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Review: The Billionaire Boss’ Innocent Bride by Lindsay Armstrong

Keira — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:48:27 +0000

Heroine: 21 year old Alex Hill works as an interpreter. Between 17 and 21 she lived in a convent after her parents died because the mother superior was related to her (aunt). She has an irrational dislike (fear) of elevators.

Hero: Playboy Max Goodwin is a mining magnate in his mid 30s. He needs an interpreter for several weeks while he woos a new Japanese client. When they first meet he’s unimpressed but after a makeover this confirmed bachelor wants her in his bed.

Sour Grapes: Max demands Alex get a makeover to make her presentable for being around the events he’s meeting his client in to which she accepts with a lot of grace (though she quibbles over who will pay for the makeover) considering how insulting he was. Then immediately following her makeover he makes a scene with a comment demanding to know what had been done to her in a makeover. Now she was too pretty? WTF, jerk.

Review: The constant switching in thoughts from one paragraph to the next. It was a mental tennis match. The switches were too obvious and too immediate, sharing what one thinks or the other thinks about a situation instead of letting the narrative progress. It was distracting and ruined the reading experience of interpreting information. This book is an example why for so long getting into the hero’s head wasn’t on the table or until the end of the book for his “Oh crap - I’ve got to grovel now or lose her forever!” moment. The dialogue between them was so full of cheese that I rolled my eyes until I got dizzy.

Rating:

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Review: The Highest Stakes of All by Sara Craven

Keira — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:28:54 +0000

Heroine: Joanna Veron is somewhere around 19. In her father’s world she plays at being a high maintenance vapid beauty, but inside she’s really just a sweetheart looking for a way out of her father’s lifestyle (without having to go to her perfectly nice uncle) ever since a particularly bad incident when they were living in Australia where they swindled a youngish man named Peter out of a lot of money. She extracts a promise from her father to never use her in such a manner again, but of course Denys doesn’t hold to it for long.

Hero: Vassos Gordanis (I see his name and think vaseline) is somewhere in his 30s. He’s out for revenge against Denys and Joanna (though of course she’s clueless.) When he wins Joanna in a high stakes poker game he believes he has the chance to accomplish both punishments as he believes Joanna is Denys mistress. Obviously he’s not buying the “she’s my niece” they both claimed ever since Joanna joined her father on his jaunts around the gambling dens of the world. (Why does Joanna allow this? Gross.)

Favorite Moment: The first and second time they make love when he learns of her innocence (read virginity surprise!) and then tries to teach her about lovemaking which she tries so hard to hate ... There’s flavors of Stockholm Syndrome in this, but honestly it worked for me because there’s also the play on the Persephone myth.

Missed Opportunity:
If I remember right they were talking about her real relationship to Denys, but it could also have easily alluded to her virgin state.

Vassos: Why didn't you tell me?
Joanna’s answer should have been: Would you have believed me?

It seems like a perfectly standard response, but it never came up.

TSTL Ending: Why did the HEA have to include a flowery all is forgiven resolution between Joanna and Denys? What a crappy way to tie it off. Sometimes splitting family units is okay and in this case her dad is such a scumbag there’s really no way I’d buy his remorse and sudden “Oh shut up” speech to his new wife (whom he married right after Joanna was taken by Vassos to avoid his debts and to get the hell out of dodge, the bastard didn’t even look for her to get her back.)

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Review: The Forbidden Wife by Sharon Kendrick

Keira — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 09:54:34 +0000

Before you start: Have you read Jane Eyre? Did you like it? Well The Forbidden Wife followed Jane Eyre to a Tee, which is great if you love Jane Eyre (which I do) but awful if you’re looking for new surprises (I was and there wasn’t any).

Heroine: 18 year old Ashley Jones is an orphan who grew up in the foster care system. She’s got lots of debt and so desires jobs that include room and board. She’s pretty perceptive and has a lot of insights on people’s behavior because of her upbringing. Working as Jack’s live-in assistant at Blackwood Manor is her ticket for something better, even if it’s located out in the middle of nowhere on the moors.

