True Blue

Diana Palmer

Publisher: Harlequin Books

Release Date: December 1, 2011

From the publisher:

The eagerly awaited new installment in the Long, Tall Texans series

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Diana Palmer continues her beloved Long, Tall Texans series by delving deep into the heart of one of San Antonio's top detectives, Rick Marquez. He never met a case he couldn't solve or a woman he couldn't charm. But this smooth-talking Texan is about to meet the one woman who'll lasso him—body and soul!

IMO:

 I totally and absolutely admit to being a Diana Palmer addict!! I don't want a 12-step program, I just want to continue to enjoy her Long, Tall Texans series!  True Blue is a return to the Diana Palmer that I love.  I have been eagerly awaiting Rick Marquez's story and  I wasn't disappointed!  Rick has had parts in the last few books that Palmer has written and I was glad to see that he got his HEA with such an interesting woman.  Gwendolyn is for a sure a great match for Rick.  There was a great twist in the story that tied up some loose story ends from that last couple of novels that Palmer has written-I love the meshing of past and previous stories, I think that is the part that keeps me coming back for every title.

Extreme Exposure

Pamela Clare

I-Team Series: Book 1

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: August 2, 2005

From the publisher:

A 2005 Daphne du Maurier Finalist!

It's been years since her child's father dumped her, and since then investigative reporter Kara McMillan has kept men at bay—although every day she aches more for a lover's touch. But to get that, the hard-boiled journalist must become vulnerable—a feeling she vowed never to have again.

With his dangerous good looks, charm, and power, Senator Reece Sheridan could have just about any woman he sets his piercing eyes on. But he’s intrigued by only one. This Kara, this gutsy investigative reporter, has a sensuality that arouses him to no end. If she’s a firebrand in print, he guesses, she must be just as fiery in bed…

But this is no fling. A sudden political scandal—and attempts on Kara's life—could very well drive them apart. Or maybe, just maybe, adversity could draw them into a bond even more intense than their steamy sexual embraces…

IMO:

I have to thank my Kindle for recommending this author!!  I loved every word of it!!  Pamela Clare's characters are compelling, the suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the story never slows down!

Kara and Reese are definitely a hot together!!  They both have tempers, baggage and expectations-a definite recipe for tension and excitement.  *Spoiler Alert*  The danger that both Kara and Reese are in due to the news story she is investigating both pushes them apart (Kara's doing) and pulls them together (Reese's persistence).  

The story also introduces some colorful characters: Kara's free-spirited mom, Tom - her curmudgeon editor, other members of the I-Team, and her sweet little boy.

I have already started the second book in the series - Hard Evidence and am eager to catch up with the rest of the series.

Loving Our Heroes

Jessica Hart/Amy Andrews/India Grey

Publisher: Mills & Boon

Release Date: November 2011

From the Publisher: They risked their lives for their country… Now their hearts are on the line!

Included in this anthology: Last Minute Proposal, Mission: Mountain Rescue & Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure 

 IMO:
I admit it, I am a sucker for a story about a military man!  It must be all those Harlequins that my grandmother gave me as a teen!  I have to admit, I loved all three of the stories in this anthology.  
Last Minute Proposal was a great play on the insanity of reality television.  I loved the story of Cambell and Tilly and was eager to see where they would end up and if the ice around him would ever shatter.  Not sure why, but that icy facade almost always seems to appeal to me.


Mission: Mountain Rescue: what is it about the men who think they know best!?  I loved the growing up that Holly did in the story.  It was something that she needed to do for herself, but it also brings her closer to the man she loves.  Richard needed time to accept that it was his future to be with Holly and that yes, she is old enough.  This story reminds me of the story The Passionate Escape (set in Africa) which is never a bad thing as it was a favorite of mine as a teen.

Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure: two people learning to grow and cope with life-him with a progressive deterioration of sight, her with growing up and finding her backbone.  Orlando and Rachel were extremely likeable characters and I was glad to see the evolution of their relationship as they learned to deal with what life has dealt them...and little Felix is a heart melter!

All in all this a great anthology made even better by the portion of the proceeds from sales going to Help for Heroes.

Smart Novels

Publisher: Spark Publishing (Yes, the maker of Spark Notes!)

