Under the Covers

Author Override: Ashley March

2012-02-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.

Today we have the awesome and amazing Ashley March with us today! For more information of Ashley March or Elise Rome (her other pen name) please visit her websites. Now, Maidens help us welcome, Ashley March! Take it away, Ashley!

First of all, thank you very much to the ladies at Under the Covers for inviting me to participate in the Scandalous Affair event this month!

Scandal... I don’t know about you, but there’s something about that word that just thrills my historical romance reading heart. Perhaps it’s because the word brings to mind our hero or our heroine (or preferably our hero and heroine together!) acting naughty. Although scandal could refer to inappropriate behavior regarding money and politics, as romance readers we typically see the word associated with romantic or sexual relationships.

For example, there are the books that feature the hero and heroine involved in a scandal and we get to see the consequences as they unfold. Perhaps the hero and heroine are caught together in a compromising situation and must face the rest of their lives together as husband and wife due to a marriage of convenience. This is one of my favorite scandalous scenarios because—whether the couple was guilty of something or not when they were caught—this marriage of convenience usually pits them against the rest of the world (meaning they must learn to turn to each other) and also usually pits them against each other (meaning that sparks are going to fly).

There are also books where the hero and/or heroine are trying to keep a scandal from being discovered. In my last book written under Ashley March, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS, Leah and Sebastian share the secret of their dead spouses’ affair. When Leah decides she wants to live a life of freedom and independence, Sebastian fears that her behavior will lead others to suspect that everything isn’t as it should be and might also cause rumors of his son’s legitimacy. Although the scandal is a secret to society, it still brings together the hero and the heroine in a way where they must interact; they can’t just walk away from the situation and lead their own separate lives.

But there’s also another type of book where the hero and/or heroine are actually trying to prevent a scandalous situation. Of course, although they might have good intentions, usually the consequences end up being equally as bad or even worse than the scandal itself might have been. In my upcoming novella THE SINNING HOUR (written under my new pseudonym Elise Rome), the hero dismisses his maid rather than trying to pursue a romantic or sexual relationship with her. This type of relationship in itself would be a scandal if anyone discovered they were together, but he sends her away because he doesn’t want to exploit her position as a servant in his household. The consequence, however, is that after he fires her, he realizes that letting her out of his life was a terrible mistake, and he tries to find her…only to discover that she’s disappeared.

Although each of these three types of books are quite different, the fact is that the values and strictures of society in 19th century England (used specifically because the time and place is so popular among historical romance readers) make it possible for them all to include the concept of scandal in some way, whether it’s the result of a scandal, a secret that would become a scandal if it were known, or the prevention of a scandal. And perhaps this is what makes scandal so appealing: because despite all the rules and propriety of society during that time, there were still people who were flawed, people who made mistakes, people who were passionate and fell in love and couldn’t by choice or accident be bound by the expectations of their peers.

I have to be honest and say that these are the types of heroes and heroines I like to read and write about, anyway. =)

What do you think, dear readers? Why do you believe the concept of scandals in historical romances is appealing to you? What’s your favorite scandalous romance novel?

Two random commenters will be chosen: one to win a print copy of my last Ashley March novel, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS, and one to win a digital copy of my upcoming novella written by my current name, Elise Rome (open internationally).

Make sure you answer Ashley's question and leave your email so we can contact you if you win!

ARC Review: Angels' Flight by Nalini Singh

2012-02-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

We are all such big fans of Nalini Singh here at Under the Covers so for this review, we'll be doing something different. Each novella will be reviewed by one of us. I hope you enjoy and if you haven't read Nalini Singh before, then what are you waiting for?

Angels' Pawn

(more like 3.5 feathers)

Reviewed by Angela

This short story is a prequel to the Guild Hunter Series. This is not my first book of the series that I have read. It is actually the third. I have read Angel’s Blood and Angel’s Kiss and enjoyed them very much. Against all my beliefs to read in order, I, for some reason failed to start with this one. *shrugs*

Ashwini a hunter of the guild who is hired to rescue/find a missing vampire, one from a well-known family. As a hunter, Ashwini is human with special powers that help her to do her job well. In this special assignment, she seeks out help from a vampire named Janvier whom she had hunted before. I found that odd in the beginning but as you read on, you will find out that it is probably more a personal preference.

Janvier is a hot, confident, two hundred forty five year old, over six feet tall, vampire with a Cajun accent. Sexy IMO. This guy has lived a long time and just about done with games but continue to play them in the account of love. It is obvious, his actions, his words, the way he looks at her.

These two obviously have a past that goes beyond hunter/pray relationship. Though there was not a strong romance aspect in this book, you feel the tension as they work together. Unfortunately, we do not see a HEA for this couple but it’s a cute little teaser of what is to come of this world.

I do not believe this novella compares to the full length books, not by a long shot. Although I loved both Ashwini and Janvier, I felt the story was too hard to follow if I was reading it for the first time. I felt like I was expected to know the plot from the start. The action was good though and the side characters were very interesting. Though I do not recommend reading this as a prequel, I recommend reading this after book 1 (Angel’s Blood) when you have a better understanding of series.

Angels' Judgment

Reviewed by Annie

I have absolutely fallen in love with the world that Singh has built where vampires, angels, and humans co-exist. Though it’s beautiful, it’s also dangerous as hell.

Angel’s Judgement is the story of Sara Haziz, another hunter-born Guild Hunter who later becomes the Guild Director for America. But before she takes her rightful spot behind the Director desk, Sara is set on a mission to end a hunter who is on a vampire killing spree. But this time, she isn’t alone.

A sexy – and I mean really, really sexy – man named Deacon is there to help her. Sara is suspicious to find this towering and dangerously seductive man with her. But when she calls in to verify his Guild Hunter status, Simon the former Guild Director says that Deacon is there for a mission and to offer her protection from any Archangel threats. Because she is the most likely candidate for the Guild Director position, the Cadre of Archangels want to make sure she is capable enough to withstand their wrath. And also to prove that they are powerful and above all else.

The action is gritty and I loved every moment of it. There is more investigating in this novella than in Angel’s Pawn, but that’s because Sara uses knowledge to her advantage. Her mind is her weapon, along with her crossbow made by the hands of her lover.

Speaking of her lover, Deacon is so freaking amazing! I love his personality. He does his job well, but he can also be light and funny. I love the control he is able to manage. But when he loses control, as Sara said, he loses control.

Again, Singh writes what I would call a perfect novella. She has included action, danger, blood and romance. But I would love to read more about the love scenes between Deacon and Sara. What? I’m human! Sue me.

Favourite Quote:
Sara smiled, knowing her face was a blotchy mess. “Can you see him in a tux?” Her stomach tightened at the idea.
“Let me get the visual. Okay, I have it.” Elena sighed. “Oh, baby, I could lick him up in a tux.”
“Hey. Mine.” It was a growl.
Ellie grinned. “I have a pulse. He’s hot.”

Angel's Wolf

(more like 4.5 feathers)

Reviewed by Francesca

Noel, a vampire who used to work at the Tower for Raphael, and who was one of the victims in a previous Guild Hunter book, is sent to New Orleans to serve Nimra. At first he thought he was being cast out because of his weakness. He is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of his past, he feels almost dead inside. But then he realizes Raphael sent him here to help and protect Nimra. Someone close to her wants her dead. It's his job to make sure they don't succeed and to figure out who is responsible. But Nimra somehow manages to wake him from the state he's been in.

The story, as always, is amazing. Nalini Singh can weave an intricate web perfectly. Even for a short story there's so much going on it felt like a complete story. All the characters were pretty well developed, the relationships between all of them was very real, and the chemistry between Noel and Nimra was amazing. Excellent story!

Angels' Dance

(more like 4.5 feathers)

Reviewed by Suzanne

I want to live in a Nalini Singh world. It has gorgeous men in abundance, if your tastes run to dark and dangerous you have Dmitri, if you love golden eyed charmers, there is Illium and now if you have a taste for red haired barbarians there is the rugged Galen. Ms Singh really knows how to spoil a girl.

This story is set 400 years before the events in the Guild Hunter series and when Galen first joined Raphael and meets for the first time Jessamy, the teacher, the historian and tragically of the crippled wing. But Galen also sees her as Jessamy the woman, something no one else has.

What a story, it was so beautiful, Nalini Singh has a poetic way with words that can turn even the simplest things into something spectacular. And Jess and Galen's story was spectacular, watching them both risking their hearts and overcome the fears that life has taught them so they can be with one another was so romantic.

It was also a treat to see Raphael and a few of the guys from the Seven; Dmitri, Jason, Aodhan and Illium, we get to see the origin of his Bluebell nickname! Although there wasn't much a small storyline that ran aside the romance it was rather small and this book basically focuses on Galen and Jess, and was better for it. It was a fabulous read and as always, Ms Singh has left me wanting more.

*ARC provided by publisher

Review: Corralled by Lorelei James

2012-02-24T18:50:00.001-08:00

Corralled

by Lorelei James

(Blacktop Cowboys # 1)

If you follow my reviews you may know of my cowboy obsession, mainly because of the wonderful author that is Lorelei James and her Rough Riders series. So I've been wanting to start this series for a while but it keeps getting pushed back, probably due to time reasons. Needless to say when I noticed that this bad boy was available on audiobook earlier this week I jumped on it and started it right away like a crack addict needing her next fix.

I knew this series was a bit different so I went in with an open mind and no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. At first I could only say that I was soooo jealous of Lainie. I mean, she's dating two hot cowboys at the same time! That is until she gets caught, and they turn out to be old buddies. But neither one of them want to give her up, so there's only option from there. They can share her for the duration of Cowboy Christmas (an event, not actual Christmas). Kyle is a bull rider, Hank is a bull fighter. They will be traveling and hitting as many rodeos as they can and they are taking Lainie along with them for some extra spicy entertainment.

Note to self and others (since I'm listening to the audiobook) DO NOT LISTEN WHILE DRIVING. This book may give you ideas that can be dangerous while driving and may cause swerving, sudden breaking and missed lights. In one word: HAWT! There was a bit of romance building up in the middle of all that hotness as well.

I actually liked this first book more than I liked the first book of the Rough Riders series, so I'm hoping for bigger and more promising things to come! I can't wait to get caught up!! Bring on the sexy cowboys ;)

Favorite Quotes:

"You bring out my untamed side."
"Show me."

"Darlin' that was the wrong thing to say. You'll take whatever we decide to dish out. Now, strip!"

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

2012-02-24T18:12:00.001-08:00

Mine Till Midnight

by Lisa Kleypas

(The Hathaways # 1)

After reading the Wallflowers I had two things in my mind before picking this up. First, can Lisa Kleypas live up to the Wallflowers? It's not easy to create a series with characters that are all flawed but lovable and that can captivate my heart and attention as that series did. And second, two words for you: Cam Rohan. I originally thought (after reading Devil in Winter) that he would end up with Daisy Bowman. And since then I've wanted to read about the sexy gypsy.

I can now honestly say I am 100% satisfied on both counts. This series already makes me feel right at home with the Hathaway family. They are down on their luck, they've each been through so much heartache. There's the older brother who lost his fiance and has gone off the deep end; the sister who is still a bit ill; the younger sister who will have the misfortune of not having things and opportunities because of their position; there's even a crazy sister who randomly steals things! And then there's Amela Hathaway. The backbone of the family. The glue that holds them all together and pushes through. Not wanting to marry because she can't give up her freedom to a man, she's a declared spinster who only cares about the well being of her siblings.

Except when faced with Cam Rohan. He is all kinds of wrong, a gypsy who was raised by Evangeline's father and grew up at the gambling club, surrounded by mostly undesirables. He's tough and he's not the reputable gentleman she should want to be in the company of. But he's funny and down to earth, and simple. He can make her laugh and make her blush. And she can't fight her attraction for long.

Just as Cam can't fight his attraction to Amelia. For a while now women have had no appeal to him until her. And he knows she's the type of woman you marry, not play around with. Still, he can't stay away. And when they finally get together, well, Cam is just A.MA.ZING! And lets leave it at that!

All the usual suspects from the Wallflowers pretty much make an appearance. Of course my Lord Westcliff playing a big role as the Hathaways are taking residence next door to his estate. But Lord St. Vincent is a big part of this book as well as he is now Cam's best friend.

Of course we also get a small glimpse of what's in store for book two. Kev Merripen, who is a gypsy that was taken in and raised with the Hathaways, is in love with the most fragile of them all, Win. I'm hoping for an intense ride with their story!

Favorite Quotes:

"Marry me, Amelia. You're what I want. You're my fate."

“...whether he stayed or left, whether they walked the same path or not. They could live on opposite sides of the world, and she would still be his.”

Purchase Links: Amazon

Most Anticipated Books: March 2012

2012-02-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

There are so many books coming out this year, we want to share with you the ones that we can't wait for that will release in March!! Check them out!

Review: When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

2012-02-23T18:58:00.001-08:00

When He Was Wicked

by Julia Quinn

(Bridgertons # 6)

Michael Stirling is known as the Merry Rake. Seducing and flirting is his forte. However, Michael is in love with the one person he can never have. Married to his cousin John, Francesca is unaware of Michael’s feelings for her. The three of them are best friends, but her presence makes Michael hurt in the worst of ways.

But when a loss shatters both their worlds, Michael and Francesca don’t know how to deal with the pain...or the presence of one another. The question stands, how will they face each other when a distant memory continues to haunt them?

Julia Quinn is known for her witty and loving characters. It’s her remarkable ability to make readers sympathize with the characters that makes them feel so real to you. Quinn has a talent that most writers envy and make readers rejoice because each book is simply to die for.

WHEN HE WAS WICKED caught my attention because of its engaging title. Who could resist such a tempting tease like that?

But it was with this opening paragraph that I knew this book would hold something deeper than Julia Quinn’s usual books.

“In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and clear that one feels as if one’s been hit in the chest, all the breath knocked out, and one knows, absolutely knows without the merest hint of a shadow of a doubt that one’s life will never be the same.
For Michael Stirling, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.”

With just these few words, I knew that this would be different than the other books in this series. First off, it’s written in parallel with To Sir Phillip, with Love and Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which has not been done before in this series. And the second, is that Quinn covers the more extreme spectrum of emotions including grief, hate, anger, passion and love. And longing – pining for what you can never have.

WHEN HE WAS WICKED was by far the most emotional of the series. It showed that Quinn was able to display more than her cunning wit. She wrote drama and heartbreak and grief. And it was really the perfect read.

Michael was the perfect hero. I loved the internal battle he waged within himself. There was lust and love on one side and honor and loyalty on the other. It was interesting to witness how a man could still love even after what had happened to him.

And then there was Francesca whom I wasn’t too interested in out of the Bridgerton siblings. She was the most remote of them all. But I learned a lot about who she was through this story. She doesn’t know of Michael’s attraction to her, so she was slower to come to his attentions.

Some thought that Francesca was playing hard to get, but I disagree. I think since Michael loved her before everything happened, he had a lesser distance to travel in order to fall in love. However, Francesca experienced a crushing loss that tilted her world off its axis. Added to that is the fact that she experienced another subsequent loss shortly thereafter which tore her apart again. So, no I don’t think Francesca was too slow to accept Michael. In this book, she had a great distance to travel emotionally and I think only time and Michael’s persistence allowed for her to open her heart up once again.

Overall, this book deserves the 5 stars I’m giving it. Maybe even more because I didn’t even mention the sexy love scenes that these two have. WICKED doesn’t even cover it!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Midnight Reckoning by Kendra Leigh Castle

2012-02-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

Midnight Reckoning

by Kendra Leigh Castle

(Dark Dynasties # 2)

I have been so excited to finally read the second installment of Castle's Dark Dynasties series. Dark Awakening blew me away and I had no doubt Midnight Reckoning would do the same. This book takes place about seven months after Lily took a stand against Ptolemy and began her own dynasty. Most of the Cait Sith have come to join the Lillim and still free to chose or do what they please.

Jaden Harrison, a hot, intense cat/vamp (Tynan's friend) finds himself lost and not knowing what do with his new found freedom. But as faith would have it, Jaden will choose to protect a female wolf from an attacker. A female wolf he's met at the safe house a few months back. Attempting to do the right thing, Jaden goes above and beyond to help; not only from her current attacker but to help with her long life dream to become an Alpha of her clan.

