Saturday, November 5, 2011

Simmer All Night by Geralyn Dawson

The only thing in the blurb for this book that interested me was the free download. I've never read the author, and not only had second thoughts about downloading it, but third and fourth as well. I don't have a Kindle. I have the Kindle app on my Iphone, and I have Kindle for PC. Most of my downloads are short free reads that can be easily accomplished on these 2 devices. I love books, but due to budget constraints I'm being forced to reread favorites or download free ones. Most of my short free downloads are mildly entertaining for the time that it lasts but in the end I come away with the overall opinion that I'm glad I didn't pay money for it.
I can't tell you the chain of events that led to this book, but like most everything in my life these days I will blame it on the Twitter or one of the bloggers I have gotten to know there. Some one tweeted or mentioned a free download and I took a look. Then I moved on to search other books for my wish list.
Here's the blurb:
Cherished for her "unique charm and delightful sense of humor" (Romantic Times), Geralyn Dawson brings a heart-catching pleasure to her romances that readers have come to expect. Now she cooks up a delicious new story where the taste of Texas blends with the flavor of Britain to create her most lovable characters yet.
A CHILI QUEEN IN ENGLAND
Independent daughter of socially prominent Texans, Christina Delaney stirs up scandal along with her spicy Texas Red when she's crowned Chili Queen of San Antonio. Her family reacts to this culinary coronation by packing her off to live with her grandfather on his English estate, hoping to transform Chrissy from Chili Queen to countess. Never mind the fact that what she longs for is a modest home and loving family deep in the heart of Texas.
A TEXAN WITH A CRAVING
Born British but reared Texan, Cole Morgan would do anything for the Delaney family, even escort the incorrigible Christina to England. Besides, he has his own agenda abroad: to locate the missing copy of the Republic of Texas' Declaration of Independence. But when a viscount offers Christina marriage, Cole is forced to see that the girl he grew up with is now a woman whose fiery passion -- and love -- he craves. So he sets out to win her, and in the process proves that only he can make the Chili Queen...

Now here are all the reason why I hesitated to download this book:
First, I love historical romances, usually the ones set in England. I have never read an American historical. There is nothing about the wild west yippy kye aye cowboys that appeal to me. (I live in the "Wild West" and it gets really boring.) There just doesn't seem to be enough history and tradition for me in the American West.
Second, the idea of becoming Chili Queen just struck me as utterly ridiculous and I had no idea how that could be so scandalous as to get you sent to England.
Third, in the blurb on GoodReads, there are 2 editing errors. (I have corrected them in my post) Blatant errors in books are my pet peeves and if they can't get it correct in the advertising I have little hope for enjoying the novel.

Here's why I downloaded the book:
I'm sitting at the coffee shop, when horror of horrors, I realize I have forgotten to bring a book with me. I have a couple of hours to kill, and my day isn't going very well. Without a distraction there is a chance I could kill people instead of hours. So I turn to the book that I really don't want to read. I'm desperate and people's lives are at stake. I had No idea it was a full length novel.  So here I sit at the coffee shop with only my Iphone and this book that I'm dreading and I begin reading.
Here's what happened:
This book grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon, last night and this morning doing nothing but reading this book ON MY IPHONE. There were times when my eyes strained and my head ached and I could not separate from this book. It is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. She captured the spirit of America, the stubborn pride and rebellion that makes us at heart who we are. There was always a shenanigan that had me busting at the seems with laughter.  By chapter 3 I wanted to be the Queen of all Chili Queens.
Oh there were parts when I wanted to scream at Chrissy to quit rebelling and acting like a selfish child. It did seem as if she held her resistance to marriage just a little to tightly.  Her fights against the hero boarders on ridiculous at times. But somewhere in my heart I understood why she fought so hard against marrying the person "chosen" for her, even if he was the one perfect for her.  But through the heart ache and the tears the laughter just kept coming. The passion between Chrissy and Cole was hot and swept me up with them. Their fights, their passion, their love, frustration, laughter, I was with them for it all.
And the worse part of this book is right towards the end, you see where things are heading with her brother. Now the only thing I can do is download the next book in this series and follow Jake on his adventures in the Scottish highlands.This book isn't free and I have to read it on my phone, but I will make the sacrifice. 

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Author's Website


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