Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Zebra (December 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420100955

ISBN-13: 978-1420100952
Genre: Historical Romance
Stand-Alone
Main Characters: Jared St. John & Gwyneth of Windrose

Buy at: The Book Depository

Blurb:

Three years ago Jared St. John was imprisoned, wrongly, for the murder of his own brother. Now, finally free, he wishes only to live in peace, hoping to heal the darkness that plagues his soul. But his self-inflicted isolation is destroyed when he is drugged, spirited away to a church, and forced to marry a brazen enchantress against his will...Lady Gwyneth of Windrose knows something of false imprisonment, but that doesn't stop her from abducting a stranger when it's her only hope of gaining her liberty. Yet the moment she's alone in her unwilling new husband's powerful presence, everything Gwyneth thought she knew of men - and of seduction - falls by the wayside. For the first time in her life, it's not freedom Gwyneth craves...but to give herself over to unyielding passion...

Requested Review 

If you are a fan of classic historical romances like the ones Johanna Lindsey wrote in the 80’s and early 90’s you will most certainly love Jessica Trapp’s Defiant. But even if you are not into historical romances you can enjoy this smooth written story for its plot delves much deeper than just a simple love story between a fierce hero and a feisty heroine.

Lady Gwyneth of Windrose is known for her great beauty and many men have asked for her hand in marriage, yet Gwyneth has always evaded the shackles of marriage. Gwyneth has no intention to be the property of a man who can show her off whenever he feels like it. All she wants is her freedom. Fate brings her together with Irma, a whore. They share a secret and it is Irma who shows Gwyneth how she can use her beauty to her advantage to help other women. Now Gwyneth is a woman on a mission, she wants to save as many women from prison as she can so they won’t be sold into slavery.

But Gwyneth cannot escape marriage forever and her family forces her to marry some fop. This will endanger her mission so she and Irma come up with a plan. They abduct a stranger; Gwyneth marries him and pays him off so he disappears. This is Gwyneth’s only hope to gain her liberty and continue her mission, but they picked the wrong stranger to mess with for Jared St. John will not disappear. He is here to stay and for the first time in her life Gwyneth cannot seduce a man to do things her way, for the first time in her life she wants to surrender to her passion… passion for her husband.

Jared St. John is the illegitimate child of a lady, she never cared for him. He is a falconer and shares a special bond with his bird Aeliana. Three years ago he was falsely accused of murdering his own brother, now he has escaped. He only wishes to live in peace and clear his name by finding his brother’s real killer. Living in peace is no longer an option when Gwyneth enters his life and forces him to marry her, but marriage to Gwyneth has its advantages so he exercises his rights as her husband while he tries to clear his name. But it is hard not to fall under the spell of such a beauty.

Though Defiant is a classic historical romance, fluently written and fast-paced to read, it also has a high level of girl power and it is a character-driven story. The changes both Jared and Gwyneth undergo during this story add even more layers and depth to them. They come from very different backgrounds, have absolutely nothing in common with one another yet they are very much the same in many ways. They both have a strong sense of justice and this is what eventually leads them to one another.

Gwyneth is a great heroine, as a lady she could have resigned herself to her role as a wife and live an easy life, instead she tries to take control of her own life as much as she can and help other women. She is an idealist trying to improve the position of women in a men’s world. She is persistent, a little stubborn, smart and emphatitic; she puts other people’s needs for her own. Life has taught her that men don’t listen to women very well and if she wants something she has to do it herself. She depends very much on herself and Irma and does not trust men. When Jared stays in her life she must adapt quickly and find new ways to continue her mission, not once does she give up. She is a very strong, compassionate lady and I like her attitude and her assertiveness very much.

Looking from Gwyneth’s point of view Jared sounds like a bastard, but he really isn’t. I must admit when he forced Gwyneth to wear a brank for a day he did not score any points with me, but she really pushed him too far and Jared needed to show that he could handle his wife, after all this story plays out in the middle ages. Being hurt by women all his life makes Jared very cautious of Gwyneth, he is emotionally closed off yet vulnerable at the same time. He does not trust people, especially women easily. Jared only relies on himself and his bird Aeliana. Yet he is very patient and gentle with Gwyneth, he teaches her how to read and shows her that she can trust him and that he has honor. All he wants is to clear his name and live in peace.

There are not many secondary characters in this story; the only important one is Irma. Irma is Gwyneth’s best friend and she is a whore. She lives a harsh life yet tries to make the best of things and is always to help other women. I liked Irma, she is so practical and she made me laugh. She and Gwyneth are an odd pair, together with Jared they are the pivot of Defiant. Still, Jessica Trapp has done a great job at making you feel a connection to this three characters as they try to live their lives on their terms and reach their goals.

I really loved the plotline of this story, there are many little details in the lives of Jared, Gwyneth and Irma that look trivial, yet it turns out that they are very important for the development of the story. These details also show how tangled up their lives really are without them knowing it. All these little details and loose ends come together with a bang at the end of the story.

Defiant was a pleasant surprise for me, I loved it. The well-rounded characters, the undeniable attraction between Jared and Gwyneth, the fluent and profound plotline and the high level of girl power. The solutions Irma and Gwyneth come up with for their problems were hilarious. Yet at the same time Defiant keeps that authentic medieval vibe. Therefore Defiant is a mesmerizing read from start to finish.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade; Original edition (November 2, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425236838
ISBN-13: 978-0425236833
Purchase at: Book Depository

Cover Summary:
She offered him one week of pleasure. No more and no less...

