Lady Vivian Defies a Duke by Samantha Grace

Lady Vivian Worth knows perfectly well how to behave like a lady. But observing proper manners when no one is around to impress is just plain silly. When Luke Forest, the newly named Duke of Foxhaven, arrives early to visit his bride-to-be, he catches Vivian acting most unladylike—in her chemise. Though amused by her unconventional ways, Luke hadn't planned on marrying such a sprightly and opinionated lady. He'll just have to find her another husband. But can he stand to see the vivacious woman in the arms of someone else?

This was such a fun, charming, easy read! Vivian and Luke were just so perfectly suited for each other and I loved seeing them fall for each other.  Luke had initially decided to help Vivian find another husband but he quickly realizes how perfect she is for him and finds it hard to believe his father, whom he had a strained relationship, could have known him so well to pick Vivian for him.  He has left his Duke duties for his brother and has been determined to go off on an adventure but Vivian makes him rethink his true purpose,  She is lovely, intelligent, full of high spirits and boldness and he can not help but be drawn to her.  Vivian, for her part, falls for Luke quickly as he does not berate her (much) for her behavior and knows she needs to convince Luke she wants no one else except him.  Throw in a love struck cousin and a revenge minded class mate and you get a bit of drama and action.  The addition of Luke's family adds a wonderful sense of warmth and humor, they are just the type of family you wish you were a part of!  Every Samantha Grace book I read has me laughing, smiling, and sighing with happiness and this one is no exception!  Pure enjoyment!

eARC provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via netgalley.com

The Beau Monde series
Could be read as standalones but previous characters are featured

Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie by Samantha Grace

Lisette Lavigne is desperate to save her younger brother from being sent to an asylum for being a bit different once she marries her fiance...a man who has two sides apparently. The one that swept her off her feet while in mourning for her father and the real one, the one that is cruel and unfeeling.  With the aid of her late fathers dearest friend, she is able to find a captain bound for England, where she hopes to find Rafe's, her brother, guardian- who seems to be missing.  However, once Lisette talks to Captain Daniel Hillary, she finds herself denied passage on his ship.  Daniel refuses to travel with women aboard his ship following an ill fated trip with another woman close to him.  Lisette pleads her case and it touches a spot within Daniel for he allows Lisette, Rafe and her cousin, Serafina, passage.  It may have been Lisette's plead or it may have been her unique beauty that struck a cord with him and he intends to follow through with his desires at the first chance he can.  After all, he believes Lisette is a widow since she was wearing widow weeds. . .  Slowly bits and pieces of the truth reveal themselves and before long Lisette and Daniel find themselves deeply attracted to each other, physically and mentally.  When Lisette's past finally catches up with her, Daniel makes a drastic offer to spare her life and Rafe's.  But at what price does it come to himself and Lisette's heart?

This was a fun romantic tale that starts with a shipboard attraction that grows to so much more.  Daniel is a determined, sometimes cold captain who can be overbearing and arrogant yet he quickly sees that Rafe is an intelligent lad and shows him yards of kindness.  When Lisette bustles in with her courageous, stubborn nature bound and determined to save her family, he can not help but find that attractive and she finds his caring for Rafe very attractive. Seeing her a bit skittish around his romance interlude attempts, he sets about a slow seduction and takes his time to win her over never expecting to be the one won over by her.  I was a bit surprised that Daniel didn't get more upset as the truth about Lisette's situation was unraveled but I guess that was because he was already developing strong feelings for Lisette.  I enjoyed that we enjoy life on the sea for a bit but we also get life back on dry land.  I liked watching Lisette discover that underneath Daniels hard exterior he has a kind heart and generous nature for those he loves.  As a good portion of this story does take place on his ship, we do not see as much of his family as I would have liked.  Even though his brother is on board I missed some of that fun family interactions of the previous novels.  The secondary characters added a warm blend and there is also a side story for Serafina that adds a bit of drama near the end.  Also, I was a bit surprised with the villain reveal near the end and I always appreciate not being able to figure out the mystery beforehand! Overall, a delightful, witty romance with a dashing sea captain and a stubborn woman bent on protecting her family against all odds that will leave you cheering and sighing with delight.  4 stars

eARC provided by Sourcebooks via netgalley

Beau Monde series
Can be read as stand alones but family members are recurring

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke May 1st 2013

New Covers

New covers this week!

First up is a reissue by Sabrina Jeffries but the cover was so lovely I wanted to share it!  By Love Unveiled, written as Deborah Martin, will be out February 26th.  

Victoria Alexander returns with The Importance of Being Wicked and it also has a very lovely, bold blue cover.  I think this will be part of her latest series, Sinful Family Secrets, but I see nothing online yet to confirm that.  Look for this February 5th.