I found a series of books-quite by accident at Half Price Books the other day- that benefit high school students enrolled in U.S. History or preparing for SAT or AP tests.  The novels I found focus on U.S. History material, but there is a series that relates to English and uses SAT vocabulary to help students review.

I am currently reading A Time for Witches, and I am caught up in the story line.  I also like the fact that there is, at the end of every chapter, two - three of pages of facts that relate to the time period in the book.  It doesn't take away from the story in any way and makes for some interesting things to learn.  I have been to Salem and there are things I didn't learn on my visit that I discovered in my reading of this novel.

From the publisher: This series of young adult fiction novels follows Mindy, a teenage girl from modern-day Salem, as she time travels to key moments in American history to fight off alien invasions. Each book highlights approximately 500 historical facts about the period in which the book is set with humorous, engaging lists interspersed throughout.

Salem Witch Trials - Book 1:  Mindy Gold observes the Salem Witch Trials from a front-row seat-the one where they put the accused witches.

Shades of Blue and Gray - Book 2: Mindy travels to the Civil War Battle of Bull Run to rescue the cutest guy in her high school.

 

 

 

 

 

Revolution - Book 3: Mindy faces rabble-rousing Whigs, smallpox outbreaks, and carnivorous pigs as she plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse in 1775 Philadelphia.
 

 

 

 

Gilded Delirium - Book 4: As Mindy searches Gilded Age Chicago for her arch-rival Veronica, she’s pursued at every turn by the sinister Pinkerton detective agency.

 

Touch of Power

Healer #1
Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira

Anticipated Publication Date: December 20, 2011

From the publisher:
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

IMO: 
I loved this story!  

I can't wait for the next book to be available!!  

Avry is an endearing character and works hard to use her gift to the best of her ability.  She is self-sacrificing (her skill requires it), caring and courageous.  One thing she isn't is a pushover as Kerrick, the leader of the band of rogues, finds out.  I seem to have an affection for gruff alpha-type heroes who are stumped by the women they grow to care about.
The world building in this story takes up a good portion of the writing but it isn't to the detriment of either the characters or the story line.   I can't wait to see how the war for the 15 realms evolves, and how Avry, Kerrick and their band of brothers contributes to the events as they unfold.

Chasing Seth

J. R. Loveless
Dreamspinner Press

From the Publisher:

Veterinarian Seth Davies comes to Senaka, Wyoming, looking for peace and anonymity, trying to escape his past. He’s always been a target for trouble and pain, and Seth has had more than his share of both. Kasey Whitedove takes one look at Seth and assumes the worst. No white man could love animals the way the mostly Cheyenne population expects, and Kasey makes Seth’s first days in Senaka more than unpleasant.

Then an accident puts Kasey in the uncomfortable position of eating crow—and helplessly desiring Seth—despite the danger of Kasey’s life as a werewolf and Seth’s stressful secrets. Chasing Seth down and keeping him safe from his past has just become Kasey's most important job.

IMO:
This is a really quick read, unfortunately it's not because I couldn't get enough of the characters.  Seth is likeable but bland.  Kasey has his moments of being an absolute jerk and then likeable.  I didn't have a lot vested in the characters which is too bad because I really liked the premise of the story and thought it had more potential than it showed.   I really wish the author had given Seth and Kasey a more fleshed out story-no pun intended.  Oddly, I am hoping that there is a second book as I liked the supporting character Nick and want to see where his situation with his mate goes, as it was unresolved. 

Bite Me, Try Me & Fang Me

The Demon Underground Series

Parker Blue

Bell Bridge Books

From the Publisher:

Eighteen-year-old Valentine Shapiro got a raw deal in the parent lottery. Her father was part incubus demon, and her mother's never forgiven her for that. Thrown out of the house by her mother, Val does the only thing that seems to make any sense—she takes aim at the town vampires. A stake a day keeps the demon at bay. Soon enough, she finds herself deep in the underbelly of the city, discovering the secrets of the Demon Underground with the help of her faithful hellhound, Fang, and fighting to save those she loves. Whether they love her back or not.
IMO:
I couldn't read this fast enough!  I really loved Val and Fang and had the overwhelming urge to smack her mom.  Val gets kicked out of her home, gets a job with the paranormal branch of the San Antonio police and discovers other part demon residents of the city.  It's a lot for an 18 year old to absorb on their birthday!

