The Outlander Series

Like I don’t have enough to do. I started reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon again. I’ve made it though the first 3 books and today have embarked upon the fourth one.

1. The Outlander – Where Claire steps into a stone circle in 1945 and emerges 200 years earlier. Where to save her live she marries Jaime a Highlander and where they fall in love.
2. Dragonfly in Amber – Where Claire and Jaime make their way into the turmoil that resulted in the slaughter at Culloden trying their hardest to subvert the efforts of Bonny Prince Charles to no avail. And, where Claire, pregnant goes back through the stones to her first husband Frank.
3. Voyager – Where her husband Frank has died and Claire is ready to tell her daughter, Brianna who her real father is and where her roots lie. Where with the help of an historian, Roger, Claire and Brianna find out that Jaime never died at Culloden, but survived and was noted in historical documents. And, where Claire goes back through the stones to find him.
4. Drums of Autumn – I’ve just started this one. I know what’s coming up. I’ve read these books several times. They average about 1,000 pages each.
5. The Fiery Cross
6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes
7. An Echo in the Bone

I just today found out that the 7th book, An Echo in the Bone, was published last October, 2009. And, rumor has it there will be an 8th book before the saga is over.

If you love historical romance. If you love time travel. If you love a swash buckling yarn that goes on and on and never seems to stop you will want to read these books.

“First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux

“First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux
2005, Atria Books
ISBN: 978-0-7434-3714-1

I started it yesterday and finished it today. “First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux is a fast paced romantic mystery. I also like that the heroine and the heroes are getting along there and are solidly middle-aged.

It’s a terrific triangle of the heroine Eden Palmer and two, count them two heroes, Jared the FBI agent and Braddon the local lawyer.

Eden is bequeathed a very old house in North Carolina by a woman she hasn’t seen in years. But, the house doesn’t come to her peacefully. There is someone out there killing people and Eden finds herself being watched by the FBI.

The action is fast and furious at times. And to watch those two heroes vying for Eden’s favor and love is rather interesting. Lovely to have two men fawning over you at the same time whatever age you are.

It’s funny. It’s heart warming. It’s a really good story.

“Seducing an Angel” by Mary Balogh

“Seducing an Angel” by Mary Balogh
2009, Delacorte Press
ISBN: 98-0-385-34105-9

“Seducing an Angel” by Mary Balogh is a Victorian romance set in England. Cassandra Belmont is known far and wide as having killed her husband with an axe. Polite society tends to give her the direct cut and it almost doesn’t bother her anymore. What does bother her, is that the people closest to her, her once upon a time governess Alice who stuck with her through thick and thin, her maid Mary and her little girl Belinda and Roger a maimed, but loyal and loving dog have no one else to support them. The only answer is to find a job. Except, no one would hire Cassandra.

She feels the only answer is to acquire a protector and become his mistress. It sounds cold blooded, but if you think about it sometimes circumstances almost seem to force people into doing things they would not normally do. She picks Stephen out as her mark and spends a great deal of effort seducing him. It sounds sordid and you wonder how anybody can bear to show their face in public. I’d have a hard time doing it, I have to say.

This story has a happier time of it to show that the underlying goodness, the underlying moral character of a person will surface and be that trait best known to represent people rather than a mask they feel forced to wear.

Also, it has some juicy sex. I digress. Anyway, good book. Part of a series I think, but it seems like when Mary writes she just uncovers so many interesting stories about the people in her books that they just don’t fit into one book.

“The Perfect Poison” by Amanda Quick

“The Perfect Poison” by Amanda Quick
2009, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
ISBN: 978-0-399-15580-2

“The Perfect Poison” by Amanda Quick. Brisk. Perky. Lovely psychic stuff. Mystery. Love with the unlikeliest of people. Handsome and yet not too handsome, beautiful and yet not the fashion at all. These are all elements of the stories by Amanda Quick. But, when she signs her name as Amanda you’ve got a mystery set in the 1800’s.

