Made a tribute for this great movie and this couple đ
Watch, comment and share!
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More about the movie:
Romances Coming in August 2013!
New month, brand new romances đ Lots of great reads this month from romance’s top authors!
Enjoy the list! đ
1) Out August 6
Summary:
Peregrine Perriam, son of an earl, has no desire to marry, but when heâs named heir to Perriam Manor, he finds he has only a month to persuade a stranger, Claris Mallow, to the altar or the property will be lost to his family forever, and his line will be cursed.
Having survived her parentsâ tormented marriage, Claris prefers poverty to any husband. When a high-born stranger demands her hand, she drives him off at pistol point.
Perry finds weapons of his own, however, and soon Claris is compelled to accept his proposal. But she does so on her own termsâespecially that the marriage be in name only. Once mistress ofPerriam Manor, however, she discovers she isnât immune to Perryâs charms. Perhaps a real marriage might be worth the riskâincluding a real marriage bedâŚ
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2) Out August 6 *Book 2 in Shakespeare in Love series*
Summary:
How to Avoid an Unwanted Marriage:
1. Track down his first love
2. Slap his face when he propositions you to become his mistress
3. Flee the countryside with aforementioned scoundrel
4. Join a traveling troupe of Shakespearean actors
5. Don’t fall under the enchantment of a magical midsummer moon…
To escape the scheming, pawing clutches of her late husband’s nephew, Arabella Darlington turns to Raymond Olivier, the only man she ever loved, for help. But the sweet Raymond she knew as a girl is now the dissolute Earl ofPembrokeâthe most notorious rake in London.
When the situation turns deadly, Arabella and Raymond are forced to hide in the country. As she finds herself succumbing to Raymond’s puckish charm, Arabella starts formulating a new plan: how to persuade a rake to propose.
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3) Out August 6 *Book 2 in MacGregor Trilogy*
Summary:
Honor or happiness-he can’t have both.
Tiberius Flynn may be every inch an English lord, but smart, headstrong beauty Hester Daniels has no use for his high-handed ways–no matter how handsome, charming, or beguiling he is. They only see eye to eye in caring about the feisty little girl who is under their protection.
Tiberius’s haughty insistence that his wealthy estate in England is a better place for the child than her beloved, rundown Scotland home sparks Hester’s fierce protectiveness, and the battle lines are drawn.
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4) Out August 6 *Book 1 in Master Matchmakers series*
Summary:
Emma Pyrmont has no designs on handsome Sir Nicholas Rotherford–at least not for herself. As his daughter’s nanny, she sees how lonely little Alice has been. With the cook’s help, Emma shows the workaholic scientist just what Alice needs. But making Nicholas a better father makes Emma wish her painful past didn’t mar her own marriage chances.
Ever since scandal destroyed his career, Nicholas has devoted himself to his new invention. Now his daughter’s sweet, quick-witted nanny is proving an unexpected distraction. All evidence suggests that happiness is within reach–if only a man of logic can trust in the deductions of his own heart.
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5) Out August 6 *Book 3 in Brides of Waterloo series* (FINAL BOOK IN SERIES)
Summary:
Ensign James Rowland was fortunate to return from Waterloo unscathedâat least in body. But guilt from that terrible battle has left him almost mute and crushed in spirit. Only in the company of sweet, compassionate Lucy Williams, a volunteer at the Veterans’ Group in Bath, does he begin to feel happiness is within reach.Â
Penniless governesses can’t afford dreams of romance. Lucy Williams is resigned to lifelong spinsterhoodâuntil James enters her life. His mother opposes the match. Lucy herself is sure the chasm between their ranks is too wide. But now that she has helped heal James, he intends to overcome every obstacle between themâŚand emerge victorious in the battle for her love.
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6) Out August 6 *Book 3 in Bridal Favors series*
Summary:
When All is Lost
All Grant Benton, Earl of Crowle, can think of is restoring his family’s fortune so he can go back to being a gentleman of leisure. But when he meets beautiful, purposeful Lady Irene Knopp, he begins to question whether there might not be a better way to live life after all…
What’s Left is Desire
Lady Irene will never give up her fulfilling work dressing the most beautiful brides in England. She’d rather risk losing love forever than sacrifice her own life’s purpose. Yet she has never met a more magnetic, attractive man than Grant. Trapped between the fleeting chance at love and passion for her work, is it possible she can have it all?
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7) Out August 13
Summary:
It’s 1912, the beginning of the Mexican Revolution—and the Mormon colonists must flee to the United States.
When his estranged wife is mistakenly left behind, Ammon Hancock goes back to rescue her. But when he finds her, he must coax her to follow him to safety⌠and maybe even love him again.
This revolution could be the very thing that ends their war of hearts.
Click cover for author website!
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8) Out August 20
Summary:
The darkest hours of the night bring the deepest passionsâŚÂ
Haunted by rumors following her husband’s suspicious death, Aurelia St. Harlow has withdrawn from society. To secure her family’s future, there’s only one man who can help. And that man demands paymentâwith a kiss!Â
Lord Stephen Hawkhurst finds the troubled beauty impossible to resist. But Aurelia is suspected of treason and, as England’s greatest spy, Hawkhurst must uncover her every secret.Â
As the truth unfolds, so does their desire. Drawn together in the dark of the night, they unleash passions neither has ever experienced beforeâŚ
Click cover for author website!
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9) Out August 20
Summary:
Following a disastrous incident at a house party, Lady Isobel Jervis is exiled to the country to avoid further scandal. At the imposing Wimpole Hall, she meets architect Giles Harker. He is as eye-catching as the elegant house, but shockingly arrogantâand infuriatingly dismissive.Â
Despite himself, Giles is strangely drawn to the haughty Isobel, and stuns her with a secret kiss in the gardens. As the illegitimate son of an infamous scarlet woman, he knows love can be dangerous. Their growing attraction could come at the cost of both their reputations…
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10) Out August 20 *Book 1 in Scandal at the House of Russell series*
Summary:
Bryony Russell and her two sisters are left destitute by the disgrace and unexpected death of their father, a wealthy shipping magnate. He left a cryptic note, and Bryony is determined to find the real villain and clear her fatherâs name. In disguise as a servant, Bryony infiltrates the home of her fatherâs business partner to find proof of his guiltâŚor innocence. Itâs not just clues that Bryony finds, but temptation tooâŚ
Adrian Bruton, Earl of Kilmartyn, immediately suspects there is something not quite right about his new housekeeper. The brooding, irresistible rake plays along because he has his own guilty secrets, and his venal, scheming wife holds the key to them, trapping him in a hate-filled marriage. But against his will heâs fascinated by Bryony, seeing past the scars on her face to show her the beauty she never knew she had. Bryony must uncover the truth and attempt to preserve her fatherâs legacy, before things go too far and she falls in love with a man who might very well be her worst enemy.
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11) Out August 20 *Book 1 in Bancrofts of Barton Park series*
Summary:
Wed to WickednessÂ
In Society’s eyes, Hayden Fitzwalter, Earl of Ramsay and Jane Bancroft have the perfect marriage. But what can’t be seen are the secrets hidden behind closed doors. Believing Hayden will never renounce his dissolute ways, Jane flees to her family’s dilapidated estate in the country.Â
Years later, Hayden now longs to win back the only woman who has ever touched his heart. But first he has to convince her that this rogue is ready to be tamedâŚ
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12) Out August 27 *Book 2 in Sons of Sin series*
Summary:
IT TAKES A LADY
Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett’s secret identity as the author of her father’s articles is her greatest deception-until her father’s handsome new student arrives on their doorstep. Genevieve recognizes him as the masked intruder who earlier tried to steal a priceless gem from their home. Keeping the seductive stranger’s identity hidden is a risk, but she’s got secrets of her own to keep.
TO CATCH A THIEF
Sir Richard Harmsworth fakes a rakish facade to show society that he doesn’t care about his bastard status. Yet haunted by his unknown father’s identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will prove he’s the rightful heir. Intent on seducing the stone away from its owner, Richard finds himself face-to-face with a beauty more breathtaking than any jewel. But even as she steals Richard’s heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure . . .Â
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13) Out August 27 *Book 5 in Lost Lords series*
Summary:
Even the most proper young lady yearns for adventure. But when the very well bred Miss Sarah Clarke-Townsend impulsively takes the place of her pregnant twin, it puts her own life at risk. If the kidnappers after her sister discover they’ve abducted Sarah instead, she will surely pay with her life. . .
