Thursday, May 18, 2006

G

Gabaldon, Diana - A Breath of Snow and Ashes
Gabaldon, Diana - Lord John and the Hand of Devils
Gaiman, Neil - Fragile Things
Gaiman, Neil - The Sandman, Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
Gaiman, Neil - The Sandman, Vol 2: The Doll's House
Gaiman, Neil - Stardust
Galen, Shana - Lord and Lady Spy
Galen, Shana - The Making of a Duchess
Galland, Nicole - The Fool's Tale
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel - Love in the Time of Cholera
Garmus, Bonnie - Lessons in Chemistry
Gaskell, Elizabeth - North and South
Gaston, Diane- A Reputable Rake
Gaston, Diane- The Mysterious Miss M
George, Alex - A Good American
George, Jessica - Maame
George, Margaret - Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles
Geraghty, Ciara - Lifesaving for Beginners
Gibson, Fiona - The Woman Who Got Her Spark Back
Giffin, Emily - Something Blue
Giffin, Emily - Something Borrowed
Gilroy, Jen - The Sweetheart Locket
Gleason, Colleen - The Rest Falls Away
Gleason, Colleen - The Vampire Dimitri
Gleason, Colleen - The Vampire Narcisse
Gleason, Colleen - Vampire Voss
Glyn, Eva - The Santorini Writing Retreat
Goldman, William - The Princess Bride
Golden, Arthur - Memoirs of a Geisha
Golon, Sergeanne - Angelique
Goodin, Maria - From the Kitchen of Half Truths
Goodman, Carol - The Drowning Tree
Goodman, Carol - Lake of Dead Languages
Goodman, Carol - The Night Villa
Goodman, Carol - The Seduction of Water
Goodman, Jo - One Forbidden Evening
Gortner, C W - The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
Gortner, C W - The Last Queen
Gortner, C W - The Tudor Secret/The Tudor Conspiracy
Grayson, Elizabeth - Painted by the Sun
Green, John - The Fault in Our Stars
Greenwood, Juliet - The Secret Daughter of Venice
Greenwood, Juliet - The Last Train from Paris
Greenwood, Kerry - Blood and Circuses
Greenwood, Kerry - Cocaine Blues
Greenwood, Kerry - Death at Victoria Dock
Greenwood, Kerry - Earthly Delights
Greenwood, Kerry - Flying Too High
Greenwood, Kerry - The Green Mill Murder
Greenwood, Kerry - Murder on the Ballarat Train
Greenwood, Kerry - Ruddy Gore
Greenwood, Kerry - Urn Burial
Greer, Catherine - The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe
Gregory, Philippa- Bread and Chocolate
Gregory, Philippa - The Boleyn Inheritance
Gregory, Philippa- The Constant Princess
Gregson, Julia - East of the Sun
Grenville, Kate - The Lieutenant
Grey, Emma - The Last Love Note
Grey, Emma - Pictures of You
Grimaldi, Virgine - Chasing the Stars (Il est grand temps de rallumer les étoiles)
Grossman, David - Lion's Honey
Gruen, Sara - Water for Elephants
Guillaume, Jenna - You Were Made for Me
Gulland, Sandra - The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B
Gulland, Sandra - Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe
Gulland, Sandra- The Last Great Dance on Earth
Gulland, Sandra - Mistress of the Sun 
Gulland, Sandra - The Shadow Queen
Guhrke, Laura Lee - Wedding of the Year

A

Abbs, Annabel - The Language of Food
Abbs, Annabel - The Language of Food (reread)
Acevedo, Elizabeth - With the Fire on High
Ackers, Elise K - Unforgettable
Adams, Lisa and Heath, John - Why We Read What We Read
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi - Half of a Yellow Sun
Aguirre, Ann - Grimspace
Ahern, Cecilia - P.S. I Love You
Albanese, Laurie and Morowitz, Laura - The Miracles of Prato
Alcott, Kate - The Dressmaker
Alexander, Robert - Rasputin's Daughter
Alexander, Robert - The Kitchen Boy
Alexander, Rose - A Santorini Secret
Alexander, Tasha - A Poisoned Season
Alexander, Tasha - And Only to Deceive
Alexandra, Belinda - Silver Wattle
Alison, Rosie - The Very Thought of You
Allbright, Ella - The Last Charm
Allen, Sarah Addison - Garden Spells
Allen, Sarah Addison - The Girl Who Chased the Moon 
Allen, Sarah Addison - The Peach Keeper
Amirrezvani, Anita - The Blood of Flowers
Andrews, Amy - Breaking the Ice
Andrews, Amy - Undercover Billionaire
Anthony, Evelyn - Imperial Highness
Aoyama, Michiko - Hot Chocolate on Monday
Aoyama, Michiko - The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park
Armitage, Rebecca - The Heir Apparent
Armstrong, Diane - Empire Day
Armstrong, Kelley - Bitten
Armstrong, Kelley - Broken
Armstrong, Kelley - Dime Store Magic
Armstrong, Kelley - Frostbitten
Armstrong, Kelley - Haunted
Armstrong, Kelley - Industrial Magic
Armstrong, Kelley - No Humans Involved
Armstrong, Kelley - Personal Demon
Armstrong, Kelley - Stolen
Asher, Bridget - My Husband's Sweethearts
Ashley, Kristen - Own the Wind
Ashley, Kristen - Riding the Fire
Ashley, Melissa - The Naturalist of Amsterdam
Ashley, Philippa - Carrie Goes off the Map
Atkinson, Kate - Case Histories
Austen, Jane - Sense and Sensibility

