Review: The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

She will not give up…

Three months ago, governess Serena Barton was let go from her position. Unable to find new work, she’s demanding compensation from the man who got her sacked: a petty, selfish, swinish duke. But it’s not the duke she fears. It’s his merciless man of business—the man known as the Wolf of Clermont. The formidable former pugilist has a black reputation for handling all the duke’s dirty business, and when the duke turns her case over to him, she doesn’t stand a chance. But she can’t stop trying—not with her entire future at stake.

He cannot give in…

Hugo Marshall is a man of ruthless ambition—a characteristic that has served him well, elevating the coal miner’s son to the right hand man of a duke. When his employer orders him to get rid of the pestering governess by fair means or foul, it’s just another day at the office. Unfortunately, fair means don’t work on Serena, and as he comes to know her, he discovers that he can’t bear to use foul ones. But everything he has worked for depends upon seeing her gone. He’ll have to choose between the life that he needs, and the woman he is coming to love…

Picking a favorite line from this book simply cannot be done.  The entire book is highlighted -- truth!  I began this book while working out, and I stayed on the elliptical longer so I could finish it.  I have so much love for The Governess Affair that I cannot adequately put it into words or form a coherent review.  And this has been my problem since I read the book in April. 

I will say this much:  if you like historical romances, if you ever wonder about the "downstairs" counterparts to the lords and ladies and dukes and duchesses, you should read this book.  I wouldn't steer you wrong.  You want to know all there is to know about Serena and Hugo.  

He liked her.  He admired her.  There was something about her that wouldn't leave him alone.        

Best of 2012

While I didn't read as many books in 2012 as I read in 2011, there are still a number of books I loved.  I've listed those I consider amazing and awesomely good in alphabetical order.  

 

Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase

Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase

Silk is for Seduction is the first book I've read by Ms. Chase.  I first noticed it at the DABWAHA tournament.  I'm so glad I took a chance! 

Scandal Wears Satin was set up in Silk is for Seduction, but it was still a very good read on its own. 

 

A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

I've discovered I cannot go wrong with Ms. Dare.  Of all her books, there have been only 3 I've felt "eh" toward.  Them's good odds!!  A Week to be Wicked has to be my absolute all-time favorite of hers though. 

Hot Under Pressure by Louisa Edwards

The final book of Ms. Edwards' Rising Star Chef trilogy, I was so sad to see these characters go.  Beck was stand-offish yet loveable at the same time.  I was thrilled when Beck discovered he was exactly the kind of man he always wanted to be.   

When You Give a Duke a Diamond by Shana Galen

The first book in a new series by Ms. Galen. This book was a real treat, and I'm very intrigued by the next two books.   

A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

Baby tropes may be my favorite guilty pleasure in romances.  A Lady Awakened was recommended by Sarah at Smart Bitches, which is how I came to learn about it.  I may have to reread it so I can give it a proper review. 

Oracle's Moon by Thea Harrison

Coming off a low point (for me) in this series with Serpent's Kiss, I was pleased that Oracle's Moon brought back what I'd originally loved: extraordinary characters.

She Tempts the Duke by Lorraine Heath

The first in a new series by Ms. Heath.  I loved every angst-y moment of this book.  Unfortunately, the second book of the series doesn't measure up in my opinion.  But I loved She Tempts the Duke. 

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

Thief of Shadows was not my favorite book of Ms. Hoyt's, but I still enjoyed it enough to read it in a day.  Frustrating, especially when I wanted to savor the mysterious Winter Makepeace a little longer.  I am very intrigued by Ms. Hoyt's upcoming book, Lord of Darkness (February 2013).

 

 

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

I didn't formally review either of these books, but I sped through them quickly.  I'd never read Ms. James until these books.  I loved her voice as well as the structure and over-the-top-ness of these books.  

  

About That Night by Julie James

My main complaint about Ms. James is that she only releases one book a year.  I can't help myself; I can't put it down!  

 

Blame it on Bath by Caroline Linden

The Way to a Duke's Heart by Caroline Linden

I may have liked Blame it on Bath just a bit more than The Way to a Duke's Heart, though I did enjoy this entire series and the de Lacey Dilemma by Ms. Linden.  

