Posts Tagged ‘Rate Me Reviews’

Rate Me Review ~ SINJIN

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

I’m heating up December with Julia Templeton’s SINJIN. Who is Sinjin, you ask? Well he’s one of the Rakehells of Rochester. And he’s nicknamed “Sin” for a very good reason. If you like your historical scorching hot, this is definitely the book for you.

So today, I’m going to do something different with the Rate Me Reviews. Today I’m going to give away 2 copies and for that I want the winners to read the book and give their reviews. Now it doesn’t have to be anything grand. All I want is your honest thoughts about the book. I’m going to assume you like the premise and that you like heat. There is a warning on this book that states “This book is a REALLY HOT book.”  I’ll post the reviews once I get them but in the meanwhile anyone who has read it can rate it and add their thoughts in the comment section (would really love comments if you give it a rating).

RT Book Reviews: 3 Stars
“Much like Susan Johnson and Thea Devine, Templeton develops the lust-to-love theme with loads of asbestos-gloves love scenes involving everything from menage à trois to voyeurism. Though some might desire a deeper plotline and others greater depth of emotion, Templeton senses what erotica readers crave and gives them hot, hot, hot.”

The Romance Reader: 4 Hearts
“Sinjin is perfect for those who want a bit more spiciness with their romance. I had fun reading this latest by Ms. Templeton and look forward to reading future stories with the Rakehells of Rochester.“

Good Reads: Average rating 3.8 (5 reviews)

SINJIN-lgSINJIN
Author: Julia Templeton
Publisher: Kensington/Aphrodisia
Re-release date: October 1, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0758238153
352 pages

His Needs Consumed Him…

The oldest of the Rayborne brothers, Sinjin’s insatiable appetite for sex has earned him the nickname “Sin.” But his frequent visits to London’s most infamous pleasure houses must now come to an end. For a rogue who’s accustomed to indulging his every desire, one woman can never be enough…until Sinjin locks eyes with Katelyn Davenport, and knows she is the one woman he can’t get enough of…

Until He Met the One Woman Who Could Satisfy Them all…

Betrothed to a much older man in payment for her late father’s gambling debts, Katelyn dreads her wedding day—and her wedding night even more. When she meets Sinjin at a soirée intended to introduce him to the eligible young ladies of the ton, she envies the lucky woman who will ultimately become his bride. But when Sinjin seduces Katelyn, giving her just a taste of his legendary skills, she can only imagine herself in his bed every night.

Comment I’ll rate it to enter to win.

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Rating: 7.8/10 (9 votes cast)

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Rate Me Reviews ~ For Your Arms Only – Caroline Linden

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Rate this book, please. :) Yes, what I’d like is for you, the readers, to review this book for other interested readers. Every once in a while, when a force beyond my control compels me, I’ll jot down my thoughts on a particular author or book and do a post. However, due to writing, running The Season sites and busy mommy life, that will happen infrequently. But the visitors to my blog want to see more current reviews and I want to give them what they want. So this is my solution to that.

What I will do is post the cover, the blurb and and the average rating or single rating from all the review sites that I can find. Then I want you the readers to rate the book and tell me what you thought of it. I think sometimes (perhaps a lot) readers would rather see what other readers thought of the book than a reviewer who does this as a job (or part-time job). Readers don’t HAVE to read a book they wouldn’t otherwise buy in a book store. Readers will buy or borrow from the library, books they want to read, books that pique their fancy. Who else then can give you a completely unbiased opinion of a book they took the time to seek out or put down cold hard cash to read?  So that’s how I (okay, my sister if I’m going to be completely honest) came up with RATE ME REVIEWS. I’ll leave the review posts until Sunday night and then the posts will get a page of their own, that way, as readers read the book, they can easily access the review to add their rating and comments or check to see what others thought of the book.

How do I pick the books? It’s usually going to go this way. If I buy the book myself, it will probably get a post to rate it (beyond my must buy authors, I usually will pick up mass market debuts). If I receive books from a publisher, you’ll more than likely see them here. With that said, the first book that will go up is Caroline Linden’s FOR YOUR ARMS ONLY from Avon Books. If you’ve never tried any of Caroline Linden’s books, you can read her free novella, Deeper Than Desire, here which is a companion piece to FOR YOUR ARMS ONLY. I think a free read is an excellent way to try out an author before plunking down money to buy their bigger books.

RT Book Reviews: 4 1/2 Stars, TOP PICK
“Linden weaves history into the backdrop of her current romance. Her characters, from very different backgrounds, are intriguing, honorable and deeply emotional. These characters, coupled with an unconventional plotline, combine to create a surprisingly rich and passionate tale.”

