A Bride in the Bargain

In 1860s Seattle, a man with a wife could secure himself 640 acres of timberland. But because of his wife's untimely death, Joe Denton finds himself about to lose half of his claim. Still in mourning, his best solution is to buy one of those Mercer girls arriving from the East. A woman he'll marry in name but keep around mostly as a cook.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Asa Mercer's girls is an escape from the griefs of her past. She's not supposed to be a bride, though, just a cook for the girls. But when they land, she's handed to Joe Denton and the two find themselves in a knotty situation. She refuses to wed him and he's about to lose his land. With only a few months left, can Joe convince this provoking--but beguiling--easterner to be his bride?

In keeping with the other Deeanne Gist books I've read this one was exquisite. A Bride in the Bargain had characters that by the end of the book it seems like you know them personally. I loved Anna and Joe, they were so perfect for each other. Joe was every girls fantasy he had sensitivitey, strenth, and sex appeal. The plot always has challeneges and towards the end I was afraid it wasn't going to work out the way I had hoped, but then it twisted and did. This book will make you fall in love with Seattle and wish it went on longer when it was finished. I recommend every true romantic read this book.

Review/Description

In the land replete with timber but few women, widower Joe Denton signs a contract with Asa Mercer to deliver the wife he needs to ensure his land rights. Unfortunately, 19-year-old Anna Ivey doesn't realize she's signed on for marriage; she only wants passage out West and a job. Sparks fly as tempers flare when Joe and Anna discover they are at cross-purposes. Acquiescing to common sense as well as a sense of desperation, the two agree to work together temporarily. As Anna cooks up a storm in payment for the traveling debt Joe incurred on her behalf, Joe cooks up his own scheme for wooing Anna into marriage.

Beastly

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night?

I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

Beastly as the name probably implies is about a Beast. Well, it's the classic story of Beauty and the Beast with a modern day twist. I think Alex Flinn did a really good job of adding in the technology without belittling the actual story. And it wasn't boring either. I actually enjoyed it a lot even though I've seen the disney version of this story a hundred times. He added a few plot twists and some background history on Kyle(the beast) A.k.a Adrian and on Lindy(Beauty). I think this is a good story for all romance, happy ending, fairytale addicts like me.

Review/ Description

Kyle Kingsbury is a gorgeous high school freshman, spoiled rotten by his famous anchorman father, a man who'd rather dole out cash than affection. Kyle attends the exclusive Tuttle School in New York City and torments those poor unfortunates who lack his looks and wealth. When he humiliates a girl at school, she transforms him into a horrific-looking creature. Kyle's only hope for breaking the spell lies in finding true love-as he reports online in meetings of the Unexpected Changes chat group (other members include Froggie and the mermaid Silent Maid). Flinn follows the fairy tale's original plot points closely, but falters in her depiction of the story's bad guys, over-the-top caricatures that simply ring false in her up-to-date setting. Kyle's father, for example, spends literally three minutes with him each day, the time it takes him to heat his dinner in the microwave

Deep in the Heart of Trouble

Deep in the Heart of Trouble was another wonderful book by Deanne Gist. I read A Bride Most Begrudging a little while ago and I loved it, and this one was no different. Apparently though it is actually the sequel to Courting Trouble, I didn't read the first but they are only tied together by characters I didn't really miss anything by not reading the first book.With charming characters and a lovely storyline I really enjoyed this book. The main character Essie reminds me of an Austen character with all her spunk and vitality. I loved her independence and individuality, as well as all her riding outfits and unique hats. The murder of Darius, Tony's brother made the story more intriguing. With romance and secrets, but also a happy ending this book is any girls fairytale.

Review/Description

Deeanne Gist has written a romance that will touch your heart. Her research into the early oil industry is impeccable. Essie and Tony's story has inspiration, a little mystery and a lot of romance. The characters struggle between being human and waiting on God's direction. This is the same struggle that most of us have when our human emotions get in the way of God's plans. Deep in the Heart of Trouble wraps up Essie's story very nicely. It has a little bit of everything, a well rounded story that will make you laugh, cry and cheer for Tony and Essie.

