Shell Shaker: LeAnne Howe

“Why was Red Shoes, the most formidable Choctaw warrior of the eighteenth century, assassinated by his own people?  Why does his death haunt Auda Billy, an Oklahoma Choctaw woman, accused in 1991 of murdering Choctaw Chief Redford McAlester?  Moving between the known details of Red Shoes’ life and the riddle of McAlester’s death, this novel traces the history of the Billy women whose destiny it is to solve both murders—with the help of a powerful spirit known as the Shell Shaker.”

As you may have guessed, this was another book that was not of my own choosing.  It was another novel for my Multicultural American Novel course.  My instructor has Native American blood, so this course has a couple of Native American books assigned.  Shell Shaker was obviously one of them.

I must say that the first chapter did a pretty good job of drawing me in.  I love historical fiction, so the portions told from Shakbatina’s and the other eighteenth century Native Americans’ points of view were interesting to me.  I was expecting to feel the same way about the “modern” portions of the story, but, unfortunately, I did not.  As much as I appreciated the unique way that the story was told—flipping back and forth between the past lives of the characters and the present—I did not feel any sort of attachment to them.  They felt very flat.  I think this is perhaps because the author spent so much time working on making connections between the characters’ past and present selves that there was not enough time to really round them out.  On top of it, the story had so many different characters and was told from several different points of view.  This hindered my creating an attachment to any one or two characters.  I felt very little sympathy for anyone other than the first character I was introduced to:  Shakbatina.  Even Auda, who has terrible things done to her and does suffer, seemed very “fake”. (I’m sure there’s a better word to be used here, but I cannot find it.  I simply mean that she wasn’t fleshed out enough for me.)  Rather than sympathy, I felt pity.  I know it is easy for me to say that it’s stupid because I have never been in such a situation, but I have a hard time connecting with female characters who allow themselves to be led on, tricked, abused, and they choose to remain in that situation.  Overall, I would have to say that I connected the most with Isaac Billy.  His kind heart and quick wit were very endearing.

I wish I had enjoyed this book more.  It was a fairly quick read, but I wish I’d relished the process.  I am not a fan of “magic” books and this was one of those.  I’m not against the supernatural, but this one was a little bit too over the top for me.  I’m sure that there are those out there who love this book—more power to them.  This one was just not for me—not terrible!  Just not for me.

A Stolen Heart (Montford Heirs, Book One): Candace Camp

“Lord Thorpe’s new business partner is not at all what he’d expected. Beautiful and outspoken, Alexandra Ward is also the perfect image of a woman long thought dead.

“Straight from America, Alexandra finds London a strange new world, one fraught with danger. Her appearance on Thorpe’s arm sends shock rippling through society, arouses, hushed whispers in the night. Is she a schemer in search of a dead woman’s fortune, or an innocent caught up in circumstances she doesn’t understand?

“Someone knows the truth, someone who doesn’t want Alexandra to learn too much. Only Lord Thorpe can help her--if he can overcome his own suspicions. But even if he does, at what price?”

My initial thoughts are that this sounds a bit like the Disney version of Russia’s “missing” Princess Anastasia. I’m optimistic that it will take a turn from the usual “missing heiress” plot line. Some brief reviews I’ve read for this book are good, so I’m looking forward to reading it.

...

I put this book down for a couple of weeks while I focused on Harry Potter and several others (this book was initially begun right after Donovan’s Bed, so that tells you how long it’s been since I started it). However, now that I’m reading it again, I’m enjoying it. I will go back to my earlier statement about how similar this plot line is to Disney’s Anastasia. I don’t want to give too much away, but the actions and characters are so similar that the only diversions I can find are the lack of a Dimitri trying to pass Alexandra (Anastasia) off as an impostor who is, in fact, the real thing, and a little white bat named Bartok. I honestly haven’t decided if this is a bad thing or not. I still want to read the book and find out what happens, so I’m not bored. I like the premise of the book and I still find it interesting though it’s so similar to a popular movie from my childhood.

...

