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??

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Lady Phillipa Marbury is to be married in fifteen short days and with her inquisitive, scientific mind she wonders about some of the logistics of the marriage bed.  Doing her research, she determines that Cross, one of the owners of London's most notorious gaming hells, is the perfect person to help her with her questions.  To help with her ruination.  Unfortunately, Cross finds this a horrible idea and tries to usher her out before anyone sees her (she is, after all, sister-in-law to one of his partners) but Pippa has questions that require answering and is not easily deterred and she makes Cross feel, feel more than he has in seven years...ever since his brother died and his life got turned upside down in an instant.  He has regret and determination to avoid the past but that past has come back and now he is determined to change it.  And to change it he must keep Pippa away, keep these feelings buried.  The attraction burns as do the promises of what is to be discovered together.  Can Pippa discover that the heart is more than just an organ and will Cross let his wall down?

 Oh Sarah MacLean.  I adore your books.  Just adore them and I adored this couple you created.  Pippa is bespectacled, odd...more interested in scientific experiments than the latest fashions and her frank nature appeals to Cross very much.  Cross has tried to bury his past, so much so that Pippa does not even know his true identity, and it has shaped him into the man he is today...a man who thinks he does not deserve happiness.  The pull and tug between this couple was such a treat to read and their conversations charmed me to no end.  I really enjoyed how this book focused mostly on Pippa and Cross but their is an underlining tension brought by Cross' past that added quite a flair at the end that I really enjoyed.  It really was a perfect ending for this story (though I did want to smack Cross at the end for a bit until he finally came to his senses).  One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is a sensual, heart breaking romance that is also fun, smart and sexy.  I loved it and can not wait for Temple's story now.  5 stars

eARC provided by Avon via edelweiss

The Rules of Scoundrels
Could be read as stand alones, best enjoyed in order because they are wonderful!

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished  August 27th

New Covers

Quite a few great new covers shared recently. . .

What a lovely cover for a debut (and it has a sexy stepback, bonus!).  What Happens in Scotland is a debut from Jennifer McQuiston and since Sarah MacLean is endorsing it on the cover, you know I will be picking it up!  Look for this one February 26th.

I was excited to see this cover since I knew it would be red based on the title and what loveliness it is!  Shana Galen is one of my favorite authors and If You Give a Rake a Ruby is book two in her Jewels of the Ton series and I am eagerly awaiting its March 1st release!

Tiffany Clare has had gorgeous covers for all her books and Midnight Temptations with a Forbidden Lord is no exception!   A very lovely blue just a pop of purple!  This will be book two in her new series, Dangerous Rogues and should hit shelves April 30th.

The Prince's Bride will wrap up Julianne MacLeans The Royal Trilogy and it fits in beautifully with the previous covers.  I enjoyed the first book in this series so I am looking forward to this one when it releases April 30th as well.

Seduced by a Pirate is an ebook companion to The Ugly Duchess featuring Sir Griffin Barry.  Look for it Oct 30th and it is only 99 cents!  Woot!

Sally MacKenzie continues her Duchess of Love series with Surprising Lord Jack.  The cover fits in great with the previous titles but shoes featured so prominently always throw me.  They always look to modern to me, even though they are right.  Oh well, lol!  Love the dog peeking out.  This was is set for release March 4th.

Sarah MacLean shared her stepback for One Good Earl Deserves a Lover this week!  Love.  Love that her spectacles are still there.  Still waiting for it to be Jan 29th. . .

I'm not quite sure how they keep coming up with such lovely covers for Grace Burrowes Windham series!  Lady Eve's Indiscretion is book seven and should arrive February 1st.

I don't have any info about this title yet but I really like the simple holiday cover.  I recognize two of the names on here, Sophie Barnes and Karen Erickson, but the others are new to me and shorts stories are always a great introduction to new authors.  Five Golden Rings will be out as an ebook (and probably in print later I'm guessing) Dec 11th.

I have yet to read anything by Karen Ranney but The Lass Wore Black has captured my interest.  First I love the black and pink of the cover but she posted the full back cover copy on her site here and the blurb sounds good!  I think I will be picking this one up on January 29th and giving her a shot!

