I finished Natural Born Charmer over the weekend & loved it! I hadn't read SEP in awhile & was pleasantly surprised by just how much I did enjoy it. Such great, witty dialogue & interaction among the characters.

I read Paint It Red by Carla Cassidy, which was only okay & am now reading Every Move You Make by her. It has a character from the previous book as the hero. Sure hope it's a better book.

I'm starting the paranormal romance anthology, Shifter. The first story is one by Angela Knight and looks good based on the two paragraphs I've read so far :-)

I just started Son of Morning by Linda Howard this morning on the train to work. It sounds like it will be very Da Vinci Code in theme but a ton more fun. Any thoughts?

#3 I'm going to be reading Son of the Morning soon, I recently got it in the mail from PBS, I'd like to know what you think of it when you're done. I thought it looked good!

Son of the Morning is one of my favorite books! Enjoy!

Jenson_AKA_DL,
I have read Shifter and I loved it! I was happy that the publishers put so many great authors together in one book. The only thing I do not like about anothologies is the fact that, to me at least, the stories are too short. :( But it does give you a chance to sample new author's work. I have found some new authors (new to me, at least) this way.

I finished Highland Guardian, In Darkness Reborn and Outlander last week.

Yesterday I started Dragonfly in Amber, which I am loving, of course! Also, I am reading Prince of Swords, which seems pretty good so far. Of course, I am a little lost, simple because I have failed to read any of the other, what?, 5 books that come before it. But, like most romance books, it can be read as a stand alone.. Though usually I try to keep the books in the right reading order.. Oh well.

After I finish those two, I'm not sure what I'll move onto... I would like to start Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series, but I do not have all of them, and this seems like a series that I will want to read in the exact order... Guess I'll be putting those off for another week or so.. Will probably grab a historical one-- I have a Victoria Alexander book, The Wedding Bargain, that I have yet to read, along with a Jacquie D'Alessandro, Never a Lady, which has been in the pile for a while also..

Ah, why does it have to be soo hard to chose a new book to read after finishing another one? But I'm guess that having over 130 of them to chose from at home does not help my choices much, right? :)

Message edited by its author, Jun 23, 2008, 12:06pm.

I finished Sealed with a kiss by Carly Phillips it wasn't that bad CC. It wasn't as good as the first one but I wouldn't call it boring. But altoghter I like her character driven books better then her plot driven ones.

Also started Treasure of the sun by Christina Dodd.

Julia

I read The Lost Duke of Wyndham. I enjoyed it, but thought the heroine was a little boring. But I do think the whole Duke switch situation has been done before. Cathy Maxwell, anyone?

I am also reading Winter Garden.

I am currently reading Amaryllis from the Curtain series. I have recently gotten a hold of all the books in this series (or they're on their way in the mail) so I am excited to finish. I had read Amaryllis, Zinnia and Orchid before and had no idea that the series continued. (Thanks, LT series function!)

I just finished my first Kathleen Woodweiss book "The Wolf and the Dove" (and I can't believe I took so long to getting around to reading her, despite the numerous recommendations). I'm now working on Debbie Macomber's "The Shop on Blossom Street"

Lady, The Wolf and The Dove was one of the very first romances I ever read, back in high school. I still remember practically all of it, that and The Flame and The Flower!

CC

I just recently bought The Wolf and the Dove again and loved it almost as much as the first time I read it. (CC, it was one of my first romances too.) Funny, though, I re-read The Flame and the Flower at the same time, and didn't care for that the second time.

I just reread The Endearment by Lavyrle Spencer and have begun To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt. So far it seems pretty good. I also have two audios going!

I'm working on the Dark-Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Currently reading Night Embrace and I have the next two lined up and ready to go.

I just finished Son of the Morning by Linda Howard. First off, let me just say that I liked it a lot. It had me turning pages like there was no tomorrow, and the love scenes were definitely of the full-blown sauna variety. Fun.

But I really wouldn't have called this a romance novel. Not that that's a bad thing, but it was different than I was expecting. The story was more of a straight up thriller that focused more than your usual pulp thriller on the main character's emotional reactions and development. And I really enjoyed it for what it actually turned out to be, but the 'romance' aspects are definitely not central to the plot - important but not the focus.

