Revenge should be sweet, but it may cost him everything…
The Marquis de Valère escaped certain death in the French Revolution and is now an infamous privateer. Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself astonishingly out of his depth when confronted with a beautiful, daring young woman who is out for his blood…
Forgiveness is unthinkable, but it may be her only hope…
British Admiral’s daughter Raeven Russell believes Bastien responsible for her fiancé’s death. But once the fiery beauty crosses swords with Bastien, she’s not so sure she really wants him to change his wicked ways…
This book was a pleasant surprise – so glad I picked it up to read. First off, I loved the beginning scenes with Bastien and Raeven. Very witty, cute a funny. She’s bound and determined to take revenge on him for supposedly killing her fiancé. She dresses herself as a man and challenges him to a sword fight. Then her hat falls off and Bastien is in instant lust. Raeven came across as a strong, independent and caring heroine. She was raised by her dad on a ship her whole life, so she does have a tom boy feel to her.
Bastien is not your average pirate. Of course he has a hidden or secret identity. It plays out well in this book and leaves room for more books with connecting characters. Loved his rugged yet aristocratic flair to his personality. The scene with him and Raeven at the ball when they are running from Bastien’s enemy was my favorite of this book.
There was a small lull for me of about 30 pages or so in the middle. Otherwise this book read very smoothly and was a quick nice read. Most of the book is set on Bastien’s ship – which was a great setting. I haven’t read a pirate book in a while, so this was a nice one to pick up after a long pirate free reading span. I will be looking to read more books by Shana Galen in the near future.
A deadly mission.
A thirst for revenge.
One headstrong alpha hero
and one daring woman will
settle the score.
Special operative Joe Green has gone vigilante. His mission, avenge his Black Ops.,Inc. brother’s death during a bloody ambush years ago in Sierra Leone. He refuses to drag the BOI team or his lover, Stephanie Tompkins, into the hunt for the man responsible, so when he finds himself beaten, starving, and alone after being falsely imprisoned for the murder of a Freetown priest, he knows he’s as good as dead.
Joe meant to protect Stephanie when he walked out on their relationship, but he can’t stop her now from executing his escape. Breaking him out of prison is the easy part. After Joe’s explosive theory pans out and his cunning enemy emerges as the front runner for a high level presidential appointment, he and Stephanie must race to derail the traitor’s conspiracy if they are to save their loved ones, the nation and each other.
What a way to end a series. This book ties up all the loose ends of this series and in a spectacular way. When With No Remorse ended I tried my best to get Cindy to tell me about this book. She resisted at every turn, and I have to say I’m glad.
Joe and Stephanie have been a couple for the last couple of books however it was never talked about, when this book picks up it has Joe breaking things off with Stephanie, and her finally washing her hands of him.
I loved this book from page one to the end. Joe is put in a position where he doesn’t have his team to fall back on and come to the rescue and has to rely solely on Stephanie when she discovers the real reason why he broke up with her and where he is. With the help of a young man Stephanie and Joe are able to escape and solve the mystery of what really happened when Stephanie’s brother died.
In the book With No Remorse Cindy introduced a new character Mike “DownTown” Brown and he once again makes his appereance in this book and it’s rumored that he will be the start of a new series and I have to say I can’t wait to see the woman that brings him to his knee’s.
If you have read this whole series then you will not be disappointed with this book and how it ends.
There are videos in this post so if they don’t load just hit refresh
One of my favorite people in the entire world is Jenn LeBlanc. Today we have her on to talk about her FABULOUS book The Rake and the Recluse.
Thank you Heather for hosting the WICKED blog tour! I’m so glad to be here today!
I have a few posts to write between now and March so I asked my faithful readers on Facebook what they wanted to hear from me and they came up with such GREAT suggestions that I made two posts with nothing but reader questions! It was fun, but there was one question I haven’t yet answered because it really deserves a post all to itself. This one:
Pamela: Do you listen to music while writing or shooting?
