Review: A Scot in the Dark

A SCOT IN THE DARK
Scandal & Scoundrel #2
Sarah MacLean
Historical Romance
352 pages
Avon
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Lonesome Lily Turned Scandalous Siren

Miss Lillian Hargrove has lived much of her life alone in a gilded cage, longing for love and companionship. When an artist offers her pretty promises and begs her to pose for a scandalous portrait, Lily doesn't hesitate...until the lying libertine leaves her in disgrace. With the painting now public, Lily has no choice but to turn to the one man who might save her from ruin.

Highland Devil turned Halfhearted Duke

The Duke of Warnick loathes all things English, none more so than the aristocracy. It does not matter that the imposing Scotsman has inherited one of the most venerable dukedoms in Britain—he wants nothing to do with it, especially when he discovers that the unwanted title comes with a troublesome ward, one who is far too old and far too beautiful to be his problem.

Tartan Comes to Town

Warnick arrives in London with a single goal: get the chit married and see her become someone else's problem, then return to a normal, quiet life in Scotland. It's the perfect plan, until Lily declares she'll only marry for love...and the Scot finds that there is one thing in England he likes far too much...

MY THOUGHTS
Sarah MacLean's historical romances never disappoint, and we are again treated to her outstanding characterization in A Scot in the Dark as a vaguely Beauty and the Beast-esque pairing delights from beginning to end.

Aside from the fact that Lily's beauty is a bit overstated, coming up time and again throughout, she herself is only aware of it on the periphery, as something people say about her as though she's not flesh and blood but rather a set of symmetrical features perfectly placed to aesthetically pleasing results. She's neither fixated on her looks nor bolstered by them, instead we find ourselves faced with a young woman at her most vulnerable thanks to the charms of manipulative artist and a society that thrives on a double standard. Though she's lived an extraordinarily solitary life and is facing a scandal that has all of London foaming at the mouth, she refuses to allow Alec to walk all over her when he arrives to "handle" her predicament. She stands her ground when he seeks to hand her off to any titled man in desperate need of a substantial dowry, puts him in his place when necessary, and keeps her head up when the whispering and pointed looks follow her at any public function.

Alec plays a rather classic role in terms of romance heroes, convinced he's not worthy of Lily once he realizes he's attracted to her and willing to push her away at every turn in order to save her from sullying herself further with him. Despite that familiar trait though, he's still big, brawny, and of course Scottish, a lethal combination when it comes to making us swoon, and watching as his path paved with good intentions leads him to hell in the form of a fiery redhead who knows what she wants is nothing short of glorious.

Overall, A Scot in the Dark is a fun follow-up to The Rogue Not Taken, a beautifully vulnerable lead pair ensuring we're emotionally invested in their story, and the infamous Talbot sisters proving themselves to be scene-stealers in their secondary roles as we look forward to one of them stepping into the limelight next.

Rating; 4/5

Find Sarah:

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Review: The Soldier's Scoundrel

THE SOLDIER'S SCOUNDREL
Cat Sebastian
M/M Historical Romance
352 pages
Avon
Available September 20th
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
A scoundrel who lives in the shadows

Jack Turner grew up in the darkness of London's slums, born into a life of crime and willing to do anything to keep his belly full and his siblings safe. Now he uses the tricks and schemes of the underworld to help those who need the kind of assistance only a scoundrel can provide. His distrust of the nobility runs deep and his services do not extend to the gorgeous high-born soldier who personifies everything Jack will never be.

A soldier untarnished by vice

After the chaos of war, Oliver Rivington craves the safe predictability of a gentleman's life-one that doesn't include sparring with a ne'er-do-well who flouts the law at every turn. But Jack tempts Oliver like no other man has before. Soon his yearning for the unapologetic criminal is only matched by Jack's pleasure in watching his genteel polish crumble every time they're together.

Two men only meant for each other

MY THOUGHTS 
The Soldier's Scoundrel is a delightful M/M historical romance, both our heroes strong and vulnerable at the same time as they navigate their fledgling relationship as well as attempt to unravel a case of blackmail.

Jack Turner is very decidedly not a gentleman. He merits no invitations to balls or any other kind of polite Society function, and he's all the more glad for it. His comfort zone is one a little less in the limelight and a little more in the shadows, helping those the law isn't always able to with a devil-may-care grin on his face. When he's given little other choice than to team up with Oliver, the very definition of a Gentleman, he does so grudgingly, and we're treated to a mildly antagonistic relationship that simmers with more than a little heat. He of course holds Oliver's status as the son of an earl against him, but does so in a flirtatious manner that often takes the sting out of his words, and as he begins to see the man behind the title, he thankfully doesn't fight too hard to let it be an insurmountable obstacle between them.

Oliver, for his part, can't assign many positive attributes to Jack initially either, intent on proving Jack's way of "helping" people involves much darker deeds than it actually does, and finding it hard to trust that what he sees with Jack is what he gets. The two of them together are a delicious tangle of banter and chemistry, pushing each other's buttons on purpose just to incite a reaction but never going so far as to cause unnecessary drama or angst. Though this pair isn't overly chatty when it comes to their feelings, they don't shy away from them either, communicating effectively when things go amiss and remedying the various disagreements and missteps before hurt feelings have time to fester.

