The Countess by Lynsay Sands

*Review By Danielle* (@lush26)

Due out Jan 25, 2011

From: Avon Books

The fairy tale courtship did not turn into a happily ever after…

Not until her husband dropped dead, that is. He had been horrible enough to Christiana during their short marriage, and she was not going to allow the traditional period of mourning to ruin her sisters’ debuts as well. So Christiana decides to put him on ice and go on as if nothing’s happened…

Until the real earl appears. Richard Fairgrave had every intention of confronting his villainous twin who robbed him of his name and title…only to discover that he’d died. Quietly assuming his identity, Richard must now deal with a maddening desire for his ravishing inherited “wife”—certainly a gold digger and possibly a murderess. And Christiana must deal with an unwanted new “husband”…and they both must figure out what to do before the ice melts!

The Countess is not only funny and intriguing, but it’s also sinfully sexy.

When Christiana’s cruel husband Dicky Fairgrave drops dead suddenly of what they assume are natural causes, she and her sisters decide to put him on ice (literally) and go on as if life hasn’t changed except for the better.  The first night of Dicky’s death Christiana decides to go to a ball with her sisters. With Dicky being dead and all you could only imagine their complete utter shock when they see Dicky at the ball.

Richard Fairgrave has just come back from America to confront his twin brother who has stolen his identity as well as married under his name. When Richard meets his “wife” at the ball he finds her to be a little less than he expected. But with some time and whiskey on Christiana’s part, he soon finds that he really wants to keep his “wife”. Now he will have to earn her trust to get to the bottom of her and who murdered his bother.

In my book Lynsay Sands can do no wrong. I loved the way the story was written and told. The characters are very much likable and enjoyable. The attraction between Richard and Christiana is just phenomenal and they fit perfect together. You also get a good look not only into Christiana’s life, but her sisters as well. The story flowed so well I didn’t realize I was turning the pages faster and faster wanting to know what was going to happen and who killed Dicky. Then having to slow down because I really didn’t want it to come to the end. It kept my attention throughout the whole story and that is a huge plus.

The romance was absolutely outstanding. I couldn’t get enough of how deep their emotions ran for each other. Suzette intrigued me so I am really looking forward to reading about her. Lynsay Sands just keeps you wanting more. And more do I want.

Overall this book was fantastic, it was funny at times which I wasn’t really expecting in a historical romance. The book wasn’t all romance, it had mystery twist which I loved. This is truly a must read for not only Lynsay Sands fans, but romance fans in general.

Danielle give The Countess by Lynsay Sands 5 stars!

Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day

*Review by Danielle* (@lush26)

Poseidon’s warriors swore an oath eleven thousand years ago to protect humanity from those who stalked the night. Now those powerful forces are uniting. So are two souls who are all that stand between justice and the eternal darkness…

A warrior prince…Lord Justice made the ultimate sacrifice for his brother and paid for it with an unimaginable torture. Now he’s back, rescued from death, his sanity shaken, and his mission inescapable—the search for the lost Star of Artemis. But the beautiful human female whom he has sworn to protect is shadowed by an evil that could destroy them both…

A woman of science…The archaeological artifacts of Atlantis speak to Dr. Keely McDermott, sharing visions of life long ago. The ancient revelations have cast her into a world between past and present, between reality and illusion—and, when she meets the fierce Atlantean warrior assigned to guard her, between terror and temptation. Now as their two worlds collide, so too will danger and desire…

A quest for a lost star…Atlantis is unleashed.

So far this is my favorite book in the series. It continues on with the bigger story of overcoming the vampire threat on humanity and finding out how to raise Atlantis. This starts with the story of Lord Justice, in the previous book he was taken away by Anubisa for an eternity of torture.

In the last book we came to find out that Justice’s big secret was he is also a Prince of Atlantis which makes him Conlan and Ven’s brother. Dr. Keely McDermott is an archaeologist from Ohio, who has a strange connection to a wooden fish carving, and has an extraordinary gift. Justice is from Atlantis, who’s also part Nemeid, which means he has the mind of two souls. Justice and the other warriors fight vampires who want to take over the world. Keely is sent  to find another stone to unleash Atlantis. Keely and Justice are attracted to each other from the beginning but they tend to butt heads. While looking for the stone they end up realizing their destiny.

