Review: Seven Nights to Forever by Evangeline Collins

The author of Her Ladyship's Companion once again pushes the erotic boundaries of Regency romance.

Destitute after her father's death, Rose Marlowe has debts to settle and a younger brother to support. But she also possesses a matchless beauty-one that could command quite a price. Now, every month, Rose spends one week at a decadent London brothel, where she's become a sought-after prize.

Then one night she meets a wealthy merchant. Handsome, kind and compassionate, with a lonely soul that matches her own, James Archer is not her typical client. Falling in love with a client, never mind a married one, is unthinkable. Yet Rose can't help but lose herself as one night becomes seven-and seven nights leads to a chance at forever.

This is a love story, pure and simple.  Sure, the heroine is a courtesan, plying her skills to keep her younger brother in school, and the hero is in a loveless marriage with a shrew of a wife.  So there are some complications. 

Overlook those. 

Rose and James meet.  They spend some time together.  They start to think about one another in their moments apart.  They begin to need one another.  They each want the other.  Those complications I mentioned earlier crop up.  (You knew they would.)  But guess what?  Love totally wins!  And the journey Rose and James go on, both together and separately, is so passionate, so sweet, so amazing, their happily ever after makes the hell they go through worth it. 

(A very special thank you to Dear Author and Berkley for sponsoring the contest in which I won an ARC of Seven Nights to Forever.)

Review: Mistress by Midnight by Nicola Cornick

A wicked duke’s bed is no place for a lady…

Lady Merryn Fenner is on a mission to ruin the Duke of Farne. A beautiful bluestocking with a penchant for justice, Merryn has waited twelve years to satisfy her revenge against Garrick Farne. Her family name had been tarnished at his hands, her life destroyed.

For twelve years Garrick, Duke of Farne has kept the secret of what really happened on the night that he killed his best friend, Stephen Fenner, in a duel. Now Stephen’s sister is intent on discovering the truth and putting at risk all those secrets Garrick has protected.

When a disaster traps Merryn and Garrick together, white-hot desire stirs between the two sworn enemies. Merryn's reputation is utterly compromised and she is forced to do the one thing she cannot bear; accept the scandalous marriage proposal of the man she has vowed to ruin.

Beware of scandalous women...

The portion of this blurb -- two sworn enemies -- is a little misleading.  Merryn hates Garrick; Garrick, however, is utterly intrigued by Merryn, maybe even moreso after he discovers her identity. 

"Oh?" She raised her brows. "If I refuse to concede, what then? Kidnap? Abduction? Marriage?" She smiled faintly. "I doubt you could get away with murdering two members of this family."

"The marriage option interests me more than the murder one," Garrick said.

She laughed. "So that you could bar me from testifying against you?"

"No," Garrick said. "So that I could make love to you."

He doesn't necessarily want to be attracted or intrigued, but he cannot help feeling responsible for all the hardship Merryn swears the Fenners lived through after the death of Stephen.

Don't misconstrue that Garrick has a savior complex.  He doesn't.  He wants to be honorable and do what's right by Merryn and her older sisters, Joanna and Tess, and that includes returning their family home and funds to them.  Merryn isn't having it and doesn't want anything Garrick has to offer. 

Unfortunately, Fate has other ideas for these two and continually manages to place Merryn in danger with only Garrick around to save her.  That isn't to say Merryn is clumsy or insipid or frail.  Oh no, she's quite the contrary.  At times her ability to take care of herself frightens even Garrick. 

The book leaves some plot threads open (there are more books in this series coming in 2011), though I do hope every party we've been introduced to over the course of this trilogy receives their proper comeuppance. 

(A very special thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Mistress by Midnight.)

Review: And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper

"If Singletree’s only florist didn’t deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger."

Lacey Terwilliger’s shock and humiliation over her husband’s philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike’s company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike’s family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend," Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.

Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.

Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one . . . last . . . thing?


What a great book.  If you're looking for a lot of laughs in a contemporary romance, you should pick up And One Last Thing...

