Review: Days of Rakes and Roses

Reviewed by Jen
 

If you are looking for a sweet and sexy second-chance- at-love story, look no further.  This one hit the spot for me!

Lydia has spent the last 10 years mourning her chance lost love with Simon. They were caught in her father's barn together --just before they could, er, cross the threshold in their relationship.  Her father tossed him out and Simon left the country.  Even though her father died five years ago, she has heard nothing from him. And no man has ever made her feel what Simon did.  At some point, though, she realized that he may never come back and she made herself move on.

Now Lydia is engaged to be married to another man. She doesn't love him, of course, but it's a good match.  It's at her engagement ball that Simon makes his comeback. Lydia's brother summoned him to stop the wedding.  He's sure that his sister would be miserable with a man she doesn't love.  But it's not as easy as he hoped to reunite her with his old friend.  She was so hurt by Simon's abandonment and it has eradicated her ability to trust a man.  How could she trust him, of all people, with her heart again?

What I liked about this story was that Simon was just as miserable as Lydia over the past decade. He left to protect her reputation and muddled through life just as heartbroken as she did.  And when they were reunited, they both still felt that long ago love for one another.  Yes, there were roadblocks, but there weren't too many and they didn't feel contrived.  It was just right for the length of the story.

This is part of Anna Campbell's Sons of Sin series, and while I loved Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed (and totally think you should read it) you don't have to be familiar with the previous book to enjoy this one.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Forever via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Days of Rakes and Roses

by Anna Campbell

Release Date: July 2, 2013

Publisher: Forever

Review: Miss Watson's First Scandal

Reviewed by Janell
 

This is a historical novella, set in a Regency-esque time period, but in the resort town of Brighton so there aren’t any balls or country house parties, just some swimming and friendly dinners. This book is the first in a series, and as such it introduces a core group of characters who live in Brighton and will have adventures in further books.

David Hawke is a rich bachelor banker. He visits Brighton once a year and hangs out with his friends and the menfolk all swim naked in the surf every morning. His friend Peter Watson lives next door, along with Peter’s sister Abigail. On the other side of them lives Abigail’s best friend Imogen, and Imogen’s brother. I guess no one has elderly parents in Brighton.

Anyhow, David has come to foreclose on Peter’s house because Peter is an unemployed gambler. Abigail knows they’re in financial trouble because she’s sneaky like that, and she tries to find a way to delay the foreclosure. When David agrees to consider it, she kisses him in gratitude. It’s her first kiss, she’s curious, she kisses him again.

That’s the setup. David is eight years older than Abigail. He hasn’t been waiting for her to mature so he can seduce her. He’s just been banking in London, too busy to feed himself or sleep or get married. Banking is serious business, you see. Abigail has not been crushing on David, either. He’s just been sort of there. Their kiss is out of the blue and gets them thinking about each other in different ways. I would like to say that sparks fly and eyes are opened and all that, but I didn’t feel it. I felt more like it was in the background of all their other problems, an afterthought.

I was underwhelmed by this book. Abigail’s forward actions didn’t ring true for her upbringing, and she seemed too sheltered to understand what she was getting into after this exchange: “Then you don’t really mind me being here.” “No. In fact, I think it would be best for you to stay.” When she nods, he scoops her up and carries her to bed. That’s the seduction, and it didn’t make me swoon.

A subplot involving Imogen’s secret identity was random and too convenient, probably laying groundwork for a future novel. I didn’t like how it was handled, though, probably because I didn’t have any sense of Imogen’s character. She mostly sat in her bedroom and talked to Abigail, which made me seriously wonder at first if she were handicapped and incapable of leaving her house.

You know how most Regency (if not all) romances end happily, and then there’s an epilogue showing off a delightful marriage and children? This epilogue was… wrong. It’s like how, when your favorite tv show is going to have a spinoff series, they spend an episode with new characters and settings and try to get you interested. If the new stuff is good, then you might get excited. But if not, you’re just mad that you don’t get to see your regular characters doing regular things. In the case of this book, I wasn’t even that invested in the original characters, but I would have liked them to have some screen time together. Resolving a final romantic problem in an epilogue without one of the romantic partners present is, well, lame.

Rating: C

*ARC Provided by LLD Press via NetGalley

Miss Watson's First Scandal

by Heather Boyd

Release Date: July 2, 2013

Publisher: LLD Press

Review: An English Bride in Scotland

Reviewed by Jen
 

If you are in the mood for a light and sweet historical, you've come to the right place.  This is a pleasant, enjoyable, and fast read... featuring a daughter no one wanted, finding happiness in the life that her sister threw away.

Annabel was sent to live at an abbey at the age of seven and has lived there ever since, trying to make the best of her lot in life.  She hasn't done well in her training. She enjoys life too much, enjoys food, laughter, and simple joys.  But the abbey is all she has ever known.  So when her mother appears out of the blue and whisks her back to the home she hasn't seen in more than a decade, she has no idea what to make of it.

