Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he's a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband's life a misery, and she'll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself...as none other than West Ravenel.

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire...not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn't bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She's the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent—the most devilishly wicked rake in England.

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past?"

My Thoughts:

Whelp!  I read my first book by Kleypas and now I'm completely hooked!  I started this book only knowing that I had previously heard tons of  high praise for Lisa Kleypas and her historical romances.  Let me tell you that I can honestly join in on singing this author's praises now!  I was hooked on this book from the very beginning.  I was so completely invested in the relationship developing between West and Phoebe.  What I really liked about this book is that the author took a difficult situation with the recent death of Phoebe's husband, whom she genuinely loved, and still managed to create a believable romance between her and West that I could't help but root for.  West was delightful to read about and not at all what I expected him to be from reading the summary of this book.  He was just perfect for Phoebe in every way even if neither of them knew it right away!  I literally could not stop reading this book!  I found myself sneaking in pages every free second that I had (and that's no exaggeration).  That feeling of anticipation and would they be able to get their happy ever after kept me reading long after I should have gone to bed.  And I enjoyed every minute of it!  I also have to say that I really appreciated that Phoebe's husband was remembered in a positive way.  I think this comes from me reading so many thrillers where the deceased spouse may not have been the best type of person but I didn't feel like this author went there at all.  She kept the love between Phoebe and him as something separate but important all the same.  I also felt like it opened Phoebe up to an even deeper relationship with West which I adored.  If all of the books in this series are this good, I am certainly in for a treat!  I feel like I say this every time but with books this good, I really, really need to add more historical romances to my reading life!  

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and will certainly be reading more by this author!  I have a few of her other romances already on my shelves but I think that I would like to start at the beginning of this series first and catch up.  I've heard such good things about the earlier books so I want to read the rest of the books before trying anything else.  Plus, the covers for this book and the rest of the series are absolutely gorgeous!!  I am so glad that I've finally read this author and will not be waiting long before reading more by her.  I would recommend this book to fans of romance and historical romances alike.  As will most historical romances, you don't have to read these in order.  I certainly didn't and it didn't effect my enjoyment in the slightest.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A book that I couldn't help but fall a little bit in love with!

Source:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.  All thoughts are my own.

A Duke Changes Everything by Christy Carlyle (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Nicholas Lyon gambled his way into a fortune and ownership of the most opulent, notorious gentlemen’s club in England. But when Nick’s cruel brother dies, he inherits a title he never wanted. The sooner Nick is rid of the estate that has always haunted him, the sooner he can return to the life he’s built in London. But there’s one obstacle—the exquisite Thomasina Thorne.

When the new heir to the Tremayne dukedom suddenly appears in Mina Thorne’s life, she’s flustered. Not only is he breathtakingly handsome, but he’s also determined to take away her home and position as steward of the Enderley estate. If Mina learns what makes the enigmatic duke tick, perhaps she can change his mind—as long as she doesn’t get too close to him.

With each day Nick spends with Mina, his resolve weakens as their colliding wills lead to explosive desire. Could she be the one woman who can help him finally bury the ghosts of his past?"

My Thoughts:

A Duke Changes Everything was such a cozy romantic read that I just adored.  I'm kind of struggling to describe it as cozy as there are certainly elements that are far from cozy but it just felt like that kind of read.  One that you can pick up and know that everything is going to be okay and turn out alright even if you aren't quite sure how.  It was just this feeling that I had throughout the book even when things looked far from okay to say the least.  Nick cannot stand being back "home" as it brings back horrible memories from his childhood.  Mina adores and lives for that same estate that Nick hates so much.  It causes quite a lot of friction between the two of them which I couldn't get enough of.  There was an instant chemistry between Nick and Mina that I just loved.  I felt like they complimented each other perfectly which is probably why this book was such an enjoyable read for me.  After so many mysteries and thrillers, it was refreshing to read a book where I didn't have to worry that things would turn out alright in the end.  That's one of my favorite things about reading romances to be honest.  I just allowed myself to be swept away in the pages finishing this one in just a matter of days.  And I really enjoyed every minute of it.  I will also say that I really enjoyed all of the secondary characters which has left me excited for the other books in this series.  This is the book one of the Duke's Den series so I have more to look forward to!  

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and am looking forward to reading more by this author!  It was the perfect change of pace and just swept me away.  I feel like I say this all of the time (and I probably do) but I really need to read more historical romances just to break up all of the mysteries and thrillers.  It keeps my reading feeling fresh and exciting when I change genres like this.  I can easily recommend this book to fans of romance and especially fans of historical romance.  Bonus is that this is actually the first book in the series so you can read it in order (something that rarely happens for me with my historical romance reading).  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  This felt like the perfect type of book to be swept away in on a cold winter day!

Disclosure:  I received an unsolicited copy of this book thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own!   

When A Duke Loves A Woman by Lorraine Heath (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Gillie Trewlove knows what a stranger's kindness can mean, having been abandoned on a doorstep as a baby and raised by the woman who found her there. So, when suddenly faced with a soul in need at her door—or the alleyway by her tavern—Gillie doesn't hesitate. But he's no infant. He's a grievously injured, distractingly handsome gentleman who doesn't belong in Whitechapel, much less recuperating in Gillie's bed.

Being left at the altar is humiliating; being rescued from thugs by a woman—albeit a brave and beautiful one—is the pièce de résistance to the Duke of Thornley's extraordinarily bad day. After nursing him back from the brink, Gillie agrees to help him comb London's darker corners for his wayward bride. But every moment together is edged with desire and has Thorne rethinking his choice of wife. Yet Gillie knows the aristocracy would never accept a duchess born in sin. Thorne, however, is determined to prove to her that no obstacle is insurmountable when a duke loves a woman."

