Kit, Viscount Ravensburg needs a fiance before going home to his family's seat. He has a woman waiting for him at home but she is his dead brother's bethrothed and Kit's ex lover. He doesn't want to have to marry her now after the events of three years ago. He asks Lauren Edgeworth to marry him upon a wager with his friends that he can have her under his spell within two weeks time. Instead of marrying him Lauren agrees to pretending to be his bethrothed and go to his family's home for the summer. In return, Kit is to give her a summer to remember. A summer of fun and adventure before she breaks of the engagement and becomes a spinister. What seems like a simple plan where both will benefit becomes very complex as the two begin to develop feelings for each other.

A Summer to Remember was just an average romance for me. It is the typical rogue who sets his eyes upon a lovely, proper lady and sees a challenge ahead of him. Lauren is so prim and proper and Kit is quite the rogue in every aspect of his life. They both have their share of secrets that have turned them into the adults they are. The setting was nice and the romance scenes were nicely written. I liked the storyline but got a little bored with all of the war stories Kit told. They were a somewhat intrical part of the story but could have been told in much less time. I also found it a little hard to get interested in the story until the first 100 pages or so (hardcover). When their agreement was finalized and they started playing their respective parts the story became interesting and fun to read.

A Summer to Remember is a nice quick read for an afternoon. I would probably borrow it from the library though or perhaps buy a secondhand copy. Not a keeper for me.

Fiona Monaghan is the best of the best in the magazine world. She is editor of Chic magazine. She meets John Anderson, head of an ad agency through the magazine. It is instant attraction for John but Fiona drags her feet when it comes to a romance between the two. She uses lack of closet space as a reason to not become close to John or any man for that matter. But as happens, opposites attract and the two soon find themselves in love--although it may not end with a happily ever after. Fiona is a steadfast woman who leads a somewhat exotic lifestyle with a house man who wears high heels and a dog whom she thinks of as a person. And John has issues of his own with his two grown daughters and his housekeeper and also the psycho dog from %&^$! These two must try to put their differences aside and deal with their different lifestyles while being a couple. It's a question though if they'll be able to succeed.

Second chance was an easy read. At just a little over 200 pages it is not a long read, though it is repetitive. Ms. Steel is still in her "repetitive stage" and tells the reader over and over again about the characters and their downfalls. This is a story though of opposites attracting and the problems that can spring up in a relationship of this kind. Being one half of an attracted opposites couple I could relate to the issues at hand here. It is sometimes hard to compromise with someone who is at times completely different than yourself. Ms. Steel did a good job of showing this aspect of the relationship.

While this isn't a deep, thought-provoking read, it is a nice quick, easy read for a sunny day outside.

Blue Moon is a sweet love story of two people who have scars inside and out but are determined to rise above their problems and live their lives the best they can. Olivia is a girl on the run who gets lost in a Southern Illinois swamp. Noah is the half-breed man who finds her and nurses her back to health. He also helps her find her way to her family who she has been separated from. In doing this he sets aside his own feelings for his love of Olivia.

This book is a fantastic read. The characters are real and the story wonderful. It doesn't take long for the reader to be engrossed in their story and wanting them to have their happily-ever-after. Blue Moon is a wonderfully written book with a great storyline and well-developed characters. Blue Moon is a book to keep on the shelf and revisit again and again.

This book was horrible. I couldn't finish reading it, which is saying a lot because I hate to waste my hard earned money on a book that I can't read. I can't believe this was an Oprah choice. Not that I read books or do anything else because Oprah suggests it. I read another one of her book choices and found it to be an entertaining read. But not this one.

The characters in this book seemed shallow. Sam seemed to be more of a ditz than a woman crushed by an estranged husband. The son seemed very immature for his age. Maybe this was just from the way he was written.

OK, I can't say much more because I didn't read the whole book. I will say I tried though, it just wasn't worth my time. The only reason I'm writing the review is to advise others to not even waste their time on this poorly written book.

