Just Kiss Me by Rachel Gibson

KISS
Just Kiss Me by Rachel Gibson
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (196 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

“Hello, Ms. Vivian . . . it’s been a long time.”

And with those words, Vivian Leigh Rochet nearly melted. It’s been years since she last saw Harrison Whitley-Shuler. She was a teenager scrubbing houses for a living. He was the gorgeous son of rich parents, not fit for the likes of her.

Vivian had vowed to get out of Charleston, become a big Hollywood star, and stick it to the snooty girls who made her cry.

She got what she wanted—and more—but why does her glamorous life seem so trivial?

Harrison got out too . . . making it all the way to Wall Street, until a heart attack forced him to trade in his cufflinks for a good set of hand tools.
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Making furniture soothes his soul, but escaping the Whitley-Shuler heritage is nearly impossible. And now he’s come face-to-face with the one who got away. He’s not looking for love. He’s not even looking for sex . . . so why is resisting her the hardest thing he’s ever done?

Dreams drove them leave, responsibility and necessity brought them home, but only love can keep them together.

Vivian Rochet left home to follow her dreams. Now an actress, she once worked in the house of one of the privileged rich families in town. She returns to Charleston when her mother dies but never expected when she lost her only family that she might find a new one.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this book was the pieces of the “Dear Diary” pages from Vivian’s past. I loved reading in the viewpoint of a teenager and the teenage problems that arose.

This book is a romantic story of the first order. It’s also about family. The running theme seemed to be what you see may not always be what you get or what is real. Long buried secrets hit the light of day and with it the lives of everyone changes.

Harrison never thought that girl who used to clean his house would return as a bombshell actress.

Neither did Vivian think that the brooding Harrison Whitley-Shuler would ignite fire in her and make her want things she had given up on. The chemistry and the passion was scorching but the love they have for one another is what really showed up.

The beginning was good but it took some time to capture my attention fully. But when it did, the book was finished in under a couple of hours. As secrets are revealed, choices must be made. Vivian and Harrison can’t keep their hands off each other once they give into the combustible chemistry. I was cheering for them to find their HEA right to the very end.

Romance, love, family…and the past. You can never really leave the past behind but love has a way of softening the problems and pain left behind. Readers who enjoy a good “coming home” romance should give this one a read.

Hot in Hellcat Canyon by Julie Anne Long

HOT
Hot in Hellcat Canyon by Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Quince

A broken truck, a broken career, and a breakup heard around the world land superstar John Tennessee McCord in Hellcat Canyon. Legend has it that hearts come in two colors there: gold or black. And that you can find whatever you’re looking for, whether it’s love . . . or trouble. JT may have found both in waitress Britt Langley.

You can make love whenever you want and take consistent actions towards it, you’ll be able to online purchase of cialis prevent premature ejaculation for good. On the other hand, if doctor just diagnoses purchase cheap cialis from the symptoms, ignore the complications and does not do the related exams, it would result in misdiagnosis, delay the disease and what the best cure available. Dark Chocolates Dark Chocolates has powerful aphrodisiac properties and comprises of individual nerve roots that branch out from the spine into the lower back. appalachianmagazine.com generic sildenafil uk order cheap viagra If you want to gain more information on ED and oral anti-impotent medicines, you can visit thekamagrastore.biz Lovemaking is an integral part of every marital relationship. His looks might cause whiplash and weak knees, but Britt sees past JT’s rough edge and sexy drawl to a person a lot like her: in need of the kind of comfort best given hot and quick, with clothes off and the lights out.

Her wit is sharp but her eyes and heart—not to mention the rest of her—are soft, and JT is falling hard. But Britt has a secret as dark as the hills, and JT’s past is poised to invade their present. It’s up to the people of Hellcat Canyon to help make sure their future includes a happily ever after.

