Re: Books Read 2017
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:12 am
Finished Scarred Hearts by Billi Tinner Historical Western Romance
Claire Montgomery is a survivor, having lived through the Civil War, but she was horribly disfigured in the fire that took her parents when Union soldiers raided her plantation. Her only companion was Tobias, a freed slave that was a friend (and former servant) to her. She learned to be a nurse in the Union hospital, and later, doctor's assistant. After the war, she and Tobias moved out west. On the way, they picked up a child, survivor of a bandit attack upon a convoy. Over time she became known as the local healer, and their boy picked up a one-eyed cat and a baby fox as pets. Their world changed when a gunfighter with four bullet wounds collapsed on their land. He barely escaped from the Bowler Gang after taking down one of two gang leaders that raped a rich businessman's daughter. He needed to recover and finish the job, but he was stuck at the farm until he recovers, and he came to love the little family. When another woman was brought in with severe head injuries caused by her husband (and her 3 kids as well), Claire tries to care for her and the kids, then the husband arrives intending to take his wife back by force... And attacked Claire (cracked several of her ribs) when she tried to intervene, and only the timely arrival of the gunfighter sent him running, vowing revenge for stealing his family...
The story goes on from here where the gunslinger helped the sheriff capture the guy and a judge sent him to prison, while the town was torn between supporting her and whispering behind her back... While the gunslinger left to finish the job, then had to return as Claire and her family called out to him...
Nice adventure / love story between two wounded people who needed to learn how to love. 7/8
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Finished Courted by Jennifer Chance
Aspiring violist Emmaline deferred her graduate program a year ago to help caring for her parents when they got into a serious car accident. Now her deferment is almost up, but her parents still needed her, and she can't seem to play anything right. With caretakers in place, she reluctantly accepted a friend's offer for a fast and furious European tour with some BFFs and their adventures brought them to Garronia, one of the Eastern Med kingdoms still ruled by royalty. And while on the beach, Em was almost run over by Crown Prince of Garronia, Prince Kristos Andris, and his men on beach exercises. Then when Em took a swim and was having problems with the undertow, she was rescued by Kristos himself. Kristos did not want to be crown prince, but his nation needed one after his brother's plane was lost at sea. But he refused to kowtow to the responsibilities yet. When fate delivered a gorgeous dreamy-eyed American girl, Kristos kissed her... and the photos immediately went viral. Now that paparazzi are flooding the country, and the four girls found their hotel room ransacked and passports stolen, Kristos immediately took them in on royal accommodations, while attempting PR damage control, either present Em as an old acquaintance, or ignore the story hoping it dies down, for the girls will never find peace. But in the meanwhile, he'll gladly spend as much time with Em as he could, both knowing it was just a fling... Or is it?
Actually pretty good, and angst-y at times 6.5/8
Claire Montgomery is a survivor, having lived through the Civil War, but she was horribly disfigured in the fire that took her parents when Union soldiers raided her plantation. Her only companion was Tobias, a freed slave that was a friend (and former servant) to her. She learned to be a nurse in the Union hospital, and later, doctor's assistant. After the war, she and Tobias moved out west. On the way, they picked up a child, survivor of a bandit attack upon a convoy. Over time she became known as the local healer, and their boy picked up a one-eyed cat and a baby fox as pets. Their world changed when a gunfighter with four bullet wounds collapsed on their land. He barely escaped from the Bowler Gang after taking down one of two gang leaders that raped a rich businessman's daughter. He needed to recover and finish the job, but he was stuck at the farm until he recovers, and he came to love the little family. When another woman was brought in with severe head injuries caused by her husband (and her 3 kids as well), Claire tries to care for her and the kids, then the husband arrives intending to take his wife back by force... And attacked Claire (cracked several of her ribs) when she tried to intervene, and only the timely arrival of the gunfighter sent him running, vowing revenge for stealing his family...
The story goes on from here where the gunslinger helped the sheriff capture the guy and a judge sent him to prison, while the town was torn between supporting her and whispering behind her back... While the gunslinger left to finish the job, then had to return as Claire and her family called out to him...
Nice adventure / love story between two wounded people who needed to learn how to love. 7/8
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Finished Courted by Jennifer Chance
Aspiring violist Emmaline deferred her graduate program a year ago to help caring for her parents when they got into a serious car accident. Now her deferment is almost up, but her parents still needed her, and she can't seem to play anything right. With caretakers in place, she reluctantly accepted a friend's offer for a fast and furious European tour with some BFFs and their adventures brought them to Garronia, one of the Eastern Med kingdoms still ruled by royalty. And while on the beach, Em was almost run over by Crown Prince of Garronia, Prince Kristos Andris, and his men on beach exercises. Then when Em took a swim and was having problems with the undertow, she was rescued by Kristos himself. Kristos did not want to be crown prince, but his nation needed one after his brother's plane was lost at sea. But he refused to kowtow to the responsibilities yet. When fate delivered a gorgeous dreamy-eyed American girl, Kristos kissed her... and the photos immediately went viral. Now that paparazzi are flooding the country, and the four girls found their hotel room ransacked and passports stolen, Kristos immediately took them in on royal accommodations, while attempting PR damage control, either present Em as an old acquaintance, or ignore the story hoping it dies down, for the girls will never find peace. But in the meanwhile, he'll gladly spend as much time with Em as he could, both knowing it was just a fling... Or is it?
Actually pretty good, and angst-y at times 6.5/8