On a short Hiatus...

Wow, so this is not the way I envisioned ending 2012 or starting 2013. When I started the holidays vacation, my plans were to read and blog. However, both didn't really happen. I got busy running around and then, on Christmas day, I started a cold. Bleh. It's already a lot better, but you know how it is. You don't really feel like doing anything :(

Unfortunately, the reason I'm going on hiatus is that we received a sad news this morning. My aunt, my mom's sister, passed away last night T_T It was very sudden and totally unexpected. And therefore, in the coming days, I'll be busy helping out with the funerals and so on. As such, I don't think I'll be much in the mood of blogging and has decided to put the blog on a short hiatus. However, rest assured, I will be back soon!!

To everyone, Happy New Year! May 2013 brings you happiness, health and good books :) See you all very soon :)

nath

Merry Christmas 2012!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I hope everyone has a great day today! Once again, I'm sorry I went MIA. I didn't mean so. I really planned to blog this past week-end, but my subconscious decided otherwise. Guess that deep down, I was tired. I'll definitively be trying to catch up this week!

In the meantime, have a great time!

Quick update...

Hi everyone!!

Sorry I've been MIA this week! It really wasn't my intention! I had plans, but you know me and plans... I've been so busy trying to tie things up at work. I almost managed to get everything done, but at this point, it doesn't really matter anymore, because I just had confirmation that I'll be working for a different supervisor, but using the same lab! :) So I can finish everything such as packing after the holidays. I'm officially starting on January 7th :) Yay! So I just wanted to share the good news with everyone :)

Another reason why I haven't had time blogging is because I finally got out of my reading slump! Finally! I really got engrossed in my book and decided I should enjoy it while it lasts :) And I also had curling. Phew. However, I'm off starting this week-end with no plans in sight and I might be snow-bound... so I'll work really hard on having some posts ready! Look forward to it!

What about you? Are you surviving the holidays madness?!

Week-End's Minis XXXV: Trouble Me by Laura Moore

Trouble Me by Laura Moore
published by Random House Publishing (Ballantine Books) in March 2012

Trouble isn't the only thing on her mind.

The youngest and wildest of the Radcliffe sisters, Jade is the last to return home to her family’s sprawling Virginia horse farm and its unsettling memories. She never planned on a night of passion with a stranger before starting her new life as a teacher and riding instructor—or the shock of recognizing the man who gave her so much pleasure standing right there in her classroom.

Officer Rob Cooper is stunned. Not only is the woman who rocked his world his daughter’s second grade teacher, but she’s the troubled teen whom he blames for his wife’s death years ago. Worse, now that he sees her in the light of day, he wants her more than ever. Time has softened Jade’s hard, rebellious edge—she’s spirited, honest, and sexy to distraction. But will the feelings ignited in the heat of desire be enough to heal a past that needs forgiving?

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: The Rosewood trilogy, Book #3

What do you need to know? Trouble Me takes place about 6 years after Believe in Me and features the youngest Radcliffe sister, Jade, as the heroine. In Remember Me and Believe in Me, Jade was a teenager going through a tough time. She had just lost her parents in an accident and started at a new school and the gossips were cruel. Therefore, she was acting out... Especially after she found her mother's diary where her mother had written pretty bad stuff about her. It also seemed that her mother was having an affair and that perhaps, the plane accident in which her father was the pilot and which killed her parents might not have been an accident after all...

In Trouble Me, Jade has grown up and matured. She has just finished her degree in education and has found a job as a substitute teacher for grade 2 which takes her back home in Warburg and Rosewood. She also plans to start teaching children how to ride at the horse farm. On her trip back, because of the weather, she is forced to stop at a hotel... One thing leads to another and she ends up having a one-night stand with a sexy stranger. However, the stranger turns out not to be such a stranger... Instead, it's Rob Cooper aka Robocop, the cop that witnessed and arrested Jade multiple times during her rebellion years. He's also the father of Hayley, a cute 6 years old girl who happens to be Jade's student at school and for the horse riding class... Oh and he also blames Jade for his wife's death because the night she died, Rob was busy arresting Jade. So when they both realized with whom they slept with, Jade and Rob aren't very happy... but they can't deny they are attracted to each other and decide to take a chance. However, there's a few things not in their favor Except Jade has decided to hire a PI to investigate on her mother's lover and hasn't told Rob... and this secret could jeopardize their relationship.

