Review: The Rogue's Prize (Nelson's Tea Trilogy #2) by Katherine Bone

Print Length: 256 pages

Publisher: esKape Press (December 16, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: An unlikely alliance earns Henry the ultimate prize...

Captain Henry Guffald is no ordinary sea captain. A member of Nelson’s Tea, he’s been ordered to rescue a comrade captured in Spain. The rescue is Henry’s last chance to prove his loyalty to Admiral Nelson. Not so easy a task when the job entails joining forces with a female pirate. 

Lady Adele Seaton would no sooner give up the call to rove than marry, contrary to her father’s wishes. When news arrives that her brother has been captured in Spain, Adele quickly develops a plan to rescue him and sets sail to intercept the first royal navy ship she encounters. A brilliant tactician, she doesn’t count on meeting her match in a navy captain bound and determined to outwit her at every turn. Can a pirate be tamed?

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 My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The Rogue's Prize was one of those novels that captivates its reader from the very beginning, and keeps you glued to the pages in order to find out what happens next. It has everything you could possibly want in a good novel; there is romance, adventure, soldiers, spies and did I mention pirates? Each of the characters is fell developed, and motivated for their own needs and goals. The two main characters, Lady Adele and Captain Guffald are both working towards the same goal - although for two similar (and yet very different reasons. Both wish to gain the approval of another, and both wish to prove that they are more than anyone thought they could be, but the trials and setbacks they go through in order to achieve those goals are what makes this story so unique and captivating. 

Much of this novel read (for me) as though it was a script for a movie. Ms.Bone has a way with words that allows the reader to easily "see" the scenes unfold before them as they read them; and it is this gift with words that allows me to do more than read about a strong man clamping a blade between his teeth and diving off a ship, I can actually visualize said man and his dive into an unforgiving sea.

I would highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy a good romantic adventure. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

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The Rogue's Prize (Nelson's Tea Trilogy #2) is available from Amazon.com

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Review: A Passion Most Pure (Daughters of Boston #1) by Julie Lessman

Print Length: 481 pages

Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)

From Goodreads.com: She's found the love of her life.

Unfortunately, he loves her sister.

As World War I rages across the Atlantic in 1916, a smaller war is brewing in Boston. Faith O'Connor finds herself drawn to an Irish rogue who is anything but right for her. Collin McGuire is brash, cocky, and from the wrong side of the tracks, not to mention forbidden by her father. And then there's the small matter that he is secretly courting her younger sister. But when Collin's affections shift, it threatens to tear her proper Boston family apart.

Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Most Pure will carry your heart from the sophisticated streets of Boston to the green hills of Ireland as men go off to war and women long for their return. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, it will captivate you from the first page.

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 My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

This was a free offering on Amazon that instantly drew my attention. The cover caught my eye, the synopsis grabbed my interest, and when I was hooked after the first page, I believed that I had found the makings of a 5 star novel.

Unfortunately that was diminished as I read on. 

What I did not know when I first began reading was that this novel is considered a "Christian" novel, and while those do not bother me (I have in fact read my fair share of 5 stars), this one came across much too hypocritical and, for lack of a better word, "bible thumping". To begin with Faith has harbored a secret affection for Collin for much of her life, so she is understandably upset when she finds him kissing her younger sister. The pair have words, and she allows him to kiss her. Then unintentionally rats her sister out to their parents getting her in trouble. The story moves on, Faith delves deeper into her faith, praying every day for the Lord to help heal her hurt from her affections for Collin. Then Collin becomes engaged to her sister, and she faints, giving away her feelings for him. 

Time goes on, Faith's parents send her on "errands" or "out with friends" hoping that time will heal her heart. And it seems to work... until Collin shows up at the house one night drunk, and Faith allows him to kiss her repeatedly, and passionately, until her sister catches them at it. 

That was a lot of the plot summed up right there. This sinful rogue being passed back and forth between two "Christian" sisters. One who uses her "feminine charms" to tempt him again and again, and the other who berates him for his "lust" and tries to turn him to God moments before (or sometimes after) allowing him to plunder her mouth and neck. This to me, does not set a good example for a Christian novel. 

Interwoven throughout the entire story are random bible passages, which instead of coming across as "comforting" or "teaching" for the characters, it seemed more a point for the reader, to turn someone's opinion on religion, or to entice them to read more Christian romances if this was their first. 