Lyra Black is the daughter of the Alpha Male for the Thorn Wolf pack. Refusing to be taken as anyone's mate, at 23, Lyra is at an age to fight for the Alpha position of her clan. It is her birthright to do so. Wanting this dream to come true, Lyra accepts Jaden's help to train for the life and death competition and finds love in the process.

This book is without a doubt one of the best PNR books I've read. Ms. Castle has given us a story filled with suspense, humor, betrayals, action, lots of hot scenes with great sexual build up and of course, romance.

I again find my stomach full of butterflies in anticipation of the next book! I highly recommend this series!!!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Interview and Giveaway with Colleen Gleason!

2012-02-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

Hi Maidens! We got another great post for your today! We hope you are enjoying all the special features, interviews and guest posts we have been bringing you lately. Now without further ado, let's welcome our latest guest, Colleen Gleason to Under the Covers!

Thanks so much for being a part of A SCANDALOUS AFFAIR, Colleen! Let's get down to business, shall we? What made you choose to write about vampires? What is it about them that fascinates you?

Vampires are creatures of the night, sensual and mysterious. What’s not to be fascinated about? My first series, though (the Gardella Vampire Chronicles) is about a more evil set of vampires. They aren’t redeemable, and they aren’t sympathetic. The series is more about the Venators who hunt them.

So when I wanted to write a new series about vampires, I wanted to look at them from a different perspective. Yet, as they are creatures of the night and since they must take from others in order to live, I knew they had to have a dark side, even though the Draculia are redeemable. Part of the pleasure of writing the Draculia was determining how and if a particular vampire was redeemable.

Have any books or authors inspired you?

Many! I’ve taken inspiration from many authors, most of whom don’t even write vampire or paranormal books. My inspiration comes from those who continue to write long-standing series without getting stale (J. D. Robb), who write deftly and with subtlety (Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters), and who write real, real people (Robyn Carr)….just to name a few.

If you had your choice to go back in time to any era, where would like to visit?

As long as I could come back I’d like to visit the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England, as well as Paris in the 1890s.

Tell us 5 things that readers would be surprised to know about you.

1. I never read Dracula until four months ago and I’ve never read Twilight.
2. I have a geek crush on Gabriel Mann (Nolan from the TV show Revenge)…although anyone who follows me on Facebook would know that!
3. I’ve been to Tahiti but never to Hawaii.
4. The first book I wrote was a medieval historical romance (now published as A Whisper of Rosemary).
5. My favorite thing to drink is hot tea (green, white, or herbal).

Name 4 things you need in order to write a book.

1. A quiet place.
2. A sexy man in mind for the main hero.
3. A cup of hot tea.
4. My headphones and the soundtrack to the Harry Potter movies.
5. Many naps.

3 books have been released in your Regency Draculia series. Can you tell us a bit about how this series came to be?

I’d written the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, which, as I mentioned above, were more about the vampire hunters than the vampires themselves. Then my publisher suggested that I think about writing a series in which the vampires were sympathetic and heroic.

At that point, I had to rewire my brain to think about the undead in a different way. I had to rework the entire mythology I’d built in the Gardella books to make vampires—which I will always think of as dark, demonic creatures—somehow redeemable and compelling.

The idea of most of the vampires being men came to me first, and then I had to think about what sort of women would be worthy of these jaded, old, sometimes tortured men. That was how I came up with the idea of the Woodmore sisters and their special gifts. They had to be something special in order to capture the hearts of their vampire heroes.

Name 2 authors you'd like to collaborate with one day.

Jeaniene Frost and Robyn Carr.

What is your number 1 favourite scene from your Regency Draculia books?
The scene in The Vampire Dimitri when Maia rescues Dimitri from being tied up.

What is next for Colleen Gleason?

I’m working on a variety of different projects, but the one I’m most excited about right now is my new series to be launched in 2013. It’s a steampunk series for teens, set in an alternate Victorian London, starring Sherlock Holmes’s niece and Bram Stoker’s sister! I’m having a blast with it.

Updates and new releases are announced via my Facebook page and through my newsletter (sign up at http://www.colleengleason.com).

Colleen is giving away winner's choice of her backlist (except Gardellas since they are out of print). US residents get print copy but ebooks are international.

To enter, please:
1. Be a follower
2. Fill out the form below

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Dirty Little Secret # 36

2012-02-22T20:32:00.000-08:00

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.
3. Answer the question we propose! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
4. Then add your link below.

Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments!

We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

This week's question:

It's lent and time to give up your favourite things for 40 days and 40 nights (or sneak some when no one is looking!) What series of books would you have to give up, and why?

Our Answer:

Annie: I will try to give up Facebook. I think it's doable.

Francesca: I wouldn't say I can give up a series because I'm not constantly reading a series, but how about if I give up erotica books for 40 days. That would be pretty tough I think :D OK maybe too hard... I'll go for pizza. I can try!

Suzanne: That's hard! BDB and Kate Daniel's are SO CLOSE; I couldn't give up both of them, I think I would spontaneously combust!

Angela: It’s always hard to decide what to give up for Lent because you know you’d like to follow through up to 40days. Giving up reading or giving up a series I follow would be hard to do. And because reading contributes to my sanity, I’ll pick something else to give up. I will chose *cringing* Diet Coke. Help me!!!

Now it's your turn!

Review: Shameless by Anne Stuart

2012-02-22T20:25:00.000-08:00

Shameless

by Anne Stuart

(House of Rohan # 4)

And we have finally come to Benedick. Viscount Benedick Rohan is one of Adrian's sons. We first meet him in the last book where he was the cause for his sister meeting Lucien. As always with the heroes in this series, he's a bad, bad boy. And he has a way of making you like it that he is. He is in London now looking for soft and demure woman to bear his children, and to have some fun.

Instead he finds Melisande. First point, I love the name. And I really liked her as a character. She is a strong woman who married an older man who then died. He left her widowed but with plenty of money and she has turned into something good by helping less fortunate women get out from a life of prostitution.

She is sooo not the woman he had intended to find but he can't help but be attracted to her like a bee to honey. He enjoys spending time with her, the banter back and forth, even the fact that she fights him constantly. But he refuses to believe that is what he needs and fights that attraction as much as he can by just being a friend of sorts.

In the meantime, the Heavenly Host has changed a lot since the good 'ol days of Lord Francis Rohan. It is now a bunch of crazies and depraved men who rape and won't bat an eye at killing.

When one of her girls goes missing and talk around town is that she will be sacrificed during a ritual, she takes it upon herself to go find her and rescue her. And she enlists the help of Benedick.

There is also a secondary story in this book which I was anxious to read more about. I feel always the secondary couples get left out but in this case, it's Brandon, Benedick's brother. I was originally hoping her would get a full length book. Does this mean no book for him? Or is this more of a prequel to it? One can only hope.

This series will be an auto buy for me if it continues on, which I'm hoping it does.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

2012-02-22T20:17:00.000-08:00

To Sir Phillip, With Love

by Julia Quinn

(Bridgertons # 5)

At eight and twenty, Eloise has been on the shelf for quite some time. Despite previous marriage proposals, Eloise never thought she’d find herself in this position, alone. With her best friend Penelope, happily married off to her brother, Colin no less, Eloise tries to take her life into her own hands.

It all starts with a letter to Sir Phillip offering him her deepest sympathizes on his wife’s recent death. As is polite, Sir Phillips sends a letter back with a small gift of a pressed flower showing his appreciation. Soon, a relationship blooms between them as they continue to exchange letters until finally Eloise receives one that ask for her to visit his home to see if they would suit.

When I started this book, I’ll admit I was feeling a bit detached from Sir Phillip. He was definitely not a Bridgerton brother. But then something happened and by page ten, a connection was made and I fell in love with him. It’s pretty remarkable how Quinn has the power to do that with just a few words and a turn of events.

This book addresses more delicate matters such as suicide and corporal punishment. To Sir Phillip, With Love focused mainly on family and how the actions of one person could forever scar someone’s life. Phillip knows of this by his father and his unstable relationship with him. It was also about the lack of actions by a loved one. I loved reading about how Phillip and Eloise found that balance.

Quinn crafts a lovely story that stirs up darker emotions but manages to warm the heart at the same time. Quick glimpses of the Bridgerton brothers lightened the mood, but I think it was the presence of the Crane kids that made me love this book so much. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Game for Anything by Bella Andre

2012-02-22T19:59:00.000-08:00

Game for Anything

by Bella Andre

(Bad Boys of Football # 1)

I kind of have a soft spot for sports romance lately. Maybe I've been in that kind of mood, but this book has been in my TBR pile for a long time and I finally decided to pick it up. This being my first book by Ms. Andre I was more than pleasantly surprised. The story is cute, sweet and sexy. With a hero to die for and a heroine who I didn't want to kill (most of the time).

Ty was the jock all through high school, dating all the beautiful girls and getting noticed for his athletic abilities. He also had major issues to overcome being that he didn't come from the best family, nor did he come from money. He always felt less than others in that respect so a successful sports career has given him the chance to better himself and he's taken it to an excess.

But before the lights and the money he had one night with the smartest girl in his class. At senior prom he gets the guts to approach a girl who wasn't the popular girl, but he always felt he didn't deserve. Julie had the hots for him. And that one night led to him taking her virginity. Except it all went wrong the morning after and they haven't spoken or seen each other since.

Fast forward ten years, he is a successful quarterback in his prime but with a really bad reputation that needs cleaning up. Julie has made a very successful career as an image consultant. She is called in as the best person to fix Ty's image. And from that first meeting sparks are flying!

I had a small problem with Julie always jumping to conclusions. She always thought the worst of Ty without giving him the opportunity to explain. From that first night after senior prom and the same now. She's always thinking she knows what Ty feels and wants.

I enjoyed the writing style a lot, the bit of humor and sweetness in the book, and of course the hot athlete. So I'll be jumping into book two very soon!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Unraveled by Courtney Milan

2012-02-22T05:37:00.001-08:00

Unraveled

by Courtney Milan

(Turner # 3)

The third book in the Turner series features Smite. He's not the rake, but not the virgin either. What he is is a strict, cold, very serious lawman. I mean, his nickname is Lord Justice which he got because they tease him about being married to Lady Justice!

He's gone through a very traumatic childhood and, much like Mark, his mother truly left her mark on him. The events have traumatized him in many ways and they are the reason why he is the way he is today.

So when he meets Miranda, a girl from the wrong side of town, who's been working for The Patron doing some less than legal activities, it's a wonder that he wants to be with her. But what he offers her is a deal. She will be his mistress for a month, he will put her in a nice house and pay her for her services.

As much as Miranda would have never considered something like that before, the fact that she does have an attraction to Smite, and that the money would buy her a new life, she accepts. Even though she is a virgin herself.

But shortly into their affair her past comes calling. The Patron wants her back and will do and threaten whomever to get that.

I was enamored with Smite, his sentimentality quota, his stern ways, and his sweet and thoughtful moments. He showed he cared for Miranda from day one and he was not afraid to show that even in public. He wasn't hiding her and he stood up to others for her more than once.

The Turners just can't find love in all the normal places but they've all delivered great stories, and the writing by Ms. Milan is smooth and very easy to read. This one had me glued to the pages!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Interview and Giveaway with Courtney Milan!

2012-02-22T05:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for stopping by UTC to talk to our maidens and being a part of A Scandalous Affair. We are very excited to have you here today!! Please give a warm welcome to Courtney Milan!

Your next release, A Governess Affair will release in April 2012. Can you tell us a bit about it?

It's about a man of business whose employer asks him to take care of a governess who is making a pest of herself, only to discover that she's rather too intriguing for his peace of mind.

What's behind the saying "Wolf meets Bear" as it pertains to this book?

I give everyone of my books code names as I'm writing them. In this series, the hero, Hugo Marshall, is also named as the Wolf of Clermont--because he's relatively ruthless. But I wanted to write a heroine who was more than his match. And what's the only creature that I can imagine taking on a savage wolf? A bear--generally happy creatures when well-fed, and perfectly content to subsist on blueberries. But threaten them or the ones they love, and they're unstoppable.

That's my heroine.

Your Turners series is a hit! Congrats! For those readers who haven't had the chance to read or discover these books yet, can you tell us a bit about them?

The Turner series is about three brothers whose lives have been shaped--in very, very different ways--by a mother who was insane. I wanted it to be a chance to explore what happens when good people have a lot of baggage.

If you could create your own panel and choose which authors you'd like to have a conference with, which authors would you pick and why? What would you talk about?

Oh, gosh. That's a hard one. There are a lot of authors that I would like to put on that list. But here's a panel that would be just plain fun: Ann Aguirre, Tessa Dare, Victoria Dahl, and Zoe Archer. What would we talk about? I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it would not be safe for work. :)

What does a typical day for you look like?

I don't have typical days. I work a day job (for now), and it takes up a lot of time and in irregular amounts. I write when I can. I try to get an hour of writing in in the mornings; if I take a lunch break, I write over lunch, and then I spend a good amount of time in the evenings writing, editing, and taking care of the business aspects of things.

I wish I had typical days.

What does your writing workspace look like? Clean and orderly? Scattered with notes? Any visual would be nice.

It's a complete mess. I cannot express how utterly messy my workspace is. To give you some idea: right now, my laptop is placed on top of a big stack of paper. There is no non-papered part of my desk, and so I do not find this distressing. This particular stack is about an inch deep--20 pages of stuff for the day job, two pages of notes that I scribbled to myself when I was stuck on a scene, a napkin from a restaurant on which I have written "more mutual weaseling!" (that was a reminder about something to do in a book), some notes from a telephone conference, some notes from a meeting, a to-do list from (this shows you how old the geological strata are on my desk) January, 2011--and by the way, there are three items on that list that I have not yet done--all over a stack of notecards. The top notecard, by the way, contains the word "peanut butter."

Kind of a mess.

What draws you to do historical romances, have any particular authors inspired you?

I like writing historical romances because it allows me to look at historical patterns of change. I write in a time of great social and economic upheaval, a time when everything that people knew was changing, and when steamships and railways made the world small. I think that many of the changes that happened then are like what is happening to us now, and in some ways, writing in a historical period allows me to explore what change means to us today, but in a safe space.

There are a lot of authors who inspire me and who I admire--more than I can possibly list, but here are a handful:

* Lois McMaster Bujold
* Sherry Thomas
* Julia Quinn
* Eloisa James
* Lisa Kleypas

I could go on and on--I just finished reading everything that Ilona Andrews was ever written, for instance--but suffice it to say it's a long list. :)

What kind of hero do you like to read the most, a virgin/inexperience hero, or a rake? Which is the best to write, since you've written both?

I think variety is the spice of life. I like everything.

If there's anything I like to write, it's people who are slightly off kilter--maybe just a little different than the norm. Just about every hero I've written has been a little...odd, all in different ways. I often don't set out to write people that way, but as I write, my characters acquire quirks that I never intended them to have.

Coffee or tea?
Tea.

Hardcover or paperback?
No.

What kind of ereader do you own?
Two kindles, two Sony readers, a nook, and an old iRex tablet. Not counting multipurpose devices here.

Sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise.

Sun or snow?
Yes.

Heels or flipflops?
Flipflops.

Tattoos or piercings?
For me? Piercings.
On a guy? Tattoos.

As a special treat, Ms. Milan has a very generous giveaway to one lucky follower. You will get the three full-length books in her Turners series.

Read our reviews of Unveiled, Unclaimed and Unraveled.

To enter:

1. Be a follower
2. Fill out the form below

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Review: Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

2012-02-22T05:35:00.000-08:00

Unclaimed

by Courtney Milan

(Turner # 2)

This is such a hard book to review, especially because it has some elements that I normally don't care for much, but somehow they work so well in this book!

Sir Mark Turner was left writing a book about chastity when we finished Unveiled. Yes, the hero is a virgin *cue the shocked gasps*. This is not usually the case, but for Mark waiting until marriage is very important and he wants to teach these values to other people. If you had asked me what I thought at the end of the last book, I would've said I didn't understand his point much. After reading what he had to go through as a child, maybe I see it in a new light.

The story was definitely eye opening in regards to the Turner brothers and all they've had to go through. It has not been an easy life for any of them.

