Read: 7/14/25 Setting: England and Scotland, King Henry III Trope: enemies to lovers, kidnapping
Another great KLV! I had to go back to her older books,Read: 7/14/25 Setting: England and Scotland, King Henry III Trope: enemies to lovers, kidnapping
Another great KLV! I had to go back to her older books, but I finally found another hidden gem. Well, maybe more like a synthetic stone. It's still good! ...more
Read: 7/13/25 Setting: Regency England Trope: MOC I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this book!
This was a wonderful MOC story. I was a little shocked howRead: 7/13/25 Setting: Regency England Trope: MOC I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this book!
This was a wonderful MOC story. I was a little shocked how quickly these two fit together. Joshua was gruff but loveable. He definitely needed Cassandra to smooth out his ruff edges. Both were practical with a wicked sense of humor. There were no crazy misunderstandings, last-minute kidnapping, or OTT emotional scenes (TG!). They had real couple problems but solved them reasonably...more
Read: 7/4/25- late review Setting: Regency England
This story starts off with a bang. Literally. And the plot never grows stall. I enjoyed it from staRead: 7/4/25- late review Setting: Regency England
This story starts off with a bang. Literally. And the plot never grows stall. I enjoyed it from start to finish!
Plot: Ever since his parents and brother died in France, Brice has blamed himself. He has turned into a cold, rude man. He avoids any form of intimacy with people, including his sister. All that changes when he meets Elora.
Brice heard the warning before the gun fired. A mysterious woman jumped in front of a bullet for him and was severely injured. Who is this beautiful woman who saved his life? Why would someone risk their life for a stranger? Brice receives his answer when Elora wakes up. She's just a kind, wonderful person! Surely, that kind of goodness doesn't really exist? All Brice knows is that he can't let her go. Elora is the only one who can make him laugh, and he finds his old personality returning. Can his jaded soul heal?
There is still the mystery of who wants Brice dead. With his personality, I thought the list would be bigger. The author does an excellent job of keeping you guessing until the end.
Conclusion: This is my 1st book by this author, but it won't be my last. I'm a suker for a Grumpy H and the sweet h who melts his heart ...more
What a pleasant surprise! This is my 1st book by this author, and it won't be my last! I really Read: 7/5/25 4.5 stars Setting: 1835 England, Maryland??
What a pleasant surprise! This is my 1st book by this author, and it won't be my last! I really enjoyed the MC and their witty banter.
plot: Cassie rescues a semi-conscious man on the side of the road and brings him home. She soon learns the man's identity. He is her late half-sister's uncle, and he is here to take her to America. Cassie is afraid that he will take her twin niece and nephew, so with urging by her companion, she stupidly pretends to be his niece.
Cameron has never desired a woman more in his life, but she's his niece. He spends the voyage between lust and disgust. He needs to send her tempting ass back to England, but he can't do it. Of course, all hell breaks loose once he finds out the truth. Cameron wants to punish her, but she still gets the better of him. He can't let her go, so he informs her of his plans to marry her. You can imagine how that went over.
These two were always quick to fight, but they could never stay angry long without breaking into laughter. It makes for some entertaining scenes. It's not long before they confess their love. Now, if Cameron can let go over his trust issues long enough, these two might have a shot.
Unfortunately, there are more problems on the horizon for the couple. One is Diane, Cassie's sort of companion. Cassie brought Diane into her home because she had nowhere to go. She believes Diane is her friend, she is not. No spoilers, this is known to the reader early on. Diane uses people. She's kind of sadistic whore and she can't understand why Cameron is repulsed by her. Add an evil overseer, and that spells serious trouble for the love birds.
