REVIEW: ROMANCING THE DUKE BY TESSA DARE

(Castles Ever After #1)

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Cover Blurb

In the first in Tessa Dare’s captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love . . .

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
Abducted by handsome highwayman?
Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I didn’t think anything could possibly match Tessa Dare’s fabulous Spindle Cove series but her new series, Castles Ever After, promises to be just as wonderful. The first book, ROMANCING THE DUKE is enchanting, romantic, sexy and funny and I was totally captivated from the first page to the last!

I love Tessa Dare’s writing… so rich in warmth, emotion, and humour. She brings each scene to life with such vivid imagery. This is one of my favourite descriptions:

It started to rain. Fat, heavy drops of summer rain— the kind that always struck her as vaguely lewd and debauched. Little potbellied drunkards, those summer raindrops, chortling on their way to earth and crashing open with glee.

“I’m no one’s hero, Miss Goodnight. You’d do well to remember that.”

Ransom is certainly my hero but then I do have a soft spot for scarred, emotionally wounded heroes. I just knew that under that gruff exterior beats a vulnerable heart and it just needs the right woman to break down his defences. Izzy is just perfect for him with her warmth, passion and gentle heart.

I adore Izzy. Tired of being treated like the wide-eyed girl of her father’s stories, she longs to be seen as a grown woman with her own dreams and desires. It is Ransom who is able to see the real Izzy – ‘a beautiful temptress of a woman, with interesting ideas and sensual wit.

I enjoyed the initial sparks and tension between Izzy and Ransome. They were such a delightful couple and watching their romance unfold was a joy. I loved sharing their…

Charmingly wicked banter:

He leaned one shoulder against the archway. “Aren’t we going to continue?”
“Continue what?”
“This game.” His voice was so low it seemed to crawl to her over the flagstones, then shiver up through the soles of her feet. “Am I a Russian prince? No. Is my favorite color yellow? No. Would I object if you were to come inside and remove every stitch of your damp clothing?” His voice did the impossible. It sank lower. “No.”

Tender moments:

Izzy didn’t know if these gentle sweeps of her fingertips could erase his pain— but they were dismantling the safeguards around her heart.
She soothed her touch over his brow and scalp, making shushing noises and whispering what she hoped were comforting words.

Sigh-worthy moments:

It was oneness, and it was glorious, and it was perfect, and it was her. All her.
God, he loved her.

Poignant moments:

…since she was there . .  . he couldn’t deny that a scarred, neglected part of him craved that softness.
 Hell, he ached for it, straight to his bones.

Hot sexy moments:

“Oh, I mean to do this everywhere. I plan to have you in every room of this castle. And why stop there? On the ramparts, beneath the stars. In the park, on a blanket spread amid waving grasses.” He pushed her skirts to her waist. “But we start right here, right now. I’ve been dreaming of taking you on this table for weeks.”

There are some rather delightful but unusual secondary characters…

The Knights and ladies of Moranglia who offer their loyal support when it is most needed (all will become clear when you read the book).

Snowdrop, Izzy’s pet ermine, who seems to have got to grips with a certain duke!

I loved Ransom’s devoted valet, Duncan, especially in the scene where he douses Ransom with freezing cold water!

Tessa Dare continues to wow me with her beautiful writing, heart-warming stories and loveable characters and  ROMANCING THE DUKE will definitely be one of my favourite books of 2014.  Now I just have to wait for book 2, SAY YES TO THE MARQUESS!

REVIEW  RATING: 5/5  STARS

SENSUALITY RATING: HOT

Read January 2014

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.

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REVIEW: JEWEL OF THE EAST BY VICTORIA VANE

(The Devil DeVere, #5)

Genre: Erotic Historical Romance (Georgian)

Cover Blurb

Having once lived his life only for larks, laughter, and ladies of easy virtue, Captain Simon Singleton has returned from the war with the colonies a shambles of a man. Now free from six years of captivity, he’s still fettered by irrational fears that confine him to a life of seclusion.

Once the crowning jewel of the most lavish brothel in London, the exotic Salime finds her reputation and livelihood destroyed by a bitter rival. With a closely guarded secret stripped away, Salime fears no man will ever desire her again. Seeking aid from the man who once saved her life, Salime accepts a proposition to repay her debt to him by becoming a companion to his war-scarred friend.

Circumstance brings these two damaged souls together; but fate ignites a love story worthy of the Arabian Nights.

