It Takes a Scandal by Caroline Linden

March 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SCANDAL
It Takes a Scandal by Caroline Linden
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

Sometimes It Takes a Scandal…

Abigail Weston has everything: beauty, wit, and one of the largest dowries in England. Her parents hope she’ll wed an earl. Abigail hopes for a man who wants her desperately and passionately. But the money seems to blind every man she meets—except one.
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Sebastian Vane has nothing. He came home from war with a shattered leg to find his father mad and his inheritance gone. He’s not a fit suitor for anyone, let alone an heiress. But Abigail lights up his world like a comet, bright and beautiful and able to see him instead of his ruined reputation. And it might end happily ever after…

To Reveal Your Heart’s Desire

…Until Benedict Lennox begins courting Abigail. Ben is everything Sebastian isn’t—wealthy, charming, heir to an earl. Sebastian won’t give up the only girl he’s ever loved without a fight, but Abigail must choose between the penniless gentleman who moves her heart, and the suitor who is everything her parents want.

I do love a story about a wounded warrior, and Sebastian Vane definitely fits the bill. He’s now living a quiet life, doing the best he can with his limited resources. He accidentally encounters Abigail Weston, who is the kind of woman he once might have hoped to marry. He is definitely intrigued and enchanted by her, but he turns down her overture to further their acquaintance, feeling that it can go nowhere.

As they meet again, Abigail does her best to change Sebastian’s mind, and in turn, his resistance is melting away. I loved the way this story evolved, and I loved Sebastian and Abigail. They both had strong character – he chose to live a quiet and dignified life, and did not become surly, and she wasn’t arrogant or haughty though she was beautiful and an heiress. They talk to each other, so they don’t have to deal with secrets or big misunderstandings. Once they commit to each other, their problems are from outside events, they’re not of their own making. Of course, there are villains – one in particular caused such pain and humiliation for Sebastian, that I freely admit I would have rejoiced to see him dead.

I enjoy Caroline Linden’s books, and this one is no exception. Although there was a mystery here, I felt that the focus was on Sebastian and Abigail, and their wonderful, sexy romance. I recommend this book and am looking forward to the next in the series.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost

March 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TWICE
Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost
A Night Prince Novel
Publisher: Avon – an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (269 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges…

Leila’s psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn’t sure what the future holds. If that weren’t enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she’s also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won’t admit that he loves her.

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Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.

The experience of reading this book is like being a dust bunny in the path of a super suction vacuum cleaner – once I got started, reality fell away and the only thing that existed was Vlad and Leila. There was no escape.

I had read Once Burned, the first book that introduced me to Vlad and Leila, and I was astounded as to the originality and the quality of writing that took place in that novel. It ended with a not so happy type of cliff hanger so I was both cautious and curious to start Twice Tempted. I didn’t know where Ms. Frost was going to take her characters – further estrangement, using that as one of the plot conflicts, or advancing their romance to the next step, fighting and screaming all the way. I’m thrilled to report that this story is written just as powerfully with an almost absolute perfect balance of suspense, drama, intense passion and a delightful and thoroughly captivating culmination of their courtship and romance.

Of course, Vlad is not a typical hero. In fact, he is a cold blooded killer. His sense of justice is extreme and his methods of punishment are medieval and brutal and in the beginning Leila was horrified that he wielded his weapons with so much gusto. The hero is a very scary man. However in this book, told through Leila’s eyes, he’s so much more. In fact, that is how this novel is told – through Leila’s first person point of view and Ms. Frost never missed a beat. Usually I find first person POV hard to get into. Not so with Twice Tempted. I was solidly in Leila’s head but because the author has such a strong command of dialogue, expressions, descriptions and mood setting, it was a smooth yet commanding read and I reveled in it. The author used the secondary characters to give Leila the clues she needed to understand what was happening or what was about to. When she understood, I understood. The author’s expertise in crafting her characters in this book was clear and bold.

