Unclaimed by Courtney Milan

Setting: Victorian 1841

*The second book in the Turner Brother’s series*

Summary:

Her only hope for survival…

Handsome, wealthy and respected, Sir Mark Turner is the most sought-after bachelor in all of London—and he’s known far and wide for his irreproachable character. But behind his virtuous reputation lies a passionate nature he keeps carefully in check…until he meets the beautiful Jessica Farleigh, the woman he’s waited for all his life.

Is to ruin the man she loves…

But Jessica is a courtesan, not the genteel lady Sir Mark believes. Desperate to be free of a life she despises, she seizes her chance when Mark’s enemies make her an offer she can’t refuse: seduce Mark and tarnish his good name, and a princely sum will be hers. Yet as she comes to know the man she’s sworn to destroy, Jessica will be forced to choose between the future she needs…and the love she knows is impossible.

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Review:

I’ve always had a soft spot for virgin heroes so I just had to get this book! Combine that with how much I loved Courtney’s last book and I knew this one had to be good. And thankfully I was right. More than right. Courtney’s newest book was a beautiful, touching and heartbreaking story of two people who are both ‘unclaimed’ in their own ways, finding love and contentment at last in one another.

Jessica is a wonderful heroine. She’s got the Lizzy Bennet thing going for her-she’s intelligent, witty and not afraid to back down from a fight. But she’s also relate-able in that she has a vulnerable side and a past she’s trying to escape. And Mark… well, he just become one of my favorite heroes ever! Brave, protective and devoted, he was the perfect foil for Jessica and the perfect man to heal all her past wounds and to fall in love with! 😉 Jessica should have been a hard heroine to like with her trying to destroy the hero but Courtney handles her so well and gives her this sense of honor so that you can’t help but love her as much as you do Mark.

The way the story was plotted out was just perfect. I felt almost like it was written just for me as the sexual tension between these two were off the charts! 😀 I loved how Courtney stayed true to these character’s personalities and didn’t have them jumping into bed right away. The waiting only made the pay off more worth it! 😛 I can’ tell you how many times I swooned over their scenes together-perfect, just perfect!

This was a great romance and the perfect example of what this genre can do. You will sigh, cry and love this wonderful book!

Sensuality Rating: Hot (Love scenes are short and spicy)

Verdict: Courtney does it again! Another great book amazing book!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Unveiled by Courtney Milan

Setting: Pre-Victorian 1837

*The first book in the Turner trilogy*

Summary:

Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family, and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom, and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But when he arrives, he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance.…

Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who’s stolen her fortune and her father’s legacy—the man she’s been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties—and the tantalizing promise of passion….

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Review:

This book shows why Courtney Milan is one of my must buy authors. An absolutely brilliant novel that kept me up all night just to finish it! Can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy!

Courtney’s new trilogy features three brothers who have recently come into a large fortune, thanks to the efforts of our hero for this book, Ash Turner. He uncovers the old duke’s fake marriage and gets ready to take his revenge on that family. Unfortunately for him, the woman he sets his sights on is also the daughter of the duke he wants to have his revenge on.

I adored Ash Turner. I loved his strength, his vulnerabilities and his fierce loyalty to his brothers. I even loved his stubbornness. He is one of the best heroes I’ve read to date. I enjoyed how he wooed our heroine even under the guise of a servant and how he wanted to marry her despite her ‘supposed’ station. He made shiver through several scenes with his charm and his bare sincerity. Now this is a hero I would gladly stay up for! 😉

As for Margaret the heroine, I felt like I could really relate to her. At the end of the day, she was just a young woman trying to find herself and I loved how Ash made her see her own value. She was smart and very real and I rooted for her happy ending.  The sexual tension was spot on and I loved seeing how Margaret who initially disliked Ash eventually fell for his charm and *ahem* sex appeal 😛

I LOVE the way Courtney writes! I love how she goes above and beyond the typical romance. I love the depth in this novel and I love the wisdom and great insight into these character’s emotions and lives.  You feel like you really know them, and you feel what they feel and you want them to be happy so much. The secondary characters were also well-fleshed out and I enjoyed the peek at Ash’s two brothers.

This was more of a plot-driven novel, but it had enough heart to drive it emotionally as well. There were exciting things going on outside around the characters and between the characters as they slowly fell in love. The perfect mix! 😀

There are no predictable misunderstanding dramas in this book, which I also found very refreshing. Instead of the typical ‘Oh-you-lied-to-me, I-hate-you’ scenario, we get a nail biting twisting unpredictable end. I was up the whole night; half thinking things weren’t going to be ok!

Pick this one up-you’re guaranteed an amazing read!!!