Hot in Hellcat Canyon has all the right ingredients to be a great story. It has an amazing hero and heroine, who are my favorite combination i.e. he is super popular and rich, while she works two jobs – kind of Cinderella story. It’s set in charming small town full of colorful and funny inhabitants. It deals with some pretty serious issues, but it also funny. And along with all of that it features two fictional Hollywood super stars and one of them, Franco Francone, I liked a lot (and he reminds me a lot of James Franco).

The hero of Hot in Hellcat Canyon is John Tennessee McCord, Hollywood superstar that didn’t get a role he was hoping for and his superstar girlfriend dumps him. His car broke down and he finds himself in the small town of Hellcat Canyon. There he meets the amazing Britt Langley waitress/real estate agent, and a town outsider. She came to the town trying to get her life back together after very bad marriage. J.T. and Britt meet in the bar and there is an instant and very hot attraction between them. They both enter this relationship with their own heavy baggage, although Britt’s is a bit heavier and darker. Due to that, and the meddling of one egocentric character, the conflict between two of them is inevitable. Although the conflict was something expected, the author did great job in plotting and resolving it.

Regardless of all above mentioned I had a hard time reading and rating this story. The reason is the pace. It’s slow and it felt like the author focused more on setting the scene for the next novels in the series rather than developing the relationship and settling the differences between JT and Britt. The parts when the two of them are together are amazing, but when they aren’t the story drags a bit. If the story was more focused on J.T. and Britt it would have been much more engaging.

Hot in Hellcat Canyon is a first story in the Hellcat Canyon series, and from this first installment it’s already very obvious to this reader who might be some future couples. Now that the scene is set, and all characters are in place I am looking forward to reading the next story in the series because Julie Anne Long writes amazing romances. Here’s hoping that one story will feature Franco Francone as a hero.

The Virgin and the Viscount by Charis Michaels

VIRGIN
The Virgin and the Viscount by Charis Michaels
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (292 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

The Virgin

Lady Elisabeth Hamilton-Baythes has a painful secret. At fifteen, she was abducted by highwaymen and sold to a brothel. But two days later, she was rescued by a young lord, a man she’s never forgotten. Now, she’s devoted herself to save other innocents from a similar fate.

The Viscount

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The Unraveling

When Bryson and Elisabeth meet, he sees only a flawless candidate for his future wife. But a distant memory calls to him every time he’s with her. Elisabeth knows she’s not the wife Bryson needs, and he is the only person who has the power to reveal her secret. But neither can resist the devastating pull of attraction, and as the truth comes to light, they must discover that an improper love is the truest of all.

Some historical romances follow a formula that rarely deviate from a certain path resulting in a typical happy ever after. The Virgin and the Viscount isn’t typical at all, and quite frankly, it’s eminently satisfying because of it.

Elisabeth’s beginning in life started out classically enough until a fateful day that made the rest of her life completely atypical, fascinating and worthy. Bryson’s life was horrid, beastly and unfortunately out of his control, until it was in his control and all his choices from then on had one goal – to be proper, dutiful and perfectly perfect while being his own person. Both Elisabeth and Bryson had to overcome amazing adversity but the most challenging and daunting choice they will make is whether or not they are well matched in all ways that matter. The conflict comes from them wanting different things while wanting each other in a passionate way that complicated things to no end. The hardest part was resolving the past before they could have a future, and that’s no easy thing. Because of the varied intricacies that Ms. Michaels plagued her characters with, I found this novel an absolutely fascinating read.

When I said that this book was written in a unique way, I wasn’t stating that lightly. The truths that eventually get revealed gob smacked me and practically unhinged my jaw from the shock. It’s a clever bit of storytelling that bowled me over. I never had an inkling of what was coming, nor what Bryson’s ultimate choice would be.

The mystery person that appears towards the end brought a level of emotional angst and poignant feelings to the story. That person also taught Bryson a valuable lesson which will come in handy with dealing with Elisabeth. Ms. Michaels’ inclusion of this character was a stroke of genius.

