Tuesday, February 12, 2013

House of Many Shadows and My Sister's First Book Review


House of Many Shadows
by Barbara Michaels
published by Fawcett Crest
Copyright 1974

She was trying to solve
a murder that was two
hundred and fifty years old...

When Meg's wealthy cousin Sylvia lent her the old house in Pennsylvania, Meg did not dream she would be drawn into a strange girl's distant past and into the brutal murder of three innocent people.

Meg saw them clearly. The old man, the servant, and the girl. She knew what horror lay in wait for them. But could she reach them across the years? Was it even safe for her to try?

Shuddery entertainment... The thrills keep coming..." - Publishers Weekly.

I haven't read the book but I like Meg already. Firstly, she is one of the few WRFH women who are actually appropriately dressed for fleeing. She looks warm, damn warm. And not in any anyway panicked despite the fact that there appear to be three shadowy men in pursuit. But, again, that could be due to the sensible boots and the confidence that can be instilled by a sweet pair of shoes.

Secondly, to my eye, Meg looks quite a bit like a young Linda Blair. 


I was also excited to see on the inside page of the book a review from my own hometown paper.

"Few writers can compare to Barbara Michaels when she conjures the inexplicable ... Fascinating too all who enjoy the eerie." - Columbus Dispatch

No legible signature but a very familiar style.

Well, on to other things.



My sister has never been much of a reader. In fact, she claimed to have not actually read a book since elementary school when she read Gertrude Chandler Warner's The Boxcar Children. This seems impossible but she swears it is the truth and no doubt that says something terrible about the state of our public school system.. 

Well a few weeks back she stopped by my office singing the praises of E. L. James' Fifty Shades of Gray. I personally have not read this book but am all for any book that inspires someone read, assuming said inspirational literature doesn't preach hate.

A BDSM-lite book seems quite the leap from a story of orphaned children living in a rusted out boxcar in the woods but sometimes you just have to jump in with both feet. She claims that if she had known there were books like that she would have started reading a long time ago. She had begged me to read it. And I have considered it if only so that we would have something terribly inappropriate to talk about in front of my dad, though the book sounds rather tame compared to a lot of things I have already read.

Well driven by the whirlwind of lust Fifty Shades appears to inspire, my sister has now moved on to the classic Anne Rice (as A. N. Roquelaure) Beauty series, which have been even more entertaining to talk about if only because I have read that, though years and years ago. And even my husband is familiar with the  infamous hot guy impaled on a stone phallus scene thanks to living in a college dormitory where it was apparently  passed around like a joint.

So, my sister's first book review ...

"Best book since The Boxcar Children." - HSM

Beautiful! Thank you H, can't wait to hear your next official review!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Barnabas, Quentin And the Crystal Coffin


Barnabas, Quentin and the Crystal Coffin
by Marilyn Ross (Dan Ross)
published by Paperback Library
Copyright 1970




HOW LONG WILL
COLLINSWOOD'S
EVIL FORCES ALLOW
BETTY WARD TO SEARCH
FOR HER SISTER'S KILLER?

Heiress Betty Ward is worried about her twin sister, who has eloped with Jeremy Frene. She follows them from Paris to the Frene estate at Collinwood - but arrives too late!

Her twin is dead, victim of a mysterious illness. Her body has been sealed in a crystal coffin and kept in a darkened room. Jeremy swears that because her ghost returns to the castle each night, he refuses to bury the coffin.

Betty is convinced her sister's death was not a natural one. Jeremys aunt opposed the marriage. Her ally against the couple seems to have been Quentin Collins, a suspected werewolf.

Betty turns to Barnabas Collins for help, despite the rumors that he is a vampire. But she does not realized that by doing so, she has placed herself in mortal danger....


For a complete listing of other books in this series please turn to page two.

With such a long wait  between posts, the passing of Jonathan Frid and the release of the new movie, I though it only appropriate to post a book from everyone's favorite 60's supernatural soap opera.

Several months back I was able to add this title, along with book 26, to my series collection. 