Some sacrifices are more difficult than others. Left destitute after her father's death, Rose Marlowe has debts to settle and a younger brother to support. But she also possesses an unmatched beauty-one that could command quite a price...

Now, every month, Rose secretly travels from her country home to spend one week at a decadent London brothel, where she's become a sought-after prize. Elegant and accomplished in the art of pleasure, she spends her nights fulfilling the fantasies of the gentlemen of the ton while denying the wish buried deep in her heart.

Then one night a wealthy merchant gentleman walks through her door. Handsome, kind and compassionate, with a lonely soul that matches her own, James Archer is not her usual client. Falling in love with a client, never mind a married one, is unthinkable. Yet Rose can't help but lose herself in his arms as one night becomes seven-and seven nights lead to a chance at forever...

My Review: James is stuck in an arranged marriage, void of love, compassion or even amiability. His hard working attitude hides a very lonely man and the only thing that makes this marriage worthwhile is his wife’s promise to introduce his sister to the bon ton of London during the season. Still, after three long years of being honorable it turns a man starved for a bit of affection and kindness. James promises himself one night with a woman who does not loathe the sight of him and that choice brings him knocking on the door of Rose. Two lonely people meet and feel a magnetic pull neither of them expected.

With SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER, Evangeline Collins delivers a heartwarming historical romance of a man trapped in a loveless marriage and unexpectedly finds a connection to another woman. Even though arranged marriages are very common in the time period of the story and even affairs for both women and men are conventional it is James who made the difference. For all intends and purposes he wanted to abide by his vow but his wife is a self absorbed nightmare of a woman. James might be emotion starved but that doesn’t mean he isn’t struggling with his actions of obtaining some kindness. I found it very easy to sympathize with James, he is a good man, works hard, cares for his family and treats people with respect. To opposite such a man to a dragon of a woman who is haughty, selfish and cold is perhaps an easy way to gain my support for James but it evoked the response nonetheless. Amelia as his wife is one of the reasons I could understand and accept James’ infidelity. A person can only take so much when deprived of even the barest hint of affection and the time period also gave leeway to such a story angle.

James is a character who was all around likable but Rose is right there with him. She’s taken care of her younger brother from the moment her father died and in those days there were very few options open to Rose. She chooses to become a high-priced courtesan for seven nights each month and so the opportunity rises for James and Rose to meet. Rose is everything Amelia is not, she loves the country, she’s kind, compassionate, is even willful at times and makes understandable choices. From the moment James is introduced to Rose there is plenty of tension between then. I would almost call it a refined eroticism, the passion is sizzling hot and frequent but the poignant way it is written curbs the act of sex play and adds the emotional depth to it. It is not only the erotic tension but also their emotional needs that resonate with each other and form a fragile bond of feelings and trust.

The challenges that lay ahead of them mainly revolved around their developing romance that could go no further due to James’ marriage. The problems give appropriate resistance delivering some inner struggles and emotion wrought scenes yet it weren’t insurmountable odds to overcome as the solution proved that. James and Rose need to make decisions and for them to come to certain conclusions was interesting to witness. The romance was moving and the sincerity of the characters made me care all the more about the outcome of it all.

Evangeline Collins manages to write a wonderful historical romance with just a handful of characters where the focus lies on the love, sensuality and interaction. If there is one secondary character, next to Amelia and Rebecca, who intrigued me to no end then it was the male prostitute, Timothy. With only a few scenes and some insightful comments coming from Timothy he becomes a colorful character who triggers my curiosity. His situation, as a male BDSM prostitute, begs for the unraveling of his back story though I wonder if this author would go there.

SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER is a nice blend of a heart rendering romance, sensuality, sincere characters and easy flowing writing skills.  

Quote James struggling with Rose’s profession:
“I…” A furrow tightened his brow, his voice dropping to a grave rumble. “It’s hard sometimes knowing I won’t ever be your first anything. But I won’t let it come between us anymore. You have my word.”

Quote:
How she wished he could have been her first everything. The first man who touched her, kissed her, made love to her. Her first and only. But none of that mattered. None had even come close to leaving a mark on her heart. “You’re the first man I have ever wanted to be with,” she confessed. The tight line of his mouth softened. The gravity left his eyes, the green depths warming with an emotion she should not date give name to. “Thank you,” he whispered, almost awed, as though she presented him with the rarest of treasures.

Twelve Wicked Nights by

Nadia Aidan

Standalone

Genre: Erotic Romance

Releasedate: 2 November 2010
Publisher: NAL Trade

ISBN-10: 0451231317

ISBN-13: 978-0451231314

Website: Nadia Aidan

Blurb:

This season, the only gift attorney Isabella Andreu wants to unwrap is Navy SEAL Justin Rourke. And boy, is she about to get her wish.

 Twelve Wicked Nights begins when a blizzard traps Isabella in the home of her sexy childhood friend…and a steamy game of strip Scrabble lays bare some long-suppressed desires. Justin, it seems, has talents beyond killing. Hot, sensual talents. But when a phone call lets them know that they only have 12 days before his next mission, things get even more interesting. Determined to make the most of their time together, they draw up a list of fantasies so naughty, it pushes all their buttons and leads to something wholly unexpected….

