Lucky in Love by Carolyn Brown

Milli is cowgirl in the truest sense. She knows cows like the back of her hand, she rides a horse like its an extension of her body, she flies her little plane in stunt shows an to take quick visits to her family, and she's even been known to go bull riding on occassion. This summer finds Milli and her daughter Katy Scarlett (I love that name) helping at her grandfather's ranch while he recovers from hip surgery.
Beau Luckadeau is know for his good luck, in everything but love. He now owns the ranch next to Milli's grandparents. Little does he know that Milli's daugher is the result of a one night stand nearly two years before.

The story is full of real life. Real life issues, honesty, family, and love. We watch as Beau meets Milli for the first time, again (he was too drunk to really remember much of the first time). The story unfolds as Milli tries to keep the identity of her daugher secret, while he lives next door.

I wonderful story full of change and twists. The outcome is predictable, as in most romance novels, but the path there is twisted and very interesting. Well worth reading for people who are wanting to try the romance genre but are afraid of all the mushy stuff, it's a bit toned down in this one.

4/5 stars

Spring Drive by Chuck Guilford

Spring Drive by Chuck Guilford

(From the back of the book)
Set in Menominee, Michigan, in 1881 and based on an historical event, Spring Drive centers on the McDonald boys, two loggers who roll into town planning to collect their pay, have some fun, and leave for Oregon. Before they can do so, however, they are caught up in a violent swirl of events that leads to their lynching. It is a gripping, even terrifying tale. In telling the story, the book probes a complex web of environmental, social, and personal issues which remain important in today’s America.


Received this book in the mail today courtesy of the author and LibraryThing member giveaway program.  It will be read directly after the ones I have already received,which I plan on getting a start on tonight.

Today's Mail

A Separate Country by Robert Hicks.

Just arrived in the mail today. I'll have to hold off until the group gets started. Sounds like quite a good story.

House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

A look into the life of a family in Chile. The story covers several generations of the Treuba family, through the highs and lows of finances, political struggle, and revolution. A hint of mysticism runs in the family in the form of speaking with spirits and glimpses of the future.

We see the coutry's stuggling political changes through the eyes of Esteban Trueba and the journals of his wife Clara, who took detailed journals of her life.

We see the familly struggles as the times change and traditions are rewrittin in the eyes of the younger generation. There is discord and arguments and emotional undonditional forgiveness, there is love at first sight and grudge held through many years that see shocking conclusions.

The story of the Trueba family kept me captivated throughout the entire read. I will putting this book on my list of ones to read again in the future.
4/5 stars

Hidden in Plain View

This idea was taken from Tutu's Two Cents, a book blog that I follow regularly. It's an interesting idea just in its pure randomness of results.

The idea is to pick a book at random from you bookshelves and "bring it into the light of day". I followed tutu's lead and used Random.org on my LibraryThing collection of books in my library.

This week's book is : Bound to Happen by Alison Kent

A long time ago I receive a TON of romance novels, I'd guess well over 100). I tried reading a few back then and just did not enjoy the genre much so they got packed up and forgotten until my recent move. I have every book I own out on the shelves now that I have the room, including the many, many romance novels (mostly Harlequins if that matters). I decided to give them another go and found that I liked a few of them. They will never be my favorite genre, but they are great for a lazy Saturday afternoon or evening when I know I want to read a happy ending. I have not made it to this one yet, but one of my reading goals is to try and read at least two a month. I've broken it up by type (this would be a "Blaze") and haven't gotten to these yet. I'll be sure to post a review once I get a chance to.

Oh, and aren't you proud of me? I finally figured out how to post an image. It was amazingly simply. All I had to do was open my eyes and look for the button!

Monday's Mailbox

There are several book bloggers that track what books they buy or receive in the mail. While mine may not be as interesting (still haven't figured all the coding used on the site), it would be a nice way for me to track when things came in and who sent them.

Lucky in Love by Carolyn Brown (won from Drey's Library - thank you)
Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell (won from A Bookworm's World - thank you)

From the store (I went a little nuts this week)
Luxe by Anna Godbersen
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The Rapture by Liz Jensen
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K Le Guin
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K Le Guin

Now after this week I have had to make a vow to myself to try and make sure that at least every other book (or at least series) I buy is from my TBR list, which has been growing at quite an astronomical rate. I spend too much time perusing when I'm at the book store.

Does anyone know a place where I can get a nice cheap bookcase or six?

Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

In the second book off the DragaonLance Chronicles, the companions continue on their mission to find out what has brought the evil dragons back, and try to bring the world's races togethers. This is proving harder than anticipated because of centuries old prejudices and hatreds that have festered causing rifts in any defences that may have been put together.

As the evil dragon army advance across the face of Krynn, the companions are forced to split up. The author does a very good job of staying with both groups without splitting the story too much. Unusual heroes emerge making and acting on the hard decisions that many would never be able to make. The companions continue to grow and develop in unique and often fascinating ways.

We are left with quite a cliff hanger that drives the reader into the next book as if this one had never ended.

4/5