If readers missed the first book, Once Burned, they won’t get too lost in reading this sequel. Ms. Frost did play catch up at certain points to make sure a new reader understood the ramifications of certain choices made by the characters in a few scenes. Since I’d forgotten some of the finer points, it was a good refresher for me and I think just right for new readers too. One thing is for sure, some of the secondary characters mentioned in both Once Burned and Twice Tempted were from the other series that Ms. Frost is famous for. I’ve never read them but after my experience with these two novels, I’m going to be looking into getting all the back books. I can only hope my purse doesn’t scream OUCH! too loud since it looks like there are quite a few. If the quality is anything like reading Vlad and Leila’s story, I’m going to be a very contented reader – and broke.

The hardest thing about writing this review is avoiding the spoilers. There are so many things I’d love to share! I’ll give hints: the explosion, the betrayal, the villain, the cool thing about the flowers, the boat, the explanation of ghouls and what happens to poor Maximus. And the rats! Oh good gravy, the rats! That’s just for starters. Twice Tempted is simply amazing because it’s meaty, diverse, enthralling and intense and is a real page flipper.

Twice Tempted blew me away and everything about the heroine totally rocked! Yes, I liked the dynamics between Vlad and Leila, and Vlad is one sexy, arrogant and complex hunk, but Leila’s character impressed me 100%. There were three times that the author could have written her actions as a typical cliché but instead she surprised me, pleased me and garnered my respect. The paragraph of introspection where Leila ruminated over life and living was a breath of fresh air and what came afterwards pushed all of my happy buttons. Twice Tempted is going on my keeper shelf just like its predecessor, Once Burned. I know there is one more book coming because of what was discovered in the last chapter of Twice Tempted and I guarantee it’s going to be an auto-buy. Ms. Frost is now on my short list of must read authors. She’s earned it with these Night Prince novels. I’m very happy to recommend this book, and indeed this series, to all paranormal romance fans. It’s high caliber writing.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Vampire Most Wanted by Lynsay Sands

February 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment

VAMPIRE
Vampire Most Wanted by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (234 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

For Basha Argeneau, anything is better than facing her estranged family. Even hiding out in sweltering southern California. But when a sexy immortal in black shows up determined to bring her back to the clan, she’ll do anything to keep far, far away from the past she can’t outrun.

Marcus Notte isn’t here to play games—especially not with someone as crazy as the infamous blonde. Asked by Lucian Argeneau to bring her back for questioning, Marcus is determined to carry out Lucian’s request—no matter how the seductive little mind-reading vamp feels about it.

Basha doesn’t mind fighting fire with fire, especially with a hot immortal involved. But if he wants to take her away, he’ll have to catch her first . . .

A mystery is finally solved but is it? It depends on your point of view. As far as the Argeneau family is concerned, someone rescued a villain and must be brought to justice. But what if that person isn’t who they thought they were? What happens when the truth is even more bizarre than anyone could have imagined? Get ready to be amazed by reading Vampire Most Wanted.
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I suspected one truth but that was only the tip of the iceberg and why I found this novel so intriguing. It all revolves around a woman. She’s mysterious, she’s talented and she’s in danger – or is she? Her name is Divine and she is a very independent woman and is the heroine. She’s also nurturing, helpful, even loving, but it’s balanced with a healthy dose of fear, mistrust and confusion. The heroine has a lot of components to her personality that made me like her, feel sad for her, and cheer for her. There were other times where I was a bit irritated because I thought she was slow on the uptake. Ultimately, I found there was an actual reason for that failing – and it wasn’t necessarily her fault.

I discovered so much about Divine until the light bulb went off in my head, ‘Aha’! When Ms. Sands decides to tie all the loose ends, she does a good job of it, Thing is, it took me a bit to realize that this dangling thread occurred in books past and I was wowed. At no time did I ever expect it to turn out as it did in Vampire Most Wanted. Also amazing is, after reading this book, the title can be interpreted two different ways. I found that very cool.

Marcus, the hero, is in a fix. He has to be himself but pretend to be someone he’s not. Not the way to make a good first impression on one’s future life mate. I always enjoy how the author has her characters figure out who their life mate is because of their ‘symptoms’. Marcus has some serious strategizing to do in this book because Divine isn’t going to be easy to woo. Of course that means I had a fun time reading about all the fun they get into in the process.

