The Reluctant Countess by Wendy Vella

The Reluctant Countess is such a perfect name for this story! Sophie became the Countess of Monmouth under a bit of a scandalous way. . . just before the death of the Earl, so when she suddenly shows up in society, with a child, people are suspicious and no one more so than Patrick, Earl of Coutler (and naturally, Myles, the man who thought he would inherit the earldom).  He is determined to find out the truth behind the ice beauty and how she came to be so high up in station.  Little does he know how he will fall hard for Sophie and need to have her in his life permanently.

I really enjoyed watching Sophie and Patrick fall for each other.  Her secret is revealed at a time that I really appreciated (not dragged out for the whole story) and it helps move their relationship forward with no pretenses and that was such a nice change of pace!  Patrick is determined and bold, looking for the love and laughter he was denied as the only child of his parents, molded to be the earl only.  Sophie projects herself as cold and aloof when underneath she is strong, caring and willing to do whatever it takes to protect what is hers.  There is a strong sense of family, honor and protection and it adds some wonderful secondary characters that you grow to love as well.  I also liked how the story really just focused on their growing romance but the action came at a time when it was needed to move the story along without overshadowing a wonderful romance.  Patrick is a bit heavy with his pet names, 'my sweet' 'sweetheart' etc, which is just a pet peeve of mine and Sophie also could have been a bit more expressive beyond 'oooh' but it did not detract from the story much for me.  There is also a secondary romance between Sophie's best friend and Patrick's best friend that I wished was almost its own story because I felt like their was so much more to tell about that couple.  Hopefully it will be.  Overall, a grand debut filled with a lovely romance that has the right balance of heat and heart with just a dash of action to keep it interesting.  4 stars

eARC provided by LoveSwept (Random House) via netgalley

New Covers

Some new covers that I found recently. . .

Karen Hawkins shared her upcoming covers this past week.  How to Pursue a Princess (love that title!) is book two in her Duchess Diaries series and will be out May 21st.  Love the pretty background colors.

And before that she has a novella coming out!  Princess in Disguise, which has my attention based on the title alone, will be out February 25th.  I am so glad that the publishers are taking the time to make nice covers even for their novellas.  This one is nice and sexy and I love the staircase.

What the Duke Desires kicks off a new series for Sabrina Jeffries!  I got behind on her last series but I really enjoyed what I read so I'm looking forward to this one.  I love seeing corsets on covers :)  Look for this June 18th.

A new Tessa Dare cover!  A new Tessa Dare cover!  Love it!  So, so excited for Any Duchess Will Do :)  It's purplish-pink and pretty and lovely and I love the little sparkle on the bottom of her dress.  And I love that there is a step back!!  So sad to see hardly any books with these anymore!  Sob, why can't it be May 28th yet?

I saw this one up on Goodreads.  Love it!  Her dress is such a pretty color and I love that she is blowing a kiss.  A new Julia Quinn is always a treat so The Sum of All Kisses will be picked up on June 25th.

A Little Night Mischief looks to a a debut set for release June 4th.  It's a kind of nice to see the male wearing a shirt for a change and I love the background detail.  This features a heroine determined to keep her estate after it is gambled away by disguising herself as a ghost...which the hero does not fall for.  I will be keeping my eye out on this one.

Ooh, pretty pretty!  And Then Comes Marriage is book two in Celeste Bradley's new series, starting at the end of this month.  I have yet to read anything by her but heard good things about the first book so I am going to give her a try and hopefully be picking up this one July 30th.

Well, there you go!  Lots of great covers again.  Any new titles caught your eye?

Last Chance Christmas by Hope Ramsay

Lark Chaikin has come to the town of Last Chance shortly before Christmas at the deathbed request of her father, Abe Chaikin, to spread his ashes on the eighteenth hole of the Golfing for God mini golf course.  Lark was not able to find out why he wanted that spot as his last resting place but she was determined to carry out his request.  Lark is a Pulitzer prize-winning photographer famous for her photographs of war.  She recently witnessed the shooting death of her partner while they were filming in a war zone.  Although she had witnessed a lot of violence, this had taken its toll on her and she isn't sure she can take photographs again.

Last Chance Police Chief, Stone Rhodes, is a widower with two daughters and a man still mourning the death of his wife killed by a drunk driver.  A good man and father, he has just not been able to let his wife go.

Thinking she could just walk up and spread her father's ashes on what appeared to be an abandoned golf course, Lark is confronted by Chief Rhodes and told in no uncertain terms that her father was not liked when he was there in 1968 as he encouraged a young black woman, Nita Wills, to have breakfast with him at the Kountry Kitchen cafe.  She was the first black person to do so.  The town viewed Abe as a trouble maker.  

We encounter lots of wonderful southern characters in this small town where everyone knows everyone else's business and gossip spreads like wildfire.  So, sit back and read the action as Lark and Stone are drawn to one another; murder is committed; young love is discovered; angels find their way to Heaven; and Christmas takes over the town bringing happiness and joy.

