Finally!

Alright!!! After months of searching for LaVyrle Spencer's book "Hummingbird" I found it! Just had to share my personal joy with you all.

I am still reading "To Love a Scottish Lord" but it is not really good and am having trouble making myself finish it. I pretty much always finish a book no matter how bad it is.

Sports rant: Huh, I don't know what to rant about. I guess I am just waiting for April 15, NHL playoffs begin and any social life I have ends until June. The Red Wings are still battling with the Sharks for 1st in the West. I want them to get 1st for home ice advantage but fear them winning the president's trophy since it sometimes is a death knell (is that how you spell it?) for them. The Wild are done, I believe this even is Mikko Koivu comes back earlier than thought.

Not a NCAA men's bball fan but watched the last half of the Pitt and Villanova game. Exciting! I thought Villa was done when they messed up the last possession and threw the ball away, but bam! a guard took it right down the middle and a last second shot kept it from overtime and won the game. Go #3 seed!

I think I saw the MN Twins beat someone 16-2? Nice! I know, I know preseason but still excited. I look at my opening day tickets everyday, can't wait for the last season at the dome!

Quote

“Mental seduction. He’d never thought it possible.”

The Irresistible MacRae by Karen Ranney

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He wanted to know her with such familiarity that he could curve his fingers around a wrist, an ankle, a knee and recognize her from a hundred, a thousand other women

The Irresistible MacRae by Karen Ranney

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Memories of her, however, would remain with him. Everywhere he’d look, she would be there, as if she were a hundred women, all shadow and wraith, marking each place at Tyemorn and Ayleshire. He’d see her on the village road, smiling beneath an oak, straddling a furrow and laughing at something a companion had said. There again, tilting her head in an inquisitive look and offering advice on the line of the barn wall, or at night, when he could only see the outline of her form.

The Irresistible MacRae by Karen Ranney

The Irresistible MacRae

Grade: B+

Summary: To avoid a scandal that would devastate her family, Riona McKinsey has agreed to marry the wrong man - though the one she yearns for is James MacRae. Had she not been maneuvered into a compromising position by a man of Edinburgh - who covets her family's wealth more than Riona's love - the dutiful Highland miss could have followed her heart into MacRae's strong and loving arms. But alas, it is not to be.
A man of the wild, tempest-tossed ocean, James MacRae never dreamed he'd find his greatest temptation on land. Yet from the instant the dashing adventurer first gazed deeply into Riona's haunting gray eyes, he knew there was no lass in all of Scotland he'd ever want more. The matchless lady is betrothed to another - and unwilling to break off her engagement or share the reason why she will marry her intended. But how can MacRae ignore the passion that burns like fire inside, drawing him relentlessly toward a love that could ruin them both?

Review: I really should not take such a long break from series, it took a while for me to remember who the hell all the characters were...Anyway, right away I like how it takes Riona sometime to agree to marry Harold and only for her sisters sake. Her mom tells her "sometimes we have to do things we don't like to insure other peoples happiness", geez thanks mom!
When Riona and James meet for the first time I got tingles up my spine. Nothing really happens between them, but for some reason the author writes the scene so I feel powerful undercurrents between Riona and James. And when James looked back, I couldn't help thinking, "Oh boy, here we go!"
Well Riona's mom redeems herself in my eyes when she comes up with a plan to get James and Riona together!
For some reason as I read this story the song "Collide" by Howie Day keeps coming into my head, the song could be playing in the background for many of Riona and Jame scenes.
I loved the character of "Old Ned" and how he tells James "Herself(Riona's mom) told me to help you, but she didn’t tell me to solve the riddle for you. I’m thinking you’re smart enough to do that on your own."
I thought it was a beautiful piece of writing when Ranney has Maureen (Riona's sister) describe how she sees Riona. Maureen sees Riona for who she truly is. It seems to be very rare to read a romance book where the two lead characters come from loving homes. The family dynamics between Riona, Maureen, and their mother are written so the reader can clearly see and feel the love, humor, connectedness, and disconnectedness between them.
Ranney does a wonderful job of showing how much can be felt with just a little said or not said and gives the characters little nuances that give away their feelings without once again coming right out and saying it.
This book is probably not for everyone. Some might describe it as boring, the story is not told in actions but in thoughts that Riona and James wish they could put into action. I will however, argue with anyone who says this book lacks passion. Like I said before, the undercurrents between Riona and James are powerful and sizzle with sexual tension.
The wealth of emotion between Riona and James is so fierce I simply ached for these two to get together.
The library scene where Riona and James simply touch fingertips has more passion in it than full blown sex scenes I have read.
I do have a complaint about how Rionas mom sets up Riona and James then towards the end tells Riona there is no hope for them, wtf? Make-up your mind mama!
This was a great book and addition to the "Highland Lords" series, but something held me back from quite making it a keeper. (I seem to remember thinking the same thing about the second book in this series "When the Laird Returns" another one close to being a keeper)


Next to be read: "To Love a Scottish Lord" #4 in Highland Lords series by Karen Ranney

Trudging on

I think I should mention that the summaries I put up for the books I review are not by me, I lift them off a website called "fantasticfiction". (As if ya'll couldn't tell right?)