When Harry Met Molly by
Kieran Kramer
Impossible Bachelors Series
Book 1 of 4

Genre: Historical Romance

Releasedate: 2 November 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

ISBN-10: 0312611641
ISBN-13: 978-0312611644

Website: Kieran Kramer

Blurb:

He’s always been a player.
Dashing Lord Harry Traemore is perfectly content to live out his days in the pursuit of pleasure. But when he’s named by the Prince Regent as one of society’s “Impossible Bachelors,” Harry is drafted into a ribald romantic wager. The rules of engagement are scandalously simple: The bachelor whose mistress wins the title of “Most Delectable Companion” gets to remain unmarried. Harry is utterly unconcerned about his status…until his latest lightskirt abandons him.

Who will win this game of love?
Lady Molly Fairbanks. Harry’s childhood friend—actually, “foe” is more like it—is the most unlikely companion of all. She’s attractive but hot-headed, and in no mood for games. Besides, what could the self-indulgent Harry possibly know about what makes a woman delectable? It’s time for Molly to teach him a lesson once and for all…but will it lead to “happily ever after?”

The Pursuit of Pleasure by
Elizabeth Essex

Genre: Historical Romance

Releasedate: 30 November 2010
Publisher: Kensington Publishing

ISBN-13: 9780758251541
ISBN: 0758251548

Blurb:

“I do say I’ll never marry, but I have always wanted to be a widow.”

Marriage is Lizzie’s only hope of escaping her overbearing father. The problem is, it would only place her under the thumb of another man. Widowhood—or a marriage without the man—would be ideal.

When Naval Captain James Marlowe overhears Lizzie’s declaration, he pounces, offering to wed her before he sets sail for an uncertain future. For Lizzie, it’s the perfect solution, but as Elizabeth Essex’s The Pursuit of Pleasure unfolds, their marriage of convenience soon proves more complicated than she imagined. There’s more to Marlowe’s offer than meets the eye. And the intense desires he awakens in her notwithstanding, can she truly trust the man she married?

Prince Charming Doesn't Live Here by
Christine Warren
Book 10
Novels of the Others Series

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Releasedate: 2 November 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

ISBN-10: 0312947941
ISBN-13: 978-0312947941

Website: Christine Warren
 
Blurb:

Danice Carter wakes up naked and confused. She can't figure out how she got into bed with a man she's never met, because there is no way she would forget meeting McIntyre Callahan. The man is everything she's ever fantasized about, a mind-bendingly mouth-watering hunk...who is just as puzzled about what's going on as she is.

When they discover the explanation involves a fugitive from Faerie, some very tricky magic, and a theoretical hotel room, things start to get a little weird. Good thing the attraction between Danice and Mac makes all the sense in the world.

Jenny Brown – Lord Lightning

Genre: Historical Romance
Releasedate: October 1 2010
Part of the Zodiac Sign series
For sale at: The Book Depository Store
SYNOPSIS
They call him "Lord Lightning". . .

For his shocking behavior. An unrepentant rogue with a wicked reputation, his outrageous conduct ensures no woman will get close enough to hurt him.

But demure and lovely astrologer Eliza Farrell casts a chart that tells her Lord Hartwood is capable of great, passionate love. When Hartwood indulges in one of his famous pranks and invites Eliza to become his new mistress, the virginal country miss must meet her fate armed only with her knowledge that the cynical lord will become the tender lover she sees predicted in the stars.

Though Eliza is nothing like the brazen strumpets he prefers, the seemingly incorruptible seer excites Lord Lightning much more than the hard, calculating women he is accustomed to. Eliza's trusting spirit and quick mind touch his cold heart - and when the bewitching innocent surprisingly agrees to be seen on his arm, neither can predict the sparks that will fly between them . . . or resist the electric passion that will threaten to transform them both.


JR Ward – Crave

Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Releasedate: October 5, 2010
Book 2 in the Fallen Angel series
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

SYNOPSIS
The battle between good and evil has left the future of humanity in the hands of a reluctant savior and his band of fallen angels. Seven deadly sins that must be righted. Seven souls that must be saved.

While his first task was success, Jim Heron is battling a demon that can take any form for the soul of someone he must identify on his own. If that weren't enough, his old boss Matthias wants Jim to assassinate an AWOL member of The Firm - Isaac, the man Jim is pretty sure he is supposed to save. Jim knows first hand that once you're in The Firm, there's no getting out. But when Jim finds Isaac to warn him, he has been picked up by the police for illegal street fighting, and it is clear that Isaac is falling for his gorgeous public defender. Is their love the redemption that will save Isaac's soul? Or has the demon Devina set an elaborate trap?


Robin Young – Insurrection

Releasedate: October 14, 2010
Book 1 in the Insurrection trilogy
For Sale At: The Book Depository Store

SYNOPSIS
The year is 1286 and Scotland is in the grip of one of the worst winters in living memory. Some believe the Day of Judgement has come. The King of Scotland is murdered by one of his squires, a deed pre-meditated by his own brother-in-law, the King of England, a thousand miles away in France. The Prophecy of Merlin has decreed that only when the four relics of Britain have been gathered will one man rule a united kingdom, and Edward I is determined to fulfil it. The murder of Scotland's king is thus just the first in a chain of events that will alter the face of Britain forever. But all is not destined to go Edward's way. Out of the ashes of war, through blood feuds and divided loyalties, a young squire will rise to defy England's greatest king. His name is Robert the Bruce. And his story begins in INSURRECTION.


Sarah McCarty – Tracker’s Sin

Genre: Erotic Romance
Releasedate: October 1, 2010
Stand-alone novel
For Sale At: The Book Depository Store

SYNOPSIS
Before his trade became his name, "Tracker" Ochoa was a scrawny Mestizo runaway. Now as fearsome as he once was frightened, he's joined the notorious Hell's Eight.and they have a job for him.

