ARC REVIEW No Ordinary Duke by Sophie Barnes

The Crawfords #1, I love books where one of the main characters hides part of who they are and fall in love, I always like how they redeem themselves to the other person. In this Caleb Crawford has finally comes home after studying architecture in France to prove his father wrong only to find out both his father and older brother died in a fire and he has now inherited the Dukedum. After trying for a couple of months, Caleb is at his breaking point he needs some time away from being the duke. His best friend Viscount Aldridge, has the solution, his sister lives out in the country with two other women and take care of orphan children. Seeing as how Aldridge's sister has never meet Caleb he just introduces himself as Mr. Crawford the new caretaker.

Mary Clemens, the daughter of a tradesman who became extraordinarily wealthy, got burned by society. She thought she fell in love with a man above her social standing but he let his father ruin the relationship and the father spread horrid rumors about her all over London. Her only escape was to disappear from London society and to live with her friend in the country and help children in need. Mary knowing her reputation was irreparably damaged she figured she'd never marry so she created a life with her two friends that was satisfying. The appearance of Mr. Crawford unsettled her because he aroused feeling in her she never had before and the fact that he was a laborer and not from society was perfect but she keeps misreading his intentions. Caleb knows Mary is special and it doesn't take him long to figure out he wants to marry her, but with her dislike of society he has to find away to reveal who he really is without completely destroying her faith in him. Unfortunately that option is taken out of his hands and now he has to repair the damage done.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. The characters were great. Mary even though she is a strong, opinionated, plain spoken kind of woman is so use to everything be blamed on her she keeps doubting everything. Caleb dealing with his newfound status in society and figuring out that he doesn't have to let the Dukeship define and dictate who he really is. I liked the set up with Caleb's brothers with at least two more books coming I look forward to Devlin's book. The epilogue felt off it was set so far in their future it would have made more sense to be at the end of the series with a wrap up of everyone's lives and not just these two and their kids. It feels so final and I don't want to feel that at the end of book one.             

ARC REVIEW Lord of Night by Erica Ridley

Lord of  Night is book three if Erica Ridley's Rogues to Riches series. Lord of Night follows Bow Street Runner Inspector Simon Spaulding and Miss Dahlia Grenville. For being 350 pages it was a quick and easy read. The pacing was smooth it seemed like a much shorter read than it actually is, but it was a really good read.

Dahlia and Simon have a slow but sweet courtship but Dahlia feels guilty because she has been hiding the fact that she is a well bred daughter of a Baron. Simon just thinks she is the headmistress of  a school for orphaned and abandoned girls in St. Giles. Dahlia feels even worse after she finds out that Simon is hunting the Thief of Mayfair. Dahlia is that thief, between the lectures from her mother on finding a husband and quitting this silly hobby and her father's indifference on his daughters Dahlia more than once has stolen a little trinket from some of the wealthy snobs whose collection is purely for the idea of having something that other don't and sold it to a pawn shop and then sends a letter to the owner where they can find their missing item. All of it for the care to her students.

A chance meeting on the streets of St. Giles Dahlia is saving a young girl from a man with nefarious purposes and Simon comes to their aid, from that night on Simon life is different. He stops by the school and visits with the girls even helps them learn how to dance and his attraction to Dahlia grows into love. Dahlia loves Simon with all her heart but she has to many secrets from him and as much as it hurts she can not risk her girls or his job for their love. After meeting Dahlia Simon realizes there are more things to life than just being a runner even coming to terms with his half brother and becoming friends with him. Dahlia has changed his outlook on life, but will all that change after he finds out who she really is?

Overall, this was a good read, I enjoyed the characters and the plot and how it played out. I can't wait for the next one.    

ARC REVIEW Lord of Pleasure by Erica Ridley

Lord of Pleasure is book two of Erica Ridley's new series Rogues to Riches. This is another great story by Erica Ridley, the characters are likeable and the whole situation is humorous. It's a fantastic Cinderella type story. Camellia is the perfect daughter she does as she's told, she sings when they want her too and what they want her to sing, she's also the sensible one, but her parents go too far when the arrange her marriage to a much older gentleman who doesn't even have the courtesy to actually ask her, then leaves for a month. Lord Wainwright, Michael, is tired of getting his image drawn as a caricature in the paper linking him to all sorts of gossip and rakish behaviour, sometimes it's true but he's tired of being made fun of, as a joke his friends bet him he couldn't stay out of the gossip column for 40 days.

In an atypical act of rebellion Camellia accepts the invitation meant for her sister to the notorious Lambley's masquerade ball. Once there she is swept off her feet by a masked man who seems to not only listen to her but enjoys talking to her. She has four weeks until her fiance returns and has the banns announced so she decides to enjoy her time with the masked man and returns to the masquerade ball every week.

So far Michael is succeeding in avoiding the gossip rags, he's seen in all the right places and attends his duty in the House of Lords and is terribly bored the only thing keeping his interest is Lady X a wonderful woman whom he has no idea who she really is. The other perplexing thing he comes across is the obvious dislike the Grenville sisters have for him. He has no idea that he made one off hand remark that caused the backing out a charity that was run by one of the sister and out of loyalty all the sister must hate him too. It doesn't take very long before Camellia discovers her masked man is none other than Lord Wainwright. Camellia is despaired that the man she has fallen in love with the same man who is a notorious seducer and who inadvertently hurt her sister. Camellia needs the strength to finally stand up to her parents and shake things up a bit, but can she find the courage Michael knows she has or will it all be for nothing.        

Overall, it is a great Cinderella retold story.

