Lord Of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath (The Lost Lords Of Pembrook #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Lord Rafe Eason may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one. Yet when he sets his eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, and earl’s illegitimate daughter, he is determined to have her, if only as his mistress.

After her father’s death, Evelyn Chambers never imagined she would be sold to the highest bidder, yet circumstances give her little choice except to accept the lord’s indecent proposal. Rafe is wealthy, as well as ruthless. Yet his coldness belies deep passion and deeper secrets. If she must be his, Evelyn intends to lay bare everything the Lord of Pembrook is hiding. But dark discoveries threaten to destroy them both until unexpected love guides the last lost lord home.

This is a wonderful story that continues the saga of the Lost Lords of Pembrook, who suffered at the hands of their uncle that wanted nothing more than to rid the world of the three boys so he could inherit it all. I thoroughly enjoyed Rafe’s story as he struggles to come back to the living after removing himself from society.

Evelyn Chambers has lead a very sheltered life because of who her mother was, and when her father dies he asks her half-brother to take care of her. Her mother was the Earl’s mistress and when she died years ago, Emily was brought into the Earl’s home much to the dismay of Geoffrey (her brother) and his mother. Her brother actually hates her and his plan is to get rid of her as fast as possible, gaining money to do as he pleases. However when Geoffrey introduces Evelyn to gentlemen who are looking for a mistress his plan backfires, as Lord Rafe Easton decides Evelyn belongs with him.

Lord Rafe Easton owns the Rakehell Club, a gambling establishment in town. He and his two brothers had an idyllic childhood until he was ten, then he lived in hell. To escape his uncle who wanted them dead, the three brothers left and had to make it on their own. The twins, Tristan and Sebastian left Rafe at a workhouse for children as they could not take him and then they in turn split up to lead separate, hellish lives. Rafe suffered horribly until he escaped and lived on the streets of London, finally making something of himself rising up from nothing to became a very wealthy man. Unfortunately along the way something died inside and he has some deep emotional scars, and although his brothers also suffered, Rafe has not embraced them since they came back to town three years ago.

Rafe seems to champion Evelyn and tries to give her what she wants while she is with him, never promising her forever but telling her that when he leaves her she will be a very wealthy woman. Rafe is very damaged and is unable to tolerate touch or any emotional feelings, yet as they spend more time together she is getting through his wall of hurt, he is scared and unsure of how to handle it. He eventually pushes her away to where she leaves him and it is only when danger threatens to end his life does he realize that he is capable of love after all.

I love the tortured and tormented hero, the dark brooding man that life treated poorly and yet he pulls himself up and out of the streets becoming a wealthy and respected man, with the heroine who is the only one that can save him. Lord of Wicked Intentions is exactly this type of story, Rafe is so damaged that I am not sure if Evelyn will be able to save him, but of course with love and time she does, this is a romance after all.

The story pulled me in and did not let go until the end as you cheer for Evelyn to save him, make him whole again and to have him reunite with his brothers. He is very tough on the outside as he pushes everyone away, yet as you find out about those that work for him and those he gives money to, you realize that he has a soft side that he does not let show. It brought tears to my eyes when you see how loyal those around him are when he needs them the most as danger threatens him when he did not expect it. The one thing I did find hard to believe is that Evelyn is so sheltered that she did not seem to think anything was wrong with the way she was raised, I felt that maybe she was a little too naïve to be believable at times.

Even though Evelyn was shelter she does have spunk and I like how she stands up to Rafe and is always asking him questions. He seems to tolerate her when he would not others; she breaks through his shell early even though he tries not to show it. I really like Rafe and Evelyn together, they seemed to fit well and the attraction is believable, the secondary characters are also well written as we get to continue to read about the lives of the brothers that we first met in previous books. This is a very engaging story that seems to wrap up the series nicely.

I give Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath 4.0 stars!

Guest Post With Anya Karin & GIVEAWAY

Villains in Romance

When I started writing the first book in the ‘Her Highland Hero’ series, I had to decide, obviously what sort of book I wanted to write. Having been a person who voraciously devoured everything from Harlequin romances I got from my grandma to teenage male warrior-fantasy indulgence novels like the Dragonlance series and everything in between, there was plenty to draw on.

I decided, for better or for worse, to let the book do whatever it wanted to do. Now – before I let that statement go, I better describe what that means. I’m not one of those authors who can just come up with a couple characters and let them go on their merry way. First of all, it drives me crazy when that happens in books I’m reading, because I can almost always tell, and then in my own writing, I find that it leaves the story a little loose, a little unhinged, and unfocused. I prefer to present a tightly woven, and fast-paced narrative, which given the reaction the first book got, seems to be the right thing to do. I plot, I outline, and all that, but in this series, I decided to let the characters develop their own approaches to problems I laid out for them.

