Any Duchess Will Do (Spindle Cove #4) by Tessa Dare

Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season—or any season—but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.

Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training"... and fail miserably.

But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure—a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess—can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?

Any Duchess Will Do is romantic, sexy, poignant, funny… it’s all the things I’ve come to love about (and expect from) this author.

Historical Romance fans – trust me on this; if you haven’t yet read the awesomeness of Tessa Dare, you haven’t read some of the best the genre has to offer. Her stories are always humorous, always steamy, always thought provoking, and always end in a beautiful happily ever after!

Click here to purchase Any Duchess Will Do at Amazon

About Spindle Cove: Spindle Cove, nestled in a peaceful corner of Regency Era England, has long been known as "Spinster Cove," due to its preponderance of unwed ladies of "delicate constitutions"--and that's the fictional setting for a delightful historical romance series by Tessa Dare.

WANTED: Wife by Gwen Jones

I love discovering new authors! This is such a cute, romantic, sexy story! Fresh, quirky... Lots of fun!

When reporter Julie Knott answers an advertisement placed on a utility pole by a man wanting to interview potential wives, she does so in hopes of a story, never dreaming she'd end up his wife. But that's exactly what happens when one disaster after another makes Andy Devine her last hope of salvaging her career and her self respect.

Life with Andy is more than Julie could have ever imagined it would be, and Andy feels the same way about her. They get along well, bot in bed and out, and given life on the farm, that's saying a lot. Things are going better than either could have hoped for until, that is, Julie utters the "love" word and quickly discovers there's so much more to Andy than meets the eye, and it's heartbreaking.

Can Julie find a way through the fortress Andy has built around his heart so they can find a happily ever after despite the odds, or are Andy's secrets too much for them to overcome?

I can't even tell you what a surprising delight WANTED: Wife turned out to be. There's so much more to this story than just a cutesy contemporary romance, and I enjoyed every single bit of it! Andy is a super sexy French talkin' hottie and I want an Andy for myself!

I'm blown away by the idea that this is Gwen Jones' debut novel, because it doesn't read like one at all. Ms. Jones is an incredibly gifted storyteller and I'm looking forward to reading more!

ARC provided by Avon Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Scottish Witch by Cathy Maxwell

This second book in Cathy Maxwell’s The Chattan Curse series – or is it a trilogy? – is more than just a romance novel, it's a wonderful love story that, once I started, I couldn't put down.

From the Cover:

Every woman has her dreams

Portia Maclean believes she is beyond love and marriage. Then one moonlit night, while attempting a daring masquerade in a desperate bid to protect her family, she finds herself swept off her feet by a powerful stranger. His very touch makes her long for much more. But what will he do once he discovers she has betrayed him?

Every man has his demons

Harry Chattan is fighting for his family-their honor and their lives. For two hundred years the Chattan men have been destroyed by love and now he's come to Scotland on the hunt for a witch who can break the legend's curse. Instead he finds himself bewitched by the tantalizing Portia. Determined to right legendary wrongs, Harry has vowed to fight the demons that torture him.

But will that battle destroy her as well?

Oh, how I loved this book! Given what we learned of Harry in Lyon’s Bride, I was pretty sure his story would be amazing, and I was right! That said, I had also worried that it would be dark – darker than I like to read – but thankfully, it wasn’t! Harry overcame most of his demons early on, and then resolved the things that were within his power to resolve, and left the rest in Fate's hands.

My favorite thing about these books is the profound message of love being the most important thing, for without it, nothing else matters. One by one this generation of Chattans are failing victim to the Chattan Curse, but refuse to give up, refuse to turn their backs on true love, no matter the cost. And. I. LOVE. That!!!!!

Up next is Margaret’s story. She’s Neal and Harry’s sister, and will not stand by while a bitter old witch destroys her family. She’s the Chattan’s last hope to break the curse, and I can’t wait to read all about how she does it in The Devil's Heart!!

