Review: Sapphires are an Earl's Best Friend by Shana Galen

She Wants Him...

She Wants Him Not...

Lily Dawson, dubbed the Countess of Charm by the Prince Regent himself, plays the role of the courtesan flawlessly while her real purpose is spying in the service of the Crown. Her mission now is to seduce a duke to test his true loyalties. She'll do it, even though the man she really wants is Andrew Booth-Payne, Earl of Darlington—the duke's son.

Andrew is furious when he finds himself rivaling his father for Lily's attention. When he uncovers Lily's mission, Andrew is faced with impossible choices. It seems he is destined to betray either his family, his country, or the longings of his own heart...

Sapphires are an Earl's Best Friend is the final book of Jewels of the Ton trilogy.  Lily, the Countess of Charm, is not a courtesan at all -- she's really a spy for the Crown -- and her next mission is to find out whether the Duke of Darlington is a traitor or not.  Unfortunately, the duke's only son, Andrew, is the man she's loved for afar for several years. 

Andrew is surprised by Lily's interest in his father, a recent widower.  He's even more surprised when she admits she's in love with him and that his father could be a traitor to England. 

It is Lily who shines in this book.  She's one step ahead of Andrew and always thinking on her feet.  Though his kisses do at times take her by surprise. 

Sapphires are an Earl's Best Friend is a great conclusion to an enjoyable series full of romance, intrigue, and mystery. 

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Sapphires Are an Earl's Best Friend.)

Review: Maid of Dishonor by Heidi Rice

When she's very, very bad…

Gina Carrington knows exactly how to have fun! But when she sleeps with her friend's brother, the off-limits Carter, she quickly discovers she's overstepped the mark.

…life is so much more fun!

Years later, Gina sees Carter again to prepare for her friend's wedding, and she can't help but wonder what the harm would be in one more night…. He's available, gorgeous and behind that laid-back Southern charm there's a wild side even she can't tame! But Gina has secrets which she can't hide forever—will their chemistry be strong enough to keep Carter by her side when her secrets come to light?

Maid of Dishonor is the third novel of The Wedding Season series.  The series follows four college roommates as they reunite for a wedding.  Maid of Dishonor brings Gina Carrington and Carter Price back together.  Gina and Carter had a one-night stand when Carter visited his sister -- and Gina's roommate -- Marnie.  That Carter was engaged to Marnie's best friend at the time helped to create a rift between Gina and Marnie that has never properly healed.   

After hearing that Carter is now divorced, Gina decides to visit him to apologize for her behavior.  Carter and his fiancee had a chastity pact, and by having sex with Gina, Carter broke it.  Carter, however, believes his night with Gina was the best thing to ever happen to him.  He held onto it during and after his marriage and believes they should give their attraction a go.  

Maid of Dishonor furthers the on-going arc of the series and brings up what will probably be a subplot for the fourth and final book, Last Groom Standing.   

Review: Shoreline Drive by Lily Everett

Dr. Ben Faulkner is a veterinarian on warm, welcoming Sanctuary Island, a refuge for wild horses. Though he’s dedicated his life to healing animals and rescuing the ones no one wants, Ben is nursing deep wounds of his own. After tragedy tore his family apart, he gave up his dreams of finding happiness long ago…until Merry Preston arrives on the island. Vivacious, friendly, and instantly loveable, Merry is everything Ben is not. She’s also nine months pregnant and attempting to carve out a new life for herself and her unborn child.

SHORELINE DRIVE

Though Ben tries to keep his distance, when a raging storm cuts them off from the mainland, he’s forced to help bring her new baby into the world.  It’s a harrowing experience that leaves him with one great certainty: I want these two to be my family. Seeing his opportunity, he makes a dramatic proposal to the young mother: a marriage of convenience. If Merry marries him, he’ll draw up a contract naming her son as his heir and promising to provide for them both. But as they’ll learn, love is more than a business proposition…and it’ll take all the magic hidden in Sanctuary Island to turn Ben’s proposal into something real and lasting.

Merry Preston is kind of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your pants person, which is why she's very pregnant and hoping to reconnect with her mother.  She's convinced her older sister Ella that tracking their mother down is a great thing to do.  The women came to Sanctuary Island in the previous book by Ms. Everett, and Shoreline Drive lives up to the expectations set therein. 

Ben is Merry's polar opposite, so of course their chemistry is off the charts.  And Ben is concerning with Merry and Alex -- he helped her deliver her son, who is named after Ben -- but he's surprised by just how much he wants to be in their lives.  He proposes a marriage of convenience, which Merry accepts.  

Given that this is a romance novel, both Merry and Ben are going to figure out they're marriage is not just for convenience naturally.  Despite some interference by Ben's parents, things work out for Merry and Ben -- and then the book just ends.  I was most disappointed by that!  I wasn't ready for it to end just yet.  Since there is a third book in the works (Heartbreak Cove, March 2015), I'm sure we'll be treated to more glimpses of Merry, Ben, and Alex. 

(A very special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Shoreline Drive.)

Eagerly Anticipating -- March 2014