Taming the Highlander - Terri Brisbin

I absolutely LOVED this book. What a great cast of characters and an emotional love story between two strong personalities. I am impressed how Terri Brisbin stayed true to the history of the times. This is the first time that I have read this author, and I am definitely coming back for more!

Jocelyn is the sharp-tongued, proud heroine of the story who clashes with the sexy, dangerous Connor known as The Beast of the Highlands. Written around life in the highlands, Taming the Highlander is a novel laced with danger, intense emotions, and sweet, passionate romance.

You can read my full review here.


Rating: 5/5
Pages: 304
Completed: 8/15/08

Lake News - Barbara Delinsky

I enjoyed Lake News by Barbara Delinsky, but it wasn't one of my favorites by her.

The book examines the complex emotions involved when the media invades a person's privacy and destroy's their life. It also looks at the complicated relationship between a man and a woman who are struggling to find a new purpose and a new life in a small town they once called home. Dynamic family relationships are also explored.

While it is a beautifully crafted story with believable characters and rich descriptions of the lake and life in a small town, I just didn't connect with the characters as well as I have in her other novels.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 514
Completed: 8/7/08

Book to Movie Challenge

Another day...another challenge. This one is being hosted by Callista and it is the Book to Movie Challenge.

The rules are simple: Choose 3 books that were made into movies. You can also include books that will be made into movies in the future (they've started work on them). It is not required that you watch the movie and compare it to the book. Although, that would be a great idea too.

She has created a link to a wonderful site that lists books that were made into movies. You can find that list here.

The challenge lasts from September 1 to December 1, 2008 (just 3 months).

Here is my list:

The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

This sounds like a great challenge and good luck to those that are participating!!!

Naming Conventions Challenge

I discovered a new book challenge hosted by Maria at Reading My Way Through Life. It is the Naming Conventions Challenge.

It starts on September 1st and lasts as long as your first name is (if your first name is 4 letters - then it lasts 4 months). You'll see why by reading further.

Write down your first name (or the name you go by). Then you choose which one you want to do (or you can do all three):

1. For each letter in your name - pick an author whose last name begins with that letter.

2. For each letter in your name - pick an author whose first name begins with that letter.

3. For each letter in your name - pick a book that starts with that letter.

Easy...right?? The books can be read in any order and at any time during the challenge...the books can only be used once - but the author can be repeated.

Here is my list:

I go by the name of Kara so...

K - Kurland, Lynn - Stardust of Yesterday 9/26/08; Review
A - Anderson, Catherine - Annie's Song 9/1/08; Review
R - Rice, Luann - Summer's Child 9/1/08; Review
A - Andersen, Susan - Cutting Loose 9/19/08; Review

and since I have 4 letters in my name, the challenge will last 4 months for me.

I am going to do the last name of the author first - then if I have time - I am going to do the other two choices.

Thanks Maria for hosting this challenge!!!

Here is the first name of authors...

K - Kresley Cole - If You Dare 2/18/09; Review
A - Amanda Ashley - Dead Sexy 2/12/09; Review
R - Robyn Carr - Virgin River 2/17/09; Review
A

6th Completed Challenge

WOW - another challenge completed. I really enjoyed this one and tried to make it a light, easy one for me. I met my goal of reading 7 books, most of them were novellas, but they were books that I had to read for other challenges.

1. Rules of Prey - John Sandford
2. Irish Thoroughbred - Nora Roberts
3. Irish Rose - Nora Roberts
4. Untamed - Nora Roberts
5. Sam's Letters to Jennifer - James Patterson
6. The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks
7. The Australian's Housekeeper Bride - Lindsay Armstrong

My original list of books with links to my thoughts on them can be found here.

MrsS over at Blue Achipelago decided it would be fun to answer a few wrap up questions.

1. Did you discover a new author?

Yes, I had never read anything by John Sandford before. I absolutely loved Rules of Prey. I also found out something interesting about another author - even though James Patterson is not a new to me author - I did read a book in a genre that I never knew he wrote - romance.

2. Where was the most unusual place you found yourself reading?

No place unusual this month. But I was up really really late trying to finish a couple of books.

3. Did you read more than usual?

No, 7 books is a good number for me when I am in school. I get a break in September, so I am hoping to increase that number and get back on track for my 100+ Books a Year challenge.

4. Did you give up anything in order to read more?

Yes, I gave up some study time - I should of had my nose in my school books and not my TBR stack. LOL.