*May be read as a standalone*

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

**5 Mesmerising Stellar Stars**

Ever since Victoria Vane announced that she was writing Salime and Simon’s story, I have been anxiously waiting to read it. Does it live up to my expectations? YES! It’s romantic, sensual, emotional and erotic and I loved every page! Ms. Vane has the ability to infuse her books with such realism, and her characters have such depth and feeling.

I love Salime and she must be one of the most unique heroines I have ever come across…a Turkish courtesan and a former slave at the Topkapi Palace. It makes her such an intriguing character, in Simon’s words…

She was a perplexing paradox—fiercely proud and demure, meek yet bold, submissive yet self-assured.

With everything life has thrown at her, Salime has had to be strong to survive. She accepts her life because she knows that having all those things that other women have…love, a husband and a family are just an impossible dream. Ms Vane has worked her magic to create such a wonderfully sympathetic character. I desperately wanted Salime to find a man who could see the beautiful woman she truly is and love her without reservation.

What can I say about Simon! DeVere will always remain my favourite but Simon is close on his heels. After watching the antics of the devil-may-care young man in The Trouble with Sin, it’s a shock to see the tormented man he has become…a man who has given up on life.

But now, he was himself a shattered shambles of a man. Feeling neither alive nor dead, he was doomed to this horrific half-existence, destined to be a mere observer. Life as he remembered it—the one he had desperately hoped to resume—was over.

Even his best friends, DeVere and Ned, are shocked to see the thin, unkempt, short-tempered, bearded man before them. Simon may have given up on himself, but his friends aren’t about to give up on him. I love DeVere and Ned…everyone needs friends like that.

Their compassion and sheer doggedness had finally worn him down. Simon raised his hands in surrender. “All right. You win. I’ll go to Bloomsbury.”

I love Ms Vane’s evocative writing which appeals to all the senses. I could see the sumptuous room with its silk hangings and low-burning brass lanterns and Salime in her voluminous Turkish trousers; smell the jasmine and exotic spices; taste the dark Turkish coffee; hear Salime’s soothing voice.

Salime and Simon definitely heat up the pages! I love the slow burning attraction between them and the scene where Salime dances for Simon just oozes sensuality…no wonder he is totally mesmerised. Ms Vane’s love scenes are vivid, passionate and scorching hot.

I love how the Turkish exotic arts and culture are woven into the story and form an integral part of the developing relationship between Salime and Simon …the stories and poems, the hookah and the hammam.

There seem insurmountable obstacles facing Salime and Simon but I think Ms Vane resolves everything in a way that is believable and gives these two wounded souls the Happy Ever After they truly deserve. The scene at the end with the wedding gifts is totally sigh-worthy.

Favourite Romantic Quote

“There are no words to express what I feel,” she gushed. “It is a gift beyond all gifts.” 
He pulled her tightly into his arms. “No, my dearest…that would be you.”

If you haven’t read this series yet, then you have a treat in store. Each book is an amazing read and Ms Vane has promised more books which is fabulous news!

REVIEW RATING: STELLAR 5 STARS

SENSUALITY RATING: SIZZLING

Read January 2014

The Devil DeVere series so far (click on the covers for more details):

    

Devilish Vignettes:

 

My sincere thanks to Victoria Vane for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. As always, it was a pleasure reading it.

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NEW REVIEW OF ANY DUCHESS WILL DO BY TESSA DARE

(Spindle Cove #4)

Genre: Historical Romance

Official Blurb 

Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season—or any season—but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.

Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training”… and fail miserably.

But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure—a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess—can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?

★✩★✩★✩★✩★

There are just not enough superlatives to describe this book. ANY DUCHESS WILL DO has edged A WEEK TO BE WICKED into second place as my choice for the best book in this series. A ginormous feat considering how much I love Colin and Minerva!

There are so many things I love about this book, it’s difficult to know where to start but I’ll try.

The story blends all the magic of …

Pygmalion

My Fair Lady

and

Cinderella

The book is rich in humour and the sparkling dialogue provides so many memorable laugh-out-loud moments…

“Cor”. She unleashed her broadest country accent as she tipped her head to admire the curve of his tight, aristocratic arse. “I’ll have great fun with you on the wedding night.”

I love how Ms Dare tempers the lighter moments with moments that are so heart-rending…

When he tried to stand, he couldn’t. Grief seized like a savage, crippling pain. Like an auger drilling on his heart. It hollowed him out, left a round aching hole – one he knew would never be filled.

I adore Griff and Pauline. These two seem worlds apart but you know they are so right for each other. They are two parts of a whole and proof that true love will always find a way.

Pauline on Griff… The intruder was life-shattering, heart-muddling, oft-maddening Griff.

