The Promise (The 'Burg #5) by Kristen Ashley - Blog Tour

Description... Since his brother’s death, Benny Bianchi has been nursing his grudge against the woman he thinks led to his brother’s downfall. He does this to bury the feelings he has for Francesca Concetti, his brother’s girl. But when Frankie takes a bullet while on the run with Benny’s cousin’s woman, Benny has to face those feelings.

The problem is Frankie has decided she’s paid her penance. Penance she didn’t deserve to pay. She’s done with Benny and the Bianchi family. She’s starting a new life away from Chicago and her heartbreaking history.

Benny has decided differently.

But Frankie has more demons she’s battling. Demons Benny wants to help her face. But life has landed so many hard knocks on Frankie she’s terrified of believing in the promise of Benny Bianchi and the good life he’s offering.

Frankie’s new life leads her to The ‘Burg, where Benny has ties, and she finds she not only hasn’t succeeded in getting away, she’s doesn’t want to.

Before I share my review...

I have to thank my fellow escapism reading friends on Goodreads who introduced me to the world of Kristen Ashley’s stories. If I could hug you, I would, and some of you I have. Thank you, thank you, and thank you! From the bottom of my heart... I can't imagine not having the beauty of Kristen Ashley's stories in my life.

My review...

If you’re like me and live love to read, and you wake up in the morning looking forward to the stolen moments throughout the day you’ll be able to get lost in a story, you know exactly what I mean when I say that when you’re in a reading slump, it’s almost painful to get out of bed some days.

Do. Not. Judge me - yes, I said painful – and sadly, that’s where I’ve often found myself lately. So when I heard my iPad ‘ding’ with a ‘you’ve got mail’ notification and I saw that my blog had been approved for an ARC of The Promise, I nearly wept with joy because reading a Kristen Ashley story is one of the most exciting, comforting, beautiful things I can think of.

And The Promise has given me exactly that. Excitement, comfort, and beauty. Start to finish, first word to the last, I fell in love with Frankie and Benny. They are people I can relate to, people I can cheer for, and yeah... people I can fall in love with.

An added benefit, as if any Kristen Ashley book needs something more to make it shine, spending time with Joe, Vi, and the girls... the icing on top of the icing on this already scrumptious cake!

Blithely Bookish Reviews was given an eARC of The Promise, and in return I'm giving the author an honest review... honestly, it is wonderful!

The Gunslinger by Lorraine Heath

No one writes Western Historical Romance like Lorraine Heath!

I had no idea this novella existed as part of a print anthology, and when I saw that it's being re-released in digital format, I was thrilled! Lorraine Heath writes three of my very favorite books, The Texas Trilogy, a Western Historical Romance trilogy that introduced me to the genre and had me clamoring for more just like it.

Description...

A hired gun falls for the one woman who's completely wrong for him in this Western romance from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorraine Heath.

Chance Wilder never wanted to be a hero. A road-weary gunslinger with a ruthless reputation, he focuses only on his next target—and his next payday. That is, until a young boy offers Chance everything he owns—a piece of string, a harmonica, and a bent penny—if he'll save his sister from a couple of thugs. Chance agrees, only to discover that the beautiful, fierce young woman in need of rescue is actually the very person he's been hunting: his next mark.

But after he saves her, Lillian Madison awakens in him long-buried dreams and possibilities. Facing the demons of his past, Chance is forced to question his next move. Dare he risk everything by following his heart … and trust that the road to redemption begins with Lillian?

My short review...

The Gunslinger isn't part of the Texas Trilogy - that I can recall, but even if it is, this works very well as a stand alone. It's a sweet novella with some shoot-outs, romance, and steam, and it gives me two things - One; the Lorraine Heath Western HR fix I was in need of, and most importantly, two; the hope that since Avon chose to re-release it, I have hope that we Texas Trilogy fangirls will finally get Rawley's much needed story. I can't think of anyone more deserving of a happily ever after than that boy.

