Her Timeless Obsession by Brita Addams


Her Timeless Obsession by Brita Addams
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Paranormal, Time-travel, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (287 pages)
Heat level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

A love that transcends time.

Ever the explorer, Honey Danby discovers a treasure trove in her dusty 1910 London attic. Old trunks filled with clothes, journals, and love letters written between two lovers in 1810 entertain her and leave her longing for a time and a man long past. Dressed in an irresistible gown from one of the trunks, Honey discovers a heart-wrenching love story. When she learns that all was cruelly torn asunder, the handsome soldier’s loving words written to his H. catapult Honey into an adventure that defies logic.

When, dressed in a crisper version of the gown, Honey inexplicably awakens inside a rumbling horse-drawn carriage, she discovers she shares the antiquated vehicle with the man who tore the lovers apart. Can she convince this stranger to forego his unreasonable demands, or will history repeat itself on a misty August morn in Green Park?

Her Timeless Obsession is an exciting romance with the thrill of the ticking clock threatening to ruin something wonderful for a very likable couple. A mystery is set up early on, and intriguing questions arise to draw a reader in. Honoria “Honey” is from the early twentieth century, and she discovers papers and items from a man who lived a century earlier. Her interest piqued, Honey decides to find out more, and she does research at the library. Reading the man’s journal is enlightening as well. She must know more.

When Honey goes back in time and meets Lord Galmore, she finds he’s all she thought he was. They hit it off. The problem is her dangerous, erratic brother. He’s dead-set against the match. Honey knows from reading history that the brother will murder Galmore in a duel by cheating.

The burgeoning relationship between Honey and the injured Galmore is touching. When then spend their first night together, he risks himself by allowing her to see his hideous war injury. Readers will feel his emotional agony. Honey’s reaction to his courage is loving and amazing. The scene of this night is memorable. The chemistry is hot, yet the feelings are tender and real.

There is much sensuality between the two, and some surprises, which add layers of complexity to the story. Honey’s being from a different time comes out in interesting, unpredictable ways. The antagonist, Honey’s disturbed brother, intends to destroy Honey and her love at all costs. Honey and Galmore are up against a formidable enemy. How is she supposed to save her dear one’s life when a man of that era is honor-bound to accept the challenge of a duel? Honey is pushed into unexpected action.

The writing of this story is well-done so that readers will be truly worried for the couple. Emotions will be high as one turns those pages, driven with suspense, and caring about the characters.

This is a great story for those who love true romance, the Regency era in England, and time-travels.

The Dragon Lady by Louisa Treger


The Dragon Lady by Louisa Treger
Publisher: Bloomsbury Caravel
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (306 pages)
Heat rating: sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Opening with the shooting of Lady Virginia ‘Ginie’ Courtauld in her tranquil garden in 1950s Rhodesia, The Dragon Lady tells Ginie’s extraordinary story, so called for the exotic tattoo snaking up her leg. From the glamorous Italian Riviera before the Great War to the Art Deco glory of Eltham Palace in the thirties, and from the secluded Scottish Highlands to segregated Rhodesia in the fifties, the narrative spans enormous cultural and social change. Lady Virginia Courtauld was a boundary-breaking, colourful and unconventional person who rejected the submissive role women were expected to play.

Ostracised by society for being a foreign divorcée at the time of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson, Ginie and her second husband ,Stephen Courtauld, leave the confines of post-war Britain to forge a new life in Rhodesia, only to find that being progressive liberals during segregation proves mortally dangerous. Many people had reason to dislike Ginie, but who had reason enough to pull the trigger?

Deeply evocative of time and place, The Dragon Lady subtly blends fact and fiction to paint the portrait of an extraordinary woman in an era of great social and cultural change.

What could be better than admirable characters doing things that require courage in an exotic setting? Throw in a little bit of history and a sprinkle of the paranormal, and you have the makings of an exciting story such as this one.

