tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43086575417071411622024-02-08T21:13:51.748-05:00Seduced By A Book________________________ Spreading the Love of Reading One Book at a Time _______________________<br>
This blog is for anyone whoever picked up a book and couldn't put it down. It's for anyone who loves to read and reads often. It's for anyone like me who's been seduced by a book and can't wait to discuss it.Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.comBlogger1128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-37429188314802037412021-02-01T11:55:00.002-05:002021-02-03T17:36:31.026-05:00Beneath the Keep (The Queen of the Tearling, #0) by Erika Johansen<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtILi8zGmLPu-Z3uTVOJGoYqsAQUPKw5OxBzjh0MADheTObNWpYxHHd5MOr07PCuDoOUIEyUgUYO_TW6RJ93g5KsQnBdITxNtYkHRoSVf9qXMKOmo-Ib7Hk88dT7lZxqcI2YOtVF7QZ1B/s2048/Beneath+the+Keep.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtILi8zGmLPu-Z3uTVOJGoYqsAQUPKw5OxBzjh0MADheTObNWpYxHHd5MOr07PCuDoOUIEyUgUYO_TW6RJ93g5KsQnBdITxNtYkHRoSVf9qXMKOmo-Ib7Hk88dT7lZxqcI2YOtVF7QZ1B/w133-h200/Beneath+the+Keep.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div><b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BKSB8GZ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08BKSB8GZ&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=0ac4b8b4b76cfc5ce85060ba84ec0227" target="_blank">Beneath the Keep: A Novel of the Tearling</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B08BKSB8GZ" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><div><b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction</div><div><b>Genre:</b> Fantasy/Science Fiction</div><div><b>Series: </b>The Queen of the Tearling</div><div><b>Publisher:</b> Dutton (February 2, 2021)</div><div><b>Hardcover: </b>448 pages</div><div><b>ISBN-10:</b> 1524742724</div><div><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1524742720</div><div><b>Author's Website:</b> n/a</div><div><b>Notes:</b> I received and eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review. Please note this series is not for the faint of heart. Please also note that there is rape, pedophilia, incest, and just about any other vice you can imagine included in this series. If any of those would cause you anguish to read, then this is probably not be the series for you. Also, as I read an eARC all quotes are subject to change and/or removal prior to publishing, therefore, they will need to be checked against the published version. As I bought this one, I'll try to go back and alter what I used, if needed, after doing a quick verification.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>"The stars change. The moon falls. The tide surges, then ebbs. Seventeen Ships went over the horizon, all of them bound for the better world. One ship sank; innumerable sorrows arose. Sixteen ships landed, and the Tearling was born. William Tear fell. William Tear fell. Willian Tear was the True King. The one who saved them all. He fell, and the kingdom fell with him.(...) The harvest. Yes, you will reap. The moon falls, the stars rise. They shift and change! The True Queen Comes! I see her! The queen who will be! The one who saves us all. The queen of spades! The victory of ships! She comes! I see her! I see--"</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div>The kingdom has been suffering from drought for the past two years with no end in sight. Food and water are becoming scarce, and famine is not out of the question. The chasm between rich and poor is wide, and it's no surprise who will survive if things don't improve. The people are beginning to show their discontent, and a new group has emerged causing the current monarchy much grief. </div><div><br /></div><div>The prophecy of the<i> "True Queen"</i> is not an new one, but an old one. In order for the prophecy to come to fruition certain things must come to pass. Three individuals will have key roles in making that prophecy come true...</div><div><br /></div><div>Elyssa is a princess with views very different from that of her mother. She wishes for change.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lazarus is said to be the greatest fighter in the kingdom and hopes for change. </div><div><br /></div><div>While not planned, Aislinn's not going to just sit around wishing or hoping for change, she's willing to sacrifice all for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Magic, Sorcery, a kingdom on the brink, and a prophecy about a queen that will save them all...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL5XZuDNmqqTi7Q_mUfmoKqwZJHUxQkxX15quY7xOeYEULxPG-16jKUsCGHwGNQpBFaWa2yxIFL2n7aaW_slIirzqnebV9iYWAE8OhtO9-iIZjhRgoK9ew-PoN5Re_j25ge7NA-nZD_aI/s1148/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL5XZuDNmqqTi7Q_mUfmoKqwZJHUxQkxX15quY7xOeYEULxPG-16jKUsCGHwGNQpBFaWa2yxIFL2n7aaW_slIirzqnebV9iYWAE8OhtO9-iIZjhRgoK9ew-PoN5Re_j25ge7NA-nZD_aI/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>This is the prequel to The Queen of the Tearling series and, I must confess, I got hooked. I hadn't read the previous books of the series and, after finishing this one, I read them all--one right after the other. The first two chronological books (<b><i>'Beneath the Keep'</i></b> and <b><i>'The Queen of the Tearling'</i></b>) are my favorites. <b><i>'Beneath the Keep'</i></b> tells the story of The Mace's, aka. Lazarus', story and how he became the man we see later in the series. It also gives us an intimate view into Kelsea's mom's, Elyssa's, life. For those of you that have read the latter books in the series prior to reading this book and think you know everything there is to know about these two characters, think again. There are twists and turns to the tale you'll never see coming. There are also some inconsistencies between the latter stories and this book that I chalk up to the saying once used by Winston Churchill, "for history is written by the victors and framed according to the prejudices and bias existing on their side." In this case, perhaps, it would be more apt to say it's written by those who outlast the others. </div><div><br /></div><div>Elyssa is a very likable character who comes across as strong yet somewhat gullible. She wants to make the kingdom a better place for all, but dark magic is afoot. She's hopeful, but also a realist. She hopes to right her mother's wrong, but knows that will not be an easy task. In a way, she reminded me a little of the fairy godmother in Sleeping Beauty whose hands are tied against evil, but does what little she can to alter the outcome for the chance at a better future. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Mace, aka Lazarus, aka Christian, is also a very likable character. He's loyal to a fault, wiser than he realizes, and people tend to expect more from him then he does of himself. I loved learning his story and seeing him grow as an individual. He is one of my favorite characters in the series. To endure what he did and turn out the way he does is admirable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aislinn rises to any occasion she finds herself in. When things don't go as she wishes and knock her down, she dusts herself off and stands up again--tall. She doesn't wait for someone to rescue her, she rescues herself and others when she can. She isn't perfect, but I could totally understand where she was coming from even if I didn't agree with everything she did. </div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses. </b>The story is suspenseful, surprising, complicated, layered, and addictive. I connected with Elyssa on so many levels while The Mace earned my respect. I wish Aislinn played a bigger role in the latter books, but totally understand her importance overall in the series. To anyone who loved the series when it first came out, I would definitely recommend reading this prequel. I really enjoyed it. It is fashioned after the first book, <b><i>'The Queen of the Tearling'</i></b>, and fills in some of the holes that were left at the end of the series--including who Kelsea's father really was. I'm foregoing my romance rating because, in my humble opinion, there really wasn't one, although, there is a pair of starcrossed lovers included in it. If you haven't yet guessed, I absolutely loved this tale. In fact, I ended up buying this book and another one in the series to support the author. Yes, I tend to put my money where my mouth is. lol :) Please note that there is rape, pedophilia, incest, and just about any other vice you can imagine included in this series. If any of those would cause you anguish to read, then this is probably not be the series for you. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjStx-Xx605rOKGBSzUDkrW1IH-H6uR5iJm_JMtWwNXrfumsxavGlz7hTuXyye_ysYui7mSHwOcA7hguQVRwaO1DfebsUW2Sno2_q_9azJFNJdL0epNaNyS-t04kdD-21T5Ki7tABSxkO_/s230/My+5+roses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjStx-Xx605rOKGBSzUDkrW1IH-H6uR5iJm_JMtWwNXrfumsxavGlz7hTuXyye_ysYui7mSHwOcA7hguQVRwaO1DfebsUW2Sno2_q_9azJFNJdL0epNaNyS-t04kdD-21T5Ki7tABSxkO_/s0/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(The below links will transport you to Amazon. Please note these are affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you.)</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Order of The Queen of the Tearling series:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B08BKSB8GZ&asins=B08BKSB8GZ&linkId=7659618c3c0e9de39dd0ed1e6f776900&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00FVW7CVM&asins=B00FVW7CVM&linkId=a239f188b0d589798b3a02997ea5e123&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00PFX5S3G&asins=B00PFX5S3G&linkId=6912084f2adb38b52785b23faf983d21&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0062290444&asins=0062290444&linkId=917b788497fc73b21783e437e7cb612b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-47459879906915778162021-01-16T19:21:00.003-05:002021-02-03T18:54:08.465-05:00 The Worst Duke in the World (The Penhallow Dynasty, #5) by Lisa Berne<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpq-Apg_i3ytv__5N4JWf1a8f2A_NRW7SOPz4RvxCjrkuN29pj2UACRc5etaKXmsyU-It-3vn-L4SBDlGX9FYF5olNyxCRJ0NBX1qidnkytL3SPte5u0uMYa_1lXBWJs-kFd_O-9E4zMw0/s2048/Worst+Duke+in+the+World+by+Lisa+Berne.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpq-Apg_i3ytv__5N4JWf1a8f2A_NRW7SOPz4RvxCjrkuN29pj2UACRc5etaKXmsyU-It-3vn-L4SBDlGX9FYF5olNyxCRJ0NBX1qidnkytL3SPte5u0uMYa_1lXBWJs-kFd_O-9E4zMw0/s320/Worst+Duke+in+the+World+by+Lisa+Berne.jpg" /></a></div>Title: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006285237X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=006285237X&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=faaa0d9f39e4545313a402b769fbc3a0" target="_blank">The Worst Duke in the World</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=006285237X" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><p></p><p>Classification: Adult Fiction</p><p>Genre: Historical Romance</p><p>Series: The Penhallow Dynasty, #5</p><p> Publisher : Avon (January 12, 2021)</p><p>Format: Paperback; 416 pages</p><p>ISBN-10 : 006285237X</p><p>ISBN-13 : 978-0062852373</p><p>Author's Website: <a href="https://lisaberne.com/">https://lisaberne.com/</a></p><p>Notes: I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Please note that as I read an ARC, any quotes listed are subject to change, they will need to be checked and verified against the final version.</p><p>Jane Kent was looking for a life line. All her known relatives were gone--passing from one various ailment after another. After exhausting all her options she was grasping at straws and felt they were all slipping through her hands. As she'd been packing up the house where she and her Great-grandmother had resided, she came across a letter hidden in an old, crumbling chapbook. A letter that might help her find the missing link in her family tree. A link that could find her the one things she needed the most--family. So with a whisper of a prayer, she packed up her meager belongings and made the trip from Nantwich to Somerset County, England. If this didn't pan out she had only three pounds and a sixpence to her name. As she stood on the porch of an intimidating vast old house, gazing with considerable uneasiness at the massive door of dark knotted wood and the polished knocker which was just a little above her eye-level she knocked and awaited her fate. Little did she know her life was about to change in ways she'd never imagine.</p><p>Anthony, the Duke of Radcliffe is a widower with one son. His sister has deemed it necessary for him to marry again to produce a spare to his heir. She believes it's his duty to make sure the long illustrious line of the dukedom lives on. He, however, has no plans to do so. He'd done his duty once and as far as he was concerned those long and dreadful five years of marriage had extracted more than its fair share of duty from him. If that, according to his sister, made him the "worst duke in the world," then so be it. When he meets his neighbor's great-granddaughter, Ms. Kent, however, he starts to wonder... what if? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1kdBR_ZlI7zrI6JyhCrUJ32f9v2hzu7HzBMlhfdPqEMAL6HZgXT2z4Zr8jevaNmTSm-5xCI6mIv7qOxBeJsGcxa1yjDFDRNBEPbboD5e0CyhaI5KhMxOEsU3-crE6kg5rgeW96DmNlUY/s1148/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1kdBR_ZlI7zrI6JyhCrUJ32f9v2hzu7HzBMlhfdPqEMAL6HZgXT2z4Zr8jevaNmTSm-5xCI6mIv7qOxBeJsGcxa1yjDFDRNBEPbboD5e0CyhaI5KhMxOEsU3-crE6kg5rgeW96DmNlUY/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This was the fifth book in The Penhallow Dynasty series. If you haven't read the rest of the series, don't worry. You won't feel lost. Jane is linked to the Penshallows in a rather direct, yet roundabout way. You don't need to know the previous characters or stories to get into this one. It stands completely on its own.<div><br /><div>This was a sweet and lovely romance which slowly builds from a budding friendship into something much more. Jane was raised outside London society, and does not feel she's missed much except for the knowing of her grandfather's half of the family. She's the type who'd rather frolic around the countryside in sensible boots than dance the night away at a society ball dressed to the nines. She's also very good at reading people and smarter than most would think despite her lack of a proper education. When her great-grandmother decides to play matchmaker, Jane decides she wants it all, as well she should, and won't settle for anything less than love.</div><div><p>Anthony is not your typical run of the mill type of duke. He was raised to be a second son and was bedridden for several years as a child. He's a bit shy, awkward, and self conscious around others and, truth be told, doesn't really care for polite society. When his eldest brother passed, he wasn't prepared to step into his shoes. His father, however, demanded it. Now, with his father gone, Anthony is determined to live life on his own terms. Marriage isn't part of his plan, but when he meets Jane he starts to warm to the idea of partnering himself with her. He needs, however, to work through a lot of emotional baggage, if that is even possible, before he can fully commit to anyone. </p><p>Overall, I gave this novel <b>4 out of 5 roses.</b> I loved that while Jane was out of her element, she managed to hold her own with the ton, and knew her self worth. I liked how she made Anthony a better version of himself, and I adored the scenes which included Wakefield, the duke's son. There was a ton of humor as well as a nod or two to other books. See if you can find the <b><i>'Charlotte's Web'</i></b> reference. With all the craziness and madness going on in the world, this was just the book I needed. The romance in it simmered for a while before coming to a slow boil. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>FAN</b> rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. This one left me with a grin on my face and a smile in my heart. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI-URGqhgGjUuvWmva468LXOhaKnrFHgXRt_rb3iB_k4FgqpiXctJFsTbI5zORE6gjvT_66XGLD2t7o26gv4CiF6vvqHKs5S1D3sU7gVcwLemz5qpyMWEV4TJ9cu4DI55Bbe_WYEpv-rY/s230/My+4+roses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI-URGqhgGjUuvWmva468LXOhaKnrFHgXRt_rb3iB_k4FgqpiXctJFsTbI5zORE6gjvT_66XGLD2t7o26gv4CiF6vvqHKs5S1D3sU7gVcwLemz5qpyMWEV4TJ9cu4DI55Bbe_WYEpv-rY/s0/My+4+roses.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b>Order of The Penhallow Dynasty series:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(The below links will transport you to Amazon. Please note these are affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you.)</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01HXK3BZK&asins=B01HXK3BZK&linkId=794de879e7f6411e8f8109b4d3ee96fe&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01NCHXLES&asins=B01NCHXLES&linkId=a6594a082811693fd1ff14fac5f3a973&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0062451820&asins=0062451820&linkId=478f028790f2a88aa63fc9cd75c11e16&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0062852353&asins=0062852353&linkId=3c0cf09e2829cab8bafd17a4957dd0a6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=006285237X&asins=006285237X&linkId=5e3a97a400df7dd3fef0ebd0b1aaffef&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p></p></div></div>Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-5662076240236924912020-12-01T00:14:00.002-05:002020-12-01T17:33:54.728-05:00Ten Things I Hate About the Duke (Difficult Dukes #2) by Loretta Chase<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb92BpB0_hl6QG-ZCHv-ylxsH2rgNTPbXYXCVb6hm-PldjawRWeR9Tcxx3r1t-N6DiAhS6ui2eJcyYqW3MWVviOgzVpAu5zjPijDOvgcd9FlnSC4LbQIo9BCSUbY3QpT0MOkAH4QdC0KQ/s2048/Ten+Things+I+Hate+About+the+Duke+by+Loretta+Chase.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1294" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb92BpB0_hl6QG-ZCHv-ylxsH2rgNTPbXYXCVb6hm-PldjawRWeR9Tcxx3r1t-N6DiAhS6ui2eJcyYqW3MWVviOgzVpAu5zjPijDOvgcd9FlnSC4LbQIo9BCSUbY3QpT0MOkAH4QdC0KQ/w126-h200/Ten+Things+I+Hate+About+the+Duke+by+Loretta+Chase.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C65R66W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07C65R66W&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=807c59afa767951e7a52d9e7ad39293b" target="_blank">Ten Things I Hate About the Duke: A Difficult Dukes Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07C65R66W" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><div><b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<div><b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance</div><div><b>Series:</b> Difficult Dukes</div><div><b>Format: </b>Hardcover; 336 pages</div><div><b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062952633</div><div><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062952639</div><div><b>Publisher:</b> Avon (December 1, 2020)</div></div><div><div><b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="https://lorettachase.com/"> https://lorettachase.com/</a></div><div><b>Notes: </b>I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes need to be checked against the final version as they are subject to change. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Cassandra Pomfre is not your average Miss. She speaks her mind and does not keep her opinions to herself. Known among the men of the ton as Medusa, deGriffith's Gorgon, and Cassandra Prophet of Doom her marriage prospects are slim, for who wants to marry a shrew? When she interrupts and voices her opinion about an ill-constructed bill which would supposedly "better" the enforcement of the Sabbath (but really doesn't), it's the last straw for her father...</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>"I had deluded myself that being in Society with other girls would soften you," Papa said. "But Season after Season passed, and you only became more fixed in you ways. I cannot allow you to continue to set set a bad example for your younger sisters. I cannot allow you to continue to distress your mother. (...) I will not give Hyacinth permission to marry until you are wed."(...)"In short, as of this minute Hyacinth's Season is over."</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Lucius Wilmot Beckingham, the sixth Duke of Ashmont is one of the three Dukes nicknamed by the ton as Dis-Graces. His ill behavior has gotten him banned from court by the King, banned from Almack's weekly assemblies by its patronesses, and crossed off the invitation lists of all but a very few daring hostesses. His latest disgrace ended with him being left at the alter while his would-be bride ran off with his former best friend. Truth be told, wherever he goes, chaos is sure to follow. So, when he accidentally overturns the carriage Cassandra Pomfre is riding in leaving her stranded overnight at a coaching Inn with no appropriate chaperone, he decides for once in his life to do the right thing...<br /><br /><b><i>"Marry Me."</i></b><br /><br />Once upon a time Cassandra would have jumped at the chance to marry Lucius, now, not so much. On the one hand, it could solve both their problems--him needing to marry for heirs and her needing to marry so her sisters will be allowed to find husbands (if they so choose). On the other, it could make her life unbearable. If marriage to her is what he truly wants, he'll have to prove himself to Cassandra, but she's making no promises. One thing is for sure, however, she'll make him work for it because her opinion of him is quite low...<br /><br /><b><i>"For this I allot you one point. When you accumulate another five thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine, I shall begin to consider you a tolerable human being."</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>He takes that to be a challenge and for the first time in his life, Lucius Wilmot Beckingham, the sixth Duke of Ashmont, is willing to attempt to change. Let the games begin for as Lucius sees it, her unintentional challenge is accepted.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7GHiYuiuFrvTFUedwZSoAxPJuNV7CFzgPDvDLgHOQv5s_tgYSVv6X-Y23sl7GxkeTTOElCauI05r4MZulLF_v6lNKAgIZGUcBvIhZfanqPQUT7f3SMY-37lcjAnLLMMLhkMSM7rJI_1A/s1148/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7GHiYuiuFrvTFUedwZSoAxPJuNV7CFzgPDvDLgHOQv5s_tgYSVv6X-Y23sl7GxkeTTOElCauI05r4MZulLF_v6lNKAgIZGUcBvIhZfanqPQUT7f3SMY-37lcjAnLLMMLhkMSM7rJI_1A/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div>This is the second book in the Difficult Duke series by Loretta Chase. If you've never read one of her books, you're in for a treat. You can read this novel as a standalone without feeling you've missed anything vital by not reading the first book of the series, 'A Duke in Shining Armor.' I do, however, recommend you read it later because I truly loved the story. Additionally, we are first introduced to Lucius in that first book, and we see him at one of the lowest moments in his life. It gives the reader a better perspective of what Lucius was like and why Cassandra initially didn't want anything to do with the man.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cassandra is a strong, smart, and independent woman who comes from a loving and prestigious family. She's the eldest daughter of an Earl, and she has ten siblings. She's also a member of a club which her grandmother helped to found called the Andromeda Society. It's a charitable organization home to a group of progressive like-minded women meant to help women needing rescuing from<b><i> ‘the dragons of poverty and ignorance.’</i></b> Alone they may be somewhat powerless, but together they make a formidable entity. Cassandra, due to skills passed down from her grandmother, is the voice of the group which makes her unpopular among the men of the ton.<br /> <br />Lucius is a mess when Cassandra comes upon him, a fact of which she is well aware. She refuses to accept any less than she deserves and, at this point in time, she knows she deserves much better than what he is offering, despite his being a Duke. Lucius likes that she is not intimidated or frightened by him. He likes the way she handles herself when put in a life threatening position. She stands up to others when needed, she doesn't whimper or melt into a puddle of tears, and she isn't faint of heart. She assesses, adjusts, takes charge, and challenges him to do better and use his brain. In a nutshell, he likes what he sees and quickly becomes determined to win her over and prove himself worthy of her.<br /><br />Overall, I gave this one <b>4 1/2 out of 5 roses</b>. I loved how Cassandra stuck to her guns and kept Lucius on his toes. It was almost as though Lucius had been sleeping for most of his life and Cassandra woke him up to the possibility of what he could be, and gave him the desire to strive to be all he was meant to be. She brings purpose to his life, and challenges him to be a man worthy of her. His metamorphosis is delightful to watch. I confess, however, with such a large family I would have liked to have seen her brothers mess with him a bit and test his mettle. Perhaps the author thought Cassandra was too independent to do so, but I still would have liked to seen it. Still, I highly recommend this novel. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a<b> STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYVoWkUnLw7Kiun7zLwBnlUvxwUBjuf1AUS4M6AUk7VjvhpZ_KncnWUXsAEEKAEtnqvhSFEnW5YIfciqdezwN_taYhBeP2kwbcxqVkk-bsf1GMoSDh1rQ2HenhNjC_G_0F7tpgfJkunPT/s230/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYVoWkUnLw7Kiun7zLwBnlUvxwUBjuf1AUS4M6AUk7VjvhpZ_KncnWUXsAEEKAEtnqvhSFEnW5YIfciqdezwN_taYhBeP2kwbcxqVkk-bsf1GMoSDh1rQ2HenhNjC_G_0F7tpgfJkunPT/s0/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Difficult Dukes series:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(The below links will transport you to Amazon. Please note these are affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B06XFCPWZP&asins=B06XFCPWZP&linkId=20a7d5b35b78a21fe11e6257b561bc1a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07C65R66W&asins=B07C65R66W&linkId=413dfbfd3a9f7de1e1f7c7bcbffa9b34&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-14067729945674159832020-09-28T22:14:00.000-04:002020-09-28T22:14:03.928-04:00Her Night with the Duke (Clandestine Affairs) by Diana Quincy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGsdWy46-r3vW3noyU7xc5Uzg_UyZTcgreFvjaCmMdi6w68EhN9tsVGfCPPYyGz_hiEjrSzX4oKB95x4ml9Or-M4v3FKsPB9DmPKX6NipxIE6ctXRmQWbdlPAPUTgHCp0taxrj3WhC6Jv/s2048/Her+Night+With+The+Duke+by+Diana+Quincy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1294" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGsdWy46-r3vW3noyU7xc5Uzg_UyZTcgreFvjaCmMdi6w68EhN9tsVGfCPPYyGz_hiEjrSzX4oKB95x4ml9Or-M4v3FKsPB9DmPKX6NipxIE6ctXRmQWbdlPAPUTgHCp0taxrj3WhC6Jv/w126-h200/Her+Night+With+The+Duke+by+Diana+Quincy.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy<div>
<b>Classification: </b>Adult Fiction</div><div>
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance</div><div>
<b>Series:</b> Clandestine Affairs</div><div>
<b>Format:</b> Paperback : 384 pages</div><div>
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062986791</div><div>
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062986795</div><div>
<b>Publisher: </b>Avon (September 29, 2020)</div><div>
<b>Author's Website:</b> https://www.dianaquincy.com/</div><div>
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes need to be checked against the final version as they are subject to change.</div><div><br /></div><div>Delilah 'Leela' Chambers, aka Lady Devon, has been widowed and living abroad for several years. She's on her way <i>home</i>, if you can call it that, to Lambert Hall at the request of her stepdaughter, Tori. When the carriage Leela is traveling in throws a wheel, she searches for shelter and a place to stay until her carriage can be fixed. She finds herself on the steps of Black Swan Inn. This was not part of her plan and when she finds there are no rooms at the Inn, things go from bad to worse as a group of men there decide they'd like to take advantage of the situation. Luckily, someone comes to her rescue...</div><div> </div><div>Elliot Townsend, Duke of Huntington, has spent years trying to stay out of trouble and be above reproach, but when he sees men trying to take advantage of a damsel in distress, he can't help but step in... </div><div><br />
</div><div>Now these two weary travelers find themselves alone in a room with the attraction between them brewing into something undeniable. What could be the harm in one wild reckless night of abandonment?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Well, there's a reason they say no good deed goes unpunished...</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>"Your Grace... this is my stepmama... Lady Devon." Tori's voice brimmed with buoyant pride as she nervously fumbled through the introduction. "But as you can see...she is hardly ancient. She is more like a sister and one's dearest friend... in a all the world... rolled up into one exceptionally beautiful person."</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b style="font-style: italic;">Elliot stood stock-still, glued to his spot. Escape for either of them was impossible. It was like watching a carriage speeding straight toward he and being unable to leap out of the way. All she </b>(Leela)<b style="font-style: italic;"> could do was stand still and brace for disaster. </b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Elliot's betrothed is the stepdaughter of the woman he has not been able to get out of his mind...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1iFugy6ZjPj4HB1VSs2gO4IGhWpDGNkgiF1Q-geAgFQQriYZQiDPGEQqK1dv86OyaIasqxUqeUzrCxhdyn1eJDGVRTVVSZ0LwfdvNP1yj7BHv9JbPv1-L-mURcrUw089B0R4IAzy4u2v/s1148/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1iFugy6ZjPj4HB1VSs2gO4IGhWpDGNkgiF1Q-geAgFQQriYZQiDPGEQqK1dv86OyaIasqxUqeUzrCxhdyn1eJDGVRTVVSZ0LwfdvNP1yj7BHv9JbPv1-L-mURcrUw089B0R4IAzy4u2v/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>This is the first book in a brand new series, and the first book Ms.Quincy has written under the Avon label. Excuse me for a moment as I do a little happy dance for I believe I've found another writer to add to my list of favorite authors. *sigh* I will need to search out more of her other books to read. I really enjoyed this one. </div><div><div><br /></div>If I had to sum this book up into two words, I would choose devilishly delicious. I absolutely adored this story and the situation that started it all. I was horrified, then mortified, grinning from ear to ear, then shaking my head as I found myself wanting to reason with the main characters, and wishing I could give them advice. The chemistry between Leela and Elliot was so scorchingly hot, I'm surprised my kindle didn't spontaneously combust. This story definitely lived up to the series name of Clandestine Affairs. *grin* </div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses.</b> The characters were multifaceted and relatable. The story kept a pleasant pace, and the plot, in my humble opinion, was fairly genius. There was twist upon twist and turn after turn. Then just when it seemed all happiness was to be lost, the impossible happened--a happy ending. Did I mention I loved this tale? If you're looking for something to take you away from all the mayhem and chaos the world has been throwing your way, this may be a book for you. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. This was a lovely escape from reality that I<b> HIGHLY </b>recommend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG6ntPRixk3Nk46Rib3M8Syf3ktMQKMNXEKDV0Zr59s3HmMc0uE2KWLacyme7Gmg2ebShITPgcSnJiz5Tqlab9-RpLBoeebcmh-ngWw8oEs0EHgudvQChr8icwWjzAps68hFE-iGFBGzv/s230/My+5+roses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="50" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG6ntPRixk3Nk46Rib3M8Syf3ktMQKMNXEKDV0Zr59s3HmMc0uE2KWLacyme7Gmg2ebShITPgcSnJiz5Tqlab9-RpLBoeebcmh-ngWw8oEs0EHgudvQChr8icwWjzAps68hFE-iGFBGzv/s0/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>
<center><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0839MKNND&asins=B0839MKNND&linkId=24a2633fc55b8bf7f9ed3f8edeb965e8&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></center></div>Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-17090696312212952932020-06-30T20:41:00.002-04:002020-07-03T12:34:08.533-04:00Release Day Review of The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3) by S.A. Chakraborty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm0HkpMDYCHovDBKNffjl8Xs403ayfjNa_fVGef3U5Yd86qxIwCeE3Dmlz-SnNRFsWQcghrJLpZGUkN37fRMg0mWoY9RQpEvK8xDiPTh4OnQSjhLkmlyuF0XtNTAUJnIo_wXKMoKOsov4/s1600/The+Empire+of+Gold+by+S+A+Chakraborty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1054" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm0HkpMDYCHovDBKNffjl8Xs403ayfjNa_fVGef3U5Yd86qxIwCeE3Dmlz-SnNRFsWQcghrJLpZGUkN37fRMg0mWoY9RQpEvK8xDiPTh4OnQSjhLkmlyuF0XtNTAUJnIo_wXKMoKOsov4/s200/The+Empire+of+Gold+by+S+A+Chakraborty.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062678167/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062678167&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=aa84eb37722d1f2bbbd778e0a9337480" target="_blank">The Empire of Gold</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0062678167" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification:</b> New Adult (between YA and Adult)<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Fantasy<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Daevabad Trilogy (Book 3)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 784 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Harper Voyager (June 30, 2020)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062678167<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062678164<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> http://www.sachakraborty.com/<br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes need to be checked against the final version as they are subject to change.<br />
<br />
At first glance, Nahir appears to be an average girl. Take a second glance, and you will probably notice her eyes--they're unnaturally black. If you take the time to take a closer look, however, and really see her, you'll notice there is nothing average or ordinary about her.<br />
<br />
Nahir lived on the streets of Cairo from the age of five speaking a language no one else knew or had ever heard. She didn't remember much about her parents or where they hailed from. Living on the streets, she survived anyway she could. She could smell a con from a mile away because she'd used most of them. Six years ago, however, everything changed. While attempting to hold a zar, a traditional ceremony meant to deal with djinn possession, she decided to sing one of the songs in her native tongue (thinking it would sound unusual and eerie) when a disembodied voice responded to her in that same language--the one no one else had ever known. <br />
<br />
Since that fateful day, her life has been caught up in a series of twists and turns, ups and downs, and life altering decisions. She'd been whisked away to a magical hidden world and discovered djinn, magic, and wonderfully terrifying magical creatures she could never have conceived of were real. She also learned she was somehow a part of it all.<br />
<br />
