Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Last Night with the Duke by Amelia Gray

The Duke of Griffin is in need of a chaperone for his twin sisters.  He goes to Miss Mamie Fortescue's Employment Agency and meets Miss Esmeralda Swift.  Esmeralda is running the Agency and struggling to support herself and her young sister.  After Griffin makes his offer of employment too tempting for her to resist, Esmeralda battles her attraction to the Duke of Griffin.  Griffin is determined to have Esmeralda as his bride, but a youthful mistake may stand in the way.

This was a wonderful start to a series.  I loved Griffin's determination and his change of character from his youth to his maturity.  Esmeralda was a strong female character.  I liked the supporting characters of their sisters.

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

Firestorm (Dark Kings #10) by Donna Grant

OMG!  Do I have some catching up to do!  I just stumbled upon this book and was intrigued by the synopsis.  Little did I know that I was walking into a series.  While I will admit that I did get lost during some of the parts with the Fae and the Dragon Kings, I loved the plot and characters enough that I need to start at book one!  I have always had a thing for dragon shifters and Dmitri was yummy!

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

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Any child born when the two moons of Aerthlan align in the sky are gifted with some sort of supernatural power.  These children are called the Embraced.  They are protected on the islands of Moon and Mist but on the mainland, the kings do not allow anyone to possess more power than them.
Luciana was raised in the Isle of Moon at the Convent of the Two Moons with four other girls.  Like her sisters, she was left at the Convent without knowledge of her family.  Until she turned nineteen.  Her father, Lucas Vintello, from the kingdom of Eberon arrived to claim her.  The cruel King Frederic wants Lucas's land.  He demands that Lucas's daughter Tatiana marry his nephew, Lord Leofrick of Benwick, also known as the Beast.

I was simply blown away by this book.  I loved the world that Kerrelyn Sparks created.  Once I started reading the book, I was sucked into the world and didn't want the book to end!  I liked how the romance blended into the story.  I loved the characters and can't wait to read the next book!

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

Sharp Practice: Bourbonland Book 1 by Jennifer Bramseth

Nina Cain had the perfect relationship with Garner Robson until a nasty break up after she lost their baby.  It was even more devastating when Garner quickly married another woman that was pregnant.  
Garner was a new father when his wife tragically died.  He attempts to pick up the pieces of his life but realizes that he is missing a major piece - Nina.
Nina fights her attraction to Garner while handling the biggest case of her career against one of Garner's oldest and most powerful family friends.
When their personal and professional worlds collide can Garner and Nina's renewed relationship survive?
Sharp Practice is the first book in Jennifer Bramseth's new series.  It is a spin-off from her Bourbon Springs series, so most of the characters are known.  Its like slipping into your favorite pair of comfortable jeans.  
I liked Nina from previous books and was on the fence with Garner.  Once I started reading, I couldn't help but fall for Garner.  As Garner struggled to get the HEA he has longed for with Nina, I became more an more intrigued with several of the other characters in the book. 
I received an ARC from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.  No monetary contributions were given.











Friday, March 24, 2017

The Sheikh's Secret Son (Sharjah Sheikhs Book 3)by Leslie North

Rebecca Reid is in Sharjah with a diplomatic tour as a foreign aid representative.  Five years ago, she had an affair with Sheikh Zaid who is the middle son of the Sultan of Sharjah's sons.  Zaid is surprised when Rebecca is on the diplomatic tour.  Rebecca's goal is to see the poverty stricken areas of Sharjah.  When Rebecca is attacked after sneaking off from the group to see one of the poverty stricken areas, Zaid discovers a picture of a four year old boy and realizes he is the father.

Can Zaid and Rebecca help the poverty stricken areas of Shajara while unmasking the corrupt adviser who was diverting funds?

I enjoyed the first two books in the series and really liked Zaid.  However, Rebecca is the embodiment of the social justice warrior that I despise.  From the beginning, she wanted to see the poorest areas of the country and demanded to know why the tour wasn't going there.  She sneaks off to visit one of the poor areas, straight from a meeting where she is wearing beautiful clothes and doesn't have her head covered.  Surprise!  She gets mugged.  I also didn't like how easy it was for Zaid to bring their son from America to Sharjah.  Without asking Rebecca or having a concern for his safety.  Then the part with the corrupt adviser was just a little too much.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.  Thank you!



