Lisa/Rogues Under the Covers
Romance reader. I love historical romance and smart, sexy contemporaries.
This was another refreshing, light hearted romance from the up and coming Jennifer McQuiston! While I did not like it quite as much as her debut, What Happens in Scotland, I really loved that this was set in Brighton and the entire aspect of swimming. Our heroine, Caroline, grew up in Brighton swimming in a secluded cove and when she rescues a man one day, her heart is lost to him forever. Daniel has demons that he keeps locked up tight and feels he is not good enough for the willful, eccentric Caroline so he pushes her away, even though it pains him.
While this book was enjoyable, I did feel like it all moved just a bit too slow. There is plenty of simmering tension between Caroline and Daniel but I really just wanted to smack Daniel upside the head and tell him to move on from his grief to this wonderful woman waiting for him. I really enjoyed the addition of Caroline's sister, Penelope and hope to see her get her own happily ever after! What makes this story stand out is the attention to detail regarding swimming in this era and that makes this book a real treat. Delightful and charming, this is a story about acceptance and finding yourself stronger with a partner. I eagerly look forward to more even though this one lacked a bit for me. 3 1/2 stars
eARC provided by Avon Books via edelweiss
This was an absolutely delightful novella! Short but sweet and completely satisfying with likeable characters, smart dialogue and a dash of heat. I enjoyed watching our couple find happiness together while they grew into themselves. I am very eager for more works from Anne Barton! A perfect treat that all historical romance fans will enjoy, highly recommended.
Another delightful winner in this splendid House of Brady series! The characters were warm and witty, both main and supporting (loved the dowager duchess!) and I loved how the whole Brady family was there in the end. It is not overly dramatic, just a nice pleasant, satisfying read that I breezed through in an afternoon. Janice was kind-hearted and strong and I enjoyed watching her say 'no' to the duke while Luke was clever and bold and struggling with some inner demons that I do wished he had shared with Janice but the story moved smoothly and I was surprised when I finished so quickly. I eagerly look forward to more books from Kieran Kramer in this smart, funny, clever, sexy series!
The Governess Club, Part 1
This was a very refreshing debut from Ellie Macdonald. Our couple, Claire Bannister, a governess who is trying to make ends meet following the death of her father so she can get her childhood back and Jacob Knightly, an Earl posing as a tutor to show his family he can be respectable and not just wild, find a deep attraction to each other for who they truly are. When they are caught out by her charges (the children were so well done in this story!) her life alters drastically and the truth about Jacob's identity throws it even more so. How can she love, marry and fit in in an Earl's lifestyle? As this is a novella, the resolution is quick but very satisfying and we get just enough teases of Claire's three other governess friends to make you anxious for their stories. Well written with a dose of steam, enjoyable humor and realistic characters, I know I will be keeping an eye on Ellie Macdonald in the future! eARC provided by Avon via edelweiss
It Takes Two to Tangle
Henry Middlebrook returns from war weary and wounded and he knows he needs to go back into society expect he feels the pity of the ton with his injury. Deciding that having the right wife will soothe the pathway, he sets his sights on a lovely widow and asks her companion for some help in securing her hand. Frances Whittier agrees to help Henry even though Henry has captured her attention in way she has never felt before. Attempting to draw his attention through a letter, he concludes the wrong lady wrote it and Frances is forced to put up a charade to keep her feelings hidden. As time passes though, it becomes clear to Henry that Frances is the woman he is looking for but when he finds out the truth about the letters, will forgiveness be found especially as Frances is holding out a secret about her first marriage that she feels makes her entirely unsuitable for Henry?This is the start of Theresa Romain's new Matchmaker trilogy and I enjoyed it just as much as her other works. Frances was such a refreshing heroine with her quiet strength and decisive talk. I really wished she had just told Henry the truth about the letters much sooner than she did though and I thought her secrets were also refreshing from what I have read before and thought the resolution to them was handled well (in fact, how Henry deals with it made me tear up a bit!). Henry is dealing with his own after effects of war and finds his well meaning, forgiving family a bit off putting. Frances challenges him to move past the past and strive towards new beginnings and shows him that he still has all the respect he had before the war. Overall I really enjoyed this book however it was a bit slow in places and heavy on details in parts for my taste but the characters with their vibrant. well written natures brought the book to a solid conclusion. Subtle humor, passionate encounters and heartfelt letters made this a very lovely read!eARC provided by Sourcebooks via netgalley
After the Kiss: The Stiletto Series