Now, just as Daevabad, the magical city Nahir had been spirited away to, finds itself in the middle of civil unrest, she finds herself back in Cairo faced with another life altering decision--should she stay or should she go back? Yet, the decision is not entirely hers alone. Somehow she and Ali, the djinn prince, were transported to Cairo together, and Ali is not doing all that well.<br />
<br />
<b>"Do you know how many times I've had to do this? Forget healing; my specialty should be having my life destroyed and then being forced to rebuild from nothing." (...)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"I'm so tired," she said, her voice cracking. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"Everything I build gets broken. My life in Cairo. My dreams for Daevabad. I give everything--<i>everything</i>--I have. Only for someone to come along and smash it. It's all for nothing. <i>Nothing</i>."</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXUsiBop6lQT5TkBOSMWnPN2gtZ0-qwTfJnWrbWTZ78YflmhfvegM1PwslIuodz0KJoD6mqiP3tIUNcPHOLuArKduu5CG8G1T5GEwy3ZVxHUKlcO7Xv77RNStFj4Vdyp0AKwFucfFiX8c/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXUsiBop6lQT5TkBOSMWnPN2gtZ0-qwTfJnWrbWTZ78YflmhfvegM1PwslIuodz0KJoD6mqiP3tIUNcPHOLuArKduu5CG8G1T5GEwy3ZVxHUKlcO7Xv77RNStFj4Vdyp0AKwFucfFiX8c/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the third and final book in the Daevabad Trilogy, and I am very sad to see this tale end. If you haven't read any of the previous books do not start with this one. It begins where the last book left off, and the events in each book build upon those in the last. If you don't read the previous books, you'll find yourself utterly lost and won't enjoy the tale as much as you should. That said, I always worry that when the last book in a series comes out that it won't keep up with the momentum and bookish goodness of the previous books before it. I am happy to say this one passed the test and delivered a wonderful and magically delicious ending. I absolutely loved it. While I tried to devour this one in one sitting, it boasts nearly 800 pages, sadly I had to take some time to sleep before continuing through to the end of the saga. If you can manage to hold out to the end, however, your sacrifice will be well worth it.<br />
<br />
It's been six years since Nahri was whisked away to Daevabad, and a lot has happened. Her skills as a healer have become stronger, she's gained friends and family, but could it be her forever home? Orphaned at an early age and living off the streets in Cairo she'd never truly felt she fit in anywhere, but Daevabad has been the closest she's ever come. Not all she's experienced in Daevabad has been pleasant. She's been lied to, betrayed, used as a pawn, but she's also grown in so many ways. She's stronger and wiser than when she first arrived, and now, she finally has the chance to decide her own fate. She'll have to do it, however, without her magical healing abilities. For whatever reason, magic is gone, and she and Ali will have to survive using nothing but their wits and resourcefulness. If they decide to return to Daevabad, they'll have to travel halfway around the world just as regular humans would. There will be no shortcuts. <br />
<br />
There is no doubt that the kingdom of Daevabad is in trouble with Manizheh vying to be the kingdom's next ruler. Nahri and Ali have been granted a reprieve from the chaos, but eventually Ali, if not both of them, will need to return. What I liked about the situation in Daevabad is that it mimics life. Someone can seem like they'd be the perfect leader, but until they come into power you truly don't know how they'll handle things. They may have a hidden agenda that will be revealed only after they take control. Promises may be broken. Still, people will follow them because they won't believe the person they believed in is capable of doing whatever it is they do. Some will never be able to wrap their head around it. The story also captures the complex emotions that motivate people to do things they'd never think themselves capable of doing whether that be for the better good or bad. I must say I enjoyed the contrast between Nahri and Manizheh. They found themselves in somewhat similar situations, but handled themselves in very different ways. In many ways I felt they were two halves of the same coin, but, oh, how their perceptions on things varied.<br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses.</b> The story started out slow and steady, but consistently gained momentum like a wave until it crested then everything came crashing down. The world building was phenomenal. I felt like I'd stepped into another world that I didn't want to leave. The characters were relatable, complex, and multidimensional. Twists and turns were thrown at you from all directions keeping things interesting and ensnaring the reader under the tale's beguiling spell. If you're looking for a story to escape reality for just a little while, this may just be the trilogy for you. I absolutely loved it, and <b>HIGHLY</b> recommend it. While there is a little romance in this novel, it is not the focus of the story, therefore, I'm forgoing my romance rating on this one. Did I mention I loved this one? lol Definitely in my top 10, maybe even 5 trilogies/series. If you're wondering--Yes, I ended up buying this one. I couldn't help myself. The Daevabad Trilogy is definitely a keeper that would make for an excellent book club discussion.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoJog6uXKc2VMS25YHM3Rzwpkx3J_GMtSQ0pGhyphenhyphen8ZmgX8KVM0IDFvPPNTjYsdr38XB4d_UNm8ZIs1VmMUGbf5CBj9rcU9Bk5Xihv5AhBxKckIM5G0TfS6aSu3v5SCIibwkPGQCoK6uaFW/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoJog6uXKc2VMS25YHM3Rzwpkx3J_GMtSQ0pGhyphenhyphen8ZmgX8KVM0IDFvPPNTjYsdr38XB4d_UNm8ZIs1VmMUGbf5CBj9rcU9Bk5Xihv5AhBxKckIM5G0TfS6aSu3v5SCIibwkPGQCoK6uaFW/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Order of the Daevabad trilogy:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0062678116&asins=0062678116&linkId=5e6b0f44b3c5fd95f314ffa9c30bd584&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B076P8TD5Y&asins=B076P8TD5Y&linkId=d17dd665d7102969231adda37e248905&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0062678167&asins=0062678167&linkId=014a2d72e040424d156fceeae7345234&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
<br />Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-88378769013200361022020-02-24T23:20:00.001-05:002020-02-24T23:20:41.646-05:00Early Review of The Bachelor (Duke Dynasty #2) by Sabrina Jeffries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPllQK2SHWIpeIQqYBaAn8oGtPKX23U0ENEnyofba07HgXuhtp0s3ZaT6AamlkCfnDiPThA8Cxe0qRB0ARpFYSXPG7jDFrYJqOX3_Y7Itql6FggpdwHdwjxhi3QuHzfj65knatjqaB4yx7/s1600/The+Bachelor+by+Sabrina+Jeffries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="978" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPllQK2SHWIpeIQqYBaAn8oGtPKX23U0ENEnyofba07HgXuhtp0s3ZaT6AamlkCfnDiPThA8Cxe0qRB0ARpFYSXPG7jDFrYJqOX3_Y7Itql6FggpdwHdwjxhi3QuHzfj65knatjqaB4yx7/s200/The+Bachelor+by+Sabrina+Jeffries.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RB2WSYX/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07RB2WSYX&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=a1d95cc4fdbde7de343407aa9557ae86" target="_blank">The Bachelor (Duke Dynasty Book 2)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07RB2WSYX" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> Duke Dynasty (Book 2)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 288 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Zebra (February 25, 2020)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1420148567<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1420148565<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/">http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected by review or rating.<br />
<br />
<br />
Lady Gwyn Drake is about to have her first season at age thirty. It could all be ruined, however, by a former suitor who's decided to blackmail her. What transpired between the two is partly to blame for why Gwyn doesn't wish to wed. If the secret gets out she, and her entire family by association, could be ruined.<br />
<br />
Major Joshua Wolfe is a retired soldier who is currently acting as the gamekeeper for the Armitage estate. As he's seeing to his duties, he comes across Lady Gwyn Drake being threatened by her former suitor. When Joshua informs Gwyn's brother about the incident, Thorn hires him to be her body guard. Joshua, however, soon finds he may be in over his head as he realizes his feelings for Gwyn may be the one thing he can't protect her from...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOvkDH6h3zgBYcLWueXJAGpn80rb7_pELl2gXamdtmN37WKfJhXbH7Qg6xXSmLrLUJsCjRVVzhZEzgSu6uQyghaHeE18oG4hOUOvAx-b5XRKj9Mg9-TYiiv1ioUqiHm6G2Bx_bZtpcV7a/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOvkDH6h3zgBYcLWueXJAGpn80rb7_pELl2gXamdtmN37WKfJhXbH7Qg6xXSmLrLUJsCjRVVzhZEzgSu6uQyghaHeE18oG4hOUOvAx-b5XRKj9Mg9-TYiiv1ioUqiHm6G2Bx_bZtpcV7a/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the second book of the Duke Dynasty series. It can be read as a standalone, but I don't recommend that. The series centers around Lydia, the Dowager Duchess of Armitage and her family. She's been married three times, each time given birth to a future heir of a dukedom. With the untimely passing of her third husband, her sons are now wondering if someone is targeting their family or, more specifically, their mother. Perhaps someone with a grudge, like a former suitor, is trying to inflict pain on her. The first novel of the series goes into this more deeply which is why I suggest you read it first. All three of Lydia's former husbands died untimely deaths and now her sons are calling all of them into question. Whether or not foul play is involved remains to be seen, but with each new book the question seems to become more and more relevant.<br />
<br />
Gwyn is not like other women of the ton. Once she dreamed of marriage and a family, but that dream was shattered long ago. Something happened years ago that she's still not completely come to terms with. She's smart with no aspirations of marrying, or at least not to any of the men she's met thus far. If she marries she wants it to be for love, but love doesn't seem to be in the cards for her. There is one man, however, she's got a tendre for, Major Wolfe, but every time she tries to flirt with the man he seems to think she's mocking him. She just can't seem to win where he's concerned.<br />
<br />
Joshua is handsome former soldier, but has no idea just how appealing he is to the opposite sex. He feels his lame leg paired with his PTSD makes him undesirable thereby making him believe that any dreams he may harbor of love and a family are out of the question. As a coping mechanism, he's distanced himself from others. If Gwyn wants to make a go of it with him, she'll need to break through the thick prickly barrier he's erected.<br />
<br />
I gave this book <b>3 1/2 out of 5 roses</b>. It was an entertaining read with moments of brilliance like when Gwyn caught Joshua telling a tall tale full of lies. To me it seemed the only thing truly standing between this couple and a HEA were themselves. I guess that's true to life, and another reason why the phrase, 'sometimes our own worst enemy is our self' rings so true. I confess, however, that I would have liked it a little more if a few additional hurdles had been thrown between this couple. While I thought the blackmail added a nice dash of drama, I kind of wished there had been some additional twists and turns to keep us guessing. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLrU1QdF1mMeKiVKWO94tdNbUXkhKnoPxcxpk6-Z-kkDaJ5u7KpGe57yUFNGBPUGJrpHKHV3nKlgFrmLnIOkXUtbgdcuEWm4pk2_W4SKyDted-X56zP5nFF23pQwt8ifKv7op-nkTVgsz/s1600/My+3+and+a+half+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLrU1QdF1mMeKiVKWO94tdNbUXkhKnoPxcxpk6-Z-kkDaJ5u7KpGe57yUFNGBPUGJrpHKHV3nKlgFrmLnIOkXUtbgdcuEWm4pk2_W4SKyDted-X56zP5nFF23pQwt8ifKv7op-nkTVgsz/s1600/My+3+and+a+half+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The order of the Duke Dynasty series:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07HVXS62T&asins=B07HVXS62T&linkId=bfab059f6ca0f8e25ab95372fa537c91&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07RB2WSYX&asins=B07RB2WSYX&linkId=820b900f95babe10438b2b78de8b7f81&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-22135909356444464102020-02-02T14:03:00.000-05:002020-02-02T14:57:28.799-05:00The Corner of Holly and Ivy (Harmony Harbor #7) by Debbie Mason <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI09YRFmeKQvfHY8Ei14OKTHa_o6DsCx4seoE68C-0y0c7Kgd5msuf07J0ZIvBeSsaWAMEaSM24Eyx_K2VdssAdK2VeuTk7jhY95E1zjukBQslRM5EMN-aFVG965IHf2Fp-b0_d5KYgFy/s1600/The+Corner+of+Holly+and+Ivy+by+Debbie+Mason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="618" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI09YRFmeKQvfHY8Ei14OKTHa_o6DsCx4seoE68C-0y0c7Kgd5msuf07J0ZIvBeSsaWAMEaSM24Eyx_K2VdssAdK2VeuTk7jhY95E1zjukBQslRM5EMN-aFVG965IHf2Fp-b0_d5KYgFy/s200/The+Corner+of+Holly+and+Ivy+by+Debbie+Mason.jpg" width="123" /></b></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538744244/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1538744244&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=d2fb4b9e6877257f61b3d2f5024679cb" target="_blank">The Corner of Holly and Ivy: A feel-good Christmas romance (Harmony Harbor)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1538744244" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification: </b>Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Series: </b>Harmony Harbor (Book 7)<br />
<b>Format: </b>Paperback; 400 pages<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Forever (October 30, 2018)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1538744244<br />
<b>ISBN-13: </b>978-1538744246<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="https://authordebbiemason.com/">https://authordebbiemason.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes: </b>I received an ARC from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my review or rating.<br />
<br />
Arianna Bell was on the fast track to living her dream of becoming the next Vera Wang and having her bridal store, Tie the Knot, become the next Kleinfeld Bridal when tragedy struck. The night she would forever more dub as 'The Nightmare on Main Street' was the night her bridal shop and all her dreams had gone, literally, up in smoke. Her right hand, which she had used to do intricate needle work, had been burned and injured that night to the point she could no longer use it. While the doctor's and therapists have said they believe she may regain use of it, so far that hasn't happened. Since the fire, Aianna has spent most days self confined to her grandmother's house suffering from depression and pain. She's lost her way and is desperately in need of a new one.<br />
<br />
Connor Gallagher fell in love with Arianna years ago, and when she'd broken off the relationship she'd broken his heart. He's since gotten over her, but she still holds a soft spot in his heart. Seeing how much she's suffered how she's been struggling since the fire along with feeling more than a little guilty for being the lawyer to represent her ex during her divorce, he feels a compelled to help her get back on her feet. When he finds out the insurance company still has paid for the claim Arianna filed, he offers to help. He feels it's the least he can do. That decision will change everything.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8dxqpCaoes-Baselln1mUazf_WkYIEwq_mg49kGXpymNPH7hzQ7TdT8w1lKsVikrXRcA17S7fCOBwIEFjxYrj4ihGAaUIBCPfqBu-bFHa3NGJ1PbxDtb6Nc6P0_vYC3BuNEpigPyRyS2/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8dxqpCaoes-Baselln1mUazf_WkYIEwq_mg49kGXpymNPH7hzQ7TdT8w1lKsVikrXRcA17S7fCOBwIEFjxYrj4ihGAaUIBCPfqBu-bFHa3NGJ1PbxDtb6Nc6P0_vYC3BuNEpigPyRyS2/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the seventh book of the Harmony Harbor series and, I have to confess, I felt a little lost.The world, as Arianna and her sisters knew it, exploded into utter chaos and mayhem seven months ago. It all revolved around an ex-fiance, a princess, a kidnapping, and a fire which resulted in Arianna losing almost everything. Her business is gone. Her ability to work is also gone. Her spirit is in need of a major overhaul as she's pretty much lost her purpose. Something the previously vibrant, smart, young woman had always had and known before. The contrast between who she was and is now is startling. I <b>HIGHLY</b> recommend you read <b><i>'<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0763L6768/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0763L6768&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=6a68cdcf757005ea3f24221188e2f00b" target="_blank">Sandpiper Shore</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0763L6768" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />,'</i></b> the sixth book in the Harmony Harbor series, before you read this one. It reveals a lot of family secrets and delves into the the inner workings and family dynamics of both the Bells and Gallaghers which you'll find useful. Without that knowledge, I felt a bit disengaged from the story. I ended up reading '<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0763L6768/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0763L6768&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=6a68cdcf757005ea3f24221188e2f00b" target="_blank">Sandpiper Shore</a>'<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0763L6768" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b> and then rereading<b><i> '<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538744244/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1538744244&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=e8e74e353d6a400af4d774817b800c76" target="_blank">The Corner of Holly and Ivy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1538744244" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.' </i></b>I enjoyed the novel a lot more when I read it for the second time. So make sure to read <b><i>'<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0763L6768/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0763L6768&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=6a68cdcf757005ea3f24221188e2f00b" target="_blank">Sandpiper Shore</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0763L6768" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />'</i></b> first!<br />
<br />
I waffled a bit in my feelings for and opinion of Connor. It was obvious he had strong feelings for Arianna, but a little more than half way through something he does didn't sit well with me. Granted, things were complicated by his family pushing him into something, but I felt he handled the situation incorrectly and that irritated me to no end. I could totally understand Arianna's conflicting feelings for him. Some of the sparks and sexual tension flying between the two was reminiscent of those found in Sally Thorne's novel <b><i>'<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062439596/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062439596&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=106d078567e52ef5227935f9497d16d2" target="_blank">The Hating Game</a>.'</i></b> I loved seeing Arianna regain her spirit and get that spark of life back in her eyes that had previously been missing. It's why I and Arianna were ultimately won over by Connor. He had a lot to do with her finding herself again, and coming out of the depression she found herself immersed in. He knew how to push her buttons and infuriate her in a way to coax her out of the dark place she found herself in.<br />
<br />
Overall, I gave this one <b>4 1/2 out of 5 roses</b>. I love a story where when a character crawls out from what appears to be the depths of despair and comes out stronger for it. While Connor had a hand in helping Arianna find herself again, he made sure he wasn't the center of her world. He wanted the strong, vibrant, and self sufficient woman he once knew back. She just needed a little push in the right direction. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>FAN </b>rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. I definitely recommend this one, but I cannot stress enough that you need to read <b><i>'<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0763L6768/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0763L6768&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=6a68cdcf757005ea3f24221188e2f00b" target="_blank">Sandpiper Shore (Harmony Harbor Book 6</a>)<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0763L6768" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />' </i></b>first.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHKJcChkBHcwk04TdB__6Sdw0BYfYv6fEdPvSKEbmRbuLfRkTzxUlO13EaYFRqvaxBKFk35Y1Ka3lxhi5eB0ST3oyEr-20BKlPfBuSSvTqSMgvt1f9eBAj9lSqoTpjPQHolXlUeprxkdg/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHKJcChkBHcwk04TdB__6Sdw0BYfYv6fEdPvSKEbmRbuLfRkTzxUlO13EaYFRqvaxBKFk35Y1Ka3lxhi5eB0ST3oyEr-20BKlPfBuSSvTqSMgvt1f9eBAj9lSqoTpjPQHolXlUeprxkdg/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Harmony Harbor series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01C37XEJ6&asins=B01C37XEJ6&linkId=e81a98bf66e67acb18f21692a6917e54&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01GQIY9I8&asins=B01GQIY9I8&linkId=b39f322226f51be1df2987149014a574&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01M0CI030&asins=B01M0CI030&linkId=3937b9cfe67734059b981285f9a01c4d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01N2AICXC&asins=B01N2AICXC&linkId=98f762f191304f53f5f1ec2db4b7e3d1&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B072MF2335&asins=B072MF2335&linkId=d7579ba7271713cdb062e48c40c6ac43&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0763L6768&asins=B0763L6768&linkId=20d9445a96c045271dd316fafaa84871&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1538744244&asins=1538744244&linkId=5ecbf080b15c4a542e41b64614e2a723&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07J4WG825&asins=B07J4WG825&linkId=6e2e7ff589264e0b529c440ff423cd4f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07MPWYHQ5&asins=B07MPWYHQ5&linkId=ccdbac51c138470145781f99848ca723&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-12137611128935229982020-01-27T17:39:00.002-05:002020-02-04T17:04:18.195-05:00Forever Strong (True Heroes, #6) by Piper J. Drake <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobGuwjpALOitPVOWf9c5CeKtQBOc-CmhkghUvXub-ahZxfb3Fkm8PAIhK_HEMiqrHaPPIUOn1UsH867F1QzwKEX_JTSnC-veOI6HStj74OdVU1Eu6z-rNhwI5MA06LsD3D-Zg1JUY-txz/s1600/Forever+Strong+by+Piper+J+Drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="618" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobGuwjpALOitPVOWf9c5CeKtQBOc-CmhkghUvXub-ahZxfb3Fkm8PAIhK_HEMiqrHaPPIUOn1UsH867F1QzwKEX_JTSnC-veOI6HStj74OdVU1Eu6z-rNhwI5MA06LsD3D-Zg1JUY-txz/s200/Forever+Strong+by+Piper+J+Drake.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RKSTGCY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07RKSTGCY&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=8c3b116bc3f42a97e1f9fec860cfa9ec" target="_blank">Forever Strong (True Heroes Book 6)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07RKSTGCY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification: </b>Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Romantic Suspense<br />
<b>Series: </b>True Heroes (6) (Book 6)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 304 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Forever (January 28, 2020)<br />
<b>ISBN-10: </b>1538759608<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1538759608<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://piperjdrake.com/">http://piperjdrake.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an ARC of the book from the publisher for review purposes. This is no way affected or compromised my review or rating.<br />
<br />
<br />
Mere days ago, Jing Ying Yue had been plucked off the streets of Sinapore and kidnapped. She'd been knocked unconscious and woke up to find herself being held prisoner in a tiny cabin on a cargo ship crossing the Pacific Ocean. She doesn't know why she was kidnapped or who specifically did it. Yesterday she'd been rescued from her kidnappers. After spending the night in the hospital, she is going to be reunited with her father who has been doing business on the island of Oahu. She is being accompanied to the hotel where her father is staying by the man who rescued her, and she was eager to get back to her life. Only as they are pulling up to the hotel, the unthinkable happens...<br />
<br />
<i><b>He followed her gaze and took in the very obvious contingent of private security waiting at the top of the drive, a handful of men, all dressed in suits, each projecting an air of fit intimidation. Very impressive to most, Zu guessed. "Your father's security detail, I assume?"</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>She nodded in a jerky way, then shook her head side to side too fast. "He's one of them. One of my kidnappers. He's here."</b></i><br />
<br />
They need to figure out who kidnapped Ying Yue and why or she will never be safe..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD8_y8EyYYdDGBMKHUg-zB2K8wcTKJA4rybbmqopaJQsIIwSvLuf6z_NJ6hyphenhyphenJvXMulzTzNi1zHX8T3LFdkU746TqnvrkxvAw7Xzk3YP8M5Bk6-2fvFwLdCZ3Pn5vKv-uRc3sobZolWfR6/s1600/rose+garland+picture+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="74" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD8_y8EyYYdDGBMKHUg-zB2K8wcTKJA4rybbmqopaJQsIIwSvLuf6z_NJ6hyphenhyphenJvXMulzTzNi1zHX8T3LFdkU746TqnvrkxvAw7Xzk3YP8M5Bk6-2fvFwLdCZ3Pn5vKv-uRc3sobZolWfR6/s1600/rose+garland+picture+4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the sixth book of the <i><b>True Heroes</b></i> series by Piper J. Drake. You could probably get away with reading this one as a standalone, but I don't entirely recommend it. At the very least I recommend reading Chapter Twenty-Three of <b><i>'Fierce Justice,'</i></b> the fifth book in the <b><i>True Heroes</i></b> series, first. It includes the moment Zu finds Ying Yue on the cargo ship. I wish the author had included it in a prologue for '<b><i>Forever Strong,' </i></b> but alas, she didn't. If, however, you want to learn how Search and Protect became intertwined with the Hawaiian government then I recommend you read <b><i>'Total Bravery,'</i></b> the fourth <b><i>True Heroes</i></b> novel, followed by <b><i>'Fierce Justice'</i></b> before reading '<b><i>Forever Strong.' </i></b>The series centers around the Search and Protect organization--a privately owned contract organization with a specialized skill set. They are not mercenaries for hire, although they have the skill set to be ones if they wanted to be, but they don't. They work with canines trained for a specific type of search and rescue. They specialize in infiltrating difficult areas and extracting high-value hostages.<br />
<br />
Azubuike Anyanwu, Zu to his friends, is the head of the Search and Protect. He and his team had been in charge of searching the Cargo ship which Ying Yue found herself on. They'd been hired by the Hawaiian government to spearhead a search for victims of human trafficking. The mission had been initiated by a task force sponsored by the Hawaiian government and was part of a larger campaign to stop human trafficking on the islands. From the moment he'd found Ying Yue he knew she was different. He found himself instantly attracted to the beautiful courageous young woman who showed strength and resourcefulness where others would have fallen apart. As the two are thrust together in an effort to protect Ying Yue from her kidnappers, the attraction that's been simmering between them comes to full boil. Zu, however, never gets involved with clients, especially not one he feels may be emotionally compromised after experiencing something as traumatic as a kidnapping. Ying Yue will have her work cut out for her in order to convince him she's not as vulnerable as he thinks.<br />
<br />
Jing Ying Yue has a background in nonprofit capacity building and has a PhD in international tax law and policy. She'd been in Singapore for the past two years working with a few nonprofit organizations building their nonprofit capacity. Capacity building is an investment in the effectiveness and future sustainability of a nonprofit. When capacity building is successful, it strengthens and increases a nonprofit's ability to fulfill its mission over time, thereby increasing the nonprofit's ability to have a positive impact on lives and communities. While there may be a connection between her chosen profession and the kidnapping, her father is much more likely to be the reason. Her father is a wealthy and successful businessman and her kidnappers may have taken her to gain a ransom (although thus far no ransom demand had been made) for her or in an effort to gain some sort of leverage over her father. At this point, there are a lot of unknowns and it was anyone's guess as to why Ying Yue has been targeted. The fact that someone had gone to the trouble of infiltrating her father's security team, however, suggests they are serious in their attempts and not likely to give up any time soon. As it becomes clear the kidnappers are determined to get their hands on Ying Yue, she finds herself becoming more and more attracted to the man who's trying to save her. That's when things start getting interesting.<br />
<br />
I ended up giving this one <b>4 out 5 roses.</b> It was a fast paced, intriguing, suspenseful, and an engaging read. I liked the chemistry between Ying Yue and Zu and the mystery surrounding her kidnapping. I also liked how Ms. Drake put a spotlight on a topic that until recently was not often breached--human trafficking. The only thing I wish the author had incorporated into the story was the fact that often times the people who are trafficked are not from elsewhere. Sometimes they're kidnapped, manipulated, and/or lured into the trade right here in the US. The statistics aren't pretty, especially here in Florida. A friend of mine was once approached by someone who tried to pose as a security guard from a store and wanted to separate her from her child not really explaining why. She absolutely refused and called her husband who was a police officer. While we'll never know for sure if the man was a sex trafficker, we do know he wasn't who he said he was. Sometimes traffickers can be subtle sometimes not so much. One things for sure, if you're a parent you should know some of the things to look for, and if something doesn't feel right go with your gut. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj621UAorVj-RbKsG-xIkk7vRH6v-Dggjmu3fwyUCgTRlewxVB2QnsHSpPI0UttYNmEzmgXlDg9jakd3o1Y92UxdBqBCYndOfyMRnJQXubHanvI2hzOLLZjU2PUaqxciw8-VCwO68mNmy9/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj621UAorVj-RbKsG-xIkk7vRH6v-Dggjmu3fwyUCgTRlewxVB2QnsHSpPI0UttYNmEzmgXlDg9jakd3o1Y92UxdBqBCYndOfyMRnJQXubHanvI2hzOLLZjU2PUaqxciw8-VCwO68mNmy9/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Notes to keep you in the know:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The following is a link to a blog article that I found it very informative. It is entitled 'Your child has already been targeted: 7 things you didn't know about human trafficking.' Feel free to check it out:</div>
