Review of Kissing with Fangs

KISSING WITH FANGS may be purchased here.

KISSING WITH FANGS

Ashlyn Chase

Claudia, the former manager at Anthony Cross's bar, has fallen into a drunken stupor since the bar burned down.  Claudia, a functioning alcoholic, has been crushing on Anthony, a vampire, from the very beginning.  Anthony, also, wants a relationship with Claudia, but it is forbidden by law for a vampire to date a human.  To further complicate matters, there is the danger of his stalker ex-girlfriend to consider.

KISSING WITH FANGS is a paranormal romance with interesting, quirky, characters.  Claudia is to be admired for trying to overcome her alcoholism and get her life back together, even with the added hazards of Anthony's stalker ex.  In my opinion, Anthony could have handled Claudia a little more aggressively.  It seemed, that he was a little wishy-washy, and she took every opportunity to try and reunite with him.  Anthony is a really nice guy, but he just needed to be a little more forceful with his ex-girlfriend.  

NOTE:  I received this book in return for an impartial review. 

Review of Desperately Seeking Suzanna

DESPERATELY SEEKING SUZANNA may be purchased here.

DESPERATELY SEEKING SUZANNA

Elizabeth Michels

Sue Green, who has already endured several seasons without getting married, is in London with her mother, beautiful sister, and beautiful cousins for her final season.  Poor Sue doesn't stand out among her beautiful relatives, and her mother vociferously reminds her of that fact.  One night before the season Sue's sister and cousins sneak into a masquerade ball, and Sue accompanies them.  Sue drinks too much champagne, dresses decadently, and assumes the identity of Suzanna, because for once she wants to shine.  While in disguise, Sue encounters Lord Holden Ellis, who becomes enchanted with Suzanna.  Holden makes it his quest to find Suzanna.

DESPERATELY SEEKING SUZANNA is an entertaining historical romance with intriguing characters.  Sue has been left in the shadows by her sister and cousins, whose beauty is more ostentatious than Sue's.  Sue is used to being the wallflower and her self-esteem isn't helped by her harridan of a mother, who lets her preference for Sue's sister be known and belittles Sue all the time.  Sue has some great qualities, in that she is intelligent and very artistic.  Holden is determined to find Suzanna but finds himself admiring Sue.  While, usually, it is the heroine who suffers from TSTL (too stupid to live) moments, Holden has a few of these but overcomes them to make a likable hero.  Holden has mother issues, too.  Holden's mother makes Sue's mother look like a saint.  In the end,  I'm glad they could overcome their problems and find happiness. 

NOTE:  I received this book in return for an impartial review.

Review of Miss Molly Robbins Designs a Seduction

MISS MOLLY ROBBINS DESIGNS A SEDUCTION may be purchased here.

MISS MOLLY ROBBINS DESIGNS A SEDUCTION

Jayne Fresina

Molly Robbins runs away from her wedding to a farmer, in order to follow her dream of opening a dress shop.  Molly is the former maid of Carver Danforthe's sister.  Carver Danforthe, the Earl of Everscham, had offered to finance her shop, before Molly left for her wedding.  Unfortunately, Carver was drunk and Molly is taking a great risk, but luckily, Carver signs the contract that Molly has drawn up.  

MISS MOLLY ROBBINS DESIGNS A SEDUCTION is an enjoyable historical romance with interesting characters and a determined heroine.  Carver, who had a troubled childhood, is something of a rake.  Carver's life, mostly, consists of carousing with his friends and going from woman to woman.  Few people stand up to Carver, but Molly seems to have his number and doesn't put up with his antics.  Although Carver has hidden depths, in many ways he is self-centered.  This can be seen in his failure to realize the social impact to Molly of becoming his mistress.  Molly has come a long way from her poor, commoner roots and has established herself in a thriving business, but her love for Carver soon overcomes her business acumen.  In the end, Carver realizes his love for Molly,even though he fights commitment, because of his troubled past.

NOTE:  I received this book in return for an unbiased review.

Review of Must Love Dukes

MUST LOVE DUKES may be purchased here.

MUST LOVE DUKES

Elizabeth Michels

Lillian Phillips goes to London, unescorted, to retrieve some family heirlooms, that her good-for-nothing older brother sold.  Lilly is able to buy her mother's pearl necklace back from the pawnbroker, but Devon Grey, the Duke of Thornwood, has already purchased her father's watch.  Called the Mad Duke of Thornwood by the ton, Devon escapes to a seedy bar for some respite from society, but he is followed by Lilly, who is determined to get the watch back.  Lilly ends up spending the night with Devon and sneaks off the next morning with the watch in hand.  A year later, Lilly's brothers are trying to force her to marry a man of their choosing and have sent her to London for the season.  Lilly runs into a highly perturbed Devon, who has been unable to get her off his mind.  

MUST LOVE DUKES is a very entertaining historical romance with an eccentric, brilliant hero, but a heroine, with whom I had issues.  Lilly doesn't wish to marry, because she is tired of being a pawn for men.  While I can understand this, her attitude toward taking the watch from Devon, left a bad impression on me.  Even so, Lilly does have some good qualities in that, she is intelligent and determined.  Devon really made this book for me, because he liked to thumb his nose at the ton in brilliant and hilarious ways.  I really enjoyed his antics, and the fact that society never caught on made it all the more amusing.  

All in all, MUST LOVE DUKES is a good read with a marvelous hero.  I highly recommend this book.

NOTE:  I received this book in return for an impartial review.