Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!
How the heck are ya? Did you all have a great week and a fantastic weekend? Happy Easter to everyone (delayed, I know).
I had an interesting week last week…it was Holy Week and I work at a church (don’t fall off your chair), nuff said. It was insane but I did get Friday off and it was nice to have a 3 day weekend.
Yesterday (Easter day) was fun. While it was beautiful here on Saturday we woke up Sunday to a mostly cloudy sky. That didn’t stop my girls from having a fun time at the egg hunt after church. Here are my girls who are such hams it’s ridiculous! My sister who lives in Kansas City, MO bought these dresses for them – too cute.
And here is the family. I think we were all eating Jolly Rancher’s so we look like a family of chipmunks, and the hair is in my oldests face,but hey, I needed to get my yearly Easter picture! lol We did take another one but my hubby had a big ole frown on his face so this is it! 🙂
Non-sequitur:
If a prince gets married the woman becomes a princess.
If a baron gets married the woman is a baroness.
If a viscount gets married the woman is a viscountess.
If a marquess gets married his wife is a marchioness (not exact, but close).
A duke gets married and his wife becomes a duchess.
Why does an earl get married and his wife become a countess? Why not an earless? Or an earlcess? Or an earlchioness?
These and other questions.
I posted my reading list for March so if you’re interested you can find it here.
My Finish the Series Project (FTSP) continues into April. I think I finished 3 series in the month of March. Much more needs to be done! lol
I started off the week with a big ole bang and read Kresley Cole‘s Pleasure of a Dark Prince. It started off well but kind of slow for me for some reason. However about 1/2 way through the book it got so that I didn’t want to put the book down. I thought it was really very good. Garreth and Lucia have been on my mind since the whole incident in the very first Immortals After Dark full length novel, A Hunger Like No Other. Garreth is a Lycan while Lucia is a Valkyrie. Garreth wants Lucia because he discovers that she’s his mate, among other reasons. Lucia, as much as she wants Garreth, can’t have him because of her vow of chastity to the goddess who gave her her archer powers. The two trying to figure things out was very well done as is Cole’s usual and I can’t wait to see what happens next. 4.5 out of 5
Next was Private Dicks by Katie Allen. A really great m/m book. You can read my review here.
My next read was Secrets of a Scandalous Bride by Sophia Nash. This is book 4 in the Widow’s Club series but the heroine is just playing a widow and is hiding from a past and a man that is evoooooool. She seeks help in an unlikely place, with the ruthless and rakish Rowland Manning. As surly as Rowland is, he helps Elizabeth and they fall in love. I liked this one a lot. As much as I didn’t like Rowland in the last book I very much enjoyed his character in this one. There was just something about him that pulled me to him and I loved his stubborness and pig headedness – not something I normally enjoy. lol (I read this for The Book Binge and will let you know when my “formal” review posts).
Next I attempted to read Her Hungers by Mary Winter. I didn’t get far unfortunately. This, from what I read, is the story of a woman who grew up human but then was turned to a vampire and then to a werewolf. She has a vampire lover who loves her and her vamp side but is pretty much repulsed by her werewolf side. Then in steps a werewolf alpha from her past who wants to claim her but he appears to be repulsed by her vamp side. Both men want to protect her and there was tons of posturing and possessiveness going on. On top of that the woman couldn’t decide which man she wanted to be with. All in all the story just didn’t work for me so I stopped reading after about 35 pages. DNF
Next was my Tracy’s TBR challenge read for the week and also a FTSP read – Shoulda Been a Cowboy. This is book 7 in Lorelei James‘s Rough Rider series. This was Cam McKay’s book and is about his relationship with Ukrainian immigrant, Domini. I liked the story and the issues it covered. Cam trying to deal with no longer being a soldier and being back in his hometown. He’s trying to come to terms with being a whole man since he’s only got one leg and has pretty much cut himself off from his family. Then there’s Domini who is quietly dealing with her life and the fact that she doesn’t feel like a whole woman since she was forced to have a hysterectomy when she was 16 in the Ukraine and can’t have children. It was a good story and very emotional for me. 4 out of 5
It has been a while since I had read book 6 of the Rough Riders series and was trying to keep all of the McKay men and West boys straight in my head. After going through that with Cam’s book I figured I better just get completely caught up with the series so dove right into All Jacked Up by Lorelei James – which is Keely’s story. Keely and Jack hate each other but Jack talks Keely into creating a fake engagement so that he can get a job with some very conservative people in Utah. Keely agrees but ends up in love with Jack after much strife. Good story as well. 4 out of 5
Next was A Lady of Persuasion by Tessa Dare. This was the story of Toby and Isabel. Toby is determined to get revenge on Gray for stealing Sophia from him. But he meets Isabel and she dazzles him. He wants her as his own no matter what he has to do to get her. Isabel wants a man who will have influence in Parliament and Toby’s not it. She agrees to marry him anyway, however because he could become the man she wants. Never a good idea to marry someone on the hopes that they’ll become the person you want them to be! While Toby’s falling for Isabel, Isabel is fighting her feelings for Toby because she fears she will lose her focus on life. While I understood Isabel ‘s motives in the end I just didn’t care for her all that much. Toby I really liked – even though he lied to Isabel. This still had Dare’s lovely writing in it though and I couldn’t help but admire some of her phrasing and lovely sentences. 3.5 out of 5
Last up was Ecstacy Unveiled by Larissa Ione. A great book! I picked it up yesterday and just couldn’t put it down until I was done. I loved Lore and Idess. I really liked having many scenes with ALL of the brothers involved. Lore’s protection of his sister, Sin, was very touching. Just a very good read. 4.5 out of 5
Some of my Book Binge reviews posted this week as well:
Happy Reading!
Your girls are so cute! And that's an adorable family photo.
