Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of MISS COMPTON'S CHRISTMAS ROMANCE by Sophie Barnes

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of MISS COMPTON’S CHRISTMAS ROMANCE by Sophie Barnes, published December 18, 2018.

Blurb for MISS COMPTON’S CHRISTMAS ROMANCE:

Sometimes playing pretend can lead to the perfect romance…

When Miss Leonora Compton decides to go to Sheffield and spend Christmas with her sister, she finds herself travelling with a man she cannot afford to like. But as their journey progresses she enters an unexpected partnership with him and realizes that things aren't what they seem. Because Mr. Dalton is not only tempting. He may in fact be precisely what she needs.

When Philip believes his travel companion requires protection, he immediately steps in to help by pretending to be her husband. For although the last thing he wants is to form an attachment, Philip is irrevocably drawn to the stunning red-head. And as they become better acquainted and their paths increasingly intertwined, he must decide if risking heartache again is worth the chance of finding true love.

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Connie’s Review:

London

Miss Leonora Compton, age 24, knows she will probably never marry so her father has agreed to let her use her dowry to open a shop. Her friend, Kathy, daughter of a local merchant, has come to work for her. Together, they raise vegetables, fruits, and flowers in the hothouse attached to their store. 

Leonora’s younger sister is married to a viscount and she is going to visit her for two weeks at Christmas at their home in Yorkshire. Even though she feels she should stay in London to help run the shop, Kathy insists that she go visit her sister and her new baby. But before she departs for Yorkshire, a man comes into the shop saying that he won her building from her landlord in a card game and is now going to charge an enormous amount of money for rent.

Leonora has bravely decided to travel alone on public transport. A handsome man named Philip Dalton helps stow her valise in the carriage. When another male passenger tries to make a pass at her, Philip says she is his wife. As they continue their journey, Leonora learns that Philip is a widower and owner of several large shops in London. Along the way, they learn more about one another and enjoy their time together.

When they reach their destination, they are both surprised to find that Philip is a good friend of Leonora’s sister and he has also been invited to their home for Christmas. Oh my! What a stroke of luck for both of them. Their time together is fun and her sister and husband seem to want them to spend time together. 

I enjoyed this novella and the characters of Leonora and Philip. They were written to be perfect for one another. This is a very clever story and I know readers will love it. I’m a huge fan of Sophie Barnes and she never fails to write a great story!

Copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

MISS COMPTON’S CHRISTMAS ROMANCE by Sophie Barnes, self-published, available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of WHEN LOVE LEADS TO SCANDAL, a Townsbridges novel by Sophie Barnes

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of WHEN LOVE LEADS TO SCANDAL, a Townsbridges novel by Sophie Barnes, published February 19, 2019.

Blurb for WHEN LOVE LEADS TO SCANDAL:

Two people fated to be together…

Recently engaged to the Earl of Langdon, Lady Bethany is content with the knowledge that she’s made a wonderful match for herself. Until a chance encounter with a handsome stranger makes her wish she was still unattached – a sentiment that grows even stronger when circumstance causes her to spend more time in this gentleman’s company.

And the duty that threatens to come between them…

Charles Townsbridge is not prepared to learn that the mystery woman he met in the park, the very same woman he cannot get out of his head, is in fact his best friend’s fiancée. Determined to do the right thing, he tasks himself with quashing the attraction, only to discover that the heart cannot be so easily controlled.

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Connie’s Review:

London - 1820

Charles Townsbridge, age 26, son and heir of Viscount Roxley, enjoys taking a morning walk in the park. This morning, he hears a young woman calling for help to keep her bonnet from being blown into the lake. Charles grabs the bonnet and helps her and her chaperone to a bench to rest. He then excuses himself and heads home for breakfast. His is a close family consisting of his parents, two sisters, Athena and Sarah, and two younger brothers, James and William.

