Book Binge

Casee's review of Guardian Angel (Crown Spies, Book 2) by Julie Garwood.

The Emerald flew across the seas, carrying the pirate Pagan — despised by the ton, whose riches he plundered, and beloved by the poor, whose plight was eased by his gifts.

The Marquess of Cainewood vows to hunt down the pirate wretch in revenge for his brother's death. But when Jade, an enchanting vision of rippling red hair and eyes of jewel-green, appears at his door to beg desperately for his protection, the Marquess agrees to keep her safe from the villains who want her dead. Jade is infuriating, exasperating, and gorgeous; Caine is noble, strong-willed, and powerful. No woman has ever befuddled him so, nor so deeply aroused his desire. But as Jade answers his knowing caresses with an innocent, wild abandon, they are drawn into a web of treachery that will test the very heart of their love!

This was the first time I ever re-read Guardian Angel. I vaguely recalled not being especially impressed therefore no reason for a re-read. I'm really glad that I did re-read it b/c I enjoyed it the second time around.

Julie Garwood has a gift for creating men that want to protect their women and women that are equally determined to protect their men. Caine and Jade are a perfect example.

Caine is working hard to draw out the pirate named Pagan. Though hailed as a hero by most, Caine wants to kill him. To draw him out, Caine pretends to be Pagan. He has no idea that a woman will turn up offering money in exchange for killing her. Thus begins the story of two people that don't seem to belong together.

Jade is the one protecting Caine, but she lets Caine think that he's protecting her. It's all part of an elaborate plan to draw out an English traitor. Jade thinks that by showing Caine that his brother is indeed alive, he will stop his relentless pursuit of Pagan. Caine has no idea that Jade is anyone other than a gentle maiden needing his assistance until her brother returns to England.

My favorite part of the book was when Jade informed Caine that he couldn't love her b/c he didn't know the real her. The person he knows is someone that is timid and needs protecting. Jade is neither of those things. She is someone that will be an equal partner, or else. Caine realizes exactly what Jade needs; she needs reassurance. After a tumultuous child hood, Jade will never be abandoned again. To that end, she leaves Caine before he can leave her. I love how Caine just went after her time and again to prove to her that he wasn't letting her go. Sigh.

There is a big spoiler that I would love to reveal, but in case you haven't read the book I'll keep quiet. Too often in reading Julie Garwood's amazing medieval romances, I forget that she does Regency just as well.

4.5 out of 5.

This book is available from Pocket. You can buy it here.

The series:

Okay, so it's not quite 2010. Today is the final day of our 12 Days of Christmas. Thanks to everyone that participated. We received some wonderful emails from all of you. There are some recipes that I can't wait to try out. Heh.

We have two Jodi Thomas books for you today:

The Lone Texan by Jodi Thomas
Tall, Dark, and Texan by Jodi Thomas

Leave a comment or email us telling us what your New Year resolution(s) is. Send emails to contests @ thebookbinge . com (no spaces). Put 'Day 12' in the subject line.

We hope you all have a happy and safe New Year!

Casee's review of Waking the Dead (The Mindhunters, Book 3) by Kylie Brant.

Former forensic anthropologist Caitlin Fleming knows bones. So the investigator is the first one called when seven sets of skeletal remains are found dumped in a makeshift graveyard in the Oregon wilderness. Each skeleton bears the same distinctive marks. And each is minus a skull.

Cait needs outdoors guide Zach Sharper for one reason only—to help her find her way through the Willamette Forest as she pieces together clues. Despite the attraction that burns between them, nothing will be allowed to shake her focus. Until the killer closes in to terminate the investigation…and the ones on the verge of unmasking him…

This is book three in Brant's Mindhunters series and the best one of the series.

Before she became a forensic anthropologist, Caitlin Fleming was a well known model. It was only for a few brief years in her teenage years, but it was long enough that Cait still has to prove herself. Zach Sharper is no exception. He recognizes her the moment he lays eyes on her and judges her right then. Zach has no idea how she got into law enforcement and can't imagine that she's good at anything but being pretty. Cait proves him wrong in no time, which was really enjoyable to read.

Zach was the person that found the bones, the reason for Cait coming to Oregon. When the Mindhunter's are called in, things get done. Cait is there to piece the bones together and try to figure out who they are and where they were killed. To do that, she has to scour miles of Oregon wilderness...with Zach as her guide.