ARC REVIEW Lord of Chance by Erica Ridley

First book of Erica Ridley's Rouges to Riches series. As much as I love Erica Ridley I was almost hesitant to read this book, I blame the blurb it just didn't appeal to me, but being I  love Erica Ridley I picked it up and read it and I'll be damned if it's not one of the best one of hers I've read. Call me slow, I may or may not have known this beforehand and I just forgot, because I do that sometimes, but Anthony Fairfax is none other than the brother to Sarah Fairfax of The Brigadier's Runaway Bride (2015). It started kind of iffy, Anthony and Charlotte fell victim to the well known in Scotland but apparently not England law that if you announce yourself married boom you are legally married romance troupe. As tired of this troupe that I am this was cute and well executed. This has to be one of the best written books by Erica Ridley I ever read, the ending fell short for me but as a whole this story was really good.

 Charlotte is the bastard daughter of a courtesan. She dreamed of a life different than her own, one where people accepted you and invited you places and didn't chant Charlotte the Harlot when they saw you. She also dreamed of having a father who would sweep her away and become a princess. Charlotte above all else wanted her father to love and accept her all she had to go by was what she assumed to be his name and a ruby matched set earrings and necklace. With the name she had she thought him Scottish and after a horrible argument with her mother she left to Scotland and vowed to find him.

Anthony is a well known gambler he started young and helped his family stay in fashion to fit in with the fashionable crowd. It wasn't easy and he was broke more often than he had money but being strapped for cash was never this bad; he owed the accumulative amount of two thousand plus scattered about but his so called friend bought all his vowels and demanded payment or else it was debtor's prison for him. Anthony escaped London to try some smaller venues to try his luck at the gaming table it wasn't until a small town in Scotland did he met up with his Lady Luck.

Charlotte and Anthony play a couple hands and he eventually loses everything to her. At the end of the evening in Charlotte's paranoia of someone finding out who she is she proclaims out loud that she and Anthony are married. It isn't until the next morning do they find out that it is legally binding and Anthony also discovers the severity of his debt. The emotional rollercoaster ride that Charlotte and Anthony go through strengthen the feelings and the bond between them. It shows Charlotte that not every who sees her expects her to be her mother and Anthony learn the his life doesn't have to revolve around a table. Not much action takes place it mostly internal conflict between their insecurities. I have to say that is the best part of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Despite the overall conflict being built up so much and then being solved so easily left me wanting more the romance and the character development was fantastic.        

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 How to Manage a Marquess by Sally MacKenzie

This is the second book in the Spinster House series and unfortunately it feels like I was reading only half of the story. It runs almost parallel with the first novel and it really feels like it's missing something, something being the other half of the story. Not reading the first book I missed out on how the H/h met and the major details about the house and the curse. I couldn't connect to the characters or the situation they found themselves in the middle of the story when they were away from everyone else was good but I just couldn't get into it very much. The book is much shorter than it seems too, it ends three quarters of the way into the book and the remaining twenty-five percent is a prequel novella, I was so disinterested and let down that I didn't even bother to read it. And as silly as it sounds the damn cat, it took me a while to realize that, "Marrow" was the sound the cat was making and not it's name.

Miss Anne Davenport is applying to take residence at the spinster house. The Spinster House requires her to stay a spinster the rest of her life with only a cat as her companion. But in Anne eyes that better then being an outcast in her fathers home when her remarries. Unfortunately for her one of her best friends won the spot as spinster. Anne knows Cat and the Duke of Hart are in love if only they would get married then she could move in. The only problem with Hart and Cat falling in love is the family is cursed and Hart can only married for love if not he will die before the heir is born. Hart's cousin, Nate, is his protector and doesn't want him to die like the Duke's before him.  

Nate, the Marquess of Haywood, suckered into going to a house party, unbeknownst to him it's a house party to announce the engagement of Anne Davenport's Father and his young wife. Anne is against the marriage her future step mother is a year younger than her and Anne has a whole bunch of issues. This part of the book was the best part it was the only part where I actually could empathize with Anne. Nate and Anne of course fall in love, he help her realize things about her father and her step mother. Anne's future step brothers also help ease the whole situation. 

Overall, there was stuff about the book I enjoyed and others parts I had to force my way through. I really recommend that if you do read the series to read all the books and in order.  

ARC REVIEW Three Weeks to Wed by Ella Quinn

First impressions on this book, it's a Regency version of Yours, Mine and Ours.(1968 Lucy Ball and Henry Fonda; I love older movies and as much as I love Dennis Quaid I don't count the 2005 remake) If you like cute 'n silly books with a heavy dose of insta-love, this is a good book. I liked it well enough and the family dynamic is great the family members are the comic relief of the story let us not forget the two great danes. The biggest difference between Three Weeks to Wed and Yours, Mine and Ours aside from the fact that one is regency and the other is in the nineteen sixties, is that in the movie is two widowers with 10 and 8 kids the book is the story of the oldest sister,Grace, taking on guardianship of her brothers and sisters all seven of them; and an Earl, Matt, who is taking care of his step mother and his three half sisters. The conflict is mainly internal for Grace for the majority of the book, she has fought hard to maintain guardianship of her siblings and has accepted that she will remain a spinster. She has to come to terms with the fact Matt really does love her and wants to help her with the children. There is some external conflict with one of Grace's relatives and an idiot religious zealot. But those are all solved pretty quickly.

Grace has been in love with Matt the Earl of Worthington since her first season. When Grace meets him again he doesn't recognize her and she seizes the opportunity to have one night of sin with him before she is forever set on the shelf. Stuck at an Inn during a storm Grace and Matt share the private parlor; through tea time and dinner they talk, Grace never revealing who she is. By the end of dinner Matt has decided she would be the perfect wife for him and by morning he was in love. The only problem was that she disappeared before he woke up and he never learned her name. Grace realized the mistake she made as soon as she woke up. She should have never done it because now that she knows what she's missing it worse then it was before. Fate has a funny way of bring together the people that need to be together. Through mutual friends Matt finds Grace again and as soon as it becomes obvious to their family that they love each other but Grace is stubborn the siblings all work together to make sure the transition is a smooth one and that Grace really has nothing to worry about. The bad sheep of Grace's family shows up and misreads the situation and tries to get money by way of blackmail.

Over all this was a cute read. There isn't a lot of conflict just stubbornness and it is a quick and easy read.    

