Saturday, March 30, 2013

Hero of My Heart by Megan Frampton

Mary Smith is tossed up on the auction block by her debt-ridden step brother and sold to the highest bidder, Alasdair Thornham who really has no idea why he bought her, only he felt the need to rescue her.  Somehow through his opium induced haze, he recognizes that Mary needs to be taken care of and he seems to be the perfect man for the job.  He will simple marry her and then she will have access to his home and funds and he can go off and let the opium to its job, rid him of all his painful family and war memories.  What he doesn't expect is a fierceness in Mary to save Alasdair from his drug haze.  Mary is determined to set Alasdair free and help his realize the past can not be changed and everything was not his fault, not his burden to bear now.  Mary's step brother and Alasdair cousin, who wants Alasdair's title, force this couple to hide and take a trip across the countryside.  Close quarters allow for Mary and Alasdair's feelings to develop but what will happen once they reach London?  Will Mary be able to tell Alasdair her real desire to get to London, a secret she is sure will shame him?

While I did enjoy this romance, I also felt a bit let down.  I felt like some things were just glossed over, most specifically with Alasdair's opium addiction.  He struggles and fails early on but once they are forced into the countryside with no money or transportation, his struggles fall to the wayside and he has no side affects and I felt like there needed to be more of a struggle with that aspect.  I also would have liked to have seen more of Mary's secret explored and expanded upon as it was something a bit fresh in this genre.  Even with Alasdair's struggles, both inner and outer  he is a very swoon worthy hero; smart, handsome, generous and witty and I really enjoyed him.  Mary is strong, brave and not afraid to voice her opinions yet hesitant to trust a man who easily breaks his promises and is dependent on something that alters him.  Another thing that was a bit off for me was the trek through the countryside...they had a few bumps and then they were easily to London.  I feel like the ending could have been much stronger and really been a better fit for this story as it had good potential, but it just fell a bit short for me this time.  However, I do plan on checking out the future releases of Megan Frampton as I feel like she has a good voice that will hopefully connect together a bit better for me over time.  Recommended for fans of unique story lines with personal struggles and a happily ever after that will make you smile.  3 1/2 stars

eARC provided by Loveswept via netgalley.com...thanks!

Monday, March 25, 2013

A Gentle Grace by Jillian Eaton

Lady Grace Deringer thought her life complete with her engagement to her dream husband, Lord Stephen Melbourne, Earl of Terraview as she has loved him from the first moment they met.  He seemed to see past her clumsiness and lack of beauty and see her for her true self but then he suddenly calls off the engagement and she is heartbroken as Stephen heads out of England.  Now months later, he has returned and is determined to win back Grace and tell her the truth of his leaving.  But will Grace be able to forgive Stephen and open her heart to him again?

A Gentle Grace brings us to the conclusion of the delightful Wedded Women Quartet and each one as been a winner for me.  I loved seeing what happens after the 'happily-ever-after', how love needs to be rekindled sometimes to find that true, everlasting love.  Grace and Stephen's love story was no different.  A family secret came to light and Stephen thought his course of action was the best thing to protect Grace, even though it hurt her the most.  I do wish the secret had been revealed a bit sooner, but I am always impatient for details like that.  I enjoyed how Grace, with some coaxing from her friends, took matters into her own hands and it turns the tables on Stephen a bit which was a treat.  Stephen is warm and caring and I was glad to see him in this light as I was not too sure about him in the previous novellas and I adored how Stephen and Grace met and fell in love.  Another wonderful tale of redeeming love and the true strength of friendship.  All four of these women know that family runs so much deeper than blood and together they can help you through heartbreak and triumph.  I look forward to going back and reading each of these novellas back to back and loving their stories again.  Recommended for fans of second chance romances with a dash of heat and a lot of friendship.  4 stars

Review copy provided by author, thanks so much!!

Wedded Women Quartet series
Best enjoyed in order
A Brooding Beauty (Wedded Women Quartet, #1)A Ravishing Redhead (Wedded Women Quartet, #2)A Lascivious Lady (Wedded Women Quartet, #3)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

New Covers

New covers from out and about lately. . .


I love this cover!!  The color is just lovely and I am so excited for a new series from Katharine Ashe!  Look for I Married the Duke Aug 27th.