It turns out that her parents promised the hand of their eldest daughter to the son of an old ally.  Unfortunately, Annabel's big sister Kate ran away with the stable boy and that leaves Annabel to take her place.  She resigns herself to do her parents' bidding, despite the fact she is completely unprepared to be a wife or to run an estate.

Ross is attracted to Annabel right away.  He sees her beauty on the inside and out, and their marriage of convenience quickly becomes one in truth. It's really very sweet. There's not really an internal conflict; no lies or stupid choices.  No big misunderstanding.  We just get to watch these two fall in love.  Ross is a noble and good leader to his people. He is a caring and understanding husband.  Annabel is pure of heart. She wants to be a good wife to her new husband and a good lady to his people. How could you not root for these two?

It's not all smooth sailing. Someone is trying to kidnap Annabel.  The big issue of the book centers on keeping her safe while figuring out who is after her and way.  When all is revealed, it's a fairly satisfying conclusion.  It's not very deep.  By that, I mean, it is not in anyway emotionally taxing or challenging.  But sometimes, a feel good story is what you need.  The love story is nice; the sex is good; and the plot wasn't overly predictable.  There were times some of the characters stretched close to caricatures, especially members of Annabel's family.  But overall, I found it an enjoyable read.

Rating: B-

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

An English Bride in Scotland

by Lynsay Sands

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: It Happened One Midnight

Reviewed by Jen
 

I am a big fan of Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green series; and I did like this latest installment, but it took me a while to warm up to it.  The romance was a very slow burn and I found myself impatient through the first half, waiting to get to the romance.  It's a friendship to love story and it seemed like the friendship part lasted a long time.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but just as it took our couple awhile to get on board with the lovin' -- it took me just as long to get excited about them together.

Our hero, Jonathan, is the youngest of the Redmond clan.  Few people take him seriously, especially not his father.  But there is more to Jonathan than meets the eye. Behind his good looks and rakish charm, he has a mind for business.  He even has a lucrative venture in mind.   Unfortunately, his father won't give him the backing he needs. Even worse, he demands Jonathan marry an "appropriate" woman or be cut off financially from the family.

Thomasina --Tommy-- exists on the fringe of society. She is no proper lady, but she is no courtesan either. She helps plays hostess to popular parties, and is universally desired by the men who frequent them.  Her carefree and attractive persona is a just a mask she wears, however. She lives hand to mouth, comes from a difficult childhood, and has a higher calling that constantly places her in danger.

In meeting Jonathan, Tommy finds a kindred spirit. They have the same wit and social parrying skills.  They see through each other's bullshit, frankly, and come out friends because of it.  And it's a good long while before it progresses beyond that. In the interim, they end up showing each other their true selves... something few others ever see.  By the time they start to see each other with romantic interest, they are so close, they can't imagine living without each other, despite all the common sense reasons they should be with other people.

I liked the characters. I liked the plot and I thought Tommy's cause was a great one.  I felt for her as she struggled without anyone to love her. I loved that she maintained her independence and worked to live up to her personal morality.  Jonathan, meanwhile, was sexy and an interesting blend of earnest and jaded.   But I never burned for them to get together.  Sure, it was nice once they did --and the book picked up at that point-- but I didn't feel much tension between the two of them in the first half.  First they were friends; then they were briefly friends with (less than sex) benefits; then true lovers.  I guess the tension was supposed to be in that middle phase but it was underwhelming.  Not bad by any stretch. I just wasn't excited.

I had hoped to love it more.

Rating: B-

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

It Happened One Midnight

by Julie Anne Long

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: The Mad Earl's Bride

Reviewed by Jen
 

This book had great potential. The premise hit my tortured hero hot buttons. But sadly, this one did not do it for me.  It wasn't bad. It was just (*whispers*) kind of boring at times --and completely unbelievable at others.

So the setup is this: Dorian thinks he is dying of a brain disease. His mother had the same ghostly visions and blinding headaches, mere months before she started pulling out her hair, got institutionalized and died.  If her story is anything to go by, he hasn't got long and there is some crazy in his future.  The thing is, though, Dorian is the Earl of Rawnsley and when he dies, his line dies with him.  That idea is actually ok with him, but a well meaning acquaintance takes matters into his own hands and sets Dorian up with a bride.

Gwen is fascinated by the mysteries of the body and the mind. She would have been a doctor had she only been born man.  So she figures she can accomplish two things by marrying Dorian: studying his illness up close and, once he dies, use his money to help open a hospital for the poor.  Finding himself drawn to the unusual redhead, Dorian agrees to the marriage.  From there, it's only a hop, skip, and a jump for the marriage of convenience to become the real-deal.

With my deep-seeded love of tortured heroes, I was all ready for to hear about his misery, and how he was going to protect Gwen from loving him and whatnot.  But it was... meh. I was bored a few times and had to fight the urge to skim.  And then came my Issues.  First, I had some trouble believing Gwen's family would marry her off to a guy they think is truly crazy.  Then, I thought the nature of Dorian's illness was painfully obvious from the very beginning (you probably could figure it out from the review) --making the big reveal anticlimactic.  On top of that, he's a guy that goes from guzzling laudanum to stopping cold turkey with absolutely no effects.  I was just like... wha?

