NEW RELEASES FOR WEEK OF JULY 24, 2016.
ONLY AN EARL WILL DO (TO MARRY A ROGUE) BY TAMARA GILL
Release Date: July 25, 2016
SYNOPSIS
The reigning queen of London society, Lady Elizabeth Worthingham, has her future set out for her. Marry well, and marry without love. An easy promise to make and one she owed her family after her near ruinous past that threatened them all. And the rakish scoundrel Henry Andrews, Earl of Muir who’s inability to act a gentleman when she needed one most would one day pay for his treachery.
Returning to England after three years abroad, Henry is determined to make the only woman who captured his heart his wife. But the icy reception he receives from Elizabeth is colder than his home in the Scottish highlands. As past hurts surface and deception runs as thick as blood, so too does a love that will overcome all obstacles, unless a nameless foe, determined with his own path, gets his way and their love never sees the light of day…
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REVIEW: ONLY AN EARL WILL DO (TO MARRY A ROGUE) BY TAMARA GILL
Only an Earl Will Do by Tamara Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
ARC Review: Only an Earl Will Do (To Marry A Rogue) by Tamara Gill
Elizabeth has faced her share of heartache and shame in the name of love. Now she is determined to redeem herself and spare her heart by entering into a marriage of convenience. There's just one problem. The man who destroyed her hopes and dreams has returned to lay claim to what he left behind. Her! Only an Earl will do is steamy battle of wills that had me on the edge of my seat and praying for a reconciliation. It's emotional, playful and excellently crafted.
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TO WIN A VISCOUNT (THE DAUGHTERS OF AMHURST) BY FRANCES FOWLKES
Release Date: July 25, 2016
SYNOPSIS
England, 1820.
To gain a certain marquess’s notice, Lady Albina Beauchamp aims to win the derby. What she hadn’t planned for is the price handsome Mr. Edmund White asks in payment to train her to race: each lesson for a kiss.
A first place finish isn't the only thing worth racing for
Lady Albina Beauchamp is in love with the Marquess of Satterfield. Unfortunately, his only interest is in horses, and doesn’t know she exists. But when the marquess confesses he will bestow his undying admiration on the jockey racing the winning horse at Emberton Derby, Albina sets out to win his affections by training to race.
Mr. Edmund White is a master groomsmen for the Earl of Amhurst in line for a viscountcy, should he abandon his passion for horses and become a respectable sheep owner. But horses are his love--until he meets Lady Albina and her silly notions of racing. When she affirms she will enter the derby with or without his assistance, Edmund not only instructs his student in racing, but seduction as well.
For Albina, a first place finish isn’t the only thing at stake. She must decide whether to take her place in society...or follow her heart and love a groom.
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REVIEW: TO WIN A VISCOUNT (THE DAUGHTERS OF AMHURST) BY FRANCES FOWLKES
To Win a Viscount by Frances Fowlkes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Albina knows what she wants but how far will she go to achieve it. As unique as her name Lady Albina is captivating. She has the gumption to dream bring and the heart to make her wildest dreams a reality. Her inner beauty and sense of adventure fly right off the page. Her willingness to achieve her goals however is not always in her best interest and lands her in an unlikely situation. Falling in love with the wrong man. Edmund has the heart, and adventurous spirit to be her perfect match. All he has to do is convince her that he's the man she wants. I received an ARC of To Win a Viscount in exchange for an honest review. There were times the story faltered but nothing major. Despite that it remained full of great qualities. The title doesn't make the man, the heart does. Beautiful message with a charming story.
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THE EARL'S WAGER (RELUCTANT BRIDE) BY REBECCA THOMAS
Release Date: July 25, 2016
SYNOPSIS
When straight laced earl, Will Sutton, is challenged to turn the obstinate American ward of his friend into a biddable lady suitable for the Marriage Mart, he gladly takes the wager. Then has to decide whether the prize--a prime racing stud horse--is worth changing the impudent beauty's temperament he's come to enjoy. Greatly.
One headstrong miss. One stuffy lord. One friendly wager. What could go wrong?
Will Sutton, the Earl of Grandleigh, believes he can save the family’s impoverished estate by investing in a racehorse, but the price is too steep. His brother-in-law offers him a deal: tutor his American ward in proper English customs, so she’ll be marriage material, and Will can have one of his horses. Maybe Miss Georgia Duvall prefers being a jockey, is obstinate and high spirited, but once she’s cleaned up and presentable, he’ll have no trouble finding her a quality suitor. She might even be quite pretty beneath the racetrack dust.
The last thing Georgia Duvall wants is to be married off to an English peer. But she won’t defy her father’s wishes, and sets her cap for the oldest lord she can find—a man who’ll die quickly and leave her alone to manage her inheritance. The Earl of Grandleigh might think he’ll teach her manners and marry her off to someone younger than eighty, but there hasn’t been an obstacle yet Georgia can’t overcome. Including a stuffy, overbearing English lord.