Rob Carmichael survived his disastrous family by turning his back on his heritage and becoming a formidable Bow Street Runner with a talent for rescuing damsels in distress. But Sarah is one damsel who is equal to whatever comes. Whether racing across Ireland with her roguish rescuer or throwing herself into his arms, she challenges Rob at every turn.
Click cover for author website!
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14) Out August 27 *Book 3 in House of Brady series*
Summary:
Janice Sherwood wants to marry for love, but sheâs failed to make a match after two Seasons. Her parents, the Marquess and Marchioness of Brady, arrange to send her to the Duke of Halseyâs country estate as a short-term guest of his grandmother, the dowager, in hopes that she might win the dukeâs affections. What they never could have imagined is that Janice would fall for the ruggedly handsome servant Luke, who lives in the stables and carries an air of mystery and temptation.
When Luke Callahan learns that he is the legitimate heir to a dukedom, he will stop at nothing to claim what is his. But first, he must begin a game of disguise to secure his rightful inheritance. Janice isnât part of his plan. But by engaging her in this dance of deception, might he lose her forever?
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15) Out August 27 *Book 1 in At the Kingsborough Ball series*
Summary:
Anthony Hurst, Duke of Kingsborough, knows the time has come for him to produce an heir. But first he must find a bride. When he meets the most exquisite woman at his masquerade ball, he thinks his search is over . . . until the breathtaking beauty runs off. With few clues other than her figure, her scent, and the memory of her kiss, Anthony must find his mystery lady.
Isabella Chilcott can scarcely believe it: she is finally at the Kingsborough Ball. As a child, she dreamed of dancing a waltz here, and now, thanks to a gorgeous gown sheâs found in the attic, Isabella is living her fairytale fantasy. And sheâs waltzing with the Duke of Kingsborough himself! But she must escape before he discovers her secrets . . . for she is not who she pretends to be, and falling in love with Prince Charming is the last thing she can allow herself to do . . .
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 16) Out August 27 *Book 2 in Survivor’s Club series*
Summary:
Desperate to escape his motherâs matchmaking, Vincent Hunt, Viscount Darleigh, flees to a remote country village. But even there, another marital trap is sprung. So when Miss Sophia Fryâs intervention on his behalf finds her unceremoniously booted from her guardianâs home, Vincent is compelled to act. He may have been blinded in battle, but he can see a solution to both their problems: marriage.
At first, quiet, unassuming Sophia rejects Vincentâs proposal. But when such a gloriously handsome man persuades her that he needs a wife of his own choosing as much as she needs protection from destitution, she agrees. Her alternative is too dreadful to contemplate. But how can an all-consuming fire burn from such a cold arrangement? As friendship and camaraderie lead to sweet seduction and erotic pleasure, dare they believe a bargain born of desperation might lead them both to a love destined to be?
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17) Out August 27 *Book 1 in Prince Catchers series*
Summary:
On the way to marry a prince in a castle a lady should never:
- Bribe an infuriatingly arrogant and undeniably irresistible ship captain,
- Let him kiss her senseless on a beach,
- Battle assassins at his side, or
- Exchange wedding vows with him, even under the direst circumstances.
But daring, determined Arabella Caulfield isnât just any lady. And Luc Westfall is no ordinary shipmaster. Heâs the new duke of Lycombe, and to defeat a plot that could destroy his family he must have an heir. Now he knows just the woman for the job . . . and heâs not above seduction to turn this would-be princess into a duchess.
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18) Out August 27 *Book 2 in Wild Quartet series*
Summary:
Anne Brotherton is sick and tired of being an heiress. She cannot bring herself to marry a fortune hunter. Why can’t men like her for her sharp mind and kind heart rather than her impressive dowry? Just when she is about to bow to her fate as a confirmed spinster, she meets the handsome and charming Marcus Lithgow.
It’s been years since Marcus set foot in Englandâwhy toy with the ton when he can fleece wealthy fools in Paris and Rome? Yet everything changes when he inherits a ramshackle estate. Marcus’s first and only chance at a respectable life needs funding . . . the kind Anne Brotherton can provide. Such a wallflower should be ripe for the picking. So why does Marcus feel like he’s the one hanging by a thread?
She nearly falls for Marcus’s smooth seduction. But when Anne realizes she’s being strung along, a lust for payback empowers her like never before. Two can play the game of deception. The game of love, however, has its own rules . . .
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19) Out August 27Â
Summary:
Years ago, when Isabelle Mears was still a young miss too infatuated to know better, she surrendered her innocence to a dishonorable man. Though ruined and cast out from society, she has worked hard to shelter her illegitimate son, Jack. Having sworn off men in her quiet but dignified life, Isabelle is unprepared for the deep longing that rips through her when a handsome stranger rescues her rambunctious six-year-old from the pounding ocean surf.
George Upperton is a man in trouble with debts, women, and a meddling family. He is, by all accounts, the last gentleman on earth Isabelle should be drawn to. But loneliness is a hard mistress, and caution gives way to desire . . . even though Isabelle is convinced that happiness canât be found in the arms of such a devilish rogue. Only when Jack is kidnapped does Isabelle discover the true depth of Georgeâs devotionâand how far a good man will go to fight for the woman whose love is all that matters.
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HAPPY MONTH OF READING! đ
Sins of a Ruthless Rogue by Anna Randol
Setting: Regency
Book 2 in Sinners Trio
Summary:
When Clayton Campbell shows up on her doorstep, Olivia Swift is stunned. For long ago, Clayton was the boy who stole her heart. Heâs also the man her betrayal had sent to the gallows. A man she believed dead, now standing before her, looking leaner, harder, more powerful than ever, his haunted eyes filled with a lust she had never seenâfor vengeanceâŚ
Heâs a Crown spy who once faced death and escaped unscathed. Yet Clayton Campbell cannot deny that the sight of Olivia rouses in him something more than a thirst for revenge. Or that the bold beauty would lure him once more into a dangerous game. Only this time, Clayton plans to be the victorâwith the tempting Olivia in his bed as his prize. But once passion ignites between them, the hard-hearted agent will face his greatest battle yetâfor his heartâŚ
Review:
Having loved her first book in this series about a trio of spies who have recently retired and are trying to move on with their lives, I thought I would love this one even more but I ended up feeling lukewarm about the book. The premise sounded great but I didn’t really gel with the idea on this one and it honestly could have been better.
I thought the books rushed through the exposition way too quickly. One minute  we have a short flashback of Clayton and his girl in love and then suddenly we jump to the present where because of Olivia’s tattle-telling, Clayton has been sent into exile and then he magically pops up on the mill a few minutes later after having never seen Olivia in YEARS.
The thing with books with a couple who have already been in love once is that they tend to think that because they had that connection once then BAM, the chemistry is obviously there so the hard work of creating the emotional bond between the characters is lessened. I really would have liked more flashbacks between the two so we can see the kind of bond they once had before Olivia’s betrayal. And honestly, the whole plot could have been solved if Olivia had just apologized in the first place.
However, I did enjoy the whole action packed mystery plot on the side and I enjoyed Clayton as a hero. He was everything you want; brave, honorable and actually a sweetheart under that cold exterior. Olivia was alright but I wasn’t sold on her romance with Clayton.
I also liked the historical element and I learned a bit more about that period than I expected. All in all, this wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t as good as it could have been.
Sensuality Rating: Pretty Hot (4/5)
Verdict: Just ok
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Romances Coming in July 2013!
Summer is officially here! Or if you live in Australia like I do then it’s almost the middle of winter, boo hoo! Well, either way, there are loads of great books to keep you happy (or warm!) this month!
1) Out July 1 *Book 3 in Ladies in Waiting series*
Summary:
Miss Catherine Hart may be merely a paid companion, but she’s the loveliest creature baron Lord Winston has ever encountered. The only obstacle is determining the mysterious Miss Hart’s social pedigree before the handsome diplomat can court her in earnest.
Revenge, not romance, led Catherine Du Coeur to hide her aristocratic name and seek out the man who accused her father of treason. She expected a coldhearted cad, but Winston appears honorable and compassionate. Against all odds, Catherine is drawn to the very adversary she intended to ruin. And soon both will face a choiceâone involving pride, old loyalties and forgiveness.
Click cover for author’s website!
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2) Out July 2 *Book 3 in Reckless Brides series*
Summary:
Assuming a false identity as a prim and proper governess, the bold and beautiful Cat Rowan thinks she has finally escaped the wild misadventures of her pastâand the wickedly handsome spy who seduced her in India. Imagine her surprise when her employer introduces his brother: the very same cad who destroyed her heart!