The author has created a story rich with vivid details and based loosely on real people doing extraordinary, selfless things for others and at their own peril. Also, one is treated to meeting a famous person or two who happen to be acquainted with the protagonists, Ginie and Stephen. The fun will continue later if a reader decides to do research on the real people in the story.

As for the setting, Ginie and Stephen are world travelers and live in incredible times. They have the money and freedom to get involved with the world falling apart around them and provide financial and other support.

Readers get a peek inside an English castle, meet royalty, and get to watch as Stephen and Ginie deal with German bombs during World War II. One also gets to go back further and become immersed in the world decades before that, as Ginie marries into the Italian nobility. Most of the book is set in the 1950s, in Africa. Ginie and Stephen buy property there and befriend local people. They take up their cause against the horrible racist treatment they are facing and pay the price. There are some truly scary moments for them.

Relationships are explored during this realistic adventure. There are triumphs and tragedies, enough to keep the pages turning. Readers will love Ginie and Stephen and are not likely to ever forget their story.

The Intimate Bond: How Animals Shaped Human History by Brian Fagan


The Intimate Bond: How Animals Shaped Human History by Brian Fagan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Press
Genre: Historical, Non-fiction
Length: Full Length (268 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

From the first wolf to find companionship in our prehistoric ancestors’ camp, to the beasts who bore the weight of our early empires, to the whole spectrum of brutally exploited or absurdly pampered pets of our industrial age, animals–and our ever-changing relationship with them–have left an indelible mark on the history of our species and continue to shape its future.

Through an in-depth analysis of six truly transformative human-animal relationships, Fagan shows how our habits and our very way of life were considerably and irreversibly altered by our intimate bond with animals. Among other stories, Fagan explores how herding changed human behavior; how the humble donkey helped launch the process of globalization; and how the horse carried a hearty band of nomads across the world and toppled the emperor of China.

With characteristic care and penetrating insight, Fagan reveals the profound influence that animals have exercised on human history and how, in fact, they often drove it.

This history of animals and how they profoundly shaped human history is a must-read for both animal and history lovers. Not so much about the history of pets, like other books of the general type, this one is more focused on how animals actually forwarded the timeline for people, how they made progress possible.

The book is set-up roughly in chronological fashion but also thematically. For example, readers see how early humans—hunters—got by and how canines gave them certain advantages. But it was a two-way street. Dogs got something in return for their cooperation with humans.

Of course there was the farming revolution and the animals that helped make this a movement in the first place.

Some of the important animals are quite surprising. Many may know that donkeys helped with mining, but they played a much bigger role in shaping human progress than many may realize. After reading about them, people are likely to sympathize with donkeys much more. The author, in fact, claims that donkeys “started globalization.” Without that, of course, trade would have been greatly diminished, and without trade on that scale, groups of humans would have been more isolated.

There is much said about animals and empires, and the great horse. Fascinating insights into horses are presented. After horses, we hear about the important camels and their effect on human history. Other animals are presented in this book as well. Readers may be happy to learn that the author does not neglect domestic dogs and cats after all. Brian Fagan even tells readers when the first dog and cat shows came into being. He ends with commentary on animal cruelty and the humans who fought for them, to save them. There is interesting discussion on the Victorians and how they saw animals, with an elegant ending giving readers much to ponder.

This is a great book that lovers of history and animals should not miss.

One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell


One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (376 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by: Xeranthemum

Ready.

Raised in the countryside by her overprotective uncle, Miss Mina Penny’s dream of a triumphant London season is finally here. She determined her perfect match long ago: Rafe Bentley, the wickedest rake of them all. There’s only one very large, very unyielding obstacle: Rafe’s brother Andrew, the reclusive Duke of Thorndon.

Aim.

This was supposed to be simple. Duke goes to London. Duke selects suitable bride. Love match? Not a chance. But when Drew meets Mina, she complicates everything. How can a lady armed with such beauty and brains fall for his irresponsible degenerate of a brother? Drew vows to save her from heartbreak and ruin, no matter the cost.

Desire!

