To Tempt an Irish Rogue by Kaitlin O'Riley

Paulette Hamilton is busily happy with her bookstore and the soon to be opening of a new one when a charming man and his adorable daughter stroll into the shop and her life is never the same.  One glance and Declan Reeves, Lord Cashelmore, and his daughter Mara and she is instantly attracted and drawn to the mute young girl.  However, her family quickly warns her to stay away from him as is suspected of murdering his wife.  Paulette knows that this man did not do what is being said of him and continues to see Declan whenever she can.  They form a heated bond that they soon explore, even knowing that Declan has no desire to marry again.  However, as matters progress, it becomes clear that Declan must return to Ireland to clear his name so that maybe he can have a future with Paulette after all.  Returning to Ireland causes a whole new array of problems and it leads Paulette to him and a daring mission to reunite him with his daughter.  Will this separation allow Paulette and Declan, and the rest of her family, to see the truth of their hearts and the truth of the past?

This was my first time reading Kaitlin O'Riley and I enjoyed her writing!  Even though this is book four in a series about the Hamilton sisters, I did not feel left out and look forward to going back and reading their stories now.  The story is not over fresh or unique but it felt like a nice comfort read.  The relationship progressed nicely and the addition of Mara was well done and I really enjoyed watching her transform back into a vibrant young girl along with her close bond with her dad.  I loved that the setting included a peek inside the workings of a bookstore!  Declan is a handsome, solid Irish man and I think he was a wonderful balance to the quiet, smart Paulette.  The addition of all the sisters and their families adds a real sense of warmth without taking away from the romance.  I liked how the action plot and villain were spelled out rather quickly, that was a nice change of pace for me!  It is always refreshing to see the evil plan unfold when you know who did what.  Overall, a nice blend of family, romance, tenderness with dash of action.  A nice treat for a cold winter day.  I look forward to the final Hamilton sisters story! 

ARC provided by Kensington Books

Hamilton Sisters series
Worked well as a stand alone

One more to come next year!

Happy Release Day!

Some new books out today that I have my eye on (plus a few that were out a week ago). . .

Sigh, work is really taking up all my extra time so I don't have the time to write up quite as nice as a post as usual...but here are some titles that were released last week and a lovely batch are out today!!  I have all of these on my list to read (and have been lucky enough to read five and would recommend them all, early for review) but my top pick this batch is Tiffany Clare's Wicked Nights with a Proper Lady!  Which titles are you most excited about?

Sorry for the short post!  Happy book buying :)  And I hope everyone on the east coast is staying safe!

Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James

Sir Griffin Barry and Phoebe were married by arrangement fourteen years ago and circumstances did not allow them to consummate the marriage and Griffin disappeared.  It became evident that he left and became a pirate however he is freshly pardoned now for his works as a privateer and returns home to his wife...and her three children.  Now a strong man, Griffin is ready for a true marriage with his lovely wife, even in spite of her evident betrayal.  Phoebe is shocked to see Griffin back home and upsetting her perfectly ordered life and is furious that he thinks her a trollop!  Hopefully a little communication will clear all this up. . .

What a fun novella!  An absolute delight.  It is short yet full of Eloisa James wit and charm and I read this in one sitting.  Yes Phoebe and Griffin fall in love (as they really did not know each when they were married and never really spent any time together) rather quickly.  And yes there is cheating on Griffin's part during his pirate past (which is all off book)...but even with that I really adored this story.  I loved how Griffin reacts to Phoebe's children and I thought he handled the situation remarkably well.  I loved how Griffin did not even know his wife's true name....priceless!  There even is a new bond formed between Griffin and his father that adds a nice warm layer of family.  For 99 cents, you can't go wrong with this one!  A delightful re-acquaintance romance with charm, humor, family, acceptance, romance and a dash of heat.  4 stars

eARC provided by Avon via edelweiss

Fairy Tale series
Novellas are loosely connected to full lengths which are all stand alones
  