From the Publisher:
This part-demon teen vampire fighter and her faithful terrier hellhound are once again patrolling the dark streets of San Antonio, Texas. Val's hunky human partner, Detective Dan Sullivan, is giving her the cold shoulder since she beheaded his vampire fiancée. Vamp leader Alejandro is struggling to keep the peace between vamps, demons and humans. The mucho powerful Encyclopedia Magicka has been stolen, someone in the Demon Underground is poisoning vamps, and Val's inner lust demon, Lola, is getting very restless since Val's now partnered with sexy Shade, the shadow demon with the blond good looks of an angel.

IMO: Couldn't put it down!!  Dan needed a swift kick in the pants in this story, but Shade was...WOW!!!  There was plenty of action and teen angst in this story.  I love that Val can be confused and unsure but still able to function and accomplish so much!


From the Publisher:
This part-demon teen vampire fighter and her faithful terrier hellhound are once again patrolling the dark streets of San Antonio, Texas. Val's hunky human partner, Detective Dan Sullivan, is giving her the cold shoulder since she beheaded his vampire fiancée. Vamp leader Alejandro is struggling to keep the peace between vamps, demons and humans. The mucho powerful Encyclopedia Magicka has been stolen, someone in the Demon Underground is poisoning vamps, and Val's inner lust demon, Lola, is getting very restless since Val's now partnered with sexy Shade, the shadow demon with the blond good looks of an angel.

IMO: I am thrilled that Parker Blue keeps adding to this series!  I love Val and Fang and can't wait to see what adventures they get up to in the next story.  The only bad thing about this book is that I have to wait until next spring to see what happens next!!

Good Girls Don't

Victoria Dahl
HQN

From the Publisher:


Too much of a good thing…
 
 With her sun-kissed hair and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than
a businesswoman—or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he
arrives to investigate a break-in at her family’s brewery. He’s got his own problems—starting with the fact that
his partner, Simone, is pregnant and everyone thinks he’s the father.
Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother’s playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tension could tear her tight-knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their baby” sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath. He’s not who people think he is—and neither is she.

IMO:
This is the first book in a trilogy of the Donovan siblings.  I will definitely be checking the remaining two stories out!
Tessa is definitely a candidate for not judging a book by its cover.  On the surface she is girl next door, but underneath she is part peace-keeper, part temptress, and all woman.  Luke is a man who can't get away from his past-even things that happen to him halfway across the country follow him nibbling at his reputation.  Both Tessa and Luke have issues with trust, and Tessa's need to protect her brother's from, well, everything means that her little fibs are growing and multiplying and quickly burying Tessa in the after effects.  It takes quite a bit for these two to work things out and not only solve the mystery of the robbery at the Tessa's family brewery, but decide and commit to a relationship.   

Deeper Than Midnight

Lara Adrian
Dell Publishing

Story Summary:
Delivered from the darkness, a woman finds herself plunged into a passion that is DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT . . .
At eighteen, Corinne Bishop was a beautiful, spirited young woman living a life of privilege as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family. Her world was changed in an instant when she was stolen away and held prisoner by the malevolent vampire Dragos. After many years of captivity and torment, Corinne is rescued by the Order, a cadre of vampire warriors embroiled in a war against Dragos and his followers. Her innocence taken, Corinne has lost a piece of her heart as well--the one thing that gave her hope during her imprisonment, and the only thing that matters to her now that she is free.
Assigned to safeguard Corinne on her trip home is a formidable golden-eyed Breed male called Hunter. Once Dragos's most deadly assassin, Hunter now works for the Order, and he's hell-bent on making Dragos pay for his manifold sins. Bonded to Corinne by their mutual desire, Hunter will have to decide how far he'll go to end Dragos's reign of evil--even if carrying out his mission means shattering Corinne's tender heart.

