Love Romance Passion » Sailing http://www.loveromancepassion.com Because Books Don't Fall Asleep Afterwards! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Review: Darcy’s Voyage by Kara Louise http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-darcys-voyage-by-kara-louise/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-darcys-voyage-by-kara-louise/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:11:40 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=12261

How can you get Lizzy and Darcy to meet each other without prejudice? Take them out of the country of course! By sticking them on a ship bound to the Americas, Kara Louise gives them a chance to see them for themselves... well sort of ;) There’s still some obstacles and misunderstandings.

Two years before the voyage Darcy and Lizzy met on a carriage ride out of London. (Darcy was on this hired carriage because the family one was being repaired.) They have a great conversation which sticks with both of them long after they separate. They just forgot one thing - to get each other’s names!

Darcy’s going to America to retrieve Georgiana after her governess takes ill and can’t return to England. There’s no way he’s letting her go by herself!

But that’s just what Mr. Bennet allows Lizzy to do. She’s traveling to America to be with her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners. Jane decided not to go because she gets seriously sea sick.

When Elizabeth falls ill after taking care of the women and children in steerage, Darcy chucks convention overboard and gets on bended knee. Lizzy is too out of it to really see that his “Marry me and you get a nice bed out of steerage, I promise this is totally platonic, you’ll be saving me from marriage minded barracudas, we’ll get it annulled back in England later” really means “I want to marry you, it will save me from marriage minded barracudas, can we please share a bed? I want you and I don’t want an annulment.” :D

Of course he keeps by his vocal promise, which leads to misunderstandings and an angst ridden separation. Poor Lizzy and Darcy. They really need to work on their conversation skills and learn to say what they’re really feeling and not assume the other can read their mind.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: Darcy's Voyage: A tale of uncharted love on the open seas (Pride & Prejudice Continues)

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Beauvallet is one of my top favorite Georgette Heyer romances. It’s one I would recommend for a guy to read because of how daredevil the hero is and how much action and high jinks take place.

Sir Nicholas Beauvallet is a dashing pirate with a rakish charm. He’s the bane of the Spanish empire and good friends with other famous privateers such as Sir Francis Drake. He’s gallant, courageous to the point of foolhardiness, and full of confidence. His ego is adorable because it’s so over-inflated and lighthearted.

Dona Dominica de Rada y Sylva is a gutsy heroine. When captured she steals Beauvallet’s dagger and waves it at his nose. When forced aboard Beauvallet’s ship she snubs him, flirts outrageously with another officer, and ignores him. Obviously she’s just hiding her true feelings—the instantaneous crush, the deepening attraction, the utter fascination. The more she pushes him the more under his spell she falls.

When he promises to win her hand in marriage, she scoffs. Not likely! When he says he’ll pursue her right to her doorstep in the heart of Spain, she laughs. Impossible! When he says, “Risk not!” she begins to hope. But can it be done?

Some of the funniest scenes are Beauvallet flaunting his presence under the Spanish aristocracy and nobody being the wiser. I’m so happy that Heyer kept it in mostly Beauvallet’s point of view because we got to his side of the story and laugh at the supposedly mystical and magical escapes he managed to execute under Spanish noses.

It’s also an unusual historical I feel because of the monarchs and events happening.

Relative Time Period – Tudor:

  • Spanish Inquisition – 1478 to 1834
  • Henri III – 1551 to 1589
  • Elizabeth I – 1533 to 1603
  • Phillip II -  1527 to 1598
  • Sir Francis Drake – 1577 to 1580 – around world trip

The references to the Spanish Inquisition are just cloying and realistic enough to make you shudder with all the “infinite kindness of the church” and whatnot. I’m not an expert of anything, but the way the dialogue happened almost made one think that King Phillip had no idea what truly happened during the churches inquisition sessions. Does anybody know if he did or not?

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Buy: Beauvallet

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Starlight and Promises in short, is fantastic. It has a feel of the older romances with the exotic locations and seafaring travel, but is fresh and fun. I simply loved how the romance developed on the way to where the expedition would start. The romantic timeline is a lengthy one – their romance does not develop over a few days. It takes them a year or so to get to Tasmania.

The heroine’s uncle is the one to discover a Smilodon (saber-tooth tiger) on his journeys with a friend in Tasmania. Just before he’s kidnapped by pirates, Richard Colchester manages to send a letter to his niece in Britain with orders to round up everything they’d need for an expedition. When Samantha exhausted all the people in England who might be able to lead it she gets the idea to find Christian Badia, the American feline biologist.

