What a wonderful follow-up to "Must Love Dukes". Sue Green is tired of being a wallflower. Her mother has told her that this is her last season and she is going to go out with a bang. She encounters Lord Holden Ellis and the steam begins.
This book gave us more strong characters in Sue and Holden. Again, there was a wonderful cast of supporting characters that you loved or loved to hate. The novel was fast paced and hard to put down. A thoroughly enjoyable read (again)!
Five amazing stars.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Fool Me Twice - Meredith Duran
I love a strong romance with strong characters. This was a couldn't put it down, must have it in my collection and I will re-read this book!
Olivia is being chased by Lord Bertram and is seeking revenge upon him. Her path to revenge takes her to the mansion of Alastair de Grey, Duke of Marwick. Marwick was a brilliant politician and his whole world crumbled with the death of his first wife and her betrayals. Olivia is hired as his housekeeper and the attraction is intense from the beginning. Olivia stands up to Marwick even after he throws a bottle at her. She pushes him to snap out of his despair.
The twists in this book were surprising. I would love to tell more about the plot, but I don't want to spoil this wonderful book for anyone!
I gave it five out of five stars. This has to be in my top five of the books I have read since Christmas.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you!
Olivia is being chased by Lord Bertram and is seeking revenge upon him. Her path to revenge takes her to the mansion of Alastair de Grey, Duke of Marwick. Marwick was a brilliant politician and his whole world crumbled with the death of his first wife and her betrayals. Olivia is hired as his housekeeper and the attraction is intense from the beginning. Olivia stands up to Marwick even after he throws a bottle at her. She pushes him to snap out of his despair.
The twists in this book were surprising. I would love to tell more about the plot, but I don't want to spoil this wonderful book for anyone!
I gave it five out of five stars. This has to be in my top five of the books I have read since Christmas.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you!
Loving Lord Ash (Duchess of Love #3) - Sally MacKenzie
I love Sally MacKenzie's Duchess of Love series and Loving Lord Ash is just as funny and wonderful as the first two.
Christopher or Kit is the Marquis of Ashton, heir to the Duke of Greycliffe. His mother is known in society as the "Duchess of Love" due to her matchmaking hobby and the pamphlets on romance she writes. He is in an odd situation. As the heir to a Duke he needs an heir and he has just turned 30. But, how do you get an heir when you have been estranged from your wife for eight years and never spent a night in her bed?
Ash decides that he needs to do something about his need for an heir and journeys to his wife's estate. Jessica was the head groom's daughter when he married her and growing up she was one of his best friends. Jess was the only one who really knew him as they were growing up.
I loved his reaction when he arrived at his estate and found her in her studio painting. Ash slowly figures out that Jessica didn't wrong him those eight years ago and in the eight years since, he has done some serious damage to her reputation.
I was cheering for Jessica and wanted her to tell Ash off for dumping her at this estate and never caring how she was doing until he decided he needed an heir. At the same time I wanted to shake Ash and yell at him for being such an ass. What I found tender was how he did care enough for Jessica not to sleep around the Ton. However, I was confused as if Percy was supposed to be a villain or what.
What a wonderful novel. I give this one five out of five stars.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Christopher or Kit is the Marquis of Ashton, heir to the Duke of Greycliffe. His mother is known in society as the "Duchess of Love" due to her matchmaking hobby and the pamphlets on romance she writes. He is in an odd situation. As the heir to a Duke he needs an heir and he has just turned 30. But, how do you get an heir when you have been estranged from your wife for eight years and never spent a night in her bed?
Ash decides that he needs to do something about his need for an heir and journeys to his wife's estate. Jessica was the head groom's daughter when he married her and growing up she was one of his best friends. Jess was the only one who really knew him as they were growing up.
I loved his reaction when he arrived at his estate and found her in her studio painting. Ash slowly figures out that Jessica didn't wrong him those eight years ago and in the eight years since, he has done some serious damage to her reputation.
I was cheering for Jessica and wanted her to tell Ash off for dumping her at this estate and never caring how she was doing until he decided he needed an heir. At the same time I wanted to shake Ash and yell at him for being such an ass. What I found tender was how he did care enough for Jessica not to sleep around the Ton. However, I was confused as if Percy was supposed to be a villain or what.