Lady Bethany Andrews is the daughter of an earl and is engaged to Robert, the Earl of Langdon. She became betrothed before she had been presented to society. Bethany had enjoyed briefly meeting Charles and was surprised to see him again that evening at a soiree. There, she discovers that Charles is the best friend of her fiancé, Robert. Robert is eager to talk with others about business deals and asks Charles to dance with and entertain Bethany. This irritates her as she feels he is treating her like a child. Charles is taken aback at Robert’s actions because he feels his friend should be spending time with his lovely fiancé. Bethany enjoys making architectural drawings which is quite unusual for a young woman but Robert disapproves saying she should be playing the piano instead, again irritating her.

Charles is invited to the Langdon estate for a two-week house party leading up to the wedding of Robert and Bethany. While at the party, Robert again ignores Bethany asking Charles to entertain her. Both of them are angry at Robert once again. Is there hope for a successful and happy marriage between Robert and Bethany?

Once again, Sophie Barnes has written a sweet romance that really shows what love is. Robert is a clueless clod who needs to change his priorities before he ends up a loser in life. Charles is the perfect hero that makes one sigh. I like Bethany because she is a smart, curious, and down-to-earth person. Great start to a new series. Cannot wait to read more.

Copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

WHEN LOVE LEADS TO SCANDAL, a Townsbridges novel by Sophie Barnes, self-published, available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of MR HUNT, I PRESUME by Valerie Bowman

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of a novella in the Playful Brides series by Valerie Bowman – MR HUNT, I PRESUME, published February 8, 2019.

Blurb for Mr Hunt, I Presume:

He never forgot her…

When General Collin Hunt is ordered to take a much-needed holiday, he resigns himself to rest and recreation at his brother’s country estate. But when the only woman he ever loved—and selflessly gave up—shows up as his sister-in-law’s governess, his carefully ordered life is turned inside out.

She’ll never forgive him…

When Erienne Stone defied her family and fled her life of privilege, she never expected to be reunited with the man who’d abandoned her more than a decade before. But Lucy, Duchess of Claringdon, is a hard woman to say no to, even when Erienne’s heart is in danger of breaking all over again.

A meddling matchmaker may be the key to their second chance…

After a decade of pain and heartache, can two star-crossed lovers trust the truth in their own hearts?

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Connie’s Review:

London - 1824

Lucy Hunt is married to Derek, the Duke of Claringdon, and is going through applications sent from Mrs. Griggs employment office, searching for a governess for their children, Ralph, 2, and Mary, 3. One applicant is Miss Erienne Stone, age 32. Derek remembers her name from when he and his family lived in Brighton. He tells Lucy that she was the daughter of a knight, Sir Robert Stone. In fact, Derek’s brother, Collin, age 35, had once courted the woman. Today, Collin is a confirmed bachelor. However, he admitted once that he never married because there is only one woman he ever loved. 

When Lucy interviews Erienne, she is very pleased with her qualifications, and hires her. Lucy loves to be a matchmaker which is how they lost their previous governess.

Collin works tirelessly for the government, so his boss tells him to take some time off as he has been working too hard. So, he decides to visit Derek and Lucy and see his niece and nephew.

When Collin and Erienne see one another again, it is difficult for both of them because they are both nursing hurt from miscommunication in the past. Is there a chance that their relationship can be renewed?

This is a nice little romance but a bit predictable. This is an example of when a novella should be a full length book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

MR HUNT, I PRESUME, a Playful Brides novella by Valerie Bowman, June Third Enterprises, available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

Special Guest Review: Lisa Lin's Review of THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES by Miranda Neville

Happy Christmas Eve, Everyone! Today, my darling Avon Addict Sister, Lisa Lin is back with a guest review. She’s kind enough to share her review of THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES, book four in the Wild Quartet series by Miranda Neville, which is releasing December 30, 2014 from Avon Romance. I hope you enjoy her review as much as I do.

***eARC provided to reviewer by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Blurb for THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES:

Wanted: Governess able to keep all hours . . .