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REVIEW: THE EARL'S WAGER (RELUCTANT BRIDE) BY REBECCA THOMAS
The Earl's Wager by Rebecca Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I know the story by heart. With references to one of my favorite cinema classics, The Earl's Wager by Rebecca Thomas was a clear draw for me. Hints of My Fair Lady permeated off of just about every page but blended with Ms. Thomas' twist of modern meets regency. Georgia was an American tomboy learning how to fit into English society. Will was an Earl seeking to save his family from impoverished circumstances. When the perfect opportunity falls into his lap, Will has to decide is it worth losing the one woman that makes him feel alive. Messages hidden between the lines is what I look for in the books I choose to read and Rebecca Thomas shouted her's at the top of her lungs in way a less subtle than most yet just as powerful. The message: " BE YOURSELF, FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND THE REST WILL FALL INTO PLACE.
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THE PLAYBOY'S PROPOSAL (SORENSON FAMILY) BY ASHLEE MALLORY
Release Date: July 25, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Doctor Benny Sorensen has had it up to here with her party-throwing playboy neighbor. She’s declaring war. She doesn't care how gorgeous or charming he is, he's going down. That is until he proposes something she's not sure she can say no to...
Wealthy ad man Henry Ellison lives an uncomplicated life that revolves around work, women, and partying. In that order. Until Benny storms into his life. To placate his attractive but hotheaded neighbor, Henry offers to help her land a date with the man of her dreams. Only as Henry makes her over and coaches her on the fine art of flirting, he realizes that the idea of this woman in any other man’s arms but his own is unacceptable. But Benny's a forever kind of girl and forever might just be the one commitment he can't make.
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REVIEW: THE PLAYBOY'S PROPOSAL (SORENSON FAMILY) BY ASHLEE MALLORY
The Playboy's Proposal by Ashlee Mallory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Henry and Benny are fun. Some of the scenarios border on absurd but that adds to the charm of the romance. Benny at first meeting comes across uptight, stressed and high maintenance. In reality she's more down to earth. After devoting a great deal of time to her career, she just wants a chance to relax. She dreams of a life that is less lonely and separate from her work. One of the reason's Henry gets under her skin is he has the freedom that she longs for. Lots of parties, not bogged down with countless responsibilities and he's not bad on the eyes either. From the outside looking in he's living the dream. Looks can be deceiving. The Playboy's Proposal is more light hearted comedy than dramatic fanfare but it does hint at a little sexy along the way.
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AN IRRESISTIBLE SCENT BY HEATHER FARLEY
Release Date: July 25, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Meet Eileen Klaris, who seems to live a charmed life. Only 24 years young, she heads an online business selling handmade perfumes, and is engaged to a wonderful man. She thought she was set for life, until she caught her so-called fiancé trying to sell the business she poured her soul into.
Dreams were shattered, an engagement was broken off, and the only thing left for her to do was board a flight to New York City, where Eileen could turn a new leaf on her life and focus once more on her stagnant business.
It was the perfect plan, until it was all derailed by the handsome Leon Stafford, the president of Stafford’s, the hottest place to shop in the entire country. His fiery eyes, majestically sculpted face, and warm heart drew her in, like a moth to a flame. But, Eileen's cautious, damaged psyche, and Leon's dark, painful past, are just the beginning of the raging storm that strives to stop these two from embracing each another…
An Irresistible Scent is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, about finding love after heartbreak, and exposing the most delicate of vulnerabilities. Discover what it means to put everything on the line, to protect the one you love.
***This steamy little number is a standalone - no cliffhangers! But be advised, because this book is SPICY, with a happy ending for Leon and Eileen to round it all off.***
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REVIEW: AN IRRESISTIBLE SCENT BY HEATHER FARLEY
An Irresistible Scent by Heather Farley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
One woman's journey to self- worth, makes quite an impact in this coming of age story. I received an ARC of An Irresistible Scent in exchange for an honest review. Eileen is in the process of bouncing back from a heartbreaking betrayal. Her well planned, successful, happy existence was a facade that she never saw playing out the way it did. Getting back on track will take strength beyond her wildest dreams and along the way a few lessons about herself. Ms. Farley combines self discovery for the soul with heart and emotional stability. She also brings in a feast for the eyes with this spicy, mysterious and emotion filled romance. My only critique is that is was a little long for my taste but I thought it was well done.
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OUT OF THIS WORLD (OUT OF THIS WORLD) BY PATRICIA EIMER
Release Date: July 25, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Engaged to a murderous, intergalactic warlord, Capridocian Princess Corripraxis is running for her life and crash lands on Earth, where large creatures moo at her, threatening to expose her as an alien. If she can just get some help—in the form of the very attractive Earth male who just pulled up in a tow truck—she can hunker down in the Martian colony until she figures out her next move, right?