But Mina is no damsel in distress. She’s daring, intuitive, passionate…and halfway to melting Drew’s cold heart. And although Mina thought she knew exactly what she wanted, one breathtakingly seductive kiss from Drew changes everything. Now Mina must decide between long-held dreams and dangerous new desires. Could her true destiny lie in the arms of a duke?

This was a one day read filled with excitement, daring-do and a remarkably energetic romance. I enjoyed myself tremendously and the epilogue left me feeling bubbly and happy. What’s not to like?

One Fine Duke has adventure, danger, an unusual spunky heroine and a hero in need of saving. Mina is afraid of never living life, of being put behind a wall for her safety and staying there, forever, while Drew is already behind a figurative wall and is afraid of coming out from behind it. What they both want isn’t what they need and what they need they don’t think they want. This novel explores how their lives are turned upside down, shaken up and tossed upon a path of discovery, shocking revelations and sensual exploration. For a reader that means one word: Fun.

The sparks fly pretty quickly between Mina and Drew. There is the trope of the bored duke being intrigued by a woman who flaunts the norm and gets past his ennui enough to inspire some out-of-character actions. That’s how their relationship begins but nowhere near where the author takes a reader. Ms. Bell takes that platform and creates well-rounded, flawed, quirky and fallible characters that attract, charm and beguile the reader. The heroine is clever, has a goal and a dream to achieve and her methodology is unconventional yet effective. The hero has never had a chance to reconcile his fears from being kidnapped when he was a kid and his coping mechanism, though changed through the years, has yet to get the job done. Between the two of them, they can have it all, but first, they have to solve a mystery, save Drew’s brother and avenge the death of Mina’s parents.

How the story unfolds, the dialogue between the hero and heroine and what Mina’s extraordinary curiosity leads her to discover, all make for a frequent tendency to flip the pages at a furious pace many times throughout the novel because it’s just so exciting! The part with the chair is hilarious, the shed scene sealed Mina’s fate as far as I’m concerned, and Drew’s daisy dream is attached to something wickedly delicious.

I’ll be absolutely shocked if One Fine Duke isn’t a best seller. I enjoyed it so much, smiled so often and even blushed a time or two; I really believe readers are going to enjoy the romance between Mina and Drew as much as I did. Ms. Bell has a winner.

The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell


The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell
The Saxon Stories #2
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical
Length: Full Length (349 pgs)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

The last unvanquished piece of England, Wessex is eyed hungrily by the fearsome Viking conquerors. A dispossessed young nobleman, Uhtred is tied to the imperiled land by birth and marriage but was raised by the Danish invaders—and he questions where his allegiance must lie. But blood is his destiny, and when the overwhelming Viking horde attacks out of a wintry darkness, Uhtred must put aside all hatred and distrust and stand beside his embattled country’s staunch defender—the fugitive King Alfred.

The Pale Horseman is a gripping, monumental adventure that gives breathtaking life to one of the most important epochs in English history—yet another masterwork from New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell.

Uhtred holds the fate of England in his hands.

Before reading this installment in the Saxon Stories, I recommend reading The Last Kingdom, the first book in the series, not only because this tale picks up where The Last Kingdom left off, but also to better understand Uhtred’s history and his complicated relationships. Also, I must warn readers that The Pale Horseman, contains graphic violence as well as rape, though the rape is not described in detail.

It has been an adventure watching Uhtred grow up! He’s married, become a father, survived his first shield wall, and killed the Danish warrior Ubba. Uhtred feels he’s done more than enough to prove himself. However, Alfred doesn’t completely trust Uhtred because of his refusal to become a Christian and his divided loyalties. It is easy to sympathize with Uhtred because he is much more likable than Alfred, but I will admit I can see Alfred’s point of view at times. Alfred is a man mature beyond his years with carefully laid, long-term plans. In contrast, Uhtred is wild and quite immature at times, and while he has some long-term goals, he tends to live in the moment. Uhtred can make or break Alfred’s plans, and that makes Alfred uncomfortable. That being said, I’ve found Uhtred to be a man of his word. If he says he will accomplish something, he will. Uhtred doesn’t understand why that isn’t enough for Alfred. I find the relationship between Uhtred and Alfred fascinating. I can’t help but wonder what these two great men could accomplish if they could find a way to work together. Unfortunately, I fear they are doomed to never see eye to eye.

