Since her father’s death, Samantha Northrup hasn’t quite fit in among the residents of the village of Sproule. Though she’s a healer and the daughter Since her father’s death, Samantha Northrup hasn’t quite fit in among the residents of the village of Sproule. Though she’s a healer and the daughter of the now-deceased vicar, no one seems to know what to do with the unmarried Samantha. Then a mysterious stranger practically falls into Samantha’s lap one night. He calls himself Marvin Browne and after bringing him back from the brink of death, Samantha finds herself compromised and is forced to marry Marvin. Samantha’s determined to make the best of her new life with Marvin the sailor. There’s just one thing she doesn’t know…
Yale Carderock, the disinherited second son of a duke, has returned to England after years abroad to show his father that he has made a success of himself. But Yale is met with the news that his father is dead and he himself is thought to be dead. He has to see the graves himself in order to believe the news, so he races to Sproule and gives the villagers a fake name. He never expects to be married under it! What’s more, Yale is taken with his pretty bride and knows that his deception cannot last forever. Can he untangle the mess he’s made? And when he does, will Samantha want the man she married as much as the she does the man she thought him to be?
A pious woman, a formerly dissolute rake, deception, and a forced marriage are all well-known tropes in the historical romance genre. Thankfully, even all put together they don’t feel overdone in Because of You. Yale is a hard-working, kind man who’s a bit too stubborn for his own good. I liked him, even with his flaws, because Cathy Maxwell made it impossible not to. It’s also difficult not to adore Samantha, even though she does seem a bit too perfect at times. The two of them make a good pair which makes Because of You a charming read. I must admit though, Yale’s brother and sister-in-law almost stole the spotlight from Samantha and Yale in the latter half of the book. Wayland and Marion are such a great couple that I am disappointed there is no book for them and I’m crossing my fingers that Ms. Maxwell changes that one day.
Ms. Maxwell always delivers a fast-paced, entertaining story and Because of You is no exception. There are a few points where I was pulled out of the story – Samantha and Yale fall in love almost abruptly and there’s a plot twist at the end that seemed unnecessary – but overall I liked Because of You. It may not be my favorite book of Ms. Maxwell’s, but that’s because Ms. Maxwell has delivered a number of delightful books. Fans of classic Regency romance should be entertained by Yale and Samantha’s story.
Note: Because of You was first published in 1999 and was reissued in October of 2011.
Maura Collyer doesn’t think of herself as Cinderella, but she definitely has a wicked stepmother – one that sold her prized horse to a villainous viscount. Determined to get her horse back one way or another, Maura steals into the viscount’s stables and takes what’s rightfully hers. The only thing she didn’t count on was her best friend’s brother catching her in the act…and tagging along as she flees London.
Ashton Wilde, Marquis of Beaufort, is no Prince Charming. His sister – a would-be fairy godmother – doesn’t agree, however, and insists that he play hero to her best friend’s damsel in distress. Unwilling to see Maura ruined by the machinations of her stepmother and the viscount, Ash goes along with his sister’s plan. But as he accompanies Maura on her mission, Ash finds that he cannot resist the headstrong beauty. And it’s not long before the temptation to seduce Maura is too much for him to resist.
Will this unlikely Cinderella and Prince Charming get a fairytale ending of their own?
Nicole Jordan’s Legendary Lovers series starts off on a high note in the sparkling, enchanting Princess Charming. I absolutely adore Princess Charming. Maura and Ash are likeable, endearing protagonists and it’s easy to become invested in their story. Maura isn’t your average Regency lady; she’d much rather be running her stables than dancing until dawn. Ash, in turn, is a deliciously sexy hero and it was wonderful to watch his attraction to Maura slide from lust to love.