Our hero, Christian, is a by-choice exiled aristocratic lord. His work in the scientific community had them all knocking on his door with pleas to lead big game hunts until his early retirement. He’s confident, arrogant, and a beast, but not in the literal sense.

Samantha is a tomboy and not afraid of things normal ladies would be. In fact she’s a herpetologist and loves all things amphibian or reptilian. Her pets include iguanas, lizards, and snakes. She can be bratty, stubborn, and not just a little bit foolhardy in her recklessness, but she’s also determined and spirited.

She and Christian get into a lot of fights where he shows his inner caveman off in fine form. In the end he must either lock her up or marry her. He chooses the latter and finds himself probably more infuriated than before but the price of his sanity is well worth it.

Lots of action. Lots of crazy situations. Lots of mistakes and misunderstandings on both the protagonists' parts. All satisfying and touching. This is going on my favorites shelf.

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy: Starlight & Promises

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bookreview

His Wicked Kiss is the seventh installment of Foley's Knight Miscellany series. The novel was quite exceptional from the steamy romance scenes, the tender moments, and the insecurities that flared between Eden and Jack. His Wicked Kiss flirts with the tried and true plot of what you thought you wanted and what you get.

Dr. Victor Farraday, botantist, scientist, and certified loon resides in the jungle of the Amazon with his daughter, a small contingent of locals, and Connor their hunter and protector. Connor has had his eye on Eden Farraday since she was sixteen, but Eden does not feel the same way about him. She dreams of London and the sparkle of society and balls and handsome town dandies that will court her and dance with her. So when Victor tells her that they're moving deeper into the jungles, toward certain death, Eden is desperate to make an escape.

Eden meets Jack as he is sailing down the river with a small crew to meet up with his ship, the Winds of Fortune, off the coast out of the Spaniards reach. Jack thinks the creature sitting up in the trees snipping orchids is beguiling and gorgeous with red flaming hair. Her offer of tea is not resisted, but he is bitterly disappointed to learn that she wants him to take her back to England with him.

Successful entrepreneur and black sheep of the family, Jack Knight is the second son of a duke and is more than used to people wanting things from him. He had hoped Eden would be different, but even if he wanted to, Jack could not take Eden along with him due to the nature of his mission helping the rebels. He would not put her life in danger. That doesn't stop her from putting herself in danger though-Eden sneaks onboard his vessel.

Jack captures his little stowaway and so begins their romance. Being second has shaped Jack and how he approaches business. As his past is revealed Eden and the reader are drawn closer to him. The more trusting Eden is with Jack, the more she slips past his heart's defenses. Soon Eden is all he can think about.

The one flaw with this novel is that Eden and Jack change from the fabulous characters we get to know while on his ship for most of the duration in England. Luckily, they both find themselves and each other again before they've lost each other for good.

Rating: ★★★★½

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Warning: This post contains gushing... and a lot of it. :)

Susan Squires has written without a single doubt a masterpiece of romantic fiction in A Twist in Time. It far outstrips the time travel romances—I’ve so far had the pleasure to read—that the story is in a class of its own. Or should I say time?

A Twist in Time is exceptionally researched and rich with details that just blew me away! It is well thought out and deals with issues such as language barriers and cultural differences. (e.g. Evil men sticking needles into his body and covering his face with something that emitted noxious gas or How can she be so much like a wealthy woman in manner, coloring, and softness and yet wear clothes of a prostitute? or the very basic question of What the heck do I do with a Viking?) I very much enjoyed the old English, Danish and Latin that was sprinkled throughout the dialogue as Lucy and Galen tried to communicate with varying degrees of success.

Galen Valgarssen is a truly remarkable hero and has earned a place amongst my top ten favorite romance heroes. He’s a advisor to his king. He’s proud, honorable, steadfast, valiant, and bold. As a half Dane and half Saxon he’s used to being of two worlds and not exactly a part of either. This background will serve him well as he fights to overcome obstacles that keep him from understanding the new time.

Did I mention that Galen is one of my favorite names for a man? And in case you forgot he's a hunky Viking warrior - who will trade, plunder, and pillage... (looks around for the sign-up sheet ;) )

Lucy Rossano is a woman still dealing with the loss of her father. Magic seems to have gone out of her life and she wants it back. An extremely precious and old book written by Leonardo da Vinci holds the key. It leads her to reveal its existence to her friend Brad who excitedly informs her that the machine diagrammed in its pages is real and he’s working on it!