Another problem this couple faces is the issue of slavery. Can Cassie love a man who owns slaves? Turns out Cameron might have similar feelings and doesn't want Cassie to know about his activities.
likes: 1. the strongest element to this book is the romance. Their fights were hilarious. The witty banter brought a smile to my face every time. This couple worked. 2. Cassie ● Cassie was honest to a fault. So lying to Cameron in the beginning was hard, especially because she's really bad at it. The H seemed to forget this fact when he accused her of betraying him. Luckily, he wises up. ●I thought the author did a great job of having Cassie be assertive without being a shrew. 3. Cameron was destroyed by his late wife. He even sent his daughter away after the witch told him that the girl wasn't his biologically. So he has major trust issues. He also is a bit of a womanizer until Cassie blocks all other women from his mind. He's quick with his humor and enjoys provoking Cassie. I loved how easy he reads her moods and uses it to his advantage. He was just a great leading man! 4. I liked this author's writing style. I read well into the night. 5.. I thought the author handled the slavery aspect better than most hr. I didn't feel like the MC had modern viewpoints. Their objections felt more nature to the time. 6. Cameron is not afraid to kill the bad guys and protect Cassie. I hate in books when the H lets the bad guy go and surprise, the villain comes back. ...more
Read: 6/17/25- late review Setting: 1857 England, India Trope: spy, enemies to lovers, adventure
This is Sutcliffe's best book! A dark, romantic action-Read: 6/17/25- late review Setting: 1857 England, India Trope: spy, enemies to lovers, adventure
This is Sutcliffe's best book! A dark, romantic action-packed adventure. I couldn't put it down! It was a wonderful surprise, especially since I was expecting the plot to center around the Indian Rebellion of 1857 . I falsely assumed the plot would be similar to The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Dunne, but the characters don't even reach India until the last 50 pages. The rest of the story is about the journey to India, and I loved it. This is my kind of Bodice-ripper!
Plot: Other reviewers have summarized the plot better than I ever could, and I'm lazy today ...more
Read: 5/8/25 Settings: 1461 England and Scotland This can be read as a standalone. 3.5 stars
Plot: The king and queen are on the run after a devastating Read: 5/8/25 Settings: 1461 England and Scotland This can be read as a standalone. 3.5 stars
Plot: The king and queen are on the run after a devastating defeat by the Yorks. Alix and her father (the queen's physician) are one of the few escaping with the monarchy. They take refuge with an isolated baron. Alix's father is dying and wants her married and save before he passes away. So he proposes a marriage between Alix and the Baron's son. Alix is willing to do her duty for her father.
"This is not a happy marriage." That's the understatement of the year! The boy is CRAZY obsessed with his mistress. He is cruel, especially in bed. Thank God her father gave her a form of birth control so she wouldn't be stuck with this insane man child. Later, Alix's father pass away, and then her husband committed suicide so he could be with his dead mistress. Finally, Alix is free from this nightmare, that is, until she talks with her FIL. He wants to marry her. Yuck! He greased the wheels, so the Bishop would grant him a disposition so they could marry. Yea, time to run!!!!
Alix gets stuck in a snowstorm and is rescued by a border laird. He hires her as a governess for his daughter but has another position he wants her for ;) . The two eventually become lovers, fall in love, and marry. Only one thing can destroy their happiness. Her FIL is still consumed with getting Alix back. He doesn't love her but feels that she belongs to him. He causes many problems for the MC.
************** spoiler alert***********
what I liked: 1. I was happy Alix stayed with only one love interest. A lot of BS's books tend to have the h in love with two men and are separated by the one she loves the most. I'm glad this book focused on the romance in their marriage. Some might found it boring but I like it.
2. I loved the history, especially Scottish history. The parts I googled were very accurate. So Bravo Mrs. Small!
3. The OTT villain was brilliant! We know his son was crazy but not the father. He could control his sanity better, until he learns of Alix's escape. Now, his insanity is in overdrive.
4. Malcolm's daughter stole the show! I loved that little imp. She was so smart. I wish there had been more scenes with her.
Didn't like: 1. Sex scenes were hot but the dirty talk ruined it. I don't mind profanity. The problem is that it does not seem to fit with the character's personality. Some of the descriptions were just hilarious but unfortunately it takes me out of story too.
2. When Malcolm mentioned that his wife's body was unrecognizable, I knew this b**ch was coming back!. It's not until the last few chapters that she's introduced into the story. Of course she's a sexual sadist and enjoys killing men. That seems to be BS MO for the OW . - say that 3xs fast ...more
Read: 6/7/25 Setting: Late Viking era Scotland (King Malcolm) & Norway 4.5 stars
What an entertaining Viking romance! Every time I thought the plot was dRead: 6/7/25 Setting: Late Viking era Scotland (King Malcolm) & Norway 4.5 stars
What an entertaining Viking romance! Every time I thought the plot was done, the story changed direction. I feel like I got 3 great novellas in one story.