Lily Dalton is a new author and her debut, Never Desire a Duke sounds very intriguing!  The cover is just perfect for the holidays and the wintery setting of this book.  I will be grabbing this one Sept 24th!


A new Maya Banks highlander?  Yes please!  Super sexy cover off set by a nice bold blue.  Highland Ever After, book three in a series, will be out Sept 24th.


I love all the covers on this cover!!  The green just pops but the red and purple add a lovely background.  I have really enjoyed Erin Knightley's books and I am very eager for Flirting with Fortune, out Sept 3rd.


Gah!  I can not wait for this book!!!  Is it Oct 1st yet?!?  And what a sigh worthy cover.  The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie is going to be such a wonderful addition to this amazing series, I know it :)


Oooh, look at the pretty red dress!  And the wonderful attention to detail, such as the quill (which Theresa Romain said is part of the story).  I love when a cover matches a book and It Takes Two to Tangle, the start of a new series, looks to fit the bill nicely.  Very eager for Sept 3rd!

Well, I believe I have all of these pre-ordered and I really adore all the covers.  What about you?  Which ones are you most eager for or are drawn to because of the cover?

Saturday, March 16, 2013

And the Miss Ran Away with the Rake by Elizabeth Boyle

I love when a title fits a book perfectly and that is just the case with the newest from Elizabeth Boyle.  Daphne Dale answered an advertisement in a newspaper on a whim and it has grown into so much more and she is determined to meet the mysterious Mr. Dishforth.  When they agree through their corresponding to meet at her friends betrothal ball, she is elated to meet the man she has fallen for yet one look at Lord Henry Seldon, sworn adversaries of the Dale's, leaves her confused.  She thinks Henry is the same man yet can not be sure and the family feud leaves her even more indecisive.  Henry, for his part, can not fathom falling in love with a Dale yet he also can not deny the attraction between himself and Daphne and he too questions if she is his mysterious Miss Spooner.  A house party, a rainstorm and a lot of determination during an attempt to run away add up to a fun romance.

While I really enjoyed this Regency take on You've Got Mail, I didn't love it and I really can not pinpoint why.  I wish we had seen a bit more of Daphne and Henry's relationship grow through the letters instead of just a chapter or two about it but at the same time they had to meet face to face to have that connection.  I loved the instant attraction that they both tried so hard to deny, especially after they found out who they were in relation to the family feud.  As to the family feud, the reason behind it was a bit silly and I do wish it had been something a bit more dramatic so it added a bit more to the storyline.  Daphne and Henry make a cute, fun couple and are ones you just can't help but cheer on.  I really enjoyed the ending and how Daphne took matters into her own hands (finally) and thought it was very well done.  Overall, a fun, light hearted, witty romance that will leave a smile on your face.  3 1/2 stars

eARC provided by Avon Books via edelweiss

Rhymes with Love series
Could be read as a stand alone, but previous characters are in this one quite a bit
Along Came A Duke (Rhymes with Love, #1)
If Wishes Were Earls Nov 26th

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The Trouble with Sin by Victoria Vane

Victoria Vane is back with another fun look into her popular Devil DeVere series!  This time we get a nice glimpse of the upcoming hero for Jewel to the East, Simon 'Sin' Singleton...and how he came to earn the nickname of Sin.  His parents have had enough of Simon's carefree attitude about life and it forces Simon to earn his way if he wants to keep enjoying all the women in his life.  When an opportunity comes his way to write advertisements for women, in essence poetry about lewd women, he thinks his luck is about to change!  Ah, but then there is a lovely woman that he just has to have...and she needs a silk dress...and there goes his money in the blink of an eye.  His soft heart for women is his biggest downfall as well as his greatest joy.

Guaranteed to make you giggle and smile, this is witty installment to the wonderful, detailed Georgian world that Victoria Vane has created.  This glimpse of Simon as a younger lad and how he comes to be the man we will see later is well written and smart and will make you that more anxious for him to find his true love and settle down!  I know I can not wait to see him fall :)  If you are new to her writing, this works well as a stand alone but as this is just a prequel of what is to come, there is no romance or solid conclusion.  I enjoyed seeing a bit more of the solid friendship between Ludovic and Ned and how all their antics together change their lives forever.  Even though this is short, it is well written, well thought out and executed brilliantly.  4 stars

Review copy provided by the author, thanks so much!!

