Five Golden Rings - A Christmas Anthology

Five Golden Rings is a collection of short love stories made all the more special for their Chistmastime magic. I enjoyed these sweet, sexy, romantic tales, each a delightful read.

Mistletoe Magic by Sophie Barnes: What better way for Connor Talbot, Earl of Redfirn, to spend the holidays than convincing Leonora Compton that the only match she needs to make is with him!

***This is my first taste of Sophie Barnes’ writing and I enjoyed it. It was sweet, steamy, funny… a charming holiday tale!

His Perfect Gift by Karen Erickson: The Duke of Ashton has had three years to plan for his perfect Christmas present—the Lady Eleanor Fitzsimmons as his wife. Now, all he has to do is convince the reluctant lady …

***Oh, this was such a fun story! Again, Karen Erickson is a new-to-me author and I enjoyed her writing. Sexy, romantic… truly entertaining!

War of the Magi by Rena Gregory: Phin Baldwin does not believe in Christmas magic … until the clever and beautiful Ginny Overton gets it into her head to show him how wonderful it can be when wishes come true.

***This story has a decidedly Christmas feel to it and I loved it! A turn of the century, old west story that left me with a smile on my face and a contended sigh in my heart! Rena Gregory is an author whose writing I can’t wait to read more of!

Her Christmas Knight by Sandra Jones: Just returned from the Crusades, marriage is the last thing on Sir Caerwyn's mind. But will he be able to resist Lady Nia, the thief of his boyhood heart, when she tempts him yet again?

***I absolutely adore medieval era stories and this one was such a great read. Short, entertaining, and sexy, Sandra Jones knows how to tell a story!

Tempting Mr. Weatherstone by Vivienne Lorret: Responsible Ethan Weatherstone is determined to save Penelope Rutledge—and her reputation—from her silly scheme, but can he save himself from the temptation of her lips?

***I loved this one! What a sweet "friends to lovers" tale. Emotional, charming, sexy... another great addition to this anthology, and I can add Vivienne Lorret to my list of new-to-me authors to read in the New Year!

The bottom line: Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year and so I devote a good deal of my reading time during December to Christmas themed books. I often find anthologies will have at least one story that doesn't work for me, but this delightful Christmas collection of five stories was a joy to read, start to finish! Each and every story, in some way, touched me and brought to my heart that magical feeling of Christmas.

My thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a copy of this wonderful collection for review. It was such a pleasure!

The Devil's Match by Victoria Vane

Once burned twice shy… but when old flames come together…passion reignites...

The Devil’s Match is the fourth and final book in Victoria Vane’s The Devil DeVere series and such a fitting end to Vic and Diana’s story. It's true what they say about "opposites attract" because never have two people been so poorly suited, and yet, so perfectly matched!

When burned once…

Arriving in London as her goddaughter's chaperone, Baroness Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley wants to avoid her erstwhile lover at all costs. Once nearly consumed by passion, four years has reduced the former inferno to bitterness and ashes.

By an old flame...

A world-weary master of seduction, Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere is bored with his chosen life of debauchery. When Diana's charge disappears, she is forced to seek help from the devil's lair, and their mutual desire reignites with undeniable ferocity.

Fire is best fought with fire…

While DeVere is hell-bent to have her back for keeps, Diana is equally determined to bring him to his knees…by acquiring some sensual secrets of her own.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this story! Vic and Diana are fabulous together, their banter, the sexual tension… loved it! And it was such a treat to spend time with Ned and Phoebe, and Hew and Vesta, while getting even deeper into the very hearts and minds of Vic and Diana.

One of the things I most love about these stories is that Victoria Vane provides just enough period detail to make her readers feel like we’re actually there, not merely reading a story, but living it. A part of it. Many authors write historical romance, but not many do it as well as this author does. And can I just mention, this book has one of the steamiest, most sensual and sexually intimate scenes I’ve read. Beautiful and very, very hot.