I will say that despite his maudlin tendencies, I liked Dorian.  He treated Gwen well and I believed he did everything in his power to make her happy. Plus, Gwen was independent and (marrying a crazy stranger aside) smart.  The sex was pretty good and ending was satisfying, albeit more than a little predictable.

This novella was previously published as part of the anthology Three Weddings and a Kiss.

Rating: C

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Mad Earl's Bride

by Loretta Chase

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: Any Duchess Will Do

Reviewed by Jen
 

You can't go wrong with the Spindle Cove series. This fourth installment throws together an unlikely pair, but it totally delivers on everything I have come to love about these books.  It's charming; it's sexy; it has superbly drawn characters; and I completely believed in the romance.

Griffin York is a wealthy and successful duke known more for his debauchery than anything else.  His mother is desperate for him to marry and produce an heir, but she is having no luck convincing him to give her a grandchild. So she takes him to Spindle Cove with an offer in hand. He can pick any woman there and she'll turn make her into a duchess inside of a month. If she is successful, Griff will propose; if not, his mother promises never to pursue the issue again.  Thinking himself quite clever, he chooses the least likely duchess he can find: a serving girl named Pauline.

Pauline has no social graces, but she works hard and cares deeply for her disabled sister. When Griff makes his offer, she decides to ride it out. He even sweetens the pot by offering her cash to foil his mother's plans. Unfortunately, neither counted on how quickly they would fall for one another.

Obviously, this is Pygmalion-esque, but there are other things going on to give it a fresh feel. Most notably, that includes the real reason Griff refuses to wed.  It's not a big shocker or anything, but his circumstances give his character much more depth --and make him very sympathetic.  True, he is an asshat at times, but it was never so much that I couldn't forgive or understand why he was acting the way he did.  Dare has crafted an emotionally fragile man who simply doesn't know how to deal with his own tragic loss.  And it's very satisfying to watch Pauline help him face his demons and allow hope back into his heart.

Pauline comes a long way in a short time, and I didn't completely buy that she would progress so much in just a few days. However, it was easy to push that away because I enjoyed the romance so much, I just wanted to concentrate on that.  The sexual tension is good. The payoff is hot.  --I loved that she wasn't a virgin and I equally loved Griff's reaction when he found out.

All in all, I really liked this one --and would definitely recommend.  You don't have to read the other Spindle Cove books to jump in. Though we do revisit some of the characters and events, this works great as a stand-alone.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

Any Duchess Will Do

by Tessa Dare

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: Beauty and the Blacksmith

Reviewed by Jen
 

Oh Tessa Dare, you had me at "blacksmith." My only complaint about this fantastic little Spindle Cove novella is that is wasn't a full length book.  I really enjoyed it.  And for the record, it works easily as a standalone, even if you've never read from the series before.

Our heroine, Diana, is a gentlewoman, but she only has eyes for Aaron, the town smithy.  For years, she has held a torch for him in silence, finding reasons to visit the forge --even if she has to break her own jewelry.  Aaron is just as smitten as she is, but never dreamed there could be a chance for him with their difference in social station.  But he's starting to realize there may be a reason for all of her visits.  So he decides to take a chance and call her on it.

Diana doesn't admit her feelings immediately, but it doesn't take long.  The story follows the two of them as they begin to spend more time together, to see if something more than a friendship can ever bloom between them.

I love the lady and the lower-class man trope. Especially when the heroine sees the value of her hero and never considers herself better than him.  I loved how Aaron worried that he wasn't good enough, yet he did everything right.  The romance was sweet, but it had solid sexual tension and a very satisfying payoff.

It was very good and I would definitely recommend.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

Beauty and the Blacksmith

by Tessa Dare

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: Lord of Wicked Intentions

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have to say that I have liked all three installments of the Lost Lords of Pembrook.  And while this book wasn't my favorite of the three, I still enjoyed it.  As with the books featuring his brothers, Rafe's story delivers on the recurring elements of a tortured hero and a love that helps him find peace and redemption.

Rafe is the youngest Easton brother, the one who was left behind in a workhouse after his uncle killed his father.  His life there --and later, on the streets-- has turned him into a very hard man.  He never got over his brothers' desertion and as a result, he has never allowed himself to care for anyone since.  Add to that a severe aversion to being touched and he's not exactly a knight in shining armor.

He meets Evelyn when her jerkwad of a half-brother tried to auction her off to be a mistress for a nobleman.  Rafe's not in the market for a mistress, but he is drawn to Eve and he can't bear the thought of her belonging to someone else.  So he takes her for his own.

When Eve's brother set up the party that night, she thought he was trying to find her a husband.  It wasn't until she was delivered to Rafe's door that she found out what was intended for her.  And then she had a choice to make: give up her virtue or be turned out on the streets.

Before you get too mad at Rafe, know he never forces himself on her. He's not a fraction of the monster he thinks he is. Generally, I am all over the tortured hero with an underdeveloped sense of self-worth.  And it wasn't that I disliked him, it's just there were times he was little too emo.  On top of that, I wasn't really satisfied with explanation on the touching thing.  I don't want to give it away, but his reaction seemed like it was perhaps an issue of a sexual nature.  For what it turned out to be, claustrophobia would have been a more reasonable reaction than an aversion to hugs, sheets, or clothing.