The bottom line: The Scottish Witch is such a feel good story. Filled with hope, inspiration, romance and steamy goodness, it was everything I had hoped for, and more! Harry and Portia are amazing together, perfect for one another, and I love their happily ever after!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

To purchase the books in this series:

Stealing Home by Jennifer Seasons

 

Mark Cutter has it all: a lucrative baseball career, fast cars, and faster women—and all thanks to his priceless good luck charm. At least, that's what he thinks before Lorelei Littleton shows up. Next thing he knows, he's waking up alone, the sexy brunette has vanished, and his good luck charm is gone. More than a little curious about the wicked-hot cat burglar and determined to get his property back, Mark's going to track down the thief and make her pay—big time.

Maybe Lorelei feels a tiny bit guilty for stealing Mark's good luck charm, but when it's worth $100,000 and the money could save her niece's life? She's not losing sleep over it . . . but him? Lorelei can't get the ballplayer with the bad attitude out of her head. And now he's come after her with more than just revenge in his eyes. Lorelei has a choice: turn over the charm and lose the money, or keep it and risk losing everything . . . including her heart.

*****

 Stealing Home is the first book in Jennifer Seasons’ Diamonds and Dugouts series. It’s fun, romantic, quirky and sexy… a truly entertaining story!

I’m a big fan of Contemporary Romance, and this one is just right. It has all the things I most enjoy in my reads, and a terrific supporting cast as well.

The story line is one that tugs at the heartstrings, and starts a chain of events that can’t be stopped, without someone landing in prison. I enjoyed the way that all played out, and I really enjoyed the time we spent in Mark’s head during his time behind the plate. I’ve never been much of a baseball fan, and don’t know a lot about the sport, but Ms. Seasons didn't get all sport techy and I actually found myself very interested in the game play.

Mark and Lorelei are both great characters, and their chemistry and quick wit made for some great reading. Mark really is the perfect hero… sexy, funny, compassionate - but by no means a pushover… from the start I wanted him to have everything his heart desired. Lorelei annoyed me here and there because she wouldn’t open up and explain why she so desperately needed the money, even though she’d been caught red-handed and had nothing to lose. But still, I couldn’t help but admire her devotion to her family and her determination to help them.

The bottom line: Stealing Home is a great start to the Diamonds and Dugouts series, and sitting here writing this review, I’ve got a grin on my face thinking of some of the stunts Lorelei pulled, and how Mark fought back. It’s safe to say that I’m looking forward to reading more in the series.

My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
Books in the Diamonds and Dugouts series:

Sins of a Ruthless Rogue by Anna Randol

THE AVON AFFAIR IS A 14-DAY AVON BOOKS REVIEW EVENT
ORGANIZED AND HOSTED BY CURRENT AND ALUMNI MEMBERS OF
THE AVON ADDICTS.

Today I'm reviewing Anna Randol's Sins of a Ruthless Rogue! 

 

When apprentice Clayton Campbell discovers his employer is embezzling funds from his investors, he prepared to put a halt to it. But his plan is betrayed by his employer’s daughter, and he is framed and sentenced to hang. Fate instead hands him to the British Foreign Service.

Now released from his duty to his country, Clayton is free to seek revenge on the family that destroyed him. Then his enemy’s daughter approaches him for help deciphering a code she claims to have found in a dead man’s gallows confession. The code reveals the plans of a violent Russian spy ring long ago disbanded. His investigation into the cold, troubled palaces of Russia thrusts both of their lives into danger, and sparks fierce passion he’d thought forgotten. But is this tempting woman really the innocent she seems or a cold-hearted vixen pursuing a plan of revenge more intricate than his own?

When Clayton Campbell walks back into Olivia Swift’s life, she is elated—for a moment. But it becomes clear Campbell wants nothing but her ruin. Yet she cannot blame him, after all, it was her betrayal that sent him to the gallows. Time has carved the shy, awkward lad into a cold, ruthless man. A decade of poverty has taught her she’d be a fool to allow him close. But when she discovers a threat to his life, she sees a way to repay her debt. When she brings him the information, he makes it clear all he sees is another betrayal. He gives her an ultimatum—either prove the threat is real or pay her debt with her body and soul.