One hunky Marine. One sexy alien. One deranged intergalactic warlord. What could go wrong?
At the scene of an accident, a sexy woman asks ex-Marine Mattias Cadiz to take her to Roswell NM. He really should be getting on with living a nice, sane—quiet—life, because the very pretty Corri is probably on her way to the annual Convention with the other alien-crazy wackos. Still, no way he can refuse such a gorgeous, if confused, violet-eyed beauty.
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REVIEW: OUT OF THIS WORLD (OUT OF THIS WORLD) BY PATRICIA EIMER
Out of This World by Patricia Eimer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
ARC Review: Out of This World (Out of This World) by Patricia Eimer
All that is needed to enjoy Out of This World is a vivid imagination, an inquisitive mind and a thirst for a good mystery. Ms. Eimer did the impossible by blending comedy with adventure and sci-fi. Corri is running for her life when she crash lands into even more trouble. Mattias is all for getting to know a beautiful woman but knows there's more to the stranger he stumbles across. Runaway aliens, murderous fiancee's and the blended of two worlds make for a great adventure but the setting proved overpowering to the romance. Out of This World has too much going on for my taste.
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WAKING UP WITH A BILLIONAIRE (OVERNIGHT BILLIONAIRES) BY KATIE LANE
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
He can have anything he wants...except her
Famed artist Grayson Beaumont is the most elusive of the billionaire Beaumont brothers. He has a reputation for seducing any woman with only a look, word, or sensual stroke of his brush. But now Grayson has lost all his desire to paint . . . unless he can find a muse to unlock his creative-and erotic-imagination.
Chloe knew she might have to shed her clothes when she agreed to pose for the celebrated artist, but she wasn't expecting to shed all her inhibitions as well. Under his intense scrutiny, there's nothing she can hide...including a secret from her past that, once exposed, will change how he looks at her forever.
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REVIEW: WAKING UP WITH A BILLIONAIRE (THE OVERNIGHT BILLIONAIRES) BY KATIE LANE
Waking Up With a Billionaire by Katie Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
ARC Review: Waking Up with a Billionaire (The Overnight Billionaires) by Katie Lane
Grayson's story left me heartbroken. Every series has to end but those Beaumont boys lasted long enough to steal your heart and run. Katie Lane saved the best for last with Chloe and Grayson. With the heart of an artist, the reputation of a playboy and that Beaumont charm Grayson is a heartbreaker. But he lives for his art and when he can't seem to get inspired, he feels at a lost. Enter Chloe. A tempting firecracker with a chip on her shoulder and the weight of the world on her back. Caught between a rock and a hard place the enigmatic artist and the fiery vixen set sparks flying and eyebrows raising. But there is more to this woman of mystery than a pretty face. Deep rooted insecurities and closely guarded secrets drive this couple on a rocky ride that may cost them the ultimate price, THEIR HEARTS. With The Overnight Billionaires, Ms. Lane supplied seductive stories, irresistible heroes and heroines that proved to be their perfect match but she also managed to throw in a little wisdom along the way about the importance of family. Family is more than just blood, it's a bond that is built within the heart.
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DON'T TEMPT ME BY LORI FOSTER
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Love comes along when it's least wanted
Jason Guthrie has no time for entanglements—between helping out his widowed brother and teenage nephew and getting his hometown back on its feet, his days are spoken for. But his nights are another story… And when his lovely new neighbor, Honor Brown, reluctantly accepts his help in remodeling her house, Jason finds himself wishing his handyman skills could knock down the defenses she keeps building around herself.
Martial arts teacher Sullivan Dean knows real danger when he sees it—even when it takes the form of the gorgeous blonde helping her friend move in across the street. After putting his wayward past behind him to focus on teaching control to troubled kids, Sullivan has learned to avoid party girls like Lexie Perkins. But Sullivan can't seem to keep his hands off the real woman behind that flirty charm—or keep his heart from landing at her feet…
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REVIEW: DON'T TEMPT ME BY LORI FOSTER
Don't Tempt Me by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lori Foster knows how to create that magic. The sense of forgetting where you are and being transferred to another place is something that I always feel when I pick up one of her stories. I received an ARC of Don't Tempt Me by Lori Foster in exchange for an honest review. This sensual novel gives a peek at two sides of the spectrum. We have Jason who has reliability written all over him. The way he looks after his family and community are a bonus in his favor but the way he looked after Honor who was wary and insecure of herself gave me heart palpitations. He was a keeper. Fast forward to Sullivan. He was somewhat of a tougher nut to crack but his hard edge did not hide his true self from the people that mattered most. Inside the pages of Don't Tempt Me there is love, hope and charm wrapped up in sensual package.
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TO HAVE AND TO HOLD (THE WEDDING BELLES) BY LAUREN LAYNE
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in The Wedding Belles, her sizzling brand new contemporary romance series about three ambitious wedding planners who can make any bride’s dream come true…but their own.