Note... A version of this work originally appeared in the print anthology To Tame a Texan, under the title Long Stretch of Lonesome.

My thanks to Avon Books and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this story. In exchange, I'm giving them an honest review.

Lethal Pursuit (Bagram Special Ops) by Kaylea Cross

5 stars just isn't enough! This. Is. Amazing!

Kaylea Cross outdid herself with this third book in her Bagram Special Ops series. She totally blew me away! Intense, brutal, romantic, and sexy, even writing this review I'm still shaking as I remember how things went so horribly wrong before they went so beautifully right!

U.S. Code of Military Conduct, Article 3:

If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor favors from the enemy.

Description...

Security Forces Lieutenant Maya Lopez is right at home in a war zone: she's been fighting all her life. A hard-won commission in the air force has brought her to Afghanistan, and if she plays her cards right, she could end up with an FBI job. It won't be easy, but that just makes her more determined.

Jackson Thatcher is a protector in all senses of the word. A pararescue jumper with Southern-boy charm, he easily captures Maya's interest, but her trust is another story. He's sexy, strong and caring, but she makes it clear she's no damsel in distress. She's never relied on any man, and she's not about to start now.

When Maya and Jackson become pawns in a radical warlord's deadly game, they find themselves on the run and must depend on each other if they want to make it out alive.

My review...

To say that Lethal Pursuit is a gripping story is putting it mildly. To say I couldn't put it down is not an exaggeration. Start to finish Maya and Jackson's story had me glued to my seat, hands shaking, closing my eyes because I couldn't bear to read what was going to happen next, yet unable to look away as I watched - yes, it felt like I was watching (because that's how incredibly talented Ms. Cross is) - this story unfold.

And the truth is, I still can't find the words to do this story justice so I'll leave you with this:

The bottom line...

If you're a fan of military romantic suspense and you haven't yet experienced Kaylea Cross's stories, you're not just missing out, you're missing out big time, because they're not just a story, they are an experience! And I know some of you are wondering, so I'll tell you now - yes, this book can be read out of order, but don't do it! Once you've read Lethal Pursuit I know you'll rush out to get the first two books, Deadly Descent and Tactical Strike so you might as well read them in order and get to know the incredible men and women who put their lives on the line and, in the process, found their happily ever afters, too.

My thanks to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this amazing story! It was...well... amazing!!

Chance of Rain by Amber Lin

Description...

The only things Natalie Bouchard wants to change are the weekly specials in her Gram's diner. So when her high school sweetheart strolls back into Dearling, Texas, she allows herself to indulge in a little flirtation, but that's as far as it goes.

Navy SEAL Sawyer Nolan has returned to sell his father's land and get the hell out, no matter how enticing he still finds Natalie. Until a storm rolls over the Texas hills, stranding them together at the farm…and the memories of their steamy past lead to a reunion filled with hot days and long nights.

Soon Natalie's so far under Sawyer's skin he can't imagine being without her. But he has a lot of history in Dearling he'd like to leave behind, and Natalie is practically married to this town. If Sawyer wants to be more than just another person who leaves Natalie, he'll have to give his hometown—and himself—one more chance.

***** 

4.5 poignant, charming, sexy stars!!

Amber Lin is an author who knows how to write darkly emotional, deeply sensual stories. I read – and loved – her Lost Girls series, though I have to be in the mood for a story that will rip my heart out, chew it up, then put it back together again, each and every time. I look forward to these stories because sometimes they’re exactly what I need.

When I saw Chance of Rain at Netgalley, I knew I had to read it, but honestly, I was expecting a darker story, similar to those found in Lost Girls, so I didn’t dive in right away. (Those of you who know me and follow my posts will remember that the past six months of my real life has been full of emotional loss. My son went off to Uganda to serve a Christian Mission. My 11 year old dog had to be put to sleep, and lastly, my mom passed away in November. To say I had not been in the mood for a dark story at the time, is to say the last.)

