Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners #1) by Lisa Kleypas

Blurb...

Grant Morgan is one of London's most eligible and unattainable bachelors. He's also a powerful member of the Bow Street Runners, and when he's called to the waterfront late one night to investigate a drowning victim, Grant is stunned to recognize the face of Vivien Rose Duvall, a well-known woman of the night. He's even more startled when he realizes that she's alive. With no one to care for her, Grant carries Vivien to his home and revives her, only to learn that she is suffering from amnesia.

Vivien hesitantly accepts her handsome rescuer's claim that she is his mistress, despite her misgivings about her true identity. Nevertheless, she can't deny the marks on her throat that prove her near-drowning in the Thames was not an accident, and now she must trust the man who claims her as his paramour, for her life is in danger. As Grant searches for Vivien's attacker, the two find themselves falling in love, all the while struggling to stay one step ahead of the evil forces that will stop at nothing to see Vivien dead.

I’ve been indulging myself in Lisa Kleypas’ books for the past few weeks and have come to appreciate her story telling talents. Perhaps because this is the first book in the Bow Street Runners series, it didn’t grab me quite the way her Wallflower series did. I didn’t find the characters quite as charismatic as those in her other books.

It has an interesting plot – a courtesan with amnesia being pursued by someone who is trying to kill her and the man who saved her life and is now protecting her, bent on revenge for some wrong she did him in the past. There was definitely a lot to keep the pace of the story moving quickly which is a plus because it can be tough to lay the ground work for a new series and still keep the reader’s attention. There were only a couple of instances when I wanted to skip through some of the foundation details and get back down to the nitty-gritty of the story.

Someone To Watch Over Me is a story filled with likable characters, though (with the exception of Sir Ross – but that’s another story) I didn’t feel a connection or attachment to any of them. Honestly it wasn’t until the very end of the book that I had my first “Awwww, how sweet” *sigh* moment. It occurred when Grant showed up unexpectedly at White Rose Cottage, surprising Victoria:

“What are you doing here?”
“You took too long,” he muttered with a scowl.
That statement brought a surprised laugh from her. “We agreed I would stay here a week.”
“It’s been a week.”
“It’s been precisely two and a half days,” she informed him.
“It seemed like a bloody year.”
They exchange a few more words then he asks, “And our engagement,” he asked with a set face. “Do you have an answer for me?”

I loved those few sentences more than any others in the entire book because it gave me a real glimpse into him – an overgrown boy used to getting his own way and not sure what he would do if he didn’t. I could really see that frown/scowl on his face as he nervously (though he masked it well) awaited her answer. I wish we had been given more candid peeks into the man who is Grant Morgan. I didn’t find him exceptionally charming but the sexual tension in this book was amazing. Their intimate encounters had me *fanning myself* and checking to make sure no one was reading over my shoulder and what Grant Morgan lacked in charisma, he more than made up for in heat. He is one sensual, sexual man.

Click here to purchase Someone to Watch Over Me at Amazon

In Love with a Wicked Man by Liz Carlyle

What does it matter if Kate, Lady d'Allenay, has absolutely no marriage prospects? She has a castle to tend, an estate to run, and a sister to watch over, which means she is never, ever reckless. Until an accident brings a handsome, virile stranger to Bellecombe Castle, and Kate finds herself tempted to surrender to her houseguest's wicked kisses.

Disowned by his aristocratic family, Lord Edward Quartermaine has turned his gifted mind to ruthless survival. Feared and vilified as proprietor of London's most notorious gaming salon, he now struggles to regain his memory, certain of only one thing: he wants all Kate is offering—and  more.

But when Edward's memory returns, he and Kate realize how much they have wagered on a scandalous passion that could be her ruin, but perhaps his salvation.

***** 

In Love with a Wicked Man is a wonderful story, and Liz Carlyle takes us deep into the hearts and souls of Kate and Edward, leaving us no choice but to fall madly in love with them.

I tend to avoid “amnesia” story-lines because, more often than not, they all feel the same to me. I mean, let's be real; there are only so many ways to lose one’s memory, and only so many ways to make regaining it and the aftermath of having lost it in the first place, unique. That said, I really did enjoy the way Ms. Carlyle tells this tale. There’s a level of passion and poignancy that makes this story something that, once I started, I couldn’t put down.

Kate and Edward are wonderful together. The chemistry that draws them to one another in a sensual way was both fun and breathtaking to watch. Their passion is intense, but I have to admit, there were a few times I wish they’d cut the romantic chatter and get down to the business of getting down to business, if you know what I mean. *wink, wink*

In Love with a Wicked Man has everything I hope for in my historical romance reads; amazing characters, passion, romance, and an intriguing story. ... all the things that make a book more than a romance novel, but a beautiful love story with a happily ever after

Note: This is review is based on reading from the manuscript. The actual published story might be slightly changed from the version I read.

