Review: Starlight by Carrie Lofty

Starlight

by Carrie Lofty

(The Christies # 2)

Historical romance does not get much better than this!  STARLIGHT was beautiful from beginning to end.  With a hero you just can't help but falling in love with, a feisty heroine full of passion and courage and a story of two opposites that perfectly compliment each other.  This book had it all.

Alex Christie, the eldest of the siblings, thought he wouldn't have to get involved in the scheme his late father had created to have each kid take over a struggling business.  But he is forced by his father in law to do in order to keep his son with him.  His son is the only thing he has left after his wife died and he will do anything to protect him.  Even going to Scotland and taking over the textile business his late father owned there and making it profitable again so he can collect on his inheritance.

Not very business savvy and in need of some guidance, who better than the union's spokeswoman, Polly Gowman.  She's smart, outspoken, sassy, daring and a lot of fun.  She is also loyal to her people and their interests and will protect them with everything she's got.

Alex is definitely my type of hero.  He's hard, rough and even brooding but he allows those walls to come down and is playful with Polly.  He's intense and had me tingling on more than one occasion.  Polly on the other hand is no wilting flower and can stand up to him as well as match him in his desires.  Whether that's in the bedroom or in an alley while they're running away from the bad guys.

The element of mystery in this book was also perfectly woven in with the romance.  It does not take away from them as a couple but it adds another dimension to what they're going through.  And if I have to be honest I did not expect the ending and resolution to turn out the way it did, even though maybe I should've.

Job very well done Ms. Lofty.  I cannot wait to read more about the Christies and what adventures await next, but Polly and Alex will be a pretty hard to beat couple in my heart.

*Review copy provided by author

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ARC Review: A Little More Scandal by Carrie Lofty

A Little More Scandal

by Carrie Lofty
(The Christies # 1.5)

A LITTLE MORE SCANDAL is the story of the original Christies.  At the beginning of FLAWLESS, Sir William Christie had just died and left his kids with some tough choices to face if they wanted their inheritance.  This is his story.

William Christie is not a man of good family, he's made his fortune on his own, coming from nothing.  After the death of his wife, whom he was married more for convenience and respect than love, he's hardened even further.  Everything with him is a means to an end.  His end, his goals, his success.

Which is why he is challenged and at the same time attracted to Catrin Jones.  She is from a decent family, but poor.  The only survivor of a shipwreck.  Military nurse.  He wants to get her story so he can have control of a newspaper that is sure to go out of business and he wants to get his paws on it.  The key is the exclusive of what happened to that ship and the story of the lone survivor.  If he has to seduce her to get it, then so be it.

William Christie, the brute, the jerk, really I shouldn't like him.  He is everything that you'd expect me NOT to like.  But I find myself captivated by his spirit, his drive, his passion.  And I can say the same for Catrin, she's straightforward, she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it.  They're perfectly matched.

It is bittersweet to see their story knowing they are no longer around, but now I really want to read Alex's story, STARLIGHT.  He is the son from Sir William's first marriage.

A LITTLE MORE SCANDAL will release May 29, 2012

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Flawless by Carrie Lofty

3.5 Feathers

Flawless

by Carrie Lofty

(The Christies # 1)

What a stunning cover! I'll admit that was the first thing that attracted me to this book. This is actually a story of a strong-willed female who has always lived by societies rules, married by them, and acted as much as possible as she thought a wife should. But her husband, not so much. But a marriage of convenience turned into love.

Vivienne Bancroft is back in New York after her dad, Sir William Christie, passed away. She is hoping that with her inheritance she will be able to leave her husband once and for all. But her dad left all of his kids with a surprise. Vivienne gets to rescue his diamond business in South Africa. If she does, she gets the money. Otherwise she gets nothing.

And who turns out to help her with this project? Yes, her husband. Viscount Bancroft knows he's done wrong in the past. He gambled, he drank, he was an embarrassment. But after his wife leaves him and he is almost sure he's lost her for good he realizes what he had and what he has to do to keep her.

So he sets out to help her in South Africa and woe her. Not that he knows anything about work himself but he manages to turn himself and his life around for the woman he loves.

The setting was very interesting, the story quite original. The pace? A bit slow. I will admit to having issues with some of the things Miles did in the past and I found myself on Vivienne's side a lot. But in the end I believe he is a changed man and that this time they have a future together. I can't wait to see what the other siblings will have to deal with. 

Purchase Links: Amazon