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah Maclean

My first book by Ms. Maclean, though I have her previous trilogy on my TBR pile at home.  I checked this book out from the library, and loved it!  Ooh, it's so good.  

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

There is too much I want to say about this novel(la), so I have yet to write a review.  I swear almost every line of dialogue is highlighted.  It's a problem, but a good problem to have, I think.  

Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

The sixth book in Ms. Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series, Forever and a Day picks up with one of the Chocoholics, Grace, and Dr. Josh Scott.  It is my absolute favorite of this trilogy. 

A Cowboy for Christmas by Lori Wilde

Ms. Wilde ends her Jubilee, Texas trilogy on a high note in my opinion.  We've met Lisette throughout the course of the two previous novels, and she certainly shined in her own. 

Review: A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

 What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets...

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

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

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

I have Ms. MacLean's previous trilogy on my TBR pile, but I am so glad I picked A Rogue by Any Other Name from the library.  I could not put it down!  I never expected to love it so much or to rush through it so quickly. 

A Rogue by Any Other Name has everything I like in a historical romance:  childhood friends to lovers, rogues/bad boys, sequel bait.  Bourne's motives are just, I think, though he does use rogue-like tactics to obtain them, such as keeping Penelope prisoner, thereby ruining her and forcing him to marry her.  Their marriage ensures Bourne will receive the childhood home he lost in a game of cards as it has been attached to Penelope's dowry. 

But there was one thing of which Penelope was certain. Eldest daughters of good breed did not inspect strange lights in the middle of the night. 

What Bourne doesn't expect when he marries Penelope, I imagine, is a wife who's very interested in what goes on at  The Fallen, a well-known gaming hall in London which is co-owned by Bourne and three other rogue-like peers (all four men have fallen from their stature as members of the ton, hence the name of their club). 

Because Bourne's primary motive for success is revenge, he is quite cruel to Penelope, despite their share childhood past.  However, as more layers open and Bourne allows himself to become vulnerable, particularly about Penelope, that he begins to appreciate what he already has and his need for revenge lessens. 

All in all, A Rogue by Any Other Name is a great start to a series I'm very much looking forward to reading. 

Review: A Cowboy for Christmas by Lori Wilde

It's Christmastime in Jubilee, Texas, but Lissette Moncrief is having a hard time celebrating . . .

Especially after she accidentally smashes her car into Rafferty Jones's pick-up truck. Yes, he's a whole lot of handsome—from the tips of his boots to the top of his Stetson. But he's no Christmas present. Lissy's not about to let herself get whisked away by his charming ways and words . . . only to watch him drive away in the end.

But what Lissy doesn't know is Rafferty's in town just to meet her—and to give her a share in a windfall that doesn't rightly belong to him. At first, he just wants to do his good deed and get out. But one look at this green-eyed beauty has him deciding to turn this into a Christmas to remember . . . making promises he's determined to keep—whether she believes in them or not.

A Cowboy for Christmas was my favorite book of this trilogy.  Because I enjoyed it so much, I'm sad to say good-bye to Jubilee, Texas. 

Lissette Moncrief is a woman at the end of her rope.  Her husband, whom she didn't want to return to Iraq, was killed, their child has recently been diagnosed with degenerative hearing loss, and Lissette has about $1,000 in the bank.  When she accidentally hits a pick-up truck in the grocery store parking lot, she looses control, rightfully so.  What she doesn't know is the man whose truck she hit is Rafferty Jones, her deceased's husband's half-brother and the man who inherited benefits which should have gone to her son. 

Lissette has a weakness for cowboys; it's the main reason she married Jake, her deceased husband, in the first place.  She cautions herself against falling too fast and too hard for Rafferty, especially given their confusing relationship, but she's unable to keep that promise.  

A Cowboy for Christmas is a feel-good contemporary romance and a great addition to this trilogy, though it can be read as a stand-alone book. 


(A very special thank you to Avon Books, Harper Collins, and Edelweiss for the ARC of A Cowboy for Christmas.)

Review: Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase

From the Journals of Sophia Noirot: "A dress is a weapon. It must dazzle his eye, raise his temperature . . . and empty his purse."

