eARC Review: Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Roxanne St. Claire, Jill Shalvis + Maureen Child

KISS ME, I'M IRISH by Roxanne St. Claire, Jill Shalvis & Maureen Child
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: Harlequin (February 21,2012)

The Sins of His Past by Roxanne St. Claire
For one incredible night, Kendra Locke gave Deuce Monroe everything she had. Then he walked away without a backward glance to chase his big-league dreams. Now after one too many daredevil stunts, he's back in his hometown ready to pick up where they left off—but Kendra has no intention of giving in so easily….

Tangling with Ty by Jill Shalvis
Dr. Nicole Mann, a child prodigy who graduated high school at the age of thirteen, has no room in her mind or her schedule for romance. But when the architect renovating her apartment turns out to have a charming Irish accent, all bets are off—and Ty Patrick O'Grady plans to use every trick in his book to stay in her life for good.

Whatever Reilly Wants by Maureen Child
Connor Reilly only has a few weeks to go in his "no sex for ninety days" bet with his brothers—and he figures no woman is safer to be around than his best friend, Emma Jacobsen. Until Emma shows up at a bar in a short skirt and high heels, and suddenly seems anything but safe!

Find Roxanne: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Find Jill: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Find Maureen: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt of The Sins of His Past

I love it.

REVIEW:

The Sins of His Past by Roxanne St. Claire ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
That Deuce Monroe is something else. He's returned home due to being stupid and racing a car just to end up wrecking it. Now he's back and wonders what in the heck happened to Monroe's, the bar that has been passed on from father to son. Why is Monroe's spelled with a lowercase m and who put all these computers in it and why is the smell of coffee drifting from it's open doors? Oh Deuce, you've been gone far too long.

Kendra Locke has held a torch for Deuce since she was a little girl, listening through the heater duct for all her brother's conversations with friends. One night was all it took to change Kendra's life forever and a secret that only those closest to her know. She's put Deuce out of her mind but from the minute he walks through the front doors of monroe's, her heart begins to open again; old feelings resurface. Damn you Deuce Monroe!

Everything has changed for the better. The small seaside town of Rockingham, Massachusetts has become a destination place and the economy is picking up again. Kendra must at all costs keep her secret from Deuce all the while trying to fall back in love with him. Not that she ever stopped. Now, Deuce must not only fight for changing monroe's back into Monroe's but also try to keep himself from having a reason to stay in a town that he no longer knows.

Favorite Quote:

"...Do you have everything you need?"
No. She needed blinders to keep from staring at him, and a box of tissue to wipe the drool. Throw in some steel armor for her heart and fail-safe chastity belt, and then she'd be good to go.

Overall: Roxanne St. Claire, I need to read more of you. For real. The moment Deuce was introduced, I fell in love with him. He was the bad boy with the cocky attitude who got your heart pounding but your head asking you where the heck your sanity went because he was bound to be a total jerk. Deuce hit it and quit it. Just like that. He didn't even think about the consequences. Kendra had a right to be all sorts of angry and then some. Plus, if a guy ever came waltzing back into your life with the notion that things are going to be the same the way he left it should be made to beg on his knees.

Tangling with Ty by Jill Shalvis ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
An Irishman who has tried to distance himself from his horrible beginnings gets the surprise of his life in 1)a long lost half sister and 2)a workaholic doctor who has no time for a man in her life and lives by the mantra of "stay single". Ty Patrick O'Grady has been a drifter throughout his life. After getting taken in by a man he tried to steal from and getting an education, he's moved from place to place; wanderlust in his veins. He's been tapped to renovate the building that Dr. Nicole Mann lives in.

Nicole is a child prodigy. Straight A student, graduating early, not really a people person, annoyed by her mother and her perfect sister with the nice house, white picket fence, doting husband and 2.5 children. Ty sends everything she's ever thought about staying single right down the drain. He's funny, sexy as hell and has a sometimes accent. After Ty falls through her ceiling ogling her while she's rocking out in her mismatched underwear, she takes to nursing him. The fall brought out a caring side of her that goes beyond doctor/patient feelings. She forgets what's she's supposed to do and her friends have to help her. Um, she's a doctor for goodness sake!

As Nicole nurses Ty back to health, she realizes that there's more to this sometimes accented Irish man. She must decide whether she'll go the way of her friend Suzanne and allow herself to fall in love or follow in the footsteps of her sister in singlehood, Taylor. Meanwhile, Ty is getting mysterious emails from someone claiming to be his long lost half sister. He wants to deny that she might be it but knows that it's a possibility due to his mother's sexual promiscuity.

Favorite Quote:

She'd slept on her feet before, during med school, during the long nights of residency...
A sharp click had her blinking rapidly blinking at her...door? Ty Patrick O'Grady, architect, sometimes owner of a sexy Irish lilt, man of a thousand curses and one incredible smile, held up a credit card. "Handy, these things, aren't they now?"
"You...broke in?"
"Easily."
"Are you a criminal?"
He laughed, low and sexily, damn him. "Let's just say I've been around. You need a better lock."

Overall: I think I fell in lust with Ty the moment he popped Nicole's door open with a credit card. That's a very handy skill to have. Not that I'm confessing to have knowledge of said skill. He's rough around the edges and only the right woman could make him stay. Nicole staying single didn't seem doable to me. Sure, she pretty much lived by the whole "singlehood is good" thing but puh-lease. The moment a man with an accent takes interest in you (albeit, the accent may fluctuate), get him any way you can. Being single doesn't mean you can't have sex with someone. Being single isn't taking a vow of celibacy. Oh Nicole, you poor girl. You've been looking at singlehood the wrong way.

Whatever Reilly Wants by Maureen Child ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Emma Jacobsen and Connor Reilly have been BFFs for a while and so they can shoot the breeze anytime they feel like it. No sexual tension whatsoever. Emma is one of the guys and Connor shares everything with her.

A bet between the brothers Reilly already has one brother out of the running of winning a nice sum of money bequeathed by a deceased uncle. Last man standing takes all. One catch: last man standing has to be celibate for three months. Do you know how long that is in guy time? Ages and ages and ages! Brian has gotten back with his ex-wife so that takes him out. Liam has taken vows to the church so he'll probably win considering that he'll be celibate the rest of his life. Aidan and Connor still have a chance at that money, only 2 more months.

