Courting Catherine (the Calhoun Women) by Nora Roberts

The Towers sits on a cliff in Maine.  Beautiful and majestic until a closer look at the need for repair puts Catherine "C.C." Calhoun in a struggle with her sisters and Aunt Coco on how to afford the costly mansion and keep it from falling into disrepair.

C.C. owns and works diligently at her auto shop.  Her temper is good for creating adrenaline in getting the vehicles repaired to perfection.  Dirty clothes and grease smeared regularly on her hands and face can give an unusual first impression.

Trenton St. James arrives in-tow with his broken down BMW.  Work boots sticking out from under a car aren't telling of the woman who pops out from underneath.  And the surprises never end as C.C.  lets him know she won't put up with his demanding and callous order to fix his car fast.

He's in town to buy the Towers and change it into a luxury hotel.  That's what he does all over the country, and this is just another business deal.

Parts need to be ordered.  Trenton is stuck in town.  Out of her family, C.C. is the only one that isn't aware of Trenton's offer to stay at the Towers until they run into each other in her house.

Aunt Coco, deciding that if their home is to be sold, at least one of her nieces is going to get a marriage out of it.  Not sure which one, she sets up a séance.  This is one of my favorite passages as the women sit around, with the invited Trenton, and believe their ancestors are sending a message. 

Trenton is usually all business, but something warm and familial draws out his feelings, ones he didn't know he had.  When C.C. begins to treat him more like a human being, something sparks to the surprise of everyone.

The problem is, will Trenton still buy the house and kick the women out of their dream life, or will he find a way to help them and stay in C.C.'s heart?

Happy reading, 

Dawn

 

 

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts

The story opens in the thirteenth century, Ireland as we meet the Dark Witch, her children, special pets, and the evil man, Cabhan, who wants her more than life.  And he proves it, which takes us to current day at the same spot in Ireland and with several generations later of the Dark Witch's descendants.
Little did Iona know that her reason to spontaneously leave her uncaring family and move to Ireland wasn't the same reason that Ireland "called" her.  She wants to meet her two cousins and make a life near them.
Iona wants freedom, to work with horses, a friend would be nice, and possibly a nice man to pay attention to her.  I don't think she's asking for much.
It's a magical story, literally, as we encounter Iona's cousins, Branna and Connor.  Iona is welcomed into their home and life.  The cousins explain to Iona that she makes the trio of witches to complete the power to fight the evil witch, Cabhan, who still survives to this day.
Wait!  The cousins are witches, and...wait! So is Iona!  She knows nothing about magic, but is easily convinced to give it a whirl.
This doesn't mean she's giving up on the rest of her ideas.  And with her new connections, she is accepted to work at a horse ranch for a man, Boyle, whom she can't keep her eyes and maybe her hands from touching.
As Iona is taught the magic of the witches, she is tested in scary ways.  Between herself, her cousins, Boyle, and a few friends, Iona finds out whether she's cut out to be a witch and if Boyle can accept such a powerful woman in his life.
A challenging group of characters who had to figure out how to fit together and figure out their puzzle, and a beautiful puzzle it was!

Happy reading,
Dawn

The Liar by Nora Roberts

This is a delightful read, granted being a liar is nothing but the lowest form of relationship problems to deal with.

The liar is the dead husband of Shelby Pomeroy.  And what a horrific way to find out he lied - about everything.  He gave her all that money could buy and left on frequent business trips to make this money. 

When her husband died, he also left her with a lot of debt, a lot of doubt, and a background that terrified her.

Shelby made a plan to pay off the millions in debt by selling everything and taking her daughter to her hometown in Tennessee.

Her large family welcomed her home, along with a buff and gorgeous man, Griff, dead-set on helping her out, which includes in the protection department.  Shelby’s husband’s past followed her along with murders in Little Rock.  Griff would do his best to keep her alive and at his side.

The close knit community in Tennessee, the charming people, and the far from charming people can only be created by Nora Roberts.  If you’ve read her books, you’ll know what I mean.  If not, it’s never too late to jump in and find another favorite author!

 

Happy reading,

Dawn

Guest Laurie Schnebly Campbell: Outgrowing High School

Next weekend I'm off to my high school reunion, and wondering why -- after all these years -- I still care so much about what my classmates think of me.

Sure, you expect teenagers to be consumed with the desire for popularity. But shouldn't we outgrow it eventually? Or does that shrinking feeling of "I'll never be cool" come back with the same intensity as during high school whenever those same people get together?

In theory, this should be a pure delight. And I suspect if I weren't spending so much energy worrying about whether I'll be accepted -- or, more to the point, admired -- it WOULD be a pure delight.

Yet I've spent the past four months dithering over what to wear, planning the best day for a haircut, imagining ways to work my book titles into the conversation while sounding ever so casual...which, good heavens, just made me realize this is all about Me-Me-Me!