To be honest, I wasn't certain I would like this book.  The back cover copy sucked me in, and Ms. Harper's wit and smart-ass-y dialogue is fully evident in Lacey, but who wants to read about a woman discovering her husband is having an affair or the aftermath of such a discovery?  It was almost too much -- at first. 

Then she meets Lefty Monroe.  And there's a flicker of a spark. 

Forget the fact that he looks like Wolverine or that he's always awake when Lacey is awake.  Ignore that he -- and his family -- continually discover Lacey in various shades of undress.  Monroe is just a normal guy, something Lacey needs but doesn't want to want at this stage in her life. 

There's a little bit of melodrama ("the big misunderstanding") I could have done without, though I recognize its value as a plot point and a way to push Lacey firmly toward Monroe.  I was also a bit disappointed because the ending felt rushed; I wanted more time with Lacey and Monroe, to see them together in their new relationship, feeling things out.  I can only cross my fingers and hope we'll meet up with Lacey and Monroe again in the future. 

Review: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews

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…

Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swath of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan's long-time rivals are suspect number one.

But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over in the Edge—and Cerise's life. William, a changeling soldier who'd left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation's spymaster.

When William's and Cerise's missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they'll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.

 
 
Sparks completely fly between William and Cerise. 

He wore jeans and a white T-shirt.  His clothes molded to him.  William wasn't built, he was carved, with hard strength and lethal speed in mind.  No give, no weakness.  He had the honed, lean body of a man who was used to fighting for his life and liked it that way.  And he strode to her like a swordsman: sure, economical movements touched with a natural grace and strength.

Their stares met.  She saw the shadow of the feral thing slide across William's eyes, and she stopped stirring the stew. 

They stared at each other for a long tense moment. 

Damn it.  That was not supposed to happen. 

And while watching them admit they like one another is fun, the real action is in the Mire itself.  Their surroundings seems to become a character and, lest we forget, there are several "characters" present in Cerise's family. 

At times Bayou Moon felt more in the gothic tradition of Flannery O'Connor or Carson McCullers rather than straight-up urban fantasy, particularly because of the layers upon layers of subtext.  There is more here than putting William and Cerise together to get from point A to point B or achieve such-and-such goal or even to play out their romantic arc.  This is deep, life-changing (for all characters involved), and damn if Ms. Andrews doesn't do oh so well.  I couldn't put this book down and cannot wait to read what's next for The Edge.

Review: Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

From the New York Times bestselling author of To Desire a Devil comes this thrilling tale of danger, desire, and dark passions.


A MAN CONTROLLED BY HIS DESIRES . . .

Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand-she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk . . .

A WOMAN HAUNTED BY HER PAST . . .

Caire makes a simple offer-in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control-one that may well destroy them both.

A BARGAIN NEITHER COULD REFUSE

Ms. Hoyt is on my automatic buy list because she never fails to disappoint.  I love the fairy tale inserts, the hero's and heroine's interactions, and the sexual tension between them -- Hoyt is a master at sexual tension, I think.  While it took me a little longer to get into this book, the end was well worth it, especially for moments like these between Temperance and Claire.

"Flattered though I am by your martyrish impulses, Mrs. Dews, I have no need of your help. Bed and a brandy will no doubt see me right."

"Really?" Temperance eyed the idiot man, swaying on his own doorstep. Sweat dripped down his reddened face, the hair at his temples was plastered to his head, and he literally shook against her.

In one swift move, Temperance elbowed him in his wounded shoulder.

"God's blood!" Lord Caire doubled over, choking.

"You," gasped Lord Caire, "are a vindictive harpy, madam."

"No need to thank me," Temperance said sweetly. "I'm merely doing my Christian duty."

"Why?" she asked urgently. "Why did you make me watch? Why me?"

