TBR Challenge

The rules developed by MizB

* the challenge is to read 12 TBR books in 12 months -- you can read those all in one month if you want, or one a month, or however you wanna do it.
* you need to have a list posted somewhere for others to see (even if it's in a comment here)
* you CANNOT change your list after January 1st, 2009!!!
* you can create an Alternates list of MAXIMUM 12 books, if you want, in order to have options to choose from (you can read these in place of books on your original list).
* audiobooks and e-books ARE allowed
* re-reads are NOT allowed, as they aren't TRUE "TBRs"
* you CAN overlap with other challenges


If this is something that you would like to participate in you can sign up at 2009 TBR Sign up.


Here is my TBR List for 2009:

1. House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
2. Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
3. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
4. Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
5. Pawn in Frankincense by Dorothy Dunnett
6. The Summer Garden by Paullina Simons
7. Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen
8. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy Emmuska
9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
10. Across a Wild Sea by Sasha Lord
11. Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian
12. The Sword Maiden by Susan King


My Alternatives:
1. Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman
2. Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine
3. Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati
4. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
5. A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
6. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
7. Sick of Shadows by Sharyn Mccrumb
8. Hornblower and the Atropos by C.S. Forester
9. The Heaven Tree by Edith Pargeter
10. Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
11. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
12. Shield of Three Lions by Pamela Kaufman


Wish me luck and come back every so often to read the reviews of these books (though I hope to be reading a lot more than just on this list!)

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Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (beware of spoilers!)

Book Description:
Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for...well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret...and fears she doesn't know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip aboard he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same -- especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide...is she his biggest threat -- or his promise of a happy ending?

I loved this story!

I have been looking forward to reading this book, ever since I first started reading this Regency series about the Bridgerton's, and I knew this story about Colin would be great. It was funny, poignant, surprising and had a great ending! Julia Quinn has done it again! I guess I should stop being surprised, she gets me every time - and once again, I had one of those tears in my eyes moments at her wonderful ending. She is one of my favorite romance authors.

This is the story of Penelope Featherington, 28 year old spinster who has been in love with charming Colin Bridgerton since she was 16 years old (a memorable opening scene). Penelope is a close friend to the Bridgerton family, and has known Colin for years, but it's not until he returns from Cyprus (one of his many trips abroad) that the two of them become better friends, and before long, Colin begins to see Penelope in a different light. No longer the lonely wallflower he knew from years ago that he felt sorry for and asked to dance. She has blossomed into a clever and witty and pretty young woman - with a big secret.

I loved their courtship. Colin is charming! But, he has insecurities and anxieties just like anyone else. He wants some purpose in his life. He doesn't want to be known as "charming Colin Bridgerton." He wants to be able to do something well and receive the recognition for it from his peers. Penelope unexpectedly comes across one of his travel journals and reads a page from it. A great reader herself, she recognizes that he has a talent and flair for writing and tells him so. (I loved the excerpts from his journals too - very entertaining to read them!) After getting over his initial anger that she read his diary, he succumbs to her flattery over his writing (what author hasn't?) and becomes dumb with delight! Suddenly, he sees Penelope in a whole new way - it's amazing what a little flattery can do! Now, at first I was a little put off by this. I thought, he's not really falling for Penelope for herself, it's because she's complimented him on his travel journals and has told him he should get them published. That can turn anyone's head. But, over time, he does seem to realize he loves her, but it's slow coming and it takes him a while to work it out in his head. I like the idea he had to deliberate over this, and asked his sister Daphne for her opinion. He's unsure of himself and his feelings. He's vulnerable at first, but by the end he's clear about his feelings and wants the whole world to know how he feels about Penelope - a great moment in the book!

Penelope is slow and steady in her love for Colin. She's loved him forever and never wavered in her feelings for him. But, she is also her own woman and feels she must do what her concience tells her to do. I felt for her. Penelope has come a long way. I love to read this kind of story where a shy or unattractive young girl finally comes into her own and blossoms. I also enjoyed her relationship with Lady Danbury, a crotchety old dowager who decides to make Penelope one of her pet projects. It was moving and tugged at my heartstrings to read about Penelope's happy ending.