In a happy bit of serendipity, this included the villains as well as the heroes. As Gavin developed his James Dean, Will Scarlet attitude, and Kenna grew quite a bit more head-strong and intense than I thought she would when I began the story, the villains – Laird Macdonald, and Sheriff Alan – took on a life of their own. Whether it was the often strange and sometimes grotesque sheriff, or the conniving Laird, I was incredibly pleased with how they developed. In fact, in rewrites, I toned the sheriff down a little, because at the behest of one of my editors, ‘there’s gross, and then there’s this’.

This book is a little different. It’s more intense, both in emotion and in plot. That’s not to say it’s deep and dark and heady, because it isn’t. There’s just more emotional maturity at play because of what our characters went through in the last book. Therefore, the villain(s) had to also become more menacing, and more complex. The two featured in Passion and Plaid – and I won’t spoil anything, but everyone’s favorite sheriff makes a glorious return – have much bigger plans, and pose a much larger threat to Gavin and Kenna than Laird Macdonald ever did.

Of course, this mirrors a growing intensity in Gavin and Kenna’s relationship, and the worse things get for our stalwart heroes, the more they come to realize that their strength alone is nothing compared to what it is together. The world around them, and the bad guys they have to overcome serve as a perfect mirror for what is going on in the hearts of our dashing, be-kilted hero, and the flame-haired love of his life, and that’s just the way I like it, both in my romances and in my movies. I hope you do too!

EXCERPT of Passion and Plaid:

“When I say to you ‘wedding’, Kenna, what is it you see?” Gavin looked across the top of the saddled horse, smiling at his bride-to-be, who couldn’t be more pleased. He walked around to the wagon they were pulling and looked in on Sheriff Alan, who the two of them were taking to Glasgow so he could stand trial. After that, they were going to Fort Mary, the place the both of them called home, where they were to be married.

Gavin very much liked that idea.

“Oh, I dinna,” Kenna said smiling. “Just something small, supposing my Da and Ma would want to go, and your father.”

In the back of her mind, she had images of a tremendous royal affair, a hall decked in white sheets and colorful plaids to mark the mixing of their families, and a drum, fife and pipe band to play as they danced. She imagined a big, swirling, poofy-skirted gown, and on Gavin, a fine Macgregor great-kilt with a huge sash, brooch, and a beautiful sporran that she’d make for him before the wedding. With their friends all around, John and Lynne, Red Ben and Alice, Rodrigo, Elena and of course Olga, the minister would say solemn words in front of the entire kirk congregation; they’d both take very solemn vows. Then, when it was all finished, Gavin would lean in and kiss her, and suddenly the whole place would explode into music and dancing and drinking and fun.

“You’re sure about that, wee li’l lass?” Gavin said with a smile. “Looks like you’ve something else in mind, ach?”

“No,” she said and laughed. “No, just a small ceremony. I canna imagine a big to-do.”

Behind them, in the wagon into which they’d packed a few supplies – and one very angry Sheriff Alan, who just wouldn’t stop sputtering and swearing – a crash interrupted their tender chatting.

“I better go see what he’s done,” Gavin said, but couldn’t tear himself away from Kenna and her big, semi-tamed mop of red hair, or the tiny freckles that dotted her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, or her big pale-blue eyes. “You know, actually, he’s probably just fallen over again and is making his best at a big scene to get attention.”

He stepped closer to her, she took his hand in hers and squeezed. “I canna believe this is all happening, Gavin. As a wee girl, I dreamed about it, but I didn’t even know you then. Not really, anyway. And now, here we are, about to go home and…”

“Aye,” he said sliding his arm about her waist and pulled her to his chest that was bare, save for the sash of his kilt. A few drops of water remained from the bath he’d just taken and she smelled the tiniest hint of cologne that Alice Black gave him to use, saying that it would make him seem more rugged and manly. She wasn’t quite sure how he could be any more attractive than he already was, but the scent was nice anyway. Curling her fingers against Gavin’s chest, Kenna purred softly and kissed his collarbone. He slid his hands up her back, and his thumbs along either side of her face.

“I canna believe it’s really happening either,” Gavin said. He stared straight into her eyes, straight into her soul, Kenna thought. His gaze warmed her and the two thumbs brushing along her cheeks made a grin creep across her face. Suddenly, she began to blink, fighting back tears she didn’t want to ruin the moment. “I canna believe it, but now I think I have to, because you’re right here and so am I. Nothing better has ever happened so long as I’ve lived, Kenna Moore.”