"Because," he murmured, "you draw me. Because you are kind but not soft. Because when you touch me, the pain is bittersweet. Because you cradle a desperate secret to your bosom, like a viper in your arms, and don't let go of it even as it gnaws upon your very flesh. I want to pry that viper from your arms. To suckle upon your torn and bloody flesh. To take your pain within myself and make it mine."

It was strange. Another man had just kissed her on the mouth, but this pressing of lips with Caire was entirely different. His mouth was firm and warm, his lips stubbornly closed against hers. She placed her hands on his wide shoulders for leverage and leaned a little closer. She could smell some kind of exotic spice on his skin--perhaps he'd rubbed it on after shaving--and his mouth tasted of heady wine. She licked the seam of his lips, once, gently.

(See the sexual tension??? Amazing, heady stuff!)

I cannot help but hope we see Temperance's sister Silence again in the series, whether it be with her own book or as a minor character.  Such a strong woman with a great sense of love and a moral compass to be named Silence.

Review: Tempting the Fire by Sydney Croft

EXTREME HEAT. EXTREME HUNGER.


A JUNGLE EDEN ABLAZE WITH TEMPTATION.

Deep in the Brazilian rain forest, a team of Navy SEALs has been nearly wiped out by something sinister and superhuman, sending shock waves through the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives (ACRO). Now ACRO agents Sela Kahne and Marlena West head to the world’s most unforgiving jungle to find and kill a mythical monstrosity with a taste for human blood. But to succeed in their mission, they will need the help of two men, each hiding his own dark secret.

Sela is an expert on cryptozoology with a sideline skill that could prove invaluable: When she makes love to a man, she engulfs his innermost thoughts. Teamed with Marlena, Sela makes contact with the lone SEAL survivor, Chance McCormack. Meanwhile, Logan Mills, the man who rescued Chance, leads his private company on a hunt that has nothing to do with saving lives. Soon, Sela will put her supernatural charms to work on Logan, determined to extract information about the creature they are seeking. But in this sweat-drenched realm of danger and deception, Logan is more than just a passive target. He has the power to lead a highly trained seducer into a jungle without any rules, without any limits—and with no end to the heat.

And this is a very good story.  Whew.  I was worried after my less than happy thoughts about Taming the Fire.  For whatever reason, I didn't enjoy it, so I was skeptical about Tempting the Fire.  (From a money standpoint, it's hard for me to convince myself to spend $15 on a book when I wasn't gung-ho about the previous book, no matter how much I've enjoyed the author's other offerings.)  Tempting the Fire, however, likens back to the first three books of Ms. Croft's series, and the result is scorching. 

We're introduced to new ACRO agent, Sela.  She's an interesting mix of confident and timid.  When she's paired with Marlena for an operation to the Brazilian rain forest, well, Sela believes Marlena will work sexual magic while she uses her smarts to obtain ACRO's desired result.  The mission, of course, isn't that simple.

As we go back and forth between Sela, Marlena, Chance and Logan, we're reunited with Annika and Creed.  [This may have been what Taming the Fire was missing: a core couple from one of the first three books, characters we already knew and were interested in.]  Their relationship has never been easy, though that's part of their charm.  Add Annika's involvement in Sela's and Marlena's mission, and things get dicey quickly.

If you're a fan of the paranormal (and some mighty sexy romance), I wholeheartedly suggest this author.  It's action from the word Go, whether that be on the battlefield or in the bedroom.

Review: Three Nights with a Scoundrel by Tessa Dare

In Tessa Dare’s dazzling new trilogy, the men of the Stud Club live and play by their own rules—until passion changes the game.

The bastard son of a nobleman, Julian Bellamy is now polished to perfection, enthralling the ton with wit and charm while clandestinely plotting to ruin the lords, ravish the ladies, and have the last laugh on a society that once spurned him. But after meeting Leo Chatwick, a decent man and founder of an elite gentlemen’s club, and Lily, Leo’s enchanting sister, Julian reconsiders his wild ways. And when Leo’s tragic murder demands that Julian hunt for justice, he vows to see the woman he secretly loves married to a man of her own class.

