Romance Books

The book starts out a little slow or at first boring but than 2/3 way into it the book really picks up as Luke Falcons close family members are kidnapped in seperate cars , and a young boy runs into the woods to save his own life and is later found by the search dogs and rescuers , as Luke contiues to look for Sharon and Mark (The boys mom and adopted father) . Sharon returns but then her sister Caroline is taken hostage by the kidnappers annd Luke must now find the her and in the process he realizes he truly loves Caroline but does he find her in time ? Sorry you gotta read to find out the ending as well as so much more detail on the kidnappings ...

When they first met at a wedding, the sparks flew almost immediately. But Luke's career demands always seemed to take priority over her...until she became entangled in his most important investigation. "True Courage" is a novel that begins well and consistently builds in suspense throughout the story to the thrilling conclusion. The conflicts engage the reader because they are true to life. The characters are detailed and the environment created by Dee Henderson is easy to see with the mind's eye. I would recommend this to fans of Christian fiction, romance, suspense or crime drama.

If you have a choice between the paperback and audio of True Courage, I would recommend the paperback. This audio CD has a male voice that seems too "acted." Also, sound effects and music have been added (keys jangling, annoying beepings for pagers, phones ringing, ominous music, etc.), and they really distract you from the story and your own imagination. Definitely go for the paperback.

Henderson amazes me again!!!!! She creates a stunning portrayal of the suspense and terror in the life of an FBI agent. She is an amazing author and receives two thumbs up.

I've read all four books in this series and True Courage is the best. My attention was caught almost immediately and, unlike the others, the suspence kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. All the books in the series are good but I like this one best.

Ok. I had heard she was a great writer, and I started with this book. At the end I was still trying to figure out the storyline. Too much bizarre sex, and no real live plot. I don't recommend this one. Maybe her other books are better. This one left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Please tell me why I actually paid for this book? Like everyone else here I am invested in Merry. The first two books took me on a rollar coaster ride and I couldnt wait to get to the next book. Now i'm just wishing the end would HURRY up and get here. How about a book that goes somewhere? Better yet, how about a book at all. I think somewhere along the way LKH lost the plot and forgot why she was writing this story. I hope she finds it again. But from now on, I will wait till it goes to paperback and get it at the discount bin. I'm tired of spending 17-25 dollars of my hard earned money for this one - two scene crapola.

Its an exciting book that leaves you breathless literally. when its finnish your upset because you never want it to end.

Ok, this book just confirms it for me, LKH is a money hungry #$#$%!. She's no longer concerned with finishing this damn storyline. As long as people are shelling out $$ she doesn't seem to care that her books are not even worth a #$%# anymore. AND another thing, stop with Merry being tight. I'm sorry, she stopped being tight after the first book. I mean come on, I know it's fiction but the woman just had back to back sex with 2 men about what an hour before Sholto and I'm suppose to believe that she's so tight.... Pulleezee.. I am soooo happy I only spent $3 for the hardcover (used book) or I would have been really pissed. I mean, this book is sooo tiny and to add insult to injury, half of the book is about 1 sex scene, ONE FREAKING SEX SCENE. COME ON.

Like many reviewers, I think this book was too short and filled with way too much sex and not enough plot. The reason I actually read this far in the series is that right from the start, I've been fascinated by the character of Sholto. He was a character with terrible beauty and really seemed to break the mold of the other guards. And I'll admit, I was incredibly curious to see what a full sex scene would be like with him given all his "extras".

So, for me, the most disappointing part of this book was that when Merry finally does get around to having sex with him, it's only after all of his tentacles have been completely amputated. LKH seems to pride herself on "edgy" books, but I really feel like it was a cop out to mutilate the character of Sholto just long enough for Merry to have sex with him (because of course he is magically restored right after the sex is done).

For me, the only interesting part of this book was the Wild Hunt at the end, where we finally get a reprieve from boring sex scenes and get to see some action.

This is one of those classic novels that you could read again and again. I hadn't read it since high school twenty years ago and just re-read Christy last week. I like it even better now than I did then (and I loved it then, too). I would have loved to have had Catherine Marshall's version of a sequel (hopefully it would have consisted of a continuation of Neil & Christy's romance), but I guess we get to imagine the "happily ever after" instead. It's a great read!

