New Covers

New covers this week!

First up is a reissue by Sabrina Jeffries but the cover was so lovely I wanted to share it!  By Love Unveiled, written as Deborah Martin, will be out February 26th.  

Victoria Alexander returns with The Importance of Being Wicked and it also has a very lovely, bold blue cover.  I think this will be part of her latest series, Sinful Family Secrets, but I see nothing online yet to confirm that.  Look for this February 5th.

Samantha Grace is quickly turning into one of my favorite authors and she shared her newest cover for Lady Vivian Defies a Duke.  It features a hot guy, purple and a lovely backdrop--whats not to like?  This will be out in May.

I have not yet read anything by Renee Bernard but she certainly has catchy titles and beautiful covers for her Jaded Gentleman series.  Obsession Wears Opals is book five and should be out Dec 4th.

Meredith Duran is an author I also have yet to read and know I must soon!  That Scandalous Summer looks to be the start of a new series, Rules of the Reckless, so I plan to remedy that when this is released January 29th.  I like the simplicity of this cover and it will be a pop of color in the cold of winter!

I love stepbacks so I am always happy to seem them!  The Handbook to Handling His Lordship is book will be book four in Suzanne Enoch's Scandalous Brides series, one that I am enjoying.  Look for this book with its soft, pretty purple cover March 26th.

Well, another week and another batch of great covers!  Don't you think it would be a blast to help create them?  Too bad I am not creative in the least :)

New Covers

Another week, another batch of lovely covers!  I mean seriously, how do they keep coming up with all these great covers?

I'm really looking forward to this one as I enjoyed Sophie Barnes debut.  The title isn't my favorite but I am expecting another warm, sexy, funny story.  This will be out through Avon's ebook imprint (Avon Impulse) first on May 22nd and paperback shortly after that I think.

This cover fits in very nicely with Suzanne Enoch's Scandalous Brides series and is a title I am looking forward too. Rules to Catch a Devilish Duke is set to release Sept 25th.

A Lady Never Lies is the debut from Juliana Gray and Elizabeth Hoyt has given it a very positive review on goodreads and the summary sounds great so I am very anxious to read it!  It releases Aug 7th.

Thankfully, no long wait for the sequel, A Gentleman Never Tells. It will be out November 6th.  Both books have good covers!

Well, thats all for now!  You should start seeing more reviews slowing popping back up as my little vacation is about over :)  Have a wonderful week!

A Beginners Guide to Rakes by Suzanne Enoch

Back cover summary:

 All of London is abuzz with the return of the utterly alluring, recently widowed Diane Benchley. Will she remarry? What will she do with her late husband’s fortune? Sociey is shocked by her announcement—at the Grand Ball, of all places!—that she plans to open an exclusive gentleman’s gaming club in the family mansion. But no one is more stunned than the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren.

Years ago, Oliver and Diane shared a private indiscretion. Now Diane threatens to reveal Oliver’s most ungentlemanly secrets…unless he agrees to help her. A notorious gambler—and rake—Oliver is overqualified to educate Diane in the ways and means of running her establishment. But striking a deal with Diane might just be the biggest risk Oliver has ever taken. This time, the only thing he has to lose is his heart…

This is a delightful book set within an interesting setting.  I enjoyed Diane and her bold attitude and her cleverness for opening a gaming club with all female members (besides a few burly footman) where the females are treated just as females and not expected to be anything else unless they choose too.  There were so little choices for woman born on the wrong side of the blanket or in other unfortunate circumstances, not all of them want to be companions or governesses, that Diane sort of becomes a refuge of sorts for these ladies.  And since Diane clearly states all the rules up front for treatment of the women within the club, the gentleman behave as such.  But before she can even start up her club, she needs funds as her late husband was a heavy gambler and left her badly in debt.  When circumstances force her to turn to Oliver, she reluctantly does so and the sparks from their past fan back alive.

