Against the Wind by Kat Martin

My Thoughts...............
This   book was and enjoyable read but lacking in the romance department for   me. I enjoyed the characters the scenery and even the plot. I have   looking forward to this series for some time as I love Kat Martin.Sarah   Allen-Hollister returns home after many years of being gone. She rents a   cottage from and old acquaintance from school Jackson Raines. But   Jackson is not wanting her to stay as the have a past of sorts but   agrees to let her stay on and see how things work out. Strange happening   are going on as Sarah and her daughter Holly settle in. Her place is   ransacked and trashed to no avail. Sarah confides in Jackson that her   husband has died recently and left her in dire financial straits she   sold everything she had to pay the debts and it still was not enough.   She wants a new life for her daughter and herself as her relationship   with her husband was not a happy one he was a very abusive controlling   man.She tries to put the past behind her but, someone is not letting   her. Her husbands enemies are trying to kill and threaten her with   bodily harm. She confides in Jackson that these bad people are wanting   some sort of list her husband has names on which he seems to have been   blackmailing some really not so nice people. Jackson enlists his   brothers help to look into these matters and with the leads they find   Jackson and Sarah venture back to her hold stomping ground to try and   find this list and solve the matter before she or daughter or her   friends end up dead. Sarah and Jackson seem to have feelings for one   another but the both are Leary as Jackson knows that Sarah is coming out   of and abusive relationship and he doesn't want to push but he is   having a hard time resisting her. Jackson's been in love with her since   high school and wants something he once lost and is also feeling   protective of Sarah so he will do what ever he has to to close this   matter as soon as possible but its no so easy. A detective is pointing   the finger as Sarah for murdering her husband so they have that to   contend with too. Sarah's very afraid off whats going to happen next.She   is hiding things from Jackson , very important things but she must   never tell her secrets so she decides to move into town away form   Jackson and put space and try and figure out her next move to solve her   own problems. Jackson not giving up as the danger is even worse then   before. He will win her heart and make her is wife and nothing or know   one with get in his way.Lots of twists and turns along the way just to   see what happens next , your in for a ride....My only problem with this   story was that I would have loved a deeper romance with this couple.  For  someone like Jackson who's had these feeling's locked up in his  heart  since high school I thought we would have seen a more passionate  romance  between these two between these pages. Looking forward to the  next in  the series of one of his brothers....

 

 

A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch

What a cute fun story thoroughly enjoyable. Amelia has been publishing books on proper ways to behave for ladies. But, after meeting Colonel Bartholomew James she is snipping at him challenging him at every turn flirting and also correcting him on how he should act around a lady. But the Colonel is not one to conform to the ways of society. The colonel is been away at war for too long to have the patience for that kind of nonsense. James did return home injured badly and suffers so. But, it seems a little tagament like Amelia is getting under his skin and gradually bringing him from the darkness into the light.These two start off under and unsual friendship as Amelia invites him on carriage rides and dares him to dance, and almost makes him want to return to Society but he has been hurt and injured and know's he is hardened by war and has no business in Amelia's life. But, fate has other plans for him. James cannot forget Amelia or there shared kisses that they have engaged in .James thinks of her from sun up to sundown there is no hope for him lol. Amelia on the other hand feels the same about James but it fighting her feeling as she has several beau's in the wings but there is something about James that draws her to him like no other man ever has. Amelia is always the proper miss and even has written books on the subject but all goes by the wayside where James is concerned she has done nothing but act like a seductive little charmer. She learns from the servants where James has been staying that he is losing his mind and tried to commit suicide but, once arriving at his brothers home she learns that he has had surgery to reset his leg just so he could  dance with his Amelia as he is coming to realize he wants more that anything and will  put his but seduction forth to win her. A truly great love story. Loved it loved it loved it !!!!!!!!!! One of the best love stories that I have read in quite awhile. What truly drew me to the story was that Ameila for all her proper ways bucked convention for that time at risked of her own reputation but oh boy the fun she had along the way .LOL Where can I get a Colonel James ? Just Yummy what more is there to say..........

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Really enjoyed this book. A great mystery that kept you guessing. Story about a town where mysterious deaths are occurring. A couple of kids set out to find out the mystery of why these death's are happening. But, when Vanessa's twin sister Justine ends up dead she is more the determined to find the answers. She and her friends set out to find answers and while uncovering clues they find answers that are hard to believe. It seems that killing have been happening for years and have gone unsolved until three kids put the clues together. The sirens are luring young people to there death. There are Selkies living among the Islanders. They must swim in the cove several times a day to breath and remain alive. Some have born children and have known about the curse of the Sirens and have tried to protect the innocent. But Betty who is the oldest living Selkie has tried to protect her children from the curse that starts when the children enter there teens. But Betty becomes ill and her children want to explore and find out more about the curse and the are drawn in to becoming that curse. The set out to lure unsuspecting lovers to the sea and then killing them with there singing .But now that they know what is happening the enlist Betty to break the curse to end the killings. With a joint effort a surprise plan of attack is made and they hope that there plan will work. But as you waiting to see what happens more and more secrets come to life and keep you guessing to the bitter end....Very enjoyable read......

The Exile by Diana Gabladon

More...

Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of  readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her  first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the  events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story,  gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.
 
After  too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not  without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh,  promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making  good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on  the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the  sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in  the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn  in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who  demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of  Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed  Colum’s heir.

And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious,  beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his   compassion . . . and arouse his desire. 
 
But even as Jamie’s  heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old  Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly  has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any  danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with  him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere. 
   
Step into the captivating, passionate, and suspenseful world of The Exile, and experience the storytelling magic of Diana Gabaldon as never before.

 

Review:

Enjoyed this book. I was surprised to learn that Diana was a cartoonist working for Disney before turning to full time writing. This book was based on a story she wrote the Outlander that started the great love story between Jamie Fraser and Claire. Diana turned her Outlander story into a cartoon strip story and I have to say the it came very close to the book that she had written.Diana worked with a wonderful Artist to create the characters. The characters we very close to what come to your imagination.