Book Blogger Hop #18

So come and join in on the fun and the hopping. Make new friends and discover new blogs!!! LETS DO THE HOP!!!! Come and check it out at Crazy For Books 

Here is the question for the week:
Do you use a rating system for your review, if so what is it and why?
Yes I do use a rating system! My rating system is a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the best and 1 the worst. I use it because it helps my readers to know how much I care for the book that I have read.

The Friday Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and its tons of fun to do these two memes and find tons of new friends and great blogs!!!

Here is how it works: 

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - not this week..
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!  
8. If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog! 

Have a Fabulous Weekend ALL!!!! 

Award

I just recently received the One Lovely Blog Award by Cj'Alhafiz at Coffee N Crackers Thank you so much!!!

Since I have already received this award I will just pass it to a couple of great bloggers who are just amazing!!!

Rules

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are a couple of bloggers that are just amazing!!

Diva Bookcase
TBQ's Book Palace

Book Review-The Golden Valkyrie

The Golden Valkyrie
Sedikhan Series
Iris Johansen
Bantam Audio, 182 Pages
Published Jan 1984
Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780553216356

  Feisty and beautiful private detective Honey Winston had been duped by a client into invading Prince Rubinoff's hotel suite by concealing herself in a too-small room service cart. When cigar smoke flushed her from her hiding place, Honey rose to face the mocking prince the gossip columns called "Lusty Lance." But the man she came to know as she looked behind the glittering facade was an artist filled with longing, a man whose need was expressed in exquisite paintings the world would never see. Honey gently taught him to trust her and tried to share the dream he saw. Would the gift of her love allow Lance to escape his gilded prison for the haven of her heart?

My Review:
Honey Winston is a private detective, with her finances struggling, she knows she needs a good case. When a woman comes to her asking her to find some letters for her, Honey is more than willing considering the reward involved. So Honey sneaks into Prince Rubinoff's hotel suite, hiding beneath the service cart, however since she is allergic to cigar smoke, she is discovered and forced to reveal her true reason for her being there. However Lance is viewed on the media as a royal playboy his nickname being "Lusty Lance". After being discovered she is then blackmailed into serving as his bodyguard, having been made aware there is a threat on his life and that of his friend Alex. When they head to a remote island, Honey doesn't realize that she will be in close proximity to Lusty Lance who has developed a unique fascination with her. A fascination that develops into a relationship with aspects neither of them expected to find in one another, one where love and commitment thrive.

I have just loved reading this Sedikhan series, and I just love this author, especially through Audio. This is a contemporary romance novel written by Iris Johansen, who is one of my favorite romance authors to read from. We have Lance, who is a talented artist, where only he and a few others know of his rare gift.He hides who he truly is with a exterior of a play boy, where inside he yearns for love and a family. When he sees Honey, a beautiful Valkyrie who stirs up his emotions like no one ever has, and vows that she will be his. Honey has a duty to protect Lance Robinoff from the danger that threatens his life, but somewhere along the road they are both headed on, Honey realizes that there is a lot more to him that she ever realized. That she is falling in love with the one person she doesn't know if she can trust with her heart.  This was such a lovely riveting story, filled with witty interaction between the character, a exciting plot and a well written story that is portrayed well with the audio story that makes the story come alive for the reader and listener. I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of this series!!!

My Grade On This Book
4.5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series
The Golden Valkyrie
The Trustworthy Redhead
Capture The Rainbow
Touch The Horizon
A Summer Smile
And The Desert Blooms
Always
Everlasting
Till The End of Time
Last Bridge Home
Across The River Yesterday
Star Light, Star Bright
Man From Half Moon Bay
Blue Blue Skies and Shining Promises
Magnificent Folly
Notorious
A Tough Man To Tame

Book Review- Chesepeake Blue

Chesepeake Blue
Chesepeake Bay Series (4)
Nora Roberts
Brilliance Audio
368 Pages
Published Jan 2004
Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 0786544414

 Synopsis
Seth Quinn is finally home.

It's been a long journey. After a harrowing boyhood with his drug-addicted mother, he'd been taken in by the Quinn family, growing up with three older brothers who'd watched over him with love.

Now a grown man returning from Europe as a successful painter, Seth is settling down on Maryland's Eastern Shore, surrounded once again by Cam, Ethan, and Phillip, their wives and children, all the blessed chaos of the extended Quinn clan. Finally, he's back in the little blue-and-white house where there's always a boat at the dock, a rocker on the porch, and a dog in the yard.