Samantha Grace is quickly turning into one of my favorite authors and she shared her newest cover for Lady Vivian Defies a Duke.  It features a hot guy, purple and a lovely backdrop--whats not to like?  This will be out in May.

I have not yet read anything by Renee Bernard but she certainly has catchy titles and beautiful covers for her Jaded Gentleman series.  Obsession Wears Opals is book five and should be out Dec 4th.

Meredith Duran is an author I also have yet to read and know I must soon!  That Scandalous Summer looks to be the start of a new series, Rules of the Reckless, so I plan to remedy that when this is released January 29th.  I like the simplicity of this cover and it will be a pop of color in the cold of winter!

I love stepbacks so I am always happy to seem them!  The Handbook to Handling His Lordship is book will be book four in Suzanne Enoch's Scandalous Brides series, one that I am enjoying.  Look for this book with its soft, pretty purple cover March 26th.

Well, another week and another batch of great covers!  Don't you think it would be a blast to help create them?  Too bad I am not creative in the least :)

Happy Release Day!!

Here are some of the historical romances releasing today. . .

First up is a debut that I have been waiting for from Erin Knightley, More Than a Stranger.  I love that they are pen pals :)  The Scarlet Bride is book three in Cheryl Ann Smith's School of Bride series and one I plan to pick up as well as The Casanova Code by Donna MacMeans, who is a new to me author and start of a new series.  It's my birthday tomorrow so I put these three on my list for my hubby to get so we will see. . . :)  The next three are all ones I had the pleasure of reading early.  I highly recommend Samantha Grace's Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half, it hit all the right notes with me and I will be picking up my own keeper copy.  And while I did not love the last two, they were both light hearted and fun and have me anxious for the next books!

So any titles on your must read now list?  At the end of the month we see new releases from Elizabeth Hoyt, Loretta Chase, Katharine Ashe, Christina Brooke and Carrie Lofty!

Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half by Samantha Grace

Lady Amelia Audley is back in town after the shocking death of her husband.  She has dedicated herself to raising funds for an orphanage to improve their living conditions and she must secure some more funding so it forces her to attend a ball held by the mother of the only man she has loved, Jake Hillary.  Amelia draws comfort and support from her best friend Bibi but that causes a whole other set of problems as Bibi is a bit of a flirt and her actions have caused her to be shunned by most of the matrons of society.   Still, they arrive at the ball determined to gather the funds needed all without encountering the man who broke her heart.

Jake Hillary has been in love with Amelia for years and was stunned when she married his best friend.  It left him devastated and he moved on with his life but one glance at Mia and all the old feelings return in force.  When his charming older brother attempts to make a play for Mia, he is forced to Daniel the truth and Mia and Jake slowly find themselves enjoying each others company once again.  But with so much hurt and confusion in the past, will they be able to bury the past and find the future they long for together?

Sigh, what a wonderful romance book this was!  I was worried that the entire book was going to be about miscommunications, that Jake and Amelia were not going to be together until the end of the book but I was so wrong and that made this book so much more delightful!  Just when I wanted to say 'just talk to each other'--they did!  That was very refreshing.  There is no big misunderstanding--a few minor ones that are resolved quickly--but there is a bit of a twist near the end that will leave you flipping the pages and just when you think you have it all figured out...you just might not...and I loved that.  There is a wonderful side romance between Bibi and an unlikely suitor that added another lovely layer of romance without subtracting from the main couple.  And when the truth of Bibi's past is revealed, sigh.  I also loved the inclusion of Jake's brother, Daniel, as he adds a bit of tension and also a nice dose of humor.  I am very eager for his book!  I really enjoyed seeing more of the big, lovable and meddlesome Hillary family.  They all love each other and tease and 'help' each other as they see fit.  I loved watching Jake and Mia refind their love and make it work, even with a few obstacles in the way (Jake and Bibi have a hard time sharing Mia) they stayed true to each other.  If you are looking for a romance book that will make you laugh, smile, sigh and fan yourself, Samantha Grace has delivered a winner with Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half and she seems to be making a name for herself for her witty and sexy stories!  4 1/2 stars

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks via netgalley.com 

Beau Monde series
Can be read as a standalone but best enjoyed in order

 Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie  Daniel's story  Oct 2012
The Damnation of a Duke (working title) Spring 2013

New Covers

Hello~I've been a bit busy to post this weeks new covers so it has gotten a bit long :)  Lots of lovely covers to admire!!

Covet My Heart is the first book in Elise Rome's new series, Unmasked, follow the prequel novella, The Sinning Hour.  Sigh, so pretty.  This is one of my eagerly awaiting releases and hopefully we will have it soon :)  I'm not sure how Elise finds time to write as she seems to always be crazy busy but she seems too!