Ash’s siblings and cousins are fantastic secondary characters that add life to Princess Charming. Katharine, Ash’s sister, is the one who sets up the premise for the series: each member of the Wilde family will find true love by using the model of a famous pair of legendary lovers from fairytales, famous literature, or mythology. In Ash’s case, it’s Cinderella, but I can’t wait to see what Ms. Jordan does to put a spin on Romeo and Juliet for Jack, Pygmalion for Quinn, and The Taming of the Shrew for Katharine. I also would dearly love to know what Ms. Jordan has in store for my favorite Wilde cousin, Skye. One of the best parts of Princess Charming was seeing the closeness of the Wilde family and I can’t wait to revisit them in the next Legendary Lovers book.
Overall, Princess Charming is a fast and fun Regency romance, and the elements of Cinderella Ms. Jordan incorporated into the tale add extra charm. If Princess Charming is anything to go by, the rest of the Wilde cousins will have delightfully entertaining romances. I finished Princess Charming wanting nothing more to dive into Ms. Jordan’s next Legendary Lovers tale – bring on Jack’s book!...more
Sydney Davis was head-over-heels in love with Geoffrey Brompton…until she caught her fiancé in bed with another woman. It took years for Sydney to be willing to speak to Geoffrey again, and just when she thinks he’s changed, the man up and disappears! Sydney is sure Geoffrey is off with some woman, but the police are beginning to think that his sister, Suzanne, murdered him. Sydney comes to Suzanne’s aid, but her best friend needs more than a shoulder to lean on. Suzanne is sure that Geoffrey has traveled back in time to the sixteenth century and she needs Sydney to rescue him before Geoffrey dies and Suzanne finds herself in handcuffs. Sydney doesn’t want to believe Suzanne’s wild tale, but when strange things start occurring in Geoffrey’s home, Sydney starts to believe. The clock’s ticking for them all and Sydney will have to rescue Geoffrey from the past before they can have a future together.
Sometimes, in order to go forward you have to go back. Of course, in Through Traitor’s Gate author Melinda Barron sends Geoffrey all the way back to the reign of Henry VIII. Geoffrey has somewhat of a hard time of it, battling political intrigue and a traitor in the midst of his ancestors. But for Geoffrey, what’s possibly even more daunting than the prospect of losing his head is losing his second chance with Sydney. It’s clear that he’s always loved her, so why did he cheat on her once before? I won’t give away spoilers, but suffice it to say Ms. Barron never had me doubting that Geoffrey would be a great match for Sydney. Speaking of Sydney, she’s a firecracker of a heroine. I adored her and understood her mixed feelings toward Geoffrey even as I cheered for them to get together. And getting together isn’t exactly easy with Geoffrey being stuck in the sixteenth century. It’s going to take love, faith, and a heck of a lot of magic to get these two exactly where they’re supposed to be. The element of danger for the Brompton siblings Ms. Barron added to Sydney and Geoffrey’s romance rounded out the story. I simply could not put Through Traitor’s Gate down once I started reading it. Ms. Barron always delivers an entertaining story and Through Traitor’s Gate is no exception. I look forward to revisiting Geoffrey and Sydney in the near future....more
Warm, comforting, entertaining, and sweet. Classic Nora Roberts when it comes to the various relationships between lovers, family, and friends. The peWarm, comforting, entertaining, and sweet. Classic Nora Roberts when it comes to the various relationships between lovers, family, and friends. The perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day.
Only two downsides: 1) I want to visit the real Inn BoonsBoro and am far too far away to do so and 2) I have to wait until spring for book 2, The Last Boyfriend....more
Kieran Frost is a slut, and he knows it. He loves the single life and relishes both his hot one nighBlue Ribbon Rating: 5 out of 5 Original Review Link
Kieran Frost is a slut, and he knows it. He loves the single life and relishes both his hot one night stands and playing the third with his friends Rhett and Ethan. When Rhett’s daughter asks him to meet her newly out of the closet friend, Alex, Kieran figures he’ll do the guy a favor and show him around Seattle’s gay nightlife. Kieran doesn’t mind the attraction that sparks the instant he meets Alex. Why not be the one to introduce Alex to the pleasures of sex? It’s not like Kieran doesn’t have the experience and – when it comes to Alex – Kieran doesn’t mind going slow. But tangling with this virgin doesn’t just mess with Kieran’s sheets. Suddenly, the self-described manwhore finds that his perfect plan to help Alex explore his sexuality before they each go their separate ways has a problem. The more time Kieran spends with Alex, the less he can imagine ever letting the other man go.