I got distracted yesterday and didn’t get to finish my train of thought. Anyway, I like the story so far, no matter how similar it is to Anastasia. I’ve read a little bit more since yesterday and I think I can see where the plot is going. It’s not entirely predictable though, because I want to see how they get there (if that makes sense to anyone other than myself, I’ll be impressed). I’m off to read more!

...

Sorry this review took me a while to complete; I was out of state completing my move and didn’t have my laptop on me because it would have been too much to worry about.

Anyway, I really ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. I’ve overplayed the Anastasia angle and won’t go into it again. I did think that the latter half of the book contained MANY plot twists that could have been plucked out and made into its own fantastic novel. I haven’t decided if the loaded plot is amazing or slightly overdone.

I really enjoyed this book and Camp is a wonderful author. I liked the characters and the drama. This book easily could have been overdone, but I think it was handled very, very well. I can’t wait to get the next in the series!

The Raven Prince (Princes Trilogy, Book One): Elizabeth Hoyt

“THERE COMES A TIME IN A LADY’S LIFE

“Widowed Anna Wren is having a wretched day. After an arrogant male on horseback nearly squashes her, she arrives home to learn that she is in dire financial straits.

“WHEN SHE MUST DO THE UNTHINKABLE…

“The Earl of Swarthingham is in a quandary. Having frightened off two secretaries, Edward de Raaf needs someone who can withstand his bad temper and boorish behavior.

“AND FIND EMPLOYMENT.

“When Anna becomes the earl’s secretary, it would seem that both their problems are solved. Then she discovers he plans to visit the most notorious brothel in London for his “manly” needs. Well! Anna sees red—and decides to assuage her “womanly” desires…with the earl as her unknowing lover.”

Elizabeth Hoyt was another author that I’ve had on my “to read” list and I’ve just been able to sit down with one of her books. Obviously, I read it pretty quickly! Her style is unique and fun and flirty. The characters were, IN ALL HONESTY, so distinctive! Her male lead was not the norm and it made the book that much more fantastic. (Just a note for you readers, BE CERTAIN YOU READ THE VERY LAST PAGES OF THE BOOK! They contain a little interview with “Edward” over the typical male lead. It was so funny and I loved it!) I also have to give Hoyt some serious props for having a fairytale to go along with her book. It was incredibly creative and really helped add to the escape that books provide.

I look forward to reading the next in this series!

Sweet Release (Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy, Book One): Pamela Clare

“For five pounds in cash, the convict was hers. Though Cassie hated the slave trade, her Virginia plantation demanded labor, and she knew this fevered man would surely die is she left him. But as his wounds healed and his muscled chest bronzed from the sun, Cassie realized Cole Braden was far more dangerous that his papers had indicated—for he could steal her breath with a glance or lay siege to her senses with a touch.

“Abducted, beaten, and given a new name, Alec went from master of an English shipbuilding empire to fourteen years of indentured servitude in the American colonies. There, he was known as Cole Braden, a convicted ravisher and defiler of women. And while he longed to ravish the auburn-haired beauty who owned him, he knew his one hope of earning her love—and his freedom—was to prove his true identity. Only then could he turn the tables and attain his…Sweet Release.”

Once more, I was looking for a new author to read and discovered a real gem! I want to cut straight to the chase: Pamela Clare’s writing was absolutely fantastic. Her characters were stunning and her plot was completely unique. I was so pulled in by her story that I simply could not put it down.

Normally, I am undaunted by the size of a book, but this one seemed like it would take me forever. The writing—though terribly interesting—made me feel that this would be a long-winded book. However, the more I read, the more I enjoyed myself. So, as a note to readers, don’t be intimidated. You must read further to get the full effect of this fantastic author. She’s extremely talented and I am excited about reading more of her works in the very near future.

A Perilous Attraction: Patricia Frances Rowell

“Being Force-Marched To The Alter Made An Inauspicious Start To Marriage

“But because dire financial straits had bound her to the enigmatic Earl of Caldbeck, Catherine Maury resolved to make the best of it. Yet could she break through his mysterious restraint an uncover the secret of his true nature?