5. If you won the Amazon voucher, what would you spend it on?

I would buy a few books off my wish list or get a couple of books for my kids to read.

6. Would you like to see a 2009 Book Blowout?

Yes, this challenge was great fun and I would definitely join another one.

Harlequin Presents - Lindsay Armstrong

The Australian's Housekeeper Bride was written by Lindsay Armstrong for Harlequin Presents. I read this book to fulfill the requirements for the Harlequin/Silhouette challenge. I love reading these books when I am having a rough day. I sit back in my recliner with a soothing cup of tea and get lost in a world of happily ever after.

Rhiannon runs a business where she organizes peoples' lives. Not only does billionaire Lee need to hire her to organize a party as well as his household, but he also wants her as his wife! After he sweeps her off her feet, Rhiannon agrees to the marriage. Soon, she realizes her husband has been keeping secrets...secrets that could destroy her trust in him.

This was a fun, quick read. The passion that sizzled between Rhiannon and Lee was intense. While this wasn't one of my favorite books by Lindsay Armstrong, it didn't disappoint!

Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 185
Completed: 7/30/08

The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks

What another totally awesome book by Nicholas Sparks. The Rescue is packed with tragedy, romance, forgiveness, and the day-to-day complexities of relationships. He embraces what it means to be a single parent of a disabled child.

According to his website - The Rescue was Sparks' first novel to reach No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. He also struggled with writer's block on this novel. I read the "behind the book" blurb and found that this was his "most personal novel and was, the most challenging to write."

I can't say enough about this wonderful book. You can read my full review here.

Rating: 4.5/5

Pages: 278

Completed: 7/28/08

Sam's Letters to Jennifer - James Patterson

What a great "true love" romance story!! I can't believe it was written by James Patterson - the James Patterson of the Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club series. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me wish for a love like that.

Jennifer is called back to her home town for a family crisis. There she finds a series of letters addressed to her. As she reads these letters, her life is forever changed and she experiences an extraordinary love that could ever possibly be imagined.

You can read my full review here.

I am using this for my Novella challenge even though it is about 10 pages over the requirement. The print was a little large, so reducing the font would make this fit nicely into that challenge.

Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 263
Completed: 7/21/08

Untamed - Nora Roberts

Untamed by Nora Roberts is another of her Silhouette Romances that she wrote in 1983. I am reading these for my Harlequin/Silhouette challenge.

Jovilette is a lion trainer with a traveling circus. Keane has just inherited this circus from his estranged father. When their paths cross, Jo has her claws bared ready to fight for what she loves most. She was certain Keane was there only to shut the circus down. However, she couldn't deny the attraction that sizzled between them.

This was another quick, light read. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did her Irish series, but I liked the background of the circus. It was fun to read about the behind the scenes happenings of a traveling circus. The tension between the two main characters was intense, and finding out what would tame Jo's heart was entertaining.

Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 218
Completed: 7/20/08

Irish Hearts - Nora Roberts

Irish Hearts celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Silhouette by featuring two of Nora Roberts sizzling romances. It contains Nora's first book written for Silhouette, Irish Thoroughbred and its sequel Irish Rose.

Romance lovers will enjoy these quick, light reads that contain rugged, handsome heros and strong, beautiful heroines. From the lush hills of Ireland to the beautiful thoroughbred horse farms in Virginia - this is enthralling storytelling at its best.

You can read my full reviews here.

Irish Thoroughbred
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 205
Completed: 7/12/08

Irish Rose
Rating 4/5
Pages: 292
Completed: 7/17/08

Rules of Prey - John Sandford

What a fantastic start to the Prey Series!! I absolutely love Lucas Davenport. He is a loner and a ladies man, he invents video games, drives a Porsche, and doesn't always play by the rules. Rules of Prey is a thrill ride from start to finish.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 368

Completed: 7/8/08

5th Completed Challenge!

I completed my fifth challenge - Here Be Dragons!! This was hosted by Love at Stray Talk. The requirements of the challenge were to read 3 to 5 books about dragons.

I loved this challenge because it introduced me to a wonderful dragon series by Shana Abe. I am sorry to see this challenge end as Dragons are one of my favorite shapeshifters.

Here is a list of the books I read:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling 2/8/08; Review
2. The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe 5/15/08; Review
3. The Dream Thief by Shana Abe 6/29/08; Review

Thanks, Love, for hosting such a great challenge!!!