ARC REVIEW I Kissed a Rogue by Shana Galen

Book three of Shana Galen's Covent Garden Cubs and I'm sad to say that I really didn't care for this one. I liked Brook and that's about it. The plot seemed a little contrived and I just could not get emotionally invested in the story and the characters and their plight. I found myself getting very easily distracted and had to push myself to finish.

Lady Lillian-Anne was a spoiled girl when Brook Derring first meet her, he fell in love with her and she broke his heart. Seven years later Lila has changed, the death of her mother gave her new perspective. Lila's life changes further when she was kidnapped and rescued by Brook and then forced to marry him to save her life. So Brook has to keep her safe and find Beezle, the kidnapper and murder who is after Lila, and stop Beezle before he can get to Lila. This was very slow and I wish there was more to this story line then Lila and Brook bickering back and forth.

There is a fine line between love and hate and this is a prime example of it. They don't want to love each other so they act like they hate each other, and it really gets old. Brook is trying to save Lila's life and she just keeps acting like a spoiled brat. After being forced to spend time with each other Lila realizes how good of a man Brook is and Brook realizes how much Lila has changed.

Overall, this was lack luster. I liked Brook I wish he had a better story.  

ARC REVIEW The Duke's Accidental Wife by Erica Ridley

Ravenwood finally gets his book! The Dukes of War book seven; really seven already, Damn. I loved this series, every book is unique in it's characters and situations and with Ravenwood and his cold outer-shell and the vivacious Katherine you have a delightful story of give and take and finding out that what you need is what you least expect. Erica Ridley has a delightful and easy writing style, I love her attention to detail and she is an excellent storyteller.

Ravenwood gets uncomfortable in social situations his sister has always acted as the go between so he doesn't have to deal with it, but now she is married and he is alone in the house for the exception of the servants. Ravenwood has always done what is best for the Dukedom, his country, his King, and his family name; and as a member of Parliament he does his best to prove he is just a good a Duke as his father before him. When his sister Lady Amelia and his friends talks him into attending an auction be begrudgingly agrees more so because the patroness of the auction is the talked about and vivacious Lady Katherine Ross.

Lady Katherine Ross has vowed never to get married and most of all never have children. She is scared of the child birth, she was raised by her Aunt who attended the midwife and vividly remembers all the times her aunt came home crying because of the loss of the mother or the child and more than often both; it scared Kate. Now as she has grown older and made a place for herself in society she doesn't want to be a mans property she has worked hard to make her own money and her work with artist has made a name for herself. If she can get the elusive Duke of Ravenwood to attend her auction then she can guarantee it's success and the success of her artists. Unfortunately an ill placed bucket of water and the bad timing of one senile aunt, Ravenwood and Kate end up in the middle of a scandal and have to marry.

A wedding was the last thing Kate wanted, she convinced herself that everything she now owned was Ravenwood's, and technically she's right but Ravenwood doesn't want her stuff. The chemistry is there but once Ravenwood discovers she doesn't want to have children puts another wedge between them. Slowly they learn about each other, Kate learns what a romantic her husband is and Ravenwood discovers how hard a worker she is and how much she wants to be a good wife for him. He takes an interest in her work with the artist and supports her. Kate realizes she loves Ravenwood when she realizes she is willing to face her fear and give him the child he wants.

Overall, I love how they work to better their relationship, they worked at trying to make the marriage they were forced into work and it was easy for it to become a love match and not just a convenience.        

ARC REVIEW How to Wed a Warrior by Christy English

Book two of Christy English's Broadsword & Ballrooms, How to Wed a Warrior. I liked this much more than the first book. This one had a little more substance to it. Robert and Pru were a very entertaining couple to read. It's a light read, and very entertaining. As always I freakin' love Mary Elizabeth and with a bit of teasing for her story I can't wait for the next book.

Mary Elizabeth is up to her usual mischief, but as usual it's not intentional. Brandishing her broadsword on an unsuspecting gentleman she is saved by a prim lady. Prudence Whittaker is hiding from the ton, all of her friends abandoned her when her brother disappeared at sea with a good portion of money financed by their friends. Pru believes he is dead because no way could he steal all that money and just leave her there to face the consequences. Pru has put on the appearance of a widow to find work as a companion. She was suppose to go and work for one young girl and help her introduction into society when she runs across Mary and her her broadsword pointed at an old friend of hers. Pru successfully gets Mary and Robert out of that situation. As soon as Robbie sees her and the way she seamlessly handled Mary he know he must hire her for Mary. He also didn't expect the rush of lust her felt for her.

Offering Pru an obscene amount of money to help Mary, Robbie figures he could easily make her his mistress; Pru has other plans. Pru hears rumors floating around that her brother is still alive and hiding out on the docks. With the Waters family to help Pru is sure to find out the truth eventually. In the meantime she is trying hard not to fall in love with Robbie. Robbie soon finds out it's not just lust he is feeling for Pru and he works hard to prove to her that once he has her he will never let her go. Even if it means saving her brother.

Overall, there was a lot more to this book than the first one and it also introduces the eldest brother, I really can't wait for that one; and of course Mary Elizabeth meets her match.      

ARC REVIEW Once Upon a Regency Fairy Tales and Fables anthology

Once upon a time nine historical romance authors created a fairy tale inspired Regency world… 

This is a great anthology it is all retold fairy tales and fables that take place in, well duh, the Regency era. I loved reading it, it was fun trying to figure out which one it was some were very obvious and others no so much. All these authors are extremely talented and great at storytelling. The novellas range  from sweet to steamy.

Resisting Romeo by Samantha Grace :  This is the only one I really can't pinpoint a fairy tale or a fable to, The obvious Romeo and Juliet, but I see this more of a Taming of the Shrew in the Kiss Me Kate style. I loved it this is one of my favorites in this batch. I love the theatre, and sometimes I miss being on the stage myself, then I remember I'm not that good an actress and pop that dream bubble.  