He must rescue kidnapped heiress Ari Blake and deliver her safely to the Hell's Eight compound - by any means necessary. Turns out that includes marrying her, if he means to escort her and her infant daughter across the Texas Territory. Tracker hadn't bargained on a wife - especially such a fair, blue-eyed beauty. But the erotic pleasures of the marriage bed more than make up for the surprise.

Tracker's well-muscled bronze skin and dark, dangerous eyes are far more exciting than any of Ari's former debutante dreams. In the light of day, though, his deep scars and brooding intensity terrify her. But he's her husband and she's at his mercy. With the frontier against them and mercenary bandits at their heels, Ari fears she'll never feel safe again.

Tracker, too, remembers what fear feels like. Though he burns to protect Ari, to keep her for himself always, he knows that money, history - and especially the truth - can tear them apart.


Stephanie Tyler – Lie With Me

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Releasedate: October 26, 2010
Book 1 in the Shadow Force series
For Sale At: The Book Depository Store

SYNOPSIS
Forced together by fate, bound together by desire

Framed for a double murder, Delta Force operative Cameron Moore is given a new lease on life by the CIA - provided he pays them back by doing their black ops dirty work. But now Cam is ready to renegotiate the deal, and he thinks he's found the perfect bargaining chip: Skylar Slavin, bestselling author of espionage thrillers and the daughter of the CIA man who saved Cam from a prison sentence.

Skylar has been living in anonymity, never suspecting that someone so dangerous - and so desirable - would plunge her into a world as treacherous as one of her spy novels. But how can Cam go through with his plan to kidnap Skylar when just the sight of her sets off an explosive attraction he's never experienced before? And when Skylar falls prey to an even more perilous threat, this special ops soldier must call upon all his combat skills to protect the one person who can help him win his freedom - and the only woman he's ever loved.

All good things come in threes and I've discovered some new series that have at least three releases scheduled in 2011. I know, it's still a long way but before you know it you are shopping for Halloween, Thanksgiving and X-Mas!

I discovered Lisa Renee Jones via facebook and this cover caught my eye but the blurbs *thud* Me.Wants.Now!

Lisa Renee Jones - THE ZODIUS SERIES
website 

THE LEGEND OF MICHAEL: SIN AND SATISFACTION

Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 2011)

The world will never be the same after a top secret government projects creates super soldiers with alien DNA injections and those soldiers divide between good and evil.

The Hero: Michael

He is sin and satisfaction, lust and damnation, a lethal weapon created from the greed of man. A human soldier injected with alien DNA, he is one of many, yet none are like him, a legend within this new race, split between good and evil. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side, returned to the light, but it matters not, for he is feared, misunderstood—lethal in all ways possible. Women desire him, lust for the mysterious warrior, hungry for the raw passion that touches his every breath. Men envy his stature, his power; they lust to control him. But there is no controlling a creature such as he, no taming the primal fires within him. He is the past, he is the future.

He is Michael.

ZODIUS #2: STERLING

Sourcebooks Casablanca (October 2011)

Adam, the leader of the evil Zodius soldiers has developed a street drug from his newborn’s DNA that is so addictive that he could easily created a worldwide dependency on him as the only source, as withdrawal kills the user. This drug will give Adam the power to rule the entire population if his plan for mass distribution is achieved. Sterling, and a brilliant, cancer stricken scientist, must stop Adam before it’s too late. But can Sterling trust this woman when he discovers this drug might be her only way of surviving cancer?. Is he in bed, and in love, with the enemy?

The Hero: Sterling

He was created, molded, formed from life, love, and misery…

Lethally daring. Ruthlessly passionate. He invites death to his door. Welcomes it with each breath he draws, each step he takes. And thus he is danger. A volatile storm that will sweep across the calm realms of humanity and shake it to the depths of its core. And that storm is…Sterling.

ZODIUS #3: DAMION

Sourcebooks Casablanca (Fall 2011)

General Powell from book 1 has returned and he’s developed a way to create and control a new generation of female GTECHs. He plans to use these women to bring both, the Renegades and the Zodius soldiers, back under his command. The world will be his. Now, Damion, a Renegade, who readers met in book two, will be pitted against one of those soldiers, a woman destined to be both his Lifebond and his enemy. Damion will become her only hope of salvation and their trust in each other the only chance they have to save the world from a madman.

Now when I read Delilah Marvelle's MISTRESS OF PLEASURE & LORD OF PLEASURE I had a great time reading them. But, that series didn't get a chance to continue so safe to say I was thrilled when I found the info on Delilah Marvelle's back-to-back releases from Harlequin and when i read the blurbs it promises to be an ab-fab time in historical land again with the SCANDAL series :)
 
 

Delilah Marvelle – the SCANDAL series
website ~ pre-order

LONDON & SOUTH AFRICA - 1829

Having been raised in the jungles of South Africa, assisting her father in the study of mammal copulation, Lady Justine Fedora Palmer sweeps back into London to embark upon her coming out. She quickly discovers animals are far more civilized than the men surrounding her.

When her father's observations are made public, proving buggery is natural to the animal kingdom, all of London is in a huffing outrage, including His Royal Majesty. Her father is imprisoned and slapped with outrageous penalty fees they simply cannot pay.

Lady Justine becomes more than willing to trade her good name and her place in London's gossip hungry society to secure her father's release. There is only one person she knows she can trust: her father's patron, the Duke of Bradford. A dashing libertine, yes, but one she passionately adores for his unwavering kindness, wit, humor, and a willingness to support her father's studies even as everyone else had laughed her father off.