Griff on Pauline… Lord above. She had him enraptured to the point of drooling incoherence, and she had absolutely no idea.

This book has the most wickedly delicious, sizzlingly sexy, toe-curling love scenes ever! Chapter 21 should definitely come with a warning – READ AT YOUR PERIL! HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL! 

I started out disliking Griff’s mother, the Duchess of Halford. After all what kind of mother drugs and kidnaps her own son! But her weakness for knitting misshapen items totally swayed my opinion but you’ll have to read the book to discover why!

I shed tears along the way; I hooted with laughter plenty of times; I sighed at the dreamy romantic moments; I nearly had to dowse myself with cold water at one point and finally I cheered for Griff and Pauline’s dreamy Happy Ever After.

She turned away burying her face in her apron. Griffin Eliot York, the eighth Duke Of Halford, was here, on his knees. For her. Ring in hand, with the whole village watching.

What else can I say about this book other than – FABULOUS! AMAZING! FANTASTIC! JUST AWESOME! IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN!

RATING: STELLAR 5 STARS

SENSUALITY RATING: HOT!!

Read May 2013

The Spindle Cove Series (click on cover for more details):

     

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A NEW REVIEW OF FOREVER AND A DAY BY DELILAH MARVELLE

The Rumour #1

Setting : New York City, New York, 1830 and London, 1831

Roderick Gideon Tremayne, the recently appointed Duke of Wentworth, never expected to find himself in New York City, tracking down a mysterious map important to his late mother. And he certainly never expected to be injured, only to wake up with no memory of who he is. But when he sees the fiery-haired beauty who’s taken it upon herself to rescue him, suddenly his memory is the last thing on his mind.

Georgia Milton, the young head of New York’s notorious Forty Thieves, feels responsible for the man who was trying to save her bag from a thief. But she’s not prepared for the fierce passion he ignites within her. When his memory begins to return, her whole world is threatened, and Roderick must choose between the life he forgot and the life he never knew existed.
…
★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★

I really love this book! It is original, delightfully funny and wickedly sexy. It has a wonderful array of richly drawn characters and just the right amount of drama and mystery to keep me intrigued.

What I love most loved about the book:-

 Setting

It is refreshingly to read a story set against the backdrop of 19th century New York and Ms Marvelle brings everything to life with her vivid images of the notorious Five Points.

He scanned the stretching width of the dank street. Cramped wooden buildings loomed in the surrounding darkness, murky-yellow lamps lighting broken windows stuffed with rags and heaven knows what else. Silhouettes of men and women lurked on the streets and hovered in doorways.

Story

Spoiler free – just a few teasers!

Silver buttons, Robinson Crusoe, a kiss, a vile little maggot, Forty Thieves, a faded brown leather patch, a coal bin, four and forty dollars, a water pail, a proposal, a newspaper, a waltz, a Duke, status and wealth, memories, duty, a crazy Five Points idea, a promise, a transformation, Miss Tormey, an elephant…

Georgia

How I imagine Georgia ~

In most romances, the hero takes centre stage but, in FOREVER AND A DAY, Georgia is definitely the star of the show in my opinion. I absolutely adore her.

I cheered when she gave one of the men helping to lift the injured Roderick some grief…

“You think it fun watchin’ a man bleed? Keep movin’ him, you lout. Lest I make you bleed.”

I giggled at the extreme measures she took to make the uncooperative Roderick look more disreputable…

“Damn you thrice into the pits of hell, woman.” He gestured rigidly toward himself, his face taut and his eyes ablaze. “Why did you think it necessary to ruin a perfectly fine linen shirt?” He was certainly prim for a man who thought he was a pirate. He couldn’t even swear right. “We’re improvisin’, is all. No one’s linen shirts look that snowy white where I live.”

I was touched by her vulnerability…

Tears rimmed her eyes, remembering those nights spent cradling her father’s clothes unable to breathe or think.

I liked how she was a force to be reckoned with…

I may be younger than you, Matthew, but I’m still legally your mother and I’m not afraid to take a crop to your head. So leave off. You hear?

I admired her sheer determination …

“She was naught more than a scrap he took in after finding her asleep in his coal bin, looking like the dirty angel she still is. At the time, she didn’t even know what the hell a quill was for. Now look at her. She outreads me, outwrites me, outwits me and even finds the men around these parts to be so damn stupid, she’s heading out west.”

I loved her for taking the initiative and fighting for the man she loves…

Nothing was going to come between her and her man. Nothing.

Georgia will definitely find a place amongst my favourite heroines.