Claudine Bellarose is an actress, she is an aspiring playwright and the former mistress of an abusive man. Claudine is on the verge of performing her breakout play when the manager gets a letter stating the building is going to be sold and they all have to leave. Russell Hawke is the owner of the theatre, it was left to him by his father. Russell love the theatre but in order to save the family coffers he must sell but one look at the place and it's beautiful headstrong lead  actress and Russell makes a deal if they are successful in performing Claudine's play they can stay. Sabotage and mischief, things keep happening at the theatre (you think they were performing MacBeth) Russell winds up acting in the play too and with Claudine's guidance he becomes a halfway decent actor. 

The misshapes lead to more serious problems and there are secrets hidden in the theatre, all come unveiled and  lead to one very happy HEA.       

Enchanted by the Earl by Amanda Mariel : Admittedly this one took me a while to guess, it wasn't until the end that it became blindingly obvious what it was and I am ashamed it took me that long to figure out. I liked this one, it is a sweet romance and a unique way of telling Little Red Ridding Hood.

Rose is a seamstress, who lives with her grandmother. Hunter Thorne is the Earl of Aubry who by chance meets ose when escorting his sister to her house for a fitting. Mr. Dewitt Wolfe is former family friend that was suppose to be betrothed to Rose, before she broke the contract and now he will stop at nothing to make her his wife. (See why I'm ashamed that I missed the obvious connection...  Hunter, Wolfe, Grandma!) Hunter stubborn oblivious male is determined to help Rose, but he doesn't know why. Rose is determined to save herself but when Wolfe threatens to take away her home she reluctantly accepts Hunter's help.

This was a good adventure romance, I loved the characters especially the secondary characters Lady Julia and Garret Tumbly, Viscount Sinclair.   

Wish Upon a Kiss by Meara Platt : This one is one of the obvious ones, she has three godmothers who raised her and her middle name is Aurora. This is a good retelling of Sleeping Beauty, I love what Meara Platt did with the story and how she changed it up to fit in the Regency era. The "Prince" very sexy mysterious Alpha male, viking.

Lady Winifred Kingsley was rushing off to the opening of the May Fair when she quite literally ran into the man of her dreams. Lucky she did because then she was attacked by a pack of mad dogs, if he hadn't of been there she surely would have died. She ran off after it was safe and made in time for the opening MayFair dance around the pole. But when Winnie tried to convince everyone about the dogs no one believed her. She didn't believe her prince when he introduced himself as Captain Ardaric Mariner but she gladly accepted his escort on her journey home good thing too. Ardaric was convinced someone was out to kill her and kept her inside while the wild dogs ran rampant outside. Soon after getting home she fell sick and fell asleep. It was love at first sight for Ardaric Sinclar fourth Duke of Blantyre, there was something different about Winnie that separated her from all the debutantes' he ever meet and the fact that she was in danger brought out every protective bone in his body.

The secrets of the wild dogs tie directly to Winnie and her past. This was a great retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales. 

A Duke Worth His Salt by Allison Merritt : I'm guessing at this one, it wasn't half bad but one part of it really confused me, I'll get to that, this is a Cinderella story. I liked the story and the characters but the one thing that confused me kind of messed with my opinion of the story.

Lady Eleanor is the beloved middle daughter, that is until her father suffers a head injury and can no longer recognize her and starts spewing all these horrible things about her. She thinks it would be best if she left while he recovered, her Aunt forbids it but Eleanor's sister helps her escape to the Sussex property their father just inherited from a distant relative. Eleanor to avoid the scandal of her being without a chaperone disguises herself as a shepherdess. The only problem Eleanor faces is her neighbor the Duke of Greenebuck has meet her once before. This is where I got confused; Daniel Goodwin, the Duke, knows Eleanor is there and when he meets "Leah" the shepherdess I thought I knew it was Eleanor in disguise and was just playing along apparently not. It's my fault I read something wrong but it just skewed my view of the book. Eleanor becomes Leah and wants nothing more than to learn everything she can about sheep and return the estate back to it's former glory. But when Eleanor's Aunt comes to fetch her back to London everything changes.

It is a good story and I liked it well enough.      

Masquerading as a Miss by Ari Thatcher : This was another great retelling of one of my favorites, The Little Mermaid. I really like this alter ego of Aileen Fish. I love her sweet romances and this one is just a tad bit naughty and I really liked it. The story flowed beautifully the characters were honorable and passionate.

Both Colin Wentworth and Cassandra Franklin are on a journey to London from Jamaica; Colin is returning and Cassandra is of to live with relatives she never knew she had. But as these things happen they hit a horrible storm and the ship sank, only Cassandra and Colin surviving. It was love at first sight but Colin was too seasick to realize it. Back on dry land Cassandra lost her the only information she had about where and who to see once she got there Colin thankful to her for saving his life promises her he will find her family. Cassandra is scared to let herself love Colin she has no idea who her father is and doesn't want to disappoint his family and title if she isn't worthy of it. Colin finds her family and the truth and nothing is going to stop him from marrying her. Even if it means breaking a contract with his father's partner by refusing to marry his daughter and potentially ruining all business dealings with them.

I like this one it was a good twist on an old classic. There was no definite bad guy just a bad situation

  

 
Searching for My Rogue by Dawn Brower : This one threw me for a loop but was really good. One of my all time favorites, so much so I named my daughter after her, Alice in Wonderland. I love Alice in Wonderland and I am usually really picky about people's creative license with the story but this one was different enough with a smig of Yankee in King Arthur's Court that it really made a pleasant story. 

Alys Dewitt was just barely surviving her sister's wedding and tolerating the pompous best man the groom's step brother and Duke of Weston. After the wedding Alys went for a walk  to get some fresh air she accidentally fell over the side of the cliff; when she awoke she was in 1815. James survived the Napoleonic Wars only to come home to a dead brother and a title he never wanted. On his way home he finds a young woman on the beach knocked unconscious. He brings her home and in her half conscious ramblings he assumes she was his brother's betrothed and immediately feels guilty for lusting after her. When Alys wakes up she is stunned but adapts quickly to the situation. James leaves to London almost immediately to obtain a special license so he can marry her and protect her better. Alys in the meantime befriends his sister who confides in her that her brother's death might not have been an accident. Smugglers and spies make an appearance and make the plot intriguing. Alys' skills as a doctor also come in handy.