My Thoughts:

I found this book to be a delightful read and the perfect change of pace from all of the mysteries and thrillers I've been reading lately.  This was also the perfect reminder of how much I enjoy historical romances and how I don't read nearly enough of them!  From the very beginning I found myself swept away between the pages of this book watching the relationship between Gillie and Thorne develop.  It was made even better because it felt so unattainable as if there was no way possible for them to be together.  I'm a sucker for this type of romance trope and especially when it is done well.  The author didn't just magically fix things for them or just gloss over it either.  They had to really choose what they wanted and fight for their happiness.   I loved every minute of it!  I really adored Gillie though!  She just made this book that much better for me.  She is everything that you don't usually get with a romance heroine: she was strong willed, independent, and unapologetic in her viewpoints.  She also didn't have the physical attributes that were necessarily considered desirable during that time period - she was tall, kept her hair cut short, and dressed in a way that didn't emphasize the fact that she was a woman.  I loved her!  There was just something so compelling about her character and I was instantly rooting for her happy ever after with Thorne.  I really just couldn't get enough of this book and these characters so that should tell you all you need to know!

Overall, I enjoyed my time with this book immensely!  I'm so excited that I have book one in this "series" to look forward to while I wait for the next book to release.  I adored all of Gillie's brothers so I can't wait for each of them to hopefully get their own books!  Happily enough, I believe that this author also has an extensive backlist that I can look forward to as well!  I really need more books like this in my life!  It was just such a comforting read and one that I enjoyed every minute of.  I can easily recommend this book to fans of romance but especially historical romance fans.  You don't need to have read the first book to still enjoy this one (I didn't and I loved this one still).  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  An immensely enjoyable read!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own.

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"London, 1887. After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered—leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth."

My Thoughts:

I started reading this one and just instantly adored it!  Really I was mentally kicking myself for waiting so long to read it because it was just so fun!  I kind of had it in my head that I was going to move on to the second book in the Lady Julia Grey series before I started this one.  I kept hearing this series mentioned though in podcasts I love so I decided that I just couldn't wait any longer to read this book.  I can officially say that it was the right choice for me and I absolutely loved this one!  I feel like I read this book with a smile on my face.  Veronica is just such a great main character.  She doesn't ever apologize for the woman that she is but instead embraces her "eccentricities".  She isn't afraid to say what she thinks and I just absolutely adored her as a main character!  She also was the perfect type of woman to stand up to Stoker at every other turn.  The chemistry between these two was absolutely perfect in every sort of way.  I really, really hope that in future books we get the chance to see their relationship develop into something more but the banter between them was just priceless.  I found myself laughing out loud at different times throughout the entire book.  I just loved every minute of my time with this book!  I was actually sad to see this one end because I just enjoyed my time with these characters so much!  Thankfully I have two more books to look forward to and I won't be waiting long to read those!

Overall I really enjoyed my time with this book and found it to be a five star read for me!  I really loved it that much!  It was the perfect mix of genres and just sucked me into the pages with such ease.  I couldn't stop reading this book and really didn't want to.  The characters were great and I'm so thankful that I have more books to look forward to whenever I'm ready to pick them up.  Books like this make me want to read more historical mysteries and find new authors to follow.  Because this book was just so good and made me want to read more books just like it!  I don't know what else to say other than read this book!  Fans of mysteries and suspense should give this book a try!  I also think romance readers who particularly like historical romances will like this one.  To be clear - there isn't yet a romance between Stoker and Veronica (I don't think it is too much of a spoiler to share that) but it is definitely building in the most delicious of ways!  I cannot wait to pick up the next book!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  I loved this one so much!  Enough said!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts on this book.

The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels & Other Gentlemen by Victoria Alexander (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Embark on the breathtaking romantic adventures of The Lady Travelers Society in the brand-new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander

Really, it's too much to expect any normal man to behave like a staid accountant in order to inherit the fortune he deserves to support the lifestyle of an earl. So when Derek Saunders's favorite elderly aunt and her ill-conceived—and possibly fraudulent—Lady Travelers Society loses one of their members, what's a man to do but step up to the challenge? Now he's escorting the world's most maddening woman to the world's most romantic city to find her missing relative.

While India Prendergast only suspects his organization defrauds gullible travelers, she's certain a man with as scandalous a reputation as Derek Saunders cannot be trusted any farther than the distance around his very broad shoulders. As she struggles not to be distracted by his wicked smile and the allure of Paris, instead of finding a lost lady traveler, India just may lose her head, her luggage and her heart."

My Thoughts:

I feel like this is going to be a hard review for me to write because I was very in the middle when it came to my feelings on this book.  I never really was able to put my finger on why but I didn't connect with this book like I had hoped to.  I didn't dislike it to be clear but I also didn't love it.  I just found myself kinda underwhelmed by it all.  I'll try to explain why but it is hard when for me when I'm just kinda meh about it.  I'm almost wondering if my reading experience suffered because I was in the middle of a reading slump.  I kept trying to push through on it because I was supposed to read it for a blog tour and I don't think that helped.  I loved the premise of this book because it sounds like a romance and adventure combined.  It was those things but it was also a bit meandering if I'm being completely honest.  I think that part of the problem was that I didn't connect to the main character India Prendergast.  I don't think that the reader is meant to like her in the beginning really but that also made it hard for me to connect to her and the story as a reader.  Usually when I read romances I'm really rooting for both of the main characters to fall in love and find their happy ever after.  Instead I was only rooting for Derek Saunders (the hero) as his character was one that I could get behind.  He was a romantic at heart and someone that I enjoyed reading about.  I just wish that I could have cared about them both because that would have made this book that much more enjoyable.