With that, she couldn’t hold it anymore, not for one second longer. Kenna threw her arms around Gavin’s waist and hugged him so tight that a moment afterward he began to act like he couldn’t breathe. The Sheriff made another whining noise and another crash, but they both ignored him, lost in their own little world.

“I’m choking you am I, Gavin? A wee girl like me keeping big, strong Gavin Macgregor who stole and stole from the English, from breathing? Gavin Macgregor, who every single Scot in Edinburgh sees as a mythical hero is being smothered by a tiny girl?”

“Ach! You’re no tiny girl! I’ve seen you fight!”

They held each other for a moment longer before Gavin bent his head to hers and kissed Kenna first behind the ear, and then on the jaw. As he ran his fingers up the back of her head to hold her close, Kenna felt his lips part around hers, and gently caress her full bottom lip. When he pulled away and gave her a gentle, playful little nibble, she let out a giggle and then squeezed him again before she let him go.

Before I let you go, I’d love to invite you to enter the giveaway that Nikki has so graciously agreed to host. I’ll be giving away ten e-book copies of this book (Passion and Plaid), in whatever format you prefer! And, of course, none of this would be possible without you fine guys and gals – the readers – thank you from the bottom of my heart.

*Giveaway open until 5-21-13 at 11:59 EST with winners announced shortly after. Open internationally

Thistle and Flame is part one, and Passion and Plaid part two. I’ve been assured by my editors that they are both perfectly standalone, although if you enjoy the first one, you’re sure to love the second that much more.

See you in the highlands!

-Anya – (Anya’s Amazon Page)

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!

One Last Night by Eliza Lloyd

Available: NOW Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Michelle

A dark past and unrequited love make John’s life difficult until he is offered the chance to spend one night with sensual, widowed duchess Lucinda Aversham. Pleasure he can provide, but one night with the woman he loves won’t be enough. Neither will living a half existence as he watches her from afar.

Lucy wants to experience a night of exquisite passion. She doesn’t want to know the man’s name or see his face. She wants to know pleasure—in any way her mysterious lover can provide.

When an unwelcome note from her one-time lover arrives, Lucy knows she must have him again. But she could lose everything if she is exposed.

Wow! I can’t remember the last time a very short story impressed me this much. In a mere 49 pages the author managed to pack in an interesting plot, scorching sex scenes and plenty of emotion. Lucinda Aversham, the Duchess of Wallingford, spent years in a loveless marriage. Her husband was insensitive and cruel, not to mention unfaithful, until his death one year ago. After years of dedicating herself to a man who showed her little regard or passion, Lucy is emotionally beaten down and sexually unfulfilled. She knows what her future holds as a duchess – she will either live out her life as a respectable widow or she will once again marry some nobleman. She also knows, however, that she missed out on a great deal while married to the duke and all that remains is a well of passion that has never been ignited.

Left with the title of Duchess and their seven-year-old son, Lucy follows what society dictates and mourns her husband for a year. After shedding her mourning attire and curious about how intimacy between a man and a woman should be, Lucy decides to allow herself one night of pleasure before settling in to the new phase of her life. She hungers for something real before rejoining proper society, so she approaches Madam Dupuis, a woman known for providing sensual entertainment. Her requirements were simple: someone who looks nothing like her deceased husband, someone not a peer of the realm, and someone willing to give her tender fulfillment. When she arrives at Madam Dupuis’ establishment, Lucy is in turn appalled at her own behavior and eager and filled with the promise of sexual fulfillment.

The man Madam Dupuis provides for Lucy Is John Allen. Lucy doesn’t recognize him because she requested he wear a mask to hide his identity. She assumes that being away from society and dressed nothing like a duchess, her identity is safe. What she doesn’t realize is that John not only recognizes her, he has secretly been in love with her for years. He was employed as a valet in her household when she married the duke, and upon his death, took over as caretaker for her son. John knows that a future with Lucy is impossible. She is a duchess with her son’s future to consider, and he is a servant with a disreputable past. He had been rescued from the streets as a boy by Madam Dupuis, and in fact received his current position based on her recommendation. When approached by Lucy, and knowing how John feels about her, Madam knows he is the perfect man to fulfill the duchess’ request.