The pacing was a little slow b/c of the fact that Cait's job was so tedious. The work of a forensic anthropologist is nothing glamorous. Taking soil samples, contacting detectives about missing person cases, and questioning people in town is necessary to get a profile of their killer.

Cait briefly considers Zach as a suspect, then dismisses it. She does believe that some serial killers need some sort of acknowledgment from their "work", but doesn't believe that is the case in this situation. The sheriff isn't so quick to dismiss Zach as a suspect.

Zach and Cait both have their demons. Zach's demon is his dad, Cait's demon is her mom. While Zach has no contact with his dad, Cait's mom constantly contacts her about returning to modeling. There was twist with Cait's mom that was surprising and I didn't quite understand why it was necessary to the story.

Of the three books, Waking the Dead was the best blend of romance and suspense. Zach and Cait were also two of the more likable characters in the series. Kylie Brant definitely has a hit with this series and I look forward to seeing where it goes.

4 out of 5.

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

The series:

Tracy's review of A Highlander Christmas by Dawn Halliday, Cindy Miles and Sophie Renwick

For centuries, a mystical family heirloom - the MacDonald clan pin - has been passed down through the generations, helping each owner find her heart's desire.

In each of these stories the MacDonald clan pin plays a role in the romance.

Winter's Heat (1715)

This is the story of a widowed woman, Maggie MacDonald, who is being persued by a disgusting and vile man by the name of Innes. Innes manages to take her from her home during a wicked winter storm and heads up the mountain to a cabin that he has prepared. Maggie tries her best to get away from him and eventually succeeds. But she's in a blizzard and is frozen in her shift and plaid. Along comes Logan Douglas who is slowly making his way home to the northern most part of Scotland. He finds Maggie almost dead in the snow and manages to save her life.

Maggie and Logan spend a week in a cabin getting to know each other and finding that they've met their soul mate. The last thing Logan wants to do is head home without Maggie but Maggie has been promised in marriage to Innes by her cousin, the Laird. Once the blizzard stops the two make their way to the Laird's castle and find that Logan has to fight a duel to keep Maggie by his side.

I very much enjoyed this story. I thought that Maggie and Logan were great together and having so much time in solitude together they truly got to know each other. It was a sweet and endearing story of soul mates meeting

Yuletide Enchantment (1869)

Isobel MacDonald has been promised in marriage to a man not of her choosing. It seems that a white stag that she has known since childhood has turned into her protector. She's not sure how or why but she wants to find out. What she finds is a man, Daegan, who captures her eye and her heart. Only Daegan is a Sidhe and prince of the woods. To take a human/mortal woman as wife would be to break a horrible Sidhe law. But Daegan feels that Isobel is his soul mate and he'll do anything to be with her.

Another cute novella. Although at times that I felt that Daegan, who was hundreds of years old, was acting like a teenager with his first woman but it was such a powerful attraction it was easy to forgive. It was definitely a love conquers all story.

A Christmas Spirit (present day)

Tired of spending Christmas alone Paige MacDonald books herself a self driving tour of Scotland. Only during a blizzard she misses her turn off to Inverness and ends up at a B & B in Gorloch. The B & B ends up being a castle with a resident ghost. At first Paige is horrified and runs for her life but eventually starts getting used to the ghost, Gabriel Munro. She not only gets used to him but falls head over heels in love with him. Gabriel also falls hard and fast for Paige.

When Gabriel finds out that Paige is from those MacDonalds he tells her to leave immediately. You see, the MacDonald clan, back in the 12th century, were the ones who had murdered Gabriel and he wants nothing to do with them or any of their descendants. When Paige returns to Inverness she finds some very special descendants of Gabriel's who help both Gabriel and Paige come together.

I very much enjoyed this story. I thought that it was wonderful that Paige and Gabriel, despite their incredible difference - him being a ghost and her being human - wanted to be together. They were so happy just to be together that it warmed my heart. However there were some events toward the end of the story that were wonderful but I just couldn't understand for the life of me. Maybe had I read a previous story in this series (which I have and will probably read soon) I would have understood better but things just weren't explained suffinciently and it just left me slightly unsatisfied.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

This book is available from NAL. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy's Place.

We have two anthologies for you today.

Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook
Double the Heat by Lori Foster, Deirdre Martin, Elizabeth Bevarly, and Christie Ridgway

Email us or leave a comment telling us the best part of your holiday season. Send emails to contests @ thebookbinge . com (no spaces) with 'Day 11' in the subject line.

Casee's review of Shattered (Bitter Creek Series, Book 8) by Joan Johnston.

Nine years ago Kate Grayhawk Pendelton walked into Wyatt Shaw's life—and out of it the next morning. Now Wyatt's back—and has the power to shatter Kate's future with the man she loves.

By reputation, Wyatt Shaw is a brutal killer who always gets what he wants. And he wants Kate and her twin eight-year-old sons.

Texas Ranger Jack McKinley is hot on Wyatt Shaw's trail. The presumed heir to the D'Amato crime syndicate is threatening to steal the woman he loves.

Holly McKinley is fighting to keep Jack from leaving her for another woman. Now the secret she's kept for over twenty years may save their son's life, and cost her the only man she's ever loved.

!@#$$%^&*!@#$%^&*

I can't tell you exactly what I was saying as I was reading this book. What I can say is that Joan Johnston really screwed her readers on this one. Shattered is the newest book in Johnston's Bitter Creek series. I have doggedly stuck with it (waiting for Jack and Kate to FINALLY get together) only to end up feeling completely screwed over at the end. I felt like Johnston was giving the proverbial finger to her readers while writing this book.

The Bitter Creek series started way back in 2000. In 2005, The Next Mrs. Blackthorne was released. It was supposed to be the story of Clay Blackthorne and Libby Grayhawk (which it was to a certain extent). It was either in this book or the one before it (The Rivals) that Kate and Jack first meet. Kate is nineteen and instantly falls for Jack. Sparks fly, etc. Jack is older and more jaded. He rejects Kate, which sends her into the arms of another man. Nine years later, they meet again. Kate is widowed (or so she thinks) with twin boys. Jack is going through a divorce. It's finally their time. At the end of A Stranger's Game (2009), Kate and Jack are as good as together. Then Kate's husband comes back from the dead. Obviously you think that is the obstacle that will come between Kate and Jack. Nope.

The bottom line is that Kate and Jack DON'T END UP TOGETHER. OMGWTFBBQ. It's bull shit. The story would have been good if JACK AND KATE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO END UP TOGETHER. There is no sense to be made from the fact that Kate and Jack END UP WITH OTHER PEOPLE. And who they end up with is so fucking cliched. Jack ends up with the wife he was going to divorce. Kate ends up with the man she had a one night stand with, resulting in the birth of her twins.

In the midst of all that, Kate's husband decides that he wants revenge on his bitch of a wife and her lover. Then he decides to blah blah blah, blah blah blah, blabety blah.

The end.

1 out of 5.

This book is available from Mira. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

The series:

Casee's review of The Lion's Lady (Crown Spies, Book 1) by Julie Garwood.

Christina Bennett had taken London society by storm. The ravishing beauty guarded the secret of her mysterious past until the night Lyon, Marquis of Lyonwood, stole a searching, sensuous kiss. An arrogant nobleman with a pirate's passions, he tasted the wild fire smoldering beneath Christina's cool charm and swore to posess her...

But the fiesty and defiant Christina would not be so easily conquered. Mistress of her heart and of her fortune, she resisted Lyon's sensuous caresses. She dared not surrender to his love...for then, she must also forsake her precious secret...and her promised destiny!

I am really sucking at reviews this month. The words just aren't flowing. My creative juices have dried up.

The best part of this book was when Christina eats the shrubs. I have re-read this book dozens of times and every time I get to that part, I laugh. A lot.

She was so enchanting. Her smile of pleasure made Lyon feel at peace again. Christina looked quite mesmerized. Lyon watched as she reached out and tore a leaf from the hedge, then began to twirl it between her fingers as she continued to sway to the music.

He thought she didn't even realize what she was doing. Her gaze was directed on the gentleman singing the song, her manner relaxed, unguarded.

Lyon knew she wasn't aware she was being watched, either. She wouldn't have eaten the leaf otherwise, or reached for another.

"Sir, which one is Princess Christina?" Andrew asked Lyon, just as Rhone started in choking on his laughter.

Rhone had obviously been watching Christina, too.

"Sir?"

