The Gift: Home for Christmas / All I Want for Christmas / Gabriel's Angel by Nora Roberts (Goodreads Author)

The Gift: Home for Christmas / All I Want for Christmas / Gabriel's Angel by Nora Roberts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had read Home for Christmas and Gabriel's Angel awhile back so didn't read them again. Really enjoyed All I Want for Christmas. What happens when twin first graders ask Santa for "The Mom" for Christmas and the new music teacher checks all the boy's requirements?

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Under Currents by Nora Roberts (Goodreads Author)

Under Currents by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it from the first page to the very last. Darby and Zane are lovable and interesting characters.

The book begins with Zane's childhood and how he and his younger sister escaped their abusive parents and continues with Zane returning home to set up a law practice. He then meets Darby who has recently moved to the area and is starting up a landscape business.

Unfortunately the monsters from their past follow them and must be overcome again along with a new monster.

Loved how Zane's cousin mentioned John Sander's Fuckin Flowers (another favorite read of mine) and how his sleuthing helped save Darby's life.

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Sweetbriar by Jude Deveraux

Sweetbriar by Jude Deveraux
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Mostly it was unbelievable.

The Indians weren't interested in taking the women prisoner (really???) and only took Linnet because they mistook her for a child. Devon Macalister (Mac) just happened to be in the renegade Indian camp and fought for her and won.

Then their was Mac's treatment of her, he was insanely jealous and assumed she was sleeping with every man in town, then after he made love to her and discovered she was a virgin he left town. When the woman he was pretending to be interested in told Linnet she was pg with Mac's baby Linnet leaves town and actually does have Mac's child and when he shows up 2 years later looking for her she not only takes him back (and granted he did run into a burning building to save their daughter) but she risk her life to save him.

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The Hired Hero (Intrepid Heroines, #2)

The Hired Hero by Andrea Pickens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Light hearted romance with intrigue and danger.

When Caroline's Father sends a letter warning her to trust no one and instructs her to go to her Uncle in London she fully intends to obey him but before she can leave a courier dies on her doorstep with an important document. Determined to carry the document to London herself she is forced to ask Julian for help when her coachman is killed.

Slowly Julian discovers that a woman who can ride, shoot and cuss like a man is exactly what he wants in his life, the only question is can he keep her alive long enough to gain the courage to reveal his true feelings for her.

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Thurston House by Danielle Steel

Thurston House by Danielle Steel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book follows the fortune of three generations of the Thurston Family. Jeremiah who founded the family, Sabrina the daughter who followed in his footsteps and her son who disappointingly turned out like his Grandmother, and her daughter Dominique who was an unexpected blessing.

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Silver and Teal

 The fun part of redecorating is finding bits and pieces to set off your new look. Silver looks smashing with Flood Tide and I have fallen in love with decorative spheres. and vases lots of vases.

 I have had the painting for years my dear Aunt by Marriage Sheila Thead painted it for me. The bonsai  tree sets it off perfectly.

 I love the shelf Bo built for me and it's really stunning once we remodeled the Study/Home Office.

 More spheres and vases and a cute yoga rabbit. You can't see it in the picture but there is a yoga cat in the kitchen window. While there is some silver here I have also added in different shades of Teal.

The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy, #1)

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Loosely based on the legend of King Arthur. Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken (Merlin) have an idyllic childhood as the children of King Morken. The book begins with their Mother's death and the end of the idyllic childhood they knew. Languoreth grieves that as the only daughter of the King she cannot become a Wisdom Keeper like her brother Lail but must make an advantageous marriage instead (interesting fact she will inherit her Father's property).

Languoreth's Foster Brother Gwenddolau joins his Father's (King Ceidio) allies Emrys Pendragon and his Dragon Riders. Languoreth gives her love to Maelgwn, one of the Dragon Riders, before wedding Rhydderch, son of the High King Tutgual ( a highly despicable man). Languoreth gives birth to 4 children with her eldest son Rhys secretly being Maelgwn's. When Emrys Pendragon dies after being poisoned Gwenddolau succeeds him as Uther Pendragon (the other Pendragon). And Lail is his Wisdom Keeper. Languoreth's youngest daughter Angharad will be fostered by her brother Lail in order for her to become a Wisdom Keeper. Cyan and Gladys are still at home with Languoreth at the end of the book.

