The Book Girl

Favorites of 2010!

These are my favorite books of 2010. I love them all for different reasons, but each one moved me in some way. I’ve linked to the ones that have a review.

(In no particular order)

1. INSIDE OUT by Lauren Dane

2. MIND GAMES/DOUBLE CROSS by Carolyn Crane

3. WICKED INTENTIONS by Elizabeth Hoyt

4. THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER by Leanna Renee Hieber

5. AN EARL TO ENCHANT by Amelia Grey

6. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU by Julie James

7. THE LADY MOST LIKELY... by Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, and Connie Brockway (review is at www.theseasonforromance.com)

8. THE DARKEST HOUR by Maya Banks (Reviewed at The Season)

9. BUTTERFLY SWORDS by Jeannie Lin (Reviewed at The Season)

10. WHAT THE LIBRARIAN DID by Karina Bliss (Not Reviewed)

What were some of your favorite books for 2010?

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THE HEIR winner

Sorry for posting this so late. Christmas break has wrecked havoc with my schedule and I’ve realized how much I depend on the youngest kid’s preschool time to get things done. Posts will be spotty until after the kids go back to school. However, I did pick a winner for last week’s giveaway. The winner of THE HEIR is…

Quilt Lady.

Please email me your information (carrie@thebookgirl.net) and I’ll get the book to you!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas (if you celebrate) and got lots of great books to read. I got several books and book related things. I’m going to write up a post for tomorrow about all of my goodies!

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Happy Holidays!!

photoI have been so busy this week I haven’t done any reviews and instead of trying to get some done quickly I’m going to take a break and enjoy the time with my husband and kids. The kids and I spent all day baking and doing crafts. We made paper chains, snowflakes, and decorated a gingerbread house. They wanted me to share a picture of the gingerbread house we made. I hope everyone is having a great holiday week. I will be back with posts on Monday of next week!!

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Whatcha Reading Wednesday!

849770911I haven’t been reading much this week due to holiday preparations. Today I’m baking, but in between batches of cookies I’m reading PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL by Delilah Marvelle. I am 71% done according to my kindle and I’m really liking the story. The hero has a sex addiction and it has made the romance very different from other historical romances. What are you reading this holiday week?

For more about PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

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Review and Giveaway: THE HEIR by Grace Burrowes

79509401From the back of the book:

THE DUKE’S OBSESSION

The Duke will stop at nothing to get his sons to marry and ensure the succession…

AN EARL WHO CAN’T BE BRIBED…

Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the duke of Moreland. To escape his father’s inexorable pressure to marry, he decided to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper…

A LADY WHO CAN’T BE PROTECTED…

Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper.

As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna’s secrets threaten to bring the earl’s orderly life crashing down – and he doesn’t know how he’s going to protect her from the fallout…

I really loved this debut historical romance. The chemistry between Westhaven and Anna is amazing. I loved the way that this couple was written. The reader is given clues through the whole story about Anne and her secrets, but not enough that her past is blatantly obvious and I was a little surprised when it was revealed. The secondary characters really make this book perfect. I absolutely loved Westhaven’s brothers and his father. They are fantastically written, three dimensional, and really help move the plot along. I’m hoping that they get their own stories in the future.

the book girl gives THE HEIR a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

GIVEAWAY:  Enter to win a copy of THE HEIR by Grace Burrowes. I’m doing this week’s giveaway early. I’m not going to post anything Friday-Sunday, so this contest will close at midnight on the 26th and I’ll announce the winner on the 27th. Same rules as usual apply. US addresses only, please. Leave a comment to be entered. For more entries leave comments on the week’s other posts or tweet this link with the tag #bookgirlgiveaway

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Mailbox Monday

I haven’t done this for a couple of weeks, so there are a lot of books. I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy any books for myself in December, so the few that I bought are wrapped and under the tree masquerading as gifts from the kids. Most of the books have been for review. I can’t believe that I’m already getting review books for March – it seems so far away!

REVIEW BOOKS

Animal Magnestism – Jill Shalvis

Devils Own – Victoria Wolff

True Colors – Joyce Lamb

Sin and Surrender – Julia Latham

The School for Brides – Cheryl Ann Smith

The Mistress House – Leigh Michaels

Betrayal of the Blood Lily – Laura Willig

India Black – Carol K Carr

PURCHASED BOOKS

The Secret Life of Mrs. Claus – Carly Alexander

No Place to Run – Maya Banks

Last Sacrifice – Richelle Mead

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KISSING SANTA CLAUS Winner!

The winner of KISSING SANTA CLAUS is…

Donna S!