Lucinda Bromley has the ability to be able to detect poison. She occasionally helps the police with cases, but she herself is viewed with horror by polite society. This is because her father was accused of killing his business partner and then committing suicide. Then, her fiancé was poisoned and it was commonly felt that she did the poisoning. She didn’t do the dastardly deed, but that is beside the point. Society thinks she did.

The bad trouble starts when she detects a very rare fern stolen from her greenhouse several months earlier had been used in a poison used to kill someone in high society. She told the police officer she works with that the person had been poisoned. What she didn’t tell him was that she suspected that the poison might have been made from her stolen fern.

Lucinda went to Jones Psychic Detective Agency and hired Caleb Jones to help her track down her fern and then to find a murderer. When Lucinda and Caleb meet the sparks begin to fly.

The psychic stuff comes in with a bunch of stories called The Arcane Society Novels. I love when the heroine doesn’t understand the subtleties just like they can often fly by me occasionally. Still, at the age of 54, I can learn from these characters on how to bounce back with aplomb from a faux paus.

It’s not just a story. It’s a box of chocolates.

“No Choice But Seduction” by Johanna Lindsey

“No Choice But Seduction” by Johanna Lindsey
2008, Pocket Books
ISBN: 978-1-4165-3732-8

If you’re a fan of Johanna Lindsey you really don’t need to read any further because I have only glowing remarks to make about, “No Choice But Seduction”. But, you already knew that. If you haven’t ever read an historical romance by Joanna Lindsey be my guest and plow into this one. You likely won’t be putting it down much until you’ve finished reading it.

What’s cool is Johanna writes about the Mallory family in a whole lot of other books, but this, like the others is a stand alone book and you can get right into it without feeling like you’re behind because you haven’t read the other books. So, I liked that right away. Actually, all her books are like that; you just can’t go wrong.

What happens here is the owner of a ship, Boyd Anderson, has finally made the decision to leave his life on the sea behind him and settle down. He’s not going to settle in America though, but where his sister has gone to live in England. She’s married into the Mallory clan as has one of his brothers. So, it just doesn’t seem that there’s all that much family in the United States anymore. He’s also come to another decision and that is he would like to get married. But, to who?

As an American he’s already considered by his British in-laws to be rash and head strong, though he pretty much thinks the same of them. He’s never lived anywhere long enough as an adult to develop a relationship with a woman, so settling down would be a first step.

The cargo his ship is carrying this last trip he makes from New England to London involves paying passengers and one of them, Katey Tyler catches his eye immediately. She is not prissy, she is kind and she is beautiful. When he makes his introduction to her she says she is married and is taking her two children back to their home in England. However, she lied. She prefers to think of it as creative thinking and the only reason she lied to Boyd was to ensure that her independence would not be threatened in any way. She’s recently inherited some money, her mother has passed on and she is alone in the world except for her long time friend and maid, Grace. The two of them are actually escorting two children to their home in England, but the fabrication serves her well.

Time passes and everybody goes about their business until Boyd’s niece is kidnapped. Her father (one of the Mallory’s) is not around and Boyd figures to step into the breech. He goes tearing off to save his niece at the same time Katey and Grace are sleeping in the next room over from the kidnappers and little Judith. It is Judith’s whimpering that wakes Katey and she moves to investigate.

Anyway, this goes on and on and things get really complicated and I don’t want to ruin the story for anybody. You really won’t be able to put it down. Figure it’s your weekend’s reading; you’ll be done by Sunday night.

“Dangerous” by Amanda Quick

“Dangerous” by Amanda Quick
1993, A Bantam Book
ISBN: 0-553-29317-6

I have read “Dangerous” by Amanda Quick many times. I can’t tell you exactly how many, but it’s been a lot over the years. Amanda Quick is Jayne Ann Krentz’ pen name for when she’s writing historical novels. All the copies I have are thumb worn from so much reading.

Amanda Quick always, always has quirky, courageous heroines and Prudence Merryweather is no exception. She’s very interested in investigating spectral phenomena and is available to investigate all sorts of problems people have with ghosts that come her way.

