Tag Archives: Historical

Wedding of the Season

Wedding of the Season
by Laura Lee Guhrke
Abandoned at the Altar series book 1
release date 12/28/10

Abandoned at the altar…

Lady Beatrix Danbury has always known she would marry William Mallory. She’d loved him forever, and she’d never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together and his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter, and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke…

Will has no illusions that Beatrix will welcome him back with open arms, but six years has not diminished his love or his desire for her. The only problem is that she’s about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable… the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

Can I just say LOVED IT!  I was amazed and laughing from the very beginning.

This story is about Will and Beatrix and the love they have for each other from childhood, of course things can never be simple and even after a separation and spending years apart, trying to convince themselves it never was, True Love is worth fighting for.  Learning to overcome the obstacles of life and the fears holding us back is never easy but holding on to the one that is and has always been there for you does make it easier.

The other characters in the book were just as entertaining and I can’t wait to hear their stories.

A wonderful journey of joy, fear, anger, forgiveness, compromise and in the end a love that will last forever – aren’t these the best kinds of romances!

Grade A+



Wicked Nights with a Lover

Wicked Nights with a Lover
by Sophie Jordan
Release date 12/1/10

What should a proper lady do when she believes her days are numbered?

Step One: Take a Lover . . .

After being told she will not survive beyond the year’s end, prim and lovely Marguerite Laurent intends to live what remains of her life to the very fullest. Though she may never know love, she will know passion—and she agrees to a whirlwind romance with a former admirer. But hours before embarking upon her grand adventure, Marguerite is abducted—by an unscrupulous rogue who boldly announces his intentions to bed and wed her before the week is out!

Step Two: Live With No Regrets . . .

Ash Courtland pulled himself up from the gutter to become a successful man of business, and now he wants revenge on his one-time partner for betraying him. Still, his enemy’s bewitching daughter is most certainly not about to surrender her innocence to the infuriating—if shockingly attractive—cad who took her captive. Yet with no more than a touch, Ash makes her tremble with desire . . . and resisting the heat of his passion could cost Marguerite her last, best chance for ecstasy.

When I first started this book I was enjoying it immensly.  It started with Marguerite who is a hospice nurse, she is happy with what she does and is not really ready for any change.  Than she is gets roped into having her fortune read and she is not thrilled to hear what they have to say.  She decides to take matters into her own hands and change her destiny.

In comes Ash, who quickly becomes the bane of her existance.  All Ash wants is to keep the business has has worked so hard to create, his partner whats something different though.

Ash & Marquerite are thrown together and that is where I start to have problems.  I loved them as a couple but really how many times does marguerite need to lie and convice ahs that she will be with him and than changer her mind and run off.  I felt like half the book was this scenerio.  Ash must have the patience of a saint to deal with her.

The book does turn around, things start to get good than Ash starts to act up.  Why put him through so much to only have him question himself in the end?  At least it does not take him as long to figure things out.

Overall there were parts I loved and parts I hated.  Would I read more of this series, yes I would, but it is not one I would put on my keeper shelf.

Grade B-

His Christmas Pleasure

His Christmas Pleasure

by Cathy Maxwell

Release date 11/30/10

When her father threatens to marry Abigail Montross off to a man twice her age (and with thirteen children!), she decides to elope instead with the irresistibly handsome Baron de Vasconia. She know all abut his notorious reputaiton. He is the most seductive man in all of London, but he’s vowed to protect her, so she allow herself to be tempted into his bed, promising to guard her heart at all costs.

Andres believes he’s entered into nothing more than a marriage of convenience with a charming and very wealthy young woman. But the days–and nights–Abigail spends in his arms soon reform this rogue. He’ll do anything to gain her love–until they each discover the truth about the other and old wounds are revealed.

It’s the season of miracles and passion–when love not only awakens the senses but delivers the greatest gift of all . .

During the holiday season you will find me reading lots of books about the holidays, I just love them!  So even though I have picked this book up a couple times and put it down again, I just could not resist it the last time I was running through the bookstore; and I am so glad I gave it a chance.

“His Christmas Pleasure” is such a wonderful story of honesty, perseverance and love and perfect for this time of year.   I enjoyed the twists and turns and loved the fact that the story took you on a different journey than a lot of the other books I have read lately.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good historical and being a Christmas one is just an added little bonus

Grade A

His Sinful Secret – Giveaway

His Sinful Secret
by Emma Wildes
Notorious Bachelor series book 3
release date 11/2/10

Betrothed to one brother, then married to another, Julianne Sutton finds herself a pawn in an unknown game. The enigmatic new Marquess of Longhaven knows all about the art of deception but he’s baffled by innocence. His new wife is trusting, lovely, and utterly bewitching. Imagine his surprise when he discovers that she has secrets of her own. As he battles a ruthless enemy, he quickly learns that love has an entirely different set of rules.

