Giveaway - Five copies of Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO HACHETTE AND ANNA for the opportunity to give away this wonderful book. 
Check out my review: "This is a book I did not want to put down.  I wanted to devour it!  [If you have read my reviews then you know that I don't gush - but this one is me sort of gushing.] " 

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Follow @Paula_Quinn on Twitter

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:

1. For your main entry make a comment on one of these two links a) - b). Make sure you leave your e-mail address!
a) Check out the Author's Website and tell me something you found interesting there.OR
b) You can visit five fun facts and comment on one of those.

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

4. For TWO extra entries comment on the review post.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Five total entries possible.)  MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!  Five winners!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons

* This contest will close Midnight (Central) on July  16, 2010. The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Review - Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

Title: Ravished by a Highlander
Author: Paula Quinn

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (May 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446552380
• ISBN-13: 978-0446552387

Rating: 5 of 5

Full Description

FORBIDDEN LOVE

Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she's been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal--and a bold rescue--land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

UNDENIABLE DESIRE

As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire...and desperate for more. With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.

Review: This is a book I did not want to put down.  I wanted to devour it!  [If you have read my reviews then you know that I don't gush... this one is me sort of gushing.]

Davina is a wonderfully ethereal character with a haunting air of loneliness and sorrow.  She has grown up with the nuns and the soldiers who protect her as her only friends but for some reason she is untouchable. Before the first chapter is over all of her companions are dead and she is alone. Then she is snatched and carried off by a fierce Scotsman, not knowing if he is friend or foe.

Robert MacGregor is a powerful warrior, a strategist, and a respected leader in his clan - a "hunky" Highlander.  He is not frivolous or careless with his affections. He honors duty and responsibility and tends to be a bit somber and sometimes downright grumpy, scowling at the men around him. Robert’s companions make for an interesting mix of side characters and I love the bits of Scottish brogue.

Rob races against unknown dangers to get Davina to the one place he believes she will be safe.  Davina is slow to trust this brooding giant of a man but she begins to realize that every action he takes makes her feel safe - even the first stolen kiss.

Davina hasn’t had dreams of a life of her own for years.  Robert suspects that this beautiful damsel is out of his league. He represents safety to her and she brings laughter and light to his world.  How are they to resist the magnetic pull that draws them together in spite of each knowing they shouldn’t tempt fate?

The danger and intrigue in the story are non stop with a truly horrific enemy who wreaks death and destruction, a heart breaking betrayal by a friend and brave battles along the way. The romance between Davina and Robert starts out slow and sweet and builds to sensual fullfillment and seemingly unshakable commitment.  But are there undeniable forces that could pull them apart? Even if her foes don’t kill her will she be allowed to remain with a common Highlander?

I loved the story and the characters from beginning to end. This story had just the right balance for me of likable characters, steady plot and action and sensual attraction without sexual overload.  This was the first book I read by Paula Quinn but I definitely will want to read more.

xxx

Thanks to Hachette and Anna for providing this delightful read.  Enter the Giveaway for a chance to win a copy of your own to read.

Giveaway - Three Audio Books of The 9th Judgment by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Another THANK YOU to Hachette and Anna for providing the Audio CDs for this giveaway.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the AUDIO CD:

1. I'll give you a choice for the entry Comment: you can do any ONE or all if you wish - it will only count as ONE entry.

a) Check out the Author's Website and tell me something you found interesting there;
b) You can comment on my Review; OR
c) You can tell me what is your favorite Patterson book.

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Three total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on July 14, 2010. The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Review - The 9th Judgment by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Title: The 9th Judgment
Author: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Hachette Audio; Abridged edition (April 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607881772
• ISBN-13: 978-1607881773

Author web site.

Rating: 4.0 

Product Description
During an intimate dinner party, a cat burglar breaks into the home of A-list actor Marcus Dowling. When his wife walks in on the thief, the situation quickly teeters out of control, leaving an empty safe and a lifeless body.

The same night, a woman and her infant child are ruthlessly gunned down in an abandoned garage. The killer hasn't left a shred of evidence, except for a foreboding and cryptic message: WCF, the letters written in blood-red letters.

With two elusive criminals on the loose, Detective Lindsay Boxer calls on the Women's Murder Club to help her stop them before they continue their spree. But before they can break either case, the Lipstick Killer changes his act and demands a ransom--not for a single victim, but for all of San Francisco. Lindsay puts her own life on the line--but will it be enough to save the city from this deranged killer?

(This description applies to the Audio Cd Version.)

Review: This is an entertaining battle against a horrendous crime. There are a few controversial issues and a few loose ends but I found this abridged version to be a reasonably satisfying audio book.

