Well, in about six hours’ time, we’ll be flying off to lovely Phuket for four fantastic days of absolute bliss doing nothing but lazing by the pool, lounging in the villa, reading, shopping and just relaxing.

But don’t envy me … it’s part work for me too.  Got a couple of meetings on the first day set up, after which I fully intend to celebrate the rest of my vacation leave.

Yippee! And here’s a glimpse of the tropical paradise we’re heading towards …

After that intense Thornton binge, I wanted something light-hearted and humourous. So, I turned to Katie MacAllister and her Hard Day’s Knight for some comic relief, and she didn’t disappoint.

Unemployed and unattached software engineer, Pepper Marsh, attends Renaissance Faire in Ontario with her cousin, who promised to find her a knight in shining armour … provided she joins in as a wench. Having had enough of the geeks in her dating pool, Pepper longs for a man who’s not afraid stare death in the face. But when she steps into the path of an oncoming steed, she is rescued by this gruff, grumpy but infuriatingly sexy Englishmen Englishman Walker McPhail.

Sparks flew, and Pepper finds herself drawn to the strong silent modern knight. But Walker, once the wild man of jousting and the undisputed champion of honour who has let a dreadful incident keep him out of the ring, is determined to guard himself against the storm of emotions that Pepper stirs in him. So of course Pepper has to rescue him from certain loneliness … helped along by an adorable matchmaking feline. 

This delightfully saucy romance is tongue-in-cheek funny and so easy to read I finished it in one evening. I like the setting of the story in a fair complete with chain mail, jousts, caparisoned chargers, lances and all things medieval. It makes one wish one was there just to soak in the atmosphere, and lends a certain air of magic to the way Pepper and Walker find each other. 

Right after I polished off The Bachelor Trap, I went on an Elizabeth Thornton binge, gobbling up The Bride’s Bodyguard and Dangerous to Kiss on two continuous nights, gladly sacrificing sleep … to much nagging from da hubby.

For those unfamiliar with ET, here’s the synopsis of The Bride’s Bodyguard:

Tessa Lorimer thinks she is the luckiest girl in the world. After a bitter, harrowing childhood, she had escaped her guardian’s clutches and fled to her wealthy, doting grandfather. For the first time in her life, Tessa is spoiled — yet one thing blights her happiness. Her grandfather’s new secretary, the mysterious and magnetic Ross Trevenan, has too much influence with the aging financier. And in Trevenan’s eyes, Tessa can do nothing right. But she suspects there is more to the cool, gray-eyed American’s plans than replacing her in an old man’s affections. And when a tragedy from the past returns to stalk the present, Tessa’s time may have run out.

Reading this book again brought back fond memories for me. This was my first Elizabeth Thornton book, and to this day I can recall the tempestuous relationship between Tessa and Ross very well. 

Both H/H are forceful characters and have very strong traits of pride, stubbornness and loyalty towards family. It was also why Tessa felt so betrayed about being used as a bait for the murderer, even though she recognized that this is necessary to flush the criminal out. What really chafed was that she wasn’t given a choice to volunteer to be the bait, hence she felt left out. Her struggle to reconcile her love for Ross, and the insecurity of their marriage under the shadow of Ross’ ex-wife’s tragic death, is another point of conflict that was powerfully portrayed.

Unlike Ames, I’m familiar with Elizabeth Thornton, and have been following this since The Marriage Trap, so I knew there’ll be a larger part of the story devoted to suspense, although Katrina would beg to defer, despite the synopsis on the back cover:

It’s a challenge most men would avoid at all costs: to seduce the ravishing, reluctant Lady Marion Dane while avoiding that long walk to the altar. But Brand Hamilton, the base-born son of a duke with a bright future in politics, has his own compelling reasons for courting Marion.
Now, with society ablaze over a very unconventional courtship, they embark on a journey that takes them from the glitter and intrigue of London to a decades-old secret hidden in a far-off English village – and a love that could prove the most irresistible snare of all.

I’ve enjoyed all the Thornton books I’ve read thus far, and The Bachelor Trap is no exception, although there were some readers who found the jump from the epilogue into why Brand ended up with Marion and her sisters a lil’ vague. I’m used to the author’s style of setting the story, and building up the plot and mystery, so got into the spirit of the story pretty quickly. Besides, this book received excellent reviews. 

One of the things I enjoy most about Thornton’s books is guessing the villain. She always manages to spring a surprising, and unlikely, villain on you. Sometimes the villains she created are such ordinary people you wouldn’t have picked up any clues about them until he or she is unmasked. I was kept guessing right until almost the very end in The Marriage Trap, but in The Bachelor Trap, I already had a hunch who the ‘villian’ – she’s a harmless looking frail old lady with a disturbed mind – is when she made an appearance, but couldn’t guess the identity of her accomplice, who turned out to be a surprise for me.

First up, the two dear Ja(y)nes over at DearAuthor are holding a Thanksgiving giveaway. (Demon Angel by Meljean Brook is much wanted!). All you’ll have to do is just comment anywhere on the site until Thanksgiving.

Okay, after you’ve put in your claim for a free book, hop over to Jaci’s where she’s posted this cool movie trailer for her latest book, Surviving Demon Island. Angie posted a list of 13 authors she’s given up on, so if you can think of any, pick up the thread.

Ooh, and I just discovered that DanceChica used to march in a band, and she played the clarinet too. As I did!!

Just in case you didn’t get your choice of books in the Thanksgiving giveaway, Samhain Publishing is giving readers a chance to win a November print title of your choice!!! So, get going with all those freebies if you wish to win any.

Ever since the local TV station started airing Fox production Prison Break every Thursday, the man and I have been held prisoner in front of the couch. He loves the suspense and action.

Me? I’m in for the hunky Wentworth Miller (doesn’t he look dapper in that suit?), who plays the brainy Michael Scofield. Yep that lil’ bro of Lincoln who got himself into jail so he could break his big bro out of it.

You got to hand it to the guy for the sheer audacity of the scheme – having the blueprints of the prison tattooed over his body hidden inside an astonishing picture, masterminding the BIG escape which grew to include a few other cellmates, and all that daring rescue of the pretty Dr Sara Tancredi, played by Sarah Wayne Callies, the prison’s resident doctor who has a history of drug abuse.

And of course, there’s that little spark of romantic tension between him and good doctor that’s keeping me on my toes. I’m hooked … and now that hubby has gotten his paws on the DVDs, it’s Prison Break time every night.