Overall, The Soldier's Scoundrel is a joy of a historical romance from beginning to end, giving us a memorable couple, plenty of tension sexual and otherwise, and of course the desired happy ending to top it all off.

Rating: 4/5

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This book was sent to me by the publisher  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review: If I Only Had a Duke

IF I ONLY HAD A DUKE
The Disgraceful Dukes #2
Lenora Bell
Historical Romance
384 pages
Avon
Available August 30th
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
After four failed seasons and a disastrous jilting, Lady Dorothea Beaumont has had more than enough of her family’s scheming. She won’t domesticate a duke, entangle an earl, or vie for a viscount. She will quietly exit to her aunt’s Irish estate for a life of blissful freedom. Until an arrogant, sinfully handsome duke singles her out for a waltz, making Thea the most popular belle of the season.

The duke ruined her plans and he’ll just have to fix them.

Dalton, Duke of Osborne, is far too heartless for debutantes or marriage—he uses dalliances and public spectacle to distract from his real purpose: finding the man who destroyed his family. When his search leads to Ireland, the last thing he needs is the determined, achingly innocent Thea, who arrives in the dead of night demanding he escort her to her aunt. His foolish agreement may prove his undoing. The road to the Emerald Isle is fraught with unforeseen dangers, but the greatest peril of all might just be discovering that he has a heart...and he’s losing it to Thea.

MY THOUGHTS
Lenora Bell wowed with her historical debut How the Duke Was Won, and has followed it up with an utterly delightful sequel.

Thea is the woman her half-sister Charlene was hired to impersonate in the first book, making a brief appearance toward the end before stepping into the limelight in this second installment. While she ticks every single box Society requires for young ladies of the Ton, she has absolutely no interest in being an accessory who toddles behind her husband when he makes public appearances. Instead, she desires a quieter life in Ireland, studying female painters relegated to obscurity due to their gender rather than their talent, but though she longs for quiet, she's not afraid to reveal a wicked sense of humor and a backbone of steel to ensure she gets it. She refuses to take no for an answer (in a shows-gumption rather than irritating kind of way), and proves herself to be a rescuer of dukes every bit as much as the Duke is a rescuer of damsels in distress.

Dalton is of course the perfect counterpoint to Thea, a touch more severe where she shows a bit of whimsy and an ability to adapt to various situations with a smile on her face, but he knows how to turn on the charm and send a girl's thoughts spiraling straight into the gutter. He's on a mission to avenge his younger brother's murder at the age of five, and though he has neither the time nor the inclination for a female companion on his quest for vengeance, he can't help but be amused by Thea's approach to life. Around the three quarter mark he is guilty of the classic "you're too good for me so I'm going to push you away" move, but Thea holds her own and the drama shifts from inside the relationship to outside quickly enough that we're swept up in the dangers a wayward journey holds before we can work up any frustration.

Overall, If I Only Had a Duke is every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor, and Ms. Bell is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me in this genre.

Rating: 4/5

Find Lenora:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review: Do You Want to Start a Scandal

DO YOU WANT TO START A SCANDAL
Spindle Cove #5
Tessa Dare
Historical Romance
Avon
Available September 27th
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library.
•Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan?
•Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall?
•Perhaps the butler did it.

All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.

But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit … and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.

Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?

MY THOUGHTS
The entire Spindle Cove series is a must-read for those who want a lot of humor with their heat, but this fifth installment is arguably the best yet. With the trademark sexual chemistry Ms. Dare does so well comes a number of laugh out loud moments that have us wanting to start from the beginning as soon as we read the last page.

Charlotte has been a secondary character from book one, her delightfully quirky sisters and completely outrageous matchmaking mother scene-stealers every time they appeared on page. Now sliding into the role of heroine Charolotte makes us fall in love with her all over again, somehow having emerged from her upbringing with the ability to find humor in her mother's desperate attempts to find advantageous marriages for her daughters. She knows people laugh at her family and keep their distance so that her reputation doesn't bleed from her person and stain theirs should they stand too close, and yet she still holds her head up high and approaches every situation with a joy for life we can only admire.

While Piers is everything a historical romance hero should be and certainly worthy of a full paragraph (and more, but I write relatively short reviews ;-) dedicated to his many delicious attributes, there are a couple scenes in this book that cannot go without mentioning. One involves a mother-daughter "what to expect on your wedding night" chat complete with fruit and vegetable visual aides, and another involves a too-truthful perfume shop owner and the many ingredients involved in the making of various fragrances. The entire book is sure to win readers over with ease, but those two moments are particular highlights, and should have you adding this book to your lists as soon as possible.

Though this is the fifth installment and the Highwoods have been players in the previous books, Charlotte's story does stand on its own in terms of the romance, and will certainly cause all who pick it up to trip over themselves in their haste to collect the whole series.

Rating: 5/5

Find Tessa:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Friday Fun

Happy Friday Everyone!

Instead of revealing a cover today, I wanted to instead share a few fun things that have been going on in both my reading world and my personal one:) I'm going to do kind of a mashup between Christina's Friday Five and Kim's Sunday Post, so thank you to both of them for the ideas!

