trilogy

     After the first of Janice Kay Johnson's books that I read, she became a favourite and auto-buy author; so of course I'm on a backlist hunt!  But I do so enjoy hunting down books like this so it's no big deal. 
     I have another seven of her books on tap, many that I found at the book sale the end of April, and while I think that I'll be reading all of them one-after-the-other now, you never know.  But after this story, I'm all gung-ho to do just that.
     Once again JKJ has created characters that not only come to life, but whose trials, emotions, lives and circumstances become very real.  I love the way that she imbues so much emotional strength into her h and H, and that they know quite early on that the other is the one for them.  The road to a lifelong love may not be, indeed isn't, smooth and easy, but they work towards a common goal.  They're fascinating people with hearts that respond quickly to the other ~ the best kind of romance.  And the mysteries that JKJ has set up for this trilogy are of the sort that I had serious difficulty setting this book down to sleep last night... and it's going to be driving me nuts until I get the next two books in the series.  I can hardly wait to find out how it all ties together!  VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent ~ 4.0 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

                 THE GUARDIANS… This time the good guys wear black.
     While the LIstener is not an actual member of the SWAT team, she is vital to the health of all the members and, consequently, to the team itself.  But what happens when the Listener needs someone to listen to them?  Well, in Maria's case, she fights it pretty much all the way.  She has a hard time turning off her training even when dealing with the actions of a troubled teenager ~ her teenager. 
     Ryan is, of course, sexy... and maybe not as troubled as it appears.  Yes he has some pretty major issues to deal with, but he doesn't need a therapist as much as he needs a reason to reach out; a reason to reach past his pain and his lonelieness; a reasone to reach out to be needed by someone else.   
     Good relationship building between not only Maria and Ryan, but amongst many of the secondary characters.  This story definitely lives up to the saying "No man is an island."

RATING:
Excellence: Very Good ~ 3.0 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

     Each of the three stories in this trilogy is so different.  The appearance of all the siblings in all three books definitely keeps them very closely related stories, but each one is very much the story of one of the three Chauvin children.  I absolutely LOVE them all; they all have a poignancy all their own and the characters are facing challenges unique to each of them, but at the same time there are similarities as they each struggle with the changes that finding each other has brought about.  Suzanne, well she's amazing.  She never had any self-confidence or strong identity of who she was, but finding her brother and sister began something in her own life that took over.  Her journey and discovery of just who she was and what she had to offer is inspiring and I truly enjoyed watching her relationship with the people in her life.  None of it came easy, but when things worked out it was all the more sweeter.  And the relationship between Suzanne and Tom, well suffice it to say that I still get teary-eyed when I recall all they'd gone through.  Outstanding story and Outstanding series... definitely a trio of books that anyone would love ~ IMHO, of course.

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent to Outstanding ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

     Gary's story is a very strong, very emotional tale of what can happen when an adoption goes wrong.  He's a good man, but he has closed himself off to protect himself.  But even he finds it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to resist his sisters... and it doesn't help that the first person that he does meet is a social worker.  His feelings for any one of that breed is far from favourable, but Rebecca refuses to fit into his negative image.  In fact, he finds himself soon over his head in emotions... not something with which he is comfortable or even prepared to deal with.  And Rebecca, for her part, just doesn't know what to make of this man whose difficulty in relating to his sisters should be a huge warning; but she cannot ignore her feelings for him.  
     Once again, JKJ has written a stellar story regarding adoption and various ramifications when an adoption goes wrong.  Her characters are so real and come to mean so much that I found it impossible to put the book down.  Beautiful and heartwarming; yet another amazing chapter in her Lost...But Not Forgotten trilogy.
     One thing that I want to say about the covers of all three books in this series is how very well the people fit my images of the characters... it's almost as though someone had an inside glance into what they should all look like... well done!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent to Outstanding ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

     After reading one of Janice Kay Johnson's books during last year's challenge I was sure that she was an autobuy author.  Her stories are filled with such beautiful and touching emotions and a very strong sense of family; her romances are both real and heartwarming and all those wonderful things that dreams are made of. Reading this series went to show me that my opinion of her as an autobuy author was in no way mistaken... she's fabulous!
     Carrie St. John's story is one that I can, from the outside, identify with.  And Mark's experiences as a father resonate very strongly as well.  Adoption has been a large part in my family history going back to my great-grandmother almost 75 years ago.  I have a great-aunt, an uncle, a brother and two nieces who were all adopted, and about 16 years ago my husband and I very much wanted to add wonderful little boy to our family... alas, it was not to be and we still mourn Ryan's loss.
     But having these experience with what adoption can mean, I was overwhelmed with the emotions that Carrie, Mark and even Suzanne went through.  A wonderful story dealing with a very emotional topic; and the romance between Mark and Carrie is fantastic!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent to Outstanding ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

My thoughts: Ugh! I hate really getting into a story, having it end and knowing I have to wait for the next one. Good news is I only have to wait until May. Regardless, I enjoyed this book--classic NR.

     Well, like so many other new-to-me authors that I've tried during the 2007, and now this year's, challenge, C.J. Carmichael has become an autobuy author.  Part of the attraction is the fact that I know where she's writing about; I've been there and I love the country.  But the rest of it is that she creates people with whom I can care about, whose lives intrigue me and her story just draws me in and makes a home for me.  So, yes... yet another author that I'll be adding to my must-have list... Wonderful!!

RATING:
Excellence: Great to Excellent ~ 3.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

     This book has been in my TBR for quite a while now, so again, I have the February challenge to thank for helping me to slowly work my way through the, um still-growing, shelves of books waiting their turn.   
     I got this book after I had read Maureen Child's Nocturne Guardian books and I wanted to see if I enjoyed her contemporary writing as much... in most ways I have to say that I liked it even more than the Nocturnes... and that's saying something!

RATING:
Excellence: Great to Excellent ~ 3.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

Riantree Inferno is the first title in the Raintree trilogy. It has just been released as part of the M&B Centenary and has been featured in the British press. Anyway, I was intrigued.