"The blond-headed one," Lyon muttered, shaking his head. He watched in growing disbelief as Christina daintily popped another leaf into her mouth.

"Which blond-headed one?" Andrew persisted.

"The one eating the shrubs."

This one scene really tells you everything you need to know about this book. Christina is such an unconventional heroine, you can't not want to know more about her. Honestly, what type of English woman (or any woman) eats shrubbery? Christina does that and a lot more.

Christina and Lyon are two characters that were made for each other in every way. Lyon is what Christina considers a warrior. Lyon isn't always proud of the things he has done in the name of his country, but Christina refuses to believe he's anything but strong and courageous. Lyon knows there's more the Princess Christina than meets the eye, but he finds it surprisingly hard to get information out of her. Truthful information that is.

While the plot of Christina confronting her father certainly added an element to the story, it didn't drive it. The best part of this book is after Christina and Lyon get married. Seeing these two have to adjust to each other was really wonderful. It was both amusing and heartwarming. There is a strong sense of family in this book. I really have so many favorite parts of this book that it is hard not to recount them all. So I'll just tell you: read the book. You won't be sorry.

5 out of 5.

This book is available from Pocket. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Other books in the series:

Not only is our 12 Days of Christmas giveaways almost over, but it's also going to be 2010 in 3 days. Eeek.

Today we have a few of romantic suspense books for you.

Up Close and Personal by Carla Cassidy
Long, Lean, and Lethal by Lorie O'Clare
Waking the Dead by Kylie Brant

What kind of Christmas decorator are you? Do you go all out or is it just a little here, a little there? When do you take your decorations down?

Email your response to contests @ thebookbinge . com (no spaces) with 'Day 10' in the subject line.

Casee's review of Forbidden Falls (Virgin River series, book 9) by Robyn Carr.

Virgin River is abuzz with the news that a stranger bought the town's abandoned church on eBay. The buyer, a young widowed reverend, is a little like the building itself: in need of some loving care.

Noah Kincaid arrives ready to roll up his sleeves and revitalize his new purchase, but he's going to need some help. An ad in the local paper brings an improbable candidate his way.

"Pastor's assistant" is not a phrase that springs to mind when Noah meets brassy, beautiful Alicia Baldwin. With her colorful clothes and even more colorful past, Alicia needs a respectable job so she can regain custody of her children. Noah can't help but admire her spunk and determination, and she may just be the breath of fresh air he needs.

This unlikely duo may come from two different worlds, but they have more in common than anyone would have expected. And in Virgin River lasting happiness is never out of the question.

I loved the first three books in this series. Robyn Carr created a truly amazing place. Virgin River is one of the few fictional places I read about that I wish I could actually visit. I wasn't particularly thrilled with A Virgin River Christmas, but was happy for another installment all the same. When the next three books came out, I had high expectations. They were all disappointing. I went back and re-read some of my reviews. I can't believe I gave Temptation Ridge such a high review. Looking back, I think that after reading Second Chance Pass, anything would have been better.

When I read the blurb for Forbidden Falls, I cringed a little. It's the typical preacher/stripper cliche. She needs to be respectable for [insert reason]. He doesn't want to hire her, but can tell she's really down on her luck. That was the case in Forbidden Falls, but it wasn't blatantly obvious. The only thing Ellie has ever wanted was to take care of her kids. To her, being a stripper was a necessary evil. When she meets a man that can take her out of that line of work and provide her kids with the life she so desperately wants for them, she jumps at it. Only to find herself divorced a year later. Not only that, but her ex-husband has convinced the judge (a man she knows from her dancing days) that she is a bad mother and gets temporary custody. So she needs a respectable job and fast.

One of my biggest gripes in the last three books of this series was the multiple pov's. I'm not just talking about two or three. I'm talking about four or five. Even six. It was enough so you could never get into the story of the couple the book was supposed to be about. I just felt like I was being bounced around from story to story, never getting invested in any of the outcomes. This book did have multiple pov's (outside of Noah and Ellie's) but it didn't overpower their story.

Noah grew up in a religious household. His father was a minister, something that Noah swore he would never be. When he left home, he cut off all contact with his father. When his wife and then his mother died, Noah thought it would destroy him. He found comfort in seminary school, something that still surprises to this day.

