Little Known Favorites

I'm very bad. This meme (started by Jennie) was going around last month but lazy Renée didn't get around to it until now. Someone tagged me but I can't figure out who. Maybe Rosario but I can't figure out how to search through her archives (hey, Rosario, you need an archive link :) I guess it doesn't matter.

Rules: List and describe three of your favorite books that other people might not be familiar with. Then tag five people No one left to tag. See, easy!


Heart of Deception by Taylor Chase
I wrote a brief review of this book a year ago and was so impressed with it I thought I'd mention it again. It was one of those books that grab you from the first page and was incredibly hard to put down. The setting is Elizabethan England and Queen Beth herself makes an appearance. The history is not just wallpaper but an integral part of the story. The characters are three-dimensional and the story is fast paced and filled with political intrigue, betrayal, treason and murder. But these events are only a backdrop to an wonderful steamy romance. The heroine is queen of the underworld and the hero gains her trust only to betray her later resulting in some emotional scenes.

The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne
This is probably my favorite book by MO and that's saying a lot. This western romance set in 1880's Kansas tells the story of Rosie Mulvehey who marries a convict Bowie Stone to save him from hanging and to help her with her farm. Both have a dark past and are damaged individuals. This is a story about the healing power of love that sent me looking for a box of tissues but I love a good tearjerker. There are some good secondary characters too. This book was fast paced and hard to put down, so find a comfy spot and relax and enjoy. MO has written some wonderful books in her career but I hear that she has retired from writing. Damn. But there are lots of books in her backlist I haven't read yet so I'm set for a while.

Dream Fever by Katherine Sutcliffe
Australia/New Zealand is one of my favorite settings and this one is another good one to add to a couple of Candice Proctor's books (Whisper of Heaven, Night in Eden). This historical is set in New Zealand in 1861. Nick Sabre has been exiled to NZ after being tricked by the woman he loved into killing his rival in a duel. He now runs a sheep station and just wants to be left alone. Red-haired Summer O'Neile shows up at his door claiming to be his proxy bride. But Nick doesn't remember signing the proxy form since he was drunk at the time and has no use for any woman but he decides to let her stay until the sheep shearing when he can dispose of the wool and his unwanted bride. Summer struggles to be loved and accepted by him but Nick treats her very badly. Some reviewers complained that she was too much of a doormat but I didn't see that. I loved her character and shed some tears for her. Summer falls in love with Nick but he fights his feelings. Eventually, Summer worms her way into Nick's heart and it was an emotional roller coaster ride but I really enjoyed it.


Whew, one meme down. One more meme (maybe 2) to go. Cindy tagged me for the 7x7 music meme (no, Cindy, I hate country western.) Who knows when I'll get that done.