The Virgin and the Viscount sounds like a simple, basic story but it’s so much more. It has depth of emotion, wonderful dialogue, sympathetic characters and a powerful romance that grew and blossomed before my eyes. I’m being intentionally vague because the impact of the reading experience hinges on a reader having no clue about the amazing story within its pages. I am only willing to say that the romance between Bryson and Elisabeth worked for me, I enjoyed watching them fall in love in all its bumpy glory and the passionate scenes between them were quite spicy and seductive. This is a book well worth reading and spending time with. I enjoy being surprised and Ms. Michaels wildly succeeded in doing so. I give this tale two thumbs up.

The Fairest of Them All by Cathy Maxwell

FAIREST
The Fairest of Them All by Cathy Maxwell
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Quince

In New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell’s glittering new series, wedding bells are ringing…but which Whitridge twin is the right groom?

The penniless orphan of a disreputable earl, Lady Charlene Blanchard thrives on the adventure of picking the pockets of unsavory gentlemen to survive. But due to her extraordinary beauty and prized bloodlines, she is hand-chosen as a potential bride for the Duke of Baynton, who is on the hunt for a suitable wife to provide heirs. All Char has to do is act the part she was born to play and charm a duke she’s never laid eyes on into proposing. Except the duke turns out to be the tall, dark and sexy stranger who just caught her red-handed as a thief!
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Or is he? Jack Whitridge is the duke’s twin who had “gone missing” over ten years ago. Now back in England, he knows that the supposed Lady who has his brother’s love is hardly duchess material—except he needs her to save his adopted country from war. He is willing to bargain with her heart, until he finds himself falling for Char . . .

Who is a right man for her? The one who is not looking for a wife but knows all her secrets, or the one who is looking for a wife, but doesn’t know anything about her?  Although from the very beginning it’s quite obvious who will win Lady Charlene Blanchard’s heart it was interesting to watch how appearances, first meetings and emotions first became complicated in order to be resolved.

Cathy Maxwell does not write typical romance novels. The Fairest of Them All is a sensual novel focused on falling in love without getting in bed or having a marriage of convenience first. This is a novel about love at first sight and Ms. Maxwell wrote it so believably. The pace of the story is a bit uneven, it takes off quickly but doesn’t sustain the pace into the middle. It actually drags a bit only to speed up again. Putting slower parts aside, the question of how Lady Charlene and her hero – Jack Whitridge find their HEA is what pushes this lovely story forward and kept me reading.

Both main characters are amazing. Lady Charlene might be the fairest of them all, but she is also the most courageous and the smartest of them all. She’s a strong woman who is trying her best to get out of a very dire situation. Jack Whitridge is her true soulmate, he is a son of a duke, but he doesn’t have a title. He doesn’t care about it either. Jack knows Charlene’s secret, and as they are getting to know better one another and fall in love, he doesn’t try to change her, he just wants to protect her and to slay a few dragons for her. The connection between them is so sensual, palpable and sincere.

The secondary characters are magnificent too. I refer here to Lady Charlene’s aunt Sarah Pettijohn and Jack’s twin brother Gavin Whitridge. Gavin is a lovable antihero, while Sarah is opinionated actress. From the conflict between two of them it is quite obvious that they will be the main characters in the third installment of the series Marrying the Duke. I cannot wait to see how these two will fall in love.

Although it is a second in the series, The Fairest of Them All can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed reading it. It is a funny, sensual story that I highly recommend.

Hell Breaks Loose by Sophie Jordan

HELL
Hell Breaks Loose by Sophie Jordan
Devil’s Rock Book 2
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (368 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Hell hath no hunger like a man let out of a cage . . .

Shy and awkward, First Daughter Grace Reeves has always done what she’s told. Tired of taking orders, she escapes her security detail for a rare moment of peace. Except her worst nightmare comes to life when a ruthless gang of criminals abducts her. Her only choice is to place her trust in Reid Allister, an escaped convict whose piercing gaze awakens something deep inside her. Reid is nothing like her other captors.