It wasn’t all amusement and games however. There is a very serious aspect of this story that alternated between disgusting me, horrifying me or down right making me sad enough to sniffle. Once the truth comes out, ALL the truths, it’s heartbreaking. What it comes down to is Divine having to make choices and some of them are going to be extremely tough to do. The author’s writing in this was powerful, dramatic and very emotional. I can’t imagine any reader remaining unaffected by the some of the revelations.

When Marcus and Divine succumb to the mating frenzy, once again, Ms. Sands finds ways to keep it fresh, fascinating and at times, even funny. I expect readers to find themselves smiling here and there throughout the tale just because a few of the instances were hilarious, like the broom incident – oh my gosh did I get a giggle out of that. Not Marcus though, but Vincent did. Then again, Vincent recounted an incident with Jackie that totally had me snickering and giggling. So, yes, Ms. Sands continues with her tradition of humor even when the suspense is thick. However, when the passion is hot, the writing is smoking.

Secondary characters are key in helping the plot move along at a nice clip. Mind reading is a clever trick. Dialogue is entertaining as usual and the location, the carnival, was unique and fun.

Vampire Most Wanted has a lot of surprises in store for fans of the series. It’s a well-rounded, engrossing and engaging story with many charming interactions between the characters. It was interesting figuring Divine out and fascinating watching her and Marcus fall in love. This is a great addition to the long running series and a definite recommend. Even new fans can enjoy this book with the only caveat being that they might end up being curious to find and read all the books that came before. If this book accomplishes that, they’re going to be in for a treat because some are even better than this one, but all are worth reading.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard

January 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FIREMAN
Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (285 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

It takes a certain kind of man to stand out among the Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel.

Firefighter Derek “Vader” Brown is one of a kind—six feet of solid muscle with the heart of a born hero. It’s that protective streak that has him pursuing a promotion to Captain to pay for his mother’s home care. And it’s why he intends to figure out why his sometime girlfriend Cherie Harper runs hot as hellfire one minute and pushes him away the next.

Cherie’s got it bad. Vader sweeps her off her feet—literally—and their chemistry is combustible. There’s just the little problem of a nightmare from her past she was desperate to escape. And then her sister Trixie arrives, causing havoc for Cherie and the male population of San Gabriel. Cherie doesn’t want her past to complicate Vader’s life or his career. But there’s nothing like a firefighter to break through all your defenses, one smoldering kiss at a time . . .

What’s awesome about a firefighter besides his bravery, brawns and courage? Brains, determination and the heart of a lion. Followers of the The Bachelor Firemen series will remember Vader as being a pumped up behemoth of a man who only seemed to be the perfect side kick, the jokester and the one most in love with pumping iron to the exclusion of all else except fighting fires. Four Weddings and a Fireman showed that Vader has deeper depths than anyone ever dreamed, and it made for one heck of an interesting story.

First, this is a solid standalone read. A new reader will fit right in with reading this book out of order and be perfectly fine. When I first discovered this series, it was by accident and it was the third book in. I’ve since grabbed all the back stories and all the ones since and have enjoyed every single one, Four Weddings and a Fireman included. There’s just something about Ms. Bernard’s talent that one bite is simply not enough. Those bachelor firemen create a craving and the author delivers such a fine and entertaining romance for each and every man that they are a treat to read.
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Vader is a very large man who is constantly seen perfecting his form with weights at the gym What the author does is explore why he is the way he is. What drives him and creates that intense focus is nothing less than heroic. However, the hero is under a misconception – one that he is so stubborn against changing that it almost costs him someone he loves. That pivotal moment when change is forced upon him opens his eyes to what amounts to his fearful arrogance and it alters the course of his relationship with his firemen brothers and to an even greater effect, his on again/off again romance with the love of his life, Cherie. It’s an excellent vehicle for drama, suspense and hope. Add frustration. Poor Vader is put through the “love wringer” so many times, my heart ached for him.

