Courting the Countess by Donna Hatch

December 13, 2016 By Leave a Comment

counting
Courting the Countess by Donna Hatch
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (390 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

When charming rake Tristan Barrett sweeps Lady Elizabeth off her feet, stealing both her heart and a kiss in a secluded garden, her brother challenges Tristan to a duel. The only way to save her brother and Tristan from harm—not to mention preserve her reputation—is to get married. But her father, the Duke of Pemberton, refuses to allow his daughter to marry anyone but a titled lord. The duke demands that Elizabeth marry Tristan’s older brother, Richard, the Earl of Averston. Now Elizabeth must give up Tristan to marry a man who despises her, a man who loves another, a man she’ll never love.

Richard fears Elizabeth is as untrustworthy as his mother, who ran off with another man. However, to protect his brother from a duel and their family name from further scandal, he agrees to the wedding, certain his new bride will betray him. Yet when Elizabeth turns his house upside down and worms her way into his reluctant heart, Richard suspects he can’t live without his new countess. Will she stay with him or is it too little, too late?

Two people, with childhood traumas, want to be loved but are afraid to trust.

Guarding one’s heart too closely, and, conversely, giving one’s heart too freely, in hopes of being loved, are themes fueling much of the action in Courting the Countess.

The stringent rules set forth by the ton plus uncharitable gossipers end up making Lady Elizabeth’s brother, Martindale challenge Tristan Barrett to a duel. How it can be averted becomes an issue.
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All her life, Lady Elizabeth, the daughter of the Duke of Pemberton, has been made to feel lacking to the point she feels she is “unlovable.” When the rake Tristan Barrett pays attention to her, she falls for the skilled libertine’s seductive ways. She’s in love with him and fails to guard her reputation, creating a situation that is a social “no-no.”

Tristan’s brother, Richard Barrett, twelfth Earl of Averston, intercedes. He talks to the Duke of Pemberton and agrees to the Duke’s demands to stop the duel.

Richard and Elizabeth, virtual strangers, marry. Neither wants to have a brother’s blood on their conscience. Thus begins an emotionally fraught vicarious adventure for the reader.

The couple, both of whom have secret hurts from their childhoods, set in to built a life together. The emotional upheavals that demand introspection and honest responses tumble them toward maturity with lots of bumps and bruised feelings along the way—captivating reading.

The primary antagonist who warped Elizabeth’s self-esteem doesn’t let up even after she is married. It made this reader want to reach right into the story and give that character a good shake and talking to—good grief, how cruel could a person be!

A sub-plot about crime threads through the story and seems almost unrelated. How it finally fits, creates some heart-pounding action that clears up many issues.

Donna Hatch weaves together a compelling love story with emotionally damaged characters and skillfully moves them along with attention-keeping happenings that lead to healing and redemption and, of course, a heart-satisfying happy-even-after.

Good Reading!

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

The Perfect Duke by Dawn Ireland

December 9, 2016 By Leave a Comment

perfect
The Perfect Duke by Dawn Ireland
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (328 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Known as The Marble Duke amongst the Ton, Garret Weston, the Duke of Kendal, sets himself apart from his peers. Nothing will hinder his guilt-driven attempt to become a perfect duke. Nothing, that is, save the alluring and imaginative betrothed he’d thought dead. His intended believes-of all things-that she is a Vicar’s daughter. The “perfect” duke needs a “perfect” duchess, but how is he to discern her suitability? Employing her as a governess to his niece seems like an ideal solution. But whose “suitability” is being tested? His betrothed refuses to see he is beyond redemption. And most grievous of all, she stirs his blood, making him forget what’s important. Cara believes fairy tales really can come true, until she meets the unrelenting and arrogant Duke of Kendal. He looks like a Prince, but acts like a Beast. Why must he challenge her at every turn? Her greatest peril is her attraction to the vulnerable, seductive man behind the title. A match between them would be impossible. But can she show him, without losing her heart, that “perfect” is in the eye of the beholder?

