The Governess Club: Claire by Ellie Macdonald

This was a very refreshing debut from Ellie Macdonald.  Our couple, Claire Bannister, a governess who is trying to make ends meet following the death of her father so she can get her childhood back and Jacob Knightly, an Earl posing as a tutor to show his family he can be respectable and not just wild, find a deep attraction to each other for who they truly are.  When they are caught out by her charges (the children were so well done in this story!) her life alters drastically and the truth about Jacob's identity throws it even more so.  How can she love, marry and fit in in an Earl's lifestyle?  As this is a novella, the resolution is quick but very satisfying and we get just enough teases of Claire's three other governess friends to make you anxious for their stories.  Well written with a dose of steam, enjoyable humor and realistic characters, I know I will be keeping an eye on Ellie Macdonald in the future!

eARC provided by Avon via edelweiss

Blurb:

Claire Bannister just wants to be a good teacher so that she and the other ladies of the Governess Club can make enough money to leave their jobs and start their own school in the country. But when the new sinfully handsome and utterly distracting tutor arrives, Claire finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance that could change the course of her future.

Jacob Knightly has a secret. He is actually the notorious Earl of Rimmel. He's just posing as a tutor to escape his reputation in the city. He never expected to fall in love with the kind and beautiful governess. She is the first person to love him for himself and not his title.

But when Jacob's true identity is revealed, Claire realizes she has risked her reputation and her heart on a man she doesn't truly know. Will Jacob be able to convince her that the Wild Earl has been tamed and that she is the true countess of his heart?

Governess Club series

     Sept 17th
Governess Club: Sara
Governess Club: Louisa  (release dates to be announced)

Winning a Bride by Jade Lee

This was a charming, sexy delight of a novella! Jade Lee has penned a romance that was heartfelt and fun to read. William Benton has become the steward to his families land after it was lost due to his fathers mistakes and it is hard for Will, at times, to let the past go.  He wants his families land back but knows his elder brother has no means to purchase it back so he comes up with a new idea...wed the new owners daughter, Josephine.  A woman whom he thinks to be a bit haughty and out of his reach. Yet during some nightly interludes he comes to find that Jo is kind, generous and a lady worth fighting for. A lady worth more than some land. He just needs to convince her and her father of this fact. Jo is the perfect woman to help him realize that there is more to life than titles and land and find his true worth. She is a bit wild and unpredictable and finds herself going a bit mad from the pressure of her life, from the man he father has arranged to marry her to finding the calm she needs to have in Will.  Filled with heat, banter, emotion and an interesting look at some history of the canals and how they are built, this romance is sure to make you grab more by Jade Lee. 4 stars

eARC provided by Sourcebooks via Netgalley

Back cover blurb:
Due to his aristocratic family’s downfall, William Benton serves as steward on the land his brother should have inherited. His one weakness is for the daughter of the new owner. Josephine Lawton is beautiful, charming, and enamored of titles and all things aristocratic. Or so he thinks until he discovers that it’s her father who is doing the matchmaking. When he learns that there is more to the exciting Josephine than first meets the eye, he puts all his passion into restoring his family’s honor and winning the woman he loves. It’s going to be a hot summer on the estate.

Bridal Favors series
This worked well as a standalone and gives us a glimpse of the next hero
 
                                                               Aug 2013             Feb 2014

The Perks of Being a Beauty by Manda Collins

Miss Amelia Snow, noted mean-spirited beauty of the ton, has had a turn of fate. After her mother dies and she is left with no money, she takes on a job as a companion where she tries to blend in and help her charge find a good match. When a childhood friend arrives at a country house party, she remembers how she broke his heart and how he has always had a piece of hers. However, Amelia turned into a different woman after she went to London with her mother, who always told Amelia that all other girls were her competition, and Lord Quetin Fortescue is unaware of the pain and humiliation she caused in the ton. Even though Amelia has made amends with the woman she hurt, she still has not forgiven herself and is a bit hard about life. A rainstorm forces this couple to seek shelter together and this, of course, leads to a good heart to heart and some heated moments. Can Quetion show Ameila she is not the woman of her past and ready to move forward, together? With the humor, depth and a dash of heat I have come to expect from Manda Collins, The Perks of Being a Beauty is a story of forgiveness, healing and heart. 4 stars 

eARC provided by St Martins Press via Netgalley

Ugly Ducklings series
Not necessary to read the series before this one, but you really get more of a sense of Amelia in the past before she grows in this novella

