tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78403778303535991942024-02-07T05:31:54.740+00:00Everyday is the same ...RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.comBlogger529125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-74860794923779441632015-01-03T10:26:00.001+00:002015-01-03T10:26:04.559+00:00What I've read... Inherited by her Enemy - Sara Craven<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbBbV2zxsy7smcQtUMCD8QXdKgROlIpgveQRJ-ZGbtsY7FqrkmZxrJ-03xGjjgdUCTi38Zc6MSQg7Lyp4Odz_Yq1QoD6dgmnOn6TeP7HJtRv9jCzJdv12WPzrC6He55CQDi9YdgZxjek/s640/blogger-image-1270267945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbBbV2zxsy7smcQtUMCD8QXdKgROlIpgveQRJ-ZGbtsY7FqrkmZxrJ-03xGjjgdUCTi38Zc6MSQg7Lyp4Odz_Yq1QoD6dgmnOn6TeP7HJtRv9jCzJdv12WPzrC6He55CQDi9YdgZxjek/s640/blogger-image-1270267945.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Inherited by Her Enemy - Sara Craven</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mills & Boon Modern</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Harlequin UK, 2015</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">ISBN: <a href="tel:9781472098337" style="text-align: center; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; word-break: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-hyphens: auto; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">9781472098337</font></a></div><span class="published" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-break: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><br></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Format - ebook (kindle)</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4.5 stars</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">There's a certain something I find in Sara Craven's books that I not only struggle to find in a lot of others but also that I find totally enthralling. Her storytelling is wonderfully crafted.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">This story is weaved beautifully and takes you on a journey. You don't get many romance novels these days written soley from the heroines point of view, and it's risky thing to do in my opinion. But it works. </span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I adore the besotted, almost gentle hero and the heroine was annoyingly prim, which </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">made her even more endearing.</span></div></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This book is a rich soup of other characters, which cause misunderstandings and miscommunication but all play out well and I found I believed in the romance too. Kind of sad and heart rendering in places, a bit melodramatic in others... But I loved it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-37949712106084067082014-12-30T17:15:00.000+00:002014-12-30T17:15:16.207+00:00My year in books...<br />
As we approach the end of another year, I thought I would reflect back on what I have achieved reading wise over the year. After all I started this blog initially as a 'book blog'.<br />
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This year hasn't been all that prolific for me in terms of reviewing books... REAL LIFE has gotten in the way of this mostly and I do find myself having less and less time for writing full detailed reviews. However, I have continued to read a lot, as always.<br />
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Mainly the 2nd half of this year I have been reading a lot of older books, I've been in a bit of a retro vibe! And also, the amount of kindle one-click purchases appearing on my bank statement was getting to epic levels so I actually thought I should knuckle down and actually read the books I have been collecting and putting on my groaning bookshelves! Which, I admit are mainly of the old school variety...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMzmWwGuXxf8iCMRV1JMb_xELL_kqCduMkc0Nq75yK9hcJLUYdxaIAI_-9c2hdC3-cg-yeUjTf9VoCRmo4v_rdpbDZXJ6fRauBJTDwrm4Qco5AdVsFCnn_PAY6jncROJ5JKYRt5HNFLs/s1600/IMG_3468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMzmWwGuXxf8iCMRV1JMb_xELL_kqCduMkc0Nq75yK9hcJLUYdxaIAI_-9c2hdC3-cg-yeUjTf9VoCRmo4v_rdpbDZXJ6fRauBJTDwrm4Qco5AdVsFCnn_PAY6jncROJ5JKYRt5HNFLs/s1600/IMG_3468.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oooh, look at all the pretty colours...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7Igqvd8s_AcGQtxFdUfodK8oN4H3W3hb8E3bkqQrhzA8Cvz4l7zA9UzSGifDd7omh1LQTEfgMaHoN1O8hIOogs4zb0hz9p1-tlIfj1tdJp3_S-6KpwcXn9qVyprFKSp6hhOhcaHnCfc/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7Igqvd8s_AcGQtxFdUfodK8oN4H3W3hb8E3bkqQrhzA8Cvz4l7zA9UzSGifDd7omh1LQTEfgMaHoN1O8hIOogs4zb0hz9p1-tlIfj1tdJp3_S-6KpwcXn9qVyprFKSp6hhOhcaHnCfc/s1600/IMG_3469.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old skool romance FTW!</td></tr>
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And surprisingly I have actually made my way through quite a lot of them!<br />
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Going forward, I am thinking of different ways to continue to keep this blog as a book based blog at its core. Such as mini, on the go reviews as I'm reading books or just a monthly summary and star rating... I've not quite decided.<br />
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But whatever happens, don't worry I'm still out there reading and enjoying romance novels as aways. Maybe one day I'll actually get through my entire book collection...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhFbtLU9jjgKvLB6nvHnkl9gX0cUhT8LPmnEa0hcGfk_o1WpoqxSaU3OqLDtVxBk6UxzjFlFn35e8JNKDa6deQEwDNX_IAhmOpXeWa50GvKqLfBFAFujHL6-hNv7AD-sJijk97ryB5Z8/s1600/IMG_3471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhFbtLU9jjgKvLB6nvHnkl9gX0cUhT8LPmnEa0hcGfk_o1WpoqxSaU3OqLDtVxBk6UxzjFlFn35e8JNKDa6deQEwDNX_IAhmOpXeWa50GvKqLfBFAFujHL6-hNv7AD-sJijk97ryB5Z8/s1600/IMG_3471.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two NEARLY full book shelves (p.s. theres also two more 'non romance' bookshelves in the other room...)</td></tr>
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<br />RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-45613627485133677042014-12-17T15:38:00.001+00:002014-12-17T15:38:14.057+00:00App for it....So, it appears you can now blog directly from your phone on the blogger app, who knew?! <div><br></div><div>I seem to always be a few steps behind on these kind of things. But be prepared for a lot more photos of Pete being blogged!!</div><div><br></div><div>In fact, here's one now...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_shVCMfIk4Ecgikm2taHYgyp-eGdJ08cAaxU4S-ruduxyZjVjatlesGHKUaDcwNvEPMHnq3gfnwbYD_mfgfPFkgI2fUyFnLGNstBGZyTJKjKK2qYXwRBWxBPZcr1GwnE1HRLwEsCdYU/s640/blogger-image--584642113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_shVCMfIk4Ecgikm2taHYgyp-eGdJ08cAaxU4S-ruduxyZjVjatlesGHKUaDcwNvEPMHnq3gfnwbYD_mfgfPFkgI2fUyFnLGNstBGZyTJKjKK2qYXwRBWxBPZcr1GwnE1HRLwEsCdYU/s640/blogger-image--584642113.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-70936264510457300112014-12-10T20:42:00.000+00:002014-12-10T20:42:11.688+00:00The Great Big Career Change...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2ZXRGD_hDK-7hf93ZAKLtIFW5PKdTiuXIW_A-i5p6ap4_YhFEjBOQu7dJnTlQ9SC_8gEODbvHik7bBz75Nk9fnxndU5LubH2QTdCOti86TFkqbuPtIEQshmHPpAxl2xCrRA6fd89h70/s1600/career-ladder-cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2ZXRGD_hDK-7hf93ZAKLtIFW5PKdTiuXIW_A-i5p6ap4_YhFEjBOQu7dJnTlQ9SC_8gEODbvHik7bBz75Nk9fnxndU5LubH2QTdCOti86TFkqbuPtIEQshmHPpAxl2xCrRA6fd89h70/s1600/career-ladder-cartoon.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
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A lot has changed since I last posted on here. You may (but probably won't) remember that earlier on in the year I was having a bit of difficulty with the ol' life/work balance - basically I had none! Cutting my hours back helped a bit, but it didn't take long until the additional duties, and asking me to do extra hours, phone calls on my days off, etc, started piling on again.<br />
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It was around the end of summer when I realised that I. Was. Done. with my job. In the nearly ten 10 years since university I have only ever had one employer, and yes I had a 2 year break off work during that time, but enough was enough and I felt a change was needed.<br />
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And boy was it a big one. Let's just say going from banking and insurance into working for the NHS is veeeerrrrrryyyy different. Very! Applying for the job in the first place was a bit of a whim, actually getting an interview was surprising, and then to actually get the job was a complete shock!<br />
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Fast forward 5 weeks on and after a gruelling 4 weeks of full time training, which included 2 exams and audits, I am now flying solo and finding it, well er, challenging. Going from a job that I didn't like but could basically do with my eyes closed, to one where I actually had to use that brain that I'd buried away years ago has been a bit of a culture shock... But they say you can never go home again so I do want to make the most of this new role.<br />
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Not only that it works out so much better for my work/life balance. I only work 20 hours a week now over 4 evenings making it a lot better for me and my husband and Pete the dog!<br />
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Watch this space for more updates on the new job...! It might be interesting!<br />
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XxRLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-91855884137266451012014-09-07T17:48:00.003+01:002014-09-07T17:48:55.938+01:00Welcome to Planet Apple...<br />
I have been quiet on the writing and blogging front recently. There has been a couple of reasons for this. Mainly day job based, but also because my faithful laptop was on it's last legs and I was struggling to get use out of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXnCHhzFfRBynLLndcgho27eQgzlGub8HHxJHjz8p2Q0uuY4Av834n0c2H41399A4lEtxc-GYtSMlH4J4XOC-DPe97Q9O_pZ__S4N0ihHnZG4E9PsS0pOxSHjgWt3Q9oKrL-ihXmqWl4/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXnCHhzFfRBynLLndcgho27eQgzlGub8HHxJHjz8p2Q0uuY4Av834n0c2H41399A4lEtxc-GYtSMlH4J4XOC-DPe97Q9O_pZ__S4N0ihHnZG4E9PsS0pOxSHjgWt3Q9oKrL-ihXmqWl4/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a>On the days it decided to turn on at all, it took about 10 mins to do so, and trying to work over the loud constant buzzing it emitted was frustrating to say the least. And the most difficult part was that I couldn't type for long periods of time as one side of the keyboard would overheat to rather uncomfortable levels. As you can probably understand, I can't really write if I can't type (apart from pen to paper, of course!)<br />
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<br />So I had a big decision on my hands... did I a) go and get myself a replacement laptop, knowing that probably in 3-4 years time I would go through the same thing, or perhaps b) get a PC desktop, a fairly decent one, with it's rather cumbersome-even-in-2014 tower, or did I go for the option that had been whispering it's way through my blood for the last few years... c) go all out and finally, FINALLY, get an iMac that I have always wanted.<br />
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It was a tough decision... and iMac was undoubtedly the favourite option. BUT, they are not the kind of this I can go out and purchase willynilly. They are expensive, so I could only justify the cost if it is something I will use enough to make it worth it, and will it have a longer shelf life than I have ever had a normal laptop last for. Also after years of being a PC user, I last used a Mac at university and that was only for design based programs (which was 12 whole years ago, would you believe!) would I be able to switch over to using a Mac or would it take a lot of adjustments.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNuGLzYqplSrcRFw4JI0MPfUy2sjzXML9qTGgGEEl1IjBlHRiQ-OajnFPkaTcBROI6nsDBsnu_TIEtLMg30T4M4xSDLNvdAtcI5oV8n-YI5wTwE0G7q7pvF9zz4dRtwijq8SCRXgs1_Y/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNuGLzYqplSrcRFw4JI0MPfUy2sjzXML9qTGgGEEl1IjBlHRiQ-OajnFPkaTcBROI6nsDBsnu_TIEtLMg30T4M4xSDLNvdAtcI5oV8n-YI5wTwE0G7q7pvF9zz4dRtwijq8SCRXgs1_Y/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't it pretty!</td></tr>
