Maura Seger - Sea Gate

12. Sea Gate by Maura Seger (1987)
Length: 304 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Started: 20 September 2009
Finished: 30 September 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 contemporary romance and Maura Seger is a new author for me

For my #7 Challenge (book less than 300 pages), I read Sea Gate by Maura Seger. A dark-haired beauty washes up on Andrew Paxton's beach in the Caribbean, to be found by Andrew's three-year-old son, Billy. While recovering at Andrew's house, the young lady, who says her name is Marina, is very reticent to talk about where she comes from.

Assuring Andrew - a scientist who works with classified material - that she means him and Billy no harm, doesn't come easy for Marina as she harbors a secret which could cause them serious harm. She has escaped from her people and come to Andrew's world in order to gather evidence to prove to them that they can live with 'Outworlders' safely. Marina's secret mission is jeopardized when a strange sea craft is spotted along the beach and an expedition to find the lost continent of Atlantis finds more than is expected. I give this story an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Preetham Grandhi - A Circle of Souls

11. A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi (2009)
Length: 339 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 26 July 2009
Finished: 4 August 2009
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Preetham for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 4 July 2009
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Preetham Grandhi is a new author for me

When the quiet town of Newbury, Connecticut, is rocked by the brutal murder of ten-year-old Janet Troy, the FBI send in their best agent, Leia Bines - an expert in cases involving children - to solve the case. Already reeling from the result of her previous case, Leia reluctantly agrees to take the case.

Meanwhile, child psychiatrist Dr. Peter Gram, is dealing with a new patient. Seven-year-old Naya Hastings has been brought to him suffering from horrific nightmares. The only clues to her nightly terrors are the drawings that she does in the morning. As Naya's drawings become more violent, Peter becomes increasingly more worried for Naya.

As the townspeople struggle to come to terms with Janet's murder and Agent Bines struggles to find a killer, Naya's drawings hold all the clues in a tangled case of lies, deceit and serial murder. It falls to Leia and Peter to uncover these clues before time runs out.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a touch of the supernatural about their mysteries. I give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Tamora Pierce - Wild Magic

10. Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce (1992)
The Immortals Series Book 1
Length: 299 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 16 July 2009
Finished: 17 July 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 read the entire series back in high school

Daine Sarrasri, an orphan girl from Snowsdale, arrives in the magical kingdom of Tortall and becomes assistant to the royal horsemistress. Her gift for calming horses is almost magical, even though Daine tries to hide it. As well as horses, all animals seem to understand Daine as she seems to understand them. They come to her when injured, scared or ill.

Daine communicates and trusts animals better than she trusts humans, it seems. She was run out of her village after her family was killed by raiders when she was thirteen. She discovers that she has an ability to speak to animals with her mind. Now she has to trust her new human friends enough for them to help her control her magic before war breaks out in Tortall. Even though this is a young adult fantasy novel, I loved Wild Magic and give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Jennifer Ashley - Penelope and Prince Charming

Re-read. Penelope and Prince Charming by Jennifer Ashley (2006)
Nvengaria Series Book 1
Length: 373 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Originally Read: 15 June 2008
Re-read Finished: 2 July 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I really enjoyed this book the first time that I read it so I decided to reread it a year or so later. I still think that it was a great book.

May you read well and often

C. L. Wilson - Lady of Light and Shadows

Re-read. Lady of Light and Shadows by C. L. Wilson (2007)
Tairen Soul Series Book 2
Length: 386 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Originally Read: 18 February 2008
Re-read Finished: 1 June 2009
Where did it come from? From Walmart

I had really enjoyed reading this book the first time that I read it. C. L. Wilson is a new author for me and I love paranormal romance.

May you read well and often

Jenny Lykins - Echoes of Tomorrow

7. Echoes of Tomorrow by Jenny Lykins (1997)
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Started: 14 May 2009
Finished: 19 May 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 Jenny Lykins is a new author for me

For my #7 challenge (Reader's Choice), I read Echoes of Tomorrow by Jenny Lykins. One moment, Elise Gerard is dressing to give tours of her 150-year-old plantation house, the next she is shocked to discover an extremely handsome man in her room, demanding to know what she was doing in his bedchamber. Charming and considerate Reed Blackwell was the perfect Southern gentleman and the man of Elise's dreams. Until their wedding night, when he vanished as suddenly as he appeared.

Now, Elise has found a way back to Reed's time, but her future husband had no idea who she was. And now she had to win his love all over again. I really enjoyed this time travel romance even though the romance was a little rushed and I give the story an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

J. R. Ward - Lover Eternal

6. Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward (2006)
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series Book 2
Length: 441 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Started: 3 May 2009
Finished: 13 May 2009
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 paranormal romance

For my #11 challenge (Read and Reviewed During Winter Challenge), I read Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward. This is the second book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. Rhage is the one brother whose appetites are the strongest of all the brothers in the Brotherhood. He's the strongest fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses. In fact, this lack of impulse control had led him to insult the Scribe Virgin - the spiritual leader of all vampires - leading to her laying a centuries old curse on him in punishment. The curse is something which Rhage fears most of all.

Mary Luce has a deadly curse of her own. A survivor of many hardships, she has lost her faith in miracles when she is unwittingly thrown into Rhage's world. Reliant on his protection, Mary is not looking for love. But when Rhage's attraction to Mary turns to something more emotional and as their enemies close in, Mary fights to stay with the man she loves for eternity. I loved this story and give it an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often