I really enjoyed it! Strange, because the plot was tamer than I prefer in my Viking novels. TBF, it's at the end of the era. Most of Norway and Scotland have begun to Christianize.
The only problem was the h. I get it! She's alone in another country, but God, she's depressing! The language barrier isn't even the problem (not even mentioned). She is just insecure and lacks confidence, and this does not improve through the whole book. I just wanted to smack her or shove a Zoloft in her mouth. She expected love words from a Viking? This is the dark ages! Nobody is Byron at that time
Sometime soon, I'm going to have to take the time to go into detail of the plot. Right now, I'm lazy. There is just so much that happened and a few interesting surprises. The H was really the best part! He was yummy but unfortunately not very good at picking up on social clues from his wife.
Conclusion: I definitely recommend trying this oldie! I wish I could find more by her. Most of her books look to be contemporary or Westerns. These are two categories I hate in the romance genre...more
Liked: 1. The H is the star of this book! He was charming alpha male. He was just brilliant! Top 10Read: 4/28/25 -late Setting: Switzerland 1475 4 stars
Liked: 1. The H is the star of this book! He was charming alpha male. He was just brilliant! Top 10 best H for me!
2. The setting was fantastic! This was my 1st hr set all in Switzerland. I learned some interesting history. The politics and superstition were new to me.
3. I liked the superstition/fantasy element. How the h healed through her old religion was interesting.
4. The villains were well developed. There was a part of me wishing the h's brother was innocent. He is worse than I thought. Our 2nd villain was too realistic.
5. I loved the children!
Didn't like: This would have been a 5 star book if not for the h. Well, not so much the h but the h's innocent belief in her brother. She believes the H is evil no matter what the evidence. She holds onto these ideas for the WHOLE book. If she had accepted the truth early on, this would have been a great book. Instead, I just wanted the H to give the idiot back.
Conclusion: The history and other characters make for an enriching story. I highly recommend this book!...more
What a silly, fun book! I really need a good laugh and this book delivered. Poor Noble had no idea what he was getting into whenRead: 4/26/25 4.5 Stars
What a silly, fun book! I really need a good laugh and this book delivered. Poor Noble had no idea what he was getting into when he asked Gillain to marry him. The accident prone Gillain got in some hilarious pickles. She reminded me of a poorer version of a Garwood h.
I wish there had been more serious moments . It would have balanced the silliness more....more
What a fun, entertaining ride! This book put a smile on my face. I liked the humor the best.
Plot: The stoRead: 4/7/25 setting: 1741 Caribbean 4.5 stars
What a fun, entertaining ride! This book put a smile on my face. I liked the humor the best.
Plot: The story starts off with Dominic being kidnapped at fourteen and impressed to an evil pirate who enjoyed little boys. Dominic eventually killed that pirate. Unfortunately, he can't return home after all the crimes he was forced to commit. His father, the Earl, has Dominic's little brother as an heir, so he doesn't need Dominic. That's what Dominic thinks anyway. So Dominic decided to embrace the pirate life.
Roberta "Robbie" Hancourt craves adventure. Her father is an admiral, and she has spent her life at sea. It's where she's the most happy. They are on their way to the Caribbean because her father has a new position. He wants his daughter married and settled. He doesn't push her, but he would like to see Robbie secure in life. Robbie doesn't want to marry anyone. Any husband would force her to stay home and knit. She loves the sea and won't give it up. Unfortunately, her ship is attacked by pirates. Guess who? Robbie hides in her cabin during the battle and dresses her and her maid as cabin boys. She doesn't know that Dom already set the survivors in the long boats.
The moment he meets Robbie, he senses something odd about her. It doesn't take him long to figure out she's a beautiful girl. He gives Robbie a choice. She can work as a real cabin boy or share his bed. Can you guess which one she chooses? To his chagrin, Robbie loves the hard work. No matter the task, she has a smile on her face. She wasn't supposed to enjoy hard work.