Why oldies vardenafil sale face erotic predicaments? Aging is a procedure wherein the body goes through numerous biological variations. There are ways to help a woman overcome this problem, we viagra no prescription should intake healthy and balanced diet. A 100mg sildenafil http://downtownsault.org/barishs/ team of qualified and experienced sports injury and pain management health practitioners has been working thoroughly for them. Excessive exercising, food restriction, fainting, self-harm, suicidal tendencies, and the need to order generic viagra weigh constantly are symptoms of this disorder in behavioral aspect. Many elements of this book made it a 5 star. If I could give an award then I’d give The Perfect Duke an award for “unique and clever writing style”. I especially liked how the author implemented quotes from classic fairytales stories before each chapter. I’m often told to stop living in a fairy tale world. Well, I’ll take a fairy tale world over reality any day. I could tell that each quote was carefully selected to be relevant to that particular part of the story. A brilliant enrichment! Beauty and the Beast is by far one of my favorite love stories with Cinderella a close second.

Garret Weston, the hero, was known as the “The Marble Duke” amongst the Ton. He has his reasons for why he is the way he is. An empathetic reader will understand and be patient while his cold heart softens. Just consider him The Beast in this love story. Cara, the heroine, has a complex history of her own and should be considered Cinderella in this story. However, forget what you know about those tales because The Perfect Duke is its own fairy tale story. Together they are the perfect match for one another as they overcome each of their pasts, survive the present and figure out their future. The chemistry between the two is hot enough to keep me warm on a chilly night.

There are many characters that played an intricate part in this riveting plot that I quickly fell in love with. One of them was Garret’s sister, Mallory. She was a hoot when she showed up at the engagement ball. In fact I’d love to read a story with her as the heroine.

Just when you expect what will happen, the unexpected happens. This story was a quick paced story that was impossible to put down. Once again, I was up at 2am finishing the book even knowing I had to get up at 6am for work. I desperately wanted to put it down so I could go to sleep but I could not, for I knew I’d never fall asleep without knowing how in the world Garret and Cara’s love would survive all the complications.

I absolutely love stories that have an epilogue. This epilogue was worth staying up past my bedtime. I admit that I experienced a major “Book Glow”. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends. As the author wrote “—as long as you believe, fairy tales really can come true.” I’m blessed that I had a wonderful work day despite my sleep deprivation because Garret and Cara lived “Happy Ever After”!

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

Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

December 8, 2016 By Leave a Comment

duke
Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (234 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

IN THE ARMS OF DANGER

Bold. Brave. Brutally handsome. Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is the king’s secret weapon. Sent to defeat the notorious Lords of Chaos, he is ambushed in a London alley—and rescued by an unlikely ally: a masked stranger with the unmistakable curves of a woman.

IN THE HEAT OF DESIRE

Cocky. Clever. Courageously independent. Alf has survived on the perilous streets of St. Giles by disguising her sex. By day she is a boy, dealing in information and secrets. By night she’s the notorious Ghost of St. Giles, a masked vigilante. But as she saves Hugh from assassins, she finds herself succumbing to temptation.

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When Hugh hires Alf to investigate the Lords of Chaos, her worlds collide. Once Hugh realizes that the boy and the Ghost are the same, will Alf find the courage to become the woman she needs to be—before the Lords of Chaos destroy them both?

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this story because I just knew it was going to be great. I’m pretty sure this could be read as a standalone read but it’s even better for fans of the series. Why? Because of Alf, of course. After a while we all figured out who, or better yet, what Alf was but to have that character get a happy ever after is a real treat. The fact that the hero is Hugh, who I met in a previous story, is another hook that I’m all too happy not to resist. He is a man with depths.