Rebellious Julian Fortescue never expected to inherit a dukedom, nor to find himself guardian to three young half-sisters. Now in the market for a governess, he lays eyes on Jane Grey and knows immediately she is qualified—to become his mistress. Yet the alluring woman appears impervious to him. Somehow, Julian must find a way to make her succumb to temptation . . . without losing his heart and revealing the haunting mistakes of his past.

Desired: Duke skilled in the seductive art of conversation . . .

Lady Jeanne de Falleron didn't seek a position as a governess simply to fall into bed with the Duke of Denford. Under the alias of Jane Grey, she must learn which of the duke's relatives is responsible for the death of her family—and take her revenge. She certainly can't afford the distraction of her darkly irresistible employer, or the smoldering desire he ignites within her.

But as Jane discovers more clues about the villain she seeks, she's faced with a possibility more disturbing than her growing feelings for Julian: What will she do if the man she loves is also the man she's sworn to kill?

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Lisa’s Review:

I first heard of Miranda Neville several years ago when I heard her reading from THE WILD MARQUIS at a Lady Jane’s Salon event in New York City. Since then I have had the opportunity to meet her and get to know her, both in person, and through The Ballroom Blog (RIP).  She is a lovely person, a talented author, and one of the funniest people I know, with a wonderful British accent to match. Having enjoyed her entire Wild Quartet series, I was very much looking forward to reading THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES, the final installment of the series. As usual, Miranda did not disappoint but gave us an emotionally charged, sensual, and deeply satisfying book.

THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES is the story of Julian Fortescue, who recently became the Duke of Denford through a series of unfortunate deaths and a lack of male heirs in his family tree, and Jeanne de Falleron, a woman who has sworn vengeance and revenge against the Forescue family. I have been looking forward to this book for quite some time, due to the intriguing glimpses we got into Julian in the previous books, especially in LADY WINDERMERE’S LOVER, where we start understanding that despite his carefree debonair façade, Julian is a man struggling to make peace with mistakes from his past and the resulting demons.

I really enjoyed Julian’s character, and his journey to making peace with his past, finding redemption, and facing his future with Jeanne with a clear conscience and full heart. I liked Julian’s irreverent sardonic sense of humor, and the relationship that developed between him and his three half-sisters, Maria, Fenella, and Louisa.

I immediately liked Jeanne. She is a woman who faced a tremendous tragedy at a young age, losing her aristocratic family during the height of the Revolution. Determined to find the man who betrayed her family and exact vengeance, she lands a position at Fortescue House as a governess to the girls to get close to the family and learn his identity. My heart broke for Jeanne and what she went through, not just in losing her family but for the guilt and unanswered questions, she’s had to live with. Life has given her a beating, but Jeanne has shown herself to be a survivor. But the traumas she’s lived through and the hard choices she was forced to make in the name of survival made her a bit too hard and afraid to love and trust because she didn’t want to bear the pain of coming to care for someone, only to lose them again. I certainly understood Jeanne’s reluctance to open her heart, and really loved the way Miranda had Jeanne gradually lower her shields so that she no longer just had to go through the motions and survive and be driven by fear, desperation, vengeance, and guilt. She could now truly embrace life and LIVE.

Nothing intrigues Julian as much as a challenge, and Jeanne certainly presents that. From the first moment they met, he finds her an irresistible challenge because she refuses to be intimidated by him or his title, and makes no bones about the fact that she will find resisting his advances no big difficulty. Of course, this is a romance, so they eventually give in to the mutual attraction. The true story of what happened to Jeanne’s family, and Julian’s connection to the family, is finally explained. I liked that Miranda portrayed that aspect of the story realistically. Just because Jeanne and Julian have fallen in love doesn’t mean that everything from the past could be brushed away and everything would be magically okay. Both of them had to go through the process of dealing with and accepting the truth, but not letting it rule their lives. Finally, they can look forward to the future and not be tied to the past.