I decided to give this debut effort from Lauren Layne a go because the summary reminded me a bit of one of my favorite movies, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and I am happy to say, I enjoyed this book just as much as the movie! Julie Greene is part of a trio of women who write articles about love in the leading women's magazine and when her boss throws her a curveball...write about a relationship...what happens after the first kiss, Julie knows some drastic measures are going to have to be taken! Enter the nerdy looking Wall Street guy Mitchell Forbes. A man upon appearances is just what a steady kind of girl would want in solid relationship. Too bad Mitchell has just ended a long relationship and his friends think he can not just have a fling. Surely Julie, a known flingster, is the perfect choice? They are exactly what they think they want until the heart takes over and a vicious co-worked threatens everything they have found together.This was a quick, fun read and I am so ready for more from Lauren Layne! I loved watching this opposites-attract couple find each other and how they completed each other. Julie is not subtle, she is too bright, too intense...everything that Mitchell steers clear of but he soon learns to realize that a little disruption in your life can be refreshing. And the same philosophy works for Julie. Mitchell makes her explore things she tended to ignore (running on a Sunday morning?) and she loves how he accepts her for who she is, flaws and all. Mitchell can finally just be himself without being 'on' like he has in the past. The friendship between Julie and her two co-workers adds a nice sense of warmth and makes me very anxious for their stories! I really adored this fun, flirty, sexy, and emotional romance and recommend it to any romance fan looking to smile with happiness! 4 starseARC provided by Random House (LoveSwept) via netgalley
After the Kiss: The Stiletto Series
I decided to give this debut effort from Lauren Layne a go because the summary reminded me a bit of one of my favorite movies, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and I am happy to say, I enjoyed this book just as much as the movie! Julie Greene is part of a trio of women who write articles about love in the leading women's magazine and when her boss throws her a curveball...write about a relationship...what happens after the first kiss, Julie knows some drastic measures are going to have to be taken! Enter the nerdy looking Wall Street guy Mitchell Forbes. A man upon appearances is just what a steady kind of girl would want in solid relationship. Too bad Mitchell has just ended a long relationship and his friends think he can not just have a fling. Surely Julie, a known flingster, is the perfect choice? They are exactly what they think they want until the heart takes over and a vicious co-worked threatens everything they have found together.This was a quick, fun read and I am so ready for more from Lauren Layne! I loved watching this opposites-attract couple find each other and how they completed each other. Julie is not subtle, she is too bright, too intense...everything that Mitchell steers clear of but he soon learns to realize that a little disruption in your life can be refreshing. And the same philosophy works for Julie. Mitchell makes her explore things she tended to ignore (running on a Sunday morning?) and she loves how he accepts her for who she is, flaws and all. Mitchell can finally just be himself without being 'on' like he has in the past. The friendship between Julie and her two co-workers adds a nice sense of warmth and makes me very anxious for their stories! I really adored this fun, flirty, sexy, and emotional romance and recommend it to any romance fan looking to smile with happiness! 4 starseARC provided by Random House (LoveSwept) via netgalley
A Rake's Midnight Kiss (Sons of Sin)
I thoroughly enjoyed this smoldering romance by one of my favorite authors! Genevieve Barrett is tired of living in her father's shadow and is ready to break free and show the world who really writes up his academic articles by publishing her research on the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel. Unfortunately, the jewel was left to her by an aunt and Sir Richard Harmsworth wants it back for himself and will go to any means to obtain it back...even steal. When the break in goes awry, he is drawn to the prickly Genevieve and devises a new plan that involves going undercover to seduce the lady and get the jewel back. What he does not expect is to have Genevieve help him find himself and fall hard for her. When a vile threat poses too great of a risk to Genevieve's life, Richard knows he must tell her the truth before it is too late. Will Genevieve be able to forgive the deceit and hurt that Richard has caused?Reading an Anna Campbell romance is always guaranteed to make me smile, blush and devour the book to fast and wish I had not! This book accomplished all of that and more! I adored Genevieve with her appealing, clever, prickly demeanor she is just the right woman to help Richard see past the views of society to the man he truly is. She can see that his heart is heavily guarded due to his mothers indiscretion that lead to his birth and it has shaped him into the man he is today. Richard has grown up with being sneered at in society as all of society knows he is not the true heir, even if he was accepted by his father. She finds herself misjudging him just as everyone else has done but she gradually sees him for the kind, brave, perceptive handsome man he is. The only thing that really bothered my about the wonderful story was the deception. I understand why Richard did what he did but it is always a touchy subject for me, especially when he choose to finally reveal his true identity to Genevieve. I thought the villain aspect was well done and worked well within this story. Anna Campbell writes with her usual lush descriptions and smoldering passion and I got swept away by the delicious romance of Richard and Genevieve! 4 starseARC provided by Grand Central Publishing via netgalley