There is much more to this story than just one particular plotline though. One of the most enjoyable parts of this series is Lady Whistledown's column which is a gossip column about the ton. She is scathing, insulting and irreverent - but she is almost always right. Who is she? I had my suspicions in the previous books, but I was wrong. In this book we find out who it is, and it's a big surprise. I won't spoil it here, but I loved the way it was all masterfully brought about from beginning to end. It made this a very special book. I can't stress enough that this series should be read in order, otherwise you won't appreciate Lady Whistledown's column as much.

I won't go into much more detail here because it's too difficult without tons of spoilers, but I'll just say that this was my favorite book of the series so far. As usual, there is some psychological business and depth that has to be dealt with on the part of the hero, which is characteristic in this series. I think it puts it in a class above the usual romances out there. This book in particular was so well written and humorous. The love scenes are few and not over the top, but they are tender and sexy and Colin is oh so swoonworthy. A great read! Do yourself a favor and read this series, you won't be sorry!

5/5

Btw, this was the 100th book I read this year!

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A Time for Dreams by Jen Holling

Book Description:
A Passion So Intense it frightened her...
intrigued her...
consumed her...
and called to her from another time.

What would possess an intelligent, self-sufficient woman to step into a world of magic and mystery, a dangerous land of intrigue and suspicion, a time far removed from her own?

After years of uncertainty, Audrey Williams could no longer ignore the beckoning from the man in her recurring dream. Brenden Ross, heir to an earldom, is about to embark on an ill-fated crusade to rescue Mary, Queen of Scots, and somehow Audrey must stop him.

Breaking free from the bonds of time, Audrey is plunged into the turbulent world of sixteenth-century Scotland where she will finally meet Brenden face-to-face. But once her eyes meet his, their hearts are bound as one, and their lives--and history--will never be the same.

Having read some of this author's more current romances that were kind of on the light side, I was pleasantly surprised to read this engrossing historical romance set in the 1500's in Scotland and England during the time just before Mary, Queen of Scots is executed. Although, this is technically a romance, I'd consider it heavier on the historical side than romance. Brenden and Audrey's romance is complex and frustrating, although neither of their characters were fully developed, in my opinion. I never felt like we really got to know them well. Brenden came across as distant and aloof, we didn't often get inside his head. Audrey had more substance to her, but I still found her bland. In fact, it seemed more like the side characters were more interesting than our hero and heroine!

Audrey seems to be the only person that can see an old corridor when she is 10 years old on a tour with her parents of an old Scottish castle. She walks down the corridor and meets a young lad of sixteen or so. They talk briefly and then she goes back to the tour which she had left. She realizes that she had somehow traveled back in time 400 years, and the boy she met grows up in her dreams. She sees him as a man and has the same disturbing recurring dreams every night for the next 16 years. Little does she know, but he has been having the same kind of dreams about her as well.

As an adult, she finally decides to return to the castle and see if by returning to that same corridor she can make the dreams stop, since they've been driving her crazy. She is able to go back in time and eventually finds Brenden, the boy she met before who is now a man and involved in a plot to try and save Mary, Queen of Scots from being beheaded. Brenden recognizes her instantly and they have a mutual bond - their dreams. They're also physically attracted to one another, but Audrey is hesitent to act on it for fear she'll become pregnant. But, Brendan takes her away with him to his family estate and she meets his family, numerous half-brothers, brothers, his father, his mother and various bad guys and innocent girls accused of witchcraft. It's a whole circus of characters of whom I found interesting - more interesting than Brendan and Audrey.