As a side note, as someone who isn’t terribly knowledgeable about art and art history, I really enjoyed learning about it throughout The Wild Quartet series due to Miranda’s meticulous research. I also loved the cameos from the previous couples in the series. Ultimately, I would definitely recommend THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES by Miranda Neville. It is a story of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances with witty flirty banter, steamy love scenes, and two strong willed characters who learn to bare their souls in order to find the comfort, peace, and joy they seek.  I am looking forward to seeing what comes next from Miranda.

Thank you, Lisa, for a wonderful review and for sharing it with us. It sounds like Miranda’s book is a must read for historical romance lovers.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Merry Christmas to all with love from Unwrapping Romance.

THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES, a Wild Quartet novel by Miranda Neville, Avon Romance, release date – December 30, 2014 in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

Special Guest Review: Lisa Lin's Review of NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER by Sarah MacLean

Today, I have a guest review for you by one of my Avon Addict sisters, Lisa Lin. The review is for NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER, book four of the Rules of Scoundrels series by Sarah MacLean releasing tomorrow, November 25, 2014 from Avon Romance. I hope you enjoy her review as much as I do.

***eARC provided to reviewer by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Blurb for NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER:

She is the most powerful woman in Britain,
A queen of the London Underworld ...
But no one can ever know.

He is the only man smart enough to uncover the truth,
Putting all she has at risk . . .
Including her heart.

The fourth book in New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean’s incredible Rule of Scoundrels/Fallen Angels series. These four dark heroes will steal the hearts of their heroines, and the readers alike! This is the last in the Rules of Scoundrels series—Chase’s story

By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a Duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking—in London’s darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city’s most legendary gaming hell. For years, her double identity has gone undiscovered . . . until now.

Brilliant, driven, handsome-as-sin Duncan West is intrigued by the beautiful, ruined woman who is somehow connected to a world of darkness and sin. He knows she is more than she seems and he vows to uncover all of Georgiana’s secrets, laying bare her past, threatening her present, and risking all she holds dear . . . including her heart.

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Review by Lisa Lin:

I first discovered Sarah MacLean and her books shortly after the release of her debut romance, NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE. I had the good fortune to attend Lady Jane’s Salon where Sarah was one of the guest authors. I heard her read and was immediately sold. I bought the book right then and there, and have been a Sarah MacLean fan ever since. Her writing is captivating, clever, and irresistible.

Throughout the entire Rules of Scoundrels series, we get intriguing glimpses into Chase, the mysterious all-powerful founder and leader of The Fallen Angel. At the end of NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED, readers were hit with the bombshell that Chase was a woman. Not only was Chase a woman, she was Georgiana Pearson, the sister of the Duke of Leighton whom we met in Sarah’s previous Love by Numbers Series. Once I found that out, I knew I had to get my hands on this book, NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER, as soon as humanly possible.

The Rules of Scoundrels series tells the story of the four owners of The Fallen Angel, an infamous gaming hell/casino set in Regency England. Each book opens with the story of the owner’s fall from grace. In NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER, we get the story of how Georgiana came to be disgraced and shunned from the ton – she conceived a child out of wedlock. Being the object of ridicule and scorn made Georgiana strong and determined to prove herself unbreakable against those who wanted to tear her down merely because of her one indiscretion. Towards that end, she opens a gaming hell with the other Fallen Angels, and collects all of the scandalous secrets of the ton in the process. By using those secrets as leverage, Georgiana shows that she has more power than all of them combined. In fact, it is by using these secrets that Georgiana plans to find a groom who will give her and Caroline the respectability and security she’s looking for.