https://military.citymomsblog.com/military-moms/your-child-has-already-been-targeted-7-things-you-didnt-know-about-human-trafficking/?fbclid=IwAR0WxKNdjX0pWgHcEnfz9CNlhaPrK4CXR8TjGbzgsFGoKBVEYwSr9UQowOE<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the True Heroes series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00X47ZLZU&asins=B00X47ZLZU&linkId=16631c84c54810838b8e9f39e44cd0f7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B017RQP1X0&asins=B017RQP1X0&linkId=176e4dceee34ad3408a70d88bcb0daef&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01G1K1S7G&asins=B01G1K1S7G&linkId=2fd58933641f8084e56808157fd08f5d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B074M6QBLV&asins=B074M6QBLV&linkId=d77f0cd6392efd20ccb318e1846407dd&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07DHJHGTS&asins=B07DHJHGTS&linkId=ab2d110a111f5369a71a70901ef71772&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07RKSTGCY&asins=B07RKSTGCY&linkId=4464c1b317e750b1b01c36ba4512f5a5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-34756896339007671522020-01-21T00:01:00.000-05:002020-01-21T18:31:00.386-05:00Almost Just Friends (Wildstone #4) by Jill Shalvis Blog Tour/Giveaway/Excerpt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oHluVUVhiolL0dSKkNO5dfZ4-izBFRt7gllW4jkARjVLwaNybj_E8TTQ80TqeJdfL3OmDmuuAxe2kWT3i_WLWb4SBTZ0dWB0Mh2m3pr8bPs2So13C45X4u9Xmu-DgQ7dUBf20A-QZXLp/s1600/AlmostJustFriends_pb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oHluVUVhiolL0dSKkNO5dfZ4-izBFRt7gllW4jkARjVLwaNybj_E8TTQ80TqeJdfL3OmDmuuAxe2kWT3i_WLWb4SBTZ0dWB0Mh2m3pr8bPs2So13C45X4u9Xmu-DgQ7dUBf20A-QZXLp/s640/AlmostJustFriends_pb.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Coming to a bookstore near you January 21, 2020:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_muUjLwhlGjJbW0ebNQIBvAX6obgl6WR45vdqJgoWxeLO-pfq6VXHw-PM6btbmyJ74CQ9g2nwluuyA1hs1_WsLDm4wRm8oEQJZNmki2bR4cNR6hitJPN56aIJRBCwVy4uWRaDSkMLogZ/s1600/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="779" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_muUjLwhlGjJbW0ebNQIBvAX6obgl6WR45vdqJgoWxeLO-pfq6VXHw-PM6btbmyJ74CQ9g2nwluuyA1hs1_WsLDm4wRm8oEQJZNmki2bR4cNR6hitJPN56aIJRBCwVy4uWRaDSkMLogZ/s320/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The last time a woman had ordered Cam to strip had been a very different scene altogether, and it’d been a while. Generally speaking, he liked to be behind the wheel in most situations, but he’d never had any complaints about a woman driving in his bed. “Interesting bedside manner.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Okay,” she said. “How about strip, please.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>He laughed, and he realized that until tonight, it’d been a damn long time for that too. “Well, since you asked so nicely . . .” But still he hesitated.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Trust me, I’ve seen it all before.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>He pulled off his shirt, wincing when the cotton stuck to the deepest slice across his chest.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Piper blinked, and for the first time all night, appeared short of words.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>It was pretty damn cute, especially with the mud on her nose. “Thought you’ve seen it all before.” She bit her lower lip, eyes suddenly hooded, and he couldn’t resist teasing her. “So, how do I stack up?”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>That got her, and she rolled her eyes. “Like you don’t know. Sit.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The couch seemed too . . . personal, so he sat on her coffee table. She dropped to her knees at his side and doctored up first the cut on his left palm from where he’d nicked himself in his dad’s kitchen, and then the two slices on his left biceps, and then the biggest one across his chest, during which time he did his best to ignore the feel of her soft breath on his skin and failed.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>When she’d finished, she looked down at his cargoes and saw the blood seeping through from his thigh. Rising to her feet, she stepped back, gesturing for him to lose the pants too.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Seriously,” he said. “Doesn’t even have to be dinner. An appetizer would work.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“If you’re real good, I’ll give you a sticker.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“How about letting me look at your secret secret bucket list instead?”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Her eyes narrowed. “How about we stop talking now?”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Wait.” He cocked his head. “Does this mean you also have a secret bucket list? And possibly a not-so- secret bucket list?”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>She had hands on hips; a fresh, clean gauze in one hand, antibiotic ointment in the other, her expression dialed to Not Feeling Playful.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>With a rough laugh, he stood and took the gauze and ointment from her. “I got this one, Doc.” And then he gestured for her to turn around.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>She did with a smirk, and then spoke over her shoulder. “Didn’t peg you for the shy type.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Oh, I’m not shy.” He shoved his icy, muddy, wet cargoes to his thighs, and yeah, the cat had come within two inches of de-manning him. “Just didn’t want to have to fight you off.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Don’t worry,” she said. “I always get verbal consent first. And I bet you didn’t want me to see your tighty-whities.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>He gritted his teeth as he cleaned out the cut. Son of a bitch, that cat had gone deep. “They’re not tight and they’re not white.”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Batman undies?”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>“Commando,” he said, and that shut her up. When he’d finished and pulled his pants back up, he lifted his head and found her facing him. His brows went up. “See anything you like?”</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Instead of answering, she blushed. And he grinned because, yeah. She’d definitely seen something she liked.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: red;">From Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis, published by William Morrow. Copyright © 2020 by Jill Shalvis. Reprinted courtesy of HarperCollinsPublishers </span><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062897800/almost-just-friends/"><span style="color: red;">https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062897800/almost-just-friends/</span></a></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Mi25QRwSTr9uPz_5KD91B9C1Z_lfX4Ib3sAZ6u7UTizC_jMTw8O-KGSRVhrqeN-sGlgNX3Iqs-vXlp9GG7_wFQLHSbt8LV7WT8YyClk_ea3eVN9dMoBqerMklfZEotFm7c7TIzEl5T6V/s1600/About+the+author+banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="999" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Mi25QRwSTr9uPz_5KD91B9C1Z_lfX4Ib3sAZ6u7UTizC_jMTw8O-KGSRVhrqeN-sGlgNX3Iqs-vXlp9GG7_wFQLHSbt8LV7WT8YyClk_ea3eVN9dMoBqerMklfZEotFm7c7TIzEl5T6V/s320/About+the+author+banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPncehhIKgjnYqEwEtXo9iYx6tKmy2GPH7K8ADAVNdYxdiSB_nH3DBI_EZPClpfZJjg1gOByuXv_nRYvQRSMwwQRt1p7igSuj1yNLKt_FgporLbk8Vao5bgYUG2BUe0x9EQpfX8hUA5HCx/s1600/Jill+Shalvis+Author+Photo_credit+Susan+Zweigle%252C+ZR+Studios.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPncehhIKgjnYqEwEtXo9iYx6tKmy2GPH7K8ADAVNdYxdiSB_nH3DBI_EZPClpfZJjg1gOByuXv_nRYvQRSMwwQRt1p7igSuj1yNLKt_FgporLbk8Vao5bgYUG2BUe0x9EQpfX8hUA5HCx/s320/Jill+Shalvis+Author+Photo_credit+Susan+Zweigle%252C+ZR+Studios.JPG" width="241" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Connect with Jill Shalvis:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Website: http://jillshalvis.com/</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Facebook: @JillShalvis</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Twitter: @JillShalvis</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillshalvis/</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jillshalvis/</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Tumblr: http://jillshalvis.tumblr.com/</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22370.Jill_Shalvis?from_search=true</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<i><b>New York Times </b></i>bestselling author<b> Jill Shalvis</b> lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh0SSh9-uzj2YRWhtlXfupWyEwyVyyg2ExPpyECD8Lf7siQ9ZyfShzq9W_nVWofMKMK5AI0F9-PFLbAJhqumiRS_DBM43v0dDk8datRMHKW2iQTGyQavtQAa0FJl4Vq8TimUlfs61I_GD/s1600/My+Review+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="790" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh0SSh9-uzj2YRWhtlXfupWyEwyVyyg2ExPpyECD8Lf7siQ9ZyfShzq9W_nVWofMKMK5AI0F9-PFLbAJhqumiRS_DBM43v0dDk8datRMHKW2iQTGyQavtQAa0FJl4Vq8TimUlfs61I_GD/s320/My+Review+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmCbtfegVs-1TDUCRcHA0vzlN1YspLEmoU9J2XTmv9TI7eMxM5MbLNA48STkZmaV6u6n9GJLRFBm3TlSwbbbRKE3IERlFJqeXTDf8QojJ3tR_vwn_DPlfyIG4arkFH7GuMz1RpOGjYZ3Y/s1600/AlmostJustFriends_pb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmCbtfegVs-1TDUCRcHA0vzlN1YspLEmoU9J2XTmv9TI7eMxM5MbLNA48STkZmaV6u6n9GJLRFBm3TlSwbbbRKE3IERlFJqeXTDf8QojJ3tR_vwn_DPlfyIG4arkFH7GuMz1RpOGjYZ3Y/s200/AlmostJustFriends_pb.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062897802/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062897802&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=43b5f8f0ef4b317fcf8fd0188db7a015" target="_blank">Almost Just Friends: A Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0062897802" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 384 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> William Morrow Paperbacks (January 21, 2020)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062897802<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062897800<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="https://www.jillshalvis.com/">https://www.jillshalvis.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected by review or rating.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>"You're the one always fixing everyone's life, everyone's but your own, of course. But even the Fixer needs help sometimes."</i></b><br />
<br />
Piper Manning has just turned thirty and she isn't anywhere near where she wanted to be at this time of her life. She's had to put everything on hold--her hopes and dreams--to keep her family together. Her parents followed by her grandparents had passed away, and it was left up to her to keep what was left of her family together. Now, with both her siblings out of the house, she plans to make her dream of becoming a physician's assistant a reality. She just needs to sell the family lake house to make it happen. When her siblings come home unexpectedly, however, she'll find things may be more complicated than she imagined...<br />
<br />
It's been three months since Camden 'Cam' Reid lost his brother, Rowan, in a car accident. He is suffering from a bad case of survivor's guilt. His plan was to come to Wildstone to check up on his father and then get back to his work on the East coast, but when he arrives he finds his father isn't in the best of conditions. He starts to wonder if an extended stay may be necessary...<br />
<br />
As both Piper and Camden know, life doesn't always go as planned, and as they shall soon find out plans are sometimes meant to be broken. Sometimes for the better, and sometimes someone who could almost just be a friend can turn out to be something more...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrZ8g308_kMMW5qDpIRyN2IPd5-EzXIUJTjQwNOTSGCVNiKjPeQv79ja2dxAWHdvzB7wICfcyQ74r51PUI-sDUN_vukC-XOg1Q-VcjaH_Y1kZucj2v9fs-SNKEEob7FjjG7-YkqqQgHAI/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrZ8g308_kMMW5qDpIRyN2IPd5-EzXIUJTjQwNOTSGCVNiKjPeQv79ja2dxAWHdvzB7wICfcyQ74r51PUI-sDUN_vukC-XOg1Q-VcjaH_Y1kZucj2v9fs-SNKEEob7FjjG7-YkqqQgHAI/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the fourth book of the Wildstone series and it was written to be a standalone book. Each book in the series is a separate entity from the others with only an occasional character or two loosely overlapping in the stories. The town of Wildstone is the glue that binds of this series together. It's the place where each novel in the series takes place. If you haven't read one of these novels you're in for real a treat. The novels tackle some serious issues with heart, love, and compassion. The books leave you with the feeling that love, family, and good friends can conquer all or at least lighten the sting life can have.<br />
<br />
At thirty, Piper is the family Matriarch. She has always appeared strong and tough on the outside because she's had to, but even she has her soft spots. For years she's put her own needs on hold. She's an EMT who is quick thinking and used to being the first to take charge of a bad situation. She's a little anal about keeping lists because they'd saved her neck more than once. One of the things on her list of 'Life Rules' is to <b>'never, ever, EVER, under any circumstances fall in love.' </b>She's loved and she's lost a lot in her short life and that admission reveals a lot about her.<br />
<br />
Cam is DEA agent and is on the reserve list for the Coast Guard. His relationship with his dad isn't what he'd like it to be, but he was raised by his mother after his parents divorced while his brother had been raised by his father. Cam lived with his mother on the East coast while Rowan and his dad had lived on the West. The two brothers had only recently established a close bond when Rowan had died.<br />
<br />
Cam hasn't been in many romantic relationships over the years because most women can't handle his not being able to talk specifics about his job. It's literally his job, at times, to keep certain things secret. As he gets to know Piper he realizes she's not like other women. Being that she's an EMT she understands and gets what his job requires. In her he starts to see something he's never let himself see before--a future.<br />
<br />
If I had to sum this story up in one sentence it would be the following: This is a story about two perfectly imperfect families who come together to form one perfectly perfect family. The quote which I feel exemplifies the story is:<br />
<br />
<b>"It's okay to be broken. Broken can be fixed."</b><br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses</b>. The story was engaging from the very first page. The heat between Cam and Piper was sizzling hot from the moment they met. I adored seeing these two people who thought they would never find love find it with each other. I also loved that the vibe 'we're family and family sticks together and supports each other no matter what' permeated the story even though it wasn't ever stated. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.This is a story I <b>HIGHLY </b>recommend. I loved it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EPNLPQCBlD49n4sLEs9fUZw2j29IzhCBRfaQBA4ok494rggocWYdDotVS4FPHYeUhGxZYY3_FdzxQRpRam7SFanTAbqEG3cHVVmVFHAXD0RzIsbz32er3h1CdnBxmeQa4hU5Kym1yV0e/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EPNLPQCBlD49n4sLEs9fUZw2j29IzhCBRfaQBA4ok494rggocWYdDotVS4FPHYeUhGxZYY3_FdzxQRpRam7SFanTAbqEG3cHVVmVFHAXD0RzIsbz32er3h1CdnBxmeQa4hU5Kym1yV0e/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Wildstone series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01M1JVTK1&asins=B01M1JVTK1&linkId=fb5d535ea7f7d93b6cbdd623d434e9de&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B071FZTQHX&asins=B071FZTQHX&linkId=a4c2d12f6f420d93564e7fedca9f9929&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07FSLTZ8J&asins=B07FSLTZ8J&linkId=920fa3ce32612f19b8f839e452b39216&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07QWLDDL9&asins=B07QWLDDL9&linkId=0260d8945fb52167cc305c2e9f48fa81&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Novella associated with the series:</b><br />
<b>(Should be read after 'Lost and Found Sisters' but before 'Rainy Day Friends')</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0062463616&asins=0062463616&linkId=89134bbb89bcd57a6aa165752374bde2&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl7mt7sOaSJrFqg38JobPeXBI2F4n_q5-LKewZp3mlwIns55WUmETSYlL9wvHipLa4XAJ067NJb3qQ-W3acFoZkKoVn7BmIqzyLS2eqVrB0ZyvDfe17v3fbQEr9D1ZFIPmul_5i0xVTsh/s1600/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="780" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl7mt7sOaSJrFqg38JobPeXBI2F4n_q5-LKewZp3mlwIns55WUmETSYlL9wvHipLa4XAJ067NJb3qQ-W3acFoZkKoVn7BmIqzyLS2eqVrB0ZyvDfe17v3fbQEr9D1ZFIPmul_5i0xVTsh/s320/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqqYfngqsl3CrbBeCb9Kewpu7fyuOYw8iUVYglYD655rgjU4XuSB8fS-3z2aSBYSQmviiBCK8zRKYXho6MERFa2cch7Ot8bTCujoID_wbmrfEGFhjTA3kcR194BOux5WJjCaNpTd5Or9W/s1600/AlmostJustFriends_pb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqqYfngqsl3CrbBeCb9Kewpu7fyuOYw8iUVYglYD655rgjU4XuSB8fS-3z2aSBYSQmviiBCK8zRKYXho6MERFa2cch7Ot8bTCujoID_wbmrfEGFhjTA3kcR194BOux5WJjCaNpTd5Or9W/s320/AlmostJustFriends_pb.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enter for a chance to win a print copy of 'Almost Just Friends' by Jill Shalvis</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Open to those living in Canada and the U.S.<br />
See the Rafflecopter Giveaway Terms and Conditions for complete rules.</div>
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0c401987106" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0c401987106/" id="rcwidget_bhylnirm" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<br />
<br />Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-82464471745291128382019-12-30T00:56:00.002-05:002019-12-30T22:47:11.988-05:00The Prince of Broadway (Uptown Girls, #2) by Joanna Shupe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNqYzHdpyq8m8Go-giyRBrI0DS_YzEE10x5QFhOGZ-TkXUpYF5DKxxWv_Hv_1l3zZKVuVKqTezIWgWgf_HB8BB-FYy3m3VRrHkZuBY43bJdsqOxg55ACw-DANoOmn9u9StdnMBx120vZW/s1600/The+Prince+of+Broadway+by+Joanna+Schupe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNqYzHdpyq8m8Go-giyRBrI0DS_YzEE10x5QFhOGZ-TkXUpYF5DKxxWv_Hv_1l3zZKVuVKqTezIWgWgf_HB8BB-FYy3m3VRrHkZuBY43bJdsqOxg55ACw-DANoOmn9u9StdnMBx120vZW/s200/The+Prince+of+Broadway+by+Joanna+Schupe.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q82MDQG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07Q82MDQG&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=d6c6e334877e5068bcf30334cfc3b80a" target="_blank">The Prince of Broadway: Uptown Girls</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07Q82MDQG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> Uptown Girls (Book 2)<br />
<b>Format: </b>Paperback; 384 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Avon (December 30, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062906836<br />
<b>ISBN-13: </b>978-0062906830<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://www.joannashupe.com/">http://www.joannashupe.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes: </b>I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my review or rating. All quotes are subject to change as an ARC is not the final version. Any errors in quotes are most likely my own and not the authors.<br />
<br />
<br />
Florence Greene is not your typical society miss. She doesn't have grand plans of marriage or of raising a family. Her dreams consist of opening a casino for young ladies and she's come up with a plan to accomplish just that. It all revolves around a rather illusive man named Clayton Madden. Clayton owns the most successful gambling establishment in the city call the Bronze House. She wants her casino to mimic his and she's hoping he'll mentor her on how she can go about making that happen. Gambling, after all, is illegal in the great state of New York, but Florence isn't the type to let a little thing like that get in her way. The one thing she hadn't counted on, however, was finding herself attracted to the man, or that he'd be attracted to her...<br />
<br />
<b><i>"You should know a few things before we finalize any apprenticeship." <br /><br />She leaned in, all eagerness and devotion, hanging on his every word.(...)<br /><br />"I'll put my cards on the table. I'm attracted to you."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<div>
<b><i>Her brows shot high on her forehead, her face slackening. "W-what?"(...)<br /><br />"Understand that my motives are never pure. I'm as selfish as they come, and if there's an opportunity to get you in my bed I won't hesitate to take it."(...)<br /><br />"Was there anything else?"<br /><br />"Yes, actually. I plan to bring about your father's ruin."</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhOgw-IIYIzAgD7YiS8RMnCumQKeuvpTB-OV7vahNsu8yLZHClRgGmm6DPYBTAmgQ-9A6UB0aCyC9Quw_BhUOIEf5CSlE6FX7u7DVjKYH9pR_gX8YND1i33iibtylWDFjGg2L39R3Ky4N/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhOgw-IIYIzAgD7YiS8RMnCumQKeuvpTB-OV7vahNsu8yLZHClRgGmm6DPYBTAmgQ-9A6UB0aCyC9Quw_BhUOIEf5CSlE6FX7u7DVjKYH9pR_gX8YND1i33iibtylWDFjGg2L39R3Ky4N/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This was the second book in the Uptown Girls series and it can be read out of order as a standalone. It actually takes place at the same time as 'The Rogue of Fifth Avenue,' the first book in the series, so the reader truly will have missed nothing if they haven't read the previous book first. The series revolves around the Greene sisters who are unconventional young women who are the daughter's of one of New York's richest and most influential men. The series is set in the 1890's when Carnegie Hall has just been built, child labor laws are all but nonexistent, and women still have yet to acquire the right to vote. It's set in an era when there is a great divide between how the upper and lower classes of New York society live. The novel takes place during a time when corruption in the police department runs rampant and justice is not always served. In other words, it's a great period to use for the backdrop of a story. If you've not yet read one of Ms. Shupe's novels, you will not be disappointed.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Florence Greene is smart and beautiful, but has never truly felt like she fit in with high society, mainly because she's never cared what they thought of her. Plus, she isn't one to engage in games unless they involve a gaming table. She's played her role in society seamlessly, however, for the sake of her mother and sisters. She's even turned down several proposals, but being married to some society fop whose ego barely fits in the room is not her idea of bliss. The only thing that has kept her sane over the years is her dream of one day opening up a casino for ladies, and being able to be the person she'd always felt she was meant to be. She found out at an early age she had a love and knack for cards. She intends to make use of that.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Clayton Madden is a self-made man who blames his family's demise on Florence's father. All he's done over the years has been driven by the thought of one day being able to exact revenge on him. Florence, however, is something he hadn't expected. The more he gets to know her the more he comes to like her. He convinces himself he can still exact revenge upon her father without it affecting their relationship. He'll soon find out the truth of the matter and have to deal with the consequences.</div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
Overall, I gave this one <b>4 out of 5 roses.</b> The book had a nice combination of drama and romance which kept my interest from start to finish. While Clayton and Florence would appear to be an unlikely couple, their chemistry is undeniable. As they start to work together and get to know each other they gain a mutual respect for one another. Clayton has no problem letting Florence be who she wants to be and, for the most part, encourages her endeavors. Some of Florence's behavior, however, was a little questionable for someone who supposedly was trying to protect her mother and sisters from scandal. Plus, it took me some time to warm up to Clayton, but by the end he won me over. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b><i>SHOWER</i></b> rating--a cold shower may be necessary. Need I say more? Some books should come with a warning--make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66D0tqUnf21l8l43jeJR_qllpuaB7Bc9KnaQs74qs8xI3NWjF8cGLXMq-I2oeKI3vjCthBjE2BhAJJNXnv4dby8ffCnvJuTdcdJvP9CHZ_qcWoXJeduhIGd-gQR-eaTyJez058TTclPJK/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66D0tqUnf21l8l43jeJR_qllpuaB7Bc9KnaQs74qs8xI3NWjF8cGLXMq-I2oeKI3vjCthBjE2BhAJJNXnv4dby8ffCnvJuTdcdJvP9CHZ_qcWoXJeduhIGd-gQR-eaTyJez058TTclPJK/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Uptown Girls series: </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07G13T6T5&asins=B07G13T6T5&linkId=1566299a795810e6508917446500db25&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07Q82MDQG&asins=B07Q82MDQG&linkId=bc49e779071a0b9eb79c4ea31e60593f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Coming June 2020:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07ZP1H1LD&asins=B07ZP1H1LD&linkId=2468faa1daf25eb901f62033ebeddcb6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-37536113175239355172019-12-27T23:34:00.000-05:002019-12-27T23:34:18.140-05:00Rocky Mountain Heat (previously published as All of Me) (Wedding Veil Wishes (4)) by Lori Wilde<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Z3j4JIfwEc6U_3e-B3uYsunsR74hoe8YEOYPnQ8S9YfQMexPAN5AguHJTyWjBwl84508hYxFuVt0vgOdCYzo3i6yTfV5CJFBG6_7ip87ecze1D9Aki18NMOJO4P6nDQ6elcTH7BKA30/s1600/Rocky+Mountain+Heat+by+Lori+Wilde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="618" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5Z3j4JIfwEc6U_3e-B3uYsunsR74hoe8YEOYPnQ8S9YfQMexPAN5AguHJTyWjBwl84508hYxFuVt0vgOdCYzo3i6yTfV5CJFBG6_7ip87ecze1D9Aki18NMOJO4P6nDQ6elcTH7BKA30/s200/Rocky+Mountain+Heat+by+Lori+Wilde.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538700190/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1538700190&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=80cfd9879b8d603959e71b91c77c8241" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain Heat (previously published as All of Me) (Wedding Veil Wishes (4))</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1538700190" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Previous title: </b>All of Me<br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> Wedding Veil Wishes (4) (Book 4)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback: 400 pages<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Forever; Reprint edition (December 17, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10: </b>1538700190<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1538700198<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="https://loriwilde.com/">https://loriwilde.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an ARC from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my rating or review.<br />
<br />
<br />
Legend has it long ago a witch created beautiful lace bridal veils. Her last and final creation she enchanted with a spell, or so the story goes...<br />
<br />
<b><i>“Once upon a time, in long-ago Ireland, there lived a beautiful young witch named Morag who possessed a great talent for tatting lace. People came from far and wide to buy the lovely wedding veils she created. But there were other women in the community who were envious of Morag’s beauty and talent. These women made up a lie and told the magistrate that Morag was casting spells on the men of the village.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>The magistrate was engaged to a woman that he admired, but did not love. He arrested Morag, but found himself falling madly in love with her. Convinced that she must have cast a spell upon him as well, he moved to have her tried for practicing witchcraft. If found guilty, she would be burned at the stake. But in the end, the magistrate could not resist the power of true love.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>On the eve before Morag was to stand trial, he kidnapped her from the jail in the dead of night and spirited her away to America, giving up everything for her love. To prove that she had not cast a spell over him, Morag promised never to use magic again. As her final act of witchcraft, she made one last wedding veil, investing it with the power to grant the deepest wish of the wearer’s soul...”</i></b><br />
<br />
Now, hundreds of years later, the veil has found itself in the possession of a group of friends. The final, and last of the friends to try the veil, Jillian, doesn't believe in magic. Truth be told, she doesn't believe in love, at least not for herself. She believes the love matches her friends made after wishing upon the veil were just coincidental and not the result of their wishes. On night, after a friend's funeral, however, Jillian finds herself in a vulnerable state and makes a wish. That wish will change everything...<br />
<br />
<b> "I wish I had a brand new life."</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0R031er5UAB-_Ph7n8-4MkCQgoImMqwChRbsMM1OSG2b7hzhy_gkjDV88Wv2QiChpdARCPA473tTJiRiBx9SmimMhEjzQ5jTOPzixGYBxrD8U68kMgp4DslhyphenhyphenGDkEK2EuaDGffVzWCKs/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0R031er5UAB-_Ph7n8-4MkCQgoImMqwChRbsMM1OSG2b7hzhy_gkjDV88Wv2QiChpdARCPA473tTJiRiBx9SmimMhEjzQ5jTOPzixGYBxrD8U68kMgp4DslhyphenhyphenGDkEK2EuaDGffVzWCKs/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the fourth installment of the Wedding Veil Wishes series. The series centers around four friends and an enchanted wedding veil. 'Rocky Mountain Heat', previously published under the title of 'All of Me', can definitely be read out of order and you won't feel lost. At the beginning of this story, three of Jillian's friends have already found their soul mates, but Jillian is a hard sell on the magical powers said to be possessed by the wedding veil. She's the most skeptical of the bunch and doesn't believe the veil had anything to do with her friend's love matches. She vows to never make a wish with the veil. <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span>As we all know, however, you should never say never. In a moment of emotional weakness, she makes a wish. That is when all the fun begins.<br />
<br />
Men have disappointed Jillian Sanders all her life. The last time she tried to put herself out there things ended badly. Believing most men are jerks and those who aren't are taken, she's pretty much given up on relationships, but deep down she still wants someone to love. When her best friend and mentor dies, she feels everything so much more, especially when her ex-boyfriend ends up becoming her new boss. Feeling like her life is falling apart, she decides to do the one thing she never thought she'd do--make a wish.<br />
<br />
Tuck Manning is a widower who is a shadow of his former self. He loved his wife dearly, but has still not come to terms with her passing even though it's been two years since she died. When Jillian comes to town she challenges him, excites him (even though he's loath to admit it), and makes him feel again. Despite that, however, he still has to come to terms with having feeling for someone other than his deceased wife. He's a great guy but the big question is can he overcome his grief and guilt that he feels at the thought of moving on--preferably with Jillian?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I admit I had mixed feelings about Tuck. While I liked how much he'd loved his wife, I felt it sometimes didn't bode well for his relationship with Jillian. There were times when if I'd been Julian's friend I would have advised her to cut him loose, but I have to admit I've seen others act similarly in real life so I can't really fault Ms. Wilde for it. It took quite some time before Tuck won me over.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Overall, I gave this one <b>4 out of 5 </b>roses. It was a sweet, funny, and charming romance with some twists and hurdles thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed seeing these two fall for one another despite their trying to resist the pull they felt for one another, I loved the situation which developed as they tried to figure out who truly owned the lake house. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Wedding Veil Wishes series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1538732025&asins=1538732025&linkId=b39adcb19810db4cafcbc11a10d5d271&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B001MT5NR8&asins=B001MT5NR8&linkId=ce29815cee8f158ff19722fd7540d783&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B001FA0P4K&asins=B001FA0P4K&linkId=0e6654adf56b72a6293d1ea10ae9ca8f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B001YWNAHS&asins=B001YWNAHS&linkId=e0dae142d46a9da6c906b5d3088faff3&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<br /></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-20381514939674824622019-12-17T13:22:00.003-05:002019-12-17T13:22:27.464-05:00My One and Only Cowboy (Meadow Valley Book 1) by A.J. Pine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvP9D2pAh6YHGpLhRjnYqWKhbKKd2jUn8fWN5P2xSgMLUm4EsQpTlEqIQzPDSJuR3Cl754mSy3GfVEtKfsxdPA4U5yfLBpxF_onaqLHNkfO1Yv_uUnRScNSsoUPSe2a7PKEPNTvnZlOXl/s1600/My+One+and+Only+Cowboy+by+A+J+Pine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="621" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvP9D2pAh6YHGpLhRjnYqWKhbKKd2jUn8fWN5P2xSgMLUm4EsQpTlEqIQzPDSJuR3Cl754mSy3GfVEtKfsxdPA4U5yfLBpxF_onaqLHNkfO1Yv_uUnRScNSsoUPSe2a7PKEPNTvnZlOXl/s200/My+One+and+Only+Cowboy+by+A+J+Pine.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QCN6F6W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07QCN6F6W&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=100603c82e8b5bde018b12f5427bd2de" target="_blank">My One and Only Cowboy (Meadow Valley Book 1)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07QCN6F6W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification: </b>Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Series: </b>Meadow Valley (Book 1)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 656 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Forever (December 17, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10: </b>1538749793<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1538749791<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://ajpine.com/">http://ajpine.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an ARC from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my rating or review.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sam Callahan is one of the three owners of the Meadow Valley Ranch. He, his brother, and best friend bought the land for the ranch two years ago and are now into their second month of full operation. Things are tight as they are still working on drumming up business and have sunk a ton of money into building the newly established guest ranch.<br />
<br />
In the blink of an eye it could all be taken away when a feisty blond bombshell shows up spouting claims of forgery, fraud, and the illegal sale of her property.<br />
<br />
Delaney Harper is beside herself with fury. He ex-husband sold the land she planned to use for an animal rescue shelter by forging her name on a quit claim deed. Now she's confronting the new owners and trying to set things straight. Half that land is hers. While she came looking to reclaim her land, she might just get more than she bargained for...<br />
<br />
<b>"I've been thinking about kissing you for two days now, and I don't know if I'm going to be able to <i>stop</i> thinking about kissing you until I know what I missed out on because of that damned storm."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>She stared at him, and he watched her chest rise and fall with each breath she took. It was a risk just to say the words to admit what he wanted. What would they be risking if they acted on what he guessed they both were feeling?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>She fidgeted with the material of her dress.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"I still want my half of the land," she said. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>He nodded, "I know." </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Could a crazy little thing like love be in her future?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0R031er5UAB-_Ph7n8-4MkCQgoImMqwChRbsMM1OSG2b7hzhy_gkjDV88Wv2QiChpdARCPA473tTJiRiBx9SmimMhEjzQ5jTOPzixGYBxrD8U68kMgp4DslhyphenhyphenGDkEK2EuaDGffVzWCKs/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0R031er5UAB-_Ph7n8-4MkCQgoImMqwChRbsMM1OSG2b7hzhy_gkjDV88Wv2QiChpdARCPA473tTJiRiBx9SmimMhEjzQ5jTOPzixGYBxrD8U68kMgp4DslhyphenhyphenGDkEK2EuaDGffVzWCKs/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This was the first book in a new series by A.J. Pine which centers around the town of Meadow Valley. It's a small old fashioned town where everyone knows everyone else and can't seem to help poking their noses into everyone else's business. It's a place perfect for fresh starts and the place both Delaney Harper and Sam Callahan chose to start their businesses. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you see it), they both chose the same piece of land.<br />
<br />
Neither Delaney nor Sam is looking for a relationship. Both have issues which they need to come to terms with before they could have a chance at a successful relationship. Plus, the matter of who truly owns the land Meadow Valley Ranch still sits between them. As they get to know each other, however, they realize they have more than they thought in common. The spark of attraction they've both felt from their first meeting will slowly ignite into something neither can deny, but they'll do their darnedest to do just that.<br />
<br />
Overall, I gave this one <b>4 out of 5 roses.</b>This was a sweet and lighthearted romance that tackled a heavy topic. Sam's father suffers from dementia and he doesn't believe love is in the cards for him. Sam has closed himself off from serious relationships for years not knowing if his future will mimic that of his dad. When Delaney first confronts Sam claiming half the land is hers, he's convinced someone's playing a joke on him. A bad one. Soon, however, it becomes clear his entire business could be in jeopardy, but there's something about Delaney Harper, despite the threat she poses, that draws him to her. Slowly, she tears down the careful constructed walls he's erected around himself, and makes him realize he can have it all if he just lets himself. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07QCN6F6W&asins=B07QCN6F6W&linkId=55ab41a31bc68b2d3f238597f9bd5bc2&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-59440237231345733942019-12-09T16:16:00.001-05:002019-12-11T10:47:20.586-05:00Forever Friends (Cranberry Cove #1) by Sarah Mackenzie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhureqR9vbD68etfuPGNOBcDo4TIbc_OePqzdqwveq9Zp-6vIiDAHiRXfer0k_YQv2IUnUAAtvaoPfD4FMA2nDN4W6MJjpko8oN-q6k__LL3RBCrvbDTIpibtVOhXgx2s-8dNKHKBVs3tpE/s1600/Forever+Firends+by+Sarah+Mackenzie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="657" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhureqR9vbD68etfuPGNOBcDo4TIbc_OePqzdqwveq9Zp-6vIiDAHiRXfer0k_YQv2IUnUAAtvaoPfD4FMA2nDN4W6MJjpko8oN-q6k__LL3RBCrvbDTIpibtVOhXgx2s-8dNKHKBVs3tpE/s200/Forever+Firends+by+Sarah+Mackenzie.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SGQ9K5M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07SGQ9K5M&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=27bd579b3ed2aff6f71141d4f32b145f" target="_blank">Forever Friends (Cranberry Cove Book 1)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07SGQ9K5M" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification: </b>Adult Women's Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> Cranberry Cove (1) (Book 1)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 320 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Forever (December 10, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1538751127<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1538751121<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> Not Available at this time<br />
