Here’s a few more book reviews posted on Found Not Lost this week:

Desiree is the story of Napoleon Bonaparte’s first love who eventually became Queen of Sweden and Norway while you all know what happened to poor Napoleon. Based on a true story and based on real people, this novel spans events in Europe during the Napoleonic Wars. It is written in diary form all from the point of view of Desiree, the daughter of a silk merchant, who was engaged to Napoleon before Josephine came along. This was one of my favorite reads this month.

Island of the Swans refers to a small island inhabited by swans on the estate of a duke. The story revolves around two lovers who fell in love when they were young but were separated from each other by fate and life. They both go on with their lives but always, buried within them, they kept the love they have for each other. They run into into each other several times after their separation and each time their love remains palpable. But they now have obligations and family to take care of. They can’t just drop everything and everyone to be with each other. It’s a heartbreaking story but it is also not without hope. The ending is a bit surprising and you wish for so much more for them, but ultimately love prevails and in the end that is all that matters.

Darcy’s Great Escape is another sequel to the Pride and Prejudice story by Jane Austen. The characters and settings are familiar but that is all that this book has with the original Pride and Prejudice. New characters are introduced in this book and the story ventures way off the main line but it is in no way diminished. It is still a very interesting and entertaining read. I especially enjoyed the new characters introduced in this book and the twist and turns that everyone’s life takes in this book will keep you turning pages.

I love to read but I don’t always have the time or inclination to review them. But since I do get free books to review, I now have an obligation to blog about them. I have been getting behind on that obligation though and even though the publishers don’t really pressure me to review or post timely, I just feel bad about being such a slacker. So this past couple of weeks, I have been trying to catch up on posting about books that I’ve read so far. Here’s what’s new on Found Not Lost (my review blog).

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer – Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon rescues Leon who he first thought to be a boy from a life of ignomy and makes him his page. It’s not long until he discovers that Leon is actually Leonie, a young girl who he then takes on as his ward and works at making her from an imp to a proper lady. Of course, he will grow to love her and they will live happily ever after. Right? Right! But not before they go through hoops and adventures. A very good read for anyone who likes historical romances.

Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale – “Trevelyan and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure, until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and, in a furious frenzy, drives Trevelyan away in disgrace. Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyan returns. Callie discovers that he can still make her blood race and fill her life with excitement, but he can’t give her the one thing she wants more than anything—himself.”
Intrigued by this intro? It’s a very good romance novel, very well written and very sexy. And I mean that in a good way.

How to Roast a Lamb by Michael Psilakis – This is a very sex book too but in a different way. Sexy as in makes-you-want-to-eat-everything-in-it kind of sexy. Michael Psilakis is one of the most exciting young chefs in America today. In How to Roast a Lamb, the self-taught chef offers recipes from his restaurants and his home in this, his much-anticipated first cookbook. Ten chapters provide colorful and heartfelt personal essays that lead into thematically related recipes. Gorgeous color photography accompanies many of the recipes throughout.

Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell – “When you meet the man of your dreams on girls night out, it’s hardly…Perfect Timing”
Perfect timing is actually all about wrong timing and things happening or unfolding at inopportune times which makes perfect fodder for a novel. You will laugh or at least snicker throughout this book and the intertwined stories. I enjoyed reading all the adventures and misadventures in this book and you can’t help but be sympathetic to the heroine, Poppy.

 
Legend of the White Wolf by Terry Spear – “In this fourth in Spear’s series, Private Eye Cameron MacPherson and Faith O’Mallery are both on quests that lead them into the world of magical wolves…” What usually happens when you throw two strong personalities into unusual circumstances is that sparks fly and in romance novels they usually spark towards hot. That’s how this novel is, which combines the best elements of supernatural, suspense, action and romance all into one neat little bundle. Get a quick dose of werewolves from this book if you’re in need.

I’m giving away a $25 Kroger Gift Card! – sign up to win by August 8. Click on the link for details.

Have you tried Breyer’s Smooth and Dreamy Ice Cream Bars and Sandwiches? It’s hard to believe they are lower in fat and calories than regular ice cream. Read what we thought about them and how they were devoured in no time.

And now that we’ve taken care of our body’s hunger, let’s take care of the mind. If you like poetry, you’ve probably already heard of Alexander Pushkin. I recently had a chance to review My Talisman: The Poetry and Life of Alexander Pushkin and found myself intrigued not only by the poems but also by the story of the poet himself.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

“Doesn’t know what happened to the love she lives for. She keeps going as though to pause would mean collapse. I am a dying seed inside of a fruit.”

~ p.180, “Becoming Madame Mao” by Anchee Minn

I just found this meme today, just now actually, so it’s a little late. But if you want to play along, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your 2 ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!