This was my first time reading Hope Ramsey's "Last Chance" book series so I admit I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading "Last Chance Christmas."  But it turned out to be like discovering a new and tasty flavor of popcorn.  Yummy!  A truly delightful novel and a must read.  Four stars

Review copy provided by publisher, thanks!

**Reviewed by Connie**

Last Chance series

His Contract Bride by Rose Gordon

Regina Harris falls in love with Edward Banks at first glance and when a year later, he asks her father for her hand in marriage, she is elated as he obviously felt the connection the few moments they were together.  She goes into her marriage with a full heart and a strong desire to please Edward and help him in any way she can and if thats helping with with his scientific findings, that is what she will do.  Her world comes crashing down when she learns the truth of their marriage--it was an arrangement, Edward does not love her.  Edward waits for Regina to blow up at him and he feels he deserves it for not telling her the truth right away, but Regina just gets quiet and puts up a wall.  She strives to due all her wifely duties but it becomes apparent that their entire relationship has changed and it is up to Edward to fix it.  What follows is a discovery not only for Edward but for Regina as well and watching this couple brought together by a contract fall in love with each other is a delight to read!

I just adored Edward!  I always love a scientific nerd and he is a good one but I admired him for trying to fix his mistake with Regina and all the ways he goes about doing so.  He really tries to maker Regina happy for herself and only herself as her father and brother certainly never cared.  All her father wants from her is a better place in society as he has no title and now that Regina has one, he expects too much from her.  Regina just cowers to him in the beginning but with Edwards help, she finally is able to stand up for herself and I was there cheering her on!  Regina has no problem speaking her mind to Edward so it was a relief to see her find the courage to stand up to her father.  I usually do not like stories built on a misunderstanding but this one was very well done and the secret was laid out fairly early on so it became a story of redemption instead.  What was also unique about this novel is that Edward was not a rake and no intention of being one, I feel it is always nice to read a story without the rake sometimes, without someone so skilled in the bedroom.  It was also nice to not have an underlining mystery, it is really just about Regina and Edward and family relationships.   A lovely story of young love, redemption, discovery with humor and smarts.  4 stars

Banks Brothers Brides

                                                     2013

Thoughts for 2013. . .

It's hard to believe we have flipped over to a whole new year!  I'm looking forward to putting 2012 behind me and seeing what 2013 brings!  My 2012 ended on a rough note for me with losing my job right before the holidays but then I was blown away by the generosity of  someone I know online only and I can't wait to be back on my feet and find a way to pay it forward.  So that really helped brighten my mood and I am determined to keep it :)

My biggest goal for this year is to read some of the books I already own and not concentrate so much on review books.  I hope to only do around 4-6 review books a month and dedicate the rest to reading my huge pile of books I own, either paperback or ebook.  I probably have 200ish that I own and really want to read right now...eek!  So my blog may seem a bit quieter than before but I will still be here :)

So what books am I most looking forward to?  Here are a few:

I'm sure you all know how much I adore Sarah MacLean so it should come at now surprise that this is at the top of my list :)

Loving this series and I eagerly await each new Elizabeth Hoyt! If you have not yet read this series, you must start in order!

No cover yet but I fell in love with Tessa Dare last year and I am so impatient for this one! I look forward to reading her backlist this year.

The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie. Daniel's story. Finally. Can't wait.  It is going to be a long wait until October.

This one has caught my eye for something different.  The blurb has really intrigued me, so much so, I pre ordered it.  Buzz has been good so far surrounding it as well.  Love the cover :)

Well, thats my top 5 for now!  I have plenty more I am excited about so here is to a great reading year in 2013!  What are some of your top reads for the new year?

Too Dangerous to Desire by Cara Elliott

Sophie Lawrance is the oldest of the three daughters of a widowed clergyman who is slowly sinking into dementia.  Sophie has resigned herself to be a spinster and hopes to see her younger sisters marry well.  She is being blackmailed to prove that her father was not stealing from the church before he retired.  Sophie knows this cannot be true but is at a loss to find any proof to the contrary.  Cameron Daggett is a former childhood friend of Sophie's.  Along with two of his friends, he is part of the Hellhounds which is a group of men who work underground supposedly for the good of others.  Cameron encounters Sophie leaving a seedy gaming hell where she had gone to meet her blackmailer to give him yet another small payment.  Cameron agrees to teach her some of his lock picking and thieving skills to try and find the proof that her father is innocent.  In their meetings, their attraction begins to grow stronger and both become very involved in solving this mystery.  In searching for this proof, she is also searching for the proof that Cameron parents were married thus making him the true Lord Wolcott and not the bastard son of his father. 

I can honestly say that I found this novel a bit silly and unclear at times.  Perhaps it's because I have not read the first two novels.  While I liked that character of Sophie, I felt that Cameron appeared to have a devil-may-care attitude throughout the story.  I have read other Cara Elliott's novels but, unfortunately, this one is not a favorite.  3 stars

**Reviewed by Connie**

Review copy provided by publisher, thanks!

Lords of Midnight series
Best enjoyed in order