The “Hello Kitty” cat burglaries are described from the view of the cat burglar herself who provides enough detail to give a sense of adrenaline and tension.  What bothers the burglar, Sara, is that she is falsely accused of murder at one of the jobs.  There is no evidence to link the crimes to her but she doesn’t want the murderer to get away with it.  The burglar is actually presented as a likeable character.  She does slip up on a later job and that part of the police hunt is left incomplete. The police have evidence but there is never an arrest or an explanation why they don’t tie the evidence to a perpetrator so that part of the story seems abandoned in this audio version.

The Lipstick Killer, on the other hand, is a despicable monster. He kills mothers and their small children in cold blood. As awful as this is I don’t feel it was exploitation but rather a story of a twisted killer.  This psycho uses Lindsay in a humiliating, not to mention life-threatening, way in trying to get a ransom delivered. The crime spree comes to a head more by accident than hard detective work.

I know some readers were offended and refused to read the book because the murders included the innocent babies.  There might be other readers who get upset by the love affair between the married Sara and her married female friend. In the audio book there is clearly a relationship but there are no explicit details.

I noted the Product Description for the book format referred to a love conflict between Detective Lindsay and her partner Rich Conklin.  Frankly, I am glad that the abridged audio does not include this as I would have really disliked it considering that Lindsay is living with her fiancé, Joe and Rich is in a relationship with Cindy, another member of the Women’s Murder Club.  So perhaps in this instance the abridged audio is safer than reading the full book or listening to the unabridged audio.

Review - The Brothers of Gwynedd, Book Two: The Dragon at Noonday

The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Pargeter

Book Two: The Dragon at Noonday

Paperback: Second Book 193 pages of 772 total pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition (May 2010)
ISBN-10: # 140223760X
ISBN-13: 978-1402237607

Rating 5.0

Product Description

A Burning Desire for One Country, One Love, and One Legacy That Will Last Forever.
Llewelyn, prince of Gwynedd, dreams of a Wales united against the English, but first he must combat enemies nearer home. Llewelyn and his brothers-Owen Goch, Rhodri, and David-vie for power among themselves and with the English king, Henry III. Despite the support of his beloved wife, Eleanor, Llewelyn finds himself trapped in a situation where the only solution could be his very downfall...
Originally published in England as four individual novels, The Brothers of Gwynedd transports you to a world of chivalry, gallant heroes, and imprisoned damsels; to star-crossed lovers and glorious battle scenes; and is Edith Pargeter's absorbing tale of tragedy, traitors, and triumph of the heart.

Review: This reading is not fast but the rich history just wraps around me!  I only wish that there was a map to identify the placement of the castles and towns.

Book two continues with Samson serving as clerk and friend to Prince Llewelyn. Although Llewelyn is able to gather loyalty of many of the lords of Wales, there is heartbreak as he loses the support and fealty of his own brothers.

A large part of this book revolves around the English rebellions and struggles to establish a Parliament to give voice to the common people. This reformation movement is led by Earl Leicester, Simon de Monfort.  Llewelyn assigns Samson to serve as clerk and courier to Lord Simon.


Samson describes Simon as an upright and saintly man with this wonderful vision of justice and right. There is a spiritual sense of blessing on one particular victory where Simon captures King Henry, Lord Edward and many others.  Simon is a good military strategist but he does not have a killer instinct.  Always his goal is conciliation, as he seeks peace to negotiate terms of the reform. Although Simon is honorable and steadfast, his position is weak in contrast to the envy, greed, lying and cheating that he has to contend with.

The description of the final battle is gripping and painful and I was struggling with the emotions of despair and grief.  Fortunately the story does not end in that sorrow but there is triumph for Wales.  Llewelyn and King Henry finally enter into agreement acknowledging Wales in its own sovereignty.

Another beautiful aspect of this story is the love that is acknowledged between Samson and Cristin.  In the first book when it is discovered that her husband lives, Samson was surprised to learn that it was his true brother, a fact that Cristin alone knew and a  relationship that is not revealed to anyone else.  Neither Samson nor Cristin will dishonor their love by physical longings but they agree that they cannot deny its existence and vow to always love and cherish, even if it must be apart.

This book ends with Llewelyn determined to reach his second goal: to marry Lord Simon’s young daughter, Eleanor.  This had been agreed to between Lord Simon and Llewelyn when they met before the battle that broke the reform. I look forward to watching this meeting and courtship in Book Three, The Hounds of Sunset.

 xxx

Also see my review of Book One, Sunrise in the West. 

This book was provided by Sourcebooks for review and participation in Summer Book Club.