Lily, however, has a very different husband in mind.  She’s loved Julian forever, adores the man beneath the rakish façade, and wants to savor the delicious attraction they share—as his wife. His insistence on marrying her off only reinforces her intent to prove that he is the only man for her. Obsessed with catching a killer, Julian sinks back to the gutters of his youth, forcing Lily to reach out with a sweet, reckless passion Julian can’t resist. Can her desire for a scoundrel save them both—or will dangerous secrets threaten more than their tender love?

Julian's transformation throughout the series can be likened to an onion: once a layer is peeled away, there are so many more to overcome.  And Lily, God bless her, she breaks through each layer somewhat easily. 

It doesn't hurt that both secretly love the other.

She took his breath away. Oh, she eventually let him have it back, because she was hardly a thief. But she made him work for it, Lily did. To have her within his line of view ws to feel the simple act of drawing air had suddenly become a privilege, rather than an instinctive act.

His thumb caressed her just between the shoulder blades, stroking a current of pleasure down her spine. It was the gentlest of touches, but it was deliberate and true. An admission. I love you, too. He could have stopped the music, called everyone's attention, and declared mad, passionate, everlasting adoration for her-in rhyming couplets-and this would still be better. Now, she felt triumph. His was the only resistance she sought to conquer.

The matter of Leo's murder is fully solved, and we're once again treated to an epilogue starring all three couples.  Happily ever after indeed!

Review: Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey

When Keri Daniels' editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town—and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he'll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan—for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she's worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

Never having read a book by Ms. Stacey, I wasn't certain what to expect.  Once I finished Exclusively Yours, I shouldn't have worried.

What a wonderful story.  Sweet, a little bit sexy, yet wholeheartedly (and wholly) passionate.  Real characters and true-to-life situations (with the exception of Joe's ex-girlfriend, because that seems somewhat ... odd ...).  This is one of those stories that sticks with you, minor issues and all, long after the end.  I enjoyed it very much. 

And where is the sequel featuring Joe's little brother, Kevin? 

(Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for providing me with an ARC of this novel.)

Review: Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

He is everything she wants to avoid…


For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sisters — a pleasant position, with one caveat. Her charges’ older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating. Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual attraction. But when one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat is shocked at her powerful response — and even more so when Leo proposes a dangerous liaison.


She is not at all what she seems…


Leo must marry and produce an heir within a year to save his family home. Catherine’s respectable demeanor hides a secret that would utterly destroy her. But to Leo, Cat is intriguing and infernally tempting, even to a man resolved never to love again. The danger Cat tried to outrun is about to separate them forever — unless two wary lovers can find a way to banish the shadows and give in to their desires…

Leo Hathaway, meet Hugh Grant; Mr. Grant, meet Leo Hathaway, Lord Ramsey.  I think the two of you would get along smashingly. 



Now that the introductions are complete, let's get down to brass tacks: discovering exactly what Leo and Catherine Marks have to talk about when we last saw them in Tempt Me at Twilight.  I literally screamed when that moment arose.  Leo had been so guarded, flip at times yes, but deeply hurt and troubled by the circumstances that have befallen his family, especially those caused somewhat by him.  Marks is someone he loves to antagonize; he loves to see her riled up.  And you know what's said about boys who tease certain girls...

Catherine Marks has a secret, two of them actually. Well, maybe three, because she doesn't like the feelings she's been feeling for Leo.  This moment seals the deal, so to speak:

Their cantankerous relationship could not resume as usual after something like this. It had been set on a new track with an unknown destination, and Leo was certain that neither of them were going to like where it led.

One reason I thought Leo and Hugh would be perfect together is thanks in part to lines like this:

"Tell me our legal issues. And use small words. I don't like to think at this hour of the morning. It hurts."

I so enjoyed Leo and Cat's romance, and am looking forward to what I assume will be the final Hathaway book, Love in the Afternoon, but how I'm going to miss them!

Review: Mistress by Mistake by Maggie Robinson

Scandal Is Only The Beginning...