Discovering her fiancé is an international conman just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Burke’s business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet, if slightly spoiled, hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse springs.
Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister’s fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiancé is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning…is theirs?
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REVIEW: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD (THE WEDDING BELLES) BY LAUREN LAYNE
To Have and to Hold by Lauren Layne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am all for any story that encourages ways to empower one's self. Lauren Layne does inspiring, entertaining and romantic. To Have and To Hold reads like a country western song. Brooke has bitten used, confused and left with a broken heart, now she has to figure out how to rise above it all, to make a fresh start. With her reputation in tatters and her business on the verge collapse, proving herself capable and reliable is essential. In walks Seth. Arrogant, irritating and irresistible. Mixing business with pleasure would be career suicide for her pocketbook, but instrumental in mending her heart. Will she risk it all for her own happy ending? With To Have and to Hold, Ms. Layne has written a song of love that is sinful, sexy and sentimental. Tempting fun.
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A DUKE TO REMEMBER (SEASON FOR SCANDAL) BY KELLY BOWEN
SYNOPSIS
Love takes the stage...
Elise deVries is not what she seems. By night, the actress captivates London theatergoers with her chameleon-like ability to slip inside her characters. By day, she uses her mastery of disguise to work undercover for Chegarre & Associates, an elite agency known for its discreet handling of indelicate scandals. But when Elise is tasked with locating the missing Duke of Ashland, she finds herself center stage in a real-life drama.
Noah Ellery left the glamour of the London aristocracy to pursue a simpler life in the country. He's managed to avoid any complications or entanglements—that is, until he lays eyes on Elise and realizes there's more to this beautiful woman than meets the eye. But when Elise reveals her real identity—and her true feelings for him—the runaway duke must confront the past he left behind . . . to keep the woman he loves forever.
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REVIEW: A DUKE TO REMEMBER (SEASON FOR SCANDAL) BY KELLY BOWEN
A Duke to Remember by Kelly Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A woman of mystery gets caught up in a complicated masquerade. Elise has many disguises in her arsenal actress and undercover agent are just a few. The lure of A Duke to Remember for me was Elise. She has so many different identities that she loses a little bit of her own individuality with each one. What a hard way to live. In meeting Noah she starts to gain a better understanding of herself and I think the same could be said of him. I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Not an easy story to get into but it is an exceptional read once given a chance. By the end I was caught up in this tangled up romance.
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LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET (BRIAR CREEK) BY OLIVIA MILES
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Love is always in season . . .
Florist Ivy Birch fantasizes about the day a man will surprise her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Especially if that man happens to be Brett Hastings. One stolen kiss at her best friend's wedding and Ivy can't get the sexy ER doctor out of her head.
In the small town of Briar Creek, you can't avoid anyone for very long. Not that Brett has been trying to avoid Ivy. He just can't afford to let anything distract him from his work-not again. So when a hospital fundraiser throws them together, love is the last thing on his mind. But with her quick wit and sweet laugh, soon the one woman he's tried to keep at arm's length is capturing his heart...
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REVIEW: LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET (BRIAR CREEK) BY OLIVIA MILES
Love Blooms on Main Street by Olivia Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'm somewhat standoffish anytime a story centers around doctors. My brain is not built for the medical jargon spewed in many such stories. Ms. Miles didn't go overboard with medical speak. Instead she created a romance that I liked a lot. The town of Briar Creek is your standard small town. Gossips, a family atmosphere and not very much drama. Perfect for an afternoon chance to unwind. Ivy is a firecracker. She speaks her mind and lives by her own rules. Brett has a fast paced career that keeps him busy and stressed. A match headed for trouble. Love Blooms On Main Street has the sweetness I look for in my small town reads.
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TOAST AND CHAR (BOURBON SPRINGS) BY JENNIFER BRAMSETH
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Welcome to the Land of Bourbon and Bluegrass...Welcome to Bourbon Springs, Kentucky...
The heat still burns between them...
When Prent Oakes, former playboy and wealthy half-owner of Commonwealth Cooperage, Kentucky’s oldest barrel-making business, left Dr. Miranda Chaplin at the altar over two years ago, he was sure it was over.
Except since that day Miranda had never been able to tell him to get out of her life. Undaunted and with the faintest hope, Prent pursues the fiancee he abandoned and knows he doesn’t deserve.
Just as he thinks his win-her-back campaign has finally been successful, their tentative efforts to revive their love are threatened by Prent’s past, problems in their professional lives, and the disapproval of family—as well as a secret Miranda has harbored since their wedding day.
There’s no doubt the heat still burns between them—but will their love be resurrected from the ashes or will they both be left burned?
TOAST AND CHAR is the eighth book in the Bourbon Springs Series.