Sorry, but the glut of coincidences and melodramatic writing was just too much. I'm going back to my nonfiction now.

I just read this book and what can I say except that it was amazing. I actually prefer Neil to David. David was never very consistent in his faith he was good talker but he had no understanding. I recomend this book to anyone who already has faith or is struggling to find theirs. Read this book! You won't be sorry!

I really enjoyed this book. I also enjoyed the fact that many of the events in the book are in the series released on DVD. I would have preferred if certain subjects had not been discussed in this book so that it would be more appropriate for younger ages. Other than that it was a really enjoyable read.

This is one of my very favorite books! I've read it over so many times and never get tired of it. It's just so interesting, captivating and touching.

I love these "Complete Idiot" guides. Where else can you get so many people to publicly admit that they are complete idiots? I guess it's like the steps for alcoholism recovery, the first step is admitting it. Then, however, you have to take action, and that's where this book comes in. Many guys will benefit from the instructions, illustrations and suggestions in this book. My significant other bought one, and I noticed a significant increase in his attention to my needs and his ability to fulfill them. Then, after he bought Five Minutes to Orgasm Every Time You Make Love: Female Orgasm Made Simple as a present for me, I nearly flipped. What a man! He is no longer a "complete idiot," but has graduated to becoming a "perfect lover."

My wife and I were given this book, along with author Eve Salinger's Complete idiots Guide to Pleasing Your Man for valentine's Day. They are so sexy and smart and funny. We have a great time reading them aloud to each other...and taking their advice. They will add a lot of new energy to your raltionship -- that's for sure!

THE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PLEASING YOUR WOMAN is just what the title says. As with other Idiot's Guides, the book has entertaining illustrations and very helpful ideas in every category of interpersonal relationships. Even if you have been successful in pleasing your woman, you will learn a lot of tips that will make your skills better and delight your mate. Every relationship will benefit from this! And what a terrific Wedding Gift for any man taking the steps to the altar.

Lots of books like this are only about sex, but everyone knows there is a lot more to making your partner happy and keeping your relationship fresh. Unlike Sigmund Freud, Eve Salinger knows what women want -- in bed and out of it. Any man who reads this book will get very, very lucky. (And so will his woman!)

As soon as I started the book, I found it very useful right away... there are many things that we as guys take for granted about what to do to with your couple, but it is good to know that sometimes we hit the right target and that sometimes we could make so many errors or make errors worst. If you realize that your woman still with you, even if you have sometimes screwed up, that means that she really loves you. So, by getting this book you might be able to understand your woman better, and finally find what she wants from you (not from her whole life, that is impossible). You could find many sex guides, or how to make her this or that.. but believe that is useless to know if you can not take your woman (by her own decision, and without pushing) to those amazing places and attitudes toward you. Try reading the index of this book trough amazon's preview, and you will get convinced as I did, believe me!!!

Especial Note: Do not get to excited though, do not buy "Pleasing your man" if you think SHE will read it, he he, I did it and that was not a brite idea (is something that should be decided individually); buy yourself "Pleasing your woman" and she will end looking for anything available to make you happy and pay you back your attentions.

A good start to a series I think will be a real sizzler. If you like supernatural abilties mixed with uncontrolable passion.

"Bound by Shadow," was a good start to a series, and Anna Windsor writes both action and love scenes reminicient of Cheyenne McCray.

The Dark Crescent Sisterhood wasn't incredibly detailed however, so it will be interesting of the author will divulge more details on the history of their organization and conception.

The story begins w/ NYPD cop, Creed and his partner investigation a murder. During his investigation he meets w/ Riana and her Sybil Warrior Priestess sisters. Riana is charge of the Earth element, Cynda is Fire, and Merilee is the Wind. Creed charges in to their house one evening thinking to help them from a strange demon attack, but ends up being interrogated by 3 leather clad women while he hangs bound from their Sister's ceiling buck naked. The sisters are fighting a long war against the Legion Demons. What the Legion are fighting for or what the entire purpose of the war is not really explained. The Legion recruits people to create demons in their fight w/ the sisers.