He’s tougher, smarter…and one blistering look from him makes her hotter than any man ever has.

Reid spent years plotting escape and revenge . . .years without a woman in his bed. For this hardened felon, Grace Reeves isn’t just out of his league—she’s from another planet, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. Escaping Devil’s Rock was tough, but resisting this woman could be the end of him. For a man with nothing to lose, protecting her . . . claiming her as his own, becomes more necessary than his next breath.

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Every now and then I like to read romance novels like this, because it reminds me that if you try hard enough or long enough you can eventually accomplish what you want or, in some cases, get what you deserve.

Reid breaks free from prison, only to find out his previously sweet and innocent brother is involved in some bad things. One of which is kidnapping the daughter of the president.

It goes from bad to worse when Reid realizes that he’s attracted to her. From there starts a story that I couldn’t put down until I new I would find a happy ending at the end of Reid and Grace’s story. I am so glad I did.

Grace, the President’s daughter, has always done what her father wanted and needed her to do but when she gets kidnapped by a bunch of gangsters, everything changes. Suddenly, she’s not just trying to escape from creepy gangsters who will be willing to use her any way necessary, but stay alive.

She finds the courage to do what she has never been able to do in all life. It felt as if her getting kidnapped and falling in love with Reid gave her a wake up call.

Reid has spent a lot of years being patient in prison, just so he could take the first chance and get out. When he does get out, he doesn’t expect to find his younger brother gone off the bad end. And, worse, he’s a member of the gang that was the cause of Reid getting imprisoned. What he also doesn’t expect to find is himself in the middle of the kidnapping of Grace Reeves.

He knows that he has to protect his brother and Grace. It was endearing to see how hard Reid fought his own desires to protect Grace from himself. The author builds up the tension between them to the point that they didn’t have a choice but to give into it and by then it was explosive. She made cheering for their HEA the most natural reaction to their story. What would happen when she went back home? How could they be together when it would fall back on her family and more specifically, her father. It was a terrific premise because those questions would have to be answered.

This is a story for readers who enjoy a rich plot, vibrant characters and a love that is won over adversity and trials.

My American Duchess by Eloisa James

DUCHESS
My American Duchess by Eloisa James
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (402 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

The arrogant Duke of Trent intends to marry a well-bred Englishwoman. The last woman he would ever consider marrying is the adventuresome Merry Pelford— an American heiress who has infamously jilted two fiancés.

But after one provocative encounter with the captivating Merry, Trent desires her more than any woman he has ever met. He is determined to have her as his wife, no matter what it takes. And Trent is a man who always gets what he wants.

The problem is, Merry is already betrothed, and the former runaway bride has vowed to make it all the way to the altar. As honor clashes with irresistible passion, Trent realizes the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined. In his battle to save Merry and win her heart, one thing becomes clear:

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She’s altogether much too American to ever be an English rose. She’ll just have to teach these London elites that there’s more to this American heiress than the ability to garner a proposal or three.

So much to love about this book! First off, Merry is so very American and, first the most part, unapologetic about that fact. She does begin to think that she needs to better emulate the English ladies she encounters but, bless her heart, her blood runs true red, white and blue. I loved her enthusiasm and the fact that while she tried to behave, there were times that she simply had to be herself. The best of those times was actually after she’s married to Trent, or Jack, or Duke (they’re all the same person and the constant name switching was a little odd.)

Trent or Jack or whichever name he went by, was a swoony kind of hero. He was dark and broody without much reason to enjoy his station in life. And he has an evil (not identical) twin who isn’t so much evil as he is just the opposite of Trent. Or at least he tries to be the opposite. I got the impression that there’s a lot more to Cedric than what he puts out for the public though he keeps his good parts buried deep. I look forward to seeing more of him and finding out exactly what happened to the Cedric I met in London when he left for the Bahamas.

