Outlandish Dreaming

May Quickie Reviews

2012-05-24T23:34:00.000-04:00

In anticipation of the Memorial Day Weekend, and the fact that I'm hopelessly backed up, this is a departure post for me consisting of quickie reviews of the books I've read in May so far. Fear not, this is not going to be a regular thing, I just need to catch up!

My Lady Rival by Ashley March

Book Description:
In this tantalizing new novel of untold wealth, unbridled privilege, and unspeakable scandals, a family shakes the very foundation of proper Victorian Society—and sets the bluebloods to blushing..

When the wealthy middle-class Laurie family purchases a home in exclusive Belgrave Square, London Society is aghast. After all, the consensus is that they're nothing but lowborn commoners-a family of nouveau riche daring to marry into the aristocracy. Others believe it's an attempt to prove that their wealth makes them equal to nobility. Only one thing is certain: Belgrave Square will never be the same again.

Upon his father's death, Alexander Laurie feels the best way to provide his family with the privileges they deserve and secure their business is to establish ties with the London ton. And the best way to do it is by marrying an aristocratic bride. But when his business rival's beautiful daughter—the one person who can destroy his plans—appears in London, Alex must defeat her attempts at sabotage.even if that means stealing kisses from the enemy.

I had a tough time warming up to Willa, the heroine in this Victorian romance, though I liked her very much at first when we first meet her. But then she began to bug me, though I liked the hero Alex very much. Still, I felt the story was disjointed as if some of the scenes were unfinished. The ending was rushed and in need of more development towards how Alex and Willa realized their love for each other. A disappointment compared to her last book, Romancing the Countess, which was great.

3.5/5

One Good Reason by Sarah Mayberry

Book Description:
It's time to move on.

Any day now Jon Adamson will pack his bags and hit the road. After all, his intention was never to hang around Melbourne once he'd settled his late father's affairs. Yet he hasn't moved on. And it might have something to do with Gabby Wade. The not-so-big office manager with the really big attitude is making Jon's days... interesting... engaging... fun. It's impossible for him to resist her.

But he knows himself--long-term commitments and cozy family dinners aren't his style. If that's what the future holds, why is he still here? And why is he spending all his days--and nights--with Gabby? Because maybe she's the one reason strong enough to make him stay.

Who would have thought this was such a great story! I'm not normally a Harlequin reader, but this contemporary romance was so highly recommended to me (by Penny at Penelope's Romance Reviews) I gave it a shot and it did not disappoint. Tight story, no filler, lots of emotion and a voice that rang true. Set in Australia, this is a keeper, now I've got to read the previous book in this series about Tyler and Ally's story.

4.5/5

Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke

Book Description:
ONE TRYST WAS ALL SHE WANTED ...

From their very first meeting, Julia knew that Aidan Carr, the oh-so-proper Duke of Trathen, had a bit of the devil in him, a devil who secretly yearned for what he could not have, a devil who harbored a desire for her. So when she needed to be caught in a compromising situation, Aidan was the answer to her prayers.

ONE TRYST JUST WASN'T ENOUGH ...

Aidan is supposed to be looking for a bride, yet his scandalous liaison with Julia is all he can think about. Hot, erotic memories of kissing her skin, falling into her bed, pulling her naked body on top of his own continue to torment and tempt him. What is it about this brazen seductress that he finds so hard to resist? And how can he stop himself from falling into her bed a second time?

Ordinarily I love Guhrke's historicals, but it took me a while to warm up to Julie/Julia, the heroine in this Edwardian romance with a Sleeping Beauty theme. Yet by the end - I was won over. Story of a notorious divorced baroness who is keeping a secret of why she seduced a man (the Duke of Trathen, who she has known since they were 17) in order to be caught in bed with him so her sadistic husband would divorce her. After such a notorious scandal, can these two find happiness with each other or will Julia help him find a suitable bride with a scandal-free pedigree? Good story with flashbacks leading up to that fateful afternoon - what really happened that day? As good as the story was, I felt at arm's length for most of it in regard to the emotions of the hero and heroine - until the very ending. Some brief cameos from characters from her Girl Bachelor Series too.

3.5/5

Love Once in Passing by Jo Ann Simon

Book Description:
This is book one in Jo Ann Simon's acclaimed time travel romance trilogy first published in the early 1980s. Christopher Dunlap, a man of title and privilege in early nineteenth century England, and Jessica Lund, a thoroughly modern woman, suddenly find their lives mysteriously entwined in Jessica's late twentieth century world. Neither understand how Christopher, a man who had been living a happy life nearly two hundred years in the past, is now flesh and blood in Jessica's present. They soon share a love for each other as deep as it is dangerous, for whatever has brought them together can just as easily tear them apart.

I loved this book. Plus, the heroine has the same last name as me! Early '80's time travel romance that was a real treat! I'm wary of '80's romances, but this was a winner. Contemporary heroine, Jessica Lund has a Regency lord pop into her car while driving home one night in Connecticut. He just shows up all of a sudden with no warning He's just as perplexed as she is! The two of them must deal with his unexpected time travel and it's repercussions as they fall in love while trying to determine if he can disappear just as easily as he appeared in the first place. To complicate matters, she loses her memory as they travel to London so he can research what happened to him 160 years earlier. Not your typical scenario, she has trouble remembering him and doesn't fall for him again which naturally creates a rift between them. I had a hard time putting this one down and the cliffhanger is a killer! Must. Read. Next. Book.

4/5

Sea Change by Darlene Marshall

Book Description:
American privateer Captain David Fletcher needs a surgeon for his wounded brother. But when he captures a British merchantman in the Caribbean, what he gets is Charley Alcott, an apprentice physician barely old enough to shave. Needs take priority over skill, and Captain Fletcher whisks the prisoner aboard his ship with orders to do his best or he'll be walking the plank.

Charley Alcott's medical skills are being put to the test in a life-or-death situation--Charley's life as well as the patient's. Even if Charley can save the captain's brother, there will still be hell to pay, and maybe a plank to walk, when Captain Fletcher learns Charley is really Charlotte Alcott.

A war is raging on the world's oceans, and two enemies will fight their own battles and their attraction to each other as they undergo a sea change neither of them is expecting, but cannot deny...

I've read all of Darlene Marshall's books (except her latest which is on my TBR list). This is a departure for her, though she has written about false identities when it comes to gender, this is a new take on that theme. It's the story of Charlotte Alcott, a young Englishwoman disguising herself as a doctor on board a merchant ship bound for Jamaica. En route, she is forced to board an American privateer captained by the handsome Davy Fletcher. Having no idea she's really a girl they strike up a friendship, but she soon falls for him and he, much to his chagrin, finds he's having wayward thoughts about her/him as well. Good story but no romance involved until the 2nd half of the book and then hero is missing for the last 30 pages or so. If you enjoy stories of doctoring methods at sea in the early 19th century you'll enjoy this for there is much detail and description of battle wounds and amputations, etc. I enjoyed it and am eager to read her next which brings back the minor character of Dr. Murray.

3.5/5

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley (audio)

Book Description:
Eva Ward is a modern woman thrown back three centuries to 1715--only to find that might be exactly where she belongs. There she finds true love with Daniel Butler, but the discord surrounding Hanoverian King George plunges the lovers into a world of intrigue, treason, and love.

Modern time travel story of Eva, a young woman who has returned to Cornwall from California to scatter her sister's ashes. While there at Treloweth, the house she knew as a child, she becomes reacquainted with old friends and inadvertently travels back and forth in time to 1715. Unable to control her comings and goings from the past to the present, she befriends the beguiling owner of Treloweth, Daniel Butler, a Jacobite sympathizer and smuggler whom she falls in love with. At the same time she helps Daniel foil the local constable's attempts to arrest Daniel and his brother Jack for treason. This wasn't bad on audio, but the narrator's voice for Eva went back and forth from English to Canadian/American and it drove me crazy! I found this an evocative story but the actual romance between Daniel and Eva was oblique and had no overt passion to it, only skimming the surface. Another one keeping me at arms length, I just didn't feel the love. Although this book has gotten high praise, I preferred The Winter Sea over this one.

Disclosure: I won this book in e-book format from the publisher, but chose to listen to it on audiobook , which I bought on my own, instead.

4/5

Why Mermaids Sing by C.S. Harris

Book Description:
It's September 1811, and someone is killing the wealthy young sons of London's most prominent families. Partially butchered, with strange objects stuffed into their mouths, their bodies are found dumped in public places at dawn. When the grisly remains of Alfred, Lord Stanton's eldest son are discovered in the Old Palace Yard beside the House of Lords, the local magistrate turns to Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, for help.

Ranging from the gritty world of Thames-side docks to the luxurious drawing rooms of Mayfair, Sebastian finds himself confronting his most puzzling--and disturbing--case yet. With the help of his trusted allies--young servant Tom, Irish doctor Paul Gibson, and his lover Kat Boleyn - Sebastian struggles to decipher a cryptic set of clues that link the scion of a banking family to the son of a humble Kentish vicar. For as one killing follows another, Sebastian discovers he is confronting a murderer with both a method and a purpose to his ritualized killings, and that the key to it all may lie in the enigmatic stanzas of a haunting poem...and in a secret so dangerous that men are willing to sacrifice their own children to keep the truth from becoming known.

Book 3 in the Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mystery series, this is the best one so far. Sebastian is investigating the grisly murders of the son's of some prominent men. The bodies are butchered and left in public in the most ghastly manner. As it turns out, all of the fathers are connected because they were all shipwrecked together on a boat and turned to cannibalism to survive. Whoever the murderer is, he knows and is seeking revenge. Great twisty turny story though I am deeply saddened for Sebastian over some devastating news he receives towards the end of the book. I really enjoyed this one!

4.5/5

Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King (audio)

2012-05-14T22:20:00.003-04:00

Book Description:
Roland Deschain and his ka-tet are bearing southeast through the forests of Mid-World on their quest for the Dark Tower. Their path takes them to the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis. But beyond the tranquil farm town, the ground rises to the hulking darkness of Thunderclap, the source of a terrible affliction that is stealing the town's soul. The wolves of Thunderclap and their unspeakable depredation are coming. To resist them is to risk all, but these are odds the gunslingers are used to. Their guns, however, will not be enough....

Quickie Review:
It's been a few years since I read book four of Stephen King's Dark Tower Series. I really enjoyed the first four books and for a change I decided to listen to book five, The Wolves of the Calla instead of reading it. I have to admit, it was somewhat of a challenge.

Wolves picks up where we left off in book four of the series, Wizard and Glass. The ka-tet, Roland, the Gunslinger, young Jake, Eddie Dean and his wife Susannah are still making their way to the Dark Tower when they near the town of Calla Bryn Sturgis, a beautiful little peaceful town, pretty as a picture. Yet, all is not as it seems. Every generation hundreds of "Wolves" from nearby Thunderclap ride in to the town and steal it's children and carry them off. One pre-adolescent child per couple. One of the odd things about Calla Bryn Sturgis is everyone has twins, it's rare to have a singleton, though they do exist. And when the wolves come - they take one twin from each family. Months later, the kidnapped children are returned - roont. Their minds are gone and they grow to gigantic sizes after they reach puberty. Eventually they die in their thirties, mindless. No one knows why or what takes them, but it happens. This time, when Andy, the friendly Robot tells them the wolves are coming in a month, the townspeople say "no." Not again. This time they intend to fight the wolves and they ask the Gunslingers to help.

This is the main plot line in the book, but as anyone knows whose familiar with The Dark Tower Series, there is much, much more going on. We go back and forth to New York City, visiting the rose in the empty lot. The ka-tet meet Father Don Callahan, a former priest from Salem's Lot, Maine (yes, that Salem's Lot) who tells his long and detailed story and how he came to be in Mid-World and his brush with vampires. We find out that Susannah is pregnant - but not with Eddie's child. Instead it is some kind of monster she is carrying from when she coupled with a demon to save Jake in The Waste Lands. Another persona, Mia has manifested itself in Susannah's mind. She is the mother of the chap growing inside Susannah's body. What will happen when Susannah gives birth - the big question leading up to a major cliffhanger ending.

Overall this was an engrossing and complicated installment in the series and not one you can skip for things do happen, but probably my least favorite up to this point in the series. I got the impression that for the most part, Calla seemed like a weigh station for the ka-tet before continuing on their quest. The details on audio were hard to follow at times, especially regarding the significance of the rose in the empty lot in New York City. Although I had trouble following the story at time, the narrator did a good job with all the different voices. It's just that this is such a big book, it's easy to get lost in what's going on, especially when it refers to the earlier books which were hard for me to remember, it's been so long since I read them. Still, this was pretty good, but I wish I hadn't waited so long between books. I feel like I need to go somewhere on line and take a refresher course on the series before tackling the next one.

3.5/5

The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros

2012-05-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
Dear Reader,

I'd been prowling the crumbling ruins of Castle Weyrcraig for so long that I could no longer remember if I was man or beast. Then one stormy night the superstitious Highlanders of Ballybliss decided to leave a helpless virgin bound to a stake in the castle courtyard to satisfy my insatiable appetites.