Cherie was a surprise. She’s neither shallow, nor ditzy, nor is she leading Vader on and toying with him. There’s a very good reason for blowing hot and cold all the time and it turns out, she was right to try to keep Vader at a distance. That overall fear guided her internal conflict until it became THE conflict – the one that effected everyone around her, even innocent bystanders, and produced some of the best tense, action packed scenes in the book.

Cherie’s sister sort of annoyed me but she sure was effective at mixing things up and her character got things done. Cherie’s brother and his cohorts were integral to the plot too. I thought her brother was a bit more emotional then he needed to be but that’s before the author revealed why he reacted so irrationally to some of Cherie’s decisions. Vader’s mom was important too because she provided motivation and some of Vader’s internal conflict. I’d say every single one of the secondary characters included in this book were vital because they enhanced Vader and Cherie’s strengths and weaknesses and certainly played a part in bringing them together – eventually.

The villain was not a figment of anyone’s imagination. He turned out to be much worse than even I could have predicted. The author created an effective villain who was irredeemable. He gave me the creeps.

Dialogue was key but so were the descriptions of Vader and Cherie seducing each other, even unintentionally, and the fun and sexy hijinks that ultimately took over. I enjoyed how even the most innocent of things could get the hero all hot and bothered, and how totally in love Cherie was with Vader that he was a constant aphrodisiac, her moth to his flame.

There were times, quite a few, in which I was vastly annoyed with the heroine’s constant dithering about whether to trust Vader, about how closed book she was and that waffling drove me nuts. After I read the story, I understood all, but while it was happening, it just seemed to go on and on, over and over and I wanted to yell at her, “Tell him!” That’s why I felt her sister was an important character – she helped give Cherie the shot in the shorts the heroine needed to do the right thing. Vader’s own “shot in the shorts” was dramatic and unnerving, but again, effective.

When it comes to the hero and heroine ‘getting it on’, I’m a happy reader. Ms. Bernard provided me with plenty of opportunities to see that those two get on, pardon the pun, like a house on fire. It’s the perfect cliché to attach to those two. Talk about steamy pages!

Four Weddings and a Fireman is a sure pleaser for romance fans. For readers who think the ultimate sexy and hot hero is a fire fighter, they’re going to find a lot to enjoy as Vader finally gets his girl. It’s a thoroughly fun and entertaining romance with just enough drama and suspense to keep the pages turning. There’s humor, silly antics and even sentimental scenes to keep a reader’s emotions engaged. The happily ever after includes a wonderful, satisfying wrap-up that had me sighing wistfully. I want to attend a party like that. It sounded like so much fun! And that’s the compliment. I’d like to meet all those guys because Ms. Bernard created characters that seemed to come alive and jump off of the pages straight into my heart. Who wouldn’t want a hunky fireman of their own? Try Four Weddings and a Fireman and find out for yourself.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Wulfe Untamed by Pamela Palmer

January 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WULFE
Wulfe Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (247 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

They are called Feral Warriors—an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release…

The most enigmatic and tortured of the Feral Warriors, Wulfe is haunted by the quiet beauty of a human woman who no longer remembers him. Once a captive of both the Mage and the Ferals, Natalie stole a piece of his heart before he took her memories and sent her safely back to her fiancé. But now the Mage are threatening her again, and Wulfe will risk anything to protect her.

These online courses are interesting and fun. buy cheap viagra If the so awaited victory didn’t take place, the main person responsible for it is Jon Diebler from Ohio State, who was unstoppable that night from the 3-point range, giving an exhibition with 10 threes in the 82-61 viagra samples from doctor victory. When there is such an easy, convenient, harm free and reliable solution, available in the market, then why to live such a boring life? Go and buy the best quality wholesale viagra at an unbeatable price. You should not use super generic viagra if you are allergic to sildenafil. Natalie Cash is stunned when she’s saved by a wolf who shifts suddenly into a splendidly built, if badly scarred, man, a man with the kindest eyes. Swept into a world of intrigue and danger beyond her comprehension, she turns to the powerful Wulfe, finding a passion she’d only dreamed of. But when time runs out, they must trust one another and surrender to a wild, untamed love.