I can happily say that I’m thrilled with this novel. I liked how Alf was such a strong heroine; she was spunky, mischievous, and skilled with a sword. I enjoyed watching her slowly change from a survivor to a woman in love. There was so much to admire about her character that I think she’s become one of my favorite leading ladies. Her soft heart was in evidence whenever she dealt with the young children in the story. Alf truly touched my heart.

Hugh is a complicated man. His lineage is intriguing, his job is fascinating and for all the power he holds, he is powerless to help his own kids. He doesn’t stop trying, he doesn’t stop loving and the author’s choice of words to describe some of the scenes between them were all heartbreaking and tender.

Duke of Pleasure is an emotionally rich story and is a credit to Ms. Hoyt’s skill as a storyteller. I was wowed.

A word to the wise, this book can also steam your glasses, if you wear them. I chose spicy as the heat level but it was a toss-up. There were a couple of scenes that were quite possibly hotter than a habanero pepper, but it might have seemed that way because I really liked the dynamics between Alf and Hugh; she was innocent, he was not, but, she wasn’t demure and shy, oh no, Alf was pragmatic and a quick learner to the point of enthusiasm. Hugh didn’t stand a chance.

The overall story arc had an exciting and tightly written conclusion and I was so happy that the worst was over … until I read the sneak peek for the next book in the series. Oh my! That one should be very interesting indeed. Guess what I can’t wait for!!

Duke of Pleasure has a perfect happy ever after for two wonderful people and I’m a very satisfied reader. It’s no hardship to recommend this novel to any and all historical romance readers because it’s such an entertaining and engaging read. Once started, I couldn’t it put it down so please leave enough time to enjoy to get the full effect. It’s worth it.

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

House of Secrets by Lynda Stacey

December 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment

house
House of Secrets by Lynda Stacey
Publisher: Choc. Lit.
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (287 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

A woman on the run, a broken man and a house with a shocking secret …
Madeleine Frost has to get away. Her partner Liam has become increasingly controlling to the point that Maddie fears for her safety, and that of her young daughter Poppy .

Desperation leads Maddie to the hotel owned by her estranged father – the extraordinarily beautiful Wrea Head Hall in Yorkshire. There, she meets Christopher ‘Bandit’ Lawless, an ex-marine and the gamekeeper of the hall, whose brusque manner conceals a painful past.

After discovering a diary belonging to a previous owner, Maddie and Bandit find themselves immersed in the history of the old house, uncovering its secrets, scandals, tragedies – and, all the while, becoming closer.
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Negative emotions kept me reading in a hurry—just had to get three-year-old Poppy out of that toxic place.

Poppy’s mother, Madeline Frost, the–not-very-self-sufficient heroine, and the dastardly bully, Liam O’Grady that Madeline lives with, have a scary relationship.

When Jess, Madeline sister, pressures Madeline to seek help from her father and get away from Liam’s control, the reader is transported to Wrea Head Hall, the house of secrets, where numerous new characters get involved in Madeline and Poppy’s lives. Among them is Bandit, the hero, a veteran with PTSD. He has a family history with Wrea Head Hall. This history comes to light bit by piece as the story unfolds—not until the very end do we know its real significance.

A new facet of the novel is ushered in when Emily Ennis’ diary, written primarily during the World War II years, is found. Secrets of the house–tunnels, rooms, and where they are and what happened in them intrigue. The diary actually creates a story within a story. How the past is connected to the present at Wrea Head Hall surprises.

About the time I thought a happy, romantic love story would start, the villainous Liam slithers back into the action. His unrelenting efforts to control, his devious ways, and his connection with all the misfortunes in Madeline life send the story into the realm of horror. Wrea Head Hall is not the only house with secrets.

While this story demands the reader’s close attention to details, its plot is so compelling one feels an urgency to keep reading—just how much is Madeline going to have to go through before she gets her happy-ever-after!

