Showing posts with label
2011 Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge.
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Showing posts with label
2011 Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge.
Show all posts
Title: A Daddy for Jacoby
Author: Christyne Butler (Christyne Butilier)
Publisher: Silhouette Special Edition #2089
Copyright Date: 2011
Print Date: January 2011
ISBN: 9780373655717
Pages: 216
Series: 3rd in the Welcome to Destiny miniseries
Book Description (from back cover):
SUDDENLY...A SON?
After doing time, Justin Dillon was a changed man determined to lead a decent life. Then a strange woman swept through town, dumping a seven-year-old in his lap, claiming Justin was the daddy and disappearing. Justin was only beginning to take baby steps toward betterment—was he ready to be a father?
Or ready for family, for that matter? Because at every turn, there was Gina Steele. The young woman had been so busy skipping grades and getting degrees, she’d never had time to live. But Justin would change all that—with just one kiss. Could this sheriff’s sister join forces with an ex-con to make a home for a lost little boy? Stranger things had happened in Destiny….
Comments:
Well, this one is going to be brief, but I don't have much to say. Simply...
This is the first book I've read by this author or from this mini-series, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters, especially little Jacoby. Each time the story was shown from his view point was a highlight.
The story was interesting, and the hints to previous stories in the series intriguing.
The only down point was the ending. Unfortunately, it was a little rushed. Like the author had this fully developed story, then realized she was about to run out of room.
Despite that, I would certainly be interested in reading more.
Title: At Long Last, a Bride
Author: Susan Crosby
Publisher: Silhouette Special Edition #2043
Copyright Date: 2010
Print Date: May 2010
ISBN: 9780373655250
Pages: 217
Series: 3rd in the McCoys of Chance City mini-series
Book Description (from back cover):
SHE WOULD GIVE UP ANYTHING FOR HIM...
Even though Dixie Callaghan had been in love with Joe McCoy since they were teenagers, she knew he'd never be happy living a small-town life, as her small-town husband. So she had to let him fly. Even if it meant flying away from her...
HE WOULD GIVE UP ANYTHING FOR HER...
For years, his and Dixie's had been a can't-live-with-her/can't-live-without-her existance. Well, no more! It was time for his now ex-fiancée to stand on her own two feet. Even if it meant she ws walking away from him.
So why are all roads leading back to Chance City? And into each other's arms...
Comments:
This was a quick, easy read. I chose it because the 'C' in Crosby fit my 2011 Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge. (I had others, but I'm trying to do them in order, and my primary option fits the next challenge read better.) I haven't read the first two McCoys of Chance City books, but that was okay.
I did like Dixie although she was sometimes a mixed-up mess. And Joe was likeable as well, though he managed to be a bit of an idiot at times, IMO. (He decides he's going to make it possible for Dixie to find the life she's dreamed of with some other guy. Honestly. Of course, I have the advantage of knowing this is a HEA romance. Plus there's the title. ::grin::)
I found it kind of interesting that they were finding their own lives without each other for so much of the book. Instead of constantly being in each other's presense... most of that happened in the past and prior to this book. But then, that was kind of the point, so...
Title: Cindy's Doctor Charming
Author: Teresa Southwick
Publisher: Silhouette Special Edition #2097
Copyright Date: 2011
Print Date: February 2011
ISBN: 9780373655793
Pages: 217
Series: 6th of the Men of Mercy Medical mini-series
Book Description (from back cover):
ONE HAPPY ENDING — STAT!
Neonatal specialist Nathan Steele thought he'd found happiness — until tragedy struck. A widower, he wasn't looking for a fairy-tale romance. Then he met a mysteriously familiar woman at a fundraiser who raced away, leaving behind a broken high-heeled shoe — and leaving him determined to know everything about her.
Hospital housekeeper Cindy Elliott refused to fall in love — especially with a wealthy doctor who seemed too charming to be true. But one kiss awakened a passion neither of them expected...and now Cindy was expecting the doctor's baby! Earning her trust sure wouldn't be easy, but Nathan was ready to do whatever it took to sweep Cindy off her feet — and carry her into happily ever after.
