Unwrapping a Review of ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE'S KISS, an Anthology

ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE’S KISS

An Anthology

by Julie Johnstone, Katherine Bone,

Collette Cameron, Jillian Chantal,

Samantha Grace, Alanna Lucas,

Lauren Smith, and Victoria Vane

Releasing January 4, 2016

A delightful limited edition anthology containing eight tantalizing kiss-and-tell stories…

Meet dashing, wildly charming rogues, spies, pirates, rakes and their extraordinary, intrepid heroines as they whisk you along on sweet to sizzling romantic romps in these wickedly entertaining historical romances.

AFTER FOREVER by Julie Johnstone

Widowed Lady Julianna Barrows never wants to fall in love again. But when the notorious former boxer Nash Overton hires her to transform him into a gentleman, Julianna quickly becomes the student, learning more about passion than she’s ever known, and more importantly, learning how to love again.

***This is a delightful story that definitely sets the tone for the anthology. Julianna grieves so greatly for her late husband that she becomes adamant about never falling in love again or entertaining the idea of remarriage but things change when she meets Nash who exudes a great capacity for love. His love for his daughter demonstrates his big heart. Julianna soon learns that love is possible even when the pain of a loss is as great as what she feels for her husband. Nash takes it slow, and eventually wins her heart.

Good characters, a well-developed story line, especially for a novella, and it felt complete. I really liked this one. I’ve found myself a new author I enjoy reading, and look forward to more of Julie Johnstone’s work.

THE PIRATE’S DUCHESS by Katherine Bone

Duty forces him to take on the pirate code, but honor brings him back.

Prudence, Duchess of Blackmoor, has one desire—to be happy again. After struggling to overcome the horrifying death of her husband, she accepts an earl’s offer of marriage, confident she’s taking a step in the right direction. But demons, refuse to die, and Prudence finds herself caught in an intricate web of deceit that threatens the very foundations of all she holds dear.

Tobias, the Duke of Blackmoor, crosses the line when an assassination attempt on him fails. To restore the reputations of friends under attack by the same villain, and ensure his wife’s safety, he stages his own death, becoming The Black Regent, a notorious pirate bent on brandishing justice, never thinking he’d survive. But to his amazement, he has, and now the darkest-kept secrets are not worth losing the duchess his wife has become.

***Katherine Bone is great at giving you the best in pirate stories. With her usual flair, Katherine gives us excitement, intrigue, and romance. Prudence is about to marry when Tobias, her late husband, suddenly returns interrupting the wedding. Having pretended to be dead for 2 years to keep his wife safe from the man who wanted him dead, he’s been sailing the high seas as a pirate. Whereas the premise of this novella was good, I think it would have played out better had it been given more time and length to make it reconcile better. It just seemed to be missing too much to make it work well.

HER SCANDALOUS WISH by Collette Cameron

A marriage offer obligated by duty . . . an acceptance compelled by desperation.

Philomena Pomfrett is resigned to spinsterhood, but to ease her dying brother’s fretting, she reluctantly agrees to attend a London Season with one purpose—to acquire a husband. Stumbling upon her hiding in a secluded garden arbor during a ball, Bradford, Viscount Kingsley doesn’t recognize his first love, yet something about the mysterious woman enthralls him, and he steals a passionate, moonlit kiss.

Caught in the act by Philomena’s brother, Bradford is issued an ultimatum—a duel or marry Philomena. He offers marriage, but even impoverished and with no other decent prospects, she rejects his half-hearted proposal until her brother collapses. Now, Philomena’s faced with marrying a man who deserted her once already.

***A second chance at love romance…believing his first love, Philomena died in a fire, Bradford prefers to stay away from England but must soon return after inheriting the Viscount title. Meanwhile, Philomena who didn’t die in the fire, which claimed her parents, believes Bradford left her because of her burn injuries. Not comfortable in social gatherings, she hides in the garden rather than partake in the ball she's attending. Not recognizing her, Bradford encounters her and the rest is the HEA when her brother discovers them kissing, although it doesn't go too smoothly.

