Most Antcipated for 2012

Ok, looking into the new year here are my 5 most anticipated traditionally published books:

Thief of Shadows (out July 1st) is finally Winter's story and as he has been so mysterious and quite for the most part until now, I can't wait to see how it plays out with the seemingly opposite Isabel. Ok, fine I can't wait for the next in the series either but since that says it has a publication of Dec 31st it will have to tag on to this one (Lord of Darkness).

I have adored all of Sarah MacLeans books so far and I am sure that A Rogue By Any Other Name will be another one added to my keeper cover (I mean, look at that cover!). This one releases on February 28th and I am beyond excited that I have it from Netgalley and get to read it a bit early. But I already have my paperback copy preordered :)

I don't read too many contemporaries lately but one author that is still on my auto-buy list is the talented Julie James and we can finally get Sawyer-look-alike Kyle's story on April 3rd in About That Night.

I know this is two books but since Mad about the Earl comes out in a few days on January 3rd, I also wanted to add A Duchess to Remember which will release on June 26th. I really enjoyed Christina Brooke's first historical and can't wait to see what happens next in the Ministry of Marriage series.

And finally I have The Rogue Pirate's Bride (out Feb 7th and I will be reading soon thanks to Netgalley and Ms Galen!).  Shana Galen instantly became an auto buy author for me with Lord and Lady Spy and I know this book has been greatly anticipated since it is the third in a trilogy so I can't wait to start it.  I believe she is working on something for later in the year as well and that will be on my anticipated list as well :)

As you may have noticed I said those were my traditionally published....that is because I have a few self-published authors that I am also eagerly awaiting and here are my top choices for them:

First up is two books from Lila Dipasqua. Undone will be out April 4th and is her first book through self publishing and I love the cover. I have loved everything I have read from her so I can't wait for this one!

But perhaps the one I am most anticipating is this one. Three Reckless Wishes (Sept 5th) follows A Midnight Dance (which I LOVED and left us with a bit of a cliffhanger) so I am just itching to read this one!!

My next author that I can't wait for their self published books is Ashley March who will be writing as Elise Rome starting in the new year.  She already has six books listed in the goodreads.com system and I think she will be doing some set in the 1920s so that should be fun!  Ashley is a great author who communicates so well with her readers and I adore her for that and I can't wait to see what the new year brings us from her! :)

The Governess Affair is the start of a new series from Courtney Milan and is a novella so I hope this means we can expect at least one full length novel as well :)  Release date to be determined.


So, these are all my choices for the new year.  What are you most looking forward too?

New Cover

Sigh, look at the upcoming cover for My Lady Rival by Ashley March and due out May 1st.  So pretty!  Can't wait for this one :)

And here are a couple stepbacks for two more titles I am eagerly awaiting. First is the stepback from Tessa Dare's A Week to Be Wicked (due out March 27th) and she revealed on the Ballroom Blog she is so exicted to have a true stepback! And I agree :)

And here is the stepback for a book I am dying to read like yesterday, Thief of Shadows which doesn't come out until July...sigh.



Well, I hope you all have a wonderful holidays! I probably won't be on too much so I am just reading a few books for me and will get back to my ARCs in about a week (since once I read a book I tend to forget parts of it lol)

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

Leah George has had a difficult few years beginning with discovering her husband, whom she thought loved her and she was in love with, sleeping with his best friends wife.  Leah is shattered and builds up quite a wall around her heart but continues on with her life as best as she can...all behind a fake front of happiness.  When tragedy strikes one night and her husband and his lover die in a carriage accident, she can't help but finally feel free.  Then comes all the requirements of widowhood where she must still continue on living her life behind a lie, pretending to be saddened by his death.  After a few months of this behavior, she realizes she can not continue on in this fashion and decides to do something a bit scandalous....she throws a house party.

Sebastian, Earl of Wriothesly, thought he had the perfect wife and is shocked by the depth of his late wifes betrayal especially as if any whiff of this scandal hits the ton, it could affect his son.  When he learns that the widowed Leah is having a house party, he is floored and knows he must attend to keep Leah in check and not allow their shared secret to become public knowledge.  Sebastian has a hard time understanding why Leah acts so casual in her supposed grief but he finds himself attracted to her and he slowly sets out to break down her walls and in turn stars to learn how much Leah has known and how deeply it has affected her.

