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?

End of January releases!

Wow, I can't believe it is almost the end of January already!!  Here are some of the upcoming releases I am most looking forward too.

This one just came out on the 24th and it is the highly anticipated conclusion to Sabrina Jeffries Hellions of Halstead Hall series and it is already downloaded on my Kindle and I hope to read it soon.

Also releasing on Jan 24th, but just for you lucky Nook owners (the rest of us have to wait until Feb 21st, I think) is a debut from Sara Ramsey that sounds good!


Here is a look at all the great titles releasing on the 31st!  Four great debuts from Jillian Stone, Anna Randol, Manda Collins and Sophie Barnes.  Plus a the start of a wonderful new series from Lorraine Heath and a new series from Nicole Jordan, a continuation from Jennifer Haymore (a novella and a full length out on the same day) and from Victoria Alexander and a conclusion from Stephanie Laurens.

 

And if nothing catches your eye here (but I'm sure a couple have!) don't worry as there are some great releases in just a week on February 7th from Shana Galen, Samantha Grace, Heather Snow, Victoria Alexander and Carolyn Jewel!

An Affair with Mr. Kennedy by Jillian Stone

Wow, this book is so unique and fascinating!  First, our hero is not a duke, earl, etc...he is the son of one but he is not going to inherit and it is always nice to read a change of pace from that scenario.  Same for our heroine, Cassie St. Cloud.  She gained the Lady title by marriage but her husband is deceased and she prefers to be called Cassie.  She is the daughter of two prominent doctors in society and her mother is a strong advocate for women's suffrage which brings up another key factor in this story to set it apart--it is set in 1887 which allows for such things as the London Underground (laying electric work), women riding bicycles and bloomers.  Jillian Stone brings all this to life with a fresh breath of air that I enjoyed.

Cassie was such a bold female--she smokes cigars, rides bikes, and rents a flat next to a handsome man...that just happens to have a connecting door between the premisses.  Locked of course...but for how long?  She is a painter and she is accepted for all her uniqueness by not just her parents and friends, but also by Zak.  Zeno Augustus Kennedy, nickname Zak, works for Scotland Yard (does anyone else love saying that in their faux British accent?  I do, lol) and helped defuse a large bomb plot that has arisen again and Cassies former brother-in-law seems to be a part of the murderous group so Zak is determined to find out what Cassie knows.  However, the pair find themselves in a hot flirtation that soon leads to a hot affair and matters of the heart become involved all while trying to uncover the dangerous group know as the Bloody Four.

Overall, this is a fascinating piece of work!  I really hope we see more and more books set during this time period as it adds so much richness to the story.  I adored Cassie and Zak together and I appreciated that even though Cassie is strong and independent, she is also a female who wants the love of a good man to be known to her and will not accept anything else.  Nothing to major to complain about with the book other than it is long.  It is almost 400 pages so you will need to carve out some time to sink into this one and enjoy it.  The mystery aspect will keep you flipping the pages and I know my heart was racing in the final chapters!  Jillian Stone has delivered a strong story set within a unique setting with characters that are smart, sexy and perfect for each other mixed together with an intriguing mystery and wonderful supporting characters that will leave you anxiously awaiting the next story!  4 stars

Thanks to Pocket and Jillian Stone for providing me with this ARC!

The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard
An Intrigue with Detective Lewis August 28th
A Private Duel with Agent Gunn Early 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a a weekly blog hop hosted by Breaking the Spine where we all mention one upcoming book release we are waiting for.

This week my pick is a book I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of and I am just itching to read it now.  An Affair with Mr. Kennedy is Jillian Stones debut release and it will be available January 31st.  And hello gorgeous cover! I looove that he is looking right at you and it is just saying 'danger and passion' to me.  Here is the blurb from the authors site (which is also gorgeous and you should check out!)

London, 1887. Part stoic gentleman, part fearless Yard man, Zeno “Zak” Kennedy is an enigma of the first order. For years, the memory of a deadly bombing at King’s Cross has haunted the brilliant Scotland Yard detective. His investigation has zeroed in on a ring of aristocratic rebels whose bloody campaign for Irish revolution is terrorizing the city. When he discovers one of the treacherous lords is acquainted with his free-spirited new tenant, Cassandra St. Cloud, his inquiry pulls him unexpectedly close to the heart of the conspiracy and into the arms of a most intriguing lady.

     And Cassie is no Victorian prude. An Impressionist painter with very modern ideas about life and love, she is eager for a romantic escapade that is daring and discreet. She sets her sights on her dour but handsome landlord, but after she learns their meeting was not purely accidental, she hardly has a chance to forgive her lover before their passionate affair catapults them both into a perilous adventure.

Sounds pretty good right?? :)