New Covers

Some new covers this week. . .

 

Guess what?  I love this cover :)  It seems all the pretty purple covers lately have been stunning and A Breath of Scandal: The Reckless Brides is no exception.  This is book two in Elizabeth Essex's The Reckless Brides series and will be out Dec 26th and it will be on my Christmas list!

 

Next up are the two new covers for Jillian Stone's The Gentleman of Scotland Yard series.  I really enjoyed her debut so I am looking forward to more of this men!  I really enjoy these covers too, they seem very fitting with the books.  Look for A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis Aug 28th and A Private Duel with Agent Gunn (with, if I'm not mistaken, Paul Marron on the cover!) November 27th.

Well, I have yet to read anything by Karen Hawkins (though I have picked up quite a few of her books!) but I am liking the Cinderella-esque theme of this cover.  It looks to be the start of a new series, The Duchess Diaries, so I may have to finally read Ms Hawkins with this one.  Look for How to Capture a Countess in September.

Grace Burrowes shared this lovely cover in her newsletter last month but I see it online as well now so it must be ok to share :)  I love the whole series of covers she has had!  They are elegant and pretty and sexy at the same time.  The pop of read is perfect for the holidays!  Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight (The Duke's Daughters, #3) will be out October 1st.

And finally here is the awesome cover for the next book by Tracey Devlyn.  I love the purple (of course) and you can tell she has no problem being in charge with that pistol in her grip. Checkmate, My Lord looks to be full of adventure and I look forward to its release in February 2013.

So, which covers caught your attention?  Any you added to your wish list?

The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine by Jayne Fresina

Miss Sophie Valentine is a bit stunned that the dashing James Hartley has just proposed to her--after all they were just compromised together--but when she sees an interaction between him and another woman, it leaves some doubts in her mind as to his love for her.  It also makes Sophie fall off a balcony that ends up leaving her with a scar and she ends the one hour engagement and is forced to live with her uptight brother and his too-good-for-you wife.  Years have passed and in another burst of anger with her brother and sister-in-law, Sophie writes off  to a local paper for a husband, never really expecting anyone to show up.  So when the mysterious Lazarus Kane shows up for her hand, she is intrigued but can not accept due to reasons beyond her control.  But as Kane has been looking for her this entire time, he will not take no for an answer and soon the two become all the other can think about and just when it seems they can make it work, Sophie's past comes back to cause trouble and the truth of Kane is revealed.

Hmm...I'm a bit torn about this one.  I really struggled with the first half of the book.  Not much happens beyond them lusting after each other and we get just tiny, tiny pieces that allude to what happened in the past.  Like we don't hear the truth about Sophie's scar until three quarters on the way in but there are just little snippets to keep you going but they just made me frustrated, not intrigued.  The same frustration was felt for me with the truth about Kane's past and how he came to know Sophie.  I was pretty certain I knew but it would have been nice to have it confirmed a bit sooner.  I did like that Sophie is a bit older than Kane, it was a refreshing twist of events.  I thought this book was going to be a bit humorous but beyond a few smiles, it was a little flat for me.  Overall, the second half of the book picked up the pace and was much more enjoyable but it just didn't have that extra something for me.  Sophie is bold, impulsive, stubborn and doesn't always think her actions through and it causes a few problems.  Kane is sexy, mysterious, likable and also stubborn and I admired his dedication to finding his angel.  The writing was good and I believe I know who the couple is going to be for the next book and that one looks to be fun so I am going to definitely be reading The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne. So while not a huge winner for me, it was good but it just needed a little more to make it shine.  3 stars

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks via netgalley.com

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 January 1st 2013

Lady Alexandra's Excellent Adventure by Sophie Barnes

Michael Ashford, Earl of Trenton, has no clue how fast his life is going to be turned upside down when he has to go retrieve a possible traitor, William.  As Michael has never met William before in his duties with the Foreign Office, he agrees that William's 'brothers' should accompany him to correctly identify William.  Michael believes these two brothers will just be in his way and really pays them little mind.  He does find it odd that Alex needs to constantly wear a scarf to cover a disfigurement but again, pays it little mind.  The shock of finding out that Alex is truly Lady Alexandra, renowned swordswoman, angers Michael.  But after the anger of being betrayed recedes, a deep admiration for this spirited hoyden grows until he knows that Alex is the only woman for him.  Convincing a marriage scared Alex is a whole other matter though...

After her mothers death when she was a young girl and watching her father fall to pieces without his partner anymore has turned Alexandra into the daring woman she is today, but not without cost.  She can best her brothers at swords easily and would rather wear breeches than a ball gown and once her father came out of his deep grief, he thankfully encouraged her and had her train with the best.  She is determined to prove her brother Williams innocence and will not get hanged up on the man set out to see him accused.  Besides, she has no intention of ever marrying and having her love die and leave her alone and saddened by grief.  But as life throws Michael and Alexandra together through some delightful occurrences (the duel, yes a real duel, between them is quite fun!), Alex keeps Michael at arms length until it is too late.  Alexandra must decide if true love is worth the risk after all.