Review:
I have to say that Hunter is one of my favorites characters in the Midnight Breeds series and I have been waiting so long for him to have his HEA.  I think that this story was sort of an intermediary tale.  What I mean is that it is a great story if you like the series, but there are some big changes about to take place and this is the book that sets it all up.  I love that Hunter is willing to blood bond with Corrine to help her find the son taken from her by Dragos.  Neither Corrine nor Hunter think they are worthy of the other and their romance is a very gooey almost high school sweetheart feeling story-there were times they were so awkward with each other it was too cute (mostly because he is such a toughy!)!  The tale left at a HUGE cliff hanger and I will be impatiently waiting for next spring to roll around so that I can find out what will happen with Harvard and how the discovery of Dragos's documents can be utilized by The Order.  I have a feeling that Corrine and Hunter aren't done with finding young Gen Ones (I might be proven wrong, but that's my theory and I'm sticking with it...).  All in all, it's was a must read for me.

Blood of the Demon

Rosalie Lorio
Entangled Publishing

One of the best books I've read this summer, I couldn't put it down!!

If you liked The Immortals series by Jennifer Ashley, Robin T. Popp and Joy Nash, then Lorio's Demons of Infernum is for you!!

From the Publisher:

Keegan lives to exact revenge on the evil demon who sired and abused him. When his father devises a plan to bring on the apocalypse, he and his three half-brothers, interdimensional bounty hunters for the Elden Council, are charged with capturing and delivering their father for punishment.
Art gallery owner Brynn Meyers has no idea that her ability to read memories embedded in objects and drain people of their life force means she has demon ancestry. Unfortunately for Brynn, she’s also the key to raising an ancient zombie army, which puts her on every demon’s Most Wanted List.
And no one wants her more than Keegan’s father.
Keegan must protect Brynn from his father by any means necessary, but he’ll have to learn to harness the other half of his genetics—the far deadlier, uncontrollable half—when he starts to fall for the one woman standing between him and the vengeance he so desperately seeks. The one woman he’ll never be able to resist.

Review:

Keegan and his younger brothers are wonderful and I can't wait to read their developing stories. Brynn took the surprising news that she had demon ancensters in stride and managed to not only roll with the punches (figuratively and literally) she also knowinlgy and intentionally puts herself on the line to save the man she loves.  I love heroines that don't play the shrinking violet.  There is something about a story that has people so in love they are willing to make tremendous self sacrifices for the sake of the other.
Lorio's writing is smooth, the dialogue engaging and the story telling wonderful. She will definately become one of my "must read" authors.

Paradise 21

Aubrie Dionne
Entangled Publishing

In this future, earth has been destroyed and a group of survivors are aboard the ship New Dawn. Their purpose is to preserve what the can of earth-especially the genetic code of the best and brightest. Everything on the New Dawn is designated by The Guide;  from the jobs people are best suited for to who their perfect genetic code match will be.
Aries Ryder has no desire to fulfill her designated purpose, she wants to make her own choices in life and one of those choices is to not marry Lieutenant Astor Barliss. She takes destiny in her own hands when she jettisons an escape pod from the New Dawn and ends up on the planet Sahara 354. Here she discovers sand worms, lizard-like Raiders and Striker-a space pirate whose crew mutinied and left him stranded. Aries starts to see the world for what it can be and what follows in an adventure of galactic proportions.
I love the premise of this story! The characters are well-developed and favorites quickly become evident. It took about 2 sentences to dislike Lieutenant Barliss, it took 2 more to loathe him, and by the end of the first chapter I would have jettisoned away from all I knew just to get away from him.
I would have to say this book has all the elements I like in a novel: great characters, a plausible story line, romance, deceit, sacrifice and true love. Definitely a yes-read in terms of recommendations to others!

Luck of the Devil

Patricia Elmer
Entangled Publishing

Life can be hard when you are the youngest child, especially if you are the youngest child of Satan!
All Faith Bettincourt wants is a peaceful week of vacation from her job as a pediatric nurse. What she gets instead is an apartment full of her family. Her brother Tolliver, the demon of gluttony, her sister Hope who with her husband is ousted from a Satanic cult, her mother Roisin who is beyond clueless and her room mate Lisa-an incompetent succubus turned by Tolliver. Faith just wants to quietly continue crushing on her neighbor  and tenant Matt.
What follows is a series of events that put together the Alpha, the Omega and the rest of the family-even cousin J puts in an appearance-as they try to puzzle out who is stalking Faith.

This was a slow read to get into, but once all the details were in place it became a quick and enjoyable read. It wasn't as funny as I hoped it would be, I did chuckle a few times-but no outright laughing until tears flowed.
All in all this wasn't a bad debut novel and I look forward to other books by this author.