I really loved Georgiana. I admire her strength and fortitude in building a new life for herself, and what a loving mother she is to Caroline. She has come a long way from the scared and lost young girl we first met in TEN WAYS TO BE ADORED WHEN LANDING A LORD. As Chase, she has London at her beck and call, except she must keep her double life a secret if she is to continue to survive, reign, and maintain her power. One of my favorite aspects of this book is how Sarah expertly illustrates the transient nature of power, and how destructive secrets can be. Due to her past, Georgiana is determined to have control over her own destiny, to be beholden to no one, and to never feel hopeless or powerless again. But having secrets and constantly living your life in the shadows with a fear of discovery is not real power or real freedom at all. Secrets isolate you, and make you unable to trust or be vulnerable. Only by trusting and being truthful with herself, and those she loves, and by stepping into the light, does Georgiana finally find the peace, love, and happiness she has been seeking.

Duncan West is a man with secrets and demons of his own. A powerful and popular newspaperman who can swing public opinion with a headline, he offers Georgiana his assistance in restoring her reputation and landing a respectable husband. Soon, he is fascinated by the alluring Georgiana, and becomes desperate to make her his. But due to secrets from his past, and a dangerous man who threatens his very life and livelihood, he is sure that a future with Georgiana is impossible. I really fell in love with Duncan as a hero. He is sexy, charming, brave, protective, smart, and extremely handsome. I loved how wonderful he was with his sister Cynthia, and with Caroline. Sarah does a great job of showing his great strength of character and substance beneath his exterior of the successful wealthy businessman.

The relationship between Georgiana and Duncan is truly wonderful. There is an instant connection, and attraction between them, which immediately draws the reader in. These are two people who recognize and understand each other in a way that is both enthralling and scary. Indeed, the strength of what they feel for each other makes Georgiana and Duncan put walls up to protect themselves. The tug back and forth between them plays out beautifully like an intricate dance. I found the way Sarah gradually had Duncan and Georgiana lower their guards, trust in each other, fight for each other, and their future lovely, and the epitome of what love and the romance genre is all about.

NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER is not just Duncan and Georgiana’s love story. This book is also a powerful testimony to the fierce and all-encompassing might of a mother’s love. Georgiana’s determination to protect and provide Caroline with a life of opportunity untainted by her scandal is a perfect example of the lengths a mother will go to ensure her child is happy, healthy, and safe. Similarly, Duncan’s mother was also forced to make terrible, heartbreaking sacrifices and decisions for the sake of her children.

NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER is the fourth and final book in Sarah MacLean’s Rules of Scoundrels series. While it is not necessary to read the three previous books, I highly recommend reading the series in order to get a better and richer understanding of what happens in this book. I loved the cameos from the previous couples in the series, and how they rallied around Chase/Georgiana.

I cannot recommend NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER by Sarah MacLean highly enough. This book is Sarah writing at the top of her game, with an emotionally gripping story and characters that will stay with the reader long after they get to The End. It is a satisfying ending to the series, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s next from Sarah!

Happy Reading Everyone!

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:

Lisa Lin is as addicted to romance novels just as I am, it’s one of the reasons she is such an important asset to the Avon Addicts super reader group for Avon Romance. She joined the Avon Addicts with the third group and quickly proved her worth by joining in discussions, and sharing all things Avon. She’s fanatic about Tessa Dare, her absolute favorite romance author, and her books, but opens her heart and her reading time to the rest of the romance community as well. She contributes greatly to discussions and events held for the authors and I call her a good friend.

Thank you, Lisa for a wonderful review and you’re always welcome at Unwrapping Romance to share your thoughts and opinions.

NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER, a Rules of Scoundrels novel by Sarah MacLean, Avon Romance, releasing November 25, 2014 in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes &Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

Unwrapping: LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath - a Guest Review by Stephanie Tracy

My darling friend, Stephanie Tracy of THE TUDOR ENTHUSIAST asked me the other day if I'd ever read any books by Lorraine Heath. My response was yes, in fact, I've got a print copy of LORD OF TEMPTATION in my bookshelf waiting patiently to be read. I then asked if she enjoyed Ms. Heath's books. She surely does. So I asked her if she'd like to review one for us. Guess which one she chose?