I like the idea of this story but felt it was rushed. This is a case where a truly sweet romance novella needs to be extended into a full-length novel.

MILADY AND HER SPY by Jillian Chantel

A lady, a spy, a traitor… a battle of wills.

Raised in the country after her mother’s death with only the company of three unruly brothers, Lady Augusta Covington is more proficient at fencing, riding and playing cards than being prim and proper. Myles Cuthbert, a spy in His Majesty’s service on a mission to find and expose a traitor, crosses paths with Lady Augusta when she rides to the aid of her brother, believing him to be injured. With the assignment at risk, Cuthbert agrees to accept the assistance of the troublesome lady eager for intrigue.

As they move forward, his sense of obligation to her and the danger involved stir his soul.

***This is a good regency spy story. Augusta is rather a tomboy having grown up with three brothers. When she hears her brother may be in trouble, she rushes to the rescue and stumbles into a mission to catch a spy. Myles, her brother’s commander, isn’t too happy about Augusta’s involvement but has no choice but to allow her assistance. Yet another story with such great potential, which I would love to see fulfilling its complexities and allowing growth in the characters in a full-length novel.

KISSED BY A SCOTTISH ROGUE by Samantha Grace

His Mother Insists He Needs a Wife.

Fergus McTaggart, Aldmist Fell’s land steward, has no time for wife hunting. Any day his employer's sisters will be arriving at the Scottish castle for a long overdue reunion. Fergus is determined to make their stay memorable, but all anyone is likely to recall are the loud rows between him and his employer’s cheeky paid companion.

She Insists He Needs a Good Knock to the Head.

Edith Gallagher has been charged with watching over her employer’s youngest sister while the family winters in Scotland, but the stubborn land steward interferes at every turn. Eventually, she and the Scot call a truce for the sisters’ sakes only to discover their passionate battles are masking hidden desires.

***Fergus and Edith battle at every turn. As land steward, Fergus has no time for romance but when he meets Edith, sparks fly. Oh at first, it’s a battle of wills, arguments at every turn, and unruly confrontations but when they call a truce for the sake of the sisters, they come to think of each other in a way that neither expects. This one might be my favorite in the anthology. I enjoyed watching Fergus and Edith get to know each other, and fall in love. I’d very much love to read more from this series.

STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT by Alanna Lucas

Desperate times call for drastic measures as Miss Aveline Redgrave enters her third season. Fearful of fortune hunters, she attempts to stay clear of Lord Leybourne, a rogue who is not to be trusted. But his seductive smile and enticing kisses awaken a passion that threatens her common sense. No stranger to scandal, Leybourne is determined to save his family from ruin whatever the cost, even marrying an heiress he doesn’t love. But an unexpected desire and need to protect threatens his plans. Will past heartaches and a devastating wager destroy their future or will true love’s kiss triumph?

***Still unmarried as she faces her third season, Aveline fears the attentions of fortune hunters but knows she must marry or face her uncle choosing for her. She does her best to stay away from those least desirable as husbands, especially Lord Leybourne who needs desperately to marry an heiress if he is to save his family from ruin. When both make lists of suitable candidates, they soon discover they are probably best suited for each other. They set about trying to make things work despite interfering friends and gossiping ton. I liked this story, the characters were strong and the plot very plausible. I’d like to read more from Alanna. She’s a new author for me and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

TEMPTED BY A ROGUE by Lauren Smith

Gemma never planned on falling in love with her childhood sweetheart’s best friend, Jasper, when he returns home, but she can’t resist the naval officer’s brooding charm.

Gemma plans to marry James, her childhood sweetheart. With every letter written between them while he's been off at sea, their love has grown. Now they will be reunited with his return to England. But the man whose words she'd fallen in love with isn’t James...

Jasper, a gentleman rogue of the first order, is trapped. Talked into a scheme by his friend, he pretended to be James for eleven years while writing to Gemma. He’s promised James he’d break it off. But when he returns home, his secret will come out – and he’ll lose the one woman he can’t live without.

