Whitney My Love ~ Historical Romance

Okay, I want to hear your answer!!! How many of you out there have those books that literally have fallen apart because you have read them so much? Please let me know, I want to make sure I'm not the only one! ;)  A few of my favorites are falling apart at the seams. Out of my entire library, my copy of ‘Whitney My Love’ is probably the most read, and you can tell by looking at it! I do believe it is time for a new copy, or just give in and download to Kobo. What do you think?

Judith McNaught has to be one of my favorite romance authors! I was first introduced to her books as a teenager. My mom had picked one or two up for a trip, and since I ran out of all my books, she let me read hers. I was immediately hooked and have passed on the love of her novels to several friends. She writes both modern day romance and historical romance and spins amazing and descriptive tales.  I am a firm believer that ‘Whitney My Love’ would make a fantastic movie on the big screen.

My brief description on the novel:  Whitney is a young lady who is not your typical debutante. She’s a strong willed girl, who doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the proper young ladies her age. She was raised in the English countryside by her father, as her mother died when she was young.
 She has a more awkward nature, and a taste for things that in her day and age are considered shocking for a young lady of good breeding. She likes to climb trees, stands while riding on horseback, wears boy’s breeches, and plays with sling shots. Whitney would have fit in just fine had she been a woman in modern time. She is a character I find I can relate to. 

Needless to say, her father is not happy with her behavior and enough becomes enough. He sends her to live with relatives and her transformation begins.  While away, she finds herself becoming quite popular in Paris and captures the attention of the Duke of Claymore, a man with a notorious reputation....

Have I captured your attention yet? If I have than it’s time for you to read a copy if you want to know Whitney's story! It goes great with a glass of wine and a bubble bath!

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning ~Paranormal Fantasy

Book One of the Fever Series: Dreamfever

I’m going to continue on with my Karen Marie Moning love-fest. I waited patiently for weeks to read this series. I decided to start the books on my vacation to Punta Cana, I knew it would be a great read and wanted to give myself plenty of ‘relaxing’ time to devour them. Naturally, I read them whilst sipping Pina Colada’s and sunning myself on the beach.  As a busy mom and housewife, it was just what the doctor ordered!

Rather than write about the entire series, I will pay attention to each book, as this series is so much different than the Highlander one. The two series do blend together, but you will find are polar opposites in style and characters.  The Highlander Series offers more romance, and gentler characters of good breeding and virtue. While the Fever novels are more action, fantasy and mystery with questionable characters and surprising villains.  I do recommend for the sake of really understand what is going on in the Fever series, you read the Highlander one first, BUT you don’t need to. It is fun to see characters from the first series cross over into the next!

In Dreamfever, we meet MacKayla Lane. She’s a southern belle, music lover and princess in pink. She receives a devastating phone call that changes her life and has her rushing off to Ireland. She discovers she is a Sidhe-seer, a person who can see the Fae. Mac ends up on a quest not only to find her sister’s murderer, but her true identity as she finds herself immersed in a frightening new reality. She meets a mysterious book shop owner named Jericho Barrons who knows things a normal person wouldn’t, and so begins a partnership of sorts. He needs her help finding the Sinsar Dubh, a book written by the Unseelie King, and she needs his help to stay alive. They don’t exactly trust one another, are very suspicious of each other and KMM captures that intensity quite well! 

Mac’s first experience with the Fae are Unseelie, which are the lesser ‘evil’ fairies. They like to project themselves as the most attractive of humans, but they are anything but. She only meets one ‘good’ (Seelie) fairy who is on a mission to help her save the world and recover the Sinsar Dubh, sent by the Seelie Queen.  Mac is very suspicious of him, but as a Sidheseer her instincts don’t let her trust any of the Fae. As far as she is concerned, they all can go away and die.

 I found myself literally on the edge of my seat, (or should I say my lounge chair) all the time, especially with the introduction of new characters and the walls between Man and Fae coming down. I was always trying to figure out who is good, who’s bad, and generally what Mac has got into! 

I don’t know about anyone else, but no matter what I read, fiction, non-fiction, news stories alike; I always find myself wondering if I would be like the heroine. I’d like to think I would be as strong as Mac’s character, but I am pretty sure I would run screaming in the opposite direction. You would eventually find me rocking back and forth in a corner somewhere. Her character has a lot of strength and resolve that increases over time. You really see a change in her from book one, to the final novel.

 I only had downloaded the first two books (Dreamfever and Bloodfever) for the trip, thinking I would be taking part in more activities than beach time. My husband surprised me by wanting to be more of a beach bum this trip, so both books were finished far too quickly! 

When I came to the end of Dreamfever, I literally screamed “NOOOOoooooo”. The cliff hanger has that effect on you and I have a bad habit of getting that sucked into a good story.

