New Covers

Here is the latest (long) batch of lovely new covers. . .

This is the cover that was voted on for Kieran Kramers upcoming Say Yes to the Duke!!  Love it!  (Though it doesn't really 'fit' with the previous covers...) Very excited for this one!  Look for it Aug 27th.

Oh, look at this lovely red cover!  And a heroine with red hair.  Love the snow in the background :)  I really enjoyed Valerie Bowman's debut so I can't wait for Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage to come out Oct 1st!

Squee!!!  How eye catching is this green?!?  And a mask?  Ooh.  Beyond excited for this one and so happy the cover is just stunning.  Look for No Good Duke Goes Unpunished Aug 27th!

The Perks of Being a Beauty is a novella by the lovely Manda Collins set for release June 18th.  I believe this features a secondary character from her debut series.  I am so happy publishers are taking the time to make nice covers for novellas!

Miranda Neville is back with The Ruin of a Rogue.  Love that title and the cover is very sexy!  Look for it Aug 27th as well.

Grace Burrowes always has such lovely covers and Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait is no exception.  (Christmas already?!? lol)  The green is perfect for the holidays and I adore the attention to the background detail.  Look for this one Oct 1st.

Wicked Little Secrets looks to be a new to me author.  The cover and premise have caught my attention so I hope to give this one a go on its release, Aug 6th.

Purple, my favorite :)  I like all the pretty scrollwork as well as the detail in the background.  Look for Love on a Midsummer Night Aug 6th.

Love!  The sky blue is just stunning!  Very impatient for the release of this one!  A Rake's Midnight Kiss will be out Aug 27th (boo).

And finally is the start of a new series from Sophie Barnes, The Trouble with Being a Duke.  I love that her dress has a pattern on it and masks are always intriguing :)  Look for this one Aug 27th.

Well, there you go.  Lovely, lovely covers from Avon, St Martins, Sourcebooks and Grand Central.  Now to wait. . . Which covers are your favorites??

The Importance of Being Wicked by Miranda Neville

Caroline Townsend is dealing with the death of her husband and trying to find a way to pay all the debts left behind and with her generous nature, she finds it hard to turn away her late husbands artistic, struggling friends.  A bright spot is the arrival of her dear cousin, Anne who is coming to meet her potential fiance, Thomas, Duke of Castleton.  It quickly becomes clear that this proper man, or Lord Stuffy as Caro comes to call him, will not suit for Anne and does not fit in with Caro's more carefree lifestyle...but the attraction between Thomas and Caro is there and hard to ignore.  When Caro attempts to settle on of her larger debts, Thomas is there to sweep her away and this forces a change in their relationship.  However, Thomas needs to marry for money so how can he throw away the chance to marry for money (Anne) for the chance to marry for love and passion (Caro)?  Will he choose duty or love?  Will Caro be able to find a balance for her feelings for Thomas, a balance between proper and free?

What a fun, sexy, enjoyable easy read!  I really like to read a good book sometimes without major conflict, without loads of action and with feelings expressed without having to pull teeth and I felt Miranda Neville delivered with this one.  Caro is a delight...free spirited, kind, loving and a wonderful teacher to Thomas about all things wicked!  Thomas is the perfect, proper, stuffy gentleman who knows his duty but can see importance to learning all things wicked.  I did feel like the story was a bit slow in the beginning but it really picked up for me half way through and I finished it in one sitting to see how it all played out. I think the reason it was a bit slow for me was all the other characters are introduced for the upcoming stories and it detracted from the romance blooming a bit.  However, by the end I loved how the author weaved in just enough tidbits about the upcoming stories that I am very anxious for them now as they all look quite scandalous!  I enjoyed watching Thomas go through a slew of emotions of his feelings for Caro but how he never backed down once he made up his mind, even when some secrets from his mothers past is revealed.  Caro also stayed true to her feelings once she realized them and this was a nice surprise for me as I was worried she would be a bit flighty in that regard.  And even though this is a very easy read, there is a touch of heartbreak that had me heart sinking that adds just a bit of drama.  Art collecting isn't really my interest but it was touched just enough on without overwhelming the storyline.  Overall, a smashing start to a new series that I thoroughly enjoyed.  4 stars

eARC provided by Avon Books via edelweiss

The Wild Quartet

(Prequel featuring Caro pre marriage)
Three more titles to come. . .