My demands might strike terror in the hearts of men, but this bold beauty dared to defy me. After she informed me that she didn't believe in dragons, I had no choice but to make her my prisoner—or risk being exposed to those I had sought to deceive with my dangerous masquerade.

Soon I found myself stealing into the moonlit tower just to watch her sleep. Little does she know that beneath this beast's gruff exterior beats the passionate heart of a man. Gwendolyn Wilder may not believe in dragons, but I intend to use all my sensual wiles to teach her to believe in something even more magical—true love.

Eternally yours,

The Dragon of Weyrcraig

Quickie Review:
I know this book is a favorite by many, but I just didn't feel the love for it. Set around fifteen years after the Battle of Culloden in Scotland, it's the story of how Gwendolyn Wilder, a virgin who is considered overweight and unattractive in comparison to her beautiful - and promiscuous - sisters, falls in love with the Dragon of Weyrcraig, a man who sees her in a different light - as a true beauty. Ironically, he will not show Gwendolyn his own face as he holds her prisoner whispering sweet nothings in her ear as he gradually seduces her over time. Why all the secrecy? Who is he really and what is he hiding from, for he is truly hiding from someone - himself, maybe?

How did sensible Gwendolyn wind up as the Dragon's prisoner? It all started because the Dragon, who took over the crumbling castle on the hill overlooking her village began to scare everyone to death by making demands for food and money. The townspeople are a superstitious lot who decide to make Gwendolyn a human sacrifice to the Dragon in hopes that he will give up his demands of the exorbitant amount of £10,000. The same amount of money that was paid to the traitor who turned in the laird of Weyrcraig following the battle of Culloden. The laird had been a Jacobite supporter protecting Bonnie Prince Charlie and helping him escape the British.

As it turns out the fearsome Dragon is Bernard, the son of the former laird. Believed to have died when the castle was shelled by the British, he actually lived and now is eager to seek revenge on whoever turned in his father, a fate leading to the laird's death, but not before he cursed the entire village for their treachery. Gwendolyn fell for Bernard years before when she was a pudgy young girl and he the strikingly handsome future laird of Weyrcraig. But much happened after Culloden, including the sacking of the castle and an end to Bernard's future as laird. Captured and held prisoner by the British, he was then rescued by an Englishman who wound up raising him as his son and heir. Now rich and powerful, Bernard, posing as the Dragon, has come back to the small village, bent on avenging the life of his father.

Did Bernard remember Gwendolyn from all those years ago when she was just a young girl? Their reunion when he rescues her from the rain, tied to the post outside his castle is vague in Gwen's memory. Who carried her inside the castle? A smart girl, Gwen suffers from an inferiority complex due to her weight. As Bernard - the mysterious Dragon - makes it plain he likes her lush, curvaceous figure, but she finds it hard to believe anyone, much less the Dragon would find her beautiful. Yet he obviously does and keeps her there for weeks with him, dressing her in beautiful gowns and treating her like a queen - albeit in a gilded cage. Over time she gets to know him slightly, but is chagrined that he will not confide in her or reveal his face to her. She gets to know his friend Tupper who visits with her often and becomes a friend, yet after questioning him, she still cannot glean any information as to who the identity of the Dragon is and what he is doing there. Meanwhile, she's fighting her own desires that are growing more and more due to her proximity to him. She is drawn to him, yet she's also annoyed with him since he won't show himself to her. Why won't he? For fear she will recognize him? Is he horribly scarred? Is he so hideous he cannot bear to have anyone see him? While his prisoner, Gwendolyn and Bernard have many sparring interludes that lead to kisses, but all the while his face remains hidden from her. She has no idea who he really is and frankly she's getting fed up with being his prisoner and this game of his, even if he dresses her in finery and feeds her with delicacies fit for a princess. It's apparent he wants to bed her, but the gentleman in him won't deflower a virgin. Yet, still he wants her. Big bones and all.

I have to admit, I grew bored with this long, drawn out imprisonment and wanted something to happen! I really wanted to like this story, but it just wouldn't move forward! It seemed like her time locked in his castle went on forever and the story just wasn't going anywhere! His friend Tupper and her sister Kitty's storyline was more lively and interesting than Gwen and Bernard's! I sympathized much more with Tupper, who pretends to be the dragon to get Kitty interested in him. In comparison, Gwen and Bernard s plot line was just kind of... dull. I never quite felt that the love growing between them was believable. She takes an eternity to warm up to him and I just couldn't remain interested in what was happening. No chemistry between the two, as far as I was concerned.

The Bride and the Beast wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Unfortunately Teresa Medeiros is one of those hit or miss authors for me and this is a ... miss. I found the plot line uneven and it wasn't too hard to figure out who the traitor was even though both Gwen and Bernard are suffering from misplaced guilt, convinced it was their fault that the British came and sacked the castle fifteen long years ago. I didn't have much sympathy for anyone (except Tupper). It annoyed me that Bernard was deceiving everyone, including Gwendolyn when he supposedly loved her and Gwendolyn's feelings seemed to run hot and cold for Bernard even after she knows the truth about him. It all became rather complicated and to top it off I kept on thinking poor Kitty and Tupper - their wedding day was upstaged by Gwendolyn and Bernard's!

Sorry for all of you folks who loved this book, but I just didn't get into it.

3.5/5

Goddess of the Sea by P.C. Cast

2012-05-13T12:49:00.001-04:00

Book Description:

On the night of her twenty-fifth birthday, alone in her apartment, Air Force Sergeant Christine Canady wished for one thing: a little magic in her life. After drinking way too much champagne, she performed, of all crazy things, a goddess-summoning ritual, hoping that it would somehow make her life a little less ordinary...but she never believed the spell would actually work.

When her military plane crashes into the ocean, CC's mission overseas takes an unexpected turn. She awakens to find herself in a legendary time and place where magic rules the land—occupying the body of the mythic mermaid Undine. But there is danger in the waters and the goddess Gaea turns this modern, military gal into a beautiful damsel so that she can seek shelter on land.

CC is soon rescued (literally) by a knight in shining armor. She should he falling in love with this dream-come-true, but instead she aches for the sea and Dylan, the sexy merman who has stolen her heart.

Quickie Review:
This is the second novel in the Goddess Summoning Series that I've read, though this one is the first in the series. Not as good as Goddess of Spring, but it wasn't half bad telling the story of a girl that becomes a mermaid and finds true love that cannot be. The story is in three parts. Part I sets us up introducing the reader to CC, a female air force sergeant who wants some magic in her life. Heading out to the middle east, she embarks on the plane taking her there and meets a handsome and considerate air force pilot who catches her eye. He changes seats with her because of her fear of flying and the next thing she knows the plain crashes over the Mediterranean, mortally wounding the nice pilot and CC nearly drowns herself by trying to retrieve his body. She is stricken by what has happened to him because he changed seats with her. In the nick of time, instead of drowning, she finds herself trading places with a mermaid princess Undine, who's fleeing the unwanted advances of her creepy merman half-brother.

Part II is when we follow CC's journey as a mermaid and the deal she makes with her counterpart's mother, the goddess Gaea who agrees to let her be a woman on land if she can get someone to fall in love with her so she can permanantly remain a woman. The catch is, CC must return to the water every two days or else... Wouldn't you know it, as soon as CC gets to dry land, she meets Dylan, a handsome merman whom she is intrinsically drawn to on her nights when she must return to the sea. Her time with Dylan is special and she falls in love with him and he teaches her how mermaids and mermen make love (okay, it was a bit far-fetched, but this is a fantasy afterall and suspension of disbelief is needed.) CC's life becomes ever much more complicated. Not only has she become a mermaid, but she has gone back in time as well to the 11th century, living a double life living in a Welsh abbey monastary as a guest, pretending she is a princess with amnesia. But the misogynistic abbot is suspicious of her and the noble knight who "saved" her from drowning remains a puzzle to her. His changing moods from gentleman to sex fiend cause her to realize he is possessed by the spirit of her evil merman half brother who is relentless in his desire to have her. As CC and Dylan spend more and more time together, CC realizes she wants to remain a mermaid with him, but her brother is stronger than Dylan and when he finds out about their affair he will kill Dylan - what can they do?

Part III, as you might have guessed, deals with the aftermath of all that happens to CC when she is no longer a mermaid and she is back in the United States recovering from her plane crash. Did she imagine everything? What happened to Dylan? What happened to the nice pilot who gave his life for her? You'll have to read the book to find out. Goddess of the Sea is a poignant tale and overall I enjoyed it, although some parts dragged at the monastery. Keep in mind it's a fantasy romance/paranormal as well and much of the book takes place under water. :). Still, I liked it and I will continue with the rest of the series.

3.5/5

A Certain Wolfish Charm by Lydia Dare

2012-05-13T11:35:00.000-04:00

He gets crankier and crankier as the moon gets full...

The rules of Society can be beastly—especially when you're a werewolf and it's that irritating time of the month. Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor, is rich, powerful, and sinfully handsome, and has spent his entire life creating scandal and mayhem. It doesn't help his wolfish temper at all that Miss Lily Rutledge seems not the least bit afraid of him, and in fact, may be as untamable as he is...

A woman whose charm is stronger than the moon...

When Lily's beloved nephew's behavior becomes inexplicably wild, she turns to Simon, the boy's cousin and guardian, for help. But Simon's idea of assistance is far different than hers, and Lily finds herself ensconced in his house and engaged to the rogue.

They both may have bitten off more than they can chew when each begins to discover the other's darkest secrets...

Quickie Review:
First of the Westfield Wolves Regency paranormal werewolf series, I really enjoyed this historical romance. I didn't know what to expect but it turned out to be an interesting scenario. Lily, an on the shelf spinster cannot understand what is happening to her 12 yr. old nephew, whom she is raising. She goes to his guardian, Simon who is a duke - and a werewolf, like Oliver. She hopes Simon can help her, only the moon is waxing and all he can think about is how much he wants to take her to bed. Lily doesn't know anything about what Simon, his brothers and her nephew truly are. She's swept off her feet by Simon's passionate nature but is irked because she knows he's keeping a secret from her. I liked the fact that Simon is not a tortured man convinced he's cursed as a werewolf, though he's worried he'll hurt Lily and wants to keep his true nature secret from her. I'll definitely continue with this sexy and very hot series.

Lily Rutledge is an attractive spinster who is used to getting her own way. She has been taking care of her nephew Oliver since her sister and her husband died together in a carriage accident. Oliver, now an adolescent is growing in leaps and bounds and his temper is growing more and more as well with his moods which are becoming increasingly uncontrollable. What happened to her sweet little Oliver? It's starting to worry her and it's time she got his guardian, the Duke of Blackmoor to help. Instinctively Lily feels Oliver needs the help of a man... a father figure. Lily and the Duke don't get along. She feels he's done nothing up to this point to help out as a guardian, living it up in society without a care in the world for his young charge. Ignoring her and her letters in regard to Oliver, she takes it upon herself to show up at his front door - shortly before the moon is full.

Little does Lily know that the Duke (and his brothers) are all werewolves - as well as Oliver. The refreshing thing about this book is that instead of looking at being a werewolf as a curse, they accept it (with some exceptions.) There is even a club where they can go and be themselves and talk with other werewolves. Mini-clubs within the best boarding schools exist at schools like Harrow where the boys can grow up together and have mentors to teach them how to live as a werewolf. Of course, the general public has no idea what they really become at the full moon, it's a great secret, but all handled well. Most werewolves are able to live comfortable lives, marry, have children etc., although not all. Do their wives know about their secrets? Eventually yes, they do, but not all can accept it. Most do, but some cannot and become afraid - as what happened to Lily's sister, Oliver's mother. I found it all very interesting as the story develops to learn more about this aristocratic werewolf world that Simon Westfield, the Duke of Blackmoor belongs to.

As the full moon approaches werewolves begin to "lose it." They become wilder and it's harder for them to maintain their composure, especially in a sexual sense. Lily shows up shortly before the full moon and Simon is hugely attracted to her. Yet, he refuses to tell her about himself, something he fears he never will be able to do with any wife. He's convinced no wife would be able to tolerate the truth, though he knows of other werewolves that have no problem with finding a mate, who relish the mating dance that goes on between them during the full moon. Simon is convinced Lily would be repulsed at the knowledge. Little does he know how wrong he is... As they become closer he decides he doesn't want to live without her yet for some reason marriage is out of the question. He comes up with the bright idea of setting her up in a cottage nearby on his estate as his mistress. Fat chance that'll go over well with her. But, when word gets out that she's been staying at his country house anyway, a marriage of convenience to save her reputation is in order. Now what is Simon going to do at the full moon? He can't keep lying to her forever? Lily is no idiot, she knows something is up, though no one will tell her anything, although the duke's mother alludes to much without coming right out and telling her the truth. Married to his father, a werewolf, she knows full well what her sons are like.

Through the course of this book, we see how Lily and Simon get tangled up together. He, fighting his desire for her and she becoming increasingly suspicious of whatever it is she knows he's keeping from her, all the while hoping he can handle Oliver's sudden change of personality. Their passion heats up as well, and I must admit, some parts of this book were incredibly hot and I loved how it all played out, of course leading up to what is going to happen to them on the full moon.