I was a little apprehensive when starting this book in the series; I read and enjoyed book 1 “My Lord Scandal” and could not wait to read Michaels story.  Than came book 2 “Our Wicked Mistake”, and even though Michael made another appearance helping out his friends again, this book was a disappointment.  So knowing that Michaels story was coming up next I pushed through and started “His Sinful Secret”, it was better than the second book but not as good as the first.

Let’s begin with what I enjoyed:  I loved Julianne her honesty, bravery and loyalty, she made a great heroine.  I did enjoy the premise of the story and following how Michael & Julianne’s relationship grew.  I also enjoyed the career choices that Michael made and the decisions regarding his family.

What annoyed me: When I read a series I enjoy the characters making appearances throughout all of the books.  Michael played an important role in each of the other two books so I was hoping when he needed those friends help in return they would be there, not the case, both Alex & Luke made an appearance but it was very brief and it felt almost forced.   I also felt the secret of the book went on a little long, with some of the situations that happened you would begin to figure out what the secret is pretty quickly, or at least question, but no it just kept going on and on, as if the characters had little intelligence.

So I guess overall the stories were a hit & miss for me, but everyone has different opinions so I am going to give you a chance to decide if you like them for yourself.    I will send all 3 books to a commenter who wants to take a shot and read these for herself, all I ask is you let me know what you think after you read them (I love to hear others opinions on books)

Grade C

When Harry Met Molly

When Harry Met Molly

By Kieran Kramer

The Impossible Bachelors series book 1

Release date 11/2/10

He’s always been a player. Dashing Lord Harry Traemore is perfectly content to live out his days in the pursuit of pleasure. But when he’s named by the Prince Regent as one of society’s “Impossible Bachelors,” Harry is drafted into a ribald romantic wager. The rules of engagement are scandalously simple: The bachelor whose mistress wins the title of “Most Delectable Companion” gets to remain unmarried. Harry is utterly unconcerned about his status…until his latest lightskirt abandons him.

Who will win this game of love? Enter Lady Molly Fairbanks. Harry’s childhood friend—actually, “foe” is more like it—is the most unlikely companion of all. She’s attractive but hot-headed, and in no mood for games. Besides, what could the self-indulgent Harry possibly know about what makes a woman delectable? It’s time for Molly to teach him a lesson once and for all…but will it lead to “happily ever after?”

I have to start off by saying it seems rare these days that I pick up a book and love it so much I can’t put it down, this was definitely one I could not put down, finished it in a couple hours even.

This was a refreshing, humorous, fun, enchanting book with characters that you immediately fall in love with.

One of the best debut books by an author that I have read and cannot wait to get my hands on the next ones in the series!

Grade A+

Taken by Desire

Taken by Desire

By Lavinia Kent

Release date 11/30/10

Can a single kiss change a life?

Strong and Independent, Anna Steele has dreamed of him in secret.

Fierce, yet world-weary, Alexander Struthers has always desired her.

Neither has ever considered marriage an option.

But when a single kiss has unforeseen consequences, and wedding bells follow, they’ll both learn the power of passion.

Desire can change everything.

Anna’s life dramatically changes when she inherits a fortune from her Uncle.  It has become her mission now to right the wrongs her family has done in the past.  She is able to be independent in a time when it was not looked well upon and she is also able to go about not caring what the “ton” says.  When she sees a potential situation involving Alexander she jumps in not caring about the consequences.

Alexander is a very private person who avoids as much as possible, that is until Anna jumps back into his life.  He tries to make the best of what could be a bad outcome only to be thwarted at every turn by Anna.

Between the two of them they have more secrets than most of the gossips could ever dream of handling, and a rather steamy way of finally sharing those secrets with each other.

I do have to say though that I have never read a book where two characters could avoid important conversation as much as these two

I did enjoy this story and would definitely be reading the first two books about Anna’s friends “A Talent for Sin” & “Bound by Temptation”.
Grade B

Rakes and Radishes

Rakes and Radishes

by Susanna Ives

When Henrietta Watson learns that the man she loves plans to marry London’s most beautiful and fashionable debutante, she plots to win him back. She’ll give him some competition by transforming her boring bumpkin neighbor, the Earl of Kesseley, into a rakish gothic hero worthy of this Season’s Diamond.

After years of unrequited love for Henrietta, Kesseley is resigned to go along with her plan and woo himself a willing bride. But once in London, everything changes. Kesseley, long more concerned with his land than his title, discovers that he’s interested in sowing wild oats as well as radishes. And Henrietta realizes that gothic heroes don’t make ideal husbands. Despite an explosive kiss that opens her eyes to the love that’s been in front of her all along, Henrietta must face the possibility that Kesseley is no longer looking to marry at all…

I had some hope for this book it sounded good at least, but found it to be just ok. It had potential but feel it was not followed through.  Can say I don’t like the title at all, just does not do it for me (can’t stand radishes and do not think romance at all when I hear the word).

