Unwrapping: Review of SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale

Having read all of the Writing Girl series by Maya Rodale, I knew that as soon as an eARC of SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY was available that I just had to read this final book of the series. I also wanted to get a jump on it so that could bring you an interview with the lovely authoress herself, Maya Rodale - stay tuned for that on Wacky Wednesday's Halloween addition - she'll be visiting and we've got some great prizes to give away. But until then hold on to your breeches and enjoy what I have to say about this best book of the series and how 'bout that cover? *smiling*

***eARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY:

He’s the only man she’s ever loved…

For ages it seems advice columnist Annabelle Swift has loved Derek Knightly, editor-owner of The London Weekly from a distance. Determined to finally attract her employer’s attention, she seeks advice from her loyal readers—who offer Annabelle myriad suggestions…from lower-cut bodices (success!) and sultry gazes (disaster!) to a surprise midnight rendezvous (wicked!).

She’s the only woman he never noticed…

Derek never really took note of his shy, wallflower lady writer. But suddenly she’s exquisite…and he can’t get Annabelle out of his mind! She must be pursuing someone, but who? For some inexplicable reason, the thought of her with another man makes Knightly insanely jealous.

Will Dear Annabelle find her happy ending?

But Knightly’s scandalous periodical has been targeted for destruction by a vengeful Lord Marsden, and the beleaguered editor now faces a devastating choice: either marry Marsden’s sister to save his beloved newspaper…or follow his heart and wed his Writing Girl.

                  *                    *                    *                    *                      *                    *

Annabelle Swift has been working for Derek Knightly at the London Weekly for years and in love with him just as long. Having watched her dear friends, and fellow Writing Girls, find and fall in love with their prince charmings, Annabelle is tired of dispensing advice to the masses and decides to turn the tables. As Dear Annabelle, her column usually gives advice on how to get stains out or such but when she asks the people of London for advice on how to get a man to notice her, the column becomes the talk of the Town and the ton.

 

Derek Knightly has made a name for himself and is revered in the publishing world. He's built a fortune and has many friends and more than one woman who wouldn't mind turning his head but he's only got one goal to which he truly aspires. He wants to marry someone who would place him in the position where his half-brother would finally recognize him as a gentleman and an equal. The only way he sees this happening is by marrying the right woman. A woman who would provide him the place in the ton he needs to be recognized by his half-brother. He believes he's found her, but at what cost?

 

Threatened with the destruction of his newspaper and everything he's built up, Derek must marry the vengeful Lord Marsden's sister or watch his name and fortune destroyed by scandal and false accusations. Even as he struggles to solve this problem, his newspaper is soaring in popularity all because of a little noticed column written by an even less noticed Writing Girl. Ever since Dear Annabelle asked the good people of London to help her gain the notice of one particular nodcock, it's all that anyone including his best friends are talking about. Not only has the column grown in popularity but suddenly, Annabelle is much more noticeable.

 

Will Annabelle succeed in winning the attentions and affections of her nodcock, better known to everyone else at the London Weekly as Derek Knightly, or will she lose to the woman with society and a title behind her?

 

SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale is absolutely delightful from the first page to the last. We suffer Annabelle's angst as she attempts to capture Derek Knightly's attention. Just when we think it's safe, we suffer Derek's worry over whether or not he will be able to recapture Annabelle's love and convince her that she is worthy of all she wants. Maya writes SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY with humor, laugh out loud slapstick, and makes us remember that lack of confidence feeling that everyone, who has ever tried to capture the attention of a first love, has experienced.

 

With a Cinderella meets I Love Lucy feel to this delightfully endearing story, Maya Rodale has conjured her best writing to date for her final Writing Girl. She's succeeded in creating a happy-ever-after that leaves you smiling and wishing Mr. Knightly and his Dear Annabelle all the best. This one is, by far, my most favorite and I so didn't want it to end.