I highly recommend this series and will read on about Simon's brothers, one of the better werewolf paranormals I've read. It has passion, humor and an original plot line regarding the werewolf lore and how an adolescent werewolf comes of age. Simon is sexy and larger than life - a true alpha, but Lily is able to hold her own with him. A pleasant surprise.

4/5

P.S. Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

2012-05-05T21:16:00.002-04:00

Book Description:
When a devilish lord and a bluestocking set off on the road to ruin…Time is not on their side.

Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove’s confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland. Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be…anywhere but Spindle Cove.

These unlikely partners have one week to

• fake an elopement
• convince family and friends they’re in “love”
• outrun armed robbers
• survive their worst nightmares
• travel four hundred miles without killing each other

All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.

What they don’t have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls.

Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . love.

Second in the Spindle Cove Series, Colin and Minerva's story is fabulous! Heartwarming but sexy and hilarious to boot - thoroughly entertaining. A road trip romance along the Great North Road to Edinburgh with one calamity after another interspersed with hot moments "educating Minerva" - all in the name of science! I loved it! Tessa Dare has won me over and I want to read her entire back list now! So get ready readers for plenty of Tessa Dare reviews over the next year, I can't wait to dig in. I simply loved the first book in this series, A Night to Surrender and A Week to be Wicked is just as good.

Minerva Highwood's hobby is fossils and they abound in Spindle Cove where Minerva spends most of her time discovering all sorts of interesting things in it's caves. Little does her family know that she has become a member of the Royal Geological Society of Scotland under the guise of a man (women are not admitted) by the name of M.R. Highwood and she must be at their meeting at the end of the month in Edinburgh to present her paper on her findings of a prehistoric footprint which she has found in one of the caves. She has made a plaster of it that weighs a ton which she intends to bring with her to the symposium. The only problem is how to get there. It's a long journey and she needs help.

Enter Colin Sandhurst. In A Night to Surrender, Colin is the rakishly good looking cousin of Bram (the hero) who is a lord waiting to come into his inheritance. Colin has spent most of his adult life as a dissolute ne'er do well until Bram (who is the trustee of his inheritance) forces him to join the local militia of Spindle Cove. He straightens up a bit, but he's still far from the paragon his cousin Bram is. During the course of the last book, Colin and Minerva were always squabbling and butting heads which continues in A Week to Be Wicked. Minerva highly disapproves of him and he highly enjoys baiting her, particularly by never getting her name right, deliberately mistaking it with some other name that begins with an M. The two are obviously drawn to each other, though neither is willing to admit there is any kind of attraction thing going on.

Colin is the epitome of just the sort of man Minerva has been taught to avoid. Yet, who does she turn to for help to get her to Scotland? The local rake, of course! There's something about her that Colin can't ignore and in a poignant scene she comes to his quarters late at night to enlist his help, having dreamed up an entire scheme to make the whole village of Spindle Cove think he is in love with her they've been having a torrid affair and are eloping to Scotland together! Hmm, what if...? Even Colin falls under the spell of her make-believe tale for a tantalizing moment, ending with a near-kiss... until Minerva realizes he's not alone. How humiliating! Colin sends her home, refusing to go along with her outlandish scheme. But the next day, feeling bad about what happened at his quarters, he relents and agrees to escort her to Edinburgh against his own better judgment.

As they set out we learn that Colin cannot sleep alone due to a harrowing night he spent as a child when his parents were killed in a carriage and he was left alone in the dark carriage with them. Ever since he's been unable to sleep alone, finding a women who will keep his bed warm every night. Minerva learns soon enough she's going to be keeping him company - every night. It's a condition. She has to sleep with him. Sleep, mind you, nothing else. Minerva is a virgin after all, albeit a spinster. Colin may be a rake, but he's an honorable rake and he doesn't deflower virgins. Yeah, riiiight...

I'm leaving tons out, but to to jump ahead, they embark on this crazy, hilarious journey that is full of nonsensical events and fantastic tales. Colin is an expert at dreaming up all sorts of crazy stories on the road much to Minerva's chagrin. One of the funnier whoppers was making some naive and very gullible passengers in a shared carriage believe he is the last remaining member of the royal family of Crustacea! His female devotees take it all in hook, line and sinker. Luckily they're too stupid to know that Spain doesn't even border Italy, nor what a Crustacean really is! What a scream! Unfortunately, this tale comes back to bite Colin in the butt when highway robbers hold up the carriage and all the other passengers tell the robbers he's royalty! Uh-oh.

I can't begin to list all the funny moments in this book, there's just loads of humor and one unbelievable adventure after another. But that's not all. Their nighttime adventures are just as entertaining - in a different way. Colin takes on the role of teacher, instructing Minerva about all the new ways she can enjoy a bed! She is a fast and able learner, taking to the subject like a duck to water - for educational purposes of course! And isn't it strange how Colin has this uncanny ability to get Minerva's name straight during their lessons? It's obvious these two are really meant for each other and it was a pleasure to take it all in and see how both learn to appreciate the other. Minerva, who never thought of herself as pretty enough to be noticed, blossoms into a beautiful young woman with love and confidence and Colin, who was convinced he was a failure at everything he attempted, comes to the realization that he can do anything right - for love.

Do they make it to Edinburgh? I won't spoil the ending, you'll have to see for yourself. This is a must read for anyone that enjoys a screwball comedy with an endearingly, stubborn heroine and a roguish hero who's dying to be reformed - even if he doesn't quite know it yet. A real treat, I highly recommend it!

4.5/5

P.S. And how about this sexy inside flap, I love it! Because I read this on my kindle, I don't get to see these extras. Minerva looks gorgeous!

Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas

2012-05-04T11:33:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
When the Duke of Lexington meets the mysterious Baroness von Seidlitz-Hardenberg on a transatlantic liner, he is fascinated. She’s exactly what he’s been searching for—a beautiful woman who interests and entices him. He falls hard and fast—and soon proposes marriage.

And then she disappears without a trace…

For in reality, the “baroness” is Venetia Easterbrook—a proper young widow who had her own vengeful reasons for instigating an affair with the duke. But the plan has backfired. Venetia has fallen in love with the man she despised—and there’s no telling what might happen when she is finally unmasked…

Warning: Spoilers ahead

I'm torn. There was much I loved about this new book by Sherry Thomas, the first of her new trilogy. She's probably my favorite romance author and I've waited with baited breath for this book to come out. I adored the fact that it's reminiscent of Thomas' first two books, both of which are my absolute favorites with the following type of scenario: proud aristocratic gentleman is felled by the woman he falls in love with when he finds out she's been lying to him all along. As a result, much happens with plenty of emotional fallout. Beguiling the Beauty has this same type of scenario, but I was a bit uncomfortable with the theme of deception in this case because I felt it was carried out a bit too far and began to enter the realm of "suspension of disbelief". The heroine, Venetia, carries out an outlandish deception on Christian, the Duke of Lexington all in the name of vengeance. I found it implausible that two people can carry on an affair while one of them never shows their face. Not even a little peek when she's sleeping? It made me uncomfortable that Venetia continued with the deception even when she was falling in love with him. I didn't like it and I wanted it to stop. It gave me the same feeling one has while waiting for a train wreck to happen. But I get ahead of myself...

While crossing the Atlantic on board a steamer, Christian, the Duke of Lexington is a man who has fallen deeply in love with a mysterious German passenger that wears a veil and refuses to allow him to see her face. Lo and behold without his knowing it, she is the woman he has loved from afar for the past ten years, the beautiful Mrs.Venetia Easterbrook. Venetia has backed herself into a corner by posing as the German veiled baroness, never thinking she'll actually fall in love with Christian! Why is she doing this in the first place? She's punishing him for something awful he said about her in a lecture at Harvard. But it backfires and instead she falls in love with him while carrying on a torrid affair on board the ship from New York to England. As their affair escalates they share secrets with one another, pillow talk moments interspersed between their passionate and unlimited carefree days and nights in bed. Venetia tells him about herself - her real self, despite her cover as the German baroness. He reciprocates and opens up to her during one of these moments, revealing the truth about his obsession with "Mrs. Easterbrook" over the years. Of course, he thinks he's telling this all to the baroness. The irony is overwhelming. He loved her from afar due to her unparalleled beauty and here she is with him wearing a veil, and he's fallen in love with her - again! You know this is not going to turn out well. Poor Venetia is stuck. If she shows him her face, he'll hate her and if she disappears from him forever, he'll still hate her for he has the worst opinion of Mrs. Easterbrook, thinking she's a vain and greedy gold digger who cares only for jewels. It's complicated. I did feel badly for him before he finds out the truth when she refuses to meet him in London (as the baroness). As expected, when he finds out about who she really is and how she deliberately deceived him - well, it's too late and she's convinced he'll never forgive her. But it doesn't end there...

Without giving away too much of the plot, due to a certain turn of events in the later part of the book, Venetia and Christian must marry, but it is a dutiful marriage in name only. By this point, both are in love with the other, yet Christian is so hurt by Venetia's deception he cannot give in, despite the fact she is his wife now, something he has longed for over the past ten years. A sad state of affairs that should have tugged at my heart strings - yet it didn't. Even though I found it nearly impossible to put this book down, there was something missing from the romance between Christian and Venetia. The fact they fell in love under a disguise prevented the same emotional wallop as her first two books and I was not entirely sympathetic to their problem even after Christian finds out who she is. If only she had not kept up the stupid deception! I blame Venetia mostly, but at the same time, Christian should have never opened his big mouth at the lecture which set everything in motion. Because of their mistakes the quote below sums up the crux of their problem on their wedding day, they made their bed and now they're going to have to sleep in it:

The worst thing about this forced nuptial was that they had been their true selves on the Rhodesia. And yet the two people tying the knot today were but their facades, the Great Beauty and the haughty, unfeeling duke.

Would she ever see his true self again? And would she ever dare let him see hers?

Despite some reservations I still loved this book, pre-ordering it on kindle and reading it in the middle of night as soon as it downloaded. It is Sherry Thomas after all and an auto-buy for me. Her writing is eloquent and superb, research is tops, descriptions are spot on, everything is as it should be in an historical novel. I consider her one of THE best romance authors out there today, but I do feel she held back a bit with Beguiling the Beauty emotionally. Perhaps getting us ready for her next book in the series? I can't wait!

4.5/5

P.S. If this is your first go around with Sherry Thomas, do yourself a favor and read her back list starting with Private Arrangements, you won't be sorry! It's packs a punch, and you'll see how the Tremaine's who make a few cameos in Beguiling the Beauty, have their happily ever after as well.

Conor's Way by Laura Lee Guhrke

2012-05-03T21:48:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
A courageous woman...
In the aftermath of the Civil War, beautiful and stubborn Olivia Maitland was determined to save her family and their near-bankrupt Louisiana plantation no matter what-even if it meant taking in cynical ex-boxer Conor Branigan in exchange for help. It wasn't long before she discovered the secret pain hidden beneath his rugged ways. And his ache touched something in her, lighting afire in her heart.

A hard-fighting man...
Conor Branigan had seen his family and his hopes destroyed in Ireland and had sworn never to care for anyone again. But now he dared hope for a love greater than any he'd ever dreamt of, with Olivia and her three adopted children-and a future that he would fight to keep forever.

Quickie Review:
This is the story of tortured Irishman, Conor Branigan, who finds love in post-Civil War Louisiana - albeit reluctantly until he can no longer resist the steady, peaceful mien of Olivia Maitland who manages to change his mind. A shy spinster raising three adopted daughters, Olivia is a survivor. Fighting to keep her plantation afloat and out of the hands of the local villain who wants to build a railway right through her peach orchard, Olivia's stubborn determination baffles Conor who can't believe she won't take the money. But over time, he gradually learns to admire her grit and agrees to help her in the end. She refuses all the offers presented to her to sell, unwilling to ever give up her family home. Conor turns up at just the right time to help her with her problems yet he's torn with helping her and choosing to remain aloof and free to be his own self with no ties to anyone. Yet, when she is threatened unless she sells her property, he can't just leave and turn his back on Olivia and her girls who have become dearer to him than he'd like to admit. This loner and drifter is becoming a family man, whether he likes it or not.

Switching back and forth between his time in Louisiana with Olivia and his time living in Ireland, we learn about Conor's haunted past, how he lost his entire family and then joined the Irish Cause for independence, becoming a Fenian until he was caught and put in prison. Eventually he finds his way to America, landing in Boston and earning money as a prize fighter, passing through towns and villages until he ends up almost dead in the road in Louisiana where Olivia finds him. In need of a man to help around her plantation fixing the roof and the upcoming harvest, he seems to be an answer to her prayers. Nursing him back to health he soon becomes a fixture around the house, although he must remain a secret or they'll both be run out of town, her reputation in tatters. Even though nothing is going on between them, there is no chaperon in the house and she is a single woman. It's just not done! There's also the sticky matter that the same man who wants to buy Olivia's property is the same man that had Conor beaten and left for dead, warning him that if he ever saw his face around town again he'd kill him. He's also the same man that had been the overseer of Olivia's plantation before the war who's suit she rejected.

