ARC REVIEW Lost to a Spy by Sharon Cullen

All the Queen's Spies #3, Yay, it's Tristan! I was looking forward to finding out who would be a match for the closed off Tristan. I was very excited to get this one. I love the series even though I usually try not to read historical romance with real historical figures as secondary characters. Not much of this one actually take place in the Scottish Court but in Tristan's print shop and the streets of Edinburgh. Tristan's job is to use the print shop to influence what the common people of Scotland think of Queen Mary and to turn them against her insuring that Queen Elizabeth remains in power of England and soon Scotland. Lady Emma has been friends with Queen Mary since she found out of the gross mistreatment done to Emma by her dead husband. Mary took Emma in so she would have a place to live and replaced all her inheritance that her husband squandered away. Mary has earned Emma's loyalty. 

Lady Emma is waking home with her ladies maid after a dinner with a friend, as cold as it is she soon regrets not taking them up on their offer to ready the coach for her. When they are almost home something happens and Emma really regrets not taking that coach now. There was an explosion and Emma got caught in the blast. Tristan after hearing the noise rushes to where the commotion is and finds an unconscious Lady Emma. Not knowing who she is or if she had any part in this mess he thinks it best he takes her with him so the royal guard doesn't just arrest her because it is said that the King died in the explosion. When Emma finally comes to she has no idea where she is, Tristan explains what happened and that it's best if she stays where she is until she's better. In there time together Emma has never felt more comfortable talking to someone and being with someone. During her somewhat brief marriage she was verbally and physically abused she never thought she could trust another man, but Tristan makes her want to feel again. Tristan never thought he could fall in love, after his failed marriage he thought he would be a spy for life, Emma makes him want more but he feels he isn't good enough for her because after all is said and done he is still just a stable master's son and she is connected to two of the most powerful families in Scotland. It isn't until after she seduces him that she realizes he is a spy for Elizabeth and he's been spreading the flyers speaking out against Mary. Her time with Tristan opened her eyes and she sees for more than she did in court than she ever did before. She realizes it's not safe anymore and with the death of the King and Mary in turmoil and the people speaking out against her and her adviser, Emma must pick between her loyalties and her heart.

Overall, this was such a good read. The romance between Emma and Tristan is easy and even with the whole he's a spy thing their romance is pretty smooth and well Tristan shows her what it's really like to make love. The majority of the book is them getting to know each other and falling in love and Tristan opening Emma's eyes up to the possibility that things are not what they seem at the palace. The whole spy plot and internal struggle of power within Mary's court is such a tangled web, I can't wait for what I think is the conclusion with Lagrange (finally) and Lady Margaret who has had small parts in all the books.          

ARC REVIEW Bound to a Spy by Sharon Cullen

Book two in Sharon Cullen's series All the Queen's Men can easily be read as a standalone. I'll be the first one to admit I'm weird, I love historical romance and I love history, but I don't like political machinations and all the double crossing and back stabbing drama but I love spy novels. I usually tend to avoid books with actual historical figures as main or secondary characters in them honestly I don't really know why I guess I like my fiction to remain fiction. That being said I really enjoyed this one. Sharon Cullen is a fantastic writer enough that I overlook my weird reading tendencies.

Mary the Queen of Scots and her boorish husband are still at outs and with the baptism of their son looms closer and closer there is a plot afoot to kill the King. Unfortunately for poor Rose Turner she just happened to overhear the conspirators talking and now she conflicted. While he is the King and morally no one should be murdered she can't help but think that maybe he deserves it because she has been on the receiving end of his unwanted attentions.   

Rose isn't the only one aware of the plot Will Sheffield was there too and for some reason he feels like he has to protect Rose from the dangerous situation she unintentionally got herself into. The more Time they spend together trying to figure out what to do the more they fall in love. Will however doesn't want a wife, because he loves his job as a spy and it has no place for a wife, or atleast that what he tells himself Rose knows the real reason he resists her and even though he's nothing what she wanted for herself she falls in love with him for the man she knows he is underneath the exterior.

Overall, it was a really good read. My only issue is that it ended abruptly, it was a good ending it was fine that it stopped there but it just stopped, I was left wanting a little more.   