WHAT I'M WATCHING

The Olympics! Of course. I look forward to watching every day, appreciating all the athleticism I myself will never possess. I love the big events like gymnastics and swimming, but given I grew up on the competitive equestrian circuit, the showjumping events are what I most look forward to. Those start on Sunday I believe and you can bet I'll be sprawled on my couch avidly watching.

So. My husband and I got Netflix about 3 months ago and we have been binge-watching all 10 seasons of Supernatural ever since. We're about halfway through the final season (on Netflix anyway, I think the show is on season 11? 12?), and Sam and Dean have yet to get old for me. I liked the earlier seasons where we got more of the individual ghost/monster/paranormal creepiness episodes a bit better than the epic demon vs. angel showdown of the later seasons, but overall definitely a winner!

JUST FINISHED

How To Start a Scandal

My attempt to keep my laughter silent while reading this shook the bed so hard I actually woke my husband up. Oops. Tessa Dare's books always have her trademark humor, but Charlotte's book was for me her most delightful yet. Historical romance lovers, add this to your lists immediately! My full review will be up in a couple weeks.

CURRENTLY READING

If I Only Had a Duke

I'm on a historical romance kick as you can see, and so far I'm really enjoying this one. I adored the first book, How the Duke Was Won, so I jumped on this as soon as I saw it come up for review. I'm only a few chapters in, but there's already so much great chemistry between these two, and the synopsis promises a fun romp through Ireland, so I have little doubt it's going to end as strong as it's started.

UP NEXT

Three Truths and a Lie

It's been a little while since I've read a YA mystery/thriller so I'm looking forward to this! What do we think?:

A weekend retreat in the woods and an innocent game of three truths and a lie go horribly wrong in this high-octane psychological thriller filled with romantic suspense by a Lambda Award–winning author.

Deep in the forest, four friends gather for a weekend of fun.

Truth #1: Rob is thrilled about the weekend trip. It’s the perfect time for him to break out of his shell…to be the person he really, really wants to be.

Truth #2: Liam, Rob’s boyfriend, is nothing short of perfect. He’s everything Rob could have wanted. They’re perfect together. Perfect.

Truth #3: Mia has been Liam’s best friend for years…long before Rob came along. They get each other in a way Rob could never, will never, understand.

Truth #4: Galen, Mia’s boyfriend, is sweet, handsome, and incredibly charming. He’s the definition of a Golden Boy…even with the secrets up his sleeve.

One of these truths is a lie…and not everyone will live to find out which one it is.

DOGGIE LIFE

Life with the girls has been really good lately, the adjustment after adding Mya to our family starting to smooth out and she's finally starting to really settle in. The past four months have been really challenging given Mya's abusive past and subsequent trust/fear issues (more a result of our inexperience with such issues than anything else), and there were more than a few times when we felt way out of our depth. I've done a ton of research on fear behaviors though, and have been working hard to build her confidence when she starts to struggle. She's an amazing dog though, and we're so proud of how far she's come! She and Gracie are getting along as beautifully as they have since the moment they met, and they make me smile every single day:)

Hope you guys have wonderful weekends!

Review: Marrying Winterborne

MARRYING WINTERBORNE
The Ravenels #2
Lisa Kleypas
Historical Romance
Avon
416 pages
Available Now
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
A ruthless tycoon

Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better…

A sheltered beauty

Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society. Yet Rhys’s determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion. Helen’s gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband. As Rhys’s enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret. The risks are unthinkable… the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss. And it all begins with…

Marrying Mr. Winterborne

MY THOUGHTS

Marrying Winterborne is everything those who fell in love with Helen and Rhys in book one could hope for, the sparks between them building with every page even as as we uncover a secret about Helen's lineage that could bring their house of cards toppling down.

Helen, despite being the epitome of a well-bred young lady in Society, has the kind of gusto that makes her easy to fall in love with, taking it upon herself to confront Rhys in the opening pages after a misunderstanding has him calling off their engagement. While Rhys would have many a genteel lady quivering in fear with the full force of his personality, Helen admirably stands her ground (and then falls into his bed – not that we can blame her), demanding he listen to her when he would let his alpha male side get the better of him. While she does keep a big secret from him for majority of the book–something that can be needlessly stressful–her reasons for doing so are understandable, and when the big reveal does take place, we're thankfully spared a huge dramatic scene followed by chapters of angst before everything is resolved.

Rhys is as swoon-worthy as they come, a self-made businessman who's kept his rough edges instead of allowing Society to buff them smooth once his wealth became noteworthy. He can be delightfully blunt at times and runs a tight ship when it comes to his department store, but his hard lines and imposing personality are tempered by a sweet desire to make a woman he sees as above him as happy as he can. When he uncovers Helen's secret, he keeps the fireworks to a minimum, showing us just how sexy possessiveness can be (in the context of a romance) without doing unnecessary damage to everything they'd built over the previous four hundred pages.

Overall, Marrying Winterborne is the kind of romance that brings a smile to our faces as much as it does a blush to our cheeks, and is highly recommended both for longtime lovers of the genre as well as those who want to experience it for the very first time.

Rating: 4.5/5

Find Lisa

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion. 

Review: How The Duke Was Won

HOW THE DUKE WAS WON
The Disgraceful Dukes #1
Lenora Bell
Historical Romance
384 pages
Avon
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
The pleasure of your company is requested at Warbury Park. Four lovely ladies will arrive… but only one can become a duchess.