As you can guess, Olivia falls in love with the enigmatic stranger she stumbled upon in the road. Yet, she knows he wants to move on and doesn't want him to stay against his will. Yet, that is exactly what happens and my heart broke for them as they both must deal with society's edict of what is considered right and wrong.

I love Guhrke's historical romances and this wasn't bad but there wasn't a lot of chemistry between Olivia and Conor. Still, it was nice story and a departure from my typical historicals set in England. This is a "clean" romance by the way which I bought on kindle for a rock bottom price.

3.5/5

Last Night's Scandal by Loretta Chase

2012-05-03T10:19:00.002-04:00

Book Description:
After surviving the perils of Egypt, Peregrine Dalmay, Earl of Lisle, is back in London, facing the most dire threat of all: his irrational family . . . and Miss Olivia Wingate-Carsington. A descendant of notorious—but very aristocratic—swindlers, the delectable redhead has the ability to completely unhinge him and a long history of dragging him into her scandalous schemes.

Olivia may be Society's darling, but she's aware a respectable future looms menacingly. And so when Lisle is forced to go on a family mission, she sees this as the perfect chance for one last adventure—even if it is with the one man in the world she can't wrap around her finger. But really, she only wants to help . . .

Which is why Lisle and Olivia find themselves in a gloomy Scottish castle inhabited by spiteful ghosts and craven murderers . . . and a shocking secret: the greatest peril of all may be burning within their own stubborn hearts.

Quickie Review: (because I'm totally backed up!)
Aww, finally we get Lisle and Olivia's delightful and crazy tale, the sequel to Lord Perfect involving their journey to Lisle's father's Scottish castle. I highly recommend this book.  Last of Chase's Carrington Series, it can be read as a standalone, but it will be much more worthwhile if you read Lord Perfect first.   In Lord Perfect, Olivia and Lisle are young teens off on a hilarious adventure. In Last Night's Scandal, the story picks up several years later when they are adults.

Olivia is now a raving beauty and though she and Lisle have kept up their correspondence while Lisle has gone off to live in Egypt to study archeology with his Carrington relatives (from Mr. Impossible) they have not seen each other in several years.  Olivia's letters contain the usual underlines and CAPITALIZATION'S, her sense of drama has not diminished. Lisle has grown up quite a bit too, and he's turned out very well. Tall and blond with a rugged look about him from being in the desert for years, he's self assured and a man now. A very handsome and debonair man who knows how to take care of himself. Since, they have not seen each other for many years, both are quite surprised at their first meeting to discover they are hugely attracted to one another. But... but... they were childhood friends, how can they shift gears and become more? This is their conundrum. As far as Lisle is concerned, his stay in England is temporary - until his parents insist he renovate their crumbling Scottish castle or else they won't give him another penny. Forced to go to Scotland, Olivia, with her uncanny knack for getting her way, goes with him to "help" restore the castle. Equipped with "the Harpies" two ribald and randy elderly women who act as chaperons, (they're anything but) they set off for the journey to Scotland and ultimately as Lisle refers to it - Castle Horrid.

As the story develops, he and Olivia can barely keep their hands off each other. But he is torn, he wants her yet he doesn't want her, but a few times, passion runs away and they nearly do the dirty deed, but Lisle is a gentleman and he cannot marry her.  He wants to return to Egypt and he knows Olivia will be bored stiff and unhappy if she goes with him. Yet they're still good friends - she just as notorious as ever, and he still just as methodical and circumspect as ever - except when it comes to the fair Olivia. These two made for a delightful read and it was great reading about how they achieve their HEA - together. I loved this book although not the best in the series, it had it's moments and the Harpies were simply hysterical!

4/5

P.S.: I must admit, I loved the inside flap, Lisle is quite swoonworthy (for a blond hero) and Olivia is gorgeous! Wow, no wonder they couldn't keep their hands off each other!

The Black Duke's Prize by Suzanne Enoch

2012-04-25T12:42:00.002-04:00

Book Description:
Exiled to London by her disreputable uncle, Katherine Ralston discovers her family estate has been sold to Nicholas Varon, the "Black Duke" of Sommesby, a professedly reformed rake who is taken with her charms.

Quickie Review:
I enjoyed this early Suzanne Enoch regency romance which I picked up because it was offered on kindle for next to nothing. Suzanne Enoch has become a favorite, so I was curious to read one of her earliest books. Although it seemed a bit tame (aka, no sex) and lightweight compared to her more recent ones, it was a cute romance.

Kate Ralston is taken under the wing of her godparents in London after her ruthless uncle, now her guardian, forces her to leave her family estate, which she owns by right. She's has lived there all her life and is not about to let anyone take it away from her. He's trying to cheat her out of it so he can sell it to keep the money for himself. While in London, her godparents launch her onto Society and her kindly godfather goes behind her back to arrange a "buyer" for the property so it won't be lost for good and he can then arrange to get it back for Kate. While experiencing the London Season she meets Nicholas, the Duke of Sommesby who finds her refreshing as much as beautiful. He's the usual tall dark and handsome rakish type who has sworn off marriage, but he changes his rakish ways and opinion of marriage once he meets Kate. He also happens to be the buyer her godfather has arranged to buy her family estate, which causes all sorts of problems down the road.

As Kate and Nicholas fall in love, together they wind up foiling her uncle's plans. She's not happy when she finds out that Nicholas is the one buying her home and a big misunderstanding takes place between them that nearly ruins her reputation amidst the ton. If only her godfather had told her what he was up to! This romance has the usual characters: the smitten alpha hero who manages to surprise the ton with his open admiration of Ms. Ralston, the ingenue heroine with an endearingly strong backbone, the kindly older godparents who love her as much as a real parent and lastly the villainous uncle who kidnaps her for greed and and gets his just desserts for it. It all adds up to a happily ever after ending in which the hero comes to her rescue, vowing eternal love forever and a day. Set amidst the splendor of Regency London this was a cute story - but personally, I prefer her current "spicier" efforts. ;)

4/5

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

2012-04-25T08:06:00.003-04:00

Book Description:
Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a Beauty . . . Naturally, she's betrothed to a Beast.

Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman.

Linnet is not just any woman.

She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love—in just two weeks.

Yet Linnet has no idea of the danger posed to her own heart by a man who may never love her in return.

If she decides to be very wicked indeed . . . what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?

Quickie Review:
An original and well done rendition of the Beauty and the Beast tale. Piers, a brilliant doctor has a crippled leg and... umm... a crippled something else as well. He refuses to marry Linnet, the gorgeous redhead who has to come to his castle in Wales with his estranged father, a duke who made a series of mistakes in his past which terminated his marriage and caused the crippling injury to his son. Linnet is considered damaged goods amidst the ton in London, unfairly for she has done nothing to deserve it. (This part of the story was a bit much and unbelievable, but it served it's purpose by making Linnet the victim of the impression that everyone thinks she is pregnant by a prince and hence needs to marry to save her reputation.) Piers' father is also under the impression she is carrying a prince's child. A good thing, as far as he's concerned for he had given up hope his ducal line would continue due to his son's... umm... injury in his nether regions.

And so begins the story of how Linnet and Piers are thrown together, both refusing to marry yet both unaccountably attracted to the other which leads to some sexy scenes between them as they become playmates in every sense of the word. It turns out that Piers has manufactured the tale that he cannot sire children in order to make his father feel guilty from his past behavior as an opium addict when Piers was a child. I had trouble with Piers, I liked him yet I also disliked him for he was extremely gruff and I felt he should have forgiven his father much sooner. Thankfully, Linnet's entry into this damaged family is like a breath of fresh air. From her perspective she thinks they're all mad and the games and pretending they use against each other are ridiculous. They should all just get on with their lives and forgive and forget. Not so easy.

This was much more than just a simple romance. I loved many of the details and developments in the storyline including a natural ocean pool (very cool) where Piers swims everyday for therapy and teaches Linnet how to swim. The relationship between Piers divorced parents was a nice side story that I really enjoyed and the outbreak of Scarlet Fever and it's consequences to Linnet was compelling and kept my interest until the very end. Overall an engrossing story and one of the better Eloisa James' romances I've read.

4/5

Lord of Ice by Gaelen Foley

2012-04-24T11:02:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
Damien Knight, the earl of Winterley, is proud, aloof, and tormented by memories of war. Though living in seclusion, he is named guardian to a fellow officer’s ward. Instead of the young homeless waif he was expecting, however, Miranda FitzHubert is a stunning, passionate beauty who invades his sanctuary and forces him back into society. Struggling to maintain honor and self-control, Damien now faces an even greater threat: desire.

A bold, free spirit, Miranda has witnessed the darkest depths of Damien’s soul–and has seen his desperate need for love. But before she can thaw his unyielding heart, she must endure a terrifying nightmare of her own. . .

I really enjoyed this third installment in the Knight Miscellany Series. Damien Knight, newly awarded the title of Earl of Winterley due to his heroics on the battlefield, is suffering from post-traumatic syndrome, fighting his inner demons and memories from the Napoleonic Wars. His attacks occur when loud noises like fireworks occur and he imagines himself back on the battlefield, fighting amidst the cannons and gunshots. He goes into a kind of trance and becomes Berserker-like, a human fighting machine, bent on killing his enemies, real or imaginary.

The last thing he needs while trying to find peace and quiet at his newly acquired country estate (a huge old rambling mansion in desperate need of repair and furniture - a real fixer upper) is to learn of the murder of one of his fellow soldiers. Damien finds himself guardian to the soldier's niece, a beautiful young nineteen year old girl still in school.  Damien has no idea she's all grown up and upon visiting her to inform her that he will be her new guardian, the adventure begins.

Miranda dreams of being an actress. The "school" where she has been living is horrible. The head of it is a pedophile and treats the young girls abominably. Miranda, the eldest, keeps watch for the younger girls, determined to save them from the lecherous headmaster. But at night, she sneaks off to the local theatre and becomes a different person on the stage. Thanks to her luscious curves and enchanting face and hair, she is a popular attraction, no one has any idea that she's really a virginal school girl. Of course, who happens to catch her show? Damien Knight. Hoping to rest and relax and perhaps pick up a comely wench, he visits the theatre the night before he is due to visit his new ward. He is mesmerized by the fair Miranda. He wants her. Now.  Literally trapping her outside the stage door after the show, they have a few heady moments. She takes his breath away.   Convinced she's a woman of the world, he tries his best to get her to spend the night with him. Although she is sorely tempted, she runs away in the snow back to school. Damien follows her in time to see her ambushed by thugs who try to kidnap her. Berserker Damien takes over and he kills most of them, while the rest flee in terror of the monster with the ice blue eyes. Miranda is a bit overwhelmed and frightened herself of how changed he became, running for her life back to school.

This first part of the book centers on how Miranda and Damien meet, for meet again they do the next morning at her school. She has a lot of explaining to do. He is determined to try and forget what happened the night before between them and treat her in the manner worthy of a guardian. In other words - no more thoughts of jumping her bones. Miranda, unfortunately has other ideas. She's rapidly falling for her new guardian who is becoming more and more heroic in her eyes. Handily dispatching the lecherous schoolmaster at her school (once he finds out the truth after Miranda tearfully tells him all about it) they head off to London so she can make her debut, which begins the 2nd part of the book. While there, Miranda meets her cousin and despicable uncle. The same uncle who killed his own brother (Miranda's former guardian) to get her fortune of fifty thousand pounds. The same uncle who hired the thugs to kidnap her. The same uncle who now wants her dead.

So, we've got a few things going on in this book. Damien, afraid his bouts of madness will hurt her, tries to keep his distance, but their mutual attraction is much too hard to resist.   There's only so much a grown man can take when a young nubile female is constantly throwing herself at him. Miranda is not willing to take no for an answer. She wants him. Now. Meanwhile, he's trying to figure out who is trying to harm her, too many "accidents" have been happening to her to ignore. As he starts to put two and two together can she help him during his dark periods?   Can he keep her safe from her ruthless uncle? There's a big finale with lots of blood and gore (reminded me of a movie from the '80's with Arnold Schwarzenegger) at his country estate, but all ends well.

This was an entertaining story. It had it's sizzling moments and Miranda and Damien made a great couple, loved the chemistry between the two. But I felt the last twenty pages of the book were tacked on as an afterthought when Damien is recruited to the battlefield once again after Napoleon's escape from Elba. Still, it served it's purpose for some angst and worry and a final resolution for his military career.

4/5

About That Night by Julie James

2012-04-22T15:33:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face to face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful Assistant U.S. Attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him.

Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case — but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants — and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten...

Another winner from Julie James - I am in love with her writing! I loved, loved this story of Kyle Rhodes and Rylann Pierce. I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. Great story, great chemistry, snappy dialogue and a legitimate quandary about their relationship. I didn't want it to end!