The ton, the upper crust of British society, is taken with this novel young lady and she becomes known as an Original. Lots of folk want to talk to her and one whose attentions are not welcomed by Prudence’s brother is from Sebastian, the Earl of Angelstone. He is known as a foreboding and forbidding man and when Prudence is asked to dance by Sebastian and is engaged in lively conversation with him her brother Trevor takes offense and challenges Sebastian to a duel.

Prudence knows that Trevor who is five years younger than herself is only trying to protect her. Their parents died 3 years before and it is the two of them against the world. Unfortunately, Trevor is sort of hot headed and Prudence figures that Sebastian, an experienced and mature man would injure or kill her brother if a duel should take place. So, she figures that the only way out is to get Sebastian to apologize and she takes it upon herself to convince him of this foolproof plan.

It’s falling in love at first sight.

Anyway, Sebastian has a secret hobby of solving mysteries and with Prudence’s interest in spectral phenomena they team up.

This is a really, really great love story. It’s historical for those who love them and it’s a mystery too.

And, the best part? Amanda Quick wrote it. I guarantee you’re going to love this book. I know I’ll be reading it again sometime.

“For the Roses” by Julie Garwood

“For the Roses” by Julie Garwood
1995, Pocket Books
ISBN: 0-61-01498-6

“For the Roses” by Julie Garwood is a terrific book. It’s sort of heavy on the sex, but, hey, what’s a romance without some sex in it? Anyway, this is a western romance. It’s about 4 young boys who are on their own in New York City right before the Civil War. They’ve formed their own gang and watch out for each other. The oldest one, Adam, is a runaway slave from down South and at 13 he assumes responsibility for the 3 younger ones.

One night Adam, Travis and Cole are asleep in their alley. Douglas has remained awake as lookout. It just isn’t safe to have a life on the streets. Douglas observes a fancy carriage, a gentleman and a woman in close conversation. A basket is handed to the woman and an envelope. The carriage leaves and the woman furtively makes her way to their alley. She throws the basket on a trash heap and runs. Douglas whistles to awaken the others, tells them to look in the basket and takes off on foot after the woman. He prides himself on being a very, very good pickpocket.

The boys get to the basket just as rats are swarming over it and find a 4 month old baby girl inside. That was the day they stopped being a gang and became a family.

They all moved West and carved out a life for themselves.

Years and years later someone comes in pursuit of Mary Rose. Lo and behold she was kidnapped as a baby and is a long lost heiress.

“For the Roses” is just a really terrific story. All the characters are colorful and the story is a gripping one. You just won’t be able to put it down. This is a terrific book.

And, the icing on the cake? This was made into a movie by Hallmark called, “Rose Hill
” and aired on television in 1997. We belong to Netflix and I was able to “save” the DVD. Netflix doesn’t have it yet, but you could go to Amazon and buy it there if you can’t wait for Netflix.

“Remembrance” by Jude Deveraux

“Remembrance” by Jude Deveraux
1994, Pocket Books
ISBN: 0-671-74459-3

It’s fascinating to read about Soul Mates. People who aren’t happily married might wonder if they are ever going to meet their soul mate. People who are ecstatically in love with somebody might think they’ve already met their soul mate. People just flat out want to be with that one person who will please them no matter what, who will love them forever and who will be the only person in the world who understands them.

Jude Deveraux has given this wondering a twist in “Remembrance”. It’s a totally fascinating yarn. She examines the issue of Soul Mates in a way I’ve just never considered before. She takes us on a story of two people through lifetimes of involvement with each other and who just can’t seem to get it right.

You can see how the traits of each of the characters in this story; not just the soul mates themselves either, but the folks who surround them carry forward from one lifetime to the next.

It’s heartening to think that you’ve got more than one lifetime to get it right.

This is a hilarious story, it’s a gripping story, it’s a sentimental story, but above all it is a romance that stretches for hundreds of years.

If you like romances and dabbling in New Age stuff do see if you can get a copy of, “Remembrance” at your library or click on the links in this blog entry to get it at Amazon. And, more fun than that you can do your own past life regression and see if you can’t come up with something interesting to think about.