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<br />I ummed, I uhhhed, spoke to a few people about it. (One person was so very against getting a Mac and that PC's are the only way to go that it only made me want a one even more! I don't give a damn if you can update the insides of a PC and not a Mac, that's not how I roll!) and eventually settled on my hearts desire and bought it. After a little fiasco regarding getting the item delivered, which I'm not going to go into as it just makes my blood boil and those of you whole follow me on twitter might remember my little drama, I now have a gorgeous computer that works.<br />
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And it's an iMac, yo!<br />
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Now, I know what you're probably thinking... does getting a new computer warrant and entire blog post?! Well, in my rather boring life, yes it does! It's a shiny new toy and very exciting. It also means I have the (working) tools to try and make a go out of getting published. Maybe now that I have something inspiring to write on, I might , ya know, be more inspired to write. For that, only time will tell, but in the last week I have managed 3000 words... and that is more than I have managed in the last few months combined!<br />
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Going forward I've got a few kinks to try and iron out... Basic things like <i>how the hell do I copy and paste on this thing?</i> and <i>Where on earth do I save something?</i> I have sort of managed to work out!<br />
My current issue is whether or not to purchase Microsoft Office or just stick with the in-built pages app, which to be honest so far I am not getting along with that well.<br />
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Any advice on decent Word Processing and Spreadsheet programs I should/could use would be greatly appreciated?<br />
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Also, other useful app recommendations? What is all the fuss about linking iPhone via cloud? etc...<br />
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Anyway, that's enough about my shiny new Mac for now, watch this space for some more updates and blog posts soon....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vADVoLTCBjt_CWBmMdnitDObJSITtmI_nISbJkUTj8TyjslPRLVwNrHGXcwlRAoVn3VTnWHFOAw_HRhsqE4lkir6lMnrfuh6WbCAT8XtRwgxE2IfQ80kpKR4DSSg8Mvalbe298Rvp94/s1600/IMG_2797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vADVoLTCBjt_CWBmMdnitDObJSITtmI_nISbJkUTj8TyjslPRLVwNrHGXcwlRAoVn3VTnWHFOAw_HRhsqE4lkir6lMnrfuh6WbCAT8XtRwgxE2IfQ80kpKR4DSSg8Mvalbe298Rvp94/s1600/IMG_2797.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete's not sure what all the fuss is about... and why do I sit at the desk instead of paying him attention?!</td></tr>
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<br />RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-39883370683290231992014-08-07T12:32:00.001+01:002014-08-07T12:32:46.392+01:00Review... Changing Constantinou's Game - Jennifer Hayward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJyyNetlgcgzGW-VckyBCOw52_FecOviCwDZJHpmQUupKo2nyXoocssg7jQCMwppQ2DJziUTyY0fXmhyphenhyphen9rDl8sqxnvz0uvo6FYlUHaOHE-Xspjrhyphenhyphenm1f4p-7FcZphq49ksCGkT6sLwb8/s1600/changin+constantinous+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJyyNetlgcgzGW-VckyBCOw52_FecOviCwDZJHpmQUupKo2nyXoocssg7jQCMwppQ2DJziUTyY0fXmhyphenhyphen9rDl8sqxnvz0uvo6FYlUHaOHE-Xspjrhyphenhyphenm1f4p-7FcZphq49ksCGkT6sLwb8/s1600/changin+constantinous+game.jpg" height="320" width="202" /></a></div>
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Changing Constantinou's Game - Jennifer Hayward<br />
Harlequin Presents<br />
Harlequin, 2014<br />
ISBN: 9870373132775<br />
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My rating<br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"One kiss couldn't hurt, could it? <br />Alexios Constantinou is notorious for his lethal charm, so when the exquisite Isabel Peters is—literally—dropped into his lap during a hellish elevator ride, he doesn't waste the opportunity! With tensions sky-high after their near-death experience, an insatiable desire ignites between them, and all bets are off. <br />But when Alex discovers that reporter Isabel's next story is him, he's furious…yet determined to use it to his advantage. He's calling the shots, but the closer Isabel gets, the closer she comes to discovering his carefully concealed secret. Now, with everything at stake, he'll need a whole new game plan…"</i><br />
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This is only Jennifer Hayward's fourth book, but is crafted so beautifully you would think it's her fortieth! I really enjoy books that start with a bang, and this one certainly does. Hero and heroine stuck together in a broken elevator (or 'lift' to us brits!)... what else would you want but some sizzle.<br />
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I liked that Jen immediately showed her character's flaws, I felt I could understand them and their motivations straight away. Izzie, as a heroine, is rather insecure and a bit lost as to where her life is going. I think that in today's world this is something we can all relate to. And Alex is the typical distrustful, closed book of a hero. The two are a perfect combination.<br />
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The actual plot is really interesting too. I loved reading all the inner conflict the hero and heroine had over whether to do what they think is right, or do what their hearts tell them to do. Neither of them would budge and inch over control, which makes for some great push/pull tension.<br />
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The hero and heroine feel very real and that is what I love. I enjoyed the rather rash jumping to conclusions by the the hero and the almost constant second guessing from the heroine. When they are together there is plenty of passion, as well as some lovely tenderness.<br />
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Finding out that life doesn't always go the way you planned is the theme here, and it is really quite special to read, and very emotional too. Reading romance is all about fantasy and escapism, but that doesn't mean it can't have a splash of reality involved. Jen, in my opinion, has managed this perfectly.<br />
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Highly recommended. </div>
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<i>Thanks to Jen for kindly providing me with a copy of this fantastic book.</i><br />
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Xx</div>
RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-51727661388942437182014-07-17T18:55:00.000+01:002014-07-17T18:55:19.640+01:00Review... The Rings That Bind - Michelle Smart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2C34viXBteJwcT5pSc4vD9NBrwK1v9KMdHcOOa8H8jP3zCRkMqNUdk97wb-p3DKms2dYM-cWbYgw0b4vl5ik7aFJnWB2IRseP-TrHbd5Pir6ozxcT21Qta6OF-vkfeKS7ElWy5RUPMU/s1600/the+rings+that+bind.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2C34viXBteJwcT5pSc4vD9NBrwK1v9KMdHcOOa8H8jP3zCRkMqNUdk97wb-p3DKms2dYM-cWbYgw0b4vl5ik7aFJnWB2IRseP-TrHbd5Pir6ozxcT21Qta6OF-vkfeKS7ElWy5RUPMU/s1600/the+rings+that+bind.JPG" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
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The Rings That Bind - Michelle Smart<br />
Mills & Boon Modern<br />
Harlequin UK, 2013<br />
ISBN: 9780263900361<br />
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My rating<br />
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From the back cover<br />
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<i>"On his terms only</i><br />
<i>The day Rosa agreed to wear Nicolai Baranski's ring she wasn't so foolish as to expect love. Yet nothing could have prepared her for the aching loneliness of her husband's constant indifference-an indifference that proved too much to bear.</i><br />
<i>Nico is furious- no on turns their back on a Baranski. Rosa has some nerve if she thinks he will just let her walk away. He'll use every sensual trick at this disposal to bring her back, begging for more. And once he's got her where he wants her he'll let her go. But only when he's ready."</i><br />
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*Readers of a more traditional romanace novel nature should pass this book by!*<br />
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Let's just get this out of the way first and foremost, shall we? This is not going to be a book for everyone. It pushes buttons, ones that for some people are a deal breaker when it comes to romance novels. Now, I like an ol' traditional style romance (you know the ones - shy untouched virgin heroine vs alpha/kind of a dick hero) as much as the next person. But I also love reading modern books, ones that deal with today's issues and has a voice that I can relate to a lot more. I also like my books to push boundaries, and I got everything I wanted from Michelle Smart here.<br />
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One fantastic thing about this book, and there are quite a few fantastic things, is that Michelle has used a really traditional trope - in this case Marriage of Convenience - but has brought it bang up to date and has managed to make this rather out dated idea fit into a modern ideal.<br />
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The hero and heroine are both broken characters, but they also seem like very different people. At times I actually did wonder how on earth they could ever find their HEA. But as the story progresses, all the outer layers of the hero and heroine's personalities are stripped away to reveal two very lonely people that really did need each other.<br />
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Rosa is a wonderful character; so strong yet so hurt. There is a scene towards the All Is Lost moment where Rosa breaks down and begs Nico to tell her what is wrong with her, why no one ever wants her, which is so emotional and intense it almost had me in tears and I felt this was when I truly learned why Rosa was what she was and did what she did.<br />
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There is so much drama in this book and the storytelling, in my opinion, is faultless. I wasn't just told about every high and low, I actually felt them.<br />
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The depth of this book surprised me, and I am so glad it did. It is packed full of passion, emotion, joy, and redemption, as well as all the other stuff that makes reading romance so wonderful!<br />
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Great stuff, Chellebell!<br />
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Xx<br />
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<br />RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-62913179912784779282014-07-07T18:21:00.002+01:002014-07-07T18:21:58.731+01:00#ModernTempted... Sex, Lies & Her Impossible Boss - Jennifer Rae<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sex, Lies & Her Impossible Boss - Jennifer Rae<br />
Mills & Boon Modern Tempted<br />
Harlequin UK, 2014<br />
ISBN: 9781472017642<div>
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My rating<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From the back cover:<br />
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<br /><i>"‘There’s no such thing as “just sex”, Cash.’<br />When the new boss of Faith Harris’s TV station, the famously ruthless and annoyingly gorgeous Cash Anderson, tells her he’ll be cancelling her sex and relationships show she knows she’s in for a fight. She’s worked her silk-clad butt off to get her high ratings, and no man’s going to take them away from her – however hot under the collar he secretly gets her…</i></div>
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<i>But sugar’s better than vinegar any day, so Faith decides to prove to Cash just how meaningful her show really is. The only trouble is, it’s also rather…risqué. And there was enough chemistry between them even before Faith set about proving just how riveting sex can be…!"</i></div>