 
Once Upon a Tower June 25th 2013

To Love a Thief by Darcy Burke

I have read all of Darcy Burke's full lengths and really enjoyed them and was happy to see she had a novella out and I was quite happy with it!  Jocelyn Renwick sees her late mothers necklace on a lady of the ton while acting as a chaperone at a ball and it spikes her curiosity since it was stolen and never recovered.  With her impulsive, bold nature she asks about the necklace and where it came from and gets a answer that she knows is false.  At the same ball she garners the attention of Daniel Carlyle, former constable and new viscount.  He was mentored about the ways of society since he never expected to be a viscount and the earl that mentors him just happens to be the man that has Jocelyn's belongings.  Not sure who to believe, the earl or Jocelyn, sends Daniel back to his roots in a quest for the truth.  Unfortunately, the truth turns out to be the worse kind and it endangers not just him, but also Jocelyn and the hope for a future together.

As with most novellas, I wish this was just a bit longer so we could have had more time to see the relationship develop between Jocelyn and Daniel but even so, I thought the length was done well.  The instant attraction sends sparks flying and the action keeps this couple coming back together.  Lies are told but truths are quickly revealed as well which I appreciated.  I liked how Daniel has been a constable and inherited a title he never expected to have or want and this is an area I would have liked just a bit more about, but again, it worked well within this novella.  Daniel is smart, loyal and confident and a wonderful foil to Jocelyn and her bold nature. You know who the villain is but how it all unraveled was a delight.  This novella has it all--action, romance, love and passion.  We get just enough glimpses of one of the upcoming heroes and I am very anxious to see how Ms Burke redeems him!  Lovely story for a lovely price.  4 stars

Secrets & Scandals
Can be read as stand alones, best enjoyed in order

Never Love a Scoundrel Winter 2013
Scoundrel Ever After Winter 2013

A Gentleman Never Tells by Juliana Gray

Six years ago, Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow meet and fell in love and were sure to marry each other....until Roland left and never sent any work to Lilibet.  Thinking he deserted her, she marries an Earl and has a son but as time goes by, her husbands infidelity and indifference leave a mark on her.  She escapes to the Italian countryside with her son and sister and friend to have a year to think, to see if she can gather to courage to ask for a divorce.  However, fate deals her a major obstacle in the form of Roland and the past passion is quickly ignited again!  How can she survive at this castle with him around, peppering her with compliments and lovely touches?  Just when things seem to be finally fitting together, her husband arrives.  With Roland determined to protect Lilibet and her son and Lilibet determined to protect Roland, who will come out ahead?

I so enjoyed Juliana Gray's debut and A Gentleman Never Tells is filled with the same wonderful writing and I just devoured it!  This book takes place at the same times as A Lady Never Lies but beyond a few scenes, it is an entirely new story, which was a fact I was very happy about because sometimes when stories run parallel to each other the overlap is too similar.  Not the case at all here!  I was not sure how I would like this story since I do not usually approve of adultery in the story but the love between Roland and Lilibet just vibrates off the pages and I can forgive it in this storyline.  I felt it was a nice change of pace to not have a horribly violent husband on the hunt for the missing wife, I enjoyed the little twists that Ms Gray put into this story regarding their relationship and how it ends up being resolved.  Lilibet is a strong, vibrant, passionate woman who loves her son to the end of the earth and will do whatever is necessary to raise him into a dashing young man, far different from his father.  I enjoyed watching Roland bungle his attempts to talk to the young boy, Henry, at first and they slowly developed a good relationship.  Roland has a past he is keeping hidden from Lilibet that explains his sudden absence and his seemingly rakish lifestyle.  He was such a treat to read!  Silly yet serious.  The first half kind of moved a little slow action wise but the pace picked up later  and the story unwinds in ways I did not expect!  I again loved all the attention to detail from the scenery to the manner of speaking, Ms Gray has a expert way about her writing that I just love and she is on my auto buy list.  4 stars for a clever story with characters you can't wait to read more about and see how a single choice can change everything.

