ARC REVIEW The Singular Mr. Sinclair by Mia Marlowe

The House of Lovell #1, Start of a new series the House of Lovell centers on the Lovell family and it's five boys and one daughter. Caroline is no shrinking violet she very headstrong and independent and on her third year on the marriage mart and no matter how hard her mother tries Caroline doesn't want to marry. She only has to wait out this year's season and after her next birthday she is due to inherit a large sum in which she wants to use to travel the world. Lawrence Sinclair hasn't been home to England since he was a boy, he was sent of to boarding school and then forced to join the army. As an orphan he has been at the mercy of his uncle, Lord Ware, who Lawrence is convinced is trying to kill him even though for for all intents and purposes Lawrence is his heir. But Lawrence survived the harsh boarding school and the War; after he sold out his commission he traipsed across the continent there he met Edward Lovell, Lord Bredon, the eldest Lovell child. Bredon manages to talk Lawrence into coming home to England with him that's when he meets Caroline.

It was love at first sight, Lawrence had never seen a more beautiful woman than Miss Lovell and she didn't make fun of his rusty social skills she just gave him a smile and a way to escape from the awkward social situation. Caroline decided that she was going to spend the season flirting with Mr. Sinclair, heir or not she knew her parents wouldn't find him acceptable and if other men thought he was courting her they wouldn't bother her. But the more time she spends with Mr. Sinclair the more fascinated she becomes with him; he manages to push all her buttons good and bad. Lawrence is certain he could never love another woman the way he loves Caroline but he's not so certain if he's the best man for her, if he can give her the life she so longs for. Caroline once she realizes the depth of her feelings for Lawrence the more determined she is to never let him go.

Overall, this really was an outstanding story. I loved the little bit of conflict that came up I was expecting a little more from it and it was solved a little too easily but all in all the romance between Caroline and Lawrence was what really won me over. The secondary characters from all her brothers too her two ditzy friends, even Horatia who gets kind of obnoxious, make the story even more enjoyable especially the hinting at future connections and books. I have only read a few Mia Marlowe books but I do enjoy them she has a great narrative, this is my favorite of her so far and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.       

ARC REVIEW The Lost Soul of Lord Badewyn by Mia Marlowe

The Lost Soul of Lord Badewyn is book three in Mia Marlowe's The Order of the M.U.S.E series. I'll admit I grabbed this to review without reading the blurb, I enjoyed the previous one enough I wanted to continue the series and to say I was pleasantly surprised, is a bit of an understatement. I enjoyed this more so than the last and I wasn't expecting it to go the direction it did. The fact that Lord Badewyn was a nephilim was a surprise. A good surprise and it gave hints letting you know he was something special but not revealing it outright. Meg is quite extraordinary, in the last book it showed her enough that I understood what kind of a person she is; in this one you come to realize just how stubborn the girl can be.

I love the flow in which Mia Marlowe writes, there is not a lot of action but she teases you with information to keep you intrigued so when the action does happen it's worth it. Huge fight scene at the end had me holding my breathe. Lest we not forget the unexpected humor. The seriousness of the story is broken up with a bit of comic relief that is well fitted with the story .

To snag the blurb from Goodreads.com:

  He vowed to never fall in love...
Meg Anthony was never raised a lady. Instead, she grew up amongst grifters who used her unique “finding” ability for their own selfish purposes. Recently, she's been taken under the wing of the Duke of Camden and the Order of M.U.S.E., learning not only the fine art of becoming a lady, but how to use her extraordinary talent to help others. 

But Meg's gift is a beacon to unsavory characters who would possess her.

 Charged with her protection, Lord Badewyn knows—too well—that his wild, Welsh castle is no safe haven for this lovely, all-too-desirable creature. Part human, part fallen angel, he is one of the Nephilim. He is a recluse sworn never to love. As the dangers to Meg grow more threatening, he cannot help but find himself tempted beyond all reason...and tested to see if he has both a heart and a soul.

Meg has had a hard time adjusting to being a lady. She likes it, but sometimes she feels like she will never really fit in and when her past comes rearing it's ugly head the Duke of Camden must send her away for her protection. To the wilds of Wales Meg travels to the reclusive Lord Badewyn's Faencaern Castle. Samuel is a tortured soul who has vowed to never marry and never fall in love. He knows that Camden's ward is coming to his castle for protection, but now he must protect the beautiful woman from his own past as well as hers. Meg and Samuel are two of the most stubborn people you will ever meet and Mia Marlowe said it best in her Author's Note:

Samuel and Meg are two of my favorites, probably because they both feel unworthy of love. What they don't realize, at first, is that no one is worthy. No one can be. Love is a gift we can deserve. It's a grace. When it comes to us, we should grasp it with both hands. And a thankful heart.

They are a great couple who fight themselves and each other as much as the antagonist in the story. But when everything comes together it is a beautiful story, very fairytale-ish. For those who have read the previous two, Camden finally gets his answers but only to reveal more questions.

ARC REVIEW The Madness of Lord Westfall by Mia Marlowe

The Order of the M.U.S.E book two, but perfectly read as a stand-alone if necessary. This is a nice blend of historical and paranormal romance. The Order of the M.U.S.E (Metaphysical Union of Sensory Extraordinaires) was created to protect the crown from paranormal means, King George III declining mental health was the result of psychic attacks. Edward St. James the Duke of Camden is the founder and protector and mentor to these people who have metaphysical and unusual sensory abilities. I enjoyed this book it was nice I love the characters and I enjoyed the premise.

Pierce Langdon, Viscount Westfall, was institutionalized by his uncle after the death of his father. Pierce ever since he fell out of a tree as a child claimed he could hear voices, his title hungry uncle put him in Bedlam. Camden found out about Pierce and had him released and has since been working with him to try and control and use his ability for the good of the country. Pierce is glad to be out of the mad house he was tortured and if he had stayed their longer it would have driven him even madder.

Lady Nora Claremont still grieves the death of her first husband, but her stubborn father would not accept her back to the family after his death she found her place "acting" as a courtesan to a man who would act as her protector and she in turn would help him keep his secret. But everything changes when she meets Lord Westfall. He is like no other man she has ever met and she doubts it has to do with his madness, their is something more to him. When a plot to kill the Prince Regent ties her and her protector to whole thing it pulls her closer to Pierce and rethinking everything. Pierce is taken with Nora from the start and is willing to sacrifice even his own life to free her from the life and trouble she has gotten into.

Overall it was a little tame compared to some of the paranormal/historical romance I've read recently, but good none the less. I look forward to the next one.