Robyn Carr does a great job of writing emotion. Noah was at a crossroads in his life when he decided to buy the church in Virgin River. Buying and restoring it was something that he had no intention of doing. Ellie is a mother that is desperate to get her children back. The "bad guy" part of the book was necessary I suppose. I did feel like Carr waffled back and forth about whether he was actually bad or just one of those bad guys that desperately wants to be good.

This was the best book since Whispering Rock. It really takes the reader back to the roots of Virgin River and the characters that make it.

3.75 out of 5.

This book is available from Mira. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Other books in the series:

Rowena's review of The Wedding by Julie Garwood.

Hero: Connor MacAllister
Heroine: Lady Brenna

Journeying from England to Scotland to wed a highlander, Lady Brenna had resigned herself to the arranged match. But when a band of fierce, painted warriors captured her en route, she fearlessly met their demand to marry their leader — the quick-tempered laird Connor MacAlister. She couldn't know that her capture was merely the first act of vengeance against her betrothed, Connor's sworn enemy. Brenna harbored no illusions that her husband was in love with her; after a hasty forest wedding, MacAlister assured her she could return home once she had borne him a son. But she could not deny that she had once proposed to MacAlister — ten years ago, when she was just a child, and the visitor to her father's castle charmed her with his dazzling, unexpected smile. Now, as she sets out to win the brave chieftain whom she has come to adore, a legacy of revenge ensnares Brenna in a furious clan war — and only her faith in her gallant hero can save her...

Goodness, I've reread so many Julie Garwood books this month and all of them are such great favorites of mine that have fell off my radar. I've been reading books that I used to read twice a month and getting to know these characters all over again puts me in such a good mood and with the bad luck that I've been having, it's definitely a good thing.

This is my absolute favorite Julie Garwood novel and I'm bummed that I haven't read it in such a long time. Getting to know both Connor and Brenna again brought back so many memories of the times that I used to read it before.

Connor isn't an easy man to love. He was stubborn and he was bullheaded but I couldn't help falling for him anyway. Watching the transformation come over him as he fell in love with Brenna was just too cute. Seeing the things that he thought were important to him come second to his feelings for Brenna...watching him get to that realization made the entire book just that much better. Connor was a fantastic hero and one that will always be near and dear to my Julie Garwood loving heart.

Lady Brenna was a hoot to get to know. From the time she's a young lass of 4 running around chasing that little piglet and then when she goes about trying to secure herself a husband without her father's help to when Connor kidnaps her and they get to their wedding and then the way that she remembered their wedding to their wedding night to just about everything about her was a definite treat. She's a great JG heroine, one of the more memorable heroines in my opinion.

Together, Connor and Brenna were a great couple. One of the couples that I instantly think of when someone brings up Julie Garwood. Connor and Brenna complimented each other in so many different ways and their story was such an entertaining story. One of those stories that will get you.

The baddies in this book, Lady Euphemia, Raen and the pig MacNare were all equally distasteful and I'm glad that they all got their just desserts at the end. I thoroughly disliked all three of those jerks and was glad to see that Connor made sure they all paid for what they did to his loved ones. My favorite thing about a Garwood novel is that sense of justice being served at the end of each book. I can be a bloodthirsty wench sometimes and watching the bad guys get their asses handed to them never ceases to make me happy.

Overall, this story was great. A definite treat for anyone who is in the mood for a great historical novel featuring a flighty but well meaning heroine and a stubborn hero who needs the soft touch only a woman can bring into his life. Watching the adventure begin and continue throughout this book is enough to keep me coming back for more. You won't be disappointed!

This book is available from Pocket. You can buy it here.

Can you believe it's already over? Every year I'm surprised by how fast it goes by. All that planning and it's over in the blink of an eye.

We have two books for today, both historicals.

How To Dazzle a Duke by Claudia Dain
A Seduction at Christmas by Cathy Maxwell

Send us an email to contests @ thebookbinge . com (no spaces) telling us the best gift you gave or received this year. Put 'Day 9' in the subject line.

Holly's review of The Lost anthology featuring J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Blayney, Ruth Langan

I'll admit I picked this up for the JDR novella, but I've read other short stories by the other authors before (in previous JDR anthos) and figure this would be a good collection.


J. D. Robb’s Missing in Death investigates a female tourist’s disappearance during a ferry ride. Detective Eve Dallas wonders…if she didn’t jump, and she’s not on board, then where in the world is she?