Devilish Vignettes
Devil in the Making (Devilish Vignettes #1)Ned's Folly (Devilish Vignettes #3)
                              Exp Summer 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

I have come to expect a tender, sweet, sexy, tear inducing romance when I read a highlander book from Maya Banks and she does it yet again with  Highlander Most Wanted!  Genevieve McInnes was on her way to her betrothed when she was captured and held prisoner by the vile Ian McHugh for a year.  Her family thinks she is dead and when she is finally free, she thinks it is best to let them think that rather than bring shame from her scars and the way Ian treated her.  She is broken emotionally and treated like dirt from the clan and hopes that the Montgomerys and Armstrongs will give her refuge away from the cruelty.

Bowen Montgomery seizes the clan that dare capture is sister in law and is struck by how cruel the clan is to one slip of a lass.  When Genevieve tells her whole story he is unsure what to due, especially when she divulges her part in the capture of his sister in law.  He finds himself falling hard for the spirited, brave lass and knows that he needs her in his life, even if it means falling out with his clan due to her actions.

Sigh.  Such a lovely story yet at the same time, a heart breaking one.  Genevieve's treatment is the worst sort and how she survived as long as she did took true strength.  I loved the way Bowen became her champion and showed her how she deserved to be cherished above all, that her scars are a badge of honor and not a way to repulse him.  I loved the strong family interaction and the way Bowen deals with Genevieve and her family situation brought tears to my eyes.  Yes, it was a bit easy but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  I also enjoyed how the pacing was a bit different in this one...the action on the battlefield is earlier than I expected and then it just focuses on Genevieve and Bowen which was a bit unexpected.  We get a nice glimpse of the upcoming couple for the next book and that story looks to be good!  I hope Ms Banks is writing more in this series are there are still unattached brothers and a sister that need attention :)  A strong setting, a strong attraction and a strong sense of honor with a nice dash of heat are all wrapped up wonderfully in this romance.  I can not wait for more Highlanders from Maya Banks!!  4 1/2 stars

eARC provided by Ballatine Books via netgalley

The Montgomerys and Armstrongs series
Could be read as stand alones but much better read in order
Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, #1)Highland Ever After (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs, #3)
                                    Sept 24th

Monday, March 4, 2013

If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen

Warrick Fitzhugh needs the help of the lovely Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery but since she surrounds herself with friends and lovers at all times he has a hard time finding a way to speak with her.  So he does the only thing left to him...he sneaks into her bedroom and proceeds to reveal the secrets of Fallon's past, the secrets she wants to stay hidden.  Fallon sees no other choice than to help Warrick find the information he needs and they start on an adventurous hunt for the truth of who wants Warrick dead and once part of that is revealed, it turns Fallons life a bit sideways.  Throw in a smoldering attraction between Fallon and Warrick and this couple strives to find a way to see if this attraction is real...or part of the chase.

I know I can always turn to Shana Galen for fast paced, sexy adventurous romances and this is exactly what this book delivers!  Warrick is determined, bossy and dangerous and has a strained relationship with his family following his decision to become a spy, which caused the death of his brother.  Fallon is honest, clever, kind, brave and ready to take on anyone who gets in her way of what she wants.  Together they make a good pair but I did feel like their relationship was a bit rushed.  So much happens in just a small amount of time and I would have liked to have seen a bit more development with their relationship before they acted on their desire for each other.  I'm not sure I completely believed the 'I love yous' when they came.  Beyond that though, this book was a fast, fun read and I love how secrets are revealed at a pace that you just keep reading...until midnight without even noticing as it was very easy to get swept away by the action.  We get a good look at Fallon's fellow Jewel of the Ton, Lily and I am very anxious to learn about her secrets and to have a resolution to the overall mystery arc between these three books.  While not necessary to read the previous book, When You Give a Duke a Diamond, I do think this book is stronger having read it first.  Overall, not my favorite Shana Galen book but still a well written, action packed, surprising, steamy romance that deals with the issue of the heart and of family.  4 stars

eARC provided by Sourcebooks via netgalley

Jewels of the Ton series
When You Give a Duke a Diamond (Jewels of the Ton, #1)
Sapphires Are a Girl's Best Friend