<br /><br /><br />I really enjoyed this book, my first from Jennifer Rae. And let me tell you, I was really happy throughout reading this book as it is everything I want and hope to get from the Modern Tempted/KISS line.<br /><br />The book is capital H hot - I could actually feel my cheeks heating up at certain moments, and my eyebrows wrinkle-inducing-high at others! The story has a lot of fun and quirk included and it is all wrapped up in quite a lovely little love story.<br /><br />The heroine hosts her own sex and relationships show - great idea although on a few occasions I couldn't quite get the image of the show being a bit like Eurotrash (remember that show?!) out of my head. What I liked most about Faith was that she was so determined to stick up fro herself and prove that she had created something worthwhile whilst showing the narrow minded hero that he was wrong, wrong, wrong about her!<br /><br />Loved reading the slow build up to their eventual relationship... you know what was really great about this story? The hero and heroine actually spent a lot of time together! A romance novel revelation.<br /><br />Both Faith and Cash have been hurt by relationships in the past, and Jennifer Rae uses these hurts well. OK, a little more time could have been spent delving a little deeper and exploring this, and had this been a straight up Modern/Presents book then I would have expected that but for the story as it was, I think the balance was just right. <br /><br />There is an awesome amount of push/pull between Faith and Cash and plenty of sexual tension to keep you interested, trust me. Plus the weird, wacky, and wonderful world of sexual exploration is fabulous to read!<br /><br />Great job!<br /><br />Xx<br /><br /><br /><br /><i>With thanks to Flo and the Modern Tempted team at Romance HQ. Sorry I'm so late at posting this review ;-).</i><br /><div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-59503009956727208762014-06-05T20:34:00.000+01:002014-06-05T20:34:30.423+01:00Back in the New York groove...<br />
Hello, hello, hello!<br />
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Well what a whirlwind it has been since I last posted, which was far far too long ago, lots going on but most of it boring so I'll bullet point it<br />
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<li>Crappy day job</li>
<li>Puppy time</li>
<li>weight loss</li>
<li>crappy day job</li>
<li>family issues</li>
<li>crappy day job</li>
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Get the idea?! It's not been an easy few months that's for sure. But... things are getting back on track now. For one I have changed my hours back to part time, my work was consuming my life and that has never been what I have wanted out of a job/career, so I made the decision to step down and cut back to get my life back. Now I have more time to spend with Pete the puppy (yay!!) and the husband of course, more time to spend sewing and doing stuff I like, and more time to spend on reading and writing - two things I love. Believe me, I have missed this blog.</div>
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I have also recently returned from a fantastic holiday to my favourite place in the whole world... New York City. There is nothing quite like walking round the city that is so full of life of all types to really bring back your <i>joie de vivre. </i>Everything about this city is so raw and honest that it brought the life out of me again. I loved it. Did lots of shopping, sightseeing, walking, eating, etc!</div>
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So, to sum up... I'm back!! I've got lots of blog posts and book reviews coming up soon so watch this space.</div>
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Good to see you all again. </div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-52308599754703033792014-02-20T17:45:00.002+00:002014-02-20T17:45:54.203+00:00Meet the Pete...<br />
So, it has been a while (a rather long while) since I last blogged and for that I feel rather ashamed. Although not sorry. You see, I have a reason for it.<br />
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And that reason is this little man who came to live with me and the husband in December...<br />
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His name is Pete and he's a very energetic little Jack Russell now 4 months old. </div>
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He has truly changed my life. I adore taking him out for long walks (something which has helped me lose quite a bit of weight, along with diet of course!) and having a little thing to take care of and come home to instead of an empty house and work stress.</div>
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Of course certain things aren't the best, there is the toilet training but that seems to have been cracked, with the exception of a few 'protest' moments, and the puppy biting, which we're still working on, the total lack of being able to do anything that doesn't revolve around Pete is also draining... but I love him!!</div>
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Here's some of Pete's best bits from the day he arrived all tiny to now...</div>
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The Reunion Lie - Lucy King<br />
Mills & Boon Modern Tempted<br />
Harlequin UK, 2014<br />
ISBN: 9780263910742<div>
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From the back cover:<br />
<br /><i>"It was only meant to be a little white lie...</i></div>
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<i>Inventing a fake fiance was an act of desperation for Zoe Montgomery - a knee-jerk response to her horrifying high school reunion! But now that she's convinced London's most unattainable bachelor to play the part, her little white lie is spiralling out of control. </i></div>
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<i>Because everyone wants a piece of tycoon Dan Forrester. Including Zoe! Especially once she's seen the view from his bedroom...</i></div>
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<i>This might be a fake engagement, but she's certainly not faking anything else! Now the reunion is over, and Zoe and Dan have convinced the world they're meant to be! But convincing each other? That's a whole different challenge..."</i></div>
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There was something about the back cover blurb that made me think I wouldn't enjoy this book all that much... But I must have been reading something different as I ended up loving this book!<br /><br />The opening of this book is fantastic, I was utterly absorbed from the word go. Lucy King managed to draw me right into the heroine's feelings, I was feeling as uncomfortable, unconfident, and inadequate as the heroine was at that moment in her private hell of a reunion. I loved the touch that the heroine had only gone to prove a point only to have that point backfire on her!<br /><br />Then with the heroine's ridiculous attempt at saving face by not only inventing a fantastical fiancé but also pretending the next guy who walked in was him, and quite literally jumping on him, the story became a bit of a farce, in a really good way. Good job that the man took it well, and actually helped with the pretence, oh that was fun to read! I wanted to roll my eyes, but I couldn't. <br /><br />Lucy had me totally hooked already and the hero and heroine's story was only beginning. There is instant, recognisable chemistry between this pair and I loved that both characters, individually, were so strongly written. The relationship develops slowly and I was really invested in it. What I particularly liked about this story is that the author didn't really on that one big "black moment" (there is one but its not the total focus of the conflict) instead the conflict is clear throughout and the hero and heroine's insecurities slowly chip away at their supposed happiness... Very poignant.<br /><br /> A really enjoyable read. Fun, flirty, sad, and romantic!<br /><br /><br /><div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-45009936073383513122013-11-03T10:45:00.000+00:002013-11-03T10:50:14.942+00:00#ModernTempted Maid of Dishonour - Heidi Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Maid of Dishonour - Heidi Rice<br />
Mills & Boon Modern Tempted<br />
Harlequin UK, 2013<br />
ISBN: 9780263910575<br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"When she's very, very bad… <br />Gina Carrington knows exactly how to have fun! But when she sleeps with her friend's brother, the off-limits Carter, she quickly discovers she's overstepped the mark. <br />…life is so much more fun!<br />Years later, Gina sees Carter again to prepare for her friend's wedding, and she can't help but wonder what the harm would be in one more night…. He's available, gorgeous and behind that laid-back Southern charm there's a wild side even she can't tame! But Gina has secrets which she can't hide forever—will their chemistry be strong enough to keep Carter by her side when her secrets come to light?"</i><br />
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I rarely give 5 stars, what can I say? I guess I'm just one of those people that think there is always room for improvement. However, this book was five star worthy literally from the first page and maintained it to the very last! I couldn't find any fault with it at all.<br />
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Well, actually that is not necessarily true, the ending bit was a little cheesy for me but somehow Heidi Rice managed to pull it off. Even taking the Mickey out of it herself with the line "'Someone pinch me, I think I've been transported into a chick flick'"<br />
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Not only does Heidi write with the kind of wry, almost self deprecating, and quite British style, she also manages to include funny little references like Planet Zod, and a galaxy far, far away. And I better not even get started on the fact that this was one helluva sexy book. (Believe me, it is eye-poppingly so!).<br />
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And what is even better is that wrapped in that amazing package I have just waxed lyrical about is a really great story. The characters are perfect, especially the heroine. She is a very real character, with major flaws and is a totally modern-girl. Gina is the best crafted heroine I have read in a long while.<br />
This is a brave plot, and the romance between these two characters as well as the style of this book might well push a lot of people's 'NO' button. I, personally, like reading something that is a little out-there.<br />
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Every single thing about this book works, I know I'm going on and on now. I'll stop soon I promise. I don't want to go into too much detail about the actual story, as you really need to read it for yourself. It is fun, flirty, romantic, at times tear-worthy, absorbing, and out-and-out outrageous!<br />
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In short, Fab-u-LOUS!<br />
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<br />RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-85794855746463040342013-09-10T13:24:00.000+01:002013-09-10T13:24:15.194+01:00#ModernTempted The Girl Least Likely to Marry - Amy Andrews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Girl Least Likely to Mary - Amy Andrews<br />
Mills & Boon Modern Tempted<br />
Harlequin UK, 2013<br />
ISBN: 9780263910513<div>
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My Rating<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"Talk nerdy to me</i></div>
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<i>Samuel Tucker is absolutely the last person scientist Cassie Barclay would ever date. Yes, he’s gorgeous, but he’s also far too cocky for his own good and thinks that pi is a tasty afternoon treat. So when he asks her to dance at her friend Reese’s non-wedding she’s wondering why on earth she says yes!</i></div>
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<i>Tuck is used to people assuming he’s all brawn and no brain, and amuses himself by winding Cassie up. But when he finally takes her to bed, suddenly it’s Tuck who can show Cassie a thing or two! Can he convince her that love and sex have nothing to do with logic and everything to do with chemistry?</i></div>
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<i>Don’t miss the linked stories in The Wedding Season quartet – Available in MODERN TEMPTED™"</i></div>
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Despite hearing many good things, this is actually the first book I have ever read by Amy Andrews. Naturally I was excited and had high hopes. I don't think I was disappointed with the final result!</div>
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This is the second book in The Wedding Season mini-series and follows straight on from <a href="http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/moderntempted-unexpected-wedding-guest.html">The Unexpected Wedding Guest by Aimee Carson</a>.</div>
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Readers beware... this book is capital H hot! And has so much will-she?-won't-she? sexual tension you'll virtually be perching on the edge of your seat! (P.s. Sort of a mini spoiler - there is a faked orgasm, which was not only very brave of the author but almost made me want to cheer out loud. Lol! Immediate thumbs up!)</div>