The Second Seduction of a Lady by Miranda Neville

Eleanor Hardwick lives her life the way she wants and thanks to an inheritance from her late mother, she can.  If she wants to spend money of fancy bonnets, she will.  If she wants to travel, she can.  Yet, being the only child of a recluse father is very lonely so her travels often involve visiting her relatives and trying to help in any way she can, welcome or not.  Eleanor takes one of her young cousins, Caro, under her wing since her mother is dastardly but her life is thrown into upheaval upon a walk when Eleanor and Caro stumble upon a young man and his guardian.  The guardian is Max Quinton, the man who broke her heart five years ago with a cruel bet.  Max is delighted to see the only woman who has laid claim to his heart and he is determined to make rights with Eleanor once and for all so he sets about a slow seduction to win her back.  Unfortunately, he causes more problems as he uses his charge's interest in Caro to gain information and when this comes to light, the damage is done all over for Eleanor.  Will a chase to Gretna Green together be enough to prove that Eleanor is the only one for him?

This novella (which was about sixty percent of my file, the rest were excerpts) is the kickoff to Miranda Neville's upcoming new series and was an enjoyable tale.  When Max broke her heart, it cemented her belief that marriage is not for her, especially after witnessing her joyful mother wilt under her fathers boring lifestyle.  Now, at the tender age of 30 (I loved that she was a bit older than the norm!), she is determined to live a quiet life by herself and she plans to shove Max away.  Max is charming and quiet in his seduction of Eleanor and she finally allows him to explain his side of the bet and together they make great stride to happiness only for it to seem to fall away again.  I really enjoyed the secondary romance that also bloomed between Caro and Robert and as Caro is the heroine for the next book (The Importance of Being Wicked) it has made me very anxious as to what is next for her!  However, since this novella was about Eleanor and Max, I did sort of feel Caro's problems overtook the storyline a bit and I would have liked a little more courtship between Eleanor and Max with just a bit more of their history.  Even in this short novella it has what I expect from Miranda Neville, sharp dialogue, wit, charm, heat and a dash of action.  A great kickoff to what is sure to be an amazing series!  3 1/2 stars

eARC provided by Avon via edelweiss

New series (I don't see a series title yet)
Nov 27th  plus three more

New Covers

Some new covers that were shared recently. . .

I really enjoy Alexandra Hawkins Lord of Vice series and Dusk with a Dangerous Duke will be book will be book six.  Such a lovely pink cover!  Sigh, February 26th can't get here soon enough!

Julia London also shared her cover for her upcoming book, The Last Debutante.  I am not caught up on her books but on goodreads this shows this will be book four in The Secrets of Hadley Green series.  I really like this cover!  Soft and pretty with a beautiful background and a touch of Scottish.  Look for it February 26th.

Another lovely cover reveal was for Kieran Kramer's The Earl is Mine.  Smokin red!  All of her previous books have featured prominently one color as well but in the pastel variety so this one really pops.  This will be book two in The House of Brady series and I can't wait for its release at the end of February!

Next, here is the cover for another novel in three parts from the talents of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway.  I enjoyed their first book written like this so I am looking forward to The Lady Most Willing... when it releases Dec 26th.

Oh, one more to add quick that was shared this week!  This is the lovely cover for Ashlyn Macnamara's debut, A Most Scandalous Proposal.  If you look at it close, it has lovely texture for the wallpaper, couch and dress which I really like.  And I like the green and blue together.  Look for this one February 26th!

Ok, fine this is the last one, lol!  Miranda Neville shared she has written a prequel novella titled The Second Seduction of a Lady set to release Oct 16th.  It is a prequel to her new series and it sounds wonderful.  And the best part for me...it doesn't sound like it is going to be the cliff hanger type prequel that I like to avoid!  It will introduce the heroine for the full length but the novella focuses on a different couple.  Yay!

