My House of Books

Cover Love

2012-02-10T13:18:00.000-05:00

This cover love encompasses an entire series. Black Knights, Inc., by Julie Ann Walker looks pretty interesting to me! The first book, Hell on Wheels, releases August 2012.

Review: Ember by Kristen Callihan

2012-02-10T09:16:00.002-05:00

After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancée learns of her descent into danger--and of the strange, new powers she's discovered --saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.

When Lord Benjamin Archer's one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, he vows to take what Ellis values most-his daughter Miranda. Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.

But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires?

An interesting premise, to be sure. Jen from Red Hot Books glowingly recommended the first full-length novel of this series, Firelight, and I was intrigued enough by her comments to read the prequel.

Perhaps the "meat" of the story -- Miranda's relationship with Archer -- is better told in a longer format. While it was interesting to see them meet accidentally on the street and to know the backstory of how they came to be together (I assume), I'm not sure what's detailed in Ember is enough to sufficiently entice me into reading Firelight at this time.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Ember.)

Review: Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

2012-02-09T10:10:00.002-05:00

Breaking rules and breaking hearts

Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble--and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

After the events of The Sweetest Thing, it seemed obvious that Chloe and Sheriff Sawyer would hook up. They didn't like each other, for one thing; they always seemed to antagonize and deliberately put the other on edge. But their dance of mutual dislike is one that often overshadows a hidden sexual attraction.

Given Chloe's need for thrills, Sawyer is the one who ultimately ends up rescuing her from her attempts gone bad. Because of their opposing natures, they are completely perfect for one another, a solid match from the get-go. I hope we get to revisit them in future Lucky Harbor books.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Head Over Heels.)

Review: Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore

2012-02-06T12:29:00.002-05:00

With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess...

It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn't resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he'd fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a Madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.

Frail-looking Olivia Donovan has been treated with care and delicacy since the bout with malaria that weakened her and killed her father. She has given up hope of ever having a marriage or children, content to be a happy spinster aunt to her sisters' children. Of course, she meets Max, who has decided he never wants to marry either. The two embark on "adventures" together and soon become lovers. Unfortunately, Max's bet with the Marquis of Fenwicke comes to light, putting a cloud over the genuine feelings of love he and Olivia share. When Olivia's life is placed in danger, Max is able to save her, and the two reunite in true romantic fashion.

I wanted to like Secrets of an Accidental Duchess much more than I actually did, simply because I'm such a fan of Ms. Haymore's previous series. So while I've been disappointed in this series thus far, I am going to hold out hope for Pleasures of a Tempted Lady.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Secrets of an Accidental Duchess.)

Review: Once Upon a Wicked Night by Jennifer Haymore

2012-02-02T10:29:00.005-05:00

All of London looks forward to the Dowager Duchess of Clayworth's annual ball. For no matter how hard the serious society matron strives to host an elegant event, scandal always ensues . . .

Seven years ago it was a young Serena Donovan and Jonathan Dane who shocked the ton when they were discovered in a most compromising position. Tonight they return for the first time as the Earl and Countess of Stratford. And while Serena hopes for a quiet evening to introduce her younger sister Olivia to society, Jonathan's only desire is to pick up where he and Serena left off . . .

Though innocent Olivia secretly longs for the kind of passion her sister shares with her husband, none of the men she's met spark a fire inside her heart-least of all the notorious Marquis of Fenwicke. When his request for a waltz turns into something sinister, Olivia must use her wit and wiles to evade a powerful peer who vows if can't have her, no man shall...

Once Upon a Wicked Night is a short story bridge between the first two full-length novels of Ms. Haymore's newest series. We return to the Dowager Duchess of Clayworth's annual ball where Jonathan and Serena, now married, were caught seven years earlier in a delicate situation that resulted in Serena's flight from London. Serena has been charged by her mother to introduce her younger sisters Olivia and Jessica to London society. It is also at this ball where Olivia meets the Marquis of Fenwick, who plays a large role in Secrets of an Accidental Duchess.

Once Upon a Wicked Night is a quick read to lead you straight into Secrets of an Accidental Duchess.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Once Upon a Wicked Night.)

Review: She Tempts the Duke by Lorraine Heath

2012-01-31T11:40:00.046-05:00

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright.

Sebastian Easton always vowed he would avenge his stolen youth and title. Now back in London, the rightful Duke of Keswick—returning from battle a wounded, hardened, changed man—cannot forget the brave girl who once rescued him and his brothers from certain death.

Lady Mary Wynne-Jones paid dearly for helping the imprisoned young Lords of Pembrook, and she remembers well the promise she made to Sebastian all those years ago: to meet him once more in the abbey ruins where they shared a bold, forbidden kiss. While Mary is betrothed now to another, a friendship forged with dark secrets cannot be ignored. Unexpected passion soon burns dangerously between them, tempting Sebastian to abandon his quest for retribution to fight for a love that could once again set him free.

Sebastian Easton has returned to London to reclaim his title as Duke of Keswick from his power-hungry uncle who may have murdered his father and threatened the lives of him and his younger brothers. (Whew!) As complicated as that description is, the plot is relatively simple: regaining what was lost.

Thanks to a tip from his childhood friend Mary, Sebastian and his brothers are able to escape their uncle. All the boys are scarred in part to their respective upbringings, but as young men, only Sebastian wears his scars proudly on the outside for all to see. He is haunted by his need to reclaim everything that once belonged to him and he is especially enchanted by Mary, now all grown up and betrothed to someone else.

Mary Wynne-Jones waited for Sebastian at the old abbey ruins as he'd instructed the night he and his brothers fled, but when he did not appear, she believed he'd forgotten his long-ago promise. Mary herself broke a promise to Sebastian and was punished by her father for it, sent to a nunnery until her aunt brought her out into society. She's now made a good match, though her intended doesn't fire her passions like Sebastian.

Of course obstacles like Sebastian's uncle and Mary's betrothed won't stand in the way of their happiness. So while the plot is a little predictable, Ms. Heath's writing kept me engaged from chapter one. With her, I'm confident I'll have a great story to read.

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of She Tempts the Duke.)

Eagerly Anticipating -- February 2012

2012-01-30T11:50:00.000-05:00

Review: The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

2012-01-26T10:01:00.030-05:00

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

Of the three half-sisters featured in this trilogy, I found myself liking Tara the best, primarily thanks to The Sweetest Thing. The Tara Daniels we met in Simply Irresistible was bossy, opinionated, perhaps a little miserable; she reminded me of another Shalvis heroine. I wasn't sure I wanted to get to know her further. This Tara is still those things, but we're given the reasons behind her behaviors. Reason number one: Ford Walker, Tara's first love, who still calls Lucky Harbor home after all these years.

Tara and Ford have an immediate chemistry seventeen years apart isn't able to diminish. And I loved watching them fall in love again. Add the joys of running a B&B, her sisters Chloe and Maddie, the complication of meeting her daughter, and the return of her ex-husband, and you've got the complete romantic package, 100%.

Review: Daybreak by Ellen Connor

2012-01-25T11:46:00.021-05:00

Their mission was to save the world.
Their destiny is to fall in love.

It’s been twelve years since the Change, and Penelope Sheehan is one of the few still practicing magic for the good of humanity in this dark, dangerous world. Determined to infiltrate the notorious O’Malley organization, she poses as an abducted girl–until a furious lion thwarts her mission. When the beast turns into a devastatingly handsome man, she recognizes in him the troubled boy she once knew.

Since becoming a skinwalker, Tru Daugherty has allowed his animal nature to take over. Aloof and cynical, he takes no interest in making the world a better place. He’s a creature of instinct and impulse, living only to satisfy his senses–ignoring the scarred heart nobody has ever reached. He’s also the best man to help Pen bring down the O’Malley crime ring.

Fighting alongside the last holdouts of humanity, they unleash a passion that tempts them to risk everything for love. But if they succeed, Tru and Pen hold the power to brighten the Dark Age for all time.

A great end to a fantastic trilogy. I think I say this in each review for the previous books, but if you want a myriad of genres blended seamlessly together, this series is a great one. It's got it all -- in spades.

We are reintroduced to Pen(ny) and Tru twelve years after the Change brought them together in the first place. While both have matured and grown, benefiting from their years with Mason and Jenna, they are still, on the inside, the same characters we learned about in Nightfall. Tru has kind of a chip on his shoulder; Pen keeps to herself, not quite silent but ever observant. That they find each other again is a little bit shocking and also expected because as we saw in Nightfall, they compliment one another. They need one another.

I'm sad to say good-bye to this world and these characters. This is a series not to be missed.

Review: Scrumptious by Amanda Usen

2012-01-24T10:07:00.000-05:00

Joe Rafferty is just as mouthwatering as the food he cooks. But if he thinks he's going to waltz in and take over her kitchen, he's denser than a thick slice of chocolate ripple cheesecake. Marly has invested too much of her life in Chameleon to hand off the restaurant to someone else—especially a cocky-as-all-get-out superstar chef. But there's no denying the man knows how to light her fire. Question is: Can she have the sizzle without feeling the burn?

"Foodie romances" have become a new addition to the world of contemporary romances. And while I can appreciate taking the heat from the kitchen to the bedroom (or other places), a certain amount of chemistry has to be present between the hero and heroine for me to want to see them be successful together. While I loved the food aspect of this romance -- both were passionate about food -- the chemistry between Marlene (Marly) and Joe fell flat.

Their behavior seemed a little too immature, their conversations with one another, particularly when they were able or almost able to admit to themselves they wanted the other, a little too jaded. I wanted to like them together, but I just couldn't get behind their pairing 100%. Add in some of the drama surrounding Marly's BFF, Olivia, and issues with Olivia's restaurant, and Scrumptious becomes just an okay read.

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Scrumptious.)

Review: Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer

2012-01-23T10:22:00.000-05:00

His greatest battle is just beginning . . .

Captain Harry Lidge has done his duty. After losing too many good men on the battlefield, he's ready to put his responsibilities behind him and live a life free of care. But first he has one last mission: find out what the most outrageous woman in London, the same woman who betrayed him nearly a decade earlier, is concealing, before her secrets take down the crown.

Her heart is the only thing she won't risk . . .

Surrounded by ardent admirers and a few loyal friends, Lady Kate Seaton glides through the ton on a confection of couture gowns and bon mots. No one suspects that beneath her lighthearted façade Kate hides a sorrow so scandalous she'll do anything to keep it hidden. But only when she trusts Harry with the truth and only when he trusts her with his heart can they stop the villains all too willing to kill Kate to attain their ultimate goal: destroy England.

When we first met Major Sir Harry Lidge, I was surprised to learn he would be paired romantically with Lady Kate Seaton. For all Kate's affectations to the contrary, she loves deeply and has been hurt just as deeply in the past. Her happy-go-lucky demeanor is quite the ruse, and given that Harry is brusque and, well, grumpy, I didn't expect to want to see them together. Turns out, Harry's demeanor is kind of a ruse too.

On top of the Harry-Kate pairing, we continue the mystery subplot, which is necessary for Drake's Rakes to continue their service to England. We're left with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I do hope more Drake's Rakes are in store in the future.

I've loved each book thus far in this series for different reasons; put them together and they make one great story.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Always a Temptress.)

Review: Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl

2012-01-18T09:44:00.002-05:00

It was meant to be a one-night stand. One night of passion. Scorching hot. Then Beth Cantrell and Eric Donovan were supposed to go their separate ways. That’s the only reason he lied about his name, telling her he was really his wild younger brother. Hiding his own identity as the conservative Donovan. The “good” one.

But passion has its own logic, and Eric finds he cannot forget the sable-haired beauty with whom he shared one night of passion. When Beth discovers that Eric has lied, however, she knows he cannot be trusted. Her mind tells her to forget the blue-eyed charmer. If only every fiber of her being did not burn to call him back.

A strong finish to a lukewarm series, in Real Men Will we finally get the story of Eric Donovan from Eric's point of view. Eric and Beth were first introduced in the anthology The Guy Next Door, and I must admit, when I read the short story, I was very disappointed. I had assumed Ms. Dahl's contribution would be for a minor character, or a complete story rather than a prequel (and a teasing, cliffhanger prequel at that!).

What really changed my opinion about Eric was the sex he and Beth have. Shallow, I know. Oh so shallow.

Eric and his siblings are terrible communicators; I cannot believe they managed to have a relationship with one another after the death of their parents. Eric and Beth have a Big Misunderstanding -- which is actually leftover from The Guy Next Door, thanks to Eric letting Beth assume he was Jamie Donovan and Beth's relationship with the Kendalls, the main antagonists of the series.

But man, can Eric talk dirty. (See? Shallow.)

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of Real Men Will.)

Review: Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

2012-01-11T12:32:00.001-05:00

The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is a fairy tale—and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny…

Born to a family of conmen, Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge for an unmagical existence in the Broken. Audrey is determined to stay on the straight and narrow, but when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades.

Kaldar Mar is a gambler, a lawyer, a thief, and a spy with some unusual talents that guarantee him lucrative work. When his latest assignment has him tracking down a stolen item, Kaldar doesn’t expect much of a challenge—until Audrey turns up to give him a run for his money.

But when the missing item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job and survive, he’s going to need Audrey’s help…

Kaldar Mar is kind of larger than life. He's one of those great secondary characters who invades the page, and you find yourself searching, wanting another glimpse of him. The same can also be said about George and Jack. By putting these three together on a "mission" of sorts, you would think I would be chomping at the bit to gush Fate's Edge praises. It was a good book, don't misunderstand, but it wasn't on par in my opinion with the previous books of this series because The Edge was missing, or at least The Edge Rose, George, Jack, and the Mars inhabit wasn't truly present. So while good, Fate's Edge was...different.

That being said, we are left with somewhat of a cliffhanger and a revelation of who the villain for the next book might be. It will be most interesting to see who shall be the hero or heroine.

Review: Unraveled by Courtney Milan

2012-01-10T11:14:00.005-05:00

Smite Turner is renowned for his single-minded devotion to his duty as a magistrate. But behind his relentless focus lies not only a determination to do what is right, but the haunting secrets of his past—secrets that he is determined to hide, even if it means keeping everyone else at arm’s length. Until the day an irresistible woman shows up as a witness in his courtroom…

Miranda Darling isn’t in trouble…yet. But she’s close enough that when Turner threatens her with imprisonment if she puts one foot wrong, she knows she should run in the other direction. And yet no matter how forbidding the man seems on the outside, she can’t bring herself to leave. Instead, when he tries to push her away, she pushes right back—straight through his famous self-control, and into the heart of the passion that he has long hidden away…

A wonderful ending to the trilogy featuring the Turner brothers, though I will admit my eyes widened just a bit upon seeing 773 pages for Unraveled. It passes quickly, however, thanks to great characters whom I am thoroughly enchanted to meet and deeply saddened it will be for the last time.

Smite Turner is a strong albeit broken man. He and his younger brother, Mark, suffered unspeakable treatment at the hands of their mentally ill mother. While eldest brother, Ash, was gone to provide a better life (ultimately for his brothers) and Hope, Smite's twin, died, which was indirectly caused by their mother, Smite because strength. He sought to forge his way ahead in the world, to listen and value each person equally. But he is also a man who while more than capable as a magistrate is plagued by nightmares.

Miranda Darling is an actress, used to playing a role, more often than not to keep a roof over her head and food on her table. She also has a ward to consider. This is how she ends up beholden to the Patron, putting her squarely in Smite's view. Miranda also likes the thrill of the chase, and once Smite catches a glimpse of her true self, he cannot stop chasing her.

I'm still torn whether I like Unveiled or Unraveled best. Both feature likeable and strong yet flawed heroes, heroines with gumption and grit; both have some oh so good sexual moments. I may have declare it a tie -- and read both books again.

While each book in this series can stand alone, I would caution that maximum enjoyment can only be achieved if the entire series is consumed.

Best of 2011

2012-01-04T12:00:00.003-05:00

Given how many books I read (and covet), it's sometimes difficult to narrow down those I consider amazing and awesomely good. Apparently, 2011 was the year of the series for me, because several of my choices are just that.

I've listed the books I consider amazing and awesomely good in alphabetical order.

Baby, Drive South by Stephanie Bond

In looking at Ms. Bond's website for her upcoming books, I stumbled upon the Sweetness, Georgia series. It technically begins with a short novella, Baby, I'm Yours, but the crux of the series is about the Armstrong brothers who return to their hometown following their respective military careers in order to rebuild it after an F-5 tornado touches down. Baby, Drive South not only gets the reader into Sweetness ten years after the fact; it's the best book of the series, in my opinion.

The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

This book came along for me at the absolute perfect time. Full of sexual tension, sex, and some great characters. Loved it!

The Dark Age Dawning series [Nightfall, Midnight, Daybreak] by Ellen Connor

(aka Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty)

A little bit paranormal romance, a little bit urban fantasy, a little bit apocalyptic adventure, and a little bit of romance and hot sex. Roll all those ingredients around and you have this series. Nightfall scared the beejeebus out of me -- demon dogs, anyone? -- but putting aside my fear of things that go bump regardless of the time of day, this series is oh so good. Nightfall and Daybreak were my favorites, and I'm just a tad bit sad we won't be able to revisit these characters.