Sigh..I love this cover and yes that is mainly because it is purple and I love most things purple.  I like the expression on the women's face.  I enjoyed Manda Collins debut in her Ugly Ducklings series and How to Entice an Earl (which is book three) won't be out until February 2013.  Boo. 

Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie is book thee in Samantha Grace's Beau Monde series and another one I am looking forward too.  Does his shirt have a bit of a purple tinge to it to you?  Look for this one in October.

Mary Blayney looks to be a new to me author and I am drawn to this cover and hope to read it.  I'm not sure if this is officially part of a series but in the goodreads.com summary it says readers will return to the Penniston family.  Her website seems to be a bit out of date at the moment so I will have to do a bit more digging.  It looks like she has written four previous books with the same family.  Look for One More Kiss October 30th.

Yay!  A new book from Shana Galen!  A new book from Shana Galen!  Yes, I'm excited about this one :)  Shana said on Facebook that the cover needs to be tweaked a bit but I love it.  She looks like she is up to no good :)  When You Give a Duke a Diamond is the start of a new series called Jewels on the Ton which will be about three glamorous courtesans in Regency London, and what happens when they come across some dangerous diamonds and equally dangerous men and will be out September 1st (yay!).

How to Tame a Willful Wife is going to be a Regency re-telling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and will be from another new to me author.   I am intrigued by this one and really like the cover!  Look for it November 1st.

Oh, this one is so pretty and from another new to me author!  It also looks to be a debut but I have not found an author site yet to confirm. Waltz With a Stranger will be out December 1st.

And finally here is the cover for To Tempt an Irish Rogue. This looks to be book four in Kaitlin O'Riley's Hamilton Sisters series.  I like the cover so I may try to get caught up before its release in November.

Well, I think thats it!  Not a bad one in the bunch!  Quite a few new authors...just what I need, lol!!  Any in particular that you are looking forward to?

Happy Release Day!!

Lots of wonderful books coming out today!!

First up is the conclusion to Shana Galens Sons of the Revolution series and I loved this swash-buckling romance!  Carolyn Jewel is off to a wonderful start in her new Reforming the Scoundrels series with the charming Not Wicked Enough and I just looove the cover!  The Duchess Diaries has another gorgeous cover and is book three in Jillian Hunter's The Bridal Pleasures series and I really hope to get my first taste of her work with this one.  And finally Jo Beverly delivers book number twelve in her Malloren series and I have yet to read anything by Ms Beverly either but I really like the slightly sassy cover.

And there are also two wonderful debuts today as well!!  Samantha Grace makes her bow with the lovely Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel, which is the start of her Beau Monde series and I really enjoyed it! The other debut is from Heather Snow and she is also starting a new series, Veiled Seduction, with Sweet Enemy. This features a female chemist so that has certainly piqued my interest.

Hope you all get a chance to enjoy a few new books this week from these talented ladies!  Let me know what you get and what you think of them :)

Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel by Samantha Grace

Miss Lana Hillary has gotten herself into a bit of a situation.  She has found herself attracted to the type of man she has sworn off after a broken engagement, a scoundrel.  And unfortunately her first meeting with this scoundrel is quite indecent to say the least.  As Lana is trying to escape the lecherous advances of a man she disgusts, she climbs out of a window and hangs there until the rakish Lord Andrew Forest happens by and is able to help.  But as Andrew is a rake of the highest order, he thinks a kiss is a proper thank you.  Hee hee.  You can see the mutual attraction right off the bat with this couple but as Lana only will marry for love, there is no room for scoundrels but that doesn't stop Andrew from pursing her.  And when Lana's brother, Jake, throws down the ultimate challenge--stay away from my sister--the pursing begins in earnest.  After all, Andrew doesn't need to bed her completely, just some more steamy kisses will do.  However, the attraction is too strong and passionate for that to stay true and Lana ends up being the one that throws up the walls afterwards and leads Andrew on a bit of a chase.

This is Samantha Grace's debut novel and she does an excellent job of taking many common Regency themes--dashing scoundrels who will never marry but fall hard, heroines that refuse to marry for anything less than love, meddling mamas that must see their almost-on-the-shelf-daughter married now, protective older brothers--and mixing it all together in a way that was still fresh and fun to read.  I love stories that have large extended families that are close and get along well and this one delivers on that front as well through Andrews family.  Andrew has a wonderful relationship with his parents and siblings as does Lana.  Lana has a close bond with her brother Jake but there is tension between their parents and their mama can be a bit tiring at times.    