Hero: 30 something Jack Marchant is working on a novel about his experiences in the military where something bad happened (but is never explained). He suffers a lot from bad dreams which might be indicative of PTSD (but again never specifically stated). He wants Ashley, his little oddball, something fierce, but the trick is making her realize she wants him and can have him.

Wife in the Attic: Or in this case the cruel wife in a coma. She tricked Jack into marriage with a fake pregnancy, which he honored even after finding out because he didn’t want her to swindle him out of money for a marriage that was only 3 months old and also because his pride demanded he make it work anyway.

Review: I wanted Forbidden Wife to do more. If it explored more emotional depth out of Ashley and Jack it could have been a solid update on Jane Eyre. I found this review of the story hilarious because it really tells it like it is.

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Review: Fortune’s Son by Emery Lee

Susan S. — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:40:46 +0000

Reviewed by Susan S.

Summary: Hero, Philip Drake, is the proverbial black sheep of his family. And an embarrassing disappointment to his father, the Earl of Hastings. Philip is a rebellious and impulsive young man; who’s spent the last four years drinking, bedding tavern maids, and gambling. Drake’s life is an unmitigated disaster; a reckless gamester locked in a cycle of wins and losses.

When Philip reluctantly agrees to teach a young widow to play cards, he turns a deaf ear to his friend’s cautionary warning. It’s not long after Susannah, Lady Messingham, enters his life that he finds himself in financial ruin.

Life is about to teach Philip and Susannah that when there’s nothing left to lose, there’s still something to be gained.

Review: I could pardon Philip’s impulsive nature in youth, but felt let down he reverted back to old patterns of behavior (after a ten year military career). His good intentions fell short. Sadly, I wasn’t able to connect with the hero. And when he marries “another” lady for her dowry, I stopped sympathizing with his character. His sulking and self imposed pity also failed in endearing me to him.

Now, the heroine is a horse of a different color. She was more relatable. Here’s this young widow managing her finances for the first time, while trying to maintain her mode of living among societal circles. Sure, she makes mistakes. Some were monumental, but she learns from them. Matures.

I enjoyed the twelve year journey showing the evolvement of the main characters; with their highs and their lows. And think the author did a nice job with the story’s resolution. Her strength lies in presenting the reader with great imagery. Her details also appear to be accurate, seeing as I did verify a few out of sheer curiosity.

The story itself would’ve been much improved with the editing of the terminated near rape scene. It felt misplaced in this story, and would’ve fitted more comfortably within another genre. I would read Ms. Lee’s future novels, but am hoping for a stronger hero next time. As that does seem to be my preference.

Recommendations: This novel will appeal to those readers who enjoy the damaged hero/nurturing heroine as well as the older woman/younger man tropes. If you like card games (like Blackjack) and gambling, this is definitely “the” book for you. I’m also recommending it to those who like to read romantic historical novels, more specifically, during the Georgian era. Certain readers may not agree with the infidelity themes throughout, or with the capture of a young lady (near rape scene).

Disclosure: I received this novel free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Favorite scenes:

Favorite scene #1: After riding on horseback in the rain for almost four hours, Philip shows up at Susannah’s home completely drenched. LOVE that scene! Wanted more of them. Anyhow, she recommends he remove the wet clothes. Which he does. But he hit a snag; Drake’s having trouble with the wet boots. He can’t take them off. His instructions to her are absolutely hilarious. Picture his leg between hers, Messingham’s rear end facing him-while she’s yanking and yanking. `Course, he loves every minute of it. He’s turned on.

Favorite scene #2: You know what I love about Georgian romances? That there’s always a duel. Some man is always seeking satisfaction, and I love when he gets it! This novel has a duel. J

Rating:

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Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc., Historical Romance, November 2011, Mass Market Paperback, Print Pages 445. ISBN# 978-1-4022-5644-8.

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Review: Miss Foster’s Folly by Alice Gaines

Keira — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:47:26 +0000

This Victorian romance is the very opposite of sexual restraint. If you're in the mood for something hot and spicy with a wide streak of naughtiness you'll want to read this book! You’ll love it from the very first page.