Emma's father left her Jake's Garage. She works there fixing cars and trying to convince a little old lady to sell her son's (who's been dead for quite some time) '58 Corvette so she can restore it to its former glory. She still has yet to convince her. Emma was hurt by a jerk named Tony who got to know her (cute feminine clothes wearing Emma) and realized that he didn't much like her the way she was (coveralls, car fixing Emma). She vowed to never again let any man in.

All it takes is Connor telling Emma that he doesn't see her as a woman but a mechanic to make her go ballistic. She'll show him. Dressed up to the nines in Short Skirt and Tiny Tank Topville, Emma sets out to make Connor lose the bet by getting him in bed. Warnings from Liam and her friend Mary Alice that the plan may backfire only makes her scoff at them. Bad idea Emma!

Once the line between friends (especially a guy and a girl) is crossed, there is no turning back. Nothing will be the same again. I guess Emma didn't see Friends with Benefit or No Strings Attached. It can't be done! Nuh-uh. No flipping way. For guys, sex is physical. For girls, it's emotional. You can keep telling yourself that it's only sex but your heart will tell you otherwise.

Favorite Quote:

As a Marine, he'd learned long ago to trust the impulses that drove him. He didn't question, didn't doubt. He just did. That confidence in his own subconscious had saved his butt more than once.
And tonight those instincts had brought him here.
To Emma.
"What are they telling you to do now?"
If he told her that, she'd probably run for the hills. Because it was taking all of his self-control to keep from tearing her clothes off and tossing her onto the cool, damp grass. He wanted her naked. He wanted her beneath him. Over him. Astride him. He wanted her in every possible way, and as they stood there in the starlit shadows, that want continued to pulse and grow. "You don't want to know."

Overall: Ah yes, the best friends to lovers trope. This one does it beautifully. I laughed my way through this one. Connor's antics and thoughts after seeing Emma in a short skirt, tiny tank top and heels definitely were all sorts of inappropriate. I loved that Emma had that 'I'll show him!' attitude but wanted to scream at her that she wouldn't come out unscathed by trying to get Connor into bed. I've seen this sort of thing play once or twice before my very eyes. It's not a pretty thing. Either both parties live to laugh about it after falling head over heels in love or both parties become so very bitter that no one is allowed to ever speak the other's name in front of them. Emma didn't have to change herself. She knew who she was and totally confident in herself. Connor should have thought before he spoke. Really? A mechanic instead of a woman? *shakes head*


***review copy from Netgalley***

Review: With This Kiss by Bella Riley

WITH THIS KISS by Bella Riley
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Contemporary
LENGTH: 400 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (March 1,2012)

Fireworks. That's what innkeeper Rebecca Campbell wants. And no matter how close their friendship, she and her former fiance never shared that. Now, with a broken engagement behind her and a promise she's vowed to keep, Rebecca is determined to make a new life for herself in Emerald Lake. She just never expected sparks to fly this quickly... Coming home and falling for his little brother's girl wasn't Sean Murphy's plan. Rebecca's sweet smile and kind heart make Sean feel at home--something he's never felt before. But a secret lingers between them, and no matter how powerful their attraction, Sean can't give his heart to a woman he can't trust. Or can he? As the days pass, Rebecca and Sean find it harder and harder to deny their desire. And they are in beautiful Emerald Lake, the perfect place for falling in love . . .

Find Bella: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Powell's

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Books in Series:

available now

REVIEW:

Everyone has secrets. For Rebecca, her secret is someone else’s secret but it doesn’t make it any easier.

Rebecca Campbell hasn’t been having a great couple of weeks. First, her wedding to Stu Murphy was called off two weeks before it was suppose to take place and then Stu just ups and leaves leaving Rebecca to run the Inn. The whole town is trying to figure out what she did to make him leave, when really the secret lies with Stu. Now, on the eve of her wedding, Stu’s brother Sean shows up and sparks fly.

Sean arrives back home just in time for his brothers wedding but it seems he missed the memo that it was canceled. Then matters get worse when he realizes that the women he was checking out was Stu’s fiancé and the woman who ran him off.

Sean can’t deny the sparks between him and Rebecca but he’s reluctant to get involved, and not just because she was his brothers fiancé. He has a secret of his own that keeps him at a distance. He knows Rebecca deserves more and he can’t offer it. Sean has been hurt by the one person who he trusted, and now his trust is basically nonexistent.

It’s unusual that I love the heroine, I don’t know why but usually she annoys me but not Rebecca. She doesn’t have the best track record with men, Stu included, and finds herself falling back into old habits of falling for unavailable men with Sean. She knows she’s going to get hurt but she can’t resist. I have a lot of respect for her. What she does to try and help Sean knowing full well that it will most likely ruin
everything for her makes me want a friend like that.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

“Sometimes loving someone enough means breaking a promise that will only hurt them if it’s kept.” She steeled herself to reopen her eyes, to hold his gaze, to keep the tears back. “You’re more important that any promise I could ever give you.”

OVERALL:
I was blown away reading With This Kiss. My stomach was in knots and I couldn’t read it fast enough. It was a story that was full of romance and just a hint of mystery. I immediately fell in love with the character and didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read more from Bella Riley and go back to Emerald Lake.



***review copy from Netgalley***

eARC Review: Darkness Bound by Stella Cameron

DARKNESS BOUND by Stella Cameron
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Paranormal
LENGTH: 326 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever (February 28,2012)

WHEN NIGHT FALLS
After her husband's tragic death, Leigh Kelly arrives on Whidbey Island determined to start over. Yet the tiny town of Chimney Rock is not as peaceful as it seems. Women have been disappearing, and Leigh can't shake the feeling that she's being watched . . . especially at night. Soon, she's experiencing visions she can't explain and fighting her attraction to a handsome stranger who seems to know her most intimate desires.

PASSION TRANSFORMS THEM
As the leader of the Team, a pack of werehounds forced to hide their very existence, former special ops soldier Niles Latimer is desperate to prove a man's heart beats beneath his predator's body. And Leigh-the mysterious beauty possessing powers she doesn't yet understand-may be the one woman who can help him. But Niles isn't the only one who recognizes Leigh's true identity. Something evil is waiting in the woods-and the hunt has begun . . .

