Featured Article: Romance Novels Bad for Women's Health

I came across this article by Rachael Rettner and thought it was interesting. 

http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/romance-novels-women-relationships-1680/

What do you think?

~Rachel

Pinot Grigio

Made from the pinot gris grapes, Pinot Grigio is the white form of Pinot Noir.  This wine can be light to full bodied depending on which region the bottle is from.

Cavit Pinot Grigio
    From the delle Venezie region of Italy this Pinot Grigio is a light bodied wine the has certain crisp flavors.

Sutter Home
    From California this wine is said to have a crisp taste containing hints of pepper and arugula.  However all I tasted was an aftertaste of gross cheese.  This brand is probably the least expensive for wine and I'm beginning to think there's a reason for it.  Do yourself a favor and spend the extra $2 on the other bottle.

Gewurztraminer

 Gewurztraminer is a dry, white wine that sometimes comes in a spritz, or bubbly, form. It combines the flavors of the Gewurztraminer grapes with lychee, passion fruit and some floral tones.  Its a smooth wine with no unpleasant after taste.  I've found that it pairs well with spicy foods, chicken and a few sweets.  What will you pair it with?








  
Chateau Ste Michelle

   A German Gewurtraminer and my first introduction to this type of wine. Delicious and inexpensive. 

Moscato D'Asti

Classification: Sparkling White Wine, Dessert Wine
Color: Straw, like white grape juice
Taste: Sugary Sweet

This is the sweet tea's of wines.  And according to Forbes Moscato D'Asti is the perfect picnic wine.  If you want a sweet wine, go for the Moscato D'Asti.  Personally I couldn't figure what types of food to pair with this wine, it seemed the sugary sweetness overran all the other flavors.  Whats your favorite pairing?


Brand: Piazzo Comm Armando
 I splurged on this bottle ($22!!) and it was well worth it.  This is the first wine that I've drunk and immediately thought, "Mmm, this is good!"







Brand: Cascinetta Vietti
    Not as tastefully sweet as the Piazzo Comm Armando, but nicer on my wallet.

Devil in the Dark by Evelyn Rogers

Book Blurb:
He rode out of the Yorkshire mist, a dark figure on a dark horse. Was he a living man or a nightmare vision, conjured up by her fearful imagination and her uncertain future?
Voices swirled in her head:
      They say he's more than human,
      A man's life is in danger when he's around...
      And a woman's virtue.
Repelled yet fascinated, Lucinda found herself swept into a whirlwind courtship. Yet even as his lips set fire to her heart, she could not forget his words of warning on the night they met:
      Tread softly. Heed little that you see and hear.
      Then leave. For God's sake leave.
Whether he was the lover of her dreams or the embodiment of all she feared, she sensed he would always be her... Devil in the Dark.


Rachel's Rating: 17

Plot: 7
    Strong Beginning: 3
    Keeps You Hooked: 2
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 5
    Believability: 2
    Intriguing Leads: 2
    Secondary Characters:1
Steaminess: 5
    Mood: 2
    Hotness: 1
    Number of Times: 2

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

Married by Morning got a pretty solid "meh" from me at the end.  While its definitely not the worst romance novel reviewed for the site, it was nothing to write home about.  And it looks like I read these books out of order.  But that's okay.  Married by Morning is actually the 4th book in the series.  I think I will have to go back and read them in order now.  Just so that you don't make the same mistake that I did, here is the book order for the Hathaways Series by Lisa Kleypas.

1. Mine till Midnight
2. Seduce me at Sunrise
3. Tempt me at Twilight
4. Married by Morning
5. Love in the Afternoon

Book Blurb:
"He is everything she wants to avoid... For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sisters-- a pleasant position, with one caveat.   Her charges' older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating.  Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual attraction.  But when one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat is shocked at her powerful response-- and even more so when Leo proposes a dangerous liason. 
She is not at all what she seems... Leo must marry and produce an heir withing a year to save his family home.  Catherine's respectable demeanor hides a secret that would utterly destroy her.  But to Leo, Cat is intriguing and infernally tempting, even to a man resolved never to love again.  The danger Cat tried to outrun is about to separate them forever-- unless two wary lovers can find a way to banish the shadows and give in to their desires..."

Rachel's Rating: 17

Plot: 6
    Strong Beginning:2
    Keeps You Hooked: 2
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 5
    Believability: 2
    Intriguing Leads: 2
    Secondary Characters:1
Steaminess: 6
    Mood: 2
    Hotness: 2
    Number of Times: 2

Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Born of Night is the first sci-fi romance novel I've read, and I loved every minute of it!  The book is longer than most, which was a nice change.  This space action novel will capture you from the first page and keep you hooked until the last!

Book Blurb:
    In the Ichidian Universe, the League rules all.  Expertly trained and highly valued, the League Assassins are the backbone of the government.  But not even the League is immune to corruption...
    He was born and trained to kill: Command Assassin Nykyrian Quiakides once turned his back on the League-- and has been hunted by them ever since.  Thought many have tried, none can kill him or stop him from completing his current mission: to portect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father's political alliance has made her a target.
    She must accept his protection-- or die.  As her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead.  Old enemies and new endanger them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them the most: each other.

Rachel's Rating: 23

Plot: 8
    Strong Beginning: 3
    Keeps You Hooked: 3
    Predictability: 2
Characters: 8
    Believability: 3
    Intriguing Leads: 3
    Secondary Characters: 2
Steaminess: 7
    Mood: 3
    Hotness: 2
    Number of Times: 2