<b>Notes: </b>I received an eARC loan of the book from the publisher through Edelweiss for review purposes. This in no way affected my review or rating.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sadie Landry is a stay-at-home mom who feels she's losing her identity. The cool, confident young professional she'd once been has been replaced with a women who feels a bit like a fish out of water flopping around and trying to catch her breath. Add in the fact her husband is acting suspicious, her mother-in-law is constantly nitpicking her every move, and she suspects she might be pregnant and you've got the makings of a woman on the verge of coming undone.<br />
<br />
Renee Rhodes is a single mom and a newly minted empty nester. Her daughter is attending her first year at college and Renee doesn't know what to do with herself. Her life centered around her daughter and now she feels a little lost and without purpose.<br />
<br />
Two individuals with seemingly nothing in common at different ends of the mommy spectrum will be united over the burning of a batch of cupcakes. They will come to each other's aid in ways neither could ever have imagined--helping each other out with life, love, and the pursuit of happiness all while forming a friendship that will last forever...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYUmdPqb0GuCfcMfZvNp0ozoeahlnQnVO5Ch817fKcFz5lhoLFa018RSm7WgBD-BusXrl-kg0gGcq11DQFonq_wGqs_yOYvK7Y-DBHUDtv4R-TrCS_9f2TSahPC8A9ZCyVhSwYEC-oZ2d/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYUmdPqb0GuCfcMfZvNp0ozoeahlnQnVO5Ch817fKcFz5lhoLFa018RSm7WgBD-BusXrl-kg0gGcq11DQFonq_wGqs_yOYvK7Y-DBHUDtv4R-TrCS_9f2TSahPC8A9ZCyVhSwYEC-oZ2d/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This was a very heartwarming story with some twists and turns along the way. The mystery of what Sadie's husband is up to kept me guessing. The friendship forged between Renee and Sadie was enviable and there was no doubt that these two would be life long friends. I liked how Ms. Mackenzie picked two people at very different points in their life to form a friendship. I enjoyed how each was able to impart a piece of wisdom to the other to help them get through the difficult and confusing situations they were facing.<br />
<br />
I loved how the author captured some of the stress and self doubt that sometimes accompanies being a stay-at-home mom of young children. I still remember my first real shower after having my daughter. I was relieved to finally have some alone time, something I hadn't realized I needed until I stepped into the bathroom. Less than a minute into it my husband rolls our daughter into the bathroom in her bassinet and left her saying he couldn't get her to stop crying. Needless to say I started crying and got very upset with him when I got out. Crying babies and showers don't mix especially when you're nursing. Your whole life is upended in ways you never would have imagined when you have a child. Having a little person attached to you at the hip is both wonderful and a bit overwhelming. At times it feels like you're constantly taking one step forward and two steps back and losing yourself in the process.<br />
<br />
On the other side of the parenting perspective, I loved how the author captured some of the emotions a parent experiences when their child goes off to college. I've yet to become an empty nester, but I do know what it's like when your child goes off to college and suddenly their coming home during breaks isn't a given any more. While they're out testing their wings getting ready to fly away, you're still trying to deal with the fact you need to let them go so they can become the independent person they're meant to be. This is not always the easiest thing to do when your main goal for years has been to keep them safe, healthy, happy, well rounded, clothed, and fed. While the story delves a little into some deep topics, this storyline made me think of the Jergens lotion commercial where Leslie Mann makes her 20-year-old daughter use the skin lotion on her elbows, and ends with letting her know she's free for dinner. I'm so that type of mom--while the kids may be ready to break away, I'm just not.<br />
<br />
While friendship holds a key role in this story, romance was just as prevalent. The repairing of the relationship between Sadie and her husband, and the transformation of the relationship between Renee and Dan into something more were fun to watch. Each couple had some hurdles to overcome, but as expected in any good romance, love prevails.<br />
<br />
I ended up giving this one <b>4 1/2 out of 5 roses</b>. I enjoyed this story immensely. The two main characters, Sadie and Renee, were easy to relate to and sympathize with. I liked the contrast between the characters and between their relationships. The book contained a lovely combination of humor, friendship, drama, and romance. This was a great first novel from Ms. Mackenzie. Her writing style reminded me a little of Debbie Macomber's and Susan Mallery's, and I look forward to reading many more of her novels. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scored a <b>FAN</b> rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. The only thing missing in this one was recipe for one of Grandma Hester's pies at the end. That would have been the proverbial icing on the cake, or, er, the à la mode on the pie, I suppose, for this one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLgrH7Rcckxsu3oIx8rPCvIzQ8LSn9ufsSWsEfzVogO1y5rIniqaZ5chjmVeQB-9SO0Mk5G42ro1psl4Fz0bBrbrz_IUIN93njK5D2bPertRtNXmQmvFR1dFmQH5kfRb31HWcxwkiLaXt/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLgrH7Rcckxsu3oIx8rPCvIzQ8LSn9ufsSWsEfzVogO1y5rIniqaZ5chjmVeQB-9SO0Mk5G42ro1psl4Fz0bBrbrz_IUIN93njK5D2bPertRtNXmQmvFR1dFmQH5kfRb31HWcxwkiLaXt/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07SGQ9K5M&asins=B07SGQ9K5M&linkId=92c2d332f8fc8e4483070a3f7ea9f6de&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-51580309678262191602019-11-11T13:17:00.004-05:002019-11-11T13:17:33.415-05:00Restless Rancher (Wild Rose Ranch, #2) by Jennifer Ryan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio50KlpM1qvZqpyOLg7bVu_ViVgElQSE4l6Wh1PfqqSl31Me3uSaf_ap6QHUtIUmKL3EuJX10qSSFc1hm4-uVMgefrexJwh-TW6-5tXY2xQVBDX_wvAQC6KzWn3k3_URFuDUB30hMZWkLm/s1600/Restless+Rancher+by+Jennifer+Ryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio50KlpM1qvZqpyOLg7bVu_ViVgElQSE4l6Wh1PfqqSl31Me3uSaf_ap6QHUtIUmKL3EuJX10qSSFc1hm4-uVMgefrexJwh-TW6-5tXY2xQVBDX_wvAQC6KzWn3k3_URFuDUB30hMZWkLm/s200/Restless+Rancher+by+Jennifer+Ryan.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006285190X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=006285190X&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=8ba01aeeb0c1006b92bd47a18efb5677" target="_blank">Restless Rancher: Wild Rose Ranch</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=006285190X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> Wild Rose (Book 2)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 384 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Avon (November 12, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 006285190X<br />
<b>ISBN-13: </b>978-0062851901<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> Not Available<br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my review or rating.<br />
<br />
<br />
To say Austin Hubbard has fallen on hard times would be an understatement. Months ago he'd been living the good life running his family business under his dad and ready to settle down with his girlfriend for the long haul. Then his grandfather had died leaving him the house his mother had grown up in and the land surrounding it. That's when everything went to hell in a handbasket. His father wanted the house and land for reason's Austin couldn't phantom. When Austin refused to sell it to him, he'd been cut off and, without funds, his girlfriend quickly abandoned him. He'd been devastated. Slowly, with the help of his friends, he'd managed to get back on his feet only to be knocked down once again by the betrayal of all betrayals he never saw coming.<br />
<br />
Sonya Turner had been passed over for a promotion that by all accounts should have been hers. The promotion was the final step in her plan to becoming partner. The only thing lacking from her repertoire was she lacked that vital piece of male anatomy that would have gained her instant access to the good ole boys club, and there was no way she would be doing anything to change that--if that was even possible these days. So when her sister by choice, Roxy, asked for her assistance in helping her fiance's best friend get his newly inherited ranch sorted out, she'd turned in her resignation without a second thought. The sight that greeted her upon arrival, however, gave her pause for thought. A drunken cowboy passed out on the front porch was not what she'd been expecting. Not one to suffer fools gladly, she grabs a pitcher full of water and gives him the wake up call he so dearly needed.<br />
<br />
While you can't always get what you want, Austin's about to get exactly what he needs...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujnRhrTf138qo1NvPS-iVrbutoVMKu-uLLuIPEfFZ-6eA80YYcT6cke8I41Q_RBFqpIZqbcbuday0PxCU0HZ-ejuapaD_Rf85zW2Xr_Kohu_24LobT9dhMOFlhvPotfGnm-GT5PSGq3Hp/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujnRhrTf138qo1NvPS-iVrbutoVMKu-uLLuIPEfFZ-6eA80YYcT6cke8I41Q_RBFqpIZqbcbuday0PxCU0HZ-ejuapaD_Rf85zW2Xr_Kohu_24LobT9dhMOFlhvPotfGnm-GT5PSGq3Hp/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the second book of the Wild Rose Ranch series and while you could possibly get away with reading this one as a standalone novel, I don't recommend it. The series is based on a group of four women--Roxy, Sonya, Adria, and Julia--who became a makeshift family due to their similar circumstances--they were all the children of women who worked at a high end brothel just outside of Las Vegas called the Wild Rose Ranch. Over the years they all endured endless scorn, ridicule, and torment due to their mothers' chosen profession. They're all around the same age, and it's their shared situation which made them all stick together and become the tight knit family they are today. Roxy, however, is the glue that binds them. Her story, Dirty Little Secret, is where we're first introduced to these Wild Rose riders, the name the four chose for themselves as they competed in rodeos.<br />
<br />
The beginning of this book does not start off painting a picture full of double rainbows and unicorns. If anything, it paints a one the exact opposite--a harsh world filled with cruelty, unfairness, and a smattering of crudeness. Austin, when we're first introduced to him in this book, is not portrayed as a knight in shining armor or the dashing prince charming type. He's in a bad place and he's bitter, mad, and confused by the betrayals he's been dealt. As we start to gain a handle on the situation and come to understand how Austin managed to fall so far so fast, we begin to see more than just a spark of redeemable qualities. He is, as we all are, more than what he appears during his darkest moments.<br />
<br />
Sonya is a no-nonsense, smart as a whip, beautiful young women who has hopes and dreams just like the next girl. While you'd think with all the lemons life has handed her she'd be a very cynical individual, she's mainly just a very guarded and cautious person about who she lets into her life. While her first impression of Austin isn't very high, as she works beside him and becomes acquainted with him, and he with her, she gets to know him in a way she wouldn't have otherwise. A mutual respect forms between them which quickly transforms into something more as they give in to their mutual attraction.<br />
<br />
Sonya is a shrewd business woman and a forensic accountant by trade. She's been trained to find money, property, or whatever else people are trying to hide within the numbers, and she's very good at what she does. She's seen a lot over the years and has never been accused of wearing rose colored glasses or of being naive, and she is rarely intimidated. Very little surprises her and she doesn't play games, doesn't take crap from anyone, and calls 'em like she sees them. She's exactly what Austin needs and he's exactly what she needs.<br />
<br />
The song that kept playing in my head as I read this one was Julia Andrew's song 'Something Good'...<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i>'Perhaps I had a wicked childhood</i><br />
<i>Perhaps I had a miserable youth</i><br />
<i>But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past</i><br />
<i>There must have been a moment of truth</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>For here you are, standing there, loving me</i><br />
<i>Whether or not you should</i><br />
<i>So somewhere in my youth or childhood</i><br />
<i>I must have done something good'</i><br />
<br />
Overall, I gave this one <b>4 1/2 out of 5 roses.</b> There were plenty of twists, turns, and heart wrenching moments. The story kept my attention, and maintained a good pace. I liked the dynamics of Austin and Sonya's relationship although it took me a while to warm up to Austin. I liked Sonya, however, from the moment she drenched Austin with water. She made me laugh and smile. We should all have a friend like her. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvGeRtNQGf87NeDnFu1zMTnQm3K40r00_bSJXdsYjSL1-bsrab48m7VGAG-_RkaV3fn1lWwH3WChf8wUiKgm8s6DKef9jZh7RVJHldh4Zj4h8s2QfjRpdnGfDVXCKUtMs6yMdHVPKLo3l/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvGeRtNQGf87NeDnFu1zMTnQm3K40r00_bSJXdsYjSL1-bsrab48m7VGAG-_RkaV3fn1lWwH3WChf8wUiKgm8s6DKef9jZh7RVJHldh4Zj4h8s2QfjRpdnGfDVXCKUtMs6yMdHVPKLo3l/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Wild Rose Ranch series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B079RDYM6G&asins=B079RDYM6G&linkId=d74f62b50f7a5442c34127211dea1ba5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=006285190X&asins=006285190X&linkId=d5d980811df8696dc6be07a6f71b0ec1&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<br />Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-81567072860968233142019-10-21T17:49:00.001-04:002019-10-21T17:49:08.869-04:00Total Bravery (True Heroes, #4) by Piper J. Drake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyD7RxaP-iclUw7AcAtPuO-4MEmAcu5D5WOc8mRrXxfLRxVMbGErtkSZjEJ1H94DnabTM8uLdEJ9b7V95vUcuhd_Ky3zjYF-StyTHjC-O3wmsB9pRtP7YNweqJA_x8yowD5aGtYp3EHmf/s1600/Total+Bravery+by+Piper+J+Drake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="618" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyD7RxaP-iclUw7AcAtPuO-4MEmAcu5D5WOc8mRrXxfLRxVMbGErtkSZjEJ1H94DnabTM8uLdEJ9b7V95vUcuhd_Ky3zjYF-StyTHjC-O3wmsB9pRtP7YNweqJA_x8yowD5aGtYp3EHmf/s200/Total+Bravery+by+Piper+J+Drake.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074M6QBLV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B074M6QBLV&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=8e9dfcff90b5e1fe8780dbe349145a5f" target="_blank">Total Bravery (True Heroes Book 4)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B074M6QBLV" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Romantic Suspense/Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> True Heroes (Book 4)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 304 pages<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Forever (April 24, 2018)<br />
<b>ISBN-10: </b>1538759535<br />
<b>ISBN-13: </b>978-1538759530<br />
<b>Author's website:</b> <a href="http://piperjdrake.com/">http://piperjdrake.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected by rating or review.<br />
<br />
<br />
Raul Sa' is just starting a job with Search and Protect when he gets a call from his best friend's younger sister:<br />
<br />
<b><i>"There's someone--several people--chasing me."</i></b><br />
<br />
Mali Siri and her research team were out doing field work when her PI, Principle Investigator, was approached by men in dark suits. At first no one was alarmed thinking they were probably just government officials checking up on their research. The heated conversation that ensued quickly suggested otherwise. When her PI sounded the alarm that the team should disperse, they did, scattering in different directions. Not knowing what happened to the rest of her team and being pursued herself, she tries to contact the one person she knows can help her, her sister. The only thing is the person who answers is not her sister. Apparently, her sister forwarded her calls. Mali will need the help of Raul and the Search and Protect team to get to the bottom of what happened to her team and, if they're still alive, rescue them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDDl8NQlFndtcd5JoQdANBBqZGdSTiVEwvE1ZCEK2LPbLkNlL2sZjp_TYDYqAqLV0Pi_JAKrk4RsgTbpMeSFQN8WGiwlpzgMnbyiZqpWtx7XVXeVO_Eydpavlf0W3TP4dH0wujK6Fb3WQ/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDDl8NQlFndtcd5JoQdANBBqZGdSTiVEwvE1ZCEK2LPbLkNlL2sZjp_TYDYqAqLV0Pi_JAKrk4RsgTbpMeSFQN8WGiwlpzgMnbyiZqpWtx7XVXeVO_Eydpavlf0W3TP4dH0wujK6Fb3WQ/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This was the fourth book in the True Heroes series, and the first book of the series I've read. I didn't feel lost, so it can definitely be read as a standalone novel. The novel is fast paced and grabs your attention from the get go. It deals with some very heavy subject matter--human trafficking--and brings to light how close to home the horrific trade truly is. Even if you think it's only a third world country problem, it's not. Human trafficking is pretty much happening right in our own backyards.<br />
<br />
Mali Siri is a strong, smart, resourceful, and quick thinking young woman who is trying to make a difference. Her work, and the work of her team, could do a world of difference in changing laws to help the victims of human trafficking from being victimized a second time by the laws that presently exist. Most of the women in the sex trade work out of fear for themselves or their loved ones, not because it's their profession of choice. This book just scratches the surface of human trafficking and the dangers associated with it. When Mari's team is taken, she acts without thinking knowing they were in over their heads. She calls the one person who has always managed to get her out of a jam, her sister.<br />
<br />
Raul is a good man with a lot of emotional scars caused by guilt, shame, and self-reproach. In the past, his job made him do things that he's not proud of, but were necessary. He was the person they sent in to extract answers from people, and he was very good at it. Against his better judgment, he gives into the attraction that starts to stir between him and Mali knowing Arin, Mali's sister, will not be happy.<br />
<br />
I loved how Raul was strong and vulnerable at the same time. He was afraid Mali wouldn't be able to come to terms with his past, but, in the end, he's the one who needed to come to term with it. I really wish the author would have delved into this a little deeper. It would have bumped this story from a really good story to a truly great one. <br />
<br />
The defining quote of the book which held multiple significance (even though Raul, ironically, didn't seem to realize it also applied to himself) was:<br />
<br />
<b><i>“Whether a person is good or bad can’t be identified by their job title. People aren’t that easy to categorize.”</i></b><br />
<br />
Overall, I gave this one <b>4 1/2 out of 5 roses.</b> I loved the dynamics of the relationship, and how Raul let Mali take the lead. I liked how he did not try to shelter Mali or act like she was too fragile to assist in the extrication of her team. He made sure she was included in all the planning and implementation of the rescue attempt. I loved how these two were together. I do wish, however, that the author had delved a little deeper into Raul's past and let him come to terms with it. I believe it would have added another layer to this already wonderful story. Additionally, if Mali had been the one to help him do it, that would have been the icing on the cake for this tale. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I definitely recommend this one. Now I need to figure out how to fit the rest of the series into my reading lineup.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJxqKbyLYNJRJzlRZIdPb4rh4dgWnugxKc9Xl5HKc34PKkugxdALINoJ1oRXUEpybuLj3WFmj1pfFSEPT3pGMH0ezcVzv1esjjlwbFa3Uv-hsl6H3RSWNWHQ3arWl8EDAuU2Y-zeNqKkN/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJxqKbyLYNJRJzlRZIdPb4rh4dgWnugxKc9Xl5HKc34PKkugxdALINoJ1oRXUEpybuLj3WFmj1pfFSEPT3pGMH0ezcVzv1esjjlwbFa3Uv-hsl6H3RSWNWHQ3arWl8EDAuU2Y-zeNqKkN/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the True Heroes series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1455536040&asins=1455536040&linkId=cd39a02c7b23a041ccb24927992bf8c5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B017RQP1X0&asins=B017RQP1X0&linkId=03df3a88a2fbe5515e08eaa2c32d51cf&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01G1K1S7G&asins=B01G1K1S7G&linkId=8c98b0e015e23160c04969cf3a70a9e4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B074M6QBLV&asins=B074M6QBLV&linkId=58e91f8d319ff3f1ee36960e9dfab048&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1538759578&asins=1538759578&linkId=08fa8f23bc0203ec8f05264e085c5195&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07RKSTGCY&asins=B07RKSTGCY&linkId=050d1e9aed815f2f940ef2624a3f55c0&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-16159537250310459312019-10-14T23:51:00.005-04:002019-10-15T08:58:06.528-04:00Early Review of Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake & Share by Kristen Tomlan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSMcyS6-uAfSaEef6FxAruXhyphenhyphenZ-qOFYt1N9Nt3HPIG6U8aP3TADBrN3emLDQfW93rhDllPhqY2t4eRbie2HUOU2orh-lYyg7s5DRE54F8I3cj-Yjsn5Uhl_cNwNhf9OUYuA8E0kJweF5I/s1600/hello%252C+Cookie+Dough+by+Kristen+Tomlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="829" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSMcyS6-uAfSaEef6FxAruXhyphenhyphenZ-qOFYt1N9Nt3HPIG6U8aP3TADBrN3emLDQfW93rhDllPhqY2t4eRbie2HUOU2orh-lYyg7s5DRE54F8I3cj-Yjsn5Uhl_cNwNhf9OUYuA8E0kJweF5I/s200/hello%252C+Cookie+Dough+by+Kristen+Tomlan.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538748886/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1538748886&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=9525bafdf7035497b8f3ab70c7c3e01d" target="_blank">Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake & Share</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1538748886" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification:</b> Nonfiction<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Cookbook<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 304 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Grand Central Publishing (October 15, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 1538748886<br />
<b>ISBN-13: </b>978-1538748886<br />
<b>Author's website:</b> <a href="https://www.cookiedonyc.com/">https://www.cookiedonyc.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes: </b>I received a copy of the book from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my rating or review.<br />
<br />
<br />
Kristen Tomlan has always loved baking, but cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies, have always held a special place in her heart. In 2012 while baking cookies with her friends Kristen asked if they'd like to skip the baking and just split the bowl of dough. They all agreed to, and that was when the spark of an idea entered Kristen's head about creating and selling edible cookie dough. If she and her friends loved it so much it only reasoned others would too. While many think DŌ sprang up overnight (or close too it), Kristen developed these recipes over many years. She also had been running her business online out of her apartment for over a year before renting some commercial space to expand her business. That was when DŌ became more than just a business that sold it's product online. People started showing up on her store's doorstep in hopes of buying some of their doughy goodness. Now Kristen is sharing her recipes, some of which she uses in her store, with everyone in her first, but hopefully not last, cookbook.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcU5enWea01WJVjbzTMN9_wVQKy9GkAzQv_8lRKFo1bq8JfOrlA1cpOLZI2I2Cg9IHMFDgO9kodrdthLWfzB5MTB9hmdQ1oVL4jYaPqU2CLmKjTXqV8uZICls6BXXGxknh59u3dhm1_9AQ/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcU5enWea01WJVjbzTMN9_wVQKy9GkAzQv_8lRKFo1bq8JfOrlA1cpOLZI2I2Cg9IHMFDgO9kodrdthLWfzB5MTB9hmdQ1oVL4jYaPqU2CLmKjTXqV8uZICls6BXXGxknh59u3dhm1_9AQ/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When a publisher listed this book as one of the ones I could review, I was like, "You so had me at Hello, Cookie Dough." I had no idea it was written by Kristen or that she was the owner of DŌ. I'd heard about her store on the Today Show and was bummed the store was in New York City and not Tampa. I have always had a weakness for cookie dough, but since warnings started circulating about eating raw cookie dough I've shied away from it. In fact, my kids asked me more than once if it was truly okay for them to eat the raw dough when I asked them to sample some Kristen's wares. Even I had to remind myself it was okay to eat. Ms. Tomlan writes in her book how to make cookie dough safe for consumption. In fact, you can use the procedures she lists to make any family cookie, brownie, cake, or other recipe you may have lying around safe to eat raw too. Please excuse me while I do a little happy dance. I wish she'd published this book years ago. I would have loved to make these recipes with my kids when they were younger. She even includes a recipe for edible play dough. How cool is that? Mark my words, this will be <i>the</i> cookbook to get or give this holiday season. It's just that good.<br />
<br />
So I've made seven of the recipes--the signature chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies, cake batter cookies, brookies, brownie cookies, sugar cookies, and Blondies--listed in the book, and have loved them all. There are still many many more I want to make and taste, but I'm trying to pace myself so I don't end up gaining a hundred pounds. In fact, the first question my daughter asked after looking over the types of recipes was, "Is the author a rather large person?" Strangely enough she's not.<br />
<br />
The book has six signature flavors and the author gives suggestions for what you can mix in with them. She also has several desserts that use cookie dough in their recipes like cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, pecan pie, pancakes, and many more. The only recipes that have nothing to do with cookie dough are the ones the author uses to mix in to her cookie dough like caramel sauce and caramel corn. Yum!<br />
<br />
I'd like to take a moment to thank the author for listing the brands of the ingredients she prefers to use in her store. Thank You! I cannot tell you how frustrating it is when a cook, chef, or baker on a TV show or in a book says to use something as vague as a 'good chocolate' that melts at a certain temperature without adding 'like <i>this</i> brand...' Grrrr.... Are we talking Belgium, French, German or is Nestle okay? Hey, I think Nestle is good, but I don't know what temperature it or other chocolates melt at. I'm not a chef, a cook, or a baker. Kristen tells you her go to brands and lists alternatives for the pricier ones or, when possible, a recipe that you can use if you'd rather make your own.<br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses</b>. Kristen Tomlan has truly created something special. She includes tips throughout the book and encourages you to play with flavors to make the recipes reflect your own personal tastes. The variety of recipes is wonderful and if you'd prefer to have cookies instead of the dough, you can always follow her instructions on how to cook them. The author even includes a recipe for Doggie Dough, and almost all of the recipes can be altered to be Gluten Free--which is something I will utilize for my husband. Additionally, she includes a recipe to make a wheat flour alternative. I have yet to try it, but will definitely make good use of it in the future. I HIGHLY recommend this one. It was well thought out and is full of recipes made up of doughy goodness that taste wonderful. What more could you want in a cookie dough cookbook? I loved this one and have no doubt it will be one of my more used cookbooks in the future.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5HpXbrW8TQ89wovreMNm-aNqYNJe2bNWv48PG-qyhPYK1SX67mVkZmQ8_5NrvsnEDQoOV-zUjymgN4l-EqsfEOg4FdxzAhBUoEWRpu4iKUHomvwA4SLJ3VCAYRH_PkJnmOeztG6M0Lyw/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5HpXbrW8TQ89wovreMNm-aNqYNJe2bNWv48PG-qyhPYK1SX67mVkZmQ8_5NrvsnEDQoOV-zUjymgN4l-EqsfEOg4FdxzAhBUoEWRpu4iKUHomvwA4SLJ3VCAYRH_PkJnmOeztG6M0Lyw/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1538748886&asins=1538748886&linkId=b241ff30ba1132d3ca8dd06f0a0cc3ca&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz24g_zZrg0rPQ-yhiqv0j0lWGeKEeYkaYIJpe8yJ_fgee0NsYeLK3IwAuMzpxwCTpJqzBH68jW6yxBCzX3-vZStlAFLhRvZbrabT4Q9HBzMS3KyYta5FgrGEcRaL_G-oe5TX3Oq2dCfEx/s1600/IMG_8276.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz24g_zZrg0rPQ-yhiqv0j0lWGeKEeYkaYIJpe8yJ_fgee0NsYeLK3IwAuMzpxwCTpJqzBH68jW6yxBCzX3-vZStlAFLhRvZbrabT4Q9HBzMS3KyYta5FgrGEcRaL_G-oe5TX3Oq2dCfEx/s1600/IMG_8276.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz24g_zZrg0rPQ-yhiqv0j0lWGeKEeYkaYIJpe8yJ_fgee0NsYeLK3IwAuMzpxwCTpJqzBH68jW6yxBCzX3-vZStlAFLhRvZbrabT4Q9HBzMS3KyYta5FgrGEcRaL_G-oe5TX3Oq2dCfEx/s200/IMG_8276.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVAWHDzHPFml_QaRDUF424SPDJIvN-G1hy2cA7ByHGnxSVDpP1wCjKOo7pbCbkwpvsrVA41-vMwNwSCsBYlG_YJNhHNIp2O4F7XudpyOvCjG-iv3vfroplFR340tMzL6y2PDuMsTQdXxw/s1600/IMG_8277.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVAWHDzHPFml_QaRDUF424SPDJIvN-G1hy2cA7ByHGnxSVDpP1wCjKOo7pbCbkwpvsrVA41-vMwNwSCsBYlG_YJNhHNIp2O4F7XudpyOvCjG-iv3vfroplFR340tMzL6y2PDuMsTQdXxw/s200/IMG_8277.JPG" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyufwIjIzlsXID5n0DwvEHSZQASbepoyqpxO0lCdim66TPvZM_GWbxW-pssADYNAkmGKuP7pmc3EIX0oD0lARJ3SPTz-Ai7Wc5GUH1tqJZ4-fhyphenhyphenP9g5xtHQysz2IrPjrf7FV7FO8svrQ2/s200/IMG_8275.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSRp9muMwYk3nCyelbvVqrzMtvyKYwz7XGuvj0EcUek4zi0QuYKuO_NLSc9uJ8HxtXSxif3xoMt4VIljbj4rHYvx7Sq54VvWpgPmXj6wPfc8vzqE5-KgI8VxTYR0pNJq2JPtnd6BYWbXT/s1600/IMG_8284.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSRp9muMwYk3nCyelbvVqrzMtvyKYwz7XGuvj0EcUek4zi0QuYKuO_NLSc9uJ8HxtXSxif3xoMt4VIljbj4rHYvx7Sq54VvWpgPmXj6wPfc8vzqE5-KgI8VxTYR0pNJq2JPtnd6BYWbXT/s200/IMG_8284.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_-fWAQSO6XcBpXGsvD7K8CCnvvpAvwYbQMZ3X3SX2UUrw1PubOHyv6JjlD05acwSLSK82roS_LzqkM4_vHE8SMEj3cA2kx40QELBRolyDi8v8p4iCDhpqylhjWVM5jySRzxSK5GDPIs1/s1600/IMG_8285.JPG"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_-fWAQSO6XcBpXGsvD7K8CCnvvpAvwYbQMZ3X3SX2UUrw1PubOHyv6JjlD05acwSLSK82roS_LzqkM4_vHE8SMEj3cA2kx40QELBRolyDi8v8p4iCDhpqylhjWVM5jySRzxSK5GDPIs1/s200/IMG_8285.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2Se4knWs2FYivXSGeCMDB5sc9ufBAb07VyCWJ9t4u4dDxcv-wV_veHemfE1_svON0ebD8TWAW44OIC4FDniYKxbENjf4W68BnjbktxVR2X-BhJDpZP45-gMzCSVVj1ti8gxA6YYpWYY4/s1600/IMG_8287.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2Se4knWs2FYivXSGeCMDB5sc9ufBAb07VyCWJ9t4u4dDxcv-wV_veHemfE1_svON0ebD8TWAW44OIC4FDniYKxbENjf4W68BnjbktxVR2X-BhJDpZP45-gMzCSVVj1ti8gxA6YYpWYY4/s200/IMG_8287.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-42540123256496661332019-10-10T17:58:00.000-04:002019-10-10T17:58:01.504-04:00The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyHgCmagfiNDeeDEWu-Dd92of2Hsqzg11rKTPePImbfBIBAW6bVtEVC8M9OlUGdLxu8qZy8PF8crBqYT7K2H_JjjrxD6Kuj4IBFIiqwOq-tH7Jo4YekL1tGBvV-vPt4sHhyHwsxKj09rd/s1600/The+Paris+Orphan+by+Natasha+Lester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="652" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyHgCmagfiNDeeDEWu-Dd92of2Hsqzg11rKTPePImbfBIBAW6bVtEVC8M9OlUGdLxu8qZy8PF8crBqYT7K2H_JjjrxD6Kuj4IBFIiqwOq-tH7Jo4YekL1tGBvV-vPt4sHhyHwsxKj09rd/s200/The+Paris+Orphan+by+Natasha+Lester.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/153876489X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=153876489X&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=699b4d18edb01c8c0bd1b1d257cfb2b1" target="_blank">The Paris Orphan</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=153876489X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification: </b>Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Fiction<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 480 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Forever (September 3, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 153876489X<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1538764893<br />
<b>Author's Website: </b><a href="https://www.natashalester.com.au/">https://www.natashalester.com.au/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received a copy of the book for review purposes. This in no way affected my review or rating. Be forewarned, this book tackles some harsh subjects that are associated with WW II. Rape and other horrors of the war are discussed, so if those types of subjects don't appeal, you may want to skip this one.<br />
<br />
<br />
War has a way of bringing out the best or worst in people, and never was it more apparent than during World War II. People died in horrific ways at the hands of other people. Friend turned on friend, family members turned upon other family members. Those who were supposed to be heroes didn't always act heroic. Under the cloak of war people do things they normally wouldn't when the brunt of society is watching. Death seemed to lurk at every turn and in every corner. If you managed to escape the grim reaper it was more out of dumb luck than through brawn or skill. Hell, it seemed, had unleashed its fury upon the earth and decided to stay for a while as it basked in the wake of the chaos and destruction it wrought.<br />
<br />