The characters were .... alright at best. Most were true to form and age appropriate (if not always what I would consider "godly"), however Charity is a vile little wench who deliberately sabotages Faith's happiness, and who is often downright mean to her sister above and beyond what one would consider "normal" for siblings. In fact, even if I had loved this novel, I would not want to read  the next novel in this series as it centers not only on Charity, but on her feelings for Mitch - the "considered too old for her sister" man that she met while the family was living in Ireland. 

Overall, I'm sure there are people who will thoroughly enjoy this novel, but I am not one of them. 

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 A Passion Most Pure (Daughters of Boston #1)  is available from Amazon.com

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Review: Romancing the Jewel by Katherine Bone

Print Length: 164 pages

Publisher: esKape Press (September 22, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: Caroline Beugre is a small town girl who longs for her own upscale jewelry store. To fund her nest egg, she’s created a copy of an emerald necklace, hoping the gems will be her ticket to stardom. Little does she know her decision would lead her into the hands of an intensely powerful charismatic man determined to uncover the secrets of her past.

Italian prince Gian-Paolo Montovanni risks losing his throne if he doesn’t put an end to his playboy ways and produce a fiancée no later than his thirtieth birthday. The problem? His princess-to-be must be wearing the Montovanni emeralds, which haven’t been seen for twenty years. When he discovers an American is selling a copy of the necklace, he will do anything to find them.

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 My Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

I picked up this novel due to being a fan of Ms.Bone's other works. And while it was a quick and (mostly) enjoyable read - there was one aspect of this novel that really got under my skin and perhaps made me enjoy it less than I normally would have. This is the behavior of Gian-Paolo. What he calls "research" on the person that made the copy of his mother's necklace really borders on stalking. He knows her clothing size, where she shops, what she buys - the list goes on and on. He also had her luggage moved from her hotel room to his palace before he even lays eyes on her, and subsequently announces her as his intended to a room full of people before essentially kidnapping her. And instead of fighting for what her freedom, or at least standing up to the man who has taken her hostage, Carolina swoons whenever he touches her, and actually begins to enjoy herself even when he denies her time and again the right to go back to America. 

On the flip side of that, I enjoyed the fairy-tale romance that was a common American girl finding her way to becoming an Italian Princess. There was a definite chemistry between the two, and watching them realize that their "farce" had become something more was sweet. I was also drawn in by the mystery surrounding the original necklace, although I wish there had been more explained as far as the background story of Gian-Paolo's mother, and who exactly stole the jewels in the first place. 

All things considered however, I would recommend this novel to fans of a quick and unusual romance. 

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Romancing the Jewel is available from Amazon.com

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Review: Time for a Duke by Ruth J. Hartman

Print Length: 118 pages

Publisher: Astraea (November 1, 2012)

From Goodreads.com: Izzy Hodgkin just wants an adventure. Who knew that involved being locked in a closet in 2012, then being transported to 1812 when the door is opened later? 

Charles Hamilton Douglas Wade, Duke of Bramblewood Green, thinks he will never find the right woman. When he opens his closet door one day, imagine his surprise to find a woman in there. And she’s from the future!

Will Izzy stick with her plan to return to 2012 America to achieve her goal of financial independence? Or will she and Charles find happiness in 1812?

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 My Rating: 4 stars out of 5
This one one of those quick reads that is not only a lot of fun, but will have you shaking your head and laughing out loud. At first, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this novel or not, having attempted my own version of a "time travel" novel some time ago, however I was more than pleasantly surprised. 

The characters were fun and quirky, and I thought the fact that they could find enjoyment in each others company given the huge gap in time periods both unique and refreshing. I also loved how overprotective Charles was of Izzy when he took her to the ball. For a short novel, I thought the story was wonderfully executed, however I do wish there would have been an epilogue to see how the future turned out for them. I would definitely want to read more about this couple in the future, such as how did the ton react to news that Charles had in fact married an American woman? 

I would definitely recommend this novel. 

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Time for a Duke is available from Amazon.com

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Review: The King Of Threadneedle Street (Rougemont #2) by Moriah Densely

Print Length: 309 pages

Publisher: EsKape Press (December 03, 2013)

From Goodreads.com: He owns three shipping companies, a diamond mine, and his own castle.