Good Reads: Average rating 3 1/2 Stars (4 ratings)

~*~*~

ForYourArmsOnly-LFor Your Arms Only
Author: Caroline Linden
Publisher: Avon Books
Pub. Date: November 24, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0061706459
384 pages

He’d never been shot by a woman . . .

He was once a distinguished army officer, a man of honor and heroism. But that was before Alexander Hayes was wrongly accused of treason. Forced to abandon everything he held dear, Alec became a spy for England in an attempt to clear his name. His latest commission sounds simple: locate a retired soldier gone missing. But it also sends him back home, to a family who’d thought him dead for five years—and a woman who’d like to shoot him.

Everything Cressida Turner’s ever heard about Alec tells her that he’s a traitor of the worst kind, and yet this enigmatic, infuriating, and utterly captivating man may be the only person she can trust—and the only one who can find her missing father. With nowhere else to turn, she reluctantly joins forces with Alec, unprepared for both the dangerous secrets that threaten them and the relentless passion that drives them into each other’s arms.

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Rating: 8.4/10 (7 votes cast)

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Sarah Mayberry takes us Home for the Holidays

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

I’m going to start the post by saying that The Season doesn’t feature contemporary category romances simply because I do not have the manpower to feature them ALL. Plus, eHarlequin.com already does a fabulous job showcasing the massive catalogue of their books on their website. But I got my start reading romances with Harlequin Presents, so I’m a category advocate. And when I spot an author I think stands out, I like to yell it from the rooftops–or my blog now, as it were.

That said, let’s talk Sarah Mayberry.  I discovered Sarah back in 2006 with the release of her second Harlequin Blaze, Cruise Control. This book was sooooo good I had to email her and tell her (this was back when I never felt compelled to write an author if I loved their book). She was gracious as always and, of course, happy I loved her book. I then began to turn as many romance readers as I knew on to her. In short, I sang her MAJOR praises. Readers, she’s THAT GOOD! And with Cruise Control she became an ‘instant buy’ for me. Unfortunately, Cruise Control is out of print but I’ve linked the book cover to the e-book format available on eharlequin.com. If you love SERIOUS sexual tension, fabulous emotional conflict, and a fantastic romance, READ THIS BOOK! If you don’t read category romances and you’re willing to give them a try, I urge you to start here. (Honestly, the first scene in the limo when they first make eye contact…one word, HOT!)

cruise_control

Cruise Control
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Publisher: Harlequin Blaze
Pub. Date: May 2006
ISBN-13: 978-0263855968
256 pages

What good is a second chance if you don’t take a risk? That’s what limo driver Anna Jackson asks when the seriously hot Marc Lewis climbs in her car. She’s changed her looks, her career and now it’s time to shed the conservative habits of a lifetime. And seducing Marc is the best way to do that. Sure, he’s her client—sort of off-limits—but she’s not wrong about the invitation in his eyes.

All she has to do is remember three simple rules—never stay overnight, make no plans for the future and never, ever talk about emotions. Once they hit the sheets, however, the rules aren’t so easy to follow. And once they spend the night, can feelings be far behind?

What is it about Sarah’s books that have me completely hooked? She writes sexual tension, conflict, and a compelling romance like a pro. And your heart? Expect to have that organ wrung. You know that constricted ache in your heart you get when you’re completely immersed in the feelings and experiences of the characters. Yep, that’s what she does so well. She makes you care. She makes you feel. And the sexual tension, the sexual heat…well, let’s just say you won’t be disappointed. :)

amorousliaisons alloveryou takeonme

Some other memorables from Sarah are Amorous Liaisons, All Over You, Take On Me. Again, I’ve linked the covers to the e-book on eharlequin.com. I guarantee in all you will get Sarah’s trademark, heat, tension and compelling romance.

In March of 2009, I got news that Sarah had written a Super Romance. A Super Romance?? Wow. Now since I don’t usually read Super Romances I wondered what that book would be like. It would have less heat, I thought, for sure. Supers definitely aren’t as hot as Blazes. And aren’t they about home hearth and family. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (reliving an episode of Seinfeld right now). Would I be disappointed? I bought A Natural Father, sat down and read it straight through. Can this woman do no wrong? Does she not take one shaky step? Nope, Sarah pulled off her first Super Romance as if she’d mastered the darn thing years ago. So now I’m hooked on Sarah’s Supers too.