 

I highly recommend SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale whether you've read anything by this fabulous Regency authoress yet, or not. If you love a light-hearted comedy romance, you will love SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY. It will have you smiling, giggling and possibly laughing out loud as I did. Warning: be prepared to have people stare as if you've lost your mind if you read it in a public place.

 

Happy Reading Everyone!

 

SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale, Avon Romance, available Oct 30, 2012 in print and ebook formats. Run, don't walk, to get this one!

                                                                 

And SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot goes to ...

 

 

 

A great big thank you to everyone who

visited to eavesdrop on Romance Heroes Anonymous,

I had a great time creating this post and so am very

happy that y'all enjoyed it.

 

A quick note before I announce the winner of

a print copy of

SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK

by Meg Cabot -

 

There is a very good possiblity with this Frankenstorm

heading in my direction that I will lose power and

consequently, Internet access.

I have scheduled a review post for

SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale

for Monday, Oct 29th and an interview with

this same lovely lady on Wednesday, Oct 31st

with a fabulous Giveaway.

I hope you will all come by and check out these posts

and enjoy meeting Maya - she's a delight and the interview

is filled with fun and some news from her.

 

If I'm not back by Friday, I've scheduled a review

of SIN WITH A SCOUNDREL by Sara Bennett -

 it's a good book, you won't want to miss it.

 I'm sorry I won't get a chance to post the new releases on Tuesday.

Just to let you know, I will run the randomizer

for the winners of the Maya Rodale Giveaway

 as soon as I'm back. 

 

Thanks for being such great fans

and I hope everyone in the path of this monster is safe.

 

And now, the print copy of

SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot

goes to ...

Amy Bachtel

Amy, you've been notified by email so check your mail
and your SPAM folder, in case it goes in there.

Thanks again to everyone for visiting and
I hope you all have a great weekend and

Happy Reading Everyone!  xoxo 

 

 

Unwrapping: Review of THE LADY IS A VAMP by Lynsay Sands

I'm a huge fan of Lynsay Sands and her books are auto-buys for me - especially the Argeneau series. So, when THE LADY IS A VAMP came available this past August, I couldn't wait to read it and as a special treat from Avon Romance, they sent me a copy - mind you, this was for my own personal enjoyment but I thought I'd tempt you with it anyway.

***Print copy supplied by publisher for my personal enjoyment with no expectation of a review.

Blurb for THE LADY IS A VAMP:

One late night leads to...
Kidnapped! When Jeanne Louise Argeneau left work, she never thought she'd end up tied down by a good-looking mortal. More attracted than annoyed, she quickly realizes there is more to her abductor than meets the eye.
One desperate act leads to...
Love? Paul Jones has need of a vampire, and only Jeanne Louise will do. He just has to convince this beauty of a Vamp to help him...never imagining that he would fall in love. But with the immortal world's answer to law enforcement hunting them, their time together is running out...and Paul and Jeanne Louise will need to risk everything to spend an eternity together.

                     *                         *                       *                      *                       *

Jeanne Louise Argeneau works hard at Argeneau Enterprises, a corporation that deals with research and development in aiding the immortals descendant from Atlantis to live easier and more integrating lives with the mortals from whom they must stay hidden. Jeanne Louise's main work is finding a cure for her cousin Vincent and his father, Victor for whom bag feeding is not possible. Both immortals must feed off the hoof because if they attempt to survive on bagged blood, they will starve to death. Jeanne Louise's life has become all about finding this cure so when she heads home one weekend only to find herself kidnapped, everything about her situation becomes a worry about others.

Paul Jones works at Argeneau Enterprises in research and development and has always had an eye for Jeanne Louise but she's never noticed him once in all the time he's worked the night shift just as she does. He's share breaks, meals and knows her routine as well as she does. So, when desperation drives him to do something drastic to get her much needed help, he knows just when to kidnap her.

Paul is desperate. His sweet little girl, Livy, is dying. All of his knowledge, all of his work in development can do nothing to save her and at five years of age, Livy hasn't even begun to live her life. As a member of the R & D team at AE, Paul is privy to certain information and he knows who and what the Argeneaus, and their fellow immortals, are. He's gambling that by asking Jeanne to turn his daughter that the immortal will be willing and his little girl can live forever.

