Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Lord Sebastian's Secret by Jane Ashford

The synopsis of the book intrigued me.  The son of a Duke can't read?  It was more than just Sebastian couldn't read.  He couldn't pick up social cues but was a brilliant soldier.  He found a bride that understood him and she loved that he recognized she was smarter than him.

The novel opens up with Sebastian arriving at Georgina's family's estate.  He starts to worry then that somebody will discover his disability before he marries Georgina.  Georgina doesn't want Sebastian or his parents to find out just how odd her family really is.

The book is 384 pages.  Sebastian and Georgina don't get married until the end.  I read the first four chapters then skipped to the end.  It should have been a novella.  There is only so far you can stretch this trope.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Tempest in the Highlands by May McGoldrick

I read the first two novels in the series and really liked them.  With this novel, I felt that it was forced.  I could not connect with the characters.  It unfortunately landed on my virtual DNF pile

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

For Love and Country by Samantha Kane

Lord Ambrose Wetherald is the consummate English gentleman.  He discovers that Melinda de Vere is missing.  She is being held in a brothel  by her husband and being used by his business acquaintances.  Lord Ambrose appeals to Sir Barnabas James to rescue Melinda.   Barnabas has one condition - that Ambrose repay the favor in bed.

Nobody does erotic historical like Samantha Kane.  I love the Brothers in Arms series and have re-read them all several times.  I was thrilled that Ms Kane had written another BiA novel

Sir Barnabas has been a minor character in several of the novels.  I was thrilled that he got his own novel.  There was a character evolution from him being cold and calculating to being a lover and much softer to Mel and Ambrose.  Ambrose melted my heart.  He is a perfect book boyfriend.  Dashing and elegant and he helps to soften Barnabas's edge.  I was ripped apart during the first part of the book before Mel was rescued.  I loved how the support from Barnabas and Ambrose helped Mel to heal and become a strong woman.  I loved the connection between characters.

This was a novel that I had to start when I had a whole day to devote to reading it.  I knew once I started reading, I would not put it down.

This novel is so well written.  There are other historical romances that I have read that I wondered if the author even knew anything about the time period.  When I read a Samantha Kane historical, I know I can immerse myself in the story and feel like I am in that time period.

Thank you for another Brothers in Arms novel!

Monday, December 26, 2016

The Rebel of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood

While I liked the first book in the series, I just couldn't get into this one.  I did not like the prologue and chapter 1.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Friday, December 23, 2016

The Sheikh's Christmas Baby by Leslie North

Four years ago, Sheikh Kashif Shadid dreamed of competing in the Iditarod dog sled race.  He was training at Kristy Cohen's farm and had a passionate affair with her before he was called back home by his ill father.  Kashif returns to Kristy's farm to see if he can rekindle the romance.  He discovers that her farm is facing financial ruin and he has a daughter.  Can Kashif break through the ice around Kristy's heart?

Of the three Shadid Sheikh's novellas, this is by far the best one.  Once you suspend reality, the characters are likeable and the book is an emotional roller coaster.

I did want to know what happened with Melka.  After all the damage, both emotional and property, he caused through the three books, nothing is mentioned about him.  He just disappears.

I wish that instead of the three novellas, they were published in a box set.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.








The Sheikh's Christmas Present by Leslie North

Book Two in The Shadid Sheikh's Series.

Pilot Maria Walken started a charity to deliver Christmas gifts to Syrian refugees.  The charity has been struggling and she needs to get this cargo to the refugee camp in time.  Sheikh Jarik Shadid needs to get to Lebanon to testify against a former friend.  He needs to travel without his bodyguard and his best option is a seat on Maria's cargo plane.  After a freak snowstorm grounds them, Jarick and Maria are forced to spend time together.  Will it be a Christmas miracle if they get their HEA?

I enjoyed this book more than the first.  Maria's character had more depth and character.  It was another quick read, but enjoyable.  Throughout the novel, Jarik needs to get to Lebanon.  It is never fully mentioned what the friend did beyond a financial scheme.  Who did he do it to?

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Mistletoe, Mischief, and the Marquis by Amelia Grey

This was a cute Christmas book.  The Marquis of Wythebury is raising his sisters children.  When their governess has to be left behind at an inn, Seth struggles with taking care of the boys.  He was a studious boy and is a serious man.  Play is hard for him to understand.  Lillian Prim was raised in a family of six rambunctious girls and can't understand why the two boys don't know how to play.