Now that Mark is somewhat of a celebrity he will be faced with the biggest challenge yet. Jessica. While he believes she's a reputable woman and starts falling in love with her, she is actually hiding a secret with the sole purpose of destroying him. And she's the experienced one in this story.

This series has brought the heroines so far in somewhat of a bad light. They always have a big obstacle to overcome to achieve their HEA. Betrayal. And the hurt and deception that goes along with it. I think that's the best part about these stories. Seeing the heroines dig themselves out of really tough situations.

Now you're just left to find out if Mark will give in to his needs and throw everything he's achieved out the window for one moment of bliss in Jessica's arms. Totally worth it!

We'll have to see what Smite's story will bring, somehow I have a feeling his will be a tearjerker.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Unveiled by Courtney Milan

2012-02-22T05:33:00.000-08:00

Unveiled

by Courtney Milan

(Turner # 1)

Ash, Mark and Smite Turner were the victims of other people's greed from the time they were young. Their title and their money was basically taken away after their father's death, their mother went insane.

Ash Turner made something of himself by way of commerce. He traveled to India, he learned business, he did what he had to do. Then he came back for his brothers.

Now there's a way for him to reclaim the dukedom that should be his and he's taking it. He's moving right in to Parford Manor along with Mark. Except the old family left a spy behind. Lady Margaret Dalrymple, who now has to report back to his brother of anything that they can use in their legal battle to retain the dukedom in their family.

She never fit in her family, her family never had her back. So when Ash pays so much attention to her, and shows that he truly cares for her, it slowly disarms her and brings down her barriers.

Ash is the steady rock, the pillar of his family. That's all he knows how to be. So he wants to provide the same for Margaret, no matter what others might think.

I was a bit concerned as to how Ms. Milan would bring back the heroine from such a betrayal to our hero but it all worked out very well I think, without seeming completely out of reality.

Now I can't wait to read about the other brothers! Yummy!

Favorite Quote:

"You're important. You matter."

"I am trying to have you. Not for one night, nor even two. I want you every evening. Mine outright, not a few hours stolen here or there. I want you during the day, on my arm. I want to know that when we're apart you're missing me. I want to know that when we're together, I'm the one who puts the smile on your face."

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

2012-02-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

The Immortal Highlander

(Highlander # 6)

by Karen Marie Moning

Stripped from his Fae powers and forced to live in the human world, Adam Black has never felt so vulnerable in his entire existence. With only the ability to sift in short distances and invisible to all humans and fae alike, his punishment from Aoibheal is one of pure torture. It isn’t until he realizes that only one other person can see him that he has some hope to become the immortal once again.

Gabrielle O’Callaghan is a woman who possesses a rare ability to see both realms: mortal and Faery. Plagued with this burden her entire life, Gabby finds herself hating the Fae and even more, hating her undeniable attraction for them.

When Adam seeks Gabby out to ask her to help him find his son Circenn in order to bring him back to face Aoibheal, sparks fly and the chemistry sizzles as Gabby tries to resist Adam’s charms. The Immortal Highlander is a fascinating, well-written story that questions if a Fae prince without a soul can give up his entire heart for a mere mortal.

Moning crafts amazingly well-paced stories in this series, but I have to say that the Immortal Highlander may be my favourite of the bunch. Though Adam Black can be seen as the bad guy, there is just something so darkly alluring about the bad ones that you can’t help but love. Black is no exception. He is enchanting, compelling, passionate and downright sexy.

Familiar faces are bought back into this book. The MacKelter twins, Drustan and Daegus and their wives Gwen and Chloe make appearances that make a reader like me grin from ear-to-ear. With such memorable characters with distinct personality traits and quirks, Moning makes me wish I were able to travel into their world and experience the magic myself.

With one last Highlander book left for me to read, I am a little saddened to know that the end is near. I’ve fallen hard for all the books in the series. Bringing sexual tension in spades, Moning certainly knows how to do a romance right. I just hope that she’ll one day return to this time and bring us more highlander heroes to die for.

Purchase Links: Amazon

If You Know Her by Shiloh Walker ARC Review Tour

2012-02-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

4.5 Feathers

If You Know Her

by Shiloh Walker

(Ash Trilogy # 2)

The time has finally come to reveal who the killer is! You can expect If You Know Her to be a nail-biting, edge-of-seat and very sexy read!

This series has a great cast of characters. I can't say there's one that I didn't like, but Nia and Law are MY FAVORITE! They're perfect for each other.

I've liked Law since book one, he's the perfect friend and support for every female in this series. While during book one he was in love with Lena, he was also the best friend she had and the one person she relied on for everything. During book two we see that he's been such a rock for Hope, helping her get out of a bad relationship and giving her the opportunity to start over. So I couldn't help but want to see him finally be happy, with a girl that wanted him. And that was Nia Hollister.

I like that she's not a girly girl, she's very strong and independent and a bit of a badass. I mean she rides a bike, wears leather and has a gun! My kind of girl. I thought from their first meeting in book two that they were explosive together and I can say they didn't disappoint me! At all!

Now onto the suspense. This series has a great storyline and it's full of suspense. This book was excellent, even got me a bit scared to keep reading at times! I started off with a suspect in mind (having gone through a long list of possibilities throughout the series) and I was shocked (and not) when the killer is finally revealed.

I will only say this. Trust your first instincts people! The killer is the person I thought and had as prime suspect in my head at the end of book one. And then I completely forgot about that. Sick, demented, totally unstable. When the backstory got revealed I was shocked at the depth the issues the killer had went.

An amazing ending to the series and job well done for Ms. Walker! This series is a must read for anyone who likes a mystery, suspense and plenty of sexy with all that.

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

Follow the Tour:
2/20 - The Book Vixen
2/21 - Under the Covers
2/22 - I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!
2/23 - Urban Girl Reader
2/24 - Books-n-Kisses

ARC Review: Danger Zone by Dee J. Adams

2012-02-20T20:32:00.000-08:00

Danger Zone

by Dee J. Adams

(Adrenaline Highs # 2)

This was a pretty creative idea, the main idea of this book is that Hollywood is now making a movie of Tracy's story (from Dangerous Race).

Ellie Morgan gets the part of the stunt woman during the filming. She's a confident young woman even though she's very dependent on her best friend and roommate Ashley. Quinn Reynolds is the younger brother of book one's hero, Mac. He comes into town from England to try and convince his brother to sell their company to a particular guy instead of a different bidder.

But since his brother doesn't have a lot of time for him, he finds himself being extremely attracted to Ellie and makes his move right away to try and get with her while he's in town. Quinn is successful, wealthy, and GQ good looking. Ellie can't understand what he would want with her, especially after she makes it clear that she's not into one-night stands and she won't get be giving it up.

But trouble follows Quinn. There's someone after him and they want him dead. While this person has attempted in the past, their efforts were not discovered. Now he keeps trying but there are other innocent bystanders who will be getting hurt.

The story was a bit slow to get going, but even so it was cute and I think Quinn and Ellie were great together! And Quinn is verra sexy and hot!

To me this series is light on the suspense but very well written which makes it enjoyable to read. They do have obstacles to get through in such a short period of time, but I have to say Quinn stood by Ellie the whole time. I am curious to see if there are more books in this series.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (Bridgertons # 4)

2012-02-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

by Julia Quinn

(Bridgertons # 4)

Penelope Featherington has been overlooked her entire life. She’s been told that she’s not pretty enough, too plump, too nervous and too quiet. And yet, Penelope probably has the most personality out of all her heroines in this series. Penelope is hands down my favourite heroine! I love seeing her growth as a character in the previous ones leading up to her own book, Romancing Mr Bridgerton with her long-time crush, Colin.

I wondered how Colin would redeem himself after his flapping mouth exposed too much about how he felt about marrying Penelope in the last book. But even though Penelope was humiliated publicly by Colin’s outcry, she took it in stride, never letting Colin know how much it hurt her.

Colin Bridgerton is the third son of the well-known family and he’s been portrayed as the devil-may-cry character. Colin is known for his easy smiles and his well-placed words, but in this book we discover that Colin has his unfulfilled fantasies and secret desires. Who would have suspected such a thing from Colin, who always seems to enjoy himself in everything?

What I loved about this book is that we learn that there is more to the hero and heroine than we first thought. Quinn presents Penelope and Colin as one way, and in this book, we discover that there is more to these characters than we ever suspected.

If you’ve been wondering who Lady Whistledown is, then rest easy because you do find out who it is in this one! I smacked my head when I found out! OF COURSE! I thought. It makes absolute perfect sense now that I look back. There were so many clues to indicate the true identity of the notorious Society paper queen.

Also, if you’re read Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You, then you may have noticed that Quinn incorporated one of Kleypas’s characters into this book. Penelope reads Mathilda by S.R. Fielding who is actually Sara, the heroine of the book!

And of course, I have to talk about the romance between Penelope and Colin. While the previous book with Benedict was quick and passionate, Penelope and Colin’s romance was much slower and more solid. I love that Quinn makes each book different while still keeping it true to the characters. It makes each subsequent book entertaining to read. *sigh* I just adore this series!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

2012-02-20T20:04:00.000-08:00

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

by Sarah MacLean

(Love by Numbers # 1)

I really loved this book! I loved the idea of the list of forbidden activities, the lovable rake and the unconventional heroine.

It all starts when 27 year old spinster Callie hears her younger sister having a romantic liaison with her fiancee at their betrothal dinner and hears herself described as passive. This instigates her to make a list of activities that she has always wanted to do, such as gamble at a gentleman's club and attend a duel. She actions her first item on the list a passionate kiss, that very night. And who better to kiss then Ralston, the man she has been in love with for 10 years, but who has never noticed her. Notice her he does when she gets into his bedroom and asks for her first kiss, he obliges her but for a price. She must help Ralston introduce his sister into society.

I think everyone at some point has had a similar list to Callie, a list of things they have always wanted to do and hope one day they will be able to pluck up the courage to actually go through with them. The first thing I love about Callie was that she was going to act on her list, she was going to seek out adventure after ten years of waiting for it to come to her.

The infamous list leads Callie and Ralston into a number of both funny and passionate encounters, which gradually makes Ralston rethink his opinion of the seemingly very proper, plump and plain Callie. The budding relationship between them was funny and sweet, Ms Maclean wrote the banter between them perfectly.

Ralston was a good hero, although I wouldn't put him under the category of tortured hero, he did have a painful past that had him distrusting love. He was also wicked enough to be intriguing but not disgustingly debauched. For those of you who have read The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, he sometimes reminded me of a more responsible older brother of St. Vincent. However, as much as I liked Ralston, I found that, for a change, it is Callie that I remember this book for her, her transformation to passive wallflower to adventurous beauty was entertaining to watch unfurl as the romance.

The cast of secondary characters were also fantastic, they were well rounded and each had their own small story. Juliana and Nicholas, Ralston's siblings also have books in this series, and I can't wait to read them!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Breathless by Anne Stuart

2012-02-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

Breathless

by Anne Stuart

(House of Rohan # 3)

Following in my Anne Stuart obsession, I find myself back with the Rohans. This time we know for sure we are reading about Adrian's kids. Did I mention that Adrian is mine? Just making sure.

Basically, one of Adrian's sons, Benedict, had *caused* a girl to kill herself from unrequited love. Her brother wants vengeance now. And what better way to get it than by seducing his sister and ruining her life?

The very beginning of this story is the reason why it doesn't rate higher. I had a big issue with what our hero does to the heroine. He, indirectly, ruins her life. And if that wasn't enough, he wants to come back to finish the job.

Except Lucien de Malheur wasn't planning on Miranda's spark, her personality, and the fact that she doesn't run and hide from him in disgust because of his disfigurement. He has an ugly scar on his face, he walks with a limp. He exaggerates most of it to keep people on edge. He is The Scorpion after all, and has a reputation to uphold.

I loved this book! With the exception of my issue at the beginning, Lucien tried really hard to be the biggest asshole ever, and still managed to make himself endearing to me. And Miranda gave as good as she got.

What happened to the Heavenly Host you ask? Not mentioned a lot in this book. Adrian Rohan was one of the few Rohans left that took part in the Heavenly Host festivities. Now his sons do not participate in those acts, and the Heavenly Host still exists, just under non-Rohan supervision. Even so, it still plays a small part in this book.

This book was a bit darker, almost like the first book in the series, except I like Lucien de Malheur more. I can't wait to see where this series will go from here, who could be next?

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Roxanne St. Clair, Jill Shalvis and Maureen Child

2012-02-20T15:57:00.000-08:00

Kiss Me, I'm Irish

by Roxanne St. Claire, Jill Shalvis

and Maureen Child

This anthology is a compilation of previous released titles by Roxanne St. Claire, Jill Shalvis and Maureen Child. I have read only one of these authors (Jill Shalvis) so I was interested in reading some of her older titles, as well as reading works of the other two authors I haven’t had the chance to read as of yet.
As you can tell with the title, this has a St. Patrick’s Day theme, which is very, very cute!

The Sins of His Past by Roxanne St. Claire

I found that I enjoyed Roxanne’s writing style. It’s fun, sweet and also sexy. Deuce and Kendra were a good match for one another. For a shorter story, there was quite a lot of character development, so that impressed me a lot. I’ll have to look into St. Claire’s work since this one was a fun read.

Tangling with Ty by Jill Shalvis

Shalvis’ story was my favourite of the bunch. Immediately upon starting this book, I loved the heroine Nicole. She is a doctor and a workaholic and she meets her match in Ty Patrick O’Grady. I loved Ty! I thought it was sweet and funny, a perfect example of a lot of Jill Shalvis’ heroes. Jill never fails to make me smile as I read her books. Her charm comes across with each word and build up of character until you are swept away, falling in love, just like the hero and heroine.

Whatever Reilly Wants by Maureen Child

I haven’t read anything by Child before so I had no expectations going into this book. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It was fun and the whole idea with the bet was interesting and funny! $10,000 goes to whoever can abstain from sex for 90 days. Money and male ego and sex put together always makes for a fun time!

Purchase Links: Amazon

HOTTIE OF THE WEEK: PARKER HURLEY

2012-02-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday, Maidens! I hope you like this week's HOTTIE OF THE WEEK! We got Parker Hurley as our choice hottie. How you liking his tats? The birds on ribs are a little different. Do you think tats are hot? Have you ever seen a tattoo on a man that was just a total turn-off?

Interview and Giveaway with Isobel Carr!

2012-02-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for stopping by UTC and being part of our Historical Romance event, A Scandalous Affair. We are thrilled to have you here!

Who is Isobel Carr? Tell us 5 interesting things about yourself that readers would not know.

- Though I’m a California girl born and bred, I went to Hollins University (a small women’s college in Virginia ) where I majored in philosophy.
- I was a vegetarian for twenty-two years, but I fell of the wagon during my best friend’s wedding in Paris.
- Travel is one of my favorite activities. I’ve been on every continent except South America and Antarctica (and I’m working on South America !).
- I’m a regular attendee at the Burning Man art festival in the Nevada desert. This summer will be my fifteenth year there.
- I live in a 1916 Bungalow and have an obsession with the Arts and Crafts movement.

Can you tell us about your first book, Ripe for Pleasure? How did this story come to be? And why the League of Second Sons?

I like history, and I read a lot of historical non-fiction for inspiration as well as research. The idea for RIPE FOR PLEASURE grew out of my stumbling across the story of the fortune the King of France sent to support Bonnie Prince Charlie’s bid for the English throne in 1745. The rebellion collapsed before the money reached the prince, and no one knows what happened to it after that. It obviously must have made someone very rich though …

The idea of the series of books about younger sons grew out all the comments I see from readers about their weariness with dukes (though clearly, dukes still sell!). I wanted to do something a little different, and the lot of younger sons is an interesting one. They’re quite literally spare children. They won’t inherit anything of real worth, and every family seems to have had its own traditions and expectations for them. Some sent them into the military, some used them for political purposes by getting them elected to the House of Commons, others preferred they be raised to be their elder brother’s land steward (and thus ready to take over should he die or fail to produce and heir of his own).