Denied the credit for the victory at Cynuit, Uhtred is understandably angry. In his frustration, he makes life changing decisions that will bring him joy, sorrow, and again put him at odds with Alfred. Uhtred is still truly torn between the Saxons and the Danes. There are moments where I held my breath because Uhtred’s choices literally had the power to change the future of England.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this chapter in Uhtred’s life, and I can’t wait to see what he will do next! I look forward to picking up the next book in this captivating series.

The Lady Who Drew Me In By Thomasine Rappold


The Lady Who Drew Me In By Thomasine Rappold
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (182 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Daisy Lansing’s ability to transfer images from people’s thoughts onto paper was a novelty she used to trot out to amuse her friends. But when her “entranced drawing” begins to cause serious trouble for her guardians, she is banished to the country and forced to marry a man twice her age. After the joyless wedding, Daisy is determined to bury forever the strange skill that upended her life. However, she soon finds herself a widow and in dire financial straits. Suddenly, her curse may be her one chance at true independence.

Jackson Gallway’s reputation as a rogue has far surpassed his success as a lawyer. In the wake of yet another scandal, he decides to head west. But before he can escape Misty Lake, Jax makes a promise to find an elusive killer. When he encounters a lovely young artist with an unusual talent that could help him in his search, what he finds is something neither of them can escape . . .

A widow and a rake…plus a murderer. Oh my!

This book is the first I’ve read by Thomasine Rappold, but it won’t be the last. I see this book is part of a series. I have to admit, I wasn’t lost, despite not having read the others in the series. Trust me, though, I will be checking them out.

I came across this story by chance and I’m glad I did. The writing flows well and drew me right in. The characters are fresh, too. I get it. The hero is initially a rakish kind of guy. He’s done things he’s not proud of. Who hasn’t done things of that matter? But I liked how he redeemed himself. I also liked how the heroine was irresistible to him. Jackson, the hero, is interesting. He’s a lawyer and has aspirations for more than his place in society. I give him props for his goals. I also liked Daisy, the heroine. She’s got pluck, determination and a particular ability. I haven’t read anything like this story, so the new twist on her art ability was fresh. The plot is well-thought out and enticing. I wanted to know how things would work out for these two characters. I liked the little hiccups they have to go through

If you’re looking for a story that’s long on story and big on heart, then this might be the one for you.

A Debutante in Disguise by Eleanor Webster


A Debutante in Disguise by Eleanor Webster
Publisher: Harlequin Historical
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (288 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

A society lady

…with a secret!

Determined to help people, Letty Barton has a double life—she’s a trained doctor! No one must know “Dr. Hatfield” is actually a woman. Called to an emergency, she comes face-to-face with her patient’s brother, Lord Anthony Ashcroft… They’d once shared a spark-filled flirtation—now he’s a brooding, scarred war hero. But how long will it be before he recognizes her beneath her disguise and the sparks begin to fly once more?

A Debutante in Disguise was a very interesting and well written historical romance story between a brave heroine, Letty and a commendable hero, Lord Anthony. The story starts with a desirable prologue that swiftly left me wanting to read more. I enjoyed the descriptive scenes and well developed characters.

Letty was a unique lady with dreams and goals that were limited by society. I enjoyed how she took leadership overcoming those obstacles. It was a huge risk she took and I could feel the tension and fear of being discovered. I’m so thankful that we don’t live in that era any longer. If fact, I didn’t think about it but most of my doctors that I see are women. I’m glad they don’t have to go through the charade of dressing up as men to be allowed to practice medicine as a doctor. I appreciate those in the past who made this possible by challenging society’s limits and paving a path for change. Letty was the perfect example of courage as she persisted to follow her dreams.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I appreciate a book that teaches me something new and is still entertaining. My education started with the Author Note in the beginning of the book. I didn’t know about Dr. James Miranda Barry’s life long masquerade. That was a fascinating fact that Eleanor Webster shared. I’m not a big history buff but A Debutante in Disguise was rather fascinating from beginning to end. The pace was a nice steady flow which brought the story to life for me or in this case, took me back into the past.