E

Easter Smith, Anne - A Rose for the Crown
Easter Smith, Anne - Queen by Right
Easton, Rosa Kwon - White Mulberry
Edwards, Louisa - The Rising Star Chef trilogy
Egan, Jennifer - The Keep
Egan, Jennifer - A Visit from the Goon Squad
Elliott, Sumner Locke - Careful, He Might Hear You
English, Christy - The Queen's Pawn
Epstein, Jennifer Cody - The Gods of Heavenly Punishment
Erickson, Carolly- The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette
Erskine, Barbara - Lady of Hay
Espach, Alison - The Wedding People
Essex, Karen - Leonardo's Swans
Evanovich, Janet and Banks, Leanne- Hot Stuff
Evanovich, Janet and Hughes, Charlotte - Full Bloom
Evanovich, Janet and Hughes, Charlotte - Full Scoop
Evanovich, Janet- Back to the Bedroom
Evanovich, Janet - Lean Mean Thirteen
Evanovich, Janet- Manhunt
Evanovich, Janet- Motor Mouth
Evanovich, Janet - Naughty Neighbor
Evanovich, Janet- Plum Lovin'
Evanovich, Janet - Plum Spooky
Evanovich, Janet- Smitten
Evanovich, Janet- Thanksgiving
Evanovich, Janet- Twelve Sharp
Evans, Tess - The Book of Lost Threads
Everett, Percival - James

D


Daiko, Siobhan - The Flame Tree
Daiko, Siobhan - The Girl from Lake Maggiore
Daiko, Siobhan - The Girl from Sicily
Daiko, Siobhan - The Girl from Venice
Daiko, Siobhan - The Tuscan Orphan
Darke, Minnie - The Lost Love Song
Darke, Minnie - Three Juliets
Davidson, Mary Janice - Sleeping with the Fishes
Davies, Emma - The Midnight Bakery
Deveraux, Kat - Daughter of Genoa
Deveraux, Kat - Escape to Tuscany
de Lint, Charles - Moonlight and Vines
de Lint, Charles - The Onion Girl
de los Santos, Marisa - Falling Together
de Pierres, Marianne - Carmine Island stories from Glitter Rose (short stories)
DeNosky, Kathie - Engagement Between Enemies
DeNosky, Kathie - Reunion of Revenge
Dettman, Jessica - Your Friend and Mine
Deveraux, Kat - Escape to Tuscany
Diamant, Anita - The Red Tent
Dickason, Christie - The Firemaster's Mistress
Diener, Michelle - Banquet of Lies
Diener, Michelle - Daughter of the Sky
Diener, Michelle - The Emperor's Conspiracy
Dobbs, Michael - Churchill's Triumph
Dobbs, Michael - Never Surrender
Doh, Ahn - The Happiest Refuge: A Memoir
Dojny, Brooke - Chowderland
Donati, Sara (Lippi, - Rosina) - Queen of Swords
Donati, Sara (Lippi, Rosina) - Tied to the Tracks
Donnelly, Jennifer - The Wild Rose
Donnelly, Jennifer - The Winter Rose
Donoghue, Emma - Slammerkin
Donohue, Meg - How to Eat a Cupcake
Downer, Lesley - The Last Concubine
Drabble, Margaret - The Red Queen
Drayson, Nicholas - A Guide to the Birds of East Africa
Dreyer, Eileen and Stuart, Anne and Crusie, Jennifer - The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes
Drinkwater, Carol - One Summer in Provence
D'Silva, Renita - The Secret Keeper
Duksta, Laura - I Love You More
du Maurier, Daphne - Frenchman's Creek
Dunant, Sara - In the Company of the Courtesan
Dunmore, Helen - The Siege
Dweck, Nicole - The Debt of Tamar 

