Review of Ethan

ETHAN may be purchased here.

ETHAN
Grace Burrowes

Ethan Grey, the bastard son of the late Earl of Bellefonte, has returned to the family fold, after being almost completely ostracized by his late father.  When Ethan arrived at the family seat to pick up his two sons, he meets the governess of one of the other children, Alice Portmann, who is soon to be without a position because her student has surpassed her skills as a teacher.  Because his sons' tutor has recently quit and Alice gets along well with his sons, Ethan offers Alice a trial position.

ETHAN is a great regency romance with two tortured characters and a poignant, emotional plot.  Ethan has experienced great trauma in his life and must face his emotional demons, before he can be with Alice.  Alice, also, has experienced great trauma and as a result, has panic attacks.  It is great to see Ethan take care of Alice and wonderful to see their relationship grow.  When secrets are revealed and fears are faced,  Alice and Ethan emerge stronger for being together. 

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

Review of Lady Vivian Defies a Duke

LADY VIVIAN DEFIES A DUKE may be purchased here.

LADY VIVIAN DEFIES A DUKE
Samantha Grace

Luke Forest, the new Duke of Foxhaven, wants nothing to do with his new inheritance and responsibilities.  Luke, especially, wants to get rid of the lady that his father betrothed him to.  When Luke arrives at Lady Vivian Worth's aunt's estate, he is surprised to find a young woman swimming in her chemise.  When that young lady proves to be his betrothed, Lady Vivian, Luke decides to aid her in finding a husband.  Unfortunately, Luke is greatly attracted to Vivian, and no man seems good enough for her.

LADY VIVIAN DEFIES A DUKE is a charming regency romance with appealing characters.  While Luke has his reasons for wanting to end his betrothal and his responsibilities as a duke, I found myself a little annoyed with him for continuing in this way of thinking for as long as he did.   However, when viewed through regency glasses, I guess Luke's reticence can be understood.  Anyway, Luke is a likable hero with a great sense of humor, and he wants and allows Vivian to be herself.  Vivian is a strong, independent heroine, who has a tendency to be impulsive.  Vivian has a good heart but can be a little naive at times.  There are several amusing scenes in this book, which adds to the overall enjoyment.

Overall, LADY VIVIAN DEFIES A DUKE is a pleasant read with likable characters and a satisfying romance.

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

Review of A Highland Werewolf Wedding

A HIGHLAND WEREWOLF WEDDING may be purchased here.

A HIGHLAND WEREWOLF WEDDING
Terry Spear

In the late 1700's, after Elaine Hawthorne's parents are killed in an accident, her two pirate uncles come to her Florida home and try to make a match with her and another notorious pirate.  Elaine balks at this and convinces her uncles to take her with them to Scotland.  Unfortunately, her uncles are arrested and hanged upon arrival, and Elaine is terrified and alone.  While fleeing from the sight of her uncles' hanging, Elaine runs into Cearnach MacNeill, who is trying to recover property stolen from his family by Elaine's uncles.  Elaine brings out all of Cearnach's protective instincts, but the very young Elaine flees him. 

Fast forward to modern times:  Cearnach and Elaine meet again, when she runs him off a tiny Scottish country road.  Elaine has come to Scotland to meet a Kirkpatrick cousin about finding her uncles' treasure stash, but after some incidents with her cousins, who didn't at first know who she was, Elaine doesn't trust them.

A HIGHLAND WEREWOLF WEDDING contains two of my favorite things:  shifters and highlanders.  The characters are engaging, and I enjoyed the interactions between the members of the MacNeill clan.  I was afraid, that Cearnach was going to keep secrets from Elaine, but I'm happy to say that he communicates with her from the beginning, is upfront about everything, and treats her as a partner.  Honesty is a great quality in a hero.  Elaine has had to fight and has been alone much of her life.  It is wonderful to see Elaine taken in by Cearnach's big, boisterous, loving clan.  I love the MacNeill clan, and since I haven't read the first two stories about them, I'm anxious to go back and read Cearnach's brothers' stories.