The Honorable Thomas Jellicoe cannot believe his eyes when he sees his beloved Catâthe Scottish beauty who nearly jeopardized his mission in India. Disguised as a horse trader from the bazaars of the Punjab, the British spy risked his life for one night of passion in her arms. But here and nowâbreaking all rules of decorumâone heated kiss ignites a flurry of gunfire. For their enemies have followed them home. And love is the greatest danger of allâŚ
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3) Out July 2 *Book 4 in Lonely Lords series*
Summary:
Beckman Haddonfield is ready to live again…
Beckman finally emerges from the shadow of his wife’s death by agreeing to restore a family estate…and embarking on a dalliance with the quiet, mysterious housekeeper who resides there. But she is not who she seems…
Riveting and refreshing, Beckman is an unforgettable story about love’s power to overcome grief and guilt. Award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’s gorgeous writing and lush Regency world will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
Click cover for more info!
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4) Out July 2
Summary:
When newly widowed Lady Fiona Libourg flees to Scotland in need of protection, Lord Gavin McLendon is powerless to refuse the British beauty. Especially when she offers herself in exchange. Now the brooding Scottish warrior can think of nothing else but ravishing his delectable new mistress, even though he’s duty bound to marry another…
Fiona is shocked when Gavin accepts her scandalous offer-and fretful at the thought that he will discover how little she knows of seduction. But when Gavin proves to be a skilled and achingly sensuous teacher, Fiona doesn’t want their passionate arrangement to end. Now she can’t help but wonder just what it would take to go from Scottish mistress…to Scottish wife.
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5) Out July 2 *Book 6 in The Rogues’ Dynasty series*
Summary:
Matson Brentwood has finally met the woman of his dreams. The lovely, red-haired Sophia Hart heats his blood like no other lady. Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to her, he canât give into his desire to possess her in every way because she is the ward of the man heâs sworn to hate.
Newly arrived in London, Miss Sophia Hart is in need of a husband, but not for herself. She has twin, spinster aunts and one of them has decided she wants a man. Sophia agrees to help her aunt by allowing older gentlemen to call on her and then make sure Auntie spends more time in the gentlemanâs company than Sophia does. But when Sophia meets the darkly handsome and intriguing Mr. Matson Brentwood, she knows that for the first time, she in danger of losing her heart.
But thereâs more than just an adversarial guardian and a long list of beaus standing between Sophia and Matson. Sophia promised her dying father she would honor his lifelong plan for her as an heiress and marry a titled gentleman. Matson isnât titled so she must deny her love for him and make up to her father for costing him the love of his life.
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6) Out July 2 *Book 4 in Ministry of Marriage series*
Summary:
LONDONâS ULTIMATE BAD BOYâŚ
Physically reckless, irrepressibly roguish, and poised on the brink of ruin, Jonathon Westruther, Earl of Davenport, returns from the dead only to throw himself into dissipation. Until he meets his worst nightmare: a straitlaced former schoolteacher he canât get out of his head. He resolves to seduce the delightful Miss Hilary deVere by fair means or foul. But when his past returns to endanger Hilary, he must protect her at all costsâŚ
MEETS ENGLANDâS MOST PROPER MISS
Dismissed from her post at a ladiesâ academy because of prejudice against her uncouth family, Hilary will do anything to avoid going back to live with her loutish brothers. She longs for a London season to show the world a deVere can behave with utmost decorum and to find a respectable husband. Everything about Lord Davenport appalls her but desperation makes strange bedfellows. To get to London, Hilary strikes a bargain with the devilish Davenport, confident that sheâs immune to his charm. But as she discovers surprising depths beneath his rakish surface, this infamous scoundrel becomes more temptation than even the most proper lady can withstandâŚ
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7) Out July 2Â
Summary:
Maggie Johnson has been gifted with “the Sight” ever since she was a child. Her dreams bring her visions of the future, and of a presence she knows is real. She calls him Wolf, and has seen him grow alongside her from a careless young boy into a fearsome warrior. And when her life is torn asunder by unspeakable tragedy, he is her only hope.
Andrew MacDonnell is entranced by the vision of a beautiful woman who has always dwelt in his dreams. When war ravages his land and all he has ever known, he leaves the Scottish Highlands on a perilous journey to the New World to find her, knowing that their only chance of survival is with one another.
Their quest to find each other across a treacherous wilderness will test the limits of courage and endurance, guided only by their dreams–and by the belief in the true love they share.
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8) Out July 2 *Book 1 in Ladies Unlaced series*
Summary:
Independent heiress Louisa Stratton is going home to Rosemont for the holidays and, at the familyâs request, sheâs bringing her new husband Maximillian Norwich, art connoisseur and artful lover, the man sheâs written of so glowingly. Thereâs one hitchâhe doesnât exist. Louisa needs a fake husband, and fast, to make the proper impression.
Charles Cooper, captain of the Boer War and with a background far from silver spoons or gilded cages, is so hard up that even Louisaâs crazy scheme appeals to him. Itâs only thirty days, not till death do them part. Whatâs so difficult about impersonating a husband, even if he doesnât know a Rembrandt from a Rousseau?
The real difficulty is keeping his hands off Louisa once thereâs nobody around to see through their ruse. And then thereâs the small problem of someone at Rosemont trying to kill him. Keeping his wits about him and defending Louisa brings out the honor he thought heâd left on the battlefield. But when Louisa tries to protect him, Charles knows heâs found a way to face his futureâin the arms of his heiress.
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9) Out July 23 *Book 2 in Ladies of Impropriety series*
Summary:
According to society, I, Elise Sutton, haven’t been a lady for quite some timeâa lady couldn’t possibly run the family company and spend her days on London’s crowded, tar-stained docks. And she most certainly wouldn’t associate herself with the infamous Dorian Rowlandâprivateer, smuggler and the Scourge of Gibraltar himself!Â
But I need Rowland and his specialized expertiseâespecially with the wolves circling, waiting for me to fail. I yearn to feel alive, and Rowland, who can kiss like the devil, inflames my senses and makes me dare to break freeâŚ.Â
Click cover for author’s website!
***
10) Out July 23 *Book 1 in Season of Secrets series*
Summary:
GOVERNESS? Â
Darkly delicious Lord Adam Hawthorne doesn’t care a whit for society-especially the tedium of finding a wife. So taking on a new governess for his young daughter shouldn’t shake his steely disposition!Â
OR LADY IN DISGUISE? Â
Except Mrs. Elena Leighton, an enigmatic widow, is a most intriguing addition to the household. What are those ladylike airs and graces beneath her dowdy exterior?Â
Despite great impropriety, Lord Hawthorne is compelled to discover the real Elena-no matter what secrets are unveiled along the way….Â
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11) Out July 30 *Book 6 in Inferno Club series*
Summary:
Shy, warm-hearted Miss Grace Kenwood knows she has no chance of tempting her new neighbor, Lord Trevor Montgomery. Every eligible beauty is swooning over the brooding former spy. Even though he once kissed her senseless, he can have no interest in someone like her. Yet somehow, the seductive rogue unleashes her own inner devilâŚ
Every lady loves a hero, but Trevor has no interest in any of themâ except for the refreshingly candid Grace. If he had a heart left, Grace might steal it. She insists he’s better than he thinks. He’s sure she’s absolutely wrong. Until danger threatens, and Trevor rediscovers how easy it is to be a heroâŚfor the right lady.
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***
12) Out July 30 *Book 3 in Forgotten Princesses series*
Summary:
When Annalise Hadley is tossed over the side of her honeymoon barge, the newly-minted duchess knows she’s been left for dead — for her husband’s only interest is in her vast dowry, not her muddied lineage. However, she didn’t count on a savior. Especially not an honorable, sinfully intriguing earl who will tempt her to risk everythingâagain.
A man with his own demons, Owen Crawford, the reclusive Earl of McDowell, is enchanted by the mysterious, courageous woman he rescued. He will help her heal, teach her to protect herself, and then send her awayâso that sheâll never see heâs far from the hero she believes him to be.
But days and nights alone prove that some secrets are meant to be discovered…some desires are too powerful to resistâŚand some wounds can only be healed by love.
13) Out July 30 *NEW SERIES*
Summary:
Joan Bennet is tired of being a wallflower. Thanks to some deliciously scandalousâand infamousâstories, she has a pretty good idea of what she’s missing as a spinster. Is even a short flirtation too much to ask for?
Tristan, Lord Burke, recognizes Joan at once for what she is: trouble. Not only is she his best friend’s sister, she always seems to catch him at a disadvantage. The only way he can win an argument is by kissing her senseless. He’d give anything to get her out of her unflattering gowns. But either one of those could cost him his bachelor status, which would be dreadfulâwouldn’t it?