The plot is a little weak and could use some more meat, but the writing I thought was very smooth and well written. I enjoyed it and will look up this author's Ellora Cave ebooks in the future.

I read this book back to back w/ "Bound by Flame," unfortunately the followup book did not meet expectations.

I am wary of a series that comes out as fast as this one. It's usually a number to things but they tend to be not thought out well and I think it lacks the fan input. Not that authors ask what they should write next but the reaction of fans is important. Well, I have only read the first book so far but it's a pretty good start. The concept isn't new but the relationship with the characters and the struggle with the Legion is authentic feeling. I feel like a lot of romance authors throw their couple together in a matter of hours and expect us to believe they fell in love that fast but with Riana and Creed they spent weeks together. There was a build up of events that worked smoothly to the conclusion at the end of the book and it left me looking forward to the next one.

This was one of the best new paranormals that I have read in a long time. The characters and plot were well written. I accidently happened on this book and thought it looked interesting but I was a bit concerned about reading an author I had never heard of. Boy, was I wrong! Another reviewer mentioned that "it's hard not to get wrapped up in the sheer beauty and power of the world the author created..." She was spot on! I was so wrapped up in it I finished the book in one night, couldn't put it down! I was also concerned at first that since the author had written 'erotica' all I would be reading was sex, sex and more sex. Yes there was some pretty hot sex, but it all balanced out into a very wonderful tale. I couldn't wait for the next book in the series. I'm just sorry that it's only a trilogy. Maybe if we beg hard enough, we'll get more????

I gave it 130 pages and gave up. It was boring. The sex in the holding cell was not worth $6.99 and why agree to go into the holding cell.
A plot, a plot, a kingdom for a plot. Books two and three are not on my list.

(SPOILER ALERT)
The entire time I read this book I found myself wondering if the author had ever struggled with her weight at all. Normally I wouldn't care--I don't believe people can only write "what they know". However ... she should have researched before writing. Jemima's weight loss was not achieved in a realistic way. The way it's described might end in weight loss--but not that quickly. And after that drastic amount of weight loss in that short period of time, there would be signs leftover--loose skin, stretch marks, etc. Also, she was only happy when she was finally thin, which is a terrible message to be putting out there. Finally, the big twist at the end--are you freaking kidding me? So Jemima's boyfriend is really in love with a fat girl, but just wants a trophy, front-woman to be seen with in public. And he's a gym owner. And his real love, the fat girl, is just A-okay with that--even though he sleeps with Jemima. The entire thing is just ridiculous.

This book doesn't read like being in a fat girl's mind--it reads like being in a skinny chick's head as she imagines being in a fat body. This can certainly be pulled off--but this book does not accomplish it.

I, too, was a little sad in the beginning. Being an overweight JJ, I so wanted her to embrace her curviness. I enjoyed her relationship with Brad, but thought the reason it ended was silly and unrealistic, unless people are really that superficial. I wouldn't know. I have learnt to love my curves however JJ has motivated me to become healthy and not obsessed.

How sad I felt beginning the reading of this book. What an opportunity Jane Green missed in dealing with this very important subject of BODY IMAGE issues. She convoluted the real story by adding what I think surely must be a fantasy of her own related to internet porn and foul language. I was intending to use this in a very meaningful discussion on eating disorders but was so disappointed in the beginning that I abandoned the book. Too bad for Jane Green.

such a great book!
very fast entertaining read.
LOVED THE ENDING.
the characters are very likeable and fell in love with the main guy in novel :D

At 27, Jemima Jones is desperately unhappy. She's about 100 pounds overweight, stuck in a menial newspaper job, lives with two ditzy roommates who take advantage of her, and worst of all, suffers from unrequited love for her handsome colleague Ben. What's a girl to do?

At her lowest, Jemima discovers the Internet and all its possibilities. Visiting random chatrooms, Jemima can talk to all sorts of people, being whomever she pleases.