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I really enjoyed the flow and pace of the story as well as the way the relationship built throughout the story. The growth of the characters vs. the time span is spot on and holds your interest. </div>
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I can't quite decide if there was enough of the hero to really get to grips with him, the heroine was such a detailed characters that the hero's character kind of got lost somewhere among it all. The author's style suits me perfectly, lots of spark and humour along with well thought out characters. The writing suffers from too much repetition at times, too much of the heroine 'sniffing' the hero and the word 'pheromones' appears 38 times a bit too many IMO (I didn't count, Kindle worked it out for me!). The dialogue, however, is just right and is one of the main strengths of this book.</div>
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Overall I very much enjoyed this book, it's just the kind of book I expected from the Modern Tempted series. </div>
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Recommended. </div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-47649857695613601992013-08-09T14:00:00.000+01:002013-08-09T14:00:04.022+01:00#ModernTempted The Unexpected Wedding Guest - Aimee Carson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYl2RMyrnvzeU2OR0argYWDA1e45tG5ptT6Woq-zyzIkncFAr4qHXOzmYKZvD-Sn86ZxT7yTLgmZHpDbyiUB86wvRl_tDNmw7KOVcDU9OyHGVNysypX9pk4XW8R8huW0iKlRhcRHRyco/s1600/modern+tempted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYl2RMyrnvzeU2OR0argYWDA1e45tG5ptT6Woq-zyzIkncFAr4qHXOzmYKZvD-Sn86ZxT7yTLgmZHpDbyiUB86wvRl_tDNmw7KOVcDU9OyHGVNysypX9pk4XW8R8huW0iKlRhcRHRyco/s320/modern+tempted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The Unexpected Wedding Guest - Aimee Carson</b><br />
<b>Mills & Boon Modern Tempted</b><br />
<b>Harlequin UK, 2013</b><br />
<b>ISBN: 9780263910490</b><br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"‘Surprised to see me?’</i><div>
<i>Getting caught in her wedding dress by her drop-dead-gorgeous ex-husband is Reese Michael’s worst nightmare. Especially when her perfect-on-paper fiancé then cancels their wedding!</i></div>
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<i>Reese has spent years trying to forget how her marriage to Mason Hicks crashed and burned – yes, their chemistry was incredible, but a girl can’t live on lust alone! And what’s a jilted bride supposed to do when the one man she could never forget is back in her life, as irresistible as ever? Mason might be her own personal brand of Kryptonite, but surely life is meant to be lived a little dangerously…?</i></div>
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<i>Don’t miss the linked stories in The Wedding Season quartet – Available in MODERN TEMPTED™!"</i><div>
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When I first heard that some of my fave authors were involved in a continuity series I felt two things. First, very excited! And second, curious to see how it turns out. This is the opening book to 'The Wedding Season' series from Modern Tempted/Harlequin KISS and it starts the series off, if not with a bang but definitely with a pop and fizzle. </div>
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Aimee Carson has penned a really nice reunion story. Her Hero and Heroine have grown over their years apart, or perhaps grown-up would be a better phrase. The author makes no attempt to give excuses for her characters past failings in their relationship, happily admitting that they were just two young at the time and not ready for the full and total commitment it takes to make a marriage work. And that's OK, and the book displays that attitude, which, you know, is honest and really refreshing to read.</div>
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While I do feel that the dialogue at times felt a little forced and there was a little too much focus on the physical rather than emotional, as well as a lot going on in the background of the story, overall the story pulled me in right from the start and kept me invested in hoping the two would get their second chance. </div>
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The sizzle-factor is here, in spades, as well as some light, fun moments with a tantalising glimpse into the characters waiting for their stories to get told.</div>
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Very enjoyable. </div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-61469164308529045472013-08-04T13:56:00.000+01:002013-08-04T13:56:02.244+01:00(Modern) Tempted by the... <br />
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Last week, in my few free moments between some work-induced stress, I received an email from the lovely Flo (editor extraordinaire of Mills & Boon) inviting me to be part of the launch of a new fantastic series from Mills & Boon.</div>
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It's called Modern Tempted and it promises to be fresh and flirty. The official word is...</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b><br />"Modern Tempted is all about delivering the intense romance people expect from Mills & Boon, but with a contemporary edge - think friends-with-benefits, one-night stands, and holiday flings! Our stories sizzle with chemistry, and offer a playful, lively take on romance, for the 21st century reader who likes her stories hot!<br /><br /><br />... each story guarenteeing sassy, sexy writing from some of the most talented authors around, including Mills & Boon superstars Kelly Hunter, Mira Lyn Kelly, Heidi Rice, Natalie Anderson and Liz Fielding. You're truly spoilt for choice with these lot!"</b></span></blockquote>
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For those of you, like me, who have missed the hot, sassy stories that the old RIVA line used to deliver, but not so much missing the sweeter ones, then this new series should fill that book-shaped hole!</div>
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My first impression of the covers are that they are very similar to the Modern series, which is like a nice, warm security blanket. It's familiar, and brings with it a certain level of expectation about the kind of stories we will be getting - you know the ones, steamy, full of alpha-males, glamorous, etc. Yet the covers have a bit more 'pop' and colour than the standard Modern's do, so while I want those intense stories that the Modern line is so good at delivering I also want a bit of freshness and fun. The covers do a nice job of building up my anticipation.</div>
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I can't wait to get stuck in to the first of the four launch books for the series... </div>
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I just can't decide which one to go for first....<br />
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For more fun stuff relating to the Modern Tempted line use the #moderntempted on twitter and visit the Mills & Boon facebook page.<br />
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Let me know what you think about this new series and watch this space for reviews coming soon...<br />
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Xx<br />
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<i>With thanks to Flo and the Modern Tempted team at Romance HQ.</i></div>
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<br />RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-30077432557952261252013-05-22T13:03:00.000+01:002013-05-22T13:05:33.939+01:00Roman Holiday...<br />
I know it has been, like, ages since I last posted. Been busy at work and home etc, although thats no excuse really, and I'll save the really boring stuff for another time.<br />
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For now, let's talk about fun stuff. I have recently returned from a wonderful 4 day break in the Eternal City... That is Rome, of course. And it was beautiful.<br />
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<b>Day One</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma Termini - a seriously large train station!</td></tr>
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We left on Sunday, which was also our 3rd wedding anniversary (seriously, THREE whole years!) and after an uncomfortable flight - I am NEVER flying easyjet again, never - we bundled on the Leonardo Express train to beautiful Roma.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeIqBMkyfvsFvYShMMbJDNjXvfrpqXeN6Q4QlkN4s9Z54vuoagjdJHhk1xCb-b2yMgzt6JzrKzr_HyUJvIojhgZHvLfnmwV9Rh-rVUSk3_NfPjKX1H7qwkC-KqW5CbKyZFv4FPx6BWrA/s1600/DSC01701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeIqBMkyfvsFvYShMMbJDNjXvfrpqXeN6Q4QlkN4s9Z54vuoagjdJHhk1xCb-b2yMgzt6JzrKzr_HyUJvIojhgZHvLfnmwV9Rh-rVUSk3_NfPjKX1H7qwkC-KqW5CbKyZFv4FPx6BWrA/s320/DSC01701.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountain at Piazza della Repubblica</td></tr>
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A short walk (although not so short for Richard as I made him carry my bag!) later we arrived at our hotel for a rest and then on to some serious sightseeing!<br />
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From the hotel we decided to walk up to the Spanish Steps first.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't realise it would be quite so hilly!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the Spanish Steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Spanish Steps - truly beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a lot of tourists!</td></tr>
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From the Spanish Steps we carried on walking down until we arrived at the Trevi Fountain. It is absolutely stunning - but the sheer amount of tourists can make it a bit of a squash. We learnt to be a little more pushy in order to be able to see things!<br />
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Afterwards we walked back to the hotel area and found a restaurant to have dinner. I don't consider myself a foodie but in Rome the food is amazing!<br />
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<b>Day Two</b></div>
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We planned to spend the whole day at the Vatican so off we went on the Metro. Aside from the really frustratingly persistent reps trying to sell you guided tours (literally tons of them, and they don't leave you alone) the walk towards the walled Vatican felt very exciting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piazza San Pietro</td></tr>
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We went to St Peter's Square before doing anything else. It is simply magnificent. So grand and alluring.<br />
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Inside St. Peter's Basilica it ramps up the grand even more. Every square inch is covered in gilding, or moulding, carving, sculpture etc! And so very vast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main hall of Basilica di San Pietro</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many, many chairs in St. Peter's Square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall surrounding Vatican City</td></tr>
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After St. Peter's and a much needed toilet break, we went off to the Vatican Museums. There was a bit of a queue for the Museum, it was rather hot and those pesky reps were hassling again. But, we're British, queuing is one thing we're good at! Besides it was only for about 10 mins.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bronze sculpture inside Vatican Museums</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_tz7H49lTLXsl_QMcYL4JiRsPFgnZVjpFb2lSFoCZbjuWuWsSUQUphpxayht3-2fOR-SckCpGVzXY1kn6WMXbwtntG6ttdR-WBbbbBdH89yIhHRWrgq7qn4tqchwWQJyszJMrfB70nU/s1600/DSC01929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_tz7H49lTLXsl_QMcYL4JiRsPFgnZVjpFb2lSFoCZbjuWuWsSUQUphpxayht3-2fOR-SckCpGVzXY1kn6WMXbwtntG6ttdR-WBbbbBdH89yIhHRWrgq7qn4tqchwWQJyszJMrfB70nU/s320/DSC01929.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He seems to be missing, er, something! Ha!</td></tr>
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I really couldn't begin to describe the sheer amount of things to see in the Vatican Museum - it is mind boggling!<br />