Still, a lot has changed in St. Christopher since he's been gone - and the most intriguing change of all is the presence of Dru Whitcomb Banks. A city girl who has opened a florist shop in this seaside town, she craves independence and the challenge of establishing herself without the influence of her wealthy connections. In Seth, she sees another kind of challenge - a challenge she can't resist.

But storms are brewing that are about to put their relationship to the test. Dru's past has made her sensitive to deception - and slow to trust. And Seth's past has made him a target of blackmail - as a secret he's kept hidden for years threatens to explode, destroying his new life and his new love...

My Review:
In Chesepeake Blue, Seth Quinn returns home from Europe. After a successful career as a painter, he knows he needs to return home. Ever since he was fourteen years old, there is a secret that has been haunting him and feels a need to return home and to his family. After a family homecoming that lightens Seth heart and spirit. After overcoming his childhood that was a hellish nightmare, he is now more than ever determined to find joy in life and with his family now that he has returned home for good. Then through a course of fate he meets a woman who runs a florist shop in St Christopher, a woman who he views as a challenge. After meeting her Seth knows he needs to paint her and truly get to know the woman beneath the cool exterior. But there is a rising storm on the horizon, that will come to haunt him and his family if he finds the strength to seek help from those that truly love him.

As I have loved this series, this is the final installment of the series. In this one I read this book "Audio" style. Its been some time since I have listened to a book by Nora Roberts, but I am glad that I did.  Of all the brothers of the Quinn family, Seth is definitely my favorite, especially as we see his childhood in the previous three books, we see a terrified little boy who has been sorely treated in his young life, but then is adopted into the Quinn family and shown the value of family and love. Who encouraged him how to work hard and develop his talents, especially his talent for painting which has made him famous world wide. Now as he returns home Then he meets Drusilla, where a passion and a powerful love ignites between them. Drusilla has grown up in a family unit whereas wealth and title mean everything. Having been hurt in the past, she doesn't dare trust herself to be hurt by love once more. But when she meets Seth, things change, and the ice around her heart melts with every tender caress and kiss. This is a tender story where both Seth and Dru will have to trust in each other and in Seth's family to overcome the rising challenge that could tear his whole family apart including the new love he has found in his life. This was such a enchanting story, where all the pieces of the puzzle come together and with a full satisfying end that leaves the reader content. So if you love Nora Roberts than you will definitely fall in love with the Quinn family on Chesepeake Bay!

My Grade For This Book
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series
Sea Swept
Rising Tides
Inner Harbor

Waiting On Wednesday (13)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine,that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.This week I’m waiting on,

 Coming Out November 1 2010!!!

Since being named on of London’s "Lords to Land" by a popular ladies’ magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met! The daughter of a titled wastrel,
Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.

Library Loot (6)

Eva with A Striped Armchair, and Marge with The Adventures of a Intrepid Reader, which you should check out both of them, they are great!!! This meme is created to encourage bloggers to share books that they get from the Library, and since I am a avid lover of Libraries this is going to be one meme I am going to love doing every week. I just recently did my trip to the library so here are some of the reads I managed to get a hold of!!

A Loving Scoundrel is one of my favorites of this series and especially by this author!!! It definitely is very romantic yet witty as well. I also love the cover, it makes London seem so picturesque.

Jewel of Atlantis is the second in the Atlantis Series, and plus the cover is just so tempting I could hardly resist!!! It portrays such a intriguing picture of a story!

Between The Devil And Desire is the second installment in the Scoundrel of St James series. I am eager to read Jack Dodger's story, after seeing him in the first and last of the series, who wouldn't want to read his downfall to love?

Hostage To Pleasure is the fifth in the Psy-Changeling series, and since I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this series, I could hardly resist picking it up!!!

I really have enjoyed reading past book from this author, but since I have yet to read this one, and just came out this spring I decided that its a must read for sure!!!

I have just loved this author and this series as well! although its not my favorite, it is a shifter series, so I have fallen in passion with it!!

I have many more books that I got at the library, since I usually only go every couple of weeks, I get as many as I think I can read, but I thought I would share a portion of what I managed to get a hold on!!!

Teaser Tuesday (18)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme that I have just discovered, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others! Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like.

Here Is My Teaser:

That arms shot out across her waist to stop her. 
" The next time you want to hide in a closet" he leaned closer to whisper in her ear-- 'you might consider some company. You'd be surprised what delights can be found in cozy spots like this" 
The only surprise she had was that she made it to the kitchen without falling apart from having been that close to him.

What is your teaser?

