Tag: Dianne Castell

What I’ve Been Reading This Week

Posted September 2, 2008 by Tracy in Features | 14 Comments

OMG it’s Monday! How the hell did that happen? I think I completely missed Sunday. Ok, so I was hung over…but still, I should remember it! Sorry, I know I usually post this on Sundays but whatever. 🙂

Saturday night we went to a cocktail party at a friends house. So. much.fun. I had more mango martini’s than I thought was humanly possible and suffered a teeny tiny bit on Sunday. Oh well, it was soooo worth it!

This week we had Back to School Night at the girls’ school. Ok, my 5th graders teacher was like the energizer bunny on Red Bull. Seriously. That woman talked faster than lightning. I asked my oldest if she was always like that and she said yes! Holy cow! lol Then we headed to my 1st graders class and the woman has the voice of Minnie Mouse – no lie. She sounded more like a student than the teacher! haha!

RAW is almost upon me (Sept. 19-21) and believe it or not there are still 4 authors that I haven’t read. WTF? I did start one of the authors but got bored and moved on. oh well. I read a ton of books by RAW authors this week and still have more to go.

Just to let you know I’m being incredibly lazy today so you will get no book covers…but I’m going to inject a few hotties for your viewing pleasure (I already have those on my computer and don’t have to go searching!)

I started off my reading week with fellow DIK lady Katie Reus’ City of Secrets. Good story about a woman who’s ready to get back into the dating world after the death of her husband and how her best friend wants to be the only one she’s dating. Also has a great suspense story in there as well.

I then read Reason to Believe by Leslie Ann Dennis. A woman goes to Scotland to save a tree that her grandfather believes is connected to his life. If the tree dies so does her grandfather. She meets the Laird and love ensues. Well, lots of sex ensues, then love. FYI LAD also writes as Paisley Scott.

Moon Awakening (Children of the Moon book 1) by Lucy Monroe (RAW author) was next. I really liked this story. Basically a historical paranormal which included shifters and kilts. How could you go wrong???

Run with the Moon (A Children of the Moon story) by Lucy Monroe was next. A VERY short story which was kind of the start of the whole saga that then led into Moon Awakening. I just kind of read them backwards. Oops.

‘Til There Was U by Dianne Castell (RAW author) was a cute story about an architect who is originally from Tennessee but now lives in San Diego. He finds out he has a child back home but even his father won’t tell him what’s going on and who the mother is, etc. He decides to go home and takes his working partner with him. Sex, suspense and a HEA is what basically makes up the book. The series is Four O’Fallons and a Baby.

The Way U Look Tonight by Dianne Castell (RAW author) is the second book in the series. Also a cute book. Another O’Fallon comes home (to Tennessee)…this one a very famous soap star. Reporter hoping to get his personal story follows him home. I liked this book but it was wrapped up a little too pat in the end. I want my HEA at the end of the book but I also want it to be believable.

Next I read 5 short stories (and I do mean short…each one was only 5-7 pages long) by Lorie O’Clare (RAW author). The Billionaire, The Cop, The Motel Room, The Marine & The Toy Store. Very erotic. A friend sent these to me, I can’t even find mention of them on her site. *shrugs*

Nauti Buoy by Lora Leigh (RAW author) was next. I had read the 2nd book in the the Nauti Boys series over a year ago but just never read the first. It was ok. Not my favorite of her books by any means.

Bedroom Behavior 101 by Sophia Rae (RAW author who also writes under Jules Bennett). Cute little novella about the virgin and the carpenter.

Moving Violations: Law & Disorder by Veronica Chadwick and Lora Leigh (RAW authors) was last on the list. This was a novella about a woman who comes back to her home town after being gone for 15 years and picks up with the man she’s loved forever. There’s also a story of treason stuck in with all the sex. 🙂

Happy Reading!


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Review: Anthology – The Power of Love

Posted June 28, 2008 by Holly in News, Reviews | 3 Comments

Review: Anthology – The Power of LoveReviewer: Holly
The Power of Love by Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy, Toni Blake, Dianne Castell, Karen Kelley, Rosemary Laurey, Janice Maynard, LuAnn McLane, Lucy Monroe, Patricia Sargeant, Kay Stockham, J.C. Wilder
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: June 3rd 2008
Genres: Fiction, Anthologies (multiple authors)
Pages: 320
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars

Twelve all-new stories of women's resilience, empowerment, and fulfillment, by bestselling and award-winning authors.
In this engaging anthology of never-before published stories, twelve authors are united by their unique visions of the female experience. A young woman is torn between the security of her fiancé and the excitement of an old flame; a desperate wife is forced into the workplace for the first time in her life; an ambitious professional woman finally finds the courage to take control of her career; and her man; an emotionally fragile divorcee finds resolve in the ethereal visitations of an archangel...
These are just some of the women who discover and rediscover their own wonderfully fallible but ultimately strong selves in the shadow of love, romantic love, platonic love, new love, and lost love. Readers will be touched, inspired, charmed, and entertained by these original stories of disparate longings, unsettled lives, and the power of love.
Includes 12 stories by New York Times Bestselling Author Lori Foster and Erin McCarthy, Toni Blake, Dianne Castell, Karen Kelley, Rosemary Laurey, Janice Maynard, LuAnn McLane, Lucy Monroe, Patricia Sargeant, Kay Stockham, and J.C. Wilder.
A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE POWER OF LOVE GOES TO THE BATTERED WOMEN’S SHELTER OF CINCINNATI
 

 

This is the book I blogged about here. It’s a collection of short stories by 12 authors dedicated to raising money for domestic violence prevention. I was pleasantly surprised by this collection. Although I enjoy most of these authors, I didn’t expect anything great from these stories, because they’re so short. 20-40 pages doesn’t seem like much, but these authors managed to utilize the content and deliver wonderful stories.

These never before published stories offer something for every reader. Friends to lovers, love late in life, lovers reunited. I was impressed with the quality of writing, especially from authors I hadn’t tried before. A woman is reunited with her old high school flame, a widowed grandmother finds love again in her neighbor’s father, a man finally convinces his best friend they should be together. Although I enjoyed some better than others, I wasn’t disappointed by any of them. I laughed out loud a few times and even got misty eyed.

Do yourselves a favor and pick this up. Not only is it for a good cause, but it’s perfect for light summer reading at the pool or beach.

I’m not going to grade each individual story, but overall I give the collection:

4.25 out of 5

This book is available from Berkley Trade. You can buy it here.

four-stars


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