Half Moon Hill by Toni Blake (Destiny #6)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Trying to escape her troubled past, Anna Romo has come home to Destiny determined to carve out a place for herself. When she buys the old Victorian house on the hill with the intent of furnishing it into a Bed and Breakfast, she’s thrilled by the possibilities.

Ex-biker-gang member Duke Dawson is as much a fish out of water in Destiny as Anna, but he’s handling it fine until an accident scars not only his body but his mind. When Anna stumbles across him in an old cabin in the woods near her newly acquired house, at first she’s terrified. But they work out a deal – she’s willing to keep his solitary living arrangement a secret if he’s willing to help her with some of the heavy lifting at the house. Working together on the renovations, romance brews between Duke and Anna. That is, until war hero Jeremy Sheridan returns home in a blaze of glory and sets his sights on Anna. Suddenly torn between the outgoing and charming Jeremy and the intriguing Duke, Anna’s heart is torn between two paths and left with only one solution.

Anna Romo is struggling with all things new to her, she recently came back home after hearing the death bed confession of a woman she always thought was her mother. She feels a little like an outsider in a town she should have grown up in, she had been kidnapped when she was five and lived with a woman until she died. It was quite a shock when she came back to Destiny for both her family and herself. She is trying to fit in however she tends to stay alone more that she seeks out the company of others, she is slowly getting to know her brother’s Mike and Lucky and their wives.

She bought an old run down house near Half Moon Hill to renovate and turn into a Bed and Breakfast and spent the winter working on the inside. Now that the weather is getting nice she is going to tackle the outside. While walking in the woods near her home she encounters a man who looks like the infamous wolf man, she does not realize at first he is someone she knows, Duke, her brother Lucky’s best friend. He looks like he has not cut his hair or shaved in a year. He also has a scar on his face that she knew came from an accident that changed his life. He was injured and a friend died, so he sold his bar and dropped out of site, not even letting Lucky know where he was.

When he finds out she is going to renovate the outside by herself, he offers to work for her. As he starts working, she gravitates toward town not trusting the feelings she is beginning to have about him, and ends up inadvertently getting to know her sisters-in-law and their friends and agrees to help at a book store.

As they spend more time together they give in to their sexual attraction; however she is unsure of the relationship and of him, worried about his withdrawal from the world. There are moments of heartfelt emotion as they each learn to come back to the living again and re-join a community that loves them.

What a wonderful romance, full of engaging characters, a small town atmosphere and interesting back stories. There is a lot going on with couples from the other books frequently on the pages as we continue to learn about their lives. I really like Duke and Anna, their chemistry is real and I love how they cannot keep their hands off each other, such sexual attraction. Duke is a wonderful character, full of a lifetime of hurt and you just feel for him as he stays away from people to reflect and live with survivor’s guilt. Anna is also believable as she deals with trust issues and living in a family she never knew about. She so wants to belong with the friends she starts to get to know yet she holds back. So to have the two of them find each other is perfect, as they wind up healing together.

The only thing I did not like is that there are several characters to keep up with; this small town life has many stories that continue on, yet the good thing is that there is still a lot of page time for the main characters. Also in the blurb there is talk about how she is torn about another man however this does not seem like a big issue and she is truly never tempted.

The story is moving and I had tears several times as they struggle with how they feel about each other. Anna redeems herself from the previous book when she came across as arrogant and standoffish, she is really very wary and scared about forming relationships and I like how she really tries to put herself out there in this book. She seems more brave and welcoming. This is a wonderfully moving story and I am excited to continue the series to find out more about the people that live in Destiny.

I give Half Moon Hill by Toni Blake 4.0 stars!

The Devil’s Heart by Cathy Maxwell (The Chattan Curse #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Pam

They call her the Unattainable. Lady Margaret Chattan spurned every suitor for her hand, vowing never to marry. The only way to break the curse plaguing her family for two centuries is this ultimate sacrifice. But now her brothers’ lives are in danger. Determined to save them, she risks her very soul by traveling into the heart of the highlands to battle a force that has transcended time.

Heath Macnachtan is not superstitious. Laird of the most independent, nonconforming, madly infuriating clan ever to grace Scotland, he believes he has his hands full. And then, a woman lauded as one of the most beautiful in England, arrives on his doorstep with wild accusations and a mystical quest . . . one that just might help him discover who murdered his own brother. But the real danger for Heath and Margaret is not a supernatural foe, but a very real love that could destroy them both.

Lady Margaret Chattan is on a mission, traveling to Scotland and accompanied by her new abigail, Smith who keeps looking at her strangely, but it might be because Smith thinks Margaret is a little crazy. Margaret is on her way to see if she can break the Chattan curse and save her brothers before they die. The curse was put on the Chattan’s two hundred years ago by a vengeful witch and has caused panic and death for years as every Chattan male that falls in love, dies. Margaret’s brother Harry believes she is the key to breaking the curse as she is the first female born since the curse was cast.