Roderick

How I imagine Roderick ~

“Because I have faith you’ll not disappoint me or yourself. I have faith you’ve already learned how to be a better man but have yet to see it yourself.”

I think Georgia’s words are perfect to describe Roderick’s journey in this story. After he loses his memory, he’s able to rediscover his true self without the baggage of his past mistakes and the expectations of others. A man who is:

caring…

“…the man is genuinely compassionate and protective of others. Throughout his entire stay, he’s done nothing but lecture us on our inability to tend to patients and is always getting out of bed to assist others in the hall, despite having orders that he rest.”

generous…

Turning toward her, he held out the grouped banknotes between bare fingers. “Four and forty dollars to oversee your journey and your land. Take it.”

kind…

Refusing to watch the woman suffer, he quickly strode past the long line of women, set his pail down beside the pump with a clang and rounded the old woman. “Allow me. Please.”

compassionate…

Robinson’s hands trailed up her back, curving around her shoulders, and found their way up and into her unbound hair. Cradling her moist cheeks with his palms, his thumbs brushed away the tears still rimming her eyes. He tilted her face upward toward him.

selfless…

…he would give her everything… by letting her go.

Roderick really is a hero worthy of Georgia.

Those Sexy Moments

Ms Marvelle delivers some pretty hot sex scenes and enough sexual chemistry to singe the pages of the book…

His eyes darkened. “Let me tell you what I want and what I need, and I can assure you, it doesn’t involve water.” He grabbed her hard by the waist and forcefully spun them around so fast, her heart popped.
He shoved her back against the wall, making her gasp.

Secondary Characters

The secondary characters certainly add depth the story; what with Georgia’s neighbour from hell, the piratical looking Matthew with the penetrating coal-black eyes and the dark, mysterious Coleman. The Duke of Wentworth, Roderick’s father, seems very different from the hero of FOREVER MINE. There’s a hardness to him now, but finding out just how much he had lost, how much he truly loves Roderick and would do anything to see him happy, made me adore him all over again.

The Epilogue

I have to mention how much I love the Epilogue. So delightful and so amusing as well!

My one niggle about the book:-

I did find the ending rather abrupt and the situation between Georgia and Roderick seemed to be left unresolved although their HEA is never in doubt.

However, I happened to read these comments from Ms Marvelle on Goodreads:

“If you felt like the book ended abruptly, I am ever so pleased to hear it! That means you wanted more and believe me, there is lots more.”

“Call it evil on my part, lol, but I promise, whatever questions were unanswered in FOREVER AND A DAY will be answered in FOREVER A LADY and FOREVER A LORD.”

Yes very naughty indeed Ms Marvelle!  But it worked because I’m reading Forever a Lady at the moment!

Filled with fascinating characters, bags of humour, sizzling love scenes, plot twists and romance, FOREVER AND A DAY is another winner from the talented Ms Marvelle!

RATING:  ★★★★½

SENSUALITY RATING: HOT!

Read February 2013

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A NEW REVIEW OF A DEVIL’S TOUCH BY VICTORIA VANE

The Devil Devere #4.5

Setting: Medford Abbey, Kent- 1784

In her last month of pregnancy, Diana, Viscountess DeVere, has barely settled into her new life and role as “the devil” DeVere’s wife, when her increasingly restlesss husband receives an urgent summons to London. When Diana inadvertently discovers a message he received from a known courtesan with whom he was formerly linked, she fears her marriage is over before it has begun.

(A Devil’s Touch is an erotic romance vignette that can stand alone as a complete story, but also serves to bridge Book #4 The Devils Match, and my forthcoming Book#5 Jewel of the East (Salime and Simon’s story)

★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩

‘God help me. Will I ever get enough of this man?’
– Diana

Well, if the man in question just happens to be the sublime Ludovic DeVere, the answer is most definitely NO!

A Devil’s Touch, the latest addition to the fantastic Devil DeVere series, is a tantalisingly wicked treat that shouldn’t be missed. Even within the constraints of this short vignette, there is so much richness and depth to the story. I loved this glimpse into Ludovic and Diana’s marriage and sharing every moment with them:

Diana’s insecurities and fears…

…now she worried he had already wearied of domesticity, or worse, if he was simply bored…with her. Maybe he had come to regret married life? The more she thought about it, the more distressed she became.

Ludovic’s frustrations…

It had been precisely eight days and six hours since he’d touched her, and he was already as edgy as a convict awaiting the noose. He still had seventy-six more days of celibacy to bear and felt so full of his own unspent essence that he thought he would burst.

