Summer Reading Challenge Wrap Up

My total for The Readers of Romance Summer Reading Challenge:

Total finished: 8 books

Total books started for the challenge but quit on: 6

total not done at all: 1

Purple: UNFINISHED

Red: FINISHED

Black: not done

READ:
1. Read a Title with a Sports Theme-UNFINISHED-An Uncontional Marriage by Alice Holden
2. Re-read a favorite-UNFINISHED-Desire by Amanda Quick
3. Read a Title by Linda Howard-UNFINISHED-Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard

4. Read a Title published before 2000-DONE-Beguiled by Susan Spencer Paul-4 stars.

5. Hot word for summer (heat, sun, fire, fever, hot, blaze....)-UNFINISHED-Lady Sunshine by Claudette Williams

6. Read a book that takes place in a warm location (Florida, Caribbean, Hawaii, etc...)-DONE-Lady Savage by Donna Simpson-4 stars

7. Unlikely hero/heroine (whatever that means to you. overweight heroine, nerdy hero...)-DONE-Prospero's Daughter by Nancy Butler-4 stars.

8. Author with last name that starts with same letter as your last name.-DONE-Fortune's Child by Rachelle Edwards-2.5 stars

9. Schoolmarms/Teachers/Governess...(it's summer no more classroom, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks!!)(AAR is a good tool for this one!)-DONE-The London Belle by Shirley Kennedy-4 stars.

10. Title with a person of royalty (Duke/Princess/Marquis/Queen...)-DONE-The Wicked Earl by Margaret McPhee-4 stars.

11. Title with an "S" for Summer-UNFINISHED-Sweet Vixen by Maggie McKeever

12. Food type word (Sweet, Tasty, Cake, Lick, Bite...)-DONE-Passionate Thirst by Cameron Dean-3 stars.

13. A Title Read/Reviewed in the Spring Challenge...-DONE-Halfway To The Grave by Jeanine Frost 4 stars.

14. Reader's Choice...-UNFINISHED-The Glass Palace by Mary Ann Gibbs
15. Double Trouble, ( a story with a twin or twins )...

The Wicked Earl by Margaret McPhee

Read For:

Summer Reading Challenge

RYOB Challenge

Synopsis:

The very proper Miss Langley does not know what she has done to encourage the attentions of a lord, only that they are most unwanted and very improper! So when a handsome stranger saves her from his clutches, Madeline is too relieved to suspect that her tall, dark defender may have a less than respectable reputation….

My Review:

A very good Regency Romance. The heroine, Madeline, is an average "on the shelf" older daughter of an genteel but impovrished family. So she is surprised when a Baron seeks out her attentions. The reader learns though that the Barons intentions are not honorable and are in fact perverse. When the Baron corners Madeline, a stranger appears and rescues Madeline. She learns that he is the Earl Tregalles, dubbed "The Wicked Earl" because he was accused of evil himself. So who does Madeline trust when she's is about to be forced into an unwanted marriage with the Baron?

This Regency read very much like a Johanna Lindsey or Catherine Coulter. Interesting characters, "misunderstandings" and loads of sexual tension throughout. The love scenes are passionate though more were needed to please me. The hero, is dark, brooding and misunderstood, the heroine very insecure though she gains courage throughout the storyline. All in all, a quick, enjoyable "high drama" romance.

4 stars

Lady Savage by Donna Simpson

Read For:

Summer Reading Challenge

RYOB Challenge

2nds Challenge

A to Z Reading Challenge

Read Your Name Challenge

Synopsis:

For Savina Roxeter, the voyage from Jamaica to England is the beginning of her future: a return to London to marry her intended, the estimable Lord Gaston-Reade, and the very proper business of household and heirs under the watchful eye of the ton's elite. But when a wild storm blows the ship off course, Savina, her father, her fiance, and his secretary, Anthony Heywood, among others, are stranded on a Caribbean island as primitive and unpeopled as it is beautiful. Suddenly, it is survival that matters rather than Almack's vouchers or the fashionable cut of a coat. And it is Anthony who astounds Savina with his skill, his resourcefulness, and an elemental strength that makes her breathless with desire. In London, a match between a lady and a man who works for his living would be unthinkable. But in this verdant paradise, they are equals in every way...

My Review:

Another solid story from Regency Author Donna Simpson. Unlike most Regencies set in the opulence and glittering ballrooms of Regency England, in Lady Savage the story is set in Jamica but mostly on a primitive Island that a dozen genteel English find themselves on after their ship is commandered by the Americans. The heroine, Savina, is a forward thinking woman who unfortunately finds herself pressured into a betrothal with a very old fashioned, arrogant Earl. While on their deserted Island, Savina realizes the error in choosing the Earl as well as her newfound feelings of affection and respect for the Earl's secretary, Anthony.