True Spies
When her husband, Baron Winslow Keating, fails to show up to take her to a ball yet again, Elinor has had enough. She dons her most daring gown and goes to the ball alone and in the process, turns a new leaf. She is ready for some adventure, some passion to be brought back into her life. Elinor wants to feel needed more than planning balls and taking care of her daughters and if her husband fails to realize that, then maybe she should consider the attention of a new gentleman. Winn is flabbergasted by the new changes in Elinor. When he sees her in her daring gown he can hardly believe this is the same meek woman he married years ago. And she talks back to him! He finds himself jealous of the fact she seems to be turning to another man and he knows it is finally time to quit his secret double life as a spy. Unfortunately, a master criminal is closer than ever and when he grabs onto Elinor, Winn knows he will do whatever it takes to get her back and prove how much she means to him.I know whenever I settle in with a Shana Galen romance I will be swept away by the adventure and romance and True Spies is no exception! I really loved the fact that this is a romance about rekindling the magic of a marriage. I also really enjoyed watching Elinor blossom from a biddable wife into a vocal, passionate woman. Her thirst for adventure takes her much father than she ever thought she would go but it brings her back to Winn. I also admired how the truth was handled when Winn finally told her his reasons for all his absences throughout the years. I thought the struggles between Winn and Elinor were believable and not quickly resolved and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this couple rediscover each other! The ending is a continuous stream of heart-pounding action and chases and I felt a bit sad when it was all over. I also loved seeing more of Lord and Lady Smythe from Lord and Lady Spy and I am so anxious for the next book to see what happens next!! This was another rollicking, laugh-out-loud, sexy and adventurous romance from one of my favorite go-to authors for smart and sexy adventures in the romance world! 4 solid starseARC provided by Sourcebooks via netgalley
Isabella Chilcott has dreamed of going to the Kingsborough Ball since she was a girl watching the fireworks from her bedroom and with the passing of the duke, the ball has been on hold for a few years. With the announcement that it will resume, Isabella knows she must attend before she is married to the stuffy man her parents have picked for her. She dons a beautiful gown stuffed away in the attic and sneaks in and captures the attention of the new duke, Anthony. Even knowing that Isabella snuck in he finds himself captivated by this vibrant, cheerful woman and when she slips away his only clue in finding her whereabouts is a drawing they had done together and also the fact that someone recognized her gown as one that has been missing. Taking these pieces he attempts to find the woman that has captured his heart in a glance but when he finds out the truth, will he be able to overcome all the objections, especially when a jealous lady spreads vicious lies?The start of Sophie Barnes newest series is a feel-good, happy romance and I was very charmed by it. This was a delightful spin on one of my favorite fairy tales, Cinderella and I loved how all the pieces fit together but were a bit fresh from what I have read before. Isabella adores reading and finding her own happily-ever-after but the man her parents have chosen for her will help the family financially (as they are struggling) but he does not inspire her or treat her with the respect she deserves. Meeting Anthony changes everything but she knows he is well above her class station and that they can not have a future, no matter how much Anthony says that they can. Her mother has very strong feelings against the aristocracy and this adds some weight to the story. I did feel like her parents refusal to even consider the duke as a suitor was overdone but as the story unfolded, it made sense. Anthony had been feeling the weight of all his responsibilities following his beloved fathers death and meeting Isabella makes him feel happy again, the desire to have fun resurfaces and his load feels lifted with Isabellas sense of humor and forgiving nature. Stolen kisses, vengeful peers and a strong family bond complete this romance and one scene in the book will leave you very anxious to read the next book in this series and find out what else happens at the Kingsborough Ball. This book made me smile, laugh and sigh which is what all of Sophie Barnes charming romances make me do! 4 starsReview copy provided by author
Grant Benton, Earl of Crowle, has spent the past five years working at his mill earning enough money to buy back the land his father so foolishly sold. He has told no one what he is doing, not his mother or his brother as he is a bit ashamed of what he is doing...laboring. Yet when he goes to by back the land, the improvements on the land prove to be to great and force the price out of his reach. Despondent, he crawls back into himself with the only bright spot being the woman he met earlier, a purchaser for a dress shop of his fabrics, Lady Irene Knopp. Widowed years ago, she has found happiness in working and having a purpose for each day and she sees that Grant needs to find this same solace. Together they find happiness but Grant is reluctant to let go of his fears. When someone attempts to kill them, he must push past them to find who this person is and why they want to harm Irene or himself. Will Grant be able to let go of his past indiscretions and find peace with Irene and will Irene be able to trust her heart again to