“Shadow Music” by Julie Garwood

“Shadow Music” by Julie Garwood
2007, Ballentine Books
ISBN: 98-0-345-50073-1

It took me one day, from afternoon on Saturday to afternoon on Sunday to read “Shadow Music” by Julie Garwood. I’m a glutton sometimes and this was one of those books I just did not want to put down.

You’ve got a princess and you’ve got a bunch of nasty, wicked barons. She’s good. They aren’t. She thinks she’s on her way to be married. It’s in the Highlands of Scotland. She is being escorted by her loyal guard, soldiers who have had the guarding of her since she was a little girl.

They are fierce men, but they love her and would die for her. As they near the end of their journey they happen upon wicked doings. A man is being murdered. Princess Gabrielle cannot stand still to see such wickedness and notches up an arrow and lets it fly. It kills the leader of the pack of men who are busy killing the man. They rescue the man.

Turns out this man is the brother of a clan chieften. He is Colm MacHugh. How the Princess Gabrielle and Colm MacHugh wind up together is the best part of this story.

Very much a sit on the edge of your seat page turner. And, did I mention it’s a really good love story? Yeah…..yum.

“Simply Perfect” by Mary Balogh

“Simply Perfect” by Mary Balogh
2008, Delacorte Press
ISBN: 978-0-385=33824=0

“Simply Perfect” by Mary Balogh is a love story. This is a Victorian historical romance.

Claudia runs a school for girls. The students come form the elite of Britians high society and from disadvantaged children left orphans. Mixed together in their classes Claudia Martin seeks to instill in all her students a respect for one another that typically they would not experience if their education was left to chance.

It is not by chance that Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough, arrives to introduce himself to her. Busy and bothered by this intrusion into her routine of teaching Claudia is chillingly polite as she takes him on a tour of the school.

She is 35 and a spinster and has turned her heart and face from anything that might smack of involvement with a man, particularly a man of the ton.

But, it turns out Joseph has a secret and together he and Claudia come to love each other and, of course, to in the end become married.

It is the getting there that is particularly interesting. There are all sorts of obstacles and barriers to their love and they are able to surmount every one of them.

“Web of Love” by Mary Balogh

“Web of Love” by Mary Balogh
2007, Dell
ISBN: 978-0-440-24305-2

“Web of Love” by Mary Balogh. I liked it. It did take me awhile to get into the story, but once I was there it just clicked right along.

This story takes place in 1815 just prior to and after the Battle of Waterloo. Emma is married to Charlie. Charlie is a British officer. Theirs is a happy and loving marriage. They’ve welcomed into their circle of friendship Lord Eden a fellow soldier.

There are tentative sparks between Emma and Lord Eden, or Dominique as he is called, but neither will act upon them and don’t think much of them anyway. Emma and Charlie are fast in love.

But, the Battle of Waterloo happens and Charlie is killed. Lord Eden is mortally wounded and can only think in his delirium to be taken to Emma. He rasps out the news that Charlie is dead to Emma. Then, he collapses. She nurses him back to health and while she sits beside him day in and day out nursing him back to health something begins to happen. As he is returned to health he reaches out to her and wooowee we got liftoff.

It only lasts a week and then Emma somehow really realizes that her husband has died, that she’s just gotten a lover and that’s when her conscious comes back to full activity.

She makes him go away. And, she goes her separate way. But, there are repercussions and what’s particularly interesting with this story is the idea that a person can love more than one person in their lifetime, can hold onto that love and love another at the same time. It’s a mature sort of understanding of love that you don’t see that often in stories. And, of course, it does have a happy ending.

I really enjoyed this book. I will surely read another of Mary Balogh’s books the next time I get my hands on one.

“Reckless” by Amanda Quick

“Reckless” by Amanda Quick
1992, Bantam Books
ISBN: 0-553-29315-X

“Reckless” by Amanda Quick gets five stars from me. Every time I read this book it is just as fresh and wonderful as the first time I read it years ago. Quick’s trademark with her historical novels are quirky heroines and heroes. They just don’t fit in with the rest of society around them and manage to eventually find each other.