He knows Portuguese, Hindi, Mandarin and Morse code.
His assets net thirteen million.

Everyone thinks Andrew Tilmore, Lord Preston, the financial prodigy dubbed “The King of Threadneedle Street,” has it all, but he wants the one prize money can’t buy: his childhood sweetheart.

Alysia Villier can’t say if it’s worse having Andrew’s father in control of her inheritance or Andrew in control of her heart. He’s ruined her for any other man, but she simply can’t give in to him. She knows he’s destined for great things — marrying a courtesan’s daughter would jeopardize everything he stands for.

Keeping Alysia out of trouble and away from eager suitors becomes a cross-continental quest for Andrew, and he won’t be stopped by his old-fashioned family or the disapproval of the ton. After all, he’s a man with the power to play newspapers and investors like pawns, tumble world markets and incite riots… but can he win the biggest gamble of his life?

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 My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

I wanted to love this novel. In fact, I fully expected to love this novel as much as (or moreso than)  Book #1 in this series A Song for Sophia. However, where A Song for Sophia was gripping, diverse and well interesting.... this one fell flat. 

Please don't get me wrong, there were a lot of good things to be had in this story. To begin with, I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with several of the characters that I had first been introduced to (and come to love) in A Song for Sophia. I also found certain details of this story (that unfortunately I can't go into as they are definite spoilers), to be thoroughly unique as well as little details that kept me interested and added to the overall plot. I also admired the restraint these characters showed. Instead of giving in to their more carnal pleasures, they were both able to pull back and not engage in any marital "going ons" before they were actually married, and even then, there was no explicit detail given which will appeal to certain readers. 

On the other-side of that, this story had a lot of back and forth that didn't make sense, and some of the key plot details left me shaking my head as well. To begin with, Alysia has an unfortunate habit of "running away" from Andrew, and in one instance, almost got stuck with more than she bargained for (but thankfully our hero was able to find her in time and ride to her rescue). However, even once he had rescued her from one situation, she ended up leaving again. 

I was also a bit confused as to why they continued to push each other away. By all accounts, neither character cares overmuch for society and their rules and opinions, and neither of them would hurt for money should they marry regardless of what his parents or the ton should say. Even when some surprising details come to light, they would still choose to fight what is in front of them, and would rather suffer the bitter disappointment and broken heart than succumb to their hearts desire.  

It feels like this story could have been a lot shorter (and maybe had time for an epilogue where we find out if Alysia gets the son she had always dreamed of) had there not been so much back and forth constantly covering the same ground that had already been previously discussed. 

All of that being said, I will continue to read more works by this author. I saw what she is capable of with A  Song for Sophia, and I hope her next novel lives up to the high standard she set with that story.

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The King Of Threadneedle Street (Rougemont #2) is available from Amazon.com

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Sneak Peek! Portrait of Passion by Lynne Barron

Title:  Portrait of Passion

Author:  Lynne Barron

Event organized by: GoddessFish Promotions

Book Description:

What’s a Viscount to do when a mysterious lady with a secret past and a reputation frayed
around the edges suddenly appears in London in hot pursuit of his naive young cousin, setting the gossips’ tongues wagging, stirring his family into pandemonium, and driving him mad with her irreverent ways?

 If the Viscount in question is Simon Easton, the answer is quite simple. Seduce the beguiling lady. But Miss Beatrice Morgan isn’t your average tarnished lady. She’s lived a slapdash life wandering the globe like a gypsy, painting fantastical portraits of Duchesses as Sirens and landscapes featuring a crumbling old fountain, all the while harboring a secret desire to return to Idyllwild, the only home she’s ever known. 

What Simon does not know is that Beatrice just might be willing to sacrifice her honor, her virtue, her very heart to reclaim Idyllwild.

Book Excerpt: 

“Who is she?” asked Simon Carlisle, Viscount Easton.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” replied his cousin Henry Tinsdale, the Earl of Hastings.

She was beyond beautiful, Lord Easton thought as he watched her across the ballroom. She was mesmerizing. The willowy blonde had captured the attention of every person in the room as soon as she had entered on the arm of Viscount Moorehead only moments before. Simon heard whispers of conversation behind the fluttering fans of a group of ladies standing behind him. 