H

Halter, Marek - Lilah
Halter, Marek - Sarah
Halter, Marek - Zipporah
Hamid, Mohsin - How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
Hamid, Mohsin - The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Hamilton-Paterson, James - Cooking with Fernet Branca
Hampson, Amanda - The Cryptic Clue
Hampson, Amanda - The Deadly Dispute
Hampson, Amanda - The Tea Ladies
Hannah, Kristin - The Women
Harada, Hika - Dinner at the Night Library
Hardy, Marieke and McGuire, Michaela - Six Women of Letters
Harkness, Deborah - A Discovery of Witches
Harper, Karen - The Poyson Garden
Harper, Karen - The Tidal Poole
Harper, Karen - The Twylight Tower
Harris, Charlaine - All Together Dead
Harris, Charlaine- Club Dead
Harris, Charlaine - Dead as a Doornail
Harris, Charlaine - Dead to the World
Harris, Charlaine- Dead Until Dark
Harris, Charlaine- Definitely Dead
Harris, Charlaine - Grave Sight
Harris, Charlaine - Grave Surprise
Harris, Charlaine - An Ice Cold Grave
Harris, Charlaine - Living Dead in Dallas
Harris, Jane - The Observations
Harris, Liz - The Woven Thread
Harris, Narrelle M - Showtime
Harris, Tessa - The Florence Sisters
Harrison, Chrissie - Wicket Maiden
Harrison, Kathryn - Enchantments
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia - The Black Pearl
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia - The Dark Rose
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia - The Founding
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia - The Oak Apple
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia - The Princeling
Hart, Rhiannon - Blood Song
Harvey, Gillian - One French Summer
Harvey, Gillian - A Month in Provence
Harvey, Gillian - The Bordeaux Book Club
Harvey, Gillian - The French Chateau Escape
Harvey, Gillian - Riviera House Swap
Harvey, Gillian - Midnight in Paris
Harvey, Gillian - The Village Cafe in the Loire
Hawkins, Danielle - Chocolate Cake for Breakfast
Heath, John and Adams, Lisa - Why We Read What We Read
Heath, Sue - The Storytellers
Heiss, Anita - Bila Yarradhanggalangdhuray
Henley, Virginia - The Dragon and the Jewel
Henn, Carsten - The Door-to-Door Bookstore
Heyer, Georgette - An Infamous Army
Heyer, Georgette - Devil's Cub
Heyer, Georgette - Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle
Heyer, Georgette - These Old Shades
Heyer, Georgette - Venetia
Heyer, Georgette - Why Shoot a Butler?
Higginbotham, Susan - Hugh and Bess
Higgins, Kristin - Until There Was You
Hill, Loretta - The Girl in the Hard Hat
Hislop, Victoria - The Thread
Hodgson, Anthea - The Palace of Lost Virtue
Hodge, Jane Aiken - The Private World of Georgette Heyer
Hollick, Helen - The Kingmaking
Hollick, Helen - Pendragon's Banner
Hollick, Helen - Sea Witch
Hollick, Helen - Shadow of the King
Holt, Victoria - My Enemy the Queen
Hosseini, Khaled - A Thousand Splendid Suns
House, Silas - A Parchment of Leaves
Houston, Julie - The Way We Are Now
Howard, Linda - Mr Perfect
Hoyt, Elizabeth - The Leopard Prince
Hoyt, Elizabeth - The Raven Prince
Hoyt, Elizabeth - Thief of Shadows
Hughes, Charlotte and Evanovich, Janet - Full Bloom
Hughes, Charlotte and Evanovich, Janet - Full Scoop
Hugo, Victor - Les Miserables
Hull, Suzie - Far Across the Ocean
Humble, Nicola - Cake: A Global History
Humphreys, Helen - The Frozen Thames
Hunter, Kelly - Wish: A Novella
Hunter, Madeline - Lessons of Desire
Hunter, Madeline- The Rules of Seduction

F

Faulks, Sebastian - Human Traces
Fay, Kim - Kate and Frida
Fay, Kim - Love and Saffron
Fforde, Jasper - The Fourth Bear
Feildel, Manu - Manu's French Bistro
Fitzgerald, F Scott - The Great Gatsby
Flagg, Fanny - A Redbird Christmas
Flinn, Kathleen - The Kitchen Counter Cooking School
Florand, Laura - The Chocolate Thief
Florand, Laura - The Chocolate Kiss
Fluke, Joanne - Cherry Cheesecake Murder
Fluke, Joanne - Peach Cobbler Murder
Fluke, Joanne - Sugar Cookie Murder
Foer, Jonathan Safran - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Foley, Gaelen - The Duke
Foley, Gaelen - His Wicked Kiss
Foley, Gaelen - Lady of Desire
Foley, Gaelen - Lord of Fire
Foley, Gaelen - Lord of Ice
Foley, Gaelen - The Pirate Prince
Foley, Gaelen - Prince Charming
Foley, Gaelen - Princess
Ford, Jamie - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Ford, Jamie - Songs of Willow Frost
Forman, Gayle - Just One Year
Forsyth, Kate - Bitter Greens
Franklin, Ariana - Mistress of the Art of Death
Franklin, Ariana - A Murderous Procession
Franklin, Ariana - The Serpent's Tale
Frazier, Charles - Thirteen Moons
Freeman, Kathryn - Booked for Summer
Freeman, Kimberley - Lighthouse Bay
Frost, Kate - A Love Like No Other
Frost, Kate - An Island in the Sun
Frost, Kate - An Island Promise

I

Ibbotson, Eva - A Countess Below Stairs
Iggulden, Conn - Bones of the Hills
Iggulden, Conn - Lord of the Bows
Iggulden, Conn - Wolf of the Plains
Isle, Sue - The Nightsiders
Iweala, Uzodinma - Beasts of No Nation