It was during this time that women stepped up to the plate, taking on the jobs their male counterparts would have done if they hadn't been sent to the battlefront. Among those women, a small handful were allowed to go to Europe and report on the war, but they weren't given the access their fellow male war correspondents were. Women, it was thought, were too delicate in nature to be able to handle all the gore and horror that came with being at the battlefront. It was a place they didn't belong and so they were delegated to less dangerous places such as field hospitals and towns that the allied soldiers occupied.<br />
<br />
In the midst of all the havoc war wreaked a good luck charm emerged in the form of a young orphan girl. The US soldiers believed a kiss or a hug from the young girl before they left on a mission would bring them luck. Strangely enough, those who didn't get a kiss or a hug tended to be the ones who didn't come back while those who did always seemed to.<b> <i>'Victorine, who was a small sun bringing light and warmth to a place otherwise bereft of those things.'</i></b> Victorine became the subject of one of the stories that Jessica May, a model who became a photographer and war corespondent, reported about in Vogue magazine. It is the photograph she took of Victorine that sixty years later will be the key to uncovering a secret that would otherwise never have been revealed.<br />
<br />
"To find beauty in war photographs seems heartless. But the landscape of devastation is still a landscape. There is beauty in ruins." ~ Susan Sontag, Regarding the Pain of Others<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09l5ty6o7pZAjl02pjZZdBE-Wbpa6aLsZgCrxjOIAUQKV9FflaNqqbvjhUUUEzsXSFud8tPYnU8SL8mH62Xg4Vx1P8E3CXLlDx_Qilb6HIUzlD5LG0S55jIXDFuDD27hi_yZ4y_eMZ9u7/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09l5ty6o7pZAjl02pjZZdBE-Wbpa6aLsZgCrxjOIAUQKV9FflaNqqbvjhUUUEzsXSFud8tPYnU8SL8mH62Xg4Vx1P8E3CXLlDx_Qilb6HIUzlD5LG0S55jIXDFuDD27hi_yZ4y_eMZ9u7/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a standalone novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is written in third person narrative from four different perspectives and spans four different time periods over sixty years. The main character, Jessica 'Jess' May, is loosely based off of a real life person named Lee Miller. Bits and pieces of events that happen in the book actually happened to Lee. I had no clue there were female reporters or photographers during WW II and this book brings to light those forgotten women and the remarkable work they did. Ms. Lester opens up the novel with a quote by David E. Scherman of Life Magazine whom Lee Miller teamed up with during WW II--<b><i>"It is almost impossible today, almost fifty years later, to conceive how difficult it was for a woman correspondent to get beyond a rear-echelon military position, in other words to the front, where the action was."</i></b> While it's now been over 70 years since WW II, this story makes me want to learn more about Lee Miller. She sounds like an amazing woman that people should know about. <br />
<br />
Jess May is a successful model whose career is abruptly cut short due to an unfortunate incident created by her soon to be ex-boyfriend. The situation created immediately makes her persona non grata in the modeling world. Over the years she has dabbled in photography and, at a friend's suggestion, she decides to put those skills to use by becoming a war correspondent. With limited access to the front lines, Jess decides early on to make it her mission to find stories about women who, through the occupation, have done remarkable things. The majority of this book is about Jess' journey during that time period.<br />
<br />
Dan Hallworth is a Major in the Army. He and Jess meet when she's unexpectedly driven out into a war zone that was thought to be the location of a field hospital. He is one of those rare men who <b><i>"couldn't care less if you were a woman or a flamingo"</i></b>. Many men of the time would love to see her fail, but he helps Jess throughout the war when he can, not because he's hoping for something in return but because he's an overall nice guy. He cares about others--especially the men under his command--and does all he can to try to keep them safe and feels it personally when something happens to one. He's one of the men that war brings out the best in. He's also easy on the eyes and the women he encounters tend to swoon over him. In the midst of all the chaos, Jess and Dan form an unlikely friendship.<br />
<br />
D'Arcy is hired sixty years after the war ended to handle a collection of World War II photographs taken by a photographer whom nobody knows the identity of. The photographer, known only as I. Durant, was up for a Pulitzer but is rumored to have not won because some thought he or she might have been a woman. As D'Arcy goes through an old box of photos in the Photographer's attic, she discovers a photo she knows all too well--a picture that was highly publicized taken by Jessica May of a young girl during the war. When she turns the photo over she makes a startling discovery--the name on the back of the photo is that of her mother, Victorine Hallworth, and the man in the photo with her is revealed to be Dan Hallworth. Could there be a connection between her, her mother, Jessica May, and Dan Hallworth? D'Arcy has no idea but, as she learns more and more, she is determined to find out.<br />
<br />
Victorine is the common link that will cause a carefully stacked house of cards, i.e. a carefully constructed set of lies, omissions, and secrets, to collapse. This is a story about love, loss, selfishness, secrets, lies, and the choices we make. It shows how one singular event can change the direction of more than one individual. It's also a cautionary tale about how actions have '<b><i>consequences that nobody could ever imagine or will ever know.'</i></b> Plus, there's a nice lesson to the story which, ironically, Victorine taught her daughter:<b><i> </i></b><i style="font-weight: 700;">"It's my mother's fault I'm not shy," she said. "She taught me to question everything, to say what I thought because sometimes, if you didn't, people died." (...) "She believed holding back was a dangerous thing that could end in sadness."</i><br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this one <b>4 1/2 out of 5 roses.</b> This is a novel about<b><i> "a beautiful young woman who's at the age when she has the whole world ahead of her, when the decisions she makes will either be the best or hardest to live with in the years to come." </i></b>It's a story that brings up subjects that were swept under the rug and never properly dealt with. It contains subject matter that is highly relevant in today's #MeTooMovement era, and illustrates just how far women in our society have truly come. It also delves into the extreme ugliness of war. As Jess states in the novel about the concentration camps, <b><i>"That's why I think people say it can't be true. Because they can't imagine there are worse things. But every time we think that, we find evidence of something worse than the worst possible thing." </i></b>I loved how the author used the literary device called a foil. It's when an author includes contrasting characters which highlight the character of another character. In this case she used two, one for Jess and one for Dan. See if you can spot them. The only thing that kept me from giving this a 5 rose rating is because of something that happens at the end that I wish would have been written slightly different. Once you read the book you'll probably have no problem identifying what it is. This was an emotional roller coaster ride of a read that kept my attention from start to finish. It was well written, engaging, had characters which were easy to relate to, and made me feel like I'd taken a step back in time. While there is a romance in this one, I'm forgoing my romance rating because romance isn't the center of this story. I definitely recommend this one, and think that this story and/or the real life story of Lee Miller would make for a great movie. Hollywood should take note of this one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqeXAsAmljb6ovD3_gv5tg6glaFSydLhBWOD6_ELSQ3oIfRTxC9i95iIwKZqmRzX9yaFB0zPf4d7aQ8-kWw47ejB6Fd6N2gFYSBbYTC57DBLADg-rMbk4POqGQ0W-pJ_J0JwZ8gLnMClt/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqeXAsAmljb6ovD3_gv5tg6glaFSydLhBWOD6_ELSQ3oIfRTxC9i95iIwKZqmRzX9yaFB0zPf4d7aQ8-kWw47ejB6Fd6N2gFYSBbYTC57DBLADg-rMbk4POqGQ0W-pJ_J0JwZ8gLnMClt/s1600/My+4+and+a+half+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=153876489X&asins=153876489X&linkId=8622bf10b7366bef55b2456d000d235a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
<b>Notes to keep you in the know:</b><br />
If this Lee Miller and other female WW II war correspondents intrigue you as much as they do me, you may want to check out the following books:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226080676/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0226080676&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=8252531cb915e9c0fc88d32ebdc9c067" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0226080676&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0226080676" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0500291543/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0500291543&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=bb83b7e19d6542da02857348de6d6cd4" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0500291543&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0500291543" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300123752/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300123752&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=f1ff8fd9a80861feba599ee831d080ce" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0300123752&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0300123752" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0500275092/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0500275092&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=806b4ff29ad2d52d90be35bac2aff5e3" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0500275092&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0500275092" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0067MZGEA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0067MZGEA&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=af638420e4bac2bffc351ffcd2eefb0e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0067MZGEA&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0067MZGEA" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<br />
You may also want to check out The Lee Miller Archives where you can view some of her photos:<br />
<a href="https://www.leemiller.co.uk/">https://www.leemiller.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
<br />Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-33017628226641453452019-09-27T00:01:00.000-04:002019-09-27T07:03:04.063-04:00When the Marquess Was Mine (The Wagers of Sin #3) by Caroline Linden Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDehyrXRJhy-YDdTGlCOXcUnw2vZlprK1LTWREWYtCAVUrxmLCgeK3_0anTQ4u8_FosJ9P2r54_cNV0LgR-C3iwaNnBr6H0UpCEhcRjIeMhmxbvXpsMXSkQq1aqSFPq0JiwuCmU7BImAx/s1600/When+the+Marquess+Was+Mine+Tour+Card.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDehyrXRJhy-YDdTGlCOXcUnw2vZlprK1LTWREWYtCAVUrxmLCgeK3_0anTQ4u8_FosJ9P2r54_cNV0LgR-C3iwaNnBr6H0UpCEhcRjIeMhmxbvXpsMXSkQq1aqSFPq0JiwuCmU7BImAx/s640/When+the+Marquess+Was+Mine+Tour+Card.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi616VfRftObGSmiE_Ecx6ERyZyjwE07Ewu0YcQJUOn1R2ezZtJBgsPGrtl1oNc8ibvOHOiGVLk3hKvW1rVO66y-wucfgZ-az7Q7qtWkiRrpsufVgwfASPndVSKY313VxlQ0EC3jcisieD7/s1600/When+the+Marquess+was+Mine+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi616VfRftObGSmiE_Ecx6ERyZyjwE07Ewu0YcQJUOn1R2ezZtJBgsPGrtl1oNc8ibvOHOiGVLk3hKvW1rVO66y-wucfgZ-az7Q7qtWkiRrpsufVgwfASPndVSKY313VxlQ0EC3jcisieD7/s640/When+the+Marquess+was+Mine+cover.jpg" width="403" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">When the was Mine </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">by
Caroline Linden</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Available now at a bookstore near you!</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>In the game of love…</b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Georgiana
Lucas despises the arrogant and cruel Marquess of Westmorland even before
learning that he’s won the deed to her friend Kitty’s home in a card game.
Still, Georgiana assures Kitty the marquess wouldn’t possibly come all the way
to Derbyshire to throw them out—until he shows up, bloody and unconscious.
Fearing that Kitty would rather see him die, Georgiana blurts out that he’s her
fiancé. She’ll nurse the hateful man back to health and make him vow to leave
and never return. The man who wakes up, though, is nothing like the heartless
rogue Georgiana thought she knew…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>You have to risk it all</b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
He wakes up
with no memory of being assaulted—or of who he is. The bewitching beauty
tending him so devotedly calls him Rob and claims she’s his fiancée even as she
avoids his touch. Though he can’t remember how he won her hand, he’s now
determined to win her heart. But as his memory returns and the truth is
revealed, Rob must decide if the game is up—or if he’ll take a chance on a love
that defies all odds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVENVmVt44VN9603S5qWeUp3URD45cf0H4AYPCcyffD9J-G4b0C9sqwuYCT7V8m5zwQSc_QxCIJp0zNPwz15yr57jIxVpR1fGaic4m0_3hMJwM0XamxwoRJDP_FQMU4slG_fjsHSUiTiy/s1600/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="779" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVENVmVt44VN9603S5qWeUp3URD45cf0H4AYPCcyffD9J-G4b0C9sqwuYCT7V8m5zwQSc_QxCIJp0zNPwz15yr57jIxVpR1fGaic4m0_3hMJwM0XamxwoRJDP_FQMU4slG_fjsHSUiTiy/s320/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Chapter One<br />
1819<br />
<br />
It was to be a bacchanal for the ages.<br />
<br />
As Heathercote remarked, a man only turned twenty-nine once. Marlow pointed out that a man also only turned twenty-eight, or thirty, once as well, but they were well used to ignoring Marlow’s odd points of reason, and this one was promptly forgotten.<br />
<br />
Heathercote planned the entire affair, inviting the most dashing, daring rogues and scoundrels in London. He declared it to be the invitation of the month, and that he’d turned away several fellows for lacking wit, style, or both. “You mean they aren’t up to your standard of mayhem,” said Westmorland, whose birthday it was, to which Heathercote mimed tipping his hat in acknowledgment.<br />
<br />
After a raucous dinner at White’s, they decamped for the theater. The production was well under way when they invaded the pit in search of amusement. By the time the show ended, they had drunk a great deal of brandy, thrown oranges at the stage, and lost Clifton to the company of a prostitute.<br />
<br />
Everyone’s memories ran a bit ragged after that, with vague recollections of singing in the streets and Marlow casting up his accounts somewhere in Westminster, but eventually they settled at the Vega Club. It was so late, the manager tried to dissuade them from play. Mr. Forbes knew every one of them could wager for hours, and the Vega Club closed its doors at dawn.<br />
<br />
But Heathercote persuaded him to let them in and to give them the whist salon all to themselves. “We’ll leave by noon,” he promised, patting Forbes on the chest as he slid a handful of notes into the man’s hand. His words were remarkably steady for a man who’d been drinking for eight hours. Grim-faced, Forbes let them in, where they commandeered the main table and called for yet more wine.<br />
<br />
A few intrepid souls followed them from the club proper. Forbes tried to stop them at the door, but Forester recognized one and waved them in. “We don’t mind winning their money,” he said with a hiccup.<br />
<br />
They played whist, then switched to loo. One loser was dared to drink off the contents of his full flask in one go, which he did. The room filled with cigar smoke and ribald language, and the wagers grew extravagant. Marlow won a prize colt off Forester. Heathercote wagered his new phaeton and ended up with someone’s barouche. Sackville won the largest pot of the night, and everyone pelted him with markers.<br />
<br />
And then one of the hangers-on spoiled it. He had the look of a country fellow new to London, with an arrogant bluster that was initially amusing but eventually turned annoying. He’d played well enough, winning a bit and losing with colorful curses that made the rest of them roar with laughter. But it became abruptly clear that Sir Charles Winston was in over his head when he wagered his house.<br />
<br />
Marlow laughed. Heathercote picked up the scribbled note Winston had put forth and read it with one brow arched. “Can’t wager property, Winslow.”<br />
<br />
The man was already ruddy from drink, and now he turned scarlet. “Can so! Your fellow wagered a horse.”<br />
<br />
“Horses are portable,” said Forester, his Liverpool accent bleeding through. “Houses are not.”<br />
<br />
“Houses are worth more!”<br />
<br />
“Aye, too much more.” Heathercote flicked the note back across the table. “Markers.”<br />
<br />
“I haven’t got any more markers,” muttered the younger man. For a moment everyone focused in surprised silence on the empty space in front of him. None of them had run out.<br />
<br />
“Then fold your hand,” Forester told him. “You’re out!”<br />
<br />
Winston’s chin set stubbornly. His mate tried to slide some markers toward him, but he angrily shoved them back. “Give me a chance to win it back.”<br />
<br />
“All the more reason to walk away, if you’ve lost ‘em all.” Marlow waved one hand, nearly toppling out of his seat. Mr. Forbes, watching grimly from the corner, came forward. “Forbes, Windermere is done.”<br />
<br />
“Sir Charles,” murmured the manager. “Perhaps it’s time to go.”<br />
<br />
“Not yet!” Winston scowled at them all, shaking off his friend’s quiet attempts to get him to fold.<br />
“Not now, Farley! They got a chance to turn their luck. Why shouldn’t I?”<br />
<br />
“Luck is like the wind,” said a new voice. Nicholas Dashwood, the owner of the Vega Club, stepped out of the shadows. “It rarely turns propitiously.”<br />
<br />
Winston stubbornly sank lower in his seat. “I deserve ‘nother chance.”<br />
<br />
Heathercote slung his arms over the back of his chair. “Well, West? What say you? Shall we let him stay and wager away everything he’s got?”<br />
<br />
Lounging in his seat, the Marquess of Westmorland looked up in irritation. “Really ought to go, Winsmore.”<br />
<br />
“Wins-less, more like,” snickered Marlow.<br />
<br />
Winston sat up straighter in his seat. “Please, my lord.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, let him ruin himself,” muttered Forester, shuffling his cards restlessly.<br />
<br />
The marquess lifted one shoulder. “Damned if I care.”<br />
<br />
“Sir Charles,” said Dashwood evenly, “do not wager what you cannot afford to lose.”<br />
<br />
Winston scooped up the scribbled paper and added a line, signing his name with a flourish. “I won’t, sir.”<br />
<br />
But he did. Within four hands, he’d won a bit and then lost it all—including the deed. Suddenly he did not look so belligerent or so stubborn. He looked young and quite literally green, staring at the winning hand, lying on the table.<br />
<br />
“Should have listened,” said the unsympathetic Heathercote. “Should have left.”<br />
<br />
Winston puffed up furiously. “Should have known better than to play with the likes of you!”<br />
<br />
“Di’n’t y’know that before you sa’ down?” Marlow’s words slurred together. “Stupid bloody fool!”<br />
<br />
“That’s my home!”<br />
<br />
“And you risked it at loo!” Heath made a derisive noise. “Idiot.”<br />
<br />
Winston was the color of beets. “Don’t call me that.”<br />
<br />
Sackville raised one brow. “No? ’S not your home anymore.” He reached out and plucked the scrawled paper from the pile of markers and examined it, although his eyes never quite managed to focus on it. “It ‘pears to be West’s.”<br />
<br />
His friends howled with laughter. “He doesn’t need it,” cried Winston. He made a convulsive grab for the paper before his lone remaining friend caught his arm. “He’s got a dozen houses!”<br />
<br />
“Set it up as a brothel, West,” suggested Forester. “And give all your mates discounted fees.”<br />
<br />
“Free!” yelped Marlow with a wheezing laugh.<br />
<br />
Winston drew a furious breath, but instead of continuing the fight he turned and rushed from the room, rather unsteadily; he wrestled with the door, and then almost tripped on his way out, causing more howls of laughter from the table. His friend helped him back onto his feet before the door closed on them both.<br />
<br />
“Who invited him?” asked Heathercote in disdain.<br />
<br />
“Marlow.”<br />
<br />
“Ballocks,” mumbled Marlow, putting his head down on the table. “Never did. Was Forester.”<br />
<br />
Forester made a rude gesture. “I vouched for the other man, Farley.”<br />
<br />
“Your friends are all bad ton,” said Sackville.<br />
<br />
Forester’s face tightened. He rose and swung his wineglass into the air in a toast, spilling some. “Thank you all for a most exciting evening, gentlemen.” Pointedly he bowed only to Viscount Heathercote and Lord Westmorland. Sackville repaid him with a rude gesture at Forester’s back.<br />
<br />
Heathercote protested, but Forester waved him off and left. With Marlow asleep on the table and Sackville still giggling drunkenly to himself, Westmorland placed his hands on the table, hesitated as if gathering strength, then heaved himself to his feet. “The carriages, Dashwood.”<br />
<br />
Stone-faced, the owner left. Westmorland surveyed the table. “Did I win the last?”<br />
<br />
“Aye,” said Heathercote with a wide yawn.<br />
<br />
“Credit it all, Forbes,” said the marquess. “God above, I’m tired.”<br />
<br />
As expressionless as his employer, the manager stepped forward. With an air of distaste, he picked up the deed promise and held it out. “I cannot credit this, my lord.”<br />
<br />
West stared at it. “Damn. Right.” He stuffed it into the pocket of his jacket and staggered out into the morning sunlight with Heathercote, never guessing the trouble that wagered deed was about to cause him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo5dQggnADHVJAs_08C0nsMw0QcHOdBZKbAGEsTFFulMwPJ5LwmqBbSdO5ZJW2WGbkoE6zSohb1kqu8zNl_DNd9ChAXKeFrXhhOnl8eDeyeLEdgtAcpaKV22Fl-syY-Qo4GAl9fISvClE/s1600/About+the+author+banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="999" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo5dQggnADHVJAs_08C0nsMw0QcHOdBZKbAGEsTFFulMwPJ5LwmqBbSdO5ZJW2WGbkoE6zSohb1kqu8zNl_DNd9ChAXKeFrXhhOnl8eDeyeLEdgtAcpaKV22Fl-syY-Qo4GAl9fISvClE/s320/About+the+author+banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFsoJIblnh-e2K4qk6dBqJkMSTh5i_SOeYYwTQjuPXjYl2rGQGs0VyIxYPlLzTePUbdEwU12f3Rwx3qxOh2PvSOo6IPx4u8xDDhcFcPEaueY-2E2NCIp6aeiZDW3JfczpJOS4NEBn9A9B/s1600/Linden%252C+Caroline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFsoJIblnh-e2K4qk6dBqJkMSTh5i_SOeYYwTQjuPXjYl2rGQGs0VyIxYPlLzTePUbdEwU12f3Rwx3qxOh2PvSOo6IPx4u8xDDhcFcPEaueY-2E2NCIp6aeiZDW3JfczpJOS4NEBn9A9B/s320/Linden%252C+Caroline.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Caroline Linden</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How to connect with Caroline:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Visit her website: <a href="http://www.carolinelinden.com/index.html">http://www.carolinelinden.com/index.html</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Follow her on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Caro_Linden">https://twitter.com/Caro_Linden</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
'Like' her on FaceBook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolineLinden">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolineLinden</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Follow her on Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/CaroLinden/">https://www.pinterest.com/CaroLinden/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Caroline Linden</b> was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a math degree from Harvard University and wrote computer code before discovering that writing fiction was far more fun. Since then, the Boston Red Sox have won the World Series three FOUR times, which is not related but still worth mentioning. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages, and have won the NEC-RWA Reader's Choice Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, the NJRW Golden Leaf Award, and RWA's RITA Award. She lives in New England.</div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi616VfRftObGSmiE_Ecx6ERyZyjwE07Ewu0YcQJUOn1R2ezZtJBgsPGrtl1oNc8ibvOHOiGVLk3hKvW1rVO66y-wucfgZ-az7Q7qtWkiRrpsufVgwfASPndVSKY313VxlQ0EC3jcisieD7/s1600/When+the+Marquess+was+Mine+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi616VfRftObGSmiE_Ecx6ERyZyjwE07Ewu0YcQJUOn1R2ezZtJBgsPGrtl1oNc8ibvOHOiGVLk3hKvW1rVO66y-wucfgZ-az7Q7qtWkiRrpsufVgwfASPndVSKY313VxlQ0EC3jcisieD7/s200/When+the+Marquess+was+Mine+cover.jpg" width="126" /></b></a></div>
<b>Title: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H4ZZDMQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07H4ZZDMQ&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=53d9277f235b76d968bd1d65e141bb71" target="_blank">When the Marquess Was Mine: The Wagers of Sin</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07H4ZZDMQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b><br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Wagers of Sin<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 400 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Avon (September 24, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10: </b>006291359X<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062913593<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://www.carolinelinden.com/index.html" style="text-align: center;">http://www.carolinelinden.com/index.html</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC of the book from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my review or rating. As an ARC is not a final version of the book, any quotes I have used are subject to change and will need to be verified against the final copy.<br />
<br />
<br />
A night of drunken revelry, a wager of a house, an attack by highwaymen, and a little white lie could all lead to Georgiana Lucas' ruin or, perhaps, to her friend Kitty's salvation...<br />
<br />
The Marquess of Westmorland is not a saint nor the nicest person in the ton, but he's also not the monster many believe him to be. When he wakes up after a night of celebratory fun, he finds he's won the deed to a house, although he remembers nothing about it. The last thing he needs is another piece of property or another lecture from his mother about it, but when he hears the rumors the fool of a man who he won the house from is spreading, he decides a lesson needs to be learned. So he sets off with the deed to the man's ancestral home with a plan that's just forming...<br />
<br />
Georgiana believes there are no redeeming qualities to the Malicious Marquees, as she likes to refer to the Marquess of Westmorland. She met the scapegrace, who would one day become a duke, years ago and if she never saw him again, it would be too soon. But when she finds the louse bloody, beaten, and at death's door she finds she can't leave him to his fate. Osborne House is the obvious choice to take the man to, but Georgiana is unsure how Kitty, the Lady of the house, will receive him if she knows who he truly is. The Marquess won the deed to Kitty's house during a game of cards against Kitty's husband, Charles. Charles believes the Marquess is on his way to kick the occupants of said house out. So in an effort to save the man's life, Georgiana makes the split second decision to say he is someone else. The first name that enters her head is that of her fiance, Lord Sterling. Before she can stop herself, or think better of it, his name pops out. She figures she'll suffer the consequences of her actions later, but when he awakes things get even more complicated...<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"Sterling," he said. At the door, his hand on the latch, the doctor paused. "Why do you keep saying that?"</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>For the first time, the doctor's smile faded. "Do you not know who that is?" The subtle change to his voice was deeply alarming.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Instead of replying he looked to the woman, who had been tugging the blankets into place but now stopped and raised her head to stare. Her perfect pink mouth formed a circle. Shocked.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"No," he said slowly.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>The doctor adjusted his spectacles and came a step nearer. "No?" (...)</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"Do you not recognize your fiancee, Lady Georgiana?"</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>He looked up at her, at her beautiful, fearful green eyes. "No," he said tensely.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"And do you not know your own name?"</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"Of course I do," he said. "It's..." (...)</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>He didn't know his own name. There had been nothing on his lips...</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zsrFEOFg4W_FdH2Z7qx6IA-LPxT9T0-kl-iLoF60GULwllwyb3d3XhPC3lRdjCORh71qtIByQG4kQkyN7z9n0zgB1qcBGlFrIZuQiQx2mrS89OkCe5IOR4aLfnBqfYjF7CpXTKWYT69s/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zsrFEOFg4W_FdH2Z7qx6IA-LPxT9T0-kl-iLoF60GULwllwyb3d3XhPC3lRdjCORh71qtIByQG4kQkyN7z9n0zgB1qcBGlFrIZuQiQx2mrS89OkCe5IOR4aLfnBqfYjF7CpXTKWYT69s/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the third book in the Wagers of Sin series, and it was an utter pleasure to read. It can be read as a standalone, but be forewarned, you're going to want to read all the books in the series. I somehow missed reading the second book, and now I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of it. I loved this book so much, where do I begin?<br />
<br />
First, I loved the amnesia scenario the author set up. At the beginning I feared it might be a historical rewrite of the movie 'Overboard' because the Marquess was said to be such a despicable character, but thankfully it was not. Our heroine is a sweet, kind, and caring individual who finds herself in the awkward position of having to lie to one of her best friends for an honorable reason--to save the Marquess of Westmorland's life. What seems like a little white lie quickly escalates, as lies often do, into a web that Georgiana finds difficult to extract herself from. As you can imagine, the lie leads to a whole lot of trouble and a number of awkward and funny situations.<br />
<br />
Rob, the Marquess of Westmorland is handsome, smart, and a notorious rogue who tends to look down his nose at people and mock them. He's the heir of the Duke of Rowland, one of the oldest and richest titles in all of England, and he is considered to be one of the most eligible bachelors of the ton. He also happens to be ill-mannered and mean-spirited. Georgiana has witnessed his cruelty first hand and will not soon forget it. When Rob wakes up three days after he is attacked with amnesia, his personality is notably different. Rob appears to not be all she believed him to be, but is that just because of his amnesia, or is she now seeing a truer version of the man? If his memory returns will he go back to being the man she despises? Georgiana finds she likes the new and improved version of the Marquess and finds herself yearning for things she should not.<br />
<br />
Normally I don't like it when a character ends up leaving her betrothed for another man, but in this instance, Georgiana's fiance, Lord Sterling, seemed to not have time for her. The two have been engaged for 2 years and her brother and fiance still hadn't come to terms over her marriage settlements even though her father had set aside specific funds for her dowry. Additionally, he never seemed to want to be with her. He was always gallivanting around with his friends instead of staying with her at various events and functions put on by the ton. When Rob believes himself to be Georgiana's betrothed, the attention he lavishes on her is in stark contrast to that of Sterling. It makes her question her relationship with her fiance, and that's when things get both complicated and interesting.<br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses</b>. I absolutely loved it. It alternated between being serious, funny, endearing, sweet, and sexy. It also had a touch of drama mixed in towards the end which added whole other level to the story. The chemistry between Georgiana and Rob was so strong it practically scorched my fingers with ever turn of the page. It took some doing for Rob to win me over after finding out what had happened between him and Georgiana, but eventually, he did. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM </b>rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I <b>HIGHLY</b> recommend this one!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVVtI2DS0avwOjTMEZqcCsqSDuBbPrjrVfTra1B6sMMLO7AyzK8DSDfzp4E2AnZgVFmkMafE1LCiNSfmBDoL8_7m6xkh3xf2F-iQAlXE0eb-4KFhmjLb9ByEPwoD4AmASVnoEcgO189ny/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVVtI2DS0avwOjTMEZqcCsqSDuBbPrjrVfTra1B6sMMLO7AyzK8DSDfzp4E2AnZgVFmkMafE1LCiNSfmBDoL8_7m6xkh3xf2F-iQAlXE0eb-4KFhmjLb9ByEPwoD4AmASVnoEcgO189ny/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Notes to keep you in the Know:</span></b><br />
You may wonder whether or not a person's personality can change for the better after severe head trauma, and the answer is 'yes'. Check out the article entitled 'When personality changes from bad to good" written by Christian Jarrett via the following link:<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180108-when-personality-changes-from-bad-to-good">http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180108-when-personality-changes-from-bad-to-good</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of The Wagers of Sin series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B071YRWFH3&asins=B071YRWFH3&linkId=81ed671eabcf8b068b54f279031cb4c4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B074DVBZX9&asins=B074DVBZX9&linkId=bf9bdcdda14f1f75680050ab2bc6579d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07H4ZZDMQ&asins=B07H4ZZDMQ&linkId=b9428950bff68fde98b76acd181772dd&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Buy Links:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2GZfC5A" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amazon</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-the-marquess-was-mine-caroline-linden/1129473594?ean=9780062913593" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Barnes & Noble</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/When-the-Marquess-Was-Mine/9780062913593" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Book Depository</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Marquess-Was-Mine/Caroline-Linden/9780062913593?id=4109481131938" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Books-a-Million</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062913593" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IndieBound</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-46244340701958890642019-09-23T16:55:00.002-04:002019-09-23T16:55:44.293-04:00Early Review of Christmas with a Cowboy (Longhorn Canyon #5) by Carolyn Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AWz2WPM8sIX26ay33h5oHkLDyJyYhLvqYQiu-n9XoL5Bqlsb2dnBvduAGc_T81xXmvl-sWcJpXrWb4k__6VGsJNWI-DZpu7-PEPx1CC0ZSu62cfwspWabLXq1BWrwQ5Sgtvj4PVNIDH6/s1600/Christmas+With+A+Cowboy+by+Carolyn+Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="618" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AWz2WPM8sIX26ay33h5oHkLDyJyYhLvqYQiu-n9XoL5Bqlsb2dnBvduAGc_T81xXmvl-sWcJpXrWb4k__6VGsJNWI-DZpu7-PEPx1CC0ZSu62cfwspWabLXq1BWrwQ5Sgtvj4PVNIDH6/s200/Christmas+With+A+Cowboy+by+Carolyn+Brown.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538748746/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1538748746&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=a5b5103d6f87d52cce39b94182141012" target="_blank">Christmas with a Cowboy: Includes a bonus novella (Longhorn Canyon)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1538748746" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Contemporary Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> Longhorn Canyon (Book 5)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 448 pages<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Forever (September 24, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10: </b>1538748746<br />
