A Virgin River Christmas - Robyn Carr

Last Christmas Marcie Sullivan said a final goodbye to her husband, Bobby. This Christmas she's come to Virgin River to find the man who saved his life and gave her three more years to love him.Fellow marine Ian Buchanan dragged Bobby's shattered body onto a medical transport in Fallujah four years ago, then disappeared as soon as their unit arrived stateside. Since then, Marcie's letters to Ian have gone unanswered.Marcie tracks Ian to the tiny mountain town of Virgin River and finds a man as wounded emotionally as Bobby was physically. But she is not easily scared off. As Marcie pushes her way into his rugged and reclusive life, she discovers a sweet but damaged soul beneath a rough exterior.Ian doesn't know what to make of the determined young widow who forces him to look into the painful past and, what's worse, the uncertain future. But it is, after all, a season of miracles and maybe, just maybe, it's time to banish the ghosts and open his heart.

Yes, it is another review of a Virgin River book. In book 4 we are introduced to 2 new characters - Marcie Sullivan and Ian Buchanan. Marcie is a young widow, her husband died from injuries suffered in the war and Ian is the man who saved is life and brought him home, although he never recovered. Marcie feels indebted to the man who gave her and her family time to say goodbye and Ian feels guilty that he didn't manage to keep Robert from harm.

I have to admit I had a hard time warming up to Marcie. She was just too determined in her search for Ian and I didn't understand why it was so important. Why she just didn't hire a private detective to find him first. But I did like the relationship between those two once they find each other. My problem then was that this is a romance and I felt they had a friends relationship more than a lovers (or future lovers) relationship.

What touched me more about this story was when Marcie described her last months with her husband. Having recently lost a loved one that went through a similar situation I couldn't help letting a few tears fall.

But by the end of the story I was actually rooting for them and I was curious about what life had in store for them. Do they appear in future VR books I wonder?

As is becoming usual I did enjoy the VR community very much. I loved reading about all those friendly people again and I can't wait to keep on reading about them. I clearly have an addiction now and I blame it on my friend Dee!

Grade: 3,5/5

Whispering Rock - Robyn Carr

A decorated U.S. Marine reservist, LAPD officer Mike Valenzuela was badly wounded in the line of duty, but has found hope and healing in Virgin River. When he agrees to become the town's first cop, he does so knowing it's time he settled down. Twice divorced and the lover of too many women, he secretly longs for the kind of commitment and happiness his marine buddies have found -- a woman who can tie up his heart forever. He finds that woman in Brie Sheridan, a Sacramento prosecutor who understands his drive to protect and serve. Virgin River becomes a safe haven for Brie after nearly losing her life at the hands of a crazed criminal. Though tough and courageous, she's got some fears she can't escape -- but now she has someone who will show her just what it means to trust again.
Mike will do anything to help Brie free herself from painful memories. Passionate, strong and gentle, he vows to give back to her what she's so selflessly given him -- her heart, and with it, a new beginning.

Another entry in the Virgin River series (it seems I just can't get enough despite my complaints) this one is about Jack's friend Mike and Jack's sister Brie.

I did like Brie and Mike's relationship, how they first had a friendship and only later became involved. But I think what I liked the most about this story was how it was centered on the community and there were several stories intertwining - besides Brie and Mike there was Vanni and her family, there was the high school serial rapist, there was Mike's appointment as the town constable or something similar. I especially liked this latest development and I am sorry Hope McCrea doesn't appear more. She sounds like quite a character and now I'm left wondering which job she will try to create next...

I think the plot about the serial rapist could have had a more satisfying closure if we had known for sure who was the first girls boyfriend and what exactly had happened to Brenda. Brenda is in fact the only victim we get to know more about and I wouldn't have minded to know a bit more at least about the other girl. Tom and Brenda's relationship was a nice subplot, and from what we read in this book it seems Vanni and Paul will get a book somewhere down the road.

Part of the appeal of a series, to me, is revising the same characters several times and see how they are evolving. I have to say that this series fits that bill nicely and I think that is what makes me go back for more.

Grade: 3.5/5

Edenbrooke - Julianne Donaldson

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she'll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry. From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

A friend recommended this to me a while back (thanks A.) and I don't why it took me so long to pick it up. I wasn't sure what I would find when I started and I was delighted to discover a nice story that made me think of Jane Austen and Geogette Heyer.