***Sometimes, when I start reading a story I can sense right away that the plot is trying to be far more complicated than it needs to be. This is one of those. When it becomes obvious too fast that a simple conversation could sort out the trouble, it’s difficult for me to keep reading but I do, always in the hope that things will get more exciting.

James has been away at sea for eleven years, during which time he, and Gemma write to each other diligently every month, only…it isn’t James writing to Gemma but instead, Jasper, James’s best friend. Gemma plans to marry James as soon as he returns for she’s fallen even further in love with him through his letters. Jasper has come to love Gemma but now feels trapped because he can’t tell Gemma the truth. I can’t help but think when I read a story like this…the truth is the simplest solution and it will set you free. It was okay but it could’ve been much better with its Cyrano de Bergerac start.

THE REDEMPTION OF JULIAN PRICE by Victoria Vane

She gave him a chance to bury his past… but the price would be his heart…

Burdened by the past…Orphaned at a young age and left to run wild, at eighteen Julian Price joins the fight against Napoleon in the hope of attaining honor. Devastated when his best friend, Thomas, is killed in battle, Julian returns home burdened with guilt, only to find his wastrel uncle has squandered his inheritance.

Desperate to live her own life… Facing a future of drudgery caring for her aging mother and raising her brother’s children, Henrietta Houghton believes her chance at a real life died with Thomas, the only man who ever wanted her. But Henrietta is still full of dreams. When her wealthy aunt, offers her a gift of ten thousand pounds, Henrietta finally has the chance to choose her own destiny.

Everything has a price...With a fortune at her command, Henrietta offers Julian a marriage of convenience, unaware that she really offers Julian a means of salvation—not just his fortune, but his very soul.

***A longtime fan of Victoria Vane’s historical romances, this one was a good friends to lovers story but not necessarily her best. I’m so used to her rich characters that I felt Julian and Henrietta fell kind of flat. Perhaps if the story had been longer, their development could have been greater. It had its moments though, and Henrietta’s naughty aunt made it all worth reading.

Julian returns from war to discover his uncle has lost his fortune and he is destitute. He plans to sell everything in hopes of clearing his debt, and then return to Portugal to work as a mercenary since his only skill seems to be in killing. Henrietta feels lost. She’s unmarried whereas all her siblings are, but she has no desire to spend her life as an unpaid nanny to her nieces and nephews. When her scandalously naughty great aunt endows her with a large dowry, she decides she has the means to help her childhood friend, Julian and give herself the gift of relative freedom. She proposes to him and they plan a marriage of convenience…of course, we all know how that will go. This story truly had great potential and although I would love to have seen it expanded further, I enjoyed reading it.

This one is well worth the spending 99¢ on...I highly recommend it. 
Happy Reading Everyone!

ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE’S KISS, an anthology, releasing January 4, 2016, available in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

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

Unwrapping Reviews for WOO'D IN HASTE & WED AT LEISURE, book one & two of the Taming series by Sabrina Darby

TAMING OF THE SHREW is one of my all-time favorite Shakespearean plays. This classic play overflows with humor, innuendo, and characters filled with life, vigor, and passion. So when I discovered that Sabrina Darby’s first two novellas, WOO’D IN HASTE and WED AT LEISURE, of her Taming series were loosely based on the sisters, Bianca and Kate, from TAMING OF THE SHREW, I was doubly blessed that I won these two in a giveaway.

***prizes received in a giveaway but am returning the favor with an honest and unscripted review of both

Blurb for WOO’D IN HASTE (book one):

Miss Bianca Mansfield is ready for her debut. If only her older sister didn't insist on marrying first. She's doomed to wait to find love. Until she meets . . . him.

For Lucian Dorlingsley, Viscount Asquith, recently returned from an extended tour abroad, it is love at first sight. He's determined to meet Bianca, even if it means masquerading as a tutor to her young half-brother.