Dom has another problem. His childhood bff was also on Robbie's ship. 15 years, and they still recognized each other. Dom keeps Nathan as a prisoner until he can be released at shore. Nathan's presence reminds Dominic of the life he had before his kidnapping. Dominic is trying to forget a time when he dreamed of his family and Nathan so he could endure his suffering. Slowly, Dominic's conscience starts to emerge as he starts to remember the boy he once was and how he used to protect the weak. Dominic still does that but in a different way. He is still a good man.
I liked this couple together. They balanced each other out really well. Their dialogue had me laughing so much.
There is also an evil villain around the corner. He is the brother of the pirate who hurt Dominic. He enjoys pain, and he especially enjoyed watching his brother hurt Dominic. Strangely, the man never tried to even the score. He was waiting until he could take something important away from Dominic. Hmm, who could that be? ...more
**spoiler alert** Read: 4/24/25 3.7 stars setting: New Orleans 1818
The story starts with Victor meeting a beautiful woman at the opera. He's strongly at**spoiler alert** Read: 4/24/25 3.7 stars setting: New Orleans 1818
The story starts with Victor meeting a beautiful woman at the opera. He's strongly attracted to her until he discovers that she's blind. He meets Jade again when she is being sold to the highest bidder at bordello. When he brings Jade home, he discovers she's a virgin.
Jade lost her eyesight at 13 after discovering her parents' bodies. Despite the horrible things that happened to her, Jade sees only the good and remains positive. On her way home , Jade is kidnapped. She's forced into an auction. If she is disobedient, her maid will be tortured. Once Victor discovers the truth, he helps save her and her friend. Unfortunately, she returns home to discover her maid beaten and hanging from the ceiling. Someone is after Jade, and Victor knows he has to protect her but who will protect him. He has lost his heart to this sweet girl, but he can't marry a blind girl. So, can Victor overcome his apprehension and keep Jade safe?
characters: 1. Jade was one of the best h's I've read in a long time. She's so positive and kind. She's doesn't dwell on her lost sight but moves forward and adapts. Though, she was a little too laid back when kidnapped. Jade's easy personality gets explained later.
2. Victor was likable as well. He is strongly attracted to Jade, and it doesn't take long for him to fall in love with Jade. So why not marry her? Because she's blind. He already worries about her, and he is scared she'll hurt herself.. Still, he can't let her go either. There must be a way to help her gain her sight back....more
Read: 3/7/25 -late review Setting: 1700's Caribbean, Paris, Scotland 4.7 stars Later RTC ...so much more to say
Notes:
The H was fantastic! He was charmRead: 3/7/25 -late review Setting: 1700's Caribbean, Paris, Scotland 4.7 stars Later RTC ...so much more to say
Notes:
The H was fantastic! He was charming, suave, and goes after the things he wants and ge wants the h. He watches her from afar and finds her antics funny. I love how he lets her come to him.
The h was great, too. Her rivalry with another girl was hilarious. I love that it takes the h a long time to start wanting the H. No instant love for her. She feels the call of the outside world and is restless on her island. She has to go to France before she can settle down.
I found the h's time in Paris, it was less exciting, but I still enjoyed it.
Conclusion: I wish this author had written more hr books. I really liked and enjoyed this book!...more
Read: 3/8/25 Setting: Hawaii, Tahiti, Macao, and San Francisco 1803- 1809
This is definitely an old-fashioned Bodice-ripper. Where the h is treated horrRead: 3/8/25 Setting: Hawaii, Tahiti, Macao, and San Francisco 1803- 1809
This is definitely an old-fashioned Bodice-ripper. Where the h is treated horribly throughout the whole book, especially by the H. Still, I didn't want to stop reading this soap opera.
Disliked: 1. Is it a romance? Maybe in the beginning, when he doesn't know her real identity. Once she tricks him into marriage, the romance goes downhill fast. 2. Adam! He is hard to like. He takes his anger out on Catherine throughout the book. I was ready to kill him when he left her in a brothel. He disguised himself and violated her. It's hard to forgive that ...more
Read: 5/25/25 Setting: Regency England Trope: class difference, forbidden love, bastard H
I was shocked on how much I liked this book. It's not my type Read: 5/25/25 Setting: Regency England Trope: class difference, forbidden love, bastard H
I was shocked on how much I liked this book. It's not my type of book. The H is the illegitimate commoner and the HEROINE is pursuing him.