The Spindle Cove series [A Night to Surrender and Once Upon a Winter's Eve] by Tessa Dare

Tessa Dare's writing is what keeps me coming back. The lush descriptions, the turn of a phrase, and man, the sexual tension she conveys between her characters is off the charts. I cannot wait to read the next Spindle Cove novel, A Week to be Wicked (March 2012).

Drake's Rakes [Barely a Lady, Never a Gentleman, and Always a Temptress] by Eileen Dreyer

When I interviewed Ms. Dreyer last year, I told her I thought this series should be named "The Graces" as the respective heroines can all be referred to as "Grace" in some form or fashion. I also enjoy reacquainting myself with all the rakes, so I do hope more from this series is forthcoming.

Too Hot to Touch by Louisa Edwards

A spin-off (in part) of her first series, this trilogy focuses on the Rising Chef competition. I really enjoyed Too Hot to Touch, have Some Like it Hot in my TBR stack, and am looking forward to Hot Under Pressure (March 2012).

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

My reading this paranormal romance is proof that buzz sells books, and Dragon Bound is so worth it. I have essentially reached my paranormal romance peak; I don't seek it out nor do I strive to keep up with what's what. (Paranormal romance was my genre of choice from 2005-2008.) But I am so glad I listened to those tweets and picked this book up.

Waking Up With the Duke by Lorraine Heath

Another great series ending book. Unrequited love and guilt play deep roles here, but the ending is so sweet and emotional.

Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

I don't have enough good things to say about this book. I've read everything Ms. Hoyt has written, and Scandalous Desires may be her best work. Don't delay; read it! Then you'll be ready for Winter's book, Thief of Shadows (July 2012).

A Lot Like Love by Julie James

I too have read everything that Ms. James has written, and A Lot Like Love is my absolute favorite, perhaps her best. My only complaint is that she only writes one book a year.

Unveiled and Unraveled by Courtney Milan

Ms. Milan is a new-to-me author. I'd tried to read her debut, Proof by Seduction, but couldn't get past the first thirty pages. Unveiled pulled me in from the first page.

Mistress by Marriage by Maggie Robinson

This book was a great end to a series. It makes an excellent companion to Ms. Robinson's debut, Mistress by Mistake.

Eagerly Anticipating -- January 2012

2011-12-28T12:54:00.013-05:00

Review: Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Guhrke

2011-12-27T11:18:00.036-05:00

What happens when a woman is determined to marry the wrong man? When she just won’t listen to reason and rushes forward with wedding plans? When she just doesn’t care that she’s marrying a fortune hunting scoundrel who doesn’t love her? What’s her exasperated family supposed to do about it? Hire a different scoundrel to talk her out of it, of course.

American heiress Annabel Wheaton knows what she wants and love isn’t it. Born in a Mississippi backwater, with a twang as wide as the Delta, she wants respect to go with the millions her daddy found in a Klondike gold mine. But respect isn’t easy to come by in the closed Knickerbocker society of New York, and when the fortune-hunting Earl of Rumsford shows up, it seems like he’s just the ticket to make all Annabel’s dreams come true. When he proposes marriage, she happily agrees. That’s when the trouble starts.

Christian Du Quesne has always been trouble—a rake, a gambler, and when he was younger, a fortune hunter. He married once for the sake of the decaying family coffers, but he won’t do it again. When his older brother, the Duke of Scarborough, dies without issue, Christian become the duke and inherits a whole new pile of family debt with no way to pay it. When Annabel’s family hires him to show Annabel just what she’d be getting by marrying into Britain’s aristocratic class, he knows he’s the perfect person to talk her out of matrimony. Problem is, he only has four days to do it. Can he cause enough trouble in those four days to get her to call off the wedding?

I was surprised by the opening of the story (and then that the first few chapters are flashbacks). There is a tension between Annabel and Christian, though I'd assumed Annabel wanted to keep her mind off him for another reason -- that he wouldn't commit to marrying her, so she moved on. As we see more of Christian and Annabel's time during the crossing to England, their true personalities take hold, and Christian is surprised to find himself falling for yet another American heiress. Annabel, for all her feelings toward Christian, is willing to go forward with her marriage to a man she does not and one whom she assumes she will not love.

But all these little surprises add up to a very quick, satisfying read, just like the two previous books of this series, and I'm glad to have taken the chance on the unconventional heroines introduced in all three books.

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Trouble at the Wedding.)

It's The Holiday Season

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays, one and all!!!

Review: Small Town Christmas by Jill Shalvis / Hope Ramsey / Katie Lane

2011-12-22T13:45:00.000-05:00

Three heartwarming holiday stories to prove that love is the greatest gift of all

Kissing Santa Claus
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?

I'll Be Home for Christmas
After ignoring the advice of Miz Miriam Randall, local matchmaker, Annie Roberts expects another hum drum holiday in Last Chance, South Carolina. But when a stray cat arrives in the arms of Army sergeant Matt Jasper, a calico named Holly just may be the best matchmaker of all.

O Little Town of Bramble
All Ethan Miller wants for Christmas is to celebrate in Bramble, Texas, with family and friends. But when his childhood neighbor, Samantha Henderson, comes home for the holiday, Ethan realizes that the girl-next-door could be the girl of his dreams.

I have read two of the series featured in this anthology (Lucky Harbor for Ms. Shalvis and Deep in the Heart of Texas for Ms. Lane), but I found I enjoyed Ms. Ramsay's novella all the same despite owning but not yet reading her series. While this anthology can be enjoyed without having read the respective authors' novels, I believe maximum enjoyment can be found if all related books are read.

These novellas are sweet and tender, focusing on various holiday themes to push the heroes and heroines together. It's worth the effort, though, as each novella is a very good illustration of what makes these authors -- and their characters -- so charming and loveable. A perfect holiday anthology!

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Small Town Christmas.)

Review: All the Pleasures of the Season by Lecia Cornwall

2011-12-21T13:16:00.037-05:00

On the first day of Christmas:

Lady Miranda Archer accepts a marriage proposal.

On the first day of Christmas, fifteen minutes later:

Miranda realizes she’s made a huge mistake.

For the next twelve days:

Miranda must find a way out of her engagement—which is harder than it looks, especially since her fiance is pompous, mean, and desperate for her family’s jewels—and convince her true love that all she wants for Christmas is him.

Miranda Archer has made a grave mistake; that much is clear. The man to whom she's engaged, the Earl of Kelton, is on the outside the picture of perfection for a member of the ton. But he does not stir Miranda's heart. She's making a good match, though, and Miranda is willing to sacrifice for the hope of a good marriage.

Her brother, Phineas, has other plans. He convinces the man Miranda loves and who loves her in return, Gilbert Fielding, to simply dance with Miranda at the upcoming ball. Both young persons will realize the depths of their feelings and badda bing badda boom, Miranda's engagement will be called off.

However, Phineas' plan is not so easy as that.

The Earl of Kelton is determined to have the Archer wealth; Miranda's sister, Marianne, believes Kelton is absolutely 100% right for Miranda; and Miranda's own sense of honor and commitment is in jeopardy. When Kelton begins to show his true colors, Miranda is able to better see what she must do to find happiness.

All the Pleasures of the Season is a wonderfully sweet romance with a pleasant reminder that following one's heart may almost always be best.

(A special thank you to Avon, HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of All the Pleasures of the Season.)

Review: Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare

2011-12-21T09:12:00.000-05:00

Some wallflowers bloom at night...

Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren't beating down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet's feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He's wet, chilled, bleeding, and speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he's not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers—and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable... Love.

Were Spindle Cove not in the past nor a fictional town, I would 100% want to live there. Not only is there action and intrigue, what with cannons exploding and mysterious men washing ashore, but I could have a lesson each day while airing my constitution, as it were. The wonderful thing about this series is that, in the hands of Ms. Dare, I don't have to time travel or wear a corset because when I read, I'm instantly in Spindle Cove, watching various bumbling adventures take place and love matches happen the moment I turn to page one.

This novella was absolutely perfect in every way. It's an excellent addition to the series and a great way to endure the months from one Spindle Cove novel to another. Buy it, read it, then read it again. I know I am!

Review: Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

2011-12-20T11:36:00.002-05:00

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

I've had this book on my shelf for a few months, maybe almost a year. You see, I like to hoard books, especially books in a series until I have at least 2 back-to-back books of the series to read. So as Thanksgiving rolled around this year and the third of the series, Head Over Heels, was set to make its December debut, I figured I'd better get to reading -- and I could kick myself for waiting so long!

Maddie Moore is called the Mouse by her mother (and ultimately her sisters) for good reason. She's quiet, unassuming, yet nervous and fidgity. And when she arrives in Lucky Harbor, her life has taken a turn she never imagined. She becomes reaquainted with her sisters and sets about reshaping her life by managing the inn left to them by their mother, thereby giving her a purpose and a goal to strive for and one very within her reach -- happiness.

Simply Irresistible is a great series debut, and if you enjoy contemporary romance, you simply cannot go wrong with Jill Shalvis.

Review: The Sinner by Margaret Mallory

2011-12-15T14:02:00.029-05:00

Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.

IRRESISTIBLE DESIRE

Alex MacDonald is known for his skill as a warrior, his prowess with women, and his vow to never take a wife. But now his chieftain has asked him to make the ultimate sacrifice: wed Glynis MacNeil, a lass famed throughout the Highlands for her exquisite beauty-and defiant ways.

Familiar with heartbreak, Glynis refuses to fall for another handsome scoundrel. Yet when Alex's past sins force an unlikely union, Glynis gives in to temptation and becomes his wife. Will their newfound passion be strong enough to fight the enemy that threatens their home, their clan, and their very lives?

Both Alex and Glynis are influenced in their respective decisions to never marry by past marriages they've seen. For Alex's, it's his parents' marriage, and for Glynis, her disastrous first marriage where she stabbed her husband, then returned to her father's house. The problem for Glynis is that her father wishes to marry her off once again. She is able to persuade Alex to take her to Edinburgh in the hopes her mother's family will take her in.

Their journey is packed with adventure, be it Alex's newly discovered daughter or the pirates threatening towns along the coast. A Big Misunderstanding then appears on the horizon, which lowered my immense like of Glynis and her gumption. It took me out of their romance and overshadowed what could have been a joyous reunion between them.

The Sinner, however, is still a very good book, and I would recommend Ms. Mallory to any historical romance fan.

(A very special thank you to Forever, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Sinner.)

Review: Too Hot to Touch by Louisa Edwards

2011-12-13T11:39:00.001-05:00

When it comes to competitive cooking, Max Lunden is no stranger to winning…though he’s never been great at working with a team. A master chef—and major hunk—he’s traveled the world, picking up new cooking techniques as well as beautiful women. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family’s Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers one too many cooks in the kitchen—and she’s every bit as passionate as he is…

Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner’s oldest, and hottest, son. Now a chef herself—competing in the biggest culinary contest in the country—Juliet will be cooking side by side with the one man she’s always admired…and desired. But despite their simmering attraction, Juliet is determined to keep her cool—no matter how hot it gets…

I loved Can't Stand the Heat, Ms. Edwards' debut novel, but felt lukewarm about the next two books. I'd hoped the spin-off series would bring me firmly back to love, and I wasn't disappointed in the least.

Juliet "Jules" Cavanaugh owes everything to the Lundens, so it's no surprised that she can be counted on to help with the preparation for the Rising Star Chef competition. She knows what's at stake for the Lundens and will do anything possible to further their chances, even ignoring the first-rate lust she feels for prodigal son and her childhood crush, Max Lunden, who has returned home to help his family get into the competition.

Jules does everything in her power to avoid Max or certainly tamp down the attraction she feels for him, but Max just keeps coming after her. And boy, do they sizzle.

Too Hot to Touch opens the door to future books in the Rising Star Chef trilogy, and I'm equally excited to read those as well.

Review: Desired by Nicola Cornick

2011-12-12T10:26:00.005-05:00

Her wicked ways were the talk of the ton

Teresa, Dowager Marchioness of Darent, is rumored to have exhausted her four deceased husbands with her insatiable needs. So it's no surprise that every rake in the ton wants to bed her. If they only knewthrough clever marriages to men who would ask nothing of her physical self, Tessa has remained rather innocent in the ways of the bedroom. But now she's on the verge of losing everything and wants to take care of the stepson she's grown to adore.

Enter Captain Owen Purchase. The handsome American adventurer has come into the title of Viscount Rothbury. And the rumors surrounding his injuries at sea suggest that he could fit Tessa's requirements. But little does Tessa realize that the gossipmongers are wrong. She just might lose her heart, and her desires, to the most unlikely of men.

Tessa Darent didn't want another husband; she'd buried three, who weren't much use to her other than the state of her financial affairs, so why would she need another? Owen Purchase, however, is too damn smart for his own good. When he stumbles upon her shimmying out of a window of a brothel, he steps in to "rescue" her. He's able to put two-and-two together (almost) and discover Tessa's true passion as a political satire cartoonist. When Tessa's step-daughter's future is threatened by a smarmy man reminiscent of dead husband #2, Tessa turns to Owen with a proposal of marriage in name only, but Owen cannot abide by such a thing.

Tessa's seemingly charmed life is actually a great disguise for the hurt she's suffered through the course of her marriages. It was dead husband #2 who actually hurt her the most -- both physically and by creating the scandalous reputation she's known for. Owen is able to break through the walls she puts up and shows her she is worthy of the love and pleasure he surprisingly wants to give.

Desired is the fifth book in the Scandalous Women of the Ton series and while it can be read alone, some of the minor threads -- Owen's attraction to Tessa's sister Joanna and the problem of Tom Bradshaw -- were introduced in previous books. All in all, a very good historical romance series.

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of Desired.)

Review: Mistress by Marriage by Maggie Robinson

2011-12-06T12:18:00.002-05:00

Too late for cold feet

Baron Edward Christie prided himself on his reputation for even temperament and reserve. That was before he met Caroline Parker. Wedding a scandalous beauty by special license days after they met did not inspire respect for his sangfroid. Moving her to a notorious lovebirds' nest as punishment for her flighty nature was perhaps also a blow. And of course talk has gotten out of his irresistible clandestine visits. Christie must put his wife aside—if only he can get her out of his blood first.

Too hot to refuse. . .

Caroline Parker was prepared to hear the worst: that her husband had determined to divorce her, spare them both the torture of passion they can neither tame nor escape. But his plan is wickeder than any she's ever heard. Life as his wife is suffocating. But she cannot resist becoming her own husband's mistress. . .

Caroline Parker is a fiery, outspoken redhead, the exact opposite of Edward Christie's first wife, Alice, who is now deceased. In a way, that's why Edward married Caroline only days after meeting her, but that's also the reason they cannot live together. Things would be much simpler if they divorced, though neither can get the other out of their respective minds (and hearts). So when their yearly visit arrives, Caroline is prepared for Edward to announce he's going to finally divorce her. Imagine her surprise when what he proposes is so much more scandalous.

Mistress by Marriage is more in line with the first book of this series, Mistress by Mistake, though all of the heroines within the series live on the fictional Jane Street. It's about a couple who love one another and are faithful, no matter what outward appearances say. They are clearly miserable alone, though their misery leads to some much-needed humor -- particularly Caroline, who is a romance novelist and bases her villains on her husband, having the most fun plotting his death in each book -- and both are completely stubborn. Theirs was a journey covering the entire emotional spectrum, and I was so glad to have been a part of it.

Review: Baby, Don't Go by Stephanie Bond

2011-12-02T13:41:00.002-05:00

The hardheaded Armstrong brothers are determined to rebuild their tornado-ravaged hometown in the Georgia mountains. They've got the means, they've got the manpower…what they need are women! So they place an ad in a Northern newspaper and wait for the ladies to arrive.…

Eldest brother Marcus Armstrong considers the estrogen-influx an irritating distraction. He's running a town, not a dating service!

Reporter Alicia Randall thinks the Armstrong brothers are running a scam and she intends to prove it—even if it means seducing oh-so-sexy Marcus in the process. Sizzling sex and a hot story? Win-win!

At least it is, until she falls for the guy. Will love trump betrayal when the truth comes out?

Given Marcus's perpetual grumpiness in the two previous books of this series, I knew it would take a special kind of woman to chip away at his heart. He's been so completely focused on his hometown of Sweetness -- constructing and repopulating it, making it green, managing everything -- that he rolls his eyes at his brothers' respective love lives. What I wasn't prepared for was Alicia's deceit in order to gain an "in" with the townsfolk.

Oh, there's comic relief thanks to Alicia's propensity to set things on fire (Marcus hires her as the diner's cook), and Marcus having witnessed Alicia in a private moment by the creek cannot stop picturing what she looks like underneath her clothes, which only makes him more frustrated that he is unable to focus on his responsibilities within the town for wanting her.

But when an unexpected natural disaster strikes the town, Marcus and Amy are able to put aside their own issues and confess their love to each other. Baby, Don't Go was a great way to end this trilogy, though I do hope we are able to see more of some minor characters, such as Rachel, in the future.

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of Baby, Don't Go.)

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-11-30T12:53:00.022-05:00

Review: Serpent's Kiss by Thea Harrison

2011-11-29T12:05:00.032-05:00

In order to save his friend's life, Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai made a bargain with Vampyre Queen Carling—without knowing what she would ask from him in return. But when Rune attempts to make good on his debt, he finds a woman on the edge.