someone as reckless as Grant?This is book three in Jade Lee's Bridal Favors series but it worked well as a standalone though I do recommend reading the novella, Winning a Bride as it shows more of the depth of anger between Grant and his brother and how much needs to be repaired between them. This was a very lovely story of finding oneself and growing into a true, deep love. Irene was the perfect woman to show Grant how to be focused and move past the sadness in life. She found a way, by becoming a purchaser and she helps him find his own way past all the mistakes of his youth. However, Irene feels she can never be a countess as she wants to continue her work so she has her own reservations of becoming to involved with Grant. The suspense portion of this book was well done and not overly dramatic which I appreciated with more of the focus on the romance and rebuilding of Grant's family. Irene and Grant's mutual attraction leads to some very steamy bedroom scenes that added a nice dose of spice to a somewhat slow moving storyline for me. Other than the slowness, it was quite enjoyable and is set up perfectly for the final book in this series and I can't wait to dive into it! Jade Lee always delivers a satisfying romance with the perfect dose of steam. 3 1/2 starseARC provided by Sourcebooks via netgalley
I love books that start with a unique beginning and the newest from Sophie Jordan certainly does that! Annalise Hadley thinks she has struck gold, not only has she been reunited with her wealthy father and found she has sisters, but she is marrying a duke. A duke who seems to care for her in spite of her limp and normal features. However on her honeymoon barge the horrible truth comes out about her duke as he tries to kill her and she is thrown overboard. Unconscious, she washes up on shore and is found by the reclusive Earl of McDowell, Owen Crawford. An unconscious woman is not what Owen wants to deal with but something about her grabs him and he know he can not let her die. With the help of some gypsies Annalise starts to heal on the outside but her emotions are quite strained. Unwilling to trust another man, she decides to keep the truth about herself from Owen but after a time, her past comes back to haunt her and she must decide if Owen is worth the risk of the truth. Owen is battling his own inner demons following his turn as a solider and Anna seems to heal him but will the truth of her past shatter the bond they have created?This story grabbed me from the beginning and never let go! Annalise grew up not knowing her father and suddenly she is thrown into a whirlwind and she handles it well but she is used to being alone in her solitude. Owen shows her that she can be stronger and smarter with knowledge and skills to protect her from anything bad happening to her again. Annalise also helps Owen see that he needs to honor his past by living and helping him move forward from the horrors of war. I also really enjoyed watching this relationship slowly develop. We get to see each part and how all those parts fit together to become whole and complete. The only thing I wished that would have been different is when Annalise finally told Owen the truth. Secret keeping always is hard for me to accept and I think it would have suited Annalise better if she had explained the truth sooner, especially after her past catches up to her. Overall though, this is a enjoyable romance with a dash of intrigue with forgiveness, love and heat. Well done. 4 stars.eARC provided by Avon Books via edelweiss
Lady Isabella Wharton and her friends were part of something they would dearly like to forget but her godmother has other ideas and holds the threat of revealing what really happened to have Isabella do her will. As such, Isabella finds herself off to the countryside in order to summon home the new Duke of Ormond, a man who seemingly ignores his duties. Yet when Isabella meets Trevor Carey, she finds the opposite. Here is a man devoted to caring for his tenants and land. He never expected to inherit the dukedom and due to some bad blood in the past, he has no desire to go to London and assume the duties. Spending time with Isabella and seeing how his beloved sisters interact with her, Trevor slowly starts to rethink his decision. When a threat on Isabella's life becomes known, Trevor takes steps to protect her. Will he lose his heart in the end as well?The start of Manda Collins newest series was an enjoyable, easy read and my favorite book by her so far! Isabella was such a strong woman who has overcome a bad first marriage and somehow still keeping her spirit intact and becoming very resilient. Trevor quickly notices this along with a sweetness underneath, especially in the way she bonds with his sisters. Isabella comes off a bit rude in the beginning but she grows into herself with Trevor and together they just fit. Trevor was a dedicated man and I liked seeing his layers unfold and I really enjoyed his interactions with his sisters. After all, what man wants his sisters to grow up into ladies? I was pleased with the mystery aspect of this romance as well. It does not overpower the story at all and I was surprised at the revelation in this one but the overall arc continues on through the next books while still giving a nice conclusion in this one. This book had me laughing, smiling and sighing and flipping the pages to find out what would happen next and I eagerly look forward to the friends' upcoming stories. 4 solid starseARC provided by St Martins Press via netgalley.com