Well, this started off with I think four covers but quickly grew!  Which titles are you most excited about?  I thinking I need to win the lottery stat!

New Covers

Some new covers shared recently. . .

Squee!!!  A new book from Sarah MacLean!!  Super excited for it!  Don't you just love this cover?!?  The royal blue is fantastic and I love the addition of her spectacles on the desk :)  One Good Earl Deserves a Lover will be out January 29th....so not too much longer... sigh

Erin Knightley has a novella out that looks perfect for the holiday season.  I really enjoyed her debut (even if it was PG :-) so I pre-ordered Miss Mistletoe.  I like how Penguin made a cover instead of not doing one as they have in the past with novellas.  This is simple and lovely.  Look for it Nov 6th.

I'm really excited about this debut from Maire Claremont!  The blurb can be found here on goodreads.  It sounds dark, gritty and fantastic!  The cover for The Dark Lady is simply stunning and I have this one on pre-order as well and it is going to be a long wait until Feb 5th.

And lastly a very sweet, lovely cover for Cheryl Ann Smith's A Convenient Bride.  This will be book four (plus a novella) in the School for Bride series and I have yet to read the latest release but I will be caught up by Dec 31st when the newest releases.  I love the attention to detail for the background and the all white dress really pops.

Well, a pretty good week of covers for me!  All books I am looking forward to...as usual :)  Which ones stand out to you?

Happy Release Day!!

Here are some of the wonderful books out today!  Enjoy :)

I have had the pleasure of reading four out of this six and really enjoyed them all and I will be picking up When A Scot Loves A Lady and The Husband Hunt today to add to my collection!  And I have my signed copy of A Rogue By Any Other Name on its way from Sarah MacLean's local indie store, yay!!

 These two titles are also going on to read list.  I have received an ARC of Touch of a Rogue so I am anxious to see how I like it since it does have a touch of paranormal, which I usually stay clear of.  And I am slowing building my own Highlander collection to read someday in the not to distant future.

Which books are you most looking forward to reading today?  If nothing has caught your eye (and I find that hard to believe!) we can expect some new releases in just a week from Jade Lee, Madeline Hunter and Renee Bernard.

A Rogue By Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

All right, I will admit that I am in love with Sarah MacLean's books.  She started me on my new found historical love affair with her superb Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and I have not looked back so I may be a bit biased in saying that I have loved everything she has since written, including A Rogue By Any Other Name.  This book is a bit different though as our hero, Michael, Marquess of Bourne is quite unlikable for a good bit of the book.  He forces a marriage of convenience with an old childhood friend, Lady Penelope Marbury and there are many ups and downs but I loved how their deep abiding love for each other finally trumps and Michael becomes a swoon worthy hero to the delightful Penelope.

Bourne lost everything with the turn of a card during a card game and it has shaped him into the man he is today.  He is so bent on revenge against the man that took it all from him, nothing else matters but destroying his former guardian and gaining back his family home and lands.  It is now ten years later and Bourne is part of a successful gaming hell and he has rebuilt himself financially and when he hears that his land is part of his childhood friend Penelopes dowry, well, he knows what he must do to finally secure his past.

Penelope is thrilled to see Bourne again one snowy night but it quickly becomes evident that this is not the boy from her childhood or the boy she used to correspond with frequently.  No, this grown up Bourne is hard, unyielding and cold.  She agrees to his 'proposal' as Penelope has already caused a huge scandal in the past (though not from her doing) and she needs to secure good matches for her two younger sisters.  Together, they agree to their marriage terms and seal the deal, so to say.  Oh, but Bourne seems to have no heart when he shoves Penelope away time and time again--despite there very heated attraction--and it makes Penelope, already at her wits end with the way her life is playing out, buck up and stand up to Bourne.