“Charles Randolph, Earl of Caldbeck, had always guarded his emotions closely, and an insidious danger to his people only deepened his reserve. But now that he’d taken fiery, greathearted Catherine to wife, he could feel that the walls around his heart were close to tumbling down!”

So, I read this nearly a year ago, but it was during that period where I just did not review anything that I read. If my memory serves me correctly, this was an entertaining read. I remember liking Caldbeck very much and finding the plot unique and interesting. It was the first—and, so far—the only work that I’ve read by Patricia Frances Rowell and I really actually enjoyed it. It made me smile and it was a decent read. I would recommend it.

A Touch so Wicked (Sin Series, Book Three): Connie Mason

“The bold English knight and the strong-willed Highland lady—their people were sworn enemies…but their passion had a will of its own!

“HIS PRISONER, HIS DESIRE…

“On ordered from his king, the landless knight Damian Stratton arrives in the Scottish Highlands to prevent the wedding that would unite two powerful clans against the English crown. But the intended bride—the wild, headstrong Elissa, Maiden of Misterly—cannot be so easily deterred. Though she is Damian’s captive, the proud, defiant, and dangerously alluring lady will never be confined to a convent, nor will she abandon her family or her determined goal of wedding the Gordon laird—leaving Damian little choice but to marry Elissa himself!

“…HIS BRIDE

“The brazen villain will soon learn that he has met his match! Yet Elissa Fraser can’t help but be moved by Damian’s tenderness and nobility…and by a most perilous desire that has no place in her heart. Nothing good can come from uniting with this knight, who first stole her freedom, and now takes her breath away. And though she has brought the dashing enemy warrior to his knees, it is Elissa who now must surrender…to her passion and to his love.”

I loved this trilogy of books by Connie Mason! This was the perfect finish for the "Sin Series" and I couldn’t be happier.

I was so captivated by the plot and the characters that I completely devoured the book in such a short span of time. Mason’s style is unique and abundantly fascinating—it’s hard not to get enthralled!

Her depictions of 18th century England and Scotland were beautiful and made me feel as if I were actually watching a fascinating romance film on the time period. Not many authors can pull that off and Mason succeeded once more.

Of course, I cannot wait to read more of her works as soon as possible!

My Wicked Pirate: Rona Sharon

***I read this book on my Kindle, so I don’t have the exact wording on the back of the book, so this is the one from Rona Sharon’s site. I will try to fix it as soon as I can!***

“First he gave her a wicked kiss…

“Azure-eyed Alanis was by far the most exquisite treasure ever claimed by the black pirate known as the Viper, but his motives went deeper than his silken promise to ravish the feisty Yorkshire heiress. Commanding the waters of the Caribbean was his mean to an end: reclaiming his birthright—and his blood debt against those who had betrayed him.

“Then he gave her nights of wicked pleasure…

“Comfortably betrothed to a nobleman, Alanis never imagined the heady emotions in the true games of seduction—games this blackguard seemed to thoroughly enjoy playing with her. Swept up into an adventure that soon revealed a gentleman and a kindred spirit beneath the ruthless veneer of a privateer, Alanis began to soften towards her enigmatic captor, as her pride and her heart fell under his erotic spell…”

This is the second of Rona Sharon’s books that I have read and—once again—I LOVED it!!! Her books may seem long and daunting to the casual reader, but I assure you, every single page is required. Sharon is a gifted and absolutely amazing writer. When other authors write historical fiction, they may include some facts that help verify the time period and nothing more. Sharon on the other hand has a TREMENDOUS amount of facts and includes well-known wars and generals, Emperors, Popes, monarchs…and it is not tedious in the least. She dares to make her time period completely authentic and I applaud her for that.

Also, her characters are amazing. They are SO real! (And I know I tend to say that, but in this case I REALLY mean it!) There are so many facets to them that they seem like they could have been actual human beings. It’s really, truly a talent.

This book was wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend reading any of Rona Sharon’s works. I never want them to end!!! She has a new book coming out in April and I am SO excited! Look for Rona Sharon's Royal Blood.