Yesterday, while browsing my “Currently Reading” shelf which is more like a “Don’t Forget These Books” shelf, I saw this one sitting there and decided to read a few pages to get a feel for it. Those few pages turned into a few chapters, then a few chapters more, and before I knew it, it was 3:30am and I had finished it.

And loved it.

My review…

Chance of Rain is not at all the story I expected it to be. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful story, but there wasn’t the level of angst and drama found in Lost Girls. This is a contemporary romance with a “you can go home again” and “second chance romance” plot. It’s sweet, very sexy, and the characters are real people with real lives, real hopes, and real dreams. And while it’s not dark, it’s still a poignant, romantic, inspiring story about letting go of the past in order to have a future filled with happiness, love, and a happily ever after you never imagined could be yours. You only have to reach for it, work for it, and never let it go.

The bottom line…

I’m so glad I saw this on my shelf and took a chance. It’s exactly what I needed and I hope there will be more such stories from this truly amazing author. Brava, Amber Lin! I’d love to see what you can do with Historical Romance… no doubt it’d be brilliant!

My thanks to Carina Press for providing a copy of this story in exchange for my honest thoughts. What a great story this is!

(And for the record, everything has a positive side if you just look for it. Yes, my son's in Uganda, but he's serving God's children there and our temporary loss is their much needed gain. My Honey dog, while we miss her terribly, lived a long, happy, pampered life. And my mom... that's the hardest loss of all, but she's no longer in pain and that alone makes our loss bearable.

Thank you to everyone whose thoughts and prayers carried me through these tough times. You're all proof that angels do not have wings!)

Purchase Chance of Rain at Amazon and other ebook retailers!

Upon a Winter's Night - A MacKinnon's Rangers Christmas Novella by Pamela Clare

Reunite with the MacKinnon brothers and their wives for Christmas - and a tale of love, new life, and redemption.

The war between Britain and the French is finally at an end, and the MacKinnons are looking forward to celebrating their first peacetime Christmas in five long years. While Iain and Annie have discovered that the pleasures of marriage grow deeper with time, Morgan and Amalie find themselves at bitter odds. Meanwhile, Connor and Sarah have a newborn son to cherish.

The family's preparations for the holidays are interrupted when Iain learns that Britain has not paid the Rangers for the summer's victorious campaigns. Unwilling to let men who fought under the MacKinnon name suffer deprivation at Christmastime, Iain, Morgan, and Connor leave the warmth of their frontier home for Albany. There, they find their happy Christmas, and even their freedom, at risk at the hands of a ruthless British officer who holds a grudge against them.

With the men gone, Annie, Amalie, and Sarah do their best to prepare for the festivities despite differing traditions, a raging bull - and the gnawing fear that their husbands won't make it home in time for Yule.

Events begin the day after the epilogue of Defiant ends. The story includes Joseph, Killy - and revelations about the fate of Lord William Wentworth

*****

A perfect holiday story!

Upon A Winter’s Night is everything a Christmas novella should be! It’s romantic, passionate, witty, and inspires us to believe that at Christmastide, even the seemingly unredeemable can be redeemed! It is, truly, a perfect holiday story!

          

How to Tame a Wild Fireman by Jennifer Bernard

The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel have a rebel among them, and there's only one woman who can put his flames out.

Firefighter Patrick "Psycho" Callahan earns his nickname every day. Fast, fit, and a furious worker, he thrives on the danger which helps him forget a near-tragedy that changed his life forever. But when his off-duty carousing gets out of hand, Patrick is sent back to Loveless, Nevada, where the wildfire threatening his hometown has nothing on sizzling Dr. Lara Nelson.

Lara would rather be thought of as the physician who returned to Loveless than as the misfit brought up at a hippie New Age commune. But right now she's focused on her job at hand, patching up injured firemen...until the past hits her in the hard-muscled, blue-eyed form of Patrick Callahan. Now, the embers of their decade-old attraction have ignited into a full-on inferno, as the bad-boy firefighter and the good doctor take a walk on the wild side they'll never forget.