This is one of my favorites in the anthology.

   

   
The Enchanted Cave by Sue London : This one is probably my least favorite. It is a retelling an of Irish fable and while the author did a good job with that the plot was interesting; however I didn't like any of the characters. All the guys were kind of lecherous and creepy and the girls were all backstabbing whores all except Maeve who was a self righteous prude. 

The Enchanted Cave is a fight club where women box other women. Baron Galen Mornay is trying to save his friends from the evil clutches of the women at The Enchanted Cave. He is always pulling his friends out of hot water and he knows they will end up in trouble again if they continue visiting there. Especially the unofficial leader Finn, Lord Cole who is fascinated with the main attraction Maeve O'Malley. The Fighting Irish Sister earned their fame thanks to Maeve but they are all getting tired and just want a man to offer them their protection and to take them on as their mistresses. All except for Maeve who is a good Catholic girl and wants a husband. The attraction between Maeve and Galen is purely physical at first but the more Galen spends with her trying to figure out her motives the more he grows to like her as a woman and appreciates her strengths and resolve and her loyalties. When the owner of The Enchanted Cave gets more desperate for money he pits Maeve against a man fighter. Maeve must fight the man to win her freedom from The Enchanted Cave.

It was a good story I just couldn't like any of the characters. 

       
Taming Beauty by Lynne Barron : If you couldn't tell by the name this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Leave it to Lynne Barron to turn this into an unexpected story with a beautiful and unique heroine. I'm a big fan of Lynne Barron and always love the heroines that she creates. A woman with a reputation the granddaughter and daughter of infamous courtesans she herself lives a life she wants to lead and an impoverished scared Baron looking to seek revenge.

Lord Dunaway is a horn dog! Not only did he get his own wife pregnant four time three girls, but he also had three other daughters by three different women. Not only that he seduced a young woman away from Baron Malleville, Jasper Grimley. Malleville also known as The Beast of Breckenridge used his fortune to ruin Dunaway, the only way to settle the debt his daughter's hand and thirty thousand pounds with interest, three percent per annum. Dunaway is escorting his sweet and innocent daughter Lady Priscilla Josephine Worcester, Sissy, to her betrothed estate in Cornwall. Along to act as chaperone Miss Lilith Aberdeen, Dunaway's oldest bastard child. Dunaway's plan is for Lilith to seduce Malleville and have him call off the debt and break the contract. But once their Lilith feels an unlikely kinship with with Jasper and falls in love with the man but being who she is she won't let Jasper ruin everything to be with her she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness to see that he gets what he needs. 

I love the twist Lynne put on the story, and it manages to be funny, erotic, and heartwarming all in one.

  

Stealing a Lady’s Heart by Tammy Andresen : Oh boy this one, this one I have to say is my top favorite out of this collection. Tammy Andersen wrote it in the same style that a lot of the fables are written in. I felt like I was reading a Grimm's Tale or one of the Canterbury Tales. This one is a retelling Grimms The Four Wise Brothers.  The beginning is very succinct it introduces the characters and you get a good feel of their personalities and who they are and the story jumps right in. I loved all the characters even the villain, he was very menacing. 

Charlotte Beaumont was journeying north to visit her best friend and celebrate the birth of her first child. Along the way her father arranged that she stay with just about every eligible bachelor along the way. One such house was Harlington Manor, a house with four sons all with their own talents and trades. Thus starts the grand adventure a kidnapping, a speedy rescue from a tall tower, a chase through enchanted woods, magical battles, and a damsel in distress turned hero. Graham the third son of the house a former soldier turned locksmith fell in love at first sight with the beautiful Charlotte, but being the third son he thought himself not good enough for her. He knew it was his destiny to save her and with his brothers help he did just that. The evil dark sorcerer was hot on their tail and the only way to protect Charlotte was for Graham to marry her. It all ends in an epic magical battle between good and evil.

This was brilliant, I can't say enough how much I loved this one. It was a little cheesy and corny but it just added flavor to the story like the original fables did.         

Overall, This is one not to miss out on. It has some great stories in it.

ARC REVIEW How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English

Christy English's first book of the Broadsword and Ballrooms series, How to Seduce a Scot, is an adorable book. I'm new to Christy English so I wasn't sure what to expect from it. What I got was a honorable Highlander, a feisty sister and a stubborn English rose  all of this together makes an amusing story and a series I will be keeping an eye out for. Throughout the book you have the Waters family insulting the "bloody British" despite the fact that their mother is British. Mary Elizabeth is definitely the comic relief in the story, she makes the book even though it's about Alex and Catherine. The main problem is Catherine, she is so stubborn it gets aggravating, it makes you want to scream " just trust him!" The romance was a little too slow burning, there is an attraction right off, the chemistry is there they just forever to really act on it.  

Alex Waters' mother told him he was to find a husband for his tomboyish sister and instructions not to fall in love with with an English girl. So what happens Mary Elizabeth's first and only friend captivated Alex at first glance. She looked like an angel and henceforth Alex refers to her as his Angel. But he knows better than to fall for such a lady he is just the youngest son and she deserves more than that. Catherine Middlebrook needed a rich husband and she only has this season to find him, if only Alex Waters hadn't of gotten under her skin. Catherine's need is because her mother is horrible with money and has managed to spend it all and unless Catherine marries well they will have nothing. When Catherine discovers they are worse off than she first thought she decides she must settle for the placid sutor who does absolutely nothing for her, instead of the sexy honorable highlander that boils her blood and makes her heart race. Silly Catherine.