Society thought Margaret was perfect and both the men and women of the ton either wanted her or wanted to be her. She rarely went out however instead of people thinking it was strange, they just thought it was another thing to love about her, she was mysterious. She on the other hand does not feel worthy of anyone, as she has a secret that not even her brother’s Neal and Harry are aware of.

Margaret found a kitten when she was ready to leave on her trip, a strange little creature with big eyes and flatten ears, she calls it Owl. However no one else in her traveling party can see the cat, Smith thinks she is unwell and when Margaret questions the others in the party to see if they see the cat, they all look away. So she leaves the “cat” by the side of the road and they travel on. About a mile out of their destination the weather turns and the wind pulls them off the road and down the hill where all but two perish.

Heath Macnachtan is the 16th chief of Macnachtan, a raggedy clan that is almost bankrupt. They are in danger of losing their home, Marybone. He is thinking of selling to help his sisters however does not want to leave his clan to the mercy of others that might not treat them well. Up until a year ago Heath had been first officer aboard the HMS Boyne when he heard about his brother’s death. Brodie had been ambushed and murdered; they still have not found the murderer. Heath finds Margaret near where his brother was killed and he recognizes her right away from seeing her in London. He takes her to his home and when she awakes she again acts a little crazy, she is missing a book she was carrying, Fenella’s book of Curses. They all tell her they never saw the book and not believing anyone, she shoots Heath – really?

As Heath and Margaret search for clues they unwittingly find the answers to other unsolved mysteries, all the while fate and other sources are at work trying to prevent her from finding anything about the curse.

This was a nice conclusion to the Chattan trilogy and a must read if you are curious about how it all ends, however I just did not really like the main two characters much and I did not see any chemistry with them. Heath was unhappy being the chief of his clan, wanting to go back to the sea and be in the Navy, when he decides to stay I was not convinced that Margaret is the reason. Margaret was just not very likable at all, she was rude to her abigail, Smith during the ride, then she was rude to Heath’s family and even when she apologizes, it was not sincere. I know she was trying to save her brothers but being accusatory to all those around her when they had saved her – ugh. I did like Heath’s two sisters, Laren and Anice; they were engaging and fun and accepted life with a sense of happiness.

The answers at the end seemed a little unbelievable, I suppose for a book about witches and curses it could make sense however I could not buy it. I also was unsure of what happened with Fenella and Rose, the two that started it all centuries ago; I thought there could have been more about them and the mysterious cat. Over all, the book was well written and a must read for the end of the trilogy however I wish I connected with the hero and heroine better.

I give The Devil’s Heart by Cathy Maxwell 3.0 stars!

Lucky Like Us by Jennifer Ryan (The Hunted #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Avon Impulse

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Pam

Bakery owner Elizabeth Hamilton’s quiet life is filled with sweet treats, good friends, and a loving family. But all of that is about to turn sour when an odd sound draws her outside. There’s a man lying unconscious in the street, a car speeding toward him. Without hesitation, she gets the man out of harm’s way before they’re run down. Unwittingly, Elizabeth has put herself in the path of a serial murderer, and as the only one who can identify the FBI’s Silver Fox Killer, she’s ended up in the hospital with a target on her back.

All that stands between her and death is Special Agent Sam Turner. Against his better judgment, Sam gets emotionally involved, determined to take down the double threat against Elizabeth—an ex desperate to get her back, despite a restraining order, and a psychopath bent on silencing her before she can identify him.They set a trap to catch the killer—putting Elizabeth in his hands, with Sam desperate to save her. If he’s lucky, he’ll get his man … and the girl.

Elizabeth Hamilton lives in a warehouse loft and bakes wonderful goodies for a living. She comes from a well known, wealthy family but loves to give back to others to make them feel better. She was in the middle of mixing up a batch of cookies while talking to her best friend on the phone when she hears some popping sounds and looks out the window to see a man lying in the street.

Sam is an FBI agent and former special ops who is working on an assignment to find the Silver Fox, a serial killer who is terrorizing the area. Sam and his partner Tyler, are meeting an informant in a bar when things so very wrong. Sam is ambushed and drugged, taken from the bar and thrown into a vehicle. He somehow gets out of the car and starts to run when the suspect shoots him in the back. As the he is about to be run over, a woman comes running, grabs Sam and rolls him under her SUV. The suspect tries to finish them both off with his car but fortunately the police come and he runs, but not before leaving Sam very injured and Elizabeth in critical condition.

As Sam and Elizabeth struggle to get better the investigation goes into high gear to find out who did this. Both families use all their influences to get the best medical help for the two and to gain information on the killer. Danger comes close several times for Elizabeth as the Silver Fox tries to kill her, and throughout it all Sam is there for her, getting to know her and realizing that their attraction can grow in small calm moments.