As for Lana herself, she was very delightful.  I thought she was going to be shy and proper but that turned out not to be the case.  Lana is witty, clever and a bit carefree but has a wall around her heart that Andrew tries so hard to break down with his love and affection but with his past rakish ways, it is a bit hard to Lana to truly trust him completely.  It was great to watch Andrew slowly transform from scoundrel to gentleman, while still maintaining his warm sense of humor and charm.  I also appreciated there was no back and forth on telling each other they loved one another.  When they realized it, it was said shortly after that.  Really one of the only negatives for this book was Andrew's pet name for Lana.  It is just a pet peeve of mine as I do not personally like nicknames being used all the time in place of the persons real name but the nickname 'peach' did suit Lana and when she confronts him about it (as she thinks it is a negative to do with her despised hair color)...sigh, so sweet.

Overall, a very solid debut for me.  This book had be laughing quite a bit at the sharp wit and also had quite a few surprised laughter at the end.  There is a dash of intrigue thrown in for the last part of the book that had me flipping the pages to see how it would end and I was definitely surprised.  Quite a bit of surprised laughter for me there!  There is also a small introduction into the next book in this series featuring Jake and the mysterious widow, Lady Amelia and I am quite anxious for that book!  If you are looking for a warm Regency filled with wit and laughter and a bit of mystery and some wonderful, hot loving, this is a great debut to try!  4 stars

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks via netgalley.com

A couple of LOL quotes for me

Frustrated with her inability to cease thinking on Lord Andrew, she huffed and shifted her position on the carriage seat again.

Jake crossed his arms and scowled, "For goodness' sake, Lana.  What's with all the huffing?  Are you laying an egg over there?"

Drew's mother patted her hand.  "I believe they miscalculated.  Phoebe appears to have swallowed a small pig, not that my grandchild will be anything less than perfect."

*Quotes subject to change in final book*

Books in series (I'm not sure if it has a name but it looks like they will feature the same characters)

        June 1st

 Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie -- Coming Fall 2012

 The Damnation of a Duke (working title) -- Coming Spring 2013

New covers!

Here are some newish covers I noticed this week while out and about cyberworld.

Seduction of Lady X is book three in the series The Secrets of Hadley Green and I'm loving the blue against the purple.  It releases March 27th.

I'm not sure if this is book two following Samantha Grace's debut novel but I believe it is. Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half releases on June 1st and I'm really looking forward to it!

How to Romance a Rake is book two in Manda Collins Ugly Ducklings series (love the series name!) and this cover goes together very nicely with her debut book. Look for it on July 31st.

Well, this cover has grabbed my attention! You don't see much orange and after seeing the summary of the storyline, I am quite anxious to read this debut. I see it is up on Netgalley so if my time allows, I may grab it. This one releases April 1st.

The Princess and the Peer is the start of a Princess Brides trilogy and I have yet to read anything my Tracy Anne Warren and since I love anything with royalty in it, I hope to read this one :) I love the cover as well and we should see it on April 3rd.

A Gentleman Says "I Do" is book five in The Rogues' Dynasty series and I'm loving the red and the book summary. This one releases May 1st.

The Duchess of Love looks to be getting started with Bedding Lord Ned on June 5th. It also appears there will be a enovella called The Duchess of Love on April 24th to give us a little taste.

So what, if any, covers grabbed your attention?  Any new books added to your wishlist?

New Covers!

I found a few new covers that have posted to various sites! 

First up, Miranda Neville released her new cover for her upcoming March 2012 release, Confessions From an Arranged Marriage on the fun site The Ballroom Blog . It fits in beautifully with the other covers in this series!


















I also came across two new covers for Sophia Nash upcoming new series set to release back to back in February and March.  Both are very eye catching with their bold, single color scheme.
















Also noticed was for Cecilia Grants second book, A Gentleman Undone set for May 29th.  Ms Grant is an author that I am so excited to read!  She has been getting great buzz for her debut book, A Lady Awakened which is out Dec 27th and this new cover fits in perfectly with that one. 








If the Slipper Fits has caught my attention as it is the start of Olivia Drakes Cinderella Sisterhood series and I love a Cinderella story!  The cover seems to reflect the Cinderella story or theme as well.  Look for it May 2012.










Wedded in Scandal looks to be the start of a new series from Jade Lee coming in March.  I don't see much info on this yet :)
















The second novel in Tessa Dares Spinsters Cove series is releasing the end of March and this looks to be the cover but I am sure the official unveiling will be on The Ballroom Blog soon :)  (Sort of reminds me of Anne Mallorys In Total Surrender)

And finally, this isn't really a new cover as an updated cover with an updated title. Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel is the debut novel from a fellow Wisconsinite Samantha Grace and I am really excited to read this one and so happy to have received it from Netgalley.  Look for the book out in February!  I should read it in January and have a review as well then :)  




Well, hopefully a few of these caught your eye and attention!  I have to say, all the art departments at the publishing houses seem to go above and beyond for great covers lately!  But since these are all books out next year, these covers can change at any time :)