Lynda Stacey does a remarkable job of weaving together, back stories, foreshadowing, and a big cast of characters with the many facets of this story. How she takes flawed characters and redeems them is amazing. House of Secrets is an unusual, compelling novel.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Good Vampires Go to Heaven by Sandra Hill

December 2, 2016 By Leave a Comment

good
Good Vampires Go to Heaven by Sandra Hill
Publisher: Avon Books, imprint of HarperCollins Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (252 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

WHEN HE WAS BAD . . .

Two-thousand-year-old vampire demon Zeb is supposed to spend eternity turning mortal sinners into bad guy Lucipires like himself. That way, they can grow their numbers and fight the vampire angels known as Vangels. But Zeb is a bad boy in a good way—secretly working as a double agent for none other than St. Michael the Archangel in hopes of one day earning his wings. Problem is, Zeb’s betrayal is discovered.

Hello, demon dungeon.

HE WAS VERY BAD . . .

Until Regina, a foxy, flame-haired Vangel witch on a rescue mission, busts out Zeb, along with three oddball Lucipire witches. Hello, temptation!
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BUT TOGETHER THEY WERE VERY GOOD . . . !

Their escape unleashes a war to defeat all Vangels forevermore. In an epic madcap battle between good and evil, a Demon just might earn his wings . . . and spend eternity with the Vangel of his wildest dreams.

Fans of the series finally get their long awaited HEA for Zeb, the double agent Lucipire vampire. For so long, his character has assisted the Vangels in their fight against evil but in the last novel readers found out that he got caught. Readers know that Jasper is a mean and twisted villainous character so I wasn’t sure what Ms. Hill was going to have him torture Zeb with in Good Vampires Go to Heaven. The answer and this book was worth waiting for.

In this novel, readers finally get to know how Zeb was recruited in the first place. They also get his backstory which was effective in gaining sympathy for his character. Plus Regina, the impatient heroine, finally gets her happy ever after by grabbing a chance to finally see some action. I got to see her backstory as well, and she’s definitely a result of the time period she lived in. By becoming a vangel, it gave her a second chance. I liked that she’s a bit unorthodox in her methods, and she fumbles here and there, but her goal, and ensuing relationship with Zeb because of it, provides lots of entertainment.

Of course there are battles and skirmishes to keep the drama heightened, but the author didn’t explore them with any great detail. Ms. Hill kept the tone light with the focus clearly on Zeb and Regina’s growing romance amidst all the chaos in preparation for the final battle. I think that’s what I appreciated about this last book in the series – the author kept the darkness out from the plot to insure that this last romance was a pleasure to read. No anxiety attacks, no bitten nails, nothing that made me squirm with discomfort, the author made sure the plot conflict did not overshadow the spice and attraction between Zeb and Regina. In doing so, the author made sure I enjoyed myself; it was an easy read.

It was sad to say goodbye to everyone so I appreciated the condensed wrap-up and the embracing of all the heroes and heroines who came before. And, Ms. Hill was consistent to the end with the “Michael dance”. Someday I will see that movie just to get a better understanding of the moves and imagine in my head seven Viking brothers doing it.

My favorite guest appearance was by Tante Lulu. I love that lady because she always makes me smile and I love how the author describes her close relationship with St. Jude. I think we’d all benefit if we acted like intercessory saints were our best buddies and friends and we had constant conversations with them. The love, optimism, enthusiasm and sense of fun and wonder that Tante Lulu embodies makes her stand out in every novel she’s appeared in. She’s a great secondary character.

Yes, Zeb and Regina get some loving action done between the pages. As always, Ms. Hill is able to imbue those scenes with passion, love and even some fun. The writing is well done so they’re quite entertaining and satisfying.

Good Vampires Go to Heaven is a wonderful ending to an exciting, well written and engaging series. Its unique premise, Ms. Hill’s trademark sense of humor and her wonderful way of writing a romance, have truly made this a remarkable series. I’m sad that it’s ended but what a way to go. Fans of the series simply can’t miss this. I wouldn’t recommend new readers start here – it won’t have the impact. This is the culmination of many books where Zeb’s actions earned him a chance at redemption. I’m glad to say it was worth it.