Charlotte Fallon let her guarded virtue fall once-and she's paid dearly for it ever since. She swore she'd never succumb to men's desires again. But even a village spinster's life miles from temptation can't save her from a sister with no shame whatsoever. Or a heart that longs for more, whatever the cost...

Sir Michael Bayard found more than he expected in his bed when he finally joined his new mistress. He'd fantasized about her dewy skin and luscious curves, assured her understanding that what passed between them was mere dalliance. But he didn't expect the innocence and heat of her response in his arms. Nor her surprisingly sharp tongue once she was out of them...

A few days of abandon cannot undo the hard-learned lessons of a lifetime. Nor can an honest passion burn away the restraints of society's judgments. Unless, of course, one believes in nonsense like true love...

I wasn't certain what to expect with Mistress by Mistake: debut author; trade paperback release (which is always a toss-up with a debut author because what if the book is terrible?)  Once I started reading, however, I wondered what I'd been so worried about.

This historical has it all: humor, hot sex, endearing characters and yes, a little bit of crazy. 

Let's start first with Charlotte "Charlie" Fallon, an on-the-shelf spinster from Little Hyssop who gardens, tats, and feeds feral cats.  When her sister, Deborah, a courtesan, requests her to immediately come to London because the situation is a matter of life-and-death, Charlie does it.  As she soon discovers, the situation is not so serious, and Deborah floats away to Kent, leaving Charlie to explain the truth of what's happened to Sir Michael Xavier Baynard, who is expected to return soon.  Imagine Charlie's surprise when she wakes from the most vivid dream to find Sir Michael's mouth around her breast.

And what is there to say about Bay?  He's not even spoken to Charlie, but he cannot help thinking:

By God, she was making him lose his mind.  The touch and taste of her was inebriating, clouding his judgment.  One didn't keep a mistress for domesticity.  One kept a mistress for sin, the darker the better.  And if he knew anything about Deborah Fallon, she would complain loud and long caring for anything that was not her own luscious self.  A baby?  Preposterous.

What begins as an agreement between he and Charlie -- he cannot trust her completely yet for reasons I won't go into -- soon blooms into something more.  Perhaps Bay is simply looking to change his lifestyle yet again.  The little bit of crazy is Bay's past come back to haunt him and, as a result, Charlie.

Despite that sinister plot thread, there is a lot of humor within Mistress by Mistake, thanks in part to Bay.  He delights in teasing Charlie, in riling her up, and does so by making fun of her spinster caps, calling Little Hyssop a myriad of incorrect names (Little Turnip, Little Muckup), calling her out on her sexual proclivities (which she most often verbally disagrees with).  Though Charlie has her moments too:

He would have made a fine ladies' maid, if he hadn't had such magnificent masculine equipage. 

Two days on Jane Street and she was a confirmed slut.  There must be something in the air. 

Thank you so much, Ms. Robinson, for such wonderfully splendid characters.  I'm looking forward to reading about the other Janes in upcoming books.

(And a very special thank you to Mandi of Smexy Books for loaning her copy to me.)

Review: Tressed to Kill by Lila Dare

St. Elizabeth, Georgia, offers charm, Southern hospitality and, most recently, murder. When hairdresser Grace Terhune and her mother, Violetta, gussy up all the high-society ladies attending the town meeting, they find their snobbiest client dead. The police believe the mother-daughter duo did her in. But before things get snarled beyond repair, Grace sets out to clear their names.

There's something about a beauty parlor.  Maybe they're like this all over the country but here, in the south, beauty parlors are a mecca for women and gossip.  You know the ladies I mean, those who get their hair "done" once a week on Friday mornings, like my grandmother, who spend half their day underneath a hair dryer but can still hear and read lips like nobody's business. 