Once again we have a woman throwing herself into the waiting arms of Barnabas Collins.  Despite rumors that he is a vampire!  Now, admittedly, woman can be rather forgiving if they find someone hot, so I find it hard to believe that she doesn't just skip the middle man and throw herself into the arms of Quentin Collins. Firstly ladies, look at that hair! (meow!) If it was me, I would just assume that if Quentin has against my sister's marriage he had his reasons and get on with the romance! Life is too short. Especially in Collinport.

But again, that's me.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

I'm Thankful for Bi-Sexual Cowboys

I figure most people fall on one of two sides in the sexuality debate. They are either fine with homo-sexuality and bi-sexuality or they are fine with it as long as everyone involved is hot.

Well, The Lady Makes Three has got everyone covered.

I discovered this little gem while browsing the plethora of available eBooks on my Nook.

Now, admittedly my heart belongs to the late Steve Jobs but I have to say that I love my Nook Color. It kicks ass in more ways than I can even count. Hell, if it had a setting for vibrate it might just be the perfect piece of technology.

But I digress.

Since my Shirtless Cop with a Child post for Valentines day, I've decided to start a non-WRFH book holiday tradition. So I decided to share this fantastic little piece of naughtiness.



Yes, the cover really does seem to say it all but why lessen the hotness of this title by judging this one solely by its cover. Especially when the book description was so very kickass.

In The Lady Makes Three we meet Maddy Dalton. A Colorado ranch owner with expensive panties. She also likes being in charge. She really does. And though she longs for the love of a special someone as much as the next chic, the fear of losing control of her life (and her ranch) has keep her from any real relationship.

Enter Lucas Calhoun, foreman of the Rocking D. He has a soft spot for Maddy but fears pursuing such a relationship because of a secret. He finds sexy, rugged men a turn on too. (Don't we all!)

Then there is the best character of all. He is so great I'll go ahead and let the publishing company tell you all about him.

Comfortable with his bi-sexuality, cowboy Chase Reynolds wants a home, but there's a catch. His ideal scenario features a wife...and a husband. Recognizing the suppressed longing in both Maddy and Lucas, Chase decides that bold action is needed. But it's not without risk. Having loved and lost badly in the past, Chase is leery of losing his heart. Can these three people learn to find themselves, trust their hearts, and make a family? And can they survive the danger that threatens them all?

Admittedly the danger that threatens them all is kind of our of nowhere but who am I to judge. I know nothing about the dangers of ranch ownership and cowboying stuff. I will say this though, I don't really buy the sleeping pair on the cover. How uncomfortable would that be. I sleep in a king size bed because, franking, I like the feeling of sleeping alone.

Anyway, if you have ever read this book, I beg you, please, please, please give us your review. You can be my best friend.

Hope everyone has as Happy a Thanksgiving as Maddy Dalton!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Ghostly Screams of Stormhaven - You had me at Ghostly Screams.


The Ghostly Screams of Stormhaven
by Clarawimberly
published by Zebra Gothic
Copyright 1992

"Don't go up there alone!"

Elizabeth Stevens knew she had been lucky to obtain a position with the wealthy Earl of Chesham at Stormhaven. She was awed by the magnificence of the manor house, and even more so by the master himself - the dark and brooking Derek Vanderworth.

But it was his golden haired daughter, Amy, who attracted Elizabeth's attention with her sad, sorrowful eyes. The little girl had not spoken since he mother's death a year ago, and Elizabeth was determined to befriend her and discover more about the tragic past ... even if it meant braving the fierce resistance of the arrogant Earl.

Yet, it was not until she saved Amy's life that Derek began to provide answers and admit to his love for Elizabeth. But by then it was too late. Mysterious crying in the night and strange noises from the fourth floor had aroused Elizabeth's suspicions... and her fear. There was a madness lurking in the shadows of Stormhaven, and Elizabeth wondered if the ghostly screams she heard might soon be her own.

Wow! This books sounds pretty damn good!

Firstly, it looks like we probably have a whole lot of Jane Eyre going on.