I felt many emotions throughout this story. I enjoyed a few laughs here and there to lighten up my mood around the hero, Anthony. The synopsis sums it up accurately. Anthony is a “brooding, scarred war hero”. His internal struggles pulled at my heart strings. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for not only him but for all the other war heroes who return with internal or external and often both internal and external ramifications from serving our country. A Debutante in Disguise brought hope to the reader through the heroine, Letty.

Letty and Anthony needed each other in more ways than one. They are the epitome of persistence. Together they can overcome any and all obstacles. There was no doubt that their love was genuine and everlasting.

This was my first Eleanor Webster book and it won’t be my last. Bravo for developing a heartwarming love story filled with compassion and romance.

A Scarlet Woman by Lorna Peel


A Scarlet Woman by Lorna Peel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical
Length: Full (401 pgs)
Heat: Hot
Rated: 3 stars
Review by Rose

Can an idealistic young doctor and a fallen woman find love when Victorian society believes they should not?

Dublin, Ireland, 1880. Tired of treating rich hypochondriacs, Dr Will Fitzgerald left his father’s medical practice and his home on Merrion Square to live and practice medicine in the Liberties. His parents were appalled and his fiancée broke off their engagement. But when Will spends a night in a brothel on the eve of his best friend’s wedding, little does he know that the scarred and disgraced young woman he meets there will alter the course of his life.

Isobel Stevens was schooled to be a lady, but a seduction put an end to all her father’s hopes for her. Disowned, she left Co Galway for Dublin and fell into prostitution. On the advice of a handsome young doctor, she leaves the brothel and enters domestic service. But can Isobel escape her past and adapt to life and the chance of love on Merrion Square? Or will she always be seen as a scarlet woman?

I loved the premise of this book and with the setting being Ireland, I was hooked from the first time I read the blurb. I was looking forward to seeing how the author had her heroine overcome all the difficulties she was facing in her life.

I liked the character of Isobel and, mostly, Will as well. I enjoyed their banter as they got to know each other. And, I loved the way he cared for her regardless of what was going on and how determined he was to make their relationship work.

The first half of the story was really good, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The second half of the story took a different twist. Instead of the character development I was seeing on both Will and Isobel’s part, it seemed to read more like a magazine serial. Poor Isabel faced problems on every side (shades of Perils of Pauline). However, she was saved in the nick of time by forces she didn’t bring about – a rich opportunity was missed here, I think. I didn’t mind the roadblocks that were thrown up, but I wish Isabel had done more to save herself. I was disappointed in some of the decisions she made (just another sign of being invested  in a character).

There was also a lot of hot sex thrown in the last part of the book that, imho, was gratuitous and didn’t do anything to move the character development along. I found myself skipping these passages because they weren’t really adding anything to the story and I wanted to get back to it.

However, I was invested enough in the characters from the first half of the book to overlook these issues and move on to find out what happened next in Will and Isobel’s relationship. The writing is clean with no major issues as far as editing goes and it was an easy read.  It was definitely worth reading.

The Dom Who Said Please by Raven McAllan


The Dom Who Said Please by Raven McAllan
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (49 pgs)
Other: M/F, Spanking
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Widow Eleanor Charter knows one thing—she does not want to marry again. Especially not to someone forceful and dominant. So why is Theo Moncur, the Earl of Glensmoor interested in her? As far as she is concerned any man who considers himself dominant, whether he is or not, will play no part in her life. She will be in charge of her own life.