A disastrous trip into the pass brings Galen (seriously wounded) into her life, but it also puts them in great danger as the machine did not quite do what it was supposed to do. It’s a good thing he followed her or he’d be dead on the battle field instead of recuperating with the aid of modern help. How does one hide a Viking in present-day San Francisco while on the run from both friend and foe?

If you’re looking for a unique experience and a book to devour I highly suggest you try for yourself A Twist in Time.

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: A Twist In Time

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arcrev

J.C Roat and Rick Bremseth, both former SEALs who helped with the research for SEALed with a Promise, might tease Daughtridge about writing mush, but it is mush I definitely like. SEALed is very hero-centric. I closed this book with an urge to call up my best friend to get her dad to find me my very own Do-Lord. In the immortal words of LolCat "I can haz SEAL?" or maybe it was cheezburger, I tend to forget. This book is definitely recommended for the Save the Contemporary project Dear Authors and Smart Bitches are hosting together.

Dry-witted Emmie was a blast. She was smart, intelligent, analytical, observant, goal oriented and true to character. A professor of ecology, Emmie is well read and knowledgeable in many areas. She's the definition of an avid scholar. She dresses down to hide herself and makes it an art form to remain unnoticed, which is why it's so disconcerting that Navy SEAL Caleb "Do-Lord" Delaude does. Emmie is here to support her best friend Pickett in her upcoming nuptials - she is not here looking for a brawny jock, especially the brawny jock who's the best man.

Caleb Delaude is extremely smart. He's down played his intelligence to fit in better amongst his peers. Able to retain facts after reading or glancing at print, he also has an uncanny ability to see things others can't. He's great at picturing layouts from a map, knowing where to place people in any situation and sometimes he gets strange moments of déjà vu where the present and near-future collide. Caleb finds himself fiercely attracted to Emmie and before he knows it he's worming his way into her life... but only because he needs her connections for a revenge plot... right? Strange how the operative changes all because of a slip of a thing!

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy: SEALed with a Promise

Filed under cursed lead because of Do-Lord's visions.

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bookreview

Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood is the second book in the set of three novels, Guardian Angel follows on the heels of The Lion's Lady. I didn't know this when I started and was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed the book. Usually I dislike sets of romances because one couple or half of a couple ends up irking me due to their actions in a previous book. However, Lyon and Christina are already wedded by this point and I loved them in their story. I did wonder as to their purpose in this novel, but Lyon is clearly Caine's friend and trustworthy ally which Caine will need before the novel is up. Speaking on ends, I thought the ending to Guardian Angel was lacking in some fashion. I can't put my finger on it but the ending left me feeling vaguely like how the ending of The Wedding made me feel... unresolved I guess.

The Marquess of Cainewood is on a mission. Revenge coldly calculated, this ruthless man has set out to avenge his brother's death at the hands of the notorious pirate known only as Pagan. The pirate would meet his maker, and then perhaps Caine's father would get some peace. Sitting in the back of a pub that had become his haunting place since his brother's death, Caine's evening is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of an angel with fiery red hair. She's scared, trembling, but determined.

Her first question is about his identity... is he Pagan?

His charade as the pirate was working, but instead of drawing out the real Pagan, he got a maiden in distress. She asks him to kill her before the men after her catch up and do the job themselves. She wants to die quick and painlessly and hoped the honorable Pagan would help her. Honorable indeed! Caine refuses and shoulders the burdens of the young woman.

Jade he will find leads him on a merry goose chase after criminals who do and don't exist. And all the while she is flitting about trying to keep Caine occupied, a real mystery is brewing... but also passion. Can Jade keep her heart safe or has a man finally pierced her shields to the vulnerable girl inside?

Rating: ★★★★☆

Edit: The sex in this novel doesn't follow the usual path in romance novels. When Jade loses her virginity it's not a quick flash of pain and then over with. I enjoyed how Garwood handled everything when it became an issue between Jade and Caine. Jade was also very tender for her second time. It was different than what I am used to in a romance novel and I found that I enjoyed it because of that.

Buy: Guardian Angel

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I first heard about Crimson Rapture from a HaBo post over at Smart Bitches: Trashy Books. I can’t remember now if this book was the actual book or just one of the suggestions, but I guess it hardly matters. It sounded cool and I got it immediately from Paperback Swap.

It was originally published in 1986 and definitely has forced seduction in it—the kind where he does it for her own good and because he desires her too much to let another moment pass. There’s a lot of it, but it is well written, so if you’re in the mood for it, I would highly suggest this novel. A warning though… the comeuppance of the uppity bitch in the story is gang rape by the pirate crew which the pirate captain (hero) sanctions because she tried to kill someone (no, not the heroine.)