The bottom line: Over the course of the series I’ve come to adore Vic and Diana, though at times I wasn’t sure how that could possibly happen. Silly me, I should have never doubted Ms. Vane’s ability to weave a tale sure to draw me in and hold on tight, right to the very end. The Devil’s Match is a funny, heartwarming, passionate ‘end’ to Vic and Diana’s story, and though I was left with a smile on my face, I’m also a bit sad that their tale is complete!

4.5/5 stars

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

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

“But you’re— you’re—”

“A virgin?” There was a note of amusement in his voice. “True. But just because I don’t believe in poaching out of season doesn’t mean I can’t hunt.”

As I’m sitting here trying to write this review, I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved Unclaimed. So much passion, so much wisdom, so much hope, so much truth, so much… just… so very much!! And quotes? Literally pages worth of quotes I’d love to share with you. Some that took my breath away, some made me swoon, others made me cry.

So, where to begin? Well, if you’re a fan of historical romance, you know how unfair society could be towards “fallen women.” That double standard that literally ruined lives, sometimes for a single “transgression,” while yet allowing men to get away with anything and everything, the more debauched, the better! I adored this book because it took that very issue and stood it on its ear, showing it from an entirely different point of view. I absolutely adored Mark Turner, whose book A Gentleman’s Practical Guide to Chastity, had become an overnight sensation, garnering a near cult-like following of men and women passionate about giving up sex! In fact, so great was his stardom, even Queen Victoria had heard about the book and bestowed Knighthood on Mark!

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how entertaining a book about a male virgin would really be, but leave it to Courtney Milan to make it work! I cheered Sir Mark in his convictions, his reasons for choosing abstinence and his often humorous determination not to be swayed.

Jessica Farleigh was a fallen woman who had reached the point of desperation, and decided to do whatever she had to in order to survive. She had no desire to find herself on the streets again, so in this instance, survival meant seducing the infamous virgin, Sir Mark Turner, in to giving up chastity, and then publicly ruining him by giving away all the details of their night of passion. Having been hired to do so by a ruthless, power hungry politician who wanted Mark destroyed, the money she’d earn if she succeeded would make it so she’d never have to sell her body again. Tired, bitter and desperate, she didn’t care what it would cost the virtuous Mark Turner.

I really am having trouble explaining all the reasons I loved this book. Humor, passion, seriousness... I've decided I'll just share a few of my favorite quotes, in hopes that they can show you why I adore this story so much. It was so hard to choose which ones to include, though, because they’re all so, so good, and so true!

“If you were any other man,” she said softly, “I would think that you had just threatened to seduce me.”

“Worse.” He leaned down, close enough to whisper. “I threatened to like you. I suspect seduction would be easier for you to understand.”

A small smile touched her lips. “Sir Mark, there’s no need to threaten me with anything so drastic as like. Mere acceptance would be sufficiently shocking.”

“A man who is sufficiently strong in his own right need not be jealous of power in others.” He glanced at her. “I know ugly men who insist on ugly wives, believing that they will not stray.” He shrugged. “For myself, I’ve always wanted a beautiful woman.”

She let out a little laugh. “Because you are so beautiful yourself?”

“Because I intend to win her affections to me, mind and soul.” And then, as if in an afterthought, he added: “And body. I definitely look forward to winning her body.”

“It cheapens what I’ve accomplished,” Mark said, “to imagine me a saint. To believe I am untempted, that I pass through this life without feeling lust or want or desire. I said it in the first chapter of my book, and yet nobody seems to believe me. Chastity is hard. ”

“I hadn’t thought—”

“I want. I lust. I desire.” He scrubbed his hand through sandy blond hair at that, shaking his head. “No. You’re right. You don’t deserve euphemisms. I want you. I lust after you. I desire you. ”

She might have been the only woman in the world, pinned by his gaze.

“But what I don’t do is act.”

“You’re a duke’s brother. A knight. And I’m a whore.”