Stephanie is a delightful young lady who blogs about fascinating items pertaining to the Tudors. She loves the history, the Tudor family, and THE TUDORS television series. She recently spent time at Oxford - yes, that Oxford in England - studying and was very sad to leave there but has high hopes of returning one day. If you'd like to learn more things about the Tudors than you ever thought were known, please feel free to stop by Stephanie's beautiful website and browse a bit. You'll be as enchanted as I am with the amount of information you'll find there. I'm sure she'd love to have you follow her on Facebook and Twitter as well. Stephanie is a wonderful, intelligent, young woman with a fresh outlook on everything and a wonderful friend. I hope you enjoy her review of LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath - it's exceptional.

Stephanie owns her copy of LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath, and is presenting an honest and unscripted review without compensation.

Blurb for LORD OF TEMPTATION:

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped--to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle--awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright.

Once upon a time, he was Lord Tristan Easton--now he is Crimson Jack, a notorious privateer beholden to none, whose only mistress is the sea. But all that will change when exquisite Lady Anne Hayworth hires his protection on a trip into danger and seduction. . .

Desperation brought Anne to the bronzed, blue-eyed buccaneer. But after the Captain demands a kiss as his payment, desire will keep her at his side. She has never known temptation like this--but to protect her heart, she knows she must leave him behind. Yet Tristan cannot easily forget the beauty--and when they meet again in a London ballroom, he vows he won't lose her a second time, as fiery passion reignited takes them into uncharted waters that could lead the second lost lord home. . .

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First of all, I’d like to say that I have never read a novel by Lorraine Heath that I didn’t absolutely love. She was actually the author of the first romance novel I ever read, so she holds a very special place in my heart!

 

LORD OF TEMPTATION is no exception to my love for Heath’s books. This book was, in a word, delicious. I could probably gush about it for hours, but I’ll try to keep it under control for this review. Seriously, if you haven’t bought it yet, do it now. Here’s why…

 

This story follows Lady Anne Hayworth, a proper English noblewoman who has been brought up to follow the rules of society, make a good marriage to a wealthy lord, and live the quiet, privileged life that other women are accustomed to. This all seems like a fine idea to Anne, until her beloved fiancé, Walter, dies while fighting abroad. She can’t move on – though her father and brothers are trying to force her into another season so that she can snag a new fiancé. Anne needs to put the ghost of her past away before she can do that, so she makes secret arrangements to visit Walter’s grave.

 

Cue the sexy, rugged, and roguish Captain Crimson Jack – a lord in disguise, he loves and lives for the sea, and he is the person Anne turns to in her hour of need. However, it’s not only a trip with her across the English Channel that Crimson Jack is after. Immediately, he is beguiled by the beautiful lady, and he wants her more than he has ever wanted another woman. Anne also cannot deny her fascination with the captain, and she soon finds herself caught up in a very improper affair with the most unlikely of love interests.

 

This story continues so much farther than the sea, though. Although that is where the romance starts (and I’m a sucker for romances on a ship with a sexy privateer), the complications of their dangerous affair spill over into Anne’s family life, and they certainly make matters of her upcoming betrothal to Lord Chetwyn interesting.

 

I absolutely ADORED the characterization in this novel. As if the plot isn’t fascinating enough, the characters really made this a novel I won’t soon forget. Captain Jack Crimson (who is really Lord Tristan Easton in disguise) is the ultimate bad boy – scarred from his difficult past, attached to the wild, unpredictable life at sea, he is rugged, mysterious, and as untamed as the waters he sails on. Lady Anne is also a great female lead. She is no damsel in distress – she is strong-willed, hardheaded, and unafraid of a little breaking of the rules to get what she wants. She’s feisty, and that’s something that I appreciate in a historical romance. These characters just mesh so well. You can practically feel the heat radiating off the pages – their relationship is hot.