Oliver ran off after their passionate affair shortly after Dianes husbands death and it devastated Diane but at the same time, made her stronger.  Though Diane thinks Oliver left so abruptly to go home to claim his new title, Oliver left for an all together deeper reason that he refuses to acknowledge and leaves these two spitting fire at each other!  Oliver is forced to help Diane open her club and together they gradually see how much they can help each other to make a grand success.  They do have an issue with Dianes former brother-in-law as the home she is using for the club was to be his and he sets about to prove that Diane forged documents to secure the house.  But did she truly forge signatures and if she did, how will they stop it from becoming public knowledge?  Together, Oliver and Diane begin to reacquaint themselves and try to find the brief love they once shared all those years ago.  If you enjoy stories about past lovers forced back together and the heat is still there all set within a unique setting, grab this one! 4 stars

Side note:  I truly hope Suzanne Enoch updates her website soon as it is very out of date.  There is no mention of this book that just came out and no info on the upcoming books in the series.  I like to go to an authors website to see what is upcoming in a series so its a bit of a disappointment when there is nothing on the site.  Real life could be getting in the way but I still feel like it is important to have a semi up to date website.  And the cover....it just does not match this book at all, and really, neither does the title.  Diane has black hair and wears black dresses for most of the book...never white.  She is bold and passionate and mysterious and this cover just doesn't match her in my opinion.  It is very pretty but just a bit wrong for this book.

The Scandalous Brides (taken from cover of book)
Number of books...uncertain?

Seducing an Impossible Rogue  March 27, 2012

Upcoming October historical releases

Here are some upcoming historicals being released in October! 

Oct 4th


Phew, lots of good ones being released on Oct 4th!  I know I have said it before, but grab Theresa Roamins debut, Season for Temptation,if you are a fan of fun romances (sort of like Julia Quinn).  I know I will be buying Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish as it continues her series with a great family (though it is the start of a trilogy just about the sisters, I think the brothers are separated into their own series).  I have not seen alot about Suzanne Enochs upcoming release, A Beginner's Guide to Rakes, but the little I have seen has been very positive so I am looking forward to it as well :) A Bride Unveiled is book two in a series that I have not yet tried but is on my huge mountain to read. The Accidental Courtesan is also book two in a series and while some didn't love the first one, I enjoyed it so I will be picking this one up.  And I just saw a mini review from a goodreads friend for Tis the Season to Be Sinful that has me looking forward to a delightful story in this one.  Yeah, looks like I am going for broke in about a week with all these titles!

Oct 18th



Sigh...I don't think I need to say much about this book as I have said numerous times I am dying to read this one...right now!

Oct 25th




Another book I am just dying to read right now is the last of Maya Banks Highlander series, Never Love a Highlander! Loved the last one so very eager for this one as well :) Engaged in Sin sounds like a promising book from a new to me author and a very pretty cover as well. Too Wicked to Wed is the start of a new series from Cara Elliot and as I enjoyed her past trilogy, featuring strong woman with male-dominated professions, I have high hopes for the new series.  And finally, only two historicals from Avon this month (though they do have a contemporary from one of my favorite authors, Toni Blake coming out, Holly Lane).  One being All About Seduction which is another new to me author and the premise for this one is quite interesting and I hope to get to it as I have it from Netgalley.  The last one for the month is book three in a trilogy from Sara Bennett, To Pleasure a Duke and I hope to read this one early as well as I read the first in the trilogy and enjoyed it.

So overall, another good month for historical romance fans.  What about you?  Which books are you looking forward to in October?

Rules of an Engagement by Suzanne Enoch

This was an enjoyable sea worthy tale, and while I didn't love it, it is still a fun, easy read. This is the third installment in The Adventurers Club series and we get the swash buckling, dashing Captain Bradshaw Carroways story. (Just a side note...I think this could be read as a stand alone as almost the entire book takes place at sea so the previous characters make only brief appearances). Shaw is tasked in taking Miss Zephyr Ponsley and her father, Sir Joseph, around to islands so that Sir Joseph may collect new plants and animals for his discoveries. Even though Shaw is in the marines and this is not exactly what he signed up for, he accepts as he also has a secondary secret mission given to him from the Duke of Sommerset (who was hardly in the book this time around, sigh).

Now, Zephyr has been her fathers assistant for years, traveling the world helping him collect his botany and drawing sketches to accompanying his findings. She was not brought up in London and therefore does not know all the proper rules of society and is very free with her thinking and her opinions. Upon her first meeting with Shaw, she snorts at some comment he makes and he is immediately intrigued and drawn to her. He takes it upon himself to always accompany her about the islands as they travel, to protect her from unknown dangers, and they continue their sparring back and forth. Shaw tells her he wants to bed her and she tells him that he must court her properly....and he does. There are some wonderful, tender moments as their courtship progresses. Oh and the ending on the ship, so sweet it brought a sigh to my heart.