All that being said, I did enjoy watching his losing battle with himself as he fought not to fall in love with Eve. How he lies to himself about his feelings from the very beginning.  It's easy to see why he connects with Eve.  He empathizes with her plight; he knows what it's like to be left with only horrible choices to survive. Yet she doesn't break. In fact, she becomes someone he can lean on. (The sexy times are really good too.)

We're treated to time spent with the couples from the previous books, which I liked. But this can easily work as a standalone.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

Lord of Wicked Intentions

by Lorraine Heath

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: Unraveled

Reviewed by Jen
 

Smite Turner is a very damaged man.  Raised by a mother who went mad and nearly killed him, he has made Justice his life's mission.  A magistrate for the court, he's married to his duty.  Nothing comes before his need to do right.

But when Miranda makes her second appearance as a witness in his courtroom, he remembers that she once went by a different name and had a different color hair.  He doesn't know why she is pretending to be someone else now, but he is intrigued enough to follow her and confront her about it.

Miranda doesn't want to get in trouble, but she is indebted to a local crime boss. Either she does what's asked of her, or her young ward Robbie will pay the price.  That was the reason she had jobs to do in and around the court and why Smite spied her there a third and fourth time.  She tried to run from him, but he caught up with her --and that would have been bad enough-- but then Robbie saw the confrontation and lobbed Smite over the head.  The fallout from that, and Robbie's later brush with the law, draws Smite and Miranda together over and over.  Finally, he decides to no longer fight his attraction to her and asks her to be his mistress.

The arrangement is only supposed to last a month and feelings are never supposed to come into play.  But Miranda can't help falling for Smite as she learns the intricacies of his character.  She respects his devotion to his calling and understands the effects his childhood have had on him.  And though Smite tries his hardest, Miranda cracks the tough shell he carries around him like a shield.

I really enjoyed the book and one of the things I liked best is that Courtney Milan didn't take the obvious route.  When she's got her back up against the wall, Miranda doesn't make the eye-rolling, frustrating decisions most heroines in HR would.  (You know, the one that would set up the big conflict readers know could have been avoided if she weren't a giant idiot.)  She makes the smart choice instead.  We don't have any big misunderstandings; any lies that loom over the path to happiness.  The conflicts --both internal and external-- never felt contrived.  They all felt organic to the characters and their circumstances.

I loved poor, screwed-up Smite. And that Milan didn't try to fix him.  He simply found some measure of peace in the woman he loves.  The romance is great; the pacing and action were just right; and the sex was satisfying too. Another winner from Courtney Milan.

Rating: B+

Click to purchase: Amazon

Unraveled
by Courtney Milan
Release Date: December 9, 2011

Review: Hero of My Heart

Reviewed by Jen
 

I have mixed feelings about this one.  There were things about it I really, really liked. But there were others that really bothered me.  There was definite potential there; it just didn't quite hit the mark across the board.

One of the things I liked best was the set-up... and the hero. (Yes, that's two things; sue me.)  The story begins with a drugged out Alisdair witnessing a woman's virginity being put up for auction at a tavern.  Even in his condition, he can't let Mary go home with one of the beasts in the bar, so he buys her himself.  He decides he is going to save her. He'll get her out of the hellhole where he found her, marry her, then crawl off to overdose somewhere.

You see, Alisdair is an opium addict and has been ever since the death of his brother. Everyone he ever loved is dead and he doesn't have much to live for. Until Mary enters his life. The lovely vicar's daughter enchants him.  Quickly, their unorthodox pairing turns into something more.  But her horrible half brother is on their trail, trying to steal her back. And Alisdair's greedy cousin is right along with him, hoping to prove Alisdair incompetent --to steal his money.

There's danger --and there's action-- but it takes a backseat to watching Alisdair and Mary fall for one another.  Alisdair is a great tortured soul, who is nearing the bottom of the barrel.  Mary has nothing; no family, no money, no choices. Yet she manages to soothe his damaged heart.  She becomes the substitute for the drugs he has grown so dependent on. Which is where things kind of fall apart.

We're supposed to believe Alisdair is a hard-core junkie, but the ease in which he kicks his addiction is absurd.  I kept waiting for the effects: the shakes, the vomiting, the consuming need.  But nope.  The book had several overly convenient developments and dropped plotlines.  Like what happened to Mary's brother.  It was pretty significant, but never referenced again.  Or what really happened between Mary's parents.  A huge element of the story for the heroine, but never really explained.

Which leads me to the worst thing about the book.  I never bought into the conflict that drove these two apart.  Mary kept thinking about how much she didn't want to leave Alisdair and I never really understood why she felt she had to.  We sort of got an explanation for that, but it was lame.  As was the reason he pushed her away.  It felt completely contrived.

All these issues were a shame because I really liked these characters. I rooted for them.  I loved them together; I loved how they healed each other; And the sex was hot.  There were just too many other things wrong to overlook here.

