Katerina Pavlova Garibaldi, the Contessa de Salerno, a lovely imposter and jewelry design genius, is bent on revenge. Prince Drako "the dragon prince" Kazanov, the object of her revenge. Throw in unknown enemies trying to kill the both of them and a fierce attaction between Katerina and Drako and you have the makings of an explosive, passionate story.
Enticing The Prince is the latest story in Patricia Grasso's series following the Kazanov family. The book stands very well on its own, however there are so many characters from previous books (as well as a lot of alluding to events in those books), that I strongly suggest reading this series in order (see Patricia's website).
I really loved this book. Patricia Grasso has become one of my favorite story tellers. She weaves such interesting characters into fun plots with plenty of twists and turns to make this reader quite happy. Her inclusion of Russian royalty into English society gives a different spin on a Regency romance, for which I am very grateful. I highly recommend this book.
Claudia Martin has owned and run her own school for years and resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood. That is until Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough enters her life and turns everything upside down.
Joseph wants to marry for love, but his station in life and pressure from his father has him proposing to a frigid woman. So, when Joseph keeps encountering Claudia and she starts coming out of her shell, he realizes that she might just be the perfect woman for him.
Simply Perfect is the final book in a series about the teachers at Claudia's school. Over the course of the series, there have been some memorable plots and characters... but I believe this one is my favorite. I enjoyed the characters and their back stories were well-developed and believable. The storyline was interesting and at times heart wrenching (I kept a box of tissue handy for most of the reading). The series is worth the read and best read in order: Simply Unforgettable, Simply Love, Simply Magic, and Simply Perfect. And in the end, Simply Perfect is just that... simply perfect.
Gervase has been searching for a suitable wife, but an emergency sends him from London to his ancestral estate where there are very few eligible ladies. Except for his neighbor Madeline and he's determined to make the strong and independant woman his.
Beyond Seduction is the sixth book in Stephanie Laurens Bastion Club series. It's a great continuation of these tales following ex-spies who need to find wives but on their own conditions. I loved the character of Madeline. She was unique as she acted as her brothers guardian and head of household in a time when women didn't do such things. It was also what attracted Gervase to her and I liked that he wasn't intimidated by her. It was a well written book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Lady Jeannette is banished from her family's estate in England to the Irish countryside after a scandal. On her trip, she meets Darragh, an architect who sweeps her off her feet. She thinks he's a commoner and not worthy of her hand. But he's an earl and ready to teach her a lesson about love.
The Wife Trap is the second in a series of books. I quite enjoyed the whole series, but only ended up with 2 of the 3. The first book is up for grabs on paperback swap (see my previous post for the link) and this one I'm offering up here. It is an autographed copy. So, post what review on our blog you've liked and why and I'll draw a winning name next Saturday (June 21). Check back to see if you're the lucky person!
It's June 22 and I didn't get any takers for the book. So, it's been posted on Paperback swap. I wasn't asking much. Only a comment... too bad.
Lady Phoebe has resorted to selling handmade gowns as a way to support herself... done in secret to avoid a scandal. However, she's blackmailed into travelling to Lord Summerfield's estate to create gowns for his sisters. But what is she to do when she's attracted to the viscount and he thinks she's a seamstress? Well, start an affair, of course. But what will happen when her identity is revealed?
I remember liking this book as I read it several weeks ago. But as I sit here trying to write a review, I'm finding it very hard to put words down on specifics. It's just that this book isn't standing out from others that I've read. In fact, I felt the secondary characters more than the primary ones, which isn't a good thing. I was a little let down with this final book in Julia London's Desperate Debutantes series.
Simon and Anne meet when Simon saves Anne's nephew from a disastrous accident. Life continued to throw them together and then a passionate kiss plunges them into a marriage neither of them wanted. But Anne realizes that she does want it and begins to tear down the walls around Simon's fragile heart.
I enjoyed this story. It was the first full length novel I've read by Samantha James (my previous experience with her writing was in an anthology called Married at Midnight) and I wasn't disappointed. Simon had valid reasons for guarding his heart and Anne was the perfect heroine for him. If you're wanting a story with a classic alpha male, this isn't the one for you. But Simon is a great beta hero and the story works.
The book starts shortly after The Naked Duke ends. Charles, who was happy to be a second son, is now a marquis after his brother is killed. Along with the title, he has acquired guardianship of his two young nieces. He knows he needs to marry, but he doesn’t want to endure the marriage mart. So, when he reunites with a childhood friend, Emma, who also happens to be the nieces’ temporary governess, he decides he’s rather marry her. Problem is that Emma has been in love with Charles for years and she only wants to marry for love.
I’m quickly becoming a fan of Sally MacKenzie. She’s written another page turner. I couldn’t wait to see the sparks flying between Charles and Emma. And there was enough twists and turns in the story to keep me riveted to the book.
Avis, a spinster and aspiring novelist, wants to experience passion and she taps her friend and fellow writer to be her teacher. Banning, the earl of Selby and her best friend’s brother, discovers her plans and confronts her with claims that she’s made the wrong choice and ends up offering his services. However, Avis doesn’t know that Banning has decided to make Avis his wife and to use their affair to make her change her mind about marriage.
This is an exceptional debut novel by Chrstie Kelley. She’s taken a unique twist on a classical regency plot. I absolutely fell in love with Banning as he wooed Avis and couldn’t wait to see how he was going to convince her that they were meant to be together and that he truly loved her. I will definitely be looking forward to future books by Ms. Kelley.
Elizabeth has always seen her future husband in her dreams. So, when comes face to face with the man, she’s ecstatic. But her happiness is short-lived when she learns that he’s a prince and has his eye on Princess Charlotte. However, Elizabeth is not about to let go of her dreams and is determined to capture the heart of her prince.