I do, both. I have a soundtrack for every book. I can tell you a little bit: Whenever Roxleigh is on his horse this song plays:
Is that a little cliché? It might be. I’ve been listening to this song for decades. Yes literally. Yes I just scared myself. Moving on. How many of you remember the movie that made it famous? Did you know the boom box was actually playing Reggae music because they didn’t have the soundtrack yet? Just a tidbit.
Also John Cusack (LOVE!!) is standing in a park, not anbywhere near anyone’s house. LOL!
Moving on!
The next song was a bit of a maundering song. Whenever Francine was sitting around the “palace” thinking about Rox, wondering about life, trying to find herself? This:
And this… when stuff happens, you know…stuff, no not THAT stuff, BAAAD stuff…it’s all Louis’ Revenge. Such a strong, powerful song. the crescendo, *swoon*
The next song, it gets me. I love U2, let me just put that right out there. SO this duet with Bono and Frank Sinatra is incredible and represents Gideon and his inability to shale these feelings he has for Francine, but it’s from Perry’s point of view because it is so fun and jovial in tone. The first few notes of Bono’s voice in this though… *dies*
And when I said I love U2? Yeah, so this one, because Gideon feels like he is saved, but he can’t find up from down and he is constantly being tripped up by the paradox in his life. Gideon is definitely tripping through Francine’s wires. He’s a hot mess. Victorian style.
And please come find me! I LOVE to chat with readers!
Blurb:
A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn’t know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.
Where to get the books:
THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE
FREEDOM : Part one brings Francine to the world of the Duke of Roxleigh, clashing worlds in first installment of the completely revised novel, with all new material.
Part THREE brings Francine and Gideon closer than they ever imagined possible, until the unimaginable tears them apart. What will Gideon do if he loses her, this time, forever?
Part FOUR is full of revelations, celebrations, protestations and one surprise that will have you holding your breath for the final chapters. What has Perry done?
Coming January 31, 2012
SUBMISSION : The Rake And The Recluse : Part Five
Perry leaves Roxleigh House without a backward glance only to be tossed headlong into one of the most difficult trials of his life. How will he protect the very thing he is dedicated to pursuing? How will a man dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure survive a woman who refuses to relent, when he knows he cannot have her.
Coming February 14, 2012
RETRIBUTION : The Rake And The Recluse : Part Six
Perry must find the woman who has managed to capture his heart, then he must find a way to keep her. Someone else is on the hunt, someone from her past who doesn’t appreciate that she still lives and breaths.
Coming February 28, 2012
NOW it’s your turn, ask me anything! Thank you for stopping by, one lucky commenter will win a full copy of the six-part serial novel as it is released. You will ALSO be entered in the grand prize #WICKEDblog tour, which will be given away on March 1, 2012. Do not forget to include your email address in your comment or you can’t be entered into the grand prize drawing.
Rules can be found HERE. A full list of all the posts in the tour can be found HERE.
It is time for our Tuesday post which will be dedicated to RomCon and all the authors who will be attending in June. This week I have chosen to highlight a couple new to me authors that I have tried.
I just finished Hostile Witness (which happens to be free so check out her site) and it was not bad. I usually don’t go for the lawyer/crime type books so a little out of my element but I would pick up another one sometime. Here is a little about Rebecca.
As an advertising executive I marketed a world-class spa when it was still called a gym, did business in China before there were western toilets and mucked around with sheep to find out how my client’s fine wool was made. Then I wrote my first book. . .
On a crazy dare, I tackled a project that would prove to be my passion – I wrote my first book. Though I had never written before, I was lucky enough to sell that novel. Many books later – including the bestselling legal thrillers, the Witness Series, and the USA Today top seller Keeping Counsel - writing is still the most exciting thing I have ever done. Now, with the emergence of e-readers like Nook, Kindle, Kobo and IPad, the world of publishing is getting even more exciting.