This is a very quiet romantic suspense, after the initial adrenaline rush in the beginning as Elizabeth is trying to save Sam and then herself, the story goes into a more investigational mode. The tone changes as they are taken to the hospital where the staff tries to save Elizabeth. I love how the family bonds as Elizabeth fights for her life, she and Sam slowly form a relationship despite several emotional battles he must get through as his job has taken a toll on him; however Elizabeth makes him want to live life again. I like how they quietly get to know each other through holding each other and keeping each other company during some long nights. In lighter moments Sam even becomes Elizabeth’s fake fiancé and they tease each other to help fend off the weird guy she dated once who seems to not want to go away.

Even though this romantic suspense is more relationship and investigative orientated that does not mean there is no action, they do have a stalker to thwart and the serial killer to find and arrest before he kills Elizabeth. Also Tyler has an interesting relationship going on with a psychic ghost who helps him with a few investigations. I enjoyed seeing all of Sam’s family again, Sam’s twin Jack with his wife Jenna who we met in the first book and his sister Summer all come to help. And Elizabeth’s family was a hoot, as we watch her brothers and father being very protective of her. All in all the characters Ms. Ryan creates are all very interesting from those we met before to new ones, both good and evil.

The plot progression is well done and I really enjoyed how the story unfolded going from a rapid pace in the beginning to slower in the middle and then it raced to the end as the danger revved up toward a conclusion. A very enjoyable second addition to the series that I will continue to read.

I give Lucky Like Us by Jennifer Ryan 4 stars!

And The Miss Ran Away With The Rake by Elizabeth Boyles (Rhymes With Love #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Daphne Dale never could have imagined that when she answered an advertisement in the newspaper that she would find true love. Now she has the opportunity to meet her unknown suitor, but it means traveling to Tabitha’s wedding, and into the heart of her family’s sworn enemies. Everyone knows the Seldons are terrible rakes and bounders, but Daphne will risk anything to gain the happiness she is certain is right around the corner.

Lord Henry Seldon is aghast at the latest addition to the house party guest list—one would think after the unforgettable scandal Daphne Dale caused at the duke’s engagement ball, she wouldn’t dare show her face at the duke’s wedding. But here she is, poking her nose where she shouldn’t and driving Henry mad . . . with an unforgettable passion that will turn enemies into lovers.

The most sensible of the Seldon family, Henry, lives a quiet existence, just enjoying life with his twin sister Hen. They have let all the gossip, speculation and rumors fall on their nephew Preston for years and he took it well, enjoying life as a rake. However Preston has fallen in love and has become quite the respectable gentleman of the ton. In the meantime, Henry seems to be getting all the attention, much to his dismay.

On one of his last drunken binges Preston and his friend Roxley thought it would be fun to post an advertisement in the Morning Chronicle for a bride for Henry and since then there has been an avalanche of responses, there seems to be many ladies seeking husbands in Town. One such response got Henry’s attention and he decided to reply using the alias of Mr. Dishforth. Miss Spooner showed spunk in her first letter to Henry and has not changed her personality in all the correspondence since. They have become quite enamored of each other through the letters and were looking forward to meeting at Tabitha’s and Preston’s engagement party. She was told to wear red; however that color seems to be popular this season.

At the party both Daphne’s friends, Harriet and Tabitha know about Mr. Dishforth and are constantly speculating about which gentleman he might be. While she searches, she is dreading the traditional dance that Tabitha wants her to take part in, whoever is standing up for the bride must dance with whoever is standing up for the groom. She knows that that person is Lord Henry, a Seldon. The Seldon’s and Dale’s have a long standing feud and do not associate with each other; she is not looking forward to it.

Both Henry and Daphne meet before the special dance, not knowing who each is, they enjoy a dance together and think they have solved the mystery of Miss Spooner and Mr. Dishforth, however when the dance is over, while they are still glowing over each other, they find out who they are, Seldon and Dale. Hilarity ensues for the rest of the book as they go from liking each other to hating each other and totally in denial about how, deep down they really know that they are Miss Spooner and Mr. Dishforth.

This was an enjoyable funny historical romance full of misunderstanding, mischief and all around good fun. I was a little tired of all the run around by the time the end came, however I did like the way it ended. Henry is a very staid individual letting Preston gain all the notoriety for the family however with Preston getting married to Tabitha he has been “oh so proper” while Henry seems to be getting into trouble every way he turns. I enjoyed watching Henry get flummoxed each time he got into trouble, as though it was so foreign to him, and the reaction of his twin sister Hen was priceless. I had a hard time liking Daphne, it grew tiresome as she denied who she though Mr. Dishforth was even after Henry figured it out. I also was never sure about what the “centuries” old feud was about, not much of a back story of why these two families will never mix. The story also dragged a little in the middle while they were at Preston’s home for the wedding as the two would gravitate toward each other yet pushed each other away.