Combine this odd existence with the dramatic changes to the marriage laws in the mid 18th century (the Hardwicke Marriage Act) and the younger son’s option of eloping with an heiress (something they were known for) suddenly became much, much harder. I could see the young men of the 1750s responding to such a blow by banding together and pledging to help each other in some other way. Combine that with the period penchant for clubs, and you get the League of Second Sons.

You also have another book, Ripe for Scandal out now. What is your favorite part of this particular book?

Oh, that’s a hard one. But I’d have to say it’s the heroine. I love Beau. She’s a bit too highhanded for her own good, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants, even if that means manipulating people. She’s a woman of action, and very much the daughter of a duke. I’ve been told by some that this makes her mannish and unlikeable, but I bet that in a pinch, most of us would rather have a friend like her than one who responds to a crisis with tears and hysterics. I know I would!

You write under another pen name, Kalen Hughes. What's the major difference between writing under these two pen names? Do you prefer writing under one name than the other?

There’s no difference. It was a simple rebranding necessitated by a disastrous decision by a certain mass-market chain to dump my Kalen Hughes debut book. The book got great reviews and sold really well in bookstores, but that one account killed my sell-though rate and thus my career under that name.

I would have loved to have kept writing as Kalen (since that’s my actual name!), but the vagrancies of publishing made that impossible.

What's the romance novel with the cheesiest cover you ever bought?

I learned to ignore the covers a long time ago, but I’m guessing it was probably one of Candice Hern’s Avon books. They all had oddly blurry watercolor covers with shirtless heroes wearing boots at balls or some such nonsense. The covers totally failed to tell readers that inside there was a marvelous, fully-realized, historical world.

If you could travel back in time, what era would you like to find yourself in and why?

There are so many I’d love to experience, but some are more vacation material than others. I’ve done 16th century re-enactment for most of my life, so I’d love to see that era, but I wouldn’t want to be trapped there. And of course I’d love to see the late 18th century, since that’s my current obsession and the period in which I set my books. If I could go on a spending spree and bring all my goodies home with me, that would be even better!

What do you do when you are stuck on a particular scene?

Change POV. If the scene isn’t working, it’s almost always because I’m in the wrong person’s head.

Apart from historical romance, are there any other genres that you would love to write?

I’d love to write Science Fiction. It’s what I grew up reading and continues to be a large portion of what I read now. I have ideas for a couple different series, but finding the time to work on them with a day job and my current romance commitments is just impossible.

Outside of historical romance, which other author's work do you enjoy reading?

I read almost everything (except horror, which is just not my bag). My current auto-buy authors include Neil Gaimen, Ilona Andrews, Larrisa Ione, C.S. Harris, Patricia Briggs, George RR Martin, P.C. Hodgell, Bernard Conwell, Sharon Kay Penman, Robin McKinley, Arturo Pérez - Reverte , and Guy Gavriel Kay .

Rake or virgin hero?

Rake. I’m on record all over Twitter as not understanding the appeal of bedding a man with no experience. Enthusiasm and imagination will carry one only so far.

Cozy up by the fire or lay out on the beach?

Fire. Unless you’re talking a nice, cold, foggy beach. I’m not a sun and surf kind of girl. A Hawaiian vacation would be a punishment for me.

Coffee or tea?

Tea. Unless I’m at Burning Man, where I help fun the giant café. We have amazing coffee there.

Boxers or briefs?

Boxer briefs all the way!

Tats or piercings?

I have both, but if you’re asking what I prefer on a man, the answer would be tattoos (so long as they’re well thought out and beautifully rendered).

For more information on Isobel Carr and her book, please visit her website.

Isobel Carr is giving away the winners choice of one of her books, open worldwide!

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Review: Ripe for Scandal by Isobel Carr

2012-02-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

4.5 Feathers

Ripe for Scandal

by Isobel Carr

(The League of Second Sons # 2)

True to its name, this second installment for The League of Second Sons series is full of scandal, family entanglement, romance with steamy scenes, and suspense. Ms. Carr has outdone herself as this book is so much better than the last!

Lady Boudicea Vaughn is the marriageable daughter of the Duke of Lochmaben, also Lord Leonidas little sister. This girl is not the black sheep of the family by far, but definitely a black sheep of their society. She is always going against the rules, and intentionally or not, her reputation is always in question. She will find herself in a situation where her purity will be at risk to the point of no return. And that‘s where our Hero comes in, the famous Rake of London.

Gareth Sandison is the second son of the Earl of Roxwell, member of the League, and childhood friends with Lord Leonidas, which complicates things. Now, this guy is “..a rake known for dallying with other men’s wives…”, he was a flirt, a wanderer living the life of a bachelor. However, when the responsibility of taking care of Leo’s little sister came up, he definitely came through, in more ways then one.

They have known each other since they were kids and always had feelings for each other. Knowing it will never be, Garreth and Beau avoided each other but a situation will arise where their attraction cannot be ignored. The love scenes were fairly hot and take note, there is very thorough instruction of how-to-do a Hand Job included.

Their coming together was as predictable as the Guy Next Door story, but do not be fooled. This book has twists and turns that are unexpected and left me holding my breath.

Ms. Carr was able to deliver an action packed story, one suspense after the next. She managed to include the Duke, the Earl, few members of the League, other members of their family and of course the villains of the story. And they were all infuriatingly annoying but added intensity to the story. I enjoyed this book beyond my expectations and cannot wait to find out what book 3 entails.

I have to include some quotes from our Rake.

Gareth:
~“Bringing pleasure to your partner, giving rather than receiving, is a pleasure all its own..”
~ “I swear to God, Beau. If you’re still straddling me when you open my Breeches…”
~ “Spit in hour hand..”

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr

2012-02-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

3.5 Feathers

Ripe for Pleasure

by Isobel Carr

(The League of Second Sons #1)

In this era, second sons were nothing but second-rate citizens and treated as such by family and society. As an act of survival and support, a secret league was formed. This secret group pledged to aid each other in their “endeavors”.

Lord Leonidas Vaughn, 2nd son of Duke of Lochmaben is trying to make something of himself in a way of treasure hunting. Family history says there is treasure to be claimed but his search leads to trouble in a form of Viola Whedon. His plans to seduce her bite him in ass as his seduction quickly turns into love.

Viola is a well sought after Courtesan but has taken time off to write a memoir that will shake this uptight society. The scandal she brings will put her life in danger or so she thought. The danger really comes from the treasure she may possess unknowingly. She will find herself under Leo's protection and the time they spend together is definitely a no holds barred experience, as both are well skilled.

It is nice to see a heroine of this time rise up from her past, survive and fully accept her choices. Prostitution is not one I like to read about but in this case, our heroine had little choice. She is tough in her decisions and undeterred by any who threaten her. I like that in the leading ladies I read about.

Leo is another hero to swoon over. Though he is second son to the Duke, he acts as if he is an heir; in the means of confidence, ambition, education, and every bit as skilled. *wink* Ms. Carr delivered very steamy scenes for our H/h and very creative with places and positions.

I truly enjoyed this book but found a few things I had a hard time with. It is possible that it's due to my lack of knowledge with this era or genre. It was hard for me to understand a lot of things such as how they lived and how their society was. One issue was the second son means second rate, really, it seemed so extreme. And how a courtesan was sought after and fought over publicly. I thought maybe prostitution was more a taboo then glamorized. Most questions about the era and how they lived, I guess.

Understanding this era is definitely necessary for me. This book being the first I’ve read in this genre, I had a lot of questions. I am glad I had a few friends who did not mind me asking for more information as I might have not enjoyed this book to the fullest. I have to say I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Ember by Kristen Callihan

2012-02-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Ember

(Darkest London #0.5)

by Kristen Callihan

EMBER doesn’t really serve so much as a prequel than it does as bonus material. It doesn’t lead into the events of FIRELIGHT, the first book in the Darkest London series but instead, highlights and expands on certain scenes of the first book. I highly suggest you read FIRELIGHT before you read EMBER, because although you won’t be confused, I just feel like you would appreciate the story more if you know the details of FIRELIGHT.

This book is mainly for those readers who simply couldn’t get enough of Archer and Miranda. Callihan takes you deeper, enhancing scenes and revealing details that readers would appreciate if they loved the first book.

So far, I’m enjoying this series so it will be interesting to read about another couple and see where Callihan takes us.

Read my review of FIRELIGHT.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Corsets, Kisses & Kleypas Blog Hop - Rainshadow Road

2012-02-17T19:27:00.000-08:00

In honor of the upcoming release of Lisa Kleypas' RAINSHADOW ROAD, we are celebrating all things Kleypas with this giveaway hop! Corsets, Kisses & Kleypas is hosted by us, Under the Covers Book Blog and Lisa's Divas. This hop will run from 11:59 PM Feb 18 through 12:01 AM Feb 28! Thank you to all participating blogs and Lisa's Divas!

(more like 4.5 feathers!)

Rainshadow Road

(Friday Harbor #1)

by Lisa Kleypas

Welcome back to Friday Harbor! As an avid Lisa Kleypas reader, this book was at the top of my must-have list for quite awhile. Kleypas has a way to sneaking into one’s heart and settling in there with her words and characters. Rainshadow Road is no exception.

In this book, Kleypas takes on another Nolan brother, Sam who is known as the geeky brother. Sam owns the local vineyard in San Juan Island and is the care-free no-strings-attached kind of man.

For some, he’s the best remedy for a broken heart. However, that’s not what Lucy wants at the moment. She suffers from the worse kind of betrayal by two important people in her life. Her boyfriend, Kevin Pearson leaves her for another woman. Adding insult to injury is the fact that its Lucy’s younger sister, Alice.

When Lucy’s parents refuse to accept Kevin's relationship with Alice at the cost of Lucy’s happiness, he calls in a favor and asks Sam Nolan to take Lucy out on a date. He and Alice believe that if Lucy got over her bitterness then she would be happy, which would thus make her parents happy and accept his new relationship with their younger daughter.

Despite this “favor” that Kevin calls in, Sam finds his way into Lucy’s life. A romance blossoms between Sam and Lucy on its own and despite Lucy’s initial reluctance in the beginning and Sam’s later reluctance as things get more serious, both of them can’t deny the attraction that they share.

Sam and Lucy’s story has Kleypas’s trademark all over it. Fusing the sweet and the not-so-sweet sides of life, Kleypas manages to put together two broken souls who find solace in one another, making them whole.

An interesting aspect of this story is that Kleypas incorporates a small magical element in it. Lucy has the ability to turn glass into living things, such as fireflies. I wasn’t too keen on this idea because I didn’t see how this enhanced the story. I thought perhaps that the author was going for a magical feel, however, Kleypas already writes magic. Her words, world and characters are enough. So I didn’t get it. I’m glad that she left this “gift” unexplained. It left that air of magic that I think she was trying to achieve.

Already I am itching for the next book in the series. Dream Lake will be a dream to read. I’m hoping that Alex gets the happy ending he deserves. He’s much too sour at the moment. Mark, Holly and Maggie make regular appearances in this one and I loved hearing about their great news! If you’re still on the fence about this series, jump! You won’t be disappointed.

*ARC provided by author

We are giving away a pre-order of RAINSHADOW ROAD to one lucky maiden!

To enter, please:

1. Be a follower

2. Fill out the form below

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Follow the hop for more Lisa Kleypas giveaways!

Reading on the Dark Side: Wallflowers

2012-02-17T19:18:00.000-08:00

Wallflowers

by Lisa Kleypas

This series has a special place in the hearts of all of us at UTC and we want to share that love with you all by dedicating our special feature this Historical Romance month to the one and only Lisa Kleypas! If you haven't read this series, you must!!

Name: Simon Hunt
Book: Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers #1)
Appearance: Tall and powerful body, with black slightly wavy hair and dark eyes.
Breeding: Simon Hunt is extremely rich, but he is a self-made man, he spent his early years working in his fathers butcher shop
Favourite Quote:
“Where are we going?” Annabelle asked, resisting his hold on her wrist.
“To the house. If they’re not willing to be witnesses, then it seems I’ll have to debauch you in front of someone else.”
Fantasy Cast: Hugh Jackman

Name: Annabelle Peyton
Book: Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers #1)
Appearance: Very beautiful with fine brown/gold hair, blue eyes
Breeding: Annabelle is living in genteel poverty with her mother and her younger brother.
Favourite Quote:
“How sweet," Annabelle mumbled sickly her eyes closed. "Every woman dreams of being told that she's preferable to a dead cow.”
Fantasy Cast: Claire Folani

OUR REVIEW

Name: Marcus, Lord Westcliff
Book: It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers #2)
Breeding: Marcus is he ninth Earl of Westcliff, a very old and respected name.
Appearance: Not overly tall, but fit with a lean muscled body, dark brown eyes and hair.
Favourite Quote:
“There is nothing on earth more beautiful to me than your smile...no sound sweeter than your laughter...no pleasure greater than holding you in my arms. I realized today that I could never live without you, stubborn little hellion that you are. In this life and the next, you’re my only hope of happiness. Tell me, Lillian, dearest love...how can you have reached so far inside my heart?”
Fantasy Cast: Colin Firth

Name: Lillian Bowman
Book: It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers #2)
Breeding: Lilian is an American heiress, her father has made a lot of money in the soap business and he now wants his daughters to marry a titled aristocrat.
Appearance: Long, thick chocolate coloured hair, pale creamy skin, with a tall and lithe figure
Favourite Quote:
“There is something about you that makes me feel terribly wicked. You make me want to do shocking things.
Maybe it’s because you’re so proper. Your necktie is never crooked, and your shoes are always shiny. And your shirts are so starchy. Sometimes when I look at you, I want to tear off all your buttons. Or set your trousers on fire.”
Fantasy Cast: Kristin Kreuk

OUR REVIEW

Name: Sebastian, Lord St.Vincent
Book: Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3)
Breeding: St. Vincent is the son an impoverished Duke.
Appearance: Extremely handsome, he is tall and lean with amber and gold hair and icy blue eyes.
Favourite Quote:
“It's a mistake, you know. You have no idea what you'll be exposed to...the obscenities and lewd comments, the lecherous gazes, the groping and pinching...and that's just my house. Imagine what it would be like here.”
Fantasy Cast: Gabriel Aubry

Name: Evangeline Jenner, Evie to her friends.
Book: Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3)
Breeding: Her mother was from a good family, but her father is Ivo Jenner the notorious owner of a gambling club.
Appearance: Fiery red hair, pale slightly freckled skin and blue eyes.
Favourite Quote:
"I won't apologize for my past. A man is supposed to have experience."
"From all indications, you've acquired enough for ten men."
Fantasy Cast: Rachel Hurwood

OUR REVIEW

Name: Matthew Swift
Book: Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers #4)
Breeding: Matthew works for, and is second in command to Daisy's father. Supposedly from an old Boston family, but who knows...
Appearance: Tall and brawny, very attractive with rich sky blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Favourite Quote:
She let a teasing tone enter her voice. "Is there any emergency for which you are not prepared, Mr Swift?"
"Miss Bowman, if I had enough pockets I could save the world.”
Fantasy Cast: Tom Welling

Name: Daisy Bowman
Book: Scandal in Spring (Wallflowers #4)
Breeding: Daisy is the daughter of a very rich American businessman, and like Lillian, has been brought to England to marry a titled gentleman.
Appearance: Petite, with thick dark hair and dark brown eyes and pale creamy skin.
Favourite Quote:
"Father, wouldn't it be wonderful if hummingbirds had tea parties and we were small enough to be invited?"
Fantasy Cast: Gillian Goodwin

OUR REVIEW

Review: Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

2012-02-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

Scandal in Spring

by Lisa Kleypas

Wallflowers #4

Miss Annabelle Payton, Miss Lillian Bowman, Miss Evangeline Jenner and Miss Daisy Bowman used to be regular sights at the peripheral of a ballroom. This was before they formed an unlikely friendship each vowing to help the others out to find a husband by means fair and foul. Daisy Bowman is the last of the wallflowers to be wed and now her father has issued her with the ultimatum of finding a husband in the next few months...or he will pick someone for her.