Click cover for more info!
***
14) Out July 30 *Book 1 in Clan Sinclair series*
Summary:
For Virginia Traylor, Countess of Barrett, marriage was merely the vehicle to buy her father a title. Widowhood, however, brings a host of problems. For her husband deliberately spent the money intended for Virginia and her in-laws, leaving them pennilessâunless she produces an heir. Desperate and confused, Virginia embarks on a fateful journey that brings her to the doorstep of the only man she’s ever loved…
He’s known as The Devil, but Macrath Sinclair doesn’t care. He moved to a tiny Scottish village in hopes of continuing his work as an inventor and starting a family of his own. He bought the house; he chose the woman. Unfortunately, Virginia didn’t choose him. Macrath knows he should turn her away now, but she needs him, and he wants her more than ever. Whatever game Virginia’s playing, Macrath intends to winâone wickedly seductive deed at a time…
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***
15) Out July 30 *Book 1 in Scottish Brides series*
Summary:
Lady Lucy MacMorlan may have forsworn men and marriage, but that doesn’t mean she won’t agree to profit from writing love letters for her brother’s friends – letters that become increasingly racy as her fame grows. That is, until she deliberately ruins the betrothal of a notorious laird, Robert, Marquis of Methven.Â
Past centuries of bloodshed have left the Methven and MacMorlan families bitter enemies and Robert is furious that Lady Lucy’s letters have cost him the bride he needs so urgently to save his ancestral clan lands. Now he makes Lucy a shocking proposal; Â in return for his silence she must become his wife and provide him with the heir he needs. It is an inconvenient marriage of convenience but can the rugged laird and the bluestocking beauty fight against the power of love?
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***
16) Out July 30
Summary:
HOW EASILY ONE’S HEART CAN BE STOLEN…
Some call him Gentleman Jack. The papers prefer Swift Nick. The only name Jack Nevison never uses is the one left to him by his abusive aristocratic father. Jack wants nothing to do with his heritage; instead, he preys on the wealthy, stealing coin (and the occasional kiss) on England’s darkest roads. Jack’s dangerous deeds are legend, yet the thrill of a highwayman’s life is growing cold…until he meets Arabella.
DEPENDS UPON THE THIEF
Beautiful and bold, Arabella Hamilton may come from the world Jack despises, but she’s a kindred spirit at heart. Their attraction is immediate and consuming, and with each encounter they risk more. Yet they remain on opposite sides of the law…and society. To be together, one of them will have to give up their world forever.
Click cover for author website!
***
17) Out July 30 *Book 2 in Worthington series*
Summary:
TWICE THE TEMPTATION
After years of being a quiet, dutiful wife, the recently widowed Mrs. Miranda Talbot is finally free to do as she pleases. As an attractive woman of independent means, Miranda is suddenly turning heads all around town. When she meets the dashing Mr. Castor Worthington, she is swept away by his passion. Is he too good to be true?
DOUBLE THE DESIRE
Little does Miranda know that there is more to Castor than meets the eye. In fact, heâs a twin. Castorâs brother, also a confirmed bachelor, takes his romantic pursuitsâand rivalsâvery seriously. When Castor discovers Miranda is being courted by his own twin, his competitive nature takes over. Who will be the one to win Mirandaâs hand and heart? The race to say I do is about to beginâŚ
Click cover for author website!
***
18) Out July 30
Summary:
For Lachann, safeguarding his clan comes before life, limb, and especially love. A political marriage in Kilgorra will ensure that MacMillan lands are protected; so much the better that his bride doesn’t stir his blood. But what of the intriguing woman who arouses so much more . . . and lives in the very castle where Lachann is to wed?
A nna MacIver is content to serve in her stepfather’s household despite the cruelty of her stepsister, Catriona. She has a sanctuary to which she can escape and no romantic notions to impede good sense . . . until Catriona’s intended bridegroom arrives in Kilgorra and shows Anna the meaning of desire. Now, with a clan’s future hanging in the balance, Anna and Lachann must decide if love is a risk worth taking . . .
Click cover for more info!
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19) Out July 30 *Book 1 in Wicked Widows series*
Summary:
TRUE LOVE IS OFTEN FOUND
With her whirlwind social life in London, Lady Isabella Wharton has little interest in the customs of the country. But when her godmother asks her to pay a visit to her bachelor grandson in Yorkshire, Isabella canât refuse. It behooves her to please the old dowager, since she harbors one of Isabellaâs most scandalous secrets. So off she goes to see the newly-titledâand notoriously rusticâDuke of OrmondâŚ
WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT
Trevor Carey doesnât care about what goes on behind ballroom doors. He is content with the simple lifeâand isnât ashamed to admit it to a society flirt like Lady Isabella. But the country air brings out a different side of Isabellaâone full of longing and passion. Can her sophistication be hiding a desire for love? When a blackmailer from the city arrives to threaten Isabella, Trevor will shield her from harmâeven travel to London. Can the duke tackle the ton on Isabellaâs behalf âŚand manage to keep her all to himself?
Click cover for more info!
***
20) Out July 30 *Book 3 in London List series*
Summary:
Lady Imaculata Anne Egremont has appeared in the scandalous pages of the London List often enough. The reading public is so bored with her nonsense, she couldnât make news now unless she took a vow of chastity. But behind her naughty hijinks is a terrible fear. Itâs time the List helped her. With a quick scan through its job postings and a few whacks at her ridiculous name, sheâs off to keep house for a bachelor veteran as plain Anne Mont.
Major Gareth Ripton-Jones is dangerously young and handsome on the face of it, but after losing his love and his arm in short order, he is also too deep in his cups to notice that his suspiciously young housekeeper is suspiciously terrible at keeping house. Until, that is, her sharp tongue and her burnt coffee penetrate even his miseryâand the charm underneath surprises them both. Trust the worst cook in Wales to propose a most unexpected solution to his troublesâŚ
Click cover for more info!
***
HAPPY MONTH OF READING! đ
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean
Setting: Regency
Summary:
Lady Philippa Marbury isâŚodd.
The brilliant, bespectacled daughter of a double marquess cares more for books than balls, for science than the season, and for laboratories than love. Sheâs looking forward to marrying her simple fiancĂŠ and living out her days quietly with her dogs and her scientific experiments. But before that, Pippa has two weeks to experience all the restâfourteen days to research the exciting parts of life. Itâs not much time, and to do it right she needs a guide familiar with Londonâs darker corners.
She needsâŚa Scoundrel.
She needs Cross, the clever, controlled partner in Londonâs most exclusive gaming hell, with a carefully crafted reputation for wickedness. But reputations often hide the darkest secrets, and when the unconventional Pippa boldly propositions him, seeking science without emotion, she threatens all he works to protect. He is tempted to give Pippa precisely what she wantsâŚbut the scoundrel is more than he seems, and it will take every ounce of willpower to resist giving the lady more than she ever imagined.
Review:
I love Sarah MacLean. All her books thus have been sexy, witty, and surprisingly fresh in a genre that can seem very predictable at times. But I never expected how much I would love this book. To be honest, I came into this book with a lot misapprehensions because I thought the way that Philippa and Cross got thrown together was a bit cliche (Philippa’s sister and Cross’s friend are the heroes of the first book in the series) and I couldn’t really see how they would suit each other. A cold, calculating, rakish, gaming hell partner with a socially awkward bluestocking who wears glasses? Not really an ideal match at all!
But I should never have doubted Sarah MacLean’s talent for creating emotionally poignant stories with characters that have so many layers and who slowly reveal themselves to be so perfect for each other, you should never have doubted it in the first place. At least that was the case for me!
This was an amazing book and this was clearly one of Ms. MacLean’s favourites to write because of the amount of thought and downright awesome-ness that was just packed into it. The story was so well paced and flowed so well and yet managed to be unpredictable and fresh at the same time. Â I loved the way it was written and I honestly had the hardest time putting this down!
Despite not warming to Philippa in the last book when she introduced, I grew to adore this determined, logically based young woman. Sure she can be immature and naive sometimes but that’s part of the reason she is so endearing to the reader. And don’t get me started on Cross who turned out to be one of my biggest romance hero crushes ever! You gotta love a guy who has a thing for the wallflower đ I simply adored their scenes together and their love scenes literally had me fanning myself, they were sizzling with tension! I love how they didn’t jump right into bed either but held back-makes it all so much more exciting to read!
To sum it all up: A great plot with great characters and a romance you won’t soon forget! This is definitely one of my top picks for this year! Well done Sarah! Can’t wait for your next book! đ
Sensuality Rating: Pretty hot (4/5)
Verdict: Just read it! You won’t regret this one!