Audrey feels she was meant to go back in time to save him from trying to save Mary, yet even though she tells him the truth about herself, he still tries to save the queen and Audrey is forced to be a lady in waiting for her before she is executed. Their rescue attempt is foiled and there is tension and excitement, fleeing to avoid the charges of treason, and all the while Audrey wonders if she should return to her own time or stay. She has some honor bound reasons to stay as well, but she's unsure of herself and her love and commitment to Brenden. She has some baggage from a previous marriage that is dragging her down, and Brenden also feels great guilt about not being able to save the queen or one of his famiy members from dying (I'm trying not to reveal any spoilers here). It's all a mish mash and I found it irritating, but at the same time, I was riveted to this book and kept reading, mostly to find out if Audrey returns to her own time and how it is all revealed and wrapped up at the end.

As much as I enjoyed a lot of this book, I did tire of all the men having a thing for Audrey, which got a little predictable. Brenden's father, the Earl of Irvine, a known womanizer who is in his late 40's and attractive takes an instant liking to Audrey. Brendan's charming half-brother, one of his father's bastards, has a thing for her too and it creates tension between the two brothers. Then, there's a jerky captain of the guard who keeps leering at her and trying to molest her. What is it about Audrey? Must be that 20th century air about her they all find irresistible.

Brendan falls for her immediately, but it's unclear how deep his love is. They have this dream bond between them, but is his love based on that bond or is he genuinely in love with her? Why does he love her so much? We never really know, it's not fully developed, and the same thing with Audrey. Audrey's relationships with his brothers seems to be warmer and closer. Audrey always seems to be mad or annoyed with Brenden, and he keeps doing things that don't help. The sex in this book is nothing steamy or graphic, but the build up and sexual tension is good between them, but once they actually "do it" it was too quick and a let down and I was disappointed with the turn of events that follow it. Still, besides the romance between the two, there is other story about why Brenden feels honor bound to try and save the doomed Scots queen, even though it's seemingly hopeless.

If you like historical romances, that aren't of the really steamy variety, especially during this time period, you'll like this book. I found it nice to read a book like this for a change, it was very different from her MacDonell Brides Trilogy. This had more historical detail, intrigue and suspense to it, with a real plot, even though it ran off on tangents at times, which might have been more acceptable if the book were longer. In any event, I still liked it.

3.5/5

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A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas

Book Description:
The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searches for true love. Now happily married, they join together once again to help one of the world's most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe...

It's Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady in waiting and, if it weren't for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.

A Wallflower Christmas takes a trip to Victorian London, under the mistletoe, and on a journey of the heart. With her trademark charm, sensuality, and unforgettable characters, there's no one like Lisa Kleypas to make you believe in the magic of Christmas.

This is a sequel to the Wallflower series, which I just finished a few days ago. I must admit, my timing worked out wonderfully to read this book at this time of year, only days before Christmas! I enjoyed this short novella (213 pages) and it was nice to catch up with the Wallflowers and their respective husbands and find they are all still blissfully in lust love with their husbands and vice versa! Lillian redeemed herself in this book for me, I was getting annoyed with her in the last 2 books, but she did a lot of good turns for Hannah, who was the star of this book.

Hannah is the wallflower companion to the incomparable Natalie Blandford who is being considered as a bride by the rakish and oh so good looking American Rafe Bowman, brother to Lillian and Daisy Bowman (now Lillian, Countess of Westcliff and Daisy Swift).

Rafe's father has ruled he must marry Natalie or forfeit his fortune and future inheritence of his father's soap factory. At first, Rafe arrives in London with the intention of going through with the courtship until he meets shy and unassuming Hannah. It's love at first sight. There is no other accounting for it. Rafe is instantly smitten by her (though, frankly, I don't see why). Hannah is sweet and demure, not overly attractive, so it's not clear what Rafe sees in her, so it must be something chemical or he just wants to see if he can seduce her within 20 minutes of first meeting her. He loses no time in kissing her - deeply - and she doesn't stop him. She knows it's wrong, but he's irresistible and this kissing business (and more) continues while they are together at Stony Cross Manor in Hampshire (where most of the Wallflower series takes place) for the Christmas holidays. Rafe is torn, does he obey his father, do the "right" thing and ask Natalie, who's vivacious and a beauty and a daughter of the peerage (as his father puts it) or throw cares to the wind and seduce, bed, and (maybe) marry Hannah instead and thus lose his father's money (which he doesn't really need anyway.)