This is the third and final story in Kathryn Caskie’s Royale Sisters trilogy. The book does stand alone, but there are a few moments where if you’ve not read the previous books (How to Engage an Earl and How to Seduce a Duke), you might get a little lost as there is an over-arching plot. That said, I loved this series and found this book to be a very satisfying conclusion.
Sarah wakes up naked and in bed with and equally undressed duke, James. When they are discovered, James proposes as she’s been compromised. But Sarah doesn’t want to be tied to someone who is a rake and certainly doesn’t love her.
This is Sally MacKenzie’s debut novel and it starts out with bang and continues to deliver until the very end. There are lots of twists and turns to keep the reader riveted to the pages and the character and plot development are exceptional… especially for an author’s first published work. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will be grabbing the sequel soon!
Lady Irene grew up with an abusive, drunken father and swore she would never marry and be "owned" by a man. But all her intentions are thrown out the window when she meets Gideon, a long-long heir and newly titled earl. Gideon needs a wife that will accept him as the unpolished gentleman that he is and has his heart set on Irene to take that role.
This book is the second in a series following The Marriage Wager. This series follows Lady Francesca's matchmaking within the ton. This time she is finding a wife for Gideon and when he expresses interest in Irene, she pulls the strings to bring them together.
I enjoyed the characters and the plot was different enough to satisfy me. Lady Francesca's story is advanced in this novel, so I'd recommend reading The Marriage Wager first, although it is in no way necessary. The Bridal Quest is just the latest in a long list of great tales by Candace Camp.
I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Boyle at a book signing in October 2007. I had borrowed a few of her books from the library, but they didn't have this newest offering. So, of course I had to pick up a copy. I had a nice chat with Ms. Boyle as she autographed my book.
Felicity has been corresponding with the soon-to-be Duke of Hollindrake and believes it is only a matter of time until they will be married. However, she's never actually met the man. Thatcher has just come into his title and doesn't want to get married, but he meets Felicity and is smitten, but he doesn't want to marry the girl he thinks duped his grandfather.
I found "Love Letters from a Duke" to be a delightful read. Ms. Boyle has created memorable characters and a solid plot and romance. I just couldn't put this book down until I was finished reading. I highly recommend this book, which is the second in her Bachelor Chronicles series.
Henrietta loved Sebastian from the moment she met him as a young girl. But he didn't welcome her attention and felt to the continent. Months later he returns and is suddenly attracted to Henrietta and can't keep his mind and hands off of her. Now that Henrietta has his attention, is she really in love with him or is it just lust?
"Too Scandalous to Wed" by Alexandra Benedict is an entertaining novel set in Regency England. The characters were engaging and the plot took an interesting spin off of the childhood crush storyline. I liked her first novel ("A Forbidden Love", but thoroughly enjoyed this offering.
Nicole Byrd
This is the first novel I've read by Ms. Byrd and now I'm a fan. This book is somewhere in the middle of a series, but it stands quite well on it's own. I found the characters to be charming and the main plot satisfying and the subplot a nice diversion. All-in-all, a very entertaining read.
My Fair Mistress” by Tracy Anne Warren
I enjoyed this book. The characters and plot are well developed and not overused in historical romances. I highly recommend and cannot wait for the future books in this series.
"The Heir and the Spare" by Maya Rodale is a splendid debut novel and the first in a series.
Phillip and Devon are twins and the sons of a duke. Phillip is the heir and Devon the spare. Devon was always forced to pretend to be his brother and following a duel where he was almost killed, he fled to America. Five years later, he's back in London but only a select few know he's home.
Emilia is an American heiress who is in London to find a husband. At her first ball, she trips on some stairs and falls into the arms of a handsome man and quickly falls in love. But is it Phillip or Devon?
I met Ms. Rodale in an online chat where she was discussing this book and I was intrigued. When I came across it at the library, I snatched it off of the shelves. I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the plot and the characters (many of the secondary characters were a hoot and I hope they appear in future novels). While the mistaken identity and good twin/bad twin themes have been used in the past, Ms. Rodale finds a fresh and interesting spin.
Brenda Joyce has written some of my favorite historical romances and this book can be added to that list. "The Perfect Bride" is set in Regency England, just after the war with Napoleon. Rex is a war hero and a recluse. Blanche recently lost her father and is now an heiress and in need of husband... and Rex seems to be the right man for the job.
One of the things that really stood out in this book are the characters. Rex was injured in the war and has visible and invisible wounds. Blanche seems to be the perfect English lady, but has a disturbing past which she'd buried but is now threatening her life. And the romance between these characters works. Ms. Joyce doesn't have the characters jump immediately into bed. But instead she develops a friendship between them and then passion erupts.
"The Perfect Bride" is the seventh book in the De Warenne Dynasty
"Lady Be Bad" is the third book in Candice Hern's Merry Widows series. The Merry Widows are a group of five ladies who banded together after losing their husbands. While working on charitable causes, the ladies decide they need more fun in their lives and agree to all take lovers during the season.
Grace Marlowe is the widow of Bishop Marlowe and has trouble with the idea of taking a lover. But when the rake, Viscount Rochdale, begins to focus his attentions on her Grace has trouble reconciling the feelings Rochdale aroses in her with the teachings of her late husband.
This book has been my favorite Merry Widow story (Just One of Those Flings (Signet Eclipse)
is pretty darn good with a older woman-younger man theme). The characters are engaging and their relationship, while rocky, is interesting to watch. I'd strongly suggest reading the books in order (In the Thrill of the Night (Merry Widows)
, Just One of Those Flings (Signet Eclipse)), but Lady Be Bad: The Merry Widows Series
does stand quite well on it's own.Read More......