The ending wrapped up all nice and neat in a pretty bow, but I think overall it was a cute read. The secondary characters definitely won me over in the story and look forward to their stories.  

ARC REVIEW Jane Ashford: The Bargain and Heir to the Duke

The Bargain was originally released in 1997 and was re-released 2014. It's nothing what I expected and was pleasantly surprised by it. I haven't read Jane Ashford before and really enjoyed it. It has a little bit of everything I like romance, mystery, adventure. It's a tantalizing misadventure between an unconventional couple, the youngest son of a Duke and the daughter of an actress. It was an amusing read it's not everyday you read a romance where they are hunting ghosts at the request of the Prince Regent.

The youngest son of the Duke of Langford is the black sheep of the family. Lord Alan Gresham is the scholar of the family a scientist studying the properties of light; and as much as he hates London and socializing he must answer the Prince Regent summons. What the Prince Regent wants is preposterous, he wants Alan to find the ghost of a recently deceased actress. The ghost has inevitable crashed every party the Regent has thrown and is making him a laughing stock. The first party Alan attends the ghost shows up but he's not the only one chasing it. Ariel Harding was away at school when her mother committed suicide, she has come to London to deal with what is left of her mother's things and with the whisperings of her mother haunting the Regent she herself sneeks in to try and and see her mother. Ariel makes a bargain with Alan that she will help him in his search of the ghost if he helps her find out what really happened to her mother. But their investigation reveals more about Ariel's past then just what happened to her mother, and brings together the stuffy scholar and the daughter of an actress. Ariel does more than just win over Alan's heart but his families as well, with her wisdom from plays she advises Alan's older brothers and helps them with their love life problems.

Overall it was an entertaining and enjoyable read.

   Heir to the Duke is officially the first book of the Duke's Sons series, however it is the same family and brothers from The Bargain. The Bargain even has a bit about Nate and Violet and their engagement. Nate was perfect and Violet was aggravating but still entertaining. This one is about growth and discovery.

Violet's entire life has been ruled by her tyrannical, hateful grandmother. Violet's marriage to Viscount Hargrove will finally give her the freedom she needs to be who she wants to be. Nathaniel Gresham thought the shy and prim Violet would eventually make the perfect duchess, but soon after the wedding Violet began to change. Nate loves his home he loves working with his tenants and learning everything he needs to before he steps up to the title as Duke of Langford, but he also wants his new wife to be happy and agrees to her simple request of visiting Brighton for their wedding trip. But once they are their he doesn't know what happened to the shy and prim woman he married, he likes the changes he just doesn't want to lose her to the hypocritical ton society.

Violet made a list of things she has always wanted to do and was never before allowed to do. New wardrobe, check; fire her old critical termagant ladies maid, check; swim in the ocean, check; harmlessly flirt with a man, well maybe she should rethink that one. Violet's ways soon have her grandmother back at her doorstep trying to control her again. She also has an unwanted admirer trying a little to hard to seduce her. All the while Nate is enjoying his wife's transformation but he wants to go back home. Violet isn't going to let her grandmother take over her life again but a secret buried deep in her parents past comes out and Violet is scared she might lose everything including Nate. Violet just has to find her backbone and stand up to everyone and be who she wants.

Overall, this was a good read. I enjoyed it despite saying to myself throughout the whole book Dammit Violet.    

ARC REVIEW The Scoundrel and the Debutante by Julia London

Book Three of Julia London's Cabot Sister's series. It really can be read as a stand alone the first two books play an important part but nothing that isn't explained simply, and it you have read the previous books it's not redundant. Prudence has to be my favorite sister she was the level headed one and is suffering because her older sister's actions. Roan is an American lost in England trying to track down his wayward sister and take her back to America so she can make an advantageous marriage for the family business. I love these two, I always enjoy it when you throw an American in the fray.

Honor and Grace have had their scandal and both ended up happy and married with kids running around, Prudence however is on the shelf with all her friends married she has convinced herself she will always be the spinster sister all because of her sisters. Prudence is not happy about it all she wanted was to get married but because of her sisters she was deemed unsuitable as time passes she just gets more and more depressed and her sisters are just getting annoying. As a reprieve from her sisters even she though she doesn't really want to goes to visit her best friend who just had a baby. On the way she meets an American man, a very handsome man, and throwing caution to the wind she decides she wants a bit of adventure and she joins him on his search for his sister, but it might be more than she wanted. Julia London is very good when it comes to misadventures they are always amusing and follows Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Prudence assuming the identity of Roen's cousin helps track down his sister but when they come across someone who knows the Cabot family the fun is over. Prudence and Roen race back to London and her sisters to try and fix the mess she got herself into.

Roen feels an instant attraction to Prudence but he has an obligation back home, like his sister it is a marriage that will strengthen business connections between the families. On return to London and the discovery of Roen's sister he asks Prudence to marry him, but Prudence is being blackmailed into marriage with the "gentleman" who discovered her secret; he is threatening to ruin Mercy the youngest Cabot sister entry into the prestigious art school she just got accepted into. The story is fun and an easy read; emotional but not in the angsty way. I think out of the three books so far in this series this one is my favorite.            

REVIEW The Devil takes a Bride by Julia London

Book 2 in the Cabot Sisters series by Julia London was not what I expected. I still think the original title of The Fall of Lady Grace, is more apt but The Devil Takes a Bride is more eye catching. I was not expecting this book to go in the direction it went especially with Jeffrey. Grace I expected to be a tad bit selfish from the previous book. With Jeffrey his "madness" his OCD, his need to have everything in 8s was fine it makes him unique; it stands him out against the rest of the romance heroes I love that about him and I the fact that I imagined Stuart Reardon as him didn't hurt. But... the, for the lack of a better term, BDSM tendencies was over the top I think it could have been just left as controlling and in charge and it would have been fine. It almost felt like it was written in just to appease the trend of BDSM books. That being said it was very well written and I liked how it wasn't the main focus although I could have lived without it (if I wanted to read BDSM I would I just didn't expect to read it in one of my favorite Historical Romance authors). I didn't like Grace in The Trouble with Honor she came off as self centered despite her need to help the family. In this one you can see how quickly she changes, some of her actions are still self centered but you can tell she thinks it's for a good reason and that she wants to make things work and she's trying.