ARC won from the author, thank you so much!

Affairs by Moonlight

                                  Feb 5th, 2013 (really excited for this one!)

New Covers

Some more lovely new covers!

Emma Wildes continues her Whisper of Scandal series with the March 5th release of A Most Improper Rumor.  Such a lovely cover!  I adore the attention to the background detail!  Adding this one to my wish list :)

I really enjoyed Nina Rowan's debut so I am very anxious for A Passion for Pleasure!  Again, I adore the attention to details!  Love the purple and the piano and the fact that the back is just a pretty as the front!  Look for this one April 30th.

Fallen is a reprint from 2001 but I wanted to share it anyways since the updated cover is so pretty!  A nice pop of pink.  This will be out Nov 27th.

So pretty.  I love the play on the title for Liz Carlyle's newest book, A Bride by Moonlight.  I have yet to read anything by this author but I know this cover has caught my attention.  Look for it Feb 26th.

Sophia Nash continues her Royal Entourage series with The Duke Diaries.  Lots of bold red covers lately!  This fits in very nicely with the previous two covers and I am eagerly awaiting the February 26th release.

Teresa Medeiros is back January 29th with The Temptation of Your Touch.  She is also an author I have yet to read and I hope to remedy that this coming year!

This title popped up as a Facebook ad the other day for me and the cover definitely grabbed my interest.  The Trouble with Being Wicked is book one in The Naughty Girl Series and looks to be releasing Dec 18th from a new author (I believe) Emma Locke.  The second title, The Problem with Seduction, looks like a January 2013 release.  No preorder info yet but these are on my radar to pick up!! (Book descriptions are on her website).

Anne Gracie is yet another I need to read and she is kicking off a new series, Chance Sisters, with The Autumn Bride so I plan on picking this one up and giving her a try!  The cover seems very reflective of autumn and should be out February 5th.

Well, I always start off with just a couple covers but more always pop up!  I can't believe we are already looking at covers for February!  Less than three months until Christmas, yikes!  Any of these titles on your must read list for next year?

Seducing Mr. Knightly by Maya Rodale

Annabelle Swift has loved Derek Knightly, editor and owner of The London Weekly, for three years, six months, three weeks and two days, all without his notice.  She has decided that now is the time to change this and asks the readers of her column, Dear Annabelle, for advice on gaining the attention of a man that pays you no mind.  The answers pour in and Annabelle sets about trying out some of the suggestions.  After a variety of attempts; lower bodices, smoldering glances, forgotten objects...it seems to be working as Knightly seems to be noticing her!  Yet, he is courting a society lady, the last piece he needs to right the wrongs of his past.  Knightly is confused to his new found feelings for Annabelle and his duty not just to himself, but also to his paper which is coming under heavy suspicion of fraud.   Annabelle and her fellow Writing Girls decide she needs to attempt one last final grand gesture but when happiness finally seems attainable, the newspaper scandal blows up and it forces Annabelle to make a rash decision.  How can Knightly show Annabelle the truth of his heart while holding on to all that he has built with his newspaper?