Please email me your information at carrie@thebookgirl.net and I’ll get the book in the mail! Remember that winners have 7 days to claim their book!

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Fabulous Friday!

60705017This week’s giveaway is for KISSING SANTA CLAUS by Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis, and HelenKay Dimon. I love this anthology. In fact, I’m re-reading it right now! To enter: Leave a comment on this post! For more entries – comment on the week’s other posts or tweet the link to this contest with the tag #bookgirlgiveaway. Contest will run through 12/19/10 at 5pm cst. US addresses only, please. Make sure to check back to see if you’ve won – I don’t email. Good Luck!

About the book:

LOCK, STOCK and JINGLE BELLS – Holly hates the yuletide season more than ever since she inherited her mother’s Christmas novelty shop, but her childhood pal Sean’s determined to warm her up – to Christmas and to him. When they uncover a diary concealing secrets involving both their families, this could be the Christmas that changes their lives forever…

BAH HANDSOME! – Behind on her bills, B & B owner Hope receives an unlikely guest – stranded solicitor Danny, who’s been threatening to put her out of business. Hope’s staff sees more fire than fight in the sparks of business. Hope’s staff sees more fire than fight in the sparks that fly as they try and bring Hope and Danny together, but only a Christmas miracle can help these unlikely lovers see the light…

IT’S HOTTER AT CHRISTMAS – Hawaii’s no paradise for Marissa, who, thanks to a series of unfortunate events, can’t seem to get away from the sand to enjoy her Christmas East Cost style – with plenty of snow and slush. But tall, dark, and serious police officers Ted’s about to give this bad Santa in heels a Mele Kalikimaka she’ll never forget…

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Review: HOLIDAY SEDUCTION by Jaci Burton and Lauren Dane *re-read*

31951623From the back of the book:

UNWRAPPED

Amy Parker’s kind of fantasies wouldn’t cut it in the straight-laced law firm where she’s fought her way to partnership. And she refuses to let a younger man use her to advance in the firm. Justin Garrett might be brilliant, gorgeous and sexy, but he’s firmly implanted in the look-but-don’t-touch realm.

Until a corporate acquisition in Hawaii over Christmas gives Justin the opportunity to show Amy he’s interested in her as a woman, not as a way to advance his career. And he has the ideal plan to help unwrap the perfect Christmas gift for Amy.

TO DO LIST

Since she could pick up a pencil, Belle Taylor has used lists to map out her life. but now, just steps away from her highest career goal, she realizes the life she thought she wanted exacts too high a price.

Exhausted, she heads home for Christmas to make a new to-do list.

She didn’t factor in Rafe Bettencourt, her brother’s best friend, kissing her under the mistletoe! Suddenly, Belle finds herself with a while new set of goals to balance with what she thought she always wanted.

Because Rafe’s plan is to seduce Belle back home where she belongs.

This is another of my annual re-reads. I love both of these stories. They both manage to mix the sweet romance of the holidays with some very hot lovin’. In UNWRAPPED Amy and Justin find out how to let loose in Hawaii. In TO DO LIST two friends find out how much they really mean to each other. Both are perfect reads for the holidays if you like your romance on the spicy side!

the book girl gives HOLIDAY SEDUCTION a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

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Review: Yule Be Mine by Lori Foster *Re-read*

42758409From the back of the book:

Sparkling days, crackling fires, long steamy nights…Christmas is all about making memories. In four delicious tales of seduction and romance, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings you all the pleasures of the season – and then some…

Booker Dean knows exactly what he wants for Christmas: his next-door neighbor, Frances Kennedy. And he’s got a gift planned for her that involves lots of delicious unwrapping.

Officer Parker Ross hates Christmas, while Lily Donaldson lives for it. But he’s willing to be converted, especially when Lily is the one doing the persuading.

Sergeant Osbourne Decker suspects pet psychic Marci Churchill is barking mad, but she’s also a knockout. And when she’s accused of stealing a donkey from the local nativity scene, he can’t stop thinking about frisking her.

Furious at her cheating fiancé, Beth Monroe decides to enjoy a payback tryst with his gorgeous best friend, and finds that revenge is best served hot and sweet…

I love this anthology. I’ve read some of the stories every year for at least five years. What’s fantastic is having all the Lori Foster holiday stores in one place. I have two of them in other anthologies, but love this collection. Each story is romantic and sexy. My favorite is the second story, WHITE KNIGHT CHRISTMAS. I love Parker and his selfless attitude (even if he’s a bit of a Grinch). Any fan of holiday romance won’t be disappointed!

the book girl gives YULE BE MINE a 5/5

to find the book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

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