Review: Welcome to My World, Johnny Weir

Title: Welcome to My World

Author: Johnny Weir

Hardcover: 272 Pages
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: 1/11/11
ISBN: 978-1451610284

Description:

In a memoir as candid and unconventional as Johnny Weir himself, the three-time U.S. National Champion figure skater who electrified the 2010 Winter Olympics shares his glamorous, gritty, heartbreaking, hopeful, and just plain fabulous life story. How does a boy from rural Pennsylvania become an all-American original style icon on the ice and off, adored by fans around the world, and hailed as “The Lady Gaga of skating” (Salon.com)? The answers are here, in his invigorating and thoroughly entertaining chronicle of the emergence of his natural talents for skating and horseback riding; the physically and emotionally grinding path to becoming a champion; a family who sacrificed everything to support his passions; an ability to rise again after the most devastating defeats and never look back; an appreciation of style (from his mom) and self-discipline (that would be from his dad); and a fearless confidence to say whatever’s on his mind.

Because when you’re Johnny Weir, you don’t worry about what other people think. You let everyone else worry about that for you.

Welcome to his world.

My Review:

I have to admit that yes, I am one of Johnny's Angels.   What is a Johnny's Angel, his fans of course.  Rather if it is his skating or his TV show, I have always been a huge fan of Johnny's.  I love his personality, who he is without pretending and conforming to what he "should" be.  

I was ecstatic when I found his book at the local Library and I have to admit I was the first one to check it out.  With that being said, I was absolutely shocked when I read his book.  If anyone watches his show, you would know that he and the skating federation do not have a wonderful relationship.  I was a shamed of how they treated Johnny because he is different, because he is who he is.  Yes, Johnny can be a diva but who doesn't have those moments, in my opinion, his diva moments are far better than hockey fights, and other player meltdowns. 

Welcome to My World, starts when Johnny was a child and showed how his parents sacrificed for him.  It showed his struggles and his growth not only as a man but as a skater as well.  I'm going to end this review with one of my favorite passages from this book.

"Putting people in boxes--whether the label is lesbian, gay, nerd, or freak---is just phony.  In our society, too many people box up their personalities, stowing away aspects of themselves that don't fit in the confining shape.  In that sense, I wish people would come out, to live freely and openly.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  Whether it's with my mother, best friend, or lover, I give everything that I am.  To me, gay and straight is only sex.  Love is completely without boundaries."

My Rating:

Giveaway: Just Jennifer Reading, How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

Just Jennifer Reading: How to Marry a Duke, Vicky Dreiling

Follow the link above for further details and to enter.  The giveaway will end 2/9/11 at 11:59pm (EST)

Description:

Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. Love is not necessary--nor desired. But how to choose among a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London's infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she's not the most captivating woman he's ever met...

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she's determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife--she'll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke's affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan's desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker's number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.

Review: Master of Smoke, Angela Knight

Title: Master of Smoke
Author: Angela Knight

Series: Mageverse

Mass Market Paperback: 302 Pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: 1/4/11
ISBN: 978-0425239162

Description:

After surviving a werewolf attack, Eva Roman finds herself able o turn fanged and furry even as she copes with emotional scars from the attack.  When she saves a handsome Shapeshifer from a similar attack, she can’t imagine where the chance rescue will lead them.

The shifter she rescues cannot tell her who he is because he was stripped of his memory and powers during the assault.  So Eva, calls him David, not knowing his true identity as Smoke, a Sidhe warrior.  His attacker was Warlock, the magic-imbued leader of a cult or werewolf assassins trained to destroy all but their own kind in Mageverse.

Eva and Smoke aren’t the only ones determined to stop him.  Nor is Warlock their only enemy.  Now, as a war ignites between all the immortals of the Mageverse, Eva and Smoke will need more that their love for each other to survive.

My Review:

Eva Roman works in her father’s comic book store and none of her family or friends know her secret she is a werewolf attacked, and left on her own.  When Eva came across a man being attacked, a very hot naked man, she had no choice but to help.  Taking him home may not have been the best idea but she cannot complain.  Calling the stranger David, desire pulled them together.

David, who does not know who he is, may not remember who he is or what exactly he is but he does know how to fight and he does know how to please a lover.  Slowly Cat, Smoke, and David came about, all are bound together, brothers.  (I must admit I did get a bit confused between Cat, Smoke, and David.) 

I love the Mageverse universe I love the twist and turns.  Passion burning between Eva and David was hot and heavy.  Eva had to learn to accept one she had to accept all three.  They had to trust each other, protect each other, and love each other.

My Rating:

Master of Smoke (Mageverse)

Review: Once upon a Scandal, Delilah Marvelle

Title: Once upon a Scandal
Author: Delilah Marvelle

Series: Scandal Series

Mass Market Paperback: 384 Pages
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: 1/18/11
ISBN: 978-0373775453

*I received a copy from HQN*

Description:

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson left behind her girlish notions of romance when Jonathan deserted her without a backward glance. Now the time has come when she must finally choose a husband, and she has vowed to marry someone who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home, free of all his family's debts. Only to discover that by some miracle he has been chosen to vie for the hand of his beloved Victoria. To convince his only love to once again believe in the magic of love and the promise of desire will be his greatest challenge yet. And one he cannot fail!

My Review:

Lady Victoria’s heart was broken when Viscount Remington left for Venice eventually breaking all communication with her.  After fifty-two more letters, Victoria herself stopped writing. 