Which brings us to the focus of today’s review (which as you know, I don’t do): Home for the Holidays, which is Sarah’s second Super Romance. Dear readers, it is soooooo GOOD! If you don’t win a copy today, check your stores and see if any remain on the shelves (there are none at my local Walmart or Target anymore) because you need to buy it.

homefortheholidaysHome for the Holiday
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Publisher: Harlequin Super Romance
Pub. Date: November 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0373715992
256 pages

Joe Lawson has a thing for his new neighbor Hannah Napier. As a single dad, he shouldn’t be thinking what he is about her. Still, that doesn’t stop them from getting close. And the way she connects with his kids, it’s as if they’re a family.

Turns out it’s too good to be true. Seems Hannah has plans that don’t include staying in Melbourne. Joe won’t stand between her and her dreams, even though letting her go is nearly impossible. The holidays are looking grim, with him and his kids missing Hannah like crazy. But it is the season of surprises, and Hannah may have one for them!

What I love about Home for the Holidays is that Sarah takes these unconventional heroines and totally makes you connect with them. Hannah is a mechanic who rides a motorcycle and was recently dumped by her ex-fiance. Joe is a widower with two kids who just moved in next door. They meet over the loud roar of her motorcycle that she is fixing one night in her garage while his kids are trying to sleep. As you can imagine he’s none too pleased with her, her bike, and that is evident in their exchange. Needless, to say they don’t get off to a wonderful start. I’ll be the first one to admit, I’m a sucker for a book that starts with immediate animosity between the heroine and hero but an immediate physical attraction.

As expected, their attraction supersedes their animosity and eventually, after a sizzling kiss, they are ‘dating’.  But all is not home free. Joe has two children and his thirteen-year-old son does not readily accept Hannah as the new woman in his father’s life. He has reasons and they wrench at your heart. Contrarily, Joe’s daughter thinks Hannah is the bees knees, that is why she’s utterly devastated when Hannah is intent on leaving to follow her dreams.

On both sides, there is family patching up that needs to go on (Hannah and her sister, Joe, his son and Hannah) before they can reach their HEA. What I love about Sarah’s books, is that she doesn’t get you there in the expected way. Right when you think you know what is going to happen, she drops something else on you that leaves you surprised, shocked, sometimes heartbroken. It takes the story to a whole different level, further engages you to take you on another emotional ride. That’s what she did here, and while my eyes smarted with tears, I threatened a boycott if she didn’t give us an epilogue. Of course, Sarah didn’t disappoint. :) She knows what must be done to give her readers a completely satisfying, emotional, and sexy read. With Home for the Holidays she masterfully succeeds.

My Rating: 9 / 10 Stars, Top Pick

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Rating: 7.4/10 (5 votes cast)

Fire away, Sarah will be stopping by to answer questions. Any delay on Sarah’s part is because she’s on deadline and she’s in New Zealand.

Two commenters will win a copy of her Super Romance, Home for the Holidays. Winners will be posted November 24 (early morning).

Yay!!! Sarah is also going to giveaway 2 (two) advance copies of her January Blaze release, Her Secret Fling. I WANT ONE!!! Here’s the blurb.

hersecretfling

Jake Stevens – star reporter and celebrated literary genius – is a snake. How else to explain the way he turns Poppy Birmingham’s hero worship into loathing with a single conversation? So what if she’s got a lot to learn about journalism? Aren’t they coworkers now? On the same team? Jake can take his attitude and…

Then during a job-related road trip, their relationship goes from antagonistic to hedonistic in no time flat. And suddenly Poppy can’t think of anything more delicious than having a secret fling with Jake. But with all this intensity, can she really keep it no-strings-attached?

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Second Time Around Reviews ~ Highland Obsession

Monday, November 16th, 2009

InsatiableBefore I post Barbara’s review for Highland Obsession, which she originally posted on her blog, Happily Forever After on August 7, 2009, I thought that today we readers and authors needed a treat.

I first stumbled upon this cover on Katibabs’ Blog and was immediately struck dumb, or perhaps it would be honest to say I sat for several moments in awe. I’ve been talking covers for the last several weeks and this particular cover definitely caught my attention and would definitely make me pick up the book to read the back cover blurb if I could tear my eyes from front long enough to do so. Don’t ask me what the book is about yet, I haven’t gotten that far but I have to say this is VERY NICE eye candy for a Monday morning. :)

~*~*~

I must say that we’re treated to a similar treat on the cover of Dawn Halliday’s Highland Obsession. For readers who love a gripping love triangle, this is the book for you.

highlandobsession_blogHighland Obsession
Author: Dawn Halliday
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: August 2009
ISBN-13: 9780451227010
320 pages

In the Scottish Highlands, two warriors are about to clash over a woman of passion…

They were the unlikeliest of friends debauching their way through London: The Earl of Camdonn, a nobleman of vast wealth and power, and Scottish laird Alan MacDonald, a respected Jacobite with ambitions of his own.