Bottom line? Gripping, intriguing, I loved the puzzle with the ancient documents and the history snippets about the Templars. I also liked the strange connection between Niall and Grace. But read it as a thriller with romantic elements, don't read it as a romance.

#11 CC and #12 anamuhandis - I keep hearing about The Flame and the Flower but I think I've figured out why it's taken me so long to get around a Woodiwiss book. That's the one book that everyone recommends but when I read a summary of the plot I'm not very interested. I think I'll try some of her other works like Shanna or A Rose in Winter instead...now to resist the temptation to blow my paycheck on books...

lady_perrin: The Flame and the Flower was the first Woodiwiss I ever read, and I really liked it. However, I think A Rose in Winter is my favorite by Woodiwiss. It's got some kind of typical 1970's/80's cheesy plot devices, but if you can just let that go, it's a wonderful beauty and the beast story.

edited to add: (I forgot to say what I'm reading - duh!) I'm reading The Duke Next Door by Celeste Bradley. I know everyone else thinks that Desperately Seeking a Duke was really good, but I only thought it was so-so. I found the heroine a bit lackluster. Also, I've never been crazy about "love at first sight" plots - I had a hard time buying the fact that the hero and heroine fell for each other over a half-hour at a ball and then seemed to be able to sense what the other person was thinking all the time, etc. The second half of the book improved a lot though and I found myself enjoying it better by the end. So far, though, The Duke Next Door has been very enjoyable. I like Deirdre a lot.

Message edited by its author, Jun 25, 2008, 5:19pm.

I just finished Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton. I enjoy the Anita Blake series.

I just started Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter, and while the idea of actually meeting Mr. Darcy on a Jane-Austen themed tour of England sounds like a lot of fun... It's less fun when the author says he's wearing 'cute Victorian clothes'. VICTORIAN? *headdesk*

Also he seems to be way too comfortable dating her in a distinctly unchaperoned manner. I marshal on (I have to have something to read on the tube), but good grief! Victorian?!

I finished Shifter and started Dark Angel, the third of Lucy Blue's vampire romance series. I think this is the last book, but I won't know for sure until I finish it.

I tried to read a book I had checked out from the library, but couldn't get into it, so I put it aside & picked up Pitch Black by Susan Crandall. It's gotten off to a great start; much better than the library book.

#17 Katybear

Thanks for the recommendation on A Rose in Winter I'm looking forwarded to reading it now.

#19 Caramellunacy

I've read Me and Mr. Darcy and I agree that there was some anachronistic features but the idea was pretty intriguing. I do remember I struggled a bit to stay interested enough to finish the book, but overall it was okay.

I read Your Scandalous Ways last night. I enjoyed it, but had a few problems with it.

SPOILERS BELOW:

I usually don't mind this, but it bothered me that James slept with Marta. She was portrayed as a low-class, illiterate, bloodthirsty criminal and yet he still does her? I would have rather he just outsmarted her.

There is only one scene featuring Francesca's ex and his grasping mistress at the beginning of the book and at the end everything is just wrapped up too nicely. It was like, here's just a hint of how villainous these two are and well, that's all you get.

Francesca's dad and the scandal involving her ex-husband was not well-drawn. What was the reason he assumed the title of Magny and moved to France for so long? Why is the nature of their relationship such a secret?

James' past is not well-drawn either. We know that he was recruited young and that Francesca's ex betrayed him and his men, imprisoning them in France. James hints at losing his conscience in France and living a dark life, never returning home. What led him to this life? What made him lose his conscience? None of this is ever well-explained.

I found myself liking Francesca more than I thought I would, given my track record with foreign-ish heroines.

Anyway, despite these flaws, I liked the book, but am considering swapping it.

#19 and 22 - I read Me and Mr. Darcy not too long ago and I got the impression she said "Victorian" because she wasn't all that bright and seeing Mr. Darcy all of a sudden (she doesn't realize it's him at first) she just figures it's Victorian clothes since they're old fashioned looking. At least that's the way I read into it. She bothered me. The premise was fun, but I found the parts with Mr. Darcy were actually pretty dull!