When Christianity first came to the country the Christians and those who followed the Old Gods coexisted in Peace, but Mungo destroyed the peace when he attacked a sacred groove cutting down the Oaks and burying a body in the sacred ground. His numerous attacks on Languoreth's family culminates in the hanging of Cathan (her family's Wisdom Keeper) and an attack on a pregnant Languoreth. Rhydderch manages to hunt down and kill most of the attackers but High King Tutgual refuses to allow Bishop Mungo to be executed and only exiles him.

Rhydderch loves his young wife and is sympathetic to the Old Gods but as the second son of the High King he has to walk a fine line between the Supporters of the Old Gods and the Christian God his Father supports. When High King Tutgual agrees to go to War against Uther Pendragon Rhydderch and his eldest son Rhys ride with him even though it means fighting against his wife's brother and Foster Brother and attacking a fortress that houses his youngest daughter. Languoreth risk everything in order to send a groom with a message to Gwenddolau and Lail warning of the attack.

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The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time, #5)

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Since Rand is the main character I will start with his group. Rand, Asmodean (one of the Foresaken who is training Rand and posing as his bard), Moiraine, Lan, Egwene al'Vere, Mat and Aviendha (one of the Aiel). Rand and Aviendha become lovers, but Aviendha refuses to marry him and insist he belongs to her friend Elayne. When Lanfear attacks Rand Moiraine saves his life by pushing Lanfear through the door (ter'angreal) falling through herself Moiraine is presumed dead and Lan discovers that she has bound him to another Aes Sedai and he sets out to find her, not realizing it's Nynaeve he tells Rand to tell Nynaeve that he has found someone else. Mat becomes a hero in his own right leading Rand's armies. Believing that Rahvin (who was posing as Gaebril, Morgase's lover and proclaimed King after Morgase disappeared) killed Queen Morgase, Rand goes after him and with Nynaeve's help in the dream world kills him. Since Rand killed Rahvin with Balfire Matt, Aviendha and Asmodean come back to life BUT Asmodean is later killed when he goes to get wine.

Elayne, Nynaeve, Birgitte, Uno, Thom, and Juilin are looking for the Aes Sedai that left that tower after the Black Ajah took over. In order to hide from their enemies they join a menagerie. In the dream world Elayne and Nynaeve can meet with Elayne and visit the tower to find out information on one of their trips Nynaeve meets Birgitte (one of the heroes of the ages who is waiting to be reborn) and enlist her aid in finding Moghedien (another of the Forsaken) when Moghedien springs a trap Birgitte is harmed and is sent back with Nynaeve in the flesh and near death. In order to save Birgitte's life Elayne bonds her to her as a Warder. When they find the Aes Sedai in Salidar they don't receive the warm welcome they expected but are instructed to teach the Aes Sedai how to enter the dream world. Siuan who is manipulating the Aes Sedai also wants them to instruct her how to use the ring to enter the dream world. While Nynaeve is giving Siuan a lesson she catches sight of Moghedien and send Siuan back to the waking world but is trapped by Moghedien, Birgitte comes to rescue her but is no match for Moghedien. Just when it looks as if Moghedien will kill them both Nynaeve is able to put a collar on Moghedien and control her. Brigitte isn't able to stay in the dream world but Nynaeve does and learns of the trap Rahvin is springing on Rand. She forces Moghedien to take her to help Rand and since Rand and Rahvin are fighting in the Dream world she is able to lend aid. Due to things Moghedien has let slip Nynaeve realizes that she is in Salidar.

Min, Siuan (who has been stilled), Leane (who has been stilled) and Logain (False dragon gentled) escape the tower. While they are running from the Black Ajah who now control the Tower they accidentally burn a barn down and wind up in servitude to Gareth Bryne. When they break their oath and flee he pursues them and catches up with them in Salidar where he winds up pledging his sword to the Aes Sedai in Salidar who plan to retake the Tower. Siuan and Leane pretend to be at odds in order to manipulate the Aes Sedai. (Garth is in love with Siuan, which is actually why he followed the oath breakers)

Not realizing Rahvin/Gaebril is dead Morgase, Lini, Tallanvor and the others go to Amadicia for help.

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