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

A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh

Setting: Regency

Summary:

A year after being abandoned at the altar during the wedding she had dreamed of all her life, Lauren Edgeworth is in London to spend a quiet couple of months with her aunt, Elizabeth, Duchess of Portfrey, during the latter’s confinement. Christopher “Kit” Butler, Viscount Ravensberg, is in London getting into every imaginable wild scrape and fast becoming one of London’s most notorious rakehells.

But now he has been summoned home in order to become betrothed to a woman chosen by his father, who banished him for life just three years before. Desperate to do things on his own terms, Kit hastily searches for a bride to take home with him, someone his father cannot possibly object to, someone above reproach, someone dull, respectable, prim, and perfect. One of his friends suggests Lauren but then adds that Kit is surely the very last man she would accept for a husband.

The challenge proves irresistible, and Kit wagers that he will have wooed and wed Lauren within six weeks…

Click to view Amazon page!

Review:

I had read the prequel to this book titled One Night For Love, very much liked the secondary character Lauren, and empathized greatly when she got jilted at the start of that book. You can imagine my delight when I discovered Lauren would get her own romance and happy ending in this book. And once again, I was very satisfied with this wonderful, touching, beautifully written story about two people, both with painful pasts, who find hope, happiness and freedom in love.

Lauren is not your usual heroine-she’s subtle, gentle, reserved and prim to the point of prudishness. And yet, as with the case with all of us, there is more to her than meets the eye and as the talented Balogh slowly reveals all the layers of her personality, you will fall in love with her kindness and gentle strength, just as I did. I’m so glad she finally got her happy ending!

Kit is a wonderful hero and exactly the kind of man every woman would fall for! 😉 Warm, kind, sexy, slightly scandalous, he would make any woman swoon-and yet, as with Lauren, there are deeper depths to his character. I especially loved his tenderness for Lauren, and how he fell in love with her quiet, sweet nature, while giving her the best summer of her life. 😀

I melted over the romantics scenes, and swooned over the love scenes (which were sizzling with loads of chemistry :P) and teared up when it seemed the hurt from their pasts would get in the way of them being together. Balogh has a talent for writing in a way that brings the characters to life, and creating a strong emotional bond between the lovers. Her writing might be considered slow or boring by some readers because of the traditional nature of her plots, but I doubt anyone can match the emotional poignancy she brings to her books. Her love scenes are also very traditional but that doesn’t mean they are boring as sometimes, as she proves, less is really more.

You won’t be disappointed with this deep, emotional romance. I was hard pressed to find a single flaw in this book and tried to stay up just to finish it! So even if you prefer more adventurous romances, give this one a try. I’ll be reading this one again!

Sensuality Rating: Warm (Love scenes are short and non explicit)

Verdict: A wonderful classic Regency romance. Highly recommended!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander

Setting: Victorian 1885

Summary:

Widowed Julia, Lady Winterset, has inherited a book—a very shocking book—that every gentleman in London seems to want. For a charismatic businessman, it’s a chance to build an empire. For a dashing novelist, it could guarantee fame. But to a proud, domineering earl, it means everything…

Harrison Landingham, Earl of Mountdale, can’t let the obstinate Julia release the shameless memoir that could ruin his family’s name. But the only way to stop her may be equally sordid—if far more pleasurable. For his rivals are intent on seducing the captivating woman to acquire the book. And Harrison isn’t the sort to back away from a competition with the stakes this high. Now the winner will claim both the scandalous memoirs and the heart of their lovely owner…

Click cover for more info!

Trailer

Review:

As soon as I saw and swooned over the gorgeous and intriguing 3 part mini-movie trailer for this book, I had to pick it up despite having never read anything from this author before.  I mean, with a trailer like that, the book obviously had to be worth the effort that went into promoting it! 😀

Well, once again, I was wrong, and quite sadly too. Seems I really can’t trust the appearance of a book, no matter how well promoted it was. I really wanted to like this book but what could have been a fresh, witty, sexy, fun opposites attract story turned out to be a roller coaster of clichés, poorly written characters and a very undeveloped romance.