The need for trust…

“It seems,” he stated, dark and ominous, “that what we really have are unresolved issues of trust between us. I have sworn my devotion, my fidelity. We will end this right now. There is no room in this relationship for jealousy and suspicion.”

Their overwhelming love for each other…

…Diana feared her heart would burst from her love for him.

“I need you, Diana. You are my light, my sustenance. You are everything to me.”

And the joys of parenthood…

He came closer to examine the tiny creature’s features,, only to have them contort and let out a blood–curdling screech.
“My God! What’s wrong with it?” he demanded.

Certain aspects of Diana and Ludovic’s sizzling hot love scene would normally be a big turn off for me but I put my faith in Ms Vane and she didn’t fail me. This scene is so beautifully written and I fully appreciate why it was essential for both the story and the characters.

I’m pleased to see that, although he may have given up his hedonistic ways, Ludovic is still the master at manipulating people…

“I have every confidence in you, my dear. Simon means a great deal to me. Should you accept this proposition, I would be exceedingly pleased. Moreover, I would provide you most generous compensation.”

Now I can’t wait to see the results of his meddling in Simon and Salime’s story, Jewel of the East!

Lushly erotic and deeply romantic, this is storytelling at its best by a mistress of her craft.

How I imagine Ludovic ~

How I imagine Diana ~

RATING: A STELLAR ★★★★★

SENSUALITY RATING : SCORCHING HOT!

Read February 2013

Warning: This vignette contains elements of an erotic nature and may not be to everyone’s taste.

My sincere thanks to Victoria Vane for providing me with a copy of this vignette in return for an honest review.

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Review of A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

SPINDLE COVE (#2)

When a devilish lord and a bluestocking set off on the road to ruin…Time is not on their side.

Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove’s confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland. Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be…anywhere but Spindle Cove.

These unlikely partners have one week to…

~fake an elopement
~convince family and friends they’re in “love”
~outrun armed robbers
~survive their worst nightmares
~travel four hundred miles without killing each other

All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.
What they don’t have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls.
Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . love.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩

There are so many wonderful reviews of this book, there’s little more I can say, other than…

This book is all sorts of amazing!!  AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!!

Thank you Tessa Dare for writing such a truly wonderful book and creating such an unforgettable couple in Colin and Minerva! You made me laugh! You made me cry!  You made me blush! You made me sigh!

RATING : A STELLAR ★★★★★

[Read March 2012]

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Review of Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath

TEXAS TRILOGY BOOK 1

She was his brother’s wife…

Arriving on the Fort Worth train, Miss Amelia Carson, mail-order bride, had never met Dallas Leigh, the Texan she promised to marry. The tall cowboy at the station wasn’t Dallas. He was Houston, Dallas’s brother, sent to escort her on the rugged three-week trek to the ranch where Dallas waited. Brought up in war-ravaged Georgia, Amelia thought Dallas’s letters made Texas sound like heaven, a place for her dreams to grow with the right man beside her.

And his only love…

By all appearances, Houston Leigh would hardly be considered the “right man.” The war he survived had scarred him inside and out, and he was little competition for his handsome brother. But from the moment Houston met Amelia, he knew she possessed the courage this wild land needed. She had eyes that could see past his wounded face to his soul. And he would fight any man—except his brother—for her heart. Now he and Amelia were riding down dangerous trails, sleeping under the stars, and God help them, they were falling in love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Occasionally, a book comes along that has such an emotional impact, I find myself thinking about it long after I’ve finished reading it. This beautiful and poignant love story, is definitely one such book.

I absolutely loved Houston and Amelia! How could I not fall for such a vulnerable, tender, tortured hero or adore such a beautiful, sweet, compassionate heroine? They’re just meant to be together!

I loved watching their relationship slowly change as they drew closer to each other. It was easy to believe that they would fall in love when Amelia’s beauty, warmth, and courage captivate Houston:

That sparkle that lit up her eyes was enough to blind a man. And her smile. Her laughter. Dear God, but a man could start to believe in heaven and angels and an eternity of peace.

and Amelia comes to recognize the tender man hidden beneath Houston’s surly exterior.

“You don’t see the man you’ve become, you only see the boy you were.”

Ms Heath brings all the discomforts and dangers of the journey to vivid life. I felt that I was sharing all the hardships with Houston and Amelia.

Both have suffered the horrors of war but have chosen to deal with them in different ways. Houston has retreated into himself, any dreams he had for his future destroyed on the battlefield all those years ago. It’s hard to believe he was only fifteen years old when he suffered the terrible injuries that changed his life forever but this really brought it home to me:

…Houston had never had the opportunity to shave his whole face; he’d never flirted with girls, wooed women, or danced through the night. He’d never loved.

