Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Her Forbidden Cowboy by Maggie Carpenter

I normally love a good western romance.  It felt like I was reading bad high school drama.  Cathy's mom writes Scott a looonnnnnggg letter and includes one hundred thousand dollars in cash so Scott will stop seeing Cathy. Very high school.  I guess somewhere in the book was some erotica, but I couldn't get past the drama.

I could ignore the badly photo shopped guy on the cover, but it got to the point where I was laughing.  I have never seen a six pack look like a relief.  It almost reminded me of an alien make-up effect.  Yuck.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.




The Beast of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood

This was an amazing romance from the opening.  The first chapter did a great job setting the background for the book.  I was expecting Niall to be all broody alpha "I'm gonna get revenge" and not have this easy to read.  He wasn't that dramatic and it made the book interesting.  The book moved and the resolution was good.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you.





Play Your Heart Out (Sinful Serenade, #4) by Crystal Kaswell

Jess James wants to be a lawyer and is struggling to find the money to pay for law school.  She is exhausted from working all the hours she can get as a cocktail waitress when her boss makes her stop the couple in the restroom from doing the naughty or completing the naught.  The guy is Pete Steele, bassist for Sinful Serenade.  

Pete's management wants him to stop the wild parting and screwing his way through the groupies in Los Angeles.  Jess James is the perfect solution.  Their arrangement is beneficial to both.  She plays his wholesome girlfriend and he pays her tuition.  Somewhere the lie starts to become truth except Jess can't have her heart broken again.  


I am way too old to be a groupie, but I am hooked on Sinful Serenade.  I loved that this book was a standalone.  Too many times you pick up the fourth in a series and need a play by play guide to figure out what is going on.  I read the first several chapters before realizing that this was part of a series.

I liked Jess and her determination to realize her goal.  She bettered Pete.  This was a great read, perfect for the beach or pool.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you.

Lana and the Laird by Sabrina York

Lachlan Sinclair, the Duke of Cathness, believes he is cursed.  His father died when he was thirty and so have his ancestors because his ancestors lost the MacAlpin Cross.  When the MacAlpin Cross is whole, the curse will be lifted.  His father's ghost told him to return to the Highlands and restore his family's castle that now lies in near ruin.  The ghost also told him to clear the land so he issued the edict to his barons.  When one of the barons refuses to clear the farmers from the land, Lachlan decicdes to visit.  At Lochlannach Castle, Lachlan meets his baron's sister-in-law, Lady Lana Dounreay.
Lana has seen the ghosts around her since a childhood illness.  She has dreamed of Lachlan only he was wearing a kilt and not acting all English.  Lana shows Lachlan why the clearances are wrong.  As his visit to her brother-in-law's castle lengthens, Lachlan slowly realizes that his cousin was poisoning him.  

I loved this book from page one.  It had drama and humor and witty characters.  There were times that I didn't know who I wanted to smack more - Lachlan's cousin for duping him for years or Lachlan for believing it.  This was a great way to start my summer reading.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.   Thank you.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Valentine Napiier the Duke of Montgomery isn't a nice man.  He was exiled attempting to protect his half-sister.  Now that he has "returned", the Duke is back to his blackmailing and whoring.  

Bridget Crumb is the Duke's housekeeper.  She was born a bastard and raised by a foster mother that loved her.  Her aristocratic mother and a friend are being blackmailed by the Duke.  Bridget becomes his housekeeper to find the items he is holding over her mother and friend.  

The Duke realizes that Mrs. Crumb is not only holding her own secrets but attempting to find his.  When he is poisoned he can only rely on his housekeeper.  


Normally, the heroes of a book start out good or change by the end.  Not Valentine Napier.  He was wicked in the beginning and wicked at the end.  He was one of the best heroes EVER.  I liked how Bridget is the housekeeper.  She stood up to him through his decadent displays of the two ladies of the evening in his bead and didn't blink.  I didn't want this book to end  Now I have to wait for the Duke of Kyle's book.  Yea!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!!!

The Anatomy of Jane by Amelia LeFay

I got done with this book and just stared at the last page.  I was blown away and left wanting/needing more.  I was screaming at the last page wanting the next book to resolve the cliffhanger.

While the characters were too much, too unrealistic, too something, I got hooked on the book.  I wanted to know what happened with Jane, Max, and Wes.  Three people that never should have been in a relationship but made it work.  Just too something.  And, now I am left waiting until the next book in the series.  URG!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review  Thank you!

Sunday, May 22, 2016

A Most Delicate Pursuit by Pamela Labud

Michael Carver, Earl of Blandon, has known Beatrice Hawkins since her sister married his best friend.  Michael has a terrible romantic past (including a duel that cost him an eye) and avoids all entanglements.  When Ashton Blakely, Duke of Summerson, married Beatrice's sister he bought her guardianship from her cousin.  The cousin has reneged and sold Beatrice to a nasty man that has had three previous wives who died under mysterious circumstances.  Summerton asks Michael to help Beatrice escape.  With mounting danger, can Beatrice and Michael admit how they feel about each other and find true love.