“A scarlet dress, can you imagine?”

“Not so surprising, surely? They say she’s an artist, of all things.” 

“Artist? Is that what they are calling them these days?” 

While the ladies of the ton whispered and stared, the gentlemen silently watched and circled about her, gradually closing the distance. From Simon’s vantage point some twenty paces away, the men appeared to be involved in a slow dance whose moves were carefully orchestrated to appear subtle. They were anything but. 

Moorehead had yet to introduce his beautiful companion to anyone in the ballroom. They simply stood off to the side of the cavernous room, framed by two potted ferns, as if waiting for the hordes to come to them.

With a gesture that clearly spoke of familiarity and affection, her escort placed his hand upon the small of her back and leaned in to whisper in her ear. She evidently found his remark amusing, for she tossed her head back and laughed. Even across the crowded room he Simon could hear the echo of that laughter, mellow and dark.

PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ellora's Cave

GIVEAWAY! 

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: 

Write About What You Know.

Every Creative Writing Teacher and College Professor said these words to Lynne Barron in one form or another. But what did she know?

She knew she enjoyed the guilty pleasure of reading romance novels whenever she could find time between studying, working and raising her son as a single mother.

She knew quite a bit about women's lives in the Regency and Victorian era from years spent bouncing back and forth between European History and English Literature as a major in college. 

She knew precious little about romance except to know that it was more than the cliché card and a dozen red roses on Valentine's Day. 

Then she met her wonderfully romantic husband and finally she knew. 

Passion, Love and Romance.

And she began to write.

If you would like to learn more about Lynne Barron and the Idyllwild Series, please visit 

her website at LynneBarron.com or follow her at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ LynneBarronRomanceAuthor

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Review: The King by Tiffany Reisz

Print Length: 443

Publisher: Harlequin (November 25, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: Cunning. Sex. Pure nerve. Only this unholy threesome can raise him to his rightful place as a rule of Manhattan's king kingdom.

Bouncing from bed to bed on the Upper East Side, Kingsley Edge is brilliant, beautiful and utterly debauched. No carnal act of chemical compound can relieve his self-destructive heartache—only Søren, the one person he loves without limit or regret. A man he can never have, but in whose hands Kingsley is reborn to attain even greater heights of sin.

Kingsley's plan to open the ultimate BDSM club—a dungeon playground for New York's A-list—becomes his obsession. His expertise in domination can't subdue the one man who wants to stop him. The enigmatic Reverend Fuller won't rest until King's dream is destroyed, and so the battle lines are set; it's one man's sacred mission against another's… 

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WARNING: This book is recommended for mature audiences ONLY due to language and explicit sexual content.

My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

My Review: Is there no end to the brilliance that is Tiffany Reisz? Once again she manages to take an erotic novel and seamlessly blend in just the right about of mystery and intrigue that the reader is sucked in immediately and held until the very last word. 

Out of all the characters in her novels, Kingsley is probably my third favorite (after Søren and Nor of course) so I loved the fact that this novel was his story. To see him rise up from the depths of his personal despair, to find something (his club) to be passionate about and focus his attentions on, was a sight to behold. When he was reunited with Søren for the first time in eleven years, I had a smile on my face so big, people kept asking me if I was ok. 

"That must be some book you're reading" was the popular comment. My answer? "Yes.. yes it is". 

As with all of her books in the series, getting his hearts desire does not come without a price, nor does it come without sacrifice. And for me, it was a defining moment for Kingsley and a great testament to his character when he was willing to make that sacrifice to put his "people" above his own goals and desires. 

I will say that some people may be disappointed because Nora does not make a lengthy appearance in this story. She is mentioned by Søren (specifically when he calls to ask Kingsley for his help in getting her out of jail), and Kingsley does catch a glimpse of her through a doorway, but if you're looking for some King/Nora interaction, and more of their back-story, unfortunately you will be disappointed. 

That being said, I enjoyed getting to know more about Sam, even when there were times that I didn't especially like her, and some of the other characters that we read about from time to time, but really know next to nothing about. The way that Ms. Reisz is able to take all of these different characters and personalities and weave them together so flawlessly never ceases to amaze me. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who is already a fan of The Original Sinners, or someone who is a fan of erotica (although if you haven't read the entire series yet, I would definitely recommend doing so before starting this novel). 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

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Review: Compromising Miss Tisdale by Jessica Jefferson

Print Length: 222 pages

Publisher: Soul mate Publishing (November 5, 2013)

From Goodreads.com: Ambrosia Tisdale is the very picture of propriety and the epitome of what a respectable young lady should be. Haunted by a memory and compelled by her family, she pursues perfection to a fault.