ARC REVIEW Lady Be Good by Heather Hiestand

Lady Be Good is book three in Heather Hiestand's The Grand Russe Hotel series. We finally get Olga's story, we knew from the first book that she was a princess, several generations removed from the Royal family but still a decedent nonetheless. We learn in this book how she got to be where she is now, after her fiance was murdered she separated from her sister and was picked up and brought to England with the Grand Duchess, but it soon became evident that she wouldn't be welcome for long and never one for charity looked up an old friend, Peter Eyre, she then went to work with his sister in her hotel in Bath where she trained to be a chambermaid. Peter brought her to The Grand Russe to be the manager in charge of housecleaning but Olga isn't happy now unless she's doing something.
Douglas Childers was the youngest of four boys to a Duke unfortunately his older brothers all died in the war, Douglas' father is now after him to settle down and give him an heir. Douglas however in knees deep in the investigation of the Russian uprise and is currently trying to discover the location of the Russian bomber Konstantin who previously set off a bomb in the Grand Russe Hotel  and spy on the Russian delegation that has been staying at the hotel too.

Peter put Olga in charge of an art exhibit in the hotel spotlighting some of the art they have at the hotel. One of the painting she wants is in Childers' room hiding the spy equipment that is what first brings Olga and Douglas together. Douglas is immediately taken with the statuesque beauty of Olga and then he finds out her last name is the same as Konstantin. Douglas decides it's beneficial to find out as much as he can about Olga, really he just needed an excuse. He enjoys his time with her and he wants her to trust him even though he's not being truthful to her until it is absolutely necessary. Olga and Konstantin are cousins but it's not a healthy relationship. Olga is loyal to a fault and foolishly believes he can change but when he gets mean and violent with her she finally tells Douglas everything and after Konstantin blows up another location Douglas finally reveals why he's really at the hotel.

Olga agrees to go under Douglas' protection, she is falling in love with him and him with her, she's met his father and his father approves of the match. But when more of Douglas' secrets come out Olga starts to doubt him and his motives and when it all goes down Olga is left feeling betrayed and she doesn't know if she can marry Douglas after all. Even before it all went down Douglas knows unequivocally that he loves her, and the thought of losing her cuts him deep.

Overall, it was a good read. Olga broke my heart a little bit there at the end. I really hope Peter's story is next, it is revealed (I don't remember if it said previously) is part of the Redcake family, a tie in to her other series. I can just picture Olga's newly returned sister going head to head with Emmaline. (makes me giddy)

ARC REVIEW Wed To A Spy by Sharon Cullen

Wed to a Spy is the first book in Sharon Cullen's newest Historical Romance series, All the Queen's Men. I have avoided Elizabethan era romance I use to read it quite a bit and burned myself out on it. I also tend to avoid books where they have actual historical figures for me, I tend to overthink and overanalyze the small nuisance of the minor/secondary characters if they were real people; in other words my brain gets in the way and it pulls me out of my fictional world. That being said, I loved this book. Sharon Cullen does a fantastic job setting up the premise for this book and the others to follow. It established the three main characters for the series and what she wants them to do. The intro focuses on Simon Marcheford a spy who is ready to retire and take the time to get to know is adolescent sister. The Queen basically blackmails him into cooperating. Aimee de Verris comes from a large french family and her mother has basically given up on getting yet another daughter married off so she pushes Aimee off on a family relative, her Aunt Catherine. However when Aimee thinks she has fall in love with a young man her guardian sees fit to send her off to Scotland as her "spy". Aimee can't defy her aunt and is stuck in cold and dreary Scotland spying on Queen Mary.

Simon was initially sent to Spain to keep tabs on the Spanish King's ties to Mary, but after gaining the King's confidence he was sent to Scotland on a errand for the King. Mary is delighted to have Simon there and sees the perfect opportunity to handle one of her obligations since he showed up. Queen Mary knows that Catherine sent Aimee to her to act as a spy but is going to honor Catherine's request that she find Aimee a husband, and she does, Simon. Marriage is the last thing Simon wants but he can't get out of it and he figures it's a easy way to get on Mary's good side and therefore easier to spy on her. It doesn't hurt that Aimee is breathtakingly beautiful and Simon is halfway in love already. Aimee doesn't take the news well. She very much is a petulant child at this point, but raised in that era spoiled yes, but she also should have also expected to have her marriage arranged for her and shouldn't have been as whiny, but it leads to her actions. Simon tries not to show how hurt he is by the fact that Aimee wants nothing to do with him and reacts in a way she he's not exactly proud of.