Daphne’s two friends were entertaining and I am looking forward to Harriet’s book as I also like Roxley, the two of them will be an engaging couple to watch as they have known each other since childhood. I liked Henry’s Aunt Zillah who you would not know was in a room, yet all of the sudden she would speak her mind and she would know it all, she was a hoot. An overall good second addition to the series and I will defiantly pick up the next one.

I give And The Miss Ran Away with the Rake by Elizabeth Boyle 3 stars!

Saved By The Rancher by Jennifer Ryan (The Hunted #1)

Available: Now Ebook – Paperback April , 2013  Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Avon Impulse

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

From the moment rancher Jack Turner rescues Jenna Caldwell Merrick, he is determined to help her. Soon, he is doing more than tend her wounds; he is mending her heart. Jenna is a woman on the run— hunted down by her ex-husband, David Merrick, from the day she left him, taking part of his company with her, to the second she finds herself in the safety of Jack’s ranch. More than just a haven, Jack’s offering the love, family, and home she thought were out of reach.

Jack’s support will give Jenna the strength she needs to reclaim her life. The hunted will become the hunter, while David gets what he deserves, when they have an explosive confrontation in the boardroom of Merrick International. But not before Jack and Jenna enter into a fight … for their lives.

Jenna Caldwell has been on the run for two years, this is the seventh time her ex has found her and this was the worse. She was able to remain hidden for five months, longer than their marriage had lasted. However he really did damage this time, beating her and slicing her leg open with a shard from the broken mirror. She needed to run again, calling up her ally Ben saying “Rabbit’s on the run”.

Ben Knight is a lawyer Jenna found on the internet two years ago, she liked what his profile said about him, that he helps battered women and ever since she contacted him Ben has helped her run and hide, he has also helped her with her business dealings. When she calls to say she is on the move again, he already has a plan in place; he rented a cabin in Colorado from his friend Jack that she can stay at.

David Merrick, head of Merrick International is Jenna’s ex-husband. For the first two months of their marriage he was a wonderful husband, but the relationship went downhill very fast and when she left him he had just thrown her down a flight of stairs breaking her arm and losing something very precious. She was able to blackmail him during the divorce proceedings and he gave her part of his business. She came out of the marriage very wealthy and has been lucky in her investments, making her even more money.

Every time David finds her and abuses her, she takes pictures and emails them to Ben. She is collecting evidence so that someday when she can get past David’s money and power she can get back at him.

Jack’s place is outside of Hidden Springs, Colorado and she arrives in town four days after David found her, exhausted, sick and she thinks her leg is infected. She stops at a small store and then goes to the diner to get something to eat. Jack Turner is in the diner, watching and wondering about her. She asks about directions to the Turner ranch, and the woman at the counter motions that Jack is here. So she goes to ask him, swaying on her feet. He wants to help and follows her to her vehicle noticing she stands back from him, as she does not like men getting too close yet does not mind having Jack’s dog, Sally stay right by her side the whole time and while they drive Sally barks when it looks like Jenna is going to pass out.

As Jack watches her walk to the cabin he wonders how she can stand at all, she can barely walk but will not take any help. She gets inside and says that after she has a nap she would like to get a haircut and Jack says his sister will come over and help. Jenna takes a shower, snaps some pictures and then lies down by the fire, with Sally by her side.

Jack’s sister comes over to help with her hair however she can’t get her to wake up and answer the door. Summer calls Jack who comes over and they realize how bad Jenna is. They take her to his place and he gets his medical bag, but in the meantime he calls Ben and asks him what in the hell is going on.

Ben tells Jack what little he can, as she will have to tell him who did this to her. Ben has never met Jenna and helps her whenever she needs him. The first four times her ex found her, Jenna tried to have him arrested but he paid everyone off and the evidence disappeared. She even hired a bodyguard once but he was later found dead, so now she runs on her own. Ben sent her to Jack on purpose as he is tired of seeing her go through this and knows if anyone can help it would be Jack.

Jack feels something let loose while tending to her; he is amazed because he has been closed off from feelings for years. As she wakes up she is nervous and a scared wondering if Jack wants her to leave as she knows David will find her and hurt those that help her. Jenna also starts to feel something being around Jack and his family which includes Summer, her husband Caleb and their daughter Lily and she does not want any of them hurt.

After several weeks living with Jack and his family she knows she is done running and is about ready to take a stand and ruin David. Since she can’t get to him with all his money and contacts she will destroy him by going after his company.

However before she finalizes her plans David finds her and drags her off into the forest. He stabs her and when she runs from him, he leaves her for dead. Jack is worried when he can’t find her and calls his twin brother Sam who is FBI to help with the search and when they find her she is in a bad way

After a few days in the hospital, Ben tells her that all the arrangements are in place, she is ready to ruin David. Jack, Sam and Jenna fly to the board meeting setting in motion the plans she has worked hard to complete, as danger still surrounds them they must fight for Jenna to stop running.