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REVIEW: TOAST AND CHAR (BOURBON SPRINGS) BY JENNIFER BRAMSETH
Toast and Char by Jennifer Bramseth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mention Bourbon Springs and I am in the front row. Ms. Bramseth brings love, loss and liquor to the table with this dramatic series. Toast and Char (Book 8) is a story centered around regret, secrets and second chances. Miranda and Prent were young and in love until an act of desperation destroyed their chance at happiness. Will they succeed at regaining everything that was lost? Jennifer Bramseth is skilled in telling true to life stories with the dedication and emotion that easily captivates her readers. With this series she holds nothing back and that is what I find so appealing.
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FEARLESS (RESCUE SQUAD) BY KIMBERLY KINCAID
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
The Temperature Is Rising…
Firefighter Cole Everett's life revolves around the firehouse. Committed to saving lives--and to the guys who always have his back in the most dangerous moments on the job--Cole's focus is a coveted spot on the Fairview Rescue Squad. When his captain asks him to mentor a rookie firefighter, he jumps at the chance, hoping it will help to prove his skill. But the new "guy" is none other than Savannah Nelson, a female firefighter as stubbornly determined as Cole is, and a whole lot curvier in all the right places . . .
Savannah won't let anyone extinguish her dream of fulfilling her family legacy and becoming a top notch firefighter--and she's happily surprised when strong-willed, sexy Cole is willing to give her the chance she deserves. Concentrating on the job isn't always easy when the heat between them flares higher every day, but Savannah won't give up--not even when one of Station Eight's veterans seems bent on trashing her reputation. To stop a string of possible arsons, Savannah and Cole will need to eliminate every distraction--but can they let their love go up in flames?
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REVIEW: FEARLESS (RESCUE SQUAD) BY KIMBERLY KINCAID
Fearless by Kimberly Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
ARC Review: Fearless (Rescue Squad) by Kimberly Kincaid
There is nothing sexier than a man in uniform. Except for a man willing to risk heart, career, friendships and danger in order to do the right thing. Cole is one such man. Upon introduction I didn't plan on liking the cocky guy with the wry sense of humor and sexual innuendos as much as I ended up doing. What changed my mind. The glimpses of the honorable man underneath. Savannah had all the odds against her. A woman in a man's world seeking to prove her skill and give her life in exchange for the respect of her peers, as well as honor a family legacy needed someone in her corner. Although he may not have started out as supportive, Cole must have saw the grit of fighter and the heart of a champion because he ultimately became her biggest cheerleader. Stories like Fearless are inspiring because the message they provide is powerful. Anything is possible to achieve, if in your heart you truly believe.
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FORBIDDEN FLING (WILDWOOD) BY SKYE JORDAN
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Delaney Hart has come a long way from her wild youth, dating tattooed bikers at her father’s bar, The Bad Seed. But when his death pulls her back to Wildwood, California, she must stay to renovate the dive he left her. And also face the lies and secrets that sent her running ten years before.
When Wildwood’s chief building inspector, Ethan Hayes, shows up on the property, Delaney doesn’t recognize him. The last thing he wants to do is save the bar where his cousin died in a brawl. But the good boy from her past is all too willing to remind her of the bad girl she used to be. And one night of passion leaves them both in a compromising position.
The last place Ethan should be is in Delaney’s bed. Guilt, family pressure, and plans for a brewpub of his own make shutting down The Bad Seed his top priority…until his feelings for Delaney interfere. Because her future depends on the success of the bar’s renovation and his dreams are rooted in its failure, their forbidden romance may be destined for heartbreak.
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REVIEW: FORBIDDEN FLING (WILDWOOD) BY SKYE JORDAN
Forbidden Fling by Skye Jordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ethan and Delaney share a past. One tragic event has left both twisting in the wind, trying to outrun the pain and guilt of youthful mistakes they want to forget. I received an ARC of Forbidden Fling by Skye Jordan in exchange for an honest review. One place proved the catalyst within Delaney and Ethan's emotional trek down memory lane. "The Bad Seed", was like a leper. For one family, it represented violence, chaos and unimaginable loss. For Delaney it hung like a noose around her neck. One night triggered a metamorphose in two people. Forbidden Fling has the heartbreak of a Greek tragedy but from that pain beauty rises. It was a long road to forgiveness and healing but Ms. Jordan proves how strong a power love actually has. The ability to unify two broken hearts and give hope to a broken community. Inspiring.
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A RECKLESS PROMISE (THE LITTLE SEASON) BY KASEY MICHAELS
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
London's Little Season has never been so scandalous
It's the kind of vow often made on the battlefield. Darby Travers, Viscount Nailbourne, never imagines he'll have to honor it. Yet here she is on his doorstep—his late comrade's young daughter, and Darby's new ward. Worse, she comes with the most overprotective, mistrustful, bothersome chaperone—the child's aunt, Sadie Grace Boxer. Darby is quite sure that behind her lovely facade, the woman is guarding a secret.