I will admit, I wasn't sure if I could really grow to love Bourne.  He is such a complete jerk for almost the entire book but there were enough glimpses of his own thoughts and the sweet childhood letters that I knew somewhere beneath that hard layer, a man worthy of swoon worthiness was there.  I do wish his 'aha' moment happened a bit sooner because when he finally did see the light, Penelope was hard pressed to believe him.  And who can really blame her?  Bourne would give an inch and then remind her that is was all for show (to prove to society they were truly in love and gain her sisters respectable suitors), Penelope got to be so wound tight it was hard to believe in the gradual change in Bourne.  I loved the addition of the letters back and forth, it really added to the story and helped set the tone for the quick marriage of convenience as we could see that our couple had a strong bond as children.  This book is sure to have something to please any romance fan--a vengeful man so bent on destruction that he almost misses the thing that will finally make him complete again, a heroine who is smart, plucky, and has a quick comeback for all of Bournes rudeness all set within the glittering world of an elite gaming hell.  An absolutely wonderful romance of childhood friends, an unconventional marriage of convenience, revenge and proof that true love heals even the most jaded of hearts.  4 1/2 stars

Oh, but Ms. MacLean?  That epilogue was just torture as I want the next book right now. :)

I received this eARC from Avon via netgalley.com

The Rules of Scoundrels series
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover Oct 2012

Most Antcipated for 2012

Ok, looking into the new year here are my 5 most anticipated traditionally published books:

Thief of Shadows (out July 1st) is finally Winter's story and as he has been so mysterious and quite for the most part until now, I can't wait to see how it plays out with the seemingly opposite Isabel. Ok, fine I can't wait for the next in the series either but since that says it has a publication of Dec 31st it will have to tag on to this one (Lord of Darkness).

I have adored all of Sarah MacLeans books so far and I am sure that A Rogue By Any Other Name will be another one added to my keeper cover (I mean, look at that cover!). This one releases on February 28th and I am beyond excited that I have it from Netgalley and get to read it a bit early. But I already have my paperback copy preordered :)

I don't read too many contemporaries lately but one author that is still on my auto-buy list is the talented Julie James and we can finally get Sawyer-look-alike Kyle's story on April 3rd in About That Night.

I know this is two books but since Mad about the Earl comes out in a few days on January 3rd, I also wanted to add A Duchess to Remember which will release on June 26th. I really enjoyed Christina Brooke's first historical and can't wait to see what happens next in the Ministry of Marriage series.

And finally I have The Rogue Pirate's Bride (out Feb 7th and I will be reading soon thanks to Netgalley and Ms Galen!).  Shana Galen instantly became an auto buy author for me with Lord and Lady Spy and I know this book has been greatly anticipated since it is the third in a trilogy so I can't wait to start it.  I believe she is working on something for later in the year as well and that will be on my anticipated list as well :)

As you may have noticed I said those were my traditionally published....that is because I have a few self-published authors that I am also eagerly awaiting and here are my top choices for them:

First up is two books from Lila Dipasqua. Undone will be out April 4th and is her first book through self publishing and I love the cover. I have loved everything I have read from her so I can't wait for this one!

But perhaps the one I am most anticipating is this one. Three Reckless Wishes (Sept 5th) follows A Midnight Dance (which I LOVED and left us with a bit of a cliffhanger) so I am just itching to read this one!!

My next author that I can't wait for their self published books is Ashley March who will be writing as Elise Rome starting in the new year.  She already has six books listed in the goodreads.com system and I think she will be doing some set in the 1920s so that should be fun!  Ashley is a great author who communicates so well with her readers and I adore her for that and I can't wait to see what the new year brings us from her! :)

The Governess Affair is the start of a new series from Courtney Milan and is a novella so I hope this means we can expect at least one full length novel as well :)  Release date to be determined.


So, these are all my choices for the new year.  What are you most looking forward too?

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.  (And yes, I know its Thursday...work has been keeping me off schedule as of late).

My pick for this week is for a book that won't be out for.ev.er but the cover was released this week and it is gorgeous!

Lovely, isn't it?  Here is the summary from goodreads.com:

What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets . . .

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything to for them . . . even her heart.

This is the start of a brand new quartet from the author that got me started on historical romance with Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake.  I am sooo bummed that the release has been pushed back from the end of Dec to Feb 28, 2012 but sigh...oh well.  I have loved all of Sarah MacLeans books and eagerly look forward to this one in February...it will be just the thing as I'm sure there will be at least a foot of snow around...shudder.  But A Rogue By Any Other Name sounds like a great, wicked start to a quartet!