Like the above mentioned authors, in many of their books, Donaldson writes about a  young gentlewoman  living in the countryside and her impressions of the world around her. Marianne is fun, witty and sensible, even if occasionally a bit naive. I have to admit I was a bit worried while reading the first chapters because she also seemed a bit silly at times. But as soon as the action moves to the road and then Edenbrooke, I was totally involved in the story. I loved the banter between Marianne and Philip. Most of their interaction is playful and leads them to mistaken impressions about one another (especially Marianne about Philip) and while the misunderstandings are obvious to the reader it made for a fun and entertaining read.

There's a bit of everything actually -  romance, mystery, humour. I think the story could have been a bit more developed. I was curious about some of the secondary characters and why they behaved the way they did. But for a first novel I think this a very good effort and fans of Heyer and Austen will certainly enjoy it.

Grade: 4/5

PS. And isn't that the most beautiful cover?

2014 Portuguese HF Challenge January reviews / Criticas de Janeiro

And here is the first review round up for this year's Portuguese HF Challenge. This is usually my first post of the month but I want to give you a few more days to add your reviews. It seem we're having a slow start:

***

E aqui está o primeiro artigo sobre o Desafio de Ficção Histórica Portuguesa deste ano. Normalmente é o primeiro artigo publicado, de cada mês, mas quis dar-vos mais uns dias para adicionarem as vossas criticas. Parece que estamos a ter um inicio calmo:

Book list / Lista de livros:

1. Verão Quente by Domingos Amaral, reviewed by Ana T.

Shelter Mountain - Robyn Carr

John “Preacher” Middleton is about to close the bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of a wet October night. A marine who has seen his share of pain, Preacher knows a crisis when he sees one—the woman is covered in bruises. He wants to protect them, and he wants to punish whoever did this to her, but he knows immediately that this inclination to protect is something much more. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man—emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.But when Paige’s ex-husband turns up in Virgin River, Preacher knows his own future hangs in the balance. And if there’s one thing in the marines’ motto of Semper Fidelis—always faithful—has taught him, it’s that some things are worth fighting for.

Book 2 of the Virgin River series left me much the same impression as book 1. I liked the characters enough but I especially liked the community and I am really sorry that Hope, who seems intent on not letting the town die, doesn't show up more.

It felt a bit like "more of the same" that some other woman shows up running from her past but Paige was a nice character. Her problems are indeed serious and, while I'm no expert on the subject, I did like how things were handled and how she was encouraged to face her fears and who threatened her. Preacher on the other hand seemed a bit too good to be true. Can you actually go to war and see so many bad things and retain the purity of spirit that he has? Still I can't help but like him and he is so good and tender hearted in so many ways. I loved how he dealt with Paige's son Christopher.

I did like to revisit Mel and Jack, to be honest I think I like them more now that they are together than when they were getting to know each other. I found Rick and Liz story heartbreaking. I do hope they show up in future books ( at least Rick) so we know how he is doing. However I am starting to see a pattern here of women who are grieving/hurting and finding a male who helps make them whole and I wonder if that is going to continue throughout the series.

Once again a story that I liked but didn't love. I keep feeling that I should like it more than I actually do. Let's see if I find one that totally satisfies me in the next books.

Grade: 3,5/5

Verão Quente - Domingos Amaral

Although I did not write down any reading resolutions for 2014 one of the things I was hoping to accomplish was to read one book a month for the Portuguese HF Challenge. So I am particularly happy to have managed to accomplish the read of one book before the end of January.

This was my first read by Amaral and it was a very fast and easy read. It is a mystery about the investigation of a murder committed in Portugal in 1975 - the Hot Summer (Verão Quente) that the title refers to. Portugal was a dictatorship up until the 25th of April 1974 revolution and the subsequent years were fertile in political moves.

What I did like most about the book was the glimpse it gave me of how things happened during that period. It made me want to read more stories set in the mid seventies but also try some of the non fiction books written about these events.

What I did like the least was the characters. Too much sex or sexual innuendo, too many women for whom every male drools and who don't think twice about betraying any partner they might be involved in. I felt there was zero chemistry between the main characters and was a bit bored by how they jumped from bed to bed.

