Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

Leo Hathaway became Lord Ramsay by chance - and the work of the Ramsay curse that killed the last few lords less than 5 years after they got the title - but after almost four years he has settled into his new position and with the help of his family made a success of the estate.

But, while his mind is preoccupied wondering just how many secrets Miss Marks - the governess and companion of Leo's younger sisters - keeps hidden and wondering why he's so obsessed with the woman; news come that unless he marries and produces an heir within the year, the Hathaways will lose their new home.

Catherine Marks loves working and living with the Hathaways, having gotten used to their eccentricities and all of Beatrix's pets, she's just happy to be around a family like the one she never had. Her years with them have brought her peace even though her past still haunts her.

Leo's interest makes it hard for Cat to keep all of her secrets and so, some of them begin to spill slowly, turning what it started as mutual dislike into a something Leo never expected to feel again and that Cat never hoped to feel at all.

Married by Morning is the long awaited Leo/Marks book for those who have been following the Hathaways the last few years, And I do recommend to read the books in order, that way you appreciate the family interactions more. Personally, I found the story very satisfying, I was surprised I read the book so fast but their arguments were just so funny.

I have to give it to Lisa Kleypas, she's a master at writing those small-moments that really make you fall in love with a story and this book has many of them. And Dodger the ferret makes one very stellar performance!

All in all I loved to see how Leo and Cat changed through out the books, and I can totally buy that they are madly in love.

3/4

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

The death of her father and the abuse suffered at the hands of relatives that were supposed to take care of her, sent eighteen year old Caitrin on the run. After traveling for days and with little money, she finds Whistling Tor -a small, out of the way Irish town near the west coast. When she overhears a man from the chieftain's fortress asking about a scribe, Caitrin jumps at the opportunity to get a job and a safe place to stay.

Caitrin's father was a scribe and taught Caitlin's his craft - an oddity in the Ireland of the twelfth century - so, against the advice of the town's people, Caitrin sets on the road uphill to meet the mysterious chieftain of Whistling Tor and his strange household.

Lord Anluan lives but with five people up in the fortress, victim of a palsy at the age of 13, he has never left his home and is still haunted by the deaths of his parents, and by the strange beings that inhabit the forest around his home. He's uneasy about hiring Caitrin, so full of life and 'normal', but he has a job that needs to be done so a hundred year old curse can finally be laid to rest.

Slowly, Caitrin makes a place for herself in Anluan's home and things begin to change, for Caitrin brings something with her that was all but lost at the Tor: hope. But not all residents of the Tor are open to change, and with a Normand invasion looming close, thought choices lay ahead for everyone.

Juliet Marillier is one of those authors who write so beautifully that they transport you to another place and you fall deeper into their stories with each turn of the page. Heart's Blood is a good example of that. The pace is a little slow at times but the mystery keeps you going. And I was glad to see some lose ends tied before the conclusion and I have to say I was quite happy with the ending of the story.

I found myself loving each of the characters almost as soon as I met them - Anluan, Caitrin and their close companions - including the dog, (awesome dog, always a plus!) and I was cheering for them as each found their own courage.

Perhaps it's not a book for everyone but it's worth giving it a try.

Cover Love #6 - Happy Ever After

Isn't it gorgeous? Happy Ever After is the fourth book in the Bride Quartet, and seriously, all covers have been lovely but this one is my favorite.

Happy Ever After comes out November 2 of 2010

Ps - Here are the other covers for your enjoyment

Book Gossip #23

Sarah Dessen just updated her blog with news of her next book.
According to Publishers Weekly Sarah's next book is called "Cut and Run" and should be May 2011.

From PW:

Hayes Buys ‘Cut and Run’
Agent Leigh Feldman, of Darhansoff, Verrill, Feldman, sold a new YA novel by Sarah Dessen to Viking Children’s Books. Regina Hayes bought world rights to Cut and Run, about a high school senior who, after her parents’ divorce, has taken up the practice of assuming a new identity in each of the four towns she’s lived in. Dessen, according to Penguin, has sold more than four million copies of her nine previous titles, which include the New York Times bestsellers Along for the Ride and Lock & Key. Cut and Run is scheduled for May 2011.

I'm a big fan of Sarah's books so I'm quite excited.

List Maniac # 5 - Favorite TV couples

So, I realized that I've been neglecting ListManiac as of late, so I decided to do a series of Top Fives. And, since is season finale time on TV, I decided to kick it off with my TOP 5 FAVORITE TV COUPLES!!

5. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (The X-Files)
I didn't know what sexual tension was until I saw the X files, granted I had no business knowing what sexual tension was since I was, like, thirteen but even back then I knew that there was something between Mulder and Scully and that kept me glued to the TV for quite a few years watching them go all over the U.S. trying to find aliens and the like. And, trust me, it wasn't the aliens.

4. Robin and Barney (How I Met Your Mother)

Their romance didn't last long but it was good while it did. And even before and after they dated, they were awesome as friends and still are. One of my favorite episodes of HIMYM was when Robin was Barney's wind men and she did 'suit up' and everything. I think that's when he began to fall in love with her. I still hold hope in my TV-loving heart that they will get back together some day.

3. Penny and Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory).

Okay, these aren't a 'couple' couple, but they are a couple of people whose chemistry sizzles. Together they make for some of the funniest TV I've seen in recent years - I'm a geek at heart, I even got a degree on Biology with focus on water, so I love all the science jokes - and I truly believe they are the heart of The Big Bang Theory. Penny has common sense and street smarts which Sheldon completely lacks; and I think being around her has made Sheldon a little more human and a bit less cyborg. Love whenever they have scenes together and when the song "Soft Kitty" comes up.

2. Booth and Brennan (Bones)

In every episode, Agent Booth and Dr. Brennan work together to solve all type of crimes involving human remains, but that's only half the show, the other half is definitely the relationship between these two. The times I have liked Dr. Brennan the most have been when she lets her guard down and shows how much she cares for Booth. And Booth, well, he's awesome.

1. Buffy and Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Okay, sure, I liked Angel was much as the next person and I do think that the "Passion" episode (when Angel goes all evil and kills Giles' girlfriend) is one of the best of the series as a whole but Buffy and Spike thing was way more awesome. I guess that, as a teenager I would have found Angel more appealing, but as a twenty-something girl, Spike is the one that makes my heart beat faster. Spike is sarcastic and sexy and should be bad, but he's actually quite honest and was there when Buffy needed him. So, go Spike! And yeah, I really like Buffy when she's with Spike, she has never been a damsel in distress but the kick-butt factor goes up a notch when she's with Spike.

Special Mentions go to: Daniel Mead and Betty Suarez // Amanda Tanen-Sommers and Mark St. James (Ugly Betty). Why? Because these two couples show that friendship is love too, and that it takes just as much work as any other relationship to make it last. Love Amanda and Mark, who are best friends, know everything good and bad about each other and love one another to death. And Daniel and Betty, well, let me just say that in my mind they did ride into the (London) sunset together.

See ya soon, for more lists!
Love,