Well, it started off as a bit of a quiet week but picked up a little and all these books are on my wish list!  What about you, which ones are you most looking forward to?

New Covers

Some new covers for you this week. . .

I really enjoy Cara Elliott for her super sexy fact paced books and I love the cover for her newest title, Too Dangerous to Desire.  This is book three in her Lords of Midnight series and should hit shelves November 20th.

Oh, another pretty red cover!  Cecilia Grant writes some beautiful love stores and we can expect A Woman Entangled January 29th.  It fits in beautifully with her previous covers!

Elizabeth Hoyt is always on top of my must buy list and can't wait for list and Lord of Darkness is no exception!  I like how the cover is soft but the title implies darkness...and it has a nice sexy stepback as well!  I love stepbacks :)  This one won't be out until February 26th, sob!

Miranda Neville also shared a picture of her upcoming book, The Importance of Being Wicked.  How can you not be excited about a book with that title?  She did say the cover is not yet final so that is why it is just a picture and I can't wait to see a more detailed view of it as it looks delicious :)  This one will be out November 27th.

Well, a somewhat quiet week but all books that I am eager to read!  It seems we are now on a trend for red...gold and white have made strong showings with some earlier titles.  What about you?  Looking forward to any of these titles?

It's Tuesday so it must be release day!

First up are two that were released this past Tuesday.  I've read the Kasey Michaels one and hope to read the one by Portia Da Costa.

And here are some of the wonderful books releasing today--

Yay!  Look at all of those books I think I need to buy, lol :)  I have only read four of them and if you have not read anything by Tessa Dare you must buy A Week to Be Wicked!  It is one of my favorite books of the year so far.  I am really looking forward to the Suzanne Enoch, Meredith Duran and Vicky Dreiling ones!  I know I will be buying them all.  Amanda Scott and Jenny Brown are on my list to read one of these days so thats where there new books will be shelved for me.  Also looking forward to the newest from Julia London but I have not read her previous newest release so I need to get caught up there.

So....which ones are you most looking forward too??  And if nothing has caught your eye there are a few more great releases on the 2nd from Jennifer Ashley, Tracy Anne Warren, Kate Noble and a debut from Tracy Devlyn.

Confessions from an Arranged Marriage by Miranda Neville

Minerva Montrose had gone to lie down to alleviate her migraine never knowing that her life would forever be changed by the simple act.  She is flabbergasted to wake up to a man's head beneath her skirts--and not just any man.  Oh no.  Only the most unreliable, most insufferable man in all of London, Lord Blakeney.  Realizing what must happen after they are discovered, the couple agrees to marry and attempt to make it look like a love match.  Ha!  The mutual loathing between Minerva and Blake is deep and surely nothing good can come of it....or can it?

Blake can not believe the hole he has dug for himself.  Honestly, trying to play a joke on a friend gets him leg-shackled to the most annoying, superior woman in all of London.  The heir to a dukedom, he is a gentleman beneath his devil-may-care attitude and he knows his duty.  What he is not expecting though is to actually discover what a delight Minerva is.  But as Blake is hiding a shameful secret beneath his fun facade, he is reluctant to take Minerva into his confidence even when a new tragedy forces him to become more of a man than he may be ready for.

This was another wonderful romance from the delightful Miranda Neville!  I love a good marriage of convenience story and this is an excellent one.  Our couple already has a slight history together (The Dangerous Viscount) and you could just fell the mutual dislike they felt for each other.  Sigh, but the ones that dislike each other the most are the ones that fall for each other the hardest.  Minerva has high hopes to do something worthwhile in the political area and since her marriage will allow her to eventually be duchess to a powerful political seat, she is happy to try and find her place amongst all the men.  What she can not understand is how Blake can just blow off so much regarding the political force of his family.  But even with her hesitations due to these feelings, she still starts to slowly see Blake as a wonderful, caring man who needs the love of a good woman.  And while Blake's secret prevents him from being as vocal about matters as Minerva would like, he does take the time to listen to her and in the process he discovers that Minerva is passionate and caring about those around her.  Overall, I really enjoyed this story!  There was a bit too much emphasis on the political side for me (that just doesn't interest me much) but it does not hinder the story enough to really bother me.  This is a sweet, sexy romance of a couple forced together by scandal that discover each other through the bonds of their marriage.  I do wish we had seen a bit more resolution to Blakes secret and I do also wish he had confided in Minerva sooner than he did but overall, well done.  I would recommend this book for fans of marriage of convenience mixed with a sexy couple who loathe each other already but come to find the real, passionate natures of each other.  4 stars

