Savage Winds (Savage Times Book 1) by Michelle C. Reilly

   

 Still not well but getting there - and I had much time to read.... ;-)

Savage Winds by Michelle C. Reilly

Blurb: 

Ana Salvatore, a marine biologist, wants nothing more than to have an independent life free of her mobster family. While on an excursion in the Bermuda Triangle with her uncle, his boat explodes, and she wakes to find herself in the arms of gorgeous Captain Jacen Stirling on an ancient ship. It's like a fairytale, until he tells her the year is 1814.

Jacen is on a secret mission for General Andrew Jackson to infiltrate the infamous privateer Jean Lafitte’s encampment to determine his loyalties. When he discovers Ana while on his way to meet Lafitte, he can’t decide if she’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to him, or the best.

As the Battle of New Orleans draws nearer, can Jacen and Ana work together to help their country beat the invaders? Or will the British, the war, or the savage winds of time keep them apart?


I enjoyed reading this book even though I put I aside when I was halfway through because I felt as if it was a bit too drawn-out.

On the whole though, this is a charming and captivating story with interesting and very likeable characters.
I loved the storyline even though I was a bit irritated that nobody really seemed to mind that the heroine, Ana, was from the future. Sure, she thought about it sometimes but I never felt that she was really upset about it and our hero, Jacen, well, he took it in stride as well. Somehow this didn't feel very right.
If I met somebody from the future, I wouldn't stop asking stupid questions for ages and, okay, he is a man, so, sure, not ages and probably not even hours but even a man would be curious and would at least want to know more about the boats in the future, the weapons or whatever, right? And on the other hand, if I was blasted back into the past, I'd have quite a few questions as well and, considering what happened right before that explosion, I think I would have told Jacen or whoever was at hand, about it and about my time and ...you get the meaning, right?

So, not perfect and with some lengths but nevertheless I felt entertained and enjoyed reading it.

 ★★★

A Bride for a Day (Matchmaker Cafe Series Book 2) by Pam Binder

When your worst idea might turn out to be the best one of your life...

  

 A Bide for a Day by Pam Binder

Blurb:

 Worst New Year’s resolution…ever.

Of course, Cinderella Charming, C.C. to the world, had heard of “marriages of convenience.” After all, her parents had named her and her siblings after fairytale characters, even though she resembled one of Cinderella’s cute mice friends rather than a princess. She was also an avid romance reader.

But when her boss, the insanely handsome star quarterback and playboy Michael Campbell, proposed the fake marriage plan, her rational self screamed its objections. True, she’d be given a generous bonus when the marriage was annulled, so she could open her own restaurant. True, the fake marriage would help improve Michael’s image. True, she was in Scotland, one of her favorite places of all time. But C.C.’s main objection, and this was a big one, was that she feared she’d already fallen in love with Michael, and they would be spending New Year’s Eve together…alone.


This book was so sweet and charming, I really enjoyed reading it!
I mean, how could a book with a heroine like Cinderella Charming or C.C. as she prefers to be called for obvious reasons, not be sweet and charming, especially if you throw in a bit of magic, true love and some hot and equally charming Scots?

Okay, there are also some not so charming Scots around at least if you happen to be a Campbell in a Campbell's plaid at the wrong place and time... But it was definitely good to see some plans thwarted and I was upset when a divorce (or rather more than one) was proposed for all the wrong reasons and well, I was very happy indeed to see someone being put down a notch or two.

I loved to see love prevail and conquer time and circumstances and I loved the idea of the matchmakers and their café. The whole story was entertaining and well written and I must admit that I really, really have to know what happened to Fiona and Liam and...well, let's just say that I am really looking forward to the next book in this series!

★★★★