<b>ISBN-13: </b>978-1538748749<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="https://www.carolynbrownbooks.com/">https://www.carolynbrownbooks.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes: </b>I received an ARC from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my rating.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A year ago Maverick Callahan met a beautiful, sweet, sexy young barkeep and didn't make it back to his hotel until late morning. It had been his last night in Ireland, but he'd wished he'd met her on his first. He'd asked for her information but as it seemed fated they'd never again meet, she'd declined to give it to him. He hadn't forgotten her, though, and still felt like he'd missed out on something special.<br />
<br />
When he goes to help his grandmother, Iris, on her ranch, the woman who'd been on his mind for the past year, Bridget, is there. Could this be fate's way of giving them another chance to get things right? Only time will tell, and Maverick plans to make good use of it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCC23f3bYjZJPg2gK4gLhBfepsPDU0CVZPCXcMXP7qnXMZKxd5prOEX5SZDWhbx9hAQtlHN-Y4GWcmo2W2ky5AzYpz6rlg-lHkvbROd9ETO3l0NARFOlxDF8jfc8OEdxpKROAwpYoyeBZ/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCC23f3bYjZJPg2gK4gLhBfepsPDU0CVZPCXcMXP7qnXMZKxd5prOEX5SZDWhbx9hAQtlHN-Y4GWcmo2W2ky5AzYpz6rlg-lHkvbROd9ETO3l0NARFOlxDF8jfc8OEdxpKROAwpYoyeBZ/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the 5th book in the Longhorn Canyon Series, but it reads like a standalone. It is also the 2nd book of the series that I've read, and I confess, now I'm curious about the rest of the books in the series. This was a very fun, sweet, and charming romance that left me in a good mood.<br />
<br />
Bridget has had a rough year. Both her grandmother and best friend died within months of one another. When Iris, her grandmother's best friend, offers her a job in the U.S. on her Texas ranch for a month she readily takes it. While Bridget knew Iris and her grandmother were best friends, she had no idea Maverick was her grandson. When she sees him in the photos on the wall, she realizes who Maverick is, the cowboy from the states she'd had a one night stand with in Ireland, and she's grateful he's not there, until he is. Awkward is not sufficient enough a word to describe how she feels when he arrives. She is utterly gobsmacked.<br />
<br />
Maverick is equally surprised, but awkward is not the word he'd use to describe his feelings upon seeing her. He's pleasantly surprised by her appearance, but she immediately makes it clear she's not the same girl she was a year ago, and if he's got any ideas about the two of them he can just forget them. She's heard about his 'wild' reputation and she wants no part of it. That, of course, is when the fun begins.<br />
<br />
Iris would love to see both her grandsons married. On the plane ride home from Ireland she'd seen Maverick looking at a picture of her best friend's granddaughter. The two friends had talked about how perfect their grandkids would be for one another, but had never managed to introduce the two while Iris was visiting her in Ireland. When she learns her best friend has passed, and her granddaughter doesn't have a place to stay for the holidays, she asks her to come to Texas to help her out after her hip replacement surgery. Then Iris decides to meddle just a little and see what will happen when she asks her grandson, Maverick, to stay and help her with the ranch. The chemistry that Bridget and Maverick experienced in Ireland is alive and well, and Iris hopes it will turn into something more.<br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this one<b> 4 out of 5 roses</b>. It was a sweet and lighthearted romance with a sprinkling of humor mixed in. I loved the chemistry between Bridget and Maverick and the symbolism involved with the missing earring. I know I'm being ambiguous, but I don't want to reveal too much or give away any spoilers. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>FAN</b> rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. If you're looking for a romance that will leave you with a smile on your face, this may be the book for you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxpqnXpoinkw8Y-p_MpM2v8a5hZQfACDCvZOuW2uICXPX0AmJrMVhMu448v6ywe2JqIDeWnL1cabPYhYMYCuZsZnpS-mo0RleE0FtHA_lA6K6ITQ5z2JoaunJVXjy4Ty4atqJAhpZpqcZ/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxpqnXpoinkw8Y-p_MpM2v8a5hZQfACDCvZOuW2uICXPX0AmJrMVhMu448v6ywe2JqIDeWnL1cabPYhYMYCuZsZnpS-mo0RleE0FtHA_lA6K6ITQ5z2JoaunJVXjy4Ty4atqJAhpZpqcZ/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The order of the Longhorn Canyon Series:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B075CRWTV7&asins=B075CRWTV7&linkId=5e7c1dcf4d12b5bfefd72098a8968a43&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B078W6L3VQ&asins=B078W6L3VQ&linkId=fa20ef9a22b1ab9b8dba8e660f93acd5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07CWPSM38&asins=B07CWPSM38&linkId=2210871c2c0f93112d423a89eb751349&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1538748711&asins=1538748711&linkId=3e3ef5acf87b304f1064491ed611e075&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1538748746&asins=1538748746&linkId=57e69aebad2c277d80726a1c8d54ba88&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-51863040820588328562019-08-25T22:13:00.004-04:002019-08-25T22:13:53.774-04:00Early Review of Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy #4) by Ilona Andrews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zzuDWI_PSYAVRqXkLVnnWWel4mesW0CrEte-Z9Rs5MYgq1A7kBW7Ce45GgnDVXDZalxos7x_LGlHnPFJ4X1iD3piDsMs9bHI4TvsOjup1Jba1S0P5MaS-_HBqKNHXkx1OUykFXRFdniA/s1600/Sapphire+Flames+by+Ilona+Andrews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zzuDWI_PSYAVRqXkLVnnWWel4mesW0CrEte-Z9Rs5MYgq1A7kBW7Ce45GgnDVXDZalxos7x_LGlHnPFJ4X1iD3piDsMs9bHI4TvsOjup1Jba1S0P5MaS-_HBqKNHXkx1OUykFXRFdniA/s200/Sapphire+Flames+by+Ilona+Andrews.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G141J8W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07G141J8W&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=94c9351f87025082f7141a207d2f0a81" target="_blank">Sapphire Flames: A Hidden Legacy Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07G141J8W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification: </b>Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Urban Fantasy<br />
<b>Series:</b> Hidden Legacy (Book 4)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 400 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Avon (August 27, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062878344<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062878342<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://www.ilona-andrews.com/">http://www.ilona-andrews.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received and eARC loan from the publisher. This in no way affected my rating.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
A century and a half ago, the Osiris serum was discovered by scientists which unlocked a person's magical abilities. The serum was given to soldiers so that wars could be won, but scientists didn't comprehend what they'd truly done until much later. The serum was locked away, but the damage had been done because it was soon found that magical talents could be passed from parent to child. The world, as we knew it, was changed forever as a restructuring of power occurred. Money no longer guaranteed power, influence, and prestige in this magically oriented new world, rather, one's magical abilities did. For with the power of magic, one could acquire the rest.<br />
<br />
Talents varied among people, but each person who gained magical abilities from the serum showed potential toward one specific type of magic. Among the varying classifications, ranges of talent were soon noted, and magic users were categorized into five different ranks: Minor, Average, Notable, Significant, and Prime. The highest and strongest being Prime. Soon magical dynasties, as the most powerful of magical families came to be called, were broken into Houses and attempted to manipulate and enhance their family's magical potential by arranging marriages which would bring about the most gifted and talented of offspring. Certain magics, it was found, complimented one another and had a high potential of producing offspring with stronger and greater magical abilities. Still others, when their magics were mixed, were found to be incompatible and produced offspring with no magical talents whatsoever.<br />
<br />
Three years ago the Baylor family had undergone the trials to prove that their family possessed at least two Primes, and were granted permission to declare themselves a House. The family talents were verified by the Panel of Prime judges, and their records were sealed, so no on outside the trials could find out what the family talents were. Being a new house, they were granted the courtesy of immunity from attacks by other houses for three years. That reprieve is about to expire, and that is when the fun (I say in jest) will begin.<br />
<br />
Catalina Baylor has recently taken on the position of head investigator of her family's business--Baylor Investigative Agency. A position her sister, Nevada, held until she married into another House. The firm specializes in small-time investigations, but lately, since their house was declared, a new clientele has emerged with more difficult and magically inclined cases. Catalina's just been asked by Augustine for a favor. He wants her to help him stop Ragnar Etterson, a Prime, from committing suicide by jumping off the top of a building. Catalina has a talent which has deemed her a siren because she can call people to her and make them love and become obsessed with her to a disturbing level. That means once she unleashes her power Ragnar will do anything she asks just to please her. The question is, can she reach him in time?<br />
<br />
Two days ago, Ragnar's mother and sister died in a fire. He is not taking the loss well. What Catalina has yet to discover is that the deaths are very suspicious, and are most likely the result of a feud between houses. When she realizes which family Ragnar is a part of, she'll become embroiled in something that could get her and her family killed. The Baylors owe Ragnar's family a debt and will do all they can to get down to the bottom of what happened, and do all they can to keep the two remaining siblings safe.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWRysR2feBDSl0ETO2LHBFnMOLUx0cxsBnpV5bIEYLwUhM4J06UGbxAq_H-xeZVGZhpFd3OKOiwEEenpF38MOU8f1M3XcTnBoXpLwtqbUbNOWV88RMdo8XL7HuTeM9rDJ7isfBZLo4Fnj/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWRysR2feBDSl0ETO2LHBFnMOLUx0cxsBnpV5bIEYLwUhM4J06UGbxAq_H-xeZVGZhpFd3OKOiwEEenpF38MOU8f1M3XcTnBoXpLwtqbUbNOWV88RMdo8XL7HuTeM9rDJ7isfBZLo4Fnj/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the fourth book (fifth story--there is a novella, Diamond Fire, you should also read) of the Hidden Legacy series. I highly recommend you don't jump in the deep end with this one if you've not read the previous books. There is a lot of history between characters as well as family dynamics from the previous stories that will be missed if you do. You'll most likely feel a bit lost. Plus, the other stories endear you to the Baylor's because you'll know what they've been through, what they've dealt with, and how far they've come. Additionally, you'll miss out on seeing each of the Baylor family, especially Catalina in this book, come into their own because you won't have witnessed their transformations. At the very least, read the novella. It is not to be missed, and gives you an idea of what you're in for. Side Note: If you haven't read the novella, but have read the first three books, read the novella. It gives you a frame of reference as to why and how Catalina changed so much.<br />
<br />
Usually when a series changes main characters after having several books I tend to get upset. That was not the case with this one. Perhaps this had something to do with the novella, Diamond Fire, where Nevada voices the prologue, but Catalina voices the rest of the novella. All I know is that I was all in from the beginning, and loved seeing how Catalina had become a strong and confident young woman. While she is still finding her footing, the expression, "You've come a long way baby!" whispered in my head. She understands what she's up against and will do what she needs to to accomplish it. Family is everything to her, and she'd do anything for them even if that means selling a bit of her soul.<br />
<br />
Alessandro Sagredo was a real surprise. While there was no doubt he'd be Catalina's love interest, he was a twist I never saw coming. He is so very different from who I knew him to be, or rather thought I knew him to be. Everything I thought I knew about him was wrong. I loved learning a little of his back story, and look forward to learning even more about him. I loved how he always had Catalina's back and he's so much more than just a pretty face. We quickly learn, he's a multifaceted character with many secrets and layers.<br />
<br />
The mystery of what happened to Sigourney Etterson and her daughter kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. There were twists and surprises at every turn. The story had depth and layers to it which Catalina had to uncover one secret at a time in order to unravel the mystery of it all. Drama, suspense, and questions abound as what is being hidden comes to light.<br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this story<b> 5 out of 5 roses</b>. The world the writing team of Ilona Andrews has created is fun, complex, complicated, and dangerous on a grand scale. The mystery kept me guessing but unable to solve whodunit until all was revealed. I love when that happens. I enjoyed the romance that is slowly blossoming between Alessandro and Catalina. I loved how the Baylor women make their men work for their favor. I also loved how almost everything isn't all what it first appears to be. It's like one giant puzzle box that once one puzzle unfolds, another is unearthed. On the Lisarenee Romance Scale, this one earned a <b>BLUSH </b>rating--at the beginning stages of romance where something is just starting to be stirred. Like many urban fantasy stories, this romance will take its time to increase in intensity and come to full bloom, and I can't wait for when it does. I <b>HIGHLY</b> recommend this series. I love where Ilona Andrews is taking us! It was so good.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPMuSJ7MEm9uqmrEUvkaXQDut3wETu3z9871O1hjj4awFrNYmUzg17nvjEtDUS38gBUwVCnIf_Imr6sXTINj-wYPOCfoVfKIHTlYNh4xPDpy4fmdUa72NM8Gpw5qLjnuhVPQWscLW_syq/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPMuSJ7MEm9uqmrEUvkaXQDut3wETu3z9871O1hjj4awFrNYmUzg17nvjEtDUS38gBUwVCnIf_Imr6sXTINj-wYPOCfoVfKIHTlYNh4xPDpy4fmdUa72NM8Gpw5qLjnuhVPQWscLW_syq/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Hidden Legacy series:</span></b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00I7V11WU&asins=B00I7V11WU&linkId=5f59175aaed2e124bdfff3920feb5809&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00T3C2ZMC&asins=B00T3C2ZMC&linkId=88a483e8ad92646e127534f40cebfd46&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01MDTF1A9&asins=B01MDTF1A9&linkId=4ee6b35d52803b8b099c267a461797a1&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07BK3M7V7&asins=B07BK3M7V7&linkId=08782862186331b916f0d85913eef520&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07G141J8W&asins=B07G141J8W&linkId=e23eaec636c4d65678c92b8f2873dcd2&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-90333482678407518962019-08-19T00:40:00.001-04:002019-08-19T00:40:08.950-04:00Early Review of The Duchess in His Bed (Sins for All Seasons #4) by Lorraine Heath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fi2j30VXaTDvjVh-uNww3wGF3OuXRNb9_nXfqZ3dT04h-JcxVF_lim9JC0esCrWx6bcZXgYMr5qaHBFnURoxbUv2Ow8qMQeKuGaY-0VSW3LUBJcibo7jqi5DeTJDwD6B6UB_Qr-Pnzvb/s1600/The+Duchess+in+his+Bed+by+Lorraine+Heath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1012" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fi2j30VXaTDvjVh-uNww3wGF3OuXRNb9_nXfqZ3dT04h-JcxVF_lim9JC0esCrWx6bcZXgYMr5qaHBFnURoxbUv2Ow8qMQeKuGaY-0VSW3LUBJcibo7jqi5DeTJDwD6B6UB_Qr-Pnzvb/s200/The+Duchess+in+his+Bed+by+Lorraine+Heath.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062676067/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062676067&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=90f00065520c666c6162cc1dfaf038aa" target="_blank">The Duchess in His Bed: A Sins for All Seasons Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0062676067" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance<br />
<b>Series:</b> Sins for All Seasons (Book 4)<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 400 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Avon (August 20, 2019)<br />
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062676067<br />
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062676061<br />
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="https://www.lorraineheath.com/">https://www.lorraineheath.com/</a><br />
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my review. Any quotes used will need to be checked against the final version as ARCs are subject to change.<br />
<br />
Selena Sheffield, Duchess of Lushing, is in a bind. Her husband of seven years has passed away before the two had started a family. With no heirs to be found, the dukedom, which her husband's family had held for ages, is about to become extinct unless Selena can produce an heir. The problem is there is no chance that she is with child. While Selena could live a rather nice life from the provisions her husband made for her in his will, her siblings could not for she would not have the means to provide for them. <br />
<br />
Enter Aiden Trewlove and the Elysium Club--a club which caters exclusively to the desires of women. A place where, if she has the nerve, Selena may be able to find just the man who can make all her troubles go away, and she know exactly who she wants that man to be...<br />
<br />
Aiden Trewlove is a self made man who owns both the Elysium and Cerberus Clubs. The former is a new acquisition which he took over from his brother. Aiden has a strict policy of never mixing business with pleasure, but when he catches sight of an alluring woman wearing a mask, he starts to wonder if perhaps he should make an exception?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVjPlJt8H2NkyKESPJaPwrDA0jg-06JgTU7iaCTbR7Bxs7w8KD_W2twmy-FpAhVFDBAua3gYPWdFONbeedzvMfMlES3aF1qZv4X31MzZqvTHtr5wol3-IsgtXN2Fgdyt2elZZ0gitbgTK/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVjPlJt8H2NkyKESPJaPwrDA0jg-06JgTU7iaCTbR7Bxs7w8KD_W2twmy-FpAhVFDBAua3gYPWdFONbeedzvMfMlES3aF1qZv4X31MzZqvTHtr5wol3-IsgtXN2Fgdyt2elZZ0gitbgTK/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the fourth book in the Sins for All Seasons series. While this story could probably be read as a standalone, I strongly encourage you read the previous books in the series. If you don't, you'll end up missing out on some of the Trewlove family dynamics, and that would be a shame. The series revolves around the Trewlove siblings which consists of four brothers and two sisters. The siblings were all born out of wedlock to various members of the ton. Finn, Aiden, Beast, Gillie, and Mick were taken in by Ettie Trewlove. Fancy is the only one of the lot born to Ettie, and her conception is another story altogether. The Trewloves are a fierce lot. They are extremely smart, very resourceful, and fiercely loyal to one another. They have all worked hard to achieve success, and that work is beginning to pay off as the family is coming in to their own. In this book it's Aiden's turn to find true love.<br />
<br />
Aiden is loyal to a fault and, despite owning clubs for sin and vice, he actually is not one to participate in either. This, of course, is much to the dismay of the women who frequent the Elysium club. You see Aiden is very handsome and has a way of making every woman who crosses his club's threshold feel special. Between the two clubs, he's been working hard to make sure he and his family will never want for anything, and hasn't taken any time to enjoy his success.<br />
<br />
Selena is an admired and respected member of the ton. During her first season she was deemed the most beautiful debutante, and seven years later she's just as beautiful. Selena loved her husband, but she had not been<i> in</i> <i>love</i> with him. She'd married him out of duty, and whilst he been a good man, there'd been no passion between them. If she plays her cards right, going to the Elysium club will not only satisfy her curiosity, but also be a means to an end. Though she may still be young, she has no plans of ever marrying again, but even if she did her prospects would be limited because she never bore her husband an heir. The fear would be too great that she is barren. Without the support of her husband her ability to help her sisters find a good matches is unlikely. Yet if she produces an heir, she'd retain the power, status, and respect that the position of duchess commands. Additionally, the thought of having a child appeals to her, however, there's always the possibility that the blame for the couples inability to produce an heir lies with her. If that's the case, everything would be for naught.<br />
<br />
I loved so many things about this book. I loved that Aiden immediately realizes there is something different and special about Selena. He is aware that he wants to explore the feelings he has for her right from the moment they first met. He instantly discerns that if he handles things incorrectly she'll bolt out of his life just as quickly as she entered it, and that is something he doesn't want. I also loved the fact that Aiden really didn't have a clue as to what Selena looked like during their initial meeting because she wore a mask. I liked that he could care less if she were old or ugly. He just felt a strong connection and wanted to explore it despite the fact he'd vowed to run the other way if he ever felt the desire to enter into a serious relationship with anyone. To me, that the mask spoke volumes. At one point Selena even stated, <b><i>"I'm discovering that you can't look at someone and know the trials they face. We all wear masks. They just aren't as visible as the ones worn at your club."</i></b> Ironically, I felt it was symbolic of how Selena and others in the book had and were living their lives. In order for anyone to truly be happy, they need to shed the mask they wear and not try to be someone they aren't. They need to be true to themselves and not live for others even though that is a scary prospect. The risks associated with such a decision could ultimately lead to a person's ruin or their salvation. In Selena's case, she just doesn't know which and she'll have to take a leap of faith or not.<br />
<br />
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:<br />
<b><i>- "It's an odd thing, how one's life can seem all out of kilter, and yet the world carries on as though nothing is amiss."</i></b><br />
<b><i>- "A life lived in shadows was no life at all."</i></b><br />
<b><i>- "Love is all that matters. Find someone deserving of you."</i></b><br />
<b><i>- "The heart did as it wanted, loved who it would love. And seemed to have a penchant for choosing those who provided the most difficult of challenges. But then if love were easy, the poets would hardly be heralded for putting into words what most found indescribable."</i></b><br />
<br />
Overall, I gave this one <b>5 out of 5 roses</b>. The chemistry between these two was potent, and I loved the angst and tension that existed between them. I loved how Aiden empowered Selena to see her situation for what it really was and allowed her to choose what she ultimately wanted. He slowly seduced his way into her heart by showing her all the things she could have with him and then letting her decide if she was willing to take a chance on him. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>SHOWER</b> rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol I HIGHLY recommend this one! It was the perfect blend of naughty and nice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cKwh8GuduYBztvIPrWWpRfyTeGUO5VF4j2rJ02o6fau8DgMjRlNDBiwlRU39u7zZLdR1i1CA20DkoaAt-LtbylUKv-2FJ1YxC9SfjExJzsQT2kPmIVEYe-MYx_y8FmLyyXw508GDne0x/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cKwh8GuduYBztvIPrWWpRfyTeGUO5VF4j2rJ02o6fau8DgMjRlNDBiwlRU39u7zZLdR1i1CA20DkoaAt-LtbylUKv-2FJ1YxC9SfjExJzsQT2kPmIVEYe-MYx_y8FmLyyXw508GDne0x/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>The Order of the Sins For All Seasons series:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0727TN8R9&asins=B0727TN8R9&linkId=3cc8324f954c7d0aa18caa205dd5d2d4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B073B3RMJT&asins=B073B3RMJT&linkId=72ffb0642c81b309873bc8c88cdb733c&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B079RD9GNG&asins=B079RD9GNG&linkId=ad126761e161aff5947407445306d94c&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0062676067&asins=0062676067&linkId=f614980e5211533e840dabe90237e020&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-17134142970558271672019-08-06T00:01:00.000-04:002019-08-06T00:01:03.261-04:00Giveaway/Sneak Peek/Review of The Wallflower Wager (Girl Meets Duke #3) by Tessa Dare <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw7YlOtzhbH2rcXxBbv49t57r97QNk_nqSPRcxo8GD1590aYgJgdDhEs4O2KPqrdP4x9NAqOT-6EKR4K5s1kUQ_suhLlqmS1XBLlpHycTQ7eaMqMlqzGzKSQ4L_vMnuT4QB0eeLxU2fvx/s1600/The+Wallflower+Wager+by+Tessa+Dare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw7YlOtzhbH2rcXxBbv49t57r97QNk_nqSPRcxo8GD1590aYgJgdDhEs4O2KPqrdP4x9NAqOT-6EKR4K5s1kUQ_suhLlqmS1XBLlpHycTQ7eaMqMlqzGzKSQ4L_vMnuT4QB0eeLxU2fvx/s400/The+Wallflower+Wager+by+Tessa+Dare.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i>They call him the Duke of Ruin.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i>To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And a two-legged dog.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And a foul-mouthed parrot.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Not if he ruins her first.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjBQ2Y-UxpkrOy90_jCvAEPXGfJolYrJJaiw2itD11iMMlsvULWrqNSrQUpcNe268Een753poEWEyjwduojZg4ghW0r3mx62VzW5TNf8E1UAgW6u_CAd9LOjvxAAtbM67OiLnEWEy2rxP/s1600/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="779" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjBQ2Y-UxpkrOy90_jCvAEPXGfJolYrJJaiw2itD11iMMlsvULWrqNSrQUpcNe268Een753poEWEyjwduojZg4ghW0r3mx62VzW5TNf8E1UAgW6u_CAd9LOjvxAAtbM67OiLnEWEy2rxP/s320/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
She circled back, standing before him. “There now. Better?”<br />
<br />
He gave a reluctant nod.<br />
<br />
“Can you move your arm in all directions?”<br />
<br />
He rolled his shoulder to prove it. “Yes.”<br />
<br />
“What about your grip?<br />
<br />
“My grip is strong.”<br />
<br />
“Perhaps I should wrap the arm in a sling.”<br />
<br />
“I do not need a sling.”<br />
<br />
“Wait here. I’ll dash upstairs to fetch some linen and—”<br />
<br />
“For the love of God, woman. My shoulder is fine.” He took her by the waist and lifted her straight off the floor, until they were eye to eye. “There. Believe me now?”<br />
<br />
She nodded, wide-eyed.<br />
<br />
“Good.”<br />
<br />
In his hands, she was delicate, breakable. Her hair was a golden treasure he should never, ever touch. And oh, how he hungered for those soft, pink lips.<br />
<br />
The familiar voice echoed in his ears.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: red;">Don’t touch, boy. She’s not for the likes of you.<br /><br />Put. Her. Down.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i>
But before Gabe could lower those beribboned pink slippers to the floor, she captured his sooty, sweaty face in her hands—<br />
<br />
And kissed him on the lips.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRui7pLtHFXs-w4WqX4LZw-XdSa_gvPmeOkv8WEI9WdqhOq_rR2rW_iz30dp0ZveNRjP81n58tTD9kZhMjswPHxwXBb6I-O0Olq7QnHWycY94Wnix5PsjXDDgaPhAdXOszVe72jzrYvxtC/s1600/About+the+author+banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="999" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRui7pLtHFXs-w4WqX4LZw-XdSa_gvPmeOkv8WEI9WdqhOq_rR2rW_iz30dp0ZveNRjP81n58tTD9kZhMjswPHxwXBb6I-O0Olq7QnHWycY94Wnix5PsjXDDgaPhAdXOszVe72jzrYvxtC/s320/About+the+author+banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIlLzgI8f8-2z2sDxr8cBjK8oiiX2pxq8pKlUzVHP9NeQncVIEEljO70kDzxlwkvoJ9s461EYS7bPT1Kw119FmnXaIMLy0LbkuZ_YKSibTSV1KiGUMVTKPaEF8plir7B6ZlEN3ubkqcbV/s1600/TESSA+DARE+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIlLzgI8f8-2z2sDxr8cBjK8oiiX2pxq8pKlUzVHP9NeQncVIEEljO70kDzxlwkvoJ9s461EYS7bPT1Kw119FmnXaIMLy0LbkuZ_YKSibTSV1KiGUMVTKPaEF8plir7B6ZlEN3ubkqcbV/s320/TESSA+DARE+photo.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Tessa Dare</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tessa Dare is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>New
York Times</b></i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>USA Today</b></i> bestselling
author of more than twenty historical romances. Her books have won
numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA®
award (twice) and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">RT Book
Reviews</i> Seal of Excellence. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Booklist</i> magazine
named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have
been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<w:sdt id="1496455794" sdttag="goog_rdk_20">
</w:sdt><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">A librarian by training and a booklover at
heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her
husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0zQX73U54LBIZo-pe3WOdQQ0tYSmO7DSGSlV8QPjTy0qHNcSQKefOENTfUpPMx7M4ea7kb7QBwNJo8JVHMp1AIcDXT_MyAM5fT0-R1MSzbFGmPa-0fPKhcr5Hd6MpOeov8sUigPGMHJX/s1600/My+Review+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="790" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0zQX73U54LBIZo-pe3WOdQQ0tYSmO7DSGSlV8QPjTy0qHNcSQKefOENTfUpPMx7M4ea7kb7QBwNJo8JVHMp1AIcDXT_MyAM5fT0-R1MSzbFGmPa-0fPKhcr5Hd6MpOeov8sUigPGMHJX/s320/My+Review+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4VJFvHuCcMhbhgIOQo-4BpS48sVrypxRoLioVuIvuF11ZQMG8hnwYmlrUqNWf2B19IqSR_3gE94ST6qNDTmRJgwB9kUIx4qssshP0e6fPdngAA9CWlWyRzAKv3-BGYRXPn8KWs-lun9k/s1600/The+Wallflower+Wager+by+Tessa+Dare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4VJFvHuCcMhbhgIOQo-4BpS48sVrypxRoLioVuIvuF11ZQMG8hnwYmlrUqNWf2B19IqSR_3gE94ST6qNDTmRJgwB9kUIx4qssshP0e6fPdngAA9CWlWyRzAKv3-BGYRXPn8KWs-lun9k/s200/The+Wallflower+Wager+by+Tessa+Dare.jpg" /></a>
<li style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></li>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G14DRJJ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07G14DRJJ&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=c54a1489ff3dbd65566355aca3b17e51" target="_blank">The Wallflower Wager: Girl Meets Duke</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07G14DRJJ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <br /><b>Classification: </b>Adult Fiction<br /><b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance<br /><b>Series:</b> Girl Meets Duke <br /><b>Format: </b>Paperback; 368 pages <br /><b>Publisher: </b>Avon (August 13, 2019) <br /><b>ISBN-10: </b>0062672169 <br /><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062672162 <br /><b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://tessadare.com/">http://tessadare.com/</a><br /><b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher. This in no way affected my review.</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lady Penelope Campion is young, beautiful, and a recluse, but the latter is about to change. Her brother has decided it is time for her to return to the family ancestral estate. When her aunt comes to inform her of his decision, Penelope pleads with her to help her change his mind. A wager is set, if Penelope can 1) acquire a wardrobe 2) reenter London society by attending the opera, dinner parties, balls, etc. 3) get rid of her animal menagerie, then her aunt will do her best to convince her brother to let her stay in London.<br />
<br />
Gabriel Duke, is known as the Duke of Ruin, a moniker he acquired by financially ruining those in the ton and leaving them practically penniless. He is a self made man who has spent a lot of time and money restoring the house next to Lady Penelope's and has plans to sell it for a king's ransom to a commoner wishing to rub elbows with London's elite. If Lady Penelope moves, however, his plan will be thwarted, and he can't have that. So together they form an alliance so each can get what they want.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
