Eagerly Anticipating

                     

Review: What a Goddess Wants by Stephanie Julian

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

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

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

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

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

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.)