Amelia has tried to put all the terrible memories behind her by being cheerful and optimistic. I love how she always tries to find something to be grateful for in any situation. She’s courageous in taking a chance on marrying a man she has never met to fulfill her dreams of marriage and a family. She makes Houston realize that raising horses is his dream, a dream he has never before acknowledged.

My heart broke for him when Houston has to hand over the woman he loves to his brother. He knows he’s honour bound to accept Dallas’s prior claim on Amelia. He truly wants what’s best for her and knows that Dallas can give her everything he can’t. Although I knew there would be a happy ending for Houston and Amelia, Ms Heath still managed to keep me on tenterhooks at the very end.

The only other main characters are Houston’s brothers, Dallas and Austin. Dallas seems such a cold fish, completely obsessed with building a ranching empire and having a son to share it with. I imagined his wife coming second to his ambitions. Austin is the youngest brother and provides some amusing moments when he keeps using inappropriate language around Amelia and is constantly admonished by his older brothers.

I’m looking forward to reading Texas Glory (Dallas) and Texas Splendor (Austin).

TEXAS DESTINY is an unforgettable love story with a hero and heroine who will melt your heart.

RATING: ★★★★★

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Review of How to Romance a Rake by Manda Collins

UGLY DUCKLINGS BOOK 2

You can lead a wallflower to the ball, but you can’t make her bloom—unless one daring young bachelor turns up the heat…

What’s a nice girl like Miss Juliet Shelby doing at a place like Lord Deveril’s ballroom? With her shy demeanor, she’s a total stranger to the dance floor and a source of mockery for the ton. So imagine her surprise when Deveril gallantly comes to her defense—and offers to teach her to dance! Juliet can hardly believe the most handsome bachelor in London would notice her, until he takes her in his arms and sets her heart ablaze…

Lord Alec Deveril has never felt such a spark of attraction for an unmarried lady before. Unlike the “fashionable” ladies he’s accustomed to, Juliet possesses a generous spirit, a fiery intelligence—and an explosive secret. Deep in the London underworld, a dear friend has vanished, and Juliet fears the worst. Deveril insists on helping, escorting her through the darkest alleys in town. But he too is hiding a shocking secret—and the only way he can defeat the devil in his past is to seduce the angel in his arms…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was totally captivated by this sweet romance. I knew when I read her debut novel, How to Dance with a Duke, that Ms Collins was definitely a rising star in the world of Historical Romance and this book has only served to confirm that opinion.

I really admire Ms Colliins’ courage in writing a unique heroine with such a severe disability. She uses some of her own experiences to imbue Juliet’s character with realism on both an emotional and physical level. Juliet has a quiet inner strength which she calls on whenever she needs to cope with the mockery inflicted by her peers and the constant tirade from her own mother. I love how, over the course of the story, she gains in confidence and Alex sums it up perfectly.

“If you knew anything about my wife, you would know that she is entirely capable of taking care of herself.”

I positively adore Alex. He’s just the sweetest, kindest man. Rather than the rake of the title, he’s just a perfect gentleman. I love how he champions Juliet and is so protective towards her. I enjoyed the set-down he gives those two harpies, Miss Amelia Snowe and Lady Felicia, when he finds them in the music room and hears their cruel remarks about Juliet, who happens to be hiding behind a screen.

“I must ask you to return to the festivities,” he continued, his voice definitely cool. “This room is for family use only.”
And you two are not family, his voice implied. Juliet bit back a cheer.
“We will leave at once, “Amelia said her voice thick with apology. Of course she would not wish to insult an eligible like Deveril, Juliet thought cynically.
“We apologise for the intrusion, my lord,” Felicia cooed.
Juliet bit her lip to keep from laughing at the insincerity.
“There’s no harm done ladies,” Deveril assured them with more generosity than they deserved. “And I pray you,” he added, “try not to stumble down the hall. One would hate to see the two of you make a spectacle of yourselves. This isn’t a circus, you know.”

Despite having the worst parents imaginable neither of them has become cynical and embittered. Each in their own way has had the strength to become a better person. Juliet is compassionate with a caring heart and Alex has striven to rebuild his reputation which was sullied by his father’s notorious drinking and whoring.

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Juliet’s music teacher is the ideal way of bringing these two together. I like how their relationship develops slowly, allowing them to really get to know and understand one another. This makes their falling in love seem natural and inevitable. The scene where they consummate their marriage is both intimate and sensual but laced with lovely touches of humour. This little discussion about making love made me smile.