What neither realizes is they'll get more than they ever bargained for, but in a good way.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjigibwBkFTCw-mtCIXkFbjX2Cu_MRBdCwP9SZLxhEG1HLnmDfIdPd7m_h6yd0qVOGwWFm_Qdh6AWmOXsPcF2OpusLW36Ugqq6N_w-utGgBGVV33LdcMzfqQa7kVZChV_kanM0pUQAKv3/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjigibwBkFTCw-mtCIXkFbjX2Cu_MRBdCwP9SZLxhEG1HLnmDfIdPd7m_h6yd0qVOGwWFm_Qdh6AWmOXsPcF2OpusLW36Ugqq6N_w-utGgBGVV33LdcMzfqQa7kVZChV_kanM0pUQAKv3/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the third book in the Girl Meets Duke series. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the other books in the series first. There are friendships that come into play in this story that would be underappreciated and not fully understood if you don't. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I simply adored this book. It tickled my funny bone and, at times, had be rolling my eyes, laughing like a fool, and grinning from ear to ear. I kept thinking "Oh no she wouldn't." but yes, the author did. She created situations that were just too funny, and I couldn't have kept a straight face if I tried. Some may call the humor cheesy, but it totally worked for me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now there was a darker side to this story, and I felt the author used the humor to her advantage. She padded the darker parts with that humor which helped to softened the blow a bit. Be forewarned that a case of childhood molestation is discussed, although not in extreme detail. While nothing can ever right such a wrong, justice is served in a rather surprising and unique way in this book. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While the romance between Penelope and Gabriel seemed very unlikely, I enjoyed seeing Penelope basically seduce her way into Gabriel's heart. A heart he was convinced he didn't have or, at the very least, was frozen to the core. Penelope tends to believe there's good in every person, and she believes there's more to Gabriel than what the rumors running rampant about him would suggest. She's determined to find the good in him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses</b>. I loved that the heroine who starts out as a recluse blossoms into a strong woman right before our very eyes. Penelope brings out the best in Gabriel while he helps her to find her inner strength and courage. While these two get to know one another the chemistry between them builds until there's no denying it. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM</b> rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoXovOWCQCdSQA6qiX5J8TyMFbCOgt6eYkOGniMXL363ElGgEkbiYq0LZbe0oX_65nSqrzybtQpgFXKRyJHiYiec3LrwOopVYr53maE13kZI-F1dy7PxQMN-cMUelCEnOn4PW-dl4-BTz/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoXovOWCQCdSQA6qiX5J8TyMFbCOgt6eYkOGniMXL363ElGgEkbiYq0LZbe0oX_65nSqrzybtQpgFXKRyJHiYiec3LrwOopVYr53maE13kZI-F1dy7PxQMN-cMUelCEnOn4PW-dl4-BTz/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Order of the Girl Meets Duke series:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01N5BWIBA&asins=B01N5BWIBA&linkId=173c8894bdf362f494fad7ff08bccc4c&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0756FRY63&asins=B0756FRY63&linkId=aa4c1f31f353dbaa01eb80bb40e67e0f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07G14DRJJ&asins=B07G14DRJJ&linkId=e513a163962a20f01197bf5e49cc9bd5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtmZTFumRhf-ZDotIy30mt3X9kN4mwMJtVocF1pSXyZSULa96jz6BjnfdADT2gbz2EJUzOSCe37JeJHdUoJeVdimYaxoJ83g6Nqd09kgDyamfd2KevRSUZroZuq7hJWysQp2Uh2LO_Oqn/s1600/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="780" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtmZTFumRhf-ZDotIy30mt3X9kN4mwMJtVocF1pSXyZSULa96jz6BjnfdADT2gbz2EJUzOSCe37JeJHdUoJeVdimYaxoJ83g6Nqd09kgDyamfd2KevRSUZroZuq7hJWysQp2Uh2LO_Oqn/s320/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4VJFvHuCcMhbhgIOQo-4BpS48sVrypxRoLioVuIvuF11ZQMG8hnwYmlrUqNWf2B19IqSR_3gE94ST6qNDTmRJgwB9kUIx4qssshP0e6fPdngAA9CWlWyRzAKv3-BGYRXPn8KWs-lun9k/s1600/The+Wallflower+Wager+by+Tessa+Dare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4VJFvHuCcMhbhgIOQo-4BpS48sVrypxRoLioVuIvuF11ZQMG8hnwYmlrUqNWf2B19IqSR_3gE94ST6qNDTmRJgwB9kUIx4qssshP0e6fPdngAA9CWlWyRzAKv3-BGYRXPn8KWs-lun9k/s320/The+Wallflower+Wager+by+Tessa+Dare.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Enter for a chance to win 'one' print copy of <b><i>'The Wallflower Wager'</i></b> by Tessa Dare </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Open to those living in the United States or Canada)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Please check Rafflecopter for the rules for this giveaway.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Good Luck!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0c401987104" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0c401987104/" id="rcwidget_jt1uj9vo" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-19231354263998356532019-07-27T16:24:00.000-04:002019-07-31T18:41:24.028-04:00The 2019 RITA® Award winners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizidwfu9dqKJdoQDerRgXJqgMHt48ZU0aDXf2BGCXHfdTKKo6Y_j0u8OI20HoQ6BmW1H9YmYG0uz3AfkS38u6MSJor4I1T56NL9jn8Ke6S2RhcTNPAiwU3V1cBWi-X_TW2YTyewkEwyN4s/s1600/RITA+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizidwfu9dqKJdoQDerRgXJqgMHt48ZU0aDXf2BGCXHfdTKKo6Y_j0u8OI20HoQ6BmW1H9YmYG0uz3AfkS38u6MSJor4I1T56NL9jn8Ke6S2RhcTNPAiwU3V1cBWi-X_TW2YTyewkEwyN4s/s320/RITA+statue.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 2019 RITA® Award were held last night. The following is a list of the winners. If you'd like to purchase one of the books, click on the book's cover image, and you'll be instantly transported to Amazon:</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Romance Novella goes to </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>M. Malone for</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KVXTHR9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07KVXTHR9&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=f851f153a1e47b59291759ddb2fae615" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B07KVXTHR9&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="266" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07KVXTHR9" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bad Blood by M. Malone</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Georgina Kingsley is off-limits. It’s better this way, really. Her brother is my best friend and business partner, the closest thing I have to family. Plus, she’s engaged to another man, one better for her than I could ever be.<br />
<br />
But when Georgie is ditched on her wedding day, she needs someone to get her out of town. There’s bad blood between us but I’d do anything for her.<br />
<br />
Except give her hot, rebound sex to get back at her cheating ex.<br />
<br />
Tough choice. Loyalty to my best friend who has been more like a brother? Or to a woman with a history of driving me crazy and making me want things I have no right to ask for?<br />
<br />
It’s a hell of time to realize I’m in love.<br />
<br />
Note: <i><b>BAD BLOOD </b></i>is a standalone enemies-to-lovers romance. You’ll recognize some characters from <b><i>BAD KING</i></b>.<br />
<div>
<br />
FYI, The <b>LEFT AT THE ALTAR</b> series, of which <b><i>Bad Blood </i></b>is a part of, is a collaboration of six New York Times Bestselling Authors: J. S. Scott, Ruth Cardello, Raine Miller, Sawyer Bennett, Minx Malone, and Melody Anne--each author writing their own book.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Contemporary Romance Long goes to </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Kennedy Ryan for</span></b>:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BLZ7S7T/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07BLZ7S7T&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=ed85a39cf415aa8d3e807b28de9c5813" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B07BLZ7S7T&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="248" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07BLZ7S7T" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A Standalone FORBIDDEN LOVE SET IN THE EXPLOSIVE WORLD OF THE NBA…<br />
<br />
Think you know what it’s like being a baller’s girl?<br />
You don’t.<br />
My fairy tale is upside down.<br />
A happily never after.<br />
I kissed the prince and he turned into a fraud.<br />
I was a fool, and his love – fool’s gold.<br />
<br />
Now there’s a new player in the game, August West.<br />
One of the NBA’s brightest stars.<br />
Fine. Forbidden.<br />
He wants me. I want him.<br />
But my past, my fraudulent prince, just won’t let me go.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Young Adult Romance goes to </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nisha Sharma for</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553523252/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553523252&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=1973863f1b077037245d181f293ad5d4" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0553523252&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="261" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0553523252" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma</span></b></div>
<br />
Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soul mate, but their love was written in the stars. Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday, and Raj meets all the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked when she returns from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted.<br />
<br />
Then there's Dev, a fellow film geek and one of the few people Winnie can count on. Dev is smart and charming, and he challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope and find someone she'd pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy and her chance to live happily ever after? To find her perfect ending, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The winner for best Historical Romance Long goes to </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mia Vincy for</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">:</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J38FXM6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07J38FXM6&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=b1dfebc4502639eddd76445704b8acb5" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B07J38FXM6&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="267" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07J38FXM6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy</span></b></div>
<br />
<b><i>It was the ideal marriage of convenience ... and then they met.</i></b><br />
<br />
Cassandra DeWitt has seen her husband only once—on their wedding day two years earlier—and that suits her perfectly. She has no interest in the rude, badly behaved man she married only to secure her inheritance. She certainly has no interest in his ban on her going to London. Why, he’ll never even know she is there.<br />
<br />
Until he shows up in London too, and Cassandra finds herself sharing a house with the most infuriating man in England.<br />
<br />
Joshua DeWitt has his life exactly how he wants it. He has no need of a wife disrupting everything, especially a wife intent on reforming his behavior. He certainly has no need of a wife who is intolerably amiable, insufferably reasonable … and irresistibly kissable.<br />
<br />
As the unlikely couple team up to battle a malicious lawsuit and launch Cassandra’s wayward sister, passion flares between them. The day must come for them to part … but what if one of them wants their marriage to become real?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Romantic Suspense goes to </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Elizabeth Dyer for</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DM4Y7SS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07DM4Y7SS&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=53687c398d1e98077b0b6a9f1106088a" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B07DM4Y7SS&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="267" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07DM4Y7SS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fearless by Elizabeth Dyer</span></b></div>
<br />
<b><i>A broken man. A desperate woman. And a love that could save them both.</i></b><br />
<br />
William Bennett lost everything to a Special Forces operation gone wrong. A year of captivity and torture has stripped him of his strength and decency. At the edge of losing all hope, the one woman he's never forgotten storms back into his life, giving him more than just his freedom. All Will wants now is to put the agony and violence behind him . . . but he won't go home until she can, too.<br />
<br />
Cooper Reed has been a lot of things--soldier, sniper, spy--but she never thought traitor would be one of them. Now she can't stop running. Not from the partner sent to kill her, or from the CIA who used her to cover up a dangerous experiment. Cooper needs help, she just never expected to find it in the one man with every reason to hate her--even if he doesn't know it yet.<br />
<br />
As Will and Cooper race to stay one step ahead of those who want them dead, they'll each have to decide what lines they're willing to cross and what price they're willing to pay . . . and if love really is worth dying for.<br />
<br />
<b>Author Note:</b> Fearless is a stand-alone novel in the Somerton Security series, complete with a damaged hero, a take-no-prisoners heroine and an HEA.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Paranormal Romance goes to </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>J. R. Ward for</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0796F4874/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0796F4874&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=d2560b3ec149e625ae4387d14f286fb8" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0796F4874&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="264" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0796F4874" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dearest Ivie by J. R. Ward</span></b></div>
<br />
<b><i>NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In an exclusive ebook novella set in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, J. R. Ward tells the story of a fiery couple . . . doomed by an undeniable passion.</i></b><br />
<br />
The last place Ivie expects to be approached by a devastatingly handsome male is in a crowded, smoky cigar bar rarely frequented by vampires—yet here he stands. Silas is flirtatious, gallant, and, above all, mysterious. Ivie is anything but. A nurse at the healer’s clinic and the daughter of a biker, Ivie is accustomed to speaking her mind. So she does. Since aristocrats rarely pick up females of her class, Ivie asks Silas just what kind of game he thinks he’s playing.<br />
<br />
Despite her guarded exterior, Ivie surrenders to the fierce desire she feels for Silas. And yet, just as their courtship is heating up, he reveals that it cannot last, for he is bound to return to the Old Country. Their bond only deepens as they make the most of their precious time together. But when she learns the truth, Ivie must find a saving grace—before all is lost. . . .<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The winner for best Erotic Romance goes to</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Elia Winters for</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX2_WtYPOExHaHTctF1oQcrDvHr1ABgr6rI-4yKAS2fQ0dr1igdAX6peE2q5RqzDLCqyQE8Kn1QMWREnSsM47227OAhrUoFkzwDERtlTkFRq2Bb08JHi5tbjS_JjcmrY-PUYlGL4BC8pX/s1600/Three+Way+Split.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDX2_WtYPOExHaHTctF1oQcrDvHr1ABgr6rI-4yKAS2fQ0dr1igdAX6peE2q5RqzDLCqyQE8Kn1QMWREnSsM47227OAhrUoFkzwDERtlTkFRq2Bb08JHi5tbjS_JjcmrY-PUYlGL4BC8pX/s320/Three+Way+Split.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Three-Way Split by Elia Winters</span></b></div>
<br />
Hannah Stewart knows what she likes, and it doesn't include relationships. She has enough on her plate with her fledgling adult novelty shop, Yes Please. But even with an arsenal of sex toys at her disposal, she's hit a dry spell—one she wishes the sexy Mitchell Fredericks would help her out with.<br />
<br />
There's just one snag. His sexy roommate and business partner, Ben Harrington.<br />
<br />
The last thing she wants to do is come between their friendship—even though she'd like to come between them in other ways. Instead, she comes up with a proposition for them, one that might lead to a very hot, very unexpected outcome.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Historical Romance Short goes to </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kelly Bowen for</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/147891856X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=147891856X&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=9e63cb04934cafe15cdee7fb3afab26a" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=147891856X&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="248" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=147891856X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen</span></b></div>
<br />
Duke. Scoundrel. Titan of business. August Faulkner is a man of many talents, not the least of which is enticing women into his bedchamber. He's known-and reviled-for buying and selling companies, accumulating scads of money, and breaking hearts. It's a reputation he wears like a badge of honor, and one he intends to keep.<br />
<br />
Clara Hayward, the headmistress of the Haverhall School for Young Ladies, on the other hand, is above reproach. Yet when she's reunited with August all she can think of is the way she felt in his arms as they danced a scandalous waltz ten long years ago. Even though her head knows that he is only back in her life to take over her family's business, her heart can't help but open to the very duke who could destroy it for good.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Winner for best Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements goes to </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Carla Laureano for</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496420241/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1496420241&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=42ec2b0ab50c1248ee954aded30a02b8" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1496420241&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="267" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1496420241" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard Award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back . . . even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. Ironically, his attempt to highlight the pitfalls of online criticism has the opposite effect: it revives his own flagging career by destroying that of a perfect stranger. Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. He just doesn’t expect his interest in the beautiful chef to turn personal.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Alex agrees to help rebuild Rachel’s tarnished image by offering his connections and his home to host an exclusive pop-up dinner party targeted to Denver’s most influential citizens: the Saturday Night Supper Club. As they work together to make the project a success, Rachel begins to realize Alex is not the unfeeling opportunist she once thought he was, and that perhaps there’s life—and love—outside the pressure-cooker of her chosen career. But can she give up her lifelong goals without losing her identity as well?</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Contemporary Romance Short goes to </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Teri Wilson for</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0788BGXLP/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0788BGXLP&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=508183a6baded0b5c344ceaff92d76aa" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0788BGXLP&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="252" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0788BGXLP" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise by Teri Wilson</b></span></div>
<br />
Okay, Evangeline Holly!<br />
<br />
You. Can. Do. This.<br />
<br />
Put that bad breakup behind you. And stop obsessing over the subsequent superhot one-night stand. Focus on your future. It’s the first day of your new job! Just ignore the fact that your boss, Ryan Wilde, was your former one-night lover. (He’s so hot!) Oh, and—surprise!—you’re pregnant with Ryan’s baby. And your job hinges on keeping it secret. You’ve got this! Right?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The winner for best Contemporary Romance Mid-length goes to</span></b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Susannah Nix for:</span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C9jimBVhxY1F4_8Joq5iW4tNz5rymitNOFXhrpUT7R8r20RJjfsHxL9CYnO5zRtiNIu0__sFlaseuK_UrRi9UIMRy3ATstTtqntwkI4xyTboNnUW3nW9fG15p2LWXDRPdzYExdpusIj3/s1600/Advanced+Physical+Chemistry+by+Susannah+Nix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="880" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C9jimBVhxY1F4_8Joq5iW4tNz5rymitNOFXhrpUT7R8r20RJjfsHxL9CYnO5zRtiNIu0__sFlaseuK_UrRi9UIMRy3ATstTtqntwkI4xyTboNnUW3nW9fG15p2LWXDRPdzYExdpusIj3/s400/Advanced+Physical+Chemistry+by+Susannah+Nix.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After a string of lousy boyfriends, chemical engineer Penny Popplestone swears off men until she can figure out why they keep cheating on her. But her no-men resolution hits a snag when the mysterious and superhumanly hot barista at her favorite coffee shop strikes up a friendship with her. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Penny strives to keep things platonic, but when Caleb gives her the kiss of her life, she realizes he wants to be more than just friends. Tired of always being “good little Penny,” she throws caution to the wind and pursues a no-strings fling with the hottie barista. It’s not like they have anything in common beyond scorching physical chemistry, so what does she have to lose? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Her heart, it turns out.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now, this fanfic-reading, plus-size heroine faces an unsolvable problem. What do you do when being apart is unbearable…but being together is impossible?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Advanced Physical Chemistry is the third in a series of standalone rom-coms featuring geeky heroines who work in STEM fields.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The winner for best Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance goes to </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sarah Morgan for</span></b><b style="font-size: x-large;">:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1335613005/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1335613005&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=871934a00a2fa794316d2eb0b67f474f" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1335613005&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="265" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1335613005" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When three generations of women are brought together by crisis, they learn over the course of one hot summer the power of family to support, nourish and surprise</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Lauren has the perfect life…if she ignores the fact it’s a fragile house of cards, and that her daughter Mack has just had a teenage personality transplant.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Jenna is desperate to start a family with her husband, but it’s… Just. Not. Happening. Her heart is breaking, but she’s determined to keep her trademark smile on her face.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nancy knows she hasn’t been the best mother, but how can she ever tell Lauren and Jenna the reason why?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then life changes in an instant, and Lauren, Mack, Jenna and Nancy are thrown together for a summer on Martha’s Vineyard. Somehow, these very different women must relearn how to be a family. And while unraveling their secrets might be their biggest challenge, the rewards could be infinite…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Heartwarming and fresh, Sarah Morgan’s brilliant new novel is a witty and deeply uplifting look at the power of a family of women.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The winner for Best First Book goes to </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Marie Tremayne for</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XVR5D5F/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B06XVR5D5F&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=70fbbd52fdd4e22140bc912a01a9f335" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B06XVR5D5F&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=sed0f-20" width="252" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B06XVR5D5F" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne</span></b></div>
<b><i></i></b><br />
<div>
<b><i><b><i><br /></i></b></i></b></div>
<b><i>
She wants to escape her present . . .</i></b><br />
When Clara Mayfield helps her sister elope, she’s prepared for the scandal to seal her fate as a spinster. What she doesn't expect is to find herself engaged to the vile Baron Rutherford as a means of salvaging her family's reputation. Determined not to be chained to a man she loathes, Clara slips out of Essex and sheds her identity: she becomes Helen, maid at the Earl of Ashworth’s country estate. After all, below stairs is the last place anyone would think to look for an heiress . . .<br />
<br />
<b><i>He wants to forget his past . . .</i></b><br />
<br />
William, Lord Ashworth, is attempting to rebuild his life after the devastating accident that claimed the lives of his entire family, save his beloved sister and niece. Haunted by memories of what was and determined to live up to the title he never expected to inherit, William doesn’t have time for love. What he needs is a noble and accomplished wife, one who can further the Ashworth line and keep the family name untarnished . . .<br />
<br />
<b><i>Together, can they find the perfect future?</i></b><br />
<br />
From their first encounter, the attraction between them is undeniable. But Clara knows William is falling for Helen, a woman who doesn’t even exist. The question is, if she reveals the truth about her identity, can she trust the broken William to forgive her lie and stand by her side when scandal—and the baron—inevitably follow her to his door?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Congratulations to all the winners!</b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-74156098467843621132019-07-22T00:01:00.000-04:002019-07-22T06:07:16.669-04:00Giveaway/Sneak Peek/Review of Brazen and the Beast (The Bareknuckle Bastards, #2) by Sarah MacLean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H1GmNEmhyphenhyphenm5fy09r0VLXSHE_KcD0dZo35Fv7y3z6pfqvwb4EBF_n42nVfpcom1AkaAmMZN1gaaLHWYakX0Qn7yCaSAE8ORhJrQn6cfUpeYG7whesVozaBRHteoMKqeb06mTu-bk3Njx1/s1600/Brazen+and+the+Beast+mm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5H1GmNEmhyphenhyphenm5fy09r0VLXSHE_KcD0dZo35Fv7y3z6pfqvwb4EBF_n42nVfpcom1AkaAmMZN1gaaLHWYakX0Qn7yCaSAE8ORhJrQn6cfUpeYG7whesVozaBRHteoMKqeb06mTu-bk3Njx1/s640/Brazen+and+the+Beast+mm.JPG" width="403" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean</span></b></div>
<br />
<i>New York Times</i> Bestselling Author Sarah MacLean returns with the next book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series about three brothers bound by a secret that they cannot escape—and the women who bring them to their knees.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The Lady’s Plan</b></i><br />
<br />
When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year her own, she has plans to inherit her father’s business, to make her own fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste of the pleasure she’ll forgo as a confirmed spinster. Everything is going perfectly…until she discovers the most beautiful man she’s ever seen tied up in her carriage and threatening to ruin the Year of Hattie before it’s even begun.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The Bastard’s Proposal</b></i><br />
<br />
When he wakes in a carriage at Hattie’s feet, Whit, a king of Covent Garden known to all the world as Beast, can’t help but wonder about the strange woman who frees him—especially when he discovers she’s headed for a night of pleasure . . . on his turf. He is more than happy to offer Hattie all she desires…for a price.<br />
<br />
<b>An Unexpected Passion</b><br />
<br />
Soon, Hattie and Whit find themselves rivals in business and pleasure. She won’t give up her plans; he won’t give up his power . . . and neither of them sees that if they’re not careful, they’ll have no choice but to give up everything . . . including their hearts.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtF9e2EZZcWtgFDk7oQ8taLpojIhqoesXaOqYxSh6cSfZqpI2I1Weq3y4W4DEVHbs-Ie0fssj3SRTkkHVqpuf9HEtcT4gboolsH63nsHfPnn4vBSXoVKenBaSzFSByViHndEgvgPnWsaK/s1600/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="779" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtF9e2EZZcWtgFDk7oQ8taLpojIhqoesXaOqYxSh6cSfZqpI2I1Weq3y4W4DEVHbs-Ie0fssj3SRTkkHVqpuf9HEtcT4gboolsH63nsHfPnn4vBSXoVKenBaSzFSByViHndEgvgPnWsaK/s320/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="ttl" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chapter
One</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
September 1837<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mayfair<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In
twenty-eight years and three hundred sixty-four days, Lady Henrietta Sedley
liked to think that she’d learned a few things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She’d
learned, for example, that if a lady could not get away with wearing trousers
(an unfortunate reality for the daughter of an earl, even one who had begun
life without title or fortune), then she should absolutely ensure that her
skirts included pockets. A woman never knew when she might require a bit of
rope, or a knife to cut it, after all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She’d also
learned that any decent escape from her Mayfair home required the cover of
darkness and a carriage driven by an ally. Coachmen tended to talk a fine game
when it came to keeping secrets, but were ultimately beholden to those who paid
their salaries. An important addendum to that particular lesson was this: The
best of allies was often the best of friends. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And
perhaps first on the list of things she had learned in her lifetime was how to
tie a Bosun knot. She’d been able to do that for as long as she could remember.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With such
an obscure and uncommon collection of knowledge, one might imagine that
Henrietta Sedley would have known precisely what to do in the likelihood she
discovered a human male bound and unconscious in her carriage. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One would
be incorrect. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In point
of fact, Henrietta Sedley would never have described such a scenario as a
likelihood. After all, she might have been more comfortable on London’s docks
than in its ballrooms, but Hattie’s impressive collection of life experience
lacked anything close to a criminal element. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yet,
here she was, pockets full, dearest friend at her side, standing in the pitch
dark on the night before her twenty-ninth birthday, about to steal away from
Mayfair for a night of best-laid plans, and…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lady
Eleanora Madewell whistled, low and unladylike at Hattie’s ear. Daughter of a
duke and the Irish actress he loved so much he’d made her a duchess, Nora had
the kind of brashness that was allowed in those with impervious titles and
scads of money. “There’s a bloke in the gig, Hattie.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hattie did
not look away from the bloke in question. “Yes, I see that.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There
wasn’t a bloke in the gig when we hitched the horses.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, there
wasn’t.” They’d left the hitched—and most definitely empty—carriage in the dark
rear drive of Sedley House not three-quarters of an hour earlier, before hiking
upstairs to exchange carriage-hitching dresses for attire more appropriate for
their evening plans. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At some
point between corset and kohl, someone had left her an extraordinarily
unwelcome package. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Seems we would’ve
noticed a bloke in the gig,” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I should
think we would have,” came Hattie’s distracted reply. “This is really just
awful timing.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nora cut
her a look. “Is there a <i>good</i> time for a man to be bound in one’s
carriage?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hattie
imagined there wasn’t, but, “He could have selected a different evening. What a
terrible birthday gift.” She squinted into the dark interior of the carriage.
“Do you think he’s dead?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Please,
don’t let him be dead.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silence.
Then, a thoughtful, “Does one store dead men in carriages?” Nora reached
forward, her coachman’s coat pulling tight over her shoulders, and poked the
dead man in question. He did not move. “He’s not moving,” she added. “Could be
dead.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hattie
sighed, removing a glove and leaning into the carriage to place two fingers to
the man’s neck. “I’m sure he’s not dead.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What are
you doing?” Nora whispered, urgently. “If he’s not dead, you’ll wake him!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That
wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world,” Hattie pointed out. “Then we could
ask him to kindly exit our conveyance and we could be on our way.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, yes.
This brute seems like precisely the kind of man who would immediately do just
that and not immediately take his revenge. He’d no doubt doff his cap and wish
us a fine good evening.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He’s not
wearing a cap,” Hattie pointed out, unable to refute any of the rest of the
assessment of the mysterious, possibly dead man. He was very broad, and very
solid, and even in the darkness she could tell that this wasn’t a man with whom
one took a turn about a ballroom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was
the kind of man who ransacked a ballroom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What do
you feel?” Nora pressed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No
pulse.” Though she wasn’t precisely certain of the location one would find a
pulse. “But he’s—”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Warm. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dead men
were not warm, and this man was very warm. Like a fire in winter. The kind of
warm that made someone realize how cold she might be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ignoring
the silly thought, Hattie moved her fingers down the column of his neck, to the
place where it disappeared beneath the collar of his shirt, where the curve of
his shoulder and the slope of…the rest of him… met in a fascinating
indentation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Anything
now?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Quiet.”