I really enjoyed this intriguing romantic suspense.  The characters were interesting and very realistic.  I liked Jenna and Jack together – Jack fell in love right away, and while I understand that the protectiveness Jack felt for Jenna was the reason he fell so fast, sometimes I wonder if it is just that he feels protective or is it really true love?  David on the other hand was such an evil character and after he found her a seventh time he was so obsessed you could tell he was never going to let her go which brought a lot of drama into the story.  The plot was compelling and intense with a fast pace – as this was a page turner for me from the start. I look forward to more in The Hunted series as the introduction of Sam as an FBI agent leads well into the next book.

I give Saved by the Rancher by Jennifer Ryan 4 stars!

What Happens In Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Lady Georgette Thorold has always been wary of marriage, so when she wakes up next to an attractive Scotsman with a wedding ring on her finger, it’s easy to understand why she panics and flees. Convinced that Georgette is a thief, her may-be husband, James McKenzie, searches for her. As both try to recall what happened that fateful night, they begin to realize that their attraction and desire for each other is undeniable. But is it enough?

Fans of Sarah MacLean and Mary Balogh will enjoy this utterly charming historical romance from award-winning author Jennifer McQuiston that features unforgettable characters and a satisfying mix of adventure and passion.

This is a fun historical romp.

What happens when you wake up next to a warm handsome stranger and can’t remember where you are or how you got there? You need to find some answers, and quick. Lady Georgette Thorold is not sure where she is or who is lying next to her. All she knows is that she is in a strange room that has been trashed and she is lying next to a man who she does not know and she seems to be wearing what looks to be a wedding ring, she needs to get out of the room as soon as possible.

Georgette is the widow of a viscount and was excited about taking a holiday for the first time since coming out of mourning; however things are not going her way. Her cousin, Randolph was in Scotland studying flora and fauna and since they were once friends, she thought she would have a good time visiting him. But Randolph has changed since she last saw him several years ago and his interest in her seems more calculated as he stares at her over dinner, and not in a cousinly type of

way. One of the last things she remembers is Randolph asking her to marry him and turning him down, the rest is a blank.

James Mackenzie is the man in the bed next to her in the morning and is waking up with blood dripping from a gash on his forehead. His brother is standing over him asking him questions he can’t seem to answer as his memory of the night before is just as vague as Georgette’s. He distinctly remembers a woman standing over him before she hit him with the chamber pot and as he looks around the trashed room he also seems to be missing his money pouch.

As James and Georgette go their separate ways in search of answers, we are treated to some hilarious antics as Georgette seems to collect things that she apparently wanted the night before, a kitten, a ladies maid and a dog. The two meet up again as Georgette is trying to break in to his business with her newly acquired ladies maid. James immediately accuses Georgette of stealing not only his money but also his horse and demands she follow him to sort everything out. And one of the first things they need to get answers for is if they are indeed married.

Realizing that her cousin Randolph may have played a distinct role in how their evening started, the two believe James’ family may be in danger and rush to the estate to warn them since Randolph had recently rented a place on their land. James’ past with his family is troubled but as they deal with Randolph it is a great opportunity to confront past hurts and misunderstandings.

This is a fun, fast pace historical romance that seems to have it all, a drunk couple that seem clueless as to what happened the night before, a missing horse, missing money, hysterical bar maid turned ladies maid plus the angst of James’ family problems all lead to an amusing story. The characters are enjoyable and I like the romance between James and Georgette. The secondary characters are truly fun and as this is Ms. McQuiston debut and I am looking forward to more.

I give What Happens in Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston 4.0 stars!

The Duke Diaries by Sophia Nash (Royal Entourage #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Six Regency heroes—One royal hangover

After a royal bachelor party of the century, Lady Verity Fitzroy wakes up to find her brother’s archenemy, Rory Lennox, the Duke of Abshire, in her bed. While Rory has always fascinated her, nothing can convince her to marry this rake even though her reputation is in peril. Indeed, there are far graver worries that plague her. If she is unmasked as the author of the infamous Duke Diaries, no one can save her . . . not even the man of her dreams.

Though he has known Verity since she was still in the schoolroom, Rory never imagined her to be such a spitfire! Which only makes the challenge of winning her hand more intriguing. Never mind that he has no interest in a wife. But when this secret war hero discovers the root of Verity’s horrendous troubles, he realizes he must face down his greatest fears not only to save her . . . but to win her hand and her heart.

Lady Verity Fitzroy began writing about life in her journals at thirteen; she would write about her thoughts and what was going on around her. The day she started The Duke Diaries was the day she witnessed the one man she loved, Rory, the Earl of Rutledge with another neighbor girl. Over the next few years she became very good at eavesdropping and writing down some telling tales, especially after her brother’s circle of friends became known as the Royal Entourage and caused havoc around London with Prinny, The Prince Regent.