Rating: C

*ARC Provided by Random House

Hero of My Heart

by Megan Frampton

Release Date: April 8, 2013

Publisher: Loveswept/ Random House

Review: And Then She Fell

Reviewed by Jen
 

I know there is much more to a book than the sex scenes. In fact, I have read some very good books that had no sex scenes in them at all. But just like bad sex can ruin a relationship, so too can it ruin a book.  Especially when the book was just ok to start with.

OK. That sounds harsh. Let me back up a little.

And Then She Fell is the latest installment in Stephanie Laurens uber-huge Cynster series.  It focuses on Henrietta Cynster, who has come to be known as "the Matchbreaker." She has made it her mission to help young ladies weed out the fortune seekers among potential suitors.  At 29, she doesn't really believe marriage is in her own future. But when her younger sister asks her to don the Lady's crystal necklace and seek out her hero, she agrees to try.

It just so happens that she has recently ruined the marriage prospects of her brother's best friend, James, who desperately needs to wed to earn his inheritance and save the livelihood of the people who work his land.  When Henrietta learns of the mess she made, she agrees to help him find a new bride.  And of course, they end up falling for each other.

The romance wasn't bad.  Both James and Henrietta were pretty likeable characters. It was easy enough to root for them to make a go of it, though neither was truly remarkable enough to thoroughly invest me.  There was a little extra oomph worked in when someone starts trying to kill Henrietta and James must save her over and over again.

But then they get to the bedroom and it was all over the top figurative language and ... just... see for yourself:

Her maidenhead ruptured and she didn't even flinch; instead, the honeyed walls of her heated sheath tamped tight around his rigid member, the ultimate velvet vice...

Clinging, gasping and utterly in thrall, they reached for the peak, the thunder in their veins escalating, the thudding of their hearts a single beat that swept them on, whipped them higher.

Until they broke through the clouds and ecstasy beckoned, as hot as the sun and more brilliant than the stars...

That elemental tide of pure sensation wrecked them, wracked them, then, like flotsam, flung them high and far, out and into the void.

To where glory rolled in and filled them, healed them, sealed them, fused and remade them.

Then, with a gentle hand, set them floating free, bliss-filled on a golden sea. 

In the second love scene, alliteration joined the party.

Reassuring, restating, revisiting, and reiterating, they dived in again, plunged in again, seized and surrendered and shared the scintillating delights once again.

I could not stop rolling my eyes.  Which made it very difficult to keep reading.  Yet I did.  And the big villain reveal was a total fail, because he was nobody we had even met before in the course of the book.  Can you spell anticlimactic?

(*sigh*)  I know a lot of people love Laurens' early work, but this is my fourth try with her.  The others were so-so. After this, I just don't see me reading her again.   

Rating: C-

*ARC Provided by Avon 

Click to purchase: Amazon 

And Then She Fell

by Stephanie Laurens

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: With This Kiss

Reviewed by Jen
 

This is my first experience with a serial romance.  I opted to read all three installments back to back, but I will break down the review by the three parts.

Part One:  Grace was only 10 years old when she realized something was special about Colin.  Their families were close and they grew up visiting each other over the years.  But like with everyone else, she was practically invisible to him.  No one ever paid attention to her when her sister Lily took the spotlight.   But as they all grew older, and Colin joined the Navy, Grace carved out a special place in his life by writing him letters.  So when he comes home, will he finally see her or will he only have eyes for Lily?

I was surprised at how quickly I grew to care about Grace.  She is thoughtful and loyal; and she is amazingly understanding of how people ignore her in favor of her sister.  The events of the story actually brought tears to my eyes, which I consider pretty remarkable, considering how short it was.  I really enjoyed it and it made me very excited for part two.


Part Two:  Grace is doing her best to move on from Colin. She is even planning to marry another man, but she doesn't realize that Colin has finally realized what she means to him. He plans to tell her, but he is injured before he can do it. He comes home with an infirmity that both thrusts them together and leads to even more confusion and misunderstandings between them.

This installment took my emotions on a bit of a roller coaster.  There were too many misunderstandings, though.  It was hard watching these two go through the wringer, when we know how they feel about each other. The circumstances of the sex were a little too convenient and a bit unrealistic.  But it was hot, nonetheless.  (*fans self*) The cliffhanger definitely serves to get make you anxious for the last installment.

Part Three: It's time for Colin and Grace to lay all of their cards on the table.  Colin doesn't know how to convince her that she is really the woman he loves, but he is determined to do it.  Grace wants to believe Colin shares her feelings, but it's hard to put aside her hurt over feeling second place to her sister once again.

I enjoyed watching Colin prove himself. This third installment is almost entirely written as payoff for the heartbreak and longing of parts one and two.  And as a lover of the happy ending, I reveled in it. Again, the sex is great!  There aren't any surprises or anything; it's a pretty standard HR HEA.  But the resolution is satisfying.  I enjoyed it.