Sadie Grace faced many trials working in her brother's surgery, but none prepared her for the world she's thrust into with his passing. Navigating the ton, with its endless ball gowns and parade of parties, is difficult enough, but hiding the truth about her niece while the sophisticated viscount watches her every move proves nearly impossible—particularly when his searing gaze tempts her to bare all. But when her family's past catches up with her, she'll have to trust in Darby…no matter the cost to her heart.
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REVIEW: A RECKLESS PROMISE (THE LITTLE SEASON) BY KASEY MICHAELS
A Reckless Promise by Kasey Michaels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
ARC Review: A Reckless Promise (The Little Season) by Kasey Michaels
Miss Sadie Grace was smart, caring and no pushover. She had worked hard for every accomplishment she made and every skill she learned. So why is she know being drawn into a world that is governed by rules and station. Love. She loves her niece, misses her brother and is drawn to the man who is set to fulfill her brother's last wishes. A Reckless Promise is a story of sacrifice that blossoms into a love and ultimately a family. Sadie and Darby have to learn trust goes both ways and vulnerability does not a weak person make.
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HIS SCANDALOUS KISS (SECRETS AT THORNCLIFF MANOR) BY SOPHIE BARNES
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Thorncliff Manor is the perfect setting for a masquerade ball... where the heart’s secret desires are about to be uncovered in this scintillating Regency romance from Sophie Barnes...
Richard Heartly has exiled himself from society since the war, plotting his revenge for a terrible betrayal. A masked ball at Thorncliff Manor is intended to be a brief diversion. Instead, he encounters a fascinating young woman as entranced by the music as he is. He can’t reveal his identity to Lady Mary. But her siren song keeps drawing him back, and their clandestine meetings could be hazardous to his plan—and to her virtue.
Avoiding an unwanted marriage was easy when Lady Mary was ignored by the ton. Thanks to her dazzling appearance at the masquerade, she’s a wallflower no longer. Eligible suitors abound, yet the only man she wants is the brooding, seductive companion who keeps his face hidden. A man who tempts her to disclose her own shocking secret, one that could divide them forever.
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REVIEW: HIS SCANDALOUS KISS (SECRETS AT THORNCLIFF MANOR) BY SOPHIE BARNES
His Scandalous Kiss by Sophie Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having read as many books as I have, it's easy for me to make a decision on how I feel about a particular story and author writing style. Sophie Barnes made that harder for me with His Scandalous Kiss. Ms. Barnes is a masterful storyteller. Her imagery is so vivid that I felt like I was experiencing the story first hand. Secrets, suspense, romance and sensuality abound with this novel.
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WHY DO DUKES FALL IN LOVE? (DUKES BEHAVING BADLY) BY MEGAN FRAMPTON
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
In Megan Frampton’s captivating new Dukes Behaving Badly novel, we learn the answer to the question:
Why do dukes fall in love?
Michael, the Duke of Hadlow, has the liberty of enjoying an indiscretion . . . or several. But when it comes time for him to take a proper bride, he ultimately realizes he wants only one woman: Edwina Cheltam. He’d hired her as his secretary, only to quickly discover she was sensuous and intelligent.
They embark on a passionate affair, and when she breaks it off, he accepts her decision as the logical one . . . but only at first. Then he decides to pursue her.
Michael is brilliant, single-minded, and utterly indifferent to being the talk of the ton. It’s even said his only true friend is his dog. Edwina had begged him to marry someone appropriate–—someone aristocratic . . . someone high-born . . . someone else. But the only thing more persuasive than a duke intent on seduction is one who has fallen irrevocably in love.
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REVIEW: WHY DO DUKES FALL IN LOVE? (DUKES BEHAVING BADLY) BY MEGAN FRAMPTON
Why Do Dukes Fall in Love? by Megan Frampton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
ARC Review: Why Do Dukes Fall In Love? (Dukes Behaving Badly) by Megan Frampton
The heart is it's own worst enemy. It wants what it wants and whether good or bad is a deciding factor in the choices one makes. Megan Frampton gives comedic insight with Why Do Dukes Fall In Love. It is so refreshing to read a story where not everything has to be a complicating mass of confusion. It didn't hurt that Michael was not afraid to show his sensitive side. Love is messy, it's not rocket science. Edwina and Michael's romance is a hotbed of sweetness sprinkled with spice.
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THE SECRETS SHE KEPT (FAIRHAM ISLAND) BY BRENDA NOVAK
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Exciting, emotional, intense. The thrilling follow-up to New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak's highly acclaimed The Secret Sister. The things that happen in families are always surprising and sometimes shocking!
The rich and powerful Josephine Lazarow, matriarch of Fairham Island, is dead. The police say it's suicide, but Keith, her estranged son, doesn't believe it.