Find Stella: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook

Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Book Depository

I loved it.

REVIEW:

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started reading Darkness Bound but what I got wasn’t it… in a good way. I’m going to admit that it through me for a loop but it was a loop that I was happy to be in.

Leigh Kelly is moving on after the death of her husband. She quits her job and moves to Chimney Rock, a place that holds special memories for her. She gets a job as the business manger of Gabriel’s bar/restaurant thinking it will be something to get her mind off the past. Niles Latimer, alpha werehound, has other plans for Leigh. He’s determined to have her as a mate and save his pack.

Now, Chimney Rock is a small town that has a lot of secrets and isn’t very safe. Women are disappearing for days then coming back missing their memory. Not to mention a turf war between the werehounds and the werewolves. I have to give Leigh credit because I would be out of there after the second night and all the

strange things that start happening around her. Good thing Niles is around… and his dog Blue (who I love and if you read you’ll know why).

There are a lot of paranormal creatures in Chimney Rock. Not only do you have the werehounds fighting their enemies the werewolves but also there are vampires involved and some Fae who have yet to pick a side. It can get confusing but the way Stella Cameron introduces them makes it’s very easy to keep track of.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“What would you do if I threw you over my shoulder and carried you off. . . to do all kinds of things to you?”
He settled his hands at her waist, dropped to one knee, and smoothed all the way to her calves. Touching her, even through her clothes, made him tremble. “I am going to do all kinds of things to you,” he said. “Make you scream for me to make you come, again and again. That’ll be before and after I strip you naked— slowly—and lick every inch of you, then suck every inch of you.”

OVERALL:

There is a lot going on so be prepared when you start to read it. And if you do start reading then be prepared to get sucked in to this crazy world. Darkness Bound has a more Urban Fantasy feel then just a normal paranormal romance and I look forward to seeing how this world unravels. Seth, Niles right hand guy, is probably my favorite character and he’s book is next which I’m excited about. Plus I want to see what the deal is with Gabriel. There is something mysterious there.

***review copy from Netgalley***

eARC Review: Once Upon A Wicked Night by Jennifer Haymore

ONCE UPON A WICKED NIGHT by Jennifer Haymore
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
LENGTH: 8.096 words (novella)
PUBLISHER: Forever Yours (February 1, 2012)

All of London looks forward to the Dowager Duchess of Clayworth’s annual ball. For no matter how hard the serious society matron strives to host an elegant event, scandal always ensues…

Seven years ago it was a young Serena Donovan and Jonathan Dane who shocked the ton when they were discovered in a most compromising position. Tonight they return for the first time as the Earl and Countess of Stratford. And while Serena hopes for a quiet evening to introduce her younger sister Olivia to society, Jonathan’s only desire is to pick up where he and Serena left off…

Though innocent Olivia secretly longs for the kind of passion her sister shares with her husband, none of the men she’s met spark a fire inside her heart—least of all the notorious Marquis of Fenwicke. When his request for a waltz turns into something sinister, Olivia must use her wit and wiles to evade a powerful peer who vows if can’t have her, no man shall…

Find Jennifer: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I love it

Other Books in Series(click for more):

available now

available now

coming 8/2012

REVIEW:

Spotted: One, Miss Olivia Donovan getting leered at by a certain Marquis in a dark alcove on the second story of the Dowager Duchess of Clayworth's annual ball. Will they be found by the London ton and will OD be shunned? A source informs me that the Marquis is a married man but tends to step out on his wife. Ladies, keep your legs closed and your virtue well guarded!

Hello lovers... Seven years to this day, Miss Serena Donovan the newly wedded Countess of Stratford and her Earl were caught in a most compromising embrace. Well, a source has discreetly informed me that they're at it again and a certain sister may or may not have gotten quite an eyeful. Oh, haven't either of learned from the past?

Certified Grade A Creepy Marquis... The Marquis mentioned earlier is quite the ladies man and has taken a shine to poor OD. Hello Marquis dude, you're married. Oh wait, this is a normal occurrence for men of your station. But for goodness sake, never tell an innocent lady all the lurid things you'll do to her when you get her alone. That just makes you a total creep. And informing a certain lady that if you can't have her, no one else can, that's just stepping over that fine line of sleazy into Edward Cullen watching you in the corner creepy. Yikes!

Enjoy it while you're young... Miss Jessica Donovan giving it a whirl around the ballroom. This young lady looks like the only Donovan sister who will have the time of her life this season.

Now the real question is: Will the sisters Donovan take the London ton by storm or will complications arise that could put their lives in danger? You'll have to read the full books after this novella because I'll never tell...

XOXO, Romance Girl

FAVORITE QUOTE:

It was the truth. She didn't even want a man's mouth—his saliva—on her again. She didn't want anyone breathing oysters and champagne, hot and moist and heavy, onto her skin. She didn't want someone's arms trapping her, imprisoning her in such a tight web of limbs that they stole the breath from her lungs. She heaved in a great breath and released it on an angry sob.

OVERALL: This was a short, fast read that gave a little insight to what happens after Serena (Meg) and Jonathan's happily ever after (Confessions of An Improper Bride) and the showdown between Olivia Donavan and that creepy Lord Fenwicke. It sets up Olivia's book, Secrets of An Accidental Duchess. I wish it was a bit longer with a little more Jessica and Phoebe time but the ending definitely leaves you wondering what Olivia will do to keep herself from running into Fenwicke.

***review copy from Netgalley***

eARC Review: Ember by Kristen Callihan

EMBER by Kristen Callihan
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
LENGTH: 21,850 words (novella)
PUBLISHER: Forever Yours (February 1,2012)

After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancée learns of her descent into danger--and of the strange, new powers she’s discovered --saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.

When his one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, Lord Benjamin Archer vows to take what Ellis values most—his daughter Miranda.

Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.

But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires?

Find Kristen: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Blog
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Google

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Books in Series(click for more):

available now

August 2012

REVIEW:

The beginning sentence pretty much sums up Ember and Firelight:

This is the story of a beast, so great and fearsome that he was reviled by all. And of a merchant's daughter, brave and beautiful, whose love for the beast redeemed his soul.