Recently, Carling's Power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee in fear. Despite the danger, Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help her find a cure for the serpent's kiss—the vampyric disease that's killing her.

With their desire for each other escalating just as quickly as Carling's instability spirals out of control, the sentinel and the Queen will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent's kiss…

The slow build almost took my attention span away from this book. I had high hopes for Rune and Carling's paring, given the effect Carling has on Rune in Storm's Heart, but once I'd reached the end, I didn't feel as fulfilled as I'd hoped.

Rune has promised a service to Carling. They strike a bargain in Storm's Heart, though Rune is not sure what exactly Carling wants him to do for her. He knows what he'd like to do. Carling is a vampyre who has come to accept her time is soon ending. She's brought Rune to San Francisco, yet she's not exactly sure why. With Rune's presence, however, she feels something she hasn't felt in a long time: the will to live.

Given the explosive sexual tension between the leads of the previous books, I expected Rune and Carling to be off the charts. Their passion felt a little ho-hum. There were also some plot threads left hanging which I assume will be revisited in future books, so the sense of finite closure for this book wasn't present. That being said, I cannot wait for Oracle's Moon (March 2012), and I'm interested to keep up with the characters we've been introduced to thus far.

Review: Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

2011-11-28T11:23:00.037-05:00

Can a pirate learn that the only true treasure lies in a woman's heart?

Widowed Silence Hollingbrook is impoverished, lovely, and kind—and nine months ago she made a horrible mistake. She went to a river pirate for help in saving her husband and in the process made a bargain that cost her her marriage. That night wounded her so terribly that she hides in the foundling home she helps run with her brother. Except now that same river pirate is back...and he's asking for her help.

"Charming" Mickey O'Connor is the most ruthless river pirate in London. Devastatingly handsome and fearsomely intelligent, he clawed his way up through London's criminal underworld. Mickey has no use for tender emotions like compassion and love, and he sees people as pawns to be manipulated. And yet he's never been able to forget the naive captain's wife who came to him for help and spent one memorable night in his bed...talking.

When his bastard baby girl was dumped in his lap—her mother having died—Mickey couldn't resist the Machiavellian urge to leave the baby on Silence's doorstep. The baby would be hidden from his enemies and he'd also bind Silence to him by her love for his daughter.

I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for this book since Silence completed her walk of shame in Notorious Pleasures, Book 2 of the Maiden Lane series. I knew there was more to Charming Mickey that what's presented at first glance, so I was doubly excited to learn more of the heart of gold he keeps under lock and key and that this book was completely worth the wait.

In response to threats from the Vicar of Whitechapel a/k/a Charlie O'Grady, Mickey brings Mary Darling to his palace in order to keep her safe. Silence believes the child would be safe with her and her brother Winter at the Home where Mary has lived her entire life. Mickey won't hear of it. Silence can tend to Mary -- that is why he put Mary into her care, after all -- but Silence and Mary must stay at his home. Mickey believes that with Silence in close proximity he'll be able to control her and ultimately get her out of his head.

He is 100% wrong.

If anything, their everyday interactions strengthen the siren's pull Mickey feels for Silence, and she is able to see a new side to the river pirate who scandalized her and her now-deceased husband. Theirs is a love affair simply brewing under the surface. When it boils over, sakes alive, it's scalding.

Start with Wicked Intentions and read the Maiden Lane series in its entirety. This is Ms. Hoyt's best work yet, and I don't expect to be disappointed come July and Winter Makepeace's book, Thief of Shadows.

Review: Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl

2011-11-23T09:57:00.027-05:00

Olivia Bishop is no fun. That’s what her ex-husband said. That’s what her smart bob and glasses imply. And with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She’s going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble – in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan – may be too tempting to avoid.

Jamie Donovan doesn’t mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. But it’s time to grow up. He’s even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong.

We pick up with the second of the Donovan Brewery series which features Jamie Donovan, kilt wearing bartender and well-known flirt. He and his older brother, Eric, were way too over-protective of their younger sister, Tessa, in Good Girls Don't, so I really enjoyed getting to see the three Donovans from another point of view. And, man, do they still have some issues with one another!

Eric and Jamie were constantly at each other's throats. Jamie wants to add to the brewery's atmosphere; Eric sees it not as a step up or good for business but as an act of all-out war. Tessa plays both sides, as she did in the previous book. What bothered me most is that this is a family who communicates via shouts and slamming doors. There's no clear moment to listen and process, even when one of them apologizes. I liked seeing and getting to know Jamie through his own eyes rather than what Tessa or Eric thinks.

Olivia and Jamie have some very nice moments of sexual tension. He helped her realize (or remember) fun, and she kept him grounded in his desire to better the brewery. Is it enough to base a long-term relationship on? That's the kicker -- I just don't know. I think they are a very cute couple and balance each other well. There just wasn't enough emotional oomph between them for me to sigh happily and believe they'll be together forever.

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of Bad Boys Do.)

Review: The Goblin King by Shona Husk

2011-11-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

ONCE UPON A TIME

A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold. In legends, he became known as The Goblin King.

For a favored few he will grant a wish. Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his one own desire remains unfulfilled: a willing queen.

But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares? No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous. And the one woman who might dare to try could also destroy forever his chance at a happily ever after.

Except for the movie Labyrinth and mentions of goblins in Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series, the goblin world is one overlooked in paranormal romance. So the use of an underused species -- as the hero of a romance -- really intrigued me.

There were multiple layers woven throughout The Goblin King, and the emotional impact of the narrative as a whole made for a very good story. The concept of doing what one knows is right also lends more of a fairytale vibe to the underlying romance. What I disliked was Eliza's fiance almost becoming a caricature of an evil villain. His insistence that Eliza belonged with him and he would do whatever he could to keep the lifestyle to which he'd become accustomed was a bit over the top. I almost hoped he'd become the new goblin king, though he wouldn't have maintained his humanity as long as Roan had.

Overall, I thought The Goblin King was just what I needed to step away from the typical paranormal romance and take a chance on a lesser known paranormal species.

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-10-28T12:53:00.042-04:00

Review: The Bad Always Die Twice by Cheryl Crane

2011-10-20T10:58:00.002-04:00

In the first of a wildly entertaining mystery series set amid the bright lights, big egos, and Botoxed brows of Hollywood, Cheryl Crane—daughter of legendary movie star Lana Turner—introduces a smart, hilarious, and utterly loveable heroine in realtor-turned-amateur sleuth, Nikki Harper.

For Nikki Harper, realtor to the stars and daughter of 1950s screen goddess Victoria Bordeaux, Hollywood is home. A completely dysfunctional home populated by a cast of crazies, true, but home nonetheless. While Nikki's no stranger to scandal, she's shocked to receive a hysterical phone call from her business partner, Jessica Martin, saying that TV has-been Rex March has been found dead in Jessica's bed.

More shocking than Rex's death is the fact that, as far as anyone knew, Rex was already dead. Six months ago, the star of the seventies sitcom Shipwrecked Vacation was supposedly killed when his plane crashed in the Mojave Desert. Nikki and Jessica recently sold his mansion on behalf of his widow, Edith. It's obvious to Nikki that Jessica is being framed, but by whom? And why? And how on earth can Rex be dead a second time?

In search of answers, Nikki turns to the one person she can always count on. From her pink boudoir in her Beverly Hills mansion, the ever-glamorous Victoria suggests Nikki focus her sleuthing on Rex's not-so-grieving widow. And there's a veritable casting couch full of other candidates, including Edith's boy-toy lover, Rex's scheming lawyer (like there's any other kind), and the diner waitress with whom Rex was having one of his numerous affairs. But with the killer readying for a repeat performance, Nikki will have to act fast—before her own screen fades to black. . .

As a person formerly addicted to Hollywood gossip blogs, I really liked the nudge-nudge-wink-wink effect of The Bad Always Die Twice. The scene was set; the players were all in place; the posh addresses referenced therein. Once the narrative began, I was surprised by how much I wanted Nikki to find the real murderer. Add in her mother, Victoria Bordeaux, a name and face whom everyone in Hollywood knows, and Nikki is able to use her minor celebrity status to play amateur sleuth. The twists and turns lead to more uncertainity about who had actually killed Rex March, and once the murderer was revealed, I was surprised I hadn't guessed it.

The Bad Always Die Twice was a great mystery featuring a charmingly fun novice gumshoe in Nikki Harper. I can only hope the subsequent books in this series are as good as this one.

(A very special thank you to Kensington Books who provided me with an ARC of The Bad Always Die Twice.)

Review: Everything I Know About Love I Learned from Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell

2011-10-05T12:49:00.002-04:00

Take a dashing hero with a heart of gold and a mullet of awesome. Add a heroine with a bustle and the will to kick major butt. Then include enough contrivances to keep them fighting while getting them alone and possibly without key pieces of clothing, and what do you have? A romance novel. What else? Enough lessons about life, love, and everything in between to help you with your own happily-ever-after.

Lessons like:
Romance means believing you are worthy of a happy ending
Learning to tell the prince from the frog
Real-life romance is still alive and kicking
No matter how bad it is, at least you haven't been kidnapped by a Scottish duke (probably)

Straight from the heart of influential romance blogger Sarah Wendell, this inventive gift book provides the best wisdom about love that the romance genre has to offer. Laced with signature witty commentary and peppered with thoughts from bestselling romance authors (Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, Debbie Macomber, Eloisa James, Robyn Carr, and lots more) and avid readers, these pages will reveal what every romance reader already knows: while romances are certainly steamy, they have more to offer than just a sexy hero. In fact, they might have more to say about love than we give them credit for. Sarah Wendell is cofounder of one of the top romance blogs, SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com.

This book is about celebrating romance novels for every important thing they teach us about ourselves, the people we love, and the relationships we value--and the sex we have.

Amen! And I loved every minute of it.

I'm not a regular Smart Bitches reader, but when I do go for a visit, I'm always glad I did. Everything I Know About Love... is exactly like that -- I'm glad I read it, and feel a little happier for it. A book about promoting the positives of romance and romance reading, Everything I Know About Love... is a humorous yet poignant guide to romance, both the highs and lows. Ms. Wendell's thought-provoking romantic ideals mixed with reader and/or author opinions was a great way to spend an afternoon. It's a whole lot of fun that ended way too quickly. Can I get a sequel? (Hell, yeah!)

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of Everything I Know About Love...)

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-09-30T12:52:00.000-04:00

Review: Midnight by Ellen Connor

2011-09-29T13:37:00.000-04:00

Their desire destroys her defenses.
Their love gives him a reason to live.

Three years of wandering the post-apocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of humanity and hope. He’s a dangerous man now, full of dark energy and yen for violence. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn’t stopped moving since. Grim and sardonic, he never found anything worth sticking around for–until now.

Rosa Cortez runs Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders directly from her–the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing she needs is a feral loner upsetting the town’s tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets the sexy doctor stay. He evokes a delicious new longing, but she won’t submit to any man.

Tension rises as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, bent on possessing Valle and its resources. Together Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past–and build a future in this brutal Dark Age…

Dang, Midnight is a great addition to this series.

What I found so striking is the change in Chris from when we met him in Nightfall until now. He's wandered for three years, alone perhaps by his own choosing but partially because he cannot escape the memory of Angela and her death. When he arrives at Valle de Bravo, he's certainly not looking for anything further than helping his own survival.

Rosa Cortez is also running from memories, though she channels her past into a future as "la jefe" of Valle de Bravo. She runs a well-oiled machine, training her bravos and seizing the O'Malley organization trucks which venture into her territory. She's spent the last couple of years avoiding male companionship as she believes it will put her position in jeopardy.

This book has everything: action, adventure, romance, sex, violence, death, life, rebirth. It's a mile-a minute journey with ultra-satisfying twists and turns. I cannot wait to read Daybreak (December 2011).

Review: Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

2011-09-22T09:56:00.074-04:00

Her only hope for survival...
Handsome, wealthy and respected, Sir Mark Turner is the most sought-after bachelor in all of London—and he's known far and wide for his irreproachable character. But behind his virtuous reputation lies a passionate nature he keeps carefully in check...until he meets the beautiful Jessica Farleigh, the woman he's waited for all his life.

Is to ruin the man she loves…

But Jessica is a courtesan, not the genteel lady Sir Mark believes. Desperate to be free of a life she despises, she seizes her chance when Mark's enemies make her an offer she can't refuse: seduce Mark and tarnish his good name, and a princely sum will be hers. Yet as she comes to know the man she's sworn to destroy, Jessica will be forced to choose between the future she needs…and the love she knows is impossible.

Unveiled, the first book featuring the Turner brothers, is on my Best of 2011 list, and I was prepared to love Unclaimed just as much.

Unclaimed in the story of Sir Mark Turner, a man who has written a book on male chastity, A Gentleman’s Practical Guide to Chasity. Sir Mark is respected for his opinions on this subject, and the notoriety of such a best seller follows him everywhere. A man from humble origins, his stock has gone up in the world considerably. But Mark doesn't really want any of that.

Jessica Farleigh is a courtesan desperate to change her life. She's disenchanted and wants to escape to the country where she can depend only on herself. She accepts a wager from her former protector, George Weston, to seduce Sir Mark Turner. Once she provides proof to Weston, she'll receive funds and be on her merry way. So Jessica integrates herself into Mark's hometown, where she knows he's visiting. The only problem with the seduction is that she flinches whenever Mark moves to touch her.

Mark and Jessica become friends, and Mark is successful in transforming the townsfolks' opinions and treatment of Jessica as a "fallen woman." There is considerable sexual tension brewing between the two of them, which surprised Jessica because she had always believed Mark an innocent. (He's chaste but not innocent.)

“I want. I lust. I desire.” He scrubbed his hand through sandy blond hair at that, shaking his head. “No. You’re right. You don’t deserve euphemisms. I want you. I lust after you. I desire you. ”

She might have been the only woman in the world, pinned by his gaze.

“But what I don’t do is act.”

Unclaimed was a good addition to this series, though I didn't fall in love with it like Unveiled, and I'm excited to see what Smite's book, Unraveled, will bring to this series.

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Unclaimed.)

Review: Elizabeth, the Enchantress by Lavinia Kent

2011-09-21T10:17:00.034-04:00

Regency England just got real(ity)

Episode 4: How to Succeed in Marriage without Really Trying

Elizabeth, the Countess of Westhampton, has found her husband. Unfortunately, she would have preferred that he stayed lost!

How is she supposed to react when the man who married her, and then abandoned her without a wedding night, suddenly reappears? Obviously, she’ll have to plan her revenge very carefully…

A series of prints depicting Elizabeth and her longtime gone husband now recently returned husband, William, in opposing styles. There is a print Elizabeth favors -- William on his knees before her, seeming to beg for her attention and/or forgiveness -- and a second print which purports her as the beggar. We learn a little bit about what happened between Elizabeth and William and why he left London so quickly after their marriage.

This reformation of the "bad girl" fell a little flat in my opinion. Elizabeth wasn't a bad girl at all, simply misunderstood, which could have been cleared up through communication with her husband and her friends. I'd expected a real event to explain her tension with Lynette throughout the course of the series. Sometimes friends just don't get along, and sometimes the "drama" is manufactured (as is obvious by the "Real Housewives" reality shows on tv).

Still, this was a fun world to escape into, and I hope to visit it again with Ms. Kent.

(A very special thank you to Avon Impulse, HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Elizabeth, the Enchantress.)

Review: Never Enough by Lauren Dane

2011-09-15T11:30:00.001-04:00

From the national bestselling author of Inside Out--a sizzling story of insatiable passion.

Gillian Forrester spent her life running...until Miles came along. The moment she held her older sister's unwanted newborn, Gillian stopped running and began building a life for her adopted son. Now, thirteen years later, Gillian's sister reveals the father's identity on her deathbed-a revelation that shakes Gillian to her core.

Adrian Brown is the epitome of the successful rock star. It takes a lot to shock him-but the bombshell that he has a son rocks his world. And Adrian is even more surprised when the buttoned-up elegant woman who's raising him ignites his erotic and romantic attention-and engages his heart.

For a woman with as many trust and privacy issues as Gillian has, she's not shy about her want of Adrian Brown. I was a little surprised by that. Typical of this series, we're propelled by Adrian's and Gillian's desire for one another. Add the Browns' varying degrees of family on top of that, and you've got a pretty good way to spend a couple of days. I still love the blended families here, though I do wonder if every new addition would be so welcomed in a real-life situation.

The best part of this book, for me, hands down, was Brody Brown. It's no secret Coming Undone, the book featuring Brody's romance with Elise, is my favorite of this series. In Never Enough, Brody proved exactly why he was the best father Erin, Adrian, and his own two children can ever have. He's the calm voice of reason -- yet sometimes not so calm, like when he pitches a glass of water into Adrian's face -- but his advice is always sound and well thought out.

I was also disappointed that Never Enough just seemed to end. I know we'll see Adrian and Gillian again in the spin-off series next year, but I wanted a little more closure here, or certainly a witty Gillian-ism before The End. I would recommend reading this series from the beginning as I don't think any book completely stands alone, given the sheer number of characters and plot threads involved in each narrative.

Review: A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

2011-09-12T11:42:00.003-04:00

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?