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

Sheer Madness by Laura Strickland

November 28, 2016 By Leave a Comment

sheer
Sheer Madness by Laura Strickland
A Buffalo Steampunk Adventure
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Sci Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (297 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid
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All her life, Topaz Hathor has denied her ability to see the spirits of the dead. She despises her father’an infamous spiritualist’for exploiting his wealthy patrons and the souls that flock to him. But when the spirit of an attractive man appears in her bedroom claiming he’s been drawn to Topaz rather than her father, she sits up and takes notice.

Though not dead, Romney Marsh has been banished from his body while confined to an asylum and can’t remember much besides his name. Yet he can feel Topaz’s spirit calling to his, and he’s not leaving until she agrees to help him. Through an increasingly violent spiral of danger and their discovery of unspeakable undertakings, they bond ever more closely. But can Topaz be in love with a man she’s never touched, or would that be sheer madness?

Topaz is an unusual young lady. Her brother has taught her ways to defend herself that no normal lady of her social standing would usually learn. Add to this the fact her father attracts spirits of the dead to their mansion and uses them to increase his fortune, and it is no wonder Topaz feels she has to look after herself. Topaz has also inherited her father’s spiritual ability, but refuses to use it – until one particular spirit asks for her help. As romance blossoms between Topaz and the spirit, she is drawn into a world of horror and violence.

Steam robots, spirits of the afterlife and something going on in the cellar which appears at best to be outside the law, and at worst is a repulsive and horrific act.

Steampunk with a difference. Not the normal back in time and change everything to steam, this book has a uniqueness which caught my interest and kept me reading until the end. Spiritualism combined with steampunk and a little bit of science fiction makes for a brilliant story and when an unusual romance is included it is difficult to put the book down. Highly recommended.

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Sweet Texas Kiss by Monica Tillery

November 24, 2016 By Leave a Comment

sweet-texas-kiss-by-monica-tillery
Sweet Texas Kiss by Monica Tillery
Sweet Texas Secrets 1
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (172 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

Small town. Big secrets. Welcome to Sweet Ridge.

The Cooper brothers receive the shock of their lives when their deceased father, owner of the lucrative Guac Ole company, wills away their inheritances to three random women.

No one’s more surprised when Jack Cooper leaves the family estate to music superstar Macy Young than his oldest son. Seeing his childhood memories being handed over to his high school rival – the first woman to break his heart – stings, especially when Gavin is left only a pair of old reading glasses and a cryptic note. Luckily, Macy can’t sell the house for one year – plenty of time for Gavin to find a way to get it back.

Living in the harsh spotlight of country music fame has cost Macy, and a little hometown peace and quiet just might heal her soul. But giving up and giving back Gavin’s greatest prize may not be the tune she plans to sing.

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Knowing what your inheritance is long before the fateful day arrives has its comforts, but can you ever be sure of what an aging and ailing father might do in his last days?

Jack Cooper built a successful guacamole company called Guac Ole with his middle son primed to take over. Grayson had worked at Guac Ole since he was old enough to earn a paycheck. Older brother Gavin became the local Veterinarian while taking on the job of caring for their father in his declining years. He was there until the end amid promises that the family home now belonged to him. Youngest Gage had nothing to fret, because Dad was leaving him oil-rich land. Jack Cooper was definitely the family patriarch and he was leaving his three boys well set.

Or so everyone believed…

On the day of Jack Cooper’s death, family friend and attorney Rodney has a bombshell for each of the three boys: Gavin’s house has been left to his high school rival, Macy Young, a television star and hit country singer. The oil-rich land Gage expected was willed to Charlotte Wilkinson, an environmental scientist, and Guac Ole, the company Grayson had worked to build, now belonged to Rebecca Nash, a floor supervisor at the same company. It seems the world has been turned upside down!