I LOVE this book! With THE CLOSER YOU GET, author L.A. Witt has delivered an incredibly engaging romance with two heroes that captured my heart and supporting characters that charmed the hell out of me.
Both Alex and Kieran are on a journey of self-discovery, though only one of them knows it. Alex grew up having to hide the fact that he is gay and now, at twenty-one, living in a place where he can be out, he feels lost at sea, unsure of where to start when it comes to claiming his sexuality. It was a joy to watch Alex go from shy virgin to confident lover. Ms. Witt makes this transition believable, which is part of the reason THE CLOSER YOU GET shines. Kieran is the perfect person to help Alex come out of his shell. He’s knowledgeable, comfortable and straightforward when it comes to sex and men, but those aren’t the only reasons why he’s a great guide for Alex. Kieran is also patient and truly cares about Alex, and these aspects come through loud and clear from the start.
Kieran is a man who is easygoing on the outside but has inner scars that have the potential to bring his burgeoning relationship with Alex to a screeching halt. The most important obstacle is the fact that Kieran does NOT want a relationship. He’s not commitment-phobic, and he does believe in love. He has just borne witness to – and often been trapped in the middle of – too many failed relationships. Kieran is terrified of getting hurt which is, of course, why I was so desperate to see him find lasting love with Alex.
As a pair, Kieran and Alex are smoking hot. Ms. Witt makes sensual exploration a real treat in THE CLOSER YOU GET. But what resonated with me wasn’t the heat Alex and Kieran generated but rather how the pair fell in love, almost without knowing it. There was beauty in how they almost seamlessly slid into a relationship, and I didn’t want to put down THE CLOSER YOU GET because I felt like I had to keep reading until Alex and Kieran found that magic “happily ever after.”
THE CLOSER YOU GET is the sequel to THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, and Rhett and Ethan, the heroes of that book, play strong supporting roles in Kieran’s story. Not having read THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, I can safely say that THE CLOSER YOU GET can be read as a standalone. However, I was sufficiently intrigued by what Ms. Witt reveals about Rhett and Ethan’s history to want to read THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US.
THE CLOSER YOU GET is a gorgeous romance that I loved from beginning to end. Successive re-reads have not dimmed my pleasure in reading THE CLOSER YOU GET, and I look forward to revisiting Alex and Kieran yet again in the near future.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
The hockey bits (excluding the cardboard pep talks) were really good, but there wasn't enough hockey to make up for the rest of the story.
I don't mindThe hockey bits (excluding the cardboard pep talks) were really good, but there wasn't enough hockey to make up for the rest of the story.
I don't mind neurotic heroines, but Sinead crossed the line into ridiculous territory. Also, her snap-judgments were annoying. First Adam is a moron because he doesn't like to talk, then he's a genius because he can explain hockey positions to her. And her inner dialogue during sex scenes was bad.
Adam took turns being a '50s-era throwback and then a cardboard-perfect hero. It seemed that the only reason he and Sinead were able to make things work was because Adam's friend Anthony kept calling Adam on his stupidity.
All in all, the characters were 2D and the emotional components of the book were way too cheesy for me. Hockey's one of my favorite sports and I've heard a lot about the Blades series, so I was really hoping for something better than this. Perhaps another book in this series would suit me better, but at the moment I don't feel compelled to find out....more
Will Golding loved visiting the Isle of Wight as a child, and he’s even more excited to return as anBlue Ribbon Rating: 3 out of 5 Original Review Link
Will Golding loved visiting the Isle of Wight as a child, and he’s even more excited to return as an adult. He’s on a beachside camping trip with his best friend, Baz, whom Will desires but can never truly have. Baz is researching a book on the Isle of Wight ghosts, but it’s a not-so-ghostly encounter that captivates Will; a beautiful, naked man in the sea.
