Unlocked by Courtney Milan

One of the best novellas I have read. This is a truly heartbreakingly beautiful story of a woman who was ridiculed her first season out and how she has dealt with the aftermath. When the man who started the taunting returns ten years later to make amends, you get to see the ostrich bloom into a beautiful swan. She stands strong against temptation and will make you shed a few tears throughout the process. A truly excellent story of overcoming bullying that is truly beautifully written and worth way more that the $.99 price tag! Oh, and the cover is spot on for a pivotal moment in the story which I love!

The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane

I have eagerly been anticipating the debut novel of Stefanie Sloane ever since I saw the gorgeous covers for all three back to back releases and then Julia Quinn added her recommendation of her to the mix as well. And I have to say, after months of waiting, I wasn't too disappointed. Yes, this is a storyline line that has been used often before...the secret spy, Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont is tasked to protect Lady Lucinda Grey and the easiest way to go about this is to pretend to court her. But Clairemont has developed quite a rakish reputation through the ton (due to his work) and Lucinda has already turned down numerous suitors, who seem to mainly be after her for her fortune. Lucinda has a hard time believing that this rake is ready to settle down but Clairemont has the one thing that she most desires....a horse. He strikes a bargain with her and the courtship begins.

Lucindas three aunts, the Furies as they are known, add some wonderful fun characters to the book! They each have there own styles and give Clairemont quite the run about when they first meet him. They too have a hard time believing this rake is reforming but as they all want his prized stallion for their horse breeding business, they agree to let Lucinda entertain his courtship. Of course as the story progresses, the truth about Clairemonts "courtship" comes to life and Lucinda leaves him, breaking both of their hearts in the process, though Clairemont believes he is unlovable due to his rough childhood. Lucinda offers him her heart and he throws it back in her face, believing it is for the best.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book that was face paced with some danger and great characters. It just didn't have that 'wow' feel that I wanted. I didn't love Clairemont but thats ok, he did redeem himself. I didn't really like the ending that much...I mean, I'm glad Lucinda got to be the strong one but it did not feel totally right for me. I would have liked to seen a bit more of her aunts and I would have liked a bit more of Clairemonts history and his work with the Young Corinthians. But still, I enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to the next two books and many more from Ms Sloane!! 4 stars

(On a total side note, I was really disappointed with the editing of my ebook. I mean, I paid $7.99 for this thing and I wish there had not many so many errors. I wish I would have kept track when I was reading it, rather annoying)

Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase

Marcelline Noirot is on her way to becoming the greatest dressmaker in all of London, she just needs one big splash from a high profile client and she has found it in the the future Duchess of Clevedon. But since Lady Clara is not officially the Duke of Clevedons bride yet, Marcelline and her two sisters create an elaborate plan to seduce Clevedon with their fashions and bring his new bride to them. Marcelline sets of to Paris where Clevedon has been the past few years, sowing his oats. She observes his habits and plans to make quite an introduction to him at an opera and her boldness captivates Clevedon immediately. When the heat gets to be a bit to much for Marcelline, she tries to make a quick exit to London but Clevedon follows her and surprises her by joining her on the return trip, which turns out to be a good thing as their ship encounters a rough storm.

Back in London, neither one of them can quite forget each other but Clevedon goes about his duty to pursue Lady Clara, with whom he has had an understanding to marry since childhood. He does bring Lady Clara to Marcellines shop and she is able to secure her high profile client that she needs. Then a tragedy happens that throws everything into a tail spin and keeps the scandal tongues working overtime. After all, how can a duke fall for a lowly dressmaker, especially while his almost fiancee is watching?

This was such a fun, fascinating read! I loved how the sisters are dressmakers and we get to see quite a bit of that and how much fashion meant to them. I loved how self confident, bossy, and caring Marcelline was. I loved how Clevedon calls Marcelline Noirot through half the book because he doesn't know her full name. I loved how Clevedon starts out the book not caring about fashion at all but grows to notice it and develop his own ideas. Now, I was a bit concerned about the cheating angle but since Clevedon is never officially engaged to Lady Clara it was a concern that did not need to be worried about. I do hope Lady Clara is featured in a story sometime as it was wonderful to see her grow into herself throughout this story and she certainly deserves her own happily-ever-after! Sigh, when Clevedon tells Marcelline his true feelings for her and her reaction to that, so heartbreaking and sweet at the same time! But as Marcelline has never revealed her true past to him, she feels it is necessary. Thankfully, her sisters set her straight and all works out in the end. I am really looking for to the other two sisters books and hope, again, that Lady Clara turns up again as well. If you are looking for a fun (I laughed quite a bit at all the batter between these two!), sexy, fascinating read, grab this one! 4 1/2 stars