Just finished... Kiss An Angle by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Really good book about learning new things.

Hey buterfly, welcome to the group!

I'm finally starting The Duke and I, I've wanted to start this series for a long time, my first Julia Quinn book!

I just read By Love Undone and it was fabulous. I was impressed because it is an earlier Suzanne Enoch and the one that follows Taming Rafe is not nearly as good. I read Taming Rafe earlier this year, not realizing it was the second of two stories featuring the Bancroft brothers. Anyway, I highly recommend this story. It is entertaining and has a likeable h/h (although Maddie IS stubborn).

Just finished Catherine Asaro new book The Night Bird and enjoyed it, but I'm about ready to be tired of the Lost Continent books. Initially I didn't feel the worldbuilding on the series was deep enough. Now I'm just kind of tired of all the previous romances, although she does an ok job on seeing some of the previous couples from the outside.

Undead and Unworthy is a Queen Betsy book and about as substantial as cotton candy, but I like it. I do feel vaguely like I'm being taken to the cleaners by these being hardcovers, and I would rather we got a little further in the story arc, but I'm ok. I see these being reissued as omnibuses in a couple of years. Her (spoiler's) ghost keeps popping in and takes up entirely too much time for something that doesn't advance in the story at all.

Eloisa James's Duchess by Night is another one of the Duchess series and I liked this particular romance a lot.

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched is another lightish series book. These are interesting because the heroine does sleep with the guy she clearly isn't going to end up marrying. Very much borderline (or more than borderline) chicklit, unreliable first person narrator.

Sister's Choice by Emilie Richards doesn't want to touchstone (and none of the authors want to touchstone. Sort of tearjerker issue book, almost too heavy handed with some issues around a woman chosing to be a surrogate to carry the child conceived by her sister. Some pretty heavyhanded coincidences but Richards does it well enough to make me keep buying. And lovely quilt stuff.

I'm reading Dangerous Lover by Lisa Marie Rice and enjoying it quite a bit. It's been in my TBR pile for a while, and I picked it up because I need to decide whether to buy her next 'Dangerous' one (Fictionwise is having a sale).

I am just beginning Joanna Bourne's My Lord and Spymaster. I loved her first one The Spymasters Lady so I am hoping this is as good! It is a rainy, yucky day so that should keep me entertained.

I also picked up Suzanne Enoch's new book After the Kiss and Eloisa James new book Duchess by Night so if the rain keeps up and it looks like it will I have a good week for reading ahead!

ktleyed, I loved the Duke and I. In fact I really liked the whole Bridgerton series. So, enjoy!

Roms, great to see you here again! Thanks for the reviews.

Ana, have you read LMR's Midnight series? I thought they were excellent, as was Dangerous Lover.

PM, I'm keeping company with Suzanne Enoch's newest, too. So far, so good!

CC

Dangerous Lover is the only one by Rice I've read so far. I'll have to keep an eye out for the Midnight series. (I did up buying Dangerous Secrets, but Fictionwise only has the two by her.)

Well, I've finished Prince of Swords about 5 days, along with The Wedding Bargain, which I mentioned reading on here. Loved them both. I also finished, early this morning, The Beast In Him which I also really liked.

Still on Dragonfly in Amber, but only because I am trying to make myself get through my huge pile, so in order to get some Dragonfly in Amber time, I have to read 60 pages in the other book I am reading at the time. That allows me about 40 or so in D. in A. Plus, I am trying to savor it as much as I can-- it's just so good!

I just started Heat of the Night , which is good so far, but since I didn't grab the first book *same thing with The Beast in Him* I might be a little bit lost. But I'll pick those up next time!

If any of you would like to read my reviews on the books I've read lately *starting a couple weeks ago*, feel free to visit my blog:
http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.c...

If you have already, thank you and I hope you enjoy!