At first frustrated because she can't read Paul's thoughts, Jeanne assumes it's whatever he drugged with that is causing the problem until she meets little Livy. Able to easily read the girl's thoughts and feel her suffering, Jeanne starts checking off the symptoms that may mean that Paul Jones, her kidnapper, is most likely her lifemate. She's immediately taken with the seriousness of the situation with Livy and is quickly infatuated with both the girl and her father but finds herself faced with a question. Should she use her only turn to provide herself with a lifemate or save a sweet little girl from a painful and senseless death?

THE LADY IS A VAMP by Lynsay Sands is very different from her other books in the series. The seriousness of the topic of pediatric cancer tugs the heartstrings and quickly connects you to the characters and the desperateness of Paul's love for his daughter. Lynsay still catches you with a bit of humor that makes you smile but I found myself on the verge of tears more times than not while reading this amazingly fast-paced story. Jeanne quickly finds herself falling in love with her potential lifemate but also with Livy. She begins to think of them as a family and wishes she could design a means of turning both Paul and Livy so that the three of them can live on as a loving family - something she's always missed and craved for in her own long life.

THE LADY IS A VAMP by Lynsay Sands is touching, emotional, and as delightful a read as any of the series with a happily-ever-after that will surely have you reaching for some tissues. Even if you're not a fan of vampires, if you love a story about family, about a little girl who is facing the end of her life and how she wants everyone else to be okay, if you're one of those folks who loves a tear-jerker then please read THE LADY IS A VAMP. You might just be surprised at how much you will enjoy it and perhaps check out some that came before. I adore the Argeneaus and even if I'd never read any before, I would still recommend this book to everyone. This lady is a vampire but she's got a huge heart.

Happy Reading Everyone!

THE LADY IS A VAMP, an Argeneau Novel by Lynsay Sands, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats.

                                                               

Wacky Wednesday: Eavesdropping on Romance Heroes Anonymous

Last week, I asked you what your favorite Romance Hero type said about you and one of my readers, Mary Ann Landers said this: 

"My dream men tend to be heroes who are truly heroic, who go above and beyond for love; or ordinary guys looking for love amidst the problems and complications of life. I also dig mystical types, but they're pretty rare.

I know I'm weird, but there's one common aspect of romance heroes I don't care for one bit. I don't want to read about a man who needs to be redeemed. I don't see how men like this can give love or be worthy to receive it."  Thank you, Mary Ann.

This intriguing comment got me to thinking about Romance Heroes. About whether or not they think they're truly in need of redemption despite how they led their lives before meeting their true loves or were they merely seeking the same things as the heroines? I decided to figure out a way to discover what Romance Heroes were really thinking about when it came to their romantic escapades, and lo and behold, I found Romance Heroes Anonymous!

***There is no Romance Heroes Anonymous, all characters are fictional and do not resemble any others except generically. Everything said here is fiction and not meant to represent the thoughts or actions of any or all fictional heroes except for entertainment purposes.  ; )

This was what was overheard at one of those meetings which I managed to eavesdrop on :

Bad Boy:  Hey fellas, how's it hangin'? (tall, gorgeous man enters wearing a black leather motorcycle jacket, muscle hugging blue jeans, scuffed boots and carrying a twelve-pack of beer)

Good Man:  BB, you know we're not supposed to be drinking alcohol on the premises. It's kind enough of the proprietor to allow us to use the backroom without insulting the poor man.  (seated at the table is a tall, gorgeous man wearing a pale blue shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, black jeans and running shoes)

Bad Boy:  GM, you gotta loosen up a bit, old man! (setting the beer pack on the table surrounded by chairs) We're always having to play by those crazy author rules but we don't have to on our time.  (pulls out a cold can and tosses it to Good Man who promptly catches it and grins)