The beginning of this book runs parallel with the end of the last book, to catch you up in case you missed it The two eldest Cabot sisters are the belles of the ball both already have been in society for a couple of years with no urge to marry. That is until their step father passes away, their mother's dementia starts to get worse and their step brother's fiancee wants to sent the girls away. With their two younger siblings not yet out their mother's sickness will hurt their chances to find a good match. So Honor hatches her own scheme and Grace under takes her own. Honor's backfires but ends happily, to bad news of this didn't get to Grace before her own machinates backfired as well. Grace had an admire she thought cared enough about her he wouldn't mind being trapped into marriage with her. His brother however was the one who fell into the trap.

Jeffrey, The Earl of Merryton, lead on organized life he was content with. Everything in it's place and always in multiples of eight Jeffrey was looking for a wife who wouldn't disturb that instead he fell into Grace Cabots trap. Mad at first he soon just accepted it, he lusted after her like no one else before but she was too innocent to show his "depraved" sexual desires. Grace on the other hand sees Jeffrey for what he is and soon comes to understand his need and once she has a taste of his needs she wants more she just has to convince Jeffrey that she can handle it. Jeffrey's nature partially came by his father who was very strict in nature and often cruel in turn Jeffrey is determined to uphold his father's strict family rules and keep the name away from scandal. Grace knows this and is scared to tell him of her mother's "madness" for fear he will cast her out for it. They both must overcome their fears of the other knowing the truth about the other in order to be happily ever after.

Overall, yes I did like the book, it wasn't the greatest but it wasn't horrible either. It was good just not what I was expecting.          

REVIEW How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy by Vanessa Kelly

Another wonderful tale of The Renegade Royals by Vanessa Kelly. I love this series every book so far has grabbed my attention and pulled me along with the wild adventures and scandalous happenings. Vanessa Kelly has created a plethora of characters that you can't help but love, her illegitimate sons of the regency princes are some of her best.

Captain William Endicott, the illegitimate son of The Duke of York, works hard to win his father's approval so when asked to spy on an old friend despite the fact that he knows she could never do that he reluctantly acquiesces. Along with his cousin and partner in spy, "Alec" Gilbride, they must find the truth of the assassination conspiracy and the Irish/Catholics behind it. Evelyn Whitney was always the quiet one the blue stocking the disappointment compared to her vivacious twin sister, Eden, who always seemed to have a flock of men at her beck and call. That suited Evie just fine she was happy as she was but her world hardened when she was rejected by her first love, William " Wolf " Endicott. She stopped following her sister and was determined to be her own person along the way she meet Michael Beaumont. Evie still with a soft heart decided to help Michael with his charity work to help Irish immigrants. Their friendship soon buds into more but with Evie's snobbish mother it isn't very likely to end in marriage.

Will and Alec show up without warning to the house party after pulling an invitation from Evie's brother. With Will back Evie is fighting even hard the feelings she thought she let go years ago, but seeing her Wolf and how he was changed since war has only intensified it she doesn't want to give in she already gave her loyalty to Michael and she won't betray that trust and even after feelings between her and Will are revealed she still feels the need to protect Michael much to Will changrene. The conspiracy that Will and Alc are there to uncover goes slow but the book goes by so quickly. Not only do they have the conspiracy but Evie's snobbish meddling mother and the even more snobbish Duke of York.

You can't forget about Eden's apparent hatred for Alec, I foresee the next book. yea! I can't wait especially now since Dominic has stepped down and put Aden in his place and Alec is a burly Scottsman. ( rwar )             

REVIEW Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress by Theresa Romain

Title: Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress

Series: The Matchmaker Trilogy #3

Author: Theresa Romain

ISBN: 978-1-4022-8405-2

Pubdate: January 6^th, 2015

One good proposition deserves another…

Heiress Augusta Meredith can’t help herself—she stirs up gossip wherever she goes. A stranger to Bath society, she pretends to be a charming young widow, until sardonic, darkly handsome Joss Everett arrives from London and uncovers her charade.

Augusta persuades Joss to keep her secret in exchange for a secret of his own. Weaving their way through the treacherous pitfalls of a polite world only too eager to expose and condemn them, they begin to see that being true to themselves is not so bad…as long as they’re true to each other…

Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest.

I jumped on to this bandwagon late, this is book three in Theresa Romain's Matchmaker series. I can't tell this is the third book in a series, it does very well as a Stand Alone. It was a good read, it was funny and romantic the characters are very entertaining and the situations they get into are humourous.

Augusta Meredith is the worst kind of heiress in the eyes of the ton, only accepted because her family is rich but scorned because it was earned not inherited. Josiah Everett had the unfortunate occurrence to be a quarter Indian and the second cousin / Man of Business to Lord Sutcliffe. Josiah "Joss" goes to Bath to find a potential buyer for his cousins land so he can pay of a blackmailer. Augusta has gone to bath with her friend who is grieving the loss of a daughter due to miscarriage. Augusta was the ideal companion for her friend because she too knows the pain of loss, Augusta lost both of her parents and with that her lover left her for another. In Bath she has decided that she is going to exercise her lover out of her system, she dons a false name and the title of widow to find herself a lover she can use and leave. Avoiding anybody she might know she flirts and attracts a horde of admirers. She runs into Joss, whom she has meet previously, Scared he would tell her secret she offers to help him with his problem and gives him a list of men who might want to buy the land and one man who "knows things". Joss is offended that Augusta wouldn't trust him but it is obvious that she has been burned in the past and lets it go but he won't be used and turns down Augusta's first advance. Together they work through their own personal problems, and finally come together in a sensual not to graphic way.