Rafe certainly seems hell bent on seducing her and Hannah is just too defenseless to put him off. I kind of had a problem with this. At times I felt like he was forcing himself on her when he really shouldn't have been - it was ungentlemanly and unseemly. Yes, yes, I know, it's a romance! But, I have my standards and I felt sorry for Hannah. She wasn't gorgeous or rich and didn't know what to do. She was falling for Rafe (against her own good judgment) and because of that, she turned down an honest - albeit unromantic and in writing, no less - marriage proposal. She believes that Rafe may love her (based on an indiscreet love letter he wrote and then tried to burn unsuccesfully), or he may just want her for a mistress. What to do? Choose him and turn down the only marriage proposal she may ever get, or refuse to let him "do things" to her since he's probably going to marry Natalie (who I didn't like at all, btw - meow.) Rafe and Hannah seem to be kissing all over the place, it's a wonder they never get caught!

I felt because of the brevity of the book, things were rushed. Rafe and Hannah kiss way to soon, there is no build up. They get hot and heavy very soon too and I just kept thinking, "Hannah, you shouldn't be doing this with him!" Still, I give her credit, she kept her virginity intact until the end of the book, although they weren't married yet. That bachelor annex at the Manor has gotten a lot of mileage in these books!

Without spoiling the ending, I can assure you it all ends tidily and Lisa Kleypas throws in a couple of hot sex scenes with her new and her old characters from the past books to make everyone happy. This was a fun and feel good Christmasy romance that is a must to read for everyone who has read her Wallflower series. I hope she writes a few more!

4/5

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The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

Book Description:
For eons Adam Black has aided humanity and meddled in its affairs, much to the chagrin of the queen of the Seelie Court. He has finally pushed her too far and finds himself, a once powerful Fae, invisible and very human. But he is still as resourceful as ever, and finds a way to reach the queen and plea to have his curse lifted with the help of a young lawyer, Gabrielle O'Callaghan, a human born with the ability to see his kind. As old enemies yearn to take advantage of his weakened state, threatening his life and all existence, Adam discovers that Gabrielle threatens a heart he never thought he had.

This is the 6th in the Highlander saga of books by Moning, and this one revolves around the fae Adam Black that has popped up from time to time in some of the previous books. Adam is over the top. He oozes sex appeal and appears irresistible to any woman within sight. Six and half feet tall, long black hair, golden skin, perfect body with a penchant for leather pants and an eternal hard on. Could he get any better? Unfortunately, he's not human, although when Gabrielle runs into him, he appears to be so, due to a curse that the queen of the faes had put on him. Plus, he's invisible to everyone except Gabrielle, who was born with the capability of seeing faes, (though it's a family secret). If the truth is ever revealed to the fae world she could be hunted down and captured forever.

Does this sound like a typical highlander romance to you? No? It didn't to me either. It had way too many "paranormal" overtones to it for my liking. I like the real thing. A brawny, alpha male who wears a kilt and calls his woman "mine." Although Adam would probably - no, almost certainly - win the "Sexiest Man Alive" poll by People magazine he doesn't have a soul, and I just thought he was too perfect. I got a little tired of all the descriptions of how gorgeous he was and how irresistible he was and how he just exuded manliness and sex appeal with a contant sly smile and smoldering look in his eyes as if he can't wait to tear your clothes off. His constant thoughts of wanting to bed Gabby and all the things he'd do to her there - well, it got kind of old. I like sex just like anyone else - but, this was just over the top and - a whole book like this? Well, I never thought I'd say it, but it was kind of dull.

Gabby, as a heroine wasn't bad, but as usual, she is a virgin who refuses to give into Adam, even though he's making it more and more hard for her to resist him. How many times did we have to hear about the huge bulge in his pants that would never go away? Although the book was entertaining at times, Adam was never a character that I liked all that much in the previous books. He's a devilish rogue fae who's always up to no good. It was hard for me to like him in this book, despite the good deeds that come out that he was responsible for. I think this might have been my least favorite of all the books due to this. Plus, it didn't help that it was the same formulaic ending. Girl meets gorgeous highlander, has awesome sex with him, but must lose him in some way (either he's believed dead or lost in another time) and she must return to her hum drum life in Cincinatti (or wherever she lived previously in the States) and then lo and behold he turns up and surprises her and they have hot sex again! Been there, done that.