Surprisingly, I didn't love this. Generally I like the in-between novellas, but this one didn't grab me. It was interesting, but not as good as I've come to expect from Robb.

The investigation of Eve's was a good one and I was intrigued by the mystery (how does a person get a body off a packed ferry with no one realizing it?).

I think my problem stems from the gray area Eve has to deal in. Generally having to cross a line would have bother her quite a bit more than it did. While I understood the reason she chose to go the way she did, I don't think there was enough internal conflict over it.

On the other hand, it does show quite a bit of growth on her part, so...I'm conflicted.

3.75 out of 5

In Patricia Gaffney’s The Dog Days of Laurie Summer, a woman awakens to a familiar yet unsettling world.

This is probably my favorite story in the group. I didn't expect to like it, but it really pulled me in. Laurie Summer had an accident and ends up in a coma. For 3 months she can hear everything that goes on around her but can't respond. Until one day she wakes up as a dog. Through the eyes of the dog, she realizes what's truly important in life.

While this could have been cheesy, Gaffney wrote it in such a way that it was charming and sweet. Some of the thoughts Laurie had as the dog had me laughing out loud, not to mention her actions.

Or maybe I fell into the story because my husband often gives our dogs voices and thoughts? Either way, I enjoyed it.

4 out of 5


In Mary Blayney’s Lost in Paradise, a man locked in an island fortress finds hope for freedom in an enigmatic nurse.

This is my least favorite of the collection. Isabelle is asked by her priest if she'll agree to live on an island for a year and serve as their nurse, bring much needed vaccines and modern medicine to the inhabitants. She agrees, but quickly realizes all is not as it seems.

Sebastian was cursed 100+ years ago and had hoped Isabelle would be the one to break it, but he's afraid to open himself up to her. Instead of embracing what they could have had, he pushes her away.

I think part of the problem for me is I was a bit lost with the story. Not the backstory, but the things that were happening between Isabelle and Sebastian. It would seem they were together and happy, then Sebastian would push her away for no reason.

In the end I didn't care for the overall tone of the story or believe in their HEA.

2.5 out of 5


And Ruth Ryan Langan’s Legacy belongs to a young woman who unearths a family secret buried on the grounds of a magnificent but imposing Irish castle.

I liked the premise behind this story. Aidan has spent the last several months taking care of her mother and now that she's passed on has been left with a mountain of debt. When she's offered a considerable amount of money to go to Ireland to see if she's the long-lost granddaughter of an old Irishman she agrees out of desperation, though she doesn't believe for a second she's the woman the old man is looking for.

Ross is her would-be grandfather's lawyer and surrogate son. They immediately feel an attraction to one another, but they rub each other wrong. As they wait for proof of Aidan's ancestry, they become closer and closer.

While I enjoyed this story for the most part, I felt it was very rushed at the end. Aidan and Ross go from sniping at and antagonizing each other to falling in love very quickly. I wish there had been a bit more page time, or even a gloss-over of several weeks. As it stands they go from being complete strangers to being in love and living happily ever after in the space of a few days.

Had it been just a bit longer I would have enjoyed it quite a bit more.
3.25 out of 5

Overall this is a good collection if you're looking for a quick, light read. I imagine many In Death fans will want it for the Robb story, but I hope that, like me, enjoyment can be found in some of the others.

Final grade: 3.5 out of 5
This book is available from Jove. You can buy it here or here in e-format(right now Fictionwise is offering a 100% rebate on this book, so if you purchase from there you're basically getting the book for free).

Yes, we know that Christmas has come and gone but we've decided to keep the Christmas party going and today we're giving you a chance to win more books!

The books we're giving away today are:

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

For today's contest all you have to do is email us a list of your top 3 favorite Christmas movies. At this time of year when it's cold outside, it's always nice to curl up with a good book or to watch a good holiday movie...email your lists to us at contests[at]the book binge . com (no spaces) and we'll pick our favorite choices and announce the winners after the New Year!

Thanks and good luck,
Rowena, Casee & Holly

Merry Christmas! We know most of you will be busy today, so no need to rush. We will be open for entries until New Years.

If we were on the ball, today would have been the 12th day of Christmas. Look at it this way...now you have something to look forward after Christmas.