The night of passion John gives her is nothing at all like what Lucy expected. Instead of tender and romantic, it is raw and real and sexual gratification at its most carnal. He orders her around and ties her up and touches her in ways she’d never imagined. John knows he has this one night to consider Lucy his and he does his best to show her how incredible passion can be between a man and a woman. Lucy leaves the next morning knowing that her mystery lover will forever be a memory for her. John leaves knowing he will have to face Lucy day in and day out, reliving their one night in his mind every time he sees her. That proves to be impossible, and weeks later he gives in to temptation by sending her a note in secret. Lucy is shocked when she receives his missive. How does he know her? When will he tell her secret to society? When will she see him again? When he comes to her in the night, unable to stay away, she realizes that he doesn’t want to use her shameless behavior against her – he just wants her as much as she wants him.

I liked everything about this book, starting with the cover and ending with the very last page. It’s rare that a book cover accurately depicts the characters, but this one shows exactly who I envisioned Lucy and John to be. Their romance was sexy and emotional, and I found myself pulling for their happy ever after, even knowing their situation was impossible. The way the author provided a solution for their problems may not have been entirely realistic or even all that surprising, but it worked for me and it gave John and Lucy a future they never expected to have.

I give One Last Night by Eliza lloyd 4.25 stars!

The Marrying Season by Candace Camp (Legend Of St Dwynwen #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Pocket Books

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

Genevieve Stafford, the younger sister of the Earl of Rawdon (A Summer Seduction), is an icy but beautiful aristocrat. Determined to make the sort of marital alliance expected of a woman of her station, she becomes engaged to the scion of another noble family. However, when Genevieve finds herself entangled in scandal, her fiancé breaks things off. Shamed, she has no recourse but to retreat to the family estate…until her brother’s friend, Sir Myles Thorwood, offers to marry Genevieve and salvage her reputation. Genevieve expects to have a loveless marriage of convenience, but the handsome, charming Myles has other things in mind. As the two of them work to discover who engineered the scandal that could have ruined Genevieve’s life, Myles shows Genevieve just what it means to be man and wife. Genevieve finds it difficult to resist the passion Myles evokes in her, but can she risk losing her heart to a man she thinks sees their union as only a duty?

Genevieve Stafford is considered the ice princess; she is a very reserved and quiet woman. Her brother is getting married and now her grandmother is ready for her to make a perfect marriage match without any scandals. So seven months later she does just that, she is engaged to the perfect and boring Lord Dursbury. However the scandal sheets seem to have her in their sites, saying that it is just a matter of time before he calls the wedding off.

Sir Myles Thorwood is a friend of Genevieve’s brother, Alec and had always been around her family, they were close enough that when together that rarely talked without arguing or disagreeing over something, one of the only times you would see them enjoying each other’s company was when they were dancing, as she thought he was one of the best dancers around.

At a party, Genevieve is passed a note from Myles asking her to meet in the Library, however when she gets there, he is not there, instead she finds an intoxicated Foster Langdon who has often bothered Genevieve, he tries to kiss her and as she is struggling, Myles enters the library, followed closely by Lord Dursbury and his step mother. Through no fault of her own, she is ruined.

Immediately Lord Dursbury calls off the wedding bringing truth to what the scandal sheets were predicting. Myles, being the gentleman that he is, offers to marry Genevieve, however at first she turns him down. She eventually says yes after talking to her grandmother, brother and friends and realizing there is no other way out of the scandal.

The marriage takes place right away and they leave for his country home, but before they get there he wants to stay in a small cottage on his estate to help her adjust to her new life. Everything is going well until distrust and misunderstandings surface about that night in the library.

This was a very enjoyable romance of childhood friends who grow up, have to deal with scandals and then find love. Genevieve and Myles have known each other forever as he is good friends with her brother Alex, and although they do not see each other much and may snip and argue but they genuinely like each other. When they marry, they even get along for the most part, however distrust and miscommunication tear at their thin bond.

I really liked Myles, he is such a wonderful gentleman who is willing to do what is needed to help a friend and he was always trying to find the right words when Genevieve is being so stubborn, trying to make her feel better. And stubborn is truly what Genevieve is, throughout the whole book. She is portrayed as this ice queen however most of her attitude is because she is awkward at socializing and is nervous, but she does not help her cause when she has trouble trusting that someone would help her just because, she was very frustrating for me as I was waiting for her to believe in Myles.

The story is romantic and sweet without much drama until the end as they try to find out who wants to damage Genevieve’s reputation even after she is married. The chemistry works well and they are a great couple, especially when they first get married and were by themselves at the cottage, without distractions they were able to get to know each other. Unfortunately reality gets in the way and distrust settles in. I enjoyed the banter back and forth during the times they were getting along; they seemed to be great friends. This is the third in this trilogy however each book can be read independently, you do see the other characters from the first two books but it is very easy to know who they are and their stories.