 

There is literally nothing that I didn’t like about this novel. Seriously, I wouldn’t change a thing. There was just the right amount of passion and steam, while maintaining the sweet, romantic charm that means so much in a romance novel. The storyline was compelling enough to avoid being too predictable, and the ending left me very satisfied and happy for the characters.

 

I would recommend LORD OF TEMPTATION to absolutely EVERY romance novel enthusiast out there! If you love roguish, sexy bad boys, and strong, independent ladies, this book won’t let you down. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

 

With that, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the novel, and one of the best examples of Lorraine Heath’s extraordinarily romantic style.

“The sea is his home…and what sort of life would that be for a lady?”

“If it includes love, I should think it would be a very wonderful life, indeed.”

 

- Lorraine Heath, LORD OF TEMPTATION

 

Thank you for a truly wonderful review, Stephanie!  Happy Reading Everyone!

 

LORD OF TEMPTATION, a Lost Lords of Pembrook novel by Lorraine Heath, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats.

                                                                                              

Unwrapping: Guest Review of A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James

I'm delighted to have a Guest Reviewer today. My Guest is Stephanie Tracy of THE TUDOR ENTHUSIAST, a wonderful website and blog dedicated to all things TUDOR and one you should all check out especially if you follow The Tudor Series. I'm going to turn over today's post to young Stephanie because she told me that she was reading A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James and loving it - so I asked her if she'd like to review it for me and she graciously agreed. I hope you enjoy her review and visit her wonderful and amazing website, THE TUDOR ENTHUSIAST, she's running a contest there to celebrate her 1st anniversary. Congratulations Stephanie and thank you for a lovely review of A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James.

Blurb for A KISS AT MIDNIGHT:

Miss Kate Daltry doesn't believe in fairy tales... or happily ever after.

Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince... and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancé, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble...

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune...

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

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After reading Eloisa James’ “How Beauty Tamed the Beast” (which is actually #2 in her Fairy Tales series – whoops!), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the first novel in the series, “A Kiss at Midnight” – James’ Cinderella-inspired Victorian romance. I had been [so] completely captured by her witty and romantic writing style when reading the first book, that I just knew this one was going to be a treat also. I think it took me about three days to read – I couldn’t keep my nose out of it, even while at work!

By the end of the book I was really having trouble putting it down, but if I’m being completely honest, the beginning did not hold me the same way. The character development took a while and was a bit slow, but once I got over that hump (about halfway through) it was a fast-paced, sweet, emotional journey of two characters who are both struggling in their own ways.

Katherine Daltry is the ‘Cinderella’ character in the story, and without giving anything away, I have to say I’m impressed with the way James tied in the whole evil stepmother/stepsisters storyline – very clever and appropriate for the time-period. Kate is not quite as ‘tortured’ as the classic Cinderella we all know and love, but she still fits the mold quite well. Her main struggle throughout the story is a lack of self-confidence. She is not conventionally beautiful, she is too thin, and feels like she will always be overshadowed by the beautiful, desirable women of high society.

The Prince, on the other hand, named Gabriel, has no lack of self-confidence. In fact, he is the pompous, arrogant, painfully handsome Prince that Kate has always imagined – and she is not impressed by him. Gabriel doesn’t seem to be struggling at all when we first meet him, but he eventually discovers that he is bound by the expectations and obligations for a Prince, when he really wants to be free to love whomever he wishes. With an impending betrothal to a Russian Princess (the perfect wife for him), he feels for the first time the pang of forbidden love when he meets Kate – a woman who couldn’t be farther from the ideal match for himself.