The most recent chaos the Royal Entourage caused was making headlines all over England. The evening before Verity’s brother, James; the Duke of Candover was to marry Lady Margaret, the group started drinking Absinthe and the entourage got a little crazy. The wedding party was so out of control that the citizens of London have called it outrageous and are not taking it well. So Prinny has called them all together to start damage control, he has told the Dukes they must find brides and gain respectability and has already sent one away.

The morning of “the wedding of the century”, Rory, the Duke of Abshire wakes up to pounding on the door and his former friend James yelling at him because it seems Rory is in bed with his sister, Verity. Rory does not remember last night much less going to her room and the fact that James is pounding on the door and not at his own wedding is a troubling sign. Lady Margaret, her family and half of London waited at St George’s for ninety minutes before the Spencer’s whisked her away; there is no hope for making amends.

James is furious and expects Rory to ask for Verity’s hand in marriage; however Verity has a mind of her own and says NO. James is so mad that he tells her that until she says yes she is banished to Boxwood, their country estate to think about it. She is certain that she will never marry someone who could not love her as she does him, and since she has always loved Rory and feels he will never love her back she decides to never marry.

Fourteen years ago Rory and James were best friends however when James’ intended, Catharine falls and dies Rory feels responsible and he knew that James would never forgive him and they have not spoken much since. So even though James knows Rory must marry Verity, he does not like it and may still call him out.

Rory follows her to Derbyshire to persuade her to accept the proposal, a place he has not been back to in fourteen years, he has since been named a Duke and the village is excited to have him return. He is uncertain about staying, as his memories are not happy ones. After many tries Verity finally accepts Rory’s proposal, she will wait until the furor dies down and will end it at the end of the summer and move to a quiet place to live out her life.

Verity is bored at Boxwood and wants something to do to keep her mind off the fact that Rory is here and it also seems that she is missing her diaries and she does not want to think of what could happen if they get into the wrong hands. So when the local teacher has to leave for a while, she takes over teaching the village children. In the meantime her worst fears happen, The Fashionable World, a newspaper out of London starts publishing a weekly excerpt of The Duke Diaries from an anonymous source, and they are very detailed accounts of the exploits of the Royal Entourage. Verity realizes she must go to London to right the wrong and get the diaries back.

This is the third in the Royal Entourage series and although I have really enjoyed them, this was my least favorite. I felt it drag a bit and I never felt the connection between Rory and Verity. I was also confused about the timing and when things happened, I had to backtrack several times to re-read. I love the premise of the series and enjoy the characters so I will definitely continue reading this series and look forward to the next book as I can’t wait to see what Prinny will ask of his royal buddies to make amends toward their behavior.

I give The Duke Diaries by Sophia Nash 3.5 stars!

 

One Good Earl Deserves A Lover by Sarah MacLean (The Rules Of Scoundrels #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she’s never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London’s most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross. 

Like any good scientist, Pippa’s done her research and Cross’s reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it’s more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants.

I love Pippa, an intelligent women who is a bit odd but is the perfect woman for Cross.

Jasper Arlesey was the second son and he loved it, the freedom to do whatever he wanted without any expectations was wonderful. That is until the day he brother died and his father could only say to him “it should have been you.” Soon after Jasper, Earl Harlow faded away and disappeared. He re-emerged as Cross, part owner of the very successful Fallen Angel gambling hell.

Seven years later, Lady Philippa Marbury is standing in Cross’ office correcting a ledger and telling him that she requires ruination as she believes he will be a great research associate. Cross is staring at her like she is mad. Pippa had selected Cross carefully; he has the reputation she needs for her research. Of course Cross knows who she is; the sister of Penelope, his partner Bourne’s wife however what she does not need is to be here in the gambling hell.

Pippa needs information about what to expect after she gets married. She has fourteen days before the ceremony and she is desperate to know what happens in the bedroom the night of the wedding as she feels unprepared, and Pippa is nothing if not thorough.

Pippa and her sister Olivia are to have a double wedding which is the talk of the ton, Olivia is vivacious and exciting, everything Pippa is not and the fact that Pippa is marrying a man she has little in common with does not help with her anxiety. She is marrying Lord Castleton because it is what is expected of her and it is what she has agreed to and she does not care for dishonesty. She is counting her blessings that someone is willing to marry her, because she is odd and Castleton does not care.

Of course Cross turns her down and tries to send her on her way; however she believes it is because she thinks that her offer does not intrigue him. After all, he is a man of knowledge and experience and she is the fourth daughter of a double marquess who could name all the bones in the human body, she was odd.

Digger Knight is the owner of another gambling hell called Knights, and he has something over Cross. Six years ago Digger had beat him within an inch of his life ordered him stripped of his money and thrown from the hell. Cross had won a lot of money because of his intellect but he was drowning in despair because of the death of his brother as he blamed himself. Now Digger has come to Cross to tell him about his brother-in-law who has lost a great deal of money at Knights, Digger wants something from Cross and it is not re-payment of his family’s debt. What Digger wants is his daughter to be a countess.