The story is one of those that goes everywhere (Boston, London, open seas, remote island in the Phillipines, Jamaica) and does everything (kidnapping, monsoons, shipwrecks, runaways, fake marriages, babies, plots and betrayal, and so on.)

It starts when the ship the heroine and hero are on is caught in the doldrums. The heroine is headed for Australia to live with her cousin and his family after her father’s recent death. The hero, Justin Phillips, is locked up in the hold somewhere on his way to his execution. He spies her presence one day and strikes up a conversation. He can’t really see her, but he figures she’s extremely plain.

Christina Marks is actually very beautiful. As the daughter of a reverend she is kind, naive, and innocent.  Also, she is terribly shy except when she talks to Justin through the small opening. She gives him her rations to help him keep his strength up. When the wind breaks and Justin’s crew comes to his rescue he kidnaps Cristina determined to ensure her safety and wellbeing.

The adventure has only begun though and passion can’t be denied.

Rating: ★★★½☆

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guestreview

By: Marcia, guest reviewer

The great thing about a series is that the writer has the freedom to explore themes and develop characters in greater detail than in a single average sized novel. This is true of Lora Leigh’s ‘Tempting Seals Series’. Durango Team, of the Navy Seals, is working for Homeland Security trying to shut down a drug cartel and capture a mysterious terrorist. Each novel in the series follows the members of Durango Team as they meet and fall in love with their soul mates. Of course, love never runs smooth. Killer Secrets is the third novel in the series.

Ian Fuentes is the illegitimate son of Diego Fuentes, the leader of a very successful drug cartel. He is also a sadist and murderer. Ian hates him and has vowed to kill him for not protecting him as a child and for kidnapping and torturing a fellow Seal, Nathan. He is working, alone and undercover posing as traitor to the U.S., in his father’s drug cartel. In return his father has agreed to help him trap and kill the terrorist known only as Sorrell.

Kira Porter is an independent undercover operative for DHS known as the Chameleon. Her disguises are so good than no one has ever recognized her as the very wealthy socialite and niece of a very powerful Washington politician. She and Ian have crossed paths on occasion and he always recognizes her by the way her body moves and the shape of her ears. They have long ignored the attraction they feel for one another since the job always comes first.

This time they meet in Aruba at a weapons deal gone wrong. Kira has infiltrated a terrorist group with ties to Sorrell and has accompanied them to what is supposed to be a weapons deal. Unknown to her, the real objective is to kill Ian. In the mist of the action she recognizes Ian and quickly changes sides, helping him turn the tables on the terrorist group. Afterward, instead of disappearing, she rents a villa under her real identity with the intent of joining Ian’s operation. DHS has agreed and asked that she keep Ian from killing his father or Sorrell since both are wanted for the information they can provide. Ian is an admitted chauvinist and does not want a woman in his operation, especially Kira.

The themes of betrayal, trust, fear of intimacy and commitment unfold in a highly erotic, sexual arena. Leigh’s dialog is bold and her bedroom scenes leave nothing to the imagination. Romantic Times BOOKreviews is quoted on the cover as saying, “Leigh’s books can scorch the ink off the page.” This is certainly true. This book is HOT, HOT, HOT!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: Killer Secrets

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bookreview

Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros is truly an exceptional read. She’s done it again creating characters that I love and a story line that makes me laugh and close the book with a happy sigh. The sex was tantalizing, decadent, and sizzling hot. The end has a bit of a cliff hanger as this is the first story of a sibling set.

Catriona Kincaid first met Simon when she was sixteen years old. He was seducing her prickly older cousin in the barn at the time. Of course she was discovered and her cousin throws a tantrum, but Simon intervenes between the two cousins with an easy charm and a devilish smile. His heroic actions placed stars in young Cariona’s eyes and she gave her heart in that moment.

Simon Wescott, bastard son of an earl, became the heir to that earldom when the legitimate son died. However, he wants nothing from his father, the man was too hard to impress and Simon was through being a disappointment. When Catriona storms his cell in debtor’s prison with an outrageous bargain, he calls her bluff with one of his own and is beaten at his own game.

He finds himself out of prison and chained into a marriage to the beguiling and bewitching Highland princess. Now if only he could break the trust she held in him and prove to her that he was nobody’s hero, Simon might be free of the spell she was throwing over him. After all, love doesn’t last and it’s the riskiest bet in the business to make and Simon is no one’s fool.

Also based on the dates mentioned in the book this novel falls under Georgian Romance.

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: Some Like It Wicked

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