It's in the LA Cafe that Jemima meets Brad, a wealthy California hunk who quickly becomes taken with "JJ," the spunky and successful persona Jemima has taken on. So what if JJ's job is a bit more exciting than Jemima's? And when Brad asks for her photo, Jemima enlists a friend's help in a bit of photoshopping? After all, it's not as though they'll ever meet. Besides, Brad can't possibly be telling the truth about every little thing, either, right?

Then one day, Brad convinces Jemima to make the trip of a lifetime to meet him in Los Angeles. By that time, Jemima has long been working toward really becoming JJ -- exercising, dieting, buying new clothes and just plain reinventing herself. She's already seen quick results. The only question is, will Brad be as wonderful as he seemed online? And will Jemima ever be able to get over Ben?

Despite this story's taking place in the late '90s, when the concept of meeting people online was still fairly new and foreign, and many seemed to believe that the individuals they met in this fashion were "not real," I still felt Green allowed Jemima to get off easy with her lies about her own self. Sure, the point the author appears to have been making is that Jemima was able to turn her fantasies into reality simply by becoming motivated enough; but it seems to me too convenient that she so quickly managed to become JJ, totally and completely.

As a final note, I also couldn't figure out why the author chose to title her book "Jemima J" -- the main character was never called that! I know it isn't really relevant to the story itself, but I still found it a bit odd...

If you enjoy quick, "chick lit"-type reads, you'll enjoy this novel; just don't expect much in the way of serious plot or conflict.

I think this book is a romantic thriller; or maybe it's just a love story; or then again, maybe it is supposed to be a mystery? I'm confused!

The story line is that a brilliant woman computer scientist who likes her life ordered and organized, is challenged by an FBI agent who is a friend of her brother's to step outside of her comfort zone. So, she goes off on a wild goose chase to a godforsaken little town in Texas to talk to some nutty professor about an ancient feud that might affect her brother's life with his newly married wife. While in this town she ends up getting involved in three murders and is stalked by a maniacal killing machine who is assisted by all kinds of seedy characters. To the rescue comes the FBI agent who becomes the love of her life, etc. etc. etc.

The plot of this novel is as preposterous as anything I've seen. This rich and brilliant woman ends up renting a car that is a wreck? Hello! In real life she would have been an Avis/Hertz kind of person with Club memberships and would have gotten an expensive and very well maintained vehicle to drive! Also, she is out to meet with this goofy professor who researches historical Scottish clans in the middle of Texas? Since she knows computers, how come she does not know how to research people and their backgrounds on the internet?

Let's look at the FBI agent: here is a guy who never spends more than a week with any woman. So, all of a sudden he is turned on by her horn rimmed reading glasses to the point where he proposes marriage? huh? How about this plot line: the woman becomes a suspect in a murder so she calls her brother, and immediately, without any paperwork, permissions, or turf issues, both her brother and Noah (her paramour) fly off to Texas, the nearest FBI office drops everything that they are doing to help - even though the local police do NOT ask for help - and they are all involved in a simple murder case? How is that related to the real FBI and their role?

It even gets weirder - when the two FBI dudes get into town they arrest the chief of police! They immediately find out that this little town where everyone knows everyone else has a prostitution ring that has everyone sleeping with people who are not their spouses. A local town bully is a surveillance and electronics wiz-kid who also operates a blackmailing operation, and in addition he is a stupid follower of orders that clearly are intended to harm him. The two sides of town are separated by a line and the "good" restaurant is next to the "good" hotel which is on the "good" side of town while the "bad" restaurant is next to the "bad" hotel which rents rooms by the hour.

While I am not a Texan, even I found the overly broad characterization of the town to be uncomfortable and disturbing in its stereotyping. Has the author ever visited Texas?

The final kicker for me was the final scene and the resolution of the whole plot line. The killer manages to find his way to Boston to waylay the heroine and wound her. This, after he completely ignores her in his own backyard of Serenity Texas and three other people are killed there. What nonsense. To top it all off, the whole point of the plot was this supposed feud between the clans and the treasure that was lost. So, what happened with that feud? It's alluded to but never really explored.