What's not to love about a battle of the sexes, especially if Tessa Dare is writing it? I must admit it took me a little while to get into the flow of A Night to Surrender, simply because I assumed Susanna would be scowling and (figuratively) stamping her feet the moment it's announced Bram will stay in Spindle Cove. They wouldn't see eye to eye because they wanted different things for the village. If they didn't agree, would theirs be a romance full of "I hate yous" first?

While there is definite tension between Susanna and Bram from the start, it's not full of venom or disgust. They have witty banter, moments of laughter, and of course, sexual heat.

"Lord Rycliff. You've forgotten yourself."

"No, I haven't." His green eyes held her captive. "I recall precisely who I am. I'm Lieutenant Colonel Victor St. George Bramwell, the Earl of Rycliff since a few days back. You're Susanna Jane Finch, and I want to see you bare. Bare, and pale, and soaked to the roots of your hair, glistening with moonlight and drops of seawater. I'd lick the salt from you."

Piece by piece, Susanna and Bram lower their defenses and get to know one another in ways neither had ever considered previously. They both have battle scars and wounds, and as they are able to adequately provide a future for Spindle Cove, they help each other heal and ultimately fall in love.

Review: One Night in London by Caroline Linden

2011-09-09T09:42:00.031-04:00

A bargain that was all business . . . and pure passion.

Neither wealth nor beauty will help Lady Francesca Gordon win custody of her young niece Georgina, saving the girl from a cruel stepmother; she needs London’s top solicitor for that. But when Edward de Lacey, son of the powerful Duke of Durham, hires away the one man who can do the job, Francesca decides Edward himself must champion her case . . . if only she can melt the dashing lord’s stony heart.

Edward has reason to be guarded, though. London’s tabloids have just exposed a secret that could ruin his entire family. When Francesca offers a unique chance to undo the damage, Edward is forced to agree to a partnership . . . and now, each moment together feeds the flames of his scandalous longing for the passionate widow. But when Georgina disappears, fate will test them both . . . and leave their love hanging in the balance.

I was very surprised yet happy to see my question when I finished I Love the Earl -- is this Duke of Durham Francis de Lacey? -- was answered. And yes, it is. In a way I was disheartened that we wouldn't learn his story as it happens, but I like knowing the backstory to characters as much as possible. I have to hold out hope that within the course of the forthcoming books about Durham's sons, we will learn who he first married and what happened with their relationship.

So while learning the truth about the Duke of Durham is the main plot thread, it's by no means what keeps the narrative moving along. That solely belongs to Lady Francesca Gordon, a widow seeking to adopt her deceased sister's daughter from her stepmother. When Francesca's (hoped for) solicitor abandons her case for Edward's, the Duke of Durham's second son, who wishes to find out the truth about his father, she marches to Edward's home to confront him.

We spend the rest of the story watching Edward discover what he truly needs -- all he truly needs -- lies in Francesca.

I do hope we'll learn the truth about the Duke of Durham over the course of the remaining books, so seeing this "mystery" solved will be my main reason to continue this series.

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of One Night in London.)

Review: Never Been Bit by Lydia Dare

2011-09-01T11:18:00.050-04:00

The glittering world of high society is the playground for the rich, titled, and reluctantly undead...
Alec MacQuarrie's after-life has become an endless search for pleasure in an effort to overcome his heartbreak and despair. Wandering through the seedy world of London's demimonde, he's changed into a dark and fearsome creature even he doesn't recognize until he stumbles into a magical lass he knew once upon a time and sees a glimpse of the life he could have had.

But the ton is no match for one incorrigible young lady...

After watching each of her coven sisters happily marry, Sorcha Ferguson is determined to capture a Lycan husband of her very own. When she encounters Alec, she decides to save her old friend from what he's become, all while searching for her own happily-ever-after.

Over his dead body is Alec going to allow this enchanting innocent to throw herself away on an unworthy werewolf, but that leaves him responsible for her, and he's the worst monster of them all...

The formula used in It Happened One Bite and In the Heat of the Bite became a little predictible, so I was skeptical when I learned Alex McQuarrie, a recently turned vampire, would be the hero of Never Been Bit. But to see Sorcha Ferguson, the youngest and spunkiest member of the coven as the heroine -- well, I never imagined that.

Ever since witch Elspeth Campbell married lycan Benjamin Westfield, Sorcha has been wishing for a lycan of her very own. She doesn't understand the hows and whys, or why seer Caitrin Thorpe won't confirm a lycan in her future, but that's not going to slow her down. There are plenty of available lycans to chose from; she only has to make her decision and stick to it.

Alex McQuarrie dislikes his life as a vampire. He chose it over certain death but regrets it for many reasons, chief among them a lack of love or a happy future. When he discovers Sorcha is on the hunt for a lycan mate, he reacts with surprising jealousy. This is Sorcha; he's known her almost their entire lives!

Sorcha's and Alex's is an unexpected romance, a true friends-to-lovers journey, and is perhaps the sweetest of the love stories shared within this series. Never Been Bit is a great way to end the series with a high note.

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of Never Been Bit.)

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-08-31T12:12:00.049-04:00

Review: Good Girls Don't by Victoria Dahl

2011-08-30T09:58:00.032-04:00

Too much of a good thing…

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman—or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break–in at her family's brewery. He's got his own problems—starting with the fact that his partner, Simone, is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother's playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tension could tear her tight–knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their "baby" sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath. He's not who people think he is—and neither is she.

After reading the (cliffhanger) short story "Just One Taste" in The Guy Next Door anthology, I was immediately ready for this series. The wait was torture, I tell you.

We're caught up in various lies when we are reintroduced to the Donovan clan. Tessa feels the need to lie in order to keep familial harmony between her brothers, Jamie and Eric. But the lies don't stop with the Donovans; Detective Luke Asher is experincing some heat as well from his department associates who believe he's gotten his partner of two years, Simone, pregnant. When Tessa and Luke meet thanks to a robery at the Donovan Brewery, there's an instant spark, but Jamie and Eric still think of Tessa as their little (innocent) sister. Plus, Jamie believes the lies he's heard about Luke.

For all Tessa's "innocence," she's full-on potty mouth and eager to tell Luke what she wants from him in all aspects of their relationship. Since this is Ms. Dahl, I know sexual tension and heat won't be lacking between the leads.

Good Girls Don't was a quick read, as well as a fun and sexy one. A great way to start a series!

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Good Girls Don't.)

Review: Annabelle, the American by Lavinia Kent

2011-08-25T09:49:00.000-04:00

Regency England just got real(ity)

Episode 3: Annabelle and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad rumor

Annabelle, Marchioness of Tattingstong, always thought she was a good wife. She’s put up with all the titters and stares in the ballroom that go along with being a rich American married only for her wealth and looks. But, when it’s rumored that her husband has a secret family, one he is using her money to keep, Annabelle may have finally had enough. A proper English wife would grin and bear it, but playing by society’s rules hasn’t worked for her so far.

Will revenge be as sweet as American pie?

Another quick installment of The Real Duchesses of London series by Ms. Kent. While I liked learning more about Annabelle, the token American heiress, I didn't feel as connected to her or Thomas as I did to the previous duchessess featured. I also wanted to know more about how and why Mr. Swatts became involved in the publication of the cartoons. Perhaps these are questions that will be answered as we continue the series. I am most interested to learn more about Elizabeth and am pleased hers will be the next novella (September 2011).

Review: Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison

2011-08-24T10:50:00.039-04:00

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle "Tricks" Periwinkle found sanctuary among the Wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle's death, there are those who don't want to see her ascend to the throne...

Able to wield thunder and lightning, Wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the Wyr's best weapons. And he's the one sent to protect Tricks when she's almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them--a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds...

For as much as I loved Dragon Bound, I prepared to go into Storm's Heart on a high note, unable to put the book down until I'd inhaled it. That didn't really happen.

Let me back up and say I didn't dislike Storm's Heart, not in the least; it was just a different book than Dragon Bound. (I think I like the thrill of the chase, so to speak, and while Dragon Bound had that in spades, Storm's Heart is more upfront, like say, a kick to the teeth.)

One aspect of Storm's Heart that I loved was not knowing who Tricks/Ninane could trust. She's in the middle of her people, yet she doesn't know any of them; she's attended by various councilors and commanders, but she cannot be certain what they advocate or suggest is the correct course of action to take. Talk about a rock and a hard place!

Storm's Heart was a very good addition to the paranormal world of the Wyr Ms. Harrison is creating. I'm excited and anxious for the next installment, Serpent's Kiss (October 2011), and cannot wait to learn more about this universe and these characters.

Review: Changing The Game by Jaci Burton

2011-08-16T10:10:00.000-04:00

Most people play by the rules. Gavin and Liz aren't most people...

Win at any cost. That's always been the mantra of sports agent Liz Darnell. When she carries things too far and risks losing her number-one client, baseball pro Gavin Riley, Liz realizes that she'll have to work extra innings to win him back. It might not be too much of a stretch. She's had a thing for this player's moves since she first laid eyes on him, and by the looks of it, he wants her just as bad.

Gavin's more than ready—especially when Liz is offering herself as part of the bargain. And as much of her as Gavin wants. For added thrills, he decides to throw a little curve ball Liz's way to see just how far she's truly willing to go to keep him as a client. But when love unexpectedly enters the playing field, neither Liz nor Gavin are ready for the biggest game-changer of them all.

Last year, The Perfect Play was exactly the kind of book I needed to read at exactly the right moment. When I discovered Changing the Game featured Elizabeth "Liz" Darnell, the antagonist of The Perfect Play, I was very skeptical on how Ms. Burton could redeem Liz.

Oh ye of little faith.

Ms. Burton does an excellent job making Liz Darnell human, feminine, and most importantly, apologetic (sometimes beyond the necessary realm of apologies).

We learn a lot about what makes Liz tick, how she's been in love with Gavin for years, though she hotly denies it when confronted, and how devoted she is to operating a successful agency. An evening that starts out as sex only quickly escalates into something more between Gavin and Liz, but Gavin's brother and Liz's former client Mick is always around to cast a negative shadow on the situation.

Changing the Game is a book about mistakes and how one makes amends after said mistakes. Neither Liz nor Gavin are perfect -- we learned Liz's big mistake in The Perfect Play and Gavin makes one here -- but they are most certainly human and completely in love with one another. Changing the Game is a super sexy addition to the Play-by-Play series with more at its heart than just a romance.

Cover Love

2011-08-15T14:39:00.001-04:00

Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde. When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?

Review: Confessions of an Improper Bride by Jennifer Haymore

2011-08-10T09:32:00.042-04:00

TWICE TEMPTED

Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.

Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?

Given that I've loved Ms. Haymore's three previous historical romances with such fervor, I was surprised to find I wasn't immediately loving Confessions of an Improper Bride. Now that I've had time to reflect, I think the deception angle really affected my enjoyment. It's the main plot -- how is Serena going to marry a man she doesn't love, especially when the man she does love is her intended's best friend? -- so it's unfortunate I had issues with it. I felt that Langley would be a cuckold, and he didn't deserve such treatment because he is such a nice man. Serena and Jonathan, however, could not deny their attraction, the very reason Serena left London in disgrace six years earlier, yet their happy ending didn't leave me 100% happy.

Heroines sacrificing themselves for the good of their siblings is not an uncommon trope, especially in historical romances (Seven Nights to Forever by Evangeline Collins comes to mind immediately). Something about Confessions of an Improper Bride seemed off . I could put it down with ease, which I'd never experienced with Ms. Haymore's previous work.

Despite my lukewarm feelings about this novel, I am excited to pick up the next book in the series, Secrets of an Accidental Duchess (February 2012).

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Confessions of an Improper Bride.)

Review: Make Mine a Bad Boy by Katie Lane

2011-08-08T10:45:00.013-04:00

THERE'S A NEW BRIDE IN TOWN!

Hope Scroggs is finally ready to get hitched. After years of sowing her wild oats, the former head cheerleader and homecoming queen has returned to Bramble, Texas, to marry her high school flame. But her perfect wedding plans are stomped to smithereens when her adoring cowboy two-steps down the aisle with someone else. Now Hope is stuck with the one man from her past she can't shake: Colt Lomax, an irresistible bad boy whose sultry kisses are hotter than the Panhandle in August . . .

Colt lives for freedom and the open road; he never gets attached, never looks back. Still, he can't forget the night of passion he once shared with Bramble's sweetheart—a night he wouldn't mind repeating. So, he piles on the Texas charm to tease the feisty beauty back into his bed, while she tries her darnedest to resist. But something unexpected is about to tie their fates together . . . and oh, baby, will it ever!

Hope Scroggs returns to Bramble, Texas, from a five-year absence and thinks things will fall right back into place. Her life in California is a complete mess, so what Bramble doesn't know won't hurt them. Little does Hope know, Bramble's bad boy is on a beeline straight for her.

As with Going Cowboy Crazy, we're treated to small-town life that may be a little over the top. Rumors fly about Hope being pregnant, and Hope is less than kind to Faith, her newly discovered twin sister. What Hope doesn't want is to feel any kind of connection with Colt Lomax, but the pair are drawn together at every turn.

Make Mine a Bad Boy isn't as sweet a romance as Going Cowboy Crazy, mainly due to Hope's and Colt's hot-hot-hot chemistry, but it's still a good way to lose yourself for an afternoon in Bramble, Texas.

(A very special thank you to Love To Read for Fun, Forever, and Hachette Book Group who sponsored the contest in which I won a copy of Make Mine a Bad Boy.)

Review: I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden

2011-08-03T17:41:00.002-04:00

A single lady in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a suitor

Margaret de Lacey has accepted her unmarried state with dignity, if not delight. She had no suitors when she was young and starry-eyed, though regrettably poor, and it’s unlikely any man will court her now that she’s older, wiser, and still just as penniless. Until, that is, her brother unexpectedly inherits the dukedom of Durham and settles an enormous dowry on her, making her the most eligible heiress in town.

No gentleman in London is more in need of a wealthy bride than Rhys Corwen, Earl of Dowling. He contrives an introduction to Margaret because of her dowry, but she swiftly sets him right: no fortune hunter will win her heart or her hand. Far from put off, Rhys is intrigued. Interested. Entranced. And soon the only thing he needs more than Margaret’s fortune…is her love.

What I really loved about this novella was the ripe sexual tension between Margaret and Rhys. I mean, it sprang from the page and hit you in the face. There's just something about a woman who claims to hate a man, yet cannot stop thinking about him.

Margaret's brother, Francis, came into his title when he unexpectedly inherits. She had been content to be a spinster for the rest of her life. When Francis lists Margaret's dowry as 40,000 pounds, she knows only the fortune hunters will be after her. The first time she meets Rhys Corwen, she gives him the "wherefore" about his assumed reason for plying her with favor. The problem of this is that Rhys seeks Margaret out and manages to corner her at every ton event. And like a splinter, he burrows under her skin so deep, she doesn't want him to ignore her.

That's not to say Rhys is annoying or unattractive, oh no. Margaret thinks he's very fine, and once she sees the remains of his entitlement, she's able to let herself go and love him fully and completely.

I Love the Earl is a prequel of sorts for One Night in London, though I cannot figure out if Francis is the dying Duke of Durham or not. That seems premature, given that Margaret discovers Francis's heart has been broken in I Love the Earl, yet we do not learn any further information, so I'm glad One Night in London is waiting for me on my e-reader to solve the mystery my mind has created.

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of I Love the Earl.)

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-07-29T10:16:00.031-04:00

Review: What a Goddess Wants by Stephanie Julian

2011-07-28T09:53:00.032-04:00

IN HIS ARMS, HER MAGIC POWERS ARE ON THE RISE...

Tessa, Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn, is losing her powers and now there's an Underworld god determined to run her down. She needs a hero and fast, because only sexual energy can give her power. So she seeks out Caligo, whose sexual prowess is legendary...

AND SHE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BRING HIM INTO THE LIGHT...

Caligo is a fabled Cimmerian warrior determined to stay away from spoiled goddesses who trample hearts after they've had their fun. But there's something irresistibly hot and inviting about Tessa and he knows he's her only change to escape the encroaching darkness...

I've never read Ms. Julian's work, so I was happy to give this erotic paranormal a try. And when I say erotic, I mean erotic. Cal finds an sleeping Tessa in his house, where he proceeds to strip her naked and tie her up...and the sex doesn't slow down. It wasn't necessarily out of place within Tessa's and Cal's growing relationship -- the pair also uses sex to "recharge" Tessa, so to speak -- but at times I felt it wasn't necessary for the plot and would have almost preferred conversations to the loss of clothing.

I did enjoy the world Ms. Julian created with the Etruscan goddesses, and I hope to learn more about them and the secondary cast of characters in future books of this trilogy. What a Goddess Wants is a lighter paranormal where there is the threat of death, but it's an not overwhelming fear, though it is what brings Tessa and Cal together in the first place. It's a quick read with a lot of sex and a bit of conflict. Mix them together and you've got a lot of fun.

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of What a Goddess Wants.)

Review: Burning Down the Spouse by Dakota Cassidy

2011-07-26T09:45:00.021-04:00

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen...the latest from national bestselling author Dakota Cassidy!