Dominant Theo doesn’t have marriage on his mind. Having given his mistress her congé, his growing attraction toward Eleanor makes him wonder if she would fill that place. He sees something in her that appeals. The lady would be a perfect submissive—not that she agrees. However, the more he gets to know her, the more he understands she is the only lady for him. Now all he has to do is persuade Eleanor to agree.

Theodore, Earl of Glensmoor, was a confirmed rake and Dominant. Knowing that soon he would have to settle down and likely wed, he promised his Godmother that he would attend a number of the deadly boring – but necessary – social engagements men of his status were obliged to attend. While ducking his ex-paramour, Theo couldn’t suppress his intrigue by Lady Eleanor – an attractive and curious young woman widowed after only four months of marriage. Theo might be seeking very specific things in a woman, but Lady Eleanor captures his attention in a manner he simply can’t deny.

I admit I can’t recall having ever read a Regency story with a Dom as the hero – so this story grabbed my attention from the beginning. I was really pleased, therefore, to discover this short story blended the two genres really well. With the romantic history and lavish setting of the Regency era and the slightly edgy modern aspect of a BDSM style of story I thought this book blended to two elements really well. Lady Eleanor was not a simpering young miss – and while classified as a rake, Theo was not just some bored man trapped by his own dalliances. Theo was intrigued by Eleanor and wanted her and was determined to pursue and attract her. Eleanor, for her own part, was determined to retain her independence and was very well-matched to him in my opinion.

Given the shortness of the story I can’t really blame the author for the quick build up between the two characters – there just wasn’t room for a slower move to the bedroom or more of a chance for me as a reader to get to know the characters. While this really did feel a bit like a hasty roll in bed – a “happy for now” style of whirlwind romance and not something that could necessarily last the distance of time – with so few pages I can’t see how their relationship could have been given more depth in the quick setting. I found the sex to be hot and only a very little bit kinky but feel it should be satisfying to many readers.

An interesting blend of Regency historical and BDSM I found this to be a fun and different style of short story.

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb


Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (355 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Set in the 1950s against the backdrop of Grace Kelly’s whirlwind romance and unforgettable wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb take the reader on an evocative sun-drenched journey along the Côte d’Azur in this page-turning novel of passion, fate and second chances…

Movie stars and paparazzi flock to Cannes for the glamorous film festival, but Grace Kelly, the biggest star of all, wants only to escape from the flash-bulbs. When struggling perfumer Sophie Duval shelters Miss Kelly in her boutique to fend off a persistent British press photographer, James Henderson, a bond is forged between the two women and sets in motion a chain of events that stretches across thirty years of friendship, love, and tragedy.

James Henderson cannot forget his brief encounter with Sophie Duval. Despite his guilt at being away from his daughter, he takes an assignment to cover the wedding of the century, sailing with Grace Kelly’s wedding party on the SS Constitution from New York. In Monaco, as wedding fever soars and passions and tempers escalate, James and Sophie—like Princess Grace—must ultimately decide what they are prepared to give up for love.

Lights, camera, romance!

This is a sweet romance set in Monaco, during the whirlwind courtship of Princess Grace and Prince Ranier. The author had me at the prince and princess. But once I got into the story, I couldn’t put it down. I liked the characters and the story. Talk about getting swept away.

Sophie is an independent girl. She isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and also not afraid to fall in love. I liked how she didn’t just fall for James. She made him work for it. That’s wonderful. She’s very contemporary in a time where women weren’t as forthright. So it was refreshing to read her story.

James… I liked how he was drawn to Sophie. I like when the hero can stand up to and beside the heroine. I also liked how he was so smitten with her. He and Sophie are a good couple and I rooted for them.

I also liked how the story of Grace and Rainier were woven in. I felt like I was right there in Cannes and along on the junket with them. It’s a fanciful story.

If you want something that’s got a lot to make you think about, then this might not be the book you want. It’s not heavy. For me, that was perfect. I wanted a breezy read. I got it.

If you want a book that’s sweet, has a satisfying ending and will leave you wanting a bit more, then this is the beach read you need.