Sunday, November 30, 2008

A Christmas Wedding

A Christmas Wedding by Tracy Wolff is the story of Desiree Hawthorne-Rainwater and Jesse Rainwater. From the back cover ~ Desiree is determined to hold on to her husband. She's loved Jesse Rainwater since the day the legendary horse trainer came to work at her father's ranch. Now, on the eve of their daughter's wedding, Jesse hits her with a bombshell that forces Desiree to reexamine their life together.

And she isn't going down without a fight. She hasn't struggled all these years to lose the thing that's most precious to her. Desiree knows they share something true and strong, even if they lost sight of it somewhere along the way. Now her toughest battle lies ahead:to prove to Jesse that theirs is a love worth fighting for.

A Christmas Wedding is a love story that spans over 30 years. Desiree falls in love with Jesse when she sees him for the first time when she is 16 and he is 31. She comes from a wealthy horse racing family and Jesse is one of the best, if not the best, horse trainers in the business. They marry when Desiree is 23 and then start their lives together. A Christmas Wedding is filled with flashbacks to how Jesse and Desiree have spent their married life, showing the reader how they have reached this point in their lives.

Tracy Wolff writes a wonderful story filled with love and passion. A Christmas Wedding is a great story and I look forward to many more stories from Tracy Wolff.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Starting to feel like a human again

I'm feeling almost back to normal, so I finally grabbed a book from my tbr pile for my Thanksgiving trip. I started A Christmas Wedding by Tracy Wolff this morning. I didn't realize how much I've missed reading until I read my first few pages. I know I won't get to read much while I visit with my family, but I do plan to at least read a few chapters a day. Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Reading Slug

I've had the mother of all sinus infections, so I've been a total reading slug for the majority of this week. I never go this many days without reading something, but I just haven't had the energy to read after work. Plus, for the first time ever, I didn't pack one book to read over the next 2 days. I always have at least one book if not 2 or 3 with me. I might have one on my ipod to listen to, but nothing to read. I really hope the headache leaves soon so I can get back to my normal reading schedule.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Heating up the Holidays

Heating up the Holidays is a hunky holiday collection put out by Blaze.

First up is All He Wants for Christmas by Jill Shalvis. EMT Dustin Mauer wants only one wish for Christmas, firefighter Cristina Lewis to realize she has real feeling for him. Although, Dustin has sworn to stay out of bed with Cristina, he is willing to do anything to convince her of his love and make her realize she loves him too.

Next is My Grown-Up Christmas List by Jacquie D'Alessandro. Toni Rizzo is done with all firefighters. However, Brad Griffin could change her mind with his steamy kisses. Brad has been attracted to Toni from the first moment he saw her. Toni has been fighting her attraction to Brad from that first meeting as well.

Finally is Up on the Housetop by Jamie Sobrato. Dr. Lorelei Gibson gets stuck on her roof half-naked and is rescued by hunky firefighter Ryan Quinn, who happens to be her old high school crush.

All three stories are sexy fun reads. I've always enjoyed each of these authors and loved each of their firefighter stories.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

TN Titans 10-0

I'm so proud of my Tennessee Titans!!! Best record in franchise history with 10-0. It was a very tough win against the Jacksonville Jags, but we came back in the second half to pull out and 24-14 victory! With the 10-0 start, the Titans should make the playoffs this year, now we just have to work towards home field advantage. WTG to all the Titans!!!

Even Now

Even Now by Karen Kingsbury is a wonderful book filled with bittersweet memories and hope for the future. Lauren Anderson and Shane Galanter find out at 17 they will be parents. They decide that they want to get married and keep the baby. Their parents have other plans for the young couple. Shane's parents plan to move him to California to get him away from Lauren, and Lauren's parents help them by not giving any forwarding information about Shane to Lauren. Shane's parents also think Lauren should give the baby up for adoption, since the kids are so young to become parents.

Much misunderstanding takes place after baby Emily is born. Lauren believes that her baby daughter dies and Shane has no way to locate any of the Anderson family to find out about his child. Only when Emily, who has been raised by her grandparents after Lauren left, goes through a box of her mom's old stuff are there any clues to the location of her parents.

Lauren and Shane's story is full of romance, turmoil, love, and misunderstanding. Kingsbury gives the reader a wonderful story that is to be continued in the next book in the series Ever After.

Every Now & Then

Every Now & Then is the third book in the 9/11 series by Karen Kingsbury. From the inside cover~ A wall went up around Alex Brady's heart when is father, a New York firefighter, died in the Twin Towers. Turning his back on the only woman he ever loved, Alex shut out all the people who cared about him to concentrate on fighting crimes. He and his trusty K9 partner, Bo, are determined to eliminate evil in the world and prevent tragedies like 9/11.

Then the worst fire season in California's history erupts, and Alex faces the ultimate challenge to protect the community he serves. An environmental terrorist group is targeting the plush Oak Canyon Estates. At the risk of losing his job, and his soul, Alex is determined to infiltrate the group and put an end to their corruption. Only the friendship of Clay and Jamie Michaels-and the love of a dedicated young woman-can help Alex drop the walls around his heart and move forward into the future God has for him.

