The Countdown Challenge

I like the idea of this challenge, I can go back and read some books I missed for the past eight years once I read a book I will add and link it to my review. Click on the photo for rules and to join. This challenge lasts from 8/8/08 through 9/9/09 and is retroactive.



2009 - 1.
2009 - 2.
2009 - 3.
2009 - 4.
2009 - 5.
2009 - 6.
2009 - 7.
2009 - 8.
2009 - 9.

2008 - 1. Lady Elizabeth ~Alison Weir
2008 - 2. Enchanting the Lady ~Kathryne Kennedy
2008 - 3. The Desert King ~Olivia Gates
2008 - 4. Your Scandalous Ways ~Loretta Chase
2008 - 5. Seduce me at Sunrise ~Lisa Kleypas
2008 - 6.
2008 - 7.
2008 - 8.

2007 - 1. The Bone Garden ~Tess Gerritsen
2007 - 2. Castle of the Wolf ~Sandra Schwab
2007 - 3. Blackthorne's Bride ~Shana Galen
2007 - 4. Her Irish Warrior ~Michelle Willingham
2007 - 5. The Leopard Prince ~Elizabeth Hoyt
2007 - 6. The serpant Prince ~Elizabeth Hoyt
2007 - 7. The Queen of Dragons ~Shana Abe

2006 - 1. The Handmaiden's Necklace ~Kat Martin
2006 - 2. The Alchemist's Daughter ~Katharine Mcmahon
2006 - 3. Peneloope & Prince Charming ~Jennifer Ashley
2006 - 4. The Raven Prince ~Elizabeth Hoyt
2006 - 5. The Dream Thief ~Shana Abe
2006 - 6.

2005 - 1. Prince of Darkness ~Sharon Kay Penman
2005 - 2. The Bride's Necklace ~Kat Martin
2005 - 3. The Devil's Necklace ~Kat Martin
2005 - 4. The Smoke Theif ~Shana Abe
2005 - 5.

2004 - 1.
2004 - 2.
2004 - 3.
2004 - 4.

2003 - 1. Dragon's Liar ~Sharon Kay Penman
2003 - 2. Suszanne's Diary for Nicholas ~James Patterson
2003 - 3.

2002 - 1. Kiss the Bride ~Patricia Cabot
2002 - 2.

2001 - 1. Midnight Bride ~Susan Carroll

The 2009 Pub Challenge

Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country.

This will be a great challenge for me, I get stuck reading so many older books that have been in my TBR forever that I do not read anything current so that will change with this challenge, I just don't know what books yet.

Click on the photo to sign up... hope to see you there.

Only in Your Arms ~ Lisa Kleypas

I read the book titled Only in Your Arms, but it was re-published under the title When Strangers Marry which I think is a better title.

Lysette is on her way to New Orleans to marry a man she loathes, but her stepfather has arranged the marriage which her mother, sister and aunt all inform her she has no choice but to do her duty and marry this man. Lysette arrives to find the man more appalling then she remembered and decides to run away. Lysette does not get very far when she is discovered by twin brothers Justin and Phillipe, who hand her over to their father Maximillien Vallerand.

Lysette begs them to not return her and once Max realizes who she is to wed his mortal enemy he agrees she can stay, and he quickly realizes he can use her to seek revenge. Max confides this to his mother and ask her to organize a wedding for him and Lysette. Max's mother is against the marriage, but knows she will not be able to stop her son, but she will let Lysette know that Max is suspected of murdering his first wife, Corrine Vallerand.

The enjoyed the love story of Max and Lysette, and the great mystery and suspense of what happened to his first wife and why she was a pawn in this revenge game. I normally do not read many novels written about early American, but I do enjoy stories based in the great city of New Orleans. I will begin the next book which is Only With Your Love which is based on Max's two son's.

Wallflower Christmas ~ Lisa Kleypas

Rafe Bowman older brother to Lillian and Daisy two of the wallflowers is coming to England for Christmas. His father is playing matchmaker and insist he marry Natalie Hannah Applegate was sent by Natalie's father to visit with Rafe, his sister's and their friends to prepare the way for Natalie. Hannah disliked him immediately, but she knew for her cousin she must try his manner's were horrible and very outspoken. Rafe is infatuated with Hannah and kisses her before she leaves, which leaves her in a state of shock.

Hannah returns to Natalie and they begin to pack to join Rafe and his family for Christmas, she does not disclose the kiss to her cousin, but deep down feels that the match will not work. Her cousin intends to marry him no matter how horrid Hannah describes him. I hated the way Natalie treated Hannah she came across as a “goody-goody” who was helping her poor cousin, I did not like Natalie and was glad the story did not revolve around her. Once they arrive Rafe is constantly pursing Hannah and although she refuses to have anything to do with him, she begins to fall in love with him. Natalie tries to get Rafe alone she wants to be kissed by him and wants him to wed her. Hannah begins to feel jealous of their relationship, since she is not as pretty and does not have the money she knows she would never marry anyone like Rafe.

I have been looking forward to reading this book, the cover is lovely and I was so looking forward to the reunion of the wallflowers. The story was to short, therefore no depth into Rafe or Hannah the main characters. I enjoyed Rafe and Hannah, but hated their story was over so quick I feel the book was rushed and the story over much to fast. The wallflowers had small stories that were summed up to fast. I felt the story needed more meat so I only rate it a 3.

Prince of Darkness ~ Sharon Kay Penman

The last book on Justin de Quincey, or maybe not but is currently last book. Lady Claudine summons Justin on behalf of Prince John who needs his assistance. Justin is upset but he is the Queen's Man and believes she would want him to assist John. Someone is plotting against Prince John they claim that they have a letter where he has planned to kill his brother Richard, he needs Justin's help in proving the document is a forgery. Justin and Durand set out to prove John's innocence, but stumble upon dead monks and a lady who is deeply involved in this conspiracy against John. Immediately suspicion falls on Justin and Durand when they are discovered with the bodies, they quickly invent a story to get away. The plot thickens as to who you can trust and who is behind the murders.

Another great blend of secondary characters I loved how finally Justin was partnered with his nemesis, Durand who unknown to John is loyal to the Queen, and in the prvious books there was lots of tension between these two, but to see how they come together to unravel the plot against John is great.

I hope she writes another story with this great characters.

~ 9 Books for 2009 ~

These are the NINE categories to celebrate 2009! This is will be a Challenge that I can only read 3 books on this list for other challenges, so there will six books that can only be read for this challenge. For more information on the cataegories and to see rules click on the cute photo.

1.Long
2.Free: The Smoke Thief -Shana Abe
3.Dusty
4.Used
5.Letter
6.Strange
7.Distance
8.Alive or Not : The Wild Hunt ~Elizabeth Chadwick
9.Cover: Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World -Vicki Myron

~ 2nds in a Series Challenge ~

Another great challenge to go along with the 1st in a Series Challenge & Serial Challenge.

Read 12 books by authors that you have only read once. It doesn't have to be a series.

You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009. Don't start reading until January.

To join please click on the photo.

My Projected List:
1.The Dream Theif
2.Emma
3.Until You
4.Two Little Lies
5.Reckless
6To Kiss a Spy
7.To Pleasure a Prince
8.Love me Forever
9.The Visount who loved me
10.Time & Chance
11.The Gift
12.Rising Tides