Why this book? I picked up Trouble Me because I read and enjoyed Believe in Me. Also, I was curious to find out what was the big secret and how Jade would turn out.

What did I like? There was actually a lot that I liked and enjoyed in Trouble Me. I thought the beginning of Trouble Me was very good and I liked discovering the new woman that Jade had become. I liked that she was passionate about her teaching and the horses and was going after her dreams, doing what she liked in life. It's inspiring and something I really wished I had done, although besides reading, I don't exactly know what I'm passionate about LOL. While Jade has matured, she still had issues about what her mother wrote about her in her diary and it was good that her issues hadn't miraculously disappeared, that it was realistic. I also liked Rob's character. First, he was a great father and you could really feel his love for Hayley. What I liked most about Rob though was that he was level-headed and could be reasoned with. The two instances that come to mind is when he first realized that Jade was going to be his daughter's teacher and when he  found out that Jade was the woman from the one-night stand he couldn't forget. In both cases, he really wasn't happy about it, but after discussions and reflections, came to his sense. I liked that he realized that Jade was in no way to blame for his wife's death and that it wasn't really an issue between the two. I also liked that he didn't hold onto this anger and let it come between the two. I guess what I'm saying is that Rob was a mature man as well :) By the way, speaking of the one-night stand, I really liked the fact that it took time before Jade and Rob came face to face in the story and realized each other's identity. I thought that was well handled by Ms Moore - she gave herself time to set up the characters and at the same time, gave time to the readers to know them better instead of throwing us in. It was clever too since given the situation, sooner or later, Jade and Rob would have met and she chose later. And as a couple, Jade and Rob worked for me, they had good chemistry :)

Finally, I did enjoy seeing past characters and I thought they were well integrated in the storyline. I could have used a few more sisters scenes, but I think the focus of the story was where it was supposed to be :)

What didn't work for me? As I said, there was a lot to like about Trouble Me. I think Ms Moore did a great job setting up the story. Unfortunately, it's an important part of the story that didn't work for me: the conflicts ^_^; In a way, there was two parallel storylines in Trouble Me. The first was about the woman Jade has become and the conflict was that the old society biddies still held a grudge against Jade for her past mistakes and her mother's mistakes and therefore, they campaigned to have Jade lose her job. Perhaps it's because I didn't read the first book in the series, but I didn't really get the vendetta the old biddies had against the Radcliffe sisters and especially Jade. I thought their quest was superficial and laughable and those old biddies were really malicious. I mean, it's one thing not to like someone, but to campaign for them to lose their job? If they had succeeded, it would mean that Jade wouldn't have been able to live in Warburg and that's really extreme. And while I was happy Jade's sisters found something to hold over the old biddies' heads so they couldn't go ahead with their plans, I feel the message being sent is not right ^_^;

The second storyline was about Jade hiring a PI to find out who was her mother's lover from the diary... and the conflict was that she kept it a secret from Rob, to the point he was jealous of the PI and thought perhaps Jade was cheating on him. I guess you could sum it up to lack of trust on both parts. What I don't really understand in the story is why Jade kept it a secret from Rob. I don't think she had to tell him everything, but she could have at least told him the other guy was a PI. As for Rob, to jump to such conclusions... well as I said, lack of trust that wasn't really warranted. By the way, I did like the resolution of Jade's mommy issues, although the way it came about was a bit unbelievable.

Finally, I feel that Ms Moore missed an opportunity here. I thought the conflicts would have been more interesting if it stemmed from their joint pasts instead of these issues.

My Grade? B-. Good start, just too bad it didn't finish as strongly. I was hesitant about the grade, wavering between a B- or a C+, but in the end, there was a lot that I enjoyed :) And I'll definitively be reading more of Ms Moore's books in the future.

Hauling Sunday CII

So how was everyone's week-end? :) Mine was good, but could still have been better. It was our annual gift exchange yesterday :) Lots of fun and laughs as usual LOL and I got a new scarf! However, we wrapped up early because everyone was tired and we were actually meeting for brunch today. Alas, I missed brunch! :( I went to the emergency to have my foot checked out. On Friday, I said that I've been experimenting twinges in my left heel right? Well I ran some errands yesterday and it became pain when I put my weight on it and it hurt a lot when I walked :( Since I figured I wouldn't have time to see the doctor this week before Wednesday and I was afraid it could become worst, I went to the emergency... Sigh. As I was not a high priority case, I did wait a long time. I totally understand, but I have to admit it was frustrating... Anyway, my heel is inflamed apparently and it's most probably due to change of footwear ^_^; Also, the doctor asked me if I've taken something like Tylenol and I was like: "Euh no." Felt really stupid... I didn't even think about it. Guess because lately, I've had a few health issues where there's nothing I could do except wait, so it didn't even cross my mind. Plus, I didn't it would help because frankly, it feels like something is tight... but it is. The pain was better than yesterday and with the Tylenol, looks like it'll go away. Sigh, I'm just so tired of all this crap!! It's always like that it. It seems that whenever something happens to me, it's never just one thing, ugh.

Okay, enough about all of this. It just depresses me! Let's talk about something cheerful. Books. I'm still slumping, but I really hope something will pull me out soon :) Hope these books will do it:

 

The First Prophet by Kay Hooper - It finally arrived!! I pre-ordered this book back in November, but I guess they had some issues at the warehouse... The First Prophet is the first book in Ms Hooper's new series, Bishop Files, which is kind of spin-off series of the FBI SCU that I love so much. Hey, if I mean I get two books by Ms Hooper per year, I won't be complaining :)

The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry - This is Ms Mayberry's next release coming out in January. I requested it on Netgalley hoping that it'll pull me out of this slump. Seriously, this lack of release is killing me!

***

That's it for me this week. Pretty slow. What about you? What did you add to your TBR pile? Or they waiting patiently under the Christmas tree? Again, suggestions to get me out of my reading slump are welcome :)

Review: 'Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries

Phew, I made it!! I really wanted to have this review up this week :) It's really been fun to review Christmas-themed novels, really put me in the mood for the holidays. However, there's one week left before Christmas, and I've run out of books to review... Does anyone has a suggestion for next week's review? :)

I've been quiet this week and I'm really sorry about that. Life has been really busy the past week and I realized I haven't been very chatty about what's been going on in my life lately and that some of you are wondering... so here's a quick update :) First, my health. So the dizziness has gotten a lot better in the sense that it's not constant anymore. I do still get spells from time to time, so it's not completely gone... but it's a lot more manageable and I can function a lot better. I think given enough time, it'll really go away. *knocking on wood* I bumped my knee pretty hard earlier on Monday and have a major bump on it. Sigh, since I started playing curling, I don't recognize my right knee anymore LOL. I've put a knee pad on my Christmas wishlist, hoping that it will solve this issue :) And ugh, my latest bother is my left heel. This time, it's not curling related... I've been getting twinges in my left heel if I stretch my foot a certain way or walk a certain way. It's not painful or anything, but it pulls... I have no idea why... It started on Tuesday and I think it was my boot or something. Sigh. Once again, I'm ready to move on to the new year, health-wise LOL.

Second, work. Work has been really busy. As you know, the lab is closing at the end of the year... but what me and my co-worker just found out is that my boss is going away on vacation next Wednesday. Yes, next Wednesday!! The good news is that I won't have to work between Christmas and New Year, but the bad one is... He's gone next Wednesday! There's some stuff to take care of and so we're trying to do that before next Wednesday. Ugh. And that's pretty much why I haven't had time to blog this week. By the way, for those wondering about my job prospects... There's a really big chance that I'll be working in another lab in the same department. There's two positions that just opened... so I'm just waiting for confirmation. I'm supposed to get news before Christmas, i.e. next week. As soon as I know, I'll share :) If I don't get anything here, then I'll start looking after New Year... but in either case, there's a high possibility I'm going back to school...

However, at the moment, my biggest issue is that I'm in a reading slump T_T I have not read a single book this week, sad :( So if you have any suggestions, they are really welcome!! Especially with lots of free time coming up. I've been meaning to get reacquaint with my TBR pile, but I've had no time ^_^; Seriously, I totally blame the publishers and their release schedule LOL.

Anyway, enough about me. Here's the review, enjoy it!


'Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries

published by Simon & Schuster in October 2012

Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has been estranged from his mother for most of his life. When his mother’s new companion, Mrs. Camilla Stuart, writes to tell him that his mother is seriously ill, he goes home. But when he learns that the lovely widow tricked him in order to effect a holiday reconciliation, he refuses to stay—unless she meets his “terms.” Somewhere between trying to seduce the beautiful Camilla and struggling with the cruel memories of his childhood Christmases, Pierce discovers that not only does forgiveness go two ways, but that love can blossom even in the coldest of winters.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Hellions of Halstead Hall, Book #6

The Story: The blurb for the book is quite accurate, but here is my version :)

Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has been estranged with his parents for most of his life, but without Pierce knowing why. The only thing he knows for certain is that from the age of 8 years old, he never got to spend time with his parents when he was on break from school during the holidays or the summer. Instead, he was sent to his cousin's, Mr. Titus Waverly, home. When he reached his majority, Pierce returned to the family estate, wanting to learn how to manage his estates, and was kicked out by his father... And when his mother didn't offer any explanations for their abandonment after his father died, Pierce decided to continue on with the estrangement and cut her out of his life. Thus, he ignored all the letters she sent and whenever he returned home to Montcliff, he made sure to avoid the dowager house so their path wouldn't cross.

Mrs. Camilla Stuart is Lady Devonmont's new companion and is quite outraged at the Earl of Devonmont's attitude towards his mother. Seeing how Lady Devonmont dotes her son, Jasper, and how often she reminisces about Pierce, Camilla decides to give what her employer wants most for Christmas: her son's presence. Therefore she pens an express to Pierce telling him how seriously ill Lady Devonmont is. However, Camilla never expected the events her note has instigated...

My Opinion: When I first found out that Pierce Waverly was the hero of 'Twas the Night After Christmas, I wasn't very happy. Not because I had anything against the character from his brief appearances in To Wed a Wild Lord and A Lady Never Surrenders - a rake who doesn't commit; if I did, I would not have many historical romance books to read! LOL. It's simply that after A Lady Never Surrenders, I thought the Hellions of Halstead Hall series was over and was looking forward to Ms Jeffries' new release... Honestly, I felt the whole series had been a bit underwhelming and therefore, would have welcome a new premise. Instead, the series seemed to have been extended and with the main storyline wrapped up, I wasn't sure what to expect from 'Twas the Night After Christmas. I actually wasn't going to pick it up... but you know me and new releases, LOL, I'm just drawn to them. So in the end, I gave 'Twas the Night After Christmas a go and guess what? I ended up being pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the book a lot more than I expected!

While 'Twas the Night After Christmas is branded as the 6th book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series, in reality, for all intends and purposes, the book is actually a stand-alone and I think that is why the story worked out so well. Yes, some of the previous characters showed up, but Ms Jeffries limited their appearances. As for Pierce, his link to the Sharpes was tenuous and he really had nothing to do with the overarching storyline. As such, Ms Jeffries didn't have to recap previous events or re-introduce characters. In fact, as a stand alone, she didn't even have to set the scene up for subsequent books nor worry about sequel baiting... Which means she had all the time of the world to focus on the characters, story and romance of 'Twas the Night After Christmas and she did. I truly believed this focus was key and made the difference, because frankly, the story of 'Twas the Night After Christmas wasn't ground-breaking, but Ms Jeffries was able to deliver something solid and enjoyable :)