All in all,  A HIGHLAND WEREWOLF WEDDING is a great read with plenty of sigh-worthy brawny highlanders.  What more could you ask for?

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

Review of A Wedding in Springtime

A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME may be purchased here.

A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME
Amanda Forester

Miss Eugenia Talbot's presentation to the queen is ruined, when she displeases the queen by laughing.  William Grant is the culprit, who makes her laugh and causes the faux pas that ruins her chances in society.  After this debacle, Eugenia's aunt is desperate to get her married off.  William decides to help Eugenia establish herself in society but finds himself greatly attracted to her.  Meanwhile, William's friend needs his help to capture a spy.

A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME is a very entertaining regency romance with charming characters and many humorous scenes.  William is a likable hero with a dandyish flair for dressing and a wicked sense of humor.  Eugenia, also, stands out as a country miss, who likes to help others.  While I really enjoyed the characters of Eugenia and William, two secondary characters are my favorites:  Penelope and the Duke of Marchford.  These two characters really need a book of their own, and I hope it will be the next book in the series.  The spy subplot is fairly easy to figure out but adds excitement to the story. 

All in all, A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME is a very enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it.

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

Review of Heart of Iron

HEART OF IRON may be purchased here.

HEART OF IRON
Bec McMaster

Will Carver, a verewulfin, tries to suppress his animal nature, especially around Miss Lena Todd.  Lena is playing a dangerous game by spying for the humanists against the  Echelon Blue Bloods, and when Will finds this out, he makes it his purpose in life to protect her.  Caught between several factions in dangerous political schemes, Will and Lena must fight for each other.

HEART OF IRON is a very entertaining steampunk romance, which is the second book of the London Steampunk series.  I greatly enjoyed the first book, KISS OF STEEL, and HEART OF IRON doesn't disappoint.  It held me captive from the first to the very end.  Let me just state upfront, that I love Will.  Will is a big, powerful, werewolf, who is intimidating on the outside, but has a real soft side for those he cares about.  Will has been abused much of his life, until he was found by Blade and taken in by him.  Will thinks of himself as an animal a lot of the time and seeks to control his beastly urges.  Will can see no way for the woman that he loves, Lena, and himself to be together, but he will protect her with his last breath.  Lena, who has been navigating the treacherous world of the ruling Echelon, has got in over her head and is in great danger.  Lena, who has a crush on Will, doesn't realize that she can trust Will, because he has pushed her away in the past.  When Lena realizes, that Will cares for her, she is determined to fight for him.

Filled with excitement and complex world-building, HEART OF IRON is a must buy book.  I'll be on pins and needles waiting for the next book in the series to come out.

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

Winner of Love in Bloom Hop Giveaway

The winner of the hop is




Courtney Renee


She has been informed and accepted the prize.   Thanks to everyone, who participated.  I'm really excited to have over 1000 followers!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5115871/?claim=puk3zs5qujy">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Review of Undone

UNDONE may be purchased here.

UNDONE
Sara Humphreys

Marianna Coltari, a member of the Amoveo bear clan, is trying to remain neutral in the Amoveo civil war, in which the purists are fighting against the loyalists.  The purists believe that only pure blood Amoveo should mate with each other.  Unfortunately, the leader of the purists has plans for Marianna, and Marianna's brother hires Pete Castro to be her driver and bodyguard.  Pete is a human, who knows about the existence of the Amoveo.  Marianna is close to a time, when she will lose her Amoveo powers unless she finds a mate.  When Marianna realizes that Pete is her mate, she has mixed feelings, because it is not known how a human mate will affect her Amoveo powers.  Meanwhile, the purists are plotting a nefarious scheme.