When I first heard that James' next book was going to be about Kyle Rhodes, twin brother to Jordan, the heroine from her last book, I was not overjoyed to hear it. The fact that he was supposed to be a billionaire, good looking dead ringer for Sawyer on "Lost" (I've never even seen the show) did not wow me. I thought this was going to be the story of how a spoiled trust fund baby playboy can change his roguish ways thanks to the love of a good woman who teaches him how to be a responsible grown up. Yes, About That Night isn't too far off the mark from that scenario, but I was wrong to pre-judge. In fact, my reaction was very similar to Rylann's the first time she meets Kyle in a campus bar at the end of her first year of law school. As he turns on his charm to get to know her better, she writes him off, wanting nothing to do with him, convinced he's only interested in a one night stand. Yet, he manages to worm his way into her good graces and walks her home that night, lending her his flannel shirt when she gets soaking wet. They share an unforgettable kiss good-bye and he asks her for a date for the following night. Against her better judgment, she acquiesces. What happens on their date? He stands her up, succeeding in fulfilling all her preconceived notions about privileged rich kid jerks.

On the surface Kyle Rhodes is the son of a billionaire who has had it easy most of his life. He dates Victoria Secret models, drives an amazing sports car and is devilishly good looking. Is it any wonder my initial reaction was just like Rylann's first impression of Kyle? It just goes to show, you cannot always go by first impressions. About That Night picks up where A Lot Like Love leaves off and James' goes back to the winning formula borrowed in part from Pride and Prejudice (a favorite of mine) in which you cannot judge a person based solely on the size of their bank account and, in the case of Kyle Rhodes, if they also happen to be an ex-con. I'm over-simplifying the plot line, but that's basically what happens.

Fast forward several years later. Rylann is now a successful U.S. attorney, newly arrived in Chicago from San Francisco after recently breaking up with her long time boyfriend. What has Kyle Rhodes been doing? He's been in jail. Yes... jail. Because he hacked into Twitter after a humiliating public break up with his Victoria Secret model girlfriend he broke all sorts of federal laws and was sentenced to jail time. Although, he was only there for a few months, he technically is now an ex-con and is faced with an uphill battle of having anyone take him seriously. He and Rylann's paths cross in court at the time of his release (thanks to some deal making in A Lot Like Love). Of course, both remember "that night" and the sparks fly between them once again. This time, they're captured on film together and a picture of Kyle looking at Rylann's boobs is plastered all over the newspapers. Of course, they both deny that's where his eyes are directed. I loved this scene when they meet again. James' courtroom scenes are her forte, they are the BEST! Rylann is cool, calm and collected on the outside, but inside Rylann is simmering. Kyle is even more handsome than ever and Rylann has already forgiven him for the way he stood her up all those years ago. It turns out on the same night as their date his mother was killed in a car accident. I'd say that a pretty good excuse.

Once they meet again they are thrown together often because he agrees to help her as a witness for a case she's working on about a shady prison guard and the murder of an inmate at the same prison where Kyle was serving time. I won't go into the details of the case, but it serves it's purpose in bringing Kyle and Rylann together again. He wants to see more of her and this is a great excuse to get close to her. They become friends again by working together, but their mutual attraction complicates things and creates an ethical dilemma for her. He's her main witness in a case and it would be completely wrong for her to date him at the same time. Plus, she's new to her Chicago office and he's an ex-con, the notorious Twitter Terrorist her office went after ruthlessly. How can she possibly date him? She'd come across as completely unprofessional and it could probably damage her career irrevocably-or so she thinks. Once the murder case wraps up, that solves one part of her dilemma, but Rylann is still really hyper sensitive about what her new office's reaction will be about her dating him openly. She's convinced that the fact he was in jail, no matter how briefly, will reflect badly on her. They decide to see each other on the sly, but Kyle becomes dissatisfied with the arrangement and begins to feel like she's embarrassed to be seen with him. You see, Kyle is trying to get past the Twitter debacle. He has a great idea of how to start up his own Internet security business and wants to be taken seriously. It irks him that he and Rylann can't go public with their relationship. Does she care enough about him to risk her job? This is the big dilemma in the novel. What does he have to do to earn her approval? And why should he have to earn her approval in the first place? Shouldn't she accept him for who he is as a person and not his public persona as the Twitter Terrorist playboy billionaire heir? I sympathized with Kyle more than Rylann, but she has her reasons. She's the new girl in the office, her last boyfriend really did a number on her and as a woman in a man's world in the U.S. Attorney's office, she feels a need to be taken seriously.

This is where Julie James excels, she shows us both sides of the coin, but for the most part, I identified with Kyle more often than Rylann. In fact, the whole book is really Kyle's story. His fears, his insecurities, the poignant love for his sister and father after his mother's death and his desire to become successful without the help of his father. Now add in his need to have Rylann's unconditional love. We see Kyle come a long way from that guy Rylann first met in Urbana. Kyle is smart but he has to be respected in the computer industry as well. Even though he's a whiz when it comes to computers and the ins and outs of security he's facing an uphill battle to get over the Twitter episode and it's repercussions. He has a great idea for his business and runs with it. I loved how we see the whole thing come to fruition and how he launches his new company - it was great! I was so happy for him, I won't spoil it all, but he cleverly manages to find a way to clean the slate and start over. Yet, as much as things are looking great for his new company, there is still that nagging worry about Rylann and her preoccupation with her job and reputation. Things come to a head between them, he doesn't want to sneak around anymore and she's going to have to make a choice. Either it's him or her job.

I won't tell you what happens next, but I can assure you there is a happy ending. This is a winning contemporary romance, albeit it may seem dated twenty years from now, but it was a fun read. Third in her U.S. Attorney's office series, I also enjoyed seeing some of the old favorites from the previous books, particularly Jack Pallas from Something About You, one of my all time favorites!

Julie James is an auto-buy author for me. I expect her books to have loads of humor and snappy fast paced dialogue which keep the stories moving forward all the way to the end. They're tight and well written, no dull parts which make them quick reads as well. I always identify with her characters and laugh and cry along with them. Did I mention the sex scenes are hot as well? *fans self* You can't go wrong with her books!

This is a keeper! Read it and enjoy!

4.5/5

The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley

2012-04-21T17:53:00.002-04:00

Book Description:
Lady Eleanor Ramsay is the only one who knows the truth about Hart Mackenzie. Once his fiancee, she is the sole woman to whom he could ever pour out his heart.

Hart has it all-a dukedom, wealth, power, influence, whatever he desires. Every woman wants him--his seductive skills are legendary. But Hart has sacrificed much to keep his brothers safe, first from their brutal father, and then from the world. He's also suffered loss--his wife, his infant son, and the woman he loved with all his heart though he realized it too late.

Now, Eleanor has reappeared on Hart's doorstep, with scandalous nude photographs of Hart taken long ago. Intrigued by the challenge in her blue eyes--and aroused by her charming, no-nonsense determination--Hart wonders if his young love has come to ruin him . . . or save him.

Fourth of the Mackenzie Brothers series, this is Hart's story and I loved it!   Hart is the eldest brother, inheriting the dukedom from his father, who was a cruel and ruthless monster who left his mark on all the sons. Hart, as the eldest took on the burden of protecting the rest from their father's notorious temper - particularly Ian, who stars in the first book of the series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (which is a great book!) To make it simple, Hart has overseen and controlled the entire family for many years now and is incapable of giving up his autonomy over the family. Yet, he secretly yearns for the relaxed and carefree life he once knew when he was in love and engaged to Eleanor Ramsay - the woman he loved who got away.

Now it has been ten years since Eleanor broke their engagement. Hart is older, though still very handsome and delectable. A widower and a rising star who means to become prime minister soon, he wants Eleanor back in his life as a wife. He'd never stopped caring for her and he needs a hostess to help with his political aspirations as well. Just as lively and effervescent as ever, she takes his breath away. Despite the fact she is impoverished and barely making ends meet with her father in Edinburgh, she returns to London to help Hart. Not with his political career, but because she believes he's being blackmailed. As it turns out, someone is sending Eleanor photographs that were taken of Hart as a young man - in the nude. She wants to help solve the mystery of who has them and she's intent on getting the rest of them back - twenty in all that were taken at the time by his former mistress. The thought that Eleanor enjoyed looking at the pictures of him (no matter how irresistible) when they were taken by his mistress did strike me as strange though - I would have been insanely jealous!

The descriptions and imagery of these photographs are very sexy and - beautiful. Quite droolworthy. It's all very tasteful but incredibly sensual. The idea of the gorgeous, young and handsome Hart in his kilt with nothing else on - and then even less? You get the idea... Eleanor is so daring and original, she's up for anything and once things resume romantically, she decides to take more photos of Hart in the buff to update her growing collection. Their photo sessions are loaded with eroticism. He's such a ham! I loved reading about how she and Hart become closer and closer - more and more like old times, though it's still not a given she will take him back. They had once been lovers, anticipating their wedding day when they were engaged, but things went wrong and Eleanor broke it off, thanks to Hart's long time mistress who decided to let Eleanor in on a few secrets about Hart. I enjoyed his flashbacks and what happened between them and the day she returned his ring. It made me even more sympathetic towards Hart, who in the past books comes across as cold and aloof. Entirely much too forbidding, but I love his type of hero, so my attitude was "bring it on!" The bigger they are, the harder they fall. This older Hart has passion and feeling, I really loved him and it was a very satisfying ending to see how his life turned around so unexpectedly giving him the chance to put in perspective what it takes to make one happy.

I loved Eleanor as well and thought she was great for him. Though as the story develops and it's clear they are going to get back together, I wasn't crazy about the quasi-bondage scene between them and it left me a bit confused about why he didn't want her to know everything about him. Still, I loved them together as a couple, she's so good at dealing with him and it's obvious they never stopped loving one another.   She's smart and witty, proud, beautiful, she's a great heroine. I think she's the perfect match for him and she will be a perfect duchess as well. Everyone loves her too. They're all so happy to see she's back in the Mackenzie fold, yet all is not perfect in the Mackenzie world. Someone is trying to kill Hart and it's up to Ian to help. They have a sort of a telepathic bond between each other in which they can tell when the other is in trouble or lost.   I loved how we learn more about their relationship as brothers, plus it was great seeing so much of Ian and Beth from the first book! Glimpses of the rest of the large family as well!

Overall, this was a great story, plus I loved the cover and Hart is just as I imagined on it - handsome with short reddish brown hair - he looks great! The older Hart is even sexier than the younger one! Yummmm.

I highly recommend!

4.5/5

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

2012-04-10T22:02:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
Welcome to Spindle Cove, where the ladies with delicate constitutions come for the sea air, and men in their prime are... nowhere to be found. Or are they?

Spindle Cove is the destination of choice for certain types of well-bred young ladies: the painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men; it is a haven for those who live there.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn't belong here. So far as he can tell, there's nothing in this place but spinsters... and sheep. But he has no choice, he has orders to gather a militia. It's a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna Finch—a woman who is determined to save her personal utopia from the invasion of Bram's makeshift army.

Susanna has no use for aggravating men; Bram has sworn off interfering women. The scene is set for an epic battle... but who can be named the winner when both have so much to lose?

I simply loved this story of how genteel, Susanna Finch, used to running things in her little seaside town of Spindle Cove comes up against (literally) Bram, aka Victor Bramwell, a no-nonsense career army officer bent on returning to his regiment after suffering a near crippling knee injury. He has a month to organize a local militia and whip them into shape for a big military review for the top brass. Yet the only men in town aren't exactly the military type and he's got his work cut out for him. Susanna doesn't like the idea of Bram and his men stirring up the delicate sensibilities of the women in town. Or rather, she doesn't like the way he's stirring up her own sensibilities, much less all sorts of other things inside her. From the first moment they meet sparks fly and passion ignites. As much as they are on opposite sides of the equation when it comes to his militia and her girls, the two of them learn to give in and compromise. Of course, they fall in love along the way and I adored reading about how it all comes about!

Aside from the fun storyline that kept me interested throughout the entire book, I loved the humor and silliness during some parts. Spindle Cove is a seaside resort that Susanna has set up as a haven for awkward young women and there are virtually no men around, except for the kind that are entirely non-threatening to her women of delicate dispositions. Yet when Bram and his ne'er do well cousin, Colin and Corporal Thorne come to town, what's the first thing on their mind? Sheep! (you'll see what I mean!) It's so silly and funny how all these sheep throw Susanna and Bram together! Plus, it's so cute how even a little lamb winds up becoming a pet to Bram.. Susanna names him "Dinner." Ha-ha! I loved it! The side stories in the book were good too. A couple of surprises caught me off guard as well, not what I was expecting!

Not only is there plenty of humor and surprises, but the sensual scenes were well done too! Exciting and provocative, maybe a bit on the unrealistic side, but quite hot and earned Bram a spot on my swoonworthy hero list. (I still think underwater sex is over-rated though.) I was completely caught up in the love story between Susanna and Bram. I was rooting for them and loved their interaction with one another. Great chemistry. But of course, they have a fundamental problem. He wants to go back to the army because his pride tells him he must to compensate for his injured leg, but she doesn't want him to abandon her and leave Spindle Cove. Yet despite the knowledge he'll most likely leave, she can't stop being with him. She's fallen for him and it's fun! She knows it's wrong, unmarried women just don't go out and have passionate affairs with army officers (in the middle of the village green no less!) yet I thought her struggle was kind of realistic. Once you start, it's hard to stop when you're in love, all you want to do is be with that person no matter what. They're having this clandestine love affair and it's passionate and wonderful, but where is it going to go - what's going to happen after his month is up and the big military review takes place? Will he change his mind about going or not? He can't just love her and leave her, can he? I had to keep reading to find out, in fact I really found it hard to put this book down!