Today we have a couple of Christmas themed books for you.

Some Enchanted Season by Marilyn Pappano
Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb


Leave a comment or send an email to contests @ thebookbinge . com and tell us what you're doing (or did) on Christmas day. If you email us, put 'Day 7' in the subject line.

We hope everyone is having a happy holiday!

XOXO,
Casee, Holly, and Rowena

Holly's review of Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood

In the feuding English court, gentle Lady Madelyne suffered the cruel whims of her ruthless brother, Baron Louddon. Then, in vengeance for a bitter crime, Baron Duncan of Wexton—the Wolf—unleashed his warriors against Louddon's main. Exquisite Madelyne was the prize he catured...but when he gazed upon the proud beauty, he pledged to protect her with his life. In his rough-hewn castle, Duncan proved true to his honor. But when at last their noble passion conquered them both, she surrendered with all her soul. Now, for love, Madelyne would stand fast...as bravely as her Lord, the powerful Wolf who fought for...Honor's Splendour.

I never get tired of reading this book. I simply adore it.

Baron Duncan of Wexton showed up at Baron Louddon's keep. Louddon has plans to kill Duncan by lashing him to a tree outside. Since it's the middle of winter he figues Duncan will freeze to death, then his body can be dumped in the wood for the animals to get to. What Louddon' doesn't know is that Duncan plans to take is sister captive. Louddon dishonored Duncan's sister, and he plans to repay him in the same fashion. Louddon leaves for London and Duncan is just about to attack when Madelyne changes everything. She comes forward to release him and then she does something he never would have expected: She warms his feet. From then on he doesn't know what to do with her, though it would seem their roles have become reversed; For Madelyne has captured him, not the other way around.

While I like Madelyne, Duncan is the one that steals the show. He captures Madelyne as a way to exact revenge against her brother, but right from the beginning he's intrigued by her. He can't seem to figure her out and it drives him crazy. He does decide right from the beginning that Madelyne will be his, though. I just love that he's the one who falls into Madelyne, instead of it being the other way around.

Madelyne is strong and courageous. I loved watching her open up with Duncan. In the beginning she's very closed off, but Duncan and his family really draw her out. I loved the way she took charge of his household, especially his sister and brothers. Even though she's younger than most of them, she still acts like a mother figure to them. Or tries to.

I really loved Duncan's siblings, especially Adella. The secondary storyline between her and Baron Gerald - one of Duncan's allies - was hilarious.

As with all Garwood novels there are many humorous scenes in this novel, especially in the beginning while Madelyne is settling in at Duncan's keep. I love how he tries to convince himself he doesn't care for her. The arguments he has with himself are so logical and well thought out.

If you haven't already, you really need to read this book.

This book is available from Pocket. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Merry Christmas Eve!! For day 6, we have an assortment of paranormal romances.

Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl
Finding the Lost by Shannon K. Butcher
Hunter's Need by Shiloh Walker

To be entered to win, leave a comment or email us at contests @ thebookbinge . com (no spaces) and tell us your favorite Christmas tradition. If you email us, put 'Day 6' in the subject line.

Also, add in whether you're ready for Christmas or not. Maybe I won't feel as bad. Heh.

Rowena's review of Haunting Beauty by Erin Quinn.

Hero: Sean Ballough
Heroine: Danni Jones

Danni always believed she was an abandoned child. Then the seductive Sean Ballogh appears out of nowhere with a startling story challenging everything Danni thought was true. He claims that Danni's family has been searching for her ever since she disappeared twenty years ago. He's come to bring her home to Ireland. Now, Danni must rewrite history to save her family, to fight a force more evil than she ever imagined, and to reunite herself with the man she was destined for-or risk living forever in time as nothing more than an ethereal memory, a tragic and haunting beauty.

This is one of the most complex books I've read in a long time. It's a time travel that had me gripped and very much captivated at the same time. I had to know what happened to Danni, to her Mother and brother and then finally to Sean.