James, the scandalously uncivilized Duke of Harland, requires a bride with a spotless reputation for a strictly business arrangement. Lust is prohibited and love is out of the question.

Four ladies. Three days. What could go wrong?

She is not like the others…

Charlene Beckett, the unacknowledged daughter of an earl and a courtesan, has just been offered a life-altering fortune to pose as her half-sister, Lady Dorothea, and win the duke’s proposal. All she must do is:

* Be the perfect English rose [Ha!]

* Breathe, smile, and curtsy in impossibly tight gowns [blast Lady Dorothea’s sylph-like figure]

* Charm and seduce a wild duke [without appearing to try]

* Keep said duke far, far from her heart [no matter how tempting]

When secrets are revealed and passion overwhelms, James must decide if the last lady he should want is really everything he needs. And Charlene must decide if the promise of a new life is worth risking everything . . . including her heart.

MY THOUGHTS
How the Duke Was Won is a gem of a historical romance, making us swoon and laugh our way through James and Charlene's matrimonial journey until we regrettably find ourselves turning the last page.

Romances involving a mistaken identity can often be a source of stress, causing us to be so focused on the impending reveal that it's hard to get caught up in the fledgling relationship, but Ms. Bell makes this familiar trope work oh-so well. Instead of posing as her half-sister for some sort of revenge or spy-based plot, Charlene simply seeks the financial means to save herself and her sister from the courtesan life awaiting them thanks to their mother. She bears no ill-will toward James, nor is she interested in keeping tabs on him to uncover his darkest secrets and blackmail him, he's simply a job for her and one she plans to execute to the best of her ability.

Of course things become infinitely more complicated the more time they spend together, Charlene finding in him someone she never expected in a wealthy duke with a terrible reputation. Their interactions bring both a smile to our lips and heat to our cheeks, Charlene often struggling to impersonate the epitome of refinement and Societal elegance and instead slipping and calling things as she sees them. Her fellow competitors for the title of duchess also add a great deal of humor to this story, with one in particular standing out so much that we can't help but hope she gets her own book in the not-too distant future.

Overall, How the Duke Was Won is engaging from beginning to end, the perfect blend of chemistry, intimacy, and emotional connection with a side of cute banter and laugh out loud moments.

Rating: 4.5/5

Find Lenora:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review: A Good Rogue is Hard to Find

A GOOD ROGUE IS HARD TO FIND
The Lords of Worth #2
Kelly Bowen
Historical Romance
368 pages
Forever
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
HE THOUGHT HE'D SEEN IT ALL . . .

The rogue's life has been good to William Somerhall: He has his fortune, his racehorses, and his freedom. Then he moves in with his mother. It seems the eccentric Dowager Duchess of Worth has been barely skirting social disaster-assisted by one Miss Jenna Hughes, who is far too bright and beautiful to be wasting her youth as a paid companion. Now home to keep his mother from ruin, William intends to learn what's afoot by keeping his friends close-and the tempting Miss Hughes closer still.

. . . UNTIL HE MEETS HER

He's tall, dark, and damnably intelligent-unfortunately for Jenna. She and the duchess are in the "redistribution business," taking from the rich and giving to the poor, and it's going great - until he shows up. But even as William plots to make an honest woman out of her, Jenna will use all her wiles to reveal just how bad a rogue he can be . . .

MY THOUGHTS
A Good Rogue is Hard to Find is an outstanding second installment in the Lords of Worth series, focusing on the inner workings of a family who existed on the periphery of the first book and absolutely stole the show every time they appeared. 

Despite the serious nature of the job the hero and heroine of book one undertake as their romance unfolds, there were select laugh out loud moments when a duchess backing their cause played up her eccentric reputation and created a spectacle of herself in public to distract from more covert operations. That duchess is front and center of this second book, with her son William and her "paid companion" Jenna our new romantic leads, and her antics give this installment a much lighter feel than we found in the start of this series. Her love for allowing live poultry to run amok during dinner parties and balls just to watch the feathers fly and the chaos ensue brings a smile to our faces throughout, knowing she's playing her part so that she and Jenna can continue to help those less fortunate.

William, for his part, takes just a little time to warm to simply because he threatens to be a wrench in the well-oiled machine that is Jenna and the Dowager Duchess of Worth (and it's impossible not to be rooting for the two of them to stick it to those members of the Ton who believe social status trumps the need to be a decent person). It doesn't take long for William to find his way into our good graces though, and his pursuit of Jenna is nothing if not swoon-worthy. Though he at times forgets that his title keeps a true relationship between them from ever becoming a reality, Jenna is quick to remind both him and herself, ensuring she doesn't get too swept up in something that can never be. Her honesty (about everything save the exact specifics of her role in taking from the rich to give to the poor that is) is one of her finest attributes, calling things as she sees them without dwelling on any words or actions that might initially leave a mark, and always moving forward toward achieving her goal of helping others.

Overall, A Good Rogue is Hard to Find is a quick and enormously fun read, the Dowager Duchess's relationship with Jenna ensuring we can't turn the pages fast enough to see what scheme the two of them will cook up next, while the romance with William adds a delightful flush to our cheeks and an immediate desire to pick up the next book as soon as we close the back cover.