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Romances Coming in May 2013!
Spring is upon us! Or if you live in Australia like I do, then winter is coming (get it? :P). Either way, here are some great new books to help you get through the month! Lots of old favorites releasing books this month so mark your calendars and get your money ready! đ
1) Out May 1 *Book 1 in The Great Exhibition series*Â
Summary:
Kate and Christopher Dearingâs lives turn upside down when their father loses everything in a railroad land speculation. The siblings are shipped off to their motherâs brother in England with one edict: marry money.Â
At twenty-seven years old, Kate has the stigma of being passed over by eligible men many timesâand that was before she had no dowry. Christopher would like nothing better than to make his own way in the world; and with a law degree and expertise in the burgeoning railroad industry, he was primed to do just thatâin America.
Though their uncle tries to ensure Kate and Christopher find matrimonial prospects only among the highest echelon of British society, their attentions stray to a gardener and a governess.
While Christopher has options that would enable him to lay his affections where he chooses, he cannot let the burden of their familyâs finances crush his sister. Trying to push her feelings for the handsomeâbut not wealthyâ gardener aside, Kateâs prospects brighten when a wealthy viscount shows interest in her. But is marrying for the financial security of her family the right thing to do, when her heart is telling her sheâs making a mistake?
Mandates . . . money . . . matrimony. Who will follow the heart?
Click cover for more info!
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2) Out May 6 (E-Novella!)
Summary:
A delightful eNovella from New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries about a young woman who learns that you canât learn about love from a textbook.
In âTen Reasons to Stay,â previously published in the anthology The School for Heiresses, lessons go far beyond etiquette and needlepoint. Eliza Crenshaweâs lesson is to look before she leaps. But when she discovers that her new guardian plans to marry her off without so much as a Season, she forgets all that. She fleesâon a horse she unwittingly steals (oops!)âfrom Colin Hunt, a newly minted earl who wants nothing more than for her to go homeâŚor stay forever.
Click cover for more info!
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3) Out May 7 *Book 2 of The Lonely Lords series*
Summary:
Nicholas Haddonfield has something to hide…
After a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing father he’ll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.
Leah Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough, and Leah can’t understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and will he never allow her into his heart?
Click cover for more info!
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4) Out May 7 *Book 1 in Marriage Mart series*
Summary:
Five minutes into Miss Eugenia Talbot’s presentation at court, notorious rogue Mr. William Grant made her laugh, ruining her debut. To hush up the scandal, Eugenia’s aunt hires a matchmaker to quickly find a suitorâ anyone except the infamous William Grantâto help restore Eugenia’s reputation.
But amiable Eugenia shows a disturbing tendency to follow her heart, and is again caught in the company of notorious Grant.
When a traitor creeps closer, threatening to ruin more than just Eugenia’s reputation, her kindheartedness may be her ultimate undoing…
Click cover for more info!
***
5) Out May 7 *Book 4 in Beau Monde Bachelor series*
Summary:
The Naked Truth
Lady Vivian Worth knows perfectly well how to behave like a lady. But observing proper manners when there’s no one around to impress is just silly. Why shouldn’t she strip down to her chemise for a swim? When her betrothed arrives to finally meet her, Vivi will act every inch the ladyâdemure, polite, compliant. Everything her brother has promised the man. But until then, she’s going to enjoy her freedom…
A Revealing Discovery
Luke Forest, the newly named Duke of Foxhaven, wants nothing to do with his inheritanceâor the bride that comes with it. He wants adventure and excitement, like the enchanting water nymph he’s just stumbled across. When he discovers the skinny-dipping minx is his intended, he reconsiders his plan to find Lady Vivian another husband. Because the idea of this vivacious woman in the arms of another man might be enough to drive him insaneâor to the altar.
Click cover for more info!
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6) Out May 7 *Re-issue*
Summary:
Daring and defiant, Virginia Courtney risks her life by transporting Royalist fugitives to safety. Until Colonel Alexander Marshall seizes her family’s land and takes her prisoner. But the fearless beauty arouses a passionate yearning that the honor-bound soldier has never before allowed himself to feel.
Irresistibly drawn to her handsome captor, Virginia cannot forget that he is also her most treacherous enemy. Yet with each caress, Alexander mounts a delicate assault on her senses, quelling all thoughts of rebellion–leaving her conscious of the perfection of his passion.
Torn between desire and duty, Virginia and Alexander become players in the most dangerous of games…where intrigue and betrayal rule the day and where love carries the inevitability of destiny.
Click cover for author website!
***
7) Out May 21 *Book 2 in The Duchess Diaries series*
Summary:
An innocent lost in the woods . . .
The sensible solution to her familyâs dire financial woes is for Lily Balfour to marry the Earl of Huntley, a wealthy widower handpicked by her matchmaking godmother, the Duchess of Roxburghe. Huntley is pleasant and attractive, the perfect candidate in every way. But Lily knows sheâs in big trouble as soon as passionate, unprincipled Prince Wulfinski sweeps a hot, possessive glance over her.
Powerful and sexy, Wulfinski declares he will make her hisâno matter the cost.
By his own account, Wulf is a pauper, barely able to afford his own cottage. Yet nothing will stop him from pursuing the elusive beauty with every cunning trick he can muster. But which is more important: power and money . . . or love everlasting? To make the right choice, both Wulf and Lily must trust their hearts, not just their heads, to lead them to the happiness they desire.
Click cover for more info!
***
8) Out May 21
Summary:
To refuse him twice would be madness!
Viscount Rothersthorpe can’t tear his eyes from Lydia Morgan any more than he can calm the raging fury coursing through his veins. Is there no end to the irony? Come to town to find a wife, only to be taunted by the past?
Furtive glances across the ballroom are not helping to ease Lydia’s state of shockâthe man who once uttered a marriage proposal as one might remark upon the weather has returned. But when he stuns her with a second, outrageous but now wickedly delicious proposal, it is clear that despite the rumors the rake from her past has not reformed!
Click cover for more info!
***
9) Out May 21 *Book 1 in The Masquerade Club series*
Summary:
As the unacknowledged son of the lecherous Lord Westleigh, John “Rhys” Rhysdale was forced to earn a crust gambling on the streets. Now he owns the most thrilling new gaming establishment in London. Witnessing polite society’s debauchery and excess every night, Rhys prefers to live on its fringes, but a mysterious masked lady tempts him into the throng.
Lady Celia Gale, known only as Madame Fortune, matches Rhys card for card and kiss for stolen kiss. But the stakes are raised when Rhys discovers she’s from the very world he despisesâŚThe Masquerade Club.
Click cover for more info!
***
10) Out May 28 *Book 4 in Spindle Cove series*
Summary:
What’s a duke to do, when the girl who’s perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can’t live without?
Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season–or any season–but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.
Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training”… and fail miserably.
But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure–a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess–can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?
Click cover for more info!
***
11) Out May 28 *2 in 1 Book Reissue!*
Summary:
A COUNTERFEIT BETROTHAL
Lady Sophia Bryant has no intention of marrying anytime soon. Her one desire is to reunite her parents, who have been estranged for fourteen years. Surely, if she happens to announce her betrothalâeven a false oneâthey will be forced to see each other. Devilishly handsome Lord Francis Sutton seems perfect for such deceit, always agreeable to games of passion in which he has nothing to lose. The trap is setâif only Lady Sophia can keep her foolish heart from falling prey to her brilliant snares.
THE NOTORIOUS RAKE
Lord Edmund Waite is everything that Lady Mary Gregg despises: lewd, lascivious, mockingâthe most incorrigible and successful rogue around. A bluestocking like her would never tempt a man whose taste runs to pretty playthingsâso Mary is startled to find herself the object of Lord Edmundâs desires. Even more surprising is her reaction to his shocking advances. She may be a lady, but this man knows so well how to make her feel like a woman.
Click cover for more info!
***
12) Out May 28 *Book 1 in Survivor’s Club series* (US Paperback Edition)
Summary:
Gwendoline, Lady Muir, has seen her share of tragedy. Content in a quiet life with friends and family, the young widow has no desire to marry again. But when Hugo, Lord Trentham, scoops her up in his arms after a fall, she feels a sensation that both shocks and emboldens her.
Hugo is a gentleman in name only: a war hero whose bravery earned him a title, a merchantâs son who inherited his wealth. He is happiest when working the land, but duty and title now demand that he finds a wife. Hugo doesnât wish to court Gwen, yet he cannot resist her guileless manner, infectious laugh, and lovely face. He wants her, but will she have him?