To her astonishment, the Duke of Bradford is not the same man. His newly marred face hides a scandal that is about to test them both..

 

LONDON & VENICE - 1829

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson's girlish notions were left behind when she is deserted by her first love, Lord Remington, without a backward glance. Five years later, she is being forced to choose a husband by her father who is dying from an unspeakable disease that has obliterated the last of his mind. Though Victoria must marry out of duty, she has vowed to marry a man who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home to London from Venice, free of all his family's debts but is unable to forget the incredible Victoria he was forced to abandon as a means of protecting her from a scandal that had destroyed his life.

To his astonishment, Victoria's dying father has chosen Jonathan and 2 others to vie for Victoria's hand.

Before Jonathan can convince Victoria he'd be a worthy husband, he has to convince himself he is no longer the man he left behind in Venice.

Victoria finds herself falling for the only man she will ever love...for a second time. But when she unearths the truth about the life Jonathan has been living in Venice, her heart is about to be tested. Again.

 

LONDON & ST. PETERSBURG - 1829

If there is anything Tristan Adam Hargrove, the fourth Marquis of Moreland has learned to avoid, it most certainly is scandal. The dark and dashing lord is a true gentleman of honor who would never seduce a woman for his own gain

or pleasure. But he plays the role of a gentleman for a reason, and it has nothing to do with respectablity.

When a raven haired beauty appears one night as his new neighbor, he knows better than to succumb to the desire he feels. He knows little about her: only that she is high born, a protege of the Crown, vain, overly forward, and completely unsuitable for the dark, base passions he hides from the world.

If only his bedchamber window wasn't aligned with HER bedchamber window. If only she would cease taunting him by leaving those damn curtains open just for him.

If only it were not already too late to save her and himself from the scandal he is about to unleash in the name of an untamed passion that has kept him from becoming involved with women for years...

So you see...I have two authors and their three books to add to my 2011 wishlist...and this is already starting in the early days of August. I shudder to think what my wishlist of 2011 will look like by the end of 2010...you think a winning lottery ticket will come attached to the wishlist? I certainly hope so!

What already on your 2011 wishlist?

Paperback: 329 pages
Zebra Books published by Kensington Publishing Corp.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-0483-7
ISBN-10: 1-4201-0483-7
Genre: Historical Romance
Book: stand-alone
Main Characters: Jude Bertrand & Marissa York
For Sale At: Book Depository Store

Summary:

He Is Not What She Had In Mind.

Jude Bertrand is not an excellent dancer. Nor does he wear the most fashionable coats. But when Marissa York's brother approaches him, desperate to preserve Marissa's tenuous reputation, Jude does prove heroic enough to offer to marry the girl. In fact, the union should more than make up for his lack of social graces-and his own scandalous past...

But Minds Change...

Marissa knows that betrothal to the son of a duke-even one as raw and masculine as Jude-will save her from ruin, but that doesn't mean she's happy about it. Soon, though, she finds that Jude has a surprisingly gentle touch-and plans to use it to persuade Marissa that their wedding day cannot come soon enough...

Marissa's review: Although I have several books of Victoria Dahl on my shelf A Little Bit Wild is my first acquaintance with Dahl’s work but it won’t be my last. I had no problem in finishing this story in one sitting, Dahl’s typical style of wit had me flipping the pages and I could not stop. A Little Bit Wild is not your average historical romance novel; it is as the title says a little bit wild and unconventional. Jude and Marissa, the main characters, break every rule the stiff Victorian society has laid on them.

This story takes place in England in 1847 and Dahl literally drops us in the middle of a scandal. Marissa York comes from a respectable, noble family but scandal always seems to find her family. She gets caught red-handed by her brother while making love, her reputation is ruined. There is only one solution to fix her reputation and avoid scandal, Marissa must marry and fast. Only Marissa has no intention of getting married and especially not to the guy who took her virginity. But her brother is relentless, so when Jude Bertrand, a friend of the family and house guest, offers to marry her she has no choice but to agree for the time being. Jude is raw, muscular and anything but graceful, he is everything she is not looking for in a man but she soon finds out that Jude has a very pleasant touch…

Jude Bertrand, born out of wedlock, is the acknowledged son of a duke; he has always liked Marissa York, even though she never really noticed him. He has often seen her eyes linger on elegant young men he still considers to be boys not men. He is also the only one who noticed that Marissa is full of passion and she desperately tries to contain it. She is different than the other ladies and her streak of wildness turns him on, he plans to use it to his advantage and show Marissa that she really doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life with a graceful young lad but that she needs a real man like him who knows exactly what she needs…

This story is even-paced and character-driven. It is a journey of soul searching, a heroine who claims to be a proper lady but is really a bit wicked and an illegitimate son who wants to be truly accepted for the man he really is and not just as the acknowledged son of a duke. Marissa is headstrong, feisty and outspoken but also a bit spoiled, shallow and naïf. She likes to flirt and seduce men to kiss her; she does not realize that she is restless and bored with her life as it is. Jude is honorable, loyal and strong. He is coarse-featured, broad shouldered with a wide face that looks hewn from stone. He has masculine features and an unrelenting height; he looks more like a blacksmith than a gentleman. He likes to provoke Marissa into very unladylike conversations.