One thing that I did really enjoy with this book was the mystery of what had happened to India's missing aunt.  I found myself reading this book more to find out where she was then for the actual romance portion.  I was really surprised (and I won't say more than that) when we did actually find out the answers to the mystery portion.  It made the last part of this book much more fast paced for me compared to the rest of the story.  I also have to add that I really, really liked some of the secondary characters in this book.  I have high hopes that Derek's brother will be featured in the next book as I believe this is the beginning of a series.  I would definitely want to read that one!  I also found Derek's aunt and her friends to be a delight to read about.  I would really, really like to see more of them as well.  It sure sounds like I'm going to have read the next book, doesn't it?  LOL!  Now you can probably understand why I had such a hard time deciding on how I felt about this book.  Mixed feelings anyone?

Overall, I found this to be a good read but not great.  I can't honestly tell you if the book was to blame or if it was just my reading mood at the time.  I enjoyed it enough to plan on reading the next book in the future.  On the other hand, there are other romance reads that I would recommend before this one.  I'm glad that I stuck with it though as I found the ending to be much more in line with what I had hoped the entire book would be like.  This may have been my first book by this author but I don't think that it will be my last.  Recommended but with a few hesitations.

Bottom Line:  A book that left me wanting in ways and satisfied in others.  I can't say it better than that.

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour (I also completely missed my tour date and am just now posting my thoughts.  My apologies.  

Hard-Hearted Highlander by Julia London (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"An ill-fated elopement cost English-born governess Bernadette Kent her reputation, her fickle lover and any chance of a future match. She has nothing left to fear—not even the bitter, dangerously handsome Scot due to marry her young charge. Naive wallflower Avaline is terrified to wed Rabbie Mackenzie, but if he sends her home, she will be ruined. Bernadette's solution: convince Rabbie to get Avaline to cry off while ignoring her own traitorous attraction to him.

A forced engagement to an Englishwoman is a hard pill for any Scot to swallow. It's even worse when the fiancee in question is a delicate, foolish young miss unlike her spirited, quick-witted governess. Sparring with Bernadette brings passion and light back to Rabbie's life after the failed Jacobite uprising. His clan's future depends upon his match to another, but how can any Highlander forsake a love that stirs his heart and soul?"

My Thoughts:

I am officially sold on this author and her books!  Earlier this year I read and enjoyed Sinful Scottish Laird so I jumped at the chance to read this one.  This book was just as good and a delight to read!  I have to say that I love how this author put her characters in next to impossible situations.  From the very beginning of this book, I couldn't see how things would ever be able to work out for the hero and heroine.  This makes for an interesting reading experience as this is always in the back of my head.  I didn't read the above summary before starting this book so I honestly didn't know what to expect.  What I got was a much more tragic and brooding hero than I expected.  Rabbie wasn't very likeable at the beginning of the book even though you began to understand why as the reader.  I loved the fact that Bernadette didn't try whatsoever to pretend like the way he was behaving was okay.  She didn't cut him any slack at all and it was fun to watch them hate each other (especially knowing that at some point this would all change).  

Although they didn't like each other in the beginning, the best parts of the book were when Rabbie and Bernadette's relationship started to change.  I adore a good romance and this is exactly what this book had.  I wanted everything to work out for these two even if I was wondering how it possibly could.  It definitely kept me reading which hasn't always been the case this year.  I seem to be so easily distracted by everything else but I wasn't while reading this one.  I also appreciated the fact that there weren't always easy answers.  The author keeps true with the story lines that she sets up and I appreciate that.  I finished this book with a smile on my face which should tell you enough about how I felt about this book.  I absolutely cannot wait to read more by this author!

Overall, this was a really great romance and I'm super excited to have found this author!  I am so excited to see what else she has written - I believe there is a first book in this series that I need to get my hands on.  Books like this remind me of why I enjoy romance so much.  I need to read more of it because it was the perfect change of pace to all of the mysteries and thrillers that I usually read.  I would recommend this book (and Sinful Scottish Laird) to historical romance readers and romance readers alike.  It was a really great read and one that I enjoyed immensely!

Bottom Line:  A delightful read of an author that I can't wait to read more of!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour.

Sinful Scottish Laird by Julia London (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Widowed and forced to remarry in three years' time or forfeit her son's inheritance, Daisy Bristol, Lady Chatwick, has plenty of suitors vying for her hand and her fortune. But a letter from a long-lost love sends Daisy and her young son to her Scottish Highland estate to buy time for his return. Along the way she encounters the powerful Cailean Mackenzie, laird of Arrandale and a notorious smuggler, and she is utterly and unwillingly bewitched.

Cailean has no use for any Sassenach in his glen. But Daisy's brazen, flirtatious nature and alluring beauty intrigue him. When her first love appears unexpectedly at her estate, Cailean knows that a passionate woman like Daisy cannot marry this man. And to prevent the union, Cailean must put his own life at risk to win her heart."

My Thoughts:

I am so glad that I picked this book up and finally gave this author a try!  I've got numerous books by Julia London on my TBR list but this is actually my first book by her.  It won't be my last though as I really enjoyed this book.  This series is titled The Highland Grooms series and I can honestly say that I haven't read a lot of highlander books.  Why not though?  This book had everything that I enjoy in a good historical romance including that feeling of just being swept away to another time and place.  I loved how easily I was able to immerse myself in this world where a widow is being forced to marry in order to not lose her son's inheritance.  Something that doesn't seem possible nowadays but back then was probably the norm.  Crazy!  I felt for Daisy so much because of all the struggles that she had to deal with because of this.  She couldn't trust any of the men that paid attention to her in any way without wondering if they were just trying to get at her money.  It was just sad and it was a reminder on how lucky I am.  

I haven't even talked about how much I loved the relationship that developed between Daisy and Cailean yet.  Oh goodness but I adored them together so much!  Daisy especially was a character near and dear to my heart because she was so strong willed.  She did what she wanted and didn't apologize ever for who she was.  I especially loved this about her but I also appreciated how comfortable that she was with her sexuality.  She was a widow and never pretended to be some innocent who didn't know her own wants or desires.  What a refreshing change of pace from the historical romances with virginal heroines or those who need the hero to bring about their sexual awakening.  I just liked everything about Daisy's character and then you add in a strong hero like Cailean and it equaled perfection.  I also really liked the fact that I didn't know how their happy ever after was going to happen.  The author did a really amazing job of creating realistic obstacles to their happiness- there was a point where I didn't see how it could possibly work itself all out.  The ending of this book was just perfect though and I was sad to see it end.  What a great romance and great read!

