites, or just post the list of 10. I recommend you open up a word document (or whatever you use) and list out the urls as you go. It's really REALLY easy to get distracted doing this and lose track of where you were.


6. I’d love it if you link back to this post.


7. Optional: add your favorites to your own sidebar, or temporarily put up a blogroll widget with the 10 sites you visited.


8. Optional: Come back here and leave a link to your post in comments.

This sounds like a great idea and here is my blog trail....

Romance Rookie - chosen at random from the BBAW List. Not any links...so I read through some of her comments and chose a commenter to visit. I tried to leave a comment on one of her posts, but it wouldn't allow me to post it. Hopping over to...

Natuschan - books, books and more books - She is another romance reader (I love this genre) and I look forward to reading more of her posts. Hopping over to...

Dev's Good Reads - From looking at her sidebar - she has listed a lot of authors that I enjoy. I even found a couple of books to add to my TBR . Hopping over to...

Nose in a Book - Another romance blog (are you catching a theme here??? LOL) Hopping over to...

The Book Smugglers - Awesome reviews on Lisa Kleypas books (it is Lisa Kleypas week over there). Ana and Thea write fantastic reviews and I can't wait to read more of them! Hopping over to...

Scooper Speaks - Reviews on nonfiction, historical romance, paranormal, and contemporary. Hopping over to...

Shape Shifter Romance - I think the name speaks for itself! Unfortunately, no links :( So, hopping back to the BBAW list.

Book Junkie Melissa - She's a reviewer at a couple of sites but wanted her own review blog. From what I see...she reviews romance and mystery. I have been to all her blog links...so I have to go back to the BBAW list and try again.

Amy's Corner of the World - Loved this little blog - and the fact that she is from Ohio!! Go Buckeyes! Hopping over to...

Rip My Bodice - Need I say more!!!

Well, that concludes my trip around the blog world - came across a lot of sites that I added to my Google Reader!!!

Thank you Alpha Heroes for hosting such a fantastic challenge!!!

Fall Into Reading 2008

COMPLETED 12/20/09

Katrina over a Callapidder Days is hosting another Fall Into Reading challenge.

The rules are simple...make a list of all the books you would like to read this fall. That's it...nothing to it!! The challenge runs from Sept. 22 - Dec. 20, 2008. Go to her post on the challenge (link above) to sign up on Mister Linky after you have created your list on your blog. If you don't have a blog - you can post your list in her comments.

Without further ado...here is my list:

1. Purchased: His Perfect Wife - Helen Bianchin 10/14/08
2. The Healer - Sharon Sala 10/20/08 Review
3. Summer Light - Luanne Rice 10/27/08; Review
4. Line of Scrimmage - Marie Force 10/5/08; Review
5. Out of the Mist - Joann Ross 11/3/08
6. Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband - Melissa Mayhue 12/7/08; Review
7. Call of the Highland Moon - Kendra Leigh Castle 11/25/08; Review
8. My Lord's Desire - Margaret Moore 11/30/08; Review
9. Night's Kiss - Amanda Ashley 11/6/08; Review
10. Deep in the Heart - Sharon Sala 11/27/08; Review
11. The Lady Flees Her Lord - Michele Ann Young 11/20/08; Review
12. Stardust of Yesterday - Lynn Kurland 9/26/08; Review
13. A Babe in Ghostland - Lisa Cach 10/7/08; Review
14. Only By His Touch - Catherine Anderson 11/18/08; Review
    

These are mostly books to finish up some other challenges I am participating in. I will add more if my reading goes faster than expected!

A Man to Call My Own - Johanna Lindsey

Title: A Man to Call My Own
Author: Johanna Lindsey
Published: 2003
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 344
Genre: Historical Romance

This is a historical romance set in the 1870's on a ranch in Texas. It is a book about good twin/bad twin and which one ends up with the rugged, masculine cowboy.

I enjoyed this book - it was a quick and easy read. There were a couple of things that weren't quite realistic, but I enjoyed the tension between Marian and Chad; the suspense as to which twin would end up with Chad; and the twist at the end about the girls' inheritance.

You can read my full review here.


Rating: 3/5
Pages: 344
Completed: 9/21/08

Summer's Child - Luanne Rice

In Connecticut, a pregnant daughter vanishes; a police detective sacrifices much of his life, his marriage, and his career in her search. In Nova Scotia, two women live who are fleeing from their past - each with a daughter of their own. Lily runs a needlepoint shop and spends all of her time taking care of her daughter, Rose, who suffers from a debilitating heart disease. Marisa is hiding from her past with her daughter who becomes best friends with Rose.

Liam is a man who, in his youth, lost both his arm and his brother. He commits himself to Lily even though she is too consumed with her past to allow anyone in her life. Summer's Child is a "powerful novel with a mystery, a love affair, and a bond that cannot be broken - set in a seaside town where miracles are made..."

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 391
Completed: 9/12/08

Highland Destiny - Hannah Howell

This is the first time that I have read anything written by Hannah Howell, but it sure won't be the last. Even though you don't have to read her Highland series in order, I wanted to start with the first one that introduces the Murray clan.

Highland Destiny is Balfour's story. I love romance stories that have strong heroines. Maldie is faced with problems and she jumps in and takes charge. The hero in this story has a few insecurities that makes him seem all the more real. The secondary characters add a wonderful dimension to the story.

The Scottish dialect is hard to read in the beginning, but contrary to what other people have said about it - I thought it added truth to the story. After a couple of chapters it became easier to read and understand. I don't think it took away from the story at all.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 4/5
Pages: 303
Completed: 9/11/08

Delicious - Susan Mallery

Book 1 of the Buchanan Series by Susan Mallery was a light, fun, enjoyable read. The characters in the book are real, wonderful, quirky, and humanly flawed. The story sets the stage by introducing the Buchanan siblings and their evil grandmother. However, the theme of the story centers around Cal (the oldest sibling) and Penny, his ex-wife.

It is a story about second chances...choices...and taking a stand. I enjoyed this one so much that I read it in one day and am looking forward to continuing the series.

You can read my full review here.


Rating: 3.75/5
Pages: 363
Completed: 9/9/08

Annie's Song - Catherine Anderson

Catherine Anderson is a new author to me, and I picked the perfect first book of hers to read. Annie's Song is a tender and poignant romance dealing with prejudices about disabilities, abuse, and hope. The heroine is given a chance to spread her wings and fly.

This is the first time I have read a Historical Romance in a long time. It has piqued my interest in them once again.

Alex is the perfect hero, patient, understanding, and determined to hear Annie's "song."

I love romances like this...a heroine that has to overcome great odds and hero that is there, helping her along the way (not overpowering her).

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 4/5
Pages: 410
Completed: 9/1/08