This was such a delightful novel.  I loved Beatrice and Michael.  I kept routing for Michael to admit how he feels and to keep Beatrice safe.   I liked the drama and the romance in this novel.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Sunday, May 15, 2016

A Pledge of Passion by Victoria Vane

Lady Mariah Morehaven never made her debut because her father fell ill.  She has been invited to attend a house party with her cousin Lydia and her cousin's future mother-in law, Lady Russell.  As they are entering the coach, Lydia's intended (who she desperately wants to end their engagement) sabatoges the traveling arrangements forcing Mariah to ride with his secretary Nicholas Needham.

Nicholas is a younger son and Mariah is a baroness in her own right.  During the house party, they fall in love.  A year later, Nick releases Mariah from her vow of waiting for him while he is drunk.  As her father has died and she must get married or lose her inheritance, she asks Lady Russell to help her find a match.  She is devastated when Nick is the one sent by his employer to negotiate for her hand.  Can true love win?


Victoria Vane wonderful!  I loved this book.  I loved the romance of the house party then Nick's romancing Mariah to win her back.  The characters are great.  I am waiting for Lydia's story.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Bottled Bluegrass by Jennifer Bramseth

Mack Blanton returned to Bourbon Springs, Kentucky from Nashville after being unable to make it in the music business.  He meets Jorrie Jones at Old Garnet when he is applying for his old job on the distillery line.


I fell in love with this series from "Secret Blend".  The characters were fun.  I want to move to Bourbon Springs and work at Old Garnet.  I have bought all of the books and LOVED them.

"Bottled Bluegrass" just fell flat.  I don't know why.  The first book introduced most of the characters for the other six and the characters are in the books.  With Mack and Jorrie, they were just people that were mentioned so you didn't get to know them by the time they had their own novel.  There is an excerpt from "Toast and Char" and I found that I didn't want the excerpt to end.  I am also waiting for Judge Forrest's HEA.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Lone Wolf by Tessa Clarke

Delany Nichols is a new veterinarian that has been called out to rancher Leif Pierce's ranch to aid with an injured eagle.  Sparks fly between Delany and Leif, but there is more to Leif than just a rancher.  Leif is a wolf shifter that is expected to share his future mate with his brothers.  He was prepared to share with his brother Jackson until Jackson was killed in Afghanistan.   However, Leif isn't prepared to share Delaney with his other brothers and they have fallen in love with her too.   Leif must come to grips with his past and his brothers while convincing Delany they have a future.


This was the first book in a new series.  I enjoyed reading this novel and didn't put it down until I was done.  It was smokin' hot.   I liked the "tortured hero" in Leif because of his experiences in Afghanistan and losing the litter-mate he thought he would share a wife with.

With that said I read a lot of shifter novels and this wasn't very shifter.  I think I liked it even more because it wasn't in your face.



I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Savage Urges (The Pheonix Pack, Book 5) by Suzanne Wright

I liked Suzanne Wright's "take" on shifters.  Loved how Mackenna understood Ryan's grunts.  Loved how Ryan kept pushing Mackenna and how patient he was with Zack.  This is the fifth book in the series and the first one that I have read.  It read well as a stand alone.  I didn't feel like I needed a character list so I knew who was who or that I just walked in during the middle of a play.

This was a great shifter read.  I am adding this book and the first four of "The Phoenix Pack" to my shopping list.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Monday, May 2, 2016

The Untamed Earl by Valerie Bowman

Lady Alexandra Hobbs is the younger daughter of the Duke of Huntley.  She has wanted to marry Lord Owen Monroe since he rescued her brother and stable hand from some baddies outside of her window.  Lord Owen has been given the ultimatum that he needs to marry.  And the Duke chooses Alex's spoiled rotten older sister, Lavinia to marry Owen.
Valerie Bowman is one of my favorite authors.  But, I just could not get past Lavinia.  I wanted to walk into the book and slug her.  Then, I wanted to find her parents and yell at them.  Sorry, this ended up on the DNF pile because of one obnoxious character that dominated the book.  I gave it three stars because I liked the ending.  Not Ms. Bowman's fault that I hated Lavinia.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


Much Ado About Highlanders by May McGoldrick

This book was the meeting of the minds of two very strong characters that fought at every turn.  Their banter lead Alex on a merry chase to reclaim his runaway wife.  Months ago, Kenna Mackay left her husband, Alexander Macpherson on their wedding night.  She took sanctuary in a nunnery to learn the art of healing.  While riding with her cousin, Kenna helps with a difficult birth when the midwife is gone.  On their way home, they are kidnapped.  Part of her cousin's dowry is a Macpherson ship that the Macpherson's didn't know they were giving up.  Alexander realizes that he still wants his bride and has to get past Kenna's misconceptions.

I enjoyed this Highland "Taming of the Shrew".  The banter between Kenna and Alexander made it for a lively read.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.