C

Caine, Rachel - Chill Factor
Caine, Rachel - Heat Stroke
Caine, Rachel - Ill Wind
Caldwell, Megan - Vanity Fare
Callen, Alissa - Snowy Mountain Daughter
Cambridge, Colleen - Mastering the Art of French Murder 
Camorra, Frank and Cornish, Richard - MoVida: Spanish Culinary Adventures
Canne, Elora - Love & Laughter (and Other Disasters) 
Capella, Anthony - The Empress of Ice Cream
Capella, Anthony - The Food of Love 
Capella, Anthony - The Various Flavours of Coffee 
Caplin, Julie - A Little Place in Prague
Caplin, Julie - A Villa With A View
Caplin, Julie - The French Chateau Dream
Caplin, Julie - The Hotel by the Sea
Carey, Ella - A New York Secret
Carey, Ella - The Girl from Paris
Carey, Ella - The House on the Lake
Carey, Ella - Paris Time Capsule
Carey, Peter - Jack Maggs
Carlyle, Liz - Three Little Secrets
Carlyle, Liz - Two Little Lies
Carnavale, Vanessa - Her Tuscan Summer
Carr, Carol K - India Black 
Carr, Robyn - Deep in the Valley
Carr, Robyn - The Virgin River series(books 1-15)
Carr, Robyn - The Virgin River series (books 16-20)
Carroll, Susan - The Bride Finder
Carroll, Susan - The Courtesan
Carroll, Susan - The Dark Queen
Carroll, Susan - The Silver Rose
Chadwick, Elizabeth - A Place Beyond Courage
Chadwick, Elizabeth - The Greatest Knight - William Marshal - a Novel of a Legendary Man
Chadwick, Elizabeth - The Scarlet Lion
Chadwick, Elizabeth - The Time of Singing
Chadwick, Elizabeth - The Wild Hunt
Chadwick, Elizabeth - To Defy A King
Chase, Loretta - Lord of Scoundrels
Chase, Loretta - Miss Wonderful
Chevalier, Tracy - Burning Bright
Chevalier, Tracy - Falling Angels
Chiaverini, Jennifer - Circle of Quilters
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Christmas Quilt
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Cross Country Quilters
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Master Quilters
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Quilter's Apprentice
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Quilter's Homecoming
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Quilter's Legacy
Chiaverini, Jennifer - Round Robin
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Runaway Quilt
Chiaverini, Jennifer - The Sugar Camp Quilt
Child, Maureen - The Last Reilly Standing
Choi, Susan - Flashlight
Christensen, Maggie - A Mother's Story
Christensen, Maggie - A New Dawn in Pelican Crossing
Christensen, Maggie - Starting Over in Bellbird Bay
Christensen, Maggie - Summer in Bellbird Bay
Christensen, Maggie - Celebrations in Bellbird Bay
Christensen, Maggie - Charlie's Last Angel
Christensen, Maggie - Christmas in Bellbird Bay
Christensen, Maggie - Finding Refuge in Bellbird Bay
Christensen, Maggie - Happy Ever After in Bellbird Bay
Christensen, Maggie - Secrets in Pelican Crossing
Claire, Hannah - The Book Lover's Bucket List
Clare, Pamela - Sweet Release
Cleary, Madeleine - The Butterfly Women
Colgan, Jenny - The Christmas Book Hunt
Colgan, Jenny - The Summer Seaside Kitchen
Colgan, Jenny - The Endless Beach
Colgan, Jenny - Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweet Shop of Dreams
Collins, Kate - Dearly Depotted
Collins, Kate - Slay it with Flowers
Conte, Steven- The Tolstoy Estate
Cook, Thomas H. - Red Leaves
Cooper, Michelle - A Brief History of Montmaray
Cornick, Nicola - The Secrets of the Rose
Cornish, Richard and Camorra, Frank - MoVida: Spanish Culinary Adventures
Cornwall, Victoria - The Wartime Affair
Courtenay, Bryce - Sylvia
Courtenay, Bryce - The Persimmon Tree
Crick, Mark - Kafka's Soup
Cronin, Justin - The Passage
Cross, Donna Woolfolk - Pope Joan
Cross, Kady - The Girl in the Steel Corset
Crusie, Jennifer - Charlie All Night
Crusie, Jennifer - Crazy for You
Crusie, Jennifer - Getting Rid of Bradley
Crusie, Jennifer - Manhunting
Crusie, Jennifer - Sizzle
Crusie, Jennifer - Strange Bedpersons
Crusie, Jennifer - Trust Me on This
Crusie, Jennifer - Welcome to Temptation
Crusie, Jennifer - What the Lady Wants
Crusie, Jennifer and Dreyer, Eileen and Stuart, Anne - The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes
Crusie, Jennifer and Mayer, Bob - Don't Look Down
Curham, Siobhan - An American in Paris
Curham, Siobhan - The Resistance Bakery