**********

Romantic, Passionate, Poignant and Engaging!

How to Tame a Wild Fireman is the fourth book in Jennifer Bernard’s totally awesome The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel series. All the books are fun, sexy, romantic… but there’s always a level of poignancy that brings out the “need to take him home and love him all better” in me.

The Story:

This time the man in need of my tender loving care is Patrick “Psycho” Callahan. For ten years he’s been blaming himself for an accident that almost took the life of his mildly autistic, deaf brother. As the older, more mature sibling, he's supposed to be watching after Liam, not getting him into dangerous situations, and if Patrick had been doing his job, the accident would never have happened. Or so Patrick keeps telling himself. And to further prove his fault, Patrick’s dad, ex-governor of Patrick’s home town of Loveless, Nevada, is an arrogant, blow-hard of man who tosses Patrick not just out of the family home, but out of the family, period. With nothing to lose, thinking there's no one who cares, Patrick has more than earned his “Psycho” nickname. After one stunt too many, Captain Brody gives Patrick just what he needs - a chance to burn off some steam - by sending him to Nevada to help with the out of control fires that are threatening Loveless.

Lara Nelson grew up in Loveless, best friends with Liam Callahan. As Patrick’s younger brother, and always under Patrick's watchful eye, the three of them spent a lot of time together until the accident changed everything. She doesn’t totally understand why Patrick left the family the way he did, but it is what it is, and what it isn't is her business. Ten years have past since the accident, and Lara is settled, practicing Family Medicine at a San Diego hospital. Her life is right on track, but she gets a call that the aunt who raised her has passed away and, much to Lara’s chagrin, she’s the heir to all of Aunt Tam’s worldly goods.

Having no choice, Lara returns home to settle the estate, then jumps right into the thick of things, lending her medical expertise to helping care for injured firefighters working the blazes threatening Loveless. But working this closely with Patrick, Lara finds herself in a whole different kind of “thick of things.”

My Review:

Like I said, I really love these books. They’re not just sexy, they’re truly engaging stories. The characters… their lives, their loves, their trials and their triumphs… every one of these “cursed” firemen are amazing, tormented, lovable people in need of women strong enough to put up with them. What? It’s true! These guys aren’t perfect, but they’re close enough for me! And the stories are always entertaining without being too fluffy or over-the-top dramatic!

Ms. Bernard is one talented author and, lucky for us, she puts that talent to work giving us stories we can get lost in and happily ever afters we can believe in.

My thanks to Avon Book and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

To redeem her family’s disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family's lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor.

But Louisa’s hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet—and she is  shockingly accused of murder! Soon, Louisa’s so-called friends begin shunning her, because the company of a suspected killer is never desirable in polite society.

The problem comes to the ears of Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows, by-blow of the decadent Scottish Mackenzie family and an inspector for Scotland Yard. He has shared two passionate kisses with Lady Louisa–and vows to clear her name. For not only does he know she’s innocent, he recognizes he’s falling for the lovely lady.

Fellows is Louisa's only hope of restoring her family's honor—and it is he alone who intrigues Louisa in a way that may be even more scandalous than murder…

*****

Such a wonderful, hard earned, well deserved, happily ever after!

The Untamed Mackenzie is a novella, book 5.5 in the Highland Pleasures series. This is Inspector Lloyd Fellows’s story, the Mackenzie by-blow of the late and not-so-great Duke of Kilmorgan. Lloyd has had to fight his way through the streets, through hunger, through all the things no child should have to deal with, but he did it and came out on top, as one of London’s most distinguished, successful, inspectors.

Jennifer Ashley has struck gold with these Mackenzie men, each and every one a force to be reckoned with. Tormented, tortured, and brutalized by life… these are men in need of a woman’s love. And though he might not carry the name or have been raised at Castle Kilmorgan, but Lloyd Fellows is a Mackenzie through and through.