Novelist Marcus Devereux is used to people staring at him, but he’s not used to wanting to stare back. The tall, muscular image of Will haunts him, but when he meets Will again – this time with Baz – Marcus shies away from the object of his attraction. It’s not just Marcus’s looks that make him a recluse; it’s the story of his parents’ murders that makes him wary of people like Baz and, by extension, Will. Yet the attraction between Marcus and Will is too tempting to resist and the two men tentatively start something. But Marcus’s secrets may doom their relationship before it has a chance to start. With Baz digging around Marcus’s past, both his and Will’s lives are in jeopardy.
Mystery, murder and ghosts – oh my! Author J.L. Merrow has delivered an original, engaging book with WIGHT MISCHIEF. On the surface, Marcus and Will couldn’t be more different. Marcus is isolated, self-conscious about his albinism and suspicious of all strangers because of his guardian’s warnings. Will, on the other hand, is affable and athletic but is often mistaken for being dumb by those who don’t know him. Each man sees the other for who they truly are and that goes beyond looks…though lust is definitely present in WIGHT MISCHIEF. It was easy to get lost in WIGHT MISCHIEF because J.L. Merrow made me care about Will and Marcus. The ghost stories – and the threat of Baz and Will becoming ghosts themselves – adds dimension to WIGHT MISCHIEF and keeps the story moving along at a brisk pace. With romance, danger and ghost stories in the mix, there’s no going wrong with WIGHT MISCHIEF.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
In the life before he was an engineer, a Dom and a Shadowlands Master, Raoul had seen plenty of darkBlue Ribbon Rating: 4 out of 5 Original Review Link
In the life before he was an engineer, a Dom and a Shadowlands Master, Raoul had seen plenty of darkness. But he’s never seen evil as sickening as the evil he finds in a human trafficking ring that he volunteered to help the FBI bring down. Raoul is no slave owner, but he’s more than willing to pose as one if it will help the FBI agents on the case. He has been instructed to reject all of the slaves offered for sale at the small auction he’s been invited to so that he’ll be invited to a larger auction. Despite his best intentions, Raoul throws the feds’ plans out the window when he sees Kimberly – a friend of one of the Shadowlands’ subs - as one of the slaves for sale. Raoul can’t leave Kimberly behind, so he buys her.
Kim has been physically, sexually, mentally and emotionally tortured by her captors, but she hasn’t let it break her. When Master R purchases her, Kim can’t simply put the past behind her. More challenging than coming to grips with what was done to her and the scars it has left on her body and psyche is the knowledge that her freedom came at the cost of other kidnapped women’s lives. When she learns that there’s a chance the FBI can still raid the big slave auction if she poses as Master R’s slave, Kim can’t bring herself to refuse. She’ll have to live with Raoul and learn to treat him as her Master in order to be successful. Kim figures she can live with anything if it means freeing other slaves. What she doesn’t count on is Master R’s loving brand of dominance making her feel more alive than she ever has before.
Get ready for the most emotionally wrenching MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS book to date. TO COMMAND AND COLLAR is a gripping, sometimes painful, sometimes joyful book with a dominant, caring hero and an incredibly strong heroine who has been through hell and is struggling to find herself again. Author Cherise Sinclair isn’t afraid to pack a wallop when it comes to human trafficking, something I appreciate given the seriousness of the subject. The beginning of TO COMMAND AND COLLAR was almost painful to read because of this – and that’s a good thing, even though the vivid imagery Ms. Sinclair’s words evoked meant I had to step away from the book a time or two.