Plot: One night Sullivan Waring was going about his business stealing his mother's paintings from aristocrats homes when he runs into trouble. He is caught by a beautiful woman and he decides to kiss her. Sullivan thinks the distraction worked until he realizes she has removed his mask. ...more
Read: 3/4/25 I think this is my favorite in the series. Usually, I hate secret identity trope, but this one kept me entertained. I love watching an oveRead: 3/4/25 I think this is my favorite in the series. Usually, I hate secret identity trope, but this one kept me entertained. I love watching an overbearing, control freak H be led astray by an intelligent woman. He thought he was in charge. Foolish man!...more
Read: 3/5/25 This was a fun, entertaining read! I laughed a lot. Sophy was just adorable! She's highly intelligent but clueless in other ways. Poor JulRead: 3/5/25 This was a fun, entertaining read! I laughed a lot. Sophy was just adorable! She's highly intelligent but clueless in other ways. Poor Julian just wanted an heir and a quiet marriage. He doesn't know what a whirlwind Sophy truly was, but he's in for a shock.
The romance and mystery were lacking. I liked this couple but wish there was more romance. Julian tended to play the father role too much in the relationship. At least in the end, he finally understood and trusted her.
The mystery really doesn't come into play until the end. It wasn't really needed anyway. I've just come to expect a good mystery from AQ.
Conclusion: This was a delightful read! I would highly recommend this book...more
Read: 2/4/25- late review Friends to lovers A VH book without an a**hole H? This cannot be! Oh, it was published in 2011. That explains a lot. I wantedRead: 2/4/25- late review Friends to lovers A VH book without an a**hole H? This cannot be! Oh, it was published in 2011. That explains a lot. I wanted angst and OTT events. I didn't get that. That's okay because I loved this story anyway!
Warning: This book deals with slavery and the Civil War. The book shows the South's views, so it is offensive sometimes. I hate when people b**ch about it later, so heed warning now!
Plot: Nick found out he was a bastard when he was 10. He accepts this fact and is happy with what he will inherit. He loves his little brother and enjoys being the favorite son. All that changes when his father dies, and Nick discovers how evil his serene stepmom really is. She destroys the will, and he is left with nothing. He uses his gambling money to buy a ticket to America. He arrives in South Carolina and begins to increase his fortune enough to buy a plantation. There, he meets a wild, beautiful 13 year old imp.
Paradise Hills belongs to Mandy! It was her escape from her family. It's war until Nicky becomes her hero. Nick immediately befriends his neighbors. The Jackson family soon becomes a second family to Nick. Their lives soon become entwined. Over the next three years, Nick turns Paradise into one of the greatest plantation in the county.
Bernard Jackson has always wanted Nick as a son in law. With the war inevitable, he needs to be in Richmond. He presses Nick to marry his eldest and take over his plantation. Nick surprises everyone when he demands Mandy instead. So it's agreed that it will be a marriage in name only. Nick can't consummate the marriage until Mandy turns 18 in 2 years. That's going to be hard for Nick. He also has to deal with his wife's problematic family and two plantations all with a war starting.
Of course, later, the war hits and destroys everything. Nick goes missing presumed dead. Mandy has to feed and protect her family. It gets very dramatic! The actual war part only takes up the last 70% of the book. Most of the story focuses on the friendship of the MC and the factors that led up to the war.
Characters:
Nick: he is smart, hardworking, and just a loveable guy! Did I mention good-looking? He's almost like Jamie Fraser reincarnated. Almost.
Faults- Nick buys slaves. He disagrees with it but still does it because it's the only way to make his plantation profitable. In the 3 years, Nick does have a mistress, a bastard, and kisses the eldest sister. All these faults aside, Nick is basically everybody's hero. He's the friend that you can rely on.
Nick knows he wants to marry Mandy the moment he sees her. It wasn't sexual. He just connected with her personality. Their friendship builds over the years. There's other women. It's not until she turns 16 that he starts to notice her body. Gross, but it is 1861 so ...more