Rating: 4/5

Find Kelly:

 

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Review (+ Giveaway!): The Rogue Not Taken

THE ROGUE NOT TAKEN
Scandal & Scoundrel #1
Sarah MacLean
Historical Romance
384 pages
Avon
Available Now
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Lady Sophie’s Society Splash
 
When Sophie, the least interesting of the Talbot sisters, lands her philandering brother-in-law backside-first in a goldfish pond in front of all society, she becomes the target of very public aristocratic scorn. Her only choice is to flee London, vowing to start a new life far from the aristocracy. Unfortunately, the carriage in which she stows away isn’t saving her from ruin . . . it’s filled with it.

Rogue’s Reign of Ravishment!
Kingscote, “King,” the Marquess of Eversley, has never met a woman he couldn’t charm, resulting in a reputation far worse than the truth, a general sense that he’s more pretty face than proper gentleman, and an irate summons home to the Scottish border. When King discovers stowaway Sophie, however, the journey becomes anything but boring.

War? Or More?
 
He thinks she’s trying to trick him into marriage. She wouldn’t have him if he were the last man on earth. But carriages bring close quarters, dark secrets, and unbearable temptation, making opposites altogether too attractive . . .

MY THOUGHTS
The Rogue Not Taken is historical romance at its finest, giving us a relationship full of the very best kind of angst as our hero and heroine navigate the pitfalls of aristocratic society in order to be together. Normally a word like “angst” in reference to a romance of any kind would be a mark against it rather than for, but in the hands of Ms. MacLean we find the kind of angst that leaves a dull ache in our chests as we live and breathe with the characters until we reach their happy ending.

Sophie is an unforgettable heroine, standing up for her sister in the opening chapters in a way that has us cheering aloud and startling those around us, but in giving the Ton a dose of the truth they so rightfully deserve, she finds more trouble than she intended. What follows is an adventure full of physical pain, emotional heartbreak and utter joy, and we find ourselves experiencing the gamut of those emotions with her every step of the way. She’s unafraid to tell King exactly what she’s thinking or feeling and refuses to shrink away when his sharp words hit their mark, instead letting him see that while her emotional armor isn’t impenetrable, she’s not defenseless either.

King is a man who learns Sophie’s sore spots quickly and exploits them ruthlessly in the beginning, earning a narrowed gaze from us time and again as we prepare to punch the book in the hopes that he’ll feel it, but he also knows how to make up for harsh words both intentional and careless. He’s therefore incredibly hard to stay mad at for too long, especially when Sophie handles herself so beautifully, and we’re able to easily root for him to get out of his own way and see how perfect Sophie is for him. Of course it takes him until nearly the final chapter to realize what he has in Sophie, but their initial hostility and then comfortable banter has us smiling all the while even as our hearts constrict when he stumbles and winds up hurting her.

Overall, The Rogue Not Taken is a historical romance for the favorites shelf, Sophie and King both strong and vulnerable in equal measure, and their relationship is the type that has us itching to start again at the beginning as soon as we turn the last page.

Rating: 4.5/5

Find The Rogue Not Taken:

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• • • • • • • • • • • • •

SARAH MACLEAN

Sarah MacLean grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance and bemoaning the fact that she was born far too late for her own season. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book.

Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, baby daughter, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers.

Website • Facebook • Twitter 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will receive a complete set of the print editions of all books in the Rule of Scoundrels series (A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME, ONE GOOD EARL DESERVES A LOVER, NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED, and NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER)!  To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

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Review: I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm

I'VE GOT MY DUKE TO KEEP ME WARM
The Lords of Worth #1
Kelly Bowen
Historical Romance
323 pages
Hachette
Available Now
Source: Bought
(Thanks for the recommendation Amanda & Felicia!)

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Where Secrets Smolder...

Calm. Cool. Collected. Gisele Whitby has perfected the art of illusion—her survival, after all, has depended upon it. Years ago, to escape an abusive husband, Gisele "disappeared." Now she must risk revealing her new identity to save another innocent girl from the same fate. But she needs a daring man for her scheme, and the rogue in question shows a remarkable talent . . . for shattering Gisele's carefully constructed façade and igniting her deepest desires.

...Passion Ignites.

This isn't the first time Jamie Montcrief has awakened naked and confused from a night of drinking. It is, however, the first time a stunningly beautiful woman offers him payment afterward. Gisele has a business proposition for him, a mission involving cunning thievery and a brazen rescue. How can he say no to a plot this dangerous . . . and a woman this delectable?

MY THOUGHTS
I’ve Got My Duke To Keep Me Warm has a deceptively light title and cover, a sweet, carefree young woman twirling in the snow a far cry from the horrors heroine Gisele was forced to endure at the hands of her husband. Though the packaging doesn’t quite fit the tone of this tale, the story itself is outstanding, giving us a woman brave beyond measure who’s determined to give other women the freedom the rules of society at this time deny them.

For much of this story we can only guess what physical, emotional and sexual abuse Gisele suffered thanks to her husband's sadistic streak before she faked her own death and made her escape, but we don’t need all the gory details to find ourselves in awe of her strength from the first page. When she learns he’s to marry again (years later) her first thought is of the poor woman to be passed from father to husband as property, and instead of allowing her memories and past trauma to rule her, she strides boldly forward to save his new bride just as she was able to save herself.