This was another delightful novel from Sophie Barnes!  I really enjoyed how Alexandra was encouraged to follow her desires to wield a sword and fight by her father and her brothers.  She was not forced to be a 'proper' lady but underneath all her hoyden ways, she is still a woman longing for love and scared to accept it when she finds it.  I also enjoyed her reasons for not wanting to marry--she had a wonderful example from her parents but the thought of enduring the sadness that her father suffered when her mother passed too soon, really shaped her views on love and marriage.  Her relationship with her two brothers, William and Ryan, was great and leads to some fun interactions!  Michael is a perfect balance to her and adds a sense of calm and is one of the only people that can actually best Alex at a few things!  He knows fairly quickly that Alex is the only woman for him but convincing Alex of that proves to be more of a challenge than he thought.  I did feel that our couple fell for each other fairly quickly but it then took awhile for them to finally say their true feelings for each.  And when they finally do, Alexandra's temper almost gets the best of her :)  Overall, this is a fun, light, sexy read that has just enough intrigue to add some weight to the story.  I started laughing fairly early on and I kept smiling throughout the whole book.  I am really looking forward to William and Ryan's stories!  4 stars

I received this eARC from Avon Impulse via edelweiss.com

Summersby Tale series
Two more books to come in November, yay!

A Night Like This by Julia Quinn

Daniel Smythe-Smith, Earl of Winstead, has been in a self imposed exile for three years after a drunken card game got out of control and he ends up shooting his good friend, Hugh.  He has been constantly looking over his shoulder, guarding his life against Hugh's father who vowed to kill him for damaging his son.  When Hugh tracks him down one day to say it is safe to return home finally, Daniel does and arrives just in time for the annual Smythe-Smith quartet musicale.  He is intrigued by the lovely woman playing the piano who is surely no relation of his so how is she playing in his family's musicale?

Anne Wynter can not believe how she got roped into playing the piano when it is her charges eldest sisters job.  But as she wants to keep a low profile and she needs to keep her job, she sees no other option.  Looking up during a break, she spots Daniel and is immediately drawn to him.  As their flirtation grows, so does their attraction and respect but Anne knows her place in life and she is hiding a secret that will surely shame Daniel.   However, when her past catches up to her, Anne will do what she must to protect Daniel and her charges--even if it means leaving Daniel forever.

Ah, Julia Quinn.  She can take a common storyline--a woman scored by her family for one reckless mistake and forced to be a governess or companion and then falls for an earl--and weave it in such a delightful manner!  The sparring between Daniel and Anne is such fun to read and the addition of Daniel's younger cousins, to whom Anne is governess too, add another layer of fun that makes me wish for my own passel of sisters and thankful that I don't have three sisters at the same time.  Watching the love grow between our couple was sweet, tender and sexy at the same time.  If you are looking for a deep, serious book...this is not that book.  If you are looking for something light-hearted, fun, delightful and guaranteed to make you smile and laugh but with just enough suspense to keep it from being too light, A Night Like This is for you!  I believe old fans of Julia Quinn will be delighted with this book as will newcomers.  Julia Quinn just seems to have some extra magic in her writing to make you smile the whole book and leave you sighing at the end.  4 stars

Here is a fun quote to tide you over until release day ;)

"Oh, my God," she whispered.  She did not think she'd ever said those words so many times as she had in the last few minutes, but if there had ever been a time to praise the Lord's creation, this had to be it.

Side note:  I was hoping the pink shoe on the cover would play some sort of role in the storyline but I didn't notice it.  Sigh, oh well :)

I received this eARC from Avon via edelweiss.com

Smythe-Smith Quartet
Can be read as a standalone as this one sort of runs the same time as Just Like Heaven

Two more books to come!!  (I hope Hugh is one of the heroes!)

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!!

Here are a few historical romances that are being released today that I am looking forward to---

          

 Not a bad bunch of books :)  And at the end of May, look for new releases from Elizabeth Boyle, Julia Quinn, Sophia Barnes and Cecilia Grant!  Any of these ones caught your eye?  I have not read anything by Mary Balogh but I'm hoping my library will get this one on audio so I can listen to it and give her a try.  Always enjoy stories from Grace Burrowes and I love how all of her covers are so lovely.  Amelia Grey is a new to me author so I might try her with her newest title and I know many people are looking forward to this new series from Sherry Thomas.  I have not fallen in love with her writing yet but I am up for trying again :)