Meanwhile the conspirators that are out to dethrone Mary have a plan firmly in place and when they take action Aimee and Simon are in the thick of it. At this point Simon must confide in Aimee of who he really is so he can safely sneak her away from Scotland and back to London so he can explain everything to Elizabeth. In this time Aimee realizes how wrong she was about Simon and accepts her fate as well as falls in love with him. But more trouble comes when they get to London and Elizabeth discovers the truth about Aimee. Their fate lies in the hands of Queen Elizabeth.

Overall, it really was entertaining and I liked the characters, really for the exception of Aimee, but I look forward to the other spies to get their HEA.          

ARC REVIEW Never Trust a Pirate by Valerie Bowman

Even though it is book seven of Valerie Bowman's Playful Brides series it is a perfect stand-alone. Never having read any of the previous books only the mentioning of  Rafe and Daphne past gives any inclination that this is part of a series and since they aren't the main characters and their book was book four, it really has no precedence in this story all the pertinent information is given and really very easy to follow.

The descriptive playful in the series title is also a good descriptive for the writing style. It kind of reminded me of the older pirate romance with a playful twist on it. I love the direction it went and how the story played out the characters were all very likable and easy to empathize with.

Danielle came from a good family and high in society but her mother was disowned when she married a Frenchman for love. It didn't end well and Danielle ended up becoming a spy for the English crown. Danielle just wanted one thing in return for her service to get vengeance against the man who ruined her life. Getting closer than she has ever been before to the pirate she just needs to bide her time until the right moment until then she was been charged with keeping an eye on Cade Cavendish and see what he's up too.

Cade faked his death years ago for his brother's protection but he's back now and with one last thing he needs to do before he can settle down but the intriguing french lady's maid that his sister in law just hired has piqued his curiosity and stirred his lust. The attraction is instantaneous which Danielle thinks is horrible because she thinks he is his brother. Thankfully that quickly gets straighten out and against her better judgment she falls under his spell and allows the seduction. But things are not always what they seem and in the end Cade and Danielle have a common goal.

Overall, this was a quick and witty story. A joy to read, seriously this book made me happy. The whole Black Fox thing was very clever.      

ARC REVIEW A Raven's Heart by K.C. Bateman

Okay wow, This is the second in K.C. Bateman's Secrets and Spies series but can be read as a standalone. I loved this book it was a great read. The loved the complex but not complicated storyline. Heloise and Raven go from a hate to love relationship, and really it's only hate because they think they should not be attracted to each other and they are fighting it.

Raven has been tasked with protecting Heloise, she is a very talented codebreaker for the British Home Office and she has been targeted by the French along with the other code breakers. Raven is stunned by the latest message Heloise just decoded, it seems like the French are wanting to trade one of their spies for one that they have captured; Christopher Carlisle aka Kit who is an old friend of Raven's and has been missing for two years. Needing to protect Heloise but determined to save Kit he brings her with him to Spain where they meet up with bandits, gypsies and a deadly French assassin.

I love the progression of their relationship through the book, starting with smart and cutting remarks and fully under the impression that the other doesn't like them. When they realize what they have been doing it's like a flip of the switch. Raven loves her fully and completely but doesn't feel worthy of her and it all stems back to when he was kidnapped and held for ransom. When his grandfather didn't pay he was left to rescue himself. Ever since then he never wanted to rely on another person and he knew one thing he was good at was killing. After the kidnapping he joined the army to fight the French and found his niche as a spy with a talent for killing. He believes that Heloise, his Hell-cat, deserves someone better. It's up to Heloise to show him he is exactly what she needs.

Overall, there is so much to the story, all the elements of it were really good. I look forward to the rest of the guys to find their match.