Grace Terhune has stepped in it, and she's drowning.  It starts with a murder -- that's how it always starts, people -- of someone who's not so nice but has a lot of clout in the small town of St. Elizabeth.  Because Grace and her mother Violetta find the body and have the most to gain, thanks to the murder, they're prime suspects, at least Violetta is.  And any good daughter isn't going to let her innocent mother take the wrap for a crime she didn't commit, so Grace and the ladies of Violetta's decide to go Nancy Drew to clear Violetta's name.

Hijinks ensue. So does any the name of any amateur sleuth.  Regardless, it's a well-written mystery, with twists and turns -- one I should have seen coming but didn't.

I am curious, given the romantic sparks between Grace and Special Agent "Marshal" Dillon, how Grace could be involved in another murder mystery that would warrant (ha!) his attention. Or reporter Marty Shears, for that matter.  How much murder can one small town have? I'm waiting to find out. 

Review: On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, 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). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.


Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn't turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off-the-books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—-or they'll devour the Edge and everyone in it...

I saw the cover for Bayou Moon at Lurv a la Mode.  I can't really say what drew my eye, but it did.  I've all but stopped reading urban fantasy and/or paranormal romance (except for a select few authors), so I'm always hesitant when I read the cover copy and discover a book I'd like to read is in either one of those genres.  After discovering Bayou Moon was the second in an inter-connected series -- or that's what I believe anyway, since I cannot find a blurb for Bayou Moon -- well, it had me at "series".

I am so glad I took a chance. 

On the Edge sucked me in from the first line, and lines like these kept me reading:

"I, Declan Riel Martel, ade Dominik, ade Logran, ade Rotibor, Earl of Camarine, Lord of Longshire, Svyator, and Veres, hereby swear to fulfill three tasks given to me within the next two weeks by..." He looked at her.

"Rose Drayton."  He owned more titles than TitleMax. 

...

"Rose," he said, as if tasting her name in his mouth.  "Let me in."

She simply shook her head.  It was all she could do.

"Shall I strip and try to entice you with my manly body?"

...

"That's the other thing I don't quite understand about you.   You're an earl.  You have money.  You're not ugly."

"I'm quite handsome, actually," he said.

Handsome was for ordinary mortals.  She rolled her eyes.  "And so modest, too.  Why are you here trying to get me to marry you?"

Despite being mired in fantasy, Rose could have been one of my neighbors where I grew up.  (This small-town feel has brought so many books to my attention, so I'm glad when authors decide to "write small," regardless of how big or developed their world is.)  She was real, a smart-ass, and I wanted to know more about her, wanted to spend more time together.  Her problems are magical, yes, but also fact-based.  Who doesn't understand living paycheck to paycheck and fighting to keep your family (and town) safe? 

I cannot wait to read Bayou Moon in September.

Review: A Touch of Scandal by Jennifer Haymore

Kate knows her duty to her family, yet how can she ignore Garrett's powerful pull on her heart? Or the heady temptation of his stolen-and sizzling-kisses? Scandal has followed the duke since the war. Now the greatest shock of all is on its way-the one that can separate Garrett and Kate forever.

The last thing Garrett, Duke of Calton, expects to find while tracking his sworn enemy is the delectable, mysterious Kate. This beautiful servant girl rouses a longing the battle-scarred ex-soldier had never hoped to feel again. But when she turns out to be the sister of the man he seeks, he's convinced he's been betrayed.

In Ms. Haymore's second book, a sequel of sorts to A Hint of Wicked, she's continued the story of Garrett, Duke of Calton, whom we last saw leaving his wife, Sophie, to his cousin, Tristan, relinquishing the battle for her heart.  Garrett is a scarred man, literally and figuratively, and he has William Fisk to thank for all of those.

As I was reading, I was struck by this quote, just after Garrett's and Kate's first meeting:

"She had done this to him. As they spoke, she brought him to life. How was it possible?"

And that is totally true!  Garrett is a damaged soul, wounded, angry, bent on revenge (well, not so bent that he's consumed by it).  But when the revenge plot is satisfied almost halfway through the novel, I wondered what would happen to continue the pace and to ultimately lead to a happy resolution for all parties involved.