Overall, I obviously really enjoyed this book and am left ready for more.  Luckily I have the next book ready for me on my Kindle so I won't wait too long before continuing on.  I'm also lucky enough to have many more books by this author to look forward to so I'm excited about that.  This was the perfect change of pace in between the mysteries and thrillers that I've been reading.  I really loved every minute of it!  I would recommend this book to both romance and historical romance fans alike.  If strong heroines are your romance cat-nip then definitely give this book a try!

Bottom Line:  A wonderful read and I want more books just like this!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC Book Tour.

 

Moonglow by Kristen Callihan (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

My Thoughts:

Why did I wait so long to read this book?  I adored Firelight which is the first book in this series but then I never moved on to this one until now.  Well actually last year to be exact as this is a book that I read months back and am just now sharing my thoughts on (definitely a different discussion for a later date but my lack of blogging in 2016 is to blame).  Moonglow was just as good as I hoped that it would be overall.  Once again I found myself swept away by the romance that was brewing, this time between Daisy and Ian.  What made this book even better for me was that there was a bit of mystery involved as well.  A romance and mystery combined?  I'm so in!  I loved the relationship that developed between Daisy and Ian...but I especially liked Daisy's character.  There is just something about the female characters that Callihan writes that I can't get enough of.

What else can I tell you?  The author does an amazing job with the world that she is creating.  I loved that there is some paranormal aspects mixed in with the historical romance feel.  It is a winning combination in my opinion and different from so much out there.  My one and only complaint with this book was the ending.  This may just be my personal preference but I didn't care for the way the book ended.  I obviously can't say much more than that without spoiling anything.  I didn't hate the ending by any means but it just wasn't my favorite.  The thing is I thought about it for a really long time and I can't see how it would have worked any other way either.  So take my opinion with a grain of salt as overall the book is really great!

All in all, I found that this book cemented my love of this series!  I really, really need to try and read the third book sooner rather than later.  I love how different these books are from what's out there in the romance genre.  I also love the gorgeous covers!  I just plain really love these books and can't say enough good things about this series.  I can easily recommend to other romance readers!  And the best part is that you really don't need to have read the first book to read this one.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  Another great addition to this series that is fast becoming a favorite of mine!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book for review thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

A Reckless Promise by Kasey Michaels (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"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."

My Thoughts:

This author is fast becoming one of my go to authors when it comes to an enjoyable and fun historical romance.  Earlier this year I read and adored A Scandalous Proposal so I couldn't turn down the opportunity to read another book in this series.  This book was just as great as the previous book and also just a plain good read!  There is just something about the way this author writes that makes me smile and enjoy my reading experience.  I found myself easily swept away by this book and I finished it in a matter of days.  Isn't it funny how there are just some authors that can do that with a book?  Where you find yourself reading as much as possible without concern for everything else that you "should" be doing?  My house definitely wasn't clean after finishing this book but it was completely worth it!  It is a shame that I just started reading this author earlier this year but at least I more books to look forward to.

One of the best things about this series in my opinion is the cast of supporting characters.  Don't get me wrong, I loved Sadie Grace and Darby but I also loved so many of the other characters as well.  Clarice and Rigby in particular are favorites of mine and I'm wondering if they were featured in the first book?  I'm not sure but I will definitely be finding out.  This wasn't your typical romance as it took awhile for the characters to figure out their full feelings towards one another.  I love romances where this happens.  There might be attraction or friendship but the actually falling in love with one another takes time.  I adored that we got to see characters from the previous book in this one as well.  I really adored the way that the author took multiple story lines in this book and we got to see each play out by the end.  I found myself most intrigued by the trouble that Clarice found herself in.  There were some tense moments where I wasn't sure how everything was going to work out or even if it would.  I also really was looking forward to Darby and Sadie's happy ever after.  They just fit together so perfectly so it was something that I couldn't help but love.

Overall, this book solidified my love for this author's books.  At this point my plan is to read anything and everything that this author has written starting with An Improper Arrangement which is the first book in this series.  I believe that I already have that one on my kindle so I won't be waiting long to read it!  Fans of historical romance should really check this book out.  I don't think that you need to read the books in order (I certainly didn't) but it might help when it comes to knowing the full stories of each of the characters.  With such a fun writing style and a story line that sweeps you away, why wouldn't you want to?

Bottom Line:  A new must read author for me in the historical romance genre!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour.

A Scandalous Proposal by Kasey Michaels (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Who would have thought a man could tire of being fawned over and flirted with? Ever since Cooper Townsend returned from France as a hero with a new title, he has been relentlessly pursued by every marriageable miss in London. Perhaps that's why the unconventional Miss Daniella Foster is so appealing. She doesn't simper or flatter. She only wants him to help unmask her sister's blackmailer, and Coop has never been so intrigued…

Let every other woman in London fight over His Lordship's romantic attentions. Marriage is the last thing on Dany's mind…at least until she samples his illicit kisses. Now, as a mutual enemy races to ruin Coop's reputation and Dany's family name, an engagement of convenience will spark an unlikely passion that might save them both."

My Thoughts:

What a fun, delightful read this was!  I really enjoy historical romances even though I don't feel like I've read nearly enough of them.  This book though managed to take me completely by surprise with just how fun of a read I found it to be.  There were times that I laughed out loud at this book and there were many a time I just found myself grinning at my kindle while reading (I'm pretty sure my husband has learned to just ignore my weirdness at this point).  Even the way that the author writes was fun to read although I admit at the beginning it took me a bit to get used to.  I found myself highlighting passages to save that I just loved which isn't something that I often do while reading.  This book was a breath of fresh air after all of the dark and thrilling reads that I have been reading as of late.  It fit my reading mood just perfectly and I found myself unable to stop reading.  