Back to Trent and Merry, they were refreshing. Their wedding day may not have been the blissful event Merry would have imagined when she finally said “I do” but the moment after he raises her veil and kisses her, that was the moment I could envision their happily ever after. Interestingly enough, it happens well before the end of the book and unlike a much used “had to get married because they were compromised” trope, their’s was for even more nontraditional reasons. No, she wasn’t pregnant.

Because there was so much story left from the day of the wedding to end of the book, I knew that there would have to be some additional conflict. Actually, there are a couple of issues they have to work through but the main one stems from his childhood and her reputation of falling in/out of love. It was all very understandable and realistic. He had just reasons for wanting to avoid using the “L” word even though it was so obvious to this reader in every move he made where Merry was concerned. As often happens, it took something drastic for him to see what this reader was already very aware of.

On a slightly off note, I have to think Ms. James is possibly a Potterhead. She was in London when this book was written and there are names and places used in this book that had me wondering if she wasn’t making subtle nods to the world of Harry Potter. Maybe not but, there’s a Mrs. Honeydukes, Merry’s dog’s name is George and Trent’s home place is called Hawksmede (similar to Hogsmead). I could totally be reading something into nothing but coincidence but as a confirmed Potterhead, it still made me smile.

Readers who follow Ms. James writing will find this to be another winner and one that I could cheerfully read a second time to truly enjoy the cleverness in her writing. The way it ends led me to believe that there may be a sequel involving Cedric. Easy recommend from this always entertaining story teller.

Lord Dashwood Missed Out by Tessa Dare

LORD
Lord Dashwood Missed Out by Tessa Dare
A Spindle Cove Novella
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (85 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A snowstorm hath no fury like a spinster scorned!

Miss Elinora Browning grew up yearning for the handsome, intelligent lord-next-door…but he left England without a word of farewell. One night, inspired by a bit too much sherry, Nora poured out her heartbreak on paper. Lord Dashwood Missed Out was a love letter to every young lady who’d been overlooked by gentlemen—and an instant bestseller. Now she’s on her way to speak in Spindle Cove when snowy weather delays her coach. She’s forced to wait out the storm with the worst possible companion: Lord Dashwood himself.

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George Travers, Lord Dashwood, has traveled the globe as a cartographer. He returned to England with the goal of marrying and creating an heir–only to find his reputation shredded by an audacious, vexingly attractive bluestocking and her poison pen. Lord Dashwood Missed Out, his arse. Since Nora Browning seems to believe he overlooked the passion of a lifetime, Dash challenges her to prove it.

She has one night.

This little story is hilarious, romantic and dashing with a dollop of conspiracy. It’s basically the madcap story of two people who had feelings for each other in their youth but through choices and life circumstance went their separate ways. Life has molded them, taught them and matured them enough so it was time for fate, and Ms. Dare, to stir the plot and see what would happen when they got back together again. The result is nothing short of pure entertainment.

A word to the wise; this book does have characters from the series popping in and playing roles so it might be confusing for a new reader. My advice is to let it roll and not think too hard about figuring it out. Lord Dashwood Missed Out is truly about George a/k/a Dash, and Nora coming together and watching the sparks fly and the battle of words commence. It’s about meeting two people who fall in love again as only adults can do. It’s messy, cold, silly, sensual and totally romantic. If in doubt, just wait until the very unique and unusual declaration of love and adoration from Dash. I’ve never read the like and it’s actually quite sweet. Ms. Dare has created magic with that scene.

Even though a new reader will not know who is who, it’s not necessary when reading about the Lords of Perdition. That little scene with the four men inspired a giggle fest just from the description and dialogue alone. What comes later inspired more giggles. It was a great addition and I enjoyed how the author interwove their presence with Nora’s predicament. It’s all good.