Miss Juliet Foster upon her father’s death is given all of his wealth while her brother gets the businesses, and her sister the real estate. Suddenly Juliet isn’t just a virginal American spinster. She’s also an heiress and the leeches are popping out the woodwork to try to force her into marriage so they can get control of it.

Determined not to get caught but to still enjoy her life, Juliet decides the best thing to do is seduce her way through the Continent. First she’ll go to Britain, find a nice staid man to start. Then she’ll hit France to turn herself into a more sophisticated lover. Next Spain, for a little passion. All because, if she’s going to end up with a man he’s going to be Italian – the most perfect of lovers to be found anywhere! There’s just one flaw – somebody has to take her virginity first.

David Winslow, the Marquess of Derrington, Derry to his friends, suffers from the Winslow curse which skips between generations. If he’s ever going to be happy and successful he needs to find a woman more wild than he is because in taming her he’ll tame himself. It’s his ‘dying’ grandmother’s wish that he marry soon and so he goes to America to find himself the perfect bride, one who meets all his grandmother’s requirements and cares not a fig for his wealth or title. When Juliet Foster asks him to take her maidenhead he’s both flabbergasted and excited because he knows she is his perfect match. When she runs away he knows he has to chase after her.

It’s a fun romp of cat and mouse and hot hot sex. Really, it’s decadently delicious in every way.

My one complaint is how often the heroine runs off. The very last time she does was one time too many for me. I felt the angst moment could have been satisfied a little sooner with better results if the North & South type moment had been seized upon with vigor.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Review: The Price of Desire by Leda Swann

Mandy Dougherty — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:14:45 +0000

by Mandy Dougherty, guest reviewer

In a world where all is proper and sexual desires are too taboo to be uttered, a relationship forged on all that society deems improper is brewing...

Caroline Clemens knows the pain of the plummet from London's elite class to the lowly status of a mere pauper. The recent death of her father has left her penniless to care for herself and her four siblings. When Caroline finds out that her father has not even left her with a dowry to marry properly, she is unsettled by the fact that her promised fiance, Captain Bellamy, is the only hope that her family has for survival. After all, what respectable man would marry her only to live in poverty? She would be kidding herself to think that her love was ever enough.

Publicly rejected by her fiance and their engagement nullified, Caroline is left to ponder her future or lack thereof when she stumbles into the arms of the mesmerizing Dominic Savage. Dominic is unlike any man that she has ever encountered. There is something deliciously dangerous in his eyes and the pride in his step would make any woman weak. Rejected and vulnerable, will Caroline give in to the mysterious Mr. Savage, condemning herself and her siblings to a life lived in shame?

Pride, the only thing that Caroline has left, is quickly cast aside as survival and self-preservation kick in. As Dominic Savage swoops in and saves her family from the awful conditions at an English workhouse, Caroline is forever indebted to him. What begins as an act to save her family soon turns into a torrid sexual affair that any proper woman would run from. Are passion-filled nights with Dominic enough or will she find a proper suitor to take his place?

Leda Swann, the pen name of authors Brent and Cathy, gives us an enticingly erotic look into historical London society with The Price of Desire. In a time when women were expected to be proper and men knew better then to ask any less of their female companions, Caroline and Dominic make rebelling against the 'norm' sexy and satisfying. From page to page, you follow Caroline on her journey of sexual enlightenment at the hands of the experienced Dominic and are blown away when she finally takes the helm. The storyline transitions flawlessly from essential world building to steamy sexual encounters that are essential to understanding the characters and their motives. The Price of Desire is a scandalous, historical love affair that will capture you from the first page. The other titles in the collection: Mistress, Captive, Temptation and the prequel Sugar and Spice are definitely on my TBR list.

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Review: Love and Scandal by Donna Lea Simpson

Keira — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 09:36:31 +0000

A lady in Victorian times had little options when it came to acceptable jobs. Writing novels was simply not one of them and certainly not publishing them. That’s why Collette Jardiniere hides her authorship of The Last Days of a Rake behind the pseudonym Collin Jenkins. That is until some trumped-up peacock of a rake refuses to deny authorship. So she goes to London to rectify the gross injustice of her work be unfairly attributed to another and for the first time finds herself experiencing freedom and passion. A very heady combination for a virginal spinster.