Overall, this was a good book. A few things dragged it down a bit for me though. Shaw is forced to take on some more passengers who need to get back home immediately and I felt they added a layer of unnecessary chatter that wasn't needed. I can not really imagine ladies and gents and maids willingly go aboard a naval ship versus a passenger ship...the comforts are far different! Also, once again, was the overuse of the word chit. I don't know why it bothers me but I just do not like seeing it on almost every single page! Then of course, we barely see Lord Sommerset and I really hope Ms Enoch is working on his book next! But for this book, if you like a strong, snappy (in a good way) heroine and a strong, passionate hero who fall in love over the high seas with a bit of danger, this is a great book for you! Oh, and of course, the talking parrot makes an appearance to add a bit of chuckles! :) 3 1/2 stars

A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch

In book two of Suzanne Enochs Adventurers' Club series we meet the delightful, but very proper, Theresa and the surly wounded Colonel Bartholomew James. First, let me say that is just the most awful name to me and his nickname of Tolly just isn't much better! But, if you can get past the name problem this is another fun, easy read.
Tess and Tolly meet each other at Tollys brothers home (his wife is Tess' cousin) where he is trying to heal his bad knee that he received as a result of a horrible attack by the Thuggee. Almost instantly they are attracted to each other and Tess starts to do some improper things that she clearly mentions in her booklet she wrote, that a proper lady must never do. She speaks her mind quite clearly to Tolly and that intrigues him, especially her parting comment of "you may watch me dance", as Tolly is incapable of dancing at the moment due to his poorly healing knee. Oh course, Tolly turns up at the next dance and has another amusing chat with Tess and she boldly speaks her mind to him again and even allows him to kiss her. Another big no-no in Tess' booklet of proper behavior for ladies.
As they continue on with their flirting, it gradually deepens into something more. Tolly has his knee rebroken in hopes of setting it correctly to it may heal. As Tess was at his home to "visit" her cousin, she heard his screams and came to assist in the surgery. Right before he passes out, he tells her he did it so he could dance with her someday. So sweet! Naturally, he denies it later when she mentions it but they both know it to be true.
The side story was very well done I thought. Tolly is obviously dealing with PTSD and deep emotional issues from his tragedy with the Thuggee. Tess is able to break through this emotional walls he has built up around himself. But the officials of the East India Company are denying that Tollys tale for fear of losing lots of money due to fear of traveling and being attacked and killed by the Thuggee. Which results in a huge cloud of suspension and disgust for Tolly and he refuses to bring Tess into his mess. Her reaction at first bothered me but thankfully she turns it around and does the right thing.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a bit better that the first but I wished we had seen Tess be a bit more proper before meeting Tolly. They meet by the second chapter and Tess is always saying she needs to be proper but we really never got a sense of that beforehand. We did learn the reason why she feels the need to be so proper and how it helps her connect to Tolly, but I guess a preface of some sort would have been nice for me. Looking forward to starting the next book, Rules of an Engagement, soon and I really hope with get the delish Duke of Sommersets book after that!! 4 stars

The Care and Taming of a Rogue by Suzanne Enoch

This is yet another delightful historical romance from a new to me author. This is the first book in Ms Enochs Adventurers' Club series, and I am glad that the next two books, A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior and Rules of an Engagement, are already out so I can dive right into them!

This book follows the adventurer Captain Bennett Wolfe and Phillipa aka Flip. Bennett returns to London after being presumed dead from his fellow co adventurer Langley. Needless to say, when Bennett arrives at his friend Jacks home, the reading party gathered there to discuss "his" book, everyone is quite surprised. He hears the voice of Phillipa and is instantly intrigued and drawn to her. Bennett is not one to follow rules, though and Phillipa wants a proper courtship....not to be told that Bennett wants her naked, that is just not proper! Oh, and red roses are definitely not proper for a first flower!

Bennett has another problem to contend with than just courting Phillipa properly; Langley has stolen his journals and written a book from them and has all the credit while making Bennett look like a fool. Phillipa sees right though this new book though as Bennett has written two previous books that are in a much different tone and decides to help Bennett get his journals back so he may clear his name.

This book has plenty of laughs and sweet moments in it along with a bit of, well, adventure. Bennett returns home with his pet monkey, Kero, who is a great addition to the storyline, I think. Bennett and Phillipa seem to balance each other, her book loving, quietness to his adventurousness. While this book has a few flaws with it, like how the side story of Phillipas sister Olivia and her relationship with Jack just kind of hangs there, it is still a easy, fun read. I was able to read it easily in two days even with by boys running around, which is quite an accomplishment in our house! 3 1/2 stars