The Mad Earl's Bride by Loretta Chase

When Gwendolyn Adams is asked to marry a man considered mad and soon to die, she takes it in stride and accepts the offer. By marrying the Earl of Rawnsley she will gain his name and position which will make it easier for her to accomplish her dream of opening a hospital. What she does not expect is to be drawn to this 'mad' earl. She researches his condition, and that of his late mother, and attempts to help him find ways to cure him. During there discussions together, this couple find a type of love they never thought possible. But with Dorian certain he is going to die, he tries to distance himself from Gwen while at the same time, encouraging her to discover as much as she can about medincine. He learned at a young age to keep his feelings to himself so these emotions he feels for the steady, level headed Gwen are new and a bit terrifying. The truth of Dorian's disease is revealed and watching this couple come to the new terms was enjoyable. Well written, emotional (the storyline is a bit dark) and sexy with a bit of humor, this novella was a treat to read! 4 stars

eARC provided by Avon Books via edelweiss

The Devil's Pearl by Jennifer Haymore

Lady Esme has a secret...she writes scandalous stories and if anyone were to find out, well, that would be disastrous.  The Devil's Pearl is one of her stories and while short, it is filled with passion, betrayal and obsession.

Sir Delvin Vaughn is outraged when he sees the woman he can not stop thinking about, the woman who dared shun him in society, hanging off two men.  Two!  His riches and power were not enough to keep her but seeing this drives him mad and he knows he needs to have her now and forever and he will do whatever it takes.  Julia Beaumont had to leave Devlin before he hurt her and she had to do it in a public manner to get her point across but now he is back and taken her hostage.  Can she stand up to him again or will this couple explain the true depths of their hearts to find the happiness that is there waiting?

I was a bit hesitant to keep reading this one after the first chapter as I was worried it would have a forced seduction scene in it but it thankfully did not play out that way.  Instead, I found myself surprisingly invested with this couple, especially considering how short this story is (about half my kindle file) so kudos to Jennifer Haymore for that!  I liked seeing how torn up this couple was (even though just talking would have fixed it) but since this is a novella, it worked for me and did not bother me too much.  It has drama, despair, heat and a dash of humor and I was sad to see it end.  Smart writing, a brisk pace, a nice dose of heat all add up to a winner for me.  4 stars

eARC provided by Forever Yours via netgalley.com

House of Trent series
(It looks like the novellas will be stand alone stories)

      June 25th

A Gentle Grace by Jillian Eaton

Lady Grace Deringer thought her life complete with her engagement to her dream husband, Lord Stephen Melbourne, Earl of Terraview as she has loved him from the first moment they met.  He seemed to see past her clumsiness and lack of beauty and see her for her true self but then he suddenly calls off the engagement and she is heartbroken as Stephen heads out of England.  Now months later, he has returned and is determined to win back Grace and tell her the truth of his leaving.  But will Grace be able to forgive Stephen and open her heart to him again?

A Gentle Grace brings us to the conclusion of the delightful Wedded Women Quartet and each one as been a winner for me.  I loved seeing what happens after the 'happily-ever-after', how love needs to be rekindled sometimes to find that true, everlasting love.  Grace and Stephen's love story was no different.  A family secret came to light and Stephen thought his course of action was the best thing to protect Grace, even though it hurt her the most.  I do wish the secret had been revealed a bit sooner, but I am always impatient for details like that.  I enjoyed how Grace, with some coaxing from her friends, took matters into her own hands and it turns the tables on Stephen a bit which was a treat.  Stephen is warm and caring and I was glad to see him in this light as I was not too sure about him in the previous novellas and I adored how Stephen and Grace met and fell in love.  Another wonderful tale of redeeming love and the true strength of friendship.  All four of these women know that family runs so much deeper than blood and together they can help you through heartbreak and triumph.  I look forward to going back and reading each of these novellas back to back and loving their stories again.  Recommended for fans of second chance romances with a dash of heat and a lot of friendship.  4 stars

Review copy provided by author, thanks so much!!