ARC REVIEW Highland Temptation by Jennifer Haymore

More sweet,sweet highland spies. Book three of Jennifer Haymore's Highland Knights books greets us with a beaten and desperate Emilia Featherstone. We meet her in the last book, the daughter of the repugnant Lord Featherstone whom the Knights were charged with protecting even though there was something very suspicious about him. Now with Emilia at their doorstep they have proof that he is up to no good. Colin Sterling is a tormented soul and thanks to Waterloo he can't sleep at night without waking up from night terrors. The only thing that seems to soothe him is Emilia.

To get the information they need they need Emilia to be safe, the one person she truly trust is Colin. Everyone is aware of Colin's feelings for Emilia and it the obvious he the only one for the job of protecting her. While the rest of the Knights are taking care of Featherstone and his cronies Colin is taking her somewhere safe. But taking her up to Scotland isn't as easy as they thought especially since they are trying to keep their hands off of each other. Featherstone isn't going to give up easily, he knows it was his daughter who betrayed him and now he wants her back so he can suitably punish her. Colin will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

Overall, this was a good read. I love this series and I am really enjoying seeing each of the Scottish war heroes get a HEA. All though I did miss an in between novella, I'm upset I didn't know about it. I really did like Colin and Emilia they seemed to be perfect for each other, and their romance was unconventional but very nice.

ARC REVIEW Kill or be Kilt by Victoria Roberts

I have really enjoyed this series I'm so glad Walsingham a big family. Book three in the series takes place three years after the last book and sixteen year old Elizabeth Walsingham has grown up and is now a beauty and has convinced herself that she is over her childish crush of Laird Ian Munro. I very much enjoyed this one just as much as the previous two; secrets and lies, murders and mayhem, and just the right amount of romance and seduction. I know I have a good book whenever I pick up a Victoria Roberts book her writing is captivating and if life hadn't kept getting in the way of my reading I would have inhaled this book in a day. The murder mystery of the book was a good one, I figured it out but it was exciting when the truth came out.

It's been three years since Laird Ruairi and Laird Ian have been forced to attend the King at court all because of Ravenna's pull with the King. But unfortunately the Walsingham's uncle died suddenly in a carriage accident and they must travel to England to comfort their aunt. While down there they must pay a visit at court. Elizabeth has waited three years for Ian to come back, after Grace and Fagan's wedding he never returned to visit, but now that they have to court he will be traveling with them. Grace has given up on Ian wanting her and as much as she tries to convince herself that she has out grown her crush her heart still flutters when she sees him. She has decided that she needs to go to court with Ruairi, Fagan , and Ian so she can find herself a husband. Grace understands and she helps convince Ravenna and the men that it is a wise choice.

Ian wasn't expecting little Elizabeth to be such a stunning woman. At first he stayed away because she was so young but now that she is older he doesn't feel worthy enough for her, but seeing other men flirt with her and Fagan talking some sense into him helps him come to terms with his true feelings for Elizabeth. It's so cute how Ian tries to prove himself to Elizabeth it's enough to make you swoon. All the while the advisers to the King are getting killed off. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth it's in her blood to get right in the middle of things and she manages to figure it all out. To top it all off she finally learns what really happened with Grace and her former fiancee and with Ravenna before that and about how she comes from a long line of spies.

Overall this was a great story and just as good as the first two. I can't decide which one I liked better and I can't wait for Torquil and Kathrine's story.  

ARC REVIEW Highland Awakening by Jennifer Haymore

This is the second book in The Highland Knights series by Jennifer Haymore. I liked this one it was a case of insta-lust turned love. It was amusing to read and despite some little things that I didn't like it was a nice read. I liked Esme very much she is a shy and socially awkward woman more comfortable with just being an observer then in the center of attention. Esme is the same Esme from the House of Trent series but it is not pivotal to read that series before you read this book. Camden had his moments he could be a bit of a turd, he was manipulative and while his intentions were in the right place that whole situation was off putting. But I liked the way Esme handled it. The main storyline (aside from the romance) was a little heartbreaking, (why!?!?! why did you do it?!?!) and very exciting.