Such a great premise but so poorly executed. Three guys (including our hero) all fighting to win the memoirs and the hand of the heroine? Sounds like a great setup for some funny, entertaining scenes. And yet, the other two men were barely mentioned at all, except to be an excuse for the hero to get his hands on the heroine. Some of the scenes were downright cheesy and unrealistic-the kind of thing you would find in a Barbara Cartland romance.  I also had such a hard time believing the hero and heroine could ever live happily ever after at all because all they seemed to do every time they met was fight, and when they weren’t fighting they were busy in the bedroom. Sounds like a perfect fairytale relationship, doesn’t it? Not.

And then there was the heroine who was supposed to be rational and sensible (and granted she was at the start of the book) but ended up being completely irrational and immature, who seemed to like nothing more than shouting at the hero for no reason and then storming out without letting him get a word in. I honestly felt like slapping her a couple of times because her behaviour was so ‘What the heck!’ The hero was actually a decent chap and only at the start did he really behave in an overly arrogant, condescending manner toward the heroine, which kind of defied the purpose of the opposites attract thing.

There turned out to be very little wit. The only character I really liked was Julia’s best friend Veronica who had the best, wittiest lines in the whole book, and who I felt would make a much better heroine than Little Miss Tantrum. Most of the plot was predictable and boring and I can’t help but wonder how the author is a bestseller. It seems another case of a writer rushing their work to fulfil a contract.

Despite it all, there were some good points to be mentioned-excerpts from the memoirs are inserted every couple of chapters and made for some nice reading. There is also a supernatural element *coughghostcough* which made for some interesting scenes. But even this was not enough to cover the book’s mistakes.

All in all, this was another case of a great opportunity missed. I’ll be watching the trailers again, but this time I’ll be imagining my own story and ending and I suggest you do the same.

Sensuality Rating: Warm (Love scenes are short and non explicit)

Verdict: Just bad. I highly recommend you skip this one.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh

Setting: Regency

*Prequel to Mistress series*

Summary:

While Lady Angeline Dudley’s pedigree dictates that she must land a titled gentleman, the irrepressible beauty secretly longs for a simple, ordinary suitor. So when Edward Ailsbury, the new Earl of Heyward, rescues her with unmatched civility from the advances of a scoundrel, Angeline thinks that she has found her true love. Persuading the earl is another matter entirely.

Edward has his future neatly mapped out. He hopes to wed his steadfast companion, a woman who shares his values of loyalty, respect, and decorum. Angeline is the last woman on earth for Edward. And yet a stolen kiss in the moonlight awakens something deep and primal within him. Naturally, being a gentleman, he does the right thing after compromising a lady: He offers marriage.

Angeline knows that Edward’s proposal is born of duty, not love. Deep down, Angeline believes that Edward’s dedication to convention will melt behind closed doors. For a proper wife by day can become a husband’s secret mistress by night, when delicious desire rules.

Click cover for excerpt and more info!

Review:

This is the prequel to the Mistress series (More Than a Mistress and No Man’s Mistress) and though it had it’s faults, I still found this to be one very sweet, romantic story! My main problem with this book is that it would have done better as a novella and sometimes felt too overdrawn.

Lady Angeline will be familiar to readers of the next two Mistress books as the chatterbox who has horrible dress sense. But in this, we find out that there is so much more to her and more to her hero, Edward, who appears to be a quiet, and aloof. Turns out there’s a reason she wears bright, mis-matched clothes and a reason Edward appears to be such a stick up the ass.

Angeline is relate-able and adorable, even if she does tend to take up paragraphs with her incessant chatter. Edward is the kind of hero I prefer-the quiet but dependable beta hero. None of that angsty, arrogant alpha hero here! I love opposites attract stories and this was a good one.

The writing is typical Balogh, though it wasn’t as philosophical in nature as her recent books (like the Huxtable series) and was very reminiscent of her old style. Those who love Austen will respond to Balogh’s writing which is very similar in tone.

The story was very simple in plot, and very traditional, with none of those steamy scandalous meetings you find in a lot of modern romances. The romance was as sweet as strawberries and cream though I did feel the story dragged on and it could have been done in half the pages it took. I also thought the hero realizing he loved the heroine happened too suddenly.