What a wonderful novel. I give this one five out of five stars.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
A Midsummer Bride by Amanda Forester
I will admit that I didn't like the first book in this series and put it down half way. I was hesitant to read this one because I didn't like the description on GoodReads. So, when I saw it in my library's e-book collection, I took a chance and was glad I did!
Harriet Redgrave is an American traveling by ship to New York to meet her parents. Her dad is a Captain that served in the Revolution and her mother is the daughter of an Earl that was disowned when she eloped with the American Captain. Harriet's ship was captured by an English warship so they could impress the sailors. Harriet stands up for he crew and the captain of the English ship discovers that she is the granddaughter of the Earl of Langley. The captain takes her to England and her grandfather's house.
Once Harriet is in England, her grandfather realizes the mistake he made years ago in disowning his daughter and seeks to make things right by finding a husband for Harriet.
Her grandfather seeks the help of his lost love, the Dowager Duchess of Marchford in having the matchmaker of the Ton, Madam X, find an acceptable husband for Harriet. They attend a house party given by Duncan Machlachlan, Earl of Thornton. Duncan and his friend the Duke of Marchford are attempting to find the French spy in their agency.
What follows is a story of true romance. Duncan doesn't want to marry a girl with a huge dowry because that is what his father did and he was miserable. He is drawn to Harriet, but she has too much money. His mother has a nasty gambling habit and owes money to General Crawley (who wants Duncan to marry his nasty daughter Priscilla).
I did not put this book down until the end. The next book is about the Duke of Marchford and his grandmother's companion, Penelope. I can't wait!
Harriet Redgrave is an American traveling by ship to New York to meet her parents. Her dad is a Captain that served in the Revolution and her mother is the daughter of an Earl that was disowned when she eloped with the American Captain. Harriet's ship was captured by an English warship so they could impress the sailors. Harriet stands up for he crew and the captain of the English ship discovers that she is the granddaughter of the Earl of Langley. The captain takes her to England and her grandfather's house.
Once Harriet is in England, her grandfather realizes the mistake he made years ago in disowning his daughter and seeks to make things right by finding a husband for Harriet.
Her grandfather seeks the help of his lost love, the Dowager Duchess of Marchford in having the matchmaker of the Ton, Madam X, find an acceptable husband for Harriet. They attend a house party given by Duncan Machlachlan, Earl of Thornton. Duncan and his friend the Duke of Marchford are attempting to find the French spy in their agency.
What follows is a story of true romance. Duncan doesn't want to marry a girl with a huge dowry because that is what his father did and he was miserable. He is drawn to Harriet, but she has too much money. His mother has a nasty gambling habit and owes money to General Crawley (who wants Duncan to marry his nasty daughter Priscilla).
I did not put this book down until the end. The next book is about the Duke of Marchford and his grandmother's companion, Penelope. I can't wait!
The Greatest Lover Ever by Christina Brooke
I found this book when I purchased something else and it was in the "Customers Also Bought" line. I am so glad I found it. I have read the "Ministry of Marriage" series and this book was just as fast paced and enjoyable the others.
Georgina Black has a temper to match her fiery red hair. When her fiancée, the Earl of Beckenham, is given a lock of her hair by another man and wants to duel, she tells him if he does, the wedding is off. Beckenham does not back down from an ultimatum and calls her bluff, breaking their long standing engagement.
Six years latter, Georgina is firmly on the shelf and needs to escort her younger half sister during her season because her step-mother is a total flake hypochondriac. Beckenham wants to marry. His cousin puts together a list of potential candidates and one of them is Georgina's sister! At the end of a series of wife hunting house parties, Beckenham throws his own house party and Georgina has to be her half sister's chaperone because her step-mother has flaked again!
I loved the chase that Georgina put Beckenham through. She has matured and knows what she wants and how to get it.
I can't wait for the next book!
Five out of Five stars!!!!!
Georgina Black has a temper to match her fiery red hair. When her fiancée, the Earl of Beckenham, is given a lock of her hair by another man and wants to duel, she tells him if he does, the wedding is off. Beckenham does not back down from an ultimatum and calls her bluff, breaking their long standing engagement.