Despite all that’s happened to her, she surprisingly doesn’t have a crippling fear of physical intimacy, allowing her romance with new partner in life-saving crime Jamie to proceed perhaps more quickly than we initially might have thought. That’s in no way a complaint however, instead it’s refreshing to see Gisele try to rebuild that part of her life and reclaim ownership of her body and her desire, thus cutting the final threads that tie her to her husband.

The plan Gisele, Jamie, and a stellar group of secondary characters hatch to keep the wedding from moving forward as planned is a darkly brilliant one, and watching as Gisele ever-so kindly provides her husband the rope with which to hang himself is nothing short of immensely satisfying. Overall, I’ve Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm is a page-turner of a romance, the desire to see Gisele and Jamie together equal to the desire to see Gisele’s husband get what’s coming to him, driving us to read as fast as possible to get to our much needed happily ever after.

Rating: 4.5/5
 

Find Kelly:

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*I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm is currently only $.99 on Amazon! Win.

Review: Sweetest Scoundrel

SWEETEST SCOUNDREL
Maiden Lane #9
Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance
352 pages
Grand Central Publishing
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
SHE'S TAKING CHARGE

Prim, proper, and thrifty, Eve Dinwoody is all business when it comes to protecting her brother's investment. But when she agrees to control the purse strings of London's premier pleasure garden, Harte's Folly, she finds herself butting heads with an infuriating scoundrel who can't be controlled.

HE'S RUNNING THE SHOW

Bawdy and bold, Asa Makepeace doesn't have time for a penny-pinching prude like Eve. As the garden's larger-than-life owner, he's already dealing with self-centered sopranos and temperamental tenors. He's not about to let an aristocratic woman boss him around . . . no matter how enticing she is.

BUT LOVE CONQUERS ALL

In spite of her lack of theatrical experience—and her fiery clashes with Asa—Eve is determined to turn Harte's Folly into a smashing success. But the harder she tries to manage the stubborn rake, the harder it is to ignore his seductive charm and raw magnetism. There's no denying the smoldering fire between them—and trying to put it out would be the greatest folly of all.

MY THOUGHTS
Despite being the 9th installment of the Maiden Lane series, Sweetest Scoundrel easily stands on its own, giving us a damaged fighter of a heroine and a powerfully intense hero who together keep us riveted as they walk a long, slow path to the bedroom.

Eve is a young woman with baggage, fearful of dogs and even the barest of touches from a man she doesn’t know for reasons we can only guess for most of the book, but even at her lowest point she never appears weak. She goes toe to toe with Asa from the beginning, her position as her brother’s man of business when it comes to Asa's loan giving her the opportunity to show that he can neither charm nor strong arm her into seeing things his way. When things start to shift in a romantic direction, her innocent curiosity is nothing short of adorable, proving there is strength to be found in allowing someone else to guide you.

Asa is the type of man not as commonly found in historical romances in terms of his aptitude for protective violence and his filthy mouth, and he’s nothing short of swoon-worthy as a result. He’s rough around the edges in more ways than simply being a "rogue", completely dedicated to getting his theater reopened after it burned down and not above putting the fear of God in those around him in order to see the work gets done. While he doesn’t necessarily rein himself in with Eve, he does show a great deal of patience, recognizing the markers of past damage and respecting them while still pushing her to see that he’s a man she can trust with her mind and body. He never promises her heart is safe with him however, but the drama between them in the concluding chapters is just enough to give our hearts a painful twinge before our happy ending arrives right on cue.

Overall, Sweetest Scoundrel is everything we could want in a romance–no matter the genre–with Eve and Asa being the kind of couple we want to revisit again and again just for the flush they bring to our cheeks and the smile to our faces.

Rating: 4.5/5
 

Find Elizabeth:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review: Lord Dashwood Missed Out

LORD DASHWOOD MISSED OUT
Spindle Cove #4.5
Tessa Dare
Historical Romance
144 pages
Avon
Available December 8th
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
A snowstorm hath no fury like a spinster scorned!

Miss Elinora Browning grew up yearning for the handsome, intelligent lord-next-door…but he left England without a word of farewell. One night, inspired by a bit too much sherry, Nora poured out her heartbreak on paper. Lord Dashwood Missed Out was a love letter to every young lady who’d been overlooked by gentlemen—and an instant bestseller. Now she’s on her way to speak in Spindle Cove when snowy weather delays her coach. She’s forced to wait out the storm with the worst possible companion: Lord Dashwood himself.

And he finally seems to have noticed her.

George Travers, Lord Dashwood, has traveled the globe as a cartographer. He returned to England with the goal of marrying and creating an heir--only to find his reputation shredded by an audacious, vexingly attractive bluestocking and her poison pen. Lord Dashwood Missed Out, his arse. Since Nora Browning seems to believe he overlooked the passion of a lifetime, Dash challenges her to prove it.

She has one night.

MY THOUGHTS
Lord Dashwood Missed Out is an all-too fleeting return to the Spindle Cove world, one that delights us once again with Ms. Dare’s trademark sense of humor and a cast of characters who never take themselves too seriously.