Overall a wonderful story that will appeal to all historical romance fans.

I give The Marrying Season by Candace Camp 4.0 stars!

Wronged, Betrayed & Beguiled by Sylvia McDaniel (The Curvier Widow’s 1, 2 & 3)

Available: Now

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Virtual Bookseller- Self Pub

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

They Met Over His Dead Body Until the day of Jean Cuvier’s death, his wives had no idea that he had promised until death do us part to more than one woman. Now, the Cuvier Widows must deal with his duplicity, while wondering who poisoned their wayward husband. Can they ever learn to trust and find love again?

Wronged: Marian Cuvier didn’t know how to react when she learned that the man she called husband and father to her children, Jean Cuvier, had been murdered. Yet, the biggest surprise was when the detective informed her that she’s not the only woman Jean married. There are three Cuvier Widows and one is suspected of murder. Betrayed: Nicole Cuvier went to New Orleans to share the most wonderful news with her husband only to discover him in a hotel room murdered, with two other women claiming to be his wife. It seems there are three Cuvier Widows and one is suspected of murder. Beguiled: Jean Cuvier forced Layla’s father to sell his shipping company and marry his daughter, or so she believed. Until the morning the servants wake her with the news that Jean is dead and she quickly learns she’s not the only Mrs. Cuvier. Jean has three widows, but Layla is the only one accused of Jean’s murder.

The Cuvier Widows is a trilogy that has been recently re-released into a box set with nice new covers. The overall arc of the story is about three women who recently found out they were married to the same man at the same time. Marian, Nicole and Layla had no idea about each other until they are summoned to the hotel room where he died. Even the police are stunned when three different women claim to be Jean Cuvier’s wife. I love the concept and the story is very interesting as we track each widow through the months after Jean dies. Jean leaves a trail of tears as we see what type of man he was, how he treated his children, wives and business partners, he was an evil person that left many unhappy people in his wake.

As the will is read all three realize that only Marian is the true wife and will inherit it all with both Nicole and Layla getting nothing, however they will all have to live with the scandal of being married to a bigamist.

Wronged:

Marian Cuvier was married to Jean for twelve years and they have two children. At one time she was in love with him however as the years passed and he was rarely home and took several mistresses she began to hate him. She believes she can finally be free of this loveless marriage when she finds out he died.

Louis Fournet was Jean’s business partner and is hoping he will be able to now sell the business and move on with his plan to work with his family. However when he talks to Marian she tells him that she wants to keep the business for her son and learn to run it.

As Louis teaches Marian about the business there is a growing attraction between them however they are both keeping secrets and telling lies and there is little trust in the relationship.

Betrayed:

Nicole Curvier was married to Jean for four years and is currently pregnant with their first child. Now she is worried that her child will have the stigma of illegitimacy for the rest of his life. Nicole’s mother never married her father, so she knows what will happen and how they will be treated. She is looking for a husband in name only and finds the perfect person in a drifter who comes to help. Nicole’s name is still on the deed for the plantation Jean bought so she is lucky that even through there is scandal; she will have a place of her own.

Maxim Viel has been watching Nicole trying to find information about the plantation his family used to own, he wants to get it back for them. So he pretends to be a drifter without any money and will be happy to marry Nicole and give her his name.

As they work the plantation, they become close however with lies and secrets between them neither know what is going on and there is no trust. When tragedy strikes, Nicole and Max must learn to wade through the lies to trust and love.

Beguiled:

Layla Curvier was married for only a year and she hated her husband, she was forced to marry him when her father sold him their shipping business. She is very happy to be rid of Jean and was about to leave him when she found him dead in the hotel room. She is the last one to have seen him and the prime suspect of the murder. Her childhood friend, Drew Soulier wants to help her and will use his skills as a lawyer to represent her during her trial.

Drew has a specific reason for representing Layla, he knows this will gain a lot of publicity and wants to be mayor. With all the evidence they have gathered, even Drew does not believe her innocence.

Layla believes there is another woman who may have been involved with Jean and she is determined to find information about her. She must find something to show she is innocent and in the meantime she and Drew get close. However the fact that he does not believe her and he is not telling her everything, she has a hard time trusting him.

When the trial begins, she must put her faith in Drew and others as her life depends on it.