Book Review-By Love Undone

By Love Undone
Bancroft Brothers
Suzanne Enoch
Avon
376 Pages
Published July 1998
Regency Romance

Synopsis
Maddie Willits was driven out of London by a scandal, her engagement in ruins, and now she is a paid companion to elderly Malcolm Bancroft. When Malcolm's young nephew, the Marquis of Warefield, comes in to oversee the family estate, Maddie is at first incensed, but soon her feelings turn to flirtation with the handsome marquis--and then to something much more.

My Review:
Madeleine Willits after being caught up in a scandal by no fault of her own, becomes shunned, and leaves her family and becomes a companion to a elderly man who runs a estate. After living there for four years, she trust no one that is in Society. So when Malcom's nephew Quinlan, Marquis of Warefield comes to help with the estate, Maddie has much distrust for this marquis whom she finds easy to dislike yet she starts to warm up to him, but when she is caught in a passionate kiss once more, she is caught up in a plan to re introduce her into society. After Quinlan is caught kissing the lovely Maddie, he vows to make amends despite all of her protests, even if its for her own good. They journey to London despite Maddies distaste for this plan, but only agrees out of promise she makes to Malcolm who is like her family, one who has loved her like a daughter. So despite her distaste for being introduced into society that rejected her in the past, she discovers a future one where she finds herself aching for a certain Marquis to love and keep her, but is far from trusting him because she doesn't want Quinlan to break her heart as she fears, but will she find the courage to fight for the one that she loves?

Its been awhile since I have read anything from this author, but I do so love her books, they are filled with such passion and a engaging plot that will delight you. As with every one of Enoch's books, I found myself finding it hard to put By Love Undone down, for it was so uniquely written, yet this book is similar to her other books, whereas its a mixture of passion, enticing plot, and engaging characters that will only leave you breathless for more of her well written romances that takes your breath away. I truly had few complaints about By Love Undone, except for the fact that in the beginning both Maddie and Quinlan seem to act more like children than adults in their interaction with one another but as the story progressed the characters seemed to progress in maturity. But other than that it was a lovely read!!!

My Grade For This Book
4 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series
Taming Rafe

Book Review-This Is All I Ask

This Is All I Ask 
Lynn Kurland
De Piaget Series
Berkley, 422 Pages
Published August 1997
Medieval Romance
ISBN: 0-425-18033-6

Synopsis
This medieval historical romance doesn't offer any of the paranormal elements found in Lynn Kurland's first two books, Stardust of Yesterday, and Dance Through Time, yet Kurland's fans will not be disappointed by this sensitive and moving romance. Gillian of Warewick knows no other treatment than the terrible physical and mental abuse issued by her father. When he arranges a match for Gillian with Christopher of Blackmour, she is fearful: Blackmour is rumored to be an evil sorcerer. When Gillian meets him, he proves to be far more of a man than her father is, yet he is unwilling to be a lover to Gillian. She finds that Blackmour has as many psychological scars to heal as she has physical scars.

My Review:
As this is one of my favorite romance novels to read, a book that I have read and re read over and over, I thought it was time to do a review on this read. This Is All I Ask starts out with Gillian of Warewick, whose mother died when she was young, and her father tends to be very abusive to her both physically and emotionally. Gillian after losing her brother, who was the only one that loved her, she feels that she has no courage or beauty inside or out. When she is suppose to marry the Dragon of Blackmour, a man known for his deeds in battle, and rumored to have killed his previous wife, and deals in nefarious acts. Gillian, after being married to Christopher of Blackmour, Gillian is terrified of this man whom she knows regrets their marriage. After a deep misunderstanding these two lost souls find a way to overcome, what they view as deficiencies, but will become strengths as they find love and a reason to live and enjoy every moment together.

I love reading from this author, and as this is one of my favorites of this author I thought I would re read it and do a review on it. This is probably one of the most emotional romances that I have ever had the opportunity to read. Its both powerful yet sensitive, and will pull at your heart strings. Gillian is a young woman whose only known abuse and domination. She has never had freedom or to be able to think for herself. So when she first meets Christopher she knows that he is only marrying her out of a promise that he made to her brother. But as she sees that he struggles with a certain challenge of his own, that will be with him the rest of his life, she knows he suffers pain and loss as well, that he is in need of love as much as Gillian needs it and more. Kurland will take you on a roller-coaster of a journey will ups and down that might make you shed a tear, but will brighten up your day, I found This Is All I Ask to be a enriching read that you will never regret taking the chance on!!!

My Grade On This Book
5 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series
Another Chance To Dream
If I Had You
Dreams Of Stardust
When I Fall In Love
The Gift Of Christmas Past
The More I See You
From This Moment On
To Kiss In The Shadows
Stardust Of Yesterday
One Enchanted Evening