A Woman of Substance is the story of Emma Harte, an English woman who starts life out in poverty-like conditions and rises above it to become one of the richest women in the world. The story starts out in New York in 1968 where the reader is introduced to Emma and her granddaughter Paula. It then progresses to England in the current day (1968) where Emma settles down to do some family business. The book then goes back to Emma's childhood in England in the early 1900's. Emma is a maid at Fairley Hall, a job she hates but must perform to help the family finances. Something then happens that causes Emma to have to leave home and fend for herself. Being a strong person she doesn't dwell in self-pity. Instead she uses her mind and her natural talent at business to start the store that will later turn into a major empire.

A Woman of Substance is a well-written book. I must agree with other reviewers that the first part is a bit confusing and doesn't really do much except to set up the scene to take the reader back into Emma's childhood to see her rise to fortune. I honestly didn't think I would like this book during Part 1 but kept reading. Ultimately I was glad I didn't give up on this book as it is extremely entertaining and well worth the time to read. There are a lot of characters in the book to keep straight. Once figured out though the characters all have an important part in the book.

I can't say enough about this wonderful book. It is just brilliant. It has everything from poverty to fortune, love to hatred, revenge, friendship, laughter, tears. Every emotion possible is revealed during the 900 plus pages of this book.

A Woman of Substance is a must read book. Definitely a book to put on the keeper shelf to revisit in the future.

In We'll Meet Again, Molly Carpenter-Lasch is tried and convicted of killing her husband, beloved Dr. Gary Lasch. There's one problem though--Molly has no recollection of the events of that night. She awoke the morning after the murder to find herself covered in her dead husband's blood. A plea bargain gets her a shorter sentence and upon her release Molly declares on TV for the world to see that she didn't kill her husband but she will try to find out who did. Enter Fran Simmons, school chum whose father committed suicide for stealing money from the library fund. Fran is now an investigative reporter and Molly wants her to help her find the truth behind her husband's murder.

This story was hard to get into but after it gets going it is well worth the time. There are a lot of characters involved which makes it at times very frustrating keeping them straight. I found myself going back to reread pages trying to keep them straightened out in my mind. The storyline is good, although a little confusing when speaking of the HMO's. The book is fast-paced after about page 100. I found myself not really enjoying the book until I had passed the 100 page milestone. Then it becomes so good I couldn't think of not finishing it. And I must say the culprit was NOT who I thought it would be.

We'll Meet Again is a book well worth reading. Just keep in mind you need to get past the somewhat boring beginning to truly enjoy it. Although not one of my favorite Mary Higgins Clark books one enjoyable to read.

Roses for Mama is the story of five siblings left on their own after their parents die a short time apart. The older siblings Thomas and Angela take on the roles as parents to their younger brother and sisters. Thomas tends to the fields while Angela does the running of the house. Times aren't always easy though as Angela realizes Thomas might soon take a wife and she'll be left on her own to deal with the children. Angela finds herself in a bit of a situation herself when she attracts the attention of a neighbor.

This story was very touching and moving. The characters were so real that the reader can't help but feel sorry for them and want so badly for them to succeed. Angela tries so hard to teach her younger siblings the lessons their mom taught her before her death. Readers without a doubt can identify with this young girl who is forced into adulthood and has the challenge of being a mother to three growing children. This book is so well written, as are all Janette Oke books, that is is easy to understand the ups and downs of daily life for these characters. This book was so easy to read that I was able to read it in a day.

It is great to know there are authors who write books about everyday people doing everyday things. This would be a great book for anyone from grandmother to granddaughter. It has likable characters, values, and great settings. A great book to read and share.

Alex Gaither, Assistant District Attorney, talks her boss into letting her go back to her mother's childhood town to reopen the case of her mother's murder. Alex believes the wrong man was convicted of the crime and she wants to find the real killer and bring him to justice. On her return to Purcell, Texas she meets up with the other three main characters in the story. Angus Minton and his son Junior, one of her mother's close friends, and Reede Lambert, the Sheriff of the county and her mother's other close friend. Alex suspects one of these three is the real murderer and she wants the truth about her mother's murder. These three men, all influential in the area, have many secrets to keep and do not want to help Alex in any way. In fact, they want her to hightail it back to Austin where she belongs. Alex won't give up and begins the investigation into the murder. Secrets will be unveiled and lives changed forever as she searches for the truth.

