Too Dangerous to Desire by Cara Elliott

Sophie Lawrance is the oldest of the three daughters of a widowed clergyman who is slowly sinking into dementia.  Sophie has resigned herself to be a spinster and hopes to see her younger sisters marry well.  She is being blackmailed to prove that her father was not stealing from the church before he retired.  Sophie knows this cannot be true but is at a loss to find any proof to the contrary.  Cameron Daggett is a former childhood friend of Sophie's.  Along with two of his friends, he is part of the Hellhounds which is a group of men who work underground supposedly for the good of others.  Cameron encounters Sophie leaving a seedy gaming hell where she had gone to meet her blackmailer to give him yet another small payment.  Cameron agrees to teach her some of his lock picking and thieving skills to try and find the proof that her father is innocent.  In their meetings, their attraction begins to grow stronger and both become very involved in solving this mystery.  In searching for this proof, she is also searching for the proof that Cameron parents were married thus making him the true Lord Wolcott and not the bastard son of his father. 

I can honestly say that I found this novel a bit silly and unclear at times.  Perhaps it's because I have not read the first two novels.  While I liked that character of Sophie, I felt that Cameron appeared to have a devil-may-care attitude throughout the story.  I have read other Cara Elliott's novels but, unfortunately, this one is not a favorite.  3 stars

**Reviewed by Connie**

Review copy provided by publisher, thanks!

Lords of Midnight series
Best enjoyed in order
 

The Short and Fascinating Tale of Angelina Whitcombe

Hmm, I read this short tale about a week ago and it just has not stuck with me.  I liked it but it just didn't have that bit of extra shine I needed.  In a bit of a reading funk as well, so that may explain it too.  The writing was good, the romance enjoyable and we get a complete story even though it is short.  It, naturally, has excerpts at the end and I got sucked into Sabrina Darby's excerpt for her previous book (On These Silken Sheets) that I bought it--so mission accomplished, even though I didn't love this particular story.  But for 99 cents I have to say this is a great bargain and a tale, with a slight Beauty and the Beast feel and with just 'normal' (non-titled) people, that I feel many historical romance fans will enjoy. Angelina is a former mistress in need of some money but truly wanting love and this makes her very easy to connect with and John is a war hero dealing with the aftermath in an aloof manor that is enduring to read.  Overall, 3 stars for a quick read that will leave many readers satisfied and looking for more work from this author.

Review copy provided by Avon Impulse via edelweiss.com

Back cover blurb:

Wanted:

A beautiful young woman—preferably one with no connections, who won't ask too many questions—to spend two weeks in the North of England with an obstinate, aloof, and utterly handsome man.

Must love dogs, fixing up crumbling castles, and gorgeous and complicated war heroes who may or may not be hiding hearts of gold under their gruff exteriors.

Must not, under any circumstances, fall in love . . .

Simpering misses need not apply.

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

 Related books
 
 January 1st 2013