It was beautiful to watch Kim come alive under Raoul’s care, though the love of her friends and the aid of a psychologist should not be discounted. Ms. Sinclair doesn’t abandon the reality of what Kim has survived. But it is the struggles of healing and the awakening of passion that Kim faces while living with Raoul that makes TO COMMAND AND COLLAR touching.
What I love about the MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS books is that Ms. Sinclair makes each BDSM relationship as different as the characters she creates. Raoul and Kimberly dive into a full-time Master/slave relationship. The timeline is sped up because of the slave auction. But aside from the book’s villains, the main obstacle Raoul and Kimberly must overcome, if they want their burgeoning relationship to work, is whether Kimberly wants to be a full-time submissive. Raoul has been burned in the past by a relationship gone south, and he knows he can’t be anything less than what he is, nor would he ever ask Kimberly to give him more than she wants to give. Kimberly is concerned that her time as a slave has affected her when it comes to what she enjoys in BDSM. The way in which Kimberly figures out her desires adds realism to the book, helping to bring TO COMMAND AND COLLAR further to life.
TO COMMAND AND COLLAR is the sixth book in Ms. Sinclair’s fantastic MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS series. Readers new to the series will be able to follow along with the information that Ms. Sinclair provides, and fans of the series will be delighted to see all their favorite characters again. As much as I enjoyed TO COMMAND AND COLLAR, I finished the book wanting another MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS story. Ms. Sinclair has me drooling over sexy FBI agent Galen Kouros and man, oh man, does she have me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know if Dom/sadist Sam will make things work with the woman who has captured his attention.
TO COMMAND AND COLLAR doesn’t have the usual sparkle – as I call it – of Ms. Sinclair’s MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS books, but given the storyline, that’s understandable. What is consistent is Ms. Sinclair’s phenomenal talent for delivering engaging, gorgeous stories with fiery hot love scenes. All in all, I can safely say that fans of the MASTERS OF THE SHADOWLANDS series won’t want to miss TO COMMAND AND COLLAR.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
It’s been a year since Alexi O’Brien’s twin, Alice, disappeared, but Alexi isn’t giving up hope of finding her sister. Even being pulled through a looIt’s been a year since Alexi O’Brien’s twin, Alice, disappeared, but Alexi isn’t giving up hope of finding her sister. Even being pulled through a looking glass and finding herself in a magical world doesn’t faze Alexi for long. Nothing will take her focus off finding Alice…except perhaps the handsome, dominant King Darronn.
Darronn, King of Spades, is used to women submitting to him. Getting Alexi’s submission, however, will be a challenge; one Darronn revels in accepting. A battle of wills begins between the two, but it’s not long before Darronn finds himself falling for the woman who will be his mate. The question is, will he be able to convince Alexi to stay with him when she finds out he’s been keeping a very important secret from her?
Watch out for the sparks that fly in Claimed by Pleasure – they’re wickedly hot! Jaymie Holland knows how to make both her characters and readers sweat, and it shows. Passion and emotion run extremely high in Claimed by Pleasure, which makes the book feel like it’s moving at lightning pace (which isn’t a bad thing).
Alexi is a strong, stubborn woman, one many readers will be able to relate to. She doesn’t feel that she fits in the world of Tarok, though she clearly does. The skirmishes between her and Darronn give Claimed by Pleasure a different feel from the first Wonderland book, Taken by Passion. What I loved most about Claimed by Pleasure was that both Alexi and Darronn had a lot to learn about relationships. Compromise is a word neither likes, but once both of them are on the same page, their relationship is electric!
Claimed by Pleasure is the second book in the Wonderland series but it can be read as a standalone. But both Alexi and readers of Taken by Passion are sure to be delighted that Alice, the heroine of Taken by Passion, appears in Claimed by Pleasure.
I absolutely adore the Wonderland series and I cannot wait for Annie and Awai, Alexi’s cousin and aunt, to meet their matches in Darronn’s brothers in Bound by Desire and Kept by Seduction. If you’re looking for great erotic fantasy, the Wonderland series is not to be missed!