Still, if you’re looking for a sweet, simple, traditional, Austen-esque romance and don’t mind a slow story, then this is a sweet opposites attract story that is well-written and will keep you smiling for an afternoon if you’ve bored. 🙂

Sensuality Rating: Warm (Love scenes are short and not explicit)

Verdict: Sweet and simple-A nice way to spend a boring afternoon

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Romances Coming in April 2011!

New month, new romances… ENJOY! 😀

1 ) Out April 5 *DEBUT*

Summary:

Miss Eva Black spent her life concealing her mother’s past as a courtesan. Now a spinster, her beauty hidden away under a dour disguise, Eva spends her days schooling courtesans to be suitable wives. But one vengeful duke does not appreciate Eva turning his mistress into a lady. He plans to seduce Eva into becoming what she detests: a courtesan. But he doesn’t expect her to be a woman of such beauty and so many secrets.

Click cover for excerpt and more details

2 ) Out April 5

Summary:

Only Victoria knows the truth about dashing, dissolute, dangerous Saber Lawrence—that he is a renegade prince plotting to seize control of his country. To ensure her silence, Saber kidnaps Victoria and carries her away to his castle deep in the woods. There they hide the truth about their past: a glittering ball, angry words, a passionate kiss. He vows to vanquish her reserve … but soon finds an English governess is not so easily seduced …

Between persuasion and passion, they realize that only together can they defeat the enemies determined to destroy them. But will Saber discover too late that a woman’s heart is a treasure more priceless than any kingdom?

Click cover for excerpt and more details

3 ) Out April 5

Summary:

One look at the towering ocean-side manor that is to be her new home, and exiled socialite Susan Stanton knows: This is a place haunted by secrets and riddled with menace.

For Susan, there is no escaping it. At best she can stay clear of the most dangerous element of all–dark-haired smuggler Evan Bothwick, a man whose shaded countenance cannot hide his wicked intent.

But Susan has a secret of her own–a special gift that renders her privy to the darkest mysteries lurking within the walls of the manor and in the labyrinthine cellars beneath. And the only man who can help her make sense of it all is Evan, the very scoundrel and rogue she would do anything to be able to resist…

Click cover for excerpt and more details

4 ) Out April 26 *Third and final book in Love by Numbers trilogy*

Summary:

She lives for passion
Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society’s rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London’s most practiced gossips…and precisely the kind of woman the Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him.
He swears by reputation.
Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening–risking everything he holds dear–he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety.She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove
that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.

Excerpt coming soon!

Click cover for more details

 

5 ) Out April 26

Summary:

The dashing, licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister – now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stands in the way of Nicholas’s vengeance: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe’s unsuspecting daughter.

Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue-banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie-Antonia vows to protect her charge from the same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard he is, and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.

Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes…

Click cover for excerpt and more details

6 ) Out April 26 *Fourth book in Rarest Blooms series*

Summary:

The Duke of Castleford has been so bad for so long that scandal can’t be bothered to rise up around him anymore. To alleviate the boredom of his privileged life, he occupies himself with drinking and whoring, not to mention the occasional duel. When something piques his interest, however, he has been known to emerge from his ennui and employ his considerable mental faculties to finding answers to the questions that fascinate him.

When Daphne Joyes rejects this notorious hedonist’s seduction, she assumes that he will forget about her and continue on his path to hell. Instead her beauty, grace and formidable composure captivate him, and she becomes one of those fascinations to him. That he intends to have her, and soon, is actually the least of the dangers that his pursuit of her presents. More troublesome is his interest in her past and her history, and the way he keeps poking his nose into the secrets behind the distant relative’s bequest that gave him ownership of the property where she lives.

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7 ) Out April 26 *Third book in The Impossible Bachelors series*

Summary:

Every woman dreams of saying “I do.” Jilly Jones did—and years of a deeply imperfect marriage followed. Now living in London and working in a charming bookshop, the free-spirited Jilly is perfectly content with her newfound independence…until she meets a dashing naval officer who sparks her longing for a real happily ever after.