I just adore Maya Rodale's writing and Seducing Mr. Knightly is no exception!  If you have read the previous books in this series, I'm sure you have been eagerly anticipating this story and, for the most part, it delivers.  I loved watching Annabelle shed her quiet 'don't notice me' shell (I mean really, her family is just plain horrible to her) and bloom into a daring, courageous woman.  Her attempts at seduction are both heart warming and amusing and she shares it all with her readers.  Knightly for his part, comes out of his unobservant shell and starts to wonder if he could be the man Annabelle is questing after, which I was happy about.  It was not a quick about face but a slow, realistic change and you can see them falling truly in love with each other, past the initial love at first sight.  They both want to belong and together they find a way to find that with each other.  With how smoking hot the cover is, I was a bit surprised that the heat factor is a bit on the lower side...however, as the story unfolds, it works and in the end, I really wasn't too disappointed.  The romance is slower and sweet with delicious sexual tension and the payoff is wonderful.  I really did not care for the ending and Annabelle's decision she made but oh, Knightly's attempt to fix it...totally hilarious and swoon worthy!  I adored that!  A solid conclusion to a fun, sexy series and I am a bit sad that we are saying good bye to these characters.  Maya Rodale is on my auto buy list with this series due to her fabulous storytelling filled with charm, humor, sass, characters you can relate too and swoon worthy romance.  4 stars

eARC provided by Avon Books via edelweiss

Writing Girls
Can be read as stand alones but delightful in order!

Lord Gray's List by Maggie Robinson

Lord Benton Gray has had it with the weekly gossip rag, The London List.  He is always the front page fodder and everyone, including his own mother, eagerly awaits each new issue.  Deciding to end this once and for all, he goes and confronts the owner, a Mr. Ramsey.  But who should this Mr. Ramsey turn out to be but the one woman he proposed to years ago...Evangeline Ramsey.  Evie is running the paper to help pay her ailing fathers medical bills and dressing as a man has proved to be most advantageous as people are more willing to speak to a man over a woman and take her seriously.  Seeing the man she made a foolish mistake with and ruined her future as a result stems her anger and frustration but the final straw is when Ben goes behind her back and buys the paper from her father!  Sparks reignite, tempers flare and their past attraction still burns strong.  Together, Evie shows Ben the ropes of running a paper and the side that the public doesn't seem much, the caring and helping of all the desperate, poor people who need so much yet can not afford the rates to advertise.  Will Ben be able to truly turn over a new leaf and leave his rakish ways behind him and help Evie with all the issues with the paper and find what they thought they had lost all those years ago?

This book had everything I have come to expect from Maggie Robinson; heart, humor and heat.  The heat starts off rather quickly, with Evie and Ben already having a torrid affair in the past but then the sexual tension sets in and just keeps building.  The humor was just wonderful.  Our couple are constantly trying to prove who is the man and should wear the pants (literally)...Ben wants Evie to wear dresses and be a female and take care of her while Evie wants to continue doing her job and the pants suit her just fine.  Evie is a strong, bold, confident woman and does not need a man to take care of her!  (Even if he is devilishly handsome, wealthy and shows himself to have a very generous heart).  The heart comes from all the secondary characters that add a nice sense of completion to this story.  Evie knows what it is like to struggle and when Ben decides to shut down the paper, she shows him how many people depend on The London List to find jobs, homes, and helpers, that it is far more that a scandal sheet.  Yes, the situations that arose seemed to be settled fairly quickly and easily, but they were still pleasant to read.  I also really enjoyed seeing some of the day to day operations involved in running a newspaper!  Overall, a delightful, sensual romance that will surely please romance fans who enjoy a perfect blend of heart, wit, charm and heat.  4 stars

ARC provided by the author

The London List series
???  More titles to come!

How to Tame a Willful Wife by Christy English

Anthony Carrington, Earl of Ravenbrook, is ready to take a bride and have his heirs so he expects his bride, the one he paid for, to do what he says and enjoy her life in the country while he can still entertain in the city.  Caroline Montague is not that woman.  She likes to ride astride in breeches, fence and takes lesson in handling a dagger, which is never far from her side.  She cannot believe the man her father has picked out for her, a man that can not accept her as she is but she knows her duty and marries Anthony in just two days time with only their smoldering desire for each as a bridge.  Together, they burn up the sheets but Antony's controlling ways are still a major issue between them so Caroline struggles to find a way that the can be happy together beyond the bedroom.  Just as they seem to be finding that place, they travel to London for the Prince Regent's ball and Anthony's mistress causes havoc and it forces Caroline to get help from the one man Anthony despises, Viscount Carlyle.  Will this be the final, willful act that pushes Anthony and Caroline to the breaking point or can Anthony find a way to accept Caroline as herself while letting go of his jealously?