But their friendship is destroyed when Alan marries the beautiful Sorcha Stewart—only to witness Cam kidnap her from their bedroom. Then Alan learns the truth: his bride was not an innocent. She took a lover before him—his friend—who taught her the ways of pleasure.

Now, Alan will do anything to get his wife back. Cam fights to redeem his honor, even as he refuses to give up his desire. Torn between love and duty, Sorcha must watch as the two men she desires go to war over her. And when the battle lines are drawn, all three lovers are lured into a triangle of forbidden passions…

Gorgeous Cover–check. I mean seriously, look at that dude. Rawr.

Love Triangle–check. I don’t know about you, but two totally gorgeous alpha heroes tossed together, fighting to win the love of a woman? Totally hot. Plus it makes for great angst. I love me some angst.

Yup, Highland Obsession was a book that sounded like it was for me alright.

After having lived the majority of his life in England, Alan MacDonald has returned to Scotland in order to begin his life anew. Claiming his lands, Alan takes his place as Laird. His wish to find a suitable bride and start a family brings him to the lovely, Sorcha.

Sorcha Stewart is everything Alan could have wished for in a bride. Beautiful, sweet and innocent, she is nothing like the women he knew in England, and it isn’t long before Alan becomes completely enamored with his bride-to-be.

Soon the couple is married. The honeymoon is short lived, however, because her love isn’t the only thing Alan’s blushing bride has brought into their marriage. The woman he has chosen to wed is carrying with her a secret, and one that could very well tear them apart forever.

A woman of honor, when Sorcha stood before the minister and promised herself body and soul to Alan, she meant every word. With Alan, life seems filled with so much promise. He’s caring and honorable, gentle and yet strong. Sorcha wants nothing more than to build a happy life with her new husband.

With a tender touch and loving words, on their wedding night, Alan speaks to her of honesty and trust. Barely married a few hours and already Sorcha finds herself wracked with the guilt, the guilt of knowing she has already betrayed that very trust Alan speaks of. Her only hope is that he never ever finds out her secret.

The truth will set you free? Hmm…I don’t know about that…

The Earl of Camdonn is a man obsessed. Seriously. Obsessed. Once upon a time Sorcha had been his mistress. They shared a brief, yet, very passionate affair. At the time, Cam had believed it to be nothing more than a physical attraction. Sorcha was beautiful and, well, extremely willing. Yes, he knew her feelings for him ran deeper than his did, but that really meant nothing seeing as he was an Earl and she was a common maiden. Besides, he didn’t love her. Or did he?

Ah, but you don’t know whatcha got until it’s gone my friend….

But now Sorcha is married, and suddenly Cam finds himself unable to accept it. He’s gone completely mad with the idea of her belonging to another. She’s his dammit. She loves him. He absolutely has to have her back. Period.

So, what does Cam do? He busts into her house and whisks her away into the night. Sounds romantic, huh? Yeah, well, only problem is, Sorcha’s new husband also happens to be Cam’s very best friend.

Uh-oh…

As if that isn’t bad enough, it turns out Sorcha isn’t the only one with secrets to hide. Alan and Cam apparently share quite a past of their own.

Lies, deceit, lust, love, anger, jealousy, rage and obsession….

And so begins the battle between two men, willing to sacrifice a life long friendship and their very lives for the love of just one woman. And of course, one woman who must ultimately decide which man is truly the only one for her.

Alrighty, let me see…First I’d like to say that I think Dawn Halliday (aka Jennifer Haymore) is a spectacular writer. She really draws the reader into the tale and makes it easy for you to connect with her characters.

The heroine, Sorcha, I completely got her. I understood how she felt, her fears, her desires and her willingness to go along with some of the…er…situations in this tale.

The heroes:

Alan. I got him. Sort of. Well, at least I did get him up to a certain point and then I was like, “Dude, what are you doing?” I think if I was able to smack some sense in to him a few times throughout the tale, I would have enjoyed his character a lot more.

Cam. I got. It was a simple case of you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Yeah, I got Cam and really liked his character.

*Spoiler Alert in the following paragraph*

There is one scene near the end of this tale that I could have done without. It’s a ménage scene between these three characters and honestly, eh. Here you have a hero who was so completely obsessed and jealous of the fact that his wife had made love to this other man, and yet, he’d be willing to share her after everything? I don’t know. Listen, I have absolutely no issues with “double stuff” scenes. Two hot guys…*clears throat and wipes brow* however, this particular scene just didn’t seem to fit the hero’s personality. Other than that, I liked this tale.