Message edited by its author, Jun 29, 2008, 6:07pm.

gracer - Thanks for the info on Taming Rafe and By Love Undone. I've had Taming Rafe on my TBR for months, but have been holding off on reading it until I read By Love Undone. Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck getthing hold of BLU (I think it's out of print right now). I'm looking forward to reading Enoch's new book though!

ktleyed - I read Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series a while back and really enjoyed them. Be sure to read them all in order! :) I'll be interested to see what you think, which are your favorites, etc.

I'm reading Celeste Bradley's Duke Most Wanted. It's really good. I like this series a lot, but I still think her Liar's Club/Royal Four series were the best!

I don't know what was just going on with LT, but it's back now.

katybear, I still think Taming Rafe is good and worth reading, but it definitely is an earlier Enoch. By Love Undone didn't give me that feeling and I really enjoyed the story. Also, By Love Undone is being re-released towards the end of the summer. So you'll get your chance!

I read Lorraine Heath's A Duke of Her Own and found it satisfactory. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. It comes before Just Wicked Enough. Too bad the other two books in the series are on hold and Lorraine's starting a new series.

I just finished The Duke and I and I really liked it! It was fun and frothy, but still had some emotional depth to it. We knew what the characters were feeling and thinking and I know I'll love the rest of this series! The repartee between Daphne and Simon was so much fun, especially in the beginning and I loved all the interaction with her three brothers - especially Colin! (Please tell me there is a book on him!) Plus, I liked how Daphne stood up for herself and could speak her mind, and she didn't cower under Simon once they were married and she could tell him off and kick him out of her room and didn't cave - and very literally took things into her own hands! I really liked her a lot. I felt sorry for Simon and all the psychological damage he had due to his father's abandonment which only made it all the more sweet at the end.

ktleyed, Glad you liked The Duke and I and yes Colin does get his own book! I did like the way that Quinn addressed the stuttering issue and how hard Simon worked to overcome it. She does introduce some interesting issues in her series.

ktleyed, The Duke and I was the first Julia Quinn that I read, too. I then went back and read all the books she wrote before that. I think Brighter than the Sun was my fave.

BTW, other LTers. What was your favorite Bridgerton? Mine was definitely Daphne's story.

I hated Gregory's book, wasn't into the hero of Francesca's book, but liked the rest of them.

MplsGirl - I actually really liked Gregory's story (On the Way to the Wedding) - but boy, was that a gut-wrenching read! My other faves were Colin's (Romancing Mister Bridgerton) and Anthony's (The Viscount Who Loved Me) stories. I liked all the books in this series pretty well, though!

Message edited by its author, Jun 30, 2008, 9:36am.

MplsGirl and katybear - I absolutely adore Benedict's story (An Offer From a Gentleman). I'm a sucker for a Cinderella story.

I just finished the Viscount who Loved Me, and now I'm itching to read the rest of this series. I have to say I really enjoy the sense of humor that runs through the book.

Yes, Julia Quinn has a great sense of humor and it really shows in her writings. I am not sure which is my favorite. It is either The Viscount Who Loved Me or Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. I really like all of them.

Oooh, they all sound so good! I can't wait to read about all the other family members!

My favorite Bridgerton story is Eloise's To Sir Phillip With Love but I also enjoyed The Viscount Who Loved Me and The Duke and I alot. I have to be honest, I've struggled to finish Francesca's book but that's more due to what the plot is about than Ms. Quinn's writing style.

Okay, then. I just finished On the Way to the Wedding and I won't say I hated it, but I found it dull and boring. I wrote a review if you want to read it.

I guess I'm interested in knowing what some readers found so wonderful about this book. What part caused you to cry? I never felt emotionally invested in any of the characters.

My favorite Julia Quinn books are: The Viscount Who Loved Me and To Catch an Heiress.

I am waiting for the second The Lost Duke of Wyndham book to be released Mr. Cavendish, I Presume before the I read the first one.

Message edited by its author, Aug 26, 2008, 9:50pm.

I just recently finished The Viscount Who Loved Me while on vacation and I really enjoyed it! I think I liked it more than The Duke and I, I found this heroine and hero much more endearing, I can't wait to read the next one!