I really liked this book.  Caroline was a delight to read...bold, courageous, feisty, passionate and ready to protect those she loves without hesitation.  Anthony was a bit harder for me to warm up to and I'm not sure I completely did.  He is bossy, controlling, arrogant, very jealous yet honorable, kind and finds ways to stand up to Caroline like know one has before.  He wants a proper wife all the time and Caroline only is when society dictates it and this infuriates him.  I enjoyed the bantering between our couple and they certainly knew how to set the pages on fire with their passion.  I wish there had been just a bit more back story with Anthony's past or how he came to be such good friends with the Prince Regent or more with the incident involving his sister (but she may have her own story so the author may be waiting until then).  I also thought Anthony overreacted a bit to Caroline's interactions with Carlyle, especially considering he refused to tell her the truth about the past and the reasons for his hatred of the man, and then his resolution with her didn't seem quite right.  Still, I liked the romance and it read very well and quickly and I will read more from Christy English.  This was a novel full of sass, steam, stubbornness and love and is a pleasant way to spend an evening in front of the fire.  3 1/2 stars

Review copy provided by Sourcebooks via Netgalley

Love on a Midsummer Night (I am guessing this book will be related as their were numerous secondary characters introduced that will hopefully have stories and also since the title is a play on a Shakespeare title again)  Amazon has a release of August 1, 2013

A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long

Evie Duggan has had to do some things to provide for her family that the proper woman of Pennroyal Green just can not accept or ignore and they shun the widowed countess upon her move there.  As her life, which involved theater, becoming a courtesan, and being one in a card game, has left her quite lonely she sets about to make friends with the woman and enlists the help on the one man who is a central part to all the woman, Vicar Adam Sylvaine.  Adam is the delectable vicar who has captured the heart of all the young ladies and they don't exactly take to Evie with her sinful past, catching his attention.  Yet, Evie's vulnerability strikes a cord with Adam and he agrees to help her find the friends she desperately desires.  Together they launch a plan of attack but the woman of Pennroyal Green still do not quite believe in Evie's redemption and toss her numerous obstacles that she has to overcome.  All the while, Evie can't quite understand her feelings she is developing for Adam and knows that nothing can truly happen as her past will destroy his future.  Can Adam convince himself, Evie and his congregation that they belong together?

Julie Anne Long has delivered another sensual, witty, enjoyable romance!  Adam is a vicar I think we all wish we could see every Sunday; kind, strong, sharp, caring and very easy on the eyes.  Evie was strong, funny, smart, loyal, loving and courageous yet unique with her loneliness.  She has a brother and sister that she communicates with and her trusty maid, Henny, but you could not help but empathize as her loneliness is a hard void to fill.  She thinks she will easily be able to convince Adam to help her but Adam sees right through her act and sees her heart but he also can not shake her notorious past and it causes quite a bit of friction, especially when men from her past turn up in town.  While I loved the slow build up and sexual tension, I wished it had moved a little faster.  It was over the halfway mark before they even shared a kiss but I did feel it fit with the storyline and the surroundings...but still.  Even though there is a slow build up, Adam and Evie share some very tender, hot, swoon worthy moments together.  The secondary characters add a wonderful layer of humor, hijinks, heart and humility and I thought the ending involving them was very appropriate.  Even though this is book seven in this series, it can be read as a stand alone and the ending left me very hopeful a long awaited reunion may soon have its story!!  Overall another strong addition to a wonderful series.  A delicious romance filled with the trademark wit and loveliness you can expect from a Julie Anne Long novel!  4 stars

eARC provided by Avon Book via edelweiss

Pennroyal Green series
(can be read as stand alones)