Soon Bianca is torn between love and duty and about to make a desperate decision. Can Lucian calm her fury over his betrayal when he reveals that he's not nearly as improper a match as he seems? And will they ever be able to find a match for her older sister to turn this masquerade into wedded bliss?

*                 *                 *                *                 *

Poor Bianca Mansfield must wait for her Season because her sister, Kate, insists she have hers first. So while Kate and her stepmother enjoy all that London has to offer, Bianca patiently waits all the while worrying she may never have her chance - that is until she meets the charming Lucian.

When Lucian Dorlingsley first spies Bianca, he falls head over heels in love with her but quickly discovers that she’s not allowed suitors yet. Desperate to get to know her, his friend Reggie sets up a plan that will allow him to get close to the darling girl. He soon discovers she’s more than a pretty face but also sweet, intelligent, and the woman for him. Only now, he must figure out a way to get past the stipulation that Kate is to marry first and overcome the outcome of Bianca learning of his manipulation to get close to her.

Just as in TAMING OF THE SHREW, Bianca is the sweet sister. Through her eyes, we witness the spoiled, tantrum throwing, self-centered personality of Kate and consequently, the fear that if Kate continues to be such a shrew, she’ll never marry and then Bianca will never have her chance even though she’s falling madly in love with someone that realistically would not be acceptable by her family’s standards. I loved the premise of this story but wish it had been longer. I would love to have discovered more about the relationship between the sisters, and their stepmother, which could give us insight into why the turmoil exists. Sometimes, backstory is needed otherwise, we just feel as if a part of the book has been pulled out only giving us a taste of what could’ve been a fabulous story.

For a lazy afternoon, or some relaxing reading time, I do recommend WOO’D IN HASTE, book one in the Taming series by Sabrina Darby but still can’t help but desire this to be a longer, more detailed, and in-depth story because I just feel it’s missing so much.

Blurb for WED AT LEISURE (book two): 

In all of Sussex—scratch that—in all of England, there is no one prettier than Kate Mansfield, and Peter Colburn, heir to the Duke of Orland, has known that since the age of 15. But since her vivacious nature comes with a temper to match, Peter has always masked his hunger for her behind ruthless teasing.

As far as Kate is concerned, there is no one as annoying or as incredibly handsome as Peter. So when he surprises her with a sudden and romantic courtship, Kate is sure this must be his idea of a sick joke. After all, he's the one man who knows how flawed she really is. And the only man to whom she has ever been so attracted. It's only after she rejects him that she realizes he might actually have been serious. And she just might be regretting her hasty decision.

As Kate's determination wars with her traitorous heart, it may be too late. Now she's putting everything, including her reputation, on the line to give this accidental tragedy a happy ending. 

*               *                *                *                *

Kate Mansfield is spoiled, has a fierce temper, and yet truly wishes everyone would take the time to get to know the real her. She also wants to find someone who will fall in love with her and appreciate the real her and make her feel as beautiful as everyone insists she is. Always feeling less than her beautiful sister, Bianca, the only one who seems to truly understands her is her stepmother and perhaps, Peter Colburn. When Peter attempts to court her, she doesn’t take him seriously and quickly believes it's yet another one of his cruel jokes.

Peter’s attraction to Kate has been there a long time but he knows she’s a hard one to fathom and certainly a tough one to love, but when she rejects him, he backs off only to become more determined to get Kate to see herself the way some others do - the way he does.

I liked Peter's persistence as he tries to understand Kate. At one point, he even asks her to tell him about herself, which she does. It’s at this point when Kate becomes someone the reader can begin to like. It was difficult to like Kate when we met her in WOO’D IN HASTE, but in WED AT LEISURE, we come to understand the pain which she’s carried at feeling the rejection of a mother who called her ugly because she was dark to Bianca’s fairness. She becomes a character we can feel some compassion for as she's feeling less than loved and neglected because her mother favored Bianca.