The Earl of Bristol, Duncan Maddox, has returned to London after years of familial-imposed exile. As the second son, he has led a life filled with frivolity, leisure, and a healthy dose of debauchery. Now his older brother has died, leaving the family’s flailing legacy in Duncan’s unwilling arms.

At the behest of his uncle, Duncan is advised to do the one thing that could provide instant fortune and respectability—he must marry. But there is only one prospect who meets the unique requirements to solve all the Earl’s problems—the lovely Miss Ambrosia Tisdale. But securing the prudent daughter of a Viscount’s hand proves to be more challenging than this scandal-ridden second son of an Earl has bargained for.

With scandal, extortion, treachery, and even love itself threatening to keep him from his goal, will Duncan succeed or find himself compromised by Miss Tisdale?

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

My Review: I have so many mixed feelings about this novel. To begin with, I often found myself annoyed with the heroine, which is never a good thing. While I admire her "desire to remain proper at all times", I felt that her actions were inconsistent with who the author wanted her to be. Straightaway, we find her kissing Duncan in the library.. without evening knowing his name! Later on in the story, he finds her alone out in her own garden (during a party no less), and not only bares her breasts, but kisses them; once again leaving me shaking my head and wondering who this girl was and why, if she considered herself the epitome of "propriety", would she allow this to happen. 

The majority of this story is fairly slow going (and somewhat repetitive). Miss Tisdale gives Duncan the cold shoulder. Duncan gets a rise out of her, they find some sort of common ground, Duncan oversteps her "boundaries" (when they show up), and they find themselves at odds, only to repeat the process again. Being that this was a historical romance novel, I knew they would end up together in the end, I just wish there had been more detail about them actually falling in love, and less of them being at odds and suddenly discovering their love for each other. 

I found that although the last few chapters held some surprises, overall, it felt a bit rushed and thrown together. I wish there had been more depth to the events that took place, and more leading up to the "big reveal" (for lack of a better word). 

Compromising Miss Tisdale is available for purchase from Amazon.com

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Review: Captivated by Megan Hart, Tiffany Reisz

Print Length: 240 pages

Publisher: Harlequin (October 28, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: Double the passion and seduction as New York Times bestselling author Megan Hart and international bestselling author Tiffany Reisz weave two provocative tales about power, bad-boy lovers and secret desires!

LETTING GO by Megan Hart 
Colleen goes to the same bar every night and orders the same drink: a whiskey, neat. She doesn't drink it, though. Jesse the bartender notices the beautiful, sad woman who keeps to herself. Until one night when she lets go and lets him in. And after that, Jesse has only one mission--to show her one night is only the beginning.

SEIZE THE NIGHT by Tiffany Reisz 
Four years ago, a night of forbidden passion between Remi and Julien, the heirs of two powerful and competitive horse-racing families, led to a feud that is threatening to ruin both farms. Now Remi must find Julien again, but when she does, her need for Julien is just as strong and just as forbidden.

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My OVERALL Rating (combining both novellas): 4 stars out of 5

Because these were two separate stories, by two separate authors, I feel its only fair that I give them each their own separate rating & review. It should be noted that my overall feeling of this anthology as a whole was positive and I would recommend them to anyone who likes erotica, or those who enjoy a good romantic novel and can overlook the erotica aspect. I will warn you however that these stories do contain explicit sexual content, and should NOT be read by anyone under the age of 18.

Let us begin with Letting Go by Megan Hart

My Rating: 3 stars out of 5
My Review: Let me start off by saying that this was the first time I had heard of this author (much less read anything by her). And while there was a certain complexity to this story and the characters that I enjoyed, there was a lot of things that grated on my nerves after awhile.

On the positive side, all of the characters in this novel had their flaws. Colleen was a divorced woman, trying to rid herself completely of her verbally abusive and toxic ex-husband (although for some reason they still owned a beach-house together), while Jesse had a child young, and was trying to co-parent her with his ex-girlfriend. There was definitely a sexual spark and connection between Colleen and Jesse, and while I found his reactions to be on-par with his character, I found the character of Colleen to be - well annoying. 

