Seduction in Silk by Jo Beverley

Seduction in Silk by Jo Beverley.

This was book 13 in her Malloren Series.

Peregrine Perriam has been named heir to Perriam Manor, but he must marry a stranger or lose the property forever.  That stranger is Claris Mallow, who after living with her parents, would prefer living a life of poverty over being married to anyone.

Peregrine (Perry) has a month to convince Claris that marrying him would make her life better. He has been told that this is the only way to end the family curse that Claris's aunt has put on the Perriam family.

He soon learns that it will not be an easy task when Claris pulls a gun upon him at their first meeting. Peregrine uses the advantages that he can give her twin brothers to persuade her to accept his marriage proposal. Claris agrees to the marriage on the condition that she is the one in charge of the property and that their marriage will be in name only. Perry agrees knowing that he will spend most of his time in London.

Claris soon learns that Perry must spend a month each year on the estate as a condition of the will. She wonders what other things he is not telling her and how he might try to control her life.

After spending time away from Peregrine and mingling with her new neighbors, Claris decides she wants a child. Perry isn't about to say no to his wife and quickly consummates the marriage. Of course he goes back to London and Claris starts to miss him and wonders if they can have a real marriage.

She decides to take her brothers to visit London as they need to broaden their horizons before heading off to school soon. It's also the perfect time to learn more about her family and how her aunt came to put a curse on the Perriam family.

As Perry and Claris seek out the truth, they become closer. Will Claris get the real marriage that she is hoping for? Can Perry live a life outside of London?

I've been a huge fan of Jo Beverley for years.  I've read all the Malloren books and count them amongst some of my favorite.  I think this book fell a little short.  Claris is so against marriage for the first half of the book and then as soon as she and Perry consummate their marriage, she becomes a winey girl pining for her lover.  I just don't buy the complete change in character.

It was nice to re-visit some of the previous characters. Unfortunately, it's been so long since I read any of the other Malloren books that it was hard to recall their stories when they were mentioned. Something would be said and I would get a smidgen of a recollection of their story.  That is one reason I like to read series book all together. That is one draw back to reading an author that has a huge series like the Mallorens. I hope the next book Jo Beverley puts out is back up to her normal standard of writing!

You can purchase this book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes






The Love List by Deb Marlowe

The Love List by Deb Marlowe.

This is book one in the Half Moon House series.

While in a rather awkward situation with her bethrothed, Lord Marstoke, Brynne encounters the Duke of Aldmere. Brynne is convinced that he is as bad as her betrothed. She races home to tell her father that she wants to break off the betrothal, only to learn that he will be of no help to her. Learning this, she decides to leave her home and move in with Hestia Wright a former courtesan who has opened her home to women in trouble.

A few months later, Bryanne has reason to seek out the Duke of Aldmere to help with a situation that could ruin her new found freedom. The Duke's brother has started rewriting the Harris List of Covent Garden Ladies and has put Brynne and the other ladies of Half Moon House in the book.

Aldmere's brother has been missing for days and he quickly agrees that the two of them need to work together to find his brother and to stop the publication of the list.

They find out that Lord Marstoke is behind the rewriting of the list to get back at Brynne and Hestia for something in the past.  As they delve deeper into the mystery of Aldmere's missing brother, they find out that Marstoke is up to much more than just reviving the list.

Bryanne has decided to never be under the control of another man again, but as she spends more time with Admere she is second guessing her decision.

I really enjoyed this book and stayed up much later than normal to read just a little bit more.  The additional story line of the girls in Half Moon House added an interesting twist to the story.  I hope that Aldmere's brother gets his own story as well as some of the ladies in the house.


You can get this story at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.

Thanks go to Netgalley and Aspendawn Books for a free copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.


Enticing the Earl by Christie Kelley

Enticing the Earl by Christie Kelley.

Mia Featherstone has found some treasures on the Earl of Hartsfield's property and her lover has found out and wants a piece of it. Mia isn't about to give up the location of the pieces and soon finds herself beaten up and fearing for her life.

Since her lover doesn't seem to want to get anywhere near the Earl's property, Mia makes a run for it and is soon rescued by the Earl himself.

The Earl, Simon Blakesworth, takes Mia to his home to protector her and to give her time to recover.  He further offers his protection to Mia by asking her to marry him. Unbeknownst to Mia, Simon has been in love with her for years and he sees this as the opportunity to make her his.

Since she has had a lover, Mia tells Simon that she must wait to marry until she is sure she is not carrying another man's baby.  Mia is also sure that once Simon finds out that she was stealing from him, he will want nothing to do with her even though the proceeds from the sale of the items went to his tenets.

As they try to solve the mystery of the true identity of Mia's lover, it gets harder and harder for Simon to resist Mia's charms.  She is all he has ever wanted and she is almost his.  Will Simon forgive Mia for her theft? Will Simon confess that he is in love with Mia?

I really enjoyed the storyline. It was not your traditional historical romance as Mia was not of the same class as Simon. I even enjoyed the characters tremendously. But having said that, there were times that I thought the writing was very amateurish. I also didn't like that facts about another couple kept coming up (like they were in a previous novel), only to find out that their story hadn't been written (at least I couldn't find it anywhere on the author's webpage). If there are that many details about another couple, I want to be able to read about them (personal pet peeve)!


You can purchase this book at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thanks go to NetGalley and eKensington for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.



Mistletoe and Magic by Katie Rose

Mistletoe and Magic by Katie Rose.

This is book 2.5 in the Appleton Sisters series and a novella.

Penelope Appleton knows who the love of her life is suppose to be. She comes from a family that made a living of spiritualism seances, but unknown to her family Penelope really can see into the future. She has seen the man whom she will marry.