Roman (Cold Fury Hocky #7) by Sawyer Bennett

I am not a big fan of books written in first-person.  However, I have loved every one of the Cold Fury series.  Roman is a bad boy on the ice and with the ladies, but his charity work makes up for his actions.  Lexi is free spirited, intelligent woman.  I like how the book involves more than Roman and Lexi.  Even her father, Brian gets his romance.

Great book.  I can't wait for the next in the series.



Saturday, March 18, 2017

One Wild Night by Melissa Cutler

I started reading this book and couldn't put it down.  While Skye and Gentry were the main characters, Skye's family plays an important part in this novel.  It was a delightfuroller coaster of emotions.  I did not want the book to end.  It was one of the best contemporary romances that I have read in a long time.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  No monetary compensation was exchanged.  Thank you!

A Lady's Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran

I really liked reading this book.  There was plenty of adventure and intrigue in the novel.  Jane and Crispin were great characters.  I liked Jane's backbone and determination.  Crispin was a strong character.  I liked the interactions between them throughout the book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  No monetary contributions were received.  Thank you.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Delicate Ties by Mari Carr and Lila Dubois

I have been hooked on this series since book two.  The series started out interesting with the first two books.  Then was the build up in books three to four to book five.  Now, there common plot - the secret society within the secret society.  Each trinity is a link to solving the puzzle.  In book seven, there were two new characters introduced that at first seemed like just background characters.

With Delicate Ties, the two characters, especially the one, have a much larger part.  As I was reading, I was screaming to myself about the twist that the one character took.

I like the direction the last two books have taken.  The Trinities are diverse.  The characters are intense and the plot twists leave you blown away.

This is a series that I know I will hate to see end.  I have absolutely enjoyed each book and have binge read the series several times.  It always is in my top 20 of "recent" books on my Nook.

This book is not a stand alone.  Simply because of the plot that started in book five and has wound its way to this book.  Also, the characters from previous books make appearances that are important to the plot.   I had to go back several books and re-read so I remembered key plot details.

The Billionaire Beast by Jackie Ashenden

Phoebe Taylor needs to be Nero de Santis's personal assistant.  Her fiancee has been in a coma for two years and the hospital expenses are astronomical.  Nero hasn't left his house in ten years.  He controls his world from his isolation in his home.

Nero wants Phoebe with a passion that he doesn't want to face.  His attraction to Phoebe burns in his soul yet he fights it because he thinks she can't handle him.  Only Nero can see her pain and isolation that are behind the walls she has built around her heart.

This book was AMAZING!  Nero was so damaged and as the book progressed, we discover more about what happened.  My heart ached for Nero.  I wanted to be Phoebe.  The passion he had for her was intense.  I loved the characters.  Phoebe wasn't without her own scars.  It takes two to make a whole and Phoebe and Nero complemented each other amazingly!

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



The Sheikh's Accidental Heir by Leslie North


Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qasimi has to clean up his playboy image or his father will force him into an arranged marriage.  While in Manhattan, he meets Melanie while her company is catering the event.  The sparks fly and Melanie gives him two days of passion.  Ahmed is called back home and has to choose between an arranged marriage and a relationship with a woman he has fallen for.


I enjoyed this book.  Great characters and story.


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







Saturday, March 4, 2017

The Sheikh's Forced Bride by Leslie North

Casey Connolly is a journalist on a mission to expose arranged marriages.  She interrupts Sheikh Khalid Al-Qasim's marriage.  Khalid was given a choice to marry or face banishment.  When his marriage is interrupted and Casey jailed, he decides the best way to escape the forced marriage is to have a false engagement to the unacceptable Casey.  Will the false engagement develop into true love?

I absolutely love Leslie North's Sheikhs.  Khalid was the hot hero and Casey was the strong heroine.  This was a great read.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive payment for my review.  Thank you.