I will say that I did have an idea who would inevitably win the heroine’s heart, and I was very happy to see it come to light in the end. Highland Obsession, for me, was an extremely well written tale and I’m looking forward to diving in to another love triangle in “A Hint of Wicked” by Dawn’s alter ego, Jennifer Haymore.

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

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On a sad note, I’d like to bid a fond farewell to Barbara’s Happily Forever After as she has decided to step back from her blog (*sob* I just discovered her this year!!!). But hopefully she won’t be gone forever, and I’m sure she’ll be popping up with a review when there’s a book she MUST tell us about. I’m hoping I can convince her to guest blog here on The Season every now and again. ;)

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Lavinia Kent turns the table on traditional roles

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

The cover of A Talent for Sin caught my attention immediately. The heroine’s coquettish look over the shoulder. Nice.  Provocative. Seemingly innocent. Then I read the back cover blurb. Now I’m completely intrigued. Older woman, younger man. But wait, the girl on the cover doesn’t look more than twenty. Never mind that, it works. :) I’m too impatient to go to the book store, so I download it immediately. I read it in two days (hey, I was busy writing and revising my life away). I adored it. The beginning took my breath away. Can you really start a book like that?  It gave me ideas for the future… Suffice it enough to say, wonderful debut. So without further ado, dear readers,  please welcome Lavinia Kent to The Season’s Blog.

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laviniakentI am not sure if this is a blog about villains or about point of view.  I definitely started out planning to write about villains and why I love them.  But then I realized that what I really love is how different points of view change a story.   I adore it when I am absolutely convinced a character is evil and then the picture twists. I start to see the world through their eyes and suddenly everything isn’t so black and white.

I don’t know if anybody has read any of George R.R. Martins’ “Song of Ice and Fire” series, but he is a champion at this.  A character will seem completely without redemption and then suddenly the reader is in his point of view for several hundred pages.  Everybody the reader assumed was good now has sinister overtones and all the evil deeds are explained.   The character still may not be a “good guy” but the reader understands and sympathizes with his every action.

I’ve dreamed of writing a book like this for years and thought I knew what it would be.  Of course life – and books – rarely turn out quite the way I intend.

My debut novel, A Talent for Sin, features a heroine, Violet Carrington, who was forced, by her brother, to marry an elderly man–forced not once but twice, marrying again after her first husband dies.   The book takes place years later when Violet, again a widow, takes a younger lover who wishes to marry her.  Violet is convinced that she has nothing to gain by marriage and changing her mind takes some very passionate persuading.

A Talent for Sinatalentforsin_web
Author: Lavinia Kent
Publisher: Avon
Pub. Date: May 26
ISBN-13: 978-0061734083
384 pages

She was blessed with a gift of temptation.

Violet, Lady Carrington, possesses everything a spirited woman could want out of life. Money (and lots of it). The freedom to make her own choices, with no husband to rule her. And a delightfully attentive young lover, Lord Peter St. Johns, to satisfy her every wild whim. But Peter desires more than Violet’s lascivious attentions. He’s desperate for her heart—and her hand in marriage.

Yet with a toss of her russet curls, Violet refuses. A man like Peter belongs with a naïve, blushing beauty, not a luscious lady with a talent for sin, and she would rather die than be beholden to anyone. But try as she might, she cannot convince him—or herself—that their tantalizing dalliance is a mere trifle. Perhaps Lady Carrington has finally met her match—a man who will love but not control her, a man who can meet her wickedness with a fierce passion of his own . . .

boundbytemptationDuring the course of the book Violet’s brother, Masters, enters the story again.  This time he is trying to force their youngest sister to wed.  He is in every sense a villain.

And then I started to write my next book.  It was supposed to be the youngest sister’s story, but she made it very clear that she was not ready for true love.  She had a lot of life to live first.

And Masters – well he kept appearing and trying to explain to me why he’d acted the way he had.  (He also grew about six inches taller and developed a distinctly more muscular chest.)   The more I tried to push him back the more he insisted on being heard.

And so was born Bound by Temptation, out from Avon in February 2010, the story of Masters and Lady Clara Westington.   Lady Clara also has problems with how Masters had treated his sisters.  She’s not at all sure she wants a lover who could treat any woman in such a way.  Of course that would be easier to manage if she could keep her hands off him, or if she hadn’t tried to seduce him over breakfast bacon.  And that’s not even mentioning awakening tied to his bed . . .