The final battle, the ultimate bad guy take down and the mess it makes and the people it saves all help in delivering an action packed story and satisfying happy ever after for this long awaited romance between Wulfe and Natalie.

I wouldn’t classify this as a standalone because the groundwork for the relationship between Natalie and Wulfe was built a couple of books ago. A reader needs to have read the previous adventure in which they met. It helps explain why their getting together is so poignant, special and powerful in Wulfe Untamed. They weren’t allowed to be together initially because of dire circumstances and a few tormented decisions that Wulfe had to make. It was sad when they had to part and it was even more heart wrenching watching him pine for a women he could never have. Talk about unrequited love and putting the needs of the many before his own. It was very emotional.

The action starts practically right away when the bad guys find Natalie. She doesn’t remember them, doesn’t believe Wulfe and has a hard time wrapping her brain around the chaos and horror that suddenly surrounds her. I liked Natalie because she was quick on the uptake and followed her gut feelings. She trusted Wulfe when she knew she shouldn’t but because of the previous story, it made perfect sense to me. She didn’t remember him, but some part of her did and that allowed for what happened next.

There are a lot of folks that populate this tale that made it a wonderful reading experience for me. I was excited to see so of my favorite heroes and heroines who had had their own stories in the past show up in this tale to help out Natalie and Wulfe. But the best thing about this particular book is the eventual well rounded happiness. It’s hard won with a lot of fighting, bloodshed, horror, pain, death, strategizing and brute strength, and even a few amazing jaw dropping surprises delighted me, before an allover happy ever after could be realized. When it does happen, it’s simply wonderful, uplifting and it gave me the sniffles. For the final book in the Feral Warriors series, Ms. Palmer saved the best for last.

Wulfe was heavily scarred and unlovable. At least, that is what he thinks. The reasons for the intense scarring were heroic and tragic. He was a true tormented hero so seeing him find his one true love had me melting into a pile of delighted shivers. And the epilogue embraced all of the men who never believed they could find love. The ending was pure pleasure and enjoyment and it made all the trials and tribulations that went on before worth it. I know I had a goofy smile on my face when I read the last few paragraphs.

Ms. Palmer has an excellent grasp for action words and descriptions. The battle came alive for me and I was highly entertained never mind that I couldn’t put the book down. The drama was that intense. The dialogue fit, flowed well and the editing was perfect. All in all Wulfe Untamed can be touted as another gem to add to the author’s string of hits. It’s well done, worth reading and I highly recommend it.

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Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

January 23, 2014 By 1 Comment

DUKE
Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare
Castles Ever After
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (230 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
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Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

Isolde Ophelia Goodnight has a problem. Her godfather left her a castle, but not only is it falling into ruin, it’s inhabited by an ogre. Well, maybe not an ogre. He’s actually a handsome duke, but he acts like an ogre, and he believes the castle is his. Thus begins Romancing the Duke, a delightful fairytale that follows the adventures of Izzy, England’s sweetheart due to her father’s wildly popular stories that feature her, and Ransom William Dacre Vane, the eleventh Duke of Rothbury, a scarred and isolated misanthrope who wants nothing to do with Izzy or the fans of her father’s writing who follow her around.

Ransom and Izzy are charming characters, and it’s easy to become caught up in their stories. Each of them has seen hardship and each has much to overcome before finding the happily ever after that should be waiting at the end of every fairytale. But even though the the troubles the hero and heroine face are often quite sad, the author manages to inject a great deal of humor in the story, making this a fun read. I especially enjoyed how Izzy is a constant surprise to the duke. He does his best to scare her away, both from the castle and from himself, but she never reacts the way he expects her to, and always challenges his perception of himself and the world. I also liked the secondary characters—Duncan, Ransom’s faithful valet and Abigail, the vicar’s daughter who befriends Izzy—and the richness their presence adds to the story.