Cross has no plans to marry and makes it known to all including Digger, he decides to use the yearly Pandemonium event to ruin Digger’s plans. Unfortunately Digger’s knowledge of Pippa causes more problems that Cross has to deal with.

Cross is unsure how his world became so complicated, between Pippa trying to learn all about what comes after the marriage ceremony, Digger trying to marry him to his daughter and helping his sister Lavinia deal with Digger and the debt owed is making him crazy. Cross believes he must save those he cares for, as he feels guilty about his brother’s death and his sister current status in life. Pippa decides that Cross is the one that needs saving and finds a way to do just that.

She decides to take matters into her own hands, and with the help of her now ex-fiancé and Cross’ partners, she has a plan.

I loved this story; Pippa is a wonderful heroine, funny, smart and odd. And Cross is the perfect hero for her intelligence. He is kind and truly only wants what is best for her, no matter what it cost him. Their chemistry worked as they danced around each other throughout the book. There was some really funny, laugh out loud parts, especially when Pippa was asking questions to anyone who would answer. And of course there were touching parts as Cross’ hurts come out about his brother and sister. I enjoyed seeing the other partners of The Fallen Angle and look forward to their stories. The only problem with the ending is that I felt the sister’s problems were brushed aside, and although there is mention that things were fixed, I feel it was rushed and it will be interesting to see if any more of her story comes out in another book.

I give One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean 4.5 stars! 

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King Of The Damned by Juliana Stone (League Of Guardians #2)

Available: November 27, 2012 Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Nikki

For millennia the struggle between light and dark, between the upper and lower realms, has been policed by a secret group of warriors culled from every fabric of existence. They are both otherworld and human, male and female. They are light and dark themselves and known to each other as the League of Guardians. Their pledge, to protect the line between dominions and make sure neither side grows too powerful. If they fall, so shall the earth, the heavens and hell. And there will be no more.

With darkness all around him, The League of Guardians is his only means of redemption…

Azaiel, the fallen, has been given a second chance to atone for the sins of his past. With demons gathering and threatening the league, he must find out if their circle has been breached. What he doesn’t foresee is a woman—a fierce warrior—who will turn his world upside down and awaken his tortured soul.

Rowan James is a powerful witch out to avenge the death of her beloved grandmother, but she needs an ally. Will she be able to trust a man with secrets as dark as the sorrow in his eyes? Loving Rowan means risking salvation and yet Azaiel cannot ignore the hunger burning hot between them—his one last chance at happiness. With danger all around them, will these two desperate souls finally find love in each other? Or be forever damned…

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Rowan has been running for years. Running from her past and her family legacy. Excelling at her job and finally in a “safe” relationship she heads home to Salem for a much needed visit with her grandmother only to be confronted with her death. Salem is slowly being infiltrated by demons intent on making her family suffer in their search for her. Long ago she was given to a high level demon. She’s thwarted his attempts to find her by shutting down her mark burned into her skin in the past. Now faced with the only solution of taking him down, Rowan must tap back into her power along with her new found friends and family in a fight to the death.

Centuries ago Azaiel let lust be his downfall and he vows to never fall victim to a woman again. It cost him his position with his brothers and banished him from his home making his less then them but still more then human. He knows he can never allow Rowan to be taken by the demons because the power she harnesses could be the destruction of them all but he soon realizes that killing her isn’t an option. The witch is slowly breaking the mile high walls of steel he has built around himself.

King Of The Damned by Juliana Stone simply put is freaking awesome! I loved this book and the series is really starting to heat up! What I loved most was how capable Rowan was. She’s a heroine who has unimaginable power (think witch on steroids) on her own and she really doesn’t need help. She doesn’t shy away from confrontation and she lets the men tag along with her. I love a woman who doesn’t NEED help. A woman who can take care of herself. What made it even better was how Azaiel knew this and let her grow into her powers on her own while he stayed vigilant in the background watching her back for her. Azaiel….oh man, that was one hot hero! I fell just a little bit in love with the self loathing man. He was so hard on himself because of his past and his fall from his brothers. I enjoyed watching him wriggle with all the new emotions that Rowan evoked in him and his inner turmoil of letting her in. I do love to see the characters suffer before they get together and Juliana Stone wrung every drop of emotion from their stubborn bodies.