The tone changes, the end game changes -- it has to! -- though that doesn't make the book less interesting.  In fact, it's more complex, more heart-wrenching because the stakes for happiness are so high.  Without divulging spoilers, I'll have to stop here.  Needless to say, Ms. Haymore is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and I would suggest she become one of yours too.

(A very special thank you to Mandi of Smexy Books and Hachette Book Group, who sponsored the contest where I won a copy of A Touch of Scandal.)

Review: Addicted by Charlotte Featherstone

Friends since childhood, Anais Darnby and Lindsay Markham have long harbored a secret passion for one another. When they finally confess their love, their future together seems assured, sealed with their searing embrace.

But when a debauched Lindsay is seduced by a scheming socialite, a devastated Anais seeks refuge in another man's bed while Lindsay retreats to the exotic East. There, he is seduced again—this time by the alluring red smoke and sinister beauty of opium.

Back home, Lindsay's addiction is fed by the vogue for all things Oriental—especially its sensual pleasures—in fashionable London society. In his lucid moments, Lindsay still lusts after Anais, who can neither allow him near nor forget his smoldering touch. Tortured by two obsessions—opium and Anais—Lindsay must ultimately decide which is the one he truly cannot live without.

To say I loved this novel would be an understatement.  It was beautifully written with angst-ridden characters -- and I could not put this book down. 

Please don't let Spice's tag "an erotic novel" deter you.  Yes, there is language of the four-letter variety.  Yes, the characters are in sexual situations more often than expected (I suppose), but it wasn't overwhelming nor was it tasteless or without motivation.  Everything about this novel was lush, intoxicating, amazingly put together, and I, too, became Addicted. 

I cannot wait to read the follow-up, Sinful, featuring the Earl of Wallingford.

Review: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

He's always been trouble...

Trevelyan and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure.  Until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and in a furious frenzy drives Trevelyan away in disgrace...

Exactly the kind of trouble she's never been able to resist...

Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyan returns.  Callie is shocked to discover that he can still make her blood race and fill her life with mischief, excitement and scandal.  He would give her the world, but he can't give her the one thing she wants more than anything -- himself...

For Trevelyan, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit.  Before he can bear to say his last goodbyes, he's determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them. 

I'll admit it, the jodhpurs made me read this book.  It's shallow, I know, but when I saw the cover on Twitter, I knew I had to read it.  Regardless of the buzz or the recommendations and agreements that yes, this is a good book.

It was the jodhpurs.

I've never read Ms. Kinsale's work previously, had never heard of her, in fact, until the cover started making its rounds.   Now, I'm glad I took a chance.

Lessons in French is artfully crafted and meticulously researched, that much is obvious.  A heroine who breeds bulls?  A hero who sends letters home which are full of lies?  Callie and Trevelyan are unusual in their quirks, but it is these quirks, their ordinary-ness, that drew me in and kept me engaged.  And their various hair-brained schemes?  Well, what's more ordinary than plots and plans which go awry?

Above all, Callie and Trevelyan are human -- they are real.  Callie daydreams; Trev lies; Callie feels alone; Trev feels alone; both of them are smart-asses.  Their believability makes them that much easier to connect to, and I loved learning about their history, both shared and individual, because it made their ending that much sweeter.

I promise to be more easily swayed by jodhpurs in the future.

Review: Hot Under Pressure by Kathleen O'Reilly

Boutique owner Ashley Taylor hates flying. Especially when there's a sugar-fueled little hellion on board. But then David McLean (sexy!) sits next to her, and suddenly Ashley finds herself hoping the delay will last forever—and that David won't notice her comfy pink bunny slippers (sadly, the opposite of sexy).

David does notice Ashley, and when the flight is delayed overnight, they can't get to the airport hotel fast enough. Off with the slippers and in with the zing! Fortunately, America is filled with cities—L.A., New York, Miami—and nothing says "smoking-hot passion" like an intercontinental affair!