A Breath of Scandal (Sin Series, Book Two): Connie Mason

“She claimed him as her husband without even knowing his name. Now she will risk everything to keep his secret—but can she give her heart without having his love in return?

“A Dangerous Man of Mystery

“Lord Julian Thornton, Earl of Mansfield by day and a secret agent of the crown by night has sworn never to love another woman. But then a mission goes wrong and Julian is left for dead, his only hope a seductively mysterious gypsy woman named Lara. And when she marries him under gypsy law for his own protection, Julian is too entranced with the dark beauty to deny himself the benefits of their “marriage.” Yet even as he longs for their idyllic interlude to last, Julian knows his presence alone puts her very life in danger. Until he discovered Lara is the one place he never expected to see his wild gypsy enchantress…the one place where he isn’t sure he can protect her—or his own heart.

“A Wild Gypsy Enchantress

“From the moment Lady Lara, half-gypsy daughter of the Earl of Stanhope, finds a wounded stranger wash up on Scotland’s rugged shore, she knows their destinies will be forever entangled. So when a band of smugglers comes looking for the dashing stranger, Lara doesn’t hesitate to claim him as her husband “Drago.” But when her mysterious husband goes back to his own world—and its dark secrets—Lara returns to her father to take her place as heiress…never expecting to see Drago across the earl’s crowded ballroom. And although he still enthralls her, Lara is determined that she will never truly be his wife until he surrenders his heart as well.”

This is the second book in the Sin series and it was wonderful! The characters were so much fun to follow—I love it when an author has a knack for incorporating characters from previous books. The language was eloquent and everything was very well-written. However, I must say that the last chapters were fairly similar to A Taste of Sin. I won’t give anything away, but if you read it, you’ll know exactly about what I’m talking about. Other than that, I loved the book and kind of wished there was more to read about the brothers!

Connie Mason has a wonderful ability to write characters that are so easy to love and feel for. I highly recommend any of her books and cannot wait to read more!

A Taste of Sin (Sin Series, Book One): Connie Mason

“Come hell or high water, Lady Christy would have her wedding night at last. But first she had to seduce the dashing rogue who has claimed her as bride—in name only!

“A SCORNED WIFE’S DUE

“Lady Christy Macdonald had been ordered to marry St. John Thornton when she was a mere child. But her wedding day was the last time the spirited Scottish beauty had set eyes on her English bridegroom, who has become the notorious rake they call “Lord Sin.” Now she is a woman, and under pressure to end her sham marriage in order to wed the Cameron chieftain. Yet fiery, independent Christy wants a new groom even less than she wanted the first. So she hatches a plan to secure an heir and deter a suitor by seducing the infamous “Sin.”

“A TASTE OF SINFUL PLEASURE

“Dashing St. John—or “Sinjun” as he is known—never recognized the wild Scottish girl he’d married in the mysterious lovely lady who swept into his life, and into his bed, before vanishing without a trace. All the charming rogue knows is that he has never tasted lips so sweet or experienced a night so rapturously satisfying in all his years of shameless carousing. Married or no, Sinjun must track the lady down to have her again and for all time, his bride in distant Scotland be hanged! But he cannot imagine that the wife he abandoned—the one woman he never cares to know—is the one love he cannot live without!”

I’ve read Connie Mason once before and this just solidified her place in my list of favorite authors!!! I laughed, smiled, and nearly cried with the characters. Her plots are SO different from the usual romance novel and it really is unbelievably refreshing.

Her characters are so interesting and real—though I tend to say that a lot, this time, I MEAN IT!—and I wish that there were even more chapters! I’m very excited to read the second in this trio of books and you will be sure to hear more about Connie Mason soon!

Heather and Velvet: Teresa Medeiros

“One moment Prudence Walker is living the life of a plain, dutiful orphan, searching forher lost kitten during a storm; the next she finds herself lying in a highwayman's arms. Wounded in a foiled robbery attempt, the dreaded Scottish highwayman seems harmless enough—until he steals her will and her heart with his honeyed kisses.“The innocent lass is everything Sebastian Kerr has ever wanted, but believed he could never have. When she discovers the dangerous double life he is leading, he is forced to risk his own life to save hers. It doesn't take him long to realize that he must win the one treasure he cannot steal—Prudence's love.”