Doesn't that just send shivers down your spine? A classic Beauty and the Beast story that will have you tearing up and clapping at the end.

Ember is the prequel to Firelight in which Miranda's history is explained as well as Archer's and how he came to be banished from London society.

Miranda's gift of fire is both a blessing and a curse. She accidentally burned down her father's warehouse because of a dare and has been paying for it since. In the form of being a pickpocket and fencing the items to keep her and her father barely afloat.

Archer is trying to find a cure for his curse all the while dreaming a certain fire haired beauty who he is looking forward to claim as his own when he returns to London. She just doesn't know it yet. The deal is between Archer and her father due to her father's crew sinking the ship that contained Archer's friend and cure.

This novella was a peek inside Miranda's world before Archer came along to claim her as part of the bargain. She was practically engaged to her childhood friend Martin and they are about to make is official. Complications arise and one rash act using her deadly power send Martin fleeing.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

He needed a cure. Find the cure and he could claim her. Find the cure and his life could begin. 

OVERALL: Gah! A little more time with Archer and Miranda put a smile on my face. Ms. Callihan definitely has a way of reeling me in and making me stay even though it's only 60 pages long. I wanted more and thought about re-reading Firelight just to get a new perspective as to why things are the way they are. From the hot sands of Egypt to the desert of Central Mexico to the dark alleys of London and bustling New York City, this novella packs a punch with danger, adventure, hallucinations, intrigue, heartbreak and a whole mess of under the table dealings that will change two lives forever. Well done, Ms. Callihan.

***review copy from Netgalley***

ARC Review: Firelight by Kristen Callihan

FIRELIGHT by Kristen Callihan
FORMAT: ARC
GENRE: Historical Romance
LENGTH: 400 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever Romance (February 1, 2012)

Once the flames are ignited...Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity...Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he give in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Where To Find Kristen: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Powell's
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Books in Series(click covers for more):

prequel

coming August 2012

REVIEW:

It's been a while since a book told hold of me, reading into the early hours before dawn. This book was like a fecking tube of Pringles. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Seriously. I got to the end and wanted more. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until August for what looks like another exciting read. At least according to the teaser at the end.

Lord Benjamin Archer has a dangerous secret that could cost him his life as well as those around him. His fellow super secret club members are getting offed one by one. Immortality is just a kiss away. Half man and half something else, he's walked the dark streets of London trying to feed yet repress the something else before it gets out of hand. On one such night, he comes upon two boys fighting in the street on his way to kill a man who sunk his ship that was carrying something very valuable to him. Something could possibly end his curse. Something compels him to follow the boy and he ends up saving her (that's right, gotcha!) life. After finding out who her father is, he decides to spare the man's life on one condition. Sidenote: This condition is explained in the prequel Ember.

So in a very Beauty and the Beast-like way, Archer makes a deal with Miranda's father to spare his life in exchange for marrying his daughter. Miranda isn't happy with this but what is she to do? She's tired of stealing and fencing stuff for her father just to keep them afloat. She feels dirty using her femininity for such a purpose. She feels she's done enough penance for burning her family's fortune to the ground (literally). Along comes Archer to give her an out. And the adventure begins.

Miranda has heard rumors that Archer has murdered someone. She doesn't know what to make of it. She's stuck between giving him the benefit of the doubt and waiting for him to murder her in her bed. As she gets to know Archer, she realizes that there's a different side to him. There's also a secret that Archer is keeping close to his chest that she must uncover. That is the only obstacle standing between them. Well, and the fact that he wears a mask so everyone thinks he's disfigured. But something is off. How disfigured could he be since he pretty much oozes masculinity and dangerous sexuality?

Archer knows that at some point he has to tell Miranda his secret. Or at least part of it. During a night out among the ton, Miranda meets a woman from Archer's past. She's a little too friendly and Archer warns Miranda to stay away from her. There's something totally fishy about her.

When Miranda realizes that Archer was the man who saved her life three years ago (due to the coin marked with the super secret society symbol) she wonders why the heck did he choose her? After confronting him about it, he tells her that something in her called to him. He knew that she was strong enough to hold her own against him. As more men of the super secret society are murdered and Miranda and Archer's attraction to one another burns (literally and figuratively... did I mention that Miranda is like the Human Torch?), they must be willing to sacrifice their souls for each other. Only then, will they find peace with a side of happily ever after. Something about the Beast transforming into a handsome prince...

FAVORITE QUOTES(whaat?? I couldn't pick just one):

Miranda smiled against her knees. Stubborn, charming man. Beguiled by a possible killer. She belonged in bedlam.

"Christ, Miri, murder and knife-wielding assassins aside, you are the greatest adventure of my life."

***quotes subject to change in finished copy***

OVERALL: Kristen Callihan has a solid debut full of action, adventure, danger, intrigue, murder, romance, heart pounding, adrenaline rushing action, immortality and surprises around every corner. Throw in a scene where Archer gets Chuck Norris'd by some guy in an alley. Yeah, I just wanted to say that. Haha. Well done Ms. Callihan, well done. Archer has the brooding hero down to a science. He's broody, moody,angsty and the only way to be redeemed is through the love of a woman. Miranda's sacrifice had me bawling like a freaking baby. Very romantic indeed. There's just so much more I want to say but it think it would be giving away a lot of spoilers. I gasped, I laughed, I cried, I sighed, my heart broke, my heart pounded, my adrenaline shot up. Can Hollywood please make a movie with this series? They're turning books into movies these days. Why not this one? I look forward to the next book in this series. A fantastic start.

***review copy provided by publisher***

ARC Review: Kiss of the Vampire by Cynthia Garner

KISS OF THE VAMPIRE by Cynthia Garner
FORMAT: ARC
GENRE: Paranormal
LENGTH: 352 pages
PUBLISHER: Forever Romance (February 1, 2012)

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world---or send it spiraling into chaos.
Half-demon, half-homan, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she's more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world's mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist...
Called to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.

Where To Find Cynthia: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N(pb) | Nook | Powell's
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I loved it!

REVIEW:
Vampires, shifters and demons. Oh my! A fantastic start to a new paranormal series.