I earned my B.A. in English at Loyola, Chicago and my MBA at Loyola/Marymount in Los Angeles. Who knew that after all that studying I would be writing fiction fulltime? Today, instead of putting on a power suit in the morning, I pack up my computer and head out to Coffee Cartel. This is a wonderful neighborhood coffee shop where I am welcome to write as long as I want.
When I’m not at my favorite table next to the suit of armor, I am speaking to philanthropic and writers’ groups about the brave new world of publishing for Kindle, Nook and other e-readers, teaching at UCLA Writers Program or having a ball at middle schools teaching with The Young Writers Conference.
I’m one of six kids and my brothers and sisters are split between Missouri (where I was born) and California (where I grew up). My mother lives close and at 86 she can outrun me. Take a look at the photo gallery to see some pictures of our adventures. I don’t know which I loved more, Alaska or Germany.
Traveling is one of my favorite things but when I’m home I love cooking, quilting, movies (especially zombie movies), the theater and, of course, reading. It will probably come as no surprise that mystery, suspense and thrillers are my favorite novels. A tomboy at heart, I’ve played in a local tennis league for the last 14 years. My favorite shot? The backhand volley at the net.
I have been married for 34 years to a man I met in high school but don’t jump to any conclusions. When Harry met Sally could have been our story. He is a superior court judge and helps me when I need to research crucial scenes for my legal thrillers – I always have to fix a special dinner though to get the inside scoop on things.
I’m am the proud mother of two grown sons. Alex is in film and Eric is a playwright now serving in the Peace Corps in Albania (we’ll be traveling to his village soon and I can’t wait). Both are exceptional young men and I am proud that they are following in my creative footsteps.
I just picked up A One-of-a-Kind Family yesterday and so far it is really good, can’t wait to finish it. Here is a little about Holly.
I am first, and foremost, the mother of four of the most fantastic kids you’ve ever met. They keep me busy, make me crazy and add more joy to my life than I could ever have imagined (and they’re working on adding some grey hair). My husband is my strongest supporter, my best friend and, well, just a great guy! I’ve yet to write a hero who is half the man he is.
I absolutely love ice cream, seagulls and thunderstorms. Living in Erie means I’m on the shore of one of the great lakes…there’s nothing like a summer sunset! My love of Lake Erie is probably why you’ll find so many beaches in my books…it’s also why I went with a beach theme for my website! There’s just nothing better!
I’ve been in love with books, with words, ever since I can remember. I read JRR Tolkien’s Hobbit in third grade. How much I understood, I don’t know, but I fell in love with Middle Earth and visited often. Heinlein, Lewis and Bach all soon joined him on my list of must read authors. Trixie Belden, The Black Stallion, Little House on the Prairie . . . the list goes on and on. It was rare not to find me with a book in hand!
From that love of reading I seemed to naturally progress to writing. I’ve toyed with a little of everything, but I must confess, though I “found” romance a little later in life, I fell head over heels for the genre. When I began writing, it seemed like the right place for me to be.
Why? Because it’s a genre about people, about relationships. I can add in the sci fi, the fantasy, the suspense, the mystery. I can add in any plot, but it all boils down to the people and that is why I fell for it. Watching two characters overcome the odds, overcome themselves . . . what could be more satisfying?
Have you had the chance to read one of these authors? If so what books and what did you like, or dislike?
We have been asked about keeping track of the books you read and we are currently finishing up a spreadsheet that you can use. You can also go to Shelfari where you can keep track and give recommendations. Can’t wait to start hearing how everyone is doing out there.
I don’t know what to blog about…guest blogging gets to be kinda tricky after a little white, ya know. If you don’t want to do that boring spiel where you go…BUY MY BOOK NOW! It gets hard figuring out what to say.
I have a book to edit. It’s due January 4. It’s 12/30. I’ve still got 200 pages to go. Ouch.
I have a book to finish revising so I can try to sell it.
I have a book to finish writing. It’s due 3/1.
It’s 4:20, my kids will be home in just over an hour and we’re going to the mall, so I need to get as much writing done as I can.