City of Bones

City of Bonesw is the first book in the mortal instuments series. I really liked it up until the last 50 pages when everything twisted and weird. Throughout the story Clary finds out about the world of shadowhunters and the beings they hunt, demons. She finds out about the existence of vampires, werewolves, faeries, and warlocks. And in the end she finds out the existence of her Brother. Also throughout the story a relationship is building between Clary and Jace, who protects her. Jace, A.ka Jonathan, is also her brother, which is not realized until they are in love with each other. There father is the definition of evil and they are siblings in love, what else could go wrong. I really just wanted the series to end there, but I guess now I have to read the other books and see how everything turns out.

Review/ Description

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Burned

So this is the seventh book in the House of Night series and it was a little different than the others. For one it was broken into chapters based on the perspectives of the different characters. There were chapters based on Zoey, Heath, Stark, Aphrodite, Kalona, Stevie Rae, and Rephaim's perspectives. It was also different because it wasn't about Zoey exactly. .It was mostly about how the others were trying to rescue her and also it was about Stevie Rae and her problems. I did really like the parts when she and Rephaim were together and I think that it will be interesting to see how everything turns about between them. I also liked that for once it didn't really meantion all of Zoey's boyfriend problemsThis was actually one of my favorites of this series since the first book.

Review/Description

When friends stop trusting each other, Darkness is there to fan the flames…. Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left… Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world. In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance. Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

On the NIght of the Seventh Moon

I have become an avid Victoria Holt reader. Her books are delightful with wonderful endings, but full of twists and mysteries. On the night of the seventh moon was very different from the mistress of mellyn. It started out kind of slow and was very odd until the middle when it started to get better. It was the story of a girl who met a mysterious man in the forest of germany and then met him by chance again and was married to him. But an untruthful act by those closest to her makes her believe she imagined the romance. It took her nine years to discover the truth and finally live her happily ever after. Betrayal, mystery, and chance all come together to make a book full of twists that will suprise you till the end. I did however guess at some of the things that were going to happen and proved myself correct. This was a good read and i recommend it to any romantic.

Review/Description

On the night of the seventh moon, according to ancient Black Forest legend, Loke, the god of mischief, is abroad in the world. It is a night for singing and dancing. And it is a night for love.
Helena Trant was enchanted by everything she found in the Black Forest—its people, its mysterious castles, its legends and lore. Especially its legends of love. Until the day she started to live one of them and the enchantment turned suddenly into a terrifying nightmare….

Nine Coaches Waiting

This book reminded me alot of the Mistress of Mellyn, but it was a little more difficult to understand. The book is based in France so there are a variety of different french words, or conversations that aren't translated into English. It had a very interesting plot, but it took a while to get going. The romance through a loop, with the book trying to convince you that Raul is a bad guy, but Linda reassuring herself until the end that he isn't despite all the evidence. The ending was surprising, but I liked it very much. It is a slower read, howver it is still a decent book.

Review/Description

A governess in a French château encounters an apparent plot against her young charge's life in this unforgettably haunting and beautifully written suspense novel. When lovely Linda Martin first arrives at Château Valmy as an English governess to the nine-year-old Count Philippe de Valmy, the opulence and history surrounding her seems like a wondrous, ecstatic dream. But a palpable terror is crouching in the shadows. Philippe's uncle, Leon de Valmy, is the epitome of charm, yet dynamic and arrogant—his paralysis little hindrance as he moves noiselessly in his wheelchair from room to room. Only his son Raoul, a handsome, sardonic man who drives himself and his car with equally reckless abandon, seems able to stand up to him. To Linda, Raoul is an enigma—though irresistibly attracted to him, she senses some dark twist in his nature. When an accident deep in the woods nearly kills Linda's innocent charge, she begins to wonder if someone has deadly plans for the young count.