The concept of the trilogy was great, I love that the three widows were shocked when they found out what Jean did and must make their own way for their immediate future. The year was 1895 and although it was quite modern in many aspects, still the papers were alive with all the gossip and scandal. I liked all the women in the stories, Marian was very strong and willing to take the reins of the business, Nicole was willing to marry a man she did not know to give her baby something she never had and Layla was determined to prove her innocence even though those around her did not believe her. The fault I found is with the men and all the lies, secrets and downright manipulation they did to get what they wanted. I had a hard time liking any of them. Louis did not believe Marian could run a business so never told her anything that was going on, even when a strike was looming. Max never told Nicole about his family and that they use to own the plantation she lived on so she believed he was a poor drifter until late in the book. Drew only wanted to use Layla for publicity, only when she finds evidence to help does he look at her differently.

The stories all were interesting and I enjoyed the time period, the turn of the century, where people had more choices in life, the world was changing and I enjoyed the semi-freedom women started to have. The books were fast paced I was glad I was able to read them all at the same time as they flowed well together since they all took place at the same time. All in all they were enjoyable books – I just wanted the women to live on their own without the men they selected in their lives.

I give The Cuvier Widows by Sylvia McDaniel 3.25 stars!

Hero Of My Heart by Megan Frampton

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Loveswept

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Pam

When Mary Smith’s corrupt, debt-ridden brother drags her to a seedy pub to sell her virtue to the highest bidder, Alasdair Thornham leaps to the rescue. Of course the marquess is far from perfect husband material. Although he is exceedingly handsome, with a perfect, strong body, chiseled jaw, and piercing green eyes, Alasdair is also too fond of opium, preferring delirium to reality. Still, he has come to Mary’s aid, and now she intends to return the favor. She will show him that he is not evil, just troubled.

Mary was a damsel in need of a hero, but Alasdair’s plan is shortsighted. He never foresaw her desire to save him from himself. Alasdair is quite at home in his private torment, until this angel proves that a heart still beats in his broken soul. The devil may have kept her from hell, but will Mary’s good intentions lead them back to the brink—or to heaven in each other’s arms?

Alasdair, the Marquess of Datchworth was deep in a drug induced fog when he heard the most startling thing, a man was auctioning off a woman explaining that she was a pure vicar’s daughter. Alasdair lifted his head and looked at the spectacle and for the first time in a long time he made a decision that would help someone else and he placed a high bid for her.

Mary was not sure what was going on around her, however when her head finally cleared she was standing in a room with a man she did not know. She remembers her brother selling everything they owned, even her shoes after her father died and yet he still did not have the money he needed to gamble and do the things he wanted so was doing something drastic.

She needs to get to London as soon as possible to find her mother, someone who she thought was dead until her father’s death bed confession. Alasdair believes he needs to help her, save her from her brother who continues to believe he can get more money out of her, so they set off on a wild trip with his plans to marry her in Scotland. Mary is not truly convinced he will go through with it and as they travel through the countryside and encounter several obstacles which include her brother, Alasdair’s cousin, money troubles and drug addiction, they will both make some decisions that will change the rest of their lives.

The story was intriguing and had a wonderful promising premise, I enjoyed the romance between the two however I do believe everything that happened to them was solved very easily for both. From the sale of Mary by her unscrupulous brother, Matthias, to how easily Alasdair recovers from being addicted to opium to how Mary is accepted into society when they arrive in London. Other than a small amount of hardship, their troubles were solved too easy. I really liked the concept of the story, the fact that Alasdair was drowning in blame and despair and he wanted to just stay obliviously drugged and just waste away but how he rallied to save Mary while she was trying to save him. However for such serious subjects as drugs and the selling of another human being there was just no drama.

I did like Alasdair, as much as he wanted to just drift away from life; he was an honorable man that kept his word about saving Mary. He immediately wanted to marry her to help her, and then backs off when he believes he is saving her from himself; she is suspicious of him and does not know what to believe however she has her own agenda as she needs to get to London so goes along with him. The story flowed well and was interesting to the end and I liked the two characters together. Had there just be a little more angst I would have loved it.

I give Hero of My Heart by Megan Frampton 3.5 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!

Amanda Scott Guest Post & GIVEAWAY

How did your interest in your own family history spark your interest in history? Does it play any role in your stories, and do you think it shaped your interest in writing?

This one also takes me back to my grandfather. He often talked (rattled on) about our family history. Only when I inherited the work he had done on it did I wish that I had listened more carefully to it. Since my paternal ancestors came here from Scotland and Wales, and the original one—Scotts right down to Granddad—were lawyers, I learned a lot about the value of law and order, and that theme definitely resonates throughout my books. What is legal? What is right? Are they compatible or not? So, it definitely sparked my interest in writing, and I have used more than one incident my grandfather described for me in my books.

