Kathryn Albright - The Rebel and the Lady

4. The Rebel and the Lady by Kathryn Albright (2008)
The Harlequin Historical Series Book 913
Length: 288 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 1 April 2009
Finished: 11 April 2009
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 April 2009
Why do I have it? I like historical romance and Kathryn Albright is a new author for me.


For my #1 challenge (Read a Western), I read The Rebel and the Lady by Kathryn Albright. Victoria Torrez is on the run from Santa Anna's forces as they invade Texas. To protect Victoria, her parents have sent her to live with her cousins Juan and Diego. While helping at the local hospital and secretly helping the rebels, Victoria meets Jake Dumont who is searching for his brother.

Jake has never understood why his brother wanted to fight for Texas so badly. In his mind, land was just not worth dying for. He had come from Charleston to drag his brother back home. Jake had never expected to meet such a highborn lady of quality as Victoria Torrez, or to find that such a lady could fall for a drifter like him. Jake would find that each person had his or her own reason for fighting for the freedom of Texas.

I have never read a Western before, they were not really my type. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

J. R. Ward - Dark Lover

Re-read. Dark Lover by J. R. Ward (2005)
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series Book 1
Length: 393 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Originally Read: 7 June 2008
Re-read Finished: 11 April 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I had read this book for the first time about a year ago and loved it. This is the first book that I have ever read by J. R. Ward and I look forward to further books in this series.

May you read well and often

C. L. Wilson - Lord of the Fading Lands

Re-read. Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson (2007)
The Tairen Soul Series Book 1
Length: 402 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Originally Read: 16 January 2008
Re-read Finished: 31 March 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I read this book for the first time about a year ago. C. L. Wilson is a new author for me and I truly loved this debut novel.

May you read well and often

Mercedes Lackey - The Fire Rose

1. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey (1995)
The Elemental Masters Series Book 1
Length: 433 pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Started: 5 January 2009
Finished: 15 January 2009
Where did it come from? From Barnes and Noble
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2008
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and I like Mercedes Lackey as an author

Impoverished heiress Rosalind Hawkins is a thoroughly modern medieval scholar. When her father dies after losing all the family fortunes in bad investments, Rose has to apply for a position of some sort. What she receives is a request to become governess to a reclusive rail baron's precocious children. When Rose arrives in Jason Cameron's palatial mansion overlooking San Francisco Bay, she discovers that there are no children for her to teach, and the house is filled with invisible servants and a sour agent of Jason Cameron's named Paul du Mond. Her job changes to one that involves reading arcane tomes to Jason Cameron himself - a victim of a mysterious accident.

Jason Cameron is an Elemental Firemaster who has suffered an accident when he tried to perform a spell called the loup-garou - to turn himself into a werewolf. What has become of Jason is that he is now half man-half beast and in danger of losing his mind to the wolf side of himself. As a result, he has dismissed his whole staff except for his Apprentice, and relies on his mystical salamanders to help him.

As Rose reads Jason's books to him, she discovers that she has the potential for Air Mastery herself. She decides that, after necessity demands it, she will become Jason's Apprentice. As Rose and Jason come closer to an answer, they grow closer to each other. When an horrific attack takes place, can Rose trust that Jason is still the man that she loves? I give this historical fantasy an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Kate Huntington - His Lordship's Holiday Surprise

27. His Lordship's Holiday Surprise by Kate Huntington (2003)
Length: 256 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 23 December 2008
Finished: 31 December 2008
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 October 2008
Why do I have it? I like historical romance and Kate Huntington is a new author for me


For my #7 challenge (Title Reminds You of Christmas), I read His Lordship's Holiday Surprise by Kate Huntington. Miss Augusta Oglethorpe has always thought that Christmastime is a wonderful time of the year. Her highlight of the Season is the Christmas party that she throws for all her fellow bluestockings. For Augusta, it's a time of food, friends and wonderfully intellectual conversation.

This year, however, her holiday plans have all been thrown into an uproar when her widowed sister, Clarissa suddenly disappears after dropping her three young children off on Augusta's doorstep. Children in tow, an infuriated Augusta arrives at Richard, Marquess of Ardath's house and demands to see her wayward sister.

Richard, recently jilted by Clarissa, is less than jolly when he meets her prim bluestocking of a sister. When he discovers that the faithless Clarissa has totally disappeared, he reluctantly agrees to help Augusta search for her. Now with Christmas fast approaching, Richard and Augusta will learn that Christmas and love is truly a miraculous thing. I give this holiday regency romance an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Alice Hoffman - Practical Magic

26. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (1995)
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 16 December 2008
Finished: 22 December 2008
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 October 2008
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Alice Hoffman is a new author for me.


For two hundred years the Owens women have been seen as witches - blamed for everything that went wrong in their tiny Massachusetts community. As children, Sally and Gillian Owens suffered the stigma of living with their aunts and thus being viewed as different.

As adults, they sought to escape Massachusetts - Sally by marriage and Gillian by running away. However, sooner or later the Owens sisters must come home as if by magic. I give this story a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Daphne du Maurier - Rebecca

25. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938)
Length: 380 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Started: 11 December 2008
Finished: 15 December 2008
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 October 2008
Why do I have it? I first read this book in high school and really enjoyed it.

When the second Mrs. de Winter marries Maxim de Winter and moves to the windswept Cornish coast, she is somewhat prepared to become famous through marriage. What she's not prepared for is her new home - Manderley - and the spirit of Rebecca - Maxim's first wife - which pervades the house and grounds. She is also not prepared for the reaction of Rebecca's sinister but loyal servant, Mrs. Danvers.

As a presentiment of evil tightens around her, the second Mrs. de Winter must discover what really happened to Rebecca and find out the secrets of Manderley. I give this romantic suspense an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often