Note: Claimed by Pleasure by Jaymie Holland is a reissue of Wonderland: King of Spades by Cheyenne McCray.
Alice O’Brien is having a record-breaking bad day which is topped off by her coming home to find her fiancé cheating on her. Her day takes a strange tAlice O’Brien is having a record-breaking bad day which is topped off by her coming home to find her fiancé cheating on her. Her day takes a strange turn when a trip to Golden Gate Park sends Alice tumbling down a rabbit hole where she lands in a fantastical land…and in the path of a devastatingly handsome king.
Jarronn, the King of Hearts and High King of Tarok is in a bind. The fate of his kingdom rests on he and his brothers defeating the mind-spell cast by their enemy. Jarronn knows he must pick a mate who is not of his world, and fate makes him set his sights on Alice. She’s everything he could want, both as a mate and as a queen. But what will happen when Alice learns Jarronn’s true purpose in bringing her to his kingdom?
Get your fans ready, readers – the Tarok kings are here and they’re hot enough to burn! Taken by Passion is a hedonistic delight that I devoured in one sitting. I flat-out love Alice. She’s a kind, beautiful plus-size woman who’s been put down and made to feel insecure all her life. It takes a trip to “Wonderland” – aka Tarok – for her to find the love, passion, and relationship she needs. Jarronn loves the way she looks and he won’t settle for anything less than Alice seeing how gorgeous she is. It was wonderful to watch their emotional journey from blinding lust to love…with explosive amounts of lust, of course.
It’s impossible to talk about Taken by Passion without discussing the erotic content. Ms. Holland pulls out all the stops and it works. The sexual content is extremely high but never feels overdone and isn’t repetitive – not an easy feat. Ms. Holland also makes every delicious moment memorable, for which I applaud her.
If passion and emotion weren’t enough, a dangerous villain adds an element of danger to Taken by Passion and adds intrigue to the Wonderland series as a whole. Finally, you cannot ignore the fact that Taken by Passion is simply fun. I laughed at some of the quirks of Tarok that made Alice think of the story Alice in Wonderland. All in all, Taken by Passion has everything you could want in an erotic fantasy romance and it’s the perfect book to curl up with for a few hours. I love Taken by Passion and I can’t wait to revisit Tarok in the next Wonderland book, Claimed by Pleasure.
Note: Taken by Passion by Jaymie Holland is a reissue of Wonderland: King of Hearts by Cheyenne McCray.
Recommended Read. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed....more
Two years ago, Samantha’s life was perfect. At least it was until right before her older sister’s wedding when she caught the bride in bed with Sam’s Two years ago, Samantha’s life was perfect. At least it was until right before her older sister’s wedding when she caught the bride in bed with Sam’s fiancé, Kyle. Devastated, Sam fled, refusing to talk to Kyle. Now she’s back home for her younger sister’s wedding and Kyle is the best man. Kyle insists that he can’t remember the night that ruined their lives so long ago and he seems determined to win Sam back. But how can Sam trust the man who once broke her heart?
Weddings are anxiety-inducing enough when the best man and maid of honor don’t have a history, so my favorite characters in Blue Moon just might be the bride and groom. That being said, Mackenzie McKade swept me into the erotic, emotional whirlwind that is Kyle and Sam’s reunion. Both Kyle and Sam are clearly great people, the kind of characters you’d want as friends if they were real. It’s equally apparent that some darker force other than alcohol was at work when they broke up because Kyle’s completely head over heels for Sam. I won’t spoil Blue Moon by revealing what happened, but suffice it to say that I was rooting for Kyle to get that second chance from Sam. Old wounds aren’t easy to recover from and some misunderstandings can be hard to untangle, but Ms. McKade makes the journey worth it. Blue Moon is a satisfying, deliciously sexy reunion romance.