Her father’s health was failing they all knew it, she took care of him with no desire of marrying, her father needed her, her brother and mother are dead.  Her cousin Grayson, would not tell her what happened to Jonathan.  Little did she know what her father had planned.

Jonathan Thatcher has a lot to atone for.  For five long years he wouldn’t dare contact his Lady Victoria, it was too dangerous, and he wanted to be the man she needed and he couldn’t do that while in debt.  His family came first and he agreed to a five-year contract.  After which he would be free for Victoria again.  He made his best friend Grayson swear not to speak of him to Victoria she had no clue what his life was like.

In a twist of faith both were trusted together again.  While Victoria’s father was in his right mind he chose three men to vie for Victoria’s hand, however, they did not realize this.  And by midnight she had a choice to make.

What choice would she make?  What happened in Venice?  Could Victoria forgive Jonathan or would it tear them apart even more?

The second book in the Scandal Series kept me wanting more, begging for more.  I love how Delilah Marvelle takes historic information and turn it into something that rarely is written about.  My heart when out to everyone in this book I laughed and I held back tears.  I enjoyed reading Once upon a Scandal very much and a keeper.

My Rating:

Once Upon a Scandal (Hqn) 

Review: Unveiled, Courtney Milan

Title: Unveiled
Author: Courtney Milan

Mass Market Paperback: 384 Pages
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: 1/25/2011
ISBN: 978-0373775439

*I received a copy from HQN*

Description:

He was her bitterest enemy…

Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family—and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But instead he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance….

And her dearest love

Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who's stolen her fortune and her father's legacy—the man she's been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties—and the tantalizing promise of passion…

My Review:

Ash Turner wanted his revenge and now has arrived at Parford Manor where he belongs.  He has brought to the attention that the current duke is a bigamist he was still married to his first wife when he married his second.  From that marriage his children where then considered bastards. 

His younger brother, Mark, had joined him he is against Ash’s need for revenge.

At first sight his eyes caught, Miss Margaret Lowell, the current duke’s nurse.  He claimed her, he wanted her, and he did not care what society thought.

Lady Margaret the daughter of the current duke plays the nurse as she spies on Ash.  Through the book Margaret forms a bond to Ash, a bond she wish she did not have.  She fought to report what she found out about Ash.  Should she betray him or her family?

It is clear how her father feels about her and her brothers, to him, now his sons are just as bad as women are because they are bastards.  Her brothers are fighting tying to be reinstated as legitimate however, there is a catch.

Would Margaret chose her family over Ash?  Would Ash give up his need for revenge for Margaret?  Would Ash gain the dukedom or would Margaret’s father remain as duke?

Unveiled kept me wanting to read more.  The tension between Margaret and Ash was clear.  I enjoyed reading a male character that did not care about what society thinks for he was not raised within the society circles. 

I fell in love with Ash.  Both Margaret and Ash felt real to me and I cannot wait to read more of the Turners!

My Rating:

Unveiled (Hqn)

Review: Marrying Daisy Bellamy, Susan Wiggs

Title: Marrying Daisy Bellamy
Author: Susan Wiggs

Series: The Lakeshore Chronicles

Mass Market Paperback: 432 Pages
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: 1/25/2011
ISBN: 978-0778329251

*I received this book through the HQN.*

Description:

There are days on Willow Lake…

Daisy Bellamy has struggled for years to choose between two men—one honorable and steady, one wild and untethered.  And then, one fateful day, the decision is made for her.

When the wind is so still and the water so calm…

Now busy with a thriving business on Willow Lake, Daisy knows she should be happy with the life she's chosen for herself and her son.  But she still aches for the one thing she can't have.

You can almost hear your heart beat…

Until the man once lost to her reappears, resurrected by a promise of love.  And now the choice Daisy thought was behind her is the hardest one she'll ever face….

My Review:

Daisy Bellamy is a single mom of a little boy Charlie.  For a career, Daisy is a photographer. 

Logan O'Donnell who is Charlie’s father..

Julian Gastinueaux, a Lieutenant in the US Air Force who meet Daisy at Camp Kioga.

Together these three lives are tangled together, two men who love Daisy and Daisy who loves one of them.  Lakeshore Christmas left us off with Logan, Julian, and Daisy at the train station when a ring fell to the ground.  The question remained, whose ring was it?

That question was answered in Marrying Daisy Bellamy. 

I have loved both Daisy and Julian when they first appeared in the series and I still love them.  Logan I did not like at first but he did grow on me in Marrying Daisy Bellamy.

For Daisy and Julian life seems to get in their way, each time one of them turn around something comes between them.  Whereas Logan has learned to be a great father, but does not like Julian, he believes that Daisy should be with him because he is there for her and not in the military.

She had made her choice between the two.  When she was planning her wedding disaster struck losing the one she loved.  Eventually as time goes on, she finds herself in the arms of the other.  Living in a marriage that is less than perfect but both her and her husband try their best at their marriage.  One faithful day she learns that the man she loves was not dead but alive and well.  Now she is a dilemma, she could not leave her marriage for the other even if he is the one man she has loved.

Her husband knew for a while that their marriage was not going to work out.  Adding her love of her life back into the mix he knew that it was time to let her go.

Marrying Daisy Bellamy had been on the edge of my seat, screaming no with tears in my eyes.  I grew to love each of them and my sadness went away at the end of the book.  However, I hope that eventually the husband finds pure happiness that he deserves. 

My Rating:

Marrying Daisy Bellamy (The Lakeshore Chronicles)