The Problem with Seduction by Emma Locke

When a beautiful courtesan approaches Lord Constantine Alexander with the offer of ten thousand pounds for his aid in getting her son back, it seems like an easy 'yes'.  After all, all he needs to do is cast doubt of the childs paternity and then be on his way... but that would be too easy.  Lady Elizabeth Spencer's former paramour, after being embarrassed into giving the child up, starts to cause a ruckus about his son being stolen away from him.  And then there is Con's family.  They want him to do right by Elizabeth, she is a lady even though she left that life behind and she has plenty of money to help this debt ridden family. Con and Elizabeth know they truth about their faux relationship but these circumstances force them to spend time together and put on a united front.  As they spend time together, a mutual attraction grows and Elizabeth decides she must keep Con around to keep her son and the way to keep him is to seduce him.  Con refuses to be bedded just for sport and he refuses her advances and we get to watch them slowly find their true way to each other.  When a drastic turn arrives in the form of Elizabeth's rotten father, it will test the boundaries of their fragile relationship, which is further stretched thin when Elizabeth keeps an important bit of information from Con.  Will Con be able to trust Elizabeth again and how can they keep her son?

What an interesting, fun, sexy, emotional romance!  I enjoyed Emma Locke's debut but I think this one is even better frankly.  It may have tugged on my heart strings a bit more since I could not imagine being separated from my son but the whole story line, from Con's delightful family and all their personal struggles to Elizabeth and her obnoxious family and her need to find her place in life was such a pleasure to read.  If you have read the previous book in this series (The Trouble With Being Wicked) Elizabeth came across a bit selfish and self centered but since the birth of her son she has had a wonderful change about her, making her take stock in her life and her choices.  She is bold, clever and sassy and I really enjoyed her.  And Con.  Sigh.  Such a gentleman!  He agrees to be a babies father and when he realizes that this means more than just five minutes, it means for life, he jumps in with both feet and never looks back!  He loves and cares for his family so much but carries so much on himself.  There are five brothers (he is the fourth) but it is his twin that is causing him the most pain, especially financially.  He strives to fix this and I liked watching how all these men bounced off each other and the addition of his mother, who has no problem accepting her son's born out of wedlock son, was a nice family relationship.  Together Elizabeth and Con are a good couple who have many flaws to overcome but together find the happiness they so deserve.  A charming, well written treat filled with ups and downs that is sure to make you tear up, cheer, smile and sigh all along the way to a happily ever after. 4 very solid stars

eARC provided by the author, thanks!

The Naughty Girl Series
Best enjoyed in order

                                     Spring 2013

The Trouble with Being Wicked by Emma Locke

Celeste Gray is ready for a fresh start after eighteen years of being a courtesan.  She is the most desired woman in London but she is ready to be done and settle down in the quiet country with her friend and find some peace.  When she meets the dashing viscount next door, she is stunned by the first true stirrings of attraction that she has felt.  But Ashlin Lancester is as proper as they come and she knows that if he were to learn the truth of her background he would never spare her another glance.  Ash has been the guardian to his two younger sisters for the past seven years, determined to shield them from the scandal that rocked his family when his determined to have pleasure, no matter the cost, father ends up dying in a most shocking way.  He wants a nice proper young lady to be his wife...certainly not the flame haired beauty that just showed up and with two younger sisters always trying to scheme, he can sense that Celeste is hiding something.  Her past is revealed and it causes Ash to rethink his plan for his life...could he actually be happy with a former courtesan?   But when Celeste hides yet another scandal from him, this time involving his sister, can he forgive her and see what is in his heart?

Emma Locke is a debut author and I was initially drawn to her lovely covers and then her blurbs intrigued me as I really enjoy a courtesan falling in love story and this one really delivered.  Celeste grew up with a mother who did not care for her, she was the result of a scheme by her mother to keep her protector, and as a result, had no love growing up...and really no place else to turn when her mother died.  When you grow up in the business, it can be your only choice of business.  Still, Celeste has achieved top status and wealth among the courtesans but at thirty three she still longs to find hope and love, things she has long sense given up the ability to feel.  So when she starts to actually feel for Ash, it leaves her devastated because she knows that their relationship can never be more.  Ash is determined to be nothing like his father, consumed by desire for a woman, and he has spent the past seven years making sure that does not happen.  He portrays himself as indifferent, critical and controlling yet underneath he is a passionate man who just wants the best for his family.  I loved the inclusion of his sisters and Celeste's friend as their stories were set up very well and I am very eager to read them!  For a debut, the writing was smooth and enjoyable but overall the story felt a little long.  I can not pin point it exactly, but it just seemed that way to me.  I really enjoyed watching this couple find the love they were both longing for together.  It is a fun, heated, romantic story about hope, family and love and is a wonderful set up to what looks to be a very promising series from an author to keep an eye one!  I know from the preview for the next book, I can't wait!  4 stars

eARC provided by author in exchange for honest review, thanks!!  Look for it Dec 18th

The Naughty Girl Series
The Courtesans
(the author says that these will be tightly woven together, so read in order)

                                                              January and February 2013

The Hoydens
The Danger in Daring a Lady Fall 2013
The Importance of Being a Scoundrel 2014
The Hazards of Loving a Rogue 2014

New Covers

Some more lovely new covers!

Emma Wildes continues her Whisper of Scandal series with the March 5th release of A Most Improper Rumor.  Such a lovely cover!  I adore the attention to the background detail!  Adding this one to my wish list :)

I really enjoyed Nina Rowan's debut so I am very anxious for A Passion for Pleasure!  Again, I adore the attention to details!  Love the purple and the piano and the fact that the back is just a pretty as the front!  Look for this one April 30th.

Fallen is a reprint from 2001 but I wanted to share it anyways since the updated cover is so pretty!  A nice pop of pink.  This will be out Nov 27th.

So pretty.  I love the play on the title for Liz Carlyle's newest book, A Bride by Moonlight.  I have yet to read anything by this author but I know this cover has caught my attention.  Look for it Feb 26th.

Sophia Nash continues her Royal Entourage series with The Duke Diaries.  Lots of bold red covers lately!  This fits in very nicely with the previous two covers and I am eagerly awaiting the February 26th release.

Teresa Medeiros is back January 29th with The Temptation of Your Touch.  She is also an author I have yet to read and I hope to remedy that this coming year!

This title popped up as a Facebook ad the other day for me and the cover definitely grabbed my interest.  The Trouble with Being Wicked is book one in The Naughty Girl Series and looks to be releasing Dec 18th from a new author (I believe) Emma Locke.  The second title, The Problem with Seduction, looks like a January 2013 release.  No preorder info yet but these are on my radar to pick up!! (Book descriptions are on her website).

Anne Gracie is yet another I need to read and she is kicking off a new series, Chance Sisters, with The Autumn Bride so I plan on picking this one up and giving her a try!  The cover seems very reflective of autumn and should be out February 5th.

Well, I always start off with just a couple covers but more always pop up!  I can't believe we are already looking at covers for February!  Less than three months until Christmas, yikes!  Any of these titles on your must read list for next year?