Charles Jameson (Jamie) wants nothing more than to meet the man behind the scandalous novel and pick his brain. As a lover of the literary world but lacking skill with a pen, Charles is very much a man of the time. He refuses (at first) to believe woman capable of intelligence, thinking they merely parrot men in their lives. He also can’t believe that they write, let alone one having written a novel he considers to be written by a rakehell.

Simpson does an excellent job weaving both characters together. They’re helpless attraction to each other doesn’t hurt either. She carefully chips Collette’s cowardice to claim authorship away and slowly builds Charles’ character up so that he can be the hero Collette needs. Of course their relationship is not without a series of hardships but eventually all obstacles are overcome.

In addition to Love & Scandal, I read the companion novella Last Days of a Rake. It’s not a love story. Collette didn’t write a romantic piece, it’s a dark look into the redemption of a rake who doesn’t even understand why he’s changed. It reflects everything the characters from Love & Scandal claim it to be and that includes its flaws. If you have a little time on your hands, be sure to check it out and read it before starting the other. I thought it helped a lot with understanding points made in the novel about the heroine’s writing, but you don’t have to read it to enjoy the romance.

Rating: 4 Stars

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Review: A Secret Affair by Mary Balogh

Marcia — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 09:13:17 +0000

by Marcia, guest reviewer

Constantine Huxtable is thinking about taking his next spring mistress. He takes one every year, usually one of the many widows that are available. He ends these affairs in the summer when he returns to the country. There is no shortage of women eager for his company despite the fact that he is only a ‘Mister’. He is looking for someone elegant and poised enough to be seen with him, intelligent enough to hold a decent conversation and, of course, discreet.

The notorious Hannah Reid, Duchess of Dunbarton, has decided to take a lover. She has finished her year of mourning after ten years of marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather and who has left her extremely wealthy. She wants a more vivid life. She wants a lover who is devilishly attractive, wickedly skillful in bed and has no heart to break. She is looking for someone who is a challenge to control, masterful and hopefully in the end, devoted. She knows exactly who she wants…Constantine Huxtable.

Constantine is not enthusiastic when the Duchess makes her interest known. Why would he want an ice princess? She always wears white with a lot of diamond jewelry and a half smiling, provocative expression. Lord knows, she is beautiful with wavy platinum blond hair that is so light that it is almost white, large blue eyes and a slender but curvaceous figure, but she is arrogant, shallow, vain and …desirable. He assumes, like the rest of society, that she was unfaithful to her husband during his final years with one or all of the men who served as her escorts when her husband was too frail to attend the various social events of the season. He finds adultery vaguely distasteful. Despite his misgivings and much to his family’s distress, he finds himself drawn to her. So begins a discreet but not at all secret affair between Devil and the Duchess.

Readers who are familiar with Seducing an Angel, will see a number of similar plot elements in A Secret Affair. Both books feature women who have been widowed after ten years of marriage; both widows have childhood friends who disapprove of their affairs. Even Stephen Huxtable notes that he met his own wife in the park and teases Constantine that perhaps Constantine is fated to marry the Duchess after they both encounter the Duchess there. However, Constantine is his own man and A Secret Affair is his own love story.

Like many of Mary Balogh’s stories, there is no real antagonist. The tension is created as the lovers struggle with their own negative personality traits, misconceptions, and fears. In Constantine’s words, they have to “work at finding and building love”. As a result of this approach, the characters are complex, multi-layered and real. Unlike Seducing an Angel, there is no spiritual thread, but there are some philosophical musings about the illusion of time and an unseen hand guiding the characters to their purpose and joy. Balogh shows real technical artistry when, just as we think the love story is coming to a satisfying conclusion, she introduces a plot element that exposes the cruelty of Regency England in its attitudes towards the mentally handicapped. Then Hannah Reid, the Duchess of Dunbarton, in an effort right a wrong, reveals a secret affair.