My one knock on Romancing the Duke would be how modern it feels, both in situations and in language. I don’t mean there are glaring anachronisms in the book, rather that the tone of it is essentially modern. That is not my preference in historical novels, but the story is involving enough and the writing competent enough that it didn’t materially affect my enjoyment of the story. There were also a few too many sex scenes—both complete and interrupted—for my taste. At certain points in the story, it felt like the plot got lost in all the sexual activity, but the author eventually brings everything back into focus for a satisfying resolution.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Ransom and Izzy and would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a romance novel with a little fairytale in it.

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The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell

January 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment

NO
The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (196 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Quince

What happens when a bride says no?

He is the bastard son of a duke, arrogant, handsome, a little bit dangerous, and, of course, one of the most sought-after bachelors in London. He is also about to be publically jilted by some chit of a girl! Blake Stephens’ pride isn’t about to let him be humiliated, so he charges after his bride to the wilds of Scotland, determined to bring her to the altar.

What happens when the heart says yes?

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It has been a while since I read an historical romance novel. But then I read the blurb for this book and decided to make a short trip back to the land of historicals. I am really glad I did with Cathy Maxwell’s The Bride Says No, because this story was different.

The Bride Says No was a great surprise for me, because it is completely different from all the historical novels that I’ve read in last ten years. The author stepped out from the established forms of historical romance novels and wrote something completely new.

Ms. Maxwell’s story did not focus on just one couple and their path to the HEA. She incorporated and told three interconnected romances in this relatively short story. The writing is good, the author kept control of the reins to the story the whole time, and I liked the way she decided to give voice to each character. The tale it is told from the different perspectives, providing the reader with the thoughts and feelings of each character when it is important.

The downside of interlacing three stories within the main love story between Lady Aileen and Blake was that it was a bit rushed. But on the other hand, it is quite obvious that Lady Aileen and Blake are not the main characters and that the overall story arc in this and in future books in the series, “Brides of Wishmore“, is and will be, Lady Tara.

Ah, Lady Tara, she is such an interesting anti-hero; the one I love to hate. In the end I cheered for her.

The author also tackled some very interesting issues in this story, such as a status of women in the Regency era, hypocrisy of the society and domestic violence. I found that these topics are gently introduced into it and they do not burden the story, and on the contrary they enrich and uplift it in a way that The Bride Says No became more than just story about affairs of the heart between male and female characters.

As I already mentioned, The Bride Says No is the first book in the series “Brides of Wishmore“, and I would really, really love to read the second one – a Lady Tara story, because I have a feeling that it will be something like Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew ( one of my favorites of his comedies). Finally, The Bride Says No is just a great story and well worth a reader’s time.

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The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrelyn Sparks

December 16, 2013 By 1 Comment

VAMPIRE
The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (266 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

He’s Out of Control

Dougal Kincaid has something to prove. After being injured in a battle with the Malcontents, he’s ready for active duty protecting unsuspecting mortals from these villainous vampires who want to rule the world. But first he has to get control of himself . . . because just the sight of a certain lovely doctor has his injured hand doing some peculiar things, not to mention the sizzling sensation that burns along his dragon tattoo.

Vampires? Vampires?! As a scientist, Leah is having trouble believing that these immortal creatures exist. But there they are, standing in front of her, asking for help in solving a genetic puzzle that can save mankind. There’s even one in a sexy kilt! Just one look into Dougal’s gorgeous green eyes sets her pulse racing. But can she trust him—and the overwhelming desire that refuses to be ignored?

Shivers, action, romance, re-romance and third chances are in store for readers in this roller coaster of a tale from Ms. Sparks. What is a re-romance? It’s the only way I can describe the amazing story of Dougal and Leah. By the time I reached the happy ever after, I was a believer in love, destiny and that true love conquers a lot of things, even the thwarting of free will. This is a novel hard to put down just because so many interesting things kept popping up in each chapter.

My favorite thing about reading a story written by Ms. Sparks is the funny jokes and hilarious scenes that she puts her hapless heroes and heroines in. I had the hardest belly laugh at the scene with Dougal and the blow up doll. The descriptions the author used had me in stitches. On the tender side were the scenes where the dialogue was very reminiscent of The Princess Bride. Remember ‘As you wish’? It was romantic in the movie but how Ms. Sparks wove it into The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo was simply sublime.
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The saddest part was Dougal’s music. Music has power in this story and the author used it quite effectively. It lifts, it saves and it heals. I was truly affected by those scenes.