I love the way their relationship unfolds, their witty, bold and naughty conversations vibrate from the pages. They really are perfectly fitted for one another. Their emotions and passion spice up the story even further. There are not many secondary characters in this story, but the ones that caught my eye were Marissa’s brothers. Also a bit unconventional, they are known for their bad temper, their bickering and the way Dahl describes the occurrings in the York's family home reminded me by fits and starts of a slapstick, really hilarious. But the brothers mean well and will do anything to protect their little sister and family name. Edward, who is the head of the family obviously runs his family with a not so firm hand and Aidan is the tortured one, now he is the one I would love to see in his own story.

The plot thickens a bit when the family gets blackmailed and Marissa’s escapades are about to become public knowledge. Although you can see the blackmail coming from a mile away the blackmailer comes from an unexpected corner. There were also a few things that irked me about this story, although Marissa is a very adventurous and untamable lady, she really gets a lot of freedom. In those days ladies were not left alone with a man without a chaperone, but Marissa has done so several times, she pretty much goes her own way, Jude even spent time in her room. For such a smart lady she does not really seem to care for her reputation. At some point she even drinks brandy, but a lady was not allowed to drink hard liquor in those days. These things were “not done” at that time and a respectable family like Marissa’s would not have allowed that. Also modesty and propriety demanded in those days that a pregnant woman of the gentry who is already showing remained confined, she certainly would not have openly received three men no matter how urgent the matter was. So even though Jude, Marissa and the York family are a bit unconventional for those days these things irked me a bit.

But I did enjoy A Little Bit Wild very much, it is a refreshing story. The dialogues sparkle with wit and both Marissa as Jude are penned down so vividly that they jump of the pages. A Little Bit Wild is refreshingly different and wickedly witty read.

Mass Market Paperback; 363 pages
Publisher: Mira Books - April 27, 2010
ISBN-10: 0778327744
ISBN-13: 978-0778327744
Genre: Historical Romance
Book: Book Three in Bride Trilogy
Main Characters: Rule Dewar & Violet Griffin
On sale at: The Bookdepository Store

Summary:
Unrepentant rake Rule Dewar is living the good life when a most surprising event occurs - he falls in love with his wife.

After their strategic "marriage of commerce" three years ago, Rule quite forgot about Violet Griffin, the teenage heiress to a Boston manufacturing fortune. He simply spoke his vows, took over her father's business and returned to England to resume his usual pursuits: high-priced wine, high-stakes gambling and highborn women.

Yet when Violet, now a sophisticated woman, unexpectedly appears at Rule's London town house, husbandly duties no longer seem so odious - he can't wait to take his stunning bride to their marriage bed. Violet, however, is not so easily led: she has her own ideas and is seeking an annulment to marry another. But as Rule attempts to win her over, someone else is determined to frame him for murder and keep him out of the way for good..

Pearl’s review: The book starts with a prologue that sets up the story. In this prologue Rule Dewar is in America, making good on the promise, to his father on his deathbed, to build up business relationships with the colony. He has made a good life for himself in Boston and is on the verge of going back to England to run the English Branch of Griffin Manufacturing, the weapons factory he works for. When his employer, Howard Griffin asks him for a favor he can’t fathom it is to marry his young daughter to secure her future. Rule reluctantly agrees and sets of to England right after the marriage thinking that would be it.

The rest of the book takes place 3 years later when Violet Griffin wants an annulment from the man she married as decreed by her dying father. She heads over to England to find the man who married and abandoned her to free herself for marriage to another man. Rule wants to stay married because of the promise to both his and her father but also because of the benefits business wise. When Rule convinces Violet to give him a month to prove being married to him isn't that bad, a string of events leads them to something more meaningful than a marriage of convenience.

Rule is a womanizer, with an eye for business, loyal to his friends and family and a bit of a male chauvinist. I had a bit of trouble with Rule in the beginning. It was clear the marriage was not of importance to him and Violet was just a means to get his foot into her father's company. He didn't even keep his promise of making their marriage real after two years and now that Violet shows up a year overdue to end the marriage with an annulment herself, he acts all indignant and as if he thinks the marriage is important.

Violet is sweet but fiery and full of determination, she speaks her mind and can be a bit headstrong at times. I’m not fond of very young heroines and 19 years is on the fringes of what I can handle but Kat Martin made it work for me for most of this book. There were points were she acted her age and wasn’t as determined as she’d been made out to be. She sleeps with Rule, ruining her opportunity for an annulment but doesn't own up to it and puts all the blame on Rule. Her insistence that Rule only wants to stay married for his part in the business, portion in the company started to annoy me at one point.

For me this third and last installment in the Bride Trilogy was the least of the three. There were a few things that didn’t quite work for me and with all the anticipation build across the other two books I felt it fell a bit flat in comparison.

Both Violet and Rule acted unreasonable and a bit irrational at times and this kept me from completely sympathizing and empathizing with them and their issues. And the changes of heart they go through in order to get to the HEA felt a bit sudden and forced... The trademark suspense plot was there yet again and even if it was a predictable one it did liven the story up a bit and kept me reading despite that I didn’t completely click with the main characters.

In this trilogy Kat Martin has written the most interesting secondary characters that are able to intrigue as much as her main couples. It was no different in RULE’S BRIDE and I must honestly admit that in this case the secondary romance worked better for me than the main couple’s romance, for the reasons I stated earlier in this review. I was wondering from the start what was going to happen with the chemistry between Rule’s friend and Violet’s cousin and I was served promptly with a captivating secondary romance I truly enjoyed.

In the Bride Trilogy Kat Martin follows a certain vein in all three books that include the fulfillment of the individual promises the Dewar brothers made to their dying father, a suspense plot where the Oarsmen come to the rescue and offer their assistance, a seemingly impossible romance between the main characters and a lovely secondary romance. Yet despite the similarity and the repeated use of these elements, each book has a different and unique vibe and set-up. Though they can be read as stand-alone, together they form a coherent whole in which a full cast of both recurring and new characters plays the role they are given.

