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

Nicholas Sparks - The Notebook

24. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (1996)
The Calhoun Family Series Book 1
Length: 239 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Started: 5 December 2008
Finished: 11 December 2008
Where did it come from? From Walmart
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 January 2008
Why do I have it? I like historical fiction and Nicholas Sparks is a new author for me


For my #1 challenge (Reader's Choice), I read The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Thirty-one year old Noah Calhoun comes back to North Carolina from World War II haunted by memories of a girl he had lost fourteen years earlier. Allie Nelson is twenty-nine and about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but before she marries she is determined to find the boy who stole her heart so long ago.

Allie and Noah have a deep and abiding love for one another. Surely such a love can turn tragedy into triumph and outlast even life itself. I give this romance an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Michelle Willingham - Her Irish Warrior

23. Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham (2007)
The Harlequin Historical Series Book 850
The MacEgan Brothers Series Book 3
Length: 300 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 1 December 2008
Finished: 4 December 2008
Where did it come from? From Walmart
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 January 2008
Why do I have it? I like historical romance and Michelle Willingham is a new author for me. I also like anything to do with Ireland.

For my #15 challenge ('W' For Winter), I read Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham. Genevieve de Renalt must escape her abusive betrothed, even if it means putting her trust in the hands of the enemy. Irish warrior Bevan MacEgan has sworn to fight the Norman enemy and regain his castle Rionallis after he had witnessed the death of his wife two years before.

When the attack of Rionallis goes awry, Bevan finds that he can't leave a Norman lady in danger, but how far will he go to keep her safe? Bevan had sworn to never love again, yet marriage would benefit them both. Genevieve begins to slowly break through to his heart. However, will a terrible secret break their hearts and will Bevan end up losing Genevieve forever? I give this historical romance a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Kay Hooper - The Wizard of Seattle

22. The Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hooper (1995)
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 24 November 2008
Finished: 30 November 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 paranormal romance and Kay Hooper is a new author for me

For my #9 challenge (Title With Place in it), I read The Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hooper. When Richard Merlin first sets eyes on Serena Smyth - the bedraggled sixteen-year-old runaway who shows up on his doorstep one stormy night - he can sense the barely restrained power within her. Guided by pure instinct, Serena has come over three hundred miles in order to find a Master Wizard to teach her a forbidden art. For Serena's sake, Richard will teach her his art, despite a taboo so ancient that the reasons for its existence are all but forgotten.

Nine years later, Richard never expects to risk all that he has and all that he is in order to save Serena, and in the process find a love none of his kind has ever experienced. Richard and Serena's quest will bring them back in time to a lost civilization called Atlantis and will test their faith in and love for each other. I give this time travel romance a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often

Valerie Parv - The Princess and the Masked Man

21. The Princess and the Masked Man by Valerie Parv (2003)
The Carramer Trust Series Book 2
Length: 192 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Started: 16 November 2008
Finished: 24 November 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 romance and Valerie Parv is a new author for me

Giselle de Marginy is a very headstrong princess, bound and determined to get what she wants: a chance to become Keeper of the Castle of Carramer. However, according to the country's charter, she only stands a chance if she marries. Bryce Laws has recently arrived at the castle to take up the job of Royal Park Ranger with his lovely daughter Amanda. The widowed father takes this chance to attempt to heal both their hearts after the death of his wife Yvette two years before.

Giselle endears herself to the grieving family by showing an interest in Amanda's drawing. What starts out as simple interest turns out to be undeniable attraction when Giselle meets Bryce at a masked ball one night at the castle. Both Bryce and Giselle agree to a marriage of convenience to benefit the both of them. Although such a marriage would allow Bryce to find a mother for his daughter, and Giselle the position which she craves, is a marriage of convenience truly their hearts' desire? I give this romance a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often