One of the things that I really loved about this book was Dany and Cooper and the relationship that was developing between them.  Dany was such a great leading female character filled with spunk and an unapologetic nature.  She is who she is and doesn't pretend to be anything else.  I found her to be such a refreshing female lead and a perfect match for Coop.  The chemistry between the two of them was just perfect and fit right into the story.  I was eagerly waiting for them to realize their true feelings for one another and find their happy ever after.  It was just so sweet and perfect!  I also really enjoyed the secondary characters in this story and am eager to read the first book in this series to see how it all began.  This author really managed to pull me into this book and I loved every minute of it!  

Overall, I found this to be a really enjoyable read that fit my reading mood perfectly.  I love when that happens!  It was fun, romantic, and had just the right amount of heat to it in my opinion.  I adored watching Dany and Coop find each other and loved the way that the book ended.  It was absolutely perfect and was just what I had been hoping for.  This may have been my first book by this author but it definitely won't be my last.  I actually already have An Improper Arrangement (book one) ready for me on my kindle to read and I don't plan on waiting long to read it!  I can easily recommend this book to historical romance lovers and romance fans in general.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A delightful read that made me laugh at times and sigh with happiness in others!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour.

 

Enraptured by Candace Camp (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Coll Munro finds himself supervising an archaeological dig on the sprawling Highlands estate of Duncally, the handsome Scot’s only worry is his former crofter friends, who seem to delight in making his job as hard as possible. Little does he know his biggest problem comes in a much smaller package. Gorgeous Violet Thornhill is an exasperating, meddling bluestocking who came to the site to examine the ruins and instead finds herself studying Coll. The unyielding Highlander and the headstrong English beauty clash at every turn. But when a midnight intruder threatens Violet and the excavation itself, these polar opposites must work together to solve a decades-old mystery. As Coll and Violet race to decipher long-buried clues, will they discover riches hidden years ago...or an unbridled passion more precious than gold?"

My Thoughts:

Last year I didn't read hardly any historical romances which is a shame since there are so many great books out there in this genre.  This year I'm changing that statistic and books like this are exactly why.  I enjoyed this book so much and found it to be a pleasurable read from beginning to end.  One of the things that really made this book stand out for me were the two main characters.  Oh but how I loved the two main characters in this book!  Violet Thornhill is one of the most independent and unique female leads that I have come across in a book like this.  She is an archaeologist and committed to never being married as she doesn't want anyone to have control of her or anything she does.  Then you have Coll Munro who is much more conventional in that he plans on getting married and settling down one day.  The two of them clash from the very beginning and I just adored it.  I am all for romances where the happy ever after doesn't come too easily - sometimes the friction between the protagonists is the very best part!  I was completely content to read about these two butting heads while also trying to avoid the growing attraction between them.  Be still my heart!  If there is a romance "trope" that I love the most, this is probably it.  I found myself wrapped up in their relationship hoping that they would be able to work it all out.

One of the other things that I loved about this book was that the author didn't make it easy for these two.  They were so completely different in the way that they viewed marriage.  They were also so different when it came to worrying about what others would think and about how to handle the chemistry between them.  I fully admit that there were times where I just didn't see how this author was going to make it work.  I felt like they were too different and head strong on certain points that they were never going to be able to come together.  You'll have to read the book yourself to see how it all plays out but I can tell you that it is completely worth the ride.  I also really enjoyed the mystery of the missing treasure story line that came into play.  It added a layer of suspense to this book that I wasn't expecting but really liked.  I had a hard time setting this book down and managed to read it in a matter of days.  I didn't realize that this book was part of a trilogy at all and honestly don't feel like it took away from my enjoyment of this book at all.  Now I just need to go back and read the other two books since I liked this one so much.  

Overall, a really great read and a new author for me to follow.  I loved the chemistry between Coll and Violet so much which gives me very high hopes for the rest of the books in this trilogy.  This book was really entertaining and left me completely satisfied by the end.  What more could a girl ask for?  I also have to tell you that the chemistry between these two was hot, hot, hot!  Easily recommended for fans of historical romance- check this one out!

Bottom Line:  A book that reminded me exactly why I love this genre so much!  A great read!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.
 

The Hunter by Kerrigan Byrne (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"A scandalous proposal.

As one of London't most elite hunters, Christopher Argent never misses his mark and always gets his man. But when his latest target turns out to be a woman—the popular, and stunningly beautiful, actress Millie LeCour—it turns his whole world upside-down. Overwhelmed by the heat that simmers between them, Christopher can't complete his mission. On the contrary, he'll do anything to save Millie's life—even if it means risking his own...

A dangerous passion...

When she learns what Christopher was hired to do, Millie is torn between the fear in her heart and the fire in her soul. Putting herself in this dangerous man's arms may be her only path to safety—but giving in to her desire may be the deadliest mistake she's ever made. With both of their lives in jeopardy, Millie and Christopher must learn to trust the real feelings they're hiding—to find the true love they're looking for..."

My Thoughts:

This book!  I don't even have words for this book other than: READ IT!  This was one of those books that I could not get enough of and didn't want to stop reading.  I read this one in a matter of days because I just could not put it down!  Even now I'm having trouble putting into words how and why I loved this book so much.  Let's start from the beginning and I will try to explain why I thought this book was so great (with emphasis on the word try here).  Easily one of the things that I loved most about this book was the premise.  Falling in love with your would be assassin sounds next to impossible if I'm being entirely honest.  The author took this story line and made me believe in it.  From the very beginning I was wary but this author managed to pull me in and want it to work.  I found that I was behind Christopher and Millie's relationship from the first time that they met and was very eager to see how they would work everything out.  How Millie was ever going to be able to fully trust Christopher was beyond me but I wanted her to.  Basically I was reading this one just with the willingness that goes along with instantly trusting the author to take me on an emotional ride.  I was all in and this book definitely was able to make me feel all of the emotions.  