If I cleverly try to ramble about something, you all will figure it out and then I’ll just look silly.
I spent 4 hours writing in a coffee shop today and came home to find boxes of books and bookmarks on the front porch and I haven’t done anything but haul them inside. I need to put them up.
I haven’t cleaned my office in so long, I can’t remember what it looks like cleaned. It’s kind of sad, really.
I’m pretty sure my husband just texted me about what we’re doing tonight, even though I already talked to him about the mall thing, and now I need to text him back.
I’m not sure what to blog about that will entice you to go out and buy my book, ya know…without that heavy handed…BUY MY BOOK thing.
How about I just post a snippet instead.
“You know what. You’re not shielding. I can see it. Shield up or you’ll be a mess before I even get you to her room.” His voice lowered when she tensed and tried to pull away.
“You don’t get to boss me around anymore, Jones.”
She tried once more to pull away, but this time he herded her into a narrow dip in the wall. A quick glance showed that it led to the chapel. She glared up at him. To her surprise, he was glaring back, his pale blue eyes glittering at her, and his normally emotionless face was anything but. “I’m not trying to boss you around, damn it. You’re walking around looking like you’ve got death dancing on your shoulders and you’re not doing shit to stop it. Should I just ignore it?”
“What does it matter to you?” She shouldn’t be looking at him. She told herself that, told herself to look away, to look anywhere but at him. She couldn’t, though. She couldn’t look away from his eyes. Swallowing, she rested her head against the wall and repeated, “What does it matter to you?”
A heavy breath rushed out of him, his shoulders rising and falling. His blue eyes, so fiery hot and so unlike the cool, icy professionalism she was used to seeing, bored into hers. “Just shield up, damn it.” Then he shoved off the wall and stalked away.
Immediately, Dez sagged a few inches and covered her face with her hands. Damn it. What in the hell . . . Damn it. Her knees were shaking. Her belly felt all tight and hot and jittery, and damned if she knew why.
You damn well do know—
No. She wasn’t thinking about that—
She took a deep breath and lowered her hands. Then she looked up and gasped when she realized Taylor had returned, silently. One hand came, curled over the back of her neck. “This is why it matters, damn it.” He hauled her against him and as his mouth crushed against hers, her brain clicked off, shut down . . .
FBI Special Agent Taylor Jones has made it his mission to save those in harm’s way by any means necessary—including employing psychic agents like Desiree “Dez” Lincoln, who can communicate with the disembodied spirits of the dead. Taylor is haunted by his own ghost, his kid sister, gone missing at age six. For a quarter of a century he has been tortured by her loss and the mystery of her disappearance.
A NIGHT’S INDISCRETION
When Dez is seriously wounded, Taylor can no longer hide his feelings for her. Getting involved could spell disaster for both of them—not to mention those who rely on them for help—but once Dez lays her hands on him, he can’t resist the fierce attraction. But after giving in to his desires, Taylor pulls back, and Dez strikes out on her own.
AN INESCAPABLE PASSION
Responding to the call of another anguished spirit, Dez is led to Taylor’s old hometown. As the two are forced to come together to save a girl in peril, Dez may be able to help Taylor finally find the answers he’s been looking for…
Praise forThe Missing
“Suspense that can rip your heart open and leave you raw.”—Errant Dreams Reviews
****Now for the really fun part. We are giving away a copy of The Departed to one commenter. Simply leave Shiloh a message and follow the contest rules****
We are participating in the Reader Rally hosted by Romance at Random. Simply comment on any post made from January 16th through January 31st that is not a giveaway to be entered to win a grab bag of books from us. To see the complete list of participating websites click on the link . There will also be a grand prize awarded by Romance at Random
To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.
Tarquin, the powerful Duke of Sconce, knows perfectly well that the decorous and fashionably slender Georgiana Lytton will make him a proper duchess. So why can’t he stop thinking about her twin sister, the curvy, headstrong, and altogether unconventional Olivia? Not only is Olivia betrothed to another man, but their improper, albeit intoxicating, flirtation makes her unsuitability all the more clear.