My great-great-grandfather, Walter Ferguson Scott, married Elizabeth Rice Jones, the daughter of Welshman John Rice Jones, who was born in Mallwyd, Merionethshire, Wales in 1759, lived on The Strand in London in 1783, and left Britain for Philadelphia in 1784. He is said to have been the first lawyer west of the Mississippi and to have known Ben Franklin in Philly, but I have found only anecdotal blips about that.

In 1786, he joined the army of George Rogers Clark and eventually became Commissary General of his Vincennes Garrison. John Rice Jones—he always signed his full name, bless him—had studied law at Oxford and helped many people, primarily Native Americans, who ran afoul of a host of laws that were, needless to say, new and hitherto unknown to them.

While I was researching material for The Rose at Twilight (the hero of which is a Welshman, Nick Merion), I stayed in Brecon, Wales, with the woman who found John Rice Jones’s marriage license for me at Brecon Cathedral. I had written to ask if they had it, and the bishop turned my letter over to her. When I told her that I wanted my hero to come from Wales and was thinking of visiting the north of Wales, she said, “You can’t get there from just anywhere; you’d do better to come and stay with me.” So I did, and one of the things she had arranged by the time I got there was a visit to Mallwyd (pronounced Ma-THOO-wyd). Our guide was a history teacher from the high school in Brecon, and she took us to a place where three roads come together. There was lots of grass and hills, and sheep, and one large building that had been an inn at the time of Richard III (1485). It was now an apartment house of sorts. We also went into the church, and the baptismal font was dated 1758, the year before John Rice Jones was born and baptized there. Very cool, and one of the true perks of the research I’ve done that connects in any way with my family-history research.

Just a couple of additional, related notes: The City of London Archivist found John Rice Jones’s parents’ marriage for me at St. George’s, Hanover Square, the church that figures in so many Regency novels.

And . . . remember the bishop I wrote to about the marriage information? When I needed a Welsh epithet for my hero to exclaim when the heroine sent him into orbit, I asked my friend in Brecon, delightfully named Olive Bacon, and Olive wrote back to say that since she knew none in Welsh, she had asked the bishop for an example or two. She included them, and I used one of them, which meant “By the bones of St. David.” That bishop, whom I had met and chatted with several times during my stay, shortly afterward became Archbishop of Wales.

Dangerous Illusions

The first book in Amanda Scott’s acclaimed Dangerous series journeys from the battlefields of Waterloo to the ballrooms and boudoirs of London, where a deadly deception unfolds . . .

Engaged by proxy to a man she’s never met, Lady Daintry Tarrant is dismayed when the war hero returns, introducing himself as her fiancé, Lord Penthorpe. She cherishes her independence and has turned away many suitors, but this one she must marry. Penthorpe is completely captivated by Lady Daintry—but he’s not who he claims to be.

Penthorpe and Lord Gideon Deverill fought together at the battle of Waterloo, and when Penthorpe fell, Gideon assumed his identity in order to see the beautiful Lady Daintry. Gideon knows there’s bad blood between Lady Daintry’s family and his own, but he’s smitten with Daintry and determined to reunite the bitterly feuding clans. When a ghost from Gideon’s past appears, he could lose everything—including Daintry’s love.

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Border Bride

Set in treacherous sixteenth-century Scotland, the first volume of Amanda Scott’s Border Trilogy tells the unforgettable story of a woman sworn to defy the knight she is forced to wed—only to discover a love she’ll do anything to claim

As Mary, Queen of Scots, languishes in the Tower of London as a prisoner of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, war tears Scotland apart. To save her beloved homeland, a proud Highland beauty named Mary Kate MacPherson must wage her own battle when she’s forced into wedlock with a knight, Sir Adam Douglas, from the barbaric borderland of Tornary.

Even as she succumbs to her seductive husband’s sensual demands, Mary Kate vows never to give him her heart. She will belong to no man. But Adam burns with something deeper than desire. Sworn to carry out a long-awaited revenge, he won’t rest until he has vanquished his enemies. Accused of treason, the last thing he expects is to lose his heart to the woman he’s determined to tame but never to love: his own wife.

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Highland Fling

Forbidden passion has never been more dangerous—or more irresistible—in the first novel of bestselling author Amanda Scott’s spellbinding Highland series

Scotland, 1750. In the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellion, Maggie MacDrumin vows to keep fighting to liberate her people. But the intrepid Scotswoman is risking her life for a dangerous cause. When her latest mission lands her in a London courtroom on a trumped-up larceny charge, she has only one hope of survival. Enlisting the aid of Edward Carsley, the powerful fourth Earl of Rothwell, is a two-edged sword. The seductive aristocrat who awakens treacherous desire is her clan’s mortal enemy—a man she can never trust.