Nora and Dash may love each other but it’s not enough. There has to be proof that is irrefutable for each other and I’m happy to say that it does come to pass. The whole story is character driven and focused on the main characters with the secondary characters providing the necessary motivation and plot movement to bring it all together. It all works.

I found Lord Dashwood Missed Out to be charming, endearing, light hearted and fun. It’s a wonderful choice to read for an uplifting experience especially when you want something cheery and short. It’s just the right size, like a small bite-sized candy bar – sweet, satisfying and a little nutty. This is an easy recommended read.

Put Up Your Duke by Megan Frampton

TDUKE
Put Up Your Duke by Megan Frampton
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

He was once happily bedding and boxing, but in the newest Duke’s Behaving Badly novel, Nicholas Smithfield has inherited a title and a bride . . .

To keep his estate afloat, the new Duke of Gage must honor an agreement to marry Lady Isabella Sawford. Stunningly beautiful, utterly tempting, she’s also a bag of wedding night nerves, so Nicholas decides to wait to do his duty—even if it means heading to the boxing saloon every day to punch away his frustration.
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Groomed her whole life to become the perfect duchess, Isabella longs for independence, a dream that is gone forever. As her husband, Nicholas can do whatever he likes—but, to Isabella’s surprise, the notorious rake instead begins a gentle seduction that is melting every inch of her reserve, night by night . . .

To his utter shock, Nicholas discovers that no previous exploits were half as pleasurable as wooing his own wife. But has the realm’s most disreputable duke found the one woman who can bring him to his knees— and leave him there?

Nicholas Smithfield is very happy with his life as it is. His passions are boxing and sex (not necessarily in that order), and he enjoys an abundance of both. When he learns that he has just inherited the title of Duke of Gage, his reaction is not typical. Instead of being overjoyed, he is unhappy, especially when he learns that he has inherited a fiancee, as well. Nicholas sets out to visit his betrothed and her parents to see if there is any way out of the agreement. When he sets eyes on Isabella, he is awed by her beauty. He also learns that her parents have no intention of letting him slip away, and if he backs out of their deal, there will be severe consequences for everyone depending on the dukedom for their living. My first thoughts of Nicholas were not very flattering, as he was living a dissolute life with no ambition or real purpose. My opinion began to change when he showed concern for the people whose well being he now held in his ducal hands.

Isabella Sawford is a stunningly beautiful woman, and her parents have used her looks to further their own agenda. They have forced Isabella to become the perfect woman in her dress, manners, and conduct. Initially, Isabella appears to be little more than a pleasant, vapid puppet, willing to perform any task her parents set out for her, including becoming engaged to the former Duke, a man she loathed. I came to see that Isabella’s younger sister was being used as leverage, and any disobedience from Isabella will be unfortunate for Margaret, the one person she loves dearly. I had to admire Isabella’s lack of selfishness, which I originally believed was weakness.

So, two strangers agree to marry in only two weeks’ time. Isabella’s parents are truly loathsome, they have no regard for either of their daughters feelings or desires. Isabella has been so browbeaten, that Nicholas’ attempts to get to know her are met with the social perfection that she has cultivated, making her appear to be nothing more than a beautiful doll with little substance. Nicholas, however, has hidden depths that surprised me, based on the lifestyle he has been living. He chooses to give Isabella time to get to know him after their marriage, since she seems terrified of what happens in bed (thanks to a lovely lecture from her shrew of a mother). Nicholas uses his charm to slowly woo her, and bring the real person under all that perfection to the surface.

This book was a quick read, and a feel-good pure delight. I had to laugh at Nicholas keeping track of how long it had been since he had sex. He is the epitome of the reformed rake, and I adored him. It was wonderful to watch Isabella come into her own as a person, and to blossom from Nicholas’ care of her. I also enjoyed seeing her stand up to her parents. I love to read a story that is mostly about the developing romance, and this fits the bill. Megan Frampton has become one of my auto read authors. I know that I can count on her books for lots of smiles and a heartfelt romance. Put Up Your Duke definitely has those qualities, and is my favorite of hers – so far.