Lillian is the sister of his best friend.  How can he be attracted to her.  She is totally inappropriate.  They say opposites attract and these two can't be more opposite.  I enjoyed this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you.

The Sheikh's Christmas Maid by Leslie North

Poppy Milenne works at the safe house for the Shadid family.  She is surprised when her boss makes her start cleaning for an unexpected guest.  When Sheikh Samir Shadid arrives, his goal is a holiday fling with Poppy.

This was a quick read.  I always love a Leslie North book.  I enjoyed this book.  The one thing I do not like is the cover.  From the positioning of the female model on the guy, to them staring dead on at the camera and the nakedness.  I read on an e-reader, but you still can see the covers.  I don't need people seeing this cover.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you.







The Alpha's Promise by Renee Rose

Melissa Bell has sworn off dating bad boys.  When her ex-boyfriend does something stupid that sends the bad guys with guns to her house, she calls her sister for help.  Her brother-in-law sends in a bad boy, alpha shifter to save Melissa.

Cody wants nothing to do with Melissa because she is human, yet his wolf craves her.  He has to fight to keep from marking her and making her his mate.

Will Melissa and Cody be able to meet in the middle and have their HEA?

I originally received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but within the first chapter, I bought the book.   I was thrilled to find it was the sequel to The Alpha's Hunger.  I loved the first book and this one is wonderful.  Cody is the hot, sexy alpha that is fighting the pull of desire.  Melissa comes across as a spoiled brat, but as the first chapter ends, there is development with her character.

If you love hot shifter males that are growly and bad, this is the book for you!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you!!!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

My Rogue, My Ruin by Amalie Howard; Angie Morgan

At the beginning, this book started strong and held the promise of a five star review but about half way through, the inconsistencies and crazy plot twists made it fall to a three star review.  The novel does not feel seamless but rather as if the people writing it did not communicate.

I liked the plot of Archer being the Masked Marauder so he can give to the charities that helped the poor in honor of his mother.  But, when the Masked Marauder holds up the Findlay coach, Brynn is much more spirited than at the ball later.  Her character almost seems deflated.  Brynn's character alternates from being too mature to acting like a tween having a pout.

Brynn is described as having all sorts of health ailments surrounding her lungs and heart, yet her brother secretly teaches her how to fence, ride bareback, and shoot?!  When does he get to do that? And when does she get to ride bareback?   Her mother is a helicopter parent.

Brynn's brother Graham and Archer were good friends when they were younger and now they hate each other.  What happened?  Both Graham and Archer mention that the other is a "known rake".  Where is the evidence?  Archer had a terrible childhood and now has to work to save the estate from his father's overindulging.  He doesn't spend a lot of time in London.

Brynn and Graham and Archer and Eloise live on neighboring estates and they played together as children.  Now, they seem quite distant and Brynn and Eloise haven't seen each other in years.  If Brynn is riding bareback around the two estates, why isn't she stopping to see Eloise?

Then the thing that took the book from "I can ignore that.  Reading is about escaping, not analyzing the plot to OMG!  what just happened" was the plot revolving around Eloise.  I was hoping that she was going to be the heroine in the second book picking up at the masked ball.  Nope.

The only thing that did not happen was Brandt was found to be the heir of  Archer's mother's uncle (the one they use the title for to make the donations).

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.









The Governess Was Wild by Julia Kelly

This landed on my DNF.  I did not like the characters and couldn't get into the novel.  There were three in the series that were published very close to another.  It just seemed pushed to meet a deadline.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

Hugh Fitzroy, the Duke of Kyle, is on a mission to destroy the Lords of Chaos.  He is ambushed by a gang of street thugs and rescued by the Ghost of St. Giles.  Stunned to discover this Ghost is a woman, he sends for his informant, a boy named Alf.

Alf is the Ghost of St. Giles by night and by day, she protects herself by disguising herself as a boy.  Hugh will be the one to discover that Alf is a woman.  Will they be able to save themselves from the Lords of Chaos.

So, this is part of the Maiden Lane series.  Don't be put off by "series".  It revolves in the Maiden Lane world and you don't have to have prior knowledge of the other books to read this one.

I was waiting for Hugh's story and this did not disappoint.  There were twists and turns in the plot that make you want to keep reading and not have to stop for those things like work.   Love the street urchin into Duchess.  Alf was a perfect match for Hugh.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.  Thank you!