Hattie held her breath. Nothing. She shook her head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Christ.”
It wasn’t a prayer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hattie
couldn’t have agreed more. But then…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>There</i>.<i> </i>A small flutter. She pressed a touch more firmly. The flutter
became firm. Slow. Even. “I feel it. She said. “He’s alive.” She repeated
herself. “He’s alive.” She exhaled, long and relieved. “He’s not dead.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Excellent.
But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s unconscious in the carriage, and you
have somewhere to be.” She paused. “We should leave him and take the curricle.”
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hattie had
been planning for this particular excursion on this particular night for a full
three months. This was the night that would begin her twenty-ninth year. The
year her life would become her own. The year <i>she </i>would become her own.
And she had a very specific plan for a very specific location at a very
specific hour, for which she had donned a very specific frock. And yet, as she
stared at the man in her carriage, specifics seemed not at all important. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What
seemed important was seeing his face. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Clinging
to the handle at the edge of the door, Hattie collected the lantern from the
upper rear corner of the carriage before swinging back out to face Nora, whose
gaze flickered immediately to the unlit container. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nora
tilted her head. “Hattie. Leave him. Let’s take the curricle.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Just a
peek,” Hattie replied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The tilt
became a shake. “If you peek, you’ll regret it.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I have to
peek,” Hattie insisted, casting about for a decent reason—ignoring the odd fact
that she was unable to tell her friend the truth. “I have to untie him.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not
necessarily,” Nora pointed out. “Someone thought he was best left tied up, and
who are we to disagree?” Hattie was already reaching into the pocket of the
carriage door for a flint. “What of your plans?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was
plenty of time for her plans. “Just a peek,” she repeated, the oil in the
lantern catching fire. She closed the door and turned to face the carriage,
lifting the light high, casting a lovely golden glow over—<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh, my,”
she said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nora
choked back a laugh. “Not such a bad gift after all, perhaps.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man
had the most beautiful face Hattie had ever seen. The most beautiful face <i>anyone
</i>had ever seen, she imagined. She leaned closer, taking in his warm, bronze
skin, the high cheekbones, the long, straight nose, the dark slashes of his
brows and the impossibly long lashes that lay like feathers against his cheeks.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What kind
of man…” she trailed off. Shook her head. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What kind
of man looked like this?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.25in;">What kind of man looked like this and
somehow landed in the carriage of Hattie </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKfFxAUeNfbKms__BTGklWD6huTI0gvgyc5dpX1gzTqMEEFN12p4jvK0RXjXNwC7DCzTR5MPnIb1adeu7f6NRAbx3jrPYLBri-pZNZmI40YrIM5HOAzTq9XJmICvhEvlgoveOkQ8fl7qI/s1600/About+the+author+banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="999" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKfFxAUeNfbKms__BTGklWD6huTI0gvgyc5dpX1gzTqMEEFN12p4jvK0RXjXNwC7DCzTR5MPnIb1adeu7f6NRAbx3jrPYLBri-pZNZmI40YrIM5HOAzTq9XJmICvhEvlgoveOkQ8fl7qI/s320/About+the+author+banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFi6KrXSl8SibL7-OvaynliSbxQ6bggoTBLEvr_FtQ2GojKQh_ig0Sbr8hPHNCTvpEmRK3J-TJGeoS4YYbHczNCvA0X958s7_jxTqlMeUFa7R-1k1DozCKD7j-tbIU3P2FCJax3jqANoG/s1600/Headshot+Sarah+MacLean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFi6KrXSl8SibL7-OvaynliSbxQ6bggoTBLEvr_FtQ2GojKQh_ig0Sbr8hPHNCTvpEmRK3J-TJGeoS4YYbHczNCvA0X958s7_jxTqlMeUFa7R-1k1DozCKD7j-tbIU3P2FCJax3jqANoG/s320/Headshot+Sarah+MacLean.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sarah MacLean</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A life-long
romance reader, Sarah MacLean wrote her first romance novel on a dare, and
never looked back. She is the <i>New York Times </i>and <i>USA
Today </i>bestselling author of historical romances and a columnist
for <i>The Washington Post</i>, where she writes about the romance genre.
She lives in New York City. Visit her at www.sarahmaclean.net.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFptqH0E5-FCFIqLmqDK2gkVGjcGrydMCyjujf_RxtuTspNLS3VT5DL9wQLZ0XHAZFnRrdfL0u7aen6uVPOAlJY9zn2ZnxKosSTmi3e7AWxzukFYWjxjB20YC8oVrF4QMMLKPOCDur2ro/s1600/My+Review+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="790" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFptqH0E5-FCFIqLmqDK2gkVGjcGrydMCyjujf_RxtuTspNLS3VT5DL9wQLZ0XHAZFnRrdfL0u7aen6uVPOAlJY9zn2ZnxKosSTmi3e7AWxzukFYWjxjB20YC8oVrF4QMMLKPOCDur2ro/s320/My+Review+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSADFSgGQfgzPSLd5ZNb7rLblVKg-Iyo3TihsOfmRXw3oJPb-HFQBA66BVdF6XFfI0ooXA3CF06d758hqLhqQ6MzuMkaFkAKuzhz0XTCXl9eCq0dgRqsoamY3LKci-WqneZyPoIvTpcvaK/s1600/Brazen+and+the+Beast+mm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSADFSgGQfgzPSLd5ZNb7rLblVKg-Iyo3TihsOfmRXw3oJPb-HFQBA66BVdF6XFfI0ooXA3CF06d758hqLhqQ6MzuMkaFkAKuzhz0XTCXl9eCq0dgRqsoamY3LKci-WqneZyPoIvTpcvaK/s200/Brazen+and+the+Beast+mm.JPG" width="126" /></a></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Title:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D6P4JK7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07D6P4JK7&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=2214e945c7aef0d805a0b4e801f985b2" target="_blank">Brazen and the Beast: The Bareknuckle Bastards Book II</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07D6P4JK7" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<div>
<b>Classification:</b> Adult Fiction</div>
<div>
<b>Genre:</b> Historical Romance</div>
<div>
<b>Series: </b>The Bareknuckle Bastards (Book 2)</div>
<div>
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 560 pages</div>
<div>
<b>Publisher: </b>HarperLuxe; Larger Print edition (July 30, 2019)</div>
<div>
<b>ISBN-10:</b> 0062911503</div>
<div>
<b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0062911506</div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Author's Website:</b> <a href="http://www.sarahmaclean.net/">http://www.sarahmaclean.net/</a></div>
<div>
<b>Notes:</b> I received an eARC loan from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my review. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She is determined to get what she has always dreamt of...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lady Henrietta 'Hattie' Sedley is firmly on the shelf, and that is okay with her for she has a plan. A four-point plan to captain her own fate... Business. Home. Fortune. Future. It is the eve of her twenty-ninth birthday and at this point anyone who wishes to marry her will be after her dowry, and she does't want to be married to someone who only wants her for her dowry. After years of going to ball after ball, suffering through one Season after another, she's decided it is time to take fate into her own hands. She is convinced if she can prove herself, her father will let her manage and takeover the family business. She believes there is only one obstacle in her way, that once removed will clear the way for what she desires, and that is to do away with the one thing that is prized about her, her innocence. That brings us to the fifth point on her list--Body. She is determined this will be her year. The Year of Hattie!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is determined to find the person who'd been stealing from him...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Beast, one of the brothers known as the Bareknuckle Bastards, has had four shipments stolen on route to his customers. The latest being taken from underneath his very nose. While riding with his crew, they are set upon by thieves, and minutes later he awakes in a carriage to a woman's voice. When she dispatches him from her moving carriage, he quickly rights himself and sets about finding her. Something easily accomplished when one has spies all over the city. She is his only lead. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"They call me Beast."</div>
<div>
She shook her head. "That's"--she searched for the word--"ludicrous."</div>
<div>
"Why?" </div>
<div>
"Because...you're the most beautiful man I've ever seen."(...)"I imagine it's meant to be ironic?" </div>
<div>
"It's Not," he said, lowering his hand. </div>
<div>
She blinked. I don't understand." </div>
<div>
"You will."</div>
<div>
The promise sent a thread of unease through her. "I will?"</div>
<div>
He reached for her again, cupping her cheek in her palm, making her want to turn into the heat of him. "Those who steal from me. Who threaten what is mine. They see the truth of it." </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYA5Kd6guW7mVlfg4dHg5RQmI_6WVwFlmibTBiU87Dhx7rKUoPjGl1fvQdZxrUsNGLiDSvYh2Heel8jWrevqJObsIvCkLmrTZY4cDZRiYJepZpV-YmiTZO1yPCGji1pIrrvQB0jCw1OVS/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYA5Kd6guW7mVlfg4dHg5RQmI_6WVwFlmibTBiU87Dhx7rKUoPjGl1fvQdZxrUsNGLiDSvYh2Heel8jWrevqJObsIvCkLmrTZY4cDZRiYJepZpV-YmiTZO1yPCGji1pIrrvQB0jCw1OVS/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
This is the second book in The Bareknuckle Bastards series and, oh my goodness, if there's one romance you have to read this year, this is it. The book is devilishly delicious, or dare I say, Bewitchingly Beastly? Either way, this one turned up the heat, and whoever dared Ms. MacLean to write her first novel has my sincere thanks. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This series centers around three brothers and a sister. The brothers were all born on the same day, in the same hour, at the same minute to different women, but to the same father. The sister was born on the same day, in the same hour, at the same minute, but to a Duchess of whom the Duke was not the father. The daughter, ironically, was the only one considered legitimate of the lot. The boys would have been forgotten if the Duke could have sired more heirs or his daughter, who wasn't really his, had been born a boy. The Duke, however, needed an heir so he replaced the daughter with one of the brothers who then became the Duke's heir while the "sister" and other two brothers, then fourteen, fled to the streets to get out from under the thumb of the cruel man they dared not call father. There they made their own way, on their own terms. They are the base for the series, and Beast is one of the siblings who fled. </div>
<div>
<br />
Saviour Whittington, aka Beast, is a man of few words. He, his brother, Devil, and their sister, Grace, grew up on the darkest streets of London doing what they needed to survive. They clawed their way up, bringing those around them with them, and are recognized and revered in the Rookery of Covent Garden which they claimed as their own. Known as the Bareknuckle Bastards, they are said to be the most powerful men in East London. They are not the types one messes with. They are smugglers by trade, but also own several above board businesses, and have secured the loyalty of all who dwell in Coven Garden through money, might, and, most importantly, the way they do business. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hattie is the daughter of an Earl, however, she grew up on the docks. Her father wasn't born into the aristocracy, he earned his title from the King for nobility at sea. He owns one of the biggest shipping companies in London, and Hattie knows the workings of it inside and out. She's smart, keen, and clever, but unfortunately was born female in a man's world. She feels she doesn't fit in anywhere and is determined to prove to her father she should inherit the company, and not her brother who undoubtedly would ruin it. When she finds an unconscious man in her carriage she immediately knows who to blame--her brother--and wonders what he's gotten himself into. She soon finds out.<br />
<br />
When Hattie and Beast meet, sparks fly. They are well matched in many ways even though they seem to be complete opposites, and most would think them to be an unlikely pair. They both feel a bit like misfits who don't quite fit in anywhere. As they get to know one another, however, she appears to be the yin to his yang and vice versa. Though they come from different worlds, the biggest hurdle they have to overcome is Hattie's brother's ill planned scheme to steal from the Bareknuckle Bastards. An action which could get him killed.<br />
<br />
I couldn't help but give this one <b>5 out of 5 roses</b>. Ms. MacLean never disappoints, and this book is another example of why she is one of my favorite romance writers. It was a fun and sexy romance that was enjoyable in the extreme. This is my favorite story of the year thus far. The chemistry between these two was so thick you could practically cut it with a knife. The way Hattie seems to fascinate Beast, against his better judgement, made me smile. The first couple of chapters had me grinning from ear to ear while ensnaring me hook, line, and sinker. I was a total goner, and couldn't put the book down until I finished. For the record, I've read this one twice--something I rarely do especially in quick succession! On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>SHOWER</b> rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol I <b>HIGHLY</b> recommend this one!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMwyJaGbnRKGqlsN4VzahCrDofd3fTOQm88xjdLgiOd4n8faU5s-ig3xOcIdGpt2r2NAZz0fV2IqF6XfUj3leOpRQ-M79KhN_19yud-XsRUg8zncegckSzQHrv0T2OU8XH-yPKht0h5fU/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMwyJaGbnRKGqlsN4VzahCrDofd3fTOQm88xjdLgiOd4n8faU5s-ig3xOcIdGpt2r2NAZz0fV2IqF6XfUj3leOpRQ-M79KhN_19yud-XsRUg8zncegckSzQHrv0T2OU8XH-yPKht0h5fU/s1600/My+5+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Order of the Bareknuckle Bastards Series:</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B071X41HT7&asins=B071X41HT7&linkId=8a3fc2550667522f27a348d5f41bfe95&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07D6P4JK7&asins=B07D6P4JK7&linkId=124335cb91ab4b16a740c9d5effab88d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQkq1ZDDLFwKHBsFOPSP5dncew9KtMAgoz3Uc-sy8b2TWZV8adDPKTcZ17lp7K83byQGGJ2osMbUO-zn0ea8lTr9dkcrWetEs1pBPGZXmo1jdhyZisapsFXkRZRDBuLFntdkW2oZl8dBY/s1600/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="780" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQkq1ZDDLFwKHBsFOPSP5dncew9KtMAgoz3Uc-sy8b2TWZV8adDPKTcZ17lp7K83byQGGJ2osMbUO-zn0ea8lTr9dkcrWetEs1pBPGZXmo1jdhyZisapsFXkRZRDBuLFntdkW2oZl8dBY/s320/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSADFSgGQfgzPSLd5ZNb7rLblVKg-Iyo3TihsOfmRXw3oJPb-HFQBA66BVdF6XFfI0ooXA3CF06d758hqLhqQ6MzuMkaFkAKuzhz0XTCXl9eCq0dgRqsoamY3LKci-WqneZyPoIvTpcvaK/s1600/Brazen+and+the+Beast+mm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSADFSgGQfgzPSLd5ZNb7rLblVKg-Iyo3TihsOfmRXw3oJPb-HFQBA66BVdF6XFfI0ooXA3CF06d758hqLhqQ6MzuMkaFkAKuzhz0XTCXl9eCq0dgRqsoamY3LKci-WqneZyPoIvTpcvaK/s320/Brazen+and+the+Beast+mm.JPG" width="202" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enter for a chance to win<i> 'ONE'</i> print copy of Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Open to those living in the United States or Canada)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please check Rafflecopter for the rules for this giveaway.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Good Luck!</span></div>
</div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0c401987103" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0c401987103/" id="rcwidget_3ha3u2sl" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911951577285957423noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4308657541707141162.post-9563092012078447162019-07-15T00:01:00.000-04:002019-07-17T23:26:54.082-04:00Giveaway/Sneak Peek/Review of One Fine Duke (School for Dukes, #3) by Lenora Bell <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK3LMpQzAbE8LHUwD88vGvGFTTWM5-18gfy2QDr9qRG_k97QEkiBHZIRteD_JRa83pTT44VoSSUNE-KDUJ0AI5JxT5pcvm-xnDlzm9xgDicoSplfLPs2cqeRATq8nihI1xgaPPcA2KbM/s1600/One+Fine+Duke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="613" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK3LMpQzAbE8LHUwD88vGvGFTTWM5-18gfy2QDr9qRG_k97QEkiBHZIRteD_JRa83pTT44VoSSUNE-KDUJ0AI5JxT5pcvm-xnDlzm9xgDicoSplfLPs2cqeRATq8nihI1xgaPPcA2KbM/s400/One+Fine+Duke.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>One Fine Duke (School for Dukes, #3) </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>by Lenora Bell</b></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<b><i>USA Today</i></b> bestselling author <b>Lenora Bell</b> returns with her third book in the sexy School for Dukes series.<br />
<br />
<b><i> Ready.</i></b>Raised in the countryside by her overprotective uncle, Miss Mina Penny’s dream of a triumphant London season is finally here. She determined her perfect match long ago: Rafe Bentley, the wickedest rake of them all. There’s only one very large, very unyielding obstacle: Rafe’s brother Drew, the reclusive Duke of Thorndon.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Aim.</i></b><br />
<br />
This was supposed to be simple. Duke goes to London. Duke selects suitable bride. Love match? Not a chance. But when Drew meets Mina, she complicates everything. How can a lady armed with such beauty and brains fall for his irresponsible degenerate of a brother? Drew vows to save her from heartbreak and ruin, no matter the cost.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Desire!</i></b><br />
<br />
But Mina is no damsel in distress. She’s daring, intuitive, passionate…and halfway to melting Drew’s cold heart. And although Mina thought she knew exactly what she wanted, one breathtakingly seductive kiss from Drew changes everything. Now Mina must decide between long-held dreams and dangerous new desires. Could her true destiny lie in the arms of a duke?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbnYzaUwZpAqRht2SXPznFjWASKzaeXTZ9h2z7JYt5JzRluKIQwRO-8NFekCx2UUFDVGFpc05lSSd7jiOe1Z3mI14iJ9Nt4Qd2aWI2WX2Nug9zxZ9Y9uXKdJo0LKJc6HB_xJVYh7Vc8o/s1600/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="779" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbnYzaUwZpAqRht2SXPznFjWASKzaeXTZ9h2z7JYt5JzRluKIQwRO-8NFekCx2UUFDVGFpc05lSSd7jiOe1Z3mI14iJ9Nt4Qd2aWI2WX2Nug9zxZ9Y9uXKdJo0LKJc6HB_xJVYh7Vc8o/s320/The+Excerpt+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">“There
he is, Wilhelmina,” Grizzy whispered, staring reverently across the crowded
ballroom. “The Duke of Thorndon.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Holy hell he’s handsome</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">, thought Mina.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Jaw-dropping-on-the-floor
handsome. Drool-on-your-lace-fichu handsome.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Distract
her from her plan with his brother, handsome.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Her
uncle had been right. Thorndon was a fine figure of a man. Objectively
speaking, the finest she’d ever beheld. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Tall
as a doorframe, with a face hewn from the same granite as the rugged Cornish
coastline.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">A
face rendered seductive by contrasts: sharp cheekbones and curved, sensuous
lips. Gleaming ebony hair brushed his collar. His eyes were a light, gold-tinged
brown—the only warm thing about him. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">He
owned this ballroom. Literally. And he owned everyone in it by dint of his
oversized presence and the cold, unsmiling arrogance scrawled across his face. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">He
didn’t even follow the dictates of fashion, preferring plain black attire to
the white pantaloons and gaily-colored waistcoats of the other gentlemen.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Why
should he follow the dictates of fashion? Everyone should follow him.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">“When
you’re introduced to Thorndon, pray speak as seldom as possible,” Grizzy
whispered. “Attempt to appear biddable and do try to recall my decorum lessons.
Remember, no one in London knows anything about you, thank the Lord.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Mina
had seen several polished, elegant young ladies staring at her, nudging each
other and whispering. She was an outsider, a usurper, her proper place in the
social hierarchy not yet established. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">They
needn’t worry. She had no designs upon their prize duke. And she was about as
unpolished as a debutante could be—as rough as an un-sanded plank. If anyone
touched her they might get splinters.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">She
longed to shed her country skin swiftly and emerge as the sophisticated social
butterfly her mother had been. But she knew that it would take time,
observation, and experimentation.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Her
first flirtatious conversation, first kiss, first taste of brandy, first
adventure…it was all ahead of her. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">She
couldn’t wait to taste it all.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqyabHSlVzzue26Bk41d1-A1Tn3d2BtrmG0YDOhpmY-v5RmUAQktA2bRLgOi0VGyC2jb1ADBhsQU9_98bo3XAvjxSE9OITImpKqbLL202P3QarQmNEbbhaAEzJQ_L_IVFUJswLUiowSk/s1600/About+the+author+banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="999" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqyabHSlVzzue26Bk41d1-A1Tn3d2BtrmG0YDOhpmY-v5RmUAQktA2bRLgOi0VGyC2jb1ADBhsQU9_98bo3XAvjxSE9OITImpKqbLL202P3QarQmNEbbhaAEzJQ_L_IVFUJswLUiowSk/s320/About+the+author+banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<b></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKI9anM1cGWZHkrmOGGmB9sowQ1BnZ2UybV9My9DibcneygshyVRFEcVvt_FXTDxUEzQvXSwjAiwSKvJj1jEVv2rlHhxnH9scZfbcpyLtCplyzGtpuh67UmCCbPzmI49FWAuzveRwSyM/s1600/LENORA+BELL+Author+Photo+BW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKI9anM1cGWZHkrmOGGmB9sowQ1BnZ2UybV9My9DibcneygshyVRFEcVvt_FXTDxUEzQvXSwjAiwSKvJj1jEVv2rlHhxnH9scZfbcpyLtCplyzGtpuh67UmCCbPzmI49FWAuzveRwSyM/s320/LENORA+BELL+Author+Photo+BW.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Lenora Bell</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Check out her website: <a href="http://lenorabell.com/">http://lenorabell.com/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Follow her on twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/author_bell">https://twitter.com/author_bell</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Lenora Bell is a <i>USA Today</i> bestselling, award-winning author of historical romances. A teacher with an MFA in Creative Writing, Lenora has lived and worked on five continents. She currently lives in New Zealand with her carpenter husband and two tiger-striped rescue kitties. She loves hearing from readers! Sign up for her mailing list to hear about new books, sales, and giveaways.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuRVJUNufeuWTignHTXzdnk3OwwExc-qYyE4_iitfGitb_siY37-7HCjuXu2GlbfAp9VwxbxXDbDMFvUFcvul_q94pf6yMGjPjbfn3ayeU7V-abRvNz0e7kdBKh7qh1yYTp3yF830HSDR/s1600/My+Review+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="790" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuRVJUNufeuWTignHTXzdnk3OwwExc-qYyE4_iitfGitb_siY37-7HCjuXu2GlbfAp9VwxbxXDbDMFvUFcvul_q94pf6yMGjPjbfn3ayeU7V-abRvNz0e7kdBKh7qh1yYTp3yF830HSDR/s320/My+Review+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEf7URez6N0ZNfpMx48NFqKHSC130qoPOCoxfO3NjysWTlQV1JaCjtu-4s3itNW47WZRWUsU1rxiv3guLWH5HnKRUcnlbyrWrdy0sqWEEaEqNw2S1FRy3PxgDbvevBAwDgJETF-MWih7lR/s1600/One+Fine+Duke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="613" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEf7URez6N0ZNfpMx48NFqKHSC130qoPOCoxfO3NjysWTlQV1JaCjtu-4s3itNW47WZRWUsU1rxiv3guLWH5HnKRUcnlbyrWrdy0sqWEEaEqNw2S1FRy3PxgDbvevBAwDgJETF-MWih7lR/s200/One+Fine+Duke.jpg" width="125" /></a>Title: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BDLD6V6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07BDLD6V6&linkCode=as2&tag=sed0f-20&linkId=81f1e95870bb895632bb16611779bab2" target="_blank">One Fine Duke: School for Dukes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sed0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07BDLD6V6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Classification: Adult Fiction<br />
Genre: Historical Romance<br />
Series: School for Dukes (Book 3)<br />
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages<br />
Publisher: Avon; Reprint edition (July 23, 2019)<br />
ISBN-10: 006269250X<br />
ISBN-13: 978-0062692504<br />
Author's Website: <a href="http://lenorabell.com/">http://lenorabell.com/</a><br />
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the author for review purposes. This in no way affected my review.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ms. Wilhelmina 'Mina' Penny has been raised in a guarded and controlled environment by her uncle, Sir Malcolm. While she knows her rigid upbringing was because her uncle wished to protect her, she has had enough. This is her first season and she intends to make it her last. Her uncle's plans, which involve her marrying a Duke, do not mesh with hers. She has grand plans which involve freedom, revenge, and adventure. She does not want to exchange one controlling, arrogant man for another.<br />
<div>
<br />
Andrew Bentley, Duke of Thorndon, Drew to family, does not like rubbing elbows with society. He prefers the quiet life on his family estate, but someone associated with his brother Rafe has threatened their sister, Beatrice. He's come to London to find out what his brother is mixed up in, and put a stop to it.<br />
<br />
At first glance these two seem to have nothing in common, but when they meet sparks fly. There's a reason why people say opposites attract...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KfkST0gNWG8Z0UGTvUWunR0Hg6nW5KbwudebxDPKfpsSkIv7XfwVvctvQvQz5KR6OI9o77wegQzamcrjQaO-u02pY9ZNrw-oLCKcVECopbZInQB7oTujpsr52TyKwXuvhETs1xJKsxPH/s1600/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="1148" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KfkST0gNWG8Z0UGTvUWunR0Hg6nW5KbwudebxDPKfpsSkIv7XfwVvctvQvQz5KR6OI9o77wegQzamcrjQaO-u02pY9ZNrw-oLCKcVECopbZInQB7oTujpsr52TyKwXuvhETs1xJKsxPH/s320/rose+garland+picture4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is the third book in the School for Dukes series and you can definitely read it out of order and not feel lost. While the previous Dukes in the series are mentioned in this book, they don't make any appearances. The series revolves around Dukes who fall for unconventional woman. Mari and Drew's romance follows suit.<br />
<br />
The Duke of Thorndon is known for being a recluse although once upon a time he had a reputation as being a rogue. When he was young something happened which left him emotionally scarred. Being around a lot of people is the last thing he'd ever want to do, but when his sister's life is threatened, he cannot sit by and do nothing. So he finds himself spending the season going to ball after ball with countless mothers parading their daughters in front of him hoping their daughter will be the one to catch his eye.<br />
<br />
Mina is having her first season and her uncle has declared she'll marry a duke or no one at all. He's even gone through the trouble of writing up dossiers on each eligible duke. She, however, wants to enter the family business. She believes it's in her blood as she comes from a long and illustrious line of spies. Her parents, uncle, and generations of the Penny family before them had all been spies, and she wants to follow in their footsteps and make her own mark on the world. She also wants to marry a man of her choosing who will let her live life on her own terms, and she believes she's come across the perfect candidate--Lord Rafe Bentley, the Duke of Thorndon's brother.<br />
<br />
When the Duke of Thorndon and Mina are introduced, she does everything in her power to make him dislike her even though she finds him extremely attractive. That includes doing everything her uncle told her to not do. Therein lies the beauty of this romance for by acting as she does, she stands out and makes a boring and uneasy evening bearable for Drew. I couldn't help but admire her gumption even as I laughed at her antics.<br />
<br />
As you can probably predict, this was a very fun story with bits of suspense interwoven into it. At first, I kind of wished Mina had been a slightly stronger character. While she's smart as a whip, at times she comes across as very naive and slightly foolish. Then it hit me that this was Mina's first real taste of the ton and the world that exists beyond the boundaries her strict uncle imposed upon her. She wants to find her place in the world, and she believes it's doing what her parents did. In reality, she has no idea if that's what she truly wants or is meant to do. She's trying to find her footing and she's experimenting and, at times, stumbling a bit along the way.<br />
<br />
I ended up giving this one<b> 4 out of 5 roses</b>. I found it a funny, charming, and amusing read. I loved the strong pull Drew and Mina felt for one another and how they tried to deny it. The mystery of what was behind the threat to Beatrice added a nice splash of intrigue and suspense. I enjoyed seeing what made Rafe tick and getting to know Drew better. While I initially wished Mina had been a bit stronger of a character, how she acts seems to fit, and I enjoyed seeing her grow as an individual. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a <b>STEAM </b>rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_gwm14z9gOiha7bFI1psKxB8nT2o4rHu2jiO8yVrjK9zltXqFsBe_9EwbSe0D8vksqxJIM_XSLqG9LcEdtrweU4IVLp9vainQguch5PhHrzu0OFPJn9wtrzBaqfrNTNSeFBOcxeHhQTc/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_gwm14z9gOiha7bFI1psKxB8nT2o4rHu2jiO8yVrjK9zltXqFsBe_9EwbSe0D8vksqxJIM_XSLqG9LcEdtrweU4IVLp9vainQguch5PhHrzu0OFPJn9wtrzBaqfrNTNSeFBOcxeHhQTc/s1600/My+4+roses.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Order of the School for Dukes series:</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B072L5PJ75&asins=B072L5PJ75&linkId=8febe5f2f77fe95b9d504eb1d410d6f6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B075JDHPQ3&asins=B075JDHPQ3&linkId=f4e962fc85073f01fe686a123723e612&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sed0f-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07BDLD6V6&asins=B07BDLD6V6&linkId=1770ac9c23764997e9a3708649946638&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijro_d-LubVCoNOS-oFuGZ6EZPBqZYXau9UqYWcw0xyAyW8IAn9gPD_yN8H1ftvUrrX6-jvscmzb7ybixNM8llAUJp5F7uSrWQ2y5BMDwt_S3uTQoRT2l9Bby77CXolXOUExZ-q1PUYqMk/s1600/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="780" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijro_d-LubVCoNOS-oFuGZ6EZPBqZYXau9UqYWcw0xyAyW8IAn9gPD_yN8H1ftvUrrX6-jvscmzb7ybixNM8llAUJp5F7uSrWQ2y5BMDwt_S3uTQoRT2l9Bby77CXolXOUExZ-q1PUYqMk/s320/The+Giveaway+Banner+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MUsnqSOKna0UaxIaSo9_i_tRrTABcG3OUehoymE2QNudXAMKz98tcyH71ljD1uzhCXetdxY3hlzgzsQ6nMkcS45sinS7RAEnBRTjMQbVcJ4XbIuvRjCY4xZJ4_xqp8pgPV2Cqd6aeodx/s1600/One+Fine+Duke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="613" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MUsnqSOKna0UaxIaSo9_i_tRrTABcG3OUehoymE2QNudXAMKz98tcyH71ljD1uzhCXetdxY3hlzgzsQ6nMkcS45sinS7RAEnBRTjMQbVcJ4XbIuvRjCY4xZJ4_xqp8pgPV2Cqd6aeodx/s320/One+Fine+Duke.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Enter for a chance to win<b style="font-style: italic;"> 'one' </b>print<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>copy of One Fine Duke by Lenora Bell </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Open to those living in the United States or Canada)</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please check Rafflecopter for the rules for this giveaway.<br />
Good Luck!</div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="0c401987102" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0c401987102/" id="rcwidget_6nclnnuv" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Lisareneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598048755114874763noreply@blogger.com1