Good Man:  I suppose you're right, BB - occasionally. (snapping open the can and takes a drink)

Bad Boy:  Where is everybody? (glancing around)

Free Spirit: Right here ... well, except NQH but then you know he'll probably make a grand entrance eventually. (a tall, gorgeous man enters the room wearing a cowboy hat, red flannel shirt, dirty blue jeans and cowboy boots that looked like they'd seen better days. He removes the hat and tosses it on the table)

Free Spirit is followed by another tall, gorgeous man wearing a suit and tie, polished shoes with only a small scuff on one of the toes. He shrugs off the jacket and drapes it over a chair while tugging his tie loose)

Knight in Shining Armor:  Brought beer, I see, BB ... are they cold?

Bad Boy:  Cold enough.  (tosses a beer to Knight and then slides one across the table to Free Spirit, who nods his thanks)

Free Spirit:  Ever tried finding a place to park your horse in this city? Geesh! Every time I found a tree to tie him up, a cop came along and told me to move along.

Knight:  Good thing I came along when I did. Told the cop that was about to write poor old FS here a ticket that this cowboy was with me and the horse was evidence in a case. Schmuck actually believed me.  (laughing as he tugged his tie off and draped it over his jacket)

All four men laughed happily.

Not Quite Human:  Sounds like you're all in a good mood tonight. 

All four men turned to look at the tall, gorgeous man standing in the doorway wearing a long black coat beneath which black leather pants peeked out over the toes of black boots.

Bad Boy:  What? No fancy shimmer or smoke prelude to your entrance tonight, NQH?

Not Quite Human:  Naw, just not in the mood. (walks forward shrugging out of his black coat only to reveal a black silk shirt beneath with full sleeves and opened wide at the neck)  Got another of those cold ones?

Bad Boy:  Sure. (tossing NQH a beer after he watches the dark figure drape his coat over the back of the chair and take a seat) What's up? Or rather what's got you down, NQH?

Not Quite Human:  I'm so tired of always being portrayed as the hero who needs a woman to redeem his ass, in order for him to appreciate the love she's bringing to the relationship.  Sometimes, it's just damn lonely being a supernatural being wandering through existence alone and without someone to tell my troubles to - you guys are the exception, of course.

Four voices chime together:  Of course.

Not Quite Human:  I'm not heartless, you know? Even if I'm portrayed as soulless, I'm not heartless - well, maybe at times I'm a bit heartless in my dealings with some but I try to limit that to the bad guys.

Bad Boy:  Hey!

Good Man:  He said bad GUYS, BB, not Bad Boys.

Bad Boy:  Oh, right, sorry NQH - go on.

Not Quite Human:  No, you've just hit on the thing that bugs me the most. People automatically label me as evil. Someone who needs to be changed. Redeemed, ... I had parents once upon a time. I may even have had family. Sometimes, I've even been in love before and got my heart broken. We all have, right?

Four voices chime together:  Right!

Not Quite Human:  So why do the authors always make us out to be some horrible no-good who needs the love of a good woman to redeem us?

Free Spirit:  I know what you mean, NQH, how many times haven't I been portayed as some guy who needs a woman's influence to become responsible, to grow up even. Hey, what's wrong with enjoying life and having a good time? Besides, I am responsible. I always take care of my horse.

Bad Boy: Exactly. I know I'm sometimes guilty of bad behavior but that doesn't mean that I don't care about folks, even if I don't always treat 'em the way they want to be treated. I'd never deliberately harm anyone - well, unless they deserve it.

Knight:  That's so true, BB. Sometimes, in order to do the right thing, you have to do some bad things. It's our nature as heroes, isn't it? To protect those who can't protect themselves and those that we care about?

Good Man:  I think I understand what you're all saying. If we're to be the heroes we are asked to be then we have to act on our instincts. And if our instincts take us along a certain path, then why do we need to be changed in order to love someone?

Four voices chime together:  Exactly!

Not Quite Human:  Not that you've probably ever had to be redeemed, GM.