The murder investigation was interesting up to a point and I was actually looking forward to knowing who the killer was. But in the end it felt like an easy way out was chosen. There was no clue and the ending felt a bit abrupt.

Although set in different decades I thought it made for an interesting comparison with Alem Tejo. That story was about the lower classes during the dictatorship and this one was about the upper classes. Both definitely made me want to read more about it.

Dirty Little Secrets - Liliana Hart

J.J. Graves has seen a lot of dead bodies in her line of work...
She's not only in the mortuary business, but she's also the coroner for King George County, Virginia. When a grisly murder is discovered in the small town of Bloody Mary, it's up to J.J. and her best friend, Detective Jack Lawson, to bring the victim justice.
The murders are piling up...
The residents of Blood Mary are dropping like flies, and when a popular mystery writer shows up on J.J.'s doorstep with plans of writing his new book about the Bloody Mary Serial Killer, J.J. has to decide if he might be going above and beyond the call of duty to create the spine tinglers he's so well known for. It only clouds the issue and puts her reputation on the line when the attraction between them spirals out of control.
And passions are rising...
J.J and Jack are in a race against time. They discover each victim had a shocking secret, and the very foundation of J.J.'s life is in danger of crumbling when it turns out she’s harboring secrets of her own—secrets that make her the perfect victim in a deadly game.

Well it seems I am a series kind of girl. I do so like them that even when I find a free book to download from Amazon I eventually discover that it is part of a series.

Dirty Little Secrets seemed like an interesting read from the back blurb and it actually was despite a few problems. The main character, JJ, is a mortician in a small town. She took over her parent's business after their deaths and she is still dealing with the pain and doubt from that event when one of her friends is found murdered. JJ is best friends with the chief of police and together they start an investigation about what really went on.

At the same time a mystery writer shows up in town in search of material for his new book and the chemistry between him and JJ is instantaneous.

I think what I enjoyed the most was JJ's voice. How she doesn't take herself too serious and has genuine concerns about her life and especially her love life. Her relationship with Brody is too quick but my main complaint is that we never see it developed. I also enjoyed her relationship with Jack. Not many books have such strong main characters without presenting them in a relationship. Despite the underlying attraction it's nice to see them just as friends.

The parts I had problems with was the killer's identity - I felt it came out of nowhere. And the resolution of JJ's love life also seemed a bit abrupt to me. It was a nice enough story to spend an afternoon with and should book 2 be free too I'll be sure to grab it.

Grade: 3.5/5

Amanda - Kay Hooper

A spellbinding tale of contemporary suspense that begins with a mysterious homecoming and ends in a shattering explosion of passion, greed, and murder. And all because a stranger says her name is... Amanda.Others have claimed to be Amanda Daulton, but now a beautiful, self-assured woman has stepped out of the shadows of the past, insisting she's the missing heiress to a multimillion-dollar fortune. One look is all it takes to assure the family patriarch that she's his beloved granddaughter. But others at the magnificent Southern mansion called Glory are not as easily convinced, others with much to lose from her sudden reappearance. Soon suspicion erupts in a chilling attempt on her life, and after the traumatic ordeal, she begins to have flashes of a nightmarish vision. What, if anything, happened twenty years ago to drive a mother and her nine-year-old daughter away from their privileged life? The struggle to find the elusive answer exposes a frightening trail of secrets—a trail that leads shockingly to the present and to the enigmatic woman who calls herself... Amanda.

While I am a great fan of Hooper's Bishop CSU series I had never tried her stand alone stories. I had heard good things about this one but the blurb never really convinced me till a couple of weeks ago when I finally decided it was time to get the older books out of the TBR pile.

I am very happy to say that despite my worries this was a very good read and I was actually surprised by the ending twist. In the beginning this felt a bit like some of Anne Stuart's romantic suspense stories but never really gets that dark and despite the Gothic aspects the characters are fairly straightforward.

In the romance department I did feel that they fell for each other too early. I never felt like they knew each other well enough. But other than that I did like the story and the suspense part worked really good for me. Most characters seems as mysterious and/or as disagreeable as one expects from a Gothic and it's obvious from the beginning that there is more to Amanda than what they are thinking.