Basically a waste of time.

Jordan Buchanan has always lived her life on the safe side. A successful software designer and computer programmer, her laptop and cell phone are her lifeline, and every aspect of her existence has always centered on technology. That is until the day Noah Claybourne, FBI agent and long-time friend of her brother, points this out to her. Maybe he's right. After all, the last of her friends is getting married. She's still single and hasn't taken risks that hadn't been calculated to death. And that is why she takes on the challenge to research a feud between the MacKennas and the Buchanans that began back during Medieval Scotland. An eccentric and somewhat creepy professor insists that the Buchanans had always antagonized the MacKennas and Jordan wants to prove him wrong. Well... that and she'd like to find a treasure the professor spoke about. Jordan travels from Boston to the small town of Serenity, Texas to retrieve the research papers. Serenity isn't so serene anymore when the professor's body is found inside Jordan's rented cark trunk. Things get all the worse when another body is found days later in her trunk? Who's trying to frame her for murder? Noah and Jordan's brother Nick take over the case. It seems someone wants to cover his tracks, and would do just about anything to keep his identity a secret.

This is obviously part of a series. I don't think I'll bother looking into the other books. You've read one romantic suspense novel starring a tough and gorgeous FBI agent and a damsel in distress and you've read them all. I only read this because I want to read Shadow Music, which is the prequel to this story, set in Medieval Scotland. I read The Bride and thought it was a fun and romantic read and have wanted to read more medieval-set romances by Julie Garwood ever since. This novel is okay, nothing special or innovative for this genre. The few times the heroine focuses on her family history are entertaining, but the rest is pretty straightforward. The suspense isn't quite so suspenseful. I kind of figured out who the killer was long before the author revealed it. All in all, Shadow Dance is an average read. I hope Shadow Music is better.

I will admit up front that I don't read a lot of romance. However, I'd heard a lot of good things about Julie Garwood's books, so when I saw this in the bookstore, I thought I'd give it a try.

Maybe I was at a disadvantage because I hadn't read any of the other Buchanan books. However, at least my lack of knowledge of the rest of the series allowed me to look at this one from a fairly objective angle, one not colored by previous experience with the author's work.

Unfortunately, I found the characters to be flat, the romance perfunctory (it almost felt as if they got together because the author felt they had to, not because of any real chemistry between them), the secondary characters cartoonish. Also, several plot threads were basically left dangling (I've noticed that I'm not the only reviewer who went "bwuh?" when the whole issue about the Buchanan/MacKenna feud was pretty much summarily dropped). Also (this is a pet peeve of mine), there was so much head-hopping (abrupt shifts in point of view) that I had to keep pausing to remind myself who was thinking what. That's just sloppy writing, as far as I'm concerned.

I didn't give this book one star because I did manage to finish it, as Ms. Garwood at least made me remotely interested as to how it would all turn out. But otherwise, I think the "meh" pretty much sums it up.

SHADOW DANCE started off with an ancient mystery concerning a Buchanan and MacKenna family feud. That's enough for me. I got comfortable and readied myself for a good read. Ms Garwood had my attention...but then lost it. Somehow the plot skidded all over the place and never came together. Once the professor, who informed the main character about the feud, died, so did any follow up to this story line. The pacing was very slow, which surprised me since the back cover promoted this book as a suspense. I expected cliff hanger chapters and edge-of-my-seat reading. Instead, I tried to get through this book on several occasions but ended up flipping the pages, hoping to find more information about the mystery. What I found were pages that dragged and never captured my attention.

Yet another author who apparently uses her idea of what Texas must be like instead of actually spending a significant amount of time there to do research.

The Texans were all almost exclusively stupid, corrupt, immoral, gossip-mongers or criminals. Even the friendly folks had skeletons in their closets or were vamps in disguise. Really over the top stupid.

The plot might have stood a chance otherwise.... despite the fact that the main character had an arms-length of people in high positions to save her. The heroine was a 'computer geek' so of course that meant she knew absolutely everything about everyone in the technology industry's job- from programming software to hardware installation to building processors! Oh brother!!!