Do you have a favorite villain turned hero/heroine?  I’d love to hear. And don’t forget, I’m giving away 2 copies. Just comment for a chance to win.

Lavinia Kent

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knightofpleasureBefore I offer up 3 copies of Knight of Desire readers can win by leaving a comment, I will, once again, offer my opinion on this fabulous debut. I don’t normally read medievals. I’m squeamish (my own fault entirely) and they tend to have too much fighting for my tastes. But when my friend Jackie Barbosa (who is well aware of my very particular tastes)  highly recommended Margaret’s medieval as one I would enjoy, I bought it the next day(I’m no dummy). Now I’m HOOKED on Margaret Mallory and her valiant knights, beautiful heroines and wonderfully compelling love stories. December can’t come soon enough for me to get my hands on Knight of Pleasure.  By the way, have you seen the gorgeous cover! The cover gods indulged Miss Mallory in a most extraordinary way. ;)

Was it only me, Jackie and the editors at Grand Central who loved Knight of Desire? Nope. Check out Buffie Johnson’s review (formerly of RomanceNovel TV, now with one of our contributing reviewers, The Romance Dish).

knightofdesire200

Knight of Desire
Author: Margaret Mallory
Publisher: Grand Central
Pub. Date: July 1
ISBN-13: 978-0446553391
384 pages

FEARLESS IN BATTLE

His surcoat still bloody from battle, William FitzAlan comes to claim the strategic borderlands granted to him by the king. One last prize awaits him at the castle gates: the lovely Lady Catherine Rayburn.

TENDER IN BED

Catherine risked everything to spy for the crown. Her reward? Her lands are declared forfeit and she is given this choice: marry FitzAlan or be taken to the Tower. Catherine agrees to give her handsome new husband her body, but she’s keeping secrets and dares not give him her heart. As passion ignites and danger closes in, Catherine and William must learn to trust in each other to save their marriage, their land, and their very lives.

I am a romance reader who loves debut novels.  I think the reason I enjoy debuts so much is because of the possibility of finding a new author to follow.  As you all know, medievals are my first loves in the romance novel world, so when I had the chance to read Margaret Mallory’s debut novel, I grabbed the book with both hands.

On the eve of her wedding to a man she neither likes nor admires, Lady Mary Catherine sneaks into the stables to saddle up her horse and enjoy her last hour as a free woman.  But what Catherine does not expect to find is a shadow lurking in the stables.  Confronted by a stranger, Catherine does what every 16 year old girl in the 1400s would do . .  . pulls a blade on the stranger and threatens his life.  Amused by the young girl’s response to him, the young knight tells Catherine that he will ride along with her to insure her safety.   Catherine reluctantly agrees and the two share a memorable, yet innocent, few hours together.

Five years have passed since her wedding day and Catherine cannot believe she has survived the torturous abuse of her husband, Lord Rayburn.  But if her husband finds out she is the one who alerted the King of her husband’s involvement with the Welsh rebels and the movements of the rebel forces before the King’s men can capture him for treason, Lady Catherine may not face another sunrise.  Summoned to the gate of her castle, Catherine is nervous to find several of the King’s men waiting.  Upon receiving the news that her abusive husband was caught and killed, Catherine drops to her knees and cries her praises to God.   But her jubilant celebration is quickly squashed as she is told the King has given her now dead husband’s title and all his property to the man who defeated her husband in battle that very day, Sir William FitzAlan.  By the King’s edict, Catherine has two choices.  Marry Sir FitzAlan or be taken from her home and her son and placed in the Tower.

Sir William FitzAlan is one of the King’s men.  He is a knight with no home, no family (that he likes anyway), and no land.  He is an honest man among the throngs of dishonest ones.  After dispensing with a traitor to the crown, William is awarded Ross Castle and all of its land.  Being a man who hates to see women punished, William agrees to marry the Lady of Ross Castle without seeing her first.  As Catherine stands at the gate while Father Whitefield explains the King’s messages to her, William is shocked to silence when he discovers Catherine is the young woman he spent an innocent evening with several years ago.  The woman he could never get out of his head or his heart.  And now she is to be his wife.

Catherine and William have a long road ahead of them.   Both must learn to trust the other with their heart and their body.   William yearns to show Catherine the pleasures of the marriage bed, but must do so with a gentle hand as her experience with her mentally and physically abusive spouse has scarred her in more than one way.   Catherine wants William to trust her above anyone else, even though he has burned by women in the past.  Trust is a hard thing to earn as it doesn’t come quickly or easily.