If you don’t mind a very young heroine and a hero that has a bit of male chauvinism going on, RULE’S BRIDE is a good and solid historical romance that wraps up the Bride Trilogy in a satisfying way.

eBook; 263 pages
Publisher: Carina Press, June 7, 2010
ISBN-10: 1426890024
ISBN-13: 978-1426890024
Genre: Historical Romance
Book: Book One in Napoleonic Series
Main Characters: Arie De Voss & Mathilda Heidel
On sale at: Carina Press

Summary:
Eight years ago, composer Arie De Voss claimed his late mentor's final symphony as his own and became an icon. But fame has a price: fear of discovery now poisons his attempts to compose a redemptive masterpiece. Until a new muse appears, intoxicating and inspiring him...

Mathilda Heidel renounced her own musical gift to marry, seeking a quiet life to escape the shame surrounding her birth. Sudden widowhood finds her tempted by song once more. An unexpected introduction to her idol, Arie De Voss, renews Mathilda's passion for the violin--and ignites a passion for the man himself.

But when lust and lies reach a crescendo, Arie will be forced to choose: love or truth?

Pearl’s review:
Arie De Voss is a Dutch musician, composer and conductor. He’s a recluse, eccentric, withdrawn, unpolished and gruff. One might even call him anti-social. He can be blunt and abrasive. There was one instant in the book where I was afraid to be disappointed in the character of Arie but he was given the chance to redeem himself and I was really happy about that. Arie is flawed and a bit dark and it would be easy not to like him but Carrie Lofty really made him work for me because he recognizes his faults and owns up to them. Also, he has a subtle yet wicked sense of humor and the moments when it emerged were wonderful

Mathilda Heidel is a widow and a violinist. She’s direct, passionate and stubborn, a fighter and persistent in overcoming scandal and loss. Mathilda has admired Arie since she saw him perform when she was sixteen years old and the impact he’s had on her life goes further than he could ever have imagined.

After a few slow introductive chapters Arie, Mathilda, the music and the passion just exploded of the pages. SONG OF SEDUCTION kept me captivated and entranced with the unusual setting and premise, the sharp-witted dialogues, which were a duel of wits between two equals and the smoldering chemistry between Arie and Mathilda. They have a lot in common: loss, scandal and their musical talent. They truly complement each other. This all made it into a wonderful and exceptional read.

My only, very little, point of criticism is that were a few Dutch words that caught my attention because they didn’t quite work for me. I don’t think non-Dutch readers will notice this and I cannot deem them wrongly translated, as I am not one familiar with the Dutch language in the 1800s. I can only say that I would have used other words in some cases. However, this in no way or form prevented me from thoroughly enjoying this lovely book.

The writing was so beautiful and compelling, truly a symphony of words and I feel anything I write or say about Carrie Lofty’s writing won’t do it justice. Reading this book made me want to plan a trip to Austria and visit a classical music concert to experience first-hand the scenery and music that was being described.

SONG OF SEDUCTION had me mesmerized and I was truly seduced by the characters, the writing and the music. It’s a unique, refreshing book in a wonderful setting with great characters and a display of beautiful writing and amazing storytelling. It’s a novel that tells a story of passions, desires, love, music, loss and scandal. The story is powerful and character-driven. It’s a book that’s to be savored slowly so you’re able to take in the wonderful details and exquisite writing.

If you’re wondering if you should read historical romance SONG OF SEDUCTION answers that question with a resounding “yes”! It’s wonderfully refreshing and different and I am sure lovers of both romance and classical music will adore and enjoy this book as much as I did.

Quote:
He wanted more of the quiet companionship of their lessons—week after week, every week, until she could no longer bear the idea of being separated from him. Every week, until mere Wednesday afternoons became a terrible confinement from which togetherness would set them free. Arie De Voss no longer wanted to be alone. He gave up one kiss for the chance at future kisses. In the hopes of satisfying his passion more thoroughly, more completely, he relinquished a sweltering moment of lust.

Erin McCarthy - Hot Finish - Fast Track Series part 3

Release: Augustus 2010

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Not all marriages last forever!

Suzanne Jefferson is broke, which is why she’s given up charity work for wedding planning. Fortunately, she has a high-profile client,and best of all, he’s paid in advance. There are just two teensy problems: The bride is a bona fide bridezilla, and Suzanne’s ex-husband is the best man. At least she thought he was her ex-husband!

But this one might…

Two years after their marriage fell apart, stock car race driver Ryder Jefferson still can’t stop thinking about Suzanne. Which is why he isn’t too upset that, due to a glitch, the two are still technically married. Now he’s imagining easing Suzanne’s woes by satisfying her needs in the bedroom. After all, that’s the one room they never argued in. Besides, with wedding bells ringing all around them, Ryder is wondering if,even though they’d quit the race a few laps too early,they can still come on strong with a big, romantic finish!

Paula Quin - Seduced By A Highlander - COTM part 2

Release: October 2010
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SINS THAT CAN’T BE FORGIVEN

Tristan MacGregor is famed throughout the Highlands as a silver-tongued seducer and an unrepentant rogue. Bold and charming, he’s dallied with many women, yet none as beguiling and mysterious as the lass he steals a kiss from at the king’s court. Little does he know this beauty is one of his clan’s greatest enemies.