Keith bears scars—both physical and emotional—from his childhood, but he's worked hard to overcome the past. After walking away from his mother and her controlling ways five years ago, he's built a new life in LA. He's also accumulated a fortune of his own. But as soon as he learns of his mother's death, he returns to Fairham. He feels he owes it to his grandfather to put the family empire together again—and he's determined to find his mother's killer.
Problem is…coming home to Fairham puts him back in contact with Nancy Dellinger, the woman he hurt so badly when he left before. And digging that deep into his mother's final days and hours entails a very real risk.
Because the person who killed her could be someone he loves…
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REVIEW: THE SECRETS SHE KEPT (FAIRHAM ISLAND) BY BRENDA NOVAK
The Secrets She Kept by Brenda Novak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It's hard to feign like for a person who has made your life a living hell. That's the dilemma Keith faces. All the money in the world could not protect him from the evil that was his mother. Now he has to find out if her death was suicide or murder. Let's face it Josephine was controlling, mean and bitter but was she desperate enough to pull the plug on her very existence to get attention or did she push someone too far? Ms. Novak blends intense mystery with heartbreaking tragedy and at times hints at unspeakable evil in her quest to create a story unlike any other. She succeeds in writing a tale that is twisted, heartbreaking and alluring in it's narrative.
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THE THIEF STEALS HER EARL ( CRAVEN HOUSE) BY CHRISTINA MCKNIGHT
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Following the passing of his father and an unforgivable act by a family member ending in near ruin for his family, Simon Montgomery, the new Earl of Cartwright, is forced to return home without finishing his education. However, that doesn’t stop Cart from absorbing every morsel of knowledge he can.
Unfortunately, doing so and applying his every moment to restoring his family’s lost heirlooms while seeing to his sister’s upbringing and attempting to wrangle his mother’s frivolous spending habits has made him somewhat of a recluse, a man unsure of how to live life unless it’s focused around academia, order, and routine. But what happens when Cart is faced with a woman as intelligent as he but far more cunning?
Miss Judith Pengarden has lived her entire life under her eldest sister’s firm yet loving guidance. When she discovers her family is in jeopardy of losing their home, Jude decides to use her skills to help them pay off their unsettled debts. However, when Jude attempts to steal from the wrong house, she finds herself alone, locked in a dank room at the night watchman’s residence, and she vows to stop thinking so spontaneously and risking her family’s name to scandal. Unfortunately, there are some loose ends that need to be tied up before she can. Luckily for her, however, she may have just met the man who can help her family and also steal a piece of her heart.
When Jude meets Lord Cartwright at a London garden party, he seems the perfect man to solve all her problems—a recluse unfamiliar with London Society and studied in antiquities. A lord like none she has met, Jude soon realizes that Cart is more valuable to her than any painting, sculpture, or vase. But when she’s caught in possession of Cart’s long-lost family heirloom, completely unaware of what it really means, can she convince him that things are far from what they seem? That despite the deceit and subterfuge, her heart is in the right place. With her family…and with him.
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REVIEW: THE THIEF STEALS HER EARL (CRAVEN HOUSE) BY CHRISTINA MCKNIGHT
The Thief Steals Her Earl by Christina McKnight
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Boundaries. Such a black and white word. The limit that is not to be crossed no matter what. Although on paper it's a reasonable word when emotion becomes involved there is a different meaning entirely. In the name of love lines get blurred and that invisible wall becomes an obstacle that needs to be demolished. Jude and Cart are not all that different. Cart's a planner, Jude's a plotter. His logical mind has been both a gift and a curse. Her active imagination and out of the box thinking are about to land her in a sticky situation. One thing's for sure these two will stop at nothing to protect the people they love. With her street savvy and his book smarts they may each succeed. As I read more and more of Ms. McKnight's romances it easy to see why so many enjoy her stories. She does not stick with the traditional love stories but like her characters creates a world center around the best of their talents and works from there. The Thief Steals Her Earl has personality and I respect any author who can make a story her own.
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AN AFFAIR OF HONOR (REBEL HEARTS) BY HEATHER BOYD
Release Date: July 26, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Unneeded for command of a ship after surviving serious injury, disciplinarian Captain William Ford was ready to face society until he’s cornered by a marriage minded miss. He makes a desperate bargain with the maid who saved his life—act the part of a besotted lover in return for financial gain to drive the woman away—only to end up in a very real marriage of convenience with the maid to avoid the scandal of his own making.
When Matilda’s plans to marry another end abruptly, she reluctantly agrees to Captain Ford’s marriage proposal to protect his sister’s marriage prospects with his assurance of an eventual annulment and independence. She soon discovers her husband’s desire to guide her with a firm hand stirs a shocking passion in her. Does she dare gift William with her secrets and heart…or admit that his desires match her own when they never intended forever?