This is the last full length book in the Wallflowers quartet and I can’t give it anything but 5 feathers, although maybe not my favourite in the series I still think it was brilliant, fantastic, amazing and any other synonyms you can think of. After having gotton to know Daisy over the previous three books I am delighted that she has finally gotten her HEA, although I don’t think this book has the passionate and turbulent emotions that the other books seem to possess, this seemed to be more of a sweet love story. Not that they weren’t passionate and this book does have its steamy moments, but I don’t believe Matthew Swift is quite as memorable as Simon Hunt’s ruthless and piratical edge, Westcliffe’s arrogance and unexpected passion and St. Vincent’s cold sensuality. He is however perfect for Daisy and one thing I will remember from this book is the button.

Like the others in this series it also has its funny moments, in particular a vicious game of bowls and of course ever present wit, humour and banter that permeates the whole series. This book also gives you the opportunity to see the other wallflowers and peeks into how their HEAs are working out, and also further demonstrates the friendship between the four women and the sisterly affection between Lillian and Daisy.

So I am sad to ending such a brilliant series and a cast of characters that are warm, funny and showcase some of the best that historical romance and indeed romance has to offer. Luckily for us Lisa Kleypas has written a load more books all of which are of a very high standard, but the Wallflower Quartet holds a special place for me and I already look forward to a reread.

My favourite Daisy Quote:

”Father, wouldn’t it be wonderful if hummingbirds had tea parties and we were small enough to be invited?”

My favourite Matthew Quote:

"Is there any emergency for which you are not prepared, Mr Swift?"
"Miss Bowman, if I had enough pockets I could save the world.”

Review: The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

2012-02-17T18:58:00.000-08:00

The Devil in Winter

by Lisa Kleypas

Wallflowers #3

Devil in Winter is easily my favourite Wallflowers book!

Under desperate circumstances, Evie appears at St. Vincent’s home to offer him a proposal that solves both their problems. With marriage, St. Vincent can have access to Evie’s accounts and Evie can gain protection and freedom from her cruel and crazy family.

In the first two books, I never really thought much about Evie. She was just always present among the group, but until now I didn’t realize how much she endured at the hands of her wicked family. No wonder she has a stutter and is afraid to stand up for herself! She is constantly put down and abused by her family. I adored her quiet strength and came to love Evie so much so that she’s become my favourite Wallflower!

Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent captured my heart in It Happened One Autumn. Even after his attempt at kidnapping Lillian, I found myself captivated by the notorious rake! Sebastian makes himself look like a villain, when in fact he’s not. He makes mistakes, but he realizes his faults and after his transformation, he isn’t afraid to apologize for his rash decisions.

Several instances in this book showcase his ability to love and his potential to be a man of intelligence, talent and wit. I loved the moment where he shows respect and kindness to Evie’s ill father, Ivo as he shaved him. Also, when he brought that heated brick to warm Evie’s feet for the long journey to Scotland. Little things like that showcase his growth as a character and I can’t help but love him more!

I think this quote really sums it up well:

“The situation was extraordinary. How someone like Evangeline Jenner could have wrought such a change in St. Vincent, the most worldly of men, was difficult to understand. However, Westcliff had learned that the mysteries of attraction could not always be explained through logic. Sometimes the fractures in two separate souls became the very hinges that held them together.”

The love between St. Vincent and Evie is transformative. There’s no doubt about it! The notorious rake becomes monogamous and in love while the stuttering wallflower becomes an elegant strong woman. I loved every moment of it!

I have to mention that scene between Cam and Daisy, I’m so envious of her! This was one of my favourite scenes. The Cam in this book is very serious and dependable, but in this particular scene we get a glimpse of Cam’s dark seduction that is very much evident in his own book (in a separate series) Mine Till Midnight. Loved it!

Favourite Quote:

In their shared excitement, the three young women continued to exclaim and scream, until someone burst into the room.
It was Cam, his eyes wide, his breathing fast, as if he had come at a dead run. His alert gaze flashed across the room, taking in the situation. Slowly his lean frame relaxed.
“Damn,” he muttered. “I thought something was wrong.”
“Everything in fine, Cam,” Evie said with a smile, while Annabelle kept an arm around her shoulders. “My friends are here, that’s all.”
Glancing at Sebastian, Cam remarked sourly, “I’ve heard less noise from the hogs at slaughter time.”
There was a sudden suspicious tension around Sebastian’s jaw, as if he were fighting to suppress a grin.

Review: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

2012-02-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

It Happened One Autumn

by Lisa Kleypas

Wallflowers #2

Another amazing story by Lisa Kleypas! I cannot express enough how much I L.O.V.E. her writing. I felt like I was there!

Lillian Bowman is a strong heroine. She has come to London from America with her parents and been instructed to marry a peer to give some respectability to her families fortune. At times she can come across as a bit of a bitch, but I loved her! I especially enjoyed perfume and scents storyline. I don't know why but I love to read about old times when there were actually people dedicated to making fragrances instead of the big corporate businesses.

It starts with Lillian walking into a perfume shop and is offered a special Love Spell perfume. Meant to make a man be completely bespelled by her and her charms. Of course it is just her luck that the one man who seems to show interest in her when wearing the perfume is one she can't tolerate. Marcus, Lord Westcliff.

Lord Westcliff is the most eligible bachelor! He is a business man, he is rich, he IS high society, and for all intents and purposes he should be everything Lillian Bowman would want. But his continuous disdain for her "American ways" and his apparent arrogance makes him the last person she would want to tangle with.

Is it just the perfume that is now making him come to her when he wouldn't bother to be around her before? But the more he seeks her out, the more she realizes that maybe she has judged him harshly and finds his company...agreeable, very agreeable.

Their romance was a lot more explosive than the previous book, mainly I think because they are both very strong, and stubborn, characters! They both fight their attraction as they think they could never be happy with each other. But they will soon realize that nobody else would measure!

This book has so many very memorable humorous scenes, I absolutely loved the part where Lillian gets drunk in Westcliff's library, the whole thing was hysterical and where that leads was even better! Westcliff rescuing the Bowman sisters from a disgusting English dinner by making up a strange new butterfly, so cute. And LK isn't afraid it add in a bit of a twist with Westcliff's best friend, Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, courting Ms. Bowman as well. This book has a great mixture of lighthearted moments, romantic tension and family drama, together it makes the perfect chemistry for a great book!

Review: Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

2012-02-17T18:54:00.000-08:00

Secrets of a Summer Night

by Lisa Kleypas

Wallflowers #1

Miss Annabelle Payton, Miss Lillian Bowman, Miss Evangeline Jenner and Miss Daisy Bowman are regular sights at the peripheral of a ballroom. With each young lady having oddities and foibles that make them untenable to the bachelors of the ton. However, they strike up an unlikely friendship each vowing to help the others out to find a husband by means fair and foul. With the beautiful and spirited Annabelle being the first...

Miss Annabelle Payton’s family are on the knife edge of poverty, to stop these dire straits Annabelle must marry and marry well. However, with no dowry to speak and it approaching her fourth season it is becoming nigh on impossible to catch a husband, let alone a peer of the realm. Instead she is starting to receive more dishonourable offers of becoming a mistress, offers that it seems she may have to consider if things don't change soon. One of these men is a Mr Simon Hunt, who has been longing for Annabelle for two long years, despite her repeated rebuffs, but he soon sees his opportunity when they are both invited to the country for a house party. However the Wallflowers also see the same opportunity for Annabelle to find a suitable husband. Let the games begin...

This is one of my favourite series, and Mr Simon Hunt is one of my favourite heroes. He is a self made man, a son of a butcher who has made his fortune in financial speculation and then on the blossoming trade of the railway. However, no matter how rich he is, he still will never fit in with the upper echelons of society, something that bothers him not at all. He is blunt, honest and very sure of himself (aka arrogant), how could you not love him? He also has some very dishonourable intentions toward Annabelle...to begin with, I love that as the book goes on his feelings towards Annabelle deepen; in this book it is more a case of lust at first sight rather than love. That is why I loved that Annabelle was such a strong heroine, I think if she was a weaker person and gave in to Simon at the beginning then this story would have been vastly different, and not so happily resolved. The love story between these two was very passionate and there were some hot sex scenes in the book (one in a linen closet, which is most definately my favourite!) which added nicely to the couples growing affection for each other.

I also liked the introduction to the other Wallflowers, each having their own very distinct personalities and I look forward to reading Lillian’s book next. One of my favourite parts of the book was when the girls were playing rounders-in-knickers, it was a very funny scene that never fails to have me in fits of giggles.

This book is very polished and well written, especially the dialogue, the interactions between the characters are really good, sometimes funny, sometimes intense and other times romantic. The conversations and banter between the wallflowers especially Lillian and Daisy Bowman shows their relationship of teasing and close sisters perfectly, and the conversations between Annabelle and Simon are equally sharp and witty. As well as this the language is elegant and seems very much in keeping with the language of the day, this isn’t a contemporary book dressed in a historical setting. LK gets her setting very well with enough detail to keep it interesting but not bogging you down in details about that historical period.

I have read this book many times and it is one of my favourite series a must read for those who love romance, especially Historical Romance.

Author Override: Laura Lee Guhrke

2012-02-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

Four times a day? Are they serious?

I love fashion. I drool over Louboutins and Manalos, even though I’m sure no woman (including me) can really walk in them. I read up on the benefits of beauty products, even when I’m not sure exactly what they do. And I love fashionable clothes even though I work at home and almost never get to wear them.

There are many differences between my life and that of the historical romance heroines I write about, but a love of fashion is something we have in common. The same way I pour over each month’s issue of In Style or Glamour, one of my heroines from a hundred years ago would be doing the same with Women’s Weekly or The Lady. The difference, of course, is that I don’t get to live the life that goes with the clothes. My heroines do. They gad about garden parties and go to balls dressed in silks and lace. They go to dressmakers and have clothes made just to suit them. In my latest book, Trouble at the Wedding, my heroine gets to buy two—not one, but two—couture wedding gowns (yeah, she has two weddings—it’s a long story). Every time I write a book or watch an episode of Downton Abbey, I envy the women in those gorgeous Edwardian outfits…at least, until I really start thinking about what wearing that sort of get-up entails.

Corsets? Ouch. Hats attached with hatpins? Ouch. Multiple layers of fabric, even in the summer? Ugh. Nipple rings…wait a second. Nipple rings? Yes, according to Juliet Nicholson’s book, The Perfect Summer, fashionable women of 1911 clamped rings to their nipples “providing a sort of ledge on which the evening gown rested precariously.” I think I’ll pass on those, too, and on face powder made with lead. As for the clothes, I’m not sure I could really love fashion if I had to change outfits four times a day and needed a maid every time I did it. A velvet morning gown for breakfast, followed by tweeds for standing behind the guns, then a tea gown, then an evening gown...it sounds exhausting. In fact, it sounds like the life of today’s fashion model, who spends her days changing her clothes and teetering around on platform Louboutins getting photographed. No, in real life, I’ll keep my yoga pants and cotton tees, and the occasional LBD by Badgley Mischka, and get my fashion vicariously through In Style. That way, the heaviest corset I’ll ever have to wear is a pair of Spanx.

What do you think? Are there any fashions then or now that you think are just ridiculous? Any trends you wish would just die already? Any clothes of the past you think are so beautiful, you wish you could wear them now, even if it means putting on a corset and changing four times a day? Share your fashion opinions and you could win the first two books in my Abandoned at the Altar series, Wedding of the Season and Scandal of the Year.

Yes, you read that right! One commenter will win WEDDING OF THE SEASON & SCANDAL OF THE YEAR.

Just leave a comment answering Laura's question. Be sure to leave your email as well in the comment so we can contact you if you win!

Review: Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Guhrke

2012-02-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

Trouble at the Wedding

by Laura Lee Guhrke

Abandoned at the Altar #3

American heiress Annabel Wheaton is about to be married, a very respectable marriage to an impoverished Earl, and respect is what she craves. After being rejected and shunned by American Knickerbocker society, viewed as no more then white trash and New Money, she is determined that her little sister and her future childeren won't go through the same humiliating experiences she has had. She isn't in love, she knows it is more of a business contract, but she is content, that is until Christian Du Quesne, Duke of Scarborough, a rake, a gambler and a very handsome man starts explaining the cold reality of an English marriage alliance at the secret urgings of her concerned family, after all, he has the experience having once been a fortune hunter himself.

Another really good book in this series, this time regarding Christian, Duke of Scarborough who was very briefly in Scandal of the Year and we get to meet Annabel, who I also believe was mentioned a few times. They were both great characters, Annabel was another really good heroine, she had gumption and charm and Christian was another gorgeous rake who has the good sense to come to love her. Although I did prefer the previous book Scandal of the Year, I thought this book was very enjoyable, the tension between was created very effectively and the erotic scenes although infrequent (infact there is only a couple) you can feel the thrum of attraction through out the book.

What I didn't like was how quickly the second half of the books goes, in the beginning the relationship between Annabel and Christian is built up at a steady pace. But towards the end of the book, suddenly everything happens at once and before you know it the book ends rather abruptly, again.

But despite what I didn't like about the book, I will definitely be reading the next in this series, although perhaps not my favourite historical romance series, it is nonetheless, well written, with likable characters and a sensual yet sweet romance.

Review: Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke

2012-02-16T21:59:00.000-08:00

Scandal of the Year

by Laura Lee Guhrke

Abandoned at the Altar #2

Julia is getting tired, although she has a sophisticated and scandalous reputation it is all just an elaborate facade, what she is is desperate to get of her disastrous marriage. So she decides to gets a divorce the only way she can, by committing adultery. The only regret she has is that she has damaged Aidan Carr's honorable and gentlemanly reputation by manipulating him into a tryst. But now divorced she is heavily in debt, and the only person she can turn to is the man she used so poorly, the very proper Aidan, Duke of Trathen.

I am so glad I carried on reading this series after not being very enthralled with the first book, Wedding of the Season. In this book we get a closer look at Julia, Beatrix's cousin, I really liked her in Wedding of the Season and I am glad I didn't just imagine the tension between her and Aidan, Beatrix's jilted fiance. At first they seem such opposites, Julia has a rebellious devil-may-care attitude, where as Aidan is very serious and always does what is polite and proper, but what was great about this book was that the more you delved in and got to know the characters, the more you could see they weren't just caricatures of a scanalous woman and an honourable man. Julia was complicated and making the best out of a horrendous situation and rather then the callous and carefree image she nurtured she always tried to do the right thing, and Aidan, although honourable and steady to the core also had a little bit of a deliciously wicked side. I think they made a beautiful couple.

As well as having characters that I really liked, you could also really see the chemistry between the two, opposites really did attract in this book. The writing was wonderful, it was poignant and sensual at times and I found the whole book very hard to put down. The only problem I had was that it ended rather quickly I turned the page and was rather expecting something a little more, I think this is the kind of book the could have done with a epilogue.

Although I found this series had a disappointing start, this book is well worth reading, it has memorable characters and a wonderful love story and I hope the books continue to improve with the next in the series Trouble at the Wedding

Favourite Quote

This was the pain of light and beauty and a man's tender kiss. It was the burn in your eyes when you looked into the bright, shining sun, and the pinch in your chest when you saw the first green shoots of springtime and the lump in your throat when you heard the sound of a newborn baby's cry. It was life, life, life.

Review: Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

2012-02-16T21:58:00.000-08:00

Wedding of the Season

by Laura Lee Guhrke

Abandoned at the Altar #1

Being jilted two weeks before her first attempt of marriage has left Lady Beatrix Danbury shy of marrying again but she has now found a sensible and reliable man to marry, he doesn't stir her passions as Will, Duke of Sunderland her childhood sweetheart did, but he is dependable. But when Will returns from Egypt her well planned future doesn't begin to look as exciting as she thought. Will has always loved Beatrix but after 6 years of being apart after she refused to come with him to Egypt he thought that would be over, but seeing her has brought all the old feelings back, and this time he is determined not to leave without her.

Although I liked this book, there is one thing that stopped me from really enjoying it. Beatrix. I just didn't understand her and she drove me just a little nuts, I didn't see why she resisted to Will as much as she did, especially when she clearly wanted what he was offering. To me she came across as a little dull and a little priggish. Because of this I didn't feel the connection between Will and Trix and didn't see why Will loved her so much. Will, however, I did like, he was fun, easy going and adventurous. The other characters in the book were also likeable, especially Julia and I look forward to reading about her.