Wedded Women Quartet series
Best enjoyed in order

A Devil's Touch by Victoria Vane

This was a steamy yet satisfyingly tender vignette in Victoria Vane's superb DeVere series. If you have not read Diana and Ludovic's story, do not start here as this will feel a bit out of place. Diana and Ludovic are newly married and expecting their first child within the month.  Ludovic has been told to keep his hands off his wife (humor abounds here) but he does not tell Diana and Diana is worried he is up to his old, wild ways.  She hopes to entice him back to the bedroom but he flees to London to attend to some unexpected business....business that Diana fears involves another woman.  A confrontation ensures and the resulting passion is sure to make you blush.

I loved seeing a bit more into Diana and Ludovic's married life and this felt like an extra couple of chapters and I gobbled it up.  I loved how it is smoking hot yet at the same time, very true to their natures and very tender and sweet.  We get another glimpse of the characters who are coming up in the series and this was a great way to get a bit more back story on them.  Fans of Victoria Vane will devour this story and have a happy grin on their face when they are done with it.  I am a huge fan of Ms Vane and this is why.  4 1/2 stars

Review copy provided by the author, thanks!!

The Devil DeVere series
Best enjoyed in order, also in print
 
Upcoming books:
 
Devil By Another Name
A Devil in Diamonds

The Earl in My Bed by Sophie Jordan

This was a charming, delightful quick read about Paget, the daughter of a vicar, and Jamie, the new Earl of Winnigham.  Paget always thought she would marry Jamie's younger brother but with Owen off to war, she has come to realize her feelings are more platonic.  Jamie is suddenly stirring up new feelings that she never thought she could feel for this cold, uptight man.  Jamie knows that Paget belongs to Owen, even though there is no formal engagement, but with his new, unexpected duties, the girl from his childhood is beckoning to him, making him rethink his views of her just being a lowly vicars daughter.

Even though this is short, it packs quite a bit into the story.  Jamie always felt like an outcast amongst his brothers and Paget, envied their easy companionship and it has made Paget disregard him.  However, there is a spark that flares from Paget's bold treatment of Jamie and it was a pleasure watching Jamie uncover his true feelings and show a more softer side.  I did feel like the "I love yous" were a bit quick and easy but that comes with the shorter length.  This was a very appetizing story that has really piqued my interest in Owens story, which is next in this series, How to Lose a Bride in One Night and I know I will be reading it to see how he deals with this turn of events!  For a quick, emotionally satisfying romance with a dash of heat, this one is a solid choice.  3 1/2 stars

eARC provided by Avon Books via edelweiss

Forgotten Princesses series
This worked well as a stand alone

To Love a Thief by Darcy Burke

I have read all of Darcy Burke's full lengths and really enjoyed them and was happy to see she had a novella out and I was quite happy with it!  Jocelyn Renwick sees her late mothers necklace on a lady of the ton while acting as a chaperone at a ball and it spikes her curiosity since it was stolen and never recovered.  With her impulsive, bold nature she asks about the necklace and where it came from and gets a answer that she knows is false.  At the same ball she garners the attention of Daniel Carlyle, former constable and new viscount.  He was mentored about the ways of society since he never expected to be a viscount and the earl that mentors him just happens to be the man that has Jocelyn's belongings.  Not sure who to believe, the earl or Jocelyn, sends Daniel back to his roots in a quest for the truth.  Unfortunately, the truth turns out to be the worse kind and it endangers not just him, but also Jocelyn and the hope for a future together.

As with most novellas, I wish this was just a bit longer so we could have had more time to see the relationship develop between Jocelyn and Daniel but even so, I thought the length was done well.  The instant attraction sends sparks flying and the action keeps this couple coming back together.  Lies are told but truths are quickly revealed as well which I appreciated.  I liked how Daniel has been a constable and inherited a title he never expected to have or want and this is an area I would have liked just a bit more about, but again, it worked well within this novella.  Daniel is smart, loyal and confident and a wonderful foil to Jocelyn and her bold nature. You know who the villain is but how it all unraveled was a delight.  This novella has it all--action, romance, love and passion.  We get just enough glimpses of one of the upcoming heroes and I am very anxious to see how Ms Burke redeems him!  Lovely story for a lovely price.  4 stars

Secrets & Scandals
Can be read as stand alones, best enjoyed in order

Never Love a Scoundrel Winter 2013
Scoundrel Ever After Winter 2013