After discovering that her famous chef husband was cheating, Frankie Bennett lost her mind-on live TV. Now Frankie is broke, unemployed, and hiding out in her aunt's retirement village. That is, until Maxine Henderson-Barker-reformed trophy wife and owner of Trophy Jobs Inc. employment agency-arrives to give Frankie a much needed kick in the pants.

Soon, Frankie lands a job as a prep chef at a Greek diner in New Jersey, home to the world's best meatloaf and an owner who resembles an exquisitely chiseled Greek statue. Falling into bed with Nikos isn't the best idea, but after years of living in a man's shadow, this ex- trophy wife is ready to get busy cooking...

The second in the Ex-Trophy Wives series, Burning Down the Spouse might be better that You Dropped a Blonde on Me. Perhaps I sympathized more with Frankie and her live television freak-out on the set of her ex-husband's cooking show. The set-up is similar to You Dropped a Blonde on Me in the guise of a cheating spouse, but Frankie and her reaction (both to the cheating and the "tabloid scandal" that followed) put her in a better light than when I read about Maxine's plight in comparison.

As Frankie regains her confidence, she holds her own in any situation, be it listening to Maxine's crazy advice, Jasmine's unusual friendship, or Nikos' (and his family). Where can I find a Voula of my own?

I had to roll my eyes at the "Big Misunderstanding" between Frankie and Nikos, though it did lower Nikos' perfection a bit, so maybe he needed to be taken down a notch. But I loved that Frankie plotted and planned in order to clear her name. And the subplot romance between Jasmine and Simon -- more please!

I cannot wait to see who will be the next member of the Ex-Trophy Wife club.

Review: Linette, the Lioness by Lavinia Kent

2011-07-25T10:30:00.001-04:00

Regency England just got real(ity)

Episode 2: The One with the Fake Baby

Rumors abound – everyone has heard that Linnette, the Dowager Duchess of Doveshire is pregnant. Beautiful, young, with more freedom than any respectable woman should want, Linnette is no stranger to a little gossip. But her friends can’t help her brave the fallout, because this time Linnette has done something naughty…

Linette, the Dowager Duchess of Doveshire, is haunted by the scandal sheets proclaiming that she's pregnant. Her lover, James, the new Duck of Doveshire, doesn't know anything about the rumors, only that he has Linette in his life again after an eight-year absence, and he means to keep her there.

The novella is bookended by The Maids, so we're given a recap of sorts at the beginning and a foreshadowing of who the next novella will feature at the end. There's "staged" drama, thanks to Linette and her rivalry with Elizabeth, and while it doesn't ring as true as it would on the television series, its intended meaning is there (which also lends a bit of comic relief).

Another great installment of The Real Duchesses of London!

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Linette, the Lioness.)

Review: Kathryn, the Kitten by Lavinia Kent

2011-07-21T08:33:00.035-04:00

Regency England just got real(ity)

Episode 1: How Kathryn Got Her Passion Back

Kathryn, Duchess of Harrington, has the perfect life: a handsome duke for a husband, riches to spare, a house in Mayfair, and the right group of friends. The only thing she doesn’t have is her husband in her bed. But she’s about to change that. Enlisting the aid of her best friend, Linnette, who knows about these things even though she’s a duchess herself, Kathryn begins her seduction plan.

But Linnette knows a secret and it involves Kathryn’s husband. And, when that comes out, Kathryn’s marriage isn’t the only thing at stake. Can you say Afternoon Tea Catfight?

This novella certainly piqued that part of my brain which deems it necessary to watch reruns of "The Real Housewives of Orange County". It was a fun and a quick read, and I'm looking forward to discovering who is behind the paintings of the respective Duchesses.

There is drama -- real and enhanced -- just like in the "Real Housewives" television series as well as catty smugness displayed by various characters a historical romance reader may not be used to. That's part of the fun, I think, especially if you've found yourself pulled in by any of the television installments. The narrative addition of The Maids helps to keep the mysteries and the plot moving; I wonder if any of them will be featured in another Avon Impulse series.

This novella and perhaps the series is perfect for summer reading entertainment.

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Kathryn, the Kitten.)

Review: Going Cowboy Crazy by Katie Lane

2011-07-20T09:37:00.043-04:00

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Faith Aldridge wants answers. Bramble, Texas is the only place she can find them . . . as well as Hope, the identical twin sister she never knew she had. But the townsfolk reckon that shy city-girl Faith is really her long-lost sister Hope, back in Bramble at last. And they're fixin' to do whatever it takes to heat things up between her and Hope's long-time flame, Slate Calhoun. If that means rustling her car, spreading rumors like wildfire, and reining in some explosive secrets, well, there's no way like the Lone Star way . . .

But Slate's no fool. The woman in his truck may look like Hope, yet the way she feels in his arms is altogether new. He's determined to keep this twin in his bed and out of his heart. Trouble is, the real Hope is headed home, and she's got her own designs on Slate. If Faith wants to avoid heartbreak, she'll have to show a certain ruggedly handsome cowboy that this crazy-impossible love is worth fighting for.

Bramble, Texas, is a small, small, small town, and Faith Aldridge has come there for some answers about her past. The townsfolk recognize her immediately -- she's the spitting image (aside from her haircut) of her twin, Hope, who's Bramble's sweetheart -- and they are so happy to have Hope back from her five-year stay in Hollywood. Since they finally have Hope where they want her, they scheme to keep her in Bramble and to marry her high school sweetheart, Slate Calhoun.

Slate is surprised to see "Hog" returned, with a spiffy new haircut, but once he kisses her, he realizes "Hope" isn't who she says she is. He just cannot stay away from her, which surprises both of them (well, all of them, once the real Hope arrives in Bramble).

Gone Cowboy Crazy was a fun contemporary romance, though there were eye-rolling moments along the way. I never thought of Slate as a cowboy, regardless of the fact he favors Western wear shirts, so the title is a bit misleading. The blind eye the inhabitants of Bramble turns to the fact that Faith is not Hope yet they continue to call her Hope despite being corrected numerous times, and the "big misunderstanding" which drives Faith from Bramble were a little frustrating, but I can recognize the Faith/Hope "confusion" is for comic effect.

And please tell me that D.J. Qualls is not the perfect Kenny Gene.

(A very special thank you to Love To Read for Fun, Forever, and Hachette Book Group who sponsored the contest in which I won a copy of Going Cowboy Crazy.)

Review: Notorious by Nicola Cornick

2011-07-19T14:36:00.002-04:00

When the ton's most notorious heartbreaker…

Dangerously seductive and sinfully beautiful, Susanna Burney is society's most sought after matchbreaker. Paid by wealthy parents to part unsuitable couples, she's never yet failed to accomplish her mission of diverting a groom-to-be. Until her final assignment brings her face-to-face with the man who'd once taught her an intimate lesson in heartache….

Meets London's most disreputable rake…

James Devlin has everything he's always wanted: a title, a rich fiancée and a place in society. But the woman who's just met his eyes across a crowded ballroom threatens it all. Not because she'd once claimed his heart, or that every sinuous swirl of her ball gown takes his breath away. But because the secrets she carries could cost him everything. To put the past to rest once and for all, Dev just might have to play Susanna at her own wicked game….

Let the seduction begin!

For the past two years, he's been celibate and engaged to Lady Emma Brooke, thanks in part to her dowry and connections, both of which can provide a stable life for Devlin and his sister, Francesca. When he's introduced to Lady Caroline Carew, he's very surprised to be reacquainted with his ex-wife whom he thought to be deceased, Susanna Burney. Susanna as Lady Carew has set her cap for Francesca's intended, Fitzwilliam Alton.

The years apart, a supposed annulment, and a purported death do nothing to diminish the passion between Devlin and Susanna. Because he values his sister's happiness above all else -- even above his own -- Devlin is tasked with keeping Lady Carew distanced from Fitz in order that Chessie may solidify her claim to his heart. Unfortunately, Fitz's parents do not want a marriage between their only son and Chessie, which is why they hired Susanna to seduce him away. It's relatively easy for Susanna to accomplish this task, given that Fitz is spoiled and conceited and not good enough for Chessie. That Susanna and Devlin cannot stay away from one another while she hopes to gain and keep Fitz's favors matters not.

She had a body made for sin and he would take it and tomorrow he would send her back to Fitz knowing that she bore the marks of his possession on her...

I had feared the subplot featuring Chessie would be more sinister in nature and while it was a means to an end, I don't pretend to suppose she will be completely happy with her life.

It was so nice to visit the scandalous ladies (and men) of the ton again after an eight-month absence, and I'm looking forward to doing so again with Desired (November 2011).

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Notorious.)

Cover Love

2011-07-15T14:38:00.000-04:00

England, 1888. The trees are green, the birds are singing, and in 200 years demons will destroy it all. Unless Joan, a rough-around-the-edges assassin from the future, can take out the dark magician responsible. But to get close to her target she'll need help learning how to fit into society.

Simon has his own reasons for wanting to destroy Alex Reynell, and Joan may be his perfect revenge. But as each day passes, Simon is less sure he wants her anywhere near Reynell. Because no spell in the world will save his future if she isn't in it.

Review: Taken by Fire by Sydney Croft

2011-07-12T10:12:00.004-04:00

HIS MISSION WAS TO DESTROY HER.

BUT DESIRE GOT IN THE WAY.

A product of genetic manipulation, Melanie Milan shares a body with her malevolent sister, Phoebe. A sleek, blond predator with a heart of pure darkness, Phoebe puts their body through the wicked underbelly of sex for thrills—when she’s not igniting her pyrokinetic skills for an evil organization bent on taking over the world. Melanie rarely gets out to play—much less fall in love. But that changes when rival ACRO agent Stryker Wills shows up, with a mission to terminate the woman who torched his partner.

An operative with rare abilities, Stryker soon realizes that the woman he’s about to kill isn’t the murderous fire starter he’s been hunting. But he does want her. Melanie, with the power to ice anything in her path, is heating things up in ways that are setting fire to his blood. As long as Melanie stays in control, she is his best ally to bring down her sister and stop hellish havoc from being unleashed. Walking a tightrope of longing and hate, Stryker and Melanie begin to understand that true power lies in sweet surrender to each other, to the flames between them, to the erotic adventure that’s joined their hearts and abilities to become their salvation—and perhaps the world’s.

What a great ending to a remarkable series!

When I first read Riding the Storm, I was shocked -- in a good way -- about the erotic nature of the story. It wasn't what I'd expected at all. But it was so. Very. Good.

As this series progressed, we're introduced to more characters within the ACRO world, characters I came to care deeply about. That Taken by Fire brings them back, at least those connected with the original trilogy, is a nice way to round out the series.

But, boy, were there some tense moments. Ms. Croft isn't pulling any punches in this finale, and the angst and action is at a fever pitch. The ending is worth those few fingernail biting instances, though. A great series from beginning to end.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

I Think I Love You...

2011-07-08T10:25:00.001-04:00

Game of Thrones

I haven't read the books, had honestly never heard of them until the HBO series, but now I cannot stop thinking about these characters. I've gone so far as to stalk forums for speculations and I've read each book's synopsis on Wikipedia.

Obsessed much???

Specifically, I wonder if all the questions I have -- who is Jon Snow's mother? why is his last name Snow if he wasn't born in the North? will Jon ever discover the truth? who is going to bring the Lannisters to justice and restore the peace to Westeros? -- will be answered and if the open plot threads will be tied up once all the books have been published.

I have A Game of Thrones on hold at my library, but I'm quite intimidated by the multiple points of view, the sheer number of characters and their connections/allegiances. I think my brain might explode, though I believe I have a good base for keeping everything straight, thanks to this pre-reading binge.

What I really really want to know about is Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. Somebody point me to that prequel.

Review: Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath

2011-07-06T10:14:00.007-04:00

Renowned for his bedchamber prowess, Ransom Seymour, the Duke of Ainsley, owes a debt to a friend. But the payment expected is most shocking, even to an unrepentant rake—for he’s being asked to provide his friend’s exquisite wife with what she most dearly covets: a child.

Living for pleasure, they will give their hearts to no one . . .

Lady Jayne Seymour, Marchioness of Walfort, is furious that such a scandalous agreement would be made. If she acquiesces, there must be rules: no kissing . . . and, certainly, no pleasure.

Until love takes them by surprise.

But unexpected things occur with the surprisingly tender duke—especially once Lady Jayne discovers the rogue can make her dream again . . . and Ransom realizes he’s found the one woman he truly cannot live without.

To say I loved Waking Up with a Duke would be an understatement. It consumed me from the moment I began it.

There's so much anger and guilt simmering around Jayne, Walfort, and Ainsley. Jayne blames Ainsley for Walfort's accident, which caused her to lose her child, her husband, and any future child they might have together. Ainsley carries his love of Jayne and Walfort's secret in silence, as well as the guilt for causing an accident he has no concrete memories of. Walfort is withering into nothing from the loss of his legs, and he's stopped touching or even really looking at Jayne as a result.

"I'll consider your debt paid in full if you get my wife with child."

And so Walfort lays a path for Ainsley to have Jayne, despite both men believing Jayne would never agree to such a scheme.

Ms. Heath does an excellent job with the entire tangle of emotions as Ainsley and Jayne embark on their month together in the country and their longing for one another when they part. Their entire spectrum of feelings pop from the page, and everything they feel is palpable and true. She even makes Walfort a little bit likeable (I felt some sympathy for him) when he realizes that Jayne has fallen in love with Ainsley.

A wonderful, wonderful, wonderful end to a trilogy I'm so sad to see completed. Waking Up with the Duke had me on the edge of my seat, tears in my eyes, until the end.

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of Waking Up with the Duke.)

Review: In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare

2011-07-06T09:53:00.050-04:00

Chivalry is far from undead...

Matthew Halkett, Earl of Blodswell, is one of the few men in the ton who can claim to be a knight in shining armor- because that's precisely what he was before being turned into a vampyre. When he spies a damsel in distress in the midst of a storm in Hyde Park, his natural instinct is to rush to her aid...

But not every woman needs to be rescued...

Weather-controlling witch Rhiannon Sinclair isn't caught in a storm-she's the cause of it. She's mortified to have been caught making trouble by the imposing earl, but she doesn't need any man-never has, and is sure she never will...

But when Rhiannon encounters Matthew again, her powers go awry and his supernatural abilities run amok. Between the two of them, the ton is thrown into an uproar. There's never been a more tempestuous scandal...

I was a little disappointed in this book. Given "clues" in the previous book of the series, It Happened One Bite, I assumed the heroine for the next novel would be Sorcha, the youngest witch in the coven. When I learned the heroine would be Rhiannon, I was quite surprised, simply because we the reader don't know much about her, other than her magical abilities concerning the weather. Turns out, she had a lot to deal with: neglectful father, younger sister, hateful aunt.

Matthew, the Earl of Blodswell, also has problems: he's a vampire who's started having chest pains when he spies Rhiannon having a temper tantrum in the park. Then his fangs won't distend, except for Rhiannon.

(Sing it with me now -- "Rhiannnnnon...")

There didn't seem to be much conflict between Rhiannon and Matthew, or perhaps I didn't believe it. All reasoning for why they shouldn't be together is the same as that in It Happened One Bite with Blaire and James, except any sexual tension that might be present because Blaire fights her attraction to James isn't because Rhiannon gives into hers.

No one was turned; no one got into a fight. In the Heat of the Bite felt like a "filler" book, and I almost believe Rhiannon and Matthew would have been better served as a secondary romance over the course of these last three books. But I plan to read the final book in the series, Never Been Bit, to see Sorcha get her man and hopefully witness Elspeth give birth.

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of In the Heat of the Bite.)

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T08:26:00.001-04:00

I shall be celebrating with my family and fireworks and food. Hope your Fourth of July is as spectatular!!

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-06-30T13:27:00.037-04:00

Review: Nightfall by Ellen Connor

2011-06-23T08:31:00.000-04:00

Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought in her wildest nightmares that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna's father. Skilled and steadfast, he's ready for the prophesied Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.

When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.

Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty writing as one? Okay, I'm sold. Add in the post-apocalypse and romance, and this is a series I definitely want to read.

I'm not a fan of Doomsday romances. True, I've never read one but finding romance during (or after) the end of the world is not my cup of tea.

Nightfall is so much more than that.

We the reader are introduced to the new Dark Age as the heroine, Jenna, is introduced to it. Yes, she's heard about such things from her father, but he's long dead. When a man who claims he was sent by her father to protect her tosses her in the trunk of her car and takes her to a cabin in the woods, one could assume this is the makings of a horror.

Nightfall is so much more than that.

Jenna tells us of the prophecy her father clung to and as we meet the six other people she and Mason invite into their sanctuary, we learn she's believing her father's teachings. As they struggle to survive, the implications of what has happened to the other side of the country hits them full-force, and I believe all of them are changed forever.

The ending, specifically the epilogue, felt a little sudden, but I'm hopeful the next two books in the series will fill in any blanks. I'm also anxious to learn more about these characters as we move forward into the new Dark Age.