A blue-eyed innocent on the outside and a shark on the inside, dressmaker Sophy Noirot could sell sand to Bedouins. Selling Maison Noirot's beautiful designs to aristocratic ladies is a little harder, especially since a recent family scandal has made an enemy of one of society's fashion leaders. Turning scandal to the shop's advantage requires every iota of Sophy's skills, leaving her little patience for a big, reckless rake like the Earl of Longmore. The gorgeous lummox can't keep more than one idea in his head at a time, and his idea is taking off all of Sophy's clothes.

But when Longmore's sister, Noirot's wealthiest, favorite customer, runs away, Sophy can't let him bumble after her on his own. In hot pursuit with the one man who tempts her beyond reason, she finds desire has never slipped on so smoothly . . .

I could not put this book down.  The plot -- the eventual pairing of Longmire and Sophy -- was obvious from the first book of the series, Silk is for Seduction, but I still enjoyed every moment of Scandal Wears Satin.   

"I thought you were going to leave me here," she said.

"You talked me out of it...a moment ago...when you were against the wall, under Lady Flinton's window."

 "Oh, yes--and speaking of that--"

"Oh, good," he said. "We're going to discuss it now."

"We certainly are," she said. "I had all my clothes on this time, so don't try to use any excuses about my being mostly naked."

"I don't need an excuse," he said. "But it might be that you have too many clothes on."

While Scandal Wears Satin was not as sensual a romance as Silk is for Seduction, I do think it's still a very good addition to the series.  Longmire's sister, Clara, causes some headaches along the way, but I think those moments were supposed to draw Longmire and Sophy closer.  Regardless, I'm anxious for the third Dressmakers book, Vixen in Velvet (August 2013). 

(A very special thank you to Avon Books, Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC of Scandal Wears Satin.)

Review: The Way to a Duke's Heart by Caroline Linden

Charles de Lacey, Lord Gresham, is running out of time, running from his responsibilities, and running from love.

Destined to be a duke, Charles de Lacey has led a life of decadent pleasure, free of any care for propriety or responsibility. It comes as a terrible shock to learn that he might be stripped of everything, thanks to his father's scandalous past. He has no choice but to find the blackmailer who would ruin him—and his only link to the villain is a woman who may be part of the plot….

To save his fortune and title, he vows he'll stop at nothing—in fact, he's all too eager to unravel the beautiful, tart-tongued Tessa Neville. She intrigues him and tempts him like no other lady ever has. With only his heart to guide him, and keenly aware that his entire future is at stake, Charles must decide: is she the woman of his dreams, or an enemy in disguise?

The Way to a Duke's Heart is the conclusion of the Durham Dilemma trilogy.  When we first meet Charles de Lacey, Lord Gresham, first-born son and heir, in One Night in London, he has a nonexistent relationship with his father and could seem to care less about losing his name and his fortune.  He has the most to lose of the three brothers, yet he's content to let Edward and Gerard solve the problem.   Edward and Gerard meet their respective wives, however, and force Charlie into accepting responsibility and getting to the bottom of this mystery.  And just as Charlie has a solid lead, he meets the beguiling Tessa Neville, a woman unlike any other.

 An angry woman was one thing, but an armed angry woman was another. 

Tessa is a plain-spoken, intelligent woman.  She has no use for flattery or witty banter; get to the point and get there quickly.  Because of her intelligence, she is acting on her brother's behalf in a business transaction with Mr. Hiram Scott, a man who Charlie believes is the blackmailer.  Charlie aligns himself with Tessa, and never lets go.

Watching Charlie and Tessa maneuver around each other was quite fun.  Neither wants to be attracted to the other, yet they cannot deny it.  The Way to a Duke's Heart was a very satisfying end and I will be sad to see the de Laceys say good-bye. 

(A very special thank you to Avon Books, Harper Collins, and Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC of The Way to a Duke's Heart.)

Review: When You Give a Duke a Diamond by Shana Galen

He had a perfectly orderly life...

William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual, securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that's the way he likes it. But he's in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossip papers link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn't begin to describe what happens next...

Until she came along...

Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It's disruptive to have the duke who is the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William's darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide...