Good Man:  Oh, I've had my moments, NQH. I'm not that good!  (chuckling)

Everyone gets his joke and laughs along with him.

                 *                   *                  *                   *                  *                   *

So readers, what do you think? Do Romance Heroes have to be redeemable for the heroines (and us) to love them?

What about Heroines, who are less than innocent, should we think of them as needing to be redeemed?

Giveaway:

Prize:  One Print Copy of SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot

Blurb for SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK:

Summer break . . . and the livin' ain't easy!
Just because the students at New York College have flown the coop doesn't mean assistant residence hall director Heather Wells can relax. Fischer Hall is busier than ever, filled with squealing thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls attending the first ever Tania Trace Teen Rock Camp, hosted by pop sensation Tania Trace herself--who just happens to be newly married to Heather's ex-boyfriend, heartthrob Jordan Cartwright. But the real headache begins when the producer of a reality TV show starring Tania winds up dead . . . and it's clear that the star was the intended victim.

Grant Cartwright, head of Cartwright Records, wants to keep his daughter-in-law (and his highest-earning performer) alive. So he hires his oldest son, black sheep of the family and private investigator Cooper Cartwright--who just happens to be Heather's "new" fiancE. Heather should leave the detecting to Cooper. But with a dorm full of hysterical mini-divas-in-training, she can't help but get involved. And after Tania shares a really shocking secret with her, "this" reality suddenly becomes more dangerously real than anyone ever anticipated.

A bit of mystery keeps this contemporary romance moving along. Anyone want a copy?

Giveaway rules:   THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Thanks for playing.

One lucky commenter will be randomly chosen to win a print copy of SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot.

This Giveaway is OPEN to US RESIDENTS ONLY (void where prohibited)

You must leave a comment with a valid email address to qualify to be entered in this Giveaway.

COMMENT + EMAIL ADDRESS = ENTRY

 

Giveaway will run till 11:30PM Friday, October 26, 2012 at which time one lucky commenter will be chosen at random and notified by email as well as announced in a special post on Saturday. Good Luck!

 

Happy Reading Everyone!

 

SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK, a Heather Wells Mystery novel, by Meg Cabot, William Morrow paperbacks, available in print, ebook, and audio formats.

 

                                                       

Unwrapping: Review of SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields

Last month, I introduced you to a new writer who happens to also frequent this blog which I'm very pleased about. This debut writer is Jaye Shields. She has already thrilled many readers with her debut work, CONFESSIONS OF A SEX DEMON, but I'm pleased to say that her talents don't end with sex demons. I was recently asked to read an eARC of her upcoming release, SECRETS OF THE FOG, book one in the Immortals in Alameda series. So, of course, I jumped at the chance. Jaye Shields hooked me with this one -  again.

***eARC supplied by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Blurb for SECRETS OF THE FOG:

A Sexual Goddess + Giant Tree = Dryad. Or at least that’s how Tera was born.

When the Dryad Tera’s friends inform her that the portal on Alcatraz Island is buzzing with an arrival, she thinks her goddess mother has come to visit. When Tera arrives at the portal to welcome her, she doesn’t find her mother, she finds a gigantic otherworldly warrior causing mass destruction among the San Francisco tourists. Being a Forest Dryad born from the Goddess of the Hunt has its perks, and kicking ass is one of them.

Sabin is six-feet-six of hard-bodied soldier, used to subduing demons twice his size. One day after chasing an elusive smoke demon through a portal into the human realm, Sabin is brought to his knees by a beautiful woman, literally. After arriving at a pier full of dead bodies, Tera issues a passionate smack-down before Sabin can explain that he’s the good guy.

He’s just in time: as an ancient grudge has come to life. Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, has held a bitter hatred for Tera’s mother, Artemis, for over 400 years – and now she’s ready to destroy all Dryads – including Tera.