He grabbed her wrist. “Don’t call yourself that. I wouldn’t let anyone else talk about you that way— why should I let you?”

“Very well. Call me a fallen woman, then.”

“Do you think that matters to me? My mother used to say that there was no such thing as a fallen woman. You just had to look for the man who pushed her down.”


The bottom line - With Unclaimed, Courtney Milan has outdone herself, and it has become one of my all time favorite historical romance novels. I loved seeing the desire to be chaste from the male perspective - both the humor and the seriousness of it. This story is heartwarming and heartbreaking, romantic and passionate. And don't be concerned that it's a "holier than thou" pulpit pounding tale, far from it. Mark's reasons for his chastity are made very clear, and they'll have you cheering him just as I did. Ms. Milan had me laughing out loud, sighing and wishing it would never end. And visiting with Ash and Smite… so much fun! Unclaimed, is definitely an addition to my Keepers shelf.

This ARC ebook was provided free of charge by netgalley.com in behalf of Harlequin. This had no influence on my rating or my review.

Sweet Release by Pamela Clare

Sweet Release is the first book in the Blakewell/Kenleigh trilogy, and I don’t even know where to start when reviewing this story, so I’ll skip the plot synopsis and keep it short and sweet. It’s a tale filled with adventure, passion, and romance that will stay with you long after you’ve read those final words. No matter the genre, Ms. Clare knows how to bring her characters to life making them so much more than just names and words on the page, and Alec and Cassie are among my favorites. They are people of honor and integrity who aren’t afraid of hard work. They’re the kind of people who built this country, the ones we read about in our history books - those who have become heroes and legends.

The bottom line – Whether they’re hanging out of helicopters trying to rescue the heroine, or picking tobacco on a Virginia plantation, I can’t get enough of the men and women from Pamela Clare’s stories and find myself constantly on the edge of my seat waiting to see where life will take them next. And hot? Sweet Mary!! Can this woman write some hot, sexy scenes!

I have very few auto-buy authors on my list, but Ms. Clare is one of them. If you’ve read her books then you understand why, but if you haven’t you need to fix that fast because you’re missing out on some wonderful stories!

Oh, and great news!!! If you’ve been trying to track this book down with no success, it’s now available on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and smashwords.com in ebook format for $2.99, and worth every penny!

Texas Glory by Lorraine Heath

Texas Glory is the second book in Lorraine Heath’s Texas Trilogy and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy it because the first book, Texas Destiny was such an amazing read that I didn’t see how this one could possibly compare. Well, I’m glad to say my fears were for naught. This was, quite simply put, an incredibly emotional story. I liked Dallas in the first book, but I love him now!

In Texas Destiny, Dallas Leigh stood and watched - not without putting up a fight, though - as his own mail-order bride fell in love with his younger brother, Houston, and his dream of having a son to pass his legacy onto slip through his fingers. Now, while his dream might have been temporarily waylaid, it was not forgotten! His all consuming desire for a son has Dallas taking advantage of a water rights feud with Angus McQueen, a neighboring rancher, and offering to marry his daughter, Cordelia, in exchange for the right to use water on Dallas’ land. It certainly isn’t a love match, and rumor has it that not only is Cordelia homely, she also lost her nose in a tragic accident. But the way Dallas sees it – as long as she gives him a son, he doesn’t care what she looks like!

I’m not going to go into the plot other than to say it’s pretty brutal sometimes. Gunfights, robbery, murder, and attempted murder… this book has everything we've come to expect from the Wild West, including a child abuse of the most heartbreaking kind. We're introduced to Rawley Cooper, a young boy whose story broke my heart, and I sobbed for what that child was forced to live through. Thank God for Dallas and his kindness, compassion and his sense of justice, and Cordelia for her unconditional love.

Texas Glory, like Texas Destiny, is a wonderful story. Heartwarming tales of the trials of frontier living, the love of family, and the joy of finding your happily ever after in the most unlikely of ways.

5 of 5 stars