Grade: 4/5

Virgin River - Robyn Carr

Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against the backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal-clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she's made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.
But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans...and a former marine cements them into place.
Melinda Monroe may have come to Virgin River looking for escape, but instead she finds her home.
This is #1 in A Virgin River Novel.

I've heard so much about this series from different friends that recently I finally decided to grab the first book and see what the fuss was about. I had heard mostly good things but also less favourable opinions (about how everything was too perfect), and I have to say that now I understand both sides.

What appealed to me when I started it was that search for a simpler life that seems to be Melinda's goal. I have felt the same appeal for some time now. Not exactly moving to some place else but the need to declutter my mind and my life and opting for a simpler lifestyle. And at the end of the story that was actually what made me want to grab the next book. The fact that that mountain community that had so few luxuries  seemed so alive and interesting.

I did have some trouble with the characters. Melinda, while an OK kind of woman is nothing like me and I had a hard time empathising with some of her reactions. Jack seemed a bit too much like a goody two shoes with that thing of working on the cabin without even knowing if Mel would be staying and paying good money for the stuff ( I would have bought it better if he had just worked there himself to make it more habitable). Then Hope who is on center stage in the beginning of the story because she brought Mel to the community just disappears of the face of earth...

Maybe because I didn't particularly like Mel and Jack but I felt the romance was a bit bland. I really disliked his previous attachment and how he dealt with it and how Mel kept thinking about her past so that might have been an influence on how I liked them together.

Despite that, the spirit of the community made me want to keep on reading and I am now immersed in book two. 

Grade: 3.5/5

What I've Been Watching - Body of Proof 3

It's been a while since I've written one of these "what I've been watching" posts but I'm planning to catch up on the several TV series I'm following and so I'll be doing a few of these.

I just finished the 3rd season of Body of Proof and I enjoyed it very much. I'm actually surprised by how much  enjoyed it because while I love love forensic medical shows I have a hard time believing the actual ME would spend so much time solving crimes and so little performing authopsies. Not only that but Doctor Megan Hunt is always so well dressed and runs around in such high heels that I keep wondering how she can help falling off of them.

It should be ridiculous really but despite everything I like Megan's approach to life and work, even if she sometimes sounds a bit too agressive. This season I particularly liked her new partner - I thought these two really had some chemistry - and I did like the story arc about her father.

Regarding the acting departing I always enjoy Dana Delany's work and I found the rest of the actors gave very competent performances. Favourite guests stars were Luke Perry and Ivan Sergei.

I was sorry to discover that this was the final season because I found it such an entertaining series. Dr Megan Hunt always made me smile with her comments.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Living the Simple Life - Elaine St James

If your life seems hectic, stressed, and complicated, then it's time to start simplifying. In Living the Simple Life, best-selling author and simplicity expert Elaine St. James shows you how to eliminate clutter so you can free up time for the things that really matter. Read and discover:
Ten ways to gain an hour a week Five ways to gain a day a week How to get rid of all that "stuff" How to simplify shopping, cleaning, laundry, and other household chores How to say "No!" to life's time-wasters and crazy-makers 

Having two small children at home and not that much space - not to mention a growing need to declutter both my home and my mind - have led me to look for books that could be halpful in that process. I had seen this one recommended on a minimalist blog I visit so I decided to try it.

I wasn't as happy with it as I thought I would be. Some suggestions were just common sense and others showed concerns that are totally outside my reality but I guess for a fist read on the subject it wasn't that bad and that also why I decided to start the new year with this review - I am definitely  trying for a more organised, green and simple lifestyle and hopefully 2014 will see the reflection of my attempts in that direction.

On the subject of challenges...

I was eagerly anticipating all the challenges I joined last year but in the end I didn't manage to successfully conclude all of them. So, this year, I have decided that besides the Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge and the Goodreads Reading Challenge I won't sign up for any other and I'll devote myself to catch up the several series that I already reading. I'm tracking them on FictFact and I have huge task ahead of me if I wan't to put them all up to date.

Besides some of past year's challenges became a bit of chore towards the end of the year and I want to to read for entertainment or knowledge, not just because I have to.

2014 Portuguese HF Challenge / 2014 Desafio Ficção Histórica Portuguesa - Reviews/Criticas

Link you reviews for this Challenge using the Mr Linky below:

Deixe o link da sua critica no Mr Linky abaixo:

Thank you for joining me and happy reading!