I absolutely enjoyed his story, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I would. For one, it's a novella and novellas are never enough when it comes to series' I love. But we've had book after book to get to know Lloyd, and that makes his story not feel like a novella at all. But that wasn't my only concern. I mean, he wasn't raised Scottish. He wasn't raised in a kilt. He doesn’t speak with that sexy brogue… but let me tell you…he is Scottish, he does wear a kilt, and he might not have a sexy brogue, but he knows how to use his mouth, just the same.

Lady Louisa is a wonderful match for rough, "commoner" Lloyd. The more he pushes her away, the more she pulls him back. They’re perfect for each other, not only in their similarities, but also in their differences, and this makes for a lovely happily ever after story.

I'm excited to read Daniel's story next!        

 

Always on My Mind by Jill Shalvis

After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack's ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib - that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle . . .

No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine - perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their "just friends" rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

*****

4 passionate, romantic, poignant, sexy, laugh out loud funny stars!

Always on My Mind is the 8th book in Jill Shalvis’ brilliant Lucky Harbor series. It’s all the things I mentioned above – passionate, romantic, poignant, sexy, laugh out loud funny – and then some.

I’ve truly enjoyed all the books in the series, but this one hits home in a very personal way, and I can totally relate to Leah’s demons because I share the same ones. But I just love the way Ms. Shalvis can take a character’s heartbreaking situations and turn the trials into triumphs, and the things that can tear you down into things that build you up.

And, as always, the entire cast of characters are people we can connect to. From young adults just trying to find their way in life, to the more “mature” adults who are “old enough to know better but too young (at heart) to care…” each and every person in Lucky Harbor is a person I want to know better. A person I’d love to have as a friend or neighbor, or significant other.

The Bottom Line:

Jill Shalvis is one of the few truly amazing voices in Contemporary Romance, and with Always on My Mind, she’s delivered a beautifully told story about letting go of yesterday’s pain so you can live and love like there’s no tomorrow.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review. Again, it’s been a pleasure.

    

Rock Chick Regret by Kristen Ashley

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

And counting it down, we're at day 7, book 7 of my 

ROCK CHICK SERIES RE-READ REVIEW CELEBRATION 

with Hector and Sadie's incredible story. What an emotional ride this was!

Remember!

At the end of this 8 day CELEBRATION, I'll be giving away 1 ebook copy of any ROCK CHICK book, to 3 winners. Be sure and stop by every day and post a comment to be entered for a chance to win 1 of the 3 copies, your choice, of Kristen Ashley's ROCK CHICK books from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords.

Open to US residents only.

You must comment on each book review to win!

Sadie Townsend is known by all as The Ice Princess and she’s worked hard to earn her reputation. Her father, a now-incarcerated Drug Lord, has kept her under his thumb her whole life and she’s learned enough from living in his world to give everyone the cold shoulder. But one inebriated night, she shows the Real Sadie to the undercover agent she knows is investigating her father, the handsome Hector Chavez, and he knows he’ll stop at nothing to have her.

Hector makes one (huge) mistake; he waits for Sadie to come to him. Tragedy strikes and Sadie’s got a choice, she can retreat behind her Ice Fortress or she can embrace the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch World. Guided by Hector, the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch and her new gay roommates, Buddy and Ralphie, Sadie negotiates a life out from under her father’s thumb, a life that includes poison, arson and learning how to make s’mores.

*****

Re-read Review - September 1-2, 2013

You know, I have loved each re-read so far, but this is my favorite. Sadie's story is so heartbreaking, so beautiful, I just couldn't put it down. Such a great story.

My only problem with the story is that I can't decide which Hispanic Hottie I love more, Hector or Eddie. I might have to re-read their stories a few more times to decide.

It's a dirty job...

Original Review-

Rock Chick Regret is the seventh book in the Rock Chick series and one of my favorites! The story is truly awesome… heartbreaking, inspiring, romantic and very sexy… a delicious tale served up in true Kristen Ashley form.