B

Backman, Fredrik - Beartown
Baggot, Mandy - A Greek Island Gift
Baggot, Mandy - In the Greek Midwinter
Baggot, Mandy - One Greek Summer Wedding
Baggot, Mandy - Summer Ever After
Baggot, Mandy - Under a Greek Sun
Baker, Jeanette - Legacy
Baker, Kevin - Dreamland
Baker Kline, Christina - The Exiles
Balogh, Mary - A Chance Encounter
Balogh, Mary - More Than a Mistress
Balogh, Mary - No Man's Mistress
Balogh, Mary - The Secret Pearl
Balogh, Mary - Simply Love
Balogh, Mary - Simply Magic
Balogh, Mary - Simply Perfect
Banks, Leanne and Evanovich, Janet- Hot Stuff
Bansal, Shivani - Lilac Skies
Banville, John - The Sea
Barker, Sandy - A Wedding in Tuscany
Barker, Sandy -  Match Me If You Can
Barker, Sandy - The One That I Want
Barker, Sandy - Someone Like You
Barnes, Margaret Campbell - Brief Gaudy Hour
Barnes, Margaret Campbell - My Lady of Cleves
Barnes, Margaret Campbell - The Passionate Brood
Barnes, Margaret Campbell - Within the Hollow Crown
Bates, H E - Darling Buds of May
Battle, Lois - The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary &; Sewing Circle
Bauermeister, Erica - The Lost Art of Mixing
Bauermeister, Erica -The School of Essential Ingredients
Baxter, John - An Immovable Feast: A Paris Christmas
Baynham, Jan - The Stolen Sister
Beaumont, Sophie - A Secret Garden in Paris
Beaumont, Sophie - The Paris Cooking School
Beauvais, Clementine - Piglettes
Bennett, Alan - The Uncommon Reader
Bilyeau, Nancy - The Chalice
Bilyeau, Nancy - The Crown
Bishop, Anne - Belladonna
Bishop, Anne - Daughter of the Blood
Bishop, Anne - Dreams Made Flesh
Bishop, Anne - Heir to the Shadows
Bishop, Anne - House of Gaian
Bishop, Anne - The Invisible Ring
Bishop, Anne - Pillars of the World
Bishop, Anne - Queen of the Darkness
Bishop, Anne - Sebastian
Bishop, Anne - Shadows and Light
Blake, Sarah - The Postmistress
Blanchard, Tania - Letters from Berlin
Blevins, Christine - The Tory WidowF
Blevins, Christine - The Turning of Anne Merrick
Blixt, David - Master of Verona
Bohnet, Jennifer - A French Adventure
Bohnet, Jennifer - A French Country Escape
Bohnet, Jennifer - A French Inheritance\
Bohnet, Jennifer - Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
Boyne, John - The Boy in Striped Pyjamas
Bracks, Kate - The Sweet Life
Bradley, Alan - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Bradley, Celeste - One Night With a Spy
Bradley, Celeste - Seducing the Spy
Brashares, Ann - Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
Brashares, Ann - The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Brashares, Ann - Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
Brashares, Ann - The Last Summer (of You and Me)
Bray, Libba - A Great and Terrible Beauty
Bray, Libba - Rebel Angels
Brockmole, Jessica - Letters from Skye
Brockway, Connie - My Pleasure - Rose Hunters Book 2
Brockway, Connie - My Seduction - Rose Hunters Book 1
Brockway, Connie - My Surrender - Rose Hunters Book 3
Brooks, Karen - The Whisky Widow
Brown, Dan - Digital Fortress
Brown, Laurie - Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake
Brownlee, Victoria - Eat Your Heart Out
Buchanan, Susan - The Boulangerie on the Corner
Buckley, Fiona - A Pawn for a Queen
Buckley, Fiona - Queen of Ambition (An Ursula Blanchard Mystery at Queen Elizabeth I's Court)
Buckley, Fiona - The Fugitive Queen
Buckley, Fiona - The Siren Queen
Bujold, Lois McMaster - Falling Free
Bujold, Lois McMaster - Shards of Honor
Burrowes, Grace - Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal
Burrowes, Grace - Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish
Burrows, Deborah - A Stranger in my Street
Burrows, Deborah - Taking a Chance
Burton, Rachel - The House at River's Edge
Burton, Rachel - The Strawberry House
Bush, Holly - Reconstructing Jackson
Butcher, Jim - Storm Front

Y

Yeldham, Peter - Barbed Wire and Roses
Yolen, Jane - Briar Rose
Young, Helene - Half Moon Bay
Young, Michele Ann - No Regrets
Yuzuki, Asako - Butter

Z

Zauner, Michelle - Crying in H Mart
Zusak, Markus - The Book Thief
Zuvich, Andrea - His Last Mistress

X

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Those gremlins!

Kristie posted recently about the gremlins that she has at her house that steal her books! I too have some gremlins around here. In my case they have run away with one of the books I borrowed from the library and today was the day that it was declared lost. So at this point I now owe the library money for a book that I am sure that I have returned - in effect paying to own a book I don't have!!

When you put this on top of the fact that I have just had to spend $1000 on my car today, it's not been a great day!