The size aswell - it is absolutely huge! And if you simply want to go the the Sistine Chapel be prepared for a long walk!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA1GYuSsNfmM-EzviCLNZggmiSpoV_eh8pYEkYb5SZlJD8FBbcOteIPUPw-w8mCEuEKADR5CwiAAdoxLN0xpPrszPB5wOGX4qCNUiiLf6bezOPdRq-TUcHlVzRf3P5JsNwe9yUsz-KWE/s1600/DSC01931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA1GYuSsNfmM-EzviCLNZggmiSpoV_eh8pYEkYb5SZlJD8FBbcOteIPUPw-w8mCEuEKADR5CwiAAdoxLN0xpPrszPB5wOGX4qCNUiiLf6bezOPdRq-TUcHlVzRf3P5JsNwe9yUsz-KWE/s320/DSC01931.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful view across Rome from the Vatican Museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagYHMFNQ3jbCIOeDM2TgLisnfVhMTF6KVM6GGEBQ20MFu7vuOy8RmZuGGi-gscUThmPrBbwiiPiXRKTYWAs7g_h7CFshpK9mffqixtnS6w_uKWcmWAY7lt97i7FtD_eWXvc5HTAWStL4/s1600/DSC01950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagYHMFNQ3jbCIOeDM2TgLisnfVhMTF6KVM6GGEBQ20MFu7vuOy8RmZuGGi-gscUThmPrBbwiiPiXRKTYWAs7g_h7CFshpK9mffqixtnS6w_uKWcmWAY7lt97i7FtD_eWXvc5HTAWStL4/s320/DSC01950.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not mouldings it painted to look three-dimensional!</td></tr>
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The ceilings are stunning. Beautiful frescos and mouldings. All very lavish!<br />
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Unfortunately, photographs are not allowed to be taken inside the Sistine Chapel. It is simply stunning. Although to be honest, I was rather surprised just how small some of the really well known Michelangelo frescos were! But nothing compares to having seen it with my own eyes, something I will never forget.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkxFmrOttqNp33DrKHfviqmMoWceq_i4VCUhwW3N06SCspc1WO2GrRNBii3FTgRkVoj1TI-gRiV7hji-qYgFj_4i7ADtylehCAxH0g7YEIGq4wZZZVRsbE8vwwnXrWErrGeJCUNiE4qY/s1600/DSC01966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkxFmrOttqNp33DrKHfviqmMoWceq_i4VCUhwW3N06SCspc1WO2GrRNBii3FTgRkVoj1TI-gRiV7hji-qYgFj_4i7ADtylehCAxH0g7YEIGq4wZZZVRsbE8vwwnXrWErrGeJCUNiE4qY/s320/DSC01966.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite part of the Vatican Museums - Spiral Staircase</td></tr>
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By the end of the day my mind was so overwhelmed with everything we had seen, and my feet worn down to stumps from all the walking!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsUeuIvecidF9lKPkpQ3XM54f-92lbAM1xluRp8PeERhNhyphenhyphenaujExt_AuQgztwS2q0k-U1QDpv6aPsKWzyEOYg2usfTTXBimYoUkfxV2eoD3CVnAiMs3z4K93911980ynxF7x5pg7PtXc/s1600/DSC01990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsUeuIvecidF9lKPkpQ3XM54f-92lbAM1xluRp8PeERhNhyphenhyphenaujExt_AuQgztwS2q0k-U1QDpv6aPsKWzyEOYg2usfTTXBimYoUkfxV2eoD3CVnAiMs3z4K93911980ynxF7x5pg7PtXc/s320/DSC01990.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ha! I couldn't resist taking a photo!</td></tr>
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<b>Day Three</b></div>
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The Colosseum and the Forums was our plan for the day. And it was a hot one!<br />
Coming out of the Metro station it was a very strange experience to just suddenly be in front of this amazing building. And with is being surrounded by a main road only adds to it's awe.<br />
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We went to see Palatine Hill and the Roman Forums before the Colosseum.<br />
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Walking around all those ruins where ancient Rome was founded is wonderful. Almost too much to see and take in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANb3GysOBwRQMpPfIyQCvZK7jahAQlOi58s4uXExuiPC0N1GETX-yyzpiKopTZ1MrHglQ8SJzsNMPAL2hHUM7BR_HUQ8D_-Hiv7KWcfo08RooJBNwNPiCve-OIJAg8kpuhBLII2U7CgU/s1600/DSC02088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANb3GysOBwRQMpPfIyQCvZK7jahAQlOi58s4uXExuiPC0N1GETX-yyzpiKopTZ1MrHglQ8SJzsNMPAL2hHUM7BR_HUQ8D_-Hiv7KWcfo08RooJBNwNPiCve-OIJAg8kpuhBLII2U7CgU/s320/DSC02088.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman Forums</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUURnUiN3BpcEjirQT0A7aM5JVqhyphenhyphen-QuCUUXGhLeKsgdjvKFxOjulTKDlgdRcUbCA5zzdQIFlTyAem898CX5KMnqx0ExRSWM-Bu1_mBnK_Lc7y-v9ZDLzbLcdmmG9YjZuJVtYSJ63z4ts/s1600/DSC02091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUURnUiN3BpcEjirQT0A7aM5JVqhyphenhyphen-QuCUUXGhLeKsgdjvKFxOjulTKDlgdRcUbCA5zzdQIFlTyAem898CX5KMnqx0ExRSWM-Bu1_mBnK_Lc7y-v9ZDLzbLcdmmG9YjZuJVtYSJ63z4ts/s320/DSC02091.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite photo's I took!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQIMR6yAxvlCqScO8FNmVd9Fme3Cz8-WWYWuZXJ-CbwmnqijLFPaXmia8IwYGvmAOTrAsXU8-bNNmG5p5YWne22-9tiDV-uSbgxekGzF65X74FDhncXMWjFpwECFaGejB6_H2l6rEKjQ/s1600/DSC02100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQIMR6yAxvlCqScO8FNmVd9Fme3Cz8-WWYWuZXJ-CbwmnqijLFPaXmia8IwYGvmAOTrAsXU8-bNNmG5p5YWne22-9tiDV-uSbgxekGzF65X74FDhncXMWjFpwECFaGejB6_H2l6rEKjQ/s320/DSC02100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuvZYDlgM06w-sfKNzObW99s9tVOHBlVWxjgxZeu93MyJ_aXbYKPxc7eJrXzEwKHz6JIKXe1fns0TN0Xh7sYXQAEKftbSAmNb93ZWyHcJUiWZ4jspZ97DRp6hflOBikTnXmwX6Uobtmw/s1600/DSC02090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuvZYDlgM06w-sfKNzObW99s9tVOHBlVWxjgxZeu93MyJ_aXbYKPxc7eJrXzEwKHz6JIKXe1fns0TN0Xh7sYXQAEKftbSAmNb93ZWyHcJUiWZ4jspZ97DRp6hflOBikTnXmwX6Uobtmw/s320/DSC02090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was incredibly hot that day! My hair parting got sunburnt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh8xM1VO8cHdE0__ATwatTDjqKm6F7pLhPpe0cEtTp5gsX9Hs-X-3hA713d_5mXNYQMpMwzKn7dYSPHWDNk2GI5RgJyprsmNF8fMPBe08DYmPyrvMxy97IakLkvgbVPF1ft5WWJg5lf0/s1600/DSC02098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh8xM1VO8cHdE0__ATwatTDjqKm6F7pLhPpe0cEtTp5gsX9Hs-X-3hA713d_5mXNYQMpMwzKn7dYSPHWDNk2GI5RgJyprsmNF8fMPBe08DYmPyrvMxy97IakLkvgbVPF1ft5WWJg5lf0/s320/DSC02098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuqo4yXXtr0H_PvTuZJK3YzbgN1Aa29R0Ij4GlI5z8SpSJKu0zgJZ1gQScpS2jDZ1N7qN3Y170v9kwXjWf_ESbpd2XAltVYxlSOAxATfd0wDh5CH_0SymEbnFeHvnH_llVFVMWdxhnnQ/s1600/DSC02107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuqo4yXXtr0H_PvTuZJK3YzbgN1Aa29R0Ij4GlI5z8SpSJKu0zgJZ1gQScpS2jDZ1N7qN3Y170v9kwXjWf_ESbpd2XAltVYxlSOAxATfd0wDh5CH_0SymEbnFeHvnH_llVFVMWdxhnnQ/s320/DSC02107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1vCa7ivMGv0trqKVTt_JbAUzvtOxo9s5F2rNuCjpNCOK18zeT0oTZ5TBd1BLpfscDj6dJnZoJy1JoWE-DKL5qMsqmAi5ZzvyKUvO80OqFE4Sx1lZVMLycbgIrsFHXnzd17lShgcrUW8/s1600/DSC02115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1vCa7ivMGv0trqKVTt_JbAUzvtOxo9s5F2rNuCjpNCOK18zeT0oTZ5TBd1BLpfscDj6dJnZoJy1JoWE-DKL5qMsqmAi5ZzvyKUvO80OqFE4Sx1lZVMLycbgIrsFHXnzd17lShgcrUW8/s400/DSC02115.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this photo! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMnsDZPIMr758HcTVs5nV0d-DspDcdpFkhqw0W4PGo_XTn5BKSDn0WV8zGvCgOK6_xCBNZTPczggtBZaEHP2PXSbjG7ET1A2Fy8yqzNIRgM0IbVk5rxWiy-yx-P_cYbDMiTAJzSPa2vQ/s1600/DSC02140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMnsDZPIMr758HcTVs5nV0d-DspDcdpFkhqw0W4PGo_XTn5BKSDn0WV8zGvCgOK6_xCBNZTPczggtBZaEHP2PXSbjG7ET1A2Fy8yqzNIRgM0IbVk5rxWiy-yx-P_cYbDMiTAJzSPa2vQ/s320/DSC02140.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horse's bum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzlQmEjyskX1IoObdwD7s3C-0nmgOBpWU6itP3xz__RGfZngZn2Nfe1Cq_6vp0L97hvQV4QZtbd9iiPy_OiHlHlBteQELJ8nm7YkyGWRzXKzwETV75vsUQNgh_sIg9HMel8N2VM53fxw/s1600/DSC02146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzlQmEjyskX1IoObdwD7s3C-0nmgOBpWU6itP3xz__RGfZngZn2Nfe1Cq_6vp0L97hvQV4QZtbd9iiPy_OiHlHlBteQELJ8nm7YkyGWRzXKzwETV75vsUQNgh_sIg9HMel8N2VM53fxw/s320/DSC02146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmy6chUH8Crd9QfQFqHUKgy-JBRr3QK79WpBV_6xRcG6o1fpGsGDMCLIFJNnBDJLKa3pROOocIZd9LxjEktLVgpGCuDS2lcbW0noCrs5rAo8Jqxy1OqrQlvEB9vbSpaxzULYb1sakLJQ/s1600/DSC02161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmy6chUH8Crd9QfQFqHUKgy-JBRr3QK79WpBV_6xRcG6o1fpGsGDMCLIFJNnBDJLKa3pROOocIZd9LxjEktLVgpGCuDS2lcbW0noCrs5rAo8Jqxy1OqrQlvEB9vbSpaxzULYb1sakLJQ/s320/DSC02161.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Colosseum - stunning!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI24rTbJVvaamaKOqgESs7P7_nl-Jr0s-1-kGl4soV3O_-KlJ6VfrGWHXLmbkFt17v_U9npzG4lOcxzW45yWn_i4bwMnOwdkodjqimjgBI1-hutR3zQQ0J9lCsK3H4PywtrVzyf-8BrWw/s1600/DSC02168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI24rTbJVvaamaKOqgESs7P7_nl-Jr0s-1-kGl4soV3O_-KlJ6VfrGWHXLmbkFt17v_U9npzG4lOcxzW45yWn_i4bwMnOwdkodjqimjgBI1-hutR3zQQ0J9lCsK3H4PywtrVzyf-8BrWw/s320/DSC02168.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibVe6n95nNKhQnd8UTcdcvK-kp65PaG0mGlpGNnKDX5O_3ReF3J19ET4FI1W-2wqk5WuwxR6RfW7RBGm-yge2wrcNp80ZXnsy91yKkoQVFxFZn11YV4cMHBMi7tZPUR1x0FSIvs7hTbU/s1600/DSC02187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibVe6n95nNKhQnd8UTcdcvK-kp65PaG0mGlpGNnKDX5O_3ReF3J19ET4FI1W-2wqk5WuwxR6RfW7RBGm-yge2wrcNp80ZXnsy91yKkoQVFxFZn11YV4cMHBMi7tZPUR1x0FSIvs7hTbU/s320/DSC02187.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trevi Fountain at night - I don't know that lady she just<br />
accidentally got in my photo!</td></tr>
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After the all that we went back to the hotel for a rest and then ventured out for a walk to find a restaurant for dinner and a trip to see the Trevi Fountain at night. Which is just as beautiful (and busy) at night!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Day Four</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchyphenhyphenna5t-qFWnnEWCk7qHLG8nIinGTc2LFNa60nUaJekGPj1ToCXnLa4RDOKpLQTi3lULguZ3DhTWUv4Nz7H4egiH2ItLaQHGCOgIEKIcDHPBO_jt2mi58tQNyun72bdfhSLbXiEMJJCg/s1600/IMG-20130515-00060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchyphenhyphenna5t-qFWnnEWCk7qHLG8nIinGTc2LFNa60nUaJekGPj1ToCXnLa4RDOKpLQTi3lULguZ3DhTWUv4Nz7H4egiH2ItLaQHGCOgIEKIcDHPBO_jt2mi58tQNyun72bdfhSLbXiEMJJCg/s320/IMG-20130515-00060.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We need more Nuns casually walking around in the UK!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVyzBF9KEJ_XEoAgu8yPvqakWGzlooAwM4sxIWNFCvOZ5SKAt2akhNDxeb1qjCYaMyyOx8pQq9dsxJOG49dB7Uce1mpHl8Y92AzUBmd8CSTvhAx-2XL0GE1g6ZkRRYUaO2j72gsQRI-c/s1600/IMG-20130515-00075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVyzBF9KEJ_XEoAgu8yPvqakWGzlooAwM4sxIWNFCvOZ5SKAt2akhNDxeb1qjCYaMyyOx8pQq9dsxJOG49dB7Uce1mpHl8Y92AzUBmd8CSTvhAx-2XL0GE1g6ZkRRYUaO2j72gsQRI-c/s320/IMG-20130515-00075.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Pantheon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our last day we planned to spend walking around and seeing the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. And just generally seeing what was left of Rome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP-00oJj8uw4TLtAiNay3WPRAyfCwQ1uWgqr-CSmjtlO-8kZukuNRjVUdlI30WgfmP8Y17lQKtQxSfGi2gHEqpfmEAUeNRcn-OWcQaaToKkrZUiXQl_AqGste99SauMJJXToERHH8kos/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP-00oJj8uw4TLtAiNay3WPRAyfCwQ1uWgqr-CSmjtlO-8kZukuNRjVUdlI30WgfmP8Y17lQKtQxSfGi2gHEqpfmEAUeNRcn-OWcQaaToKkrZUiXQl_AqGste99SauMJJXToERHH8kos/s320/IMG_0058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pantheon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFenFysqm_0JLcv4A6sUnFPhRysLMT-Ek_7V-Rs4foZdR60j0x3bFCgopjgfkHXf-WARdbLWmE6xQYAzPnFj7bTHyIKsi4w-WJ_u_u5VkfjgxtW6k_6e1Y33Ll_gWPAMzgk1qu7-1An8/s1600/IMG-20130515-00074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFenFysqm_0JLcv4A6sUnFPhRysLMT-Ek_7V-Rs4foZdR60j0x3bFCgopjgfkHXf-WARdbLWmE6xQYAzPnFj7bTHyIKsi4w-WJ_u_u5VkfjgxtW6k_6e1Y33Ll_gWPAMzgk1qu7-1An8/s320/IMG-20130515-00074.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing dome of the Pantheon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pwnt6Ns_rmyBOhJdiZYWq3n1P9kcwauAlx6uMmE0NFX87EUrnnR2lef9HaSvPOGgKSEnZ9acso-G6-F8hR-Ha4LRbSfU6DKeYlTS42ps3C7kKgeHVp1NCB7deXwSsYJiqis1nWAJ9HY/s1600/IMG-20130515-00091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pwnt6Ns_rmyBOhJdiZYWq3n1P9kcwauAlx6uMmE0NFX87EUrnnR2lef9HaSvPOGgKSEnZ9acso-G6-F8hR-Ha4LRbSfU6DKeYlTS42ps3C7kKgeHVp1NCB7deXwSsYJiqis1nWAJ9HY/s320/IMG-20130515-00091.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only piece of modern architecture I found!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last trip to the Spanish Steps!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bags are packed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBCDLVDKPAk6yb5Q3sNp1R0_DTTtUs5Mewfh6uFNOL56qdoJj7Npp00SF3H5y2IbO4ozTxLjOwK5HCRvuA8FLAiLlYfB-fAtifeMHFqOGpdF8PwlGW_niqVYwdsHxZrRKcmmfOLZVYIs/s1600/IMG-20130515-00115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBCDLVDKPAk6yb5Q3sNp1R0_DTTtUs5Mewfh6uFNOL56qdoJj7Npp00SF3H5y2IbO4ozTxLjOwK5HCRvuA8FLAiLlYfB-fAtifeMHFqOGpdF8PwlGW_niqVYwdsHxZrRKcmmfOLZVYIs/s320/IMG-20130515-00115.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Rome...</td></tr>
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And that is it, our trip to Rome... Exhausting but brilliant!<br />