There's a reason Kathleen O'Reilly was recommended at Save the Contemporary -- she writes great contemporary romances!

There's so much to this book -- it's not just a romance; there's character development, actual emotion, depth, and real connections, both between Ashley and David and between the reader and the characters. 

[I should note I didn't like the next book in this non-connected series, Midnight Resolutions, as much as this one.  I can't really put my finger on why, though my gut instinct says it's Rose's fault.]

Ms. O'Reilly is on my auto-buy list.

Review: Double Play by Jill Shalvis

Pace Martin is the ace pitcher for the Pacific Heat.  He's got the arm, the experience, and the wins.  He's also got the pain, the pressure, and the possible end of his career looming over him.  The last thing he needs now is a distraction, even if it comes in the form of a tough, beautiful, tell-it-like-it-is writer who sees past his defenses. 

Holly Hutchins knows a good story when she sees one, and the tall, dark, and slightly attitude-challenged Pace Martin fits the bill.  But when she realizes there's more at stake than just a win, she starts to see the handsome, broad-shouldered jock in a different light.

Pace and Holly begin a seductive game, but in the face of unexpected betrayal and challenges, they'll have to find the courage to swing for the fences...

[Please note I typed the back cover copy here.  The Amazon/Barnes and Noble description was sorely lacking, in my opinion.]

I've seen buzz about this novel everywhere.  Having only read Smart and Sexy by Ms. Shalvis -- and being left with a lukewarm feeling once I'd reached the end -- I was a bit skeptical of all the gushing for Double Play.  Now I know readers have their favorite authors.  If other readers are anything like me, they'll keep buying or reading these favorite authors until something happens to turn their attentions elsewhere. 

Well, allow me to jump on the gushing bandwagon.

I simply loved Double Play.  A good, believable story solidly placed firmly in reality; strong characters who are easy to love and identify with; an amazing balance of sexual tension and romantic spark.  And when Holly and Pace have to kiss each other prior to the games because of superstitions and streaks?  Yeah, okay, what a sacrifice!

Being a baseball fan isn't necessary to enjoy this novel.  Baseball is simply part of the package, the "meet cute" for Holly and Pace.  That the reader is given an insider's view of the sport (again, believable because of Pace's distinct voice) is a bonus.  Plus the cast of characters that make up the Pacific Heat -- those boys are having a lot of fun, and they're a lot of fun to interact with in both Double Play and Slow Heat, which I'm reading now.

Review: Promise Me Tonight by Sara Lindsey

Isabella is determined to marry James…
Isabella Weston has loved James Sheffield for as long as she can remember. Her come-out ball seems the perfect chance to make him see her in a new light.
James is determined never to marry…
James is stunned to find the impish girl he once knew has blossomed into a sensual goddess. And if he remembers his lessons, goddesses always spell trouble for mortal men.
A compromise is clearly necessary.
When Izzie kisses James, her artless ardor turns to a masterful seduction that drives him mad with desire. But, no stranger to heartbreak, James is determined never to love, and thus never to lose. Can Isabella convince him that a life without love might be the biggest loss of all?

The beginning of a series? Check. Love with best friend's sister trope? Check. Debut author with a good deal of buzz?  Check.

One of my favorite romantic tropes is falling in love with BFF's sister/brother. I may like this type of story more than a secret baby plot. Regardless, what I loved about Isabella Weston is her confidence.  Confident she loves James; confident that James loves her (especially after her coming out); confident they belong together.

The final third of the book doesn't sit well with me because Izzie has lost this spark, this drive, this confidence.  Certainly, she's been through a ordeal until this point of the book -- no one blames her for her decisions or her reactions to the hand life has dealt her.  I just wanted her to react differently and felt disappointed when she didn't, when she seemingly lost all her previous gumption and determination and, yes, confidence until James decides to pull his head out of the sand.

That being said, Ms. Lindsey crafts a well-rounded and strong heroine, qualities I hope I see again in June with Tempting the Marquess, which features Isabella's younger sister, Olivia.