Sensuality Rating: Pretty Hot (Love scenes are quite long and explicit)

Verdict: Perfect beginning to a great new series! 😀

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan

Setting: 1838, Victorian

Summary:

In the three years since her husband left her, Lady Kathleen Carhart has managed to forge a fulfilling life for herself. But when Ned Carhart unexpectedly returns, she finds her tranquility uprooted—and her deepest secrets threatened. Though she has no intention of falling for Ned’s charms, Kate can no longer deny the desire that still burns in her heart.

Ned is determined to regain his wife’s trust by using unbridled seduction. But just as Kate surrenders to Ned’s passion, her carefully guarded past threatens to destroy her. Now Kate must place her faith in the only man she’s ever loved, and the only one who has ever betrayed her…

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Review:

I LOVED Courtney Milan’s debut novel, Proof by Seduction so of course I had to read her second novel, exp since I was completely intrigued by the hero who was a secondary character in the first book. This book was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!

I’ve always had a thing for the more innocent heroes-I guess because there are far too many ‘experienced’ rakes and rogues out there, so it’s always refreshing to see a more innocent hero. Ned Carhart, our hero, definitely does not disappoint. In the first book, he was awkward, bumbling, with absolute no game whatsoever when it came to girls. In THIS book, he undergoes a dramatic change and becomes quite an amazing hero. At the very start, he leaves for three years and when he comes back, he is a changed man. He’s a complex man, full of strength and gentleness all molded together in one swoon-worthy package 😉 I love how Courtney doesn’t change him essentially, (he’s still quirky and funny) but instead gives me the strength to make him into a brilliant hero! 😀

This is really a story of two people who are so much more than they appear and who have to learn to love each other again. Our heroine, Kate is another great character-strong and vulnerable at the same time. I love it when characters are real like that and Courtney does a great job of making us sympathize with her. Both characters are flaw and yet totally lovable and you can’t help but root for their happily ever after!

All around, the writing in this book is perfect-I felt like I wasn’t reading your regular romance novel, but something deeper and more meaningful. This is a story of love healing old wounds and becoming the strength for two people. It was romantic, deep, and insightful and so much more than your typical romance novel. I love Courtney’s writing– it flows and you really feel like you know these characters and you feel for them.

There is conflict in the book apart from the hero and heroine’s own personal relationship conflict but that just added to the book and completed it. Overall, this is just a brilliant novel, and downright perfect!

Sensuality Rating: Hot (Love scenes are quite long and explicit)

Verdict: PERFECT and so much more than your usual romance novel 😀

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan

Setting: 1838, Victorian Period

Summary:

She was his last chance for a future of happiness…

A gifted fortune-teller from a humble background, Jenny can make even the most sophisticated skeptic believe her predictions simply by batting her smoky eyelashes. Until she meets her match in Gareth Carhart, the Marquess of Blakely, a sworn bachelor and scientist.

He just didn’t know it yet

Broodingly handsome, Gareth is scandalized to discover his cousin has fallen under the spell of “Madame Esmerelda,” and vows to prove Jenny a fraud. But his unexpected attraction to the fiery enchantress defies logic. Jenny disrupts every facet of Gareth’s calculated plan—until he can’t decide whether to seduce her or ruin her. Now, as they engage in a passionate battle of wills, two lonely souls must choose between everything they know…and the boundless possibilities of love.

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Review:

I was so happy when my copy of this book finanlly came through. I had to wait a whole 3 weeks before getting it and the anticiaption nearly killed me!

What did I think of the book? I loved it! It had me hooked from the first chapter and I spent nights staying up just to read it, completely shunning my homework. Towrds the middle of the book, I developed a hatred for it as it was such a distraction! Everytime I finished a chapter I had to start the new one and then that turned into another one… Needless to say that when I finanlly finished it, I breathed a sigh of relief. Now life can return to normal.

I love the heroine of this book! She was smart, savvy and independent. She didn’t let anything get her down. The hero was a great match for her and he reminded me so much of Mr. Darcy. He was cold and distant at the beginning and I loved reading how Jenny managed to thaw him up slowly. The scenes between the two were hot with tension which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Plot-wise, the book had a unique premise that was well pulled off. I laughed during the first half the book as Jenny and Gareth fought each other on fortune-telling matters. Courtney’s writing is great and really flowed.

My only problem with the book was that it slightly dragged on towards the end, making it easier for me to put it down (Perhaps that isn’t such a bad thing after all?:P). The book started off with a bang, dragged a little towards the end but then managed to end beautifully.

It was very romantic, very steamy, very funny and very wise. Courtney understands people and their emotions so well, and the characters and their feelings were so well portrayed, I felt like I knew them.

I also enjoyed the glimpse of her next book and can’t wait to read it when it comes out later this year!

Sensuality Level: Very SPICY (Long and very detailed love scenes)

Final Verdict-A must read! You will read it, laugh, stay up all night to try and finish, learn to hate it because it is distracting and then love it again when it’s over. Don’t miss it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars