The Accidental Countess by Michelle Willingham

"You're very lucky, you know."

Lucky? He felt as thought someone had cracked his skull in two. He hadn't even the strength to open his eyes to see who was tending him.

"How am I lucky?" he managed to whisper. Lucky to be alive, she'd probably say.

"You're lucky I haven't got any arsenic for this tea," she remarked."Or another poison, for that matter. Otherwise you'd be dead by now." A warm poultice dropped across his forehead, scented with herbs.

Several months ago Emily married Stephen for love and his promise to save her brother. Shortly thereafter her brother was dead and her husband missing and reportedly staying with his mistress. After he was dropped off at the front door close to death's door it's no wonder Emily is a little mad at the man. After all Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned or lied to. Her husband has no idea what happened during the months after he left her and no recollection of their marriage. Secrets will be revealed and lost memories will be found. Very fun read. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be Cute. About two teenagers who find each other when one asks the other if she'd pretend to be his girlfriend for the next five minutes. His Ex is at the club with her new boy toy and he would prefer to have it look like he's moved on. The two spend the rest of the night getting to know each other and well, you can guess. Very fun read. Not quite my taste and seemed to drag a little at the end. I give it a 3 out or 5 stars.

Note: Extreme use of the word F word toward the end.

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

You know how some books you just can't wait to get to the end and find out what happens and the hate the fact it's over? That's how I felt with this book. So naturally I had to find out if this was the first book of a series and was relieved to find out that it was.

Celeste is dating the school's handsome quarterback, Nash. The relationship is comfortable, but if you asked if she was in love she'd say no. When she meets the new kid at school, Brandon, she's attracted, but doesn't take it any farther. That is until he saves her from a pack of wolves that looked to make her their next meal. Now she needs to make a choice between Nash and Brandon. Add in the fact Brandon was bitten while trying to save her, a local werewolf legend, a psychic prediction, and you've got the makings of a fun read.

I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Was left wondering what do kisses under a full moon have to do with the "Change", who Dr. Meadows really is, and what Nash will do now that he knows?

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series #1) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake is an animator. She brings people back from the dead as zombies. She's also known as the Executioner because of her abilities to kill vampires. She kills vampires for a living. She's just managed to tick off the Master of all Vamps in the area refusing to work for her in solving a series of vampire murders. Nothing personal, but Anita has made it a policy never to work for vampires. It's not that she hates them she just doesn't trust them and with good reason. Caught in a Catch-22 situation where she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't she's forced to help when her best friend, Catherine, is brought under the control of another vampire working under the Master's order.

The book gets it's name from the club where the vampire, Aubrey, puts Catherine under his control. The club obviously is called Guilty Pleasures. Very fun read I give it 3 1/2 Stars out of 5.

Only thing I disliked were the Wererats. For some reason the song from the Nutcracker Suite kept popping into my head. Very distracting.

The Dark Divine (Dark Divine Series #1) by Bree Despain

Three years ago something horrific happened to Grace's brother Jude. Daniel Kalbi had been Jude's best friend and was being raised in the Divine family like a foster brother. That night three years ago Daniel disappeared and so did his name from the Divine household. Now Daniel's back and Grace still doesn't know what happened. Torn between loyalty to her brother and feelings she's always held for Daniel she'll be put to the test. Slowly the mystery will unravel. Being a Pastor's daughter she is used to being told to forgive people of past deeds, but if even her brother can't forgive and accept Daniel can she? Very fun read. I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Oh, and there is a paranormal element to this one. I look forward to reading the sequel.

The Bronze Horseman (Tatiana and Alexander, #1) by Paullina Simons

Set in soviet Russia at the start of WWII, Tatiana is 16 going on 17, and the world as she knows it is about to come to an end. War has finally reached Russia. Love will be found, lives will be lost, and nothing will ever be the same.
It has just been broadcast that the Germans have declared war on Russia. While Tatiana is out attempting to buy supplies for her family before the stores run out she meets Alexander, a handsome soldier in the Russian Army. When she brings him home she finds he and her sister are acquainted and realizes their relationship can never be, but sometimes things are just meant to be no matter how much they seem not to be. A book that will touch your heart.

What a heart wrenching beautiful love story. Simmons captured the feel of war in this book. The hope, fear, despair, and how even the simplest things in life, such as a typical summer day, can be made extraordinary when accomplished during war. As I was reading some of the more tragic parts I thanked God I do not have to worry where my family's next meal will come from or if I will have enough heat to keep us warm in the winter. Makes a person realize how lucky they are not to have lived during such a tragic time in history.
I keep going back and forth between rating this 4 or 5 roses. The part that made me rate it a 4 instead of a 5, and the only thing I disliked in the book, is the love triangle. Wish Simmons could have avoided it.

Ruthless(The House of Rohan, #1) by Anne Stuart

Is it me or are romances started to take on a darker edge? This one certainly does. Viscount Rohan is in charge of a group call the Heavenly Hosts. There is nothing Heavenly about it. In fact the opposite is quite true. The theme for the group? Do anything you want and, I must say, they definitely do. Anything goes sexually that is. If you saw the movie Eyes Wide Shut you know what I'm talking about.

When Elinor goes searching for her mother the trail leads her to a party being held by the Heavenly Hosts. Elinor's mother is ill and went off to gamble away what little money the family had left. To get into the party to retrieve her mother she must first get past Viscount Rohan. Once the bored rake gets a gander at Elinor he finds his boredom replaced by curiosity. Not the kind of attention a virtuous, but impoverished woman needs. Very fun read, but for some reason the beginning gave me a sense of Déjà vu. I think I read a book that had a very similar club as the Heavenly Hosts in it. It will haunt me until I remember which book I read that the beginning of this one reminded me of. Gah! I hate when I can't remember.