“We’ll do it whenever we please. In very room of the house.”
” Even the butler’s pantry?” she asked, her breath short as she felt the press of his erection against her stomach.
“Especially,” Alec said, widening her legs so that he could rest his hips between them, ” especially the butler’s pantry.”

There’s a great cast of secondary characters including Cecily and Winterson from How to Dance with a Duke, the delightful Lady Madeline with her madcap plans, Monteith with his mocking comments about Alex’s sartorial elegance and, of course, Juliet’s mother, Lady Shelby, whom Ms Collins refers to in an interview as “the kind who makes Mommie Dearest look like Mother of the Year.” There was enough drama in the plot to keep me intrigued not to mention the unexpected twist at the end.

Now I’m waiting with impatience for Madeline and Monteith’s story in the third book, How to Entice an Earl.

A WONDERFUL LOVE STORY WITH LOTS OF HEART!

RATING: ★★★★½

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Review of Scandal of the Year by Laura Lee Guhrke

ABANDONED AT THE ALTAR SERIES BOOK 2

ONE TRYST WAS ALL SHE WANTED …

From their very first meeting, Julia knew that Aidan Carr, the oh-so-proper Duke of Trathen, had a bit of the devil in him, a devil who secretly yearned for what he could not have, a devil who harbored a desire for her. So when she needed to be caught in a compromising situation, Aidan was the answer to her prayers.

ONE TRYST JUST WASN’T ENOUGH …

Aidan is supposed to be looking for a bride, yet his scandalous liaison with Julia is all he can think about. Hot, erotic memories of kissing her skin, falling into her bed, pulling her naked body on top of his own continue to torment and tempt him. What is it about this brazen seductress that he finds so hard to resist? And how can he stop himself from falling into her bed a second time?

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I loved this book!   It’s such a compelling and emotionally satisfying love story with a hero and heroine who simply captured my heart.

Having been introduced to Julia and Aidan in Wedding of the Season, the first book in this series, I was  intrigued to see how Ms Guhrke would bring two such dissimilar people together. Julia is brash, impudent, immoral, dances until dawn, smokes and drives too fast. Aidan is a gentleman, honorable, kind, understanding and always striving to do the right thing. Not exactly a match made in heaven! However, there’s far more to Julia than meets the eye and Aidan’s thoughts are not always honorable.

Julia is such a complex and fascinating character. As her secrets are gradually revealed, it’s like fitting the parts of a jigsaw puzzle together and, only when the last piece is in place, does the real Julia emerge. You see beyond the woman scandalizing society with her outrageous behaviour and numerous affairs, to the vulnerable woman desperately trying to escape a hellish marriage, which has left her emotionally scarred.

I love her strength, resilience and courage in choosing to fight back rather than be a victim of her husband. When she finally reveals the truth about her marriage to Aidan, it puts all her actions into perspective and I totally sympathized with her plight. It also reveals the prevailing attitude towards women and divorce. Yardley’s behaviour wasn’t considered grounds for divorce by the lawyers of the day and, if Julia had tried to reveal publicly what he was like, she would have been condemned for her lack of discretion because wives aren’t supposed to air their dirty linen in public. It does make you glad to be living in the 21st century!

I adore Aidan! Probably something to do with that handsome face and those warm, steady eyes that Julia was always drawn to. He’s honorable, honest and trustworthy with a deep sense of duty. In fact, he’s the epitome of a gentleman with only one weakness – his desire for Julia. In flashbacks, we learn how they first met each other when they were both seventeen and how Julia made such an impression on Aidan.

He’d never before been given a view like this – a view of shapely calves, delicate ankles and slender feet boldly displayed in broad daylight. Adolescent lust began coursing through his body in the space of two heartbeats, a sudden, powerful wave that disconcerted him, embarrassed him, and robbed him of the ability to think or even breathe.

Although their lives go in very different directions, when they meet again many years later, Aidan fears that when it came to Lady Yardley, he was in fact hopelessly depraved. I love how he thinks he can discipline himself in mind and body to conquer his desire for Julia but fails completely.

The final love scene between them is such a wonderful combination of eroticism, sensuality and tenderness. Aware of Julia’s inherent fears, I adore Aidan for wanting to make everything as pleasurable as possible for her. He constantly coaxes her into saying what she’s feeling so he knows what pleases her and this makes for some very steamy moments! Ultimately, it’s an emotional and sexual healing process for Julia and I love the way she expresses how she feels afterwards.