From the beginning of the story it had me drawn to both Keely and Justice with such strong emotions that I knew I was going to love this story. With every page I flipped I went deeper into the complex world that Alyssa Day has created. This is a fantastic new paranormal series that you’re going to love.

Day brings out the alpha in Justice but he is still very much aware of his weaknesses and flaws. He is dominant and he has a great sense of humor. I loved the fact that Keely was almost just as protective as Justice was for her. It had so many “awwww” parts, I couldn’t keep myself from giggling like a little girl.

Keely had a dry sense of humor that I couldn’t stop myself from laughing at. She was also strong, determined, and had so much courage she couldn’t contain it. The bantering between the warriors is another one of my favorite parts. Justice, is well yum! And he has blue hair! *winks* I love it! I loved that Justice cared for her and tried to hold on to what sanity he had left just for her. It was touching and very intense.

You get a chance to fall in love with the secondary characters. I am truly excited to read more of this series and get a chance to read about the other Warriors of Poseidon. The story keeps building you just fall right into step as if you’re right there with them and that was a total plus for me.

Alyssa Day really makes her sex scenes not only count, but makes them sizzling. I was waiting for them to confront Anubisa, but that didn’t happen. Maybe they will later on in the series *crosses fingers* .  As the series moves forward the plot gets deeper and clearer. I think I might have an idea where this is going and am looking forward to following the rest of the series.

Atlantis Unleashed is not only has love and sacrifice, but darkness and light. It’s a fun ride and I am looking forward to the next installment,  Atlantis Unmasked.

 

Danielle gives Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day 4 stars!

Precious and Fragile Things by Megan Hart

*Review By Danielle* (@lush26)

He’s not about to let her leave.
And she cannot stay.

Gilly Soloman has been reduced to a mothering machine, taking care of everyone and everything
except herself. But the machine has broken down. Burnt out by the endless days of crying children and menial tasks, and exhausted from always putting herself last, Gilly doesn’t immediately consider the consequences when she’s carjacked. With a knife to her throat, her first thought is that she’ll finally get some rest. Someone can save her for a change.

But salvation isn’t so forthcoming. Stranded in a remote, snowbound cabin with this stranger, hours turn to days, days into weeks. As time forges a fragile bond between them, she learns her captor is not the lunatic she first believed, but a human being whose wasted life has been shaped by secrets and tragedy. Yet even as their connection begins to foster trust, Gilly knows she must never forget he’s still a man teetering on the edge. One who just might take her with him.

Megan Hart is usually known for her romances, but you wont find that here. Hart brings you on an incredibly intense journey filled with some serious emotions.

 

At first I really wasn’t sure what to think about this book, but as the story progressed I was more and more intrigued. I started asking myself some serious questions that I would never have thought to ask myself. What would I do in this situation? Hart opens up a whole new world for me because this could happen. It’s life. Somewhere in the world this could actually happen.

Gilly Solomon is a stay at home mom with a husband and two kids. Sometimes wishing she could just run away. Although she loves her family her breaking point was coming fast and what she fears is becoming like her mother. While running errands with her two children, a stranger jumps in her car. Gilly isn’t so much terrified for herself, but for her children. Finally she finds a way to get them out of harms way, but now she is trapped with this stranger.

Todd didn’t have an easy life, so that has left him in a broken state. He ends up taking Gilly to the cabin that was left to him by his uncle. Now that they are both isolated in the cabin and, in the middle of a massive snowstorm, the real trial between them begins. What does he want? How long will Todd keep her? Questions, questions, questions… that I can’t answer because I want you to read this book.

I honestly couldn’t put this down. It captures your interest in the very first couple of pages. Although the plot is heartbreaking and totally made me cry at the end, I loved every minute of it. I was actually stunned speechless on this whole story and even how it ended.

Precious and Fragile Things is a very unique and a very thought-provoking story. It will for sure touch you in a different way. To me this is truly one of her best books and I cant wait to read what others will think about it. Going outside your comfort zone for reading is never a bad thing, so I would like to thank Megan Hart for helping me move past it. Now I will be looking forward to see if she will writing more thought-provoking books in the future because it was a treat. This will always be a reread for me.

Danielle gives Precious and Fragile Things by Megan Hart 5 stars!