Despite not liking the heroine this was a well written book and LLG writes with real emotion, I can feel Trix's anguish and hurt even if I don't quite understand it. Although, for me, this series hasn't started with a bang, I liked the writing and the other characters enough that I will try out the next book.

Review: Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas

2012-02-16T21:56:00.000-08:00

Again the Magic

by Lisa Kleypas

Wallfowers #0.5

Lady Aline Marsden, sister of Marcus, Lord Westcliff, has been friends withe John McKenna since they were children and as they have gotten older the friendship has grown in to love and pasion. However, it is not to be, McKenna is just a stable boy, a servant where as Aline is a Lady. When her father finds out Aline is forced to make him hate her and send him away. Twelve years later McKenna comes back to Stony Cross much changed with revenge on his mind, unaware of the secrets that Aline holds.

This is definitely one of my favourite LK books, Aline and McKenna are just a fabulous couple, you could feel the pull they have for each other right through the pages of the book. The passion and love that they have, first of all when they are younger and then the helpless, reckless love that still remains 12 years later, is almost tangible. The only thing that niggled me with this book was Aline's stubborn refusal to tell McKenna the truth, of course that would have made this a very short book and I understand her reluctance initially but after a while I think it was just silly. But that was the only thing that irritated me. I must also mention the part at the end at he lake when McKenna is exposing his feelings, that scene was so wonderfully heartbreaking and it is my favourite part of the book, and one of the most heart wrenching scenes, here's a taster:

He came to her, dropped to his haunches, and took one of her cold, pespiring hands in his own. The heat of his flesh was startling. "Aline" he said with difficulty. "I love you enough for the bother of us. And there must be something about me worth loving. If you would just try...

Anyone who has already read LK's Wallflower series is bound to recognize a couple of characters, like Westcliff, we get to see him here as the caring, if a little overbearing elder brother, and well it just made me love him even more! We also get a secondary romance through Livia, Aline and Westcliff's sister and Gideon Shaw, a friend of McKenna's. Although these two don't receive lots of page time, there love story is just as powerful and interesting as Aline and McKenna, and is another reason why I rate this book so highly.

Although this is a prequel to the Wallflowes quartet it can be read anytime before or after and as a standalone. I highly recommend this book, it is a great complement to the Wallflowers but also a touching, poignant and fantastic book in its own right.

Here some of the quotes that made me love this book:

She was not the girl he had once loved, he reminded himself grimly. That girl had neer really existed. And yet it didn't seem to matter. Aline was his curse, his fate, his consuming desire. He would never stop wanting her, no matter what she did, no matter how many oceans and continents he managed to put between them.

~

"Then what are you thinking?"
"That everything I learn about you makes me love you more."
Livia stopped breathing for a second, stunned by the admission. It took her long time for her to speak. "Gideon..."
"You don't have to say it back," he murmured "For once I want to have the pleasure of loving someone withot asking anything in return."

Review: An Offer From A Gentleman by Julia Quinn

2012-02-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

An Offer from a Gentleman

(Bridgerton # 3)

by Julia Quinn

I’ll be quite honest... I didn’t think much of Benedict before this book. Like many of the ton, I saw him as Number Two of the Bridgertons and now, I love him. He wasn’t mentioned often in the previous books, so I was looking forward to Colin’s book much more than Benedict’s.

Going into this book, I already knew that this book followed the Cinderella theme. A poor, young woman is fated with an evil stepmother and two equally annoying step-sisters. She gets one chance to live out her dreams and go to a masquerade until the clock strikes midnight. This initial storyline irked me a bit because, firstly, I don’t really like Cinderella and secondly, I hate reading about bullies.

But while Quinn stays true to the Cinderella story, she does veer away from it and develops a great romance between Benedict and Sophie. It might have been boring if she stuck with the Cinderella storyline throughout the entire book. Instead, it was refreshing and very, very romantic! Who knew Benedict would be such a dashing hero? I didn’t.

And I’m soo glad that I read this book because Benedict is a dream! I loved how protective he was over Sophie. And while Sophie did allow him to take her to his home, she still remained true to herself throughout this whole thing. I really liked that about her character.

I must say how much I despise Araminta, Sophie’s stepmother. She’s a snake and in the end, she got what she deserved. I really wished there was more done to her, but Lady Bridgerton definitely put her in her place.

I’ve already got Colin’s book ready to go! I can’t wait to read of Penelope and Colin. After that overheard statement about Penelope, I’m curious to see how Colin redeems himself. It’s sure to be a charming book.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: The Viscount Who Loved Me + Epilogue Pt 2 by Julia Quinn

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Viscount Who Loved Me

(Bridgerton # 2)

by Julia Quinn

THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME is the second book in the Bridgerton series and this book has come to be one of my all-time favourite historical romances! Quinn is the queen of witty and snarky dialogue and she really goes above and beyond with this one. Anthony, the eldest son of the Bridgeton and Kate have amazing chemistry, even as they exchange snide remarks and the occasional elbow jabs and kicks. I just love it when they go toe to toe. That Pall Mall scene was hilarious!

What I loved about this book is the fact that in addition to the charming romance that develops between the hero and heroine, there is also so much character development within the hero and heroine respectively that it makes their romance that much stronger, their love that much deeper. Quinn notes that Anthony’s fear of dying similarly like his father at a young age is a common phobia of young men who have lost their fathers. It’s easy for readers to be impatient and argue to “Get over it already!” but it’s tough and takes time. Anthony fully acknowledges his fear and knows that it is silly, which is why he vows to never fall in love, but it is an entirely different matter to overcome that fear. And I think that Quinn does a great job of pacing his “recovery” out in a believable manner.

I also LOVED the storm scene where he comforts Kate and her phobia of storms. The fact that they are willing to comfort each other just makes me melt and it does a great job of strengthening their bond into something more than friendship.

I have to mention my girlcrush on Kate! I absolutely adored her character! It seemed like she fit right into the Bridegerton family with little effort. I adored her attitude and loyalty towards her sister, Edwina and found that even though she was a little jealous of Lord Bridgerton’s earlier attentions to her sister, she was never malicious or acted upon her jealously. Not only is she a great older sister, but she’s one of the few heroines I adore so much that I wish she were real so I could be her friend!

I LOVED this book and went straight into the Epilogue: Part Two which takes place fifteen years later where they engage in their annual tradition of Pall Mall. And let me tell you, I’m surprised a scuffle didn’t break out on the Bridgerton grounds that time. The Pall Mall scene is heated and hilarious, making me love Quinn all the more. As if that was even possible...

Purchase links: Amazon

Dirty Little Secret # 35

2012-02-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

Heroes in historical romance like the extremes - the virgin hero or the rogue rake. Which of the two makes you shudder in pleasure?

Our Answer:

Annie: I love when an author can do a virgin hero right. But I find myself falling over the rakes more often. I want to be the one who tames the rake!

Francesca: Although I have read some pretty good virgin heroes (like Courtney Milan's Mark Turner in Unclaimed) I seem to LOVE the rogue rakes. There's just something about taming the wild boy and when they fall and put all that focus and knowledge on the one girl *fans self* Perfect example: Adrian Alistair Rohan from Reckless by Anne Stuart. He can keep me happy forever. ;)

Suzanne: Oh that's a hard one (haha pun intended!) buuuut, I think I may have to go with rake, you don't want anyone fumbling around down there, although I do love a talented virgin who seems to have internal radar to a womans g-spot! Oh yes Fran! The Rohans, hand me Francis Rohan, the granddaddy of all rakes!

Angela: Hmmm. I had to ask Fran what a Rogue Rake is (I honestly did not know)...she says pretty much said a "Man Whore". Well, yeah! Any woman that can tame a Man Whore is worth a try. I mean, if he's experienced, we can have a life time of love and pleasure! No training needed.

Now it's your turn!

Review: Playing with Fire by Katie MacAlister

2012-02-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Playing with Fire

by Katie MacAlister

(Silver Dragons # 1)

If you like your paranormal romance with a good dose of intrigue but a heap of a lot of fun, then you HAVE to read the dragon books by Katie MacAlister. I do want to point something out. This is book one of the Silver Dragons, however the first series you should read is Aisling Grey, then you can move on to the Silver Dragons. This will help you best enjoy the plot.

Now that being said I will spend a little bit of time on the main couple here. The Wyvern of the silver dragons, Gabriel, is a model looking, sexy and smooth as hell, dreadlocks wearing hunk of a man. He is also a healer. We first met him in the Aisling Grey series where he might've done something to not endear him to some of us. However it's now his turn to find a mate.

Of course, these wyverns can't find normal mates. There always have to be something special about them. May is a doppleganger, but she is also in the service of a Demon Lord as a, well, thief. Because she has the ability to shadow walk he assigns her the task of stealing for him an ancient dragon relic.

Gabriel and May make an amazing couple and I like them better than Drake and Aisling. They're so hot together they will burn down the house! Ummmm I meant that literally. Dragon fire can be quite dangerous, so proceed with caution. ;)

Silver dragons, black dragons, green dragons, demon lords, everyone seems to be after this artifact. While May is trying to follow her orders, and deal with her new mate, she might have to avoid capture by the supernatural authorities. And then we come to my favorite part of this book.

Let me introduce you to this little guy right here. His name is Jim! He's not really a dog, even though that's the form he prefers, he's a demon. He's bound to Aisling but he's oh so very present in this book as well. For this I am most grateful. This series wouldn't be the same without him!! This is the guy that will have you cracking up with his one-liners. You will love him!

Be warned there's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this book, no HEA. Their HEA, as it was with Aisling, is over the course of their series. There are only 3 books in the silver dragons, so I won't have to wait much. ;)

Some of Jim's quotes:

"What's the silver dragon element? Earth?" Jim's face screwed up as it thought.
"Ohh man, that means he's going to want to do it outdoors all the time. Buck naked in the wilderness!! My advice is to take sunscreen and bug spray and maybe a spatula or something, to dig the sand out of your butt crack in case he takes you to the beach."
"Jim!!! I'm so sorry, it knows better than to offer unwanted sexual advice."

"You don't often get to see a wyvern claiming a mate. It's better than Skinemax. Is there going to be an encore? If there is, can you hold off until I make some popcorn?"

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: The Devil of Jedburgh by Claire Robyns

2012-02-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

3.5 Feathers

The Devil of Jedburgh

by Claire Robyns

The beautiful Breghan McAllen has been having nightmare about the Devil of Jedburgh since she was a child, so when she finds out she is to wed him, she finds herself giving serious consideration to running away. But, whilst on a long ride she unknowingly runs into him. Arran, Devil of Jedburgh needs a wife, a sturdy wife who will bear him sons and daughters without imperiling their lifes. Breghan, however, with her slender beauty isn't what he is looking for despite the raging desire and the growing respect he has for her fiery nature. Instead they agree to a handfasting for a year and a day, but will either of them be able to walk away once the year is out?

Another book with a verra sexy yet troubled Laird, I can't get enough of 'em! This was an entertaining read, although it wasn't something that WOWed me. Arran, although he did annoy me by being too overbearing at times, was pretty swoonworthy, and Bree, again, although she had a few moments that peeved me, was a likable character. The romance between them was surprisingly sweet, but they were still had plenty of sexual chemistry going on and the sex scenes were hot.

Also mentioned quite frequently in this books were the politics of the time. Although I do like the book to have a sense and feel of the time it is set in, it didn't seem necessary to add that level of detail and to involve the characters as much as it did, perhaps I wouldn't have felt this way if the way the political climate was explained wasn't quite so dry, it was all long conversations inwhich I felt my eyes start to glaze over until it got back to the Bree and Arran parts.

But, this book also had a secondary romance! I love secondary romances, although it didn't get very much page time, it still made an impression and their HEA was important to me as well.

A good read, especially if you like Scottish romances and sexy arrogant Lairds, however, it isn't a book that sticks out for me in this genre.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: A Midsummer Night's Sin by Kasey Michaels

2012-02-15T21:13:00.000-08:00

3.5 Feathers

A Midsummer Night's Sin

by Kasey Michaels

(Blackthorn Brothers # 2)

Funny and witty but also at times a bit dull and slow. The premise of this story was interesting enough, two girls of "society" are supposed to go to a society ball but instead go to a Masquerade party thinking it'll be fun, and yes they lie to their parents. However this Masquerade is more for adult tastes, yes pretty much a kinky fuckery fest.

Regina kinda looses sight of her cousin at the party and manages to meet a gentleman follows him outside and while he thinks she's there to service the men, he says some very provocative things in her virgin ears. They soon realize their mistake and she ends up enlisting his help when she discovers her cousin has been kidnapped.

The masked gentleman turns out to be Robin Blackthorn. He is looked down on society because he is a bastard even though he has the money to buy most of the people that treat him like that. But he is fascinated with Regina, and her attributes. Even though he knows it's foolish and that she should stay away from her because her father would never approve of him courting her, after all she should be fishing for an Earl at least, he can't stay away. And if that means he has to help her find her cousin then so be it.

At the end of the day the human trafficking organization that took her hits a bit close to home, but I had figured that out pretty quickly.

One thing I will tell you I truly enjoyed about this book was the humor and the banter between Puck and Regina. Their personalities truly matched.

I am intrigued about Black Jack. I must find out more about this brother. Is his book next?

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: How to Dance with a Duke by Manda Collins

2012-02-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

3.5 Feathers

How to Dance with a Duke

by Manda Collins

(Ugly Ducklings # 1)

Miss Cecily Hurston is on the hunt for a thief and a missing, possibly murdered, man to try and clear her scholarly father's name. Her father has been struck down by a stroke and is unable to communicate and his journals missing, the only place that may hold some clues is the Egyptian Club of which her father is a founder. Unfortunately a woman must be married to a member to enter, deciding that it is the only way Cecily is determined to be a marry by becoming a social success after years mouldering away as a bluestocking wallflower with her cousins, cruelly called "the Ugly Ducklings". However, a chance encounter with the new Duke of Winterson, Lucas, changes everything, especially as he is the older brother of the missing man and is determined to find him.

This is Manda Collins debut novel and I have to say it is fantastic, her writing is polished and her mixture of mystery and romance engrossing as well as a great change from the normally fairly straight forward historical romances. This book is comparable to Amanda Quick's books, which normally have some kind of mystery centered round a archeological or some type of intellectual pursuit and a romance between the main characters.

What I liked a most about this book was the characters of Cecily and Lucas, Cecily was a headstrong and clever female worried about her future, especially with her father ill. I liked her strong personality and also how she tried to use her intellect as a defense and a shield to hide herself away, she was a very well drawn character. Lucas was also very sweet, he was honorable and most of he had the good sense to fall in love with Cecily. The romance between them was there from the very beginning, you knew at least that they were attracted to each other, but it seemed that the romance grew from a friendship and respect for each other, rather then some mad desire to sleep with her, then fall in love.

The mystery element of the story was good, although perhaps not the strongest I have read, more it was a device for getting Lucas and Cecily together, but there were gaps where nothing was happening and I did guess the culprit fairly early. But this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

But, although I did like this book and I had fun reading it, it hasn't captured me, it did have some great elements in it but it isn't a book that stands out too much from the crowd of other romances. But, I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a quality example of a historical romance, and I will be looking out for the next book in the series.

Purchase Links: Amazon

And The Winners Are...

2012-02-15T20:58:00.000-08:00

Love is in the Air Blog Hop:

Michelle (shellya121)

Megan @ Riverina Romantics

Winners were chosen through random.org.

Shiloh Walker's Curves & Qs Blog Tour

2012-02-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

As we get ready for the release of the final book in the Ash Trilogy series, If You Know Her, we are very excited to participate in the Curves & Qs Blog Tour with Shiloh Walker! This will be the last stop, so make sure visit the previous participants of this tour to see Shiloh's answers to their questions.

We basically each got to ask her a question about the series. This is what she had to say to UTC.

Q: I think you've done an amazing job writing the "bad guy" of this series. It's not obvious and you manage to make the reader feel some sort of connection to him. At least I did after reading If You See Her. When writing a good villain for a romantic suspense, what do you think are the key elements to keep the reader guessing and involved?

A: Eh, I'm leery about saying too much just yet about keeping the reader guessing, although naturally you want to put a variety of individuals on the playing field.

