Romance Books

Jane Green is one of my favorites, and this book was just wonderful. I've read it many times (I always re read my books, sort of akin to visiting with old friends)
Anyway, the thing that I most loved about this book was Jane Green's descriptive genius. She paints such a gorgeous picture of the Cotswolds, and of Connecticut, reading this book is like taking a journey through a really great garden, or a fabulous, out of the way flea market. It really appealed to my sense of vision, I love antiques, and pretty things, and this book seemed to just paint a picture of those things,
making me wish that I, too, was hanging out with Alice.
The story is good, but the scenery is what makes this book a favorite :)

Short book but I liked it. I really wanted to slap Alice and be like OPEN YOUR EYES!!! HE'S A SCUMBAG!! It was hard to read because of my feelings on cheating and whatnot. But still a good book and I really liked the ending.

To what extent will a woman go to preserve the illusion around her? How far will she drift from her true self before she begins to paddle back to shore? This is the story of a wife living a carefully balanced life--of contrived appearances and comfort on one side...fear and complacency on the other. By tipping that scale, she finds satisfaction and fulfillment.

I wrote this review on British Amazon early in 2004. The book is called Spellbound in Europe.

Spellbound is a disappointing novel from Jane Green, who usually writes enjoyable "modern fairytales" like Bookends and Jemima J. In Spellbound we meet Alice and Joe, married for 5 years. Alice was the little mouse who was saved by the love of her life, Joe, who turned her into a fashionable trophy-wife. On the very first pages, it is clear that theirs is not a happy marriage. Alice is feeling insecure about everything, most of all her husband Joe, who is a serial adulterer. Alice does not know about Joe's affairs, and she ignores all the typical signs of adultery. When Joe takes it one step too far, he is transferred to USA, and Alice, who does not know why her husband is being transferred, comes along. In USA they start all over again complete with Manhattan flat and Connecticut weekend house, and for a while they seem happy. Pretty soon they start drifting apart, and after a year of keeping himself on a tight leash, Joe once again falls into the arms of a woman other than his wife. The question is,m how much more can Alice take? Is she perfectly happy in her Connecticut house, without Joe? And what about her English best friend Emily and her boyfriend Harry?
The plot is thin in this book. Alice is an annoying woman, and more than once, I found myself having more sympathy with Joe and his girlfriends than with Alice and her friends. I know it is supposed to be the other way round, but the "good guys" in this story are more often than not unbelievably good and perfect, while the "bad guys" seem much more human. I would have rated this only one star, but ended upgiving it two, as I, after all, did finish it, and also recognizes Ms. Green's effort and work. It is a looong book, and not overly enjoyable.

This book was in my to-read stack for about a year before I ever picked it up. This wasn't because I didn't want to read it-it's just that of all the books by this author I have read I only really liked one of them (that was "Jemima J" which is very good actually) and found the others to be, frankly, quite badly written (especially "Mr. Maybe".) But finally I picked this one up, expecting it to be a quick, uncomplicated read. I was wrong.

This book is actually a very in-depth exploration of marriage and infidelity. I was honestly surprised at poignant and sweet it was. This isn't the story of a wife who finds who finds out her husband is cheating on her and falls apart, it's the story of a wife who catered to her husbands every whim because she was terrified of losing him and then found herself again. And it's not corny or lifetime movie-ish at all. Quite a feat really.

It took me several days to read this, and I enjoyed it. I recommend it.

Four stars.

The soundtrack was very clear and precise to the movie. Some of the songs were repeated but the music was beautiful.

This is a great piano book for being a movie title. Its very playable and most of the pieces are fun and recognizable. I was hoping for a bit more period music to play, but this is just a movie soundtrack. Still it was a good investment of my time.

This version of the sheet music is more advanced than an earlier version that I purchased. It is clearly more difficult to play, but not so difficult that with a little work it can't be accomplished. And the results are worth it .... more harmonically rich and interesting.