This was a good book with an excellent storyline. Ms. Brown delivers twists and turns with each chapter. The reader is never bored with the story because it's constantly changing. Just when you think you know who the murderer is something happens to make you change your mind. The characters are somewhat believable. One can understand Alex's need to find her mother's killer and bring them to justice. One aspect of the book I disliked was Alex's attraction to Junior and Reede. These men are old enough to be her father and whom she suspects killed her mother yet she is attracted to them. This aspect fits into the storyline to help develop the plot but I just found it too weird. The ending of the book is weak too. With the whole story being what it is the ending seemed to be a let down. I was a little disappointed in the ending Ms. Brown chose.

It took me a little over two weeks to read this book because I was sick and couldn't read much. I feel though if I hadn't been sick I would have read this book in one to two days. It was hard to put down because I wanted to find out who the killer was. This is definitely a book I would recommend. It's a great mystery/romance to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Movie star great Ricky Lam is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. He is clean for fifteen years when at a party one night he has a drink. He awakens the next morning feeling regretful for his relapse. His day only gets worse when he arrives at his movie set for the last scene only to find out his beloved brother Philip, Philly, has been tragically killed in an accident. Ricky's life is never to be the same as he realizes the brother he loved and wanted approval from was not the brother he knew. Philly had a lifetime of secrets that slip out slowly page by page changing the lives of everyone that knew him. And even some who didn't really know him.

Crown Jewel is an excellent book. It has everything in it...money, tragedy, scandal, secrets, power, love. The storyline is wonderful and the characters real. Just when the reader thinks all the secrets have been revealed and there's nothing else to discover some new piece of the puzzle is discovered. Ricky's character is very well developed and written. The supporting characters are a very intrical part of the story.

Everything and everyone in this story blends together to create an excellent book. There is just the right mix of suspense and romance. A book to read and keep on the shelf to read again to or loan to a friend. An excellent addition to any book collection.

and I was right, I didn't like it...I LOVED IT!!! I was a little late getting on the Frasier train. I didn't start watching it until it came on in the daily rerun block on our local cable station. I can't believe I missed all these great shows and all the laughs! When I realized it was on DVD I decided not to let the laughs pass me by again.

Frasier-The Complete First Season DVD set is fantastic. It is full of hours of laughs from the 24 episodes it contains. The laughs start with the pilot episode The Good Son and don't stop until the last episode My Coffee with Niles. Each episode is full of great acting and writing. This cast fits together so perfectly you forget they are acting and the characters they portray aren't actual people. Kelsey Grammer is wonderful as Dr. Frasier Crane, David Hyde Pierce is excellent as cutely nerdy Dr. Niles Crane. John Mahoney is right on in the role of the sensible, down-to-earth father Martin Crane. Jane Leeves is hilarious in the role of kind-of-psychic health care specialist Daphne Moon. And last but not least Peri Gilpen adds the finishing touch to the cast as Roz, the producer of Frasier's radio show.

I must add I even love the non-character character Maris, played by...no one. This non-role adds such comedy to the show. It is hilarious to hear of Maris' problems and issues.

Ok..on to my favorite shows on this set. My favorite is Frasier Crane's day off in which Frasier is sick and must stay at home. I laugh until I cry everytime I watch this episode. It must have been so much fun to make! I have seen this episode several times on TV and now on the DVD and it doesn't loose it's laughs. My other favorite, seen for the first time on this DVD was Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast. In this episode Frasier sees his dad in a new light when Martin's lady friend spends the night and show's up in the kitchen at breakfast. Nothing Frasier says comes out right. I laughed until I cried watching this hilarious episode.

I love everything about this series and could go on and on. I can't finish though until I say I love the Niles/Daphne storyline. It is so sweet the way Niles has a crush on Daphne. This whole storyline provides a ton of laughs.

This DVD set is a must have for anyone who loves comedy. If you've never watched Frasier buy this set--you'll love it. And if you already love Frasier buy this set to have in your collection. It is a treasure trove of laughs to keep you on your couch for hours laughing. A must-have DVD set.