As to keeping the reader involved in the guessing game…mainly I just did it through letting people see inside his head. I hope it worked…I know he's a creepy, freaky bastard, but the stories just wouldn't have been the same if I hadn't brought him into the story the way I had.

From the villian's POV…a small snippet from IF YOU SEE HER…right when Nia, the heroine of book 3, rolls into town.

That woman didn’t belong here.

He watched as she drove into town in a simple, utilitarian sedan. Even without the Hertz tag on the back, it had rental written all over it. Either that, or cop car.

She wasn’t a cop, though. He could peg a cop from a mile away and she wasn’t a cop.

The car was basic, navy blue and simple, the sort of car that said, forget you ever saw me. It didn’t suit the woman who climbed out from behind the steering wheel. She wasn’t basic and she wasn’t the sort of woman that people forgot.

She was…rather lovely, he thought. Long and lean, her skin the color of coffee and cream, her hair cut much shorter than he preferred, but it suited her. A little broad through her shoulders and hips, but like her hair, it suited her. She looked…strong. But still very, very female. Legs that went on forever, full, lush breasts, and what seemed to be a very delectable ass.

He wondered what her name was, what brought her here.

She didn’t carry a purse, something he thought was kind of strange—most women did. There was an air of strength about her and that intrigued him. But as she started toward the police department, that air strength wavered and he watched as she slowed to a stop, paused. Lifted her hands to her face. Those strong shoulders bowed, like she carried some awful burden. Then, less than fifteen seconds later, she lifted her head and squared her shoulders, stared at the building before her.

Who are you? he wondered.

He really, really wanted to know her name.

Check out our reviews of this series:

If You Hear Her

If You See Her

Our review of If You Know Her is coming February 21!

Enter the Curves & Qs giveaway for a chance to win $50 Gift Certificate provided by Hips and Curves, or a book provided by Shiloh Walker.

The blog hop will take place at the following blogs:
2/6 Book Vixen
2/8 Fiction Vixen
2/10 Tori’s Misadventures
2/13 Life as a Spaz
2/15 Under the Covers

To enter, just visit each blog on the scheduled date and comment. You can enter up to one time per blog for up to five entries for the grand prize.

One winner will be chosen for a daily prize (a signed book from Shiloh) at each blog. Hosting bloggers are allowed to enter, although they can’t win at their respective blogs. They are eligible for prizes offered at the other blogs, and the grand prize.

All comments when be tallied up and one winner be chosen to win the main prize, an e-gift certificate to online retailer Hips and Curves.

The prize is valued at $50 (US) and winner is responsible for any and all costs over the dollar amount of the GC. Contest is open internationally, void where prohibited by law. Odds of winning depend of number of entries. The contest will remain open until 2/22. Winner(s) to be posted the week of 2.28 at Shiloh’s blog, and will also be notified via email, however they must reply back within 14 days to claim prize.

Giveaway open Internationally
You have until Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 to enter

For a further list of rules, please check out the disclaimer at shilohwalker.com.

Please note the e-gift certificate was donated by Hips and Curves with no strings attached.

Review: Reckless by Anne Stuart

2012-02-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

Reckless

by Anne Stuart

(House of Rohan # 2)

WOW! The House of Rohan is turning into a favorite series of mine. I couldn't put this book down! The characters and the plot are dark, and it feels like a guilty pleasure to like them.

First there's Adrian Rohan. I want him! Yes, he's the rake, but he's so damn good at it! He's lived a life of excess and debauchery. Always participating in the kinky fest at the Heavenly Host.

Then there's Charlotte Spenser. She's the spinster who doesn't think she's pretty enough to catch a man. And has always been in love with Rohan.

Until one day her friend Lina brings her to a gathering of the Heavenly Host (undercover) so that she can see what the pleasures of the flesh are all about. While roaming the rooms she catches Rohan's eye, and he immediately figures out who she is and decides he will have her. *SWOON*

I want to marry Adrian Francis Rohan.

There's intrigue, betrayal, friendship, and a few murder attempts. But this book is hot! HAWT!!! And the plot works so well for me. The characters are all perfect for each other. Honorable mention for favorite scene has to be THE SLAP. Charlotte shows us she has a spine and won't just fall at Adrian's feet, I loved it. There's a great side story with Lina and Simon. Ohhh my heart broke for Lina and what happened in her past. My only complaint on that front is that we don't get to see as much of their developing romance and it all kind of fell together at the end for them.

And while I'm complaining, here's a minor detail that I wished was explained better at the beginning of the book. Adrian Francis Rohan is the son of Elinor and Francis Rohan (from Ruthless). I really wish this fact would've been a little clearer. But I did enjoy seeing both of them coming back at the end of the book and to hear their son talking about how they had a perfect marriage.

Review: Love Me Forever by Johanna Lindsey

2012-02-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

Love me Forever

by Johanna Lindsey

Sherring Cross #2

There are two reasons that I am pleased I have read this, one, because I haven't read any Johanna Lindsey in a while and it was nice to come back to her and two, it was number 21 on my to-read list! Which means that it has been on my reading list for ages if you have seen the size of my to-read shelf! So, double whammy!

This is the second in the Sherring Cross series, although it can be read as a standalone, the main characters from Man of My Dreams are in this alot, but you don't need to have read that book to understand or enjoy this one. Lachlan MacGregor is all the S's, Sexy, Scottish and unfortunately for him Skint, the only way out of his predicament is to marry a rich bride. Kimberley Richards needs to marry fast so she can leave her fathers house, the only requirement her indifferent father has is that he isn't Scottish...

I can never resist a Highlander, and Lachlan was no different, it helped that he was also big *drool* and brawny *grabs tissue for the drool* with a wicked sense of humour *screw the tissue, get me a bucket* so I liked this book straight away, but what I also thought was fantastic was Kimberley, she was funny and not afraid to stand up for herself. I like a book with a great hero but I love a book when you can also like the heroine.

The story was pretty standard historical fare, she didn't think he loved her, but they have to marry anyway, but ofcourse everyone but the heroine knows that's bull, but I found the whole book really entertaining and I am glad I have revived my love for Johanna Lindsey.

Review: The Perfect Rake by Anne Gracie

2012-02-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

The Perfect Rake

by Anne Gracie

The Merridew Sisters #1

4.5 Feathers

Prudence Merridew and her beautiful sisters have runaway from her evil Grandfather. After seeing her youngest sister, Grace, being beaten by her Grandfather, Prudence knows they have to escape. Pulling off a massive deception they run to London to stay with their Great-Uncle and hope to find husbands so they can be forever be out of the influence of their Grandfather. But Prudence tells one lie too many and manages to become betrothed to the charming rake Gideon, Lord Calladice.

I think I must be in the Plain Jane mood, this is the second book I have read like this, one sister completely different in looks from her blonde and slender sisters! But I love it. If anyone knows more of these kind of books, don't hesitate in letting me know!

I think Gideon may be the perfect man. I LOVED him, I don't know how Prudence resisted him. Here is a list of Why I Love Gideon:

1. Despite Prue being the "plain" one he only sees her as beautiful and is truely bewildered when people say her sisters are the gorgeous ones, he just doesn't see it.

2. He falls in love with Prudence first and isn't afriad to admit it and pursue her.

3. He is a rake, but rather then being a dark brooding *yawn* tortured rake, he is fairly light hearted and just enough wicked to keep it interesting

4. He is adorable with 10 year old Grace, the youngest Merridew sister and takes a good, and well deserved, kick in the shins from her without complaint.

5. Did I mention he was hawt?

I liked Prudence as well, although Gideon did kind of steal the show for me, what was good was that rather then the hero being the tortured one, she was, some truely terrible things had happened to her but she moves on and does her best for her sisters.

A fantastic read, which I am sure I will reread at some point. I definitely recommend it!

The Darkest Seduction

2012-02-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

Have you ordered your copy of The Darkest Seduction yet? Out at the end of the month us girls at UTC are super excited to see Paris, Keeper of Promiscuity, finally get his well deserved happily ever after!

Check out the hot cover and blurb-

Possessed by the demon of Promiscuity, immortal warrior Paris is irresistibly seductive—but his potent allure comes at a terrible price. Every night he must bed someone new, or weaken and die. And the woman he craves above all others is the one woman he’d thought was forever beyond his reach…until now.

Newly possessed by the demon of Wrath, Sienna Blackstone is racked by a ruthless need to punish those around her. Yet, in Paris’s arms the vulnerable beauty finds soul-searing passion and incredible peace. Until a blood feud between ancient enemies heats up.

Will the battle against gods, angels and creatures of the night bind them eternally– or tear them apart?

Author Override: Vicky Dreiling

2012-02-13T22:43:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, MAIDENS! Whether you are head over heels with someone or are shining solo, we hope you have a good one! And what better way to get a little romance in your day than with another amazing historical romance author! Helping us spread the love on Valentine's Day...

Valentines, Sacrifices, and Jane Austen

I suspect Jane Austen would swoon if she knew the origins of Valentine’s Day.

During Jane’s time, homemade valentines were exchanged and flowers were given. However, a far more elaborate gift arrives in one of Austen’s novels. In EMMA, Frank Churchill secretly sends Jane Fairfax a pianoforte on Valentine’s Day. His extravagant, romantic gesture is a far cry from the rowdy beginnings of Valentine’s Day.

Alas, the current holiday of love started out as a wild, drunken, Roman frenzy. From February 13th to 15th, the Romans ‘celebrated’ the feast of Lupercalia. During the feast, the men sacrificed a goat and a dog. Gentle readers, it got much worse. The men whipped the women with the hides of the animals. Apparently, the ladies formed a queue for the ‘privilege’ because they believed it would make them fertile. Oh, dear.

Even more astounding is that the men drew the women’s names from a jar, and then the couples, er, tested the fertility theory (in a manner of speaking). FYI: The Romans were also likely responsible for the name of the holiday as Emperor Claudius had two men named Valentine put to death on February 14th in different years. Pope Gelasius made the effort to combine St. Valentine’s Day with Lupercalia, apparently in an attempt to get rid of the pagan rituals. Valentine’s Day remained a celebration of love and fertility.

We have Shakespeare and Chaucer to thank for putting the romance in St. Valentine’s Day via their brilliant works. Thereafter, the holiday became very popular in Britain and Europe. Handmade cards were exchanged then as well.

As for our present day rituals, we have the industrial revolution to thank for the factory-made cards. In 1913, Hallmark started mass-producing valentine cards.

Did you ever make homemade valentine cards in school? Or perhaps you did this with friends? What is your favorite Valentine ritual?

Check out Will and Amy’s story in HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE – Coming March 27, 2012!

SCANDALOUS DESIRES . . .
Amy Hardwick has one last Season to shake off her wallflower image and make a love match. If she can’t, she’ll set aside her dreams of romance and return home to a suitor who can provide security—if little else. What she doesn’t count on is the inappropriate—and irresistible—attention lavished on her in a darkened library by rake extraordinaire Will “The Devil” Darcett . . .

DEVILISH DELIGHT
When Will is caught in a tryst with the ton’s shyest miss, he knows he must offer for her hand. Yet Amy is not the shrinking violet she seems to be. Passion lies beneath her prim exterior and Will is eager to release it. But winning Amy isn’t simply a matter of seduction; first, Will must convince her that he’s mended his wicked ways . . .

Bio: Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.” When she’s not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.

Vicky’s Website: www.vickydreiling.com
Contact: vicky@vickydreiling.com
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Vicky is graciously giving away 1 Advance Reader Copy of HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE (US & Canada only). As a Valentine gift, she is also giving away Romance Trading Cards to all of those who leave a comment (all countries). Be sure to answer her question and leave your email address in the comment so we can contact you.

To enter, please:
1. Be a follower
2. Fill out the form below

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Review: How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling

2012-02-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

3.5 Feathers

How to Seduce a Scoundrel

by Vicky Dreiling

Even though I still liked book one better than this one, it still had a lot of great elements to the story. Ms. Julianne Gatewick is Tristan's sister. While Tristan is staying behind with Tessa, who is pregnant. Julianne goes off to have a season in London. Tristan assigns his best friend to be her guardian and watch over her. Marc, the Earl of Hawfield, knows that a major rule not to be broken is that you could never date your best friend's sister. But he soon realizes that he's seen Julianne as his girl for a long time.

While Julianne attends parties and fields proposals from other suitors, she is not only vying for Hawk's attentions. She is also writing a pamphlet on How to Seduce a Rake. This is a detailed guide on how women can attract and secure the affections of rakes all over London. She manages to finish it and get it published before the end of the season as an anonymous publication which causes great stir in London's society.

Marc has a big secret. He's hidden it from everyone for many years and still tries to hide it from Julianne as well. But nothing, not even something as important as this can change her mind. She's wanted and been in love with Hawk since she was 8 years old. And she wants to have him now, once and for all. She will stop at nothing to get him.

One of my favorite parts about this story is the fact that Julianne is part of a group of young friends, both male and female, enjoying the season in London together. It was nice to see their friendly dynamics. And of course we met the characters that will take center stage in the next book who are completely different than we've previously seen. I'm looking forward to reading it!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

2012-02-13T22:17:00.000-08:00

How to Marry a Duke

by Vicky Dreiling

I picked this book up with really no expectations. I liked the cover and the blurb seemed pretty interesting. But I was so pleasantly surprised with the storyline! This book was by no means a boring historical romance, it had some humor, some intrigue, gossiping tongues, an untamable (or so he thought) rake and a woman who thought she should give up on finding happiness for herself but wanted to find it for everyone else.

I think the best way to tell you about the storyline is that it's a historical cross between these two reality shows:

This is such a fun concept! Accomplished rake, Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne, needs to find a wife. He is the most eligible bachelor of the season. At a party he meets a girl that looks like sin stirs his lust. But she turns out to be what could be considered a spinster. Tessa is 26, not a spring chicken by any means. She inherited a great deal of money from her uncle and she is not interested in marriage for herself. Ever. However she has made it her job to find other ladies a suitable husband.

When Tristan finds out that the woman that caught his eye is a matchmaker, he hires her services. She decides to make it a big courtship. She gathers the women she feels would fit him better, and they go through a few events after which he eliminates certain candidates.

And during that whole time they both have to pretend they are not falling in love. That they are not the perfect match. But she feels something that happened in the past could never allow her the happiness of being married to Tristan.

This story was different and fun. I had a great time reading it!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Battle of the Covers: Cheesiest Historical Romance Covers!

2012-02-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

In honor of our Historical Romance event, A SCANDALOUS AFFAIR, we are changing things up for this month's edition of Battle of the Covers! Instead of the usual USA vs. UK covers, we are going to be voting for the Cheesiest Historical Romance cover because face it, there were a lot of them that were very, very embarrassing to look at!

These covers have been getting better over the years but we'd like to go back in time a little bit to remember some of these godawful covers that ooze passion, seduction and love! Vote for your favorite cheesiest cover now!

Then Came You

by Lisa Kleypas

To Tame a Highland Warrior

by Karen Marie Moning

Tender Rebel by

Johanna Lindsey

Master of Desire

by Kinsley McGregor

Tender is the Storm

by Johanna Lindsey

Heart of the Hawk

by Justine Dare

Rogue

by Fabio

Time To Vote!!

Review: Three Nights with a Scoundrel by Tessa Dare

2012-02-13T15:39:00.000-08:00

Three Nights with a Scoundrel

by Tessa Dare

Stud Club #3

The final installment of the Stud Club series is about the remaining bachelor of the Stud Club, Julian Belllamy and the Lady Lily. Right from the first book you can see that Julian is madly in love with his murdered friend's deaf twin sister, the only person who doesn't seem to realize is Lily herself. But, as Julian gets more obsessed with finding Leo's murderers believing that they were really after him because of his very shady past, Lily gets worried for his health and makes him promise her three nights with him where he can help her in society to find a husband.

I have enjoyed this series greatly, each book has given a great couple with completely different characters, I don't think this will ever be my favourite series but I definately liked it. And, I am glad that at last I have read Julian and Liliy's book! You know from the other two books that Julian loves Lily, and so I was pleased to see them get their HEA.