Secondly, we have the brooding and arrogant Earl. For brooding and arrogant I'm more than willing to throw aside by love of blondes. For some assuredly unhealthy reason I've always been drawn to men who are arrogant assholes. (That must be why I get along so well with my husband!)

And lastly, and most importantly, we have GHOSTLY SCREAMS! Awesome. I currently sleep with an alarm clock that makes it sound like a thunder storm is in progress all the time and I can't help but wonder if there is a ghostly screams version. And, if there is, would it help me sleep. I'd like to think it would.

Now it's true that I don't actually believe in ghosts (though I really, really want to) but I also don't believe that a human female's neck could hold up that much hair, but I'm certainly not going to let that ruin the story for me.

As so often is the case, I have tried to find an artist credit for this cover but have had no luck. I really find it strange that even as late as 1992 there are rarely ever artist credits inside the book and that signatures are rarely seen whether they are cropped or didn't exist on the piece to begin with. If I had enough artistic talent to have my art of the cover of a Gothic romance (and we all know that sometimes is just doesn't take that much talent to find yourself in that position) I'd freakin' have my heroine sporting a t- shirt with my picture on it.

Monday, October 3, 2011

The Lost Lady of Hathaway Manor, a little bit of Sexy WTF & the best author picture ever! - The return of Women Running from Houses

The Lost Lady of Hathaway Manor
by Anne Knoll
published by Zebra Gothic
Copyright 1992

"You'd best trust me, Katherine.
You may need my help.
"

Forced to flee America or land in debtors' prison, India
Chantelle found herself on a ship bound for London where
her actor father could put gambling behind him and make a
fresh start. India enjoyed her shipboard friendship with
orphaned heiress Katherine Hathaway, on her way home to
Cornwall to await her eighteenth birthday and her
inheritance. Then Katherine made an impulsive proposal:
that the two young women, who looked much alike,
exchange identities for six months. Katherine craved the
excitement of the London theatre, and wouldn't India just
love a long vaction at a stately British mansion, especially
since Katherine insisted on paying off her father's debts ...

But Katherine had another reason for not wanting to await
her inheritance within the walls of Hathaway Manor. Upon
arriving at the gloomy, fogbound house, India was
immediately aware of a scarely concealed hostility toward
"dear Cousin Katherine" who would soon be chatelaine of the
vast estate. And though handsome, brilliant Jordan Hathaway
always appeared just in time to rescue her from the small
accidents that kept occurring, it wasn't long before India
realized that something shocking had happened to Katherine
as a small child - something they all feared she might
remember and reveal - and that someone was trying to
frighten her away ... or silence her forever.

The
Lost Lady of
Hathaway
Manor

As many of you already know a rather complicated pregnancy has kept me from blogging regularly for sometime but with that four months behind me and finally feeling like myself again, I wanted to kick off the return of WRFH right.

Truth be told The Lost Lady of Hathaway Manor holds no real charm for me. Perhaps it is the insipid look on India's face that awakens the conflicting desires to both not care as well as smack her. Of course it might yet again be the idea of fleeing over impossible terrain in a floor length gown. Does no one ever learn? (Though I must give her credit for getting as far as she has.)

But what really attracted me to this book was the killer book club offer sandwiched between page 128 and 129. Zebra Books really looks to have it all going on in this bizarre illustration where it seems that an amorous couple is well on their way to nakedness in front of one of those church pamphlets given out door-to-door.

And there's a riverboat!


Oh, and they also really, really, really want to give you four free books. At least they really want to give you something.


He has quite the round bottom!

But still the best of all is the awesomeness that is the author photo on the back of "The Love Pirate" by Barbara Cartland. Yes, yes, the title is fantastic, seeming to offer an untold number of inappropriate images, but before you head off to Abebook or Amazon just check out the very posh Barbara herself. This pictures looks to have been taken in one of the bedrooms from 1973's Legend of Hell House. Nice!



If I ever write a romance novel, and I totally should being an expert in the field of all things steamy, I want a picture just like this. Except it would have my dachshund Vincent (Price) and I'd be wearing far more fur!

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