This is a fabulous debut novel.  Margaret Mallory does a masterful job of focusing on the relationship of the hero and heroine while still having an underlying theme of treason, intrigue, and secrets which are woven intricately throughout the novel but yet never overpowering the love story.   Mallory also does a wonderful job of writing the mothering feelings of Catherine.  She is spot on with the descriptions of a mother’s love and the thoughts of a mother.   Several times I found myself shaking my head in agreement with the words on the page.
I am very happy to learn that Margaret Mallory is writing two more books in the All The King’s Men series.  I can’t wait to read about the secondary characters from this book as many of them will make excellent heroes of their own stories.  So if you like medievals and are ready to try a new author, then this is just the book for you!          Rating:  4.25/5.00 Stars

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Rating: 9.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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I’m giving away 2 (copies) of Allegra Gray’s debut, Nothing But Scandal.

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Nothing But Scandal
Author: Allegra Gray
Publisher: Kensington
Pub. Date: July 7
ISBN-13: 978-1420108255
352 pages

It all starts with an innocent proposition

When her father dies, leaving her penniless and without prospects, Elizabeth Medford is faced with a horrible future: marriage to the utterly vile Harold Wetherby. Her family thinks he’s a brilliant choice, but Elizabeth has witnessed Wetherby’s cruel nature and knows a life with him would be a miserable one.. If only he didn’t want to marry her…but for that to be the case, she would have to have a damaged reputation, and despite her father’s missteps, Elizabeth’s own name is pristine among society.

So far…

Elizabeth will organize her own ruin and escape the betrothal, leaving her old life behind. The only hitch is the man she hopes will do the ruining—the irresistible Alex Bainbridge, Duke of Beaufort. Alex is no stranger to scandal. But he has secrets of his own that make Elizabeth Medford a woman he should avoid at all costs–for both their sakes. He insists he will have no part in her crazy scheme…no matter how tempting she may be…

In the summer of 2010, look out for Allegra’s sophomore novel from Kensington, Nothing But Deception.

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I’m giving away 5 (five) copies  each of  Lisa Marie Wilkinson’s Fire At Midnight and Jackie Barbosa’s Behind the Red Door (it’s hot!). Comment to enter to win.

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Fire At Midnight
Author: Lisa Marie Wilkinson
Publisher: Medallion Press
Pub. Date: March 1
ISBN-13: 978-1933836546
350 pages

It is 1703, and Rachael Penrose is confined to Bedlam Insane Asylum in London after discovering her uncle Victor plans to kill her brother in order to inherit the family fortune. Victor leads a gang of criminals and uses French privateer/smuggler Sébastien Falconer as the scapegoat for his crimes. When Victor spreads the lie that Rachael informed the authorities of Falconer’s smuggling activities, Falconer vows revenge on the girl.

A dangerously ill Rachael finally escapes from Bedlam, only to find shelter in Sébastien’s carriage, and ends up in his care. It is a twist of fate that will alter both their lives forever.

Believing she is in danger from Sébastien, Rachael meets up with his estranged twin brother, Jacques, a customs officer intent on bringing his brother, the famous privateer, to justice. But the real criminal is still at large, and she and her brother are still in danger. Will she discover the truth and save both their lives . . . and her heart?

In March 2010, look out for Lisa’s sophomore book from Medallion Press, Stolen Promise.

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In full disclosure, Jackie Barbosa is my good friend. That said, this anthology is not to be missed! I read it before it was in print and the writing is top-notch, the characters well-drawn, the love stories, heartfelt. It’s a must read.

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Behind The Red Door
Author: Jackie Barbosa
Publisher: Kensington
Pub. Date: May 26
ISBN-13: 978-0758234582
304 pages

Wickedly Ever After
Known for his wicked ways, the Marquess of Grenville is far from marriage material. But when Miss Eleanor Palmer tries to tell him so, she quickly finds the heat of his kiss melting her determination to say “no” into an uncontrollable desire to say “yes…”

Scandalously Ever After
Most men who visit the Red Door brothel enjoy sampling the variety of feminine delights, so Calliope is surprised when Captain Jack Prescott claims her for a week of passion. But satisfying his every sexual desire provides them both with complete carnal pleasure…

Sinfully Ever After
Lady Jane St. Clair loves her fiancé, but Gerard Nash is a notorious rake who likes adventurous women. Wanting to show him just how bold she can be, Jane masquerades as a young ingénue at the Red Door where she and Gerard experience sinfully erotic ecstasy…

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Second Time Around Reviews – Wicked Little Game

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Frequently, as readers, we miss a book worthy of our time and money (thankfully, for books, that is not a lot). So I will be posting Second Time Around Reviews, brought to you by three wonderful review sites who have agreed to share their reviews with us.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at Christine Wells’ Wicked Little Game reviewed by Barbara at Happily Forever After, to let you know WHY you should pick up this gem if you missed it the first time around. Enjoy!