The story is is a subtle one it blackmailer unfortunately doesn't play a really big part and it's mainly about character development. The Lord and Lady Sutcliffe are hysterical. Augusta and Joss both are infuriating with their actions to each other but overall a nice read.  

She tilted her head, setting the loose curl free again. “Are you doing what you wish?”
Doing what he wished? No, of course he wasn’t.

Right now he wished he could make her smile as she had when giving away her gloves. He wished he could dispense with his conscience and plead for her to take him as a lover. He wished he could pluck the pins from her sunset hair and send it tumbling over her naked skin, wished he could stop kissing her only to make her cry out in pleasure.

But always, in the face of a wish, came prosaic reality. A scarred wooden table, a plate of mutton and potatoes, a wedge of cheese. An adequate fire and a roof over one’s head. Such a reality was perfectly acceptable, even if it didn’t hold the luster of a gemlike fantasy.

“I try to wish,” he said in a calm voice, “for what I know I might attain. For respectable employment for a reasonable wage. For a reasonable employer.”

This brought a faint smile to her features, but the expression fell away in another instant. “That seems a very small dream.”

“What on earth do you mean by that? It’s a very suitable dream.”

“But it’s not really a dream, is it? It’s what you have now, just shuffled about a bit.”

Again, he folded his arms. She lifted her hands, placating. “As you say, it’s perfectly suitable. And if you insist that it’s exactly what you want, then I suppose it is a dream, after all.”

Of course it wasn’t a dream. It was good sense. It was practicality. “I don’t know what else I ought to wish for. This is my life. I am a man of business for a nobleman.” Remembering Chatfield’s words, he added, “I am not in bodily danger, nor in mortal peril. It could be far worse.”

“It could be. But if you want it to be better...”

“Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to buy happiness.”

“No one is fortunate enough for that.” She turned over her fork and scratched the tines into the surface of the table. “That’s not what I meant. I know happiness can’t be bought, or I would have bought it.”

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REVIEW The Earl's Defiant Wallflower by Erica Ridley

Book One in Erica Ridley's Dukes of War series, The Earl's Defiant Wallflower is set in the Regency Era after the war. As the series name implies it is about four friends who went to war and only three came back alive and the three all ended up with Titles on their return. Erica Ridley is a great storyteller she weaves a funny and seductive tale. My only complaint would be that the ending ended quickly and all tied up in a bow, but than again Romance novels are allowed to do that it's part of the fantasy.

Oliver York returns from war a changed man he also comes back to find his father dead and the finances non-existent, with nothing else to do but care for his only remaining friend who is in a catatonic-like state he must find a wife with a large enough dowry to take care of his land and tenants. Miss Grace Halton only came to England to find a husband because her mother wished it, but when Grace left her mother was very ill and when she got to London and her Grandparents saw how much she looked like her mother they became mean and started treating her like she was going to be just like her mother. Oliver and Grace stick up a friendship but know there can be nothing else between them, both needing to marry well. But one kiss and an ill timed entrance sees them married.

The story also introduces characters for the upcoming stories and reintroduces Ravenwood , whom we meet in the prequel. For a full length story it is short but very full and it really sinks it's teeth into you and reveals just enough about the other Dukes to leave you curious and anxious for the next story.

REVIEW Tall, Dark and Royal by Vanessa Kelly

And the story continues... What started in Lost in His Royal Kiss continues fourteen years later, YEAAAAA!!!! finally Dominic and Chloe are together. In the series prequel Lost in His Royal Kiss we meet teen-aged Dominic and Chloe already very close and already half in love with each other but Chloe's kind heart got her in to a bit of trouble when the youngest prince took advantage of her and forced himself on her and she ended up pregnant. Forced to leave and live with her uncle Dominic and Chloe are separated and don't see each other again until fourteen years later. I love this series Vanessa Kelly writes great romance that keeps you on your toes for what will happen next.

Chloe always regretted the decisions she was forced into making she tries her best to make it up and redeem herself by helping other girls that end up is situations like hers. But she still feels guilty so guilty that she isn't willing to let herself have her happy ending with Dominic. Dominic has other plans he is just waiting for a sign from her, after a couple months after being reunited and nothing he gets a note from her son saying she is in trouble. One of Chloe's girls attracted the attentions of the wrong man and now Chloe is caught in the middle and if Chloe is in trouble Dominic is right their with her. At first things between them is great until Dominic goes all domineering Alpha male and Chloe balks, determined she doesn't need help or Dominic protection.

I love Vanessa Kelly she has not written anything that I didn't like and I am very excited to read the next one coming out the beginning of January.

REVIEW The Viscount's Christmas Temptation by Erica Ridley

This is the prequel novella to Erika Ridley's newest series The Dukes of War. If the rest of the series is as entertaining as this one it is going to be a great series. Amelia is a great character especially when she refers to Debrett's Peerage as a catalog when her brother catches her looking for a husband. It's a great and fast and fun read.

As domineering, bossy, and head strong woman Lady Amelia Pembroke is, you really can't help but like her. She makes it her duty to know everything that's going on in her brothers household and knows exactly how to do just about everything she even plans back-up, back-up plans. She has run her brother's household with ease and grace treats the staff with kindness and respect. She knows he needs to marry and she wants to be out of the house and married before he marries and she has to give up the household duties to his wife. She has a set list of requirements and a list of eligible bachelors. All she needs is the Annual Sheffield Christmas Ball. The 75th Annual Sheffield Ball however has been canceled, but Amelia has plans and they will not be deterred. She basically ambushes Lord Benedict Sheffield and maneuvers him into letting her throw the party last minute. Amelia's gentle maneuverings to make sure she gets her way are brilliant.

Benedict St. John, Viscount Sheffield, has a strict schedule from 8 am to 8 pm is all business; after that he well he knows how to have a good time. When Lady Amelia approaches him about his families annual ball he is at first hesitant wanting just a relaxing holiday instead. But their is something about Amelia that appeals to him, with her no-nonsense straight to the point maneuverings he fantasizes about showing her how to have a good time and before he knows it he's in love.