I received an eARC of this book from Avon via edelweiss.com

The Burgundy Club
(This one could be read as a standalone but probably best read in order, at least The Dangerous Viscount)

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 :)

The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton by Miranda Neville

I wanted to read this book because the back cover summary made it sound very interesting and fun and I think it did a good job living up to the 'lessons' described!  Our story starts with Celia Seaton being held at gunpoint and being told to remove her clothes so she does not escape after being kidnapped.  After her kidnapper leaves, she is able to escape her small room, clad only in her shift, and stumbles over a man who is unconscious.  Oh, but not just any man....no, it is the man that disgraced her in front of all of society with one snide remark.  When Tarquin Compton awakens and he has no knowledge of what happened, Celia decides to tell him a few faux lies.  Even as Celia is telling "Terrance Fish" these embellishments, he knows something is not quite right but what he does know is that he and Celia need to get away from her kidnapper. 

This begins my favorite part of the book.  The two of them are walking through the countryside surviving on little to nothing for food and are stripped to their raw emotions.  This is quite a departure for Tarquin who is the leader among Londons society for appearances and it does not take long for Celia to fall in love with him in this setting.  And as Celia has told Tarquin that they are engaged, he can not help but appreciate and admire this feisty woman.  They encounter a few humorous bumps in the road and eventually share a passionate moment together.  Of course, Tarquin does this under the assumption they are engaged to be married but not long after, Tarquins memories return and he is not happy when they do!

Celia knew it was a mistake to lie to Tarquin, but she was so hurt by his actions from the past she thought them justified.  She also knew it was a mistake to make love to him but does not believe they must marry, especially as it was her who deceived him.  The two finally stumble onto some land and Tarquin realizes it his his land and after cleaning up the two head to his friend, Sebastians house as it is not proper for a woman alone to stay at Tarquins home.  This part of the book was also a delight!  After reading The Dangerous Viscount (Avon) it was wonderful to return and see the birth of Sebastian and Dianas baby....and all the agitation that plagued Sebastian and his father-in-law was truly funny!   During this time Celia and Tarquin continue to argue as to whether they should marry or not.  Tarquin feels it is his duty to  protect her as Celia is alone and has no family but Celia does not want to settle and always be the follower of this well admired man and pitied upon from society.

As the story progresses, we slowly get small tidbits as to Celias scandalous upbringing and how that might factor into her kidnapping.  I had my own ideas as to why it happened and I was happy that I wasn't entirely correct!  There was a nice little curve ball that I was not expecting and I am hoping that the "villain" gets a story of their own!  I also liked that the back cover really sums up this book very well.  That little book that was left when Tarquin was knocked out and Celia reads adds plenty of heat and laughter!  What I really enjoyed about this book is that these two fell in love during their first ordeal together when they were just stripped to the bare essentials.  Naturally it took quite a bit for them to finally realize this but it was really worth it in the end.  I got a bit worried that the ending was going to have a Big Misunderstanding but once again, Miranda Neville threw a curve ball and wrote an ending that I absolutely loved and had me smiling the whole time I was reading it!  Wonderful story with excellent leading characters and great supporting cast!  I can not wait for more!  4 1/2 stars

I received this ebook from the publisher via netgalley.com

This is book 3 and I would recommend reading at least book two as characters from that book are featured quite a bit.  The characters from book 1 do not really make an appearance, just a mention (but still a good book!).

Book Two

Book One