Things are slow for the secret spy organization Highland Knights they are stuck babysitting a pompous Lord who has been getting threats. While babysitting one night at the Lord's favorite brothel Camden McLeod runs into a beautiful cloaked girl. He never catches her name but one forbidden kiss later and he can't stop thinking about her. To his surprise the next night he discovers her identity as Lady Esme Hawkins the young sister of the Duke of Trent. Cam knew he wanted Esme but after spending time with her just talking and getting to know her he knew one night just wouldn't be enough. The only problem she's already engaged to some boring and drool man who clearly isn't good enough for her. And que the first manipulation. Esme has a secret, she is a published writer. She writes under a pen name and she has told no-one until now. But then her fiance finds out and dumps her she feels it's the right time to confess to her brother and sister-in-law. Furious because the only way her fiance could have found out was from Cam she confronts him. Cam distracts her by seducing her. Cam realizes he can't live without Esme and proceeds the only why he knows how by taking control of the situation, and cue the second manipulation. Meanwhile, the Highland Knights are being attacked and as much as Cam wants to get down to the bottom of this he keeps getting distracted by Esme.  

Overall, I liked it and I'm enjoying the series and look forward to the other.

ARC REVIEW Highland Heat by Jennifer Haymore

The Highland Knights book Two, Highland Heat can be read as a stand-alone. It runs almost parallel with the book that precedes it, A Highlander's Heart. Jennifer Haymore has written a beautiful book. The storyline is about two people who fall in love but they are from two completely different stations. Lady Grace Carrington and Duncan MacKenzie had no business falling in love with each other but neither could help it. It's a great love story about two people fighting everything and almost everyone to be together.

On the bloody fields of Waterloo Grace found a soldier alive with hardly a scratch on him. Duncan MacKenzie was dubbed the Unbreakable MacKenzie, he only suffered a concussion, a few broken ribs and a bullet grazed his arm. His only weakness it seems is his dammed ankle which if he's going to get injured that is what's going to get injured. There was an immediate attraction between the two, but their obvious differences they never thought they would be together. But as fate would have it Duncan would be called on to be a new kind of hero and the two of them would be kept close together from Waterloo to London and beyond.

A separate division of the Home Office was created to investigate and deal with rumors of treason, the new group of spies formed specifically to be all Scottish, The Highland Knights. Grace's brother in law was Duncan's commanding officer and is also part of the new group. This elevated Duncan up to something more than just a farmer's son. The more time Duncan and Grace spend together the stronger the attachment becomes to the point they both are willing to throw everything away to be together. But the uprisers they are trying to track down in Manchester have a different plan and Duncan will go to great lengths to protect Grace.

Overall, I loved their romance. Grace and Duncan have a lovely and steamy romance. The book in it's entirety is a great story and I really look forward to reading the other Highland Knight's books.    

Virtual Tour Undercover with the Earl by Robyn DeHart

UNDERCOVER WITH THE EARL

Brotherhood of the Sword #1

Robyn DeHart

Releasing Aug 10th, 2015

Entangled: Scandalous

London, 1838

The handsome Earl of Summersby may just be the most eligible bachelor in London, but has no interest in a wife. As a member of the Brotherhood, Bennett Haile is far more vested in his undercover duties for the crown and protecting the Queen from would-be assassins. For now he has the perfect tool with which to lure out the villains—a young woman with an uncanny likeness to the queen.

The spirited Evelyn Marington is about to live out every country girl's dream—becoming royalty overnight. Under the tutelage of the arrogant Earl of Summersby, she'll have to fool the entire court that she is, in fact, the queen. But as danger threatens from every side, Bennett realizes that his lovely little protegé isn't just placing her life in his hands... She's stealing his heart.

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Excerpt #1

He looked up from the parchment upon which he was writing and assessed her. His eyes scanned the length of her and a frown settled on his brow. He beckoned her forward with a wave of his hand. “Come, we have much work to accomplish before we leave for London.”

Work. So she would finally learn of what, specifically, she would be doing. She lowered herself gingerly into one of the chairs adjacent his desk, a massive, heavily carved desk of mahogany.

“Now then, I don't know if you've already deduced what you'll be doing for us, but I cannot stress enough the importance of your discretion. No one is to know, not your family, your friends, no one.”