I enjoyed WED AT LEISURE much more than WOO’D IN HASTE, although these stories go together and complement each other in a fashion that make me wish both had been longer with more backstory so that we might enjoy the changes in both of these women. Kate’s transformation to a sweeter, kinder woman in London is obvious to us and what we want to see. We can understand better the reasons why she reverts to her spoiled, angry self upon returning to the Hall and understand her wishing to be the center of attention before Bianca. It's more a need rather than arrogance but we don't really have enough time to truly get to know her. I would love to have seen both of these stories expanded, the characters allowed to grow and mature, as well as allow us to come to like Kate a little bit more. I truly only began to like her toward the end.

As with WOO’D IN HASTE, I can recommend WED AT LEISURE to anyone who can appreciate the dynamics of sibling rivalry, and who is looking for a quick afternoon read. Both of these stories are easily read back to back in that amount of time only it's more like getting a bite of a delicious dessert rather than a whole piece.

Happy Reading Everyone! 

WOO’D IN HASTE, a Taming novella by Sabrina Darby, Avon Impulse, available now in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks with print coming June 12th.

WED AT LEISURE, a Taming novella by Sabrina Darby, Avon Impulse, available now in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks with print coming June 12th.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information

and remember even pennies a sale can help keep this blog alive.

   

Unwrapping: Review of WRONG SIDE OF HELL by Juliana Stone

I count myself most fortunate that I was allowed to read WRONG SIDE OF HELL by Juliana Stone ahead of its ebook release date, March 6, 2012. This Avon Impulse paranormal novella is AWESOME! Juliana has created her best work yet.

Blurb for WRONG SIDE OF HELL:

With battle lines drawn and evil forces gathering in the shadows, the League of Guardians is all that stands between chaos and the human realm . . .

Logan Winters, an elite hellhound shifter, wants to forget his allegiance to the League and the pain he's suffered because of it. But when he's ordered to retrieve Kira Dove from purgatory and bring her back to life, he can't refuse. Not only will her death affect the balance between the realms, she's also linked to a past he can't forget.

Kira Dove, a young woman murdered before her time, wanders the gray realm, alone and vulnerable. The one bright spot in her life is the memory of a mysterious protector who saved her once before. As she makes her way through this terrifying place, she can't help but wonder... will he come for her again?

As Logan races to save her, he knows he faces a nearly impossible task: How can a hellhound survive in the one place he shouldn't ever be? The wrong side of hell . . .

                           *                         *                       *                        *                          *
In WRONG SIDE OF HELL, Juliana Stone takes us on a journey through the depths of purgatory, the gray realm, as Logan Winters attempts to save Kira Dove from a permanent death within the depths of Hell. This novella is amazingly fast-paced, gritty, and at times, a little bit terrifying. The action never stops! The sizzling attraction and emotional sensuality bouncing back and forth between Logan and Kira draw the reader in so fully that you feel as if you'll burst with anticipation if the two don't resolve their need for each other.

Logan, a shape shifting hellhound, is tough, guarded, and wants nothing more than to retrieve Kira Dove from a place he has no business going and isn't even sure he can enter much less leave again. His plan is to bring her soul back to her dead body in the morgue so he can be on his way and his secrets remain secret. What he hadn't counted on was how being near Kira brought forth a need to protect her so completely that he ends up putting both their souls in danger.

Kira has always felt like a victim. With nothing but some vague memories of a beast and a saviour to explain her fears and what she's been told are delusions, she's never felt in control of her life. Locked away in a mental institution, the one thing that has kept her grounded is the thought that her saviour will return to save her once more. Having awakened in a strange place that feels oh, so familiar, she also awakened with a new strength and a new attitude. She is determined not to play the victim ever again. So when Logan shows up to protect her as he leads her back to the real world, she makes it clear that she will fight right alongside him and not runaway from that which threatens her.

Mix together a story that is dark, gritty, and has the feel of a nightmare you can't escape with a romance brimming with steamy on-the-edge sensuality and you've got yourself a sexier than hell paranormal romance in WRONG SIDE OF HELL. I've been a fan of Juliana Stone through her Jaguar Warrior series but I have to say that she outdid herself with this novella. Novellas can be difficult to write because of the constraints of word count and the desire to include all the aspects needed to make it a good story. Well, Juliana did it and then some. She has created 100 pages of incredible storytelling that will keep you on the edge of your seat and unable to put it down.