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XxRLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-1993458200429236882013-04-07T14:04:00.000+01:002013-04-07T14:04:42.148+01:00Review... Angel of Darkness - Lynne Graham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Angel of Darkness - Lynne Graham</b><br />
<b>Mills & Boon Romance</b><br />
<b>Mills & Boon, 1994</b><br />
<b>ISBN: 9780263786132</b><br />
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My rating<br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"'I will never marry you... but I will make love to you as no man ever has before...'</i><br />
<i>Kelda had always clashed with her stepbrother Angelo and now he was interfering in her life again, ostensibly on their parents behalf But they both knew there was more to it than that - there was unfinished business from that night five years ago, when Kelda's world had been turned upside-down. Now Angelo was threatening to make her his mistress. Would Kelda be able to resist him, or would his lethal attraction break her heart?"</i><br />
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Wow... this is an example of Lynne Graham at her finest. IMO her older M&Bs just can't be beaten for sure inventiveness and stories that are packed with the most blistering passion and intensity. Her older books also have the feeling that they are treading the fine line between taboo and PC, and this book has that in spades.<br />
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The whole stepbrother idea had me immediately on edge, to me it felt like it might be a bit, well, ick! But somehow Lynne Graham made it work, in fact this element of the story far from being a put-off only added to the overall angsty mood of the whole book.<br />
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I hated and loved this book in equal measures, and that is what makes it so damn good! Angelo as a hero is someone I wanted to throttle for the way he treated the heroine, but oh-man he is alpha to the core and by the time I was near the end I was almost desperate for him to fess up to his actual feelings. His initial treatment of the heroine suddenly made sense... love it when and author turns your opinion on a character totally on it's head. My only complaint... I wanted his POV included so bad!<br />
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The heroine is far from perfect herself; on occasions she acts like a bit of a harpy and really needs to open her eyes to what's going on in front of her eyes. But she is also fun and independent so I couldn't help but like her.<br />
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The story is weaved perfectly and is very powerful, it is certainly not an easy read but very worth it. The feelings between the hero and heroine are amazingly written; angsty, emotional, a little bit naughty even and they fight every single one of those feelings from page one so by the time they get to their HEA it felt like a fraught journey. And I loved every minute of it!<br />
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If you like the older style M&B's then this is definitely one not to be missed.<br />
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Xx<br />
<br />RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-5080622772957796322013-04-03T19:07:00.000+01:002013-04-03T19:07:29.904+01:00Review... Urgent: One Nanny Required - Olivia Logan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Urgent: One Nanny Required - Olivia Logan<br />
Crimson Romance, 2013<br />
eISBN: 9781440566691<br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Hollywood director Nick Trenton needs a nanny and fast. It certainly hasn’t helped that his son has run off every one he’s hired. With a big shoot coming up in LA, Nick’s running out of options. Then along comes Rania George—sweetshop owner and one of the few people his son doesn’t want to give the slip. No, she doesn’t like Nick, but he can work around that. He loves his son and will do anything to get the lovely Miss George to say yes to his plan.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></i><br />
<i><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Rania is used to children hanging outside her sweetshop but seeing one alone on a dark night is a first. What sort of parent would let his child wander the streets at night?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Then she meets his Hollywood director father and assumes Nick’s too self absorbed to notice his son is wandering the streets alone. She learned from an early age that anything Hollywood related was bad news. She has vowed to stay away from anything—and she means anything—Hollywood. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Not that it helps when Nick’s cute-as-a-button son captures her heart nor when she’s offered to babysit said son for a huge amount of money. Only catch is she has to fly to Hollywood and spend three weeks in the company of his devastatingly attractive father. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">After all her experiences with Hollywood, is she willing to risk it"</span></i><div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">First and foremost... Yes, I know I haven't posted a review for ages. Sorry! Will try my best to get back on track.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Secondly, many thanks to Olivia Logan for very kindly offering me the chance to read and review this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">OK, so moving on to the book...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">This is a very sweet, almost soft romance that strolls along at a really nice pace and kept me engaged with the story all the way through. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The character's relationship builds gradually, and beautifully, and what is nice about this book is that there isn't too much external conflict keeping the hero and heroine apart. Instead this is mainly internal conflict, which is well thought out. But... I did feel that the hero's background wasn't fully developed enough and felt a little flat. The promise was there but it didn't quite get into the nitty-gritty that I would have liked, his issues from his previous marriage were hinted at but not really fully explored.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">However, the heroine is a well rounded character and her conflict is fantastically portrayed by the author. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Sometimes when a book includes a child as a secondary character there is a risk that they could overpower the bones of the story, which must (IMO) be all about the hero and heroine in a romance. On occasions this book teetered on the edge of this, some scenes lacked emotional depth with the fantastically cute son stealing the show!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. It's a sweet and gentle romance that in the right mood can be really satisfying to read. I look forward to reading more from Olivia Logan in the future. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Xx</span></span></div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-85181642463435565912013-02-08T18:51:00.000+00:002013-02-08T18:51:18.885+00:00Review... Awaken to Pleasure - Nalini Singh<img src="webkit-fake-url://5C595404-8CB8-4A4A-ABFA-4E3496520312/imagejpeg" /><br />
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Awaken to Pleasure - Nalini Singh</div>
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Mills & Boon Desire</div>
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(ebook reissue)</div>
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This book started off good but quick became contrived and cliché-ridden. Elements of this book had the potential to be incredibly emotional and add really depth to the story, but instead the author just skims the surface and the issues raised just seemed to resolve rather too easily.</div>
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Nice descriptive writing, although taken (in my opinion) a little too far with the physical description of the hero. He ended up sounding like some hulking-great, thick-necked, pulsing-veins WWE wrestler - not the toned sort-of sexy kind either!</div>
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Found myself rolling my eyes throughout a lot of the book too. Shame, as this could have been so much more.</div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-41339012507274465662013-01-25T09:58:00.000+00:002013-01-25T09:58:16.348+00:00Its been a while...<br />
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I know it has been a long time since I last blogged. Sorry, sorry!</div>
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The end of 2012 saw a lot of change happen in my life and unfortunately some things (like writing and blogging) were pushed to the side while I found I was extremely busy!</div>
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So what's been happening, I hear you ask? Oh... OK, so maybe you didn't ask but in case you were wondering I'm going to tell you!</div>
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Well, I guess the two biggest things are that our adoption application has suddenly started moving again (more on that in a mo) and I have re-entered the working world after 2 years 7 months. Big change.</div>
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I wasn't actively looking for a new job, but I had been thinking about getting out of the house a little more. As much as I enjoyed being at home full time, the original plan had been that I would stop working to raise our family (natural or adopted) so when neither of those things seemed to be happening, I was kinda just going through the motions and feeling more and more disconnected from the world. When I saw that my old employer had a job opening in a different department, I decided to apply on a whim and I don't think anyone was more shocked than me when a week later I was offered a position!</div>
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I took a part time 21 hours per week contract so I will still have time to write and do my own thing, although for the first 3 weeks I did work full time hours - exhausting! And surprisingly, I love it! I love having some independence again, and having my brain active all day, as well as having a reason to wear all my lovely shoes and make-up. </div>
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So, I had finally decided to go back to work. I was convinced that our adoption application was no longer being considered as when I last spoke to the adoption team I had a very tense conversation with the head of the team as they wanted us to consider taking an older child (age 2.5 - 3 yrs). I said no, because I felt that it wouldn't be right for us. I'm only 28 and this would be our first child, to me it was unrealistic to expect this from us. After that conversation it was made to seem that unless we agreed we would no longer be considered. It was so very disheartening, and I had made my peace with it all. </div>
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Naturally that meant that the week I was offered a new job I also heard from the adoption team for the first time in 10 months saying they wanted to go ahead with our application after all. Typical. My husband and I agonised over the decision, but we decided to carry on but this time it would be on our terms. We won't change our minds on what is the best course for our lives, no matter the pressure we might receive, and I will work.</div>
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We met our assessing social worker for the first time in mid December. It was a very nerve racking morning and I didn't come away feeling all that confident about everything, but nobody said it would be easy. I have seen her once since then, and I will keep you updated as to how it all goes. Fingers crossed but I'm keeping my hopes under control in case it has to be put on hold again.</div>
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I have made it clear that my career is important. I gave up a well paying job, with the intention of re-starting my career after the adoption was done. That is no longer an option. I wanted to go back to work as the longer I leave it, the harder it will be to get back into it.</div>
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So, there is those two things and I have also been decorating my house, which has taken up a lot of time and still isn't done!</div>