                     *                    *                    *                    *                    *                    *

Tera is a Forest Dryad who has come to live in Alameda after meeting her friend, Sparrow. The Dryad don't normally leave the forest but Tera wanted more. Now, she lives a happy life with her adopted family of Wiccans that include Sparrow, Sparrow's mother Egret, and her aunts Morgana and Melissandre. Tera protects her city and its inhabitants like she once protected her forest and her Dryad sisters. Only now her enemies are the vampires that sometimes creep through the city and leech their existence off the humans.

Sabin is a warrior guardian of the Fog Realm, a Knight who guards the portals that open between the realms and allow some to travel through and others to keep in. As a Knight of the Fog Realm, he is immortal. When he finds himself suddenly pushed through a portal along with a demon, Sabin has no idea how is life, his very long life, is about to change. Intent on destroying the demon and protecting the more fragile humans on which the demon preys, Sabin never expects to find himself attacked by a warrior woman in the form of a Forest Dryad named Agrotera. He more certainly doesn't expect his heart to be captured by a woman who has been raised to despise men even more than demons and vampires.

SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields is captivating, inspiring, and action-packed nearly from the first page. The aunts immediately caught my attention and reminded me of the adorable Owens sisters in Alice Hoffman's PRACTICAL MAGIC, endearing me to the characters as easily as the teasing, loving banter between Tera and Sparrow. Being a huge fan of magick and witches, I was already captured by the camaraderie of the main characters but when introduced to Sabin, and his merry Knights of the Fog Realm, I knew I was in love. Jaye Shields has taken paranormal romance to a new level with Dryads, Witches, Demons, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Goddesses and realms that wander in and out of our Human world leaving us wondering about some of the strange things that do happen in our world that can never be explained or discovered.

SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields introduces us to a series that is more than just vampires and werewolves as we are used to in paranormal romance. It's much more. It brings in the stories of ancient mythologies, celtic tales, and the world of magick. Jaye Shields has proven that she has a vivid and expansive imagination that can treat us to a travel visit to San Francisco or through the fog and mists that surround and captivate the imagination as their secrets swirl around the city on the bay. Strong female characters who can hold their own and aid the men while fighting demons . Women who draw us in to cheer and wish that we could trade places with them. These are women who we'd love to have as friends and sisters. We laugh with them. We cry with them. And then we share their triumphs and pride. All while falling in love with the most incredibly sexy immortals ever to grace our pages.

I highly recommend SECRETS OF THE FOG, book one in the Immortals in Alameda series, by Jaye Shields to anyone who loves the stories of the gods and goddesses from ancient Greece or other mythologies, including those of the Forest and the ancient Celts. If you've never delved into the paranormal romance genre but would like to dip your toe in - this is a great one to start with - but be forewarned - once you do, you will be hooked and eagerly awaiting the next, as I am. 

Happy Reading Everyone!

SECRETS OF THE FOG, book one in the Immortals in Alameda series by Jaye Shields, Crimson Romance, upcoming release date, October 29, 2012, available in ebook formats.

                                                                

Unwrapping: Review of A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES by Julie Anne Long

One of the perks of being an Avon Addict was being asked to read and review eARCs of upcoming Avon releases for Edelweiss. Even though I'm now only an Avon Addict Alum, I was asked to read and review two last eARCs in my capacity as an Avon Addict.  A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES by Julie Anne Long was one of those two eARCs.

***eARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES:

She rose to spectacular heights…

From Covent Garden to courtesan to countess, beautiful, fearless, shamelessly ambitious Evie Duggan has riveted London in every role she plays. But the ton never could forgive her scandalous—if shockingly short—marriage, and when her star plummets amid gleefully vicious gossip, the countess escapes to the only legacy left to her: a manor house in Pennyroyal Green.

He never expected to fall so hard…

He has the face of a fallen angel and a smolder the devil would envy, but Vicar Adam Sylvaine walks a precarious line: resisting temptation…and the wild Eversea blood in his veins. Adam’s strength is tested when scandal, aka the countess, moves to Sussex. But when a woman who fiercely guards her heart and a man entrusted with the souls of an entire town surrender to a forbidden desire, will the sweetest sin lead them to Heaven...or make outcasts of them forever?