I haven’t had a chance to read Teresa Medieros in a while, and this book reaffirmed my passion for her writing! It was a wonderfully written story with her own unique twists. Although I will admit—and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m so used to her writing or what—but I was able to pick out the plot turns before they happened. This by NO means ruined the book at all! It was still fantastic!

Sebastian was so well-written and it was so hard not to feel for him and Prudence. Both of them suffered so much and it was amazing to see them develop and grow. They were charming, tortured, and so real. It was so much fun to read Medeiros again!

McClairen's Isle--The Ravishing One: Connie Brockway

“Fia: The Ravishing One

“She is the toast of London society. But Fia Merrick gives her heart to no one, for love is a weakness she cannot afford. Once she would have given her soul to Thomas McClairen, until he shattered her innocent dreams. Now he is back, a convict returned to England in disguise to abduct Fia to Scotland, to McClairen’s Isle. There, as Fia seeks her revenge in seduction, a passion is ignited that defies the past and cannot be denied…”

I finished this book last night and it was pretty good. I have to say that—though it is not my favorite of the series—it is the most well-written. There weren’t really the “plot holes” that I saw in the previous books and there seemed to be an improvement on the writing style itself. I started out this book with the sole intention of “surviving” it just to finish the McClairen’s Isle series. I don’t want to give too much away, but I really enjoyed how Connie Brockway incorporated all of the characters of her past two novels to tie up loose ends and create a happy finale. I’m not certain how adamant I am about reading more of Brockway in the future. Maybe I will—if I have nothing better to do…

McClairen's Isle--The Reckless One: Connie Brockway

“Raine: The Reckless One

“Raine Merrick’s wild, reckless spirit had earned him time in a French prison. When a mysterious beauty gains his freedom only to betray him, Raine Merrick sets out for his father’s castle on McClairen’s Isle, seeking the treasure hidden within. But strange surprises await him in the Highlands. He never expected to find his deceitful angel masquerading as an honored guest. Or to want her with all the searing passion in his sinner’s soul.”

Overall, this book was a decent one. Raine was a wonderfully written character and I truly enjoyed how he was portrayed by Brockway. The “deceitful angel”—I don’t want to give away too much—was an interesting character. I did like how she pretended to be who she was not in order to give penance for a sin she did not truly commit.

Again, however, there were the indescribable “plot holes” that I encountered. They made it hard to read and were really no more than bits of the story that could have been elaborated on ever-so-slightly for the readers’ benefit. I’m not one for a slightly supernatural romance novel, but this was not over the top.

I think I am going to end up taking a break from Connie Brockway and read another author because I am a little tired of having to think and rethink about if I read about something already or not.

McClairen's Isle--The Passionate One: Connie Brockway

“Ash: The Passionate One

“He was a notorious rogue with a reputation for hell-raising and heartbreaking. But family secrets forced Ashton Merrick to do his ruthless father’s bidding—and escort Rhiannon Russel back to McClairen’s Isle. Ash suspected that his father intended to make the innocent beauty his fourth wide. But he didn’t expect the passions she would ignite in his own wary heart.”

I have never before had a chance to read Connie Brockway, and this was most certainly an experience. The prologue was very interesting and captivated me. It had an element of history (as did the whole book, which was refreshing) as well as very different characters. It was excited to continue reading the book, but there was just something about it that slowed me down. To this moment I cannot put my finger on what it was. I did, however, have a very difficult time putting the book down once it actually got going.

Ash was a wonderful character—filled with passion and many layers. Rhiannon was his perfect match as she was also complex in her own way. The only major problem I had was that the book seemed to leave holes. I would be reading along and then stop and think “…what…?”. It’s difficult to explain, but there seemed to be some errors that didn’t allow parts of the story to flow with the rest of the book. Maybe it’s just me, but there was something odd about this book.

