A Scandalous Scot and my favorite color in a new form

A Scandalous Scot 
by Karen Ranney is an entertaining historical romance that pits a somewhat klutzy down on her luck young woman who is serving as a maid against the scandal ridden lord of the castle where she and her sister are employed.  The quirky characters and the unusual look at the controversial concept of mercy killing make this a unique read but the seriousness of the subject is leavened by the author's ability to create a sensual and romantic tale.  The heroine constantly keeps the hero on his toes with her antics and he learns that he has to take some things a little less seriously if he is going to have her as a constant in his life.  My Amazon review is at this link under ELF2060.  I always appreciate a 'yes, this was helpful' vote if you are so inclined.


For those who don't know me, my absolute favorite color is sapphire blue.  I have a friend who maintains that I am unable to see any other color and I must admit that I am inexorably drawn to clothing that is blue, particularly a bright jewel-toned sapphire blue (and yes, my car is blue as well).  I was intrigued to be offered a selection of tea a couple of weeks ago that included one that was labeled as Sapphire Earl Grey and of course couldn't resist trying it.  You would think that as a reader I would pay attention to the entire title but I still was very startled and intrigued to see the hot water swirl with a deep blue color before it reverted to a more familiar dark brown color.  I, personally, couldn't distinguish a significant taste difference but that may be because I lace my tea liberally with honey and cream...but it sure did entertain me to watch that color change.  Drinking it...well, maybe I'll stick to liking blue in external things and keep my food in its natural hues.

Life's little irritants...at the Post Office! and a surprise from Google

First, let me say that I am incredibly grateful for media mail and flat rate boxes.  I occasionally send packages to my adopted soldiers and I certainly try to stuff those little flat rate boxes as tightly as possible...to the extent that the clerk has occasionally told me that they look pregnant and one of these days I am going to get one rejected!  I really appreciate that I can ship media mail (although I admit that the boxes I mailed for Kim from the SOS Aloha blog are some of the largest that I have tried to send...she is a whiz at packing, let me tell you!).  So...why am I ranting?   I send out shipments every so often and I have had my tussles with the post office since I really HATE standing in line for 30 minutes or so (I am a little more nervous about reading in line at the post office because I am a paranoid person so I like to watch who is coming in and out) and often use my local UPS store as an alternative.  Occasionally, the post office returns packages because they claim that I have not handed my package to a person (not true) but I have learned ways around having to go to the local post office although it requires a little more effort on the part of the UPS Store staff.  Last Friday, I mailed a package at the post office so that a friend could share some of the goodies that were available at RWA.  I like to practice RAOK (random acts of kindness) and this was a small gesture to let her know that I appreciate her (0:

Now, I love surprises...both giving and receiving them so I waited impatiently for her to tell me that she had gotten a package in the mail.  (Who knows if she's going to like the books themselves...but that's another issue, lol).  I finally gave up and told her to be on the lookout since I was afraid that maybe she missed the notice that she had a package.  Hmmm...I always theorize that a turtle walking at a normal pace can deliver the mail faster than a letter can travel from my town to L.A. which is about 65 miles away but this package was going to another state that usually takes 1-2 days for first class mail to arrive in...so...I waited impatiently.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the package was sent back to me!!!!  Why?  Because they didn't think I mailed it at the post office!  What??  You mean the place where they weighed it to make sure that I had the proper postage (I did) and used their little rubber stamp to cancel out all of my little postage stamps (all 12 of them)?  Yep.  The newbie evidently forgot/didn't know she was supposed to put a $.00 postage due sticker on the package.   Grr!  This is not quite as bad as the time that a package was sent back and the clerk accused me of putting half of a postage stamp on it therefore postage was due.  I think not!  Anyway, hopefully it is now on its way....

And, if you happen to use Google to search with, there is a cute game that you can play right now (that I am totally inept at) with a kayak and a stream...just hit the little icon with the picture and the arrow...it will give you visual instructions.  Yes, another distraction...SQUIRREL!  (although in my case it's usually, BOOK!)

Back to the proofreading....and if only I can figure out how to shrink my pictures on the Mac!

Lisa Renee Jones e-book (sorry, offer has expired)

Renegade Passion (part of the Zodius series) by Lisa Renee Jones is available for a limited time only.  Sorry, offer expired!  It is an adults only title.  Please click the cover to for the Amazon link.





She also wants to remind her fans that her fascinating adult title If I Were You (another great read) will be out on August 24.  Unfortunately, there is no Amazon link yet but the Barnes & Noble link is here.  I am seriously behind on writing reviews (I didn't stop reading, I just haven't been writing reviews to keep up with what I have read) and given that I have had two rush proofreads in the past week...it is not likely to become rectified soon...but I am down to 8 that are due to be written even as I am reading Michelle Sagara's delightful Cast In Peril right now (it will be out in Oct.).  For some odd reason, I am unable to post the image alone so have to use the offering below.  Thus far, it is another fantastic addition to the 'Chronicles of Elantra' series.

Fantastic military romances on the way...

In case you missed it, I really enjoyed I Own the Dawn by ML Buchman (post)


and coming soon is Guardian by Catherine Mann (available in early September)
 



and...it will take a few months but be well worth the wait...A SEAL at Heart by Anne Elizabeth will be out in early December.  Put it on your wishlists so you remember to order it!