I have no idea how book one and book two are going to tie together but I think I’m going to like it. This is an ambitious story arc that includes a lot of different players…ok, mostly otherworld players. From shifters, angels and fae to witches and gargoyles  this one has got something for just about everyone. Though Stone doesn’t go into it to much in this book it’s obvious there is a breach in security with the guardians that will eventually catch up to them. Packed with action scenes to get your blood pressure up and smoking sex scenes to get your heart pounding. There’s this one public sex scene that seriously sent me over the edge. Probably one of the hottest scenes I’ve read this year. I may have read it twice….ok three times. *wink wink*

Rowans resentment of her mother fuels her need to break the curse that marked her as a demon lords property. Her weak willed mother holds the key to finding the spell capable of taking him down but she sold it to fulfill her addictions. Rowan holds such animosity towards her mother for her inability to overcome her own destructive personality. In addition to a strained relationship with her own twin brother and half her extended family, just about everyone is both standing in her way and trying to help her out. Stone goes out of her way to set future story lines for Rowans brother who hasn’t come into any powers yet. Their lineage is revealed and his own legacy is mentioned shrouded in mystery. Though he currently holds no power, I have a feeling he’ll be quite fearsome when he finally starts to change.

King Of The Damned is a book about redemption, sacrifice,  faith and forgiveness. In order to survive both Rowan and Azaiel will have to move on from the past to have any future. Full of surprising secondary characters who all need their stories told including a mischievousness charmed donkey (ok, maybe not his story but he is flipping hilarious). I have it on good authority that Priest and Nico will both get books in the future.

I really enjoyed this one and look forward to continuing this series in the future. I recommend you read these in order for the best understanding but it can also be read on it’s own fairly easily . Juliana Stone makes her world jump right off the page and putting this book down just isn’t an option!

I give King Of The Damned by Juliana Stone 5 stars!

There’s Something About Lady Mary by Sophie Barnes (Summersby #2)

 

Available: Now Amazon/B&N (E-Book only – Print out Dec 4 2012)

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon Impulse

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Sophie Barnes is back with another delightful Summersby Tale. This time, Ryan Summersby meets his match!

Mary Croyden lives a simple life . . . and she likes it. But when she inherits a title and a large sum of money, everything changes. Forced to navigate high society, Mary finds herself relying on the help of one man—Ryan Summersby. Determined not to lose her sense of self, she realizes that Ryan is the only person she can trust. But Mary’s hobbies are not exactly proper, and Ryan is starting to discover that this simple miss is not at all what he expected . . . but just might be exactly what he needs.

The second installment in the Summerby series has adventure and mystery.

Mary Croyden enjoyed her life just the way it was. She loved spending time with her father and enjoyed learning all he knew about medicine. She had a very unusual upbringing, for the last several years she and her father traveled around the countryside practicing medicine. He kept detailed journals about his travels and the things he learned which seems to be where all the problems have started. Recently her father was hit by a stray bullet at Waterloo and died leaving her alone. Mary eventually makes her way to London to visit the solicitor to see what her father’s will stated, thinking there is be a small home in Stepney and maybe a little inheritance, she is stunned when she finds out that not only did her father have a title he never used, but there is quite a bit of money that goes with the title. Her father made her a sole heir and peeress in her own right and as unusual as it may be, she is now the Marchioness of Steepleton.

Ryan Summersby has just arrived home from Oxford where he studies medicine. Sir Percy, a friend of the family and former boss is waiting to talk to him. Percy works for the Foreign Office, Ryan along with his brother-in-law Michael and sister Alexandra all worked for Percy about a year ago on an assignment. Ryan knows something is up since Percy is only here to see him. Sir Percy tell Ryan that he made a promise to a good friend several years ago that if anything happened to him he would watch out for his daughter. His friend must have believed that whatever he was working on would bring danger to his daughter. The daughter is none other than Mary, the new Marchioness that recently arrived in London. Sir Percy is asking Ryan for a personal favor to meet her and watch out for her, plus he must do this without telling her.

Mary is leading a double life, she wants to stay in London to make friends and enjoy her new freedom and still wants to help people as a surgeon even though no one is supposed to know about it. Unfortunately there are several that do know about her, Dr Helmsley who worked with her father and knows she is one of the best surgeon’s around, the Earl of Woodbridge who happens to be the Master of the Royal College of Surgeons and then apparently some gentlemen that do not like what she is doing, have threatened her and want her father’s journals.

Ryan and Mary meet at a ball and at first he does not realize she is the one who he needs to protect. When he finds out, he is please since he likes her as a person. Ryan is determined to spend time with her and protect her at the same time. They have a nice start to a romance however things unravel when she feels threaten, he tells her who he really is and then he gets angry when he finds out about her secret life.

A very enjoyable story, I liked that Mary is a strong and smart individual that did not want anyone to tell her what to do and that she wanted to do the right thing. I especially liked when she showed Ryan what working in medicine is really like, as she helps him save a small boy. I liked seeing previous characters from the first book and look forward to reading William’s story. Ryan was a little annoying when he kept telling her she should not practice medicine however considering the times it is probably what most men would think. They eventually compromise and grow to love each other even as the threats heat up, Mary is in grave danger and there are few they can trust. The story is compelling and interesting, the medical information is intriguing.

I give There’s Something About Lady Mary 3.5 stars! 

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