The blurb above is a little misleading, I think.  Not to say that Juliette doesn't have men who are interested in her, but this implies Pelham chases men away from Juliette's side continuously and I can recall only a couple of instances where that happens.  

Despite that little quibble, I thoroughly enjoyed When You Give a Duke a Diamond.  With each new book by Ms. Galen I read, I find myself believing her writing improves.  This book had suspense and intrigue (and a murder!), as well as the typical romantic arc and sexual tension between the hero and heroine.  True to Pelham's regimented lifestyle, everything happens with a purpose and at the precise time it needs to.  When You Give a Duke a Diamond sets up the two future books nicely, so I'm anxious to see what will happen to the remaining Diamonds.  


(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of When You Give a Duke a Diamond.)

Review: A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

A temporary engagement, a lifetime in the making...

After years of fending for herself, Kate Taylor found friendship and acceptance in Spindle Cove--but she never stopped yearning for love. The very last place she'd look for it is in the arms of Corporal Thorne. The militia commander is as stone cold as he is brutally handsome. But when mysterious strangers come searching for Kate, Thorne steps forward as her fiance. He claims to have only Kate's safety in mind. So why is there smoldering passion in his kiss?

Long ago, Samuel Thorne devoted his life to guarding Kate’s happiness. He wants what's best for her, and he knows it's not marriage to a man like him. To outlast their temporary engagement, he must keep his hands off her tempting body and lock her warm smiles out of his withered heart. It's the toughest battle of this hardened warrior's life...and the first he seems destined to lose.

"No pressure," Payne said. "It's only your one chance at happiness, you know. It's only the rest of your life."

That's kind of what I'm feeling right now as I attempt to put into words what I enjoyed about A Lady by Midnight.  And it seems fitting that Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, hero of A Week to be Wicked (my favorite thus far, though honestly, picking a favorite Tessa Dare book is like picking your favorite child.) is able to articulate my feelings better than I.

Kate Taylor isn't shy necessarily, but she keeps to herself despite thriving in the Spindle Cove lifestyle.  She has no family and has suffered for the loss.  She is looking for acceptance, longing for love, and is utterly surprised to find Corporal Samuel Thorne staring back at her.   

His lips were so warm. And for all his cool, stony appearance, he tasted delicious and comforting. Like freshly baked bread, mixed with some faint memory of bitters by the pint. She had a vision of him earlier that day, drinking in a dimly lit tavern. Alone. The poignant solitude of that image made her want to hold him. She had to settle for clutching his coat lapels, nestling close to his chest.

She let her lips fall apart, the better to breath him in. He caught her top lip between his, then sipped at the lower. As though he craved a taste of her, too. 

She's convinced he doesn't like her, that he's never liked her in all the time they've known each other.  Thorne, of course, while bristling at this notion, cannot help how he feels about Kate.

"Of course I want you," he said roughly. "Every thought in my head is of you. Tasting you, touching you, taking you in ways your innocent mind can't even fathom. I don't know a cursed thing about art or music or Aristotle. My everything thought is crude and base and so far beneath you, it might as well be on the opposite side of the earth."

Imagine Kate's surprise when an entire family, the Grammercys, greets her upon her return one evening.  Thorne is immediately suspicious, and that is where their engagement begins.  Of course, the faux engagement turns into something much, much more.

   

They were on the same side.
The two of them, against the melons of the world.

All of Ms. Dare's books are enjoyable, but I have particularly enjoyed the Spindle Cove series.  I do hope we're treated to Diana Hightower (and perhaps Evan Grammercy) in the upcoming Any Duchess Will Do.  
 
(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC of A Lady by Midnight.)

Review: Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

LOVE CAN HAPPEN IN A HEARTBEAT

Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s lovable mutt to caring for his rambunctious son. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family-until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

Forever and a Day is the final book set in Lucky Harbor, and I'm sure it's my favorite of the series.  Well, a close second to The Sweetest Thing.  Maybe it's a tie between which hero I like better: Ford or Josh. 

Regardless...