The story is fast paced and the groups trials to survive on the island are very much "Survivor-Regency era". Lady Savage is a good choice for those who are sick of Alpha males as Anthony is very much a calm, reasonable and clever "beta male".

The love scenes are there, but tame.

All in all, a quick, good book. 4 stars.

Beguiled by Susan Spencer Paul

Read For:

Summer Reading Challenge

RYOB Challenge

A beautiful Regency Romance. I really enjoyed this romance. The storyline was unusual as the heroine was disabled. She is partially deaf and has a large speech impediment caused by a horrendous incident as a child. The hero is an all around good guy. Wonderful secondary characters too. Recommended-4 stars.

Fortune's Child by Rachelle Edwards

Read For:

RYOB Challenge

ROR Summer Challenge

Synopsis:

Everyone knew they'd make the perfect match-or perfect enemies. Lord Rossington returned to London to brazenly ask for the hand of the lady he had jilted nine years before. Now all England stood agape, which would falter first, and no one, not even they, knew whether it was love or hate that possessed them..

My Review:

Pretty good "old school" Regency. The story is of the "second chances" storyline. The heroine, broke off her betrothal with the hero nine years before when she found out her father had lost his fortune gambling, though she never shared that with the hero. Fast forward, nine years later, when the two meet again and the hero offers to marry the now spinster heroine-but it's to be a marriage of convienence-as he needs help with his son, who has become terribly behaved after his mother's death six months before.

Overall, the story was good-fast paced, and well written for the period. The hero is very much of the "dark, brooding" variety, and doesn't open up until too late in the book, in my opinion. There's sexual chemistry is between the two, but no passion-this book is pretty much "G" rated in relation to love scenes. That wouldn't have been a problem, but like many romances written in the 80's, the author sadly felt the need to introduce one scene where the hero slaps the heroine late in the book. If it would have occured earlier in the book, I would have quit right there, but it's so late in the book that I went ahead and finished the story, even though that "soured" me on the book after that.

2.5 stars for a pretty good book up until that point.

Passionate Thirst by Cameron Dean

Read For:

Summer Reading Challenge

RYOB Challenge

Chick Porn Reading Challenge

1st In A Series Challenge

Synopsis: JUST ANOTHER NIGHT IN SIN CITY Candace Steele is as tough as she is alluring. For her, killing vampires isn't just a job, it's personal: She's still haunted by erotic memories of an all-consuming affair with Ash, a seductive vampire who thrilled her, and then nearly destroyed her. Now, working undercover in a Las Vegas casino, she seduces the most powerful undead, right before she drives a stake through their unbeating hearts. When hot-ticket singer Temptation McCoy sweeps into town for a major concert, Candace is tapped for security. But after meeting Temptation, Candace feels the cold, tingling sensation that can mean only one thing: There's a vampire in the diva's entourage. To complicate matters, Ash suddenly appears in Sin City, vowing to do anything and everything to draw Candace back into his arms. Overwhelmed by desire and suspicion, she lets down her guard . . . a move that could cost Candace her life.

My Review: This book was like a Hershey bar. It's chocolate, tasty, but in no league with Belgium chocolate. Passionate Thirst is not unusual in that the heroine is a "Vampire Hunter", and the hero, an ancient Vampire that Candace used to have a love affair with(why can't they ever be in love with the "fledgling" Vampire?). What's unusual is that the heroine hates Vampires and everything they stand for and the hero, though deeply in love with Candace, only sees them together as a Vampire couple. There ensues the main conflict of the story.

The story is chock full of sex-some sweet, mostly raunchy, including sex with the heroine and another man besides the hero(so be forewarned if that's not your thing)and some voyueristic scenes as well. I'd classify this book as Romance-erotica, just on the cusp of full fledged erotica (about a NC 17 in movie lingo). The scenes are pretty hot and nothing cringe worthy, maybe a little "blush worthy". The Vampire hunting is pretty gruesome too.

All in all, I'd give Passionate Thirst a 3 star review. I've read much worse and I'll try the next book in the series.

The London Belle by Shirley Kennedy

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
A to Z Challenge
Summer Challenge

Synopsis: Lady Jane Sperling is the eldest daughter of the Earl of Hedley, and in her third season. Her finicky nature and scholarly pursuits have prevented her from complying with her family's wishes to wed her off to some wealthy old man. But now her father's gambling debts have put the entire Sperling fortune in jeopardy...To help the Sperlings, Lord Dashmont offers Jane employment - as a companion and tutor for his son, who still grieves over the death of his mother. Wary of the notorious rake's true motives, she reluctantly agrees. And as Jane helps a frightened little boy emerge from his shell, her actions also melt the heart of her employer. But can she trust Dashmont - a disreputable rogue and gambler - enough to fall in love with him?