This was a charming, sexy delight of a novella! Jade Lee has penned a romance that was heartfelt and fun to read. William Benton has become the steward to his families land after it was lost due to his fathers mistakes and it is hard for Will, at times, to let the past go. He wants his families land back but knows his elder brother has no means to purchase it back so he comes up with a new idea...wed the new owners daughter, Josephine. A woman whom he thinks to be a bit haughty and out of his reach. Yet during some nightly interludes he comes to find that Jo is kind, generous and a lady worth fighting for. A lady worth more than some land. He just needs to convince her and her father of this fact. Jo is the perfect woman to help him realize that there is more to life than titles and land and find his true worth. She is a bit wild and unpredictable and finds herself going a bit mad from the pressure of her life, from the man he father has arranged to marry her to finding the calm she needs to have in Will. Filled with heat, banter, emotion and an interesting look at some history of the canals and how they are built, this romance is sure to make you grab more by Jade Lee. 4 starseARC provided by Sourcebooks via Netgalley
The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister)
Miss Jane Fairfield has four hundred eighty days until her sister reaches her majority and she can free her from her guardian. However, during those days she must find a way to ward off any suitors after her one hundred thousand pound dowry because if she marries before her sister is old enough, her sister could be lost forever. Her solution is simple, be dreadful at all times. Dress flamboyantly. Say the wrong things to important people and make them uncomfortable so they stay away yet do not completely shun her due to her wealth. One man sees through her ruse though. Mr. Oliver Marshall finds the bold Jane intriguing and finds himself drawn to her even though she is far from what he needs in his life as he tries to achieve success in Parliament. Yet when he is asked to teach her a sharp lesson, he finds himself wavering but maybe not quite enough. Will Oliver find the courage to keep Jane, just as she is, or will he push her away?Everytime I start a new Courtney Milan story, I know I am in for a emotional, layered tale. Each piece fits and builds to the next and you slowly savor it as you go. The romance of Jane and Oliver is slow, built upon friendship first and put to the test due to Oliver's ambitions. I really adored Jane and how she is ignorant on purpose. Her clothing choices were a delight and created a vivid blur in my mind. Jane is bold, stubborn and her uncle, her sisters guardian, feels she is a bad influence due to her birth and having to be dreadful and find a way to protect her sister from her uncles attempts to cure her seizures, weary. Jane forces Oliver to not stand back and be walked over due to his upbringing. He has felt out of place due to having a duke for a father (on the wrong side of the blanket) and being accepted by his half brother and being raised by his working class father. He rarely tells the whole truth to people as a result and Jane lets him do this. Together they fit yet they shouldn't. Jane is wrong for where he wants to go in the world but he needs her to be himself. There is a secondary romance between Jane's sister and a wonderful suitor that I almost wished would have been a whole story in and of itself but it just added another layer to shaping Jane and Oliver. This is another winner from an author I think is tops for the historical genre. True love finding a place between an unlikely, yet perfectly fit, couple who need to accept themselves with subtle humor, a dash of heat and a promise to make you smile. 4 1/2 starsReview copy provided by the author via netgalley.com
Love and Other Scandals
Ever since Tristan, Lord Burke, burst into Joan's bedroom as a child she has been half in love with him. When fetching a promise from her brother one morning she is greeted by Tristan all grown up and the sparks, and snipping, fly between them both. When Joan's parents leave town suddenly, she is left in the care of her aunt who sees that Joan's fashion choices, which are guided by her mother and the height of fashion, are all wrong and helps Joan feel comfortable in some different dresses. Coupled with the promise that Tristan made to Joan's brother about keeping an eye on Joan, this couple finds themselves together more and more. During their time together they bicker, laugh, kiss and go on a grand adventure while developing their relationship. A relationship Joan's mother has forbidden due to Tristan's wild ways and seemingly cold ways towards his only family he has left following his parents death. Can Joan help her parents see the true nature of Tristan, the side he has shown her?I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful, fun romance that was a perfect read for a lovely afternoon, It was light, not overly angsty, humorous, sexy and the cover perfectly fits the book (a huge bonus in my book). I loved watching the sparring between Tristan and Joan slowly grow into something more and also how Tristan saw her for who she was even before she started dressing in a more flattering way. Joan is practically on the shelf and she attributes this to her height and non-willow like figure but Tristan sees past this to the warm, clever, kind-hearted and determined woman she is. And though Joan's family think Tristan is too wild, Joan sees past the wildness to the man who just wants a family, a place to finally belong after being alone since a child. I do wish the ending had not seemed so rushed, everything happened rather quickly compared to the nice easy pace of the rest of the story. Overall, one of my favorites from Caroline Linden--light, funny, sexy and a romance that is true and deep with a couple learning to accept who they are and what they can be together. 4 starseARC provided by Avon via edelweiss