When Jack Cooper became too ill to take care of himself, Gavin moved home. He had been his father’s caretaker and companion in his final days. So after his father’s death, he planned to stay and move into the master bedroom, and most importantly, keep the home in the family. But now that his high school rival owns the home, what is a handsome, single man to do? It isn’t until lovely Macy Young arrives to check out the home left to her that the two clash—again.

Country singer Macy openly wonders why Jack Cooper, the nice father of her high school rival, would leave his house to her, but lately she is feeling the need to get away from the Hollywood rat race. She shows up to pay her last respects and check out the house. Gavin and Macy clash big time—he blames her for the death of his best friend (her singing sidekick) and she thinks he is still mad about her beating him out of the valedictorian seat in high school.

The two had several run-ins soon after Macy arrived. To me, it was unrealistic that the fact never came up that Gavin lives in the house willed to Macy. In fact, it never comes up until Macy decides to use her key and bunk there for the night! Yet when Macy realizes Gavin is living in the home, she becomes outraged. Seriously, the guy’s dad just died, his childhood home was given to you instead of him, and you’re going to barge into his house and plan to live there without any remorse?

Here’s the funny thing … I actually liked the story! It was well written, although character flaws and plot holes abound, but I can’t help but recommend it to you. There is a love scene (okay, who didn’t expect that?) between Gavin and Macy that had me fanning myself while still being clean enough to read and re-read, which is why I rated this “spicy,” albeit mild. It was tasteful and well done. By the way, the cover is so NOT this story!

Surely, stories of the other brothers must be in the works, right? Yeah, I’ll be watching for them. If you enjoy unexpected and out-of-the-ordinary romance stories, maybe you should be watching for more, too.

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

The Scottish Duke by Karen Ranney

November 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment

duke
The Scottish Duke by Karen Ranney
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (268 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Though raised as a gentleman’s daughter, Lorna Gordon is obliged to take a position as an upstairs maid at Blackhall Castle when her father dies. Alex Russell, the Duke of Kinross, is the most tempting man she’s ever seen—and completely unattainable—until, at a fancy dress ball, Lorna disguises herself as Marie Antoinette and pursues an illicit tryst…with scandalous consequences.

Months after his mysterious seductress disappears, Alex encounters her again. Far from the schemer the distrustful duke assumed her to be, Lorna is fiercely independent and resourceful. She’s the one woman capable of piercing his defenses. But when danger threatens Lorna, Alex must prove himself not just the lover of her fantasies, but the man who will fight to protect her.

One time is all it takes and the rest is history.

Lorna’s obsession and unusual upbringing allowed her to make a daring choice: meet Alex, the Duke of Kinross, incognito, the result of which tested her mettle and set her on a path she could never have envisioned even in her wildest dreams. The one thing I’m so glad about is that there were no hysterical screams of witchcraft because of her talent with plants. I was vastly relieved by that.
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Alex is the typical tormented hero who was cuckolded once and swore never to leave himself vulnerable again to a woman. Never say never. The poor guy had a serious chip on his shoulder, yet he’s a decent man with a marshmallow heart surrounded by briars and moats and brick. His desperation to protect that vulnerable part of him was almost his undoing. What he did to make up for it truly redeemed him in my eyes and I accepted him as a worthy hero for Lorna.

Redemption comes in many forms and what shocked me was the redemption of one of the secondary characters. I was ready to thoroughly write the person off, but Ms. Ranney had different plans. The end result was an ‘awww’ moment. After reading that, I agree with Lorna – everyone should get a second chance.

However, there are some instances where second chances should not be allowed, at all, ever. That became apparent too. It created a believable conflict, even if I figured out who did it, and why. I was annoyed actually as to how forgiving Alex was to this person for most of the book, yet he was so harsh to Lorna. That bothered me. This other person was so poisonous, annoying and irritating, I just wanted to shove them out a window to see if they could fly.