She was awake and alive, and the world was full of new beginnings and glorious possibilities. She was still a bit wobbly and weak like a colt trying to walk on shaky legs. But with Aidan’s arms around her, she didn’t mind any of that, because for the first time in over twelve years she was truly free. She was free, she was beautiful and she had just made love with a man for the very first time.
Julia let the tears fall.

I do have a soft spot for Julia’s ill-mannered, belligerent, man-hating bulldog, Spike, who provides some funny moments in the book. My favourite is where Aidan is determined to prove that Julia is attracted to him, despite her denials, and challenges her to meet him in the maze at midnight and prove she can resist his advances. What he doesn’t count on is for her to arrive with Spike in tow! What follows is an hilarious moment when Aidan suddenly takes on the unsuspecting Spike.

With a savage sound that caused Julia to jump back in alarm, Aidan moved. Within the blink of an eye, he’d taken Spike by the muzzle and hip and pushed him down onto his side in the grass and using his superior body weight, he kept the animal firmly pinned. “No,” he said in a calm, firm voice. “No, Spike”.

What a picture that conjured up !

SCANDAL OF THE YEAR is a beautifully crafted love story.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

RATING: ★★★★★

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Review of Desired by Nicola Cornick

SCANDALOUS WOMEN OF THE TON SERIES BOOK 5

Her wicked ways were the talk of the ton:

Teresa, Dowager Marchioness of Darent, is rumored to have exhausted her four deceased husbands with her insatiable needs. So it’s no surprise that every rake in the ton wants to bed her. If they only knew…through clever marriages to men who would ask nothing of her physical self, Tessa has remained rather innocent in the ways of the bedroom. But now she’s on the verge of losing everything and wants to take care of the stepson she’s grown to adore.Enter Captain Owen Purchase. The handsome American adventurer has come into the title of Viscount Rothbury. And the rumors surrounding his injuries at sea suggest that he could fit Tessa’s requirements. But little does Tessa realize that the gossipmongers are wrong. She just might lose her heart, and her desires, to the most unlikely of men….

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This is the fifth book in the excellent Scandalous Women of the Ton series and is definitely my favourite so far.  It brings together two secondary characters from previous books, Tess, the Dowager Lady Darent and Owen Purchase, former sea captain, now Viscount Rothbury and Ms Cornick weaves a deeply emotional love story capturing my interest from the very first page.

I was fascinated by the different facets of Tess’s character. Her involvement in the reform movement shows an independent and courageous spirit. But the traumatic events of her second marriage have left her both vulnerable and insecure with a deep-seated fear of intimacy. I couldn’t help but be moved by her yearning for the one thing she believes she can never have:

She wanted to be cherished, she ached to be loved in every sense, but the chasm of fear that was Brokeby’s legacy to her seemed to yawn at her feet, taunting her that she would never be whole again.

The powerful emotions Tess feels in the artist’s studio are so heart-rending but she is finally able to come to terms with her past. It’s as if her actions represent a symbolic purging of all those terrible memories.  In a single sentence, Ms Cornick captures Tess’s feelings perfectly.

Her heart expanded with all the love she had thought never to find. Tess gave herself up to it and stepped into the light.

Owen is simply perfect for Tess. He sees beyond the painted smile and the tempting body and glimpses the real woman beneath – complex, loyal and loving. I adore how he treats her with such patience and tenderness.

The fact that Owen is flawed makes him all the more loveable.  As a young man he involved his family in a terrible scandal but has tried to atone for it ever since. He’s very much a man of honour resigning his position when he discovers Lord Sidmouth’s methods are far from honourable

I really love the initial banter between Tess and Owen, particularly the scene where Owen catches Tess escaping from the brothel.

“Thank you,” she (Tess) said, forcing the tiny slippers onto her feet where they pinched like malicious crabs. “Just like Prince Charming.”

“I missed the bit of the fairy tale where Cinderella visited the brothel,” Rothbury said.

The deep emotional intensity and growing sexual tension between Tess and Owen are conveyed so well and their love scenes both passionate and sensual.

The use of real-life events as the background to the story really helps create a genuine sense of period. There’s plenty of action which never overshadows the love story but rather adds to the tension between Tess and Owen. Several of the characters from the previous books make an appearance, including Joanna, Alex, Garrick and villain Tom Bradshaw. I never expected to feel any sympathy towards Tom Bradshaw, given his previous actions, but he obviously loves Emma and is desperate to atone for his past sins.

VERDICT:  A powerful and sensual love story – Highly Recommended

 RATING: ★★★★★

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