The Perfect Wife ~ Victoria Alexander

Sabrina is a widow left alone to raise her daughter Belinda, she gave up her wild past and became a very proper woman obeying all of the society rules to ensure her daughter a good marriage. Belinda becomes engaged to Erik the son of the Earl of Wyldewood. The only problem is Sabrina has no dowry to offer, due bad investments she has been left penniless. Sabrina discovers her husband won a letter that gives the location of gold that was hidden in Egypt, the answer to her money problems. She lets her butler in on her upcoming adventure who has accompanied her in the past, with his help she locates others from her past to assist her. Once her daughter discovers what she is planning she begs her finance to help, he goes to his father the Earl of Wyldwood, Nicolas. When he arrives Sabrina is packed and ready to go he insist she cancel the trip, when she does not he decides to accompany her. Once they sail Sabrina stays in her room, she is worried that he will discover her past and call of the marriage, she decides to stop hiding and deal with him. He tells her that he had her investigated and she would make the “Perfect Wife” for his status, unaware of her wild past. Sabrina decides that maybe marriage to him would guarantee her daughter’s marriage to Erik so she offers to marry him, with the understanding his is only a marriage of convenience, he agrees.

When I opened the book and read the prologue I really was looking forward to this story, but nothing every happened I was so bored reading the book the story was cluttered, the plot was not rewarding I am surprised I finished the book. I did enjoy some the secondary characters the were more enjoyable then the main characters. I read one other book by her and it was much better then this.

The story takes place in colonial times (1784) in Kentucky. The book begins with Linnet Blanche Tyler and her parents who left England for the American countryside. They are raided by Indians who steal the children and kill the parents. Unknown to them Linnet is not a child but a grown woman, when the Indians realize the mistake they made they are mad and begin to torture Linnet. She is soon rescued by Devon "Mac" Macalister and in return all he wants from her is to learn to read, which I don’t think ever happened.

He takes her to a small settlement Sweetbriar where we meet several characters including Devon’s cousin Cord. An incident with Cord and Linnet leaves her almost dead, her I was appalled that she gets no sympathy from Devon due to his jealousy. Linnet finally has enough of his rubbish and leaves town and possibly carrying Devon’s child. Many events transpire which makes the story an interesting and quick read.

The novel was up and down, for me I felt no emotion the characters are under developed, I did not like Mac at all in the story, even with a few good qualities they never made up for the treatment of Linnet. His anger and jealousy controlled him and never redeemed himself in my opinion. I wanted more of a background on both main characters and not so much fighting.I give it 2 Stars.

A Bride Most Begrudging

This was my first Christine novel, and it seems I am in the minority on this one so many 5 stars and I say 2 ½, it was highly overrated so my expectations were high, but quickly slashed.

I did enjoy the plot and it was a quick read. The story begins as Lady Constance Morrow sneaks onboard a ship leaving England for the American Colonies, to say good-bye to her uncle, but finds herself kidnapped. Constance is not to worried once she arrives and lets them know who she is she will be safely returned home.

When she arrives she finds her self being sold to farmer Drew O’Connor, who needs a maid. Constance demands to be returned to England to her father, but Drew does not listen. Soon the people of the town learn she is leaving with Drew unmarried and demands he marries her, which he does and promises Constance he will not consummate the marriage. He sends Josh his brother to England to collaborate her story, and when he returns she can have the marriage annulled.

Drew soon learns that his maid now wife knows nothing about cooking or cleaning only that she can do some difficult math problems and sew. Somehow these two become attacked to each other, but I never figured out how this happened. Other reviews mention lust, well did not get that impression either.

Also, the brother Josh could have his own story I was more intrigued with him and his character. Josh mentioned the love of his life and he was planning on marrying her, but on his visit to England to find Constance’s family he found the love of his life in the arm’s of another man. If there was a book written with Josh I may consider giving the author another chance since this was her first novel.

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

This is my 2nd Philippa Gregory book, I read The Other Boleyn Girl first. I was looking forward to the story of Katherine of Aragon. My knowledge of the history during her reign is zero, but reading this book has inspired me to want to find out more about her parents and the historical facts during her reign.

I knew nothing about Katherine of Aragon the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, so I was excited the story began when she was ground. Her parents were constantly on crusade against the Moors. I soon learned this was the only exciting part of the entire book.

I was not impressed with any of the characters; Katherine was very self centered and arrogant I never felt anything for her and thought she got what she deserved. Henry VII was laughable his lust for his daughter-in-law was too much. Author I felt was thrown into the story but really never developed as a character for me, so I found it hard to digest this “love affair” they had before he died. The “death bed” promise to me to not fit in well.

After Author died Katherine was treated very badly not only by Henry VII and his mother, but her own family ignored her, not sure how much of this is fact or fiction. I wanted to stop reading the book how many more times did I have to read she was destined to be Queen of England, hence the word "Constant" in title, and insisted that she had to marry Henry. In the end she finally won and married Henry.

Finally married to Henry VIII, I was hoping the story would get more exciting would have more insight to her reign and learn more of Henry, again I was disappointed the story was slow the scenes seemed rushed, and before I know it her marriage to Henry was over. I was left going “What happened”.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I didn’t. It really has been searching out other writers of Katherine of Aragon learn what facts are known of her.

This was a fun quick read, Fern Michael's is a first time author for me and I would read her again.

Olivia lives alone and work out of her home as a dog photographer. The richest dog in America, Cecil shows up to have his photo taken, his lawyer and caretaker Jeff Bannerman decides to leave him with her overnight.

Olivia who always believed her mother died when she was born gets the shock of her life when a lawyer tells her not only did her mom die less then two weeks ago, but her she is to inherit her estate worth millions. Her mother has written a letter asking her to do her favor and find two of her friends from college, so they can all make a wrong a right.

Olivia has no interest in accepting her inheritance or running her mother's mail order catalog business, she is left upset and unsure as to what to do. Her father lied to her for all of these years, her dead mother wants her to find two old friends that she committed a crime with over 40 years ago.

Olivia and Jeff become fast friends and helps her uncover the mystery surrounding her mothers crime and finding her friends. Although, I like both Olivia and Jeff I found no chemistry between the two to have any kind of relationship.

2 STARS

This story starts with Jordan Donovan "JD" Harris who worked as a special force medic. On Christmas Eve as the President of the United States is coming to visit the wounded. Before JD can blink in a moment everything for him changes, when he puts his life on the line for the President. Overnight JD becomes a true American Hero and his life is no longer his own.

The media exploits him in every light from his saddened childhood with his reformed alcoholic mother who has a relapse due to the meida. Also, with his good looks women are calling 911 and committing stupid acts to be saved by him, that actually lands one woman in the hospital on her death bed.

JD cannot take this anymore, so his friend Sam has a cottage up on the lake that is remote and out of the way so JD turns to solitude for the summer hoping the media will lose interest in him.

Kate Livingston single mother to nine year old Aaron has recently been fired from her job as a fashion editor and with school out for the summer heads to her family vacation cottage to escape life herself.

I was actually enjoyed the story until these two meet up immediately there is no chemistry between Kate and JD, the interactions with Aaron are more real. The book is to long and

spends to much time on everyday happenings that don't mean anything to me.

This is my first contemporary by her, but I will give her others a try.

My Rating Stars