To sum it up, I loved this book. A sexy, humorous romance with an original plot that includes a likable hero and heroine, a quirky village and it's citizens and a poignant and revealing side story involving Susanna's medical background as a teen and her current relationship with her father that brings it all together at the end. A great start to a new series which I'm eager to continue with from this new to me author. This book had it all, I highly recommend it!

4.5/5

To Scotland, With Love by Karen Hawkins

2012-04-10T20:36:00.001-04:00

Book Description:
In this saucy battle of the sexes, bestseller Karen Hawkins pits a hard-headed Scottish lord with an unusual family curse against a headstrong heiress who has a solution for every problem...except her own wayward heart.

When Lord Gregor MacLean learns his childhood friend, Venetia Oglivie, has been abducted by a fortune hunter, he rides off to Scotland in hot - and very annoyed - pursuit. Venetia's soft heart has gotten her in major trouble this time: if he doesn't rescue her swiftly, the scandal will ostracize the provocative wench!

The only sensible member of her family, Venetia is sure she can fix any problem, even this one. So when an irate Gregor catches up with her, arrogantly expecting a hero's welcome, the sparks between them begin to fly. Then an unexpected snowstorm traps them at an inn, and Gregor discovers his feelings for the lovely Venetia are far warmer than he realized - fiery enough to burn down the inn! Now if he can only convince Venetia that his motive for marriage isn't duty... but desire.

Quickie Review:
Continuing on with the 2nd book in the MacLean Curse series, this was a cute story of a series of mishaps that occur when the headstrong Venetia Ogilvie is nearly ruined when she embarks on a journey with a hapless suitor who she thinks is taking her to her grandmother's house in Scotland. Instead, he has tricked her and intends to elope with her to Gretna Green. Nearly bankrupt, he's after her money, and he also seems to think she'll enjoy traveling to Italy after the wedding where he can write his book and she can do laundry! Hah! I laughed aloud at this one! Fortunately, her best friend, Gregor MacLean will have none of it! Cursed with the ability to create massive snowstorms when he loses his temper, he unleashes a whopper in April and chases the couple on horseback to Scotland. Once he catches up with them at a roadside inn, he poses as their guardian, explaining to the other guests that they are brother and sister, in order to avoid a scandal and the ruination of Venetia. He is furious with Venetia for being so gullible as to run off in the first place and thus the two of them are barely on speaking terms the entire time at the inn. It doesn't help that they are all snowbound (thanks to Gregor's temper tantrum) and he is now acting all possessive and domineering, convinced she should marry him to avoid scandal. Without much ceremony he tells her that they should get married. Mad that his abrupt proposal is so unromantic, she refuses him and then succeeds in getting jealous when the other female guests make a play for him! For most of the time, these two just can't seem to see what's right in front of them! It's so obvious they've been in love with each other for years, yet neither one of them has even considered the idea! It drove me nuts that it took Venetia and Gregor so long to figure this out! She's over thirty and he's nearly 40? What took them so long???

Still, besides this, there were many amusing moments involving the other guests at the inn. Venetia, for a woman who's nearly 30 years old, came across as much too naive and ingenue like. She enjoys helping others and manages to make a mess of things because she's not exactly very good at judging people's characters. Sort of like an Emma complex. Gregor was the usual, handsome Scot, forever elegant and self assured. I enjoyed the way he put everyone in their place, particularly Venetia's wannabe bridegroom who was probably the funniest part of the whole book. Still, why did he wait so long to realize he and Venetia were meant for one another? Lightning struck when he realized she could have been roped into marrying someone else! But even after he nips it in the bud and foils the attempted elopement he still doesn't realize the truth staring him in the face! Same thing with her - or else she was just too afraid to admit her real feelings. Despite a few passionate kisses, they were both forever under the impression they were better off friends! A convenient excuse to avoid going out on a limb and saying "I love you." What a relief by the time they finally do come to their senses!

Overall, a nice bit of fluff, but nothing very memorable, still I will continue with the series to see what's in store for the rest of Gregor's brothers.

3.5/5

Not Quite a Lady by Loretta Chase

2012-04-09T13:54:00.001-04:00

Book Description:
Darius Carsington is a spectacularly handsome rake with a rare intelligence and no heart, a man who divides his time between bedding loose-moraled women and writing scholarly papers. He finds society's “perfect darlings”....exceedingly boring. But there’s something intriguing, and not quite perfect, about faultless Lady Charlotte Hayward. He senses a crack under her polished surface, and finding it is a temptation he can’t resist.

Lady Charlotte is so beautiful, charming, and gracious that no one has noticed what an expert she is at Not Getting Married. Early on, she learned a painful lesson about trust....and temptation. In the years since, she’s devoted her life to all she ought to be-and she’s not about to let a man like Carsington entice her to do everything she shouldn’t.

But the laws of attraction can easily overpower the rules of manners and morals, and sometimes even the best-behaved girl has to follow her instincts, even if it means risking it all.

I really liked this book, despite the sad and poignant nature of the plotline. Loretta Chase is one of my favorite romance authors and this was a rough story line to handle, yet she does it well with just the right amount of sensitivity without it becoming too maudlin. Not Quite a Lady addresses a serious issue, the strict standards put on women during this period when virginity was considered their single most important asset. Lady Charlotte Hayward is a fallen woman - though no one knows it. Ruined ten years earlier at the age of sixteen by a rakish soldier who died shortly after, she finds herself pregnant. She must give the baby up, keeping the entire matter a secret to avoid scandal.  To make up for her past indiscretion, she has become a paragon, the perfect lady, but one who has resigned herself to the fact that she will never marry, for how could she ever explain the fact she is not a virgin on her wedding night?

Over the past ten years, Charlotte has perfected the art of avoiding marriage, without making it look deliberate. Although she has a sizable dowry and is beautiful as well, she has managed to make herself boring and unappealing to every suitor that has come her way. But the time has come when she's going to have to marry. Her father insists she marry and is not taking no for an answer.

Now, about this same time, Darius Carsington moves into the neighborhood to take over a crumbling estate his father has given him. Darius, a younger son, must prove to his father that he is capable of turning a profit on the neglected farm and buildings - a near impossible feat. He and Charlotte cross paths, literally tripping over each other, and he immediately is struck by something about her. He mistakes her for a matron or widow at first, almost as if he can tell she is not a virgin? Yet, once he finds out she is the unmarried daughter of his neighbor he puts the notion aside, yet something still keeps nagging at him. Charlotte is drawn to Darius, although she can't stand him at first. He is obnoxious to her, yet she can't stop the beating and fluttering of her heart when he is nearby. It's obvious what's going on between them. Yet, due to her past she will not consider him as a suitor - or anyone else for that matter. Darius, who is a believer in logic, cannot see the logic in her behavior and he begins to hunt her down and get to the bottom of what's bothering her. Of course, this only throws them together more and more as she and her stepmother help him redecorate his estate.

In addition to having Darius sniffing around, the story takes a nod from Charles Dickens. A blond headed ten year old boy is an apprentice that is working on the house. As the story develops we realize he is Charlotte's long lost son whom she gave away when he was born. Pip, as he is known as, is an orphan who was put in a work house after his adoptive parents died. Shades of Oliver Twist. Luckily, Darius takes an interest in him and the plot line becomes more poignant when Charlotte realizes who he is. My heart went out to her and her predicament. Acknowledge him as her own and face scandal and ostracism all her life, or try to forget him? How can any mother make this decision? Charlotte has some hard truths to reveal to everyone - her father, whom she loves dearly, Darius, who she has come to love - and young Pip as well. What will he do when he realizes the beautiful sad lady is his real mother? What will the world think? What will Darius think?

Overall, I believe Chase handled Charlotte's dilemma well with all it's various repercussions, though it was a tad sugar coated. She managed to cover the unfairness and double standards towards women back in the day and turned it around by adding a bit of humor and romance with a happy and satisfying outcome. I did have some issues with the way Darius pursued Charlotte so relentlessly at first, intent on seduction, but he won me over in the end with his total acceptance of Charlotte's situation and how he came to her rescue - her knight in shining armor. I found I was sympathetic towards everyone involved in this story.  I particularly liked Charlotte's father and stepmother.

This wasn't my favorite of the series, but it was a nice outcome for Darius who never quite felt he had the respect or good opinion he deserved from his father.  I really loved the way things turned out for him and especially the moment when he learns of his father's approval.   I'm really enjoying reading about the many depths and layers within the Carsington family and am now eager to read the final book in the series.

4/5

Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood

2012-04-07T10:29:00.002-04:00

Book Description:
In the feuding English court, gentle Lady Madelyne suffered the cruel whims of her ruthless brother, Baron Louddon. Then, in vengeance for a bitter crime, Baron Duncan of Wexton - the Wolf - unleashed his warriors against Louddon's main. Exquisite Madelyne was the prize he captured...but when he gazed upon the proud beauty, he pledged to protect her with his life. In his rough-hewn castle, Duncan proved true to his honor. But when at last their noble passion conquered them both, she surrendered with all her soul. Now, for love, Madelyne would stand fast...as bravely as her Lord, the powerful Wolf who fought for..."Honor's Splendour."

Another Julie Garwood medieval, and alas, my last. I think I've read all her medievals now. As far as I'm concerned, Julie Garwood is the gold standard when it comes to medieval romances. No one comes close to capturing her style that often involves virginal, endearing and slightly ditzy heroines who meet their alpha male heroes that are larger than life. Two opposites must comes to terms with one another. The stories are laced with screwball humor and sensually romantic love scenes that make them memorable and special. The plotlines are vaguely similar, a certain set of events bring the two together, the heroine often is an outsider who must learn to live among her new husband/lover/captor's people while fighting whatever outside force is trying to keep them apart. My favorite of them is The Bride, but Honor's Splendour was very good as well, It has has some similarities to The Bride, only this tale is a bit darker, for the heroine. Madelyne has a sad past of abuse. Yet, Baron Duncan Wexton, who takes her captive to his castle in England, protects her and keeps her safe while readying his soldiers for the inevitable battle against her sadistic half-brother, Baron Louddon and possibly the King of England.

The first meeting between Duncan and Madelyne is dramatic. Right off the bat, the reader learns that not only is Madelyne beautiful, but her kindness often overrules common sense. Braving her brother's wrath, she does what she can to save Duncan when she believes he is left naked to freeze to death by her brother. Unknown to Madelyne, Duncan was never in any danger. His men were at the ready, waiting for his signal to invade the keep and Duncan handily destroys her brother's castle. Unfortunately, the cowardly Baron Louddon got away. Duncan takes Madelyne hostage, prepared to use her as a bargaining chip. Little does he know that Madelyne is glad to be taken away from her brother, who is a sadistic bastard who took joy in beating her, as well as an unfulfilled incestuous attraction to her.

To describe Duncan, one must use superlatives. The biggest, the best, the cleverest, the greatest and the strongest English soldier in the kingdom. In addition he is the most handsome, the best lover, the most desired with the ladies. No one can compare to Duncan. Yet, he doesn't have everything. He has no woman in his life... until he meets the infuriating Madelyne. Her sweetness and naivete confounds him - and his men.   Considered the best fighters in the kingdom, his men are stymied by Madelyne, who blithely goes about her business around the castle, obliviously wreaking havoc everywhere she goes. She and Duncan have an instant attraction to one another, yet she is unwilling to admit it. Madelyne is taken with fever when he first brings her back to his keep. While insensible, she mistakes him as Odysseus, of Homer's Odyssey (her favorite tale and a running theme throughout the whole book). He spends the night with her, warming her in her bed and does so from then on - but she's unaware of it! Every night he climbs into bed with her after she's asleep. While curled up next to him she has no idea (I told you she was a bit of a ditz!) Their courtship is cute and endearing. As Duncan's stern facade melts, she worms her way into his heart. Not only does she win Duncan over, but everyone else at the castle as well, including his sister who had been raped at the instigation of her brother, Louddon.

Eventually, Duncan can wait no longer. He must bed Madelyne as a wife. Luckily a priest is at hand to do the job. They marry, and so begins their nights of sensual bliss - as only Julie Garwood can do. Yet there is still the prickly problem of her brother and uh oh - all is not as it seems when it comes to their marriage. Was it legal? The plot picks up and gets more complicated when they all must go to London to answer the summons of the king (who may or may not be having a sexual relationship with Madelyn's craven brother.) Louddon has told the King that Duncan destroyed his keep unprovoked and wants him punished. Will Louddon get his way? Will Duncan convince the king that Louddon is lying through his teeth? Will the king listen to what Madelyne has to say - for she is the only witness that can attest to what really happened the night Duncan destroyed her brother's keep. All kinds of truths are revealed as Madelyne prepares for her meeting with the king!