This one is about Phoebe Layton, youngest daughter of a wealthy family who just didn’t fit in. They all worried about her, but she set her sights on being a publisher. She had to do this in secret because her family would never understand or approve. But her first writer is Gabriel Banner, the man of her dreams. However, there she has a problem and she’s decided that he is the only one who can help her with it. It involves an old friend who, coincidently, is an enemy of Gabriel’s. He does not, though, know that she is his publisher and is not particularly inclined to help her. Letter after letter she sends to him and finally, creates enough interest or irritation for him to agree to meet with her.

Plans unfold. She finds herself in danger. They fall in love. It may be the same old love story, but Amanda Quick always finds a fresh new way to tell it.

I read this as I moved through the irritating sickness of a summer cold. It was just what the doctor ordered, even better than chicken soup.

“A Man to Call My Own” by Johanna Lindsey

“A Man to Call My Own” by Johanna Lindsey
2003, Atria Books
ISBN: 0-7434-5633-5

Although I’ve read Johanna Lindsey before “A Man to Call My Own” isn’t a book I would recommend. I did not like the recurring themes that occurred throughout the story; petty jealousies, insecurity and an immaturity in the characters that reminded me of what it was like to be in the 9th grade. I’d hoped for more. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood.

“The Third Circle” by Amanda Quick

“The Third Circle” by Amanda Quick
2008, Penguin Books
ISBN: 978-0-399-15484-3

I got all tingly when I saw this in my library. Amanda Quick is one of my favorite authors and I have never once been disappointed by anything she’s written. “The Third Circle” was especially delightful. Ms. Quick has a tendency to show characteristics that show up in her characters from one genre to another. She writes under different names for the different time periods. When she’s writing about futuristic stuff she writes under the name of Jayne Castle. What happened in “The Third Circle” was that the paranormal stuff going on in the future is shown to be first happening in Victorian times.

I just love it. Especially as I’m a psychic and can relate to this stuff presented as far out author’s license and imagination or not. It happens. And, I’m thrilled to know of these things on another level too. Amanda Quick just takes it all that extra step beyond to where the normal reader is going to say, “Oh, man, this is just so far out, but I’ll buy into it for this story.” I love these characters anyway. I love how they relate to each other. I love the suspense of the stories. Another Amanda Quick book? Yeah, I want to read it now!”

The requisite romance, meeting of unmatchable hero with unmatchable heroine and the sparks fly. If you’ve never read Amanda Quick check out your local library. They’re sure to have one by her. And, if you’re really lucky you’ll get to check out, “The Third Circle”. And, Jayne Ann Krentz is such a prolific writer whatever book you pick out of hers to read I can absolutely guarantee, if you are a fan of the romance and suspenseful story, you will love it.

“I Thee Wed” by Amanda Quick

“I Thee Wed” by Amanda Quick
1999 Bantam
ISBN: 0-553-57410-8

“I Thee Wed” by Amanda Quick will captivate you from the first page. I can’t say that I’ve ever read a book by Amanda Quick that failed to do that.

This is an historical romance and plucky heroine Emma Greyson finds herself drawn to Edison Stokes to solve a mystery. It is these tried and true techniques that are used in many of the books Amanda Quick writes and in each and every one of them they are fresh and wonderful and I cannot put her books down once I’ve started reading one.

The secret gardens of Vanza figure into this story and Edison Stokes, the hero, is well matched by Emma Greyson, the heroine, who has her share of intuition. It is interesting to see just how very usual the unusual can become to folks who are accustomed to such things. It reminds me of my own channeling. After awhile it’s just who you are and what you do.

I love how Amanda Quick takes folks from the 19th century and shows how they really aren’t all that different from how we are in the 21st century. Have plans this weekend? Sorry, you'll need to cancel them. You won’t be able to put this book down once you’ve started it.

A note to this review. It is September, 2009 and I have read, "I Thee Wed" again. Just as good this time as it was before. One of the advantages of getting old is in being able to enjoy a book many times over. If you have a copy of this keep it. There may come a day when you want to read it again. It's like having cravings....if it is not exactly chocolate then nothing else will do and for me an Amanda Quick book was on my menu.