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And that is why I haven't blogged for while! Things are starting to settle down now so I am looking forward to getting back to writing and having more time to read again.</div>
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All the best.</div>
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<br />RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-83476119753496263642012-11-22T13:21:00.001+00:002012-11-22T13:21:51.644+00:00Review... The Italian's Runaway Bride - Jacqueline Baird<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir94pKH0Onfu3mkoEi0gF0UrZdK6zHP2ttrY-J2WExQAJZP-xii0OtWg3R2pu9je0d-OSQ84NBl8cyVTXWptr0Bu0tRitNzKJqHrTFICgbb6n940nFI6hmMLPS2RoIIpshsby5ak3xHCE/s1600/the+italians+runaway+bride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir94pKH0Onfu3mkoEi0gF0UrZdK6zHP2ttrY-J2WExQAJZP-xii0OtWg3R2pu9je0d-OSQ84NBl8cyVTXWptr0Bu0tRitNzKJqHrTFICgbb6n940nFI6hmMLPS2RoIIpshsby5ak3xHCE/s1600/the+italians+runaway+bride.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b>The Italian's Runaway Bride - Jacqueline Baird</b><br />
<b>Mills & Boon Modern</b><br />
<b>Harlequin Mills & Boon, 2001</b><br />
<b>ISBN: 9780263825558</b><br />
<b>Reissue - Mills & Boon Modern Backlist, 2011</b><br />
<b>eISBN: 9781408940228</b><br />
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My rating<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8mny-omtpdbLItuJ28-dww_wQNbxCI-wLL8cogCfBjr3ilPNGSk0Dq1baj9CiCIutnnnXyIhWwF8w5ZqJM1rSNd65bp1ZBIuKpw9UOZKOpL2sidcT86eJZh8o42Nr43ftAH9S7VrOWM/s1600/2stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8mny-omtpdbLItuJ28-dww_wQNbxCI-wLL8cogCfBjr3ilPNGSk0Dq1baj9CiCIutnnnXyIhWwF8w5ZqJM1rSNd65bp1ZBIuKpw9UOZKOpL2sidcT86eJZh8o42Nr43ftAH9S7VrOWM/s1600/2stars.jpg" /></a></div>
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From the back cover:<br />
<br /><i>"Gianfranco asked Kelly to marry him, after her holiday affair with him left her pregnant! But, once married, Gianfranco was often away on business, and his family made Kelly's life a misery. Then she heard that Gianfranco didn't want her at all - he just wanted their baby.</i><div>
<i>Kelly had no choice but to run away. However, one thing was certain. Gianfranco would find her - but why? Because he wanted to reclaim his bride or his child?"</i><br /><br /><br />My immediate impression on starting this book is that it starts in the wrong place. The title and blurb clearly tell us what is going to happen but it is not until 70% in that the actual event took place and it skipped to three years later. I feel it would have been better to have started at this point and have the past explored and revealed throughout the course of the story. As it was, I was reading with a sense of impending doom and frustration as I knew what was going to happen but not when/how.</div>
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Because of this, I never really engaged with the story and the plot felt, to me, a little flat. There is plenty of emotion in the book, but the author never really delves deep enough into this to make it a really well thought out story. </div>
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Also, the book makes over-use of two very frustrating elements - the evil other woman character and a hero that doesn't believe a thing the heroine says. Add into that a rather whiny 'victim' heroine, it became a little tedious. </div>
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This could have been such a great book; the plot is there, the emotion is there, but the execution lets it down. Kept me interested but left me slightly disappointed.</div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-43464663934305909342012-11-15T13:01:00.000+00:002012-11-15T13:01:11.304+00:00The Santina Crown... Playing the Royal Game - Carol Marinelli<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPBwPq5ELQHyjVL6sFASzgbrM7FhlqSZyCrTNkKqDma_G1NiiCNK3fA4SvQdpnHn00FhFGzEqLeMOuYl_K_V-4BPkt7u1v7sLbPkp6lt6Agwq5HYZSX7j7P4D1IzWU2qyL4QGK4y5iJo/s1600/playing+the+royal+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPBwPq5ELQHyjVL6sFASzgbrM7FhlqSZyCrTNkKqDma_G1NiiCNK3fA4SvQdpnHn00FhFGzEqLeMOuYl_K_V-4BPkt7u1v7sLbPkp6lt6Agwq5HYZSX7j7P4D1IzWU2qyL4QGK4y5iJo/s320/playing+the+royal+game.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
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<b>Playing the Royal Game - Carol Marinelli</b><br />
<b>Mills & Boon Modern Special Releases</b><br />
<b>Harlequin UK, 2012</b><br />
<b>ISBN: 9780263897708</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDlktpCl1YXjCXARiCfqw7Tbp7dCg7Ls9ugzP7ai3cpN7cFYRL7I6VPRhmdYudzjhr7_axAPUvTGQXl7lYJLKZmZBtu3MbUZ4OWUVjvg604EDXM2ynTccWRj1ukKYIcnEiOgfbFh6NfA/s1600/4halfstars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDlktpCl1YXjCXARiCfqw7Tbp7dCg7Ls9ugzP7ai3cpN7cFYRL7I6VPRhmdYudzjhr7_axAPUvTGQXl7lYJLKZmZBtu3MbUZ4OWUVjvg604EDXM2ynTccWRj1ukKYIcnEiOgfbFh6NfA/s1600/4halfstars.jpg" /></a></div>
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"The Santina-Jackson Royal Fairytale: Fact or Fiction? </i><div>
<i>Falling in love with a prince might be every girl’s dream, but is Allegra Jackson’s royal fairy-tale really all it seems? Allegra’s headline-grabbing family have hardly prepared her for a life of public duty and sinfully delicious Prince Alessandro of Santina has always seemed virtually allergic to the idea of settling down – changing women so fast the paparazzi can barely keep up! </i></div>
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<i>So why, out of all the beautiful socialites his name’s been linked with, did the heir to the throne pick ordinary Allegra? The royal rumour-mill is in overdrive, asking if this shock engagement really is a love-match…or a desperate arrangement with scandalous consequences."</i><br /><br /><br />A couple of the previous books in this continuity series hinted at something that is not as it seems about the engagement between the Allegra and Alex (the event that started it all!) and that really whetted my appetite, I was very much looking forward to reading their story.</div>
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But, I also have a nagging feeling that this might be an accidental pregnancy story, there is nothing wrong with that of course but I knew that the series deserved something 'more'. I'm so glad I was wrong, in fact the plot of this book completely surprised me. </div>
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Carol Marinelli has written such a deep and provoking story that had me hooked all the way through. The emotion and almost desperation that saturates the pages when the hero and heroine first meet really set the tone of the whole story. The hero and heroine got themselves into something rather misguided only realising what a mistake it had been once they had become deeper and deeper involved. The story had a snowballing effect that is rather compelling to read. </div>
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The relationship that grows out of this comedy of errors is fraught with pain and restraint and is very moving. These characters belong together, you can see this right from the start, but everything is so difficult for them. The execution is flawless. My only complaint is that I wasn't too keen on the inclusion of POV from other characters, it felt almost jarring when it switched away from what was a deeply absorbing love-story and the inclusion of this didn't further the story at all, if anything it actually ruined the pace in my opinion.</div>
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When focused on the hero and heroine the writing is evocative and emotional with prose that feels as though it is floating.</div>
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Wonderful, and an enjoyable end to this continuity that if I'm honest had a rather shaky start!</div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-54086145695081575742012-11-13T14:30:00.000+00:002012-11-13T14:30:00.463+00:00The Santina Crown... The Girl Nobody Wanted - Lynn Raye Harris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V2J5CifP8m2Bh_N59YlR7LAkxnWIbk7fXNIliG9fclqs3hnySbVF1HLPiNKqxzXfzxzsC6bxLLgFxD4WrWqsiUHLMLljT98fkvhWMaLzQneHUgR7yc3vVz4lSF6u9V_bynfAX2wLrfE/s1600/the+girl+nobody+wanted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V2J5CifP8m2Bh_N59YlR7LAkxnWIbk7fXNIliG9fclqs3hnySbVF1HLPiNKqxzXfzxzsC6bxLLgFxD4WrWqsiUHLMLljT98fkvhWMaLzQneHUgR7yc3vVz4lSF6u9V_bynfAX2wLrfE/s1600/the+girl+nobody+wanted.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Girl Nobody Wanted - Lynn Raye Harris<br />
Mills & Boon Modern Special Releases<br />
Harlequin UK, 2012<br />
ISBN: 9780263897661<br />
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My rating<br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"Jilted Bride Stranded with a Notorious Playboy </i><div>
<i>Anna Constantinides, publicly humiliated when her long-time fiancé announced his engagement to someone else, might have thought things couldn't get any worse… Until her private jet crash-landed on an uninhabited island, leaving her stranded with billionaire hotel magnate Leo Jackson! </i></div>
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<i>Renowned playboy Leo’s reputation is legendary and, if the smouldering looks they were fighting to contain when rescued are anything to go by, there can only be one question on everybody’s lips: just how long did it take wickedly sexy Leo to undress buttoned-up heiress Anna…?!"</i><br /><br />This is a really enjoyable story but not always an easy read, which makes it an intriguing book. </div>
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The hero and heroine are, at times, quite annoying - the hero for his arrogance and the heroine for her neediness. However, to me, this makes the book feel more real. Nobody is perfect and these characters certainly aren't. </div>
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The premise is interesting and really well thought out, I enjoyed reading how the uptight heroine finally decided to rebel just once then had to face the consequence of her actions - honest writing. </div>
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Both the hero and heroine have to learn to live with each other and to accept themselves and I think there is a lot of character growth explored in this book, especially from the heroine.</div>
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This is a passionate story with two flawed characters and an against-all-odds love story that is very satisfying to read. I loved it!</div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-81108886440451153882012-11-03T10:30:00.000+00:002012-11-13T12:17:39.415+00:00The Santina Crown... Princess From The Shadows - Maisey Yates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq2KHsu2Re-OL0zNmpYbSoxqZSLmvpaP3GXH99G2keQI0lWfcZQu78MXJ9Sv4clKCGL5kgw3XEN0G-5wnX6pw9XH1i8_BauZe7vwsaXnZtaRpQNt8L7PFmHuCkoaCCHj5ia2Rs_Uv8u0/s1600/princess+from+the+shadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq2KHsu2Re-OL0zNmpYbSoxqZSLmvpaP3GXH99G2keQI0lWfcZQu78MXJ9Sv4clKCGL5kgw3XEN0G-5wnX6pw9XH1i8_BauZe7vwsaXnZtaRpQNt8L7PFmHuCkoaCCHj5ia2Rs_Uv8u0/s320/princess+from+the+shadows.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
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<b>Princess From The Shadows - Maisey Yates</b><br />
<b>Mills & Boon Modern Special Releases</b><br />
<b>Harlequin UK, 2012</b><br />
<b>ISBN: 9780263897692</b><br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"Santina Secret Baby Scandal! </i><br />
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<i>Santina’s royal palace officials were tight-lipped about claims that Prince Rodriguez Anguiano was jilted by his fiancée. But it seems the prince did not leave Santina empty-handed after all – he’s taking with him one reluctant bride! </i></div>
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<i>Princess Carlotta Santina has been living out of the spotlight and under a cloud ever since a certain event. Now, finally fulfilling her role of dutiful royal, she’s arriving at Rodriguez’s Spanish palace in preparation for their forthcoming nuptials… Perhaps the prince should get some new advisors because he’s about to discover that his blushing bride comes with an unexpected bonus"</i><br />
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The hero of this book is an out and out rogue/playboy right to the core. I didn't think I would like him- I didn't want to like him in fact -but I couldn't help it, I did! And that is mainly down to the strength of the writing, in particular the characterisation.</div>
