Friday, November 29, 2013

The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

Hugo Marshall has a problem.  His employer, the Duke of Clermont, has a situation he needs Hugo to fix and Hugo isn't known as the Wolf of Clermont for nothing.  Serena Barton is demanding the Duke of Clermont give her compensation for the situation he created.

I found this novella to be witty and engaging.  I loved how Serena stood up to Hugo and refused to back down.  They had to get married and the wedding night scene was so creative and hot I thought my iPad was going to melt!

I wasn't overly fond of the epilogue.  It was a tie in between this book and the next.

I am now reading The Duchess War and need to get the next one (the story of Hugo and Serena's son).

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

King Hall by Scarlet Dawn

I found it hard to read a fantasy book that has the opening sentence of "Sex education".   The novel opens with the heroine in sex ed class.  I had a hard time getting into this book because I found it difficult to understand all that was being thrown at you in the first chapter.

In this world, they elect four kings from each group every 22 years.   They are electing teenagers and the heroine's boyfriend is one of the elected kings.

At this point I am setting the book down.  I read to relax and I didn't find this book relaxing.

I am not bothering to rate it.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.  Yea, ok, I was honest.

Lord St. Clair's Angel by Donna Lea Simpson

This book has a great plot:  a handsome rake falls in love with a plain spinster.  However, the book had too many issues for me to enjoy fully.

Lady Langlow needs a plain, on the shelf governess for her children.  Her brother-in-law has made it a habit of seducing the prior governesses.  She hires Miss Celestine Simons who is plain, on the shelf and suffering from arthritis.  Lord St.Clair Richmond is a rake and very full of himself.  He sets off to seduce poor Celestine.

As the story progresses, St. Claire's character changes from an utter ass to a hero I liked.

I give it four out of five stars.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

Along Came Trouble by Erin Kern

I rarely read contemporary romance.  But, Erin Kern has me hooked with Along Came Trouble.  Brody McDermott is attempting to keep the restaurant he is running for his father operating.  He has been having problems with his chefs and the last one has produced nothing but bad reviews.  He hired photographer and former model Elisa Cardoso to take pictures for a magazine spread.

I enjoyed that Brody and Elisa didn't jump into bed by chapter two and there was a building of a friendship.  Part of the issue is Elisa has been asked by a friend to watch her son after school until his dad can pick him up.  The dad is Brody and Elisa is leery of getting into a relationship with a friends ex husband.

This is the third in a series.  While it stands alone, I can't wait to get the other two books to learn more about the other characters in this story.

Five out of five stars.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thanks!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Improper Arrangements by Juliana Ross

Unfortunately, is book is written in first person.  I find it rather disturbing to read romance written in third person especially when there are sex scenes.  That said, I did give this book a try.  I read the first two chapters and just couldn't get into it.   I hen tried my next step; reading the ending to see if I like how it ends.  If I like the ending, I will read until I get into the book.  I just couldn't get into this book. The book felt way too modern.  It may not be a bad book, I just couldn't get past it being written in the first person.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from Net Galley.

'Twas the Night Before Mischief by Nina Rowan

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!  It is the story of Penelope Darlington, the daughter of a confectionary owner and the third son of an Earl, Darius Hall.  Penelope runs off with a fortune hunter and her father sends Darius after her.  It was too short of a book and I wish it had been longer.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Never Trust a Pirate by Anne Stuart

Maddy Russell is desperate.  Her father has died in disgrace and she is left without a dowry or suitor. She thinks one of her father's former employees, Captain Thomas Morgan has something to do with his death.  Unbeknownst to Maddy Thomas Morgan is just a passed alias and the current holder of the name is half Gypsy Luca.  Luca is trying to better himself.  He has a snobby fiancé who's father is the lawyer dealing with the sale of Russell Shipping.

This was a enjoyable read.  It is the second in a series and stood alone quite well.  I give it four stars.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley.  Thank you.

The Pirate and The Puritan by Cheryl Howe

This Book was originally published in 2003.  It didn't need it be republished.  I didn't like this book from the first chapter.  Puritan Felicity Kendall goes to Barbados to help her dad in his shipping business.  The male lead said in the first chapter that he wanted to throttle Felicity.  Well, so did I.  I went back to my library and found a different book to read.  The only good thin about this book was they changed the cover.


Between Friends by Vristen Pierce


This was a short erotic novel.  The basic synopsis is that Stacy Washington was dumped by her long-time boyfriend.  She has been a good girl too long and this break up is her opportunity to shed that image.  Stacy goes to one of the hottest night clubs in town in search of action.  She meets Evan and Justin, both not her normal types. 

I have two main criteria for the erotic novels (or any novel) I read and this book didn’t meet either one. 
First,99% of the time, I don’t read books written in the first person.  I have actually returned a book that I found was written in the first person.  And, when it is an erotic novel, I find it unsettling to read a first person account of extremely hot action. 