This was the third book in the series that ended this way. This time, the two heroines from the last two books encourage Gabby to take a giant leap of faith - they did and lived happily ever after - so Gabby can too. Who knows, maybe your immortal sex God will want you once he regains his immortal fae powers - you must believe! At first, we don't think it will work for Gabby, but as in all romances, we do get the happy ending, I just wish it had been a little different and imaginative and not so similar to the other ones. Some parts were exciting, but overall, this book didn't thrill me. I think there was such a big build up to when Adam and Gabby finally have sex, it was almost a let down.

Give me a mortal man in a kilt instead of leather pants and I'm happy. I don't need fairy tales. *grin*

3/5

March 3, 2011 - Updated for Audiobook Review

Upon revisiting this story, this time on audiobook with the masterful Phil Gigante narrating, I've updated my rating solely because I love his voice for Adam Black.  He gives him this sexy sort of lilting accent that is irresistible!  I also appreciate this book much more now that I've read the Fever series.  We're introduced to Daroc who we later meet in the Fever Series and it's good background material for what was happening to the Seelie.  I like Gabby a little bit more here, it's understandable how freaked out she'd be by Adam, although I still think the very ending of this book was a bit sappy and sugary for my own tastes, but overall it's much better on audio than in print.

3.5/5

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Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

Book Description:
After spending three London seasons searching for a husband, Daisy Bowman's father has told her in no uncertain terms that she must find a husband. Now. And if Daisy can't snare an appropriate suitor, she will marry the man he chooses—the ruthless and aloof Matthew Swift.

Daisy is horrified. A Bowman never admits defeat, and she decides to do whatever it takes to marry someone . . . anyone . . . other than Matthew. But she doesn't count on Matthew's unexpected charm . . . or the blazing sensuality that soon flares beyond both their control. And Daisy discovers that the man she has always hated just might turn out to be the man of her dreams.

But right at the moment of sweet surrender, a scandalous secret is uncovered . . . one that could destroy both Matthew and a love more passionate and irresistible than Daisy's wildest fantasies.

I think this was my 2nd favorite of the Wallflower Series, my favorite was the prequel, Again the Magic, but this one was my favorite of the four original books. I didn't expect it to be, Daisy was always the immature one, the one that I didn't really care about in the other books, and I have to really give Lisa Kleypas a hand - she did a great job with this romance! I was under the impression that Daisy was going to wind up with Cam Rohan (from Devil in Winter) and I'm so happy she wound up with Matthew Swift instead! Daisy started out as being described as a head in the clouds, flighty type of heroine. But, over the course of the book we see her mature and transform into a young woman who knows what she wants, and stands strong and by her man! Her life becomes passionate and enthralling, she no longer is in need of her books for excitement.

I really enjoyed seeing how they meet again after many years, and he winds up being this handsome, smart, dependable but oh so attractive American! I love these kind of stories! Of course she despises him at first, but sex appeal takes over and it was really fun to read all about their unorthodox courtship, fun and sexy, a real page turner! I read it in less than a day! Plus, this book had the usual other Wallflowers and their husbands in it too, all taking place in Hampshire at Lord Westcliff's manor. The one fly in the ointment is, I must admit, Daisy's sister, Lillian. She now really gets on my nerves. I liked her a lot in her own story, It Happened One Autumn, but in the rest of the books she is just annoying to me and such a bitch! But, her husband Marcus is still my favorite, with Matthew Swift coming in a close 2nd. There was something about Matthew that I really loved in this book! I found him very appealing, maybe because he came across as more normal than many of the other heroes in this series. Plus, all throughout the story I was dying to find out what his big secret was! And could he have picked out a more appropriate and adorable ring for her? I loved it!