I really enjoyed Honor's Splendour, though I found it to be a trifle uneven. It had it's entertaining and oh-so-sexy moments, but it was a bit dull in some parts as well.   Overall, though, if you like strong alpha heroes who are putty in the hands of their winsome, ingenuous brides, you'll like this.

3.5/5

Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory

2012-04-06T10:02:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
Stuart Aysgarth, the new Viscount Mount Villiars, doesn't know he's playing with fire when he inadvertently runs afoul of Emma Hotchkiss. True, the exquisite Yorkshire lady is a mere sheep farmer, but she also guards a most colorful past that makes her only more appealing to the handsome, haunted lord. Emma has come to him seeking justice - and Stuart is determined that she will not leave until she has shared her secrets ... and his bed. Her clever revenge scheme "must" fail in the face of his soft words and tender caress - and then he turns the tables on his bewitching adversary, seducing her into a daring deception of his own.

I loved this romance! The entire build up, execution and plotline was fantastic!

Set during Victorian times, I was enthralled by this crazy but oh-so-entertaining story! Beautiful and widowed Yorkshire sheep farmer, Emma Hotchkiss's lamb is killed on the road by a coach going by that didn't even bother to stop! Said coach is owned by the new Viscount Mount Villiars, newly arrived to the village where he intends to set up residence in his crumbling castle that is in much need of repair. Emma is outraged and wants the fifty pounds owed her for the loss of her lamb. After a few unsuccessful attempts with his "man of business" she is convinced the new viscount is a complete jerk and decides to teach him a lesson.

She turns to forgery. Yes... forgery.

As it turns out, in a former life, Emma was somewhat of a con artist with her husband and they were quite adept at playing the game of swindling money out of unsuspecting rubes. She knows all about accounting and doctoring books and moving money from accounts, etc. and she figures she can do this with the viscount's accounts to get her fifty pounds and he'll never know!  She cleverly cooks up a scheme, poses as a temporary secretary for a complicated loan the Viscount has arranged with a nearby bank and - voila!  Easy - or so she thinks. Except, Emma didn't count on what it would be like to actually meet the Viscount in person. Oh. My. God.

The build up and anticipation when Stuart, the new Viscount and Emma meet for the first time at the bank is one of the best I've ever read. It had me on tenterhooks, I was blown away by this first introduction to our hero. Stuart's description while standing in the doorway of the bank with the swirling snow flurries behind him was mesmerizing. His height, his vicuna and chinchilla coat, his top hat. Sexy, slow, provocative, I was enraptured.   The first scene at the bank - everything - Emma dropping her pen, bumping heads, then searching under the table, their eyes meeting - a sexual connection - be still my heart! Every moment between them was scintillating. I loved it!

And it gets better!

Stuart is mesmerized by Emma and had no idea who she really is. He thinks she's some curvy young secretary who'd love to have a fling with him. He has no idea she's the annoying widow Hotchkiss that keeps plaguing him with letters and law suits and what have you. Still, things do not turn out the way Emma's financial scheme is planned and once Stuart figures out the way of things, he turns the tables on Emma. Again, be still my heart.  I was stunned - blown away by the surprise of what he does to her! Some readers may take umbrage over this, but I thought it was very sexy. *fans self*

I won't give away any more spoilers but the title of the book Untie My Heart becomes key to these two who have amazing chemistry together once they get past a few initial tie ups. The story of how they pair up to swindle Stuart's uncle (who is making life difficult for Stuart, financially) and get him to leave the country - to Wyoming, no less, is great. The whole scheme is entertaining and I kept thinking this would make a great movie!! Emma is terrific at the game and over the course of a few weeks while planning everything she and Stuart fall madly in love. Of course, neither one of them is willing to verbalize this just yet, but oh, this was a grand book!

I read this in one day, reading it in the middle of the night, I could barely put it down. This book had a few big surprises which were very much on the steamy side. I loved Stuart, her viscount - and his coat. A great story with snappy dialogue that sizzles, both outfoxing the other. Delightful and magical, but one scratch my head moment over Emma's decision at the end which kept me from giving it a 5/5 rating. Still, this is a keeper for me!

4.5/5

Timeless by Gail Carriger

2012-04-01T16:11:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a damper on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

Quickie Review:
This has been a fun ride getting to know Alexia Tarabotti and her handsome, werewolf husband, Conall Maccon, Earl of Woolsey. Carriger's whimsical and clever humor in this series shall be missed! This last installment of the Parasol Protectorate series begins approximately two years from where the last book left off with Alexia giving birth to her daughter Prudence and the alarming cliffhanger that showed the baby exhibiting signs that she was capable of taking on the characteristics of whomever she touched, whether vampire or werewolf.

Now an adorable toddler who keeps everyone on their toes, Prudence is a handful. Only Alexia's touch prevents Prudence from turning into a little fur ball baby werewolf or a speedy vampire with supernatural strength. This is, of course, what happens in case she accidentally touches her Papa or Lord Akeldama! Still living in Lord Akeldama's closet next door to give the appearance of having the head vampire raise their daughter, Alexia and Conall have settled the Pack into London. Soon they are summoned by an ancient Queen of the Vampires, who resides in Alexandria, Egypt. She has summoned Alexia to bring Prudence to her for a reason that is revealed later on. They basically cannot refuse to go. They all head off to Egypt with Ivy and Tunstell (who have twins and an ever so efficient nursemaid) as well as their acting troupe that will perform in Egypt! Carriger's usual ingenious humor and shenanigans take place as well as many revelations about Alexia's father and butler Floote's role in his past.

The shipboard journey to Egypt is full of momentous mishaps, some of which are hilarious. I particularly loved it when Prudence wound up being a werewolf puppy in a pink tulle dress, running around helter skelter! The Egyptian storyline itself harkened back to Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson, I kept wondering if they'd make a cameo in the book! Alas, no. Still, it was a fitting homage for the final book in the series, whether intentional or not. The plot line itself was a bit murky and complex, but the aftermath of a desert battle in a hot air balloon is enough to make one's heart stop beating - but not for long. Minor angst for a short time, I'm glad to say. Frankly, the whole Plague plot line confused me, but I didn't mind too much for most of their time in Egypt was amusing or exciting. Between the Queen herself and her macabre situation, the kidnapping of one of the twins and wondering about the identity of the mysterious hot air balloon man, it didn't matter if I knew exactly what was going on or not, it was a fun read!

My favorite part of the book, though, was back in London while Alexia and her family were in Egypt. I loved the entire Biffy and Professor Lyall romantic storyline, which I anticipated from the last book. They are sweet together and it was well done and fulfilled all my hopes and dreams! *grin* I also loved the dynamics of the battles between Lyall and Lady Kingair, who has a conniption once she finds out about Lyall's involvement in getting rid of the previous alpha to their pack. You can thank Alexia's awful sister for starting that whole thing!

I marvel over the entire world of the Parasol Protectorate and will remember many of these characters fondly. I do hope we'll see a bit more of these characters in the future, I'd love to know more about Lord Akeldama's background and how he first became a vampire. I'd also like to see how Biffy fares as the new beta of the pack! I'd also like to know more about Major Channing Channing! Ah well, who knows? Whether we do or not, this is a memorable and entertaining series and I highly recommend it if you are into historically witty paranormals with some romance and steampunk thrown in to keep them interesting! Miss Carriger has an amazing imagination, coupled with a wicked sense of humor, a great combination. She is an auto buy for me and I am eager to read whatever she comes up with next!

3.5/5

Series Overall: 4/5

The Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long

2012-03-30T21:29:00.002-04:00

Book Description:
A rescued rogue . . .

Scandal has rocked the city of London. Colin Eversea, a handsome, reckless unapologetic rogue is sentenced to hang for murder and, inconveniently for him, the only witness to the crime disappears. Then again, throughout history, the Everseas have always managed to cheat fate in style: Colin is snatched from the gallows by a beautiful, clever mercenary.

A captivating captor. . .

Cool-headed, daring Madeleine Greenway is immune to Colin's vaunted charm. Her mission is not to rescue Colin but to kidnap him, and to be paid handsomely for it. But when it becomes clear that whoever wants Colin alive wants Madeleine dead, the two become uneasy allies in a deadly race for truth. Together, they'll face great danger—and a passion neither can resist.

Quickie Review:
Having heard a lot of good things about new to me author Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green Series, I finally took the plunge and got hold of the first book, The Perils of Pleasure. I'm glad I did, for I enjoyed the story and I loved charming and handsome Colin Eversea especially. He is an irresistible scamp who manages to break down the indomitable fortitude of Madeleine Greenway. The book begins as Colin Eversea is sentenced to hang for a murder he didn't commit. But at the last minute he is rescued by a beautiful and enigmatic woman, Madeleine Greenway, who has been hired to have him whisked away in the nick of time. But then a mystery develops. While Colin is in hiding with Madeleine, someone tries to murder her, making it apparent that whoever wanted him freed wants her dead as well. Who hired her in the first place and why would they want her dead? The two wind up on the run throughout the the more dangerous areas of London while trying to solve the puzzle of who framed Colin for murder and why.

There are many suspects, but nothing definitive, but the most likely is someone from the Redmond family which has been feuding with the wealthy Everseas for centuries. Or could another suspect be Colin's elder brother Marcus, who also happens to be marrying the woman Colin has been in love with forever? How does she feel about this turn of events? Colin was meant for her, but with his going to the gallows, his brother has stepped in, chivalrously I might add, to take his brothers place. Colin is not about to let the wedding happen. His destination and intentions? His family home in Sussex, Pennyroyal Green, where he intends to stop the wedding - in addition to proving his innocence.

Madeleine Greenway, Colin's partner on the road prides herself on being a professional and not succumbing to the irresistible charm of Colin, no matter how much he tries to worm his way into her heart. Despite his claim to love Lucy, the woman who is about to marry his brother, he still can't stop getting ideas about Madeleine. It's too irresistible. He can't resist the challenge of seducing her. (I told you he's a scamp.) Keeping her distance from him stems from the tough time she's had in the past. Losing her husband and baby to smallpox, she has managed to make a living as "a planner" someone hired to do the impossible - sort of an historical one woman "Mission Impossible." She does not want to fall in love again for she associates love with the pain and loss of her family. She doesn't want to fall prey to those emotions again. Yet Colin is unperturbed by her resistance, confident he can wear her down over time. Even though Colin loves (or thinks he loves) Lucy he still wants to get Madeleine between the sheets. Their close proximity to one another while on the run lends an intimacy to their relationship. One kiss left them both dazed and longing for more. No matter how much Madeleine tries to put up a strong front of indifference to Colin's charms, he's getting to her. She's a woman after all - a woman who hasn't had sex in a long, long time... One little kiss won't hurt, will it? One night together?

For most of the book, this read like an historical mystery. But towards the end, after plenty of build up and sexual tension between Colin and Madeleine, there are one or two naughty interludes between them that leads to the inevitable moment of truth and a "what happens next" conundrum between them. I really enjoyed the story and it's characters to the point where I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series as well, for there are a slew of Everseas and Redmonds to be dealt with in the future. There is plenty of historical flavor and evocative descriptions of Whitechapel, Seven Dials and Newgate Prison, which give the book an authentic feel to it. If you like historical mysteries with enough romance and spice to make them "interesting" you'll enjoy The Perils of Pleasure.

4/5

Doc by Mary Doria Russell (audio)

2012-03-24T23:16:00.002-04:00

Book Description:
The year is 1878, peak of the Texas cattle trade. The place is Dodge City, Kansas, a saloon-filled cow town jammed with liquored-up adolescent cowboys and young Irish hookers. Violence is random and routine, but when the burned body of a mixed-blood boy named Johnnie Sanders is discovered, his death shocks a part-time policeman named Wyatt Earp. And it is a matter of strangely personal importance to Doc Holliday, the frail twenty-six-year-old dentist who has just opened an office at No. 24 Dodge House.

Quickie Review:
On audio, an entertaining rendition of the life of John Henry "Doc" Holliday, concentrating on the years he lived in Dodge City, Kansas in the 1870's. As much as this novel centers on Doc himself, it also gives the background on all those around him. It tells the "mini" stories of several secondary characters who are friends and/or acquaintances of Doc. They each have their turn, their story and how they come to know Doc Holliday, whether friend or foe. It's almost as if Doc is the sun and all the others are planets spinning, while revolving around him at the same time in Doc's solar system. Doc is the light that shines on them and puts them in the temporary spotlight. The one thing they all have in common is they know Doc in some way. Most become friends, like the Earp brothers, some are not so friendly.