I more than highly recommend this novella to everyone who enjoys excellent writing and incredible storytelling. I am, personally, eagerly awaiting the League of Guardians series and I'm hoping we see Logan and Kira again.

Happy Reading.

WRONG SIDE OF HELL by Juliana Stone, Avon Impulse, ebook format, release date - March 6, 2012, ASIN: B0070XAUKU, print book coming March 27, 2012.

                                                                        

Unwrapping: Big Release Tuesday - A Day Early!

I know, I know, it's Monday and tomorrow, Tuesday,  is the day for releases but this Release Tuesday is soooo huge, I couldn't wait to tell you about what is coming our way - romantically Romance Novel speaking! February turned out to be one heck of a great reading month and it's only going to keep getting better as we move into March and April.

As I already mentioned, THE RANCHER AND THE ROCK STAR by Lizbeth Selvig is a debut novel available in ebook format and later this coming month in print format.  Click here to read my review of this delightful contemporary from a bright new romance writer.

AGAINST THE NIGHT by Kat Martin 

   

She's got the face of an angel and the body of…well, isn't that what he'd expect from an exotic dancer? But there's something about this girl that Johnnie Riggs can't shake. The former army ranger is hot on the trail of an elusive drug lord—and suddenly very hot under the collar, as well.

Amy's got her own agenda to pursue: her sister is missing and Amy seems to be the only one who cares. She'll enlist Johnnie's help and do her best to ignore her growing attraction to finally get some answers. But when the two trails begin to converge and reveal something even more sinister than they imagined, their mutual desire is the least of their problems. They'll bring the truth to light…or die trying.

A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME by Sarah MacLean

What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets. . .

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London's most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to an unexplored world of pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London's illicit underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them . . . .even her heart.

BLAME IT ON BATH: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DUKE by Caroline Linden

A marriage of convenience . . . or of destiny?

Gerard de Lacey is determined to find the man who is blackmailing his family, but with his inheritance and status at risk, a hasty marriage to a wealthy bride also seems in order—just in case things take a turn for the worse. Charismatic and capable, Gerard knows he can win the hand of any lady he chooses. Still, he's not expecting a rich widow to find him and propose the very thing he wants: a marriage of convenience.

Katherine Howe's first marriage was one of dreary duty. Now that she's being pressured to marry her late husband's heir, she's desperate for a better option. Gerard de Lacey, with his sinful good looks, charming manner, and looming scandal, fits her needs perfectly. The fact that she's nursed a secret affection for him only makes it better—and worse. Because Gerard will likely marry her for her fortune—but can he love her for herself, as she loves him?

BETWEEN THE DUKE AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Sophia Nash

Six Regency heroes—One royal hangover.

An infamous night has been lost to memory. The scandalous Dukes of the Royal Entourage must make amends. The first step is a heroic rescue.

One of England’s most disreputable peers, Alexander Barclay, Duke of Kress, has stumbled upon a perfect opportunity for redemption. Having been exiled to Cornwall by the Prince Regent himself, Barclay discovers lovely Roxanne Vanderhaven clinging to the edge of a cliff, stranded there by her murderous blackguard of a husband . . . just waiting to be rescued.

Back on solid ground, Roxanne is desperate for a new life— once she’s retaliated for her husband’s despicable actions. Surprisingly, she finds herself drawn to her unlikely champion, certainly the last man in England she could count on. Yet, the infamous Duke of Kress isn’t quite the scoundrel he seems . . .

FEVER by Joan Swan   (another debut author) 
    [My Pick for HOTTEST COVER!]

When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she's in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom. But because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need...A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn't, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.