LOL @ your non-sequitur. I've often wondered the same thing.
I wondered about the Sophia Nash book. I've read something of hers in the past and I seem to recall liking it.
Your girls are adorable and your have a precious family!!!!
Your post about the if he is she.. cracked me up! You are too funny… but I often wonder that too.. Hummm..
I am glad that you all had a great week and weekend!!!!!
Hugs to you honey!
Great family picture!
And you got a lot of reading done last week – yowza!
Hi Tracy!
Happy belated Easter to you and your family, too! I love the pictures of the girls and the family. Your oldest is really starting to look more like you. She should be so lucky! 🙂
The Sophia Nash book sounds interesting. I'll have to keep my eye out for it.
I love Tessa Dare's writing, and agree with your grade for A Lady of Persuasion. I'd probably give the first two books in the series each a 5, but the last one a 3.5 like you. I can't wait for her next trilogy. Soon!
Also, a 4.5 for Lore's book?! That's awesome. I just got it added to my TBR… hopefully I'll be able to get to it soon.
Have a great week, chica!
You guys look adorable. Great dresses.
I'm totally in love with Ecstasy man's photoshopped tattoo.
Cute pic of your family!
The epilogue from Kresley Cole's Pleasure of A Dark Prince had me hunting down the online forums for the next book. Love Garreth so sexy.
Holly – Thanks Babe! You like the chipmunk fam? lol
Yeah, why the Countess? Never got that although I'm sure I could figure it out with very little research. Not gonna do it though. lol
Nash is pretty good. I didn't read the first two in the series but like the last two.
Cecile – thanks honey!
Chris – Yes, lots of reading. The joy of having a 3 day weekend. 🙂
Christine – I just see my hubby when I look at my oldest, really.
Enjoy Lore's book – so good!
Tam- thanks!
Yes, that tattoo is fab – I love it as well.
SHB – I KNOW! The epilogue got me in Cole's book as well. I kept thinking that Lothaire had taken Regan…but NO! lol Can't wait to find out about that one.
Ooooh, what cute girls you have! I love looking at Easter pictures.
Lady Of Persuasion just landed on my desk here at work. I'm really looking forward to it, because I'm intrigued by Toby.
You sure have a beautiful family Tracy! I'm glad there was lots of fun to be had over Easter.
Another great reading week for you! Thank you for all the reviews. 😉
Your girls are beautiful and I really liked the family picture. Sounds like you all had a great Easter.
I only read as far as the 3rd or 4th book in the Immortals After Dark series but I really enjoyed what I read.
Wendy – Toby was an interesting character. He wasn't bad – but he wasn't good either. Enjoy!
Thank Lea!
Lily – I've really quite enjoyed most of the IAD series. There have been a book or two that hasn't been fabulous for me but overall I love it.
The girls are adorable Tracy… I am glad you had a blessed and quiet Easter even if only for a little bit… LOL
Good haul of books you had there this week – I do have that Mary Winter book, I am facinated by the concept… reminds me alot of Jourdan Lane – Soul Mate Series..
I think I am on book 4 of the Lorelei James series – I must get to the rest of the series.. They do seem to be going from strenght to strenght…
Have a great week my dear..
E.H>
Your girls and your family are too cute!! Interesting question about the earl's wife. A countess just sounds so much better 😉
Yes, Easter Day was fun, wasn't it? We were all tired but there is still that "something" that happens when we all get together. Good reviews — As you know I love those McKay men and their cousins. Just am starting the Lady of Persuasion, as you know — am reviewing the second book in that series for my blog — did the first one for Book Binge. Back to some serious reading after Holy Week. Love XXXOOO
EH – Thanks!
The Winter book appealed to me on some level as well and I loved the blurb. That being said, once I started reading I just couldn't get into the story. Maybe it was too much angst right away – and I'm not a huge fan of stories with women who have two men hanging and can't decide. IDK.
I like the James series – I just need to keep them all straight! lol
Katie – Thank you!
Yes, I think Countess sound worlds better than the others but it's just so different from Earl. lol
Dr J – Yes, those West and McKay men are something!
You reviewed Goddess of the Hunt for TBB? Really? I didn't see that one.
I'll check out your blog for your thoughts – especially on the 3rd book.
Your girls are gorgeous and I love the family photo!
Oh, a great reading week! I must try the Larissa Ione books at some point!
Nice family picture, your girls are adorable 🙂
There's one series I need to finish too, James' Rough Riders Series. I think I got to book 5 and have the rest on my ereader waiting for me. Maybe this finish the series challenge is not such a bad idea for me either! *g*
Orannia – I really like Ione's books. And they just keep getting better and better. 🙂
Thanks!
Janna – Thank you.
You know there IS something to the FTSP! lol I really thought it would be easier than it is but there are so many series I have to finish! It's not that I don't want to read the book…eventually…but it's been good to have some incentive. 🙂
Yeah, I could use that incentive too. But then again, I can use that for every book ;), there are so many great ones on my TBR yet (whether or not part of a series)!
Your girls are really too cute!! and nice family picture 😀 Seems like your hubby have recovered 😀 Looking forward to your review of the Sophie Nash 😀
Glad you enjoyed the Kresley Cole. I definitively didn't feel the same way as you 🙁 It just felt a bit déjà-vu for me, the whole book 🙁
Janna – I know. Really. And I have to admit it's been hard to NOT pick up a book because it's part of a series or the first in a series. I say – do I want to start yet another series before I finish all these others? Oy – what have I done to myself? lol
Nath – I did have that feeling of having read the book before during the first part of the book and I think that's what made it slow for me. But I thought the second half was fab so it made up for it. 🙂
Thanks! Yes, hubby's much recovered – though he's not a fan of the picture taking. 🙂