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This is a story that is wholly centred around it's characters and really gives us, the reader, a chance to feel everything they are feeling and experience their journey with them. Both the hero and heroine have "issues" but through the course of the story they actually deal with them together and that is very satisfying to read. </div>
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Maisey Yates's voice is modern and forward-thinking and that shines through in this book. Stripped down this is a marriage of convenience trope, but Maisey doesn't stick too rigidly to her theme and therefore the story didn't feel weighed down by lots of unnecessary external conflict and clichés,. </div>
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The relationship and love between the hero and heroine develops beautifully and the characters are able to grow and move on in a believable way. There is plenty of passion involved too! </div>
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Really enjoyable.</div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7840377830353599194.post-90420832283044818442012-11-02T12:00:00.000+00:002012-11-02T12:03:41.376+00:00Harts of the Rodeo... BEAU: Cowboy Protector - Marin Thomas + Author Interview and GIVEAWAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BEAU: Cowboy Protector - Marin Thomas<br />
Harlequin American Romance<br />
Harlequin, 2012<br />
ISBN: 9780373754298<br />
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My rating<br />
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From the back cover:<br />
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<i>"Beau Adams can't stop thinking about Sierra Byrne. Her feisty spirit and ample curves dominate his thoughts, while he should be focused on getting himself and Midnight, the Harts' prized stallion, to the National Finals Rodeo. When Beau and Sierra's electric connection finally leads to a steamy night together, Beau hopes it's the beginning of something more.<br />As much as Sierra wants to be with Beau, anything long-term is out of the question. A recently diagnosed eye disease will soon leave her blind, and she can't ask a rising rodeo star like Beau to take on that responsibility. Though she tries to pretend their tryst was just another item on her bucket list, Sierra's true feelings run a lot deeper. Will she let her affliction steal not only her sight, but her dreams of happiness, as well?"</i><br />
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Everything about this book feels real. From the relationship between the hero and heroine, the setting and situation, right down to the issues that the characters face. <br />
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I think Marin Thomas handled the heroine's sight problems, and her coming to terms with her eventual loss of sight, well. It is done with honesty and sensitivity, I particularly liked that this wasn't kept as a secret, especially not from the hero, instead it was actually acknowledge and dealt with instead of angst about. To have had it a secret, I feel, would have over dramatised the situation and overloaded with story with more conflict than was necessary.<br />
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Beau, as a hero, is pretty darn wonderful. He tries and tries to woo the heroine and that made my heart melt, and I loved that the heroine constantly surprised him.<br />
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The actions, and reactions, of the heroine are exactly what should have happened. She doesn't handle it well at times, does some rather silly things as well as having moments of feeling sorry for herself. Very gripping to read.<br />
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Overall, I found this a hard hitting read, which has a beautiful relationship blossom from what the characters are going through. The story is well written and full of tenderness, honesty and hope.<br />
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Really enjoyable.<br />
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<i>*N.B. ARC provided by Harlequin, with thanks, in exchange for review.</i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Interview with Marin Thomas</span></b></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;">About the book... </b><br />
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<b>Where did you get your inspiration for this book from? </b><br />
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First, let me say how excited I am to be at Everyday Is The Same—thanks for having me today, RLA! <br />
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The inspiration was handed to me by the editors. J Beau: Cowboy Protector is book #5 in the Harts of the Rodeo—Born to Ride continuity by various authors. The editors at American Romance created a bible for this series and gave each author a short synopsis of their individual book as well as their hero and heroine. We were given a framework to start with, then it was up to us to take the ball and run with it.<br />
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<b>Describe your heroine in 3 words... </b><br />
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Stubborn. Creative. Prideful. <br />
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<b>Describe your hero in 3 words... </b><br />
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Determined. Searching. Protective. <br />
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<b>What do you think comes next for your hero & heroine? </b><br />
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A baby of course--American Romance is all about family! <br />
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<b>What was the biggest challenge writing this book? </b><br />
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Creating a sympathetic heroine who was facing a life-changing medical diagnosis. Sierra had to be strong yet human and I wanted the reader to see glimpses of her vulnerabilities without having her come off as a martyr. <br />
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<b>What was it like being involved in a multi author series? </b><br />
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Fun! It's a great way to get to know other authors. The brainstorming sessions were amazing and I especially enjoyed that part of the creative process. <br />
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<b>What do you think of the whole series? </b><br />
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Love it! I love the idea of a famous stallion saving the livelihood of a ranching family and I love that there's plenty of "family" squabbles and drama. The Harts became a real family to me and I enjoyed the chance to delve deeply into my hero's relationship with his twin brother. After reading all the stories I was convinced the hero and heroine in each book were perfectly matched and truly belonged together. <br />
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<b>About you... </b></div>
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<b>Being English I am naturally obsessed with all things American, especially cowboy's, that's why I love the American Romance line so much! But I have two questions... Where have all the cowboys gone?! And are they really like the ones in your books? </b><br />
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The traditional cowboy hasn't disappeared, but I think the traditional rodeo cowboy is changing. Nowadays young men and women fly all over the country to attend rodeo schools where they hone their skills with the help of modern technology. Many of today's rodeo cowboys and cowgirls don't work on ranches but hold down professional jobs during the week.<br />
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<b>Much has been said on the topic and relevance of romance novels, what do you like most about the genre, and what is your response to the criticism about it? </b></div>
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<b><br /></b>I believe romance novels are inspiring and restore our faith in humanity. After reading a romance novel the reader should feel optimistic and believe that everyone, no matter the hand life has dealt them, is entitled to their very own Happy Ever After.<br />
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For those who believe they offer nothing of value to a reader I dare them to say that out loud at the annual RWA Readers for Life Literacy Autographing J<br />
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<b>Do you believe in the Happily Ever Afters we love to read about in romance novels? </b><br />
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Yes, but I also believe that everyone must travel their own path to Happy Ever After. Some folks get there on their first try while others are forced to take a detour or two or three until they meet their perfect mate. J<br />
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<b>What's next for you? </b><br />
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After the final book in my Rodeo Rebels series, No Ordinary Cowboy (April 2013) I'm kicking off a new six-book series called The Cash Brothers. Six crazy and wild brothers all named after country western singers by their mother. The first book, The Cowboy Next Door will be out July 2013.<br />
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<b>What is your favourite and least favourite part about being a writer? </b><br />
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My favorite part about being a writer is when readers contact me and tell me that I've touched their heart with one of my books. I write romance because I love the genre, but I also write because it's my way of giving back to others. I'm not a doctor who can cure the sick or a lawyer who fights for the poor. I can't even volunteer at the Humane Society because I'd end up crying all day and bringing every dog and cat home with me. But I can offer my stories and hope that they give readers a few hours of enjoyment or escape from their busy, crazy lives.<br />
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My least favorite part about being a writer is sitting at a desk for long periods. I kid you not. The poor toes on my right foot are numb most of the day now because I sit for long periods of time. I need to invest in a work station where I can stand up and type—better yet, walk on a treadmill while I'm writing!<br />
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<b>Anything else you would like to say... </b><br />
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You can find out more about my books at <a href="http://www.marinthomas.com/">Happy Ever After…The Cowboy Way</a>. I give away free copies of my books every month—to find out where sign up for my <a href="http://www.marinthomas.com/newsletter.html">Newsletter</a>. <br />
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And I love to hear from readers. You'll find me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marin-Thomas-Harlequin-Romance-Author/118915338136945?ref=ts">FB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/marinthomas">Twitter</a> <a href="http://pinterest.com/cowboyauthor/">Pinterest</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/323927.Marin_Thomas">Goodreads</a> and if you like cowboys as much as I do, drop by my blog <a href="http://www.marinthomas.blogspot.com/">All My Heroes are Cowboys</a> where I've always got something to say about the guys who wear wranglers and Stetsons. <br />
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A huge thank you to Marin, for not only agreeing to appear on my blog but also for allowing me to be a part of the tour for this wonderful mini-series. The interview is great, with some really candid and interesting answers. </div>
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Marin has also, very kindly, agreed to give a copy of this wonderful book away to one very lucky reader (US, Canada & UK only). All you have to do is leave a comment on this post before Saturday 10th November 2012 along with your answer to this question...</div>
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<b>“What is your favorite trait in a cowboy hero?”</b></div>
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Tight Jeans... 'nuff said!</div>
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The best answer will be chosen by Marin and I will update this post accordingly. Don't forget to check back! In the meantime, thanks for stopping by my blog and thanks again to Marin and the Harlequin American Romance team.</div>
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RLAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11064259662608742231noreply@blogger.com7