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REVIEW: AN AFFAIR OF HONOR (REBEL HEARTS) BY HEATHER BOYD
An Affair of Honor by Heather Boyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As one door closes another opens for Captain William Ford. Forced to leave behind his life of sea-faring command, he seeks to settle into a less adventurous role of society living. Easier said then done. Thrown into a sea of scheming marriage minded women he's at a loss on how to navigate these potentially lethal waters until he meets Matilda and comes up with a plan that will help them both. Matilda seeks the security of making her own choices and not having to answer to anyone or beg for anything. William seeks protection from societies vultures seeking a man of means. A mutually beneficial marriage of convenience is just the ticket to give each what they want. Protection, an expiration date and financial security was the plan but fate had other ideas. I received an ARC of An Affair of Honor in exchange for an honest review. No matter how many I read, Heather Boyd's novels are always at the top of my historical romance lists.
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TAKEN BACK BY CALI MCKAY AND JULIE FARRELL
Release Date: July 27, 2016
SYNOPSIS
Sometimes you need to go back to your past, in order to move on to your future.
Jax Hunter has spent the last ten years trying to forget his first love Nathan Steele—and the brutal betrayal that derailed everything he’d worked so hard for. Jax has finally gotten his life back together, when Nathan returns to deliver another blow – his company is set to bulldoze the bar he’s built from nothing.
Ever since that summer in high school, Nathan has been denying his feelings for Jax—the only person he’s ever loved. Nathan knows Jax might never forgive him, but when Nathan’s uncle is murdered and Nathan might be next on the hit-list, Jax is the only one he can turn to.
Jax still doesn’t trust Nathan—not with his bar, and for damn sure, not with his heart. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist the undeniable passion between them. Can they overcome their past hurts and learn to trust each other again? Or will another betrayal tear them apart forever?
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REVIEW: TAKEN BACK BY CALI MCKAY AND JULIE FARRELL
Taken Back: A Steamy M/M Romance by Cali MacKay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
There was one saying and voice inside my head while reading Taken Back. I heard Oprah saying: "Live your truth." There were many uncomfortable subjects faced in authors Julie Farrell and Cali McKay's latest romance. However the ability to be true to yourself was the biggest obstacle. Factor in murder, betrayal and Nathan and Jax's are not all that different from most couples. I received an ARC of Taken Back in exchange for an honest review. Though not my normal reading material, it lived up to the skill of each author.
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THE COLOR OF A PROMISE (THE COLOR OF HEAVEN) BY JULIANNE MACLEAN
Release Date: July 28, 2016
SYNOPSIS
From USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean comes the next instalment in her popular Color of Heaven Series, where people are affected by real life magic and miracles that change everything they once believed about life and love.
Having spent a lifetime in competition with his older brother Aaron—who always seemed to get the girl—Jack Peterson leaves the U.S. to become a foreign correspondent in the Middle East. When a roadside bomb forces him to return home to recover from his wounds, he quickly becomes the most celebrated journalist on television, and is awarded his own prime time news program. Now, wealthy and successful beyond his wildest dreams, Jack believes he has finally found where he is meant to be. But when a giant commercial airliner explodes in the sky over his summer house in Cape Elizabeth, all hell breaks loose as the wreckage crashes to the ground. He has no idea that his life is about to take another astonishing turn…
Meg Andrews grew up with a fear of flying, but when it meant she wouldn’t be able to visit her boyfriend on the opposite side of the country, she confronted her fear head-on and earned her pilot’s license. Now, a decade later, she is a respected airline crash investigator, passionate about her work, to the point of obsession. When she arrives in the picturesque seaside community of Cape Elizabeth to investigate a massive airline disaster, she meets the famous and charismatic Jack Peterson, who has his own personal fascination with plane crashes.
As the investigation intensifies, Meg and Jack feel a powerful, inexplicable connection to each other. Soon, they realize that the truth behind the crash—and the mystery of their connection—can only be discovered through the strength of the human spirit, the timeless bonds of family, and the gift of second chances.
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REVIEW: THE COLOR OF A PROMISE (THE COLOR OF HEAVEN) BY JULIANNE MACLEAN
The Color of a Promise by Julianne MacLean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am a little disappointed in myself. How could I not have known Ms. Maclean wrote contemporary romance. Having read a number of her short stories and full length historical romances, I have been aware of her as an author for quite a while. Her historicals are full of the fantasy fairytale settings that are loved by most women and the warrior hero ready to lend a hand to the damsel in distress but after reading The Color of a Promise, her gift for writing inspirational and dramatic stories is an extraordinary find. The Color of A Promise mixes drama, cinema and motivational writing into a fascinating read that touches the heart, gives food for thought and sparks hope. Jack and Meg found a place of protection during a time of tragedy and that is all a person can hope for in life. I received an ARC of this wonderful novel in exchange for an honest review. I am going to have to look into the rest of this series.
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