Saturday, November 20, 2010

Stock-Up Saturday Reviews

The First Love Cookie Club
By Lori Wilde
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 26, 2010




“On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny.”


That’s the legend in Twilight, Texas, and it’s one that fifteen-year-old Sarah Collier believes with all her heart. She knows that handsome Travis Walker is her destiny, so when she discovers he’s getting married on Christmas Day, she runs to the church---wearing reindeer antlers and jingle bell sweater---and interrupts the wedding, telling Travis he’s her destiny. Humiliated and heart-broken, Sarah vows to never believe in legends and true love again. Nine years later, Sarah is slim, best selling children’s author Sadie Cool, but inside she’s still that chubby, insecure teenager.

When Sarah receives a letter from a very sick little girl named Jazzy---and one of her biggest fans---asking to meet her, she is deeply touched. But then she finds out that Jazzy lives in Twilight, and the mayor wants Sarah to be a part of their annual Christmas festival. Sarah hasn’t been back to Twilight since her humiliating incident at Travis’ wedding, and the thought of going back makes her break out in a cold sweat. But she reminds herself, this is about granting a little girl’s wish, so she bites the bullet and goes to Twilight, hoping everyone will have forgotten all about what she did. When Sarah discovers that Travis is Jazzy’s father, she is stunned. Travis is still as gorgeous as ever and apparently a single father. He cannot believe “Sadie Cool” is Sarah Collier all grown up----maybe a little time with her under the mistletoe is in order. Travis doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after anymore than Sarah does, but with a little help from the ladies of The First Love Cookie Club, they may discover the power of true love.

I’m a fan of Christmas stories, and I have a shelf full of keepers that I like to re-read. The First Love Cookie Club will now have a space on that shelf. It’s a delightful read that reaffirms the beauty of true love and the wonder of the Christmas season. Take a trip to Twilight, Texas for a small town holiday celebration and prepare to be charmed.


Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins/Avon for providing an advanced copy of The First Love Cookie Club for review.


~ Gannon

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Mad About the Duke
(The Bachelor Chronicles)
By Elizabeth Boyle
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: September 28, 2010


Widowed Elinor, Lady Standon, needs to find a husband, and not just any husband will do. She needs a distinguished and powerful one that can protect her and her younger sister, Tia, from their vile stepfather, Lord Lewis. Years before, he married Elinor off for profit and now he’s threatening to do the same with Tia since she’s soon to be of age. She and Tia currently live in the home that the Duchess of Hollindrake “banished” Elinor and the other Standon dowagers to after their years of constant bickering over settlements, houses, and such. Elinor spies a man (a very handsome man) standing just inside the front door and she automatically assumes he is the solicitor that was summoned by one of the other Standon widows. She decides to hire Mr. St. Maur to help her to find a husband—a duke, preferably. He accepts, but little does she know that the man is actually the Duke of Parkerton.

James Tremont, 9th Duke of Parkerton, is used to and appreciates his upstanding, well-ordered life. In fact, he is often referred to as dull and staid, and as his bother, Jack, puts it: He is more predictable than a mail coach. So it goes against James’s very nature when he doesn’t correct Lady Standon’s error and then agrees to help in her search for a husband. There is something about the beautiful woman that fascinates him. Intrigues him. Thus, he goes along with the charade. When she presents him with a list of eligible dukes, he is shocked that his own name is not on the list! Naturally, that only fuels James to get his name on the list . . . or win the lady’s heart as a mere mister.

Mad About the Duke starts minutes after the previous book, How I Met My Countess, ends and is the story of James, the older brother of Mad Jack Tremont from This Rake of Mine. James and Elinor are a delightful couple and I enjoyed watching her bring him out of his shell. We get to catch up with Jack and Miranda and James’s meddling servants round out the story perfectly. Mad About the Duke contains Ms. Boyle’s trademark wit and humor and is an utterly delightful addition to the series!

~Andrea

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Montana Glory
The McCords – Book 3
By R.C. Ryan
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central)
Release Date: October 26, 2010

They’re the McCords...three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who’ll inherit the family ranch—if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can tame their wild hearts...