The dour ex-military officer who so gallantly carried Gwen to safety is a man who needs a lesson in winning a womanâs heart. But through courtship and seduction, Gwen soon finds that with each kiss, and with every caress, Hugo captivates her moreâwith his desire, with his love, and with the promise of forever.
Click cover for more info!
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13) Out May 28 *Book 2 in Legendary Lovers series*
Summary:
The last thing Sophie Fortin expects at a masquerade ball is a dazzling kiss from a pirate. Her desire quickly falters when she learns that her masked gentleman is devilishly scandalous Lord Jack, a member of the captivating Wilde clanâand a man sheâs forbidden to acknowledge. But when Jack begins a breathtaking seduction, Sophie can barely resist.
Jack never imagined that the daughter of his familyâs mortal enemy would awaken such fierce passion within himâuntil one unforgettable kiss changes his mind forever. Soon, Jack is hell-bent on winning Sophieâs hand, going so far as to abduct her to save her from marrying a rival nobleman. Determined to woo Sophie and her unyielding parents, Jack is faced with the one decision heâd sworn never to make. The secret heir to a prince, Jack has spurned his royal heritage for years . . . but for Sophie heâll risk all to turn a legacy of heartbreak into love ever after.
Click cover for more info!
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14) Out May 28 *Sequel to How to Deceive a Duke*
Summary:
Lady Julia Leighton is engaged to a long-time family friend who doesnât spark her passion, and at her betrothal ball she meets a seductive stranger who steals hot kissesâand much moreâfrom the beautiful innocent.
Thomas Merritt is a thief of womenâs hearts, and their expensive jewels. His steamy encounter with Lady Julia unexpectedly has him rethinking his wicked ways, but in the end, Thomas flees temptation.
When their paths cross years later, Julia has a secret sheâs desperate to bury and Thomas is hiding something dangerous, but he needs her help to set things right. Can two lovers with dark pasts overcome their tangled history and rekindle their former love?
Click cover for more info!
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15) Out May 28 *Book 2 in Brides of Redemption series*
Summary:
She wanted a favor, not a fiancĂŠ.
Audrey Blake’s impromptu plan-asking a visitor to help her take ownership of her rightful property-is unraveling in spectacular fashion. Robbed of her sight by a childhood fever, Audrey has been kept in virtual seclusion by her family. And now the enigmatic Robert Henslow, Earl of Knightsbridge, has complicated her scheme to gain independence, insisting they pretend to be engaged.
Duty brought Robert to Audrey’s doorstep. As for what makes him propose marriageâŚit might be guilt. Compassion. Or something far more urgent and unexpected. Their counterfeit union was supposed to be for Audrey’s benefit. Yet it’s Robert who yearns to prove to the intriguing Audrey how much they both have to gain by making it real-and convincing her to submit to the most blissful passion.
Click cover for more info!
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16) Out May 28 *Book 5 in Eloisa’s Fairy Tales series*
Summary:
To win her love. . .
As an extremely wealthy laird, Gowan Stoughton, Duke of Kinross, can have any of the maidens at the ball he attends. The only problem is they are all English and Gowan is not so certain they are suitable. He is accustomed to the hard-working lasses from his Highlands, not these dainty noblewomen who spend their days drinking tea or some other such nonsense. But then he makes the acquaintance of Lady Edith Gilchrist. Utterly bewitched by the emerald-eyed beauty with lush golden locks, he knows he must have her.
He must free her from her tower. . .
“Edie” had the misfortune of being dreadfully ill at her debut ball and barely remembers what Gowan looks like. Even worse, she accepted his proposal the following day. Edie’s only true passion is playing musicâuntil Gowan writes a scandalous letter and stirs the most irresistible desire. Yet when they marry, Edie realizes her husband needs a lesson and locks herself in a tower. Somehow Gowan must find a way to enter the tower and convince his new bride that she belongs in his arms.
Click cover for more info!
***
17) Out May 28 *Book 1 in Sinful Scoundrels series*
Summary:
WILL A RAKE’S WICKED WAYS
Andrew Carrington, Earl of Bellingham, believes in being a gentleman, whether it’s fishing a soggy stranger out of the Thames or assisting a fetching lady into his bed. If the stranger becomes a friend and the lady a mistress, all the better. He certainly welcomes the opportunity to help Laura Davenport, a dazzling young widow with a rebellious stepson. Her gratitude, he hopes, will take an amorous form. But from the moment he sets foot in her drawing room, he gets far more than he bargained for…Â
LEAD THE LADY ASTRAY?
It was a moment of desperation. On the brink of losing her stepson, Laura turned to the notorious Lord Bellingham for help. Suddenly she, a vicar’s daughter, is in the precarious position of resisting his tantalizing advances. How Bell earned his wicked reputation is clear; the surprise is how much more there is to him than the gossip sheets could possibly reveal. Now every moment with this dangerously desirable man puts Laura’s good name at risk-and promises pleasure unlike any she has ever known…Â
Click cover for more info!
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18) Out May 28 *Re-issue!*
Summary:
Married young to a man hand-picked by her father, Elizabeth Petre is an ideal Victorian lady. She has borne two sons and endured sixteen years of selfless duty in a passionless marriage. Craving a man’s loving touch yet loyal to her wedding vows, Elizabeth is determined to seduce her coldly indifferent husband. She knows of only one man who can teach her the erotic arts of love…
The bastard son of an English countess and an Arab sheik, Ramiel Devington was reared to embrace both Western culture and Eastern pleasure. Scorned by society and challenged by prim Elizabeth’s request, he undertakes her instruction in the art of sensual delight.Â
But when the lessons become a temptation neither can resist, Elizabeth is forced to choose between obligation and forbidden passion…
Click cover for more info!
***
19) Out May 28
Summary:
When it comes to diamondsâlike their menâsome women prefer them rough…
Thanks to her grandfather’s complicated will, Miss Adela Ruffington, along with her mother and sisters, is about to lose her home and income to a distant cousin, the closest male heir to the Millingford title. For Adela, nothing could be more insultingâbeing denied her rightful inheritance for a randy scoundrel like Wilson, the very man who broke her heart following a lusty dalliance years ago.
Still smarting from the betrayal of his latest paramour, Wilson Ruffington never anticipates the intense desire Adela again stirs within him. Despite his wicked tongue and her haughty pride, their long-ago passion instantly reignites at a summer house party, the experience they’ve gained as adults only adding fuel to the flames.
Wilson and Adela are insatiable, but civility outside of the bedroom proves impossible. Determined to keep Adela in his bed, Wilson devises a ruseâa marriage of convenience that will provide her family with a generous settlement, as well as prevent scandalous whispers. Their plan works perfectly until family rivalries and intrigue threaten to destroy their arrangementâŚand the unspoken love blooming beneath it.
Click cover for more info!
***
HAPPY MONTH OF READING! đ
Shana Galen’s New Regency Spy Romance!
Following the success of her first book Lord and Lady Spy, Shana is back with another installment in this new series about Regency spy couples!
Check out the cover, blurb and details below!
Book 2 in Lord and Lady Spy series!
Click cover to view author website!
Summary:
Winslow, an elite spy in Regency England, has managed to keep his identity secret from everyoneâincluding his beloved wife Elinor. But his success with these covert affairs has taken a toll on their marriage, leaving Elinor to entertain the idea of a secret liaison with a rakish spy.
She believes that she will finally have the danger and excitement that her marriage has never afforded herâuntil things get too dangerous, and she ends up being kidnapped.
In this Regency romance, no one is who they seemânot even her own husband.
RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
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Will you be reading this new spy romance? đ Share and comment below!
Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen
Setting: Regency
*Book 1 in Lord and Lady Spy series*
Summary:
No man can outsmart him…
Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England’s most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn’t the only one with secrets…
She’s been outsmarting him for years…
Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he’s not who she thinks he is after all…
Click cover for more info!
Review:
For all the press that surrounded this book, my expectations were suitably high. It was promoted as a Regency set Mr and Mrs Smith and I found that premise very intriguing as it seemed fresh and would make for a thrillingly romantic story. And while it certainly had it’s moments and was never too predictable, I still felt like it fell short of my expectations.
I loved the whole idea of a married couple who are both secretly spies keeping secrets from each other. Their relationship at the start of the book was passionate even though there were some issues revolving Sophia’s problems with having children. It already felt like they were in love with each other at the start of the book which to me kind of makes the whole plot a bit pointless. I would have liked it is theirs did start as a cold arranged marriage. But I’ll put this down to personal preference. Their main issue is letting each other in and opening their real selves which was nicely done.