One of the other things that I enjoyed about this book was the chemistry between Christopher and Millie.  These two had some serious chemistry going on and it was hot!  I especially loved how we were able to see Christopher open up slowly but surely.  He was so closed off at the beginning of the book and I loved seeing how he changed.  I was also very intrigued by the story line and trying to figure out who wanted Millie dead and why.  It made this book much more fast paced as it constantly felt like there was danger lurking around every corner.  I found myself reading this book constantly and fitting in chapters whenever I could.  I just needed to see how it was all going to end.  This book also had one of the more creepy villains that I have come across and there was a scene towards the end of this book that was so intense!  By the end of this book I was at the point where I knew I wasn't setting it down and had to finish.  The ending was absolutely perfect in my opinion.  I ended this one with a smile on my face even though I was sad to see the book come to an end.  I loved these characters so much and am hoping that we will see more of Christopher and Millie in future books.

Overall, this was such an engaging and unique historical romance.  This is a book that I won't be forgetting any time soon and will definitely be rereading at some point.  I have read some good historical romance lately but this one is one of my favorites by far.  I love how the author took a relationship that I totally thought wouldn't work and made me believe in it.  This was a book that put me through the wringer emotionally but I loved every minute of it.  I just plain loved this book!   Luckily for me I have the first book in this series to look forward to.  I won't be waiting long to read it.  Highly recommended but especially to those historical romance readers.  

Bottom Line:  One of the best historical romances that I've read in a long time.  Sigh....I loved it!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

Season for Desire by Theresa Romain (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Like her four sisters, Lady Audrina Bradleigh is expected to marry a duke, lead fashion, and behave with propriety. Consequently, Audrina pursues mischief with gusto, attending scandalous parties and indulging in illicit affairs. But when an erstwhile lover threatens to ruin her reputation, Audrina has no choice but to find a respectable husband at once.

Who would guess that her search would lead her to Giles Rutherford, a blunt-spoken American on a treasure hunt of his own? When a Christmas snowstorm strands the pair at a country inn, more secrets are traded than gifts—along with kisses that require no mistletoe—and Audrina discovers even proper gentlemen have their wicked side…"

My Thoughts:

I was in the mood for a great holiday read and found this book sitting on my kindle unread.  It had sat there way too long because this was honestly a delight to read.  I haven't read a ton of historical romances this year but each one that I've read was enjoyable with this being an easy favorite.  Set near Christmas time, Lady Audrina and Giles Rutherford are thrown together unexpectedly when Giles comes to Audrina's aid at the request of her parents.  They find themselves in a situation that neither truly wants afterwards where Audrina is forced to accompany Giles and his father on their hunt for a secret box that possibly contains their inheritance from Gile's deceased mother.  If that isn't excitement enough for you, Audrina is also caught up in her own scandal thanks to previous choices she has made and now needs to find a suitable husband or risk not being able to attend her own sister's wedding.  All of this combined into such a great read where I was never sure how everything was going to work out.  I had to just sit back and enjoy the ride that the author was taking me on which was completely worth it!

One of the things I loved about this book was all of the different characters.  Lady Audrina comes across as a bit haughty and spoiled at the beginning of this book but it isn't long before the reader begins to see a different side of her.  We also begin to learn the reasons behind this facade and I liked her character all the more for it.  The chemistry between Audrina and Giles was almost instantaneous and I found myself eager to see how it would all play out.  Really I managed to read this entire book in a matter of days because I just didn't want to set my kindle down.  The snowy setting of this book had me wishing for snow (and yes I am bummed as there still is no snow on the ground) on a constant basis.  Add to all of this the adventure that the characters found themselves on and you can basically figure out why I loved this book so much.  The author took a scenario that seemed completely improbably and made it work with such ease that I just fell into the story.  And the ending was just icing on the cake for me!  I loved it!  I loved the little surprises here and there which meant a better happy ever after for the main characters.  I loved how strong Audrina was and how much more confidence she had in her self worth by the end of this book.  I just loved it all and now want to read all of this author's books.  Does that tell you enough?

Overall, I found this to be a wonderful read for this time of the year and a really great romantic read!  I'm lucky that I have more of this author's books to look forward to which I've already added to my TBR list.  I loved that this author was able to wrap me up so completely in this story and make me wish that it wouldn't end.  I'm glad that I finally took the time to read this one- shame on me for waiting so long to read it!  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A delightful read that is just meant to be devoured in a day or two!

Disclosure:  I received my copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley (an embarrassingly long time ago).

 

The Irresistible Rogue by Valerie Bowman (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Lady Daphne Swift comes from a family with two brothers who have proudly served the Crown. She may be a female, but she's willing to do whatever it takes to prove that she's as useful to the war effort as her brothers. She even went so far as to secretly marry a spy. The fact that she just happened to have been pining for Captain Rafe Cavendish for years didn't hurt matters. But after their first mission, when she realized their marriage had been strictly business, Daphne immediately wanted an annulment. The fiery Daphne has always been a multi-tasker and now she's hell bent on two things: finding the men who killed her brother and securing her engagement to another man to forget about Rafe forever.

As a spy for the War Office, Captain Rafferty Cavendish has been on dozens of missions. But one mission haunts him, the mission that resulted in the death of Daphne Swift's eldest brother, Donald. Rafe agreed to work with Daphne once and put her life in danger. Now he must find the men who killed Donald, avenge the family, and convince Daphne to give him one more chance. But Daphne's enlisted her other older brother, Julian, to help her get a quick and quiet annulment so that she can marry a fop who only wants her for her title and money. Can Rafe convince Daphne to give him one more chance, on the mission and with her heart?"