I will post reviews on the latter two once they are live on the Night Owl site but yum!  all of these were fantastic military romances (0:

I overheard an author at RWA complaining about the lack of authenticity to some of the military romance novels but I as a reader have no problem with authors making up units and branches of the military to feature in their stories.  I actually would rather not inadvertently endanger any of the brave souls putting their lives on the line for us while I enjoy getting a glimpse into the rigorous training and dedication that characterizes these heroes who willingly risk danger.  My heart always hurts at the references to how hard it is for both those who serve and those who are left behind to worry for them but the romantic in me always hopes that each person has at least one person to share their fears, hopes and love with and that is the message very skillfully presented in the aforementioned titles and others like them.  All three were excellent tales and I look forward to more from these talented authors.

Fragile by Shiloh Walker

Following is an announcement about a release in a different format and an excerpt from the book.  This is not my favorite of this author's works BUT it is my understanding that the release of the sequel is contingent on this one doing well.  Sigh.  I am sure you know that I like this author given how much I talk about her works.  My Goodreads review is at this link.




Available in trade paperback and digitally. Releasing in mass market
summer 2012

BATTLE SCARRED

Six years after trading in his combat gear for
hospital scrubs, Luke Rafferty still hasn't found what he's been searching for:
a normal life. At his job, Luke is faced with things just as heartbreaking as
those on the battlefield, none more so than the abused children brought in by a
pretty red-headed social worker.

HEARTBROKEN

For Devon Manning, being a social worker is a
rewarding job, but also a constant reminder of her own troubled youth. Devon
takes everything one day at a time—unable to form a relationship with anyone
except the children she rescues.

A DESIRE TO HEAL… When Luke meets Devon, he thinks he might have found
what he's been looking for, but in order to get the life he wants, Luke has to
break through Devon's emotional barriers and make her realize that his healing
touch might be just the complication her life needs…



Luke just shrugged. "Hey, you ought to hear some of the foreign-body stories I
could tell you. And being in a college town? It's even worse."

Her brow creased. Leery, she repeated, "Foreign bodies?"

He grinned. "You probably don't want to know. People can do very, very bizarre
things—and they don't even have the excuse of being a kid."

Now that, Devon understood. She'd had to go to many a home to speak with parents
when their kids got hurt doing the normal kid thing. Kids did get hurt, and
sometimes, kids hurt themselves in a purely innocent manner, but so often it
made neighbors or teachers concerned. As unpleasant as it was, and as much as
parents hated it, Devon would rather make those visits than visit the hospital
because nobody reported the abuse.

That sobering thought had the smile on her face dying. A hand touched her
lightly on the shoulder, a quick, innocuous touch. She looked at Luke to find
him studying her. "Where did you go?"

Devon shrugged. "Just thinking. Kids—it's amazing what they can do. One minute
they have you laughing, then you're ready to pull your hair out and scream, and
then you just want to cry."

"I think you could use a few more of the laughing minutes."

He lifted his hand, and Devon watched, mesmerized, as he caught a flyaway curl.
Her hair was a thick, nearly unmanageable mass of curls. Usually she had it
gelled and pulled back into some kind of submission, but at the end of the day
the first thing she did was let it out of the twists, clips, and knots she used
during the day. Loose, it hung halfway down her back. When it was wet, she could
sit on it.

"I don't suppose you'd take your hair down, would you?" Luke asked, a little out
of the blue.

She blinked, tipped back her head to see his face a little better. "Take it
down?"

"Yeah." He continued to rub the curl back and forth between his fi ngers as he
lifted his gaze to hers. His eyes were heavy- lidded, giving him a sleepy, sexy
look that had her wanting to lean in and kiss him...

I Own the Dawn

I Own the Dawn  

by M.L. Buchman is one of those fast-paced reads that combines the harrowing experiences of those in the military with the heartwarming stories of the relationships that are formed even as lives are being risked.  The triumph of the human spirit despite rules, regulations and politics makes this a fantastic read and it is wonderful watching Kee reconcile the strength of character which has gotten her this plum assignment with the softness that comes with letting one's barriers down and allowing someone else to become important in one's life.  A great read and the prior story in the series (The Night Is Mine) is near the top of my TBR pile so that I can learn more about the background of this remarkable squad.  My Amazon review for I Own the Dawn is at this link under ELF2060.  I always greatly appreciate a 'yes, this was helpful' vote if appropriate.

Catching up but sabotaged by hiccups

Having been wallowing in books for the past week, it is difficult to come back to Earth after breathing that rarefied air for so long.  I am slowly catching up and will post my reviews of The Lady Risks All by Stephanie Laurens, The Royal Bridesmaids by Stephanie Laurens, Gaelen Foley and Loretta Chase, Guardian by Catherine Mann, A Scandalous Scot by Karen Ramney and I Own the Dawn by M.L. Buchman as soon as they are all live on Night Owl Reviews.  Still to be written are Loving Lady Marcia by Kieran Kramer, If I Were You I (adults only) by Lisa Renee Jones and Cowboy Bad Boys (adults only) by Randi Alexander.

         


     







I am slowly catching up but there are a myriad of titles that are waiting in the wings, yum...BUT I tried to log into my Netgalley account and discovered that everything was EXPIRED!!!  I was really disappointed until I attempted to open the title that I got approved for today (greatly excited that there is a new Michelle Sagara title, Cast in Peril) and discovered that I can't open that one either.  The oddest thing is that when I tried to open my copy of The Royal Bridesmaids...it won't open either and I received that one through Eidelweiss so there is some weird thing going on today.  Oh well, there goes my excuse for not getting the laundry done...guess I'd better do some more mundane things instead of disappearing into the mists of fantasy, lol.  Of course, then there is the challenge of trying to get my pictures from my camera into the blog itself (I am so jealous that Kim of SOS Aloha gets her beautiful photos posted so expeditiously) but I haven't quite gotten a reader for my Mac laptop so I am going to have to use a different computer and that will take me more time than I have today...hopefully sometime this week!