I also loved Adrian’s character-he’s strong, protective and adorably clueless when it comes to dealing with his wife. Sophia didn’t stand out much to me although I did love her vulnerability about her ability to have children.
This is a romance for those who love a little more adventure and excitement in their books. It’s fast paced and the action scenes are very well written. It doesn’t get boring and it was good fun reading them trying to solve the murder mystery while getting to know each other all over again. I did feel like the great action scenes were at the expense of the romance which wasn’t as developed as it could have been. One minute they don’t like each other and next second they’re all over each other with no prelude or explanation. It’s like whattt?
Still, this was a very entertaining read and great for those looking for more variety in the romance genre. If you like your books fast paced, unpredictable and more plot driven, then this is the book for you!
Sensuality Rating: HOTÂ 
Verdict: Recommended. Fresh and fun!
Rating: 4 and a half out of 5 stars
Romances Coming in April 2013!
Sorry for the late update! Been busy with uni assignments! đ
Here are this month’s top new reads!
1) Out April 2 *Book 3 in Veiled Seduction series*
Summary:
Ever since her husbandâs sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly the trauma of soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this expertise that brings the Marquess of Bromwichâs family to her door.
Gabriel Devereauxâs unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but Penelope manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and during the calm bouts between, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him.
Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.
Click cover for more info!
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2) Out April 2 *Anthology*
Summary:
Once upon a time, a historical romance author created a family . . .
But not just any family. Eight brothers and sisters, assorted in-laws, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews (not to mention an overweight corgi) plus an irrepressible matriarch who’s a match for any of them . . . These are the Bridgertons: less a family than a force of nature. Through eight bestselling novels, readers laughed, cried, and fell in love. But they wanted more.
And so the readers asked the author . . .
What happens next? Does Simon ever read his father’s letters? Do Francesca and Michael become parents? Who would win in a Pall Mall grudge match?
Does “The End” really have to be the end?
Now, with The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After, Julia Quinn delivers eight sexy, funny, and heartwarming “2nd Epilogues” plus a bonus story about none other than the wise and witty matriarch Violet Bridgerton herself. So get to know the Bridgertons all over againâbecause Happily Ever After is a whole lot of fun.
Click cover for more info!
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3) Out April 3 *Book 1 of Lonely Lords series*
Summary:
Darius is a gripping and remarkable tale of desperation, devotion, and redemption from award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes. Her gorgeous writing and lush Regency world will stay with you long after you turn the final page…
With his beloved sister tainted by scandal, his widowed brother shattered by grief , and his funds cut off, Darius Lindsey sees no option but to sell himselfâbody and soul. Until the day he encounters lovely, beguiling Lady Vivian Longstreet, whose tenderness and understanding wrap his soul in a grace he knows he’ll never deserve…
Click cover for more info!
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4) Out April 2 *Book 5 in Wherlocke series*
Summary:
Lady Olympia Wherlocke has the gift of foresight. When Lady Agatha Mallam asks Olympia to locate her brother so he can rescue her from an arranged marriage, she knows exactly where to find Lord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate. What happens next is something she never envisionedâŚ
Since his betrothed died, Lord Brant Mallam has drowned his sorrow with wine and women. His dissolute ways have only emboldened his calculating mother. But with the help of the enchanting Olympia, he concocts a daring plan to end his motherâs devious designs for his sister. While each step in their bold scheme works to perfection, the sins of the past could unravel a growing desire that neither Olympia or Brant can controlâŚ
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5) Out April 2
Summary:
London weather is chillyâand the social scene even more so.
Luckily, Bridget Forrester is just getting warmed upâŚ
Bridget longs to meet a gentleman who doesnât mention her beautiful sister upon shaking her hand. But since being branded a shrew after a disastrous social season, Bridget knows sheâs lucky to even have a man come near her. Itâs enough to make a lady flee the countryâŚ
So Bridget heads to Venice for music lessons with the renowned Italian composer Vincenzo Carpenini, with whom sheâs been corresponding. But not only is Carpenini not expecting her, he doesnât even remember her! His friend, theater owner Oliver Merrick, does, though. And one look into her tantalizing green eyes has him cursing his impulsive letter-writing, which brought her across the continent. Yet before Merrick can apologize, Carpenini has ordered her away.
Little does either man know that they will soon be embroiled in a wager that will require the beautiful Miss Forresterâs helpâor that thereâll be far more at stake in this gamble than money⌠Â
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6) Out April 5
Summary:
When heiress Sophie Ravel finds herself in a compromising situation, notorious Richard Crawford, Viscount Bingfield, swoops in and saves her reputation! She might have escaped the attentions of one undesirable, but will Richardâs protection expose her to even more scandal?
Richard curses his impetuousness at offering a betrothal in the heat of the moment! He gladly accepts Sophieâs terms that their engagement remains a pretence until, quite by chance, he unlocks his shy fiancĂŠeâs passionate nature. Now nothing will steer him from weddingâthen beddingâhis blushing bride…
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7) Out April 5
Summary:
Heiress Sarah Hardcastle is convinced her plan to escape the unwanted attentions of a fortune hunter is foolproof. Buried deep in the countryside, and with a whole new identity as prim governess Miss Goodrum, Sarah is looking forward to the quiet life for once.
But her careful masquerade is shaken when she meets her pupils’ mentor, Lord Rupert Myers. An incorrigible flirt, Rupert has the looks and the charm to make Sarah blush all the way down to her high-buttoned neckline – and the determination to uncover what’s beneath! Sarah will need her wits about her if she’s to resist Rupert’s roguish ways and keep her secret intact….
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8) Out April 23 *Book 3 in Legends of St. Dwynwen series*
Summary:
Genevieve Stafford, the younger sister of the Earl of Rawdon (A Summer Seduction), is an icy but beautiful aristocrat. Determined to make the sort of marital alliance expected of a woman of her station, she becomes engaged to the scion of another noble family. However, when Genevieve finds herself entangled in scandal, her fiancĂŠ breaks things off. Shamed, she has no recourse but to retreat to the family estateâŚuntil her brotherâs friend, Sir Myles Thorwood, offers to marry Genevieve and salvage her reputation.
Genevieve expects to have a loveless marriage of convenience, but the handsome, charming Myles has other things in mind. As the two of them work to discover who engineered the scandal that could have ruined Genevieveâs life, Myles shows Genevieve just what it means to be man and wife. Genevieve finds it difficult to resist the passion Myles evokes in her, but can she risk losing her heart to a man she thinks sees their union as only a duty?
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9) Out April 23 *Book 2 in Redgraves series*
Summary:
Lady Katherine Redgrave has one missionâto find her deceased father’s journals, which may hold the key to a traitorous conspiracy that puts Kate’s family in danger. Kate vows to let no obstacle stand in her wayâŚbut when she meets Simon Ravenbill, Marquis of Singleton, her attention is diverted as the sinfully handsome nobleman tempts her beyond reason.
Simon has a mission of his own: to uncover the truth about the secret society he believes murdered his brother. All he needs is to get to the Redgrave journals before Kate does. The solution is simpleâhe’ll romance the fiery beauty in hopes of distracting her from her quest, all while covertly searching for the diaries himself. Yet what begins as a charade soon becomes an all-consuming desireâŚone that could lead them down the most dangerous path of all.
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10) Out April 23 *Book 2 in Ladies of Lantern Street series*
Summary:
Under the plain gray skirts of Miss Beatrice Lockwoodâs gown, a pistol waits at the ready. For Beatrice is a paid companion on a secret missionâand with a secret pastâand she must be prepared to fight for her life at any moment.
Yet she is thrown oddly off guard by the fierce-looking man who joins her in foiling a crime outside a fancy ballâand then disappears into the shadows, leaving only his card. His name is Joshua Gage, and he claims to know Beatriceâs employers. Beyond that, he is an enigma with a hypnotically calm voice and an ebony-and-steel cane. . . .
Joshua, who carries out clandestine investigations for the Crown, is equally intrigued. He has a personal interest in Miss Lockwood, a suspected thief and murderer, not to mention a fraudster who claims to have psychical powers. The quest to discover her whereabouts has pulled him away from his mournful impulses to hurl himself into the seaâand engaged his curiosity about the real Beatrice Lockwood, whose spirit, he suspects, is not as delicate as her face and figure.
He does know one thing, though: This flame-haired beauty was present the night Roland Fleming died at the Academy of the Occult. Guilty or not, she is his guide to a trail of blood and blackmail, mesmerism and madnessâa path that will lead both of them into the clutches of a killer who calls himself the Bone Man. . . .