Review: Baby, Come Home by Stephanie Bond

2011-06-21T11:40:00.005-04:00

The hardheaded Armstrong brothers are determined to rebuild their tornado-ravaged hometown in the Georgia mountains. They’ve got the means, they’ve got the manpower…what they need are women! So they place an ad in a Northern newspaper and wait for the ladies to arrive…

Sensible yet sexy middle brother Kendall Armstrong penned that ad himself—but there’s just one woman he really wants to answer the call…

Civil engineer Amy Bradshaw—Kendall’s ex-fiancée—fled Sweetness years ago, taking a precious souvenir with her. She’s back now…but only on a professional level. Really. Little does she know that old flames always burn the hottest…

Holly from Book Binge tweeted as she read this book. So yes, I was spoiled for the big reveal [spoiler] Tony is Amy's and Kendall's son whom Kendall has no idea about [/end spoiler], but I thought Ms. Bond handled it appropriately until time for the serious conversation.

Amy and Kendall grew up in Sweetness, and Amy assumed she and Kendall would get married, then go see the world (aka leave their small town behind). Kendall, however, joined the armed forces and decided he would see the world, then return to Sweetness to settle down with Amy. Since their goals for their joined future was different, the couple split apart.

It is obvious that Kendall had never forgotten Amy -- why would he post the advertisement to come to Sweetness in her hometown newspaper if he had? -- but I'm not certain Amy's feelings are as transparent.

SPOILERS BELOW

I wanted to have a better connection with Amy and Kendall, respectively and as a newly reunited couple, since once Tony arrived on the scene, there was no more keeping him a secret. While I liked them, I wasn't rooting for their reconciliation, nor did I really agree with the ease at which Kendall and Tony took to one another. Given Tony's tween attitude toward his mother, it seems he would have been more rebellious around Kendall.

(A very special thank you to Harlequin, MIRA, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Baby, Come Home.)

Cover Love

2011-06-16T12:51:00.007-04:00

He awakened a need within her…

Cole is successful beyond his dreams. He can have any woman he wants, but there’s only one he can’t stop thinking about. His childhood sweetheart, Renita. He’s never forgotten his first taste of innocent love and the desire that consumed them—or the pain he brought upon her…

But now she belongs to another…

Her long ago brush with submission awakened a longing in Ren that drove her to walk the darker edge of desire. She’s become a beautiful woman at ease with her sexuality and unapologetic about her need for a dominant man. When Cole finds her again, he’s gutted that she belongs to another. Ren’s current master agrees to give her to Cole for a short time, but then she must return to his keeping. And though Cole agrees to this bargain, he knows he will never be able to let Ren go again…

Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

2011-06-10T10:55:00.004-04:00

Half human and half Wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the Wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful--and passionate--of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of the Wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in each other.

Pia knows she must repay Dragos for her trespass, but refuses to become his slave--although she cannot deny wanting him, body and soul...

My Twitter stream was BUZZING about this book. Everywhere I turned, I saw good things and high praise. Because of that, my expectations were elevated, and I found myself a bit disappointed because I didn't love it as much as everyone else.

Don't misunderstand -- Dragon Bound is a very good book and a great start to an intriguing paranormal romance series. It's a series I hope will bring characters we met to the forefront in subsequent books yet still strive to tell the plot arc(s) we learn as this world unfolds. The big picture, if you will, like who or what exactly is Pia's mother.

The worldbuilding was phenomenal. I found myself able to dive right in without having to backtrack to understand various components of the interlocking Other realms. I loved Pia and Dragos together, though his possessiveness at first was off-putting. Yes, he's an ultimate alpha; I wanted him to question why he wants her so much, why he couldn't control his feelings around her. (Don't alphas do that?) Pia was more difficult to pin down because of her...personality, I suppose. Maybe it's not her personality so much as her reaction to various instances: the dream she and Dragos share; the aftermath of fighting the goblins; when they arrive in Manhattan.

Regardless, I'm glad I caved to the peer pressure and read Dragon Bound. I'm looking forward to Storm's Heart very much (c'mon August).

Review: Unlocked by Courtney Milan

2011-06-08T09:22:00.002-04:00

A perpetual wallflower destined for spinsterhood, Lady Elaine Warren is resigned to her position in society. So when Evan Carlton, the powerful, popular Earl of Westfeld, singles her out upon his return to England, she knows what it means. Her former tormenter is up to his old tricks, and she’s his intended victim. This time, though, the earl is going to discover that wallflowers can fight back.

Evan has come to regret his cruel, callow past. At first, he only wants to make up for past wrongs. But when Elaine throws his initial apology in his face, he finds himself wanting more. And this time, what torments him might be love…

A very special thank you to Mandi from Smexybooks for posting on her Goodreads that she was reading this novella. I'm a late-comer to Ms. Milan's work, meaning that although I heard great things about her first two books, I fell in love with her writing in Unveiled. Unlocked continues the tradition because I loved it too.

Bullying is a common word in today's society. To see it on the page in Victorian England, well, that was quite a shock. Evan Carlton has a secret love for Elaine Warren. How he makes this love known (or perhaps how he comes to terms with it) is by making jokes at her expense. It began in Elaine's first Season, when Evan attempts to pinpoint what animal she most sounds like when she laughs. Ten years later, Evan's friends, particularly his cousin, Diana, have continued the tradition of poking fun at Lady Equine.

When Evan sees her at the weekend house party, he wants to apologize, but Elaine will not accept. He finds her in tears and dishabille the following evening, which only serves to bring his attraction to her to light. By the end of the weekend, and after two passionate kisses, Evan vows to be Elaine's friend.

What I loved about Unlocked is that it pushes so many real emotions into a work of 100 pages. It is easy to relate to Elaine and to Evan. As Elaine finally discovers the true depths of Evan's love nine months after their friendship began, she is able to open her heart to him fully. A wonderful novella, all the way around.

Review: One Whisper Away by Emma Wildes

2011-06-06T11:03:00.036-04:00

Lady Cecily Francis is resigned to become the wife of Lord Drury, the man she suspects her sister is pining for. But upon her first scandalous encounter with the exotic Earl of Augustine-the American whom everyone is whispering about- Cecily is intrigued by the possibility of a more exciting life. If only she could contrive some way to marry the unconventional earl instead....

Around town he's known as Earl Savage. Although he inherited his title legitimately-and, with it, responsibility for his three half sisters-Augustine is half American and part Iroquois. He can't wait to settle his father's estate, marry his sisters off, and return to his native soil. Until charming Lady Cecily has him considering a prolonged stay in England...

Cecily Francis is immediately intrigued by Jonathan, the Earl of Augustine. He tests the bounds of common decency time and time again, yet while Cecily craves love and not an arranged marriage, she's not certain she could marry Lord Drury because she believes her sister Eleanor is in love with him.

Given their mutual attraction to one another, she tempts fate by suggesting an "engagement" to Jonathan, hoping to steer Eleanor and Drury together. Once Jonathan has his father's affairs in order and his three half-sisters married, he will return to America and their engagement will end.

"A long engagement is not unusual. We needn't make this complicated."

"It's already complicated."

He had a point. She smiled; please with the way he looked at her, as if the trappings of the dress, the fine furnishings, her carefully ordered hair, didn't matter because he was looking into her eyes. "How so?"

...

"Because of you," he said, not doing anything but just giving her a fascinating masculine grin. "Because of me. Because I kissed you. Because you kissed me back. If you think this is going to be simple, you're wrong."

Cecily is clever and observant, yet she does not hold form with thinking of Jonathan as the stereotypical "Earl Savage". In turn, Jonathan, while attracted to Cecily's beauty, comes to love her for her acceptance and sweet attitude. These are two individuals swept into a passionate love affair thanks in part to a societal faux pas. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Wildes has in store for the remaining heroines of this trilogy.

(A very special thank you to Signet Eclipse for providing me with an ARC of One Whisper Away.)

Review: Lady of Seduction by Laurel McKee

2011-06-03T09:47:00.019-04:00

It's a mad, ill-advised journey that leads the usually sensible Lady Caroline Blacknall to the legendary isle of Muirin Inish, off the windswept coast of Ireland. Even so, she doesn't expect to find herself shipwrecked and then rescued by a man she believed she would never see again. A man who, long ago, held her life in his hands . . . and with it, her heart.

Reformed rake Sir Grant Dunmore knew he could never forget the beautiful woman he once endangered nor will he ever forgive himself. But history seems doomed to repeat itself, for as long as Caroline stays on the island, she is trapped in a secret plot that could forever free Ireland-or turn deadly for all. And yet, now that she is in his arms again, how can he dream of ever letting her go?

What an exciting ending to a trilogy! It's rare that I enjoy subsequent books more than the first of a series, but Lady of Seduction really kept me on my toes. There's nonstop action and revolutionary plots in keeping with the Irish Rebellion and its fallout, and the you-save-me-I-save-you to and fro between Caroline and Grant is superb. On top of all that, they have great chemistry with one another. Lady of Seduction has everything a romance lover could want!

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Lady of Seduction.)

Review: The Legend of Michael by Lisa Marie Jones

2011-06-01T10:03:00.001-04:00

He is sin and satisfaction, lust and damnation, a lethal weapon created from greed. A human soldier injected with alien DNA, he is a legend. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side, and returned to the light. Women desire him, hungry for his raw passion. Men envy his power; they lust to control him. But there is no controlling a creature such as he, no taming the primal fires within him. Michael revels in his superior strength and trains as a fighting machine. But when he encounters scientist Cassandra Powell, he begins to long for a more human connection...

I was really intrigued by the premise of The Legend of Michael. Unfortunately, while I finished the novel, it was slow-going to get there with detours that I felt detracted from the romance aspect.

We're introduced to Cassandra Powell first. She's a scientist whose father is a general and commander of the GTECHs, a group of alien DNA enhanced soldiers. She's been brought in to study and document the GTECHs and their mutations for research and testing purposes. Cassandra and Michael meet in the hallway of the base her first day on the job, and they're instantly attracted to one another. She reluctantly agrees to coffee, then we skip ahead of their next four dates. There is a six-month time skip, and Cassandra and Michael are in a serious romance. Due to his genetics, he can bond with a woman -- which he does with Cassandra -- though he swears her to secrecy. It's a good thing, too, because there's a war brewing within the GTECHs, and Michael abandons Cassandra to fight on the side of evil.

Skip ahead two years...

The Legend of Michael is definitely an action-based plot with the romance between Cassandra and Michael taking a secondary status in the narrative. The fact that we don't see the romance build between them is very frustrating.

The over-the-top villains are an ode to comic books, as the bioweapon is called Green Lantern and its antidote Red Dart, but I didn't enjoy them. Adam and Ava and their motley crew could have been a serious psychological threat, despite the fact that Michael spent two years as Adam's right-hand man. They were almost Dr. Evil-ish in their appearances within the novel. There were secondary characters I'd have rather learned more about, such as Caleb, though it seems he will not have his own book within the trilogy.

Perhaps I had too high hopes going into this series as I've enjoyed Ms. Jones' Harlequin Blazes. Ultimately, it was a struggle to finish this book.

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca who provided me with an ARC of The Legend of Michael.)

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-05-31T13:06:00.031-04:00

Review: Baby, Drive South by Stephanie Bond

2011-05-25T08:45:00.079-04:00

SOUTHERN TOWN SEEKS SINGLE WOMEN. LOTS OF THEM!

The hardheaded Armstrong brothers are determined to rebuild their tornado-ravaged hometown in the Georgia mountains. They’ve got the means, they’ve got the manpower…what they need are women! So they place an ad in a northern newspaper and wait for the ladies to answer their call…

Porter, the youngest Armstrong, is all for importing women. Still, he’s so blown away by the sheer numbers, he falls off the water tower. Luckily there’s a doctor among the newcomers—sweet and sexy Dr. Nikki Salinger.

And Porter has every intention of checking out her bedside manner…

A newspaper ad placed in a dying Northern metropolitan area inviting females to move to a (practically) dead Southern town -- genius! Through the course of Baby, Drive South, we learn that Kendall, the middle brother who placed the ad, had ulterior motives for doing so.

But I'm jumping the gun.

Ten years after the events of Baby, I'm Yours, the Armstrong brothers have returned to their hometown on Sweetness, Georgia, set on rebuilding it. They've been away serving their country in various divisions of the armed forces. Now they're back with a strong-ish plan on how to restore and rebuild the town.

Porter has his comedic, klutzy moments and is quite convinced he isn't attracted to Nikki in the least. He manages to offend her almost at every turn. That's not to say that Nikki is prickly or jumpy; she just believes she's made a mistake by coming to Sweetness (essentially running from her broken heart), especially when the men working to rebuild the town won't take medical advice from a female doctor.

Porter's assignment from his brothers to keep Nikki in town at all costs is an issue only when Nikki finds out, though Porter has lied to her regularly, which doesn't look good. His romantic feelings at the time of this reveal far outweigh his desire to keep her in town simply because she's an "in" with the ladies. Nikki, however, isn't convinced Porter wants her romantically because he has lied to her in the recent past. His grand gesture to prove he does love her puts him in almost the identical predicament they met under, so you can gather that a future with Porter would not be boring.

I'm a big fan of Ms. Bond's Harlequin Blaze books, so I was fairly confident I'd enjoy this series. I'm very interested to read the remainder of the trilogy, particularly given Holly from The Book Binge tweets about book 2, Baby, Come Home, and I'm curious to see what kind of woman will end up with the eldest brother, Marcus. Also, of course, I want to see a happy ending and new beginning for the town of Sweetness.

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Baby, Drive South.)

Review: Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr

2011-05-23T09:48:00.039-04:00

Second in line, first in love

A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure, finding forbidden fantasy.

London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

There is a lot to like about this story based on the cover copy, and I did enjoy Viola and Leo as separate entities. Both are fully drawn and formed on the page; Viola as a courtesan and author is such a treat, and the secondary characters in The League of Second Sons are very intriguing too. What I didn't like was the romance or seduction between Viola and Leo.

Oh, I believed they were in lust, and I believed they wanted the other very badly; I just didn't believe they fell in love with one another. That being said, however, I do think they'll have a very idyllic life together in the country.

I also didn't like Charles, the villain, who is SUCH a villain with no comeuppance until the very end. That he and Leo are family despite being after the same fortune shouldn't have hindered Leo from beating Charles about the head several times for his misdeeds.

Regardless of my lukewarm feelings toward Ripe for Pleasure, I am very interested to read Ripe for Scandal. Men romancing the little sisters of their friends is a favorite trope of mine.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Ripe for Pleasure.)

Review: Never Again by Michele Bardsley

2011-05-20T09:54:00.057-04:00

Welcome to Nevermore, Texas, population 503, where witches and wizards live side by side with humans. Small towns like Nevermore are vanishing in America--and in this case, that could be the work of a freelancing witch...

CURSED AND DOUBLE CURSED

Lucinda Rackmore never would have been caught dead in a town like Nevermore. Of course, that was before the "great reckoning" drained the family finances and her former lover, ruthless master wizard Bernard Franco, snuffed out Lucy's magical abilities.

But can Lucy really expect protection from the Guardian of Nevermore, her ex-brother-in-law, Gray Calhoun? Gray wants nothing to do with her--and Lucy can't blame him. Not after her sister sacrificed him to a demon lord. Still, with everyone in town looking to settle a score with the Rackmores and Bernard bent on dragging Lucy back into his clutches, Gray might be her only hope for survival...

What first attracted me to this book was the cover. Yes, I'm shallow, and I can admit it. Then I read the back cover -- wizards, dragons, magical beings; okay, I'm pleasantly intrigued! I've never been a big fan of fantasy, but stick some magic in a small town and apparently I cannot look away. (See On The Edge by Ilona Andrews.)

The initial issue between Gray and Lucy is that they're ex-in-laws, and Gray was wronged -- horribly wronged -- by Lucy's sister, so to say Lucy showing up at his door unannounced is a happy time is a lie. Gray turns Lucy away, then feels instantly bad. Because she's got a bit of a head start, he has to "chase" her around town in order to tell her he acted rashly. All the while, he gets a good look at the town of Nevermore, surprised and horrified that he, as Guardian, has let the town fall to ruin. When townspeople start dropping like flies, Gray understands there's a serious problem.

Attempting to summarize any further would make a convoluted mess. That's not to say the plot is intricate or confusing; there's just a lot happening. And A LOT happens in a short time. Never Again is a fast-paced book, one I enjoyed, but a book nonetheless that left me with questions once I reached the end. As it's the first in a trilogy, I hope we're able to pick up the story immediately in Now or Never.

Review: Baby, I'm Yours by Stephanie Bond

2011-05-18T08:37:00.026-04:00

Emory Maxwell has come home to the small town of Sweetness, Georgia, with one goal in mind—to get his childhood sweetheart Shelby Moon to marry him. They've been in love with the second grade, but Shelby's father is determined to keep his daughter in Sweetness, not moving around the country as a soldier's wife. No matter what she chooses, Shelby knows she'll hurt one of the men she loves.

But when a tornado rips through town, will she and Emory lose their chance to be together forever?

An ebook prequel to Ms. Bond's new contemporary romance series featuring the Armstrong brothers returning to their town of Sweetness, Georgia. Porter Armstrong, hero of Baby, Drive South, makes an appearance in this novella.