Second, like all romance novels, they MUST have a HEA.  When I read the first paragraph and saw it was written in first person, I gave it the “test”.  I went to the last chapter to see if I liked the ending and could attempt to read the book.  The main character goes back to her ex-boyfriend! 

Sorry, this book isn’t for me.  I had to give it one star on GoodReads.  For my blog, I won't even rate it because I couldn't get past the first p
I received this book courtesy of Net Galley in an exchange for an honest review.  Thank you for the opportunity!


When The Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries

When I read the synopsis of "When a Rogue Returns", I was hesitant to read the book.  How many romances start with the couple already married.  As in page ONE.  I think this is the first one that I have read and I have been reading romance for way too long.  So, I took a chance and I loves this book.

It starts with Isabella or Isa Cale having to play sick so her husband Victor isn't aware of the plot her sister and brother in law have to steal the Crown Jewels.  Is a is a jeweler and very good at making a step above paste jems.  The sister and brother in law tell Isa a lie and get her to go to Paris with their stolen jems.  Fast forward ten years and a Victor is in England and has found out he is a cousin of a Duke.

Sabrina Jeffries is one of my favorite authors and this one is a keeper.  I give it Four out of five stars.  The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because I was confused where the story opened and what year.  It may be due to the formatting of the ARC.

I receive this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley on exchange for an honest review.  thank you

Friday, November 15, 2013

The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecelia Stanton by Viveka Portman

This is a short erotic novel.  It was a nice, quick read.  Viveka Portman needs to write a longer novel. Though, not in first person.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle

The story opens with Lady Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Forster finding her husband in her drawing room.  It seems that Jamie, Lord Forster had left for parts unknown after been married to his childhood sweetheart for two weeks and has been gone for five years.  His cousin and heir has died and he announces to his wife that she will provide him with an heir.

This book was originally part of an anthology called "Three Weddings and a Murder".  It is a novella and since it is a novella, the author can't delve into much.

There are only vague references to an incident on a balcony where Catherine was kissed by a rogue trying to save a friend and Jamie's embarrassment in the Ton.  If Catherine was Jamie's childhood sweetheart wouldn't he trust her more than to just leave the country for five years without writing.

While this is a cute story, I wish it was longer so the author could give more character depth.  I felt like I was missing chapters from the book.  Apparently, Catherine is the sister of a character in a previous book.  I am wondering if I would find out more about why Jamie left if I read that book.

I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley.  Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard by Vanessa Kelley

Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard opens with Aden St. George rescuing Lady Vivian Shaw.  Aden is a spy that had been sent by his superior to rescue Vivian.  Vivian's mom is friends with Aden's mom yet they have never met.  Aden is the product of his mother's affair with the Prince Regent.  It seems to be an open secret of the ton.  Lady Vivian has attracted the attention of a visiting Russian prince.  Her oldest brother wants her to marry the Prince to further his political career, while her mother and brother have a gambling problem and they rely on Vivian to get the money to save them.  Aden needs to figure out who wanted to kidnap Vivian and he also needs to keep her safe so he pretends to be courting her.  I wasn't fond of Vivian's family.  They seemed to be very dependent and letting an unmarried lady of the ton gamble to save help repay their gambling debts is preposterous.

I started reading this book, I could not put it down and stayed up reading until I was done.  I can not wait for the next two in the series.  The only thing that baffled me was the title.  Aden isn't a Royal Bodyguard.  He is a spy.  The book could have been titled "Secrets for Seducing a Spy".

I give it five out of five stars.

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The Marriage Wager - Jane Ashford

The Marriage Wager is the story of Emma Tarrent who is returning to England after seven years.  Colin Wareham, Baron St. Maur sees her on the ship and is intrigued.   Emma had left England in disgrace and disowned after she marries her first husband, a gambler.  Colin is returning after eight years fighting in the war.  They meet again after she was trying to win her brothers IOU's from Colin.

I liked that the characters weren't cookie cutter romance H & H.  Emma was married to a gambler that went through her generous marriage during their travels.  Colin is returning to do his duty.  The book was fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable.

I give it a 3.5.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Loving the Earl by Sharon Cullen

Nathan Ferguson, Earl Blythe is a bad-boy Earl that has had to replenish his family fortune after his father died mysteriously by opening a gaming hell.  Lady Claire Hartfield, Viscountess Chesterman is attempting to escape from the emotional and physical damage done by her deceased husband.  This story takes Nathan and Claire from England to France to Italy.  Nathan is doing his best to protect Claire from danger (as he promised her brother, his best friend) and himself.  Nathan is attempting to find the truth behind his fathers mysterious death and Claire wants to prove she isn't worthless in bed as her deceased husband told her.

This book was not your typical Regency.  I found it fast paced and engaging.  I loved the development of the characters and seeing how Claire can overcome her past marriage and take a chance on love with her bad-boy Earl.

I give it four stars.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you for the opportunity.