Zane McCord, the youngest of the McCord cousins, came back home to the family ranch after his grandfather, Coot, passed away. Of course, if it had been up to him, he never would have left in the first place. When he was twelve, he and his parents moved away from the ranch because his mother hated living in such isolated surroundings. So, they relocated to the bright lights of Hollywood . . . where his parents eventually divorced. Combining his experience in the film industry and his love of horses, Zane is able to live out his dream of trailing a herd of wild mustangs to film a documentary soon after coming home. When Zane meets the ranch’s new accountant, Riley, he sees a woman much like his wild mustangs: skittish, timid, and infinitely beautiful. He longs to tame her, but faces an uphill battle in earning her trust.

Riley Mason arrives at the ranch looking for a fresh start for her and her daughter, Summer. She holds a dangerous secret and the McCord spread is the perfect place for them to stay safe and out of sight. But the more Riley gets to know the family and Zane in particular, the harder it becomes to keep her walls up. And when it becomes evident that her past is finally catching up to her and could potentially harm the McCord family in the process, she is forced to place her complete trust in the man who has slowly stolen her heart.

Montana Glory is the final book in the McCord family trilogy and my personal favorite of the three. I simply adored Zane and Riley. Zane is considered a bit of a playboy, but don’t let that fool you because he has the heart of a gentleman. I love how protective he is of Riley and Summer. Riley is a strong woman who just wants the best for her daughter and as a mother, I admired her for that. The secondary characters (especially Summer) add flavor to the story as they are a huge part of it. Readers of the series get to revisit Zane’s cousins and their wives (the previous two couples), find out what happens between Aunt Cora and Cal, and finally discover if there really is a lost treasure. Montana Glory is a great contemporary that I recommend!

~Andrea

17 comments:

  1. Thanks for the reviews. I now have a new book to get for my Christmas shelf and two more series to check out.

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  2. What great reviews Ladies more to add to my must have list I do love this idea. I do love a great Christmas story and Elizabeth Boyle is an auto buy author for me I love her stories and who doesn't love a cowboy whoo hoo

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  3. Gannon, I've enjoyed all of the books in this series from Lori Wilde. I have The First Love Cookie Club on my tbr and am saving it for my Christmas reading.

    Andrea, Elizabeth Boyle is an auto-buy for me too but I haven't had the time to start reading this series yet. Looking forward to it!

    I agree with you on Montana Glory. It was also my favorite of the series. I've enjoyed Ruth Ryan Langan's new R.C. Ryan contemporary westerns and have been a fan of Langan's historicals, westerns and categories for the past 25 years. Several of her books are on my keeper shelves.

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  4. I can always count on great reviews from the Dishes. :) Like PJ, I number Boyle among my autobuy authors, so I'm especially looking forward to Mad About the Duke.

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  5. I love finding great Christmas stories. I will add this to my list.
    Thanks for the reviews.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam

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  6. Thanks, librarypat! I like that you have a Christmas shelf. I hope you enjoy them!

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  7. LOL, thanks, Helen! Elizabeth Boyle is one of my auto-buy authors, as well. :)

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  8. PJ said: I agree with you on Montana Glory. It was also my favorite of the series.

    Wasn't it great, PJ? It was a terrific ending to this series, which I really enjoyed.

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  9. Thanks, Janga! I really enjoyed Boyle's story and seeing James get all ruffled. :)

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  10. Thanks for stopping by, Pamela! I hope you enjoy!

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  11. Wow, some great books spotlighted today. Looks like I need to read them all - LOL!!

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  12. Librarypat, we're glad we could help you add to your books. :-)

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  13. Helen, aren't Christmas stories wonderful? I agree with you about Elizabeth Boyle being an auto buy. And I love those cowboys, too. LOL

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  14. PJ, you will really enjoy The First Love Cookie Club for a Christmas treat.

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  15. I can always count on great reviews from the Dishes. :)

    Aww, thanks, Janga!

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  16. Thanks for the reviews, ladies! The First Love Cookie Club sounds like such a sweet Christmas story, I won't be able to resist! And I already have the Elizabeth Boyle on reserve at the library. :)

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