The sheet music is incredibly well transcribed and is very complete. I do wish it had ALL of the songs that are on the CD, but the book is still definitely worth the price!

Every pianist should learn these timeless, fantastic scores. Usable for any situation up to and including weddings, recitals, etc. Such soothing music.

I've read just about everything Nora Roberts has written. Unfortunately, I get so excited when I see a "new" Nora Roberts' novel that I often end up with re-packaged, re-done, re-printed versions of novels I've already read. This is one of them! Some people are blaming this on the author's greed to make more money off the re-released novels. However, Nora herself is evidently upset by this re-hashing...because she now has her publisher put an NR emblem on NEW releases. So...look for the emblem, and you'll know it's just been released for the very first time! Of course, a Nora Roberts re-issue is very often much better than anything new from someone else! I give the five to the original novel and a one to the publishers for re-packaging it! Nora...please keep the new ones coming!

In Engaging The Enemy, this is a reprint of two previously published Nora Roberts books. The first, A Will and A Way, was disappointing. It was dated, the heroine was striving to be independent but I found her annoying, the chemistry was forced, the characters reactions to adversity seemed unnatural... and did I mention the two people that fall in love are COUSINS? Distant cousins, but I don't like the idea of two people being brought together by a mutual relative's will any more than meeting at a family reunion. It just didn't sit well. My suggestion - skip the first story. Its a waste. The second, Boundry Lines, was a much better read. Again we have a strong heroine, but one that appeared to have genuine strength and be comfortable with it. The story was fun and fast paced and the hero is charming and sexy. So, two stars for the first book - four for the second - and overall rating of three.

THE BOOK ITSELF WAS QUITE "ENGAGING" AND HELD MY ATTENTION TO THE END. I JUST LOVE THE WAY NORA ROBERTS HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION TO THE VERY END.

Nora Roberts writes with ease and confidence. Her prose is always lucid and her plots are credible. Characterization is one of Nora's strengths, with people being revealed rather than described, thereby allowing the reader to engage the text with greater intimacy. This aspect of her writing was recently discussed during an interview with David Letterman on the 'Tonight Show', and at the conclusion of the interview, Letterman's side-kick, Paul Shaffer, screamed out at the top of his voice, 'Hey Nora! I engaged the enemy 20 years ago. Then I married her.' To her credit, Ms Roberts ignored the buffoon's comments and maintained a dignified, Harpo Marx-like silence, concluding the interview with a honk of her bicycle horn. It was a telling moment.

Not until I was into this did I realize I had read it before. But it's still Nora and it was still entertaining.

A Will and a Way was entertaining but Boundary Lines was fascinating in that I think Nora was practicing for her ".....In Death" series. Some of the dialogue between Jillian and Aaron was quite the same as some of the interchange between Eve and Roarke. I loved it anyway!!! It's an addition to my collection.

I think that this was a very good read. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. However, I think that for a story that took three books to get to the "battle", the battle should have lasted longer than a chapter. But, while I agree that some of her early stuff wasn't as seasoned as her newer books, I really did like this book. In the Garden is still the best by far!

Whoever said this book is unimaginative is CRAZy! This trilogy is probably the best I ever read. It has everything you could want, fantasy, love, war and a lot more. It ends just perfect. You are missing out if you don't read this series! The first book kindof focuses on two of the main characters but you will hear of the others a lot more in the following books. They are perfect. Nora Roberts is Fabulous!

I don't usually like vampire tales, but I must say Nora Roberts once again has caught me up in her story telling. She transports you from modern day to days of old in this trilogy. Even if your not that crazy about Vampire tales, try this one and the other two. They are a great to read.

This book and the two that followyed it were amazing. Not only did I love them but my Mom who very rarely reads could not put it down!!! I would suggest it to everone!

This one, and the other two in this trilogy pleasantly surprised me. I had no idea Nora Roberts wrote fantasy or paranormal romance. I'm an avid reader in this genre, and not into straight romance, so I've never picked up any of her books before. These caught my eye, and I'm glad they did. Very nice!