I’m in love with Hector Chavez. What an amazing, incredible, all kinds of awesome man. Hector alone made this book worth reading, but then throw in the beautiful, loving, compassionate Sadie and the rest of the Rock Chick cast and this story could be nothing less than 5 stars.

I might do a longer review someday… or maybe not. But if you’re not sure this is a book for you, read the kjillion totally awesome reviews that have been written, then waste no more time. Buy it. You won’t regret it!!!

-----

Rock Chick Reading Order:

1. Rock Chick
2. Rock Chick Rescue
3. Rock Chick Redemption
4. Rock Chick Renegade
5. Rock Chick Revenge
6. Rock Chick Reckoning
7. Rock Chick Regret
8. Rock Chick Revolution

Tactical Strike (Bagram Special Ops) by Kaylea Cross

 The mission of a Combat Controller is to deploy by the most feasible means available into combat and non-permissive environments. Combat Controllers are Special Tactics Operators who establish assault zones while simultaneously providing air traffic control, fire support and command and control communications in the joint arena. Additionally, Combat Controllers expertly employ all terrain vehicles, amphibious vehicles, weapons and demolitions. First There.

Hooyah!

—Combat Controller mission statement

*****

Tactical Strike is, without a doubt, the best military romantic suspense story I’ve ever read, and Bagram Special Ops, the best military romantic suspense series out there. The first book in the series, Deadly Descent, was intense, exciting, emotional, romantic, steamy… I really didn't think anything could top it. Well, I was wrong, because Tactical Strike is all that, on ‘roids!

Straight up? Kaylea Cross is an amazing writer. Somehow she's able to take something I've never experienced and make it real. Make me feel it. Dread it, want it, hate it, love it, crave it... whatever "it" is, I feel it. And this isn't just jogged memories... maybe I can explain it this way...

If you’ve spent any amount of time at the beach, in the water, you know what the push and pull of the tide feels like against your legs. You know exactly what it's like to have the sand washing away beneath your feet, the slight imbalance as the waves roll in and back out… So, if an author describes that in a story, it’s more clear to your imagination because you've lived that. It's a memory that you draw on and it's your experience filling in the gaps in the author's words. Now, stay with me, I'm getting there...

I’ve never known the terror of being chased through the mountains while terrorists are shooting at me. I’ve never had friends die while I watch, helpless to do anything. I’ve never suffered the biting pain of having no shelter in a snow storm, no idea what that level of cold feels like... I've never experienced any of the kinds of things these people have and yet, swear to all that's holy, I felt like I was right there living it. My heart was racing, my hands sweating, my mouth dry... I felt it. And the passion? Burn up the pages and again... heart racing, fanning myself... yep, I felt it. The romance, the uncertainty of it all, I haven’t been as engrossed in a military romance – hell, any romance – in a long time. I started reading and couldn't stop.. just. Couldn't. Stop!

Ryan Wentworth and Candace "Ace" Bradford are incredible together. Ryan's easy going flirtation and subtle seduction, his attempts to get "Ace" to drop her guard a bit - and her resolve to not get involved - to keep her distance... watching Ryan work his magic and make that resolve crumble... so, so good. Their chemistry and their intensity and how it combusted in their first time making love together is one of the most sensual, amazing scenes I've read.

The bottom line: I'm just rambling. Three days I've been writing this review and there's so much to say that I can't find the right words to say it all, so I'll stop. Except to say, read this series. You won't be disappointed.

For anyone wondering; No, you don’t have to read Deadly Descent first to appreciate this story. Now, that doesn’t mean I think you should skip Deadly Descent, quite the opposite. It’s one hell of a story and we meet Ryan and Candace there, getting a small glimpse into their attraction, their dynamic. That carries over to Tactical Strike, and had I not known “Ace “and where she’s coming from going in to this story, I might not have warmed to her as quickly as I did.

My thanks, truly, to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this amazing story in return for an honest review. Start to finish, incredible.

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