RAINSHADOW ROAD by Lisa Klepas

Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in mystical, beautiful, Friday Harbor, Washington. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her fiancé Kevin has left her. His new lover is Lucy’s own sister. Lucy's bitterness over being dumped is multiplied by the fact that she has constantly made the wrong choices in her romantic life. Facing the severe disapproval of Lucy's parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, a local vineyard owner on San Juan Island, to "romance" Lucy and hopefully loosen her up and get her over her anger. Complications ensue when Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love, Kevin has second thoughts, and Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses. Questions about love, loyalty, old patterns, mistakes, and new beginnings are explored as Lucy learns that some things in life—even after being broken—can be made into something new and beautiful.


THE HUSBAND HUNT  by Lynsay Sands 

Let the hunt begin...

Lisa Madison wants a husband, and she has just the candidate in mind: Robert Langley. Trouble is, the infuriating man insists on seeing her as the impish girl she once was—even as every other gentleman in London has taken notice of her womanly…charms. When her beauty lands her in danger, it’s Robert who comes to the rescue…only to announce his affections are not of the romantic variety!
Robert saw enough sorrow in his parents’ union to know he wants nothing to do with marriage, which is exactly what he’ll be trapped into if he acts on his desire for the irksome siren. And then Lisa does what Robert least expects: gives up on him! As feigned indifference gives way, blistering passion burns at last. But just before the pair can give in to hard-won bliss, an enemy with unfinished business lurks threatening to destroy them both.

THE TATTOOED DUKE by Maya Rodale

Breaking news, scandal fans:

You thought you knew the dangerous Duke of Wycliff, London's globe-trotting adventure addict. Here's what you don't know: he's penniless. Sebastian Digby's dukely lifestyle is over forever unless he finds a rich bride. But thanks to The London Weekly, everyone knows better than to tangle with this lothario. Besides (as one writer can testify), it seems that Sebastian has been unable to keep his hands of his own lowly housemaid...

And that's a problem. A big one.

Because that housemaid just happens to be me. Eliza Fielding. The same undercover Writing Girl who's been exposing the Duke's most intimate secrets to the world. And now I've gone and complicated everything by falling love with him. Passion and deception have never been so delicious, but now the truth could destroy everything. This is more than a conflict of interest. It's a seduction where love itself hangs in the balance.

Then coming very soon ... March 6th are:

WRONG SIDE OF HELL - a League of Guardians novella by Juliana Stone 

ebook format only, print book available March 27th.

Watch for my review of this novella coming Friday, March 2nd.

With battle lines drawn and evil forces gathering in the shadows, the League of Guardians is all that stands between chaos and the human realm…

Logan Winters, an elite hellhound shifter, wants to forget his allegiance to the League and the pain he’s suffered because of it. But when he’s ordered to retrieve Kira Dove from purgatory and bring her back to life, he can’t refuse. Not only will her death affect the balance between the realms, she’s also linked to a past he can’t forget.

Kira Dove, a young woman murdered before her time, wanders the gray realm, alone and vulnerable. The one bright spot in her life is the memory of a mysterious protector who saved her once before. As she makes her way through this terrifying place, she can’t help but wonder…will he come for her again?

As Logan races to save her, he knows he faces a nearly impossible task: How can a hellhound survive in the one place he shouldn’t ever be? The wrong side of hell…

LUST IN THE LIBRARY - an erotic novella by Amelia Fayer

Some like it hot, and some like it in the reference section.

Sara is having a love affair with books. But, since books can't make love to you, it means she's in the middle of a very long dry spell. Until a sexy Brit shows up. Suddenly she's learning just how stimulating a library can be—up against a bookcase, behind the card catalog, on the circulation desk . . .

Meanwhile, Veronica is incredibly frustrated. While Sara and her new man are using the library as their personal adult playground, she's stuck with only her thesis and her sexual fantasies. But Andrew, her crush, isn't above using his . . . assets to get Veronica right where he wants her: alone, in a darkened corner of the stacks.

Who knew reading could be this pleasurable?

Remember these are new releases and I have, like you, not read them with the exception of two so I can't be held responsible for whether or not you enjoy them but I hope you do!

Happy Reading!