The best parts are when Lorna and Alex are on the same page. The least stressful moments were the happiest; when the hero and heroine explore and allow themselves to enjoy the passion that is like an inferno between them. When they smile at each other and are in perfect accord, it was sublime. I was thrilled when that occurred more and more towards the end of the novel. At that point, they were slowly coming to the realization that they were falling in love. It was so beautiful. And yet, that was when the author struck and shook it all up like earthquake. Talk about pages flipping in a fury!

Nan is my favorite secondary character but it’s a tough call because I really adored Alex’s mom, too. They both were assets to the story and made the book better. The love of friendship is strong and special between them and the Ms. Ranney caputured it beautifully.

All in all, The Scottish Duke is a delightful romance story. I liked Alex’s and Lorna’s personalities. Their dialogue, both spoken and internal, was well done and helped me understand their motivations and challenges. I liked the pace of the novel and I was intrigued with Alex’s passion with soot. It was a clever idea to use it to solve a mystery. I just had no idea that it would lead to more than one thread of conflict. That was very cool.

Even though I think readers will figure out the antagonists of the novel, I do believe they’ll be surprised as I was as to what eventually happens to them. I enjoyed reading this book and I think many other historical romance fans will too. It has a lot to recommend it.

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

The Viscount and the Vixen by Lorraine Heath

November 21, 2016 By Leave a Comment

vixen
The Viscount and the Vixen by Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (298 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Love begets madness. Viscount Locksley watched it happen to his father after his cherished wife’s death. But when his sire arranges to marry flame-haired fortune hunter Portia Gadstone, Locke is compelled to take drastic measures to stop the stunning beauty from taking advantage of the marquess. A marriage of mutual pleasure could be convenient, indeed… as long as inconvenient feelings don’t interfere.

Desperation forced Portia to agree to marry a madman. The arrangement will offer the protection she needs. Or so she believes until the marquess’s distractingly handsome son peruses the fine print… and takes his father’s place!

Now the sedate—and, more importantly, secure—union Portia planned has been tossed in favor of one simmering with wicked temptation and potential heartbreak. Because as she begins to fall for her devilishly seductive husband, her dark secrets surface and threaten to ruin them both—unless Locke is willing to risk all and open his heart to love.

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What I mean about a light plot conflict is that there are no evil villains and nefarious intrigues, rather, The Viscount and the Vixen has a heroine who is faced with a dilemma that causes her to embark on a courageous and possible dangerous path that could be her salvation or her downfall. It’s a secret that could destroy everything she’s trying to build and the secret could rob her of the very thing she thought she’d never have – love. Ms. Heath presents readers with a strong female heroine that is absolutely perfect for the hero, even though it takes him a while to admit to it.

This is a character driven romance; it’s engaging, entertaining and simply told. The author created two people who had to grow, be nurtured and learn to trust beyond their initial impressions of each other. That journey was made even more interesting by the fact that Killian could not seem to keep his hands off of Portia. I thoroughly enjoyed the healthy and robust talk about sex that had either Killian or Portia blushing, sometimes at the same time. The fact that Killian’s father was unabashed about it as well made for many grins and giggles especially with Locke’s (a/k/a Killian) reaction to realizing his parent enjoyed a healthy bedroom romp when he was a younger man as well. In fact, as adorable as it was, it was also bittersweet. A reader will understand why that is, and why even getting to talk about it is actually very special and sweet.

Of course, the secret comes out, and although part of the reaction was typical, Ms. Heath added her own twist to solving it that was both gratifying, well written and satisfactory. Dare I say, it was even swoon-worthy.

A truly delightful part of their relationship was the seduction. Killian didn’t stand a chance. Their antics are spicy, sensual, passionate and, although the hero denied it in the beginning, loving. Of course it was adventurous too, and quite a few scenes made me smile. Portia has quite the wit, even at times you’d least expect.