His was formidable, there was no denying that, but she felt no fear in his presence. Instead, she found herself fascinated with the lines of his face, the square angle of his jawline, and the dimple that settled deep into his chin. He was ridiculously handsome, but his expression seemed permanently locked in a scowl. She wondered what a wealthy, handsome earl had to be so angry about.

He leveled his blue eyes on her. “Understood?”

She nodded.

He stood and walked around to her. He picked up a stray curl that rested near her ear, the strand curled around his finger as a cat’s tail wound around your leg when they begged for attention. She shivered against his touch. What had her cousin gotten her into?

“Have people ever told you that you resemble someone?” Earl Somersby asked.

His question nearly disappointed her, though she knew not what she’d expected. She frowned. “Once or twice I suppose.”

His brows rose. “Who have they said you look like?” He moved away from her then, sat in the chair adjacent to her.

“Well, one fellow in the market said that I was the spitting image of his Aunt Gertrude, but for the most part people say I favor Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.” Evie shook her head. She was loathed to admit that as she didn’t want him to laugh, so she quickly added. “Personally I don't see it. Then again, I've never actually seen her, only seen portraits.”

“You and Her Majesty are about the same age,” he said.

“I am older, by two years I believe.”

He nodded, leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. “Miss Marrington, I need to know that I can trust your discretion.”

 “Yes, of course.”

“I work for the crown, as your cousin told you. I will not detail how precisely, but suffice it to say, you have been chosen to assist on a very important task. We need you to pose as Her Majesty at an upcoming event.”

Had she possibly heard him correctly? Certainly not. Charading as the monarch must be an act of treason. “I’m sorry, I thought you said that you want me to pose as the queen?”

It was a pleasure to read this book. I always enjoy Robyn DeHart books and when I heard that there was a new series of hers coming out I jumped at the chance to read it. (Thank you Tasty Book Tours for that). You can't go wrong with Robyn Dehart for historical romance and this calls to everything I like about historicals; you have a determined bachelor, a bluestocking determined not to marry, a secret society determined to protect the crown by any means, and a group determined to overthrow the Queen Victoria. Intrigue, Action, Scandal and Romance; a great read. I really look forward to more from this series.

National Bestselling author, Robyn DeHart's novels have appeared in the top bestselling romance and historical romance lists. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages. Her historical romantic adventure series, The Legend Hunters, were not only bestsellers, but also award-winners, snagging a Reader's Crown and a Reviewer's Choice award. She had three releases in 2013 and 2014 will see four more, all set in the popular historical romance Regency and Victorian eras. Known for her "strong dialogue and characters that leap off the page" (RT Bookclub) and her "sizzling romance" (Publishers Weekly), her books have been featured in USA Today and the Chicago Tribune. A popular writing instructor, she has given speeches at writing conferences in Los Angeles, DC, New York, Dallas, Nashville and Toronto, among many others.

When not writing, you can find Robyn hanging out with her family, husband (The Professor) a university professor of Political Science and their two ridiculously beautiful and smart daughters, Busybee and Babybee as well as two spoiled-rotten cats. They live in the hill country of Texas where it's hot eight months of the year, but those big blue skies make it worth it. 

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ARC REVIEW Sebastian's Lady by Sharon Cullen

Sebastian's Lady Spy is book five in Sharon Cullen's Secrets and Seductions series it can be read as a stand-alone. It was enjoyable I like reading it I enjoyed the characters and and their history, but nothing else much stood out. I think the only thing that makes this book stand out from others in the Historical Spy troupe is Gabriella and her true origins.

Sebastian is one of the best spy's for the crown, on a personal trip to Italy he meets up with Contessa Gabriella Marciano and they share three steamy lustful day together each knowing it will never last beyond that. Seven months later back in England Sebastian is ordered to work with a partner to find the man behind the uprising that has been whispered about. Sebastian is thrown for a loop when his mission is to pretend to court Gabriella. Gabriella is also a spy for the crown and has been almost her whole life.

Working together is harder than Sebastian; he hasn't been able to stop thinking about the woman and now here she is and a spy no less. But even with the distraction of their attraction they work out the ploy and have a typical HEA.