John Henry Holliday is a southern Georgia gentleman who became a dentist at age 20. He is educated and genteel but contracts tuberculosis at the age of 21. He moves out west to Texas for health reasons but winds up in Dodge City, Kansas eventually. There he takes up with Kate, a Hungarian frontier whore who had once been a promising young lady in the court of Maximilian of Mexico before the revolution that overthrew his reign. She is greedy and mercenary and always wants to go where "the money is." She and Doc have a tempestuous relationship, or about as tempestuous as it could get, considering Doc was dying of consumption most of the time. While Doc practices dentistry during the day while sober, at night he's a professional gambler and drinks Bourbon in massive quantities. The murder of Johnnie Sanders is front and center and is a major theme throughout the book. Doc took a personal interest in Johnnie's death, as did several others. Was Johnny murdered for money or did he die in a stable that burned down one night by accident? Throughout the book this remains a mystery, but Wyatt Earp and Doc are very interested in finding out the truth about Johnnie's death and who was behind it.

I really loved this book and Doc himself. An entertaining snapshot of the Old West and of those people who knew Doc Holliday. By the way, this has virtually no accounting of the shootout at the O.K. Corral if that's what you're looking for. It basically debunks all the exaggerated accounts of the "murderous gunslinger" Doc Holliday. He was hardly that. Soft spoken, a masterful pianist, a perfectionist as a dentist and a proud and honorable gentleman first and foremost. Unfortunately he died an alcoholic, drinking to keep the coughing and hacking of his consumption at bay. Great story and terrific on audio. I miss the soft southern Georgian drawl of the narrator, Mark Bramhall as Doc. He did a wonderful job with the various southern and foreign accents, particularly Doc and his constant coughing fits. He brought the character of Kate and her Hungarian guttural accent to life, as well as the polished Austrian voice of Father Alexander von Angensperg, a Jesuit priest that befriends Doc after coming to Dodge for Johnnie Sanders funeral.

An engrossing tale of the Wild West with a murder mystery added in. Plenty of memorable characters, many with familiar names. Life behind the scenes of Dodge City and the people that lived there and what made them unique and special. It's a little like you're living there too! Why John Henry "Doc" Holliday could have even been your dentist! I highly recommend it.

4/5

The Cursed One by Ronda Thompson

2012-03-24T21:43:00.000-04:00

Book Description:
Wed and widowed in one day, stunning socialite Amelia Sinclair's honeymoon is anything but typical. Then again, neither is Amelia - rebellious and impulsive, marrying Robert Collingsworth was the one sensible thing she ever did. Now he's dead and she must escape the vicious creatures stalking her - even if it means relying on a stranger. Well, maybe not a complete stranger. Amelia first glimpsed Gabriel Wulf years ago on the busy streets of London; since then he has haunted her dreams. But in the flesh, Gabriel is much more tantalizing than she ever dreamt, and much more complicated…

Gabriel Wulf, the strong one, the sensible one - the family, and the curse that plagues them, are his only priorities; there was little time for women and none for love. Now, he must protect an enticing beauty - and not just from the dangers that prowl the woods around them. Gabriel has secrets, dark ones he's sure Amelia must never know and could never understand. But she has already awakened his heart...and the beast within. Will Amelia be the key to his salvation, or the architect of her own demise?

Quickie Review:
This is the last of the Wild Wulfs series, which overall I found to be good if you like werewolf paranormals. Unfortunately, Gabriel's story was my least favorite of the bunch about these werewolf brothers.

The premise of The Cursed One is that on an estate nearby to the Wulf's country estate, strange doings are going on in the woods. Gabriel's childhood friend, Robert has just gotten married and taken his bride to his home for their wedding night. Yet, something terrible happens and he turns into a vicious monster - a werewolf and tries to attack and rape his new bride, Amelia. Amelia is having none of this and escapes. Conveniently, Gabriel happens to be passing by and hears the commotion going on at the nearby empty estate (all the servants have fled the house, except one who remained, a young girl). Gabriel's comes to Amelia's rescue and kills "Robert." But as we find out, it wasn't really Robert is was someone else who was able to take his form. Robert is dead in the cellar. Thus, Amelia, who happens to be Gabriel's sister's old school chum, is a widow on her wedding day. She's not all that broken up about it for she has secretly had a thing for Gabriel for years. They also share a passionate kiss upstairs after Gabriel kills the monster. Little does she know about the Wulf family curse that turns them into werewolves when they fall in love and the moon is full. Gabriel, Amelia and the young servant girl must fend off the monsters from the woods that are trying to attack them and invade the manor house. Their mission: to make it to the safety of Gabriel's home, which is unfortunately a few days away on foot. Not an easy task.

Along the way, Gabriel and Amelia's growing attraction becomes stronger and stronger. Without his control, he's giving off strong pheromones that are driving Amelia mad - she's dying to kiss him and be with him. The feeling is mutual, but he fights it for he feels the beast in him gaining control and he's afraid he's not going to be able to stop himself from shifting into a wolf. The other girl, who's name I can't remember plus I never trusted her anyway, is hiding a secret as well which comes out in the end. (I told you I didn't trust her.) Will Gabriel's lust and growing love for Amelia turn him into a werewolf before her very eyes? What will she do when she finds out he is like the very monsters they're running away from?

Overall this romance just didn't do much for me. For one thing I didn't like Amelia at all. Uh-oh. That's a surefire way for me to not get into a book. She was bratty and annoying and grated on me through the whole thing. Of course, she grows up a lot over the course of time (a few days) when they are trudging around in the woods and avoiding monsters, yet I never warmed up to her at all. Not one bit. I don't know how Gabriel could even stand to be around her, much less fall in love with her! By the end, she redeems herself and loses her pride and lah-dee-dah ways when all is revealed, but she'd already lost me by then. She realizes that she loves Gabriel no matter what he is. Ho-hum, same scenario as in the last two books. Gabriel, for a hunky werewolf shifter was just boring. His entire dilemma consisted of trying to overcome his illogical lust for this bratty annoying widow who is making the long trek to his family estate feel like it's taking an eternity!

To sum it up, there was nothing very memorable for me about this book and I only continued with it because it was the last in the series, which started out well. I trudged through this one. I still have to read a novella from an anthology that deals with one of the other brothers, but then I'm done! If you like werewolf paranormals that take place during Regency times I recommend this series, but overall I found it uneven, but maybe you'll feel differently.

3/5

A Rogue By Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

2012-03-24T14:04:00.001-04:00

Book Description:
What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets . . .

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them . . . even her heart.

Quickie Review:
I loved this romance, which was a surprise for me since I don't usually go for these sort of story lines involving ruthless heroes who carry lots of baggage from their childhoods thus making it all right for them to be jerks when they are grown ups. Yet, who would have thought? Sarah MacLean won me over! In A Rogue... we have our hero Bourne, who is an English aristocrat, yet also a jaded partner in a high class London game hell. For the past ten years, he has been consumed with the desire to ruin and destroy the man who was responsible for the loss of his entire fortune - all at the turn of a card when he was a green young man of twenty-one years. Now rich and successful, Bourne finally has the opportunity to regain the one important piece of land he used to own - his family estate. The catch is, in order to get it, he must marry his childhood playmate, Penelope, an "on-the-shelf" spinster with a large dowry and the deed to the land which he lost in that same card game ten years earlier. He is not going to let someone else marry her, you can bet on it.

This romance was a roller coaster ride of emotions. I adored Penelope and Bourne's first snowy reunion after ten years, making the letters written between the two of them at the beginning of each chapter all the more bittersweet. The fact that Bourne is nothing like that kind boy Penelope grew up with, the same lovable and kind young man who went off to school and wrote her endearing little notes is gone forever. How sad and tragic. Now he's an ass most of the time. Bitter and bent on one single objective in life, for much of the book Bourne comes across as a humorless cad who has his priorities all screwed up. I usually hate these types! Yet I actually got into his character and enjoyed his transformation - I believed in him! Oh how I hate these kinds of heroes and write them off, but with Bourne it was different. I felt bad for him when he lost everything, basically being duped and cheated out of his inheritance at such a young age. Penelope was a peach. I really liked her. She had a backbone and wasn't a typical meek and mild young miss who did anything she was told. Yes, she did some dumb things once in a while, going against Bourne's orders or wishes, but she was her own woman basically. She managed a happily ever ending with Bourne after all, didn't she? That's saying something!

So, the two of them are thrown together in a marriage of convenience and neither is very happy about it for different reasons. (The unexpected and humorous role Penelope's father plays in the instigation of their marriage was fun too - I guessed right about him, btw). Over time, their feelings change and a deep passion develops between them. Bourne gradually remembers just how much Penelope once meant to him as a youth and his old feelings eventually override his desire for vengeance on the man that cheated him out of ten years of his life. I did have issues about how dense Bourne was about how to win Penelope back when he feels he's lost her for good. It took his friends to make him see the light. His friends, btw, have future books coming up as well, which I'm eager to read.

Basically, this romance is a rendition of the old story of how the love of a good woman can change any man for the better. These two make a great pair! Snappy dialogue, intense and utterly sexy love scenes and a satisfying finale. I was up all night reading it. I loved it!

4.5/5

P.S. Gorgeous cover, btw, what an improvement from the covers in MacLean's last series!

My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander

2012-03-17T17:18:00.001-04:00

Book Description:
Evelyn Hadley-Attwater has it all - a genteel Victorian life replete with loving husband, ball gowns and elegant parties. No one, including the man she married, suspects that she was once "Eve," a spy for England's most enigmatic intelligence agency. Summoned for one final assignment, the excitement of her former life and memories of her mysterious, flirtatious boss "Sir" prove too tempting....

Adrian Hadley-Attwater is a respectable, dignified gentleman. But even the most proper gentlemen have secrets of their own. Secrets from the rest of the world, from their families, from their wives. Secrets that have a price. Now, as a veil of secrecy frays, a tantalizing game of cat and mouse will test the bounds of unfailing love...

SPOILERS!

I had high hopes for this spy romance when I first read the blurb about it. Second in a new series by this new to me author, Victoria Alexander, I bought the first book in the series His Mistress by Christmas, and read it first. I love, love, loved it. In His Mistress by Christmas, we first meet the hero and heroine of My Wicked Little Lies, Eve and Adrian Hadley-Attwater. They seem like a respectable and happily married couple. Was My Wicked Little Lies as good? No, I'm afraid not, which is a pity since I'd been looking forward to it so much! It just didn't have the same allure as His Mistress. The premise was good, involving the hero and heroine who have been married for two years. They're still very much in love and looking forward to a long life together with children and the the whole nine yards. But, there's a catch. Each of them has kept a big secret from the other. Eve was a spy and Adrian - well, he was "Sir" her spymaster. But she doesn't know that. As you can guess, a rogue spy is out to reveal the truth about who "Sir" is and Eve must go back into the spy business to keep the secret from her oh so respectable husband, having no idea, of course that he is "Sir!"

Everything about this book should have made it a winner but for some reason there just wasn't enough chemistry between Eve and Adrian to keep me interested in them. Here they've had a great marriage so far and the next thing you know it's unraveling at the seams because they're playing all sorts of mind games with each other!   Adrian fell in love with Eve when he was "Sir" over two years ago. They corresponded as spy and spymaster yet never met personally. He leaves the business when he inherits his title as an Earl and "courts" Eve as if he never knew who she really was or what she did. Now he gets the harebrained notion to discover whether or not she would have fallen in love with "Sir" back then. What would happen if "Sir" came back into her life, would she fall for him, despite being happily married? Adrian decides to "woo" her as Sir by sending her red roses, etc. and winds up making a mess of things. Eve winds up moving out and Adrian, who is supposed to be this intelligent man of the world becomes this clod who wants to see if his wife is really in love with him or not!

Now, don't get me wrong, overall I enjoyed this romance, but I did not feel committed to the hero and heroine and sort of felt they deserved their just desserts. Their lies and games with one another, though it had its amusing moments seemed off and implausible. Adrian barging into an hotel room bent on capturing Eve in the act with another man, only to find the other man in the arms of someone else was pretty funny, but then when Eve finds out about it, she decides to keep the knowledge to herself and teases Adrian instead. Ordinarily this should have been fun, but it only wound up being sort of mean in my eyes. Of course, they do love one another dearly and Eve forgives Adrian in the end, but there is much groveling on his part for being such an ass and not trusting her. And, of course, there's nothing like the fear of death to put things into perspective when Adrian is kidnapped. Still, I'm sorry, spymasters just don't grovel! Adrian should have known better!

Another matter I had problems with was the side story of Max, the current spymaster who replaced Adrian, and Celeste, Eve's assistant and former cohort in the spy business. They're having a secret fling together. I couldn't quite get my bearings on her and whether I was for her affair with Max or not. It was a bit unorthodox and again, all these secrets! I guess they go with the territory in a romance about former spies. Still, I found this side story an unneeded distraction from the main story. Were the love scenes between Max and Celeste thrown in because there were virtually none regarding Eve and Adrian?

Overall, My Wicked Little Lies wasn't bad, but it just wasn't as good as it's predecessor. Writing about married couples and keeping the romance sizzling is a tall order. I must give credit to the author for giving it a go. In any event, I am eager to read the rest of the series, for I can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of the Hadley-Attwaters!

3.5/5

P.S. One of the things that attracted me to this story in the first place is the use of "Sir" as the title of Eve's former boss and spymaster. It was very much like the use of "Sir" in A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man, another book I simply loved!   I find the use of "Sir" erotic in both instances. If you liked that book, you'll get a kick out of it here too!