My emotions really got a work out when it came to Killian’s father. He was actually a smart man who dearly loved his family. I needed a few tissues when it came to him. Even now, when I think of that scene, I sniffle and have to grab another tissue. When it comes to matters of the heart and reaching out and touching a reader’s feelings, Ms. Heath outdid herself in a beautiful way.

I have no qualms in highly recommending this novel to fellow historical romance fans. The romance story within its pages is solid, well told and progresses at a nice clip. It ended up being a feel good type of book that I am always glad to read but don’t often find. This story didn’t cause me any stress or worry, and any conflict did not plague the characters overlong. It’s well balanced and charming and the happy ever after is well rounded, complete and included everything I look for to make me satisfied. The Viscount and the Vixen made me a happy reader.

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

Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery

November 21, 2016 By Leave a Comment

bride
Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (400 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother’s

Courtney

~ The Misfit ~

As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom’s wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family’s view of her—and how she views herself—forever.

Sienna

~ The Free Spirit ~

When Sienna’s boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say “I do” even if she’s not sure she does?
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Rachel

~ The Cynic ~

Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom’s wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she’s forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she’ll let pride stand in the way of her own happily-ever-after.

Four women, four romances and all occurring amongst the emotional backdrop of the zaniness of an impending, very pink wedding means chaos and fun, tears and cheers for readers of this awesome novel by the talented Ms. Mallery.

The book has many points of view but it’s focused on the three sisters of Sienna, Rachel and Courtney and their interesting heroes of Greg and Quinn. The tricky romance between Courtney and Quinn is the most prominent because Courtney has the biggest secret and the most to overcome. Quinn is really good for her and he’s a hunk. The spiciest scenes occur between the two although eventually Rachel and Greg surpass them with one wonderfully important moment, and even that inspired a few giggles later on.

Rachel’s romance with Greg is the hardest because there’s a history to overcome. By the same token, it’s the most rewarding because they’re just so good for and with each other that I was cheering for them throughout the book. I liked their chemistry. Even though they had some serious issues to work through, I could see the love still burned between them. They both had to face their flaws and faults, own them and then have the courage to go from there. I enjoyed how the author put them through their paces.

Sienna’s story was focused more on her finding her inner strength and believing in making choices that are best for her and not what others expect or demand. Readers will eventually clue in on who is the right person and I like the gentleness of the revelation. As far as I’m concerned, Sienna had a narrow escape because the guy could have put her in a position of being like the very women she’s made her life’s mission to help. I could see that and I was rooting for her to not to fall in love. Isn’t that weird? For a character that seemed to be the strongest, she was actually the weakest. I was fascinated.

The fourth woman is the girls’ mom, Maggie. I can empathize with her more than I thought possible. Why? Because my MIL had that same kind of influence on my wedding as Maggie’s mom did to her. Imagine my surprise that I could relate so well with a character even to the point of having pink as the wedding color. Unlike Maggie, I didn’t have to wait for a second marriage to go pink, LOL – nor did I go quite to the extremes she did. I mean, really, kazoos? Crack me up. As a backdrop, Maggie and Neil’s wedding was a delightful story arc and made the story a delight to read.

The one thing that is solid and enduring throughout Daughters of the Bride is the sense of family, love, affection, forgiveness and caring. The novel is a book that makes a person feel good once the final page is read. All their life threads, though intricately interwoven, are tied up nicely with happy ever afters that are satisfying, are believable and leave a warm afterglow. Oh, and I’d be remiss not to mention the bees. For some reason I thought them to be a perfect comedic foil. Love the name!

A yummy surprise is the inclusion of recipes at the end. For those that want the book glow to continue, you can create a food memory to go along with the storyline.

Daughters of the Bride is a novel written from the heart. It’s about relationships and love mixed up with quirky mishaps making it relatable, believable and engaging. This is a well written, amazing book that is not to be missed. If a reader has never read a book by Ms. Mallery, then this is a wonderful book to start with. I really enjoyed it.

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