My Thoughts:

I really need more historical romances in my life!  I always forget how much I enjoy this genre until I read a book like this and am reminded of how great they really are.  This book was a such a fun read for me and left me wanting more books just like this one!  It was easy to immerse myself in and very soon after I began reading I found myself swept away into the pages.  I really had a hard time setting this one down mainly because I just didn't want to stop reading!  Was it a perfect read for me?  No, I found it to be a bit far-fetched at times but I loved it all the more because of that.  The author took her liberties and I found the book to such a fun read because of it.  There is one particular scene where Daphne finds herself to be slightly intoxicated and the ensuing scene is just priceless!  I won't say more as you'll have to read it for yourself to see what I'm talking about but I loved it!  This was just a fun read and I cannot emphasize that enough!

The relationship between Daphne and Rafe is one of my favorite types of relationships.  I absolutely love a hate/love relationship where the characters start off despising each other.  Rafe wasn't actually like this in regards to Daphne but it didn't matter as they both started at opposing ends.  It was all of the events that brought them together (and no that isn't a spoiler- this is a romance people) that was so fun for me to read about.  I have said this before and I will say it again:  I love when a romance takes time  to develop over a book.  In the case of this book, even though both main characters had feelings for each from the very beginning they still fought those feelings for a very long time.  It took time for them to start to build up trust between one another.  And when the time finally came- whew!  Those were some steamy scenes that were also very fun to read about.  I found the ending of this book to be quite surprising.  It definitely has me very excited to read the next book in this series.  While I wait though, I think I will go back to the beginning books and read about some of the other characters happy ever afters.  I can't wait!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more by this author!  It was such a fun read for me and a great way to break up all of the mysteries/thrillers that I have been reading as of late.  I love a good historical romance and this book reminded me just why I feel that way.  Luckily I have more books by this author to enjoy so I won't be waiting long to read more by her.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A fun read that I found myself swept away with!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher from a Goodread's giveaway!

'Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries (thoughts)

This is the second year in a row that I have managed to find a new to me author to read and love thanks to a Christmas romance.  This might turn into a yearly tradition if I am lucky.  I haven't made a lot of time to read historical romances this past year (shame on me) and this book really made me wonder why.  I adored it and cannot wait to read more by this author!

In this book Pierce Waverly (also known as the Earl of Devonmont) is called back home as his mother is said to be on her death bed.  He arrives to find his mother healthy and unaware of the deception that has been pulled by her lady companion.  Camilla Stuart sees how much it hurts Lady Devonmont to be estranged from her son and decides to do something about it.  Unfortunately she is unaware of the history between mother and son which brings more trouble then she has bargained for.  Especially when it becomes apparent that the Earl also has plans for seduction....will she be able to resist?

This was such a sweet romance and it really reminded me why I enjoy this genre so much.  From the very beginning the author managed to intrigue me by the mysterious history between the Earl and his mother.  We basically see what happened when the Earl was younger from his point of view only which means that there were more questions than answers.  Enter in Camilla Stuart, lady companion to the Earl's mother, a strong willed widow who is trying to patch up the rift between mother and son but is causing more trouble than she bargained for.  The chemistry between Camilla and Pierce was instantaneous and so sweet.  Camilla has secrets of her own that she keeps hidden from Pierce for various reasons.  For this reason she really takes awhile to allow herself to trust him and even then she keeps a distance thinking that they will never have a future.  For me I spent the book waiting for two separate things to happen.  One, for Camilla and Pierce to realize that they were in love with each other and find their happy ever after.  This is something that I always want with a romance read.  Ha!  Second, to figure out the reasons behind the estrangement between Pierce and his mother.  Both storylines were enjoyable and kept me reading long into the night.  And the author did a really nice job of wrapping these two storylines together in the end and finishing them in a way that felt right.

Overall, this was a really great read and perfect for the Christmas time of year.  It made me wish that we actually had snow on the ground while I was reading it (of course now we actually do have snow and I am less thrilled) and put me in the holiday spirit.  Really though, this was a just an enjoyable historical romance that I couldn't put down.  I found another new author to read which is always my goal.  Good chemistry combined with a bit of a mystery was the perfect combination to this holiday read!  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A delightful read that was perfect for the holidays!

Disclosure:  I checked this book out from my local library.  Thoughts are my own!

The Arrangement by Mary Balogh (thoughts)

I basically jumped at the chance to read this book as I've heard lots of good reviews for Mary Balogh's books and wanted to give her a try myself.  The Arrangement was a pleasant read that I enjoyed but it was less than I expected it to be.  I'm not sure if I had too high of expectations (entirely possible) or if it was the fact that I just didn't quite connect to the book like I had hoped to.  Either way it ended up being a good read with more positives than negatives.

Sophia Fry lives a quiet almost non-existent life with her aunt and her aunt's family.  She keeps to herself entirely and has fallen into the trap of believing that she really is the mouse that others refer her to as.  That all changes when she makes the split decision to help stop the marriage trap set up to snare Vincent Hunt who is a wealthy viscount.  Soon after Sophia finds herself caught up in an arrangement that is basically out of her control.  Her choices are to get married to a man she barely knows or find herself out on the streets with nothing.  She decides to take a chance on marriage but how she will find happiness will be entirely up to her!

I went into reading this book not really knowing anything about it. It was a great way to read this book because this book was unexpected in so many ways.  Vincent and Sophia didn't instantly fall in love like so many other romance novels.  Instead it took time and trust before they really began to realize their feelings for one another.  I really appreciated that because it helped me to connect to the characters and it felt more realistic to me.  Vincent is blind which was also very unexpected as I obviously missed that from reading the summary.  I was a bit worried with how the author would portray his disability (and whether he would magically be able to see at some point) but in the end I thought she did a really nice job with it.  Vincent wasn't your typical hero and Sophia definitely wasn't your typical romance heroine but together they worked quite nicely!  I even found myself impatient at times because I was just so ready for them to find their happy ever after.  The one thing that they did lack as a couple was with communicating their feelings.  I wanted to shake them both at certain points of the book for just not telling the other one how they felt.  But the ending came about quite nicely which helped me to appreciate their relationship that much more. 