The "What If" Guy

Brooke Moss
Entangled Publishing

What if...walking into a room gave you a second chance with the love of your life?
What if...one minute could change everything?
What if...the best thing to happen to you was in the last place you expected?

Autumn Cole ran from Fairfield, Washington fresh out of high school and straight for the bright lights and college life of Seattle.  But things don't happen as she planned and one decision causes her to cut ties with the man she loves.
As life unfolds, Autumn's path leads her back to Fairfield  Walking her son into his new 6th grade classroom she discovers  the last thing she expects-Henry Tobler-the love of her life.
What unfolds a the story of growing up, gaining acceptance, forgiveness and the healing power of love and friendship.

The Ranger

Ace Atkins
Putnam

Quinn has gone home for his uncle, the sheriff's, funeral. What he finds is that people are saying his uncle committed suicide, that his land may be owned to a corrupt town wind-bag, and the town couldn't find straight with a ruler and a level. There is so much crooked in this little Mississippi town that it's a wonder they can agree what day of the week it is.
For the most part I liked this book. I knew there was going to be action, but I didn't have a lot of patience for the story set-up. Once the first few chapters were out of the way I couldn't wait to see the end result. I feel that Atkins left an opening at the end of the story for a sequel-I'm curious as to what the conflict in that would be.

Only Yours

Susan Mallery
HQN

The Assignment: Have Montana Hendrix convince Dr. Simon Bradley to stay on in Fool's Gold, California. 

The Problem: Their first meeting wasn't anything to write home about!

The Result: A heartening story of love and its power to change, encourage, and over-come...


Fool's Gold, California is the type of town that is what people wax poetic about when they draw up memories of their hometown.  The members of the community are interesting, in some cases eccentric, and down-right comfortable.  It's a place that makes you want to pull up stakes and settle there!

The Baby's Bodyguard

Stephanie Newton
Love Inspired-Suspense

A human trafficking ring, illegal adoptions, kidnapped children...can it be stopped?

Will Ethan ever recover from the loss of his wife and child?

Will the discovery of a toddler alone and adrift at sea help to heal him?

Would social worker Kelsey Rogers help him see that love could give him peace?

This story smack of intrigue and twists and keeps you guessing not only to what will happen but how, when, and why!

I like Newton's writing style and voice.  The story flows smoothly and effortlessly and sweeps you up into the events.  The story has to be great if I am still up reading it and not realizing it is 3 am! 

The Creed Legacy

Linda Lael Miller
HQN

I admit it. I'm nosey! It might not be a shock to some. The thing is, I'm not just nosey about real people, I'm incredibly nosey about fictional ones.
I love the Creed's and McKettrick's and have followed their stories since the first book about them was published. The latest installment features Brody Creed and Carolyn Simmons. These two are a match made in heaven, but to reach their happy ending they need to deal with a Pullman car of baggage.
Miller is an excellent writer who brings out the emotions of her characters and makes you care about them. She has and will continue to have a loyal reader in me.

The Ideal Man

Julie Garwood

Penguin Group (USA)

I have loved Julie Garwood's historical romances. I tried to read one of her contemporary romances a few years ago but just couldn't get into it. It's one of the few books I haven't finished. That is so not the case with Ideal Man. I loved this book!  I couldn't put it down! The writing was smooth, the dialogue was fast paced and the story-while involved-didn't drag. I like that Garwood writes female characters who have strength and fortitude while still being feminine. Dr. Ellie Sullivan is a great character; intelligent, hard-working, and relatable. FBI Agent Max Daniels was definitely, as the title suggests, the ideal man for her.

I enjoyed meeting the Sullivan family in the story-the everything at a deal dad, the  guilt-wielding mom, the wretched sister and her twin the sweet one. 

The primary and secondary story lines worked well and made the story stronger. My only ho-hum was the inserted love story of the sweet sister-it was happily resolved, but seemed sort of an afterthought. 

Overall-I'd recommend The Ideal Man. It's a quick read perfect for a summer day of relaxing.