Overall, I liked the serial.  I think it would have been frustrating, though, if I would have had to wait between installments.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Avon

Click to purchase: With This Kiss Part 1

Click to purchase: With This Kiss Part 2

Click to purchase: With This Kiss Part 3

With This Kiss

by Eloisa James

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Publisher: Avon

Review: Lady of Pleasure

Reviewed by Jen
 

A deliciously angsty hero; a heroine who is steadfast, loyal and knows her own heart. Fabulous sexual tension and a love story to pull on the heartstrings.  Simply put, this book rocked my socks off.  In her letter to readers at the before the story begins, Delilah Marvelle says the publishing industry has no place for a book like this one.  Perhaps the industry needs its head examined, because this book gave me absolutely everything I want in a historical romance.

Still need convincing?  Let me give you the setup.

Lady Caroline knew she was in love with Ronan, the Marquess of Caldwell, when she was only 13 years-old.  The dashing 24 year-old was her brother's friend, but he quickly made a special place in his life just for her.  They had a standing weekly card game for years.  They talked; they valued one another; they were friends in the truest sense of the world.  But circumstances forced Caroline to move away at 16.  She professed her love before she left, but it was clear he still saw her as a child.

Fast forward three years.  When she returns, Caroline is most definitely grown, and ready to pursue Caldwell's hand.  And when he sees her, he can't help but react as any man would to her beauty. The problem is, he doesn't want to soil the one true and good thing in his life.  He has a dark secret that keeps him from forming real relationships.  I won't spoil it, but suffice it to say, it leaves him feeling unworthy of Caroline and unwilling to pursue anything beyond friendship.  But fate and the interference of others won't let that be enough.

Ah, I loved Caldwell so.  Marvelle has constructed such a marvelous tortured hero in him.  He is so sure he isn't good enough for Caroline; so unaware of his own feelings; so... good.  And Caroline!  It would have been so easy to make her naive or weak-willed because of her age or her consuming devotion.  But she respects herself too much to be walked on; and at the same time is so unwavering and true. I loved her almost as much as I loved him.  There is great chemistry. And most importantly, I believed in their feelings for one another 100%.

My only small complaint is that Caldwell's issues resolved a little faster than I would have liked, and much of it, off page.  I would have liked to see more of his "education" at the school of gallantry, but perhaps, some of the events there happened in previous books.  I must go and read the backlist to find out. If books one and two are anywhere as good as this one, they will definitely be worth the read. I couldn't put this one down.

Rating: A- 

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Lady of Pleasure

by Delilah Marvelle

Release Date: March 15, 2013

Review: What Happened at Midnight

Reviewed by Jen
 

Mary's life as a proper lady came to a crashing halt when she discovered her father not only had embezzled from his company, but he killed himself in shame.  She could do nothing about the embezzlement, but she made it her mission to keep the suicide a secret, so that he could receive a proper burial.  Unfortunately, her quick escape to hide the body only served to make her look complicit in the crime.

Fast forward a year and a half, and Mary is living in misery. She is a companion to a woman trapped by a domineering husband.  And Mary is trapped too.  Her employer withholds her wages and keeps her from leaving.  She holds out little hope for anything better.  Until John walks back into her life.  He was her fiance when the disaster happened with her dad and she walked away from him, thinking never to see him again; thinking he never really loved her at all.

Meanwhile, John believes it was Mary who never really loved him; and that she is hiding the money her father stole, money that was supposed to go toward his nephew's inheritance.  He tries to cozy up to her, in the hopes of convincing her to reveal her secrets. But their time together only serves to rekindle the feelings between them.

It's easy to sympathize with both Mary and John. Courtney Milan does a great job showing how each of them truly believes they are the only one to love the other.  Both characters are afraid to risk their hearts, but it makes it that much sweeter when they stop fighting their own feelings.  Their love story is heartfelt, easy to root for, and totally emotionally believable.

This was originally published in the Midnight Scandals anthology.

Rating: B+

*ARC provided by author for review  

Click to purchase: Amazon

What Happened at Midnight

by Courtney Milan

Release Date: March 14, 2013

Review: The Lady Always Wins

Reviewed by Jen
 

Whenever I am looking for a historical romance novella, Courtney Milan always hits the spot.  This second-chance love story was no exception.

It's been seven years since Ginny broke Simon's heart. She refused to marry him, instead marrying another man. But now her husband is dead and Simon sees his chance to reclaim the only woman he has ever loved.  When Ginny turned him down years ago, it was because his parents threatened to disown him. He had no trade and she didn't want to live in poverty.  Now, he is independently wealthy, at least for now.  But a looming business calamity threatens to take all that away, so he figures he must seduce Ginny quickly and secure her hand before he is financially destroyed and she has a reason to turn him down again.

It's amazing that in less than 70 pages, Milan can make me feel so invested in her characters.  At first glance, you might think Ginny is the lesser member of the relationship... after all, she chose her husband for money. But we see she is so much more than that; and Simon bears his own responsibility for their separation. Ginny is practical and pragmatic, but she also loves Simon utterly and completely --even after seven years apart. Just as he loves her.  There are some books three times as long that don't make me feel connected to the characters and their feelings even half as much.

I really enjoyed the romance --and the surprise twist at the end.  Good stuff.