I am going to trudge on with reading series I have previously left hanging. This is hard for me since I tend to get excited with new books I get and want to start with them right away, but I'm in an OCD mood right now and need to finish certain series.
Next to be read: "The Irresistible Mac Rae" #3 in Highland Lords series by Karen Ranney. The first book in the series "One Man's Love" was a keeper for me, so fingers crossed on this one!

Sports rant: Well the MN Wild won tonite (3-0 against Edmonton Oilers) so they are in 9th place one out of playoffs and I think only by one point! Marion Gaborik finally came back, now do something. Owen Nolan scored 2 goals in the game, man I love him. There is a little seed of hope in me that they will manage to squeak into the playoffs, but as of right now I stand by my prediction of missing by 4pts.
Jay or Jay where are you!?! And I forgot to mention the Vikings lost Matt Birk (center) what the hell! Who are the Vikings w/out Matty B.? I think his presence will be severly missed on the O line.
I have to go ahead and admit I feel like an a-hole now since Joe Mauer's back "issue" is more serious than I gave it credit for, he is going to miss opening day and who knows what else. You're not my favorite but damn if the Twins don't need you! I'm getting nervous about who is going to be the lone man standing for Twins outfielders: Delmon Young, Carlos Gomez, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, or Michael Cuddyer. Kubels better have that DH spot, hear me Gardy! And I own a Cuddyer shirt so my feelings are clear on that one, my advice trade Delmon Young or give him Very limited DH time. He pissed me off last year w/ horrible outfielding and not getting a hot bat until the end of the season.

Ok simmering down after that sports rant and off to read "The Irresistible Mac Rae"

One Perfect Rose

Grade: D

Summary: Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton, has always taken the duties of his rank seriously-until shocking news sends him running from his isolating world of wealth and privilege to roam the countryside as an ordinary man. When he meets the lovely Rosalind Jordan, a foundling who has grown into an enchanting, compassionate woman, she stirs the deepest desires of his heart. Yet how can Stephen declare his love when he is haunted by the knowledge that made him flee his old life? And how can Rosalind risk loving a man who fulfills her secret dreams but can never be hers? (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/)

Review: So Stephen Kenyon wasn't a character who interested me, he is Michael Kenyon's bro from "Shattered Rainbows" the #6 in the Fallen Angels series, and probably why it has taken me so long to read this book and finish off the series. However, as the story started once again, damn my optimism, I began to get excited about where the story was headed. Stephen has found out he has 6 months to live (why is it always 6 months?) and decides to ditch the heavy cloak of being a duke and go live life. A wild duke, who doesn't want to read about that! Haha I liked the line about how it will be interesting to find out how ordinary people do their laundry; trust me on this man, it’s not interesting.
Putney did a great job of writing Stephen to be a tragic figure; describing his loneliness, responsibilities, and his desire to really live life.
It seems kind of morbid when Putney starts some chapters with the number of days Stephen thinks he has remaining to live. Maybe this is why I can’t seem to really involve myself in this story; the characters aren't investing themselves so it leaves me feeling I can’t. Although this is a romance story, so really some form of a happy ending is always kind of expected right? (Unless it is one of those rare books like Jude Deveraux's "A knight in shining armour" which as far as I'm concerned did NOT have a happy ending)
Alright, so I found it a little strange when their big first love scene began with Stephen laying on barn floor feeling like he was dieing from stomache pains, geesh I know men are always up for sex, but come on.
Some disappointment in Rosalind’s reaction, or lack thereof, to finding out Stephen was a duke. Give me a little more here, not quite swooning but maybe a face that drains of color? :)
It was a little disappointing when the author finally reveals Rosalinds back ground. Why can’t she just be a normal woman who entranced a duke instead of the sensationalized history of her origins?
The last 150 pgs or so started to drag for me and I could have really done without Stephen’s “anteroom” to heaven scene. The "cure" to Stephen's "illness" was pretty predictable also. I think Putney wanted this book to be bittersweet but it just felt morose for me. I gave it a pretty low grade because, I never felt invested in it and was easily distracted from reading it.