                          *                  *                  *                  *                  *                    *

Evie Duggan has escaped to Pennyroyal Green in hopes that she may live a peaceful life without the scorn, whispering, and the gossip that surrounded her in London before and after her husband's untimely death. She quickly discovers that scandal can follow you anywhere.

Vicar Adam Sylvaine is still getting a handle on being a vicar and doing right by his parishioners when a woman arrives in Pennyroyal Green and proceeds to sleep through one of his sermons then later, shock him with her less than ladylike language. When he discovers that she is a notorious courtesan, who even his cousin is well acquainted with, she instantly becomes a person of interest to him but also one he is determined from whom he'll keep his distance - or try anyway.

When Evie implores Adam to assist her in making friends with the women of Pennyroyal Green, he balks at first then sees Evie as a special project. With his subtle influence, the ladies of Pennyroyal quickly put Evie through her tasks. All of which she passes and even endears herself to those who she's been tasked to help. It's only when one of her new friend's suitors comes to town that her past is once more flung in her face like mud on a pig. Even Adam begins to believe that the new gossip is true and is distraught to think it is. Will the Vicar continue to think the best of a person he knows to have a notorious past or will he, like the rest of Pennyroyal Green, turn his back on the woman who plagues both his heart and his morals?

A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES by Julie Anne Long is a delightful historical romance filled with saucy banter, innuendos, and characters that endear themselves to you quickly. Evie Duggan is incorrigible but didn't connect with me as well as some of the secondary characters such as Henny and Amy Pitney. Vicar Adam Sylvaine, while appealing, and at times very sexy, was not as appealing to me as his cousins, the Everseas. Perhaps this was because he is a vicar and intent on pushing his natural desires to the back in favor of what is good for his parishioners. Except he's a vicar - not a priest.

As a historical romance, A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES by Julie Anne Long hits the mark but as a romance that captures, scintillates and makes the reader sigh - I feel it fell flat. I would like to have seen a little less talk and a lot more action - or at least seen some of that teasing, sexual innuendo banter put to better use.

If you love the Pennyroyal Green series then you'll not want to miss A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES by Julie Anne Long. However, if you've not read any of this series yet - don't start with this one. Read some of the previous ones then come back and read this one. 

 

Happy Reading Everyone!

 

A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES by Julie Anne Long, Avon Romance, release date, October 30, 2012, available in print and ebook formats.

 

                                                                

Wacky Wednesday: Romance Heroes - What's Your TYPE Say About You?



Rhett Butler was a gambler, a womanizer,
a gentleman, and a man in love.
My kind of hero!

Everyone has a TYPE of Romance Hero they are seemingly drawn to, whether it's in the movies or their favorite Romance Novels. But what does your favorite Romance Hero TYPE say about you as the reader?

Some believe the animus (according to Carl Jung - an inner masculine part of the female personality) projects those hidden male traits that a woman has buried deep inside her onto any male archetypes she encounters. These traits that she is normally unable to exercise or even acknowledge because of societal, familial, or peer pressure constraints draw her to a certain archetype of hero. The most common of these male archetypes tend to be imaginary lovers, characters in books and movies, and most dangerously, on real men - but we're not going to go that far here.  Instead, let's think about the book heroes we gravitate towards and which ones we choose to indulge in or rather the one our animus chooses for us - or is it that he chooses us - based on those masculine characteristics that are so much a part of each of us.  

Let's take a look at the different character types of Romance Heroes:

The Knight in Shining Armor:  A woman who chooses this man is seeking something better, more pure, something with a higher standard. This woman sets high standards for herself and seeks someone who can prove himself worthy of her. This woman often in her real life must be strong for those around her and protect others. She dreams of having someone in her life that's courageous, mighty, and bold. Someone who will be her champion and protector. She finds her Knight in every character who is larger than life, pure of heart, good in nature, talented and heroic. Typically, this character is more often than not an Athlete, a Policeman/Fireman, a Doctor, or Military Man - someone like Runner Gabriel Huntford in Anna Randol's SINS OF A VIRGIN.