“Simply Magic” by Mary Balogh

“Simply Magic” by Mary Balogh
2007, Bantam Dell
ISBN: 978-0-385-33823-3


I have my own personal gauges for what I consider good books. You can get a “good” feeling in your body. That’s not something that’s real obvious, but you know personally if you feel good or not. A more obvious clue for me if I like a book is if I cry at one or more points along the way. I did that with, “Simply Magic” by Mary Balogh.

If you’ve read any other books by Mary Balogh you’ll recognize some of the names in the books. Her characters are finely drawn and crafted and deserve to be in more than one book. I think it’s wonderful how she pulls the awkwardness of first meetings, of first infatuation and the hesitancy of first loves into this story. This is a Regency Romance with balls and coaches and polite teas. But, this is also the story of two people from different worlds who recognize in each other that simple gold and silver thread that is love.

Susanna Osbourne, with her green eyes and auburn hair, meets Peter Edgeworth, Viscount Whitleaf, by pure happenstance. If either of them had made a decision they’d both been contemplating the day before their meeting it would never have happened. And, I thought it was fantastic to read Peter’s thoughts as he saw her for the first time, “There she is.” Simple, but how wonderfully a heart will recognize love before the people involved will acknowledge it.

It is also always interesting to me to see how people in stories grow and develop. I loved seeing how their love brought them both the courage to do things for themselves that prior to their meeting they’d just not been willing or able to do. Together they created a formidable force.

“Simply Magic” was terrific. You can vist Mary's website here.

“Mystique” by Amanda Quick

“Mystique” by Amanda Quick
1995, Bantam
ISBN: 0-553-57159-1

Medieval knight, Sir Hugh the Relentless is feared by all. All except Alice, a saucy green eyed, red haired woman, who would seek to bargain her way out of an intolerable situation for herself and her brother. Alice is a healer and is as effective at it in medieval times as any physician in our own. She combines known medical knowledge with keen powers of observation to help heal the pain Hugh has borne since he was a boy.

Amanda Quick has themes that run through many of her books. I never tire of them. She is like an artist who seeks to capture just that one beautiful moment when the light streams into a meadow. And, she paints it over and over again. So, too, with “Mystique” do the themes of powerful self-esteem not only for women, but for everyone come through, but so does confidence.

Of course there is mystery and intrigue in this story. There is a legend to live up to and the requisite happy ending that is a must for me. Most importantly, this is the story of love that happens, that blooms, that grows and that matures with time between a strong and unyielding knight and his resourceful and practical lady wife. And, as with all of Amanda Quick’s books there is a vein of humor that runs throughout. I guarantee that you will laugh and that you will cry reading this book. I know I have all the many times I’ve read it through the years. “Mystique” is truly a treasure of a book.

Amanda Quick is the pen name Jayne Ann Krentz uses when she writes her historical romances.

"With This Ring" by Amanda Quick

"With This Ring" by Amanda Quick
1998, Bantam Books
ISNB: 0-553-5409-4

Once again I'm reviewing a book I've read a dozen times. I'm not kidding. This is a keeper and, "With This Ring" is one of my favorite Amanda Quick books. The heroine is a writer of horrid novels. The hero can't stand them. They come to love one another and accept the quirks that, at first, rubbed them the wrong way about each other. It's a theme that runs through many of Amanda's books. And, it's a theme that I love to read again and again.

A mystery, a women past her prime with all thoughts of love gone finds love again to a man in the same boat. It's not just the young ones who can have a great love story. Leo Drake, the Mad Monk of Monkcrest teams up with Beatrice Poole, writer of horrid novels to find the rings that will unlock the mystery of the stature of Aphrodite. And, like all of Amanda Quick's books the ending is just the sort that satisfies me.

I heartily recommend that you purchase this book. If you're like me you'll be reading it again and again. Enjoy.

P.S. Did I say I read this one often? Here it is now 3/16/09 and I've just finished it again. Just as terrific this time as it's been all the other times I've read it. I know you'll enjoy it.