UNDONE is a great addition to the Amoveo Legends series, in fact it is my favorite book in the series, so far.  The Amoveo world is unique and exciting, and the characters are multi-faceted.  Pete is a wonderful hero, who is very protective, especially of Marianna.  The fact that he is a human doesn't slow him down from helping those in trouble.  Pete doesn't back down from more powerful beings, when defending others.  This makes him a true hero in my eyes.  Marianna has been hurt by the war, in that, her father was a purist and a casualty in the war, and now, her mother as his mate is declining.  Marianna hopes to keep out of the conflict but is forced to pick a side and take a stand for love.  Many of the characters from previous books make an appearance, and it is great connecting with them again. 

All in all, UNDONE is a very entertaining book, which I highly recommend.  The next book in this series can't come out soon enough for me.

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

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop sponsored by Portrait of a Book and I am a reader not a writer.  For this hop I'm offering a $10 e-card from Amazon to one of my lucky followers.  (US only)  To enter please follow me by GFC or Bloglovin' and leave a comment with all the pertinent info to check your following.  Also, please leave a valid e-mail, where you can be reached if you win.  This hop will end at midnight on the 23rd cst.  The winner will have 48 hrs. to get back with me after I have contacted them.  GOOD LUCK!  Now have fun hopping to the other great blogs listed below.

  

We Fancy Books: Happy Blogoversary + Massive Giveaway

We Fancy Books: Happy Blogoversary + Massive Giveaway: HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!!! I can't believe it's already 2 years since this blog has started and it's been really great knowing...

Review of The Passions of Dr. Darcy

THE PASSIONS OF DR. DARCY may be purchased here.

THE PASSIONS OF DR. DARCY
Sharon Lathan

Dr. George Darcy, the beloved uncle of Fitzwilliam Darcy, leaves Fitzwilliam journals containing entries for over thirty years of his life.  Thus, begins the adventures of a very interesting man.

Since Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, I enjoy reading its sequels and retellings.  THE PASSIONS OF DR. DARCY is a well-researched book, which, also, has heart.  I love to learn, while being entertained and this book accomplishes this quite well.  The book uses journal entries to communicate Dr. Darcy's thoughts and feelings.  Dr. Darcy is a remarkable character, who is intelligent, brilliant, and engaging, and this book shines a light on his "passions", successes, and failures, and along the way his loves and heartbreaks. 

All in all, THE PASSIONS OF DR. DARCY is an enjoyable read, that Pride and Prejudice fans should enjoy.

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

Review of The Summer He Came Home

THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME may be purchased here.

THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME
Juliana Stone

Cain Black, an up and coming rock star, has returned to his hometown of Crystal Lake, Michigan, to attend the funeral of one of his best friends.  While at the reception, Cain meets Maggie O'Rourke and her adorable son.  The attraction between Cain and Maggie is instantaneous.  Unfortunately, Cain is getting over a bitter divorce and Maggie has secrets of her own.

THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME is an enjoyable contemporary romance with interesting characters and small town appeal.  Ms. Stone has a great way with descriptive text, which paints the reader a vivid picture of the setting.  I felt as though I were visiting Crystal Lake.  Cain has a reputation as a bad boy, a love-em and leave-em type of guy, but appearances can be deceptive.  Because when he falls in love, Cain is a stand-up guy.  Cain makes a good hero, because he has the bad boy edge, but deep down, he is really a family man.  Maggie is the girl next door type, and people in town are protective of her and warn Cain away.  Maggie has trust issues, because of some secrets in her past.  While I understand Maggie's trust issues, I really wish that she had confided in Cain sooner.  In the end, Maggie confronts her fear and displays bravery.

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

Excited about some upcoming releases

I'm really excited, because in the next three months my three favorite series have books coming out.  I can't wait!

IN JUNE

IN JULY

IN AUGUST

Review of Nicholas

NICHOLAS may be purchased here,

NICHOLAS
Grace Burrowes

Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston and heir to earldom, has promised his dying father to marry as soon as possible.  While fleeing two marriage minded women, Nick enters a darkened room, only to find that he isn't alone.  Lady Leah Lindsey, daughter of an earl, is hiding from a lecherous old man, whom her father is pushing as a groom for her.  Nick and Leah talk and Nick becomes interested in Leah's plight. 