I think what annoyed me the most was the selfishness of Henrietta, or I should say her immaturity.  Kesseley also bothered me some I mean he spends years in love with Henrietta yet not doing anything about it, although that is discussed some later in the book, he is more willing to see her get hurt by someone who does not really love her at all.  Yet he lets her manipulate him at every turn.  Then when you think the book might be taking them somewhere he turns into this real schmuck and you are almost glad that they never get together.  OK so it is a romance and it does have a happy ending but the journey there was very predictable and not as satisfying as I would have hoped.

Grade C-

The Spurned Viscountess

The Spurned Viscountess

By Shelly Munro


She must marry him.

Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind’s only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn’t expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.

He wants nothing to do with her.

Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no time for the English mouse his family has arranged for him to marry, not when he’s plotting to avenge the murder of his beloved Francesca. He has no intention of bedding Rosalind, not even to sire an heir.

Dark secrets will bind them.

Though spurned by her bridegroom, Rosalind turns to him for protection when she is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents and haunted by terrifying visions. Forced to keep Rosalind close, and tempted into passionate kisses, Lucien soon finds himself in grave danger of falling in love with his own wife…

this was a rerelease: previous title The Spurned Seduction

This was a story set in 1720 England full of mystery and intrigue including witchcraft, psycic abilities, smugglers, murder, lost treasure, and the list could go on, I think just about everything was in this book.

Rosalind is arriving to marry Lucien, he is basically her last option to have a normal life and she will do whatever is needed to make this work.

Lucien does not want to even go through with this marriage he is on a mission to find the murderer of his 1st wife and child and does not need any type of distraction.  Let alone he can’t remember anything from his past and now he is with a family he knows nothing about.   Their romance was full of struggle and turmoil with a good amount of humor involved.

If I had one complaint it would be I felt the story was going along just fine and than a lot happens towards the end almost as if there was so much story to tell but not enough time so force it and cram as much as she can into a small amount of space.

Overall it was a good story and one I would recommend reading but it would not be at the top of my list tbr pile, just somewhere in the middle.

Grade B-

Wicked Delights – Giveaway

Wicked Delights of a Bridal Bed

Byron of Braebourne Series book 4

By Tracy Anne Warren

To her surprise, Lady Mallory Byron finds herself walking down the aisle with the last man she ever expected to ask for her hand.

Everyone knows the Byron brothers are “mad, bad, and dangerous.” Now their sister shockingly discovers she’s the newest talk of the Ton when she marries the scandalous Earl of Gresham. Faced with a tragic loss, she’d sought comfort from him as a family friend. But soon consolation turned to passion, scandal––and a wedding! In the bridal bed, she finds pleasure beyond her wildest dreams. But can nights of wicked delight change friendship into true love?

Charming rakehell Adam, Earl of Gresham, has secretly loved Mallory for years. He lost her once to another man, but now he has a second chance to win her love––and plans to do so by any means necessary. Will Mallory’s heart give him what he so dearly desires? Or is the past too much to overcome?

The book starts out with Mallory  mourning her fiancé who had died in war, her plans are to never forget him and to live like a widow mourning him forever.  That is when Adam steps in, he has secretly been in love with Mallory since she was sixteen but as he was the best friend of her brothers and was accepted as one of the family he choose to ignore those feelings and just become her friend.  He seems to be the only one who can reach Mallory and since her family has no idea what to do for her they leave it up to him.  They do not realize that Adam has decided that he cannot live without Mallory in his life as his wife and his motives are for her to get over her fiancé and fall in love with him.  Things don’t go exactly as planned but wedding bells do ring just not in the way he would have liked, although things are going good for awhile till Adams worst nightmare begins to happen which throws everything he ever wanted in turmoil.

This is the 4th book in the Byron series and the first one I read, yeah I am one of those people who will pick up a book in the middle of the series and than decide if I want to go back and read any of the others, this one was a resounding YES.  This was extremely well written with just the right amount of historical detail to take you back to the time period and even though it was not the first book you can easily pick up on all of the characters lives without getting confused by what is happening.

I enjoyed this book a lot and want to share it so giveaway time:

Do you have problems reading a series out of order?

My grade: A

Thanks & Recap

Just wanted to give a huge shout of thanks to all the authors who helped us out this week and to everyone who stopped by.  Heather and I are really excited about starting this venture together and I hope you all have fun along the way with us.

We will post the winners on Sunday so plan on checking in to see if you are one of the lucky ones.

Just in case you did not get a chance to see the author responses to our question we asked here they are again.  If you can figure out which author is new to this post you might win a book also.  Just post a comment and we will draw a winner from the correct answers

We asked a few of our favorite authors what their go to books or authors are right now and where do they go to relax and read.  Here are their responses.