Julian, I think, would go under the tortured hero catergory, after living his childhood in the gutter and then his adulthood trying to wreak revenge on the aristocracy he doesn't feel worthy of Lily. I have to say that annoyed me a little, the whole unworthy thing, I am glad that Lily was having none of it. In fact I believe Julian was my least favourite hero in this series, for some reason he didn't capture me like Spencer and Rhys did. However, Lily, I did like she adventurous and wasn't afraid to go after Julian when she realized she loved him.

What I liked most about this book was the final discovery over who the Leo's murderer was and why he was killed! This part of the story has kept me guessing all the way through! And I didn't know the answer right up until it was revealed, which was fantastic, I love that it kept me guessing. I also liked the whys of his killing, I don't want to spoil it if you haven't read it, but I thought what happened was the best explanation.

I enjoyed this book and this trilogy and I will definitely be looking out for more books by Tessa Dare.

Review: Nobody's Hero by Kallypso Masters

2012-02-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

Nobody's Hero

by Kallypso Masters

(Rescue Me # 3)

Dear readers of this review:

WOW! If you have not read this series, do yourself a favor and pick it up. If you like a tortured hero, and sometimes tortured heroine as well, with plenty of an emotional story along with your very hot sexy scenes, then this is the series for you.

~ Francesca

I've been waiting for this story since book one when we get our first taste of Adam and who just then was a teenager, Karla. I thought this would put me off being that he is 25 years older than her and at that point he had just lost his wife to cancer, but by the end of book one I couldn't help but want these two to get together....badly!

Karla is now 25 years old and the singer at Master at Arms, the kink club that Adam owns. He's 50 now and he keeps telling himself to stay away, that she's just a kid. But things happen and their platonic relationship turns physical. *fans self* Ohhh the things I learned with this book! There's chains, rope (Adam is very good with rope), tying, hanging, and a lot more! Even what I now know as orgasm torture ;)

But it's not all roses between them. Adam has a lot in his past that he has to deal with. I don't expect him to resolve his issues in this one book because they're all major issues to have and to overcome but I can happily say he's taken that first step towards happiness.

Karla also learned that she can't just be Adam's slave but she has to be herself, which was all a learning experience for her and I think she's doing amazing dealing with this new lifestyle.

There's also a new development between Orlando and Savi. Oh the torture to wait for their book next!!! I can tell it'll be a tearjerker.

And speaking of tearjerkers, let me give you a warning about this book and please don't be like me and listen! My friend told me to have tissues ready while reading this. Of course I ignored that. I can honestly say I have not been reduced to a sobbing mess the way this book got me. I must've been crying for a half hour straight while reading it, let me tell you it wasn't pretty. But it was amazing!

You will fall in love with Adam, you will want to comfort him, please him and make him happy. And Karla is just the girl for the job, I couldn't help but be rooting for her the whole book. I cannot tell you how much I want to read the next book RIGHT NOW!!!

The author also casted these characters to give you a visual:

Mark Harmon as Adam Montague

Tarja Tarunen as Karla Paxton

*Review copy provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Serendipity by Carly Phillips

2012-02-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

3.5 Feathers

Serendipity

by Carly Phillips

(Serendipity # 1)

If you like small town contemporaries, this one is a good start to a new series. I felt like comparing it to the Tumble Creek series by Victoria Dahl (even though I liked that series better than this one book).

Ethan was the bad boy in high school, who came from the wrong side of the tracks. After the death of both his parents he left town. Left behind his two brothers as well. He went on to the military and is now a very successful military weapons designer with his own company and lots of money. So it's now time for him to go back to Serendipity to make ammends with his brothers for leaving them the way he did.

He happens to buy the house that he always wanted. Faith Harrington's childhood home. Faith was the beautiful cheerleader that he always had a crush on. Now her father is in a big mess because of bad business decisions and the house is for sale.

Faith had also left town, gotten married, and later on went through a bad divorce. She is back in Serendipity to start over. Not as the rich girl but a normal person. She wants to be seen as herself not her father's daughter.

Fate puts them back together and both their youth crushes come rushing back, now with their positions reversed.

But there's a curve ball. A long lost half sister comes out of nowhere and is dropped on Ethan's doorstep. None of the brothers knew of her existence and I thought the whole situation was a bit unrealistic how she was just dropped off and then how their relationship was handled at the beginning.

It will be interesting to see how his relationship with his brothers develops. What Ethan did abandoning them was not right and I think he should make up a bit more to them for that. But I can't wait to read the other brothers stories!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

2012-02-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

The Bungalow

by Sarah Jio

Isn’t it frightening to think that in the blink of an eye, your life can change so drastically? All it takes is for you to walk through door number two instead of door number one. The decisions you make in that moment can define the rest of your days.

I looked deep into his eyes. “It’s why I need to go,” I
said. “I need to find out.” He looked away. My words had hurt him, and I hated
that. His left arm, the band one, hung
from his torso, limp, lifeless. He didn’t like wearing a sling when he went
out. “Anne,” he said, clearing his throat. His voice faltered a little, and her
paused to regain his strength. Gerard never cried. “If this is what it takes.
If there’s a chance I can have your whole heart again, I will wait.”

A love that never dies. For nearly seventy years, two halves of a whole were separated by a gruesome murder and a jealous friend.

The year is 1942 and Anne is about to marry Gerard in a marriage
that was planned since they were children. Right before the marriage,
Maxine, the family housekeeper, tells Anne in so many words that a life without love is no life at all…she would know. Anne insists that she loves Gerard, that she's always wanted to marry him. Yet, deep down she feels something could possibly be missing….

During her engagement party, her best friend, Kitty, is a no show until the last few minutes. Kitty and Anne have been friends since childhood. She shows up apologizing to Anne saying that she’s going off to Bora-Bora where they are in need of Army Nurses for the war. Kitty feels Anne and Gerard are not meant to be and has told Anne a few times before; Anne, naturally, disagrees. With the words in the back of her mind of what Maxine said, she decides to join Kitty to Bora-Bora. They will only be there for one year. Surely Gerard will understand and wait for her.

Once on the Island, Kitty immediately takes to a few of the service men. Naturally, the men flock to Kitty. She is stunning, a real beauty. Anne manages to catch the eye of one man in particular, Westry Green. She thinks nothing of it because Gerard has her heart....so she keeps telling
herself. In the mean time, after a few months on the island, Kitty starts to change and not confide in Anne anymore. Anne notices that Kitty isn't opening up to her, yet Anne won't push her. But when Kitty finally does, it's a shock to Anne.

While out with friends one day, Anne stumbles along this little hidden run-down bungalow along the beach. She opens the door to find none other than Westry Green inside. They hit it off immediately and a beautiful relationship starts to unfold. They both decide the little bungalow will be their secret and they'll fix it up. It will be their hideaway when they are in need of quiet time….a break from the war around them. Inevitably, they both fall wholly and madly in love with each other. And how beautiful it was!

Unfortunately, a horrible tragedy strikes the beautiful lush island and must be kept secret. At the same time, Westry is being shipped off to another war with no idea when he'll return and Anne is set to go home. Right when Anne is about to board the ship, she confronts Westry on flowers she saw Kitty with the day before. Anne is heart stricken over the fact that Westry gave Kitty the flowers. How could Westry give Kitty flowers from their bungalow where so many wonderful memories were shared?

Seventy years later, a journalist is trying to uncover the tragic murder that happened on the island. I hoped and prayed their bungalow would still be around. What happens in this part of the story is so breathtakingly sweet until....well, until the very end. There were tears streaming down my cheeks while I was reading it. This is a spellbinding story of a love so strong you'll be wishing it was you.

This has to be one of the best romantic novels I have ever read. If you're looking for actual romance scenes in this book, you won't find them. And you know what? They're not needed one bit because the author does a sensational job with the story. This book had me glued from the first few pages in and I loved every single minute of it! The author did a excellent job with creating and describing the story. I really felt like I was part of it all, there, seeing it unfold before me. I liked the secretive ways behind Kitty, Anne's best friend. I was so curious to know what she was up to. I didn't trust her one bit and in the end, I despised Kitty for what she did. There are secrets and surprises and just when you think you know what will happen, you are forced to think again.

I'm finding it hard to express the love I have for this novel. I've never said this before, but I truly feel this is a masterpiece. I read it in one day, staying up until 3 in the morning, because I was so captivated by it. You will fall head over heals in love with the characters and story that take place on this pacific island. It was a love that was meant to be, but was sadly cut short for so many years. My heart ached for the love these two shared but never could continue to have. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes again. They both still went on with their lives but were never able to forget what they shared. Yes, they loved again, but never gave their hearts fully to anyone else but each other. It was a love so profound that it makes it hard for me to write about. It's scary how your life can change in a matter of minutes and it will never ever be the same.

The only thing that really bothered me about this book was that Westry and Anne were separated for so long. Being apart for seventy years put them both in their nineties when they were reunited. It just wasn't fair! They should have had more time together! They shared one year together on the island. How many more will they have now that it's seventy years later? I seem to forget that this is a work of fiction. But the author managed to evoked so many emotions out of me that I wanted it to be real in a way, that they will live on together for a very long time. Ahh, this is what a great book does to me!

After reading this book on my kindle, I've decided that I absolutely have to have it on my bookshelf. So I will be buying it in paperback soon. This book is a keeper! Just thinking about it makes me want to pick it up and read it again. You can bet I will be recommending it to every person I can. This book took up a place in my heart and rightfully so. I will be rereading this book for many years to come. I noticed that the author is still relatively new and has only one other book out. I can honestly say that I don't care what it's about, only that I need to get my hands on it asap.

A favorite line of mine-

"I watched as the island grew smaller, until it appeared a mere dot on a map. A dot where so much had happened, and so much had been left
behind."

UTC would like to thank Taryn for reviewing this book for us!
Visit her blog at My Secret Romance Books for more of her reviews.

HOTTIE OF THE WEEK: JAMES GUARDINO

2012-02-13T06:33:00.000-08:00

Holla Maidens! It's MOANday again! I hope everyone had a good week. I'm starting off with this week's pretend boyfriend with James Guardino! Let me know what you think? He's an underwear model.

I like him better when he's a little dirty.

So this week's question is.... Clean?

Or Dirty?

Inquiring minds wants to know!

Happy Reading!

BDB Fans Unite!

2012-02-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

IT'S ALMOST HERE!!!!

If you're a rabid fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series like we are, then you'll be counting down the days until LOVER REBORN releases on March 27, 2012

But worry not, the virtual signing for LOVER REBORN is now open!

The signing will last until March 16th or until supplies last!

We already have ours pre-ordered, have you got yours?

ORDER A SIGNED COPY OF LOVER REBORN NOW.

Got any ideas of what you think will happen in this book? Let us know in the comments!

Review: The Charm School by Susan Wiggs

2012-02-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

The Charm School

by Susan Wiggs

Calhoun #1

Isadora Peabody is a complete misfit in her rich Boston family, tall and curvy where they are willowy, unruly brown hair where they have sleek blonde locks, intelligent and clever when they are all social butterflies. Bound into a life she hates and doesn't fit in to, she grabs the chance to get away on a ship to Rio when it presents itself, despite the insufferable arrogant and rakeish Captain Ryan Calhoun.

I pretty much devoured this book, I read it in one sitting, I just love a plain Jane story! Give me an ugly duckling over a beauty any day! And this had the added bonus of having a piritical hero with gorgeous red hair so I was engrossed right from the first page.

Isadora was a good heroine, I really loved watching her transformation from awkward and fearful to confident and sassy. Ryan was good as well, gorgeous and a little wicked and did I mention a red head? Yum! Another thing I love about a romance is when the hero and heroine argue, not proper arguing, bickering is a better description and these two bickered with the best of them, watching the sparks fly between them was fun and drew the sexual tension tight.

This book was funny as well, I think this must be the first historical romance (or any romance really!) when the first time the hero and heroine have sex they are both high on weed! But this also had strange moments of seriousness, especially at the beginning when Isadora contemplates suicide several times, it was really heartbreaking to see just how deeply unhappy she was.

I highly recommend this book, it had love on the high seas, ugly duckling tranformations and a gorgeous hero!

Review: Twice Tempted by a Rogue by Tessa Dare

2012-02-12T04:46:00.000-08:00

Twice Tempted by a Rogue

by Tessa Dare

Stud Club #2

Rhys, Lord Ashworth, has decided to go back to his childhood home despite all the violent ghosts of this past that live there. After having a hellish childhood he has tried most his life to find ways to die, but with no success, he joined the army and charged headlong into every fight, but always he survives where other men die. Now he is back and determined to build something and equally determined to have Meredith Maddox, the owner of the Inn, the only source of income on his lands, as his wife.

This was a really good book and I enjoyed it a little more then I did the first in this series One Dance with a Duke, I think this was because I preferred the characters of Rhys and Merry. I am a little bit of a sucker for a tortured hero, and Rhys definitely fit the bill with his heartbreaking childhood, self loathing and pinch of violence. And Merry, she was a stong female character and I liked that she didn't give into Rhys straight away.

This also had a small secondary romance as well! I love a book that has a secondary romance! But, I was a little disappointed that we didn't see Amelia and Spencer from the first book, I like to check in with previous HEAs make sure that all is well in paradise.

This was another great read in this trilogy, I don't think this is going to be on my favourite books list, but it is worth reading if you want some quality historical romance.

ARC Review: Merrick's Destiny by Moira Rogers

2012-02-11T19:34:00.000-08:00

Merrick's Destiny

by Moria Rogers

Bloodhounds #1.5

First off, I have to mention the cover. Worst. Cover. Ever. I know, I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover...but really...that weird beard has to go! However, after getting over my fit of giggles after looking at the cover I did indeed ignore it and started to read.

Merrick is a Bloodhound, modified by scientists so that he is stronger, faster, heals quickly and can also change into a giant wolf. But despite his healing abilities he wakes with a case of short term memory loss with a smouldering aircraft a few feet away and a smouldering hot woman straddling his hips, a woman he realizes who is his mate, and a woman he has no recollection of.

I haven't read the first book in this series, and this one is a short story, so I am a little ignorant of the world building, but from what I read it sounds really interesting, vampires and ghouls slowly taking over with the Bloodhounds trying to stop them with a distinctly western historical vibe. I really liked this idea, but it wasn't explored very much in this book and the focus was on Paralee and Merrick and their escape from the Deadlands.

Despite being marooned in an undead infested country there weren't any obstacles in the way of Paralee and Merrick's getting together and they fell into bed quickly and passionately. This was great as the sex scenes were hot, but it always makes me chuckle that despite being in dire straits they managed to get some hanky panky in before having safe shelter.

A good taste of the Bloodhounds series one that has intrigued me to read more.

*ARC provided by author

Review: Darkness Rising by Keri Arthur

2012-02-11T19:23:00.000-08:00

Darkness Rising

(Dark Angels # 2)

by Keri Arthur

**REFERENCES TO DARKNESS UNBOUND, THE FIRST BOOK OF THE SERIES WILL BE PRESENT**

Keri Arthur continues Risa Jones’ journey as she tries to avenge her mother’s death. However, in the process, Rise gets tangled up in business with Madeline Hunter, the leader of the vampire council. Her task is to find a killer. The victims are losing their immortal powers, causing them to age rapidly and grow mad. Tasked with finding out the reason why, Risa is put to the test to see if she can handle herself in the worst of times.

I recommend reading this series in order because there is not much summary from the first book of this series. If you don’t, you may miss some important backstory going into this book. Furthermore, the romantic subplot to this book carries on from the first book as well.

Speaking of romantic relations...or um, the lack of with a particular reaper, I was glad to read about Azriel again. As a spiritual being, he takes the form of a shirtless and totally ripped, dark-haired warrior with a wicked blade strapped to his back. Azriel is Risa’s reaper and sexy sidekick. He follows her around, whether she likes it or not and this time, Azriel shows more human emotions than the last book. Apparently, if he stays within a form long enough, he starts to gain human emotions. I CANNOT WAIT to read more about him. He’s just all kinds of awesome.

Tao and Illiana, Risa’s BFF also make regular appearances as does Stane. I love it when they are all kicking some ass together. They are just so badass.

What I also love about this series is the incorporation of various mythology. There’s some witchcraft, some bits of folklore and Arthur really makes it her own. I’ve never read anything like this series.

If the first book in the series got me pining for more, then this book has made it into a full blown addiction! I’m hooked!

Purchase Links: Amazon