Nora is a joy of a heroine, a young woman who had a crush on a friend of the family growing up and dreamed of the time when her fantasies of a wedding and children would finally become a reality. What awaited her instead was heartbreak and loneliness as Lord Ashwood took off to travel the world, but not before he made it glaringly obvious that he was aware of her feelings and didn’t return them. While we don’t know all the details until midway through, we can more than relate to Nora’s unrequited crush and the pain that accompanies such a thing, and we can’t help but applaud her for writing an essay encouraging young women like herself to find worth in themselves rather than in a proper marriage as decided by the Ton.

Lord Ashwood has some serious groveling to do from the first page as our solidarity lies firmly with Nora even without knowing the whys behind his actions, but Ms. Dare of course beautifully redeems him (eventually that is, he earns a narrowed eye or two along the way) with warmth, humility and humor. While their romance is unfortunately brief (this is a novella) and Nora forgives a touch too easily, both things are easily overlooked as we glory in characters who always leave us hoping for more time with them.

A review for this series wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Mrs. Highwood, a woman so hilariously unrelenting in the pursuit of an advantageous marriage for her youngest daughter that we can’t help but smile at her every appearance on page. If you’ve yet to experience the Spindle Cove series and are a fan of historical romance, I can’t recommend these books highly enough!

Rating: 4/5
 

Find Tessa:

  Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review: The Wrong Bride

THE WRONG BRIDE
Highland Weddings #1
Gayle Callen
Historical Romance
384 pages
Avon
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Shaken from sleep during the night and bundled off to the Highlands by a burly Scot, Riona is at first terrified, then livid. Hugh McCallum insists they were promised to each other as children to ensure peace between their clans. The stubborn laird refuses to believe he's kidnapped the wrong Catriona Duff. Instead, he embarks on a campaign of slow-burning seduction.

At first, Hugh cares only what their marriage can do for his people. Now he's starting to crave Riona for her own sake, but her true identity jeopardizes his clan's contract. And unless she chooses to risk all to be his bride, he'll lose the only thing he prizes more than the lands he's fought so hard to save—the passionate marriage they could have together.

MY THOUGHTS
The Wrong Bride draws us in immediately as Riona's grabbed from her bed in the middle of the night and forced to travel cross country to the home of the McCallum Clan. In certain instances stories dealing with mistaken identity can be hugely stressful, anxiety over the moment everything comes to light keeping us from fully settling in, but thankfully in this case Riona is upfront from the beginning. She tries time and again to explain Hugh's error to him, and while he doesn't believe her until the concluding chapters, knowing she's not willingly keeping information from him makes for a much more enjoyable romance.

Hugh is everything that's to be expected of a highland hero; big, strapping and completely dedicated to the well-being of his clan. Though being a kidnapper of innocent women isn't much of a mark in his favor initially, he's nothing but patient with Riona as she struggles with the unfortunate events that marked the beginning of their courtship. He's more than willing to put in the time and effort to get to know her as a person, wanting their marriage to be a happy one despite its rocky start, and if that takes a little teasing and seducing, then so be it.

Riona is a bit trickier of a character, her initial outrage over her kidnapping warranted and the wariness that persists understandable, but she continues to fight Hugh (and herself) emotionally for so long that it's hard to believe she's actually come to love him by the end. The more she starts to warm to him physically, the more she chastises herself and then takes that anger out on him, and we're forced to bear witness to this internal struggle until the end when she finally comes to the realization that she actually wants to be his wife. Part of the frustration with her stems from the fact that we're experiencing her relationship with Hugh in the context of a romance novel, so we know that Hugh is the hero and a fundamentally good man from the get-go, something she obviously doesn't have the benefit of knowing with any certainty. That being said though, the way in which she continues to fight her new circumstances–refusing to try to get to know him and plotting to reveal her true identity to one of his high-ranked clansman–gets tedious after several hundred pages.

Overall, The Wrong Bride gives us a strapping Scottish hero desperately trying to make up for his late drunk of a father's cruel mistakes regarding his people, but we can't help but wish he had a heroine who showed more interest earlier so that we could have seen more of their dynamics as a couple. The concluding chapters introduce us to what will presumably be the lead couple in the next book, and Maggie and Owen's relationship leaves us with more than a little anticipation as we look ahead.

Rating: 3.5/5

Find Gayle:

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review: Cold-Hearted Rake

COLD-HEARTED RAKE
Cold-Hearted Rake #1
Lisa Kleypas
Historical Romance
Avon
416 pages
Available Now
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
A twist of fate . . .

Devon Ravenel, London's most wickedly charming rake, has just inherited an earldom. But his powerful new rank in society comes with unwanted responsibilities . . . and more than a few surprises. His estate is saddled with debt, and the late earl's three innocent sisters are still occupying the house . . . along with Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow whose sharp wit and determination are a match for Devon's own.

A clash of wills . . .

Kathleen knows better than to trust a ruthless scoundrel like Devon. But the fiery attraction between them is impossible to deny—and from the first moment Devon holds her in his arms, he vows to do whatever it takes to possess her. As Kathleen finds herself yielding to his skillfully erotic seduction, only one question remains:

Can she keep from surrendering her heart to the most dangerous man she's ever known?