Captain Stephen Arrow is just home after years of service, and he’s in no hurry to give up his hard-won freedom. The meddlesome bluestocking Jilly Jones is exactly the kind of woman he doesn’t need…But there’s something about her that keeps drawing Stephen back to the bookshop. With her sparkling wit and understated beauty, she seems like a surprisingly real match for Stephen. But will a scandalous chapter in Jilly’s past stand in the way of their heated attraction? For this bachelor, nothing is impossible…

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8 ) Out April 26 *Second in Writing Girl series*

Summary:

Lord Simon Roxbury is a godsend to gossip columnists everywhere. this notorious rake has recently been caught in an extremely compromising position by none other than The London Weekly‘s Lady of Distinction. Rumor also has it that Lord R received an ultimatum: be wed or be penniless.

As A Lady of Distinction, Lady Julianna Somerset typically reports on other people’s scandals, but soon she finds herself embroiled in a very public battle with an irate Lord Roxbury–one that leaves her reputation in tatters and her position at The Weekly on the line.

With no other choice available, these two enemies unite in a marriage of convenience to rescue both their reputations and secure his fortune. With their rivals intent on revealing the charade, Lady Julianna and Lord Simon inevitably surrender to temptation. It may just be a love match after all…

Click cover for excerpt and more details

9 ) Out April 26 *Third book in Lost Lords series*

Summary:

Damian Mackenzie us a bastard and a gambler and society’s favorite reprobate. But to Lady Kiri Lawford he’s a hero—braver than the smugglers he rescues her from, more honorable than any lord she’s ever met, and far more attractive than any man has a right to be.  How can she not fall in love…?

But Damian Mackenzie has secrets that leave no room in his life for courting high-born young ladies—especially not the sister of one of his oldest friends. Yet when Kiri’s quick thinking reveals a deadly threat to England’s crown, Damian learns that she is nowhere near as prim and  respectable as he first assumed… and the lady is far more alluring than any man can resist…

Click cover for excerpt

HAPPY MONTH OF READING!!! 😀

Final Trailer for The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander!

And now that all 3 pieces have been released, I give you the complete three part trailer for the highly anticipated release, The Perfect Mistress!

Part One

Part Two

And at last, the final, recently released sizzling preview…

Part Three

And *sigh*, that was one heck of an ending! Too bad they couldn’t have dragged it out a lil bit longer 😉

Now how badly do you want to read this book?

Debut Author Kieran Kramer!

Hey, Readers!

After reading an interesting post on the Season blog, I came across a new name in romance that I simply had to check out! Voila! It’s time to introduce Kieran Kramer, a debut author with some very intriguing new books (the start of a new series!) coming out very soon…

The Books: (of the new series entitled The Impossible Bachelors)

Book One-When Harry Met Molly

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?
Enter 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?”

Excerpt:

http://kierankramerbooks.com/books/when-harry-met-molly/

Due in November 2010

Book Two-Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right

Most women would not be pleased to be labeled a spinster. But Lady Poppy Smith-Barnes isn’t most women. In fact, Poppy has invented an imaginary fiancé, the Duke of Drummond, to deter unwanted suitors. A very useful fellow, this duke, until the real Drummond turns up and uses Poppy’s ploy to trap her in a betrothal.

Will their passion make it real?
A good spy flies below the radar. Which is why being named one of the Prince Regent’s “Impossible Bachelors” is so inconvenient for Nicholas Staunton. Every society female will be out to ensnare him. Nicholas needs a fiancée—and Poppy’s ruse is the answer. How could he have known she’d be a brazen, sensual siren with an irresistible taste for adventure? Now nothing less will do than to convince his fiery Poppy to revoke her spinster status…for good.

Due in December 2010

***

Lovely covers and exciting stories! Sounds like these books will be romantic comedies reminiscent of Julia Quinn 🙂

November and December are already set to be awesome months!

To Sin With A Scoundrel by Cara Elliott

Setting: Regency

Summary:

A reclusive widow known for her scientific scholarship, Lady Ciara Sheffield is shadowed by rumors that she poisoned her husband . . . A rakehell rogue notorious for his devil-may-care antics, Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley is not accused of murdering anything—save for the rules of Polite Society. The only thing they have in common is seeing their names featured in the lurid gossip columns of London’s newspapers.