My hubby found it rather amusing because I was so obsessed with MacKayla’s story, that I re-read both books twice to keep the story going. I was barely off the plane before I hit the computer and downloaded the rest of the series to my Kobo. My apologies to my bank account.

If you haven't noticed, I'm really pushing Karen Marie Moning as an author, and HIGHLY recommend reading Dreamfever. I swear, she doesn't pay me. I am just a huge fan of her work.

The Highlander Series

Time travel, Highland Warriors, Druids and even Fairies.
Yup, sounds like the recipe for a cheesy novel, but I have news for you.... Karen Marie Moning knows how to write and it is anything but cheese!

I am writing about this series as a whole, as her books are my latest obsession. I promise, there are no spoilers. Just what the novels are about and my take!

I first came across this series while perusing Kobo for something interesting. 'Beyond The Highland Mist' was put into my recommended reads. It looked interesting, but I had a hard time wrapping my head around a 'time traveling' love story. How do you beat 'The Time Travelers Wife'?
I ignored it, and than purchased another book. Later on, when I went onto Kobo for my next read, the suggestion again popped up. I decided to give it a try.
And so, an addiction was born.

I couldn't put 'Beyond The Highland Mist Down'. I read it every moment I could. Stayed up very late after the kids bedtime,and finished the book over my breakfast. Only to read it again right away! I love how most of the story is set in Scotland. One of my favorite countries and place of my father's birth!

Each of the novels have the same general theme, just a different story. All the books weave together, so we get to revisit our characters, and see things continue as the books go on.
Modern Woman being thrown back in time due to some sort of magic, whether it be a Fairy, Curse, or Spell.

It's very very entertaining and sometimes I had to laugh because the woman said or did things that I would probably do if I were tossed back a few centuries. A man tell me what to do? HA! Please.

The characters are very witty. The women depicted in each novel is almost 'the' perfect woman. Smart, sexy and tough as nails. They have to be when dealing with the challenges (and Men!) that come their way!
 The men are all brute, gorgeous...(massively stubborn, pigheaded, arrogant....) but they are very likable 'Manly Men' who have soft spots for their lady loves.

I think my only complaint would be that the male characters are in a sense, the 'same'  man, right down to hair colors, attitude and brawn. I know some of them are related, which okay, they should have similar characteristics, but I just wish at least there was a bit more variety. Throw a handsome blonde hair male hero in, you know... mix it up.... I am sure she did this on purpose, but still...it's my only complaint.

The Fae are the really interesting part of the whole series, and if it wasn't for them, this series wouldn't work at all. We learn about their world, and their story and how they aren't what one may think. Hint: They aren't tiny little creatures with wings and fairy dust.
One Fairy especially named Adam Black has to be one of my favorite characters. He's a very mischievous fairy who is fascinated with humans. You find him poking his nose around and you get to know a lot about him.

 In total there are 7 novels.
 "Beyond The Highland Mist" 
"To Tame A Highland Warrior"
"The Highlanders Touch"
"Kiss of the Highlander"
"The Dark Highlander"
"The Immortal Highlander"
"Spell of the Highlander"

and one novella called "Into The Dreaming" (which I still have yet to get a copy of!)

If you like Historical Romances, Romance, or even 'Fantasy' (Romantic although)  read's, than you have to check these out. Even if you don't, go to your local library and 'try' it out. I was skeptical too. and look how it turned out!

The good news is, Karen Marie Moning has another series that ties into this one. Less romance, more fantasy, more action, but the story keeps going....... There is a reason she is a best selling author!

 I would love to hear from you if you have read the Highlander series, or will be!!

Introducing Me, Myself and Irene.

It's 2012 and I am doing things that are 'outside the box' this year.
I've signed up for sponsored walks, I went zip-lining in the Dominican, and you are now reading my latest adventure.

I don't pretend to be a writer. I don't pretend to be a literary scholar. I'm just a simple everyday female who loves to shove her nose in a book and tune out the world.

Not only was I born with the love of reading, I have the added bonus of being a speed reader. A gift which I am very thankful to have! I can polish a novel off rather quickly absorbing every detail!

In my world. I prefer novels to movies. I like using my imagination, rather than what Hollywood wants me to see.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy reading a novel and seeing it come to life on the big screen, but any avid reader will agree, the book is always so much better!
 I will re-read my favorites until they are falling apart, and than I replace them! Thankfully e-readers were invented, it can get expensive!

My reasons for deciding to blog are simple. I am constantly recommending books that my friends and family have never heard of. It seems so much easier to write it down, and send them the link!
I also hope to network and chat with people who love to read, and can recommend some new authors and series!
 
You may have noticed I haven't mentioned authors or genres, and that is intentional! I need something to blog about next time!

Stay Tuned!