I had a lot of high hopes for this book based on previous reviews from friends and fellow bloggers and I am really happy to say that I really enjoyed it!  It took me a bit to warm up to Leah but I think that had more to do with her late husband and his treatment of her and their relationship.  He was never physically abusive but he defiantly scarred her deep.   Sebastian came off very stiff and proper like but underneath that layer he was a caring, loving man who also was scarred but loved his son enough to want to protect him at any cost.  As Leah and Sebastians relationship grows, so does all the sexual tension!  As much as Leah wants to be with Sebastian, she has serious hesitations and it takes a bit of work on both their parts to move past that.  Naturally, she thinks Sebastian is still deeply in love with his perfect wife and her own failures as a wife also factor in.  

A few of my favorite things about this book is one, the cover is just spot on for a big turning point of the story (the dress is beyond scandalous!) and it leads to a moment that turned the story in a direction I didn't see coming and I love when that happens :)  I love when a cover matches a book perfectly.  I also liked how, even though they wanted each other quickly, there was a lot of time built up to the final ending and I admired Sebastians restraint and thoughtfulness in the matter.  Also, his son is a part of the love story and not just thrown in once in awhile and well done (probably helped by the fact Ms March has two little ones of her own so it seemed realistic).  As much as I looked forward to this book, I was also hesitant about the storyline working out well.  I mean, the spouses of two hidden lovers finding their own happiness together...could work, could not work.  In this case, it totally worked and now I am just really impatient for more, more, more from Ms March!  If you are looking for a slightly different romance with humor, sexual tension, love, and a good old happy ever after, grab the newest from Ashley March!  5 stars

I won an arc from the publisher but I have since already purchased my own copy for my keeper shelf :)

Upcoming September releases

Happy September everyone!  Hopefully it brings in some nice cool, fall weather!  Here are a few of the upcoming historical romance being released this month that I am looking forward to:



Three releasing at the beginning on the month that I plan to purchase are Lord and Lady Spy (which I read an ARC of and loved), The Wedding Affair (I enjoyed her last triple HEA so I can't wait to read another) and Romancing the Countess (Signet Eclipse) which has been getting rave reviews all over and I have been anticipating for awhile now!



There are two new HQN books releasing on Sept 20th.  The first is one that I already know is going on my keeper shelf thanks to an arc I read, Unclaimed (Hqn).  If you have not read Courtney Milan, grab this one and try her out, its fabulous!  The other is a new to me author with the book Bride for a Night (Hqn).  The premise sounds good so I hope to try out Ms Rogers with this title.  Pretty cover as well :)




Next are a couple being released at the end of the month, Sept 27th.  His Mistress by Christmas sounds like a delightful tale just in time for Christmas.  Seduction of a Highland Lass is book two of a new trilogy from Maya Banks and can I just say... smokin cover!  Always a Temptress (The Drake's Rakes series) is book three is Ms Dreyers Drakes Rakes series and while I have not read any of her books yet, I have heard many good things about them so I hope to try them soon!  Flawless has yet another awesome cover and just for that reason alone I want to read it!  But really, it is the start of a series following four siblings during Queen Victoria's reign. 



Finally we have the new historicals from Avon also releasing on Sept 27th. I am very anxious to start What a Duke Wants as I have just finished up all four of Lavinia Kents novellas and really enjoyed them and can't wait to read a full length from her!  In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster: A Cynster Novel (Cynster Bride) is book two of a new trilogy and another one I am anxious to read!  The other two new releases, In Total Surrender and Every Scandalous Secret are ones I hope to get to eventually!  My TBR pile keeps growing and growing and my time to read gets shorter and shorter~ I know I am in the minority with Anne Mallory...I have read the previous two books and they were just ok for me while numerous of my other friends love her.  The hero of this one sounds really yummy though so I will try her again!  I have not yet tried Gayle Callen and I think this is part of a series, but I'm not positive on that, and I need to read in order as much as possible so it will be added to my TBR pile!