Determined to make a perfect match, he methodically cuts Olivia from his thoughts, allowing logic and duty to triumph over passion…Until, in his darkest hour, Tarquin begins to question whether perfection has anything to do with love.
To win Olivia’s hand he would have to give up all the beliefs he holds most dear, and surrender heart, body and soul…
Unless it’s already too late.
I haven’t read the first two books in this series, although I know the second one, When Beauty Tamed the Beast, comes highly recommended. And though I had every intention of reading the other books before, after this one I’m definitely hesitant.
It’s very difficult for me to dislike a hero or a heroine. I love flawed characters, people who are more complex than the typical goody-two-shoes. But my main issue with this book stems from the fact that Olivia, the supposed heroine, is unlikable due to the way she treats her fiance, Rupert, the Duke of Canterwick (a man who has obvious mental issues). No, let me amend that–it’s not just how poorly she treats him, but also how after he goes off to the war to win glory for England, suddenly history of the first part is rewritten and in fact it’s as if she’d been his best friend all along. There are mentions of how kind she was to him, and of what a dear friend she was, when in the beginning of the book she constantly made fun of him in her sister’s company. I can understand that she didn’t want to marry him and was only doing so as part of an arranged marriage brought on by her father and Rupert’s father, but the fact remains that her cruel comments later followed by statements of how nice she’d always been to him really ruined her character–and this book–for me.
If those issues had been different, I probably would have given The Duke is Mine a B- (due to plot contrivances at the end of the book I felt were forced, as well as a major lust-suddenly-turning-into-love relationship). However, because of these issues with the heroine I could not enjoy the rest of the book and had to force myself to finish. Not recommended.
Posey Osterhagen can’t complain. She owns a successful architectural salvaging company, she’s surrounded by her lovable, if off-center, family and she has a boyfriend—sort of. Still, something’s missing. Something tall, brooding and criminally good-looking…something like Liam Murphy.
When Posey was sixteen, the bad boy of Bellsford, New Hampshire, broke her heart. But now he’s back, sending Posey’s traitorous schoolgirl heart into overdrive once again. She should be giving him a wide berth, but it seems fate has other ideas….
I don’t know if you have ever fallen into a Kristan Higgins book but you must do so. A good one to start with is Until There Was You. I love a book that you can’t put down and it makes you laugh out loud no matter where you are, even sitting in a room full of guys when getting your car serviced, yeah I got a few weird looks there but could not help myself. One of the things I always love Is the new unique terminology, did you know that the newest words yelled out in frustration are Beiber and Holy Elvis Presley, you should try it sometime it completely changes the whole atmosphere in the room, although everyone does look at you as if you have finally lost it.
I have to also say that the world Kristan paints is so visual you wish you could just jump right into the pages and visit everyone. Her characters could be your family or a family you wished you had, their faults and all. Top it off with a romance to beat all romances! A story between the misfit Posey and the bad boy Liam. Posey has been secretly in love with Liam ever since they were teenagers but he was so out of her league and then she overhears him make disparaging comments about her on what should have been one of the most special nights of her life it end up turning into one of the worst that she still has not overcome. She moves on with her life and guess who comes back into the picture almost 16 years later, all it takes is just one look and she knows those feelings never went away. Liam is back to build a better life for himself and his teenage daughter, he has dealt with the loss of his HS sweetheart and just want to make sure his daughter is safe and happy, although he is a little extreme to the point where he has panic attacks, rather good scene in a dark elevator with Posey. It takes them both awhile to realize it is not only ok for them to have feelings for each other but they need each other to be happy. This like so many of Kristans books this leaves you wanting more, you fall in love with these people and it is like saying goodbye to a close friend when you read the last sentence. All I can say is keep them coming, as I can’t get enough!
Rebecca Forster
Title: The Duke is Mine