Diary of an Accidental Wallflower by Jennifer McQuiston

WALLFLOWER
Diary of an Accidental Wallflower by Jennifer McQuiston
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

Pretty and popular, Miss Clare Westmore knows exactly what (or rather, who) she wants: the next Duke of Harrington. But when she twists her ankle on the eve of the Season’s most touted event, Clare is left standing in the wallflower line watching her best friend dance away with her duke.

Dr. Daniel Merial is tempted to deliver more than a diagnosis to London’s most unlikely wallflower, but he doesn’t have time for distractions, even one so delectable. Besides, she’s clearly got her sights on more promising prey. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?
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All Clare wants to do is return to the dance floor. But as her former friends try to knock her permanently out of place, she realizes with horror she is falling for her doctor instead of her duke. When her ankle finally heals and she faces her old life again, will she throw herself back into the game?

Or will her time in the wallflower line have given her a glimpse of who she was really meant to be?

Clare Westmore is on top of the world. She’s the daughter of a wealthy viscount, she’s beautiful, she’s popular, and it seems she has caught the attention of the heir to a dukedom. When an accident leaves her with a badly sprained ankle, she’s determined not to miss any social functions, so as not to lose any ground. She wears one larger shoe on her injured foot, and attends a ball anyway. The pain is so great, that she realizes she will never be able to dance, so she is forced to take a seat with the wallflowers. Sitting in this spot seems to make her invisible, and gives her a whole new perspective, as she watches her best “friend” flirt with her ducal heir.

Dr. Daniel Merial is attending this ball only to keep an eye on its hostess, who is gravely ill, and likely doesn’t have much longer to live. When Clare walks, he can see that she is badly injured, and offers to look at her ankle. Clare isn’t keen on the idea, but her mother invites him to their home to examine her. Daniel is eager to acquire new patients, especially wealthy ones, who may refer him to others. He gave up his established practice, and came to town to conduct research on how to administer anesthesia, using his own funds to do so. Daniel is not an aristocrat, although his mother was gentry. He is immediately attracted to Clare, although she makes no bones about thinking she is better than he. Her injury turns out to be one that will keep her incapacitated for several weeks, and will cause many visits from Daniel. With each visit, Clare finds herself becoming attracted to Daniel as well, though she’s not at all happy about it.

It was easy not to like Clare much at first. She appears superficial, only concerned with her popularity and making a good match. Some of her remarks to Daniel are cutting and hurtful. We see her begin to change as the tables are turned. When circumstances make her a victim of gossip, and she is cut by her former friends, she starts to realize how it is for the “other” girls. Adversity makes her stronger, and I love the person she becomes. Daniel, on the other hand, is hero material from the start. He is caring and generous to a fault. He has very little, but is always giving to someone else. Despite his lower birth, he is willing to risk a relationship with Clare. His parents were of unequal birth, and were very happy, leading him to believe that strong love will overcome everything.

Jennifer McQuiston is a new author to me, and I love her writing style. Her characters were imperfect, but evolved and grew. There were many plot twists to this story, and she never took the easy way out. Daniel and Clare had to commit to their relationship, difficult as it was going to be, without any magical solutions, and it worked. Their happy ever after was all the sweeter for it. I highly recommend this very satisfying read, and I’ll definitely be looking up other work by this fresh voice in historical romance.

The Immortal Who Loved Me by Lynsay Sands

IMMMORTAL
The Immortal Who Loved Me by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (384 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A few hours ago, Sherry Carne would have sworn that vampires didn’t exist. That’s before rogue immortals rampage through her store, leaving bloody chaos (literally) in their wake. The kicker comes when Sherry learns that one of the vamps on the bad guys’ trail may be her life mate. Her head says it’s impossible. The rest of her takes one look at Basileios Argeneau and has much more interesting ideas.