My review: This book is a perfect example of how good writing can overcome even the biggest dislikes. When I started the book, I quickly learned that the heroine was a vain, spoiled brat who thrived on being the "belle of the ball". Likewise, the hero seemed a bit of a cad-more concerned with his personal pleasures of gambling and cyprians than his son. Normally, I'd quit the book right there as these are personal "peeves" of mine. But the whole story does a 360 degree turn early on-turning both characters worlds upside down. In doing so-we see both characters grow and mature. It had moments of "Lizzie and Darcy" that I really enjoyed-both had preconceived notions of each other but both cannot fight their attaction, and in so doing, find out how wrong they were about the other. This Regency is very romantic and a bit "sexier" compared to most Regencies, but still MUCH tamer than other Romances-still a "PG" rating on the love scenes.

All in all, a very good Regency-Recommended-4 stars.

Halfway To The Grave by Jeanine Frost

Read For:
Summer Reading Challenge
RYOB Challenge
1sts in a series Challenge


I liked this one a LOT more than I thought I would! This book was action filled and very sexy! I would have given the book five stars if not for Cat's mother-who is a real *itch! If you like tough, but flawed heroines then you should give Cat a try. 4 stars!

Prospero's Daughters by Nancy Butler

Read For:
Summer Challenge
RYOB Challenge
2nds Challenge
What's In A Name Challenge
Themed Reading Challenge
A to Z Reading Challenge


All in all, a very good Regency. Likeable hero and heroine-both are "scarred" in their own way. The hero, mostly emotionally and the heroine physically. Unusual storyline that the heroine cannot walk and has been forced in seclusion by uncaring relatives. The heroine meets the hero quite by accident. I liked this one. Recommended-4 stars

ROR Summer Reading Challenge

YIKES! I'm getting a very late start of this, which means I'll probably not finish all 15, but I'll give it a good try:)

Summer 09 Challenge FAQ’s June 1 - August 30

1. Select ANY number of books to read that fit the category. (I changed this rule from 5, 10, or 15 books!)
2. Post your list on the discussion board and blog (Name’s Summer Challenge List)
3. If you need title suggestions please use the Discussion titled SUMMER TITLE SUGGESTIONS if you don't see it please search (to try and minimize number of discussions)
4. Once you have read a book please find the corresponding discussion by searching you can search by 09 Summer # and use the number that corresponds with the list. (one will be created for each number on June 1, again, to try and minimize number of discussions) and post the book and title you read and rating, and review.
5. It is not required, but if you could post your review on the blog that would be great.
6. Reviews on the blog please include labels list the rating, author, and # of challenge only.
7. Audio books are okay
8. Rereads are okay
9. You can change your list at anytime


READ:
1. Read a Title with a Sports Theme-UNFINISHED-An Uncontional Marriage by Alice Holden
2. Re-read a favorite-UNFINISHED-Desire by Amanda Quick
3. Read a Title by Linda Howard-UNFINISHED-Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard

4. Read a Title published before 2000-DONE-Beguiled by Susan Spencer Paul-4 stars.

5. Hot word for summer (heat, sun, fire, fever, hot, blaze....)-UNFINISHED-Lady Sunshine by Claudette Williams

6. Read a book that takes place in a warm location (Florida, Caribbean, Hawaii, etc...)-DONE-Lady Savage by Donna Simpson-4 stars

7. Unlikely hero/heroine (whatever that means to you. overweight heroine, nerdy hero...)-DONE-Prospero's Daughter by Nancy Butler-4 stars.

8. Author with last name that starts with same letter as your last name.-DONE-Fortune's Child by Rachelle Edwards-2.5 stars

9. Schoolmarms/Teachers/Governess...(it's summer no more classroom, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks!!)(AAR is a good tool for this one!)-DONE-The London Belle by Shirley Kennedy-4 stars.

10. Title with a person of royalty (Duke/Princess/Marquis/Queen...)-DONE-The Wicked Earl by Margaret McPhee-4 stars.

11. Title with an "S" for Summer-UNFINISHED-Sweet Vixen by Maggie McKeever

12. Food type word (Sweet, Tasty, Cake, Lick, Bite...)-DONE-Passionate Thirst by Cameron Dean-3 stars.

13. A Title Read/Reviewed in the Spring Challenge...-DONE-Halfway To The Grave by Jeanine Frost 4 stars.

14. Reader's Choice...-UNFINISHED-The Glass Palace by Mary Ann Gibbs
15. Double Trouble, ( a story with a twin or twins )...