Six years latter, Georgina is firmly on the shelf and needs to escort her younger half sister during her season because her step-mother is a total flake hypochondriac. Beckenham wants to marry. His cousin puts together a list of potential candidates and one of them is Georgina's sister! At the end of a series of wife hunting house parties, Beckenham throws his own house party and Georgina has to be her half sister's chaperone because her step-mother has flaked again!
I loved the chase that Georgina put Beckenham through. She has matured and knows what she wants and how to get it.
I can't wait for the next book!
Five out of Five stars!!!!!
A Kiss of Lies: The Disgraced Lords Series by Brownwen Evans
The novel opens with Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham (a member of the Libertine Scholars)finding himself in a brothel that he frequents. He has woken with a pounding head as if he has a hangover. He is accused of bringing a Duke's daughter to the brothel and raping her. He escapes the brothel, but the Duke's sons find him and throw him on a ship sailing for Canada. He arrives in York, Canada with no money and no identification. He was taken in by Matthew Pearson and when Pearson and his wife died in a blizzard, he took their daughter, Lily as his ward. While he was in York, Canada, the locals nicknamed him Devil Scarface due to the burns and injuries he suffered in the battle of Waterloo. Christian is returning to England to reclaim his honor and needs a governess for Lily.
Sarah (Serena) Cooper is the daughter of the Duke of Hastings that had been in North America for two years. She is being accused of murdering her abusive husband and has escaped the men wishing to prosecute her from Virginia to Canada. Now, she is wants to return to England to escape them. Sarah has loved Christian since she was 15 and watched him at a ball in the shadows at her father's house.
Both characters are attempting to heal from their tragic pasts. Christian is a tortured soul that is lacking in self confidence because of his scarring. Serena is attempting to put the abuse she suffered behind her. Serena does not see the scars, she just sees the man that Christian was and still is. They share a true passion.
This is the first book in a series. The connecting link is a villain that is attempting to destroy all six of the Libertine Scholars. The men are attempting to figure out the link they all share. I can't wait for the others!
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah (Serena) Cooper is the daughter of the Duke of Hastings that had been in North America for two years. She is being accused of murdering her abusive husband and has escaped the men wishing to prosecute her from Virginia to Canada. Now, she is wants to return to England to escape them. Sarah has loved Christian since she was 15 and watched him at a ball in the shadows at her father's house.
Both characters are attempting to heal from their tragic pasts. Christian is a tortured soul that is lacking in self confidence because of his scarring. Serena is attempting to put the abuse she suffered behind her. Serena does not see the scars, she just sees the man that Christian was and still is. They share a true passion.
This is the first book in a series. The connecting link is a villain that is attempting to destroy all six of the Libertine Scholars. The men are attempting to figure out the link they all share. I can't wait for the others!
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What the Groom Wants by Jade Lee
Wendy Drew is a seamstress that is struggling to pay her debt with Demon Damon the local crime boss. She thinks she has enough for the final payment when Damon springs additional debt on her and gets her evicted from her and her mother's apartment so he can control her more. Radley Lyncott is a sailor that grew up with Wendy and has wanted her since he was a teenager. Now, that his has been made Captain of his own ship, he wants to marry her. Also, Radley is now the Duke of Bucklynde (a Welsh title) due to small pox wiping out "the ducal seat, wiping out nearly the entire family, the associated village, and a good deal of the neighboring hamlets." He was the grandson of the disgraced third son and went from a sailor to a Duke.
To me, the book read more as a gothic romance than a Regency or Historical. I found the plot fast and the characters well drawn out. Wendy is an unusual heroine because she stands firm for herself and her family. The ending was a little crazy, but all in all, I enjoyed the book.
3.5 out of five stars (I couldn't give it four because I HATED the male hero's name!)
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
To me, the book read more as a gothic romance than a Regency or Historical. I found the plot fast and the characters well drawn out. Wendy is an unusual heroine because she stands firm for herself and her family. The ending was a little crazy, but all in all, I enjoyed the book.
3.5 out of five stars (I couldn't give it four because I HATED the male hero's name!)
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
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