If Law & Order ever did an episode featuring creatures that go bump in the night, this book should be the basis of it. It starts off with a gruesome murder. Like white sheet over the disemboweled body so onlookers don't throw up kind of gruesome. (Do you hear the strains of the opening theme? Yeah, you're welcome.)

Nix de la Fuente serves as an investigative liaison between the preternatural Council and humans. This new death has become personal. Her ex-friend Amarinda was found gutted but no one knows who committed the crime. At the scene, Nix smells a trace of demon, lying under all the other scents. Oh, did I mention she's half demon so she's sort of living in limbo between the two worlds? Yeah, her childhood was rough. Succubi mother killed human father in throws of passion, succubi mother leaves since she's got a different kind of nurturing bone in her body, human grandmother reluctantly takes her in but can't see past the demon side of her, proves her grandmother right about her demon nature and rebels, grandmother dies and foster system didn't work out too well. Apparently love was not her thing so she decided to learn some street smarts.

Anywho, up walks tall, dark and handsome who she smells before she sees. Tobias Caine is throwing off some major pheromone mojo that brings back memories of love, comfort and quite a bit of The Sexy Times. He's replaced the quadrant vampire liaison to investigate the murders. He's also on a manhunt er, vampire hunt? for a vampire that killed the leader of his planet. Somehow the killer found his way through the rift.  After seeing Amarinda's body, Tobias is pissed. She had called him while he was in Alaska, telling him she needed to talk and now she's dead.

Nix and Tobias must work together, along with human Detective Dante MacMillan to solve the case of The Great Vampire Killing Spree. With pressure from the Council to figure out who has it out for the vampires (be they human, vampire, demon or were) before the Killing Spree continues. Nix and Tobias' sexual tension is strong. His presence brings out the inner demon in her and the only way to push that demon back is a session of tai chi. After five years, the feelings are still there but neither wants to act on it because of the consequences for Nix. There's a lot of will they/won't they, oh my god they did!, whoa totally didn't see that one coming and where can I get one of my very own?

Sidenote: Travel through the rift places the preternatural being into some random human's body. Yes, it's a case of body snatching or maybe like that show Tracker with Adrian Paul where he takes the form of an underwear model. Interesting enough, the rift opens up only every hundred years or so but someone has found a way to open a mini rift.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

Some people used meth. Others drank themselves into a stupor. He drug of choice was Tobias Caine. And it seemed that even after five years of sobriety, she was still as addicted as ever.

***quote subject to change in finished copy***

OVERALL: The action in this book is like the frickin energizer bunny. It hits the ground running and continues until the very end. A colorful cast of characters are introduced so well that you want to know more about them. Out of all the characters, Detective Dante MacMillan, a secondary character who will get his own book next, totally stole the show for me. He was funny, caring and was quite smooth with the ladies. Tobias did surprise me. Nix made him out to be some sort of jerk who just up and left her when her demon got totally out of control. But there was a purpose to his leaving and that he actually cared. He could have at least been less callous about the way he just broke their relationship off. As for the Council, there's something shifty going on and I intend to find out when the next book in this series comes along. It's like Law & Order opening sequence meets Torchwood rift activity meets a case of the body snatchers meets a touch of 'I wish I knew how to quit you' (but involving a vampire and demon instead of two cowboys).

***review copy from Netgalley***

eARC Review: Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh

LORD OF THE ABYSS by Nalini Singh
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Paranormal
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 288 pages
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Nocturne (November 15, 2011)
ISBN: 9780373618729

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.…

As the dark Lord who condemns souls to damnation in the Abyss, Micah is nothing but a feared monster wrapped in impenetrable black armor. He has no idea he is the last heir of Elden, its last hope. Only one woman knows—the daughter of his enemy.

Liliana is nothing like her father, the Blood Sorcerer who’d cursed Micah. She sees past Micah’s armor to the prince inside. A prince whose sinful touch she craves. But first she has to brave his dark, dangerous lair and help him remember. Because they only have till midnight to save Elden.

Where To Find Nalini: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I really liked it

Other Books in Series(click on covers for more):

available now

available now

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REVIEW & Book Trailer:

Gah! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a little bit of The Ugly Duckling meets Romeo and Juliet meets 1001 Arabian Nights. 


It goes something like this:

• Girl is the guide for boy who is the Guardian of the Abyss
• Boy is angry with girl
• Girl becomes cook and prisoner at boys castle after bribing him to tell him stories
• Boy is slightly attracted to girl and is confused by feelings for girl
• Girl is slightly attracted to boy even though he wears a black suit of impenetrable armor and is quite testy
• Boy is a prince of a kingdom taken over by evil sorcerer
• Girl is the daughter of said evil sorcerer
• Girl must get boy back to kingdom to fight evil sorcerer with the help of his siblings
• Boy and girl make The Sexy and everything changes
• Girl tells boy stories of his kingdom but boy doesn't know it's his kingdom
• Boy gets flashes of his past and soon begins to remember
• Girl knows she must sacrifice her life so boy can defeat her father
• Boy finds out girl has been lying to him and gets angry
• Boy and girl must travel to his kingdom to defeat evil sorcerer once and for all
• Boy and girl face dangerous obstacles along the way
• Boy and girl must decide whether their giant misunderstanding is worth putting aside and living Happily Ever After

The End.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

A prince, regardless of his position in line for the throne, was expected to marry a certain kind of woman, a woman with an unsullied past, one who could carry the crown of princess with elegance and beauty.
Everything Liliana was not.
You could be his mistress.The sly suggestion came from the part of her that had no honor where Micah was concerned. She was sure she would do any terrible thing to be with him---but she didn't think she could stand to share him, to know that another woman had the right the bear his name and is children, to love him and hold him. It would break her.

OVERALL: I loved the fact that this was a fast paced read. Danger, betrayal, secrets, adventure, love, laughter and a dangerously sexy man. *sigh* Everything I look for in a great story. The ending wasn't was epic as I thought it would be but it still brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face. I will be reading more books from Nalini Singh. Well, after I get this monster of a TBR pile down.