Without giving away any spoilers, I'll just say, this was a heartfelt story from beginning to end. I'm glad to see Daisy found true love with a commoner and an American and that their life will now be happy and settled. No more running away, no more dark secrets. She'll be with her friends, and I found the last page touching, a great finale to this quartet of books! One of my favorite romance series that I've read to date! I highly recommend all of them, Lisa Kleypas consistently writes excellent romances!

4.5/5

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Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros

Book Description:
Dear Reader,

My enemies know me as Lord Bannor the Bold, Pride of the English and Terror of the French. Never in my life have I backed down from any challenge or betrayed so much as a hint of fear - until the war ended and I found myself a reluctant papa to a dozen unruly children.

Realizing that I couldn't lop their little heads off or throw them in the dungeon, I sent my steward out to find them a mother and me a bride - an attractive, meek, maternal creature too plain to tempt me to get her with child. You can imagine my horror when he returned with Lady Willow of Bedlington, a spirited beauty who made me think of nothing else!

With her cloud of dark curls and the sparkle of passion in her eyes, Willow was everything I'd sworn to resist. I never dreamed she would join forces with those mischievous imps of mine to teach this cynical warrior just how sweet surrender can be.

Bannor the Bold,
Lord of Elsinore

This was a cute romance, but I thought it would be funnier based on the description. It is the first book I've read by this author.

Willow, the heroine grows up to be a Cinderella drudge-type in her family, after her father marries a bitchy woman with six children. Her father doesn't die, but he just doesn't do anything to stop having her wait hand and foot on her step-siblings, and fend off the advances of her lecherous step-brother Stefan. Finally, Willow has her chance to flee her unhappy home when she has the offer of a lord (sight unseen) who wants to wed her, with his steward in his stead to take his place during the actual ceremony. You see, our hero, Bannor, is virtually locked up in his castle, afraid to venture out and risk running in to his 12 unruly children!

Of course, once Willow arrives, the children turn on her, but she winds up winning them over, and they all gang up on Bannor. One of the plotlines that bugged me was his reasoning. It barely made sense. He already has too many kids to handle, but he needs someone in his castle (like a wife) who can take care of them and keep then in line. He wanted his steward to pick out a homely bride, someone who he would not be tempted to bed - he wants no more children! But, Willow turns out to be beautiful. To save her pride, he sics his children on her, hoping they'll convince her that she doesn't want to remain married to him. Well, it all backfires and I never thought it made sense anyway.

But, despite everything, they do fall in love, and there is a sort of sad and poignant tie in at the end when Willow is kidnapped and when Bannor recalls his childhood as a bastard and how he watched his mother freeze to death.

This is a medieval set in England. I prefer the ones in Scotland, I'm actually probably one of the few people out there that like reading Scottish dialects! This romance had some humorous moments, but nothing like you'd expect based on the book description on the back of it. Willow was sort of dull and uninteresting and Bannor just came across as dense sometimes, plus I found all the kids annoying (as they were meant to be, but I still didn't like them!) as well as Willow's obnoxious sister and Bannor's eldest son (though there is a redeeming moment for both of them). There were a few plotlines that I didn't really go along with, they just didn't sit right with me: Bannor's friend, Sir Hollis, winds up falling for the town whore (Netta) and marries her with Bannor's approval (I found that hard to swallow.) Or that he's raising 4 of her children as his own. It just didn't sit right with me. It seems like the whole area believes if they leave a baby at the door of his castle, he'll take it in and raise it as his own. Willow might know it's not his, but the rest of the world will believe they're his bastards. Also, Willow also doesn't seem to mind (or Bannor) that her 13 year old step-sister is canoodling with his 13 year old son. These little "family" issues kind of got lost and glossed over to me. A loose end too, who is his evil step-brother? He was mentioned more than once, and I felt for sure he was going to come in to the storyline at one point, but never did. This was a bit fuzzy.

But in any event, the book wasn't half bad, and I'll read more from this author, her Scottish medievals in particular.

3.5/5

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