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of In Love with a Wicked Man in exchange for my honest review.

What Happens in Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston

When recent widow Georgette Thorold wakes up in a Scottish inn with a wedding ring on her finger and lacking all memory of how she came to be there, she does what any well-bred lady with a modicum of sense and a distrust of marriage would do: she panics, clocks the wickedly handsome stranger in her bed over the head with a chamber pot, and runs.

James McKenzie, Esquire has either spent the evening protecting a very naïve, and—dare he say it—very drunk young lady from the advances of every disreputable character in the town of Moraig, or he has gone and married a pretty, scheming thief. Not that his own head is entirely clear on the matter, but when the woman in question repays his kindness with a knock on the head, the bill for her room, and the theft of his purse, an embarrassed James is determined to track her down and show her she picked the wrong solicitor to swindle.

As Georgette sets out to discover exactly what happened during her forgotten night, she uncovers a man that seems far more a hero than a rake. But when they finally meet, instead of sweeping her into his arms and kissing her senseless, he serves her with a summons, claiming she is a thief. Now the fight is on, and the only question is was it a night worth remembering? Or a mistake they would both rather forget?

*****  

What Happens in Scotland is Jennifer McQuiston’s debut novel and an absolutely delightful story! If this is any indication of what’s to come from this very talented author, historical romance lovers are in for quite a treat!

Historical Romance is one of my favorite genres, so I'm always on the lookout for new authors and fresh story-lines. Well, What Happens in Scotland, isn't just fresh, it's romantic, sexy and lots of fun!

I loved our hero and heroine, James and Georgette. Sure, there were times I wanted to smack Georgette, or grab James by his beard and shake him, but still I could help but love them. Their attempt to try and figure out what had happened - were they married, or not? - made for some very amusing reading. The village residents are also great, and I can only imagine how much fun life would be in Moraig! They, along with a wonderful hero and heroine, and an unforgettable story, made What Happens in Scotland a delight to read!

The bottom line: Jennifer McQuiston is a very talented writer! She took what would be an unlikely happenstance and made it believable by blending it perfectly with enough emotion to draw me in and make me care about James and Georgette, and enough humor to keep it light and entertaining. From start to finish I couldn't put it down and will be looking for more by this gifted story-teller!

James McKenzie

And a note: I have to be honest, I'm taking great liberties with the author's description of James McKenzie. The truth is, I've never been a huge fan of heavily bearded men, so whenever James' beard was mentioned, this is how I envisioned him. To be even more honest, even after he shaved, I continued to lust after...errr.... envision him this way.

My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this ebook. It was a pleasure, start to finish!

Saving Grace by Norah Wilson

Police Detective Ray Morgan and his wife, Grace, an up-and-coming newspaper reporter, have it all – jobs they love, a nice home, and the perfect marriage. Or so it seemed. But when Grace announces that she’s leaving Ray for another man… well, no one ever saw that coming, especially not Ray. Stunned and devastated by Grace’s revelation, Ray can only watch as the woman he loves walks out the door. He can't imagine anything being worse than this, but then just a few hours later he gets a phone call telling him that Grace has been in a car accident. The angry, betrayed part of his heart tells him to keep his distance, to let her lover care for her now, but the husband part, the part that still loves her, wants to go to her, to make sure she’s okay. When Grace claims no recollection of the hours before her accident, Ray can’t be sure whether she’s faking the amnesia or not. He wants to believe her, but doesn’t want to be hurt again, but can he trust her… does he want to?

Saving Grace is the second book in Norah Wilson’s Serve and Protect series, and another exciting read. When we first met Grace and Ray in Guarding Suzannah, we learned that Ray is well liked and respected by his fellow officers, devoted to his job and very good at what he does. But despite Ray's camaraderie with the guys, both on and off the job, Grace has never quite felt like she fit in, never felt that she was really accepted by the wives of the officers Ray works with. She’s smart, pretty, chic, and perfectly proper… not at all like the other women, so of course things might be awkward for all of them. But what I loved about Grace in this story is that we get to see the woman she really is, her heart and soul, and we also see that the car accident is probably the best thing that could have ever happened to their marriage.

Now, you might be thinking, 'Oh, no! Not another amnesia story!!' because yeah, let's be honest… that storyline has been done time and time again, especially in romantic suspense, but I have to say, I really enjoyed this version of it! It’s fresh, exciting, emotionally charged… and watching Grace and Ray, these two people who care deeply for one another, try to salvage their marriage by learning the truth about what led up to Grace’s supposed affair… it was both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and in the end, absolutely beautiful.

The bottom line - Once again Ms. Wilson has created a story that fits her characters, and characters that make the story. Even though there were moments of predictability, I enjoyed Saving Grace a lot. It’s romantic, passionate and very sexy, and I’m soooo looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Protecting Paige and anything else I can get my hands on by Norah Wilson!