***review copy from Netgalley***

eARC Review: The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall

THE PRICE OF TEMPTATION by Lecia Cornwall
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 484 pages
PUBLISHER: Avon (December 27, 2011)
ISBN: 9780062018949

Lady Evelyn Renshaw is married to England's most notorious traitor... Or is she?

No one has seen Lord Philip alive for months. The Crown wants to hang him. The ton wants to know if Evelyn is as guilty as her husband, and Philip's enemies expect Evelyn to pay the price for her husband's sins.

Captain Sinjon Rutherford has troubles of his own. He needs a place to hide while he proves himself innocent of some very nasty charges. The Crown offers assistance, but only if Sinjon helps them uncover the truth about Evelyn's part in her husband's treason. He's planted as a spy in her household, disguised as a servant. But Sinjon is no footman...and he doesn't have time to fall in love with the enigmatic Evelyn, but the lady needs a strong protector, and a lover.

And it seems the lady has some dark secrets of her own, secrets that can get them both killed...(source)

Where to Find Lecia: Author Site | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Where to Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I loved it!

REVIEW:
Well, hello action, adventure, betrayal, adultery, disguise, honor and sacrifice! I've been spending a lot of time with some of you lately and this book has all of you thrown together. What a story.

Reasons to Read This Book:

1. Action. Boy howdy! There's quite a bit of action going on. In the park, at the ball, in the bed, out of bed, in the morning room, at the top of a tower, in the battlefields. Heart pounding, music crescendoing worthy action. No, no Pirates of the Caribbean theme playing this time. 
2. Adventure. From the early morning fog in Hyde Park to the ballrooms of the London ton to the dark sultry bedroom of the Renshaw house, there is always excitement and danger afoot.
3. Betrayal. Evelyn Renshaw is left to bear the brunt and scandal of her husband's treachery. She thought she knew who he was, or at least what he did but his betrayal is so great that most of the time, she stays home. 
4. Adultery. Evelyn is attracted to her newest servant who seems to have more presence than a servant should. Sam is handsome, saved her from get accosted in the park and there's something about him that calls to her. Something that she shouldn't be feeling: lust. 
5. Disguise. Captain Sinjin Rutherford is trying to clear his name from charges of treason, murder and rape. The only way to do that is to work for the Earl of Westlake to spy on Lord Philip Renshaw's wife to see if she knows the whereabouts of her husband. Sin takes on the guise of a footman but Evelyn knows that something is different about him. There is an attraction that pulls them together but they must not since a lady of the manor does not cavort with her footman.
6. Honor. Sin knows that it's wrong to want Evelyn from the moment he meets her. He tries to not feel anything or act upon his urges. But day in and day out with the lady of the house pushes his breaking point. 
7. Sacrifice. Sin must clear his name but can he finally reveal his identity to Evelyn? He will have to either give up his search for the flag that will label Evelyn's husband as the traitor or give up his growing relationship with Evelyn. Which of these will Sin choose?

FAVORITE QUOTE: 

Why did the most inappropriate men hold the greatest appeal? (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)

OVERALL: Lecia Cornwall has created a story of love, loss, betrayal, redemption and a well deserved Happily Ever After. I love the fact that this was a fast paced read with laugh out loud moments as well as sigh worthy with a touch of tear-pooling-in-your-eyes-but-trying-to-keep-them-from-falling, heart tugging moments as well. I look forward to what Ms. Cornwall has next in store for readers as well as going back to read Secrets of A Proper Countess to catch up with some memorable characters.



***requested off Netgalley***

eARC Review: The Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen

THE ROGUE PIRATE'S BRIDE by Shana Galen
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks (February 7,2012)
ISBN: 9781402265557

Revenge should be sweet, but it may cost him everything...

The Marquis de Valère escaped certain death in the French Revolution and is now an infamous privateer. Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself astonishingly out of his depth when confronted with a beautiful, daring young woman who has landed herself in a mess of trouble...

Forgiveness is unthinkable, but it may be her only hope...
British Admiral's daughter Raeven Russell believes Bastien responsible for her fiancé's death. But then the fiery beauty crosses swords directly with Bastien, and now she's not so sure she really wants him to change his wicked ways...

With her father and a set of ruthless killers hot on their trail, amidst swashbuckling adventure and constant danger, suddenly Bastien and Raeven's steamy entanglement seems to be the only thing they care about. (source)

Where To Find Shana:  Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blogger
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt | Book Page

Go and Buy it NOW!!!

Other Books in Series (click on covers for excerpts):

REVIEW:

Danger, intrigue, betrayal, revenge, swashbuckling action and an unconventional love story between a pirate (okayyy, privateer if you want to get technical) and the daughter of a British admiral set against a Bruckheimer-esque background. You can almost hear faint strains of The Pirates of the Caribbean theme interspersed with the clangs of swordplay as the action and adventure escalates on the high seas. Shana Galen's got this formula down to a science.

There's nothing sexier than a man in shiny black boots, tight breeches, an open shirt exposing the hard planes of his chest, wielding a cutlass and grinning sexily as he parries the thrust of your sword, all the while glaring at him with hatred and revenge in your eyes. Oh, yes. That's the way Captain Cutlass meets Raeven Russell, the one woman who Fate has placed in his path to bring him to his knees and then some.

Captain Cutlass has been on the high seas pirating since the tender age of eleven after his family's chateau was burned down during the peasant uprising in France. He thinks his family is dead and the one man who he considered a father figure was killed by another pirate. Bent on revenge, Cutlass is chasing Jourdain all over the map. He won't rest until Jourdain is dead and this might be chaffing his crew a little. Their days of privateering and gaining profit has dwindled since Cutlass's need for revenge. 

Raeven Russell's former fiance was killed during a skirmish with Captain Cutlass's crew. She blames him for Timothy's death. With her trusted friend Percy, Tim's best friend, in tow, she goes looking for Cutlass. Finding him in a tavern, she challenges him to a sword fight. I was waiting for her to Princess Bride it: "Hello. My name is Raeven Rusell. You killed my fiance, prepare to die." *giggle* Sadly, it was not meant to be probably due to copyright law and such. Of course, Cutlass has to be gorgeous, darn him! And cue in the crescendo of the fighting  music. 