I was working from home the last two days for the first time. The plan is that this will become a more regular eventuality. I will however need to learn to stop getting distracted! Did however find some great emoticons to use in IM conversations. Never know when they will come in handy!

I still have a huge list of books out from the library even though I returned 8 items today...I borrowed another 6!

Duchess in Love by Eloisa James

The first in the Duchess series of books by Eloisa James.









A Duke in Retreat

Gina was forced into marriage with the Duke of Girton at an age when she'd have been better off in a schoolroom than a ballroom. Directly after the ceremony her handsome spouse promptly fled to the continent, leaving the marriage unconsummated and Gina quite indignant.

A Lady In the Middle

Now, she is one of the most well-known ladies in London... living on the edge of scandal -- desired by many men, but resisting giving herself to any one.

A Duchess in Love

Finally, Camden, the Duke of Girton, has returned home, to discover that his naïve bride has blossomed into the toast of the ton. Which leaves Cam in the most uncomfortable position of discovering that he has the bad manners to be falling in love -- with his own wife!


This book was almost a comedy caper. Gina is married to Cam who has in the past had several mistresses, but she is engaged to Sebastian who may or may not be interested in one of her friends who is married to a man who has a mistress. Passions become ignited as four of our main protaganists find themselves casts in the key roles in Much Ado About Nothing forcing them to spend time together.

Gina and her friends Esme, Carola and Helene are all married ladies, but theirs are no happy marriages. Esme's husband has a long standing mistress that all of the ton knows about, and Esme courts scandal by taking the occasional lover, although she does allow the ton to think that there are more than they are. At this time, Esme is often seen in the complany of a handsome but dim actor. Carola is estranged from her husband, having fled from him after just one month of marriage. She does however realised that she still loves him and she wants to get him back, but she has no idea how to go about this.

As for Gina, she has been married to Camden, Duke of Girton since before she was 12 years old. He scampered out the window minutes after their marriage and they have not seen each other since. She is now engaged to the priggish Sebastian, Marquess of Bonnington, who insists on being VERY proper at all times but now that Cam is back could it be that she is developing feelings for him?

Whilst this book is a lot of fun, there are a couple of things that I wasn't 100% sure about. Right at the end it still seemed as though neither Cam or Gina were aware of what was going on, with it even seeming as though Gina ends up married to someone else at very late points in the book. It also seemed as though there were too many different stories being told in one book. Having said that, I can't wait to read Esme's book which comes in the third book in the series! Can't wait! Can't wait! The strange thing is that this is a four book series with the next book being Cam's cousins story, then Esme's story and then Helene's story. The reason why this is strange is that Helene's link in this book is a bit more tenuous than the others. Maybe it will get stronger in the next two books. It does seem from the author's website that the fourth book was almost an after thought so it will be interesting to see if this is obvious.

Lots of fun, in a house party situation that allows for lots of opportunities for sneaking around.

Rating 4/5

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Master of Desire by Kinley MacGregor

Another series that I have been reading out of order, this is the first book in the MacAllister series by Kinley MacGregor, and comes before Claiming the Highlander in the series.








A Dream of Desire Awakened

Beautiful Lady Emily dreams of the rapture of love and the joys of marriage. The youngest daughter of an English lord at war, she is shaken by the arrival of a mysterious stranger to her father's castle. Could this breathtaking man be Emily's yearned-for lover? Indeed, Draven de Montague, Earl of Ravenswood, has come for Emily...but romance has nothing to do with it. In the Tender Embrace of an Enemy

Draven would never have entered the home of his most hated adversary had not the King himself ordered him to take in his foe's daughter for a year to forge bonds of peace between their two feuding houses. Worse still, here is a lass whose exquisite
loveliness could tempt Draven to betray his sworn vow never to let anther close to his heart. Emily knows the searing heat of her passion could burn down the defenses of this proud warrior. But will the surrender of the sweet nectar of his lips and his bold, sensuous caress ignite a blaze so hot it consumes them both?


When Henry orders that Draven must become the guardian of his enemies daughter there is only one proviso - at the end of the year Lady Emily must be in the same virgin state as she was at the beginning of the twelve months - which would be fine except Lady Emily has her own agenda and it's not necessarily the same as the King's.

Emily sees this as a chance for her to escape. Her father is no ogre, but since her mother and sister's died her father has basically smothered her with kindness, not allowing her any freedom, and most certainly not encouraging any young men to call on her.

Draven, on the other hand, had a terrible background that is gradually revealed through the book. His mother was murdered in front of him, his father was an extremely brutal man as well as a man who goes back on his promises. Because Emily's father sees him as being his father's son Emily's father will not accept Draven as an honourable man, especially as there is evidence to say that Draven has broken his word to the King by attacking villages.

Will Emily and Draven get to be married and live happily ever after? Will Emily's father realise which of his new son-in-laws is the man of honour? Well of course he will, but the journey was quite enjoyable!

Draven's brother is Simon who is the best friend of Sin MacAllister in Born in Sin, and who features in his own story in the Where's My Hero anthology.

