Unfinished-Sweet Sarah Ross by Julie Tetel

Read for:
Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge

Synopsis:
THEIR MUTUAL ATTRACTION WAS INFINITELY TEMPTING AND UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE!
Sarah knew that a proper Baltimore miss shouldn't even glance at a man who had lost all his clothes, but the barefaced truth was that this man appeared to be the only thing standing between her and disaster. 
Sarah Ross Harris was a beautiful idiot, Wes Powell reasoned. Who else would argue with a buck-naked stranger while fleeing an Indian attack? How on earth would the two of them ever survive the dangers that lay ahead, let alone the fire that burned between them?

My review:
there's  name's for women like the "heroine"- selfish, self centered, bratty, and bitchy. When I finally had to add "c@ck tease" to that list of names, I couldn't take anymore. The "hero" was no better-constantly calling the heroine an idiot and was a notorious womanizer. Who would have known from the pretty cover that we'd have two such unlikeable characters? I kept hoping for some redeeming qualities to emerge, but finally gave it up three fourths through.  Not recommended.

A Dark And Stormy Night by Anne Stuart

Read For:
ROR Summer Challenge
Harlequin Challenge
RYOB Challenge


Synopsis:
The man had secrets...

Blindsided by a hurricane, Katie Flynn was seeking shelter from the storm -- but all she found was a moody, broody recluse named O'Neal. Trapped with him in his house on a windswept cliff overlooking the wildly tossed sea, Katie tried to fight the feelings O'Neal awakened in her -- both of sensuality and fear. She began to suspect that something haunted the tall, gray-eyed man's domain, something more than the wicked servants or family ghosts... something strange that only O'Neal himself could reveal.


My Review:
Pretty good series/paranormal Romance by an old favorite. Loved the Irish and supernatural aspect of the story. 3.5 stars.

The Garden of The Azure Dragon by Ann Hulme

The Garden of The Azure Dragon
Ann Hulme (AKA Ann Granger)
Harlequin Historicals  first series #10
1986, 254 pages
Read For:
Royal Romance Reading Challenge
RYOB Challenge
Harlequin/Silhouette Challenge

Synopsis:
"Who wants to be stuck for life with a virago like you?"

But it wasn't to seek a husband that Zoe Hammond had come to China in the summer of 1910. It was to work--to forget men forever. That was her intention--till she met Quentin Farrell.

The English trader was rude, overbearing, and worse, a drunkard and a libertine. He could mean nothing to Zoe Hammond.

The chaos of revolution crept ever closer mirroring the turmoil in her heart. At last Zoe had nowhere to turn--nowhere but Quentin Farrell!


My Review:

The Garden of The Azure Dragon is very much a "old school" historical romance-the hero is way alpha male, the heroine, though a educated teacher, is a bit flighty, and "too stupid to live" at times, and the author uses some pejorative language about Chinese workers that some may find offensive. That being said, if you can overlook those faults, overall, Garden of The Azure Dragon is a interesting, exciting Historical Romance set in an infrequently used era and country for Romance (Edwardian era China).

Lots of interaction between the H/H, though mainly kissing, arguing and the hero, a gritty ex-soldier, "manhandling" the heroine, though never actually striking her. Sadly, this was "common" in 1980's historical romances.
A large part of the story takes place on the hero/heroine on a boat heading deep into China, and the characters/story has a kind of "African Queen" vibe to it, as the heroine acts somewhat tightly laced as Hepburn, and the hero is certainly as crusty as Bogart was.

The author obviously researched China quite a bit and I even learned a thing or two about it's culture, especially about the awful practice of binding womans feet.

Ironically, after reading this, then researching the author, I found out that Ann Hulme was author Ann Granger's pseudonym. I just finished a Ann Granger Historical Mystery, Mortal Curiosity, a week or so ago. Mrs Granger first wrote Historical Romances in the 80's under Ann Hulme, then moved to mystery after, as Ann Granger.
4 stars.

The Prisoner by Cheryl Reavis

Read For:

ROR Spring Challenge

Royal Romance Challenge

Harlequin Challenge

Romance Challenge

RYOB Challenge

Synopsis:

On the Run

Union Captain John Howe escaped a living hell when he tunneled his way out of a Confederate prison camp, though his ordeal was far from over. Now he was saddled with his own prisoner, the sad, stubborn Amanda Douglas, on a journey that would change their lives forever . . . .

Even her previous Spartan existence had not prepared Amanda for the dangerous trek she was now making-entirely against her will. But when John gazed at her through his beautiful, haunted eyes, bright with fever, she was lost. Could a privileged Yankee son and a poor, proud Rebel girl keep their love safe from the rest of the world?

My Review:

I chose this book from my mammoth TBR pile because I needed an "unread" genre and I do not normally like romances set in Civil War era. This book was so good I may change that :)

I enjoyed how the author was sympathetic to both character "sides" and chose to write the story more on the horrors of war than showing one side as "right or wrong" over the other. The story was well researched, dramatic and very stirring. Definitely more love than passion, and if you read the story you'll understand why.

I enjoyed John and Amanda's story and will be searching out other of this authors books at the used book store.

4.5 stars

Harlequin/Silhouette Book Challenge 2010

OK-so I was in this challenge last year but I only got around to reading one book for it-I know BIG failure:( So I think I'll try again this year cause I know I can do better now:)

Join HERE

The 2010 Harlequin/Silhouette
Romance Reading Challenge

Rules:

1) Challenge is from Jan 1 to Dec 31

2) All of the books must be from the Harlequin family of imprints

3) Read one book for each requirement


Requirements:
1) Read 1 book with a weather condition in the title (i.e. storm, rain, snow)


2) Read 1 book with a person's name in the title (i.e. Mary, John)


3) Read 1 book with a title in the title (i.e. King, Prince, Princess, Sheik)


4) Read 1 book with a color in the title (i.e. red, blue, white)


5) Read 1 book by an author whose last name begins with the letter "R"


6) Read 1 book with an element in the title (earth, water, fire, air, spirit)

Other information:
1) Please join the challenge by commenting with a link to your post (I'll start a participant blog roll)

2) A list is not necessary and may be changed at any time

3) Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebook


4) Books may be used for other challenges

5) Go to eHarlequin for book information, anything you can purchase there counts for the challenge.

My proposed list:

1-"weather condition": A Dark And Stormy Night by Anne Stuart-DONE 3.5 stars

2-"person's name": Sweet Sarah Ross by Julie Tetel-DONE-zero stars

3-"title": The Devil Earl by Deborah Simmons

4-"color": The Garden of The Azure Dragon by Ann Hulme-DONE-4 stars

5-"R" Name-The Prisoner by Cheryl Reavis-DONE-4.5 stars

6-"element": Apache Fire by Elizabeth Lane