This is the first in the series. The characters are strong and are woven repeatedly through the series. The books just get better and better. It was fun to encounter old friends in subsequent books. Exciting and well worth the time. My husband and I love this series.

Kudos to the reviewer who mentioned that this author mostly "tells" rather than "shows". But rather than having to read the whole book you can sum it up thusly: werewolves like to run. A lot. I mean a whole lot. They like to eat a lot. And sloppily. And drink water. They like to howl. (So far this sounds like my dog.) There is only one female werewolf so while she and her mate (who everyone can see from the beginning she is passionate about and is really quite bored with the milqtoast human she has cursory involvement with.) have sex, I'm not sure what the others do...except maybe fight over her. So, there you have it.

(to other aspiring writers)Do you ever have a moment your life when you have an idea and you think "wow I'm so original for thinking this! My book will be amazing!" Then you read something by someone else who had the exact same idea but what published before you? Yea. That's how Bitten was for me. I enjoyed the read but it kept me up at night wondering how to change my own novel. Her unique element is that the werewolves actually turn into wolves instead of some kind of demented human/wolf creature from Ginger Snaps.

If you like Anne Rice, you will like this. I love the werewolves almost as much as the vampires.

This was an OK read. I just don't understand writers who want to have a strong female protagonist but make her a girl instead of a woman. She wants to be treated just like the guys and even plays the "mine's bigger than yours" games. Then she acts like a spoiled teeny-bopper when someone says or does something she doesn't like - and never seems to "get it".

The male characters are much more believable and likable - hence the three stars. I'll try one more in the series to see if things improve.

Not as good as the first or third, but a must read to get to the last book in the series. A very quick read.

If you loved the queen of babble then you will love this book! Lizzie is back and full of her babbling. There are a lot of suprises that will leave your head spinning!!! LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!

This was a great SQL to the first queen of babble book. It was a great light summer read. The only problem is I wouldn't start it with out the the 3rd book in the series on hand because it segways into that pretty rapidly!

First, let me just say that I enjoyed the first book The Queen of Babble. I thought it was cute. I liked Lizzie, the zany main character as well as her friends Shari & Chaz. I thought Luke was dreamy and was happy at the ending as it stood.

I read the second book and am totally disappointed. It's predictable and trite. Luke becomes a shadow of the guy she fell in love with, Shari is angry (and transformed big time), and Chaz is just floating around in the background until he's not (you'll see what I mean if you choose to read this book).

The characters we came to know and love from the first book are not featured much and are really weak. I have decided to not read the third book and pretend that I've never seen the second. I liked the first story as a stand alone.

I'm terribly disappointed because I was looking forward to continuing the journey with Lizzie & Luke, Shari & Chaz, Luke's family, Lizzie's family and anyone new that came to be. I really feel like Meg Cabot betrayed her original characters. My theory is that her publishers saw an opportunity to sell more books and had her write two more books for a story that already had it's ending.

Boo. Hiss.

Our second installment in the Queen of Babble series by Meg Cabot picks up with Lizzie, our big mouthed heroine, moving to New York City to begin her life in the fashion industry and as a love interest for the sexy Luke. Rather than finding her own apartment, however, Lizzie allows herself to be talked into living with Luke in his mother's high rent abode across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While this seems to be a wonderful development, it does throw a wrench into BFF's Shari's plan for she and Lizzie to live together and keeps Lizzie from finding the independence she needs. Still, determined to be a success in NYC, Lizzie takes on a job refurbishing wedding dresses for free while also working part-time as a receptionist at a law firm and dreaming of Luke asking her to marry him.

This is a fun sequel to a light piece of chick lit that clearly fits the bill when you don't want to read anything heavy. Meg Cabot has a way of pulling you into her characters' lives with humor, and Lizzie is particularly engaging as the marriage-minded vintage fashionista whose head is in the clouds. Still, Lizzie's got a firm grip on what she wants from life and her skills in the refurbishing of wedding dresses bring success in unexpected ways. While there are moments you'd like to smack her, Lizzie is still someone you'd want as a friend, and Cabot has brought us another light bit of summer reading fun.