Stripping the Billionaire (Heirs of Damon) by Noelle Adams

I found this book to be a great escape for several hours.  I liked the gruff next-door neighbor that Mandy keeps pushing to be friends.  Mandy was the sweet girl that lost her family and is seeking to fill the void.  It was steamy in the right places with a good plot.

SEAL Protector by Leslie North

This was an exciting romantic suspense novel with many twists and turns.  Mercy Conde is the only daughter of a wealthy family.  She wants to oversee the family's overseas interests but they don't think she can defend herself.  She enrolls in the Brothers-in Arm's survival training class and keeps failing.  Vann Highrider becomes interested in her and decides to give her a second chance.  Along the way, the encounter someone who wants to see the SEALs dead and will do anything to make it happen.

I liked the characters in this book and thought it was a strong follow-up to the first Brother's-in-Arms book.  I liked Vann and Mercy more than the characters in the first.

I receive this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  No monetary compensation was received.

I Dared the Duke by Anna Bennett

At the start of the book, I wanted to yell at Alex for his treatment of Beth.  By the end, I had fallen in love with Alex and felt his pain for the loss of his parents.

I did not want to put the book down.  I was absolutely hooked by the wonderful characters.  Alex with his devotion to his grandmother and Beth to the uncle that saved her and her sisters from poverty.

What a wonderful romance.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation.

My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch

Lady Marjorie Forrester is the sister of the Duke of Lattimer.  Marjorie's brother gave her use of his London town house once he inherited the title.  Her new neighbors only recognize her as the jumped-up former lady's companion, an upstart and ignore her.  Marjorie longs for recognition.  When her brother, Gabriel, writes that he is getting married, Marjorie journeys to Scotland with her companion, Mrs. Griswell, to surprise him.

Graeme Maxton is in the middle of a disagreement with his clan chief.  It has been suggested that Graeme could kill the Duke of Lattimer and wipe out his debt to his clan chief.  When his younger brothers discover the Duke of Lattimer's sister at the local inn, they kidnap her.

Can Graeme keep Marjorie safe from the feud between the two clans?  What is he to do when he realizes the best thing is to keep Marjorie for himself?

In my opinion, one of the hardest things for a romance writer to write is children.  It is hard to keep and eight-year-old sounding like an eight-year-old and not dominating the story.  The family in this book was written so well I could visualize them.  Instead of detracting from the plot, Graeme's family only enhanced it.  The interactions between

That said, until half way through the book, there is little buildup to romance, just hints here and there.    There is more about Graeme's family and the kidnapping.  Then, about half way through the book, Marjorie interrupts Graeme in his room.  They argue then kiss and next thing is Graeme is making certain that Marjorie is ruined.  And she has only been in his house two weeks.  I wish there had either been more time or a better build up.   

I did like the characters.  Marjorie isn't the average heroine.  And I did think she was a perfect fit for Graeme and his family.

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

SEAL Defender (Brothers in Arms #1) by Leslie North

Mark Rogers and his friends are former Navy SEALs.  They now run "Brothers-in-Arms" that is a boot camp style training for civilians.  Two of his former team members have committed suicide.  Mark is convinced that it is murder and is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Geneva Rios is a reporter that has come to Ortega, California to investigate the recent suicides among SEAL's .  This is a subject that is close to her heart. Her older brother was a SEAL that came home after a tour of duty and didn't get the help he needed and committed suicide.

This a short, romantic suspense novel.  It delivered the goods - suspense and hot sex.  I will admit that when I first picked up the book, I wasn't in the right frame to read it.  I put it down and let it simmer.  Once I picked it back up, I was hooked.  Yes, it is a short novel so the romance has to be instantaneous.  I did like that the characters were multi-cultural.

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

Lord of Chance (Rogues to Riches #1) by Erica Ridley

Lord of Chance is sort of a spin-off from "The Brigadier's Runaway Bride".  The story revolves around Anthony Fairfax, the brother of Sarah Fairfax.  Anthony is attempting to win enough money to pay his creditors when he meets Charlotte Devon in the pub.  They discover by Charlotte declaring Anthony is her husband and him agreeing, they are married under Scottish law.

I loved that Anthony got his HEA.  He was one of my favorite rogues from the Dukes of War series.  Charlotte was a heroine who needed a HEA.  This was a delightful read.

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

It Started with a Kiss (The Worthingtons, #3) by Ella Quinn

Gideon has returned home from Canada not only to find out that his father has died but in his last years, his father almost ran the estate dry.  Now that Gideon is the new Duke of Rothwell, he needs to repair his estates before he can marry.

Once Gideon meets the sister of the Earl of Worthington, the attraction is instant.  Lady Louisa Vivers wanted to find her true soul mate and Gideon is it.  They share early morning horseback rides and waltzes at balls.  Louisa is sure that Gideon will ask for her hand, but how can he when a scandal lurks beneath the surface?  Will Gideon risk everything for love?

This book was pure magic from the first page to the end!  I loved how Gideon and Louisa fell in love.   I liked how the characters were surrounded by Louisa's family. The ending was absolutely brilliant in resolving the minor plot of the potential scandal.

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