It's not a book that I would easily recommend to everyone. I spent a good deal of the book confused because I couldn't tell what was vision and what was real because it went back and forth quite a bit. I will say that Quinn did a great job of sucking me into the world she created for Danni and Sean. Their story wasn't an easy one but it sure was intriguing.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the relationship that blossomed between Danni and Sean. They were both complex characters who were going through their own separate issues and they both wanted and needed answers that they had to go out and get themselves. The answers that they were seeking was actually the main draw for me as I was curious to see what Sean wasn't telling Danni and I wanted to know what happened to Danni and her Mom and then brother all those many years ago. I thought that the way Quinn had Danni and Sean go about finding their answers was an interesting road to take. To travel back in time together and go about their business trying to get some answers? All the while talking and getting those answers from their younger selves. Then the powers that the both of them had was another interesting bit of goodness.

Sean was a good hero. He was one of those mysterious heroes that you have to keep reading to get. He was also one of those heroes that you wanted to keep reading about to find out more even when you didn't understand the why's of his madness with his father. He was mysterious and yet charming. It would have been nice to see him wield his powers or find out more about his powers as well but not knowing it didn't take too much of the story away for me.

Danni was a normal heroine who did idiotic things from time to time but I liked her character. She did what she thought she had to do to get the answers she sought and I enjoyed getting to know her. One of my favorite scenes in this book is watching Danni interacting with her younger self and her brother in the kitchen. To see the things come to light about things that Danni had forgotten from long ago made for an interesting addition to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. So much so that I'm looking forward to reading Rory's book, Haunting Warrior, which is coming out May 4, 2010. There were some things in the story that gave me pause while reading like the connections between Sean and Danni with his father and her mother. All of this "keeping it in the family" things were kind of off putting but I didn't pay it too much mind and ended up liking the book.

Grade: 3.75 out of 5

This book is available from Berkley Sensation. You can buy it here.

Holly's review of Glory in Death (In Death, Book 2) by J.D. Robb

The first victim was found lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second was murdered in her own apartment building. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas had no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women. Their glamorous lives and loves were the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with men of great power and wealth provided Eve with a long list of suspects--including her own lover, Roarke. As a woman, Eve was compelled to trust the man who shared her bed. But as a cop, it was her job to follow every lead..to explore every secret passion, no matter how dark. Or how dangerous.

Now that I've started, I may end up re-reading the entire series. I'd forgotten how much I love the earlier books. Each case of Eve's is intersting, of course, but it's her character development that really makes these fascinating. Not to mention her relationship with Roarke.

Though I figured out early on who the killer was, I really enjoyed watching Eve puzzle it out. Roarke again pops up in Eve's investigation. The victim in this book is a close personal friend of Eve's commander, which further complicates an already murky case.

Naturally the best part of the book is Eve and Roarke. Eve is still struggling to accept Roarke in her life and Roarke is upset that she's struggling. I love this aspect of the novel. I find their relationship so..real. Here the main struggle comes from Roarke wanting to deepen the relationship and Eve balking at such a thing. She knows cops are a bad bet, and she's worse than most. When Roarke tries to give Eve a gift, something she's very uncomfortable with, things really blow up. Roarke issues an ultimatum and Eve spends the next miserable, yet refusing to admit it.

I will confess that there isn't enough from Roarke's point-of-view in these earlier books. That didn't bother me so much the first time I read them, but this time around I find myself disappointed that we don't see more from him. That isn't to say we don't get his POV at all, because we do, it just wasn't quite enough. But then there will never be enough Roarke, so I suppose this is subjective.

This book contains one of my favorite scenes of the entire series..when Eve goes to confront Roarke after their separation. I love how raw both of them are, and how real their emotions and actions are. I also love the symbolism of the diamond Roarke gives Eve, and how that continues on throughout the series.

4.25 out of 5

For a full list of the books and their reading order, see here.


This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

I can't believe Christmas is only two days away! Yikes. Have you got all your shopping done? What about your wrapping? I'm done shopping but I haven't even thought about wrapping yet. I imagine I'll be up late on Christmas Eve taking care of it.

Today we've got a bunch of erotic romance novels:

An autographed copy of Mexican Heat by Laura Baumbach and Josh Lanyon
Shifting Plains by Jean Johnson
The Satin Sash by Red Garnier
Unmasked by Kathleen Lawless

Or, as I like to refer to them, the boob books....

To be entered to win our pec-friendly prize pack, leave a comment or send an email to contests @ thebookbinge . com (no spaces) letting us know what you're hoping Santa will bring this year. Be sure to put "Day 5" in the subject. We'll pick our favorite and announce the winner shortly after the new year!