Book Review-The Game

The Game
De Warrene Dynasty (4)
Brenda Joyce
Avon
Paperback 
Published Mar 1995
472 Pages
European Renaissance/Nautical Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-0-380-77573-6

Synopsis
Released from the sanctuary of a French convent, highborn, tempestuous Katherine FitzGerald sets sail for her beloved Ireland - only to find herself prisoner of the infamous pirate known to the Elizbethans as the Master of the Seas.

The pirate captain is Liam O'Neill, favored by Elizabeth the Queen. A hardened court player, he is determined to win the willful Katherine while advancing his own secret causes. But now he must risk everything he cherishes in order to triumph at a very treacherous game - through heartbreaking deception...and by breaking all the rules.

The Game has begun...

MY REVIEW
Summary 
Katherine, after being in the convent for years and not having heard from her family, decides to leave knowing all she wants is a husband and children. So when she leaved and gets on a ship on her way to Ireland, back home, the ship is captured by pirates and she is a prisoner of Liam O'Neill, the pirate captain, who refuses to let her go. Katherine refuses to give in to the feelings and the desire she starts to feel for Liam, knowing she deserves more than to be a mistress to a pirate, that she deserves love, marriage and a family of her own. Liam is the king of Games, and ever since he first saw Katherine, he knew he would keep her, and even though he has a secret cause he will do everything he can to Win!

The Hero (Liam O'Neill)
Liam is half english and half irish, his father being a ruthless lord, his mother helpless to do anything to protect herself or her children. So Liam learned at a young age how to protect himself, and to never give in, no matter the risk or the cost. When Liam see's Katherine, he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her in his life even at the risk of pain and death. Katherine is His and will even break the rules of his own game to keep her by his side.

The Heroine (Katherine FitzGerald)
 Katherine, is desperate to get away from the convent, not knowing what has really happened to her family, so when she is captured by the pirate captain, she is most resistent and in the beginning refuses to give in to the feelings that she has for him. However as she starts to find the truth about her family and what has been happening since she has been in the convent, the feelings she has for Liam start to increase, and even though at times she feelings like she should strangle him, she also can't deny that she loves him.

My Thoughts 
The Game is the 4th in the de Warrenne series, and I have always enjoyed Brenda Joyce and all of her books for the most part, and even though this was a bit longer, it was still a enjoyable read but far from my favorite of her books. The one thing that I really loved about this story, was how there was always a surprise at the next turn of the plot, something I would have never expected to happen, and left me excited to see what would happen next. The title for the book "The Game" is perfect, and fits it with exactness. The characters were fascinating to get to know. Liam would just make me laugh at times, and other make me want to hug him, and other I wanted to throttle him. Katherine however, it took me a while to really warm up to her, she seemed a bit selfish and naive especially in the beginning, but she grew on me as the story started to really develop. Overall it was a really enjoyable read with lots of intrigue and mystery, romance and passion and series of events that might just make your head spin!!

My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms

Other Books In The Series 
 The Conquerer
Scandalous Love
Promise of the Rose
The Game
The Prize
The Masquerade
The Stolen Bride
A Lady at Last
The Perfect Bride
A Dangerous Love
The Promise
An Impossible Attraction
House of Dreams 

Book Review-One Night In Scotland

One Night In Scotland
Hurst Amulet (1)
Karen Hawkins
Pocket Books
Published Dec 2010
335 Pages
Scottish Highlands Romance
ISBN 978-4391-7589-7

Synopsis 
New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins begins a sparkling new series with this thrilling tale of a desperate beauty on an urgent quest, a , dark earl scarred by his beastly past-----and ,the ancient treasure that binds their fates.

A MYSTERIOUS ABDUCTOR .. .
Someone is holding her brother prisoner in exchange for a gold-and-onyx box covered in mysterious runes, so Mary Hurst boldly sets out from the family vicarage to find the priceless artifact. But the man who possesses it, Angus Hay, the Earl of Erroll, is less than sympathetic to her plight.

A FORBIDDING STRANGER .. .
Himself a prisoner of his dark past, Angus refuses to yield the box -- or allow Mary to leave! Suspicious of the alluring lass's mission, he vows to wrest a confession from her, but unearths a fiery temper and a will as strong as his own.

AN UNBREAKABLE CURSE...
Passion flares between them, but now there is more at stake: an unknown enemy is hunting down the precious box, and will stop at nothing. Risking all for love, Angus must solve the mystery behind the runes ... and trust the only woman who can awaken his forgotten heart.

Summary:
Mary Hurst, when finding out one of her brothers, is a prisoner, and needs to find a certain ancient box to trade for him, she heads up north to Scotland to find the artifact so she can save her brother's life. After traveling long hours and when she finds the Earl of Erroll, he is less than understanding to her 'story' and goes about and keeps her prisoner in his castle. Angus, although he is tempted to believe Mary, he knows that there is someone that is after the priceless artifact and he must be a hundred percent Mary is who she says she is, and knows that keeping her here until he can bring a colleague of his to confirm her identity is the only way. What Angus never imagined was the intense connection that flares between them with just one kiss, and he knows that he must never give in, because if he does than he will fall for her...hard

The Hero (Angus Hay, Earl of Erroll)
Angus, although he is very wealthy, is secluded and lives in a remote castle in Scotland. After losing his beloved wife to a fire that destroyed part of his home, and being scarred himself he knows he doesn't have a choice but living a secluded life, with his cousin, continuing on with his work, dealing with precious artifacts. When Mary shows up his life goes upside down and part of him wants to resist her, and then there is a part of him that wants to give in to the passion that fires up whenever she is near. 

The Heroine (Mary Hurst)
Mary, upon receiving a letter informing her of her brother's situation she knows that she must save his life and do all that she can to get her hands on the artifact. Mary, even though her sisters have been in love and married, it has never happened for her, and now when she meets Angus, she is unexplainably drawn to him and even though he is keeping her prisoner she also finds herself falling for her captor.

My Thoughts 
One Night in Scotland is the first book in the Hurst Amulet series, and I have always loved her books and this was pretty amazing, not my favorite of hers, but enthralling and was like many of her other books where it just draws you into the story vividly. One of the things that I loved about this book is how perfect both Mary and Angus seem to be for each other, even though there are some pretty heated arguments, and violent tantrums that just made me laugh, and think 'oh boy, I hope I never meet a man that makes me want to sing like a banchee or an opera singer just to get his attention'. Although once I really got into the, I started to find myself really enjoying the story, the characters, the plot and the amusing interaction between the characters, that made it a fun tale of romance with a hint of mystery that will make you not want to put the book down and keep on reading until the sun goes down.

My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms

Favorite Quote 
Angus had never been so furious in his entire life. Every word she uttered was a deliberate challenge. Well, the chit was about to get what she so desperately desired: an answer for her impertinence. He bent his head and kissed her, pouring all of his discontent, fry, and heated desire into it.  He stepped away and her hands fell away from his lapels.
"Let that be a lesson to you not to try my temper"


Other Books In The Series 
Scandal In Scotland
A Most Dangerous Profession 

Library Loot (26)

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. And I got quite a lot of books since there was so many of them I wanted to read!! So here they are......

I Am Back!

Hey Everyone!!! I am back, I loved the break I had, and definitely something that I needed, and I am ready to start reading again and doing reviews again!!! I have really missed all of you and looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.