Carly Phillips:   http://www.carlyphillips.com/ A few months ago I would have said I’m a true contemporary reader. Only. That’s still the case … without the only! I’ve recently strayed into a genre I never thought would hold any interest for me – paranormal.  It’s been a fantastic break from my normal reading and when I’ve devoured my contemporary authors and am waiting for a new release.  As for which authors, in contemporary – my fellow Plotmonkeys, Leslie Kelly aka Leslie Parrish, Julie Leto, and Janelle Denison … and also Toni Blake, Erin McCarthy’s racecar series, Victoria Dahl, Jill Shalvis, Rachel Gibson.  And now in my new paranormal phase, I’m devouring Nalini Singh, Meaghan Hatfield, Larissa Ione.  As for where? On my Kindle … wherever I can.  In bed usually since reading is a treat for when I can relax but in my car while waiting for the kids works too!

Erin Nicholas:  http://www.erinnicholas.com/ I almost always go for contemporaries first, though I have favorites in historical, erotic, and paranormal too. I have a few go-to authors who always deliver for me but the two that first come to mind are Erin McCarthy and Susan Andersen. I have a big chair by my picture window that I love to curl up in with my Kindle! :)

Susan Mallery: http://www.susanmallery.com I’ve always been a romance fan. Romance novels are my go-to books, though of course I read in other genres from time to time. Romances affirm my view of the world as a good place where men and women find a way to avoid killing each other, despite sometimes overwhelming temptation. I read everywhere, but if we’re talking a truly relaxing read, there’s nothing like curling up on the sofa with a good book.

Anna Campbell:   http://www.annacampbell.info/ A great historical sweeps me away into a world of romance like nothing else so when I’ve got spare time, I tend to read the competition (LOL!). I love to read in bed, especially when it’s raining outside!

Alexandra Hawkins:  http://www.alexandrahawkins.com/ No contest–Romance. I read all sub-genres. Where do I like to read? The sofa in my family room reclines so it’s a comfy place to read.

Sarah MacLean: http://www.macleanspace.com I love historicals, but when I’m just trying to get away from work, I love contemporaries. Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Rachel Gibson, Kristan Higgins, and when I run out of them, I’m always down for the One Click packs for Kindle from Harlequin! As for the where, anywhere my dog is curled up is always a first choice.

Stephanie Laurens: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/         I read a lot of different genre fiction. Always genre, but it could be crime/mystery, fantasy or romance. I read in bed, pretty much every single night. I have a silk-covered, silk-fiber filled comforter, European pillows to prop myself up with, and my cats always come to sit with me–one on my stomach, the other between my calves. As far as they’re concerned, that’s how it has to be

Nalini Singh:   http://www.nalinisingh.com/ I have quite eclectic reading tastes and depending on my reading mood, will read anything from thrillers to sf/fantasy, to any number of sub-genres of romance (of course!) and more. I read some non-fiction as well, partly for research purposes and partly just because the topic interests me. Some of my favorite authors are Anne McCaffrey, Mercedes Lackey. Anne Bishop, Christine Feehan, Meljean Brook, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krentz, JD Robb, Julie Garwood, Jude Deveraux, Lisa Kleypas…and seriously, I could keep going. I love reading, and I’m always trying out new authors alongside my favorites. My most recent “finds” have been Joss Ware (love the Envy Chronicles!) and Jess Granger with her futuristic romances. As for where I read – everywhere I can!

Jessa Slade:     http://jessaslade.wordpress.com/ As a writer, I consider it my sacred duty to read. I have a breakfast book, a backpack book, a bedside book, and a bathtub book. And usually a few more besides :)  I read a lot in my genre — urban fantasy romance — but like most booksluts, I’ll peel back the cover on anything. At RomCon this year (where I met the Book Reading Gals!) I had the chance to sit with Nalini Singh, C.L. Wilson and Christine Feehan. It was like my bookshelf sprang to life!

Erin Kellison:  http://www.erinkellison.com/ Chances to relax are seldom with little kids and a book on deadline, so I have to steal time to get my reading fix. I generally choose fantasy, but really enjoy a lot of genre fiction. I had surgery last week and got to read Mockingjay in one sitting. Love that feeling of sinking into a book. My favorite place to go? The beach. Combine that with a book and a lazy afternoon and I am in heaven.

Leslie Parish:     http://www.authorleslieparrish.com/ Whenever I want to read purely for enjoyment, I tend to stay away from romance because I’m so immersed in it in my job, I just want something different for down-time.So I typically pick up a horror or thriller novel (Stephen King is my favorite) or something so funny it leaves me breathless (Christopher Moore is my go-to author for this!) I most recently read The Passage by Justin Cronin, a futuristic vampire/zombie armageddon story and really loved it.