***********

Sins of a Ruthless Rogue is the second book in Anna Randol’s Sinners Trio. It’s an exciting tale of betrayal and forgiveness, all wrapped up in a story which proves that love really can conquer all – if you'll only give it the chance!

To say this story has everything is to say the least. Rogues and revolutionaries, treason and torture, murder and mayhem, blackmail, scandal, revenge… spies, agents, thugs, assassins, princes, princesses, czars, peasants… seriously… this story has it all, including a believable romance and some steamy lovin’. It’s a uniquely intriguing tale with compelling characters, and I loved every minute I spent reading it!

And speaking of compelling characters! The first glimpse we're given of Clayton and Olivia are as a young, engaged couple. Clayton is a noble, honorable idealist, and Olivia a fairly naive, spoiled young woman. They both think they're doing the right thing, for the right reason, but in the end, both are devastated. When next we see them, it's ten years later, and they are so far removed, so very different from the people they had once been. Both have been betrayed in one sense or another and they've learned that it's safer to trust no one but themselves. And this, believe it or not, in my opinion, is where the beauty of their love is born.

One of my favorite things about this story is the happy ending which, because it wasn't easy to get there, felt so real! So believable! To have any hope of surviving this deadly mission, Clayton and Olivia have to trust one another enough to share their secrets, and to put the past behind them. Trust... no relationship is worth having - or can survive - without it, and that's the lesson they have to learn. And their happily ever after, once they got it, was hard fought and well deserved.

Anna Randol is a unique, fresh voice in historical romance, and I am so looking forward to reading more by this very gifted writer!

My sincerest thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of Sins of a Ruthless Rogue in exchange for an honest review. It's been such pleasure!

And be sure to visit the other blogs participating in the Avon Affair:



A Tasty Read
Rusticating In The Tropics
Toot's Book Reviews
S.O.S. Aloha
The Book Queen's Personal Book Palace
Romancing The Readers
The Book Cellar
The Romance Reviews
Tempting Reads

Sacrifice the Wicked by Karina Cooper

THE AVON AFFAIR IS A 14-DAY AVON BOOKS REVIEW EVENT
ORGANIZED AND HOSTED BY CURRENT AND ALUMNI MEMBERS OF
THE AVON ADDICTS.

Today I'll be reviewing Karina Cooper's exciting book, Sacrifice the Wicked! 

 

Parker Adams has always done what’s expected of her . . . until a double agent with nothing to lose ignites a passion she doesn’t dare give in to.

Mission Agent Simon Wells is everything Parker Adams has been trained to fight: manipulator, murderer, spy… witch. But for her, what makes Simon most dangerous is his mesmerizing sexual magnetism, powerful enough to tempt even the famed ice queen of the Mission. Though she knows better, each encounter with the deceptive agent leaves her craving more.

Simon isn’t a man to let go of what’s his, and his pursuit forces Parker, a woman he can’t get out from under his skin, to make a stand that could destroy her. If they can work together, they might survive the politics that have enslaved their devastated world—or fall victim to the pitfalls of desperation, bone-deep mistrust, and a hunger that threatens to consume them.

*****

Sacrifice the Wicked is the fourth book in Karina Cooper’s Dark Mission series, and is an intriguing, exciting, sexy story!

I began this book having not read the previous installments, and I’ll say this right up front – I really don’t recommend it. If you have the opportunity, I strongly encourage you to start at the beginning and work your way through

Based on this book alone I can tell you that the world Ms. Cooper has created is complex, compelling, and without a doubt, fascinating, but it was Simon and Parker’s relationship progression and their off-the-charts sexual chemistry that drew me in and kept me turning the pages. The storytelling is so well done that even though I probably should have set it aside until I could read the other books, I couldn’t put it down.

I’m looking forward to reading the series from the start because this is one hell of a world and I want to explore every bit of it!

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Be sure to visit the other blogs participating in the Avon Affair:

A Tasty Read
Rusticating In The Tropics
Toot's Book Reviews
S.O.S. Aloha
The Book Queen's Personal Book Palace
Romancing The Readers
The Book Cellar
The Romance Reviews
Tempting Reads