My Most Recent Blog Posts

Dante’s Wedding Deception by Day LeClaire, Silhouette Desire Jul08, #1880

sheandeen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:04:06 -0400

Nicolò Dante is the troubleshooter for the company and he found trouble in spades when Kiley O’Dell arrived with her business proposition. One problem, the Inferno came to call. He couldn’t let her touch him, but resistance was beyond his capability.

This is an amnesia story with an interesting twist. So far out of the realm of believability, but still so good. Thumbs up.

Boardroom Bride and Groom by Susan Crosby, Silhouette SE, Jul08 #1912

sheandeen — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:46:45 -0400

David Falcon is exhausted and needs a super efficient person in his life. He thinks this will come in the form of a gal Friday, what he really needs is a wife. Valerie learned a painful lesson as a child and it was reinforced as a young woman. All men abandon women and children. how can David and Valerie ever put their differences aside?

Crosby builds an emotionally charged story sentence by sentence. She has the pacing down perfectly for my taste. She does not drag in some spots and rush in others; she just keeps it moving along at a brisk pace. Now brothers Noah and Gideon need their turns. Thumbs up!

Boardroom Bride and Groom by Shirley Jump, Harlequin Romance Jun08 #4038

sheandeen — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:41:02 -0400

To Nick life is a game. It is a time to have fun, love well and live well. But there is another side to Nick—the side that goes out and buys a family home. To Carolyn life is serious and all about righting a tragic wrong. She has a hard time making friends and having fun. Nick and Carolyn have a past together, what will become of their future?

Nick is impossible not to like. He is charming, fun loving and great with kids (well, all people). Carolyn is harder to like. They are so polar opposite, despite this I found myself rooting for Carolyn to figure our how to get past her childhood pain. Then Bobby enters the picture, a little boy who has lost so much. Cute quotient rises rapidly. This was a charming relaxing read. There was one point I found myself wishing the pacing would step up a little, but the boggy pacing did not ruin my enjoyment in the book.

The Desert Prince’s Proposal by Nicola Marsh, Harlequin Romance Jun08 #4037

sheandeen — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:18:55 -0400

Bria Green lives in her father’s shadow much to her annoyance. Prince Samman gives her and opportunity to leave her father’s machinations behind. Will she follow the Prince’s dream?

Powerful hunky sheikhs need equally powerful women. Bria at times seems strong and at other times seems tortured; eventually she works through her issues. Sometimes fantasy is just the antidote to work and this book is pure fantasy.

Diamond in the Rough by Marie Ferrarella, SSE Jul08 1910

sheandeen — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:26:47 -0400

Miranda Shaw is a staunch supporter of her father, a disgraced former pitcher. Mike Marlowe is a sport’s writer that was once crushed by his former idol (that same pitcher) falling off his pedestal. Miranda and Mike meet at her bequest, she wants a wrong righted. Will they get past their differences?

Okay, I am a sucker for baseball and baseball stories and I found this story vastly entertaining. I have read other Ferrarella books and enjoy her SSE books. Thumbs up.

The Bridegroom’s Secret by Melissa James, Harlequin Romance Sep08 #4047

sheandeen — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:45:06 -0400

Matt MacLachlan grew up in the life of privilege, great expectations and a firm knowledge of his place in that life. Julia Montgomery was more of a free spirit. She falls in love moments after falling at his feet. But falling a year of feeling like she placed last in his life she decides there will be no wedding. Will they take that walk down the isle?

This is the last book in ‘The Wedding Planners’ series. I found myself racing to the conclusion of this book and this series while trying to drag my feet. But James does not let the reader linger. She writes with such heartfelt longing and regret that the reader is drawn rapidly through the pages. I enjoyed all of this series, but something about this book made it my favorite. Thumbs up!

Wedding at Wangaree Valley by Margaret Way, Harlequin Romance Sep08 #4045

sheandeen — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:14:24 -0400

Guy Radcliffe is ‘The Man’ and he seems to have it all. Alana does not have is advantages, in fact, her family has been maligned in their society. How will they ever find common ground?

There is a richness and beauty to Way’s writing. If I had to pick one underlying emotion in the story, it would be poignancy. There were places were I felt like my heart was weeping at the beauty of her writing. I love her writing, or at least the writing in this book. Thumbs up!

Texas Ranger Takes a Bride by Patricia Thayer, Harlequin Romance Sep08 #4048

sheandeen — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:12:52 -0400

Mallory loved well but not wisely, when he left she was devastated. She now needs his talents as a Texas Ranger since her son has been kidnapped. Chase has never truly forgotten Mallory, but is it too late for them?

I’m thinking it is time to intermix other books with HRs. This is another sweet, sweet read, yes, sweet despite the kidnapping. The reader just knows all will end well in this story. Thumbs up.

Abby and the Playboy Prince by Raye Morgan, Harlequin Romance Sep08 #4046

sheandeen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:21:48 -0400

Abby is this sweet young woman with a self-appointed task of protection she must succeed at. Prince Mychale has retreated to his mountain home. He is ill, fortunately, for him Abby is hiding out in his home. Will they sort out their separate challenges?

This is the second book in a series. I find reading HRs restorative. Many of the books are sweet bits of fluff. This is a like an adult fairy tale, without the intense evil drama (although there is the evil Uncle, but he is not a big part of the story. He hovers in the background.) Thumbs up.

Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg, Bantam Books

sheandeen — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:55:02 -0400

Looking for a book to help jumpstart your writing? Look no further. Goldberg takes a Zen approach to writing and her work is steeped in knowledge she has gleaned from her Zen master. NFM