I was really looking forward to this anthology, mainly because of the sookie stackhouse story. Perhaps this is why i found myself disappointed. While each story was interesting in its own way, the whole thing felt repetative and a bit dull. I would recommend finding it at your local library.

I really enjoyed this book. Especially 'How Stella Got Her Grave Back.' I thought the title was very clever. This book would make a fun birthday present.

Many Bloody Returns is a collection of short stories by multiple writers. The stories are shorter than usual collections offering a buffet of the writing style and characters of each contributor. This gives the reader a choice of whether a particular appetizer is worth going for seconds or not. I would compare it to purchasing a trial size variety pack, where you can decide to purchase a full size item. Standing alone some of the well known authors contributions are short, 20 pages,if unfamiliar with a particular author's characters difficult stand alone.

A collection of short stories by 13 authors featuring vampires and birthdays. The collection is not for everyone, but provides well written stories for people who like this genre of fiction. I had bought the collection earlier, but saved it for my birthday, which just started at midnight.

Like most collections, you will find a variety, and will find some stories that you will like better than others. I particularly liked "It's my birthday, too," by Jim Butcher which had its lighter moments. White magic fights black vampires, with quite a bit of damage as things get in the way. However will you explain things to people? If you try to tell people the truth, they will lock you up in a funny farm.

"Grave Robbed," by P.N. Elrod, is about undead PI Jack Fleming dealing with a fake medium who is victimizing a widow. He has some special investigative skills, such as dematerializing to pass through walls. He does have to work at night.

Some stories are more on the dark side. In "The Wish," by Carolyn Haines, a woman tries to deal with Death, and then tries to thwart Death's plans. The stories are not for the faint at heart, but if you have an interest in tales of vampires, wizards, and goblins, by all means read on.

Usually books with a number of short stories in them have some big names with great stories and some unknown authors with either surprisingly good or surprisingly bad stories. This was not the case with this book. All of the stories were really good and there was a larger variety of writing styles than I expected given the genre. All of the stories have to deal with vampires and birthdays.

The main reason I read books like this is to get a sampling of some authors I haven't read and get a glimpse into the series that they are writing. This book was a good read and I found a couple new (to me at least) authors to check out from it. Because of this book I will read more of PN Elrod's work, check out the Morganville vampire series, see what else Hallaway and Kelner have written, and possibly check out some of Jeanne Stein's work too. Below is a quick comment/synopsis of each story.

Dracula Night by Charlaine Harris
This story is an addition to the Sookie Stackhouse series and addresses the celebration of Dracula Night by the vampire community. It's a fun read; although there's not a ton of content here.

The Mournful Cry of Owls by Christopher Golden
The only other book I've read by Christopher Golden is "The Boys are Back in Town"; which I liked pretty well. This story follows a girl as she learns about her unique heritage. I enjoyed it and it was well written and mysterious.

I Was a Teenage Vampire by Bill Crider
This was probably my least favorite story of the anthology. The story was predictable, boring, and seemed quickly and lazily written.

Twilight by Kelley Armstrong
I liked Twilight okay. It was a little boring and moved slowly but it was well-written and dealt with the topic of vampires dying of boredom.

It's My Birthday, Too by Jim Butcher
Fun addition to the Dresden Files series. I enjoyed a story in which Thomas played a main role. I especially enjoyed the role-playing; being a DnD player I thought it was hilarious.

Grave-Robbed by P.N. Elrod
This was my first time reading anything by PN Elrod and I liked it. The main character, Jack Fleming, is a bit campy. Some of it reminded me of Harry Dresden a bit. I enjoyed it and will read more of Elrod's writing.

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life by Rachel Caine
This was a story that took place in the world of Rachel Caine's young adult vampire series "The Morganville Vampires". This was my favorite story in the book and now I am interested in reading this series. I've read some of Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series and that is also a good series.