Edward will do whatever it takes to quell another bloody uprising. But how can he fight his passion for the rebellious Highland beauty in his safekeeping? As their lives come under siege, Maggie lays claim to the one thing Edward vowed never to surrender: his heart.
Review Blurbs/Praise for Author

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About the Author

A fourth-generation Californian of Scottish descent, Amanda Scott is the author of more than fifty romantic novels, many of which appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Her Scottish heritage and love of history (she received undergraduate and graduate degrees in history at Mills College and California State University, San Jose, respectively) inspired her to write historical fiction. Credited by Library Journal with starting the Scottish romance subgenre, Scott has also won acclaim for her sparkling Regency romances. She is the recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award (for Lord Abberley’s Nemesis, 1986) and the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award. She lives in central California with her husband.

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**GIVEAWAY**

Winner has their choice of 1 of the 3 listed books in mobi, PDF or ePub format. Open to the US & Canada until 4-26-13 at 11:59pm EST with winner announced shortly after. Simply comment and leave a way for me to find you. Thanks!

Find the rest of the tour HERE

Sweet Madness by Heather Snow (Veiled Seduction #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Signet

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

Ever since her husband’s sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly treating traumatized soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this expertise that brings the Marquess of Bromwich’s family to her door.

Gabriel Devereaux’s unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but she manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and in the calm between bouts, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him. Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one, and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.

Two years ago, Penelope Bridgeman was happily marrying Michael only to become a widow six months later when Michael suffers a tragic end. Currently Penelope is still wearing black, unable to move on from the blame she feels, and has come to visit Gabriel Devereaux, Michael’s cousin in a home for those that suffer mental distress. She has come at the request of his mother who believes this is Gabriel’s last chance before they consider him “compos” which will strip him of everything.

Gabriel was in the war over four years ago and suffers from battle fatigue which has manifested in him feeling overwhelmed and claustrophobic in small and crowded places; however in the past nine months he has also suffered severe manic episodes that have left him scared, unable to remember anything and hard to control, which is what has landed him at Vickering Place.

Penelope has become very interested in helping those that suffer from battle fatigue, she was wallowing in self despair after Michael died when her cousin Liliana and had her come visit their hospital and help those that come for treatment, she has learned quite a lot about the disorder that has plagued those that have fought in war. Michael suffered from the very highs and very lows of his personality and eventually could not take the lows anymore, Penelope could not help him and she blames herself for his death, thus the reason she is still wearing black, she does not feel she deserves to wear colors yet.

When Gabriel finds out about Michael he is even more worried that he has the same madness, however Penelope lived with Michael and she is convinced that Gabriel does not have the same symptoms, now she just has to convince him and find out what is truly making him have his episodes. However before she can help, the head of Vickering Place is about to bar her from visiting Gabriel again and she must make some drastic decisions that will help him, yet might land them in trouble with his family and the law.

I have always loved the heroine characters that Ms. Snow creates. They are intelligent, witty and enjoy the lives they are living, until of course a hero comes along to disrupt it. Penelope is no exception to the previous heroines, she has had a terrible couple of years doubting herself however still manages to help others. She is such a fighter and I like how after her cousin kicks her in the rear she wants help the soldiers with battle fatigue, the PTSD of today. I like how Ms. Snow tells us a bit of history in each story she writes about, in this one she talks about the beginnings of the study of mental health, about art therapy and healing with association. I thought the suspense of the story was intriguing and the “who” of the mystery was a surprise to me but I liked the twist at the end. The only thing I did not like was I wanted more support from Gabriel’s family; they sent for Penelope to help him however seemed quick to believe he could not be cured.

The story takes hold of you and does not let go until the surprise ending. I loved the chemistry of Penelope and Gabriel as they struggle through the mystery of mental illness. It was hilarious when she is asking him questions about his symptoms and he says “I do have other problems that started during or just after the war, “and Penelope says “Oh good!”, such fun and witty banter between the two. Gabriel is a strong hero that worries about how he will react and wants to protect Penelope and others, he has been in love with Penelope long before she married his cousin and we watch how he comes to terms with his unrequited love in the beginning and then we see how Penelope grows into her love for him. I liked that Liliana and Geoffrey have a great part in the story, as I liked them both from Sweet Enemy, and we see that their hospital that specializes in helping soldiers is growing and doing well.

I give Sweet Madness by Heather Snow 4 stars!