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Wicked Little Game
Author: Christine Wells
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-13: 9780425228487
320 pages

The Marquis of Vane hungers for Lady Sarah from afar as she braves a disastrous marriage. That is until Sarah’s husband makes him an indecent offer: one night with Sarah for ten thousand pounds. Passions explode and lead to a deadly twist of fate that could spell a lifetime of regret—or love.


Okay, first I’d just like to say that I did it. I beat Vampfangirl to the review! *wicked laughter* It wasn’t an easy task, mind you, lol, but well worth it. Thanks for the rec, girl, I liked this one!

My thoughts:

Handsome, wealthy and titled, the Marquis of Vane is a man who could have had any woman he wanted. Yet, for years has has silently longed for Lady Sarah Cole. However, there has always been one thing standing in the way of him claiming the one woman he desires most—her husband, Brinsley Cole.

Brinsley—knee deep in debt—makes a proposition that he assumes Vane would not be quick to pass up. He’s no fool, he knows how badly Vane wants his wife and so his offer is this: One night with Sarah, in exchange for ten thousand pounds.

Hmmm….

In a brief moment of insanity, the idea of finally having Sarah seemed almost too great to turn down. But, no matter how desperately Vane wanted her, his respect and affection for Sarah ran just as deep as his desire. He turns down Brinsley’s offer, but not before the urge to choke the life out of her snake of a husband overwhelms him.

Brinsley–after getting lumped up a bit–decides to turn the tables. Should Vane not accept his offer and pay the money, Sarah would be the one to suffer the consequences, and unfortunately, Vane doesn’t doubt that Brinsley will follow through with his threat.

******

Sarah Cole’s life was a complete disaster. Married to a man who is about as selfish and uncaring as they come, for years, Sarah has struggled to maintain a sense of pride.

Yet, no matter how bad things may be with Brinsley, Sarah can’t help but feel an overwhelming guilt about her attraction to Lord Vane. A complete gentleman, Vane is everything her husband is not. To make matters worse, Sarah is fully aware that Vane shares her affections.

Her nights are spent lying in bed, longing for something she knows she could never have. In Sarah’s mind, she had made an oath before God on the day she married Brinsley. She promised to honor him, and, no matter how bad things were between them, that is a promise that Sarah is determined to keep.

Showing up late one night, Brinsley starts spinning a tale of how Lord Vane had offered him ten thousand pounds in exchange for a night with Sarah. Sarah is left appalled, but Brinley continues on explaining that should she not accept Vane’s offer, they would be left in near destitution. Sarah never imagined in a million years that Vane would stoop to such a level. Fully aware of just how bad their financial situation is, Sarah realizes she doesn’t have much choice.

With her dignity in tatters, she agrees to spend one night with Vane. But, what no one ever expected was that the following morning Sarah’s idiot of a husband would be found murdered, and Sarah, would be the prime suspect.

What follows is a tale of love and passion, and one that entailed quite possibly everything else imaginable as well, lol.
We have murder, mystery, accusations of incest, unexpected twists and turns, illegitimate children, cheating spouses, a barren wife, a blood sucking varmint of a husband, homosexuality, crazy in laws, secret love letters, blackmail….Oh and let’s not forget the ten thousand pound proposition, lol.

Yeah…I think it’s safe to say the author didn’t hold back in the least!

This happens to be the first tale I’ve read by Ms. Wells and I can guarantee it will not be the last!

I really enjoyed her characters. The love scenes—hot! The tension building was phenomenal without being overly done. The pacing of the tale was quick, and I managed to read this book in one sitting. I did find that POV switches could at times be a bit abrupt. But other than that, I have no complaints.

Vane—loved him!!! So, so, so sexy. He was the epitome of a hero! He was exactly what I look for in a historical romance. Gorgeous, strong, confident, manly, gallant, very in control of his emotions—accept when it comes to the heroine. With her, he falls to pieces. I LOVE it when the heroine holds the ability to bring such a powerful man to his knees.

The heroine, Sarah, I liked her, but at times I felt like smacking some sense into the woman. Here’s Vane, a guy who is like Mr. Perfect and yet, throughout the tale she is fighting with her conscience on whether or not she should give in to the constant “urge” to be with him. Get over it. You’re husband was a Loser with a capital L! Vane, on the other hand—prrrrr….

All in all, I thought Ms. Wells did a wonderful job with this story!
My rating: 4 1/2 stars

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