Leah is a fine heroine. She’s smart and her initial introduction to the world where vampires are real was funny and understandable. Her hysterical hysteria was fun to read although I acknowledge I’d probably react the same way as her. I would also more than likely mirror her reaction to Dougal. How could any red blooded woman not? He wears a kilt and makes no excuses for how he wears it. If you get my drift. I also enjoyed her encounter with Bunny and finding out about Josephine.

Another fascinating aspect of this particular story is the author’s exploration of demons and angels. I am not a fan of the demon fad so I’m thrilled that Ms. Sparks kept demons as they should be – as the ultimate villains. And I liked that she didn’t make this story dark. It’s more like pre-dawn – dark but not. Master Han and Darafer are perfect bad guys, totally unredeemable and commendable foes. But just when a reader thinks that the good guys are going to get their heads handed to them because Darafer seems unstoppable, the author pulled some lightness out of her hat and had a great battle take place. Not everyone makes it but I understood why they couldn’t. Still, I was sad.

I enjoyed Dougal’s teasing of Leah. It was so cute because he never let her get away with hiding. The part when she wanted to make sure he had a heartbeat inspired the scenes and dialogue afterwards and they had me snickering.

The hottest parts are when Leah succumbs to Dougal’s ‘oots’ and Scottish charm. He’s romantic in his words and deeds and was a wonderful hero. Okay, so he beats himself up a bunch, mentally chastising and flagellating himself over a past failure and that sort of got old after a while. But I understood its use as a plot conflict and motivation so I could forgive its presence. There is so much to like and enjoy about the hero so I didn’t let it bother me, much. Thank goodness Dougal is so sexy.

Did I sniff and tear up at all during the story? You bet I did. Right after Briathos gave a reluctant hug I just blubbered with happy tears and sniffles. What happened and how the Ms. Sparks chose to write it, the words she used to describe how it affected the heroine, really touched my heart. It was very special.

Secondary characters provided a riot of a good time. I had incredible fun reading the byplay between all the personalities and when the author introduced a new female character that scared one of the supposed big bad supernatural guys, I had a grin from ear to ear. What I didn’t expect was a potential side romance to come out of meeting this new character. It was cute and endearing.

The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo is a busy, exciting and very romantic book that was impossible to put down. There were so many fascinating and interesting things that happened in every single chapter that I was compelled to keep reading. I really liked the dynamics between Leah and Dougal and I find it especially pleasurable when characters I’ve met in previous books come out and play too. This is a standalone read for sure but having read most if not all of the previous books in the series, I find my reading experience is fuller and richer for having done so. Fans are going to find a lot to enjoy in this latest adventure and new readers might just find a new author to love. I know I do.

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Chasing Morgan by Jennifer Ryan

November 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

MORGAN
Chasing Morgan by Jennifer Ryan
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (432 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Gardenia

Book Four in The Hunted Series …

FBI agent Tyler Reed trusts only facts and evidence, until the day a beautiful blonde delivers a life-saving warning … based on nothing more than a vision.

Five years later, the mysterious Morgan Standish has used her talents to help Tyler and the FBI bring down countless criminals. Still, Tyler knows next to nothing about her. She contacts him by phone—and by some sort of psychic connection he’s not prepared to admit exists—but has not shown herself once. Until now.
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Morgan’s gift may let her see things others can’t, but it comes at a price. Getting too close to anyone is dangerous, especially the gorgeous, moody Special Agent Reed. For she’s seen the future: if they meet again too soon, an innocent could be lost.

But when Tyler’s latest case forces Morgan out of hiding, she is the one thrust into the path of a serial killer, the Psychic Slayer, who will stop at nothing to protect the secrets only Morgan can see.