Rating: B+

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Lady Always Wins

by Courtney Milan

Release Date: February 22, 2013

Review: Treacherous Temptations

Reviewed by Shelly
 

I can’t tell a lie, I like Vane’s work. Her DeVere’s Series is the shit, and she’s quickly taking the place of Samantha Kane in my arsenal of historical romance reading. So with that in mind, I picked up this story, hoping that it wouldn’t disappoint me. I was sooo not disappointed. Once I started reading, I was hooked. This is one of the better reformed rake stories I’ve read because this dude was a complete and total asshole and my sympathy had to be earned. The only way that could have happened was with good character development and that’s exactly what happened.

Mary Elizabeth Edwardes’s recently departed father has appointed her guardian – Richard, the vilest person in the Kingdom of Vileness. He’s decided that it’s time that Mary marry, but of course he wouldn’t be doing his appointed duty if he didn’t have a suitor or two in mind. Hadley Blanchard is definitely not one of the chosen few. As a matter of fact, he’s a self-exiled nobleman and has decided not only that he’s through running but he wants both his name and his family’s wealth back. To get this, he sets off on a path of destruction, deceit and seduction.

I had such disdain and contempt for Hadley that I relished every bad thing that happened to him. You know when you meet someone and their duplicitous ways are just so obvious, you can’t help but just want to take a shower and pretend you never met them. That’s the way I felt about Hadley, especially in the first few chapters – until he finally found out that it’s time to stop running, stop living in the past and open himself for a bright and fulfilling future that starts with Mary.

One of the many things I enjoyed about Mary was her ability to see herself for what she was. She knew she wasn’t what society would class as ‘pretty’ but she also knew what she wanted and was deserving of both desire and love in her marriage. I equally liked her smartness and the hints of naivety in her dealings with her new surroundings especially Hadley’s stepmother. Her interactions and sexual chemistry with Hadley were well written and believable, she was no whimpering wallflower and that made for a good read.

I really liked this story and would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a well plotted storyline and wonderful character development.

Happy Reading folks!

Rating: B+

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Treacherous Temptations

by Victoria Vane

Release Date: January 21, 2013

Publisher: Entangled

 

Review: A Devil's Touch

Reviewed by Shelly
 

They’re back and are burning up the pages. Ludovic and Diana have been married for three months.  She’s in her last month of pregnancy – you get the idea that they’re not the most conventional couple of their times – but hey, it happens.

Well, I’m happy to say that Ludovic has not changed a bit. He’s still up to his eyeballs in love with Diana and that’s a good thing because Diana is feeling the ungainly effects of her advanced pregnancy. Even better, she’s still a strong woman, not willing to fall prey to Ludovic’s charm without a little bit of attitude.

I really enjoyed the glimpse – and may I say tease – into Ludovic and Diana’s marriage. For those of us who want to know - the sex scenes where much more explicit than the last story which I think is appropriate for Ludovic’s nefarious deeds (he’s no saint) and where they are in their relationship. There were some old friends who made appearances along with some new friends that I hope to see in the next installment.

If you enjoyed any of The Devil DeVere series, pick this one up – you won’t be disappointed.

Happy Reading folks!

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

A Devil's Touch

by Victoria Vane

Release Date: February 14, 2013

Review: Lord of Darkness

Reviewed by Jen
 

It's been two years since Megs has last seen her husband.  She and Godric didn't marry for love.  Her brother knew his darkest secret --that he was the mysterious and deadly Ghost of St. Giles-- and used that information to blackmail him into the marriage.  Megs was pregnant and her fiance, dead. She needed a husband.  But sadly, she lost the baby right after the wedding and quickly went away to the country to convalesce.

Now she is back in London with two missions: to track down her lover's killer and to convince her husband to give her the baby she's always wanted.  Neither task will be an easy one.

Godric has never gotten over the death of his first wife, Clara.  Moving on --even with his new wife-- feels like a betrayal of his first love.  But when he finds out that Megs is plotting to ferret out a killer in St Giles, he agrees to father her child, to keep her distracted and to keep her safe.  Of course, despite their best intentions to stay true to the memories of their lost loved ones... they end up falling for one another.

I liked Godric a lot. He loved his Clara so much.  It was nice to see a hero who isn't a rake. He isn't an alpha. Not a virgin. Not a brother's best friend. Not even a duke or an earl.  He's 37 years-old.  He's known love and loss and sacrifice.  He fights for the downtrodden. And he mourns.  He's so serious and sad, but he hasn't lost his humanity. He generously welcomes Megs and her entourage into his home.  He gives her everything she needs and he never lets her down.

Megs has a harder time letting go of her past than Godric does.  Maybe it's because he is older and more mature that he can allow himself to open his heart again.  But though she is a little slower on the uptake, Megs does come through.  The love story is sweet and the sex is satisfying.

There is also a scintillating set up for the third Ghost's story, featuring Artemis and the Duke of Wakefield.  I am intrigued in her and her twin's story --and I am excited to find out what Wakefield's single-minded focus is.