Overall, I am both excited and apprehensive about starting the second book in this series. I am dying to know what happens to Raine—the younger brother Ash swore to take care of—but I don’t want to have a hard time trying to comprehend the plot with all of its “holes”.

The Bride and the Beast (Fairy Tale Series, Book Two): Teresa Medeiros

“Gwendolyn Wilder didn't believe in dragons. But the superstitious Highlanders of Ballybliss did, and so Gwendolyn found herself bound to a post as a sacraficial offering to the Dragon who haunted the ruins of Castle Weyrcraig. Fifteen years earlier, someone had betrayed the Laird of Weyrcraig and his handsome young heir to the English for a thousand pounds in gold. Now the Dragon was demanding that very amount. The frightened Highlanders hoped that instead of gold, the fair virgin would satisfy the beast’s insatiable appetite.

“As for Gwendolyn, she never doubted that the so-called Dragon was a fraud. She knew there was a perfectly good explanation for the mysterious lights seen flickering in the crumbling castle and the unsettling sound of bagpipes drifting through the glens. But as she waited for whoever—or whatever—to claim his prize, she could not help trembling as a furious storm lashed about her…and she saw what appeared to be dark wings and a stream of silver smoke emerge from the shadows.

“Rumor had it that the Dragon could take the form of a man, and so he did with Gwendolyn—a man who would not show her his face. He carried her into his lair and made her his prisoner, his pampered pet. And while she didn’t expect to be eaten by the fire-breathing Dragon of Weyrcraig, neither did she expect to be warmed by his sensuous caresses or devoured by his passionate kisses.

“The Dragon had demanded gold and the fools had given him the golden-haired maiden. She was the very last thing he expected—and now there was no way he could let her go. She could never know that he was no monster but a flesh-and-blood man who had just laid eyes on the one woman who could slay him. Still, this supremely handsome man of devastating virility was more dangerous than any dragon. He would take it upon himself to enchant the practical Gwendolyn as she had enchanted him. He would weave a spell of sensuous magic around her that would defy all her commonsense notions and tempt her to believe in something even more unlikely than dragons and more powerful than the past that threatened them both—true love.”

I finished this book at three this morning because I couldn’t put it down. The writing was ABSOLUTELY charming and I was so excited to be reading Teresa Medeiros once again. This book is part of a “Fairy Tale Series” in which her book Charming the Prince is the first. The books are not connected, but they ring of bits and pieces of well-known fairy tales.

The author uses beautiful writing, compelling dialogue, touching characters, and touching situations to draw in her readers and hold them. She has a style about her that just makes me want to read more as soon as possible! I was NOT disappointed at all with this book and, in fact, I cannot wait to read the last book in this series. I am very happy to have found Medeiros and will definitely read more of her work!

An Affair Before Christmas (Desperate Duchesses, Book Two): Eloisa James

“Magic under the mistletoe…

“One spectacular Christmas, Lady Perdita Selby, known to her friends and family as Poppy, met the man she thought she would love forever. The devilishly attractive Duke of Fletcher was the perfect match for the innocent, breathtakingly beautiful young Englishwoman, and theirs was the most romantic wedding she had ever seen. Four years later, Poppy and the duke have become the toast of the ton…but behind closed doors the spark of their love affair has burned out.

“Unwilling to lose the woman he still lust after, the duke is determined to win back his beguiling bride’s delectable affections…and surpass the heady days of first love with a truly sinful seduction.”

I finished this book at four in the morning because, by far, the second half of the book was the best. The prologue was amazing and it started out wonderfully overall, but it slowed down drastically. It also became a real challenge to follow the plot when there was something like four or five other plotlines that barely related to that of the main characters. I’m not saying that it was a bad book; it was just sometimes pointless to follow the other plotlines when they didn’t really relate to the story. I understand that the author was setting up novels to follow this one, but it might have been easier for the readers had she found a better way.

Overall it was a decent book and the end was well worth the wait. Some situations were wonderfully comical and I truly felt for Fletch. The two of them are so in love, but Poppy’s mother was—believe it or not—more that abnormally in the way. This book was a pretty good read and it was a bit of a change from what I’m used to reading.