Every Now & Then is a wonderful story that picks up several years after 9/11 with some of the characters from earlier books in the series. It was wonderful that Alex befriended, as much as he allowed, so many characters from the earlier books without knowing any of their history on 9/11. Alex must learn to trust as he did before 9/11 to move forward with his life. With the help of memories of his father, his new friends, and an old love, Alex has the chance to be the man that God wants him to become.

Kingsbury writes an amazing story that grabs the reader by the heart. Kingsbury is a Christian fiction author that lets her faith shine through every book she writes. I've read many books by Kingsbury and look forward to reading more of her stories.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Salvation in Death

Salvation in Death by JD Robb is the latest in the exciting In Death series. Eve Dallas and Peabody are given the case of a priest who dies while taking communion at a funeral. Since the wine is poisoned with cyanide, Eve knows it is murder. Once the priest is in autopsy, it is revealed that he might not have been who everyone believed. Eve discovers that the person was someone who had lived in the neighborhood years ago and had come back with a different face and name. Eve knows there is more to the story and with the help of her husband Roarke, she digs into the past to find to truth of the murder.

Robb also gives the reader their romantic fix of Eve and Roarke. They have such an amazing love for one another that jumps off the page. Even when they argue or push at one another, you can feel the love in the pushing. Robb also gives the reader a bit of romance with Peabody and McNabb. They are still in the early stages of their relationship(although they have been together over many books) and are still trying to learn how to accept each other's differences.

Salvation in Death gives the reader mystery, suspense, and lots of romance to keep the reader coming back for more.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

TN Titans 9-0 baby!!!

I'm so proud of my Tennessee Titans who after Sunday's win are now 9-0!!! We have been a team that can only win with the run and managed to have the run shut down and still pulled out a win. WTG Kerry Collins for having an amazing air game! I'm so proud of my guys this week! Our big challenge comes when we head to Jacksonville this week to play a division rival. I'll be proud win or lose, but would really love to put another check in the W column.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Hot As Hell

Hot As Hell by HelenKay Dimon is a fast-paced fun read filled with romance, passion, and mystery. From the back cover - Lexy Stuart is nobody's fool...not since she wised up to the fact that her fiance, Noah Paxton, wasn't just sporting the hardest bod this side of the Ironman competition. No, he was also harboring enough secrets to make a CIA operative blush. Little things he never thought worth mentioning like, oh, a previous marriage. So Lexy gave back the ring-with extreme prejudice-and made sandy tracks straight to a remote desert spa. Problem is, with a man like Noah, a girl can run, but she can't hide. Nor does she particularly want to...

Alexa Annabeth Stuart. The stuffy name couldn't be less suitable for a woman as fiery and free as Noah's Lexy. And Lexy is his-always will be-the tricky part will be getting her to realize it. Of course, Noah's always up for a challenge. Which is a good thing since between the crazy heat at this god-forsaken "retreat" and the looks Lexy's shooting him (not the mention the shock waves he's getting form her hot-pink bikini), winning his ex back could be one dangerous mission. But if Noah doesn't survive it, well, he intends to die a very satisfied man...

Lexy and Noah have amazing chemistry that leaps off the pages. Noah is willing to do anything to get Lexy back, even reveal details from his past he doesn't like to talk about. As Noah is working on winning Lexy back, when a murder occurs on the retreat property in Lexy's hotel room. Lexy and Noah must then team up to figure out why someone was murdered and more importantly, why that person was killed in Lexy's room.

Dimon writes a winner with Hot As Hell. The connection between Lexy and Noah is so real, whether they are fighting, making love, or working to solve a murder. Both are strong characters and keep the reader wanting more.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Tennessee Titans 8-0

I usually only blog about books I've read, am reading, or plan to read. However, not only did my mother pass on her love of books to me, she gave me my love of sports too...especially football. I've always loved professional football, and as soon as the Houston Oilers were given to the state of Tennessee I became an immediate fan. We went from being the Houston Oilers to the Tennessee Oilers to finally the Tennessee Titans.

As Titans we have had Super Bowl years and 3-13 years, but I've always been a fan. This year our Titans are the number one team in the AFC and remain the only undefeated time in the entire NFL. We had a very close game that came down to an over-time field goal, but I'm so proud and excited for my Titans!!!

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Lucky Charm

Lucky Charm is the first in the Corwin Men series by Carly Phillips. From the back cover - Long ago, as revenge on a Corwin who stole her son's fiancee, a witch proclaimed an eternal curse that every Corwin male who married for love would be destined to lose his woman and his fortune...

Derek thought he could outsmart the long-standing Corwin curse by breaking up with Gabrielle, his first love, and marrying someone else. Now, divorced, and broke, all he has left is his teenage daughter and a healthy respect for ancient sorcery. But then Gabrielle returns, determined to defeat the curse and rekindle their passion. But will her stubborn streak and her unwavering love be the lucky charm Derek so desperately needs?

Gabrielle has come home to write a book that would prove the Corwin curse is a hoax. Derek, who has his daughter Holly for the summer, plans to avoid Gabrielle on her trip home. When Gabrielle and Derek see each other for the first time, the passion they share is still evident. Derek still thinks he can keep his distance from Gabrielle, until he finds out she is in danger. His feelings, even those he won't admit, make him want to protect Gabrielle from any danger.

Phillips writes another winner with Lucky Charm. The romance and passion between Derek and Gabrielle jumps off the page. Phillips adds a bit mystery and comedy to write a wonderful book that makes the reader want the next book in the series immediately.