Ulp.

Years ago my dad said his method for enjoying any social event was to walk into the room saying "THERE you are" instead of "HERE I am." And it's a safe bet there'll be a whole lot of fascinating people at this event -- in fact, it'll be the anniversary of when my best friend from high school met her soon-to-be husband (another classmate) at our ten-year reunion. They happened to sit near each other at dinner, and...whoosh.

But they won't be there since their daughter's school is still in session. And a few other friends I've stayed in touch with can't make it either. And I didn't invite my husband because it would've been ludicrously expensive to bring a date.

So there won't be any Guaranteed Friendly People to chat with. Surely there'll be other people arriving without a date, though, right?

Surely there'll be something to do besides hide out in the bathroom, right?

Surely this'll all be a pleasant memory by the time our NEXT reunion comes around...won't it?

But if you have any tips for making a reunion more fun and less scary, I'd really love to hear 'em!

 Laurie, who can't wait to check back

~ ~ ~

After publishing half a dozen romances, including a Special Edition that beat out Nora Roberts for "Best of the Year," Laurie Schnebly Campbell saw a bumper sticker that changed her life: "Those who can, do. Those who believe others can ALSO do, teach." Now she teaches other writers about query letters, fatal flaws, plotting via motivation and more -- see her picks at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LaurieClass .

Review: Genuine Lies by Nora Roberts

On an estate secluding itself away from the rest of Hollywood, lives Eve Benedict.  As an actress, Eve has many faces the world has watched for decades.  She keeps her beauty, her men, and many secrets with her age.

For an unknown reason she considers it time to hire a biographer, Julia, and tell her life secrets.  The secrets will embarrass many and ruin others.

Threatening notes appear on Julia’s doorstep and Eve’s dresser.  Accidents happen and the research for the biography continues.  Eve’s step-son, Paul, wants to protect them.  His personal bond with Eve and the heartstrings for Julia aren’t enough to halt their progress on this deadly mission.

Paul’s attention doesn’t stop the first murder or the second. 

I salute Roberts’ ability to bring a large cast to life.  Many personalities with genuine conflicts about the lies told come to a boil.  One murder broke my heart and the other was well deserved.   Everyone played a part in the game of secrets and each dealt with their exposure in unique ways.

The murderer’s secret is the most deceptive and the hardest to unearth. And the most important.  Without an answer, Paul will never have Julia.  

Dawn

Book Lovers R Us

Have you ever met someone for the very first time and something between you just “clicked.” I’m not talking about romance (although, who among us doesn’t relish that feeling?). No, I’m talking about a fellow book lover. Someone who loves the written word as much as you. Someone who loves the feel and smell of a book in their hands.

I felt this amazing connection the first time I met my late mother-in-law (she was in the hospital in traction for her back). Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I loved her son (and still do). Perhaps it had something to do with the fact she asked me to call her Mom.

The second time I met her, I knew why we’d hit it off so well, why I felt that instant bond with her. She was a booklover! Indeed, the moment I walked into her house, I fell in love with her. One entire wall of her living room was a bookshelf. I’m not talking fancy wood cabinets. I’m talking huge metal things, strictly utilitarian, to hold her massive collection. These books were piled three deep and three high. There were also piles beside it on the floor and another stack on the kitchen table (she also had a problem with her To Be Read pile taking over her house). And she read EVERYTHING! She introduced me to Nora Roberts and Lavyrle Spencer and so many authors I hadn’t yet read.

My mother-in-law is gone now but I still, to this day, want to call her and tell her about a new story I just love or a new author I’ve found. And isn’t that the most amazing thing about reading? Sharing your love of books with someone else?

Happy reading!

Marie

Do You Follow Your Favorite Authors Across Genres?

Some romance authors have amazing talent and are able to successfully write in many subgenres. Sometimes this necessitates different pen names as in the case of Tina Gerow writing Paranormal Romances and her other side, Cassie Ryan, writing Erotic Romances. Or there are others who can use the same name and write all types of subgenres like Johanna Lindsey who writes Western Romances, Historical Romances, and even a few Futuristic Romances.

When I find an author I like, I follow them across all the romance subgenres and to my surprise, I have found there are a number of subgenres I really like. But what about when an author crosses genres? I always loved Julie Garwood romances, and then she started writing mysteries. Unfortunately, I don’t care for that genre so I don’t read her mystery books. I know that Nora Roberts, a real genius in the romance field, also writes futuristic suspense under the name J. D. Robb, but while I’ve read some of her romances, both historical and contemporary subgenres, I haven’t picked up a J. D. Robb book.

I’m rather curious about what other readers do. Both Garwood and Roberts are excellent writers, so it is not their talent that causes me to avoid buying some of their books, but rather the subject matter. So tell me, do you read across romance subgenres? Do you also read across genres if it is a favorite author of yours? I would love to know.