Whatever Basil expected in a life mate, funny, outspoken Sherry isn’t it. But mind-blowing chemistry and instinct don’t lie. They tell him something else, too—that Sherry’s connection to the immortal world goes deeper than she knows. And that she’s in the kind of danger only Basil can save her from—if she’ll just trust him, now and forever . . .

Anyone who doesn’t like a slow starting book will find the first chapter chock full of action, chases and shocking revelations when the heroine is thrust into a whole new world and readers get to see how she deals with it all. The truth is harder to swallow than her pizza.
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What I liked early on about Sherry, the heroine, was her ability to keep her sense of humor and to keep an open mind as well as her seemingly logical thought process. I also enjoyed seeing her logic derail as she learns about a people she never knew existed. That includes meeting Basileios.

Basileios, a/k/a Basil but not pronounced like the herb but I did it anyway, is the hero who has his work cut out for him in protecting not just Sherry but Stephanie too. Stephanie is a character from a previous book that plays an interesting role in getting Basil and Sherry together. I believe she’ll be a good future heroine someday. Mentioning this secondary character is a good place to mention that The Immortal Who Loved Me is a fine standalone read. Leoninus, the bad guy, and his cohorts have been a continuing threat for many a book in the series but Ms. Sands drops enough clues and backstory for a new reader to fit right in. The shocking bit in the alley is still a solid bit of writing. And, because it is so well done and dramatic, a reader will mostly get the full effect of the scene. However, followers of the series will understand the extra subtle underlying drama that plays out to its conclusion and experience that extra wow factor like I did.

Ms. Sands also continues to deliver a format that appeals; that being the inclusion of many family members in their various roles to tease, confound, protect, reprimand or help Basil and Sherry. The technique the author employs throughout all of her books continues here too. The fact that everyone else can read the minds of Basil and Sherry drives them alternately nuts or gives them the clues they need to sidestep typical dating landmines. Does it come off as too convenient and orchestrated at times? Yes, for me it did. That doesn’t take anything away from my enjoyment of the book as it ensures that a family member will always call one or the other on the carpet for doing, or thinking about doing, something stupid. Some characters get a little too much enjoyment out of doing that, which means there are a lot of opportunities for humor and giggles throughout the book.

The one thing Ms. Sands does is surprise people. Whether it be a character, the reader, or both. In this case it was Sherry who had quite a few informational bombshells dropped on her. One was a bit of a mystery and what the truth ended up being blew me away. As such, I found Sherry’s reactions to be mostly understandable and sometimes endearing, but sometimes, not. The heroine waffles from being smart, to overthinking things to the point of panic or goes with the flow and whips out a few one liners to lighten things up. When the dialogue is fast and witty, it’s all good. Then again, having a hunky life mate like Basil is worth fighting and changing for. And that is the one part where I wanted to slap Sherry. Yes, that ability to freak herself out occurs and at that point I smacked my hand to my head because I knew what was going to happen. It’s the only part of the book where I felt it was predictable. Sure, I knew something needed to happen to get from point A to B, I just wish it didn’t feel like I’ve read it a hundred times before. Oh well.

One thing that did not disappoint was the sensual and stimulating relationship between Basil and Sherry, especially once the life mate symptoms took effect. The writing was hot and well done but even in the midst of raging hormones and nanos, Ms. Sands injected moments rife with humor, snickers and blushing cheeks. Those were fun.

The Immortal Who Loved Me has a lot for a reader to sink their teeth into. It’s a busy book with a lot of threads being tied up, a romance to foster to fruition and a surprise reconciliation that actually made this book an even better read than I expected. It’s that depth of character and the ability of an author to reach readers with her characters that always makes Ms. Sands’ books stand out. This is a wonderful addition to the series and it’s just as sexy, witty, fun and flirty with a hint of suspense to keep a reader at the edge of their seat like many of her books, it’s easy to recommend The Immortal Who Loved Me for fans new and established. It’s a really good read.