Overall, I enjoyed the holiday themed of 'Twas the Night After Christmas. It worked for me. The story wasn't overly sweet, but there was just enough Christmas traditions incorporated to put you in the mood of the holidays. Also, I think in such books, it's always nice to have a kid, because they're the ones who believe in magic :) And in this case, Jasper was cute and acted like a 6 years old boy. LOL, I loved his first encounter with Pierce, it was so funny. By the way, I also liked the grown-up characters. My heart broke for Pierce in the prologue when his parents did not come to pick him up for the holidays... and he didn't understand why. I find his behavior towards his mother - the resentment, bitterness and anger - justifiable. There was a lot of misunderstandings and assumptions on Pierce's part, but what can you expect when you abandon a boy and he grows up with gossips? Plus, he gave his mother the opportunities to explain, to tell him the truth: when he reached 21 years old and when his father passed away, but she never did. So you can't expect that when she's finally ready to move on, he's going to listen. I also believed that all Pierce wanted was an explanation or the truth from his mother, even if it shattered his hopes... to live with the unknown, that's hard. In the end, it all worked out and the reason why I'm satisfied with the resolution in 'Twas the Night After Christmas, it that contrarily to A Fool's Gold Christmas, despite everything, Pierce still loved his mother, still cared for her. He cherished the memories he had from his early childhood. In addition, to a certain degree, what Pierce's mother did was for his well-being and future. So all in all, the circumstances were better. I do wish that his mother had explained the whole situation to Pierce earlier.  As for Camilla, I did like her as well. She did overstep a little bit when she wrote that letter to Pierce, not knowing the whole story... but it was done with good intentions. What I liked about Camilla is that she never lost sight of what mattered: her son, Jasper. She refused to become Pierce's mistress, even though she was attracted to him, because of Jasper. I think that deep down, that is something Pierce admired because his mother couldn't do the same.

As for the romance, this is where it becomes a bit trickier. I thought that Pierce and Camilla had good chemistry and they balanced each other well. I liked that they spent time together, got to know each other. What I did not like though is how the whole thing began. As soon as Pierce found out the letter was a lie, he intended to leave... but in the end, he stayed, but that was conditional to Camilla spending time with him. Part of it was because he was attracted to her, that I'm sure of... but another part, it was to strike back at his mother and well, I found that part a bit despicable on Pierce's part and it colors the romance a little bit ^_^; It's one thing if you don't want to marry, have no heir and therefore, your mother doesn't get grandchildren... That's your business, your decision... but it's another when you involve someone else.

My Grade: B. Life can be so ironic at times :) At first, I wasn't planning to read 'Twas the Night After Christmas because I thought it was the continuation of  the Hellions of Halstead Hall series which I felt had run its course... but in the end, it turned out to be the best book of the series in my opinion! :) It was a nice Christmas-themed book and I felt Ms Jeffries focused on what mattered the most: the characters and the romance. I'm really glad I picked up 'Twas the Night After Christmas because I had a good time reading it and I hope you do as well! :)

Review: The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts

The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts
published by Berkley in November 2012

Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out-with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He's surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro…

As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn't mean she can't appreciate the joys of small-town living. She's where she wants to be-except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them…a spark that ignited with a New Year's Eve kiss.

While the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope's experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome-and embarrassing-appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder's emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him…

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Inn Boonsboro trilogy, Book #3

The Story: The Perfect Hope is the latest and also the last book in the Inn Boonsboro trilogy by Ms Roberts and, without surprise, features Ryder Montgomery and Hope Beaumont as our H/H. Ryder and Hope didn't start off on a good footing. Ryder was annoyed that his mother hired the innkeeper on the spot without any real interview and without consulting him and his brothers. He was also not sure that Hope, coming from a big city, would suit the inn, fit in their town. As for Hope, from his clear reluctance and subsequent interactions with him, she found him surly and unsociable. In fact, when it comes to their personalities, the two are opposite... but despite their differences, there's no denying they have chemistry. And so Ryder and Hope decide to embark into a no-string relationship to explore the sparks.

Oh and we also get the conclusion about the ghost, Eliza, and how she connects with the inn.

My Opinion: To be honest, I did not have high expectations for The Perfect Hope when I picked it up. It's not that I didn't like Ryder or Hope from what I read previously in The Next Always and The Last Boyfriend. It's just that the first two installments, while solid, weren't exactly memorable and Ms Roberts' trilogies and quartets can be very predictable. Also, this cover is, hmmm, well ugly! The setting looks fake and the colors are bland. It just doesn't reflect the vibrant feel of the Inn Boonsboro... Ms Roberts usually gets such great covers, but The Perfect Hope's was a total miss and I was afraid it was an indication of the story itself... However, I was totally wrong and The Perfect Hope turned out to be the most enjoyable book in the trilogy for me!