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11) Out April 23
Summary:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Considered the plain, clever one in her family, Lady Cressida Armstrong knows her father has given up on her ever marrying. But who needs a husband when science is the only thing to set Cressie’s pulse racing?
Disillusioned artist Giovanni di Matteo is setting the ton abuzz with his expertly executed portraits. Once his art was inspired; now it’s only technique. Until he meets CressieâŚ.
Challenging, intelligent and yet insecure, Cressie is the one whose face and body he dreams of capturing on canvas. In the enclosed, intimate world of his studio, Giovanni rediscovers his passion as he awakens hersâŚ.
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12) Out April 23 *Book 1 in The Sinner and the Saint series*
Summary:
Giving in to temptation would be the ruin of them all!
Having spent years believing a lie about his birth, Dr. Samuel Hastings has been condemned to a personal hell of his desire’s makingâhis sinful thoughts of the one woman he can never touch would damn his soul for eternity.
Lady Evelyn Thorne is engaged to the very suitable Duke of St. Aldric when a shocking truth is revealedâand now Sam will play every bit of the devil to seduce the woman he thought would always be denied him!
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13) Out April 23
Summary:
The Secret Life of Miss Phyllida Hurst
Having survived the scandal of her birth with courage and determination, the beautiful Phyllida has reached a precarious balance within the ton. And in just one moment Ashe Herriard, Viscount Clere, blows her world and her carefully made plans to pieces.
Brought up in vibrant Calcutta, Ashe is disdainful of polite London society, but something about Phyllida intrigues him. There’s a mystery surrounding her. A promise of secrets and a hint of scandalâmore than enough to entice him!
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14) Out April 23
Summary:
On the frontier of a new lifeâŚ
Tired and hungry after two days of traveling, Susanna Hopkins is just about at the end of her tether when her train finally arrives in Cheyenne. She’s bound for a new life in a Western garrison town. Then she discovers she doesn’t even have enough money to pay for the stagecoach! Luckily for her, the compassionate Major Joseph Randolph is heading in the same direction.
As a military surgeon, Joe is used to keeping his professional distance. But, despite Susanna’s understated beauty, he’s drawn to this woman who carries loss and pain equal to his own and has a heart that is just as hesitant and waryâŚ.
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15) Out April 30 *Book 2 in Dangerous Rogues series*
Summary:
Tristan Bradley, the notorious Marquess of Castleigh, is a danger to any womanâs reputation. Devastatingly handsome and devilishly seductive, he delights in the challenge of a lovely new conquestâespecially when sheâs engaged to a man he despises. But when this particular young lady asks him to dance, Tristan realizes he may not be the only one playing a game.
Defiantly bold and disarmingly beautiful, Lady Charlotte Lindsey will do anything to break free from her loathsome fiancĂŠâeven destroy her good name to do it. What better way to seal the deal than a tryst with Lord Tristan, whoâs led many a girl to ruin? But when Charlotte looks into his eyesâand Tristan takes her in his armsâall of their schemes melt away…because the heart has a plan of its own.
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16) Out April 30 *Book 3 in Chattan Curse series*
Summary:
Lady Margret Chattan, one of the most desirable women in all of England, has no interest whatsoever in marriage. When her brotherâs lives are put in danger, she travels to the Scottish Highlands, intent on saving them. There she meets Heath Macnachtan, who is trying to find out who murdered his own brother. Together, they team up to investigate the powerful curse that is behind the deaths, but instead find themselves falling in love.
Exceptionally entertaining and charming, The Devilâs Heart mixes a well-crafted love story with complex characters and pulse-pounding adventure.
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17) Out April 30 *Book 3 in The Royal Trilogy*
Summary:
Handsome Prince Nicholas of Petersbourg is an infamous ladiesâ man, but even he doesnât expect a flirtation at a masquerade ball to turn into abduction. Especially with a jailor as temptingly beautiful as the young woman on the other side of the locked door âŚ
Veronique Montagne was desperate when she agreed to kidnap a prince to settle her profligate fatherâs gambling debts, and certainly didnât imagine that her prisoner might sweet-talk her into helping him escape. Saving her home is now the least of her troubles, especially when the attraction simmering between her and the angry prince blazes into true passion.
To save them both from scandal, Nicholas proposes a convenient marriageâbut when a vengeful plot threatens to tear them apart, he discovers that Veroniqueâs love is what he desires most of allâŚ
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18) Out April 30 *Book 3 in The Lost Lords of Pembrook Trilogy*
Summary:
Lord Rafe Eason may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one. Yet when he sets his eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, and earl’s illegitimate daughter, he is determined to have her, if only as his mistress.
After her father’s death, Evelyn Chambers never imagined she would be sold to the highest bidder, yet circumstances give her little choice except to accept the lord’s indecent proposal. Rafe is wealthy, as well as ruthless. Yet his coldness belies deep passion and deeper secrets. If she must be his, Evelyn intends to lay bare everything the Lord of Pembrook is hiding. But dark discoveries threaten to destroy them both until unexpected love guides the last lost lord home.
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19) Out April 30 *Book 2 in Daring Hearts series*
Summary:
PRELUDE TO A KISS
A brilliant pianist and notorious rake, Sebastian Hall indulges his passion for music and women with equal aplomb. But now that his elder brother has married, his father insists he pursue a more respectable path and find a suitable wife.
MUSIC TO HER EARS
As a girl, Clara Whitmore quietly loved her piano teacher from afar. Yet her youthful crush cannot compare to the powerful desire she feels when she unexpectedly meets Sebastian again. Perhaps the man who once dominated her dreams could be the husband she has hoped for–and save her from the fate she most fears…Â
LOVE STRIKES A CHORD
Risking scandal, ruin, and their own reputations, Sebastian and Clara enter into a marriage of convenience. But the pair soon discovers that their undeniable attraction is anything but convenient. Swept up in a crescendo of desire, Sebastian and Clara take each other to new heights of ecstasy–until secrets from the past threaten to doom the duet forever. Now Sebastian will have to change his tune-and prove his love is true.
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20) Out April 30 *First Time in Paperback!* (Lester Family Book 3)
Summary:
A successful horse breeder and self-proclaimed rake, Harry Lester samples women like wines. But after having his heart trampled by someone he actually loved, he has no intention of falling for a woman again, let alone being ensnared by the trap of marriage. Now, with a large inheritance to his name, Harry knows that he’d best start running from London’s matchmaking mothers and widows.
Harry heads for the racing town of Newmarket, only to encounter Mrs. Lucinda Babbacombe, a beautiful, independent widow. And before he knows it, Harry vows to protect Lucinda from the town full of lonely gambling men, despite her refusal to accept his countless offers of help. Lucinda is extraordinaryâan intelligent, tender womanâbut will Harry let himself be taken prisoner in this most passionate of traps?
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21) Out April 30 *Book 5 in Pennistan Family series*
Summary:
Dispatched by their ambitious father to snag a titled husband, Beatrice Brent and her twin sister, Cecilia, attend a house party with an array of eligible gentlemen. Defiantly ignoring her fatherâs wishes, Beatrice flirts shamelessly with Lord Jessup Pennistan, a gamer with scandal in his pastâand the one man her father has warned her against. But when flirting goes too far, Beatrice suddenly finds herself engaged and, worse, estranged from her family. Though convinced that her fiancĂŠâs wicked ways will bring nothing but heartache, Beatrice is powerless against Jessâs masterful seduction and the anticipated delights of the marriage bed.
A gambling man who has lost more than his family is willing to forgive him for, Jess quickly realizes that compromising Beatrice was the best mistake he ever made. But to keep her he must right the wrongs of the past, reclaim his lost fortunes, and place the boldest wager of his life. For now he has everything to win . . . and everything to lose.
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HAPPY MONTH OF READING! đ
Julia Quinn’s New Book!
Love Julia Quinn?
Love her new Smythe-Smith series?
Then you will LOVE Â her new book due out near the end of this year! Cover and summary below!
Website page is not yet available but pre-order on Amazon or Goodreads!
Book 3 in Smythe-Smith Quartet
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Summary:
Sarah Pleinsworth canât forgive Hugh Prentice for the duel he fought three years ago that nearly destroyed her family, sent her cousin fleeing, and left Hugh himself with a badly injured leg. Thatâs fine with Hugh, who canât tolerate Sarahâs dramatic ways.
But when the two are forced to spend a week together, they find that unexpected kisses, and mutual passion, may have the power to change both of their minds.
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 26, 2013
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How pretty is that cover? And you just have to love that dress! Is this book on your wishlist this Christmas? đ
Historical Romance Addicts 