The Harper siblings are all half-faery, which means their gifts are fairly – or rather, faerily – imperfect. Willow, the youngest, tends to turn into The Harper siblings are all half-faery, which means their gifts are fairly – or rather, faerily – imperfect. Willow, the youngest, tends to turn into wooden objects at the drop of a hat and only the presence of the full-faery Bruce can stabilize her. Good thing Willow and Bruce make one hell of a team, both at work and play. Willow thinks a no-strings relationship with Bruce is best, but sometimes she wishes for more. And she gets it, in the form of human FBI agent Kane Wilcox.
Kane’s tracking a thief and he needs the help of Harper Security. Since it’s Willow’s case, Kane finds himself working with the sexy, sometimes strange Willow and Bruce. Kane knows there’s something different about the pair, and not just because he’s lusting after both Willow and Bruce when he’s never had the hots for a man before. The sexual attraction between the three of them is impossible to resist, but will this newfound threesome last beyond the time it takes for them to catch a thief?
The final Harper sibling meets her match in not one, but two to-die-for heroes. Hitched is knock-your-socks-off hot and delightful to boot. Mia Watts and her alter ego Katie Blu hooked me at the very beginning of Hitched and I was glued to my Kindle the whole story through. I loved the chemistry between Willow, Kane, and Bruce. The three of them fit together perfectly and the main obstacle in their path is the fear each of them has at risking their heart by revealing what they truly feel. I fell for all three protagonists in Hitched so I was truly invested in the romance. But while this is definitely a threesome, what intrigued me the most was how Ms. Watts handled the sexual attraction between Kane and Bruce. Kane’s never desired a man before, but Bruce is no ordinary man. I liked that these two took things slow sexually, if not emotionally; it added a sense of realism to Hitched. An added element of intrigue from the thief storyline rounds out Hitched, making it a complete story. All in all, Hitched is a sure-fire hit for me. It’s sexy as hell, emotionally engaging, and all-around good fun.
When Doctor John Watson arrives in Toddington Oaks, he isn’t shocked to find that his closest friend, Sherlock Holmes, is on a case. Watson is, however, startled to learn that Holmes is planning to marry. Yet Holmes’s impending nuptials have nothing on the famous detective’s biggest surprise: the revelation that his feelings for Watson are far more intimate than he’s ever let on. Watson himself has hidden his desire for Holmes, so discovering that his feelings are returned make him want to leave the countryside and return to Baker Street immediately so that the two of them may explore the boundaries of their altered relationship in privacy. Sadly, neither Holmes nor Watson can ignore the case of the spy in Toddington Oaks. But as the pair hunt the traitor in their midst their newfound relationship may be cut short – for someone is out to kill Watson.
One of literature’s most famous friendships is taken to the next level in Kissing Sherlock Holmes. T. D. McKinney and Terry Wylis capture the tone and feel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved characters, which was a true delight for me. The story of Watson and Holmes going from friends to lovers was what initially attracted me to Kissing Sherlock Holmes. But although the Holmes-Watson love story is what captured my interest, it was the intrigue of the spy storyline that truly made Kissing Sherlock Holmes exciting. Though the book’s villain was glaringly obvious (to me), I nevertheless enjoyed the mounting sense of danger Mses. McKinney and Wylis’ brought to the page as Watson and Holmes searched for clues as to the spy’s identity. Kissing Sherlock Holmes starts off at a leisurely pace, but with the help of the non-romantic plotline, it picks up steam as it goes along, ending with a most satisfying conclusion. All in all, Kissing Sherlock Holmes was an entertaining read and I still smile to think of how they managed to romantically entangle the infamous Sherlock Holmes and his esteemed partner, Doctor Watson....more
Anyone who has read Elizabeth Hoyt’s work knows that she includes a fairytale in each of her books. The fairytales are told bit by bit at the beginning of each chapter and they complement or mirror what is going on in the book. Clever John is the fairytale Ms. Hoyt has written for her spectacular third Maiden Lane book, Scandalous Desires.