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Review: Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh

Marcia — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:05:03 +0000

by Marcia, guest reviewer

Lady Paget, Cassandra Belmont is rumored to have killed her husband---with an axe. She is in terrible financial straits and must find a rich man who can support her and her household; Alice her companion and former governess, Mary the housemaid and cook, Belinda, Mary’s illegitimate daughter and Roger the three legged, one eared dog. Cassandra does not really like men so she has no qualms about seducing and trapping one into a financial agreement. She has no intention of marrying, even if it were possible.

Cassandra, dressed in black and wearing a black hat and veil, goes walking in the park with Alice and she spies Steven Huxtable, Earl of Merton. She has heard that he is very rich. He has a cheerful, open, innocent manner and look about him and she thinks that he would be easy to manipulate. It doesn’t hurt that he is gorgeous. When Cassandra learns that Steven will be at a ball that evening, she decides to attend, even though she does not have an invitation. So begins her seduction.

Steven notices Cassandra walking in the park. Even though he cannot see her face, he senses that she is probably attractive. When she enters the ballroom that evening he is sure that she is the woman in black and is stuck by her incredible beauty. Cassandra is tall and voluptuous with a crown of glorious red hair and vivid green eyes that slant slightly upward. She is a siren. But it does not take but a few minutes for him to hear the rumors; the ballroom is buzzing with them. Steven does not believe these rumors for a minute. They are ridiculous. What woman could even lift an axe never mind kill someone with it. If indeed she did kill her husband, she probably had a good reason, didn’t she? He is intrigued and wants to ask her to dance. So begins the redemption of her reputation.

Those readers who are familiar with the first three books in the Huxtable Series will not be surprised by Steven’s maturity and strength of character. He has been carefully raised by his oldest sister and later his guardian, Elliot Wallace, Duke of Moreland. The characters from those earlier books are also an integral part of this story, but readers who have not read them need not worry. Mary Balogh does a great job of thoroughly and succinctly bring the reader up to speed and this book stands on it’s own.

Seducing an Angel is by no means a moralistic tale, but there is a subtle, spiritual thread that weaves it’s way through seduction, temptation and desire and leads the characters to the whole cloth, the laughter and generosity of friends, the love and intimacy of family and the warmth and protection of home. All of Mary Balogh’s stories have heart and through her words we catch a glimpses her character’s souls and we love them too.

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Review: The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

Keira — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:12:03 +0000

I have wanted to read this book for a while. I can't tell you how happy I am that I finally did read this book! As I closed the book, I was gushing. There were so many aspects of this story that I liked, it's hard to find any to point out as negatives, but there are two side plot arcs that could have been left well enough alone and the story would have been tighter focused and undiminished.

As both arcs together make the bigger blackmail arc in the story, I'll just detail them really quickly. One was the woman who slept with Anna's late husband, and wanted that information hidden. The other was the lover of the woman who wanted his pockets lined. Of the two, the male lover blackmail arc was completely superfluous and unnecessary.

What I liked:

Anna working as Edward's secretary.
Edward's internal monologues.
Anna masquerading herself and claiming Edward at a "luxury" brothel.
Edward's proposals.
The sex. Hot stuff, I tell you.

Anna is a respectable widow. Her late husband a complete scoundrel and adulterer. She can't have kids, or so she thinks (as is the way with most romance novels - the heroes just have mightier seed - it's a fact!).

Edward's late wife died in childbirth. He found out after he married her just how much he disgusted her. He won't make that mistake twice. He's currently wooing a baron of an old family line for his daughter, and reassuring himself more than once that the daughter wants to be wed to him. This side arc makes sense for the time period, but it was just another unneeded obstacle in the story.

Meanwhile, Anna has gone to work for him. From the moment he meets her officially, he can't take his mind off of Anna. She's invaded his senses so much, he runs to London to seek release in a high end brothel so he won't ruin her respectability. Little does he know... evil grin.

In parting I want to add just how much I loved the wren and raven symbolism and it's correlation to the fairytale posted at the beginning of every chapter.

Review: 4 Stars

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