I received this ebook via netgalley.com

How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries

Lady Minerva Sharpe has no illusions to marry as she writes gothic novels and refuses to bend to her husbands demands, but her grandmothers ultimatum that all her grandchildren must marry within the year to gain their inheritances throws a wrench in her plan. So when the roguish Giles Masters turns up and proposes marriage she decides to accept...but only to thwart her grandmother who surely will not want such a gambling rogue in the family! Too bad Giles is the man she has been in love with since she was a girl and he showed her tenderness at her parents funeral. Too bad these two shared a passionate kiss almost ten years ago that neither one has been able to forget.

Giles Masters arrives at Minervas home to stop her hair-brained idea to marry any old gentleman off the streets, which are all arriving at her home due to her published a request for all marriage minded men to arrive at her home, just to displease her grandmother. So Giles proposes marriage and agrees to her idea to try to rile her grandmother. Too bad he tells her grandmother everything as Giles has true feelings for Minerva and truly wants to marry her. But Giles also has another reason for approaching Minerva...she has based her evil character Rockton from her books on him and some private details from their past are a little to close to the surface and he needs her to stop writing him. Giles is actually a undercover spy for the government and can not have his past deeds come to light.

Watching these two resist each other when they obviously have feelings for each other was fun. I loved how Giles is a barrister and we got a glimpse of a trail which was different and enjoyable. I loved Minervas brothers and their over protectiveness of her, even though Giles is a family friend. They do not think he is a good match for her based on his past, but his past is all a sham to cover up him true past and shame. The story moved along very nicely with just enough intrigue to keep you going. Their is a continuing theme of the investigation into the Sharpes childrens parents horrible death so it may be a good idea to read the previous two books, but I think you could get along nicely if you choose not too. I know I am looking forward to the concluding two books in this great series! 4 stars

The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

Jill Shalvis has proven again why she is one of my favorite contemporary authors with her second book in the Lucky Harbor series. Tara, nicknamed The Steel Magnolia, has no true intentions on staying in Lucky Harbor after she helps her sisters get their inn up and running. After all, her past is all to real here and staring her in the face day in and day out in the form of the delicious Ford. The attraction that Tara and Ford had as teenagers is all too real still nineteen years later and Tara tries to ignore it but (thankfully) she loses the battle. Holy cow, hottness with these two! When Taras ex-husband arrives in town to try to win her back, she tells him absolutely not but that does not stop this small town from turning it into a competition and both males have no problem helping the matter along with displays of manly accomplishments. Another wrench gets thrown into the mix when Tara and Fords past comes back in a big way.

Overall, another fun, extremely sexy book that is a perfect beach read. Looking forward to the next installment Head Over Heels with all the sexual tension that was displayed in this book! Should be fun and hot again *g* 4 stars!

How to Marry a Duke by Vicki Dreiling

Tristan, Duke of Shelbourne, has decided it is time to leave his youth behind and get a wife and take his duties as Duke seriously. He has many requirements but wants a woman, not some young debutante girl. When he accidentally steps on a fan and meets the lovely gaze of a woman, he is smitten. But when he learns her identity as a matchmaker who has declared that she will never marry, Tristan decides to hire Tessa. Tessa enjoys her matchmaking business as she helps the painfully shy and overlooked wallflowers find their own happiness but she knows that a successful match of a duke will give her the coup she wants. But here the fun begins! Instead of having just one woman for Tristan meet, Tessa does something daring. She invites twenty some young ladies to her home all at once and announces that they are all competing for the dukes hand (very much like our modern day show, The Bachelor.) Tristan initially refuses, he is persuaded by Tessa that this is the best course of action....plus he has a hard time denying Tessa anything already *g*

Sigh, I really enjoyed this book. For a debut novel it was excellent!! It is funny, sweet, sexy, emotional and guaranteed to leave a smile on your face. I am sad that I do not have a back list to devour and I can not wait for the next book in this series, How to Seduce a Scoundrel to come out in July. It was so much fun watching Tristan and Tessa trying to ignore their growing feelings for each other, after all, Tristan had committed himself to finding a wife and he couldn't just stop the courtships and choose the matchmaker! I was happy that Tristan truly did not develop any feelings for any of the other woman, other than friendship. All his emotions were for Tessa alone. And oh, sigh, the ending...what a beautiful ending! I highly recommend this one and look forward to more! 4 1/2 stars