Unfortunately, when they finally connect, Penelope has a vision of his death. She gets away as fast as she can. She can't get involved with a man, just to have her heart broken when he dies.

Jared Marton can't believe that he has finally found the woman he wants to settle down with and she doesn't want anything to do with him.  He knows that she felt the same attraction that he did, but she is doing everything in her power to keep them apart.

Fortunately for Jared, Penelope's family is on his side and does everything they can to help him out.

I really wanted to like this story, but the writing was just off to me.  I liked the premise of the story, but found myself not liking Penelope.  Jared was also hard to like as he instantly fell in love with Penelope and claimed that it wasn't her looks that did it.  Maybe it was the length of the story that that made it a little "cheesy" to me. Possibly with a longer story, the author would have been able to add some "meat" to it. Since I liked the theme of the story, I will probably check out the other two books in the series and see if a full length novel is any better.


You can find this book at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thanks go to NetGalley and Loveswept for a copy of the book for an honest review.



To All the Rakes I've Loved Before by Anne Barton

To All the Rakes I've Loved Before by Anne Barton

This is book 1.5 of the Honeycote Series.

Amelia Wimple gets an unexpected visitor late one evening (you could call it early morning!) by the man that had jilted her. She can't imagine what he is doing at her home, but soon learns that his best friend has been injured and needs a place to stay. Since Amelia's mother is out of town and she rarely ventures out into society, he thought her home would be the perfect place for Lord Stephen Brookes to recover.

Stephen is known to be a rakehell and a gambler. His injuries were sustained from the man he owed money to. During his short recovery period, Stephen and Amelia have an immediate attraction to each other and quickly act on those feelings.

This was a very quick read (I read it in an hour) but very enjoyable. We get to see a small glimpse of Olivia and Rose Sherbourne, whom we meet in When She Was Wicked. I'm hoping this will tie me over until the next book comes out later this month.


You can get this book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBook.

Thanks go to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.




The Highland Bride's Choice by Amanda Forester

Elyne Campbell is doing her duty by marrying the man her brother has picked for her, the laird of the Grant family. She doesn't believe in romantic love and is willing to do what she must for the family.

When trying to help a needy guest, she comes across Tavish Grant. Thinking that this is her soon to be betrothed, she is pleasantly surprised by him. She soon learns that Tavish is the cousin of her betrothed. Unfortunately, she finds herself thinking much more Tavish than her own soon to be husband.

While out riding one morning, she spots Tavish riding out much further than he should due to the English being in the area. She follows him to warn him to be careful and to stay closer to the keep. Tavish is out in search of an abandoned keep that heard about.  He insists that Elyne goes back and says he will go back with her.

She doesn't want him to miss his exploring, so she decides to go with him.  While there they spot a large army of English soldiers and have to find a way to warn Elyne's family while they stay safe themselves.  As they spend time together, Elyne is drawn more and more to Tavish even though she knows he is forbidden.  Will their attraction for each other win out or will Elyne end up marrying Tavish's cousin?

When She Was Wicked by Anne Barton

When She Was Wicked by Anne Barton.

This is book 1 of The Honeycote Series.

Anabelle Honeycote is a seamstress on Bond Street that is barely making enough money to feed her mother, sister and herself.  Her mother's medical expenses have to be paid and she is behind in her rent. As a seamstress, Anabelle (Belle to her friends and family) overhears lots of gossips while making the necessary adjustments to her customers gowns. On the occasions when she is truly desperate, she uses this information to blackmail the "offender" asking only for enough money so that she and her family can survive.

Belle's latest bit of gossip is about the sister of Owen Sherbourne, the Duke of Huntford. When Owen gets the blackmail letter, he can't believe that someone is trying to harm his sister with this bit of gossip.  He sets out to trap the blackmailer at the drop off point. To Owen's surprise, it is a woman that he captures and it's none other that the seamstress that is making his sister's dressing.

Belle and Owen strike a deal. Belle will move into the Duke's home to make a whole new wardrobe for his sisters in exchange for not turning Belle into the authorities.  As much as each of them is attracted to the other, they face the obstacle of their stations. A seamstress can not get involved with a Duke!

After reading this book, I was surprised to find out that this was a debut novel.  It was very well written and I often found myself laughing out loud at times and toward the end of the book their were a couple of tears.  Belle's sister, Daphne, is the star of book 2 and I can't wait to read it.


You can find this book at AmazonBarnes & Noble, and iBooks.




Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton

Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton.

This is book 1 of her One Scandalous Season series.

Vane, Lord Claxton, returns home to find his wife unconsolable after losing their child and learns that he is at fault.

Lady Sophia is miserable after losing her child and having her husband abandon her. After many months, she has come to the conclusion that she must get a separation from Claxton but she wants a child. Can she convince her husband to give her the child she desperately wants and then grant her a separation?

What Sophia doesn't know is that Claxton has never stopped loving her. He will do anything to get her back.

Sophia has traveled to Claxton's childhood home to be alone and have time to think. Claxton finds out where she is going and quickly follows. Unfortunately, the place already has some uninvited guests and a misunderstanding ensues.

Lucky for Claxton, the weather has gotten worse and Sophia can not leave as she wishes. He uses that time to try and convince her to change her mind about the separation. Will Sophia get her wish for a child and a separation or will Claxton prevail and get his wife back?

This is Lily Dalton's debut novel and it is wonderfully written. There were times in the book where I was laughing out loud and times my heart just broke for the characters. The secondary characters were very well written and I can't wait to read more about them.  Next up in the series is Never Entice an Earl about one of Sophia's sisters, Daphne. I can't wait to read it when it comes out on April 29, 2014.


You can find this book at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thanks go to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing/Forever for a free copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.