PASSION THAT CAN’T BE DENIED

Isobel Fergusson has despised the bloodthirsty MacGregors ever since they murdered her father. When she learns the handsome stranger who melted her resistance is a MacGregor, she vows to forget him. But Tristan means to possess her at any cost and Isobel’s body turns traitor at his touch. Can a man she’s sworn to hate be the only one she can ever love?

I love Paula Quinn's Highlanders, classic and elegantly written, yet you cannot help fall in love with each of the members of the MacGregor clan, sigh...

Her other books in these series are:

Lisa Kleypas - Love in the Afternoon - Hathaways part 5

Release: 29 June 2009
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As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted.and she has resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man - just to avoid spinsterhood?

Captain Christopher Phelan is a handsome, daring soldier who plans to marry Beatrix's friend, the vivacious flirt Prudence Mercer, when he returns from fighting abroad. But, as he explains in his letters to Pru, life on the battlefield has darkened his soul - and it's becoming clear that Christopher won't come back as the same man. When Beatrix learns of Pru's disappointment, she decides to help by concocting Pru's letters to Christopher for her. Soon the correspondence between Beatrix and Christopher develops into something fulfilling and deep.and when Christopher comes home, he's determined to claim the woman he loves. What began as Beatrix's innocent deception has resulted in the agony of unfulfilled love - and a passion that can't be denied.

Bella Andre - Never Too Hot - Hot Shots part 3

Release: 25 May 2010
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A TOUCH IGNITES. A FIRE BURNS.
AND THE HEAT HAS JUST BEGUN.

Deep in the cool green mountains of the Adirondacks, wounded firefighter Connor MacKenzie has come to rebuild the 100-year-old MacKenzie family cabin--and to be alone. A horrific blaze has left him scarred inside and out and certain of two things: He'll get back on his Hot Shot crew no matter what it takes, and any woman who ventures too close will not stay long.

Ginger Sinclair has been burned by a different kind of fire. Having just escaped from a bad marriage, she's retreated to the safety of the lakeside vacation town in upstate New York to start a new life. She's done with men, with relationships, with the danger of desires that can rage out of control--until she unexpectedly encounters Connor MacKenzie. As a hot summer on the lake grows ever hotter, they find themselves sharing a cabin and a romance that will swiftly engulf them both.

I love Bella Andre's story, uncomplicated yet always funny, warm and passionate. Feel-good-stories!

The other two parts in this series are:


Happy reading everyone!

Mass Market Paperback; 376 pages
Publisher: Mira Books, First edition (December 29, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0778327448
ISBN-13: 978-0778327448
Genre: Historical Romance
Book: Book Two in Bride Trilogy
Main Characters: Reese Dewar & Elizabeth Clemens
On sale at: The Book Depository Store

Summary:
Years ago, love-struck Reese departed his home at Briarwood with a promise from raven-haired Elizabeth Clemens: that she would make a life with him upon his return. But mere months later, she married the Earl of Aldridge, attaining wealth and status Reese could never match. Memories of that betrayal make his homecoming far more bitter than sweet.

Seeing Elizabeth on his doorstep dressed in widow's garb that twists the knife even deeper. But fear for her young son’s safety has overcome her pride: she begs Reese for protection from those would see the boy dead to possess his fortune. He agrees to an uneasy alliance, sensing Elizabeth still harbors some deep secrets—and Reese knows that he's placing himself in danger...of losing his heart all over again.

Pearl’s review: A leg injury prevents Reese Dewar from going back to the Army so he adheres to his father's last and dying wish and sets out to the country to make Briarwood, the Dewar family's country estate, his home. Underneath his harsh, bitter and controlled exterior lays a passionate, sensitive and honorable man. Reese's relentless pursuit of Elizabeth is driven by desire, need and a little bit of revenge for her having spurned him for another man.

Elizabeth Clemens is a courageous and loving widow of a cruel man. She has a past with Reese and when he returns to the village of Swansdowne she knows she won't be able to keep her secret for long. When her life and that of her son is in danger, she flees from her horrible in-laws to the one person who can help her, knowing he despises her, Reese. However, Reese's honor doesn't permit refusal and soon his hatred for her begins to thaw. After yet another attempt on Elizabeth's life, Reese decides the only way to keep both her and her son safe is to offer them marriage and adoption.

The supporting cast of characters was extensive, with some new and some old faces. I loved seeing Royal and Lily put in an appearance and finding out how they were doing after their own book. I hated Elizabeth's in-laws on the spot and I adored Jared, Elizabeth's shy son who is truly a darling boy. As in ROYAL'S BRIDE once again the help of "the Oarsmen", the group of friends from Royal's Oxford time, is needed and comes in handy in the suspense subplots.

REESE'S BRIDE is a story of reunited lovers that had quite a few storylines. These story lines were easily entwined to form a story that was a little predictable but this didn't prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this second installment of the Bride Trilogy. Again Kat Martin did not disappoint me. She delivered a wonderful book where suspense, well-rounded characters, deep emotions, romance and overcoming the past are mixed together against a historical setting.

All Kat Martin's historical romances I've read have been a joy to read from the first to the last page and REESE'S BRIDE is no exception. Even though REESE'S BRIDE had a lesser impact on me than ROYAL'S BRIDE did, and this mainly had to do with the different tropes, I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to RULE'S BRIDE, which was released April 27th.

I would highly recommend REESE’S BRIDE to any reader who doesn’t mind a plot that is a little predictable and enjoys a touching historical romance carried by characters that are strong and determined to overcome the past despite all the difficulties.