Comments:
So I found this book in the library book sale room. I bought it because it was new (used, but I bought it in Jan. and it's a Feb. book), the title met one of my challenges, and it looked interesting. So...
I didn't fall in love with the characters. They had potential. But then things started feeling forced and kind of unnatural. Instead of being right in there with the characters, I was watching from a distance.
I hate to sound negative, because the story was okay. A little twist on a Cinderella theme. But the characters make a story for me, and this one didn't have that.
Title: Snowbound
Author: Janice Kay Johnson
Publisher: Harlequin Super Romance
Copyright Date: 2007
2009 e-book edition
ISBN: 9781426830679
Pages: 277
Series: Super Romance # 1454
Book Description (from goodreads.com):
When a blizzard strands Fiona MacPherson and her students in Oregon's Cascade Mountains, their only hope of survival is to seek shelter at Thunder Mountain Lodge. Their host is John Fallon, a handsome, enigmatic war veteran haunted by secrets and scars that may never heal.
John Fallon never imagined he'd be playing host to this captivating teacher and her eight teenage charges. But when his solitude is shattered by their arrival, his world shifts on its axis. He needs Fiona — but does she need him? There's only one way to find out. The ex-soldier must find the courage to reach out to the remarkable woman who has transformed his life...
Comments:
I enjoyed this book. Too bad I didn't save it to read for a month later when I had a real blizzard outside, but oh, well. This was a nice preview of what was to come. Certainly better than my reality which consisted of lots of shoveling and waiting to see if I was going in for work during a state of emergency... sorry, a little off tanget there.
Anyway, I liked the characters in general — always a plus. And it's been a long time since I've read one of the Super Romance line, but this book reminded me of two things. 1) Super Romance means longer and fuller as far as Harlequins go, and 2) Super Romances can be great reads for cozying up with.
As far as I'm concerned this was a good choice as my 1st book for the 2011 E-book Challenge of the year and my 2nd book for the 2011 Harlequin/Silhouette Challenge (a weather condition in the title).
Title: Dakota Child
Author: Linda Ford
Publisher: Steeple Hill Inspirational Historical Romance (Love Inspired Historical)
Copyright Date: 2009
Print Date: December(?) 2010
ISBN: 9780373202737
Pages: 270 + "Questions for Discussion"
Book Description (from back cover):
Trapped in a North Dakota blizzard, single mother Vivian Halliday's prayer for herself and her child is answered. Rescue comes in the seemingly terrifying form of Billy Black, the hulk of a man feared by all the townsfolk. Yet in the home he shares with his ailing mother, the handsome, gentle giant warms her baby's bottles and sings sweet lullibies that lull even Vivian to peaceful sleep.
When the storm abates and it's safe to leave, will she seek the life that led her back to the villiage or stay where she's found an unexpected family for herself and her Dakota child?
Comments:
I recieved this as part of my "Holiday Package" from TellHarlequin. I don't read Inspirational fiction often anymore (there was a time when I read quite a lot of it), but I still enjoy the ocassional fix. =) Plus, the word Child in the title fit one of my challenges for 2011. Reading this would get me off to a great start, no?
I enjoyed the story. I thought the hero and baby were sweet, liked the setting in general, and didn't find it too preachy (Though I saw another reviewer did ... I'm thinking it's a matter of perspective. There are some VERY preachy books out there. Inspirational and otherwise. This one isn't preach free, but I personally didn't think there was a lot.)
Actually, probably the part that did bother me a little was the hero's mother. Or, rather, her history. She was abducted by Indians for 6 years while the hero was a young child. I won't go into much detail because I don't want to spoil the story. But I thought the Indians were too generic. They were the evil abductors, so I would have liked to have known at least known what tribe they were supposed to be from.
Overall I found this to be an easy read. As an added bonus, it has a blizzard through the first chunk of the story so it's a good cozying up type of book for this time of the year.