Obrigada por se juntarem a mim e boas leituras!

The Arrangement - Mary Balogh

Desperate to escape his mother’s matchmaking, Vincent Hunt, Viscount Darleigh, flees to a remote country village. But even there, another marital trap is sprung. So when Miss Sophia Fry’s intervention on his behalf finds her unceremoniously booted from her guardian’s home, Vincent is compelled to act. He may have been blinded in battle, but he can see a solution to both their problems: marriage.

At first, quiet, unassuming Sophia rejects Vincent’s proposal. But when such a gloriously handsome man persuades her that he needs a wife of his own choosing as much as she needs protection from destitution, she agrees. Her alternative is too dreadful to contemplate. But how can an all-consuming fire burn from such a cold arrangement? As friendship and camaraderie lead to sweet seduction and erotic pleasure, dare they believe a bargain born of desperation might lead them both to a love destined to be? 

I am always looking forward to Mrs Balogh's books and while I wasn't totally enamoured of the first title in this series I was hoping that this would be more to my tastes. Now that I've read it I can honestly say that while this wasn't a bad book it definitely wasn't the fabulous read I was waiting for. Not only that but I had to put it down for a while and it took me weeks to want to grab it again. Not a good sign really...

Vincent and Sophia were both likeable characters but their getting together felt a bit contrived to me. Why couldn't Vincent just tell his family that he didn't want them to choose his wife? And why did he offer marriage to Sophie when he didn't know her at all? I'm sure he could have found another solution and, once he had gotten to know her better, then offer marriage.

Then, through their marriage there were several times where I felt they should just sit down and talk about what they were feeling. I did like that they acknowledged each other's faults and needs and genuinely cared for each other. Vincent's fight I did find a bit unbelievable though.

So it was an OK read but not a particularly memorable one. I'm looking forward to the next book but just because I like to finish the series I start and because I'm such a fan of Mrs Balogh's earlier titles. There's still a long wait till the next one though and I might delve into the TBR pile and see if I have one or two of the oldies to keep me company till then.

Grade: 3/5

2013 Challenges - Final update

It's time for a final post on how I did in the various challenges I joined. I don't think I did too bad but I think I won't join as many challenges in 2014. I want to catch up on the various series I am reading instead of focusing on themes or eras...

Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Goal - 60 books
Books read - 71
I was afraid to aim to a high number of books but things did go well and this was probably my most successful challenge.

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Goal  - 15 books
Books read - 7
This is a really bad result, especially for someone who used to read as much HF as I did. I'm afraid I just haven't been in the mood.

Regency Romance Reading Challenge
Goal - 2 books
Books read - 3
Another challenge that went well as I managed to complete 3 books and was aiming for 2.

Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge
Goal - 13 books
Books read - 13
Right on target with this one. It was the easiest challenge to complete.

TBR Challenge
Goal - 12 books
Books read - 8
I was hoping to do better but I completely fell off the wagon these past few months. It was a challenge that I really enjoyed though.

P&P Bicentenary Challenge
Goal - 4 books
Books read - 2
I feel really bad that I didn't manage to complete this challenge especially because I thought I would be able to watch some of the P&P related shows. But I never managed to find the time this one is a miss too.

Portuguese Historical Fiction Challenge
Goal - 6 books
Books read - 4
I was definitely hoping to do better with this one. It was lack of time mostly that stopped me from reading more books., Looking at the final list of reviews there are several books I would like to read so I'm eager to start the 2014 challenge.

2014 Portuguese HF Challenge / 2014 Desafio Ficção Histórica Portuguesa

And here we go again with the Portuguese HF Challenge. For 2014 I will be doing bilingual posts in both english and portuguese hoping to encourage more people to join.

Challenge details:

1. The challenge runs from Jan 1st to Dec 31st 2014. You can join in at any time.
2. The books chosen for this challenge should be historical fiction written by a portuguese author or historical fiction set in Portugal. You can find a list of reading suggestions here
3. Levels of participation/dinasties: Afonsine - 1 to 3 books, Aviz - 4 to 6 books, Habsbourg - 7 to 9 books, Braganza  - more than 10 books
4. Leave a comment on this post to sign up. I'll be posting the Mr Linky where to leave your reviews soon.
5. Reviews should be in portuguese or english
6. If you don't have a blog you can link to your reviews on Goodreads or other sites where you post reviews.
7. Prize: At the end of the challenge I will giveaway one book of Portuguese Historical Fiction. Each review on Mr Linky counts as an entry for the giveaway

I think that's it but feel free to contact me for more details if you want!
Thanks for joining!