Emory is determined to ask Shelby to marry him despite not having a plan, not asking her father for his blessing, or not getting along with Shelby's father period. What made this story emotional for me is the timing of when I read it -- the destructive tornadoes in Alabama had just happened -- so to see an entire town literally taken off the map and read various townspeople's emotional reaction to the storm and its aftermath was unexpected. I do wonder if we'll meet Emory and Shelby again, perhaps in the final book of the series, because we last saw them driving out of Sweetness as husband and wife.

Cover Love

2011-05-16T09:09:00.000-04:00

A witch desperate to save her brother is forced to team up with the witch hunter who doesn’t know she carries the same bloody stigma as the brother he’s hunting.

Prepared to risk everything on a nest of half-truths and lies, witch and witch hunter form an unwitting bond—a bond based on blood, murder and an attraction so devastating, it will put everything they know in danger. In the aptly monikered City of Glass, the once-unbreakable threads of loyalty will be put to the ultimate test.

Giveway (Redux) - The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

2011-05-12T08:42:00.013-04:00

Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.

PASSION IGNITED
After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he's long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas - and he won't take no for an answer.

Thanks to Hachette Book Group and Forever Romance, I'm giving away one copy of The Guardian by Margaret Mallory. Please leave a comment on this post, and I'll draw the winner via random.org on Monday, May 16th (extended due to Blogger's outage).

Review: The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

2011-05-11T09:46:00.059-04:00

Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.

PASSION IGNITED

After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he's long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas - and he won't take no for an answer.

Ms. Mallory's books are so great, honestly. If you're a history buff, love romance, and well-written books (like me), she's a wonderful author to follow. I enjoyed her debut trilogy, so I was very excited to discover she had a new quartet of books on the horizon. The Guardian, the first in the new series, doesn't disappoint.

Ian MacDonald has known and protected Sileas since they were small children. She was the girl he invited on his jaunts with his friends, the girl he wouldn't leave behind. Such childhood affection doesn't translate into adult love, however, especially when Ian and Sileas are caught in an innocent yet compromising position and they are forced to marry.

Five years later Ian returns from France dead-set on putting Sileas aside to marry someone -- anyone -- else. Except Sileas isn't the same girl he left behind. She's stronger, fiery and passionate, and is not about to let Ian swoop in and break her heart again.

I enjoyed the fact that Sileas wanted to make Ian earn her trust and her love again rather than immediately be happy and accept Ian had come home and now wanted to make a true marriage with her. Given the Scottish Highland setting, there are warring clans and political strife as conflicts but those play nicely into the storyline without overshadowing the romance of Ian and Sileas. I cannot wait to read Alex's book, The Sinner (November 2011.)

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance, Hachette Book Group, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Guardian.)

Review: Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke

2011-05-09T11:25:00.031-04:00

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?

Enemies to lovers is a trope I enjoy time and time again. While Julia and Aidan aren't necessarily enemies, theirs is a chafing sort of existence: they tolerate one another. Aidan is engaged to Julia's cousin, Beatrix, so she'd willing to tolerate him for the sake of Bea's happiness. Julia's behaviors aren't what Aidan would consider ladylike, but he's willing to tolerate her and what he considers her negative effects on Bea.

Once the engagement is off, however, and after Aidan and Julia are caught in flagrante delicto, they keep bumping into one another in various social circles. It's unusual for Aidan because every time he sees Julia again, he cannot stop thinking about her or the first time he met her and how much she's changed from that girl.

Julia never meant to hurt or scandalize Aidan with their sexual encounter. She timed it perfectly to the arrival of her husband, however, and testified in open court, so it's safe to say Aidan is almost as ruined as she. They want to stay away from one another; they simply cannot.

I was surprised by the lengths at which Julia would go to escape her marriage and why she hadn't attempted such a feat before. I also felt the ending was rushed and a bit of a compromise for Julia, given her reaction toward marriage and re-marriage.

Review: Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee

2011-05-04T10:01:00.001-04:00

Blonde and beautiful Lady Anna Blacknall is in the mood for mischief. Entering Dublin's most notorious den of vice, she finds herself in the arms of a mysterious, emerald-eyed Irishman. And although he is masked, his tender kiss is hauntingly familiar.

Conlan McTeer, Duke of Adair, has come to Dublin to fight for a free Ireland. But he's suddenly reunited with the young Englishwoman who had once claimed his heart, and his passion turns from politics to pleasure. When their sizzling encounter brings danger to Anna's door, she must decide where her loyalties lie-and quickly. For someone will do whatever it takes to destroy Conlan . . . and anyone he dares to love.

Lady Anna Blacknall, introduced in the first book of the Daughters of Erin trilogy, Countess of Scandal, and almost overtook her sister in my mind as the more intriguing heroine. Anna, unfortunately, suffers harm during her family's escape of the uprising, but she meets the dark and mysterious Duke of Adair while on the run. In Duchess of Sin, Anna is still a bit of a wild child, not doing proper or safe things, though she is at times haunted by what she went through, yet she's willing to put aside her desires and marry a safe, respected man who can offer protection to her mother and her sister.

Conlan has been intrigued with Anna since their meeting during the uprising and somehow he cannot forget her. When he spots her masked in the Olympian Club, it leads to their reconnection -- and the fact that they continue to attract one another regardless of their respective devotions not to. As with Countess of Scandal, the political climate is an intense one and does offer immediate tension throughout the novel.

Just as Anna overshadowed Eliza, the youngest Blacknall, Caroline, is something to behold. I'm very interested to read her book, Lady of Seduction (June 2011).

Review: The Chase by Erin McCarthy

2011-05-02T11:20:00.008-04:00

When racing for the checkered flag...
Kendall Holbrook is determined to make it to the top, even with the challenge of being a woman on the male-dominated racing circuit. She doesn’t have time for romance--especially not with racing rival Evan Monroe, the man who nearly crushed her dreams years ago. Forced into meeting up with him, Kendall is experiencing all those old feelings again--and she can’t deny that they still have more than enough chemistry to set fire to the track.

...expect a few speed bumps.
After getting dropped by his biggest sponsor, Evan is watching his racing season go up in flames. Now, the only replacement available is completely humiliating: a co-sponsorship for his-and-her deodorant with Kendall Holbrook--the girl who once broke his heart. Acting like Kendall doesn’t still get him all hot and bothered is bad enough, but the biggest challenge awaits him on the track--where Evan has to decide if a second chance at love is more important than making it to the finish line…

I have been following Ms. McCarthy's Fast Track series since the beginning. Flat-Out Sexy is still one of my favorite contemporary romances. The problem I have with this series is that I inhale it, meaning other life and responsibilities don't exist. I guess that's a good problem to have! Of the four books thus far in the series, however, I'm sorry to say this is the one I've enjoyed the least.

Kendall Holbrook felt thrust upon me, as if I was supposed to immediately like her from the get-go. She's the first female driver in NASCAR, and she's certainly qualified to be in that position, given her knowledge of racing and race cars. She also has a past with Evan Monroe, so it's only natural theirs would be a rocky reunion. It seems to me they would have passed one another in the garage or pit areas at various racetracks, despite being in different areas of the NASCAR arena (she in the truck series; he in the Sprint Cup racing series).

Perhaps their reconnection romance would have been better told as a subplot in another Fast Track series book. There was nothing that really connected me to Kendall and Evan, no learning (or relearning in this case) or watching them grow into their romantic relationship and subsequent marriage.

I am looking forward to Slow Ride (October 2011), and I'm confident it'll help return my giddy feelings about this series.

(A very special thank you to Berkley Sensation, who provided me with an ARC of The Chase.)

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-04-28T13:02:00.000-04:00

Review: Unveiled by Courtney Milan

2011-04-25T10:52:00.005-04:00

He was her bitterest enemy….
Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family, and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom, and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But when he arrives, he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance.…

And her dearest love
Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who’s stolen her fortune and her father’s legacy—the man she’s been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties—and the tantalizing promise of passion….

Ash Turner may be the most perfect historical romance hero. He's driven, of course, but he's respectful and patient and very intriguing.... It's no wonder Lady Margaret cannot seem to keep her mind off him.

What's interesting about Ash is that he wants Margaret, plain and simple, at first glance, regardless of her station in life. He sees her on the steps of Parford Manor, and he's immediately intrigued. Because Ash is a go-get-it kind of man, well, he's going to "get" Margaret; rather -- and luckily for us readers -- he hopes Margaret will come to him, a backwards seduction of sorts.

Also lucky for us, Margaret cannot seem to resist the man, despite knowing she should hate him for what he's doing to her family. Honestly, who could deny a man who said things like this:

"Miss Lowell, you magnificent creature, I want you to paint your own canvas. I want you to unveil yourself."

It's a testament to Ms. Milan's writing style that Ash is an extremely sympathetic and relateable character when he could easily turn into a jerk. Despite his motivation for revenge, however, Ash isn't hellbent upon it, given how he reacts to news during the legitimacy hearings and we discover just how far he's willing to go on Margaret's behalf.

This is the first book of Ms. Milan's I've read, but I can already admit I'm looking forward to more, especially Ash's brother, Mark, in Unclaimed (October 2011).

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of Unveiled.)

Review: The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

2011-04-22T09:53:00.036-04:00

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs in the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley, even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Her life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his sights to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

Notwithstanding the cover, well, it's difficult to look past the cover, isn't it? Man titty, ahoy! Actually, my favorite part of the cover may be the "hip divot". But seriously, open the book and read a really great erotic romance.

Ms. Burton was one of the first erotic romance authors I ever read six years ago. I remember blushing even now. (Oh how times have changed.) While I've dabbled in some of her other series, I've never been hooked by them, so I was very happy when I found out she was writing a contemporary sports-themed series.

I breezed through The Perfect Play over the course of two days, and I really liked it a lot! There's sex -- of course, it's an erotic romance -- but it's not overly done. There's some moments of tension, one which I thought would become the "Big Misunderstanding" that might ultimately break Mick and Tara apart. It features a secondary character, Liz, who is the heroine of the second book Changing the Game, and I'm interested to see if Ms. Burton can make Liz a likeable heroine because she's a true piece of work in The Perfect Play.

Regardless, The Perfect Play had exactly what I needed. It was, in a word, perfect.

Review: Never a Gentleman by Eileen Dreyer

2011-04-20T12:22:00.093-04:00

HE HIDES HIS TRUE COLORS . . .

Miss Grace Fairchild is under no illusions about her charms. Painfully plain, she is a soldier's daughter who has spent her life being useful, not learning the treacherous ways of the ton. She may have been caught in a scandal with society's favorite rogue, but how can she marry him when it means losing herself?

WHILE SHE HIDES HER TRUE SELF . . .

Diccan Hilliard doesn't know which of his enemies drugged him and dumped him in Grace's bed, but he does know the outcome. He and Grace must marry. To his surprise, a wild, heady passion flares between them. Yet Diccan is trapped in a deadly game of intrigue Grace knows nothing about. Will his lies destroy Grace just as he realizes how desperately he needs her? And how can he hope for a future with her, when an old enemy has set his murderous sights on them both?

After Grace Fairchild's introduction in Barely a Lady, I wasn't certain she would have "major heroine" appeal. She was fine in the background, content to be there when and wherever she was needed. But Grace rarely thought of herself. Lead heroines, I think, have to be a little bit selfish or certainly have a little bit of gumption and get-up-and-go, if you will. If I'd doubted her ability as the heroine of her own book after reading Never a Gentleman, I doubt it no more.

For a moment she lay where she was, eyes closed, pain shooting up her bad leg, her stomach threatening revolt. All the heat that had blossomed in her died. She was dizzy and dry-mouthed and confused. And, evidently, lying on the floor of a strange man's bedroom, trapped by his sheets. Christ save her, how could that be?

It's easy to fall in love with romance heroes. Truly. And there are some heroines whom I at times envy (then I remember there's no deodorant or Excedrin Migraine or Coca-Cola in Regency England, and I thank my lucky stars). But rarely is there a heroine I completely love and want to protect and shelter and hug until she cannot stand my hugs any longer. That heroine, my friends, is Grace Fairchild.

The first thing I want to hug her for is the fact that she's been drugged and married without her consent to Diccan Hilliard.

It would be easy. She spent her life being what people expected: daughter, friend, nurse, housekeeper, guard, birth and burial attendant. She would just have to learn what it was Diccan needed, and be that. She had no idea how to earn Diccan's love. But she was very good at being needed.

You see, Grace believes she's plain and a cripple and there's no way she's going to change that opinion, thank you very much. She's much beloved by those she knows -- Olivia, Bea and Kate, as well as a number of men under her father's command at various times -- and once she reveals that part of her strength and determination, people previously unaffected by her come to love her. Diccan's valet, Biddle, for instance:

Behind him the coachman laughed. "Wield a gun, is it? She didn't just wield it. She shot the lights outa one cove and brought t'other to pissin' his pants."

"She saved our lives," Biddle insisted, and Diccan was stunned to see an abject light of devotion in his valet's eyes. Good Lord, what was the world coming to?

But as this is a romance, it certainly won't do for everyone but Diccan to love Grace. Unfortunately, well, Diccan is quite unlikeable, particularly after one instance about halfway through the novel which Grace witnesses, thanks to her uncle's meddling. It's a part Diccan's playing, what the reader and Grace have seen, but that's not to say he isn't a first-class bastard while playing said part because he totally is!

Yes, she thought, Diccan had betrayed her. That would never hurt any less. It could never be forgotten, and she wasn't certain it could be forgiven.

Ms. Dreyer is then tasked with making Diccan show real concern and love for Grace once he's alerted that she witnessed what she witnessed; he himself admits he feels "a real regard" for her and that keeping her at arm's length would keep her out of danger. Because he wants her out of danger, however, that means she's thrust straight into the middle of it, and Diccan naturally becomes a changed man when Grace's life is at stake.

How could he not have realized that hidden beneath that plain wrapping lay the most precious of gems?

Of course, that's not to say theirs is an easy romance. Oh no. Grace shall not so easily forgive, and Diccan cannot so easily prove his love by simply saying the words aloud. Also still yet for Grace and Diccan to overcome is the fact that they aren't truly married. If you've made it this far, you have to hang on for the rest of the ride. Never a Gentleman was a historical romance full of emotional highs and lows, and I loved every moment.

(A very special thank you to Forever Romance and Hachette Book Group for providing me with an ARC of Never a Gentleman.)

Tell Me a Story...

2011-04-18T09:24:00.047-04:00

I'm so excited to have Ms. Eileen Dreyer as a guest on the blog today. We're talking about Drake's Rakes, her historical romance trilogy centered around the Napoleonic conflict.

I was just amazed by Olivia's story in Barely a Lady. The twists and turns -- my goodness! Did you have each one of those plotted or were some pleasant surprises along the way?

Thank you so much. I'm really delighted. Actually, I have a problem when I write. I call it Toilet Tank Syndrome. I'm convinced that somebody somewhere is going to be reading my book on a toilet and think, "When I get to the end of the chapter, I'll stop for now," leave the book on the top of the tank, and just forget it, because it wasn't that interesting. So even after I have my plot laid out, I'm compelled to twist it a couple more times along the way. In fact, when I started the book, there was no Jamie. He just kind of showed up.

We're introduced to Grace Fairchild in Barely a Lady, and she takes center stage in Never a Gentleman. Yet Diccan Hilliard is not who I would have pictured her with in any kind of entanglement. (I pictured her with Kit, truth be told.) I'm interested to read about Grace and Diccan's squabbles; if the excerpts I've read are any indication, I'm sure they will be doozies! Is that kind of I-hate-you-but-I'll-soon-love-you banter difficult to make believable?

I know. I first thought it would be Kit, too. Don't worry. Kit gets his own book. But I realized that for Grace I needed her exact opposite, or she'd never be forced to stand up for herself and come out of her shell.

As for the I-hate-you factor, I love writing characters standing toe-to-toe. I grew up on John Wayne-Maureen O'Hara movies.(you want sparks, wait til you read Kate's book). The hard part is to know when to begin easing off. I can't tolerate books where they're hating each other (with the occasional--or frequent--stop for hot sex) until the last two pages of the book. I need to see them figure out how to negotiate better, or I'm not going to believe they have a chance.

As for Diccan and Grace, Diccan is angry, but once he realizes that Grace couldn't possibly have set him up, he focuses his anger on the situation rather than her. Their interaction grows and changes quite a bit through the book as the two of them grow into the marriage and overcome the increasingly harsh interference from Diccan's undercover activities and the villains he's trying to bring down.

(As an aside, and if I can gush for a moment, I finished Never a Gentleman today, and I just absolutely loved it. LOVED it.)

Oh, I'm REALLY glad. It's been very interesting. I was checking on some of the open reading sites(authors can never stay away from reviews), and for the first time in my career, the reviews were split dead even between 5s and 1s. I think(I hope) that people who came to this book with a more thoughtful attitude got more out of it, rather than just saw the action that might appear to be offensive. Yes, there are places where Diccan is horrible. He has to be. And it hurts Grace. And I know Grace doesn't always react the way some readers want her to. They want her stronger and more self-assured from the outset. But that's the point. She ISN"T self-assured. She's never learned how to expect any better, and in this book she learns. I love Grace to death, much more now that I've written her book. I truly think she's my favorite heroine I've ever done. So I'm delighted that you loved her, too.