The Witch and the Wicked by Jeanne C. Stein
This story creeped me out. I believe Stein is the writer of the Signs of the Zodiac series. The writing style wasn't my favorite since it was kind of plain and straight-forward; not as much flare to it as I had hoped. The premise is pretty darn creative and creepy though.

Blood Wrapped by Tanya Huff
This was a nice addition to Henry Fitzroy's world; it was a fun read. It really brought home the fact that I haven't read the last few books in this series yet. I was like, what do you mean Vicki is a vampire?

The Wish by Carolyn Haines
I've never read anything by Carolyn Haines but I did like this story. The story is very sad and yet it is beautifully written and really grabs a hold of you. It is a very beautiful and well-written story, if not as fun as the rest of the book.

Fire and Ice and Linguini for Two by Tate Hallaway
I've never read anything by Tate Hallaway before; this was a fun story. I was intrigued by the witch having a demon trapped in her and by the elemental evil forces at work. I could really sympathize with the characters and the cold weather, being from MN myself.

Vampire Hours by Elaine Viets
I really enjoyed this story. I liked that the main character was an older woman dealing with day-to-day issues a lot of women deal with (okay maybe not as extreme as these issues). I liked how the woman cleverly got back at everyone; it was funny and a quick read.

How Stella got her Grave Back by Toni L.P. Kelner
I've never read anything by Toni Kelner, I really liked this story. I liked the idea of vampire dams and I liked the mystery solving that went on in this story. The characters were fun and likable. I really want to know the history between them now.

[...]

Divorce court judge Vanessa Colton-Kirk presided over a countless amount of divorces in her courtroom, but she never thought she would end up in a courtroom getting a divorce from her own husband Thomas. She pushed Thomas one too many times by putting her career before her marriage. Thomas wanted desperately to start a family with Vanessa, but she always said it was not the right time in her career. The night of their anniversary was the last straw. When she came home late from a political function and completely disregarded his feelings, it was time for him to leave. Little did she know that there was more to the story than she thought. In the last attempt to save her marriage, Vanessa and Thomas were court ordered to attend a spiritual retreat. Vanessa makes sure that there's nothing spiritual about this trip, and makes poor Thomas miserable. Will her stunts cost her to lose her husband, or will she finally understand that God is in control and not her?

In almost the same situation as her older sister, Dionne was ready to get married. She thought the man that was in her life right now was the one. But then his wife and girlfriend called! Dionne was so consumed with anger that she vowed revenge against the man that she wanted to be her husband. Dionne does some things that she is not so proud of to get her "man's" attention while attempting to win him back. Dionne finds out something that will either bring her man back to her or push him away. But will she be able to survive her last stunt? Or will she pay the fatal price?

In Can I Get a Witness, ReShonda Tate Billingsley does an excellent job with the storyline. At some point in the book, you think you know where she's going with story, but then it takes an unexpected twist. This book is a real page turner because of some things that happen that you never would have thought would happen. There was never a dull moment from the start of the book to the end. You will laugh, cry, and get angry with the characters. While reading the book, you can tell each emotion and expression that the characters have. The detail of the book was great. It was not too much detail, but it was just enough to know what was going on. I would like to congratulate ReShonda Tate Billingsley on a job well done.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

What a blessing!!! That's my first words I feel about this book. I love Reshonda's books. I have not been disappointed yet. I truly enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. For people who are going through in marriages and relationships, this book would help you in some sort of way.

As always, ReShonda has written a book that makes you get involved with the characters as though they were your friends. You can feel the pain that Vanessa must feel, but you can also symphathize with her husband. And her sister is the kind of friend/sister we all know that wants to get married and does not want to wait for God to send them their husband. They have to make it happen NOW. ReShonda Tate Billingsley is one of my favorite authors and she never fails to make you get involved. For Houston readers it is even more enjoyable because you recognize the places mentioned and it makes the book and characters more real.