After reading Darius, I couldn't wait to read Nicholas and Leah's story.  Luckily, Ms. Burrowes doesn't disappoint.  At first, I was a bit worried, that the reason keeping Nick and Leah apart would prove insubstantial, but I'm pleasantly surprised to find this wasn't the case.  Nick is a great hero, who has a large and boisterous family, on which he dotes and protects.  Nick is a very protective hero and he not only has the physical prowess but, also, the intellect to use in the aid of others.  I loved the way Nick handles Leah's vicious father.  Leah is an great heroine, who has known great pain and comes out of it all the stronger.  With Nick's help, Leah comes into her own and establishes herself as an admirable heroine.

NICHOLAS makes a great addition to the Lonely Lords series, and I enjoyed this book just as much as DARIUS.  Ms. Burrowes has earned a place on my must read list, and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

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

Review of Bite Me, Your Grace

BITE ME, YOUR GRACE may be purchased here.

BITE ME, YOUR GRACE

Brooklyn Ann

Ian Ashton, Duke of Burnrath and Lord Vampire of London, is perturbed by the publication of "The Vampyre" by Dr. Poldori.   Ian fears that the book will call attention to himself and the other vampires in London.   Because of this, Ian is searching for Poldori to question him about his knowledge of vampires.  Meanwhile, Ian's neighbor, Angelica Winthrop is tired of being paraded in front of the ton in hopes of finding a good match.  Angelica has aspirations of becoming a great novelist, and the house across the way seems a likely setting for her Gothic tales and the mysterious duke makes a good subject for study.

BITE ME, YOUR GRACE is a romance which combines two of my favorite genres, paranormal and regency.  Unfortunately, this book fell a little short of the mark for me.  Angelica is described as a very innocent bluestocking, who is well-read and headstrong.  While these qualities are usually admirable to me, Angelica is, at times, ridiculously naive.  I find it hard to believe that Angelica, who sneaks around and reads books forbidden to young women, would be so naive.  Angelica is, also, impulsive, which gets her into unfortunate situations.  Luckily, toward the end, Angelica has some commendable actions, but she just really never grew on me.  Ian makes for a good hero, because he allows Angelica to be herself and pursue her goals.

All in all, BITE ME, YOUR GRACE has an interesting premise, but it isn't to my taste.

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

Review of Darius

DARIUS may be purchased here.

DARIUS
Grace Burrowes

Darius Lindsey is the second son of an earl, who has cut him off without funds.  Because of this, Darius becomes something of a gigolo, in order to survive financially.  Darius is very circumspect in his actions, in order to avoid scandal tainting his siblings. Lord William Longstreet, is an elderly statesman married to a much younger woman, whom he married to save from the schemes of an evil stepfather.  William knows that he has little time left on earth, and he needs a heir to inherit his title and estate.  Because of this, William decides to hire Darius to impregnate his wife, Lady Vivian.  Vivian is hesitant about this plan but decides to go through with it.  Will Vivian and Darius escape their time together with their hearts unscathed?

DARIUS is a lovely, regency romance with an atypical hero and an interesting premise.  At first, I was hesitant to read this book, because of the characterization of Darius as a male prostitute, but I'm very glad that I gave it a chance, because Darius has become one of my favorite heroes.  Raised by a brutal, abusive father, Darius has something of a poor self-image, but he has a great determination to sacrifice, help, and protect those that he loves.  It is wonderful to see Darius' interactions with his family and servants.  Darius has a tendency to aid those in need, and many of his servants fit this bill.  Vivian is a true lady, who puts up with a lot from her stepfather, who is a very dastardly character.  It is great watching Darius bring Vivian out of her shell and watching them fall in love. 

All in all, DARIUS is a delightful romance, which I highly recommend.

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

Review of Flirting Under a Full Moon

FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON may be purchased here.

FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON
Ashlyn Chase

Nick Wolfensen, known to the women who frequent the Boston Uncommon bar as "One Night Nick", flirts with Brandee Hanson.  Brandee doesn't want much to do with Nick, especially since she just got dumped via text.  Before long, Nick, a werewolf, realizes that Brandee is his mate, but convincing her of that may be difficult.  Meanwhile, Nick has a danger-filled case involving Brandee's cousin, and Brandee sticks her nose into it.

Filled with quirky, amusing characters, FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON, is an entertaining read.   I really enjoy the world that Ms. Chase has created, and there is plenty of action to keep the reader on her toes.  Unfortunately, Brandee can be a little ditsy and impulsive, and she has a few TSTL moments.  Even though Brandee can be annoying, overall, I find her likable.  Nick is a great hero, who is determined to make Brandee his.  While not overly alpha, Nick is still very protective of those he loves.

All in all, FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON is an enjoyable read, which I recommend.

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

Review of A Baron in Her Bed

A BARON IN HER BED may be purchased here.

A BARON IN HER BED
Maggi Andersen

Guy Truesdale, Baron Fortescue, has come to England to claim his title and estate.  After Guy's father was forced to flee England because of a duel,  he married an aristocratic French woman and the family lived abroad through the French Revolution and Napoleon's reign.  Now, Guy and his sister are all that is left of his immediate family, and he is determined to take his rightful place as Baron Fortescue.  Unfortunately, someone seems determined to end Guy's life.  Luckily, after Guy is injured in a murder attempt, Miss Horatia Cavendish comes upon him lying in the road and comes to his aid.  Because Horatia is dressed in male clothes, Guy thinks that she is a teenage boy.  Thus, begins the adventures of Horatia and Guy.

A BARON IN HER BED is a very entertaining historical with plenty of action and a nice mystery.  From the beginning until the very end, this book keeps the reader on her toes.  Action and adventure are part and parcel of this story, and Horatia and Guy are cut out to adapt to all the mystery and intrigue.  Guy has been through a lot in his life, and those experiences, probably, make him more forward thinking in his attitude toward women.  Horatia is an independent, headstrong woman, who seeks to help the man that she loves.  There is only one part of the story in which, I wish Horatia had
been less impulsive and more prudent.  Other than this one moment, Horatia makes an admirable heroine.

All in all, A BARON IN HER BED is a wonderful, exciting historical romance, which I highly recommend.

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

Review of The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl

THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL may be purchased here.

THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL
Gina Lamm

Jamie Marten has been coasting through life, since her boyfriend left her.  Jamie has been mostly gaming online, but then her best friend gets her a job moving antiques.  While moving the antiques from a storage building, Jamie falls through a mirror and lands in the bedroom of Micah Axelby, Earl of Dunnington, almost two hundred years in the past.  When Micah discovers Jamie in modern summer clothes in his bed, he thinks that she is trying to seduce him.  But since Jamie injured her head tripping on Micah's dog, Baron, he allows her to stay and recover. 

THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL is a time travel romance with some amusing moments but a heroine, who has some TSTL moments.  Jamie is supposed to be intelligent, but, at times, is anything but prudent.  I found this annoying and wish, that she had not been so impulsive.  Micah is a great hero, described as a Colin Firth look-alike, but he is a little too stubborn in his efforts to protect Jamie.  With that said, I'm glad that the author offered up a reasonable explanation for the time travel.  I have read several books that lacked a viable explanation for the time travel, and it made the book a lot less enjoyable. 

All in all, THE GEEK GIRL AND THE SCANDALOUS EARL is a nice read, but I wish the heroine was a little less impulsive.

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

Momma Told Me: Spring Fashionista Event: $125 Barefoot Tess Givea...

Momma Told Me: Spring Fashionista Event: $125 Barefoot Tess Givea...:   The Spring Fashionista Event is FINALLY HERE, and we've got 2 wonderful giveaways to share with you! If you've arrived her...