Until an ancient manuscript draws them together.

Ciara needs a titled fiancé to quell the slanderous speculations which may send her to the gallows. Lucas needs brilliant scholar to help his elderly uncle decipher the secrets of the mysterious manuscript. So when her friends urge her to accept the earl’s proposal of a temporary alliance, Ciara decides that she had no choice but to make a deal with the Devil.

And so begins a seductive dance of sinful pleasures and hidden desires as the two of them waltz through the mansions of Mayfair. Lies, intrigue, treachery, sex. They find themselves facing slanderous whispers, unscrupulous relatives—not to speak of their own simmering passions, which quickly ignite into dangerous flames. It’s a potent mix and the result may be explosive—and perhaps deadly—if they don’t watch their step.

Review:

Sexy, sweet, romantic, witty and hilarious, this is one book not to be missed! It was a great and refreshing change from all the usual sex-obsessed romance novels. I appreciated the fact that the hero and the heroine didn’t feel the need to jump into bed right away which afforded the reader (me!) to enjoy great witty banter and hot sexual tension. 😛

Both the hero and heroine were awesome lovable characters. I liked Ciara right away, mainly because she was so easy to relate to, dealing with horrible rumors. She was also a strong character, who was willing to do whatever it took to protect her son. I liked how she didn’t succumb right away to the charms of the devilish Lord Hadley, like other heroines seemed to do. It fit well with her rational, serious, focused-on-her-work persona and was a nice change. Sometimes I find myself rolling my eyes at how quickly heroines who say they will never fall for the charms of Mr so-and-so end up in bed with him not too long after.

I knew Lord Hadley, despite all the rumors to the contrary, was a an good man almost right away. We hear about his exploits in the paper Ciara reads at the beginning of the book but later when we first meet him, we see that Hadley is a man who is already wondering at his shallow existence, proving that there is more to him than meets the eye. I loved how the author gradually revealed the deeper layers of the man until I along with the heroine was totally in love with him!

This story was also the perfect opposites attract story. Being a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice, the whole we’re-opposites-and-that-means-we-can-teach-each other-things is completely up my alley. Relationships are about learning new things from your partner while staying true to yourself.

The charcters were complete opposites at first but then gradually we can see how perfect they are for each other.

The pacing of the romance was perfect and I loved watching them fall in love before anything too scandalous happened 😉

Another great thing about this book was the conversations. I loved how witty they were and laughed more than once at the cleverness of the dialogue. Very Austen-esque.

The extra characters were wonderful and really fleshed out. I could completely imagine them saying what they said and acting how they did. The scenes were touching and realistic and I absolutely loved the scenes with Ciara’s son and Lord Hadley.

The only thing that may have kept it a bit down for me was that it wasn’t very adventurous in terms of plot. It was a great fresh telling of the opposites attract story and I suppose this is my veteran romance reader self talking but I would have preferred if the story had happened on more of a larger scale.

I still can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Sensuality Level: Warm (Few love scenes but GREAT tension and chemistry)

Verdict: Very witty and romantic-This is one for the hopeless romantic in all of us! Buy it for a great, feel-good read 🙂

Rating: 4 and a half 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.

Click cover for more info

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

The Education of Mrs Brimley by Donna MacMeans

Setting-1876, Victorian Period

Summary-

Emma Brimley pretends to be a widow to find employment at an all-girl’s school. But when she’s expected to teach the intimacies of marriage, she strikes a scandalous bargain with a neighboring artist-a man well-versed in bedroom etiquette.

Click cover for more info

Review-

This is an education every young lady should receive! S-t-e-a-m-y! Loved the characterization and Nicholas is such a dreamboat-I don’t see how anyone could reject him.

Stayed up all night just to finish it–it was so un-put-down-able! Loved it!

Sensuality-5/5

Final Verdict-Bursting with sexual tension-Absolutely not to be missed!

Rating: 5 stars out of 5