Forever and a Day pairs the final Chocoholic, Grace, and Dr. Josh Scott, a man who is literally drowning in responsibilities and guilt.  Grace came to Lucky Harbor simply by accident, yet she's managed to make the small town her home in a short amount of time; Josh is Lucky Harbor born and bred.  And when they are in the same room together, the sparks of sexual tension cannot be stopped.

This book has everything I love in a contemporary romance:  true-to-life characters, humor, serious sexual tension, and common, ordinary life situations.  There was no Big Misunderstanding which pulled Grace and Josh apart; they fell in love and stayed in love.  I am so glad I was able to witness every moment of it!   


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

Review: Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

A Masked Man . . .

Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles—protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.

A Dangerous Woman . . .

Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society— flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons—Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar—and his lips so tempting.

A Passion Neither Could Deny

During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything—the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.

Perhaps coming off the high that was Scandalous Desires set me up for an unreachable goal concerning Thief of Shadows.  That's not to say I wasn't jonesing for Winter's book; of course I wanted to learn more about the quiet Winter Makepeace and the side of his nature he keeps hidden as the Ghost of St. Giles.  (It's very ironic that Winter's surname -- Makepeace -- seems so at odds with who the Ghost of St. Giles is and the mischief he clings to. Though I don't suppose Winter sets out to make mischief in St. Giles; he wants to restore his community, keep he, his family, and his charges safe from harm.  There's certainly no shame in that.)

I just felt a little let down by Thief of Shadows.  It's still a good book, and I'm very excited to read the next book in the series (Lord of Darkness, February 2013) because I do love the world Ms. Hoyt has created, especially given what Winter reveals to Isabel at the end of the book.  But Thief of Shadows ultimately didn't live up to my expectations.    

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

Review: Hot Under Pressure by Louisa Edwards

Prepare to turn up the heat with the final book in the sizzling "Rising Star Chef" trilogy from romance author Louisa Edwards.

Henry Beck thought he’d already faced the toughest kitchen challenge of his life. After all, what could top sweating it out as a Navy cook on a submarine? But when he learns his competition for the title of Rising Star Chef is the sweet hippie girl he married…and left…ten years ago, the heat is on.

Now Beck and Skye Gladwell are going head to head in the finals…and sparking up old flames every time they touch. But Skye wants more than a win over the man who abandoned her when she needed him most—she wants a divorce! Then her sexy almost-ex makes a deliciously dangerous proposition. He’ll give in to her demands, but if his team wins the RSC, he has a demand of his own…one last taste of the only woman he ever loved.

Picking up immediately where Some Like it Hot left off, Hot Under Pressure completes the Rising Star Chef trilogy on a romantic high note.   

Henry Beck, known simply as Beck to his fellow Lunden's Restaurant employees, is the newest member of the Lunden family.  He keeps things close to the vest and has secrets in his past he's never shared with his co-workers, so they are all in for a shock when Beck's wife, Skye Gladwell, is a competitor in the Rising Star competition.  

While I loved Beck and Skye's reconnection, I'm not sure I completely bought the reasons behind their ten-year estrangement, especially when we see via their reminiscences how in love their younger selves were.  I was happy to see Beck fully realize he is the kind of man he has always wanted to be, someone who felt worthy of love in general and of Skye's love specifically.  

I'm sorry to say good-bye to these characters, but I feel they've come full circle in wonderful ways.  Thank you, Ms. Edwards.        

Review: Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase

From the Design Book of Marcelline Noirot:
The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold:
ladies would die to wear it . . .
and gentlemen would kill to remove it!

Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot is London's rising star. And who better to benefit from her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton, the Duke of Clevedon's intended bride? Winning the future duchess's patronage means prestige and fortune for Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady, though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whose standards are as high as his morals are . . . not.

The prize seems well worth the risk—but this time Marcelline's met her match. Clevedon can design a seduction as irresistible as her dresses; and what begins as a flicker of desire between two of the most passionately stubborn charmers in London soon ignites into a delicious inferno . . . and a blazing scandal.

And now both their futures hang by an exquisite thread of silk . . .

Silk for Seduction is the first book I've read by Ms. Chase.  I decided to take a chance after seeing multiple nominations, and I'm so very glad I did.

Marcelline Noirot is unlike any heroine I've met thus far.  She's intriguing, driven, determined, single-minded, yet also loving, sensual, crafty, and devoted.  Despite coming from what could have been a wealthy background, Marcelline and her sisters use their dressmaking talents to take London by storm.  And what Marcelline wants is to dress the Duke of Clevedon's intended. 

She sets her sights on seducing Clevedon with her creations in the hopes he'll facilitate a meeting between she and the future duchess, Alice.  Clevedon makes good on his word; however, he cannot stop thinking about Marcelline. 

The dance ended, but still he held her. "You tease and provoke and dare and infuriate me," he said.

"Oh, that I do for fun," she said.

What transpires between Marcelline and Clevedon begins innocently enough but quickly erupts in a blaze of passion.  They simply cannot stay away from one another, and I loved every moment.  

Review: About That Night by Julie James

HE’S PLAYING GAMES

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

BUT SHE’S MAKING THE RULES

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

One Julie James book per year is NOT enough.   That is my major complaint about this author.   

Nine years earlier, Rylann Pierce was a law school student celebrating with her friends in a bar when she's hit on by Kyle Rhodes.  She has no idea who he is until her BFF tells her.  She allows Kyle to walk her home from the bar, and they make a date.  Kyle doesn't show, though Rylann doesn't know why until the following morning.

We begin About That Night from Rylann's point of view, but it's Kyle and his situation which propels the narrative forward.  He's the connecting thread between A Lot Like Love (book 2) and About That Night.   We learn more about his case, which was a subplot of A Lot Like Love, as well what motivates him, both professionally and personally.

Rylann and Kyle make a solid couple, whether denying their respective attraction, bantering back and forth, or simply being in the same room together.  They are both likeable and genuine and practically combustible once they get together.

Review: A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

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

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

These unlikely partners have one week
-to fake an elopement
-to convince family and friends they’re in “love”
-to outrun armed robbers
-to survive their worst nightmares
-to travel four hundred miles without killing each other
All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.

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

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

This book is amazing, let's get my opinion on record immediately.  A Week to be Wicked is Ms. Dare's best work yet.   When I downloaded an ARC, I convinced myself I could wait to read it.  You see, I wanted to savor this book, to make it last for as long as possible.  Nope.  Didn't happen.  I laughed; I cried; I tried to read slower; I inhaled.  And at the heart of A Week to be Wicked is a simple, sweet yet insanely hot love story, one I hated to see end.

  

Oh, for the love of tits. How did this happen to him? He had the best of intentions, and then somehow...
Your good intentions have the impact of mortar shells. 

On one hand, we have Colin Sandhurst, a rake in Spindle Cove not by his choosing.  He wants to be anywhere but there.  Colin's foppish exterior hides the fact that he is intelligent yet haunted by the accident that claimed his parents' lives and that he truly enjoys calling Minerva by any other "M" name he can think of.

"If I don't have a bed companion, I lie awake all night."
He nudged toward the soft heat of her body and gathered the blanket around them. "So you may want to rethink your plans, pet. If we did undertake this journey...I'd need you in my bed."

On the other hand, there's Minerva Highwood, a set-in-stone spinster who studies rocks and is intent on presenting her discovery from Spindle Cove to the Royal Geological Society in Edinburgh.  She believes Colin would be the perfect man to help her travel to Edinburgh, and she suggests they fake an elopement as reasonable excuse to leave Spindle Cove.

"Perhaps not, but I think you do want kissing." He nuzzled the curve of her cheek, and his voice dropped to a sensual whisper. "Don't you?"
She did. Oh, she did.

As luck would have it, their journey is not an easy one.  There's robbers and bandits and lies, oh the lies Colin tells in the hopes of making their travels easier.  But what happens on their journey is that they discover each other -- their true selves, the selves they keep hidden and/or protected from the rest of the world -- and they find themselves falling in love.


  

"Because..." Because I doubt myself. "Because I know how easily you lie."
He clutched her bottom, bringing her pelvis flush with his.  His hardness ground against her, sending pleasure rushing through her veins.
"Feel that?" he growled.
She nodded. Good Lord, how could she not?
"I've been hard for you for days, Minerva.  Since before we even left Spindle Cove.  If you believe nothing else, believe this." He rocked against her.  "This doesn't lie." 

For such an unlikely couple, Colin and Minerva are perfect for one another, absolutely 100% perfect.  You won't be at all disappointed with A Week to be Wicked.


(A very special thank you to Avon and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC of A Week to be Wicked.)

Review: Oracle's Moon by Thea Harrison

As a second daughter, Grace Andreas never had to worry about the intrigues of the Elder Races. But when her sister, Petra, and Petra’s husband are both killed, Grace inherits the Power and responsibilities of the Oracle of Louisville, as well as her sister’s two young children – neither of which she is prepared for.

Yet, she is not alone. Khalil, Demonkind and Djinn prince of House Marid – driven by his genuine caring for the children – has decided to make himself a part of the household both as their guardian and as an exasperating counterpoint to Grace’s impudence toward the Elder Races.

But when an attempt is made on Grace’s life, she realizes that Khalil is the only one who can protect her – and offer her more than a mortal man…

Oracle's Moon picks right up from where Serpent's Kiss ended in the continuing Elder Races series.  I do think Oracle's Moon can be read alone, especially since Serpent's Kiss was my least favorite of the books.   Oracle's Moon brought me back to what I loved about this series in the first place:  extraordinary characters.

Grace Andreas never wanted to be an Oracle.  Her older sister, Petra, inherited the gift, and Grace was just fine without that kind of added pressure.  Then her sister and her brother-in-law are killed in an accident, Grace herself is injured, and she must attempt to raise her young niece and nephew while allowing the Oracle's power to integrate within her.  Her introduction in Serpent's Kiss is how Grace became acquainted with Khalil, Djinn prince. 

What I loved the most is that we see every aspect of Grace's life: the injury she'll continue to suffer from thanks to the accident; her financial concerns;  her exploration of her innate ability plus the power of the Oracle; and raising her sister's children on top of all that.  She first views Khalil as a nuisance, then comes to rely on him, especially to keep the children from harm.  We see this unlikely couple fall in love -- and it's sweet and passionate and amazing.  The subplot and major source of external conflict was a bit weak in my opinion, though I'm sure the repercussions will be felt by the  entire Wyr world in future books.

Review: Blame it on Bath by Caroline Linden

A marriage of convenience . . . or of destiny?

Gerard de Lacey is determined to find the man who is blackmailing his family, but with his inheritance and status at risk, a hasty marriage to a wealthy bride also seems in order—just in case things take a turn for the worse. Charismatic and capable, Gerard knows he can win the hand of any lady he chooses. Still, he's not expecting a rich widow to find him and propose the very thing he wants: a marriage of convenience.

Katherine Howe's first marriage was one of dreary duty. Now that she's being pressured to marry her late husband's heir, she's desperate for a better option. Gerard de Lacey, with his sinful good looks, charming manner, and looming scandal, fits her needs perfectly. The fact that she's nursed a secret affection for him only makes it better—and worse. Because Gerard will likely marry her for her fortune—but can he love her for herself, as she loves him?

A great addition to this intriguing series.  Blame it on Bath may be my favorite thus far. 

Gerard de Lacey is the third son of the late Duke of Durham, whose first marriage is causing what's being billed as the Durham Dilemma in the scandal sheets.  Katherine Howe is a wealthy widow who needs protection -- and a husband.  Since Gerard needs money (regardless of the outcome of the Durham Dilemma) and Katherine has it, Katherine proposes they get married.  

What I enjoyed most about this book was watching them fall in love.  Oh, they're compatible in the bedroom -- almost instantly so -- but their relationship outside the marriage bed is what I loved.  How Katherine learns to overcome her insecurities brought on by her mother and her first husband and how Gerard looks past Katherine's plain exterior to see the passionate and lovely woman beneath.  It's the stuff of true romance!

The mystery of the late Duke of Durham's first wife is not furthered, but I'm sure we'll have a resolution -- and perhaps another visit from Aunt Margaret -- in the final book of the series, The Way to a Duke's Heart (August 2012).

(A very special thank you to Avon, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Blame it on Bath.)    

Review: She Tempts the Duke by Lorraine Heath

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.)