Another solid installment from a great series.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Forever via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Lord of Darkness

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Forever

Review: Winterblaze

Reviewed by Jen
 

There are so many things I like about the Darkest London series. I love the dark atmosphere and gothic feel of these books.  The characters are engaging and interesting.  The sexual tension and payoffs satisfy.  Each story maintains the tone and core characters, but they still manage to stand apart from each other... each with very different kind of romance.

This book features Poppy, the third and eldest of the Ellis sisters.  Unlike the first two book, our couple is already an established one here. Poppy and her husband Winston have been married for 14 years, and they are very much in love.  But at the end of Moonglow, Winston was attacked by a paranormal being, which opened his eyes to a world he never knew existed.  A world his wife is very much a part of.  As long as he has known her, she has hidden not only her ice elemental abilities, but the fact that she runs an organization which polices the rogues of the supernatural community.  It's too much for him to handle, and walks out on her.

As the story begins, it's been three months since the two of them have been apart.  Each is miserable without the other, but neither knows if they can forgive the other for the hurt caused.  A demon puts an end to their separation when he threatens Winston to get to Poppy.  Without spoiling the details, Poppy and Win must work together to meet the demon's demands or their lose something more precious than either is willing to sacrifice.

It's not often I can get really invested in an established couple. I'm really more a fan of that first blush of attraction and feeling you get with a new relationship.  However, I thought Kristen Callihan really made this love story sing.  First of all, I loved the flashbacks.  We do get to see the beginning of this relationship.  But even better is the way that the roadblocks between Winston and Poppy in the present create a believable threat to their future.  The sexual tension is still phenomenal (something that is usually the first thing to go with a married couple story) and I found myself rooting hard for these two to make it to the bedroom.

I liked both characters a lot.  Winston is not the paragon we first thought him to be and I like seeing his flaws.  By the same token, we find that Poppy's deceit isn't as cut and dry and we thought either. She tried to do the right thing, and through the course of the story we learn how her choices were taken away.  Everyone has made mistakes, but all for honor or love.

I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to address the secondary characters.  Archer, Miranda, Ian, and Daisy are back. (And we learn more about the sisters and what makes them so special.) But the real scene stealers are Mary, the Ghost in the Machine, and Jack Talent, Ian's shapeshifting valet.   Clearly, they are the focus of the next book, Shadowdance, and their setup is amazing. Their scenes here have me foaming at the mouth to read their story.

I'd say this book is about on par with Moonglow for me. I liked it a lot, though a shade less than I loved Firelight.  Maybe Firelight will just always be my favorite. But this is very, very good and I would definitely recommend it to fans of the series.  And for those of you who haven't tried these book yet... what are you waiting for??

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Forever via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon or Enter to Win

Winterblaze

by Kristen Callihan

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Forever

Review: The Dark Lady

Reviewed by Jen
 

Maire Claremont is embracing the dark side of Victorian London with this first installment of her Mad Passions series.  Our heroine, Eva, isn't mad, but after what she has endured, no one hesitates to believe her late husband's brother when he claims otherwise. Not only did her husband Hamilton die, but she lost their young son shortly afterwards.  Evil brother-in-law had her committed to a madhouse, where she has been locked away for the past two years.

The conditions Eva is forced to live with are subhuman.  The women are drugged... abused... violated. And she would have stayed there to rot, if not for the return of her childhood friend, Ian.

As children, Eva, Ian, and Hamilton were inseparable, the best of friends.  The were all raised by Hamilton's father, who set up the betrothal of Eva and his son, before anyone was old enough to know their own hearts or minds.  Ian was the golden boy, and Hamilton became increasingly jealous and bitter that his father seemed to prefer his cousin.  The insidious feelings transformed Hamilton into a twisted man, which ultimately led to his own death.

Ian has always loved Eva, so when he saves her, his heart can't help but beat for her.  Yet he has so much guilt wrapped up in Hamilton's death (and about the fact he wasn't there to save Eva sooner) that it cripples his ability to give in to his feelings.  Eva needs him, though, to help her beat her forced addictions... to elude her brother in law and the fiends hunting her from the asylum... and to prove her sanity.

It was so angsty and dark.  I really enjoyed the vast majority of the book.  The conditions in the madhouse were absolutely chilling. And what was done Eva was heartbreaking.  But in contrast, the tentative steps Eva and Ian take toward love and solace are so satisfying.  Ian is so utterly devoted to saving Eva in every way, to keeping her safe forever.  And she manages to find this inner strength, to rise above the horrors she has endured.  Both are so damaged by the past.  I got so wrapped up in reading it. It was very engaging.

It wasn't perfect, though. The end of the book didn't fit for me... it didn't keep with the tone of all that came before it.  It was just too happy and perfect after all we went through with these two.  It took away something from the struggle they triumphed over (if that makes sense.)

Overall, I did like the book.  I liked that Clairmont wasn't afraid to "go there," especially in the first half. And I am very intrigued to read Mary's story.  There is so much great material to mine from among the women in that asylum.

Rating: B

*ARC provided by author for review 

Click to purchase: Amazon

The Dark Lady

by Maire Claremont

Release Date: February 5, 2013

Publisher: Signet Eclipse