All of those things make it seem like I really liked the book and I did.  But I did have a few issues with it as well and the main one was Sophia's lack of self esteem.  I understood it to a certain point but I really wanted her to grow more in that regard.  It felt to me that it took others believing in her rather than herself before she started to grow in strength.  Her referring to herself constantly as a mouse (or even other characters in the book comparing her to one) annoyed me.  She was so much more than that and it was an issue for me that she didn't believe in herself more.  It was harder for me to connect with her as a character because of it.

Overall, I ended up really appreciating this book for a variety of reasons but the main one was because it was so unpredictable.  I really don't think I've read another historical romance like it!  I love the concept of The Survivor's Club and will be going back to read the first book in this series.  I'm also eager to see which of the survivors book three will be about.  I would recommend this book to historical romance fans that want something a bit different compared to your typical romance read.  Because in the end even though this book had some faults, it was a still a pretty darn good read!

Bottom Line:  A romance that took its time building but was worth it in the end!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a TLC Book Tour.  Thoughts are my own as always!

The Hunter by Monica McCarty (thoughts)

Scottish highlander romance?  Yes, please and yum!  I'm a sucker for a good historical romance lately so I couldn't resist joining in on the blog tour for this book (even though there are like six books before this one).  And since I have never read a highlander romance before I wasn't exactly sure if I was going to like it or not.  That being said I had my expectations set low/medium but they were shattered as I tore thru this book in less than three days.  I can't wait to go back to the first book in this series to see how it all began!

In The Hunter, Ewen Lamont is part of the notorious highland guard that is fighting to get King Robert the Bruce crowned as king.  He is known for his attention to detail and ability to find/track anything.  When he meets a nun named Sister Genna his entire world is turned on its' axis.  How can he possibly be attracted to a nun?  And what kind of nun acts like she acts?  What he doesn't know is that Genna has secrets of her own that will make their paths cross in dangerous ways.  But it is the chemistry between them that causes them both to start reevaluating their lives and plans for the future.

Yowsers!  This book instantly captured my attention from the very beginning!  I couldn't put it down and flew through the pages which left me wanting more.  Luckily I have the first six books in this series to look forward to because I NEED more!  I'll admit that the first few chapters had me on edge.  I don't want to go into spoilers but there was an event that had me uncomfortable and left me wondering if I was going to be able to get past it.  But before I knew it I found myself immersed in the book wanting to know what was going to happen next.  I loved the fact that Genna stood up for herself and was so independent.  I also liked that she didn't want to change just for marriage.  I really respected that about her.  But I also LOVED the chemistry between her and Ewen.  Whew!  There were a few very HOT pages in this book if I do say so myself.  I wasn't completely thrilled with the ending but it wasn't bad.  Just not what I was expecting I guess.  Don't let that stop you from reading this book though because it is definitely worth the read!

Overall, this was a book that kept me engrossed and left me wanting more.  I have no complaints other than why did I never try a highlander romance before now???  I've definitely been missing out if they are all like this!  If you are a fan of historical romances with LOTS of chemistry then definitely give this one a try.  As for me, I have to go back to the beginning now.  Even though I didn't miss out (at all based on my reading experience) starting this series so far into it, I really want to see how it all began.  I want to get to know the other members of the highland guard so I plan on doing just that.  Definitely a book that I would recommend especially for your summer reading pleasures :)

Bottom Line:  A book that had me captivated from beginning to end! 

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  The thoughts are my own!

Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Gwen Maudsley is pretty enough to be popular, and plenty wealthy, too. But what she’s best known and loved for is being so very, very nice. When a cad jilts her at the altar—again—the scandal has her outraged friends calling for blood. Only Gwen has a different plan. If nice no longer works for her, then it’s time to learn to be naughty. Happily, she knows the perfect tutor—Alexander Ramsey, her late brother’s best friend and a notorious rogue."

My Thoughts:

This is one of those books that I waited entirely too long to read.  I don't even want to mention the number of times that I checked this book out from the library and then let it go back unread.  I should really stop doing that!  On the positive side, I found a new author to follow and a new backlist of books to check out.  

I feel like 2013 has been the year for me to really dip my toes into the historical romance genre.  I'm loving every minute of it!  From almost the very beginning of this book I found myself caught up in the relationship between Gwen and Alex.  They were just perfect for each other in my opinion even if they hadn't figured it out for themselves.  And that's half of the fun for me...watching the romance develop and grow between a couple with a few stumbles along the way.  Alex and Gwen had more than there share of struggles though, and by the end of the book I was more than ready for them to find their happy ever after!  Seriously, I almost threw the book at one point when towards the end it seemed like everything was falling apart.  LOL!  I was that into this book!  There were also a few really cute parts in the beginning of this book that had me cracking up.  I love when that happens!  I thought the author did a very nice job with the ending though and I was left feeling more than satisfied.  All romance books should be this good!  

Let's sum it all up:  I enjoyed it lots and can't wait to read more from this author!  It's exciting for me especially because this is a new to me author so I have lots more of her books to look forward to (I hope...I honestly don't know how many she has written.)  But I know she has written more and I can't wait to read them!  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to fans of historical romance.  And if you aren't reading historical romances yet....then why the heck aren't you?  You're definitely missing out especially if you are a fan of romance at all!  I'm kicking myself for not really trying this genre sooner.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A book that has helped to cement my new found love for historical romance!  

Disclosure:  Checked out from my lovely local library a number of times before I actually read it.  But definitely worth the wait!

Have you read Duran before?  Which of her books should I read next?  And the biggest question of all:  what other historical romance authors should I be reading????  These are the things that a girl needs to know!