I can understand and sympathize with her (to a point). She has certain dominate traits that her ex was determined to squash out of her. He was verbally and emotionally abusive, which I have no doubt left scars on her, but the fact that she was constantly thinking about him, comparing Jesse to him, even going so far as to still co-own a beach house with him when she obviously couldn't stand him, left me more annoyed than anything else. 

I will say that the sexual scenes were hot, and seeing Colleen stop letting her ex-husband control her actions was a nice change. I especially enjoyed the ending of this one, and will probably read more from this author in the future. 

And now lets talk about Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz

My Rating: 4 stars out of 5
My Review: I have been a fan of Ms.Reisz since I first read The Siren back in 2012. In fact, she was the main reason I requested this novel, I had to read more from her. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed  at first by the synopsis. Julian and Remi did not have a "forbidden night of passion" as I would call it, they were caught before anything really happened. However, that small detail aside, this was another wonderful novel from the mind of Ms.Reisz. 

This was more than just a story between two "star crossed lovers", there was a mystery running throughout, and the two not only rekindled their passion for each other, but were able to also save both their families from ruin. I loved the complexity of the characters, and hope that there will be another novella in the future about not only this couple, but also about Merrick and his conquests as well. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

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 Captivated is available from Amazon.com

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Review: The Competition (Rachel Knight #4) by Marcia Clark

Print Length: 416 pages

Publisher: Mulholland Books (July 8, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: In Marcia Clark's most electrifying thriller yet, Los Angeles DA Rachel Knight investigates a diabolical high school massacre.

A Columbine-style massacre at a high school in the San Fernando Valley has left a community shaken to its core. Two students are identified as the killers. Both are dead, believed to have committed a mutual suicide. But in the aftermath of the shooting, as LA Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight and Detective Bailey Keller dig deeper, they realize that the pieces don't add up. Could it be that the two "killers" were themselves victims? And if so, does that mean that the real killers are still on the loose? When someone starts dropping clues that another horrific crime is in the works, Rachel and Bailey scramble desperately to profile their suspect and prevent another killing--before it's too late. 

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

DISCLAIMER #1: This book may contain "triggers" for certain people. It is definitely not for someone who has lived through this type of experience, nor is it for the "faint of heart". It is, at times, painful to read simply due to the subject matter. 

My Review: Oh my word! This was hands down the best novel in the Rachel Knight series that I've read to date! This was everything that the synopsis promised that it would be - without all the other things that made me not enjoy the first few books in this series. 

For those of you new to my blog, I have recently reviewed the previous three novels ( Guilt by Association , Guilt by Degrees & Killer Ambition), and found a lot to be desired in the majority (although the third book was better than the first two). It was my belief that there was way too much attention paid to frivolous details, and not enough attention paid to the actual crimes, or enough detail to keep me guessing. 

I absolutely loved the twists and turns this story had to offer. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the author would throw in a twist that I never saw coming, and I would be left feeling just as frustrated (but in a better way), than the investigating officers. This novel was definitely more action packed than previous ones, and it more than proved the author's ability to write a story that would draw the reader in and keep them glued to the edge of their seat.

The Competition is the fourth book in this series, however (as with the previous novels), it can be read as a stand alone novel without revealing any overt spoilers from the previous novels. Yes, certain details from them are mentioned (including one detail that may be considered a spoiler to some, however I found that had I not previously read the novel the mention of it would entice me to purchase the original novels); however overall, this can be read by itself and you won't be missing anything. 

Despite my misgivings about the first two novels, the third and fourth have sealed the deal for me. I now know that this author is capable of delivering on a level that I can get into and enjoy, and I am eagerly anticipating more stories featuring Rachel Knight! 

This is one of those novels that will appeal to many readers. Whether you like thrillers, or crime dramas, or even a good courtroom drama, this novel has something for everyone! 

DISCLAIMER #2: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

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The Competition (Rachel Knight #4) is available from Amazon.com

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A Courtship for Cecilia by Ruth J. Hartman

Print Length: 

Publisher: EsKape Press (October 28, 2014)

From Goodreads.com: Cecilia Fletcher longs for true love with the man of her heart. A life of her own, away from her demanding mother would be an added benefit. But in order to do that, Cecilia must live a lie, making it necessary to use a false name in order to hide a family secret.