As I said, the beginning is a bit slow-going, so if I had to pick something that I didn’t like about the book, that would be it. Although Eloisa James’ writing style is consistently clever and witty, this first part of the book just lingers a bit too long. Once the introductions are over and the reader gets a good feel for the characters, the book really takes off – and THEN it gets fun! The passion between Gabriel and Kate is wonderful! You can feel their attraction to each other and the bits of romantic conversation, sweet kisses, and secret meetings are enough to make the reader subconsciously smile while reading. I have to admit that there were a few instances while reading when I actually said “Aww” out loud! Gabriel, while at first being the self-righteous Prince who is anything but Charming, soon turns into a sweet and sexy romantic lead that even the reader will fall in love with –  if I can fall in love with the male lead in a romance novel, I know it was a good book.

Overall, I think I would still have to say I like the overall storyline and characters in “How Beauty Tamed the Beast” better, but I will still highly recommend this book to any lover of romance fiction and fairy tale love stories. Being a huge Disney fan myself, I pounced on these books, and plan to inhale the rest of James’ Fairy Tale series as I can. If you’re a fan of classic happily-ever-afters and books that put that warm, happy feeling in your heart, you’ll enjoy this one.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:

         My name is Stephanie Tracy - I am a twenty year-old college student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. I've grown up right outside of Washington D.C., and I've always been a huge fan of the history surrounding where I live. Currently, I am finishing up my sophomore year at GMU - I am working towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and I also have a History minor (just for fun). I can't quite remember what triggered my undying love for the Tudor period, but when I think back on it, I believe it started when I was about 15 - at the same time the movie "The Other Boleyn Girl" came out in theaters. Although I had heard of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII before, I knew very little about their time period, but I remember walking away from that movie completely in love (and in tears). It was around then that I started picking up Tudor-era novels - starting with Philippa Gregory's, of course. (Thank you, Philippa!) As soon as I finished her Tudor series, I moved onto other well-known historical fiction novelists, such as Jean Plaidy, Kate Emerson, Diane Haeger, and Robin Maxwell...and the love grew! Soon, I was learning so much about the people and events through these novels, that I moved onto nonfiction - the potentially boring and difficult-to-read stuff - and my interest only grew more! I would like to thank Alison Weir and Elizabeth Norton for providing me with such great details and facts about the Tudors, and I think it would be impossible to grow bored while reading their books. However, books and movies could only last so long, and once I was finished with them I found myself still thirsting for more. So, I did what any self-proclaiming history nerd would do - I started spending my free time researching the Tudors. Every chance I got, I would sit down at the computer and google a name - then read virtually everything I could find until I felt I had a good grasp on the person, place, or event. Pretty soon, it became something I could talk about all the time (to anyone who would listen), and my friends and family would sometimes humor me with questions and discussions about the Tudors. This love for the Tudor Dynasty has only grown more and more for the past 5 (or so) years, and I don't see it ending any time soon! In fact, I've begun entertaining the idea of pursuing a career involving history - maybe as a professor, author, or historian. The possibilities are endless when you love this stuff as much as I do! I took that first step in July of last year when I thought I might like to manage a blog...and that blog became a website! I'm having a fantastic time with it.
         Right now, I'm preparing to study abroad at the University of Oxford for my junior year of college - starting in late August. I will be there for eight months studying the Tudors - taking part in independent research tutorials such as "The Tudor and Early Stuart Dynasty," "The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn," "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," and "The Tower of London During Tudor Times." Since I wrote and created all of these tutorials, I cannot wait to get started, as well as to travel around the country and see as many Tudor sites as possible! I will certainly be blogging about my experiences while I am there!

        I am also in the planning stages of my (hopeful) first Tudor novel - I'll share more details of that as it progresses!
        So, while my knowledge and love for the Tudors grows, I will continue to share it. I will keep posting interesting links or news that I find on the homepage of my website, and of course, I will always blog about whatever comes to my mind!

A note from Amy:  I'd like to thank Stephanie, again, for a lovely review of A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James and wish her the best of luck and enjoyment of her time at Oxford. I hope you all enjoyed Stephanie's review and appreciate her enthusiasm. I know I do.

Happy Reading Everyone!!

A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James, Harper Collins, available now in various print formats, ebook and audio formats - release date was July 27, 2010.