Thursday, May 26, 2011

a season of seduction.

A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London's cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There's just one problem: Jack isn't interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn't have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack's past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he'll be either married to Rebecca or dead.

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Apparently, this was not posted, because the review was written. And now, I don't remember the story! Don't you hate when that happens? You know what that means, right? I'm going to be quite quick about this. Not only do I not remember the specifics, but I'm not entirely sure where the book is right now. Eek.

Hm. What I do remember is that I enjoyed reading this. I have the hardest time finding good historical romance these days and decided to give this author a try. Oddly enough, the other new historical author I read is also named Jennifer (Ashley). Here, Rebecca is attempting an affair, while Jack is planning to marry her. He ensures that her family finds them in a compromising position and spends the next few weeks courting her and trying to convince her to marry him. Obviously, she finds out the true meaning behind the courtship and flees. I do remember really liking the characters and the feeling in the book. I've also felt like historicals have more depth of feeling than some of the other romance subgenres.

Though it was released as a holiday title, don't let that scare you off (I read it in April, I think). Or you can wait til the holidays come back around again. I do so love holiday themed romances.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

lauren conrad style.

You've seen Lauren Conrad on TV and red carpets, looking fabulous whether she's going casual for a day with friends or dressed for a night out. Now Lauren reveals how you can adapt her classic, understated style for yourself.

In her first-ever style guide, Lauren offers tips on how to create your own unique look, shares her favorite sources of inspiration, and identifies the absolute must-haves for any fashionista's wardrobe. Along the way, she examines her fashion evolution, from California-casual teen to camera-ready style icon and clothing designer.

From beauty advice and hair secrets to how to shop vintage or find the perfect T-shirt, Lauren Conrad Style unlocks the mysteries of being effortlessly chic. With Lauren's guidance, you'll look and feel stylish every day.

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As someone who has never been a fan of Laguna Beach or The Hills (I've seen maybe 3 episodes total), I've still been able to appreciate Lauren Conrad's sense of style. I think she almost always looks fantastic from head to toe. Gorgeous hair, great makeup, and amazingly fantabulous clothes. Conrad's style book takes you through the basic pieces you should have in your wardrobe, how to mix and match prints, and how to select the perfect style of jeans. Additionally, she suggests shopping methods, including how to choose and alter vintage pieces. Not only about fashion, Conrad also has chapters on make-up and hair. Filled with photos to help the budding fashionista, Lauren Conrad Style is an absolute must read for any fan of her looks or someone starting out on their own style journey.


Purchase at Amazon. (I bought one for me and gifted a copy to a friend.)

Saturday, May 7, 2011

a lot like love.

Jordan Rhodes is invited to all of Chicago's best parties, but there's only one the FBI wants to crash. To get her brother out of jail, she agrees to take Agent McCall as her date. But when the mission gets botched, requiring their "relationship" to continue, it starts to feel less like an investigation-and a lot like something else.

I feel like this hardly ever happens anymore. A new author (to me) with a book that I really, truly enjoyed from beginning to end. SCORE!

My first Julie James story can only be described as a delightful, humorous surprise. At a time when most authors are writing romantic suspense that surrounds around a deep dark plot, James pens a novel about two people falling in love who just so happen to be involved in a federal case. Having the majority of the book’s focus on the contemporary romance instead of the case was a refreshing change. I loved the playful language she used for her characters. There were quite a few times where I found myself laughing at loud at the risque wine talk. Jordan and Nick were great characters that I know I would like if they really existed. This one was a joy to read and I cannot believe Julie James managed to slip under my radar. If they previous novels are anything like this, then I am in for a treat.