This book is Reshonda @ her finest. This book really made me want to forgive some people for things that they have done to me. I love all of her books becuase they all have a meaning behind them. I just can never wait for the next one to come out. She is an awesome writer.

Judge Vanessa Colton-Kirk is all business when it comes to setting the precedence in her courtroom. Agenda seeking, Vanessa tosses caution to the wind and in her effort to secure a seat in the senate someday she causes a rift in her marriage. While Thomas is always bending, forgiving and easy going, he can no longer stand by and allow Vanessa to walk over him. When Vanessa finally relinquishes her pride to go after her man, another woman, who is willing to offer Thomas what Vanessa keeps denying him, has already made an appearance. Can Vanessa stop the devil from destroying her marriage, or will her divorce become another case in her courthouse?

Baby sister Dionne is in love with being in love. All she's ever wanted was a man. A man to love her, marry her and give her babies. The man currently in her life, Roland, is married, but that's in name only. While he can't say it, Dionne knows that he truly loves her. Well she hoped he did. When an ex shows up and Roland, Dionne's knight and not so shining armor, is chased out of his home. Will that be enough to convince Dionne he's Mister All Wrong? Or is love so blind that drama keeps creeping in?

"Can I Get A Witness" by ReShonda Tate Billingsley is about faith, love, forgiveness and dealing with life along with its ups and downs. I truly enjoyed this story from beginning to end and would definitely recommend this read to others. I would love an update on these characters in the future.

You can weather any storm with God in the center.

I must admit, being a big Danielle Steele fan, I have been disappointed in her last few books. But Amazing Grace is a real hit! I couldn't put it down! I read it in two days. She doesnt repeat herself all the time in this book as she does in previous books. It's solid story from cover to cover. I highly recommend the book!

Although I found the romance between the nun and journalist unbelievable. I did find this story heartwarming.

While this is a typical Danielle Steel novel, I didn't consider it one of her best. The plot was too predictable. Shipping was TERRIBLE.

I wont say it was a great book, but I will say it was a great read. I enjoyed it and read it in a few days. I disagree that it was a boring book. I have not read her before but will try another of hers, if they are similar than I will be happy with that.

In this novel, Danielle Steel has created several genuine characters who really deserve your attention and admiration. The storylines are interesting and you won't find any two characters with the same set of problems to face and deal with. Yet each character faces his or her own set of circumstances in his or her own way and deals with them honestly. Amazing Grace is one of Danielle Steel's better novels.
Jo A. Fulkerson
Author, For Love of Teddy

Christine Warren writes a good story. I've read everything she has in paperback and can't wait for more. Keep hoping the other stories in ebook form make it to paperback!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series, but was a bit disapointed in last release The Demon You Know, mainly because I never connected with the female lead. In Howl At The Moon, Samantha's character is much more complete, helped by her brief appearances earlier in the series. Overall I really enjoyed book 4 in the Others series, and recommend it to any paranormal romance fans.

This book really kept my attention. After I read this book I ordered the first three in the series to catch up. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

The world is adjusting to the unveiling of the Others, the supernatural denizens once believed imaginary. Soldier Noah Bishop has been welcomed into their world, as his sister, Abby, is engaged to the demon Rule. Unfortunately, he now finds himself torn between his loyalty to country and his new friends and sister as he is ordered to infiltrate and secretly obtain information from the Lupines. Meanwhile, his attraction to sexy werewolf Samantha "Sam" Carstairs has his thoughts in total disarray. Will the attraction between them survive Noah's betrayal? And who else is after the secrets of the Lupine community?

Noah was without a doubt my favorite character in the last book, THE DEMON YOU KNOW, and I could hardly wait to dive into his story. Christine Warren didn't disappoint! Noah's story is as hard driving as one would expect from this soldier, loyal to the core. Seeing him torn between two loyalties is heart wrenching but only makes the happily-ever-after that much more enjoyable.