Regras do desafio:

1. O desafio ocorrerá entre 1 Janeiro e 31 Dezembro 2014. Pode ser iniciado em qualquer altura.
2. Os livros seleccionados deverão ser ficção histórica escrita por um autor português ou ficção histórica passada em Portugal. Podem encontrar uma lista com sugestões aqui
3. Niveis de participação/dinastias:  Afonsina - 1 a 3 livros,  Avis - 4 a 6 livros,  Habsburgo - 7 a 9 livros,  Bragança - mais de 10 livros
4. Deixe um comentário neste artigo para se inscrever. Irei publicar um artigo com o Mr Linky para deixarem as reviews em breve.
5. Criticas podem ser em português ou inglês
6. Se não tem um blog pode deixar o link do Goodreads ou de qualquer outro site onde deixou a sua opinião
7. Prémio: no final do desafio será sorteado um livro de ficção histórica. Cada critica conta como uma entrada para o sorteio.

Penso que é tudo mas se houver dúvidas não hesitem em contactar-me.
Obrigada por participarem!

2013 Portuguese HF Challenge - The End & Giveaway winner

First of all I woul like to thank everyone who participated, I really enjoyed reading your reviews and finding new books for my TBR and wish lists. I hope you have enjoyed it too. This challenge will be back in 2014 (look for informations soon) and I hope you will join me again. Below is the final list of books reviewed.


Book list:

1. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Mady
2. D. Dinis by Cristina Torrão - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
3. Já Não se Escrevem Cartas de Amor by Mário Zambujal - reviewed  by Inês Montenegro
4. Quando Lisboa Tremeu by Domingos Amaral - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
5. Angola, o Horizonte Perdido by António Coimbra - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
6. O Remorso de Baltasar Serapião by Valter Hugo Mãe - reviewed by Mady
7. O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo by Jose Saramago - reviewed by Mady
8. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araujo - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
9. D. Maria I, a vida notável de uma rainha louca by Jenifer Roberts - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
10. Exilados by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
11. Inês de Castro by Maria Pilar Queralt del Hierro - reviewed by Ana T.
12. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Ana T.
13. Os Filhos da Costa do Sol by Manuel Arouca - reviewed by Flor
14. Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
15. Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier -  reviewed by Savvy Verse & Wit
16. D. Sebastião e o Vidente by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
17. No Coração do Império by Alexandra Vidal -  reviewed by Inês Montenegro
18. Além Tejo by Catarina Pereira Araújo - reviewed by Mady
19. Loanda by Isabel Valadão - reviewed by Mady
20. D. Maria II, Tudo Por Um Reino by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
21. Eu, Amélia, Ultima Rainha de Portugal by Stephane Bern - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
22. D. Leonor de Távora by D. Luiz de Lancastre e Távora - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
23. Equador by Miguel Sousa Tavares - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives
24. D. Amélia by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Inês Montenegro
25. O Navegador da Passagem by Deana Barroqueiro - reviewed by Whitelady
26. A Mulher do Legionário by Carlos Vale Ferraz - reviewed by Susana Patricia Rosa
27. Catarina de Bragança by Isabel Stilwell - reviewed by Ana T.
28. Café República by Alvaro Guerra - Reviewed by Mady
29. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson - Reviewed by Avid Series Reader
30. Codex 632 by Jose Rodrigues dos Santos - reviewed by Monica at A Thousand Lives

Without further delay lets proceed to the giveaway. I mentioned at the beginning of this challenge that I would give away a Portuguese HF book to one of the participants who submited a review. I removed my entries so we had a total of of 26 entries eligible for the prize. I was thinking of choosing a title but finally decided to leave that choice to the winner. I used Random.org to find a winning number and so... the winner is nº8 - Susana Patricia Rosa

Please contact me so I can send you your book! Thanks again to all who participated and happy reading! If you do a wrap up post for this challenge do leave the link in comments so that I can go and visit you.