Even if you’re reading Clever John as a standalone fairytale, it’s a delightful read. Ms. Hoyt makes every word count in her stories, and though short, Clever John is wonderfully satisfying. As with many of Ms. Hoyt’s full-length books, Clever John is a story I’ll be reading over and over again.
The release of Clever John also makes me desperately hope that Ms. Hoyt’s publisher will make her other fairytales available. As much as I enjoy reading them in the books, it would be wonderful to be able to read the fairytales straight through....more
Moira MacAllister has been a spy, a thief and a con artist, but never before has a job been so imporBlue Ribbon Rating: 5 out of 5 Original Review Link
Moira MacAllister has been a spy, a thief and a con artist, but never before has a job been so important. An enemy has kidnapped her daughter, and to get the child back, Moira has to steal an ancient onyx box. But someone besides her unwanted employer is also looking for the box…a man Moira fears she cannot outwit; her husband.
Robert Hurst has never forgiven Moira for tricking him into marriage. Unfortunately, he also has never been able to get Moira out of his mind. While searching for an onyx box that holds the secret to finding a family heirloom, Robert’s path crosses with Moira’s once again. This time, however, Robert is not about to let his wayward wife go. She’s hiding something from him – something important. But will Moira’s secret be the thing that brings them together? Or will it be the final straw that breaks their marriage apart?
I have a new favorite Karen Hawkins book; A MOST DANGEROUS PROFESSION! There’s an energy in A MOST DANGEROUS PROFESSION that buoys the book along at lightning speed. The sources of that energy are Moira and Robert. I love nothing more than a great thief meeting her match, and Moira definitely meets her match in her husband. Individually, both Moira and Robert are lively, endearing characters. As a pair, they have a reckless, wild passion that, when paired with their intelligence and kind hearts, make them impossible to resist.
Ms. Hawkins delivers one heck of a ride in A MOST DANGEROUS PROFESSION, and I did not want to put Moira and Robert’s book down. In the engaging HURST AMULET series, this book stands out. And given the teasing glimpses Ms. Hawkins has given regarding Michael Hurst and his heroine, I am excited as all get out to read the next HURST AMULET tale!
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
On the continent of Zirah, in the matriarchal world of Merab, Crown Princess Nuriel must choose her four consorts. She’s already fallen in love with tOn the continent of Zirah, in the matriarchal world of Merab, Crown Princess Nuriel must choose her four consorts. She’s already fallen in love with the Wolf Lord Ze’ev, her first consort. Now it’s onto the Feline Lands to choose her second consort.
Where Ze’ev is strong and protective, Cougar Lord Kefir is bright and charming. He fascinates Nuriel, but can she make Kefir her second consort without hurting Ze’ev? Nuriel may not have a chance to find out if violet male rebels have their way.
I’d adored every story in both the Queens of Merab and the Queens of Merab 2 series so far, which is why it was so disappointing that I didn’t love Nuriel’s Cougar. Violet Summers deliver a powerful emotional hit with the love between Nuriel and Ze’ev. So powerful, in fact, that adding Kefir into the mix just didn’t do it for me. I don’t expect Nuriel’s quest for her consorts to be almost seemless, like her friend Temair’s (the heroine of the first Queens of Merab series), but Ze’ev and Nuriel’s reaction to bringing in Keifer made Nuriel’s Cougar a bit of a sad read. As much as Nuriel enjoys Kefir in bed, she didn’t particularly seem to desire having more than one consort. And it wasn’t Ze’ev’s jealousy that bothered me – that was to be expected – but the fact that he hurt for a lot of the story got to me. While it’s no spoiler to say that things work out in the end (this is a romance after all), I finished the story feeling like the happy ending rang a bit false. Hopefully things will smooth out in the next story, for I really want to see Nuriel and Ze’ev find genuine happiness with their entire family.