HOWL AT THE MOON can be read as a stand alone, as all of the stories in this series are written to stand alone. However, Noah is first introduced in the prior book and his loyalty to his sister demonstrated in that book helps soften the dilemma he finds himself in with this story. The insight into his character in THE DEMON RULE helps the reader fully appreciate just how troubling it is to him to have to essentially live a lie, as Noah is a man who values honesty.

HOWL AT THE MOON is my favorite to date of the Others series, mainly because of Noah. Christine Warren excels at writing memorable characters the reader can truly care about and Noah is without a doubt a shining example of this. Excellent!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Great read. I love this series and this book added to the greatness. There is some need to read the previous books to be familiar with who everyone is and the stories behind them, but essentially you can read this book without any background and know whats going on. Some steamy parts and action for all to enjoy.

Virgin Earth, the sequel to Earthly Paradise by Philippa Gregory is every bit as good as the first book. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. I liked these because the story is told in the first book through the eyes and life of the court gardener, and his son in the second book, and includes the varieties of plants and flowers for which they are always seeking while telling the good and bad events of the times in England and America.

Since i finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl, i have become obsessed with Ms. Gregory's books. This is the 6th book of hers that i have read (all in order). I don't know what i am going to do when i have finished all of her books.

I wasn't really expecting to become a big fan of Philippa Gregory, but in the past couple years, I have become a huge fan. This book, the stand-alone sequel to Earthly Joys, follows the son of John Tradescant, our first book's narrator, and gives us another generation's perspective. Different from his father (for better or for worse, he's always conflicted), John is never sure whether he wants to be in England or the new-found America, and knows he doesn't agree with the political strife of the day, but isn't sure who he should believe are "the good guys," trying to rectify the economy. Giving dazzling perspective to both continents, peppering with the perfect amount of historical detail, real characters (I must confess I search Wikipedia about characters after I finish reading her books!) sneaking in subtle sex... this is what Gregory does best. Her descriptions of flora in both lands are again what makes these books unique in her series- gorgeous language that has me itching to plant something pretty in the yard.

Ms. Gregory has a fabulous talent for making history come alive. After reading each of her books, I've felt connected with that historical period because the characters became real people to me. In this story, the earliest days of Colonial America are presented through the protagonist's eyes. Ms. Gregory's clear unblinking view of life encountered by early settlers feels the most authentic of any I've read. Many early inhabitants, like her protagonist, John Tradescant, probably had little or no experience with real wilderness. Their first exposure to life in the colonies was further complicated by romantic views they'd held of the bountiful new world. The lofty dreams were quickly crushed by the harshness encountered--and all but the strongest people were too. While John found romance in his time there, it was one born of desperation. He was not the man his father was and struggled to meet goals that didn't entirely suit him. Even in England, through the tumultuous period of the time, one gets the sense of the difficult and compromising complexity of living near or at court as John deals with a more civilized and better-dressed harshness.

Many books romanticize royal life; Ms. Gregory's don't. She does a marvelous job of immersing the reader into the reality of that world. My only criticism of this book is that the ending is a bit weak. Still, it's well worth the read.

Being an avid gardener, I have enjoyed both of the Tradescant books. Living in Virginia, not too far from Jamestown, and being well-acquainted with colonial history, I found the descriptions of the New World and its inhabitants quite interesting. And being a British history buff, I loved the insights into Charles I, his queen, and the English Civil War.

That said, I understand how some readers could tire of the main character J and his seemingly selfish attitudes, but he lived in a quite different time and place from us. Though I did not always agree with his decisions, they were not far-fetched, and when one reads historical fiction, one must remember that the characters did not live in contemporary America. To his credit, the character does develop and mature over the course of the story as he tries to find his place in the world.

I have read most of Ms. Gregory's books now, and while THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE remains my favorite, VIRGIN EARTH is quite a good read.

For those who find the ending unsatisfying, I can only say that it is historically accurate and, I hope, leaves the story open for a future sequel.