FBI Agent Tyler finally gets to physically meet Morgan Standish … and for more than 5 minutes. This woman has haunted his thoughts and mind through the unique mental link they share. If you have been following The Hunted Series, you are probably doing cartwheels just about now to finally read their story.

Morgan’s gifts of empathy, intuition, and seer of past, present and future is unique. Her link with Tyler goes beyond what she is able to “see” for others. They are linked… fated. She is so courageous! She can see what the future can bring for others, but not for her. She also knows that any action taken can disturb what she has seen and make the outcome unknown. She risks her life for others even though she knows her life is at risk. I loved how this author was able to convey how she “sees” into the past and the future. She is able to convince non-believers (and children) of how her gift is able to help others.

Tyler is exasperating at times. He is so stubborn he actually places Morgan more at risk than she should be. They are both battling two direct threats that could cost Morgan her life. What is inevitable, and we cheer for, is the love he and Morgan are fated to share. He keeps denying his feelings until I was physically shaking my Kindle and asking him, aloud, to get over himself and accept this love. Thankfully, I was alone with my cats while I was doing this… no other witnesses!

If you have not read this series, you can read this as a standalone novel. It is a sizzling romance which time has finally come. I don’t know what Jennifer Ryan has in store for these characters in the future… but I can think of a thing or two that could make a good story for them. I hope she continues to write about them.

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The Governess Club: Claire by Ellie MacDonald

September 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

CLAIRE
The Governess Club: Claire by Ellie MacDonald
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (122 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Claire Bannister just wants to be a good teacher so that she and the other ladies of the Governess Club can make enough money to leave their jobs and start their own school in the country. But when the new sinfully handsome and utterly distracting tutor arrives, Claire finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance that could change the course of her future.

Jacob Knightly has a secret. He is actually the notorious Earl of Rimmel. He’s just posing as a tutor to escape his reputation in the city. He never expected to fall in love with the kind and beautiful governess. She is the first person to love him for himself and not his title.

But when Jacob’s true identity is revealed, Claire realizes she has risked her reputation and her heart on a man she doesn’t truly know. Will Jacob be able to convince her that the Wild Earl has been tamed and that she is the true countess of his heart?

A pithy, delightful story, The Governess Club: Claire takes the reader to the limbo spot where Claire is. She is one of the “invisible” class, a governess who is responsible for five children. She and other governess friends make a plan to become independent private tutors some day. It is a long range plan that will probably take five years to accomplish. The plan encompasses Claire’s deep desire to regain her beloved home Ridgestone.
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Claire, a squire’s daughter, had all the privileges of that social position but was left homeless and in need of employment when her father died leaving many debts. As a governess, she doesn’t fit with the servants or the titled. Moreover, she has become fair game for men of privilege who want sex without commitment. Even though she is supposedly under the protection of her employer, her word against the word of one of the employer’s peers is not like to go in her favor.

Jacob Knightly’s outward disguise is convincing enough when he comes into the household to be the tutor for the two boys in Claire’s care, but his actions give him away. Claire realizes he is not what he presents himself to be. He expects to be waited on, sulks when things don’t go to suit him, doesn’t obey house rules, and acts downright childish at times. His tutoring skills need work, lots of work, and he demands rather than asks when he wants something from the servants. To his credit, he is a fast learner. His attitude toward Claire and tutoring changes as he deals with day to day issues. He no longer sees Claire as a young woman to have some fun with. He wants more than he has ever wanted from a woman with her.

The plot unfolds in the way one expects, but the little tidbits and insights into the mores of the time and the different social standards set for nobility and servants reveals much about the unfairness of the way people were treated and how they were expected to act at that time in history.

Ellie MacDonald’s character development lets the reader see unique traits in the children as well as the adult characters, making them seem quite human. Her concise dialogue tells much about each of character. The reader becomes aware of their flaws, beliefs, desires, and deep-down values. Ms. MacDonald, with a captivating writing style shows the hero and heroine working out their own salvation in the class-crazy world they live in. Her writing sparkles with flecks of humor throughout and touches the heart as love slips in for a happy-ever-after.

It will be fun to see how each governess in The Governess Club fares in upcoming books.

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