The Free Spirit:  What kind of woman is seeking this hero type? Usually one who wants to play at love. She wants a charming, funny, and teasing kind of man who will chase her until she finally captures his heart. This hero type tends to be a free-spirit whose life seems like a never-ending party. Perhaps this woman has many responsibilities on her plate and so by escaping with this wandering minstrel type of hero, she gains a sense of freedom. An escape from having to always be the grown-up and always having to make the decisions. Typically, this character is a Regency Duke, an Adventurer, a Cowboy, a Rock Star or Playboy Millionaire - someone like Brady Talmadge in Lori Wilde's THE COWBOY AND THE PRINCESS.

The Bad Boy:  A lot of women are hot for the Bad Boy, are you one? This hero is the one that you know is trouble from the moment you meet him. You know that whatever he gets involves with is most likely dangerous but you can't resist him and your imagination goes wild with a frenzy to be part of his life. Perhaps it's because you're always counted on to do the right thing, don't dare to be selfish and always put everyone else before yourself. The idea of taking off with this Bad Boy hero type is something you'd love to do or would like to be in real life but know it can never be. So why not escape with him into your imagination instead? Typically, this character is most likely to be a Rake, a Pirate, a Womanizer, Biker or even a Prisoner - wrongly convicted, of course -  or someone like Rio Santana in Joan Swan's INTIMATE ENEMIES.

The Good Man:  This is a hero who is mysterious, powerful, gentle and caring. The woman who seeks this hero longs for guidance, enlightenment and in part - saving. She may find her own life too routine or mundane.  She may be the one who guides and often lends her strength to others. So, she seeks someone greater than herself to lead her to a fulfillment beyond her reach. Her imagination is open to new and imaginative things. Typically this character is a Vicar, a Teacher, or a Magical Man with extraordinary powers - someone like Vicar Adam Sylvaine in Julie Ann Long's upcoming new release, A NOTORIOUS COUNTESS CONFESSES (Oct 30th)


The Not Quite Human:  This hero tends to be, by nature of its inhumanity, amoral, lustful, dark in personality and being, but sensually appealing to a woman seeking love in surrender. She seeks to give in to indulgences that reward her with bliss and satisfaction. She sees the good in this character even when he denies it himself. By seeking this dark, lust-driven man, she satisfies the need to indulge in her own need for lust without compunction and surrendering herself to her darker nature. She imagines giving herself to someone who is more powerful and more uninhibited than herself. Typically this character is a Vampire, Shapeshifter, Demon, or other paranormal hero - someone like Logan Winters in Juliana Stones' upcoming new novella release, TO HELL AND BACK (Oct 30th).

So, now that you've met the usual archetype heroes that fill our Romance Novels, which one calls to you most often?

I think I have a penchant for a cross between a Knight in Shining Armor, a Bad Boy and a Not Quite Human type Romance Hero - I do love my men in uniform but there's nothing like a bad boy to make your heart race and then those paranormal heroes - ooooh, be still my heart. I have to admit that I'm one of those always taking care of others, counted on to do the right thing, kind of person but I also recognize my dark side and totally admit that I'd love nothing better than to be a Sex Demon.  *wink*  

How 'bout you? What's your Romance Hero Type and what does it say about you?

Happy Reading Everyone!

            

Unwrapping: It's Been A While So How 'Bout A ... MANCANDY MONDAY!

It's been a while so I thought since I spent the weekend putting the finishing touches on my submission to Avon Impulse - an historical romance set in America featuring a governess and her second chance at love - that I'd treat us all to some Monday ManCandy Delights!  Enjoy and please, cross your fingers for me - thanks!

Did I show you this one before?  *wink*



How 'bout this one?

Oh, but if I did, do you really mind? *wink*

A friend sent me this one -

couldn't resist a little Alcide delight!

HAPPY READING EVERYONE!