MY THOUGHTS
Cold-Hearted Rake starts out strong, sparks (of the antagonistic variety) flying the moment Kathleen and Devon meet as Devon's intense dislike of both his cousin and an honest day's work spills over onto his cousin's widow. Their tempestuous relationship brings a smile to our faces from the get-go, allowng us to settle in immediately as we brace ourselves for what is sure to be one hell of a ride as these two prepare to do battle over whose temper runs hotter.

After a flurry of entertaining enmity in the opening chapters however, the pace of this romance slows to a crawl, Kathleen's obligatory mourning period for her late husband as well as Devon's responsibilities in running his newly inherited estate keeping them apart for months here and there. As a result, the initial fire we felt between them has time to cool, all the details about the various repairs the manor needs as well as the day to day household activities (which are at least entertaining thanks to Kathleen's hilarious sister in laws) keeping us more removed from the romance than we might like. Once Devon returns to the estate, their relationship becomes the focus once again, but his arrival also brings the hero of the next book into the mix, and thus our remaining time becomes split between Kathleen and Devon and the buildup between book two's hero and heroine.

The introduction of an additional budding romance wouldn't have been a problem in the least save for the fact that Lady Helen and Winterbourne far outshine Kathleen and Devon, a beauty and the beast-type pairing between quiet, reserved Helen and dark, injured and brooding Winterbourne capturing our attention more than the continuously hot and cold relationship between our current lead couple. The back and forth between Devon and Kathleen comes to an expected head toward the end–tempers flaring and emotions serving as collateral damage–but their hurt feelings are soothed with shocking speed before their story is wrapped up with a happy bow. We're then given an epilogue that shifts the focus once again to Helen and Winterbourne, leaving us looking forward to their story with far more excitement than we'd been able to generate for Devon and Kathleen during the entirety of their relationship.

That being said however, there's still plenty to enjoy about this historical romance, a cast of secondary characters including Devon's brother and Helen's hilarious younger twin sisters making up for a bit of the spark missing from the primary relationship. Helen and Winterbourne are of course highlights as well, and their book cannot release soon enough.

Rating: 3.5/5

Find Lisa:

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This book was sent to me by the author  free of charge for the purpose of a review. 

I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

Review + Giveaway: Falling Into Bed with a Duke

FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE
The Hellions of Havisham #1
Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance
384 pages
Avon Romance
Available Now
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
In the first in a dazzling new series, New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath introduces the Hellions of Havisham—three charismatic rogues destined to lose their hearts...

After six unsuccessful Seasons, Miss Minerva Dodger chooses spinsterhood over fortune-hungry suitors. But thanks to the Nightingale Club, she can at least enjoy one night of pleasure. At that notorious establishment, ladies don masks before choosing a lover. The sinfully handsome Duke of Ashebury is more than willing to satisfy the secretive lady's desires—and draws Minerva into an exquisite, increasingly intimate affair.

A man of remarkable talents, Ashe soon deduces that his bedmate is the unconventional Miss Dodger. Intrigued by her wit and daring, he sets out to woo her in earnest. Yet Minerva refuses to trust him. How to court a woman he has already thoroughly seduced? And how to prove that the passion unleashed in darkness is only the beginning of a lifetime's pleasure?

MY THOUGHTS
Falling Into Bed with a Duke is a quick, fun read with a standout leading lady; one of those ideal historical romances that utterly satisfies while leaving us in a state of anticipation as we begin the wait for a few of the secondary characters to step forward and have their moment in the spotlight.

Minerva is a true gem of a heroine, a woman utterly uncompromising in terms of marrying only for love who sticks to her guns in humorous fashion throughout. Because her hand in marriage comes with an impressive dowry attached, she's been forced to fend off suitor after suitor suffering from any number of financial ailments, leading her to become understandably distrustful of a man's motive. Though trust doesn't come easily to her, she thankfully doesn't analyze Ashe's every word or action looking for deception, instead she simply approaches with caution while allowing herself to enjoy their relationship for what it is as well as what it isn't.

Her sharp mind and quick wit–while marks against her in the eyes of Society–endear her to us immediately, and we can do nothing but sit back and enjoy as she goes toe to toe with the men of the aristocracy. Where other ladies giggle and swoon, Minerva asks questions and gives her honest opinion, but she does so politely and often with a laugh, never coming across as overly blunt or critical as a result. She has a mean left hook and a knee she knows how to aim with unerring precision to boot, making her a force to be reckoned with in the best possible way.

Overall, Falling Into Bed with a Duke will delight lovers of historical romance, giving us a strong woman who fully accepts what Society considers to be flaws and refuses to carve out pieces of herself to fit into a more biddable mold. Watching as Ashe begins to see beyond what the peerage has taught him to look for in a woman is a joy, and I simply can't wait to scoop up whatever Ms. Heath decides to write next.

Rating: 4/5

Buy Falling Into Bed with a Duke:

HarperCollins • Amazon • B&N • iTunes • Google Play

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LORRAINE HEATH

photo courtesy of Kayla Marie Photography

LORRAINE HEATH always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals and computer code, but something was always missing. After reading a romance novel, she not only became hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including RWA’s RITA® and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her novels have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times best-seller lists.

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