In a way, I feel like Barely a Lady, Never a Gentleman, and Always a Temptress should be subtitled "The Graces" since Olivia Grace, Grace Fairchild, and Her Grace, Lady Kate Gilbey are the heroines. Are more Drake's Rakes in the future? I would love to see Kit and Chuffy in particular in love while trying to maintain service to God and country.

You discovered my secret. The series was originally a trilogy named THE THREE GRACES. But then I realized that they had to have heroes, and that the heroes were spies, whom I casually called Drake's Rakes, and the marketing department of Grand Central went wild. So Drake's Rakes it is. As for future books, keep your fingers crossed. I think there are six more books, with Marcus Drake the last hero. He REALLY has secrets. And wait until you see who his heroine is. And I knew the minute Chuffy first mistook Corunna for Cornwall that I had to give him his own love. The funny thing is that it was only last night that I realized who she was, and I've been giggling all day. As much as I love Chuff, he's not a lead hero. But he will have his place in one of the books, I promise. People just have to tell Grand Central they want to see the rest of the men given their stories. ;-}.

Thank you so much, Ms. Dreyer. I cannot wait to read more about Drake's Rakes! Ms. Dreyer is holding a contest at her website through the month of April. The grand prize will be a ruby and emerald bracelet she brought back from India!

Cover Love

2011-04-15T09:02:00.007-04:00

London's most talented criminal is about to be fingered...

Lady Viola Preston can relieve a gentleman of the studs at his wrists without his being any the wiser and pick any lock devised by man in less than a minute. But she's careful to wear gloves when she steals jewels. Because when Viola touches a gemstone with her bare skin, it "speaks" to her, sending disturbing visions—visions almost as unsettling as the sight of the cool-eyed stranger who catches her red handed.

Now Viola will only be stealing at Greydon Quinn's behest. And even more daunting than the violent history of the red diamond he's after is the prospect of a night in the devastatingly handsome lieutenant's arms. Touch has always been Viola's weakness, and the full body-to-body contact Quinn has in mind is about to shatter her defenses and set her senses reeling.

Review: Hidden Away by Maya Banks

2011-04-13T09:53:00.041-04:00

A man who shoots first and asks questions later...

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who's in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother--and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it...

...and the ultimate moving target.

But Garrett hadn't counted on falling for Sarah. He'd considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah's dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe--even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn't know exactly who, or what, Sarah's running from, but whatever it is, she's running for her life...

Hidden Away felt a little different from the two previous installments, possibly because Sarah was such an emotionally fragile heroine -- given she's recovering (or attempting to recover) from a traumatic rape, such fragility is exceptionally portrayed by Ms. Banks -- and Garrett, while using Sarah for a shot at revenge against Marcus Lattimer, is still in effect using her and lying to her. That he jumps at the chance to do so seems at odds with the Garrett we've seen in The Darkest Hour and No Place to Run.

One of the aspects I loved about Hidden Away was Rusty's subplot. This book really helped solidify the Kelly family, whether born, married into, or claimed, and I was so pleased to see all the brothers stand up for her and essentially welcome her into the fold.

Had I not known about two additional books forthcoming in this series, I might have been disappointed with the ending. It felt a bit rushed and not as satisfying as those of The Darkest Hour and No Place to Run. Still, I'm very excited to have the continuation and to get to know more about Donovan and those secondary characters who make KGI tick. (More PJ please?)

Review: A Lady's Wish by Katharine Ashe

2011-04-06T10:36:00.001-04:00

To the world, Lady Patricia Morgan is a proper lady. But in secret, she yearns for scorching romance with a certain breathtaking gentleman she has never forgotten. They spent one perfect day together, but he disappeared before she could learn his name.

Eight years ago, Captain Nikolas Acton ran off to join the navy so he could forget the mysterious young lady who, after promising him her heart, simply vanished. Now, he has returned to England as a war hero, and is staggered to come face to face with the woman who still possesses his heart . . .

I'd never read Ms. Ashe's work previously, though this story can be read alone despite being listed as book 1.5 in her Rogues of the Seas series. While initially confused by the prologue, since neither of the two gentlemen speaking are the hero of A Lady's Wish, I'm pleased to say the story flowed quickly once I was into the narrative about Nikolas and Patricia.

It was a sweet meeting for Nikolas and Patricia eight years earlier, and an even shorter romance. They were kept apart -- or lost to one another -- and both have been suffering. Imagine their surprise when Patricia's carriage is disabled by an injured horse and Nik comes to her rescue. Their reconnection is lust-filled yet intense, and once they are on the same page in determining the future of their relationship, a happily ever after is most certainly achieved.

A Lady's Wish is a sweet historical romance, just right if you're in the mood for a quick dip into the genre.

(A very special thank you to Avon Romance, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of A Lady's Wish.)

Review: Rock Hard by Olivia Cunning

2011-04-04T11:25:00.001-04:00

An ultimatum can break your heart...

Every night lead singer Sed Lionheart whips thousands of women into a frenzy of desire with his voice alone. But no other man can touch Jessica the way he did...

If you're not willing to break all the rules...

It shattered her heart, but law student Jessica broke off her engagement with Sed, determined to be successful on her own terms. But no other man can ever hold a candle to Sed...

Then a chance meeting and torturously close quarters lead to uncontrollable flares of passion and rediscovery of their unique penchant for public encounters. Now, in addition to the risk of mutual heartbreak every time they get together, they're in danger of truly scandalous public exposure...

There was more story in Rock Hard, rather than all the sex, sex, and more sex of Backstage Pass. That doesn't mean I didn't want to strangle Jessica and Sed because I did. Many, many, many times.

As Sed is introduced in Backstage Pass, well, he's a bit of an ass. He's stolen every serious girlfriend Brian has ever had -- given that Brian is a hopeless romantic, every girlfriend is a serious girlfriend, but I digress. Sed has threesomes and foursomes, then routinely kicks those groupies to the curb rather easily. He genuinely feels no remorse for his actions ever. But there was the mysterious Jessica, whom we learned had been engaged to Sed but promptly broke his heart when she ended their engagement. That little piece of hurt made Sed human. It's easy to see, after learning even the most minute details about Jessica, that Sed's behaviors are defense mechanisms. He doesn't want to be hurt again, so he'll continue to play the ass. Fine by him.

Sed and Jessica are happy at the beginning of Rock Hard, until Jessica announces her desire to go to law school and Sed tells her he'll pay for it. Furious because she doesn't want to be a kept woman, she wants to make it on her own and Sed cannot see that, she breaks up with him and walks out of his life for two years. Sed is, you know, doing his thing, so imagine his surprise when the guys go to a strip club and he spies Jessica plying her wares as it were. Sed jerks her from the stage, then proceeds to start a fight (or defend himself), and this is where the shizz really hits the fan.

Both Sed and Jessica could use a dose from the communication fairy. Each has their own agenda (Jessica wants to sleep with Sed; Sed wants to have Jessica permanently in his life again), so it's obvious things are going to blow up in their respective faces.

Rock Hard was a fast read, but I really wanted both Sed and Jessica to mature as time went on. I can understand the pull of a "let's fight and let's make up" kind of relationship, but it's really tireless to watch, especially if neither party seems to learn anything from the arguments. The relationship of the Sinners, however, is so solid and concrete, I'm amazed any women would strive to become attached to one of them. Brian, Sed, Jace, Eric and Trey have a real friendship, one of the best I've seen in contemporary romance. Let's hear it for the boys! More often than not, the secondary characters overshadowed the main plot. I would like to read the third book of this series, though I'm really holding out for more on Trey.

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC of Rock Hard.)

Review: Once Upon a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle

2011-04-01T12:32:00.044-04:00

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson left behind her girlish notions of romance when Jonathan deserted her without a backward glance. Now the time has come when she must finally choose a husband, and she has vowed to marry someone who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home, free of all his family's debts. Only to discover that by some miracle he has been chosen to vie for the hand of his beloved Victoria. To convince his only love to once again believe in the magic of love and the promise of desire will be his greatest challenge yet. And one he cannot fail!

The second in the Scandal series by Ms. Marvelle, these books are interconnected thanks to a "little red book" by an unknown author.

Once Upon a Scandal is difficult to review because it's not the worst book I've ever read nor is it the best. It's middle of the road for me, a bit of an "eh" plus a shrug. Had Jonathan's pure pursuit of Victoria not happened in the beginning, I'm not sure I would have finished it. Victoria's father's stipulation added a lot of mystery to the middle of this story, and I was a bit surprised he was so observant, given how he lashed out at Victoria during his illness. When Victoria and Jonathan finally reconnect and attempt to move forward with their relationship, I had hope they would come to live happily ever after.

This book was different from its predecessor in tone and execution, but again, that doesn't mean it's a bad book. It just wasn't what I'd expected based on the notions and opinions I formed after reading Prelude to a Scandal.

(A very special thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me with an ARC of Once Upon a Scandal.)

Eagerly Anticipating

2011-03-30T15:32:00.021-04:00

Review: Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer

2011-03-28T11:59:00.008-04:00

Olivia Grace has secrets that could destroy her. One of the greatest of these is the Earl of Gracechurch, who married and divorced her five years earlier. Abandoned and disgraced, Grace has survived those years at the edge of respectability. Then she stumbles over Jack on the battlefield of Waterloo, and he becomes an even more dangerous secret. For not only is he unconscious, he is clad in an enemy uniform.

But worse, when Jack finally wakes in Olivia's care, he can't remember how he came to be on a battlefield in Belgium. In fact, he can remember nothing of the last five years. He thinks he and Olivia are still blissfully together. To keep him from being hanged for a traitor, Olivia must pretend she and Jack are still married.

To unearth the real traitors, Olivia and Jack must unravel the truth hidden within his faulty memory. To save themselves and the friends who have given them sanctuary, they must stand against their enemies, even as they both keep their secrets.

In the end, can they risk everything to help Jack recover his lost memories, even though the truth may destroy them both?

This book has been sitting on my shelf since its release. I skipped to the end, saw when the second book of the series would release, and promptly reshelved because I knew I wouldn't remember the plot of this book sufficiently enough to read and enjoy the second book. This was both good and bad: good because I didn't have to wait long to read the second book, Never a Gentleman; and bad because I cannot believe I let such a good book just sit there without cracking the spine!

Olivia has secrets, oh, does she have secrets. They start to cave in on her almost immediately, which makes for an excellent suspense plot as the reader attempts to sort out what may be truth and what may be fiction. One point utterly shocked the heck out of me. I'm not sure how I didn't see it coming, but Olivia is a skilled and convincing liar.

Along the way, we're introduced to Grace Fairchild (heroine of Never a Gentleman), who grew up all over the world, thanks to her father's various military campaigns, Lady Kate Gilbey (heroine of Always a Temptress), a "fallen" duchess, Bea, Lady Kate's companion, and various members of Drake's Rakes. This trilogy should have been called "The Graces" rather than Drake's Rakes; Lady Kate even makes a joke that she, Olivia and Grace all have 'grace' in their names.

I really was sorry to see Barely a Lady end. Olivia, for all her necessary deceptions, is a strong and capable heroine, as Grace realizes when they go in search of Grace's father on the battlefield. I also liked that the historical timeline took place during the Napoleonic wars. I cannot wait to read the remaining novels in this trilogy, and I also hope there will be more to come.

Review: A Lot Like Love by Julie James

2011-03-23T12:30:00.004-04:00

The FBI wants her cooperation.

As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city's top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there's only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fund-raiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother's release from prison, Jordan is going to be there-with a date supplied by the Bureau.

Agent McCall just wants her.

As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This "date" with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment--one they're both determined to pull off even if they can't be together for five minutes before sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick's investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they're a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more...

Julie James is on my automatic buy list. And A Lot Like Love is her best book yet.

Jordan Rhodes is the first of Ms. James' heroines who has no basis in the field of law. She's normal, well, normal in the sense that she's not an attorney. Being a billionaire's daughter with a Maserati isn't normal in my neck of the woods. Overlook those things, because Jordan isn't flashy or snobbish with her wealth. She's got guy troubles, happy friends, she's overworked at times -- the usual stuff -- except that her brother hacked into Twitter not once but twice, then landed himself in a federal pen. Because she loves her brother, Kyle, she's willing to help the FBI in exchange for his early release.

Nick McCall is coming off a six-month undercover assignment and has no real inclination to jump back into the fray. When Agent Seth Huxley, Jordan's "date" comes down with the flu, he steps in and has a difficult time stepping out.

That was his fake girlfriend in there. Sitting at the table where they had just shared cheese fries the night before. And if she thought she could throw scorching hot sex-looks to any pansy-ass scarf-boy who wandered into her shop, she had another think coming.

Be it the snappy dialogue, the sexually-charged back-and-forth banter, or the fact that both Jordan and Nick give as good as they take, it was only a matter of time before their fake relationship turned oh-so-real. And when it does, it is oh-so-good.

Can't there be a new Julie James book every quarter? That would make me a very happy reader.

Review: Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

2011-03-22T14:30:00.000-04:00

Abandoned at the altar . . .

Lady Beatrix Danbury had always known she would marry William Mallory. She'd loved him forever and she'd never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together or his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter . . . and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke . . .

Will has no illusions that Beatrix would welcome him back with open arms, but six years did not dim his love or desire for her. The only problem is, she's about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable . . . the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

Bea doesn't love Will Mallory, especially after he broke her heart and left for Egypt two weeks before their wedding, but that doesn't mean she hasn't thought about him in the intervening years.

Oh, she's tried not to because certainly a man who would shirk his responsibilities in such a way isn't deserving of her continued devotion. Bea has moved on: she has a new fiance, Aidan, the Duke of Trahern; she's taken up driving a Daimler. Yet somehow, she's surprised by Will's return. She believes he'll make trouble for her upcoming nuptials. Perhaps most damaging, however, is the fact that when she looks at him, she remembers her long-dead dream of a life with him.

It is during the trip to Pixy Cove that things between Bea and Will come to a head.

"Since you won't allow me to do the honorable thing by marrying you, at least allow me to secure your future another way. It's a matter of honor."

"Honor?" She gave a laugh. "Honor?"

"All right," he capitulated. "That's all bunkum. Honor has nothing to do with it."

He glanced at the drawing room windows again, then unfolded his arms and leaned closer to her. "I want you. I want you as much as I ever did. I've spend six years lying to myself about it, and I just can't find the will the lie anymore. Now I've got a second chance with you--"

"You do not have a second chance!"

"And I'm taking it," he went on if she hadn't spoken. "I want to win you back. I want you in my arms, in my bed, in my life."

Like other reviews I've read, though, the ending came much too fast and at a price where I don't necessarily buy into or believe Bea and Will's happily-ever-after as easily and readily as I wanted to. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Guhrke's writing style (I've never read her before), and I'm very excited to read Scandal of the Year.

(A very special thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins and Avon for providing me with an ARC of Wedding of the Season.)

Review: The Seduction of his Wife by Tiffany Clare

2011-03-16T12:11:00.013-04:00

The new novel in Tiffany Clare’s tantalizing series about a most uncommon marriage—one that might just end with desire and romance…

AN INCONVENIENT SCANDAL

Emma Hallaway has not seen her husband in twelve years—and that’s fine with her. As a young girl, she’d agreed to a simple marriage of convenience, allowing her to pursue her private passion for painting. And though unknown to the rest of polite society, Emma is now one of the most daring and sought-after artists in London. However, when her secret is threatened to be exposed, Emma is forced to open her heart—and her home—to a total stranger: her husband…

AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE

Richard Mansfield, Earl of Asbury, is all too familiar with danger. As a matter of fact, it is hard on his heels when he returns to England. Still, even he is shocked to learn of his wife’s scandalous double life as an artist. But once he sees the vibrant grown woman she has become—so passionate, so strong, and so alluring—his undeniable attraction to Emma stuns him. Suddenly Richard is determined to turn their sham of a marriage into a true and lasting love. But how exactly does a gentleman seduce his own wife?

I had read Ms. Clare's previous/debut book, The Surrender of a Lady. While its premise was intriguing and unusual, I just could not connect with the characters, especially in the latter half of the novel. Thankfully I didn't have a problem with The Seduction of His Wife. Seducing one's own wife? I'm there!

Emma and Richard have what's considered a norm of the times: an arranged marriage. The snippets at the beginning of each chapter, I assume, are letters Emma wrote but did not send to Richard. In these letters, she pours her heart out, loving him, seeking his return, yet hating him for leaving. He abandoned her and despite their marriage of convenience, Emma had hoped to have a true life with him. Instead she's left to move forward, and she does so via her artwork.

Richard returns to England a wealthier man and is quite surprised to see his wife for the first time in years in a brothel. Once he is able to ascertain that she isn't the young bride he left -- and that he might actually have deep feelings for her -- he sets about wooing her. Of course, Emma is affronted by this behavior.

What I loved was Emma's back-and-forth struggle with the fact that she wanted Richard but she was terrified of him hurting her again. It felt very true to life, especially Emma's life where she'd been self-sufficient and independent for so long. Once Emma's life is in danger, Richard's decision about his love for her is made, and we can believe they will reconnect and have a stronger marriage for their time apart.

Emma's sister Abby's departure was rather abrupt, so I'm interested to learn her motivations in Ms. Clare's next book, The Secret Desires of a Governess.

(A very special thank you to St. Martin's who provided me with an ARC of The Seduction of his Wife.)