The Taming of the Rake

Kasey Michaels
HQN Books

I just finished this book. It'd been awhile since I had read a historical romance-funny they are what I cut my proverbial reading teeth on. I truly liked the characters that Michaels' created. They had quick dialogue, they were realistically written and worked well together.  And there was sarcasm: "We definitely can't leave them to their own, nonexistent devices. Why, they might take it into their heads to stand outside in a rainstorm with their mouths open, and drown." When you meet Jonathan and Emily you will completely understand! Oliver and Chelsea were perfect foils for each other-yes, i know its a romance and they are supposed to be, but I loved that she was so adventurous and made him look at life through different glasses. There is something to be said about extremely intelligent and "girl power" women characters in a time period where many of the men expected women to be simpering idiots. I can't wait for the next book in the series to see where life has brought them and what Michaels has in store for Oliver's brothers, Puck and Black Jack.

The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

I just finished reading this, well to be honest listening to it, and I really, really liked it.  There is something about a book that blends fiction with real events effortlessly enough to make it feel like you are watching or a part of what is going on.  (And y'all know I don't like non-fiction)...

The characters were honest-no, I don't mean they told the truth; they were themselves and that is what made me like them-well except for Yeh-Yeh-but he wasn't supposed to be getting the reader's love.

My students have recently finished studying World War II and I wish I had read this before we finished, I would have allowed them to read it for extra credit.  We don't spend a lot of time talking about the internment camps-and it was something that the kids thought was interesting-so for next year, I'm keeping the title in mind for that extra opportunity.

I was waiting and waiting for the end of the book-I wanted to know...I always want to know if and how things work out for the characters.  I wasn't disappointed it lived up to it's title.

Surviving the Angel of Death...

I am not a big reader of non-fiction-I admit it!  Ironic considering that I am a history teacher and my knowledge depends on non-fiction, the world of primary and secondary sources.  I made a commitment to myself to read at least one non-fiction book a month.  I squeaked by this month by choosing to read: Surviving the Angel of Death by Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri.  It is Eva Kor’s story of her life as a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz.  It is a story of survival, of the lengths that a child will go to to ensure not only her survival but her twin’s too.  The book is the YA adapted edition of Echoes from Auschwitz: Dr. Mengele's Twins: The Story of Eva & Miriam Mozes. 

I like non-fiction that reads with the flow of fiction.  I don’t like the choppy feel of a lot of non-fiction writing.  Angel of Death reads like a story.  It is smooth and flows well and kept me engaged while reading.  I liked it enough to want to read more books by the same author.  And that is saying a lot when it isn’t fiction!

Merciless

I am addicted to Diana Palmer!  I fully and unabashedly admit it. She is one of the reasons that I don't just read books,  I gobble them up. I have been following her Long Tall Texans series since the first book, Calhoun, came out in 1988. And slowly and steadily built my collection to the point that I have a copy of just about everything she has written, including her upcoming release Merciless. The story's central characters are Jon Blackhawk and Joceline Perry. It is their story, and yet old familiar characters are present and accounted for: Kilraven and Winnie, Detective Rick Marquez, the ever mysterious Rourke, and Jon's fiercely protective and unashamedly interfering mother, Cammy. There is of course intrigue and tragedy and interesting plot twists. Wait until you see what Jon did! And that Jon doesn't even know or suspect!
I love these characters. They have become like dear friends. I want to know how they have been in the time that they have been "away." I think one of the signs of a great author isn't how many books they have sold, but how many people want to revisit the characters over and over again.
The other thing I like about Palmer books...I get a history fix!  Palmer is a history enthusiast and adds tidbits of history to her stories by giving her characters a love and knowledge of everything from western to Scottish to military history.
To spill a secret...Palmer is a big part of the reason that I wanted to move to Texas. Yes, most of her stories are set in Jacobsville (which is conveniently fictitious and centrally located between Houston, San Antonio and Victoria) but I felt like it wasn't all that strange of a place, and maybe a bit like I belonged

Cinder and Ella

What do you get when you have a spoiled, narcissistic twit of a teen, an enabled brat, a hard-working giver, a “lost” middle child, a brave knight, a kind king and a wicked prince?   A really great story of coming of age and discovering personal strength, as well as a great re-write of a classic fairy tale.

Melissa Lemon’s version of the fairy tale is a refreshing change; that has you cheering for the “lost”, wanting to smack the oldest sister in every scene and imagining ways to torment the prince.