Cutlass is surprised to find the "boy" fighting him turns out to be a girl outfitted in curve hugging breeches and breast hiding shirt. He makes her his cabin girl, planning on teaching her a lesson. Well, Raeven, having grown up on a ship and working alongside men, knows a thing or two about picking locks. She gets away and while doing so, notices all the crates with ammunition getting loaded on the ship. Returning to her father, who has a few choice words for her and Percy, she begs him to go after Cutlass. He was selling weapons to the Spanish and French who could be stockpiling for war. Her father brushes it off since it's not part of his orders.

Six months later, Raeven can't forget the kiss she shared with the insufferable Captain Cutlass and the feelings it evokes in her. She sees Cutlass again, only this time, she's wearing a dress. Some of Jourdain's men try to kill him during a celebration held my the pasha. Raeven still wants revenge for Tim's death. The men chase Cutlass and Raeven through the streets in the dead of night. Being the kick ass heroine she is, she saves him. 

Under cabin arrest, Raeven--the clever girl that she is, picks the lock and coerces Percy into boarding Cutlass's ship in the dead of night. This time, she will not be able to escape. Cutlass is bent on following Jourdain's ship and doesn't give a hoot if he's charged with kidnapping a British admiral's daughter. Time is precious when hunting the pirate and he has no time or the extra crew to send her back aboard her father's ship.

Sultry kisses and touches are exchanged, the sense of adventure is rampant, the truth of Timothy's death is revealed, and someone aboard the ship has betrayed them all. Now, Raeven and Bastien (The Dread Pirate Cutlass) must figure out not only their feelings for each other but who the traitor is that could get them all killed. 

FAVORITE QUOTE: "He'd decided that if his cabin girl regained that blade, he was going to have to seriously consider marrying her." (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)

OVERALL: A stunning, swashbuckling conclusion to the Sons of the Revolution series chock full of witty repartee between the main characters, smoldering attraction, Kindle gripping action (both on the high seas and in the berth *bow chicka wow wow*) and 'whoa! I did not see that coming' moments on the high seas. Shana Galen has once again made me lose an afternoon (in a totally awesome way) with a heart racing, adrenaline pumping, laughter inducing, 'did I just moan out loud?, super sexy read. Hello theme to Pirates of the Caribbean, you and I are forever friends. Out of all the Harcourt men, Bastien's my most favoritest (yes, it's not a word but, for the sake of this review, it is now). Danger! Betrayal! Intrigue! And hot smexing! In Galen fashion, the reader is thrown into the midst of the action from page one. I look forward to what she has next in store for readers.

***requested off Netgalley***

eARC Review: Her Dark Knight by Sharon Cullen

HER DARK KNIGHT by Sharon Cullen
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Paranormal Romance (Time Travel)
FILE SIZE: 635KB (84,000 words)
PUBLISHER: Carina Press (November 28, 2011)
ISBN: 9781426892714

Madelaine Alexander is on a mission. When her boss sends her to the hottest nightclub in town to meet with the owner, she won't be deterred, even if that means standing in line for fifty-eight minutes in torturous heels while she'd rather be home in her pj's with a bowl of popcorn.

A Knight of the Templar, Christien Chevalier was given immortality along with the responsibility of protecting the treasure of the Templars. He's been unwavering in his task for centuries until his one true love—who died seven hundred years ago—shows up in his club, demanding his attention.

Christien couldn't protect Madelaine when they first fell in love. She was married to a lord and he was simply a knight. Now, through some unknown miracle, she stands before him again and they have a second chance. But Christien fears that Madelaine is being used as a pawn in a dangerous game, a game of good versus evil that could affect all of mankind...

Where To Find Sharon: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook | Carina Press
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

REVIEW:

A woman walks into a bar... Yeah, that would make a great joke but it's not what this book is about. Yes, a woman does walk into bar but she ends up having the shock of her life as well as meeting the one man she is destined to be with.

Christien Chevalier has lived for seven centuries and is tasked to guard the Templar treasure from getting into the wrong hands and bringing on the end of the world. In the fourteenth century, he was Templar Knight. He fell in love with the lady of the manor, Madelaine, Countess of Flandres. Alas, he was too noble to make a move and lost her at the hands of the overreaching, jealous castle whore.

Seven centuries later, Lainie Alexander walks into his nightclub and he thinks he's seeing things. What terrible, horrible, no good being would reincarnate her to taunt him? After all these long years of almost becoming at one with his sad,lonely, empty heart, Madelaine or someone that looks exactly like her is here.

Madelaine or rather, Lainie Alexander is sent to the nightclub by her mean girl boss Giselle to get papers signed. What the french toast? Really? Couldn't Giselle send her at a more reasonable time? Good grief! The bouncer tells Lainie that he knows nothing about an appointment and she has to go to the end of the line. Fifty-eight minutes later and twenty dollars poorer, Lainie finally gets into the club. As she's trying to find Chevalier or anyone who knows where he might be, she gets grabbed by some drunk guy. *insert clopping of horse hooves and some trumpeting* Enter the dark knight. I mean, a knight in an exquisitely cut suit.

Christien is momentarily shaken after seeing Lainie, rescuing her and flipping through the papers that he's supposed to sign. At first, he wonders if Lainie is working for Etienne Lucheux, his archenemy. A distraction of sorts. Or perhaps to get to the treasure.

After meeting Christien, Lainie begins to have very vivid dreams of a woman who shared her name. Fourteenth century Madelaine was married to a vile count who only married her for her family connections (how typical) and enjoys punishing her for any sin she has committed. Even going as far as making up things. His punishments not only include verbal abuse but physical abuse as well and god help her, Madelaine endures each and every one. The only light in her life is Christien. She is drawn to him from the moment their eyes meet and he to her. Madelaine's husband's right hand man has a thing for her and he's lude, crude and sweet jaysus, I wanted to call him out. So gross. Can I say that he's villainously vile?

Christien wants to protect Lainie, even going as far as having her move in with him after she gets pushed in front of a car. Lainie is only working for Lucheaux because of the pay. Her father is in an expensive nursing home after losing it when the government took their farm away and she also has student loans to pay. The lure of the paycheck is too great.