What I don't get is that this book is written by the same author who wrote A Pirate of her Own. It must be the Scottish setting as opposed to the pirate one that mean that I was able to immerse myself completely in this book, and to enjoy it so much! I had none of the issues with the writing that I had in the pirate book!

Rating 4/5

Kiss Me Annabel by Eloisa James


The second book in James's Four Sisters series after Much Ado About You!









The RULES OF MARRIAGE...according to Miss Annabel Essex

A husband must be:

RICH.

Make that very rich. She's had enough of leaky roofs and thread-worn clothing.

ENGLISH.

London is the center of the civilized world, and Annabel has a passion for silk and hot water.

AMIABLE.

Good-looking would be nice, but not necessary. Same for intelligent.

Isn't she lucky? She's found just the man! And her chosen spouse is nothing like the impoverished Scottish Earl of Ardmore, who has nothing but his gorgeous eyes, his brain -- and his kisses -- to recommend him.

So what cruel twist of fate put her in a carriage on her way to Scotland with just that impoverished earl and all the world thinking they're man and wife? Sleeping in the same bed? Not to mention the game of words started by the earl -- in which the prize is a kiss. And the forfeit...

Well. They are almost married, after all!
Annabel Essex has one thing on her mind....marriage, but not just any marriage. She has a list of prerequisites, including that he must be wealthy, English and amiable. For she is determined not to ever have to keep the account books any longer, not to have to figure out how to provide for her family. She wants silk, jewels and more money than she knows what to do with! She is also determined that she will not be returning to Scotland. It doesn't matter to her if there is no passion within her marriage. She will do her duty by providing an heir and then the ever practical Annabel will take her pleasure where she can find it. Annabel has decided who the lucky man is to be. Now it is just a case of getting him to ask the question, so when an impoverished Scottish Earl starts showing an interest in her, she is definitely not interested.

Her sister Imogen, however, all but throws herself at Ewan, despite the fact that he is not interested causing scandal, but when Imogen realises that she may be getting in deeper than she really wants to be, she takes her sister and her chaperone to his hotel to see Ewan to tell him that she is no longer interested. Whilst they are there they are caught up in a robbery, and when Annabel raises the alarm to get assistance she is seen in Ewan's hotel room and thus is compromised. Because Ewan is a gentleman he has no choice but to offer for Annabel's hand in marriage, but instead of getting married that day, he proposes that they let everyone think that they have married, and travel to Scotland where they will be married for real. Along the way they engage in fun word games where the rewards are kisses, until kisses are no longer enough. When their carriage breaks an axle and they find themselves in a tiny village where only two people live, Ewan thinks it will be possible to show Annabel that it is possible to be poor but still happy, things do not exactly go to plan. In fact, in the end it seems that Ewan is the one who struggles most with their situation. Meanwhile, Annabel's sisters are plotting how they can save her from this marriage that she cannot possible want, and when that plan includes kidnapping Garrett Mayne and forcing him to travel to Scotland with them, well, there's nothing wrong with that either.

Annabel does have her moments where she can be a little irritating, but overall she was a pretty strong character who knows what she wants, and when she gets more than she wants, can't believe her luck.

Ewan is a fantastic hero. Whilst he does have some secrets in his past, and he does hold himself somewhat aloof from people, he is not the typical tortured alpha hero who can only be redeemed by the love of Annabel. He is a man who takes care of his own responsibilities, and some that are not his responsibility as well. He is a man of honour, and integrity and I liked him a lot!

I really liked this book, a lot more than Much Ado About You. I think there are a couple of reasons that I liked it so much more, the first being that it was nowhere near as horse oriented as the first book was. Yes, the fact that Annabel's dowry is a horse was mentioned, and yes there were still references to horse racing but it seemed much more balanced within the story this time. The other reason I really liked this book is that, yes, they were compromised and therefore were on their way to Scotland in a carriage to be married, but there was no instant marriage and then getting to know each other here. Yes, Ewan had the special license ready to go, but instead we have a physical journey to Scotland, where they had put in close proximity to each other, and with a period of courting as they get to know each other and build their emotional connection further. I really enjoyed the kissing game that they played and the building of the sexual tension between Ewan and Annabel. It gave a level of innocence and intimacy between the two that developed throughout the book building beautifully to the conclusion of the book.

In the background we have the developing relationship between Annabel's sister Imogen and the worn out rake, Garrett Mayne which would appear to have been intended as building up to the next book in the series (Taming of the Duke). And yet, we know that whilst Imogen does feature in the next book, Garrett is not her hero. Knowing this now, I can see, however, how the groundwork was also being laid for the future relationship between Imogen and her future hero, Rafe, as well. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, the future holds for Garrett.

Can't wait to try and get hold of the third book in the series.

Rating 4.5/5

Friday, May 12, 2006

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

Normally I am quite pedantic about reading books in order, so it is quite unusual to be going backwards in a series. This book is the one that came before the much talked about Dreaming of You and where we start to get to know Derek Craven.