Barrington Radcliff has been betrayed by a woman who he thought loved him, having his heart broken in the process. Because of that, trust is hard to willingly give. When he meets pretty Cecilia Fleming, his heart longs to give her a chance. Something about her doesn’t ring true, but Barrington allows love to overrule his good judgment.

Can Cecilia and Barrington get past their hurt and secrets long enough to find true love?

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 My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

My Review: Oh my! This was another wonderful story from the mind of Ms.Hartman! There were so many times that I found myself aggravated (in a good way.. trust me it was in the characters best interest for the reader to side with them), sighing happily, biting my nails and (maybe best of all) laughing out loud. 

While I loved Cecilia and Barrington (secrets,  flaws and all), I have to admit that my favorite character of all was Barrington's Uncle Percy. He seemed to have a knack for getting to the "heart of the matter", even if his methods were a bit... unconventional. He added just the right amount of "spice" to the novel to keep the reader not only laughing, but glued to the pages just to see what happened next.

While speaking of the characters, I have to say that I thoroughly detested Cecilia's mother, as well as her would be suitor Horace (both for different reasons, although I have to admit that my hatred of them only added to the overall story). I cannot fathom the reasons behind their actions; even though her Mother tries to explain her reasoning, it still makes little sense that she wouldn't want something better for her own child. 

I also thoroughly enjoyed the way that Cecilia and Barrington interacted, not only with each other, but with their peers as well. Cecilia had a backbone that couldn't be ignored, and while still recovering from the betrayal of another, Barrington possessed a certain jealousy and possessiveness when it came to Cecilia that was not over-bearing, but rather endearingly sweet. 

This book appeals to those who enjoy a good, clean (and cute) regency romance. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 


DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

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Review: Killer Ambition (Rachel Knight #3) by Marcia Clark

Print Length: 452 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 18, 2013)

From Goodreads.com: When the daughter of a billionaire Hollywood director is found murdered after what appears to be a kidnapping gone wrong, Los Angeles Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight and Detective Bailey Keller find themselves at the epicenter of a combustible and high-profile court case. Then a prime suspect is revealed to be one of Hollywood's most popular and powerful talent managers--and best friend to the victim's father. With the director vouching for the manager's innocence, the Hollywood media machine commences an all-out war designed to discredit both Rachel and her case. 

KILLER AMBITION is at once a thrilling ride through the darker side of Tinseltown and a stunning courtroom drama with the brilliant insider's perspective that Marcia Clark is uniquely qualified to give.

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

My Review: After reading the first two novels in her Rachel Knight series Guilt by Association & Guilt by Degrees, I was reluctant to continue reading anymore novels in this series. In the past, I have found there was too much attention paid to what the characters were drinking (and wearing), and not enough detail paid to the real "meat" of the story. However, I committed myself to reading four of the novels by this author, and I will finish them. 

That being said, Killer Ambition was (thankfully) completely different from the previous two novels in this series. Yes, the main characters still drank and occasionally spoke about what they were wearing, but it wasn't this constant run down of every little detail of their lives that had been consistent with the other two novels.  

Although part of a series of novels, this could be read as a stand alone without revealing any spoilers from the previous two books. There was less emphasis on the relationships of the characters (which after the first two novels I found refreshing), and more emphasis on the actual crime, the trial, and the good, bad and ugly that comes with taking a case to trial. There were also new characters introduced on the courtroom side of things, which not only kept the story-line interesting, also made for a handy "villain". Not in the actual sense of they did something wrong, but more in the sense of they said and/or did something that made them easy to dislike. 

Speaking of the characters, as in the two previous novels, they are well developed, and different in their own ways. I love the diversity in the main characters, and her "outside" characters (ie. the victims, the witnesses, etc) are also more developed than I would expect from an author who is only going to be using them to tell one particular story (although I sincerely hope this is not the last we see of Declan, as I loved him)! 

This is one of those novels that will appeal to many readers. Whether you like thrillers, or crime dramas, or even a good courtroom drama, this novel has something for everyone! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own. 

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Killer Ambition (Rachel Knight #3) is available from Amazon.com

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