It all came down to Hope and Ryder, they made the book for me :) I enjoyed their characters as they were very likable. I loved Ryder's surliness LOL. I've said it before, but it bears repeating, Ms Roberts definitively has a knack at writing surly, grumpy heroes :) Seriously though, I think I like this type of heroes so much because they are frank, have very little patience for BS and they take care of the heroines when they need to. They're really the perfect mix of alpha and beta heroes :) So yes, I liked Ryder's character and I thought it was cute that his solution to female problems was flowers LOL. As for Hope, she was also very likable. The perfect blend of sophistication and amiability. The kind of woman you can't help but be wowed by, but who's still very nice and sociable. In truth, both Hope and Ryder were your typical Nora Roberts' characters, the ones that are confident, at ease and happy with their lives. So what set them apart, why did I enjoy The Perfect Hope so much? You're going to laugh at me, but it was the no-string relationship ^_^;  This is a very popular theme in contemporary romance at the moment and I've been complaining about it so much in recent months. How tired of the trope I am, how I want something different, how the characters that get into these so-called no-string flings are just not the types that should, etc... But what can I say, Ms Roberts nailed the no-string sex that develops into something more in The Perfect Hope! LOL. What transpires between Ryder and Hope is exactly how the progression from sex to relationship should be done in my opinion. It starts with both Ryder and Hope being attracted to each other and wanting nothing more than sex... And as they have sex, they settle into a routine and get to know each other better. Then at a certain point, they don't really know what they are to each other - more than sex buddies, but not exactly boyfriend/girlfriend. As the fling continues, they develop feelings for each other, they care... and ultimately, they realize they are in love. Best of all, they don't balk at it, they don't get scared and run away! What I loved about Hope and Ryder's relationship was that it was mutual as well. And I also really appreciated the fact that the friends and the brothers didn't get all noisy and ruin it for Ryder and Hope by announcing that they were in love. Instead, they where there as sounding board, offered support and advice... but that's it. The romance was very low in conflict, but it really worked for me :)

In The Perfect Hope, we also got to follow Hope in her life, saw what being an innkeeper entailed, and kept up with the Montgomery's activities and their gatherings. The book pretty much has the same pacing as The Next Always and The Last Boyfriend. If you didn't enjoy it in those two books, chances are it's not going to work for you in The Perfect Hope either. Obviously though, it worked for me :) We got glimpses of the characters' lives showing us their personalities and their work without being bogged down by the daily routine and with a brisk timeline. I think Ms Roberts is one of the best authors at writing this kind of pacing. I've picked up a lot of contemporary romance books lately that tried to mimic this kind of pacing, but a lot of them fell into a too passive rhythm and it made for a dull story. I think Ms Roberts' secret is the use of the secondary characters, but also showing us different kind of interactions and dynamics. I loved seeing Ryder with his brothers, Hope with her best friends... but the best moments were really the family gatherings and the dynamics that involved the kids and the dogs, especially Ryder's D.A. :)

The only part that I didn't care much in The Perfect Hope was the storyline with the ghost. Ms Roberts' use of the paranormal in her trilogies and quartets are always hit or miss for me and in this case, it was a miss. I can see though that it was needed. All three novels were rather low in conflict where the romance was concerned and she couldn't just go on about the inn stuff, so she needed something, another storyline... However, Ms Roberts has had ghosts in previous trilogies, so it wasn't very original. Furthermore, I felt it was just too convenient and predictable how it connected to the Montgomerys :( So I wish Ms Roberts would have come up with something else, something more original and perhaps suspenseful.

My Grade: B. Despite the fact that the story was predictable, I still really enjoyed The Perfect Hope for the characters and the execution. It was not the most memorable story, but it was solid and I have a feeling it's going to be one that I'll be re-reading :) Also, there is a comfort factor in picking up a Nora Roberts book. The writing style, voice and pacing are so familiar, they simply me in the story :)