Christien must find a way to convince Lainie that she is his Madeleine, reincarnated. He must also find a way to keep her and the Templar treasure safe. Should all seven seals break, hell would break loose (literally). With danger at every turn (whether it's in the fourteenth century or the twenty first) Madeleine and Christien are destined to be together. She is his destruction and salvation. She holds the key.

Trading in their mortality, Lucien (Madelaine's husband's right hand man) and Giselle (the overreaching, jealous castle whore) want to be come one of the horsemen of the apocalypse. Lucien, to this day is still attracted to Madeleine (in the form of Lainie) and Giselle is still as jealous as ever.

As the danger closes in, Christien must protect Madeleine at any cost even if it means re-living seven centuries twice and convince her that they are destined to be together. Lainie must come to grips that she is indeed the Madeleine she keeps dreaming about. The dreams are vivid, in freaking techinicolor and surround sound. Christien has her convinced when he tells her things from her dreams that she hasn't told him. When all is revealed, Christien and Madeleine may have to sacrifice their love. Again.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"I am but a man who has lived long and seen much. I've known joy and despair, love and heartache, peace and war. I've been to hell and back and lived to tell about it. I can't promise that when I look at your I don't see her. I can promise that if you allow me I will protect you with all the resources at hand. I will cherish you, respect you and honor you."

OVERALL: OMG! What a well written, heart breaking read that beautifully blends the past and the present into a giant rollercoaster of emotion that had me sobbing like I'd just lost my nearest and dearest. I was stunned. Utterly floored. Holy carp! Ah-mazing. I can tell you that I will be reading more Sharon Cullen.

***review copy from Netgalley***

eARC Review: Forever and A Day by Delilah Marvelle

FOREVER AND A DAY by Delilah Marvelle
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: HQN (December 20, 2011)
ISBN: 9780373776368

Roderick Gideon Tremayne, the recently appointed Duke of Wentworth, never expected to find himself in New York City, tracking down a mysterious map important to his late mother. And he certainly never expected to be injured, only to wake up with no memory of who he is. But when he sees the fiery-haired beauty who's taken it upon herself to rescue him, suddenly his memory is the last thing on his mind.

Georgia Milton, the young head of New York's notorious Forty Thieves, feels responsible for the man who was trying to save her bag from a thief. But she's not prepared for the fierce passion he ignites within her. When his memory begins to return, her whole world is threatened, and Roderick must choose between the life he forgot and the life he never knew existed.…

Where To Find Delilah: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Where To Buy: Amazon(pb) | Kindle | B&N/Nook | Book Depository | Powell's
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Book in Series(click for an excerpt):

novella available now

REVIEW & Series Trailer(contains spoilers, read at your own risk):

Oh sweet Jesu, where do I even begin with this review. So many thoughts are running through my head and what are or are not spoilers. I spent 5 hours starting in the dead of night reading this book and let me tell you, it was worth having an addled brain in the morning. Ah-mazingly Marvelleous. I thought my fan girl crush on Delilah Marvelle couldn't grow anymore but holy feck! It has. A lot.

Reasons to read this book:

1. Sassy, sassy, sassy: Georgia Milton has got quite the mouth on her. From the moment she meets The Brit, she's got quite the quip/repartee repertoire. He asks her for coffee, she tells him to get lost. He asks her again, she tells him she's not looking for a one night toss. Even when the poor Brit gets run over and loses his memory, she's still witty and quick.
2. The Brit: Also known as Robinson Crusoe (after he loses his memory chasing down the ruffian who stole Georgia's reticule) and later known as Roderick Gideon Tremayne, a total Hottie McHottiepantsbreeches. He's ever so persistent when trying to get Georgia to have coffee with him. Poor sap, he'll never see what's coming.
3. The Prince and the Pauper(ette): As Delilah (why yes, we're on a first name basis) dubbed her book. The Brit goes from being a well to do lord with all the luxuries money can buy to a man who pumps water for googly-eyed women, eating yams from a street vendor, falls in love with a woman below his station, dances awkwardly, believes he's Robinson Crusoe, remembers stories from books but doesn't remember his own name, who his family is and if he has a wife or not.
4. My Fair Lady(ish): Okay, so no 'Enry 'Iggins 'ere. After find out who he really is, Roderick wants to marry Georgia (all or nothing) but wants her to be accepted by the snooty London ton. He tells her she must act a lady. Oh, basically loose who she really is and be someone else. But then realizes he must give her up and do what duty requires (duty can go hang for all I care). Enter the volumptuous Lady Burton. She teaches Georgia a thing or two about being a lady, especially how to talk; it's hanging not hangin'. [flashback: The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain]
5. There's a mystery afoot. If you haven't read FOREVER MINE, you're missing out. Roderick's uncle was taken from his hotel room in New York City as a young child. He's been missing for a long time but Roderick is looking for him thanks to the pieces of the map his mother had hidden in books. That's the reason why he's in New York in the first place.
6. Holy feck: Feck, feck, feck! Everyone in the book likes to use that word and you'll be using it instead. 
7. Because Delilah Marvelle Wrote It! Is there any other reason? The woman has a way with getting the reader invested into the story, flipping page after page without wanting to put the book down. The emotions flow freely, the touches are sizzling off the pages and good lord almighty! dark and dangerous come out to play. 

FAVORITE QUOTES(what? I couldn't pick just one):

"He tightened his jaw and glanced toward the young woman sitting beside him on the bench. Georgia. Like the state. Who the hell named their daughter after a state? It would be like naming one's daughter Paris. It be-spoke of too much grandeur with very little to show."

"Unlike you, sir, I'm lookin' to marry. Not dance. A woman of little means, such as myself, need a dependable relationship that will forever and a day. Not your version of a day and a night." (***quotes subject to change in finished copy***)

OVERALL: Seriously, Delilah Marvelle's got a hit on her hands. In typical Delilah fashion, she's got me laughing, sighing, crying, gasping, shouting (very quietly since I finished this in the early morning: 5 hours of nonstop reading and spastic tweeting) at the heroine to shut up and give the hero a chance already and wanting more, so much more after finishing. My love for Delilah Marvelle's stories have grown a zillion-fold *sigh* 1 part The Prince and the Pauper(ette) plus 1 part My Fair Lady(ish) equals Me, Lost in Marvelle™ for 5 hours.

***review copy from Netgalley***