She thought her heart was safe, but

Then Came You


Reckless, wild, and beautiful, Lily Lawson delights in shocking proper London society -- and now she is determined to rescue her sister from an unwanted impending marriage to the notorious Alex, Lord Raiford, by fair means or foul. But while she succeeds outrageously, Alex is a master gamesman who is not to be undone.

Alex has lost one bride, yet he is enchanted by this remarkable lady who is willing to break any rule to flaunt her independence. When Lily offers him only scorn, he counters with kindness, and he parries her blistering barbs with gentle words and a soft, tender touch. The spirited miss will pay dearly for her interference -- with her body, her soul, and her stubborn, unyielding heart. But will Alex's own heart be the prize to be won in this sensuous game of love



When we first meet the scandalous Lily Lawson she is about to provide entertainment at a party, where there is a royal guest of honour, by throwing herself off a boat into the freezing, dirty waters of the Thames. Despite all her scandalous behaviour, she is beloved by many in the ton, particularly amongst the gentlemen, who would love to come to an arrangement with her. But for all the world knows, she belongs to Derek Craven, owner of THE place to be in London, Cravens, where she gambles with the best of them. But her relationship with Derek is purely platonic, and Lily games for a reason....to try and fund her search for someone who has held her heart all their life and who Lily would love to be reinstated.

Estranged from her family, Lily decides that she must not allow the wedding of her sister to Alex, Lord Raiford to go ahead as she knows that her sister is in love with another man, and despite the fact that she is willing to go ahead with the marriage to keep her family happy, Lily is determined to ensure that her sister will not be made miserable.

When Lily turns up uninvitedd to Lord Raiford's estate, she starts to cause havoc, and the dislike between Alex and Lily intensifies, until Alex begins to realise that Lily's behaviour is really a front for unhappiness for something that has happened in the past. When Lily takes matters regarding her sister's upcoming marriage into her own hands and causes Alex to be kept captive while her sister and her love elope, Alex is furious, but he is determined to best her.

When Alex wins a night with Lily as part of a bet, he starts to realise that it isn't dislike that he truly feels, rather a fascination that he can't seem to help himself with, yet still Lily does not confide him regarding the secret that causes her nightmares at night.

I liked both Alex and Lily. Lily is for once not a 20 year old virgin afraid that she is left on the shelf already. She is an independant woman, trying to get her life in order despite all the obstacles that are in the way. That does not mean that she is overly experienced when it comes to matters of love, but she is a woman who does not need a man to survive, but it Alex that she wants.

Alex is an honourable man, a very patient man who is prepared to wait until Lily can share the burdens of her heart with him. My only wish was that Lily had of been prepared to trust him earlier, but I guess that that would be nowhere near as entertaining!

Overall, another great read from Lisa Kleypas.

Rating 4/5

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

A Pirate of Her Own by Kinley MacGregor

The second book in the Sea Wolves series and the follow up to Master of Seduction, although it appears that they were published the opposite way around. I don't mind the odd pirate story...can anyone say 'Ahoy there me hearty?

Love on the High Seas

He is the Sea Wolf, a dreaded pirate who stops English navy ships and frees impressed American sailors. Few know Morgan Drake's name, and none guesses at his past. Except, that is, a nosy Savannah reporter named Serenity James. Determined to protect his secrets at any cost, Morgan sets sail for Savannah...and Serenity.

All her life, Serenity has longed for adventure. As a woman, though, she's lucky even to be tolerated in her father's newspaper office. Then she's kidnapped by the bold, sexy pirate whose story fired her imagination, and his embrace Serenity finds adventure beyond her wildest dreams.

SS James is quite an unusual woman. She is pretty independent, works in her father's newspaper, and has published a story about the legendary Sea Wolf. Her ideas about his background have come so close to the truth that Morgan believes that she has managed to life the veil of secrecy around his identity, thereby putting himself and his men in danger. As soon as she sees the Captain she is captivated by his good looks and his charms, but even they can become a bit wearing when you have been kidnapped by his accomplices and forced to spend time on a boat that is seemingly becoming smaller and smaller, with fewer places to hide from the person who you are really attracted to!

The camaraderie between Jake (the hero from Master of Seduction) and Morgan was a highlight of this book, which is a bit unfortunate considering that it is a romance between Serenity and Morgan, but a lot of the other relationships were too....convenient. For example, Serenity becomes instant best friends with a woman who tries to teach her about the art of seduction, even though she spends barely two days with.

This book had mildly amusing moments scattered throughout it, but most of the time it felt like a book of half developed ideas, or maybe it was poorly executed ideas....either way, it fell short of the mark for me. The writing was clunky, almost to the point where to me it felt as though every second sentence might have been taken out, leaving just a semblance of the passage. For example, the battle scene, lasted one page. Now I don't want to read pages and pages of dialogue describing a battle, but at least take us there to see what the characters are seeing, and feel what they are playing.

Both the scenes where Morgan and Serenity finally acted on their attractions, and the final scene were contrived and the final scene in particular felt rushed and unconvincing to me.

Rating 2.5/5
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